News Will Palin's VP Debate Performance Impact McCain's Campaign?

[castlegates]

Yes, becaues we all stand around hugging for 3mins and kiss babies while the press takes our picture. RIGHTTTTTTTTTTTT......

Gimme a break, man. It REEKS of BS.

Cyrus - It's called a photo op This is the usual. I mean really .. What are you trying to say? That McCain hates Palin, and he's acting all lovy dovy for the camera? Did it ever dawn on you that he picked Palin because he likes her on a personal level?

 

[Cyrus]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder then I guess.

This whole internecine affair involving herself in a family spat with the ex-brother-in-law, while in her capacity as Governor, makes her appear to me as both petty and incapable of seeing her own larger picture and acting wisely. Why then should we think that she would be a capable steward of the interests of the larger picture for 300M Americans?

Sorry but what I see is poor decision making skills, inexperience and less than impressive intellect that opposes gay marriage, opposes abortion, supports Creationism, advocates premarital sexual abstinence and has an unexpected pregnancy in the family.

If she were a wine, I doubt I would put her back in the cellar to age, so much as just flush her down the drain.

Three cheers! Good post, thank you.

 

[Cyrus]

Cyrus - It's called a photo op This is the usual. I mean really .. What are you trying to say? That McCain hates Palin, and he's acting all lovy dovy for the camera? Did it ever dawn on you that he picked Palin because he likes her on a personal level?

I'm saying he, and all politicans that do this crap are full of sh***. Even when I saw obama picking up babies and kissing them I had to roll my eyes and say put the damn baby down and just leave.

The time spent on this could instead be spent on actual reporting.

 

[LowlyPion]

She is a woman, which could sway many women who are angry with Hilary not winning to move towards her, ...

I doubt there will be a fraction of a tenth of a percent of Hilary simpaticos that will pull the lever for Palin given her positions on the issues. Her polarizing presence I would expect will trigger more incentive for Hilary voters to come out than there will be any defection because Hilary is not heading the ticket.

 

[Evo]

Also, her speech tonight bettered my opinion of her by a great deal. I do disagree with a few of her opinions, but in the real world, no one will ever have stances that everyone everywhere agrees on. There will always be differences.

Other than her strong pro-life stance, overall, I like her views.

That speech wasn't written by her, it was written by Bush's speech writer Matthew scully, so if her speech impressed you, vote for Matthew Scully.

The Obama campaign had less than a warm greeting, saying Palin's speech was "written by George Bush's speechwriter and sounds exactly like the same divisive, partisan attacks we've heard from George Bush for the last eight years." The speech was written by Matthew Scully, who met Palin for the first time last week.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/cvn_palin

 

[Andre]

That begs the question which candidates or presidents do write their own speeches.

 

[Evo]

That begs the question which candidates or presidents do write their own speeches.

They all have speech writers, which some use more than others, which is why I don't listen to speeches that much. I listen more to off the cuff interviews and debates. They're still rehersed to some degree as far as having canned answers prepared, but a speech... PFFFT.

 

[LowlyPion]

Interesting article about Palin's speechwriter - Matt Sculley, a Bush speechwriter - who wrote a book against hunting - “Dominion: The Power of Man, the Suffering of Animals, and the Call to Mercy. - and now he's churning out copy for someone that brags about game meat in her freezer.

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/washington/washington/entries/2008/09/03/palins_speechwr.html

 

[Art]

I suppose one success from the Republican's pov is Palin's nomination has blown Obama off the headlines. His acceptance speech which would have been the main story for a week fell by the wayside as all discussion centred on Palin. Voter recognition is important and so Obama needs to get his name back in lights again quickly before people begin to forget who he is.

There is a lot of truth in the maxim that 'there is no such thing as bad publicity' especially when you are the underdog, as the Republicans are in the forthcoming election.

 

[edward]

It would seem obvious from her speech tonight that she connects with the average everyday family (The cornerstone of any election),

She had the appearance of connecting with the average family, and that's about it. What we didn't see is the real story.

In reality she is a Pentecostal who believes the war in Iraq is Messianic. She insists on abstinence as the only method of birth control and yet has an unmarried pregnant daughter.

Her religion believes that we must start wars to enable the second coming of Christ.

A lot of Christians believe in the second coming, but the extreme believe that we must try to make the end times happen is preposterous. There is no scriptural basis for this belief.

In reality, if it had been allowed to come out in her speech, she isn't even connected to the majority of the religious right. The average family doesn't shoot animals from an airplane.

 

[seycyrus]

I'm not implying anything. She engaged in some reckless behavior that could have injured or even killed her unborn baby. That does not show good judgment on her part.

Ahh, but you contrasted it with the "belief in the sanctity of human life" stuff.

It didn't seem like you were just questioning her judgement.

 

[seycyrus]

And what again is your argument? That Palin on the basis of exactly what foreign negotiation experience, proximity notwithstanding, or for that matter even travel abroad, makes her qualified to conduct and assess any foreign policy of the United States? Just where would you allege she has acquired any deep thoughts on foreign issues, when she has managed to mire herself in a situation mixing her official duties with her family's personal issues?

My argument is that instead of acting like a bunch of witches cackling and cawing over the pot, the intellectuals on this forum might take the merits of the point the opposition is attempting to make and counter them.

This thread is running like a supermarket tabloid.

P.S. Did I mention that Palin's pants are like so...80s? My gawd!

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

P.S. Did I mention that Palin's pants are like so...80s? My gawd!

She's from Alaska, they are 20 years behind in fashion ;)

 

[LowlyPion]

Ahh, but you contrasted it with the "belief in the sanctity of human life" stuff.

It didn't seem like you were just questioning her judgement.

It is rather poor judgment to risk the health of an about to be born child - to be born in a matter of hours child - merely to give a speech.

If she is such a great and caring mother, why would she be placing her child at risk for such a dubious goal like that? Sadly it seems selfish and self absorbed, if not aggrandizing, at a moment that most mothers think to insure the health and safety of both themselves and their children.

Poster queen for family values or poster queen for unbridled ambition?

Is Palin going to end up being McCain's bridge to nowhere?

 

[seycyrus]

It is rather poor judgment to risk the health of an about to be born child - to be born in a matter of hours child - merely to give a speech.

If she is such a great and caring mother, why would she be placing her child at risk for such a dubious goal like that? ...

So, you are in fact, questioning her "mothering ability" or somesuch.

Just trying to get the record straight.

 

[Astronuc]

Here's a couple of worrisome items:

Analysis: GOP contradicts self on Palin family
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/cvn_measure_of_a_nation_palin_family_politics

ST. PAUL, Minn. - People: Make up your minds.

For two days, the chorus from Republicans on TV news and in the halls of the convention has been resounding: Back off and let the Palin family be. "That's out of bounds," said Minnesota's Republican governor, Tim Pawlenty. "There's no need to be intrusive and pry into that."

Yet Wednesday found the following scenes unfolding:

_Sarah Palin's pregnant, unmarried 17-year-old daughter and probable future son-in-law stood in a nationally televised, politically packaged airport receiving line to meet and greet the Republican candidate for president.

_The extremely cute and bubbly Piper Palin, 7, made her debut on her mother's behalf, appearing in a video on John McCain's daughter's blog. . . . .

_Bristol Palin and her 18-year-old boyfriend, Levi Johnston, sat and held hands as they watched the Alaska governor deliver an acceptance speech that, in its opening minutes, focused heavily on her family and children. Later, the family — including Johnston — ascended the stage, basked in an extended ovation and waved.

Huh? The Republican message about the Palin offspring comes across as contradictory: Hey, media, leave those kids alone — so we can use them as we see fit.

If you doubt this scenario, consider this: On Wednesday morning, a teenage boy from Alaska stood in a receiving line on an airport tarmac, being glad-handed by the potential next president of the United States — because he got his girlfriend pregnant. TV cameras were lined up in advance. The mind boggles.

"Either the children are out of bounds, and you don't put them in the photo ops, or you don't complain when somebody wants to talk about them. You can't have it both ways," said John Matviko, a professor at West Liberty State College in West Virginia and editor of "The American President in Popular Culture."

"Right now, it looks like they're being used by the campaign more than the media are using them," he said.

. . . . .

There is more analysis in the article. Basically the McCain-Palin campaign is using the children for PR, but they will not allow the media to scrutinize what they are doing, and in fact they bash the press for doing so. This is an example of duplicitous behavior - and a continuation of Bush-Cheney.

and now Palin claims to know the will of God.

Palin: Iraq war 'a task that is from God'
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080903/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_palin_iraq_war

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin told ministry students at her former church that the United States sent troops to fight in the Iraq war on a "task that is from God."

In an address last June, the Republican vice presidential candidate also urged ministry students to pray for a plan to build a $30 billion natural gas pipeline in the state, calling it "God's will."

. . . .

"Our national leaders are sending them out on a task that is from God," she said. "That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that plan is God's plan."

. . . .

. . . . she said, she'd work to implement God's will from the governor's office, including creating jobs by building a pipeline to bring North Slope natural gas to North American markets.

We need a rational person as VP, one with a grip on reality, and Palin is not such a person.

 

[LowlyPion]

... might take the merits of the point the opposition is attempting to make and counter them.

Apparently being slow on the uptake I wonder could you help me out by providing a list of your alleged merits, that haven't been discussed here?

Foreign Policy experience? ... maybe with Siberian Eskimos and Santa Claus.
Exercising great judgment? ... involved herself as Governor in family dispute, bridge to nowhere flip-flop
Family values oriented? ... pregnant underage unmarried daughter
Intellectual prowess? ... Creationist, anti-abortion, anti-gay marriage, anti-polar bear, anti-global warming, pro-guns

If you have some other effective merits that you think she brings to the table, please don't keep them such a secret.

 

[Astronuc]

So, you are in fact, questioning her "mothering ability" or somesuch.

Just trying to get the record straight.

It's more a question of credibility and honesty.

And certainly one has to question why she would risk the health and safety of her child. Without the protection of the amniotic fluid, how much injury was done to her not yet born son?

 

[LowlyPion]

[From the article:]
"That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that plan is God's plan."

Sadly the plan is Bush-Cheney-Rove's.

She sounds more like someone who should be sitting in the pews, than speaking from the pulpit.

 

[seycyrus]

We need a rational person as VP, one with a grip on reality, and Palin is not such a person.

A quick question. is it the fact that Palin claims to work for God or the fact that she talks about it, offend you?

Certainly Obama is a religous person. I am certain that he therefore, tries to do, and believes he does, God's will on a daily basis.

Unless you think that Obama is lying about his faith?

 

[rootX]

Family values oriented? ... pregnant underage unmarried daughter

You can't blame her for that. It would have been better though if her daughter had aborted the baby with her support.

I don't even know how she's part of modern society and beyond that became a governor with all her BS religious views .

 

[LowlyPion]

So, you are in fact, questioning her "mothering ability" or somesuch.

Just trying to get the record straight.

Do you think a good parent places the health and safety of their children above their own convenience and ambition?

 

[rootX]

A quick question. is it the fact that Palin claims to work for God or the fact that she talks about it, offend you?

Certainly Obama is a religous person. I am certain that he therefore, tries to do, and believes he does, God's will on a daily basis.

Unless you think that Obama is lying about his faith?

I never heard Obama saying that God's telling him to attack Iraq/Iran .. etc.

 

[seycyrus]

It's more a question of credibility and honesty.

Credibility and honesty about what? Do you think she doesn't believe in the sanctity of human life?

And certainly one has to question why she would risk the health and safety of her child. Without the protection of the amniotic fluid, how much injury was done to her not yet born son?

Do you think she risked it on purpose?

 

[LowlyPion]

You can't blame her for that.

Actually you can.

Bill O'Reilly clips were shown last night doing that very thing because Britney Spears 16 year old sister was pregnant. He was lashing out at what kind of parents she must have and how her parents were to blame.

Now we are to suppose that Palin gets a pass from O'Reilly because she is the rabid right vice-standard bearer?

 

[seycyrus]

I never heard Obama saying that God's telling him to attack Iraq/Iran .. etc.

I never heard that either. I think the point I was making was pretty straightforward.

As a religous person, who tries to live according to morals shaped by religous values, any decision Obama made would be in accordance to those beliefs.

My question again. Does the public disclosue of these beliefs offend you?

 

[LowlyPion]

Do you think she risked it on purpose?

Which would it be then? Water breaks, give a speech, fly home, have a baby? Now did she act out of willful neglect knowing the risks or was she ignorant of the risks?

Which headline do you think plays better?

(After 4 deliveries she was ignorant still you think?)

 

[seycyrus]

Do you think a good parent places the health and safety of their children above their own convenience and ambition?

I'm just trying to get some simple answers. I'm not the one making judgements on this one, so stop trying to throw the question at me.

Instead of all the implications, just answer the question.

Are you saying that Palin is a bad mother?

 

[lisab]

Do you think she risked it on purpose?

Well, she most certainly did take a risk with the health of the unborn baby, and I don't understand how she could have done it by accident.

 

[chemisttree]

Basically the McCain-Palin campaign is using the children for PR, but they will not allow the media to scrutinize what they are doing, and in fact they bash the press for doing so. This is an example of duplicitous behavior - and a continuation of Bush-Cheney.

I'll assume that your TV was broken during the Democratic Convention. Did you see Michelle Obama trot out their children? Did you hear his youngest ask, "Daddy, what city are you in"? Have you forgotten that Obama said he wouldn't use his children in the campaign (right after granting an http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/07/13/obama-calls-kids-hands-off-regrets-television-interview/") ... and then he flipped on that issue as well!

Are you seriously suggesting that Obama's behavior is a continuation of Bush-Cheney?

 

[seycyrus]

...
Which headline do you think plays better?
(After 4 deliveries she was ignorant still you think?)

Gawd! Just say it! You can do it!

You think Palin intentionally risked the health of her newborn child, and is a bad mother.

 

[Art]

A quick question. is it the fact that Palin claims to work for God or the fact that she talks about it, offend you?

Certainly Obama is a religous person. I am certain that he therefore, tries to do, and believes he does, God's will on a daily basis.

Unless you think that Obama is lying about his faith?

Most sane, religious people believe God gave people free will to do good or bad. And again most sane people have sufficient belief in their own principles and convictions not to need to claim God's personal support and blessing to justify their actions.

 

[turbo]

Ahh, but you contrasted it with the "belief in the sanctity of human life" stuff.

It didn't seem like you were just questioning her judgement.

If she believes human life is sacred, why would she risk putting the life of her unborn son at risk by delaying medical attention and getting on a plane back to Alaska that would put her out of the reach of competent medical care for ~1/2 day? Without amniotic fluid to shelter and cushion her unborn child, and protect him from infection, he was put at risk by her decision to fly home. Also, about 50% of Down Syndrome babies are born with heart defects and are subject to other complications like suppressed immune systems. It would have been prudent for her to stay in Texas where she and her baby could have monitoring and medical care, and where any complications could have been addressed promptly.

IMO, Palin exhibited extremely poor judgment by risking the well-being of her unborn child, and it doesn't square well with her professed belief in the sanctity of life. (It's not OK to use birth control, but it's OK to risk the well-being of a child that is about to be born.) That's just ignorant. After my sister had delivered her second child, she had to change ob-gyn doctors because her favorite doctor's practice was 40 minutes away. For her last two pregnancies, time from first contraction until delivery was about 20-25 minutes.

 

[seycyrus]

Most sane, religious people believe God gave people free will to do good or bad. And again most sane people have sufficient belief in their own principles and convictions not to need to claim God's personal support and blessing to justify their actions.

But a sincere person's beliefs and convictions would stem from their religous beliefs, don't you think? And aren't the religous tenets and beliefs derived from "gods will"?

Oh and by the way, are we now saying that Palin is insane?

 

[Evo]

I'm just trying to get some simple answers. I'm not the one making judgements on this one, so stop trying to throw the question at me.

Instead of all the implications, just answer the question.

Are you saying that Palin is a bad mother?

People are saying that she showed bad judgement, so stop trying to put words into people's mouths.

 

[seycyrus]

If she believes human life is sacred, why would she risk putting the life of her unborn son at risk by delaying medical attention and getting on a plane back ...

Ok, so it is apparent that you believe that she intentionally risked the health of he unborn child, therefore from the above,

it is logical to state that you believe that Palin does not believe in the sanctity of human life.

Ok, got it.

 

[seycyrus]

People are saying that she showed bad judgement, so stop trying to put words into people's mouths.

I am not putting words in people's mouths. In each instance, I have directly asked a straightforward question.

A question that up till now, only you have answered in a straightforward manner.

 

[LowlyPion]

I'll assume that your TV was broken during the Democratic Convention. Did you see Michelle Obama trot out their children? Did you hear his youngest ask, "Daddy, what city are you in"? Have you forgotten that Obama said he wouldn't use his children in the campaign (right after granting an http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/07/13/obama-calls-kids-hands-off-regrets-television-interview/") ... and then he flipped on that issue as well!

Are you seriously suggesting that Obama's behavior is a continuation of Bush-Cheney?

Unfortunately your comparison is deeply flawed. The question is not whether the campaigns will use pictures of the children to sell their candidates, because they all will.

The real question is the hypocrisy of forbidding discussion of this pregnancy issue as if it were somehow out of bounds, at the very moment that they would talk up their family values and wave the pregnant unwed mother under everyone's nose. As it stands the "boy" is not a child. He is 18 and as an adult talking to him is surely fair dinkum.

If you don't want a fact used at trial, don't bring it up.

 

[LowlyPion]

But a sincere person's beliefs and convictions would stem from their religous beliefs, don't you think? And aren't the religous tenets and beliefs derived from "gods will"?

Oh and by the way, are we now saying that Palin is insane?

Are you suggesting that she hears voices from God?

 

[LowlyPion]

Ok, so it is apparent that you believe that she intentionally risked the health of he unborn child, therefore from the above,

it is logical to state that you believe that Palin does not believe in the sanctity of human life..

Actually that is a logical fallacy.

 

[seycyrus]

Apparently being slow on the uptake I wonder could you help me out by providing a list of your alleged merits, that haven't been discussed here?
...

Sorry I missed this post earlier LP.

I believe I said "possible" merits, not "alleged" (tho alleged might just be a potshot at me)

Here's basically what I was saying...

Do this

****
Position:Alaska is close Russia?

While some might contend that Alaska's proximity to Russia might force their interaction due to various issues such as fishing rights, shipping lanes etc, a bit of thought and insight shows that this position is incorrect due to the following reasons...
****

NOT this

****
Position: Alaska is close to Russia?

What a flipping idiot! I hate her hair too!
****

 

[seycyrus]

Actually that is a logical fallacy.

Yes, it IS a logical fallacy, but not on my part. There is of course another alternative, that Palin simply exercised poor judgment.

If you claim that I am executing a logical fallacy by analyzing his statement in such a fashion, please demonstrate why. The original quote is ...

****
If she believes human life is sacred, why would she risk putting the life of her unborn son at risk by delaying medical attention and getting on a plane back
****

People are claiming that she probably knew the risks ...

 

[LowlyPion]

Here's basically what I was saying...

Do this

****
Position:Alaska is close Russia?

While some might contend that Alaska's proximity to Russia might force their interaction due to various issues such as fishing rights, shipping lanes etc, a bit of thought and insight shows that this position is incorrect due to the following reasons...
****

NOT this

****
Position: Alaska is close to Russia?

What a flipping idiot! I hate her hair too!
****

This is another logical fallacy.

Alaska is close to Russia. Russia is a foreign country. Therefore Palin has foreign policy experience.

Why do you think the late night's have had fun with this?

 

[baywax]

Here's what some Alaskan environmentalists think of the new Republican VP Pick for the US.

(S)he sued Kempthorne, arguing that the Bush administration didn't use the best science in concluding that without further protection, the polar bear faces eventual extinction because of disappearing sea ice as the result of global warming.

Palin, McCain's vice-presidential running mate, has had frequent run-ins with environmentalists.

In her 20 months as governor, Palin has questioned the conclusions of federal marine scientists who say the Cook Inlet beluga whale needs protection under the federal Endangered Species Act.

She has also defended Alaska's right to shoot wolves from the air to boost caribou and moose herds for hunters, and - contrary to a view held by McCain - is not convinced that global warming is the result of human activity.

Environmentalists have nicknamed Palin the "killa from Wasilla," a reference to the small town where she formerly was mayor.

"Her philosophy from our perspective is cut, kill, dig and drill," said John Toppenberg, director of the Alaska Wildlife Alliance.

Palin is "in the Stone Age of wildlife management and is very opposed to utilizing accepted science," according to Toppenberg.

While acknowledging the climate is changing, Palin expresses doubt as to whether emissions from human activities are causing it. McCain, on the other hand, supports legislation to reduce heat-trapping pollutants, primarily from the burning of oil and coal.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080904/world/palin_environment

 

[LowlyPion]

Yes, it IS a logical fallacy, but not on my part. There is of course another alternative, that Palin simply exercised poor judgment.

If you claim that I am executing a logical fallacy by analyzing his statement in such a fashion, please demonstrate why. The original quote is ...

****
If she believes human life is sacred, why would she risk putting the life of her unborn son at risk by delaying medical attention and getting on a plane back
****

People are claiming that she probably knew the risks ...

Ok then what is your explanation of her judgment process in that instance? Just what values do you see that she exercised there? Was giving the speech that important given her physical state and the unborn child's?

Is your position then that she did exercise poor judgment, and this somehow qualifies her for higher office?

 

[seycyrus]

Are you suggesting that she hears voices from God?

Where's this coming from? At first, I was trying to have a straightforward discussion with Art about acceptable expression of religous convictions. Noting that any sincere religous person's actions are supposed to be shaped by belief system whish is supposed to be influenced by their religous convictions.

"Talk to God"... I suppose there are many different ways in which God can speak to people. If you mean, influencing her thoughts and beliefs, or something like that...then sure, why not.

If on the other hand, you mean in a fashion that is detectable by other human beings and/or other auditory sensors, then, No, I don't think she hears God in that way.

I bet she doesn't think she hears God in that way either, btw.

 

[seycyrus]

This is another logical fallacy.

Alaska is close to Russia. Russia is a foreign country. Therefore Palin has foreign policy experience.

Why do you think the late night's have had fun with this?

Proximity infers interaction. The inference was so obvious that it should have been analyzed.

As for the reason why I think late night tv had so much fun with it ... Did I mention that I can't believe Palin wore that gaudy broach!?

 

[mheslep]

In recent history, the VP seems to be the number 1 guy running the show.

Yes of course but that is historically ~ atypical over 43 Presidents.

Obama is going to be haunted by the 'is he up to it' question on matters of force to which I credit his loose cannon statements on Pakistan - trying to prove he's tough enough.

Can you quote some of these loose cannon statements, and explain how they qualify as loose cannon?

A topic for another thread, but anyway:

http://www.wilsoncenter.org/events/docs/obamasp0807.pdf

“I understand that President Musharraf has his own challenges,” Senator Obama said in his prepared remarks. “But let me make this clear. There are terrorists holed up in those mountains who murdered 3,000 Americans. They are plotting to strike again. It was a terrible mistake to fail to act when we had a chance to take out an al Qaeda leadership meeting in 2005. If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf won’t act, we will.”

I'd agree that the camps in those mountains are a problem. However, Pakistan is an ally, and there's no UN action/sanctions on the table regarding Pakistan. So making that unilateral public statement in disregard of Pakistani sovereignty, and given P's internal Islamic militant troubles, qualifies as a loose cannon remark, IMO. Actually, scratch loose cannon, he's not out of control, it sounds like he's looking to prove himself. That is, I assert there are more serious threats elsewhere (Iran/Iraq) where UN action/sanctions are in place regarding which Sen. Obama clearly makes more diplomatic, multilateral and minimalist statements, suggesting to me that he was looking for away to sound like a commander in chief and selected the lower consequence of Pakistan. McCain searches similarly for ways to show he's connected to the little guy on domestics, like the gas tax break silliness.

 

[seycyrus]

Ok then what is your explanation of her judgment process in that instance? Just what values do you see that she exercised there?

Poor judgement is just that, poor judgement.

Is your position then that she did exercise poor judgment,

Well, I haven't read anything on this point from her or her doctor, but from what I read on this forum (and with the caveat that my posiotn might laterchange as information becomes available), yes I think she exercised poor judgement.

and this somehow qualifies her for higher office?

Wow, talk about a logical fallacy!

 

[drankin]

LOL, this is great. Palin rocks.

I don't care about her kids (it's not like they are criminals) or how she chooses to deliver her own baby, or her hairdo, or the fact that she was "only" a mayor and a governor in AK (where I grew up).

I care about how she will potentially be VP. The Republican part could do worse. They picked a solid conservative to bring in the disgruntled conservatives. It's what we all expected. As far as foriegn relations and such, I'd like to think she will consider the effect policies have on everyday Americans first and foremost.