Some Random Political Musings

It's been a while, but here are some thoughts about the current state of things.

- The Democrats ought to be congratulated on what must be by all accounts considered a wildly successful convention. Aside from a lackluster and completely forgettable keynote speech by Mark Warner, the major speakers did very well (even, I admit grudgingly, both of the Clintons). The moment with Obama's girls on the stage was delightfully unscripted, and both Biden and Obama did themselves proud with their addresses.

- McCain's first presidential decision has been made, and I'm not sure it can be called a good one. The choice of Sarah Palin as his vice-presidential nominee is remarkably bold, but it's also a pretty serious gamble. We know nothing about Palin, who's been governor of Alaska for less than two years and has not a whit of experience on the national stage (the audience at the Friday event with McCain, it's said, was the largest crowd she's ever spoken to). I am, frankly, surprised that McCain - known to value loyalty and personal connection very highly in his advisors - would choose as his running mate someone who he'd met just once (six months ago) before last week. It worries me, and I have serious concerns about Palin's capability to take over at a moment's notice should the unthinkable happen (not because she's a woman, but because her judgment is entirely unproven). On top of that, what little we know of her positions on the issues (except for cleaning up government and fighting wasteful spending) are those of a conservative ideologue from the Limbaugh-Dobson wing of the Republican party, and they are positions I have worked against for as long as I can remember. So, color me unenthused, and anxious to see how Palin handles the klieg lights of the national media circus.

- Finally, as I watched the Democratic convention last week, I kept thinking that a debate between Joe Biden's mom and John McCain's mom would be just about the most amazing thing ever. No?

Recommended Reading

John Heilemann's New York piece "The Low-Road Warrior" is a very interesting take on the way the campaign has turned over the last week or so. Note particularly the way in which McCain's more - I'll be gentle and say sane - advisors have been/are being sidelined in favor of the '04 rattlesnakes.