Dear John...

Is it just me or have the Republicans all but conceded that McCain cannot win the election? The infighting and the "every man for himself" approach seems to be the order of the day across the entire party and most prominently with Sarah Palin.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/10/25/mccain-aide-palin-going-rogue/#more-26388

Sarah Palin's political past is littered with those she befriended, used and then betrayed to build her own career. She has settled personal scores through her office, awarded contracts/jobs to the obviously under to non-qualified and basically charged Alaska for her expenses at every turn. McCain tapped her for the role to appeal to disenfranchised female voters and the ultra-conservative religious wing nuts that didn't trust him. He didn't vet her past or ask any pressing questions because he only saw the immediate goal of boosting his ratings among Republicans. A tag line was needed so they revived "Sarah Barracuda" but maybe he should have looked at her past a bit more closely to see that she is really "Sarah Piranha" looking for her next opportunity to promote herself as a presidential candidate in 2012. The McCain campaign has finally been clued into the joke and it's sobering punch line:

A second McCain source tells CNN she appears to now be looking out for herself more than the McCain campaign.
“She is a diva. She takes no advice from anyone,” said this McCain adviser, “she does not have any relationships of trust with any of us, her family or anyone else. Also she is playing for her own future and sees herself as the next leader of the party. Remember: divas trust only unto themselves as they see themselves as the beginning and end of all wisdom.”

I'm not against personal ambition as it’s what motivates people to achieve great things but you absolutely must have some level of proficiency in world affairs/politics to be President. The position requires our leader to have answers to very tough, ambiguous questions which affect millions of Americans and the perception of this country around the world. There are only 2 viewpoints on her qualifications (qualified/grossly unqualified) but I have great reservations with any candidate that can't answer basic questions:

A Palin associate defended her by saying she is “not good at process questions” and that her comments on Michigan and the robo calls were answers to process questions.

This type of "excuse" is unacceptable for a person seeking higher office...especially someone who is one step away from having to sit in the big chair and answer the tough questions without a script or coaching.

Let's put it on the table...John McCain is old and could potentially die in office elevating her to the Presidency. Maybe that's her take on the ticket...join now and if he dies in office then she becomes the President by default. The worst case is she gains the opportunity to get 4 years of experience “leading” the senate. Or maybe her goal has shifted to simply set the works in motion for a 2012 run against Obama because this election is already conceded? Only she knows the answer but I guarantee she will not be able to escape the difficult questions if she actually has to be elected President.

Update: New quote...seems I am not the only one thinking about McCain's age.

"Her numbers have plummeted in our poll ... what's more 55 percent think she's unqualified to serve as president if the need arises, which is a troublesome number given McCain's age," said NBC political director Chuck Todd.