I will respectfully disagree with my colleague Professor Schaff on McCain's choice of Sarah Palin for vice president. In terms of the "experience" argument that's coming forward, it might be better of we define what we all mean by experience. Simply spending time in public service doesn't necessarily qualify one to serve in higher office; accomplishments while working as a public servant, however, is another thing entirely. The conservative critique of Obama wasn't that he's only been in the Senate since 2004 and thus disqualified for high office, but rather throughout his entire career in public office he hasn't accumulated a remarkable record.
The opposite is true with Palin. She has achieved an impressive record as an executive, thus complementing McCain's experience in foreign policy (indeed, Palin has more executive experience than the Democratic ticket). The Democratic ticket, however, is lopsided; the man with the most experience is on the bottom. In terms of the accomplishments that Palin carries, she beats the Democratic ticket -- and one governor among three senators stands out. The "experience" criticism of the McCain camp might be weakened, but there's no doubt that Palin has a record as an impressive administrator. She's also a better pick than Biden: not only did Obama have to go on the defensive over his VP pick, but Biden did nothing to add to Obama's strengths or shore up weaknesses. Additionally, this election isn't about Obama and Palin, it's about Obama and McCain.
I also feel Obama's speech last night wasn't very effective. He came off as highly partisan, certainly not the best of his speeches I've seen. He might unify the Democrats, but I think the political center remains ambivalent about the Democratic candidate. His shots at McCain and foreign policy are ill advised -- is this really a debate he wants to have with McCain of all people? There was nothing new in this speech, nothing transcending the "politics as usual." It was a very old speech, the sort you would've heard from the likes of progressives Woodrow Wilson or Herbert Croly.
In any event, the McCain campaign made a brilliant choice to wait until today to announce -- as of 10 A.M., the headlines have focused entirely on McCain rather than Obama's convention speech.
I'll add the same warning as Prof. Schaff: I certainly don't have the market cornered on good political sense, so take my speculation for what it's worth.
UPDATE: An additional thought: for all of Obama's talk of "new politics," he picked the establishment Biden. As for McCain, it's hard to pick somebody more outside Washington that Palin.
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