Why? (part 1)

[political rant on]
...does John McCain get to call Barack Obama "unqualified" when he nominates Sarah Palin?

Or am I just not seeing it? Shouldn't every overburdened mom of 5 with a special needs kid get a chance to negotiate a nuclear non-proliferation treaty with Vladimir Putin? As much as I love my mom, I don't think she should be deciding troop levels.

Now, this has nothing to do with her being a woman. This has everything to do with every person who thinks she's qualified because "she's a mom of 5 and knows how to run a family". That's nuts. John McCain is 72 and has survived several bouts with cancer. Has the qualification for leader of the free world now sunk to being able to successfully run a family?

So what, you'll ask, makes a first-term senator from Illinois qualified? Admittedly, on the face of it, not much. However, look further. The man has demonstrated over the last 19 months that he has an acute grasp of the issues. He's demonstrated his ability to pass significant legislation in the Senate. He's shown an ability to inspire millions of people to come to his well-articulated vision. That's why he's qualified.

Obama went to Harvard and was the President of the Harvard Law Review. Not the University of Idaho with a minor in poli-sci. With a job out of school as a sports reporter. Are we joking here?

Is this a Lifetime movie with Kate Jackson?

Please don't tell me Wolf Blitzer is going to sit on his thumbs and let the GOP pretend that Obama and Plain have similar credentials. Please. Please?

Additionally, over the last 19 months Obama has put in the time and made the case. Sarah Palin has not. He's withstood the challenges of far more seasoned opponents, and he's not only still standing, but he's still standing strong. And she only has 8 weeks to attempt to do the same. The American people should demand more.

All of this brings McCain's judgment into serious question. Of course finishing 894 out of 899 at the Naval Academy brings lots of things into question. Not to mention losing 5 jets. What is he, Lloyd Bridges as Admiral Benson from "Hot Shots"? ("You know, I've personally flown over 194 missions and I was shot down on every one. Come to think of it, I've never landed a plane in my life. ")

Did 2000 and 2004 not teach us a lesson? All in all, everything being equal, we're always better going with the smart, intellectually-curious guy. Not the one who put as #2 a total lightweight who advocates teaching creationism in schools and once belonged to a group calling for Alaskan succession.

On Sunday, August 31st, both the McCain campaign and Cindy McCain attempted to make the case that Sarah Palin is qualified on foreign-affairs matters because "Alaska is our closest state to Russia".

Are we serious here? Or has Presidential politics turned into a reality show? I'm embarrassed.