Sarah Palin VP

What's Next for Sarah Palin

2008-12-21T01:00:00.000-08:00

Nobody knows for sure other than her. She may not even know. Just in case, we're going to leave this blog open for a while. In the meantime, here are some images that we've accumulated - a tribute to Sarah Palin.

Read more about Sarah Palin on this blog.

Hasselbeck on Sarah Palin: Videos

2008-11-01T22:05:00.000-07:00

Palin: Obama will "punish hard work."

2008-10-27T12:38:00.000-07:00

You can put lipstick on a tax hike and it's still a tax hike.

Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin says Democrats would raise taxes and "punish hard work." What she is referring to is the whole "redistribution of wealth" model that Barack Obama is promoting as part of his campaign that will effect everyone from equipment leasing companies to Los Angeles Honda Dealers.

The idea is simple. Americans normally have a "me first" attitude when it comes to their finances, so even if it makes no fiscal sense for the economy to "take from the rich and give to the poor" the important thing that the Obama campaign wants people to focus on is the idea that the majority of people will get more money.

In reality, this would be a disaster in an economy that is already fragile, and Sarah Palin knows it. John McCain knows it.

Sadly, Barack Obama knows it to, but whatever it takes to get to the White House, he will say it.

As Palin said, "If big government spenders control the House and the Senate and heaven forbid the White House, they will have a monopoly in Washington."

Heaven forbid.

Read more about Sarah Palin's Views on this blog.

Sarah Palin can Shoot

2008-10-21T16:39:00.000-07:00

Whether it's the hunter mentality or simply her conservative nature, Sarah Palin can do one thing better than most Vice Presidential candidates (other than Dick Cheney).

The girl can shoot. We're not talking a .22 or anything. Check this out:

Read more about Sarah Palin and the Military on this blog.

SNL Pushes Palin's Image Up a Bit

2008-10-20T16:44:00.001-07:00

It wasn't much. Being able to appear on Saturday Night Live and show the world that she can be entertaining and laugh at herself was a positive, but it wasn't really as dramatic as some had hoped depsite giving the show it's best ratings since last century.

No, the real need in this campaign is for Palin to step up and prove to the American public that she could step in and be President of the United States in a moment's notice if needed. If she can play to that demographic, the Democrats and even an increasing number of Republicans who doubt her qualifications and abilities, then she may make the same impact that she had right after the Republican National Convention.

If she cannot do this in the next two weeks, her choice as Vice President may be looked upon as an error in judgment enough to cost the GOP the White House.

Read more Sarah Palin Opinions on this blog.

(via StarTribune)

Palin Slams Big Business, Biden

2008-10-15T16:12:00.000-07:00

One thing about Sarah Palin has been made very clear over the last few days: she has no problem with talking straight when it comes to the economy and oil.

Before going to a fund raiser put on by Wall Street big wigs, Palin went after many of them on the issue of greed causing the problems with the economy. She then turned her attention to Joe Biden, a Pennsylvania native, during a stop in his home state.

Her attack was geared towards Biden's reluctance to drill off the oil-rich Pacific coast.

As part of her riff on energy policy, Palin said, “Joe Biden had said that there’s no such thing as clean coal when we talked about clean-coal technology that’s needed.” The crowd booed. “Biden also has called environmentally friendly offshore drilling, he’s called it raping the outer continental shelf,” she said to more boos.

With the final presidential debate looming, she is finding the spotlight pull away from her a bit. It appears that the time has come to put Sarah Palin back in the spotlight.

(via Wall Street Journal)

The real reason behind media attacks against Palin

2008-10-11T17:57:00.000-07:00

Conservatives know by now that the dominant liberal media is not just out to criticize Gov. Sarah Palin. They are on a drive to destroy her. But conservatives are missing the reason why.

Below is a story that explains in detail the reason why the media wants to destroy Sarah Palin.

First, my two cents:

There is a double standard with Palin amongst feminists. Her achievements, fearlessness, and rise to one of the most powerful positions any woman has held is overlooked for one reason, she is a conservative. This hardly seems fair given the fact that she would have been considered a saint if she were a Democrat, but the fact is they are the ones leading the attacks, wanting to destroy her credibility and her character. Why? They are after blood, because they know what her being a VP could mean for the future of the far-left Dems, you know, the ones in control of congress, and for that matter, America. If anyone in this election could be painted as "The One", it would be Sarah Palin. Just like in the movie "The Matrix", the agents are after her, and they are hell bent on making sure she doesn't make it to the White House.

Read "The Media's Vendetta Against Palin" here: http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=28959

Soccer Moms Feel it from Sarah Palin

2008-10-04T20:11:00.000-07:00

Here is a great article that is the first real response after the Vice-Presidential debate that actually made sense. It talks about the real goal of the debate and how it was achieved.

The number of people who are on the fence is actually a lot smaller than most think. The goal here was not to sway voters. That's up to McCain and Obama. The real goal of the VP debate for Palin was to give a sense of security to those who are already considering her. They aren't on the fence - they just needed to be anchored back into their place.

Mission accomplished. Now onto the real debates.

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Read more on this Sarah Palin Blog or visit this post about Palin on the Issues.

Sarah Palin: The Issues

2008-09-28T21:00:00.000-07:00

This is a great source for finding out where Sarah Palin stands on the most important issues facing America today. It is unbiased and offers data based upon histories instead of opinions.

It will be very important as the election nears for voters to be aware of where their candidates stand on the issues. So much is put into showing the public what a candidate's (or their competitor's) campaign team wants us to see that the facts can sometimes be blurred. It is sites like this one listed below that offer the right information regardless of one's political affiliation.

Kudos!

Read about Sarah Palin on the Issues, or continue to read this Sarah Palin Blog. The last story posted was about the Palin Biden Debate coming up.

Palin-Biden Debate: Do or Die Comes to St Louis

2008-09-27T15:39:00.000-07:00

With the first McCain-Obama over with no clear winner, this Thursday's Vice-Presidential debate between Republican Sarah Palin and Democrat Joe Biden may prove to be the "do or die" moment of the campaign.

Palin has been under a lot a scrutiny and even more heat over the last two weeks because of what many consider to be poor showings in two of her major interviews. She has been shielded in many ways from the press, even though that seems to have lightened up a bit lately.

This debate is Palin's opportunity to show the world one of two things: either she can stand up and show herself as strong enough to be the leader of the country or that she wasn't the right choice for Vice-President. Biden, a veteran to debates and spotlights, will not make it easy for her to shine.

How this plays out could determine everything. If she is able to hold her own or even defeat Biden in the debate, the focus will then be pointed back to the big-ticket show of Obama vs McCain. If she comes off poorly again, then the focus will stay on her.

If that happens, it will be difficult for the GOP to recover. Then again, if she shines, it could be enough to sway those voters who were leaning towards McCain but who had reservations about Palin.

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Read more about Sarah Palin GOP or check out this image of a Sarah Palin wall poster.

Sarah Palin Wall Sticker - Life Sized

2008-09-26T00:01:00.000-07:00

Yes, you can have Sarah Palin on your wall with a life-sized wall sticker from WallMonkey. Use it as a reminder of your support, to amaze guests, or just to satisfy the need to have a life-sized image of Sarah Palin waving at you.

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Read more about Sarah Palin as VP or check out this post about a Hillary Support Rating Palin.

A Hillary Supporter Rates Sarah Palin Concerns

2008-09-23T11:32:00.000-07:00

While the article linked to below is not in support of Sarah Palin, it is an unbiased look that grades some of the concerns that potential supporters may have with her. The article targets the former Hillary supporters who may be considering the McCain ticket because of Sarah Palin.

It is very clearly not one that leans in either direction, really, but does offer insights and opinions on how important the issues are. Some of them are graded highly, others low, but either way it's an excellent insight into what may or may not play well in the media.

Worth a read.

(via VJournal)

PR Firm Tied to Obama Campaign May be Smearing Sarah Palin

2008-09-21T23:10:00.001-07:00

In a very comprehensive investigation into the possibility that the Barack Obama campaign may be directly involved with securing the services of a PR company in order to spread false reports and smears against Sarah Palin, the Jawa Report has brought to light some very interesting facts.

Please read this article and spread it to as many people as you can. The evidence is strong, but it unlikely to ever see the light of day through traditional media. As a result, it will take a concerted effort to force this information into public view.

Extensive research was conducted by the Jawa Report to determine the source of smears directed toward Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Those smears included false allegations that she belonged to a secessionist political party and that she has radical anti-American views.

Our research suggests that a subdivision of one of the largest public relations firms in the world most likely started and promulgated rumors about Sarah Palin that were known to be false. These rumors were spread in a surreptitious manner to avoid exposure.

It is also likely that the PR firm was paid by outside sources to run the smear campaign. While not conclusive, evidence suggests a link to the Barack Obama campaign.

(via mypetjawa.mu.nu through Little Green Footballs)

Read more Sarah Palin News on this blog or check out this great Sarah Palin image of her holding a fish..

Social Media Doesn't Care for Sarah Palin

2008-09-21T00:11:00.000-07:00

Social media sites such as Digg and Reddit have a tremendous tilt to the left when it comes to politics. It isn't really the sites themselves (even though that is up for debate) but the fact that most users of these sites are liberal.

For the last couple of years, their primary targets have been President Bush and Vice President Cheney. Then, as the primaries started rolling, more and more stories were popping up about the favorites. Once John McCain locked up the nomination, the social media bashing continued.

All of these pale to the negative attention that Sarah Palin is receiving.

Just take a look at the most recent submissions to Digg about Palin. This list is updated in real time, so what you see is different than what I see right now, but I have zero doubt that at any given moment that the link is clicked on, at least 13 of the 15 stories on the page will be negative. At times, all of the stories will be against Sarah Palin.

Even the front pages of these sites see nothing in the way of positives. Here is an article that points out that 150 consecutive negative stories about Palin hit the front page of Digg, sending literally millions of viewers to these stories.

Millions.

The only consolation is that most users of social media sites are not voters. They are good at feeling strongly about topics, just not strongly enough to actually vote.

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Read more about Palin on Social Media on this blog or check out this story about the double standard facing Sarah Palin.

Sarah Palin Gets Double Standard from Democrats

2008-09-19T08:48:00.001-07:00

While there are parts of the opinion piece below that I do not necessarily agree with, there are distinct points that are made that hit spot on. Primarily, the fact that Sarah Palin represents just about everything that liberals hold dear in respects to family lifestyle.

She does it all. She's a mother, a worker, a public servant. Paraphrasing the old slogan, she accomplishes more before breakfast than most people accomplish all day. That's her way. She has made it clear that her style demands continuous focus and effort.

These are things that liberals are known for promoting. BUT, she's not a liberal, therefore she's doing it all wrong in their eyes. In otherwords, it's okay to be an active, independent woman as long as you believe in other liberal ideals.

Whether or not voters agree Palin is seasoned to serve as VP of the USA, her candidacy has revealed one inconvenient truth: Today's liberals and their helpmates in the media do not now, and never have believed their blather about "having it all." If Palin was a liberal, she would be a poster child for "doing it all" but she's a conservative!

(via WorldNetDaily)

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There's always a lot of Sarah Palin information on this blog, plus here's a story about Sarah Palin's Email, Hacked.

Palin Email Hacked

2008-09-18T00:06:00.000-07:00

We weren't going to post about this, as it is an outrage and outright invasion of privacy, but being that it is news and it is about Sarah Palin, it belongs here.

The hackers, presumably Anonymous, the hacker group that has claimed responsibility, were able to access her Yahoo! email addresses. There is no word on how they were able to hack into the email, but the issue has been drawing questions about using personal email addresses for official government business.

While on the surface it seems bad, it really is not. Email is a private issue regardless of what the venue is. It's like having mail sent to a home instead of a government office. Regardless of where the destination is, one can expect a certain level of privacy and security in knowing that the mail will be delivered and that the contents of the mail will not be opened by others.

This is not an issue that needs to be made political. If it turns out that serious, official government business was performed via these emails, then the question can be re-examined, but the content of the emails that have been posted are far from "official". They seem to be more geared towards personal relationships with others. The fact that two of them were in the government does not change this. The content was personal. She wasn't transferring sensitive or secret documents via these emails.

Until there can be evidence brought out to the contrary, this is not an issue that should be turned political. Sadly, it already is.

Sarah Palin, the Republican running mate of John McCain, has had her email account broken into by hackers.

(via Telegraph)

When Asked to Veep, Palin Asked Her Daughters

2008-09-17T19:00:00.001-07:00

One of the things that separates Sarah Palin from other politicians is her reliance on her family for strength and inspiration. In an interview with Hannity and Combs, Palin said that when she was asked by John McCain to be his running mate, the first thing she did was ask her daughters Bristol, 17, and Willow, 13.

Their response: "Absolutely! Let's do this, Mom."

According to both a campaign-provided reconstruction of how McCain chose Palin and Todd Palin's interview on Fox last night, though, the kids were only told of the news after they had arrived in Ohio for the announcement, after Palin had accepted the offer. Now Palin claims she "polled" her kids first - except Track, who was deployed to Iraq.

(via Politico)

Read more about Sarah Palin's Family on this blog.

Sarah Palin Republican Convention Speech Highlights

2008-09-14T20:42:00.000-07:00

For those who haven't seen the Palin speech at the Republican National Conven...

Oh, let's be serious. Everyone watched it. So, keeping it real, for those who want to relive the highlights from lipstick and pitbulls to leading America to energy independence, here are the best portions of the groundbreaking speech.

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Read more Sarah Palin News on this blog.

Palin Adding Energy to Lifeless Ticket

2008-09-14T20:36:00.001-07:00

If there's one thing that you can say about the Republican ticket for president as it emerges into greener fields, it's that Sarah Palin has added the gumption that seemed to be missing. John McCain has always been a man of gumption, but there have been doubts cast on him because of age. With Palin on board, all doubts can be cast away.

The primary reason that all of this is happening, and this very entertaining NYPost article articulates this well, is that there has been so much up and down, positive and negative, directed at both the Republicans and Democrats for some time now. The war is on the verge of being considered an absolutey victory to the chagrin of the Democrats (not that they should think poorly of it, but they were wrong), and Obama-mania has been sweeping across the land for months now.

Bottom line - she is fresh and the rest is not. How long this will last remains to be seen, but for now, the GOP seems to be heading in the right direction thanks to Sarah Palin.

The tectonic plates are definitely rumbling. Partisan Democrats may not believe it, but independents and dispirited Republicans now see the McCain-Palin pick as a sharp break with Bush (McCain now has a double-digit lead over the "post-partisan" Obama among independents).

(via NY Post)

Read more about Palinmania on this blog.

Sarah Palin, Warrior Princess

2008-09-14T05:18:00.001-07:00

As Palinmania sweeps the country and more supporters of Barack Obama, most notably the female voters, defect to the GOP ticket, the Democrats' campaign has been noticeably stiffened into a unfamiliar territory. Slowly but surely, the ground that they have gained in many of the battleground states is waning as trends point more and more towards a Republican victory in November.

This was beyond the realm of possibility just a few weeks ago when all of the press and momentum were heavily swinging towards Obama. Now, there is a real fight being waged and it seems that the more the Democrats push against Palin, the more the voters seem to migrate towards her and her esteemed running mate.

THE high-heeled, moose-hunting governor of Alaska has sent Barack Obama’s campaign into a state of panic as support for the Democratic presidential candidate haemorrhages in the battleground states he must win to reach the White House.......

(via Times Online)

Read more on this Sarah Palin for VP Blog.

Palin Effect Hits the Heartland

2008-09-12T16:56:00.001-07:00

The Palin Effect is spreading. In Oklahoma, a GOP stronghold but a telling state nonetheless, the McCain-Palin ticket is up 65% to 32% for Obama-Biden. There will be no attacking the duo in this state - it's all but locked up.

Still, it is an important indicator that allows us to look at just how profoundly Sarah Palin is affecting the country. If there was any doubt before, it is being wiped away in even the most conservative states as her record or leaning to the right is becoming clear and giving John McCain the conservative credibility that he needs to make it into the White House.

John McCain is holding a 2-1 lead over Barack Obama in Oklahoma, according to the first Rasmussen survey of voters there this election year. Not only does the GOP presidential nominee have the backing of 95% of Republicans --- but 41% of Oklahoma Democrats support him, too. Independent voters are nearly evenly divided over the two candidates.

(via Rasmussen Reports)

Read more about Sarah Palin and her effect on the heartland on this blog.

The Palin Election: Throwing Obama Off Stride

2008-09-11T19:22:00.001-07:00

It seems that all the eyes that were once on Obama have shifted in the direction of Sarah Palin. Her acceptance of the vice-presidential nomination for the GOP has caused a flurry of stories never before seen about a VP.

Barack Obama's campaign has shifted in the last week to start going more after her than even her Presidential partner John McCain. The talk shows, blogs, newspapers, and news channels are buzzing extensively about her. While much of it is negative, this can be expected in a liberal dominated media.

In just two weeks, the 2008 presidential race has become the Sarah Palin election.

(via Christian Science Monitor)

Read more about Palin and Obama on this political blog.

The Palin Truth Squad, Fighting Lies Across the Globe

2008-09-09T22:05:00.001-07:00

With all of the attacks aimed at Sarah Palin after her selection as the GOP Vice Presidential candidate, it has become necessary to "bring the truth to light". John McCain has formed a crew of politicians who are to battle the lies and deceptions that are popping up left and right.

Is it possible to fight them all? Of course not, but these firefighters will have the ability to zero in on the most outrageous and potentially damaging rumors and squash them with the truth.

John McCain's campaign on Tuesday unveiled a new squadron of politicians whose duty will be to battle perceptions that are quickly forming about the Republican party's vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska.

(via Wired)

Media Looking for Palin Heel (assuming we can equate Palin to Achilles)

2008-09-07T02:34:00.001-07:00

\While the extremely biased nature of this post on Canada Free Press goes beyond ours (we're biased, but not THAT biased), it is still worth noting that many of the points in here are very valid. There was a planned salvo of attacks from the media that was never unleashed because McCain picked Palin, a relative unknown in the political world.

The lies that have been spread have been many, and they've been hateful. Still, being a Republican means being attacked by the media. Ronald Reagan, the most loved president in last 50 years, was constantly attacked by the media. Who would think any less during this age of twitter information and Digg left-wingedness.

While this blog does not believe in the blind following of anyone, even Sarah Palin, the blind hatred that has followed Palin has been extreme to say the least.

19 Months of work gone in just a week. Read this and you will completely understand that statement.

(via Canada Free Press)

Read more about Sarah Palin and the Media on this blog.

Sarah Palin: star injects new life into lumbering campaign

2008-09-07T02:14:00.001-07:00

British news site Times Online gives an extraordinary account of how Sarah Palin has invigorated the campaign in ways that nobody expected. Her raw political talent may just end up being enough to propel her party and her running mate over the top.

She is, in many ways, the trump card to Obama. With a personality that is electrifying to her party and compelling to many Democrats (especially Hillary Clinton supporters) Palin brings to the table fresh and powerful ideas and the ability to deliver them in an effective manner.

The enthusiasm generated by Sarah Palin, the Republican party’s new “northern star”, on her first tour of Middle America this weekend has revived Senator John McCain’s presidential campaign to such a remarkable extent that she is outshining her running mate. If Sarah can expand the Republican electorate, McCain will be swept into the White House.

(via Times Online UK)

Check out Sarah Palin and her Superstar status on this blog.

US Weekly Attack Costs them Subscribers "Left AND Right"

2008-09-07T01:29:00.001-07:00

Last week, US Weekly had a cover story about Sarah Palin.

I'm sorry, but regardless of your political stance, you have to admit - this was just wrong. After reading the article, I thought, "They really did just spin the title COMPLETELY to destroy a candidate and sell more magazines."

In this case, it didn't work. They are losing subscribers "left AND right" - pun intended.

This is one of the saddest things I have ever even HEARD OF in journalism. For those who haven't seen the cover (and no, we would not soil the web pages of this free blog by displaying such trash) it depicts a smiling Sarah Palin and her newest baby. The headline, which says "Babies, Lies, & Scandal", was designed to make people believe that there were babies that were lied about and there is a scandal coming up. It was cleverly worded in a way that people standing in a grocery story line might buy the magazine or (gulp) form a negative opinion based solely upon it.

The lies as discussed in the article are not from the Palin family. They are not from the McCain campaign. They aren't even from the GOP. The lies in the article are from the media. Us Weekly, knowing this, still worded the headline and cover photo in a way to make the casual reader believe that Palin was in some way lying about the babies and that it was somehow scandalous. This is irresponsible journalism. Regardless of whose side you're on, you have to admit that this was completely wrong on several levels.

The video below depicts a Senior Editor looking like a high school sophomore being interviewed by the principal after getting caught spray painting tasteless graffiti on school grounds. He knows it was wrong. He knows it was a calculated strategy to mislead the people and tarnish the image of a person. Most importantly, he knows that he was trying to sell more magazines.

Thankfully, the American people are, for the most part, too smart for that.
For more stories about Sarah Palin and the Media, read this blog.

***UPDATE***
Sorry, I had to post this once I realized that *someone* is pulling every copy of this image from the internet and Google. Couldn't find it anywhere! Weird. I expect the S&D letter any time now.

Oprah pulls an “Us Weekly” by dissing Palin.

2008-09-07T01:16:00.001-07:00

Oprah Winfrey, loved by many, is not making any friends in the GOP and is starting to act as naive and negative as "Us Weekly", according to article on The College Politico.

It isn't that Oprah retracted her invitation for Palin, a strong-willed woman who seems to fit the show's focus. No, that would be impossible. You cannot retract what was never, and would never be, given.

When asked, Oprah stated that she had never even considered having Palin on the show. That would be insane to have a Republican on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Whoever suggested it should be shot for not understanding how closed-minded liberals actually think.

Apparently Oprah Winfrey and Us Weekly need to do a little more market research and figure out that their audience consists of more that Huffpo readers and Obamatons

(via The College Politico)
More on Sarah Palin and Oprah is coming on this blog.

Sarah Palin on Tech Issues

2008-09-07T01:11:00.001-07:00

The technology blog Beta News did a piece on Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin and her positions on technology. The timing of the issue were not conducive for direct responses on these issues from Palin's team, but Beta News was able to piece together a pretty comprehensive article that details their thoughts on her positions.

From empowering workers through tech training to making issues such as health care and government transparent on the Internet, Palin scored very well on this unbiased publication that also profiled Joe Biden's stances last week.

While Gov. Palin is fairly new to the political scene nationwide, the Alaska native's stance on key topics may give clues into the policies she would support if she were elected Vice President.

(via Beta News)
Read more about Sarah Palin on Tech Issues on this blog.

Sarah Palin and Why the Media Fabricates

2008-09-07T01:05:00.001-07:00

This Boston Herald story discusses the whoppers of lies that have followed the Sarah Palin phenomenon across the country and throughout the pages and websites of publications around the world.

The media bias has always been strong against the GOP, but when the target is an attractive female who is strong willed and loaded with the potential for controversy, you can expect the media to try its best to put out the juicy headlines at any cost. It's refreshing to see a story that knows what we're talking about and can laugh at its own kind without remorse.

"The Beautiful People just won’t let up on Sarah Palin. It’s become a regular “60 Minutes”/Texas Air National Guard feeding frenzy of bogus reporting out there. "

(via Boston Herald)
Read more about Sarah Palin in the Media

Blogger, Author, Palin Booster: Meghan McCain's New Chapter

2008-09-06T17:30:00.001-07:00

The 23-year-old blogger is the most visible and accessible of the seven McCain sibs in the Twin Cities this week. (Tuesday, they all joined Cindy McCain and Laura Bush to create care packages for hurricane victims.) Meghan is the gorgeous golden girl, the GOP's next Jenna.

She bounced into the shop to find two dozen fans clutching multiple copies of her book. Employee Amy Baum invited McCain last week, never dreaming she would actually show up, much less agree to an hour-long author's signing. But there she was (black jacket, jeans, blond hair pulled up), charming every customer, personalizing each book and posing for pictures.

(via Washington Post)
More Palin Stories here.

McCain Must Explain Palin Choice at RNC

2008-09-04T12:30:00.001-07:00

With every Vice-Presidential candidate, there is always the need to justify the decision. Some are easier than others as they come with credentials and limited baggage. Sarah Palin came with baggage and limited credentials.

It will be up to John McCain during his acceptance speech to justify the choice and to prove beyond a doubt that she is able to lead the nation if the need arises for her to step in and become the most powerful person in the world.

McCain must address one concern above all others tonight: He must convince us he's not going to die. At least not anytime soon.Because his pick for vice president, Sarah Palin, is woefully unprepared to be Leader of the Free World.

(via Suntimes)
Republican Palin News on this blog.

Sarah Palin's Breakout Night

2008-09-04T12:24:00.001-07:00

As many news publications are reporting, Sarah Palin's speech at the Republican National Convention was a home run. It was met with nearly universal "wow" from the media and displaced concerns about her vetting that have crept up in the first week of since the announcement.

"With the whole family gathered on stage when Palin finished, she held baby Trig in her arms and you felt the shattered glass raining gently down. It was a night when everyone was tested in different ways, everyone had a surprise, and so much remains to be seen."

(via Time)

Learn more about what Sarah Palin did at the Convention on this blog.

Flashback: Palin Puts Govenor's Jet for Sale on eBay

2008-09-03T19:58:00.001-07:00

Before she ever set foot on it, Sarah Palin had Alaska's Governor's jet up for sale on eBay. The picture below from impactlab.com says it all.

(via KTUU)

Sarah Palin, VP - it's that simple. Read more here.

Joe Biden on Sarah Palin: "She's good-looking."

2008-09-01T03:40:00.001-07:00

While it was surely intended as a semi-good-natured, semi-condescending remark, it was definitely a comment that we all would have been better off without.

This isn't two people vying for promotion or even two people running for congress. This is the Presidential election, arguably the most important on in decades, and tarnishing it with even the mildest forms of sexism shouldn't sit well with anyone.

“There’s a gigantic difference between John McCain and Barack Obama and between me and I suspect my vice presidential opponent,” Biden said in Ohio.

“She’s good-looking,” he quipped.

Harm intended? Not really. Poor judgment? Absolutely.

(via LA Times)

Read more about Palin and Biden on this blog.

The Conservative Base on Palin: "Electrifying"

2008-08-31T10:10:00.001-07:00

There were two intended targets of the Palin selection: the conservative base and the Hillary Clinton supporters. According to an article on Politico, at this early stage, one of the goals has been accomplished.

By tapping the anti-abortion and pro-gun Alaska governor just ahead of his convention, which is set to start here Monday, McCain hasn’t just won approval from a skeptical Republican base — he’s ignited a wave of elation and emotion that has led some grass-roots activists to weep with joy.

In the end, it may have been the ticket to cause Democrats to weep for other reasons.

(via Politico)

Sarah Palin on Sarah Palin

2008-08-30T13:02:00.001-07:00

When it comes to issues, there is very little posted about where Sarah Palin stands. This will change in the coming days, weeks, and months until the election, but in the meantime, Salon.com has come up with a compilation of her views as she sees them. It has quotes about her position on:

abortion
her son, who has Down syndrome
marijuana [then legal in Alaska]
creationism and evolution
education
the energy crunch
polar bears
gun rights
Iraq
global warming
her favorite meal
God and destiny
government and economics
politics as usual
being VP
her husband

(via Salon)

An Excellent Sarah Palin Resource

2008-08-30T12:41:00.001-07:00

The folks over at DCRepublican.com have come up with a nice compilation of facts and articles about Sarah Palin. It discusses her background, her political experience, where she stands on issues, memberships in various organizations, and her philosophy on governing. It also lists several blogs covering Palin.

This particular Sarah Palin VP blog is not on the list, but I'm sure that's just an oversight. :)

(via DCRepublican)

Wikipedia Blocks Who Can Edit Palin Page After Major Makeover

2008-08-30T12:35:00.001-07:00

Just prior to the announcement that Sarah Palin would be the Vice Presidential nominee for John McCain, her page on Wikipedia received a lot of attention. Now, there is a block on who can and cannot edit the page. While this isn't uncommon, it still makes one wonder what was on there that shouldn't have been there.

(via NPR)

Sarah Palin on Global Warming

2008-08-30T12:15:00.001-07:00

Palin is reportedly skeptical about evidence that global warming is a man-made phenomenon. In an interview with Newsmax, she demonstrated the very political opinion that "I'm not one though who would attribute it to being man-made."

Dan Weiss and James Kvaal note that Palin is a "champion for Big Oil." They write, "She supports more drilling in protected areas of the Outer Continental Shelf and the Alaska Natural Wildlife Refuge, once attacking McCain for his 'close-mindedness on ANWR.'"

(via ThinkProgress)

The REAL Reason McCain picked Sarah Palin

2008-08-30T00:27:00.000-07:00

Several analysts have speculated as to why John McCain plucked Sarah Palin, an obscure governor from the "forgotten" state of Alaska as his selection for Vice President. While there are many reasons that make her an appealing choice for him, the primary reason has only been touched on, but will become more apparent in the coming weeks.

There are the obvious reasons:

Bridging the gender gap
Appealing to the far-right conservative base
Her appearance (a minor point, one that shouldn't be an issue, but in today's visual-candy world, it is)
The contrast: an old man with a young woman
Strong family story lines: 1 son in the military, another born with Down Syndrome
NRA, Pro-life, Fight the Establishment
Stealing the Obama-acceptance-speech thunder

As will be revealed in the coming weeks, the primary reason that she is such an appealing pick for him is that her presence alone will lower gas prices. It's that simple. The speculative dynamic that controls oil futures more than even "supply and demand" will cause a sharp decrease in oil prices over the next week. It will level out, but as the election approaches, if McCain is still a viable candidate and one who has a good chance of winning, her presence will cause another sharp decline as election day approaches.

He is a financial novice who has had poor luck when it comes to addressing the issue of the economy. With advisers making fools of themselves to the media mixed with his own proclamations of economic ignorance, gas prices are the quickest way to elevate his standing in the eyes of the voters. If their ticket is the one that is viewed as the answer to the gas crunch, they have the one piece to the puzzle that cannot be disputed when it comes to the economy.

This will be apparent once the VP debates start happening. Her policies in Alaska have demonstrated a push for us to "drill our way" out of dependency on foreign oil. While she has stated that she feels alternative energy sources are still 10 years away from become reasonable options, they will spin this as a practical assessment -- in other words, it's not that she doesn't believe in alternative energy sources, but that she will work towards addressing the problem now with drilling and solving the problem in the future with science.

On the surface, this seems like a minor point. When it all shakes out, it will become apparent that her presence is a strategic one, not just because of the obvious, but because to lower gas prices, she is the ideal running mate.

* * * * *

Read more about Sarah Palin as VP on this blog.

10 Sarah Palin Facts

2008-08-30T00:15:00.001-07:00

1. Sarah Louise Palin (nee Heath) was born Feb., 1964, in Sandpoint, Idaho. Her family moved to Alaska when Sarah was an infant. Her father, Chuck, is a retired schoolteacher.

2. She attended Wasilla High School where she played point guard on the state champion basketball team. Her nickname was "Sarah Barracuda."

3. Palin graduated in 1987 from the University of Idaho with a degree in journalism. She worked briefly as a sports reporter in Anchorage.

4. She refers to her husband, Todd, as the "First Dude." He's worked as a commercial fisherman and as a production operator on the North Slope for BP. He enjoys snowmobiling and has won the Tesoro Iron Dog, billed as the world's longest snowmobile race, four times.

5. Palin and her husband have five children, Bristol, Piper, Track, Willow, and Trig. Trig, born in 2008, has been diagnosed with Down syndrome. Her son Track joined the army in 2007.

6. Her favorite meal is moose stew.

7. She comes from a family of outdoor enthusiasts. Her parents, Chuck and Sally Heath, enjoy hunting and fishing, and have both completed marathons.

8. Palin was named Miss Wasilla in 1984 and was a runner-up for Miss Alaska. In 1996 she was elected mayor of Wasilla.

9. She's a lifetime NRA member and enjoys hunting, fishing, and snowmobiling.

10. Elected in 2006, she's Alaska's first female governor and the youngest governor elected in the state.

(via USNews)

* * *

Visit the Sarah Palin VP Blog homepage or check out this story about Palin and Social Media.

Ben Smith from Politico Discusses Sarah Palin

2008-08-30T00:07:00.001-07:00

In this interview, Politico's Ben Smith talks about the choice, why Mitt Romney was not selected, and how she will have an effect on the campaign going forward.

(via YouTube)

Palin Pick Appeals to Conservatives

2008-08-29T23:55:00.001-07:00

One of the things that has been in question ever since John McCain became the presumptive Republican nominee for the presidency is whether or not he would be able to rally support amongst the strongly conservative activists that make up the far right of his party.

The selection of Sarah Palin may turn out to be the rallying call that many staunch Republicans have been hoping for. While it is a surprise, a deeper look into her actions and policies reveal that she is conservative in the traditional sense and offers a glimmer of hope to those who fear that McCain may be too moderate to appeal to their desires.

(via Wall Street Journal)

Surprise and Praise - How the BBC views the Palin pick

2008-08-29T23:47:00.001-07:00

Allies and rivals have reacted to the choice of Sarah Palin as Republican vice-presidential nominee, calling her a "new voice" in the election campaign.President George W Bush said Mrs Palin was a "wonderful example", while Democratic nominee Barack Obama said she would add interest to the campaign.

(via BBC)

ThinkProgress Spin on Sarah Palin's Energy Stance

2008-08-29T23:38:00.001-07:00

ThinkProgress, a liberal online publication, attempts to spin her ideas of drilling for energy independence by pointing out her desire to drill more. It paints a picture of a woman who thinks that alternative energy is a solution that isn't practical right now.

For all intents and purposes, her assessment is spot on -- 10 years is a conservative estimate made by even the most optimistic scientists and analysts. Oil is a tremendous part of our lives, and while we must move in the direction of renewable energies, the need for cheaper gas today overshadows the future needs.

(via ThinkProgress)

McCain's Play for Female Voters

2008-08-29T22:47:00.001-07:00

Time Magazine looks at the idea of whether or not the Palin choice was made strictly for her appeal to female voters. While this is likely one of the reasons, potentially even the primary reason, there are many philosophical issues that ideologies that she promotes that makes her ideal for McCain.

(via Time)

Sarah Palin, an Outsider Who Charms

2008-08-29T22:45:00.001-07:00

Palin is a political outsider, similar to Obama. She is charming and appeals to the "change" concept that is floating around Washington and the country, similar to Obama. She is you and relatively new to the world of politics, similar to Obama. What's the real difference? She is a Republican. Otherwise, there are many, many similarities. This story in the New York Times points to her way of impressing voters.

(via NYTimes)

Can Sarah Palin Appeal to White, Female Independents?

2008-08-29T22:42:00.001-07:00

This story from Gallup points to the idea that this was a purely political move by McCain to bring in an attractive woman as his Vice-Presidential choice. She appeals to one area that McCain truly lacks in -- the white female voter. Will it work?

(via Gallup)

Palin on CNBC discusses the Wooten scandal and VP

2008-08-29T22:40:00.001-07:00

Here is an interview with Palin that discusses the potential scandal involving her alleged attempt to get her former brother-in-law fired from the police force. On other issues, they discuss that she wasn't the favorite for the Vice-Presidency, plus other issues. One point they was highlighted out of context on the Digg submission of the video was the question, "What is it exactly that the VP does?"

(via YouTube)

Sarah Palin On The Environment

2008-08-29T22:35:00.001-07:00

Grist reports that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin strongly opposes the Alaskan gas tax, threw money at Alaskans to quiet their concerns over rising energy costs, and "recently sued the Interior Department over its decision to list the polar bear as a threatened species."

(via Huffington Post)

How Green is Sarah Palin?

2008-08-29T22:29:00.001-07:00

On the Greenopolis social networking site, this author discusses the environmental issues and how Sarah Palin weighs in on Green issues. As an Alaskan, she has a natural tendency towards eco-friendliness, but when it comes to political issues, is she green enough? This post tries to address the question.

Here is an excerpt from the post:

She has been an avid moose-hunter since childhood and is still a strong believer in gun ownership.
A considerable amount of her family's income comes from the gas company BP as her husband is an oil production operator for BP..
Palin said that she would sue the Interior Department over its decision to list the polar bear as a threatened species. Her litigation came from fear because Alaska produces fossil fuels, although the wording of the Interior Department decision went to great lengths to ward off any new restrictions on oil and gas drilling.

(via Greenopolis)

Palin wants Creationism Taught in School

2008-08-29T21:34:00.001-07:00

Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin wants creationism taught in science classes. In a 2006 gubernatorial debate, the soon-to-be governor of Alaska trotted out the usual creationist education canard: "Teach both. You know, don't be afraid of education. Healthy debate is so important, and it's so valuable in our schools."

(via Wired)

Sarah Palin plugs Ron Paul, but not McCain, in MTV interview

2008-08-29T21:24:00.001-07:00

Before McCain was unofficially nominated as the GOP presidential candidate, Sarah Palin gave her "thumbs up" to controversial candidate Ron Paul. This will probably play more in favor for McCain than against him, as her fight-the-system attitude that seemed to match Paul's may bring in a fringe vote that was possibly leaning towards Obama. Click through to watch the MTV interview.

video

Sarah Palin: Democrats Pounce On McCain's Pick

2008-08-29T21:20:00.001-07:00

The democrats made what many consider to be a crucial mistake when they started the attack fast and furious on Sarah Palin. They threw too many punches that didn't connect and should have let the press do their dirty work for them. There will be a lot of "holding back" for the next week or so as they devise a strategy to combat "Palinmania" that may be coming if the GOP plays this particular card properly. Here's the Huffington Posts' take on it all:

(via Huffington Post)

McCain Picks Palin

2008-08-29T21:15:00.001-07:00

It sent shockwaves across the political world. As a completely unexpected pick that most experts didn't see coming, McCain has exposed his campaign to a lot of risk. In the end, it will either pay off or it won't. Only time will tell. Here is the CNN story that broke the news:

(via CNN)

McCain Didn't Even Know Palin Before Picking Her (VIDEO)

2008-08-29T21:07:00.001-07:00

John McCain had only met Sarah Palin once or twice before selecting her to be a heartbeat away from the presidency. Also, earlier today McCain's campaign chairman Sen. Lindsay Graham admitted that he had never met Palin, and GOP Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison also said that she didn't know much about Palin.

read more

Sarah Palin: The Mullet Years as a Sportscaster

2008-01-31T04:08:00.000-08:00

Looking back at the 70s and 80s (and even 90s) there are certain fashion trends that should never have happened. Here is one of those cases -- as the possible Vice President of the United States, Sarah Palin presents herself conservatively both in action and appearance.

While attempting to do the same thing, the "big hair days" got the best of her (and the rest of us) to yield some pretty humorous photos and videos. At the time, it probably seemed like a good idea.

(via deadspin)
Sarah Palin VP

Hey, Sarah—Organize This!

2008-01-06T16:34:00.000-08:00

It is possible that Sarah Palin really knows the difference between being a small-town mayor and a community organizer. But it's unlikely—because she has more in common with community organizers than she realizes.

Just to be clear: I like organizers—if they sign onto the right causes. The best ones are clergy and the religious, who seem to be able to live out their roles as uniters and dividers more comfortably than the rest of us. My heroes are organizers like the Rev. John J. Egan, who worked on behalf of the poor in Chicago and could mingle with the mayors and governors but knew how to take it to the streets. Yes, I like insiders who are outsiders, or vice versa.

But very few can pull this off. Insiders should be insiders and hold things together. Outsiders, at times, have to pull us apart. And a country is in trouble if we can't keep these roles straight.

(via Slate)

Palin's Speech Raises $1M for GOP, $8M for Obama

2008-01-05T09:33:00.000-08:00

In a reversal of expectations, Sarah Palin's speech was a major victory... for both sides. For the Republicans, it acted as validation that John McCain picked a Vice-President who could hold her own speaking on a national stage.

For the Democrats, it was a rallying call... "Guys, it's not in the bag, so send more money!"

Sarah Palin’s speech to the convention Wednesday night energized conservatives and inspired excited Republicans to donate a cool $1 million to the RNC's effort to elect John McCain. Bloomberg reported that Palin’s speech was even better for Democrats who got over $8 million in donations since Wednesday!

(via WSJ)

Palin Disparages Environmentalist ‘Fear Mongering’ Yet...

2008-01-03T17:44:00.000-08:00

... she warns of a ‘World of Hurt’ if we don't drill.“

Our nation is at a crossroads also. We'd either better be making decisions to allow this American supply of energy to be tapped or we're going to become more and more beholden to these foreign regimes."

There are many reasons that drilling and future energy concerns should come together and coexist. This is an example of narrow mindedness that is perpetuated by both sides in Washington.

Here is the video on CNBC.

(via RedGreenandBlue)

Palin Slashed Funding for Teen Moms

2008-01-03T09:32:00.000-08:00

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican vice-presidential nominee who revealed Monday that her 17-year-old daughter is pregnant, earlier this year used her line-item veto to slash funding for a state program benefiting teen mothers in need of a place to live.

After the legislature passed a spending bill in April, Palin went through the measure reducing and eliminating funds for programs she opposed. Inking her initials on the legislation -- "SP" -- Palin reduced funding for Covenant House Alaska by more than 20 percent, cutting funds from $5 million to $3.9 million. Covenant House is a mix of programs and shelters for troubled youths, including Passage House, which is a transitional home for teenage mothers.

According to Passage House's web site, its purpose is to provide "young mothers a place to live with their babies for up to eighteen months while they gain the necessary skills and resources to change their lives" and help teen moms "become productive, successful, independent adults who create and provide a stable environment for themselves and their families."

Palin's own daughter, Bristol, is five months pregnant and has plans to wed.

(via Washington Post)

Bristol Palin, Pregnant

2008-01-01T16:45:00.000-08:00

The question now is, "How much did McCain know?"

Depending on the answer to that question, one of two questions come to mind:

"If he knew, what does he have up his sleave?"

"If he didn't know, how does he recover?"

Could this really be a clever political move, or were they blindsided? The only possible "clever" move that I can think of is to use it as a rallying call for "stick to the issues" instead of focusing on personal attacks. Otherwise, she had better bring a ton to the table to overcome this.

Reuters: "The 17-year-old daughter of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is pregnant, Palin said Monday in an announcement intended to knock down rumors by liberal bloggers that Palin faked her own pregnancy to cover up for her child.

(via MSNBC)