« Live Blogging DNC--Obama's Night! | Open Thread Main | DEAR GOD, EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED! by JeffLieber »
John McCain and Sarah Palin
So John McCain has made the first most important decision of his campaign. The decision that we've all been waiting on pins and needles to hear. He has announced his running mate, the Vice Presidential candidate, who will join him crisscrossing the country. He's chosen Sarah Palin, Republican Governor of Alaska.
Who is Sarah Palin?
Even Republicans, shaking their heads in bafflement, are asking, "Who the heck Sarah Palin?"
Sarah Palin has a strong stance on many issues. (sarcasm tag) She's reliable and runs by the clock. (another sarcasm tag.) She's known as a social conservative who doesn't really know what she's doing, but she's doing it for God.
San Diego.com described her credentials this way:
Her campaign for governor was bumpy. She missed enough campaign appearances to be tagged "No Show Sarah" by her opponents. She was criticized for being vague on issues. But she sold voters on the one product that mattered: herself.
Her Christian faith--Palin grew up attending nondenominational Bible churches--was a minor issue in the race. She told me her faith affects her politics this way: "I believe everything happens for a purpose. In my own personal life, if I dedicated back to my Creator what I'm trying to create for the good . . . everything will turn out fine." That same concept applies to her political career, she suggested.
Vague on the issues?
These are her stances on the issues fromontheissues.org:
Sarah Palin on Corporations
No issue stance yet recorded by OnTheIssues.org.
Sarah Palin on Drugs
No issue stance yet recorded by OnTheIssues.org.
Sarah Palin on Families & Children
No issue stance yet recorded by OnTheIssues.org.
Sarah Palin on Foreign Policy
No issue stance yet recorded by OnTheIssues.org.
Sarah Palin on Free Trade
No issue stance yet recorded by OnTheIssues.org.
Sarah Palin on Government Reform
No issue stance yet recorded by OnTheIssues.org.
Sarah Palin on Immigration
No issue stance yet recorded by OnTheIssues.org.
Sarah Palin on Jobs
No issue stance yet recorded by OnTheIssues.org.
Sarah Palin on Local Issues
No issue stance yet recorded by OnTheIssues.org.
Sarah Palin on Principles & Values
No issue stance yet recorded by OnTheIssues.org.
Sarah Palin on Technology
No issue stance yet recorded by OnTheIssues.org.
McCain/Palin
No Issues Stance Yet Recorded
What's vague about that?!!
But she has other qualifications that John McCain admired.
She's a hot hockey momma, who knows how to carry her weapons well! (insert sarcasm and contrite sparrow tag.)
Seriously...she's a life long NRA member, belongs to an anti-abortion-rights group called Feminists for Life and opposes civil unions. And best of all, she's a self-proclaimed "hockey mom." So what if she had some youthful indiscretions?! Youthful indiscretions equaling "Yes, I inhaled...when it was legal, but I'm against the legalization of pot now." (No sarcasm tag needed! No fooling!)
Seriously, she claims she smoked marijuana but didn't enjoy it and doesn't smoke it anymore. (What a relief! To have a former cocaine addict pResident replaced by a former pot-head Vice-President.)
Sarah Palin's other claim to fame is what she's done as governor of Alaska. She has broken with the National Republican Party by imposing a profit tax on Alaskan oil companies. And Alaska is rolling in the oil company's dough now! Out of our pocketbooks into Alaska's coiffers... Well, that doesn't endear herself to main-landers or to oil companies either!
She has further angered the oil companies by taking outside bids to drill for Alaskan oil. She endears herself to Alaskans and the oil companies though by saying "Stay off our lawn you radical environmentalists who don't even live in this state!"
Marc Ambinder from the Atlantic said:
Republicans in Congress this June united to defeat a proposed windfall tax on oil companies, deriding it as a bad idea that would discourage investment in U.S. oil exploration.
Things worked out far differently in the GOP stronghold of Alaska, a state whose economic fate is closely tied to the oil industry.
Over the opposition of oil companies, Republican Gov. Sarah Palin and Alaska's Legislature last year approved a major increase in taxes on the oil industry -- a step that has generated stunning new wealth for the state as oil prices soared.
So that is McCain's first major decision--his VP pick, Sarah Palin.
Maryland GOP Gov. Robert Ehrlich said, "Everybody's surprised," in the pained way one makes such a statement when an unexpected bit of news is not perceived as good," according to the Swamp. "I gotta go digest this choice"
So, now that you see what she's all about, what do you think McCain voters will see in Palin?
~~~Update~~~
Thanks to Christy, she provided the link to thinkprogress which has the information about the ethical violation investigation going on against Palin.
Apparently there are allegations that Ms. Palin decided to use her position as governor to get revenge on her ex-brother-in-law and get him fired from his job. I don't think the guys around this country are going to like that!
37 Comments
Leave a comment
Not registered? Click on 'Sign-in' above and then select 'Sign up' in the lower right corner. Don't forget to click on the link in the confirmation email that will be sent to your email address.
Ok..so I confess...John McCain's face in that picture cracks me up. He looks like a 2nd grader going, "Cooooties!"
Snoopy dance, anyone?
Georgies property
Ally notice I just said Georgies Property, not all of Crawford
No ones going to be watching the GOP Convention are they.
You did not even mention that Palin is CURRENTLY the target of an Ethics Investigation for abuse of power as guv-nah.
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/08/29/palin-corruption-investigation/
Hey Christy,
Nope, I didn't mention it because I saw the allegation but didn't see an actual link. So I knew YOU or one of our happy humble HONEST DCP'ers would post that info if it was true and verifiable. So I waited it out, and you proved how smart you are and how smart (not) I am!
Thank you!
I'll add the link now.
Ummm. Thanks. I think.
Actually, I knew of Palin because the guys at TalkingPointsMemo have been kicking her around for over a month.
When I saw it was her I just grinned REAL BIG!
The televised broadcasts attracted more viewers than the Olympics opening ceremony in Beijing, the final 'American Idol' or the Academy Awards
This year 38,000,000 viewers watched Obama speech
38 million tuned into watch Senator Barack Obama accept the Democratic presidential nomination, according to Nielsen Media Research.
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/38_million_viewers_watched_Obamas_speech_0829.html
Must Watch, Way to go Rachel Maddow
MSNBC Panel: McCain VP Pick Could Be Leaked
A man on Nova M, is saying Christy, that they are evacuating anyone without cars to Shrevport tomorrow.
When I saw it was her I just grinned REAL BIG!
They have had her little escapades on Nova M for a couple of weeks now.
I just grinned REAL BIG! myself to
Shreveport is the best choice really. They will be safe here.
By the time Gustav reaches here he will be no more than a serious thunder storm. How serious depends on how fast he unravels.
What in the hell was mcmumbles thinking? OMFG!
Did he really just believe no one would notice she is currently under investigation?
It is soooooo much fun to watch the repellicans FREAK OUT! HAHAHA!
It is soooooo much fun to watch the repellicans FREAK OUT! HAHAHA!
Now Isn't it, we've waited a long time Christy to see them self destruct and it is delicious.
Hmmmmmm now that is not very Christian is it, but then I do not have any Christian feeling towards Georgie Mc Bush and their gang of thugs.
Poor Joe don't ya bet he is feeling played now, poetic justice I say.
Romney, Pawlenty: McCain Used Us!
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/08/29/palin_pick_leaves_bruised_feel.html
Pollster: Palin Pick Gives McCain Alaska
Anyone believe that?
Pollster: Palin Pick Gives McCain Alaska
Actually, my brother just called and said his conservative friend bet him a 60 dollar steak dinner that McCain just won it by choosing her.
Actually, my brother just called and said his conservative friend bet him a 60 dollar steak dinner that McCain just won it by choosing her.
Ohhhhhhh puleeese, if Americans have their heads in the sand that much, then America friking deserves her, but the rest of the world does not.
Yall saw the numbers Obama got. 38,000,000 and that is not including those watching PBS, listening to public radio or those streaming online or youtubing it after! The real number could literally be a hundred million people watched his speach.
No one is freaking buying into mcPOW. My mom, Hillary lover, was not only sold by the Obamas, but she is mad at mcmumbles trying such an obvious pander.
I think among women, this is going to backlash so bad against him. He not only is desperately pandering, but pandering with a woman who does not even believe rape or incest is a reasonable exception for abortion. This will not go over well anywhere, AT ALL. Except with the hardcore crazies.
I read one guy saying it only helps if there is a bathing suit competition involved!
HAHAHA! We all know how sexist the republican base is, old white guys, and they are going to just accept her with ZERO creds...?
HAHAHA! Not a chance in hell, unless maybe you put her in a bikini!
BTW, the people of Alaska just approved 100,000 smackaroos to investigate her for ethics violations against cops. Alaskans really no longer like their own elected officials and they don't seem to like her much.
Tell your brother to take that bet Sparrow! And tell him to enjoy his dinner!
OBAMA FULL SPEECH: Offers Policy Specifics, Goes on Offense v. McCain
Ahhhhhhhh But Christy the Gods, Limbaugh and Kristol approve she's their girl, and what Limbaugh and Kristol say must be so.
AL GORE: Likens Obama to Lincoln; Assails McCain on Climate Change
Right On Time
At TPMMuckraker we've been on the Palin/Trooper-gate story for a while. And we've just reported that the investigation by the state legislature is scheduled to report its findings in the first couple days of November.
This is a perilous story for Palin and McCain. I flagged some of the details earlier in the day. But this is the kind of story, the kind of investigation, where it is highly unlikely that Palin hasn't made public false statements about her involvement in what happened. I think that's generous. As always in cases like this, the question is whether anyone can prove it. There are a couple investigations -- one under the auspices of the state legislature and another of the state Attorney General, which she either supported or 'requested'. That latter investigation already surfaced taped phone calls that forced Palin walk back her original denials and admit that her aides had pressed for the firings, just without her knowledge.
Using the power of the government to settle scores with estranged relatives or associates is far from unprecedented. There are probably several similar investigations going on in other states as we speak. But I doubt very much that they were prepared for the heat of full bore national media scrutiny on this one. And in this case you not only the underlying act, which is sleazy, but the high probability that Palin is lying about her role.
Late Update: And special bonus: after the firing that got her administration into trouble, Palin replaced him with another guy who'd recently been hit with a credible sexual harassment accusation. Palin later admitted that she knew about the complaint in advance but denied that she knew of the letter of reprimand he'd received.
He lasted two weeks on the job.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/
She knowingly hired a sexual predator. Controllable, until everyone finds out about it. These republicans are all alike.
Ohhh, Biden must be giggling like a loon right now! Licking those perfect pearly whites, drooling.
I would be if I were him.
"Ahhhhhhhh But Christy the Gods, Limbaugh and Kristol approve she's their girl, and what Limbaugh and Kristol say must be so."
HEHEHEHE! even better.
Name one time they have EVER been right, about ANYTHING....
Seriously, think on it a moment.
When? When was the last time their judgement was sound, and their predictions came to pass...?
HAHAHAHA!
She knowingly hired a sexual predator. Controllable,
Christy I think it will all be shut down, just like all the GOP Crimes of the last eight years.
By the way Christy who was the black man, that spoke after MLKs video biograph, I thought his name was Jim Lewis, he was the last one left who was with Mlk at his I Have A Dream Speech.
I can't find him on you tube at the moment
Now that I think about it, he could have picked little Charlie Manson and Lush Limpball and the like would have no choice but to go along with it.
'My friends what a GREAT choice little Charlie Manson is, we are going to murder those democrats! He has a unique view of crime in Amurka, and really, he is a Family Values type. So that makes him supremely qualified to be our VP nominee! McMumbles/McManson 08! Yea!'
They don't have a choice. It is either fall in line or backtrack on Obama.
I am not sure, I missed that part, I was having streaming probs.
I think so many people were trying to stream it they were having server issues.
" I think it will all be shut down, just like all the GOP Crimes of the last eight years."
That is the funny thing about this scandal. No one expected her to be nominated and it is so fresh that they did not have time to hide it. It is an active investigation, they did not have time to de-activate it.
He literally picked someone who is currently being investigated. For abuse of power. Against cops. How dumb is that?
Like that article says from TPM, they were not expecting the full bore of national media attention to ever touch it. And that is really the only thing about her that is even remotely interesting and not only this scandal, but she is connected to all the other 'corrupt Alaskan Officials', she is right in the thick of it.
Her only benefit is she is pro big oil in a big oil state, the republican elite are desperate for oil now that their time stealing it from Iraq is limited, but, big oil is less popular than georgie. Even with republicans.
She is a horrible pick, all she adds is a pretty face to an empty suit. And an ethics investigation. McPow himself has a history of being on the wrong side of those and his becomes totally relevent again.
Thank God I am not a republican right now, or I would be crying instead of giggling.
I'm starting to think that within 2 weeks McCain's selected VP will have to resign (family emergency).
Maybe my bro should bet on that...
I am STUNNED that Grampy McSame would pick an inexperienced politician and a celebrity as his VP candidate. The Repubs have scorned inexperience and Obama's so-called "celebrity" status. Hmmm . . . whom else do we know who is an inexperienced celebrity? Could it be The Governator - Ahnold?
OH...btw...the bro I'm talking about is the truck driver. He probably voted for Bush both times due to a conservative friend. But between my sis and I, we've made in-roads with him.
She took him to see Obama a year ago.
And I've been talking to him about progressive values since o4.
But my other brother may vote for Barr, because he hates McCain. He hates Bush. He'll vote dem when Hell freezes over.
I don't think she was vetted!
I am amazed at how the media is choosing to spin this VP story. I know companies that do a more extensive job of interviewing for a junior managerial position than McCain did before offering the VP post to a complete unknown, with virtually no meaningful experience in government or management.
And it was especially unnerving to see a spokesperson from a group called PUMA congratulate McCain, and castigate the Democratic electorate for daring not to select Hillary.
Oh heck...Here's the mainstream corporate headlines on Palin:
Her family...
Her diet and exercise program...
What she eats...
See? Maybe McCain knew what he was doing after all?
PUMA is full of it if they think that getting a woman already under ethics questions for a vengeful act in a messy divorce helps the women and their causes. It doesn't!
Taking a person with ethical problems and minimal background but who looks like a hottie--well, it doesn't exactly hold up to the standards of the feminists who fought for their brains and not their anatomy.
As Biden says... then what? After they tell us all that, then what? Two long months ahead, after we quit caring about what she eats... then what? That pretty perky airhead act only goes so far before other women start throwing up.
Do you really think Biden will let her on stage with him thinking it is a beauty pageant?
I don't think she was vetted either, HuffpPo says she only has met mcPOW ONCE before he picked her. How could she possibly have been 'vetted'?
Christy--My bro--the Obama supporter--says that Biden will have to go easy on her or he'll look like a meany attacking a woman.
Oh..btw..new thread
I loved it - the first, the very first, the most important first, decision McCain has to make and he really f*kd it right up.
However. The evidence? What's the bet there's a fire real soon to deal with paper evidence and all the problematic emails vanish - as emails tend to do when someone's backside is on the line?
Still - too late now. I read it in the ABC online headlines! It's there for all to see. So, there will be some kind of sham investigation and she'll be innocent and her brother inlaw a real bastard. That's how it works. For now. But not for long.
I was at work yesterday when the news came out about McCain's choice of Sara Palin.
I even talked to one of you while I was at work over a computer issue, and the conversation was professional.
I got home, flipped on the tv, and saw all the pundits on MSNBC with huge grins on their faces, and watched and saw who McCain picked.
I not only did the Snoopy dance, I did the Happy Dance, jumped up and down, and laughed right out loud. Then I did it all again. Then I reached for the phone, called one of you for a reaction (not knowing the news had been out all day), and was told you guys had ALOT OF FUN with this yesterday, and was referred to this thread.
You did not disappoint, you witty, smart, dry-humoured bunch.
Gramps McSame. Beauty contest. Hot hockey mom.
There ARE women who will vote for them just because she is a woman, and anti-choice, and there are probably peeps in rural areas who don't know any better that will vote for them too.