Presidential scholars say Palin appears to be the least experienced, least credentialed person ever

[TeamJordan23]

to join a major-party ticket in the modern era.

Scholars question Palin credentials

Presidential scholars say she appears to be the least experienced, least credentialed person to join a major-party ticket in the modern era.

So unconventional was McCain’s choice that it left students of the presidency literally “stunned,” in the words of Joel Goldstein, a St. Louis University law professor and scholar of the vice presidency. “Being governor of a small state for less than two years is not consistent with the normal criteria for determining who’s of presidential caliber,” said Goldstein.

“I think she is the most inexperienced person on a major party ticket in modern history,” said presidential historian Matthew Dallek.

That includes Spiro T. Agnew, Richard Nixon’s first vice president, who was governor of a medium-sized state, Maryland, for two years, and before that, executive of suburban Baltimore County, the expansive jurisdiction that borders and exceeds in population the city of Baltimore.

It also includes George H.W. Bush’s vice president, Indiana Sen. Dan Quayle, who had served in the House and Senate for 12 years before taking office. And it also includes New York Rep. Geraldine Ferraro, who served three terms in the House before Walter Mondale chose her in 1984 as the first woman candidate on a major party ticket.

“It would be one thing if she had only been governor for a year and a half, but prior to that she had not had major experience in public life,” said Dallek of Palin. “The fact that he would have to go to somebody who is clearly unqualified to be president makes Obama look like an elder statesman.”

And Alaska is a much smaller state than Illinois, the political base of Barack Obama, whom Republicans have repeatedly criticized for being inexperienced, having served nearly four years in the U.S. Senate after eight in the Illinois state Senate.

“Not to belittle Alaska, but it’s different than the basket of issues you deal with in big, dynamic states.” Dallek said.

Palin has no experience in national office. Before becoming governor in December 2006, she served as a council member and mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, which had a population of slightly more than 5,000 during her time in office.

Continue Reading: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/13001.html

[TwilightGardener]

1. This is such a major crash and burn, such an epic fail, I am almost giddy.

[RagAss]

15. Don't be...

They own the media...they could take a female from the Manson Family and spin her into John Adams in 48 hours.

[TwilightGardener]

17. Women are already skeptical, and Miss Mooseburgers is only in

the excitement/novelty/honeymoon stage. As this folly sinks in, I predict even the GOPers will start to feel hung over and wonder what the hell happened with McHorndog's little one night stand VP choice.

[liberal N proud]

2. It doesn't take a scholar to figure this out but the M$M can't

[yourguide]

3. BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

[denem]

31. Fewer Jobs. More Wars. Eat Moose.

[No Elephants]

4. The MSM is being so easy on her, I vomited in my mouth a little.

[Kitty Herder]

7. Me, too. It makes me want to scream! nt

[DJ13]

5. I still say McCain only picked her because his advisors wouldnt let him pick Lieberman

So he went to the bottom of their approved for VP list and named her out of spite.

[liberalpragmatist]

9. That IS why he picked her

Both Politico and the ABC report that McCain was spooked by the DNC, decided he had to do something bold to "shake up the race," so he scrapped his original short list and tried to get Lieberman onto the ticket.

When his advisers revolted and said it would be disastrous with the base, he chose Palin -- on Thursday -- with minimal vetting!

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/08/how-palin-came.html

[DJ13]

10. Thanks, didnt know that was reported already!

I guess Im proof that even a blind squirrel can find his nuts once in a while!

[janx]

12. Exactly what I suspected. n/t

[27inCali]

19. Kay Bailey Hutchinson or Liddy Dole

would of shook things up the same way and been more qualified, but I guess they weren't hot enough.

[liberalpragmatist]

20. Dole is 71 and in a tight reelection race

And Hutchison is at least nominally pro-choice (though she has a 7% score from NARAL). She and McCain also hate each other's guts.

Wasn't their some pro-life Republican congresswoman he could have picked? Say Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee? At least she knows some national issues.

[DirtyBirdNorth]

25. Olympia Snowe Would Have Made The Most Sense

and would have made those who supported Hillary (specifically the ones who are still angry over her loss) to more likely back McCain.

[liberalpragmatist]

26. Again, pro-choice

You can't get on a Republican ticket if you're not anti-choice.

To be fair, you can't get on a Democratic ticket if you're anti-choice. These are litmus tests for both parties, even though every year there's the ritual of pro-choice candidates being considered.

[DirtyBirdNorth]

29. Oh, I Agree

The point is, McCain just threw away his most powerful argument against Obama (inexperience) by selecting Palin.

[Cosmocat]

23. This has been my theory all along ...

c

[Bluenorthwest]

14. I say he picked her because

there was no one else to pick who was young enough to balance McCain's advanced age, who would agree to run. I think McCain was turned down by many prior to coming to Palin. Any Republican who thinks they have a good future would reject a place on this ticket. It is very likely to fail, and look bad doing it. Going to run for, but not be, veep. It is an invitation to be Gerry Ferraro, and who would want that?
No, she was the only non ancient, anti-choicer who said yes, and that is the whole thing.

[Eric J in MN]

6. People on the religous right who want abortion to be illegal...

...even in cases of rape and incest, are energized by Sarah Palin being on the ticket.

McCain's donations went up with his selection of her.

[southerncrone]

8. If this is an example of McCain's ability to make "executive" decisions

then American should surely realize that he is not fit to be our leader.

The most important decision a Presidential candidate makes, and he completely blew it trying to pander to his "base".

Sadly, the man needs to go to one of his houses, rest on his laurels & give it up. tsk tsk

[elkston]

13. Exactly. When he couldn't get Lieberman ...

he could have forsaken the "hard" deadline of announcing right after the DNC Convention, and instead taken a few more days to really think the decision over.

No. Instead he panicked and went for a desperate choice just to beat the news cycle and "inspire the base". Forget about national security and actually governing when you get in office. Totally reckless and not Commander-In-Chief worthy.

And if they have to back out of it its going to be a dobule hit. Yeah this was a game-changer, in the absoulte worst way.

Eat that David Gregory!!! (who called this a "game changer")

[Ichingcarpenter]

11. And this comes from Politico which the TV people like to use

Kool!

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

16. I looked yesterday...

I think Wilson or Coolidge had a VP whose prior experience was being Director of the Mint and of the Office of Management and Budget. Dawes was his name, IIRC, and you're going back nearly a hundred years on that one.

[Emit]

18. which is why this was such a pandering move on repugs' part

[invictus]

21. K&R

[LynneSin]

22. Poor Danny Quayle - he's no longer #1 now that Danielle Quayle joined the ticket

:rofl:

[eshfemme]

24. With their anti-intellectualism bent, I'm sure the GOP would be proud of their anti-endorsement

For people like them, hearing scholars say anything negative about their decisions is good in their mind. Never mind if the criticisms are actually true.

[Ilsa]

30. GOP: The Party of Low Expectations.

[Phx_Dem]

27. Howard Fineman said she made Obama look like

JOHN ADAMS! Bwahahahahah.

(yesterday on Countdown)

[Phx_Dem]

28. Dupe. Sorry