A little over 7-years ago, on the morning of September 11, 2001, a commercial airliner crashed into the World Trade Center. About 700 miles away in Florida, the President George W. Bush was told of the incident but yet he continued his photo-opt in a second-grade class room. As he sat in front of the students, the second airliner crashed into the second World Trade Center tower, and his Chief of Staff whispered to him that "America is under attack". Yet, he continued to sit there motionless and had no idea what to do. Remember, at that moment, he did not know whether America is under attacked by car bomb, a ship, a 400 mph plane, or a 15,000 mph ICBM that can come from the enemy within minutes. He was clearly incapable to operate under pressure due to his lack of experience.
Back in Washington, the Vice President Dick Cheney was in control and managing the crisis from the White House Situation Room. He ordered to shutdown all air traffic and even gave order to shoot down any commercial airliners heading toward Washington. Trust me, I am not a Dick Cheney fan, yet on that day, he was "The Man" managing the crisis like a pro with his experience as a former Chief of Staff and former Secretary of Defense.
OK. I forgot. Let's go back to Florida. The President George W. Bush was still sitting in the second-grade classroom wondering what he should do next because no one was telling him what to do.
The Republicans like to say "September 11 changed everything". In some way, it did, but in another way, it did not. If McCain is elected President, it is inevitable that he would travel outside of Washington often. If America is attacked during one of those days, would a Vice President Sarah Palin able to do 1/10 of what Dick Cheney did on that day? I seriously doubt it.
If September 11 changed anything, it is the even more important role of the Vice President. She didn't have to wait for McCain to die so her to step in the spot light. In the post September 11 era, at any moment, the V.P. might have to step in and run the country. I am sorry Sarah, you are no Dick Cheney and you are no Joe Biden either.
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