How could her stance on issues make her a better fit for McCain's ticket? She appeals to the social and fiscal conservatives in the party, which McCain does not. What makes her a good match for McCain is the common ground that she shares as a reformer. I can honestly not think of anybody in the Republican Party who fits into both of those slots more snuggly than Palin. The notion that she was placed on the ticket mainly to appeal to disaffected Hillary supporters is just not right.

 

McCain could not have won enough support among moderate Democrats and independents to offset the damage that he would have done by placing a Democrat or other pro-choice candidate on his ticket.

 

After seeing Palin in action and also watching Pawlenty and Romney during the past week, I think most Republicans are very pleased with the selection.

 

At least the attacks against Palin are coming from the media and Democrats. I was afraid that McCain would pick a running mate that would have precipitated similar attacks from Republicans.:lol:

 

To clarify my last statement, it was inteneded to explain how I feel about voting for her, and not about how it fits with the topic of the thread. I agree with what you say about how she fits on McCain's ticket.

I'm just tired of the "Well, Obama doesn't have any experience either" argument I've been hearing a lot lately(not talking about you). I thinks it's absolutely absurd, it's make zero sense to me and I think it makes people look pretty childish and completely uninformed on the issue.

 

:thumb::thumb::thumb:

I agree with Rockmom. I don't like being pandered to. What should be expected, however, is intense media scrutiny about her, based on her being a relative unknown that was thrust onto the scene so quickly. One of my colleagues is a staunch, well informed conservative. The only thing he could tell me about Palin when she was named the VP nominee was that she was the governor of Alaska. For once, I knew more then he did...thanks to BGP. Anyway, the point is, she is going to undergo the same scrutiny as other politicians running for P/VP, but it is going to be squeezed together into a shorter time frame.

 

Additionally, I have seen coverage of her speaking two times, in addition to the RNC. She said the EXACT same thing all three times...I get tired of the "thanks, but no thanks" comments, as well as others. I'm not fond of recycled speeches.

 

However, what I don't like is all of the focus that both she and Clinton endure that is related to how they look and what they wear. That goes for comments from the average "joe," too, not just the media.

 

As to the issue of the media coverage about her daughter and Palin's fifth child, I don't know all of the facts. Who was it that made the false assertion that the daughter was the baby's mother?

Are the women of BGP not angry about such comments as "She should be saying at home with her child?" Biden was praised for being a single dad and working in the Senate.

Are the women of BGP not angry about such comments as "She should be saying at home with her child?" Biden was praised for being a single dad and working in the Senate.

 

I am not happy about those comments, no...but why should this only offend women?

It shouldn't only offend women.

To clarify my last statement, it was inteneded to explain how I feel about voting for her, and not about how it fits with the topic of the thread. I agree with what you say about how she fits on McCain's ticket.

My main point is that McCain did no more pandering in naming Palin to the ticket than Obama did in naming Biden to the ticket. Whether Kay Bailey Hutchison or some other prospective candidate had better paper qualifications than Palin is really irrelevant . McCain would have had little chance of winning this election with a boring running mate on the ticket like Hutchison or Pawlenty.

 

The pandering charge would be a little more plausible if Obama had named the best man or woman available as his running mate. Instead, he passed over both Hillary, who had won over 18 million votes and Bill Richardson, whose varied experience makes him much better qualified than Joe Biden, who has been a US Senator since he was 29 years old.

 

People do not necessarily vote for the most qualified candidate and the loser's qualifications do not really matter.

Are the women of BGP not angry about such comments as "She should be saying at home with her child?" Biden was praised for being a single dad and working in the Senate.

 

Am I angry? No - it's the double standard coming into play again. Who cares which parent stays home if parent A is at home with children while parent B is going to college earning a degree or working? Who cares if parent A or parent B are single and working to raise their children? Really, no one cares unless you are running for political office.

My main point is that McCain did no more pandering in naming Palin to the ticket than Obama did in naming Biden to the ticket. Whether Kay Bailey Hutchison or some other prospective candidate had better paper qualifications than Palin is really irrelevant . McCain would have had little chance of winning this election with a boring running mate on the ticket like Hutchison or Pawlenty.

 

The pandering charge would be a little more plausible if Obama had named the best man or woman available as his running mate. Instead, he passed over both Hillary, who had won over 18 million votes and Bill Richardson, whose varied experience makes him much better qualified than Joe Biden, who has been a US Senator since he was 29 years old.

 

People do not necessarily vote for the most qualified candidate and the loser's qualifications do not really matter.

 

Obviously, every VP pick is political. But with Palin, had she not been a woman she would not have been selected. It can't be made more simple than that. Call it Republican affirmative action if you want. There is no record, discussion, information, or hint of indication of what her stances are on the majority of issues. Just because she opposes abortion doesn't mean she can make heads or tails of the Russia/Georgia conflict or that I should trust her judgment in any other situation. There is a reason she's been nowhere near a reporter with a microphone.

I am not happy about those comments, no...but why should this only offend women?

It doesn't, but I'm curious as to the opinions of those such as yourself.

Obviously, every VP pick is political. But with Palin, had she not been a woman she would not have been selected. It can't be made more simple than that. Call it Republican affirmative action if you want. There is no record, discussion, information, or hint of indication of what her stances are on the majority of issues. Just because she opposes abortion doesn't mean she can make heads or tails of the Russia/Georgia conflict or that I should trust her judgment in any other situation. There is a reason she's been nowhere near a reporter with a microphone.

:thumb:

Obviously, every VP pick is political. But with Palin, had she not been a woman she would not have been selected. It can't be made more simple than that. Call it Republican affirmative action if you want. There is no record, discussion, information, or hint of indication of what her stances are on the majority of issues. Just because she opposes abortion doesn't mean she can make heads or tails of the Russia/Georgia conflict or that I should trust her judgment in any other situation. There is a reason she's been nowhere near a reporter with a microphone.

You cannot possibly know that a male Alaskan governor with a similar record of reform and an 84 percent job approval rating and expertise on energy matters would not have been picked as McCain's running mate. As a campaigner, Palin puts Biden (and McCain) to shame as a campaigner.

 

Palin's detractors seem to be ignoring her strong reform credentials, which IMO, were unmatched by any of the other VP prospects. She unseated an incumbent Republican Governor who had more than 20 years experience in the US Senate, forced the resignation of the state's Attorney General, and levied corruption charges at the state GOP chairman that resulted in a $12,000 fine. That is an impressive record for any politician, regardless of gender. It is the stuff from which movies are made.

You cannot possibly know that a male Alaskan governor with a similar record of reform and an 84 percent job approval rating and expertise on energy matters would not have been picked as McCain's running mate. As a campaigner, Palin puts Biden (and McCain) to shame as a campaigner.

 

Palin's detractors seem to be ignoring her strong reform credentials, which IMO, were unmatched by any of the other VP prospects. She unseated an incumbent Republican Governor who had more than 20 years experience in the US Senate, forced the resignation of the state's Attorney General, and levied corruption charges at the state GOP chairman that resulted in a $12,000 fine. That is an impressive record for any politician, regardless of gender. It is the stuff from which movies are made.

 

 

Because it make a good story, does that make her the right pick?

You cannot possibly know that a male Alaskan governor with a similar record of reform and an 84 percent job approval rating and expertise on energy matters would not have been picked as McCain's running mate. As a campaigner, Palin puts Biden (and McCain) to shame as a campaigner.

 

Palin's detractors seem to be ignoring her strong reform credentials, which IMO, were unmatched by any of the other VP prospects. She unseated an incumbent Republican Governor who had more than 20 years experience in the US Senate, forced the resignation of the state's Attorney General, and levied corruption charges at the state GOP chairman that resulted in a $12,000 fine. That is an impressive record for any politician, regardless of gender. It is the stuff from which movies are made.

 

Wow.

Forgot to finish my post...

 

Palin ousted a upopular governor, and has been governor for less than 2 years. Yes, she has an 84% approval rating, but to think this all the way through, I would think that succeeding a governor like Murkowski, just about everything she would do would be better than Murkowski. As well, going forward, her approval ratings could have potentially taken hits as she tackled more controversial issues. From what I've read, it wouldn't be hard to take on the good old boy network with the ammo so readily available for someone outside their circle to use against them. There doesn't seem to be an indication that she uncovered earth-shattering revelations, just went the distance in resolving the situation.

 

You could very well be correct that she is qualified...for VP. I still think she needs to have more experience to be the right-hand of a 72 year old man in the throne room. McCain's mother may be 96, but statistically, males live shorter lives....