The differences between the two Parties

I think that Paul Krugman's Op-ED column in today's N Y Times is a perfect comparison of the Nixon-Reagan-Bush-McCain view of political reality and the Democratic view of the class warfare that has become modern politics. Which party is really for the middle class, and which believes in serving the rich with some trickle-down double talk to placate the middle class. Krugman has hit the nail right on.

Colin Powell's comment about Sarah Palin not being ready to serve as President in his Meet-the-Press endorsement of Barack Obama went along with the Krugman article. I think the real issue about Governor Palin tells us more about John McCain and his judgment than even the question of whether Palin has the capacity for the Veep job. He picked her for essentially one reason: Obama had just cinched the nomination which meant that Hillary Clinton was out of the running for '08. McCain had to announce a running mate. The discussion at that time centered on what would happen to the 70 million (?) votes which were supposed to belong to Clinton. It appeared to McCain's handlers that a woman on the Republican ticket would take Hillary's 'locked up' voters, presumably mostly female Democrats and independents.

This can be seen as a not-so-subtle put down of women voters, as though most women will automatically switch to a new female candidate, regardless of the candidate's experience or ability or even party. McCain bowed to his handlers and scuttled his choices of either Romney or Leiberman and went with the Alaska governor. McCain did what he thought he had to do to get elected. I don't think he helped himself one bit.

We'll know how the voters feel in 15 days.