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raycarey

yeah, there's nothing worse than the smell of old people.

Norton

Agree, but in the minds of some, McCain's age could put a higher significance on his VP pick.

Norton

Yep. This is one of the reason she was chosen. A young Washington outsider to help bring change to a broken government.

chinthee

^Well, in that case, the VP is a relatively inexperienced woman whose main claim to fame is being the major of a small town in the least populated state in the Union. Oh, yes, she is also governor of the largest landmass state, with a population of something like 600,000.

Not impressive.

It kinda looks like Obama was forced to pick an old man as counterbalance, and McCain was forced to pick a young woman.

Nonsense generally for both.

Norton

Politics makes strange bed fellows. This being the case, McCain made a much better choice than Obama.

DrivingForce

There is that but don't you think you're being a bit trivial here.....
Actually my post was tongue in cheek for the most part.. I really do feel your pain, really I do..
But really the flip side to this is that Obama doesn't have any more experience and on some issues even less. So bottom line is would you rather have the person with the most experience be second in line with the time to gain more experience with only a hypothetical worst case scenerio a possibility? Or would you rather have the least experienced person voted directly into office with no time for seasoning right off the bat?

I think I'd have to opt for the hypothetical worst case scenerio under the current world conditions..

britmaveric

Be honest - you don't need really much experience to be president - you have a legion of advisers that do most of the work for you. So in reality this really has little relevance whether you are talking Obama or Pavin.

As for Obama vs Putin - Obama is soft as a marshmallow Putin would eat him alive. Not so sure about Pavin - read somewhere that alaska is littered with bodies of her opponents who crossed her. I doubt they would say that if she wasn't tough as nails.

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chinthee

^Good point. Reagan was a great President without much between the ears. But, he was tough. Obama is worryingly concessionary. But remember, the VP doesn't traditionally call the shots in foreign policy. In fact, prior to Cheney, the Secretary of State was the most powerful shaper of foreign policy.

raycarey

hmmm.....funny how brit never posted this about obama.

and this is based on?

link?

britmaveric

The Most Popular Governor

Just said it about Obama above Ray...

Norton

I was being a bit tongue in cheek also but McCain's age is an issue for many voters just as is Obama's color or his lack of experience. I personally think McCain is not going to drop dead in the near future but trivial as it may seem to you and I, it is far from trivial to many. To them her qualification to be President is a real concern. Republican party is well aware of this and has been using the fact she is the commander in chief of the Alaska National Guard as a qualification.

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chinthee

Norton, you're correct, and even more so, there is a 'perception' and expectation that the President be a vibrant man. Reagan managed to keep up that impression with hair dye, a great smile and engaging style. He was also beloved as a decent B movie actor (Bedtime for Bonzo?) He was also a master at controlling his situations. He never got in over his head.

McCain has none of those skills, so his age is out there for all to see. It's more exposed this time.

It's a problem.

raycarey

errrr.....brit......that's the point.

now that mccain has chosen someone with very, very, thin credentials, suddenly you've decided that experience doesn't matter.

britmaveric

Yeah but she has more credentials then Obama - he spent most of his senate career running for president.

raycarey

laughable....but why is that surprising?

chinthee

^^True, true. Anyone who has run an organization, whether it be as Mayor, Governor, or CEO has much more broad experience than someone who has spent his time orating in the Senate. Agree in full.

That's why Bill Clinton was qualified.

britmaveric

^ This is why its very hard to elect a Senator or congress person for President. Normally it seems to go to past governors.

DrivingForce

This was my point above, take a president that has experience now with a second in command on the learning curve (and with a potential future for the party I might add) or go with a complete newbie with even less practical experience who has to face the current world environment right out of the box and who has a VP that has no potential future for the party?

raycarey

so by this 'logic', palin should be at the top of the ticket and mccain her VP.

chinthee

^Don't be silly ray. A person is the sum total of his experience, education, ability and presence. Driving Force said it best in the post above yours.