McCain chose Palin as VP

[Fantine]

I know you might find this hard to believe, Fantine, but men and women are still joining the military with full knowledge of what is going on in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are not ignorant, they are intelligent and some have taken pay cuts to join the armed services. Many parents are proud of their children's decisions, and not everyone feels our current actions are unjust.

I know that men and women are still joining the military. This recession is the best thing that's happened for the military, because it's generally where people go when they have few other options.

There is a reason why the military is disproportionately minority and disproportionately poor. There is a reason why people from the lowest income states--Mississippi, Alabama--are disproportionately represented in the military.

 

[D'Ann]

I know that men and women are still joining the military. This recession is the best thing that's happened for the military, because it's generally where people go when they have few other options.

There is a reason why the military is disproportionately minority and disproportionately poor. There is a reason why people from the lowest income states--Mississippi, Alabama--are disproportionately represented in the military.

Actually, people have been joining the military for years way before the struggles of the economy.

Please keep Palin's son in your prayers who will be going to Iraq on this 9/11.

 

[BAFRIEND]

My feeling that this is not the appropriate time for her to run for Vice-President has nothing to do with her politics. I would feel the same about any candidate in similar circumstances.

What I dislike about her is her idea that Alaskan oil will be our salvation (and her state's windfall) when what we really need to do is develop alternative sources of energy so that we are not dependent on oil, and so that the price of this natural resource will drop, shifting the world balance of power away from countries that are seeking to destroy us.

Along with her lifetime NRA membership and her support of hunting wolves by shooting high-powered rifles out of airplanes.

I have nothing against sports hunting or even responsible ownership of fire arms.

I have nothing against Alaska getting an economic boom from oil- in fact I would rather see a state in our Union get it than a terrorist third country backwards thinking nation get it.

I also think it is hypocrytical to cut women to pieces over their home lives when it comes to professional careers but to have a different standard for men.

I would have preferred my stay at home mother had done something more with her life than spending her time at home telling her 9 year old son she wanted to kill herself all day long.

You think her children don't want her to be vice president of the United States or won't appreciate that ? I don't see the merit of your opinion at all. Those kids are better taken care of than 90%+ of the single income familys who are probably behind by a mortgage payment right now.

 

[BAFRIEND]

There is a reason why the military is disproportionately minority and disproportionately poor. There is a reason why people from the lowest income states--Mississippi, Alabama--are disproportionately represented in the military.

WHITE
50,112
BLACK
7264
ASIAN
115
NATIVE AMERICAN
264
OTHER
178
TOTAL
58178

Here is the tally by race of those killed in Vietnam. During that war African Americans made up 8% of the population. The same arguments about minorities and poverty did not hold up in light of the facts then, nor do they now.

 

[Fantine]

I agree Lisa with you. I'm a working mom and it's a challenge raising a family and working to help support the family. But I believe that I'm a better human being and a better mother and a better person for having the struggles of working outside of the home as well as working inside the home. A mother's job is never done whether she works in the home or outside of the home.

Furthermore... Hillary is a working mother... Fantine, how can you downgrade another working mother without downgrading your Hillary?

First of all, we have to separate our opinions about whether she can manage the responsibilities of the Vice-Presidency while raising five children and whether we like her political positions.

I believe that most of her views and positions will hurt America, and I would believe this even if she were a male, or a single woman, or a woman with grown children. I disagree with her policies on energy, the environment, gun ownership, and the economy. I also believe she lacks the experience to be an effective Vice-President.

I read that her husband is Mr. Mom, does all the carpooling, takes his kids to all their games and activities, and works in an undemanding job so that she can perform hers. That's their business.

Given that she rose from relative obscurity over the past 18 months, while, at the same time, she was accused and investigated for ethics violations, gave birth to a disabled child, and moved to a city 35 miles wide that is locked in by mountains and inaccessible to the outside world except by airplane, I imagine that her stress level (and Mr. Mom's) is at the breaking point right now....

Then add to that having a son who doesn't start college with all the other kids, deciding instead, at the tender age of 18, to go to Iraq. Talk about stress....

I hope they bring a good family therapist on the campaign bus. They will need it.

 

[D'Ann]

First of all, we have to separate our opinions about whether she can manage the responsibilities of the Vice-Presidency while raising five children and whether we like her political positions.

The good news is that her husband is a stay at home parent/dad and so, the roles are a bit reverse and that is wonderful. I also believe that she has proven to be able to juggle work and home life after all, she is the governor of Alaska and fought against the oil companies and lobbyists and even fired some Republicans who were not honest in their government business interactions. I think she is very able to represent our country as a Vice President and God forbid, if Mc Cain was to die in office, I truly believe that she would hold our Country together and do it better than Obama could ever do it or Biden for that matter if something was to happen to Obama.

I believe that most of her views and positions will hurt America, and I would believe this even if she were a male, or a single woman, or a woman with grown children. I disagree with her policies on energy, the environment, gun ownership, and the economy. I also believe she lacks the experience to be an effective Vice-President.

You are entitled to your opinion. I disagree. I've done some homework on her and she has proven herself to be a strong advocate against a lot of things that Bush is for. I completely agree with her policies on energy and environment and gun ownership and the economy. I believe that Obama lacks experience to even think of becoming a vice president than let alone president.

I read that her husband is Mr. Mom, does all the carpooling, takes his kids to all their games and activities, and works in an undemanding job so that she can perform hers. That's their business.

Well, I think if they are happy, which they seem to be, more power to them. Nothing wrong with each family making things work for themselves.

Her husband and her both have integrity and honor and that is more than I can say for Hillary and Bill.

Given that she rose from relative obscurity over the past 18 months, while, at the same time, she was accused and investigated for ethics violations,

She was falsely accused and when she was investigated, she was found innocent. When she became governor, it was discovered that those who were trying to falsely bear witness about her ethics were the ones who were guilty and they were proven guilty and removed from office.

gave birth to a disabled child,

And that should somehow disqualify her? Why? Because she didn't get an abortion? I applaud her for having a child that she knew would be disabled. I applaud parents who love that deeply and wholly. That endures her more to me.

and moved to a city 35 miles wide that is locked in by mountains and inaccessible to the outside world except by airplane,

Man, that sounds heavenly, I wish that I could do that. I love the mountains and I love privacy and there is nothing wrong with her and others living in this way. This is America after all and she does live in Alaska... I'm sure there are many folks in Alaska who live in a similar way and area.

I imagine that her stress level (and Mr. Mom's) is at the breaking point right now....

Strange, that is not what I saw at all. I saw a loving couple who have been married for 25 years. I saw a loving family that was happy and proud of their mom/wife.

Then add to that having a son who doesn't start college with all the other kids, deciding instead, at the tender age of 18, to go to Iraq. Talk about stress....

I think her husband and her are very proud of their son and applaud him for it. Not all people view Iraq in the same way that you do. Some of us believe that there is a good reason why we just don't pack up and leave Iraq to the terrorists. Her son is in my prayers.

I hope they bring a good family therapist on the campaign bus. They will need it.

I don't agree with you. They look like a strong and able and loving family that will endure anything despite what others may think or say.

 

[BAFRIEND]

Then add to that having a son who doesn't start college with all the other kids, deciding instead, at the tender age of 18, to go to Iraq. Talk about stress....

College is not for everyone. My nephew, who is very intelligent, went into the military at 18 and has done a tour in Iraq. In four years he now owns a home and is a staff sergeant and has a career in the military he enjoys and is proud of. For the record, he is from an upper middle class family and white. His college was paid for by his grandparents is he wanted it, too. That is just not what he wanted to do- and like other folks his age he could really have cared less how his mother felt about it, either.

 

[BAFRIEND]

I am just very very thankful for this pro-life ticket right now.

 

[eastcoast_bsc]

First of all, we have to separate our opinions about whether she can manage the responsibilities of the Vice-Presidency while raising five children and whether we like her political positions.

I believe that most of her views and positions will hurt America, and I would believe this even if she were a male, or a single woman, or a woman with grown children. I disagree with her policies on energy, the environment, gun ownership, and the economy. I also believe she lacks the experience to be an effective Vice-President.

I read that her husband is Mr. Mom, does all the carpooling, takes his kids to all their games and activities, and works in an undemanding job so that she can perform hers. That's their business.

Given that she rose from relative obscurity over the past 18 months, while, at the same time, she was accused and investigated for ethics violations, gave birth to a disabled child, and moved to a city 35 miles wide that is locked in by mountains and inaccessible to the outside world except by airplane, I imagine that her stress level (and Mr. Mom's) is at the breaking point right now....

Then add to that having a son who doesn't start college with all the other kids, deciding instead, at the tender age of 18, to go to Iraq. Talk about stress....

I hope they bring a good family therapist on the campaign bus. They will need it.

Sounds like your becoming increasingly worried and desperate regarding the fact that the Democrats might lose AGAIN.

 

[isshinwhat]

I know that men and women are still joining the military. This recession is the best thing that's happened for the military, because it's generally where people go when they have few other options.

There is a reason why the military is disproportionately minority and disproportionately poor. There is a reason why people from the lowest income states--Mississippi, Alabama--are disproportionately represented in the military.

You must have missed the part about people I know taking pay cuts from secure jobs when they joined, Fantine. For instance, one young lady whom I know gave up a six figure job in Pharmacology with Johns Hopkins to join. She was in charge of a $100 milllion-plus per year budget and worked hands-on dispensing antiretroviral drugs to the needy is South America, Africa, and the Caribbean (where she did so during Haitian riots).

A different friend was a design engineer for NASA. His job was secure, and one of the most sought after and highest paying in the field... and he was only 26 years old when he gave it up to make less than half what he did and joined the military.

Another friend worked as an engineer designing generators for GE where the turbines he helped construct could help end our foreign energy dependence. Another worked as an engineer for Northrop Grumman, while yet another worked for Google as a talent recruiter.

They hail from Tennessee and New York, California and Florida... They are white and minority, native and immigrant, and every one of them CHOSE the military over the secure, higher-paying, sought-after jobs they held for one reason: they believe in what we are doing in places like Iraq and Afghanistan, but also in others like Africa where we are working to prevent future wars through building an infrastructure which will heal the people and their economies.

So go ahead and think that our military is made up of people who don't want to be there and had nowhere else to go... The majority are there because it is where they want to be, and they are proud to be there. To believe otherwise is to ignore the reality of the situation.

 

[Fantine]

Not really. I think that the Vice-Presidential campaign will give her more than enough rope to hang herself with.

But, for all you Bush fans--she does bear a similarity to Bush. She almost bankrupted the village of Wasilia by the time she left office.

At the end of her mayorship, Palin was behind the construction of the Wasilla Multi-Use Sports Complex, a $15 million multi-use indoor ice arena, as her legacy. However, developer Gary Lundgren acquired the land before Palin could. Without the deed, Palin decided to build the arena there anyway, and attempted to acquire the land through eminent domain, but a federal appeals court ruled in favor of Lundgren. The case is in the process of being resolved in the courts.[13] It will cost Wasilla at least an additional $1.67 million to acquire the land[14] and Wasilla is still attempting to cover the budget shortfall by cutting library services, postponing capital improvement projects, and raising fees.[15]

If you had ever visited Wasilia, Alaska, as I have, you would see how ridiculous this is. Why did she try to steal Lundgren's land in a state with a population of perhaps 10 people per square mile? Was there no other land she could purchase honestly for the village of Wasilia? There's at least nine or ten miles of empty forests all around it....

At least Bush had a valid reason for his budgetary ineptitude--years of being bailed out of failing businesses by his Daddy's friends.

But this woman presumably lived on a budget at one point in her life. She should be smarter than that.

 

[eastcoast_bsc]

First of all, we have to separate our opinions about whether she can manage the responsibilities of the Vice-Presidency while raising five children and whether we like her political positions.

I believe that most of her views and positions will hurt America, and I would believe this even if she were a male, or a single woman, or a woman with grown children. I disagree with her policies on energy, the environment, gun ownership, and the economy. I also believe she lacks the experience to be an effective Vice-President.

I read that her husband is Mr. Mom, does all the carpooling, takes his kids to all their games and activities, and works in an undemanding job so that she can perform hers. That's their business.

Given that she rose from relative obscurity over the past 18 months, while, at the same time, she was accused and investigated for ethics violations, gave birth to a disabled child, and moved to a city 35 miles wide that is locked in by mountains and inaccessible to the outside world except by airplane, I imagine that her stress level (and Mr. Mom's) is at the breaking point right now....

Then add to that having a son who doesn't start college with all the other kids, deciding instead, at the tender age of 18, to go to Iraq. Talk about stress....

I hope they bring a good family therapist on the campaign bus. They will need it.

Your shrill tone and Condescending attitude speak volumes about you. You make comments such as this

I read that her husband is Mr. Mom, does all the carpooling, takes his kids to all their games and activities, and works in an undemanding job so that she can perform hers.

gave birth to a disabled child, and moved to a city 35 miles wide that is locked in by mountains and inaccessible to the outside world except by airplane

I heard her speech today and she spoke of how she was blessed to have her disabled child and how proud she was of her son in the military.

She is a very accomplished Woman. She has a degree in Journalism, she was also a sports anchor on television, former mayor where she reduced her own salary and lowered property taxes. She was a former council Woman and she is currently a governor and now Vice president candidate. On top of all this, she is a Mother of 5.

Would you mind posting your curriculum vitae, so we can compare yours with hers ?

 

[isshinwhat]

What I dislike about her is her idea that Alaskan oil will be our salvation (and her state's windfall) when what we really need to do is develop alternative sources of energy so that we are not dependent on oil, and so that the price of this natural resource will drop, shifting the world balance of power away from countries that are seeking to destroy us.

Well, not only has she created a cabinet to study climate change and find ways to mitigate it:

http://www.climatechange.alaska.gov/

...but she's big into renewable resources, mentioning the geothermal and tidal energy available in her state. She's an outside-the-box kind of politician and I'm proud she's on the ticket.

 

[fragmentsofdreams]

WHITE
50,112
BLACK
7264
ASIAN
115
NATIVE AMERICAN
264
OTHER
178
TOTAL
58178

Here is the tally by race of those killed in Vietnam. During that war African Americans made up 8% of the population. The same arguments about minorities and poverty did not hold up in light of the facts then, nor do they now.

Statistics from a war decades ago decades ago when we had a draft aren't very relevant to our present situation where our all volunteer force is at least partially dependent on financial incentives to encourage people to join.

 

[WarriorAngel]

For those who are using what-ever they can to discredit Palin, [her children]
I find it downright amusing that Hillary could spend the majority of her time in a lawyer's office instead of being at home with Chelsea.

Since Billary was a Governor, she could have choose mommyhood instead. Well, she didnt.
And spent many nights at the office.

Was she equally bad or what?

 

[BAFRIEND]

Statistics from a war decades ago decades ago when we had a draft aren't very relevant to our present situation where our all volunteer force is at least partially dependent on financial incentives to encourage people to join.

So, should they take the financial incentives away ?

You could do that and still fill the ranks with drop outs and ex-cons by lowering recruitment standards.

Then all those good kids getting their educations payed for, having guaranteed home loans and a good paycheck can instead get two part time jobs at Wal-Mart and McDonalds.

Then everyone will be happy.

Those statistics are very relevant given the fact that the same false statements about poverty and race are arguments still being falsely used today.

 

[BAFRIEND]

For those who are using what-ever they can to discredit Palin, [her children]
I find it downright amusing that Hillary could spend the majority of her time in a lawyer's office instead of being at home with Chelsea.

Since Billary was a Governor, she could have choose mommyhood instead. Well, she didnt.
And spent many nights at the office.

Was she equally bad or what?

If Hillary had stayed home and taken care of Chelsea instead of being such a horrible workaholic, would Chelsea still have caught the ugly disease ?

 

[Fish and Bread]

Well, not only has she created a cabinet to study climate change and find ways to mitigate it:

http://www.climatechange.alaska.gov/

...but she's big into renewable resources, mentioning the geothermal and tidal energy available in her state. .

But apparently thinks drilling is the complete solution to the energy crisis:

http://thinkprogress.org/wonkroom/2008/08/29/palin-oil-champ/

If Hillary had stayed home and taken care of Chelsea instead of being such a horrible workaholic, would Chelsea still have caught the ugly disease ?

I actually think Chelsea is looking pretty hot these days, but maybe I'm just weird. That's not a political assessment, there are plenty of ugly Democratic women, I just don't think Chelsea is one of them. I'd feel really lucky to date a girl who looked she does, everything else being equal.

 

[WarriorAngel]

I have my suspicions about Hillary's law firm partner [ahem]

Check this out - the man is Webster Hubbell..Hillary's former Ak firm partner...

Always made me wonder.

 

[BAFRIEND]

I actually think Chelsea is looking pretty hot these days, but maybe I'm just weird. That's not a political assessment, there are plenty of ugly Democratic women, I just don't think Chelsea is one of them. I'd feel really lucky to date a girl who looked she does, everything else being equal.

That was just poking fun at Rush Limbaugh who created a stir over his cruel comments about Chelsea.