Posted on 09/12/2008 1:30:58 PM PDT by missanne
This was supposed to be the year that a woman achieved the White House. Problem is, we've got the wrong woman. It was supposed to be the year for a woman of the caliber of Hillary Clinton, tested in the halls of learning, of law, in 12 years in the governor's mansion, in two terms as First Lady, in the policy trenches, in politics, in the media, in the Senate, in foreign affairs and in numerous presidential debates. She's been tested, tested and tested again.
I desperately wanted a woman for president, but not the untested former small-town mayor and beauty pageant princess, Sarah Palin, who got her first passport in 2007, has spent two years as Alaska's governor and was mayor of a town of 7, 025. As I watched Palin at the Republican National Convention describe that big old untraveled world out there as "dangerous," I was left with one feeling: fear. Oh my God, she sounds like a teenager. She's too politically immature, too unschooled, too lacking in depth. I wanted to give her an iPod, not the keys to the White House.
At a time when we need foreign affairs experience the most, we've got a woman who seems more like a neophyte beauty queen ready to answer what she would do about world peace than a serious candidate for vice president, or, God forbid, president if the 72-year-old McCain, who's had two bouts with cancer and almost six years of torture as a POW, dies in office.
There are so many other concerns about the barely vetted Palin that I hardly know where to start. Let's begin with her ethical problems and misrepresentation of herself as a reformer and outsider.
While she claims to have championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress, as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, she hired a lobbyist to annually make the case in Washington to support earmarks to the town totaling $ 27 million. And in her two years as governor of Alaska she has requested nearly $ 750 million in special federal spending (the largest per-capita request in the nation ), according to The Associated Press. While she says she rejected plans for the so-called "bridge to nowhere," she did so only after the plan was ridiculed as such.
McCain's ridiculous claim that Palin has been in charge because she has primary responsibility for national security as commander of her state's National Guard misses the point that governors lose charge of their units to the Defense Department once those units are called to military service.
The "ever-so-thrifty"Palin is also relying upon $ 95, 000 in state taxpayer money to defend herself against attacks that she fired her public safety commissioner because he refused to fire a state trooper who had divorced her sister. They're calling it "Troopergate. "And that governor's jet she put on eBay ? The state had to pull it off and sell it at a $ 600, 000 loss to a brokerage firm.
And let's look at her "family values"record and right-wing credentials. For me they don't come close to making up for her lack of foreign policy experience, but apparently they do for social conservatives who seem only to care that she's anti-abortion and pro-guns.
For this crowd, it matters little whether an asteroid is ready to strike the Earth. As long as Palin is an "avid hunter and fisher, " and even better," shoots machine guns," she passes muster for the chairman of the state highway commission from Siloam Springs and delegate to the Republican convention. In fact, as far as social conservatives are concerned, it doesn't matter if the war in Iraq becomes the war in Iran as long as Palin meets their family values criteria. For these folks, being smitten by Palin is apparently reason enough to vote for McCain for president, even though they don't like him.
The family-values crowd may be comforted by reports that Palin apparently follows the same messianic philosophy as George W. Bush, but that's what got us into trouble in the first place. She was online (her church has pulled the video ) telling ministry students at the Wasilla Assembly of God that the United States sent troops to fight in Iraq on a "task that is from God," according to The Associated Press. During an address last June, she urged ministry students to pray for a plan to build a $ 30 billion natural gas pipeline in Alaska because it was "God's will."
To such remarks as this, Rob Boston, a spokesman for Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said," I miss the days when pastors delivered sermons and politicians delivered political speeches... The United States is increasingly diverse religiously. The job of a president is to unify all those different people and bring them together around policy goals, not to act as a kind of national pastor and bring people to God."
Palin's inexperience impales McCain's presidential aspirations. She needs to spend at least enough time outside this country to get college credit for a semester abroad before vying for such a high-stakes position. Bottom line is, just four in 10 Americans think she has enough experience to be president, according to a Sept. 4 ABC News poll.
I'll say one thing for McCain. He likes them significantly younger and beautiful (first wife Carol Shepp, famous swimwear model, whom he divorced for Junior Rodeo Queen of Arizona, Cindy Hensley, after Shepp underwent at least 12 surgeries following a car accident ). Now comes Palin, the potential future president of our country, former Princess of the Fur Rendezvous, Miss Wasilla and runner-up for Miss Alaska.
For the sake of the nation, let's pray fervently she's also the runner-up in this presidential contest. --30-- Barbara Warner is a former congressional press secretary and White House appointee at the U. S. Commerce Department. She lives in Siloam Springs and writes a monthly column for the Benton County Daily Record.
And people expect there to be something on their fish wrapper or they won't think their getting their money's worth.
I trust that you’ll write a letter to the editor in rebuttal?
Was in the “service” of William Jefferson Clinton?
We got ‘em the run, boys! To the pursuit!
Probably because no one believes it's true.
Wright's church is a politically connected hate shack, not a place of worship. That's the lion's share of Obama's connection to Christianity. The rest is basically understood by the left as 'going through the motions' to appease the flyover natives and their curious but zealous customs.
The internets have reached NW Arkansas?
This bitch is getting more exposure on FR than she ever could on the N.W. Arkansas Times.
It’s so bad here in Fayetteville that Steve Clark a convicted albeit pardoned felon is running for mayor and there are actually yard signs out in support for him. I’m all for forgiveness and second chances but not when it come to holding public office! He committed felony while in public office for Heaven’s sake!
Twelve years married to a corrupt governor and 8 years married to a corrupt President doesn't qualify you to run the country, baby.
At least Sarah Palin has run a few things. The only things hillary has run are hillarycare, Travelgate, Whitewater, and the death of Vincent Foster.
She said "caliber" hahahaha.
Doesn't it take a lot more hot gas to accelerate a large caliber projectile towards the target?
This loser probably has aspirations of being somebody like Sarah Palin, but lacks the drive to do so. I find that most democrats are just like that.
She is bitter...more bitter than us Bible and gun clinging morons will ever be.
So, instead of applauding the achievements of her fellow woman, she can only throw lame punches at somebody who has the stones to actually do something.
The writer is supporting Obama over McCain.
as far as social conservatives are concerned, it doesn't matter if the war in Iraq becomes the war in Iran as long as Palin meets their family values criteria
Apples and oranges, which is what passes for argumentation with this writer. But, fine. Yes, both GOP candidates seem to favor bringing Iraq to a positive outcome, and both seem to favor a robust response to Iran if push comes to shove.
And both Dems are more inclined to avoid confrontation with Iran and will be more inclined to declare victory and withdraw from Iraq at the first possible moment.
Anyone can make that calculation and choose their candidates accordingly.
The family-values crowd may be comforted by reports that Palin apparently follows the same messianic philosophy as George W. Bush...
Yes.
...but that's what got us into trouble in the first place
Not responding to World Trade Center One got us World Trade Center Two on 9/11. And got our embassies reduced to rubble, and ships blown out of the water.
Chasing our enemies into their spider holes forced our enemies into their spider holes. It sounds like, actually, its our enemies who are in trouble.
They can misrepresent what Palin said all they want, but I don't pay much attention to writers like this one. Palin was right. It doesn't much matter what government does, it won't be sufficient if peoples' hearts aren't right with God. And if people get their hearts right, the rest will come right in the end. Government matters a great deal, but the moral character of the people matters far more and will make all the difference in the end.
Hey your soooo right!!!! I will ask to write a rebuttal. Freepers help is needed!
Barbara Warner, a spokeswomen for Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez (D-N.Y.), ranking Democrat on the House Small Business Committee.
You nailed it! From another thread:
"Democrats can't stomach seeing the feminist movement's impetus for greater female political participation and empowerment "hijacked" by a pro-life woman who espouses traditional values. They must obliterate her, lest her popularity eat away at their party's core."
That's about the stupidest claim to experience I've heard for a long time.
I love that photo!
"I"...No wonder the mediaPUKES are dropping like flies!!
Hillary: 12 years in the Arkansas governor’s mansion and 8 years in the White House? As the spouse (in name only) of a philandering Bill Clinton? This wench thinks that is a recommendation and preparation for the Presidency?
Wow. I really can’t understand these people, sometimes.
I always hoped I’d live long enough to see the Libs implode!
Now I’ll need to set a new goal.
Everything you said is correct, which is why, tcrlaf, you need to sit back and enjoy the Lib melt down.
;-)
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