Government Dirt

Yes, I am concerned about her experience, or more precisely, her lack thereof. She has governed a state, yes, but that state has a population about 1/4 the size of the city of Chicago and she's only been at it 2 years. Before that, she was mayor of a tiny town. I think she's in way over her head and I don't want the country to suffer for it. I even saw her in a news
clip asking what the duties of the VP are! And if she can't manage her own children, how can she think to manage the politicians in DC?

Krysta in Milwaukee"


"I think it's interesting that McCain chose Palin as VP. From what I understand based on the many news reports in the past few days about her minimal political past and lack of previous disclosures, it's impossible to believe that she was picked with much thought other than to just shake things up and that it is also, more than partially, an attempt to win over some of Hillary Clinton's supporters.

While her inexperience doesn't bother me and could be a good thing, the supposed choice by McCain as a move to specifically shake things up is a little bothersome. I don't think it's likely that McCain and Palin will win over too many Clinton supporters as Palin is very much on the wrong side of the issues that matter most to a lot of the women who supported Clinton. For my part, I was briefly considering voting for McCain until the Palin announcement. She seems like a great woman who is cool, but I can't vote for someone knowing that his next in line is strongly anti-choice and sincerely believes that oil drilling in Alaska and off-shore is actually a viable solution, among other issues.

Lisa Damast"


"I think the Republicans choosing a female candidate is an interesting choice, but I think they chose someone for her political resume, rather than for her experience. I think she is woefully under qualified to be president if something happens to McCain, and I am concerned that her personal family life will serve as a distraction from the second most important job in the land. Having two children with mild learning disabilities, I worry that her young son with Down's will need a lot of family attention- something Sarah will not be able to provide while being VP. While her husband may step in and fill that role, I'm just not sure that outsourcing our children is the role model I am looking for for women in politics. I want someone who can handle it all, who is experienced, and who won't be ditching her family for the limelight. (This is why I think so many politicians, male and female, have been divorced, by the way- home cannot compete with the attraction of Power and the media.)

Whitney Hoffman"


"I am VERY pleased with the pick.
I am a CONSERVATIVE Republican and Thompson was my man in the primaries.
McCain is not conservative enough for me on immigration and spending. I was probably going to vote for him instead of a 3rd party candidate because I wanted to vote against Obama which a 3rd party vote would not be.
But now with the selection of Palin, I feel she is more of the kind of candidate I could vote for (even over McCain!). She is smart, articulate, conservative, tough, .... It is not primarily that she is a woman, it is that she is doing all the right things AND she is a woman. She is showing such grace and judgment so far. I look forward to seeing more about her.

Cynthia Powell"


"I've voted Republican most of my life (now 65), but I'm really disappointed with Bush--eight years ago he seemed to be a breath of fresh air, now he is more stale than yesterday's garbage.

Some politicians say that any publicity is good publicity, if so they are getting plenty. In the last two days about all we have heard on the news is the pregnancy of Palin's teenage daughter.

I live in Minnesota. If a loud mouth wrestler can become governor, why can't a barracuda governor become vice-president? As far as I'm concerned the wrestler did OK.

Al"


"Unfortunately for the Republicans, McCain and mostly America this is a pick that keeps the Republican party so out of touch with mainstream ideas thoughts and values. This pick will no doubt energize the right wing base and likely make this a tight horse race. If you check Palin's record and "public" stances she has voted 99.9% of the time with the recommendations of the Christian Coalition and the few social moral issues as put forth by James Dobson.

Palin seems to be a strong woman which likely will garner a few thousand Hillary supporters. Where this is not going to help is the millions of Hillary supporters who have had feminism defined for them and won't choose to define it for themselves. On the other hand Joe Biden has been in the trenches for a long time and will literally shine when compared to Palin on many if not most issues. Palin's personal life seems so wrought with the tragedy and heartache, much of which comes from neglecting authenticity with family and personal character over public stances.

Tyler Arthur"


"I'm a 30-year old independent voter who's also a publicist working in New York City.

I have a few thoughts about Palin as VP. First, I think that this shouldn't JUST be regarded as a boon for women. Buried in all of the coverage of Trig's birth with Down's Syndrome and daughter Bristol's pregnancy, you find that she HAS gone after her own party to clean up corruption and in her hometown, she presided over quite the mini-boom, forcing the Iditarod to change course as development there had overtaken the race's traditional starting point. She shouldn't be seen as a surrogate for Hillary since she doesn't espouse the same views on the economy, government, or a woman's right to choose that Hillary does.
She's her own person, demonstrating again that women aren't a voting bloc that can be tapped into simply by choosing a woman for a major-party ticket.

Her experience at being a capable administrator isn't a concern and I'm still undecided about her lack of foreign-policy experience. With the majority of this country's citizens not holding passports, she, like many others, is going to have to have a crash course on foreign policy.
And, the history graduate student in me feels the need to point out that up until WWI, most American politicans had limited foreign-policy experience. Is she the best VP candidate? She's clearly an interesting pick. The best? We'll have to wait and see what she says during her convention speech and during the debate with Biden.

Matthew W. Caldecutt"


"To think that Sarah Palin is a good choice for VP is ludicrous. To think that women will 'flock' to her because she is a woman or because she is a substitute for Hillary is outrageous. How desperate did McCain have to be to choose someone that he had only met once? When he introduced her he actually had to mention that she was a high school point guard because her resume was so thin! Is he kidding? Sarah Palin does not possess any qualities, so far, that I can admire. She is a lifetime member of the NRA, I oppose guns. She is pro-life. I am pro choice. She has chosen to run for the second highest office in the country knowing that her young unmarried daughter is pregnant and this would put her daughter in the spotlight unmercifully -- certainly not a quality I admire in a mother or a public official - she is putting her own aspirations before her child's needs. She has her own 5 month old special needs child to raise. When I had a 5 month old, I became president of a women's business organization, it was a tremendous amount of work and took me away from my child at times and made me feel guilty - and that organization only had 250 members. I continued to breast feed which was acceptable in meetings with all women, I'm not so sure it would be acceptable in the middle of a cabinet meeting. Let's not even go into her stand on polar bears.

And finally, if you set aside all of the above, set aside the fact that she's a woman and just look at her experience, she is completely inappropriate. How would anyone believe that she is capable of running the country with her minuscule amount of experience? While some may argue that Obama has only a small amount of experience as well, at least we have heard him speak over the past several years, we have gotten to know him and apparently enough democrats believe he was a better choice over Hillary. (And I believe he got his passport several years ago, not months ago like Palin.) If McCain thinks that he will lure women with this choice because women will want to vote for a woman no matter what, he is sadly mistaken and I am embarrassed for him. If he believes people will vote for her because we want change at any cost, again he is saddle mistaken. We want well-thought out change, orchestrated by someone who has experience and has demonstrated sound thinking. And when that phone rings at 2 AM in the White House, I don't want someone answering the phone who can't hear the person at the other end because of all the babies crying in the room! McCain's choice of Palin has got to make those in their right minds question whether McCain is in his.

Risa Hoag"


"I think Sarah Palin has way too much baggage to work efficiently as a Vice President. With her daughter's recent pregnancy, I think her main focus is going to need to be supportive to her daughter or the media can and will crucify her. Where does that leave our country? Second place? The troopergate scandal can follow just about anyone, but the twister is that involves her brother-in-law? To me, that means she rules on emotion and influence. That is something our country has been driven by for the past eight years, time to let that part go and rule on intellect.

I am not quite sure what McCain was thinking when he brought her in, but I think the "taking Hillary's supporters" view is a stretch. No one is going to go to the extreme opposite, just because she is a woman. I think a McCain-Palin presidency will plunge this country directly into an oil dependent era and flush away nearly all of the recent "green" sentiment. They are pro-drilling, not pro-efficiency and alternative fuels. We need a better leader, and no I still am not convinced that Barrack Obama is that knight in shining armor. He too, has a ton of baggage and deceit.

Rob"


"Considering the McCain team’s vice-president pick, we women are a shallow people, a people who cannot discern gender from agenda. Apparently this is why McCain selected Sarah Palin as his running mate.

This approach is intended to lure supporters, women supporters, who’d planned to nominate Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, over to the G.O.P. camp. Apparently, the thinking is that all we want is a woman in the White House—even if she is nothing like Clinton. Sadly, stunningly, there is some truth to this thought after reading some of the women’s responses.

As proud as I would be to witness a woman breaking through the highest of glass ceilings, I certainly don’t want it to be at the expense of our country in its continued downslide. By bringing Palin on board, McCain is piggybacking on sexism that ostensibly came from the Obama team. Yet, if I were Palin, I’d take a closer look at whether I was selected because I’d be the best person for the job or wonder if maybe I were being used as glorified arm candy. I’m sure she is extremely honored to have been asked to participate in such a pioneering moment, but unlike Palin, it’s my hope that this November women will put the issues first before simply wanting to see history, one that we will be forced to repeat, be made.

Carol Hoenig"


"Surely Sarah Palin is a Rove strategy. In his sicko mind, where power is more important than honesty or than plain-old looking after the American people, I'm sure SP looked like a good choice for three big reasons: a big surprise that would knock the memory of the Democratic campaign out of our minds; a ploy to steal Hillary voters, and a promise to the right wing evangelical conservatives that the beginning of the end of Roe v Wade has come.

The surprise factor might have been a bit of a success, but certainly anyone who really wanted Hillary for president will not be fooled. Not only is Palin strictly pro-life, but she would teach creationism in schools, and worse, she does not acknowledge global warming as a man- made problem that requires a man-made solution. So, life under McCain and Palin wouldn't be four more of the same, it would be worse than... It would knock us back into the middle ages. We'd have two people working above the Constitution, just like Bush and Cheney did. Has Sarah Palin even studied the Constitution? Maverick my arse. I think this choice is an insult, a real slap across the face.

Joan Schweighardt"


"Sarah Palin certainly has the form. Does she have the substance?

With the televising of the Kennedy-Nixon debates in 1960, image as a selector of electability began rising in importance. In our video-deluged world, how one comes across on the screen is critical. It’s what the broadcast industry used to call TVQ: (television quotient—personality popularity ratings, typically measuring familiarity and liking, characterized by viewer surveys asking respondents to tell whether a personality is “one of their favorites”).

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, McCain’s pick for veep, has an excellent image; she is attractive, charismatic, dynamic, self-assured, aggressive, yet not off-putting. But like the choices made by FDR and Bush the Elder, she was on no ones short list (except for blogger Adam Brickley, who has been waving Palin’s veep flag unceasingly since February 2007!).

When chosen as FDR’s running mate in 1944, Harry Truman was a senator from Missouri who had gained modest fame and respect with his investigation of WWII military wastefulness by exposing fraud and mismanagement (popularly known as the “Truman Committee“). With FDR’s failing health a secret, yet grave issue, and whoever became vice president a likely successor, Truman was a compromise choice; neither FDR nor the Democratic Party put him first.

Elected at 33 in 1980 as Indiana’s senator, Dan Quayle was chosen in 1988 by Bush to appeal to a younger generation of Americans. Interestingly, he was then praised by Senator John McCain, who said “I can’t believe a guy that handsome wouldn’t have some impact.”

For the next several weeks Palin will bask in the media glow of the Republican National Convention. Then comes her test. She will be under a microscope. She will debate Joe Biden. Many media pundits will toss softballs, but some will peg her with hardballs.

Will she come across as an intelligent and effective leader (Truman) or as just another pretty face (Quayle) who can’t spell “potato”?

By election day, this will not be an unanswered question.

Steve Cotler"


"Please understand, I bear no malice towards Sarah Palin or the Republican Party, hell, I started my voting life as a Republican, but I really think that the choice John McCain and the Republican party has made is a short sighted mistake with considerable long-term effects if they should win in November. Mrs Palin seems to be a great person, but having her literally a heartbeat away from running a country terrifies me. I do disagree with many of her opinions - ANWAR, her anti-choice stance on abortion, and her neo-con beliefs, but that is not why I feel she is wrong as Vice President. Arguably, being from a small (population) state, I understand what has happened. The Republican party was looking for a vice presidential candidate that would be appealing for the anti-Obama Hillary supporters, and perhaps even someone who would look appealing to conservative male voters, but what they got was a "yes" woman who is grossly unqualified for a national office.

In my opinion, Mrs. Palin does nothing positive for the status of women in politics, in fact, I feel that it sends the role of women back to pre Ferraro years, when women were great fundraisers, but not regarded as great minds. Hillary did very well in the Democratic primaries, but those of us who opposed her did so because of (from where I sit, at least) disagreements with her politics - not because of her gender. With the selection of Palin as a Vice Presidential candidate, the Republican Party has shown that they are out of touch with the actual issues - they have chosen a "yes" person for the party, who happens to be a woman, with little idea or concept of what it will take to be a leader on the national level. Obama and the Democratic Party can say that "families are off limits", but is the media bound by their pledges? With the situation surfacing about Mrs. Palin's 17 year old daughter, you have to ask the question - which is worse, allowing your 17 year old to have an abortion, or allowing your 17 year old daughter to marry a person who is not "comfortable" with the "marriage" situation? The media will have a field day, and it is just beginning. I don't think that Sarah Palin had any idea what she was getting into, and she seems like a person who wants to help....I can just imagine how it went..."Governor Palin, line 1, it's John McCain." She picks up the phone, "Hello Mr. Mc Cain, how can I help you?...Why sure I'd like to help the party...what can I do? Vice President? But I don't have the experience.....Yes, I do believe that the party can win....well, if you say so, sure, I'd love to be your vice president!" What it sadly comes down to is a fundamental misunderstanding by the Republican party - the American people want a woman in office, but not at the cost of electing an under qualified, "yes" candidate with more issues than playboy. At least that's how I see it...

Christopher Deery"


"My first impression? A head-snapping double-take! Who? I give John McCain props for trying to connect with women, but there are some truly extraordinary women in the Republican Party that would have made way more sense (Christine Todd Whitman for one). There is no way I would want someone of Palin’s background running the country if something unforeseen happened to McCain while seated as President. While I certainly do not denigrate the PTA or beauty pageants or even small cities in Alaska let alone the state of Alaska, they just don’t seem akin to the experience needed to run the U.S. of A. This is real life, not a primetime series.

Ok, did they not vet her well enough? Or did the Reps hope that Mrs. Palin’s 5-month pregnant daughter would help her seem more connected with everyday women. I would assume, no, hope, that the conservatives and evangelicals in the party are cringing over that one.

In any case, I’m insulted that anyone would think I’d vote for someone based on gender, race or creed. Period.

Signed, a small “d” democratic woman"


"As a Hillary fan and huge supporter, Mrs. Palin will not be getting my vote based on the fact that she is a woman. She is no surrogate for Hillary, in fact she is the antithesis of her. In a state with a surplus in excess of $1 billion due to windfall royalties from high oil prices, Gov. Palin's "executive experience" was a cinch, but how will this woman perform at a national level in a country that borders on the brink of destruction and is becoming deeper and deeper in debt?
Her lack of experience, denial of global warming, ignorance of foreign relations and inability to fathom the idea of a pro-choice society sickens me.

I am 24 years old and reside in New York City. I have lived in Asia and various parts of the US, but I hail from the Midwest where many do not share my views. However, I won't give up. I won't bow down to a VP just because she is a woman, a mother and the supposed "future". I'm sticking with my guns and with my candidate Barack Obama, a self-made man who has pieced together the broken spirits of Democrats and has energized a nation with the belief that, indeed, we can be a stronger nation and rise above the shaky times of 2008.

Joanna L. Penn"


"I was, throughout most of the primary campaign, an undecided voter. My proclivities lean toward conservative economic policies and liberal social policies. I don’t care about the label of republican or democrat, conservative or liberal. I want the best leadership and security we can get.

Sarah Palin, while she may be a fine Mayor and Governor, doesn’t seem like a good choice for vice president. While we want change from outside of Washington to reshape the absurd partisanship and out-of-control spending, I cannot yet believe that this self proclaimed hockey-mom who is in the midst of a family crisis is the agent for change in DC. Had McCain picked Romney or a wild-card like Giuliani, I would have been torn between the two presidential candidates. However, I fear that the small-town values and experience Mrs. Palin brings is not adequate to be thrust into this high ranking post.

On experience, Palin suffers greatly. On policies, she is horrendous. Her nomination was certainly an appeal to the social conservative base of the republican party. Her social agenda is frightening. She believes Roe v. Wade should be repealed. Her environmental policy and stance on “creationism” mock facts and scientific research and threaten our nation’s ability to globally lead academically and economically. Her fundamentalism is a comforting answer for some in uncertain times, but it would prove disastrous historically. While I understand the appeal to the party’s base, that is absolutely not who I would want in the Oval Office.

Life imitates art, again. Gina Davis was the inexperienced vice presidential candidate in a recent White House TV drama. Her character becomes president upon the death of the elected president. While Gina Davis showed much style and grace in her TV role, I fear even the most gifted Hollywood directors and set designers couldn’t paint a Mrs. Palin presidency with as much polish and quiet strength. While she would most likely rise to the occasion, my fear is that Mrs. Palin would find strength in her fundamentalism, and we would see the all too familiar retreat to an arrogant and self-righteous presidency. Our brand of fundamentalism is not respected internationally. It also alienates at least half of our own population. I do not think that Sara Palin is ready to be vice president. Her policies would not make America stronger.

J. Max Barger, Esq."


"The arguments are already out there, mainly about her being even more of a rookie than Barack Obama. The rumors about her most recent pregnancy, (powered by compelling evidence), and the fact that her daughter is now pregnant lose her all credibility with so-called “values voters” and would further polarize women who are concerned about reproductive rights and privacy issues. I’m a Democrat, and wouldn’t even think about voter for her, but even from a Republican point of view, she’s a rotten choice.

However, the most confusing part of it all is the choice itself. Why Palin? From a strictly demographic point of view, there are plenty of white, conservative women in the republican party. And if experience and national presence aren’t issues (apparently), when what does Palin bring to the ticket? OK, so she supports drilling for oil in ANWR, as does McCain, but is that an election-winning issues? Being from such a small and never-contested state, she doesn’t deliver an electoral bailout, nor will she ‘steal’ ex-Hillary supporters — the ideological gap is just too wide. So is it just the obvious that McCain is pandering to both conservatives and women? Does he think voters are truly that dense that we’ll we wowed by a candidate who is, let’s face it, a hot chick? And worse to think, will it work?

I’d like to consider myself quite informed politically, but I’m left stunned by the terrible choice that is Sarah Palin. Is there something I’m missing? Will an unknown nobody from a nothing state deliver the most important election in a century? And can she govern once the election is over?

Prescott Perez-Fox"


"Barack Obama has been running for president longer than Sarah Palin has been governor of a state with one of the smallest populations in the country (683,00, 47th out of 50). Before that she was mayor of her hometown of 6,000. A man with the same type of government experience would not have even been considered for vice president. Sarah Palin is a candidate who's just like us--a hockey mom from a small town with good family values, someone you'd want to hang out with. But her likability is not a qualification to be a heartbeat away from the oldest man ever to be elected president. Sarah Palin is no Hillary Clinton, she's not even Dennis Kucinich.

I have a teen-aged daughter, and the very thought of subjecting her to the type of scrutiny that Bristol Palin is going through is unthinkable. I could not do that to her and no amount of money or power of prestige is worth the pain knowing that EVERYONE IN THE WHOLE WORLD knows she's pregnant. And her daughter's pregnancy is most definitely an issue, seeing as how Palin is in favor of federally funded "abstinence only" programs. If it didn't work for her own daughter, how can it possibly work for anyone else's kid? For someone who is the family values candidate, she certainly doesn't value her family very much.

Judy Nichols"


"Palin seems like a very strong woman who would do her best to do a good job.
But aside from her lack of experience outside of Alaska, my biggest concern is her conflict between being the potential leader of our country and being a good mother. While I'm a strong proponent of women's empowerment, I also believe that a mother, especially one for the party that emphasizes family values, has a responsibility to her children. Under normal working circumstances, baby sitters can work fine. But Palin has an infant and a young daughter who will soon need her mother's support with an infant. What will be her biggest priority?

I question how Palin can neglect her children or neglect her duties. One will suffer. Will she bring the baby with her on world trips? Will she struggle to make choices between a sick child and meeting with diplomats?
She is by no means a surrogate for Hillary, who is a full time politico without major family obligations distracting her. Obama has Michelle to be a support system for his children. But with all the family drama she already has going on, and the potential of more coming, how can Palin give her full attention to running our country if something happens to McCain? Could she be away from her baby or pregnant daughter/grandchild for long periods of time? Many of us can do it all by being super-moms, but vice president demands a different agenda altogether.

Daylle Deanna Schwartz"


"I trust that Sarah Palin, an organized and clear thinker, would do fine if she needed to make presidential decisions. Democrats think her lack of international experience lets Obama off the hook for his lacking the same experience, however it is not his inexperience I worry about it is his left wing influences who have financed his campaign and his bad choice of friends.

Ms. Palin is not a stand in for Hilary...thank goodness. She is not in anyone's pocket, is not a seasoned politician, and has no enormous bag of dirty laundry. Hilary's only plus are that she has an organized mind, true grit and is pro-choice. McCain might have done better choosing a more seasoned female politician, but only in terms of getting elected.

Janyce Granoff"


"I lived on Kodiak island as a kid, and just returned from 2 weeks traveling through Alaska, but not on a cruise ship. It's a land of incredible contrasts and more than a few myths. When I talk to people about Alaska and about Sarah Palin I end up clarifying a few misconceptions. Alaska is not anything like the rest of the country, and most Americans wouldn't find the services that they are used to here in the lower 48 up there. I don't think Sarah is VP material for lots of reasons, and one big one, is that she has been governor of a place that is more dissimilar than recognizable to the rest of the country.

Here in the lower 48 or the "outside" as Alaskans call the rest of the world, it seems that everywhere you go, there's a Starbucks. Not so in Alaska, there aren't more than a handful in the whole state. Why do I mention this? Because when there are Starbucks around, you can pretty much guarantee that there's a lot of other things that most of us take for granted. Small things, maybe, but little conveniences like internet access, a decent hospital or clinic, a recycling program, running water and paved roads. Not so in Alaska. There aren't many paved roads, or traffic lights, or regular garbage pick up. Everywhere in the US, people are "going green", but you can't find a reasonable recycling program in a state of breath taking beauty, unless you go to the local dump.

The health care system is in shambles. Many people in what are considered "big cities of 6000", have limited access to health care providers and must fly to Anchorage to have their babies or see a specialist, which are in short supply. In outlying villages, there's active recruitment of volunteers and temporary providers who fly in for a day or two every few weeks. Ok, I know it's remote and the weather plays a huge factor, but many people don't have access to quality health care unless they drive 4-6 hours or fly in. Did she work on that? No. The big "secret" about Wasilla, and the Matanuska region, is that there's a big problem with Methamphetamines, drug and alcohol abuse up there. I don't think as mayor or governor, she addressed any of those pressing issues.

The other thing most people don't know about Alaska, is that a significant percentage of the population live by subsistence. What this means, is that they hunt and fish, and gather berries, not for fun, but to feed themselves and their families. Why is that? Because they have to. There are many low-income people in Alaska, who live in a trailers, with propane heat, not cozy cabins with wood burning stoves. They use dip nets to catch their limit of fish all summer so that there's enough food for the family. Road kill? Here, in the lower 48, we drive by, not in Alaska, where there are lists of people who will go out and butcher the moose on the road so they can eat it that winter. Really. You can't make this up.

Now in Alaska, there are some fish left to catch, and moose along the roads, but not in the rest of the country. The people that Sarah Palin governs have different challenges than the rest of the country. And on the other side, the challenges that the rest of us face are completely foreign to her.

Lastly, let's talk about energy. Where else, but Anchorage would you find that oil companies, like BP have their own airline? That's right, when you go to Ted Stevens Airport in Anchorage, the oil companies have their own airline to shuttle their workers all over the state. The only energy that Sarah is familiar with is oil. In my mind that's not an energy policy expertise, that's some knowledge about the oil situation in your own neck of the woods.

Her experiences tucked away in the wilds of Alaska are exciting to be sure, but in no way qualify her to be a heartbeat away from being the most powerful person on the planet.

Barb"


"The selection of Governor Palin by Senator John McCain as his running mate is an insult to women everywhere.

It confirms that, to Republicans, a woman is a woman is a woman. NOT!

Women who support pro-choice; who are strongly for gun control; who believe there is more to birth control for teens than abstinence; who believe reading is a fundamental right and banning books from public and school libraries is fascistic; who believe in the separation of church and state as guaranteed in the US Constitution; who think that more is expected of a v.p. candidate than good legs; who are sure that being the mayor of a tiny town like Bumfart, Alaska, and its ilk, is not the equal of being a state or U.S. senator; who are of the opinion that parents should know what is going on with their children, be they stay-at-home moms or working moms...

Gee, where to end this? Governor Palin is a fringe candidate appealing to fringe lunatics. She is no Hillary Clinton; she stands for everything Hillary Clinton does not stand for, and that is patently obvious. Republicans, however, see women with a monolithic eye. To them, we are all the same, we have no opinions, no intelligence, no strength. It's very sad in addition to being a major insult to women.

Jo Manning"


"I am thrilled with Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska as the first woman ever to appear on a Republican Presidential ticket. I love that she appears to be a “real” woman who loves her family, loves her country, and lives a life which appears to honor the Word of God. Yes, I would have preferred Ron Paul as a candidate, with his great experience, and firm Constitution and liberty based ideals. But, in comparison to Hilary, I am so thankful and think McCain made a great pick, one which will definitely improve his position.

Based on what I’ve seen thus far, Sarah Palin is pro-life, and her actions are more than talk. Sarah’s youngest has Down’s Syndrome and her 17 year old daughter is now pregnant, and choosing life for her baby. These children are a blessing, even when facing some difficult challenges.

A vote for Palin has nothing to do with sexual anatomy, but a vote for choosing life, a vote for gun freedoms, a vote against gay marriage, a vote for capital punishment after a full course of trials and appeals are fully exhausted, and a vote for investing in our nation’s natural resources and economy, and not sending more funds and jobs overseas. We need to develop resources at home, to become self-sufficient again.

Our nation’s very fate depends on bringing morals back to our politics and nation’s core, and I do not care about experience. If Hilary can start to support an agenda with moral and not blasphemous values, perhaps a nation of Christians can forgive her and she can get herself elected another time.

Michelle Scott Hamilton"


"Why not Sarah Palin? It's about time we had a fresh face in national politics -- male or female. Joe Biden and Ted Kennedy are poster boys for term limits. Harry Truman, who was a down-to-earth person just like Sarah, did a pretty good job when he was thrust into the office of President. Imagine the decision he had to make regarding the atomic bomb. Remember, the US is a democracy, not a dictatorship so if required, Sarah would have a lot of support. And comparing Sarah to Hillary is an insult. Please explain what Hilary has accomplished and then look at Sarah's background...no comparison. So let me just say, Run Sarah Run!! Can't wait for her to debate Joe Biden who is as blue collar as Donald Trump.

Frank Gilanelli"


"I think that Sarah Palin was a wonderful choice for a McCain campaign, but a very poor choice for a McCain presidency. Beyond the issue that she's currently under investigation for an ethics issue, she has absolutely no national experience and just over a year's experience on the state level. Her foreign policy experience is woefully small — it's primarily based on the fact that, at varying points, Russia is only 50 miles from Alaska... Of course, that's a part of Russia not precisely known for having any population.

She'll pick up a lot of women's votes for McCain — but there's already a vocal contingent of parents of children with special needs speaking out against her. (Her young son has Down's Syndrome, and there's a feeling that she may just outsource a certain level of child care, which causes far more problems with special needs children than it does for children with more typical needs.)

Thursday R. Bram"


"When I heard the "rumors" of Sara Palin, I thought that she would not be a good choice for McCain --- however, after doing a little research and reading I love her!

I believe she embodies a lot of what people find attractive in Obama-- a newcomer to Washington and Change-- and moves it to the already strong Republican ticket.

I like her ideals, that she is a mom who has risen through the ranks and proved herself. I believe that she knows how difficult it can be to be a mom and the issues we are faced with (economics, healthcare ect. ) as we strive to raise the next generation of Americans.

Mom's are concerned about where this country is headed. . . globally, economically, evironmentally. . . selflessly. . . motivated not for ourselves but for the lives and futures of our children. And I believe that being a mom, loving and devoted, there is going to be no one more dedicated to get the job done.

I admire her strength and courage with regard to her Down Syndrome child. She didn't let a special needs baby hold her back. 9 of 10 Downs Babies are aborted. She is proof to women facing a tough decision that a special needs baby does not have to be the end of a normal or successful and prosperous life/ lifestyle.

Ironic, that Obama is infamously assocaited with induced labor abortion and the widely known story of the little boy with Down Syndrome who did not die as was expected but, died in the soil closet of Christ Hospital (IL) in the arms of a caring nurse. How ironic that a little down syndrome boy has come 'center stage" in this election.

So, her 17 yo daughter is pregnant. More to say. . . she's one of us . . . dealing with issues the average American encounters.

I think she is strong and a real asset to McCain. Go Palin.

Alaina"


"I consider myself to be a relatively intelligent woman (a 1983 cum laude graduate of Tulane University in New Orleans, LA), as well as a successful entrepreneur, proud mother of two engaging boys, happily married wife and President of the ESSCO-MGH Breast Cancer Research Fund - an endowment fund my family established in 1994 after my sister was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer. I am personally insulted and mortified at the selection of a potential Vice President who is not only opposed to the issues I care deeply about, but who willingly allowed herself and her children to be prostituted by a party that throughout history has shown such little respect for women.

Of course a woman can and should be President and/or Vice President. There are a number of women who would have made excellent VP candidates, including Hillary Clinton. To select a woman with so little experience in matters of the state, who opposes a woman's right to make reproductive decisions about her own body, who believes creationism should be taught in schools, who wants to see oil drilling in her own state, (to scratch the surface) and with such meager vetting, at that, leaves me speechless. It is clear to me, and hopefully to all women, that John McCain selected this woman as his running mate to steal Barack Obama's thunder, bear-hug the religious right, and prove that no one can tell this man what he can and cannot do. He has succeeded in all three, but to what end and what cost? The United States of American does not need another maverick/cowboy in office who is controlled by evangelicals, makes rash decisions and cannot admit mistakes. I think Sarah Palin as VP is a rash decision, made by a cowboy who clearly cannot be trusted to do what's best for my country. I am appalled.

Missy Cohen-Fyffe"


"I understand John McCain's reasons for picking Palin, and the announcement certainly succeeded in stealing the spotlight away from Obama's speech the night before. But I believe parts of her personal life are indeed relevant because of the way she was introduced. She was trotted out as the hockey Mom with all American values. Instead what we have is an ambitious woman who is ready to take on a major national campaign, let alone the job itself, while she has a special-needs toddler and a pregnant teenage daughter (plus 3 other kids) at home. I'm a proud feminist with a terrific family (including a 26-year old son and 30 year-old daughter). I've had, and continue to have, a great career. But both my husband and myself made decisions in our careers that gave us balance, so we could provide the kids with the support they need and still have interesting work lives. I don't see Sarah Palin's family values anywhere in her decision to run! This is particularly telling because she is young and has many more years to be on the national political scene.

Eileen Kugler"


"I totally disagreed with Palin becoming the VP. While I agree that women can do anything, it is for that exact reason that she should not run for VP at THIS particular time in her life. If her kids were older with fewer special circumstances, my opinion would be different.

As a so called conservative she should know more than anyone that kids need parents. They need them available and present in their lives. A baby, less than a year old with Down Syndrome, needs his mother. Having a "normal" child is difficult enough, but a baby with special needs should have a hands on mother. Honestly, I think she should be still breastfeeding that baby to give him every chance he can get at a quality life. No mom should be forced to choose between their children and work, but running the entire United States of America comes with just a tad more pressure than other jobs.

Let us not forget that Palin also has a son in Iraq. What mother could make objective decisions when their child is directly in harms way?
Having him on her mind is stressful enough. Should she add the concerns of the world to her plate?

Finally, her pregnant, teenage daughter needs a mother more than ever now. She is dealing with one of the most important things that any female has to deal with. I was an adult when I gave birth, yet I desperately wanted to have my mother right beside me as often as possible. I had a husband and all kinds of friends, but I wanted my MAMA. A teenage mother is going to need her mother's support far more than an adult woman would. She should especially have the support of a mother who would INSIST that she should have this baby. Palin owes her family her time and attention now more than ever. If she is human like the rest of us she SHOULD BE too distracted to deal with the issues of the world.

By the way, now we all know why her daughter held the baby through Palin's entire acceptance speech. I feel that Palin and McCain were purposely deceptive. They were obviously trying to hide her daughter's pregnancy. Who holds a baby directly in front of them like that for that long?

Tangela Walker-Craft"


"I think the choice of Sarah Palin for VP running mate is one of the more cynical, opportunistic political move I've ever seen. It is not a boon for women who need or believe in reproductive freedom. She is not a surrogate for Hillary at any level, and anyone who votes for her with that in mind is delusional. She may have good local management experience, but not at the national level and certainly not at the international level.

For anyone unhappy with the way the country has been going for the past several years, the point now is to elect the Democratic candidates, not the Republicans, regardless of who they are as individuals.

Ruth E. Thaler-Carter"


"All women are not created equal, and certainly in the case of Sarah Palin, she’s no surrogate for Hillary Clinton. Palin seems to be somewhere between Phyllis Schlafly and Anita Bryant both politically and by way of number of children (Palin has five, Schlafly six and Bryant four), with parenting skills akin to a more contemporary role model, Lynn Spears.

On experience, Hillary Clinton has worked in the public sector for 30 years, versus Palin’s stint as mayor of a hamlet and 21 months as Alaska’s governor. Of course, years in service is but one measure of many to determine one’s suitability to the second highest office in the land. Judgment is highly relevant and appears somewhat suspect in Palin’s case. While appealing to the backward-thinking fundamentalist by supporting abstinence-only and non-science-based education, the results of walking the walk on such beliefs has yielded an underage, out-of-wedlock teen pregnancy in Palin’s own family.

A vice presidential candidate should be forward thinking. Palin represents an era of the past – one of large families toting guns in open frontiers with unlimited resources to exploit. With a population expected to hit 440 million, large families are distinctly not the role model for the future of a sustainable America. So, no, Palin is not the best possible choice for the Republican ticket – just for the Bubba vote.

Maria Fotopoulos"


"Sarah Palin is the antithesis of Hillary Clinton. Any woman who truly supported Hillary’s candidacy for president also supported her ideals such as being pro-choice and having forward-thinking plans for the environment and new, clean energy sources. Palin’s platform is no where close to Hillary’s. Palin already has proven one of her ideals, “abstinence only sex education” doesn’t work since it’s come out that her 17 year old daughter is pregnant.

Palin is not a “boon for women” – in fact, she stands to wreak more havoc on hard-fought and hard-won female rights than the Bush administration has already done. Her lack of experience makes Obama look like a sage leader (and that’s a great thing for the democratic ticket for president/vice president). If the McCain camp truly wanted to earn women’s respect and votes from Hillary supporters while still choosing a Republican, he would have been better served with former Governor and EPA Chief Christy Todd Whitman or Senators Olympia Snowe (ME) or Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX), but then again, this selection was more about appeasing ultra-conservatives than it was about getting the PUMAs.

Joyce in MA"


"Sarah Palin is in no way a surrogate for Hillary. It is sexist to even suggest one random woman is a substitute for another, just because they are both female candidates. That logic would suggest Obama is a surrogate for McCain simply because they are both men. Silly and illogical!

Sarah Palin is more like the anti-thesis of Hillary Clinton. Clinton is a highly experienced public servant who cares deeply about fighting for women’s rights. Palin is an ignorant beauty queen who is against women having control of their own bodies. Clinton is a realist who offers viable solutions for our country. Palin is the type of woman who pushes abstinence only education, despite having a daughter who is living proof of the unrealistic nature of that approach. Finally, Hillary Clinton is a woman I would vote for, and Sarah Palin is a major reason I am voting Obama/Biden in 2008.

Jenn Hoffman"


"I think it was a short sighted move for McCain to name Sarah Palin as his VP. It was a misguided attempt to capture women voters. I was a Hillary supporter and would never in my life vote for a president who named such an inexperienced and conservative woman as his VP.

Sarah’s politics are the opposite of Hillary’s and I can’t imagine any Hillary supporter would vote for her just because she is a woman. Hello, are we woman so stupid that we will support someone just because she is a woman?! Sarah does not support any of the things I care for or that Hillary cares for – the environment, a woman’s right to choose, the importance of finding and funding alternative fuel options, universal healthcare, etc. I would be VERY surprised if any Hillary supporter voted for McCain because of choosing Sarah Palin as his VP. Bad move for the Republicans, beneficial for the democrats.

Arden Clise"


"The idea of Sarah Palin being next in line for president scares me. She has no experience beyond running a very small town of 8 or 10,000 people. That she acquired so many millions of dollars for this small town at a time when the US deficit is completely out of control seems odd to me - aren't Republicans supposed to be the ones who control spending and don't advocate financing local projects?

Her ideas of Big Oil First and believing humans are not the cause of climate change is also scary. I fear for this planet if she ever were to become president. Teaching creationism in schools? Creationism is not Science, it is religion. I thought Church and State were supposed to be kept separate. No, no, no.. this cannot happen.

I am a woman, but I don't care if a woman or a man runs the country - I only care that the person is competent and sensible, honest and adheres to the Constitution. All else is politics, not life.

Patty Crowe"


"I am a female Democrat who is sorely disappointed in McCain's pick for VP because I feel she does not hold a candle to Hillary Clinton, and I feel he agreed to her (as opposed to Senator Joe Lieberman) because some of his team felt having a woman on board would win McCain the "undecided" votes left from Clinton's failure to gain the nomination. Senator Clinton is globally responsible and a politically-minded person first, not as an after-thought to journalism school or anything else. Ms. Clinton has a strong track record working for equality for women and children that no other candidate seems to hold, regardless of race, age or gender. I believe that as a former Republican, Senator Clinton could easily work with both sides of the fence, and can stand up to anyone, and not just become another member of the good ol' boys' network.
Ms. Palin's position on anti-abortion, and being fine with teens marrying because of pregnancy (after the fact) is not the same as saying to the world, "As a woman, you deserve every right to be equal, have choices, and be in any social and economic position you desire." Although Senator Clinton has never used these exact words, her stance since long before "It Takes a Village" has been to allow each woman in the nation as much equality and dignity as any man holds.
Not only are women unequal to men in rights in this nation, but one woman is not equal to another. McCain's advisors were mistaken to think putting a woman in that slot would be all we wanted to be happy. We're not that ignorant or shallow. If nothing else, McCain has alienated me with his choice.

Mel. Edwards"


"My own thoughts are that McCain's decision to choose Palin is incredulous and it makes me certainly question McCain and his decision-making abilities. In my mind, the only thing this accomplished was to confirm that he is unable to lead this nation.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that Palin was chosen because she is a woman. McCain made a critical error in thinking that by merely selecting a woman VP he would gain Hillary supporters. Wrong. Women are not stupid. Hillary earned her way to credibility. Her entire adult life was committed to politics. Read anything about her and you'll see that of the two Clinton's Hillary was the more intelligent. Her passion for this country is obvious. I could go on and on, but the only thing Hillary and Palin have in common is their sex. McCain could not have made a poorer choice. It will lead any undecided voters to Obama because the Republican ticket is simply too big of a risk. The only voters McCain will keep are the one-issue voters who haven't yet learned from the last 8 years that voting for those who lie while mouthing the words those voters want to hear simply reaps the rotten and useless fruit of liars.

Char DeCoster"


"This may sound harsh, but I have a gut feeling that neither Presidential candidate will make it through his first term. I was very curious as to whom each would pick as his running mate. I was pleasantly surprised by McCain's pick of Sarah Palin. I am Libertarian in my political views and the mother of three year old Max, who has Down syndrome.

Sarah Palin has been on my radar since she gave birth to her son, Trig. As a Libertarian, I am essentially pro choice, but support the Kennedy-Brownbeck bill about notification of prenatally diagnosed conditions. Many parents that are diagnosed in-utero with conditions such as spina bifida, Down syndrome and cystic fibrosis are encouraged to terminate a pregnancy WITHOUT BEING GIVEN ANY INFORMATION about their child's possible condition. Like most children with Down syndrome, my Max is a delight. I have a 35 year old friend with cystic fibrosis that leads a full life. I think people should have the right to choose, but they should also have the right to information.

As a libertarian, I like Sarah's views on less government, responsible spending and taking PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY for your actions.

Marti Lindsey"


"Let me just say, as a Hillary supporter and now an Obama supporter, that Palin, well, pales in comparison to either of these candidates and yet seems somehow a fitting match for that beauty queen connoisseur McCain. I know McCain thought this was a remarkable coup, giving all of us a chance to vote for a young, unknown woman who is actually governor of her state. Unfortunately, her politics are beyond that unthreatening term “conservative” and right down there among those who are of the “reactionary” persuasion. I find her candidacy insulting in the extreme, as though those of us who voted for Hillary thought her only qualification was being a woman of a certain age! Puh-leeze!! I have been dismissed and pandered to and marginalized and insulted enough by my own party; I don’t need the Republicans to do it, too!! Hillary is SMART; that is both her major qualification and her major downfall; she has great ideas that have now been copied by all of the Dems who followed her campaign with pads and pencils in their hands; and she was screwed, not only by her own gaffe-prone husband, but by the good-old-boy party structure who were determined to make her play by those time-honored “nice girl” rules. Unfortunately, that’s just what she did. However, and most importantly, one very positive outcome of the Palin candidacy is that I am now energized and mobilized to get out there and WORK for Obama. Nothing scares me more than Palin within shouting distance of the White House!!

Patti Kokinos"


"I think John McCain displayed a serious error in judgment in selecting Sarah Palin as his running mate. Truly, the first time I heard the news, I laughed aloud, as if it were a Jon Stewart skit. Firstly, Palin has no viable experience whatsoever that qualifies her to be Vice-President (none!); secondly, she believes in creationism (creationism! Do we really want to spend another 8 years ignoring science?); and thirdly, she wants to overturn Roe vs. Wade (about as far from Hilary Clinton as one can travel). Palin is in no conceivable way a suitable surrogate for Hilary. Does the Republican party, and John McCain in particular, really think that women would transfer whatever loyalty we may feel to a female candidate so blithely? Hilary Clinton is brilliant, accomplished, a senator, someone who lived in the White House with a former President who relied upon her judgment for eight years, and someone who has earned our trust. Sarah Palin was the mayor of a very, very small town and then the Governor of Alaska (a very small state, population-wise) for less than two years! Selecting her as his Vice-President is not only insulting to intelligent women, it's insane. The Republicans will have to face facts: McCain made a desperate and monumentally lame decision. It will, however, make the debates such fun to watch--doddering versus brilliant and really laughable versus vastly experienced.

Susan Reynolds"


"I think is that she is far more qualified to be a “heartbeat way from the Presidency” than Biden is. But she is running for the Vice Presidency, not the Presidency! She would also be more qualified to be the President than Obama if she were running for that office. Her Executive experiences and public service record should be on the table for discussion, not her gender. Her candidacy is a boon for the country, not just women! Hillary was running for the Presidency not the Vice-Presidency so why ask if Sarah would be a good surrogate for Hillary. One has nothing to do with the other.

Is Sarah’s experience a concern? I would say yes - it’s a big concern for the Democratic party, since she has far more experience than Biden and Obama put together. So they should be really concerned that, as all the voters begin to unravel all the candidates’ characters, positions, voting records, and ethics - the Democratic nominees will fall far short of who we Americans need for the next 4 years as our Commander-In-Chief and Vice President.

She is the best VP candidate he could pick and I am grateful she accepted.

Karen Bryant"


"I have never seen such a transparent manipulative agenda as McCain's choice for a running mate. Sarah Palin is McCain's tool to both appeal to the staunch Hillary supporters who wanted a woman in office so badly that perhaps this one will do, and a pathetic attempt for McCain's ticket to now be able to offer something new and exciting and refreshing in order to compete with everything that Obama stands for in the public eye. It is definitely common knowledge that Bush has led one of the worst terms in our government's history, that he is one of the least liked presidents ever. So to run a successful campaign for this coming term, the candidates must appeal to the American people by offering something different than the same old. John McCain, being an old white republican with all the same values as Bush, needed to spice it up. What to do? He obviously thinks that the people who stood behind Hillary cant see the difference from one woman to the next. A woman? YAY! Not to say that had he chosen any woman i would have had this same philosophy. Its the fact that he chose someone much less qualified to be a vice presidential candidate than any of is other potential options. After continously publicly emphasizing Obama's lack of experience as his downfall, i have to question his motives in choosing Sarah Palin. She could be the worst thing that could ever happen to our country were McCain to win the election and die.

Joelle Katcher"


"The very same morning of the Sarah Palin nomination I heard an NPR segment on the music selection for political events. One of the experts interviewed noted that the Republican Party, in particular, has a history of making unfortunate song choices for events based on listening only to the chorus rather than to all of the lyrics. For me, this is an apt analogy of the Palin nomination. Someone in the vetting group either didn't bother to read all of the verses of her life or just didn't understand the implications of the words they were reading.

I would say that it is absurd to think that someone so unqualified and whose personal background is so potentially detrimental to her party's platform could possibly be elected, but clearly the last 8 years prove that that can happen. Please do not insult the women of America by implying that this choice in any way helps our causes or careers, because it does the opposite.

Peggy Schoen"


"To be frank, I don't think Palin has demonstrated leadership ability commensurate with what is required of a potential president. I don't doubt that she's done some good things for the people of Alaska. And contrary to what the "Sarah Palin" character in my videos conveys, I don't think she's a dim bulb. I'm sure she's a great strategist, an intelligent leader, a well-spoken debater, a charming personality, a strong advocate for her beliefs, and a,determined politician. However, her relative isolation as the governor of a sparsely populated state has not given her the political capital or the Washington know-how to maneuver the twisting maze of special interests and pressures she would surely face in D.C.

She's no surrogate for Senator Clinton, that's for sure. Senator Clinton is a strong advocate for women's reproductive rights, for real sex education, and for women's health and well-being in general. Governor Palin is just as dangerously out of touch with reality on these issues than Senator McCain. That said, she'll energize the reactionary part of the Republican base that regards advocacy for gun laws and environmental regulations as attacks on their values. The fact that her unwed teenage daughter is pregnant will actually be a boon for the ticket among the most conservative religious segment of the party, which essentially is a two-issue voting bloc. They want to outlaw abortion and restrict the flow of real sex education in the school system. Moderate Republicans--the types who describe themselves as fiscal conservatives but social moderates--will find Palin more distasteful.

He could have picked a much more qualified, far better vice presidential candidate. But he wanted to match Obama's glamour/historical triumph factor, and this was his attempt.

Sara B."


"The more I think about Sarah Palin, the more I decide she is the best option for John McCain's running mate. That's a less back-handed way of saying McCain's other possibilities were worse. McCain is at his best when he's playing his maverick image to the political middle of the electorate. He's tried to woo the Republican Party base for months with limited success. Palin will take care of the social conservatives for him. Have Palin campaign in the areas Mike Huckabee won during the primary season and let her work. Also put her in some of the states where Hillary Clinton succeeded.

I don't think Palin is a good alternative for feminists who wanted Clinton on the Democratic ticket. Sure, the 24-year interval between Geraldine Ferraro's nomination as vice-presidential candidate and today will make older women think. A lot of women want the glass ceiling on the executive ticket broken so they'll consider voting based on gender. They may not get another chance. Democrats haven't picked a woman since Ferraro lost. Republicans may wait a generation before trying again. No one knows. In the end though, they'll vote on ideology rather than gender. Again, McCain will be left trying to claim the handful of undecided voters.

Tyson Chaney"


"I think most voters who like Sarah Palin are morally aspirational. They will vote for someone they think believes in doing things the "right" way. They want to live in a world where everyone is Christian, straight and virgins before marriage, but the reality is that we don't, and voting for a candidate who aspires to govern a country shaped by her evangelical worldview is simply living in a bubble that is bound to burst. The most glaring example is her daughter. She would most likely not be pregnant if her mother would have a more practical and less simplistic way of dealing with sex. The issue of prolife/choice would probably be moot if she was able to ask her mom for birth control or condoms, but being that Palin supports abstinence only education, things were brought to a head and she will now be a teen mother, just like her own mother.

I don't think McCain picked Palin because he thought she was ready to lead. He did it to win the election. He is an old school republican, fiscally conservative, small government, and she is from the new school, evangelical and morally right wing. I just don't see how those two marry: isn't telling Americans how to live their personal lives big government? I really hope Americans come to their senses about this duo, but as each day passes I am having more and more anxiety about it.

Jasmin Hai"