(by 159 people)
First Female Alaskan Governor and 2008 Republican VP Candidate
John McCain caught everyone off-guard when he announced Sarah Palin as his running mate for the 2008 GOP presidential ticket. The grass-roots effort to get Palin on the ticket had been gaining ground since the beginning of the year when she first started gaining attention from the party faithful. Rush Limbaugh started the push for Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin, right down to designing a logo for a McCain-Palin ticket.
She's made a name for herself among those who have been paying attention for several months, but what do we really know about Palin? For those of you planning to vote one of the major party tickets, you have a short time to learn what you can and see if it makes a difference in your choice. I hope this lens gives you a good start in researching your choices.
SNL video with Tina Fey as Palin
SNL Debate send-up
Vice Presidential Debate
October 2 at Washington University in St. Louis
The vice presidential debate was held Oct. 2 at Washington University in St. Louis, the only one this year. (They ought to schedule a few more just for fun.) Gwen Ifill, a longtime correspondent and moderator for public broadcasting programs The NewsHour and Washington Week, served as moderator.
The format has been set now for something fairly similar to the presidential debates. No limit on subject matter, using lecturns instead of sitting at a table, and shorter time for answers and discussion than at the presidential debates.
Vice Presidential Debate Winner?
Not quite like school, but let's hear why you think your choice won as well!
Transcript of the debate available from CNN.
Who do you think won the debate and why?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byJoe Biden
antimcbush says:
Governor Palin...oops i mean sarah is absolutely unqualified. My high school had more people than her town...yikes!
Posted October 09, 2008
jennifer says:
If Sarah Palin had any REAL integrity, or love-of-country, she'd step down from the nomination. Her winking, cutsie-pie, non-answers and evasions are an insult to anyone who values competence in any field, let alone the Executive Branch of government!
Posted October 08, 2008
WriterGuy says:
Sarah was cutsie and all, lots of winking and smiling and folksy talk, loved her outfit - but Joe made sense.
Posted October 08, 2008
yeahilikeit says:
Palin can't put two intelligent sentences together - she is George Bush in a skirt.
Posted October 07, 2008
Sarah Palin
joy Kim says:
In tenth grade (when I was a recent immigrant with poor English and a terribly low self-esteem), I had to do an oral presentation in my English class. I pulled in an A and 100% class participation by challenging the class and addressing the issues on friendship that all tenth grades dearly hang their lives on. Yes, smile, provoke, challenge and inspire on issues people already find it so personal, you can win over almost anyone. Does that have anything whatsoever to do with my fitness to do the job involving those issues? Absolutely not. So Sarah gets an A for performance on public speech. On demonstration of her fitness for the job? Well, she offered none (not through her answers anyway). But she will sure do a heck of a good job, better than Bush for sure, doing press conference and persuading Americans to go to another war, funding another $700 billion bill rescuing people who already made that much and then some more, and feeling alright about the economy right up to the financial meltdown. So Sarah wins!
Posted October 06, 2008
mydunya says:
These dems can't have an intelligent conversation so they stoop to a level of name-calling and insulting someone who will be our next vice president. And why is it that there is no satire on tehse tv skits making fun of obama. oh wait....could it be that they are all baised and leftists..??!!!
Posted October 06, 2008
EditingAddict says:
I think Sarah won the debate with her straight to the point answers and down home, natural charm. She was indeed herself, as she was advised to be by McCain. I'd love to see more debates between her and Biden...or even her and Obama! Now, THAT might be interesting!
Posted October 06, 2008
Amber Peterson says:
go sarah palin by amber peterson
Posted October 06, 2008
How The Media Scored The Vice President Debate
- AlterNet.com
- Biden vs. Palin -- Who Won? 6 Short Takes on the VP Debate
- Salon
- Sarah Palin exceeds expectations -- and still loses
- CBS News
- Palin's Steady Act All GOP Could Ask For
- CNN Politics
- Analysis: Palin gets back on track, but Biden wins debate
- Washington Post
- Palin Delivers, But Doubts Linger
- Globe & Mail
- Palin talks straight but still stumbles; Biden fights back - and sheds a tear
- San Jose Mercury News
- Analysis: In VP debate, Palin did 'no harm'
- Minneapolis Star-Tribune
- Palin vs. Biden: Polite yet pointed -- and no gaffes
- Forbes
- The Biden-Palin Debate
- Detriot Free-Press
- Biden, Palin hold their own in VP debate
- Chicago Sun-Times
- Palin struggles to keep up with Biden
- Wall Street Journal Blog
- Political Wisdom: Palin vs. Biden: No Gaffes, No Game-Changer
Predict the Outcome of the VP Debate!
So what do you think will be the end result of the debate Oct. 2? Will Biden eat Palin's lunch? Will Ifill play fair? Will she be too soft or hard on them? Here's your chance to be right in advance!
My prediction:
SusanVillasLewis, at 4pm on September 21, 2008 predicts:
They will say nothing, we will learn nothing and it will change nothing.
Reader predictions:
Fetching predictions now... please stand by
solution168, at 4am on October 6, 2008 predicts:
Obama but with close margin
barbara gobbelet, at 10am on October 5, 2008 predicts:
obama
Liquidtravel, at 10pm on October 4, 2008 predicts:
that nothing for the good will change no matter who wins...
petGuy, at 11am on October 4, 2008 predicts:
I love how everyone is so worried about whether or not Sarah is ready to be president. She isn't running for president. You should be asking yourself if Obama is ready to be president. If you answer yes then I seriously question your judgment.
If anyone is to blame for the mortgage mess in this election then you need to look no further than Obama. What did he do before politics? Thats right, he lobbied banks and other institutions to lend money to people who couldn't afford them.
Why should not being able to afford a house stand in the way of someone purchasing a house. That would be discrimination!! No wonder he saw this coming.
eSarah, at 10am on October 4, 2008 predicts:
No matter WHO becomes President - there will be change. I hope the American people can handle it. Obama wants to give the government MORE power over our lives than they already have. Hmmm - that is not a good thing. He does not respect our country or our soldiers and may just be a Muslim.
Fetching predictions now... please stand byInterview with Katie Couric
Aired Sept. 24 and Sept. 29
Sarah Palin CBS Interview (Katie Couric)
Exclusive: Katie Couric Sarah Palin Interview Part II
McCain and Palin talk to Couric
Interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News
Originally aired the evening of Sept. 17
Sarah Palin Interview w/ Sean Hannity Day.1 pt.1
Sarah Palin Interview w/ Sean Hannity Day.1 pt.2
Sarah Palin Interview w/ Sean Hannity Day.1 pt.3
Sarah Palin Interview w/ Sean Hannity Day.2 pt.1
Sarah Palin Interview w/ Sean Hannity Day.2 pt.2
Sarah Palin Interview w/ Sean Hannity Day.2 pt.3
Sarah Palin Interview w/ Sean Hannity Day.2 pt.4
Sarah Palin's Interview With Charles Gibson
From ABC as originally shown on Sept. 11 and Sept. 12
Sarah Palin First Interview since picked as V.P. pt.1
Sarah Palin First Interview since picked as V.P. pt.2
Sarah Palin ABC Interview Charles Gibson Part 3
Sarah Palin ABC Interview Charles Gibson Part 4 Day 2
Palin ABC interview - Part 3 -- September 11, 2008 -- Sarah Palin interviewed by ABC's Charles Gibson
So How Did Palin Do?
Did her interviews with Charles Gibson and Sean Hannity answer your questions? Are you feeling better or worse about her as a potential VP?
Leave any specific feedback about the interview down in the guestbook if you like. For now, just rate what you thought of this one interview.
CNN Report on Sarah Palin
As aired Sept. 13
Sarah Palin's Acceptance Speech at the GOP Convention
More Speeches by Sarah Palin
SARAH PALIN: In Her Own Words - Recent Speeches, Interviews and Official Biography (includes Republican Convention Speech)
Amazon Price: $2.39 (as of 10/13/2008)
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Does This Choice Influence Your Vote?
Is McCain's Choice Pandering?
One of the complaints I'm hearing is that McCain is transparently pandering to women rather than making a good and wise choice for the person to be his No. 2. What do you think?
Three Reasons to Put Sarah Palin on the Ticket
At this stage of the game, the vice-president potential's sole job is to get the presidential candidate elected. For that reason, the VP candidate is often chosen to bring in voters the head guy doesn't. So what does Palin bring to the table?
- She's mainline conservative.
Her stances on gay marriage, capital punishment, abortion and gun control will appeal to many of the conservatives McCain turned off and into Romney's arms. She could make them feel better about coming out to vote for McCain. - She's young and female.
OK, that's two reasons. But she balances out some people's concerns with McCain's age (which frankly stem from having younger presidents for the last 16 years). And being female helps to neutralize the historic impact of either Obama or Clinton. - She's charming.
Don't count out the importance of this. For many Democrats, the sheer fact that they liked Obama more than Clinton was enough to counteract any concerns over experience. McCain isn't known for his personal appeal, so she should be an asset on this point.
Three Reasons Sarah Palin Could Be a Bad Choice
So what are the potential pitfalls McCain has to watch out for now that he's chosen Palin over others?
- Lack of experience
Let's face it. Part of her being young is that she doesn't have a long political life. She's been governor less than two years and held only local positions before that. While she's immensely popular as governor, she doesn't have much of a track record. That makes her selection look like little more than a reaction to who the Democratic nominee is rather than a carefully considered choice. - Location, location, location
Umm, she's from Alaska. Most of the country had never heard of her before Limbaugh mentioned her. She doesn't bring in a lot of automatic votes from her state and would require a lot of work to gain some shelf space in people's minds. - She's charming
The last thing McCain needs or wants is someone who accents his weaknesses. His temper and sometimes gruff manner are a burr for him, and she might just make people notice it more.
Authorized Biography
Sarah: How a Hockey Mom Turned Alaska's Political Establishment Upside Down
Amazon Price: (as of 10/13/2008)
List Price: $15.95
Used Price: $11.67
An authorized bio, which means it'll be a very positive slant. Expect we'll be getting a "obamanation" style counter before she can run for anything else.
Avg. Customer Rating:
The Best and Worst of Sarah Palin
There's a lot of pluses and minuses to any candidate for office - any office, not just the top ones in the land. So what do you see as being the single biggest plus or minus for Sarah Palin? The one thing that is swinging you to vote or not vote for her?
(Note, all comments are moderated and I don't allow foul language. But spicy is OK, and cranky most definitely!)
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byThe best thing about Sarah is ...
olatokunbo says:
She appears to be carrying the burden of her position quite well.
Posted October 04, 2008
Jack says:
Go Sarah. Finally, a real woman in the Whitehouse -- self-made, honest, bright, with great core values. Yahoo!
Posted September 30, 2008
Patty says:
I think she is a great and very smart choice
Posted September 29, 2008
Roger says:
I will vote Palin because she's a down-home country gal. And with Wall Street crumbling, the middle class eroding, and the balance of world power shifting, what America needs is a woman with little education, no meaningful experience, an inflated ego, and a distrust of science. Thinking is elitist. Join the movt! Vote maverick!
Posted September 28, 2008
rickie bunch says:
i will vote for sarah because she is what this country needs,at least she is a all american girl, proud of her country, love the flag an what it stand for god bless sarah an john an there familys.
Posted September 26, 2008
The worst thing about Sarah is ...
Dennis Arata says:
Palin is Dan Quayle in a dress. She refuses to answer crucial questions, maybe because she's incapable of
justifying the track record of her running mate or maybe because she just doesn't "get it" and is incapable
of understanding that people expect and demand answers to vitally important questions rather than this
good ol' girl image and the "Joe Six-Pack" references. Her attacks on Barak Obama and who he "hangs out
with" are inexcusable and clear evidence that she is incapable of conducting herself in a refined, proper
manner. God help us if the bimbo is ever entrusted with matters of international diplomacy because the
grossly superior intellect of the heads of state of other nations, particularly those who vehemently resent
the United States (which seems to be the majority), will manipulate her, chew her up and spit her out!!!!
The best thing "Quayle in a dress" could do is go back home and confine her involvement to her home
state...Bye Bye Sarah...
Posted October 06, 2008
Joy says:
I am an average citizen, too busy with ordinary, daily life to follow politics and study global economy. I sure didn't see this financial crisis coming. But I am just an average citizen. My job doesn't include ensuring the health of our economy. Unfortunately, too many of our elected officials were too out of touch, uninformed and simply not smart enough to see it coming either. I get that Palin gets how we feel. But what I don't get is what she is going to do anything about it. How does she plan to bring about the kinds of reform and change her team of "Mavericks" promises? Really, they haven't said much, not anything concrete, intelligent or well thought out. I guess there are people who will never get tired of her slogans, folksy tone and attractiveness, which happen to come with lack of information. But I am tired of politicians saying we are going to be alright when they can't produce a single evidence of how. Even my four year old demands, "how?" How Sarah? How?
Posted October 05, 2008
Louis_Dubois says:
If you vote this ticket you dont care about America.
NEITHER READY TO LEAD.
Posted October 02, 2008
slin says:
She does not bring anything politically strong.
Of course then again neither does Obama, really what change is he making again?
Oh taxing oil companies, oh wait, that raises oil prices for us! Wow! Wonderful idea, brovo that is exactly what I thought this country needed.
Oh wait...
Posted September 30, 2008
Terri says:
I like Sarahs anti-political stance and her history of cleaning up political injustice. Maybe she can clean up DC with all that political cheerleading she give McCain? That's what she reminds me of, an overgrown cheerleader. Nothing concrete comes out of her mouth. I'm still undecided. After the last debate I'm swaying Democrate.
Posted September 28, 2008
America Meets Sarah Palin
America: Meet Sarah Palin
"In Full": Sarah Palin, governor of Alaska, speaks at a GOP rally in Dayton, Ohio following her introduction by John McCain as his pick for vice president.
Runtime: 19:20
596574 views
0 Comments:
Sarah Palin at a Glance
Sarah Louise Heath Palin (; born February 11, 1964) is the governor of Alaska, USA and the Republican Party's vice-presidential nominee for the United States presidential election of 2008.
Palin was a member of the Wasilla, Alaska city council from 1992 to 1996 and mayor from 1996 to 2002. After an unsuccessful campaign for lieutenant governor of Alaska in 2002, she chaired the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission from 2003 to 2004. She was elected governor of Alaska in November 2006 by defeating the incumbent governor in the Republican primary and a former two-term Democratic governor in...
More on Sarah Palin
- Palin for Governor
- Her official gubernatorial election page
- Draft Sarah Palin for Vice President
- Blog from Elephantman pushing Palin for VP. Sign the petition to get Palin on the ticket.
- Office of the Governor
- Palin's official state page
- On the Issues: Sarah Palin
- On the Issues gives you the full scope of Palin's stances.
- Alaska governor balances newborn's needs, official duties
- Associated Press article about Palin's new son Trig.
- Letter from an Alaskan resident
- Checked out and authenticated by snopes. Worth reading because it presents a clear and amazingly fair view of Palin's political experience in Wasilla and Alaska.
- Gov. Sarah Palin from the Anchorage Daily News
- Her local paper put together this page in response to the increasing interest in Palin in an ongoing attempt to answer questions about the governor. Helpful place for separating fact from fiction.
- Palin Rumors
- Excellent listing of the various rumors/charges/stories that have come out with information on what's true and what's not.
More Women in Politics
Sarah Palin is the first woman to serve as governor of Alaska. Come take a look at other women who have been the first to make a mark in various areas of politics-
Politics: First Woman To ...
-
The presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton has raised the role of women in politics back into the spotlight. While there hasn’t been a woman to hold the highest office in the United States before, women have held the top position in other cou...
Thumbs Up or Down?
There were pros and cons to any candidate McCain could choose. But what do you think about Sarah Palin as an option?
Is Sarah Palin a good choice for McCain's running mate?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byYes, she has what he needs to win.
suetv says:
Many have said, Sarah Palin is a breath of fresh air. This lady has such courage and strength that some men are afraid of her, and some women are jealous of her. Oh well.... The point is, her abilities and potential are what America needs, and what make her a good vice president.
Posted October 05, 2008
mistee says:
yes. new ideas.
Posted October 04, 2008
dude says:
claires_rose_arbor_shoppe she is a lot more qualified than Obama
Posted October 01, 2008
dude says:
yes
Posted October 01, 2008
thedude says:
yes
Posted September 30, 2008
No, she's more harmful than helpful.
john says:
He needs a politican, not a middle aged cheerleader.
Posted October 08, 2008
js says:
A Maverick may be the appropriate analogy for her. I remember this vehicle looked good, but was a worthless peice of crap.
Posted October 07, 2008
Dennis Arata says:
"Dan Quayle in a dress"? You've got to be kidding!!!!
Posted October 06, 2008
terrified about our future says:
ha ha ha ha ha
Posted September 28, 2008
Sarah Palin: Watch and Learn More
Sarah Palin or Ralph Nader -Alaska Dividend idea- National Oil Revenue & Pollution Fines, invested in Alternative Energy, returning a dividend to every Adult and Child in America
Runtime: 5:56
56234 views
10 Comments:
Sarah Palin and the Alaska Independence Party. Palin addresses AIP convention
Runtime: 1:22
565912 views
10 Comments:
Quick, what do you think of Sarah Palin?
More on the Campaign, the GOP and the Race for History
-
Obama-Biden 2008
-
It's official. The convention is over. Barack Obama and Joe Biden are the democratic party's candidates for president and vice president of the United States of America. What do you think of Obama's choice for his running mate? What do you think of...
-
The Republican National Convention
-
What a convention! Now, it's all over but the voting. The convention has come to a close and John McCain and Sarah Palin will be hitting the campaign trail. It's going to be an interesting couple of months. In the meantime, if you missed the Republi...
-
McCain-Palin 2008
-
It was the morning after the close of the Democratic National Convention and Barack Obama's grand speech when Republican presidential candidate John McCain took over the spotlight with the announcement of his choice for running mate, Alaska Governor...
Where She Stands
We know the vice-presidential candidate's main job is to parrot the party line