[Laura Heidy-Halberstein]

and what does anyone know about her?

Interesting choice, though.

A few thoughts (coz I'm at work and not supposed to be thinking) -

1) After all the fussing about Obama not having enough experience, why pick someone to be your running mate with even less? No matter how you dice it, McCain's old - his health is more fragile than that of a younger man - there's always that chance that the VP will be called upon to be the V. Will that thought play a factor in people's vote come November?

2) I read a short article that said that McCain was hoping she'd pick up the still-angry Hillary supporters. The article went on to say that "Sarah is a woman all mothers will identify with." (She's a rabid pro-lifer and a life-long card carrying NRA member who's won second place in a Miss Alaska contest) Huh? I'm a mother, I don't have a thing in common with her. Anyone else feel differently?

3) By having admitted the above, isn't McCain "playing the gender card?" I mean, were female Hillary supporters only supporting her because she was a woman, without any regard to her policy or politics or belief system and will, therefore, be expected to follow the scent of a woman like some bleating bunch of sheep? I find the mere suggestion just a bit insulting, but lately I find everything insulting, so it'd be good if someone could set me straight on this one.

4) How is a relative neophyte going to look on the debate stage against Biden? I'll admit, I have not heard her speak and I know very little about her views on foreign policy - maybe she'll kick butt and take names. Anyhow, does anyone here know anything? Anyone here like me, and knows nothing but is willing to argue it anyhow?

So - what about it? Republicans and Democrats alike - any thoughts or infomation on Sarah?

L


edited to change name from Anne to Sarah. Perhaps a mod would be so kind as to adjust the topic heading?




[This message has been edited by Laura Heidy-Halberstein (edited August 29, 2008).]

[Martin Rocek]

She is actually Sarah Palin, according to what I read, an anti-choice,
card carrying NRA 44-year old whose husband works for the oil
industry. She has purged the original, but google cache still has
this interesting page that she has no doubt repudiated:

Palin Approves Obama Energy Plan

Martin


[edited by Maryann to fix URL, with Stephen C.'s help; thanks, Stephen!]

Thanks Stephen and Maryann!


[This message has been edited by Martin Rocek (edited August 30, 2008).]

[Gail White]

This choice was either brilliant (picking up disaffected Hillary supporters) or a big mistake (I think another "maverick" does little for McCain with Republicans who already feel lukewarm about him). However, it's a dramatic choice and does take attention away from Obama & his acceptance speech.

[Rick Mullin]

Uh, I don't think Palin will pick up disaffected Hillary supporters. Obama picked them up last night.

It is the catastrophe part of drama for John McCain.

(See how I am still basking in last nights punch of optimism?)

[Mike Slippkauskas]

For the sake of at least rhetorical fairness, I'll let the (putative) conservatives weigh in. I'll even grant that these opinions may have been cherry-picked. But . . . http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/20...561/942/578766

The Harriet Miers comparison stings particularly.

[This message has been edited by Mike Slippkauskas (edited August 29, 2008).]

[Laura Heidy-Halberstein]

Originally posted by Martin Rocek:
She is actually Sarah Palin

So she is....no wonder I couldn't find anything about her. ROFLMAO



[This message has been edited by Laura Heidy-Halberstein (edited August 29, 2008).]

[Tim Murphy]

I follow Alaska politics pretty closely, and I think it's a brilliant gambit. I'll go way out on my limb, and let you saw it off. Three predictions:

Joe Lieberman will be Secy of State. Takes care of that issue.

She will destroy Biden in the VP debate.

The McCain ticket will handily win majorities of the popular vote and the electoral college in a Democratic year.

Geraldine Ferraro, whom I greatly admire, has all but endorsed Palin, and this will put a lot of women's votes in play. It will also greatly solidify the American West, where Obama has just lost any hope of making inroads.

Obama just lost the front page. Everyone is going to want to know about the mom who just bore child number five, knowing it was a Downe's baby, at age 44. Whose eldest leaves for Iraq next month. Who went from PTA to governor of Alaska in 12 years. It's a story.

[Michael Cantor]

Who has the proper judgement necessary to be President, to make the right decisions?

- Obama's first decision was to select Joe Biden as his running mate - experienced, proven ability, a known factor.

- McCain's first decision was Sarah Palin - utterly inexperienced, an unknown factor, but acceptable to the Religious Right, and a woman, and these seem to be the factors that drove the choice.

Were political considerations involved in Biden's selection? I'm sure they were. But I also don't belive that they were the only considerations, and he was arguably the most logical choice if you ignored politics.

Palin will bring the same lift to the Republican ticket that Geraldine Ferraro did for the Dems, and possibly less - she is even less qualified.

(In McCain's defense, Obama did have a much better pool from which to draw. Personally, I would have been delighted with Clinton, Richardson or Bayh. Or Gore.)



[This message has been edited by Michael Cantor (edited August 29, 2008).]

[Todd Hopkins]

I heard someone say this:

"She hits every single note McCain needs to hit to successfully steal the most in-play demographic right now: people who rely on the news media... {to decide their vote}."

So far, so good.....


Regards,
Todd

[Laura Heidy-Halberstein]

Originally posted by Tim Murphy:
Everyone is going to want to know about the mom who just bore child number five, knowing it was a Downe's baby, at age 44. Whose eldest leaves for Iraq next month. Who went from PTA to governor of Alaska in 12 years. It's a story.

Let's just hope it's not another fairy tale.

Personally, having brought forth three children in great pain and agony, I distrust any woman capable of going back to work when her child is just 3 days old.
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/382560.html