Who is Sarah Palin

This is an email that i recently received:

"Yesterday was John McCain's 72nd birthday. If elected, he'd be the oldest president ever inaugurated. And after months of slamming Barack Obama for "inexperience," here's who John McCain has chosen to be one heartbeat away from the presidency: a right-wing religious conservative with no foreign policy experience, who until recently was mayor of a town of 9,000 people.

Huh?
Who is Sarah Palin?

Here's some basic background:

She was elected Alaska's governor a little over a year and a half ago. Her previous office was mayor of Wasilla, a small town outside Anchorage. She has no foreign policy experience.(1)

Palin is strongly anti-choice, opposing abortion even in the case of rape or incest.(2)

She supported right-wing extremist Pat Buchanan for president in 2000. (3)

Palin thinks creationism should be taught in public schools.(4)

She's doesn't think humans are the cause of climate change.(5)

She's solidly in line with John McCain's "Big Oil first" energy policy. She's pushed hard for more oil drilling and says renewables won't be ready for years. She also sued the Bush administration for listing polar bears as an endangered species—she was worried it would interfere with more oil drilling in Alaska.(6)

How closely did John McCain vet this choice? He met Sarah Palin once at a meeting. They spoke a second time, last Sunday, when he called her about being vice-president. Then he offered her the position.(7)

This is information the American people need to see.

Please take a moment to forward this email to your friends and family.

We also asked Alaskans what the rest of us should know about their governor. The response was striking.

Here's a sample:

She is really just a mayor from a small town outside Anchorage who has been a governor for only 1.5 years, and has ZERO national and international experience. I shudder to think that she could be the person taking that 3AM call on the White House hotline, and the one who could potentially be charged with leading the US in the volatile international scene that exists today. —Rose M., Fairbanks, AK

She is VERY, VERY conservative, and far from perfect. She's a hunter and fisherwoman, but votes against the environment again and again. She ran on ethics reform, but is currently under investigation for several charges involving hiring and firing of state officials. She has NO experience beyond Alaska. —Christine B., Denali Park, AK

As an Alaskan and a feminist, I am beyond words at this announcement. Palin is not a feminist, and she is not the reformer she claims to be. —Karen L., Anchorage, AK

Alaskans, collectively, are just as stunned as the rest of the nation. She is doing well running our State, but is totally inexperienced on the national level, and very much unequipped to run the nation, if it came to that. She is as far right as one can get, which has already been communicated on the news. In our office of thirty employees (dems, republicans, and nonpartisans), not one person feels she is ready for the V.P. position.—Sherry C., Anchorage, AK

She's vehemently anti-choice and doesn't care about protecting our natural resources, even though she has worked as a fisherman. McCain chose her to pick up the Hillary voters, but Palin is no Hillary. —Marina L., Juneau, AK

I think she's far too inexperienced to be in this position. I'm all for a woman in the White House, but not one who hasn't done anything to deserve it. There are far many other women who have worked their way up and have much more experience that would have been better choices. This is a patronizing decision on John McCain's part- and insulting to females everywhere that he would assume he'll get our vote by putting "A Woman" in that position.—Jennifer M., Anchorage, AK

So Governor Palin is a staunch anti-choice religious conservative. She's a global warming denier who shares John McCain's commitment to Big Oil. And she's dramatically inexperienced. In picking Sarah Palin, John McCain has made the religious right very happy. And he's made a very dangerous decision for our country.

In the next few days, many Americans will be wondering what McCain's vice-presidential choice means. Please pass this information along to your friends and family."

SOURCES (CAPS):
1. "Sarah Palin," WIKIPEDIA, Accessed August 29, 2008 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Palin2. "McCain Selects Anti-Choice Sarah Palin as Running Mate," NARAL PRO-CHOICE AMERICA, August 29, 2008 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17515&id=13661-9464256-Zixm2Bx&t=13. "Sarah Palin, Buchananite," THE NATION, August 29, 2008 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17736&id=13661-9464256-Zixm2Bx&t=2 4. "'Creation science' enters the race," ANCHORAGE DAILY NEWS, October 27, 2006 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17737&id=13661-9464256-Zixm2Bx&t=35. "Palin buys climate denial PR spin—ignores science," HUFFINGTON POST, August 29, 2008 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17517&id=13661-9464256-Zixm2Bx&t=46. "McCain VP Pick Completes Shift to Bush Energy Policy," SIERRA CLUB, August 29, 2008 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17518&id=13661-9464256-Zixm2Bx&t=5"Choice of Palin Promises Failed Energy Policies of the Past," LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS, August 29, 2008 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17519&id=13661-9464256-Zixm2Bx&t=6"Protecting polar bears gets in way of drilling for oil, says governor," THE TIMES OF LONDON, May 23, 2008 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17520&id=13661-9464256-Zixm2Bx&t=77 "McCain met Palin once before yesterday," MSNBC, August 29, 2008 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=21119&id=13661-9464256-Zixm2Bx&t=8

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."

Issue by Issue: Obama v. McCain

Let's Talk This One Out...

The major issues of this campaign, at least in my opinion, are as follows:

alphabetical order...

Abortion: For me, this has always been a tough issue. I am not a woman, I am not going to get pregnant. I also, will not be finding myself in the situation where I would be getting a girl pregnant. I believe that it should be the woman's choice as to whether or not they will carry a baby to term. On the surface, this may seem like a simple issue. It is not. I reccommend reading up on the SCIENCE behind fetus' development, the issues that lead to unwanted pregnancies... such as lack of education or improper sexual education altogether (which is rampant in this country due to bad funding and private schooling). Don't get me started on religion and sexual education, just look to Africa and the AIDS EPIDEMIC coinciding with the religious right's refusal to educate and provide condoms... "Our way or the ..." ... well a horrible and excrutiatingly painful death. Weighing it all out, Obama wins this one for me.

Afghanistan: Since we know that 9/11 had nothing to do with Saddam and Iraq or WMDs, why are there over 130,000 U.S. soldiers in Iraq and only 36,000 in Afghanistan? Yah, I don't know either... so for me, Democrats take this one too.

Economy: With the economy as it is (and by now everyone seems to agree it isn't good) why would we cut taxes on the people who already have 50x's more than enough money to live comfortably? Shouldn't the people who are barely making it get a tax break? I think so. Increasing taxes on those who make millions a year so that they only make... umm... let me check... still millions a year is NOT communism. I agree that people need incentive to continue working hard and making money, but if someone complains that they are making only (yes sarcasm) $4,000,000 a year instead of $7,000,000 , well then I think they are just greedy. If you disagree, then you disagree. Also, corporations such as Walmart and Microsoft and MANY MANY OTHERS use tax law loopholes to avoid paying many taxes altogether. McCain wants to cut corporate taxes even more on for those who are even paying to begin with. Obama wants to make them pay up, McCain doesn't. Heck, I pay taxes, I think Walmart, Microsoft, and thousands of other corporations should too. This would cover tons of programs and initiatives that Obama has proposed.

Education: No Child Left Behind is horrible in its current condition. Trust me, I read the literature, the whole dang packet of papers: I had a class that covered NO Child Left Behind with former Republican Congressman Bud Shuster and HE EVEN SAID N.C.L.B. was BAD. McCain is for it and voted for it, Obama said the intentions were good, the bill was bad. I agree with Obama.

To be Continued with....

Energy
Environment
Gun Control
Health Care
Homeland Security
Immigration
Iran
Iraq (War)
LGBT Civil Rights
Stem Cell Research
Taxes

Yes there are other issues, but these are the ones that seem most important to me.

You Have Got to be F*cking Kidding Me

Jesus also appears on Cheetos! Delicious...

Via Cheeto

in their own words....

even though i don't take any politicians' words seriously let alone the demon-crats.....here's a video for those of you that do....