[Newspoetry] SARAH PALIN IS IRRELEVANT

[DL Emerick]

SARAH PALIN IS IRRELEVANT TO ANY MAJOR ISSUE BEFORE THE NATION.

SHE HAS 
NO BACKGROUND IN NATIONAL DEFENSE, 
NO BACKGROUND IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, 
NO BACKGROUND IN INTELLIGENCE OR HOMELAND SECURITY, 
NO BACKGROUND IN NATIONAL ECONOMIC ISSUES, 
NO BACKGROUND EXCEPT, REALLY, ALASKA AND WASILLA.

THE QUESTIONS AMERICA FACES ARE NOT ONES TO WHICH PALIN HAS ANSWERS. 
PALIN HAS TO CRAM FOR INTERVIEWS ON THE SIMPLEST OF THOSE QUESTIONS --- 
EVEN THEN, SHE DOES NOT BRING HER OWN ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS -- 

AT BEST SHE BRINGS A WATERED DOWN VERSION OF MCCAIN'S OWN ANSWERS.

BUT, THAT IS PRECISELY THE PROBLEM -- 
SHE IS UNPREPARED TO DEBATE AUTHENTICALLY AND INTELLECTUALLY THE ISSUES, 
IN PART BECAUSE SHE HAS NEVER RUN FOR A NATIONAL OFFICE, 
UNLIKE OBAMA, THE CLINTONS, BIDEN, MCCAIN, HUCKABEE, ROMNEY, AND SO ON, 
AND IN PART BECAUSE SHE HAS NOT SPENT MUCH TIME EVER ON THEM.

PIG-IN-A-POKE IS WHAT WE CALL THAT, 
WHEN WE CAN HAVE NO REAL IDEA OF WHAT WE ARE BUYING INTO 
IF WE VOTE FOR MCCAIN AND IF HE DIES AND WE GET PALIN.

IT'S JUST A HUGE OPEN-ENDED RISK OF INCALCULABLE CONSEQUENCES.
BUT, HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS: YOU CAN FORGET THAT RISK IF YOU DON'T ELECT
MCCAIN --

AND, ON THE ISSUES, 
MOST VOTERS WOULD DO FAR BETTER PERSONALLY TO PICK OBAMA, 
BECAUSE OBAMA'S STANCES FAVOR THE PEOPLE.

TAKE HEALTH CARE, FOR INSTANCE. 

MCCAIN'S PLAN WOULD INCREASE YOUR TAXABLE INCOME 
BY THE AMOUNT OF YOUR EMPLOYER'S CONTRIBUTIONS FOR IT, 
ALTHOUGH GRANTING YOU SOME SMALL CREDIT OR DEDUCTION, 
TO OFFSET A TINY PART OF THE TAX INCREASE MCCAIN WOULD IMPOSE ON YOU.
MCCAIN'S BELIEF IS THAT AMERICANS OUGHT TO BUY THEIR OWN HEALTH INSURANCE, 
AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ONLY AID SOME OF THOSE WHO CAN'T AFFORD IT.

MCCAIN BELIEVES THAT PRIVATE SUPPLIERS OF HEALTH CARE DO A BETTER JOB
WITHOUT GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT, DESPITE STRONG CONTRARY EVIDENCE FROM MANY
INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS, THAT THE AMERICAN HEALTH CARE ECONOMY IS HIGHLY
OVERPRICED AND SECOND RATE (IF AT ALL THAT GOOD).

HOW MANY WORKING AMERICANS WANT TO LET MCCAIN INCREASE THEIR TAXES LIKE
THAT, TO MAKE HEALTH CARE LESS AFFORDABLE FOR THEM IN THE FUTURE?

YES, THERE ARE BIG ISSUES AT STAKE IN THIS ELECTION.
IT ISN'T AT ALL A BEAUTY CONTEST IN ALASKA --- 
BECAUSE, IF IT IS, DEMOCRACY AND SELF-GOVERNMENT MEAN NOTHING.
IT'S ISSUES, ALL THE WAY DOWN.

AND THE ONLY CHANCE MCCAIN HAS IN THIS ELECTION IS TO TRY THE POLITICS OF
DISTRACTION, BECAUSE IF THE VOTERS TAKE ANY TIME TO THINK, MCCAIN LOSES BIG
TIME.