One promise John McCain can't make

John McCain had several hurdles to overcome in his nomination acceptance speech this evening, not the least of which was that he might suffer in comparison to Sarah Palin's boffo performance Wednesday night.

McCain has overcome challenges throughout his adult life, including some unimaginable for most. But here's one that was laid out for him by the Chicago Sun-Times that asks too much, even of him.

An editorial noted, "On the day a presidential candidate gives the big speech accepting his party's nomination, it is customary for newspapers to weigh in beforehand with editorials telling the candidate what they'd like to hear."

And so it does. "McCain must address one concern above all others tonight: He must convince us he's not going to die. At least not anytime soon. Because his pick for vice president, Sarah Palin, is woefully unprepared to be Leader of the Free World."

Republicans no doubt will note the Sun-Times is one of Barack Obama's hometown papers.

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[Peter]

I cant even remember a good speech McCain has given. I dont think McCain will hold a Candle to Sarah Palin or Mike Huckabee tonight. He is not a great speaker. Probably should not of been the nominee., I am really starting to like Sarah Palin, Ive read a bit of her Bio they have posted and some old videos and pictures at http://www.veeppeek.com., But I am still struggling with all these questions about scandal and her daughters boy friend seems like a little thug.? http://www.hotpres.com We will see, McCain Palin has not earned my vote yet.

[Johnsy]

Facts are facts, and those 72 years are a heavy burden that needs to be addressed seriously, not with a wholly unqualified running mate. Too late for that, tho. Tick. Tock.

[Shag]

McBush is ill-equipped to be president himself. He's sold his soul, and no promotes everything oppopsite of what he previously embraced.

[JLK]

Don, people may wonder why you want to kill off a presidential canidate before he even gets to office. Although you may have a valid point to some people but your comment is without thought.

[nick]

Inpossible. McCain dies (which very well could happen given his age and history of serious health problems) and we will have a leader and commander and cheif that has all of the expierience of a podunk town mayor and a backcountry governor of less than 20 years. That will leave us in the worst state of leadership in the history of the union and will probably only narrowly beat out the current state of leadership we have.

[headlights on]

Hmmm.... McCain's dad died when he was 70 - without being tortured for years.

[DP]

They ask McCain to promise that he won't die... Will Obama promise us that no one unqualified to serve will serve in his administration? If he wins, do we get President Biden from the start?

[Hilary Smith]

Hear this people: Unemployment is up and productivity is up. But…wages are down. That means people are working harder for less because they’re terrified of losing their jobs. This is BS! This is America! In America, I expect legislative trade policy to be the custodian of working-class opportunity.

McCain will continue to support the no-holds-barred free trade which has flooded our markets with cheap imports and driven American industry out of business. Obama will continue this trade model as well, unfortunately, but he will also support the right of workers to more easily protect themselves through labor unions.

If you think strong unions will send jobs overseas, when it comes to some giant corporations, you’re probably right. This would only enhance the competitive capabilities of American small business enterprise. That’s a good thing. America was built for the little guy. In any case, we don't need jobs here that intentionally exploit our citizens.

Obama might not be perfect, but if you’re a working-class person, he is by far the best choice.

[TheTruthGuy]

McCain spoke forcefully about being his own man. He has proven it too, in picking Sarah Palin and other history in the senate. He is supporting and sticking with Palin's family troubles. And Republicans are rallying.

McCain has navigated masterfully.

If Biden attacks Palin, it's bullying. But Palin can attack all day long. She looks like the girl you want to protect from harm. McCain can stay above the fray. Obama looks un-presidential if he attacks Palin. And Palin could spew inaccuracies all day long and feed her base, and even break a few independent minded Dems and undecideds.

If Obama wants to win, he needs to get sharp-teeth, fact based, catchy bite sized messages delivered by equally attractive and more credible female/s out in a hurry to contain what the Republicans are calling their new "Barracuda."

[jilly]

oh plesae, everybody is going to die. if he does while on the job,we have a woman president! Palin is great and she isnt BILLARY!

[nolan]

What about Obama?? He's running for President and has even less experience than Palin. What makes Democrats think he can lead this country...Biden? Both tickets have inexperience but the Democratic Ticket is being headed by the definition of inexperience: Being naive enough to start a run for president...after 144 days in the Senate.

[Marshall]

The idea of McCain as president is bearable. He's competent, a Senator, etc... The idea of him dying in his first term and Palin becoming president is unthinkable. In choosing her as his running mate, he's shown an absolute disregard for the future and security of our republic.

[nolan]

What about Obama?? He's running for President and has even less experience than Palin. What makes Democrats think he can lead this country...Biden? Both tickets have inexperience but the Democratic Ticket is being headed by the definition of inexperience: Being naive enough to start a run for president...after 144 days in the Senate.

[nolan]

What about Obama?? He's running for President and has even less experience than Palin. What makes Democrats think he can lead this country...Biden? Both tickets have inexperience but the Democratic Ticket is being headed by the definition of inexperience: Being naive enough to start a run for president...after 144 days in the Senate.

[Sam]

Hey "Johnsy" here's a fact for you: Palin has more experience than Obama — unequivocally and hands down. Many presidents first serve as governors. Palin has experienced governance at different levels in our democracy —one which your candidate Obama wants to turn into a communist/socialist state.

[Lisa Pease]

That the papers comes from Chicago doesn't make the statements untrue. They're spot on, as even Republicans will admit when they think they're off the record.

Palin is a disaster. As mayor of a town of only 9000, she started with zero debt but ran up $22 million for the little hamlet. How is that even possible? Do we want this woman anywhere NEAR the treasury?

And since when does proximity confer understanding? I couldn't believe the spin that her state was nearest to the Soviet Union, implying some sort of special knowledge as a result. Just ridiculous.

Even die-hard conservatives are finding their happy face wearing thin. Can you blame them?

[jeff clemmer]

if mccain dies, palin will have some of the best resources available to her to lead the country. if mccain gets elected, i'm sure palin will get a crash course on leading our government while he is still alive. plus, she has the entire senate and congress. please remember that the govt. isn't run by one person... i think she'll be okay...PEACE

[Jim]

...and Obama's qualifications [for being President] are? Surely, you are not basing your argument regarding Palin's qualifications on gender. So, it must be an inherent bias of Republican's. The last time I've checked, Obama has not even run a fast-food restaurant - so what makes him more qualified for the Number 1 spot over Palin, who consequently, has been a mayor and is a current governor - managing an 11-billion-dollar budget and numerous departments and employees. Give me a break! No wonder the Times' circulation sucks.

[Dan]

Republicans might also note that the editorialists are correct.

Palin's tackled tough problems, like cutting taxes in a Putin-style economy that didn't have an income tax in the first place, like cutting checks to constituents with exorbitant oil proceeds. She's never sat down for anyone who was willing to drill for oil. She will bring the high-tech economy of canning salmon to the world's doorsteps. Good luck, Bangalore and Beijing, Juneau is the future.

They've got a record of creating the jobs of tomorrow up in Prudho Bay. Learn moose-skinning now. Growth is on the horizon.

[kbird]

Family values (teen pregnancy, unprotected pre-marital sex, adultery, babies making babies). The economy etc.- NO. Insults, lies, distortions, half-truths-Yes. Teen pregnancy, pre-marital sex, adultery- The TRUE family values of the Republican party, You just didn't know it until now

[Drbanks]

Will any LA Times reader please answer the following question:

Name three accomplishments of Barrak H. Obama which qualify him to be President of the United States.

(Please refrain from counting party-line votes, where he merely followed the orders of Democrat-Central-Command) (Hint: don't tire yourself out here).

This not a hard question to answer when applied to Sen. McCain.

Why is mortality NOT an issue when it comes to Sen. Biden, who has survived 2 brain aneurysm operations? If Biden dies will Obama (who totally lacks foreign policy experience) have to rely on his other mentors, Ayers, Wright, Farakhan, Fleger, or will Tony Resko be out of jail by then?

[Rich Johnson]

The double standard between Democrats and Republicans has never been more evident. Can you imagine the firestorm there would be from the left if Sarah Palin were the Democratic VP nominee and the Republicans were attacking her with the same sexist vitriol we see from the Democrats? The Democrats would use the same rhetoric that the right wing religious wackos were trying to tell Palin how to live. I beginning toI think not only was Governor Palin fully vetted, but that this disgusting reaction by the Democrats was anticipated and counted on to cause millions in the middle to be reviled at the crass sexism.

[Kendi J.]

I am SO happy that from now on Republicans will NOT be able to talk so much about teen pregnancy or about family values. I mean, how could they when they have Sarah Palin whose done a LOUSY job raising her OWN kid,who is unmarried and pregnant--and if that weren't enough, they paraded the unmarried couple out on stage--how embarrassing--family values? I think not. They've set the new standard for hypocrisy and now can call themselves the party who paraded a pregnant and unmarred 'baby mama' and her 'baby daddy' onto the stage in front of the world to see. Family values? I think not. I call it family dysfunction and hypocrisy of the highest order. What a Joke--some family values--I think not (lol)..

[Jay]

Palin's speech is meant to show us where she comes from and whether she can play the game. Running for politicial office is a game that takes a really tough person. We 're not talking about a friendly little small town election here. National politics are nasty things where surrogates get to throw venom while the top ticket tries to "play the high road".Two days before the speech, Mrs. Palin's Downs child was dragged through the political gauntlet by liberal blogsite DailyKos. And she took it quite well considering.

As the lower half of the ticket, it's less about her and more about McCain. And I think people underestimate her ability to be president. She's a quick study and is a stickler for values.

[Sternberg]

What is Obama going to promise, considering he is more woefully unprepared for the Presidency than Ms. Palin is?
Ms. Palin comes to us with pretty much the same credentials as did Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, or Harry Truman did when first elevated to the national stage.
She certainly leaves Obama in her wake.