Strapped to the roof of McCain's car

Gail Collins is a New York Times columnist, former member of the editorial board,  and author of a worthwhile book (recommended):  America's Women: 400 Years of Dolls, Drudges, Helpmates and Heroines.   So she's hardly someone who begrudges her fellow woman an exciting and prestigious new job.  But she casts a wicked eye on John McCain's vice presidential choice.

"He was looking for someone who was well prepared to fight against international Islamic extremism, the transcendent issue of our time. And in the end he decided that in good conscience, he was not going to settle for anyone who had not been commander of a state national guard for at least a year and a half. He put down his foot!

"The obvious choice was Palin, the governor of Alaska, whose guard stands as our last best defense against possible attack by the resurgent Russian menace across the Bering Strait.

"Also a woman, but that’s totally beside the point."

Palin does have her good points.  She is better than Mitt Romney.

"There’s a lot we don’t know yet about Palin, and I am personally looking forward to deconstructing her role in the Matanuska Maid Dairy closing crisis. But at first glance, she doesn’t seem much less qualified than Tim Pawlenty, the governor of Minnesota who most people thought was the most likely pick. Unlike Joe Lieberman, Palin is a member of the same party as the presidential candidate. And unlike Mitt Romney, she has never gone on vacation with the family dog strapped to the roof of the car."

Bottom line:  will Palin cause women to leave the Democratic party in droves?  Probably not.  "The idea that women are going to race off to vote for any candidate with the same internal plumbing is both offensive and historically wrong."

And please, please, don't equate her with Hillary Clinton.

"This year, Hillary Clinton took things to a whole new level. She didn’t run for president as a symbol but as the best-prepared candidate in the Democratic pack. Whether you liked her or not, she convinced the nation that women could be qualified to both run the country and be commander in chief. That was an enormous breakthrough, and Palin’s nomination feels, in comparison, like a step back.

"If she’s only on the ticket to try to get disaffected Clinton supporters to cross over, it’s a bad choice. Joe Biden may already be practicing his drop-dead line for the vice-presidential debate: 'I know Hillary Clinton. Hillary Clinton is a friend of mine, and governor, you’re no Hillary Clinton.'"

Comments

[JW]

Palin amounts to a easy-on-the-eyes Phyllis Schafly.

"You've come a long way, baby, to get where you got to today; You've got your own cigarette now, baby, you've come a long, long way".

[PW]

That "you've got your own cigarette now, baby" says it all!

[citizenjane]

I don't think she will appeal to women as much as she will appeal to and energize the extreme religious right. I am already seeing that in messages and discussions with family and friends (as well as Dobson's statement that he is now willing "to pull that lever.) And they can be VERY organized. That's what worries me the most.

[PW]

That's not a silly thing to be worried about. I'm worried about everything connected with this election. Still, I've never seen a campaign as well organized, as focused, and as politically astute as Obama's. We saw that in the GWB election, but I think the Obama machine (not meant pejoratively) is a Maserati to Bush's Hummer-in-a-road-rage.

[citizenjane]

I couldn't agree more, which is why I went to town this morning and joined in the voter registration drive and canvass here in rural New Mexico. I believe that's one of the most important (and under-reported) stories of this campaign. Organization can, and I hope will, make the difference. But I swear, this is nerve-wracking!

[PW]

I had a long conversation yesterday with some friends in the Hondo valley who are flipping out over Obama. Also Schweitzer. Also Michelle. We haven't talked since Palin. But there sure is plenty to laugh about there! As type this, NPR is running a story about independents in 3 states and their reaction to Palin, the campaigns. I get the feeling from what the reporters in each state said that Obama is probably independents' choice because, even among social conservatives, "it's the economy, stupid!" If you missed it, you can hear those interviews on ATC at NPR after the half hour break (8/30).

Good for you, canvassing! What are the demographics in your area?

[citizenjane]

Rio Arriba County, north of Santa Fe all the way to Colorado, largely Hispanic and rural, with a small but growing Anglo population. Historically Democratic, went for Hillary in primary but now slightly leaning Obama over McCain. The best and most plentiful jobs are at the Los Alamos Labs. I didn't expect much from the opening of the Obama office in Espanola last month, compared to the throngs at Santa Fe Obama gatherings, but there was a huge, diverse crowd, caused a traffic jam on Main St -- one of the most heartening experiences of the campaign so far.

Thanks for the heads-up on NPR -- always glad to have those.

[PW]

Lovely area -- I know it a bit. Diverse is certainly the right description. (Environmentally speaking, the part of that area which gets me in the gut, it's so magical, is the maybe 30 miles s of the NM/CO border up to 30 miles n of the border.)