Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Palin and Collins

By now it's abundantly clear that Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) makes a disastrous Vice Presidential nominee.

She's mired in an ethics scandal; her views on social issues are basically reactionary; and she's got the thinnest resume we've seen from a nominee in decades--if not longer.

It was an unconscionably irresponsible pick. Everyone who's looked at her record knows this.

Thankfully, many Republicans are finding the courage to admit it. People like David Frum and Ramesh Ponnuru are passionate, diehard conservatives. But they're clearly spooked by the pick, as they should be, and they've been grown-up enough to voice their doubts.

So what about moderate bipartisan centrist Sen. Susan Collins?

Why is she talking up a pick that even Karl Rove thinks is risky and that BDN termed "puzzling"?

The answer is sad but obvious: As usual, she's more interested in being a loyal soldier than being a voice of reason. She's more interested in being a team player than an independent thinker.

It's not the first time she's put her party before Mainers--far from it. But it's a failure of leadership and judgment just the same.

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