I think Gov. Palin is probably an intelligent earnest competent woman and may well be a commendable governor of one of the least populated states in the country. There also seem to be plenty of Alaskans who are vehemently opposed to her, but that's to be expected in such a wildly polarized political atmosphere as exists in the U.S. And while I may personally find some of here convictions and beliefs patently absurd for me, I will not denigrate her for having them. There are many people whom I love in my life whose beliefs give me pause, but my skepticism is greatly curbed by the solace I see that their belief gives them. I'm not talking about hateful beliefs, mind you. Those I will not stand for.
That said, I would add that anyone, and I mean anyone, who seeks to ban books or literature from public libraries, to deny the public the right to read ideas and make decisions about them for themselves as free thinking citizens in a free society, anyone who reaches public office still holding on to such notions is deeply flawed on a FUNDAMENTAL level and is in NO WAY qualified to be President of the United States. Sure, she's not running for President, but wait a minute, YES she is. She's one fall down a flight of stairs away from it should McCain win.
A stroke of genius for the Obama campaign: Black screen, white text:
"A Vote for McCain for President is a vote for Probably-President Palin.
Think about it for a minute." Fade out.
Think Canada is ready for US Shanty-Towns and refugee camps?
We can call them Palinvilles, and ride boxcars and all that.
Just a thought.

In reference to #93 Anonymous --

I think it is ABSOLUTELY ABSURD to choose a candidate based upon religion.

My point here is that LAW and RELIGION are SUPPOSED TO BE two separate entities (separation of "church" and state). Someone should not be taking their religious beliefs, and making them laws. It is unfair to the citizens of this country.

For example: Just because you believe that life begins at conception does NOT mean that you have the right to make abortion illegal.

You should have your personal beliefs, and then what is best for society to keep it a "free democratic state." Sarah Palin is SCARY when it comes to women's issues, VERY SCARY. And she's a woman!

Well, if the conservatives continue their control, then just put your money on a pregnant teenager in your immediate family as the Bush abstinence programs ARE NOT WORKING (see link - http://www.guttmacher.org/media/inthenews/2007/04/18/index.html).

Case in point - Sarah's pregnant daughter. HELLO!
She also wants to "teach creationism" in our public schools. WHAT!? If you want your kids to be raised with religion class, send them to a christian school - public schools that are state and government funded should NOT have RELIGION involved. I'll be damned if my future babies come home talking babble about Adam's missing rib.

(I was raised Catholic).

This is enough to steer me away from McCain/Palin despite McCain's quite liberal views for a Republican (initally). Now I see him changing his tune as the party throws money at him and tells him what to think/say/do.

Has the VP always been required to have foreign policy experience? I know Gore and Cheney sort of rewrote the position, but I've only been eligible to vote since 2000, so they are all I've really been aware of. I wouldn't even know where to look for what past VPs have done with the position.

I would love to hear Palin interviewed on topics with which she does have political experience from being governor of Alaska. Alaska is, if nothing else, a unique state, and running it has I'm sure eqipped her with some tools for being a national political figure...yet all I hear about her is "she's pretty!" and then "No foregin policy experience! boo!"

I would also like to hear how a McCain presidency would use her, and what she would do with the position.

She's female. That's why people think she's qualified.

#867. Leigh said:

"#786 - Emmy: I couldnt' even get past your first couple sentences."

I'm sorry you couldn't get past my first couple of sentences, but I wish you would have, because you would have found out that in no way, shape, or form am I a Palin supporter. I have always taken it to heart that liberal meant open-minded, and tend to expect the same from other so-called liberals.

I think regardless of our own personal opinions on the candidates we can all agree that this election is exciting and one for the history books. People are blogging, chatting, and talking about not only the candidates but the REAL issues at hand. And after seeing such an apathetic attitude towards politics election after election, I'm happy to see people fired up...even if it's about candidates I don't agree with.

I don't think there's been an election with a "perfect" candidate since I got my voter's registration card. It's all about balance. I've heard the "vote for the lesser of two evils" saying during every election so I don't think it's unique to this one.

I do think a lot of people want to gloss over just how serious our financial crisis is right now. We want someone to pull the wool over our eyes and distract us with shiny things. Ignorance is, afterall, bliss.

I hate watching video clips like the one referenced in this post. Palin really comes across as unprepared and uninformed, but I also know it's all about editing. Any of you readers House fans? Do you remember the episode where they followed him around and taped him during one shift? As he sat there watching the piece after it had been edited he realized they made him out to be this sweet, caring person...purely by creatively editing the film. House's comment was, "I'll never believe another Michael Moore film again." Classic. :D

Elections are always about smoke and mirrors, rhetoric and deflection. My values and and opinions are more in line with Obama and Biden. Are we soulmates? Of course not. But overall they represent my position on a lot of the issues that are important to me. McCain and Palin do not.

I still don't understand why people are so enamored with someone "just like you and me" running the country. I don't want the everyday people I run into being in charge of the U.S.

And I'm not so sure that she is just like us. For one thing, I pay attention to what's happening outside of my state. And maybe I'm the weird one, but I knew what the Bush Doctrine was before Charlie Gibson asked about it. Damn, I think I might be qualified to be Vice President.

here's a well-written piece that articulates my conservative republican point of view:

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NjY4ODg3ZjA2ZDQwZjI3NTM1MGY3ZGE0YmM...

you know, for the people who clicked on the 1000+ comments with the actual intent of gaining insight into what the *other* side believes instead of just joining the right-bashing party...

This is why people support Palin (it's long and has a few grammatical mistakes, but gets to the crux):
http://brightideasgroupblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/matt-taibbis-lies-of-sa...

Also, to those who say that Obama doesn't have foreign policy experience either, I say that it's not the quantity of experience I care about. It's leadership style that is at the heart of this election for me. Obama thinks through decisions and policies and does not seem to "knee jerk" react like McCain does. Obama seems to be willing to "blink" and give this thing called dimplomacy a try. I have no desire to go to war with Syria, Iran, Russia, North Korea, or anyone else (especially with my husban in the Air Force). Bullying and belicosity are not the leadership styles I want to govern me and my country. That's the style that both McCain and Palin present and it's extremely ulcer-inducing. As an executive leader, Palin has had ample opportunity (okay, well maybe not AMPLE, but some!) to grow in leadership and she has failed. She continues to pursue the "my way or the highway"/"you're either for us or against us" type brutish attitude we've suffered the past 8 years.

Enough!

--Doing my best to turn NC blue...

I'm not planning to be bff's with Palin anytime soon- however, what seems to never come up, and absolutely drives me nuts-- is the obvious media bias against McCain/Palin! What few liberals hear are the bazillion gaffes made by Obama on a daily basis (Rush/Boortz/Drudge covers them all...quite entertaining). I'm an independant and actually enjoy the polictics of it all. That being said, I think its great that Katie asked her these questions- but did anyone ever think that maybe Palin is trying to be reserved to prevent saying the wrong thing? Biden, obviously missing this gene continues to run off at the mouth with ingenious quotes about watching Pres. Roosevelt on the TV. UGH! Would Katie have vehemently gone after Obama, heck no! Why don't you show a clip of Biden or Obama speaking in all their intellectual glory? As I said, I'm not taking up for Palin- I just think its a two way street and I'm personally bored of liberals attacking conservatives as if they are somehow less intelligent...

Funny that I had to scroll down through hundreds of comments to find a supporter.... And #301 (Krissi) I totally agree.

My reasons for supporting McCain/Palin are simple- Obama? Really? Someone who has done, well... yeah, nothing since being a senator and then he talks about other people's "lack of experience." Seriously? And just who is backing him and why is he the Democratic choice?

The media is doing a fantastic job of portraying Sarah Palin as a folksy, religious doofus. Good job liberal media, you have succeeded.

In response to the comment about the video being edited to show a certain portrait of Palin, here's a transcript of another part of the interview.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/24/eveningnews/main4476173.shtml

Let's just hope that if McCain manages to get elected that he stays alive.

I love how she rolled her eyes and said, "You know reporters." TO A REPORTER.

I am flabbergasted by her ignornance. The thought of her running this country alone if Old Man McCain bites the big one gives me nightmares. I honestly do not care how "down to earth" she is. She is very ignorant on practically every issue that faces this country. I think that someone had mentioned it in an earlier post, I don't want someone like me running this country. I am not completely abreast on world issues (especially when it comes to foreign policy.) But then again, I am not trying to run for vice president.

In addition she really needs to quit pushing her Christian Agenda on everyone, because it isn't going to cut it. She makes me sick and if her and McCain get elected it is really going to show how naive the American people are. Come on people if you can't pick out an ignorant candidate after 8 years of Bush/Cheney, I really feel sorry for you.

Wow. I know there is strong debate about the credentials and merit that Palin has to run as a VP candidate. This has been quite an educational blog with all your comments. I do know that our country is facing a future of uncertainty no matter which official gets elected, because as Americans we have created our own fiasco by overspending beyond our means... We as citizens must take ownership for the fiasco that has culminated in our nation. This has been a process evolving over years and years whereas neither political party can by solely to blame for this "mess."

My prayer is that we can come together and work jointly to make the most of our future and what we can salvage of our economy, by each decision we make personally.

Heather-
I don't presume to know much about your extended family, but as I'm fairly liberal (I consider myself an independent, but still) and my dad is decided NOT, I feel your pain about walking on eggshells around politics. On a recent trip home my dad was gushing about Palin and bashing Obama, and I was compelled to ask him just what it was about her that he loved so much. His answer? "She's a republican". A small part of me died with that

Does anyone else think she is just a female version of Bush? I am terrified she will end up in office because I truly believe she was only picked to balance the minority vote and not for her qualifications. Wait - does she actually have any qualifications other than her experience with "Foriegn Policy"??

Now you know how we feel when you make a big fuss about how awesome Obama is.

I rarely listen to the big speeches for the obvious reason that you can make anything sound wonderful when a bunch of speechwriters are putting they're most flowery words out there and you are merely repeating what you've practiced. I watch the stuff where people have to speak off-the-cuff. Obama sucks at this as much as or worse than any other candidate. I look at the policies and history of the candidate. What have they done? Actions speak louder than words and you are judged by the company you keep. Those two reasons alone are enough to steer clear of Barack Obama.

As far as Palin being a radical righty, look at her history. She doesn't support gay marriage, but she vetoed a bill that would've denied benefits for same-sex couples because it was unconstitutional. She's anti-abortion, but has stated it's not her position to unilaterally ban anything. When appointing judges she has never asked their opinion on abortion. She believes in creationism, but has not stated it should be part of the curriculum, only that, if it's brought up in class, should be discussed. The book banning has already been refuted by nearly everybody.

Basically, she has not tried to influence legislation with her personal beliefs. That right there is one of the main reasons I can give her my vote. The rest of it, her fiscal conservatism, etc. is just gravy. If she has to learn foreign policy on-the-job as VP, I can live with that. It's better than learning on-the-job as POTUS, as your candidate would be doing.

As far as not just admitting she was wrong in her statements and fessing up to lack of foreign policy experience, you guys would eat her alive if she did that. Besides, if you read the whole transcript of her interview with Gibson, you'll see just how out of context that statement was taken to begin with. I'd be willing to say that she's probably just frustrated with how the press will grab onto whatever they can to roast her with it, but won't ask a single tough question to Obama or Biden. Point me in the direction of where Barack has had to defend his foreign policy experience in an interview, please. I'm not talking about how he's given speeches in other countries, I want to know where he's ever had to deal with foreign heads of state on policy matters.

She's not perfect, but I can support her. More importantly, I can support McCain. Remember him? The guy you were all supporting 8 years ago when he was running against Bush?

I can't listen to people who say that she is a good choice becuase she is like "one of us".

Any teenager is going to LOVE a mom who acts like a friend more than a mother. But in the end, they don't need a friend. They need someone who can guide, protect and nuture them.

I dont' need a VP who is like the nice lady next door. I need someone who can protect my country/earth, guide the ecomony and nuture the next generation of people/politicians.

Kim

I can't watch it for two reasons. One being that listening to Palin OR McCain for more that two seconds makes me want to scratch out my eyeballs. The second being that in the spirit of fairness, I tried watching it this particular clip but it won't play for me.

I can't say I'm too disappointed.

One thing that drives me a little insane is the fact that a lot of women I know who are normally very rational, smart individuals are seemingly ready to vote for McCain just because Palin IS a woman.

Are you kidding me? I'm all for women's equality, but this woman is clearly in no way qualified to even be governor of her state, let alone my vice president.

Gah!!

Here in the UK, watching that clip frightened me. She has NO IDEA what she's talking about. A politician SHOULD be an excellent public speaker...it's what they do! And as for a candidate for the vice bloody presidency...well I'm sorry but I wouldn't even trust her to help run my office let alone your country.

I can't help but think her apparent inadequacy is a bit of political 'spin' though...she's coming across as average..."one of us" type of mentality to the normal voter. I mean seriously, she can't have got to this stage being so totally hopeless...can she? :-(

Heather, thank you for doing this. It's been wonderful reading all the views from both sides of the fence, and I appreciate the relative civility of it all.

I respect Palin's accomplishments, and admire her tenacity and hard work. What bothers me is, she doesn't seem to grasp important political terms and concepts. In repeated interviews, there've been unedited bites where she spirals into unrelated, poorly verbalized tangents. Sure, Obama makes rhetorical mistakes occasionally, but I'm pretty sure he always understands the question posed to him.

Clinton was another governor with little experience abroad, especially when compared with Bush Sr. Yet, I always got the impression he was the smartest guy in the room. That gave me confidence in him - because whatever he didn't know already, he would pick up pretty dang fast. I don't get that impression with Palin, and that's what scares me.

I like her because she's real. She lives what she says. She says she is a reformer and she's lived it by reforming her own state government. When she took office in Alaska there was very entrenced good-ole-boy network in place involving big oil companies and kick-backs for high level, and not so high level, government employees. She blew the whistle on ALL of them, including many members of her own party. Because of this, and her decrease of wasteful spending (like getting rid of the private jet and driver, and chef) as well as her line-item vetoes of unncessary legislative spending, she was able to DECREASE property and gasoline taxes but INCREASE funding for needed programs such as funding for families with special needs, and low-income seniors. All the while creating 5 billion in savings (gasp)...a word with which 70% of the nation and mostly ALL government organizations are unfamiliar.

She is for energy independence. Republicans and Democrats alike have been screaming about energy independence for 50 years. But rather that just say that she is for this she has actually done something about it. She took on the big oil companies who were opposed to building a natural gas pipeline because it took away their monopoly on the North Slope. She negotiated the new terms across party lines and got the project going after it had been stalled for years.
She is for drilling to increase our domestic supply which may not decrease the price of oil today but will put us on the road to help in the future. I don't gain anything from my 401-K right now either but that doesn't mean I shouldn't prepare for the future.

I like her because she is pro-life. And again...she not only says it but lives it. I am not ashamed of this. Your readers make it sound like everyone who is pro-life is some stark-raving mad lunatic who is ready to whack everyone in the head with a Bible. The issues is very straight forward for me and it's not religious it's moral. I just don't like killing babies. I don't love the idea of teenagers having babies that they are not going to take care of either but that doesn't make killing them right. Our society would likely be a lot better off without the nonproductive elderly population too, but that doesn't mean that I should have the right to kill my parents when they become a burden to society. Do you think it would have been right to kill Leta a month, or two, or three months before she was born? Do you think that if you HAD elected to kill her then, and somehow she survived the abortion, that doctors should be prevented from helping her? Obama does. He thinks she should be left in the hazardous waste bin to die.

And while you didn't ask for my thoughts on McCain, I'll offer those too. While everyone in this election is talking about change and unity, John McCain is the only who has actually done anything that resembles change or unity. He has reached across the isle to author bipartisan ethics reform. He worked together with Democrats to get past the nuclear option/filabuster fiasco that threatened to halt government. He tried to push reform of Freddie Mac/Fannie Mae that would increase government oversight of this whole sub-prime mortgage meltdown in 2005. This, by the way, was blocked by Democrats including Obama. He has gone against his own party so much that the Republicans have been pretty digusted with him at times. To me, he is the only one that represents change with his actions, not just his mouth.

While this obviously is not her best interview, I really hope that an intelligent woman such as yourself doesn't base her entire opinion on one fragment of one interview. If so, then there are a few from Obama and Biden that you should view.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omHUsRTYFAU&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omHUsRTYFAU&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LB5VPvT7sFo

I hope this at least in part answers your question as to why some people like her. We like her because we agree with her on the issues. Republicans are not the greedy, self centered, don't-care-about-the-less-fortunate bastards that you seem to think we are. We just don't think the the government is the answer to all of life's woes. The federal government has flopped on virtually every major endeavor it has undertaken in the last century. Social security and medicare are soon to be bankrupt. The education system routinely graduates people who can't find the US on a map. The government can't seem to do anything efficiently. The last thing we need is for the government to be bigger and do even more things inefficiently. I think it is our responsibility to help those less fortunate than ourselves and I do so routinely through charitable contributions and volunteering in my community. I just don't think more government is the answer.

Hmmm... I debated commenting on this thread. Mainly because as a conservative (although I wouldn't say as a Republican) I felt very attacked the last time I read a political post here. Enough so I almost didn't come back, but since I really do enjoy this site, especially since I related to the 'being a mom & wife' posts - I have come back. I will say comments #67 & 68 seemed in line with some of my thoughts.

I will say I haven't seen the whole interview, and so without that, I hate to make any broad statements. I know I am not informed enough - but plan to work on that before the election. That wasn't a great clip for Palin, but I didn't walk away saying it was the worst thing either.

One thing that gets me irate is how everyone says McCain picked her just for the female vote, particularly Hillary supporters. And I feel like that is not what he was doing - realistically there aren't going to be very many Hillary supporters who will support her and I don't think he's that stupid. She is to appeal to conservative women, who weren't that enamored with McCain and didn't really want Hillary in the office either! Now I would've preferred Hillary over Barack - I don't think he is being as examined in the press as he should be. I think the press is in love with him - even to the point where Hillary got quite unfair coverage so its not even a Democrat vs. Repub thing.

I'm not sure how I'm going to vote at this point. I think what scares me is how rancid the two sides are - I think there is a serious issue with the two-party system right now, especially for those of us more in the middle. It seems like no matter who wins, there is going to be more hatred than there is now, and that is not the way to move forward.

And I know this isn't based in fact, but my gut instinct just says something about Barack makes him a very bad candidate for President - but again, can't back that up. I'm sure its the same gut instinct most of the commenters seem to have about Palin. (Although not McCain?)

TGIF and may we all not hate each other after November

P.S. McCain called Obama an "elitist." Someone needs to remind him that he was an Annapolis grad. and has 8 houses. Watching him and Cindy fumble over how many houses on The View makes for chuckles.

There's always mud-slinging. That's hardly a reason to rule out Obama, and my above comment is hardly a reason to rule out McCain. Yes, Obama has not directly been in such a great position of power before; yes, McCain is old and sickly; yes, Obama's smile and candor has alot of deal with his popularity

but doesn't this say anything about him? Do you really believe that Obama's advisors will let him run the country deeper into the ground?

And as for the Fannie comment - yes, both candidates have people that work for these corporations - Paulson works for Goldman Sachs, and I believe McCain has a Freddie man on his advisory board.

Hi Heather,
I live in Anchorage, Alaska and my Mother in Law lives in Wasilla. She was Palin's campaign manager when she first ran for mayor.

I keep hearing how she has this high approval rating up here...and that blows a lot of us away. I can't tell you how shocked I was (and a lot of other Alaskans) when we heard the nomination.

I could tell you a lot of things she did to my mother in law which would be ironically enough..."Just like the old boys club". Palin is a politician through in through and the only difference between her and the 'Old Boys Club' is gender.

Most Alaskan Republicans didn't even like her UNTIL she became the VP nominee. (Interesting.)

Heather, I may be one of a few of your readers who disagree and are brave enough to comment here. *Deep Breath* So let me frame this up ...

I hate being told what to do. What to think. How to behave. I hate the very idea that when it comes to electing the President of the United Sates we have only TWO real, viable options. I mean, you can vote for any of the Independents but, really, do any of them stand a chance of being elected? I hate the idea that we, as a citizens, have ceded SO MUCH OF OUR CONTROL that we've allowed ourselves to be put in to one of two boxes.

I mean, where is the meaningful discourse that allows for someone to agree with the "left" on this particular issue and the "right" on another? Where is the platform that encourages individuals to form their VERY OWN OPINION?

In the beginning of the primaries I liked Obama. And I didn't like Hillary. So I watched with glee as her campaign squirmed in the face of Obama's rising popularity. But in one small moment of clarity I realized I had just been manipulated by the media. And that pissed me off.

So I went out and found a couple of online voter guides that allowed me to (1) answer approximately 50 questions on how I felt about some important issues, and (2) weight each issue according to how important it was to me.

And what I realized in that process was that I didn't have a clue about many, many of those issues. The reality of cause and effect. The real pros and the real cons. And, Heather, I consider myself well-educated, intelligent and fairly politically savvy. And if I didn't know what the long-term implications of the issues were, I feel fairly confident most of America doesn't either. Bottom line is I didn't DESERVE to really have an opinion because I hadn't done the PERSONAL research on the pros and cons of immigration constraints, certain economic policies, trade deficits and whether or not the Constitution is "alive" or "dead". Etc. You get the picture.

But I did my best with the understanding that if I even DESERVED to have an opinion, I'd better be intelligent enough to base it on something other than emotion and whatever the media chose (or didn't choose) to feed me.

And what I found stunned me. Obama and I agreed on 18% of the issues. Hillary and I agreed on 56% of the issues. McCain and I agreed on 61% of the issues. And the guys I agreed with most? Well, nobody would recognize their names because, while they may still be on the ballot, the media has chosen not to give them any air time.

So I will be voting for McCain because Hillary is not in the running. But if I hadn't done this exercise, I would be voting for Obama. And that would have been a shame. Not because he's WRONG ABOUT ANYTHING. But because I, personally, don't happen to AGREE WITH HIM ON MUCH. And if I'd voted for him, it would have been the ultimate lack of respect for the very privilege I have to voice my opinion via a democratic election.

I will be voting for McCain because MY particular opinion on big government versus small government is this:

"My house. My money. My rules"

The more the government pays for, the more we're subject to their rules. And I don't, personally, believe they do such a great job delivering these days.

Obama stands for more government intervention. More projects. More bailouts. I personally believe that's not a great idea.

Proof? Want the government to pay for your house? Great. Go live in a public housing project and see what a nice job they're doing there.

I personally believe the packaging of the Democratic ticket as the "cool celebrity" party ... the party of the "hip" and "informed" and the subsequent appeal of the party to the younger generations is amazing.

After all, what demographic better remembers their parents telling them "as soon as you're on your own and paying your way, you get to make your own choices." I don't believe that demographic really understands that with government intervention comes a lack of freedom.

Remember: "My House. My Money. My Rules."

It seems to me that particular demographic would be MORE resistant to MORE rules. But, maybe not. Maybe they actually believe a millionaire celebrity shares their very same opinions on national security and taxation simply because they had on really, really cute shoes in that last issue of "People" magazine.

But that's just MY OPINION. And I celebrate that I get to live in a country where I get to have MY OPINION and vote for what I BELIEVE IN and everybody else gets the same privilege. If more people share my opinions, my candidate wins. If more people have other opinions that are opposed to mine, their candidate wins.

In the end, nobody is right or wrong. We're all just opinionated.

But my plea is this: If you have an opinion, be sure it's yours. That you've done the research, decided what you believe, and that you cast your vote out of your own convictions and not the convictions of others.

Then be proud of it. Defend it. And recognize that out of conflicting opinions come great ideas.

After all, "Debate is the currency of Democracy"

As far as Sarah Palin goes, I don't really care. It's a distraction, in my opinion, from the real issues on the table. I mean, who do you think is REALLY calling the shots? How does the running of the government transition so smoothly between administrations if there weren't a group behind the scenes really running the show.

P.S. - one of the reasons I come to your site, day after day, is not because I necessarily agree with everything you do or say or how you choose to parent Leta. I show up because I have enormous respect for your ability to be totally self-expressed without any regard for what other's think. And, that, is the "thing" to get here ...

Thank you, Krissi. BTW - have any of the dems here paid attention to what Biden has been saying? It's embarassing, really. No confidence for someone who ADMITS that Hillary would make a better VP than him. If that isn't scary, I don't know what is. Oh, and by the way - the Clintons are in full support of McCain / Palin, so she can run in 2012. Real. Clear. Politics.
p.s. love how liberals are all about "ideals", except when you disagree with them....

I think you have the answer to your question in these comments, Heather. Values Voters. God save us from them, please. They're more interested in interfering in women's rights than interfering in real issues to make this country a better place to live - issues like our crumbling infrastructure, education, health care, and renewable energy. They're blinkered, self-interested, and self-centered. They are, in fact, the very antithesis of "Country First".

I'm stunned that she applied for her first passport last year - don't you need to experience the world to better understand foreign policy? I don't think that watching episodes of "Coronation Street" is gonna help...

Bulldog, give me a break on the socialism thing. You clearly have no idea what real socialism is. I grew up in England (am an American citizen now for 10+ yrs) and can tell you that England is so far left of the USA, that its ridiculous. YET, it's still a democratic country with free markets - it is not socialist. Like all right-wing arguments, the "liberal" and "socialist" tags are thrown out to incite fear of change and progress.

Read the definition of Conservative: resistant to change, button-down: unimaginatively conventional; "a colorful character in the buttoned-down, dull-grey world of business"- Newsweek, a person who is reluctant to accept changes and new ideas.

Here now is the deinition of Liberal: having political or social views favoring reform and progress
tolerant of change; not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or tradition
a person who favors a political philosophy of progress and reform and the protection of civil liberties.

Now, let me see... how would I rather be characterized? Call me liberal, please, it's a compliment. Call me socialist too if you want, if it means I care more about the good of my neighbors than the amount of money in my pocket, but PLEASE don't tell me the USA is heading towards socialism. It only make you look ill informed.

I would hope that our vp nod would have a better vocabulary ...a lot of uuuhhhss and ummms and even an "I don't know". How could you not be horrified by this animal slaughtering women.

Robyn (#120) wrote:

"People make comments like, "Well, I live in Texas but that doesn't give me any foreign policy experience with Mexico." Is it south Texas? Do you go outside? Do you read the news about the interactions between the Texas Governor and Mexico? Why would you assume that Alaska doesn't have any issues that arise from their border, too?"

I do live in Texas; southeast Texas to be specific, however, any Texan, in any part of the state knows the effects of bordering Mexico. I agree that living in Texas does not give Texans foreign policy experience with Mexico (a laughable statement), but Robyn, your implication that the existence of Texas/Mexico governmental interaction provides implicit evidence of Palin/Russia interaction is wrong, and not even applicable. Hundreds of people illegally cross into this state every day, impacting everything from quality of education to the cost of healthcare statewide (not to mention the impact on the nation). You can hardly compare the deep economic and social connections between Texas and Mexico (resulting with the need for interactions of our respective governments), with the border of our 5th least populated state and a very isolated, remote region of Russia. A border that, in recent times, has remained peaceful.

Robyn:
"There is no way that Sarah Palin has zero dealings with anything having to do with Russia when their borders are a few hundered miles apart."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bering_strait:
'The island of Big Diomede in the USSR was (and is) only 4 km (2.4 mi) from the island of Little Diomede in the USA. Traditionally, the indigenous peoples in the area had frequently crossed the border back and forth for "routine visits, seasonal festivals and subsistence trade"…

Ok, so the argument could be made that Alaska bordering Russia provides Alaskans, including Palin, a unique insight into Russian culture, but foreign policy experience…No. The Texas/Mexico border situation is not analogous to the Alaska/Russia border situation, and therefore does not support the view (or defense) that geographic proximity equates foreign policy experience for Palin. In the same vein, it should not be used as a rebuttal point, as it is apples and oranges. Plus, there are an infinite supply of better arguments against Palin and her lack of expericence outside domestic politics.

Sure, there must be issues that arise from bordering Russia, the nature of which could be trivial or important. But, if she is so worldly and knowledgeable in this arena simply due to location, why wouldn't she cite an example in the interview of any negotiations directly involving herself and Russia? I would think her advisors would have made sure she did not forget to mention this fact. But then again, politics is a place where ad nauseam repetition eventually leads to misguided belief based not on fact, and nowhere is this more clearly displayed than in John McCain's campaign.

It is safe to say that Palin has NO advantage with regards to foreign policy due to being from Alaska…even over the governor of Nebraska.

Obama/Biden '08

You could say some politicians or "community organizers" in California has maritime borders with Indonesia, China, North Korea, etc... Oh and Florida politicians with Cuba, Venezuela and all of Africa.

Wow, Palin's not so impressive is she?

You know, I really didn't expect to read the posts and find a bunch of Palin or Republican commentary here. I am sure that your readers are comprised of both conservatives (who have a sence of humor and appreciate your snark and witty banter), along with a more liberal collection of people who not only love your commentary but feel at home in the sharing of likeminded political views. A lot of them being regular readers who pretty much agree, in an almost overly protective manner to anything you say (can't count how many "hail heathers" I have read over the past few posts concerning politics).
My point is this, I really think you will get more of a liberal, left wing standpoint no matter how you "try" to call for an open debate from the conservative reader. So why even ask? Why even go there... my skeptical curiousity lends me to ask, what do you want to accomplish?
All I see is the conservatives in your reader base being called stupid, and being insulted in many ways and forms whether directly or not. Even if they had a compelling arguement, it would not really be welcome here or listened to without name calling or backlash. I cannot tell you how to write or what to post. This is your site, I understand. But, if this political trash talk keeps up, I will stop coming to read, where I usually enjoy a 5 minute break in my day to laugh at your dorkiness and unique way of putting things. This is unproductive, hurtful and ugly. I am now confused about the beautiful post you wrote to your daughter Leta, that seemed to serve as a sort of an apology to those you offended by your last politcal rant, that is now followed up by this. It is my opinion that you know how your so called "disciples" will comment and do your "dirty work" for you. To me this is no different than your post of a week or so ago, when you had your extreme emotional moment and threw up on all of us "stupid conservatives".
I have plenty of reasons why I am voting for the republican ticket, but I honestly do not feel like this is a friendly and open place to intelligently commentate. And I feel deeply offended by many of the posts here, and your continued call for them, because I do not feel like I am an idiot for having my own conservatve opinions on the issues. And BTW, my opinions are not based on the sterotypical placement everyone would like to group me in here. Surprisingly, I do have some intelligent reasons why I am voting for the conservative ticket, and it isn't because Palin is a woman or because I think she is just like me, or because I have a certain one sided view on abortion, etc. That is all sterotypical rubish! And since you have so many "terrified" people here, (supposively even more so after they have viewed your video clip/propeganda), here is my one thought on the matter in question:
I am more terrified that our country is so torn in half, and becoming increasingly hateful, no matter what the position or political affiliation, so much more than by who is running for office. And that is something only WE THE PEOPLE can fix. This is one thing that will not be solved, no matter what Man or Woman finds themselves in office. No matter what, we are a nation DIVIDED. Let's earnestly try to solve that problem first. And I assure you, that task is not done by continuing to call the other side stupid.

Hey, I liked Northern Exposure, why wouldn't I like Sarah Palin?

Of course there is a conflict because I also loved Fight Club and that supposedly took place in Delaware, home of Smokin' Joe Biden, so you see my situation.

And, these comments makes as much sense as Sarah Palin being Vice President. When she speaks, my head hurts.

I don't know what the answer is, but I agree most with #255. Take the time to vote for who YOU have researched is the proper candidate.
NOT the one the media spins (and WOW is there a lot of that now)
NOT the one who's hair you like
NOT the one your neighbor votes for and CERTAINLY

NOT THE ONE YOU THINK "EVERYONE ELSE" IS VOTING FOR!~!

Do your own thinking.

My vote? Let's scrap them all and start over.

Oh my. So, when Tina Fey exclaimed, "I can see Russia from my house!" she really was channeling Ms. Palin. Saints preserve us.

If McCain/Bushasawoman wins, we will look stupid to the rest of the world. After reelecting Bush, electing yet another Republican is insane. When New Orleans reelected Nagin, everyone thought we were idiotic and a lot of sympathy for Katrina victims disappeared. I didn't vote for Nagin, but get to look stupid because I live in a place that reelected him. Hopefully, we won't elect another Republican. At least Jeb Bush isn't running?

Oh me, oh my.... Dooce, you little shit stirrer! You knew your invitation to comment on Palin would stir the hive, didn't you!

I can just visualize you sitting there at your computer screen, cackling an evil laugh, rubbing your palms together as you scheme to toss out your next zinger.

That's what keeps everyone coming back! You GO, girl!!

I write this comment as an undecided voter. I have no political home and don't think there is a candidate who is fully aligned with my values, beliefs, and sense of integrity. I have become a real news junkie so that I can learn as much as I can about each ticket before November 4th. Here is what I have learned about both candidates, their running mates and the parties they represent:

1) They all lie and they have all gotten caught lying.
2) They are all hypocritical at times. Did you see the article that both Biden and Obama voted for the "Bridge to Nowhere" more than once? Now they are trying to nail Palin for supporting it at one time.
3) They have all made some pretty big gaffes publicly and stumbled during interviews.
4) They have all reversed their positions on major issues.
5) They all struggle with being bipartisan.
6) They all run nasty campaigns. A study showed that 76% of Obama's ads were negative and 56% of John McCain's were negative. Howard Dean's brother is involved in a dispicable ad that shows McCain's scars up close and predicts that he will die from skin cancer. Tasteless and cruel. Where is the change both of these parties are promising? To me, it looks like politics as usual.
7) Not one of them can really admit when they have made a political mistake or have gathered more information that would lead to a change in their stance on an issue. Why can't Palin just say that at one time she did support the Bridge to Nowhere but that upon learning more about it, she changed her mind. I remember one of the Democratic debates where Bill Richardson was the only one who could admit that he had made a mistake on the campaign trail by saying something that he shouldn't have. The rest, including Obama, rambled on about how they are more in touch than the other candidates with the American voters. I gained a lot of respect for Richardson at that point because he showed some integrity and willingness to learn from mistakes. The others showed how power hungry they are. One of my complaints about Bush is that he is so unwilling to step back and reevaluate situations and he can never admit a mistake. I am so craving a person who has some humility.
8) They will all do whatever it takes to get elected.
9) They all exhibit some good qualities as well.

I don't think it's right to characterize "the other side" as idiotic or moronic. There are a lot of smart Democrats and Republicans. At the end of the day, we need to keep our minds open, learn as much as we can, and then vote with our conscience. The same people who talk about peace are the very people hurling hateful comments to people who don't share their philosophies or political orientation.

There are things that are scary about both tickets and again we are faced with choosing the one who will do less harm. I am frightened that Obama has some pretty scary associations and friends and that his lack of experience has him comparing himself to a vice presidential candidate rather than his Republican counterpart. I am scared that John McCain has changed from a person who was middle of the road to someone who has aligned himself with the far right in order to get elected.

Thomas Friedman has said that we have a "leadership vacuum" and I fear he is right. This is precisely why Sarah Palin appeals to people. She is new and unknown and because she is unknown, there is a glimmer of hope that she will be different than those who are entrenched in Washington politics. I don't agree with her on a lot of issues, but I doubt that she is evil or stupid. She has done some good things and seems to have some potential. We are a hopeful nation and I think she sparks some hope in people that maybe we won't have to put up with political B.S. another 4 years. Only time will tell.

Wait

O_O

She REALLY claimed that her foreign credentials involved being close to Russia? I thought that was a joke! I thought they started that on SNL. She REALLY SAID THAT?

I guess I have a ton of foreign policy experience too. I spent the first 21 years of my life less than an hour from Mexico!

"964 Travelvixen" wins the award for moral righteousness and also is apparently the only person who understands socialism, because shes from England. Thats kind of like Palin having foreign experience cause' she can see Russia from Alaska right?

You care more about your neighbors than making money, congratulations. Its unfortunate that you also support coercive income redistribution to people who don't pay taxes. Or as you like to call it "Progress". Its fine if you want to give to the less fortunate, but when you force others to do it, its coercion. I'm sure we can both agree on the definition of that word.

You can tell everyone that they're illinformed all you want. It doesn't change the fact that increased State power necessarily means lessened citizen power. The path to socialism.

This time around I want a president that is smarter than me; not someone I want to be friends with, or drink a beer with. That's why I'm voting for Obama. He has shown excellent judgment on the issues that matter.

Even conservatives are calling for Palin to step down and have seen through McCain attempt to distract from the fact that his own campaign is a repeat of Bush. McCain cannot run on his actual platform so he repeatedly uses distractions.
Please see this article that sums up why even conservatives and Palin's most ardent supporters, are now former supporters:

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MDZiMDhjYTU1NmI5Y2MwZjg2MWNiMWMyYTU...

Thanks for this conversation.

I think that #123 (Diana) really makes a good point - people just want to "hit the snooze button" when it comes to understanding our complicated world.

I personally get very tired of the discussion, but I still feel like it is important to research and try to understand where we are, how we got here, and where we are going (and why.)

To #93 (Anonymous), #163 (Sarah), and #148 (Diggs) - Thank you for your non-antedotal honest thoughts.

We should all know the why and not just the what when it comes to our feelings on the issues.

As usual, Peggy Noonan puts it well:

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/declarations.html

I wish she'd run.

AHHHHHHH! Seriously, I just can’t believe anyone (on either side) takes something likes this and makes such a big deal out of it. I’m saddened that our country takes something this important and makes such a mockery out of it. Do I think that being the governor of a state that borders a foreign country gives you a better (however slight) vantage point of how to deal with that country? Yes, yes I do. I don’t believe that makes you an expert but I don’t think that was the impression that she was trying to give. Of course she could have explained herself better?
Another thing I don’t understand. How do you explain yourself to someone that is only interested in making you sound stupid? I’ve seen some real gems come out of the Obama camp that I’m sure you would argue were taken out of context and edited to give the wrong impression. Politians are just human (for the most part) they get caught off guard, forget their points and misspeak themselves sometimes. I’m not talking about the obvious redirection or ambiguous, evasive answers. All this petty back and forth kindergarten doo-doo head finger pointing is useless and irritating.
In case you are interested in knowing. I’ve been reading your blog for about two years. I’m a registered republican for lack of a more appropriate choice. I usually consider that to be “need to know” information. I don’t make choices based on the majority of a generalized group of people but the information seemed appropriate for the post. I started reading your blog because I think you are interesting. I have continued reading because after taking a few deep breaths I don’t mind that you don’t have the same opinion as I do. Now I need a break, I’ll be back next week.

quick quote from Peggy Noonan (see link above):

As for Sarah Palin, the McCain campaign continues to make mistakes. They don't seem to understand her strengths and weaknesses. The U.N. photo-ops were a staged embarrassment. Keeping the press away made her look infantilized. When she finally began to sit for television interviews, the atmosphere was heightened, every misstep magnified. With Katie Couric she seemed rattled. In the Charlie Gibson interview it was not good when she sounded chirpy discussing possible war with Russia. One should not chirp about such things. Or one wouldn't if one knew the implications. And knowing the implications is part of what we hire leaders for.

Mrs. Palin is a two-term mayor and has two years as a governor of an American state. She is well-liked and highly regarded back home. She rose for a reason. She has to show America what she showed Alaska.

again, read the rest at the link provided above.

For those women who say things along the lines of, "I like her 'cause she's just like me! She's a working mommy!" Will their (most likely) conservative husbands vote for Obama, because he's a working daddy?

Probably not. It shouldn't be that we vote for a President/Vice President because they remind us of ourselves. It should be that we vote based on....gasp!...

ISSUES.

With the logic she just used right here, in this clip, I can use my visits to Cozumel and Jamaica as foreign policy credentials. I should run for office!

While I will admit this was not one of Sarah's finest moments. I believe it is totally appropriate to point out her own counterpart's interview with Katie Couric where Joe Biden stated that when the stockmarket crashed in 1929 FDR showed real leadership by addressing the country on the television. What! First of all FDR wasn't even president and there weren't any weren't any televisions. So while you are in your ridiculous self- absorbed panic about how stupid Sarah is, why don't you guys take a look at your own VP candidate, whois I'm sure, a total embarrasssment to Obama as everytime he opens his mouth he looks like a total raving lunatic. Obama should have picked Hillary and then Dem's wouldn't be dealing with such a close election. Republicans don't really have to say much to destroy democrats, because they take care of that job all by themselves.

Yes, please tell me this is another Tina Fey spoof. Yikes!

As a Canadian, I'm insulted that she doesn't consider being Canada's neighbor as important to foreign policy. Maybe it's because Washington, Minnesota, New York, Michigan, Maine, and a bunch of other states could then claim that as well. Illinois? Probably- there's Obama's foreign policy experience, too. Maybe the Canadian's need to kick some Alaska butt (non-violently of course, I'm a pacifist) so that she has to do some foreign policy making. Of course, they'd have to hurry, as deep winter is about to set in that far north.

I have to type in "Democrats Gospel" to prevent spam. Um, did you choose that Dooce?

Well, I'd like to step up and answer your questions without insults and name calling, but you're not genuinely interested in what I have to say.

Your final two paragraphs pretty much said "Please explain to me how you're so fucking stupid that you can support McCain/Palin, but be nice about it." That about right?

It's no wonder men don't take women seriously in politics...y'all are emotional, hysterical, and vapid. How many liberal, tolerant, progressive women have gone out of their way to attack Palin's LOOKS? Her glasses? Hair? Kids? Dowd and Watts can't open their mouths without first calling her a bitch. Why should I take women's policy opinions regarding Palin seriously when YOU are not serious? Don't bitch about what I just wrote...I'm just doing to you what liberal women do to her everyday. You fucking idiots read HuffPo and Kos and recycle stories about her Down's Syndrome baby, which is just cruel. One of the idiots on Team Obama set up a website selling shirts about "Retarded Kids." WTF is wrong with you people? Liberals are the meanest, most hateful and intolerant people in America.

She was the Governor of the largest State in the Union. She has an 80% approval rating. Her first act as Gov was to fucking VETO a bill outlawing benefits for same-sex couples in AK. Progressive enough for you? She did not say Creationism should be taught in schools. She did not try to have ANY books banned. She was not a member of the AK Independence Party. She will not try to prevent women from having pre-natal care. She will not try to overturn Roe...do any of you clueless women have any idea what it will take to overturn that decision? A President does not have that power, nor does a VP.

Now...why don't you seekers of truth and justice spend ONE FUCKING TENTH of the time you spend blasting Palin investigating Obama's ties to 1) Rezko 2) Ayers 3) ACORN 4) Wright 5) Freddie Mac 6) Fannie Mae 7) Jim Johnson (corrupt former CEO and Obama crony) and Biden's ties to 1) MBNA and 2) HIS INDICTED LOBBYIST SON. That's right...Biden's kid is under indictment for fraud but you harpies would rather focus on who Bristol Palin is fucking.

For poster #63: Please repeat that line often. As much as you can. Post it at Huffpo and Kos and DU. Get Team Obama to say it as much as possible...over and over again. Attack his record as a fighter pilot. He wasn't a "soldier," moron. He was a Naval Fighter Pilot and he got shot down and was held in brutal captivity for 5 years (or do you think it was all sunshine and fucking roses at the Hanoi Hilton?)

In full disclosure, I, too, am an American Fighter Pilot. And it SCARES THE SHIT OUT OF ME that someone like Obama (who's military service is limited to "well, I thought about it," which was bullshit anyway) could be the Commander In Chief.

Like Heather, I want someone to explain to ME why they would support Obama other than he's clean and articulate (Joe Biden's words, not mine) and talks alot about hope and change? Does it just make you FEEL all warm and mushy inside (and well, PROGRESSIVE) to support a black guy? It can't be because of his superior education (Columbia grades, anyone? He won't release them), or his legislative accomplishments (which amount to voting "present").

So...what is it? The guy is about as qualified to be President as...as....as....uh, Sarah Palin?

Well, even conservative columnist Kathleen Turner (National Review) agrees with...Dooce! http://tinyurl.com/3ldzyh

If someone as frothy as Katie Couric can make you look bad in an interview, you're an idiot.

I AM scared too...

Its nothing personal or about religion because those shouldnt be all that being the VP is about...
I think if she has chosen to be a mom of 5, who wants to live in Alaska and be this wonderful destroyer of evil in Alaska, she needs to stay there. For her kids and keep doing whatever it is she does.

The US is not about PTA's and being just neighbors with someone. Its the leader of the FREE world... and if we cannot show other countries that we have GOOD KNOWLEDGEABLE Leaders, how are we ever going to advance or earn respect?
I am American/ Canadian. I live in Calgary, Alberta, and the fact that Ive never even heard of her making friends with Canada, when we completely surround her apart from Russia and some ocean.

The world is laughing at us. It makes me ashamed. I dont want another smooth talker either, but she cant even bumble through a sentence or think of words. Its really embarassing.

Palin, go home to your lovely kids and thanks for coming out and all, but no thanks.

TO those of you who are suporting McCain because of his "military experience and training" -- the man graduated in the BOTTOM 5% of his class at Annapolis and is PROUD of it. Said so himself on Rachel Ray this past week. Would you want your soldier husband to be flying with a man who crashed and destroyed FIVE planes during his years in the military? His father got him into Annapolis as a LEGACY, by the way...

The funniest video about Sarah Palin doesn't even have her in it. On "Good Morning America" this past week, they interviewed her five best friends in Alaska. After outing her as someone who hates cats,(Oy. Check the Pet Blogs on that jewel!) all but one DECLINED to guarantee to vote for her, citing voter privacy. Although one of them did profess to being unhappy with her decision to keep the Polar Bear off the endangered species list. Only one of her BFF's is willing to vote for her? With friends like that, who needs the rest of us!

Makes you go, hmmm? Huh?

Well the consensus is in - your readership is composed of a majority of bulimic liberals.

You should check out this week's Doonesbury strips.

http://www.doonesbury.com/strip/dailydose/index.html?uc_full_date=20080922

Um yeah... I'll explain my support of McCain/Palin to you right about the time you explain why you support a candidate who lies about his associations with an America-hating unrepentant terrorist. Nobama has been given a pass by the media who are so in the tank for him that it is unbelieveable. While you are skeerd of the Republican VP nominee, it is the fucking Presidental nominee on the Democrat side that keeps me awake at night.

Yesterday you posted a video of Sarah Palin messing up in an interview with Katie Couric and said you wanted people to express their opinions on why a woman that can make such a gaffe would be someone to be looked up to. Well, I just really wish everyone would stop playing the "gotcha" game. Everyone makes mistakes, especially in interviews. If we would focus on one sound bite of any discussion/interview/speech you would find inacuracies and flubs in all of them. For example, just last week Joe Biden also had an interview with Katie Couric. When discussing the economic crisis we are now facing he said "A leader has to know what he or she is talking about. When the stock market crashed in the 30's, Black Tuesday, FDR got right on the T.V. and confronted the issue to the American people." Sounds good, but the only problem is that FDR was not in office on Black Tuesday, Herbert Hoover was, and there was no T.V. at the time. So if I wasn't fair minded and realize that everyone makes mistakes, I could take that and say he's dumb or doesn't know history and isn't fit to be 2nd in command.

Another example, of Obama making a mistake, a couple months ago at a rally in (I believe) Colorado, he said, "I have visited 57 of the states so far. I regret to say I have not been able to make it to Hawaii or Alaska yet." There are not 59 states in the union. Obama is not dumb, he made a mistake.

McCain said that he didn't know how to use a computer. Obviously that is not true.

If we are to disect every single thing these candidates say we will find errors and slip-ups. They are 4 brilliant people that all want what is best for this country. They just have very different philosphies of what is best. None of them are stupid. In the end every person needs to decide which philosophy they agree with and which candidate shares their values or beliefs. I do not think the discussion that is going on in the media is fair and it doesn't help our country. Let the Republicans speak, let the Democrats speak and let them both put forth their arguments without being called stupid or inexperienced or elite.

Reasons why my Siamese cat is more qualified to be VP than Sarah Palin:

He is Siamese-American, which would set the stage for better relations with Southeast Asia.

He has spent weeks in Canada; once in Toronto, and once in Vancouver, where the room service staff took a particular liking to him.

He has lived in New York, one of the most important states in the electoral college. He now lives in Virginia, a state he hopes to turn blue because it will match his eyes.

While he has not been an actual member of the Cabinet, he does have intimate knowledge of our kitchen cabinets, where his food is stored.

He believes in energy conservation, and sleeps up to 20 hours a day to do his part.

He is a token black. Or at least his face, paws, and tails are black. And having been neutered, he is no threat to the notorious femi-Nazis of the Democratic party.

I concur that the reason you aren't getting a lot of conservative responses is because you have voiced very libeal views on your website, so you probably don't draw a big conservative audience.
What frightens me the most about this election is the blind allegiance and zealousness of so many Obama supporters. I am a 44 year old lifelong Democrat. My brother-in-law went to Law school with Obama and thinks he's great, but he still can't explain to me what this man has ever done that should make me want to vote for him. Yeah, he's smart, and he seems like a good guy, but honestly - why all the fuss? If he was just another white guy, I doubt there would be such a buzz about him. And Joe Biden? I live in Southeastern PA and I am old enough to remember a lot of stuff that Biden has done that isn't so reputable.
Instead of smugly mocking people who don't agree with you, why not tell us something about your candidate that would make us feel confident about placing our trust in him?

To Suzy, who accused Heather and her husband of "shoving their opinions down our throats," how exactly does that work when you a) logged online b) clicked on Heather's blog c) read this particular post d) read the comments e) commented d) clicked on Jon's blog e) read his post f)came back to Heather's blog g)commented again, this time, FINALLY exerting your ability to not click on this blog again. Phew! You must be so traumatized by all that coercion!

All the theatrics say so much more about you than they do about Heather and Jon.

Ok, Rachel (1028)- that was hilarious. Especially the energy conservation. :)

I think that Sarah Palin is one hell of a feminist role model. As a woman, there's a lot to admire - her career ambition, her self-made success, her strong marriage, and the ability to balance it all with five children, from a baby with Downs to a pregnant teen (the later of which makes her an easy target, but we all know it could happen to any good parent, and often does).

BUT THAT DOES NOT MAKE HER A GOOD VP CANDIDATE. I completely disagree with everything she stands for am horrified by all the little petty actions they keep uncovering, from troopergate to librarygate. Every off-the=-cuff interview proves her to be incompetent, ineloquent, and woefully out of her league. This poor woman is being used by the Republicans to get John McCain elected, period.

As a working mom who should have plenty in common with her, I have to say that I would saw off my right hand with a rusty blade before I would vote to put her in proximity of the white house.

And if one more person says "but she's hot" I'm gonna lose it. Obama's pretty darn handsome himself, and Michelle? SMOKIN'!

@ Anonymous 814:

I won't click your site because what you posted makes absolutely no sense. You do recognize that McCain and Clinton are diametrically opposed on MOST issues. It infuriates me when people use that so very flawed argument to support their switch of party. Yeah, McCain has tons of experience. Experience in not supporting the issues that probably matter most to you. How do I know this? Why, your support of Hillary tells much.

If you don't want to vote for Obama, fine, I get it. Stand on that principle and plant your flag! Shucks, I wasn't voting for Hillary if she got the nod for a myriad of personal reasons. However, voting for McCain was NEVER an option.....well......because he could give an ish about my concerns.

I dare you to stand on principle and not punitiveness.

Hey, I have a key chain from Russia and a spoon from Canada, I think I have a chance for the VP slot in 2013!!!

VOTE for LORI :)

And this is why I have changed parties...

Let's face it, no matter who gets elected, it's really not going to matter. Things will change....slightly......but the changes will have very little, if any, effect on all of us. The wheels of progress (or lack-thereof) turn slowly. I've been alive long enuf to see this same scenario happen over and over and over. Wish it wasn't true, but it is.

Thank you Diggs for your post. I didn't read much after that. It is the first post I came across worth reading. If everyone thinks it's about one person and the power they hold, you're misunderstanding politics and how the world works. And if you believe the media, you are also falling into that trap.

Grow up people and pick up a basic high school government book. Someone wrote "WTF is she talking about? The bitch is scary." Seriously?

148. Diggs said:
First off, #53 - the bailout is not socialism. This isn't a long term ownership of banking. Its not for the benefit of all citizens, we don't all get an ownership piece of these banks. This is straight capitalisim, these banks are going to be underwritten by the gov't, just like the communications, pharmecuetical and energy industries. Its a pillar of free market capitalism.

As a 29 yr old republican male, I'm voting based on the things that affect me, mainly anything driven by economics. Taxes, gov't spending, healthcare by way of taxation and housing. How amazingly vapid that clip makes Palin look, or how ridiculous Biden comes off when referencing one of our greatest presidents in a completely inaccurate time period - that doesn't impact my voting at all. There's a slim chance she'll be running our country and God forbid, if she ever has to, she'll be so insulated and consulted that any decision she makes will have been fed to her. Part of my vote is placing trust in McCain that his appointed aides are more than competent to "assist" her.

So you are all looking for someone to defend Sarah Palin, but you can't defend that video, its impossible. Just like you can't defend Biden for effectively dating FDR in 1992(exaggerating, relax) - its pointless.

I realize I am behind enemy lines here, but i love reading this thing daily and I dont want to piss off the apparent majority that makes up the ranks, so I'll end this long winded post here.

I burned with embarrassment for her while watching this. My nine year old Jack Russell, Daisy would have answered that question better than Palin...and she is Puerto Rican.

#1036, Strong Rhetoric

Thank you for being a true feminist. If you disagree with Palin, fine, but please do it based on facts. There is no "there" there with this so-called Troopergate and Librarygate.

The trooper in question tasered a 10 yr old and admitted he had issues on the force. BTW, he still has his job. Palin did NOT try to get ANY books banned from ANY library and the librarian in questioned confirmed it.

You're being spun.

OK-
When someone says she is just like you and me, I want to puke. No-she is not like you and me because I don't know about you but I am not a complete fucking idiot!

I really feel sorry for her, and sorry for us if she gets elected!

I once had my city alderman in my home for a condo board meeting. Does this qualify me to run for mayor of Chicago? A wise woman once said, " OH MY GOD THE HELL." I think that says it all.

In all seriousness I have friends (actual friends) who are Republicans and when I press them about Sarah Palin they say, "I don't know. I just like her." Yes, Heather, these people vote for POTUS like they did in high school for homecoming court. ARRRRRGGGGHHHHHH

i'm not sure why you all think you will be welcome in canada if the vote doesn't go according to your own personal agendas. we're pretty easy going up here but if our country was full of americans, we'd just be america. if i wanted to be an american, i'd move there. besides...we have our own election for prime minister on october 14th...and a bunch of morons to choose from. our political situation is no better than yours. and anyway, there isn't enough snow to make all the igloos we'd have to build to accomodate all of you!!

how about this....you have a truly great and powerful country - take care of it. go out and VOTE!!

and ps - leave heather alone. i thought your country was pro-freedom of speech. why should an intelligent woman like heather be limited to "talking about hitting snooze and how fucking wonderfully irritating your family is..."? that's soooo rude and totally uncalled for. condescending twit...

One other thing...my 18 year old son and I were talking about Palin last night and he said, "The only thing I like about her is it gives me hope that someday *I* could be President. If someone like her could wind up running as the VP, there is no reason that I couldn't someday be President."

I pointed out to him that while he says this about Palin in a sarcastic way, Obama truly illustrates that concept.

Seriously.

I work with a woman who supports Obama. I asked her why and she said "uh, er, ah, he's hot! And he sends chills up my legs when speaks." I pressed for more and she said "he's, like, ya know, all about Hope and Change and stuff."

Sound like bullshit? It should...and it sounds just like the stories some of y'all are telling about "people you work with who like Palin." Nobody asks me at work about that shit...I wish they would, though. Of course, I work in a fighter squadron and 99% of us support McCain.

1051: Class? Beer came out of my nose when I read that post. People with class don't call people no-class bastards. People with class don't tell people "I have class." People with class (and brains) know that politicians have speech writers...no news there. Yo.

#231 spoke my mind exactly. I am voting McCain/Palin because I am a staunch social conservative. I simply cannot vote for someone whether male or female, black or white that supports a woman's "right" to murder unborn children. So Heather, if you want to know why we like her, that is why. Conservatives vote based on their moral values and this is simply an issue we will not give in to. We will NEVER support someone who does not respect life and the Creator who gives it to us. Secondary to that, Obama and his wife are socialists. I prefer to live in a democracy. We see all throughout history what socialism can do to a country. No thanks....

I am curious, from this clip, she seems to assert that we (the US) currently patrol Russian Air Space to keep watch on a very powerful nation.

I am not an expert on this issue but I thought the Cold War was over?

I’ve been teaching a long time: high school and community college. Palin’s responses are identical to the bullshit answers students give when they have no idea what to say, and hope if they repeat enough of the words from the question in some sort of grammatically appropriate sentences, the instructor won’t notice that they haven’t actually answered the question, much less said anything of substance. Some of those students know when they’re BSing and hoping to get away with it, and others don’t even appear to be aware that they haven't really said anything. Palin either knows how much she doesn’t know (but she MUST know by now, mustn’t she?) and is hoping no one will notice, like students in the former example, or she doesn’t realize what she doesn’t know (and thus fits into the latter category). Of those options, I can’t decide which to hope for in a potential VP (is it worth mentioning that both kinds of students fail?).

I'll admit I’m not exactly a Hillary fan, but she has never caused me to wonder whether she knows her stuff OR how to handle herself in the political soup, two details I probably didn't appreciate enough until this week. In fact (although I’m a Wellesley grad), I voted against her because I think we desperately need a different approach in Washington, and she was too much business/politics-as-usual. I’m not sure Obama can do it either—I do think We The People need to participate more fully.

On another note, have y'all read the Garrison Keillor piece in Salon recently? Worth it; I love the man’s compassion, which, through my fear of living in a country I can no longer recognize, I'm afraid I lack. http://www.salon.com/opinion/keillor/2008/09/24/mccain/index.html

Sorry, dooce. This wasn’t a pro-Palin post, and that’s what you asked for. But thanks anyway for the opportunity to articulate a gut reaction.

1058: you must be Republican because you fucking MISSED the sarcasm completely. Oh my god, does God know you're drinking beer and reading a liberal blog?! Mercy!

#335 and #337 - I find it incredibly hard to take anyone who calls someone else a 'stupid piece of crap' seriously.

It seems that too many people missed the part where Heather very politely asked for no name calling or hurling of insults. It's sad that the issues seem to always get lost in the petty arguments.

re: 48. wide eyed in wonder said:

Since I live in Florida, please feel free to consult me on any crisis regarding Cuba or the Caribbean. Sign me up for south of the border, too - a lot of residents here are Mexican, so I'll be sure to keep an eye out to make sure they don't cross into my yard-space and threaten our security as red-blooded Americans.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's not a matter of someone "cross[ing] into my yard-space and threaten[ing] our security as red-blooded Americans" as much as it is the fact that they're illegal’s! They did not come to this country the proper way. My family is German and Irish. I've heard the stories and actually seen pictures of how they came over on a boat and went to Ellis Island. They worked all their lives, and didn't come here to expect a handout. What about when you go down to Laredo, TX and the high school parking lot is 3/4 full of cars from Mexico! What about the Mexican "Police" (a.k.a. paramilitary guerilla army) driving to the outskirts of Phoenix and killing an American citizen and attempting to attack local authorities? Granted, McCain and Palin aren't my first choice, but I sure as hell would rather have someone that has served in the military (not that that is the only standard by which the candidates should be judged) vs. someone that has... well, Obama has... OH! He's organized his community! Umm...he has been one of the top recipients of money from FannieMae/Freddie Mac (along with other Democratic politicians in some of the top ranks). He has...he has talked about change, then he chooses one of the longest lasting inside the beltway boys around as a running mate. (I mean he wants "change" for good reason, he and his wife have to pay back their student loans. *insert scoff here* How dare they be made responsible, just like everyone else, to pay back the money they borrowed to receive their higher education!? I for one am appalled. *tsk tsk tsk* That's just a shame.)One good thing I can think of is if he was elected to be POTUS, then we wouldn't have to decipher any more "present" votes.

For me, McCain/Palin is the lesser of two evils. They are not necessarily the candidates of choice for the real, true, conservative people of this nation, but I'll be damned if I'm going to vote for the Democrats.

To answer Heather's question, why do I think she is qualified, well, here goes nothin'.

Her accomplishments include:

1) Fixed a corrupt tax deal that benefited big oil.

2) Took the revenues of that fixed tax deal and successfully fought to get a lot of it back to the tax payers of Alaska via tax refund.

3) At least two corrupt legislators involved in that tax deal are now in prison, thanks to Palin.

4) Reduced taxes in the state.

5) She’s responsible for other corrupt officials to resign their positions of undeserved power.

6) Skins her own moose.

7) Sold the former governor’s tax payers-paid personal jet.

8) Most important, she chose life for her special-needs child. Not only that but she thanked God for sending her and Todd a perfect child. Without hesitation, Sarah Palin and “[her] guy”, Todd, expressed humble gratitude that God would choose them to give birth to Trig, their child of special-needs.

And I’m sure there’s more to add. She’s been mocked, ridiculed, compared in Congress to the man who ordered Jesus’ crucifixion, and has been portrayed as a non-accomplished anti-abortionist and ruthless dictator as Governor of Alaska.

So there's Palin, a VP candidate, who has qualifications, compared to a man that is running for President, and he has spent most of his senatorial career running for President. That doesn't leave much time to be present as a Senator. OH - I get it - that's why he voted "present"!!! He had no idea what was going on!

God save us all if Obama gets elected. We will quickly become a socialist nation and I pray that Texas secedes.

1062, no she didn't say that. Russian Tu-95 Bear bombers routinely violate American Air Space in probing actions off AK. It was common during the Cold War, and has become common again over the past few years.

When it happens, US F-15s or F-22s go intercept the bombers and turn 'em around.

Please tell me you weren't trying to bash Palin's on this point...one should be informed before they bash ;)

Okay - I'm an Obama person - but that's all I'm gonna say. You can't change my mind, and I can't change yours. If you're undecided, the choice should be obvious. Now - what I really want to know is: Where's the daily photo?????

The "But she's just like me! She's folksy!" argument (which is the same one people used for George W., by the way), always scares the crap out of me. Um...we're not voting for "who do you want to hang out with." As far as world leaders are concerned, I want them to be the smartest people in the room, and for sure a whole hell of a lot smarter than I am. This shouldn't be about relatability, it should be about who is qualified to be the leader of the goddamn free world. GAAAAAH.

Palin would not have been my first choice as a running mate, but I'll be glad to tell you why I will be voting for McCain.--Because Obama as president scares the shit out of me more than Palin as vice-president. I don't get the hysteria of those who want to kill McCain off in the next four years, making Palin president. We've had plenty of presidents in the past with much worse health problems than McCain, and they made it through two terms without kicking the bucket. Obama smokes and used illegal drugs in the past...oh my god, he may develop heart disease or emphysema or a drug addiction. Give me a break. In the end, socialism scares me, and that is what I see with Obama.

1076: Can I get an AMEN?!

Folksy. Low-Class. Palin. Bush. Cheney.

But God speaks through them!

Heather -- I don't know how you do it. I just read through a couple hundred of the comments and I want to kill myself. (I think I'll have a drink instead.) Although the vast majority are in agreement that Palin is unqualified and not too bright AND may very well end up inheriting the presidency, some of them are STILL VOTING FOR that ticket.

The two sides are just so far apart and the divide is getting deeper. Those who care deeply about ABORTION and RELIGION and CREATIONISM are the ones who are going to vote the Republican ticket. The old rich white Republicans figured out years ago that by adding those largely inconsequential items (and by inconsequential I am NOT belittling their beliefs, but they do not affect the day to day operations of this country or most peoples lives) to their platform they would become the majority, at least electorally. And how right they were.

I bristle at the assumption that Obama supporters are elite. If I'm "elite" I'll eat my hat. I'm a middle class person in the 21st century who values the environment, the economy and the greater good, health and well being of my fellow citizens and soldiers(over-the-top conservative Christians included), AND stewardship over my own body. I have a middle management job (oooh!! Can I be Vice-President??), live in the suburbs, drive a 10 year old car and my marriage has happily endured 27 years, despite the fact that my husband and I both just have high school educations and I walked down the aisle when I was 18. Don't we sound elite?

Apparently Rush must have caught Biden in a slip of the tongue, because I note a lot of Palin supporters are mentioning FDR and television. I'd like to point out that a foolish slip of the tongue is LIGHT YEARS away from equating foreign policy to proximity. How is that an argument for her? I don't care that she stammered. Stammering isn't the issue. I'm just frustrated and enraged that she used the same tone of voice that Bush uses at press conferences. As if WE'RE the stupid people and he has all the answers.

I get that people like her cuz she's feisty. I get that Christians like her because they appreciate her morality. I get that Bubba likes her because she traps and shoots and cleans and loves to eat moose. But how that makes her qualified for the 2nd highest (and quite possibly the highest) office in the WORLD. Absolutely baffling.

If everyone in this country voted for their own self interest vs their values we'd end up with Obama in the white house.

On an up note, my Obama/Biden bumper stickers finally arrived today.

Phew. Sorry to blather -- needed to get that off my chest.

ps. I like the cute puppy pictures too.

The media is so quick to show video’s of Sarah Palins “inability” to answer tough questions…however, they don’t show and post Obama, a man who is actually running for President, and his blunders. Nor do they show you Biden’s mistakes. Here are a few examples of why Barack Obama cannot speak without a teleprompter and has a history of ties to people that are anti American. The media wants us to forget that only 2 months ago Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton AND Joe Biden said that Barack was not ready to be Commander in Chief. It’s also interesting that Joe Biden even said he would be proud to be McCain’s VP choice! WTF???

One more important point...I am so disgusted with the Democrats and the media saying that McCain wants to postpone the debate tonight as a political stunt. In case you don’t know, McCain has asked Obama several times to have town hall meetings with him and Obama has refused. The reason? Maybe that there are no teleprompters at town hall meetings. McCain asked to postpone the debate tonight because of one reason. He sees the mess we are in and truly puts his “Country First”. He feels that his job as a US Senator is to be there to help join the parties into making a decision. He feels that until this crisis is fixed, nothing else matters. That, my friend, is who I want in control. Not a senator who says, “They will call me if they need me”. Again…..WTF????????? I truly hope that McCain wins this election and the media is left with a lot of egg on their faces.

The reason I am sending this is because I think it’s time that people stop drinking the kool aid and realize that we are being dupped. Decide for yourself! I would love to hear feedback.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-l2f7TWZjs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Njy-5X2huFQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpGH02DtIws

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU2Yv-rnJEo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDaO7N-JujU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BnLozS-TnM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlYMSTP1CxY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpjAs4vtc1w
(This one really stands out in my mind!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38I55mZuSOY
This one is kind of long, but worth watching. Play close attention to what Farrahkan is saying…

1081, are you fucking serious?

People's morals dictate everything. If your intellectual positions don't match up with your morals, you need to do some serious thinking. I've read everything under the sun regarding ethics, leadership, political philosophy and yes, Virginia, the Bible. I've studied the issues, thought through my positions, lived a bit...THOSE things dictate my morals and my stances on various positions. Make sense, small-minded one?

I think what you meant to say is that Evangelical Christians should not be allowed to vote because they too often vote their religious beliefs. So fucking what? Can I say if you vote for a candidate solely based on the color of his skin (95% of blacks support Obama, and it ain't because they've all studied his positions on FISA, taxes, labor unions, Iraq and Medicare) your right to vote should be revoked?

You vote your morals and let others vote theirs. What you said is un-democratic and flat out stupid.

I find Sarah Palin so offensive as a representation of powerful women in America. It's embarassing to watch her stutter over her words! Was she chosen just because of her looks? I mean, come on!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDJSVPAx8xc

Not sure if anyone has posted this yet (with over a thousand comments, there was no way I was going to get through all of them!), but it's an interesting clip to pit against the tragedy that is the Palin-Couric interview.

I'm not sure I have much to contribute to the conversation by way of defending or refuting anything on either side. I feel McCain is a more qualified, albeit it less inspiring, candidate; unfortunately, that means we could be stuck with a beauty queen sending casseroles to Russia as part of her foreign policy if he kicks the bucket. On the other hand, though, she might at least know who was president in 1929 and when the television was invented...

hard to say, I guess.

1089:

But he didn't DO anything successful as a community organizer! Show me.

God, I am sick of these stupid fucking christians thinking that just because a candidate says they are a "born again christian" that Jesus Christ himself would be running the country. He sure did a bang up job of it these last 8 years! If America votes them in, then America deserves everything they get with it. Stupid fuckers were dumb enough to do it twice already. And yes I do live in America, sadly, at this point.

So much for no name calling, I see.

I am voting for McCain/Palin for one reason, and one reason only: the alternative would be a disaster for this country as we know it.

I don't understand why people are so concerned about how Sarah Palin was stumped when relentlessly quizzed on what regulations McCain has supported in his past, instead of investigating their own candidate's questionable (shady?) past.

Please stop reading the gossip columnists and spin doctors, and learn about the facts! http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=306978378974502
http://www.investors.com/editorial/IBDArticles.asp?artsec=16&artnum=1&is...
http://www.investors.com/editorial/IBDArticles.asp?artsec=16&artnum=1&is...

Ivan 1071

I don't know understand pro-life/pro-choice huh? Last time I checked there wasn't anybody out there that was pro-abortion. No one that I have ever known has been pro-abortion. For the record I do not support partial birth abortion. I have a child myself and I had him at a very bad time in my life that I could have very easily had an abortion, but I CHOSE not to. It is about privacy and it is about choice and the right to chose.

A woman who could possibly run this country who supports the exact opposite of this and is not even willing to entertain the idea of abortion even in instances of rape or incest-I cannot support.

#1095, Lolly Pea said:
To those of you who are crapping your pants because Sarah Palin is inexperienced in foreign policy, my question is this: What experience, exactly, qualifies you to be President?

NONE. which is why I am not running for PRESIDENT.

The sad truth for me is that she scares me slightly less than Obama. HE scares the crap out of me. It's very sad to me that both of our presidential hopefuls literally scare at least half of the country. I feel like I am voting for the lesser of the two evils. And, I'm not very happy about it.

#1102 - You are absolutely right, the question should have read VICE PRESIDENT. I was thinking ahead of the much larger issue, which is the experience of the two candidates running for the more important office. My mistake, please accept my humble apologies.

All this talk about experience...To what degree does it make a difference? When I look at history's examples, I conclude that more than experience matters.

Abraham Lincoln- Illinois state legislator (sound familiar?) and House of Rep. for 2 years

John F. Kennedy- one term as Senator before he won the presidential primary

The debate over experience in regards to Obama and Palin matters less to me than their education and intellectual ability. We can all largely agree that neither Obama nor Palin have much foreign policy experience, but shouldn't they at the very least be educated on the issues? I don't want a VP who needs a crash course from McCain's advisers and tutoring sessions from Henry Kissenger. I'd like the candidates to have some pre-existing knowlege of NATO, Israel, Iran, etc. Our leaders will be called on to make decisions that require historical knowledge and analytical insight; they should be able talk about such global policy issues with the necessary nuance. Yes, this is a form of elitism- I want my President and Vice President to be more intellectually astute, better educated, and more skilled than the average American in order to handle the complex problems of our country and world.

I do judge candidates by their ablity to handle questions from the press. Biased journalists are small potatoes compared to what they will face as world leaders.

"why do I think she is qualified (6) Skins her own moose."

THAT'S a qualification? LMFAO.... oh lordy! Please tell me you're kidding about that one.

Just for the record when a "child" is concieved it is called a zygote. Cells my friend cells. The heartbeat does not appear until 7 weeks into the pregnancy. (That is almost 2 months.) Most of the women that I have known that have had abortions have had them before this time. As far as I am concerned if it doesn't have a heartbeat it isn't a life. Pro-lifers want to argue murder? Argue it to the people that support partial birth abortions. Don't argue it to me because I don't by it. I am done with this argument.

1100.

Read some of the stuff NOW and PP put regarding abortion and get back to me on whether or not you think anyone is pro-abortion.

I'm glad we see eye to eye on partial birth, as we all should. As far as rape or incest, well, it's natural to support it in those cases but it falls apart when you think through moral dilemmas. If it's about a life at conception (which Biden says it is) and protecting that life, well, the life that comes from rape or incest is every bit as innocent as the life that comes from a husband and wife trying for a baby. I'd give Palin kudos for being consistent.

Like I said, I'm not pro-life but if you work through the science and the morality of it all, it's hard not to be against abortion, even in horrific cases. It's tough all around, especially for the women who have to make that choice. I don't think the answer is overturning Roe, but I do think someday abortion will be outlawed in this country and I think it will come about through social THEN legislative change, not judicial. Things work better when society wants them as opposed to when lawmakers dictate it.

As for another post, someone said Palin forced rape victims to pay for the rape kits as mayor, but then said it was AK policy. Am I to deduce that a Mayor cannot override state law? Was it Palin's policy or was it dictated by the State Legislature? I realize saying it was HER! makes a better and more frightening sound bite, but what's the facts?

The uterus argument makes no sense to me, a non-party voter, since there are so many qualified and capable women who could have filled the role of the Red State Hillary for McCain. An example would be Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison from Texas. Had McCain, who I had considered one of the most qualified choices for the nomination until late, chosen someone more moderate like himself, I would have had a tough time deciding in a few months. But it sure seems like the GOP picked Palin for November 4th and NOT January 20th (and every day after for 4 years). From my lowly perspective, at least it seems like Obama picked a running mate for the term and not the win. I can respect that.

With Palin on board, it will at least be an easy choice for me. Yet again, I'll be voting for the least terrifying candidates. When is there going to be a viable third party? I hope in about three years. Can it please be called the Common Sense and BS Smells Stinky to Me Too Party?

Are we to define Palin, and by association, John McCain, with a one-minute piece of tape? You don't do the same with Biden or with Obama. There are plenty of snippets of those 2 men stuttering, misspeaking, and sounding idiotic. I've grown to hate the Internet, because everyone is picking and choosing one or two moments of time to castigate these candidates.

The same justifications you would use to excuse Obama's "57 states" comment or his notorious rambles (or Biden's MANY verbal gaffes) can just as easily be applied to Palin, but you won't accept any explanation other than she is an incredibly stupid, and possibly quite evil, woman. She is neither.

It's clear that you support Obama/Biden and NOTHING will change your mind. So what is this post really about? Most of your readers share your political beliefs, so you should feel vindicated and supported in your choices. Despite your assertion that you'd really like to "hear" my side, I don't think you'd really "listen."

I will be voting McCain/Palin, and although this doesn't directly address Palin as a person, here is why (in no particular order):

1. I believe that the problems from the last 8 years do not stem directly from Pres. Bush, but from the combination of having a president, house, and senate all dominated by the same party. The Republicans ran away with their sense of power, and fucked a lot of things up. As both house and senate are currently democratic, I think a republican president is needed to keep them in check. I believe the balance between the executive and legislative branches is what made the Clinton years so successful.

2. I do not believe that the answer to our country's problems is to increase the size of the government and put it in charge of managing more money, functions, and services. I believe in universal healthcare, but believe it is something better managed by each individual state. I am voting for a democrat in my state governor's race.

3. My personal beliefs line up much more closely with Senator McCain's than Senator Obama's. I have read both of Obama's books, McCain's book, and briefed myself extensively on each party's platform.

4. Senator Obama has some very shady personal associations in his past, and has risen to prominence very quickly. I fear that he will owe favors to the people who have put him in power, and will not be able to act on his personal convictions.

I really liked McCain 8 years ago, and think I would really like Obama 8 years from now. As far as voting for one of them this year, my decision is based on the reasons listed above. My feelings regarding Palin are pretty even- I don't like her that much, but she's far from a deal breaker for me. I think a number of the commenters here could use a refresher course on the actual powers of the executive branch- I believe Palin could handle the responsibilities just fine. She is far too socially conservative for my taste. I am pro-environmental regulation, as is McCain; pro-gay marriage, which while Palin is against she has vetoed legislation that would deny benefits to same-sex partners; and pro-choice, which is an issue that the executive branch will have little ability to touch outside of the appointment of supreme court justices which will have to be approved by the Democratic Congress.

I am tired of the media turning this into an election around the personal lives of the candidates. Research and vote based on the issues, please!

SIGH. I was one of those people. I SO SO SO wanted to like her. I rejoiced when she was picked thinking "YES! There is a young, articulate, strong minded, honest woman who is in touch with America and American families!!!"

Unfortunately, I must now retract my statement. She is vastly underqualified and the Republican party is placing her in the position and the party in the position of looking like idiots.

She is a gimmick and I fell for it.

I can't necessarily defend Sarah Palin. But I'd take her over a guy like Obama. Can we get an answer to that question without the words "change" or "hope": Why is he qualified? And if the answer is "community organizer," please give specifics. I'll be fair and say it was a bad call by McCain. But Obama has continously proven himself incompetent without a telepromter or advisor whispering in his ear; especially throughout this economic "crisis." And from the little information we've been given about him, he is the antithesis of "change." Let's agree that there's no real viable choice within the two parties. We shouldn't be divided over these four clowns.

We now have a pneumatic drill with assorted bits on the coffee table in front of the TV allowing us to take turns putting screws through our heads instead of having to listen to that woman. If she steps down, as even conservative pundits are now calling for, then I do feel sorry that she allowed herself to be used as a pawn. If she does not step down, then she leaves herself wide open to whatever she gets.

I promised my friends to keep my new blog non-political. I'm..........really.........TRYING..............

Thanks Heather for being brave!

Heather,

I just want to know why in the hell you and Jon are still focused on Palin over the past few days when the US economy is going down the drain and the American people may be stuck with a $700 billion saving grace?

Seriously, you are worried about Palin at this moment?

I wrote a HUGE response about her and then just let it go because, well, the past few days have been a bit more complex than whether Sarah has been out of Alaska or not.

I am a Republican, reformed Democratic. I HATE what the Dems have turned their party into and their tactics to try and gain control of the White House, especially regarding Palin. I am ashamed to ever have been a part of the party myself much of my life.

I think we need to fix this country with some kind of help. Not sure a trillion dollars will do it, but what I can not get is why it's ok for your party to tack on all kinds of things to this bill to try and help every single group they possibly can, aka people with no sense of their own responsibilities. But that's just the Democratic notion...write a check, give em money, it's just cash, that'll fix it. I'm so tired of hearing it from both sides.

I unfortunately will be at an Avett Brothers concert tonight so I won't get to see the debate live, but I will be watching it when I get home. Please, please, let this Palin thing go. You really are beating a dead horse at this point...and so is Jon. I'd appreciate ya'll moving on to your next bone of contention with us conservatives. I know you got alot of em'.

To everyone claiming that Obama's only function in the senate was to say "present," I'd like to point out that McCain's actual attendance record is worse than that of Obama, and that of the fellow who had a stroke. Just for the record. McCain has made his name as a "maverick" (whatever that should happen to mean), but he can't, generally speaking, be bothered to show up for the day to day voting.
Re: Palin and her approval rating: you would have to be Osama "Good Times" Bin Laden to not have an 80% approval rating when you give every alaskan voter 1200 more dollars of the state oil money (also, that's socialism, right?)

Obama/Biden'08

ivan, i love you.

It's really worth your time to watch the whole interview or at least read a transcript. Here's her response on whether the $700 billion bailout of the U.S. financial sector is a good idea.

"That’s why I say I, like every American I’m speaking with, we’re ill about this position that we have been put in where it is the taxpayers looking to bail out. But ultimately what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the healthcare reform that is needed to help shore up our economy. Helping the—it’s got to be all about job creation too, shoring up our economy and putting it back on the right track. So health care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions and tax relief for Americans and trade—we’ve got to see trade as opportunity, not as competitive, scary thing, but one in five jobs being created in the trade sector today—we’ve got to look at that as more opportunity."

Don't bother re-reading it. It's a buzzword scramble that doesn't have any intelligent interpretation.

1128. amy j.

Amy, you took the words right out of my mouth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbD62gNi9WE&eurl=http://benbittrolff.blog...

Hey, she outdid Tina Fey...
Who'd a thunk someone could come along that would make dubya sound like a veritable wellspring of articulate profundities.... If tina fey sounded that stupid during the SNL skit ...people would say it was cheap shot inappropriate.
Hell, i personally know 15 women who could wing it better than that and sound more intelligent...to be honest Tina Fey would no doubt be a 10x better choice...at least she's bright!
this illustrates the frightening spurious impulsiveness of McCain...quitting the convention to chase the hurricane as though he were president, quitting the debate to chase the budget because his polls were sliding, as though he were president...picking a hottie homegrown supermom (god bless her!) on pure impulse...not the way you rule a nation...I'm against obama too because of the pending tax hikes, but I could never face having McClown and palin in office.

I don't think a video clip under two minutes sums up a vp candidate. And I hope that people have a little more smarts that to base their opinion on it. I haven't decided who I am voting for yet, but I certainly consider myself open minded enough to look at each candidate and their qualifications. If I were to base my opinion on video clips alone, Joe talk-first-and-put-my-foot-in-my-mouth Biden wouldn't have a chance.

I have a comment for everyone on here who is "disgusted" by "Drill, baby, drill."

Do you drive cars? Do you have heat for your home? Do you purchase anything that has been manufactured in a factory?

Because if you do, someone is drilling for that oil making those things possible SOMEWHERE on this planet. Is it ok to "Drill, baby, drill," in other parts of the world, not just our "pristine" Alaskan desert?

If you do not use any of the aforementioned items, you have my admiration and can be against "Drill, baby drill" all you want. More power to you. But if you do, use your hypocritical brain a bit. US drilling=US jobs=US independence=US economy grows. This is not difficult.

Sorry for the sarcasm, but the lack of logic is extremely frustrating to me.

1135. Bunny Bodel...

And that's why we are in this two-party mess of an election. There is no difference between McCain and Obama and at this point, I could care less who wins between the two of them. We are screwed either way! Why not try and educate people that we have more choices and maybe next time around more people will vote Independently? So I should just follow the sheep on either the Dem or Republican parties? Don't think so.

Hey, 1143 Elizabooth,
No, it's not like saying that. She DOES have more executive experience. Do you know what "executive" means? It means being the sole person in charge making decisions. Obama has been sitting on a committee most of his life.

HUGE difference.

Here is an article at the National Review from Kathleen Parker, conservative columnist and regular O'Reilly guest asking Palin to bow out, http://tinyurl.com/4mr3c5.

I have to laugh at the people who fear Obama turning the US into a "socialist" country. Really??

And the whole "We are different because we are FREE" thing doesn't fly either. People in England, Canada, and any other democratic country are also free. Free to buy a gun (with a licence to do so, just like driving a car), free to go get looked at by a doctor (and FOR FREE!) and free to do what they want with their bodies.

Heather--Palin scares the ever loving shit out of me too. She's a mess.

However, Russia does fly into Alaskan airspace sometimes--so she is foreign policy guru!!

:)

So, all Governors of States bordering Canada/Mexico are equally qualified, is that what we're to take away from that? I truly am baffled.

Hey! I once missed my turn on the interstate and ended up in Canada. I *almost* crossed the border too. I could actually *see* Canada from where I turned around.

HMMMM I have a uterus too!! Goody goody

If I buy some hot looking rimless eye glasses and get certified against witchcraft can I run for VP?!!

Pretty please?

I know that I actually speak really well when interviewed but if you work with me I'm sure could dummy that down.

Seriously, that was really scary, really really scary.

#1150 anon
Nothing you state is true. You are not free if more than half your salary goes to taxes. The healthcare is not free you stupid dolt - why do you think the tax rate is so high? The healthcare sucks in those countries - you may hear how great it is, etc etc etc. but there is a reason why people come to the US for healthcare they can't receive in socialised countries. You don't understand that in socialised medicine, the healthcare is rationed and people die waiting. And that is the truth, regardless of what Michael Moore says!

1125

Abortion has been going on since the beginning of time and it will always take place. Take the option away again and we go back to the back alley doctors of the 1950's. Would you like your bestfriend or sister to suffer at the hands of a doctor who cannot properly perform an abortion?

How about this-Sarah Palin preaches abstinence and is against sex education. You take away sex education and you take away educating girls on ways to avoid getting pregnant in the first place and having to resort to abortion or adoption. ABSTINENCE does not work. Kids are going to have sex regardless. I am not sure what decade she is living in, but it sure as hell isn't the present one.

Another thing-you say if you get "knocked up" you have to take reponsibility. ABSOLUTELY. You are right on target with that. Here is my argument: have you ever put a child up for adoption? Better yet, have you ever carried a child for 9 months, given birth, and then had to part with it? What happens if you can't part with it and then you have to raise it and it is not to the standards that a child should be raised?

How about this one? What if you are raped? Do you want to carry your rapists baby for 9 months and give birth? Have you ever met a child that was a product of rape? Trust me it is not pretty.

My point it seems very clear to me that Sarah Palin has never really thought these issues through. Yes she has a son with down syndrome and it is very commendable that she chose to not to abort him. However, she has the money to raise him and meet his needs. Most people do not. Not only that, but it takes a very special person to raise a special needs child. Not every person is cut out for the job. While I respect the fact that she chose to give birth to her child, I am angered by the fact that she does not support the fact that if I found out my "child was special needs" that I may choose to terminate the pregnancy.

Sarah Palin is the female Dan Quayle. Keep her hidden and don't let her actually have anything beneficial to do. For the Republican party to assume every one would swoon because she is a woman is ridiculous. As a woman and a mother; I do not relate to her on any level. The only change that will be brought to our country if McCain/Palin win is a female voice unable to read a speech or give an interview without coming across as a complete moron.

May the day come that everyone realize a Democrats true job is to clean up the mess every Republican loves to make.

I kind of feel sorry for her.

I get how she comes across as "one of us" - because she does - and I know I couldn't really say anything brilliant about foreign policy - but the thing is, I'M NOT RUNNING FOR THE VICE PRESIDENCY. SHE IS. So I don't NEED to say anything brilliant about it - BUT SHE DOES.

She just seems so in over her head and like she's trying desperately to make sure no one else realizes that and it really does make me feel bad for her.

But that is not going to get her a sympathy vote, I'm afraid to say.

Ok, this thread has scared the hell out of me.

This country is falling to pieces before our eyes! And you want to vote for somebody because they're the same religion as you? That's not going to fix the crumbling credit infastructure, that's not going to solve the mortgage crisis, that's not going to rescue Wall Street.

It's thinking like this that put Bush in office TWICE. You know what the problem is with choosing a candidate based on values? PEOPLE LIE. They will tell you exactly what you want to hear every single time. And you listen to one little soundbyte where they flatter you and tell you you're so much more morally upright than everybody else, and you vote for your "pro-life" candidate and think you've done your job. But what has that gotten you? Seriously? Has that improved your life? Has that saved the precious embryos? And while you've voted on that issue, how many people have died or been ruined by the policies enacted by those politicians? You have to go by what the candidates actually do, at what has actually happened, at REALITY. Look at the last eight years of Republican presidency and where it's gotten us. Look at how eight years of Reagan economics, which deregulated the banks WITH MCCAIN'S SUPPORT, lead us directly to this financial crisis.

Get serious people. We have to get over ourselves with this "culture war" nonsense and deal with the REAL problems plaguing this country. Our economic infrastructure is weak and potentially crumbling. Our educational system is a shambles. Our healthcare system is unworkable. Our social security is threatening to fail, endangering our elderly. And we are sending billions and billions and billions of dollars overseas to fight in a country that never attacked us. We are wasting time on nonsense issues that noone will ever change their minds about.

We are remodeling the living room while the house is on fire!

If you really believe that McCain/Palin will deal with the real problems in this country, then fair enough. But that's not what I'm hearing. I'm hearing, "McCain/Palin fit my personal values profile" and to those people I say WAKE UP. You are responsible for the state the country is in now. Politicians who have no earthly idea what they're doing but will appear on the 700 Club and kiss babies. I blame you. Wake up.

I beg of all of you republicans, ALL I ask... leave God out of politics. Please, please, please. Atheists have rights too. Her religion should have absolutely nothing to do with your support of her.

That being said, here's a spooky thought: McCain, being the old fart that he is, may very well keel over in the next 4-8 years. If he gets elected, that would make Palin our president.

Sorry if that's already been pointed out, but... yeah. No.

Heather, you wrote that you wanted to hear from people who would vote for someone who chose to run with "someone like this". Well, your tone is SNARKY.
I choose to vote for her because her beliefs are similar to mine. I do NOT apoligize for this. In the edited Couric interview she came across not so polished. Kinda like obama's hem haw "let-me-choose-how to-answer-so-as to-appease-hollywood-while-at-the-same-time-not- insulting- middle-america"session at Saddleback. (Ihave to admit it takes a bit of talent to come up with fence-sitting replies so quickly- so a bit of hem hawing and not making eye contact was probably to be expected)
Liberals and democrats and even people from other countries act as if we owe them an explanation. WE DON'T. WE DON'T OWE YOU AN EXPLANATION.
You don't have to vote for McCain'Palin. Got it??
The way the media has responded to Palin lets me know Dems are sweating BIG TIME. So to the media go ahead--be rude--be hateful--insult her kids, husband, joke about rape, incest. Don't worry--we're used to vileness. we're used to keeping quiet. We understand your standards and tough times call for tough tactics. But I, for one,draw the line when you ask ME to explain.

The question really should be: WHY WOULD ANYONE WHO KNOWS THAT ELECTING SOMEONE WITHOUT ANY EXPERIENCE VOTE FOR OBAMA?!?!?!?!?!?!?! He has NO experience, and without his teleprompter he makes George W look like f--king Shakespeare.

Dooce, I love you sister. Keep on keepin on.

Check this out if you need a giggle:
http://politsk.blogspot.com/2008/09/sarah_13.html

I personally like Bullet Bodycheck Palin (if you enter Heather B Armstrong).

Your friend,
Dust Chinstrap Palin

I'm Canadian and have never lived in the US, so my opinion is irrelevant. That said - I find the fact that the polls are as close as they are absolutely terrifying.

If you are foolish enough to elect McCain/Palin then really, you will be getting the government you deserve, and good luck to you. I just don't want to take the risk of sharing a continent with you while your economy implodes and you decide to attack Russia.

From here you look like you're on your way to being a collapsed oligarchic empire with a government run by religious cultists. A place where it is a negative in an election for President to be intelligent and educated??? Where the candidate who was raised by a single mother and went to the ivy league on scholarship is an elitist and the guy who has more houses than he can count is "one of us"? Just... weird.

I went to New York on vacation this summer, and having not been in about 5 years, I strongly had the sensation that NYC/America is really behind the times. It used to be a vibrant, cutting edge place. Now, compared to Paris or even Toronto, America feels lost in the past and so, so insular. From the lack of recycling bins to the filthy transit to the fact that most of the museum attendees were from the EU/Canada to the lack of news coverage of the rest of the world.

I hope you turn it around soon.

sorry "1166. lizvelrene" Its not deregulation that fucks everything up. Its moronic people who make immature financial decisions that fuck us up. People who refuse to learn from their mistakes and have to depend on a paternalistic government to wipe their asses and tell them everything will be ok.

I imagine that your/Obamas solution to fix S.S.,Medicare/Medicaid, and education is to extract more taxes. Its amazing how irresponsible you people can be with other peoples money. Bush must have been taking classes at the Keynesian institute for market socialism cause' he's no better.

Wow, she is so out of her depth it is scary.

*crossing fingers that Obama wins from here in London, UK*

"1175. lizvelrene " Race card...check. Anyways, all the experience in the world doesnt mean your political philosiohy is worth a shit. Obamas policies are based on coercion. Palin is vote magnet. Her policies are irrelevant. VPs are largely symbolic positions. Thus your comparisons are irrational, and melodramatic.

I'm sorry, I wasn't even going to bother but I see comments that are like "oh that's only part of the interview...anyone can have one bad answer" it's the comment people have been making fun of her the most for...it's what people are most worried about, her lack of experience. What, she wasn't prepared to be ASKED THAT QUESTION?! She's like "oh I can't beleive they would bring that up? Who'd have thunk"

How could she not have had a prepared answer...and if she did?! That's seriously the best she could do?

Anyone who votes for a candidate based on their religious beliefs is an EFFEN IDIOT!!!

Yep, I said it. Shoot me!

Religion and politics should be kept seperate.

Not to mention that any smart poltician knows what to say to get the religious vote so they are going to tell you they are religious whether they are or not. If you choose to bury your head in the sand, that's your business.

A conservative republican woman by the name of Kathleen Parker wrote today that she believes Sarah Palin should bow out of the election. Read the article here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/26/kathleen-parker-after-int_n_129...

Here is a funny quote from the article:
"If BS were currency, Sarah Palin could bail out Wall Street herself." -Kathleen Parker

Thanks Heather for posting this. Your Rock!!!

I highly recommend Sam Harris's excellent essay on Palin in the latest Newsweek. Krissi and other Palin supporters, doesn't it bother you just a teensy little bit to hear her saying over and over how she said "Thanks but no thanks" to the Bridge to Nowhere, when we all know now that that is a lie? But, moving on to far more important matters, I've been known to hit my snooze button until 5 p.m. (i.e., for seven or eight hours), so you have nothing to feel bad about, Heather, and yes, lying in bed knowing you're lying is bed is a great feeling.

Britt ~ You're missing my point. Regardless of religious or personal beliefs I don't think the choice should be taken away.

As far as evil - I tell you what's evil.
Evil is making a woman carry a baby that she does not want.
Evil is the so called foster parents that don't give 2 cents for the kid & are simply in it for the money.
Evil is the child that sexually assaults another because that's what their evil father did to them.
Evil is the child that permanently disfigures another because that's what their evil mother did to them.
Evil is what many of these kids came from. Drug addicted, abusive, psychotic mothers & fathers. Many of these kids, no matter how hard we try, are following in their parents footsteps. I wish their mothers would have been more responsible and had an abortion.

I realize I'm predispositioned to not like her because I'm a bleeding heart liberal who doesn't like it when kids aren't encouraged to use condoms and women are told what to do with their bodies, plus I live in the fairytale land of preferring a country that leads by example rather than killing everyone who may or may not eventually think a bad thought about us for...killing people...who didn't attack us in the first place.... But quick study or not, she's just not progressive enough for me. I'm also one of them heathenous pagans, so thanks but no thanks on blurring the line of church and state!

I want someone who thinks war isn't the first course of action to solving things and who I would feel safe allowing near the nukes. She's just not it.

(Oh wait, you wanted to know why people *are* voting for her? I think they're thirsty for fresh ideas, but not ready to go straight for the guy with the strange name who'll make us all have abortions and care about the poor!)

(Vote Obama!)

The only arguments I have ever heard for Palin was that she has run a city and a state. However, they are smaller in population than the city of Memphis Tennessee. The whole damn state. For 18 months. No. Not a heck of a lot of experience. Comparatively less than Obama, IMO.

I have been hearing so much about Sarah Palin's values and how people connect with that part of her yet she has a pregnant teenage daughter at home.

I guess when she was out teaching abstinence to the kids at Wasilla High her daughter was hope getting it on. Typical Republican hypocrite. Tell us what do to with our lives and our kids lives, but they can't do it themselves. Such BS.

One of the funniest things about the pregnancy issues is that if Obama had a teenage daughter that was pregnant, the Republican conservatives would be all over him. He, his daughter, and his family would be dragged thru the mud for it.

The saddest thing about this election is how divided we are. Party loyalty trumps all normal intelligent thought. Sarah Palin is clearly not ready to be the VP or the President and no matter how obvious that is, the McCain supporters will not admit it. NEVER.

And stop connecting religion and politics. They don't go together. It's not right. It's like saying, I won't vote for someone unless they believe in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. Come on people. Stop being SHEEP!

Why would anyone comment when they are going to just be bashed, told how stupid they are, and thrown to the wolves?

Let's put the experience argument to rest right now:

Education:

Obama - Columbia University and Harvard Law School (magna cum laude); President of the Harvard Law Review

Palin - Journalism degree from the University of Idaho

Before they were into politics:

Obama - community organizer and activist

Palin - entering beauty contests

Jobs worked at:

Obama - civil rights attorney, taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School

Palin - sports reporter for a local TV station, worked in commercial fishing

First elected offices held:

Obama - 7 years in the Illinois State Senate

Palin - city council member and the mayor of Wasilla (pop. 6,000)

Next elected office held

Obama - United States Senator from Illinois

Palin - Governor of Alaska (ranks 47th in pop. in the union - about half the population of the borough of Brooklyn)