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McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin is inexcusable
John McCain's choice of Sarah Palin as a running mate is inexcusable
In effect, an American president is Britain's commander-in-chief, almost as much as he is America's Commander-in-Chief. If he gets the West into a war, it is our boys who die, too. The same goes for the economy. A president's decision can make or break us, as well as them. This has long been marginally the case. But now it is crying-out-loudly the case.
From which it follows that some attention should be paid to Britain's views, along with those of all America's free world allies, when it comes to choosing an American president.
The old idea that this would constitute foreign interference in America's domestic affairs is utterly out of date. In the 21st century, their domestic affairs are also our affairs. If America expects us to follow their lead, the least they can do is to allow us to have some say in whom they choose as leader.
That is why septuagenarian John McCain's - whose health is dicey - choice for his vice-presidential running mate is so utterly inexcusable. For the reckless risk in appointing someone whom he had only met once before is not only America's risk, but ours as well.
Did he consult the allies? Of course not. For even with the little knowledge that was available to him he must have known all too well that her qualities and talents were strictly for local consumption, and almost provocatively off-putting for the rest of the free world.
Clearly, we don't count. Like Caligula, he could make a horse his running mate, and we, the free world, are expected to grin and bear it.
Senator McCain has blundered. Choosing a right-wing wildcard as his running mate may be a smart move to get into the White House, but it won't help him to lead the free world, should he ever get there. ·
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This is another fine article by my favourite columnist. However, Americans will never surrender any decision-making about their leadership choices to outside entities, and perhaps they ought not to be expected to. The solution might lie in educating Americans as to the existence and experience of other countries on this planet. Americans, in general, have no world view and have very little knowledge of anything other than American tripe. Nor are they interested in gaining any such knowledge. They are taught from day one that America is the greatest country in the world, and that America is right and correct in all of its policies and opinions. Some Americans grow beyond this insular state of affairs and lack of knowledge, and they will likely become enlightened Democrats. The rest retain their limited knowledge of anything beyond the latest drivel about Britney Spears and her kids. This is the voting block that the Republicans are appealing to with their pick of Sarah Palin, and one will rarely go wrong in overestimating the stupidity of the American electorate. It will be a very sad and worrysome state of affairs should the McCainiacs win the presidential election.
Let's not forget that dear old Sarah is in favour of Georgia and the Ukraine joining NATO, and that she firmly believes, and has so stated, that if either of them were attacked, then the U.S. and the rest of NATO should declare war on the attacker, which is presumed to be Russia. Of course, America has no problem getting involved in wars that take place on someone else's turf. They might be far less interested in starting World War III had they ever truly suffered the devastation of war in the Good Ole U. S. of A.
Dearest PW, I must thank you for opinion. You state what all of our American media won't dare to. Kiss, kiss.
jim byrd said:
"Her straightforward, direct, and often homespun style is the bain of the left in this country who cannot allow a woman (unless a liberal) to achieve such a high office."
Dear Mr. Byrd,
As a former member of the Republican Party (I am now Independent) I can tell you that Mr. Worthstone's assessment of both McCain and Palin is very much on target.
The Republican Party mis-represents itself as being a conservative body. It has become the party of religious zealots, fiscal irresponsibility,and autocracy.
Despite your being enamored by Governor Palin, there are many of us who have in the short time frame afforded us from the time she was selected by McCain until now learned enough about her background, and her deceitful, often secretive maneuvering to get what she wants. Her religious views might be her own, but her dis-regard for the First Amendment's Establishment clause (separation of church and state) pertains to her belief that Creationism should be taught as science in our public schools and her attempts to remove books from the public library of Wasilla that did not conform to HER religious standards should immediately disqualify her as a potential leader of the U.S. in the event she becomes McCain's replacement.
In addition, as mayor of the town of Wasilla she managed to create a debt load of nearly $20 million for its 7,000 residents, even while securing $28 million in earmarked funds. (For our British friends, earmarks are monies solicited by politicians for pet projects not funded by their local taxes. The reason there is an issue in this case is because McCain and Palin have both made earmarks an issue in their campaign by saying they do not support the practice of funding projects in such a deceitful manner).
As far as Governor Palin's ethical and moral background we will find out more about her and her husband's apparent misuse of power while she has been governor trying to get her ex-brother-in-law fired from his job as an Alaska State Trooper when the investigative report is made public in a few weeks.
Hello again PW! I have just had the time to re-read your article, and do honestly feel I have misjudged you. I took your criticisms of the appointment of Sarah Palin at face value, and as your honestly held appraisal of the situation. I now see that was not the case, and that it is the article of an extremely worried and rather ill-informed man. The earlier contributor who said that you are 10m years out of date is being charitable. As one of our American friends said earlier, Palin seems to have taken the USA by storm, and I'm not surprised. People the world over are fed up to the back teeth with so-called 'Professional Politicians' and their lies, broken promises, posturing and downright expediency. Perhaps it's time to do away with the lot of them, [ both here and over there], and let the ordinary non-politicians have a go. They could hardly do worse !! And your statement that America should consider the opinions of other countries is so naive as to be laughable. The great Political Philosopher, Thomas Hobbs, used to say that everyone had an unquestionable duty to do whetever was the best for himself and his family, irrespective of how other people felt. I'm sure the same applies to a country. Would we consider whether or not the Americans would favour a Political appointment over here ?
Dear Mr Worsthorne,
We probably are from the same pre-WWII generation. I fondly remember the droves of Tommies, as we called them, flying over from England to bomb Germany. Our only hope during the very dark days of occupation. How about returning to those days when England was a leader? Is it not time for Europe, including England, to stand on their own two feet, instead of hiding behind the trousers (skirts?) of Uncle Sam? Plse find another Churchill and you will not need to worry about the White House. Rgds Bob Visser Joburg.
As an American who daily reads The First Post Daily for YOUR view of the world, let me propose that Mr. Gilbert Lewis' assertion of Mr. McCain's health is news on this shore. Age can be called into question, but his health is amazing to most of us following the daily goings on.
I am not one to write a response but this column is gibberish. Mr Worsthorne's judgement is perhaps premature on Ms Palin and certainly surprises me to hear such knowledge of her capabilities from so far away. Even the American press, with their love for Barack Obama and 300 reporters digging through Palin's trash cans, cannot find as deep a rub as Mr Worsthorne. I agree that our countries' futures are intertwined and I disagree that McCain or any other leader of the US need consult the Allies as to who his VP candidate should be. McCain's job is to win this election and preserve our country's ability to lead the world as we seem blamed and blessed to do. I suggest Mr Worsthorne return to his keyboard and deal up something of which he has some knowledge, or return to America for a visit and get a feel for the actual 'on the ground' situation. If the free world is depending on analysis such as this column to educate and help, I suggest we remember this is filed under the heading of 'opinion' and remember 'facts' are not required.
I would agree that we as a country could and would want to listen to Britain's views, but I am not sure "Britain" has better views on short notice such as this and perhaps Mr Worsthorne should not disguise his opinions as those of Britain or the Allies. Our country has been smitten by Palin, to the dismay of most of the left. Her straightforward, direct, and often homespun style is the bain of the left in this country who cannot allow a woman (unless a liberal) to achieve such a high office. I wonder what Worsthorne thought of the most able female leader the world has known to date, Margaret Thatcher? Perhaps accepting that a woman can run the country which will in effect control Britain's future is a problem Mr Worsthorne can learn to live with. Hillary was a 'brand' created on the coattails of her husband. Sarah is here on her own will and skills. It may be time for a change bigger than anyone has projected.
Spot on Mr Worsthorne. America sneezes and the rest of the world gets a cold. Mc Kain has shown how unfit he is to be leader of the free world by his poor judgment in choice of a running mate. He has shown his contempt not only for the rest of the world, but also his fellow Americans.
Yolande M. Agble
Worsthorne is well past (about ten years) his 'best before' date & constitutes a threat to Health & Safety Regulations. He is one of the breed that took the 'Great' out of Great Britain & brought this country to its miserable knees.
Mr Worsthorne strikes to the heart of the matter with his usual deadly accuracy. Let's pray the American people stop and think before they pull the lever to vote.
Bravo Mr. Worsthorne - you have said what must be said, but has not been said by other commentators.
Mrs Palin's obvious unsuitability due to lack of competence, and narrow political philosophy is made even worse considering the health of John McCain, and the strong possibility of her ascendance to the Presidency following McCain's not unlikely death in office.
This also calls into question John McCain's judgment in choosing Mrs. Palin, and rules him out as a potential President.
Barack Obama and the Democrats must now take of the gloves, and attack the inadequacies of McCain and Palin head on. Pussyfooting around the issue will provide the space for Palin's demagoguery to be effective.
Obama outsmarted Hilary Clinton: a much more formidable operator then Mrs Palin, so I think he has the ability to ensure that Mrs Palin's claim grandest claim to fame will be the least well remembered Vice Presidential candidate.
I have always enjoyed Mr Worsthorne's articles, but on the American Election he is so Pro Dem, and Anti-Republican that unfortunately it makes his writings lose credibility as an impartial commentator, which I had assumed, possibly mistakenly, that he was. He may say that he isn't, in which case he should declare his affiliations before putting pen to paper. [Or fingers to keyboard !] But I suppose as a Senior Journalist, he can do and say as he wants ! But I can vote with my feet and not bother to read him anymore. Which is a pity.