Anchorage Daily News Loses Its Mind

You've probably heard, by now, that the Anchorage Daily News endorsed the rookie Senator from Illinois for President.

It's fair to say that this is probably the first time such a small newspaper has been nationally showcased for its Presidential endorsement.

Being that Sarah Palin is the nation's most popular, highly-rated governor of any state in the Union, it bears reading some of the ADN's endorsement text.

Here are some sample paragraphs,

"Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee, brings far more promise to the office. In a time of grave economic crisis, he displays thoughtful analysis, enlists wise counsel and operates with a cool, steady hand. The same cannot be said of Sen. McCain.

Of the two candidates, Sen. Obama better understands the mortgage meltdown's root causes and has the judgment and intelligence to shape a solution, as well as the leadership to rally the country behind it. It is easy to look at Sen. Obama and see a return to the smart, bipartisan economic policies of the last Democratic administration in Washington, which left the country with the momentum of growth and a budget surplus that President George Bush has squandered.

Gov. Palin has shown the country why she has been so successful in her young political career. Passionate, charismatic and indefatigable, she draws huge crowds and sows excitement in her wake. She has made it clear she's a force to be reckoned with, and you can be sure politicians and political professionals across the country have taken note. Her future, in Alaska and on the national stage, seems certain to be played out in the limelight.

Yet despite her formidable gifts, few who have worked closely with the governor would argue she is truly ready to assume command of the most important, powerful nation on earth. To step in and juggle the demands of an economic meltdown, two deadly wars and a deteriorating climate crisis would stretch the governor beyond her range."

Not once did the editorial endorsing the freshman Democratic Senator provide any reference to his experience, accomplishments, or demonstrated ability to do anything that anyone else with intellect and an education could also do.

He "brings.....promise," "enlists wise counsel," "operates with a cool, steady hand" and allegedly (without substantiation) "better understands" the economic situation.

Really? Promise is just that- promise. No substance. What wise counsel? Joe Biden?

Paul Volcker would undoubtedly aid whomever next occupied the Oval Office, but his current client has shown absolutely no grasp of the current economic dilemma.

The only thing Obama has "operated with a cool, steady hand" is his ever-changing image and stances in his primary and general election campaigns.

How odd that the ADN overlooks its own state's governors actual accomplishments. Both as an oil board member, and governor. Even as a municipal mayor.

If a sitting governor with Palin's experience merits the verdict "few....would argue she is truly ready to assume command of the most important, powerful nation on earth," from the ADN, how can an unaccomplished freshman Senator possibly earn the paper's endorsement?

The ADN's endorsement of the Democratic candidate is just the latest and most egregious example of how people seem to take leave of their senses when expressing their preference for the junior Illinois Senator, and the bases for that preference.