Jack & Jill Politics

via WaPo

With the vice presidential candidates set to square off today in their only scheduled debate, public assessments of Sarah Palin‘s readiness have plummeted, and she may now be a drag on the Republican ticket among key voter groups, according to a new Washington Post–ABC News poll.

This is unsurprising and wonderful, and it makes me want to shove the news in the faces of many progressives I heard from who were eager to label Palin’s choice a “brilliant” move on McCain’s part who would stymie the Obama campaign and make it impossible for Obama to win. I mean, I heard this from people the day she was announced, when no one knew anything.

At the time, I told many of these folks to just wait for people to get to know her, and the more people know her, the less they like her. The race isn’t over, but McCain’s gamble has proved effective only in the very short term. What happened to all those Hillary supporters Palin was supposed to attract? Nothing. She’s not picking up the support of women. Her support among Southern Republicans is tanking:

“She’s not prepared at all,” Thomas, 70, said as he loaded groceries into his car outside a Sam’s Club warehouse store on the outskirts of Huntsville. He said listening to Palin argue that Alaska’s proximity to Russia was a foreign policy credential “frightened me to death.”

“I went out on the golf course Thursday and that was what everyone was talking about,” Thomas said. “They’re very frightened about McCain and his age … and to have Palin a heartbeat away.”

…

Among likely Republican voters nationally, those who found Palin qualified dropped from 75 percent to just 47 percent

The mainstream media have been so offended at being cut out of the process, they are calling Palin and McCain on their b.s. I mean have you been watching the Katie Couric interviews? This is Katie Couric, not Greg Palast! Couric is supposed to make you feel good and comfy in the morning before you’ve come to your senses, and Palin can’t handle simple questions from KATIE COURIC.

Palin does not know what the hell she is talking about. Ever. I hope we’ve all calmed down and can patiently watch this trainwreck come to pass. Nice job, Maverick. Way to put your country first.

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