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Was told by my father the other night to give McCain's choice for VP the benefit of the doubt. She does, after all, have the most executive experience of the four. The other three are Sentators. She's Governor of Alaska, which granted isn't exactly the most populous state in the US, let alone the largest. When I stated this - my father pointed out that it didn't matter - she has managed a huge staff of people, George Bush who was Governor of Texas - didn't because that was the Lieut. Governor's job. He found her attractive, capable, and an unknown quantity. He also cautioned me against making broad and emotional generalizations, which I kept doing during the phone call. Stating he'd lived a lot longer than I have and seen more Presidents, and Eisenhower, who happened to be a Republican, wasn't that bad. (My father's still voting for Obama by the way, even if it's in South Carolina has the overall effect throwing a pebble in the ocean.)
Regarding Sarah Palin - here's an interesting post I found via a link by a resident of Palin's state, Alaska: http://artaxastra.livejournal.com/251953.html
However, I think the commentator has a relatively uninformed and narror view of the abortion debate, but then most people do - I've discovered - just like they do on the death penalty, but I'm not going there. ( explanation of my comment )
Regarding Sarah Palin qualifications for VP of the USA and views - below are several links from conservative, moderate, and liberal sources regarding the Governor's views on issues ranging from human rights to energy.
1. Biography - turns out she is educated, has a BA in communications and journalism from the University of Idaho and has lived most of her life in Alaska. Also a former beauty queen. Here's the site: http://gov.state.ak.us/bio.html.
One of her kids' names is Willow. Wonder if she was a Buffy fan? Probably not.
She has one son with Down's Syndrom - hence the anti-abortion stance. (By the way, I've met women with children with Down's Syndrom who are not anti-abortion and pro-choice. So it's not automatic).
She has another son, not the same one, going to the Iraq War this year. She's against the draft and for expanding on the Reserves. Also pro-Iraq (proof that having a kid in Iraq does not automatically make you anti-war, nor is having served in Iraq make you anti-Iraq war - know quite a few who have done both and are pro-Iraq.)
Was on the city council, then was Mayor of Wassilia, Alaska and became Governor two years ago. Hunts and fishes with her husband. And is a proud member of the NRA for the last twenty years. Age? 44, making her possibly the youngest female nominee.
General Bits. :http://www.squidoo.com/sarah-palin
( website on sarah palin - three reasons to make her VP, three not too!)
Sarah Palin on the VP's Job: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12969.html
2. Human Rights: She's anti-gay rights, although there's a bit of a dispute regarding it. The facts however - show that while she states she has no problems with gays, her voting record and statements regarding it show she can't handle them getting married and having the benefits associated with marriage. She's anti-abortion and pro-guns. The jury is out on equal pay. Also pro-death penalty (but then they all are).
http://www.gay.com/news/article.html?2008/08/29/1
Stop the ACLU Article on Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin's Record and Views on Gay Rights, Women's Rights, etc.
Sarah Palin on Gay Rights - the Gay PAtriot or Conservative Gay Newsletter
3. Voting Record or Sarah Palin on the issues - if you don't want to read for yourself - quick summary, Palin has voted along the same lines as Bush and Cheney have for the last two years on all the issues. If you agree with Bush and Cheney, you will agree with Sarah Palin. She's a bright, no-nonsense, down-to-earth, socially conservative Republican. Regarding Energy? She's from Alaska - she's pro-oil and coal and doesn't see a need for alternative resources. (Alaska's prime industry is Oil - to change tracks would hurt Alaska. Be a bit like the Governor of Texas wanting to look at different energy resources.) She's equally for conservation. Her view is that you should be able to drill for oil and get more oil and still conserve and help the environment, why can't we drill in Alaska yet still be conservationists? There should be a middle ground.
Vote Match for Sarah Palin - this is an objective tally of where Sarah has voted in the last two years during her term as Governor.
Sarah Palin on the Issues
The Huffington Post's take on Palin
This is going to be one heck of an interesting election. A couple of comments, 1)I'm not as impressed with the selection of a female VP as everyone else seems to be - because I remember Margret Thatcher as the first female Prime Minister of England. I also remember that Geraldine Ferraro (Mondale's running mate way back in the 1980s) - who was the first female VP nomination in US history and one I liked and respected a heck of a lot more. So, they nominated a woman? Like I stated before - I personally think it is idiotic to vote for someone based solely on the color of their skin, racial ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, and gender. Age on the other hand - I think there should be a limit on. 2) The nomination does win over the social conservatives. Rush Limbaugh was apparently pushing hard for Sarah Palin to be chosen on his radio show for several months now. So the conservatives who hate McCain have been appeased by Palin. But - for anyone who does not like what the Bush Administration has been doing or wants big changes? They've got to realize that Palin and McCain aren't it - Palin and McCain will continue everything Bush and Cheney have done, just a touch or two differently, maybe with more spice than vinegar? So if you liked the substance of Bush/Cheney but not the style - you're going to vote Palin/McCain and probably love what you read above. If, on the other hand, you found the style amusing and the substance frightening - McCain/Palin are your worste nightmare.
Regarding Sarah Palin - here's an interesting post I found via a link by a resident of Palin's state, Alaska: http://artaxastra.livejournal.com/251953.html
However, I think the commentator has a relatively uninformed and narror view of the abortion debate, but then most people do - I've discovered - just like they do on the death penalty, but I'm not going there. ( explanation of my comment )
Regarding Sarah Palin qualifications for VP of the USA and views - below are several links from conservative, moderate, and liberal sources regarding the Governor's views on issues ranging from human rights to energy.
1. Biography - turns out she is educated, has a BA in communications and journalism from the University of Idaho and has lived most of her life in Alaska. Also a former beauty queen. Here's the site: http://gov.state.ak.us/bio.html.
One of her kids' names is Willow. Wonder if she was a Buffy fan? Probably not.
She has one son with Down's Syndrom - hence the anti-abortion stance. (By the way, I've met women with children with Down's Syndrom who are not anti-abortion and pro-choice. So it's not automatic).
She has another son, not the same one, going to the Iraq War this year. She's against the draft and for expanding on the Reserves. Also pro-Iraq (proof that having a kid in Iraq does not automatically make you anti-war, nor is having served in Iraq make you anti-Iraq war - know quite a few who have done both and are pro-Iraq.)
Was on the city council, then was Mayor of Wassilia, Alaska and became Governor two years ago. Hunts and fishes with her husband. And is a proud member of the NRA for the last twenty years. Age? 44, making her possibly the youngest female nominee.
General Bits. :http://www.squidoo.com/sarah-palin
( website on sarah palin - three reasons to make her VP, three not too!)
Sarah Palin on the VP's Job: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12969.html
2. Human Rights: She's anti-gay rights, although there's a bit of a dispute regarding it. The facts however - show that while she states she has no problems with gays, her voting record and statements regarding it show she can't handle them getting married and having the benefits associated with marriage. She's anti-abortion and pro-guns. The jury is out on equal pay. Also pro-death penalty (but then they all are).
http://www.gay.com/news/article.html?2008/08/29/1
Stop the ACLU Article on Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin's Record and Views on Gay Rights, Women's Rights, etc.
Sarah Palin on Gay Rights - the Gay PAtriot or Conservative Gay Newsletter
3. Voting Record or Sarah Palin on the issues - if you don't want to read for yourself - quick summary, Palin has voted along the same lines as Bush and Cheney have for the last two years on all the issues. If you agree with Bush and Cheney, you will agree with Sarah Palin. She's a bright, no-nonsense, down-to-earth, socially conservative Republican. Regarding Energy? She's from Alaska - she's pro-oil and coal and doesn't see a need for alternative resources. (Alaska's prime industry is Oil - to change tracks would hurt Alaska. Be a bit like the Governor of Texas wanting to look at different energy resources.) She's equally for conservation. Her view is that you should be able to drill for oil and get more oil and still conserve and help the environment, why can't we drill in Alaska yet still be conservationists? There should be a middle ground.
Vote Match for Sarah Palin - this is an objective tally of where Sarah has voted in the last two years during her term as Governor.
Sarah Palin on the Issues
The Huffington Post's take on Palin
This is going to be one heck of an interesting election. A couple of comments, 1)I'm not as impressed with the selection of a female VP as everyone else seems to be - because I remember Margret Thatcher as the first female Prime Minister of England. I also remember that Geraldine Ferraro (Mondale's running mate way back in the 1980s) - who was the first female VP nomination in US history and one I liked and respected a heck of a lot more. So, they nominated a woman? Like I stated before - I personally think it is idiotic to vote for someone based solely on the color of their skin, racial ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, and gender. Age on the other hand - I think there should be a limit on. 2) The nomination does win over the social conservatives. Rush Limbaugh was apparently pushing hard for Sarah Palin to be chosen on his radio show for several months now. So the conservatives who hate McCain have been appeased by Palin. But - for anyone who does not like what the Bush Administration has been doing or wants big changes? They've got to realize that Palin and McCain aren't it - Palin and McCain will continue everything Bush and Cheney have done, just a touch or two differently, maybe with more spice than vinegar? So if you liked the substance of Bush/Cheney but not the style - you're going to vote Palin/McCain and probably love what you read above. If, on the other hand, you found the style amusing and the substance frightening - McCain/Palin are your worste nightmare.
