Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is McCain's VP- Page 4

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 8/29/08 at 12:10pm

WHO IS PALIN?:

From Salon.com:
John McCain's choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate is a surprise not just because all of the signals coming out of his campaign earlier this week had been pointing in drastically different directions. In part, it's a surprise because she's still a relative newcomer on the national political scene.

Palin, 44, has been in her current job since only December 2006. Before that, she served for four years, from 1992 until 1996, on the Wasilla, Alaska, City Council; after that, she served until 2002 as mayor of the same city.

Of course, Palin's relative lack of high-level experience will be noted frequently over the coming days, especially given the intensive focus on Barack Obama's own experience. That would seem to be a downside to the pick for the McCain campaign -- it makes it that much harder for Republicans to attack Obama on that front.

However, the Palin pick offers McCain some important advantages. First, obviously, she's a woman, and given the political climate this year, that could prove to be important for McCain's campaign. Not only could she help the Arizona senator pull away some of the Democrats who were supporters of Hillary Clinton and remain disaffected, she might help blunt the narrative about Obama's campaign being historic and turn some media attention back to McCain.

Perhaps just as important for McCain, who has at times had trouble appealing to his party's base, Palin is very popular with conservatives. She has earned the approval of economic conservatives, and is a powerful symbol for social conservatives -- when informed last year that the baby she was carrying had Down syndrome, she opted against having an abortion.

Moreover, there's another politically advantageous member of her family: Her son Track, the eldest of her children, is in the Army and is expected to deploy to Iraq this fall. That could counter the emotional impact of the deployment of Democratic vice-presidential candidate Joe Biden's son Beau.

Moreover, Palin is extremely popular in her home state; some polls have shown her with an 80 percent approval rate. The only drawback there is that Alaska Republicans have been severely tarnished by ethics scandals of late, and Palin herself hasn't been able to escape investigation.
― Alex Koppelman

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 8/29/08 at 12:11pm

besty, stop talking sensibly. either admit that this is the worst pick ever and actually guarantees bammy the white house by a landslide of historic proportions or do not speak. those are your options, k?

Updated On: 8/29/08 at 12:11 PM

Posted: 8/29/08 at 12:11pm

I'm borry Best I don't see a single thing she brings to the ticket. Can we at least agree if she were Sam Polin HE would not have been considered for this post?

[kelzama]

Posted: 8/29/08 at 12:12pm

The Dem doth protest too much, methinks.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/29/08 at 12:16pm

Well, I agree with Miss Penny that if this were Michael Palin, I'd switch my vote.



But the super-quick spinning going on in this thread alone is mind-blowing. Seems pretty nervous to me.

All I know is Obama had better stop talking about "change," and concentrate solely on the issues.

We're going to have "change" now, one way or another. Either the first African-American president or the first woman VP. Change is a given. And "youth" is a given. There's now "fresh blood" on either side.

So... stop spinning, and start talking serious issues. Or can they?

Or can you? Or just continue playing grade school dodge ball.

Posted: 8/29/08 at 12:18pm

We can agree- I am very excited to think that we're pretty much assured to shatter one glass ceiling either way.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/29/08 at 12:21pm

What does she bring to the ticket? She "CHOSE not to have an abortion" (no link required because it's stated that way in about a billion articles) when she find out her child had Down's Syndrome. Even though she was already a pro-life zealout, she CHOSE to not abort.

Please, that alone is enough for her to run on.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/29/08 at 12:24pm

She brings nothing to the ticket. She has no qualifications, no experience, no brains, no heart and no courage. She's an amoeba.

He might has well have picked one of those perfume counter "squirt girls" from Bloomingdale's.

There, better? How's that spin.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 8/29/08 at 12:27pm

I didn't realize she had a 4 month old special needs child.

I think if I had a 4 month old I would want to devote as much time to him/her as possible, not commit to a job that is as time consuming as vice president.

But that's just me personally. Being a mom is my job.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 8/29/08 at 12:27pm

Last night, it was solidified in my mind that CHANGE doesn't just mean putting a person of color or woman in the White House. It means changing this country. It means changing the way things are done.

We've heard it all before, but I am truly fully of hope that Obama will get in there and revolutionize things. As much as possible knowing how difficult change is--the resistance people have. But, Obama is indeed a Kennedy in my mind in his goals for our great nation. And these are goals we MUST attain.

McCain is claiming he also wants to revolutionize the way things are done and make the changes our country needs. I don't quite believe him, but should be stunningly win this, I will pray that he becomes the maverick again and delivers. I will pray he is NOT McBush. Because if he is, he will destroy this nation.

[Patronus]

Posted: 8/29/08 at 12:30pm

Did McCain really just say that he's proud to select this person because she stands up to serve the people that she swore to serve and not her own interests.

Hmmm, she must be pretty amazing if she was able to completely do everything she set out to do in Alaska in 1 and 1/2 years as Governor.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 8/29/08 at 12:30pm

that's it, besty. now please don't deviate from that line or we will have you audited until your sphinctor's tighter than joan rivers' forehead.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/29/08 at 12:31pm

"But that's just me personally. Being a mom is my job."

Which is why you feel that way.

She could potentially do a lot of wonderful things for millions of special needs people, including helping her own child, if she were elected.

If you could help millions of children, or just your own, then which would you choose?

And why do you have to choose?

There are plenty of mothers out there who have special-needs children who also hold time-consuming jobs. That's America for you... and the modern world, as it were.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 8/29/08 at 12:32pm

That's why I said for me personally.

[Pippin]

Posted: 8/29/08 at 12:33pm

just 'cause.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 8/29/08 at 12:34pm

Stockard (and others) she could have more time off to spend with her child, considering the ONLY consitutional duties of the VP are to take over for the president and to break ties in the Senate, she is probably in a good position. Particularly with McCain's statements that the VP just needs to "see if the President is breathing" each morning.



Palin: "[A]s for that V.P. talk all the time, I’ll tell you, I still can’t answer that question until somebody answers for me what is it exactly that the V.P. does every day? I’m used to being very productive and working real hard in an administration. We want to make sure that that V.P .slot would be a fruitful type of position, especially for Alaskans and for the things that we’re trying to accomplish up here for the rest of the U.S., before I can even start addressing that question."

Updated On: 8/29/08 at 12:34 PM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/29/08 at 12:39pm

She didn't abort the child! What more do you people want from her?

[StockardFan]

Posted: 8/29/08 at 12:40pm

Well shoot, if that's all the VP does, I don't see why inexperience is even an issue.

[supportivemom]

Posted: 8/29/08 at 12:53pm

She definitely looks like Tina Fey. My husband and I were surpirsed. Not surprised he picked a woman but very surprised he didn't choose a more experienced Senator. To me, this was a very calculated move. The VP doesn't have as many duties so she could be a part-time mom but what if something happens to McCain? (by the way, I'm a working mother of 2 and it's very difficult- I couldn't imagine having 5! Most of the super Christians I live around believe women should be at home taking care of their children- I don't believe that but many conservative Christians do!) Who's to say there isn't a crazy feminist willing to do anything to make sure a woman is president. Personally, I just don't think she has enough experience. Now the heat can be taken off of her indiscretions in Alask because she will be focused on a national level. I mean come on, she was mayor of a town of 9000. So what if her son is going to Iraq- so is Bidens! This just makes me want to vote for Obama more! (oh- and also the fact that Speidi are big McCain fans) Just sayin'

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 8/29/08 at 1:29pm

I love the way they emphasise "ENLISTED!", as if there was a draft. EVERYONE "ENLISTED". Do you think this will put a target on her son's back?

[StockardFan]

Posted: 8/29/08 at 1:31pm

supportivemom, I hope you don't think I was saying mom's should only stay home and not work. That's not at all what I was saying....just that it was my personal choice. I have lots of friends who work and are moms and that's what's right for them. No biggie.

[javero]

Posted: 8/29/08 at 1:32pm

"Do you think this will put a target on her son's back?"

Yes!

[BkCollector]

Posted: 8/29/08 at 1:36pm

And I wouldn't put it past the current admin or the GOP to put a target on her son's back just to create sympathy for her.

[supportivemom]

Posted: 8/29/08 at 1:41pm

Stockard- Oh no- I respect your personal choice and my comments were not directed at you. What I was saying is that there will be many fundamentalist Christians who will not vote for the McCain ticket because they believe women should take care of their kids at home- especially when there are 5. I live in the Bible Belt so I hear this kind of talk all the time. I chose to work but I do respect those who chose to be moms. Thanks for letting me claify!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/29/08 at 1:50pm

Mr. and Mrs. Palin were clearly inspired by the Romneys when they named their sons Track and Trig and by TV's "Charmed" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" when they named their daughters Bristol, Willow and Piper. I am not sure how this occult connection will play to the fundamentalists, however.