Confessions of a Secret Sarah Admirer

One thing we can all agree on, whether we are believers in God and real values like me, or democrat Darwin lovers like many of you, is that Miss Deveny and her silly stories of her daughter would be an embarrassment in a real culture.

How is it that "the boy/girl next door" or "just like me" candidates get elected as president? Frankly, I don't want a president just like me. I want somebody who is a truckload smarter, harder working and more capable. He/she has to be the very best there is.

Frankly, I think McCain or Palin lack the intellectual curiosity to be effective presidents. Obama and Biden are as far removed from me as it gets, but out of what's left, they're the people I'd hire.

Excellent article! Although, I also have many problems with some of her stances (Roe vs. Wade is not going to be overturned, anyway - so that doesn't matter), Palin is certainly an extraordinary person. I describe myself as an independent, and may have voted for Biden, if won the nomination. Sorry all you "progessive" Democrats out there. I'm voting McCain!

I couldn't agree more with your article. Although, I also disagree with many of her stances, she is certainly outstanding!

This is to Kathleen Deveny. Get over it. Hillary lost the nomination. Stop being so bitter at Obama.

"I liked her the first time I saw a picture of her, nearly a year ago in this magazine."
That sums up what this campaign has become, a popularity contest, and the prettiest girl becomes the prom queen.

Only problem this is not about a prom it's about the United States of America and the power of the Presidency and Vice Presidency.

I too was struck by Palin but within hours the information about who Sarah Palin was and what she was about started filtering in, and quite frankly I was insulted that anyone could consider this person for the second highest position and quite possibly the highest office in American.
I wrote it off as just one more example of McCains apparent slide to senility.

God help us if some evangelical trophy hunter were to get in office.
Palin is a person who would make some teen rape victim bear and raise a child because she values life so much, then go hunting, kill one of Gods creatures and hang its body parts on the wall (usually the head)

Not to mention ignoring the death of perhaps 500,000 Iraqis who we find so inconsequential no one bothered to count the dead, or the 4500 dead young Americans who have died for oil and war profits. A war that Palin writes off as a mission for god.

As I say, God help us if any of these religious fanatics ever gets into office.

This country has major issues, the next president will have to deal with, Health care, America is 37th in the world, the death rate of new born is as high as any third world country, and we rank 27 to be exact.

An administration that believes reducing tax' on the wealthy is some how great for the economy and McCain will continue it, because he believes it too, but I ask you If it so damned great how come the economy is in chaos??

Unemployment is at its highest and McCain want to give the illegal's amnesty, if the INS ever raided McCains ranch in Sedona he would have to mow his own lawn and Cindy would have to learn to cook.

Scientists tell us Global Warming threatens not just many species of Gods creatures but our way of life.

Yet you want to put in office a woman who doesn't believe in science and thinks drilling for more oil is the right approach for the future, what part of the burning of fossil fuels is the cause of global warming do you not understand?

We do not need a prom queen, we need an administration with brains a reasonable grasp of reality and the best interests of all Americans at heart.

Dear Ms. Deveny,

I suggest you stop being sentimental and naive. If Palin is like Nagelina then she should be in Hollywood and not the White House.
Ms. Palin is an irresponsible mom and a lousy role model.
She did not teach her duaghter to be careful and protect herself
Then since Ms Palin does not believe in sex education she could not ensure that her duaghter was good and fully understood what abstinence meant.
She was silly enough to think teenagers with raging hormones can easily abstain.
People who are unable to comprehend basic science and biology cannot be leaders in a world where science and technology are major drivers. To mouth creationist platitudes from old religious texts is not leadership or freshness. Instead, it shows a closed and narrow mind and a fundamental lack of understanding or curiosity about nature of scientific inquiry and theories. Not smart or wise.
Please do not equate feminism with the ability to behave like them good ole boys. Feminism is about the ability to accept, embrace and emarace a wide definition of success and role models not the narrow male definitions of success and role models.
Mr Obama is far more of a feminist than Palin. He genuinely accepts a wide range of views, definitions of success. And he has curiosity, thoughtfulness, openess and ability to talk seriously about serious and contentious issues.

This article exhibits the same sexist attitudes displayed by some of the Hillary supporters. If opposed to sexism, one must take care they not fall prey to adopting those same attitudes. Otherwise, they become part of the problem instead of the solution. The same principle applies to racism. Jast as it would be wrong to judge or vote for Obama based on his racial heritage, judging or voting for Hillary/Palin based upon their gender is equally wrong.

The criteria for selecting candidates for public office should be based upon ethics, positions on the issues, track record (performance), skills and experience. To a lesser extent, and dependent upon the office, health and age may become valid mitigating factors deserving of consideration. Invalid criteria include race, gender, religion, and appearance. Of course, the last doesn???t preclude good personal hygiene and a modicum of respectable attire in the performance of duty. The current deplorable reality of elections in this country emphasizes, rather than eliminates, the need for striving towards this goal.

I felt compelled to point out the sexism because even though Deveny disavows almost everything about Palin, she still finds her admirable, which appears wholly to be assigned out of gender identification. I find that pathetic, but more importantly, it???s wrong. For example, one might respect Palin, G. W. Bush and Saddam Hussein for all being loving, doting parents, who achieved positions of power and prestige and possessed other qualities like charisma. However, one might simultaneously disapprove of the manner in which the children were raised, how each went about achieving, maintaining and exercising power, and/or to what ends they used their other gifts.

It is possible to respect certain aspects or traits of a person, but that doesn???t necessarily make that person worthy of respect or admiration. I wouldn???t hold up Sarah Palin as a role model for my children, and I would be quick to disabuse them of any notions of admiration they might develop.

It confounds me that a feminist would find Palin in any way admirable. Here is a women who climbs on the backs of feminists, using their blood, sweat and sacrifices to achieve her current status, yet whose ideology denounces those same feminists and seeks to reverse much of their gains. Is Ms. Deveny as loopy as Palin? Or has she donned the same sexist blinders she loves to rail against?

Incidentally, in my state--and I???m sure in others, as well--women who hunt are commonplace enough to be considered unremarkable.

Yes, wouldn't it be great to be able to judge women in politics as 'individuals rather than representatives of all things uterine'! We could all start by 'judging' (or rather evaluating) candidates based on their platform and past actions. Sarah Palin has a despicable record on many issues, the forefront of which are women's rights. She very obviously doesn't have an interest in fighting for the rights of women (as any brief overview of the actions taken in her time as mayor and governor could reveal), and the idea that any american woman could feel empowered with her very obviously calculated and pandering pick as VP for the Republican Party baffles me. The fact that she is a woman only makes her stances and actions while governor and mayor more disappointing and offensive. Women shouldn't be admired simply because they are in politics -- offensively inept women that are obviously being used as pawns in the political arena do not in any way empower our gender. The whole notion of this piece defeats the foundation of gender equality. And no, it doesn't make a woman 'cool' to abuse power, just as it doesn't make a man 'cool' in abuse of power. Seriously, give me a break.

I think that just because sarah palin is a mother that is no reason to vote for her; and I believe that the republicans are making it impossible for anyone to find out about her without it being sexism get over it...when your running for the second most powerful positon and could end up being president then I think we should know everything to know about her back ground...still that does not make me like her this article has just proves that some people will feel sorry just because she is being talked about and want to vote for her..She needs to grow up and take it your in a whole new playing field...I felt the same way with obama I mean racism is still alive and everyon knows that but you can't cry everytime someone make a racist remark you got to as my grandmother use to say put on your big girl panties.....

Why is it so difficult for some to move beyond personal preferences in an election? Non-whites have been doing it for 100s of years in this country. It is no puzzle why you would prefer to have a beer with a woman of your same class, similar upbringing and sex than Obama, but why is it important to share this in light of the larger issues at stake?

Since Palin is a woman -- you take glee in the fact that she makes her own rules and you go as far as to publically justify why she abused her power and authority to punish her brother-in-law!? My God. What difference does it make if a woman or man elected official fails to be accountable to uphold the law? You know that we are in the middle of an unlawful war, denounced by the International community because Bush and Cheney made there own rules and usurped power - that is causing the USA trillions of dollars in debt that compounds over the years and causes other massive problems. Clearly Palin iand McCain are staunch supportors of this war. How do you justify that? Have we no remorse for the 100s of 1000s of innocent men, woman and children who have been killed, maimed, raped, tortured, made homeless, jobless are without food and water as a result of the Iraqi war - for no just cause? Apparently not. We dont even report their number as if American lives are all that are important. And of couse they are brown and yellow, and most are muslim. You like her in spite of that. I bet you loved it too when Hillary said whe would obliverate Iran. Who cares that we cant win a war with iran, iraq, and aghanistan, and russia - that we are isolated as a nation and ruining our economy.

I am an executive entrepreur and a single-Mother. My children had to make grave sacrifices and often did without. So, i respect a strong woman. I also believe in self-defense. But it takes more than guts to run a nation and family. At least you are honest with your bias. I hope that the rest of us do not pay a dear price for votes based on personal preferences. And personally i think alcohol and guns are a bad mix. I am shocked at this article and can say no more...