Palin was born in Idaho and raised in Alaska. In 1984, she was the runner-up in the Miss Alaska pageant, receiving a scholarship that allowed her to attend the University of Idaho, where she received a degree in journalism. After working as a sports reporter at an Anchorage television station, Palin served two terms on the Wasilla, Alaska, City Council from 1992 to 1996, was elected mayor of Wasilla (population 5,470 in 2000) in 1996, and ran unsuccessfully for Lieutenant Governor in 2002.
Palin was elected Governor of Alaska in 2006 on the theme of governmental reform, defeating incumbent governor Frank Murkowski in the Republican primary and former Democratic Alaskan governor Tony Knowles in the general election.
So her political experience consists of being a city council member for 4 years, a mayor of a small Alaska town for 10 and then 2 years in her current position as Governor.
Remember the obsession Republicans have with Obama's inexperience? Sure you do. That is one of their biggest gripes about Obama before moving on to other things like flag pins.
Well, today is John McCain's birthday. Happy #72, Johnny!
72 years. Hmmmm. So if John McCain were not able to fulfill his duties as President for some reason, guess who moves in to the White House?
Yep, former city councilwoman/mayor/1 term governor and Vogue cover girl, Sarah Palin.
Can it be that the GOP is really this stupid?
Or so friggin' hypocritical?
-photo via Kodiak Konfidential
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53 comments:
Rick, you do realize that's photoshopped, right?
Other than that, fully agree and will have to choose option #2.
Let's see how long till the apologists come out and claim that this candidate's inexperience is different from Barack's inexperience.
Or so friggin' hypocritical?
Not to mention tokenism: would the McCain campaign have even considered Gov. Palin for the job with this thin resume had she been a man?
just like you sexist libs. you had a great qualified woman with 18m votes and you dissed her.
Using your definition for experience, then you should dump obama for biden or hillary cause his only experience is in giving speeches and he has no accomplishments other than giving speeches.
you should have picked hillary. it will cost you folks the election.
WIsh I had something to say...
This is ridiculous. It's like McCain doesn't really want to win...
The houses thing was combatable with "I'm rich. Don't hate. My economic plan is going to help all Americans have the opportunity to own many homes too."
Wasted time pandering to La Raza and NAACP.
Is basically running the most lackluster campaign every seen.
Is not distancing himself from Bush OR is not helping to sell Bush's policies.
Ridiculous.
I'm no conspiracy theorist but none of this makes sense to me. Why don't the Republicans want the White House this election?
my name is srcohiba and I say the same things over and over. my name is srcohiba and I say the same things over and over. my name is srcohiba and I say the same things over and over. my name is srcohiba and I say the same things over and over. my name is srcohiba and I say the same things over and over. my name is srcohiba and I say the same things over and over. *bump*
First off, the Vogue thing is sexist.
Second, as for experience the population of Alaska is smaller than Jacksonville (FL). And for all of its rabid conservatism, my understanding is that the citizens of that state all receive a welfare check (making it the most socialist).
- g
ps Isn't Palin under some king of investigation?
So we would be one McCain stroke away from a lady who named her kid "Trig" from becoming president?
But what about Hillary, Dave? What about Hillary? I refuse to talk about McCain and Palin, whose biggest foreign policy decision thus far in her career has been to settle on how much smoked salmon Alaska should ship to Mexico.
WHAT ABOUT HILLARY?
I just want to send a warm thank you to John McCain who just handed the election over to JoeBama. Sarah Palin is under investigation in Alaska, praised Obama's energy plan just two months ago and has ZERO experience to be President, let alone Governor of a state. Lets face it, John McCain ain't no spring chicken and at 72, the chance of this no-name becoming President is pretty high.
This is also a slap in the face to women voters. They almost got Hillary and now they get Sarah as the first potential VP? Just like the Republicans through up Alan Keyes to run against Barack Obama in Illinois and thought because he's black, he'll win, voters will see through this stunt. No way women will fall for that logic because not just ANY women will do. They have to be the real deal.
you had a great qualified woman with 18m votes and you dissed her.
Hearing a right-winger complain about people dissing Hillary Clinton is like being criticized for your table manners by Jeffrey Dahmer.
So we would be one McCain stroke away from a lady who named her kid "Trig" from becoming president?
How is that different than electing a guy who named his daughter "Malia?"
McCain is 22 years OLDER than his running mate's state.
I don't think anything else need be said!
Listen, you dirty, rotten, libs...I ask you, what about Hillary? Palin made some important policy decisions as Mayor of Wasilla. A teenage curfew was enacted. A new traffic light was installed at 12th and Main. And a library handicap ramp was built. Anyone can see that she's qualified to be U.S. VP and, if need be, the President. But we still have 2 good years, at least, from McCain.
But I don't want to talk about that.
What about Hillary????
That Vogue photo is fake and extremely sexist.
For myself I am very happy with McCain's pick for VP. I watched her speech, researched her for at least an hour online. From what I've learned so far - and yes I read all of Wonkette's bashing too -- I think he made a great choice.
@ FerfeLaBat: why am I not surprised? McCain just proved he doesn't really want to be president. Why is that Vogue cover sexist? She posed for Vogue...not the cover but she posed for them.
Ferfel,
Is every cover of Vogue sexist? Because that's what their covers look like.
And why do you think it's a great choice on McCain's part?
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Apples to oranges. Obama would become president without much experience while Palin would at least already have some experience as Vice President if anything were to happen to McCain (and that is a really big "if") Besides, McCain is not that old. Why would he die within the next 4 years? He is in good health and will probably have the best health care possible while in the White House. I don't consider an inexperienced Vice President to be a big issue, in my opinion they actually have the luxury of learning while on the job. A president doesn't!
lazaro, go look up "irony" in the dictionary, okay?
Obama has less executive experience than Palin. He has zero executive experience in fact. Obama is not qualified to be VP, much less President.
Despite almost the entire media being part of his campaign, and despite all of Germany loving him, he is still in a dead heat with old McCain.
Maybe he should move to Germany?
SCG
Despite almost the entire media being part of his campaign, and despite all of Germany loving him, he is still in a dead heat with old McCain.
Oh, really now, SCG?
Too much Fox News will do that to you, SCG.
BTW, with all the ranting you do about rejecting both political parties and our electoral system as a whole, I have yet to see you criticize McCain at any length. Seems only right that you should do that, right?
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SCG, how much executive experience does John McCain have? Was he a governor? Has he run a company?
Oh, wait; he was a P.O.W. Well, that makes it okay, then.
I think that is someone pretending to be SrCohiba, btw.
Vogue is a magazine mostly geared toward women so the fact that she granted an interview and photo shoot with a magazine geared toward women does not make her a Vogue Model and she was not on the cover of the issue. I got into this issue before here and I realize that you guys do not really understand the whole "sexism" thing. Most men don't and that's ok. She was trying to put a more positive image of Alaska out to a national audience and granted a lot of interviews and photo shoots selling her state as a desirable destination.
There's nothing negative you can say that can possibly hurt me worse the fact that three of my best female friends announced definitively that there is no way they could vote for McCain now that he's chosen a woman for a running mate. It's not just men who are sexist. She hasn't had her first debate with Biden. No one has given her even ONE freaking day to introduce herself. All anyone sees is that she is female and that just won't do.
So. Carry on.
So the answers to my questions, Ferfel, are.....?????
As a reminder....
Is every cover of Vogue sexist?
And why do you think it's a great choice on McCain's part?
Funny thing. You say that people who don't think she's qualified after just one day are wrong to come to that conclusion so fast, but yet it's okay for you to conclude that she's a great choice. Interesting.
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Ferfe: No she's not a Vogue model...but the reason and only reason Vogue approached her is because she's a reasonably attractive woman. So who's sexist?
Have they ever done an interview ith Kay Bailey Hutchinson?
Honestly, as someone who doesnt align themselves with either party, its pretty funny to see people like cohiba and ferfel talk themselves into this woman as a VP. In the past week, McCain has taken both his "elitist" and "inexperienced" arguments and pissed them both right out the window. If there was a "fantasy politics" draft, this chick wouldnt be taken until the 12th round.
I'm excited by the potential and giving her a serious once or twice over. My first impression of her has been excellent. I want to se how she does in a debate with Biden, definitely. But this:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/22/alaska.bridge.ap/
and this
http://dwb.adn.com/front/story/8489684p-8383460c.html
Speak very well to how she will be in office.
Photo shopping a governor's face over the body of a Vogue model is a sexist thing to do. Vogue has interviewed many politicians. Their readers are not brain dead. I read it. I also read Vanity Faire, Time, "O", Real Simple, Martha Stewart Living, Spin and National Geographic. All of those magazines touch on politics in some way or another.
And calling her a "chick" is also sexist.
Let's face it, folks, there isn't a person McCain could have picked that dedicated folks to the cause like Ferfel and srcohiba WOULDN'T have liked. ET could have walked on stage and they would have been high-fiving each other because "he was really good in the movie."
It's the way the game is played in partisan politics. They are, have been, and always will be in the business of selling out the security of this country if it means that they retain power. There is no earthly way any rational, sane person would want the 2006 Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, to be Vice President of the United States unless they are totally blinded by partisanship.
Or really like women who can fish.
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I think the choice of Michael Palin was a brilliant one. It will bring just the right kind of insouciance and irreverence the campaign has been lacking. That and it will lock up the dead parrot vote...
Partisan BS aside, is there anyone, short of some past president, who is ready to be president? No. It's a unique job, and I bet if you took a poll of past prez's, all of them would tell you nothing prepared them for what they encountered in office. Just like lifting 50 pounds doesn't prepare you to lift 200.
All I saw was desperation in this pick. BM said Mac just undermined his best point of attack against Obama, and he's right. His choice put himself in a glass house. Palin does nothing to poach disenfranchised Hillary votes, because her conservative bent would give those folks pause, and cause them to remember that being a woman was only one reason they were supporting Hillary. The fleeting genius of choosing a woman went out the window when he chose an inexperienced one, because it laid bare the motivation. Obama's choice, for all its shortcomings, at least had a sincere ring to it, in that it helped shore up his weakness on experience and on foreign policy. Mac's choice only shored up his weakness of not having a vagina. Palin may turn out to have been an inspired choice, and in that sense I agree with Ferfe; let's see what she's got. Hell, she ran against the machine in Alaska and won. And the machine in Alaska ain't no different than the machine in NYC. It's just smaller, and it wears those funny hats with the earflaps.
Rick, you forgot to mention she's gonna lock up the hockey vote. Medicine Hat just went red.
"McCain is 22 years OLDER than his running mate's state." --southocean, above
OMG that's hilarious.
Partisan BS aside, is there anyone, short of some past president, who is ready to be president?
Of course not, None, but there are degrees of experience, wouldn't you agree? I mean, Mayor Alvarez and Congressman Bill Nelson might not be ready to be President, but I would rather have Nelson on deck than Alvarez.
And the machine in Alaska ain't no different than the machine in NYC.
I might beg to differ and so might this Alaskan.
What does The Hat have to do with this???
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John McCain started running for president three weeks before Sarah Palin was sworn in as governor.
Yep.
I read the paean to Palin's inexperience. No argument. Good thing they vetted her. Just think, they could have drafted Lizzy Borden.
But as to my machine statement, that Alaskan says nothing. Rick, do you know who this woman beat for the state house?
Frank Murkowski was not just any sitting Governor. He had 20 years in the US Senate before then, and handed his daughter the seat when he tired of it. This guy was the Alaskan machine. You think not? Hell, Ted Stevens still won his primary, even under indictment. My only suggestion was that she might have a little something in the campaigning department, if nothing else.
As to quality of experience, I think it's a mixed bag. On the one hand, the executive has to be compfortable with standing alone, and that would militate in favor of someone comfortable with that form of scrutiny. I do recognize, however, that since the exec has to deal with Congress, some past experience within the process, not to mention old friends and colleagues, is valuable as well. At least on good Pres comes to mind that proceeded from the Senate. I say flip a coin.
This may sound simplistic, but the rest is just more or less zeroes. And you know what they say, a billion here and a billion there...
Personally, I worry more about Palin's apparent extreme right-winginess than I do about her experience. At least until she's carrying the football.
Obama has NO experience at all and you are all quite comfortable with him being president, probably because he is a man. Deny it all you want, but the experience argument went right out of the window when the Democrats crowned Obama as their candidate. Find another reason to hate on Palin or at least be honest that the main reason you don't want her is that she is a woman.
actually Ferfelabat, Obama, McCain, and Biden have the same amount of executive experience: 0.
But we just went through 8 years of our country being led by an idiot. Bush brags that he was a C student and McCain has made jokes about graduating fifth from the bottom of his class at the naval academy. Thanks but no thanks!
We don't need another dolt at the helm.
And please don't make the argument that people hate Palin because she's a woman. I could also make an argument that people don't like Obama because he's black.
Ferfe, the experience argument was never in to be thrown out in the first place. Obama has not run on his experience, but rather on his judgment, world view and knowledge of the issues, both domestic and foreign. McCain on the other hand, has made experience and his ability to stand up to his party a huge issue. He selected her not only because she's a woman, but also because she's an ultra christian conservative. The religious right is now very excited about this ticket and I actually think it was smart move politically on McCain's part; though he also claims to choose principals over politics. He has now mobilized a strong constituency that felt lukewarm with him at best and that is the reason he chose her.
But what he also did, was solidify the argument that this is going to be 4 more years of Bush/Cheney. You have the little experienced Christian conservative coupled with the "pragmatic", experienced hawk. 8 is Enough!!!!
More family values: Palin's husband has a DWI arrest.
fefelbat, you're not actually going to stick to that cop out to defend a horribly unqualified candidate are you?
"Crowned?" Like McCain is going to be "crowned" this week.Typical Republican hippocrite.
Word has it that you're Bride of Rove, flufel.
If that's the case, the Republican talking points are TOTALLY explainable.
Thanks.
Yes. I run Bride of Rove. Yes. I am a Republican. I have not pretended anything otherwise. I am more to the center than most and I am genuinely interested in understanding all sides of the issues. But there is one issue I take one side on. The debates and discussions need to stick to the issues and the fact that Hillary is a woman and Palin is a woman should not open the door to abusive language. Say you disagree with her Pro-life stance. But the personal smears and the attacks on her kids are unbelievable in their viciousness. Racism sucks and wouldn't be tolerated .. IS not tolerated. But sexism is just fine and dandy I'm noticing. I don't like it. I don't like that no one in the Obama camp is speaking up and calling for it to stop.
Where did I say "crowned"? That's not a word I would normaly use in any context.
More to the center than most...
...what's right of calling Obama a Marxist/Socialist who is going to be pals with Chavez?
So it's okay for Palin to use her children when she's talking about Down's Syndrome but everyone should keep quiet about the child who apparently failed the Abstinence Only program? Problem is, it's not about the child. It's about the hypocrisy of a Right-to-Lifer actually having the gall to say that her 17-year-old made "the choice" to have the baby, like she actually had a choice.
Another thing, Bride, when Fox starts using the terminology "Baby's Daddy" to describe Bristol's future husband, then I'll consider things almost even when it comes to smearing and attacking, okay?
Finally...
Deny it all you want, but the experience argument went right out of the window when the Democrats crowned Obama as their candidate.
Where did I say "crowned"? That's not a word I would normaly use in any context.
That's what happens when you're regurgitating Republican talking points.
Ferfe
If you don't like the dialogue here, why not hang out on the babalu blog...seems like that would be an environment where you would be much happier. Michelle Malkin too.
It's funny, Republicans like to get involved in the personal lives of everyone else but when the tables are turned they don't like it.
They want to tell women what they can do with their bodies and I don't suppose you remmember Jeb Bush's attempt to get the government involved in a matter that was between Terry Schiavo's husband and her family?
Please, your hypocrisy is digusting.
If you want to discuss issues then discuss issues and stop bringing up crap that has no relevancy:
http://www.brideofrove.com/?p=71
People like you make me sick!
So when do you think that the hypocritical Republicans are going to mention Palin's America-hating background?
When do you think that those same pieces of crap who made such a big deal over flag pins and middle names are going to realize how whiny they are complaining about the treatment, the exact same harsh treatment, that their candidates are receiving now? You reap what you sow, beyotchs. You guys have made it an industry going after Dems. Now it's your turn to feel the pain.
Act like men and women and suck it up.
Republicans are now actually referring to Bristol Palin's vagina as a "honeypot." Unbelievable.
Sarah Palin just made the cover of Us Weekly under the title:
"Babies, Lies & Scandals"
And no, this one is not photoshopped.
http://www.usmagazine.com/news/sarah-palin-very-difficult-to-work-with
Fact Jack: Out of context! Really you people are all so scared of Palin it makes me happy.
Did you follow the link, Anon? You think I'm kidding? Republicans are using those words.
Actually, I AM afraid of Palin. Because I see the same people, the Deal or No Deal crowd, who voted twice for for Bush now pushing this woman who is as disingenuous, nasty and as inexperienced as they come. Paired up with a man who is ready to give us 4 more years of the 8 we've already suffered though, it's terrifying. Every American who loves their country should be scared crapless.
The only people who aren't are the ones too stupid and too preoccupied with supporting anyone with an "R" after their name.
I watched the RNC last night and thought Palin gave a killer speech. Definitely surprised me in the sense that she was a good speaker. She had great tact and hit all the right buttons. Obama and his camp definitely were hurt by this and it showed when they immediately dismissed it as a speech written by Bush's team.
That being said, however, it was just a speech. A pandering Middle America speech. A "Im just like you!" speech, much like Obama used before. I did a running diary on my blog while watching the RNC at www.blindmindblindthoughts.blogspot.com
Tact? All she did was insult Obama.
This is how dictionary.com defines tact.
"1. A keen sense of what to say or do to avoid giving offense; skill in dealing with difficult or delicate situations.
2. A keen sense of what is appropriate, tasteful, or aesthetically pleasing; taste; discrimination. "
Maybe you meant to say tactless.
And then you say she hit all the right buttons. Not once did she mention how she is qualified for vice president. Not once did she mention how her administration would make things better.
I don't see how Obama would be hurt by this speech at all because it only pandered to those extreme right-wing freaks who would not have voted for him anyway.
It failed to reach the huge group of independent voters that are going to decide this election.
You're not blind, you're deaf.
I am one of those independent voters and I hear quite well, thank you very much. She responded to jabs at her and jabbed right back. I dont think that 2 wrongs make a right, but everyone dismissed this woman before they even knew who she was (and that was part of the reason). I also acknowledged that the speech pandered to Middle America and many of the folks who were likely voting McCain already so thanks for noticing that and saying the same thing. I also stand by my usage of the word tact but thanks for the definition. I thought she dealt with the difficult situation of being someone that had been thrust into a role as a VP running mate and skewered before everyone got to meet her. I also dont find what she said to be insulting to Obama. Discrediting, yes. Insulting, no.
Listen pal, I was leaning towards the Dem side but after watching both Conventions, Im noticing that the Reps seem to be talking about action on issues more than the Dems. As I noted in my blog post though, I didnt see Biden so my observations arent 100% fair. I thought McCain, himself a horrible speaker, did a good job last night. He didnt attack or insult Obama, he just talked about his plan and even credited Obama for his patriotism and being a good opponent. That was classy. I dont agree with 100% of his plan but at least some of it hit home with me and showed substance.
So far, Ive liked what Obama has to say but it just seems like a lot of fluff and little substance. However, these Conventions are really nothing more than a pep rally. The debates are what Im looking forward to and what will likely make the decision on who I should vote for much more clear.
Blind Mind: The thing you and every other American who is still, amazingly, scratching their heads over who to vote for, has to ask themselves is are you happy with the last 8 years? Are you satisfied with the job that George Bush has done and how he is leaving this country? Are you content with the current economy and everything that goes along with that? Do you want to support a War Without End?
If your answer is "yes," then by all means, vote Republican because with McCain/Palin that's exactly what you're going to get for the next 4 years.
Palin's simply a distraction from the larger issue which is a vote for McCain is a vote to rubber stamp the last 8 years and to say, "Thank you sir. Can I please have 4 more!" If you're comfortable with that then more power to you, although I would hesitate to continue to call yourself an Independent. If you're not, then there really isn't any other choice, is there?
BM, man: the Reps are talking about action on the issues? What action? Besides drilling for oil, what other plans do they have to fix this mess?
I watched and read all the speeches. The Republican platform is basically attack Obama. Palin's speech didn't contain a single policy promise beyond drilling but plenty jabs. McCain's speech was deliberatedly vague on the issues, because he's trying to appeal both to independents and the ultraconservative base.
I understand independent voters because partisan infighting nowadays it's beyond ridiculous. There are many people that are turned off by the politicking and weaseling on both parties. I get where you come from, but at the same time, beyond all politics, this is a pretty clear choice. One party/philosophy/group has messed up the country beyond belief. The other, worst case scenario may not fix it, but it can't do worse - because there's no worse. The upside is clear. No brainer.
Alex & Jack - I understand what a vote for a Rep will mean. However, I have a problem with voting for someone simply because there is an assumption that voting for the other person will bring me 4 more years of the same BS we have seen from Bush. Im listening and learning about each candidate with an open mind. To be honest, when the campaigning first started way back, I couldnt stand Obama. But, I gave him a chance and started to like his position a little bit. I owe it to myself to do the same for McCain.
Being able to vote for the leader of your country is the greatest freedom any American could ever ask for. However, people that are so one-sided are kinda nutzo in my eyes. I know people who would vote for McCain if he came out and said, "All female babies under the age of 18 months must be killed" just because they are THAT Republican. That to me is effin crazy, much like the whackos who flipped out at McCain's speech and had to be removed from the building. I have to ask myself, "If I took all of the emotion out of it, what would I do?" Right now, that choice isnt clear. I really dont like either candidate 100% and I know I never will. Heck, I dont like either of them even 50%. Like I said, the debates are where I will have a better understanding of who to vote for.
And for the record, I dont think Palin brings much to the table but I dont think you, me, or anyone has had enough time to make a judgement on her yet. I do think she is pretty hot though haha. I think its the glasses...
Blind Mind,
Unlike you (as you admit), that woman who had to be dragged out during McCain's speech has been paying attention for the last several years.
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