Palin: "Scripted Robot or Unscripted Ignoramus"

Read Robert Draper's new blog at GQ for more damning detail on the Sarah Palin saga. He's sympathetic to the McCain aides staffing the Alaska Governor. Why, you ask?

They've held their tongue from leaking what a couple of McCain higher-ups have told me--namely, that Palin simply knew nothing about national and international issues. Which meant, as one such adviser said to me: "Letting Sarah be Sarah may not be such a good thing." It's a grim binary choice, but apparently it came down to whether to make Palin look like a scripted robot or an unscripted ignoramus.

Ouch. If McCain had properly vetted Palin, he might've known this. But he didn't, and we're seeing the result. It's hard to feel sorry for the McCain aides who are now complaining about Palin, since they were the ones responsible for putting her on the ticket.

I'd also recommend the New Yorker's recent profile of Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel, who also has some choice words for his old friend John McCain and his running mate. From the article:

Hagel may be the only senior Republican elected official who has publicly criticized McCain's choice of Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. "I don't believe she's qualified to be President of the United States," Hagel told me. "The first judgment a potential President makes is who their running mate is--and I don't think John made a very good selection." He scoffed at McCain's attempts to portray her as an experienced politician. "To try to make the excuse that she looks out her window and sees Russia--and that she's commander of the Alaska National Guard." He added, "There is no question that this candidate is arguably the thinnest-résumé candidate for Vice-President in the history of America."

Double ouch. One Republican described watching Palin's interviews with Katie Couric as "water torture." This week's circular firing squad must produce a similar sensation among Republicans. But it's delicious fun for the rest of us.

Comments (51)

1. Why do they hate America so much?

   Why do they hate Sarah Palin and her God?

   Posted by crabwalk at 10/28/2008 @ 5:14pm

2. Now your quoting from "GQ"?

   Posted by ACook at 10/28/2008 @ 5:14pm

3. Posted by crabwalk at 10/28/2008 @ 5:14pm

   Who hates Sarah Palin?

   Posted by ACook at 10/28/2008 @ 5:15pm

4. Now your quoting from "GQ"? Posted by ACook at 10/28/2008 @ 5:14pm |

   Slay that messenger!

   Do you contend that Palin actually has the experience needed?

   Posted by crabwalk at 10/28/2008 @ 5:16pm

5. Who hates Sarah Palin? Posted by ACook at 10/28/2008 @ 5:15pm

   Everyone that thinks she is unprepared. That is the only explanation for these criticisms. Please try to keep up with your party, ACOOK.

   Posted by crabwalk at 10/28/2008 @ 5:18pm

6. oh, and the people that hate America, You know, the Marxists, communists, anarchists, socialists, homosexuals, leftists and other assorted ne'er-do-wells. Also known as your neighbors.

   Posted by crabwalk at 10/28/2008 @ 5:20pm

7. Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/28/2008 @ 5:19pm

   good. I've had a nice chuckle. Time to get back to work.

   hehehehe, Thanks Larry. I needed that.

   ooohh, it's turning into a deep belly laugh now.......

   Phred Thompson...?

   celebrities?

   ROAR...... HAR!!!

   Keep em coming. Better than Colbert and Miller combined.

   (hic)

   Posted by crabwalk at 10/28/2008 @ 5:24pm

8. "Do you contend that Palin actually has the experience needed?"

   Posted by crabwalk at 10/28/2008 @ 5:16pm

   I don't contend anything.

   Posted by ACook at 10/28/2008 @ 5:28pm

9. "Everyone that thinks she is unprepared. That is the only explanation for these criticisms. Please try to keep up with your party, ACOOK."

   Posted by crabwalk at 10/28/2008 @ 5:18pm

   What party?

   Posted by ACook at 10/28/2008 @ 5:33pm

10. I live in a very conservative compound.

    Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/28/2008 @ 5:26pm

    Posted by frosty zoom at 10/28/2008 @ 5:34pm

11. Say what you want "The Nation".

    But Obama is a better speech reader than Palin.

    Posted by bleedingheart at 10/28/2008 @ 6:23pm

12. I have no idea why anyone would believe Sarah Palin has more experience that Obama or Biden, but that being said, there is no reason to hate either or any of the candidates.

    This is one of the big problems of this campaign. The word hate, distrust, unpatriotic, and other such expressions have created such a horrible atmosphere for this election.

    I do not like Sarah Palin as a candidate, nor do I think McCain would be an acceptable president. But I do not hate them. I wish them no harm. I would feel this way, even if they were ahead in the polls and it looked as if my candidate, Obama was losing.

    Posted by zasu at 10/28/2008 @ 6:31pm

13. Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/28/2008 @ 5:26pm

    So McCain going to carry Californey?!??!?!?

    I mean given the importance of the example of your neighborhood?

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/28/2008 @ 8:12pm

14. Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/28/2008 @ 8:24pm

    So your neighborhood signs aren't really worth a whole helluva lot on the Electoral College level....the "only level that counts" as you so often point out....do they?

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/28/2008 @ 8:29pm

15. BTW, how quickly will the McCain camp turn on their beloved Veep nominee if he loses?

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/28/2008 @ 8:38pm

16. For me hating Sarah Palin personally is pretty strong stuff.

    Hate rhetoric is something we've experienced from the right wing of the republican party on a consistent basis and it is discouraging.

    Hating the cold hearted and divisive rhetoric is something one can certainly feel after hearing the comments from mccain/palin and certainly from the people at their rallies.

    I do find those who will use any means to win an election and the example that Palin/mccain have set to be disgusting and in some cases vile.

    But there is no need to turn any of this internally and feel hate for a person. The hater only suffers.

    The best remedy is to sent them packing and as it relates to Palin ... the Democratic Party must take a more proactive role in the politics of Alaska to prevent Palin and her politics from getting any traction.

    If as they say; Palin (unbelievably) could be a factor in 2012 and/or a leader in the Rep. party ... that in itself should be enough to cause the DNC to circle the wagons in the state.

    Bottom line ... I do not hate the person but I do detest and find her politics and beliefs extremely dangerous to our nation.

    If we are fortunate enough to win this election, I believe the work is not done. We must help to educate voters of what a Palin brand of politic and belief really means to them.

    The Republican Party's "less government" mantra, doesn't apply when they talk about your individual freedoms of choice.

    We can never forget this and must always keep them in check.

    Posted by Hoot at 10/28/2008 @ 8:45pm

17. Posted by Hoot at 10/28/2008 @ 8:45pm

    ACOOK throws out hate for ANY criticism of a Republican or conservative...

    but if somebody says "Obama pals around with terrorists" or "Obama is a jihadist Marxist"....

    nary a peep.

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/28/2008 @ 8:47pm

18. Per capita income

    Riverside County

    State Rank-33

    National rank-866

    Median income-$18,689

    San Francisco county

    state rank-3

    National Rank- 19

    Median income- $55,221

    Los Angeles County

    State Rank-26

    National Rank-844

    Median income-$42,189

    -----

    Darn Socialists!

    Posted by crabwalk at 10/28/2008 @ 9:28pm

19. 83 DAYS 1 Hrs 55 Min 36.4 Sec

    Posted by frosty zoom at 10/28/2008 @ 10:04pm

20. Sarah hangin' out in Wasilla

    With abortion clinic bombers

    Palin-around-with-terrorists

    Posted by winyahn at 10/28/2008 @ 10:11pm

21. The Problem With Sarah Palin:

    She really doesn't know anything about national and international issues. But neither do probably 80% of the population.

    She sings the sirens song of ignorance to all those who don't know anything, and makes them feel all warm and fuzzy in their stupidity.

    They cheer wildly and blindly, chanting and reciting all the down home and familiar talking points of their masters. The repeated musical pitch of sustained ignorance whipped up to a frenzied pitch.

    This is the problem and the danger of the likes of Sarah Palin. She will not go away after the election. She is the seed of evil and discontent. She is the witch of the right wing neopugs who will conspire to undermine what is right and true.

    The danger that is born and nutured at the foul teat of the lipstick pig will not end on election day.

    Watch and beware. And know that some of us are aware of this and will work tirelessly to defeat these evil works..

    No one does Voodoo like I do..

    Posted by chaoszen at 10/28/2008 @ 11:02pm

22. I just wish we had a 10,000 like Palin, Huckabee, JC Watts, Michael Steele, Laura Ingrahm, Dr Sowell, Walter Williams, and Fred Thompson.

    Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/28/2008 @ 5:19pm

    There is a word for the place you describe here: hell.

    Posted by asian_observer at 10/29/2008 @ 12:04am

23. The 20% of Americans who still think Bushie is doing a good job would probably think just as highly of a Palin Presidency. I mean, who needs competence when you've got authenticity?

    Posted by takemyveepplease at 10/29/2008 @ 12:19am

24. Posted by chaoszen at 10/28/2008 @ 11:02pm

    Exactly.

    Posted by mikecope at 10/29/2008 @ 01:29am

25. The Republican Party's "less government" mantra, doesn't apply when they talk about your individual freedoms of choice.

    We can never forget this and must always keep them in check.

    Posted by Hoot at 10/28/2008 @ 8:45pm

    You are so right on. Well put!

    Posted by Truthman at 10/29/2008 @ 03:32am

26. From what I've seen, Gov Palin remains a better choice for the White House than either Obama or Biden. ... I just wish we had a 10,000 like Palin, Huckabee, JC Watts, Michael Steele, Laura Ingrahm, Dr Sowell, Walter Williams, and Fred Thompson.

    Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/28/2008 @ 5:19p

    This is even a stretch for you LL ....

    "One of John McCain's advisers recently called his running mate Sarah Palin a 'diva' " ... another adviser ups the ante in a conversation with the Politico's Playbook, labeling Palin a 'whack job.' "

    Her claim to foreign experience is being able to see Russia "from her porch." As mayor of Wasilla (ppl ~6000) she did what" (meth capital of AK, and left with a $22 million in debt - or 3700/per capita)

    http://tinyurl.com/5f44l4 (hang on until end - interview with current mayor)

    Posted by leftofcenter at 10/29/2008 @ 03:46am

27. "Hagel may be the only senior Republican elected official who has publicly criticized McCain's choice of Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate."

    Does anyone think this may have something to do with the fact that he's also the only Republican selected for a spot in a prospective Obama Administration? I guess this is what the Dems mean by 'bipartisanship'.

    Posted by pontificus at 10/29/2008 @ 03:59am

28. Posted by leftofcenter at 10/29/2008 @ 03:46am

    It's not a stretch at all. Obama's foreign policy experience is absolute zero. It's a howler that you folks can even drink this kool-aid that Palin is unqualified for VP when your own candidate has absolutely no experience of his own, and he's running for the top from the get-go. Ah, kool-aid in action is awesome thing to behold.

    Posted by pontificus at 10/29/2008 @ 04:02am

29. Hey, can one of the resident leftist shills here explain something to me? Several weeks ago, Obama told me that he was going to give me something for nothing by taxing people making more than $250,000 and giving me some. But last week, that $250,000 for individuals was down to $200,000 for families, and just this week Sen Biden lowered the figure yet again to $150,000. Do any of you folks see a pattern here?

    Posted by pontificus at 10/29/2008 @ 08:30am

30. Obama Accepting Untraceable Donations Contributions Reviewed After Deposits

    By Matthew Mosk Washington Post Staff Writer Wednesday, October 29, 2008; A02

    Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign is allowing donors to use largely untraceable prepaid credit cards that could potentially be used to evade limits on how much an individual is legally allowed to give or to mask a contributor's identity, campaign officials confirmed.

    Faced with a huge influx of donations over the Internet, the campaign has also chosen not to use basic security measures to prevent potentially illegal or anonymous contributions from flowing into its accounts, aides acknowledged. Instead, the campaign is scrutinizing its books for improper donations after the money has been deposited.

    The Obama organization said its extensive review has ensured that the campaign has refunded any improper contributions, and noted that Federal Election Commission rules do not require front-end screening of donations.

    In recent weeks, questionable contributions have created headaches for Obama's accounting team as it has tried to explain why campaign finance filings have included itemized donations from individuals using fake names, such as Es Esh or Doodad Pro. Those revelations prompted conservative bloggers to further test Obama's finance vetting by giving money using the kind of prepaid cards that can be bought at a drugstore and cannot be traced to a donor.

    Posted by pontificus at 10/29/2008 @ 08:54am

31. Posted by pontificus at 10/29/2008 @ 03:

    What positions in the Obama camp have been offered to...

    David Frum?

    David Brooks?

    Peggy Noonan?

    Kathleen Parker?

    Colin Powell?

    Scott McClellan?

    Lincoln Chaffee?

    William Weld?

    Wayne Gilchrest?

    the editors of the Chicago Tribune? (first time in the paper's 161-year history it has backed a Democrat!)

    the editors of the Anchorage Daily News?!?!?!?!

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/29/2008 @ 09:19am

32. you've really just got to love how mccain supporters are leaving themselves a backdoor when ol' johnny mac tanks on election day. "voter fraud" and the validity of obama's campaign coffers seem to be the main talking points, but i wouldn't rule out throwing palin under the double talk express.

    Posted by palehorse67 at 10/29/2008 @ 09:46am

33. We should be talking about how dangerous Crazy Joe Biden is.

    Posted by abell12ct at 10/29/2008 @ 09:52am

34. Posted by abell12ct at 10/29/2008 @ 09:52am

    Why's that, abell?

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/29/2008 @ 10:00am

35. "Read Robert Draper's new blog at GQ for more damning detail on the Sarah Palin saga."

    I read the first line and had to stop. GQ, really? It may be relevant, but I can't take a blog from GQ seriously. Sorry.

    Posted by jayneslilsis at 10/29/2008 @ 10:17am

36. posted by pontificus

    Posted by abell12ct

    President Barak Hussein Obama

    rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?

    Posted by crabwalk at 10/29/2008 @ 10:28am

37. Yes, everyone knows she had little experience when McCain picked her. Neither does anyone else when they start out. I comfortable that anyone with the motivation and gumption to raise 5 kids and still make Governor of a State will do what it takes to quickly come up to speed. Character needs to be taken into account, which Nation speak very self righteously,and it appears, very selectively about all the time on here.

    Hoping Obama wins, but we've not heard the last of this babe.

    Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 10/29/2008 @ 10:28am

38. Uvvy, will you wholeheartedly suport the new Commander in Chief while he conducts military operations in multiple theatres, including getting behind his domestic initiatives, in order to present a united front against threats facing our nation?

    Posted by crabwalk at 10/29/2008 @ 10:31am

39. Actually that question goes out to all the cons.

    Posted by crabwalk at 10/29/2008 @ 10:32am

40. Posted by palehorse67 at 10/29/2008 @ 09:46am

    "voter fraud" and the validity of obama's campaign coffers seem to be the main talking points, "

    So, for you, as an Obama voter, the reporting of the Washington Post which shows probable massive violations of online campaign contributions by the Obama campaign is just 'a talking point'?

    Posted by pontificus at 10/29/2008 @ 10:34am

41. ACOOK throws out hate for ANY criticism of a Republican or conservative...

    but if somebody says "Obama pals around with terrorists" or "Obama is a jihadist Marxist"....

    nary a peep.

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/28/2008 @ 8:47pm

    No. 4, I'm on break, so I'll make this quick.

    What a false assumption. I haven't read or blogged on the Nation in several months. So I don't know what's going on. And you definately are mistaken to say that I throw the "hate" word around when it's only concerning Republicans and/or conservatives.

    Many statements made about Obama being a marxist or jihadist is simply not true true.

    How you came to the conclusion that political rheteric and someone saying they hate a particular candidate are one in the same (irrespective of party affiliation) is beyond me.

    Posted by ACook at 10/29/2008 @ 10:51am

42. How you came to the conclusion that political rheteric and someone saying they hate a particular candidate are one in the same (irrespective of party affiliation) is beyond me.

    Posted by ACook at 10/29/2008 @ 10:51am

    Chimpy and Rove taught us that, after the tutorial by Lee Atwater. Keep up, please.

    Posted by crabwalk at 10/29/2008 @ 11:50am

43. No one has to "hate" a candidate to know they are not intelligent enough, competent enough or experienced enough to be president (and a man 72 years old, a survivor of four melanomas is a huge risk to die in his first term in office) of the United States...especially in these terribly troubled times.

    There is no doubt that Obama is competent enough to be president but there is much doubt about Palin, who attended five schools to even graduate. The woman is a very conservative Christian who is looking toward the "end times". This is not the person I would want trying to run our country with the red button right at her finger's reach.

    We have had one incompetent president for the past eight years. Most of us are looking forward to a president who is truly intelligent to lead the country through these troubled times and in these times of war.

    And we don't need a man with a terrible hair trigger temper in the oval office either. We need someone with a calm head.

    It is certainly not a matter of "hating" anyone. It is a matter of having confidence in the abilities of the one elected.

    Posted by Margie_Miller1 at 10/29/2008 @ 12:31pm

44. Let's be realistic a moment about what conservative thought is, since there is a clear schism between ideological conservatives and intellectual conservatives. William F. Buckley and Edmund Burke were intellectual conservatives. Bill Buckley, upon creating a platform for intellectual conservative thought came into the process with the stated goal of seperating "conservatives from kooks." He succeeded admirably. Intellectual conservative thought revolved around taking personal responsibility, a smaller and less intrusive Federal government, a reluctance to get involved in the personal affairs of people.

    Traditional conservative thought did not and would never have interfered in religious choice, it certainly would never have favored evangelical Christianity over any other organized religion. All of the attendant issues that ideological conservatives strongly push make me feel like we are back in the schoolyard and are picking a fight with folks on matters that are none of my business. Gay marriage as an issue? Ridiculous. It is nothing more than a wedge for strategists to use to divide folks along religious lines. The fact that this issue is pushed over more common sense issues is a testimony to the gullibility and anti-intellectual viewpoint of a certain sector of the US population.

    Now ideologues are confused as to why intellectual conservatives are abandoning McCain. The answer is plain. Senator McCain made the decision to abandon his principles to win an election. His choice of Governor Palin is symptomatic of a desire to win the election without considering the butcher's bill. No matter the argument presented here, I see an anti-intellectual, social idealogue, and a neophyte. She is simply not qualified for the job and you can't get past that.

    Posted by jwcisneros at 10/29/2008 @ 12:40pm

45. "No one has to "hate" a candidate to know they are not intelligent enough, competent enough or experienced enough to be president (and a man 72 years old, a survivor of four melanomas is a huge risk to die in his first term in office) of the United States...especially in these terribly troubled times."

    Posted by Margie_Miller1 at 10/29/2008 @ 12:31pm

    Hummm, didn't you libs use that same philosophy regarding Ronald Reagan? Didn't work, did it?

    Posted by ACook at 10/29/2008 @ 1:24pm

46. The Republican Party's "less government" mantra, doesn't apply when they talk about your individual freedoms of choice.

    We can never forget this and must always keep them in check.

    Posted by Hoot at 10/28/2008 @ 8:45pm

    Well said Hoot...

    Posted by graywolf765 at 10/29/2008 @ 2:42pm

47. Hummm, didn't you libs use that same philosophy regarding Ronald Reagan? Didn't work, did it?

    Some have asserted that Reagan did indeed suffer through a death while in office.... the death of his intellect, while serving as Governor of California -

    Posted by lumenpro at 10/29/2008 @ 2:46pm

48. I think <wink> one would have to be a little rinky-dink in the think department <wink wink> to pick Betty Boop, I mean Sarah Palin, for VP.

    I think <wink> that others can probably see Russia a little better than she can <wink wink>.

    Posted by canadiankid at 10/29/2008 @ 10:20pm

49. Let's not be ridiculous here.

    Comparing Palin's experience to Obama's is completely absurd.

    Palin is a beauty pagent hockey mom / governor of one of the most dispersed states in the country who CLEARLY doesn't know what she's talking about most of the time.

    Obama is a former Constitutional law professor who, despite what you may think of his policies, knows his stuff.

    This 'experience' argument is trite from both sides. Only an incumbent President has the proper 'experience.' Knowledge of issues, on the other hand...

    PalinFail.

    Posted by Scroot at 10/30/2008 @ 11:10am

50. Federal Election Commission rules do not require front-end screening of donations By Matthew Mosk Washington Post Staff Writer Wednesday, October 29, 2008; A02

    shows probable massive violations of online campaign contributions by the Obama campaign Posted by pontificus at 10/29/2008 @ 10:34am

    um. no. contributors may be violating, but the campaign, according to the laws in place, is not. and don't overlook that they are still checking the books, even if it is after the deposit. they do, after all have quite a lot of donations coming in. probably somewhat of a logistical nightmare... but, they still refund. so i can't see where your statement applies.

    Posted by skawtee at 10/30/2008 @ 11:47am

51. increases taxes against Americans Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/29/2008 @ 4:16pm

    ya know, civilization has a price. where exactly do you think we should get funding for roads, schools, defense, etc etc etc. voluntary contributions? pseudo-money created by a massive credit-debt system? massive borrowing from our potential enemies and regimes that clearly go against human rights values we hold so dear? where?

    your not going to change my mind, and im not going to change yours. so maybe stick to concepts and ideas, and stop twisting 'facts' and we can at least have a decent debate. a three percent increase on the wealthy, who get massive breaks anyway, hardly qualifies the inclusive use of "Americans", seeing how they are only a precent or so of the whole. and any increase i myself as a low income person might see, i would willingly pay. another 100 dollars won't kill me. and i am not selfish enough to scream and cry about 'paying for everyone else' to get healthcare and education. you basically end up paying for your own. any of your money that goes for other individuals is a tiny percentage of what you pay. like a few bucks. maybe a couple 100 if your in a higher bracket. and if your so damn selfish that you can't think of offering a paltry sum to better you community and country, then maybe you deserve a right wing utopia, where the second u can't provide everything for your self, for any reason (like health problems) you get left out on the ice to die.

    Posted by skawtee at 10/30/2008 @ 12:02pm