McCain's VP choice. Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

I get why we're all obsessed with the family dimension of the Palin story - and personally I think any man or woman who is trying to manage 5 children, including a special-needs infant and a teenage daughter going thru some sort of rebellious phase (including unwed pregnancy and multiple driving violations), might have their hands a little too full to handle the second highest position in the country. But I also get why this is not a disqualifier for many - and why her family issues reinforce support for Palin among some.

What I can't fathom is how anyone at this stage of history could endorse the idea of a VP who has absolutely zero international experience or exposure. This may make her more of a "typical" American (in that many don't have passports) but it completely disqualifies her to be a heartbeat away from the presidency, particularly serving under the man who would be the oldest president in US history. As VP, Palin would be responsible for chairing interagency meetings in which some of the most important national security issues are decided. I fully respect her anti-corruption credentials, such as they are, but her very limited experience and education does not give me confidence that she has either the understanding or the judgment to guide US policy on the critical issues of our times - terrorism, Iraq, Iran, the peace process, Russia, China - or anything to do with the economy for that matter. The family issues are fascinating in a soap-opera-like sense, but they are a total distraction from the real story - which is Palin's total lack of qualification for the job.

[Anonymous]

Sarah Palin's TO DO list:

http://slate.com/blogs/blogs/xxfactor/archive/2008/09/01/sarah-palin-s-to-do-list.aspx

Sarah Palin's To-Do List

1. Learn about al-Qaida.
2. Learn about Washington, D.C.
3. Order Bristol's dress (Elastic waist!!! Is white inappropriate after six months?)
4. Fire brother-in-law.
5. Learn about Russia/Georgia/S. Ossetia (Locate Abkhazia???)
6. Nurse Baby Trig.
7. Order flowers for wedding.
8. Fire people who haven't fired brother-in-law.
9. Learn about ethics rules.
10. Fire at brother-in-law? (Option: aerial shooting?)
11. Nurse Baby Trig.
12. Learn about Iran.
13. Learn about U.S. Senate.
14. Learn about contraception. (Too late???)
15. Investigate homes for foundlings?
16. Govern Alaska.
17. Life insurance on J.M.?

[Anonymous]

I just heard about your forum. I used to live in dc and I am a mom, so can I comment?

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:I just heard about your forum. I used to live in dc and I am a mom, so can I comment?

Yes. I'm not even a mom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sarah Palin's TO DO list:

http://slate.com/blogs/blogs/xxfactor/archive/2008/09/01/sarah-palin-s-to-do-list.aspx

Sarah Palin's To-Do List

1. Learn about al-Qaida.
2. Learn about Washington, D.C.
3. Order Bristol's dress (Elastic waist!!! Is white inappropriate after six months?)
4. Fire brother-in-law.
5. Learn about Russia/Georgia/S. Ossetia (Locate Abkhazia???)
6. Nurse Baby Trig.
7. Order flowers for wedding.
8. Fire people who haven't fired brother-in-law.
9. Learn about ethics rules.
10. Fire at brother-in-law? (Option: aerial shooting?)
11. Nurse Baby Trig.
12. Learn about Iran.
13. Learn about U.S. Senate.
14. Learn about contraception. (Too late???)
15. Investigate homes for foundlings?
16. Govern Alaska.
17. Life insurance on J.M.?

18. Get a map to find Czechoslovakia and where Iraq borders Pakistan.

[Anonymous]

19. Practice new wave so as to avoid looking like dumb beauty queen at prospective inauguration.

[Anonymous]

What I can't fathom is how anyone at this stage of history could endorse the idea of a VP who has absolutely zero international experience or exposure. This may make her more of a "typical" American (in that many don't have passports) but it completely disqualifies her to be a heartbeat away from the presidency, particularly serving under the man who would be the oldest president in US history. As VP, Palin would be responsible for chairing interagency meetings in which some of the most important national security issues are decided. I fully respect her anti-corruption credentials, such as they are, but her very limited experience and education does not give me confidence that she has either the understanding or the judgment to guide US policy on the critical issues of our times - terrorism, Iraq, Iran, the peace process, Russia, China - or anything to do with the economy for that matter. The family issues are fascinating in a soap-opera-like sense, but they are a total distraction from the real story - which is Palin's total lack of qualification for the job.

Agree. The personal stuff is personal. The real concern is how qualified is Gov. Palin to be V.P., let alone President if something happened to old man McCain. Yet, the personal stuff is of public importance because it speaks to her and to McCain's judgement about how she was -- or was not -- vetted, the choices she's made (does she have good judgement?) and her religious views which, unlike our first Catholic President JFK, I have every reason to believe that she and McCain would try to impose on the rest of us. After all, Palin (and maybe McCain) think that this is a "Chirstian country." The appointment of probably 2 and maybe 3 Justices of the Supreme Court will be up to the next administration. Will we began to have to deal with further erosion of separation of church and state? And an over-turn of Roe v Wade? The concerns go on and on. I shudder at the thought that a McCain/Palin ticket could win.

[Anonymous]

Educated and blue collar alike see the slow erosion of the American Empire, relative to the rest of the world. Bring in McCain & Palin, and the pace will quicken.