Dirt Simple

I continue to be amazed by the number of people clamoring to the defense of Sarah Palin, such as those who have been attacking a conservative columnist for suggesting Palin step down. But then, I’m continually flabbergasted by American politics in general. We Canadians are much more fickle in our political allegiances. We will cast our votes purely out of spite, to thumb our noses at the ruling party whenever we feel they’ve grown too big for their britches.

In the United States, politics seems to have more in common with sports. You pick a team (unfortunately, only two are allowed to play), and that is your team, come hell or high water. No matter how poor the current roster of your team may be, you put on the jersey and the funny hat, paint your face, and cheer until your lungs collapse.

Such is the case with the McCain/Palin team right now. Sarah Palin may be a very nice lady, but anyone who says she is qualified to be ‘VP’, let alone ‘P’, is choosing to live in an alternate reality. I saw a t-shirt once sporting the phrase, “I reject your reality, and substitute my own.” I fully expect John McCain to be wearing one at the next debate.

It is a sad state of affairs when a man who would be president can’t even tell a decent lie. Really John? You’ve turned to Sarah Palin for advice many times in the past? Sarah Palin knows more about energy than probably anyone else in the United States? Come on. Every politician should know, if you’re going to tell a good lie, it has to be complex enough that no one can discredit it right off the cuff. It’s called plausible deniability.

Unfortunately for John McCain, his choice of Sarah Palin crossed a line where coming up with plausible lies to justify his choice is next to impossible. Now he seems to be resorting to something akin to Jedi mind tricks.

“Sarah Palin IS qualified to be vice president.”

“You won’t ask Sarah any more difficult questions.”

Sadly, it seems to be working on vast numbers of people.