Woman to Woman

By flats

September 5, 2008 8:24 AM | Link to this

she was picked because she has access to oil in Alaska.

By Gale

September 5, 2008 8:26 AM | Link to this

It looks like our topic leaders have been reading the comments this week and figured the discussion would not be diverted elsewhere for a while. IMO, the key factor was the pro-life vote. Politicians on both sides have forgotten that the goal is to provide solutions to problems facing the country and keep us safe and sound. How do we convince our elected leaders that they need to start fixing what is broken? We are like an old house that is in need of some real repair. Painting the siding won’t resolve the crumbling plaster or seal the leaking windows. Partisanship in Congress is the real problem. next…

By USinUK

September 5, 2008 8:28 AM | Link to this

daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaang … what was Lyn Westmoreland thinking???

from the WaPo: Westmoreland was discussing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s acceptance speech outside the House chamber today when he veered into his thoughts on Michelle and Barack Obama.

“Just from what little I’ve seen of her and Mister Obama, Senator Obama, they’re a member of an elitist class individual that thinks that they’re uppity,” Westmoreland said.

When a reporter sought clarification on the racially loaded word, Westmoreland replied, “Uppity, yeah.”

Lyn - when someone gives you an out, take it.

And even Bush’s speechwriter gives McCrankyPants a giant meh for last night’s performance:

(again from the WaPo): But McCain’s speech tonight began slow and got slower (before its genuinely moving end). He set out a strong, overarching theme of restless reform — then undermined that theme with uncreative, typically Republican policy. The speech was not a flop; it was a missed opportunity. But in a come-from-behind race, every missed opportunity is costly.

And this little bit of fiction drives me insane: She’s been overseeing a $5.5 billion budget — roughly the same as private sector companies Target or Dell, and significantly larger than Dow Chemical or Microsoft. If McCain had picked a two-year CEO of a $5.5 billion company as his running mate, would people scoff?

YES. We would. 1) we’ve all seen the stellar performance of an administration who wants to run this country like a corporation - we’re 8 years down that road - it ain’t workin’. and 2) in such a time as this when we need international unity, putting someone in office with no national experience, much less INTERNATIONAL experience is insane.

By USinUK

September 5, 2008 8:38 AM | Link to this

Hi Gale!!

IMO, the key factor was the pro-life vote

I’d take that a step farther and say it was the religious right vote - it goes beyond pro-life to sex-ed, anti-environmentalism, creationism, etc. With her, he got the whole package to placate the extremes in his party who weren’t that happy that they didn’t have Huckabee as their man.

By Lyrazel

September 5, 2008 8:45 AM | Link to this

What is the key factor behind the GOP selection of Sarah Palin for VP?

Vibrancy. Look how shook up people are—especially democrats are now. A WASP-y older milk-toast elected dude never would have electrified like choosing Palin did. Maverick McCain wants to prove he is NOT a Bush—and she is far from Ivy League elitism. Her odious views of religion’s place in government are popular with many voting the Republican ticket.

One problem I keep having is with people who say she can’t/should not be VP because of the terrible demands of her family—and yet these same people want recognition to working women with children who also say a woman can do any job if she chooses WITH child. I never hear MEN being asked parenting issues while they campaign and that double standard is galling. No one asks a man about the terrible ordeals his family is undergoing—if he has his priorities wrong—and MANY have special needs/delinquent children. Why this sexist double standard is voiced by so many women also escapes me.

How many families have unmarried daughters giving birth at 17? You will find MANY MANY households in America with such statistics—proving abstinence education lectures don’t work and life goes on despite the best intentioned parents.

By lk

September 5, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this

Shaunti is right - all the VP choices are meant to fill a need and attract voters that the party needs. The democrats needed foreign affairs experience and to attract blue collar voters - Joe Biden. The republicans needed excitement and to attract the conservative value voters that McCain wasn’t getting - Sarah Palin. The fact that she’s a woman is an extra zing - it gets conversations going and may net additional votes. That’s the whole strategy for both sides.

As an executive, wife, mother and community volunteer I like that one of the 4 speaks to me and what I think is important. The mainstream media is remiss in dismissing Sarah Palin’s grass roots appeal. Even for those of us who were lukewarm about both sides - she generates excitement and interest. No matter the outcome of the race, Sarah Palin will be around a good long while. Get used to her!

By Willie

September 5, 2008 8:51 AM | Link to this

I get it…only liberal women can choose liberal women to run for political office…Hmmm is that not amazing? You have to be a socialist to be viable.

By Gale

September 5, 2008 8:52 AM | Link to this

religious right vote Yes, quite. I stopped at one of the issues that always gets them jumping. Reading more about Palin’s views makes me more convinced that party leaders foisted he on McCain in an act of desparation. We have had administrations where the pres and the VP did not work together. It has to be worse if they work at cross purposes.

By WhatEV

September 5, 2008 9:00 AM | Link to this

I never hear MEN being asked parenting issues while they campaign and that double standard is galling. No one asks a man about the terrible ordeals his family is undergoing—if he has his priorities wrong—and MANY have special needs/delinquent children. Why this sexist double standard is voiced by so many women also escapes me.

Lyrazel, NOT TRUE. When the news came out that Elizabeth Edwards’ cancer had returned, John Edwards received the same kind of comments. “How selfish of you to continue your run for president when your wife has cancer and you have small children! You should be taking care of your family and not your ambition!”

However, the double standard you mention escapes me too. If Hillary had stolen drugs from her own charity like Cindy McCain, if Chelsea turned up preggers and unmarried, Chuckster and the likes would be posting it every single day as evidence that Democrats have no morals whatsoever.

By Clay

September 5, 2008 9:00 AM | Link to this

Why don’t folks like Andrea Sarvady tell it like it is when it comes to abortion? Gov. Palin is not anti-choice. She is pro-life. You—and the people like you—are pro-abortion. You are not pro-choice. Do you think I have the choice to carry a gun? You certainly do not. The only choice you care about is killing babies. Stop using “feel good” words like pro- or anti-choice and tell it like it is. You are either pro-life or pro-abortion. Gov. Palin is pro-life.

By USinUK

September 5, 2008 9:00 AM | Link to this

Willie -

I get it…only liberal women can choose liberal women to run for political office

no, conservative women are free to choose liberal women to run for political office, too …

(the proper placement of the word “only” can make a big difference in the meaning of your sentence)

By denice

September 5, 2008 9:01 AM | Link to this

You better believe it was a pro-life issue…but I am glad that we finally got a REAL woman on the ticket….she’s awesome and I will vote for her and for McCain…

By Gale

September 5, 2008 9:05 AM | Link to this

Willie, I can deal with her holding all those beliefs. My problem is that she wants to make it law that we all think the same things. I do not want to live in a theocracy.

lk, I for one don’t care if she has a flock of small children. That is her choice and she can surely afford a nanny, and maybe Dad is deeply involved with child rearing. Many women juggle these responsibilities. It just proves the stronger of the species.

By WhatEv

September 5, 2008 9:10 AM | Link to this

From Jay Bookman’s Sept. 3 column:

In March of 2007, John Edwards decided to continue his presidential campaigning even after his wife was diagnosed with terminal cancer. The reaction will sound familiar.

Rush Limbaugh said the Edwards were turning their eyes to the campaign when they instead should turn their eyes to God. Katie Couric, in a “60 Minutes” interview, accused Edwards of mining his wife’s condition for sympathy votes.

“Even those who may be very empathetic to what you all are facing might question your ability to run the country at the same time you’re dealing with a major health crisis in your family,” Couric told Edwards.

And in Time magazine, columnist Jay Carney wrote that “surely many average Americans have to be wondering at what point the candidate will decide that his duties as husband and father to three children, including a 6- and 8-year-old, trump his duty to his country and the cause of winning the White House.”

By USinUK

September 5, 2008 9:11 AM | Link to this

Clay -

Do you think I have the choice to carry a gun? You certainly do not.

um. actually you do have the choice to carry a gun - you just are restricted in where you can carry it.

we also believe that women have the choice to carry a fetus to term. or not. if she chooses to carry it to term, we believe she has the right to keep it (even if she’s - GASP - not married). or put it up for adoption.

choice. don’t like abortion? don’t have one.

By Tomhere

September 5, 2008 9:19 AM | Link to this

Which books did she want to ban? She has the same philosophy of IDEA CONTROL as the TALIBAN. GOVERNMENT CONTROL IS BEST FOR THE CITIZENS. WE know what’s best. That’s why the GOP is the party of “less government”…?

By dittohead

September 5, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this

By Rebecca Burt

September 5, 2008 9:25 AM | Link to this

Palin: She has next to no experience in government. When ask about national security back ground or knowledge regarding foreign affairs the best Ms. McCain could come up with was “she lives right by Russia.” She has only traveled outside the country twice in her life. She was associated with to a 3rd party which among other things supports allowing Alaska to secede from the United States and feels the only thing wrong with the John Birch Society was it was to liberal! Her husband “First Dude” was registered as a member of this party between 1994 and 2004!

She tried to have a local Librarian fired for not banning books. She used her political office to try to have fired and smear a state trooper who is in a custody battle with her sister. She is being investigated for this and is worried enough about the outcome to have recently “lawyered up.”

Palin currently has pretty messy family issues. She recently gave birth to a son with Downs Syndrome and has a 17 year old daughter who is pregnant. Ironically she has fought sex education in the schools and availability of contraception for minors.

She believes that for 9 months a woman has no right to control what is happening to her own body and is basically nothing more than a baby container. She does not believe in a women’s right to choose to end a pregnancy, even if she has been raped.

She does not believe human pollution has anything to do with global warming (even Bush has had to back down on this one). Is so in bed with big oil she is willing to watch as the polar bear and beluga whales become extinct, rather than slow the possibility of drilling. She would open up one of the last great wilderness on earth to exploitation by oil interests.

Laughs when hearing a fellow Republican woman being called a b*** in public (she and the woman had disagreed on several issues) I guess this does make her on par with McCain who thinks it is alright to call your wife a c** in public. She has been repeatedly described as stubborn with a vicious streak – even by family and friends. (nick name Sarah Barracuda)

Has an undergraduate degree in Journalism for a small obscure university.

She did fund raising for Sen. Ted Stevens (think major Alaskan corruption) and accepted money from the same sources as Sen. Ted Stevens. She pushed for the “bridge to no where – the flipped when convenient to do so.

She has been named Sen. John McCain’s VP selection for the Republican ticket. Sen. McCain is 72 years old and has reoccurring cancer as part of his health history. One can not help but question Mr. McCain’s judgment regarding her selection. John McCain has made a calculated choice in selecting his VP, that has unfortunately put an undereducated, inexperienced right wing nut case a “heart beat” away from becoming President at a time when our Nation faces some of the most complex and volatile issues it has in decades. John what have you done????

By lovelyliz

September 5, 2008 9:25 AM | Link to this

Sarah Palin was picked as a way of assuring the evangelicals what the GOP ticket represents them just like the current residents of th White House and the southeast corner of 34th Street and Massachusetts Avenue.

Anybody who think the GOP VP candidate was selected to woo Hilary supporters is smoking some serious crack though, because Sarah Palin is about as anti-Hillary as one can get.

By newsflash

September 5, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this

obama is “inexperienced” but has a law degree from harvard and was a professor of constitutional law. he was a community leader, and possibly most importantly he has led his own campaign, which succeeded in defeating a very entitled clinton campaign. even if he doesnt have “executive experience” he is an extremely intelligent person and has a pretty good idea of the job.

palin has a bachelors degree in journalism from the university of idaho (after transferring to six differant schools in five years). she was the mayor of a city half the size of tifton georgia. two weeks ago she couldnt even tell you what the vice president does. you are certainly free to like her as the VP choice, but trying to equate her level of experience to obama is absurd. Its equivalent to putting a middle school physics teacher in charge of the physcis department at MIT because they have more “teaching experience” than a person with a phd. you can tout her appeal to blue collar workers, as well as her appeal as a washington ‘outsider’, but to say she is better qualified than obama to be the president because of ‘executive experience’ is delusional. i realize shes the VP, but being that mccain is 72 years old and has had 4+ bouts with cancer, there is a very real possibility that she could end up as president, should mccain be elected.

bottom line, i think the president should be smarter than me. 5th from the bottom of the class at navy and drug along by your father/grandfathers accomplishments, and a journalism degree from idaho dont really give me the impression the repubs satisfy that.

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By TomG

September 5, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this

McCain picked her for the same reasons Obama picked Biden

By GAexpat

September 5, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this

Sorry, Clay, but you have it wrong. Leaders on the extreme right are not “pro-life”. You can’t be pro-life, pro-death penalty, pro-guns, and pro-war. Sadly, the pro-life/pro-choice debate was never about life. It was about making sure that the MEN in charge (like Dobson) get to tell women what to do. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t lots of true believers who sincerely do believe that it’s about life. But it’s not.

I’m also always amazed at the right wingers who on one side scream against their scary vision of Government health care, suddenly are quite content to let the government dictate a medical decision. When’s the last time you met a church minister or a congressman with an MD? They’re few and far between. And if Frist was an example, they’re not very good MDs at that.

Adding Palin to the mix makes this election - even more so than the last election - an absolute life-and-death struggle for the American way of life. By that, I mean the freedom for us to be who we are, not what a few religious leaders want us to be on our behalf.

By USinUK

September 5, 2008 9:34 AM | Link to this

lovelyliz -

Anybody who think the GOP VP candidate was selected to woo Hilary supporters is smoking some serious crack though, because Sarah Palin is about as anti-Hillary as one can get.

well said.

By Dark Knight

September 5, 2008 9:34 AM | Link to this

It is quite interesting that a woman who no one knew one week ago is so praised by people who never met her before. The Repugs are really out of their minds. They don’t know this woman from a bump on a log, yet they talk about her like she’s a Bush or Reagan. Actually, she’s worse than both of them. The reason they chose her is because McPain was forced to do so by the Bush/Rovies running his campaign. They want this woman as a distraction, like Bush, so that the Big Oil/Money Barons can steal the ‘wealth’ of America as they have done for the last 8 years. They began using Reagan that way and the same thing has taken place ever since 1980. Don’t you think it is funny that they didn’t mention George Bush by name, only mentioned Bush 41 by his number and went straight to Reagan. Reagan begin the downward spiral of abuse by the Republicans with “TrickleDown” Reaganomics only there was never any trickle of truth, just tricks!!!

By lovelyliz

September 5, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this

There are other much better qualified Republican women who could have been chosen:Kay Bailey Hutchison, Olympia Snowe, Sue Myrick come to mind. They are all more qualified and I bet you they have had passports for more than 2 years.

By Jay

September 5, 2008 9:39 AM | Link to this

With Obama on the ticket the lib/left and the media sat down and created a little box on the floor for the GOP. This Obama watch combined with the ten to one media bias was doing its job of draining the life out of the election and ensuring a cake walk for the first African American President. Sara Palin pulled a reversal on the lib/left and the media as they now reside in a little box on the floor complete with Sara watch. Sticking it to the rich elite talking head liberals and their disgusting left wing foot solders… was worth the price of admission never mind victory in November. Do on to others as they would do on to you. Amen

By newsflash

September 5, 2008 9:40 AM | Link to this

@ lk youre a community vounteer voting republican? did you see giuliani or palin’s speeches? they openly mocked obama’s service as a community leader as if its a total waste of time. it was sickeneing.

@clay palin is indeed pro-life, but also anti-choice. she tells everyone to respect her daughter’s choice, but wants to overturn roe v wade and take that choice away from other americans. im a liberal who is anti-abortion, but i am pro choice. i think that the number of abortions should be reduced through education and adoption, but i dont think it is the federal government’s position to tell a woman she must carry a baby to term, even in cases of rape (such as palin supports)

@ditto head - this was not a maverick decision by mccain. mccain’s first choices were lieberman and graham. who are both pro choice. palin was a substitute when the party threatened mutiny over a prochoice VP. if mccain cant stand up to his own party, how is he going to stand up to special interests and corporations as he claims?

By carlin

September 5, 2008 9:42 AM | Link to this

Its not a mystery, McCain wants this gun toting mama “by his side” when he appoints the justices that will overturn Roe v. Wade. Palin has no real creditentials to be vp and will be a disaster in office. America does not need this type of polical game playing right now while our economy is in trouble and we are at war. John McCain should be ashamed.

By USinUK

September 5, 2008 9:45 AM | Link to this

by the by …

in case anyone is playing the “are you better off than you were 8 years ago” game …

Unemployment rate in September 2000: 3.9%

Unemployment rate in September 2008: 6.1% (just released today)

Headline inflation rate in September 2000: 3.5%

Headline inflation rate in September 2008: 5.6%

Average hourly earnings growth in September 2000: 3.8% (higher than inflation)

Average wage increse in September 2008: 3.6% (2% BELOW the inflation rate)

and lastly

GDP in Q200: 4.8% year-on-year growth

GDP in Q208: 2.2% year-on-year growth

can we really AFFORD another 4 years of the GOP running the country???

By Franck

September 5, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this

what is the primary reason Palin is on the ticket?

She is as redneck as most of the GOP. 50 percent of the country, if I remember correctly the 2000/2004 election ratios between GOP and DEM.

By Lyrazel

September 5, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this

Ok, I will give you the Edwards’ critiques—but a politician’s job is to run for political office and wasn’t Edwards just working? Is it being a public figure that confuses so many? How many husbands give up their jobs when wives get cancer—most do not. Unlike the masses of Americans the Edward’s family will never have problems with medical bills nor receiving proper medical care because of his political Senate job. No one ever said Edwards had little experience even if he was just a one-term senator. Will we see the Palin nutcracker like the Hillary?

By Joe

September 5, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this

The idea isnt to woo left wing feminist supporters. The idea is to expose them for what they are. Power hungry narrow minded political hacks that care more about personal political preference than supporting real feminist issues. All you ladys should loook up feminist,integrity and hypocrite then go look in the mirror. The GOP wanted to stick a knife in your heart and remind you just how irrelevant you are in this day and age. Helping the special needs children is just the cherry on top. Who’s laughing now?

By mhe

September 5, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this

Gov. Palin was chosen because she is a woman and she has extreme right wing opinions - pro-life, pro-guns, no environment control. I am amazed that the party that calls itself the Teddy Roosevelt or Abe Lincoln party has the nerve to do that! Both of them are rolling over in their graves at the exclusive, you must agree with us on everything to be deserving of our attention, viscious party that is now the Republican Party. I was raised Republican and my dad is a Vetnam war veteran, but I can no longer support a party that wants to dictate to me how to run my life, yet does not care if corporations do whatever they want in the name of profit and dividends. It’s simple - they want those Hillary supporters. Too bad they didnt select someone that had even a tenth of her beliefs.

By Sue

September 5, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this

You know how 60-something corporate CEOs marry women young enough to be their daughters thinking it will make them look younger when it actually makes them look silly. Well, the GOP thought Sarah would make McCain look younger when she actually makes both of them look silly.

By WhatEV

September 5, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this

To address the question directly, I think “denice” said it best at 9:01. “REAL woman!” The Republicans and their followers have clear ideas about what a “REAL woman” is and is not, and what a “REAL woman” believes, and how a “REAL woman” behaves. The subversion of these ideas in recent decades has assaulted their sensibilities. Time to rectify the situation.

McCain knows that McGidget will do exactly what she’s told by her masters, and do it with enthusiasm, just like the lipstick-wearing pit bull she professes to be. She will show no mercy in attacking those she’s ordered to attack, and will submit fully when appropriate, while always presenting a comely, womanly appearance and a bright, cheerful smile. She needs no knowledge of foreign policy, even if McCain has a McStroke and she becomes President, because she will be directed by the puppetmasters as to which Saudi royal to bed, which nations to give the cold shoulder, and which to invade. Like Bush, it will be unnecessary for her to learn the names of foreign leaders; her teleprompter and speaking skills put Dubya’s to shame! This “REAL woman” has no need for elitist higher education and post-graduate degrees at uppity schools, or for experience beyond the small pond where she’s a big fish. She WILL BE a big fish in the big pond because they SAY SO. Period. (Politics is faith based after all.)

That McCain picked her after only meeting her once, and a half-a*******ed vetting job, passing over more qualified, more experienced Republican lawmakers and public servants, (including those with gasp! a va-jay-jay) tells us that we really over-thought the concept of working hard and getting ahead, and about what it means to be a leader. We women need to get over ourselves and ditch this irreverent idea of self-determination and governance of our own bodies. The masters choose. We follow.

Thank goodness, FINALLY, there’s a REAL woman on the ticket! (Thanks denice!)

By CommunistAJC

September 5, 2008 10:06 AM | Link to this

USinUK, I hate to bring you bad news BUT THE GOP HAS NOT RUN CONGRESS IN 2 YEARS! The democrat party has. Get your facts straight. We had a better economy under the GOP than we did with Clinton. Higher stock market! IT hit 14,000. Under Clinton it hit 9000. Jobless claims were at 6% under Clinton. Under W they were at 4% with GOP control. Democrats don’t know anything about economics because most democrats are lawyers chasing ambulances. See Bil Clinton, Hillary, Barack Hussien, John Edwards and so on and so on.

By Frank

September 5, 2008 10:10 AM | Link to this

Palin knows how to make sweet. What else could a guy want?

By Mara

September 5, 2008 10:11 AM | Link to this

why was Palin brought into the campaign?

For the “narrative” (she’s a mom who eats mooseburgers!), her evangelical/christianist bona fides (Jews for Jesus, Rev. Ed Kalnins), and her popularity numbers (how many Republicans can claim they’re popular these days?).

Clay - she IS pro-choice…as long as that choice isn’t abortion. She tells us that it’s Bristol’s CHOICE to continue her pregnancy and yet, if she gets elected, you can bet that she’ll work to keep me and mine from having the same freedom Bristol has. If she has her way, there will only BE one choice, HER choice. And you have it totally wrong. Saying we’re “pro-abortion” makes about as much sense as saying we’re “pro-appendectomy” or “pro-tonsilectomy”. Rediculous. You might as well pull out your “Abortion = Murder” placard and start stalking the workers at the women’s clinic, because that’s the kind of person you present yourself as.

Hey lozen, Lyrazel! Long time no blog :^)

USinUK - Westmoreland, southern born and raised as he is, now claims that he didn’t know refering to a black person as “uppity” might possibly be construed as a slur. m’hmmmmmm. right.

Gale - “Partisanship in Congress is the real problem”

and yet the lines that got the loudest applause at the Republican convention were those which insulted, sneered at, or blamed everything on the “liberals” and their media. Republicans have no intention of muting the partisanship and uniting us in common goals. After all, as Rove proved to them, they don’t have to govern for ALL of America, just 50.1% of us.

By USinUK

September 5, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this

Joe -

The idea is to expose them for what they are. Power hungry narrow minded political hacks that care more about personal political preference than supporting real feminist issues.

ah. I see. so we should abandon the beliefs we hold personally because she has a uterus. we should say “to hell with contraception, sex education, choice, equal pay - she’s a girl, so we’ll vote for her.”

sorry, but the issues are more important than what the candidates have in their pants.

By jay

September 5, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this

She increased the side of government from less than 20000 employees in 2005 to 24000 employees in 2008. Thats a 20% increase in the size of government. Small government and family values- core principles of GOP, where are they now?

By Bird Watcher

September 5, 2008 10:16 AM | Link to this

Dark Knight,

That is exactly what I was thinking. All the criticism of Obama being a “celebrity” is now all forgotten with Palin. No one knows who this lady is, yet she now has more popularity than McCain. This amazes me to no end. Palin is the new Obama - Go figure.

By Mara

September 5, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this

First, please accept my apologies for the looong cut-and-paste. They won’t let us post links anymore so this is what it’s come down to…

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.

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.

Sincerely,

Sean-492003

By USinUK

September 5, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this

Communist -

USinUK, I hate to bring you bad news BUT THE GOP HAS NOT RUN CONGRESS IN 2 YEARS! The democrat party has. Get your facts straight. We had a better economy under the GOP than we did with Clinton. Higher stock market! IT hit 14,000. Under Clinton it hit 9000. Jobless claims were at 6% under Clinton. Under W they were at 4% with GOP control. Democrats don’t know anything about economics because most democrats are lawyers chasing ambulances. See Bil Clinton, Hillary, Barack Hussien, John Edwards and so on and so on.

aw. isn’t that cute? he can parrot talk radio!

first of all, Clinton inherited unemployment of over 7% from Papa Bush and brought it down to 3% during his tenure.

higher economy? this is our second recession during W’s administration … last 2-term president to have 2 recessions? UNCLE RONNIE!

heck, even Fox news said, “The economy has cranked out fewer jobs under President Bush — by millions — than it had by the same point in the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton.” FOX NEWS.

Under Clinton, the S&P reached a high of 1436.51 - only slightly lower than W’s high of 1549.38. The Dow during Clinton hit a high of 11,497 - rising from an inherited low of 3271 when he entered office - while W’s Dow high was 13,895, hit in September 2007 and has fallen since.

Additionally, under Baby Bush, we’ve not only had the housing bubble, but the associated credit bubble, as well - both of which were the result of poor oversight by government. under Clinton, we had the dot-com fall-out which was not the fault of government.

honey, you do not want to go up against me on economic data. I have a Bloomberg terminal and I’m not afraid to use it.

By JokesOn

September 5, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this

I already weighed in my opinion on this sham.

Take care all.

By USinUK

September 5, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this

Jokes -

but … but … but … you can’t leave … this is a target-rich environment!

:-)

By ByteMe

September 5, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this

As I said earlier on another blog and no one has yet to dispute it: except for the religious fascists, the infatuation with Palin is the same as you’d see with any schoolboy who got the hot feisty chick to say “yes” on the first date. For the religious fascists, she’s one bad heartbeat away from us becoming a “Christian nation”. For everyone else, the infatuation will cool and then they’ll wonder if she’s really the right person they want going eyeball to eyeball with Russia, Venezuela, and a Democrat-controlled Congress where she’ll have few allies.

By Concerned

September 5, 2008 10:49 AM | Link to this

She’s been the mayor of a city of 5,000 people and a state of 680,000 (the size of Ft. Worth Texas). She has no foreign policy experience and only fought corruption to meet her political goals. In addition, she brings with her a scandal of trying to fire her brother in law and proof that abstinence only education doesn’t work with her teenage daugter.

She probably helped Obama with his “Hillary” problem. She’s so far right, none of those Hillary supporters will flock to her. They are smart enough to understand her position on issues.

By SaveOurRepublic

September 5, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this

“Juan McAmnasty” selected Palin as a gimmick to offset (fellow Globalist shill) “Bacrock Obummer’s” diversity/PC factor. I assume the Manchurian Candidate also thought he’d garner some of the female swing vote with this transparent selection. While I praise her support of the 2nd Amendment, willingness to utilize ANWR and prior support of real conservative Pat Buchanan, I suggest Palin will fall in line with the Neocon’s Globalist agenda (with McAmnasty) if elected. Don’t be deceived, the DNC & GOP (save for patriots like Ron Paul) are two sides of the same coin folks. Please don’t be hoodwinked by the phoney “Left vs. Right” paradigm, which is just a ploy to deceive the populace into thinking the have a legitimate “choice” between two (controlled) candidates!

By Gale

September 5, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this

I find it interesting how the topic heading has brought many new names into the discussion that was hot last week as a shopping choice.

By JokesOn

September 5, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this

but … but … but … you can’t leave … this is a target-rich environment!

One succinct phase:

She is a token: Female, Religious Right , pseudo maverick and pseudo reformist.

By Gale

September 5, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this

She probably helped Obama with his “Hillary” problem. She’s so far right, none of those Hillary supporters will flock to her. They are smart enough to understand her position on issues.

Makes you wonder if McCain wants Obama to win. How many votes are there in the Christian right that the party is willing to take this risk. I always thought they were just a loud minority.

By Toni T

September 5, 2008 11:04 AM | Link to this

Politicians’ personal lives are their personal lives, yes. Politicians, by the nature of their task, MUST serve as role models for our children, our country, and, owing to our international place, to our world.
Sarah Palin proudly went back to her high-profile work two days as the Governor of Alaska after giving birth. Supermom? We—moms and dads alike — have fought for years to get INCREASED maternity leave to be able to bond with our babies AND keep our jobs. It’s Palin’s choice to leave a two day old special needs baby and pursue work goals. I cried when I went back to work after 10 weeks home and returned to a career I love. Will Palin support other moms who want to stay home longer and keep their jobs? Or has Palin set back the course of liberation for women, babies—and men— back to the ice age?
Yes, it’s Palin’s personal life, but is she going to see the need to provide sex education for teenagers who do not have the same supportive, religious, abstinence-only environment that she has provided for her children, who, whoops—it’s her personal life, but the 17 year old is pregnant.
And yes, it’s her personal life. But I get to choose if I want her to be my role model for the world, and if I want her to represent my country. Is she the role model I hold up to my sons and daughters?
Would you vote for her to head up your PTA? Not MY PTA. Not my country. Not my world.

By Kishia

September 5, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this

Nice rebuttal Shaunti, except you missed the opportunity to refute a few key elements brought up by the commentator:

1) SHE STILL LACKS ANY FOREIGN POLICY EXPERIENCE! Unless of course you chose to close your mind to this fact as most of your other blind counterparts. Vladamir Putin is prepared to lead the world into a 3rd world war & if the nation loses it’s mind & elects GI Joe (who is only 8 years shy of 80) and he dies, then GI Jane is up! Russia will have a field day with her! Lord help us!

2)Are you able to refute her support of pork-barrel spending or have you chosen to dismiss the facts one again because they don’t play up in your favor? I’d like to hear you offer up a position in support of her guilt here.

3)How prepared is your “Golden Girl” to lead our nation when she can’t even manage the affairs of her own home? Afterall, her 17 yr old un-wed daughter, who is preparing to have a shot gun wedding, doesn’t exactly play with dolls anymore. And Mr. Mom clearly was asleep at the wheel. I’m a Pro Life African American female & I applaud her efforts to bring life into this world- no matter how premature. But let’s be real, pre-marrital sex is as much a sin as abortion. So which sin is she guilty of? Or which sin carries more weight?

4) Finally, if you think being Mayor of a town with a population of 10k qualifies one to run our country, even as a VP, then maybe you should live in Atlanta. Our Mayor manages a budget nearly twice the size of Wasilla, (sp?) since no one knows where it is, & our population far exceeds 10k. How naive of you! Of course the state of affairs could be worse- YOU COULD BE RUNNNING FOR VP! How absolutely insane!

Do me a favor, provide a rebuttal based on the facts, and actually refute the claims of your opponent/commentator- unless of course you can’t because they are true! Debate 101.

By USinUK

September 5, 2008 11:13 AM | Link to this

Jokes -

She is a token: Female, Religious Right , pseudo maverick and pseudo reformist.

you know that … and I know that (and Mara and Gale and a few others here) … but it’s just so. much. fun. to watch the other chuckleheads come in here and tell us that the Dems are afraid (SKEEERD! I tell you) that she’s on the ticket.

stuff like this always brings out the lightweights … fun for your Friday!

By Dear Governor Sarah Palin

September 5, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this

Dear Governor Sarah Palin: Many Americans agree with your position regarding abortion — they do this as a matter of faith, ethics, personal experience and sometimes politics. I am just wondering though, if you have thought about what would happen if you succeeded in getting your position — that fetuses have a right to life — established as the law of the land? Did you know that it not only threatens the lives, health and freedom of women who might want or need someday to end their pregnancies, it would also give the government the power to control the lives of women — like you who — go to term? Your last pregnancy, the one that has become the topic of widespread discussion and speculation provides an important opportunity to demonstrate how this could be true. According to press reports your water broke while you were giving a keynote speech in Texas at the Republican Governors’ Energy Conference. You did not immediately go to the hospital — instead you gave your speech and then waited at least 11 hours to get to a hospital. You evaluated the risks, made a choice, and were able to carry on your life without state interference. Texas Governor Rick Perry worried about your pregnancy but didn’t stop you from speaking or take you into custody to protect the rights of the fetus. After Ayesha Madyun’s water broke, she went to the hospital where she hoped and planned to have a vaginal birth. When she didn’t give birth in a time-frame comfortable to her doctors, they argued that she should have a C-section. The doctors asserted that the fetus faced a 50-75 percent chance of infection if not delivered surgically. (Risks of infection are believed by some health care providers to increase with each hour after a woman’s water has broken and she hasn’t delivered). The court, believing like you that fetuses have a right to life, said, “[a]ll that stood between the Madyun fetus and its independent existence, separate from its mother, was put simply, a doctor’s scalpel.” With that, the court granted the order and the scalpel sliced through Ms. Madyun’s flesh, the muscles of her abdominal wall, and her uterus. The core principle justifying an end to legal abortion in the U.S. provided the same grounds used to deprive this pregnant and laboring woman of her rights to due process, bodily integrity, and physical liberty. When the procedure was done, there was no evidence of infection. According to the press reports, instead of going straight to a hospital you chose to get on a long airplane flight back to Alaska. When Pamela Rae Stewart, allegedly, didn’t get to the hospital quickly enough on the day of her delivery, she was arrested in California on the theory that she had violated the rights of her fetus. When Laura Pemberton chose to give birth at home in Florida, a Sheriff came to her house. Doctors believed that she was posing a risk to the life of her unborn child by having a vaginal birth after having had a previous c-section and were in the process of getting a court order to force her to have a c-section. The sheriff took her into custody during active labor, strapped her legs together and forced her to go to a hospital where an emergency hearing was taking place to determine the rights of her fetus. She was “allowed” to represent herself. A lawyer was appointed for the fetus. This woman, who vehemently opposes abortion, nevertheless believed in her right to evaluate medical risks and benefits to herself and her unborn child. She was forced to have the unnecessary surgery and when she later sued for violations of her civil rights, was told fetal rights outweighed hers. You chose to continue working throughout your pregnancy — even during your labor. Until 1991 women who worked in high paying blue color jobs that provided health benefits were being fired based on “fetal rights” policies that claimed if the woman became pregnant she would expose the unborn child to workplace health risks. Eventually, the Supreme Court said employers covered by the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (the PDA) could not do this. But, millions of American women work part time or for small employers who are not covered by the PDA. If your political position on abortion is accepted — all of these women could be forced to give up their jobs because an employer, family member, or state agent believed it necessary to ensure the health and rights of their unborn child. Governor Palin, you have led an extraordinary life, balancing work and family, public service and private family obligations. We hope you know though that your freedom relies on exactly the same legal principals that guarantee that American women can choose to have an abortion when they need and want one. Sixty one percent of women who have abortions are already mothers. Eighty-four percent of these will be mothers by the time they are in their forties. As a proud mother of five beautiful children, we hope you will recognize that the issue isn’t abortion — it is ensuring the lives, dignity and freedom of all pregnant women and their families. Lynn Paltrow Executive Director National Advocates for Pregnant Women

By DC

September 5, 2008 11:21 AM | Link to this

Democrats are quick to challenge the theory that Palin can pick up votes from Hillary supporters. But consider the strategy. People who are determined to vote for a woman are not picking from a long list of options. McCain will be too old for a second term, assuming he survives the first. That leaves Hillary to run against Palin in 2012 — which GUARANTEES a female president. But if Obama wins, the next chance for Hillary is in 2016. That campaign could be meaningless for Hillary if any of the following take place: (1) Obama has GWB-style approval ratings, (2) Obama loses in 2012 which means Palin is running as a sitting President, (3) The Democrats promote someone ahead of Hillary, just as they did in 2008 (is anyone going to remember her 8 years from now?). Hillary is effectively out of politics if Obama wins. But if he loses, she is right on track for her best possible matchup (vs. Palin) in 2012. For the Republicans, choosing Palin is almost as as good as convincing Hillary and Michael Moore to run on an independent ticket.

By JokesOn

September 5, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this

USinUK,

Off topic:

Did you see the youtube video that has been getting a lot of hits regarding the reunion with the lion released back into the wild from 1966ish?

It is pretty darn cool. Check it out if you haven’t.

By anti Repub

September 5, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this

Sarah Palin is not a woman’s choice. I’m really glad people are stepping up and speaking out against Palin. She’ll rip apart our rights as females. It was especially disturbing to watch Bible-based Republicans cheer as she smiled while delivering her tacky jabs. So much for good Christian values. How did that abstinence only program work for ya Palin? If she represents her party’s leadership, no wonder this country is in such a mess. After 8 years of Bush-Cheney-Rove-Rumsfeld, the last thing America needs is more aggression. Democrats, progressives, women, Americans–we have to take back the future; there is simply too much at stake. Voting for a Republican puts freedom on the line for all women. Keep all bibles off women’s bodies.

By PZO

September 5, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this

I have named the entire Palin charade as “The Palin Ploy”, lets play hide and seek for the next 60 days.

I am not going to say Palin is not experienced enough to run, but let her run.. Would she have gotten this if she had at all been in the national spotlight, or what if Tom Ridge had been completely Pro-life.. Or even if he were a woman….

BTW, Barack Obama has been running for President for about 75% of her gubernatorial term… Learning the true values of all America

He has been vetted to the point of absolutes.. You either love him or hate him, your choice… But her admonishment of his past, and his experience in the political trenches helping those born into poverty, and those let go because of losing jobs.. She should really be ashamed of her speech..

Honestly, If I were a woman, I would be extremely demoralized in this pick, and because of the past 8 years, and white conservative America literally ENABLING the GWB fiasco, I think its going to backfire. Obama’s now 7 point lead will jump to 10 within a week, and 12 with two weeks.

Conservatively, can you even empathize with her, and why would anyone put anyone with empathy concerns in the white house.. We empathized with ‘W’, he is not an idiot, he just doesn’t read the teleprompter well.. Well, both conservatives and liberals now know, yes, he was then and continues to be an idiot…

Conservatives.. Are you even from this planet?

By USinUK

September 5, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this

Jokes -

Did you see the youtube video that has been getting a lot of hits regarding the reunion with the lion released back into the wild from 1966ish?

oh, gawd … is it going to make me cry?? thanks for the tip - I usually save all my youtubing for the weekend - will definitely look that up!

By maurice

September 5, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this

Was,nt jesus christ a community organizer conservatives are bigoted hipocrits that will do anything to keep power . this country can be going straight to hell and you all just want to drive the car.

By USinUK

September 5, 2008 11:45 AM | Link to this

hey - quick question for the group …

UK media have been pronouncing her name PAY-lin (like Michael Palin) - is that correct? or is it PAH-lin?

just wonderin’

By Mara

September 5, 2008 12:01 PM | Link to this

anyone looking for the video might use as keywords “Christian the lion”.

and yes, if it doesn’t bring tears to your eyes, you got no heart.

Thanks, Jokes.

By onefreeman

September 5, 2008 12:19 PM | Link to this

Question: Is Gov. Palin qualified to be VP.

Answer: Barack Obama was a community organizer and he went to Rev. Wright Church.

Question: How much foreign relations experience does the governor have?

Answer: Barack Obama has never been a Governor or owned a business.

Question: Is Sarah Palin ready to lead on day one?

Answer: Rev. Wright said he hates America and Barack listened to the sermon.

By CommunistAJC

September 5, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this

USinUK, Awww. A patronizing liberal. How stupid. Recession? Do you know what a recession is? A recession is an extended decline in general business activity, typically two consecutive quarters of falling real gross national product. Sorry buddy, but we are not in a recession. We have not had 2 bad quarters since Bush has been in office. Now, when the democrat party took over in 06, things have gone down hill ever since. Remember, my partisan hack friend, the democrat congress has a 9% approval rating. Lower than any in American history. Then again, you do live in the UK, right?

By Mara

September 5, 2008 12:21 PM | Link to this

According to Nicole Wallace of the McCain campaign, the American people don’t care whether Sarah Palin can answer specific questions about foreign and domestic policy. According to Wallace — in an appearance I did with her this morning on Joe Scarborough’s show — the American people will learn all they need to know (and all they deserve to know) from Palin’s scripted speeches and choreographed appearances on the campaign trail and in campaign ads. - Jay Carney, Time Magazine

check out the video from Scarborough’s show - keywords “Scarborough”, “Nicole Wallace”, “Jay Carney”

another little nugget of intrique, the business partner Palin is alleged to have had an affair with has filed an emergency request to seal his divorce records. It was denied. I’m now officially curious on what yesterday I considered to be a salacious, unfounded rumor…

By USinUK

September 5, 2008 12:30 PM | Link to this

Mara -

It was denied. I’m now officially curious on what yesterday I considered to be a salacious, unfounded rumor…

say what you want about the National Enquirer, but those people know extramarital affairs

(and I just love how the GOP had no problem with the tabloid when it was John Edward’s affair and Bill Clinton’s affair … but now that it’s one of their own, they’re clutching their pearls that anyone would give credence to it)

By Mara

September 5, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this

how amusing. CommieAJC lecturing USinUK on economics, using almost verbatim, the arguments our own resident name-changer typically uses.

TOJ, is that you? LOL!!

By WhatEV

September 5, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this

“…the democrat congress has a 9% approval rating. Lower than any in American history.”

Right-wing hack, why do YOU think that is? I think it’s because the Democrats in Congress have failed to do what they promised: to UN-DO the results of 12 disastrous years of Republican control! They have capitulated on too many issues to list, effectively castrating the voters’ mandate for change. The fact that they continue to ignore Kucinich’s articles of impeachment earn them MY lowest rating of all time. Instead, Pelosi (whom the right wingers claim to despise) has been the bestest buddy our Criminal-in-Chief could have asked for. Last time I checked, our troops are still occupying Iraq at great expense (with interest) to the American taxpayers, our debt is still spiraling out of control, soldiers are stretched thin in Afghanistan, Bin Laden is still free, and oh yes, the Russians are flexing their big muscle, about to kick sand in some more faces, and our come-to-the-rescue machine is a few quarts low at the moment.

So tell me, Mister CommieAJC guy, how do YOU like this Congress?

By hotlanta

September 5, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this

McShame played the disbility card. Played the hockey mom card, Played the gender card. Played the married with children card when he pick Plain I mean Palin. I wonder would he have chosen her if she was a SINLGE woman with no kids or if all her kids were healthy. He picked her for her uterus and not her brains. McShame sent the women’s movement back 50 years on this one.

By hotlanta

September 5, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this

McShame played the disbility card. Played the hockey mom card, Played the gender card. Played the married with children card when he pick Plain I mean Palin. I wonder would he have chosen her if she was a SINLGE woman with no kids or if all her kids were healthy. He picked her for her uterus and not her brains. McShame sent the women’s movement back 50 years on this one.

By Bill

September 5, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this

I would never have clicked on this link if I had known what it leads to. I could care less what these two women think about anything.

By USinUK

September 5, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this

Communist -

A patronizing liberal. How stupid. Recession? Do you know what a recession is? A recession is an extended decline in general business activity, typically two consecutive quarters of falling real gross national product. Sorry buddy, but we are not in a recession. We have not had 2 bad quarters since Bush has been in office. Now, when the democrat party took over in 06, things have gone down hill ever since. Remember, my partisan hack friend, the democrat congress has a 9% approval rating. Lower than any in American history. Then again, you do live in the UK, right?

an ignorant Republican. how redundant.

most economists don’t use the 2-quarters-of-negative-growth definition - they look at overall economic performance. The National Bureau of Economic Research definition is the Gold Standard these days and they define it as “a significant decline in economic activity spread across the economy, lasting more than a few months, normally visible in real GDP, real income, employment, industrial production, and wholesale-retail sales”

and, just to save you the trouble of looking up the data for the last few months … it’s been bad. Really bad.

But, if you want to stick with the 2 consecutive quarters definition … in July Q407 was revised downward into negative growth (oh, and every other quarter for the last 3 years was also revised downward, as well). Q1 growth wasn’t particularly strong (only 0.9%), so … tell me … which way do YOU see the wind blowing, my friend?

you want to pin all this on the Dems??? oh, dear - desperation is such an ugly thing …

the downturn has been caused by the housing bubble - which started and grew LONG before the Dems took office (take a few minutes and read about the sub-prime mess … again - started LONG before the Dems took office). The housing bubble has led to the credit bubble - brought about by a complete lack of oversight on Wall Street’s peddling of derivatives - specifically, rolling up and packaging crap mortgages.

I’d explain further, but I fear it’d just confuse you. you just keep listening to Boortz unquestioningly and leave the economics to the grown-ups who know what’s going on.

as for the approval rating? Dems are p’d off at the Dems in office FOR NOT DOING MORE TO END THE WAR AND IMPEACH THE ABOMINATION SITTING IN THE WHITE HOUSE - so, since I’ll bet math isn’t your strong suit, either, I’ll explain it to you - GOP unhappy with Dems + Dems unhappy with Dems = low approval rating. That doesn’t mean that they’re unhappy for the same reasons - just that they’re both unhappy - and it sure as hell doesn’t mean that the Dems are going to turn around and vote GOP.

By gwinnett mom

September 5, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this

Clay- I am pro choice AND anti abortion. You forget that abortions have always happened, and they always will. I believe they should remain safe and legal. But I wish that no one ever had to have one. Palin is “proud” of her daughter to choosing th keep her baby. But she will do everything in her power to make sure my daughters don’t have that same choice. I wonder how this Palin grandchild will obtain health insurance? I guess they are rich enough to go purchase coverage on the open market.

By USinUK

September 5, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this

Mara -

how amusing. CommieAJC lecturing USinUK on economics, using almost verbatim, the arguments our own resident name-changer typically uses.

nah - even Truth/TOJ has more coherent arguments than this guy … (and that’s saying something)

this guy is a Boortz-head …

okay … heading home … will check in later

By aaron

September 5, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this

Palin is a dominionist with ties to “Bible Believing” AOG affiliated churches. She believes that America is a “Christian Nation” and that we should be governed under Christian DOCTRINE. The dominionist are ANTI-DEMOCRATIC - they DO NOT believe in democracy - .

Palin and her husband are also tied to the Alaska Independence party, whose founder stated quite emphatically his HATRED for America, yet there is NO condemnation from you RIGHT wingers (though there was plenty for Jeremiah Wright - Hypocrites).

Palin and her ilk have been stealthy (and even quite blatantly) working for years to gain key government and military positions to take over our governmnet with the goal of turning the U.S. into a theocracy.

Check out the “government” section on theoracywatch: www dot theocracywatch dot org and you will understand just how far the Bush administration has moved the U.S. in that direction - Palin is a “true beleiver” who will complete the take over of our government by the fanatic religious right.

By Get Real

September 5, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this

“part-time state senator …. ” Thats funny, I didn’t know Illinois had part-time state senators. He was actually my state senator on the southside of Chicago (Hyde Park) during the time I lived there from ‘00-‘04. I don’t believe he was part-time as you say, and I feel my opinion actually carries more weight being that, well, I was there. When the General Assembly wasn’t in session, you could find him available and accessible in his office. While you’re just reiterating RNC talking points, I happen to know that he was out in the community listening to the people. Thats what politics is, ‘expressing the will of the state.’ Think I’m lying look at any book regarding public administration. So I think he will govern in the same manner. Review all the votes the votes he made, and all the legislation he put forth. Yes, even the present votes, which Republicans in Illinois also used. It’s an option in Illinois, so get over it, members of both parties used it.

It’s easy to belittle someone, and then try to expound on your candidate who was mayor of a town the population of Lenox Mall on saturday. I don’t think a woman should be anymore scrutinized for a position in office just because she’s a parent. But examine her views. Pro-life, I honestly don’t know her positions on contraception, she WAS for the Bridge to Nowhere and took the money for it, the Alaska Independence Party (since people want to keep bringing up Wright), and the fact that she just got her passport last year while Republicans at the same time say how dangerous of a world we live in. Kind hypocritical if you ask me about that. I’d rather if both of you would present only the FACTS and allow the votes to make an informed decision based on reality, and not on your salacious opinions. The majority of this country does want change, and for McCain and the republicans to say they’re the party of change and can bring reform to their own failures of the last 8 years is utterly laughable.

By Bruno

September 5, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this

but it’s just so. much. fun. to watch the other chuckleheads come in here and tell us that the Dems are afraid (SKEEERD! I tell you) that she’s on the ticket.

To be honest, USinUK, I personally find the very visceral reaction to Palin’s nomination by the left