Early in the campaign John McCain acknowledged his age (72) as being a problem for some and promised to select a running mate who would be ready on day one should something happen to him. In nominating Sarah Palin he failed miserably in keeping that promise to the American people.
Sarah Palin is obviously not ready to be Vice-President or President of the United States (a very possible scenario if they are elected considering John McCain's age and health issues). The McCain camp has tacitly acknowledged that she is not ready by not making her available for press conferences or for any of the Sunday morning talk shows. They are in a hurry-up mode of trying to educate Sarah before she has to face any serious questioners and of course getting her ready for the Vice-Presidential debate with Joe Biden. The problem is, she is not ready now. Not by a long shot. Nor will she be ready by Inauguration Day. Nor will she be ready for a long time to come.
A nominee for Vice-President of the United States should not have to be educated in the closing days of the campaign. With less than 60 days until the election Sarah Palin should already know what she needs to know. She either understands the issues involved with our national economy and with the global economy or she does not. She either understands the issues surrounding health care or she does not. She either understands the issues of the Middle East or she does not. And so on and so on through a long list of issues that the Vice-President should know and understand before the actual election. Sarah Palin just does not have the education, background or experience to step into the Presidency "on day one" or on any other date in the near future.
The fact that John McCain picked someone so inexperienced that they are not even ready yet to face the press boggles the imagination. The fact that the McCain campaign has to do some serious educating before allowing his Vice Presidential nominee to answer questions makes it perfectly clear that Sarah Palin should never have been the nominee.
John McCain broke his promise to the American people. How can we elect him, and his running mate, when we don't have the ability to determine her understanding of the critical issues facing this country? We can't and we shouldn't.
