Sarah Palin and the prank call: The GOP's self-inflicted November surprise

With no bomb-shell of an October surprise namely a tape coming from Osama bin Laden as was done in the 2004 presidential campaign; a self-inflicted November surprise came about today when Sarah Palin took an active part in a prank phone call unbeknownst to her.

While at first, I thought it to be downright hysterical an anger and disbelief washed over me.  This was indeed the last straw where Americans must question the judgment coming from John McCain in selecting her as his running mate.  I bet you that the Russian president, Vladimir Putin should have a good laugh especially when she said that has “reared his head” over the state she governs.

As many high-level Republicans have called into question her qualifications to lead this nation if God forbid something were to happen to a President McCain, this prank played upon her, reaffirmed for them their opinion of her.

This goes way beyond former Vice President, Dan Quayle spelling potato with an ‘e’ in which he was mocked repeatedly by the press.  I wonder how Dan Quayle is feeling about now?  At least he became an actual vice president where hopefully Palin will not.

In a past piece just shortly after the vice presidential debate, I called into question her winking to the camera which was not the forum to exude her folksy charm especially when foreign leaders are looking on.

I equally called into question her comical skit on “Saturday Night Live” since that too is seen by not only our allies but other governments not friendly to the United States.  There must be a demarcation line that any candidate running for the highest office in the land must not cross-over and her appearance on “SNL” Palin, crossed that line taking part in a skit where someone in a moose costume was shot in front of her.

In the past, she has chided the Democratic candidates Barack Obama and Joe Biden wishing to sit down and talk with our adversaries such as the Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the North Korean President, Kim Jong-il: One must ask given these embarrassing moments, does she have bona fides to even meet with them down the road?  Both presidents do have access to American television as well as Al Qaeda and what must they think?  At least Vice President, Dick Cheney has been taken seriously.

Not only is her campaign staff a complete disaster for not fully vetting this call, but her embarrassing actions are as well.

I have not even addressed her stoking the fires of hate in this piece as I have in prior pieces, but clearly today she showed that she has no business being next in line or a heart beat away from the presidency.  This does not even include her numerous lies in the past concerning the bridge to no-where, the plane sold on Ebay and where she was charged with an abuse of power by the Alaskan legislature.

If I were an undecided voter, I would break as fast as I could for Senator Barack Obama.  If I were a moderate Republican, I would do the same given the fact that she just embarrassed their party or simply stay at home as a protest.

Over the next two days she will be barnstorming on behalf of Senator John McCain and she will deliver tough messages and why voters should vote for their ticket. After today’s prank that was pulled on her, she lost whatever credibility the Republican ticket thought they had.

I would have watched Senator John McCain’s performance on “Saturday Night Live” tonight, but I cannot take our country being further embarrassed by these two.

Lastly, to those members of the Republican Party who have actively spoken out calling into question Sarah Palin’s ability and qualifications to lead this nation, all of you are to be commended for doing so.  At least you were putting country first.

Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net