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Pageants and Politics

The head of the Miss Alaska pageant talks about GOP VP pick Sarah Palin, a former runner-up, and which politicians need pageant-style coaching.

By Samantha Henig | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Aug 29, 2008 | Updated: 8:40  p.m. ET Aug 29, 2008

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  • Posted By: SmartChoices2008 @ 09/23/2008 4:18:24 PM

    hey there, willnotvoteobama - why do you think that no websites, newpapers, reporters, or bloggers have felt compelled to repeatedly reference john mccain's, joe biden's, or sarah palin's middle names?

  • Posted By: SmartChoices2008 @ 09/23/2008 3:58:11 PM

    Hey there, willnotvoteobama - how many times have you actually seen or used mccain's, biden's, or sarah's middle names? There's a reason only one candidate's middle name came up so much this past year...

  • Posted By: Jamdem @ 09/23/2008 2:31:16 PM

    Why did she go back and endorse this exploitation of young girls!!!! She sooooo full of it.

  • Posted By: Jamdem @ 09/23/2008 2:16:51 PM

    I have seen many beauty queens try to talk on pageant night..oops!!! Please, reading a tele prom and delivering a speech off the cuff.......kinda different......you think.

  • Posted By: willnotvoteobama @ 09/06/2008 11:32:44 AM

    HEY WE CAN USE JOHN McCAIN'S MIDDLE NAME(SIDNEY) AND JOE BIDEN'S MIDDLE NAME(ROBINETTE) OR EVEN SARAH PALIN'S MIDDLE NAME (HEATH) BUT YOU BETTER NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT MENTIONING BARACK OBAMA'S MIDDLE NAME BECAUSE IF YOU DO THEN YOU ARE TRYING TO SCARE PEOPLE ! IT IS HUSSEIN ! THAT DON'T SCARE ME BUT HIS POLICIES DO !!

  • Posted By: Ranger-Suasponte @ 09/05/2008 10:26:49 PM

    ABOUT SARAH PALIN:

    http://webpages.charter.net/suasponte/

    If you really want to know Sarah Palin's history (in detail) this is a "must read". It was written by Anne Kilkenny, a resident of Wasilla, Alaska.

  • Posted By: willnotvoteobama @ 09/05/2008 10:00:27 AM

    Part 1 Who got Obama started in his political career? William Ayers, of course, is the Weather Underground bomber. And Obama began his career, his coming out party in 1995, and Ayers and Bernadine Dorns home.
    And then for, you know, some 20 years, Obama has been working with Ayers, certainly since 1995, on a series of foundations: the Annenberg Foundation and the Woods Foundation. The boards of directors together, or in the Annenberg Foundation, Ayers created it, and Obama was on it. And together they spent the money of these foundations to implement their radical socialist agenda.
    A lot of people say, no, they just know each other. They???re not friends. Just because -- you know, just because they worked on boards together.
    Obama was in 1995 going to take the seat of Alice Palmer, who is also an extreme socialist. She???s an African-American who had actually gone to Russia and had attended communist party meetings and reported on them. And it was all very much of a leftist gathering.
    Ayers and Dorns were like the stamp of approval on Obama, introducing them to their click of leftist friends for funding and for advancing his candidacy. So that very beginning was a chosen intentionally association with Ayers and Dorns to launch Obama`s career, and Obama knew exactly what he was doing picking him.
    Senator Obama is the one who???s saying, "This is just another guy in my neighborhood," but in fact, that???s not true at all. It may turn out to be that they had a much closer relationship through their work together on the Annenberg Challenge to create their ideas to control the government and its people that???s the challenge!
    His agenda -- I believe, in 2001, in which Ayers was unrepentant, saying that he wished he bombed more. And obama???s greatest influence is
    Saul Alinsky he was a radical socialist organizer. His main book was "Rules for Radicals." His methodology was you go in as a community organizer. That means, really, a rabble-rouser.
    You rub raw the discontent of the community, almost in a communist sense. You find class antagonisms. You learn to speak the grievances in the people???s own logic and language, and then you go for radical redistribution of income and wealth through gaming power and mobilizing the community. Making them think that your working for them by doing small stuff that seems to help but ultimately you gain far more than the people you help it???s a trick to get them on your side because it seems you care about them and in turn they move you to the top of the political ladder!

    • Posted By: willnotvoteobama @ 09/05/2008 10:03:40 AM

      Part 2???
      The -- the connection to Saul Alinsky. In
      Fact, Alinsky had change as his mantra. And by it, he meant radical socialist redistribution of income from the haves to the have-nots. That was the primary purpose.
      Alinsky dedicated "Rules to Radicals" to Lucifer, whom he called the first radical. And he said it was a Machiavellian approach, which means you???ll lie, do whatever you need to do to get power, because the haves were going to lose to the have-nots, who were being championed by this community organizer. (Obama)
      The theme is common that Senator Obama made in San Francisco about people are bitter, clinging to God and to guns. That is actually a paraphrase of something Saul Alinsky wrote in that same book, in "Rules for Radicals."
      A very condescending view that he has of the middle class as people who are lost, who -- he says that they turn bitter, because they cling to certain fixed points that are elusory, but very real to them. They ask questions that Alinsky considers meaningless, like what does our flag mean to you? Interestingly, something that was just said at the Republican convention. That???s Alinsky. You know,obama???s his influence coming through.
      Just take a look at his taxation policies. He wants to increase capital gains, because he says they???re unfair.
      The point is that he clings to this relationship. And he???s even defending Ayers now. His campaign is defending Ayers, despite the fact that he???s an unrepentant terrorist who set bombs and may, according to congressional testimony, may have even been involved or had knowledge of a bombing that killed somebody. That???s the important thing.
      Alinsky taught to say whatever is necessary to get power. That???s the Machiavellian approach. When Obama articulates policy positions, especially moving to the center, it may be completely calculated. We will not see the real Obama until its too late then we are going to be stuck in a radical system that will take a civil war to get out of !

  • Posted By: HilaryontheRight @ 09/04/2008 9:36:59 PM

    Seriously, Newsweek? THIS constitutes coverage of the presidential election? No wonder Obama leads slightly in polls; you cover Biden as a hero and Palin as a beauty queen. No wonder America's media is faltering. Americans still want the truth, not fluff journalism.

  • Posted By: ladonna35 @ 09/04/2008 8:13:08 AM

    the only reason why mccain pick sarah palin because she is young and that he wants to win by using her for her beauty if she what i know she will get out now

  • Posted By: willnotvoteobama @ 09/03/2008 12:40:38 PM

    According to a news report, a certain private school in Washington was recently faced with a unique problem. A number of 12-year-old girls were beginning to use lipstick and would put it on in the bathroom. That was fine, but after they put on their lipstick, they would press their lips to the mirror leaving dozens of little lip prints. Every night the maintenance man would remove them, and the next day the girls would put them back. Finally the principal decided that something had to be done. She called all the girls to the bathroom and met them there with the maintenance man. She explained that all these lip prints were causing a major problem for the custodian who had to clean the mirrors every night (you can just imagine the yawns from the little princesses). To demonstrate how difficult it had been to clean the mirrors, she asked the maintenance man to show the girls how much effort was required. He took out a long-handled squeegee, dipped it in the toilet, and cleaned the mirror with it. Since then, there have been no lip prints on the mirror. There are teachers ... and then there are educators . .i have to wonder how much longer the obama supporters will keep kissing the mirror ?

  • Posted By: willnotvoteobama @ 09/02/2008 11:25:44 AM

    Well it seems the democrats are not happy with any thing and will go to the ends of the earth to discredit people. Sarah palin???s 17y/o daughter is pregnant but so is 2 million other unmarried teens in America! But because its Mrs. Palin???s kid that makes her a bad parent or not in touch with her children???. I guess all the other parents of the other 2 million are bad as well! But wait her husband got a d.u.i. 22 yrs ago and had an accident that caused some property damage so he???s an awful person according to the liberal democrats! It makes no difference that Joe biden is a long time big government spender all the while he claims to be a regular guy! He says I ride Amtrak everyday to work and home he fails to mention that that Amtrak ride costs 97 dollars a day! That???s about the amount of money that 25% Americans make day (they are the low income earners but before taxes they are considered middle class according to the government which is a bunch of bull in my opinion that???s at poverty level!) and he spends it on Amtrak yeah he a regular Joe! And barrack Obama well he???s no angel either he???s got some pretty bad bill???s hidden in his closet not to mention his admitted marijuana and cocaine use years ago but lets not talk about that says the liberal media lets talk about mr.palin???s d.u.i. Or the 17 y/o???s pregnancy this liberal bias in the media is getting a little aggravating but I think that the American people will see that this whole thing is leaning to far left and it will back fire in obama???s face costing him the chance at being the leader of the free world! It???s a shame that our election process has come to this! as you can see all the dirt being dug up is from the move-on.org idiots who wants those morons running the country they have obama in thier poket he's thier hand picked choice !

    • Posted By: raddave @ 09/02/2008 6:23:18 PM

      You can blame the repugnants and Karl Rove for turning our election process into the mess it has become. So what if Biden spends $97 a day to go home. Its no like he has a personal plane to fly him back and forth.

      • Posted By: Pallisor @ 09/02/2008 9:18:05 PM

        I didn't know our election process had changed. And just how exactly did the "repugs" as you put it, turn our election process into what it has become?

    • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 09/02/2008 1:43:39 PM

      Wills, the daughter being pregnant asks the question of whether she had good upbringing. When I was 17, I didn't let any boy get that close to me. I knew it was wrong because I was thought that at home. Btw, nice to see you.. glad the blogs are back.

  • Posted By: justsaynotosex @ 09/02/2008 5:06:07 PM

    Mommy got knocked up and now her daughter got knocked up. Sounds like these Republicans just don't know how to practice abstinence. Republicans all know that is the only 100% certain way to prevent unwanted pregnancy

    • Posted By: Skypoint @ 09/02/2008 9:11:04 PM

      justsaynotosex.... laughable name... have you tried that yourself?

  • Posted By: justsaynotosex @ 09/02/2008 5:07:26 PM

    Mommy got knocked up and now daughter got knocked up. Republicans! Please try abstinence!

  • Posted By: willnotvoteobama @ 09/02/2008 3:56:18 PM

    It is obvious that the democrats and leftist liberals have never been to Alaska. I think that everyone should know not to poke a grizzly bear with a stick and wake it up because it will be very angry and attack! Now factor in a cub that???s there and you???ve really got a problem! This is what the liberal has done by attacking Sarah palin and her daughter Bristol. She may have been hurt and had some resentment about accepting the v.p.offer, however now she is angry and will fight with all her might. she is a force to be reckoned with! She is very smart and not afraid to lay it on the line. Some politicians don???t go to certain areas against their opponents out of respect for the office and the need to work with them in the future. But Sarah palin don???t she will get rid of her problems by laying it all out for the world to see and the opponent will be eliminated! So watch this lady in action now and don???t be too surprised when she takes on the media or the biggest liberal organization out there! There will be heads rolling! P.s. Obama might have been to Alaska before because he said that families are off limits he may know a thing or two about grizzly bears!

  • Posted By: willnotvoteobama @ 09/02/2008 11:48:14 AM

    EVERYONE WHO IS OPPOSED OF PALIN GETTING THE V.P. POSITION HANG ON TILL OCT 2 AND SEE HER DEBATE BIDEN THEN MAKE YOUR CHOICE I THINK YOU WILL BE SURPRISED BY HER ! GIVE HER A CHANCE SHE IS MORE LIKE THE AVERAGE AMERICAN THAN ANY OF THE OTHER POLITICANS THAT WE HAVE NOW !!

    • Posted By: feefee @ 09/02/2008 1:41:35 PM

      First she needs to figure out what a VP does!

      • Posted By: RiversideWarrior @ 09/02/2008 2:24:52 PM

        It seems like the better position for her would be running for Alaska "President", given her 2-year membership in the mid-1990s with the Alaska Independence Party.

  • Posted By: garysgary @ 09/02/2008 12:21:33 PM

    My God...these people are just trailer trash....beauty queen runner-up....pregnant teen-age daughter....violent brother-in-law...moose meat...give me a break! Vladimir Putin would eat this lady alive!

    • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 09/02/2008 1:44:36 PM

      A child having a child.

  • Posted By: RiversideWarrior @ 09/02/2008 12:25:14 PM

    Given the lower IQ and lack of education associated with the majority of GOP voters, the selection of Palin will do little to dissuade them from "staying the course". However, for this independent voter and many others this choice really gives us pause for thought. Think about it, just 20 months ago this person was the Mayor of Wasilla City, pop. 5,500 (and maybe some bears and caribou thrown in for good measure). I can think of a few municipalities in the US that can provide a greater degree of executive-level experience than that offered by Wasilla City (from Austin to Tallahassee). She is also extremely conservative, even on issues of concern to women such as the right to choose, birth control and gender equity on equal pay between men and women for performing the same jobs. In short, she is no Hillary. Do I want the Mayor of Wasilla City a heartbeat away from being my next President if the old guy (he turns 73 next August) keels over? Any voter, man or woman, would be pretty crazy to vote for such a ticket given the risks involved and it says a great deal about McCain's lack of good judgment on making important decisions.

  • Posted By: AskPlus @ 09/02/2008 12:13:46 PM

    Can her daughter enter any the pageants now? It's tough to start adulthood when you are a child.

  • Posted By: Micky Marsh @ 09/02/2008 11:52:54 AM

    Miss Alaska could end up being Mrs President, talk about being in the right place at the right time, professionally but what about family.

  • Posted By: willnotvoteobama @ 09/02/2008 11:29:47 AM

    Well it seems the democrats are not happy with any thing and will go to the ends of the earth to discredit people. Sarah palin???s 17y/o daughter is pregnant but so is 2 million other unmarried teens in America! But because its Mrs. Palin???s kid that makes her a bad parent or not in touch with her children???. I guess all the other parents of the other 2 million are bad as well! But wait her husband got a d.u.i. 22 yrs ago and had an accident that caused some property damage so he???s an awful person according to the liberal democrats! It makes no difference that Joe biden is a long time big government spender all the while he claims to be a regular guy! He says I ride Amtrak everyday to work and home he fails to mention that that Amtrak ride costs 97 dollars a day! That???s about the amount of money that 25% Americans make day (they are the low income earners but before taxes they are considered middle class according to the government which is a bunch of bull in my opinion that???s at poverty level!) and he spends it on Amtrak yeah he a regular Joe! And barrack Obama well he???s no angel either he???s got some pretty bad bill???s hidden in his closet not to mention his admitted marijuana and cocaine use years ago but lets not talk about that says the liberal media lets talk about mr.palin???s d.u.i. Or the 17 y/o???s pregnancy this liberal bias in the media is getting a little aggravating but I think that the American people will see that this whole thing is leaning to far left and it will back fire in obama???s face costing him the chance at being the leader of the free world! It???s a shame that our election process has come to this! as you can see all the dirt being dug up is from the move-on.org idiots who wants those morons running the country they have obama in thier poket he's thier hand picked choice !

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