Posts with the tag Vice President

Remarks by the President and Vice President at Meeting with Nation's Mayors

N. Julio Barthson - E-Campaign Leader — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 06:18:27 EST

IF THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS IN CONGRESS DON'T WANT TO WORK WITH THE PRESIDENT, HE SHOULD CONTINUE GOING DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE LIKE HE'S BEEN DOING WITH THE LOCAL MAYORS. THESE LEADERS KNOW BETTER THE NEEDS OF THEIR PEOPLE, AND IT'S BETTER TO LISTEN DIRECTLY FROM THEM THAN FROM ALL THE WASHINGTON TALKING HEADS...

What’s Russia’s Problem of not Jumping on our Troubled Economy

Tom Awtry — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:34:29 EST

Sometimes we become wrapped so tight in our own world we forget how other look or feel towards us Americans. Since our economical troubles began late last September, just about every country has weighted in with both proposed solutions and/or condemnations or any combination there of, regarding what we have caused to the international community at large, but one country has been relatively silent over the economic burdens around the globe, and that country is Russia.

For me, this is rather amazing, since Russia’s economy has been performing very well over the past few years; so along came the international down turn, what’s their reaction?

A fellow blogger (Andrew) posted this interesting article, entitled: “Fresh Angle on US-Russia “New Era”” yesterday, which is primarily devoted to an editorial authored by Mark H Teeter, an American writer residing in Moscow, and Mark’s view of how the Russians are perceiving the world’s economy.

Here are some excerpts from Andrew’s posting:

Sometimes the Moscow Times opinion editorial columns can be a little overbearing. While undoubtedly well written and informative, they are almost universally po-faced. Amid this environment of solemn political analysis and grave social policy, Mark H Teeter brings a delightfully light touch and sharp wit to his keenly observed bi-weekly columns about life and news in Russia.

Most weeks he addresses US-Russia relations through the prism of an American living in Moscow, and this week must have provided a bonanza for Teeter, as Barak Obama apparently “pressed the reset button” on US-Russia relations, and wants to reopen nuclear arms control talks with the Kremlin.

(Note to self: I do wish the press wouldn’t refer to the pressing of any kind of button when it comes to nuclear arms. It causes a certain… frisson. NTS2: And speaking of uncouth Obama press coverage, when will they stop referring to the fiscal stimulus bill as Obama’s stimulus package?

Anyway, back to Teeter: funny guy, sublime writer, irreverent vignettes on US-Russia relations and cultural differences through the eyes of a veteran American expat in Moscow.

Today, Teeter has managed to trump every single one of the major op-eds and foreign policy wonk notes I’ve read on the start of a another new ‘new era’ of Russo-Yankee relations.

Click here for an engaging read.

Stimulus Package

Marie — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:01:06 EST

I am a dyed inteh Wool Democrat, as my grandfather was, and his father. But I have to say, I am dissaponted already

I read the Economic Stimulus Bill, it is a thiny veiled pay back to the Big Business Contributors for your campaign. .

I thought the republicans left

Radio Show Schedule - Padmini Arhant

"Voice for Humanity" — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 13:51:30 EST

Radio Show Schedule

I will be doing a live radio show for 120 minutes from 2.00P.M to 4.00P.M. (PST) on the following days:

January 23, 2009 Friday from 2.00 - 4.00 P.M (PST) to accommodate listeners from all time zones.

Category: Current Events

Topic: Corporate Bailout

Discussion:

What should financial institutions do with the taxpayers’ bailout?

Why have they not utilized those funds to stimulate economy?

What is public demand from them and the legislators?

———————————————————————

January 30, 2009, 120 minutes 2.00P.M - 4.00P.M

Category: Current Events

Topic: Economy and Health Care

What should the new administration do for you and the economy?

How do we fix the Health Care system?

———————————————————————————-

Podcast live : http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Padmini-A

Guest Call-in-number: (646) 727 -3778

I invite you all to participate in the public forum and share your concerns, ideas and knowledge.

Your comments and thoughts are welcome in the political discourse.

Let us keep democracy alive and help our new President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden in rebuilding our nation.

Look forward to the session.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

P.S. My apologies for not being able to schedule a convenient time on January 21, 2009. I am aiming to provide as much time as possible through whatever avenues available in getting us back on our feet.

Your participation is a huge encouragement and always appreciated - Thank you again.

The questions most asked of me so I want to ask you

Women-Eye For Change — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:09:58 EST

Is Barack Obama another Martin Luther King, Jr?

What would Dr. King say about the election of Obama?
Is the election of Obama as the first African-American president of the United States mean that Dr. King's dream has been fulfilled?
Did I ever think an African-American would become president of the United States 40 years after the death of Dr. King?
Does Obama's election indicate that racism for all practical purposes no longer exist in America?
Will Obama's election have any impact upon the number of African-American men incarcerated of the high percentage of out of wedlock births within the African-American community?

Happy to Get My Engraved Invitation to Presidential Inauguration

Devans00 — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 22:16:32 EST

Embossed Metallic Engraved Seal

Earlier this week, I got a very official looking invitation to the Presidential Inauguration coming up in 11 days (YaY!). It includes a fancy embossed metallic seal on cardstock. You can tell it's the real deal because the back is pressed in.

Back of Embossed Metallic Engraved Seal

I wish I could be there, but no way could I hang in a crowd of an estimated 1 million to 5 million people with only a few port-a-potties sprinkled around. In the snowy cold no less. True, watching the first African American being sworn in person is a once in a lifetime, never to be repeated again event, is worth the hassles to plenty of people, but I'm not one of them. Although some of the goings on look really good and I hope they show the events on TV.

Envelope for Presidential Inauguration Invitation

Embossed Cardstock Presidential Inauguration Invitation

Monday and Tuesday Events related to the Inauguration.

Hazen designed artwork inspired by Barack Obama’s presidential campaign for the Manifest Change competition and exhibit.

Lance Wyman designed art piece inspired by Barack Obama’s campaign.

Barack Obama Collectibles

Matt from Lees Summit, MO — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 15:42:07 EST

As we prepare for the inauguration on the 20th, many of us are thinking about collectibles we will have available to us. I’m talking about collectibles that we can hand down to our kids, collectibles that remind us of what we have accomplished and where we need to go.

Sure, there will be many pins and buttons given out at the inauguration and all the parties, which for the most part will inevitably lost in the coming weeks.

Ones you will keep forever. I'm talking about Bobbleheads.

Bobbleheads have been around for hundreds of years in some form or fashion. We have created a unique collectible of our 44th President Barack Obama as the true "Superman." Here to save us from the trouble we have got ourselves into.

We have also created one with Vice President Joe Biden.

Both are Limited Editions of 100 and hand signed, numbered, and designed by Rick Lynn of The Bobblehead, LLC.

You can view the Bobbleheads at http://www.thebobblehead.com. Simply click on Political section under the Online Store. Have some for your inauguration party.

You won't want to miss out on this rare collectible that won't get lost or destroyed over the test of time. Something you can hand down to your children to celebrate this historic moment.

Pray for the USA

Mary from Clifton Park, NY — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 17:01:32 EST

It's been a long time coming, and a change is gonna come! We must, as Americans, continue to pray for this great nation, and our current President as well as President Elect Barack Obama and his family. We must remember to continue doing our part in making and keeping this country a great nation.

The voters stated profoundly that we, as Americans, will no longer stand for the same old same old. We have a voice in our vote and we will stand together to bring about a change in this Nation. Therefore, if there are "repeat offenders" in your legislative, senate, or congressional seats, VOTE THEM OUT! We will not get anywhere with the same people in office. We hear it everyday...if you think you're going to get a different outcome doing the same thing with the same people in control, you're fooling yourself, wasting your time, and remaining stagnant.

It's time to stir the waters, take a leap of faith, and exercise that FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD! Get involved! Your little bit counts - even if it's just helping to feed a neighbor's child; making sure your neighbors are safe and warm; helping the children in your neighborhood complete their homework; lending a hand to the senior citizen in your community; etc. At least participatie and not stand idly by watching things get worse - that is no longer an option.

This crisis is real and WE BELIEVE that YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! YES WE CAN!

We will continue to pray and remain involved in whatever needs to be accomplished to bring Americans together, change the economy, and educate our children - the future leaders of this great Nation.

Take care and GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Mary

Lieberman Tacitly Agrees: McCain Exhibited His Bad Judgment With VP Pick

Sheldon from Doylestown — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:08:17 EDT

Senator Lieberman, Former Democratic VP Candidate now McCain pusher talking about Sarah Palin yesterday:"Thank God, she's not gonna have to be president from day one, because McCain's going to be alive and well," Lieberman said in a conference call with reporters.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/25/lieberman-on-palin-thank_n_137769.html

Dear Mr Gregg

Clint — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:58:33 EDT

Not too long ago I was forwarded another one of the those emails created by stodgy conservatives. This one contained a letter written by Mark Gregg to Mr Obama. Stodgy conservatives have been circulating it out on the internet via email and blogs for about a month now. I felt compelled to write back to Mr Gregg. Here is my letter.

Dear Mr Gregg,

One of the greatest things about this country is that we can have vastly different opinions and still be Americans. We can question our leaders, (apparently with the exception of vice presidential candidates), and hold them accountable. I respectfully disagree with your statements and here is why. I hope you will reconsider your vote.

Sarah Palin’s Song: Doin’ What the Lord Tells Me. The Video

mathpol — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:45:28 EDT

Here is the video, Karaoke style.

Here are the lyrics.

What Is Sarah Palin Auditioning For?

Robin Z — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 23:46:24 EDT

We know Sarah Palin is completely out of her league as McCain's vice presidential candidate. Yet she's out there in front of the cameras every day, her poll numbers waaaaay down in the dumps, happy, smiling, jabbing Barack and Joe, and showing up on SNL to preen around in front of the cameras.

There's Trooper-gate, and the concerns she's charged the State of Alaska for spending nights in her own home, as well as for unauthorized travel for her children. There's the nepotism in hiring her friends, the censorship of library books, and the fact that the builder of that huge sports arena in Wasilla also built the Palin family home. Nothing seems to faze this woman while in the national limelight. Nothing at all.

What is Sarah Palin auditioning for? Is it politics or something else entirely? Someone close to me insists she simply wants to be president, and it's really an early run for 2012. I don't buy it. She'll never develop enough education or worldliness to undo the impression she's made on America. Maybe she doesn't realize that. Or maybe she's got her eye on Hollywood or maybe it's Fox News.

Thoughts, anyone?

Barack Obama, "A Transformational Figure"

Cris — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:06:11 EDT

Obama is quoted saying, "If you're walking down the right path and you're willing to keep walking, eventually you'll make progress." As I've observed him over the past couple years, I've been impressed by his walk, his progress. He's remained steady and calm no matter what challenges have presented themselves. Not only has Barack matured during his campaign to exude even greater poise and diplomacy, but he's proven himself to be unflappable under fire by his opponents. I think Colin Powell's well-balanced perception of Obama, given during his interview with Meet the Press, stated eloquently what people all over the world are observing about Barack's walk, his talk and his confidence in running mate for VP, Joe Biden:

"...he (Obama) displayed a steadiness, an intellectual curiosity, a depth of knowledge, and an approach to looking at problems like this, picking a Vice President that I think is ready to be President on Day One. And also in – not just in jumping in and changing every day – but showing intellectual vigor, I think that he has a definitive way of doing business that would serve us well."

Powell concludes that segment of his interview by saying:

"I think he is a transformational figure. He is a new generation coming into the ... onto the world stage and on the American stage...."

I choose to put my trust in the leadership of Barack Obama and Joe Biden. I trust they will both prove to be trustworthy servants and continue to walk their talk all the way to the White House and for the length of their term(s) in office.

May God give them discernment and wisdom to administer sound advice and judgement in all matters, keep them from harm and from doing harm as they serve the American people and negotiate with world leaders to work toward protecting our freedom, ensuring peace, improving humanitarian and environmental health, and spearheading economic, education and political reforms.

Over the River, and Through the Woods...

Brady — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:11:11 EDT

Granny Gobama has decided that she wants to see Joe Biden speak in Warren, OH tomorrow. We're hopeful that the Obama campaign will make another stop in Cuyahoga County at some point, but with Warren being only an hours drive, we thought it might be worth the trip! With the final debate coming up this week, we look forward to hearing from our future Vice President!!

Answering That ‘Forwarded’ E-Mail: “The Democrats Didn’t Bring Change”

Nicholas from Arlington, VA — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 20:49:14 EDT

You know how it goes. A friend who 'forwards' lots of e-mails sends you this one: "HERE IS THE CHANGE!," which dumps all over the Democrats, saying they've done nothing since the won the majority in '06. Don't groan and delete it. Copy all those who've been sent the 'forwarded forward' and start your answer this way:

Think about it.

Sure, the Democrats got control of both houses in ‘06. But they hold the Senate by one vote, and that one belongs to McCain’s best friend, Connecticut’s former Democrat Joe Lieberman [ MSNBC.com ]. It takes 60 votes to do anything in the Senate, which must approve anything passed by the House before it can go to the President [ C-SPAN ].

Sarah Palin’s Song: Doin’ What the Lord Tells Me

mathpol — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 09:13:06 EDT

(To be sung to the tune of "Doin' what comes natur'lly", from the Broadway musical "Annie Get Your Gun", music and original lyrics by Irving Berlin. New lyrics by Gregory Bachelis.)

Folks are scared I’m not prepared

To govern if elected

But I’ll make a great V. P.

Doin’ what the Lord tells me

(Doin’ what the Lord tells her)

Gals like me could never see

The point of facts and figures

I’ve done well politic’lly

Doin’ what the Lord tells me

(Doin’ what the Lord tells her)

You don’t have to know much foreign affairs

When you can see Russia from your front porch stairs

From my earliest days in the PTA

Religious/social issues were my forte'

God advises me

(God advises her)

role of the vice president

Malcolm Dinko — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 17:54:54 EDT

One of the most interesting parts of the VP debate to me was when the candidates talked about the role of the VP. Palin's answer didn't surprise me, but the way Biden said "no thanks" to more power in that role should he assume it was very impressive to me. Usually once power is given, it is very hard to take it away, and hardly anyone can say no to more power. Here's a video of the answers they gave:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JfB0RXv824

and here is a good article from the New York Times about the issue:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/04/opinion/04sat1.html?_r=1&ref=opinion&pagewanted=print&oref=login

VP Debate Poll Results

Scott A. Giordano — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 23:08:42 EDT

Read the Full Results of the Biden Blowout ... The Numbers Speak For Themselves.

Transcript of Debate 2: Biden v. Palin (10-02-08)

Stephanie Williams — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 19:12:56 EDT

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The vice presidential candidates, Democratic Sen. Joe Biden and Republican Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, debated in St. Louis, Missouri, Thursday night. Gwen Ifill of PBS was the debate moderator. Here is a transcript of that debate:

Sen. Joe Biden and Gov. Sarah Palin debate the issues Thursday night.

Palin: Above expectations but fundamentally unconvincing

Gabi — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 18:21:31 EDT

Like many, I was surprised at the level of competency displayed by Sara Palin during the VP debate. After embarrassing comments and obvious lack of knowledge of foreign policy and even her own running mate, she seemed to have really brushed up on her geography and some basic facts. Good for her!

The preparation she went through preceding the debate paid off. She was confident and spunky, yet unconvincing. Foreign policy and a global economy are not subjects one can comprehend and develop views on overnight. It was obvious that she was regurgitating the script she was carefully taught. I find it frightening that she is just a heartbeat away from being the commander in chief.

Vice Presidential Debate

Pam — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:59:45 EDT

I thought that Senator Biden did an excellent job during the debate Thursday night. I was a little disappointed that he didn't come back at Governor Palin when she she said she was a DC outsider and didn't know how they worked - that they were for things before they were against them. Well, what about her and her bridge to nowhere? Oh, well. I know that Senator Biden wasn't going to go after her too much, but that would've been hard for me to pass up.

I'm looking forward to the second presidential debate, and I sincerely hope that Senator Obama takes off the kid gloves and lets McCain have it!

F Raised to a C-Minus - The Unpatriotic Media

John DesMarteau, MD — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:02:09 EDT

I haven't been blogging for a number of days because there hasn't been much to write about that hasn't already been said by other people. But last night's debate between Sen. Biden and Gov. Palin has prompted me to blog again.

The people in the media have been tripping over themselves to say that Sarah Palin stopped the downward spiral in the Republican campaign that her gaffes in interviews with Charlie Gibson and Katie Couric caused. In the same breath, albeit much more subdued, they also have said that she didn't answer many of the questions, and when she did, simply repeated her stump speech patter. The bottom line is that we know essentially nothing more about Palin than we did before in terms of her ability to handle tough questions; we sure didn't learn anything about what sort of problem-solving judgment she has. If she can't handle tough questions from a polite non-confrontational questioner like Qwen Ifill, then how would any thinking person expect that she could handle the types of crises that the presidency routinely encounters?

And let's not kid ourselves, judging Palin is not a moot exercise given John McCain’s age and state of health. We have to look at her directly through the prism of how she could and would handle being president.

In praising Palin's performance, the members of the media for the most part are once again acting in their usual me-first, country be damned way. They know full well that she is unqualified to be vice president, yet there are far too few of them saying so publicly. What they say in private is, I'm sure, another matter. But they keep up the pretense of reporting “the news.”

As an example, CNN in discussing the results of the poll conducted shortly after the debate ended stated that 84% felt that Palin did better than expected. Even though they obviously did ask this question what is the real implication? Does this mean that she really turned a failing a grade, an "F" into a "B"? Or does it really mean she raised an "F" to a "C-minus"?

If it's the latter, as was clearly obvious then the media has the duty to say so. The last time they were absent on such an important matter we ended up in a useless war with Iraq. They shirked their collective duty, which is enshrined in the First Amendment to the Constitution and that gives them the right (and the implicit responsibility) to speak truth to power. Sadly they are doing it again at an equally important time. In my view this dereliction of duty is profoundly unpatriotic.

Fortunately we Americans are not as dumb as the media thinks we are. All one has to do is to watch this side-by-side comparison of Ms. Couric interviewing both Joe Biden and Sarah Palin to know the reason why Palin’s performance in the debate did not move the needle favorably in her direction and why Joe Biden won the debate and will be the next vice president of the United States.

Palin DID stink up the room

National Reset Button — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:20:13 EDT

Since when does 'not embarassing yourself' count as a 'win'? It is *NOT OK* for the American people to treat the most important election in our lifetime as a popularity contest. What's more, Joe Biden's performance showcased his knowledge and ability to handle the tough decisions our leaders have to make, on their own, daily, without 'handlers'. Biden showed us that he has what it takes to be Vice President and, if need be, President. Once again, Sarah showed that she represents nothing more than a puppet who does a great job of delivering the lines of others; we've had this kind of leader for eight years and we need to respond with a resounding "never again" to that disaster.

Bidens points did double duty throughout the night. With each one, he showed his strength and Palin's weakness. Since Palin's memorized talking points were wide misses on all the important issues--taxes, the economy, the war in Iraq, the nuclear threat from Iran--she set herself up to be shot down with every one of Biden's big hits. Biden's corrections of Palin's lies may have appeared defensive to some, but to the undecided voters who count now, Biden was ever the statesman as he adeptly set the record straight, over and over again with gusto. Based on Biden's performance in the vice-presidential debate, it is clear that Barack Obama made a wise decision when he chose Biden to fill out the Democratic ticket.

McCain, on the other hand, has chosen a running mate who can only repeat soundbites created by others -- and this only after weeks of serious drilling exercises. Palin clearly hasn't got an original thought in her head, and she doesn't have answers to the most important questions about the policies needed to guide our country back to prosperity, peace, and security. She apparently hasn't got a clue about the US Constitution, our guiding document, what it says or doesn't say, and furthermore, gee-whiz, doesn't care [wink] thank-you-very-much.

Alongside McCain's other tactical manoeuvres in this campaign, the choice of his running mate clearly shows his desperation to be elected -- definitely not the judgment of a man who should be president.

On debating: Palin's tactics

Adam — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:46:52 EDT

In last night's debate, Governor Palin decided that she could take a lifeline out at any time by simply deciding not to address the questions posed to her. Toward the beginning of the debate, she said, "And I may not answer the questions that either the moderator or you want to hear, but I'm going to talk straight to the American people."[1]

That is no way to have a debate. I'm one of those American people you mentioned, Governor Palin, and I would have been very interested to hear you address the deregulation question Senator Biden was discussing before the above quote, as well as a dozen other questions you decided to simply ignore.

Sarah (Plain) Palin

Holly Wyble — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 12:14:12 EDT

After the debate this past evening, I sat with pen in hand and made my post debate notes of what I believe is the debacle of Gov. Sarah Palin. I was angry, offended and frankly, exhausted from her effort of trying to appear plausible and acceptable. But I could not quite pinpoint what exactly it was that bothered me so and whom I was angry with.

It is more than fair to say that Gov. Palin was incoherent, rambling, coached, banal and lacking any grasp of policy. Every ‘Maverick’ and ‘reformer’ seemed to solidify, for me, her lack of critical, intelligent thought or independent ideology. Sure, she towed the party line and pushed her points across whenever she saw fit; however, she appeared like a freshman, anchor who gets their big break to do the evening news and can only stare into the camera when the script unexpectedly disappears from the screen. All she did for 90 minutes was a repetitive barrage of planned one-liners and information (be it true or not) the McCain campaign felt we should hear, even if she had to disrespectfully defy the moderator and rules she agreed to adhere to do so, all else be damned. It was disgraceful and arrogant.

Initially I was angry with the male commentators, particularly Republicans, who fawned over her performance because of her attractive nature and who actually thought she “mopped the floor with Joe Biden”, which is the equivalent of nominating her a winner because she spewed the most nonsense. The notion that good features substitute for free thought, that a wink in the camera drowns out fact or that a ‘shout out’ to a 3rd grade class replaced grasp of policy is devastating and troubling for this nation and for women. After all women have fought to be respected for our intelligence, our ideas, our independent voices, it took a former beauty queen to dispel these efforts in one fell swoop.

Which brings me to this: after intense reflection, I realized maybe whom I should be angry at is my gender and myself. How on Earth did we allow this happen? How have we allowed our standing to be determined by a popularity contest? Why do we tolerate it? When Pat Buchanan commented on MSNBC that Palin was, “sensational,” I cringed and felt sick. Is Sarah Palin the new standard of a female politico? Have we fallen so far?

As women, it seems we have been, at times, so hungry for change and change to power structures, that we have forgotten the struggle fought to even touch the ceiling and the intelligent, thought provoking women who have lifted us up there. The notion that the new feminine political method is to exploit one’s family as an obsessive talking point or to be so unprofessionally ‘folksy’ that it is somehow ‘refreshing’ is bewildering. I do not need to know how many children Sarah Palin has, what her family issues are, if she has always had insurance or what Alaska does everyday. How has she handled a budget? Do her colleagues and people feel she has done the best job possible? Has she respected the natives of her land (on which her record is abysmal)? Does she understand and have genuine concern for the environment or nature (for someone steeped in a culture of life, she supports the aerial shooting of wolves with bounties for their forelegs)? Does she have the capacity to look at history, size up the mistakes made and move forward in a positive manner? What has she actually implemented as policies? What is the greatest economic challenge her party will overcome and how?

How does her experience as a hockey mom and PTA president help me know that she understands or has an individual thought on any of these issues? Certainly I do not need to hear how her family is middle class when her family’s combined income is $250,000; they own three homes (two are vacation investments with friends); they are debt free except for their mortagage and their savings is $381,405. I also do not need to hear it about the middle class from McCain, who is selling one of his many homes for millions, with the condition that one has to pay $100,000 just to have the pleasure of bidding on it. My own family is not far enough below the poverty line to get governmental help (which has not been adjusted for inflation in like, FOREVER) yet we are scraping by with no savings, no pension and no health insurance for the time being. Her incomprehension of why we are where we are and lack of vision to get us anywhere better was only the only solid sticking point of her debate strategy.

Barack Obama has always been my candidate for choice, even when Hillary Clinton was fighting for the nomination. For me, I felt she came from a place and era in Washington that was too back door, lobbyist entrenched and part of a government system I can not longer support. However, not once did I ever feel she was incapable or unprepared to be either President or Vice-President. Never once did I fell she was formidable because of her ‘charm’ or ‘presence’. Senator Clinton is remarkably knowledgeable, could and would answer a question clearly with depth and never had to rest on the laurels of her husband’s previous terms in office. In comparison, Palin is a political joke: nothing more than a former beauty contestant who may understand Alaska (since she’s hardly left Wasilla and the state) but who has no concept or original thought on world politics and national domestic policy. Just a sample of her ‘talking points’:

-On the subject of the genocide in Darfur” What I've done in my position to help, as the governor of a state that's pretty rich in natural resources, we have a $40 billion investment fund, a savings fund called the Alaska Permanent Fund. When I and others in the legislature found out we had some millions of dollars in Sudan, we called for divestment through legislation of those dollars to make sure we weren't doing anything that would be seen as condoning the activities there in Darfur. That legislation hasn't passed yet but it needs to because all of us, as individuals, and as humanitarians and as elected officials should do all we can to end those atrocities in that region of the world.”

-General McClelland (it is General McKiernan) feels the surge principals from Iraq could translate to Afghanistan. According to a Washington Post article by Ann Scott Tyson (10/02/08), General McKiernan said, “…no Iraq style ‘surge’ of forces would end the conflict…the word I don’t use for Afghanistan is ‘surge.’”

-On global warming: “I’m not one to attribute every man -- activity of man to the changes in the climate. There is something to be said also for man's activities, but also for the cyclical temperature changes on our planet. But there are real changes going on in our climate. And I don't want to argue about the causes.”

-Powers of the Vice-President, under the constitution, can be expanded to exert more power over the Legislative Branch as the head of Congress to direct policy: “I'm thankful the Constitution would allow a bit more authority given to the vice president if that vice president so chose to exert it in working with the Senate and making sure that we are supportive of the president's policies and making sure too that our president understands what our strengths are. John McCain and I have had good conversations about where I would lead with his agenda.”

As women, I feel we owe ourselves the very best we have to give each other and the world; often we compromise or settle for less because we are forgiving, compassionate, patient and protective creatures. I believe that whether you do or do not have children, you are or are not a working woman, that we all share that beautiful, soft, nurturing within ourselves that give us our shine and thoughtfulness. We feel deeply, strongly and completely; and I resent the notion that we can be boiled down to an appearance and a smile.

I feel that we have all worked too hard, be it in our families, in a career or in study, to allow a candidate for Vice-President take our dignity away for her own political, party gain. We owe it to ourselves as women to really examine Sarah Palin and her ideology; how she thinks and governs; and how she represents the future of women in power roles. We deserve to not get drawn in or allow others to be drawn by a well-rehearsed message of a ‘middle class’ PTA President turned small town mayor turned Governor who could not lead if she were called to take over the helm. We owe more to our daughters, nieces and other young women in our lives, who we encourage to be their best and to strive for their dreams, than to simplify their ambition and ideals into nice features and attractive personality; I think society does that enough. We owe it ourselves to believe that our government leaders can and SHOULD be more than “Joe six pack”; as a capable, intelligent woman, I can not understand the draw of placing mediocrity into one of the more important political positions in the world. Just because I have a bachelor’s degree; experience in student government for most of my schooling; three children, including the challenging balance of twins; membership in the PTCO; walked the talk of the poor and lower middle class; or eat, breathe, and love politics and history, do I feel qualified to perform the job of Vice President of the free world. There is an immersion of political osmosis that needs to inherently occur where a condition or situation is presented, independent thought examines possibilities and reasonable solutions that represent that body of human beings we call the United States are produced and offered. We have witnessed for eight years mental incompetence, refusal to approach problems with independent thought or any ability to listen to create well-rounded solutions that benefits the majority of Americans. With a 30% chance that the Vice-President succeeds the President, Sarah Palin, with a 72-year-old running mate, is a flutter away from potentially becoming the next George W. Bush in stilettos with a great smile. That risk is real, frightening and tangible. If she has set the ‘bar’, Barack Obama, who has a vision, has shared such and displayed above average grasp of policy and implementation, has sailed so far above he is not visible. And what he may lack in foreign and other experience, he is complimented and made whole by Joe Biden.

John McCain insults the nation’s voters, especially women, to genuinely believe Sarah Palin has anything substantial to offer. She is no more than a beautiful, Republican puppet who uses sarcasm and folktales to make up for her glaring deficiencies as a political force with no true narrative. Last night’s debate only cemented these suspicions and she made viable, strong women, such as Senator Clinton, look ridiculously overqualified. Of course, one could argue that anyone should or would seem as much to President Bush and his administration; only in this regard then, is Sarah Palin truly exceptional.

But she is right about one thing: “One thing that Americans do at this time, also, though, is let's commit ourselves just every day American people, Joe Six Pack, hockey moms across the nation, I think we need to band together and say never again. Never will we be exploited and taken advantage of again by those who are managing our money and loaning us these dollars. We need to make sure that we demand from the federal government strict oversight of those entities in charge of our investments and our savings and we need also to not get ourselves in debt. Let's do what our parents told us before we probably even got that first credit card. Don't live outside of our means. We need to make sure that as individuals we're taking personal responsibility through all of this. It's not the American peoples fault that the economy is hurting like it is, but we have an opportunity to learn a heck of a lot of good lessons through this and say never again will we be taken advantage of.”

Let’s commit ourselves to not being taken by party smoke and mirrors that want women to believe that Splenda is the same as sugar and just as good for us. Let’s commit to supporting women who really support women with policies for equal rights, equal pay and pro-choice platforms. Let’s commit ourselves to change with accountability and responsibility by voting for a ticket that has a clear message, clear plan and clear credentials: Vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

They are coming over (no dropped gs here)

Holly — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 11:54:22 EDT

It is 11:45 am the day following the vice presidential debate. I have gotten one email asking me how to complete voter registration so that my brother can vote for Obama and one call from a girlfriend saying that she and her husband have switched camps from McCain to Obama. At this point, I thought most people had decided.

That cutsey, folksey presentation may sit well with some folks, but not with my peers. The big issue seems to be McCain's willingness to do things that will hurt the American public in order to win the campaign...like selecting a candidate that is not ready to be president--and yes, that is one of the roles of the vice president.

I guess one of my concerns is Sarah Palin's desire to take on more power as Vice President. Excuse me, but have you heard of Dick Cheney????

VP Power

Andrew Keys — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 10:28:17 EDT

Under the Constitution, the Vice President is granted two powers: 1.) to vote in the Senate in the event that the other Senators are tied, and 2.) to certify the electoral college votes. That is the extent of the VP's power. Any additional assignments and duties are informal. VP candidate Sarah Palin mentioned in Thursday's debate that she, like Dick Cheney, believes that the Constitution is open for interpretation in outlining the Vice-President's power. Both believe the Vice-President is part of the legislative branch of the U.S. government.

The basis for this arguement is that one sentence in Article I, the article granting legislative powers, state's that the VP shall preside over the Senate. But, under the sections relating to the Senate and House, it is expressly stated that these members are ELECTED by the people in their respected consituencies. Clearly, the Palin-Cheney view is untrue, and any attempt to give legislative power to an UNELECTED official who is aligned with the Executive branch undermines the very system of checks and balances that our government is founded upon and has kept us free from the tyranny of dictatorship or monarchy.

Over the last 8 years, we have witnessed the devastation that a consolidation of Executive Power can cause. President Bush has increased the power of Executive Order, and Dick Cheney has expanded the role of Vice-President to a level unimaginable prior to 2000. Recently, Cheney has claimed that he is immune from the scope of the Presidential Records Act because he is part of the legislative branch. This is absurd, and I fear is the reason McCain-Palin follows the Cheney view of VP power. Both plan to use this loophole (litigation pending against Cheney) to destroy key documents that would give the public some insight into the innerworkings of the Bush administration's foreign policy making. This abuse of power must stop, and the people must be allowed to have oversight of the government in order to restore trust in our elected officials.

Say it isn't so, Sarah

Writer@40 — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 09:34:22 EDT

Sarah Palin exceeded everyone's expectations in her debate performance. She was, for the most part, reasonably articulate, capable of matching the right talking points to the right questions, poised and, by the end of the debate, confident. Moreover, in her winky, folksy, ya'll drawl, I'm convinced that she reassured those who want to believe in her that she is capable of not humiliating herself (and the rest of Americans!), given adequate time, powerful resources and strenuous preparation.

But has the bar for vice presidential candidates really been set so low that success is defined as "he/she didn't embarass us"? Moreover, is Sarah Palin's greatest feminist aspiration in life to prove that women -- working class mothers -- can be sufficiently mediocre as to pass the litmus test of "See, I can sound smart if I practice"? Has she drank so much of her own moose-flavored Kool Aid that she honestly believes 72 hours of cramming to avoid past confusion and misstatements can alleviate the need for thoughtful understanding and analysis of domestic and foreign policy issues? And does she have so little to offer that the best she can do for McCain is to portray an exaggerated caricature of a working class American, complete with scripted winks, ya'lls and "say-it-ain't-so-joe's"? Say it isn't so, Sarah.

Soccer Mom vs Osama bin Laden

memanni — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:24:35 EDT

If it sounds like a soccer mom, walks like one and talks like one, it must be one; a good study but not the Vice President of the United States.

Think about it; of the major 13 NATO-UN Allies, do we really think they would invest their country, in all seriousness, to stand with a soccer mom from the US.

Just make a list: Soccer Mom vs Osama bin Laden; how could this possibly play out, should something happen to the President. A soccer mom president who would be continuing Bush policy; the same policies bin Laden ralled against in his messages; both bin Laden and his American traitor advisor. I don't think his goal would be to let a soccer mom take him down and loose all those lovely virgins.

Of course, without any doubt a woman can and will lead America, but as Palin would say, "say it ain't so, not Palin, not now.".

Israel had a mom run their country but she was indeed vetted as Minister to Moscow, foreign Minister under Ben-Gurion and Prime Minister of Israel, some historical types would understand she was the major reason Jordan through King Hussein ibn Talal and Egypt through Mohammed Anwar el Sadat; in some manner (Hussein visits David Levy in Naharayim, Jordan 1997) ( Sadat visits Haifa 1979); conceded Israel's right to exist; this American woman was, Golda Meir holding office from 1948 to 1974; a little more then 2 years executive experience.

Psalm 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, may those who love you be secure (prosper).

Expanding VP's powers

Rakesh from Albany, NY — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Palin wants to expand the powers of the Vice President. She knows not what the existing powers and duties are. Its like buying a truck when you barely have realized what a car will do for you. If the VP does what is bestowed and expected of him or her, in good faith and with best efforts, there is no need to expand those powers yet. How about reading the constitution for starters. Moreover, leading a country is not guess work, its making out of oneself the best one can be. She sounds like an overenthusiatic graduate trying to sound perky on her first job interview. Are americans ready to hand over the wheel of our country to a driver who just got a learner's permit, especially when she chooses to hit the gas before clearing her vision. I am surprised with McCain, who seems to have chosen a VP as a strategy more and a caution less.

Drill - Baby - Drill

memanni — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 23:21:42 EDT

If you drill baby drill, it will still pollute!

We must diversify.

Biden Debates, while Palin Gives Speech

Scott A. Giordano — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 22:34:57 EDT

The VP debate clearly showed Biden's leadership skills and knowledge, while Palin stuck her campaign stump speech.

Vice Presidential Debate

CSULA4OBAMA — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 03:02:23 EDT

I am looking fowrd to the Vice Presidential debate between Biden and Palin. I am sure SNL will get about 20 minutes worth of Palin skits out of it. I heard of fake it till you make it but that is not what I want from a Vice President who has as her running mate Mccain the olderst person ever to run for president.

For now I will sit back and watch the debate. I of course will be in Biden's corner cheering at every point made during the debate. I know Obama Picked the Best Person for the Job, Just look at his amazing political machine. Obama will win. Obama and Biden are the right choice for America. See yuo at the polls, but first I'll see you at the debates.

Biden v. Palin

Greg — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:24:36 EDT

The length of rope Palin is given won't matter much in tomorrow night's debate because she's going to end up hanging herself anyway. I would urge Joe Biden to simply be himself, don't worry about having to go on the attack...too much. He might even make some confused faces when she gaffes. Her public appearances are always fodder for YouTube. If she consistently cracks under the pressure of a softpitch interview, just imagine how poorly she will perform on a national stage and under the pressure of a live environment. This debate may yet prove to be a slaughter, but it should'nt have to be at Joe's hands. Palin will leave herself bruised and broken.

-Greg

Great Debate Party - Let's Do It AGAIN!

Adam Miller — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 18:13:28 EDT

Last night we had a GREAT debate party at University Presbyterian Church. We had good food, great company, and a really good debate. We had about 25 folks in attendance, and after the debate, when I asked who would like to do it again, nearly everyone raised their hands. So, we're on! UPC will host a party to watch the Vice Presidential debate on Thursday, September 27, at 7:30 pm. To RSVP for the event, please use the RSVP tool here at my.barackobama.com. You can also send me an e-mail at admmlr@aol.com. Thanks to everyone who made the first party a big success. If you missed the first one, you definitely won't want to miss the second!!! There are directions and more info about UPC at http://www.uaupc.org. See you soon...

Vice Presidential Candidate Not Ready

Jill 4 Obama — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 21:54:33 EDT

Sarah Palin's interview with Katie Couric:

http://www.barackoblogger.com/2008/09/sarah-palin-not-ready-for-prime-time.html

(OBAMA SUPPORTERS)

Backing Obama — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 23:51:38 EDT

*VISIT: PRO-BARACKOBAMA.BLOGSPOT.COM TODAY!!!

John McCain/Sarah Palin as servants????

lsommer — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 13:01:06 EDT

Am I the only one who see's this? As president/vice-president, your main job is to serve the people. Unfortunately, the only candidate I have heard even mention this is McCain.

Sarah doesn't have any idea how to serve the people. She see's being Mayor, Governor or VP as a prerogative and an entitlement...for the people to serve her. It's like she thinks that since she is a woman, we must vote for her just to show the world that she is better than anyone else. Does anyone else see this in her?

And, as much as McCain might say he wants to serve the people, it sounds like he is saying it without remembering what it means. Of course, he was a POW. He always has that to fall back on, doesn't he?

Is it time for Obama to bring this up in his campaign? As a former,(gasp!), Community Organizer, he knows what it means to serve. He is also aware that president is just a temp job. I suggest he watch, again, the movie "Dave" with Kevin Klien and Sigorney Weaver. (I loved that movie).

How can we bring this into the campagin?

New VP Debate Format

CTackett — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 10:57:13 EDT

Quoted from another blog

I won't defend Palin, but I will defend the McCain campaign move.

We're picking a president, not a debate champion. What matters is that the format allows us to see more truth about the candidates. A rough and tumble debate sometimes does that, but sometimes it favors the wittier or the better actor over the better ideas or the better leader. /end quote

I have a real problem with this line of thought.

Are you seriously suggesting that once she is performing her duties as the Vice President or quite possibly the President she will not have to respond to ad hoc questions that are not pre-scripted?

That her duties will not include having a back and forth conversation (debate) with heads of state?

That in cabinet meetings she will not have to state and defend her position (she is supposed to be able to actively contribute, otherwise there may as well be an empty seat).

How about when she is supposed to preside over the senate, now there is a place she will receive special accommodations to perform her duties.

McCain has announced it himself, his choice for VP is not ready on day one. He himself has no confidence in his choice, why should we.

VP Debate Rules Changed to Compensate Sarah Palin

CTackett — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 23:52:01 EDT

Palin will also have the options of:

Ask the audience
Phone a friend
Pass the question
50/50

She will also get 3 "thanks, but no thanks" responses.

The ORIGINAL E-mail from my classmate in Wasilla that Revealed the True Palin!

Lauralyn — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 22:44:31 EDT

Post from Lauralyn Said That?!: Portrait of Palin from a Wasillian FIRSTHAND!By Lauralyn - Sep 3rd, 2008 at 10:29 pm EDT Also listed in: North Fulton For Obama | People of Faith for Obama | Women for Obama Comments | Mail to a Friend | Report Objectionable Content Tags: McCain, presidential politics, sarah palin, Vice President

[I am posting this vivid portrait of Sarah Palin by a classmate of mine; but without supplying her last name or email, as she did in her post to our group. Lauralyn Bellamy]

Dear friends, So many people have asked me about what I know about Sarah Palin in the
last 2 days that I decided to write something up . . . Basically, Sarah
Palin and Hillary Clinton have only 2 things in common: their gender and
their good looks. You have my permission to forward this to your friends/email contacts
with my name and email address attached, but please do not post it on
any websites, as there are too many kooks out there . . . Thanks, Anne You have my permission to forward this to your friends/email contacts
with my name and email address attached, but please do not post it on
any websites, as there are too many kooks out there . . . Thanks, Anne ABOUT SARAH PALIN I am a resident of Wasilla, Alaska. I have known Sarah since 1992.
Everyone here knows Sarah, so it is nothing special to say we are on a
first-name basis. Our children have attended the same schools. Her
father was my child's favorite substitute teacher. I also am on a first
name basis with her parents and mother-in-law. I attended more City
Council meetings during her administration than about 99% of the
residents of the city. She is enormously popular; in every way she's like the most popular girl
in middle school. Even men who think she is a poor choice and won't vote
for her can't quit smiling when talking about her because she is a "babe". It is astonishing and almost scary how well she can keep a secret. She
kept her most recent pregnancy a secret from her children and parents
for seven months. She is "pro-life". She recently gave birth to a Down's syndrome baby.
There is no cover-up involved, here; Trig is her baby. She is energetic and hardworking. She regularly worked out at the gym. She is savvy. She doesn't take positions; she just "puts things out
there" and if they prove to be popular, she takes credit. Her husband works a union job on the North Slope for BP and is a
champion snowmobile racer. Todd Palin's kind of job is highly
sought-after because of the schedule and high pay. He arranges his work
schedule so he can fish for salmon in Bristol Bay for a month or so in
summer, but by no stretch of the imagination is fishing the ir major
source of income. Nor has her life-style ever been anything like that of
native Alaskans. Sarah and her whole family are avid hunters. She's smart. Her experience is as mayor of a city with a population of about 5,000
(at the time), and less than 2 years as governor of a state with about
670,000 residents. During her mayoral administration most of the actual work of running
this small city was turned over to an administrator. She had been pushed
to hire this administrator by party power-brokers after she had gotten
herself into some trouble over precipitous firings which had given rise
to a recall campaign. Sarah campaigned in Wasilla as a "fiscal conservative". During her 6
years as Mayor, she increased general government expenditures by over
33%. During those same 6 years the amount of taxes collected by the City
increased by 38%. This was during a period of low inflation (1996-2002).
She reduced progressive property taxes and increased a regressive sales
tax which taxed even food. The tax cuts that she promoted benefited
large corporate property owners way more than they benefited residents. The huge increases in tax revenues during her mayoral administration
weren't enough to fund everything on her wish list though, so borrowed
money was needed, too. She inherited a city with zero debt, but left it
with indebtedness of over $22 million. What did Mayor Palin encourage
the voters to borrow money for? Was it the infrastructure that she said
she supported? The sewage treatment plant that the city lacked? or a new
library? No. $1m for a park. $15m-plus for construction of a multi-use
sports complex which she rushed through to build on a piece of property
that the City didn't even have clear title to, that was still in
litigation 7 yrs later--to the delight of the lawyers involved! The
sports complex itself is a nice addition to the community but a huge
money pit, not the profit-generator she claimed it would be. She also
supported bonds for $5.5m for road projects that could have been done in
5-7 yrs without any borrowing. While Mayor, City Hall was extensively remodeled and her office
redecorated more than once. These are small numbers, but Wasilla is a very small city. As an oil producer, the high price of oil has created a budget surplus
in Alaska. Rather than invest this surplus in technology that will make
us energy independent and increase efficiency, as Governor she proposed
distribution of this surplus to every individual in the state. In this time of record state revenues and budget surpluses, she
recommended that the state borrow/bond for road projects, even while she
proposed distribution of surplus state revenues: spend today's surplus,
borrow for needs. She's not very tolerant of divergent opinions or open to outside ideas
or compromise. As Mayor, she fought ideas that weren't generated by her
or her staff. Ideas weren't evaluated on their merits, but on the basis
of who proposed them. While Sarah was Mayor of Wasilla she tried to fire our highly respected
City Librarian because the Librarian refused to consider removing from
the library some books that Sarah wanted removed. City residents rallied
to the defense of the City Librarian and against Palin's attempt at
out-and-out censorship, so Palin backed down and withdrew her
termination letter. People who fought her attempt to oust the Librarian
are on her enemies list to this day. Sarah complained about the "old boy's club" when she first ran for
Mayor, so what did she bring Wasilla? A new set of "old boys". Palin
fired most of the experienced staff she inherited. At the City and as
Governor she hired or elevated new, inexperienced, obscure people,
creating a staff totally dependent on her for their jobs and eternally
grateful and fiercely loyal--loyal to the point of abusing their power
to further her personal agenda, as she has acknowledged happened in the
case of pressuring the State's top cop (see below). As Mayor, Sarah fired Wasilla's Police Chief because he "intimidated"
her, she told the press. As Governor, her recent firing of Alaska 's top
cop has the ring of familiarity about it. He served at her pleasure and
she had every legal right to fire him, but it's pretty clear that an
important factor in her decision to fire him was because he wouldn't
fire her sister's ex-husband, a State Trooper. Under investigation for
abuse of power, she has had to admit that more than 2 dozen contacts
were made between her staff and family to the person that she later
fired, pressuring him to fire her ex-bro the r-in-law. She tried to
replace the man she fired with a man who she knew had been reprimanded
for sexual harassment; when this caused a public furor, she withdrew her
support. She has bitten the hand of every person who extended theirs to her in
help. The City Council person who personally escorted her around town
introducing her to voters when she first ran for Wasilla City Council
became one of her first targets when she was later elected Mayor. She
abruptly fired her loyal City Administrator; even people who didn't like
the guy were stunned by this ruthlessness. Fear of retribution has kept all of these people from saying anything
publicly about her. When then-Governor Murkowski was handing out political plums, Sarah got
the best, Chair of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission: one
of the few jobs not in Juneau and one of the best paid. She had no
background in oil & gas issues. Within months of scoring this great job
which paid $122,400/yr, she was complaining in the press about the high
salary. I was told that she hated that job: the commute, the structured
hours, the work. Sarah became aware that a member of this Commission
(who was also the State Chair of the Republican Party) engaged in
unethical behavior on the job. In a gutsy move which some undoubtedly
cautioned her could be political suicide, Sarah solved all her problems
in one fell swoop: got out of the job she hated and garnered gobs of
media attention as the patron saint of ethics and as a gutsy fighter
against the "old boys' club" when she dramatically quit, exposing this
man's ethics violations (for which he was fined). As Mayor, she had her hand stuck out as far as anyone for pork from
Senator Ted Stevens. Lately, she has castigated his pork-barrel politics
and publicly humiliated him. She only opposed the "bridge to nowhere"
after it became clear that it would be unwise not to. As Governor, she gave the Legislature no direction and budget
guidelines, then made a big grandstand display of line-item vetoing
projects, calling them pork. Public outcry and further legislative
action restored most of the se projects--which had been vetoed simply
because she was not aware of their importance--but with the unobservant
she had gained a reputation as "anti-pork". She is solidly Republican: no political maverick. The State party
leaders hate her because she has bit them in the back and humiliated
them. Other members of the party object to her self-description as a
fiscal conservative. Around Wasilla there are people who went to high school with Sarah. They
call her "Sarah Barracuda" because of her unbridled ambition and
predatory ruthlessness. Before she became so powerful, very ugly stories
circulated around town about shenanigans she pulled to be made point
guard on the high school basketball team. When Sarah's mother-in-law, a
highly respected member of the community and experienced manager, ran
for Mayor, Sarah refused to endorse her. As Governor, she stepped outside of the box and put together a package
of legislation known as "AGIA" that forced the oil companies to march to
the beat of her drum. Like most Alaskans, she favors drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge. She has questioned if the loss of sea ice is linked to global
warming. She campaigned "as a private citizen" against a state
initiaitive that would have either a) protected salmon streams from
pollution from mines, or b) tied up in the courts all mining in the
state depending on who you listen to. She has pushed the State's lawsuit
against the Dept. of the Interior's decision to list polar bears as
threatened species. McCain is the oldest person to ever run for President; Sarah will be a
heartbeat away from being President. There has to be literally millions of Americans who are more
knowledgeable and experienced than she. However, there are a lot of people who have underestimated her and are
regretting it. CLAIM VS FACT
* "Hockey mom": true for a few years * "PTA mom": true years ago when her first-born was in elementary
school, not since * "NRA supporter": absolutely true * social conservative: mixed. Opposes gay marriage, BUT vetoed a bill
that would have denied benefits to employees in same-sex relationships
(said she did this because it was unconsitutional). * pro-creationism: mixed. Supports it, BUT did nothing as Governor to
promote it. * "Pro-life": mixed. Knowingly gave birth to a Down's syndrome baby BUT
declined to call a special legislative session on some pro-life legislation * "Experienced": Some high schools have more students than Wasilla has
residents. Many cities have more residents than the state of Alaska . No
legislative experience other than City Council. Little hands-on
supervisory or managerial experience; needed help of a city
administrator to run town of about 5,000. * political maverick: not at all * gutsy: absolutely! * open & transparent: ??? Good at keeping secrets. Not good at
explaining actions. * has a developed philosophy of public policy: no * "a Greenie": no. Turned Wasilla into a wasteland of big box stores and
disconnected parking lots. Is pro-drilling off-shore and in ANWR. * fiscal conservative: not by my definition! * pro-infrastructure: No. Promoted a sports complex and park in a city
without a sewage treatment plant or storm drainage system. Built streets
to early 20th century standards. * pro-tax relief: Lowered taxes for businesses, increased tax burden on
residents * pro-small government: No. Oversaw greatest expansion of city
government in Wasilla's history. * pro-labor/pro-union. No. Just because her husband works union doesn't
make her pro-labor. I have seen nothing to support any claim that she is
pro-labor/pro-union. WHY AM I WRITING THIS? First, I have long believed in the importance of being an informed
voter. I am a voter registrar. For 10 years I put on student voting
programs in the schools. If you google my name (Anne Kilkenny + Alaska
), you will find references to my participation in local government,
education, and PTA/parent organizations. Secondly, I've always operated in the belief that "Bad things happen
when good people stay silent". Few people know as much as I do because
few have gone to as many City Council meetings. Third, I am just a housewife. I don't have a job she can bump me out of.
I don't belong to any organization that she can hurt. But, I am no fool;
she is immensely popular here, and it is likely that this will cost me
somehow in the future: that's life. Fourth, she has hated me since back in 1996, when I was one of the 100
or so people who rallied to support the City Librarian against Sarah's
attempt at censorship. Fifth, I looked around and realized that everybody else was afraid to
say anything because they were somehow vulnerable. CAVEATS
I am not a statistician. I developed the numbers for the increase in
spending & taxation 2 years ago (when Palin was running for Governor)
from information supplied to me by the Finance Director of the City of
Wasilla , and I can't recall exactly what I adjusted for: did I adjust
for inflation? for population increases? Right now, it is impossible for
a private person to get any info out of City Hall -- they are swamped.
So I can't verify my numbers. You may have noticed that there are various numbers circulating for the
population of Wasilla, ranging from my "about 5,000", up to 9,000. The
day Palin's selection was announced a city official told me that the
current population is about 7,000. The official 2000 census count was
5,460. I have used about 5,000 because Palin was Mayor from 1996 to
2002, and the city was growing rapidly in the mid-90's.

An Unexpected Palin Presidency

Ken in Squirrel Hill — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:56:25 EDT

Republicans often respond to concern about Palin’s qualifications by saying, “She’s running for Vice President, not President”. Of course, eligibility to be president is really the only qualification for vice president. Also, they need to realize that lightning can strike at any time. I’m sure all presidents look forward to serving out their 4-year term. I’m sure Ronald Reagan did after he was elected. However, if John Hinckley had moved his gun 1/8th inch on March 30, 1981, the Reagan presidency would have been over after 10 weeks. No Reagan Revolution, possibly no Conservative movement. So, Palin apologists who claim to love their country should think of that possibility the next time they start to dismiss concerns about Palin as unimportant because she’s "only" running for Vice President.

George Bush: The Sequel?

Scott A. Giordano — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 19:33:17 EDT

The problem is less McCain and more Palin ...

Palin as mayor

ctyree — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 09:20:11 EDT

In a recent Washington Post article, it was revealed that Palin wasn't very successful as mayor of tiny Wasilla. In fact, she left the little community divided. That is exactly what our country needs, someone to further divide us. (Sarcasm is all over my face) I'm terrified at the thought of her being in a position of power.

I will do my best to raise awareness of this "hockey mom" and her lack of experience as well as knock on doors and drive people to the polls. Won't you help?

McCain's VP PICK - A Mother for WAR is an abberation in nature

Rachel K. — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 22:44:04 EDT

I saw the interview with McCain's "Hockey mom".

I was impressed by my negative reaction to her. It was mainly that she supports the Iraq War so strongly. It did not seem natural for her to be so for something that her children might have to die for, given McCain's 100 year war possibility in Iraq.

What do y'all think?

John McCain On Computers and Email : "I just never really felt a need to do it. "

KravitzKravitz — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 21:09:44 EDT

McCain agrees with the 'out of touch ad.'

Senator Obama need not change the 'John McCain is out of touch because he doesn't use computers or the internet' ad or copy one note or punctuation mark, nor need anyone back down from or question just how valid it is.

McCain, to reiterate, agrees with the statement made in the ad.

This is an update of my Daily Kos post, "John McCain Uses A BlackBerry."

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/13/103735/543/712/597294

Sarah:Through the Humble Eyes of a Clueless Hood-Rat

Eric from Covina, CA — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 08:20:19 EDT

BENEATH THE SPIN • ERIC L. WATTREE
Sarah:
Through the Humble Eyes of a Clueless Hood-Rat

When you’re raised in the ghetto and you’re either unaware or deprived of the many resources that society has to offer, you learn to make due with what you have. In that regard, I was fortunate enough to recognize at a very early age that the acquisition of knowledge, and the ability to think, is free. So while my economic condition may have restricted me to the ghetto, there was no force on Earth that could limit my mind through the imposition of caste and privilege. If one is determined to seek out knowledge, the opportunities are just as vast at the corner library, as at Harvard University. Thus, one must choose to be ignorant.

Armed with that insight, I tried to compensate for the deficit in my formal education by making every effort to mold myself into the most logical and objective thinker that I was capable of becoming. As a result of that effort, I quickly found that those skills served as a great defense against the condescending hubris of those who presume to be better educated, and more intellectually astute.

I am your banker!!!

Nathan Green (Sioux City, IA) — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 01:37:35 EDT

My story about rising from your local banker to become the vice president of the world's most important bank!

Palin Interview Says A Ton About McCain

Michelle — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 13:01:41 EDT

This week, Sarah Palin gave her first unscripted (although highly prepared for)interview, nearly two weeks after accepting her Republican vice presidential nomination. Although the interview spoke volumes about Palin and her inability to lead our nation, that is not my focus. Rather, my focus is on John McCain and how Palin’s interview is evidence of why he is unfit to serve as President of the United States of America.

In her interview last night, when asked if Obama should have picked Hillary Clinton as his running mate, Palin replied derisively, “I think he's regretting not picking her now, I do.” (Los Angeles Times, Sept. 13, 2008) Of course, what Palin failed to mention is that Barack Obama did not pick Hillary because, rather than focus on what would bring the most “wow factor” during this election or what could possibly get him a few more votes in the here and now, Obama focused on choosing a vice presidential running mate that would make the best president. After careful review of all of the potential VP candidates’ credentials, Obama realized that Biden has the Senate, foreign policy, national security and economic policy experience to successfully lead America.

McCain, on the other hand, chose Palin precisely for that “wow factor.” Seeing that Obama had chosen Biden and not Hillary, he hoped to create a media frenzy (which he did) by choosing a female running mate. Hoping to galvanize voters that might have been in that Clinton camp while, at the same time, appeasing the Christian conservative base that McCain has so much trouble connecting with, he settled on Palin despite her utter inexperience. McCain did not pick Palin because she would make the best president – that is clear. No, he chose her because she could possibly bring him the most votes right now and getting into office is all that McCain cares about right now. In choosing Palin, McCain failed America and it’s people – he is not planning what is best for America’s future, he is only planning what is best for John McCain right now.

If elected, should John McCain be unable to serve his entire term as President, McCain leaves us with Sarah Palin as President. Below is a an outline of Palin’s weaknesses, weaknesses that McCain knew Palin had when he chose her, but weaknesses that he was willing to overlook in an effort to get that extra vote; weaknesses that show McCain was not putting his “country first;” and weaknesses that we, as the American people voting in this election, cannot allow ourselves to overlook.

Foreign Policy is Foreign to Sarah Palin

Aside from a trip last year to Kuwait with a stop in Germany, in her 44 years of life Palin has not traveled outside the continent of North America, only having visited Mexico and Canada. (abcnews.com, Sept. 11, 2008) In the dangerous world we live in today, how can we have a president who has never even been to the very countries that are our allies, or even more importantly, our potential enemies?

When pressed during her interview, Palin admitted that she had never met with a foreign head of state. Of course, she only admitted it after attempting to fudge that she had – this would have been yet another lie to the American people had Charlie Gibson not caught it. (abcnews,com, Sept. 11, 2008)

When asked by Charlie Gibson if she agreed with the "Bush Doctrine," Palin was clearly, and embarrassingly, stumped.(abcnews.com, Sept. 11, 2008) I guess no one prepped her on the Bush Doctrine in the two weeks she spent in Alaska with McCain’s top policy advisors preparing for this interview. (New York Times, Sept. 11, 2008) Apparently the Bush-Doctrine of a preemptive strike on another nation that we believe poses a threat (ahem…Iraq!) was not important enough for her to be prepped on. That should tell us something.

Asked how the proximity of Alaska provides insight into Russian actions, shereplied: "They're our next door neighbors and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska." (abcnews.com, Sept. 11, 2008) Unless Palin is some sort of superhero and she can actually see Russia’s actions when standing on this island, then no, that does not help to answer the question at all.

Palin’s War-Focused Mentality

During her interview, Palin stated “that Georgia and Ukraine should be admitted to NATO and that the U.S. should be prepared to go to war if Russia invades Georgia again.”(The Wall Street Journal, Sept. 12, 2008) She then went on to say that we cannot repeat the Cold War after, thankfully, winning the Cold War during the Reagan administration– the Cold War was actually ended three years after Reagan left the White House. (Los Angeles Times, Sept. 12, 2008) I guess none of the six colleges that Palin attended over six years taught her about the Cold War. (Associated Press, Sept. 4, 2008)

Palin also "said that she believed a nuclear Iran presented a threat to 'everyone in the world' and that if Israel's existence was threatened by those weapons it had a right to defend itself." (abcnews.com, Sept. 11, 2008). When asked if we would cooperate with Israel in that event, Palin replied that “We cannot second guess the steps that Israel has to take to defend itself,” implying that we would cooperate with an Israeli decision to take out Iranian nuclear facilities, thus going to war with Iran in support of Israel. ( abcnews.com, Sept. 11, 2008)

Palin’s Disregard for the Environment

Palin "also reversed her stand on the cause of climate change, telling ABC News that she believes 'man's activities certainly can be contributing to the issue of global warming.' Less than a year ago, she said the opposite."(Los Angeles Times, Sept. 12, 2008) If Palin, against all scientific evidence, believes that global warming isn’t primarily man-made, how can Palin work to provide solutions to ease global warming? The solution must stop the problem at the root – of course, despite the volumes of scientific evidence proving otherwise, Palin conveniently believes the root lies elsewhere, making reducing global warming, should she lead our nation, difficult at best.

Despite the fact that McCain disagrees with US drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), Palin adamantly supports the idea. In fact, she has gone so far as to sue the U.S. Department of the Interior for it’s May ruling to list the polar bear species as threatened on the endangered species list. The decision is the result of nine U.S. Geological Survey Studies that find 2/3 of the world’s polar bear species population -and ALL of Alaska’s- will disappear by mid-century because of ice loss. Because for as long as the polar bears are listed as an endangered species we cannot drill in ANWR, Palin is ruthlessly aimed at removing the bears from the endangered species list, calling the ninegovernment studies highly speculative and questionable, insisting their populations are stable. Apparently, Palin prefers to put the interests of big oil ahead of that of our planet and its people, specifically, the environment and people of Alaska, her home state. Not exactly the best quality in a possible future president, is it?

Caution – Social Agendas May Differ

When asked about abortion, Palin replied: “I am pro-lfe. I do respect other people's opinion on this also, and I think that a culture of life is best for America.”(Los Angeles Times, Sept. 13, 2008)

“On stem cell research, the McCain campaign released a radio ad Friday touting his support for stem cell research the Bush White House -- and Palin -- opposes. Palin said she ‘owes it to Americans’ to explain her personal opinion which ‘may end up different than what the policy in an administration might be.’”(Chicago Sun-Times, Sept. 13, 2008)

So, on the issue of abortion, it is both McCain and Palin’s personal opinion that women should not have the freedom to be able to choose to have an abortion in America. Yet, they both feel it proper to overturn Roe v. Wade if elected and make their personal opinion the law that all Americans must follow, whether they agree with Palin and McCain or not. And on the issue of stem cell research, because McCain and Palin disagree, Palin’s personal viewpoint (that stem cell research should be outlawed) will not be vigorously pushed into policy by the administration. This doesn’t seem like a government of the people and for the people – seems more like the government of McCain for the people that agree with McCain. After all, even Palin’s viewpoints don’t influence McCain so how can we, as the American people, stand a chance of having his decisions influenced by our needs? And the inconsistencies among McCain and Palin mean that should Palin need to take office, we will have a president with a different social agenda than the one she is replacing. An America that changes at the whim of its leaders is not the democratic and free America that our forefathers worked so diligently to found.

Palin Loves Earmarks, Actually

Palin likes to claim she is a Washington outsider, always opposing earmarks, but as Charlie Gibson exposed during their interview:

She was a vigorous supporter of the “Bridge to Nowhere” (even wearing a t-shirt supporting the cause), a bridge slated to be built with $398 million in federal funds to a small island with only 50 residents, a project that is now the poster child for needless government spending.

This supposed “Washington outsider” hired a powerful Washington lobbyist in order to get the funds for the “Bridge to Nowhere,” the same bridge McCain ads say she opposed.

After Congress abandoned the infamous “Bridge to Nowhere” and it became a national embarrassment, then Sarah Palin changed her stance to that of opposition, but Alaska still kept the $223 million it had received to build the bridge that never came to be.

Although McCain ads tout McCain and Palin as “mavericks” fighting against earmarks, under Palin, the state of Alaska, the second least populous state in the U.S., received $155 million in earmarks for 2008; Illinois, Obama’s state and one of our most populous states in the U.S., received only $22 per person for 2008. That is ten times the amount of earmarks per person for Palin and Alaska– not such a “maverick” when you look at the numbers, eh?

This year alone, this “maverick” requested $3.2 million in earmarks to study the genetics of harbor seals and the mating habits of crabs – the same type of earmarks that McCain/Palin in their speeches and ads have said they will fight if elected. By selecting Palin as his running mate, McCain stands in support of Palin’s history, her excessive use of government ear marks, her ties to powerful Washington lobbyists, actions that prove neither McCain or Palin are or will be the “maverick” agents of change they repeatedly claim they will be.

McCain, in choosing Sarah Palin, has done a disservice to America. Not only has he picked a candidate that is inexperienced in matters of foreign policy and national security, issues that are crucial to the continued safety of the American people, but he has also picked a candidate with a history of, even in the sparsely populated state of Alaska, working with lobbyists, supporting earmarks, abandoning important environmental issues, and failing to abide by established ethical standards. McCain has chosen “wow factor” over who would make the best President, he has chosen “wow factor” over who is best for America and it’s people. When he made this decision, he wasn’t thinking about the family that just had their home foreclosed on, the single mother that just lost her job, the elderly couple who can’t afford to heat their home this winter or the parents taking on third jobs to pay for their child’s cancer treatment which is not covered by insurance – no, McCain was thinking about how he could best manipulate the American people to get himself elected. When McCain chose Sarah Palin, he put McCain first and his country second. We can’t make the mistake of electing someone who has forgotten the American people even before he has been elected.

Backup Quarterback?

Dr. Carl Binder — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 10:14:09 EDT

You always want to have a strong backup quarterback. You need someone who knows the plays, has practiced at least as much as the starter, and in whom the whole team can have confidence. That's why Barack Obama picked Joe Biden, a wise and knowledgable foreign affairs and judiciary expert who has been fighting for working class Americans for a long time. He's a rare pick -- a Washington outsider who doesn't even sleep in DC, but takes the train home every night to be with his family in Delaware. We can trust that should anything happen to a President Obama, we'll have a strong, experienced, and very savvy backup.

Can we say the same about Sarah Palin? This is someone whose biggest job so far is governor of a state that has fewer people than any of our major cities, and who is still learning how to pronounce the names of foreign leaders. She doesn't know what the Bush Doctrine is, one of the most important foreign policy issues in the last several decades, a policy made by the leader of her own party. Would we really feel safe having Sarah as our backup quarterback? She's already talking about going up against Russia with military force. Is this someone whose finger we trust on the button?

Anyone who knows football, let alone international affairs or domestic policy debates, recognizes that we need an experienced, seasoned player in the backup position. Sarah might talk a good fight about "calling an audible" and not blinking. But it looks more to me like a deer in the headlights than a clear headed, experienced leader.

To me, the fact that McCain would select Palin based on political considerations rather than experience and competence calls his own judgement into question, and certainly undermines the slogan, "Putting America first." But that's another topic on its own.

Let's not risk it. Whether or not you agree with John McCain's policy positions, it's downright frightening to think about Sarah Palin stepping into the quarterback position as Leader of the Free World.

Picking a VP candidate

Brian — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 00:58:09 EDT

Maybe this will give you some ideas for talking points.

Primary jobs of the Vice President: For 4 years, President of the Senate and continuously ready to take over the duties of President. The day-to-day job is working the wheels of government to get the agenda of the president passed; to twist the arms in the Senate and House members; to negotiate and find the votes to pass the legislation. And, of course, other duties as assigned or commandeered, such as “Energy Task Force” with national security status. ;-)

Obama/Hillary '08 News Flash

George — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 21:29:48 EDT

News Flash: Tonight on CNN, Michael Goodwin, Pulitzer-prize winning columnist for the New York Daily News echoed the theme of this article I published earlier today. Namely, that Hillary should be given Biden's place on the ticket as the Vice President nominee as he has shown he is increasingly inadequate in the role. Also, it was correctly pointed out that Obama's current strategy of aggressively counterattacking McCain and Palin would ultimately fail; putting Hillary on the ticket would allow Obama to again focus primarily on the issues that concern Americans, not partisan political tit for tat that would turn them off. Obama would shake off his doldrums and again be the energetic champion of change he has been up until recently. I know political strategists such as Donna Brazile (campaign manager of Al Gore's campaign) and Roland Martin (CNN commentator) disagree and so I fear that others close to the Senator himself would attempt to convince him otherwise; but Obama must show his leadership skills, exercise presidential judgment and prove that his message of a new era of politics is genuine. We cannot afford an extension of the current administration; we must do whatever it takes to win this election and possess a weapon that previous democratic presidential contenders lacked: Hillary, Hillary, Hillary! Hillary, the pioneer of the movement that made the eighteen million cracks in the glass ceiling; she should be the one who brings it down. It is time to shake this election up and seize back the momentum now. I will re-post my article in the hopes that both the site's regular readers and, hopefully, someone in the upper echelon of the Obama camp will read and consider these arguments seriously.

Biden should bow out and allow Hillary to take his place. Yes, McCain's cohorts would find new lines of attack, but the next news cycles and momentum would return to Obama. Now, this is turning Rovian politics on its head, don't you think and using it for, finally, democratic advantage? The Democrats don't understand what it takes to win in the presidential political arena (at least not since Clinton who did); the points you raised are ones the Republicans fully use to their advantage. Joe Biden was being honest, perhaps too honest in public, but this shows humility that his counterpart lacks. He should only follow his logic to its obvious conclusion, if Hillary would make a better VP, then let her become the VP. There is no legal obstacle to this and a former VP candidate, Thomas Eagleton, withdrew after certain personal disclosures. What could the Republicans do, protest? So what, as it stands now, it looks like the McCain/Palin ticket is gaining traction and perhaps will prevail in November, what is the gamble then? I think the public is quickly making up its mind on the current state of the election and the candidates, the democrats have to immediately turn this completely around. Following your argument, as valid as it is, in my mind, is still too late. The Palin selection and the excitement generated is not so much a testament to either the wisdom of the pick or quality of the candidate but taps into the hidden unease over the prospect of a black president. It allows a cover for the covert racism that exists in this country. Hillary at least appealed to many of those who rejected Obama's candidacy and could perhaps attract enough back to an Obama/Clinton ticket to win the presidency. As I have already written here, imagine a Clinton/Palin debate, Hillary does not have to pull any punches like Biden would have too. Hillary's political resume would completely overshadow Palin's and she fully understands how to frame it and discredit the Palin narrative. This new selection would also reveal that Obama is capable of understanding how to deal with faltering circumstances and set aside his own ego for the greater good, true leadership qualities in action. This would be unprecedented, but, heck, Obama is the candidate of "Change," here he can show how it is done in the most exceptional circumstances. Yes, the Republicans would profess shock and try to claim that this is an act of utter desperation but the ultimate goal is to win those undecided women which an Obama/Clinton ticket, more than an Obama/Biden ticket, would do. Imagine how passionately Hillary and her husband Bill would campaign then? Not to mention how much more campaign fundraising would be increased?

I know this sounds crazy to all of you, but I know in politics you sometimes have to take a page from the ones who have routinely defeated you and use it against them, "Graduate Politics 102" if you prefer.

Democrats, do not repeat the same mistakes!

SITALCES — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 18:57:22 EDT

As I am watching the reaction of the country to the draft of Sarah Palin as the candidate for the GOP VP, I cannot but shake my head in disbelief of how naive we are. Here, I am not referring to the American people alone, I am talking about all people who have the right to vote without having any clue of the political reality. Such is the case of many communities/countries that are kept in ignorance by their media.

As the proverb has it: "Shame on you if you fool me once (GWBush Sr), but shame on me if you fool me twice". In 1987 GW Bush Sr drafted Dan Quayle as his VP and that man was immediately attacked by all sides. "Who is Dan Quayle? What are his qualifications to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency? what kind of experience does he have?", the people and the press wondered. However, thanks to this move, Bush Sr surpassed Dukakis in the polls and ultimately won the election by a landslide. At the time, the Democrats were laughing their asses off at the "stupidity" of GW Bush to chose Quayle as his VP, while Bush was sitting back planning his strategy of attacking Dukakis in a direct and deadly manner. When the attack came it was justified in the eyes of the people because the Democrats had their sport by attacking Quayle mercilessly.

Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it, and history is repeating itself in a precise manner. Sarah Palin is paraded around the media and ridiculed. She is interviewed and denigrated by reporters who, like vultures, are thirsty to advance their careers. The Republican press is protecting Palin vigorously in order to fuel the debate centring on the vice president. The American people at some point will feel sympathy for Palin and see her as a victim. At this point McCain will step in with direct attacks on Barack Obama. McCain will look justified to attack his opponent by defending a "helpless" Palin. Americans will identify with her and will see McCain as the knight in shinning armour. The American people will be fooled once again using the same old tactic, the same bait and nearly the same play writers. I hope that the Democrats and the Press will leave Sarah where she belongs...in obscurity.

High Price of McCain's Pandering Paid by Palin's Family(c) By Lauralyn Bellamy

Lauralyn — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:55:25 EDT

The High Price of Pandering; Palin Family to Bear the Cost ©
By The Rev. Lauralyn W. Bellamy, MA, MDiv

Assessing Palin's integrity, credibility and aptitude for the job she is campaigning for must include the criteria she has established for herself: politically conservative, actively evangelical Christian, "hockey Mom." In fact, she has conducted her public life modeling her role as Mom-and-more. To evaluate Palin's addition to the McCain ticket without including the Christian family values she has so publicly advocated is to distort the process and give us an incomplete portrait.

But, there is an even more important question that the increasing number of women candidates and public officeholders has been catalyst to: should the family values modeled and practiced by those candidates who are parents and/or spouses be part of the matrix of factors determining our voting behavior?

When women candidates and officials complain, "If I were a man running for/ in this office you wouldn't be asking these questions!" My response is: "We should be and we are starting to!" When John Edwards decided to continue his race for the presidential nomination in the face of his wife's recurrence of cancer deemed terminal, he faced a firestorm of judgment: how could he go on campaigning and leave her to go through her treatment without him?

The society you and I live in is created one family at a time. When families are suffering because parents have placed the highest priority on "getting ahead" in their careers, to the emotional neglect of their children, those kids are more likely to "act out" in ways demanding a governmental response. Sen. McCain's biographies confirm this. His "bad boy" carousing and "chasing skirt" came close to having him tossed out of the Naval Academy. He graduated second from the bottom of his class. He has described his years as a POW in North Vietnam as the experience that turned him from a self-centered, hotshot fighter pilot with a disdain for going by the book, to a man who embraced the Navy's code of honor, and surrendered to a "cause bigger than myself."

So Alaska's first term Governor is an evangelical Christian wife-and-mother. I respect the core value of evangelical Christianity: having a living, personal relationship with Jesus the Christ as one's savior. The explosion of jewelry, T-shirts, bumper stickers, and a staggering variety of products bearing "WWJD" ("What would Jesus do?") is an expression of this commitment to consult with and be lead by the living Christ.

I respect that Christianity idealizes marriage and parenting as incarnating among ourselves the love we have received - unearned, unlimited and unconditional - from God. With evangelicals, I, too, believe that if we were to love one another as God loves us, life on earth would, indeed, be "as it is in heaven."

How folks attempt to practice their religious beliefs in the sphere of political governance is where things get tangled up. Judged by evangelical Christianity's tenets, Palin's decision to accept the nomination violates her religion. Her commitment to the presidential campaign and the office of the vice president, should she be elected, tramples the sacred covenant to put her call to co-parent her children and be an emotionally available partner to her spouse. My assessment is specific to Todd and Sarah Palin's family. Take a moment to step back and take a brief look at the the family situation into which Sen. McCain's political campaign leapt without first looking!

As 2006 begins, Sarah Zamboni Palin takes office term as Governor of Alaska - the geographically largest state, making travel a necessity in state governance. This is a high profile leadership position conducted in the glare media and citizen scrutiny going way beyond a 40-hour work week. The Governor's spouse has also chosen to work outside the home and, as a field engineer for BP spends part of the year "out in the field."
. She has a son, Track, who is a senior in high school, and three daughters: Bristol, also in high school, Willow in junior high, and Piper, in elementary school. The family appears to be managing the unique stresses of public life OK.

As autumn of 2007 unfolds, Track makes a decision to enlist in the Army at graduation. Is he excited by the "surge" of our troops in Iraq, or the search for Bin Laden in the "other war" in Afghanistan?. Regardless of what each member of the Palin family thinks about these two military situations, they must live with the anxiety of seeing their son/ big brother going off to war in a year or so.

Sarah and Todd discover she is pregnant, with a due date in the spring. This blessed event is doubtlessly celebrated with their children.

In the winter of 2008, the end of her 2nd trimester, Sarah and Todd probably know this pregnancy is not typical: the baby boy she is carrying has Downs Syndrome. They prepare their children to welcome a special needs baby brother into their family. No one can know to what severity Down's syndrome will affect the baby's capacity to live a mainstream life.

It is Spring, 2008 and their firstborn child, Track has left home to begin Army boot camp. Sarah and Todd go through the last weeks of her pregnancy. Their daughters deal with the absence of big brother and a very publicly pregnant mother. Eldest daughter, 17-year old Bristol, is dating a young man, Levi Thompson, who boasts of his fast living on his MySpace.com profile. Her parents' publicly defended position on sex education in the public high schools advocates chastity and abstinence. Gov. Palin has opposed providing information on birth control and a woman's right to choose a safe, legal abortion, except to save the mother's life.

Literally around the time Sarah goes into labor, daughter, Bristol, is having sexual intercourse with Levi.

By July, 2008, the family knows that:
· Track will be deployed to Iraq with his unit this fall, and
· Bristol is pregnant and single.
· Piper and Willow are taking in the dramatic changes in their lives:
o a baby brother with Downs Syndrome,
o big brother is about to be sent to the other side of the planet in a dangerous war, and
o a sister living with the secret shame of being pregnant out of wedlock by a boy who boasts on MySpace.com, "I don't want to have kids!"

Into this off-the-charts stressful situation for the Palin family comes a representative from Sen. McCain's presidential campaign exploring the suitability of offering Sarah the vice presidency of the USA.

If she is chosen, she will not only have to campaign full time across the nation, she will have to be brought up to speed on an encyclopedic range of political topics and situations; she will have to become an expert on all 100 members of the US Senate. This will be "the mother of all" cram courses. She will be grabbing sleep as she can when not campaigning or being briefed. Todd may be asked to accompany her to select events on the campaign trail.

The 4-year job (with a possible renewal for another four) would begin in January in Washington, DC with the family living in the Vice President's mansion on "Embassy Row." The family would be living with Secret Service officers, Are there ANY skeletons Sen. McClain needs to know right now? Any scandals? Litigation? ANYTHING?

One has to wonder how thoroughly Sarah and Todd, first, comprehended and, secondly, grappled with the enormity and intensity of the changes accepting the nomination would have on their marriage and their children. Did they agonize over any of these factors?
· Bristol's pregnancy will become international news.
o She will not be able to experience her unexpected pregnancy in the safety and privacy of her family, and later the people of Alaska.
o Bristol's due date is within weeks after the election; how will Sarah be able to give her daughter the emotional support she needs in these months?
o Is Bristol going to marry the boy? If so, WHEN?
o When is Sarah supposed to carve out the time to help her daughter plan the wedding?
o Will the newlyweds move to Washington, DC and live in the VP mansion or on their own (in Alaska or DC)?
· Trig, the degree of his Down's syndrome still not fully measurable, is an infant still requiring his mother's physical and emotional presence in his daily life;
o Will Trig hit the campaign trail with Mom and, if so, what emotional effect will this have on Willow, Piper and Todd?
o He will need special activities to optimize his development that can be taught by an education specialist, but involve all family members' participation to reinforce the program, and
o Trig also needs continued physical intimacy with his mom and dad to anchor him emotionally and neurologically to his parents.
· Will Todd be the emotionally available, physically present, primary parent to their 4 kids during the campaign?
· How will the family adjust to living in DC? This family has only known Wasilla, Alaska! (What is the "non-white, non-Indian" population of Wasilla, anyway?)
· Track will be fighting in Iraq with a bulls eye on his back, as John McCain knows:
o As a hostage, he would have powerful propaganda value to insurgents.
o If McCain becomes President, deploying Track to a safer assignment (assuming Track would want it) would not be likely.
· Willow and Piper will have Secret Service accompany them everywhere, to Willow's mortification (call Chelsea Clinton and Amy Carter for advice).
o Social isolation is a real possibility for these girls. Anything they say or do with their old group of friends will likely end up on internet blogs and celebrity news;
· Should Mom win, Willow and Piper will be thrust into new schools in the middle of the school year with TV lights and cameras blazing.
o They're used to public schools in Wasilla, what about in DC?
o Any attempt at making new friends risks private conversation winding up on MySpace, YouTube and international news media.
· Sarah will be even less available to her husband and four children than now.
· What happens to Todd?
o Will he be given some job in the private sector that doesn't present any perceived conflict-of-interest and keeps him - occupied.?
o No more taking off to go ice fishing!
o Can he accept the Secret Service that shadows him?
o Can he adjust to being "handled" and "managed" by the Veep's staffers?
· Would Sarah be able to handle temporary presidential powers if McCain needed to undergo surgery (and radiation?) for a recurrence of his malignant melanoma?
o If poor health required extensive attention, or he did not survive; will someone with no prior national or international political experience be a successful President Palin?
· "When will we get to go home to Alaska?" the kids are asking.

What would Jesus want you to do, Sarah?

Because Sarah has never been ashamed to publicly testify to her faithfulness in seeking God's counsel and following Jesus, it would be reasonable to imagine that Sarah and Todd held a very private family council with all their children. Afterward, I like to imagine she took a few days in prayerful reflection, awaiting the Holy Spirit's gift of, "the Peace that passes all understanding."

I imagine a moment when Divine Wisdom (see the Book of Proverbs in the Old Testament) descended upon Sarah's heart:

"There will be other opportunities to be God's servant-prophet at the highest levels of government, Sarah. Your family should not be sacrificed upon the altar of political ambition. Your attention is already unduly divided between governing this magnificent vastness called, 'Alaska,' and participating in the life of your family, Sarah.
"Trig needs you.
"Bristol needs her Mom to love her through these last three months of a very challenging pregnancy;
"Track does not need the added risk of being the Vice President's son in a war zone;
"Todd cannot single parent Trig, Willow and Piper.
"It's easy, Sarah; just say, 'No, thank you.' I'm asking you to take up my cross, this time, Sarah. Will you follow me?"

What happened? In evangelical Christian terms, Sarah was tested, tempted and succumbed to the lure of worldly political power.

Now the world knows about pregnant 17-year old Bristol and the baby's father - the cocky boy posting on the internet that he didn't want children!

Now the world is holding Sarah and every member of her extended family under the white-hot light of media scrutiny.

Now Mom is out campaigning and there is no predicting when and for how long Mom will be able to visit with them..

Is anyone planning Bristol's wedding? Parenting Trig? Spending quality time with Piper and Willow?

One does not have to believe in God to assess this situation in terms of integrity, virtue, and character. Applying this template over the facts of the Palin family, Sarah's "me first" decision is even more nakedly abhorrent to me.

Gov. Sarah Palin is a damaging choice for vice presidential candidate:
NOT because she is a woman, but because she is a Todd's spouse and their family is being severely stressed by three intense, very personal crises during her governorship!

NOT because she is a woman but because the education of this bright, aggressive and cunning orator will not be completed while she is campaigning and she will take office unprepared to be effective!
NOT because she is a woman and Sen. McCain's age is a liability; but because Sen. McCain's specific history of recurring malignant melanoma makes it more likely his VP will have to assume at least temporary presidential powers during his first term than a man of comparable age without this cancer marker - and she is not up to the enormity of the office of President of the United States!
We have in the 2008 Republican Presidential ticket, "the perfect storm" of political factors coming together in McCain's selection of Palin: he is repeating his pattern from his 2000 race for the nomination; as McCain gets closer to grabbing national power, he changes from the daring rebel-with-a-cause, the maverick outsider and becomes a craven chameleon, doing and saying whatever it takes to "win;" and Palin is so seduced by the national spotlight, so hooked on the adrenalin-pumping thrill of being chosen as the Ultimate Prom Queen to this feisty, larger-than-life War Hero, she she is blind to the pain and shocking changes her husband and children are only just beginning to live through.

# # #

Former GOP senator Lincoln Chafee calls Palin a 'cocky wacko'

Stephen Fox, Contributing Editor New Mexico Sun News — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 19:59:53 EDT

Chafee says the governor has revived a 'lackluster McCain candidacy'The Associated Pressupdated 12:45 p.m. MT, Thurs., Sept. 11, 2008

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Former Rhode Island Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee has called vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin a "cocky wacko" and said her selection as John McCain's running mate has energized supporters of Democrat Barack Obama.

Chafee left the Republican Party last year after losing his bid for re-election and now supports Obama. He told an audience Tuesday at the New America Foundation in Washington that the Alaska governor has revived a "lackluster McCain candidacy."

"They've just thrown this firestorm, this tornado, into the whole presidential election," Chafee said in response to an audience member's question about whether the Obama campaign should worry about Palin's presence in the race.

He said her speech at the Republican National Convention had the unintended effect of energizing Democrats and Obama supporters.

"People were coming into my office, phone calls were flooding in, e-mails were coming in, 'I just sent money to Obama, I couldn't sleep last night' — from the left. To see this cocky wacko up there," Chafee said to laughter.

Chafee said in an interview Thursday that he found much of Palin's convention speech objectionable, particularly her "mocking" assertion that Obama was overly concerned with al-Qaida terrorists getting read their rights.

That comment "got to the core of everything wrong with the last eight years," he said.

"I consider that wacky, and certainly her tone was very, very cocky," said Chafee, a visiting fellow at Brown University's Watson Institute for International Studies. "So I thought they were appropriate words."

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26661483/

Joe Biden Hit's It Out Of The Park!

Laurie Ann Johnson — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 18:59:26 EDT

Dear Joe Biden,

We all know you are going to be the next Vice President of the United States of America.

October, 2, 2008, the day Joe Biden hits the "Debate Ball" barrelling right out of the park,

and straight into the White House. Game Over!

With enormous appreciation,

"We the People"

Obama/Biden 2008

McCain's Dangerous Choice

SoFlaDiva — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 21:41:27 EDT

If elected, McCain would be the oldest president ever inaugurated. And after months of slamming Barack Obama for "inexperience," here's who John McCain has chosen to be one heartbeat away from the presidency: a right-wing religious conservative with no foreign policy experience, who until recently was mayor of a town of 9,000 people.
Huh?
Who is Sarah Palin? Here's some basic background:

She was elected Alaska's governor a little over a year and a half ago. Her previous office was mayor of Wasilla, a small town outside Anchorage. She has no foreign policy experience.1
Palin is strongly anti-choice, opposing abortion even in the case of rape or incest.2
She supported right-wing extremist Pat Buchanan for president in 2000. 3
Palin thinks creationism should be taught in public schools.4
She's doesn't think humans are the cause of climate change.5
She's solidly in line with John McCain's "Big Oil first" energy policy. She's pushed hard for more oil drilling and says renewables won't be ready for years. She also sued the Bush administration for listing polar bears as an endangered species—she was worried it would interfere with more oil drilling in Alaska.6
How closely did John McCain vet this choice? He met Sarah Palin once at a meeting. They spoke a second time, last Sunday, when he called her about being vice-president. Then he offered her the position.7

This is information the American people need to see. Please take a moment to forward this email to your friends and family.
We also asked Alaska MoveOn members what the rest of us should know about their governor. The response was striking. Here's a sample:

She is really just a mayor from a small town outside Anchorage who has been a governor for only 1.5 years, and has ZERO national and international experience. I shudder to think that she could be the person taking that 3AM call on the White House hotline, and the one who could potentially be charged with leading the US in the volatile international scene that exists today. —Rose M., Fairbanks, AK

She is VERY, VERY conservative, and far from perfect. She's a hunter and fisherwoman, but votes against the environment again and again. She ran on ethics reform, but is currently under investigation for several charges involving hiring and firing of state officials. She has NO experience beyond Alaska. —Christine B., Denali Park, AK

As an Alaskan and a feminist, I am beyond words at this announcement. Palin is not a feminist, and she is not the reformer she claims to be. —Karen L., Anchorage, AK

Alaskans, collectively, are just as stunned as the rest of the nation. She is doing well running our State, but is totally inexperienced on the national level, and very much unequipped to run the nation, if it came to that. She is as far right as one can get, which has already been communicated on the news. In our office of thirty employees (dems, republicans, and nonpartisans), not one person feels she is ready for the V.P. position.—Sherry C., Anchorage, AK

She's vehemently anti-choice and doesn't care about protecting our natural resources, even though she has worked as a fisherman. McCain chose her to pick up the Hillary voters, but Palin is no Hillary. —Marina L., Juneau, AK

I think she's far too inexperienced to be in this position. I'm all for a woman in the White House, but not one who hasn't done anything to deserve it. There are far many other women who have worked their way up and have much more experience that would have been better choices. This is a patronizing decision on John McCain's part- and insulting to females everywhere that he would assume he'll get our vote by putting "A Woman" in that position.—Jennifer M., Anchorage, AK

So Governor Palin is a staunch anti-choice religious conservative. She's a global warming denier who shares John McCain's commitment to Big Oil. And she's dramatically inexperienced.
In picking Sara h Palin, John McCain has made the religious right very happy. And he's made a very dangerous decision for our country.
In the next few days, many Americans will be wondering what McCain's vice-presidential choice means. Please pass this information along to your friends and family.
Thanks for all you do.
–Ilyse, Noah, Justin, Karin and the rest of the team
Sources:
1. "Sarah Palin," Wikipedia, Accessed August 29, 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Palin
2. "McCai n Selects Anti-Choice Sarah Palin as Running Mate," NARAL Pro-Choice America, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17515&id=13661-9643304-.IYjjnx&t=1
3. "Sarah Palin, Buchananite," The Nation, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17736&id=13661-9643304-.IYjjnx&t=2
4. "'Creation science' enters the race," Anchorage Daily News, October 27, 2006
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17737&id=13661-9643304-.IYjjnx&t=3
5. "Palin buys clima te denial PR spin—ignores science," Huffington Post, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17517&id=13661-9643304-.IYjjnx&t=4
6. "McCain VP Pick Completes Shift to Bush Energy Policy," Sierra Club, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17518&id=13661-9643304-.IYjjnx&t=5
"Choice of Palin Promises Failed Energy Policies of the Past," League of Conservation Voters, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17519&id=13661-9643304-.IYjjnx&t=6
"Protecting polar bears gets in way of drilling for oil, says governor," The Times of London, May 23, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17520&id=13661-9643304-.IYjjnx&t=7
7 "McCain met Palin once before yesterday," MSNBC, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=21119&id=13661-9643304-.IYjjnx&t=8

on Hillary Clinton

Jonathan — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 13:35:16 EDT

I was pleased that Obama did not choose Sen. Clinton as his running mate. I liked them both as candidates, though I did not consider either of them the best candidate for the Dems, but that is for another post. Clinton would not be a good second fiddle to Obama. First of all, she is not a second fiddle. Second, a VP generally has very limited authority or influence. Only if the president is weak and frightened (like W) can the VP have an important role. Clinton is a powerful senator who can truly have policy impact in the Senate, if she cannot be president. The country will be better off with her in the Senate, and should Obama fail to defeat McCain or be an effective president, Clinton will be waiting in the wings for 2012. That said, I hope Bill Richardson is still in the picture come next election. Although I like Joe Biden, I think Richardson would have been the best VP choice.

Biden v. Palin: No Contest!

Not-a-Sheep : ENOUGH is ENOUGH! — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:22:19 EDT

To even consider putting Palin on par with Joe Biden is an absolute OUTRAGE and insult to Senator Biden who has been in the Senate nearly 40 years, is Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a Constitutional law expert, has been involved in thousands of policy initiatives throughout the years, knows and has known global leaders personally from all over the world. WHAT in heavens name are these people thinking who took CNN's poll and have a more favorable rating for Palin than Biden? What dream world do they live in??? I interned for Joe Biden when in high school (way back in the 70's) and Palin was a CHILD then!! The difference in their world and political experience is NIGHT AND DAY! Heck, there are more people in the tiny state of Delaware than ALL of Alaska!

What experience does she have with a global economy, the war, healthcare, education, immigration, crime, the mortgage crisis and the impending credit crisis to follow, campaign finance reform, pending legislation on numerous issues of policy, or anything else ON THE ISSUES? Why is she hiding from the press? Do you know why; so she can be coached on all these issues where she has NO EXPERIENCE, and knows NOTHING. Granted McCain is the top of the ticket but seeing as he offers nothing new beyond the Bush Administration, and is elderly, has senior moments, and has cancer....what happens when he dies in office and we are left with this neophyte to run the country???

Sarah Palin?

Tama Grobeson — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 21:33:48 EDT

I always thought the Republicans were a little radical. Now I'm sure they are crazy.

Sarah Palin, Irony at its finest

CTackett — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 19:45:18 EDT

Isn't it interesting that for someone who continues to profess that their ticket is so much superior...their message seems to mimic Obama/Biden. Think about it…

Obama was for troop withdrawal first, now the Bush/Cheney White House is for troop withdrawal.

Obama's message was and remains to be change, now McCain's message is change.

The only fresh ideas McCain brings to the contest are slanderous lies toward his opponent. Instead of an actual running mate that has substance and will be in a position to support the president, he brings in a neophyte that must be tutored on the international issues to serve as a trophy intended to generate celebrity and followers through groupies....Didn’t McCain condemned celebrity, before he condoned and adopted that angle to win an election?

McCain and all the talking heads of the GOP are adamantly claiming that Palin is the more experienced of ANY of the candidates; President and Vice President alike. If this is the case, why has she been sequestered away to undergo intense tutoring to get force fed McCain’s campaign platform and to receive a crash course in foreign policy? Yea, sure she is definitely ready on day one, or maybe day two....well definitely whenever it will benefit the McCain campaign as they stated themselves. It makes me wonder how many days she will have to be tutored while in office in the event of a national emergency before she is allowed to address the issue.

This all shows me he is a follower not a leader and is willing to sell out the American public and himself for his one last chance (after many failures) to obtain the presidency.

Let us just get something straight here....

Shannah — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 12:50:56 EDT

To the "straight" talking crooked Republican party, I watched Governor Sarah Palin's distasteful speech because number one, I wanted to know who she is, and number two, I wanted to know how bad of a choice Senator McCain made in his VP pick. I did not watch her speech because I was going to consider her and John McCain. Let's face it, there is no consideration, the choice is clear. In the words of Senator Hillary Clinton, "No Way, No How, No John McCain."

I just want the Republican party to know this when they start comparing how many people looked at John McCain and Sarah Palin's speech compared to Barack Obama.

I still don't know who Sarah Palin is. Who is she? And why won't they let her do interviews? Are they afraid she will screw up? Has she not had enough time to study for the test? This just confirms my belief in John McCain's lack of "good" judgment.

You see, John McCain said he would rather lose an election than to lose a war. Apparently John McCain would rather put the lives of all Americans in jeopardy than to lose an election. That's scary! For the Republicans, this is a game. This is a game that they have to win by any means necessary. Somebody should let the Republicans know that this is not a game and their are a lot of Americans that feel that they are playing around and our lives are at stake.

Some of us are not brainwashed and don't believe the propaganda that the Republicans put out. The thing that makes me angry is that the Republicans believe everyone else is stupid, except themselves. Global warming is real. Our financial difficulties are real. My support of Senator Barack Obama is not an illusion. To want to look out for the greater good and not the minority is not a fairy tale.

You know, I will bet my house that is valued at less than what it is worth that most ceo's and high paid executives are Republicans. It is that same greed and incompetence that has caused businesses to fail and the government to bail out fanny mae and freddie mac. That greed and incompetence has made its way into our government and corrupted it. By the way, the government stepping in and taking over those two GSE's is a Democratic thing to do in a Republican administration. Along with the time line to get out of Iraq.

This is why we need to put people in high places based on ethics and qualifications not just based on how people look and whether they were born with a silver spoon in their mouth. There needs to be more diversity in all aspects of American business and government. The situation we are in is perpetual as long as we put people into places who have the same views as those who left.

Sincerely,

Straight Talk

Please Join Me In A Letter Writing Campaign!

Robin Z — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 02:31:36 EDT

With barely two months to Election Day, there's no time to waste in doing everything we can to support the Obama/Biden campaign. I've just sent my first Letter To The Editor throught the Obama website. It's easy to do, and I encourage everyone to take a few minutes and join me.

Start by going to the homepage for the state you live in (mine is Indiana), and follow the link there. They walk you through the entire process, inviting you to pick from a selection of pertinent topics, suggesting talking points, reminding you to keep things simple and respectful, and then click, you're done. You've just sent out an important message for the campaign to a batch of newspapers.

In my case, my letter went to 10 papers, ranging from the Kokomo Times to the New York Times. THINK OF THE IMPACT IF EVEN ONE LETTER GETS PRINTED!! Not everyone lives online, and there are market segments the Obama campaign needs to reach who still read only traditional newspapers.

I chose Joe Biden as my subject, and here's the letter I wrote. Wish me luck in seeing it in print somewhere!

Title: JOE BIDEN IS THE BEST VP CHOICE FOR AMERICA

Dear Editor,

I am so grateful that Senator Obama has chosen Joe Biden to be his running mate.

It is a relief to know that America can once again have leaders who are willing to do whatever it takes to set this country back on its feet, and not put themselves first.

Joe Biden knows foreign policy inside out, having traveled the world and having met most of the world's leaders. And he knows Washington. He's a straight shooter who can bring people together across partisan divides. He is intelligent, has integrity, and understands the problems that face Americans every single day.

His experience is endless. He's led legislation on global warming, reducing the crime rate, making college more affordable, and stopping violent crime against women by holding batterers and deadbeat dads accountable. And he's a strong proponent of equal pay.

But what I like best about Joe is that he's just a regular guy. Maybe it's because he's never lived in Washington, instead choosing to travel home every night to Delaware to be with his family. I feel like he'd just as gladly sit down and talk issues with you, me, the national press, the Senate or a foreign leader, if it would help get something important accomplished for America.

As I said, I am so grateful Barack Obama selected Joe Biden. We are so lucky to have these two extraordinarily talented men on our side.

Sincerely,

Robin Z.

Did McCain Put Country First?

Andy53 — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 22:14:10 EDT

when he selected Palin as his VP? or did he put politics first?

Smoke Screen?

Kim from Farmington, NM — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 17:40:04 EDT

Look through the smoke screen.

Senator Obama went through an election process. He received over 17 million votes from the American people. He is running for the highest office in this country.

Senator McCain went through the same election process. He received less than 10 million votes from the American People. He is also running for the highest office in this country.

The Vice Presidential running mate is chosen, not elected, by the Presidential Nominee.

The Vice President's only function is to serve as President of the Senate as a tie-breaker. The Vice President does not have any executive power. The Vice President only steps into power if something happens to the President. This has only happened 9 times in history. There have been 43 Presidents.

So, when a Presidential Candidate wants all the focus on his Vice Presidential running mate, what is the smoke screen covering?

Look through the smoke screen.

About the REAL Sarah Palin

Mike from Fort Wayne, IN — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 14:56:29 EDT

PLEASE take the time to read this letter from a concerned American that actually knows about the real Sarah Palin. I just came across this article and I wanted to share with everyone before it ends up missing forever. The main link appears to have been suspiciously "SUSPENDED" for some reason (very reminiscent of China's censorship of the government documents proving they used under-aged gymnasts in the Beijing Olympics) but for now you can still use this link to get to Google's cached version or read further in this blog :

http://74.125.95.104/search?q=cache:lepOYLKwhdEJ:www.thepresidentialcandidates.us/about-sarah-palin-a-letter-from-anne-kilkenny/741/+Anne+Kilkenny&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us

Interview Sarah? “Not In The Campaign’s Interest.”

Charley James — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 10:05:51 EDT

OK, so like every other major, minor and would-be journalist in the world, I want to interview Sarah Palin. Yet when I called McCain’s campaign headquarters in McLean, Virginia, I was told “She’ll be made available for interviews when it is in the best interests of the campaign.”

Excuse me? “She’ll be made available for interviews when it is in the best interests of the campaign.”

A woman no one outside of Alaska ever heard of before last week is running for Vice President of the United States of America, purportedly the second-most important job in the country if not the world, yet reporters are being told the overarching consideration of the McCain organization is “the best interests of the campaign.”

What about the best interests of the United States? Isn’t that what presidential elections are all about?

So why are the boys and girls on the bus – excuse me, reporters on the McCain-Palin campaign plane – sitting quietly in back with their hands folded instead of throwing food over the top of the bulkhead separation, demanding she be made available to them? Why aren’t they shouting “Give us Sarah! Give us Sarah!” out loud every time the charter takes off, every time Palin comes out of hiding to stand next to McCain at some carefully orchestrated photo op, whenever a campaign official pops out of his or her hotel room in the morning.

Drown out McCain when he’s giving a speech, if necessary; shout questions out to her with a bullhorn if that’s what it takes; refuse to cover any of the campaign if the Republican media machine stands in your way.

Do your bloody job, you whimpering band of so-called professionals. What are you afraid of? Being denied “access?” You’re not getting access now so there’s nothing to lose.

You didn’t do your job and the country was lied into in Iraq. For God’s sake, do it now.

Pick a side, any side!

deliziosa: 8 is Enough — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:53:48 EDT

Am I the only who has been feeling like the coverage from the media is becoming more and more... biased? I don't want to be like those whiney Republicans who claim that "to question = to attack", but I must say, most of us Obama supporters have given the so called "liberal" media the benefit of the doubt when they have been hard on Obama over the months. Though they seem to obsess over every little thing done by the Obama campaign, especially the gaffes. I know for myself I thought, well, he is relatively new on the scene, maybe that's why they spend their every waking coverage dissecting his speeches & requesting "more substance", investigating relatives abroad, playing clips of poorly chosen words over and over again, looking at any poll that suggests a Hillary gap, a Working Class gap, a Women gap, a blue gap, or a red gap.

I, for the most part, gave them the benefit of the doubt. John McCain has of course been in the senate for 26 years trying to "shake up Washington" ( i kid, i kid), so maybe they are just trying to give the viewers balance. Fast foward three to four days ago...

McCain announces a vice president whom no one in the media, "the google", not even spokespersons in the McCain camp know anything about. First the media begins by giving us campaign talking points. She's a reformer, a fresh face, a maverick, they said... examples? No.

Community Organization - The Backbone of our Democracy

Fee Lu — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 22:58:44 EDT

Seems that the Republican VP candidate needs to return to school and retake Social Studies 101. SP clearly demonstrated that aspect of her education was sadly neglected and I do hope that Senator Obama acts swiftly and decisively to dampen her enthusiasm and educate her. I believe that she trampled most ungraciously and disrespectfully on the life work of the very people who made this country what it is today and gave her the opportunity to stand on the podium as her party's VP nominee.

That VP and John MaCain should be made to understand that "LOVE OF COUNTRY" is the only qualification for being a community organizer. Barack Obama qualifies. Does she? Was she ever a community organizer? The process of community organization is the backbone of our democracy. Community organizers have made this country what it is today. The last time that I checked . . .

A Response to Sarah Palin Speech

Ligaya — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:24:14 EDT

In the spirit of the Obama campaign, I will make this blog about the facts and from my own heart. I was compelled to write something, anything after watching Palin’s speech to defuse some of this pent up emotion.

Granted, I was already a dedicated Barack Obama supporter and I was stumped to hear that John McCain had selected a female running mate that had been a relative unknown in the political circles; however, I am obligated to at least know where people stand and should be a responsible citizens by hearing other views if I am to call myself an informed voter. Try as I might, it was difficult to watch Sarah Palin’s performance in its entirety. On so many different levels I could not relate, connect or anything remotely close to finding a commonality with this woman. I had hoped that she would appeal to me on at least one talking point. Instead, I found her presumptuous, divisive, negative, and lacking conviction in her message. Allow me to elaborate on each of these interpretations.

Presumptuous – “I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a "community organizer," except that you have actual responsibilities.” Gov. Palin, it is the hard work of us community organizers that impact the lives of the people in our respective communities. Unlike the paid officials who WE pay to serve us and our communities, we “community organizers” are the ones who bring about reach healing, reach change, real solutions when you paid elected officials fail us time and again. It’s us “community organizers” who exhaust our time, our resources, and ourselves to raise our voices and bring attention to the issues that you paid elected officials ignore. Whether it’s me in small-town Nashville, Tennessee or Maureen Burrows from New Hampshire who is a community organizer and delegate that has worked hard “for the past eight years” on behalf of Senator McCain, WE, community organizers have actual responsibilities. Those responsibilities are the ones elected officials like you were paid to do, but we end up having to take up on our own. So next time you decide to pose as a dummy for the Republican ventriloquists, at least take the time to understand that your attempts to attack Senator Obama is actually an attack on tens of thousands of community organizers that support both parties and thousands of issues.

Divisive – “… what exactly is our opponent's plan? What does he actually seek to accomplish, after he's done turning back the waters and healing the planet? The answer is to make government bigger ... take more of your money ... give you more orders from Washington ... and to reduce the strength of America in a dangerous world. America needs more energy ... our opponent is against producing it. More fear mongering, more untruths. It distresses me that this woman has obviously not educated herself on her opponent’s positions and plans or has not even listened the speech he gave just last week. In her first public address to the nation as the VP nominee, she jumps on the Republican bandwagon of attacking Senator Obama when his positions are recorded and open for scrutiny.

Negative – “But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform - not even in the state senate.” “Victory in Iraq is finally in sight ... he wants to forfeit.” “Terrorist states are seeking nuclear weapons without delay ... he wants to meet them without preconditions.” Really, Gov. Palin? This talk is not only negative but irresponsible. When you can finally get your head out of the “I can’t believe I was selected” cloud, perhaps you can bring yourself to utter truths. It is one thing to allow speechwriters to dictate what you will say to a crowd of millions of viewers on your historic debut, and it’s an entirely different thing, an irresponsible thing, to continue down the same path as your Republican party by telling blatant lies. What I learned from you, from your own performance, is that (1) you are more of the same as the current administration that will do and say anything at the cost of your own reputation and degradation of the American way of life; (2) you specifically and your party generally do not represent me or the many of the American people for that matter in your views, your tactics, your message, your lack of integrity, your lack of inclusively and community, your fear mongering and your extremist values; (3) you have no respect for the causes of the everyday people who attempt to improve the conditions of their lives through grassroots activism (though your speech is laden with so-called empathy for small-town America, you managed to contradict yourself by demeaning the work and commitment of these same people who serve as community organizers); (4) that you do not know what “real responsibilities” really are; (5) that you do not represent many woman of this day if you accept standing as a puppet and reading insincere speeches that are written for you that contain harsh, mean-spirited and divisive language combined with jovial, American pie personal narratives that didn't even come across as heartfelt when delivered; (6) that you either have nothing to contribute in terms of potential solutions to the real issues America is currently faced with or that you do not have a real grasp of these many issues if you elected to use your moment in the spotlight to attack your opponents instead of conveying to America your aspirations for a brighter, healthier, thriving and safe future; and (7) there is no chance of me reconsidering my support for Senator Obama when you’ve pushed me so much further into his corner, so much so that I may ask him to consider me for VP on his second term. I get the feeling that he would consider the second in command position far too important to risk selecting someone with a business administration background and zero nationally impacting policy making experience. I will have loved the opportunity to respectfully decline on the basis of my lack of qualifications, lack of foreign policy experience, lack of national policy experience and the knowledge that there are many people far more qualified and prepared to serve in the VP capacity than me.

Finally - “If character is the measure in this election ... and hope the theme ... and change the goal we share, then I ask you to join our cause. Join our cause and help America elect a great man as the next president of the United States.” Thank you, Gov. Palin, we will. We will elect the great man Senator Barack Obama as the next president of the United States of America. After all, it is Senator Obama who has displayed character throughout the past 19 months and hope was his theme from the very beginning. It was just recently that your guy decided to adopt these measures and themes when he saw how successful Senator Obama has been. The difference is that while McCain can try to steal these words as his new slogans, Senator Obama has been living and exemplifying them since, guess when . . ., since he was a community organizer.

Sarah Palin: Another View

B Wood — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:59:50 EDT

This is a letter to the Editor. Published Sept 4, 2008 in The Washington Post

Long but worth the time to read. They need to make a commercial featuring this woman!

Here is a native Wasilla resident who is not afraid to speak out about Sarah Palin.

ABOUT SARAH PALIN
I am a resident of Wasilla, Alaska. I have known Sarah since 1992. Everyone here knows Sarah, so it is nothing special to say we are on a first-name basis. Our children have attended the same schools. Her father was my child's favorite substitute teacher. I also am on a first name basis with her parents and mother-in-law. I attended more City Council meetings during her administration than about 99% of the residents of the city.
She is enormously popular; in every way she's like the most popular girl in middle school. Even men who think she is a poor choice and won't vote for her can't quit smiling when talking about her because she is a "babe".
It is astonishing and almost scary how well she can keep a secret. She kept her most recent pregnancy a secret from her children and parents for seven months.
She is "pro-life". She recently gave birth to a Down's syndrome baby. There is no cover-up involved, here; Trig is her baby.
She is energetic and hardworking. She regularly worked out at the gym.
She is savvy. She doesn't take positions; she just "puts things out there" and if they prove to be popular, then she takes credit.
Her husband works a union job on the North Slope for BP and is a champion snowmobile racer. Todd Palin's kind of job is highly sought-after because of the schedule and high pay. He arranges his work schedule so he can fish for salmon in Bristol Bay for a month or so in summer, but by no stretch of the imagination is fishing their major source of income. Nor has her life-style ever been anything like that of native Alaskans.
Sarah and her whole family are avid hunters.
She's smart.
Her experience is as mayor of a city with a population of about 5,000 (at the time), and less than 2 years as governor of a state with about 670,000 residents.
During her mayoral administration most of the actual work of running this small city was turned over to an administrator. She had been pushed to hire this administrator by party power-brokers after she had gotten herself into some trouble over precipitous firings which had given rise to a recall campaign.
Sarah campaigned in Wasilla as a "fiscal conservative". During her 6 years as Mayor, she increased general government expenditures by over 33%. During those same 6 years the amount of taxes collected by the City increased by 38%. This was during a period of low inflation (1996-2002). She reduced progressive property taxes and increased a regressive sales tax which taxed even food. The tax cuts that she promoted benefited large corporate property owners way more than they benefited residents.
The huge increases in tax revenues during her mayoral administration weren't enough to fund everything on her wish list though, borrowed money was needed, too. She inherited a city with zero debt, but left it with indebtedness of over $22 million. What did Mayor Palin encourage the voters to borrow money for? Was it the infrastructure that she said she supported? The sewage treatment plant that the city lacked? or a new library? No. $1m for a park. $15m-plus for construction of a multi-use sports complex which she rushed through to build on a piece of property that the City didn't even have clear title to, that was still in litigation 7 yrs later--to the delight of the lawyers involved! The sports complex itself is a nice addition to the community but a huge money pit, not the profit- generator she claimed it would be. She also supported bonds for $5.5m for road projects that could have been done in 5-7 yrs without any borrowing.
While Mayor, City Hall was extensively remodeled and her office redecorated more than once.
These are small numbers, but Wasilla is a very small city.
As an oil producer, the high price of oil has created a budget surplus in Alaska. Rather than invest this surplus in technology that will make us energy independent and increase efficiency, as Governor she proposed distribution of this surplus to every individual in the state.
In this time of record state revenues and budget surpluses, she recommended that the state borrow/bond for road projects, even while she proposed distribution of surplus state revenues: spend today's surplus, borrow for needs.
She's not very tolerant of divergent opinions or open to outside ideas or compromise. As Mayor, she fought ideas that weren't generated by her or her staff. Ideas weren't evaluated on their merits, but on the basis of who proposed them.
While Sarah was Mayor of Wasilla she tried to fire our highly respected City Librarian because the Librarian refused to consider removing from the library some books that Sarah wanted removed. City residents rallied to the defense of the City Librarian and against Palin's attempt at out-and-out censorship, so Palin backed down and withdrew her termination letter. People who fought her attempt to oust the Librarian are on her enemies list to this day.
Sarah complained about the "old boy's club" when she first ran for Mayor, so what did she bring Wasilla? A new set of "old boys". Palin fired most of the experienced staff she inherited. At the City and as Governor she hired or elevated new, inexperienced, obscure people, creating a staff totally dependent on her for their jobs and eternally grateful and fiercely loyal--loyal to the point of abusing their power to further her personal agenda, as she has acknowledged happened in the case of pressuring the State's top cop (see below).
As Mayor, Sarah fired Wasilla's Police Chief because he "intimidated" her, she told the press. As Governor, her recent firing of Alaska's top cop has the ring of familiarity about it. He served at her pleasure and she had every legal right to fire him, but it's pretty clear that an important factor in her decision to fire him was because he wouldn't fire her sister's ex- husband, a State Trooper. Under investigation for abuse of power, she has had to admit that more than 2 dozen contacts were made between her staff and family to the person that she later fired, pressuring him to fire her ex-brother-in- law. She tried to replace the man she fired with a man who she knew had been reprimanded for sexual harassment; when this caused a public furor, she withdrew her support.
She has bitten the hand of every person who extended theirs to her in help. The City Council person who personally escorted her around town introducing her to voters when she first ran for Wasilla City Council became one of her first targets when she was later elected Mayor. She abruptly fired her loyal City Administrator; even people who didn't like the guy were stunned by this ruthlessness.
Fear of retribution has kept all of these people from saying anything publicly about her.
When then-Governor Murkowski was handing out political plums, Sarah got the best, Chair of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission: one of the few jobs not in Juneau and one of the best paid. She had no background in oil & gas issues. Within months of scoring this great job which paid $122,400/yr, she was complaining in the press about the high salary. I was told that she hated that job: the commute, the structured hours, the work. Sarah became aware that a member of this Commission (who was also the State Chair of the Republican Party) engaged in unethical behavior on the job. In a gutsy move which some undoubtedly cautioned her could be political suicide, Sarah solved all her problems in one fell swoop: got out of the job she hated and garnered gobs of media attention as the patron saint of ethics and as a gutsy fighter against the "old boys' club" when she dramatically quit, exposing this man's ethics violations (for which he was fined).
As Mayor, she had her hand stuck out as far as anyone for pork from Senator Ted Stevens. Lately, she has castigated his pork-barrel politics and publicly humiliated him. She only opposed the "bridge to nowhere" after it became clear that it would be unwise not to.
As Governor, she gave the Legislature no direction and budget guidelines, then made a big grandstand display of line-item vetoing projects, calling them pork. Public outcry and further legislative action restored most of these projects--which had been vetoed simply because she was not aware of their importance-- but with the unobservant she had gained a reputation as "anti-pork".
She is solidly Republican: no political maverick. The State party leaders hate her because she has bit them in the back and humiliated them. Other members of the party object to her self-description as a fiscal conservative.
Around Wasilla there are people who went to high school with Sarah. They call her "Sarah Barracuda" because of her unbridled ambition and predatory ruthlessness. Before she became so powerful, very ugly stories circulated around town about shenanigans she pulled to be made point guard on the high school basketball team. When Sarah's mother-in-law, a highly respected member of the community and experienced manager, ran for Mayor, Sarah refused to endorse her.
As Governor, she stepped outside of the box and put together of package of legislation known as "AGIA" that forced the oil companies to march to the beat of her drum.
Like most Alaskans, she favors drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. She has questioned if the loss of sea ice is linked to global warming. She campaigned "as a private citizen" against a state initiative that would have either a) protected salmon streams from pollution from mines, or b) tied up in the courts all mining in the state (depending on who you listen to). She has pushed the State's lawsuit against the Dept. of the Interior's decision to list polar bears as threatened species.
McCain is the oldest person to ever run for President; Sarah will be a heartbeat away from being President.
There has to be literally millions of Americans who are more knowledgeable and experienced than she.
However, there's a lot of people who have underestimated her and are regretting it.
CLAIM VS FACT
*"Hockey mom": true for a few years
*"PTA mom": true years ago when her first-born was in elementary school, not since
*"NRA supporter": absolutely true
*social conservative: mixed. Opposes gay marriage, BUT vetoed a bill that would have denied benefits to employees in same-sex relationships (said she did this because it was unconstitutional) .
*pro-creationism: mixed. Supports it, BUT did nothing as Governor to promote it.
*"Pro-life": mixed. Knowingly gave birth to a Down's syndrome baby BUT declined to call a special legislative session on some pro-life legislation
*"Experienced": Some high schools have more students than Wasilla has residents. Many cities have more residents than the state of Alaska. No legislative experience other than City Council. Little hands-on supervisory or managerial experience; needed help of a city administrator to run town of about 5,000.
*political maverick: not at all
*gutsy: absolutely!
*open & transparent: ??? Good at keeping secrets. Not good at explaining actions.
*has a developed philosophy of public policy: no
*"a Greenie": no. Turned Wasilla into a wasteland of big box stores and disconnected parking lots. Is pro- drilling off-shore and in ANWR.
*fiscal conservative: not by my definition!
*pro-infrastructure: No. Promoted a sports complex and park in a city without a sewage treatment plant or storm drainage system. Built streets to early 20th century standards.
*pro-tax relief: Lowered taxes for businesses, increased tax burden on residents
*pro-small government: No. Oversaw greatest expansion of city government in Wasilla's history.
*pro-labor/pro- union. No. Just because her husband works union doesn't make her pro-labor. I have seen nothing to support any claim that she is pro-labor/pro- union.
WHY AM I WRITING THIS?
First, I have long believed in the importance of being an informed voter. I am a voter registrar. For 10 years I put on student voting programs in the schools. If you google my name (Anne Kilkenny + Alaska), you will find references to my participation in local government, education, and PTA/parent organizations.
Secondly, I've always operated in the belief that "Bad things happen when good people stay silent". Few people know as much as I do because few have gone to as many City Council meetings.
Third, I am just a housewife. I don't have a job she can bump me out of. I don't belong to any organization that she can hurt. But, I am no fool; she is immensely popular here, and it is likely that this will cost me somehow in the future: that's life.
Fourth, she has hated me since back in 1996, when I was one of the 100 or so people who rallied to support the City Librarian against Sarah's attempt at censorship.
Fifth, I looked around and realized that everybody else was afraid to say anything because they were somehow vulnerable.
CAVEATS
I am not a statistician. I developed the numbers for the increase in spending & taxation 2 years ago (when Palin was running for Governor) from information supplied to me by the Finance Director of the City of Wasilla, and I can't recall exactly what I adjusted for: did I adjust for inflation? for population increases? Right now, it is impossible for a private person to get any info out of City Hall--they are swamped. So I can't verify my numbers.
You may have noticed that there are various numbers circulating for the population of Wasilla, ranging from my "about 5,000", up to 9,000. The day Palin's selection was announced a city official told me that the current population is about 7,000. The official 2000 census count was 5,460. I have used about 5,000 because Palin was Mayor from 1996 to 2002, and the city was growing rapidly in the mid-90's.

Anne Kilkenny

Country First

Jeremy — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:14:55 EDT

Hi my name is Jeremy and for anyone that knows me, this is not a document that anyone would be expecting to read from me. But in 63 days our country is going to decide the next President of the United States, and on that very day we will decide as Country where this Country is today and where it is going in the future.

On one had we have Barack Obama trying to bring change to this Country by changing the way this country does day to day business. He wants to lower taxes imposed on the middle class, create jobs that people like you and I can excel at, he wants to help reduce if not eliminate our dependency on foreign oil, and lower health care cost. He wants to make American strong by making our backbone stronger. People like you and I are that backbone, it is not the super wealthy that make our Country strong. It is people like you and I that work 40 + hours a week just so we can enjoy those few quite hours at home with our family and friends. It is the kind of ideas that Obama is bringing to the table that will make a difference in lives of people like you and me.

One the other hand we have John McCain running a campaign on the principle of putting Country first, if to imply the fact that the other side does not. It is this "Country first" idea that has me pulled into this election hook line and sinker, because one would have to ask the question: Country first, Really? Career First, More Likely.

With his first major decision he brings on to the seen a fast talking, good looking, popular Mayor with absolutely no experience to be Vice President of the United States and currently under investigation for abuse of power. While a campaign should not be about the Vice President in this case it is. We have to look at what Palin brings to the table, and ask the question would someone putting Country first really put this person in charge of the country? Ask yourself the following.

1. Should a President or Vice President EVER imply that our Country is fighting a War of God's plan & that our troops are doing the work of God? First off is War ever really God's plan?

2. Should a President or Vice President EVER have a say in what books go into our libraries?

3. Should a President or Vice President EVER allow creationism and nothing else be taught in our Public schools?

The above are NOT principles that make this Country what it is and what it should be. American stands for Freedom, Freedom of speech, Freedom of CHOICE, Freedom of Religion, that is why we are the United States of America. The above thoughts, principals, and ideas take a stab at that Freedom. Choosing Palin as a running mate is NOT putting Country first, it is putting Career First… No Question!

So Put Country First, Put the Middle Class First, Put Jobs in America First, Put OUR Economy First, Put Change First, Put our God given right to CHOOSE the path we want to take First, Put Obama in the White House!

VOTE Nov. 4th.

Sarah Palin - A cold-hearted woman

Mary Lou Loomis "Obama Mama from El Cerrito, CA" — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 03:00:14 EDT

I listened to both speeches, John McCain tonight and Sarah Palin yesterday. I found myself somewhat softening towards McCain tonight because he seemed almost sincere, but I have to remind myself that even if he has good intentions, he is surrounded by power mongering demons who are willing to forfeit democracy and freedom for their own selfish greed and political agenda. Therefore, I must conclude that McCain is simply a pawn in a political power game.

As for Sarah Palin; she disgusts me! Yes, she gave a good speech yesterday and everyone seemed riveted while she spoke. But watching her body language and facial expressions, I saw a very cold and mean-spirited person whose primary interest is promoting her own agenda. Clearly, she is a religious fanatic and does not refrain from injecting or referring to "God's will" in every other statement she uttered. She frightens me and I consider her quite dangerous.Sarah Palin publicly paraded her pregnant daughter at the convention, despite having previously announced that Bristol's circumstances are a "family matter". How can she have it both ways? But, if that weren't enough, she also paraded and dangled Trig, her Down Syndrome baby, for all to see and gawk at. How can this woman be trusted to care about our country, when she appears to be so insensitive and lacking in compassion towards her own children?

I believe that Sarah Palin is ruthless and will stop at nothing to get what she wants. The thought of having her in any position of power terrifies me. As a sidenote, the disregard and cruelty with which she treats animals is horrifying and reveals just what kind of person she is. She may be smart and superficially attractive, but Sarah Palin is shallow, treacherous and bone cold chilling.

Mary Lou

El Cerrito, CA 94530

Biden Says He Won't Attack Palin, Only Policies

Steph — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 23:23:03 EDT

This morning I attended a national security roundtable event with Senator Joe Biden, Democratic nominee for Vice President. Biden is widely regarded as an expert in national security and military issues, so this is a natural fit for him, particularly in the military community here in the Virginia Beach area.

My friend, blogger, fellow Blue Star Families for Obama leadership team member, and honorary MOMocrat, Vivian, was on the panel with Senator Biden. While we all expected a major emphasis on the military, Iraq, and other national security issues, Biden surprised us all by taking off-topic questions from the audience. He covered everything from the economy to the military "don't ask, don't tell policy." This is the first in a series of posts covering Biden's responses to the issues raised during the roundtable.

Fortunately, I had my cell phone with me and was able to capture some of Biden's responses on video. The quality is bad & you'll need to turn the volume up to hear him, but it's worth it. (Although watch out for the clapping at the beginning. It's quite loud.)

Palin? Right Choice?

obamaforprez1 — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:57:18 EDT

I honestly don't believe that McCain just chose Palin because of her skills and leadership. I don't doubt that she is a good person, but I just don't really believe what the Republicans claim. I think that McCain chose her because she was a woman, and he believed that he could get the female vote with a female VP. First of all, that is completely wrong. I might not be able to vote, but I know that I wouldn't just vote for a female because she was running. I never wanted Hillary Clinton to get the nomination! Also, I don't think she is setting a good example of having a daughter that is pregnant with a child at the age of 17. I also don't like the idea that she is a hunter. I am very for animal's rights and i strongly dislike hunting. The picture of her with a the dead elk really upsets me and I don't think that our new VP should be a hunter. Well, that is my opinion about Palin and such. I'll write more blog posts soon.

( "CALLING ALL OBAMA SUPPORTERS VISIT HERE TODAY !!! " )

Backing Obama — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:04:53 EDT

http://sarahpalinmccain.blogspot.com/

SARAHPALINMCCAIN.BLOGSPOT.COM

Sarah Palin's Missed Opportunity

Stefan — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:24:31 EDT

I could not believe what I heard when I read today’s newspapers and listened to the media. I was convinced that Sarah Palin’s speech last night would be ripped into pieces by everyone: the media, democrats, and indecisive and independent voters. For some reason today’s headlines are filled with comments of a “great speech of the republican nominee for Vice President.”

Sarah Palin has previously and unfairly been attacked by the media with statements that questioned her ability to rule the country due to having five children, one of whom has a disability. The media was on her for having a pregnant teenage daughter. All these accusations have nothing to do with politics and I was convinced she would use the opportunity last night to introduce herself to the nation, counter those mean media attacks, and introduce her agenda more in detail to eliminate the notion that she was too inexperienced. However, Palin’s speech consisted mainly of accusations and mocking of presidential candidate Barack Obama, half of which were sheer untrue statements designed to create misconceptions.

Palin made fun of Barack Obama for serving the Chicago community after graduating from Harvard University. Obama had all the opportunities in the world after he graduated but he decided to work for what he believes in: he helped the less fortunate community and earned only 12,000 Dollars a year. Whereas this service should earn the deepest respect for the democratic nominee even among Republicans, the Alaskan governor decided that Obama’s dedication is worth just a mock.

Palin said that the republican strategy to become independent of foreign oils by drilling offshore might not be the best one, but it is by far better than no strategy at all. Well I agree with her there, but did she even listen to Obama’s plan for energy independence? Is she not aware of the vast investments that Obama wants to put into alternative energies? Does she not know that there are other methods of producing energy such as hydrogen cars that are just too expensive to afford? And does she not acknowledge that every energy expert in the country including the U.S. Energy Department says that energy independence is more likely to be reached by using alternative energies than by offshore drilling? She forgot to mention that the U.S. has an approximate 18 billion barrels of oil beneath its surface but uses about 9 billion a year. Her only agenda is to lead Americans into a misconception, nothing else.

Palin argued that the liberal government is the reason why terrorists in Guantanamo Bay now have to be read their rights. Again, she is trying to lead Americans into a misconception. The reason why prisoners in Guantanamo Bay now have the right to be represented by in court and actually start having rights is because we like to separate the guilty from the innocent. Just like in our society, we have to prove people guilty before we can take actions against them. So far, all it took to imprison a person in Guantanamo Bay was a suspicion. We did not need “proof beyond reasonable doubt”, somebody points a finger at a person in Afghanistan, Pakistan, or Iraq and we imprison them in Guantanamo, expose them to interrogation methods that are considered torture by the Geneva convention and the International Community, and if they turn out to be innocent (which happened a lot in the past), we just say “Sorry, my bad.” Terrorists should face a tough agenda in prison and should be punished for their deeds, but exposing innocent people to our punishments without any rights will only create more anti-Americanism and will lead to less national security. On top of that, Palin’s indication that Guantanamo detainees should not have those rights is a clear violation of the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and of our value of equality.

There are tons of examples I could take from her speech, but keeping it brief this is the conclusion we can draw from her appearance. Instead of letting the American people know more about herself and her agenda, almost everything Palin said at the Republican Convention was aimed to attack Barack Obama. Whereas I believe that this strategy itself is not a very good one in the first place, the fact that she is bending the truth and in some cases telling straight lies makes matters much worse. Not only is she trying to lead Americans into misconceptions on every major issue, she is mocking Barack Obama and telling Americans that Obama is only running for President for his personal benefit. Yesterday night, Sarah Palin has proven to me that she is far from being ready to lead: her agenda is entirely based on misleading statements and offenses against her counterparts, and her character is rather radical, offensive, and exhibits no leadership skill whatsoever.

The Palin Family Four Year Vacation

Cheryl — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:50:22 EDT

If elected, McCain would be offering the Palin family a four year long vacation. It would be a nice vacation for Palin and her husband, to have drivers, maids, nannies or whatever our taxes will pay for so she can "play" V.P. All those kids, she wouldn't have to lift a finger for four years. And the job would actually be easier for her than as Governor or Mayor. John McCain and his party have no intention of placing her in any position of power, she would be a fixture, a novelty, something akin to the typical way testosterone laden right wingers use women...sex sells and she is a sensuous, mysterious, strong woman. She would be nothing more than a second 1st lady. There is sexism going on, but it is a subtle form that has been played by the right wing for years, respect the woman who can straddle a Harley and still look good, or in this case a moose. Whatever sells the product and keep the attention, never mind the substance. The real test, the intelligent test will be how she represents the facts and her knowledge of the country and the world...she's already failed in a few spots...we'll see. The frightening part about all of it is that she is a heartbeat away from taking over as the leader of our country. She is not up to that task. Trussing a moose is a far cry from understanding the issues and needs of inner city children or blue collar workers who have lost their job and home. My trust still goes to the candidates who represent my views, my philosophies and my ideals. I am a proud bleeding heart liberal who sees through the current circus of the opposition. It's desavu...it's all about the oil...again.

Palin Slashes Special Education Funding 62%

Katra — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:26:49 EDT

I found this over at Kos, and had to share it with everyone. I know several of you are aware of our story, and struggle to get proper care for Kyle - who is diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Please spread the word - this woman does not support special needs families.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/3/163229/8631

Sarah Palin Slashed Special Needs Education by 62%

For those of you who seem so enamored with Gov. Sarah Palin, it might be worth noting that she oversees the budget for the Department of Education and Early Development Special Schools in Alaska.
These funds provide supplementary educational services to students with severe disabling conditions and the Alaska Challenge Youth Academy. The resident school where the child would normally be placed does not have the resources to provide an adequate educational program. Without the supplementary services the child’s needs would not be met by the local school district in most cases.
The following programs are included within this component:
Special Education Service Agency (SESA)

The Annual budget for 2007, which preceded Gov. Palin was $8,265,300.

The Annual budget for 2008, enacted by Gov. Palin is $3,156,000.
The Annual budget for 2009, enacted by Gov. Palin is $3,156,000.
This is a cut in special needs services to children in Alaska of 5,109,300 , or 62%.

So, as the Alaska State Budget description states, "Without the supplementary services the child’s needs would not be met by the local school district in most cases."

Did 62% of all of the special needs children in Alaska stop having needs once Gov. Palin took office?

Before we get so excited about Gov. Palin bring her "Reformer" agenda to Washington, perhaps we should get to know a little more about what exactly that means to our children, and the opportunities that she would "Reform".

Attacks, praise stretch truth at GOP convention ; Associated Press Tears RNC apart: This is very useful; please forward this vital article widely!

Stephen Fox, Contributing Editor New Mexico Sun News — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:13:06 EDT

By JIM KUHNHENN, Associated Press Writer Wed Sep 3, 11:48 PM ET

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and her Republican supporters held back little Wednesday as they issued dismissive attacks on Barack Obama and flattering praise on her credentials to be vice president. In some cases, the reproach and the praise stretched the truth.

Some examples:

PALIN: "I have protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending ... and championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. I told the Congress 'thanks but no thanks' for that Bridge to Nowhere."

THE FACTS: As mayor of Wasilla, Palin hired a lobbyist and traveled to Washington annually to support earmarks for the town totaling $27 million. In her two years as governor, Alaska has requested nearly $750 million in special federal spending, by far the largest per-capita request in the nation. While Palin notes she rejected plans to build a $398 million bridge from Ketchikan to an island with 50 residents and an airport, that opposition came only after the plan was ridiculed nationally as a "bridge to nowhere."

PALIN: "There is much to like and admire about our opponent. But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform — not even in the state senate."

THE FACTS: Compared to McCain and his two decades in the Senate, Obama does have a more meager record. But he has worked with Republicans to pass legislation that expanded efforts to intercept illegal shipments of weapons of mass destruction and to help destroy conventional weapons stockpiles. The legislation became law last year. To demean that accomplishment would be to also demean the work of Republican Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana, a respected foreign policy voice in the Senate. In Illinois, he was the leader on two big, contentious measures in Illinois: studying racial profiling by police and requiring recordings of interrogations in potential death penalty cases. He also successfully co-sponsored major ethics reform legislation.

PALIN: "The Democratic nominee for president supports plans to raise income taxes, raise payroll taxes, raise investment income taxes, raise the death tax, raise business taxes, and increase the tax burden on the American people by hundreds of billions of dollars."

THE FACTS: The Tax Policy Center, a think tank run jointly by the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute, concluded that Obama's plan would increase after-tax income for middle-income taxpayers by about 5 percent by 2012, or nearly $2,200 annually. McCain's plan, which cuts taxes across all income levels, would raise after tax-income for middle-income taxpayers by 3 percent, the center concluded.

Obama would provide $80 billion in tax breaks, mainly for poor workers and the elderly, including tripling the Earned Income Tax Credit for minimum-wage workers and higher credits for larger families.

He also would raise income taxes, capital gains and dividend taxes on the wealthiest. He would raise payroll taxes on taxpayers with incomes above $250,000, and he would raise corporate taxes. Small businesses that make more than $250,000 a year would see taxes rise.

MCCAIN: "She's been governor of our largest state, in charge of 20 percent of America's energy supply ... She's responsible for 20 percent of the nation's energy supply. I'm entertained by the comparison and I hope we can keep making that comparison that running a political campaign is somehow comparable to being the executive of the largest state in America," he said in an interview with ABC News' Charles Gibson.

THE FACTS: McCain's phrasing exaggerates both claims. Palin is governor of a state that ranks second nationally in crude oil production, but she's no more "responsible" for that resource than President Bush was when he was governor of Texas, another oil-producing state. In fact, her primary power is the ability to tax oil, which she did in concert with the Alaska Legislature. And where Alaska is the largest state in America, McCain could as easily have called it the 47th largest state — by population.

MCCAIN: "She's the commander of the Alaska National Guard. ... She has been in charge, and she has had national security as one of her primary responsibilities," he said on ABC.

THE FACTS: While governors are in charge of their state guard units, that authority ends whenever those units are called to actual military service. When guard units are deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, for example, they assume those duties under "federal status," which means they report to the Defense Department, not their governors. Alaska's national guard units have a total of about 4,200 personnel, among the smallest of state guard organizations.

FORMER ARKANSAS GOV. MIKE HUCKABEE: Palin "got more votes running for mayor of Wasilla, Alaska than Joe Biden got running for president of the United States."

THE FACTS: A whopper. Palin got 616 votes in the 1996 mayor's election, and got 909 in her 1999 re-election race, for a total of 1,525. Biden dropped out of the race after the Iowa caucuses, but he still got 76,165 votes in 23 states and the District of Columbia where he was on the ballot during the 2008 presidential primaries.

FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOV. MITT ROMNEY: "We need change, all right — change from a liberal Washington to a conservative Washington! We have a prescription for every American who wants change in Washington — throw out the big-government liberals, and elect John McCain and Sarah Palin."

THE FACTS: A Back-to-the-Future moment. George W. Bush, a conservative Republican, has been president for nearly eight years. And until last year, Republicans controlled Congress. Only since January 2007 have Democrats have been in charge of the House and Senate.

___

Associated Press Writer Jim Drinkard in Washington contributed to this report.

Daily Show Republican Doublespeak

Lake Obama - MN State Delegate — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:23:50 EDT

http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/index.jhtml?episodeId=184082

A little more than 9 minutes into this show is a piece on Karl Rove and 'Papabear' O'Reilly, as well as three others. First Rove talks about how qualified Palin is via talking points because she is the governor of Alaska. Of course, the Daily Show then shows a clip from a few months ago when Rove eviscerated Virginia Governor Tim Kaine by saying his choice as VP would be proof that Democrats are "not concerned first and foremost with if this person is capable of being president of the United States" because he's been the governor of a state for only 3 years and former mayor of just the 105th largest city in the USA, a city that's smaller than Henderson, NV (and he named a bunch of other cities).

In contrast, Sarah Palin is the former mayor of a town smaller than many high schools and governor for less than two years of the least populated state in the union, with the next least populated state, Wyoming, having more than 4 times the population of Alaska.

Next up is 'Papabear' O'Reilly, explaining how teenage pregnancy is "a personal, private family matter" and nothing that should be judged "as long as the family supports the decision," and he hopes things calm down because this isn't something the public should be sticking their nose into. Then, in contrast, is a clip of O'Reilly ripping up the Spears family. "Here the blame falls primarily on the parents of the girl who obviously have little control over her." This is accompanied by a photo of the Spears parents with the word "PINHEADS" emblazoned below it.

Sarah Palin has dragged her pregnant daughter onto the campaign trail and placed her front and center in every photo op. But the press is not supposed to comment on the fact (that the Republicans themselves ANNOUNCED) that their abstinence-touting candidate has a teenage daughter who is 5 months pregnant? Do I personally care that this girl is pregnant? No. It's not my business, and it should be a family matter...that was kept in Alaska vs. paraded across the national stage. Gee, the word "Pinheads" springs to mind once more.

Next up are Sean Hannity and Dick Morris, talking about the 'sexist' way the media is treating Sarah Palin because of the baby issue. And, yes, they then show Dick Morris ripping up Hillary Clinton for complaining that media coverage was sexist and asking what's going to happen when the boys in the Middle East get tough, etc., and how "This is always what Hillary does when she comes under fire; she retreats behind the apron strings."

And then last is McCain Sr. Policy Advisor Nancy Pfotenhauer in a clip from last November warning Hillary not to play the sexist victim card because that's just not what we want in a president. Yep, then she goes on to whine about how Palin has been victimized because she's a woman, and how it's the most outrageous double standard she's ever seen.

Republicans, you can't have it both ways. I really wish these side-by-side clips could be shown to every voter in the US to prove how the Republicans are trying to manipulate the media to take the focus off the real issues with their exceedingly weak VP choice, how she is just more of the McSame. These clips would make a wonderful political ad. Please. Get it out there!

To me, it seems clear their choice was to round up the Hillary supporters. Do they really think the Hillary supporters will vote for McCain/Palin, simply because he chose a woman running mate? This is a woman so far from Hillary Clinton's ideals and values that I can't believe anyone in their right mind would think that strategy would work.

President Bush also said that the Hanoi Hilton could not break McCain and the "angry left" will not break McCain, either. How dare my president call (at least) half of the US population the "angry left." How foolish of the Republicans to focus on the whiner card when the issues I want to hear about are the economy, the war, and the energy crisis. This is all the proof I need that they are so far out of touch that they have no idea that the general population is mad as hell at their "make the rich richer, and good luck to everyone else" plan, and we're not going to take it anymore.

The Republicans are master panderers. I cringe when I think about how many average Americans are going to buy into their skillfully crafted marketing machine. If John McCain is elected, he will be our oldest president, ever. The last time this happened, Regan began to show signs of Alzheimers before he even left office. There is a better than average chance that 4-time cancer survivor McCain will die in office. I could have lived with McCain as president, but I shudder at the thought of a far-right former mayor of a town with a population of less than 10,000 being in charge of our country.

We cannot let this happen.

Abstinence policy in action.

Clayton Riggs — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 01:57:17 EDT

Palin's pregnant child proves abstinence education works!

If keeping our girls pregnant and our teens covered in genital warts and taking Valtrex herpes treatment everyday for life is your goal.

The press kept bringing up Chelsea Clinton's fictional pregnancy and wondering how they (the press) would've handled her fictional pregnancy.

Chelsea Clinton's mother and father educated her on safe sex and proper condom use and it's silly to talk about her fictional situation, when a real pregnant teen and her careless parents attempt to move into the Whitehouse.

While using a condom isn't 100% effective, having sex without any protection or education increases the chances of pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease exponentially.

I know this blog is ugly, but sometimes the truth is ugly.

Portrait of Palin from a Wasillian FIRSTHAND!

Lauralyn — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 22:29:59 EDT

[I am posting this vivid portrait of Sarah Palin by a classmate of mine; but without supplying her last name or email, as she did in her post to our group. Lauralyn Bellamy]

What People Who Know Palin Are Saying

Mark from Boulder, CO — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 22:08:22 EDT

From Brad Smith to Anne Kilkenny:
Dear Anne,
Since you live in Wasilla where Sarah Palin was mayor please tell me about
her as a person and public official. Did you know her personally? What
observations can you share about Sarah Palin as she moved forward in Alaska
politics?
Regards, Brad
--------------------------------------

From Anne to Brad:

I have known Sarah since 1992. Wasilla is a small town. Everyone here
knows Sarah, so it is nothing special to say we are on a first-name basis.
My son is a friend of her daughter Bristol. I also am on a first name basis
with her parents and mother-in-law. I attended more City Council meetings
during her administration than about 99% of the residents of the city.

She has matured a lot since her early days on the City Council. Thank God.

She is enormously popular, having enjoyed approval ratings above 70%, and
as high as 80%, as Governor. In every way she's like the most popular girl
in middle school. Even men who think she is a poor choice and won't vote
for her can't quit smiling when talking about her because she is a "babe".

She's smart and savvy, but her only real experience is as mayor of a city
with a population of about 4,500 (at the time), and 1.5 yrs as governor of a
state with under 700,000 residents.

It is astonishing and almost scary how well she can keep a secret. She kept
her most recent pregnancy a secret from her children and parents for eight
months.

She is "pro-life" and she walks that talk. She recently gave birth to a
Down's syndrome baby.

She has terrific parents who have been there for her and lots of help
raising her kids and managing her family. She has good kids.   Like all
politicians, she is a largely absent parent, and spends more time with her
kids in public when there are cameras rolling than in private.   Her family
was slow to grasp the reality of political life and used to complain about
her parenting.

She is photogenic in spades. She is a good smiler. She is a former TV
reporter and is comfortable behind the camera. She is a former beauty
queen.

She is energetic and hardworking. She regularly worked out at the gym.

She is savvy. She doesn't take positions; she just "puts things out there"
and if they prove to be popular, then she takes credit.

She has taken on the Republican Party power-brokers in Alaska.

Her husband works "2 on, 2 off" on the North Slope for BP and is a champion
snowmobile racer. He arranges his work schedule so he can fish for salmon
in Bristol Bay for a month in summer, but by no stretch of the imagination
is fishing their major source of income.   Nor has her life-style ever been
anything like that of native Alaskans.

Sarah and her whole family are avid hunters; her pro-NRA positions are not
just political posturing.

During her mayoral administration most of the actual work of running this
small city was turned over to an administrator who she had been pushed to
hire by party power-brokers after she had gotten herself into some trouble
over precipitous firings which had given rise to a recall attempt.

Sarah campaigned in Wasilla as a "fiscal conservative". During her 6 years
as Mayor, she increased general government expenditures by over 33%. During
those same 6 years the amount of taxes collected by the City increased by
38%. This was during a period of low inflation (1996-2002).    She reduced
progressive property taxes and increased a regressive sales tax which taxed
even food. The tax cuts that she brags about benefited large corporate
property owners way more than they benefited residents.

The huge increases in tax revenues during her administration weren't enough
to fund everything on her wish list though, borrowed money was needed, too.
She inherited a city with ZERO debt, but left it with indebtedness of over
$22 million. What did Mayor Palin encourage the voters to borrow money for?
Was it the infrastructure that she said she supported? No. $1m for a park.
$15m-plus for construction of a multi-use sports complex which she rushed
through to build on a piece of property that the City didn't even have clear
title to, that was still in litigation 7 yrs later--to the delight of the
lawyers involved! The sports complex itself is a nice addition to the
community but a huge money pit, not the profit- generator she claimed it
would be. $5.5m for road projects that could have been done in 5-7 yrs
without any borrowing. Meanwhile, the City still lacks a sewage treatment
plant and other basic infrastructure.

While Mayor, City Hall was extensively remodeled and her office re-decorated
more than once.

These are small numbers, but Wasilla is a small city (population at that
time of about 4,500). Public indebtedness under her mayoral administration
increased over $4000 per capita.

As an oil producer, the high price of oil has created a budget surplus in
Alaska. Rather than invest it in technology that will make us energy
independent and increase efficiency, she proposed distribution of this
surplus to every individual in the state.

SPEND AND BORROW. In this time of record state revenues and budget
surpluses, she recommended that the state borrow/bond for road projects,
even while she proposed distribution of surplus state revenues: spend
today's surplus, borrow for needs.

She's not very tolerant of divergent opinions or open to outside ideas or
compromise. As Mayor, she fought ideas that weren't generated by her or her
staff. While Sarah was Mayor of Wasilla she tried to fire our highly
respected City Librarian because the Librarian refused to consider removing
from the library some books that Sarah didn't like. City residents rallied
to the defense of the City Librarian and against Palin's attempt at
out-and-out censorship, so Palin backed down and withdrew her termination
letter. People who fought her attempt to oust the Librarian are on her
enemies list to this day.

Sarah complained about the "old boy's club", so what did she bring Wasilla?
A new set of "old boys", including Wasilla's worst-ever Public Works
Director, the totally unqualified wife of a powerful person in state
politics. She fired most of the experienced staff she inherited. At the
City and as Governor she hired/elevated new, inexperienced, obscure people,
creating a staff totally dependent on her for their jobs and eternally
grateful, so fiercely loyal-- loyal to the point of abusing their power to
further her personal agenda, as she has acknowledged happened in the case of
pressuring the State's top cop (see below).

Sarah fired Wasilla's Police Chief because he "intimidated" her, she told
the press. Her recent firing of Alaska's top cop has the ring of familiarity
about it. He served at her pleasure and she had every legal right to fire
him, but it's pretty clear that an important factor in her decision to fire
him was because he wouldn't fire her sister's ex-husband, a State Trooper.
Under investigation for abuse of power, she has had to admit that more than
2 dozen contacts were made between her staff and family to the person that
she later fired, pressuring him to fire her ex-brother-in-law. She tried to
replace the man she fired with a man who she knew had been reprimanded for
sexual harassment; when this caused a public furor, she withdrew the
nomination.

She has bitten the hand of every person who extended theirs to her in help.
The City Council person who personally escorted her around town introducing
her to voters when she first ran for Wasilla City Council became one of her
first targets when she was later elected Mayor. She abruptly fired her loyal
City Administrator; even people who didn't like the guy were stunned by this
ruthlessness.

Fear of retribution has kept all of these people from saying anything
publicly about her. People fear her.

When then-Governor Murkowski was handing out political plums, Sarah demanded
the best, Chair of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission: one of
the few jobs not in Juneau and one of the best paid.   She had no background
in Oil & Gas issues. Within months of scoring this great job which paid
$122,400/yr, she was complaining in the press about the high salary. I was
told that she hated that job: the commute, the structured hours, the work.
A member of the Commission and the State Chair of the Republican Party was
ethically challenged, by dramatically quitting and accusing him of ethics
violations (for which he was fined) she solved all her problems in one fell
swoop: got out of the job she hated and garnered gobs of media attention as
the patron saint of ethics and as a gutsy fighter against the status quo.

She is solidly Republican. Her battles with the Republican party were not
over philosophy. They were over ethics and power. She is no political
maverick in terms of philosophy.

Around Wasilla there are people who went to high school with Sarah. They
don't call her "Saint Sarah"; they call her "Sarah Barracuda" because of her
unbridled ambition and predatory ruthlessness. When Sarah's mother-in-law
ran for Mayor, Sarah endorsed the person who was running AGAINST her
mother-in-law who was a highly respected member of the community and
experienced manager.

McCain is the oldest person to ever run for President. It scares the heck
out of me to think that someone as inexperienced as Sarah Palin could become
President. There has to be literally millions of Americans who are more
knowledgeable and experienced than she.

However, there's a lot of people who have under-estimated her and are
regretting it.

The McCain Head Fake

Amy DiLisio — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 21:43:44 EDT

It occurred to me today that Sarah Palin won't be on the Republican ticket in November...

Candidate McCain's Big Decision (New York Times Editorial, September 2: no one has stated it more clearly; please forward this widely to family,friends, and colleagues!)

Stephen Fox, Contributing Editor New Mexico Sun News — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:16:21 EDT

Senator John McCain speaks with his wife, Cindy, in St. Louis. (Photo: Getty Images)

More often than not, the role of a vice president is a minor one, unless some tragedy occurs. But a presidential nominee's choice of a running mate is vitally important. It is his first executive decision and offers an important insight into how that nominee would lead the nation.

If John McCain wants voters to conclude, as he argues, that he has more independence and experience and better judgment than Barack Obama, he made a bad start by choosing Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska.

Mr. McCain's supporters are valiantly trying to argue that the selection was a bold stroke that shows their candidate is a risk-taking maverick who - we can believe - will change Washington. (Mr. Obama's call for change - now "the change we need" - has become all the rage in St. Paul.)

To us, it says the opposite. Mr. McCain's snap choice of Ms. Palin reflects his impulsive streak: a wild play that he made after conservative activists warned him that he would face an all-out revolt in the party if he chose who he really wanted - Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut.

Why Mr. McCain would want to pander to right-wing activists - who helped George W. Bush kill off his candidacy in the 2000 primaries in a particularly ugly way - is baffling. Frankly, they have no place to go. Mr. McCain would have a lot more success demonstrating his independence, and his courage, if he stood up to them the way he did in 2000.

As far as we can tell, Mr. McCain and his aides did almost no due diligence before choosing Ms. Palin, raising serious questions about his management skills. The fact that Ms. Palin's 17-year-old daughter is pregnant is irrelevant to her candidacy. There are, however, very serious questions about her political past and her ideology.

If Mr. McCain wanted to break with his party's past and choose the Republicans' first female vice presidential candidate, there are a number of politicians out there with far greater experience and stature than Ms. Palin, who has been in Alaska's Statehouse for less than two years.

Before she was elected governor, she was mayor of a tiny Anchorage suburb, where her greatest accomplishment was raising the sales tax to build a hockey rink. According to Time magazine, she also sought to have books banned from the local library and threatened to fire the librarian.

For Mr. McCain to go on claiming that Mr. Obama has too little experience to be president after almost four years in the United States Senate is laughable now that he has announced that someone with no national or foreign policy experience is qualified to replace him, if necessary.

Senator Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican who has been one of Mr. McCain's most loyal friends, said Tuesday that he was certain that Ms. Palin would take the right positions on issues like Iraq, Russia's invasion of Georgia and Iran's nuclear weapons ambitions. That seemed based largely on his repeated assertion that Ms. Palin would be tended by Mr. McCain's foreign policy advisers. That was not much of an endorsement.

Some of the things Ms. Palin has had to say in the recent past about foreign policy are especially worrisome. In a speech last June to her former church in Wasilla, Ms. Palin said the war in Iraq was "a task that is from God." Mr. Bush made similar claims as he rejected all sound mortal advice on how to conduct the war.

Mr. McCain, Mr. Graham and others also claim that Ms. Palin is a fearless reformer who is committed to fighting waste, fraud and earmarks. Ms. Palin did show courage taking on some of the Alaska Republican Party's most sleazy politicians. But she also was an eager recipient of earmarked money as a mayor and governor.

Mayor Palin gathered up $27 million in subsidies from Washington, $15 million of it for a railroad from her town to the ski resort hometown of Senator Ted Stevens, now under indictment for failing to report gifts.

The Republicans are presenting Ms. Palin as a crusader against Mr. Stevens's infamous "Bridge to Nowhere." The record says otherwise; she initially supported Mr. Stevens's boondoggle, diverting the money to other projects when the bridge became a political disaster. In her speech to the Wasilla Assembly of God in June, Ms. Palin said it was "God's will" that the federal government contribute to a $30 billion gas pipeline she wants built in Alaska.

Mr. McCain will make his acceptance speech on Thursday, and Ms. Palin will speak on Wednesday. Those two appearances will go a long way to forming voters' views of this Republican ticket.

As Senator Graham noted, Mr. McCain has to reach out beyond the party's loyal base. "We're going to have to win this thing," he said. "This is not our race to lose."

Mr. McCain's hurdles are substantial. To start, he has to overcome Mr. Bush's record of failures. (The president addressed the convention Tuesday night and now, McCain strategists fervently hope, will retire quietly to the Rose Garden.) That record includes the disastrous war in Iraq, a ballooning deficit, the mortgage crisis - and the list goes on.

To address those many problems, this country needs a leader with sound judgment and strong leadership skills. Choosing Ms. Palin raises serious questions about Mr. McCain's qualifications

He Said / She Said

Muther Bear — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:33:53 EDT

Within the first five minutes after the announcement of Governor Palin as Senator McCain's VP pick, the speculation about how careful Senator Biden would have to be during the debate with her began.

In the perfect-world fantasy-land that I live in, I trust that the candidates in all of the debates will come armed with their best strengths, their sincerest passions, their most thoughtful wisdom, and their utmost respect for the American public and each other. I believe all reproductive organs should be left at the door - figuratively speaking, of course.

Women only achieve the goal, but not the equality, if, when they get there, they still express the need to be treated differently.

I, too, hope to witness spirited, thoughtful discussion between a red blob and a blue blob during the VP debate. Having said all of this, I only have one thing to add.....

GO BLUE BLOB, GO!

Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, and the GOP Identity Crisis

rahga — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:14:28 EDT

(Note: I originally wrote this on August 31 for a different venue)

When John McCain selected Sarah Palin – the former mayor of Wasilla, Alaska (population 9,000) and, for 20 months, the governor of a state with fewer than 700,000 people – he provided clear evidence the GOP was having an identity crisis.
In the weeks leading up to the Democratic National Convention, John McCain had been playing Peter Ramus to Barack Obama’s Aristotle. If you have never heard of Ramus – the renaissance philosopher and fierce critic of Aristotle - don’t worry. You do not need to know who he is to understand why he -- and his argument with Aristotle -- are important. For his part, Aristotle defended rhetoric (the art of public, persuasive communication) as foundational to any sense of democratic social order. Nearly two millennia later, Ramus attacked Aristotle’s rhetoric as a messy and inconsistent attempt to meld form and content. In layman’s terms, Aristotle, like Will Rogers, believed that public oratory and disputation (i.e., rhetoric) may be a messy business, but it represents humankind’s best bet at a just social order. Regardless, the sixteenth century was not a big time for democracy and Ramus won the day. In effect, he cleaved the teaching and study of rhetoric in two, and in subsequent centuries Ramus’ arbitrary separation of form and content came to be accepted as self-evident. By the twentieth century, most scholars had rejected Ramus’ argument. Nevertheless, it has persisted in the pervasive public bias against the word “rhetoric” as concerning deceptive and/or superficial political oratory.
By running a series of television and Internet ads in which the images and words of Barack Obama were placed in association with those of Hollywood stars such as Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, the GOP attempted to tap into this public predisposition. In essence, by adopting a “rock star” strategy were asking voters to accept the Illinois senator’s rhetorical success as prima facie evidence of minimal political content. Put another way, they were betting swing voters would buy into the Republican’s Ramus-like separation of form and content and subsequently refuse to engage the substance of Obama’s arguments. The ubiquitous descriptions of Obama as a Messiah candidate served, simultaneously, to frame and dismiss him as an empty signifier – a slick-talking, inexperienced, political oddity whose arguments were not worth engaging. The strategy was transparent and eerily familiar. In the heat of a presidential campaign John McCain had decided to gamble his political reformer credentials by channeling Lee Atwater and Karl Rove.
August 29, 2008, the day McCain announced Sarah Palin as his running mate, the GOP’s Peter Ramus strategy imploded. With the selection of Governor Palin (a person with arguably the thinnest political resume of any national candidate in modern history) the GOP was sounding more like Herschel Walker than either Ramus or Aristotle. Mr. Walker, many will recall, is the phenomenally talented ex-professional football star who recently admitted to a life-long struggle with a serious mental illness, dissociative identity disorder (better known as multiple personality disorder). And, like Walker, the GOP now faces a serious dilemma. Who are they? Ramus? Or Aristotle? More to the point, in a post-Palin world, who is Barack Obama? Only two weeks earlier Republicans had spent millions telling the nation the Democratic presidential candidate was a glib talker and a political lightweight. Radio talk show pundits such as Rush Limbaugh made explicit what the “rock star” ads clearly implied. By selecting an articulate African American as their candidate, the Democrats provided clear evidence they were more interested in “identity politics” (i.e., the facile manipulation of “superficial” matters such as race and gender) than substantive political issues.
The speed with which conservative pundits changed arguments is instructive. For example, despite months of haranguing about the Democratic Party’s myopic fascination with race and gender, within hours of McCain’s announcement, Rush Limbaugh trumpeted his sudden conversion to identity politics by posting a story with the following headline to his website:
Sarah Palin: Babies, Guns, Jesus
Hot damn! This is a woman with accomplishments.
The statement is blunt, crass, and unambiguous. By selecting Palin, Limbaugh suggests, the GOP has sealed the election. Like McCain, he is clearly betting women will flock to Palin simply because they share her biology. Early results suggest a significant number of female voters, the most clearly contested “identity grouping” in this election, are not impressed. In the Gallup and Rasmussen polls released one day after her nomination, Palin was clearly more popular with men than women and garnered the lowest confidence rating of any VP candidate since Dan Quayle. In other words, it appears Palin faces an uphill climb if she expects to win over significant numbers of disaffected Hillary Clinton supporters, most of whom – to be charitable - do not share her views on matters such as abortion, the economy, and the Iraq War. As Sarah Seltzer, a columnist with the Huffington Post wrote, “It's as though the McCain camp believes our irrational she-hormones will lead us, like sheep, to pull the lever for any candidate who looks like us--even if she has a strong record, as Palin does, of standing against women's interests.” To be sure, even some conservatives have been willing to admit that by picking Palin the GOP risks being accused of blatant hypocrisy. National Review columnist Ramesh Ponnuru, for example, attacked tokenism head on by asking, “Can anyone say with a straight face that Palin would have gotten picked if she were a man?” To be clear, none of this should be taken to mean McCain and Palin might not eventually win the White House. Recent elections make clear that voters can be a fickle lot and if the Hillary Clinton campaign tells us anything at all it is that women can think for themselves. If the GOP is to win this election, however, they must find a way to convince voters their new identity as champions of Aristotelian rhetoric and women’s rights is sincere. In that regard, one can hope that at the very least McCain and his strategists spent a long time talking about whether or not voters would perceive a contradiction between their message about Obama’s supposed superficiality at the beginning of August and their new message about the substance of Sarah Palin’s political resume only two weeks later. Whether or not the new strategy succeeds may depend on the degree to which women voters are willing to reflect on the tenor and substance of previous campaigns and on the GOP campaign to date. Palin has only been on the ticket for two days and it is already clear that many women perceive a performative contradiction between the party’s old and new messages. This is not good news for the McCain campaign. If these trends hold – that is if women remain ambivalent toward Palin and if her candidacy fails to gain traction in the blogosphere - the GOP is likely to have at least four years to figure out just who they are as a party – Peter Ramus or Aristotle of Stageira. And if that doesn’t work, Rush Limbaugh has the answer. Embrace your multiple personalities.

Why the crazy attacks on Palin?

TJ — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:43:24 EDT

She's the VP pick for heck sakes! I don't get it? Why the unfair blithering frenzy about her?

What are people afraid of here?

We're Going to Be Better Off with Adults in Charge

Sally Craft — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 23:07:17 EDT

The confusion surrounding John McCain's vice presidential selection is only the latest--and most alarming--of his campaign gaffes. And it contrasts starkly with the responsible and statesmanlike way that Barack Obama made decisions about his VP and managed his campaign--from the first Democratic party caucuses and primaries right through the national convention. If Obama leads our government with the same competency and discipline I've seen from him so far, then we can't help but grow stronger as a nation--both at home and abroad.

Nomination Redux or The Love Pouch VP

Adrienne Zurub — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:14:52 EDT

THE LOVE POUCH ... a VICE PRESIDENTIAL CHOICE

At first, it seemed a brilliant strategical move. No wonder McCain confidently and out of campaign character, sent Obama what was deemed the Valentine ad on August 29, 2008, by the International Herald Tribune. In the ad, McCain congratulated Obama on his Democratic Convention nomination on the 45th Anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr’s, I Have a Dream speech. It seemed so brilliant and then....

Gawd! In naming Sarah Palin, as his vice presidential running mate, McCain’s choice immediately brought to mind similarities of the mixed and complicated choice of then Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas back in 1991. As you may recall, Thomas was (is) only the second Black nominated for Supreme Court Justice by then President George H.W. Bush to fill the seat of retired Thurgood Marshall. Yet, the appointment of Thomas then (and still now) competed with the need for a black voice and presence on the highest court in the land and that voice belonging to this particular Black conservative who appeared to be a proxy for white conservatives.

The ensuing arguments and revelations of character relative to Thomas, demonstrated an originalist and enigmatic conservative whereby even the NAACP, the Urban League, and the National Organization for Women opposed his appointment. Yet, among some (not many) in the Black community the fact that Thomas was Black was deemed as enough for some Blacks to support him. Many non-supporters in the Black community understood that this man was no Justice Thurgood Marshall!

The choice of Palin as the vice presidential choice for McCain has the same odor, err aura. The Republicans appear to be equal opportunity purveyors of gender legerdemain. In choosing Palin, whose values and avowed right wing policies strike against the core values of many so-called feminist and progressive women, the Republicans have essentially rubbed women’s faces in a choice that is no choice at all.

If the 18 million Hillary supporters (who should be so insulted at this choice so-as-to-spit-blood) want a vagina to win for the sake of a political vagina in office, then McCain has given you just what you stereotypically want. Stereotypically because on all levels this choice of VP, is an insult to feminists and most women.

In so many ways, this choice is so typically mannish and old style-husband-like in it’s transparent attempt to appease those angry women and effectively win their undecided votes. This Republican choice, truly done by the Mad Men in McCain’s retinue is so like ... a stereotypical out-of-touch old husband. Imagine the wife (or 18 million) who expects a thoughtful gift from their spouse (yes, gays count here), significant other, or lover, and then receives something like a brand new shiny vacuum cleaner or a silver handled lint remover.

By choosing Palin, the anti-abortion, Pro-Life crusader, NRA shooter (on more metaphoric levels than one), who supported right-wing extremist Pat Buchanan for president in 2000, who supports McCain’s big oil first energy policy, a Miss Alaska runner-up, mother of five, who also by-the-way eats Moose meat sandwiches (probably higher protein, healthier, and low carb) and who is a tough religious with her evangelical Protestant self, McCain backhands women (Hillonistas’ particularly) with this choice. This is the epitome of the so close yet so far away choice of a candidate. Hopefully, feminists and women swing voters, hell everyone will see this patronization for what it is.

But, I doubt it. These women, the overplayed Hillonistas, the disgruntled 18 million voters that are portrayed as walking the political fence and/or crossing party lines to vote for McCain because their choice of the First Vagina did not get the Democratic nomination leads me to believe that these women could be as shallow, easily led and vindictive as the McCain Mad Men have figured them out to be. I hope that I and the Mad Men are wrong.

Ironically, Palin as VP is the nominating equivalent of the Clarence Thomas contention with ‘Should we vote her in just to have the first woman in the second highest office in the land?’ Unbelievably, as VP, Palin and the feminists will be historically aligned. As well, feminists and unfortunately all women will be historically weighted with the angry woman angst that effectively overshadowed common sense and successfully provided a ‘spoiler effect’ ... Nader style. Is Palin truly an accomplishment for all women? I think not.

Adrienne Zurub

Speaker/Comedian/RN

Author, Notes From the Mothership The Naked Invisibles

http://adriennezurub.typepad.com

sarah palin is unqualfied and corrupt

Melissa from San Diego, CA — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 11:57:56 EDT

Buyer Beware

M J Taylor — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:09:59 EDT

Republicans: This Party is Known for its' inability to admit a mistake even at the cost of American Lives. They were asleep at the wheel during 9/11 even after being warned by Wesley Clark and the previous administration of the threat of Bin Laden. They have they used fear, manipulation and deceit to strip away the rights of American Citizens. So now they have once again made a hasty decision for Purely Shallow Political Purposes, who in their right mind would expect them to ever admit it. This is further proof that MCSame has poor judgment and I for one do not like the idea of being lead "Straight to The Gates of Hell" by this puppet of the Republican agenda. Which seeks to Abolish the US Dept Of Education, Privatize Social Security, and Eliminate the group benefit and negotiating power employees have had since WW II via the employer sponsored healthcare system. They are truly the "You are on your own party"
Buyer Beware
Make the right Choice
Obama/Biden
08/12
Leadership, Judgment, Integrity, Truth

The McSame VP Pick What's Her Name? From So N So

M J Taylor — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 09:24:27 EDT

I do not have anything personal agaisnt picking a woman as VP. But I would want a woman who has experience at least in a large population state in our county. This only proves that the Republican camp's attack on Obama concerning experience were totally false and promoted only to mislead the American People. Let 6 years in the Illinois senate fighting for ethics reform and helping to move people from welfare to work in the Land of Lincold compared to a mayor and governor, the most peopel she has represnted is somewhere between 5000 and 8000. Yea right i am no body's fool!Wake up America Enough is Enough!

This choice is a Smack in the face to a Strong fighter for women like Hillary Clinton, and such a sham to fool Hillary supporters to even think of voting for the Same ol politics the Republicans play........The Republicans were the worst critics of Hillary, and made the most sexist comments one could ever hear........The pick is a joke a sham, so please do not be fooled.The McCain agenda is still the Same agenda.....be on the look out for the next Carl Rove endorsed ad form the campaign. They will tell you next, that riding the subway is un American and expect you to believe it.WAKE UP AMERICA !!!!

Hillary will play an important role in the Obama/Biden Administration..She and they will fight for better and more affordable healthcare for All Americans. Instead of seeking to destabilize the best part of our current healthcare system as John McSame has pledged to do.have no doubt.

What John McCain’s Vice-Presidential Pick Says about John McCain

Mark X. Cronin — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:48:43 EDT

While the pundits and political watchers (that’s you and me) love to talk about the vice-presidential picks, we all know that come November, voters make their choice based on the presidential candidates, not the VP. The VP pick matters only in the way that it reflects on the judgment and values of the presidential candidate. SO what does John McCain’s choice tell us?

Let’s start with an old business maxim: number one’s pick number one’s; number two’s pick number three’s. Barack Obama showed confidence in picking as well-known and as strong a man as Joe Biden. John McCain showed he did not want a formidable running mate; he opted for someone clearly not his equal, someone who would never challenge him. That’s not a sign of strength; it’s a sign of weakness.

Now let’s turn to John McCain’s values. Throughout the spring and summer, Senator McCain and his surrogates have lambasted Barack Obama for his lack of experience. The Obama campaign responded by saying that judgment mattered more than experience. Ultimately, that’s an argument that the voters would settle in November. Now John McCain picks a VP candidate with no real experience, a choice that not only undermines his argument, but refutes it. So what does John McCain believe? How important is experience if he picks Sarah Palin? The answer is that we don’t know what to believe from Senator McCain.

Senator McCain has asserted that he puts country before politics while charging that Barack Obama puts politics ahead of country. In making his VP pick, Senator Obama and his campaign leaders said it would come down to two issues: Senator Obama wanted someone with whom he could work well and someone who could lead the country. His pick of Joe Biden reflects those objectives. On the other hand, the main virtues of Senator McCain’s pick are Governor Palin’s media presence and her appeal to conservative voters. So who really put politics’ first?

Finally, let’s look at the information that each candidate possessed. Let’s assume that both campaign teams did a good job of vetting the potential VP picks. Senator Obama worked for four years with Senator Biden in the Senate. He saw him throughout the presidential campaign and observed his performance and character in multiple debates. Senator Obama knew Joe Biden well and had seen him perform in a number of arenas. On the other hand, Senator McCain had a fifteen minute meeting with Governor Palin last February and one telephone conversation before deciding to offer her the position.

Senator Obama’s choice of Joe Biden surprised no one while Senator McCain’s choice caught everyone – even his supporters – off-guard. A VP pick should not be a surprise; it should come as a natural outgrowth of a candidate’s policies and personal character. The addition of Senator Biden to the Democratic ticket rounds out the experience and skill set of the ticket and adds a man eminently qualified to serve as president. Governor Palin brings some media flash and an appeal to the conservative base, but she adds no skill sets to the Republican ticket and can anyone say she is qualified for the presidency?

When the voters step into that booth come November, they will pull the lever for Obama or McCain, not Biden or Palin, but the choices of Biden and Palin surely reveal much about the top of the tickets. One showed mature judgment and a concern for the nation as much as short-term politics. The other showed a preference for politics and a rashness of judgment. Voters will decide which choice they deem more presidential and more appropriate for the man they want in the White House.

Vetting Sarah Palin

Sue — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:22:53 EDT

It's become quite clear over the last 72 hours that the McCain campaign did minimal vetting of Sarah Palin, if any at all, prior to nominating her to be Vice President.

I am setting up this blog to share information discovered about Sarah on the internet. I am not interested in rumors or gossip, only in legitimate stories that can be substantiated, or questions raised in reaction to what the McCain campaign puts forth about her, her positions, and her experience.

A "Dear John" Letter to Sen. John McCain

Laura — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 10:42:07 EDT

Dear John,

I would like to share a few thoughts on your selection of Gov. Sarah Palin as your Vice Presidential running mate.

John, I originally wanted Hillary Clinton to be President because of her commitment to address the issues that affect America’s children and families. I don’t think we can build a better future for our nation without moving those issues to the forefront of our national agenda. But, John, I wanted HILLARY for President, not just any woman. Despite my personal desire to see a woman at the highest levels of responsibility, I would not vote for a candidate just because she is a woman; nor would I vote for a candidate just because he/she is a Democrat or a Republican. I will always vote for the candidate who I believe is best qualified. I know lots of capable women with young children, women who have served in government, women with sons and daughters in Iraq, women who home school, women whose children have special needs. I wouldn’t nominate them for a national office, however

Sarah Palin does not believe in abortion under any circumstances. But, you see, I think that pro-life doesn’t start with conception and end at birth. I consider myself pro-life because I think quality of life is important and that children (of all ages) of the United States should have adequate housing and food, access to medical care, the best possible education, meaningful work, safe and healthy communities, and clean water and air. In a society that truly values life, we would never pass legislation called “No Child Left Behind” while we continue to throw children away who live in the wrong neighborhoods, who don’t test the way we want them to, or who face extreme challenges of special needs, poverty, injury, illness, abuse, or neglect. I don’t think that our federal or local governments are supposed to provide quality of life through massive taxation programs. I think that most of us – even many corporations and businesses - are willing to work together to find new ways to improve the way we live, if given a chance by leadership that is willing to listen to our concerns and let us get involved.

Not only that, we have to consider the welfare of children around the world if we are truly building a safer future for ourselves, insuring they are less likely to turn to terrorism as a reaction to hunger, poverty, violence, ignorance and instability in their homelands. For example, we could suddenly reduce the number of female suicide bombers if we paid more attention to the needs of their children and less attention to feeding the ego of a man whose only apparent goal is to be a “war time President”.

John, forgive me for bringing up a delicate issue. When we elect an elderly President, we have to consider the possibility that our Vice President might have to step into the Presidency in a moment’s notice. I’ve been to Alaska, and, as beautiful as it is, I know that it is also isolated. Contrary to what you might believe, proximity to another nation does not, in fact, prepare one to face the leaders of that nation under the most difficult of circumstances. If so, anyone living on any of our inland borders is qualified for the office.

So far, I haven’t seen any indication that Sarah Palin strengthened your ticket enough to make you as qualified to meet the challenges that face us as Barack Obama and Joe Biden are. I’m just not trading one bad relationship over the last 8 disasterous years for yet another failed presidency and misguided agenda.

Dear John, don’t worry –it’s not like I’m actually dumping you. We were never together, anyway. The closest we came was my enjoyment of your acerbic humor, quick responses to the media, and your independent spirit. But, that John Mc Cain ABANDONED US a long time ago in order to court favor with those who control access to the Republican nomination for President (and apparently Vice President, too). You see, John, your pairing in this election forces us to consider not one, but two, new political personalities. You just aren’t the man I once knew. I don't have time to figure Sarah Palin out; I'm still trying to figure you out.

Sorry, John. I just don’t think we’re right for each other.

P.S. One word of advice, in light of my attachment to the man you used to be: Invest some time in calling Microsoft, Apple, Google, and all other companies who develop tools for word processing. Every place Sarah Palin’s name appears in this letter, my spell checker highlights it as a mistake. It’s a pretty significant reminder that something might really be wrong with this decision.

Sarah Palin sheds light on the painful side of the Pro Life agenda

Sahil — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 22:56:58 EDT

I think Sarah Palin will end up hurting the Pro life camp and also her presidential ticket.

Sarah Palin’s choice of continuing with her pregnancy even though she knew the child had Down syndrome has made me think about the abortion issue. I was surprised to realize that Sarah Palin’s choice of continuing the pregnancy symbolizes one of the most questionable and painful positions of the pro life camp. I think every body who thinks about Palin will think about her this particular choice and as a consequence think about pro life positions in a fearful way. I wonder as to why Senator McCain would try to portray pro life position in such a painful way.

Enough!

Hope — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 22:28:53 EDT

When Barack Obama shouted "Enough!" during his acceptance speech on Thursday night, he echoed my soul. When he said, "So I've got news for you John McCain, we all put our country first," he spoke for me again.

Since I heard of Senator McCain’s vice-presidential pick, I've had the thought of a giant red stop sign on the platform of the Republican National Convention hoisted between two elephants and their chairman coming out with the following news release:

"We the members of the Republican Party - the party of Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and Ronald Reagan - do hereby apologize to the American people for our unpatriotic deeds, acts of terror, breach of promise, and malfeasance in office. We, at this moment, suspend our run for the White House, and move by acclamation to elect Senator Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America. We shall not return to the scene until we have curbed our arrogance and conceded to truth, justice, and the American way. We also agree to pay down five trillion dollars of our national debt from our personal and corporate fortunes gained through misconduct and to provide for the families of the dead and wounded soldiers of the Iraq War, as though they were our own.”

Now that's a category 5 fantasy.

I have just had enough.

Sarah Pales In Comparison to Hillary

Prasad — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 19:42:14 EDT

Sarah Palin's issues & agenda when she ran for governor in 2006 are available HERE
(thanks to Google's cache!)

You'll notice that in the 22-item list of issues on that page, there is not even one agenda item relating to women.

The word "women" appears one time ("As I watched our military men and women being deployed I recognized how important it is for their families to know how much Alaska and America support them.")

And the word "woman" appears one time ("I am pro-life and I believe that marriage should only be between and man and a woman.")

Contrast this to Hillary Clinton's Senate webpage on women's issues.

And John McCain wants to get Hillary voters because of Sarah Palin? Are you kidding me?

Posts with the tag Vice President

Remarks by the President and Vice President at Meeting with Nation's Mayors

What’s Russia’s Problem of not Jumping on our Troubled Economy

Stimulus Package

Radio Show Schedule - Padmini Arhant

The questions most asked of me so I want to ask you

Happy to Get My Engraved Invitation to Presidential Inauguration

Barack Obama Collectibles

Pray for the USA

Lieberman Tacitly Agrees: McCain Exhibited His Bad Judgment With VP Pick

Dear Mr Gregg

Sarah Palin’s Song: Doin’ What the Lord Tells Me. The Video

What Is Sarah Palin Auditioning For?

Barack Obama, "A Transformational Figure"

Over the River, and Through the Woods...

Answering That ‘Forwarded’ E-Mail: “The Democrats Didn’t Bring Change”

Sarah Palin’s Song: Doin’ What the Lord Tells Me

role of the vice president

VP Debate Poll Results

Transcript of Debate 2: Biden v. Palin (10-02-08)

Palin: Above expectations but fundamentally unconvincing

Vice Presidential Debate

F Raised to a C-Minus - The Unpatriotic Media

Palin DID stink up the room

On debating: Palin's tactics

Sarah (Plain) Palin

They are coming over (no dropped gs here)

VP Power

Say it isn't so, Sarah

Soccer Mom vs Osama bin Laden

Expanding VP's powers

Drill - Baby - Drill

Biden Debates, while Palin Gives Speech

Vice Presidential Debate

Biden v. Palin

Great Debate Party - Let's Do It AGAIN!

Vice Presidential Candidate Not Ready

*(OBAMA SUPPORTERS)*

John McCain/Sarah Palin as servants????

New VP Debate Format

VP Debate Rules Changed to Compensate Sarah Palin

The ORIGINAL E-mail from my classmate in Wasilla that Revealed the True Palin!

An Unexpected Palin Presidency

George Bush: The Sequel?

Palin as mayor

McCain's VP PICK - A Mother for WAR is an abberation in nature

John McCain On Computers and Email : "I just never really felt a need to do it. "

Sarah:Through the Humble Eyes of a Clueless Hood-Rat

I am your banker!!!

Palin Interview Says A Ton About McCain

Backup Quarterback?

Picking a VP candidate

Obama/Hillary '08 News Flash

Democrats, do not repeat the same mistakes!

High Price of McCain's Pandering Paid by Palin's Family(c) By Lauralyn Bellamy

Former GOP senator Lincoln Chafee calls Palin a 'cocky wacko'

Joe Biden Hit's It Out Of The Park!

McCain's Dangerous Choice

on Hillary Clinton

Biden v. Palin: No Contest!

Sarah Palin?

Sarah Palin, Irony at its finest

Let us just get something straight here....

Please Join Me In A Letter Writing Campaign!

Did McCain Put Country First?

Smoke Screen?

About the REAL Sarah Palin

Interview Sarah? “Not In The Campaign’s Interest.”

Pick a side, any side!

Community Organization - The Backbone of our Democracy

A Response to Sarah Palin Speech

Sarah Palin: Another View

Country First

Sarah Palin - A cold-hearted woman

Biden Says He Won't Attack Palin, Only Policies

Palin? Right Choice?

( "CALLING ALL OBAMA SUPPORTERS VISIT HERE TODAY !!! " )

Sarah Palin's Missed Opportunity

The Palin Family Four Year Vacation

Palin Slashes Special Education Funding 62%

(OBAMA SUPPORTERS)