By Picking Palin, McCain Embraces Incompetence?

by Deb Cupples | Given that a U.S. vice president actually could have to take over the oval office, presidential candidates really should pick a running mate who solidly demonstrates certain traits -- like competence.  That said, why Sen. John McCain picked as his running mate a person who has demonstrated questionable competence in her past?

As mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, for example, Sarah Palin reportedly botched one of her biggest projects: an indoor sports complex.  The Wall Street Journal reports:

by Deb Cupples | Given that a U.S. vice president actually could have to take over the oval office, presidential candidates really should pick a running mate who solidly demonstrates certain traits -- like competence.  That said, why Sen. John McCain picked as his running mate a person who has demonstrated questionable competence in her past?

by Deb Cupples | Given that a U.S. vice president actually could have to take over the oval office, presidential candidates really should pick a running mate who solidly demonstrates certain traits -- like competence.  That said, why Sen. John McCain picked as his running mate a person who has demonstrated questionable competence in her past?

by Deb Cupples | Given that a U.S. vice president actually could have to take over the oval office, presidential candidates really should pick a running mate who solidly demonstrates certain traits -- like competence.  That said, why Sen. John McCain picked as his running mate a person who has demonstrated questionable competence in her past?

"The biggest project that Sarah Palin undertook as mayor of this small town was an indoor sports complex, where locals played hockey, soccer, and basketball, especially during the long, dark Alaskan winters.

"The only catch was that the city began building roads and installing utilities for the project before it had unchallenged title to the land. The misstep led to years of litigation and at least $1.3 million in extra costs for a small municipality with a small budget. What was to be Ms. Palin's legacy has turned into a financial mess that continues to plague Wasilla." (WSJ)

A competent person would not have made such "missteps."

That's not all then-mayor Palin did.  Though her mayoral campaign slogans included slams against "a  tax-and-spend mentality," when Palin left the mayor's office, she left the tiny town saddled with $20 million in debt.  (Wasilla had fewer than 7,000 citizens and an annual budget of about $20 million.)

Palin also led the charge to increase the local sales tax.  That certainly does evince a tax-and-spend mentality -- along with fiscal irresponsibility.

A member of the Alaska House (who personally likes Palin) wrote this in the Washington Post:

"Add to this a growing sense that the [Alaska] state government isn't running all that well: commissioners and key staffers jumping or being pushed. The operating budget growing 10 percent a year. Policy problems such as high energy costs being papered over with cash giveaways. The governor and her aides being investigated by the legislature. You can see why it's not clear she's a competent governor of Alaska."

Admittedly, that was a Democratic Alaska House member.  Here's what Alaska's Republican State Senate president said (someone who had supported Palin in the past):

"She's not prepared to be governor. How can she be prepared to be vice president or president?...  Look at what she's done to this state. What would she do to the nation?" (ADN)

Of course, none of this is absolute proof that Sarah Palin is downright incompetent, but it certainly does cast doubt on her competence. 

Don't the stakes seem a bit high for Sen. McCain to pick a running mate who brings with her so many question marks?

Memeorandum has commentary.

Comments

[James]

Perhaps she learned something of value from her errors. The Wall Street Journal managed to find a positive spin for the last two paragraphs.

Thanks for keeping good quality going at Buck Naked Politics.

[Guy Blaise]

George Bush was elected by his people twice. The result is this chaotic situation. Now electing McCain/Palin will be another mistake-a continuation of the same politics. America, you have your destiny in your hands.
Stop blaming George Bush and take responsibilities for your actions. As the Yakomas of Central African Republic say,"It's not weeds that choke out the grain, it's the negligence of the farmer."
http://guyblaise.com/

[Deb Cupples]

James,

You're right: she might have learned something of value.

As for the WSJ, well, I've seen it spin stuff before.

[Deb Cupples]

guy,

Are you familiar with the nationwide problems with touchscreen voting machines during election 2004?

[Adam]

More fundamentally: we're talking about someone who is still refusing to do live interviews, and only recently agreed to a celebrity-style puff interview from Charlie Gibson. We're talking about someone who found out about the surge by watching the news. We're talking about someone who recently revealed a fundamental lack of understanding of how the housing market works.

She's critically uninformed about major issues. We can talk all day about her scandals and mistakes, but at the end of the day, the bottom line is that she doesn't have any policy positions because she doesn't know enough.

She was picked for optics and other political reasons. She's unqualified. End of story.

[Deb Cupples]

Adam,

My post doesn't talk about Palin's celebrity appeal, it doesn't talk about her "scandals," and it doesn't argue that she's competent.

Quite the opposite.

[Adam]

True; I was just using your post as a springboard for a parallel rant about Palin's lack of competence.

[Deb Cupples (Buck Naked Politics)]

Hi Adam,

And that "parallel rant" would have stood alone as a solid blog post (with a link or two added).

Not so subtle hint, I know. :)

I just like your writing.

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That said, why Sen. John McCain picked as his running mate a person who has demonstrated questionable competence in her past?