Palin story that isn't about Bristol

[Laurel]

Full disclosure- this is an editorial. But I'm dying to know how you all feel about this issue.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/02/politics/animal/main4407224.shtml

[lizajane]

before i could form an opinion i would need to know if she joined this party as a young, idealist woman out to conquer the world or as a politician with alaska's best interest in mind.

[Laurel]

Personally, it doesn't bother me much. But with all the attacks on the Obamas patriotism, I want this to receive an equal amount of attention. Call me bitter.

Bottom line- I don't see how you can say McCain vetted her (it seems pretty clear that he didn't) or made the right choice (by his campaigns admission he had spoken to her TWO times, once by phone, before making the decision). There are many more deserving Republican women and men.

[Rainbows&Roses]

From the little bit I have read, despite the widely touted polling numbers stating her high state approval rating, she has made quite a few enemies. I think it will be interesting to see how much else spills out that can be validated.

But regardless, this media "scrutiny" provides a fascinating look into a place (Alaska) we often don't hear much about.

[maestramommy]

Well, it says she ONCE was a member of the party, which means she isn't any longer. So she must've changed her mind somewhere along the way.

[Emmas Mom]

Were there attacks of Obama on this board?? I don't read everything like I used so I could've missed it but I haven't seen as many negative comments on Obama/Biden as I have on McCain/Palin. ;)

Personally it doesn't change my opinion of her much at all. Who I was in 1994 is not the same as who I am today. Granted I'm not in politics. But yeah, I wonder the circumstances in which she joined & also in which she switched parties.

[LarsMal]

DH was saying something about a felony charge last night? I think it was for something like illegal fishing, which I thought sounded silly, but I guess it's a big deal in Alaska.

The more I hear about her, the more I wonder what McCain was thinking putting her on his ticket and what she was thinking accepting it!

[Georgia]

Bottom line- I don't see how you can say McCain vetted her (it seems pretty clear that he didn't) or made the right choice (by his campaigns admission he had spoken to her TWO times, once by phone, before making the decision).

This is my issue with the Palin pick, the lack of judgment it shows on McCain's part--whether or not anything else comes out about her and whether or not anything on the table now gets worse. I'm so so tired of incompetent management from the White House, and the combination of Gustav and the Katrina anniversary brought up memories of Brownie and then hearing the story of how little vetting happened here. It all has me reeling. You can't even pick up the phone and call a single person from the state of Alaska!? Ack!

I've been very at peace with this election before now. I want Obama to win but I've always liked McCain, and it felt like it was going to be a great relief to have someone new in the White House no matter what.

McCain needs to address the hastiness and sloppiness of this pick, even if Palin turns out to be the greatest VP ever. He's running on change and this is so reminiscent of some of the more infamous Bush appointments that, well :32: and that's all.

[JenaW]

Perhaps it is naivete (sp??) on my part, but I would like to think that McCain would not have made this decision lightly, without great thought and input from his advisors. In hindsight, it may turn out to be the "wrong" decision (not saying I personally think it is), especially if he loses the election, but I doubt it was one made hastily.

I must admit that I have found a lot of the hubbub surround Palin hysterical. While I know that it is not a popular stance on this board, I am very conservative, and as such, typically vote Republican. McCain is not, by far, the perfect candidate IMHO, but I could never vote for Obama considering many of the things he stands for. I find it completely laughable that ANYONE thinks Hillary lovers are going to vote for the McCain/Palin ticket simply because it carries a woman and I surely hope that is not the only (or primary) reason he chose her as a running mate.


~J

[Georgia]

but I doubt it was one made hastily.

Apparently they went from not even considering her seriously to offering her the job 4-5 days later.

[StantonHyde]

I don't care about her switching political parties--we all have the right to change our minds.

Its just that the McCain vetting process does not add up. Supposedly his people arrived one day prior to McCain announcing her. They ran basic background checks etc. But we all know that you don't have to have a record to have skeletons in the closet.

I understand not wanting to say--this is my new running mate and she has a pregnant daughter. You want people to get to know Palin first, then introduce the family stuff. But I would have had a ton of press releases crafted and ready to respond. And within a few days, I would have "rebuttal" sheets for anything the media might dig up. If the media can dig it up, his campaign folks certainly can.

So far I have not seen a direct confirmation of any criminal activity--just shady insuation. And that is not going to change somebody's vote but it might sway undecideds.

[kijip]

Frankly, I can't hold this against her. I went to some crazy meetings as a very young adult and looking back I certainly would not want someone to judge me because I gave $10 a few political parties that I no longer agree with even a little. We all have the right to change our minds.

That said, I can't imagine had Obama or Biden been a part of movements to break off Illinois or Delaware from the union that it would not be the focus of constant advertising, mass emails etc from the GOP. Sorry, I am quite sure it would be. As it is, Obama's patriotism has been questioned for nothing more than his name being sharing assonance and alliteration with a terrorist. I wish GOP members that don't hold this against Palin would take personal offence when someone runs around calling him a terrorist etc.

[ellies mom]

Perhaps it is naivete (sp??) on my part, but I would like to think that McCain would not have made this decision lightly, without great thought and input from his advisors. In hindsight, it may turn out to be the "wrong" decision (not saying I personally think it is), especially if he loses the election, but I doubt it was one made hastily.
~J

One of his advisors admitted that they didn't request the paper archives of Wasilla paper because they didn't want the "secret" to get out. Not checking the local paper of the town she was both mayor and city council member of to keep a secret seems a little risky to me.