The Power of Palin
by Huge TV viewing numbers last night for Gov. Sarah Palin, amazingly nearly matching Barack Obama's tally and far outstripping the viewership for Vice President Joe Biden, who is after all her opponent. Sarah Palin is not running for president. And only six networks carried Palin's speech, vs. 10 for Obama, so her numbers are even more impressive.
She apparently also dealt smoothly with teleprompter problems-- I certainly didn't notice when she ad-libbed:
Several of the drafts were scribbled on, so one aide gave Palin a wrinkled, folded copy out of his pocket.
Officials said Palin responded in mom-like fashion, concluding, “Well, I suppose I could put a book on it and smooth it out a little. “
During one part of her speech, she couldn’t see the teleprompter because signs were blocking it. That was when she ad-libbed a line about the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull — “lipstick.”
This yielded one of the best lines of the night and evoked huge applause and laughter.
Palin has already achieved superstar status in the political world, and interestingly, even prior to her phenomenal speech last night she was closing the gap in the polls on the experience match-up, especially with independent voters. Rasmussen:
Democrats and Republicans agree on their willingness to vote for a woman for president and the belief that a woman candidate will be elected in the next 10 years. But they split on predictable partisan lines when Clinton and Palin are introduced into the equation.
In the head-to-head match-up, 87% of Democrats support Clinton, while 85% of GOP voters support Palin. Unaffiliated voters go for Clinton 48% to 39%.
It's the power of Palin, and it's just the beginning of the general election campaign.
Posted In
BlogHer Conferences
Conference Special Offers
- Home
- About Us
- BlogHer Community
- Conferences
- BlogHer Network
- Special Offers
- Contact Us
Follow us on Twitter:
@blogher @bloghersupport @blogherdeals
Become a Facebook Fan
© Copyright 2009 BlogHer | Terms of Service
Comments
Ummmm
Hi, Anne. Did I miss something? Is Palin running against Clinton now? I'm not quite clear what your point is from the quote of the polls.
And what is even more impressive? The power of Obama supporters...$8 million donated by 130,000 supporters in the past 19 hours! And you said it, "it's just the beginning of the general election campaign."
Notions of Identity
The Power of Palin
The point was, I believe, that Palin has garnered tremendous name recognition less than a week after vaulting onto the national stage. When Rasmussen measured the neophyte against Clinton, Palin came pretty close--an impressive performance for someone whose name most of us did not know this time last week.
Bottom Line? Whether you agree with her policies or not, she hit the ball out of the park last night. The Dems should be very worried.
Jane Becker
http://thedamedomain.blogspot.com
I'm not so sure, Jane
If we are talking about her oratory skills, sure - she was good. But substance? Nada. And for anyone who thinks otherwise and considers the issues, I'd like to understand just what she said that was substantive. I heard a whole lotta lies (that even the mainstream media has been clearing up) and criticism of community organizers, and that sure wasn't substantive. But I guess if one were judging her on her speaking skills and her ability to make folks laugh with other folks being the punchline, than yes - she definitely did score.
Notions of Identity
I'm curious. What lies did
I'm curious. What lies did you hear?
If taking the steps to become energy independent, to stop reckless and unnecessary spending, expose crooks for who they really are and rid them of their undeserved positions, to stay in Iraq and finish what we started...no matter how badly we want our soldiers home. Because if we retreat with this one, we might as well...oh...I don't know...do like other surrenderous nations do? However, if taking these and other crucial steps are things that to you, are WITHOUT substance, then would you satisfy my curiosity with your idea of what substance is?
How about...To exercise the use of power of veto in defense of the public interest? Are you not for that either? Or...to throw Russia back onto their heels, because they are without a doubt, up to NO absolute GOOD. Just as volatile Iran is, and will furthermore will become if someone doesn't STOP them from obtaining nuclear weapons. Obama's idea of a "No Pre-conditions" plan to see if he can entice I'madinnerjacket with an "incentive" (as he has said) to get them to behave, is LAUGHABLE. Moreover, it IS maniacal & reckless.
Pursue a CLEAR knowledge of the "mainstream media" and you will realize how silly it is to believe anything they say. They are poisonous. Most people think that they are well-informed. Myself included, until you dig deeper.
Here is something substantive....There is much to be said for the 'community organizer' who organizes very little. Like...they are not the right person for the job, that they lack the spirit of action necessary to "get something accomplished with magnitude", (We cannot restrict ourselves to "some" of the people. It's ALL, or nothing at all.) Having the ability to "talk a dog off of a meat-wagon" is never good for the dog.
Anyway...sigh...No matter who gets in, they will be expected to wear many hats.
PEACE AND LOVE TO ALL
What lies did you
Here you go.
The Evil Slut Clique
Evilslutopia
You can find the full list of
Full list of extended truths here : http://news.yahoo.com/story//ap/20080904/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_fact_check
I'll copy and past below (it's quite long)
ST. PAUL, Minn. - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and her Republican supporters held back little Wednesday as they issued dismissive attacks on Barack Obama and flattering praise on her credentials to be vice president. In some cases, the reproach and the praise stretched the truth.
Some examples:
PALIN: "I have protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending ... and championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. I told the Congress 'thanks but no thanks' for that Bridge to Nowhere."
THE FACTS: As mayor of Wasilla, Palin hired a lobbyist and traveled to Washington annually to support earmarks for the town totaling $27 million. In her two years as governor, Alaska has requested nearly $750 million in special federal spending, by far the largest per-capita request in the nation. While Palin notes she rejected plans to build a $398 million bridge from Ketchikan to an island with 50 residents and an airport, that opposition came only after the plan was ridiculed nationally as a "bridge to nowhere."
PALIN: "There is much to like and admire about our opponent. But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform — not even in the state senate."
THE FACTS: Compared to McCain and his two decades in the Senate, Obama does have a more meager record. But he has worked with Republicans to pass legislation that expanded efforts to intercept illegal shipments of weapons of mass destruction and to help destroy conventional weapons stockpiles. The legislation became law last year. To demean that accomplishment would be to also demean the work of Republican Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana, a respected foreign policy voice in the Senate. In Illinois, he was the leader on two big, contentious measures in Illinois: studying racial profiling by police and requiring recordings of interrogations in potential death penalty cases. He also successfully co-sponsored major ethics reform legislation.
PALIN: "The Democratic nominee for president supports plans to raise income taxes, raise payroll taxes, raise investment income taxes, raise the death tax, raise business taxes, and increase the tax burden on the American people by hundreds of billions of dollars."
THE FACTS: The Tax Policy Center, a think tank run jointly by the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute, concluded that Obama's plan would increase after-tax income for middle-income taxpayers by about 5 percent by 2012, or nearly $2,200 annually. McCain's plan, which cuts taxes across all income levels, would raise after tax-income for middle-income taxpayers by 3 percent, the center concluded.
Obama would provide $80 billion in tax breaks, mainly for poor workers and the elderly, including tripling the Earned Income Tax Credit for minimum-wage workers and higher credits for larger families.
He also would raise income taxes, capital gains and dividend taxes on the wealthiest. He would raise payroll taxes on taxpayers with incomes above $250,000, and he would raise corporate taxes. Small businesses that make more than $250,000 a year would see taxes rise.
MCCAIN: "She's been governor of our largest state, in charge of 20 percent of America's energy supply ... She's responsible for 20 percent of the nation's energy supply. I'm entertained by the comparison and I hope we can keep making that comparison that running a political campaign is somehow comparable to being the executive of the largest state in America," he said in an interview with ABC News' Charles Gibson.
THE FACTS: McCain's phrasing exaggerates both claims. Palin is governor of a state that ranks second nationally in crude oil production, but she's no more "responsible" for that resource than President Bush was when he was governor of Texas, another oil-producing state. In fact, her primary power is the ability to tax oil, which she did in concert with the Alaska Legislature. And where Alaska is the largest state in America, McCain could as easily have called it the 47th largest state — by population.
MCCAIN: "She's the commander of the Alaska National Guard. ... She has been in charge, and she has had national security as one of her primary responsibilities," he said on ABC.
THE FACTS: While governors are in charge of their state guard units, that authority ends whenever those units are called to actual military service. When guard units are deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, for example, they assume those duties under "federal status," which means they report to the Defense Department, not their governors. Alaska's national guard units have a total of about 4,200 personnel, among the smallest of state guard organizations.
FORMER ARKANSAS GOV. MIKE HUCKABEE: Palin "got more votes running for mayor of Wasilla, Alaska than Joe Biden got running for president of the United States."
THE FACTS: A whopper. Palin got 616 votes in the 1996 mayor's election, and got 909 in her 1999 re-election race, for a total of 1,525. Biden dropped out of the race after the Iowa caucuses, but he still got 76,165 votes in 23 states and the District of Columbia where he was on the ballot during the 2008 presidential primaries.
FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOV. MITT ROMNEY: "We need change, all right — change from a liberal Washington to a conservative Washington! We have a prescription for every American who wants change in Washington — throw out the big-government liberals, and elect John McCain and Sarah Palin."
THE FACTS: A Back-to-the-Future moment. George W. Bush, a conservative Republican, has been president for nearly eight years. And until last year, Republicans controlled Congress. Only since January 2007 have Democrats have been in charge of the House and Senate
Most people think that they
Most people think that they are well-informed. Myself included, until you dig deeper.
You are sooo right. So, let's dig deeper and look at the record.
Sarah Palin said:
Barack Obama supports plans to raise "income taxes ... payroll taxes."
What Sarah Palin meant:
Obama's taxes hit only higher incomes
Sarah Palin said:
And I have protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending: nearly half a billion dollars in vetoes.
What Sarah Palin meant:
As Mayor, Palin Left Behind Almost $19 Million In Long-Term Debt, Compared to None Before She Was Mayor.
Sarah Palin said:
“It was the spirit that brought me to the governor’s office, when I took on the old politics as usual in Juneau … when I stood up to the special interests, the lobbyists, big oil companies, and the good-ol’ boys network.”
What Sarah meant:
As Mayor, Palin Hired a Washington Lobbyist to Help Get Earmarks for Wasilla – Lobbyist Was Former Chief of Staff for Indicted Senator Ted Stevens.
Sarah Palin said:
“I came to office promising major ethics reform, to end the culture of self-dealing. And today, that ethics reform is the law.”
What Sarah meant:
PALIN SIGNED WEAK ETHICS REFORM BILL & HAS HAD NUMEROUS ETHICAL FLAPS OF HER OWN.
Sarah Palin said:
“I suspended the state fuel tax, and championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress.”
What Sarah meant:
ALASKA HAS REQUESTED $589 MILLION IN PORK SINCE PALIN TOOK OFFICE & AS MAYOR, SHE HIRED WASILLA’S FIRST FEDERAL LOBBYIST TO SECURE EARMARKS FOR THE TOWN.
Sarah Palin said:
“I understand that we must reduce our dependence on foreign energy. I’ve worked with our state’s energy producers to expand our production so that we can have a safe, reliable supply of energy produced here in the United States.”
What Sarah meant:
PALIN SUPPORTED EXPORTING NATURAL GAS WHILE ALASKA BUSINESSES CLOSED BECAUSE OF SHORTAGES Palin Backed A Two-Year Extension Of The Export License To Export Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) To Japan And Other Asian Countries— Criticized Because Alaska’s Gas Reserves Are Declining.
Sarah Palin said:
“ But listening to him speak, it’s easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform - not even in the state senate.”
What Sarah meant:
OBAMA PASSED THE MOST SWEEPING REFORMS SINCE WATERGATE IN BOTH THE ILLINOIS AND US SENATES, AMONG OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
So, yes, I agree that you and Sarah Palin probably need to do more to check out the facts.
Excellent point.
Dig a Little Deeper
Obama didn't pass sweeping reforms in Illinois. Other legislators wrote the bills and when OB was picked to be the star, their names were removed from the bills and his name was attached.
That is, when he wasn't voting present.
As to his work in the US Senate, well, as you said, he was too occupied running for President to actually do his job in Congress.
Harsh accusations should come with solid
evidence.
It's well and good to tell people to dig deeper, but if you're going to make a nasty accusation, then you gain credibility by presenting supporting documentation yourself. Where are the original bills with the other people's names and then the revised bills with their names removed? Where is commentary from the bill creators angry that they will not get credit? (Whenever people don't get credit for work, you can usually find someone pouting in a corner.) How do you know that the bills weren't first suggested by Obama if this went down the way you say? It's possible that what you say is true, but I think the onus should be on the accuser to make the case.
I've seen interviews with Obama in which he's careful to say he "co-sponsored" a bill and not take credit for other people's work. Why would these people be so generous, letting Obama take credit for their hard work, when they once did not believe had a good chance at the presidency due to his skin color?
Nordette is a Contributing Editor with BlogHer.com whose personal blog is hosted on another site at this link.
Oh, Jane. You know how
Oh, Jane. You know how MUCH I love it when you ask me to dig deeper :)
This is for you, dear. A series of posts with the information you'll need.
You'll notice that NO ONE writes these bills on their own. The skills required to make this stuff happen (and it is a long slog of a process) require letting go of ego to work across the aisle, diplomacy, a deep understanding of how legislation will affect action and be defended in a court of law, negotiating issues between parties with different opinions, persistence in the face of complexity, inspiring others to work with you and for you, etc.
You might not think these skills are important. But I think that they are critical. My evidence? The extreme lack of those skills in the Oval Office over these past 8 years has gotten us to....here. A place that a vast majority of Americans are unhappy with according to the polls.
The day when McCain/Palin helps create change is the day that they lose the November Election.
--------------------------------------
Lobbying and Ethics Reform Act of 2007
A bill to provide greater transparency in the legislative process.
1/9/2007--Introduced.
hide bill sumLobbying and Ethics Reform Act of 2007 - Revises the Standing Rules of the Senate or prescribes requirements with respect to:
(1) conference reports;
(2) elimination of certain floor privileges and other benefits and privileges for former... Members, Senate officers, and Speakers of the House who are lobbyists or seek financial gain;
(3) a ban on gifts from lobbyists;
(4) travel restrictions and disclosure;
(5) post-employment restrictions;
(6) public disclosure by Members of employment negotiations;
(7) conflicts of interest with respect to a Member's spouse or immediate family members;
(8) a Member's use of influence on certain hiring decisions; and
(9)
notices of intent to object to proceeding to a measure or matter.
Amends the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (LDA) and the Foreign Agents
Registration Act with respect to various specified disclosures by
registered lobbyists and foreign government lobbyists. Requires:
(1) the Comptroller General to audit lobbying registration and related reports annually; and
(2)
the Select Committee on Ethics to provide certain ethics training and
awareness programs for Senators and their staff. Expresses the sense of
the Senate that the lobbying community should develop specified
proposals for multiple self-regulatory organizations. Amends the
federal criminal code to extend from one to two years the ban on
lobbying contacts by former very senior executive personnel, former
Members of Congress, and officers of the legislative branch with any
Member, officer, or employee of the entity in which such person served
before his or her tenure terminated. Prohibits former employees of
either chamber of Congress, within two years after leaving office, from
making lobbying contacts with a Member, officer, or employee of either
chamber. Amends the LDA to prohibit a registered lobbyist from
knowingly making a gift or providing travel to a Member, officer, or
employee of Congress, unless the gift or travel may be accepted under
the rules of the House or the Senate. Establishes the Senate Office of
Public Integrity.
NOT IMPLEMENTED -->-----------------------------------
Obama was elected to the Illinois state Senate
in 1996, when Democrats were in the minority...He did have some successes, though --
particularly in passing legislation sharply restricting the gifts that
Illinois politicians could accept from lobbyists. Illinois has
notoriously weak government ethics laws, and the Gift Ban Act was the
first major new restriction since the Watergate era.
Illinois State Gift Ban Act “Heralded As the MostSweeping Good-Government Legislation in Decades.” [HB672, 3R P 52-4-1, 5/22/98; PA90-0737, 8/12/98]
-------------------------------
Illinois Ethics Bill Most Far Reaching Since Watergate,Product Of
Bipartisan Work. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch wrote of Obama’s bill, “The
ethics restrictions would be the most far-reaching since the
Watergate-era campaign financial disclosure law. They are the product
of months of negotiations among two lawmakers of each party, other
state officials and Mike Lawrence. He is an aide toformer Sen. Paul
Simon, a Democrat, and used to be an aide to Edgar, a Republican.” [St.
Louis Post-Dispatch, 5/24/98]
-------------------------------
John Bouman, president of the Sargent Shriver
National Center on Poverty Law, said Obama's work helped make the
program more consumer-friendly. He also said Obama was often willing to
give up credit for the legislation if that helped win Republican
support.
"It tells you something that as a relatively junior member in the minority party, he was an important negotiator," Bouman said.
-----------------------------
You can check out anyone's record at Vote Smart, Jane.
Also, Politfact and FactCheck give you the scoop on misinformation from any candidate in this election.
These sites are non-partisan (not run by the Liberal Media...whoever they are) and hold politicians on BOTH sides of the aisle accountable
Can I just say that a campaign is MUCH more interesting and enlightening now that we have the internet and digital video/audio?
Waaahooo!
Once again
thanks, Miteegirl, for beating me to the punch - and to the others who also provided information about the lies and wordtwists in Palin's speech. I should have been more specific w/examples in my initial comment, but I was rushed. This info is great; I can't keep up with you all! :)
Lara
Notions of Identity
Lara-- No problem. You're
Lara--
No problem. You're welcome.
And, I just wanted to see this again.
John Bouman, president of the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, said Obama's work helped make the program more consumer-friendly. He also said Obama was often willing to give up credit for the legislation if that helped win Republican support.
"It tells you something that as a relatively junior member in the minority party, he was an important negotiator," Bouman said.
-----------------------
Why did I think that this was worth repeating?
Because I want to point out to our sisters in support of McCalin/Palin that Obama does not have a "messiah complex". You try to paint him as egotistical and smug, when he is anything but. He has let the Left and the Right and the media dig into his record and grill him on the issues. (Most recently O'Reilly.) He has invited citizens in his campaign to give him ideas and feedback and -surprise!- he implments it. He doesn't stoop to petty nastiness and he gives credit where credit is due to others who have done great work.
The Obama supporters have projected that onto him.
Let me tell you the Webster's dictionary defintion of "messiah". It means "any expected deliverer."
We see Obama as someone who will deliver us from 8 long, painful years of Republicans creating a mess of our economy, our communities, our reputation in the world, and our Executive Branch of government.
So, do YOU want to call him the Democratic messiah? Or the American messiah?
Yeah. You're right. He will be. Bring it on.
Ah yes, which brings me
Ah yes, which brings me to...why is the McCain campaign scared to let Palin talk to the media?
If she can't handle herself in front of mere journalists, she has no hope in hell against terrorists.
The Dems were watching
Her numbers were so high because a lot of Dems were watching so that as we can better understand what exactly we are up against.
She has not only succeeded in uniting the far right wing base of the Rep, but has also succeeded in helping to mobilize the progressives, independents and democrats who are donating in record numbers, volunteering and energizing us.
Thanks Sarah, because when you took the gloves off and got nasty, Americans got a taste of what it would be like if you were in charge.
Everything she said was
Everything she said was written for her to say.... She wasn't nasty. She was reciting her speech. We will see how good she is on her own during the debate- Stay tuned!
Ohio's a dead heat - I donated
Just saw on the news that Ohio is in a dead heat in the latest gallop poll, I think it was. Obama 47%, McCain 45%. They said, with the error margin, that's too close to call. I also just got an Obama for America email with the video Faces of Change http://my.barackobama.com/facesofchange . Somehow I missed that watching the DNC. I was moved by all the everyday people who got up, especially Barney Smith. Truthfully, this is the first time I've donated to a campaign. I like that they're not asking for big bucks. I think it's the first time I've had the opportunity, come to think of it. So I guess I'm putting my money where my mouth is. I'm doing something. Checking out the Action Center now to see how I can get involved. They've got something called Neighbor to Neighbor. I can do that.
Funny how things evolve in just 24 hours, isn't it? The combination of watching Palin's speech, logging into Blogher, reading links from posts, realizing how close it is in my home state, and seeing the word HOPE in that video got me energized. I said earlier HOPE is not a bad word. It's the only thing that's gotten me through many a bad time. And I'm still here.
Thank you Sarah Palin. Thank you Blogher. And thank you Barak Obama for a grassroots campaign (community organizers, go figure) that makes a regular person like me, who votes, but never really gets involved, feel like I can help make something happen.
made my night
thanks for sharing
Politics & News Contributing Editor
Queen of Spain
Made my morning!
Thanks Zenseeker! The more women involved in politics and policy, from all sides of the aisle, the better. :)
Lisa Stone
BlogHer Co-founder
Surfette
BlogHer is non-partisan but our bloggers aren't! Follow our coverage of the 2008 political conventions
Re: Ohio's a dead heat
Thanks for sharing that Zenseeker. I was appalled by the mockery of 'ordinary' community organizers last night. Glad to know other people appreciate their existence.
Wow, I didn't care for the
Wow, I didn't care for the substance of Sarah's speech but I loved what it did for Democratic fundraising!
Biggest day ever! $10 million in 24 hours!
Um, wow. I never thought I'd say this but, Sarah, thanks!
"Superstar status?" But
"Superstar status?" But isn't being a "celebrity" supposed to be a major sin in McCainland?
The Evil Slut Clique
Evilslutopia
Palin is Inspiring
After watching McCain's speech last night (I never usually watch convention stuff) I realized how inspired I was by Palin's speech. He's good. Barack is good. But she was amazing.
Thanks for the post - I hadn't heard about that stuff, interesting!!
I'm from a military Navy family but wasnt' sure about McCain, now I am extremely excited about the ticket.
Request to seal divorce files denied?
According to Reddit.com and this is from their website:
1344
Interesting. The business partner that the National Enquirer alleges that Palin had an affair with? He filed an emergency request to seal his own divorce records on Wednesday. It was denied.
Does anyone have any thought on this? If you go the site they even show the court records from the Alaska Government website http://www.courtrecords.alaska.gov/pa/pa.urd/pamw2000.docket_lst?68762762
There is always something surprising about this woman coming out each day, too much uncertainty and suspicion around her.
This provides some context
This provides some context on Sarah Palin and her background that I think is extremely relevant. A personal letter from an Alaska Resident who has known Palin since 1992:
Fascinating read.
The writer is a homemaker and education advocate in Wasilla, Alaska. Late last week, Anne Kilkenny penned an e-mail for her friends about vice presidential
candidate Sarah Palin, whom she personally knows, that has since
circulated across comment forums and blogs nationwide. Here is her e-mail in its entirety, posted with her permission.
Here's a sample:
During her mayoral administration, most of the actual work of running this small city was turned over to an administrator. She had been pushed to hire this administrator by party power-brokers after she had gotten herself into some trouble over precipitous firings, which had given rise to a recall campaign.
Sarah campaigned in Wasilla as a "fiscal conservative." During her six years as mayor, she increased general government expenditures by more than 33 percent. During those same six years, the amount of taxes collected by the city increased by 38 percent. This was during a period of low inflation (1996-2002). She reduced progressive property taxes and increased a regressive sales tax, which taxed even food. The tax cuts that she promoted benefitted large corporate property owners way more than they benefited residents.
Sarah Palin comes across
Sarah Palin comes across like a horrible woman to me but I keep hearing
on the news over and over that Sarah Palin gave an “AMAZING/GREAT”
speech as she accepted her nomination as the VP for the Republican
Party; I personally felt it to be just insulting and nothing else.
I could not believe all the hate, sarcasm and divisiveness she
delivered during her speech. Her mocking and bullying really got to me,
and as a mom of a 7 year old I could not believe that she was doing it
all in front of her kids and was being applauded for it. The chanting
of the delegates was even scarier. I teach my child that behavior like
this is not accepted and see a mom bullying on national television for
her kids to see and learn. Are those the values that the republicans
are so proud of (we definitely saw a lot of that attitude from the
republicans this week). Is that why Sarah Palin is now so popular with
them? What a scary way to energize anyone.
Strong leadership REQUIRED!!
We must not elect a weak leader in this time. We have troops in Iraq right now fighting to serve our country. Don't let this be another Vietnam. Don't let our nation be turned over into the hands of someone who, though sincere, is sincerely misguided, and is, what I believe, a blank slate in the hands of puppeteers who would propel this nation into DEPTHS of darkness, and entrench us in corruption and danger we can't even begin to fathom nor understand. For those of us who still believe in the necessity of, the sacrifice in, and the commitment to VICTORIOUS wars - We MUST WIN!!! We MUST act now!!!
We have two heroes on the ticket - and only two. I see the good heart in John McCain, and the willingness to truly serve, even though differentiating from the conventional "party wisdom" (I truly do NOT agree with him on every point). But I am glad that he still retains some of that old school "get-it-done", "don't-give-up-even-through-unbelievable-opposition" attitude that has stuck out to me in a man, whose lifetime of experience, sacrifice, and perserverance have crafted a warrior.
Speaking of conserving energy and rescuing the economy, check out the modest stage used at the DNC - it looks like it came straight out of Vegas. Now you know where your tax dollars are going. You won't have to worry about anything if we have a liberal, *ahem* socialist White House - the government promises to care of everything for you. If that's before or AFTER we get blown up with nukes, you'd have to ask them.
What IS important, is that we learn to conserve, be modest with spending, and take care for our decisions - build a fence at the top of the hill, instead of putting an ambulance at the bottom of the hill. Also, FOLLOW THROUGH - don't start out on something without the intention to finish it - and finish it right. DON'T LET OUR TROOPS COME HOME IN DISGRACE, as if their sacrifice has been an unavoidable mistake because of the president (oh, please). God forbid.
Every bit of everyone's efforts count in this war, and this IS a vital war, and WE MUST WIN. We must not switch horses mid-stream, switch plans, and decide to put better jobs, healthcare reform, and the lovely environment above COMPLETION and VICTORY in our worldwide battle for national safety and security. In a hierarchy of psychological human needs, safety and security are fundamentally at the base of the pyramid. Being able to have better jobs and more affordable schooling are not even the third or fourth layer up!
And, Lord have mercy, left-extremists are scared to death of Sarah Palin. Well, she's confident, she derides all of their faux stereotypes - and even better, she's very tricky to attack (unless you want to be go through torturous and painstaking explanations the the 58% of Americans who LOVE Sarah to death - or look sexist - or look spurned - or look like you're jealous, which you probably are - or look like you really don't have the best interests of women in mind (maybe just yourself), after all this IS a victory for women all across the board). She tops Obama and McCain, both at 57% approval .. Biden's down there at 46%, honorable mention. As Newt Gingrich said, liberals MUST destroy Sarah, because she belies all of their most integral messages - which aren't true, of course. And she proves the opposite, which makes them look TERRIBLY bad.
So what are you saying? For
So what are you saying? For a women to be a strong leader she needs to be sarcastic and a bully?
You just confirmed my suspicions about republicans and why you all like Palin so much.
You are all just like her, have the same qualities, the same values and no clue about the real world.
Oh by the way, I would love to have a woman leading this country or as VP, but not just any woman!
Conversation with an RNC
Conversation with an RNC delegate (Charles Hunter) and a 2008 RNC Convention security guard (Avi Steinberg):
This is the same thing I heard from my parents. And the reason why they decided to vote Democratic this year for the first time in their lives (and they are from SW Virginina, a lovely swing state):
All the hotels in the area are dark. Thousands of Republicans stir
in their beds, dreaming thousands of dreams about Sarah Palin. But
Charles Hunter, an environmentalist delegate from New Hampshire and a
veteran of Republican conventions going back to the 1980 coronation of
Ronald Reagan at Detroit's Joe Louis Arena, can't sleep at all.
"This is my last convention," he tells me, lighting a cigarette.
"Why?"
"I'm a real McCain guy. I served. But I liked the old McCain --
when he was a true hero, before he signed on with the yahoos. I
actually believe in 'country first.'"
"Not a fan of Palin?"
"If I were McCain I'd probably bring her onto my ticket, too. That's
exactly the problem. I guess I tricked myself into thinking that
McCain, even after he watered himself down for the election, could
somehow restore sanity. The Democrats tried to paint him as a twin of
Bush. Not true. But Palin ... she does remind me of Bush. McCain has
made a devil's pact and sealed this party's fate."
Even though he's older, he smokes his cigarette like a young man, with earnest haste, before he flicks it off into the dark.
"That's it," he said, "we're through. Even if we win, we've lost."
*************
Meanwhile, my sister-in-law and her husband from the great state of Alaska just let me know that they are casting their votes for Obama.
Nice.
sarah palin
I'm a christian-raised hard-working hockey mom with four kids, including an 18 year daughter (not pregnant though) and a disabled son. I DO NOT FEEL COMPELLED OR OBLIGATED TO VOTE FOR SARAH PALIN and MCCAIN. What if she became president by default? A nightmare for us all.
Go Obama/Biden!