This week's Meet The Press boils down to the tale of two political figures - President Barack Obama and Governor Sarah Palin. Some conclusions can be made simply from the nature of the topics discussed in relation to each individual. When discussing Mr. Obama, healthcare, the economy, the deficit, international trips and goals while with Ms. Palin the discussion veers toward weather or not stepping down from the Governor's office in Alaska was the right thing to do.
Roger Simon said on today's program that if the Republicans had to choose a candidate for 2012 today, it would be Sarah Palin. He explained that all she would have to beat is Governor Tim Polenty (R-MN), Bobby Jindal of Louisiana (R), and Mitt Romney (R). The pragmatic reading of Mr. Simon's assessment is that those other individuals don't have enough political clout, popularity, or charisma to win the nomination over someone who just quit her political post.
Today's first guest, the MTP champ, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) he was not shocked but a bit surprised that she stepped down. He explained that the Palin family have had to endure unprecedented, sustained person attacks from the media establishment. In the case of Mr. McCain, all of his Palin statements are a defense of self - simply defending his choice of Ms. Palin as the Vice Presidential candidate in 2008. David Gregory asked Mr. McCain if her if resigning as Alaska's Governor was a poor reflection on her leadership ability. He deferred to the Palin line that stepping down was in the best interest of the state. Andrea Mitchell, one of today's roundtablers, said that the residents of Wasilla feel she quit on them and that the label of 'quitter' is going to stick with her.
How could it not? That is what she, in fact, did. Also, I do not think we've gotten the true reasoning for her decision. Personal attacks are a part of being in public office and not being able to stand that heat doesn't speak at all well of one's leadersthip meddle. Project hypothetically, for a moment, Ms. Palin in the Presidential position - how would she react to a serious crisis or to a scandal (inevitable for any administration)? Mr. McCain said that he was confident that she would make a fine President, but again refused to give her any kind of endorsement for future office.
Meanwhile, Mr. Obama is actually taking heat for his policy decisions - on healthcare, the economy and deficit spending, actions in iraq and afghanistan. Now, granted, he is the President and his feet should be felt to the fire but putting these two individuals in the same arena is ridiculous. How many times does it need to be said that these are serious times and serious people need to make serious decisions. Ms. Palin's doings and actions are those of self-interest and despite her saying it is in the best interest for the people of Alaska that she step down is such an illogical argument, that it throws all of her decisions and motivations into question.
On to more serious topics, Mr. McCain called it 'generational theft' again when referring to Mr. Obama's healthcare plan. But how about the bill for two wars? We'll be paying for those for a long time to come - into the next generation so what does that actually mean. 'Generational Theft' is a catchy political phrase, but no politician right now is immune from that charge. He actually called for lower taxes on corporations and said to focus on small businesses. Hmmm... isn't it the corporations that create an untenable situation for many small businesses to survive, making them unable to compete? Karen Hughes, another on today's roundtable, said that there is a fine line between 'mavericky' and quirky (in referring to Sarah Palin), and in the case of Mr. McCain, maverick has succumbed to empty political bluster.
Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) followed Mr. McCain to defend Mr. Obama's policy choices and recent statements that the administration misread the economy. To this point, we've all learned by now that there is not an instant fix and the complexity is so vast that no one has a solution or an amount of sufficient cash to correct any one of the various problems. Mr. Schumer defended the President by saying that he wasn't going to be deterred by an one statistic this week or another, but has his eye on the goal of long-term economic stability - gradually but certainly he said. However, the statistics from week to week are daunting and in front of our face, making them impossible to ignore.
There are complaints that the stimulus has not been used for its intended purpose, that it's not enough, that it's a waste, that it contained too much pork, etc. One thing specifically is that the states have used their respective stimulus amounts to sure up the respective state governments instead of creating jobs. This was to be expected because all the states are short of cash. What people don't know or have seem to have forgotten is that during the Bush Administration, the President drastically cut federal aid to all the states, leaving them to borrow and create bonds that are now worth nothing and hence in grave debt as is the case of California and Pennsylvania to name a few.
The stimulus will take time to work, the American people will have stopped waiting and given up on it when we actually see the fruit of it. Roger Simon said that Mr. Obama now owns the economy, it is no longer a Bush mess to clean up. The President's poll numbers are down and it seems as though nothing at the moment is really working. It almost seems like too much for any one individual to carry on his shoulders. Some relish in saying that Mr. Obama is failing in doing so. What do you think Barack Obama is likely to do in the face of all this? Quit?
Hardly.
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