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.

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.

Well, I think that this hot woman is beauty..
look at her [link removed warns of virus]

Enjoy!

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.

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.

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

"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!

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.

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!

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.

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?

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.