Dump Palin?
Dante Chinni
Posted: 09.30.2008 / 7:48 AM PDT
Two weeks can be a lifetime in politics. Just ask Sarah Palin.
A fortnight ago, the Alaska governor was the toast of the town. She had energized the Republican base and lit a fire under the campaign of GOP nominee John McCain. Enormous crowds turned out to see her. Democrats were frightened and began contemplating how Sen. Barack Obama could lose in November when it seemed to be a year made for their party.
But now, after a roundly panned interview with CBS’s Katie Couric and a few dead-on impersonations by comedienne Tina Fey, not to mention a Wall Street scare that has turned Americans’ attention to the economy, Governor Palin has become a target of criticism by Republicans as well as Democrats.
Conservative opinion writers George Will and David Brooks have criticized her selection, and late last week, columnist Kathleen Parker, a former Palin supporter, wrote that the governor was “clearly out of her league” and should step aside.
That was enough to set people chattering in Washington.
What if Palin left the ticket and was replaced by maybe former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who is thought to know the economy well? Senator McCain couldn’t officially drop Palin, but what if she, say, decided to step aside on her own?
Judging from the reaction in some of Patchwork Nation’s most socially conservative communities, the McCain camp might face a massive revolt from the people who were so enthusiastic about Palin’s selection.
“I think a lot of Nixa people would be angry if she were removed from the ticket,” wrote John Schmalzbauer, a blogger in Nixa, Mo., in an e-mail. “The McCain/Palin signs are sprouting all over town. At Wal-Mart, I saw a vehicle with a Maverick/Barracuda sticker. The same car had a Christian radio sticker. She is resonating with evangelicals.”
People we contacted in Nixa, our “Evangelical Epicenter” community, uniformly said that such a move would not happen – or if it did, the town would be up in arms. Many also said they expected her to do well in Thursday’s vice-presidential debate.
“The people I have come in contact with feel (and I agree) Sarah Palin was an excellent choice for McCain,” wrote Brenda Rantz, treasurer for Nixa’s school district. “The liberals know this and as a result have attacked her personally. She is expected to do very well in the debate. She is a strong woman and will not leave the ticket (no matter how bad the liberals want her to).”
The Rev. Gary Swearengin, pastor of Nixa’s Church of the Nazarene, indicated that he thought Palin’s weaknesses had been hyped by the media.
“I think under the scrutiny of the media and the world, we’ve all got imperfections, and when everybody else is looking from the outside in, none of us qualify for much of anything if we differ in our views from those who are doing the looking,” he wrote in an e-mail. “I think that given a true ethics check, most of Congress would have to relinquish their seats to someone new.”
Up in Sioux Center, Iowa – our agricultural “Tractor Country” community, another Republican stronghold – feelings were similar.
Donald King, a professor at Dordt College, a Christian school, says people in his community are a bit cautious about Palin and her lack of experience, but she still speaks to many voters there.
“Her plain speaking style strikes a chord with many voters, especially those who are tired of what they would describe as typical politicians. Like McCain, she is not very nuanced, but presents a very basic message that is applied to a wide variety of issues,” Professor King wrote in an e-mail. “She has clearly helped the McCain ticket and I am not sure there would be much gained by her stepping aside.”
In our reporting, we have found that Palin is something of a double-edged sword.
Along with “Evangelical Epicenter” and “Tractor Country” communities, she has unquestionably fired up voters in our aging “Emptying Nests” community of Clermont, Fla., and in our “Military Bastion” of Hopkinsville, Ky.
But she seems to have hurt McCain in some crucial swing communities such as the wealthy, largely suburban “Monied ’Burbs” and the growing and diversifying “Boom Towns.”
That dualism shows the danger the McCain camp would face if Palin left the ticket – which still seems a far-fetched idea.
The better bid for team McCain may be to try to win back support for Palin and to try to recapture her original magic. With Thursday’s debate quickly approaching, that’s no small task.
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September 30th, 2008 at 12:28 pm PDT
It’s really unfortunate that so much of this election and recent times revolves around the ‘pop idol’ competition.
Looking logically, the McCain camp’s choice is pandering to the Hillary gap. It’s a pathetic gesture and embarrasing from our publically elected officials.
The truth is that BOTH presidential candidates in this election are far superior to EITHER candidate from the last election. Personally, I have been independent for most of my life, and find the substance (minus the posturing) to be pretty constructive. My fear is that no mater who becomes president is that we will not make much economical ground in the next 2-3 years due to the damage that will need to be repaired.
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September 30th, 2008 at 12:30 pm PDT
<>
*This won’t happen. Palin herself honestly believes she’s up to the job, despite hard evidence to the contrary, and it’s going to cost McCain the election.
<>
*And this is EXACTLY why most of the country is actually against Palin, and why McCain is now in trouble: who says evangelicals have the right to drive election choices for the rest of the US? They don’t represent the vast majority of the now-multicultural, poly-faith population, who, after eight years of Bush, passionately want change–and most of us, believers included, stand solidly behind the separation of church and state.
September 30th, 2008 at 12:31 pm PDT
Hate to say..told ya’ so,
but if the shoe fits…,
…and if pigs actually wore lipstick…,
…McCain still would put Palin on the ticket just to get people to come to his political rallies.
Palin is a gimmick and she is finally exposed as that…a gimmick (with lipstick).
September 30th, 2008 at 12:32 pm PDT
There’s an old saying that its better to be silent and risk having people consider you stupid, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.
The strategy of shielding Palin from interviews seemed risky, but it turns out the interviews were riskier. If she has another ‘Russia’ moment in the debate, I believe McCain will have to replace her, Mitt does seem like the obvious candidate. I wrote about this yesterday, they will claim the economic emergency requires someone like Mitt. If she survives the debate unscathed, expect to see very few more interviews.
http://palincounter.blogspot.com/
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September 30th, 2008 at 12:44 pm PDT
Why, exactly, did it take Sarah Palin six years and five colleges to get a degree? And what explanation is given for McCain being the forth from the bottom of his large class? This is not just a rhetorical question - I’d really like to know. Did I miss something?
What baffles and troubles me even more than these facts themselves is the apparent lack of concern by the public - and the media too - for these abysmal academic records. Maybe people think that the ability to perform well in school is not everything. Fine - but does education count for nothing?
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September 30th, 2008 at 12:49 pm PDT
It would be funny if it weren’t so frightening that Senator McCain just took one look at her, not a very good look, and bingo she’s the possible president of the U.S. Even if he drops her, what kind of man does this? Entrusting our well-being and safety to this unprepared woman? She obviously has never been interested in anything outside of Alaska. She might be effective there, but Alaska has little to do with the problems faced by the other 49 states! And I’m trying to be kind, here. “Country first”? I used to like and respect the Senator, but he’s shown that was undeserved. I’m at least as upset to find this out about him and have my image of him come tumbling down as I am at watching this woman implode.
Obama may not have a lot of experience, but he learns from it, he’s a steady person who acts within the bounds of normal reasonable behavior. This bizarre, sad, pathetic show can’t go on. The empress has no clothes! no clothes! Hear me, no clothes!
September 30th, 2008 at 12:52 pm PDT
I am truly saddened by all the surface dancing around Sarah Palin. John McCain made his choice, and it is now our choice to support or not support his ticket, independent of gender or race, or religious orientation. The nation’s glee at quickly pouncing on any gaff or mistatement is a testimony to how far down we have sunk morally and socially.
The United States needs to explore leaders from all races, and both genders. There is a huge amount of knowledge that any new President or VP must absorb, and there is really no training school. If the candidate can read (and enjoys reading), can listen, and can speak from the heart in an articulate manner, much of the rest can be learned. The first rule of executive management is to surround yourself with people smarter than you are, give praise to your team for all wins, and take personal ownership for all failures.
In today’s politics, all candidates are so riddled with sniper shots by the time that they make it to the White House, that the world views them as damaged goods. Hold up both the McCain/Palin team and the Obama/Biden team to due diligence, and tough questions on their plans for the United States, but challenge weak plans with respect rather than personal villification. We are at a unique juncture in America. Whichever team wins, we will have changed the environment from a “good ole white boy” platform, to a reinstatement of the Horatio Alger Theory.
Sarah Palin will be fine, as will Barack Obama, if we let them.
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September 30th, 2008 at 1:09 pm PDT
The choice of Palin goes beyond the pale. It is truly an example of how wrong John McCain is in the choice he makes. If he really thought that choosing Palin would bring him the Hillary votes then that just shows how much he does not understand about women. While I feel that women should have the opportunity to advance as far as any man, choosing someone who clearly has NO National Political Experience is simply not acting in the best interests of America and should be considered an affront to Women everywhere.
The very idea that he thinks Sarah Palin has broken the glass ceiling while Hillary only cracked it is absurd.
Republicans & Independents….Please put your country First and vote for Barack Obama. You and the rest of the world will sleep more securely if you do.
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September 30th, 2008 at 1:12 pm PDT
I seriously doubt that Sarah Palin’s egotistical ambition will allow her
to step aside. Chosen by John McCain only to bolster his campaign
without regard for her qualifications to be Vice President and a heart
beat away from the presidency itself, he clearly was not
“putting country first”. Of course she is charismatic and presents
herself well at the podium. After all, she is a former beauty pageant
contestant. Her experience as mayor of a tiny town and as governor
of a state of less than 700,000 population, outside the continental
United States, can hardly compare to that of governors of other states
or of state senators. One of her first comments to the media after
being chosen to share the McCain ticket was, “What does a vice president
do anyway”?
I think now the luster of first love is fading, the honeymoon is over
and we will continue to see more and more evidence of John McCain’s
poor judgement in choosing Sarah Palin as his running mate.
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September 30th, 2008 at 1:46 pm PDT
I know what McCain was thinkning of when he picked Palin: NOTHING.
I admire Palin as a Woman who has come up the ladder. She is a tough cookie. But she does not have the knowledge to be President nor Vice President.
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September 30th, 2008 at 1:57 pm PDT
Ive been hearing about this “dump palin” stuff and Im not sure Mccan can
If he does, his credibility for making good decisions will be ruined, but female voters would instantly jump fence to Obama
If he doesnt, they need to “free Palin”, let her be herself because as of now, she is spewing canned responses from her GOP coaches….She is not the same person she was during the convention
September 30th, 2008 at 1:58 pm PDT
Obama is NOT from Kansas. His mother’s family was from Kansas.
Obama grew up in Hawaii, was educated there through high school
and then entered college in California, then graduated from
Columbia University in New York city and later obtained his law
degree from Harvard. He has been a resident of Chicago since
he was in his twenties.
I do not see disagreeing with the quality of Sarah Palin’s
experience as being a “put down” on Alaska and it’s people.
No one has ever suggested that people in Alaska are stupid.
We are all Americans and we owe it to our country to become
as informed as possible about all manner of things, especially
the facts concerning our political leaders if we are to cast our
votes in a meaningful manner. Not many of us can say we are proud
of what the Bush administration has brought about for the last
8 years, but I fear that many people voted for George W. for
reasons other than the right ones.
To quote Harry S. Truman:
“I wonder how many times you have to be hit on the head before you find out who’s hitting you? It’s about time that the people of America realized what the Republicans have been doing to them,” - Harry Truman.
September 30th, 2008 at 2:03 pm PDT
Wow, how a few weeks can change the way we think. ( no wonder the GOP tried to keep her in the closet) ..Palin will not be dumped but don’t we wish for the sake of the nation. However, it is obvious that the bloom on the rose has gone for many Republicans and especially the writers i.e. D. Brooks, G. Will, and David Frum..
September 30th, 2008 at 2:03 pm PDT
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September 30th, 2008 at 2:11 pm PDT
The choice of Gov. Palin V.P. speaks volumes about McCain’s thought process - RECKLESS!
He’s 72, and picking a VP is of the utmost importance because of that fact. The average man lives to 75 now. That’s three years if you’re healthy! He’s got a history of skin cancer, other ‘issues’ already, and the person that might have to step in for him is totally naive about world politics.
What does that say about him? Wake up Republicans and face the truth…if we’re gonna win, it’s got to be a strong leader, and economist, and an experienced person on the national stage, NOT a novice. Sorry Sarah, it’s not your time, OBVIOUSLY!
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September 30th, 2008 at 2:14 pm PDT
The rumor mills have started on the possibility of Biden stepping down as the Vice Presidential candidate as well. Even this article can be boiled down to an anticlimactic headline: “Will Palin step down? Experts say no.” The implication is that there was ever an indication that she would step down, which just isn’t true.
The media have invested the last year and a half into this election. Since the seismic shift in media since the advent of the 24 hour news channels and the titillating politics of Bill Clinton’s impeachment, the news folk have been desperate to make this election scandalous and controversial. The fact is, this election is huge enough without it having all the elements of a daytime soap opera. It just doesn’t make for very interesting news.
September 30th, 2008 at 2:17 pm PDT
Can John McCain be trusted?
Last week he said he was suspending his campaign. He didn’t.
He said that he would not debate unless there was a bailout agreement. He did.
His running mate said that she would openly cooperate with the Troopergate investigations. Apparently Mr. McCain won’t let her.
McCain should simply allow open access to his running mate. Does his pick of running mate display poor judgement?
Based on his actions and judgement during this campaign, McCain seems to be very erratic at best.
September 30th, 2008 at 2:18 pm PDT
[…] not clear if the donors were looking for favors. Time to dump Palin? - asks the Christian Science Monitor. A call for her to drop out, […]
September 30th, 2008 at 2:29 pm PDT
[…] not clear if the donors were looking for favors. Time to dump Palin? - asks the Christian Science Monitor. A call for her to drop out, […]
September 30th, 2008 at 2:40 pm PDT
I have to agree with Gary Howe, above. I tried to click on the crosshatched green box, and it showed a negative. I did it twice, and meant it to be a positive. I believe that Sarah Palin is here in my vicinity, boning up for the debate on Thursday. She will be ready, unlike McCain, who allowed the attempt to pass the “bailout” distract him.
September 30th, 2008 at 2:45 pm PDT
Is she good for the Ticket? Maybe. Is she good for the country? Not really.
There’s no doubt Palin initially had a positive effect on the McCain ticket, motivating the Republican base, etc. But her performance since the Convention has been puzzling to say the least. She does not really seem ‘presidential’ — and this is hardly a sexist comment as its much like the response many Americans had to Dan Quayle in 1988. Like Quayle, she does not really seem to have much of a grasp on the issues of the day. She has problems communicating, etc.
I don’t think the liberals want to get rid of her for political reasons. Don’t forget that putting her on the ticket also motivated the Democratic base as well — and sent many independent voters (who had a positive opinion of McCain previous to his Palin choice) over to the other side. She may be a draw for Republicans in the Sun Belt, but she is a a drag for Independents in the Rust Belt.
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September 30th, 2008 at 3:37 pm PDT
What is all this censoring of readers comments as inappropriate It makes your column and the paper irrelevant if this much censoring is allowed. this is unacceptable in America. It must have something to do with the ‘ Christian Science’ to allow so many comments to be censored.
September 30th, 2008 at 3:50 pm PDT
The damage is done. While McCain’s choice of Palin makes him look erratic and impulsive at best, dumping her would make the situation appear even worse.
I was (for a time) really hoping for a reason the vote for McCain. I ardently supported him in 2000 (and didn’t vote for Bush in 2000 or 2004 because of what the Bush campaign did to him). But since the conventions, I haven’t seen one good reason to give him my vote, while I have seen many many reasons not to vote for him. I think picking Palin for the VP spot was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
I’m a Republican. I’ve actually considered voting for Obama. I’ve decided to vote for Bob Barr, and I urge other disgruntled Republicans to do the same. And if you vote for Obama, I won’t hold it against you. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and sometimes that means a Republican putting country before party and voting for a Democrat.
September 30th, 2008 at 3:50 pm PDT
McCain showed just how maverick he is! Woohoo! Look at him go! What could he do next? Who knows? He’s been in Congress for ages and now he’s trying on this reformer suit, the selection of Palin was supposed to reinforce that image. We just tried the whole vote-for-the-guy-you-would-have-a-beer-with thing. Look where that got us.
Where is the outrage? These bozos tell us to stay the course and the bible belt just sits and nods! I hope every single evangelical is praying to baby Jesus on election day for god to come down and vote for McCain, just to see their misguided beliefs crushed under the weight of reality. I want a bottle of Palins tears!
September 30th, 2008 at 4:42 pm PDT
I would love to see less rock lined opinion in these posts and more sharing of information or interesting points about the issues. Wouldn’t it be nice if by reading a post, you couldn’t tell whether a person was a dem or a rep? I guess you would have to start out with an article that tried to do the same. try it! I would love to hear.Perhaps the article could point out various opinions and the truth about whatever opinions are out there. i mean perhaps they could actually research the allegations and accusations that make up their opinions. Opinion articles are ok, but it sure would be nice to have opinions that were balanced and included some doubt. My favorite history teacher would plant a doubt in every opinion we dished out no matter if he agreed with us or not. He valued openness more than confidence, humility more than cleverness and real inquisitiveness over intellectual prowess. My dear mother used to tell us always to have one good shred of doubt about our own opinions. She said that the only thing you should never doubt is the validity of reason-ability. This would keep sensationalism out of opinion pieces. Remember the old days when “on the other hand” was a good indication of balance? That was before the media decided that sensationalism and entertainment were necessary to us or desired by us. I don’t mind hearing another’s opinions even if they differ from my own, as long as they include respect. So many here do not. I love and value our country’s freedom of speech — I am just longing for speech that can satisfy our souls.
September 30th, 2008 at 5:07 pm PDT
One commented asked “Why are Americans not using their reason in this campaign?” Some of us are… we’re voting for Obama.
September 30th, 2008 at 5:30 pm PDT
I think the problem is that McCain’s people only believe she will energies the base; therefore, keeping her sequestered. No matter my view, I think this was an inappropriate decision. If she has the abilities, beyond the one issue voter, then let her go and answer the issues that most American’s would feel comfortable.
The key that everyone, Rep or Dem needs to consider is that a VP is important on many fronts for both the P in final decision making or in case of a death. We have seen great VP’s become P (TR for example).
I just suggest that McCain’s people let her go and if she is unqualified then he shows that he was unqualified in his choice.
September 30th, 2008 at 5:46 pm PDT
One problem is that Governor Palin is not even taken seriously by McCain who abandoned his real choice for VP. She is not ready to lead. She is not even able to feign an ability to lead. Still, she is a bright woman who could have been better prepared to spout specifics by the Republican machine who can easily anticipate media questions. She has been offered up as fodder to the extremists and has otherwise been thrown to the wolves. Senator McCain has done her a disservice and she fell prey to her own arrogance.
September 30th, 2008 at 10:09 pm PDT
I think that Sara Palin needs to differentiate herself somewhat from John McCain. Let’s face it, McCain has been less then sensitive to the social issues in our country and more concerned about protecting larger interests like Wall Street and Iraq.
Mrs. Palin on the other hand could be address homelessness, unemployment, deficiencies in our educational system, the inability of the elderly and disabled to get social services the corruption in the insurance industry and so on. She could reach out to people while Mr. McCain reaches out to big business. That is the glaring gap in the McCain’s message. It’s a lack of empathy for people.
Mrs. Palin needs to show the voters that she is not John McCain. But, she’ll keep on him about the needs of average Americans so he won’t forget.
September 30th, 2008 at 10:39 pm PDT
The idea that Gov. Palin could be the president of the United States is so horrifying it defies description. Sen. McCain must have a deep underlying hatred for this country that he would foist such a biased, ignorant and unskilled person on us to potentially have to lead this country in this very difficult time.
I hope someone in the Republican party has enough sense to recognize what an enormous mistake her selection is, and do something about it.
September 30th, 2008 at 11:02 pm PDT
I WON’T VOTE FOR MCCAIN UNLESS HE DUMPS PALIN FROM THE TICKET! He had my vote, now it is gone. Why not Condoleeza Rice????
[Admin: Readers don't think this comment adds to the discussion.]
October 1st, 2008 at 4:35 am PDT
It is almost comical how badly the left wants Sarah Palin to drop out,one would think they would relish in her inexperienced not ready in a heart beat persona. I mean she is so stupid, clearly Obama will speed over the finish line so what is the problem? The real problem is Sarah is not stupid, she is experienced and the left are threatened .To yap about experience is stupid, you people should approve of that. Of course it would make you all look fearful to say ‘That Sarah stole Obama’s stage, that Sarah can pull in a McCain win, Sarah is likeable…..Obama IS a loser, SARAH did steal his show and that makes me thrilled. VOTE MCCAIN & PALIN.
October 1st, 2008 at 6:30 am PDT
I see Sarah Palin giving Joe Biden a run for his money in the upcoming debate and I also think that she would give The One fits as well. According to people who had to debate against her in Alaska she can be evasive just like Obama, but, can turn like a tiger. Joe Biden has a very bad habit of not getting his facts straight and if say Obama should expire in office he would be the President - I would only wonder if he could remember where the Oval Office sits.
I gather from all the comments that have been removed as not adding to the article shows just how freightened the liberal left is of this woman!
October 1st, 2008 at 6:39 am PDT
McCain is a reckless gambler, that was why he crashed three jets and shot down during the Vietnam War. How can John McCain stand there and say Country First? When Palin was asked about her knowledge on foreign and domestic issues, all she could muster was, “I will be ready.” What kind of response is that for a Vice President of the United States and potential President. Based on Palin’s answer, Palin is barely qualified to run a Dairy Queen. The only thing Palin can do is reading teleprompter given by her handlers, reign in spending, cut taxes, job creation, and being sarcastic. Palin has absolutely no clues to any questions asked by Katie Couric. She was able to bluff her way from Mayor to Governnor in Alaska because there was no media scrutiny. I pray that America stands up and seizes this historical election from the people who have created this mess and do not allow McCain & Palin to lie their way into the White House. If they are elected, all I can say is MAY GOD BLESS US ALL. The end of day is NEAR.
October 1st, 2008 at 7:55 am PDT
Unfortunately while this decision has “fired up the Christian base” it has lost at least as many votes in the centrist main stream that will decide things. Unfortunately for Christians, Ms. Palin seems from her collected comments to be among the tiny minority of Christians that not only see biblical parallels in the Terrorist and Iraq situations, but actually believe it is their duty to hasten the apocalypse. Christians should fear for their children’s lives should she actually find herself in power.
October 1st, 2008 at 8:48 am PDT
Palin is an idiot, and she has cost McCain my vote and I in the end, I think the election
October 1st, 2008 at 8:58 am PDT
What ever happened to separation of church and state? The President of the United States and his Vice President governs everyone, not just us Christians. I don’t understand why some Christians are supporting Palin simply because of her religious beliefs - many of which are not even in line with the Bible, anyway. Religious beliefs do not qualify a person to run a country. And we have some pressing matters (like restoring our standing as a country, keeping nuclear war off our shores, providing healthcare and fixing our sinking economy) that, frankly, require more attention that overturning Roe V Wade or teaching creationism in school. Let the President handle the country, and let Church handle religion….not the other way around.
October 1st, 2008 at 9:08 am PDT
The end is near. Palin wants to hasten the Apocalypse and McCain wants bipartisanship. Obama wants to disarm US and Biden needs a new joke writer. How have we come to this?
October 1st, 2008 at 10:27 am PDT
This site includes some concrete information from Alaska on Palin’s record there: http://www.themudflats.net/
October 1st, 2008 at 10:28 am PDT
The end is near for Carribou Barbie and John McSame. Alleluiah!!
October 1st, 2008 at 10:56 am PDT
For lou:
I found your comments to be so interesting. I have been a democrat all my life and I come from Hawaii - same vintage as Obama. I know the school he graduated from and I know the traditions that he was raised with –as far as Hawaii as influenced him that is. Hawaii made a change recently from a traditionally democrat power base to a republican with the election of a woman and a republican. It was a vote for change and a good one in my view. Corruption within the government of Hawaii had gone too far and many of us who hold traditionally liberal views have begun to see that the party of the liberals has shifted. Your quote from Truman was interesting, but I think that if Truman were alive today he might not recognize his party. It is no longer the party of Truman and Kennedy. Just look at the shifts over the history of the party. I still hold liberal views on most things, but I find that the party has abandoned the reason of Truman for the politics of Clinton. Growing up a minority myself, I do not feel supported by the party’s trend toward the socialization of America. People are held back by crutches, and I believe it is the purpose of those who support those crutches to keep them solidly there — in some cases from ignorance of what it is doing and in other cases for their own political gain. I lived out of the country and in Europe for 10 years and do not see their solutions as viable for the United states. Our constitution holds all the freedom and solutions we need. The protection of that great work (the Constitution and amendments and the bill of rights) and the balance of power between the three branches of government is what I see as important. We broke away from Europe because we are a very strong independent group of people with a desire to make it on our own and on our own power. I am thinking real hard about this election, do not like the dirty politics coming from my democratic party - it shows lack of character. Research will not yield the crazy things being said about the opposition. There is never a need for personal attack. The need is for clarity about the candidates stand on the issues. Clarity, not hearsay.
October 1st, 2008 at 11:31 am PDT
If her educational qualifications alone were considered, Palin would not be qualified to intern at the White House, let alone hold high office. If her history of governing style were examined by voters, people would shudder. Things like, opposing her Wasilla police chief because he wanted to close bars at 2AM instead of 5AM and not allow people to carry guns in bars and banks. When someone opposes her thinking, she tries to get rid of them. If she likes them, she appoints them to positions way beyond their qualifications.
If her writing is anything like the way she speaks, her ability to communicate wouldn’t earn her a position as a journalist at a paper as competitive and high quality as the Christian Science Monitor.
Without having a speech written for her, highlighting her beautiful appearance, and ability to deliver pithy comedic barbs against her opponents, Palin struggles. By selecting Palin for VP, this is ALL ABOUT winning at any cost, and has nothing to do with selecting the most qualified or best person for the job. By dumping her, McCain’s chances of winning would be virtually nil.
In spite of her fundamentalist faith, I do not understand how many Christians who follow the teaching of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, would be willing to elect a warmonger like McCain into office, just for the sake of having Palin being an advocate for one issue, pro-life. In my mind, Obama is the most Christlike and caring person, since Jimmy Carter.
October 1st, 2008 at 3:14 pm PDT
[…] to see something crazy? Campaign 2008: Patchwork Nation: Dump Palin? | The Christian Science Monitor It started off with a provocative blog post at the Christian Science Monitor. People start posting […]
October 2nd, 2008 at 8:34 am PDT
Does anyone else think that a “comments” area where such a large proportion of contributions “do not contribute to the discussion” makes the sponsoring organisation, in this case the CSM, look “inappropriate”?
October 4th, 2008 at 5:35 am PDT
Palin is a pathetic,blathering idiot.She has no business being on any ticket AT ALL!
April 27th, 2009 at 5:28 am PDT
I agree with you 100% - things happen for a reason. I found this by accident and noticed that we have some things in common. Thats what I love about the Internet, every blog is like a box of chocolates
Thanks - Great blog.