Palin's Profound Experience

to Donbury:

I guess even professional writers sometimes completely miss obvious points and make pretty poor arguments of their own.

First, the point. I was refuting the notion that Romney is "no more qualified by government experience" than Palin. I didn't say that Palin is unqualified, but I could see why her supporters might be sensitive to frank discussions of her experience.

"[Romney's] weakness was his electability when you factor in the data from his campaign."

You mean the part where he split the conservative vote with Huckabee, allowing McCain to win? Palin is being sold as a strong conservative - how is that different from Romney? And besides - since when is a general election about trying to pick up more of your core voters, as opposed to more swing voters? Palin's primary qualification for being selected as McCain's running mate is that she's a woman. If she were a man, she would never have been considered.

What Romney would have brought to the ticket is a stranglehold knowledge of economic matters. When the economy is such a big issue, passing up an opportunity to completely dominate the topic is a gigantic blunder. As it is, nobody on either ticket has any real background to show a solid grasp of economic factors.

"Then your 'logic' that small towns are not a relevant training ground [sic] is silly. Small towns do turn out people who are incompetent to take on larger challenges, AND vice versa."

First off, do you know what "vice versa" means? Secondly, I didn't argue that small towns are not good places for people to gain experience; again, you argue against conclusions that you seem to think are apparent from the facts.

So, does having been a small town mayor add to a person's Presidential qualifications? Not much, I say. It's kind of like saying that being a manager qualifies a person to be CEO. Yes, it's on a good path, but it's a lot closer to the beginning of the path than the end.

Is it more applicable than being a "community organizer"? Yes. Of course, at the time Obama was doing that, Palin was a television sports reporter. Apples to Apples please, Governor.

The real damage in the Palin nomination is not her lack of qualifications, but that it completely counters the McCain campaign's entire strategy. Right up until her selection, all that was heard from the McCain campaign was that Obama is not ready to be President. By selecting a vice presidential candidate who is not clearly better qualified, the McCain campaign has compromised its own best weapon.

Palin gave a great speech tonight. She is a natural political talent (like Senator Obama).

I don't care what jobs you have had before that kind of talent is rare and if the Republican Party is smart they will keep the pit bull in lipstick around.

As for writing . . . I love to write. I love to think (a professional hazard) and hopefully what I write here will help people think.

I teach Socratically so I have a thick skin. College students give you one. My goal: let people know that traditional Christians do not want a theocracy, are not evil, live next to you, go to school with you, and think much as you do on most things.

Where we disagree, let's do so hard. Turn up the heat and let's follow the argument where it leads! After that, like the Democratic Speaker of the House and Ronald Reagan . . . let's go have an adult beverage together (or a Diet Coke if you prefer!) and discuss what we have in common.

Yes, I am a mean old lion. I am also an atheist who is not fond of hypocrisy whether it be Christian hypocrisy or conservative hypocrisy or liberal hypocrisy or atheistic hypocrisy. What annoyed me when I ran into the comments on this blog was the wholesale hypocrisy in almost all of the liberal comments. To paraphrase:

Liberal: good. Me: (pointing at self) liberal. Republican: bad. (Pointing at Palin.) Republican woman: especially bad. (Self righteous
snort.)

Gimme a break! Palin may have her faults but she wasn't being a hypocrite to her Christian values by supporting a pregnant teenage daughter, or by seeking public office, or by fishing or hunting, or by visiting her troops in the Mid-east. What hypocrisy are you talking about beside your own?

I know Christian hypocrisy when I see it. Palin ain't it.

About Palin I've seen a ton of liberal hypocrisy in a matter days. Women (Democrats) who have staunchly defended a woman's right to have a life outside of family, condemning Palin for daring to hold political office when she has children to care for. Pro-choice robots condemning Palin for choosing to keep a baby they would have FORCED her to abort. (I'm pro-choice but not a robot.)
Liberals telling us that Obama's lack of experience is a virtue while at the same time telling us that all of Palin's experience isn't good enough. Etc, etc.

So .... how about liberal hypocrisy? You are willing to condemn Republicans for all sorts of sins you tout as liberal virtues. Wasn't it Christ who asked you to clean up your own house before throwing stones? There is more liberal hypocrisy on this comment page than I could possibly comment on here.

Dear Mr. Donbury

A few times in the past, I have criticized Mr. Reynolds's writing style, and he commented this time that he was sorry that he could never seem to please me.

So when a panelest replies to a comment, it is a little startling to me, that they are really there and are, apparently, real people.

And if I have hurt his feelings, which I think I have, then it is because I made thoughtless comments without much regard that they are directed to a real person.

I do not understand Mr. Reynolds at all, and perhaps this misunderstanding is not by his writing style, but because the experiences our lives have just been so different.

In the south, where I am from, all of life was about race, and I learned from an early age that "conservatives" were the bad guys and the "liberals" were the good guys.

Even though I have the strongest Christian background and beliefs, from a heritage that sturggled against the old southern Conservative Christian status qho, what I fear most is the rising influence of the Christianist-Dominionist quasi-fascist intrusion of an alien religous othodoxy into my life. Hopefully I will die before that happens.

Dear Mr. Donbury, your sarcasm was a little mean; I am sure Mr. Reynolds does not need your mean spiteful defense; in fact, that is part of the problem.

I do not think the question of Sarah Palin is very important because I believe Obama will win the election. But I do see this whole affair as somewhat hypcritical, that Conservative Christianist-Dominionst, or alternatively, low-brow Born Again types, feel free to comment on the private sex lives of anyone and everyone, and to judge people by the correctness of their religious belief, and who parade around family values, unto themselves alone, and then they say mind your own business, when the same standard of judgement is used against them.

Liberals do not care if Sarah Palin has an unwed pregnant daughter. The criticism is about hypocrysy, and the funny thing is that the conservative hypocrites don't even get it, but think it is a sincere moral judgement.

If Conservative Christians think that teenage pregnancy is a problem that happens and that we must face it and deal with it, then they are just now catching up to where liberals have been for a very long time.

I am sorry to John Mark Reynolds for being a little mean in the past, and I will try very, very hard to "hold my tongue" in the future, when I read something of his that strikes me as being a little weird of off-beat.

"Read: Sarah Palin is too much focused on issues between the legs."

This does appear to be the new Roveian strategy.

Some folks like that.

Who knew?

As a Lion prowling around "Daniel and the Lion's Den" let me munch a bit on Daniel's flesh. I am a professional writer and I DID proofread John Mark Reynold's article on Sarah Palin: it is a habit that writer's get into from proofreading their own work. What I got from compulsively proofing Daniel's comment-"criticism", his arrogant "essay on proofreading" (see above)is that Daniel is a born bore who learned how to spell early on in his life and is now resting on his laurels. He reminds me of University meetings I used to attend where the professors would argue about things like how to spell "et cetera" in order to avoid dealing with the proposition at hand.

Can't deal with Palin, eh? Daniel, you must be a Democrat. Munch, munch! You are better tasting than Christians.

Dear Daniel,

Well, I do use a proof reader . . . but obviously not one that has your sense of when something is a "ramble."

I actually think one strength of new media is that (unlike a paper) one can think through an idea. I am not a columnist. I am a blogger.

My wife does also read my stuff . . . and is my toughest critic, but by the time you read it, she likes it (more or less).

Perhaps I just am no good at this and the Wa-Po will decide this in the future.

As it is I am thankful for your comments, do read them, and try to keep them in mind when I write.

John Mark

You do not need to apologize to me for not being able to please me. Just get a proof reader.

A proof reader does not need to be an expert in anything, but only needs to let you know that something in your article doesn't seem to make sense. Maybe you could ask you wife to proof read for you, or maybe you might get irriated with her criticisms.

So maybe you could ask someone to proof read your artilces, that you are not so wrapped up with emotionallly.

I notice that you write very long articles compared to many other panelists. I do not think it is because you have more to say, it is because you ramble. A proof reader would help point out when you start to ramble, then you would just edit and abbreviate.

Also, you know if you understand something or not, if you try to explain it to others. If you understand it, then it is easy to explain. If you do not, then you get all twisted and confused. I think, often, perhaps you do not know your own mind and your own beliefs, and you should work on understanding these things as they relate to a given topic, even before you start to write anything at all.

If you are really having a hard time putting forth your thoughts easily and simply, then you should take a break, and think the whole thing through more, and then try again.

To write a good article, most people go through a number of drafts, 5 to 10 at least; just keep editing, proof reading, and re-writing. It is not that hard to do with a computer.

Why hasn't Mr. Gerson come up with a new article to apply his Evangelical Republican spin to?? I'm waiting!!

I want to ridicule not Mr. Gerson PER SE, but the hypocritical gun-toting, meth using "religious right", you know, the people of this earth that are closest to God and believe in "His judgment" for people who have not followed his word.

The same ones who believe in separatism for the State of Alaska, you know what I mean! The same people who invoke the name of God, over and over, in public speeches and elsewhere, just as Adolph Hitler did in Germany before he began exterminating human beings.

Sarah Pahin uses poor judgment and the GOP makes her out to be a hero!
This election should not be about Sarah Pahin not having an abortion.
This election should be about her not using the good judgment to use birth control.
Any intelligent person knows that when you choose to have unprotected sex at 43
you have a very high probability of having a child with Downs Syndrome.
The republicans are making her out to be a hero because she used the bad
judgment not to prevent the pregnancy in the first place.

The woman is a zealot.

"are sending [U.S. soldiers] out on a task that is from God," her own words

Anyone who believes that the war in Iraq is a task from God is cocoo for Cocoa Puffs.

Bravo! Great article.

Reply to BS Detector:

Evidently you haven't been around enough BS to be a good detector. And commanding US voters to "think" won't do you squat. They all think and thinking with the neural stuff we have up there is not a logical process. I'm a mathematician who specialized in logic and I can assure you of that.

Romney would have had my support and probably yours. His weakness was his electability when you factor in the data from his campaign. Then your "logic" that small towns are not a relevant training ground is silly. Small towns do turn out people who are incompetent to take on larger challenges, AND vice versa. So what? Big cities -- example: Washington, Chicago, Detroit, Sacramento -- have a marvelous record for turning out sweet talking crooks. Big states? Almost all of the representatives that come out of California are majorly incompetent.

So you don't look at the size of the village. Chicago is not a recommendation for Obama. The Chicago political scene is a major training ground for crooks. You don't look at the size of the state. California is a major exporter of do-nothing politicians, blowhards, and politicians clothed in pork barrels.

You look at the politician. Palin looks good.

My own experiences as a PTA member/newsletter editor/volunteer, participant in local government matters, and a successful work-from-home mom are absolutely valuable. That's not the question.

Not for one second do I believe any mother could spend sufficient time with five children, one an infant with special needs, and one pregnant at age 17, while campaigning for the vice presidency.

If Evangelical Christians and the Republican party hold true to family values, it's inconceivable that they would hold her up as an exemplary model of motherhood and womanhood.

It's also disingenuous, sir, to chide people for judging her experience as lacking. We voters did not choose the yardstick against which she should be measured -- she and John McCain did. And like it or not, the yardstick for Vice Presidency (and potential presidency) is pretty tough to measure up to.

Sarah Palin doesn't even come close. Maybe if the voters reject her, she'll appropriately consider it a sign from the Lord, and focus on her family's needs, rather than her own ambition.

"Mitt Romney, the man I backed for president, was no more qualified by government experience to be president than Sarah Palin . . . if we only count their time in politics."

Please, anybody who's still willing to use his or her head, THINK about this argument. Palin's elective experience consists of less than two years as governor of Alaska, and ten years or so as a council member and mayor.

First, the Wasilla service. As of the 2000 census, Wasilla had fewer than 5,500 residents. It has, according to an 3/2/05 Anchorage Daily News article, Wasilla had 11 traffic lights. Here's what City Hall looks like: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Wasilla_AK_City_Hall.jpg. This is a SMALL town. For perspective, here are some local 2000 census populations:

Triangle VA: 5,500
Mount Airy MD: 6,425
La Plata MD: 6,551
Warrenton VA: 6,670
Farmville VA: 6,845
Fort Belvoir VA: 7,176
Andrews AFB MD: 7,925
Manassas Park VA: 10,290
Falls Church VA: 10,377
Vienna VA: 14,453
Hyattsville MD: 14,733
Herndon VA: 21,655
Salisbury MD: 23,743

Now, governor of Alaska. Recent estimates of Alaska's population put it at fewer than 700,000. That's fewer residents than Fairfax County, fewer than PG County, fewer than Montgomery County. There are 80 other COUNTIES in the U.S. with higher populations than Alaska. Massachusetts, by comparison, has roughly ten times as many residents as Alaska.

Then there are the special fiscal circumstances Alaska enjoys. Please take a look at Alaska's budget - of $12.3 billion of revenue, $5.9 billion comes either from the federal government or from oil production taxes and royalties. Add to this the oil dividend paid to Alaska residents, and it's apparent that oil pays for virtually all government in Alaska. Where are the tough fiscal choices that every other state faces?

The idea that Romney is no more qualified than Palin based on elected experience is laughable.

Terrific column. Experience from the real world of life has rarely been so eloquently defended.

All this is very sweet. But it does not negate the fact that Sarah is stunningly ill-equipped to step in as President of the United States. It's an insult to Women. It's an insult to Men.

That McCain would pander to evangelicals and put the whole US at risk. McCain has disqualified himself in the process.

Looking at Sarah Palin campaigning and the entire fuss about her disabled child and the pregancy of her daughter and her taking an 8 hour plane ride at the onset of labor for the birth of her child, and the planned happy end for her pregnant daughter etc. etc. I get the sense that her decisions and actions exist only to showcase herself. Never is there a question of what the effect of her actions are on her children, her husband, others. The world turns around and exists only for herself. Her standpoints exist only to further her narcissisim, they weren't arrived at by experience and conscious choice. It would seem to me that someone a bit more introspective, observing of others' needs, of other peoples' and countries' standpoints and from what life experience they came to them, would make for better government. It takes modesty for that, that modesty which is wisdom. I haven't seen any of that in her show so far.

I go for rounded women who have the energy and the will and the ability to do a lot of things with their life. Love 'em. But I don't have to knock a woman when she comes up short, and I don't have to moan that she might be taking on more than she can chew. Sarah Palin is my kind of woman and I found John Mark Reynolds' assessment of her hit the gong. I'll support her the whole way.

I'm also and old geezer whose fondest memory of John McCain is of him riding around on a tricycle back during the War (the real war, #II). I'm an unrepentant atheist and not really a conservative. I'm so radical I listen to Obama's speeches and wonder where he got all those reactionary honey ideas that have ALL failed miserably before he was born -- a fact that many in the younger generation fail to appreciate because they lack history. I'm not a Christian, but I find authentic Christians, like Palin, easy to work with. The people I can't work with are ideologues who think they have a unique access to reality -- such as asses like "Daniel in the Lion's Den" and others similar donkeys who post above. The way they articulate themselves on the net as "pro-choice" and then immediately tell us that Palin shouldn't be allowed the choice of having a political career because of her five children tells me they are mindless ideologues spouting a line from some Goebbels script -- tell a lie enough times and the illiterate masses (you) will believe it is true.

I remember a Biden speech in which he was telling us how stupid and naive and gullible HE was to have believed all the "lies" that Bush told him prior to the Iraq adventure. Then he went on to tell us how brilliant and astute and penetrating he was to be criticizing Bush after the fact. Palin is such a relief after that kind of egomania from a man who pretends to be on the top of his job.

Being an atheist and all that, I probably wouldn't agree with Palin on everything and might even oppose her from time to time. I remember long ago when abortion was illegal and I wrote an article about how terrible our society treated its pregnant unmarried -- almost immediately young women in trouble began to turn up at my door in need of help. For the next two years, until abortion became legal, I counseled about 200 women and tried to give them what help I could. Mostly they just needed a good abortionist who wasn't a butcher or a sex maniac because there was no way they could care for a child in their current circumstances. Some didn't have a mother like Palin they could turn to.

Boy do I respect Sarah Palin! Respect comes not from the choices we make -- we all choose -- but from taking responsibility for those choices -- unlike Biden who chose to go to war to help the Iraqi people depose a bloody tyrant and then did his best to abort the war with the most callous consideration for the Iraqi people he was willing to put at risk. "Let them kill themselves," is how the whole collective of Democrats put it.

Palin can be my General any day even though you'd never catch me in a church with her. Integrity. I like it. I haven't got a God to bless her and I don't pray. But votes count.

For an associate professor of philosophy this article is horrendously illogical. Worse, it also lacks facts to support its underlying assertion: that people (women in particular) are often judged as unsuitable for certain high-profile positions if they don’t have experience in business and/or government. The secondary point you make about your wife not getting the respect she deserves because she doesn’t work in high-profile business or government positions is well taken, but not directly relevant to Palin’s potential career as VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

In an attempt to try and salvage the logic of your article, the question really becomes: WHAT IS PALIN’S EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY AND CIVIC WORK OUTISDE OF GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS THAT YOU ARE PRAISING???! You don’t mention any facts.

Palin majored in business, and minored in political science. She was a journalist for a few years in the late 1980s. Promptly after, she began her political career in 1992!
From the sounds of it, Palin doesn’t really have any worthwhile “civic” experience. She certainly doesn’t have anywhere near the community worker experience that many people seem to wish Barak Obama skipped to get into politics quicker.

I’m happy for your wife, and sorry that she doesn’t get enough credit for her good deeds. But your wife doesn’t only a daily basis determine the livelihoods of millions of people. IT TAKES A SPECIAL KIND OF PERSON TO DO THIS. One with experience in the social sphere, but also in-depth knowledge of business and government.

Whether you or we like it or not, business and government rule the world systems we have created. The social sphere of course, also plays an intertwined role.

I suggest you ask someone with business or government experience to look over your writing next time.

the country is in a crisis. We need new leaders that come to Washington prepared to work and very knowledgeable in foreign affairs. This is necessary not only for our safety but also for our economy. Our economy is Global and it is no longer us against them. Ask any stockholder almost most of the profits are made overseas.

Sara Palin has shown poor judgment. Why would she bring a special needs child into this world and then not be there for him? She has six children to tend to. They should be her first priority. Why would anyone let a child have a child. A baby isn't a toy. What happened to adoption or is that a bad choice/

Too bad Governor Romney was less sensitive about Jane Swift's maternal wisdom.

It's amazing that John McCain effectively said that, of all the people in the country that he would personally choose to be president, this woman is his first choice.

But trying to spin the Palin pregnancy issue as some wonderful evidence of her character is beyond moronic because any good family should stand behind their daughter, no matter what their politics are.

Secondly, it's obviously a POLITICAL expediency to push the two kids into marriage, a life long commitment for which they may not even be at all suited. Of all things, it's now the Republicans who seem to be equating readiness for marriage simply with functioning genitals. Because people are ambitious beyond belief and immersed in illogical belief systems, they bypass the necessary thinking about the actual welfare of the young people.

Just because they made a mistake and she's now pregnant doesn't mean that they are at all ready for marriage. Whatever happened to the idea of people marrying because they're MATURE enough, that they have enough life experience and have gone through enough counseling to make an informed decision?

All of the people involved are very vocal on abstinence, family values, etc. and the sanctity (not convenience) of marriage. But the message here is that if abstinence fails and they get pregnant everything will be made all right by having these children marry...and they are children. And looked at clearly it's more of a punishment of the two children so that the family (and the religious right) can spin it as some wonderful, noble thing.

It would have taken real guts for the family to just acknowledge the situation and say that the child will be raised within the family and the daughter will have responsibilities, etc. Then, if the couple prove to have the necessary maturity, actual love and devotion over time, etc. They could and should marry.

But not until then.

Actually, Palin's first indication of lack of good judgment was accepting the invitation to take a job that she's admittedly uninformed about and not qualified for. The next indication was her prioritizing her political ambitions above the significant, complex responsibilities that her daughter's pregnancy adds to her family obligations.

Oh yeah, I'm not voting for Obama either. Neither of the candidates are qualified to lead the country, as time will again prove. But this is a country that loves to live on image, spin and fantasy, which has gotten us into this no-win situation...along with plenty of others.

Michael Horn

I don't dislike Palin. As a women I am proud of her accomplishments. However, I don't like her policies. She is under investigation. There is indication that she has abused power. She left a small town in serious debt. She advances no issues important to women. They claim she has more experience than Obama. However, she should be compared to Biden which she can't hold a candle to. I'm a woman, I am stressed out of mind with family, work and etc. I know that I don't want this woman making decisions as a VP or President.

http://mudflats.wordpress.com/

Must Read "Troopergate"

http://dyn.politico.com/blogs/anneschroeder/index.cfm/CurrentPage/3/category/Antics

I would love to be able to vote for your wife. If she is all you say she is, then her culture, education, and worldly experience makes her a viable candidate.

On the other hand, Sarah Palin has none of those qualities. She may be a nice person, dedicated mother, good wife,maybe even a political talent. What she isn't is a person who knows here way past the tundra.

I can not believe she could be the president of the United States with no idea how Washington works. She will surround herself with the same kind of hard nosed ultra conservative political climbers that have made our country a laughing stock for the past 8 years. Her resume sounds so much like Geo Bush's it frightens me. The most prominent theme in her bio is loyalty. Unwavering loyalty. Break the rules, break the laws, just be loyal. Don't keep anyone who might challenge you or remind you that there are other opinions in the world.

She doesn't sound like a winner to me.

4 years on the city council of Wasila, Alaska (1992-1996)
4 years as mayor of Wasilla (1996-2002)
2 years as Governor of Alaska, 2006-2008

Barack Obama:

7 years in the Illinois Senate (1997-2004)
4 years as US Senator from Illinois (2004-2008)

Total time spent holding elected office:

Sarah Palin: 10
Barack Obama: 11

Now, let’s compare Illinois and Alaska (along with beautiful Wasilla) to get a feel of the responsibilities Sarah Palin and Barack Obama faced comparing the two states and how they stand nationally:

Population:

Illinois: No. 5 with 12.85 million people
Alaska: No. 47 with 683,000 people
Wasilla, Alaska: 6715 people

Illinois has 18.8 times the population of Alaska.
Illinois has 1914 times the population of Wasilla.

State budgets:

Illinois: $65 billion
Alaska: $5.5 billion
Wasilla, Alaska: $12 million ($0.012 billion)

Illinois has 11.8 times the budget of Alaska.
Illinois has 5417 times the budget of Wasila.

Gross Domestic Product:

Illinois: $560 billion, no. 5 nationally
Alaska: $39 billion, no. 45 nationally

Illinois contributes 14.4 times as much to the national gross domestic product as does Alaska.

Now, let’s look at how Illinois and Alaska govern themselves. Which state is more addicted to federal aid, which state has more bureaucrats, and which state sucks up more revenue from its citizens:

Federal aid per capita:

Alaska: No. 1 at $3699 per person. WE’RE NUMBER ONE! WE GET THE MOST FEDERAL WELFARE!
Illinois: No. 40 at $1176 per person

Alaska receives 3.15 times as much federal aid per person as Illinois! And this does not include the Bridge to Nowhere. It’s gone nowhere so far, but who knows what might happen if we had a President from Alaska who supported the Bridge to Nowhere before it became politically unfashionable.

State governmental full-time employment per 10,000 residents:

Illlinois: 104, no. 50--DEAD LAST nationally in the relative size of its government!
Alaska: 370, no. 2! Second in the nation in the size of its government! Oh, no, we’re not number 1! But we’re close!

Alaska has 3.56 times as many government employees per capita as Illinois!

State government revenue per capita:

Alaska: $13,446 per person. Number 1 nationally. WE’RE NUMBER 1! WE HAVE THE BIGGEST STATE GOVERNMENT!
Illinois: $4819, no. 37 nationally.

Alaska extracts 2.78 times as much revenue from its citizens as Illinois!

All things being said, she is still under investigation in her own state for abusing her power as governor. It is unwise to add someone who is currently under an investigation for unethical behavior. She may be innocent, but one should wait and see. Can you image giving this person the power of the VP office? She is accused of misusing her powers as a governor. Can you image the pressure that is now placed on the daughter’s boyfriend’s family? What a mess and this is only the first presidential decision McCain has done thus far.

I am amazed to read something positive in the Washington Post about Sarah Palin. I am a Democrat who felt demoralized by the way Hillary Clinton was treated by the media, the public, and the DNC. Now it is deja vu watching the one sided public pilloring of Sarah Palin who has yet to have the opportunity to tell us her story.

Women do need to organize and mobilize for one cause - equal opportunity and respect. Clearly it does not matter where a woman stands on any issue or which party she represents - if she is a woman she will be held to a double standard. Sarah Palin's experience as a mayor and a governor is being ridiculed in the same manner Hillary Clinton's foreign affairs experience as First Lady was completely trashed.

It is time for women to make a vote that counts and vote for a woman. This is one Democrat who will be doing that for all the Democratic women in my life - from my mother to my daughters. Divided we will remain belittled second class citizens.

For the record, I am not even remotely qualified to be Vice President of the United States, despite all the insights I've gained from talking to hundreds of young men and women and conversations I've had at the dining room table.

The issue is not that a woman should not be selected it is just that this woman is not the best choice. She has too much on her plate as a mother of a child with a disability and a teenage daughter who is about to become a mother. With the responsibility of war, economy, education, social security, immigration, etc.and moving everyone from Alaska to DC, I just can not believe this woman can fairly serve her family which God challenges us all to put first; her country and most importantly be fair to herself.

It is an awesome opportunity to any one selected, but is it truly fair to this woman, her husband, her children and to every citizen of the United States.

Palin is a hypocrite! Her statement: "We're proud of Bristol's decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents."

'Decision' to have her baby? Did Bristol REALLY have a choice? The same choice that Palin now wants to deny all Americans?

Palin would not be a hypocrite if she said "We forced Bristol keep her baby and are proud to become grandparents."

It seems to me sarah education has been based on
good works and around dinner tables. We live in a
dangereous World nowhere in her education does it
mention she has met the thrshold of knowing about
different cultures. How will she handle the middle
east. John mccain is practicaly dead.What will happen, when she's thrust upon the world stage as President of the united states enough with this red and blue states if we don't come together as the united states of america we will
destroy ourselves look at whats happening to Condi Rice no one respects her what has she accomplished as secretary Of state this women has
world class education.As an american Im suppose to trust this women who's from nameless small private college take us where dumb george bush was
suppose to I don't think so one of geoge w failings was he didn't do very well in school,he didn't understand what it takes to be a leader of
the free world he saw terrorist in the wrong country he lied to make the case for war in IraQ
he brought down Tony Snow in England. No Palin go
back to alaska.

c

It’s certainly the right of the Palins to make a choice that 90% of other couple do not make. The problem is that the anti-abortion views that Palin supports would take away that choice from everyone else by outlawing abortion, even in the case of rape and incest, and apparently congenital retardation and deformity.

What a bunch of neochristian crap. Annie Oakley is a token woman and evangelical and not a good example of either. She threw her daughter, who she already screwed up by teaching abstinence instead of sex education, under the bus for her own selfish aspirations.

What is probably the most bizarre is the idea she would appeal to Hillary's feminists just because she is a woman and even though her Bible thumping astigmatism says women should be subservient to their husbands.

Geraldo

I wish you could unclench your heart and be happy Obama and his family, the first black candidate by a major party to run for President of the United States.

I guess all of this goes RIGHT over your head, as you spin you half-truths, and down-right lies about him. You want to believe only the worst about him. How can you ever know anything good about him, when you tune out all of the good, and are open to all of the bad, and in fact, have your radar out, seeking only the bad, and are deaf to anything good about him?

He is the hope of the future. I cannot wait to air out the White House after 8 LONG years of lies, deceptions, bad faith, crookedness, even gangsterism, torture, and subversion, and mindless, ignorant, bumbling incompetence.

This Presidency has been a DISASTER for America, and any religion or reliigous point of view, that bows down to these people, are obviously defective, from top to bottom, and should be cast off and cast aside.

Vote For Change:
McCain chooses a pregnant 17 year old running mate who was convicted of drunk driving 20 years ago, and we are supposed to believe he fully vetted his choice? What do he think we are, stupid?

-- You're the quintessential Obama voter. Good luck and good night.

Governor Palin has had much more executive experience than Senator Obama. During her tenure as Governor, she has vetoed hundreds of bills. Obama has spent literally the last 16 months of his only term in the United States Senate running for President.

Obama voted PRESENT on a large number of bills to come before the Illinois State Senate. Governor Palin has had the courage to speak up for what she thinks is right. Obama gladly refers to his part in the effort to pass an Ethics Reform Bill. What Obama fails to tell you is that when the rubber met the road, Obama switched and voted along party lines to kill the Ethics Reform Bill. WHAT COURAGE INDEED SENATOR! And how hypocritical of you to now try and take credit for your actions. And what an act of dishonesty to try and hoist this farce upon the American People!

And what about your previous claims to be "A Different Kind Of Politician"? What about your claim that you are willing to debate all of the issues? If that is the truth, then why won't you let the American public see the extent to which you ad Bill Ayers were connected during the time you both served on a board together? You so conveniently let your political hack Mayor Daley refuse to let the public examine those very records. Are they currently being redacted, modified, amended, edited, or disposed of in some manner? What are you hiding Senator? If as you claim, there was no connection, then why don't you simply call for the records to be produced and clear the air? If there was no connection, as you claim, then what would it hurt for the public to be able to examine the records? What are you trying to hide Senator Obama?

Governor Palin has had much more experience as Commander in Chief than has Senator Obama. Governor Palin was Commander in Chief of The Alaska National Guard, some of whom are currently serving in Iraq and in Afghanistan. Obama's political and social association with Bill Ayers is perhaps Obama's closest association to fighting and bombing that Obama has had in his brief career.

Governor Palin has clearly demonstrated her political courage and her intention to act on behalf of the citizens. Obama is so lacking when it comes to political courage that he couldn't even denounce his RACIST, HATE SPEWING PASTOR, saying "I could no more disavow him (Wright) than I could disavow my own grandmother". Obama later DID disavow The RACIST PASTOR Wright, but ONLY AFTER Wright had made disparaging, insulting, and humiliating remarks regarding Obama himself during an interview at The Washington Press Club.

John Kennedy's book "Profiles In Courage" was clearly written to demonstrate the exact opposite of Obama's level of political courage. Not only would Obama not even receive a footnote mention, JFK might even use the Obama / Wright scandal to clearly demonstrate exactly what a Lack of Moral and Political Courage means.

Clearly the #2 on The Republican ticket has more experience than the #1 on the Democratic ticket. And what about Joe Biden's 2 brain surgeries? Seems like old Joe ain't in the best of health himself, meaning that Nancy Pelosi might be only a heartbeat away from the office of President. Wouldn't that be nice?

Governor Palin is the only candidate on either ticket to support what millions of Americans from both parties support, than being drilling in ANWAR. She is perhaps most qualified to speak to that subject since it is in her back yard. Alaskans are by their very nature conservationsists and Governor Palin is no exception. Governor Palin has a record of fighting the Big Oil Companies over what is right and what is in the public's interest. Obama, Pelosi, Harry Reid, and Old Joe Biden all want to keep our American oil away from us and force the American economy to continue to pump billions into the economy of Iran, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Venesuela. Opening up ANAWR would mean lots of jobs in the lower 48 states building the necessary support equipment and exploration equipment necessary to get at that oil. I guess Senator Obama doesn't really care about jobs that much then? Lets just ship the exploration jobs overseas to the Saudis then right Senator?

Obama was successful in defeating Hillary by allowing sexist remarks to emerge. THen the Obama camp played the Rac card against Bill and Hillary Clinton. Obama has done much to try and put women in their place. Governor Palin may just prove to be Obama's undoing. Careful with those sexist remarks Senator Obama. We have all seen how your campaign staff spews forth the sexist remarks while you allow yourself to seem above the fray. But women everywhere are beginning to see the pattern emerge here, and I doubt they will take it any more. You chose someone who received less than 2,000 votes over a qualified woman who had received over 18, million votes. You did that because you are a self centered sexist who can't stand to have a woman speak the truth about you. Some Hillary supporters now realize exactly what you did Senator and they won't be fooled so easily the next time around.

Where did she go to school and what has been her diversity experence?

If the selection of Sarah Palin is representative of the quality of John McCain's judgment and decisions I am scared to death for the future of this country, should he be elected.

I am not really impressed by Ms. Palin's choice to have a fifth child when she already had so much on her plate. If she's not the Republican VP nominee, how would she be judged? An absentee mother of a pregnant teen? Her choices, do we applaud all? Really...such spin coming out of the Republican Party, and their Evangelical toadies.

I agree with the general concepts you present; however, you do not provide any specific examples of this great experience Palin is supposed to have.

John McCain is unlikely to survive his 4 year presidency given his health problems and the stresses of the job. Heaven forbid that this evangelical fascist should become president of the USA and leader of the free world.

"The Democratic Party should be warned that they are playing with electoral fire if they act as if all of Palin's life experience is not of value."
"There should be no double standard for Sarah Palin's equally rich non-governmental experience. The fact that she has not spent her entire adult life in government is a good thing . . . providing we also know (as we do) that she can make the transition."

It is interesting to me that Republicans can't see these same strengths in Barack Obama's background-- he spent years as a community organizer working at the grassroots level, going door-to-door, attending meetings in churches and civic centers and working to find ways to make people's everyday lives better (probably doesn't count since many of them were people of color I suppose?) and yet he is criticized by conservatives for not having enough experience and then they have the chutzpah to say that Palin's experiences outside of government/business ARE of value??? PUH-LEEZE!!!! Oh, and did I mention that Obama went to HARVARD (while Palin went to the University of Idaho)?

this whole palin (in)experience and family mess reeks of hypocrisy, incoherence, and irrelevance.

how she raises her children and their actions should be a private matter. but this ideal is confounded by several factors. first, the conservative right touts family values and seeks to impose its moral worldview on sex, marriage, adoption, parenting, etc., on everyone else. second, conservatives are now saying (out of one side of their mouth) the family's dirty secrets are off limits and irrelevant. out of the other side of their mouth, they are saying that sarah palin's experience as a mother makes her qualified to be vp, regardless of her short and small-time political career. things get even more incoherent then... sarah is not even the primary caretaker. her husband is the one that stays home with the children, while she pursues her career. so, my question is what experience does her being a mother bring? of course being a mother is hard work, but have we ever said that being a father qualified one to be vp? why not? if sarah has the role that is traditionally/stereotypically thought of as the breadwinner (traditionally the man), then are her apologists simply saying that she is qualified because she birthed 4 kids?

I have no doubt that Palin is a fine woman. some may disagree with me, citing the apparent hypocrisy of claiming to be an anti-corruption politician while being under an abuse of power investigation herself or citing the apparent hypocrisy of firmly believing in abstinence only education when it clearly didn't work on her own daughter or citing the apparent family values hypocrisy of her neglecting her new born special needs child and pregant teenaged daughter while she spends full time on the campaign trail. I won't discuss the apparent irony of claiming to be a maverick while being a runner up in a beauty contest which requires contestants to strictly conform to society's expectations of beauty and political correctness when dressing and answering questions. I don't think it is relevant when liberal bloggers point out that the reform minded Palin hires lobbyists to secure millions in pork for her state. She, like Cheney, has been successful in what she has set out to do, so it is totally irrelevant how she got there and how her character and values as implemented in her life would affect how should would govern as vice president. That is entirely her business and none of ours.

What is relevant to the debate however, is how John McCain has talked about the need for experience in general and in national defense in particular throughout the campaign season and winds up picking a candidate with no national experience, no experience in national defense (save for insuring, as head of the Alaska national guard, that the polar bears and other arctic animals on the other side of the Bering Strait don't launch and surprise attack on the US through Alaska) and who has to ask "what does a vice president do anyway?" As for the fact that Palin disagrees with most Americans on the most important issues is of no consequence regarding her ability to serve as second in command to a 72 year old cancer surviver.

What kind of Mom is she to take away her own Daughter's Son (Trig) to herself?

Ross Perot deserves to be VP more than SP:

Pros:
1. He does not carry SP baggage. He also happens to be very popular among Evangelical voters.
2. His patriotism is unquestioned, and needs no introduction.
3. He has good amount of support from latinos.
4. He can contribute to fund raising handsomely.
5. The best: he is a legendary visionary

Cons:
1. McCain may have to swallow a bit of you know what.
2. George W. Bush may have to swallow a bit of you know what.

wow, this was incredibly inept. to say Palin is an excellent civic leader because she gained insights into the family business and the pta is lacking. these could *perhaps* be as important as corporate management IF the person has no higher aspirations. the issue is that dealing with a multinational corporation, managing corp/social/regional cultures and effect results is more meaningful on this ticket than managing a small town. just because you can deal with a secluded town does not translate skills to international experience (and she did NOT defend the border against the Russians).

it seems to me that the problem with Palin is a chain of decisions that could have more direct affect on the average citizen, when condensed as necessary in this arena, is dubious at best: 1. push for abstinence-until-marriage but her underaged/unwed daughter is pregnant 2. she is defending against a legislative probe surrounding the possible abuse of power for the reason to fire the ex-husband of her sister and then the firing of the police commissioner who refused to do it. 3. her prior stance on forwarding Alaska's secession. these can point to issues about her difficulties to manage her own home, a possible vindicative nature willing to abuse her executive privileges, and an isolationist nature.

mostly, i think the reverse argument of this article is worth considering... that if you know someone long enough, you are probably subjectively assigning/projecting certain values over others. i'm sure your wife is a fine woman, but i would also hazard a guess that there are significant numbers of people who dislikes many of the qualities you prefer -- which is fine because she doesn't represent a huge contingent -- but less acceptable for someone who will have such an impact on so many areas of so many lives in the US.

Wait. What?

Dr. John Mark Reynolds, thanks for the insightful article. I think that it is well written and concise.

I plan to catch up with you on your other blog site later tonight, at Scriptoriumdaily.com Talk with you then.

Sarah Palin became pregnant before she herself married. Did she learn anything from that experience? She and the Republicans continue to insist on teaching abstinence to kids while refusing to consider sex education that would help teens prevent unwanted pregnancy through the use of condoms, the morning-after pill, etc., etc. Now her own unmarried daughter is pregnant at age 17 and has no choice but to marry her HS sweetheart, a self-described redneck who doesn't want kids. There's a pair who are off to a great start. Good job Sarah, but it sounds like maybe you've got enough to do without worrying about how the VP spends his/her days.

I will be voting for McCain/Palin, and I would have voted for Romney if I had had the chance.

I agree that it's a positive thing that Palin has a well-rounded background - an outsider - rather than someone who has been sitting in the Senate for 30 years, with no fresh views. That's part of her appeal. But it is hard to compare her couple years of experience helping to run a small family business with running a massive multi-year successful operation like the Olympics. That certainly made Romney more qualified as a chief executive in my mind.

I don't think anyone is denigrating her past experience. They're just saying it's not enough to qualify her for the role of Vice President when there is a very real chance the President will not live out his first term.

Additionally, there are questions surrounding her work - as in the quality and ethical standards she approached said work with.

Then there's the hypocrite aspect. The McCain campaign and conservatives across the board have been trying to blast Obama for being inexperienced and then they choose someone who is less experienced in government than even Dan Quayle to be their VP nominee and all of a sudden (because they can't backtrack on their previous statements on the experience requirement) are now forced to tout the line that her experience in fact surpasses Obama's.

You will see a widespread rejection of this selection. Not because they think her time at the PTA and as Mayor of a town of 7000 and then as Governor of the 48th least populous state for a mere 18 months doesn't necessarily make you qualified to be Vice President. Karl Rove even went on record last week saying that being a one term Governor is definitely not sufficient experience to be Vice President (of course he was talking about Democrat Tim Kaine at the time, now he sings a different tune).

Let me tell you about the Sarah Palin we REALLY know. First off within five minutes of her announcement of VP she pleads to Hillary voters in a sad pathetic attempt that amounts to pure pandering. Second She LIES about her opposistion of the "bridge to nowhere" in Alaska. She fails to mention her 17 year old daughter is pregnant, which in and of itself is no real issue but only becomes one because of her abstinence only posistion with respect to sex education. Then She fails to mention her membership in Alaska Independence Party, a seperatist group that wants to succeed Alaska from the union. She is under investigation for "Troopergate" which might make her the first VP in history to be imprisoned before she even gets the chance to be sworn in. Her creationism views are intrussive and idiotic. This is very short list documetning the real Palin. To make matters worse this is only the beggining of the info begining to find its way to the light of day. Vetting Palin might have been a good idea especially since McCain had only met her ONE TIME before offering her the VP slot. McCain repeatedly stated his VP pick would be based on one sole criteria alone....someone who could be President from day one. Palin? Is Palin ready? Convincing the American people that she is might just be the most difficult thing the McCain has to accokplish amoungt his many other worries. Good luyck with that John and good luck to Palin. You willl need all the prayers you can squeeze.

Palin she needs to get off her high horse and focus on being a better mom. Her daughter's pregnancy is partially her own fault.

I am so amazed by this...every day we find out something new about this woman. What in the hell was McCain thinking?
1. Troopergate
2. "i supported the bridge b4 i was against it"
3. as mayor left her town in 20 million in debt
4. secured 27 million for a town of 6,800 all earmarks
5. for windfall profit tax on big oil
6. pregnant 17 y/o daughter
7. member of AIP "Alaska First" and wants to leave the unitated states

You call this a vetting process?? my 4 y/o daughter knows better than this!

Ms Palin obviously has NOT prioritized her duties. Family comes first. She has a teen-aged daughter who is pregnant and is obviously in trouble, and a Downs syndrome child. Yet she throws in her cap for a VP position. As a woman, I can tell you that an absent mother is not conducive to this situation. No use in mopping it all up by stating that she will marry the boyfriend to legalize it. If it is OK for a 17-year old to conceive a child out of wedlock, then why should the teen-aged parents rush into marriage after the fact?
Why is it Ok to have children out of wedlock for our teenagers? I have seen many media reports state that it is the present trend among our teenagers and therefore, we should find such behaviour not unusual.
If this is OK, is what John Edwards did OK? Where do we draw the line? What role model is Ms Palin setting to our daughters? She cannot run her home and she is she going to run the country as a VP? How believable is she? Is she making her daughter rush into marrying this boy to camouflage her flaws as a parent who should have instilled abstinence or at least safe sex? I think Mr McCain ruined his chances of putting the Republican party into the WH, and cared nothing about his Republican constituents by picking Ms Palin.

Nice comments. It seems they could equally be applied to Barack Obama, a man who has excelled in his home life, academia, law, community work, state politics, and national politics.

... And we should pray for not having a McCain administration ever.

My god, so to speak, you give the whole religion business a bad name.

If you supported Mitt Romney, then you should be upset like I am that a great experienced leader like Romeny was tossed under the bus by the Republican party because he was not considered to be "Christian" by Republicans. Palin was chosen to be VP because of her particluar religious veiws. Bush created a disaster by choosing people for their Christian views rather than competence.

Nice article...still does not qualify her to be president at moments' notice.

Sarah Palin is not qualified to be the President of the United States of America should something happen to McCain. PERIOD.

Talk about raising kids on republican morals? Or perhaps focus on the family raising? I mean rail against family planning all you want, this hillbilly raises her brood to do whatever even if you're not prepared. This whole scene is John McCains Admiral Stockdale moment. Way to go Johnny.

"Shouldn't every person rejoice that social policies and decisions will be made in a McCain administration with at least one person at the table who has shown outstanding civic, social, family, and business competence?"

Absolutely not. We should hope these regressive policies will never happen for the sake of the USA.

McCain chooses a pregnant 17 year old running mate who was convicted of drunk driving 20 years ago, and we are supposed to believe he fully vetted his choice? What do he think we are, stupid?

Ms Palin has

Look Reports are out today - the Father of Bristol Palins baby - doesnt want to be a father nor get married. More Republican spin.

John Mark Reynolds

I do not understand you, at all.

You misquoted me on a couple of points, but it is clear what I said, so, I will not bother to correct you; you are either very careless with the truth, or else you are disingenuous person of bad faith.

Sarah Palin is not qualitified to be President or Vice President. (The experience of your own wife is not relevant to this discussion, so I am not sure why you went into such a long explanation of it for comparision; you did not make this comparision clear).

Palin's daughter's pregnancy is being commented upon freely, because Conservative People, in general, have made it their business to comment on and judge people's private sex lives, personal religious views, and family values.

It is hypocrisy to reserve the right to severely judge others when it suits you, and then to get insulted when the EXACT same rules are used on people whom you wish to protect. It is sort of "love your neighbor" but pick and choose who qualitifes as your neighbor.

This is more than hypocrisy; it is blind denial, and total misunderstanding of reality, and of the way the world works.

I believe that Sarah Palin's name will be withdrawn and the Republicans will pick a different Vice Presidential nominee.

Utter crap.
I can see how Palin's experience as governor is a qualification for leadership. Her time in the PTA and as a mayor of a town of 9 thousand does not. During her tenure as Mayor she fired people for not voting for her. She has a history of abusing power. Her public policies are a mess, some good, mostly bad, where she has any at all. Threatening your fellow Americans not to "dis" Palin's experience in the PTA with your wife's vote, well your wife was voting for McCain anyway!

If the writer had any integrity (most self proclaimed "good people" have none) he'd be talking about Sarah's policies that are so good.
Why is being against sex education a good thing?
Why is outlawing abortion a good thing?
How is outlawing contraceptives a good thing?
How is shifting the cost of government from the well off to the working class a good thing?
How is firing people for personal, nor professional reasons a good thing?

Daniel,

I am sorry I don't ever write a post that pleases you!

You will note that I was not harsh or judgmental (on this blog) toward John Edwards when his personal misdeeds were an issue.

You have not I assume been a popular governor of a state. Perhaps you are and this is why you choose not to use your actual name?

Otherwise your statement that we know as much about your governing style as Palin strikes me as absurd.

John Mark

This is poorly written and does not make much sense. I know that I have more experience to be Vice President than Sarah Palin, VASTLY more; yet I would hardly consider myself qualified for such a position. The author is seeming to say that we should respect the work of each person, and not criticize any decision to elevate a person above their level of competence, because it might hurt their feelings.

The problem that I have with this type of selection is the whole hypocritical attitude of Conservatives, the Republican Party, and Conservative Christians, when it comes to the personal sex lives of other people, the competence of other people's parenting skills, and of personal religious beliefs being expressed and even integrated into political campaigns and even into the government.

These people are harshly and chronically judgemental on the "misbehavior" of liberals and Democrats, but then they are offended and huffy when this judgement is turned against themselves. This is the Whirlwind they have wrought, and the destruction that it now rains down on them, that they must live under.

How did the Liberal smear machine at Newsweek WaPo let this slip through?
-
McCain and Sarah Palin are pro-life. That is fine. It is their choice. I respect their choice.

I am pro-choice - McCain and Sarah Palin and President George W. Bush have made it their mission in life to force their stinking unpalatable agenda down my throat.

I am making my choice to raise awareness among Americans that being pro-life in principle is different from McCain/Sarah Palin/George W. Bush's vision/concoction:

1. One cannot be pro-life if one tramples on others fundamental right to make choices for themselves.
2. Enslaving people by adopting constricting ideology does not conform to principles of pro-life.

Do you see any smear in my choice?

Wow! Finally an accurate portrayal of Gov. Palin. She will be a fine Vice President. How did the Liberal smear machine at Newsweek WaPo let this slip through?

DOUG: Every intelligent, educated woman I've talked to in the last week has stated unequivocally that they are insulted by WcCain's VP choice.
-

Gee! Wow!

That Alaska is larger than many countries is a complete red herring. It's not the physical size of the territory that matters, it's the size of the human community being managed and governed. Alaska is almost completely empty by human standards.

Otherwise, presumedly you'd argue that the director of some lone scientific outpost in Antarctica is best qualified to be second in command of the United States in the likely event that his or her boss becomes incapacitated.

Every intelligent, educated woman I've talked to in the last week has stated unequivocally that they are insulted by WcCain's VP choice.

Veterans love MsCain...

Mr. Reynold's article is so logical and so flawed. It's like jumping from high spot to high spot in a bog. It seems a reasonable strategy until you notice the bridge nearby. I have nearly the same background as Mrs. Reynolds. Before my child was born, I was a successful businesswoman for ten years working with the DOD and a modest budget of $21 million each year. I lived overseas for 4 years and I am now bi-lingual. Currently,I am a Children & Youth Pastor. Am I qualified to be the Vice President of the United States? No. My husband is proud of me but neither one of us would vote for me as Vice President. We'll take the bridge.

WOW, not only full of useless information and pandering, but also a poorly written piece. About what I have come to expect.

With all due respect. She is not qualified. She may be a great person, she may have great potential, but she is not qualified, and certainly not the BEST qualified person for the job. She is young, so she has the time to go out and get more real world experience, and maybe she should have chosen that path instead of choosing to jump into this knowing full well that she would be exposing her 17 year old, her 17 year old's boyfriend, etc. etc. to scrutiny criticism and more from press and people around the world. I find it a critical flaw in judgment both for Palin and McCain that they knowingly put this child out in public when what she needs most is support

Yes people can gain experience from all kinds of places, that does not mean that they are prepared, have the judgment or temperament needed for a particular job.

Stay focused America. Pay attention to the details

Wow! Finally, someone like you makes sense! I so agreed with you and am finally excited about this election.

This makes her a better choice to take the lead role as leader of the United States? A woman AND she's from Alaska. Hey, what about that theory of mine... Huh? lol.
Now the Republicans have an "in" in Alaska. Very clever.
Are Republicans brilliant or what

Ya know folks this move has shades of Harriet Myers in it doesn't it????

I wonder if Mr. Reynolds would be willing to have Condoleezza Rice step in and raise his children. She has had tremendous experience and success in one of his spheres of activity. I don't think it should be assumed that because she has never been married or had children that she wouldn't totally successful as a mother to his children.

I lost all hope of this blog materializing into anything insightful about the third paragraph on Hope.

Yawwnnn.....Crickets chirping...

after reading your "full rules", I just wanted to say "HI"

Is this supposed to be damage control. It doesn't work. Sarah Palin is corrupt and is against everything that women are for. John McCain is doing a good job of deflecting blame for this poor choice . He forgot to have her checked out. DEMENTIA. Please let's refocus our attention to this senile old man.

By your standards, I guess we're all qualified to the Vice President of the United States... we've all done something. "How is working in a car wash any different than running a Fortune 500 company?"

I actually find this article a little sexist and condescending towards women. Shouldn't we be measuring everyone with the same stick? Isn't that what equality is about? Instead, it's platitudes about how anything can count as experience.

You're telling me if Joe Biden had the same set of experiences as a father and in a career, that he wouldn't have been torn to shreds as inexperienced and inable to lead? Why exactly do we have to treat Palin any differently?

Oh, wait - you want us to treat her differently BECAUSE she's a woman.

Now, keep in mind here that I don't believe any type of experience qualifies or disqualifies someone to be President. Instead, I think her views on the issues that we know about are absolutely appauling and therefore think she's just as bad a pick as McCain.

Palin is a breath of fresh air. She must terrify the Obama camp - note that he is now running against her rather than against McCain.

And if it was your job you are talking about? If you believe your wife is qualified to be president in a time of war, you certainly must believe she's qualified to step in tomorrow and take over all your faculty duties. Correct?

Please. You wouldn't write such apologia for a man who came into the VP position with so few credentials. This is a woman who is being asked to potentially run the United States of America -- not form some 20 person community help team. And this is apparently a family that has enough problems of its own. I'm glad to see that McCain is NOW sending people to Alaska to "vet her." A bit late, no? What a fiasco. She was a member of a party that wanted to secede Alaska from the union. That's treason. And she addressed that group earlier this year, just months ago, supporting their cause. You want to make her VP and possibly President? I hate to say this, too: but you're letting a bias show toward a woman, comparing her to your wife, suggesting an attraction of sorts in your admiration. I doubt you'd ever compare your wife to a man running for VP, even if their accomplishments were the same. Grow up, man! This isn't Bush league. Palin is no more qualified than most men in this country to be VP.

Are the skills gained in the PTA, civic leadership in small towns, and in family business of less value than those of the corporate tycoon?

...

Yes.

Sarah Palin is a nobody. She has a few meager years governing a state with a population 1/3rd of Brooklyn. What on earth....

Okay, so you'd feel comfortable if McCain chose your wife as the best person to step in and replace him as president of the United States in a time of war?

Nice Article...a different way of looking at Palin.

Nicely put. I don't know if I would put Palin's (or your wife's) experience on the same level as Romney's experience of running a large business as preparation for president of the U.S., but I get the point. I hope Palin is able to show that voters that she is ready and able to be second in command in the greatest and most powerful country in the world. Good luck VP Palin!

All that you say is very nice, but it's focused over a whole lifetime. Palin is cramming it all into the same piece of her her lifetime. I don't want an overstressed parent answering the 3 a.m. phone call, whether it's a she or a he. Al Gore had the sense to withdraw from a campaign when his son was ill. He lived to get into another and become VP. McRash didn't let Palin have that luxury.

Read: Sarah Palin is too much focused on issues between the legs.

Mr. Reynolds,
What of marital infidelity?