So John McCain picks Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his Vice-Presidential nominee. I know nothing about her, so will suspend judgment. But she is a woman, which is fantastic. The U.S. will either have an African-American President or a female Vice-President, which is the kind of history that should have been made long ago; so kudos to McCain for his courage in making that choice.
Beyond that, there are just a few tidbits that seem to be trotted out in all the stories about Palin. She is very firmly pro-life. Unless you are a polar bear. She is in favor of domestic partnerships, although against gay marriage (which puts her in the official Democratic position). She’s been embroiled in some sort of scandal, although it’s always hard to tell at first glance how serious those things should be taken. Perhaps her signature issue, as far as national politics is concerned, is drilling for oil all over the place — she’s in favor.
One might wonder whether McCain undermines his message of the importance of experience by picking a 44-year old governor with no national experience at all. But one might wonder whether Obama undermined his message of bringing change to Washington by choosing a white male Washington lifer from the Northeast; so clearly the McCain camp thought this was worth the risk. We might learn terrible or wonderful things about her in the next few months, but for the moment this seems superficially like a more palatable pick than any of the bigger Republican names that had been floating around — clearly it was in McCain’s eyes. (Brad DeLong wonders whether a similar line of reasoning didn’t leave us with Dan Quayle twenty years ago.)
Update: I originally included a link to this YouTube video of Palin making Craig Ferguson an honorary citizen of Alaska, which I think speaks to her sense of humor. But it also involves Ferguson making jokes about her giving off a sexy librarian vibe, which is fine in the context of a late-night comedy show, but isn’t a fair first impression for a female candidate for a major national office. All sorts of jokes will doubtless be on their way, we might as well make some meager effort to start things off with more substantive considerations.
Update again: Because I don’t know anything about Palin, I’ve tried to be open-minded about the pick. But 24 hours later, the obvious first conclusion to which one is tempted to jump appears increasingly correct: this is a person who has no business being anywhere near a national ticket. Sufficient evidence for this conclusion comes from the words of her supporters, along the lines of: Sure, she’s woefully underqualified, but in all probability John McCain will live for at least another four years! And if he doesn’t, we’re sure she will have the good sense to resign.
I wonder how many times she has visited Iraq to get the facts on the ground?
August 29th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Sarah Palin — Ready to Lead
Sean,
I agree that now history will be made whoever wins, which is pretty remarkable, but from a practical standpoint the only rational explanation for this is that the internal polling numbers in the McCain camp must show him behind by enough in important states so that a roll of the dice became necessary.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
She wants creationism taught in schools and is strongly anti-choice. It’s pretty clear this is caving to the social conservatives.
The Biden-Palin debates will be wildly entertaining … she has zero foreign policy experience and will be a heartbeat away (a 72 yr-old’s hearbeat) from running this country. That makes me shudder with fear.
Maybe this choice is good politically for McCain … time will tell … but, it’s absolutely horrible for the United States.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Too bad her record of supporting science initiatives is abysmal…
August 29th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
So history repeats itself. Once again McCain turns to a younger attractive woman to help his political career.
e.
The new GOP bumper stickers are going to read “The Pale One and Palin”
August 29th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Here is a substantive consideration: when asked about teaching creationism or evolution in schools during the Alaska gubernatorial election she said: “Teach both. You know, don’t be afraid of information. ”
That immediately disqualifies her in my mind, no matter what her other views are.
http://scienceblogs.com/afarensis/2006/10/27/intelligent_design_and_the_ala/
August 29th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
I fear that this is not as bad (strategically) a pick as it first seems to many, possible wishful and insufficiently canny, commenters. They can say that Palin has “some real experience as an executive” versus the legislative-only (?) ticket of BO-Joe. It will be hard to criticize her for “lack of experience” due to that and Obama’s own vulnerability. (However, many commenters got hip to the strategy of accusing McCain of hypocrisy/double-standard about that issue, instead.) Many women will be attracted to the idea, especially if they were on the fence before.
We can only hope that it looks like the pandering it is to enough voters, and that enough voters (take note Hillary supporters) realize that McCain-Palin would suppress abortion rights strongly given what they say they believe.
Almost transparently, this has Rove-bullet’s “fingerprints all over it” - the cynical pandering move, done as a political stunt. McCain clearly looks like a prick (metaphorically at least.)
Go BO-Joe!
August 29th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Neil B. says: “It will be hard to criticize her for “lack of experience” due to that and Obama’s own vulnerability.”
Perhaps … but what this choice does is potentially diminish the effectiveness of the Obama-is-inexperienced meme coming from the McCain camp. This has been a cornerstone of their campaign … this was a meme I figured they’d repeat ad naseum until election day. It’s difficult to see that working as well now. Sure, maybe Obama doesn’t have decades of experience, but 4 yrs in D.C. preceded by several yrs in Illinois state gov’t is significantly more than 1.5 yrs as governor of Alaska preceded by major of a town w/ 9,000 people.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
I am delighted that McCain took the gutsy move to choose Palin as his VP. It has given me hope and a reason to vote for MCain. Heck, she is the governor of the biggest state of the nation, a working mother who has been able to balance her career while still being a mother of five! Her son is about to be sent to Irak and is a mother of a child with down’s syndrome. What an incredible woman.
August 29th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Perhaps it does not matter who is president - could it be that it is an “honorary” office ?!? - The masses must be entertained.
August 29th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Well I guess we’ve just been guaranteed that the rest of the election cycle will be interesting.
Really though, good for her. I will be voting in this election on policy of course and can’t say I agree with many of hers, but it’s heartening that in America even our conservative party does stuff like this.
(Also had a friend just shout behind me “but who will all the racist AND sexist bigots vote for now?!” Good question.
)
August 29th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Maria says: “What an incredible woman.”
Who cares? So is my mom … but she’s not qualified to be VP.
August 29th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Actually, I think McCain did flub up in the long run after all. I think there’s a simple and easy strategy Democrats could use to show the country that John McCain is playing games with the voters just to get elected. It takes a few steps:
1. Ask, and maybe even him directly too: Would John McCain have picked Sarah Palin if, having all the same background, she wasn’t a woman? No, really, of course not - some guy like that just wouldn’t have been the Veep choice “and we all know it.” So,
2. That shows that John McCain was pandering, trying to pull a “See what a cute smart-ass I am, diddling with Hillary supporters and sticking my tongue out at Barack Obama.” My mother said, he “looked pleased as punch,” with a big smug smart-alec’s smirk on his face.
3. Once voters realize that John McCain was pandering like that, taking chances with the well-being of the nation just to play election games, enough of them will be outraged enough to say, no way I will vote for an jackass like that.
August 29th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
I’m delighted by this choice as well - I think it’s a great boost for the Dems! McCain has ceded the cornerstone issue of his campaign (experience) and added an ultra-conservative wild card to the ticket. This should scare off plenty of independent voters. The only problem is that if McCain is elected it is now a much more frightening situation.
August 29th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Well, presumably she’s talking about Sedna and Raven and whatnot. I’m not all that strong on Inuit lore, so it can’t hurt to teach it.
August 29th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
An absolutely brilliant move by the McCain campaign. A VP pick designed solely to pander to female votes as a political ploy, but one that will be portrayed as a bold and gutsy choice that will empower women, and allow McCain to show that he relates more to the common man. This could very well win him the election in November.
…I weep for America’s future. I really, and truly do.
August 29th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
I think she is a good choice, politically. Reinforces the maverick image while exciting the base. And she seems likeable and smart. Too bad both she and McCain are kooks. The McCain administration seems like it could potentially be even more disasterous than the current one.
August 29th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
I think Mccain’s choice borders on insanity. Apparently Mccain thinks he is invincible. He’s had skin cancer recently, he’s got bad cholesterol numbers, he’s 72. He should have chosen someone with more experience. This woman would be President should anything (G-forbid) happen to him. She has been governor for only two years. She adds nothing to the ticket. She won’t win a debate against a sage like Biden either.
I’m republican and I just changed my vote. At least if anything happens to Obama, Biden can lead.
I am utterly disappointed in Mccain’s choice.
August 29th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
The beautiy queen from Alaska running for VP has more executive experience, and a record that we can actually talk about, then the Democratic nominee for President
What does that tell you about your guy….
August 29th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Slide2112, running a campaign like Obama does take executive skills, and here’s a very key point: Obama was attractive to many *in spite of* his little bit of experience, only because of other traits and apparent talents such as shown by his book and speeches. What has Palin got to *comp* for her lack of experience? Remember, much of the problem is John McCain’s self-contradiction in this choice. He’s the one who kept on pushing how important experience and especially fo-po experience is. At least Obama had contact with that in national government, and he can lean on Biden if need be. What will Sarah do if McCain slips out? Look at Charla’s post above.
August 29th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
“Obama was attractive to many *in spite of* his little bit of experience, only because of other traits and apparent talents such as shown by his book and speeches.”
Exactly! The guys got nothing. Well done Neil!
August 29th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
I know nothing about this nominee, so I can’t make any serious claims. It seems rather political of McCain to pick a female vice-president, but all choices are done for political reasons. Based just on her views mentioned here, I’m even more not going to vote for McCain.
But less seriously, doesn’t she remind you of the female president on Battlestar Galactica a few years ago?
@Slide, nice job taking things way out of context. Neil didn’t say Obama has nothing to offer, just that he has OTHER things to offer to make up for his perceived lack of experience.
August 29th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
This came from PUMA today - let’s listen to the radio show tonight:
August 29, 2008
TO: Puma PAC Members
FROM: Murphy
Subject: Announcement
Hello Puma PAC,
Goodbye Howard Dean. Goodbye Barack Obama. Goodbye Nancy Pelosi. Goodbye Donna Brazile. You have not only lost the White House for the Democratic Party. Today you have brought the Democratic Party to the brink of irrelevancy altogether. John McCain has played you all like a piano.
Today we say GOODBYE to the OLD Democratic Party. The OLD Democratic Party has led us to DISASTER. John McCain and Sarah Palin will win in November by a landslide.
TODAY, August 29th 2008, Puma PAC has started a new political party:
THE NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY
We have a website launching tonight. at www.thenewdemocraticparty.org
and www.ndp.org
We will be modeled on Alice Paul’s National Woman’s Party. We will NOT be running candidates. We WILL be endorsing candidates.
We will be the Party for All Disaffected Democrats who are FINISHED WITH THE OLD DEMOCRATIC PARTY. We are NOT Republicans, though millions of us will vote McCain/Palin in November.
Our Platform is the Platform of the TRUE Democratic Party
. Healthcare for All
. Equal Rights
. Reproductive Rights
. Worker Protections
. Envmtl Protections
. Fair Immigration Policy
. Help for working class college students
. Good public schools
WE MUST PREVENT A REPUBLICAN TAKEOVER OF THE ELECTORATE. WE NEED A POLITICAL PARTY FOR ALL THE MILLIONS WHO WANT TO BOLT THE DEMS AFTER TODAY’S FIASCO.
Please JOIN US. We NEED the Platform and Principles of GOOD DEMOCRATIC VALUES now MORE THAN EVER. We MUST STAY UNITED AS A DEMOCRATIC VOTING BLOC OR WE COULD LOSE EVERYTHING.
To Join the New Democratic Party, please send an email with your name and state today to newdemparty@pumapac.org
Listen in tonight to the Lion’s Share on No We Won’t Radio with Sheri Tagg.
Riverdaughter and I will join her to talk about today’s events and where we go from here.
www.blogtalkradio.com/no-we-wont
Thank you and Good Luck,
Murphy
……………………………………………………….
PumaPac.org www.pumapac.org
August 29th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
But Slide2112, that sort of talent shows intelligence and many say, good judgment. It should not be called “nothing,” and note the greater danger of McCain dying and leaving Palin in the breech, but Obama has Biden as ad visor meanwhile as well as to pick up if Obama dies.
August 29th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
“We are NOT Republicans, though millions of us will vote McCain/Palin in November.
Our Platform is the Platform of the TRUE Democratic Party
. Healthcare for All
. Equal Rights
. Reproductive Rights
. Worker Protections
. Envmtl Protections
. Fair Immigration Policy
. Help for working class college students
. Good public schools
…”
Total, damnable contradiction there. Are the PUMA folks really a front, a false flag operation?
August 29th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Murphy … give me a break … who are you trying to fool? That’s laughable.
You need to be way more subtle to try and pull off a front like this. Unless you are going so over the line pretending it’s satire, but you’re really serious at the same time and joking about it being satire, but you’re actually serious about it being satire and pretending you’re serious … inconceivable!
August 29th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Don’t take the PUMA folks seriously Neil. We wouldn’t even hear about “party unity” issues if it weren’t for reps and the main-stream media pushing the idea that there’s a problem. This should be especially clear after Denver.
August 29th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
I agree with Matt S. Do not take the PUMA folk seriously.
When Obama falls on November 4th only Obama will be to blame. Not his 300 foreign policy advisors, not PUMA, not his 50+ speech writers, not lifelong democrats and independents like me and not the superdelegates but OBAMA and him alone.
Palin is a fantastic choice. talk about change! She will bring many of the working class voters (men and women) to the Republicans as well as executive experience to the table. She rose to office only after becoming a whistleblower against oil companies. She wants to make us energy independent by drilling and many other ways but she is also a conservationist.
What’s Obama going to do say “she is not experienced” That will be like calling the kettle black.
Good Bold Choice by McCain
Shows that is not your run of the mill republican. But more a republican in the T. Roosevelt tradition.
August 29th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
That’s ridiculous. Put them side by side.
She has a B.A. in journalism from U. Idaho. He has a Harvard Law degree.
After college, she spent three years as a sports reporter and fisherman. He spent three years as a community organizer in Chicago.
Since then, he’s been in the Illinois State Senate and the U.S. Senate. She’s been the mayor of a village with a population < 8000 people. For (less than) the past two years she’s been governor of Alaska.
Did I leave anything out? What a joke.
August 29th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Kurt,
Wrong. This is not a “bold” choice, it’s pandering. She is strongly anti-choice (even if rape/incest), she wants creationism taught in schools, she denies an anthropogenic contribution to global warming, she claims to be a “porkbuster” but wanted the infamous bridge to nowhere built on the federal taxpayer’s dime.
And, how many times can it be said … drilling will NOT makes us energy independent. You mention that first along with “many other ways” as if it is the cornerstone to achieving this. This is absolutely false, it has been debunked thoroughly, where do you get your numbers? Additionally, what are her “many other ways”?
How is she not a run-of-the-mill Republican?
August 29th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Man, are you guys kidding? This was a great choice. And lets get one thing clear… she is NOT anti-choice, do not confuse anti-choice with Pro-Life. They are not the same. And you had better check your records closer about the rape and incest issue. First, you are incorrect, and you can put the woman’s medical issue in that box as well.
I love it when someone brings up the whole rape/incest issue. The number is so small….. but if you want a debate, go ahead. Example: South Dakota.. now I know it’s not a highly populated state, but the rape/incest ratio per capita is. If I said my wife and I would take EVERY baby that fell into that classification, guess what, it would take nearly SEVEN years to get ONE baby!
As for Creationism….. yew hew! Where have you been? Every state is going to this. Even the hard core evolutionist admit there are too many holes in their theory and have accepted a combination of the two. That is what she is proposing, not creationism, in and of itself.
Porkbarreling……… you better go read Obama’s record.
You want a debate…. be careful who you go up against!
August 29th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Boomerang says: “Even the hard core evolutionist admit there are too many holes in their theory and have accepted a combination of the two.”
Whoa. I had to do a double-take for that one.
August 29th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
brianR- Obama supporters should not talk about pandering. David Axelrod said 27 times “Hillary Clinton will say and do anything to win”
He should have been talking about Obama.
Obama after winning nomination
Refines his view on Iraq(after hammering HRC on it while aceepting the supprt from Biden and Kerry), talking to leaders of Iran and North Korea, gives into offshore drilling(how bold and progressive he is!), NAFTA, says welfare reform was a good thing, panders to evangelicals to expand Bush’ faith based initiatives, tells a crowd in FL that he will “find the money” to fund next generation NASA space vehicle after resisting it for so long, etc etc etc etc etc
Next, in 28 years no republican has threatened Roe vs Wade. We had Reagan and two Bush’s so please do not tell me that McCain - a maverick who was rumored to be in talks with Kerry to be a possible running mate, a man who vetted Tom ridge (pro choice) to be his VP will threaten Roe vs Wade. He has sided against his party on a dozen issues in the past 2 years will not threaten Roe vs Wade.
Lastly, I am not a McCain/Palin supporter So I will not defend them too much.
I am just saying that many DEMS will vote this ticket. Palin only needs to convince 2-3% of us and we McCain wins.
“Additionally, what are her “many other ways”?”
“Palin is unique from many GOP oil proponents. Despite her husband’s occasional employment with BP, Palin has taken great pains to remain apart from Big Oil. Nevertheless, she is committed to helping Alaskans economically by supporting development in the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge, reminding the public that the footprint for the project would be the size of a postage stamp on a desk. Meanwhile, she has worked hard to address climate change issues such as greenhouse emissions and pollution.”
I also read on her website (which is being bombarded right now) that she thinks the only long term solution is nuclear power.
August 29th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Wow, this pick amazes me…
Picking a female VP to woo Hillary diehards I get… But they must not have looked much further than that… Maybe they started alphabetically until they found a female in the GOP?
Palin is in the midst of an ethics probe that should be ready to explode before the election! So much fodder on top of her lack of experience!
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93609302
Using her office to leverage personal attacks and firing public officials that don’t do her personal bidding?
Oh, wait this is the GOP VP… right, now i get it… She still needs to shoot someone in the face to get the respect she is looking for from the right…
-j-
August 29th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
I love the way the whole long terrifying record of the republican party of the last (particularly) 12 years has just vanished from the dialogue.
It’s neither joke nor exaggeration that McCain supported Bush policies over 90% of the time.
Slide2112, Palin has more executive experience than John McCain.
The money quote:
“once again, McCain turns to a much younger woman to save his political career.”
August 29th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
“kudos to McCain for his courage in making that choice”
WTF? Putting an African-American on a national ticket is a significant gamble. Sorry as I am to say it, it will probably cost millions of votes. Putting a woman on is not. Margaret Thatcher and Ayn Rand are already up there in the conservative pantheon.
The choice was not about courage; it was about swinging important votes in November. She will bring a lot of women, people concerned about gas prices, and people in Western states.
August 29th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
Sean, congratulations on your first politically fair post.
August 29th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Kurt says: “I am just saying that many DEMS will vote this ticket.”
Bullshit. You’ve been watching too much cable news and falling for all that malarkey. Are there some democrats that will ‘defect’ and vote McCain? Sure. It’s not electorally significant however … it’s a myth, it’s media-created drama.
The one thing the Palin pick might do is help re-energize the religious extremists of this country, which is a bit frightening. Rove is clearly trying to steer the discourse of this election from real, everyday issues to the culturally divisive issues.
Btw, I like how you side-stepped your statement about all those ‘hard core evolutionists’ who now advocate teaching creationism in public school. I must have missed that report.
August 29th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Sean:
You state. : “I know nothing about her, so I will suspend judgement. But she is a woman, which is fantastic”. I can not comprehend an opinion of “fantastic” simply by virtue of the fact that SHE is a woman?
Do you know anything about Aileen Wuornos? She is (was) a woman. Would it also be fantastic if she had been selected as the VP running mate simply by virtue of the fact that she is (was) a woman?
Your comment exhibits a very narrow minded form or journalism.
By the way Aileen Wuornos was a serial killer, executed for her crimes.
August 29th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
I don’t think Karl Rove is actually involved in the McCain campaign. It seems others have taken up his tactics, however.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
This pick reminds me of the time of year when teams that have no shot at the post season trade their veterans for draft picks. The GOP presidential field this year was pretty shallow. I think this choice is for a party knows they’ve lost and are trying to build for the future.
e.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
You all are a bunch of hippies. This woman is the next big thing. Living in Alaska, I’ve seen what she can do. I’ve experienced it. Gov. Palin is able to stand up to corporations and tell them what is best for the people. I live in Alaska and I have already seen her at work. You can take my word, America will not be disappointed. You might not want Republican representation, but Gov. Palin is the new face of the Republican Party. If you love your children, you’ll at least listen to what she has to say.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
Hippies! go hug some trees. We can talk after the November election when all your hippie Obama issues are done and gone. McCain/Palin is the future. If its going to be Obama/Biden, I don’t think I’ll be the only one who thinks Canada or Costa Rica is the future. McCain/Palin for the future of America!!!
August 30th, 2008 at 12:01 am
My Fellow Americans,
After reflecting on the needs of family and the rigors of the campaign trail, I now realize that I cannot do both. It’s with heavy heart today I must tell that I am withdrawing as the Republican Vice Presidential nominee. As a person who holds my “family values” deeply within the core of my being, I cannot with clear conscience continue to devote my heart fully to this campaign. My special needs child deserves better. America deserves better.
I wish to thank John McCain for choosing me. As a woman, find his choice is both inspired and inspiring — to me and all the women of this beloved country. As a politician, I find his choice forward thinking and gutsy — truly the choice maverick. I am sure that John McCain’s campaign will recover from the unfortunate circumstances that prevent me from continuing on as his running mate. I wish him all the best and I will continue work hard from my home state of Alaska to see to it that he becomes the next president of this great country.
Thank you and God bless.
August 30th, 2008 at 1:03 am
It is all so bizarre, is it not?
I like how the GOP memo went out on the bat-fax to the comment sections of widely disparate websites — we are now all meant to be talking about “executive” experience. Rocky Kolb for president! He has more executive experience than all of them combined.
It does appear to be one of the few unambiguous adjectives that can be applied to Palin alone in the field (the other is “like HRC, but sort of not really HRC at all, except in a womanly fashion oh God please someone vote for this ticket.”)
chmod a-x palin, I say!
Also, I think we should spread the rumor that it’s McCain-Paulin, as in Tom Paulin, the avant garde poet, who has Republican sympathies. (Different republic, though.)
August 30th, 2008 at 1:50 am
I think Palin is a good choice for McCain politically. Based on her first speech, she speaks well, seems more like a down-to-Earth person than most “experienced” politicians, is attractive (which always helps), and is an outside the box pick that will give independents and disgruntled Democrats a reason to give McCain a second look. Even though that may all be true, Obama’s foreign and economic policies are better for the long-term success and security of the United States. So far, the biggest thing that should concern all of us about Palin is her admitted non-interest and ignorance of Iraq and Afghanistan. However, is that what we really need, a person who has little interest or knowledge in foreign affairs? I’m not criticizing her lack of experience; I’m criticizing her lack of interest. To me, that’s far more dangerous. Ironically, this choice demonstrates McCain’s willingness to put politics before country, and further calls into question his lack of good judgment when considering the security of our nation. After eight years of the Bush administration’s incompetence and poor judgment, four years of McCain/Palin would seriously weaken our nation. The Obama/Biden ticket is our best hope for increased prosperity, security, and the rule of law that can reign in the dangerous expansion of presidential power under Bush.
August 30th, 2008 at 2:16 am
I think it would be fun to be president - Go to awesome ( in the true sense of the word ) Dinner parties and maybe hang out with Carla Bruni - Someone with real power.
August 30th, 2008 at 5:58 am
I think it’s hilarious that anyone is paying any attention at all to the Republican nominations.
After the most disastrous presidency in US history, the Republicans knew they were not going to get elected whoever they nominated. So they chose someone so old he’d retire when he lost, with none of the real contenders’ images tarnished - just in case BO messes up and they might have the slightest chance of winning in 2012. BO would have to go to war with Russia to make people forget how awful the last Republican president was.
Palin is the expendable side dish of the Republican sacrificial lamb.
August 30th, 2008 at 7:45 am
Sarah Palin: pro-gay diva?
This is not what you’d expect from a social conservative:
Palin’s first veto(http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/08/palin-on-gay-ri.html) was used to block legislation that would have barred the state from granting benefits to the partners of gay state employees. In effect, her veto granted State of Alaska benefits to same-sex couples. The veto occurred after Palin consulted with Alaska’s attorney general on the constitutionality of the legislation.
Also, she acknowledges having gay friends, something Republican politicians rarely acknowledge.
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=64876
“I have no fear that in this country we will never go back to back-alley abortion. I respect both the pro-choice arguments and the pro-life arguments and I believe it is a personal choice that the government cannot be involved in. I am not afraid to have a pro-life president and vice-president because I believe that no matter who is on the Supreme Court, women will never lose their right to make the decision themselves. No man can ever take that away from us. We would revolt before we would let that happen and they know it.”
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=43047
August 30th, 2008 at 9:12 am
Kurt — quite the contrary! Ann Coulter is one classic example:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rick-jacobs/ann-coulter-on-the-gay-_b_70156.html
ans most of the social conservatives are actually really comfortable with the people they claim to hate. “The personal is political” is a left-wing mantra; on the right, things like “self-loathing” are items on the CV.
August 30th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Great choice Senator McCain. She brings alot to the table. Anyone who questions her experience better look at the top of Dem ticket. She has more experience than Obama.
She crosses party lines (already done it) Her record shows she has done what her constistuents want and the constitution says, not her personal views. Check her record. Someone stated she is big on porkbarreling, excuse me, her title is Governor not Senator. She started the investigation on the Senator from Alaska that porkbarreled the “bridge to nowhere”.
She has veto’d over 300 bills so far. And if you look the bills she veto’d, I’ll bet you would have also, I know I would have.
Then you compare Senator McCain to President Bush! Are you kidding? I’m amazed he’s made it this far because the republican party (the insider’s) don’t lile him. He doesn’t play the game with them….. he’s voted with the democrats on many bills. He votes based on his constiuants wants, needs, wishes.
That’s what a Senator is supposed do. McCain’s a big porkbarreler, yea right. Know how much porkbarrel money he has gotten for Arizona? I can tell exactly how much…. $0.00 He doesn’t believe in it. And he’s proven you don’t need it to have a healthy state. And if he’s done such a bad job howcome he’s been re-elected by overwelming majorities every time?
If you are gong to look at voting records…… let’s look at Obama’s record, it’s not pretty. And what’s the percenage of his record of voting “with Bush”? It’s higher than McCain’s. Look at the details instead of believing a bunch of sound bites that are taken out of context.
You want to pick on Governor Palin? Finally we have a statesman……or woman in this case, instead of a politition. I’ll take her anyday. I don’t care if the person running is male, female, white, black, green, or red.
If you are going to bring up the race issue with Obama, you had better bring it all. He’s half white too you know. I wonder what he listed on his college application? Because if he listed african american (which he did by the way) This is actually incorrect and could be interpeted as a falsified record. His actual race is classified as “mixed” and yes it’s on the application papers.
I think Senator McCain made an excellant choice. You want change? You can’t do any better than McCain/Palin! I just hope there’s room for Senator Fred Thomsen in their cabinet.
You say Senator Biden will eat her lunch? I don’t think so. This gal can more than hold her own!
Great choice Senator! Go get’em Governor!
August 30th, 2008 at 10:26 am
I’m surprised there are so many supporters of the Republican party on a physical science blog. I work with physical scientists and I have met some conservatives but they are few and far between, and they have all been moderates who don’t believe in ideas such as creationism.
August 30th, 2008 at 11:17 am
these people seem a little too invested in Palin to be
casual readers, so i googled a random sample from Dennis
above
“an outside the box pick that will give independents and disgruntled Democrats a reason ”
also turns up on the Dallas Morning News blog,
i think these guys are pro trolls.
August 30th, 2008 at 11:36 am
If McCain and Palin get elected, she would also be the first Pentecostal Christian on a major ticket… they are members of an Assembly of God associated Church, she is very Spiritual, and I think she will rally the Chrisitan base and right of the GOP.
The Left of America should be a little worried. All the put downs, excuses, and logic can be hefted against her, but the same could be said of Bush in 2004. It doesn’t matter.
1/5 of all GOP votes are right wing conservative Christians, and she will motivate and energize that grass roots group.
As to what the SEXIST & BIGOTS will do now? Well, sexism only goes so far, racisim is like a disease. Everyone has had a mother at one time or another so I think these types of voters, not secluded to southerners, but more of ignorant voters, will vote for the War Hero Pow and the Conservative oil drilling, gun toting mom of 5 outdoorswoman who’s husband is a commerical fisherman.
August 30th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
anon — Well done!
August 30th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Looking forward to a Biden/Palin debate. Maybe they’re both lightweights, but Palin will have more gravitas simply by showing up and not being Flapjaw Joe. Biden’s people will think they’re really clever by bringing up Jeopardy!-style trivia, like the capital of Burundi. “How can you be Vice President if you don’t know the capital of Burundi?” He’ll do this over and over, and lose a hundred thousand votes each time.
August 30th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Sallie Parker,
Do you read palms too?
I agree with the “pro troll” comment above - they are really out in force!
August 30th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
I also agree w/ the pro trolls observation … one thing is for certain, they know how to stay on message!
Did someone actually cite WorldNetDaily above? Yikes.
August 30th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Who cares about McCain’s VP pick when we can’t even support McCain himself? If actions speak louder than words (or lofty speeches), let’s take a closer look at the Real McCains:
Like Bush’s popularity because of 9-11, and chance rather than merit, John McCain’s constant reliance on his POW background to gain political power is a mistake for many reasons. But what people may not know is McCain’s flip-flop in regard to torture was a bigger mistake.
“In all the discussion of John McCain’s recently recovered memory of a religious epiphany in Vietnam, one thing has been missing. The torture that was deployed against McCain emerges in all the various accounts. It involved sleep deprivation, the withholding of medical treatment, stress positions, long-time standing, and beating. Sound familiar?
According to the Bush administration’s definition of torture, McCain was therefore not tortured.”
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/08/was-mccain-tort.html
JOHN MCCAIN this week had a choice between his principles and propping up a failed president. He chose the latter - McCain drops the torture ball -http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/02/16/mccain_drops_the_torture_ball/
And what of McCain’s first wife Carol? Many don’t know the history of “The wife U.S. Republican John McCain callously left behind” His infidelities put strain on his first marriage, and he was divorced from Carol McCain, his wife of 15 years, in 1980. He married Cindy a month later.
Ted Sampley, who fought with US Special Forces in Vietnam and is now a leading campaigner for veterans’ rights, said: ‘I have been following John McCain’s career for nearly 20 years. I know him personally. There is something wrong with this guy and let me tell you what it is – deceit.’
Ross Perot: ‘McCain is the classic opportunist. He’s always reaching for attention and glory,’ he said. ‘After he came home, Carol walked with a limp. So he threw her over for a poster girl with big money from Arizona. And the rest is history.’ -
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1024927/The-wife-John-McCain-callously-left-behind.html
And we continue with the rest of the history. John McCain is no more moral than John Edwards, and Cindy makes a $300 hair cut look like nothing. Who is Cindy McCain? Aside from their 7, or is it 11 properties, Cindy is known to spend as much as $7,000 in one month on just one American Express card. So they are rich, out-of-touch Republicans. What’s new? The real story of interest goes a little farther back.
“In 1989, following two back surgeries, Cindy McCain became addicted to the painkillers Vicodin and Percocet. To keep up with her daily need of 10 to 15 pills, she used other people’s names for prescriptions and stole drugs from the American Voluntary Medical Team, a mobile surgical unit she’d begun in 1988 to provide emergency medical services around the world. A 1993 DEA audit of the amount of painkillers her charity had obtained quickly uncovered her thefts.” -
http://www.snopes.com/politics/mccain/cindy.asp
Her addiction isn’t the big story, but rather how John McCain tried to cover-up the illegal activity with his political power. And if that’s not enough skeletons in the closet to worry about, in trying to link Obama with Rezko, McCain has re-opened the door to yet another scandal in his past.
“The problem with this attack? Aside from being thoroughly misleading — Obama has not been seriously alleged to have done anything unethical in his interactions with Rezko — this ad is a serious strategic blunder by the McCain campaign. Why? It blows wide open the door to talk about McCain’s all-too-close relationship with Charles Keating and well reported on though somewhat forgotten charter membership in the so-called “Keating Five.”
…In the end, the crash of Keating’s savings and loan — which had been shielded by some of his best friends in the United States Senate — cost billions to the American taxpayer, as mentioned above, and all told the federal government ended up on the hook for close to $125 billion in the fallout of the crisis that befell the underregulated industry in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Does McCain really want to have to talk about all of this? About the Bahaman vacations he took paid for by Keating? Probably not. But he may soon have to as a result of the shortsightedness of his campaign advisors. Nice move team McCain!” -
http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/8/21/185928/267
Conservatives claim morals (e.g., infidelity) are just as important as committing a crime (e.g., perjury–no, I’m referring to Scooter Libby). But once again we see the hypocrisy as Republicans choose another candidate with questionable character.
The way a candidate manages his/her campaign is a first indication of how they’ll run the country. McCain has been all over the place with promises and positions, and rather than take the high road, he quickly reverted to the Rovian tactics that were used against him in 2000. He can’t get people to a rally or the convention, and if it wasn’t for the RNC and Big Business, he wouldn’t have any funds either. It also is said that the VP pick is the first example of presidential judgment for a candidate. McCain’s selection of a woman is only historical for the Republican Party. All this does is remind people how backward the RNC is. But was this the best decision McCain could have made?
A most disturbing thing about John Edward’s recent behavior was that he was unfaithful while his wife was fighting breast cancer. Conservatives, including right-wing women, have always hated Hillary because she wanted to pursue a career in law rather than serve “tea and cookies.” Here we have Sarah Palin, who is praised for being a mother of five, including a baby with Down Syndrome. Where are those fundamentalists now when this woman is choosing to pursue fame and fortune instead of putting “family values” first?
Moose meat versus arugula is the least of our worries. She is anti-science. She does not believe in evolution, or climate change, or development of natural gas and other clean fuels, and most of all she does not believe in women’s rights. There is a reason the prior presidential hopeful Lindsey Graham is not, and probably never will run for President — the Terri Schiavo intervention. That’s when Americans woke up to the fact that religious radicals had taken over the Republican Party. Palin would shake things up all right, she’d help take this country back to the Dark Ages (you know, when McCain was born), and bring government into your home and invade you privacy.
And let’s not forget why we’ve had to endure the tyranny of Cheney all these years. Cheney made it clear he had no intention of running for POTUS. This automatically made him unaccountable. If McCain intends to serve for only one term, or if Palin is just a temporary gimmick for the upcoming 2008 election (I doubt the RNC will want her to be the frontrunner in the future), we would be in for more of the same.
But most of all, after eight miserable years of Bush/Cheney, our country wants to move forward, not backward. It has been my hope that this time Americans would place the bar a little higher in regard to qualifications for the most important jobs in our country and in the world. Like Bush with his C-grade average and business failures, neither McCain nor Palin have very impressive credentials from education to career achievements outside politics. If experience is what counts, where is it? The Bush administration has been copying Obama’s foreign policy positions for a reason. This duo makes Obama look like John Adams.
In the meantime “my friends,” not only has McCain voted with Bush 90% of the time, let’s not forget that McCain is to the right of Bush in regard to war-mongering. We’ll have to get out the old bumper stickers: “Four More Wars!” and “Drop McCain Not Bombs”
So go ahead Republicans, tow the Party line like you always do. Hold your nose and vote for McCain/Palin (or should we say vote against Obama), even though it’s not in your best interest or putting our country first.
August 30th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Simon,
I agree.
ROCKY FOR PRESIDENT!
(or as he would probably say
ROCKY FOR EL PRESIDENTE!)
August 30th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
All the adults have left the room
August 30th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Kurt:
At your #48 comment, you had a quote by Gov Palin, but the link doesn’t have it. Could you recheck your source?
August 30th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
I think Palin’s selection needs to be considered as an appeal to the white working class gen xers that grew up with Reagan as the meta-father figure and Rush as the obnoxious older brother on the sound track, rather than just to ex Hillary supporters and older people who want another reason to vote for McCain.
For these people a lesson in economics needs to be front and center. Alaska might be full of rugged individualists, but they get thousands a year from oil revenues, so it’s hard not to see Palin as the pretty, scrappy spokesperson for big oil. Why do we need another flack for big oil?
Also another argument in a broader economic context is that yes, Democrats think everyone should support the country by paying their fair share of taxes, but the Republicans think we can just borrow it from rich people(and other countries). As we have all begun to realize, when you borrow more then you can pay back, those lenders own you. So government borrowing means average people might not pay a few extra dollars in taxes, but eventually they will no longer own their government, just like many people no longer own their homes. So they put up a pretty face to sell you that loan, but the ones they send to foreclose on it will not be so nice.
August 30th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Eugene –
You should have seen the campaign he ran to get us all to tell NASA to call GLAST Fermi (UChicago now has four of the great observatories: Hubble, Chandra, and Compton are the other three.)
Obama isn’t the only “community organizer” to come out of Hyde Park!
August 30th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
@ anon
It should be possible to make a comment filter that prevents plagiarism. It could take a couple of quotes and search for them on google. Just like you did, but automated. It would kill a lot of trolls, especially on political blogs.
I’ll vote Kodos.
August 30th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/30/201818/606/27/580690
44+ problems with Palin.
For those who thought she was accommodating of same-sex couples because she voted a bill (always look at the details, please):
http://www.bilerico.com/2008/08/mccain_picks_alaska_governor_sarah_palin.php
“Palin vetoed HB 4001. Before you get too excited, she signed HB 4002 - to put benefits up to a non-binding vote of the people. Palin also stated that while she believed in HB 4001, her advisors had told her it was unconstitutional. Rather than go through the court costs, she vetoed the bill. Yeah, she’s no ally.”
….
“She also supported the 1998 ballot initiative to put a ban on same-sex marriage in the Alaskan constitution…”
August 30th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
In this day of google, there is no reason to believe the spin, look it up yourself.
http://community.adn.com/adn/node/104285
Palin vetoes HB 4001
Posted by Alaska_Politics
Posted: December 28, 2006 - 7:48 pm
“On Dec. 19, the Alaska Supreme Court directed the state to offer benefits to the same-sex partners of state employees. Palin, a Republican who does not support gay marriage, said she was forced to make her first veto because the court’s ruling made the bill unconstitutional.
“Signing this bill would be in direct violation of my oath of office,” Palin said in a prepared statement Thursday night.”
…
The statement from the Palin administration said the veto doesn’t mean Palin suddenly agrees with the Supreme Court, which ruled that the state has to offer the benefits starting Jan. 1.
“It is the Governor’s intention to work with the legislature and to give the people of Alaska an opportunity to express their wishes and intentions whether these benefits should continue,” the statement said.
http://dwb.adn.com/news/government/legislature/story/8525563p-8419318c.html
In the first veto of an administration that isn’t yet a month old, Palin said she rejected the bill despite her disagreement with a state Supreme Court order earlier this month that directed the state to offer benefits to same-sex partners of state employees.
Advice from her new attorney general said the bill passed by the Legislature was unconstitutional, she said.
“Signing this bill would be in direct violation of my oath of office,” Palin said in a prepared statement released by her administration Thursday night.
August 30th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Sarah Palin - expert on energy policy!
http://www.adn.com/legislature/story/415749.html
From the comments:
48 May 29, 2008 - 3:03pm | fluxxx
ACEP
She cut the MATCH funding for the Alaska Center for Energy and Power–The feds were going to give us half, the state/university was responsible for the other.
Now, the woman in charge of this project worked on the geothermal energy project at Chena Hot Springs. I’m sure Sarah will think this is a great idea next year when half the state freezes to death next winter because of heating fuel prices, unfortunately, the federal funds might not be available. This project is about renewable state energy resources. Forget that $100/month, it isn’t going to help anyone when heating fuel hits 10/gal.
Sarah really messed up on this one.
August 30th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
This is like shooting moose (from various accounts on the web, the dumb animals don’t even run away as you drive up in your SUV and shoot them).
Anchorage Daily News
http://www.adn.com/
Easily find all the spin and lies the Repugnicans have spun around their VP candidate.
“She can look you in eye and tell you black is white.
Especially when there’s oil involved.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-kelly/governor-palin-has-what-i_b_103702.html
August 30th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
This is a typical case on tokenism. McCain wanted and got a female on
his ticket. I have seen it happen in academia, and I still don’t understand
the reasons why people would choose the least qualified female from the
pool. Maybe they want the other women to then reject them - then they
come back with: I tried to hire/promote a woman; but the other female faculty did not agree.
Once I saw Palin’s positions on various issues of interest to me as a woman and a scientist, I was appalled that someone would have such a low opinion of women in general to think that Palin would help McCain. I hope these Rovian strategists are not correct.
August 30th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
She reminds me of the health instructor from Donnie Darko.
August 30th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Or Putney Swope
August 31st, 2008 at 2:17 am
Sarah Palin! Charge!
<a href=”http://www.freesmileys.org”
August 31st, 2008 at 3:46 am
Wow Palins a great choice for Mccain. Palins all about drilling in national parks screwing endangered species is an abortion extremist and is under investigation for misusing her power as Gov. of Alaska. She holds a Bachelors degree in communication/journalism from the University Of Idaho. She dreamed of being a espn sports reporter. While Mccain cant think for himself and relies on cue cards or a teleprompter to say anything intelligent. He was third to last in his class of almost 800 people at a U.S naval academy. A naval academy he arguably got into because of his four star general dad. He has melanoma “skin cancer” he was born in 1936, he is good friends with the current President A.K.A the worst president ever elected. Obama graduated from Harvard law with honor, Biden graduated from University of Delaware in Newark, where he double-majored in history and political science. He went on to graduate from Syracuse University College of Law. Considering Obama and Bidens education and that they are not taking any money from special interest groups. It makes it considerably hard for me to believe anything Mccain Palin is doing or saying his/her agendas rely in the lobbyists that give them huge donations. With that said you can either vote for an idiot that could croak at any moment and leave the White House to a person with a 4 year degree that is a beauty pageant winner and has dream of working for espn. Or you could rely on a Harvard graduate with an honest dream of a better America who is morally sound. A Syracuse graduate that would actually work for everyday Americans and has tons of government experience with foreign and domestic issues abroad. If you pick Mccain you are either really rich and would actually gain something from him being president or your really stupid.
I cant wait for the VP debate and Presidential debates Obama and Biden will own them.
If Mccain Palin is elected I will be moving to Canada, taking my Degree elsewhere and laugh when this country continues to crumbles around the edges.
August 31st, 2008 at 4:29 am
This is a very important election either we are screwed or we are saved. TV news media spins stuff to look a lot better then it seems. Google each candidate for an hour or more before you swing in a direction. This should take four hours or more of time it doesn’t have to be done in one day. Once you are swinging in a direction watch the debates four in total three presidential debates one VP debate. Then make up your mind. Its the best way to get to know your candidates in a unbiased way. Its all about who make up the more believable lie, the republicans are very good at this. Be aware!!!
August 31st, 2008 at 9:37 am
Sean: Stop being such an unquestioning feminist! She supports banning abortion in the cases of rape and incest and she supports teaching Creationism in schools.
Read Darwin’s great great grandson’s essay on the ID trial in Penn:
http://www.wesjones.com/gorilla.htm
McCain’s choice is one of cynicism and breathtaking inanity.
August 31st, 2008 at 11:04 am
From a European perspective, it looks like two very similar teams: an old, experienced, white male, and a younger, inexperienced person, who is not a white male. The most PC choice would of course be a non-white, non-male person, but since Condi didn’t run for office, this is not going to happen…
August 31st, 2008 at 11:51 am
Boomerang, maybe like lots of conservative apologists you “love” people bringing certain issues only because you think you have a good point, not that you do. I just want to remind defenders of such radical anti-abortionism: Don’t prattle about how rare the option of abortion for rape or incest is. First, that isn’t very helpful to the women who do get into such a fix, and how stressful of course it is (imagine, having to carry the baby of a man who raped you, reminded of that event every minute of every day.) Also, the attitude about such issues is significant as a matter of principle, and to show the attitudes and priorities of the person holding (and enforcing per context) such views. OTOH, I do believe such strict believers are just sincere absolutists with no ulterior motive, but again, consider the consequences.
And here is some indication that Sarah Palin isn’t even as “nice” as many people think and want to believe:
http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_plank/archive/2008/08/30/sarah-palin-locks-up-the-feminist-vote.aspx
As described at Washington Monthly,
“Palin recently thought it was hilarious when a couple of right-wing shock-jocks called a Republican foe a “bitch,” and referred to the cancer-surviving rival “a cancer.”
After hearing this, Palin not only laughed, but said she’d be “honored” if the shock-jocks attended her State of the State Address.”
August 31st, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Palin is a surprising choice and it is not easy to overlook her lack of foreign policy experience and the fact that she is anti-abortion, but I am a democrat who simply cannot see how anyone can vote for Barack Obama. NO complaint about Palin’s lack of experience can supersede the same complaint about Obama. Obama has never made any significant stand of any kind or taken any serious action on any national security matter. He simply has a history of avoiding serious votes and his comments thus far on foreign policy are frankly alarming. Any kind of reliance on the UN at this time is a sign of vast ignorance about the realities of the world and it is very telling that Putin says he is “alarmed that McCain might become the next president of the U.S.”. Putin should be alarmed. America has to push back Russia again and stand up to terrorists and their liberal supporters. This can never be done by someone who seems more concerned about social issues that are simply not very compelling at this time. The economy is first (because with a weak economy we have no military strength) and foreign policy is second. For me, health care is a big issue and if I thought Obama could handle other problems, I would be strongly on his side. I just want to put in the voice of a disillusioned democrat who can’t stand to see his party put into the hands of clueless liberals.
August 31st, 2008 at 4:41 pm
McCain’s VP Wants Creationism Taught in School. August 29, 2008
http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/08/mccains-vp-want.html
I’m speaking as someone in Ohio whose biology teacher in high school refused to teach the chapter on evolution. So I feel it’s fair to repeat the previous comments about this failure in her qualifications.
August 31st, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Troy said: “Obama has never made any significant stand of any kind or taken any serious action on any national security matter. He simply has a history of avoiding serious votes”
You mean like standing up to the rest of the nation by opposing an unjust war, while pretty much everyone else is in a frenzy to hunt down the “evil terrorists” in Iraq?
Troy said: “America has to push back Russia again and stand up to terrorists and their liberal supporters.”
Yes, we liberals are all supporters of terrorism. Didn’t you know? Good that you finally noticed the threat that we are.
Troy said: “The economy is first (because with a weak economy we have no military strength) and foreign policy is second.”
You could also say that, because of the war, the economy is weak. But really, who cares about facts?
August 31st, 2008 at 5:46 pm
“I am a democrat … America has to push back Russia again and stand up to terrorists and their liberal supporters. This can never be done by someone who seems more concerned about social issues that are simply not very compelling at this time. The economy is first (because with a weak economy we have no military strength) and foreign policy is second. For me, health care is a big issue and if I thought Obama could handle other problems, I would be strongly on his side. I just want to put in the voice of a disillusioned democrat who can’t stand to see his party put into the hands of clueless liberals.”
This comment has some kind of non-removable singularity in its argument field. I think it also has enough vorticity to produce significant frame dragging.
August 31st, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Obama runs for Prez and Palin runs for VP. Obama has zero executive experiences and he is Senator just ~ 2 years. Palin has executive experiences and incridible smart and a fast learner. Between McCain and Obama who run for Prez Obama gets nothing to compete with McCain.
I am a Hillary’s supporter but for Obama? No thanks. I don’t trust him. Obama is not sincere at all. He called his grand mother “a typical whitey” like threwing his own grand mother who raised him under the Bus. Why Obama has never spoken about his own mother who raised him but his father who had never fed him? The book he wrote “My father dream..” is laughable. Obama wants to connect himself to the father who abandonned him forgot his white grand parents who raised him.
Michelle his wife is racist. She had never proud of her country just now? Errr….
President Barack HUSSEIN OBAMA? Give me a break.
I prefer President Michael Jackson.
McCain/Palin will win this general election inspite of the facts the Dem camp try to trash Palin.
August 31st, 2008 at 6:39 pm
How about people vote based on the issues and their beliefs for what is the best way to deal with our nations problems and not based on age, sex, race, or religion. How sad is it that we have thousands of blogs and spend millions of dollars on things that have nothing to do with policy and government. This is exactly why we have gotten so off course and are in a decline, please people dont vote based on how well a man speeks or how much a man has suffered for our freedom but rather vote based on which one of these candidates supports your beliefs on human rights, economy, healthcare, war, terrorism,etc. there are clear differences in their plans.
August 31st, 2008 at 6:49 pm
The sad attempts at cleverness do not mask the emptiness of a faith in Obama. Perhaps it is a profound difference of world view that motivates the liberal mind, but it is an inconceivable world view to anyone who has any experience of life outside a university or some pampered environment. It’s easy for Obama or anyone to oppose the war in Iraq at this time. Everyone opposes the war now (as I did from the beginning because I don’t believe it is motivated by a real desire to fight terrorism and I never trusted Bush or his motives). Opposition to the war is hardly a sign of great moral strength. Matt, you seem like a reasonably intelligent guy (while Simon just sounds like a pompous pampered brat of some kind), but you didn’t even really present an argument. Whatever Bush did is no longer the issue. McCain and Obama are not Bush. To paint McCain as a mere continuation of Bush is to ignore McCain’s entire career. I am no fan of McCain either. I respect him as a tough American who has fought for many things that he believes in, but I don’t agree with the Republican agenda. However, the dire situation partially created by Bush and partially created by many other circumstances requires someone with an understanding of the world and with experience handling tough situations. This person is definitely not Obama. The Russians are right now testing the resolve of America and Europe to stand up to them. They are willing to get involved with any force that will help them create disorder and trouble in the Western world. This is very clear to anyone who sees their relationship to China, Iran and now the breakway Georgian states. This is only part of a worsening world scenario that will soon require very strong action from the American president. It can’t be faced with cute speeches about restoring America’s moral standing in the world or how everybody should just talk to everybody and get along. That has never happened and will never happen. I often wonder if it is a deeply misguided utopianism that underlies all this hope in Obama. At any rate, there is no evidence in my opinion that Obama can be tough enough or that he even understands why he would have to be tough. Mr. Harvard law is soft — as is any form of intellectual liberalism. No liberal should ever be president of this country. It could only lead to disaster. White or black or Asian or any race - makes no difference. Liberals cannot lead in the real world.
August 31st, 2008 at 6:54 pm
LOL Troy you wrote way too much, heres why Conservaties cant lead in the real world, BUSH!!!! umm Liberal Clinton, LOL that was easy, one lead to disaster one left us with a surplus in prosperity… hmmmmm nice novel though…lol
August 31st, 2008 at 7:21 pm
“No liberal should ever be president of this country. It could only lead to disaster.”
Lincoln, Wilson, Roosevelt, Kennedy and others; yes they were all bad. Washington, Reagan, Truman and others; yes they were were all bad. But of course, that’s not the way the world works. This has to stop, no? There are particular challenges that face America now. Who is best to lead the country during this period of history?
I think Obama, but only time will tell.
August 31st, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Clinton was a moderate whom I respect for his domestic policies and not for his failures with foreign policy. Michael Bacon has the right spirit.
August 31st, 2008 at 7:37 pm
I understand that on NBC news McCain said that compared to Obama it’s “almost ludicrous to compare [Palin’s] experience with his — it’s no contest.”
This is the kind of campaigning that makes it so difficult to take candidates seriously
August 31st, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Can’t disagree with that. It’s this kind of empty hyperbole that makes it nearly impossible to take any politician seriously.
August 31st, 2008 at 9:05 pm
troy is probably on the payroll.
August 31st, 2008 at 9:51 pm
About the (vice-) presedential debates: I am afraid it will not be the bitch-slap-fest we are all hoping for (poor choice of words?). Judging from Bush-Kerry in 2004 there will be no real interaction in the debates, presumably to protect McCain from Obama.
August 31st, 2008 at 10:53 pm
“Simon just sounds like a pompous pampered brat of some kind”
troy –
Beautiful women, the haughtiest nations, laws, the landscape, people and animals,
The profound earth and its attributes, and the unquiet ocean,
All enjoyments and properties, and money, and whatever money will buy,
The best farms . . . . others toiling and planting, and he unavoidably reaps,
The noblest and costliest cities . . . . others grading and building, and he domiciles there;
Nothing for any one but what is for him . . . . near and far are for him,
The ships in the offing . . . . the perpetual shows and marches on land are for him if they are for any body.
PS I am weirder than you.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:21 am
I hope in the debates they will talk about infrastructure - America needs better railroads - bridges, roads, - This is a huge country and we need to be able to travel freely - What about dept - lack of savings - The credit debacle - funding consumerism and not production. The People who are slaves to their dept; they are afraid.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:42 am
“I wonder how many times she has visited Iraq to get the facts on the ground?”
Perhaps she can get those facts from her son.
September 1st, 2008 at 3:10 am
vote sandanista.
September 1st, 2008 at 3:18 am
“I wonder how many times she has visited Iraq to get the facts on the ground?”
“Perhaps she can get those facts from her son.”
the irony in this seems to be that he enlisted on 9/11 and is heading to Iraq…
September 1st, 2008 at 6:45 am
If Palin is the one to have to take a 3am call - scary thought!
September 1st, 2008 at 8:03 am
This is the “New Democratic Party” - Kos
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/29/17933/7330/417/579267
The brainwashed Obama drones are out saying Palin has no foreign policy experience. LOL. Let’s see the person at the bottom of the republican ticket has no foreign policy experience. This is the epitome of hypocrisy. Because the person at the TOP of the Dem ticket has no foreign policy experience a overseeing a 40 billion dollar project in Alaska (the oil pipeline). She is known as a reformer and actually has dems and republicans in her cabinet. That is PROOF of bipartianship. Where is Obama’s? It is thin and virtually non existent. It is hype.
Why should she have to have foreign policy experience anyway? By that logic Obama should have picked a guy/girl with absolutely no experience whatsoever in anything except running a cult of Obama.
The VP is supposed to ROUND out the ticket. Just like Obama who has no credibility among working class voters and foreign policy experience picks the flawed Joe Biden.
Sean- I have seen a lot of sexism and ageism but absolutely zero talking about the issues in this campaign but either McCain or Obama. We are screwed big time either way. To make age a factor is to open yourself up to attacks by people who can “McCain is more likely to live longer if become pres than Obama who would be assassinated in the first year” He is already received several death threats and two arrests were made. So I do not think you should make who is going to live longer a factor. McCain health is less important than Obama’s lack of qualifications experience and inability to get nothing actually done.
September 1st, 2008 at 9:05 am
To paint McCain as a mere continuation of Bush is to ignore McCain’s entire career.
Agreed! One must read billmon to understand how much worse McCain is.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/7/31/142834/892/240/560121
“But anyone who’s studied McCain’s career with any intellectual detachment at all (as opposed to the hagiographic tendencies of his media cheerleading claque) could have told you: The truth about John McCain is that he’ll do just about anything and say just about anything to win. He always has. He’s just been more clever (and cynical) than most in how he goes about it.”
September 1st, 2008 at 9:12 am
CNN-Sheryl Crow:
CNN: Was there anything on the Republican side for you? McCain professes to be a champion of the environment, wants to curb global warming.
To which Sheryl replied with a story of a dinner in Austin that she’d attended in honor of McSame during the period when he was considering his POTUS run. There, she asked him why the US was being “so reticent to step up to where the science has already brought us” with regard to climate change and the Kyoto accord.
And his comment was, Our best years on the planet are probably behind us. And I was… I mean, the air just rushed out of my body, I felt very demoralized. And I said, if you run for president is that how you feel? Because that’s certainly not an answer that I can live with, not with a new baby. I can’t live with that being the idea.
—
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/1/84759/07332/812/581947
September 1st, 2008 at 9:14 am
Obama a. correctly predicted the consequences of the Iraq war and b. his time table is now virtually official policy of the Bush administration after six years of “no timetables”.
September 1st, 2008 at 10:02 am
Kos has a fascinating, scary, and apparently well-documented story about Palin’s connection to the Alaskan Independence Party. Watch the video in which the vice-chairman of AIP talks about “the necessity of infiltrating the major national parties in order to further the goals of the AIP.”
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/1/4231/18477/878/581881
September 1st, 2008 at 10:17 am
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/1/104413/1025/735/582024
“Sarah Palin also fired a school chum of hers, who was a top aide… APPARENTLY FOR DATING THE WRONG PERSON.
John Bitney, who was in band class with Sarah Palin in school (insert ‘one time, in band camp…’ jokes here), served as a top adviser to Palin. One day, his work Blackberry stopped working. He called the office to see what was up, and found out he was fired.
Why?
Because Bitney was dating the separated wife of one of Todd Palin’s friends. That made Todd Palin angry.
So, Todd, who was said to sit in on government meetings, and cc’d on official emails, apparently pressured Sarah Palin to can her old and trusted friend.
Again, as in the case with Troopergate and DairyGate and the Police Chief firing in Wasilla, no charge was made that Bitney wasn’t doing his job well. The official word was that he “left” for “personal reasons.”
September 1st, 2008 at 10:21 am
The Matanuska Maid Story
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/31/133347/773/467/581251
“Since my last diary, I’ve gleaned many additional details concerning Sarah Palin’s corrupt, fiscally irresponsible, and almost comical mismanagement of the last days of a failing Alaskan state-owned dairy. What I’ve learned has confirmed my worst suspicions. Matanuska Maid is no longer a mystery to me: it’s a scandal that shreds forever the myth of Sarah Palin as a government reformer and fiscal conservative.”
September 1st, 2008 at 10:46 am
Okay, so I never comment here. But I have to say it: Don’t feed the trolls. It’s sad that they’ve found you, and if you want them to go away you really do have to starve them out and/or engage in active deletion of their comments.
Good luck!
September 1st, 2008 at 11:24 am
Palin’s official stance on climate change is that she doesn’t believe in man-made global warming. Great.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:59 am
Well, global warming will do wonders for Alaska, make it a garden state and all. Of course, I hope someone checks out her links with the Alaskan Independence Party (a group of far, far right nutjobs who want to secede from America and be their own nation). She voted for Buchanan, so that tells you something as well.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Palin’s unmarried daughter is five months pregnant. A knocked-up teenager is not a tragedy or particularly surprising, but the news is hardly an argument for her mother’s stand against sex education in high school.
September 1st, 2008 at 3:42 pm
AM, don’t expect an answer from Kurt. He is in fact hopelessly wrong on this as so many other posts he’s made in this thread.
I googled the entire quote and found that it’s not actually a quote from Palin. It was from a commenter on a blog who supports McCain/Palin and thinks that having a rabidly anti-choice president and vice president is OK because somehow magically it’ll all work out. Yeah. Right.
September 1st, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Apparently, Palin even rejects proper sex education (source: her Bio on Wikipedia) and promotes that middle-age minded abstinence program which actually seems to *foster* teen pregnancy, let alone STDs - hence the 17 y.o. pregnant daughter (poor thing).
That’s what you get for trusting 2000 year old superstitious beliefs to run a 21st century world. Or a desert religion to run Alaska, for that matter.
September 1st, 2008 at 6:17 pm
One of the things i love about the way Rove runs a campaign is best exampled by this pregnancy announcement. Palin is named VP candidate, various stories appear challenging the birth of the Down-syndrome child Trig (it seems more likely that the child is that of a 16 yr old Bristol given a large collection of circumstantial evidence). Rove minions denounce the stories (no official declaration by Palin, McSame or other leadership) in blogs and on Fox, then raise this story today about Bristol’s (2nd?) pregnancy. They (GOP/Rove cadre) claim this was necessary to rebut the lies of the first grandchild story. But at no point, so far, have any of them official denied the parentage of Trig. It is beyond denial of denial, but rather ad hominem attacks on bloggers while releasing this new story about a real pregnancy. How very clever to add a “planned” pregnancy to the campaign mix as a means of distracting negative publicity.
September 1st, 2008 at 7:34 pm
The claim that Sarah Palin isn’t Trig’s mother is false. Bristol Palin is currently five months pregnant, and Trig was born in April; you do the math. Even if it were true, it’s not the kind of thing we should be trafficking in, okay?
September 1st, 2008 at 10:57 pm
Re: Palin’s membership in the AIP
New GOP convention slogan
“Country or Alaska First” (your choice)
e.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:16 pm
Troy, #92
He is the Answerer,
What can be answer’d he answers. and what cannot be answer’d he shows
how it can not be answer’d
September 1st, 2008 at 11:24 pm
How can you say that Palin “balances career and family”. Anytime you leave your 4 month old for your own selfish career ambitions is horrible parenting especially since her downs syndrome baby needs stability to thrive. Her stupid stance on abstinence only education is exactly why she now has a pregnant 17 yr old. If being a parent too early isn’t bad enough lets compound the problem by being married tpo early. A vote for McCain/Palin is a vote against a womans right to choose (even in extreme situations like rape and incest). A vote against equal pay for woman and a vote to setback womankind 40yrs. No woman in her right mind should even consider this anything but pandering to female voters. John McCain doesn’t believe in affirmative action until it benefits him.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:04 am
John F. Kennedy, Jr. was born just a few weeks after his father was elected to the pres