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Ken M
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
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Topic Author's Original Post - Sep 14, 2008 - 04:40am PT
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This editorial was by George Will, certainly one of the intellectual leaders of the conservatives. I found it among the best low-key analysis of the Palin nomination:
Impulse, Meet Experience
By George F. Will
Wednesday, September 3, 2008; Page A15
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The word "experience" appears 91 times in the Federalist Papers, those distillations of conservative sense and sensibility. Madison, Hamilton and Jay said that truths are "taught" and "corroborated" by experience. These writers were eager to "consult" and be "led" by experience. They spoke of "indubitable" and "unequivocal" lessons from experience, the "testimony" of experience and "the accumulated experience of ages." "Accumulating" experience is "the parent of wisdom" and a "guide" that "justifies," "confirms" and can "admonish." America's Founders were empiricists and students of history who trusted "that best oracle of wisdom, experience," which is humanity's "least fallible guide."
A telling touch, that "least fallible." The Founders represented the sober side of the Enlightenment. They knew, as conservatives do, that all guides are fallible. Hence conservatism's inclination to discern prescriptions in traditions, which are mankind's slow adjustments to the accretion of experiences.
So, Sarah Palin. The man who would be the oldest to embark on a first presidential term has chosen as his possible successor a person of negligible experience.
Any cook can run the state, said Lenin, who was wrong about that, too. America's gentle populists and other sentimental egalitarians postulate that wisdom is easily acquired and hence broadly diffused; therefore anyone with a good heart can deliver good government, which is whatever the public desires. "The people of Nebraska," said the archetypal populist William Jennings Bryan, "are for free silver, and I am for free silver. I will look up the arguments later."
John McCain's opponent is by far the least experienced person to receive a presidential nomination in the 75 years since the federal government became a comprehensively intrusive regulatory state and modern weaponry annihilated the protection the nation derived from time and distance. Which is why McCain's case for his candidacy could, until last Friday, be distilled into two words:
Experience matters.
McCain, who at 72 is 22 years older than Alaskan statehood, is 27 years and six months older than his running mate, who was 8 when Joe Biden was elected to the Senate. But in 1856, James Buchanan, 65, was 29 years and eight months older than his running mate, John Breckinridge, who was 35. Buchanan could run with that stripling because Buchanan was the most qualified person to run for president, before or since.
At least he was if varied experience in high offices fully defines who is "qualified." But it does not.
Buchanan had been a five-term congressman, then ambassador to Russia, then a two-term senator, then secretary of state, then ambassador to Britain. Buchanan then became perhaps the worst president.
Clearly, experience is not sufficient to prove a person "qualified" for the presidency. But it is a necessary component of qualification.
So are two other attributes. One is character. Richard Nixon was qualified by his experience as congressman, senator and vice president, but disqualified by character. The second is a braided mental rope of constitutional sense and political common sense.
In his Denver speech, Barack Obama derided the "discredited Republican philosophy" that he caricatured in four words -- "you're on your own." Then he promised to "keep . . . our toys safe." Among the four candidates for national office, perhaps only Palin might give a Madisonian answer -- one cognizant of the idea that the federal government's powers are limited because they are enumerated -- if asked to identify any provision of the Constitution, other than the First Amendment, that imposes meaningful limits on congressional or executive authority to act.
If so, she would be a good influence on Washington, including McCain. But is there any evidence that she has thought about such matters? McCain's selection of her is applied McCainism -- a visceral judgment by one who is confidently righteous. But the viscera are not the seat of wisdom.
In 1912, McCain's Arizona became the 48th state. In 1959, Palin's Alaska became the 49th. Western conservatism has the libertarian cast of a region still steeped in an individualism natural to frontier spaciousness. But American conservatism depends on what it calls "fusion," the collaboration of libertarians and social conservatives concerned that liberty unleavened by restraints creates a licentious culture. Palin supposedly is fusion in one person.
Many cultural conservatives, who are much of the GOP's base, consider McCain's adherence to their persuasion perfunctory. By his selection of Palin, he got the enthusiasm of the base. But what has he got in Palin?
In coming days he and we will learn from a stern teacher, experience.
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Sep 14, 2008 - 11:08am PT
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You are all commies. Palin kicks moose ass (along with a 30.06).
She is Sally Fields without the habit.
Mystery, Alaska. That says it all.
I went to a boxing match and saw a hockey game break out.
Paul/McKinney 2008. Now that would be a difference.
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Sep 14, 2008 - 11:55am PT
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the Flying Nun was a junkie? say it ain't so Patrick!!
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WoodySt
Trad climber
Riverside
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Sep 14, 2008 - 12:18pm PT
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Go back and read it again. What does Will say about Obama? Many of you have blinders on . Neither Palin or Obama have the necessary experience. However, Palin is on the VP ticket and Obama on the Presidential ticket. It's unsettling how many of you ignore this.
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Sep 14, 2008 - 12:23pm PT
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Woody, go back and read it again, he pretty much pours cold water on all of the four principle candidates... only not Biden by name, interestingly...
but the article is about the Palin candidacy, no doubt about it...
[EDIT] and not about Palin directly, but about what this says about McCain... especially the last line: "In coming days he and we will learn from a stern teacher, experience. "
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HighDesertDJ
Trad climber
Arid-zona
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Sep 14, 2008 - 12:27pm PT
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Woody pretending that there is a distinction between the VP and the Pres tickets is ridiculous. It's a smokescreen to cover up the very obvious hypocrisy that the Republicans like yourself have been banging the "experience is the only important issue" drum for months, and now you find yourselves blindly supporting a candidate with LESS experience than the guy who you were trying to tear down. It's a simple cop out in an attempt to cover your ass. It's bullsh#t.
The VP ticket IS the presidential ticket. You are saying "well if something happens to president A then president B will take over." It's not an internship position, especially when president A is a walking cancer bomb.
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WoodySt
Trad climber
Riverside
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Sep 14, 2008 - 12:33pm PT
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Ed,
I agree it's about Palin primarily. However to harp on Palin's lack of experience for a potential Vice President yet ignore Obama's lack of experience as a Presidential candidate is ridiculous. I stated on ST long ago that neither of these people are experienced enough for the office they may hold after the election. This is the package we have , though,
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Sep 14, 2008 - 12:43pm PT
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hypocrisy
HighDesertDJ, finally, somebody spelled it correctly.
Yes Ed, my son, I'm afraid to say, the Flying Nun did have a habit.
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philo
Trad climber
boulder, co.
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Sep 14, 2008 - 12:46pm PT
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WoodStroke wake up and smell the Moose entrails.
Obama is young, smart and healthy. All things considered he will live out his two term presidency. With wise advisors and an experienced VP he will likely prove to be a truly effective President.
McSame on the other hand is OLD, not smart and is a walking health disaster. With his medical history the odds are he wouldn't live out his term. Which makes the incompetency and inexperience of Palin a critical issue. Who is she likely to bring into a Palin cabinet? As a puppet she is most likely to bring back the Nixon/Reagan/Bush/Shrub criminal element that have done such a disasterous job so far.
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hobo_dan
Social climber
Minnesota
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Sep 14, 2008 - 12:58pm PT
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I think Palin is wonderful entertainment. She and her family are a good punch line and so is the state of alaska- a classic example of the "oil curse" The people wait for their handouts and as long as some money comes into their pockets they do not have a vested relationship with their political leaders. Who cares what they say or do as long as "I got mine, Jack".
McCain will die in office- if not on the campaign trail. He is an old man. The question I feel that you must ask is this: Will President Sara Palin be a good thing for the U.S.A? Will she build a place that you want your children to live in?
McCain already has one foot in the grave and Palin will not do much CPR to keep her self one heart beat away from the White House
murf
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Sep 14, 2008 - 12:59pm PT
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I think Will makes a great read and points out a solid concern regarding experience, the part of the opinion piece that proceeds the line "Experience matters" is an excellent defense (and brilliant appropriation of the founding fathers "that matter") of The Conservative Philosophy.
So the remainder of the article is all the more stinging regarding the choice. That is the central theme of this piece.
The last line of the piece is a bit too precious, but that is what he's in the business for...
but it is a piece that is worth considering by both sides of the aisle as they are challenged, I think equally, by the thoughts expressed.
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WoodySt
Trad climber
Riverside
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Sep 14, 2008 - 02:32pm PT
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Locker,
I've told you time after time, stick with humans. Come on, even in Lucern valley this won't go over.
On the other hand, she'll probably be happy to take out the garbage.
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Bamm_Bamm
Social climber
I'm lost, Please help me!!!
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Sep 14, 2008 - 02:59pm PT
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You think Locker got "Lucky" on his first date?
Or do you think maybe he is just buttering her up to turn her into shoe soles and pork rinds?
Pork rinds and hippy lettuce....mmmmm.....Breakfast of Champions.....
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, Ca.
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Sep 14, 2008 - 04:45pm PT
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Amazing how everybody is a Geroge Will fan suddenly. I'll have to remember how fondly you all think of him.
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HighDesertDJ
Trad climber
Arid-zona
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Sep 14, 2008 - 04:48pm PT
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Hey I have no response to the substance of this thread so I'll pretend that everyone loves George Will instead of agreeing with aspects of his column.
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John Moosie
climber
Beautiful California
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Sep 14, 2008 - 04:51pm PT
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Sometimes he says something smart, but often he is biased.
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, Ca.
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Sep 14, 2008 - 05:16pm PT
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It's a fuking editorial, John, that means OPINION!!! Of course he's biased.
It's funny how you guys love him when he says something you agree with but hate him for being a conservative.
whatever...
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Jaybro
Social climber
wuz real!
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Sep 14, 2008 - 07:58pm PT
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I think she's more gidget than flying nun, YMMV...
maybe both cousins at once. This will never make sense to the under 45 crowd...
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