We Have a Ticket!

Yesterday John McCain selected Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as the Republican VP candidate. Like most people south of the Canadian border I don't know much about her. She is young, attractive and seems to have appeal to a large part of the Republican base, the conservatives. She has "walked the walk" in her own life that proves that she is the real deal. But is she "ready" to be president? That is the question that Obama has been pounded with for the last two years and seems to have convinced about half the country that he is. Let's examine history and see who was "ready" when the unexpected happened.

In 1865 Lincoln was assasinated and Andrew Johnson ascended to the Presidency. Times were touch at the end of the Civil War and the beginning of Reconstruction so I can't imagine anyone was ready for that. Johnson was impeached and missed conviction by one vote.

When McKinley was assasinated a young Teddy Roosevelt, 42, became president. I think history has regarded him as one of our best presidents, putting him on the mountain in South Dakota.

Harry Truman was not well regarded when he became President but proved to do a good job and was re-elected.

Then you have those presidents that were elected that did such a fine job. In recent times Carter, Bush 41, Bush 43, and Slick Willie. Where are the Teddys and Harrys when you need them?

Which way will Obama go? If McCain is elected and Palin ascended to the office, would she be ready? Nobody knows how a person will deal with circumstances and decisions required in the complex world. All we have to go on is the CHARACTER of the individual. What I have seen of Obama character is not his stong suit. His life has been one political calculation after another, networking himself to prominence through the likes of Tony Resco, Jeramiah Wright, and Bill Ayers. Then when they are an embarrassment to him he promptly kicks them to the curb. I don't see this in Palin and, because I like her values, I will reserve judgment. I have some homework to do this weekend.