In an act that made me shake my head so many times in the past hour or so, Senator John McCain picked Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska, as his running mate. It's not that she's a woman, it's that she's unknown and unexpected and after looking around, severely inexperienced to run this country should John McCain die in office.
Once again, as with illegal immigration, John McCain is playing Russian Roulette with this country.
So who is Sarah Palin? She is a 44-year-old former beauty pageant winner from Idaho who received her degree in journalism from the University of Idaho in 1987. She has been governor of Alaska since 2006. That's about all that is really known about her. Oh and she is in favor of drilling in ANWR and the Second Amendment.
Sarah Palin - Miss Wasilla 1984
So there are only a few reasons that McCain could possibly pick this inexperienced woman.
First, because she's in favor of drilling in ANWR and will be seen as an expert on the issue coming from Alaska. And of course the other reason is that she is a woman and they hope to get the votes of women who are so shallow that they would only vote for a woman and with Hillary Clinton out of race, well....
Nobody in this election has been thinking about America. This choice proves that McCain cares more about being elected than the future of our country. He's old, he should know better.
On the positive side of it, she does have more experience actually running something than Obama, who so far in his career has only pushed a button voting yeah or nay on something.
Below is a video of Sarah Palin on Glenn Beck supporting ANWR drilling and saying that she wouldn't be VP if asked. I keep waiting for her to whip those glasses off, swing her hair wildly and start dancing baby! She's got that "hot librarian" thing going on.
You know until we actually hear this woman speak and debate, I think we should reserve judgment. Just because she isn't the usual political hack that we see every four years doesn't mean she couldn't do a good or even excellent job. I think it is a plus that she isn't a Washington insider. Many Americans are tired of the Washington political crowd and this woman is about as far from that as is humanly possible. She also has the plus of seeming to be a regular person - wife, mother, business woman, who seen a need and stepped up. She comes across as being well grounded and not an elitist. The Dems like to flaunt Biden's working class background, I see Palin's soccer mom and rustic Alaskan image as a good counter. As for experience, does being in the Senate qualify anyone for the executive branch? As you mentioned, I suspect Palin has more experience actually being the leader, managing and running something then either Obama, McCain or Biden. I am going to reserve an opinion on her until I see how she does with debate and questions. She may surprise us all and I am not a McAmnesty fan.
Posted by: Brad at
August 29, 2008 06:54 PM
If she is so open than how come there is no mention ANYWHERE what her stance is on illegal immigration? I'll tell you why, because there's a political reason why she hasn't said anything about it in her whole tenure in office. She's no different than any other politician and should be ripped as hard as they all should be to actually take a stand and not hide to see which stance is politically the best.
If she was passionate about ending illegal immigration she would have declined on those grounds.
If you do find out where she stands on immigration I have a post here
Don't be fooled by a pretty face. Man, all the guys all over the web are gushing about her and she's virtually unknown.
to start, I am neither Republican nor Democrat. This does nothing but remind me of the infamous Katherine Harris? We do not need a trophy wife as VP of the country. This move proves McCain will do anything to satisfy his own wants. I am not judging her, but I do not understand how she is qualified for VP. 2 years ago she was mayor of a city the size of a small town in NJ. She has a good approval rating in Alaska for a simple reason, she is part of the Alaskan life, she hunts, fishes and likes the great outdoors. Good luck America, we are in a lose lose situation and have no one to blame but ourselves.
Posted by: Christian at
August 29, 2008 10:01 PM
We do not need a trophy wife as VP of the country
Whoa! I wouldn't go that far. She is an accomplished woman, but we can do better than a former mayor of a small town and governor of a state of 400k+ for just over 2 years.
There were people far more qualified to be our potential commander in chief should the main candidate not be able to perform the duties.
Trophy wife? No way!
As a sidenote I would not have voted for McCain even if he had selected Tom "tough on illegals" Tancredo as his running mate. You have to remember that this is still just a running mate and not the actual candidate who will be calling the shots.
Exactly what criteria do most of you think a person should have to be VP? Obviously Palin doesn't have years in government, but perhaps that is a good thing. As most people should realize all the president or VP does is make decisions based on what those around them advise. As we have seen during the past 8 years, a total moron can run the country because of the people he or she surrounds themselves with. This VP candidate maybe more then a pretty face and have boobs, she may actually be bright and articulate.
It amazes me that so many shout about wanting to see new people, not under corporate control in our government and parties, yet when someone comes along who is fresh, all they grip about is "experience". Sure there are others who had better "qualifications", people who had been in government or the corporate world for most of their life, but aren't those people the ones that have caused most of the anger and frustration we feel today?
I won't vote for McCain (her selection does not change anything), but I am going to reserve judgment on this woman, till I see what she is all about.
Posted by: Brad at
August 30, 2008 11:16 AM
There is only one thing to remember in this election:
This election is about a Chicago, Cook County Thug, with connections to Terroists, here and abroad, schooled for 20 years by a Racist who said Not God Bless America but God Damn America. No amount of his denouncing them now can over come 20 years or more of associations with them.
VERSUS:
A Hero , a defender of America, second only to George Washington.
I, as many, wish MCCain were stronger on Illegal Aliens [lets stop calling it Immigration, Immigration is when you come by way of the front door. Illegal Aliens are criminals as are those who have for years used them as cheap labor, they too need to be jailed and I go so far as to say deported]
BUT ! I go back to a statement that Rumsfeld got smeared in the press for, however tis true:
"You fight with the Army you have." We can not turn this Nation over to someone of uncertain origin and whose Hate America Beliefs are just beneath the surface.
So. Arguments about whether we know about Palin's stand on immigration/illegal aliens are, at this point, silly.
As the saying goes: When you are up to your rear in Alligators it's too late to think about draining the swamp. The Democrats are swimming all about us and we are about to be devoured. It is the result of us being asleep at the switch.
John M. Chinn
coboy@mindspring.com
Posted by: JOHN CHINN at
August 30, 2008 11:58 AM
"And of course the other reason is that she is a woman and they hope to get the votes of women who are so shallow that they would only vote for a woman and with Hillary Clinton out of race, well...."
This comment above is so fallacious in its reasoning I hesitate to dignify it by responding to it! (1) Bill Clinton's "charm" wooed the Soccer Moms and they went wholesale for him. I don't think that block of voters is going to vote for Ms Palin! A pretty WOMAN does not motivate them! As a woman I take exception to being called "shallow." (2)Most of the people I knew who were going to vote for Hillary were MEN. They cited her "toughness." (3) Maybe Gov. Palin does NOT encounter illegal aliens in Alaska. Do you think you could give her a few days to assess what she "thinks" about the SOUTHERN border of the United States v. the Alaskan border? Until she was selected as VP, this was not on her watch! (4) Gov. Palin has MANY credentials if you would take the time to look them up rather than judging her as a "pretty face"!!! I would hope "beauty" is not a detraction in being VP. If you insist, the amount of money spent on Hillary's "beauty" and clothes each day would have fed a starving African nation! Gov. Palin has NATURAL beauty INSIDE as well as out. She has my vote of confidence based on my RESEARCH!
It is apparent you are judging her on her appearance ONLY, without benefit of any research AND that judgment is lewd, lascivious and offensive to ALL serious-minded women and MEN! Grrrrrrr!
Posted by: Becky Guy at
August 30, 2008 08:48 PM
It is amazing to me how almost to a person "conservatives" are falling all over themselves with this VP selection. Not only is John McCain today the same John McCain of last week and last year but this selection changes absolutely nothing with regards to immigration and probably nothing else either. It only proves once again how easily lead "conservatives" are. We are going to hell in a hand-basket and the "conservatives" are leading the way.
Posted by: Ernest at
August 31, 2008 06:37 AM
John McCain can't even differentiate between Iran and Iraq.. he thinks alqaida is operating from Iran lol.. He is too old and retarded.. I am tired of hearing the war hero stories.. just coz u were a soldier doesn't mean u can govern a nation.. U need to have common sense which McCain lacks in every aspect.. Look at who he picked for VP.. r u kidding me?? a beauty pageant?? lol.. a woman who was a sports commentator?? And if this old fart dies, she would be running the country?? I hope not..I think we shouldn't even hold elections.. just give the presidency to Obama and use the money leftover to do some good for the country..
Obama's wife couldn't be proud of America until her husband won a nomination for a presidential bid, his pastor speaks that America should be damned, and the passion (or lack thereof) that Obama himself seems to possess for our country is about as bland as cheap vanilla ice cream. Give me an "old prisoner of war" and a "beauty pageant winner" who collectively have more experience and more gumption than their opponents anyday!
Posted by: tiff at
September 4, 2008 03:06 PM
It's surprising how she's become the new beauty icon.
Surprising because this is a land where the Barbie-look ruled as tops for the most part: youth, 10-thin-figure, long blonde hair & blue eyes. So the first time seeing her, nothing shouted beauty... but then I later kept hearing that.. so following the mass media, the association starts. I've also heard that if you have a pageant or modeling background in your history, regardless of whether you have symmetrical features or not, your beauty quotient skyrockets. Esp. by many men, who have to hear from others who's good-looking and who's not before they label you beautiful.
I myself respect all forms of beauty-- and am on the far far higher side of 40 with glasses, bunned-hair, et. all-- so this is a healthy & good icon change- but a surprise. But sometimes people have to say someone is beautiful before I know that.
Beauty is strongly associated with inner-goodness and intelligence in our psyche (rightly or wrongly- the studies say so). Studies have shown beautiful politicians get more votes. So I think the Reb wanted this-- Rush L. et all.. wanted that association for her.
Type beautiful politicians on search engines.. and there are many truly gorgeous ones around the world-- and even in countries which lack women's rights-- no one made a fuss of their female leadership or their beauty... ie. Benazir Bhutto was a true beauty in my book.. no mass media had to tell me so before I knew that.
Posted by: Nevelle at
September 7, 2008 11:25 AM
I think the media ran away with this look thing for Sarah. Many feel she looks good and many don't. That's media is good for her. She seems tough- but that is seen as positive.
No doubt. Beauty opens more doors for you than it closes, esp. for women, it seems. Beauty is power. If perceived as a non-beauty, I feel they are attacked more. Hillary is a prime-example of this. Both Sarah and Hillary are tough- but the former is positive and the latter is negative.
It's terrible the way the media treated Hillary Clinton-- and I would have voted for her regardless of whether she's white, black, purple, male, female, nomale, etc. She's truly intelligent and has got brilliant policies in my book.
I got a bit depressed--she lost-- is it because she cannot drum up that glamour quotient? Are people really easier on those they consider more softer-looking?
Well.. that glamour quotient is just a mirage.. it comes and goes & changes with culture, perception, etc.. I ate at some pizza place in NYC yesterday near Times Square.. Famiglia, I think.. and saw a photo of Hillary in the celebrity wall. Shocked at her beauty! Don't know if it was 20 years ago or what...(if so, around the same age as Sarah). I thought I saw Kate Winslet in the photo. True blonde-blue eyed look, fresh look. Her smile was just gorgeous!!! Hillary has got one of the most beautiful smiles ever when she's truly happy. Even my friends were stunned. Take a look at that photo- if you don't believe me. It's in the front corner of the pizza place.
I kept thinking.. Hillary should she have just drummed up her glamour quotient and ran perhaps 20 years ago.. and things would have been good for her. Oh.. her policies might have been empty.. but who cares. She would have been more smiling and happier.. and made us "feel good". After all, we care about images over policies- right?
Posted by: Ovid at
September 7, 2008 11:53 AM
And then there's Ron Paul...
Haha, beauty will only open the door it seems. If you turn out to be a loser after that many will write you off.
Also don't forget the double edged sword of the media. One day you're their hero, the next you're the ultimate villain.
Hey Digger; just what do you believe her stance be on illegal immigration should be?
Hopefully, it coincides with mine which is to deport them all, by force if necessary. Most of us who came here legally played by the rules and worked hard for many years to do so. And it was not with the intent of having this Democracy turn into what we all strived so hard to escape from. Besides that, why should people who sneak into someone else’s home or land be any more immune to the laws that everyone else has to obey? Would you still feel that any other way if it was your home they made themselves at home too? If so, don’t let any of us stop you so please step right up and volunteer to give it to them.
And yes, I am a Hispanic of Mexican descent, however, I'd wager your one of those whine about everything, never sacrifice anything, gringos, too naive to appreciate and protect what you have. Your loss not mine and I will never allow you or any other partisan addict, regardless of political affiliation to tell me how to think or what and whom to listen to.
There is nothing more obnoxious and boring than a brainless twit. If you have a real issue with Miss Palin, spit it out and stop playing off the same old tired meaningless innuendos your masters at DNC gave you.
Posted by: Manuel at
October 25, 2009 11:47 PM
You know, I'm not trying to be rude, but in all honesty it seems that Sarah Palin would be better in the movies than running the country!! Why doesn't hollywood give her a call & make her an offer to see what happens?
Putting the American people's lives in her hands though...uhhhhh, that might not be the best idea!!
Posted by: Vesper at
October 29, 2009 09:25 AM
What I think is so funny is the fucking dink that wrote this article violated YT terms of service. The fucking liberals just always seem to work this way don't they?
Posted by: Yo Bechta at
October 31, 2009 11:34 AM
Half the human population is female ... let women be women just as we expect men to be men. Yes, life in its evolution has made the physical appearance of the female human a factor in the continuing process of evolution, but the wisdom of the female is at least equivalent, if not superior, to that of the male. The female has not only to negotiate the nuances of the social skills of her gender, think about it, guys, she has also to understand and accomodate the gross subsocial tendencies of the male. Sarah Palin is brilliant and capable, objectively evaluated on her accomplishments. If she were less healthy than the average member of congress or less enhanced than the average critic, maybe there would be some minor justification to ignore her wisdom. Not really, but ok, maybe you could make a weak case. Better yet would be to just evaluate her suitability to represent the citizens on the scope of her appeal. When you hear her attacked for trivial reasons, think of that.
Posted by: chronecro at
November 16, 2009 09:44 PM
sarah palin is a real joke,how can her husband can handel all these embaressment,people talking and acting about his wife,probebly she the husband in the family.
Posted by: moe at
November 21, 2009 02:34 PM
Sarah Palin must have something on the ball or she wouldn't still be inspiring such terror and angst and concern in the deep recesses of all the bleeding hearts. Even today, some lib is claiming she's the chief danger to our nation! They seemed not to notice she is currently powerless to do anything for or against even her fellow Alaskans!
There's an old saying: "Nobody kicks a dead dog." So, all you statists, fascists, socialists, and left-leaning ne'er-do wells, just keep kicking her, maligning her, and mistreating her and her fine family. Keep it up! It will only attract more sympathy and empathy for her and her causes, while enlarging the size of her already-gargantuan soapbox.
There's another old saying: "Every kick's a boost and when you learn to go uphill right, it's downhill all the way!" Mrs. Palin has learned how to "go uphill right" and she's also learned how to suffer some of the most outrageous slings and arrows ever. If Obambi had ever had to face half the unfair criticism she's endured, he'd be screaming for his grammy and crying himself to sleep every night from now on.
I read some of the comments. What qualifies Obama. He is elected only because he is black and that certainly is a change. He has no experience to be a leader, he does not follow the constitution, he is openly defiant for anything american, his behavior is subservient to the Muslims, he is only a Christian for the election. He is nothing but a puppet and this once great country is to naive to see the real truth. Wake up America or our lives will be changed to an America you wont want. I TAKE SOMEONE LIKE PALIN ANY DAY ,she respects our country, believes in America and what it stands for, is born here without question and her husband loves this country not hates it like Michelle Obama. So if she should run, SHE HAS MY VOTE not the likes of the Obamas that show their dislike of this great country and milk it for all its worth now that they are in office. Palin fired the cook, limo with driver, not hired more people for her own use as is done by Mrs. Michelle, shame on the governement to be so callous with our hard earned money
Posted by: ELLI TOELL at
December 24, 2009 05:05 PM
She has my vote too! Sarah Palin is exactly what this country needs. We need someone with balls, not scared of anything or anyone, someone that will KICK ASS & TAKE NAMES and will remove the organized crime out of our government. I don't give a rats ass if they're republican or democrat. I'm sick of what we have and had in the white house. Where's that change we were all promised. Palin will get this country back ship shape.
Posted by: Tami at
December 27, 2009 10:09 PM
So all the liberals are lathered up about Sarah Palin. That means to me that she must be a real winner. Fancy saying she lacks experience, huh? Well she's run a business, she has been a mayor, she has been a governor and taken on some pretty tough customers ie: oil companies. And Barack Obama, a community activist with a communist agenda...surely you're joking. This moron has never run a lemonade stand and when he is forced to talk off teleprompter he makes George W. Bush sound like a genious. Barack Obama is leading this country into bankrucptcy and the average American can't even see it. We are so screwed.
Posted by: Geoff Kelly at
January 10, 2010 01:46 PM
I am rooting for Sara. I want to see her go to the white house in genes. I want something different!!!!
She is very smart, politically savy, and has management skills. She can absolutely be president and create a new feeling for America and reenstill conservative values. She is what this country really needs for constructive change!!!!!!
Posted by: alan at
February 6, 2010 04:02 PM
FIRST OFF, ALAN GET YOUR SPELL CHECK WORKING, OK? IT'S JEANS, NOT GENES, AND RE-INSTALL, NOT RE-ENSTILL. IT DRIVES ME CRAZY THAT PEOPLE WHO VOTE HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO USE THE "INGLICH" LANGUAGE. NO WONDER WE HAVE OBAMA IN THE WHITE HOUSE. AND I ADMIT, IT IS GEORGE BUSH'S FAULT. IF HE HAD'NT TRIED TO APPEASE THE DEMOCRAPTIC CONGRESS, WE WOULD'NT HAVE THIS IDIOT WE HAVE NOW. SO BUCK UP REPUBLICANS, IT'S YOUR OWN DAMN FAULT! NOW AS FAR AS SARAH IS CONCERNED, SHE'S MUCH TOO YOUNG TO ASSUME THE GREATEST POSITION IN THE WORLD. JUST LIKE OBAMMY, SHE'D WILT AT THE THROTTLE. SHE NEEDS TO RUN FOR CONGRESS OR SENATE IN ALASKA. THEN AFTER A FEW TERMS OF THAT, GIVE IT A SHOT AT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT. OR AT LEAST HELP ONE OF THE SENIOR REPRESENTATIVES OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY RUN FOR THAT POST. ROMNEY OR HOPEFULLY THOMPSON (BUT HE'S TOO OLD NOW), OR SOMEONE OF THAT STATURE. ONLY THEN WILL SHE HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE TO HANDLE THE OGRES OF WASHINGTON POLITICS. I AGREE SHE'S A FRESH FACE AND NOT TAINTED BY THE IDEOLOGUES OF WASHINGTON D.C.. BUT SHE WOULD HAVE NO CHANCE OF WINNING THE WHITE HOUSE DURING THESE TIMES OF STRIFE AND INDEBTEDNESS. THAT'S WHY I HOPE HILLARY RUNS THIS NEXT "GO ROUND". IF SHE RUNS AGAINST ROMNEY, OR SOMEONE WITH A FEW BRAINS IN THE REPUB. PARTY, SHE WON'T STAND A CHANCE. LETS JUST GET THE LEFT WING "JANE FONDAS'" OUT OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH. AND BRING THIS COUNTRY BACK TO IT'S WINNING WAYS! I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THESE ASSHOLES, THEY SCREWED US DURING VIETNAM AND THEY ARE SCREWING US NOW! LEFT WING POLITICS HAVE NEVER WORKED ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, AND THEY WON'T WORK HERE! IT'S A PROVEN FACT! NOW GET YOUR BUTTS OUT THERE AND THROW THE BUMS OUT OF OFFICE! VOTE CONSERVATIVE VALUES BACK IN, ALONG WITH COMMON SENSE! AND SARAH, I LOVE YA, BUT FOR GODS SAKE DON'T HURRY THINGS UP OR YOU'LL BE A LAUGHING STOCK. AND DON'T GO ON SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE AGAIN, THAT WAS A DISASTER. USE YOUR NOGGIN' AND STUDY YOUR CURRENT EVENTS PAST AND PRESENT. YOU'LL GET THERE SOON ENOUGH, JUST TAKE YOUR TIME AND STUDY THE ENEMY CLOSELY, BEFORE YOU MAKE YOUR MOVE. YOU'LL WIN, AND YOU WON'T BE FOOL IN THE PROCESS. HOPE I SPELLED EVERYTHING CORRECTLY, IF I DID'NT, WELL THAT'S JUST TOO DAMNED BAD! LOL!