Intelligent Thoughts and Other Insightful Comments

According to RealClearPolitics, John McCain has 2.1% lead in the polls over Barack Obama. While this is a statistical tie between the two candidates it still marks a significant change in the polls. Two weeks ago, Obama had a 4.5% lead in the poll, but more significantly is the decline of his image. Obama has lost his edge in favorable rating and at the same time McCain has seen his likeability increase.

What happened just a little over two weeks ago? -Sarah Palin appeared on the scene. Sarah Barracuda, as she is known up in Alaska, has torn up Obama and cause a backlash against liberals, which has sparked McCain's recent rise.

The Barracuda has had a few mistakes such as her gaffe on national television. Republicans should probably know what the Bush Doctrine is before going on TV. Regardless of this mistake, Palin has been an uncanny choice because she is doing an excellent job at the vice-President's most important role: getting the Presidential candidate elected.

Palin is certainly not the first vice-Presidential candidate to fill this role. Dan Quayle went after Bill Clinton in 1992 by asking voters, "Do you really believe Bill Clinton will tell the truth?" and "Do you trust Bill Clinton to be your president?"While this was part of a losing effort to get George H.W. Bush re-elected, these questions certainly did nothing to enhance Clinton's character.

Spiro Agnew was Richard Nixon's henchman and attacked Nixon's critics with many colorful phrases. Agnew claimed to speak for the "silent majority" and attacked the media as "nattering nabobs of negativism." Agnew energized the conservative base and helped get Nixon elected and re-elected.

Vice-Presidential candidates make great weapons because then the Presidential candidate can distance himself from the attacks, but still reap their benefits. And as long as Sarah Barracuda continues to feast on the Democratic chum, John McCain will continue enjoy leads in the polls.

This article originally appeared on the Looking Glass, a blog published by a class at Hamline University.

In a shocking maverick decision John McCain chose Sarah Palin as his running mate. In her Republican National Convention speech she explains that she brings small town values to the table. Maybe we should take a little closer look at these values:

Maybe political attacks is a small town value because in her RNC speech there were some real doozies. Some of the rhetoric Palin used was pretty nasty. Palin recites a quote from Harry Reid who has apparently stated, "that he can't stand John McCain." Palin continues by explaining that in actuality Reid cannot stand up to McCain and thus McCain is just the man to make the president. Frankly what does Reid have to do with the presidency? Reid isn't running for president, but lets take a pot shot at his character anyways.

A better question might be why can't Gov. Palin's, pregnant 17-year-old, daughter Bristol stand-up? The answer might be that she was too busy bending over for her boyfriend. Although Gov. Palin doesn't bring any foreign policy experience at least she brings Alaskan family values: knocked up daughters and inability to use a condom to Washington.

A lack of foreign policy experience, an excellent ability to take pot shots, and based on her family life problems with domestic policy as well. I hope Sarah Palin has some other great traits that we don't know about if she is going to be "heart beat away" from the presidency.