I have heard (and written) a lot about why Sarah Palin, or Governor Palin if you prefer, isn't qualified to be Vice-President.
But I would like to share you one way in which Governor Palin is more qualified that Senator Biden to be Vice-President. She has more experience being #2 behind the #1.
In 1984, Ms. Palin became the runner-up in the Miss Alaska contest. In that way she was actually experiencing the role of "next in line". Much like being Vice-President. She had to be ready should anything happen to the 1984 Miss Alaska to take-over. To handle the proverbial briefcase with the crown and other official duties of Miss Alaska.
Has Senator Joe Biden ever held a job like that?
Much like her international experience being from the State of Alaska which of course is next to Russia which of course is involved in the Georgia crisis, this is something irreplaceable and shouldn't be dismissed out of hand. Or out of crown.
What do you think? Is this a plus or what?
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Comments: 32
The distance Alaska is from Russia has nothing to do with Palin, she has n say in national defence and does not put out alerts or command any military position that would give her any such experience.
I believe that Cheney should have done his homework before picking Palin for McCain. Palin seems to have a very bad track record for someone that has been in politics such a short time.
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This choice shows McCain as an independent, reform candidate, and in control of his Administration, where Obama is unable to control his own party. She's far removed from Washington and George Bush, completely doing away with the old "More of the last eight years," argument.
Palin made her name in part by backing tough ethical standards for politicians, standing up against her own party. During the first legislative session after her election as governor, her administration passed a state ethics law overhaul.
McCain will be seen as driving the course of this campaign overwhelmingly, a real change to the base, and the DEMS will be seen as merely reacting. Palin is Team Obama’s worst nightmare , an impressive resume–way better than Obama, with a son in the Army (and McCain’s son in Iraq), she blows the “chickenhawk argument” out of the water. She makes it a different game.
Sarah Palin defeated a corrupt political system in Alaska, that was entrenched with specialist interests, powerful lobbyists and laundered money
- Sarah Palin has successfully fought to reduce wasteful government spending, including earmarks from Washington
- Sarah Palin has defended liberty and freedom by enforcing and promoting a strict interpretation of the constitution
- Sarah Palin has supported our soldiers at war and at home, including visiting them abroad
- Sarah Palin has fought to reform education in Alaska
- Sarah Palin has fought to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil, and has encouraged the development of safe and clean energy sources in Alaska
The issue about her involvement in her home state is one that was dead in the water, UNTIL McCain selected her for his VP. With full knowledge of the issue, it is clear they think it is to do about nothing. Then Obama's people decided to bring that up again:
AND... did you see this?
According to Lisa Demer at the Anchorage Daily News, the McCain campaign says Palin “was never directly involved” and blamed the controversy on the campaign of the Democratic nominee, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama.
Will they now bring up the long, nasty case of Biden forging documents, and all the other skeletons tucked away in his 20+ year old closet?
Sarah Palin has 13 years as a political "Reformer" --- she can boast much more political and life experience than Obama. There has never been a candidate with as thin a resume as Obama.
I repeat again, even his VP selection, Joe Biden, said, a while back, he didn't think Obama was ready to be president.
Obama has only been a professor and a legislator, skipping votes, just voting "Present," or blaming others over criticism of Congress.
She will put No. Carolina and Georgia out of reach of Obama with the lackluster and enthusiasm she brings, and appeal to the women who have children and work. Who would say anything about a man having children AND a job? Supposedly, Joe Biden did it as a single father.
I think, as a matter of consistency, we should remove all "Sexism" from this issue, just as we did racism, whether it comes from the left or the right.
Sarah Palin is a truly rare individual -- She has absolutely locked down the gun-control vote. Her upcoming TV bio, at the Republican convention will be impressive and focus on the person she is. Watch it. You'll like it.
Well folks out there in cyberspace, I do and I have it on sale on e-bay. Yes that right, take look for yourselfs. Right now the bid is up to $2,000.00.
Don't you just love the free market, capitalism luv it!
Note: 1) the VP speech was originally crafted as "masculine," meaning that the choice of Palin was a knee-jerk reaction at the last minute (also shown by the fact that vetters didn't go to Alaska until the day before the announcement of her as pick)
2) Quotes from supporters: "She clearly wants to absorb as much information as possible." (i.e., she doesn't already have this information)
3) "In an effort to prevent any damaging mistakes, the McCain campaign is orchestrating Palin's public introduction carefully. Except for an interview with People magazine the afternoon her selection was announced, she has not taken a single question from a reporter, and it remains unclear when she will speak to the national news media." (they don't trust her to speak on her own?)
4) "In her own remarks on the trail, Palin has worked to burnish her leadership credentials, repeatedly referring to her time in the governor's office." (all 18 months)
5) "On Tuesday, the McCain campaign angrily countered reports that Palin was a member of the Alaska Independence Party, producing records showing that she has been a registered Republican since the early 1980s. Later in the day, media reports revealed that her husband, Todd Palin, was registered as a member of the party until 2002."
6) "Palin seemed to indicate that she supported the bridge while campaigning for governor in that region in 2006, but last fall she ended the project because cost overruns far exceeded the initial $223 million that was allocated." (i.e., it was okay when the money was earmarked through Ted Stevens, but she killed it once it became clear the state would have to pick up the entire tab. a little revisionist history)
7) "Palin has rarely traveled overseas: Last summer, as governor, she journeyed to Canada on one trip and to Germany, Iraq and Kuwait on another, and Comella said she may have traveled to Mexico once on a personal trip. "Obviously the governor of Alaska spends very little time on foreign policy," Davis said, though he added that if something were to happen to McCain, "I think she's got the judgment to do the things as commander in chief that John McCain would think are the right things to do." " (so much for foreign policy experience, but that's okay, she'll just read the manual John McCain leaves behind)
8) "Graham, who lobbied hard for McCain to choose their mutual friend Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.) as his running mate, said Palin would be able to handle foreign relations in McCain's absence as long as she relied on his staff." (ok, so we better hope McCain chooses a pretty good staff - though based on his first "presidential" staffing decision you would have to call that ability into question)
Okay, I'm a little tongue-in-cheek on this one. Frankly, I'm ready to move on. McCain made a boneheaded VP pick at the last minute for purely political and "spite" reasons instead of thoughtfully considering "country first." Seems to show a lack of substance on his part, despite the really catchy bumper sticker slogan.
It's time to move back to the issues (speaking of which, McCain's chief strategist said yesterday that this election isn't about the issues - guess that's why they don't understand how much Bush has screwed up America).
Alternatively, the choice shows that McCain is an erratic, politically motivated candidate, who made a last minute choice because the party wouldn't let him pick Joe Lieberman, thus showing that McCain is not in control of his campaign (there is no Administration until after he would be elected).
As for Obama, he seems to be doing okay.
It's all a very sordid history indeed. You can't make this stuff up folks.
Lieberman was their best shot because he would have brought more independents to the fold, but the Republican establishment wouldn't allow it out of a sense of image. They say they want bipartisanship now that they are desperate, but what would have been more bipartisan than to have historic fusion ticket. "Country First" my pancreas! That looks more like "Party First" to me America.
I didn't hear the speeches. Did Lieberman mention which country?
Palin does have the naughty secretary hairdo.
There is a video of her greeting that she sent to the opening of the last AIP convention. Just look at YouTube.
Robert, I have been waiting with baited breath for the first Jon Stewart - Comedy Central show since this fiasco began, you may have provided them with a little material here.
And David, thanks for adding some meat to the discussion.
I tried listening to the speeches last night. I wanted to, I really did, but it was tough, you felt the lack of enthusiasm that Francis pointed out and also the audio levels were grating. So I figured I'd read about them later...
Pretty funny stuff about the runner up beauty pageant.
As far as the Russian boarder thing. You obviously haven't spent any time in a border country to a communist or totalitatrian run country. Everyone living under those circumstances is acutely aware of what lurks on the horizon.
And there in lies the rub. Democrats gave and give great speeches making you "feel" something without saying anything. Rebublicans give and gave great speeches making you have to think about things but seemingly lacking of emotion. So the frogs in the midst sitting in the pan of water on the stove can feel good about the water getting warm without thinking about being cook in the near future whilst the frogs with thinking brains get the message of why the water is warming and have the info to to get out of the pot.
Who in the heck is she ? No one knew who she was until last week and I cannot imagine a single woman who has an ounce of class who would want her in office.
McCain basically took out a piece of paper, wrote a bunch of names down and picked one from a hat. he could have chosen Strawberry Shortcake or the Pine Sol Lady and Christian Extremist women and the GOP would have said, "Okay, sure."
Not only does his judgement show that he is not running his campaign, and that he is blindly trusting Bush backers, it shows that he is completely out of touch with American women.
The majority of educated women in this country wait to have children and are not fundamentalists. Sarah Palin is a fundamentalist and she is lacking in experience and intelligence. Her teenage daughter is a liability and would make it "ok" for other teens to be pregnant. The White House should represent the best of America and not the worst.
If he wanted an experienced and intelligent woman, why did he not ask Condoleeza Rice?
We all knew this when the man who helped steal the election in 2004 as Rove's right hand henchman became the head of McCain's campaign.
We are not all dumb as the RNP base... those haves and have mores of Bush's plus those steadfastly stupid single issue voters who will slit their own economic throats for their self righteous cause. The same one's whose sons and daughters are dying in Iraq.
Obama and Biden together do not make 1/2 the man Sarah is. Obama cry's like a baby when someone says something critical of him or his wife.Biden when he needs to make a good speech-he just steals it.
Many want the corruption stopped but are not willing to step out and fight.
And nothing has been proven in the investigation on her. And I know I teach my kids the right thing to do but it doesn't reflect on me if they make the wrong choices.
Biden is dirty you can bet on that.