The Right and Wrong Questions for Palin

Here's a question for Sarah. I live near the ocean, does that make me a marine biologist?

Oh. Please! You can't be serious with this silly attack.

I've been in compressed learning environment, and that's exactly how I would respond. Why? Asking too many questions is a sign of someone who gets side tracked, and isn't a good use of time. Compressed briefing notes are much easier to absorb.

I almost never read your stuff, because it's always so superficial. At least you got off the Mommy wars.

Get a life!

Lots of luck. If Gibson asks three real questions, he'll be a legendary misogynist by Sunday morning.
Gotta hand it to the Rs: Sarah Palin's going to get a six-week pass because she's a woman, and *that's not sexist*. Will the last person down the rabbit hole please fold the flag properly?

"this will be a failed interview if it is long on fuzzy questions about family life and short on the questions that tell us what we need to know as citizens and voters"

EJ - Count on it. You know C. Gibson. This will be an entire plate of meat-balls served with extra sauce. I read it was a "Walters style" fluff and stuff, complete with a bio-movie and lots of family shots in Alaska and that SP has "deference" on question material. Thus, allowing Gibson to say "Nothing is off the table" it was just that she didn't have to ANSWER if she didn't want to. Nice presswork ABC.

If you expect to get anything out of this, you will be sorely disappointed.

What I would LOVE to see is a report that Gov. Palin's handlers ended the "interview" because the questions were not "respectful and deferential."

It won't happen, I know. Mr. Gibson and ABC clearly know that Gov. Palin needs this interview as much as they want the scoop. I'm sure the McCain Campaign understands the same.

But still, wouldn't it be funny!?

The American people are setting themselves up to be hoodwinked, yet again. And after it's over, they'll wring their hands and wail, "We just didn't KNOW!!! Why does this happen to us? WHY????"

Because you ask for it. Lies and fluff sell because you buy. Every time. Have fun circling the bowl; don't forget to take your Gravol.

As in previous Gibson interviews, one ground rule is limiting the subject matter. In this instance, to hockey, most important hero's of the Vietnam Era, and how to field dress a moose.

Gibson: What's your plan for the energy crisis and the economy?

Palin: Give every family $300/month to buy gas. We are the Govt. we can print all the money we need.

To the tune of Pink Flloyd....every body:

"We don't need no education,....
We don't need no self-control....
Dark sarcasm in the classroom....
......
Teacher, leave us kids alone!!"

People of Palin's generation grew up listening to this kind of junk and now they plan to be a heartbeat away from a 72 year old heart!
This is how the neo-Roman cookie crumbles!!!!

Charley Chuckles would be the last person capable of asking Palin any serious questions about running our country or what's going on in the world. Palin will be fully scripted and rehearsed, you bet. One is hyped for a bullfight scenario, but we'll get an intellectual mouse scampering around the ring, with a little clown waving tissue paper at her. Serious political discourse is simply not on the GOP agenda, this or any year.
--Michael T.
Philadelphia, PA

RE: Bob at 8:09 AM: "I've been in compressed learning environment, and that's exactly how I would respond. Why? Asking too many questions is a sign of someone who gets side tracked, and isn't a good use of time. Compressed briefing notes are much easier to absorb."

Bob, you fail to distinguish between an beginning student and the post-graduate student. For the beginning student, rote answers get you through the basic material. For the post-graduate student, mastery of confounding issues beyond the rote answers while not being side tracked is required.

At this time in US history, a post-graduate mastery is needed in a vice-presidential candidate, not a beginning student with the compressed learning. E.J. is correct in his analysis. Can the VP candidate handle the complex and confounding issues without losing sight of the problem?

Why? Asking too many questions is a sign of someone who gets side tracked, and isn't a good use of time. Bob

Are you serious? This is a sign of someone who has no substance and just can parrot back what is said to them. Where is there any intellectual grasp? Palin is just a slicker form of George Bush - reading the script. Look where that has gotten this country. Maybe we should spend more time vetting her handlers as they have the upper hand in deciding what Palin "believes."

God help us if this women gets to be VP.

Would love to see Sarah Palin on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. I know he says he is not a journalist, but he is still a better one than most of the credentialed ones . . .

Sen. Lieberman took Sarah palin under his wing to tutor her on washington. Where was the first stop on his list. VFW,no American Legion No, ok I give whier? AIPAC the most succefull bare knuckle lobbying group in this country. Really sound like buisness as usual in washington. Exactly.

Dionne is exactly right, of course. Is Charlie Gibson willing to embarrass himself and his network again, like he did during the "debate" he hosted with Stephanopolis? Yeah, probably. Otherwise the McCain handlers would never have allowed the interview with Palin.
The very thought of a President Palin is downright terrifying and it's not all that unlikely considering the age and health history of her running mate. She'd be worst than Bush, if that's possible.
The Rovian tactics at work here are disgusting: avoid talk of qualifications and real issues and appeal to the worst in the American people. (Can you say fascination with Brittany?)

How deep is EJ Dionne?

Judging from his recent columns, it appears not very. His talking points seem to be something from a light briefing, not from any in-depth study. Perhaps he should turn his analysis on himself, as his columns have seemed particularly "light" this week. All one can gather from them is that he supports Obama.

RE: Paul at 8:46: I agree completely. The worst fault of the Bush administration is its profound lack of curiosity. This had major consequences seven years ago, thanks to failure to investigate the numerous warnings and dots that could have been connected. I detect the same lack of curiosity on the part of Gov Palin.

No commentator, including E.J. has asked the question that should be on everyone's mind: Should Sarah Palin's finger be on the nuclear button?

someone give me one, just one, compelling reason that NoBama is qualified to be President.

My brother has a sister-in-law, who is a jesus-freak, just like Palin.

The whole family thinks she's crazy and has tried to get her institutionalized, but she keeps getting "released" b/c the authorities say she is "unresponsive to treatment."

John Insane and his prom date, Caribou Barbie, are disturbed and dangerous people. They should not be allowed near small children, sharp objects, or the nuke button.

Period.

This is pretty much the McCain campaign letting everyone know that Palin is not ready to take on the VP position. If you have to lock this person up for a week or two before you allow her to open her mouth and say something (other than a scripted speech on the stump), then there is NOOOOOOOO WAY she is ready to be VP.

The McCain campaign is telling us that they have to GIVE HER THE ANSWERS to information that she should have known before being chosen as the VP nominee.

If the media was doing their job CORRECTLY, they would pounce on such an announcement... Here let me help you out with a title for the news story "VP pick does not know what to say, needs to study for a few weeks before actually voicing her view points that are being fed to her."

I'm also upset that the MEDIA is GIVING into all of the REPUBLICANS attacks and either FIRING news anchors or taking them off of POLITICAL Shows. The conservative hosts are not being fired/censored. So why are they SHUTTING DOWN the mainstream hosts??? Don't let them do another run up to the war tactic where they beat down the media from asking the RIGHT QUESTIONS!!!

One has to wonder what kind of grilling Tim Kaine would have gotten had he been chosen. Take it from a Virginian, Kaine is a nice guy but capable of assuming the Presidency?? I think not.

Dionne's article reminds me of another questionnaire that goes something like this:

If you knew your children would be horrendously burned by a nuclear meltdown, would you still support nuclear electrical power plants?

As a former Alaska resident I can only keep screaming loud and often that Sarah Palin is NOT qualified to lead this country. Yes, she's cute and perky and gives great soundbite, but come on people, wake up and learn the facts about her actual record.

Anonymous at 8:56 . . . because he is curious about countries other than the United States.

Perhaps this is a reflection of how utterly shallow this nation has become. I might even add that the media is responsible for this. McCains campaign has become a made for TV/as seen on TV reality show.

I can't recall ever seeing a Sarah Palin interview. Instead of running a campaign on issues and solutions, we are seeing another swift boat campaign with little substance. Our economy is in trouble, people are loosing their jobs and their homes, financial institutions are failing, energy costs are soaring, health care costs are putting people into bankruptcy, our soldiers are dieing in Iraq and Afghanistan, and John McCain is running a campaign based on superficial image, character attacks, and press releases. I really expected more from John McCain that this smear campaign that avoids issues.

Good Article. I am disgusted and embarassed for John McCain's campaign that he's put the marketability of his campaign and his own self interest in front of the self interest of the country. Sarah Palin has no business being considered for the Vice Presidental Role. She has absolutely no foriegn policy experience in a time where the United States needs this experience in it's leadership more than ever. I'm not angry, just sad John McCain has chosen a running mate that will only further damage us if elected. Let's all hope America votes for the only two intellectuals running for the executive branch in 2008.

The buyer's remorse on NoBama and esp. on Joe Biden is palpable. Maybe the Harvard alum society who selected Biden in secret should be made to account for their baffling choice. Didn't he garner the fewest votes of all the mainstream primary Dems? Hmmm, maybe those "disgruntled" Hillary fans - 18 million!! - should have been heeded. Hillary and Sarah would be great and we could debate issues, mom-to-mom. My Florida primary vote was stolen backroom-style by Howard Dean. I had no control over the sked and voted when it was legal to do so. Dissing Hillary, placing the #2 vote getter ahead of her in a deal and then cutting her off the ticket by smug Kennedys was just too much.
NoBama! Puma Path!! Google us and join us. Go Sarah. (I have two special needs kids - one mildly so and one severely impaired. I am counting on you to keep our family on the radar. No freebies needed or requested - just an eye out for these kids.)

The bottom line is that Palin is probably not very bright, and the McCain campaign is hiding that from us. Obama and Biden are very bright, intellectually curious men who possess the qualities to be president. But I do not think most people in this coutnry are impressed by intelligence and ability. What many Americans want is an idiot for president (see the present situation), and that may be what we get.

The Council for National Policy, Richard Viguery, Paul Weyrich, Tony Perkins, James Dobson vetted Palin and foisted her upon McCain... that should be clear since he met her once and spoke with her for 5 minutes on a cell phone another time...

The question for the American public is, do you think this shotgun marriage between McCain and Palin is in the interest of our country and could a more intelligent and worldly person have been chosen instead of one who appeases the right wing Christian fundamentalists..??

The television interview is the closest thing the public will ever see to how Palin will handle negotiations with other leaders (both foreign and domestic). It's not that close, granted, but it is as good as it we're gonna get.

It tells us something that Palin is unwilling and/or unprepared to show her stuff to a wide range of interviews. I think it should be front-page news every time a major news organization invites Palin to talk with them and every time she refuses.

About the Daily Show. Will Palin go on Jon Stewart's show? Never. He's too smart, thoughtful and would not agree to conditions. All he would have to ask is "Does living close to Russia make you qualified to negotiate with Putin?" (or something like that)... and it would be a disaster movie every syllable after that.

Peace.

Don't get your hopes up. The cowardly McCain campaign picked Gibson the Tool for a reason.

1st Gibson question: "How do you feel about becoming a huge political super celebrity, overnight?"

2nd Gibson question: "How is your family dealing with your becoming a hugely popular VP candidate?"

3rd Gibson question: "Have I given you enuf "deference' in this interview to avoid being called a sexist who is trying to eviserate you?"

4th Gibson question: "Can you give us your recipe for moose stew?"

To PUMA Path! Get real..this is no time for stupidity and if you are a real person and not a stooge for the RNC..take a good look at what the RNC has done to this country in 8 short years..banks are going belly up, we are engaged in an endless conflict which is netting war profiteers huge benefits that is bankrupting our nation..our DOJ is politicized...our judges are radical right wingers who post the Ten Commandments on their walls..Journalists are being arrested for gathering the news..GET REAL..it is time for CHANGE and we are going to have CHANGE because we can't continue on the path the RNC has set us on over this past 8 years...

My question would not be for Ms.Palin, but for Charles Gibson. I would have several, such as will your great-grandchildren be proud or ashamed of you?

But Gibson doesn't care what I think. I have no doubt the interview will be scripted, and I will not be watching it.

A reformer and a populist doesn't swallow and regurgitate talking points from a campaign inspired by corporate lobbyists. Standing up and fighting for the people takes brains as well as guts. You have to think about more than lite briefing books and talk better than in sound bites. Sarah Pailin is no reformer and no populist.

I think we both know that Gibson was chosen precisely because he's going to ask the questions you're pleading him not to ask.

Could you reporters do a favor. "Stop telling the voters how to interpret candidates' views". We are intelligent enough to understand the views expressed by the candidates without your comments. What you are doing is to tell us "how to think? What is the meaning of the statements made by the candidates, etc." In otherwords, you are telling the voters "you voters are stupids", so "we will tell you what to do?, how to do?, what to think?

To the Hillary PUMAs planning to vote for McCain/Palin: how many of Hillary's 18 million votes came from mindless Republicans following Rush Limbaugh's orders to switch parties during the primaries and prop Hillary up? I think Hillary would have made a great president, but she isn't on the ticket so get over it. Examine the candidates and cast your vote based on the issues, not gender.

It is time
for Obama to show righteous indignation and anger for the lies and distortions perpetated on the American voter...Clinton was one thing but Mccain and his running mate and these ads are another thing entirely!!!

We need people to be reminded that mccain was part of the RTC Keating 5, That his 'WET START' resulted in the deaths of 100 on the USS Forrestal..That the 'maverick' that was has sold his soul to the right wing religious nuts like Dobson with his running mate choice!

Then to be reminded that he has voted with Bush 90% of the time and we have a $403 Billion dollar debt as a result!

Then to be aware that his running mate has less econnomic experience than mccain, that she is in the pocket of Big Oil, that she is an earmark queen and the lower 48 have paid for her generousity to Alaskans, that she is excellent at sarcasm and does not care that she lies in the process.

The running mate is CHENEY IN A BEEHIVE AND LIPSTICK!!

Two words: Chauncey Gardner.

We're stupid. That's why this superficial nonesense works for the Republicans every time. Beats owning up to the issue.

Canada is even closer to Alaska than is Russia. I guess that makes Palin an expert there, too? (Besides hockey, I mean.)

Of course being a mother is not a disqualification. On the other hand, it does not make her more qualified either, as some of her backers seem to think.

>>"Aides traveling with Ms. Palin have reported back to associates that she is a fast study -- asking few questions of her policy briefers but quickly repeating back their main points -- who already has considerable ease and experience before cameras."

This is a great quality in a president. The information comes fast and thick once in office. No one knows everything, or even 1/10 of the subject area of a job well enough to make a decision, without constant, constant briefing.

The fact that Palin has this gift for speed-briefing is a wonderful thing.

If only Bush did, we would be a lot better off today than we are now.

>>"“A former aide in Alaska who had helped prepare Ms. Palin for her campaign debates there said she had a talent for distilling information into digestible sound bites. The aide said she generally prefers light preparatory materials to heavy briefing books, and prefers walking through potential questions and answers with aides to holding mock sessions.”

At this time, she's preparing for being articulate, fluent and conversant in a range of issues. She's not preparing for decision-making. This is a good thing, not a bad thing.

Obama just does not get. DNC liberals just do not get it. It is not about lipstick on pig. It is about the following

========================================
In “The Hunt for Sarah October,” the Wall Street Journal’s John Fund writes about a 30-lawyer S.W.A.T. team of Obama Democrats descending on Alaska in search of dirt related to “Palin’s troopergate.” They found nothing that hasn’t already aired about Palin’s alcoholic ex-brother-in-law who tasered his stepson.
========================================

No doubt most Americans want to see change.

Have you see tiny bit of change by Chicago political poker players?

But People do breathe some fresh air from Alaska and they hope more.

And now Obama and DNC liberals are trying to kill the fresh source.

It is the time and opportunity to push real change in this country.

Do not just sit in church. Come out and join the force.

John McCain is a sell-out and exposed he is just a typical Republican politician by picking Palin. He picked her to appease his base, poach Hillary votes and stoke a class divide. Palin wasn’t the best or most qualified, it’s because he knew she would be a draw to small town America whom they are duping (Sara Palin ain’t like you, folks).

How is this being a "maverick"? How is it ‘Country First”? How is this “I rather win a war than loose an election”? I’ll say it again, John McCain is a sell-out. Obama said it pretty accurately too - Lipstick on a pig, is still a pig.

The most important metric for picking a VP is they are ready to step in from day one. His judgment is reckless and he gambled at our expense. The mere fact Palin is being educated on foreign policy and is avoiding the press indicates she wasn’t prepared on day one. She is running for the second highest office, but can’t answer questions from the press or public? This doesn’t alarm anyone?

I lost all my respect for John McCain. He's not the hero today he was 35 years ago. McCain is nothing without Palin.

What does it say about a campaign that has to "mimic" what and who Obama is, not to mention hijack Obamas core message of Change from day one just to poach votes? Is that all they view Obama as, a "product" a "formula", a “personality”? It makes McCain look weak and more importantly, the American people stupid if they fall for it.

Now all these puppets are willing to just get behind her without even knowing anything about her and try to convince the American public she is prepared to be VP or President? Not even uncertain objectiveness, caution, pause or question just because she has an "R" in front of her name? How can anyone make a honest, clear determination reasonably in less than 60 days?

Bravo America! We look like complete idiots once again while the world watches. I am truly embarrassed of my country. I guess all isn’t lost, at least many will have Palin’s eye glass frames while our country crumbles economically. We are such tools.

British Prime Minister Backs Obama
http://waugh.standard.co.uk/2008/09/brown-backs-oba.html

World wants Obama
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/09/09/2360240.htm?section=world

Oh my God -- a female Ronald Reagan!!! McCain/Palin is definitely going to be WORSE for this country than Bush/Cheney were. Hold on tight because we are about to fall deeper into the abyss.

At least there were no rules about the questions to be asked. Obama only gave 30 minutes to O'Reilly and Michelle Obama on The View had a lot of questions that could not be asked.

Full disclosure: I am an independent who is very conservative and usually votes (R).
I totally agree with the last line of Mr. Dionne's opinion piece:

Either she’s ready to be president or she’s not. That’s what we need to know.

I would be thrilled if Charlie did nothing but ask policy questions.

If she stumbles and cannot answer policy questions I would reconsider my current support of McPalin.

How would you all react if she answered them intelligently and showed a good grasp of the issues? Please answer this question in this comment thread.

Ok, lets get things straight. Do not say that Sarah Palin can not be VP or P because she is a "Jesus Freak" I would rather "freak" out about Jesus than a man like Obama who can not "freak" out about anything except that we cannot have eight more years of Bush.

I am not saying the Sarah Palin / John McCain, are going to good in the white house. ( I know Obama/ Biden won't be good in the White House.) But I am saying that just because someone holds the Bible to be true and lives by it does not make one a freak. I see freaks everyday who hold to nothing but their britches hanging around their hips. Now that is a freak!

Here's a question for Sarah. I live near the ocean, does that make me a marine biologist?

NO! Harry..that makes you a decayed beached whale...was that a short enough anwser for you?

Sarah Palin interview will show that she is a very intellectual person. Stop hating on her just because a lot of people can relate to her. Democrats should focus on Biden. Go Sarah!!!!

I live fewer miles to an airport than Alaska is to Russia. I have never flown a plane, but living so close to an airport I just know how qualified I am to pilot a jet airliner. I would be pleased to fly Sen. McShame and Gov. Failin to their next engagement.

Jay writes: Obama only gave 30 minutes to O'Reilly

*********
Jay: Obama being interviewed by O'Reilly is
like Palin being interviewed by Keith Olbermann. I'm waiting.

I'm curious why Palin believes the government should have the right to tell rape victims, that they have to bring those babies to term ?

Any of you guys, if God forbid, your wife was raped, want to bring the child of some perverted criminal in to this world ? And then raise that child as your own ?

Palin thinks government should have the power to do just that.

Hockey Mom ? Sounds more like far right fringe to me.

I also wonder if Palin's handlers have checked Gibson yet to make sure he'll show the proper level of "deference" ?

Silly Obama - he actuall got a running mate with whom he could govern. He didn't realize that this would resort to a popularity contest based on sex appeal. The idea of McCain's personal little cheerleader as VP or President is an unfunny joke. McCain is one misstep away from a broken hip, and we all know where that leads for an old man. HE IS 72 YEARS OLD PEOPLE!!

Yet another instance of the GOP being hypocritical. I thought the country couldn't afford "on the job training." Isn't that what Palin is getting currently? Just ask yourself this, should someone so supposedly qualified to be the Prez by virtue of her amazingly extensive executive experience and her tough demeanor need weeks of cram sessions? What worries me is not only is she being briefed on the critical issues of our day because she doesn't know anything about them, but she's being told what McCain believes and is being ordered to march in lockstep with his beliefs and the party's. She's already on record saying that she doesn't know much about the Iraq war. She's been out of North America once in her life and has stated that she doesn't know what the VP does. This is also an individual who thought Hillary was "whining" when she was complaining about the perceived unfair media treatment and thought that Hillary should have responded by proving herself all that much more. Certainly, not what Palin is doing now. Apparently, all issues are off the table with her. What really rubs me the wrong way is that any discussion about abstinence, etc., is off the table because any discussion by the dems is seen as politicizing this; however, the GOP uses the fact that she chose to keep her special needs baby as well as her daughter's pregnancy as proof that she "walks the walk" on the prolife issue. I hate to break that to you, GOPers, but that's called politicizing.

Absolutely. Listen, there are times in this country where we need a figurehead, personality-based, "light reading," President. I guess. THIS IS NOT ONE OF THOSE TIMES. We need some hard workers. Boring, know-it-all, policy wonk losers who like things like tax policy and the Constitution. Time to grow up, America.

fr Tobey:

>The Council for National Policy, Richard Viguery, Paul Weyrich, Tony Perkins, James Dobson vetted Palin and foisted her upon McCain... that should be clear since he met her once and spoke with her for 5 minutes on a cell phone another time...<

Oh HECK no. ANY group that has dobdork on it should be IMMEDIATELY discredited and disbanded.

By the way, I am glad for the Palin selection. I was really worried McCain was going to select someone that would actually give the Democrats trouble, like Tom Ridge or even Joey L. Palin? She is unqualified and incapable at first blush--no digging required. Fire up the base? Who cares? Who were those people going to vote for anyway? Same with Obama and the Hilleryites. No, this battle is for the middle, and McCain's late "change" to Obama's message isn't going to accomplish that, and Palin adds nothing to it, either.

Palin will implode from her (a) lack of grasp on the issues, (b) the McCain camp's hiding her, and (c) her own troubles in Alaska. But even if not, that's okay. She will have virtually no impact on the outcome of the election--something McCain simply could not afford to throw away.

The Republican Party sold its soul to the Far Right. Good luck getting it back.

How can America be so dumb to be dupped by the Republicans again? Can't they see that Palin is being carefully shielded from the press because they know she isn't qualified and experienced enough (all their criticisms of Obama) to face the tough questions? Good Lord, our country is crumbling all around us and American voters still don't have enough sense to pick the intelligent, smart and honest man - Barack Obama? I am seriously afraid. I think we are all doomed if McCain and Palin get elected.

Ask her what she would do to avoid future/ repeated Republican scandals (for example, see latest sex/drugs/oil mess in the interior department; look at the failures in the patent office, etc.)?

Republicans are good at campaigning but REALLY REALLY bad at governing.

It will be a "failed interview", in Dionne's view, if Gibson's questions don't force Ms. Palin to commit seppuku. It will also be a "failed election" if Obama does not win it. And they talk about Fox!

Incredible, how liberals (aka Socialists) love to portray themselves as people that are ground breaking; but as soon as they are beat and the other side is obviously being more progressive, they quickly show their true colors. Why didn't Obama choose Hilary? You democrats had the opportunity to establish yourselves, but failed yet again. I guess being a JR senator for less than 2 years is enough for nominating a democratic president. I hear a lot for change, but I guess the hollywood celebrity can't put together a well written screenplay for his so called "change." He says he has a plan for change what is it? Be real, the only two that have the experience domestically and internationally is the McCain and Palin ticket.

I concur w/EJ. McCain has potentially put us all in peril by his choice. Just when I was getting used to the idea of a "newcomer" on the scene, getting comfortable w/the whole change thing and the "agent" himself; here comes a Hockey Mom -- not interested, this is not American Idol! For God's sake, our nation is in a precarious position, domestically and internationally.

John McCain has placed his political aspirations before the nation's interest! Odds are 3:1 that this man may not survive his first term (his dad died at 70), and this lady would be "in charge"

McCain has trivialized the Presidency of USA w/his choice. I never thought I's see the day when a VP is chosen -- while under investigation!!! That alone, for my part, should disqualify her! Then to have her sequesterd so I CAN'T question what she's about. Can you imagine Hillary, had she won, choosing a little known Barack Obama for her VP? The Repubs would have shredded her very political soul!

Folks.. She's running for the VP of the United States. The media CAN and WILL ask her whatever they want. Freedom of the press. Deal. If she can't handle that, then hows she's gonna handle difficult foreign leaders who really don't care about her feelings or what our public thinks and may disagree with her? Is there going to be an intermission between each question so Bush's speech writer can put together a vague scripted answer?

Logic 101

Sarah Palin is not qualified to be president.

Sarah Palin is more qualifed than Barak Obama.

Therefore Barak Obama is not qualified to be president.

Palin is running for not running for president. Obama is. Everytime you attack her qualifications, you implicitly make the case for selecting McCain instead of Obama.

No, Dirty Harry, it makes you a coastal elitist Democrat. You are a son of a beach.

someone give me one, just one, compelling reason that NoBama is qualified to be President.

Posted by: Anonymous | September 11, 2008 8:56 AM
==========================================
Besides the simple reason of his policies which you can Google yourself (provided you have any interest in educating yourself) How about...
(1) He is not scheduled with a 1 in 3 chance of dying in the next 4 years.
(2) He doesn't want to teach our kids that science is a lie and the answer to everything is god did it.
(3) He doesn’t think the Iraq war is God’s will, and wants to bring our sisters and brothers home.
(4) His wife doesn't think that Illinois should separate from the USA.
(5) He is not a pig in lipstick =)

If the Eurpopeans are wrong, then America will win. It is patently obvious to anyone with intelligence that the GOP knows what a disaster Sarah Palin is and how singularly unprepared she is to be Vice President. They won't allow her to open her mouth unless she is vomiting out the nuggest of digested meat she spewed at their convention.

But the GOP has already shown us how much they hate educated people. Remember, Obama is a snob because he went to Harvard. He is elite and too professorial. In other words, he's too smart to be president.

No, the Republicans are pandering to the same idiots that voted for George Bush. If they win, then Europe will be right, as the headlines in their papers are asking "How can 50 Million People Be So Stupid?"

Let's hope that some of the innocents that were fooled by Bush/Cheney/Rove/McCain in 04 won't be foo . . . shame on . . .

CAN'T GET FOOLED AGAIN.

The only question that should be asked of Palin:
If you can't responsibly look after your teen-age daughter, why in the world should anyone trust you with running the United States?
Bet it won't get asked.

You've got to be kidding me! So Gibson can't talk about Palin's family now? How many "softball" interviews has Obama done? Even in the debates with Hillary, he always got treated very gently. EJ -- you're a hack and it's showing.

Ask about her stand on abortion even if a woman is raped or got preganant out of incest...ask her about her husbands involvement with Alaskan Organization, the very organization which didn't want Alaska to be part of USA and form their own union. ask her about issues on environment ,

Sarah Palin's Motto:

Women DESERVE to be treated differently!

Tony,
You should check out the Council for National Policy..this organization explains alot about why we are in the predicament we are in at the moment..they were originally founded in the early 1980's during Reagan's first term..the original founders were Richard DeVos, who has a room at the RNC named for him..others were The Hunt Family, and Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority got its start here..also Pat Robertson whose father was a Senator..and Reverend Sun Myung Moon who is a cult leader that counts the former president George HW Bush as a close friend..

Are we in trouble as a nation? Yes..

Should the rest of the world break free of us as soon as possible assuming McCain becomes president?? Yep..the rest of the world needs to survive us..

RE: "Thinkaboutit"

The MSM is doing all of these pro-Repub hoops because the MSM IS OWNED by the rich, ole white men, republicans, and -- when the $*^# hits the fan, do they really want an AA in the oval office???
just thinkaboutit!

Most of you Obama supporters are hilarious.

You are scared of this woman being a "heartbeat" away from CinC, yet you are more than ok for putting the junior Senator from IL in the office directly. Your sorry excuse of a nominee screwed up this whole VP thing about as bad as humnaly possible, and you think he can take on world leaders? LOL!

For Dirty Harry - No, it makes you an idiot who lives close to the ocean.

Oh David. How you misjudge people. Dems aren't upset about Palin because she's a lightwieght - They are upset because the GOP has put religious and right-to-life issues ahead of the economy and foreign policy.

If a woman votes for a woman simply because she is a woman, and not because of the issues, than there is a fundamental problem in the education of people in our country. This should not be about gender or race, it should be about repairing a once great nation.

Mccain voted with Bush 91% of the time. They have the same politics. If a voter, man or woman, wants continued unemployment, loss of health care, environmental destruction, failed foreign policy, fighting wars that are ruining us financially, and to put money in the treasuries of the Middle East, then they will vote Mccain/Palin, which means they are voting for Bush.

Fix America. Vote Obama.

I'd like someone to ask her about her making rape victims pay for the DNA tests to catch their attackers. It sounds like she doesn't consider rape a crime at all--more like a disagreement.

So, in the US under Palin, if your 12-year old daughter is raped, she'll have to have that monster's baby and her parents will have to pay to have him prosecuted.

I can't believe any woman in her right mind would even consider voting for her.

Sorry Mar, but anyone that believes the Iraq war is "the will of God" is a nut. We cannot be so ignorant as to drink that Kool-aid. We all know that's the same belief that propels suicide bombers to their death.

AP reports today that Obama has widened his lead over McCain in Ohio to five points 49 to 44. The Quinnipiac poll was conducted between September 5th-9th.

This is not good news for the McCain campaign.

In both 2000 and 2004 the race was very tight in Ohio for President. And in the last two years, Ohioans have replaced a Repubican Senator, Governor, a Congressman (18th district) and the Secretary of State, with Democrats. Additionally Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy, is currently leading in the race to replace retiring Republican Deborah Pryce (15th district).

Palin may excite the base and swing some female voters to McCain, but if McCain doesn't carry Ohio, there's no path to 270 for him.

She has all the power and there will be nothing random and no consequences for her. It will end up being just as canned and in her favor as everything else has been the last couple of weeks. She has all the cards.

Forget Palin! She is not to blame for having been chosen by McCain although she has no real qualifications for high national office. Blame Obama for his arrogance in seeking an office for which he is unqualified. He is just another uppity black.

I'd want to know whether she plans to separate her religious beliefs from her policy positions as VP. She considers the Iraq war and getting a pipeline in Alaska to be "God's work". She wants intelligent design taught in school. She favors abstinence only education in school and her party derides Obama for supporting age appropriate sex education for children, including making them aware of sexual predators and inappropriate touching, even though her own teenage daughter is pregnant.

The trouble with folks who are so sure that they are doing God's work is that they can never admit to making mistakes (since God is infallible) and they ignore data and reasoned arguments. We've had a president like that for the past 8 years who doesn't admit to making mistakes, stays the course no matter what, and politicizes his religion in areas like Terry Schiavo, stem cell research, global warming, sex education and scientific research in general. We don't need more of the same in the next administration.

My mom is an excellent mother. She raised three kids very well, and she is a kind-hearted and good person who -- and this is in no way relevant to anyone outside of McCain's spin doctors -- comes from a small town. She has strong values (as I think many suburban moms do) and has some executive experience in her company and PTA/Boy Scout/town council politics. But I don't think she, I, my father or my sisters is ready to be president. Given the huge number of exceptional, well-studied and well-traveled people among us, we Americans would be absolutely crazy to pick as our president or vice president someone just because he or she is a good mother or a "small-town values" person or was mayor of a small town or is otherwise just like you or me. Let's remember what sort of leadership being president requires -- and it doesn't come just from having a lot of kids or being able to act as a political "pit bull" but from understanding and compromise and deep intelligence -- and elect that person.

Foreign Policy Experience? Supposed Foreign Policy king Joe Biden voted against the surg, to cut and run, then break up Iraq into provinces. LOLOLOLOL.

"This is a great quality in a president. The information comes fast and thick once in office. No one knows everything, or even 1/10 of the subject area of a job well enough to make a decision, without constant, constant briefing.

The fact that Palin has this gift for speed-briefing is a wonderful thing.

If only Bush did, we would be a lot better off today than we are now.
"

No, this is exactly what W. does. One doesn't expect the President or Vice President to know everything, but he/she should be able to ask the right questions to get through what the briefers are feeding him/her. I sure hope the President and Vice President can do more than just parrot back what the briefer tells them, but actually ask questions about what something really means and makes sure that alternatives are presented. The fact that she doesn't appear to even be curious about national or international issues is downright scary.

Competence is not on McCain's agenda. This is the most unpresidential pick since Dan Quail. To bad Republicans can not govern as well as they can campaign and spin.

"Nobama" is qualified to be president because he is an expert on the U.S. Constitution. You remember that document, right? He is qualified because of the years he spent in the state legislature and the US Senate. He is qualified because he has been a community organizer walking the walk (on the southside of Chicago and among America's frustrated and disgusted Democrats). He is qualified because he is much, much smarter than you and me. He is qualified because he is an excellent communicator -- he makes America appear intelligent and reasonable again. He's qualified because he will bring together the most qualified people in the country to serve in areas like FEMA, Homeland Security, the Justice Department, the Supreme Court, etc. Not unqualified lobbyists and donors, which is the Republican way. He's qualified because he's able to successfully manage a multi-million dollar campaign and millions of supporters on the ground. He's qualified because he's mentally and physically healthy.
What qualifications are you looking for in a president? Cause I'm not seeing it on the Republican side.

Thank you EJ!

I am prepared for this interview to be another propaganda piece. This whole thing has been a GOP set-up and sham, and the media is aiding and abetting them all the way. They gave Palin a full week to spread her message and soundbites without a critique from the media. When that issue started to heat up, McCain's people announced that she would sit for ONE interview, 5 days later, on her terms, on her turf. The idiots in the press dutifully ceased all discussion of her not doing an interview, and thus gave her a pass on a *second* week of media silence based on the idea that "she scheduled an interview didn't she?". Ridiculous.

Now she has had weeks to prepare generally and days to prepare specifically for Gibson's questions.

The lack of prior media contact is going to generate a massive audience for what will surely be a great performance on her part. Yes, that's right...a performance. Palin is inexperienced and unqualified to be VP, but she is smart and very skilled politically. With the intensive prep that she's received she will definitely be able to survive an interview with Gibson without screwing up.

Then, that will be the story over the next week.

It is time we, as a nation, considered what precisely the Vice-President has to do. He or she is our representative to the world, must be ready, at a moment's notice, to take over for the president and must be capable of being a serious advisor. We need to know if Palin fits the bill. Gibson has to ask her questions she hasn't prepared for and force her to answer them. Keep in mind that if she wins she's second in command. I'd like to see her full resume before then.

"Forget Palin! She is not to blame for having been chosen by McCain although she has no real qualifications for high national office. Blame Obama for his arrogance in seeking an office for which he is unqualified. He is just another uppity black."

I hope this person doesn't reflect the beleifs of all republicans. If he does, I now understand why the republicans fuch everything up.

I see the Liberals are still taking crazy pills huh...

Did anyone watch or read about what Biden said about Hilary?!

Source: Newsweek

"Make no mistake about this," said Biden. "Hillary Clinton is as qualified or more qualified as I am … She’s qualified to be president of the United States of America and easily qualified to be vice president of the United States of America. And quite frankly, it might have been a better pick than me."

Maybe someone should take the knife out of Barack Hussein Obamas back....

Wouldn't trust Gibson to handle the job. Network news has gone into the entertainment business. Questions about motherhood will do more for ratings and ultimately sell more whatchamacallits than substantiative questions. In any case, your average Walmart mom doesn't really care about or understand issues anyway; she votes on gut reaction.

I bet she comes out on top again. Dems are going to die a slow, excruciating death. Thank God. I used to be a democrat but the party is unrecognizable with its policy, intolerance, and radicalism.

Sorry, but her family life and decisions are pertinent since she wants to tell the rest of us what we can read, what we should believe, what "science" we should be taught et al. Also, her family life includes trying to use her influence to get her former brother-in-law fired. That's all relevent.

Then Charlie can go onto the lies about the airplane sale, per diems and expense reports, the status of the gas pipeline and other "fibs".

We do not need a "pig in a poke", with or without lipstick, a heartbeat away from the Presidency when that President has a history of severe injuries from his days as a POW and cancer. If he does indeed have a one in three chance of not making it through his first term, as some medical sources have indicated, then we'd better know darned well just what makes the "backup" tick.

I hope this interview will be incisive one by a demanding journalist and not by one who is sold out to republicans. They picked a terrific date to interview Palin to subdue Gibson.

From the time Barack Obama was sworn in as a United State Senator, to the time he announced he was forming a Presidential exploratory committee, he logged 143 days of experience in the Senate. That is WORKING DAYS.

and Palin has no experience??

And just because Obama ran overseas to make speeches to the Europeans (who don't have a clue ANYWAY) doesn't mean he's a foreign policy expert. So give me a break, people. Neither Obama or Palin are qualified. (As a side note, there are Russians residing in Alaska so if making speeches before foreigners qualifies you -she did run for governor and I assume they saw her speeches so...)

You people just believe the hype over Obama -and think everyone else should be christened into the Obama cult too. No thanks. Unlike you guys, I realize that Bush isn't the WHOLE problem with Washington and I realize how superficial it is to preach about change when you're only talking about changing one person who has little or no power to do anything but be a poster child for a badly corrupted system.

And another thing, Obama doesn't have the BACKBONE to even make a ripple in Washington. He'll be Pelosi's lap dog in no time. So why stress about Palin when you've got Her Royal Highness Pelosi waiting in the wings.

OK...let's see:

Sawahh can't speak to the press until she's "prepped"

Won't talk to the press on her plane

Hasn't spoken a word about serious issues
(but knows all the lipstick metaphors)

Is qualified as a world leader because her state is close to Russia. (News flash! So is Florida to Cuba, most of the Southwest to Mexico and the Northern States to Canada)

Uses her son's deployment as a media stunt, while Biden speas little about his sons and does not make it a circus out of deference to unit security. (Wonder if the military will tell her "no media" like they did to Obama in Germany?

Incapable of campaigning on her own from Day 1, needs McCain to speak like he really cares about our troops, America or the economy...none of which he cares a crap about.

Hasn't got the integrity to call out her new boss for his "lipstick on a pig" comments about Hillary Clinton. (but in fairness, her boss hasn't got the guts to call his teams attacks a smear)

OK to smear and slime others in her "speech," but when the media goes to investigate her, they're "a pack of wolves."

Said she sold the state jet on Ebay...later proven wrong.

Can't speak to issues, lies, spins rumors into facts, hides from the public, uses an entire military unit for a photo op and media shot.

Fit to lead? If this was a man, he'd be pilloried. If this was Hillary, she's be trashed.

But it's Sawahh...the most unqualified, unfit, and unprepared since Dan Quayle.

Thanks McCain...beacuse of your stupid choice, my wife is switching her vote to the Democratic party.

Woodbridge, VA,

Barack Obama is a brilliant leader who will serve this country well. He is a leader who can rally this depressed country to a brighter day..who will uphold the Constitution..who will obey the rule of law..who won't politicize the Department of Justice..who won't engage in wars of agression against countries that have done us no harm..who will work for the benefit of the people while balancing the role of corporations in our nation..he is not owned by corporations or lobbyists..he is a human being that the whole world is praying for..

Norm writes:

"Blame Obama for his arrogance in seeking an office for which he is unqualified. He is just another uppity black."

One wonders how many American voters think and feel as Norm does.

I've never seen the questionnaire that gets to the heart of what qualifies one to be president. And for a simple reason, it doesn't exist. But I know that being black, or any color or sex, should not be a disqualifier.

Again, one wonders how many "Norms" there are out there ?

RE: Kevin

I simply will respond by saying, she was well-briefed. The larger question is: why is she avoiding the press? Is she ready?
John McCain's father died at age 70 (melanoma unknown), the odds are against him living out his term, then we are stuck with a Hockey Mom!

At least Barack Obama seems to have a clear pic of the world, not just a small portion of this nation. There is no evidence that Palin is cognizant of anywhere outside of Alaska.

Please read my previous post here as to why she doesn't qualify. SHE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION! for abuse of power -- John Edwards had an affair (a matter, on my part at least, between his family and his God) and he has been ousted from the political arena! along with is poverty platform -- what is that!!!???

Dear tobey
regarding your comment to Pumapath!
you get real! banks are goibg belly up yes, but the government isn't the only one to blame here. People let themselves get into these ridiculous mortgage and credit debt knowing that they could not afford them and without the fine print! these are now the same people that think that if Nobama is elected -things will change! guess what they won't all politicians are the same crap! empty promises! "I'll tell you what you wanna hear and when I'm in office we'll wing it!" $4/gallon will not change anytime soon, if Obama gets his way of putting us on "foreign energy indepence" it will cost us both arms, legs and eyes! God help us all, wether it's McCain or Obama, we're in this downward spiral for many years to come! Wake up people! make sure you hear borth sides of these crooks and let's hope the lesser of the 2 evils is elected, we have no choice!

hey anonymous, I got one reason BOH should be POTUS. He is intelligent, and cares.

Did Obama touch O'Reilly's knee more or less than 20 times? What a lightweight this guy is.

Maybe CG can ask Sarah Palin if she knows the meaning of the word demagogue.

Demagogue
noun
A political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument.

AMEN! This is Gibson's and ABC's chance to show us either thier journalistic professionalism, or thier pandering to the "entertainment new's" crowd.

The manner in which this interview is to be conducted will certainly affect this viewers opinion of ABC New's worthyness as a trusted source of information, or not.

This is a question I would like her to answer.

Please define in specific what victory in Iraq entails.

To Jesse,

Time to wake up to the fact that we live in a socialist state -- for the benefit of the rich and powerful. Look at your bailouts, look at Social Security, money from government to line the pockets of sports team owners ... The notion is: individualization of profit, socialization of risk (Immanuel Wallerstein). It's the Republicrat motto.

So ...now let me see if I understand what you saying...you think this interview with Sarah by Gibson will be the same old thing as the night Hillary sat on sofa next to Bill Clinton and said she "stood by her man" and he looked the camera in the eye and said "I neve rhad sex with that woman" kind of thing? I dont' think so. Nobody could top the fluff stuff that the media has doen with the Clintons or Obama. Get real. Try to see at leas t one and a half sides of some of the issue.

Hey Mikie,

He "cares" is more of this emotional, nonsensical drivel that people like you are concerned about. It means nothing.

The New York Times makes a similarly sensible point, to the effect that Palin should be required to answer questions in a press conference format. Presenting such a person as potential VP, unknown to the public, with no track record of engagement in national issues, and then sequestering her in this way is, to say the least, profoundly undemocratic. The idea that Democrats have "attcked" Palin based on motherhood issues is beyond preposterous. Our system allows far too much in the way of distraction and demagoguery. I thought I had seen it all, but for the Republican Party to use women and their issues in this twisted manner is really the limit.

RE: "Anonymous" Why are you anonymous?

First off, Obama IS NOT UNDER INVESTIGATION! -- AND he has never assumed that he could dodge the press and ease into the oval office. Furthermore, he has a keen sense of this world and our stance/perception thereof... there is not concrete evidence that Palin knows anything about the world beyond Alaska! if she does, how would we know?

Sara,

Check out the sequestering they have done with Obama for over a year. Hypocrite.

OK here is more...the Gibson interview with Palin ...is it going to me like the way the media totally ignored that Edwards was having and affair and that it resulted in a pregnacy and then crucified a 17 year old with 24/7 coverage of her pregnancy?

Balanced? Nope...and what about last night ..Letterman turned his whole show over to Obama ..disgusting. What would that hour have cost if his campaign was PAYING for it?

NEVER will watch Letterman again or Oprah..

I don't need this kind of crap...Oh for some true journalists...some that aren't trying to be rock stars themselves.

One Obama qualification to be president--expert on the United States Constitution, teaching Constitutional Law at one of the top law schools in the nation for 12 straight years.

To the tune of Pink Flloyd....every body:

"We don't need no education,....
We don't need no self-control....
Dark sarcasm in the classroom....
......
Teacher, leave us kids alone!!"

People of Palin's generation grew up listening to this kind of junk and now they plan to be a heartbeat away from a 72 year old heart!
This is how the neo-Roman cookie crumbles!!!!

Posted by: HGCSATO
___________________________________

Ummmm, you realize Barack Obama is "of Palin's generation," don't you?

And he is not campaigning to be a heartbeat away, he is campaigning to be your vote away.

The more you denigrate Sarah Palin's qualifications, the worse it reflects on your Presidential candidate, Democrats.

Not sure how many polls you need to see move in the opposite direction before you learn this lesson. (Maybe some more schooling is in order.)

Of course, you do have a very experienced vice presidential candidate. It's just that even Joe Biden doesn't think he is the best person for the job.

Watching Democrats falling apart before a Presidential election = it's as regular as watching the leaves change.

"President John McCain" - get used to it.

Is anyone interviewing Biden?!?! Anyone??

As a Palin supporter and a person who has campaigned since last winter to get her chosen as VP, I definitely hope he gives her nothing but very tough questions. That is the only way she can show her abilities as a leader. A fluff piece will not serve her well, nor the American people who want to know more about her.

Juan Valdes,

Why interview Biden, we all know what a faiure that pick is. Nice job Obama, why would anyone trust you to be the CinC.

Why are Republicans so afaid to have Sarah Palin talk about something other than the fact that she is a lipstick wearing pitbull who that thinks that John McCain totally rocks? Who give a darn about a bridge in Alaska that she was originally for then switched to oppose? This country needs answers on issuse that affect our sinking economy and I haven't heard a solution from her on how she thinks that is possible. I agree with Mr. Dionne that enough fluff has gone on and we need to hear in her own unscripted words to hear what exacty she stands for,is that too much to ask from a voter? And it would be nice to get some sense about how she would possible lead our country should something happen to McCain. I know a lot of spunky soccer/hockey moms who are awesome but not quite qualifed to run this country. Let's see the real Sarah Palin and get down to the things that are truly important for our country...like getting out of the Bush hole that we are in now.

To Anonymous at 8:56:

I don't know... how about graduating magna cum laude from Harvard Law School (as well as President of Law Review at Harvard). Professor of Law at U. of Chicago. 8 years in the Chicago Senate and 4 years in the US Senate.

I dont think there is any comparison compared to a hockey mom and a fighter pilot who finished bottom of his class.

Why does America distrust intellectuals and opt for imbeciles without the simplest form of intellectual curiousity? People seem to have more reassurance that average jo from down the corner rather than someone with the intellect and ability is running the most powerful country on earth. It won't be too long before even that won't be the case.

Jesus freak? Caribou Barbie? Redneck? Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this is the Democratic Party, circa 2008. Having failed to win over America with their radical leftist agenda, they are reduced to name-calling and insults because they are morally bankrupt. Some nerve you people have, nominating a self-obsessed empty suit from sleazy Chicago and a Washington hack from Delaware, and you have the gall to try and tear down Sarah Palin. I'm just glad because I know she'll treat you better when she's VP than you would treat her (or any of the rest of us in the GOP, for that matter). Stop being haters...

Sounds like George Bush from Texas all over again. This should be the real concern. Not her experience; but her ability to recognize that not every event can be reduced to a simple sound bite. Witness the distinction between the McCain and Obama response to the Georgia crisis. McCain immediatley says we're all Georgians now and condemns Russia, Obama at least takes the time to study the situation. Very few people on the TV media were talking about the situation that lead to this war, and these details don't make Georgia's president so innocent or pro-Western. I'm afraid McCain, abbetted by the frontier populism of Palin, will bring us more needless conflict and more problems a la George Bush. At this point I'd rather have Bush remain in office another 4 years because he's at least learned his limits in these past 8 years. With McCain and Palin we're going to have to go through this all over again.

Let's not forget the other woman in this campaign whom Obama says will be one of his principal advisors. The characteristically angry, "Hate America", Michelle Obama experienced a Hollywood makeover for her DNC convention speech that will beguile the "willing dupes" in the electorate. You could almost see her gag when she had to recite Obama's handler's line about "loving her country." But, her previous well-publicized radical associations; and, her multiple attempts to trash our Nation, will betray her scripted persona. It was a foregone conclusion that the Obama handlers would have Michelle with a smile-cast to cover-up her normally angry countenance, and chain-locked to the teleprompter with their carefully scripted commentary so as to obscure the prospective 1st lady's deeply angry disposition towards America. What a tragic example for our children; what a disastrous blow to societal cohesion at home; what a disconcerting message to our friends and allies; and, what a comforting message to our fanatical opponents abroad; to see a woman who has expressed her beliefs that: "our souls are broken in this nation"; "blacks must join in solidarity to combat a white oppressor"; "we're a country that is just downright mean."; "We're a nation of cynics, sloths, and complacents."; "America is guided by fear, and getting worse all the time."; and, laments that she will face, "further integration and/or assimilation into a white culture and social structure"; to have a potential opportunity to secure the White House itself as the platform for her hate-filled dictum. And, of note to practicing Christians in our society, is Michelle's pledge that: "Barack will be tireless in keeping legal the practice of partial birth abortions". All of this from a woman who has benefited enormously from affirmative actions which she conveniently neglected to mention in the convention speech! Along with her husband's long-term subversive associations, his immersion in seditious anti-American diatribe; and, his recent proclamation: "I don't want that (referring to America in its current form) for my little girls.", has indeed revealed the Obamas as the real-life Manchurian Couple. Greg Neubeck

Dear Observer,

Keep up your elitist views, it helps you fit in with the Obama crowd.

It's worth saying again. Obama has pulled further ahead of McCain in Ohio, in polling conducted in the last four days.

This after the GOP convention and after the Sarah "factor" has settled in.

This race is going to break down along the same lines as 2000. Bottom line, there is no path to 270 for Palin-McCain if they lose Ohio.

With all of the glowing media reports, the gushing over Palin, chugging her bath water and the like, the now overflowing crowds, and recent national polling showing McCain catching and even passing Obama in some polls, why is McCain losing ground in Ohio ?

Political correctness masks the fact that we are Legion.

Dear Jorge,

Obama studied the Georgia situation for three days and then finally put out a statement that resembled McCain's repsone on day one. Looks like Obama is a slow study.

Bob contributes this analysis: "Asking too many questions is a sign of someone who gets side tracked, and isn't a good use of time. Compressed briefing notes are much easier to absorb." Briefings? Compressed? What for...what are we learning here in this synthetic compression training time?

It is what she has no true depth of knowledge about: the executive presidency of the USA. But Republican managers are not at all concerned about the depth of experience or knowledge. These are marketeering managers that are here to craft and sculpt an image: the Mom of All Who Could Easily Be King.

After all, she will be handled well inside the strict and closed walls of the White House where even a Junior Light Weight like Georgie Boy learned to depend on Cheney and fire military Generals who tried to give him wisdom.

President as Commodity. Provide lipstick and teeth for nasty attack.

oh, excuse me "Anonymous" I did not mean to mimic you, I simply forgot to include my name, now you can respond to me directly in re: to your question and you now know that it is Lynne in Alabama who answered

I love that they are called her "handlers". What a great mental image. I'm sure she won't prove she has the knowledge base to be a sound leader for this country, if he does ask her any real questions. And I certainly don't want another leader for this country who simply memorizes the short version to spit out what some unelected official decided is important. I expect her to truly understand every situation she gets involved in. And it doesn't seem to me that she has that potential. Reforming Washington is one thing, but if you can't make educated, thoughtful decisions on the issues, particularly international issues, you have no place in the White House.

I have to think that Gibson's reputation is on the line also. If he doesn't get in there and play hardball with the Govenor then he will have lost all respect from this one viewer. We need to know what she knows and thinks concerning the important issues. I don't want to see him lose one minute on a silly question. Were're watching YOU Charlie. Frankly, I think your the worst person to interview Palin, but then again, that's why they chose you. Show us some stuff Charlie.

Can't read all these comments b/c I have a job. I read the article just trying to find out when the interview was. Go to work and focus on what can have the greatest effect on america -- work hard and take care of your family and community. Pathetic article and many pathetic comments. Go act, get off this joke of an article.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Truth

Mark Halperin, on Anderson Cooper 360, September 9, from Talking Points Memo:

"AC: Mark, has there ever been a vice presidential candidate who has yet to talk to the press at this point in the race?

MH: No. And it's another thing I get that I'm embarrassed about our profession for. She should be held more accountable for that. The "bridge to nowhere" thing is outrageous. And if you press them on that, they falter because they know they can't defend what they're saying. They're saying it on the stump, as a core part of their message. It's in their advertising. I'm not saying the press should be out to get John McCain and Sarah Palin. But if a core part of their message is something that every journalist...journalism organization in the country has looked at and says it's demonstrably false, again, we're not doing our jobs if we just treat this as one of many things that's happening."

Cite:
Head of State
http://tinyurl.com/6qr95o

Palin will crush Biden in the debate. What will you weak little people cry about then?

abc3 wrote: "No commentator, including E.J. has asked the question that should be on everyone's mind: Should Sarah Palin's finger be on the nuclear button?"

Palin's finger on the button? Don't worry. We can all take comfort in knowing that she'll be sure that she'll be in the hands of the lord and the rest of us won't. Very scary stuff. It's god's will, relax.

Suggestion for Charlie Gibson - a recurring dodge among politicians is to say "I believe issue x is an issue for the states." Well, Charlie, challenge Sarah on such a dodge. Ask her, "if there were an Initiative on your state ballot asking whether creationism should be taught in your local school, would you vote yes?" I want to know her personal views, and thus far, Sarah has been shielded in secrecy.

Ask her about her misstatements about Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. With that basic level of elementary misunderstanding given our current economic meltdown, she is the last person we should want anywhere near the White House. Heck, start asking McCain some questions that challenge his economic credentials beyond waiting for Cindy's trust fund check to come in the mail.

Charlie Gibson won't ask Sarah Palin the hard questions. It simply is not nice to pick on the little gal from Alaska, even if she is a stone's throw from being elected to VP and then likely to be Commander in Chief should McCain succumb to cancer or old age. We are all encouraged not to worry our pretty little heads about the fate of the Union. Who cares if she's a racist? Who cares if she would sacrifice the environment for more oil revenues for her home state? Who cares if she would rather see a woman die from a botched, backstreet abortion than have the right to choose decent medical treatment? Who cares if she wants to ban books from our libraries that she has decided are inappropriate for American readers? Who cares if she believes that American women are too stupid to think for themselves? Who cares if her family values include hatred, bigotry, and racism? Don't ask this little girl the hard questions, she cannot and will not answer them!

Obama supporters livid over Palin.

LOL. This shows how weak of a candidate Obama is, it has turned into Obama against Palin. Brilliant move by the McCain camp.

Bob said this:

"Asking too many questions is a sign of someone who gets side tracked, and isn't a good use of time."

Excuse me... but we have had a president who has been lead around by the nose by the like of Karl Rove for 8 long years... Personally, I want an inquisitive person leading this country who delves into subject matters and learns all there is to learn... not just parrots back what her handlers tell her to say. Why not just elect the handlers?

G, they're spoon feeding Palin political pabalum. She readily laps it up apparently, and can requrgitate it on cue.

One need only view the video from a few months ago, of Palin expressing a lack of knowledge about what a VP does and the belief that if selected, she'll be told what to do, to reinforce what the NY Times is reporting today.

Clint,

Should we also elect Obama's 300 foreign policy "handlers"?

Please ask bloody Sarah why she is invoking executive privilidge to emails that were cc'd to her husband, who is NOT in government. Who is in charge here, her or her unelected husband? Did she get her training from Dick Cheney and George Bush?

I have far more faith in grass-roots, middle America than most of you that post here. Being educated and worldly is certainly an advantage for the modern globalized world but it does not necessarily make a person a better or more principled leader.

It seems that we've stopped electing the POTUS and VP and are now expected to select the LEADER of the FREE WORLD. Where the hell in our constitution does it expect us to do this? And just when the current establishment wants to set the bar so high that only career politicians or elitists could ever be up for the job, we get newspaper polls from other countries about who they want us to vote for... Why don't we just give each continent a ballot for our presidency??

I am wary of the idea that America only enfranchises elites, corporatists, and career power brokers, which is why I hope Mrs. Palin represents a true change.

Certainly, she will have a lot to learn. But I am hoping that beyond the brain- washing that McBush and his neocon cronies try to teach her, she will still have some remnant of the American independent spirit and reform the Republican party on the inside, just like she did for Alaska.

Obama looks like a desperate man in his speeches of late. Is that studdering a genetic thing?

Come on now.Soundbites are all that matter to the GOP and their low information voters.

How much influence do you think she'll have? JFK was a Catholic. Was he able to enact a Catholic agenda? Nixon was a Quaker. Are we adrift in Quaker policy? This isn't a monarchy. She can't just declare that there will be no more science, abortion, women's rights, whatever.

I'd like to know her stance on term limits, defense spending, school vouchers, Unions, FCC censorship, nuclear power. Things that are in her purview, if she were president.

And I think we'll see her for twelve years. Four as VP and eight as Pres.

McCain/Palin '08

TWO PIGS IN A POKE

A common colloquial expression in the English language, to "buy a pig in a poke," is to make a risky purchase without inspecting the item beforehand. The phrase can also be applied to accepting an idea or plan without a full understanding of its basis.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pig_in_a_poke

Puma Path! NoBama from Florida, you're really AsperGirl. Same psychotic language.

So what has Obama negotiated? When was he tough? The guys a milk toast... a black Jimmy Carter. I'll take Palin any day. Biden???? half his life in the Senate, and still doesn't know a cripple when he sees one!

I'd vote all guys out and all chicks in Congress. Then put the two mavericks in the White House! Let's really change, couldn't be any worse.

rob-of-indy,

Slow down man. You'll confuse the Obama supporters that think POTUS is a legislative position.

Gibson does not have the nerve but I wish he would ask her this: "You gave birth to your youngest child after he tested as having Down's Syndrome. If there was a test to determine if your child was gay, and you found that your son was going to be gay would you have an abortion?"

Is it not possible that, like Barack Obama, Ms. Palin is intelligent as well as politically gifted. They can digest complex materials and simplify them for the general public?

Until we actually hear from her, how do we know.

What and see and then make a decision.

It all boils down to the sound track. The Liberal Lemmings will have their Tv's turned up high so they wont miss the ... when to be offened part. You know like Law and Order when the music changes for the liberal lesson. Sham!

It seems many donot understand the Constution very well. WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO RAISE AND LEVY TAXES?
Charles Rangel Head of the (ways and means committie) THEY WRITE TAX LAW::: did not pay taxes but will now? Could the average Joe or Jane get away with this?
How many of us live on a budget? And why can't our leaders in the House and Senate live on a budget? They spend it like it is Monoply money. A PRESIDENT GETS A SHARE NO DOUBT BUT THE UPPER AND LOWER HOUSE SPEND MOST OF IT. IN DOUBT CHECK THE FACTS.......

People we need reform very bad, electing the same old theives to those houses will not get it done. A record of reform is perhaps an indicator, one that goes way back. A record of pork barrel says one thing to me, tax payers have no rights and my children and yours will have to pay for it.

Same old noise being spouted by both parties. As long as we let two parties control our tax dollars it will not improve.
Most are wraped up in the party line, its for the party>>>> People the only ones parting are those who sit in both chambers of the House::::: and whos money are they parting with?

They all run for re-election and spout the same old noise to get their share of our tax dollar . Once back in office the CIRCUS AND party begINS all over again.

WE DONOT NEED TO QUESTION JUST THE PRESIDENT BUT ALL MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE WHOS JOB IT IS TO MANAGE OUR TAX DOLLARS. PLEASE FOR YOUR CHILDRENS SAKE GET RID OF THE BUMBS, AND LIMIT TERMS SO WE CAN CUT SOME OF THE OLD TIME PARTING THAT HAS BEEN AND IS GOING ON NOW.

SO MANY HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE AND ARE SO POWERFUL THEY ARE ABOVE THE LAW AND FOR SURE US TAX PAYERS, WHOM THEY SO EASILY FORGET ONCE BACK IN OFFICE. HOW MANY
PROMISES HAVE OUR REPRESENTIVES BROKEN IN ALL STATES ONCE BACK IN THE PARTY WHICH IS WASH D.C, ANOTHER WORLD WHICH DOES NOT REALLY CARE ABOOUT AMERICA, GREED AND GRAF, SHADY DEALS WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS.

A THIRD PARTY COULD BE A WAY THO CHANGE THIS BUT MOST ARE SO FIXED ON THE TWO PARTY SYSTEM THAT THEY REALLY DONOT SEE A WAY OUT. A THIRD PARTY WITH ETHICS THEY AGREE TO BEFORE GOING TO THE BIG CIRCUS IN WASH. ONE TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO THE TAX PAYER WHO PUT THEM THEIR.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT,, INDEPENDANT FROM THE SAME OLD TWO PARTY SYSTEM THAT HAS GOTTEN US INTO THIS MESS AND IT IS NOT JUST THE PRESIDENT BUT THE ENTIRE SYSTEM THHAT HAS BEEN STOLEN FROM US...ITS TIME WE! YES WE TOOK IT BACK!!!!!!

SINCERLY

JOHN NO GRAMMAR OR SPELL CHECK, HOPE I GOT THE POINT ACCROSS SOME ONE NEEDS TO.

The funny thing is... If you cant run a household or even know what really going on in you household, then house can run a country, much less even know whats really going on in the white house(hold).

I also, think women should women should be offended that she would put her own ambitions ahead of what could be a historical moment for women in general.

There are even more qualified women for the job and more qualified men. She should be offended herself in the obvious political strategy being used... her.

This column highlights my central problem with Sarah Palin, and the media's infatuation with her. For those who haven't realized it, Governor Palin isn't real. She is the political equivalent of an actress. She is very adept and reading lines that other people have written for her. Since stepping onto the national stage, that is all she has done.

Every politician uses speech writers. That is not my problem. My issue with Palin, however, is that I truly don't believe that the ideas and opinions she expresses are her own. From Palin, I have heard nothing platitudes, sarcasm, McCain glorification, and GOP boilerplate. I have not heard her ideas on immigration, the economy, education or any other pressing issue. I know she believes that the Iraq war and the surge are good things (GOP boilerplate), but I don't know what *she* thinks the objectives are or what our next step(s) should be in dealing with that conflict.

It isn't that she's incapable. Far from it, in fact, but it is unlikely that her true, unfiltered views are fully compatible with McCain's or are appropriate for the targeted electorate. It is likewise doubtful that her positions are as fully developed and refined as they would need to be for a VP candidate (capable or not, does anyone really believe that the Governor of Alaska was dedicating much time to national trade, defense, immigration, education or economic policy issues before she got tapped?)

This is not simply a dismissable issue of political stagecraft. The substitution of McCain-compatible, voter-friendly policy opinions for Palin's true beliefs creates political doppelganger that will waltz into the OEOB and stand one heartbeat away from a 72 year old president. Palin would be the first president in our history recruited from central casting

David, if by elitist you mean educated then your absolutely right. But seriously, Obama is working class who got where he is because he is smart and worked his arse off. He epitomises the american dream yet you call him and his supporters elitists???

Obama wasn't born nor married into money and connections like Bush and McCain yet working class people are expected to believe that they are on their side???? wake up... they don't give a damn about you. They care about money and power and they'll say or do whatever is necesary to achieve it.

Look were a lack of curiousity has gotten America... Bush didn't even know the difference between Sunni and Shiite before starting a war in Iraq??? In eight years the country has gone from a Budget surplus to $4 trillion in debt funded by the Chinese??? How does this not set off alarm bells?... and you want to give the Republicans another term?

Looks like Palin's presence has already made changes in the government and she hasn't even been elected into the White house yet with McCain. LOL

Source: USNews

Democrats Offer Expanded Drilling Proposal

The AP reports House Democrats "offered a broader drilling proposal Wednesday that would allow offshore energy development beyond 50 miles from the coast if a state gives the go-ahead and opens all federal waters 100 miles from land." The "measure is part of a broader energy package expected to come up for a vote next week that also would roll back tax breaks for the largest oil companies and require them to pay additional royalties with the money to be used to spur renewable energy programs and conservation." The Wall Street Journal reports, "House Democrats, some chanting 'drill, drill,' embraced a plan to open the door for more oil and natural-gas exploration along the entire U.S. coastline, in a shift showing the power of the energy issue in this election."

The Politico says the Democrats' proposal "would go much further on offshore drilling than many anticipated", giving Speaker Nancy Pelosi the "chance to put her political adversaries in a tight spot on the biggest issue of this campaign season. The bill itself may never become law Democratic leaders were still tweaking it Wednesday night but, as a political vehicle, the legislation could give Democrats cover on a potential liability for the party this November."

McCain/Palin 08

I have occasionally posed routine history questions to people I encounter: "Please help me settle a bet. In what year did America declare victory over Japan in WWII?" or "Who was president during the American Civil War?" "Was Gerald Ford a Republican, or a Democrat?"

The responses are frightening.

So, don't be surprised that elections for public office are all about "likability." Public policy issues are an annoying distraction to the vast majority of Americans.

Don't expect it to change. Just prepare yourself for this reality.

David....
You think it is a brilliant move by the McCain camp to choose Palin as VP? Why? It only proves that John McCain has given in to the "agents of intolerance" he once had the guts to decry. Sarah Palin is a well-known heroine to the far-right fundamentalists ideologues who are drooling for Armageddon and the Rapture. And, yes, that scares the hell out of rational people.

David

You've got it wrong. It shows how weak McCain is that he is running on the back of his VP.

McCain and his handlers are turning the campaign into a high school election--for Head Boy and Head Girl. No issues, of course, because in high school the students don't really decide anything except who's the most popular and who can generate the most exciting "school spirit." (The grownups do all the deciding on the issues.)

Sarah Palin plainly is running for Head Girl. Behind her stands the clique of her girl friends, many of whom--the "PUMAs"--were also friends of Hillary who got stood up. The guys are for her because she's one sweet hotie, inside whose pants they all want to get. And of course John McCain is the most popular guy on the hockey team, which qualifies him splendidly for Head Boy.

Against this pair, Barack Obama probably doesn't stand a chance. He was perceived at first as the way-cool smart guy with great grades, but now he's being branded Nerd Nobama. And Biden--what business does that GUY have running for Head Girl?

This is the way the GOP--which is out of ideas, out of gas, and should be out of luck--has recast the 2008 presidential election.

Guess what, folks: They're getting away with it. Thank you, Charlie Gibson, for playing along. You ought to be the head reporter on the school newspaper (the one that the principal allows to function--not the naughty underground paper that the alienated kids read).

God help the United States of America.

I wouldn't be surprised if the McCain's people will demand the interview questions beforehand, so that they can prep her with the answers. Which--like everything else about their campaign--will just make it all one big farce.

The Republicans have a philosophy that says that government is evil and stupid so why should we expect it to work. This expectation that government must fail doesn't go over well in many places but it does allow Republicans to select people the way Disney selects it's future stars; can they be created?

Bob:

Tell you what, why don't you lead the way?
Write again when YOU find a life, OK? Oh, and why you are out looking for one, why not get a job too?

To Jerseygirl,

The reason the banks are going belly up are because the regulations on banking were deregulated in the 1990's by Newt Gingrich's Congress...the Glass-Stegall Act of 1933 was repealed allowing the banking houses to bundle the mortgages and sell the paper ... it is a giant ponzi scheme and the ones left holding the worthless paper are the ones who are going to be hurt the most.

Some of the predatory lending practices included changing the terms of the mortgages after the fact..some of the predatory lending practices included mortgage brokers who lied on applications..interest only loans were made to people with McMansions which are now boarded up in some areas of the country..these people were considered sophisticated borrowers and still got caught in the downward sprial of the housing market..

Please don't make statements based on what the media is telling you..you have to research the situation for yourself because this crisis is about to take down this country in the first quarter of 2009 and in turn the rest of the world will follow..this is real trouble and Republicans have never been able to correct the economy after they destroy it..

Well put Mr. Dionne. Mr. Gibson will have failed if he does not fully question Gov. Palin re: her postions on the following topics (at the very least): Afghanistan & Iraq Wars, the state of the economy and how the Fed Gvt. can help, how to repair US reputation in the world, how the Fed Gvt. should help protect our failing planet's environment and how this is related to our energy problems.

And an interesting follow up question regarding any of her answers to the above would be how long she has held her position, if she has ever stated it before, and an example of a decision she made as a publicly elected official that was consistent with her position.

No, I mean "elitist" as in you do not believe Palin is educated because she did not go to HARVARD. See, that makes you ELITIST.

Obama, worked his ARSE OFF? Tell me the private sector jobs he has held? He is an empty suit that has been used because of his race, good looks, ability to deliver a speech and so forth. Tell me one good idea this so called "intelligent" man has put forth?

Bush didn't know the difference between Sunni and Shia? Is that worse than Obama not knowing how many states we have or not knowing which committees he serves on?

Wow Susy at 10:50, just wow...

Let's look at history:

Billie Beer Carter - yikes
Sperm boy Clinton - yikes
Stick man Gore - aweful
Wind surfer Kerry - aweful
Boogie Board Obama - lipstick man???

Throw the craps dice again children:-)

HAHAHAH

listen to them cry. it's like music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1s6ld271Dk

liberals and dems...the single largest group of sheep ever posing as intelligent human beings.

if this video does prove you have all been sold a fantasy, i dont know what will. rest assured, i realize your operating off emotion and nothing will convince you

Common Sense,

Pail was a great pick. The idea if you are a nominee is to win. McCain's campaign was stale and uninteresting 2 weeks ago. Now look at it. Also, Obama's campaign has gone the opposite direction since picking Biden. You tell me who made the great pick, if you have any ability to analyze objectively.

I hope Charlie Gibson is in his stern, "Bill Clinton" interview mode rather than his deferential "George W. Bush" interview mode. I think it would come as a surprise to Palin's repub. handlers, (and handlers she certainly does have), who have obviously chosen Gibson because he's avuncular and not very aggressive, unless he's interviewing Bill Clinton about his extra curricular activities.

Still this baby's far from over and I think the worm is beginning to turn on McCain the repubs. Lipstick and Kindergarten sex education indeed. More like fiddling while Rome burns from McCain and Co...

Mr Dionne: Wow- an article criticizing her preparation method? Don't you think Senator Obama and Senator McCain go through a similar process to prepare for debates and major interviews? I hope so, winging it isn't what a good President does. It is amazing the consistent level of partisianship in your columns. My guess is no matter what questions are asked or how she answers them you will write a negative piece either about what she said or didn't say. That's the one sure thing.

Independent...
The key in the Democratic proposed legislation is: "that also would ROLL BACK TAX BREAKS breaks for the largest oil companies and require them to PAY ADDITIONAL ROYALTIES with the money to be used to spur renewable energy programs and conservation."
You know very well that the Republicans, with oil lobbyists lining their pockets, will never NEVER agree to that.

If Sarah Palin had declared for President, would she have gathered any electoral votes? No.

This idea that all America needs is a grass-roots, everyman/woman to lead by the seat of their pants is fantasy. It's been a disaster for the last eight years.

Her selection as a candidate for VP is nothing more than grandstanding and dangerous. McCain and everyone who is swooning like 10 year olds at a Cheetah Girls concert should be deeply ashamed of themselves.

BOB..your the kind of dope that is everything wrong with society,he is all for letting Peggy hill palin go on about her family trailer park life etc and never answer a serious question,,if that is challenged of course its the medias fault,,lets get back to her glasses or goofy family.

MCNERTNY....another Obama ELITIST chiming in. Don't know too many trailer park families that are governors...but hey...why let truth sneak into your miserable life.

I was so underwhelmed by Charlie Gibson when he asked Obama about why he does not wear a lapel pin, during a prime time debate with Hillary Clinton, that I cannot imagine this guy getting it right. Clearly, he sounded to me when he questioned Obama with Sean Hannerty like attack lines that he is a Republican and since he is also an icon of the Good Morning America, he has a pop culture mentality which simply does not lead to thoughtful, insightful questions. I think we are going to hear a few good old boy Republican give away questions mixed with some more than obvious "probing" questions that anyone preparing Sarah would have preped her well on. Hey, isn' t that why the Republicans deemed to allow Gibson to question McCain's fair lady in teh first place, because there will be no surprises?

I doubt very much if Mr.Gibson's interview will be tough and truly journalistic. Palin is running for VP of this country and it is time that people know where she stands on issues that matter to us and world politics. All we know about her is that she has five kids, and she is a governer with a shreiky voice. I hope Gibson will live up to his reputation and not ask her questions on how many bambis she shot.

"Aides traveling with Ms. Palin have reported back to associates that she is a fast study -- asking few questions of her policy briefers but quickly repeating back their main points -- who already has considerable ease and experience before cameras.

“A former aide in Alaska who had helped prepare Ms. Palin for her campaign debates there said she had a talent for distilling information into digestible sound bites. The aide said she generally prefers light preparatory materials to heavy briefing books, and prefers walking through potential questions and answers with aides to holding mock sessions.”

//

The Russians must be laughing out loud right now.

No questions about Family Values, please.
The Evangelists have been sucker punched by the Republicans again. The punch came too quickly (aka pregnant teen) but they are still reeling from the Koolaid and didn't notice the insult.
While it would be fun to watch what McCain will do to the Evangelists what Bushie did, we don't want John in the WH in the first place.

BEEVEE,

Why do you care where Palin stands on issues when it is already clear you can't stand her?

Let's look at history:

Billie Beer Carter - yikes
Sperm boy Clinton - yikes
Stick man Gore - aweful
Wind surfer Kerry - aweful
Boogie Board Obama - lipstick man???

Throw the craps dice again children:-)

Posted by: Jeff Crocket |

Erudite post, Jeffie. Let's look again.

Crook boy Nixon -
Ronnie Raygun - senseless
Daddy Bush - spineless
Shrub - disasterous
Wannabes, Huckleberry, Skeletor Giuliani, Mittens Romney - superfluous
Grampy McSame - ridiculous

Honoring Mencken's birthday tomorrow:

“The larger the mob, the harder the test. In small areas, before small electorates, a first rate man occasionally fights his way through, carrying even a mob with him by the force of his personality. But when the field is nationwide, and the fight must be waged chiefly at second or third hand, and the force of personality cannot so readily make itself felt, then all the odds are on the man who is, intrinsically the most devious and mediocre — the man who can most adeptly disperse the notion that his mind is a virtual vacuum.

“The Presidency tends, year by year, to go to such men. As democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move toward a lofty ideal. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their hearts desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.”

—H.L. Mencken, The Baltimore Evening Sun, July 26, 1920

To Jerseygirl,

The reason the banks are going belly up are because the regulations on banking were deregulated in the 1990's by Newt Gingrich's Congress...the Glass-Stegall Act of 1933 was repealed allowing the banking houses to bundle the mortgages and sell the paper ... it is a giant ponzi scheme and the ones left holding the worthless paper are the ones who are going to be hurt the most.

Some of the predatory lending practices included changing the terms of the mortgages after the fact..some of the predatory lending practices included mortgage brokers who lied on applications..interest only loans were made to people with McMansions which are now boarded up in some areas of the country..these people were considered sophisticated borrowers and still got caught in the downward spiral of the housing market..

Please don't make statements based on what the media is telling you..you have to research the situation for yourself because this crisis is about to take down this country in the first quarter of 2009 and in turn the rest of the world will follow..this is real trouble and Republicans have never been able to correct the economy after they destroy it..

Tobey...
You forgot to mention that Phil Gramm (McCain's economic advisor who called us a nation of whiners) is the one who pushed the banking deregulation through. Not only was Gramm responsible for the current mortgage loan equity debacle, but he had a hand in creating conditions for the S&L crisis (Keating) that almost ended McCain's political career. How's that for McCain's judgement?

Palin when asked about Iraq; "I never really thought about it"

What? You have no interest in understanding why your fellow americans are dying by the thousands and hundreds of billions in treasure are being spent?
This is worse than having a postion that I disagree with...at least pretend to care about our country and give some consideration to the major issues facing us.

I guess the fortunes of the rest of america is unimportant ms. palin

Good points about the inexperience of the top of the dem ticket, and the bottom of the repub ticket. Solutiion, a McCain/Biden ticket.

Puma Path! NoBama from Florida

You are a special needs child.

I predict Sarah Palin will RESIGN the VP position during the first year of the Palin/McSame Presidency.

Don't look for too much with this interview: ABC's credibility is already blown after that one Clinton-Obama debate 3-4 months ago.

As far as McCain-Palin goes, if we really what 2 people in the White House, who do not understand the economy and prefer the 'Shoot First, Ask Questions Later' approach to politics... by all means, vote McCain-Palin

Obama - "the surge will not work"

Brilliant.

Applying for CinC, laughable.

I just shook my head when everybody jumped on the Palin bandwagon after she gave one speech, at the convention, prepared by a speechwriter. What has American politics become?

As a woman, I cannot condone the treatment of Sarah Palin, but as a woman I cannot endorse her for VP. She is not ready to assume that position nor that of President if need be. It is a shame that "white" women believe that it is our duty and right to support her no matter the consequences. At least Barack Obama seems stable enough and intelligent enough to become President. I am not 100% sold on his qualifications, but Ms. Palin and Mr. McCain really scare me to death. I know most Americans are really emotional about this election, but you had better put your emotions in check and let calmer heads prevail or this country will surely come to its demise sooner rather than later.

Ok. So this is her first interview. When's the next one? When's she going to start answering questions from reporters? Having traveled in the USSR many years ago--and witnessing its government's control on releasing the information IT wanted to release WHEN and HOW it wanted to release it--it's clear that a free press is part of what makes a democracy different from, say, the way communist countries operate. This Palin matter stinks of anti-democratic behavior. It's clear she's exaggerating her record of "reform" -- but she continues to repeat the same outrageous claims. This is precisely the same old politics that turns off voters. As a citizen, I want the press--through their questioning--to begin to hold her accountable.

I think she should be asked why she was in five colleges in six years -- she may have a legitimate answer of finances and working her way through-- and what her grades were. We know that McCain was a terrible student (884 from 889) and that Obama was educated in Ivy League schools and a well regarded private college and excelled in law school.

Here's another question for Ms.Palin. I visited Alaska for a week once. Am I to an expert on Russia Foreign Policy?

I never said she wasn't educated, in fact i never mentioned her. I was talking about Obama. But since you brought it up if the quality of education is the same in Idaho as it is at Harvard then there's an awful lot of people wasting an awful lot of money. Someone mentioned it earlier... the difference between being able to rote learn something and regurgitate it... and actually being able to think critically about complex problems and ask inquisitive questions... sounds like shes the former. Guess thats bad luck for America if they win.

ANATOMY OF CHANGE,

Do you also feel it is a shame that large numbers of blacks feel it is their duty to vote for Obama? No matter the consequences or lack of ideas from him?

I never said she wasn't educated, in fact i never mentioned her. I was talking about Obama. But since you brought it up if the quality of education is the same in Idaho as it is at Harvard then there's an awful lot of people wasting an awful lot of money. Someone mentioned it earlier... the difference between being able to rote learn something and regurgitate it... and actually being able to think critically about complex problems and ask inquisitive questions... sounds like shes the former. Guess thats bad luck for America if they win.

I suspect whatever Gibson's demeanor we'll get a fuzzy, soft-hearted smile and a canned line that might have come from Baby Mama.

In any case, I don't believe we'll get the Shrill, Baby, Shrill that we see behind the protection of the tele prompter.

A respected Canadian physician has expressed concern that Palin's decision to give birth to a Down Syndrome baby may be emulated by others -- increasing the pain, financial burden, and tragedy of many families who find love is not enough to deal with this disastrous birth. Give these foetuses back to God!

Anonymous,

Obama is the regurgitator if there ever was one. His Harvard education is no basis for electing him anything. I am sorry if that hurts your feelings, but it is true. Did they not teach him how many states there are at Harvard? What military training did he receive there?

I am confused about the notion that talking about family and motherhood is inappropriate. Gov. Palin put both in play by parading her family as a means of demonstrating how wholesome she is. Its fair game. The cry of sexism is just a phony victim play.

That said, I do not expect Gibson to ask hard questions. He's a softie. The interview will be a travelogue.

I have better things to do than watch it.

Outrage can be an effective campaign tool. But so can humor. Later in the day, Obama was onstage with David Letterman, trading quips.

"Let me ask you a question here," Letterman said. "Have you ever actually put lipstick on a pig?"

"You know," Obama said, as the audience laughed, "the answer would be no. But I think it might be fun to try."

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-campaign11-2008sep11,0,4703724.story

As a woman I was voting for Hillary. Now that she is not in the picture I will vote for Sarah Palin because she is a woman. I don't care if she is against womans rights. She is pretty and I like her glasses. What would I have done if Hillary and Sarah were both running? The real issuse is what brand of lipstick does she wear? George Bush is awesome and I will miss him and Dick. RNC stands for Ned Neck Convention and I am proud to be a Republican. I hope Charlie askes her who makes her glasses?

I am confused about the notion that talking about family and motherhood is inappropriate. Gov. Palin put both in play by parading her family as a means of demonstrating how wholesome she is. Its fair game. The cry of sexism is just a phony victim play.

That said, I do not expect Gibson to ask hard questions. He's a softie. The interview will be a travelogue.

I have better things to do than watch it.

Can Americans truly be serious about Sarah Palin? All we know about her is her regurgitated speeches that are filled with lies. I would like to think we are all just smarter than that.
Chales Gibson? Oh, come on.... that isn't hard hitting.... I wouldn't mind Campbell Brown from CNN. That would be pretty interesting!

The Washington Post quoting the New York Times is like Laurel quoting Hardy.

Doesn't it bother anyone else that it takes her three weeks and 35 advisers to do an interview on ABC? This lady doesn't have a clue. That is scary.

Basically what has happened is that the Bush campaign team replaced Bush with McCain, and to take the focus off the issues he picked a great lady who is absolutely not ready to be VP.

It is a disappointment for two reasons:
I am a republican with no one to vote for
And Palin could have been a great candidate in 2012 against Hillary, but McCain and his league of Bushies are going to ruin her.

Excuse me, but WHO is running for President? I keep thinking it's McCain, but the media seem to think it's Palin. Can someone please clarify that for me before I go to the Voting booth? I hope it's McCain because I respect his service to this country. Question her ability all you want but it won't change many people's mind because many are actually leery about the top candidate on the other ticket!

I'll vote for Obama because he is for "change". I have no idea what that means, but he is black and went to Harvard. Again, I have no idea what any of this has to do with being POTUS, but I am young, stupid, and hold the mentality of a sheep. So who cares.

Here's my favorite joke....
Whate the difference between Sarah Palin and Dick Cheney?

LIPSTICK

David,

Mr. Obama has shown very intuitive ideas on the economy, jobs, taxes, welfare reform, public finance reform, clean and renewable energy iniatives, should I go on or do you not read? David, it is not a lack of ideas from Mr. Obama, but the uncertainty of how people around him will respond to the first African American President. He is a very intelligent man, moreso than myself and probably you, but I feel most whites always seem to think that they are smarter than any black person and that their ideas are more viable. Diversity should be applauded in our country instead of deplored. Whites need not fear the rule of blacks as they are just as loving of this country. I feel there will be extremely positive consequences from other countries to an African American President, so it is not consequences you should fear, but responses from your fellow citizens in this country who have not embraced diversity.

Puma Path,

Get a life, i guess the issues destroying this country arent good enough for you. You want to keep whining about Hillary. Get over it, if you want to vote McCain go ahead, but dont gripe the next 4 years about the state of the country because you wasted your vote to get back at an politician instead of using it to vote for who is the better candidate to clean up this country.

I think the stupid media coverage (on both sides) is to blame. I can't believe that Palin traveled to Alaska on a plane full of journalists, and *not one* of them had the journalistic guts to go up and ask her questions.

American media is hurting democracy. For a proper model, just look at the British media's lack of 'deference' when questioning their leaders. We need a BBC, and CNN isn't it.

Sorry but I just don't see Charles Gibson asking tough questions of Sarah Palin. He will defer to her gender and her smile and before it is all over, they will be sharing favorite cookie recipes.

What a pity.

Gibson should ask her: Can you name 3 specific areas where the policy of a McCain/Palin administration is different than the current administration?

ANATOMY OF CHANGE,

You responded with not even one single idea. Just empty rhetoric, like Obama. Skin color is not diversity, sorry racists like you cannot figure that out. If it is, then you are saying every single black person thinks alike and every single white person thinks alike. See? Do you comprehend? Diversity is not rooted in skin color no matter how hard you wish it were.

I wish Charles Gibson would be the sort of reporter to ask tough questions, but something tells me that it will be great lighting, canned answers, and soft music - like a date...

It will not matter. An idiot at the rally in Fairfax like Palin because "she seems like the sort of person you would have fun with on a 10K run." Seriously, between having beers with our presidential candidates and going on runs, who needs serious answers?

Do you want a VP that learned it from the Cliff notes or from the text book? Being a second command to the most powerful position in the world needs someone that understands the nuances not just the key facts.

Barack Hussein Obama has had a free pass from the media for MONTHS and MONTHS. The liberal press is so intent on getting him elected. They never reported on his shady past. The Democrats have been in control of Congress for two years and look at the damaged they have created. Everyone agrees if Obama gets in we will have a DEPRESSION>

Palin is only interested in one thing and one thing only.
ALASKA!

David,

Your hood is on tooooo tight, loosen it and let us see the real you. Oh by the way, diversity is about race and gender, but you would not know that as you have masked your true identity.

Oh... so because he hasn't been in the military he couldnt be commander and chief. How about Bush? you don't really consider what he did military service do you? and cheney?...pathetic

Oh, and did anyone see the interview a brit journalist had with Carly Fiorina (Repub supporter and former HP CEO)? He actually asked a reasonable question: 'Would McCain have picked the governer of Alaska if she was not a female'?

Carly put on a wonderful show of being upset at the sexism implied by the question, but the question was completely valid - the journalist was getting at whether or not McCain was using a woman to further his goals. This is the type of question that the American media would never ask.

Here's the interview:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/justinwebb/2008/09/carly_fiorina_on_sarah_palin.html

Elitist your comments (which I will not paste here for others to be insulted by) show that YOU are (in your own words) stupid, and hold the mentality of a sheep.

I am not interested in Palin's family life as much as I am VERY interested in learning about her OWN political views. I cannot possibly think of voting for someone if I don't know what they are all about, and I seriously wish everyone in this country felt the same way. I need to hear views and thoughts from her lips directly how she perceives things - NOT what various media articles have chosen to let me know. I beg Charlie Gibson to stand up for this country and ask her questions about her philosophy and not back down until his questions have been fully answered. And I beg the rest of the media and interviewers to do the same with ALL of the candidates. That is the only way we, as citizens, can make an informed choice.

It is frightening to think that once again America will get what it deserves for the degree of anti-intellectualism allowed to spread over the air waves. What is wrong with someone concerned with nuance? Taking the time to thoughtfully digest and contemplate an answer to a complex question. It is appalling to think (oh, wait a minute-did I use the term think?)that the wool is being pulled over the sheep's eyes once again blinding it to seeing what lies ahead if McCain/Palin take over in 2009. What about Supreme Court Justice nominees? What about our national debt? This is not reality TV we are watching... This is the future for our kids, grand kids and US.

AOC,

You are a racist too. You know nothing of diversity. You are another that associates diverse ideas with skin color. Once again, this means you think people of similar color all think alike, the very definition of racist.

Puma Path- You are a moron.

Yeah, a free pass for Obama - I must have imagined all that Reverend Wright and "bitter" stuff.

Start thinking for yourself

David,

By the way,

Webster defines diversity as "unlike in kind" different. I guess black and white and woman and man is alike in kind and not different huh???? It is individuals like you who will have this country in shambles and look around stupified.

E.J.:

Much better that your recent columns. Please remember, though, the American people chose “W” twice after he demonstrated that not only did he not know squat about foreign policy, he had no respect for the subject matter.

I continue to hear the “experts” say that this election hinges on the rural voters in places like Pennsylvania and Ohio combined with results in states like Colorado and New Mexico. Perhaps you people who are trying to influence or shape opinion should take that into account. The margin in New York and California are not relevant. The opinions of these bible and gun clutching fools, as you sophisticates seem to view them, are absolutely relevant.

The Democrats have been in control of Congress for two years and look at the damaged they have created. Everyone agrees if Obama gets in we will have a DEPRESSION>

Posted by: penelope | September 11, 2008 11:34 AM

Look at the damage that Bush has caused the last eight years. Oh, yeah. The republicans act like they have nothing to do with that. And who is this everyone agree business. Everyone really? Well I don't.

1. Is this a Can-you-beat-a-5-year-grade show? Any professor in certain area can answer a lot of questions about international politics,does that make sense he/she can be a good leader? Can any candidate or politician understand better than Palin about Alaska's Energy Reserve?

2. A potential leader's responsibility is to choose right person to do right job, not to answer every question from every deparment, if so, nobody can beat Wikipedia to be a president.

3. There are many things can not be evaluate quantitatively, this is not a SAT or any standard test, Harvard grad can't ensure more people will like him just for his memory or IQ.

4.the President, firstly, has to be a Charming person to some extent at certein time points.

5. Walk the talk,talk the walk, walk the walk, actually, Palin can handle a state, a city, Mac can handle an airplane and flight task, The other top can handle a compaign. That's the ultimate question they have already answered

Gibson should ask Palin all the tough questions. As a conservative, I not only expect that she be asked the tough questions, but demand it. Regardless of how she answers the questions, the pundits and commentators have already determined that she is not qualified. So, really, it won't matter how she answers the questions because she has been doomed to failure in some eyes anyway. However, I, for one, will be watching with interest to see how she actually answers the questions asked.

I guess we'll have to see how well she does without a teleprompter and McCain standing by her side. If Gibson doesn't ask the "hard" questions then he's pandering to the "party".

I think Palin should go on David Letterman's show. Did you watch Obama on Letterman last night? They covered the serious stuff as well as the silliness. I thought it was a better interview than what TV "news" corporate shills have been giving us lately. It's a sad state of affairs, isn't it, when entertainment programs surpass so-called news in presenting us with the facts we need to make informed decisions.

David,

Yes I will agree I am racist, I am racist about this country. I love this country and I will not make any bones about it. I will not let you nor anyone else bring it down. I spent 20 years in USAF defending this country. I bet you spent about that much time learning how intellectualize arguments. I weep for you my friend and those that think like you. You are an illusionist and prefer to tear down things instead of building them up. You are the very essence of what the Republicans want in a constituent. It is pointless talking to you as you have obvious issues.

AOC,

Sorry thinking is so difficult for you. Again, you assume people have like ideas just because they have the same skin color. Your racism is rooted deeply in you.

"Aides" traveling with her have reported back to "associates"... give me a break.

I see ABC will be showing the "interview" spread over several shows making it a little difficult to get a complete picture. I would like to see how she thinks on her feet instead of how the editors present her ideas. Maybe we will get that opportunity before the election. Maybe not.

If all the hot air produced by this campaign could be turned into useful energy we could be a step toward independence from foreign oil. The Dems might want to do research on the possibilities but that will take a while. The Repubs. don't seem interested in creative problem solving. So I guess we will lose any opportunity to capture the "gas".

I can't believe people actually believe all these lies about Sarah Palin.

I am not looking forward to this interview. All it will be is Palin reading exerpts from her scripted speech that she's been toting around these past 2 weeks. There will be nothing new. No curveball, no "make you think" moment. The GOP will pull the strings, and little Palin will dance dance.

"...we need to know as citizens and voters about what kind of president Palin would be."

This shows exactly the reason that media and the Democrates are clueless about why Palin has been supported by so many voters.

Hello! Palin is NOT running for president, she is running for vice president!

For vice president candidate, a fast study is and has always been good enough. check the history, check all the vice presidents who later became presidents, how much do they know about national and international policies before they were picked as vice president candidate?

And, you also forget that we are living in the 21st centry, all of your so-called national and international policies can be Googled in about ONE second. So, what is a big deal that there is something that you don't already know. It can be found immediately.

Those old boys in the media and in the Democratic party are truly in a meltdown.

The McCain campaign negative ads with lipstick and the wolves are a distraction.
The Charlie Gibson special on ABC - a love fest with ABC begins?

Schmidt and Rove are spinning the media their way. A soft interview with lots and lots of petty pictures so no one remembers the questions Charlie asks or the answers Sarah gives. Perhaps McCain isn't ready to be in the White House? His judgment and selling of his VP? What happens if Sarah steps into the White House if God forbid something happens to McCain? She is anti-abortion. A Schmidt and Rove wedge issue. She believes the earth started 6,000 years ago. The conservative crowds have come out in force for her. What are her positions on the rest of the issues? Will she start flip flopping on these issues? The media can't interview her. Schmidt/Rove will see to that.

let's see...the media is liberal
republican's only answer questions
they have written down so they know
the answers
which interview will we get?

Let the media ask all the questions they want. She will answer dutifully and with class and with solid information. I have no problems with them fully vetting her...because she overshadows Obama/Biden in so many ways. Do you really want to hammer her for having a family? Or being successful? I guess if you are a lib socialist...you do. Good!

For those of you who think this country was "hood winked" twice by Bush...Imagine the debt if Gore were in power? Tax and SPEND SPEND SPEND! I admit the Republicans spent too much. They should have CUT CUT CUT!

Sarah and John will at least be an advocate for families vs the Obama taxes/abortions/etc.

She'll pound on her competition. I can't wait to see her eat Biden alive.

Keep up the good work media...the more you try to fabricate things to make her look bad...the more the people of this country like her.

I love it!

I'd love to see Charlie ask her specific questions about Obama's ethics law, and ask why she keeps saying he passed zero laws.

I'd like to see him ask why Wasilla was charging rape victims for medical exams.

http://palincounter.blogspot.com/

palin is a fake and if those who vote for the maccain/palin ticekt still haven't learned from these past 8 years, than let them live their life in misery for another 4 years. obama has a vision and the necessary skills to take this country out of this slump we are in. obama all the way!!!

oh WAIT - SNAP - why didn't I think of that? Google your foriegn policy - of course - that's really sharp!

FLOATBY said "Mac can handle an airplane and flight task..."

When is the last time "Mac" handled an airplane?
Many would disagree that even 35 years ago, Crash McCain could handle an airplane. As for his assigned "task" of dropping bombs.....? Why is he still dumbfounded that that he was met with an angry crowd when he crashed in North VietNam? Does he think his bombs didn't kill innocent people...babies? I wonder if he learned any lessons from his experience.

Obama voted "present" 130 times as a senator, because he did not want to choose yes or no. How does that qualify you as someone who can lead a country?

See this article in NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/us/politics/20obama.html

DOA Y,

Obama has a "vision", thanks. Did you lift that straight from one of his repetitive speeches? You do know that "change" and "vision" are not actual plans, correct?

Once again we are headed for 4 more years of the same lack of leadership we allready have experienced the last 7 years. I cant believe i read someone say they will vote McCain because Palin is a woman. Are you an idiot? Please the economy or high gas prices dont worry you? Then dont vote. This is stupid. And to David, wasnt George with the MBA supposed to show us fiscal restraint? See where that experience got us. You want more of the same then vote GOP. Just dont gripe for the next 4 years about the state of our country, because you had a chance for change and you blew it...

Sarah's just like us. And I sure wouldn't want to see any of us in the White House.

However, voting for McCain could lead some to Heaven. McCain assumes the office of president and lasts maybe 3 months. Sarah gets a direct command from above and Crusades II begins. A week later, its Rapture!

Dionne.. you were doing well with this article until the 5th paragraph. That is when you stopped being a journalist and started being a liberal. Your world view showed through and your credibility was lost.

He method of preparing could also mean she is very intelligent and able to get to the heart of the matter very quickly.

But of course you would never admit that. Since your world view precludes anyone but you and your elitist friends having a brain.

Grow up, we are tired of your juvenile viewpoint.

To ISSUES PEOPLE,

Obama is OK with high gas prices, remember?

When are you going to get out of O's tank (Obama-Biden & Osama-Binlodin... interesting) and speak the TRUTH about B. Hussein Obama a mere stoodge - slave - puppet for the corrupt chicago machine - He's unfit and you know it! He's a rich spoiled elite bs'er fullofit and if this is a close election the old chicago corrupto will be there to STEAL another election just like in Nov 1960! Apply O's words (he's slick and slimy - a Muslim trying to bull a fast one - and the MEdia is in the tank with anti-Americans - full of hatred --- AMERICA! Love it of LEAVE it! No hypenated is an American! He is a dangerous destroyer worshipped by those of his ilk - like you! GOD BLESS SARAH and GUIDE HER, PROTECT HER FROM ALL YOU ATHEISTS! It's amazing how this slimy-slick word user (HINT: get out of your elite cocoon and see the world! REAL America has lots of intelligent people who see right throug your anti-American crap! and Hussein's!

I'm not worried about Palin's interview. As a voter, I've got 1 1/2 to deem whether or not she's up to the task and that's plenty of time. But right now she get's an incomplete.

When are you going to get out of O's tank (Obama-Biden & Osama-Binlodin... interesting) and speak the TRUTH about B. Hussein Obama a mere stoodge - slave - puppet for the corrupt chicago machine - He's unfit and you know it! He's a rich spoiled elite bs'er fullofit and if this is a close election the old chicago corrupto will be there to STEAL another election just like in Nov 1960! Apply O's words (he's slick and slimy - a Muslim trying to bull a fast one - and the MEdia is in the tank with anti-Americans - full of hatred --- AMERICA! Love it of LEAVE it! No hypenated is an American! He is a dangerous destroyer worshipped by those of his ilk - like you! GOD BLESS SARAH and GUIDE HER, PROTECT HER FROM ALL YOU ATHEISTS! It's amazing how this slimy-slick word user (HINT: get out of your elite cocoon and see the world! REAL America has lots of intelligent people who see right throug your anti-American crap! and Hussein's!

Gibson is probably already too afraid of the GOP to ask any serious questions.
How did the great democracy get a cowed press? FEAR.

ISSUES PEOPLE,

Also, I am happy with the last 8 years. My eanring have grown 100% in the past 8 years. The POTUS does not dictate my financial outcome, learn what the job of POTUS entails.

I could not agree more. McCain, despite his claim otherwise, is interested in winning at all cost and the country be damned. How could he honestly say, Palin was 'absolutely' qualified to become President. This is not Saturday Night Live or Leno's Tonight show where he can BS all he wanted. This is the future of the country at stake. I am not a big fan of Obama but at least he had undergone bruising primaries and been selected by the majority of his party. All McCain and Palin ever did was to chug the high road of campaigning for the sleazy Bush/Rove playbook. How has a great country as the USA sunk into gutter level politics of the third world?

At this time in US history, a post-graduate mastery is needed in a vice-presidential candidate, not a beginning student with the compressed learning. E.J. is correct in his analysis. Can the VP candidate handle the complex and confounding issues without losing sight of the problem

You go!!

This woman has gotten a free pass from the press and the DNC based solely on her gender. Nothing she's said, and it's been damn little, has been vetted. Evidently just looking at a Republican woman is sexist. Especially while she engages in slander and character assasination. Wrapping herself in Christianity like Bush in the flag. Hypocrit. If she's a Christian, I'm a Martian.

"Let the media ask all the questions they want. She will answer dutifully and with class and with solid information. "

Yes, because the entire interview will be scripted for Palin before she even arrives. It's all a publicity stunt to keep the attention off of McBush and his horrible policies.

Everyone knows this will be a softball interview that Ms. Palin will have no problem handling. Come on - Charlie Gibson? How about Jon Stewart? Now that would be a interview that she couldn't "talking point" her way out of. The GOP has brilliantly made the press into lambs. Good luck to us all after McCain/Palin put their right-wing justices on the Supreme Court. Dark ages, here we come!

Actually, we're not headed for 4 more years of lack of leadership - 1 - Senator Obama still leads in the electoral college - He WILL take every state that Senator Kerry won in 2004, and probably Iowa and Colorado either Nevada or N.M. to win the election. 2. This is why the Republican party is throwing the kitchen sink at Senator Obama right now. The folks that run their campaign are not stupid, and know that they are in serious trouble, even with the addition of Gov. Palin to their ticket. 3. Senator Obama shows every inclination to fight back against the rising tide of B.S. thrown out by Senator McCain's camp - unlike Senator Kerry.

Yeah, it will be close, but sheer numbers plus changing demographics will lead to an Obama victory.

Let's see what happens. Maybe this will come up. In the 175 days that Obama has governed in the U. S. Senate he has asked for more than 900,000,000 in earmarks for his home state. Very dem! In that short time that Palin Governed Alaska she reduced spending and gave back 500,000,000 to the citizens as as surplus. Very republican. Mabe she scares the crap out of the Obama camp because he didn't pick Hillary as his running mate..... please chack spelling Watch out here comes that word....."GOD Bless America"

Yet again, the free link from Google News is a liberal opinion article. The Washington Post is totally biased in how it chooses to release it's articles to the public. Funny and sad at the same time.

Why should we expect Sarah to know everything before she takes office? Or, when she might take over the presidency? Back when Truman had to replace FDR, Truman didn't even know that the country was working on the A Bombs. I know from personal experience LBJ didn't know anything about anything other than dirty politics when he replaced JFK. Sooo, give Sarah a break - she will do a good job as VP.

Researcher-Truth Seeker.

It's comments like these that show the ineptitude of the American populace.

It's ok if, when the phone rings at 3 a.m., Palin can't handle a tricky and delicate international crisis calling for an in-depth knowledge of foreign cultures and intricate commercial dealings, where the wrong move could create lasting enemies and point us toward war. It's ok because Dick Cheney will be there to back her up.

"Here's a question for Sarah. I live near the ocean, does that make me a marine biologist?

Posted by: DirtyHarry | September 11, 2008 8:06 AM "

Hahahahaha. An excellent question, DirtyHarry. Too bad Gibson won't have the guts to ask it.

So we have a candidate who apparently doesn't read very much, is briefed only lightly, and parrots back scripted answers to the camera on cue.

Hmmm.....sounds like a female version of George W. Bush. An intriguing concept.

Jay - "grass-roots, middle America" ?Is that not what we supposedly got with Bush? Did that work out so well?

We have examples of regular Americans being successful like Harry Truman was (now in hindsight) and the well-educated being less so (Jimmy Carter and Herbert Hoover) But we generally have seen the the better educated and experienced (Clinton, Roosevelt, Eisenhower) produced much better long-lasting policies than the more common "middle American (Nixon, W. Bush)

Plus it was the grass-roots, middle America who chose W in the first place and buy into the misperceptions and poor education foisted upon us by the mass media. The media give us junk, because that is what we want to buy.

By your standards, Barack is not qualified. He has never served one day in the military, yet will be Commander In Chief. He has never met a budget, yet must propose a budget to Congress at least four times. He forgets which religion he belongs to and isn't sure how many states comprise our country - when no teleprompters are present. Before you go throwing stones, look at the guy you want to put behind the wheel.

you people have WAY too much time on your hands.

fyi, to the person who suggested that Obama and Biden were incredibly intelligent. I guess that explains why Biden graduated at the bottom of his class (bottom 10%). Stop throwing stones.

She's starting with a lightweight interview, but they know she's gotta make the FULL round of interviews. Of course she is starting with the easiest. Isn't it kinda logical. You make it sound like this is the only interview she will be giving before the election. Relax. the lady found out 2 weeks ago that she was the VP nominee. Let's give her a little time to settle into the routine. Obama's been campaigning for 2 years...

PEACE

Dear E.J.

I suggest you don't hold your breath. Charles Gibson though friendly and personable enough is NOT know for his deep, penetrating interview style- A Tim Russert (or even Barbra Walters) he isn't.
Do you think the McCain/Rove people would agree to let Palin, for her first solo outing, be interviewed by someone they thought would acutally ask her questions about the issues-One wonders if in fact the McCain people insisted (like the Bush people before them) that Gibson submit a list of questions before the interview?

Hate to burst your bubble, coug, but Gov. Palin has asked for I believe, $25 million in earmarks, made regular visits to Washington and worked with Ted Stephens to bring him the bacon for Alaska. I'm not denigrating this - part of the job of a congressperson is to get funds for their state, but to denigrate anything that is an earmark is to not understand the process.

What I want to see:

First, and foremost, Gibson's tone should be "firm but fair". Not confrontational, and the interview shouldn't be a cross examination. but given the ground that needs to be covered and the amount that she has been able to say without opposition, it is entirely appropriate for him to press for answers on the tough issues.

Questions/Issues I want to see:

1. The Bridge to Nowhere (for it, against it, but took the money anyway). She has given the same "thanks but no thanks line" in every speech, it has been debunked by many sources, and it warrants more than one question.

2. Earmarks: Did she or did she not hire a lobbyist to secure Earmarks for her town?

3. Preparation to be CinC: What has prepared her to be Commander in Chief? Gibson should present her with the line on proximity to Russia and see if she actually agrees with McCain's spokesmen. Also, ask Campbell Brown's question about the Alaska National Guard (solidarity!). More generally, lets get some hard facts on what she actually did as mayor and Governor that specifically prepares her to be VP. What challenges did being mayor of a town of 5,000 present?

4. Iraq: Conceding the point that the the surge succeeded (and that Obama didn't think it would...moving on), what should happen next? When will US Troops
(**on this topic, Gibson must keep his nerve...with her son deploying today, it would be very easy to give her an emotional pass**)

5. China/India/EU: Give us your thoughts on the US relationship with these rapidly emerging giants, with regard to Trade, Defense, competitiveness...

6. Trade: What are your thoughts on US Trade Policies and agreements: NAFTA, the latest WTO talks, etc.

7. Budget Deficits: How will the McCain/Palin reduce the deficit and balance the budget? (This is another tricky one that will require fortitude on Gibson's part. The standard response is "cut wasteful spending and earmarks". Gibson must counter that wasteful spending accounts for a tiny amount of the budget and cutting all of it probably wouldn't have a significant impact. How do their tax cutting and defense spending plans fit into this model?)

8. Lying: Palin must be asked on the record if she is aware that statements made in her acceptance speech (specifically the 2 memoirs shot) are plainly false. Why did she do it, and will she apologize.

9. Troopergate: Clear the air-what did you do, and why did she do it? Why did she claim exec. privilige? Why

10. Energy: Discuss, beyond the soundbite level, the McCain/Palin energy policy. What methods are being considered (more drilling, nuclear, renewables). What level of investment is backing each method? What role would conservation, efficiency play?

11. Climate Change: Do you believe its a problem? What do you believe we should do about it?

12. Immigration: How do you propose we address our immigration issues? Do you support the Border Fence?

What I don't want to see/hear:

family/daughter stuff
process stuff (lipstick on a pig, etc.)
John McCain
Religion
Abortion and other GOP Boilerplate issues.

"Here's a question for Sarah. I live near the ocean, does that make me a marine biologist?

Posted by: DirtyHarry | September 11, 2008 8:06 AM "

Hahahahaha. An excellent question, DirtyHarry. Too bad Gibson won't have the guts to ask it.

So we have a candidate who apparently doesn't read very much, is briefed only lightly, and parrots back scripted answers to the camera on cue.

Hmmm.....sounds like a female version of George W. Bush. An intriguing concept.

If accurate sources were available, an article on "The (Republican) Re-education of Sarah Palin" would be beyond fascinating. Just what is she being told to say — and by whom?

Remember, the Sarah Palin story is being manufactured by the same Republican machine that lied about war-wounded Jessica Lynch and killed-by-friendly-fire Arizona Cardinal Pat Tillman.

Can we stop with the "Senator Obama does not know how many states there are"? - He was talking about primary contests of which there were 57 - how childish to continue to throw that out as some kind of fact.

It's time for the national news media to step up to the plate and not be influenced by FoxNews and the like for potentially asking "tough" questions. If comments like the "pig" statement can last as long as this, just think if it had been Obama that had walked into the Democratic convention with family in tow, along with a un-wed, under-age, pregnant teen...can you imagine the what the right-wing media would have done with that. It never ceases to amaze me just how much traction the right media get with with "fluff" pieces...I guess it's their "People", "US Weekly" and "Enquirer" reading public that don't demand the real substanative issues that win out in the end. How sad! The Dems better find a way to go after McCain and Palin without fearing the media backlash...I WANT to know the truth about all candidates.

This election proves without a shadow of doubt that American democratic model has become irrelevant and is in need of major reform. It simply has been smart-guyed into sheer irrelevance. Too many high paid lobbyists and consultants have long ago discovered where the weak points of our system are and how to brutally exploit them. There is no thought of what of is best for the country. That quaint style of thinking has gone the way of the horse and buggy. In any case, its time for some tough questions: who says that the US system is best for all time? Who says that the founders were fool proof thinkers and that what they created shouldnt be changed? Who says the US has a monopoly on brain power? Who says that these democratic principles shouldnt be adjusted to meet the needs of current conditions? Why are we so wedded to the notion that we can change everything and everybody in the world, but must leave our political system sacrosanct and unchanged? The whole notion of what is considered political today is silly and nonsensical. The only ones asking the relevant questions in todays US political world are Bob Barre, Ron Paul and Ralph Nader and they have become the butt of jokes by no-nothing major party hacks who think that worrying about deficits, debt, jobs, honesty, and government by the people is fools work. Where is the real love of country?

We have truly lost our way in the maelstrom of our obsessive consumeristic pursuits. Sad. Tragic. Banal.

Tony Gillotte

"In that short time that Palin Governed Alaska she reduced spending and gave back 500,000,000 to the citizens as as surplus."

I'd love for you to cite your sources for these numbers. You do realize that in the past 18 months, Palin has asked for over $275 Million in earmarks for her little town in Alaska? Barack asked for none last year. Figure that one out. So she's asked for more per capita than an entire state with a state with a smaller population than Idaho. She's appropriated $17,000 worth of "travel expenses" from her own city and spent that entire time in her own home. Yes, she's the moral fiber that this country really needs. /end sarcasm

Dionne...You're running scared. Your man Obama is frustrated and that's why he called Palin a pig...indirectly...Chicago politics style of course.

Asking her about her family scares you? It should. White American women (blacks excluded because they're voting knee-jerk Obama) want to hear about her AND her family. They identify with a woman who raises children and also gets things done. And if Charlie does bring up family more votes will flow to McCain. On the flip side...Just look how your man shamelessly displayed his Cosby Kids on national TV & in the tabloids to show he's a family man just like you and me. Only thing is they live in a million dollar house and go to 25K a year private schools...just like you and me.

I find it terribly mind numbing that people will rush to defend governor Palin. Is it what she has done for this country or the fact that before her name is Rep. You want to claim she has experience by having to dig up the most inane frivolous arguments of mayor and hockey mom but when you sift through the rhetoric of how she’s accomplished very little you are still left with the question. "This is the best we republicans have to offer." And if you believe a woman of her pedigree is the best republicans have to offer and not THE HIGHEST form of pandering then you should place your finger on your pulse. Palin is not what’s best for this country she’s what’s supposedly the best for her party. She’s not a pig with lipstick on; she is the lipstick AND THE TIARA TO MATCH. Dolling up old misleading fables and failed wars. Give up republicans lets have someone qualified this time.

Thank you Xander - I didn't know the exact number - Gov. Palin also raised taxes for her town and for the state since she had been in office.

Missed in all of the noise here - When mayor, one of the first actions that Gov. Palin took was to add the position of City Manager to the town of Wasilla - my question here would be - in a town of that size, why exactly do you need a City Manager AND a mayor?

As a Christian, It truly concerns me that so many other Christians are still falling for Republican manipulation tactics. Please consider everything carefully before you vote in November.

This is a very interesting read concerning McCain's choice of Palin from an unusual and surprising religious perspective. I highly recommend checking it out - and send it to those you think need to hear it:

http://www.newsflavor.com/Opinions/McCain-Hijacks-Christianity-Via-Palin.240929

Judging by the very long list of liberal responses the dems are in full panic mode. Keep it up guys because you are causing your own defeat. Four more years of a Republican in the White House are coming and there is nothing you can do except whine about it. But you are REALLY good at whining so have at it.

Dr. Dave - please take the time to listen to what Senator Obama said, and clearly and concisely explain to the rest of us how the Senator's statment could be even remotely, directly or indirectly, construed as having anything to do with Gov. Palin?

Gibson has already let McCain slide on questions, letting McCain get away with saying stuff that isn't completely correct. Why would we think he would be any tougher on this female candidate. I keep hearing how everyone needs to soft-pedal it with her. Will Putin or any other world leader soft pedal it with her? At one time I was the only female chemist in the resin division of a Fortune 500 company---trust me, not one soft pedaled it for me. It's time she stop trying to hide behind that and whine about sexist treatment. She better learn to be tough and take the tough questions as candidate for Vice President of the U.S....or else she should just resign and go back home to be a 'fine mother.' I predict as the 'vetting' continues, she's going to end up leaving the ticket, turning out to be nothing but a perfect distraction to focusing on the real issues and McCain's own fitness to serve as President.

"White American women (blacks excluded because they're voting knee-jerk Obama) want to hear about her AND her family"

Wow, way to be racist there sparky. It's ignorance like yours that proves how bad this country really is. Why not save us the embarassment, just go find a large rock and crawl under it.

That the best you can do there, Brannon? If Obama is panicking, he sure does not show it. And exactly WHO is panicking? Three misleading and factually incorrect ads by the McCain camp in one day? That smacks of desperation.

Here are the questions Charlie Gibson will ask:

1. Gee! It's so keen to have you here in person, Governor Palin!

2. What's the weather like up in Wassilia?

3. How do you manage to stay looking like a twenty-something beauty queen with all of your responsibilities?

4. Can you just, like, say something into this mic here, just anything, I mean, our viewers are just ringing the phones off the hook!

5. Gosh! Really? That's so deep, Governor Palin!

6. Where did you buy your keen wire rims, Governor? My wife wants a pair just like them!

7. I'm sorry, Governor Palin, I'm hyperventilating, I just, I just can't finish the question I was going to ask, you're just, you're just so totilly awesome, pant, pant.

I think we're all forgetting that in the last 50 days of this election the Mcaine camp is doing one thing and one thing only... There keeping Mcain more under teh redar then SP. PEOPLE wake up she's not running for President! HE IS. I don't see Joe Biden getting this kind of Press!!

RE: Bob at 8:09 AM: "I've been in compressed learning environment, and that's exactly how I would respond. Why? Asking too many questions is a sign of someone who gets side tracked, and isn't a good use of time. Compressed briefing notes are much easier to absorb."

Bob, you fail to distinguish between an beginning student and the post-graduate student. For the beginning student, rote answers get you through the basic material. For the post-graduate student, mastery of confounding issues beyond the rote answers while not being side tracked is required.

At this time in US history, a post-graduate mastery is needed in a vice-presidential candidate, not a beginning student with the compressed learning. E.J. is correct in his analysis. Can the VP candidate handle the complex and confounding issues without losing sight of the problem?

Posted by: Paul | September 11, 2008 8:46 AM

Yeah, Bob, I agree with PAUL. Especially after learning that Palin went to Five colleges in six years... Hawaii Pacific University to North Idaho College to the University of Idaho to Matanuska-Susitna College then back to University of Idaho

JOHN D,

The SURGE will not work!!! LOL. I know at least 20 people in my small corner of the world more intelligent than Obama.

With that type of learning style it makes one wonder is she ever had an original thought.

Or, thought significantly about anything.

Is her political philosophy just Talking Points courtesy of the RNC?

Give it up y'all. Its over. The trailer park trash have won. To quote Nixon: "This country deserves mediocrity".

Ummm...I'm sure you can prove that, Dave...

So if Palin thinks the Iraq war is God's will, does that make it a holy war? Like jihad?

And if she considered banning books from an Alaskan public library, then does that make her pro-China?

Don't worry, Biden will get his time to shine once October comes. But what's up with the whole 1 debate?

John D,

I can. It did work, and most people I knew thought it would, thus "they" >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> are that much smarter than Obama.

HGCSATO at 8:29...

Give the Wall another listen. It's not "self control", it's "thought control". It's not about apathy, it's a cry for freedom. It's about thinking for one's self and exposing those who try to turn us into sheep.

This is what we've forgotten. We'd rather have our reality dictated by FAUX News than formulate the truth ourselves.

EJ hits this on the head. People like Palin are not thoughtful types. They've mastered the art of being puppets at the end of monied strings. There's your neo-Roman cookie.

I don't see how Obama is more qualified than Palin to be president, which Palin is not running for by the way. The only person running for President that is qualified is McCain. Biden would be OK too, but he is not running for president, so I have to vote McCain.

Why did Hillary get questioned on every thing and Palin getting a pass? Can't be the famous liberal bias.

Charlie Gibson is the second coming of Larry King. Hardest question he will ask is: What does moose taste like?

Gibson is a Republican and a lame television personality. I'm not expecting anything but fluff.

The Democrats got flag pins and preachers.

I'd actually like to hear three or four questions about Palin's preacher, who wants her to help bring about the "end times."

As in, "Governor Palin, in your religious belief, what is your understanding of the apocalypse, and how does that relate to your desire to hold this nation's nuclear codes?"

For this woman to become VP and have one person asking question about her qualification is laughable especially from Gibson. when I was in the USMC and was being promoted I had to go in front of a panel and each one was asking question and this person that is a hearth beat away to become Commmander in chief is asked questions that she already knows what they are. Because of her record she should have a panel asking question if not we are being taken for fools. This in not a game!!

"I don't see how Obama is more qualified than Palin to be president, which Palin is not running for by the way. The only person running for President that is qualified is McCain. Biden would be OK too, but he is not running for president, so I have to vote McCain."

How do you define qualified? If it's based on the issues of the country, then Obama is better. If it's years suckling the government teet, it's McCain.

I hope he asks if she will be the first VP to pose for Maxim.

Anyone saying Gibson is a Republican is part of a cult of the stupidest people on Earth.

"Foreign Policy Experience? Supposed Foreign Policy king Joe Biden voted against the surg, to cut and run, then break up Iraq into provinces. LOLOLOLOL."
Justin

Its great when critics display their own lack of knowledge. 1) Bush said the reason for the surge was to reduce violence SO the Iraqi government could reconcile. Has not happened. Just like the war itself, Bush and McCain have NO exit strategy. 2) Biden in fact accurately read what has really happened. Kurds control their area and negotiate directly with oil companies; Shia have retreated from Anbar etc. leaving Sunni war lords in place. Neither Bush nor McCain have demonstrated any grasp of the context of that war. Biden is one of the few that has. Palin? Its not her fault --it is McCain's self-centered ambition to be President at all costs. What has happened to that man.

And by the way Obama's qualifications? JD in constitutional law; elected to Harvard Law Review; life and career in multi-cultural contexts. Curiosity and exposure to other cultures within and outside of U.S. ; cummunity organizer in economically disadvantged urban setting; family context of rural midwest; running a successful national campaign. About all cur. All of these all sound like parts of our America to me. On education and real life experience in real America Obama trumps McCain and Palin hands down.

PJ

Please, Dionne expects executives to consume information like an academic or a journalist? Then, he expects them to know the processes and variables associated with a hundred different issues? That's the blueprint for failing as an executive. Executives take information developed by other managers and data providers to form coherent policy that lines up with their vision. They don't spend 12 hours pouring over a narrow topic -- ignoring countless other responsibilities. This is why academics and journalist fail at business and governing -- their intellectually incapable of summarizing and multi-tasking. Thus, nature has established an important role for journalists and academia to provide information to those who use it to make decisions. It has also denied them the tools to effectively lead a complex organization.

Earlier, HGCSATO said:

To the tune of Pink Flloyd....every body:

"We don't need no education,....
We don't need no self-control....
Dark sarcasm in the classroom....
......
Teacher, leave us kids alone!!"

People of Palin's generation grew up listening to this kind of junk and now they plan to be a heartbeat away from a 72 year old heart!
This is how the neo-Roman cookie crumbles!!!!"

While I don't disagree with the general statement re: the neo-Roman cookie crumbling, I do disagree with the interpretation of PF's song lyrics...I suggest HCGSATO take a look at the song once again...you might discover it's against the established order, and not an anthem promoting ignorance.

JP is also a member of that cult I mentioned.

Ask her if she would force a 12 year old girl who was raped and impregnated by her father should be forced to carry and give birth to the baby.

Apparently, McCain has accomplished exactly what he intended. The debates and rhetoric have all shifted to Palin instead of focusing on him. Hopefully, there are enough intelligent voters out there who recognize the "bait and switch" tactics being foisted on the American public. I personally witnessed McCain grinning and waving from behind Palin's skirts, while she basked in the glory. They even had to fudge the numbers on how many turned out to see HER and that's actually pretty pathetic. But, like many others, all I am asking is that voters - women in particular - not check their brains at the door.

Palin has placed herself directly in the public eye and paraded her poor daughter and reluctant boyfriend before the cameras.
Of course she deserves scrutiny - just like any man running for public office.
She has everything to prove - her past record and beliefs go directly to the heart of who she is and how she would conduct herself in office. We do not elect a Vice President in this country just because they are "a woman and a mother" (onlooker statment at a local rally) or a "babe" (GOP delegates words)who can "hang with the big boys" (machine guns and aerial hunting?)

However, in the process, everone needs to remember who the PRESIDENTIAL candidates are. We need to refocus and elect a statesman, not a man who would hide behind a politically expedient running mate.

By the way, I'm not sure what "we are Legion" is referring to. Are we supposed to be frightened? Is he alluding to being KKK or something? That's just about the only reference I have heard outside the book of Revelation. His other comments simply show how backward and ignorant he is and I feel sorry for him. If this is McCain's base, Lord help us all.

If America votes in McCain/Palin without Gov Palin successfully completing several real interviews, and providing real answers in the VP Debate (maybe we need 2 VP Debates?), then they deserve what they get. In fact, they won't even deserve that much. The same goes for the Issue Free Campaign my McCain.
If America goes to the polls believing Senator Obama's tax plan will increase the taxes of the majority, then America deserves a rapid decline to a well deserved end.

OUR LEADERS ALWAYS LOOKED TO POORLEY NEXT TO EUROPEANS,BRITISH PEOPLE CHOOSE CHURCHIL PEOPLE NEED TO HAVE CERTAIN QUALIFICATION OF ACADEMIC BACKGROUND TO RUN FOR THE HIGHEST OFFICE,NOT IN AMERICA.WE ELECTED BUSH.AND NOW PALIN.WHAT A CHANGE?

JOHN D,

The SURGE will not work!!! LOL. I know at least 20 people in my small corner of the world more intelligent than Obama.

Posted by: David | September 11, 2008 12:21 PM

And I bet all 20 people in your small corner of the world including you voted for Bush. Now that comes to 22 intelligent dummies.

Is anyone interviewing Biden?!?! Anyone??

Posted by: Juan Valdes | September 11, 2008 10:22 AM
========================================
We know who Biden is, at least people who take the time to inform themselves before they vote. Nobody has any idea who Palin is, none. What little I do know about her policies and her believes scares the crap out of me. people are not asking for much, we want access to her so we can see what she believe and how she will run this country if McCain falls to his 1 in 3 odds of passing away during his first term.

I cease to be amazed at how quickly people come to the defense of Obama and attack the Palin experience and record. I am cautious over both candidates but I would say Palin has far more concrete credentials to make a call from than Obama. Becoming overly defensive and giving such blind support for Obama with so little to go on only shows your ownpartisan and non-objective view of any candidate running for office. Come on people stop being so obvious and start thinking for yourself for once. Leave the rabid partisan stuff out of the public discussion.

Post partisan my arse.

Can anyone really make the case that Sarah Palin is qualified to take over if something were to happen to John McCain?

http://whereistand.com/Opinions/58996

Everyone is comfortable knowing what they know right now that she can lead our nation during these times. Are you assuming the McCain campaign made a responsible decision that they would never have picked someone who wasn't qualified? Because, they didn't vet her beforehand.

Oh. Please! You can't be serious with this silly attack.

I've been in compressed learning environment, and that's exactly how I would respond. Why? Asking too many questions is a sign of someone who gets side tracked, and isn't a good use of time. Compressed briefing notes are much easier to absorb.

I almost never read your stuff, because it's always so superficial. At least you got off the Mommy wars.

Get a life!

Posted by: Bob | September 11, 2008 8:09 AM
-----------------------------
a ventriloquist dummy is still a dummy.

Look...if you DON'T think Sara Palin is ready to be vice president--a heartbeat away from the presidency--then don't vote for her. I think she's ready. I'm voting for her.

It's that simple.

Case closed.

To quote Judly Blume:

"I don't know about you, but I'm making my decisions based on the issues. There are no "do overs" here. We have to choose a leader whose judgment we respect. One who doesn't make important decisions based on gut feelings. That's why I want the calm, thoughtful, intelligent, knowledgeable candidate who will surround himself with the best and the brightest. That's why I'm supporting Barack Obama. What I don't need is some sarcastic hockey mom who describes herself as a pit bull, who flaunts her pregnant teenager and her new special needs infant, a heartbeat away from the presidency."

I noticed the same very troubling sentences this morning and am glad these attributes of Palin's are getting into print for everyone to see. This is a great example of what journalists should be doing. Thank you Mr. Dionne.

I do have some hope that the McCain campaign will eventually turn back to issues and it will probably take pressure from Republicans who still have some sense of honor to do it. I am grateful that Mike Huckabee has called the McCain campaign on the carpet for yesterday's baseless and infantile attacks on Obama. His call to get back to real issues was strikingly similar to Obama's and a great example of one Republican who really does put his country first.

But I wonder if using a sports analogy would be far more effective in jolting Palin admirers back to reality. I hear lots of fans calling in to sports talk radio complaining about why the coach made the wrong call that lost the game. So wouldn't the phone lines be buzzing if, with the game on the line and the team moving down the field on the arm of the top-ranked quarterback, the football coach called time out and sent the place kicker in as quarterback! The place kicker had been a quarterback in high school. She has skimmed through the playbook a time or two and is somewhat familiar with the plays, but hasn't seriously studied them or taken a single snap from center.

Disregarding experience for the moment, do we want a president who hasn't demonstrated a keen intellect, curiosity and ability to analyze critical issues and think creatively about them? Someone who can only memorize her lines, but clearly doesn't have the time or inclination to actually think about or understand the complexities of the problems we face? Yet we now seem to have a political party that thinks that any ordinary person is up to the job of Vice President; that it doesn't take special intellectual talents or experience thinking about and acting on the issues of our time. Sounds a bit like sending that place kicker in to quarterback the game winning drive, no? The other team does still have their first-team defense on the field.

Many of the leaders of the foreign countries our next president will deal with represent the elite athletes of their political systems. Do we want to field the scout team against them?

I dunno, maybe nothing will work...

John D,

Your response didn't sound panicked at all. Thanks for proving my point. Stop whining on internet forums and go get ready for the hurricane heading your way. Obama is going to lose.

B

ps. I can't tell you how happy I am he has screwed the pooch on this thing because I am one of those lucky 5% of Americans that pay 90% of the income taxes. The same ones that Obama wants to increase tax rates to over 50%.

I think that since Russia is across the Bering Sea from Alaska and Govenor Palin has never even met Vladimir Putin that this shows she has foreign policy experience. Also being able to call the National Guard into action, all 4,500 of them,
to stop a Russian invasion is pretty impressive.
In addition, we don't have to worry about Governor Palin's sex(Am i being sexist by even mentioning she has a sex?)as an issue. As Governor of Alaska, she makes sure, her husband Todd is emailed on all Sarah Palin's correspondence. Todd even sits in on meetings regarding official Alaskan State business with other elected officials and civil employees, from the municipality to the state; a man's point of view is always at hand.
For someone to suggest that Todd Palin really runs the state of Alaska would be silly. Todd is part native Alaskan and after all Alaska is a woman's state. It would be unusual for a man to be Governor there. Only a woman would be taken seriously in Alaska.

Oh - you were talking about the surge - the one that was supposed to bring about political reconcilation in Iraq - the one that's only met about 1/3 of it's goals? Then one that involved us paying both sides to not shoot at each other? That surge?

Shocking. The rich want to vote McCain to keep their precious tax breaks, while we who are struggling to make it by have to pay the price. Gotta love it.

Obama - "the surge will not work"

Brilliant.

Applying for CinC, laughable.

Posted by: David | September 11, 2008 11:15 AM
=========================================
The "surge" has only worked if you think levels of violence that are almost 35x higher then before we started the war is progress...

I get the feeling she has not been in a "cone of silence" regarding the questions in this upcoming interview.

Curliquedan Nobody is telling you not to vote for Palin , all we are asking for you to use your brain if you have any , before you make an important decision such as voting for a VP

I occasionally watch the "live/tape" of the British Parliment House of Commons (at least that is what I think I'm watching). I better appreciate the Parlimentary System after seeing the Prime Minister hit, miss, dodge, rebound, curve, whiff, swoop, admit, and rebuke ALL ideas of the opposition no matter how serious or frivolous, WITHOUT A TELEPROMPTER ! (I would LOVE TO SEE Pres.(sic) BUSH in such a venue.) I have not the slightest doubt that the Flat Earth Party's VP Nomination would be sitting on the floor mumbling after five minutes of "spirited open exchange of opposing ideas". Surely she is more suited as a guest on The View, which would show more of her "intellect" than any sit down with Gibson and his previously supplied and approved questions. May the god(s) help us if she would ever be POTUS.

People, stop talking about the damn surge already. Are we still in Iraq? Yes. Are we still sending troops over who have already had one or multiple tours? Yes. The surge failed, end of story. If it had worked, we would have been withdrawing troops, not sending more over. Quit buying into the Bush B.S.

Gibson, or a real journalist, should ask Gov. Palin, and Sen. McCain, who Dr. Helen Caldicott is, who Dr. A.Q. Khan is, why Pres. Eisenhower was wrong to have started the "Atoms For Peace" program, and how those people and issues relate to the plutonium theft risk inherent in nuclear plants around the world.

why are the comments from men so snide and derisive? none of the men on either ticket were my first choice but there is no need to be so personal. NoBama does probably know how many states there are and so on. They all get tired and make gaffes. stop wasting time pointing them out.
NoBama lacks experience and was the second-place voter getter. I care about making sure the Democratic party doesn't stoop to the machine politics that selected Bush. This is the PUMA position. Check it out. We aren't hateful or cutting - we have a point to make. best of all, and we are very active in swing states.
Hillary in four years, but I hate to wait.

Actually, Brannon, he does not want to increase your tax rates to 50% - I think 35 % is the correct number - if you think I sound panicked, so be it - maybe it's that hurr.... WHAT HURRICANE!!???

This shows exactly the reason that media and the Democrates are clueless about why Palin has been supported by so many voters.

Hello! Palin is NOT running for president, she is running for vice president!
====================================
You are wrong here. McCain is given about a 1 in 3 odds of surviving his FIRST term. That means in my eyes that is exactly what we should be vetting her for.

FLOATBY said "Mac can handle an airplane and flight task..."
======================================
You do know he crashed FIVE planes right? I hope he don't handle America the same way =/

Sarah Palin is a chief executive. Obama is what? a law professor? Obama is running for President and Sarah for VP.

I guess Obama's affirmative action points make him more qualified.

one of the best things about Palin is that she will show the non-spiritual that what they prise the most....the appearence of Gravitas, is a lie

Witness slick willy (and Ahbomination), both excellent speakers, but both with zero integrity.

As opposed to the poor ol chimp, Bush, who despite being a wretched public speaker, stuck to his guns and did what he thought was best. Right or wrong

and that is something the libs, the drop out socialist & the malcontents can never in a million years understand

the best they can do it point out over and over again what is wrong. because, to be honest, once your addicted to 'anti-establishment' as the libs are, nothing will ever ever be 'good enough'

if your waiting on perfect, you better wait till the afterlife. because that is the soonest you will get it

More likely questions:

1) Do you think Barack meant you were the pig or lipstick or were the policies the pig ?
2) Do you think the Obama campaign is spreading untruths about you ?
3) Do you think one needs experience to be a VP ? If so, do you have more "executive" experience than Biden ?

All good leaders look for the concise briefings on issues. Drilling down when they feel they need it. I am a business owner and I do the same all the time. While the details are important, a well prepared 'executive memo' is much more preferable to a 157 page 'heavy briefing book.' I can ask the needed questions for anything I want to know.

She is as qualified to be president as anyone can be, without being the president. In the end, the overriding qualification of the president is to be able to make a decision.

Now for a political statement... How can we trust Sen Obama decisions making abilities, when he voted 'present' for 130 votes* (according to the RNC) in his own state senate? This was a yes /no, yeah/nay, Up / down vote and he didn't / couldn't do it.. why? was it he didn't want a record for that topic? Was it he didn't want to 'offend' someone? Was it he was too ill informed to make a knowledgeable decision? I don't know, he has never said why he voted 'present' so many times in his term as a legislator in his state.

I know Sarah Palin has made a few tough choice in her short time as AK Governor, ig.. bucking the Alaskan republican party in corruption probes, selling the AK State jet, firing the state Chef. These are up close and personal decisions she made in the best interests of the citizens of Alaska. What would make anyone think she would make any different choices in the best interested of the citizens of the USA?

End political statement..

I trust her to stand in if needed, or take over when necessary. I also trust her to stand up to John McCain when needed to speak her view.

I DO NOT want this extreme neo-con in the White House. I am an African-American Hillary supporter and frankly, the extreme narrow minded views of Sarah Palin freighten me. They are the mindset we currently have in the White House, the "I'm right, you're wrong and there's no other way than my way of thinking". It's the thinking that got us into the War. If she is elected, it's a new low for white people. It says either whites are so stupid they don't understand the important issues facing America(therefore no need to discuss issues) or they are so racist they would not consider voting for a Harvard educated black man (over a 72 year old, four time cancer survivor being backed up by a woman with a third rate education and NO international expereience. I believe it's the latter. If McCain/Palin are elected, American will need to hold her head down in shame at the ignorance of her people in front of the rest of the educated world. White people, you are the majority, clearly it's up to all of you. Will the intellectuals or the hoosiers win? I think the hoosiers have us outnumbered.

Gibson, or a real journalist, should ask Gov. Palin, and (before the election) Sen. McCain: Who is Dr. Helen Caldicott, Who is Dr. A.Q. Khan, Why was Pres. Eisenhower wrong to have started the Atoms For Peace Program, and how do these people and issues relate to the risk of plutonium theft around the world? TV news programs are not called "shows" for nothing.

Posted by: Kevin | September 11, 2008 9:42 AM
How would you all react if she answered them intelligently and showed a good grasp of the issues? Please answer this question in this comment thread.

Kevin - Well, if the questions were truly hard probing ones, I would be shocked. After consideration of the entire session, I might be able to look at her in a different, more respectful manner. But frankly, the only real acid test is to throw her out there and let the chips fall where they will. For example: almost no one in the GOP bleachers, is willing to give Obama the slightest respect for walking into the lion's den that is Bill O'Reilly. Please be honest now - wouldn't that be the equivalent of McCain or Palin, sitting down one-on-one with Keith Olbermann? But Obama did go on and he more than held his own, staying on topic and getting his positions across. That isn't easy when you are constantly being rudely interrupted. Let's just say that if Palin wasn't being handled with such kid gloves since we first met her (and that first introduction contained some very questionable material BTW) I would have no problem taking a fresh look at her qualifications. But in this current environment, the abdication of the media, to remain neutral and simply report the facts, has allowed a terrible divisiveness to poison our nation. And this constant use of labels hurled at those we disagree with (left/right wing nuts, Repugs-Demorats, etc.) is all just total cow flop. Labels are for lazy thinkers. The only things that should matter (and would be if the Fourth Estate was doing it's job properly) is:

a) Is the candidate qualified to run this country?
b) Is the candidate is willing to uphold the laws of this land?

I would have seriously considered voting for McCain if he were clearly an honorable man, but starting back in 00' (when he let Bush's people walk all over him) I have continued to lose respect for him. I wish I could say different, but how can a man who won't stand up for his rights, possibly stand up for mine? And with his complacent approval of these types of attack politics, I don't see that opinion improving anytime soon.

Look - I'm willing to keep an open mind. I would love nothing more, than to see Gibson lob deep, penetrating questions at Palin ... and for her to hit them out of the park in a compelling, 'thinking on her feet manner'. That would put an end to the discussion, right then and there.

Hire slow, fire fast - That simple phrase speaks volumes about how we should evaluate any candidate who would hold such power over 'we the people', and represent us on the world stage.

Ohh yeah questions..

1) What is the greatest contribution you would like to achieve while Vice President of the United States?

2) If you could have one free pass with the congress, what would you have them pass?

3) With regards to the Iraq War andf hte war on terrorism as a whole, now that you have 'skin in the game' with your son in the military, does that change the way you feel about that war?

What many Americans want is an idiot for president (see the present situation), and that may be what we get.

Posted by: Greg | September 11, 2008 9:12 AM

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
A God...errr President in our own image.

"I DO NOT want this extreme neo-con in the White House"

I'd have to agree with you on this one. Not to sound harsh, but the term "bible thumping psychophant" comes to mind.

"Aides traveling with Ms. Palin have reported back to associates that she is a fast study -- asking few questions of her policy briefers but quickly repeating back their main points -- who already has considerable ease and experience before cameras.

“A former aide in Alaska who had helped prepare Ms. Palin for her campaign debates there said she had a talent for distilling information into digestible sound bites. The aide said she generally prefers light preparatory materials to heavy briefing books, and prefers walking through potential questions and answers with aides to holding mock sessions.”

She asks few questions but likes to parrot back answers? She prefers “light preparatory materials” to “heavy briefing books?” And this is the person we want next in line to be president? It sounds as if she makes our current president seem hugely informed and intensely curious.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The scary part in all of this is the fact that you Obama maniacs don't see you are in the same position.

Thos passages that 'prove' Palin is not qualified apply to Obama as well. The fact that you do not see this is astounding.

Don't you see that Sarah Palin was picked to screw with the Obama campaign. She has little experience like Obama. She is a fresh face in Washington like Obama, although he is acting like an insider.

They picked Palin to counter and take the 'change' mantra Obama abandoned when he selected Biden.

Oh, and the 'swiftboating' that Sarah Palin is experiencing will come back and bite the Dems in November.

Plus, Obama has to stop acting like this stuff rattles him.

When are we going to let Ms. Palin talk to the "media"
Charlie Gibson and ABC are not the "media"
Surely given her "extensive executive experience" as a mayor and governor of Alaska, she has talked to the "media" before?

I agree with one of the above posters - if Obama can sit down with Bill O on Fox "News" - how about 30 minutes with Oberman - for Sarah or John!

Hypocrit. If she's a Christian, I'm a Martian.

Posted by: Marcus | September 11, 2008 12:04 PM
==========================================
haha Hypocrite is a word you can use to explain about 99% of Christians... and Christians don’t get mad, turn the other cheek? hell no not you, let go start a war in Iraq and kill a quarter million innocent people and call it "God's will".

Posted by: Kevin: How would you all react if she answered them intelligently and showed a good grasp of the issues? Please answer this question in this comment thread.

I still would not vote for her in a million years because she is extremist in views anti-abortion, creationism, cronyism/nepotism, no compunctions about lying, etc.

Look...if you DON'T think Sara Palin is ready to be vice president--a heartbeat away from the presidency--then don't vote for her. I think she's ready. I'm voting for her.

It's that simple.

Case closed.
YOU'RE SO EASY
WAIT DON'T MARRY HER, I MEAN VOTE FOR HER YET. YOU'VE ONLY KNOWN HER FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. SHE KEEPS REPEATING HERSELF AND LIES ABOUT SOMETHINGS. THERE ARE SO MANY QUESTIONS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ASKED OF HER. YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW IF SHE WANTS YOU. WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO MARRY, I MEAN VOTE FOR SOMEONE LIKE THAT. IN ANOTHER FOUR YEARS YOU'RE GOING TO WANT SOMEONE NEW. YOU COULD WAIT TO DIVORCE YOURSELF FROM THE LAST ONE. EIGHT YEARS WAS WAY TO LONG. SO HOLD ON.
Posted by: Curliquedan | September 11, 2008 12:37 PM

The McCain campaign has said that Palin will not answer any questions unless reporters show her proper 'deference'. What is that supposed to mean? Does she think she is the queen? Last I checked this was a democracy, where our politicians defer to the people, and the people have free right and the right to question their leaders. Does she expect all foreign leaders show her proper deference before they act or speak? Will she refuse to speak to Putin unless he shows her 'proper deference'? Good luck governing the free world!!

I will watch the interview that Charlie Gibson with Sarah Palin,and if I see him being too soft on her I will no longer watch ABC news.I already quit watching CBS after they covered up a remark that McCain said.I know that FOX NEWS the republicans own and CBS I know is owned by the Republicans (SINCE SEEN THAT CEO ON CBS WAS #3 IN FORBES MAGAZINE FOR ONE OF THE WEATHIEST CEO'S)and firing a well respected News caster,Dan Rather for making a true statement about BUSH.And we know that CEO'S are now richer beyond belief since BUSH adminstration and really like his tax cuts! So if ABC is too soft on the questions that Charles Gibson ask,remember 95% of the people are middleclass and we could hurt the station by hurting thier ratings.Im tired of the news digging,disecting everything on Obama FOR DAYS AND DAYS and babying McCain!!!I would suggest if you want to watch news that doesn"t talk out of thier asses watch Countdown with Kieth Oldermann and Rachel Maddow on evenings on MSNBC,they have proof of what they are talking about not just a bunch of hot air and lies out of thier mouths.I don't think the left or the right should own the news and controlling what the news can tell the people or not!!!

To MA, posting at 10:03 AM --

Oh, you and your facts. Who cares about those?

Sarah!! Sarah!! Sarah!! Where do I text-message to vote Obama/Biden off "American President?"

I have eight years in the Navy and would John McCain pick an Ensign straight out of Annapolis Naval Academy as an Executive Officer of a USS Carrier or any ship? I expect that he would have further thought into a decision so important. Well then why did he pick Sarah Palin? She has been the governor of Alaska for less then two years and we haven’t had any change to know who she is. There are plenty of Ensigns in the Navy that are excellent people with good character and that been said I wouldn’t put them in charge or second in charge of a Naval Ship. So why did he pick Sarah Palin as vice President?

I truly hope he asks Sarah Palin what their administration will do to address the staggering U.S. debt included our unfunded liabilities. I also hope to see the McCain administration to own their promise to bring in the smartest minds in the country and get our former comptroller, David Walker, and U.S. Congressman Ron Paul who was treated shamefully by the Republican Party.

The GOP equation of foreign policy experience:

"Alaska is very close to Russia. Hence, Gov. Plain is experienced foreign policy expert."

"A dead moose will tell you this equation is wrong!"

Hey Case Closed,
You sound like a Palin supporter, but you haven't gotten hones with yourself, it's not case closed, it's MIND CLOSED. I guess with her mindset, she's just put ALL the minorities on a boat and ship them back to where ever they originated?

Wow.

Do you have to be able to go to special classes to be able to, in your job, spend hours dumbing down complex political issues into soundbites, then simultaneously whine about political candidates doing the same thing? (Note that Sarah Palin is an ex-journalism major. I try not to hold that against her)

One of my heroes, Richard Feynman was considered a genius for being able to do precisely this thing: Take a complex issue and build a simple model that described the problem.

Meanwhile, you journalists, who rarely understand anything, always seem to boil things down so far that the statements you make end up not describing the problem at all.

All journalists should be fired and replaced with engineers.

The SURGE will not work!!! LOL. I know at least 20 people in my small corner of the world more intelligent than Obama.

Posted by: David | September 11, 2008 12:21 PM

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>..
Well david the surge was supposed to bring political reconcilliation. This goal (goals = works or not or success or victory etc.)was not met. The peace obtained was largely due to Sunni awakening (bribes, weapons and cash to turn in AQI) and Sadr declaring a cease fire.
An extra 5 division also helped but it is more accurate to describe the situation as stable, waiting for us to leave. Thus the consistent messages from all Iraqis that they would like us to leave, soon and please give us more weapons.
There is almost no love for America in Iraq.
Clearly Obama is smarter than you can concieve.

The questions you asked Gibson to ask Sarah Palin can you give me the answer Joe Biden has given if not why hard questions for her and nothing for Joe.

If you people don't understand what's going on with the surge and the reduction in forces and the price of gas dropping, let me tell you - it's Election Year Politics! Shortly after the election, the war will surely go downhill again. We do NOT have victory in our sign as John McCain said in his speech. Grow up American, learn to think for yourself. It's all about politics and money.

You know very well that the Republicans, with oil lobbyists lining their pockets, will never NEVER agree to that.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
throw in some girls (and maybe a few boys) and its a deal.

Republicans are opposed to renewables because early proponents were hippies. Hey Republicans, the sixties called and they want their brain back!

Katherine,
Amen...since when does the media have to show any politician deference..holy cow..this is not a dictatorship..she should be required to answer questions outside of ABC interviews by softball lobbers like Charles Gibson..time to get this woman on the record..what are the McCain people afraid of?? and what is the RNC afraid of..??

A question I've wondered about for 4 - 5 years now - just how do you WIN an occupation?

I want Gibson to ask about the Palin family membership in the US-HATING secessionist Alaska First Party (AKIP)

Palin attended their convention and her husband Todd joined the party. In an evangelical home that means Palin the wife joined, too.

Palin taped a welcoming address from her gubenatorial offices to the delegates attending the 2008 AKIP convention.

WHY IS A CANDIDATE FOR THE WHITEHOUSE A FORMER MEMBER OF A SECESSIONIST POLITICAL PARTY?!?

WHY IS A SITTING US GOVERNOR WELCOMING DELEGATES OF A SECESSIONIST PARTY TO THEIR CONVENTION?

I'd also like Gibson to discuss the hypocrisy of Palin's work for CRIMINAL SENATOR TED STEVENS and her boosterism for the Bridge to Nowhere - and the money for the bridge she spent on a road to that bridge - and alllll the while she's claiming shewas against it.

LIAR!

Where are the truth squads to unmask these liars? Oh yeah I forgot - they are the MSM parrots with their steno-machines.

Here's what I want Gibson to ask: "Who is your favorite President since 1900? Why?" and "Who is your least favorite President" and why"

These questions would be a breeze for a well read, knowledgable person with a grasp on government over the past 108 years. However, they would be tough for someone whose knowlege of the presidency has been gained solely from high school history. In other words, they are only trick questions if you are ignorant. They are an invitation to make a really, really stupid mistake--or to show you know far more than anyone suspects.

Best of all, McCain's team will not have preped her for them.
Robin

I will say this about this article - this is probably the least mean spirited discussion session that I've seen at the Washington Post since the election season started in earnest - people are not being too terribly snarky - no race or age baiting - and very little if any sexism

That's pretty cool

Palin is a tool. The cynical strategy of the McCain campaign is obvious - have sarcastic Sarah attack Obama in the hope that he'll respond so they can call him sexist. If he doesn't take the bait, make stuff up and say he did.

If Palin ever has to answer questions on her own without a script I suspect her new nickname will become Flailin' Palin.

"Two words: Chauncey Gardner."

to andyamo --- exactly!

I wrote on another blog that I feel as if I'm watching a 2008 version of Being There. When Palin spoke in Colorado I was shocked as people cheered her on after saying that taxpayers have supported Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac for too long. The look on McCain's face was priceless. (like, huh? WTF?) But people didn't even realize it. I was reminded of when Peter Sellers was in the elevator and said "that was a very small room."

The buyer's remorse on NoBama and esp. on Joe Biden is palpable. Maybe the Harvard alum society who selected Biden in secret should be made to account for their baffling choice. Didn't he garner the fewest votes of all the mainstream primary Dems? Hmmm, maybe those "disgruntled" Hillary fans - 18 million!! - should have been heeded. Hillary and Sarah would be great and we could debate issues, mom-to-mom. My Florida primary vote was stolen backroom-style by Howard Dean. I had no control over the sked and voted when it was legal to do so. Dissing Hillary, placing the #2 vote getter ahead of her in a deal and then cutting her off the ticket by smug Kennedys was just too much.
NoBama! Puma Path!! Google us and join us. Go Sarah. (I have two special needs kids - one mildly so and one severely impaired. I am counting on you to keep our family on the radar. No freebies needed or requested - just an eye out for these kids.)

Posted by: Puma Path! NoBama from Florida | September 11, 2008 9:07 AM

--------------------------------------------
You are such an idiot!

Sounds like Sarah does better with Cliff Notes.

Instead of an interview, maybe she should do a written exam.

Obama supporters livid over Palin.

LOL. This shows how weak of a candidate Obama is, it has turned into Obama against Palin. Brilliant move by the McCain camp.

Posted by: David | September 11, 2008 10:41 AM

Bob, Apparently you think this is a game, and the future of our country is a joke.

Oh, Lord! A parrot for a VP. I can't believe that we are really considering this. Every time I think the political process can't get any worse, I am proved wrong.

You know, the rest of the world really expects us to choose our President responsibly. And yet, there seems to be more thought put into voting for American Idol than into the leader of the 'free world'. How...pathetic.

I am cautious over both candidates but I would say Palin has far more concrete credentials to make a call from than Obama.
Posted by: Dave | September 11, 2008 12:34 PM

Please give me some of those concrete credentials that a hockey mom from Alaska has been better groomed than Senator Obama. She's nothing more than a beauty queen with a BA and some dirty laundry. But soon to be Governor Grandma Palin should just go back and pick up some more experience and try again in a few more years. I think her good buddy Ted Stephens might be able to get her his job. But you're dave right we are the non-objective ones.

Interview will be pointless. Smart GOP move, keep the cake behind the glass

Yeah, we are livid - we were hoping he'd pick that tool Romney and that would have been some fun!

All this nonsense about who is qualified to be President is nothing but transparent cover for Mr. Dionne and those blogging here NOT saying the truth they want the Republicans to lose and the Democrats to win.

Well so do I. But some of us have enough integrity not to throw around this "fit to be President" nonsense as though there is some formula which objctively tells us before hand who will make good or bad President. That they know what kind of life experience qualifies. HOW ABOUT HARRY TRUMAN ????

There is ONE legitimate definition. Whichever Ticket gets the most votes. If you don't like our system based on universal voting than attack the process that allows each of us to vote for who we choose. You don't like Sarah Palin don't vote Republican it is thst simple. Stop whining.

My guess is Palin could not get it medical school. But like Paris Hilton looks good and is hot!

CLOSE Guantanamo! I'd DOUBLE Guantanamo...!!! Just brings a tear to my eye thinking of how much fun THAT would have been.

If Obama is where is he is because he is black. Palin is where she is because she is a woman. Do not hold back certain questions because she has a vagina.

My guess is Palin could not get it medical school. But like Paris Hilton looks good and is hot!

The very bottom line on this entire interview issue is it is a set-up. Charles Gibson knows it, we know it. It has been scheduled on 9/11 and the questions have no doubt been carefully scripted...just like Bush's so called press conferences. (Anyone remember what happens when he actually gets an unexpected query? Buh...Buh...Buh...Buh.)

I would fully expect the questions to revolve around national security and once again the candidates answers will reiterate the scary Republican party line. The difference? Palin is very adept at pasting on that plastic smile for the camera and speaking slowly and clearly.
What I am most stunned about is that anyone truly believes there is substance behind it.

I am not running scared and I am not panicked. I am sick at heart.

"someone give me one, just one, compelling reason that NoBama is qualified to be President."

Article II, Section 1 of the USCON...

Heil Palin!

This interview with McCain answering questions on Palin should be on national MSM and Charles Gibson should ask Palin the same questions.

Ben Smith's Blog: McCain on Palin - Politico.com
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0908/McCain_on_Palin.html#comments

"Asking too many questions is a sign of someone who gets side tracked, and isn't a good use of time. "

Ah yes, very wise position to hold - especially in times of war. Let's not ask questions before sending people to battle, just act on instinct. Instinct is always right, right?

What has happened to America????/

'Maybe we should spend more time vetting her handlers as they have the upper hand in deciding what Palin "believes."'

I totally agree. If Palin is just a product of whatever her handlers tell her are the issues & solutions, then maybe we should find out who they are? Because, apparently, they as a whole would make up the vice president, and Palin is just a pretty face with red lipstick. (red for republican that is)

And enough with the republican diversions already. If Palin is "tough enough" to demean Barack's community service background and condemn the democratic party,then she's tough enough to answer valid questions by reporters not interested in fluff. For goodness sake, the woman needed her speech writer to spell out the word nuclear as "new-clear" so she'd know how to say it at the republican convention. Lord, we just found Bush's love child.

This interview with McCain answering questions on Palin should be on national MSM and Charles Gibson should ask Palin the same questions.

Ben Smith's Blog: McCain on Palin - Politico.com
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0908/McCain_on_Palin.html#comments

RE: Bob at 8:09 AM: "I've been in compressed learning environment, and that's exactly how I would respond. Why? Asking too many questions is a sign of someone who gets side tracked, and isn't a good use of time. Compressed briefing notes are much easier to absorb."

Bob, you fail to distinguish between an beginning student and the post-graduate student. For the beginning student, rote answers get you through the basic material. For the post-graduate student, mastery of confounding issues beyond the rote answers while not being side tracked is required.

At this time in US history, a post-graduate mastery is needed in a vice-presidential candidate, not a beginning student with the compressed learning. E.J. is correct in his analysis. Can the VP candidate handle the complex and confounding issues without losing sight of the problem?

Posted by: Paul | September 11, 2008 8:46 AM

Yeah, Bob, I agree with PAUL. Especially after learning that Palin went to Five colleges in six years... Hawaii Pacific University to North Idaho College to the University of Idaho to Matanuska-Susitna College then back to University of Idaho

This is simply a subtle attack article by a liberal reporter. Read his last 10 pieces - all left leaning politically.

PS. Palin's resume is stronger than Obama's and she is the #2 position on the GOP ticket. Obama has a nice degree and a background as a community organizer and a brief stint in the senate where he voted present most of the time. He is an eloquent speaker though.

Bob-

I am not really sure what you are trying to say here, "I've been in compressed learning environment..." It might be too compressed for me. Do you mean, "I've been in compressed learning environment[s]," or, "I've been in [a/the] compressed learning environment." Your writing is too compressed to clearly communicate a rebuttal to the pressing question of whether Palin has a depth of understanding required for a critical evaluation of the issues that face us.

Many of you all point fingers at how mean everybody is Palin or Obama. Look at your own remarks. Are you unable to see how mean you being to each other; its' spelled right out in front of you in plain text. - the candidates are just artifacts or representations of the environment you've created: A nation of haters.

All this silly questioning debate reveals the questioners beliefs in Sarah's knowledge or experience one way or the other.

I prefer to focus on results.

Is she a good mother ? seems so.

A moral person ? seems so.

A hard worker ? seems so.

A good Governor ?

Hum.. cut 10% from state budget,ran a budget surplus, reduced her own expenses by 80% even with per diems, gave money back to Alaskans, took on big business, took on big corruption in both parties, and is overwhelmingly popular.

Heck results matter most ! She'll make a fine VP and someday a fine President.

Posted by: brian | September 11, 2008 10:11 AM

I bet she comes out on top again. Dems are going to die a slow, excruciating death. Thank God. I used to be a democrat but the party is unrecognizable with its policy, intolerance, and radicalism.
****************************************

Intolerance and radicalism? Sorry, I thought you were talking about the Democrats, but you obviously mean republicans.

If Palin makes it to the White House at least McCain can pay her less.

I watch the news and I weep for my country. Have we really considered what God Bless America means? I can not believe how the Republicans have become like dictators. They don't want to hear anything we say, they don't care about our needs its their way or else. They refuse to answer questions on issues, they rule by fear and intimidation. They hope ignorance will prevail and put them in power once again. They constantly attack and distract the American public. For the record I have voted with the Republicans, now I'm ashamed for ever having trusted them with my vote. I hope my vote counts this time ... needless to say it will not be for them!

I believe all would-be Vice Presidents of the United (hah) States should be able to "speak in tongues" - that's exactly what we, the people need. Just think how many trees we could save!
Oh, and Sarah - would you please ask him to lower the gas prices, the food prices, and bring our unemployment rate to zero.
Thanks alot Sarah!
Did you really make that list of books to be banned from Alaska schools? Just wondering!

Obama set the precedent that experience doesn't matter anymore when running for president.

so the left is questioning McCain's judgement for VP due to her supposed lack of experience. meanwhile, they are asking the American people to suspend judgement on Obama's experience. yeah, makes sense.

I didn't realize Harvard was the only school to offer degrees in the presidential preparation.

Biden said Obama wasn't prepared to be president.

but I agree we don't need a religious nut in the White House. Much better to select someone who was schooled under the sound wisdom of Reverend Wright. yeah, sure.

Democrats you surely are lightweights, just like your candidate, if you can't beat a beauty queen stewardess, right?

What's astounding to me is that you're probably all the same people who were singing the same praises of Bush 4 years ago. You were telling us how much better off we'd be and how great our nation would be if we voted for Bush. Now here we are...spending 350 million dollars a DAY in Iraq while we can't even fix our own bridges and half of us are out of jobs and losing our houses. Isn't it time to give someone else a chance?

Posted by: Suzy | September 11, 2008 10:50 AM

Gibson does not have the nerve but I wish he would ask her this: "You gave birth to your youngest child after he tested as having Down's Syndrome. If there was a test to determine if your child was gay, and you found that your son was going to be gay would you have an abortion?"

*************************************
This could never happen you see, because people of Sarah Palin's ilk believe that homosexualism is a choice. I wonder if in some bizaro world where homosexuality was 90%, and hetrosexuality was the 10%, how she would feel if she had to fight the feelings she felt for her husband everyday? Of course, he wouldn't really be her husband, so I guess it doesn't count?

Hint to writer of this....

Sarah Palin is NOT running to be President, ditzo.....

Petras Vilson ...that was easily the most lucid, concise, inteligent post in the last 3 weeks on any of these blogs on the topic at hand.

but guess what ? the libs will always have some slime to throw...it's what the do, it's never good enough.

the reason it troubles them so is they think God is an opiate for the great unwashed and therefore without their anger nothing and noone else 'understands' but them. In short, there is no higher power. and that..is the crux of the culture wars...the agnostics vs. the spiritual. no matter what anyone tells you, pull the string hard enough, and that is what is left.

poor libs and dems....do you cry or laff when they open their mouth ?

Great, another George W. Bush but in skirts and as a VP.

Petras Vilson - "Hum.. cut 10% from state budget,ran a budget surplus, reduced her own expenses by 80% even with per diems, gave money back to Alaskans, took on big business, took on big corruption in both parties, and is overwhelmingly popular."

I am curious how Alaska, with a continuous budget surplus, prepares Palin for dealing with the national deficit, or debt for that matter. Alaskans had been receiving dividends for years before Palin became governor of a state with a population of less than 700,000 in 2006.

NICE Degree - Heh, heh - you've never been to law school, have you, son? I don't think any one who did that work would call it just a NICE degree -

Folks, why do you continue to support the silly argument that Palin is as experienced as Senator Obama - we don't even know what the state of Alaska requires of its Governor - In Texas, the legislature only meets every two years, and the Governor is not even the most powerful state politician. (The Railroad Comissioner and/or Lt. Governor are - Books could be written on this)

You can't sit there and make that statment - You just can't. You can say differently experienced, but c'mon - I mean, I can run the local drugstore, but that does not prepare me for running a mall - Same thing here - Or my favorite is "don't make fun of someone being a mayor of a small town - most Americans live in small towns"

True enough, and would you want most American small town mayors as your president?

There really is no accurate way to compare a Harvard educated lawyer who is a U.S. Senator after several years of state legislature experience to the governor of a small state - it just does not work

All this hoo-ha about executive experience - well, it does depend on what you do with it - Several different sources that I've read of say that Senator Obama is able to easily move agendas forward and reach consensus among different groups - one of the biggest things about being a successful executive is having a vision, or a goal, if you will, and Senator Obama does have that.

All presidents have to learn on the job - the amount of information and people clamoring for their attention is overwhelming. And no one person does that job without many people helping them.

So quit it with the comparison. It's not apt, it's not proven, and it's a waste of everyone's breath

The idea that the VPOTUS is there if the POTUS is unable to function is a sadly historic perspective. For better than 20 years the VPOTUS has had an active adjunct role to fill. This is hardly a sit and wait for something to do role - this is a job with a litany of active responsibility. In the case of Reagan/Bush - the travel itinerary nearly never stopped. Reagan traveled some - Bush was nearly never home. During Clinton/Gore the same was true. The only time in the last 20 years when this wasn't the case was Bush/Quayle - but there like now the focus seemed to be keep the VP out of sight and unavailable to demonstrate intellectual prowess.

I can't wait until Palin visits Latin America so she can reiterate the "I never learned Latin" joke.

Seriously - what self respecting parent would not ignore their job if a kid is seriously sick. I would expect the same of this parent - Palin. But here is a news flash - she won't have that luxury!

To PUMAS. Well if their was any hope for Hillary to become president I think you guys have ruined that chance,because of the true colors of women that you have shown."OH I'm going to show them,I'm going to vote for the guy that has been against all rights for women just because they dissed Hillary".Why don't you tell people the real reason you won't vote for Obama...hmmmm? You think the republicans are not disgracing woman by approving dolls being made of her looking like a sexy librarian,sexy nurse,or a sexy secret agent??? Thats discremnating!!! Or McCain being against all womans rights,equal pay,birth control,abortion rights.Well I don't know about you guys but my family can't afford another 4 years to 8 years of republicans forgetting about us.My husbands job lost,my job lost.And worrying about my grandkids an the deficiet that they are already going to have to try and pay off,then you choose to vote for McCain that is only going to make the deficiet higher since he won't be happy till he has his war.No republican in history has ever got are deficiet down and a smooth economy.

Imagine this after McCain's heart attack in 2010:

PRESIDENT PALIN

as the leader of the free world

Two paragraphs, from some reported aides and Dionne can come to these conclusions. He is really good! About as deep as the MSM gets. What a bunch of losers.

Palin is --not-- more qualified than Obama to be president. Are you serious? Can you really, truly be serious when you say that Palin is more qualified or even equally as qualified or even almost as qualified to be president as Barack Obama? What in the *world*!?

I wonder if McCain croaked if Palin would pick an experienced senator or another governor as VP like someone else we know...

My question for Palin is that you preach family values and thump your chest on your evengalical credentials. How is it possible for a public person like her to see her own family not practicing what she is preaching? What made her daughter not follow her mother's advice and "choose" to get pregnant?

this one will make libby scream...or possibly not respond....because they can't stand it

many of our friends are asking us “Who is Sarah Palin?” Of course, as Alaskans, Kathy and I are extremely proud of her. We just want to let you know that Sarah “Barracuda” Palin is a straight shooting, hard charging, get it done gal. She knows when to listen, how to analyze the facts and how to make a decision, then implement the plan. She doesn’t do a poll before jumping in with both feet like too many of the Washington types. She has little legislative experience because she has always held the EXECUTIVE position; in private life, as mayor of Anchorage ’s largest bedroom community or more recently as Governor of our State. She is a smart, attractive home grown Alaska girl with excellent moral and family values. She can see what needs to be done and does not hesitate to get it done.

One of our State’s major problems is that its Capital is in Juneau, 500 miles from the nearest road and 800 air miles from the population base which is Anchorage, Wasilla and Fairbanks. Our legislature and most of the State government is in Juneau and they ALL behave like a bunch of freshmen in a college town. It has been this way since Statehood in 1959. When Sarah moved to Juneau , so did accountability and responsibility When the oil revenue started flown and a barrel of North Slope Crude hit $23.00, these people began spending money like drunken sailors. You can only imagine what was happenings when oil hit $100.00 a barrel, about the time Sarah took command. My wife Kathy has first-hand experience with this fiasco, as her father and also her ex-husband were Alaska Legislators who served in Juneau as Senators, Senate President, or members of the State House for a combined period spanning nearly three decades.

About the time Sarah took the HELM as Governor of Alaska, about half of the State legislature was in the pocket of big oil companies or contractors doing big projects for Native Corporations around Alaska, all funded by State oil revenue. Alaska government was nothing but a good old boys club riding the perpetual wave of prosperity. This filtered down from the legislature, through the Department of Natural Resources, Department of Labor and even spilled in to the Public Safety who are supposed to “preserve and protect”.

When Sarah walked into the Governor’s Mansion, she promptly dismissed the State Trooper detachment assigned to Governor and had her and her husband’s gun case brought in from Wasilla. Then, she got rid of the former Governor’s STATE Jet and told legislators that there were no more free rides, they would have to fly Alaska Airlines, just like her and her family if they wanted to travel. Next came the nut cutting (the Barracuda part) the heads that rolled were too numerous to name, but when Sarah finished cleaning house, a number of our legislators ended up in jail for on corruption charges, or tendered their resignations along with numerous department heads and those who have been riding the gravy train for way too long, AND THEN SHE HAD LUNCH. By the end of the day, Sarah Palin had saved the people of Alaska millions and has not yet slowed down.

She has truly brought CHANGE to Juneau . I personally know several persons in the private sector in Alaska , that hold her in high esteem. She surrounds herself with smart people, many from my hometown of Anchorage , she listens to them but makes her own decisions. Sarah Palin is a no B.S. politician. It is refreshing that there is such a thing anymore. You want to talk about CHANGE? You should see a before and after picture of the State government in Alaska . That’s CHANGE! Sarah will bring a number of things to the election I am sure she will appeal many voters who my otherwise could have gone the other direction on election day. The conservative block will not be for Barack. We have their vote. We need what Sarah will bring, first to the election and second, what she will bring to Washington D.C. McCain has been advised well, Let’s just hope the American people can get the straight scoop on her in the weeks ahead. This is just the opinion of one Alaska Bush Pilot and Guide, who pays attention to national politics, watches the news and is deathly afraid of the direction our nation is headed. I guarantee that if Sarah gets a chance to dig her spurs into the flanks of the liberal Washington types, they will know that she is in the saddle.

Butch King
Pilot/Guide
Butch & Kathy King
Proprietors
Wildman Lake Lodge
www.wildmanlodge.com

wow, I guess a chief executive who actually has to make decisions is NOT more qualified to be a chief executive running against a Senator who can stand up on the floor and bemoan the world isn't the way he would like it to be, and then never get anything done.

Obama is much better suited for congress.

Hey Dionne, you mean like all those "tough" questions asked of Obama during his interviews with the media? Man, that Olbermann knows how to stick it to him huh?

What a joke you are!

Idiots elect idiots. Please welcome our next president, John McCain and his modest but sexy VP, Sarah Palin.

Why would anyone vote for someone who wanted to secede (brake away permanently!) from our nation? You want that person suddenly next in line to COMMAND our entire nation?

Are we getting that stupid in this country?!

"It certainly appears that she knows very little about national and international policy, and isn't very curious."

That description is not flattering for anybody.

You know what--whatever. If McCain/Palin wins, they both could be incapacitated and the gov't would work just the same anyway with all the Bush/Rove/Cheney operatives in D.C. If people call that either change or reform, they're nuts. And if people think that it's all right for a "reformer" like Sarah Palin to be studying policy with even more Bush/Rove/Cheney aides, they're nuts as well.

Why would anyone vote for someone who wanted to secede (brake away permanently!) from our nation? You want that person suddenly next in line to COMMAND our entire nation?

Are we getting that stupid in this country?!

Posted by: Marco | September 11, 2008 2:10 PM
___________________________________________

don't kid yourself, if there was a way to give california and New York away the 'fly over' states would vote for it a ......wait for it.......New York minute

On the anniversary of 9/11, these seem like a timely read:
http://www.911truth.org/
http://911research.wtc7.net/

That's great, and I'm glad to hear that those of you in the state of Alaska like Gov. Palin

My first question is So? She's running for Vice President - she doesn't get to do any of that stuff when she gets to Washington.

Second question, is, if she's so gosh almighty righteous on ethics, what's the deal with the per diem charges and $700 hotel rooms in New York for her family when travelling on state business?

Re: Laughing at the dems:

Thanks for the "fly over state comment" - what makes this country great is that we do have different people from different walks of life that believe different things - maybe one day you could listen to someone who doesen't fit your mold of a perfect American

What time is the interview tonight?

someone please inform all of our highly educated constitutional scholars on the left that Palin is the VP candidate while Barack "No experience but I am black" Obama is THEIR presidential candidate.

I am sure this campaign slogan will work libs, "America: you are too stupid to know what is good for you. Vote Obama"

Intellectual depth is not a criterion for American leaders. That's no secret. Remember Reagan? He was "the great communicator", not "the great Ph.D. candidate".

Presidents in contemporary USA need to be popular and able to make decisions. They have plenty of Harvard Ph.D. people around them to do the rest.

All of the above is known by everyone. What's really interesting is why this curious conversation keeps cropping up about how frighteningly uneducated, uninformed, and uninterested leaders can be. Dan Quail (sp) was attacked for misspelling words, Bush is just plain stupid (great political analysis, that one), and now we're told that Palin is vapid.

Also interesting is the fact that the charges of philistinism and general stupidity are, to the best of my knowledge, usually hurled at Republicans by Democrats. No doubt, the Republican presidents we've had recently would not win any Mastermind competitions. But my feeling is that the real target of the Democrats is Stupid American Voters in the Red States, who keep brainlessly electing other brainless people to office, rather than very bright and leared people such as Al Gore and John Kerry. This is not just a condescedning attitude; I think it also reflects an arrogant complacency on the part of Democrats, who want to blame the voters for their failure to win arguments, and elections. It's reflected in the "Red State" label, which denotes backwoods hicks who don't know any of the three Rs, and are racists and sexists. It's what Obama was alluding to when he said it was understandable that frustrated white workers turn to religion and guns for refuge. What's really odd is that he lumped "religion" and "guns" together, without showing how these two things are related. The problem is, they aren't, except in the caricature "Red State" voter that seems to be haunting the Democrat imagination.

I fear we are about to experience "The Alaskan Candidate:" you know a 21st version of "The Manchurian Candidate."

By the time Gibson gets to her in a controlled environment and her briefers have conditioned her to spit out concise talking points, she is going to look and sound like chatty kathy.

Briefing books can prepare her to pronounce the name of the President of Kurdistan but Gibson needs to get her into a dialog on why she takes the positions she does; memorization is one thing, thinking is another.

What political solution does she see in Iraq and why?

What are the underlying problems with our health care system and why would John McCain's proposal address and solve them?

Why are the Bush/McCain tax cuts superior to those proposed by the Democrats and which income groups would gain/lose from each?

Why is she opposed to embronic stem cell research and what kind of research would she support?

the point is, if Gibson's questions are about facts, he might as well be moderating an episode of Jeopordy.

Come on Charlie, make us proud and don't fall in line with the Fox News shills. Let's see if she has the goods or not.

"But this will be a failed interview if it is long on fuzzy questions about family life and short on the questions that tell us what we need to know as citizens and voters about what kind of president Palin would be."

It can be a failure even without "the fuzzy questions about family life" if Gibson does not do follow-up duty and pin her down beyond the Republican Talking Points she digests so well.

I hope HE does some preparation (this time) by watching Jim Lehrer question W. You can be respectful (Lehrer always is) but refuse to let the interviewee skate.

I must say ABC News' AND Gibsons' reputations are staked on this interview now, after the abysmal performance Charlie and George put on at the Democratic debate.

Don't be fooled this interview has be arranged in such a way that no specifics will be asked only things the pitbull queen with lipsticks can answer. I would not be surprised if the interview has been rehearsed with Gibson before it goes on TV. Oh well, this is America, what a country, everything can be fixed at a price.

a serious way to show the neocons and rovian tactics you care !

http://www.zazzle.com/look_on_obamas_face_priceless_shirt-235213280696647194

Ok charlie gibson, your credibility is already shot so here is what I would do in your place. And by the way you're not going to do anything tonight but make the rest of the press mad because of your fluff, favoritism and your selling out for high ratings, so just let me help you.

Question for Mrs. FOOL'S GOLD Palin.

Is it true that your EXPERIENCE as Mayor of Wasilla left a town of about 5,400 in 20 MILLION DOLLARS worth of debt? I have another question base on this EXPERIENCE how will you handle America's budget?
Question for you Mrs. Palin. By the way I know about the term pitbull with lipstick but have you ever heard of the term FOOL'S GOLD? Well anyway,
There is a video Mrs Palin that FINALLY have been shown on tv of you in church on stage talking about our troops in Iraq, and I quote “Pray that our national leaders are sending them out on a task that is from God,” Mrs. Palin what you're saying to Christians and to those who don't understand church lingo is that our national leaders, Pres. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld and others are anointed by God to carry out a Holy War? The world knows that the Iraq war was base on lies for the last few years. This video was shot in June. Ms. Palin, when was the last time you were in touch with the nation or for that matter, with God? I have another question Mrs Palin. Do you believe that God told them (the national leaders) that there were weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq, because, they did say that this is why we're going to war. What's your answer on this? Also, Mrs Palin do they have Librarian Week in Alaska? Everybody loves their librarian. But you have the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LIBRARIANS trying to burn down the governor's mansion. Could you please shed some "light" on why you fire the local librarian and then had to rehire her? Another question for you please.
The words Family Values, Honor, Character and Integrity are being thrown around alot. We know of McCain's POW experience and his adulterous relationships. Now the NATIONAL ENQUIRE is reporting that you Mrs. Palin had an adulterous relationship
yourself. Is it true MRS. Palin and when are you going to sue the National Enquire and force them to reveal their sources if its not true?
On the subject of experience. Actually, I'm a little ahead of myself. I should have asked this first. Please tell us Mrs. Palin,
why did you attend 5 colleges in six years? Oh you don't remember? Let me name them for you. Hawaii Pacific University to North Idaho College to the University of Idaho to Matanuska-Susitna College then back to University of Idaho. Does this speak to your Foreign Policy experience as well?
Alright thank you Mrs. Palin. We've run out of time for tonight. We should have passed on the tour of the house and the introduction of your family but we have more time tommorrow. And that it folks, the vetting of Sarah Palin continues but before we go we would like to thank our sponsor, Mr. Rick Davis.

John D in Houston

what makes this country great is that we do have different people from different walks of life that believe different things

_________________________________________

makes it great to whom exactly and in what tangible way ? sub-cultures, by definition, deplete and erode the main culture....that would be pre-60's to you. so that inheritantly means that the more non-traditional USA citizens we the weaker we get as a country....and guess what ? that goal has almost been accomplished !!!!

by the way, hello from down the road on 35. you oughta check out Austin...your kind of people.

Butch King,
Sarah Barracuda Palin is ill equipped to be our next vp. She did NONE of the things your outline. She ran a tiny town (african-american population .001%). She did not successfully run for Gov of Alaska, the previous Gov was so corrupt, George Bush could have become the Gov of Alaska. She's educated from a third rate university and has no plan and even less vision. This is who you think should be a heartbeat away from the presidency. You too must be a nut at a lodge.

Gibson will probably ask the predictable, irrelevant questions that would interest people who get their news from watching Entertainment Tonight. I hope he surprises me by asking questions about issues that are important to working, middle class Americans, and has the balls to follow up if her answers are shallow campaign rhetoric, which I fully expect.

Poor E.J. Dionne and the Obama slime machine so far haven't been able to lay a glove on Palin. Now E.J. is begging Charlie Gibson to do it. It is fun watching liberal heads explode.

Hey, laughing, California would be HAPPY to go if the rest of you keep electing these chowderheads to the top positions in our government. You "red" states are already a drain on our economy and we don't appreciate it that votes of 165 people in Wyoming count more than the votes of 615 people in California. We'll take Oregon and Washington with us to form the great nation of Pacifica, and you can pay our tariff on all the Wal-Mart goods you buy that come through our ports.

If we end up with another stupid president that goes with her gut instead of making a careful and informed decision, our country is going to be in a lot of trouble.

How bad do things have to get before people want to change things? The president(or vp) is a person that could make a decision that would leave most of us dead by tomorrow, yet we want someone that can't be bothered to read the full briefing?

@BOB
Asking questions is absolutely crucial. Questions make the difference between parroting an idea and understanding it.

I have a question for you EJ Dionne. When can we expect one of your sycophantic columns on what a marvellous development Sarah Palin has been for your Hero's candidacy?

Is it only because she is a woman that you feel she can't know anything and must parrot back? I don't hear those comments when men like Obama or Biden stutter or make gaffes. Does anyone know everything other than Dionne of course. This sounds very sexist to me. A woman is fully capable of knowledge and she has been great in Alaska.

What I don't need is some sarcastic hockey mom who describes herself as a pit bull, who flaunts her pregnant teenager and her new special needs infant, a heartbeat away from the presidency."

Posted by: Xander | September 11, 2008 12:38 PM

*********************************************

Questions for you:

Would it be "flaunting" if her baby was not special needs and her daughter not pregnant?

Would you feel better about her if she hid the two children you mentioned from view?

I would love to see Palin and Biden interviewed by the two heavyweights of partisan political news. Keith Olbermann and Bill O'Reilly. Each guy would have a shot at the opposite party's VP nominee.

Biden would hold his own against O'Reilly, although I'm sure O'Reilly would get a few zingers in there. But, Oh dear Lord about Palin.

Palin would be deee-molished by Olberman. Not that Olberman would treat her like, oh, say, a pig. But that Palin would have no idea how to answer questions like,"If you became president due to McCain's illnesses, and Russia decided to reinvade Georgia what would you do?" OR "Do you know who the president of Georgia is?" Palin with mouth agape would say, "I don't know. They didn't prep me on that question. Can we try one about my plane on Ebay or the bridge to nowhere perhaps? I can't wait to say, "Thinks, but no thinks to the bridge to nowhere..." for the umpteenth time!

(no, that's not a typo. that's really how she says "thanks".)

Tamarra
New Haven, Connecticut

Quote:
To the tune of Pink Flloyd....every body:

"We don't need no education,....
We don't need no self-control....
Dark sarcasm in the classroom....
......
Teacher, leave us kids alone!!"

People of Palin's generation grew up listening to this kind of junk and now they plan to be a heartbeat away from a 72 year old heart!
This is how the neo-Roman cookie crumbles!!!!

ISN'T OBAMA FROM THE SAME GENERATION???

yeah people,

we certainly don't want an inexperienced lightweight as president now do we????

A noun, a verb and POW. and now a pit bull with lipstick, too--you may want to check the concrets facts there. oregon might go, washington wouldn't.

California and NYC are the drain. their illegals cost this country BILLIONS of dollars. Isn't Cali having a bit of a problem with money right now trying to keep the lie of utopia alive ? NYC has been bankrupt how many times in the last 20 years ? Tax rates are what in those two political dungheaps vs the rest of the red states ?

in short, there is no way A$$clown 1(CA) & A$$clown 2 (NY) could possible survive a week without federal aid.

but hey, you find a way to get the movement going, ill do my part.

Hey, laughing, California would be HAPPY to go if the rest of you keep electing these chowderheads to the top positions in our government. You "red" states are already a drain on our economy and we don't appreciate it that votes of 165 people in Wyoming count more than the votes of 615 people in California. We'll take Oregon and Washington with us to form the great nation of Pacifica, and you can pay our tariff on all the Wal-Mart goods you buy that come through our ports.

Posted by: A noun, a verb and POW. and now a pit bull with lipstick, too. | September 11, 2008 2:36 PM

*******************************************

Too funny! My workmates in Washington and I used to joke about this.... Only Pacifica included BC and Alberta. Do you realize what kind of GNP we would have?

I think we may have included Idaho, though..

i think palin will be ready if, god forbid, something were to happen to mccain, say, 2 years into his presidency.

however, i dont think obama will be ready on day one. maybe after 2 years as VP, if something were to happen to biden, but not to be president in january 2009.

The one and only issue that matters to our country right now is: Could Sarah Palin herself be a good president of the United States if called upon?
********

actually, the more important question is whether Barack Obama could himself be a good president of the UNited States if called upon.

*he's at the top of the ticket, if wont require something terrible for him to be in charge, he will be in charge.

*he has no experience running ANYTHING. other than of course his presidential campaign, which apparently he hasnt run very well up to this point.

Oh, no, not another president who prefers "light preparatory materials" to "heavy briefing books"! After the past 8 years of the disastrous Bush administration haven't we learned our lesson? I for one would like a President and Vice President who can read more than a half-dozen PowerPoint slides at a sitting and who are capable of analysis and rational thinking.

One can only hope that Charlie Gibson will ask some serious questions about the very real problems we face - like the economy - and not waste time on trivial matters.

I think the American people have a right to know whether or not she is anything more than a colorful parrot.

I've been reading quotations from Palin on the website On the Issues, which covers topics ranging from health care to national security. The Palin positions, record, and quotations ought to give pause to anyone who desires a competent executive branch.

I would suggest that Gibson ask probing questions on health care (particular rising costs), mass transit, infrastructure, foreign policy, civil rights, etc. The quotations and positions listed at the On the Issues site suggest that Palin is at best shallow and unformed, and at worst merely a parrot for focus group-tested talking points on national security and health care.

Thus far we've heard a few gaffes from her, plus the stump speech, and that's the lot. That this empty suit is being touted for the second-highest executive office in the land is frightening.

If you are elected as VP, who in Alaska will handle getting all that earmarked money to your state?

I'm looking forward to the debates. If Mrs. Palin is qualified she will demonstrate it. This country is in trouble. We need strong leadership, now. I fear the republicans are bankrupt for ideas and how to resolve things. Where have they demonstrated competency in the last eight years? Katrina? Iraq? trade deficit? We all need to "change".

Wow this Dionne must be a true liberal. Why else does he attract so many liberal whack-jobs who post their comments here. I don't know a single liberal or journalist that can think in a logical manner, and ask an unbiased question. It's all identity pollitics 24/7. Are you all liberal arts majors? Those of us with Engineering, Science and Math degrees, and deal with logic on a daily basis, look in horror at you freaks. It's scary to know that you are allowed to vote for anything other than the next American Idol. Do the USA a favor and call in your vote for Obama next year.

SET UP AGAIN TO BEAT EXPECTATIONS

Once again the Republicans are doing a masterful job of setting their candidate up to fully beat expectations. And everyone follows along with the script, again and again. Mrs. Palin will do an incredible job in this interview and will give in depth answers. She will masterfully merge GOP talking points with great little stories of being a mother in Alaska. The papers the day after will be filled with headlines "No Doubt, Palin Knows Her Stuff" and "Palin Surprises Everyone."

Come on people, remember how they set us up to expect that Bush would be shredded in the debates in 2004 and he came off fine. The fact that he did not make an idiot of himself, was the topic, not the substance of what he said. They are doing it all over again. Lower the expectations, so that when the candidate performs at a C+ level it is considered a triumph proving once again that the "nattering nebobs of negativity" are wrong.

By the way, here is a little puzzle for you all, what is the difference between Sarah Palin and the Islamic Fundamentalists who rule Iran? The fundamentalists allow for abortions in cases of rape and incest.

when Palin talks , she sounds like a squirrel in distress, I cant take that sound I turn the sound off and watch the closed caption to hear her BS. please God save us from this diabolical woman !

"The aide said she generally prefers light preparatory materials to heavy briefing books, and prefers walking through potential questions and answers...."

She'll be the perfect U.S. President! Isn't this how GW Bush ran things for the last eight years?

It will be very difficult to ask any questions of real substance and expect honest answers that relate even remotely to the question being asked. Gov. Palin will be treated deferentially as demanded by the Republican spokespersons and the questions will likely be fluff-balls and the answers non-sequetors. The result? The Republicans will exclaim that she has demonstrated her remarkable mastery of all matters necessary to assume the office of the presidency should the unspeakable happen to John McCain. And, she will have shown all the ungentlemanly media that she is too tough for them, by golly! I expect little of substance to come out of the questioning, especially if everyone is afraid of being accused of sexism or worse, misogeny for their legitimate concerns about Gov. Palin's qualifications. What a bunch of malarky concerning lipstick and pigs. Oh Please!

You can put lipstick on a Cheney, but it's still a Cheney. Only scarier.

Tough penetrating questions from Charlie Gibson, with insightful follow-up? Don't hold your breath. He's the only MSM who tosses only soft-balls, which he learned to do so well on Good Morning America. What a travesty to call this an "interview" - it's a Palin PR puff photo op.

Here's my question for Ms. Palin: how come it took you 5 years and 6 colleges to get your degree? Maybe that's why she just repeats what she is told!

Governor Palin, what is your assessment of the presidency of George W Bush?

The hysteria coming from the fringe
left makes it obvious that they fear Sarah
because of who she is & how she lives her life. Carol Fowler made it clear that she can't be a member of the liberal women's club because she hasn't had an abortion.
Dionne fears that any questions about her personal life will make Sarah more beloved among real women.

Women, what are you thinking?
The recent polls show a large block of women - especially white women - who appear to be supporting McCain-Palin. Many, it seems, have declared their loyalty since the convention and as a result the VP candidate being a woman.

I have proudly declared myself a feminist for almost 4 decades and although I had hoped I would have an opportunity to vote for a woman in this election, Palin is not even near the league the the woman for whom I would have voted..

Putting Palin on the ticket because she is a woman (a Republican man with her credentials would not have been remotely considered) is the worst kind of sexism. The message is that she is being used – albeit willingly – because of her gender. This is not equality but objectification.

We all ought to know this and women ought to know it best. Her nomination didn’t break any glass ceilings. She was given a pass and put on the elevator to the top – escorted, to be sure. Her nomination made mockery of the hard work and long journey most women who are candidates for office in this country endure.

Unfortunately because she is a woman and as with any numerical minority, once the smile and gaze wear thin, she will be judged, on her words and actions, as an individual, but also as a woman and the slight egalitarian gains made by women in political life will be reversed and women – all women – will suffer the consequences.

For, as anyone who has worked for civil rights knows, one of the most effective ways to reinforce notions that any group is less capable is to select one of that group who is clearly among the least capable, prop her up, watch her fall and then shrug and say, “I told you so.”

You can smell Rove on this one from a mile away- Select the most namby-pamby, toothless interviewer you can find and let Palin walk all over him with memorized soundbites and homey hockey mom stories. Evil genius at work.

Dionne is not intellectually honest here, or maybe he is just dumb. He cites this:

"...she is a fast study -- asking few questions of her policy briefers but quickly repeating back their main points."

And characterizes it as this:

"She asks few questions but likes to parrot back answers?"

The quote stated nothing of parroting answers. It indicated she is smart ("a fast study") and thus can articulate main points quickly.

There's something wrong with EJ Dionne.

Butch King,
Yee gads, do you realize that what you are saying is that Alaskans make money off of oil companies work...that is socialism man..that is what they have in Venezuela..you are saying that a portion of the incomes Alaskans enjoy comes from a form of nationalized oil revenues..

I think this is a good idea for the whole nation..what do you say..?? I think the rest of us should enjoy income from the oil revenues that come from the oil companies that pump the oil from our land..

Nationalize the oil companies..the executives are going to be prosecuted for the recent drug and sex scandal anyway..

hmm...oil revenues could pay for medical care for all Americans..hmm.. oil revenues could pay all the mortgages on all the houses in America.. hmmm.. oil revenues could pay for all education for all Americans K thru Phd..yea..sounds good to me...

Ok charlie gibson, your credibility is already shot so here is what I would do in your place. And by the way you're not going to do anything tonight but make the rest of the press mad because of your fluff, your favoritism and your selling out for high ratings, so just let me help you.

Question for you Mrs. Palin.

Is it true that your EXPERIENCE as Mayor of Wasilla left a town of about 5,400 in 20 MILLION DOLLARS worth of debt? I have another question base on this EXPERIENCE how will you handle America's budget?
Hmmm. Question for you Mrs. Palin. By the way I know about the term pitbull with lipstick but have you ever heard of the term FOOL'S GOLD? Well anyway,
There is a video Mrs Palin that FINALLY have been shown on tv of you in church on stage talking about our troops in Iraq, and I quote “Pray that our national leaders are sending them out on a task that is from God,” Mrs. Palin what you're saying to Christians and to those who don't understand church lingo is that our national leaders, Pres. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld and others are anointed by God to carry out a Holy War? The world knows that the Iraq war was base on lies for the last few years. This video was shot in June. Ms. Palin, when was the last time you were in touch with the nation or for that matter, with God? I have another question Mrs Palin. Do you believe that God told them (the national leaders) that there were weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq, because, they did say that this is why we're going to war. What's your answer on this? Also, Mrs Palin do they have Librarian Week in Alaska? Everybody loves their librarian. But you have the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LIBRARIANS trying to burn down the governor's mansion. Could you please shed some "light" on why you fired the local librarian and then had to rehire her? Another question for you please.
The words Family Values, Honor, Character and Integrity are being thrown around alot. We know of McCain's POW experience and his adulterous relationships. Now the NATIONAL ENQUIRE is reporting that you Mrs. Palin had an adulterous relationship
yourself. Is it true MRS. Palin and when are you going to sue the National Enquire and force them to reveal their sources if its not true?
On the subject of experience. Actually, I'm a little ahead of myself. I should have asked this first. Please tell us Mrs. Palin,
why did you attend 5 colleges in six years? Oh you don't remember? Let me name them for you. Hawaii Pacific University to North Idaho College to the University of Idaho to Matanuska-Susitna College then back to University of Idaho. Does this speak to your Foreign Policy experience as well?
Alright thank you Mrs. Palin. We've run out of time for tonight. We should have passed on the tour of the house and the introduction of your family and your son's leaving for Iraq ceremony but we'll have more time tommorrow. And that it folks, the vetting of Sarah Palin continues but before we go we would like to thank our sponsor,... None other than Mr. Rick Davis

HGCSATO - Um,close.. only it's

We don't need no education
We dont need no __thought__ control
__No__ dark sarcasm in the classroom

As a member of "Sarah Palin's generation" (who in know way can see my way to supporting another 4 years of cronyism and failed cowboy politics) I have to say you should probably remember it's the generation before hers (yours?) that is coming out most strongly for the McPalin ticket.

A question I've wondered about for 4 - 5 years now - just how do you WIN an occupation?

Posted by: John D in Houston | September 11, 2008 1:14 PM

How? I think it's something along the lines of "you break it, you bought it." Yea! We win!

Pat- Could not agree more. There is an old saying about men using a part of the male anatomy other than their brain to make decisions. It would appear a similar observation could now be made of a lot of women.

The last time I checked sex with a minor is statutory rape. You must be 18 to be an adult. I bet this is not brought up in the interview.

http://www.prefixmag.com/forum/prefix-forum/2559/

Here's a good ? for the ice queen:

"Ms. Palin, don't you worry that if you become disfigured in an accident before the election that McCain will dump you for another pretty face like he did with his first wife?"

Puma Path! NoBama from Florida: You have two "special needs kids" and one special and urgent needs adult - you!

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!

Gibson...asking substantive questions...to a politician. LOL LOL LOL.

"What this means is that Gibson simply cannot let Palin skate by with her canned answers on issues." ROFL!

Oh, EJ, I had know idea you were such a jokey jokester. That's the biggest laugh I've had in weeks.

As if anyone honestly expect that walking hairdo to ask her even one substantive question. Meh.

hmm...oil revenues could pay for medical care for all Americans..hmm.. oil revenues could pay all the mortgages on all the houses in America.. hmmm.. oil revenues could pay for all education for all Americans K thru Phd..yea..sounds good to me...

Posted by: Tobey
________________________________________

but why would we or anyone do that ? we didn't ask you to have kids, you are not related to us, we didn't sign your mortgage ?

are you responsible for anything in your life or is it all evil ol georgie's fault?

Thank you, Greg! I agree. McCain and Palin are behaving like Marc Antony in that they are capable of sputtering emotional appeals, using repetition, and uttering sarcasm to move the commoners....it is such a shame that intellectuals do NOT appeal to the masses....I am almost heartbroken over this. Maybe, somehow, someone will ask Palin some real questions. Maybe people will recognize McCain does NOT represent change just because he is preaching it. OMG 4 more years of embarrassment.

I'd ask her how she plans to protect the rights of the unborn.

I say this because once again, pro-life women are being manipulated by the Republican machine.

Ask yourself why Roe vs. Wade is still around. From 2000-2006, the situation was ideal for making abortion illegal, with Bush as president, a conservative majority on the Supreme Court and a conservative majority in the legislature. What we got was a conservative trifecta that that had the power to knock out abortion. They did nothing to honor pro-life votes, yet here they are again with their hands out.

Do you really think Sarah Palin has the power to overturn Roe v. Wade? This is the carrot on the stick Republicans use to get us to the voting booth. There is no political advantage for Republicans to make this issue go away. If abortion was no longer on the table, our leadership would actually have to look at the plight of the poor and problems with the economy, not to mention healthcare problems, gender inequality and support for working mothers.

Stop wasting your vote on this red herring issue. It will never change because powerful conservatives don't want it to change.

About 2 months ago, I bought a used car: a cherry red convertible. I gotta be honest, I didn't do much research before buying. I only test drove it once before making a commitment to buy, and it was made by an obscure manufacturer that nobody really ever hear of before. But, at first blush, I was in love with this car. It looked so pretty on the outside. Professional paint job, smooth finish, great curves, and a confident, although perhaps pretentious, feel to it. My rival in the neighborhood had just decided against buying a convertible and instead bought a reliable pickup truck. Certainly, my rival made a more practical and well thought out decision, but where was the 'splash'? I wanted the headlines in the neighborhood! I didn't admit this at the time, but the fact that my rival opted against the flashy choice made me feel as though I simply HAD to pick the convertible.
The first few weeks were like a honeymoon. Heck, you could say I was 'energized' to drive it. But suddenly, almost on a daily basis, things have been falling apart. Turns out, my convertible has an oil leak. As time passes, more and more oil drip drip drips out of the car. The engine stalls out on the highway, almost as if it has no experience with being driven over 60 mph. The interior computer malfunctions when I turn on the radio and the AC at the same time... perhaps multitasking so many responsibilities at once overwhelms the motherboard. I asked the manufacturer for a copy of the owners manual, but they are stalling and acting as if the information is classified. What are they hiding? And now, the roof is stuck in the closed position. So, in reality, this isn't even a real convertible at all!! Needless to say, I made a horrible decision for me and my family. While my rival in the neighborhood enjoys using his pickup to accomplish daily chores, my convertible stays parked behind my garage. But, I think I made the right call when I decided to give my "convertible" a name: Sarah Palin.

Please stop talking about Palin, she is not even really worth talking about. Remember this Obama pimp slapped Hillary back into her place (The kitchen) and now he is going to do it to Palin as well. So lets focus on the people who will make the difference; the men. (You know this is true, here is my stright talk express)

Chew on that McClown.

when palin does't talk people listen.and besides shes white.so leave her alone

Ah2 1:30,
Here is the thing..Democrats have won two presidential elections, 2000, was taken when the rightwing Supreme Court selected George W. Bush...and in 2004, there is evidence that seriuos irregularities occurred in Ohio..

What has happened is called a coup..we now have to contend with illegal voter caging as described by DOJ spokesperson, Monica Goodling..and other forms of voter suppression and intimidation..now we hear the Michigan Republicans have a "list" of foreclosed homes and will challenge any American citizen whose name appears on their so called "list"...

We are going to turn out in record numbers this year..you know that..I know that..Democrats outnumber Republicans by 11 million registered voters..we have over 300,000 newly registered voters in Ohio this year..so if there are shenanigans .. you better be prepared to defend what you do because this time .. we are not taking it ..we have had enough of Fascism and enough of Republicanism..enough is enough..

To everyone who voted for Bush in 2004 and 2008. Move away from the voting booth. Please put down that ballot. This is for your own good. You simply can no long be trusted with complicated things like voting and thoughtful vetting of candidates. Seriously, we don't want to see you get hurt any further by the absolutely terrible, horrific judgement you have show in the past. You, former Bush voters and future McCain voters are a danger to yourself and those around you. Please go quietly with the men in the white coats and let the smart grownups clean up your mess.

I modified the story below and I want you to tell me if its really all that different?

"About 2 months ago, I bought a used car: a cherry red convertible. I gotta be honest, I didn't do much research before buying. I only test drove it once before making a commitment to buy, and it was made by an obscure manufacturer that nobody really ever hear of before. But, at first blush, I was in love with this car. It looked so pretty on the outside. Professional paint job, smooth finish, great curves, and a confident, although perhaps pretentious, feel to it. My rival in the neighborhood had just decided against buying a convertible and instead bought a reliable pickup truck. Certainly, my rival made a more practical and well thought out decision, but where was the 'splash'? I wanted the headlines in the neighborhood! I didn't admit this at the time, but the fact that my rival opted against the flashy choice made me feel as though I simply HAD to pick the convertible.
The first few weeks were like a honeymoon. Heck, you could say I was 'energized' to drive it. But suddenly, almost on a daily basis, things have been falling apart. Turns out, my convertible has an oil leak. As time passes, more and more oil drip drip drips out of the car. The engine stalls out on the highway, almost as if it has no experience with being driven over 60 mph. The interior computer malfunctions when I turn on the radio and the AC at the same time... perhaps multitasking so many responsibilities at once overwhelms the motherboard. I asked the manufacturer for a copy of the owners manual, but they are stalling and acting as if the information is classified. What are they hiding? And now, the roof is stuck in the closed position. So, in reality, this isn't even a real convertible at all!! Needless to say, I made a horrible decision for me and my family. While my rival in the neighborhood enjoys using his pickup to accomplish daily chores, my convertible stays parked behind my garage. But, I think I made the right call when I decided to give my "convertible" a name: Barrack Obama."

Yup sounds exactly the same, how wierd.

Questions for Obama

1. Why are you attacking Sarah? Shouldn't you be challenging McCain instead?

2. Why are you behaving in such a hostile way towards women? Is it because your mother abandoned you as a teenager and moved back to Indonesia without you? Is that why you disrespect women?

3. Why don't you send some money to your poor grandmother and brother in Kenya? Are you ashamed of them or don't you care?

4. Why didn't you pick Hillary for VP?

"when palin does't talk people listen.and besides shes white.so leave her alone"

Ummmm who cares she is still just an unqualified woman. Obama pimped slapped down one (hillary) and now he is going to pimp slap this one down.

Back to the kitchen ladies, where you belong.

ALL THE PEOPLE VOTING FOR PALE FACE PALIN AND JOHNNY MCSAME CAN .......

Thanks for asking, now here is why I own you and your friends.

Questions for Obama

"1. Why are you attacking Sarah? Shouldn't you be challenging McCain instead?"

Hello she is an unqualified woman just like Hillary. Also Hillary supported the war, and why would we ever pick her?

"2. Why are you behaving in such a hostile way towards women? Is it because your mother abandoned you as a teenager and moved back to Indonesia without you? Is that why you disrespect women?"

No my mother was a single mom, and she was wonderful. She did a great job raising me but if Palin were VP who would be raising her children? For some reason you republicans think completely backwards.

"3. Why don't you send some money to your poor grandmother and brother in Kenya? Are you ashamed of them or don't you care?"

They aren't Americans so who cares? Honestly, they maybe family but they aren't American. And country comes first, I'm sure you understand.

"4. Why didn't you pick Hillary for VP?"

She is an unqualified female, who I enjoyed pimp slapping. Maybe after I am president she can come Monica me. I'm sure Bill wouldn't mind that, seeing as he is a cheater.

I'm really impressed. Few people seem to be thinking about McCain - and *he's* the one running for President.

"I'm really impressed. Few people seem to be thinking about McCain - and *he's* the one running for President."

Frankly its because he has no chance of winning. New blood in politics is awsome, gives us something to talk about. McClown has NO chance of winning.

Choke on it, you know you like it.

The MSM media reviles on Sarah because: first, she shops at WalMart; second, she sends her kids to public schools (how bourgeoise!!); third, her son has joined the army and is off to Iraq to fight terroism (a disgusting display of patriotism); fourth, she has FIVE kids; fifth, she actually lives up to her own values. Bottom line: Sarah is an American who lives the American life and the American struggle. Elitists in the media have no experience with middle class life and see Palin as a threat to their liberal ethos.

sarah tell me how does it feel kowning you have a chance to break the white man tradition of running this country?answer oh thats gods will you should ask obama that question.well what do you think about race relations in this country.answer i can't talk about that until the elections is over so there you have folks she will make a great leader don't you think.

"She prefers light preparatory materials to heavy briefing books?”

The former Palin aide said she prefers those things for DEBATE PREPARATION, E.J.. Sheesh.

People who make their living pontificating may think that debate preparation and governance (or leadership) preparation are the same thing. Most folks, though, live lives outside their heads and in the real world, the real world being the place where common sense and the ability to discern wise leaders from Harvard speaking nitwits comes from.

Modified you idiot ,a car is referred as a she not he

Gibson is a light weight interviewer. He won't ask Palin anything remotely challenging. In today's bizarre world of infotainment, Palin would be asked more intelligent questions by Jon Stewart on the Daily Show than any of the big three network interviewers.

It doesn't really matter what Gibson asks, seeing as her answers mean nothing. Seriously that ticket is going no where. He should have picked a man, that was his first big mistake. Now we will pounce, thank you for that Republicans.

You pick a woman thinking you can get Hillary votes. No way, No how. Its nice to know that Obama pimped slapped Hillary and now he gets to pimp slap McCain and Palin in 1 shot... its a dream!

Arrghh! I know this interview will be weak (since that was probably a pre-condition of the McCain camp), but still I will watch it because I know that little of Sarah Palin.

I can't believe noone else sees a problem with this whole process: She is CRAMMING to become VP. Most people spend a lifetime career on policy matters, she will spend 6-weeks WITH a cheat sheet!

And people say she has more experience than Obama. I don't remember him studying for interviews. Biden sure didn't need to be "briefed." McCain seems to hold his own. Heck even George Bush was able to get in front of a camera with GOP certification!

This is ridiculous! W-T-F!

She is cramming for the VP spot like Barrack Hussian Obama is cramming for president. Welcome to the presidental election.

Look, this intervie with a morning talk show host is a sham. Good grief. Nothing but softball qestions and all the good deeds she's done.

She would never be allowed to face a Ted Koppel or any serious journalist.

Two months away from the election and no one knows a thing about her and the press is really too afraid to launch a serious attack as they should.

So let's point out one item today.

The old grey organ grinder and his little monkey...great.

But lets get serious about what is at stake.

FISCAL CONSERVATIVE ?

Sarah Palin’s portrait as a fiscal conservative when she ran the city of Wasilla, Alaska, as its mayor from 1996 to 2002. However, the truth is during her 6 years as mayor, she increased general government expenditures by over 33 percent.

According to figures provided by the city of Wasilla, the operating budget for Wasilla went from $6,050,160 in fiscal year 1996 to $9,393,768 in 2002. That’s a 55 percent increase. But adjusted for inflation, it’s a 35 percent increase.

She reduced progressive property taxes and increased a recessive sales tax which taxed even food. Under Palin, property tax rates did, in fact, go down; and the sales tax did go up from 2 percent to 2.5 percent.

The huge increases in tax revenues during her administration weren’t enough to fund everything on her wish list though; borrowed money was needed, too. She inherited a city with zero debt, but left it with indebtedness of over $22 million. What did Mayor Palin encourage the voters to borrow money for? Was it the infrastructure that she said she supported? The sewage treatment plant that the city lacked? Or a new library? No! $1 million for a park, $15 million-plus for construction of a multi-use sports complex...She also supported bonds for $5.5 million for road projects that could have been done in 5-7 years without any borrowing.

The fiscal year ending 1996 (when Palin took the reins), which showed the city’s long-term debt at $1.12 million, mostly for paving and sewer projects. The annual financial report for fiscal year ending June 30, 2002 — Palin’s last year in office — shows that the total long-term debt was $24.8 million. Long-term debt increased $23.7 million. From $1.1 million to $23.7million – that is one large increase.

The city now has $9 million in revenues and $24 in long-term debt. I wonder how they will do in a recession?

HOW HAVE THOSE PROJECTS WORKED OUT ?

WASILLA, Alaska — The biggest project that Sarah Palin undertook as mayor of this small town was an indoor sports complex, where locals played hockey, soccer, and basketball, especially during the long, dark Alaskan winters.

The only catch was that the city began building roads and installing utilities for the project before it had unchallenged title to the land. The misstep led to years of litigation and at least $1.3 million in extra costs for a small municipality with a small budget. What was to be Ms. Palin’s legacy has turned into a financial mess that continues to plague Wasilla.

“It’s too bad that the city of Wasilla didn’t do their homework and secure the land before they began construction,” said Kathy Wells, a longtime activist here. “She was not your ceremonial mayor; she was in charge of running the city. So it was her job to make sure things were done correctly.”

Litigation resulting from the dispute over Ms. Palin’s sports-complex project is still in the courts, with the land’s former owner seeking hundreds of thousands of additional dollars from the city.

Palin likes to say “Good judgment can make the difference between avoiding a crisis and managing a catastrophe.”

Indeed.

A PEA IN THE POD…..PALIN

STATES WORRY OVER BONDS BACKED BY FEDERAL MONEY

CHARLESTON, W.VA. - The bankruptcy of the federal highway trust fund halted road work around the country and sparked fears that state governments would be on the hook for billions of dollars in bonds they had planned to pay off with money from Washington.

While Congress works on a quick injection of $8 billion to the fund, highway planners say that's only a temporary fix and that the whole system of funding road projects is structurally flawed.

"It's just a big mess," summed up Jack Basso, chief operating officer of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

Yea. Big change she’ll bring to the table.

Who cares, she is unqualified. No questions are needed; we know all we need to know at this point. The McCain/Palin ticket have no chance of winning.

Put that in your pipe and smoke it..

Charles: "Sarah, how do you feel about all of the controversy?"

Sarah: "You know.... [insert Obama attack]... [insert folksy reference to hockey moms]"

Charles: "Sarah, will you fight the terrorists"

Sarah: "Yes. [insert Obama attack].... [insert folksy reference to hockey moms]

Charles: "Sarah as Vice President will you appose abortion"

Sarah: "[muffled --- yes]... [insert folksy reference]"

Charles: "Sarah last but not least, how do you feel about [stupid folksy topic, like "pickles"]

Sarah: "[laugh].... [praise john mccain]... [attack obama]... [insert folksy goodbye]"

-----------------------------------------

The interview will be no more informative than this. I'll take 10-1 odds on it.

Re: that wonderful "surge" - a lot of folks seem to conveniently forget that we would not have NEEDED the bloody "surge" if Bush hadn't started the bloody UNNECESSARY WAR WITH A COUNTRY THAT NEVER ATTACKED US in the first place. VERY few politicians had the guts to stand up against them when they started the mess in Iraq that continues to bankrupt the treasury, kill our young people, and enrich Cheney's cadre of Halliburton contractors. One of those few was...wait for it...OBAMA! To go a step further, we also wouldn't have needed the "surge" if Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld & Co. had SENT IN ENOUGH TROOPS TO DO THE JOB RIGHT IN THE FIRST PLACE, as General Eric Shinseki advised them to do. But NO - he wasn't telling them what they wanted to hear, so they ignored him and told the Village Voice that his advice was "bulls*** from a Clintonite enamoured of using the army for peacekeeping and not winning wars." McCain's voted in favor of Bush's policies 90% of the time and is known inside the DC beltway for his hot temper and his tendency to act first and think later (a tendency he proved when he picked the vastly underqualified Palin as his running mate). Presumably his supporters will be putting their bodies where their votes are and signing up for the military in droves if he's elected (just like they did to support Bush's agenda in Iraq), since Mr. "Bomb, Bomb, Bomb, Bomb, Bomb, Iran" will have his itchy trigger finger on the button...

"The very thought of a President Palin is downright terrifying and it's not all that unlikely considering the age and health history of her running mate."

By all accounts it is extremely unlikely that a white male his age with a clean physical checkup will not live 4 more years. Been listening to the math challenged Matt Damon?

But, now you know how many of us feel about Obama becoming president from day 1. He'd make an excellent VP choice but many don't get the warm fuzzies for him as President.

And finally, let me just say that Obama deserves credit. He went of the O'Reilly show! Talk about hostile territory, and (I think) won points with O'Reilly.

If not Palin, why doesn't McCain go on a real news show that is known to disagree with him? Why won't McCain face Chris Matthews? Why won't Palin?

Will the morning talk show host as about this?

SECESSIONIST…we must unite behind Sarah Palin. Her husband, Todd, was a member the Alaskan Independence Party working for Alaska to secede from the United States.

The director of Division of Elections in Alaska reported that Todd Palin registered in October 1995 to the Alaska Independence Party, a radical group that advocates for Alaskan secession from the United States, and remained a member until 2002, when he registered as undeclared while his wife ran for office.

She is more than sympathetic to the cause of secession; she is a participant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwvPNXYrIyI

Sarah congratulates the secession party only 6 months ago on their political gains.

Her pastor knows how evil America is and often preaches that America will be punished. A cause all evangelicals share. Listen below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PizrJLV30yI&feature=related

Now, with her elected as VP just we can realize the Republic of Confederate States, the Republic of Texas, the Republic of California and the Republic of Alaska.

The time has come elect a subversive that has pulled the eyes over the political system of the U. S. establishment.

Quote:
To the tune of Pink Flloyd....every body:

"We don't need no education,....
We don't need no self-control....
Dark sarcasm in the classroom....
......
Teacher, leave us kids alone!!"

So Pink Floyd is the problem with the world today? How can anyone take that seriously?!
PS, the song is about abusive teachers