8.29.2008

McCain Picks Sarah Palin: Big Mistake?

John McCain has picked Alaska state governor Sarah Palin, a 44 year old woman who was born in Idaho and moved to Alaska when she was 3 months old. She is Alaska's youngest governor to date.

Palin was on an Alaska state championship girls basketball team and was named Miss Wasilla in 1984 and was runner-up in the Miss Alaska pageant in which she played the flute and won the Miss Congeniality title.

She has a bachelor's degree in journalism and a minor in politics. Her husband, Todd works for British Petroleum (BP) in an oil field. The couple eloped right after Palin graduated from college in Idaho. They later found out that they needed witnesses for the civil ceremony, so they invited two elderly people from the old-age home down the street.

Palin has a son named Track. He is currently serving in an infantry brigade that will be deployed to Iraq on September 11th. She has a second son named Trig Paxson Van Palin, who has Down syndrome.

Sarah Palin is the 2nd woman to be vetted for Vice President, the first being Geraldine Ferraro when she ran on the ticket with Walter Mondale in 1984.

She admits to trying marijuana but says she didn't like it.

Some controversy on her from CNN.com:

"Palin's term has not been without controversy. A legislative investigation is looking into allegations that Palin fired Alaska's public safety commissioner because he refused to fire the governor's former brother-in-law, a state trooper.

Palin acknowledged that a call was made by a member of her staff to a trooper in which the staffer suggested he was speaking for the governor.

Palin has acknowledged that the call could be interpreted as pressure to fire state trooper Mike Wooten, who was locked in a child-custody battle with Palin's sister."

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MY TAKE ON MCCAIN'S SELECTION OF SARAH PALIN


At first glance the words that came to mind were "political suicide"... and those words are still lingering in my head.

First off, the republicans should probably stop running the ads that say Obama isn't experienced enough to be ready for the office. Sarah Palin is less experienced and even younger than Barack.

The Vice President is second in line to run this nation should anything happen to the President. McCain is 72 years old TODAY.

McCain would be the oldest President to ever be sworn into his first term in the White House... I think you can see where I'm going with this.

Ed Rollins, who was the political director for President Reagan and is a prominent Republican strategist (& Natn't chairman of Huckabee's campaign) could only find these things to say about her:

"[She] is a young, articulate, smart, tough, pro-life woman who is the governor of our northernmost state. She is conservative and a mother of 5, including a son in the Army who is set to be deployed to Iraq on September 11. Her youngest child has Down syndrome."

- Okay so young and hopeful is suddenly a good thing for the republicans!?!? I thought Obama was too young, too hopeful... What's going on here?

- She's a first-term governor from Alaska, no law degree, no political science degree, just a bachelors of journalism degree. Yes, she has a minor in political science, but most people could probably get a minor in just about anything.

- Being a mother of 5 doesn't make you VP or President worthy.

- Having a son in the military going to Iraq... Maybe this is why McCain picked her? That or maybe an ANWAR drilling connection? Her husband does work for BP.

"The "Barracuda" nickname came from her aggressive basketball play on the state championship basketball team. She is a hunter, pilot and lifetime member of the NRA."

- Maybe she can take the leader of Iran on in a one-on-one game of basketball... winner takes nukes?

"And don't assume she can't stand toe-to-toe with Joe Biden. She is a great debater. And she was runner-up for the Miss Alaska title, won Miss Congeniality in that contest, and plays the flute."

- Maybe she can wow the international community with her beauty and flute skills? I mean she was Miss Wasilla in 1984 and runner-up in the Miss Alaska pageant in which she played the flute and won the Miss Congeniality title. Maybe she can out-flute Biden in the debates?

"I think the potential for her to attract women voters is immense. And I am betting, win or lose or draw, she is a future star of a party in desperate need of young people and women role models
And by the end of this campaign, she too will be a celebrity and her life will never be the same again. I hope that's all for the good."

- A future star! A CELEBRITY?!?! Wow, I though this was what they were bashing Obama about?


Democratic Strategist Paul Begala spoke out about McCain's poor pick for VP. Here's what his article said:

"John McCain needs what Kinky Friedman calls 'a checkup from the neck up.'
In choosing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his running mate he is not thinking 'outside the box,' as some have said. More like out of his mind.


Palin, a first-term governor of a state with more reindeer than people, will have to put on a few pounds just to be a lightweight. Her personal story is impressive: former fisherman, mother of five. But that hardly qualifies her to be a heartbeat away from the presidency.


For a man who is 72 years old and has had four bouts with cancer to have chosen someone so completely unqualified to become president is shockingly irresponsible. Suddenly, McCain's age and health become central issues in the campaign, as does his judgment.


In choosing this featherweight, McCain passed over Tom Ridge, a decorated combat hero, a Cabinet secretary and the former two-term governor of the large, complex state of Pennsylvania.


He passed over Mitt Romney, who ran a big state, Massachusetts; a big company, Bain Capital; and a big event, the Olympics.
He passed over Kay Bailey Hutchison, the Texas senator who is knowledgeable about the military, good on television, and -- obviously -- a woman.
He passed over Joe Lieberman, his best friend in the Senate and fellow Iraq Kool-Aid drinker.
He passed over former congressman, trade negotiator and budget director Rob Portman.
And he also passed over Mike Huckabee, the governor of Arkansas.


For months, the McCainiacs have said they will run on his judgment and experience. In his first presidential decision, John McCain has shown he is willing to endanger his country, potentially leaving it in the hands of someone who simply has no business being a heartbeat away from the most powerful, complicated, difficult job in human history."


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