Sarah Who?? A Palin Primer
The Hotline's Sean Miller has this primer on John McCain's veep choice, AK Gov. Sarah Palin (R). Enjoy.
Asked about her chances of being McCain’s VP pick two weeks ago, Palin said: "I just think that's so far out of the realm of possibility. I think, OK, I'm a hockey mom from Alaska and I'm very passionate about the need for our nation to become energy independent, and for our nation to become more secure, and that's going to be based on domestic supplies of energy being tapped" (Toeplitz, Roll Call, 8/15). As it turns, she was just being modest. Here are three things to know about Palin.
-- Palin is currently under investigation for firing AK ex-Public Safety Commis. Walt Monegan, who told the Anchorage Daily News that he felt pressured by the governor's office to fire Palin's ex-brother-in-law, Mike Wooten, “a trooper who had been locked in a child-custody battle with Palin’s sister.” Palin denies she pressured Monegan to fire Wooten. However, Palin senior aide, Frank Bailey, was recently placed on paid administrative leave after it was learned he’d made several calls to Wooten’s boss, trooper Lt. Rodney Dial.
Palin played a recorded copy of one of the calls to the press on 8/13. In it, Bailey "clearly pressures the lieutenant." Bailey "told him during the conversation that Palin and her husband want to know why Wooten still has a job." Bailey: "Todd and Sarah are scratching their heads, 'Why on earth hasn't this, why is this guy still representing the department?' He's a horrible recruiting tool, you know" (Cockerham, Anchorage Daily News, 8/14).
- During Palin’s first term in office, she has made headlines for tacking AK’s high energy costs – experience she could address on the trail. On 8/25, Palin signed a bill that will pay each qualified AKer a $1.2K “resource rebate,” set to come from the state's multibillion-dollar oil revenue surplus. The same bill includes $60M for the states “home weatherization program,” which gives residents a tax credit for money spent improving their homes’ energy efficiency. She also supports expanded oil drilling in AK.
-- She has a large family. During a RGA Governors Energy Forum in TX 4/17, Palin went into labor. She gave birth to her fifth child, Trig Paxson Van Palin 4/18. Shortly thereafter, Trig was diagnosed with Down's syndrome. Despite that difficult news, Palin said at the time “"he's absolutely perfect." The Palins’ brood includes four other children -- son Track, 18, and daughters Bristol, 17, Willow, 13 and Piper, 7.
Her husband works for BP on the North Slope.
Once again. Oil oil oil.
When will it end with the GOP?
"""The governor's husband, Todd Palin, is back on BP's payroll. Gov. Palin says his return will not influence her decisions involving the oil industry, but one former lawmaker who wrote an ethics guideline for the administration believes it's a bad move at the wrong time."""
And the GOP mantra about Palin is that she is a reformer. Hahahaha. More lies for oil.
This is just not acceptable. Barack Obama and Joe Biden will be inordinately better for this country.
Palin is ethically corrupt and is being investigated.
Palin is part of corrupt Alaska republicans like indicted Ted Stevens and Don Young.
McCain should have picked Romney. Romney was McCain's only chance to win. I am angry that he did not choose McCain. I am going to vote for Bob Barr now.
How can a person who was a part-time mayor of a remote Alaskan village of 5,000 be ready to step in to run this country
in the eventuality that McCain can no longer perform those duties? McCain is 72 and has a long history of cancer.
Give me a break!
Ethan, what a bitter, bitter man you are. Look back at your posts today...full of negativity and hate. Are you sure you're not a plant from the DNC or the Obama campaign? It's closed-minded, virulent partisanship like yours that makes our country worse, not better.
Palin is the most unqualified VP nominee in modern history, with the possible exception of Admiral Stockdale.
She's worse than Quayle.
She is a wacko who does not believe in science.
She is a hardcore creationist. Check this out from 2006:
The volatile issue of teaching creation science in public schools popped up in the Alaska governor's race this week when Republican Sarah Palin said she thinks creationism should be taught alongside evolution in the state's public classrooms. Palin was answering a question from the moderator near the conclusion of Wednesday night's televised debate on KAKM Channel 7 when she said, "Teach both. You know, don't be afraid of information.
Family values? Palin has admitted that she used marijuana but she did not like it. How much pot did this woman smoke before deciding she didn't like it?
Palin does not know the duties of VP
In an interview just a month ago, she dissed the job, saying it didn’t seem “productive.”
In fact, she said she doesn’t know what the vice president does.
Larry Kudlow of CNBC’s “Kudlow & Co.” asked her about the possibility of becoming McCain ticket mate.
Palin replied: “[A]s for that V.P. talk all the time, I’ll tell you, I still can’t answer that question until somebody answers for me what is it exactly that the V.P. does every day?"
In adition to her involvement in TrooperGate Palin has history of questionable police firings.
Per AP she fired Police Chief Irl Stambaugh because he supported her election opponent John Stein.
WTF, Wasilla's Mayor/Counsel Woman to run America?
McCain: get off my lawn.
I watched Palin's speech with my father. We both feel that this is just embarrassing, especially given the state of the country. I actually feel bad for her that she is being trotted out as a cheerleader.
I can not wait for the VP debate when Biden demolishes corrupt-palin
Palin's brilliant. Finally, a candidate with actual executive experience instead of three silly senators! The woman delivered a powerful, insightful, and most impressive speech detailing actual accomplishments with obvious comfort and self-confidence! How refreshing in these days of bombastic verbiage and empty promises. Palin is balanced, powerful, and most capable. Too bad all the elitist liberals out there will never figure that all out. The women's vote in '08 had just be delivered to McCain/Palin by the Alaska Governor!
WTF, "executive experience"?
She has been governor for 18 months and out of that she was pregnant for 9 months. LOL!
Experience.... Alaska has a high Native American population and lots of Native land, though not offically recognized as a seperate nation, dealing with Native's is very similiar to dealing with a different country. On top of that, shes had meetings with Chinese Officals (specially a Health Minister) who came and toured her offices and sat at talked with her. I couldn't find one shred of evidence that Obama has had anything like that until he ran for President. As for the oil connectin. Get a grip, Oil companies supplied MILLIONS of dollars to the DNC Convention held in Denver, does anyone question that? Being a creationist doesn't bother me, shes entitled to her religous views just like anyone else. (And btw, Muslims are creationists too.....) Look at her record, she has her personal views but keeps her politics seperate as much as she can. She gave a good speech today thanking 2 different Democrats, what more do you people want?
Experience.... Alaska has a high Native American population and lots of Native land, though not offically recognized as a seperate nation, dealing with Native's is very similiar to dealing with a different country. On top of that, shes had meetings with Chinese Officals (specially a Health Minister) who came and toured her offices and sat at talked with her. I couldn't find one shred of evidence that Obama has had anything like that until he ran for President. As for the oil connectin. Get a grip, Oil companies supplied MILLIONS of dollars to the DNC Convention held in Denver, does anyone question that? Being a creationist doesn't bother me, shes entitled to her religous views just like anyone else. (And btw, Muslims are creationists too.....) Look at her record, she has her personal views but keeps her politics seperate as much as she can. She gave a good speech today thanking 2 different Democrats, what more do you people want?
Experience.... Alaska has a high Native American population and lots of Native land, though not offically recognized as a seperate nation, dealing with Native's is very similiar to dealing with a different country. On top of that, shes had meetings with Chinese Officals (specially a Health Minister) who came and toured her offices and sat at talked with her. I couldn't find one shred of evidence that Obama has had anything like that until he ran for President. As for the oil connectin. Get a grip, Oil companies supplied MILLIONS of dollars to the DNC Convention held in Denver, does anyone question that? Being a creationist doesn't bother me, shes entitled to her religous views just like anyone else. (And btw, Muslims are creationists too.....) Look at her record, she has her personal views but keeps her politics seperate as much as she can. She gave a good speech today thanking 2 different Democrats, what more do you people want?
Good. I like oil.
Good. I like oil.
Joe Biden vs. Sarah who? Give me a break McCain!! What is the debate going to look like? This will be like the New York Yankees playing a minor league baseball team from Uzbekistan. Game over folks! And what about our image?? The United States vice President has to be Joe Biden if we want the rest of the world to take us seriously. McCain is just pathetic with this pick.
For the record, Im a Republican, Im so disappointed with this pick!!!! WHY, MCCAIN, WHY!!!! I think we have already lost this race.
What can you possibly mean by "Joe Biden vs. Sarah who?" I'd never heard of Joe Biden before he was nominated for Obama's VP. Sure, I'd heard of McCain and Obama before they announced their candidacy, but Biden? Nope, sorry.
I am still an undecided voter, but I think a lot of people underestimate Sarah Palin. We're talking about someone who has taken on oil companies and won. She can hold her own against Biden.
Kevin--your never hearing of Biden until recently simply reflects your lack of knowledge or political interest, not his lack of experience.
Johnathan--Alaska's population is about 15% Native, the overwhelming majority are white. The interactions with Native nations doesn't quite cut it as 'international experience' nor does a conversation with the Chinese health minister.
She may certainly have more experience and qualifications than her naysayers are mentioning but those examples are not very helpful. Mayors of medium-sized cities interact with foreign officials more than that.
Kevin--your never hearing of Biden until recently simply reflects your lack of knowledge or political interest, not his lack of experience.
Johnathan--Alaska's population is about 15% Native, the overwhelming majority are white. The interactions with Native nations doesn't quite cut it as 'international experience' nor does a conversation with the Chinese health minister.
She may certainly have more experience and qualifications than her naysayers are mentioning but those examples are not very helpful. Mayors of medium-sized cities interact with foreign officials more than that.
Experience? She doesn't even have a Law Degree!!
She's a baby-machine who happens to run the very State that the Repugs want to tap for oil. McCain is the sacrificial lamb of the R party and Palin is "Wildlife Massacre Barbie" at his side.
She's been barefoot & pregnant in the woods. THIS is being qualified for the White House?
I predict she drops out under pressure.
Firing people she does not agree with, sucking up to big oil, an unimpressive education, attempting to ban books from libraries. Wow! a female Bush!
Firing people she does not agree with, sucking up to big oil, an unimpressive education, attempting to ban books from libraries. Wow! a female Bush!
Just curious, when will the U.S. stop picking a president based on what they look like, how great a speaker/actor or how much they can promise in each speech? Another note, I'm not for either man, because they've done little to impress me, however, if businesses and corporations aren't given tax breaks what's to stop them from joining the multitude of others who have shipped jobs overseas?? G-R-E-E-D isn't something only reflected at the corporate level... we all have to take a long hard look in the mirror. So when Obama promises those breaks for the "little guy" maybe he can also increase the social welfare funds to help offset the loss of jobs when companies find it more "economical" to operated elsewhere. That's what Canada has experienced for quite some time now.
Despite of all that was said and done, I have a PALINdrome syndrome, incurrable until Nov. 4th, 2008. Doc said since the night that SNL aired... :-)
Despite of all that was said and done, I have a PALINdrome syndrome, incurrable until Nov. 4th, 2008. Doc said since the night that SNL aired... :-)
Despite of all that was said and done, I have a PALINdrome syndrome, incurrable until Nov. 4th, 2008. Doc said since the night that SNL aired... :-)
Rick posted: "Firing people she does not agree with, sucking up to big oil, an unimpressive education, attempting to ban books from libraries. Wow! a female Bush!"
She's almost as unimpressive as people who make short multiple posts full of false assertions.
When your résumé is more impressive than hers, Rick, get back to us.
i like em big
i like em chunky (chunnnkaaayyy)
dey like ma sound
dey think im funkaay (fuunnkaaaay)
i like em big
i like em chunky (chunnnkaaayyy)
dey like ma sound
dey think im funkaay (fuunnkaaaay)
the jews hate this woman because she loves america
sad but true