Jaded Sage:

Chuck Todd, the NBC Chief Political Correspondent had the best quote of the day following John McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin as his running mate. He said:

It is obvious John McCain views the vice presidency differently than does George Bush.

This is apparent and a positive thing since America’s citizenry doesn’t select our VPs in the same manner as we do our presidents. This is how we end up with a man like Dick Cheney.

In keeping with this notion it is interesting how the Republicans like to deflect Palin’s lack of experience by harping on Obama’s resume, but the point is ridiculous on one major point. Barack Obama has been campaigning for 18 months in which he was challenged by one of the most skilled politicians in America today, and he won. He was selected by the voters of this country to represent one of the two major parties in America. He has been scrutinized, analyzed, attacked, and smeared. Despite it all he became the Democratic nominee. Even Joe Biden threw his hat in the ring and campaigned for several months, traveling the country and understanding the issues of the day. How can anyone compare this to the environment Sarah Palin comes from? In her acceptance speech on Friday what information did she give on her stance on what is going on in the world and the significant obstacles America faces? It is obvious in this speech her head is still in Alaska, two months from election night. If I were a Republican I would be insulted. To hear the right wingers hail her as a perfect choice because she is a member of the NRA, has extreme views on abortion and is a mom simply makes John McCain seem like a knee-jerk politician who had to find a way to subdue Obama’s rise and throw red meat to his party’s conservatives. McCain only met her twice. Is this the kind of decision making you want from your president? I understand the fact there are few Republicans left who are worthy of becoming president but choosing a half term governor of a state with a population of 600,000 who is fresh from being a mayor of a town of 9000 as the person who is a heartbeat away from running this country is simply irresponsible.

Because she took tough stands against opponents in what is the cage-match known as Alaska politics she received the name Sarahcuda. This goes along with John McCain’s nickname McNasty. Somebody, somewhere must thrust up a sign that reads: McNasty: Sarahcuda 08. Please somebody out there!

Scholars question Palin credentials

Perhaps lost in the vast number of speakers Monday night at the Democratic National Convention was the performance of Republican Jim Leach. Being from the opposing party his speech was in sharp contrast to the speech given by Democrat Zell Miller at the Republican Convention four years ago. With the calmness and delivery of a professor, Leach explained why he was supporting Barack Obama. Leach was the only Republican congressman who wisely voted against the Iraq War. Though not delivered with the same emotion as either Ted Kennedy or Michelle Obama, Leach’s speech contained the most pragmatism. In case you missed it here is the video:

Back in the 19th century, during the heyday of what is known as the Age of Imperialism, the French were masters of a colonial policy known as divide and conquer. In possessions such as Lebanon, Cochin China (SE Asia), and Algeria the French would purposely play off one faction against the other in order to keep the colony fractured, disorganized and dependent on French rule.

In the Presidential race the McCain campaign is attempting to apply the divide and conquer strategy to the Democrats. With ample Hillary voters angered over the primary process, McCain is trying to claim sympathy for Clinton voters in order to woo them over to his side. This is a good strategy, no doubt, but if Democratic voters of any stripe are swayed by this tactic they must realize they are being manipulated by the same people that brought you George Bush who in turn persuaded most of America to support the invasion of Iraq. If I was a Hillary supporter, I  would feel manipulated by this tactic.

Hillary Clinton’s supporters should realize when the two debated there was a razor thin difference between the them. Sure there are personality differences. This will happen anytime two political rivals vie for the same position, especially if it is the most powerful position in the world. It is now time to stop squabbling and begin staring down John McCain, or the Democrats are going to stumble into another defeat.

What does John McCain stand for? What is his platform? Every commercial I see from his campaign is always about Obama. I find it amazing this man has any support at all. I am challenging any McCain voter out there to tell me what policies he is running on. He says he will not raise taxes so how does he plan to run this country? If he doesn’t raise taxes and he wants to continue the Iraq War without paying for it will we continue to deficit spend to the tune of $400 billion a year? McCain is centering his energy policy on drilling for more oil. How is that going to revolutionize our dependence on foreign oil? The big question is what is the core feature of his platform? What are the three components of his platform that he will deliver within the first two years? To understand the nonsensical nature of McCain’s economic plan simply go to his campaign website and read his proposals. Most, in fact, are not really proposals at all. Take for instance this:  JohnMcCain2008.com. He talks about strengthening the dollar but doesn’t say how he plans on doing so. He also is going to tell foreign oil producing nations our dependence on foreign oil will come to an end. Is that a policy? Look how this is worded. Craziness. McCain’s energy plan includes a $300 million prize for anyone who comes up with advanced battery technology. Obama plans to invest $150 billion in the next 10 years to advance technology in plug-in hybrids, promote development of commercial scale renewable energy, encourage energy efficiency, invest in low emissions coal plants, advance the next generation of biofuels and fuel infrastructure, and begin transition to a new digital electricity grid. Now that is a policy. Some would say the government should not be playing such a large role but we now know energy dependence is a national security issue and since when has the government not been involved in making us safer? Obama is honest. He says he plans on raising taxes. If it requires higher taxes to emasculate the Middle East and Venezuela then I am all for it. So I will be waiting for Republicans to tell me what McCain plans to do to solve the problems we now face. I won’t, however, hold my breath.

The news that Bayh and Keane were out of the running as Barrack Obama’s running mates seemed to point in the direction of Joe Biden. As Friday turned into Saturday the news has begun to confirm that fact. Joe Biden would have been the best choice of candidates from either party to be President, so the notion of him being number two makes sense. His expertise in foreign relations compliments Obama’s weakness nicely and no one McCain chooses to be his vice president will be able to out debate (and certainly not out talk) Joe Biden. Though certainly slated to be a potential Secretary of Defense because of his knowledge of world affairs before being chose as VP, Biden will bring a sharp edge to the ticket that many in the Democratic establishment felt was missing in the campaign. Biden does not mince words. Some say he talks too much, which provides his opponents with ammunition. The Democratic party has been seen as too soft in recent elections and Biden’s tough East Coast temperament should give Obama the attack dog his campaign requires. 

One big question is can two Senators win at a time when the legislative branch has record negative ratings? Even McCain has tried to distance himself from the very government body that forged him. You have heard it, “John McCain, the real Maverick.”

Barrack Obama has chosen to forego Evan Bayh of Indiana. Bayh would have been a poor choice simply because he oozes mellowness and it would have landed like a pillow on announcement day. Virginia Governor Tim Keane (who grew up in Overland Park, Kansas) was too much of an unknown. The geography made sense. Obama is attempting to steal Virginia away from the Republicans. Joseph Biden, who commutes to DC everyday from Delaware, doesn’t bring a toss up state into the mix. Biden does, however, bring a feisty presence to the Obama campaign at just the right time.

Acting almost as a counterweight to the peace and harmony of the 2008 Summer Olympics, events in the world seem to be spinning in directions even the CIA must find challenging.

The Russian invasion of their former republic of Georgia this week caused many old enough to recall the Prague Summer of 1968 when Warsaw Pact forces crushed the attempt by Czechoslovakia to liberalize in what was known as the Prague Spring. But the Russians learned much from their WW II foe, Nazi Germany. In almost a rehash of the events that led to the German seizure of Czechoslovakia in 1938, Putin (though no longer President but surely the conductor of recent events) appears to have incited the Russian militias in the Georgian province of South Ossetia to rebel, forcing Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvilli to react. Machiavelli is alive and well in the new Russia. The Russian occupation of Georgian territory was done under the ruse of Georgian oppression of its Russian minorities.

Vladimir Putin has expressed the belief that relinquishing the non-Russian republics was a huge mistake following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Some experts have indicated Russia will continue to use the notion of oppressed Russian minorities throughout the former Russian republics to re-exert Russian dominance along her borders. Though no one believes Putin is a Hitler, he sure is reading from the Fuhrer’s playbook.

Russia, however, may have overplayed its hand. Her other neighbors are now worried they may get the same treatment. In 2004 Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko was poisoned and nearly died. Many believe Yushchenko’s pro-western stance brought about the attack. The Kremlin backed Yushchenko’s advisary. Ukraine has reason to fear the Bear on their border.

Poland has begun to act. They are now asking the US to install an anti-missile defense on their territory; a move surely to infuriate Moscow. These fledgling democracies are turning to the West for assistance in the wake of Russia’s aggressive posture. The dynamics of this new tension are just now beginning to play out.

Another sequence of events whose outcome is less than clear is taking place in Pakistan. General Pervez Musharraf, the long time president and US “ally” will be stepping down within the next couple days. Facing impeachment and losing support among his inner circle, Musharraf is brokering a deal that would allow him to either live in Pakistan with immunity  from prosecution or to live in exile. This is occurring as rival groups are jockeying to fill the void that will be left by Musharraf’s departure. As the US stands on the sidelines waiting for the fallout, there is uncertainty of what America’s relationship with the new leadership will be. At a time of shifting resources from Iraq to Afghanistan, the outcome of the political machinations that is gripping Pakistan will have significant implications in the continuing war against extremism in the region.

With a big foot in the Arab world and another in South Asia the United States is now forced to keep an eye further north in the Caucasus. The Russians have decided to play their hand now, making an already complicated American foreign policy even more so.