Mr. Jonathan Stein over at Mother Jones explains the proper process for a presidential candidate selecting a running mate and why John McCain is a cynical jerk.
Stein writes:
"When you choose a person as your partner on a presidential ticket, what are you saying about that person? If you're acting honestly and in the best interest of the American people, you're saying that he or she is the second most qualified person in the country, after you, to be president. (Or, to bow somewhat to political realities, you are saying he or she is the second most qualified person who also happens share your ideological leanings.)"
Well, let's see, Barack Obama had the same choice to make and he chose Joe Biden.
Did Barack Obama believe that Joe Biden was the second most qualified person in the country to be president besides him?
Interesting that, given the 18 million Democratic votes that Hillary Clinton got to be president and the scrawny vote Democratic voters wasted on Joe Biden. Is it that Obama simply has better judgment than all those millions of voters to know that Good Old Joe was more qualified to be president than Hillary?
It can't be that Hillary didn't share his ideological leanings, their voting records and policy prescriptions were virtually identical.
Funny how Old Joe didn't return the favor when he was running for Prez, saying that Barack wasn't ready to be president. And he stood by his statement when asked about it again. He's since changed his mind. (Nothing cynical about that.)
Fussypants Stein faults McCain for not immediately endorsing his own running mate Sarah Palin for the Republican nomination in 2012. "Absurd," he calls McCain's rationale that there are plenty of other Republicans who might emerge for the job and that its too early to commit to any one of them.
We guess it's not absurd for his fellow leftist pundit Eleanor Clift to suggest Caroline Kennedy might make a viable presidential candidate in 2016.
"Positioning a successor is what a president is supposed to do in his second term," explained Clift. "Still, President Kennedy in 2016? We're getting ahead of ourselves."
Well, seeing as how Caroline Kennedy has never run for or held elective office, yeah maybe Clift and her fellow Kennedyphiles are jumping the gun... by about seven years.
In any case, if you're a committed leftist, McCain is "absurd" and "cynical." While Obama had the best interests of the country in mind when he selected Senator Gaffe Machine over Hillary Clinton to be his running mate.
UPDATE: Not all lefties are thrilled by the prospect of a new Sen. Kennedy. Jane Hampster lets her feelings known at Huff-Po.
"Did Barack Obama believe that Joe Biden was the second most qualified person in the country to be president besides him?"
ReplyDeleteNice way to redefine the selection criteria. First of all, the most qualified person might not want the job.
However, a better definition would be the available person that is not only capable of stepping in BUT would work to push Obama's policies, ideals, platform, and even legacy. Hillary fails on the grounds of policy and backstabbing threat, not competence. And Palin fails completely.
McCain's campaign praise of Palin was phony and transparent. He made a HUGE mistake and wouldn't admit it. He obviously never gave serious consideration that he wouldn't be able to serve out his term. At least he has the integrity not to compound it further by endorsing her now.
Obama put Hillary in an important job, where she can't screw him without ending her own career, and has to follow his agenda.
Anon-iano argues with Stein about a better way to "define" the process.
ReplyDelete"Obama put Hillary in an important job, where she can't screw him without ending her own career, and has to follow his agenda."
Anon-iano - Don't forget "For the good of the country."
Funny, I still believe to this Day Palin is more qualified as an executive than Obama. And I'll further argue that if she played "Presidential Candidate" for two years like the others, she'd be the sharpest of all fo them.
ReplyDeleteObama chose Biden because Chuck Schumer was busy watching himself on TV somewhere.
Steve-
ReplyDeleteShe could spend the next 20 years studying for the role, but would never be more qualified than an actor that played the President in a movie or TV show.
an actor that played the President in a movie or TV show.
ReplyDeleteSuch a person would be more qualified than Balack Obama.
I'll argue that anyday of the week, as we have for over a year.
ReplyDeleteSteve-
ReplyDeleteYou seem like a reasonably intelligent guy, except when you promote Palin. She's like unpacking a box of zeros in a row and all the social conservatives are praying the box contains a "one" to put in front. It doesn't. Nothing but zeros.
My, you frat boys sure do sound like DDD. Lol...
ReplyDeleteNot in a frat. Though, I'm sure your only exposure to college has been college frat movies, so I can understand how you make that mistake.
ReplyDeleteagain, if she played "presidential canididate" for two + years like your boy did, it would be a different ballgame. Not bad from labor day to election day, spreading McCain's word.
ReplyDeleteShe's had a far more interesting rise to her present position, well liked in her state, the onlyknock is the liberal media bias against her and the race to get her to trip up.
Steve-
ReplyDeleteShe energized the GOP base and turned away the independents. I PRAY that the GOP runs her against Obama or against whomever in 2016. The only thing she is good at is using funds from the taxpayers and the GOP as her personal slush fund.
The others in the GOP like Romney will destroy her in a primary. They helped cover up her massive ignorance and incompetence during this election, but will reveal what they learned against her.
If she actually got nominated, especially against Obama, it could actually be the first shutout election with her getting Zero electoral votes.
Palin for GOP candidate 2012. Please.
massive ignorance and incompetence? what are you smoking tonight?
ReplyDeleteIgnorance because her beliefs don't match up with you UBER-Liberals? Incompetence because she's been an executive in a city and a state and enjoys high grades from the constituency? Or are you smoking the crack the liberal media serves you when you see the katie couric interviews? Is that your sole basis?
D) DDD is a blind partisan incapable of thinking for himself so he gets his every hollow talking point from the Far Left.
ReplyDelete