VP Choices

The most exciting and interesting presidential campaign that I've witnessed or studied has taken a few more interesting turns recently with the selections of Joe Biden and Sarah Palin for VPs. I'll spare you all my thoughts on these two choices, other than saying that both make some sense for various reasons. Biden will be a fantastic VP who can use his relationships in the Senate to move legislation. He's a great campaigner whose not afraid to attack McCain's weaknesses but with sincerity and respect.

Palin could possibly be the future of the Republican Party (they've been struggling to have a clear direction for awhile now), though I think in many ways it's a strange choice for McCain. Sure she has some experience as a reformer and knows Alaskan energy policy, but she undermines McCain's entire strategy that Obama is too inexperienced. If Obama's level of experience is such an issue, why did he pick someone with even less experience to be his VP? A few months ago he said his choice of VP was especially important given his age and medical history, and they would need to be able to step in on day 1 to take over. Frankly, I have zero confidence Sarah Palin could do that and I can't honestly belive McCain does either. He met her 2 times before making the announcement, including the time he interviewed her for the job! I'm tired of Republicans using the talking point that she has more executive experience than Obama and Biden put together (which if it's so important, doesn't she have more exec experience than McCain?) What does she know about foreigh policy? What does she think is the solution for health care system? Ending poverty? Social security?

It's true Obama doesn't have decades of experience, but he's got a clear record of thinking deeply about these issues, including being President of the Harvard Law Review, publishing two books which include lengthy discussions of these subjects, teaching constitutional law at Chicago University, years in the Illinois Senate, 4 years as US Senator, and 2 years of campaigning for President in which every word and idea has been scrutinized. NO ONE is more capable or better positioned to improve our standing in the world and relationship with European and world leaders than he is. I have a lot of respect for McCain and think in many ways he'd make a good President (the 2000-2007 McCain, I'm not as sure about the more right wing 2008 McCain), but now is just not his time.