A "Very Pleasant Surprise."
WASHINGTON, Pa. - Gov. Sarah Palin, the presumptive Republican vice presidential candidate, said today she is up to the task of being president, telling her hometown newspaper her selection was a "very pleasant surprise."
Palin told the Anchorage Daily News she did not know she was the vice presidential candidate when she traveled to Arizona last week, believing others were being considered as well. McCain popped the question, so to speak, at his Sedona compound, sitting on the lawn.
"When the conversation wrapped up, he said, yes, would I like to join him in this?, and I said, 'If I can help the country and if I can help you on the ticket, absolutely, I would be honored," she said.
Palin said the campaign "had been doing a tremendous amount of background work" on her and other candidates for many months. But she said she believed being selected "was out of the realm of possibility."
"I knew that that senator and I, we would have sort of an inherent connection, though, with our mission being reform and putting the people first before any party or personal interest," she said. "I have known all along that he as such a maverick, that we would have a connection. But I didn't know that he knew enough about me to seriously be a consideration."
Palin said she will "still be serving Alaskans every day," though she will likely be in the contiguous U.S. states.
"Alaska will be allowed to contribute more to our great country and they will be allowed to do that because I, if elected, I will be in a position of opening the eyes of the country to what it is that Alaska is all about and what Alaska has to offer," she said. "So I'm happy to and very honored to be asked to do this."
(NBC/NJ's MATTHEW BERGER)
She better get used to not being able to use Hillary Clinton as a recruiting tool:
Palin booed for mentioning Hillary Clinton
Posted: 07:35 PM ET
From CNN Political Producer Peter Hamby
WASHINGTON, Pennsylvania (CNN) – This might not be the best way to reach out to those disillusioned Hillary Clinton supporters.
In just her second appearance on the campaign trail with John McCain, newly-minted GOP running mate Sarah Palin was showered with boos on Saturday for attempting to praise Clinton’s trail-blazing bid to become the first female president.
As she did at in her debut speech in Ohio yesterday, Palin appealed to the women in the crowd here in Pennsylvania with a political shout-out to Geraldine Ferraro, who preceded Palin as the first women to be tapped as a vice presidential candidate. The reference was met with polite applause.
But in contrast with the mild reception that greeted the comment at the Ohio event, when Palin praised Clinton here for showing “determination and grace in her presidential campaign,” the Alaska governor was met with a noisy mix of boos, groans and grumbles around the minor league ballpark where the “Road to the Convention Rally” was held.
Palin quickly recovered, promising the audience that female candidates weren’t yet finished, and that she and McCain were on their way to victory in November.
politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/08/30/palin-booed-for-mentioning-hillary-clinton/
Sarah Palin seems pleasant enough. Her personality even reminds me of my own mother. And I don't want to see either of them anywhere near the White House.
And another thought: is this the person Republicans really want doing Dick Cheney's job?
A REAL AMERICAN AS VICE PRESIDENT?? WHAT A NOVEL IDEA!! This was brilliant on McCain's part!! A young governor with executive experience; a Mom with five kids -- one enlisted in the US Army, and another with Downs Syndrome -- ; a husband who is a member of the union, and a TRUE WORKING PERSON; a true Washington outsider; a woman who is intelligent and TOUGH, and PROVEN that she can oust 'good old boys' when they break ethical standards; a reformer; a woman who has worked and succeeded in real jobs, and been responsible for a payroll; a conservationist; and wants this country to become energy independent!! She is also young enough that she will be a FORCE for years to come.
To BOOT—she would not accept the “BRIDGE TO NO WHERE” and advised the Congress if Alaska needed a bridge, Alaska would build it!!
From the initial reaction of the democrat spin monkeys, she has them VERY concerned, if not SCARED! Their initial demeaning of her serving as a mayor was a far cry from the top of their ticket being a community organizer! At least – SHE WAS ELECTED! Think they now regret their tasteless comments … demeaning at best – sexist at worst!
She does not ‘talk about change’, SHE MAKES CHANGES HAPPEN!! Rather than talking the talk as many have done in this campaign, Palin has (past tense) WALKED THE WALK!
Sure that there are many Democrats who heard her speak in Dayton were asking themselves, "WHY DID WE NOT HAVE HILLARY ON THE TICKET?" Think that the Democrats have -- once again -- outsmarted themselves. Her speaking ability will challenge that of Obama. SHE IS STRONG!!
Think that Sen Biden (Doctor Plagiarism) best brush up on his debating skills -- HE WILL NEED THEM!! (Someone also needs to tutor the man with ‘experience’ on US Army organizations – specifically the difference between a ‘battalion’ and a ‘brigade’. Sure would not want this ‘experienced' guy giving the commander-in-chief military advice during time of war!)
Believe that McCain came a step closer on winning the presidency on August 29, 2008!
PALIN IS MORE IMPRESSIVE THAN I EVER IMAGINED!
Why are you quoting the Clinton News Network? Daily Kos close down for the weekend after saying Palin didn't have her last baby? They are venal scumbags.
CNN is laughable, I agree, I don't watch it. But they were the first to report that your Vice Presidential candidate was booed at her first public reception after the introduction. That's definitely news. I think America sees through the McSideKick ticket.
I am going to see her today. I hear union people are starting to rally to her. A real person in Washington? I never thought I would live to see it. I saw her presentation in Ohio and didn't hear one boo. CNN despicably suggested she was neglecting her baby and should stay home That sexist should be fired!
Sarah Palin is not only less experienced and less qualified than Barack, she seems to lack the intellectual curiosity, or unwillingness, and depth to probe and understand the important and complexing problems/issues knocking at our door today. For example, Palin offhandedly asked CNBC anchor Larry Kudlow in July "What is it exactly that the vice president does all day?" And, if she does not know what a VP does we can be assured she does not know what a President does, and yet she will be Just a Heartbeat Away, given McCain's age and health status! And when asked about her stance on Iraq by Alaskan Daily, Palin answers "I've been so focused on state government, I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq. (Just what major policy decisions has Ms. Palin introduced and how informed is she on national and international affairs)? She goes on to say that she heard on the news about the new deployments"! Operative phrase -- Heard on the News! That is an outrageous statement for someone who is supposed to have an intellectual grasp on national issues and instead not have any pertinent view on the most pressing and urgent problem of our time, and does not feel a duty or responsibility to find out as much information about this problem as she can. I am sure she has constituents in Iraq and son to soon be deployed there also you would think that she would have some knowledge about this situation! Will she have this same nonchalant attitude about Iran, and Georgia, both pressing problems? Does this sound like someone who is truly intelligent or an Airhead? And, was she truly vetted?
Next they are trying to paint her as a Reformer, someone who fights Corruption, a woman who is now under a messy Investigation of her own Ethics by the Alaskan legislature (troopergate), hardly seems the reformer they want to pretend she is. A maverick? Sarah Palin has approved 26 billion dollar oil-pipeline for a Canadian business which will hire Canadians and not people here in the United States and a very big proponent of drilling, instead of really focusing on newer 21st century ways of dealing with our energy crisis. She is not an energy expert she is an oil expert, so its still about big oil and more of the same -- The old vs. the new!
David Frum a Republican strategist says "John McCain for all his white hair who represents the risky choice, while it is Barack Obama who offers cautious, steady, predictable governance. Here’s I fear the worst harm that may be done by this selection. The McCain campaign’s slogan is "country first." It’s a good slogan, and it aptly describes John McCain, one of the most self-sacrificing, gallant, and honorable men ever to seek the presidency. But question: If it were your decision, and you were putting your country first, would you put an untested small-town mayor a heartbeat away from the president?"
Lastly, McCain's and GOP's ploy to go after Hillary Clinton's disaffected voters proves to the world how really pathetic the Republican party has become that they will try any trick in the book to keep the power in the hands of big oil and special interest and out of the hands of the people where it belongs. In this pick they are putting American people last and taking a huge risk with this country. And, should a Presidential candidate play Russian roulette with the people's business? It is telling of McCain's character and judgment that with all the problems we face here today, he did not have the People's interest at heart in this V.P. pick but rather a desire to win for winnings sake and did not think of the consequences of his actions or maybe did not care what it would mean for this country if she were to be sworn in as President of the United States! And, ironically, the very things he accused Barack of being (which he is not) -- empty suit, no experience -- he got in his own V.P. Pick, Sarah Palin, who clearly is not as intelligent as they want you to beleive and it is she who is lacking on national issues and woefully uninformed.
I wish I could give you some color on her. I went to the event today in STL and couldn't see her or hear her. The event had twice the expected crowd and they obviously hadn't planned for it. I had to walk over a mile from a field where we were finally able to park. It took over an hour and a half to get out after it was over. Whoever thought up this minor league ballpark scheme to counter the Obama stadium appaerance,,,it didn't work very well and I don't think anyone really understood the nuance. Stick to places with adequate parking. It really PO's the base.