Question to readers -- who should be more embarrassed by these paragraphs -- CBS News, or the McCain campaign?
A month ago, Sally and Chuck Heath's third child, Sarah Palin, a self-proclaimed hockey mom and wildly popular governor of Alaska, was thrust into the national spotlight when John McCain picked her to be his running mate. In the time since, Palin's readiness to be president in the event she and McCain are elected and McCain becomes incapacitated has been widely questioned by Democrats and many in the media. But, in an exclusive interview at their home in Wasilla, Alaska, the Heaths told Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith their daughter is, indeed, ready to occupy the Oval Office at a moment's notice. When asked by Smith about rumblings that Palin isn't ready to be vice president and a heartbeat away from the presidency, Chuck replied, "She's ready to do anything she wants to be. And she perseveres, she works so hard, she learns so fast. Yeah, she -- I -- I don't worry about that at all. That's what I'll tell 'em. Yeah. ... You want some honesty, yeah -- yeah, not a typical politician, get her. Yeah. Yeah." Sally added, "She's got that ability to relate to people. She's diplomatic. She can get her point across."
I'm starting to wonder if the McCain campaign's strategy for Palin is to make her campaign so embarrassing, so Office-level awkward, that she starts to collect pity votes.  On the other hand, I congratulate Palin for earning the whole-hearted support of her parents.  If McCain had been stupid enough to pick me as his VP pick, here's how the story would have read: 
A month ago, the Drezner's first child, Daniel Drezner, a self-proclaimed "blogger father" and tepidly popular professor at Tufts University, was thrust into the national spotlight when John McCain picked him to be his running mate. In the time since, Drezner's readiness to be president do anything remotely managerial in the event he and McCain are elected and McCain becomes incapacitated has been widely questioned by Democrats and many in the media everyone with an IQ over 80. But, in an exclusive interview at their home in Connecticut, the Drezners told Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith their son is, indeed, ready to occupy the Oval Office at a moment's notice -- at least, once he cleans up the bedroom he occupied as a child. When asked by Smith about rumblings that Drezner isn't ready to be vice president and a heartbeat away from the presidency, Daniel's father replied, "Yeah, I don't blame them.  Have you seen this room?  Come over here, take a look.  If he can't organize his closet, how is he going to manage the federal budget?" Daniel's mom added, "It's my fault -- I didn't ask him to do enough cleaning up as a child.  Also, his posture is so poor -- he stoops over way too much.  Could you tell him that for me the next time you see him?  He's not calling us all that much right now.   "Would you like to see his bar mitzvah album?  Are you hungry, Harry?  Some nice brisket, perhaps?"   
 
 
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DR JONES

1:58 PM ET

September 29, 2008

I see you continue to be

I see you continue to be obsessed with Palin. I have news: It's just a human interest story. Just like all the shots of Roberta McCain crying with emotion at the Republican Convention about her son's nomination, and stories about her vibrant old age.

Or just like the stories of papa Bush and W referring to each other as 41 and 43; papa Bush finally handing over Prescott's cuff links to W when W became governor of Texas.

I mean, really Dan, get over it already.

 

BOB ABRAMS

2:25 PM ET

September 29, 2008

Nobody thought Truman was

Nobody thought Truman was ready either. If I remember my history correctly, Truman was a political hack in the Prendegast machine in Kansas City, Mo.

 

APPALLED MODERATE

2:34 PM ET

September 29, 2008

Truman had made his name in

Truman had made his name in the 40s with a committee that investigated waste and fraud in wartime appropriations. A comparison between him and Palin isn't remotely approproiate.

(Spiro Agnew or Calvin Cooledge and Palin seems the more appropriate comparison, though Agnew had a way with alliteration that might give Palin some difficulties.)

 

MDC

2:42 PM ET

September 29, 2008

I wasn't alive then but seem

I wasn't alive then but seem to recall Truman being able to actually put together a coherent sentence.

 

BOB ABRAMS

2:47 PM ET

September 29, 2008

I agree with Appalled

I agree with Appalled Moderate, but I wouldn't write off Palen too quickly. People sometimes rise to the occassion. And maybe McCain will live.

 

BALOK

3:30 PM ET

September 29, 2008

pity points - possibly,

pity points - possibly, either that or they don't have a clue what to do with the thing they've created - still, come Thursday they're gonna be seen as brilliantly cunning strategists or complete idiots cause crowds are gathering to watch this train wreck and if the wreck don't happen I imagine Simple Sarah will once again be seen as McCain's savior.

 

WPH

3:38 PM ET

September 29, 2008

It's not just her parents.

It's not just her parents. After the convention speech, CNN had an exclusive interview with her sister, who was at a bar, and asked what she thought of Palin's speech. She thought it was great! So SP has the approval of both her parents and her sister.

 

JUSTIN K.

4:06 PM ET

September 29, 2008

I agree, bob abrams, that we

I agree, bob abrams, that we shouldn't write off Palen too quickly, before giving a fair hearing.

Palin, on the other hand, has had her time in the spotlight and is clearly unqualified.

 

WALSH

7:33 PM ET

September 29, 2008

Actually, #3, White House

Actually, #3, White House speechwriter (& future NYT columnist) Bill Safire had a way with alliteration. Agnew, however, did know how to deliver lines.

 

BRIAN SCHMIDT

8:10 PM ET

September 29, 2008

#7: good point. Does

#7: good point. Does Drezner have siblings? Where do they weigh in on his readiness?

 

MERGE DIVIDE

10:20 PM ET

September 29, 2008

I have to agree with Dr.

I have to agree with Dr. Jones...

Sarah Palin is just a human interest story. After watching all the conflict and crisis in America today, sometimes you gotta just kick back and take in some empty calories. And you know what? Sarah Palin delivers.

So to all those naysayers and doomsayers and critics out there that can do what they want because it's a free country, Sarah Palin is just going to be Sarah Palin and take on her next challenge:

Charming Voters One at a Time

 

B FRANK · KNOW YOUR ECONOMICS

5:57 AM ET

September 30, 2008

[...] economics-oriented

[...] economics-oriented political scientist, and fast becoming one of my most favourite bloggers. His bit on Sarah Palin getting an endorsement from her parents is hilarious, and a point he made in a [...]

 

STEFAN

7:02 AM ET

September 30, 2008

I see Dr. Jones, you're

I see Dr. Jones,

you're still obsessed with defending Palin.

 

Daniel W. Drezner is professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.

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