Inexperience and the Presidency

[Semeuke]

Since one of the reasons given by republicans not to vote for Obama last year was that he's so inexperienced, how the fuck did this get reconciled with the selection of Palin as the VP?

I don't ever remember this being addressed, but since I wasn't in the US, I just assumed that it was and didn't really bother paying attention. Does anyone remember?

[Barringtonia]

Since one of the reasons given by republicans not to vote for Obama last year was that he's so inexperienced, how the fuck did this get reconciled with the selection of Palin as the VP?

I don't ever remember this being addressed, but since I wasn't in the US, I just assumed that it was and didn't really bother paying attention. Does anyone remember?

Yes, she could see Russia from her house, that fine lady was the front line between the US and total communism, but seems the public voted communism in anyway,

[Capitalistliberals]

ummm duh cause she can see russia and thus has tons of experience

[Zoharland]

...Because Palin wasn't going to be President, it was John McCain?

[Sitspot]

Puh-lease!
At least get a grip of neo-con speak before you start critiquing it!
inexperienced = black
/thread

[Virtud Tierra]

Yeah, I have no idea.

I actually voted for McCain but was pretty relieved knowing that Palin would be nowhere near the presidency. What the hell was McCain thinking?

[Doctor Cyclops]

The issue of "presidential experience" is idiotic, as there is only one job in the world that can prepare a person for being president of the United States of America:

President of the United States of America.

[Barringtonia]

She was just in HK the other day, speaking at the annual CLSA jamboree - alas the event was packed so I couldn't get in,

Has anyone read the account by the guy who impregnated her daughter, hard to know if it's true but still...

There we go, Me & Mrs. Palin - http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/feat ... ston200910

[Semeuke]

...Because Palin wasn't going to be President, it was John McCain?

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but the only reason the position of VP exists is because the President could buy the farm at any given point in time, correct?

The most important selection criteria for the VP, given this, is their ability to assume the presidency, correct?

Therefore, selecting as VP someone who is far less experienced than the other guy yet maintaining that the other guy is too inexperienced for the job is... well, not insane, but certainly intellectually dishonest, correct?

[Nus Antara]

I think McCain is ok, but as said above, if he died in office and Palin became president then America would have a BIG problem.

[Firaqis]

McCain probably selected Palin primarily to attract female voters who were alienated by Clinton's defeat. She wasn't a well-known figure (which wasn't a detriment since McCain was) so she hadn't been torn apart yet. It seemed to work at first, but then really backfired later. I don't know.

McCain was deeply intent on NOT dying in office, but still her selection was a little disconcerting to most people.

[Grays Harbor]

Puh-lease!
At least get a grip of neo-con speak before you start critiquing it!
inexperienced = black
/thread

[sarcasm] riiight. because everybody who didn't vote for Obama is automatically a racist.[/sarcasm]

get a grip on reality, please.

[Zoharland]

...Because Palin wasn't going to be President, it was John McCain?

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but the only reason the position of VP exists is because the President could buy the farm at any given point in time, correct?

The most important selection criteria for the VP, given this, is their ability to assume the presidency, correct?

Therefore, selecting as VP someone who is far less experienced than the other guy yet maintaining that the other guy is too inexperienced for the job is... well, not insane, but certainly intellectually dishonest, correct?

Meh, Palin embodies conservative values. She was also the Governor of Alaska, so she had experience. And I hear Obama hardly did anything in the Senate. So...Its not all that hypocritical...

And really, can you blame them for calling out Obama on his inexperience? Look how wonderfully he's performed so far, managing to get little to nothing really done since he took office.

And what guarantee was there that McCain was going to die in office? Or that Palin would have done a worse job than this guy?

And lastly: Its Politics. The Republicans had already exposed Obama as a far-left, idealist moron with nothing but empty promises. Pointing out that he's inexperienced is just another plus. Too bad the rest of the US didn't listen...

[Sitspot]

Puh-lease!
At least get a grip of neo-con speak before you start critiquing it!
inexperienced = black
/thread

[sarcasm] riiight. because everybody who didn't vote for Obama is automatically a racist.[/sarcasm]

get a grip on reality, please.

Sorry you're correct I typoed
inexperienced = black democrat
fixed

[Doctor Cyclops]

...Because Palin wasn't going to be President, it was John McCain?

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but the only reason the position of VP exists is because the President could buy the farm at any given point in time, correct?

The most important selection criteria for the VP, given this, is their ability to assume the presidency, correct?

Therefore, selecting as VP someone who is far less experienced than the other guy yet maintaining that the other guy is too inexperienced for the job is... well, not insane, but certainly intellectually dishonest, correct?

Not entirely. The Vice President is also tasked with casting the tie-breaking vote in the Senate. You know... should it ever be required.

There was a time in US history when the Vice Presidency was where parties sent politicians to die. It has a little more esteem now, but yes, its primary function seems to be continuity of government.

[NERVUN]

I always thought McCain shot himself in the foot with that one given his biggest argument was the inexperience of President Obama and trying to say that being the mayor of a small town in Alaska makes up for it didn't exactly wash.

[Cannot think of a name]

And really, can you blame them for calling out Obama on his inexperience? Look how wonderfully he's performed so far, managing to get little to nothing really done since he took office.

Man I wish conservatives would make up their mind, he hasn't done enough/he's doing too much, he hasn't sold his plan/he's over exposed...it'd be great if you guys took a breather from just throwing whatever dart you can find and figure out what exactly you're on about. Sometime before Nov. 2010 might be handy.

[Virtud Tierra]

And really, can you blame them for calling out Obama on his inexperience? Look how wonderfully he's performed so far, managing to get little to nothing really done since he took office.

Man I wish conservatives would make up their mind, he hasn't done enough/he's doing too much, he hasn't sold his plan/he's over exposed...it'd be great if you guys took a breather from just throwing whatever dart you can find and figure out what exactly you're on about. Sometime before Nov. 2010 might be handy.

I think the point is that people believe he has not done anything productive or benefical yet. The huge bailouts and this healthcare fiasco is "too much in the wrong direction" I'd suppose.

[Phenia]

And really, can you blame them for calling out Obama on his inexperience? Look how wonderfully he's performed so far, managing to get little to nothing really done since he took office.

Man I wish conservatives would make up their mind, he hasn't done enough/he's doing too much, he hasn't sold his plan/he's over exposed...it'd be great if you guys took a breather from just throwing whatever dart you can find and figure out what exactly you're on about. Sometime before Nov. 2010 might be handy.

Well, they also call him

1) A Nazi
2) A Marxist

Making up their minds is clearly not on the agenda nor, I think, a possibility.

[Cannot think of a name]

And really, can you blame them for calling out Obama on his inexperience? Look how wonderfully he's performed so far, managing to get little to nothing really done since he took office.

Man I wish conservatives would make up their mind, he hasn't done enough/he's doing too much, he hasn't sold his plan/he's over exposed...it'd be great if you guys took a breather from just throwing whatever dart you can find and figure out what exactly you're on about. Sometime before Nov. 2010 might be handy.

I think the point is that people believe he has not done anything productive or benefical yet. The huge bailouts and this healthcare fiasco is "too much in the wrong direction" I'd suppose.

Yeah yeah, "He hasn't done anything" always turns into "Well, he hasn't done anything I've liked..." Well, he wasn't your guy, stands to reason.

[Dyakovo]

The issue of "presidential experience" is idiotic, as there is only one job in the world that can prepare a person for being president of the United States of America:

President of the United States of America.

I don't know, depending upon the level of involvement in the day to day affairs, the Vice-Presidency can certainly be preparatory.

[Barringtonia]

An uncorroborated claim from her speech is that her husband is part-Eskimo, Eskimos related to Chinese, perfect understanding of Chinese culture,

I'll see if there's any support for this rumour, I suspect, if anything, she'd have said it tongue-in-cheek,

Ah well, not so much, can't trust anyone these days, text actually was...

“Personally, I’ve always been really interested in the ideas too about the land bridge. Ideas that maybe so long ago, had allowed Alaska to be physically connected to this part of our world so many years ago. My husband and my children, they’re part [unintelligible] Eskimo, Alaskan natives. They’re our first people, and the connection that may have brought ancestors from here to there is fascinating to me."

[Evir Bruck Saulsbury]

And lastly: Its Politics. The Republicans had already exposed Obama as a far-left, idealist moron with nothing but empty promises. Pointing out that he's inexperienced is just another plus. Too bad the rest of the US didn't listen...

Or that is what REAL AMERICA wants. . . maybe Republican political positions no longer matter in this country. . . maybe, just maybe the Republican party is a dying party. . .

[Cannot think of a name]

And lastly: Its Politics. The Republicans had already exposed Obama as a far-left, idealist moron with nothing but empty promises. Pointing out that he's inexperienced is just another plus. Too bad the rest of the US didn't listen...

Or that is what REAL AMERICA wants. . . maybe Republican political positions no longer matter in this country. . . maybe, just maybe the Republican party is a dying party. . .

In fairness, I have to say this. I always thought it was ridiculous when Republicans talked about the death of the Democratic Party when they won in 2000 and yammered about a 'permanent Republican Majority' and it's just as foolish to do the opposite now. Wide swings are nothing new and haven't gone away after a single mid-term and presidential election. They're not dying, they're just on the ass-end of the swing.

[Barringtonia]

In fairness, I have to say this. I always thought it was ridiculous when Republicans talked about the death of the Democratic Party when they won in 2000 and yammered about a 'permanent Republican Majority' and it's just as foolish to do the opposite now. Wide swings are nothing new and haven't gone away after a single mid-term and presidential election. They're not dying, they're just on the ass-end of the swing.

Hmm, I would say that the line from Reaganism thru Bush is a completed line, the tying of supposed fiscal constraint with social conservative values is, in my opinion, no longer a viable election strategy.

I suspect, given 4-6 years, the Republicans will move away from social conservatism, I suspect it will take another heavy defeat in 2012,