Sarah Palin: Short Oil

Posted by John Carney, Aug 29, 2008, 12:33pm

So it turns out that John McCain picked Tina Fey Alaska governor Sarah Palin as his running mate.

"Sarah Palin" is probably the most searched for name on the internet right now. In the minutes after news of her selection spread, popular websites like the Drudge Report went down. The reason for this is relatively simple: most of us don't know anything about this woman who John McCain wants to be his running mate.

The one thing we do know is that she's been a strong proponent of drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Reserve and wants to see more off-shore drilling. In fact, she's said that McCain, who opposed drilling in ANWR, is "wrong on that issue." It certainly seems that Republicans are lining themselves up as the party of greater oil supplies.

After the jump, we present a CNBC segment with Palin advocating drilling in ANWR.

8Recommend this! 179Comments
Posted in: Politics
Tags: ANWR, John McCain, Sarah Palin

Comments

1

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 12:48PM

First Bitches.

#3 eats my ass.

SPODE

2

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 12:49PM

& her husband works for BP.

smooth move, ex-lax.

3

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 12:50PM

All I can say is wow. If/when McCain dies while in office, we will have a soccer mom of 5 with her hand on the proverbial red phone. Im a democrat so I think this a great pick. Plus, being the gov of the Alaska for 2 years is really greating training for running a charter fishing boat ergh..I mean the United States.

4

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 12:56PM

@3 - Yes, keep at it with the inexperience card. Please. Two words: see Obama.

5

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 12:57PM

@3

she is the only candidate with any executive experience...

6

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 1:00PM

@3 anyone who watches Battlestar Galactica knows that a soccer mom is exactly who you want on deck when the shit goes down

7

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 1:01PM

She's a better speaker than McCain

Five kids, nice glasses, personable. I like her better than him.

Good sentence on the 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling and for giving props to Hillary.

She's a class act.

8

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 1:01PM

"humanoids in ANWR"??? what planet does Kudlow live on?

9

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 1:01PM

@3

"If/when McCain dies while in office, we will have a [hot] soccer [milf] with her hand on the proverbial red [love button]."

10

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 1:03PM

also i believe she was once won Miss Alaska so you know, look out for those pictures

11

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 1:05PM

I'd like to break off my drill bit in her ANWR oil field.

12

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 1:07PM

@11 - Grow up.

13

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 1:07PM

10, she was runner up dude. stop your campaign of misinformation.

15

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 1:08PM

@2 what are you talking about? her husband is a commercial fisherman, and he used to work as an hourly wage laborer for BP outside of the fishing season.

16

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 1:11PM

@11

I'd drill for her natural gas with my tongue.

17

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 1:13PM

She was runner up because there are only 2 women in Alaska.

She has zero, zero experience germane to running the country and, as has been the trend, an unhealthy and distorted affinity for oil-based energy.

I thought we had pretty much decided as a nation it was time to invest in some other alternatives because, as has been proven, ANWR is enough to supply us with, what, a year of oil?

At that point we're in a worse place than we are now.

18

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 1:15PM

15,
Fuck off,I'm his boss. He was 15 minutes late this morning (cha ching).

Facts a fact.


http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=6965360

19

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 1:15PM

I am interested in hearing more stories about Sarah Palin and DRILLING

20

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 1:16PM

http://www.vpilf.com/

Check out her high school picture.

DAMN!

SPODE

21

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 1:19PM

I think i saw Sarah Palin on an episode of BangBus once. True story.

22

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 1:20PM

Short oil? Are you serious? Even if they open all the public land in the US to drilling, the total available amount is small and many years off.

There's plenty of reasons for oil to go up if she does because vicough president cough. Start a war with Iran or defunding sustainable energy production ought to do it.

Drilling in ANWAR is not about helping the US lower its dependence on foreign oil. It's about Alaska, the welfare queen state, trying to get a final hit of oil revenue dollars now that the North Slope is drying up.

But despite all that, fuck, if she and McCain are willing to forgo WWIII. I'll vote for them. Four more years of Republican misrule should permanently hammer in the nails in the GOP coffin. I've got a pretty recession proof job/resume so I'll enjoy watching you assholes squirm.

23

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 1:24PM

#4: Great, so does this mean you can all shut up about this inexperience nonsense now? Is McCain turning the corner now by embracing inexperience? Is he just confused? Then again he likes them young..., and he's due for a trade isn't he? Maybe he's hanging up Cindy.

24

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 1:25PM

VPILF

25

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 1:33PM

she looks more like elaine benice than tina fey :D

26

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 1:35PM

I think milf hunter needs to have an episode with her.

27

Posted by diablo, Aug 29, 2008 1:39PM

OK, so she wants people to drill her (state). A lot of guys want to drill her (state). Starting with the bunch of stalkers who comment here.

28

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 1:39PM

i call first dibs

29

Posted by GinNTonic, Aug 29, 2008 1:41PM

I'm wondering if she intended to use the word, 'tap,' fifty times

30

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 1:44PM

She'd tap that...

32

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 1:49PM

funniest comment section in a while

33

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 1:55PM

"the total available amount is small" untrue, over 10 billion barrels "and many years off" probably true

34

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 1:59PM

oil execs would be smart to tap that shit! (referring to oil of course)

35

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 2:06PM

Mccain chose to pick her today to take the spotlight off of Obama's "amazing" speech.

36

Posted by merkin capital partners, Aug 29, 2008 2:13PM

@ 25..."Benes. My last name is Benes you jackass." -The Package

37

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 2:16PM

I fap to the thought of a threesome with her and cindy McCain. I figure with Cindy's beer and pain killer cocktail and if Sarah was baked, it could happen.

38

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 2:17PM

id give her a mayo necklace!

39

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 2:31PM

My guess is, nude pictures of Sarah Palin will emerge by Monday.

40

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 2:33PM

McCain just pushed himself off the ticket. Rocco Seffredi and Sarah Palin 2008 Republican ticket.

Drill Harder Drill Deeper Drill Longer


41

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 2:37PM

@39

Please God let this be true.

42

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 2:38PM

#22 So a estimated 16 billion barrels of oil in ANWAR, in addition to an estimated 120 billion barrels of oil in other various US sites, would not make an impact in the supply of the market?

And even if it does take 10 years to impact, would that not mean that 10 years from now we may not see the huge price increases that are projected? You know the DEM's gloom and doom predictions of $12 a gallon of gas?

Not only adding in the factors of increased domestic jobs, I say drill. If you want to huge trees and hump polar bears do it on your time and money, not the average Americans.

43

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 2:59PM

Strongly anti-abortion. Way to keep the Clinton supporters. And recruit the undecided. Wow, stunningly bad, pandering to the strongly conservative, who don't particularly like women but wouldn't vote for Obama. Just who did he pick up? A few conservative women who might have stayed home?

44

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 3:05PM

Palin fought against the entire entrenched corrupt Republican establishment to rise to the top in that state and kept fighting against them and exposing them. That is called CHANGE.

Obama sucked the dick of any and every corrupt democratic politican of the chicago machine, associating with anyone that would get him to the top - be it Daley or Jeremiah Wright - while giving eloquent speeches.

That is change and hope? Really?

45

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 3:06PM

@43: it's not about abortion; it's about being a woman you dufus.

No woman likes to have abortions.

Unfortunately, there are such male schmucks around that we'd rather risk dying during an abortion than have with this accidental moron.

And Palin rocks!

- woman

46

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 3:06PM

@43: it's not about abortion; it's about being a woman you dufus.

No woman likes to have abortions.

Unfortunately, there are such male schmucks around that we'd rather risk dying during an abortion than have a child with this accidental moron.

And Palin rocks!

- woman

47

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 3:16PM

Also worth noting is that Palin highly risked all donations from oil companies while running for Governor. She ACTUALLY cares about oil and energy, not oil companies.

She is probably the most amazing pick ever. Obama claims to be against oil companies and stuff but has no issues gathering donations from them. Joe Biden is supposedly for the working man while supporting credit card companies to the hilt and keeping bankruptcy proceedings restricted to Delaware so that his pockets keep getting lined.

McCain is a fool but he this is sheer genius. All the days of attack adds that the dems made featuring Romney are wasted! Obama is off the news cycle less hat 12 hours after his supposed historic speech. Obama camp is clueless - attacking a one term governor for 'lack of experience' for being veep whereas their candidate is a one term senator and running for president. Amazing. I am finally loving this election.

48

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 3:18PM

@47
Ditto

49

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 3:20PM

Palin does NOT believe in evolution. She is pro life and pro death penalty.

I thought John McCain was a maverick reformer, why does the ticket need 2 of them? What it really needed was someone with some economic sense. Not an evangilical from a 95% republican state, with ONLY 3 Electoral College Votes.

50

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 3:23PM

@49

Yes, and that's what makes her a core Republican with solid values.

And it's way better than a black blank canvas devoid of any concrete thoughts.

Palin is an amazing choice.

51

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 3:28PM

Who knew that Republicans were so dumb and racist?

52

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 3:29PM

@45/46-- you are an idiot if you choose to vote for a woman just because she is a woman (same deal with a black person because he is a black person, or a man because he is a man). vote for them because of their positions on issues. and stop being such a simpleton. no one ever said women like having abortions, just the CHOICE to have an abortion. i don't care what your gender is or your skin color, only your political beliefs and how they are going to affect MY LIFE and MY MONEY.

53

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 3:38PM

@52

Why can't you make a point without capitalizing letters?

Not enough intellectual capital?

54

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 3:40PM

@52: did you say Obama has positions? What kind, in yoga? (didn't notice any other)

55

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 3:53PM

I just came in here to say:

RON PAUL!!!

56

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 3:59PM

And, man, does she dress well!

57

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 4:03PM

@52. Exactly. How insulting to think that women would vote for ANY woman (and 53, I think the capitalization is warranted here).

Plus, holy shit, Alaska has, like 600,000 people or so. Hardly the greatest administrative challenge. It's beautiful and all, but it really is the last frontier. I'll pass on someone who says that she'll push the interests of Alaska while in office.

What does McCain think he's gaining? Social conservatives would never have turned to Obama. He just alienated many of Hillary's supporters (or they will be alienated once they understand Pallin's agendas), an area where he'd been gaining. Picking a very right-wing vp to appease the evangelicals but muddying it up by selecting one who wears a skirt is going to piss alot of women off.

58

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 4:06PM

@57
Are you a woman?

59

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 4:06PM

My wife just told me that Polin elected to give birth to a baby with Downes Syndrome. Instead of saying "Why us?" when she was faced with the news, Polin reportedly said, "Why not us?" and proceeded to have the child.

That speaks very loudly about Polin's character. Impressive to anyone except the most jaded of dems.

The Guy from Delaware

60

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 4:10PM

@59- great for her, that she decided to go down the tough road or raising a child with down syndrome. still doesn't make me want to vote for her.

61

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 4:21PM

@58, yes, I (57) am a woman.
@59, hate to sound anti-career for women (I'm not, but we all have to make choices and accept responsibilities when we "elect" to have children), but who is going to care for her special needs child when she is on the road campaigning? She has five children, it can't be easy under the best of circumstances.

62

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 4:25PM

@61

And all of these are exactly the reason to elect her (Vice) President.

When you "elect" to have children, you should not face as many "consequences" as you do today. And that is what Palin stands for: smart, gorgeous, tough woman with children setting an example for the life I want.

And her other children will undoubtedly help her with the youngest kid.

Palin is awesome.

63

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 4:35PM

#60 said - "that she decided to go down the tough road or raising a child with down syndrome. still doesn't make me want to vote for her."

Ok. Sounds great. So take out Obama's 'life story', Michelle Obama's 'struggles', their sense of supposed struggling in anything and everything throughout life - private school, columbia, princeton, harvard, corporate life etc etc - and what is it that is left? Obama's entire biography is about struggles and a tough road - there is not experience or executive achievement anywhere. His two supposed pathbreaking books were all about struggles. Joe Biden was instroduced as a blue collar man whose dad struggled (after frittering away millions).

So when your candidate has some real life struggles - that is minblowingly relevant to his candidacy. But other people's struggles are just that - personal things not worth anything in the election?

#61 said - "She has five children, it can't be easy under the best of circumstances."

So who looks after the Obama kids given that - as is being sold - they spend their entire days feeding the homeless and helping the poor? So are you saying that either
1) special needs kids should be aborted or
2) if they are born then their mother should give up on her career?

This coming from the people who at each and every point try to bring up the case of a single mother trying to raise kids and needing handouts (without stating why the single mother chose to become so in the first place)? The Palins are proud people who dont beg for other people's money in the form of welfare. They bravely chose to have children and are supporting them - instead of crying on camera and begging for money from others.

They are the true americans who are examples of actually pulling themselves up for the bootstraps. Maybe that is what has the dems riled - they are so used to simply portraying parents of multiple kids / kids with disabilities / people coming from humble backgrounds as victims deserving only alms that a living example of someone who is not a victim and instead a success has completed proven their propaganda as false.

Go Palin. This is a stake in the heart of all the feminazis - a highly successful and accomplished woman who has not achieved this through playing victim or giving up on her family.

64

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 4:43PM

the candidate who defines the argument wins. mccain just fell into obama's argument of change, but is--and will always be--playing catch-up. obama wins.

65

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 4:44PM

Excellent@#63...

Your post is phenomenal. So well-written and completed in such a short time.

You too are very impressive.

The Guy from Delaware

66

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 4:44PM

her glasses are atrocious. i know she's from alaska and all, but they must have some style consultants up there.

67

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 4:47PM

#63 Cliff Notes

68

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 4:50PM

@66
Okay

69

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 4:50PM

@66
Okay; i mean: as compared to Hillary?

70

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 4:52PM

Just curious where all McCain's executive experience comes from. Seems to me he has no more than Obama.

If I'm being asked to vote for the best crotchety, incompetent cradle-robbing gold-digger, McCain's my man.

Presidential? You've got to be kidding me.

71

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 4:54PM

@70
Obama is no longer relevant
Besides this is a post about Palin

72

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 5:01PM

Nobody cares what her minuses are. She speaks well. As well as Obama, but differently.

Much more down to earth. And she has accomplishments. Real accomplishments.

Hasn't even written a book - good for her!

73

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 5:02PM

Look at it this way...McCain could have picked a republican with lots of experience, I am pretty sure Dick Cheney is available in January 2009.

74

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 5:02PM

@63-- i am not voting for obama because of his life story, i am voting for him because i agree with his positions on the issues. so while i respect that raising a child with down syndrome is far from easy, it does not make a difference to me in terms of my vote.

- 60

75

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 5:12PM

@74: who cares who you are voting for?

Obama has no positions on any issues. What are you talking about silly goose?

76

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 5:12PM

@74 - you want your taxes to be raised? Or maybe you don't make more than 250,000 a year?

He's going to take a lot of money out of us..and really, in NYC 250,000 is kind of middle class.


77

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 5:14PM

in NYC 500,000 by now is middle class
he wants to put us out into nursing in Ohio

78

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 5:16PM

First time in my life I'm making any real money and Obama wants to take it from me. So who's going to support me in my old age?

I know, I'll go live in his house in Chicago.

79

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 5:16PM

First time in my life I'm making any real money and Obama wants to take it from me. So who's going to support me in my old age?

I know, I'll go live in his house in Chicago that he got cheap.

80

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 5:24PM

I am voting for Obama because he:

supports the second amendment

opposes campaign finance reform

agrees with immunity for telcos

supports traditional Democratic leaders like Rich Daley, Emil Jones, John Stroger's son Todd and long time Senator Joe Biden

81

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 5:29PM

@80

Pretty short list; yet most of the items make your choice a pretty complacent "politics-as-usual" program.

You should seriously look into McCain/Palin: they respect wealth accumulation and pretty much everything else America stands for: entrepreneurship, morals, and, on top of all: opportunity.

82

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 5:31PM

@80:
ha ha

from wiki:

"Second Amendment (Amendment II) to the United States Constitution is a part of the United States Bill of Rights that protects the pre-existing individual right to possess and carry weapons "

Palin supports the same and is hot -- she is a better choice

83

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 5:32PM

I was on the fence before but am now reluctantly in Obama camp. This ANWR drilling, anti-choice creationist...there is a real possibility if Mc Cain won that she could end up Prez. That can't happen. Too much at risk...too many elderly supreme court justices...

I hate to have my taxes go up, but this is not an acceptable alternative either.

Signed,
Another woman, not from anyone's rib the last time I checked

84

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 5:49PM

@83
I was on the fence too
But comparing with Obama's vacuousness on essentially everything, McCain/Palin makes sense now.

85

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 5:56PM

I'd let her blow me. Wouldn't want to fuck a twat that's passed through enough bowling balls to be an oil pipeline.

I get that she's pro-life and all, but breeding like an animal ain't cool.

86

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 5:57PM

Experience levels --

Biden = Mc Cain - basically Senators with long careers

Palin has more experience than Obama.

She did sign in for benefits for Gay people in Alaska. (check Wikipedia) She does want creationism taught in schools though...weird. She is anti-choice. which sucks.

But I like her. Just don't agree with her views.

I like Obama. Just don't want my taxes raised.

87

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 5:59PM

@86: well put
Palin is an excellent choice for McCain

@85: would you want to fuck Obama?

88

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 6:01PM

@85, do we have to want to have sex with our politicians in order to vote for them?

89

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 6:02PM

whatever happened to that DB Friday BeachComber supplement that was billed as a classy Hamptons to-do guide?

Is it still alive?

90

Posted by Joseph di Jersey City, Aug 29, 2008 6:10PM

80: You have got to be kidding. Either that or you have fell for what Obama says rather than what he did. While in office he voted for gun bans and did nothing to eliminate Chicago's unconstitutional handgun ban. Mark my words, this woman is a life long NRA member and on that basis will bring huge votes for McCain in the contested states.

91

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 6:19PM

I was one of the obnoxious Ron Paul!!! supporters but am now a life-long Republican.

God I love her.

-anon

92

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 6:28PM

you guys seriously trust her on foreign policy? mccain could drop dead his first week in office and then you have palin sitting across the table from vladimir putin. you can't be comfortable with that possibility.

93

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 6:32PM

@92
She has a strong record of relying on credible experienced people should it come down to that

Most importantly, she has demonstrated common sense
Obama demonstrated nothing except gay appeal

94

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 7:06PM

didn't bush also depend on credible experienced people? that turned out well.

95

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 7:40PM

No, Bush didn't; he just set to implement his crazy world domination agenda
That was Bush's major problem.
Palin is an amazing choice.

96

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 8:58PM

Having an undemanding career while being an attentive and loving mother to five children or father, for that matter) would be very tough. No one can be an effective parent to five children while doing justice to an extremely demanding job. There are no superwomen! Something loses.

I guess Palin has decided her kids can do without--why would this endear her to the conservative right?

Just wondering

97

Posted by guest, Aug 29, 2008 9:12PM

I think this is a landmark moment for America. For the first time in the history of our country, we have a vice presidential candidate that I would like to see naked.

98

Posted by Finnegan, Aug 29, 2008 9:50PM

This was a cute m-80 cheshire grin McCynical type of pick. The woman ran a state whose populatons was about the size of the district Obama represented.

What McCain had working for him up to now was the argument that Obama lacked experience. With this choice, he kills that argument.

Having 14 years of state and national office, sterling education credentials, legal work, community work, teaching, will actually trump 18 months of running a state of 660K or so, and running a town of 5K (where you were largely the deciding vote on debated issues, when necessary).

This seems clever, but will actually backfire, and be quite enjoyable. Biden can go lite and let her eat and spit her own self out.

(Although, purely as a person, I think she is fine in that I agree with a lot of her positions. Just think McCain is being really two faced on any number of issues to get the vote).

99

Posted by guest, Aug 30, 2008 6:01AM

Palin is a nobody from a nowhere state. As to taxes, McCain is just taking a page from the first Bush campaign. (Remember, read my lips, no new taxes, then new taxes?) The reality is that W. fucking spent us into a grave, and there is NO way to keep this country functioning without raising some money. Think of the US government as the biggest LEH or MER on the planet, or better yet, a GSE. We're failing and we need to raise capital, cut costs and fire people.

If McCain promises otherwise, he's lying out his ass. And the democrats in Congress won't pass his budget so why vote for him when you have all the other issues? Yes, I'd like to keep my money too, but I'm not going to blame Obama for not having that option, the blame is clearly W.'s.

I like a woman with energy and determination along with many of you, but this is not a person who could be the president of this country. And McCain is no youth. He has a history of cancer. Selecting Palin was irresponsible, ethically suspect and insulting to both men and women in this country.

100

Posted by guest, Aug 30, 2008 6:05AM

MILF!

101

Posted by guest, Aug 30, 2008 9:33AM

What happens when she gets prego?

102

Posted by guest, Aug 30, 2008 9:34AM

I'd like to tongue punch her in the fart box...

103

Posted by guest, Aug 30, 2008 10:47AM

@96 - What about the Father?

For thousands of years men have gone off to work at demanding jobs and leave the child rearing to their spouses.

Why not Dad? Not like they're going to leave the kids to fend for themselves. Surely Dad can quit his jobs at the oil rig and the fishing industry and mind the kids?

Dad's are equally good at parenting you know.

104

Posted by guest, Aug 30, 2008 11:04AM

ForeignPolicy@#92...

I'd rather see Palin "across the table from Putin" should McCain expire "after the first week in office". With obama as president, we get his dumbass in that seat on day one.

Finnegan@#98...

Palin "backfire"? I've read very few negative comments about her in this morning's paper. Mostly positive. We'll see how right you are in the coming weeks.

LyingOutHisAss@#99...

"Selecting Palin was irresponsible, ethically suspect and insulting to both men and women in this country."

Your post sounds like something that was written by "I'm-talking-out-my-ass" Joe Biden.

Prego@#101...

Palin's most recent child was born this past spring with Downes Syndrome. I don't see another "prego" in her future.

BowlingBall@#85...

Palin "breeding like an animal ain't cool."

Hmmm...Just how many kids does obama have?

ToungePunch@#102...

That one makes even me cringe.

The Guy from Delaware

105

Posted by guest, Aug 30, 2008 11:36AM

@99

Amen. Although I think it's tough to call this move unethical, I do agree that the US Government has basically turned itself into a giant GSE thanks to W. and if both Mccain and Obama's camps arent willing to step up to the plate to "raise capital, cut costs and fire people," then then in my personal opinion, this election is pretty meaningless. Either way, the country will be screwed.

106

Posted by guest, Aug 30, 2008 2:07PM

99 here at TGFD:

Wow, that was a trenchant rebuttal. Your analytical abilities overwhelm me. BTW, have you heard about her revisionistic account of receiving federal funds for the bridge to nowhere? She lied, and blatantly, in her first speech. She's a pork barrel project promoting zealot from a very scary state.

@105, I hate to pay, but pay I'm afraid I must.

I truly do think it was unethical. In a desperate move, a hail mary if you will, McCain selected a running mate he has met ONCE and then spoken to ONCE, a running mate who very well might have to take office. We, and he, know next to nothing about her and he thinks this is good? Merely because she is not from Washington? She, who has admitted that she knows next to nothing about being a VP, and is concerned as to whether she can continue to promote the interests of Alaska while in higher office? The interests of Alaska?

One thing I do know about her, is she filed suit on behalf of Alaska against the current DOI (no liberal mavericks there, by the way) to have the polar bear removed from the endangered species list because it might hinder drilling. You go chick.

107

Posted by guest, Aug 30, 2008 4:05PM

"In the Wasilla pageant, she played the flute and won "Miss Congeniality"

As my public servant, she can play my skin flute and win "Miss Bukkake"

108

Posted by guest, Aug 30, 2008 4:19PM

Well, the consensus seems to be that she's hot, inexperienced, rabidly conservative and, of course, young. McCain's none of these things, so maybe he IS seeking some form of balance for the ticket. Happy Birthday John, I've just lived eight years hoping a totally incompetent president doesn't die so that Cheney doesn't become president. Now, no offense, but I'm not fond enough of you as a candidate to eagerly anticipate hoping that you'll live four healthy years so that Quaylin doesn't become our next leader.

109

Posted by guest, Aug 30, 2008 5:03PM

She seems like a nice woman and has an attractive family and, up until now, a fine record of personal achievements. I admire her character in choosing to carry her baby to term knowing that he has DS. That says a lot about the depth of her beliefs about the sanctity of (at least unborn) life and reflects well on her character. But for all that, I can't imagine her being the president (which is exactly what she'ld be if she was VP and McCain died in office). She's entirely green and untested. I wouldn't be at all comfortable entrusting the care and safety of the nation to her, and not because she's a woman. Any number of seasoned women leaders could be president and not just Hillary.

So much for the Republicans' argument about the vital importance of experience. MCCain has just jettisoned his best argument for a moment's flash of media attention.

And she doesn't believe in evolution? That's just scary.

110

Posted by guest, Aug 30, 2008 5:20PM

McCain, who is notorious for surrounding himself with a tight group of well known, trusted advisors chose as his VP a person he had met once before. Once. He doesn't know her any better than we do. So ask yourself how likely it is that he would trust her with anything of significance in a McCain administration. She'll be given something supposedly high profile, but actually low risk and unimportant and be marginalized like so many weak VPs have been. Her job is to help McCain get elected and then stand out of his way as he governs. That says loads about how much respect McCain actually has for her. Hopefully, most women voters will come to understand the liklihood of that dynamic before they line up to put her in office only to be bitterly disappointed at how she'll be treated. The first female VP should be a person of substance and gravtitas that the world will respect. She's not that yet. She may be some day. But not today.

111

Posted by guest, Aug 30, 2008 5:55PM

108/109/110:
Get a life: it's the weekend.

112

Posted by guest, Aug 30, 2008 5:59PM

@111

If you're so busy enjoying your life because it's the weekend, why did you bother logging on?

113

Posted by guest, Aug 30, 2008 6:32PM

Palin does not believe in evolution. So, do we want someone who is basically insane to be one heart attack away from the Presidency?

114

Posted by guest, Aug 30, 2008 7:13PM

To #103

Nothing wrong with Dad taking over parenting. But with four children still at home (and one an infant with Downs Syndrome) this family will need more participation from both parents. Talk to any parent of four kids, and they will say there is too much work for one parent to do it all.

From what I have seen, the fathers with demanding jobs do leave the parenting to the mother (been there, done that). So my question remains, why would the conservative right adore a woman who chooses to have five kids and continually pursues positions which will leave the majority of the parenting to the father or to hired help?

But I have heard she really isn't big on hired help. Seems she prefers to let her children contribute their childhoods for her ambition.

115

Posted by guest, Aug 30, 2008 7:32PM

@ 114, previously she didn't make enough money to hire substantial household help. She made 125 as Governor and still lives in her old house and drives in everyday. Her husband makes around 90,000.

Bet you that her kids don't got to private schools.

But now they will get a Nanny, or something similar, esp for the DS child.

Lots of parents work. Even in the conservative right. They have to in order to support their families in bad economic times. And Five kids? They are expensive.

So, she'll manage with hired help. She'll get more sophisticated. And who knows, a professional might be better for the DS child anyway.

116

Posted by guest, Aug 30, 2008 7:46PM

@115 - do you have kids? I mean, really? With or without the "professional" hired family addition, in this case it would have to be largely a surrogate parent role because four kids need alot of attention, a special needs child needs a LOT of personalized PARENTAL attention to meet its potential.

She had enough money to have a couple of extra homes, or hunting shacks, and have hubby go off with daddy (or something like that) to do some illegal moose hunting. Her economic status, like many other things about her, is still unexplored territory (kind of like certain parts of her state she'd like to plunder, analogy anyone?).

117

Posted by guest, Aug 30, 2008 9:43PM

Yeah 115! I think McCain missed the boat with thinking Palin would appeal to working mothers! The working mothers and fathers I know are trying to figure out how to spend more time with their kids and keep down a job they need to pay the family bills. They would and do choose part-time or flex when they can--and this is with 1 or 2 kids. The fathers are more involved than any time in history and it is still hard with two parents working!

I have asked every mother I know since this announcement was made what they think, and they all brought up the issue of young children and special needs children and their sympathy for the Palin kids. I think the great majority of working mothers will feel no connection whatsoever with Sarah Palin.

118

Posted by BlackSwan06, Aug 30, 2008 10:51PM

What a circus.

Palin was a largely symbolic pick for her superficial appeal (gun totin' hockey mom ex-beauty queen with five kiddies and a strapping wilderness husband) and to send an in-yo-face to the Dems for not choosing Hillary. It temporarily kills the experience pre-requisite argument, but in the long term, I'm not sure what the net gain will be for the GOP.

Most women will either feel 1) insulted that McCain made an obvious gender play, or 2) disappointed that if he were going to choose on chromosomes, that he didn't manage to woo a stronger candidate (such as Kay Bailey Hutchinson, but TX doesn't need to be re-won, so clearly not a player). I don't see Hillraisers defecting in large numbers to vote in Palin for that to be the deciding factor.

In the event of a Republican victory in November, the thought of her being one medical emergency away from assuming the powers of the presidency is an unpleasant thought. All I know is that they'd better keep a lock on the medicine cabinet so that Cindy doesn't take a little too much of mother's little helper and pass out during a state dinner.

119

Posted by guest, Aug 31, 2008 7:09AM

Sarah Palin is an unknown quantity. She has two years experience as Governor of Alaska, where less than a million people live. Budget issues are softened by oil revenue that goes to the state. The main administrative task as Governor is keeping sticky fingers out of the cookie jar. Her foreign policy experience is zilch, nada. She has worked with the federal government only to the extent that federal policies affect Alaska.

As to her five children, several are close to maturity. The younger kids are going to need a lot of professional care-taking. Perhaps because of her predicament, there will be greater awareness of child-care issues.

Oh, as to the special needs baby, she chose to continue the pregnancy to term. If her ideas are played out to their fullest, she will choose for every woman to bring to term a child diagnosed in the womb as having a congenital medical condition, regardless of the quality of life that child may have. Downs' Syndrome children have a range of intelligence that can be worked with, and are usually pleasant, sociable kids. There are many types of congenital disorders that result in babies who are far more difficult for ordinary people to rear, or whose medical condition makes their lives marked by deep suffering. What's a good choice for one family may not be a good choice for another family, which is the whole point of choice.

Back to politics. The bottom line is Sarah Palin is frighteningly unprepared. I don't see she brings any economic gravitas to McCain's bid for the presidency. If she became President, it would be a through-the-looking-glass version of a Frank Capra movie.

120

Posted by guest, Aug 31, 2008 8:13AM

Yes the equation has changed. I find her charming and down to earth and she has the good "story" Kids, husband, hockey mom. Like Government ought to be.

Back in the old days (200 years ago) people were politicians for a while and went back to their lives. But the people who were the politicians were rich farmers and land owners -- people who'd run businesses. I think Alaska qualifies. She's done a lot - but it's only 18 months.

She has the same qualities as Obama - charm. But more folksy. Less Empty Suitness. (I like Michelle better than Obama because she seems to have more gravitas)

But now the equation between the Dems and Repbulicans is the same -- two old long term senators combined with two wet behind the ears charming people. Black = woman.

Now we have to go back to issues. I like her personally and McCain as people better than the Dems. BUT -- 119 is correct -- Sarah work hard to eliminate choice and that is unacceptable.

Women need the right to choose for their own bodies and their own families. I believe life starts at conception, and while I think that we should push adoption -- make it a mitvah and sell it to this country like we sell Coke and Nike (I know plenty of families that can't have children who want very much to adopt) what about "special needs' children. Not everyone needs to be forced to bring them to term to have them grow up vegetables. People should be allowed to make that choice for themselves.

I can't vote Republican, but I can't vote Democrat because I'm a capitalist, not a socialist. Obama's "tax reductiion" is the biggest transfer of wealth ever -- he raises taxes on those over 250,000 and gives money -- yes - sends checks, to people making less. This is redistribution of wealth. Taking money from me and giving it to people who earn less -- he's actually going to send them actual checks.

121

Posted by guest, Aug 31, 2008 9:21AM

Obama doesn't have any experience either, and he's number one on the Dem ticket.


But he sure does talk nice.