Letters

摘要

I was pleased by your evenhanded assessment of Sarah Palin's candidacy for the vice presidency ("The Palin Problem," Oct. 13). In setting forth the premise that her candidacy might be little more than a cynical attempt to exploit a populist theme, you quoted a McCain advisor saying she's on the ticket "because she connects with everyday Americans." While Palin is inexperienced as a candidate on the national stage, she has extraordinary political charisma, is an effective campaigner and "connects" with people. These attributes remind me of another politician who was endlessly derided by the media: Ronald Reagan.I must follow up jon meacham's in-sightful article on the readiness of Sarah Palin with a plea to her supporters. It's understandable that many of you like her because she's "one of us" and shares the hockey-mom mentality. But selecting her as our next leader in waiting on such grounds is not rational. Where is her grav-itas? She consistently displays a provincial view of world affairs and a lack of deep awareness or analysis of complex issues. Among numerous problems awaiting the next president, our economy is in dire straits and has triggered a domino effect around the world. Any solutions will surely require a global perspective. During this unprecedented world crisis, please don't put Palin in breathtaking proximity to the most powerful position on the planet.