One of the most endearing aspects of a presidential campaign are the airy, far-fetched claims made by candidates and their wives, in the absence of genuine qualifications, in order to win over voters. Case in point: Cindy McCain defended the lack of experience in national security matters of her husband� s running mate, Alaska governor Sarah Palin, by saying: "Alaska is the closest part of our continent to Russia. So, it's not as if she doesn't understand what's at stake here. It's also about making decisions and be targeted (sic) in what she thinks. She has a great mind. And she has a very serious direction in where she goes (sic)."

Really? I’ll overlook the fact that the second half of the quote is just hot air and bad grammar (what can you expect from a beer heiress and former rodeo queen?), and just consider the first part. Following Cindy’s impeccable reasoning, the governor of Florida knows all about national security because of the presence of Cuba just 90 miles away. And the governors of the states that border Mexico automatically understand what’s at stake regarding this serious issue (my governor, Bill Richardson, actually does have experience in this area, but only because he’s served in national office and at the UN). And let’s not forget the governors of all the northern states that are contiguous with Canada, who can, by Cindy McCain’s reasoning, easily deal with this issue also.

Who knows, national security may not be all that hard to get up to snuff on, and Palin could be a quick study and prove able to handle it. On national issues, she’s an unknown quantity at this point and we’ll learn more about her “great mind” at the Veep debates (although I’m afraid Joe Biden will pull his punches because, well, she is who she is). But not to worry. It’s clear that the real reason she’s been chosen as the Republican vice presidential candidate is not because of her supposed expertise about Russia, but for her bright and shining evangelical credentials, which McCain notably lacks. And evangelicals, of course, are obsessed with so-called “family values”, a rotten-smelling political package that includes hating gays and opposing reproductive freedom for women.

The Rapture Right would never quibble over a tiny detail like Palin’s spectacular lack of experience on almost all national issues, not just national security, or that she would literally be a heartbeat away from the presidency. She’s anti-choice. She’s anti-gay marriage. She goes to church on Sunday and believes in Armageddon. That’s what really counts to these people.

Fasten your seatbelts, folks. It's going to be a rocky road.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080831/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_convention_rdp;_ylt=AtBobpe2_m2x65Pkz6bRZTGs0NUE