Historians on Palin

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Politico interviewed some political historians about Sarah Palin.

Presidential scholars say she appears to be the least experienced, least credentialed person to join a major-party ticket in the modern era.

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If elected vice president, Palin would appear to have the least amount of experience in federal office or as a governor since John W. Kern, Democrat William Jennings Bryan’s 1908 running mate, who had served for four years in the Indiana state Senate and then four more as city solicitor of Indianapolis. The Democratic ticket lost to Republican standard bearer William Howard Taft and running mate James S. Sherman by an Electoral College spread of 321-162.

7 thoughts on “Historians on Palin”

  1. I guess like many, i’ve sat here and read too much on this neophyte politician turned insta_VP running mate. In that time i’ve noticed three persistent strands in her blazingly brief political career: 1) an ability to tap into and masterfully verbalize the social mood of the day, 2) being persistently underestimated by those with competing interests to her own, and 3) having an ability to think outside her ideology to arrive at practical solutions and to do so with political savvy, always minimizing any backlash from her base.

    Personally, i think she’ll make a few errors on the campaign trail but will ultimately rise to the occasion and hold her own — barring the revelation of any past indiscretions constituting a flagrant abuse of power, an oft too-common error of the newly elected in our frontiers.

    Relative to Biden she can only achieve so much rhetorically; He’s our contemporary Moynihan in the making. But, Biden would do well to treat her with ultra kid-gloves, almost to the point of being patronizing, so as not to appear brutish and to only infer the point of her being inept and naive, without ever saying such for obvious reasons — she’s cute. No one likes to see a bunny squished, just gently brushed aside.

    rob@egoz.org

  2. It’s great to play devil’s advocate, but, please. We’re talking about someone who’s supposed to be able to take over the presidency of the United States at a moment’s notice.

  3. Sort me out here: Isn’t relative inexperience with “the system” one of the reasons why you people were so shit-crazy over Obama in the first place?! What I’m seeing is the democraps throwing at Palin a hell of a lot of the same criticisms the republicunts have thrown at Obama! Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m no fan of McCain (though I’m STILL no fan of Obama), but I do rather like that Palin girl…Certainly a lot more than I like Joe (Damnit where IS my snooze button?) Biden.

  5. First, I wasn’t one of the “you people” who were so “shit-crazy over Obama.” In fact, although I voted for him in the NY primary, I’ve been ambivalent about him. He did just have a damn good week, though.

    But the reasons I like Obama are not his “inexperience with the system.” I like him because he has shown intelligence and good judgment and has put forth a cohesive worldview on the important issues of our day.

    Sarah Palin has given zero thought to foreign policy, and there is no indication she has well-formed views on anything other than (1) the Bible and (2) Alaskan energy policy. Maybe she could be Secretary of Energy, but President of the United States? Come on.

    Furthermore, Obama has been on the national stage for more than two years, and he’s essentially been vetted by the public. Palin has been on the national stage for all of two days, and given the revelations about her gubernatorial abuse of power that are already coming out, it’s clear she wasn’t properly vetted.

    You “rather like that Palin girl,” but you think Biden is unqualified to be president because he’s boring?

    Anyway — I still hope you get well soon. :)

  6. I’m sorry; I’m giggling like a madman over here, and I know it’s COMPLETELY inappropriate. It’s just that, with arms suddenly free from IV’s, I couldn’t resist pushing buttons, and yours just happened to be in front of me. I don’t think I’ve seen you seem that angry in a comment in recent memory! (I mean, please…Nobody my age — not even I in my most bombastic moments — says things like, “I rather like that Palin girl” seriously! That’s the language of our grandfathers — and of the McCain camp, lampooned!) You know enough about me to know that I’m not following anybody’s week in politics. Why, after all, should I care, when I truly want all of the nation’s politicians rounded-up and guillotined (after summary trial for treason, of course)? That said, Obama has had plenty of time on the national stage, whilst being vetted (God help anybody who ever tries to vet me. Why, I’ll…But I digress.), to learn much in the areas where he was not so well-versed. Given the chance, I’m sure young Ms. Palin would do the same; she has, after all, done some impressive work in Alaska, rousting the comfortably corrupt there. I don’t want her running-mate in the White House (I want the White House RAZED!), nor do I want her there anytime soon, but I’m not going to take snipes at her for it.

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