CRITERIA

Messages, can be stimulating yet uninspiring. The substance of communication is not only in the skills of an individual to deliver words, but the intelligence in the words delivered. Therefore, being an intellectual, should be a requirement for any candidate vying to become the president of the United States of America. Though such attribute does not necessarily define character, it nevertheless commands attention and inspires respect. It points confidently at one's ability to understand and analyze complex situations and his or her thought process in making informed decisions. As indicative of the last eight years, the position of Leader of the world should never be open to Joe six pack, or like characters.

Excellence is as rewarding as mediocrity is derisive. Though elitist in concept, the option of selectivity should be rightfully reserved in the recruiting of leadership. Ambition is essential in the quest for achievement, but alone, it is an insufficient element. Leading the most powerful nation on earth is not a job for the unprepared. The agendas involved are too intricate for a candidate whose intellectual abilities are lacking.

Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska, despite her Miss Congeniality appeal, is not an intellectual. Her speeches, her rare interviews, and her measured performance at the vice presidential debate clearly confirm that such asset is missing in her credentials. As McCain campaign operatives are busy giving each others high five, it is sad to observe that they are only celebrating their candidate's escape from being ridiculed by her democratic counterpart. While Alaska may be wild about Palin, that State does not offer her the challenges of a city like Chicago, for instance. There are stark differences and conflicting dynamics between those two geographical locations. It is doubtful that Sarah Palin could have ever been elected Mayor of Chicago on her own. However, if elected alongside John McCain, she will be a heartbeat away from joining in immortality, the ranks of women of the caliber of: Golda Meir, Indira Gandhi, Margaret Thatcher to name a few.

Is Sarah Palin really the best, that America has to offer to history?

McCAIN REVISITED

Sarah Palin was not chosen for the Republican VP as the best qualified person for the job. McCain jumped on what he believed to be an opportunity when Obama picked Joe Biden as his running mate, over Hillary Clinton. The choice of Governor Palin offered an arsenal of possibilities for what was Senator McCain’s moribund campaign. Palin’s star like attributes and her newness on the national scene galvanized a surprised media. She sucked the air right out of Obama’s campaign less than twenty four hours after the historic Democratic Convention. Reenergized, McCain could now take the fight to Obama on his own terms. The first order of things was to keep the inquisitive media at bay, while capitalizing on the maximum exposure provided by the frenzy. One of the elements provided by the choice of Sarah Palin is the implications charged concept of a strong white Christian mother of five going against a black man whom many fear to be a Moslem, though he is in reality a Christian. That is subtly obvious in the cinematography of one of the videos approved by McCain, where a dark angry looking Obama is denounced for badgering Sarah Palin and accusing her of lying. The elixir of sexism is another ingredient tossed in the Republican political potion concocted by McCain. The GOP Party Leader is gambling on the idea that American women will instinctively follow the appeal of a down-to-earth woman VP, without intelligently assessing the values of such a pick against their personal interests.

While the McCain strategy may appear conniving to some, it has thus far proven to be very effective and has dropkicked Obama down in the polls. It also opened the door to an aspect of the Senator from Arizona that seems to be inconsistent with the straight talk maverick image he is trying to portray. The specter of the traditional white male manipulating a woman to fulfill his political agenda looms over McClain’s quest for the White House. Palin’s avoidance of the media reveals a disturbingly patronizing insight in John McCain modus operandi. In one hand, the GOP is being set ablaze by the energetic promotion of this new star, a mizzen mast of all those who had already lost hope. On the other hand, the sheltering of her from the media, depicts the lack of confidence McCain’s campaign has in her abilities. The inference in this case, is that she is being aggressively groomed, before she is left on her own. The deduction from that strategy clearly points to the fact that she was not sufficiently vetted by the McCain’s Campaign. It is doubtful, that John McCain would candidly answer the burning questions about those tactics.

Eight years ago, McCain’s candidacy was mercilessly, but effectively trashed by the George Bush Campaign during the Republican Primaries. This time around, he emerged victorious amid a lackluster group of dismal characters vying for the nomination. Uninspired, the Republicans had but given up all hopes to retain the White House. They dispiritedly settled for this self proclaimed maverick as a last resort. At first, he offered very little substance to energize the base. He had a hard time raising much needed campaign funds to compete against the Democrats who were registering record donations. In desperation he accepted help from the one icon, other GOP operatives were keeping away from: George W. Bush. The Democrats interpreted that move as a deal with the Devil. McCain was trailing badly in the polls, until the Sarah Palin phenomenon. Rumors have it that she may have been chosen for him, instead of him making the actual choice. Now, smelling blood, he is shedding his nice guy skin and taking no prisoners. In his quest to become the President of the United States, McCain is burning all the stops. His intensity is bordering recklessness. Iconic behind the scene GOP operative Karl Rove commented on conservative leaning cable news network Fox, that McCain was less than forthcoming in his assertions about Obama.