Debate Day & The Issue of the Red Veep

After much posturing and finagling on the part of the McCain campaign, the distinguished senator from Arizona announced this afternoon that he would, in fact, attend the scheduled debate tonight with Senator Obama in Mississippi.

From CNN.com:

Obama clearly goes into the first debate with a clear advantage in the issues. The new poll suggests 60 percent of voters say that the Illinois senator agrees with them on the issues. Voters say they trust McCain more than Obama in international issues like Iraq and terrorism — but Obama has a clear 10-point edge (53-43 percent) on the overriding issue of the day: the economy. (In a CNN/ORC poll released Thursday, 56 percent of Americans said the economy was the No. 1 issue.)

But the two candidates are statistically tied on the question of whether voters feel they possess the personal qualities a president should have (62 percent say McCain does, while 64 percent say Obama does.) And in good news for McCain, voters are also tied on what they care more about in this election — issues or personal qualities. Forty-three percent of voters say that the candidates' leadership skills and vision is more important to them than issues; 42 percent say issues are more important.

Those numbers aren't too surprising.  The following poll from CNN.com today, however, is very surprising - and extraordinarily distressing to this blogger:

Americans are also split when it comes to the vice presidential debate, with 48 percent saying Joe Biden is the likely winner and 46 percent giving the edge to Sarah Palin.

46%?  Are you &#$%ing kidding me?!  Sarah Palin has appeared in fewer interviews since being introduced as McCain's trophy vice in August than comedian Chris Rock appeared in yesterday. Those few, cringe-inducing interviews that she has done - with Katie Couric and Charlie Gibson - were without question the most clear cut examples of how truly far Governor Palin is in over her head in this campaign.  Her answers to Couric & Gibson's (rather basic) questions were a garbled mess of irrelevant talking points and unrelated issues.  She looks like a wide-eyed high-school quarterback lined up against the Indianapolis Colts defense.  She's not even in the same league as Joe Biden, and some pollster at CNN came up with a block of Americans, 46% of whom think Mrs. Palin is more suited to win a United States vice-presidential debate against six-term U.S Senator Joe Biden.

This is why the presidential race is as close as it is:  Millions of Americans don't have the slightest idea what they're talking about when they support major political candidates.  They frame their opinions on irrelevant issues such as the "feelings" they get by listening to them speak, or worse, they simply vote for whichever candidate gets pushed forth by their respective political party.  Any rational person who has seen both Governor Palin and Senator Biden talking about real policy issues would agree that the Governor is hosed.  Even conservative columnist Kathleen Parker, a once earnest supporter of Palin, thinks she should drop out of the race.

Palin's recent interviews with Charles Gibson, Sean Hannity, and now Katie Couric have all revealed an attractive, earnest, confident candidate. Who Is Clearly Out Of Her League.

No one hates saying that more than I do. Like so many women, I've been pulling for Palin, wishing her the best, hoping she will perform brilliantly. I've also noticed that I watch her interviews with the held breath of an anxious parent, my finger poised over the mute button in case it gets too painful. Unfortunately, it often does. My cringe reflex is exhausted.

Palin filibusters. She repeats words, filling space with deadwood. Cut the verbiage and there's not much content there.

Only Palin can save McCain, her party, and the country she loves. She can bow out for personal reasons, perhaps because she wants to spend more time with her newborn. No one would criticize a mother who puts her family first.

Let's be clear - I'm a fervent Obama supporter, but after the last eight years, I am well aware that wholly unqualified individuals can attain high-ranking office in this country by duping millions of Americans into believing they are someone (or something) other than who they really are.  The damage that George W. Bush has done to this country is mind-boggling.  That's why I feel that Governor Palin must drop out of this race.  There is a chance that the 72-year old McCain could win this thing, and if he does there's a reasonable chance he doesn't make it through his term(s) as president.   If he truly loves this country like he says he does, his first choice of veep needs to go, and go now.