BlogHer - Alaska Governor Sarah Palin Confirmed as McCain VP - Comments

Brava!

fmaggi — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 07:08:04 -0500

It is so heartening to read a comment like yours.

To hear the GOP speak, all of our problems stem from the Dems, as if they were in control of the White House - Senate - House these past 8 years. The latest twist: our 1 vote majority in the Senate these last 2 years brought the demise of America. Go figure.

Look at the tax plans - the tax breaks for Corporations and Big Oil - the need for a Manhattan Project for alternative energy - the job creation under Clinton ... healthcare -- there are many reasons to believe the Dems might improve our lives (excepting for the fact that we will be left in such debt we probably won't be able carry them out)...

Putting the GOP in power now is like putting the wolves in charge of the hen house.

For a careful analysis and thoughtful presentation of both candidates, see the New Yorker Comment (endorsement of Obama) at : www.newyorker.com

francesca maggi
burntbythetuscansun

While all the reasons you

fmaggi — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 06:59:37 -0500

While all the reasons you cite are, indeed, thrilling...this woman is as much a supporter of women's rights as Charlton Heston is for gun bands...

Women have been fighting for decades for: equality under the law - no discrimination of sex (and sexual orientation) - reproductive freedom, and more importantly, education (Bristol Palin can be the poster child for the effectiveness of "abstinence only education"-- a woman should have the world as her oyster at 17, and not be saddled with childrearing, and the importance of education as a way of increasing productivity and possibility -- even in Africa they understand that educated children and in particular, educated women, will pull them out -- we have a family who pride themselves in dropping out of high school?

This is no one to serve as a role model for anyone.

francesca maggi
burntbythetuscansun

Raising Taxes on Whom?

fmaggi — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 06:54:05 -0500

Dear Shannon,

95% of small businesses do not make over $250,000 per year...and it is only those that will be taxed. As for me? I'm happy to pay up if it will have a "trickle up" effect: Get our economy back on track, businesses do better, more jobs are created, more customer/client spending goes up...

Talk about a 'Virtuous Circle'.

It's time Americans started living in a reality that someone has to pay for all the spending somewhere down the line. It's sad to think it will be my nieces and nephews, or our entire country as it buckles under its arrogance and ignorance. At the risk of being another liberal doomsday reporter...Pride always comes before the fall...

francesca maggi
burntbythetuscansun

On the other hand, didn't

shellie — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 04:08:14 -0500

On the other hand, didn't the bill fail by some enormous margin? Obama's vote did no good and has been a problem on his record ever since.

Sounds like a good time to vote Present, or visit Hawaii.

It's All Just Depressing

hbdolphin — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:03:54 -0500

Do not believe Palin propoganda against her former in-law brothe

alaskaresident — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 07:59:40 -0500

Anybody who abuses their position of power to try to fire a former
brother in-law and Commissioner simply because of a personal vendetta
and not on the basis of job merits is unethical, untrustoworthy and
unfit to be a heart-beat from the highest office in the Land.

Taxes Going Up?

fmaggi — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:12:16 -0500

Unless you're Bill Gates, your taxes will go down (although the minimum wage will thankfully go up) and give a leg up to the millions of Americans who need it. I'm sorry for your business, but in the name of solidarity, it'd be a small start.

Besides, think about it: without raising taxes, how are we going to pay for all the wars McCain & CO. want to wage?

Alaska blogs

Jill Miller Zimon — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 20:43:38 -0500

Alaska has several political blogs - I've not visited them at all - how do you find them? My guess is that they are divided - that is, they are partisan.

BlogHer is, maybe some would even say insanely, home to every point on the spectrum. But if you were looking for a place that would be one note in one direction, well, I have to say, the fact that BlogHer isn't like that is what I love.

Jill
Writes Like She Talks

Well, as someone who is an

miteegirl — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 20:36:04 -0500

Well, as someone who is an independent, i wish you wouldn't go.

I think that there are quite a few Republicans and Democrats (and Independents and Libertarians and Green Party Folk) who are engaging and smart and that makes it worthwhile for me to stay.

I agree that some people have been quite harsh, from both the Left AND the Right, about the candidates of the other's party. In the last couple of days, it's been some Bloghers on the Left (some not all) getting a little too snarky at the Right. But if you'd shown up weeks ago, you would have seen some Bloghers from the Right (some, not all) giving that snarkiness to the Left.

I personally can't stand the rumor or the vitriol or the snarkiness. I understand that people need to let off steam, but I would recommend sitting on that post or email for 24 hours (okay, maybe just 4-6 hours) and re-reading before posting. Snarkiness and rumor is in poor taste.

On the other hand, I do enjoy the well written posts from both sides and debating the issues. I don't think questioning the record of a candidate is personally insulting, nor is asking for clarification from someone else when they are defending their candidate/going on the offensive against yours. It is a democracy. We SHOULD be pushing and questioning and demanding to know things. Not in a personally insulting way. In a "let's take these choices seriously" way.

Just sticking with people who agree with us or blindly following a Party without critical thinking/self examination is not participating in a democracy. It's following a dictatorship or a police state. It reminds me of officials I spoke to when I traveled through China years ago, when they wouldn't give me their own opinion, they just repeated talking points.

I've had enough of talking points to last me a lifetime, here and abroad. But I digress...

Anyway, I hope you come back. I'll understand if you don't. But defending our point of view is just like defending our country from other nations who wish us ill...it's part of being an active citizen in a democracy.

not for me

snowrawks — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 20:03:45 -0500

this is the first time i have blogged. once i found out my governor was mccains vp,i looked for a place where women would share excitement/feelings about her and our potential future. most of these postings are very offensive. i wont ever be a part of it again. i tried to get tough and be as offensive about obama but thats not me. after watching bill o'rielly today about political blogging i have decided this will be my last. all this is is liberal women typing to other liberal women and putting down anyone who is not them. have fun arguing with yourselves. eventually you will run out of topics to cut and paste from the internet i will place my energy supporting my beliefs, not defending them on blogher.

You ask some good questions Terrace.

Giggle On — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 19:53:30 -0500

I'm learning a lot about Palin like everyone else in the country right now.

As I uncover more specifics, I'll come on back and post some facts. Hopefully other folks will do the same as we try to better understand both Palin's accomplishments, and from my side, Obama's.

One side will win this race and the more facts we have now, the better!

With all due respect to your opinion, I don't think it's a "no brainer, no experience whatsoever" deal with Palin.

I can say this much, as governor, Palin is the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces in Alaska. Commander-in-Chief of a state isn't the same as Commander-in-Chief of the US but hey, Obama doesn't even have CIC experience in a state.

I'm just sayin'........

Per the Alaska Constitution, the abridged responsibilities of a Governor include:

The governor shall be responsible for the faithful execution of the laws, he/she may convene the legislature, give the legislature information concerning the affairs of the State and recommend the measures he considers necessary.

The governor is commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the State. He/She may call out these forces to execute the laws and…proclaim martial law when the public safety requires it…

The governor may make changes in the organization of the executive branch or in the assignment of functions among its units which he considers necessary for efficient administration. Where these changes require the force of law, they shall be set forth in executive orders…

.....that's not your basic day at the PTA OR a typical day on the Senate floor...........

As far as the types of responsibilities she had as a mayor, it would look something like this:

Serving as chief executive officer, carrying out policies set by the City Council, ensuring that local laws are enforced, hiring and firing all appointed officers and employees, subject to laws regarding civil service, presiding over council meetings, preparing city-wide budgets, reporting to the council on the financial and other affairs and needs of the city.

Now I don't think I answered your question specifically enough to suit your needs but it's interesting to look at the responsibilities each of the candidates performs in their daily political life now, and in the past.

US Senators help make the laws and represent constituents but their duties pale in comparison to mayors and governors. Dontcha think?

#########

P.S. Bringing up Palin's lack of international exposure and experience only seems to highlight Obama's lack of experience in that area.

I think most people agree that Obama's foreign relations experience is weak. He seems to acknowledge this himself by adding Biden to his ticket.

Hmm. I was writing things

miteegirl — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 18:22:28 -0500

Hmm. I was writing things shorthand because it was such a long list.

Just how many bullets would you need to feel Obama is credible? I'm not asking how many bullets you would need to vote for him. I'm asking how many bullet points would you need until you felt he was credible?

just a plain old american

snowrawks — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:22:54 -0500

those bullets that everyone is googling, about obama, are not substantial, well- not enough of them are. he supports.... he worked.... he sponsored.... really? i mean really? so hes a senator who pats his governor on the back for the paydayloan regulations/ pred. motg lending act? maybe governor blagojevich should run for president- he actually made that happen. during obamas time on the nat'l cmtee for veteran affairs? what actually changed? as a regular plain old american girl, who happened to serve her country and has a 50% disability rating, i surely HAVE NOT been impacted by senator obama at all or his dedication to the VA.

Um, wow. Okay. I hear

miteegirl — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 07:20:24 -0500

Um, wow.

Okay. I hear you. The domestic issues that you raise ARE very important. Critical, in fact.

So, I think it would be best to entrust them to someone with as much experience as possible in fighting for these issues.

Someone who has first hand experience organizing job training programs, college prep programs, and working for tenant's rights.
Someone who worked for 12 years in neighborhood economic development
Someone who helped to lead efforts in poverty relief and the promotion of social mobility for 9 years.
Someone who worked for 7 years improving school performance by what it called "on the ground"
investments in the form of professional development and technical
assistance.
Someone who reformed ethics and health care laws, increased tax credits for low-income workers, negotiated welfare reform, and promoted increased subsidies for childcare.
Someone who supported a previous Republican governor's payday loan regulations and
predatory mortgage lending regulations aimed at averting home
foreclosures.
Someone who became Chairman of and led their state's Health and Human Services Committee.
Someone who sponsored a Senate amendment to the State Children's Health Insurance Program providing one year of job protection for family members caring for soldiers with combat-related injuries.
Someone who served on a national committee for Veterans' Affairs.
Someone who worked on a national committee for the Environment and Public Works.
Someone who has served the national committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.

I think someone who worked so hard for the things that I really cared about wouldn't scare me. Unless I never wanted to look at their record or even considering them in the first place.

bow to obama

snowrawks — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 04:01:36 -0500

the apostles should thank Palin for taking all the attention away from the "OBAMANATION" we are voting for president of the united states here, not the next God Almighty. this is our AMERICA, not our world. as much as some would like to think of foreign policy being the no.1 issue, its not for all of us. what about the american issues, environment (dont even argue about ANWR), minimum wage, healthcare, social security, forclosures. id like my president to address these homebound issues, screw obamas plan to invade pakistan. that isnt going help me from forclosing, or assist my 60 yr old divorced mother with no health care coverage, stop my childrens father from a FOURTH deployment (14 mo. each). my problem is that i dont believe obama or anything he says. he says whatever gets him votes.. oh yeah but shame on mccain for "trying to get votes" by hiring a women. PPFHHHAAA!

thank you blogher for helping define myself AS NOT A LIBERAL DEMOCRAT!! pheeew!

I dont even really like McCain that much, yeah he is old as dirt, but -i would never ever vote for obama. he scares me. he preaches, and talks in circles.i can go to church for that. i disagree with the majority and i think he sucks at public speaking. he doesnt really have anything to say that is substantial, at least to me. i will... i will... i will...! thats all i hear. OBAMA SCARES ME and im going to buy the t shirt ....... and hat.

good luck gulf coasters! stay safe my fellow southerners (at heart)

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin Confirmed as McCain VP

Denise — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 10:00:01 -0500

This morning rumors were flying that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin would be confirmed as Senator John McCain's VP and American Princess was so excited that she live blogged it. Punditmom was also interested in the rumor and blogged it, too.

Share your thoughts on this pick. Good for women? Good for republicans? Good for America? What do you think?

Also see previous blog posts about Sarah Palin:
* It could be you, lady
* The man for the job