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.
Posted by guest , Aug 29, 2008 12:48PM
First Bitches.
#3 eats my ass.
SPODE
Posted by guest , Aug 29, 2008 12:49PM
& her husband works for BP.
smooth move, ex-lax.
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.
Posted by guest , Aug 29, 2008 12:56PM
@3 - Yes, keep at it with the inexperience card. Please. Two words: see Obama.
Posted by guest , Aug 29, 2008 12:57PM
@3
she is the only candidate with any executive experience...
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
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.
Posted by guest , Aug 29, 2008 1:01PM
"humanoids in ANWR"??? what planet does Kudlow live on?
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]."
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
Posted by guest , Aug 29, 2008 1:05PM
I'd like to break off my drill bit in her ANWR oil field.
Posted by guest , Aug 29, 2008 1:07PM
@11 - Grow up.
Posted by guest , Aug 29, 2008 1:07PM
10, she was runner up dude. stop your campaign of misinformation.
Posted by TheUpwardlyMob , Aug 29, 2008 1:08PM
http://wonkette.com/219635/gilf-update-gov-sarah-palin-as-miss-wasilla
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.
Posted by guest , Aug 29, 2008 1:11PM
@11
I'd drill for her natural gas with my tongue.
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.
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
Posted by guest , Aug 29, 2008 1:15PM
I am interested in hearing more stories about Sarah Palin and DRILLING
Posted by guest , Aug 29, 2008 1:16PM
http://www.vpilf.com/
Check out her high school picture.
DAMN!
SPODE
Posted by guest , Aug 29, 2008 1:19PM
I think i saw Sarah Palin on an episode of BangBus once. True story.
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.
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.
Posted by guest , Aug 29, 2008 1:25PM
VPILF
Posted by guest , Aug 29, 2008 1:33PM
she looks more like elaine benice than tina fey :D
Posted by guest , Aug 29, 2008 1:35PM
I think milf hunter needs to have an episode with her.
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.
Posted by guest , Aug 29, 2008 1:39PM
i call first dibs
Posted by GinNTonic , Aug 29, 2008 1:41PM
I'm wondering if she intended to use the word, 'tap,' fifty times
Posted by guest , Aug 29, 2008 1:44PM
She'd tap that...
Posted by merkin capital partners , Aug 29, 2008 1:48PM
people keep asking me if this is real...it is..
http://bp2.blogger.com/_uExTzMIDd1Y/R2O5nKq9_tI/AAAAAAAAATE/At2bb_K_3ao/s1600-h/Sarah-Palin-Vogue.jpg
Posted by guest , Aug 29, 2008 1:49PM
funniest comment section in a while
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
Posted by guest , Aug 29, 2008 1:59PM
oil execs would be smart to tap that shit! (referring to oil of course)
Posted by guest , Aug 29, 2008 2:06PM
Mccain chose to pick her today to take the spotlight off of Obama's "amazing" speech.
Posted by merkin capital partners , Aug 29, 2008 2:13PM
@ 25..."Benes. My last name is Benes you jackass." -The Package
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.
Posted by guest , Aug 29, 2008 2:17PM
id give her a mayo necklace!
Posted by guest , Aug 29, 2008 2:31PM
My guess is, nude pictures of Sarah Palin will emerge by Monday.
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
Posted by guest , Aug 29, 2008 2:37PM
@39
Please God let this be true.
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.
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?
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?
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
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
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.
Posted by guest , Aug 29, 2008 3:18PM
@47
Ditto
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.
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.
Posted by guest , Aug 29, 2008 3:28PM
Who knew that Republicans were so dumb and racist?
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.
Posted by guest , Aug 29, 2008 3:38PM
@52
Why can't you make a point without capitalizing letters?
Not enough intellectual capital?
Posted by guest , Aug 29, 2008 3:40PM
@52: did you say Obama has positions? What kind, in yoga? (didn't notice any other)
Posted by guest , Aug 29, 2008 3:53PM
I just came in here to say:
RON PAUL!!!
Posted by guest , Aug 29, 2008 3:59PM
And, man, does she dress well!
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.
Posted by guest , Aug 29, 2008 4:06PM
@57
Are you a woman?
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Posted by guest , Aug 29, 2008 4:47PM
#63 Cliff Notes
Posted by guest , Aug 29, 2008 4:50PM
@66
Okay
Posted by guest , Aug 29, 2008 4:50PM
@66
Okay; i mean: as compared to Hillary?
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.
Posted by guest , Aug 29, 2008 4:54PM
@70
Obama is no longer relevant
Besides this is a post about Palin
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!
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.
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
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?
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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?
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?
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?
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.
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
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.
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
Posted by guest , Aug 29, 2008 7:06PM
didn't bush also depend on credible experienced people? that turned out well.
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.
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
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.
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).
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.
Posted by guest , Aug 30, 2008 6:05AM
MILF!
Posted by guest , Aug 30, 2008 9:33AM
What happens when she gets prego?
Posted by guest , Aug 30, 2008 9:34AM
I'd like to tongue punch her in the fart box...
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.
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
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.
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.
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"
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.
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.
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.
Posted by guest , Aug 30, 2008 5:55PM
108/109/110:
Get a life: it's the weekend.
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?
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?
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.
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.
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?).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Posted by guest , Aug 31, 2008 9:22AM
@120 - I'm sorry but your out of your bleeding mind. The biggest redistribution of wealth has occurred over the last 7 years, under the Fed and the current administration's watch. There were banking regulations that could have been enforced to prevent the massive bleeding that is occurring now, but the powers that be have elected to look the other way and encourage the most blatant ripping off of the average American that has ever occurred. I'm one of those people who will get killed by the increase in taxes, and my family only recently attained that status, but still I can only be ashamed that our country's leaders and business community has "redistributed" the wealth upward so insidiously. Is that capitalism or fraud?
Posted by guest , Aug 31, 2008 9:24AM
Carney, why'd you have to go and insult Tina Fey?
Posted by guest , Aug 31, 2008 9:33AM
@121 - I am so tired of this "Obama doesn't have any experience." Being in the Senate listening to issues relating to foreign and domestic policy day in and day out and voting on issues ranging from national security to the national budget doesn't qualify as experience? Having an in-depth understanding of constitutional law doesn't constitute experience? Travelling oversees and meeting with international leaders doesn't qualify as experience? Working at a community level for the rights of the working and lower classes, now that is just downright negative experience. We wouldn't want to empower the less-than-upper-class common people, now would we? That would be socialism. What does he need to do? Don some fatigues and go fight in Iraq for a ficticious cause, or maybe he should run the national guard for a couple of years, or run a multinational company? Wait, Paulson ran a rather large economic concern, and look at the bang-up job he's doing with the economy.
Posted by guest , Aug 31, 2008 9:40AM
@122
My family will also take a hit if Obama increases taxes as he says and I'm not looking forward to paying more taxes either. But I'm voting for Obama because I think he's going to make the tough choices that need to be made to address our unsustainable level of federal spending without forcing the least prosperous to bear most of the hardship. And I think he'll do more than pay lip service to the effort to ensure that affordable health care is available for all Americans. Our current system is a disgrace. And I don't think that recognizing the benefits of a market economy means you need to blindly support a system that consistently allocates over half of newly created wealth to the top 1% while leaving the bottom 30% to scrounge for crumbs. I think we can do better and I believe that Obama is the best candidate to lead that effort. If I have to pay more taxes so that these goals can be achieved, so be it.
Posted by guest , Aug 31, 2008 9:56AM
Whoever votes for Obama is a crazy bigot.
Posted by guest , Aug 31, 2008 10:03AM
@122: You are soo wrong: the next experience you are going to count is that Obama knows everything about women issues because he happened to fuck his wife. C'mon: the guy has 0 experience (but is an excellent speaker, and has probably fooled your innocent brain otherwise). And what if Obama dies tomorrow (look at those clowns in Denver that were arrested toting ammo) -- do you think Biden will do a great job? If yes, why wasn't he remotely a runner-up in the Dems race?
Palin has executive experience, which Obama does not even come close to. Palin has actually ran a branch of government that literally runs human lives on the daily basis. In fact, she is the only person (out of all 4) that has any experience doing so.
Now, who would you trust running a country: a black man who demonstrated no capabilities besides speaking, or a person with actual experience of running a government, in addition to being a working mother of 5 who has managed to balance the workload and home?
I think Palin is an amazing role model, and excellent choice for President.
Posted by guest , Aug 31, 2008 10:17AM
Palin has executive experience? Firing her brother-in-law in a backward redneck state with fewer people than live in Brooklyn? 18 months as governor of Alaska, mayor of a town of 9000, and you call that experience? A U. of Idaho BS in communications? A PTA mom. Gee, such accolades.
Obama is on the Foreign Relations committee, you idiot. He's been to Russia to study the nuclear issue. He's co-sponsored bills on the issue.
I'll take Biden over Miss Congeniality any day. Oh, and I'm a woman. I'm assuming your "a black man" comment implies that you're not? I'm not sexist, I was a Hillary supporter, but I do believe you may be racist.
Posted by Cincinnatus C , Aug 31, 2008 10:28AM
Palin's foreign policy = the movie Protocol
Posted by guest , Aug 31, 2008 10:34AM
@129 - very funny. But that was an (awful) comedy. This is no joke.
Posted by guest , Aug 31, 2008 10:36AM
@128
Wow, Obama's been to Russia!
What, you've never travelled anywhere?
C'mon now, yes, Obama is attractive to Jewish causes, but who cares about him? Clearly, any thinking person will vote for McCain/Palin.
Posted by guest , Aug 31, 2008 10:46AM
Yes, actually I have travelled quite a bit (including to Alaska). I've even lived overseas. Palin has been to Alaska and Idaho, I don't know where else. But I've never met with foreign leaders, and Palin hasn't either. I'm not qualified to be VP, and neither is she.
If you must be sarcastic, at least be clever. I think the Obama is attractive to Jewish causes is a joke, but I'm not certain. Clearly any thinking person will vote Republican? Talk about unsubstantiated commentary.
Posted by guest , Aug 31, 2008 11:34AM
@127 said "Now, who would you trust running a country: a black man who demonstrated no capabilities besides speaking. . . "
No capabilities? He led the Harvard Law Review, taught Constitutional Law and served in the Illinois State Senate and the US Senate. In terms of academic and political achievements, that puts him somewhere in the top .001% of people in ths country. That all adds up to "no capabilities"? Nonesense.
But the most telling part of the comment was to remark upon his race. Are you suggesting that a white man with the same qualifications would be a different proposition? For many, it would be. Race is the hugest issue in this election. It alone explains why his supposed "inexperience" is such an issue for those who profess to be "afraid" because they "don't know" and aren't "comfortable" with him. The issue isn't Obama as an individal. Any black man would elicit the same reaction that blacks are good enough to serve and die for America, just not to lead it. I'm not saying that racsim alone explains why some people are reluctant to vote for Obama. But racist sentiment is a huge reason why many who would otherwise have no issues with him suddenly find themselves drawn to vote Republican for the first time. It's also why his achievements, which few can hope to match, are dismissed as evidence of nothing other than speaking ability.
Posted by guest , Aug 31, 2008 12:27PM
I'm not voting for Obama because he's a socialist. He's going to take money from my paycheck and send checks to people who pay no taxes. That's how he's lowering taxes, by sending money to people who don't have enough income to pay taxes.
That's socialism - from each according to his abilities, to each according to his need.
Yes, I agree that capitalism has turned into croney-ism in Washington and there has been a redistribution of wealth upwards.
That's why I'm glad Palin is a reformer and maybe she'll be able to throw the bums out.
I'm a demorcat, but I can't vote for Obama because of his policies. I actually like him because he's black. There was some guy on John Stewart or Cobert report that said that kids growing up with him as President for eight years will have a different view of life and this could fix racism once and for all. That has some merit. That would make me vote for him...except for that socialism thing.
Posted by guest , Aug 31, 2008 12:41PM
@134 wrote "I'm not voting for Obama because he's a socialist. He's going to take money from my paycheck and send checks to people who pay no taxes."
Newsflash: that's already happening now under Bush. That's what earned income tax credits are. Transfers of wealth in which low income people receive paychecks in excess of what they earn. And though you may not think of them as such, that's what food stamps and Medicaid are as well. They both involve taking money from the more well off and giving it to the poor. When you have extremes of income inequality such that people who work full time are still poor, you have to have some form of wealth transfer if only for social stability. That's why Republicans support some forms of what you've called socialism.
Posted by guest , Aug 31, 2008 3:59PM
#135 - read #122. I wrote 122, I think in response to your earlier inaccurate comment about redistribution and socialism. If you're a new commenter on the issue, I apologize and once again ask to read 122. The Republicans have been the greatest redistributors of wealth this country has known in the past 50 at least years, and it's all been UPWARD. Yes it would be nice if Bush's tax cuts could be sustainable, but they weren't wise in the beginning. Remember, Bush LOWERED taxes for the wealthy (and not the upper and upper middle class, by the way) from the Clinton era.
Say what you will about Bill, but with the exceptions perhaps of NAFTA and Greenspan possibly setting us up for the future mortgage crisis, his economy was a damn good one with a surplus. Repealing Bush's tax cuts are not, morally, a tax increase. They are a return to rationality. It costs money to run a country, and it has to come from somewhere. Or maybe you don't care if your highways are repaired, or the government sponsors major research, etc.?
Posted by guest , Aug 31, 2008 4:04PM
Sorry, I meant 134. I agree wholeheartedly with 135s comments. At a certain point wealth inequality becomes destablizing and even potentially dangerous, not to mention morally reprehensible.
Posted by guest , Aug 31, 2008 7:03PM
By the way, Obama is hardly a socialist. He's spent some time with the Chicago gang, and while I wouldn't exactly call him a Friedman shock doctrine follower, he's not entirely without some of their supply-side influence.
Obama's proposals echo those of FDR, who didn't choose his policies solely based on liberalism. It is generally true that wise investment in infrastructure and areas of potential huge growth (alternative energy, for example) can jump start a moribund economy. The money for this investment must be raised, but it will greatly benefit the economy as a whole, and will do so much better than the "trickle down" theorists efforts to date.
Posted by guest , Aug 31, 2008 10:24PM
128: "He's been to Russia to study the nuclear issue."
I'm sure that visit was informative.
Posted by guest , Sep 01, 2008 1:51AM
You have to love the way the religious right has hijacked the Republican Party. Things like this are the reason Republicans are about as hard to find on Wall Street these days as Nascar fans.
Posted by guest , Sep 01, 2008 11:07AM
Can I get a shout-out for left-wing nutjobs???
http://dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/8/30/121350/137/486/580223
Posted by guest , Sep 01, 2008 12:57PM
@ 11:07
Well the daughter may not be the mother of Sarah's 5th child but she is currently 5 months pregnant. That was confirmed about an hous ago. She is 17 years old. But have no fear she is planning on marrying the baby daddy.
I love Christian Evangelicals - there is always a love child somewhere.
Posted by guest , Sep 01, 2008 4:08PM
From Wikipedia: "Palin is also a strong supporter of abstinence-until-married education and opponent of sex-education programs". I guess that idiotic philosphy didn't work out too well in her family.
Posted by guest , Sep 01, 2008 4:21PM
I heard that Palin is proud of her daughter's decision to marry her baby's daddy and proud to be a grandmother. Good for her. Way to be a supportive parent! But what about her expression of shame that her daughter obviously had sex before marriage? Isn't that one of those core Christian evangelical sins that they're always condemning others for? Can you imagine the hysetrical outcries we'd hear from FOX News if Obama had a daughter pregnant out of wedlock? They already derided his wife of several decades as his "baby mamma". I wait with baited breath for a similar pronouncement against Palin's daughter.
Of course, these are the same folks who divorce at rates in excess of 50%, but nonetheless condemn gays and other "sinners against God's word" for wanting to "change the definition" of marriage. Debase the institution, but save the denifition! God save us from four more years of government by such people.
Posted by Anal_yst , Sep 01, 2008 5:57PM
so we go from the always-classy Bush daughters to this lil' jezebel?
The GOP should put out a parenting books already, sheesh!
Posted by guest , Sep 01, 2008 7:46PM
i am amazed at the level of zealotry that comes out in these discussions which surpassed only by the idea that any of you actually believe a candidate, any candidate, has your best interests in mind.
The only good government is less government. Don't see either party really pushing that agenda. You may not believe me now but you'll see.
Posted by guest , Sep 01, 2008 7:49PM
One McCain supporter stated that "we are all sinners." That just seems like a bit of a blanket rationalization to me.
Chelsea seems to be doing OK. Anyone remember the Reagan family? Oh, and could it ever be deemed acceptable what McCain called his wife in public? Most of us are, at least to some degree, messed up. But some of us are hypocritical, setting unrealistc standards and definitions of moral behavior until the time arrives when they are no longer "convenient" due to "personal circumstances."
Posted by guest , Sep 01, 2008 7:56PM
"you may not believe me now but you'll see"
Kind of the anti-zealot's zealotry.
Since we must have one or the other, and our constitution doesn't allow no president, we have no choice if we are thinking people to care.
BTW, W.'s regime included more government, and in all the wrong places, than I can recall since I became interested in politics in 1978. Even Ronnie wasn't as meddling.
Posted by guest , Sep 01, 2008 8:24PM
It is evident that most commenters here have no understanding whatsoever of the Christian faith.
Posted by guest , Sep 01, 2008 9:47PM
It is evident that most Christians have no understanding whatsoever of the Christian faith.
Posted by guest , Sep 01, 2008 11:04PM
@146 The only good government is less government? That's a rather extreme position. Surely the question is one of finding the right balance and not simply reducing government as much as possible. The world is full of nations with governments that are so inept or corrupt as to be irrelevant to the lives of the majority of their citizens and few of us would like to have similarly ineffective government here. Even the most die-hard anti-big government conservatives very much want the government to be strong when they feel threatened by something they can't tackle on their own, whether it be crime, terrorism, air safety standards, consumer product safety or national security. But they also don't want to pay for all the services they want and they certainly don't want to pay for services for the "undeserving" people poorer than themselves. Hence the tension. Saying that big government is the enemy sounds good when you're voting to lower your taxes. But how about when you find you can't rely on your water supply to be clean, your bridges to be sound and your local cops not to be on the take? Then you'll be howling for the big bad government like everyone else.
Posted by guest , Sep 02, 2008 1:38AM
Very entertaining commentary.
U of Idaho? back in the 80s? what were the admission requirements -- a pulse, a loaded rifle and an alarm clock? ....her SATs must've been ~ 500 pts below anyone on this board.... Slow motion thinker.
The Axis of Evil must be drooling at the possibility of facing off with someone of that IQ.
Posted by guest , Sep 02, 2008 5:05AM
I'm very surprised by the number of professional "bloggers" from both the democratic and republican parties on this website.
Posted by guest , Sep 02, 2008 6:15AM
@153 - what? I've made at least 15 of the comments, and I'm a stay-at-home mom, hardly a professional blogger. When someone makes a vp selection that's as insulting and divisive to some, and yet on the surface at least as attractive to the fundamentalist right, you can whip up quite a reaction.
Posted by guest , Sep 02, 2008 7:58AM
149&150 - Sorry, which flavour of Christian don't we understand? When you speak of 'the' Christian faith, which one do you mean? Where I sit, on a continent that's had nothing but history of different denominations claiming they are 'the' Christian faith and killing each other for the title, it's you that sounds like you have 'no understanding whatsoever'.
Posted by guest , Sep 02, 2008 8:00AM
Apols, I see 150 is not a double post, but rather a good riposte. Bravo, sir. 149, you remain a pompous fool.
Posted by guest , Sep 02, 2008 8:05AM
@154: Judging by the quantity and pathos of your posts, it's been already clear that you have nothing to do.
Get a job (like Palin).
Posted by GinNTonic , Sep 02, 2008 9:37AM
@152
Good to be constructive and just look down upon who either don't have the money you do or the SAT scores you do.
Obviously we can judge all of our Presidents by their education background. Like our favorite president ever, George W, who only went to the best of the best (Yale and HBS). Probably the worst Presidents ever, Ronald Reagan went to Eureka College and Bill Clinton went to (I wouldn't let my maid's kids go to) Georgetown.
So go ahead and be an elitist prick, and it'll go back to bite you in the as% when flyover state people are the deciding factor in electing another Republican.
Posted by guest , Sep 02, 2008 9:40AM
155 is correct. The message of Jesus Christ told in the New Testament is primarily one of hate and war. I think.
Posted by guest , Sep 02, 2008 10:33AM
@157 - I have a job. I'm a stay-at-home mom (by "choice"). My daughter likes to read, so I have had some time on my hands. You certainly don't know with any certainty which of the posts are mine, other than 154 of course, so you can hardly comment as to their content.
Besides, it was a holiday weekend so even if employed I ought to have had some time available, and I often note that apparently gainfully employed people spend a hell of a lot of their not-so-free time commenting.
Posted by guest , Sep 02, 2008 12:57PM
@102 you made me spit out my lunch.
good phrase..good timing. A++
Posted by guest , Sep 02, 2008 3:51PM
As I have learned more and more about Governor Palin and her family, I am starting to fully realize the genius of McCain’s pick. These folks actually “live” the full rich life that some of our leaders can only describe from dreams and not reality. In reviewing her accomplishments in a short experience as governor of our largest state, she has managed to accomplish what the average guy thinks he would like to do if he were able. She cleaned up a huge mess in corruption and favoritism in her capitol without regard to party affiliation. Finding the state jet unnecessary, she auctioned it off on E-Bay and put the money in the state treasury. She demonstrated that she knows that the citizens of Alaska are the boss and directed her efforts on their behalf.
On a human level we find an adamant pro-life mother of five with a loving husband, a son soon deploying to the Middle East with the Army, and an infant son with special needs. We see a life member of the NRA, an outdoorswoman, and a preference for Moose Stew. Add that to Cindy McCain’s beer business and some (not I!) would call that combination a dream team.
As governor of Alaska, Palin's state has only two neighbors: Russia and Canada. Part of her job is to interact with the governments of both. In the case of Canada, she just shepherded a deal for a pipeline which topped $21 billion dollars. She is constantly faced with treaty and boundary (well in excess of 1000 miles) matters with the Russians. They share critical fishing waters. As CIC of the state’s National Guard, she traveled to their base in Asia, met with the troops and sought to find out first hand about their well-being. This equates to genuine, hands on experience.
A Terrific Satire
Apparently, she has not read the instruction manual for politicians. I found an excellent synopsis in the comment section of a blog which was written by Damiano (his nom-de-blog) which offers a satirical view of what’s wrong with Sarah’s approach. I am shamelessly including it for your instruction and entertainment.
“Palin is completely inexperienced and utterly incapable.
You heard me. The initial euphoria over the idea of a naughty librarian on the TV news each night for the next 4 to 8 years has worn off. Now, it’s back to hard, pragmatic reality and the reality is that she has no place in Washington, DC.
Want proof? Consider the following:
Only an amateur would speak off the cuff, as she usually does. Experienced politicians avoid speaking extemporaneously whenever possible. Otherwise, the electorate might find out what they really think.
If Palin had meaningful experience, she would have known that the job of Ethics Commissioner is SUPPOSED to be corrupt, thus saving her the trouble of resigning in protest and then running for the highest office in the state.
Only an amateur would attain political office by actually defeating opposing candidates at the ballot box.. An experienced politician would have eliminated opposition candidates by protesting technical glitches in their nominating petitions or petitioning to change the party rules on how votes are counted in primary elections or hiring groups like ACORN to register 14 people who all, coincidentally, have the same names and reside at the same abandoned and boarded-up restaurant.. Did she not once consider taking lessons from the Chicago political machine that got Obama elected? Sheesh.
Any experienced politician knows that upon assuming high office, you are supposed to demand a larger plane; not sell the useless behemoth that was recently purchased by your predecessor.
Only an amateur would implement a comprehensive energy and conservation policy shortly after taking office. A more experienced politician would have avoided the issue outright for at least 30 years while demonizing oil companies, then banning any voting on the topic followed by a recess vacation through the next election
Any experienced politician knows that once elected, you are not supposed to spend your first 20 months in office actually doing the job you were elected to do. You should be campaigning for another office – as Obama could have told her.
Sarah Palin was only supposed to TALK about government reform and utter platitudes about exiling corrupt, entrenched politicians – not actually do anything about it. She demonstrated her naivete by creating a smooth running government that included representatives of other political parties, thereby making it impossible for her to find a scapegoat if anything goes wrong.
Only a political greenhorn would thumb their nose at the environmental lobby by hunting and actually shooting moose and caribou. Worse yet, she foolishly told the truth: the proposed oil drilling site in ANWR is NOT the secret location of Eden but is, in fact, a barren wasteland.
What Sarah Palin does not seem to understand is that here in the 21st century, chief executives do not negotiate beneficial business deals for their states with foreign nations or take time to actually hang out with soldiers in Iraq. That time is better spent preening for the cameras in Berlin – something else a more seasoned and experienced politician such as Obama could have told her.
Holding oil companies accountable and successfully negotiating mutually productive agreements with them proves she does not understand their true purpose: if you work with them to the benefit of your state, you will no longer have a faceless villain to scare people into voting for you.
By creating new jobs instead of demonizing capitalism, Sarah foolishly enabled people to become more reliant on themselves and less reliant on government, hereby diminishing the dependant voter base – a classic newbie mistake. After all, if people have jobs, they will not have much need for the government and will be too busy enjoying their lives to protest the U.S., its corporations and, of course, opposing candidates.
Worse yet, Palin created a budget surplus and mailed it back to the taxpayers. Doesn’t she know that if the government generates a surplus, it’s doing something wrong? An experienced leader like Obama or Biden knows that taxpayer money belongs to the government – not to the people.
In another rankly amateurish move, she cooperated completely with government officials investigating accusations made against her. Experienced politicians know that you are supposed to stonewall, obfuscate, pressure libraries to expunge any record of unsavory political associations and ship potential witnesses off to Caribbean islands – another good reason not to sell the executive jet.
Yup, she is hopelessly inexperienced.
Posted by guest , Sep 02, 2008 4:04PM
is 162 for real? does a DB reader really have time to write a novella on Sara Palin?
One quick gripe, on the issue of returning taxes to the taxpayers. These are excess revenues that were derived from the spike in oil prices. When you think of it that way - as an extraordinary item - the returning doesn't seem to be such a noble gesture.
Now if only we could get NY to return those excess taxes that were collected the past few years as a result of extraordinarily large Wall St bonuses.
Posted by guest , Sep 02, 2008 4:06PM
genius @ 163-- it was a copied and pasted article from market watch:
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/gop-reality-show-meet-palins/story.aspx?guid=%7BA7545C6A-F1C2-4EB7-BC99-EF56F3A142FD%7D&dist=msr_2
Posted by guest , Sep 02, 2008 4:08PM
164 I of course suspected that, but didnt know the source. Was trying a little irony.
Posted by guest , Sep 02, 2008 4:47PM
how does one "try" irony?
Posted by guest , Sep 02, 2008 4:52PM
166 The correct usage would have been "I was attempting to be ironic". In the interest of time however, and given that this is not a master's dissertation, I slapped something together that conveys the same thought. Silly me for thinking it would squeak by the doctoral committee.
Posted by guest , Sep 02, 2008 4:56PM
see RealClearPolitics for a link to a New Republic (yes, that's the liberal one) article that tells why we shouldn't be underestimating SP.
Posted by guest , Sep 02, 2008 5:07PM
"be ironic"???
strike 2.
Posted by guest , Sep 02, 2008 5:08PM
On whether Obama's fiscal policy is socialist and whether Obama or McCain's tax policy will be better for this country, how about reading the opinions of the two of the most respected economists in the country?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122031215585888783.html?mod=opinion_main_commentaries
Posted by guest , Sep 02, 2008 5:44PM
oh please.
are we really supposed to take the word of two ivy league economics professors?!!
clearly the are just racist.
Posted by guest , Sep 02, 2008 6:00PM
Please turn off the Neilson pop up! I already answered it and it turns on all the time.....
Posted by guest , Sep 02, 2008 6:09PM
Since when does DB attract housewives? I am not reading these nonsensical comments anymore.
Posted by guest , Sep 03, 2008 9:50PM
Oh please, I'm a housewife who graduated from Yale. My husband is a partner at a very large law firm. I make ALL decisions regarding real estate, investments (other), insurance, retirement planning, etc. Oh, and my husband is home by 7:00 most nights. You make more, but you're life SUCKS BITCH!
Posted by guest , Sep 04, 2008 9:24AM
159 - Well, go ask Ian Paisley / Gerry Adams about that. Maybe the Albigensians too, only they're dead.
Posted by guest , Sep 04, 2008 12:02PM
She seems ok in some areas, but it concerns me quite a bit that she has 5 kids. Combined with her pro-drilling, it seems like she would be an environmental and population control disaster.
Posted by guest , Sep 04, 2008 12:03PM
She seems ok in some areas, but it concerns me quite a bit that she has 5 kids. Combined with her pro-drilling, it seems like she would be an environmental and population control disaster.
Posted by guest , Sep 05, 2008 12:27PM
@57 Sucks
Posted by guest , Sep 05, 2008 2:07PM
@176/177 combine that with wanting to take polar bears off threatened species list & hunting wolves from helicopters... real piece of work she is.