Potshots show desperation of GOP

John Esperian, Las Vegas

Sunday, Sept. 7, 2008 | 2:05 a.m.

The patronizing efforts of the McCain ticket to deal with Barack Obama become more transparently desperate each day.

Now we have a “pit bull with lipstick” who has always — not sometimes — been proud of her country, a thinly veiled criticism of Michelle Obama’s patriotism.

I would like to ask Ms. Palin how proud she was of U.S. leadership, specifically that of George Bush and Dick Cheney, whose policies the right-wing segment of her party enthusiastically embrace, when we learned of Abu Ghraib, the less than enthusiastic response to the victims of Hurricane Katrina, and the shabby treatment of American vets at Walter Reed. And it’s clear she represents that right wing segment of her party, favoring the inclusion of creationism in high school science classrooms, allegiance to the NRA, and denial of global warming, among other truly questionable views.

Ms. Palin represents exactly what this nation doesn’t need at this time, an arrogant, self-styled pit bull who undoubtedly considers international diplomacy weak-kneed and not up to the standards of manly moose hunting.