There are Neanderthals who think Sarah Palin is no longer qualified to be VP because she is seven months pregnant.
Right now you are very fortunate that I have given up profanity for Lent. While I was reading my usual sources this morning, low and behold I discovered a certain conservative male on a very reasonable site which is political but fair to both sides of the aisle. I must also add that it is one of my ‘must read’ sites every day. Oy (and that’s not profanity)...…
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— go to most recent comments76 - proud american 2008
I am so honored and feel blessed to see such a strong, qualified, woman VP candidate. She is more than qualified, and reflects the strong moral family values this country is so hungry for. Congratulations Sarah. Excellent choice!
77 - Max
Dave Nalle, so what if Ms. Palin has an approval rating of 80%? According to the 2000 census the entire population of Alaska was about 626,000. Or roughly the same size as Milwaukee, Wisconsin!
In other words, in your opinion all it would take is 80% of Milwaukeans surveyed approving of a candidate to be considered as the potential VP of the entire United States.
Laughable if it weren't so sad.
78 - pemby42
Palin husband works for BP, can anyone say 5$ gas a gallon?? Republicans SSDD
79 - instigator
as we observe on the sidelines while the RNC goes through it's show, moosing up an alaskan unknown right winger and a shot down POW, I wish to mention one particular book and eventual movie with a recent remake, "The Manchurian Candidate."
You may wish to read this novel and then "Faith of our Fathers," but then review the real biography of his public servant experience. Many of your readers will be too young or without good recall, but do research "Keating 5," do research Mccains war record.
80 - instigator
I do wonder if mccain has returned to vietnam, specifically his room at the hanoi hilton? or the fields where his 23+ missions at low level were bombed? the families, if any survivors? to make amends....or Hey, war is hell! attitude. When do we as americans take another approach to our position in the world? Alternately comments of sarcasm, to profiling of all americans, to redrawing opinions as fact, to self serving for political gain, denegrading for personal gain.
Instead, shall we focus on taking care of america for america. America first.
Let's see if the RNC will focus on a rebuilding of america's infrastructure from the top down.
81 - OMGPalin
Check into Palin. Walter Monegan, Public Saftey Commissioner, was allegedly "offered a new position" as Alcohol Board Commissioner by Palin from his post as for *not* firing a state trooper that was involved in a messy divorce w/ Palin's sister. She cited him as being "not a team player".
She campaigned on ethics and reform and has done nothing but reduce the number of construction jobs in Alaska, throw good money after bad trying to prop up failing state-run businesses.
Putting her on a national stage should frighten the country as it frightens Alaskans.
82 - Silas Kain
Oh come on now. Are we going to get into the same kind of mud slinging? So, the husband works for BP. He is also a PAYING MEMBER of the United Steelworkers. And to me that little fact is going to show just what the unions are made of. Barack's speech is now on page 3, Palin is the headline. What a difference a day makes in America!
83 - OMGPalin
Oh yeah... and for what it's worth... No glass cieling was shattered.
Everyone forget Geraldine Ferraro?
84 - Silas Kain
I'll forget Geraldine for now. After hearing Palin's speech, I thought one thing. Margaret Thatcher. Ronald Reagan would be pleased.
85 - Bobby EWing
You have to admit that Sarah Palin is pretty hot (remember she was in the Ms. Alaska Pageant) and MUCH BETTER on the eyes than Joe Biden. Oh and wait until you see the bikini pics!!! NOT BAD for a mother of 5.
86 - Bless the USA
I am a 74 year old great-grandmother from OHio. After listening to the DNC I knew Sen. McCain needed a really strong running mate. I believe he has chosen VERY WELL. With Sen McCain's know how and strength and Gov. Palin's youth, straight-forwardness, and courage I still believe in the GOP (grand old party). God Bless them and God bless the USA
87 - wow
Fantastic
Mrs Podunk for president if anything happens to McCain.. Putin and the Chines must be all high fives right now....
Soccer mom vs Putin
88 - Dr Dreadful
I've said it before and I'll say it again: the British press is going to have a field day when they find out Palin has a teenage daughter named Bristol...
89 - NoMore
Sacred cows make the tastiest hamburger.
Ronald Reagan capitalized on the impending collapse of the Soviet system and his legacy is written as such. History is written by the victors rendering critisism at this point moot, however here, now, in 2008, we know now that the Soviet Union was collapsing under its *own* economic policies, not those influenced by the arms race, the policies and rhetoric of Ronald Reagan, or other cold war factors. Soviet communism simply could not survive, Reagan's administration knew this and capitalized on it. You can't poke holes into why it was done, it was brilliant politics. However it is at least required, for at least the sake of intellectual honesty, to include the facts as we now know them to be true.
Margret Thatcher was and is regarded by Brittains as the right person in the right job at the right time. Too bad the Soviets are gone or maybe such rhetoric and such ideals would be applicable.
I'm tired of being lied to, tired of deception. I'm tired of back-room deals. I'm tired of looking around and seeing no one inspired, or scared, but me.
I'm tired of war for the wrong reasons in the wrong places.
So, this year, and for one last time... I'm going to not be cynical, not be jaded, not be conspiratorial. I'm not going to be quiet. I'm not going to be intimidated because what I think is not what you think. I'm not going to settle for a second-rate world in which my 12 y/o daughter pays for the sins of my indecision.
After eight years of pandering to fear, losing respect for those I know and love because they gave up their faculties for critical thinking in exchange for a cloak of imagined security. After 20 years, I am no longer a republican.
I am a conservative. I am a free thinker. I love this country.
I donated to John McCain in 2000. I cannot in good conscience vote for John McCain this time around.
I believe that the Presidency is the ultimate leadership opportunity. Where he leads, the nation follows.
I just don't want to go where John McCain is heading anymore.
90 - None
Well, looks like the republicans just lost the election. Don't know anything about the VP, nor do I think she will help McCain. Should have picked someone who would be more qualified.
91 - eastcoastalaskan
Be real, Sarah Palin is a joke of a choice. She has no experience, and the ONLY reason she was chosen is because she is a woman and it is Sen. McCain's ploy to get the feminist vote. She should address how poorly her children are doing-he oldest daughter is pregnant and in hiding after being knocked up by a local boy-perhaps this baby will be president some day! I was not going to vote for Obama but he gets the vote now. Perhaps the new national sport will be the iron dog race. What a disgrace.
92 - LIsa
Two things that cannot be denied. A VP must be ready to assume the presidency the day they step into office. Also, can any mother of a child with DS say with honesty that they could handle the responsibilities of being both the VP of the US and the mother of a child with special needs? 22 years ago I had to make the hard choice to leave the career that I loved so that I could be there to do what was necessary to care for my own child with special needs. That particular job only gets harder, by the way. She is making a choice that would put a knot in the stomach of even the most hardend feminist.
93 - bizurk1
As a parent of a "special needs child" my sentiment goes out to this 4 month old boy. He could go through the first 12 years of his life not knowing who his mother is. Seems very selfish of Ms. Palin, when you are given a child like this, it quickly makes you realize "it is not always about you". She evidentally did not learn this lesson, or would have told John, I am sorry but I have higher priorities at this time, nurishing my Downs syndrome son.
94 - Max
A few more qualification issues...
Great speaker, first of all. Really good. And of course, easy on the eyes.
She's a beauty queen, placing second in the Miss Alaska pagent in 1984. Hey, placed second. Veep. Get it? But she apparently did win Miss Congeniality.
Rabidly pro-life.
She's an avid hunter and lifelong member of the NRA. Her husband works in commercial fishing and oil drilling on the north slope of Alaska...do you suppose that they have EVER had an objective discussion between themselves about the staggering environmental issues that Alaska faces?
We'll never know, but Ms. Palin supports oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve.
The most troubling issue is, as mentioned before, that of political qualifications:
She's a two term Council member and Mayor of Wasila, Alaska. Total population? 5,470 (according to the 2000 census). Which means that she was elected with somewhere around 1800 votes. That's it.
And Ms. Palin won the governor's race in Alaska with 115,000 votes. Total. 115,000 votes.
That's how many people have moved out of Cleveland in the last year.
That's the same number of people who live in Morgantown, West Virginia.
Why is this such an issue? Because with the naming of Ms. Palin as the Republican VP candidate the frickin' Republicans have just caused me the angst of having to re-examine, after having my mind made up for the last 8 months, if I am going to vote for Senator McCain for President after all.
95 - Larmartia Poullard
Sarah Palin is no Hillary Clinton! The sheer arrogance of Palin and the Mc Cain camp to think that Hillary Clinton supporters will support Palin because she is a woman is crazy! Palin and Clinton are polar opposites on the issues..abortion, gay rights, etc. Trust me, there is no "moose soup", deer hunting or fly fishing in DC, but there is PLENTY of humble pie! This soccer mom is going to get her lunch handed to her.
96 - Silas Kain
After 20 years, I am no longer a republican...
I am a conservative. I am a free thinker. I love this country.
I left my party long ago thanks to the current President. I also am a conservative -- a common sense conservative. A true conservative is one who believes that we dictate government not the other way around. Conservatism demands that accountability is something that should be at the very heart of our way of life. We need to teach accountability in schools. Parents need to be more accountable for the raising of their children. Political leaders need to be held accountable for executing their duties. And when they fail us they need to be voted out of office or thrown in jail. Sarah Palin is the same. She's not afraid of being held accountable.
Union workers have a candidate in their corner. Her husband's a paying member. The GLBT community has a person who recognizes the importance of inclusion. Research it for yourself. GLBT state workers in Alaska have benefits for their partners. She may be opposed to "gay marriage" but she refused to discount the worth and importance of life partnerships. Hmmm. Isn't that what Barack said?
Those Republicans who left the party after the Rovians took over have a chance to take back the party of Lincoln. Sarah Palin stood firm against the machine that was the Alaskan GOP and won. This is what we need in Washington. We need a politician (yes, a POLITICIAN) who doesn't fear the machine but shuts it down. That's what John McCain represented until he rolled over for George W. Bush. Out of Obama, Biden, McCain and Palin -- Sarah Palin represents mainstream Americans most -- and THAT, my friends, scares the crap out of Washington.
97 - jerry in rural AZ
I've had calls from family/friends from around the country...and what surprises me is I don't recall any of them talking about politics before...seems Sarah Palin has raised interest in this election.
98 - NoMore
@Silas:
Modern political debates over candidates for president, and by extension the vice president, boil down to one of two issues: their character and their record.
Mrs. Palin is a mixed bag in both categories. GLBT supporter, yes. Poor administrator of public industries, yes. Pro-gun, yes. Allegations of corruption in her administration, yes. Solid record of union support, yes. Chose a presidential campaign over newborn w/ DS, yes. For every plus in one column, there is a minus in the other.
The game then poses the weaknesses of one candidate against the other. Comparing both VP nominees on the last point alone, Palin comes up somewhat lacking. It's been much touted that Mr. Bidden repeatedly puts the intrests of his family over his career. One can already see that this one point will become more of an issue as the debates approach.
Ignoring the greater discussion of the McCain platform, I question the wisdom of this selection.
99 - Silas Kain
Well, if there IS a real debate in this country between the Vice Presidential candidates I wonder how Joe Biden will come across as a friend of small business. He comes from Delaware, arguably the largest enemy of small business in these "United" States. And every time I make a payment on my Capital One or MBNA credit card I wonder how much of it goes to Joe Biden in one form or another.
Biden and McCain have maintained "maverick" reputations in the Senate. But neither have been able to crack the political system in Washington. McCain sold his soul to Bush; and Biden, with his flashy cuff links, talks a good game but remains central to the gridlock. Obama is new to the Washington scene and hasn't earned enough points to make any difference. There's one outsider in this race today and that is Sarah Palin. All of a sudden this campaign has become East vs. West as opposed to North vs. South.
100 - A. Hart
As a parent of a special needs child, she has one job right now and it's not VP.
101 - Silas Kain
As a parent of a special needs child, Sarah Palin can do more to insure that special needs children receive just that: special needs. I understand your sentiment, A. Hart, but if Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy stayed at home and devoted all of her attention to her daughter Rosemary would there be a Special Olympics today?
I am a child of special needs parents (both of my parents are deaf). I know first hand at what exclusion can do to a special needs child. My mother comes from a generation where children who were "less than perfect" were carted off to private institutions, put out of sight and taken out of the mainstream. My dad, on the other hand, had a mother who wouldn't allow it. She fought for his inclusion in public school and won. She saw to it that my dad was just as much part of mainstream education as her remaining 9 children.
I am blessed because my maternal grandfather realized that keeping my mother shut away was immoral. He saw that deaf children, given the opportunity, could reach heights never before seen. Today, deaf people are pretty much part of the mainstream but in the days leading up to the Great Depression it wasn't that way. A. Hart, bless you for being the parent you are. And regardless of your child's needs, that child has the Nature-given right to be a productive part of our society regardless of needs.
102 - A. Hart
It never was an argument about sending the special needs child off to an institution because I certainly don't believe that and hope that no one else believes that's the right solution. I merely meant that as a parent of a special needs child myself, those first few years are critical and time consuming with therapy and doctor visits. I've spent more time in a clinic and practicing speech and sign language and more than I have anywhere or anything else and yes my husband spends just as much time in those same areas. And it takes a team, both mom and dad, to be there for all that, I wouldn't expect her husband to be the sole person to do all that. Being gov. of a state would have been difficult enough, but VP and an infant with special needs? I'd probably be less inclined to say anything about that subject if the child were older but those early intervention years are critical and it's a choice I know I could not have made. But that's just my opinion, I hope she does manage to balance both and do what she needs to do for both her children and her country.
103 - Kiwigirl
Question : Would all these comments being spoken about Sarah Palin be spoken if the vp candidate was a male.
Would you all be saying he has a DS child , he should be at home with that child.
How far have we come,,,,, not far
104 - A. Hart
Actually I would. As I said before it takes a team to raise not only a typically developing child but certainly that much more for a special needs child. All the appointments, therapy visits, therapy goals, everything that goes into helping the special needs child progress and develop takes a team. I think both mom AND dad need flexible jobs to be able to do this (at least in the early years). By noooo means do I feel this is ONLY her job! My husband knows our son's goals and therapy homework just as much as I do and is every bit a part of working towards communicating and being included in every part of life and community!
105 - concerned
I am told her daughter is pregnant. Can she lead the nation and not lead her own family?
106 - elaine
Is it true she only holds a bachelors in journalism? I'm a 44 year old woman and quite nervous that someone with such little education and experience could possible become our President. BTW Sj Reidhead...2008-1964=44 not 46!
107 - SJ Reidhead
Dear "Concerned" #105:
If you were truly "concerned" you would have said nothing in public. It's one thing to smear a candidate or a spouse, but quite another, vile, ugly thing to do this to an innocent 17 year old girl.
How dare you do such a thing?
Is this what Barack Obama supporters have stooped to? You should hang your head in shame for being a part of such a nasty rumor. Were you ever a teenager? Since you are hiding your name we do not know your gender. If you are a woman, if someone would have said that when you were a teen, it would have been a disaster.
I trust you are truly ashamed of yourself.
SJR
The Pink Flamingo
108 - Jordan Richardson
SJ, how do you know that "concerned" is an Obama supporter?
109 - Zedd
RAY FROM TEXAS
Bless your heart. Being from TX you understand what that means.
This is not the old west. Guns are not used to settle issues. The ability to fire an arm has no relation to the ability to lead a nation. Firing an arm has the same relevance as expertise in throwing a spear, using a masheti or doing karate. As a Texan. You just embarrassed us. sigh....
110 - mckinney supporter
Yes, the only thing we know is that "concerned" is rude.
Most Hillary Dems I know would cut off their tatas before casting a vote for an anti-choice, gun-totin' wingnut. Kudos to her for a historic run, and I congratulate any parent who can pull off what she does, but a McCain/Palin win would be horrifying, particularly after the last eight years of hell.
111 - Psychic Elder
Some of you have stated that she is not experienced with our military, when, in fact, she has been, for two years, Commander -in-Chief of the Alaskan National Guard, some of our best, toughest, military units!
I also offer that neither Biden nor Obama has any similar experience as a leader in matters military, and that they also have NO experience in combating the chronyism of their party faithful.
I am now voting McCain, for his leadership and professional experience, plus, Sarah Palin for her experience in de-throning the out-of-control, runaway spending Republicans and Democrats!
Sarah Palin has the gravitas, the cohones, the ethics, to succeed in a whirlpool full of sharks!
All the many women I know, admire her; and they have switched from the Democratic ballot, to vote for McCain and Palin!
112 - Jordan Richardson
You know some pretty fickle women, Psychic. Besides, why would you be switching over "now" to McCain? Shouldn't you have seen this coming?
113 - dmc
Well say what you will about the dems, this nomination certainly has gotten to Geraldine Ferraro. I don't think I've ever heard her compliment a republican. I am waiting for the day that Palin cleans up the floor with Joe Biden (hairplugs, eyelifts and veneers) included. This is going to be a fun 67 days. Obama will need to get new speechwriters.
114 - JR ludwig
Thank you Senator McCain. I believe you have just elected Barack Obama.
115 - Adam
This was a brilliant choice for VP by McCain. She's smart, telegenic and down to earth. She is a stark contrast to Sen. Joe Biden, who, while having come from blue collar roots, has been in Washington so long that he can only be said to be out of touch with the average middle class family struggling to pay for everyday expenses. I applaud Sen. McCain for his choice of a VP candidate that I can completely relate to.
116 - Kempite
Kempite at U4prez.com had a Caucus up to get Palin as the Republican VP choice awhile ago. The comments from Democrats are most striking as early, the women at least are happy with the choice.
The Sara Palin for VP caucus.
117 - Silas Kain
#105, I won't even repeat your comment. That being said, Barack HUSSEIN Obama is the full name. Neither Gov. Palin's daughter's circumstance or Barack HUSSEIN Obama's middle name should be issues whispered in the background. If Obama supporters are going to resort to these tactics in smearing Gov. Palin, they better be ready. What I just stated, while fact, was wrong. Mr. Obama's middle name should be a non-issue. But when one side slings mud, it best be dressed in a rubber suit because I'll be slinging it right back!
118 - Jordan Richardson
A lot of assumptions floating around here. How do we know that "concerned" isn't an extreme family values right-winger disappointed with the Palin pick?
It seems that both "sides" are so ready to sling bullshit back and forth that it doesn't even matter which direction is heads or if it hits the mark. The idea, Silas, that you claim in other posts to long for a more effective brand of politics is certainly ironic given your general attitude here.
119 - jerry
#19 " March 23, 2008 @ 13:09PM " Syrin [URL]
Sarah Palin, aka Sarah the Incompetent, proposed and pushed through the largest socialistic raise in taxes in the history of the world. She supports the idea that the State can seize the property of private industry aka oil producers in Alaska if they don't do what she wants. She has attacked almost the entire Republican majority in the house and senate. She just resently tried to oust the Republican party chair at the annual convention. She stood by and giggled when a radio shock jock called the Republican President of the Senate a "bitch" and "a cancer". She threatened to support Democrats running against Republicans if they did not support her tax and spend policies.
She would be a disaster as VP.
120 - melinda
This is the most obvious effort to exploit women.
Instead of feminist being proud, they should be angry that a man from that generation who left one wife for a younger model serves to use woman to further his career.
Case and Point.
121 - Jim Cass
Congrats! It's so exciting to have a McCain and Palin ticket in 2008! Good Luck!
122 - simon
Saw this on the Washington Post website.
“I have just read a post that says Palin has a baby just a few months old. I realize that women in their 40’s are still having babies, but I would think that a woman 44 years old with already four children would be hesitant about having another. The article said she never looked pregnant at all when she announced to her staff she was 7 months pregnant. At the same time her 16 year old daughter was absent from school for several months; the story being that she was suffering from a lengthy case of mono.
All of this makes no difference to me except that the Republicans always go to such lengths to cover up their sins, that it is fun to catch them in a lie. Maybe some investigative reporting is in order.
123 - Glenn
The foreign policy of Sarah Palin is a non-factor because if, god forbid something did happen to McCain, she's not just going to be on her own, she will make a great choice for a v.p. to replace her with a strong candidate on foreign policy. PROBLEM SOLVED.
Furthermore, the argument of inexperince is so rediculous because she in fact has many more accomplishments than barakoli (people hate broccoli) and since when is experience such an issue with the dems, it seems it only became important TODAY. Also, being a governor is a position in which many decisions must be made day in and day out, as a senator, you sit in boring meetings wasting time listning to other people speak, no good experience gained there. So if they don't like someone without experience they better start figuring out how to get obambi off of their own ticket, and let us take care of our own. This is all they can come up with because they lose if debated on all the issues-Energy independance-Economy-WINNING the war, not just ending it-health care. They lose on all of them, that's why obama refuses to debate. She is the most awsome pick McCain could of ever made and this just goes to show how smart and savvy he is. Who would want Joe Bile running the country anyway, like Obama is about to keel over, right. Clinton had the chance to take out osama bin laden many times, but he was busy in the ovary office doing all the important things that dems like to do, a-hem Edwards.
Notice her political career started in 1992.
Palin was elected governor in 2006 after defeating incumbent governor Frank Murkowski in the Republican primary and former Democratic governor Tony Knowles in the general election. She was the youngest person, and the first woman, to be elected governor of Alaska. Before becoming governor, Palin served two terms on the Wasilla, Alaska, City Council from 1992 to 1996, was elected and re-elected mayor of Wasilla for two three-year terms in 1996 and 1999. She also ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in 2002. Palin holds a bachelor of arts degree in journalism from the University of Idaho.
McCain Palin all the way!!! Our Future depends on it.
124 - nicole endel
as a mother of two i do not believe in any way that her status as a mother should be an issue, the part that disdurbs me it is the fact that she has only a BA in Journalism and one term as a governer one term as a mayor and one as a city council member i do not believe that she has experience or knowledge enough to take over the white house and presidency in the event that mccain should die he is 72 yrs old and has had melenoma it is also interesting that this choice should be made when the republicans have tried to paint obama as a celebrity and inexperienced she was a beauty pagent contestant and winner (celebrity?) and has less experience than anyone on either side of the isle in the primarys and after how can she possibly assume the responsibilities of president when she didnt even know the job description of vice president PLEASE REMEMBER that the main job requirement of vice president is to be imediatly availiable and ready to assume the responsibilities of president in the event that the president is ill injured or dead
125 - jeff
I can think of one reason she's not qualified to be the Vice President of the United States. How about the fact that she has absolutely zero national security experience?