The key places where Palin may make an electoral impact
Dante Chinni
Posted: 09.17.2008 / 7:36 AM PDT
Last week, about 100 years ago in political time, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was the subject of much debate in Washington. Her selection as Sen. John McCain’s running mate was viewed as a Hillary-vote-pilfering masterstroke by some and as a base-energizing, ticking time bomb by others.
For the moment, Governor Palin has disappeared behind a wall of stories about Wall Street’s economic troubles, but the most compelling character of the past few weeks in the 2008 campaign will almost certainly become a topic again.
Talking to people in some of our 11 communities, it seems the read on Palin by both her supporters and detractors may miss the more complicated reality. She may be moving more than just the base, according to some of our Patchwork Nation correspondents, but not particularly drawing large amounts of moderate and independent support.
As we noted last week, people in Eagle, Colo. our rapidly growing and diversifying “Boom Town” community seemed interested in Palin, but primarily more polarized by her. Subsequent comments from Los Alamos, N.M., which is part of another key community type our wealthy, well-educated “Monied ’Burb” indicate that the Alaska governor may be helping with some voters and hurting with others.
But in Lincoln City, Ore. representing another key community type, our “Service Worker Center” there appears to be more positive traction for Palin.
“Since the Republican convention and the nomination of Palin, all the Obama supporters, including me, have been talking about how worried we are that the Republicans could actually win,” Anne Hall, curator of North Lincoln County Historical Museum, writes in an e-mail. “Last month I would have said there was no way McCain could win the election, but now I’m not so sure. A lot of people who were on the fence now say they will vote McCain because of Palin.”
Kip Ward, the owner of the town’s Historic Anchor Inn and a blogger for Patchwork Nation, has focused on Palin in his commentaries on this site and has noticed a swing in Lincoln City.
“After the DNC, our town was awash in Obamaism. I have never seen a boat that was that big get blown out of the water so fast,” Ward wrote last week. “I don’t think any of us will forget the day Sarah Palin blew into town. In Lincoln City you can’t talk a word of politics without talking about Sarah.”
If there is a swing community type where Senator McCain could score points because of Palin, it is most likely the “Service Worker Centers.” The people that live in these places lower-income individuals and families might see a lot to like in Palin’s regular-gal appeal. Indeed, that’s something we’ve heard from a few people in Lincoln City.
What’s more, “Service Worker Center” communities are heavily represented in some key states Minnesota, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania. If people in those service-worker communities are having the same reaction to Palin as in Lincoln City, it could be a boon to McCain.
The question now is whether the net positive for Palin in those places will outweigh the impression she’s left in other battleground community types “Boom Towns” and “Monied ’Burbs.” Those community types also have a large presence in a host of key states.
Then there is this week’s news from Wall Street and the impact it may have on the campaign. We’ll look at how those stories are registering in Patchwork Nation in the coming days.
September 17th, 2008 at 8:17 am PDT
I think people know that she reformed Alaska, and I think people look at lobbying by freedie mac and fannie mae, which contributed to the mortgage situation and economic situation we are in, and think reform is needed there as well.
People are upset at congress, that seem to blame everybody for the problems ( oil companies, wall street ) but never seem to take any blame themselves.
Any hard nosed candidate that does not appear beholden to the lobbyists is likely to have success I believe. Obama and MccCain would be wise to distance themselves as much as possible from lobbyists and would be smart to hammer on congress.
September 17th, 2008 at 8:29 am PDT
From what I’ve seen of Gov. Palin, her political philosophy frightens me. I’ve learned, however, not to assume that others think like I do. It’s hard to gauge her impact on this election so far, but I think the more the country learns about her, the less attractive as a candidate she becomes.
September 17th, 2008 at 8:41 am PDT
If you were flying overseas on a Boeing 747, would you take that flight if you knew the co-pilot only had experience flying a single engine cesna? The current situration with Sara Palin is the same, only the possible results could be much worse.
September 17th, 2008 at 8:48 am PDT
Palin’s appeal is based on the fact that she fills a giant vaccuum for social conservatives that has been created by decades of liberal control of our institutions. Thats why the hard left are unhinged to the point of great embarrassment to the Democrat party.
September 17th, 2008 at 8:49 am PDT
“If you were flying overseas on a Boeing 747, would you take that flight if you knew the co-pilot only had experience flying a single engine cesna? The current situration with Sara Palin is the same, only the possible results could be much worse.”
That depends on two things:
1. Is there other people on the jet who have flown similar air craft, and
2. Does the optional crew want to fly the jet into a mountain.
September 17th, 2008 at 8:50 am PDT
To Jim L.: What if the only other option was a passenger who only knows how to use his seat belt but needs an older more experience flier to close his meal tray? That’s Barack for you and Palin for me. Oh, by the way, you also have a fighter pilot at her side and I would take a fighter pilot over a socialist any day of the week and twice on Sundays.
September 17th, 2008 at 8:54 am PDT
My reaction at Palin pick was the opposite; in other words, if I had to live with McCain as President it would probably be ok, but now that he has picked Palin, I cannot bear to think of the consequences. Her education is lacking in preparing her for the highest office in the land, her mere 18 months of service as a governor of a State of 700,000 does not meet any threshhold by which I would consider someone ready to be VP or Pres of the USA. Her 18 months of service as a governor hardly are a long record of reforming the State. They will lead this country to **** in a handbasket.
September 17th, 2008 at 8:55 am PDT
Using Jim Loerch’s analogy: Better a Cesna than a Lincoln Towncar which would sum up Barack’s experience.
September 17th, 2008 at 8:56 am PDT
The way things are going, I suggest Gov. Palin names her upcoming grandchild Peru o Bolivia. This way she and McCain can gain the popular latin vote too. Come on people, how stupid the Republicans think people are? A vote for Mrs. Plain and McSane is a waste. Look at our economy, the high deficits, the tax cuts for the top 5% rich people of their party. Do they deserve another term to fix their mess of the last eight years? Think about it.
September 17th, 2008 at 8:56 am PDT
How’s this for logic? Jim Loerch says: “If you were flying overseas on a Boeing 747, would you take that flight if you knew the co-pilot only had experience flying a single engine cesna? The current situration with Sara Palin is the same, only the possible results could be much worse.”
Well, Jim, did you bother to ask that question re: Obama, who doesn’t have ANY experience at all and yet wants to be the PILOT in your analogy above, not just the co-pilot???
Clearly, not. And yet, such deep thinkers need to share their logic with the rest of us, via Obama of course. Geeeez…..
September 17th, 2008 at 8:57 am PDT
As a European observer what shocked me was Mike Huckabee’s statement at their convention :
“European ideas give the Government the chance to grab even more of people’s liberty and destroy their hard earned livelihood” …
How can the average Republican expect these people to handle diplomacy after these hideous statements?
How can someone vote for a woman that has made so many bad statements towards gay people?
All Europe is craving for Obama’s win because we all know that it’s the only way America gets her “good image” back..Anti-Americanism has reached top levels since the election of George W. Bush unfortunately…
September 17th, 2008 at 8:58 am PDT
Sarah Palin has made my decision easy! I will vote for McCain/Palin and they will win; not because of John McCain but because of Sarah Palin. She is the only candidate of the four that is a regular, talented, bright citizen. The others are all professional politicers. Sarah is the best bit of fresh air in my lifetime.
September 17th, 2008 at 8:58 am PDT
Palin did not reform Alaska. She has been governor for one year and nine months. Aside for being mayor of a town that was frankly easy to govern, given the size and lack of local scrutiny of Alaskan politicians,she has not stuck anything for very long. So she “stood up” to oil, and then quit the Oil and Gas Commission. She was there for a matter of months. Wow how easy is that to quit a job rather than work out the kinks and accomplish real change? Very little has been accomplised in Alaska due to her work as governor (the gas tax was in the works before her, and the pipeline is far from been built)….
I am not ready to have someone like her as VP. Think of what Cheney has done. Also the vice president is the toe breaker in senate votes….I do not like her management style, judgement, her brain or her values. We have a big world jam packed full of problems. She is not qualified!
September 17th, 2008 at 8:59 am PDT
“If you were flying overseas on a Boeing 747, would you take that flight if you knew the co-pilot only had experience flying a single engine cesna? The current situration with Sara Palin is the same, only the possible results could be much worse.”
And BHO is an experienced 747 pilot?? Please explain.
September 17th, 2008 at 9:01 am PDT
Joe,
You want that fighter pilot who crashed repeatedly, got taken prisoner, and sold his soul to the VC. Remember, John McCain graduated at the bottom of his class (not very bright) and crashed multiple times (not a good pilot either). He has played the “POW” angle for all its worth, and it ain’t worth much to those of us who realize being a poor student and a bad pilot does not make you “Presidential” material. Oh, and Palin, what a desperate attempt to steal the “Hillary voters”.
Haven’t you people all had enough of this republican onslaught of lies and distortions. Remeber, George Bush promised to unite Americans and bring respect to this great nation. He did neither. John McCain is Bush III.
“Sarah Palin probably knows more about energy than anyone else in America”….Need I say more about this pair.
September 17th, 2008 at 9:02 am PDT
I have never seen a VP nominee make such an impact on American politics, good or bad. People seem to forget she is running for VP an NOT the Prez. The bias left wing media is in a frenzy and doing everything they can to dis-credit her, beginning with the worst edited interview I’ve ever seen in my life(I am a videographer/editor)with Charlie Gibson. After reading the transcript of the real interview it is obvious they wanted to chop it to pieces to make her look bad. Is she perfect, no-who is? Experience-not as much as a lot of politicians. Isn’t this what most of us want, not a person that has been entrenched with Washington for years and will give us more of the same, yes I realize that McCain is one of those, time will only tell if he is serious about changing things.
Values-probably more in line with most of America.
Has she sparked debate-holy cow!!!
She does not scare me because I understand where she is coming from.
Go Sara Go
September 17th, 2008 at 9:03 am PDT
September 17th, 2008 at 9:04 am PDT
Just a little correction for Eddie Z: The mess with Freddie and Fannie is a culmination of the Carter and Clinton years when organizastions such as ACORN lobbied congress who passed bills requiring banks to give subprime mortgages to people who sat at home collecting check and then couldn’t pay the mortgages. I’ll take McCain and Palin any day—they know what work is and don’t expect a handout.
September 17th, 2008 at 9:05 am PDT
@Jim L
“If you were flying overseas on a Boeing 747, would you take that flight if you knew the co-pilot only had experience flying a single engine cesna? The current situration with Sara Palin is the same, only the possible results could be much worse.”
well, at least the main pilot flys 747..that’s what counts.. whocares if
co-pilot flys only cesna…
better than obama as main pilot…he only flys paper planes…
and only a few times…. now that’s scarly.
September 17th, 2008 at 9:11 am PDT
I will give Sara Palin a hand when it comes to her impact on the campaign…however she is not a reformer as she likes to catgorize herself…she is an intimidator and bully. What I have read of Sara is that folks her disagree are fired and harrassed, like her saftey director, like the library director, like the museum director, and personal family business is pursued through her connections as well, Trooper Wooten, her ex brother in law. When she hoists herself up and cries “Ethics Violations” and gets folks dismissed, unelected and investigated like the head of the Gas and Oil commission that she sat on, she then dismiss the charges that she also used her office against ethics codes and writes that she is being harassed
Her rule seems to be marked by cronyism, secrecy, and outright blatant misuse of her office.
The sticky wicket with Palin is that she has begun her reign as the darling as the underdog female who is being persecuted by the media and males because she is a female. How can we critize poor Sara, attacked for her breast pump, her children and her womanhood. Let’s forget about the physical equipment and look at her positions on critical issues and her narrow knowledge of the world.
Let’s determine if she could be the next president of the United States should MCCain lose his marbles completely or die. Let us remind ourselves that this is not AMerican IDOL or AMerican has talent! This election will determine how this country fares in the new global order with a financial crises at hand, two wars, more people sinking into poverty without opportunities to acquire more education or job training, a deficit that grows at every tick of the clock, a shrinking job market ( unemployment rate is up) and home foreclosures on the rise. That is the tip of the iceberg!
I am appalled that we have not helped New ORleans and we will not be assisting those folks who used to live in Galveston, TExas either.
Yes we should think hard and fast…four more years of the same Bush failed policies with McCain and Palin ( old man and hottie) or a new direction with intelligence, grace and bipartisan cooperation.
There are many differences between the two parties including the negativity and nasty stuff tht McCAin seems to generate ..but more inportantly we Do not Need another “Decider ” in the White House. John MCBush and Palin along with pal Joe Leibermann are all about no compromise, they are deciders!!!, they know more than the average person!!!!—fight fight fight, drill drill drill, bomb bomb bomb Obama is willing to look, listen and compromise..using the best information and people from all sides he will be able to produce the change that is needed.
September 17th, 2008 at 9:16 am PDT
I find it frightening that a “likable” face can swing as much of the media, and apparently, voting population towards any side of the spectrum–in this case McCain/Palin. The level of political discourse widely found throughout this country is the real story; that gossip, outright lies, exploited patriotism, a completely unqualified VP pick, and true platform flip-flopping have in two weeks turned the electoral landscape on its side is the real story. That the American working class is so swayed by Palin because she is “someone they can relate to” is the real story; she isn’t someone they can relate to, she is a governor of a state that produces more oil than any other in the US. She is a wealthy politician, not working class.
If this campaign is lying as ferociously as it is now (which it is, check out countthelies.org, what can we expect once it gets into office? Though it may seem to be a glib comparison, it’s worth looking into what Bush said during his campaigns and what McCain is saying now. It really is in many cases identical, even verbatim. Fighter pilot or not, woman or not, McCain and Palin just do not have the interests of their constituents in mind. They are saying what they need to say to get into office for their own interests.
Who knows if Obama is doing the same. Often times campaigns reveal little other than the levels to which politicians are willing to stoop. One thing I do know is that Obama has maintained some sense accuracy and chosen a running mate with true experience.
I hope that we as Americans can dig deep and remember what this country is really founded on, what this country really can do, and what this country really looks like–and then vote with well informed opinions about the candidates, opinions that aren’t blinded by red or blue rhetoric and aren’t ignoring the basic principles that have for many years defined this country as a beacon of hope and instigator of positive change.
September 17th, 2008 at 9:20 am PDT
Sarah Palin reformed Alaska? No. Wrong. The “story of Sarah Palin” reformed Alaska. The real Sarah Palin supported the bridge to nowhere and still has the money! The real Sarah Palin has refused to participate in an investigation that she once welcomed - you’ve hear of “Troopergate”. The real Sarah Palin supports abstinence only teaching while her 17-year-old daughter was having premarital sex. The real Sarah Palin charged the Alaska tax payers a per diem to stay in her own home! The real Sarah Palin fired a librarian who refused to ban books! The real Sarah Palin has accepted more earmarks per capita than any other governor or mayor in the country. The real Sarah Palin claims that being able to see Russia from Alaska qualifies as foreign policy experience! The real Sarah Palin has been shunned by all major women’s groups. The real Sarah Pain bears no resemblance to the fictional story of Sarah Palin
September 17th, 2008 at 9:20 am PDT
The fact is that the republicans and democrats worked together, hand in hand, to make the mess we are in today.
Phil Graham sponsored the bill- but lots of democrats like Biden signed it too as did then-President Clinton.
Both sides are taking big money from all the parties involved.
You want change? Vote third party.
Otherwise, quit complaining about it and go read the want ads.
September 17th, 2008 at 9:22 am PDT
McCain warned of the FannyMay/FreddyMac problem back in 2002 and it was ignored by the Democrats. Candidate VP Palin is more experienced than candidate POTUS BHO PERIOD. That says it all. Palin without question has had a much larger impact on the election and the voters of the USA than anyone expected. The Demo’s are in total disarray; as they should be. The ‘McCain = Bush’ mantra is getting threadbare and very, very old. McCain is NOT Bush. McCain and Palin are proven reformers and do’ers. They both have a record of working for, and putting first, the USA. Barry O’bomber is no Hillary Clinton. And BHO is surely not a do’er. He is and has been working full time on poishing his CV/career and has done nothing, nada, bupkis for the USA. Maybe next time the Dem will learn to stop running liberal, no Socialists, elite,USA-hating, snobs that the middle of the country (can you say Penn, Ohio, and central other swing states) can not and will not identify with! These key swing states will end up voting McCain and Palin into the Whitehouse!
see ya in 4 years………….
September 17th, 2008 at 9:23 am PDT
Here is a thorough review of Sarah Palin’s record including news clips and reports from Alaskan local news and several videos of her:
http://dailysource.org/palin#palin_did_not_cut_special_needs_funding%2C_she_increased_it
September 17th, 2008 at 9:25 am PDT
President Ronald Reagan commissioned a study to see which newspaper in the country published the most accurate stories. Ones which were unbiased and true to the story word for word. The Christian Science Monitor was rated number one. Your coverage of the current political happenings fall far from unbiased. It also amazes me that your reporters blatantly confess their support for individuals who have voting records that would be considered to be not in line with the Christian populance.
September 17th, 2008 at 9:28 am PDT
Palin is an empty airhead and is not qualified to be VP. PERIOD.
McCain looks like he already has one foot six feet under.
Will the American electorate actually elect this ticket?
It is dumbfounding and stupefying. The McCain ticket and especially Palin belong on the Jerry Springer show…not in the White House. By choosing image over substance, American’s confirm to the rest of the world why we do not deserve to be a super power and why we have become a nation of malignant narcissists.
September 17th, 2008 at 10:35 am PDT
Sarah Palin appears to be ‘more of the same’. She avoids specfics on solutions to the problems we face by attacking any who would contest her, while spending everything in sight (ask the 5,000 Wasilla residents who are saddled with a $22 million debt for a hockey rink and other luxuries while they still have no waste treatment plant). Proponents say she’s a ‘babe’ who speaks with confidence, but I don’t hear any rational specifics on the economy, foreign or domestic policies. Do we really need a ‘babe’ in the White House?
The Republicans have given us 8 years of anger, ridicule, intimidation, blame and a Rep. Congress that didn’t work for them either, with false terror alerts every time they wanted something, an increasingly larger and heavy-handed government spying on our daily lives in the name of Patriotism, loss of Constitutional freedoms by taking away habeas corpus (for those of you who don’t understand this is a big deal: suppose someone in the current adm. or in your local political ladder decided they wanted your home, farm or business without paying for it. All they have to do is yell Homeland Security, invade, arrest, confiscate and they can have it all, lock, stock and garage, without ever having to prove a thing, and you have no recourse, because, hey, you’re in prison, and without habeas corpus they are not required to show proof of wrongdoing); a wrecked economy, and fear and torture tactics that rival the Gestapo.
Military spending in the U.S. is over ten times greater than the next top ten countries combined and the U.S. 2009 fiscal budget for the military is $2,750 Trillion dollars, see: www.globalissues.org/article/75/world-military-spending and http://www.warresisters.org/pages/piechart.htm
—If everyone pays taxes, that’s over a thousand tax dollars per person for next year just to support the Pentagon.
My questions: Are we any safer than pre-9-11? No. Are our borders more secure? No, in fact we are in process of opening our borders to millions of illegal immigrants. (See Pres. Bush’s and Tx.Gov Rick Perry’s on-going plan to illegally seize millions of acres of Tx land through ‘eminent domain’ for a 4,000 mile trans-Texas corridor, 1200 feet wide that spans from Mexico City to the middle of Canada and opens our borders for a unified North American continent.) The contract has already been awarded by Gov. Perry to a construction company from Spain (without competitive bidding). For more info, Google Trans-Texas Corridor.
Is our economy healthy? No Why? Because of the practice of the Republicans to avoid fiscal responsibility by printing more money than we have backing for so they can ‘not raise taxes’. Has the price of gas risen in any other country or continent other than Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, since the start of the war with Iraq? No. Look at Europe, all of South America, Asia, Australia, Russia. They are paying virtually the same price per liter of gas they did before our war. The dollar has devalued because; we invaded Iraq instead of going after the Saudi terrorists and we are spending $10 Billion borrowed dollars a month to perpetuate that war while our troops (especially our reservists and National Guard) come home to no jobs, poor and inadequate health care or rehabilitation and no treatment for PSTD, and a lower standard of living with a mountain of debt; because this President has encouraged people to spend, spend, spend and do it all on credit; because this administration has protected large corporatate mismanagement while their employees lose their pensions, homes and retirement (why hasn’t the media covered the destruction and aftermath for the employees of Enron and others for their loss of a lifetime of work and savings?); because we are printing money we have no backing for, and because we borrowed money from China to run our country and the war and continue to run up our daily foreign debt and trade deficit world wide, while Exxon, Mobil and the Saudi’s are raking it in. If you want to know why we are in such trouble, forget pseudo-Patriotism and chest-beating, forget confronting your neighbor with hatred about Red vs Blue, FOLLOW THE MONEY.
While you and I are being manipulated to fight over the Crayola Box, being bombarded by the media to keep anger and fear at the top of our list, and kept busy worrying about our next paycheck, job, or whether or not we get to keep our homes, look who’s still making money, has multiple homes and telling us we just need ‘more education’, that the economy is strong. 1 in 10 Americans is jobless, right now, today. And no matter who wins the White House, unless you and I join together to demand fiscal accountability from Congress and our government, these same corporations and fat-cats who control our governement and media will continue to make money while we foot the bill. Historically, a people who are poor and worried are easier to control. Think about it.
And while we’re at it, it’s time to clean house in Congress, of both Democrats and Republicans, and only elect those who actually eliminate the power to give themselves raises and tremendous healthcare, pension and retirement benefits, to only elect officials who will eliminate both that self-given right and all lobbyists altogether their first session in office.
No one in Congress (state or federal) should be able to benefit from anything expcept their employment check from us, and we should decide what that check amounts to, and if or when they get raises (if they are only dependent on us, their voters, for their income, guess who they’ll listen to?). No paid speaking engagements, no gift junkets, no real estate, no lobbying fees or lucrative jobs from those they gave favors to as soon as they ‘get out’, and no hidden bank accounts, with a balanced budget, on time, every year.
Call your Senators and Representatives today and demand fiscal and legislative accountability. And demand they pass legislation which limits law-making to one item per bill. No more ‘tacking on’ favorite projects, ear-marks or pork-barrels at midnight to get ever-more money out of the American tax-payer. These folks are supposed to be working for us, not the other way around. If you want a place to vent your anger, focus it on the lawmakers in your state and federal elected positions and demand accountability. That way, no matter who wins the Presidential contest, the job of fixing and clean-up will be easier and do-able, and we can get this country back on the road to independence, becoming once again a unified nation of problem solvers and solution finders.
In addition to voting in November, this is what I’m doing to make my America come true again, by being informed, letting go of anger, rolling up my sleeves to help in my community through service, and calling my Congress, demanding fiscal and moral accountability. Will you join me?
September 17th, 2008 at 11:02 am PDT
Could someone please explain to me how the Dems ended up with Obama at the top of the ticket? You had a real candidate and passed her over. Then Obama passed her over too. Please tell me why?
September 17th, 2008 at 11:22 am PDT
I don’t know if anyone else can relate to the feeling I always come back to when thinking of John McCain and Sarah Palin that this is a guy who suddenly comes home with a gal with whom he has eloped and now we have to try to get to know her but he is protecting her from our questions so we have to dig in behind their backs and try to figure out who she is. On the surface she looks good, but what are they hiding? I hope we don’t have to go through a messy divorce.
September 17th, 2008 at 11:24 am PDT
As a person who supported Clinton the only reason I ever heard from people about why they supported Obama over her was that they feared that the extreme right wing hated Hillary so much that it would energize that base. Well I think the Palin pick has energized that base and we have a lesser pair of candidates. Now back to the 747 analogy. Does anybody realize how easily you could see Russia from that 747?
September 17th, 2008 at 11:26 am PDT
@ Eddie Zalez Says: “The way things are going, I suggest Gov. Palin names her upcoming grandchild Peru o Bolivia. This way she and McCain can gain the popular latin vote too.”
– she could probably quote that as foreign policy experience as well
September 17th, 2008 at 11:29 am PDT
The woman is scary and McCain (who I voted for in the 2000 primaries) has become scarier. As a team they are out of control they say whatever they want without regard to truth. The media has given John McCain nothing but free passes in their efforts to appear “balanced.” It’s a farce.
September 17th, 2008 at 11:40 am PDT
“”Daniel Erway Says:
September 17th, 2008 at 9:23 am EDT
0Flag this post as inappropriate
Here is a thorough review of Sarah Palin’s record including news clips and reports from Alaskan local news and several videos of her:
http://dailysource.org/palin#palin_did_not_cut_special_needs_funding%2C_she_increased_it“”
Uhh….pardon my poor understanding of US/State Politics, but is not the position of Govenor to build her/his state infrastructure? So why is everybody critisizing Palin for doing her job….I would think that if you compare the space/resources/population of the state with any other state, there would be a great argument for the Govenor of Alaska to want to develop the one state that can contribute greatly to the economy of the US as a whole….
September 17th, 2008 at 12:07 pm PDT
A number of posts here talk about - experience. If you want change experience actually will get in the way. I have successfully selected inexperienced, but thoughtful, insightful, people to run companies I have started. The real issue here is whether they have the right stuff. If the test is “Can I have a beer with the guy/gal?” then it is already messed up. We are looking for a titular head of the country AND a Chief executive. That means dealing with internal and external leaders; constantly demonstrating thought leadership (not acting out the part of a bubba as we have had for number of years now), and working hard to arrive a strong middle ground that the populations of the red states and blue states can agree on. There are too many sound bites without substance right now and no conversation is possible.
The term social conservative has been used a lot to represent - the right, the republican states. It is supposed to be representatives of family values all good traditional things right? How come , then - the red states are on the top of the list for maximum per-capita of (a) teenage pregnancies, (b) Divorces, (c) teenage live birth rates, (d) rapes, (e) homicides and murders within the family , (f) property crimes, (g) Beer consumption, (h) guns and gun crimes, (i) high school drop out rates … and the minimum per-capita of college graduation. Which part of these are not good social or family values?
Ok - so it is all about when life begins. Some want to begin when an egg is fertilized. Others want to begin when the new life breathes for itself and lives independently for the first time. Yet others want to define it somewhere in between. Is that what our country is in the big debate about? While we ignore the dignity and sanctity of 48 Million people lives are unprotected from illness? When we kill lives that God also created purely for pleasure and sport? When we still believe that we, as society, have the right to take a life through a death sentence? Are we really ready or wanting to debate these issues on a rational basis the way Benjamin Franklin or Thomas Jefferson or Abraham Lincoln would have done? Let us respect each other and respect each other’s beliefs without imposing our own on each other. The President is not the keeper of my soul.
I am happy on share the data on the societal statistics - but you should not believe what I say. They are available for anyone who wants to pick it up from various government bureaus of statistics. Wikipedia is good way to find the websites.
September 17th, 2008 at 2:00 pm PDT
If she was a gay black woman Id vote for her..
September 17th, 2008 at 2:15 pm PDT
Sarah Palin scares me to death. I had some respect for John McCain until he made his first so-called presidential decision: picking a divisive, far right-wing ideologue. Maverick? I don’t think so. Reaching across party lines? Oh please! McCain has pandered shamelessly to the evangelical right to try to win an election. That’s NOT country first.
Inquiring about banning books? That’s not AMERICAN.
Imposing laws based on God’s will–as Sarah Palin defines God–that’s not AMERICA.
Our standing in the world has never been lower thanks to 8 years of Republican policies
Our economy is in dire straits thanks to 8 years of Republican policies
If we’re going to keep McCain and Palin from destroying this great country even further we’re all going to have to get involved, and fight for every last vote. Remember Barack Obama’s words: change happens from the bottom up, not from the top down.
This is too important folks. It’s up to us!
September 17th, 2008 at 3:15 pm PDT
The whole Rep ticket and future administration scares me to death.
http://www.freewebs.com/checkforyourself/
September 17th, 2008 at 3:26 pm PDT
I would suggest the issues are more blatant then what the average writer will state.
This presidential contest would not be close at all if there were not racists in this country first and pro-life second.
I am a white person over 60 and see Barack in the same way as I saw JFK and his brother Robert. And, why I was a part of the draft Eugene McCarthy (from Minnesota). But I have a mind and am educated and that makes me different, as well as one who really speaks his mind about what is real in the minds of the electorate.
September 17th, 2008 at 3:49 pm PDT
Sarah Palin is literally being schooled by the McCain campaign. They have hired tutors to teach her current world-issues, how to say nuclear, and how to answer questions like “Do you agree with the Bush Doctrine?”(preemptive strikes). She has only recently been off the North American continent. I’m 21 and I’ve traveled more than she has.
Also, why do people want to vote for someone with a newborn special-needs child, several other children, and a grand-daughter on the way? Don’t you think that her family is a little young to be moving to Washington? And the VP position might demand all of her attention all of the time? How can someone willing to put her newborn second to her career be the “shining example” of family values. She said that she “didn’t blink” and agreed to become the VP candidate when McCain asked her to be his running-mate. I think that such a quick decision, months after a new-born, speaks to her overly-ambitious nature. Seems to me that the VP of our country should at least be educated, and think about the well-being of her children over the advancement of her career.
I find it hypocritical that people slant Palin’s lack of experience as a necessary quality for changing Washington, and in the same breath, use the same reason, to try and discredit Obama. Obama does not have the long-record in the Senate that McCain does (which in my opinion is a good thing), but he certainly has mountains of experience on Palin. He was President of Harvard’s Law Review, he is extremely intelligent and educated, an inspiring leader, he has worked in the community and he has the ability to unite Americans the way that JFK did. McCain can barely read the speeches his campaign writes for him on the teleprompter.
Also, is Palin really Presidential material? If something should happen to McCain during his time in office, is Sarah Palin really the person we want guiding our country through these times? She’s been painted as “someone that the average American can relate to.” Have you all forgotten that Bush was painted as “a good ole’ boy!” just like you.
September 17th, 2008 at 3:56 pm PDT
THINK BEFORE YOU VOTE:
I’m not supporting either of the “institutionalized” candidates, but if you are voting for McCain you should realize that Palin has a real chance to be President within the first term. Men have an average life span of 75. Look for the statistics out there that show the percentage chance he will die in office, it may affect your decision. That means McCain who has had cancer 3 or 4 times now will likely get it again. Honestly if he would have chosen someone other than Palin he might have gotten my vote. I don’t know how any inteligent individual could vote for someone who believes in flying around in a helicopter and killing entire wolf populations so hunters can have more game to shoot at. Under her watch, are we going to start send our combat troops in helicopters into Pakistan to shoot civilians in the tribal areas to thin out the population so we actually bring to justice those responsible for 9/11?
Democrats have not shown their worth lately either. They were given control of congress and have ****** away the time squabbling. If they were really worthy of their seats they would have accomplished something substantial by now. Even if that idiot in the Whitehouse vetoed every bill. Are you all that spineless?
It’s pathetic how the McCain supporters of today were so pro-Bush when they ran against each other in 2000. You should all have your voting privileges revoked for not supporting the better candidate then just because you thought Cokehead George was personable and you would feel comfortable sitting around drinking beer with him. Do the rest of us a favor and move to Texas and suceed from the union and take Alaska with you too. You all can sit around drinking pints of oil and animal blood telling stories about how God talks to you and tells you what to do.
September 17th, 2008 at 4:18 pm PDT
Hey! Don’t have a cow over the choice of Gov. Palin. I personally believe there are THOUSANDS of Americans qualified to be President, including her. Additionally, she connects with regular folks because she lives a lot like them and thinks a lot like them. Political and media elites don’t like it, but Americans don’t always follow their lead - that’s what gets them called dummies by Euroweanies and their fellow-travelers. Viva los gentes! Viva Palin!
September 17th, 2008 at 4:18 pm PDT
First time posting to a blog, but this one inspired my to contribute.
I thought CSM had a relatively conservative base but from this string on comments, seems far more tilted to the left, and frankly at points is a rant worthy of the Daily Kos. I’m an independent. Like a kid being forced to eat one of two things neither of which he wants I plan to vote for McCain/Palin and hope other independents will as well because:
A. Focus has to be on McCain v. Obama (not Palin or Biden), and I’ve never liked the liberal tax and spend, soak the rich philosophy (i.e., increase the deficit).
B. Obama’s history of past associations (Rev. Wright, Tony Rezko, Ayers, etc.) don’t bother me. It’s his lack of Judgement, both as a politician and an American, in allowing himself to have had long term relationships with so many rogue characters that makes me wonder how a Columbia/Harvard grad could be so dumb - i.e., it’s like when a criminal defendant has to establish credibility and his attorney only has really shaky character witnesses to tell you he’s a good guy
C. Obama as the “pilot,” with his very limited experience, come on…
D. Also, as a guy who makes a fair amount of money but still worries about how he’s going to finance his children’s college education I’m not welcoming Obama’s promise to raise my taxes. I know my way around the tax code and understand his proposal. If you think our capital markets are in trouble today imagine what would happen when he raises the rates on capital gains. I subscribe to supply side economics, incent people to invest and that will create jobs which in turn creates sales at the mall and grows the economy. The “rich” represent a very small fraction of the overall tax base and you can’t make up the difference by cutting the tax on the “middle class” while raising taxes on the rich - the math simply doesn’t work as there aren’t enough rich people on which you can raise taxes.
E. Contrast McCain’s background with Obama irrespective of whether you like what he’s accomplished or says he’ll do (and I don’t believe 90% of either candidate’s “promises”). JM has at least voted, i.e., been more than “present” for many years (i.e., he takes a position and sticks with it), and
F. Even when folks try to smear him , it doesn’t seem anything bad sticks - think NY Times implying he had an affair with a lobbyist; the S&L crisis and his reputation coming out slightly tarnished but mostly intact following the Keating Five hearings which absolved him of any wrongdoing.
G. After watching both conventions the one thing that really stuck for me was after five years in prison McCain stayed loyal to his fellow prisoners rather than reverting to basic instincts to look after his own needs, and also did similarly regarding his political campaign during the primaries. I tend to believe that a guy who would do that would also be true to his convictions as to what he believe is best for America. Not saying Obama wouldn’t, but given his past associations I just don’t know, and it’s just that McCain has already walked the walk. And for those who say, yeah, but he’s just another George W and so it’ll be bad for the US I don’t get that either as no two presidents are ever the same. There both republicans but that’s about as far as the common ground goes think the 2000 primaries when these two guys beat the heck out of each other…that’s my two bits.
September 17th, 2008 at 4:20 pm PDT
How come out of a country of 300 million and a huge political system that the candidates put forward are so obviously not equipped…?
Interesting huh?
September 17th, 2008 at 5:22 pm PDT
http://www.freeforall.tv/
September 17th, 2008 at 6:02 pm PDT
I was planning to vote for an independent candidate but now that McCain has picked Palin, I’m voting for Obama. I guess that didn’t work out so well for McCain, did it?
September 17th, 2008 at 7:49 pm PDT
This woman is 1 step away from being a felon, now she is trying to get Trooper gate thrown out. I wonder If I rob a bank I could get that thrown out. I am not sure what happens in AL when you break the law, but when you break the law here you go to jail. Getting it thrown out is only an admission to your guilt. I still cannot believe someone under investigation was selected for VP. This is a joke. Not to mention your ZERO skills for the position.
September 17th, 2008 at 8:31 pm PDT
n a few weeks we will make a choice that will decide our future.
This time the stakes are much higher then most people could imagine
I would like to point out some things You may already know with a new perspective.
I follow a economist named bob proctor who has called the top and bottom of every market crash since the 70s correctly.
He perfectly predicted the current real estate market meltdown ,and the picture he paints about what will happen in the next couple years
Is terrifying. He thinks it could get worse then the great depression.
Banks in the US are going under one after the other. Country wide the largest morgage bank in the world
Bear Stearns and Lehman brothers , and Merrill Lynch which are 3 out of the top 5 wall street firms.
And now Fanny and Freddy which hold 50 percent of the home loans in the United States.
The goverment took them over because they are essentially bankrupt.
If they didn’t the entire financially system would virtually shut down, the stock market would crash
And we would suffer beyond what any of us have seen before
The future of these companies will fall into the hands of our next president
And all of our economic future depends on them reorganizing these companies right.
Lehman, Merill Lynch, and Bear Sterns have survived for over 150 years and survived even the great depression
They are important because the are the biggest engines of growth in america and
they are connected to almost everything.
The last time the real estate market numbers looked this bad was during
The great depression and real estate often leads the way into major economic recessions.
One out of 10 Americans is somewhere in the foreclosure process.
During the last 8 years the average person saw there salary drop instead
Of increase. These are all facts no one will argue with.
The truth is we are only in the start of the worst economy we have seen in our generation
and a very real possibility of another depression.
Bush just like Mcain doesn’t understand the economy.
That not just my opinion its his own words. Not only does he not understand how to fix it
He does not understand exactly what is broken. Its no surprise that he doesnt. The people that make up these
securities use complex math models very few people understand.
They are basically bundles of thousand of loans some good and some bad that are then given rules based on quantitiative
math. It will take the best and brightest minds in the world to get us out of this, and the same things bush and mcain have done for the last 8 years
Have not worked so far and wont work in the future.
If you do what you have always done then you will do get what you have always __________
90 percent of the time they have voted the same.
Please don’t just take my word for it Start to read up on some of this yourself. MSN money, elliot wave and, bloomberg
Have tons of articles That prove we are in the heading into one of the worst economies any one has ever seen.
So why are the polls even close then ?
The chairman of mcains campaign recently said that people don’t vote on issues
they vote on a personality composite which means. He is trying to sell personality instead
of results.
He believes people will vote against there own self interests.
Lets teach him we are smarter then that and elect the ticket that can
bring us back from the brink of a economic abyss.
If you think i am kidding do your own home work you will find
We are at the start of this mess not the end.
Mcain admits in the year 2008 he cannot use a computer even to send email
Its almost impossible then he will understand the complex securities such as cdos that are destroying wall street
and the home values on your street.
We are not bulletproof america it time to wake up and hold these people accountable.
How many people that you go out and have drinks with would you really want running the country?
Lets stand up and fight for our country now while it will still make a difference
Lets elect Obama Biden 08
September 17th, 2008 at 10:05 pm PDT
We privatize gains and socialize losses. Is this the new Republican party? Where is the accountability I’ve been hearing about since Reagan? Please enlighten me, Sarah Palin!
September 17th, 2008 at 10:53 pm PDT
It’s amazing to me that anyone could talk about Obmama and Palin in the same breath. Obama is a former professor of Constitutional Law, a state legislator and a US Senator. Palin, a hockey mom who has no clue about anything outside Alaska, rejects evolution and sex education, birth control and global warming.
Democracy is totally dependent on an informed electorate. Maybe that refers to its leaders as well. Think. Please.
September 18th, 2008 at 12:05 am PDT
that’s it, I’m done I’m disgusted by democrats and at this point hate republicans. All of you suck and will be the cause of the downfall of our republic. Do any of you even read anymore? Liberal media this and right wing radio wingnuts that…there are these cool things called books and position papers which clearly spell out what a candidate is for, and against. Stop leting others filter your information.
And for the record:
McCain is an agent of the establisment not a reformer. Not anymore and
has flip flopped enough to become a pretzel
Obama does not have enough experience but is in the great tradition of
Americans stepping up when ther country needs them.
Pailin is I’m sorry to say the very definition of pandering. And could
possibly be the best to ever hold natl. office but only for 25% of us.
Biden has the reputation of intelect and caring for people but is also
tainted by his lifetime membership in congress
All are flawed all contrary to rumor love this country, and all will do the best they know how. The fault lies with us the “Citizens” if we are not responsible to each other than we won’t have to wory about socialism, nationalism followed by facism and disolution of the republic anr on the horizon.
Grow up please all of you, and switch to decaf!
September 18th, 2008 at 12:07 am PDT
that’s it, I’m done I’m disgusted by democrats and at this point hate republicans. All of you suck and will be the cause of the downfall of our republic. Do any of you even read anymore? Liberal media this and right wing radio wingnuts that…there are these cool things called books and position papers which clearly spell out what a candidate is for, and against. Stop leting others filter your information.
And for the record:
McCain is an agent of the establisment not a reformer. Not anymore and
has flip flopped enough to become a pretzel
Obama does not have enough experience but is in the great tradition of
Americans stepping up when ther country needs them.
Pailin is I’m sorry to say the very definition of pandering. And could
possibly be the best to ever hold natl. office but only for 25% of us.
Biden has the reputation of intelect and caring for people but is also
tainted by his lifetime membership in congress
All are flawed all contrary to rumor love this country, and all will do the best they know how. The fault lies with us the “Citizens” if we are not responsible to each other than we won’t have to wory about socialism, nationalism followed by facism and disolution of the republic anr on the horizon.
Grow up please all of you, and switch to decaf!
September 18th, 2008 at 5:24 am PDT
go Obama,kick the stupid whities *****!!!
September 18th, 2008 at 5:27 am PDT
they don’t deserved to lead,it’s a black man moment..don’t they try to steal it!!or we’ll burn their ***** to pieces!!!fucking stupid white people!!!
September 18th, 2008 at 8:06 pm PDT
Scariest words in the English language– “What should we do about the economy, President Palin?”
McCain/Palin– Unstable/Unable
October 8th, 2008 at 3:48 pm PDT
having a soldier in the army im glad president bush and john mcain took the iraq army , forth largest in the world, and made it an allie to the western world.
March 12th, 2009 at 1:54 pm PDT
There is obviously a lot to know about this. I think you made some good points in Features also.