Aug 29 2008
John McCain’s Decision: Sarah Palin
Personal Journal: Room With a View: August 29, 2008
There is poetic justice in nature. Last night was rain-free both in the District and in Denver. D.C. dawned under clouds today; but in the last hour, fog has rolled over the Potomac, obscuring any view of the Lincoln, the Washington, and the Capitol Dome. So goes life from my room with a view.
None of us here got sleep last night. For most, it was a nap right before dawn. Events are being canceled right and left for this evening, mainly because everyone is downright exhausted. We need time to regroup, to refocus, and mainly to collect our thoughts into some form of symmetry. Everyone knows there is much work to do.This morning’s announcement of Sarah Palin as McCain’s choice for vice-president is numbing. It is underscored, for me personally, in the fact that around that very time, I lost sight of the District.
I know much will be written about this choice. I know the days ahead are going to be long. The most glaring aspect of 2008 has become manifest: This is a country divided. We do not view this election through even a remotely similar lens. It is evident that for some, this is truly a game-show; then there are those that still believe it matters. There are those, like my political philosophy friends in Texas who believe presidents and vice-presidents have come to no longer matter. They merely serve as figure heads. Well, that might explain the choice of Sarah Palin.
Then there are those who believe we remain a country of the people, by the people, and for the people… Time will tell.
I have to say that I think the choice of Palin goes against the theory that it doesn’t matter. Actually, it was pretty smart, politically — appeal to female voters who were pining away for Hillary; Palin’s automatically in the energy discussion due to Alaska’s oil, plus now McCain’s camp can also use “change” as a phrase in their campaign, as in look at this — a female vice presidential candidate in the Republican party, change! I do think it matters, the President and Vice President, but I also think that whatever way this election goes, when the next round of elections comes up in two years, we are going to see a backlash against whichever party is in the White House. The country is divided. I don’t know if any candidate could unite us in the two years between now and the elections for Congress. I don’t even know if it can be done by a president in four or eight years either. Ick…where did that cynicism come from?!