Here is an interview that shows a pretty self-assured Governor Palin: http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=836304396. Biden better be studying this.

Anonymous wrote:He picked someone who ran in beauty pageants?!!?? She is only 44 so it isn't as if she was from another generation where this was in anyway acceptable for a professional woman. Is this supposed to be how we break through the glass ceiling....runner up to Miss Alaska. Come on there are so many women in their forties with great qualifications who didn't spend their college time in a swimsuit competition.

Don't forget she got a college scholarship from that competition. The ends may not always justify the means, but even if a beauty contest is demeaning, I certainly would not criticize Sarah Palin for going through one in order to get to college. Besides, don't you think there is a bit of cultural bias in our view of such affairs?

Just the fact that she is a governor with over 80% approval makes her a remarkable woman. I think the personal attacks on her (or McCain, Obama, or Biden) reflect more poorly on those of us making the attacks (and I've made my share) than on the object of the attack. Also, can't we drop the attacks on each other and lower the heat? When debate reduces to "You idiot", it's very tempting to give up; but I have really enjoyed this list, so I hope we can climb back up toward rational discussion.

Sorry if that's so preachy it verges on unacceptable mixing of religion and politics.

After reading what everyone has said, I think my opinion has evolved.

As far as experience, I don't see hers as that different from Carter's governorship of Georgia or Clinton's governorship of Arkansas.

As to her positions, they are pretty close to McCain's, and don't make much difference in how I view him.

I think her willingness to speak out against corruption reflects the best of McCain, as does her fairly progressive view on gay rights.

Finally, two points stand out for me. One is the point many of you have made, that it is about time we had another woman on a national ticket, and, as another crack in that glass ceiling, it's worthy of celebration. The other is that this does not seem like a campaign pro's pick, in that it has all sorts of risk, including blowing away the experience issue. Never mind the boilerplate about choosing someone ready to step into the Oval Office, he also indicated he wanted someone who shared his ideas and values. So I see this choice as the real John McCain rebelling against the obedient candidate McCain. I say Welcome back, Mr Maverick!

Of course I'll still vote for Obama.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's the only attack angle they can come up with -- other than she's not like them. (FIVE children, pro-life, husband is a blue-collar worker. GASP.)

Yep. It's pretty amusing, really. Criticizing her for this stuff is just going to make people like her more. Driving voters right into McCain's arms.

You're absolutely right! We should drop the nonsense and discuss her desire to overturn Roe v Wade, to teach Intelligent Design as science, and to drill in ANWR. If you're with her on those, you should probably vote for McCain, although I'm not sure he's with her on ID and ANWR.

In case you all missed my earlier post, she is IN FAVOR OF TEACHING INTELLIGENT DESIGN. Who cares what she named her kids. I love the name Trig. I hope she has another so she can name him Calc. But haven't we had enough of the anti-intellectual, anti-science attitude for the past eight years?

Please excuse my shouting.

Anonymous wrote:Oh please. Are we going to hear on exmissions from your stupid overpriced schools now?

I don't mean to make fun of your typo; I am genuinely unable to figure out what you intended to say. Could you explain?

On another point, this choice fits nicely in the Biden context. Biden punched home the message that Candidate McCain is not the maverick that Senator McCain was. Palin restores the maverick image. How the Senate will respond to being presided over by an unabashed whistle-blower will be interesting to watch, if McCain/Palin wins.

Anonymous wrote:I have to disagree with the previous posters. I think Fenty has been doing an admirable job in a very difficult position. I was uneasy when he was elected, but he's been surprising. I agree with his scholl takeover. DC public schools were horrendous and strong intervention was needed. I think Rhee is doing a good job trying to turn them around and has injected new blood and ideas into their management. Previously, sending my kid to the public school down the street wasn't even on the radar. Now, it's becoming reality. Same with many in my neighborhood. I don't think he panders to the council and he's a welcome change from the DC of my childhood. I think he is generally respected.

As for parking by metro- I do favor that. Getting around downtown is a nightmare and if people from the outlying suburbs have the option to drive to a station and then commute in, it relieves congestion and improves the lives of pedestrians who do not have to encounter drivers not used to the city roads.

I think you misunderstood the comment about parking at Takoma Metro by the previous poster (I guess I'm not the only Takoman on here). The plan cuts public parking in favor of two-car private garages. It also limits future expansion of bus facilities.

But this controversy has been going on since Fenty's days on the Council, and even earlier, so it may not be too interesting to the OP, except to the extent that it shows a tendency to support developers (who have been very forthcoming in supporting the Mayor and his allies).

Anonymous wrote:I don't share her Palin's views but if I did I wouldn't hesitate to vote for her.

Here is a view of hers that would prevent me from voting for her:
Palin’s conservative credentials certainly aren’t in question. Among other things, she has backed the teaching of “intelligent design” as an alternative to evolution. “I am a proponent of teaching both [evolution and intelligent design]," Palin said in a debate during her run for the governor’s office. "And, you know, I say this, too, as the daughter of a science teacher. Growing up with being so privileged and blessed to be given a lot of information on, on both sides of the subject -- creationism and evolution."

Anonymous wrote:I thought she did a good job on the speech. I feel proud of her as woman, and she seems to be a good leader for her state. However, we differ on politics and there is no way I am voting for McCain so it's a non starter for me. I think she will get skewered in the debates. I have to say, I am somewhat uncomfortable with our potential future President having an infant child (male or female).

Speaking of her children, this is probably a politically incorrect question that applies to both VP candidates: might it be a conflict of interest for a potential CIC to have a son (or daughter) in Iraq? My own bias is that any pres should treat war decisions as though his/her loved ones were among those risking their lives for their country.

I thought the word was that lots of HRC supporters would have considered choosing some other woman to be the supreme insult to Hillary. That's not a question, just a reminder that he was in a damned-if-you-do-damned-if-you-don't situation.

Anonymous wrote:

Rich wrote:You've all left out the most important thing: she was on a state champion basketball team in high school. McCain could not cede the basketball court to Obama and expect to win, could he?

Other than the dust-up about her brother-in-law, her reformist credentials are impeccable; she outdoes McCain at spitting in her party's face. But can a 100% pro-lifer win over HRC voters?

I love a reformer, first of all. But you asked about a 100% pro-lifer winning over HRC's supporters. Speaking only for me, Rich: I have never been comfortable with the Democratic Party's insistence on abortion as a key tenet upon which we're supposed to rest our identity as a party. I know this will be a very unpopular view on DCUM, but I have to be honest and say that, at times, our party has gone much further in this direction than I personally feel good about. I may be the only woman on this board who feels that way, and that's okay with me. Flame away. But since you asked an honest question, Rich, I wanted to give you an honest answer.

I agree that the Democratic Party's former emphasis on pro-choice purity was overdone. And Obama made it clear in his acceptance speech that he agrees. But for McCain to pick up pro-life purity is, IMHO, the same error.

On the other hand, based on my small knowledge of her background, mostly from the not always reliable Wikipedia, I believe she would be a great improvement over the current VP. And should she face the Harry Truman moment, I think she is likely to rise to the occasion and be an improvement over the present occupant of the Oval Office. [Talk about damning with faint praise!!!!!!}

You've all left out the most important thing: she was on a state champion basketball team in high school. McCain could not cede the basketball court to Obama and expect to win, could he?

Other than the dust-up about her brother-in-law, her reformist credentials are impeccable; she outdoes McCain at spitting in her party's face. But can a 100% pro-lifer win over HRC voters?

jsteele wrote:Fenty has been closed-mouth about what he is doing with his time. However, he definitely was not meeting with Obama given that Obama was not there until late last night. Also, why go to Denver to meet with Congressional figures who spend most of their time right here in DC?

The roll call vote is one of the few opportunities where a DC political leader can get a few seconds of national exposure. Fenty should have been there to make a pitch for DC voting rights before giving the delegate tally.

By all appearances, Fenty is not in Denver on behalf of a DC agenda, but rather a Fenty agenda.

Playing devil's advocate, I tried to come up with a plausible explanation for this. The most attractive is that Fenty was talking to Obama's campaign people about appearing onstage at the stadium today to make an appeal for DC voting rights. The bad thing about this explanation is that I have absolutely no factual basis for it. The good thing is that we'll find out soon whether it has any truth.

I wonder whether all the sniping between Hillary supporters and Barack supporters is really a Rovian ruse to stoke the animosities.

I think Hillary is actually in a great position as a senator with a massive support base. both for her policy goals and for her political future. Whether she chooses to stay in the Senate and play a Teddy Kennedy role, or whether she makes another run for the presidency, her opinion will command the attention of press and pols. If Obama wins, women's votes will be a large contributing factor, and Hillary will get a lot of credit for swinging them. If he loses, we'll all be thinking "What if it had been Hillary?"

That's assuming she is seen as working to get him elected. If it looks like she sabotaged him, I think she screws herself. But she, unlike Bill, is too disciplined to let that happen. Cooperation is win-win for her and Barack, no matter what their private opinions of each other. So, unless the Rove brigade in the GOP and the MSM succeed in their "Let's you and him fight" game, I'm feeling pretty up about things.

Anonymous wrote:I love listening to the pundits and reading the bloggers now-- these guys used to hate her and revel in her failures, and sabotage her if they could--- but now that she's supporting their guy, they can't stop praising her ----- what a great speech! She sure is a good cheerleader for Obama. Women without power seem much easier to love for some guys.

I didn't see anything powerless about the speech. What I heard was "this guy is fighting for what we fought for, the other guy isn't." I did not hear "this guy is great" or "this guy deserved to beat us" or even "I was wrong about this guy not being prepared". Some of the pundits criticized her for not taking back her earlier criticism, but I think this was more honest. It said "You're my people, so keep following me as I support this guy."

Looking at Bill, I had no doubt that he was thrilled with her, and I don't think cheerleading for Obama would thrill him. But being able to claim part of the credit for regaining the White House for the Party might. We'll get a better idea tomorrow.

Like 00:17, I liked the Twin Cities bit. Also "no way, no how, no McCain".