They spent months attacking Obama as an inexperienced celebrity who isn't ready to lead in a time of war, and then they went and nominated a VP who by their own admission needs to study years "at the feet of the master" before she might, if we're lucky, be ready to lead. They were thinking so short term - let's make an exciting pick that will win the news cycle heading into the convention! That'll show 'em! Ha ha ha! - that they didn't bother to think through how the pick undermines their own narratives.
Be honest here: does anyone really believe that you acquire more foreign policy experience in 2 years as the Governor of Alaska than you do in 4 years as a United States Senator serving on both the Committees on Foreign Relations and on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs? Really? Really?
As Andrew Sullivan has been detailing all weekend, its not even her lack of experience that's the problem. It's a total and complete lack of interest on her part. During a time of war, is this what experience and judgement sound like?
Palin: I've been so focused on state government, I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq. I heard on the news about the new deployments, and while I support our president, Condoleezza Rice and the administration, I want to know that we have an exit plan in place; I want assurances that we are doing all we can to keep our troops safe. Every life lost is such a tragedy. I am very, very proud of the troops we have in Alaska, those fighting overseas for our freedoms, and the families here who are making so many sacrifices.
The problem here is that Camp McCain believed their own hype. They believed that they had already won the argument about experience, and were expecting that the Palin pick would therefore paint Obama into a corner. Assuming that everyone agreed he is inexperienced, there was no way Obama could respond without highlight his own inexperience. But Obama doesn't believe he lacks experience, nor do his supporters, so it was all still very much a question open for debate.
Campaigns are a fight to define the narratives that shape voting decisions, and those questions they frame are not answered until the day our votes are cast. Rather than fight to force voters to consider the question on election day, they assumed the issue had already been settled. It hadn't been - until now.
I told you: It's been decades since McCain has had to run a competitive campaign. He has no idea what he's doing out there. And worse, he thinks his opponent unworthy to compete with him. He's good at appearing on Sunday Talk Shows, but running a campaign? I told you - not so much.
