From Borowitz Report: Obama Lacks Experience Running 5,000-Person Town in Alaska

http://borowitzreport.com/index.aspx

McCain: Obama Lacks Experience Running 5,000-Person Town in Alaska
Extolls Veep Pick’s Qualifications

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz) used the announcement of his vice-presidential pick, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, to blast the experience of his Democratic rival, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill), arguing that Sen. Obama has never been the mayor of a 5,000-person town.

"The Presidency of the United States of America is the toughest job on the planet," Sen. McCain said. "And my friends, the best testing ground for that job is being the mayor of a 5,000-person town in Alaska."

Sen. McCain unleashed a savage attack on Sen. Obama, claiming that his Democratic opponent would be "at a loss" when faced with the challenges of running a 5000-person municipality in Alaska.

"Let's say a constituent calls you and says that a caribou has wandered onto his front lawn," he said. "My friends, Barack Obama wouldn't know what to do."

He used the hypothetical situation to draw a sharp contrast with his vice-presidential choice: "Sarah Palin would take out her gun and shoot the caribou."

Mr. McCain said that an understanding of foreign affairs, Congress, and other issues that a president has to deal with is "overrated," adding, "That's what ‘Presidency for Dummies' is for."

While saying that her "vast experience" was the main reason he selected Gov. Palin, Sen. McCain said that she also had the other three qualifications he was looking for in a vice president: "She is pro-life, pro-drilling, and willing to housesit."

My Hunch - Republicans Don't Know How To React Yet

So, I just went on the Republican party website www.gop.com and right now there is not even a breaking news on the Palin pick almost an hour after the news has broken. However, they have a feature called "Not Ready 08" that discusses how Obama is not ready. My prediction  - this will change immediately as soon as the party accepts McCain's nomination. My hunch here is that McCain shocked even his own party with this pick. If I were John McCain, I would not go hunting with Dick Cheney this weekend...or anytime soon.

Is Gov. Sarah Palin Ready to be President on Day One?

I can already see what the line of attack by the Democrats will be and that will be, Is Gov. Sarah Palin ready to be President on Day One?

I am still scratching my head on this one. This past month, the McCain campaign has been ruthlessly efficient in attacking Obama as not ready to be president on Day One. I still don't get this one, may be it will become clearer as the days go, but for now, I am totally stunned. Does Palin have a secret power that we don't know? Is she superwoman?! I mean, McCain had a great opportunity, he got to pick last after Obama already picked, he had the luxury of picking a VP nominee that would have the Obama camp reeling in pain, but I bet you the Obama people are scratching their head on this one and saying, "can you believe our good luck?!"

Quick Fact: CNN just confirmed for me, Palin is the second woman to be picked for vice president on a major party and only the second woman after Mondale picked Geraldine Ferraro in I think 1984.

Why Would McCain Pick Palin?

The obvious answer is that he wants to get the disaffected female voters that supported Hillary Clinton and independents. But for the love of me, I can't understand why a 72 year old will pick someone who has only been Governor only two years in a state called Alaska (no offense taken Alaska). If he really wanted to pick a woman, he should have gone with someone who has more experience than Obama you would think.

For months now, the McCain campaign has been arguing that Sen. Obama who has travelled the world, is in the Senate Foreign Committee, has been Senator for almost four years, was a State Senator for ten years, is not ready to be president. To be honest, it was their greatest argument. How can they make that argument now with Palin as the VP nod? I think this was a political miscalculation by Johm McCain. He should have picked Mitt Romney.

Romney - Could have easily won the state of Michigan where is Dad had been a popular Governor. He could have brought a lot of experience on the economy, although some of that would have been fodder for the Democrats. Romney would have been a better and more effective  attack-dog for John McCain. Pawlenty and Rob Portman could also have been better picks.

My gut feeling tells me a lot of conservatives are wondering WTF did McCain just do. Eventually, they will come around and support her and highlight her positives, but I dont see how they can be excited that McCain who will be the oldest president ever elected to a first term would pick someone with such little national and foreign policy experience. I bet you the Obama campaign after the euphoric night yesterday is breathing a huge sigh of relief!

Breaking News: McCain Picks Alaska Governor Sarah Palin

She has been Governor for only two years. She is 44 years old, not well known on the national stage. So what does that do to the Republican's argument that Barack Obama is not ready to be president?

Actually, this is a surprise for most people, myself included. I actually thought it was going to be Mitt Romney or Tim Pawlenty. Why did John McCain pick her? To appeal to women? I don't know. Is that enough to get Hillary Clinton supporters to switch to McCain? I don't know. If McCain wanted a strong female candidate, I think he should have gone with someone like Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson. Anyways, have to check my history books, but this might be the first time the Republican ticket has nominated  a woman to be vice president.

Barack Obama's Acceptance Speech - August 28, 2008

Transcript - From New York Times via CQ Transcripts

Immediate Reaction

Obama Takes Aim at Bush and McCain With a Forceful Call to ‘Change America’ - New York Times

Obama tells huge Dem crowd he'll fix Washington - Associated Press

Obama Claims Historic Nomination - Washington Post

Obama: I'm ready to face John McCain - CNN

Obama blasts Bush’s ‘failed presidency’ - MSNBC

David Gergen says Obama's speech was a 'masterpiece!"

Well, personally, I wasn't sure Barack Obama could step up to the plate, but once again, he proved me wrong. So, no analysis needed here. David Gergen, veteran adviser to both democratic and Republican presidents says as a political speech, it was a "masterpiece!" That about sums it up for now.

Will post transcript and video as soon as I find it.