Debunking another meme about Palin: the "was she vetted" nonsense

I would really like to see someone provide a coherent explanation of how a pick that has united and energized the GOP while driving the left into counterproductive apoplexy is a misstep by McCain.

Can do, Simon! It's a "misstep" because he's failing to follow the generic opposition-candidate script that the left wrote for him, and is flubbing his lines by not being an utter bumbling incompetent, falling over his own feet on cue from Stage Left.

Sweet mother of pearl, can't the man take stage directions? :-)

I vote for misstep (the good thing about this debate is we'll have a pretty good answer come November).

First, whether she was vetted or not is irrelevant; you can find stories from both side on the issue--the point is the McCain campaign seems unsure and caught off-guard over the pick (eg, the news that now McCain is sending a team to Alaska), the pathetic trumping of her national security bona-fides etc. (see, eg, for an embarrassing example that's been floating around). She may be a great VP, and McCain/Palin may be better executives in the end than Obama/Biden, but the handling of this is incredibly bad by the McCain campaign.

Second, she certainly was a surprise pick to the media, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, except that now all the media scrutiny, rumors etc. come out after the pick is made, as opposed to three months ago. She has never been under any intense national media scrutiny before, and for better or worse, a media misstep over the next few months that doesn't have time to leave the news cycle by the election can be deadly (for example, everyone knows that Biden is a blowhard, plagarized, etc., abut if this came out for the first time in late September, it would be very bad for Obama's chances). Again, if McCain wins, especially if by more than a few % points, it was a brilliant move, but only time will really tell.

Third, the lack of experience argument was a good one to use against Obama (I'm an Obama supporter and it's my biggest reservation). Obama picking Biden and McCain picking Palin basically neutralizes that argument entirely--ie, how important can experience really be to the McCain campaign?

fourth, the narrative is out there that this was an impulsive, gambler's, kind of pick (see, eg, Bill Kristol). If Palin turns out to be a dud of a pick, I could very easily see the McCain narrative turning into "McCain is another Bush who thinks with gut instead of his head". Again, if Palin is a quick learner and charms everyone, well, people love a winning gamble. It's just that, it I were a McCain supporter who knew nothing about Palin, I'd be very worried.

Want to take on Frank Rich, who seemed to have inadequately vetted his daily column?