When Atheists Attack

NEWSWEEK

« Return to Article

Discuss

Member Comments

  • Posted By: memphismom @ 09/25/2008 10:53:58 PM

    Even if she was an atheist, I still would not vote for her. She is not qualified.

    • Posted By: sharenews @ 09/26/2008 12:14:02 AM


      (Continued from my post above-Part 2 of 3: Sarah Palin: Sampling of her Experience and Accomplishments)

      IN THE ROUGHLY THREE YEARS since she quit as the states chief regulator of the oil industry, Palin has CRUSHED THE REPUBLICAN HIERARCHY (virtually all male) and nearly every other FOE OR CRITIC. Political analysts in Alaska refer to the BODY COUNT of Palins rivals. The landscape is littered with the bodies of those who crossed Sarah, says pollster Dave Dittman, who worked for her gubernatorial campaign. It includes RUEDRICH, RENKES, MURKOWSKI, gubernatorial contenders John Binkley and Andrew Halcro, the THREE BIG OIL COMPANIES in Alaska, and a section of the Daily News called Voice of the Times, which was highly critical of Palin and is now defunct.

      As Governor, Sarah Palins LIST OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS LENGTHENED RAPIDLY.
      * She used her line-item veto to cut $268 million from Alaskas state budget.
      * She stood up to some of Alaskas most entrenched interests, including three big oil companies (BP, ConocoPhilips, and ExxonMobil) who hold the lease rights to much of Alaskas oil and gas wealth.

      * Once in office, Palin took an AGGRESSIVE STANCE toward the OIL COMPANIES. Her nickname from high-school basketball, Sarah Barracuda, was resurrected in the press. Early in her term, she shocked oil lobbyists when she was so bold as to not show up when Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson came to Juneau to meet with her. Palin, after scrapping Murkowskis deal, WOULD NOT GIVE BIG OIL THE TERMS THEY WANTED, yet insisted that the companies still had an obligation under their lease to deliver gas to
      whatever pipeline Alaska built. She invited the oil companies to place open bids to build a pipeline, but they refused. A bid by TransCanada, North Americas largest pipeline builder, was approved by the legislature in August.

      * Palin also RAISED TAXES ON OIL COMPANIES after Murkowskis previous tax regime PRODUCED FALLING REVENUES in 2007, DESPITE SKYROCKETING OIL PRICES. Alaska now has some of the highest resource taxes in the world. Alaskas oil tax REVENUES ARE EXPECTED TO BE ABOUT $10 BILLION in 2008, twice those of previous year. BP says about half its oil revenues now go to taxes, when royalty payments to the state are included.

      * Recently, Palin APPROVED GAS TAX RELIEF FOR ALASKANS, and paid every resident $1,200 to help ease their fuel-price burden.

      * Some other Palin accomplishments include supporting and signing an ETHICS BILL passed by the Alaska legislature and creating the ALASKA HEALTH STRATEGIES PLANNING COUNCIL to find innovative solutions to effectively provide access to, and help reduce the costs of, healthcare.

      (Continued in my post below - Sara Palins accomplishments/experience)

      • Posted By: marksgershenson @ 09/26/2008 2:38:17 AM

        See my comment above. Dan Quayle is a genius. Obviously you never saw her interview with Couric. Can you look somebody in the eye, straight faced and say, this is a person I want to be a hearbeat away from being POTUS after that interview? Unless of course you enjoy lying to yourself. Frightening prospect. You cannot compare a Harvard graduate to mediocrity. Good God wake up!

        • Posted By: sharenews @ 09/26/2008 1:28:42 PM


          Mark, I absolutely have no problem voting for McCain with Gov. Palin as VP. I am not anywhere near comfortable voting for Biden with Obama on the ticket. LMAO.

          • Posted By: AskPlus @ 09/26/2008 1:38:23 PM

            Absolutely. She'll take charge when Putin rears his head and flies over, you know, Alaska, and she'll handle it when the media you know, what's the word? Mocks her. And she'll get back to you on what Mr. McCain's policy is. You know. You know Canada is a border too, and she has you "trade missions". And we can't let those bad guy, because we're the good guys, they're bad, you know come over here to our soil...

            • Posted By: sharenews @ 09/26/2008 2:26:16 PM



              Yep, no matter what, she is my gal.

              - McCain / Palin

        • Posted By: News and Notes @ 09/26/2008 10:40:13 AM

          Dan Quayle is not a genius, he is a spoiled idiot. Why are you comparing Obama to Palin when Obama is at the top of the ticket and Palin the bottom? That only draws attention to Obama's thin resume.
          Palin did poorly on the Couric interview. Let's see how she does going forward.

    • Posted By: News and Notes @ 09/26/2008 10:37:24 AM

      Obama is not much better qualified, and he is not running for VP

    • Posted By: sharenews @ 09/26/2008 12:22:44 AM

      Whatever. . . . For those who want to learn more about Gov. Palins background, here ya go:


      Part 1 of 3: SARAH PALIN - Sampling of her Experience and Accomplishments

      Firstly, there is no government closer to the people than at the municipal level.
      Palin spent EIGHT (8) YEARS in CITY GOVERNMENT, winning a seat on the WASILLA CITY COUNCIL IN 1992 mostly thanks to her opposition to tax increases. She went on to serve two council terms from 1992 to 1996.

      THE MAYOR:
      She was elected MAYOR OF THE FAST-GROWING ANCHORAGE SUBURB IN 1996 and again in 1999. Mayor Palin had a record of REDUCING PROPERTY TAX LEVELS, increasing municipal services and ATTRACTING NEW INDUSTRY to her town.

      During her tenure in Wassilla, she was elected CHAIR OF ALASKA CONFERENCE OF MAYORS. Next for Sarah Palin was service as CHAIR OF THE ALASKA CONSERVATION COMMITTEE, a board which regulates the states oil and gas industry. In this appointive position she began to gain what would become extensive and VALUABLE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE in the area of one of Americas most pressing issues - ENERGY. It was in this job where Palin first really demonstrated the toughness, political courage and maverick spirit that would years later so impress presidential candidate John McCain.

      She RESIGNED in January 2004 as HEAD of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission after complaining to the office of Governor Frank Murkowski and to state Attorney General Gregg Renkes about ETHICAL VIOLATIONS by another commissioner, Randy Ruedrich, who was also Republican state chairman. State law barred Palin from speaking out publicly about ethical violations and corruption. However, she was vindicated later in 2004 when Ruedrich, who had been reconfirmed as state chairman, agreed to pay a $12,000 fine for breaking state ethics laws. She became a hero in the eyes of the public and the press, and the bane of Republican leaders.

      In 2005, she continued to TAKE ON THE REPUBLICAN ESTABLISHMENT by joining Eric Croft, a DEMOCRAT, in lodging an ethics complaint against Renkes, who was not only Attorney General, but also a long-time adviser and campaign manager for Murkowski. The GOVERNOR REPRIMANDED RENKES and said the case was closed. It wasnt. Renkes RESIGNED A FEW WEEKS LATER, and Palin was again hailed as a hero.

      THE GOVERNOR:
      In 2006, Palin ran for governor and was elected in a landslide. According to Fred Barnes:
      With her emphasis on ethics and openness in government, it turned out Palin caught the temper of the times perfectly, wrote Tom Kizzia of the Anchorage Daily News. She was also lucky. News broke of an FBI investigation of corruption by legislators between the primary and general elections. So far, three legislators have been indicted.

      (Continued in my post below - Sarah Palin: Sampling of her Experience and Accomplishments)

    • Posted By: sharenews @ 09/26/2008 12:05:23 AM



      (Continued from my post above - Part 3 of 3: Sarah Palins accomplishments/experience)

      * As governor, Palin is commander of her states National Guard. Not content to merely sit on the title, she traveled to Kuwait to learn about her troops mission there. On the return trip to Alaska, she stopped in Germany to visit wounded soldiers in the hospital, an activity that Barack Obama did not see fit to engage in during his own overseas venture, blaming the Pentagon for his snubbing of the wounded.

      * More accomplishments: Gov. Palin signed a RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION TO THE FAAS PLAN TO INCREASE TAXES ON AVIATION FUEL, IMPOSE USER FEES AND SLASH AIRPORT FUNDING.

      * Also, before Palin became governor, her predecessor Frank Murkowski had purchased a Westwind Two business jet for the governors use at a $2.5 million price tag, despite the objections from the state legislature and the public. Her first order of business after taking office was to PUT THE JET UP FOR SALE. Palin did keep the governors state-owned Chevy Suburban, but she got RID OF THE DRIVER, saying it was WASTEFUL for the state to pay someone to drive her around, since she was perfectly capable of driving herself. The governors gourmet chef also got changed from a full-time to a seasonal-only basis because Palin considered it a luxury SHE DID NOT THINK ALASKANS SHOULD BE PAYING for. Her political enemies called all this superficial pandering.

      * Alaska is the only one of Americas states which borders on two foreign countries. Sarah Palin is CHIEF EXECUTIVE of our most important ENERGY STATE, one which lies only a few miles from Russian territory. She has negotiated sensitive agreements on fishing rights and other matters to keep the peace up there. She has also worked on important trade deals with other countries. She has received foreign heads of state and had discussions with them.

      There are many benefits to having Governor Sarah Palin on the GOP presidential ticket, and many of them have been already been discussed extensively by both new media and old in the few short days since John McCain introduced her to the GOP in Ohio. They all rest on a rock-solid base of achievement. SHE IS ONE VERY ACCOMPLISHED VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE.

      Sources:http://newsminer.com/news/2008/may/23/palin-vetoes-millions-state-budgethttp://money.cnn.com/2008/08/29/news/newsmakers/palin_oil.fortune/?postversion=2008083009http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122004983609584755.html?mod=djemEditorialPage

  • Posted By: Marquette70 @ 09/26/2008 1:10:11 PM

    I am always amazed that the Democrats are always looking for Jonh Kennedy in the people they nominate for president. "The one guy who will bring us to the promise land". While the Republicans look for Ronald Reagan, "The team player who builds a strong group around him." I vote for the guy who when makiing decisions that matter fills the room with people I tust. As President Reagan taught us, the problems we have are easy to understand, but hard to fix because of ideas of the past. So, the Democrats did not get John Kennedy, they did'nt even get Jimmy Carter. For me, Palin does not have to pass gottaya tests on variious subjects. But, I want her in the room when decisions that count are made.

  • Posted By: marksgershenson @ 09/26/2008 3:19:12 AM

    To all you Palin fans that did not see the Katie Couric interview. Here it is straight from You Tube. The questions asked were not difficult. Dan Quayle is genius material after her interview. Potatoe anyone, LMAO

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hELjmWfVBU

    • Posted By: News and Notes @ 09/26/2008 10:35:16 AM

      Palin did not do well in the Couric interview, and that was concerning. Let;s see how she does in other interviews, the debate, press conferences, etc. Cricizing her performance on the Couric interview is fair game. However, the Harris article was nothing more than an unwarranted attack.
      I'm not sure I'd compare Palin to Dan Quayle though. He was a silver spoon moron who had everything handed to him. At least Palin has had to fight foe everything she got.

      • Posted By: fccFH @ 09/26/2008 12:45:08 PM

        I agree with your post, but I will add, that is if we ever get unfixed interviews that are not set up by the McCain campaign. And I would argue that she used dirty- creative- tactics to win. That may work in Alaska, but try to pull one over on 300 million people- I don???t think so.

        • Posted By: News and Notes @ 09/26/2008 12:55:26 PM

          I don't know what her tactics were to win, but depending on who you ask, McCain, Obama and HIllary all used dirty tactics. Palin's interviews (except for Hannity) have been open ended, and conducted by individuals who definitely not in the tank for McCain. Like I've said about Obama all along regarding more debates with Hillary, town hall meetings with McCain, and tough interviews; Palin should be THIRSTING to get in more unscripted interviews so we can get to know her better. So far she has been fairly scripted, and has not done well in the snippets they have shown in her interviews. Let's see an entire hour of debating or interview, and see how she does

  • Posted By: angelnet gilfry @ 09/26/2008 11:15:21 AM

    She knows there aren't 57 states. She knows that Russia does not get a veto in the U.N. She knows Iran is a threat despite it's 'tiny' size. She knows that if she stammers or studders, it will not be edited out for her by her friends in the media. She knows better than to ask lame people to stand up. Here's what she's ignorant of; She doesn't know any terrorists on a first name basis. She doesn't know how to seek out affiliation with the notorious Chicago politial machine. She doesn't know how to appear to be something she's not. Sometimes it's not about what you know but about what you don't know that makes one wise.

    • Posted By: fccFH @ 09/26/2008 12:41:53 PM

      No, that is what makes her simple. And not in the small town way you clearly feel the press and liberal machine is painting her as, simple as in, she just does not know enough for this job. The Vice President should not be going to bed each night with flash cards. Quite frankly I want my leaders to have an understanding of who out there wants to damage this country, what banks are on the verge of collapse and will take out America with them, and in general, what issues are affecting the 49 other states she has so far had little to no relation with, let alone her complete lack of understanding, education, and general knowledge of the world with the exception of the three-day crash course she just got here in New York. I appreciate that you can feel some special bond with this woman because she knows so little, but I would hope that you would expect the person that could potentially be running this country would have a slightly higher intellect than yourself. America is quickly become irrelevant in the world as our education, technology, and scientific research lags behind rival countries. We need someone that is smart enough to lead us back in the number one seat. When it comes the ruler of the free world, its always about what you know because that is how we excel. Vote for intelligence, vote Obama.

  • Posted By: liljojo42 @ 09/26/2008 12:41:01 PM

    Thanks for speaking up for those of us who abhor the fact that someone who believes in a religious doctrine that has evolved from one of blatent hatred, discrimination, and fear-mongering to a simply more latent version of it, may take over the second most important position in the world. Thank you for speaking up for those of us who believe in that silly old constitutional principle of "separation of church and state." It's interesting that people of Palin's ilk always seem to rely heavily on the constitution when it aligns with their beliefs (i.e. gun ownership), but find that the constitution does not apply when it comes to abortion rights guaranteed by the 14th Amendment (see her view on abortion in ALL cases), First Amendment freedom of speach (see her attempt to ban books with GASP!....bad words) and, of course, the separation of church and state.
    Conservatives try to misrepresent us intellecutal liberals. We don't hate you or think we're better than you. We just don't want you making ANY important decisions.

  • Posted By: liljojo42 @ 09/26/2008 12:39:35 PM

    Thanks for speaking up for those of us who abhor the fact that someone who believes in a religious doctrine that has evolved from one of blatent hatred, discrimination, and fear-mongering to a simply more latent version of it, may take over the second most important position in the world. Thank you for speaking up for those of us who believe in that silly old constitutional principle of "separation of church and state." It's interesting that people of Palin's ilk always seem to rely heavily on the constitution when it aligns with their beliefs (i.e. gun ownership), but find that the constitution does not apply when it comes to abortion rights guaranteed by the 14th Amendment (see her view on abortion in ALL cases), First Amendment freedom of speach (see her attempt to ban books with GASP!....bad words) and, of course, the separation of church and state.
    Conservatives try to misrepresent us intellecutal liberals. We don't hate you or think we're better than you. We just don't want you making ANY important decisions.

  • Posted By: militarymom @ 09/26/2008 12:13:01 PM

    militarymom
    While reading this "commentary" I couldn't help but note that Sam was concerned over the voters that indicated they would vote for McCain/Palin because she's a mom and knows what it's like to be a mom. Where is the question on voters that will vote for Obama/Biden because he's black, because he's for (as,yet undefined) change. Intellect and ability suggest that Sam should be a bit more objective and Sam's un-

  • Posted By: plasticman08 @ 09/26/2008 11:17:11 AM

    is it elitism or snobbery though? Harris, like his buddy Dawkins, finds anything Christian, even remotely smelling of Christianity, to be knuckleheaded at best. Bush claims to be a Christian, but I've not seen very much of that in his governance. Did Palin do that in Alaska? I mean, did she propose anything remotely to what Harris accuses her of?

  • Posted By: plasticman08 @ 09/26/2008 11:09:44 AM

    Odd - if someone who's not as smart as what Mr. Harris wants we're all going to hell in a hand basket. I don't discount that Palin is, well, underwhelming in regards to her depth, but then Obama strikes me as quite similar, just with an Ivy league education as an extra.

  • Posted By: 587moseley @ 09/26/2008 11:02:59 AM

    Does that story sound unbiased to you? I can appreciate the questions you have that Sarah Palin is unexperienced. What troubles me is that you seem to forget that America was based on religious freedom and that Sarah Palin's religious beliefs are hers... hers and almost half of America.
    Please use your column to make Americans think not make fun of ideas that just MIGHT be true.

  • Posted By: Doglover @ 09/25/2008 9:15:03 AM

    Thank you Sam Harris for so eloquently stating what so many of us are thinking. I am a over 50 white woman and I feel I need to wear a t-shirt stating "I am not a Palin supporter". The media has given her way too much attention and not enough scrutiny. Yes, I've laughted at her sarcasm and I would enjoy her company on a wilderness camping trip but God forbid her becoming vice president. If I shared her faith in "god's will", I wouldn't be so worried about a McCain/Palin ticket winning in November. Instead, I believe God wants us to "help ourselves" so I will continue my efforts to support Obama for president.

    Dorelle Ackermann Mokena, IL. 60448

    • Posted By: News and Notes @ 09/26/2008 10:46:45 AM

      eloquent? it was vulgar

  • Posted By: redseamom @ 09/26/2008 7:02:43 AM

    EXCELLENT! These are exactly the thoughts that need to be wafting through voters' heads as we pick a future. I live among anti-intellectual, fundamentalist Christians and even if they have college degress they believe in the end times and are crazy about Sarah Palin. You need to get on the airwaves. Get these words out in every way possible. Thank you.

    • Posted By: News and Notes @ 09/26/2008 10:31:08 AM

      what a dismissive generalization

  • Posted By: AlibiFarmer @ 09/26/2008 10:03:55 AM

    If he is being intellectually honest in discussing Palin's church affiliation, then he should have commented on Obama's decades of attending the clearly racist Rev Wright's church in Chicago.

    • Posted By: News and Notes @ 09/26/2008 10:30:15 AM

      The problem is, he is not being intellectually honest. The article is a subjective and exaggerated personal attack based on the fears of a radical. Let Palin sink or swim based on substance.

  • Posted By: Georgia-Dan @ 09/26/2008 8:06:07 AM

    I think that the Palin pick has been pivotal in one regard. It has removed the taboo about talking about the actual religious beliefs of potential office-holders. Religion has been placed on the table by the increasingly radical Republican Party. Fine. Let's now talk about what that actually means...I don't mean code words like 'values' and 'family'. I mean the actual religious beliefs. Let's have an open and illuminating discussion.

  • Posted By: AskPlus @ 09/25/2008 2:26:35 PM

    Atheist? Witchcraft-Proofed Palin?

    http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=5881256

    • Posted By: careerdaytrader @ 09/25/2008 3:05:54 PM

      do you want a President or VP to have witchcraft in their veins ?

      Thought so, me either! LOL

      • Posted By: marksgershenson @ 09/26/2008 3:09:55 AM

        Obviously you never saw her interview with Couric. Can you look somebody in the eye, straight faced and say, this is a person I want to be a hearbeat away from being POTUS after that interview? Unless of course you enjoy lying to yourself. Frightening prospect. You cannot compare a Harvard graduate to mediocrity. Good God wake up!

  • Posted By: CbrookDoc @ 09/24/2008 12:33:03 PM

    To me the most disturbing part of the interview with Charles Gibson was when he asked if she had hesitated for even a moment when asked to be McCain's running mate. Her response was that no, she had not hesitated. What kind of person, when asked if they would like to change the course of their life and the welfare of their whole family for ever, does not hesitate at least long enough to think through the ramifications of that decision. The last thing we need in this county is another person who thinks that "gut feelings" and "shooting from the hip" are substitutions for intelligence and planning.

    • Posted By: sharenews @ 09/24/2008 1:32:55 PM


      Hey, Doc. Let me fill you in. Governor Palin knew about being on the VP list for consideration for well over a year before McCain actually asked her to be his VP. That , of course, also gave her a good year to consider such a honorable position . . . and by her saying that she (when asked) had no question about answering McCain with a YES (based on her knowing McCain wanted her to serve for the better of the people in this country) I say : GREAT DECISION on McCains part and Governor Palins part. ; - D


      McCain / Palin - 2008!!
      Hillary Clinton - 2012


      • Posted By: marksgershenson @ 09/26/2008 3:04:44 AM

        Obviously you never saw her interview with Couric. Can you look somebody in the eye, straight faced and say, this is a person I want to be a hearbeat away from being POTUS after that interview? Unless of course you enjoy lying to yourself. Frightening prospect. You cannot compare a Harvard graduate to mediocrity. Good God wake up!

      • Posted By: bluebloodedLV @ 09/24/2008 2:19:26 PM

        You're the only person in the country with this piece of information. I highly doubt this is true. You are a complete hypocrite and an embarrassment to the political process to say that you are for Palin and also Hillary. It's nice to know you're voting for a vagina - nothing more, nothing less.

        • Posted By: sharenews @ 09/24/2008 5:08:23 PM


          First of all, DOC, I am an independent. I have no loyalty to either the Democratic nor Republican party. I vote for whomever I believe in as being the most qualified candidate of either party given the choices I have. . . To choose the candidate that I feel most comfortable with to put in the White House to get our economy up and back and running and to keep our country safe. Thus, my choice, given Obama was never an option for me to begin with, my migration over to the McCain / Palin ticket (and I moved there even more excitedly once Gov. Palin was chosen as the VP)..

          Now as to Palin knowing last year that there was an inkling that she was on a list with many others in consideration to be VP. . . yes, indeed, it was all the buzz based on reality that goes back to at least last summer. As a matter of fact, she was at first taken by surprise (e.g. not going to happen, I have alot of work to do here in Alaska, etc. like other VP picks were saying about being picked for that role) and over time, after seriously thinking through such an important decision through, she indeed was not hesitant when asked by McCain to be his VP. Here ya go:

          Palins Take on Being Vice President Altered Over Time
          THE BUZZ: the Governor has been answering 'rumors' about vice presidency for months.
          By KYLE HOPKINS
          Published: September 1st, 2008 12:11 AM
          Last Modified: September 1st, 2008 12:33 AM

          She called it a long shot. A flattering impossibility. A question barely worth answering.

          Gov. Sarah Palin has been answering questions about a potential run for vice president for more than a year.

          http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/512333.html

          • Posted By: star3 @ 09/25/2008 4:07:49 PM

            Share, I am Republican, and as much as I do believe in loyalty--to a point--I would never vote for someone just for that reason alone, I would have to, truly, believe they were the best one for president in order to vote for them, so yes, I, also, vote for the one I feel is best qualified, and I believe McCain/ Palin are the best for this election.

        • Posted By: star3 @ 09/24/2008 6:06:10 PM

          Blue, I know you were not addressing your response to me, but when I read you comment about "voting for a vagina", I had to respond. First of all, Sarah Palin has a lot more going for her than a vagina, she has a brain, one that actually works. Do we accuse you of voting for a ***? (they will bleep that, I'm sure) your comment is so chauvinistic! Give us more credit for minds of our own, and knowing enough to vote for the BEST candidate, not for what is between their legs, but for what is between their ears.

  • Posted By: sharenews @ 09/24/2008 6:18:08 PM


    Below is my response to CbrookDoc @ 09/24/2008 12:33:03 PM whose comment was: To me the most disturbing part of the interview with Charles Gibson was when he asked if she had hesitated for even a moment when asked to be McCain's running mate. Her response was that no, she had not hesitated. What kind of person, when asked if they would like to change the course of their life and the welfare of their whole family for ever, does not hesitate at least long enough to think through the ramifications of that decision. The last thing we need in this county is another person who thinks that gut feelings and shooting from the hip
    are substitutions for intelligence and planning.

    Posted By: sharenews @ 09/24/2008 1:32:55 PM

    Hey, Doc. Let me fill you in. Governor Palin knew about being on the VP list for consideration for well over a year before McCain actually asked her to be his VP. That , of course, also gave her a good year to consider such a honorable position . . . and by her saying that she (when asked) had no question about answering McCain with a YES (based on her knowing McCain wanted her to serve for the better of the people in this country) I say : GREAT DECISION on McCains part and Governor Palins part. ; - D


    McCain / Palin - 2008!!
    Hillary Clinton - 2012

    • Posted By: marksgershenson @ 09/26/2008 3:02:40 AM

      Obviously you never saw her interview with Couric. Can you look somebody in the eye, straight faced and say, this is a person I want to be a hearbeat away from being POTUS after that interview? Unless of course you enjoy lying to yourself. Frightening prospect. You cannot compare a Harvard graduate to mediocrity. Good God wake up!

  • Posted By: Dr Rick @ 09/24/2008 10:09:01 PM

    Katie Couric (The ???CBS Evening News??? ) had a little sit-down with Ms Palin today:

    COURIC: Sarah Palin kept up her busy schedule today, meeting with several world leaders who are here in New York for the UN session. But she took time out for an exclusive interview, in which we discussed the state of the economy at length. We began, though, by addressing reports that the lobbying firm of Senator McCain???s campaign manager received payments from Freddie Mac until last month. I asked for her reaction to that.

    PALIN: My understanding is that Rick Davis recused himself from the dealings of the firm. I don???t know how long ago, a year or two ago that he???s not benefiting from that. And you know, I was???I would hope that???s not the case.

    COURIC: But he still has a stake in the company so isn???t that a conflict of interest.

    PALIN: Again, my understanding is that he recused himself from the dealings with Freddie and Fannie, any lobbying efforts on his part there. And I would hope that???s the case because, as John McCain has been saying, and as I???ve been on a more local level been on a much more local level been also rallying against is the undue influence of lobbyists in public policy decisions being made.

    COURIC: Then we focused on the $700 billion government bailout of bad debt and I asked her if she supports it....

    COURIC: You???ve said, quote, ???John McCain will reform the way Wall Street does business.??? Other than supporting stricter regulations of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac two years ago, can you give us any more example of his leading the charge for more oversight?

    PALIN: I think that the example that you just cited, with his warnings two years ago about Fannie and Freddie???that, that???s paramount. That???s more than a heck of a lot of other senators and representatives did for us.

    COURIC: But he???s been in Congress for 26 years. He???s been chairman of the powerful Commerce Committee. And he has almost always sided with less regulation, not more.

    PALIN: He???s also known as the maverick though. Taking shots from his own party, and certainly taking shots from the other party. Trying to get people to understand what he???s been talking about???the need to reform government.

    COURIC: I???m just going to ask you one more time, not to belabor the point. Specific examples in his 26 years of pushing for more regulation?

    PALIN: I???ll try to find you some and I???ll bring them to you.

    http://thepage.time.com/gov-palin-on-the-cbs-evening-news/




    • Posted By: Georgia-Dan @ 09/24/2008 11:43:40 PM

      I just feel sorry for her. She is so naive that she doesn't even know what she has gotten herself into. I hold John McCain responsible because he does know. He should be ashamed of himself. I don't care what the pundits say about how what a "smart" political move it was to pick Sarah Palin. The poor woman is clearly over her head. God heal us all if she were ever to become VP. Double God help us if she were to become President.

      • Posted By: sharenews @ 09/25/2008 1:24:55 AM


        (Continued from my post above - Part 3 of 3: Sarah Palins accomplishments/experience)

        * As governor, Palin is commander of her states National Guard. Not content to merely sit on the title, she traveled to Kuwait to learn about her troops mission there. On the return trip to Alaska, she stopped in Germany to visit wounded soldiers in the hospital, an activity that Barack Obama did not see fit to engage in during his own overseas venture, blaming the Pentagon for his snubbing of the wounded.

        * More accomplishments: Gov. Palin signed a RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION TO THE FAAS PLAN TO INCREASE TAXES ON AVIATION FUEL, IMPOSE USER FEES AND SLASH AIRPORT FUNDING.

        * Also, before Palin became governor, her predecessor Frank Murkowski had purchased a Westwind Two business jet for the governors use at a $2.5 million price tag, despite the objections from the state legislature and the public. Her first order of business after taking office was to PUT THE JET UP FOR SALE. Palin did keep the governors state-owned Chevy Suburban, but she got RID OF THE DRIVER, saying it was WASTEFUL for the state to pay someone to drive her around, since she was perfectly capable of driving herself. The governors gourmet chef also got changed from a full-time to a seasonal-only basis because Palin considered it a luxury SHE DID NOT THINK ALASKANS SHOULD BE PAYING for. Her political enemies called all this superficial pandering.

        * Alaska is the only one of Americas states which borders on two foreign countries. Sarah Palin is CHIEF EXECUTIVE of our most important ENERGY STATE, one which lies only a few miles from Russian territory. She has negotiated sensitive agreements on fishing rights and other matters to keep the peace up there. She has also worked on important trade deals with other countries. She has received foreign heads of state and had discussions with them.

        There are many benefits to having Governor Sarah Palin on the GOP presidential ticket, and many of them have been already been discussed extensively by both new media and old in the few short days since John McCain introduced her to the GOP in Ohio. They all rest on a rock-solid base of achievement. SHE IS ONE VERY ACCOMPLISHED VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE.

        Sources:http://newsminer.com/news/2008/may/23/palin-vetoes-millions-state-budgethttp://money.cnn.com/2008/08/29/news/newsmakers/palin_oil.fortune/?postversion=2008083009http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122004983609584755.html?mod=djemEditorialPage

        • Posted By: sharenews @ 09/25/2008 3:40:17 AM



          (Continued from my post above-Part 2 of 3: Sarah Palin: Sampling of her Experience and Accomplishments)

          IN THE ROUGHLY THREE YEARS since she quit as the states chief regulator of the oil industry, Palin has CRUSHED THE REPUBLICAN HIERARCHY (virtually all male) and nearly every other FOE OR CRITIC. Political analysts in Alaska refer to the BODY COUNT of Palins rivals. The landscape is littered with the bodies of those who crossed Sarah, says pollster Dave Dittman, who worked for her gubernatorial campaign. It includes RUEDRICH, RENKES, MURKOWSKI, gubernatorial contenders John Binkley and Andrew Halcro, the THREE BIG OIL COMPANIES in Alaska, and a section of the Daily News called Voice of the Times, which was highly critical of Palin and is now defunct.

          As Governor, Sarah Palins LIST OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS LENGTHENED RAPIDLY.
          * She used her line-item veto to cut $268 million from Alaskas state budget.
          * She stood up to some of Alaskas most entrenched interests, including three big oil companies (BP, ConocoPhilips, and ExxonMobil) who hold the lease rights to much of Alaskas oil and gas wealth.

          * Once in office, Palin took an AGGRESSIVE STANCE toward the OIL COMPANIES. Her nickname from high-school basketball, Sarah Barracuda, was resurrected in the press. Early in her term, she shocked oil lobbyists when she was so bold as to not show up when Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson came to Juneau to meet with her. Palin, after scrapping Murkowskis deal, WOULD NOT GIVE BIG OIL THE TERMS THEY WANTED, yet insisted that the companies still had an obligation under their lease to deliver gas to
          whatever pipeline Alaska built. She invited the oil companies to place open bids to build a pipeline, but they refused. A bid by TransCanada, North Americas largest pipeline builder, was approved by the legislature in August.

          * Palin also RAISED TAXES ON OIL COMPANIES after Murkowskis previous tax regime PRODUCED FALLING REVENUES in 2007, DESPITE SKYROCKETING OIL PRICES. Alaska now has some of the highest resource taxes in the world. Alaskas oil tax REVENUES ARE EXPECTED TO BE ABOUT $10 BILLION in 2008, twice those of previous year. BP says about half its oil revenues now go to taxes, when royalty payments to the state are included.

          * Recently, Palin APPROVED GAS TAX RELIEF FOR ALASKANS, and paid every resident $1,200 to help ease their fuel-price burden.

          * Some other Palin accomplishments include supporting and signing an ETHICS BILL passed by the Alaska legislature and creating the ALASKA HEALTH STRATEGIES PLANNING COUNCIL to find innovative solutions to effectively provide access to, and help reduce the costs of, healthcare.

          (Continued in my post below - Sara Palins accomplishments/experience)

          • Posted By: marksgershenson @ 09/26/2008 3:00:41 AM

            Obviously you never saw her interview with Couric. Can you look somebody in the eye, straight faced and say, this is a person I want to be a hearbeat away from being POTUS after that interview? Unless of course you enjoy lying to yourself. Frightening prospect. You cannot compare a Harvard graduate to mediocrity. Good God wake up!

      • Posted By: sharenews @ 09/25/2008 4:02:01 AM


        (Continued from my post above-Part 2 of 3: Sarah Palin: Sampling of her Experience and Accomplishments)

        IN THE ROUGHLY THREE YEARS since she quit as the states chief regulator of the oil industry, Palin has CRUSHED THE REPUBLICAN HIERARCHY (virtually all male) and nearly every other FOE OR CRITIC. Political analysts in Alaska refer to the BODY COUNT of Palins rivals. The landscape is littered with the bodies of those who crossed Sarah, says pollster Dave Dittman, who worked for her gubernatorial campaign. It includes RUEDRICH, RENKES, MURKOWSKI, gubernatorial contenders John Binkley and Andrew Halcro, the THREE BIG OIL COMPANIES in Alaska, and a section of the Daily News called Voice of the Times, which was highly critical of Palin and is now defunct.

        As Governor, Sarah Palins LIST OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS LENGTHENED RAPIDLY.
        * She used her line-item veto to cut $268 million from Alaskas state budget.
        * She stood up to some of Alaskas most entrenched interests, including three big oil companies (BP, ConocoPhilips, and ExxonMobil) who hold the lease rights to much of Alaskas oil and gas wealth.

        * Once in office, Palin took an AGGRESSIVE STANCE toward the OIL COMPANIES. Her nickname from high-school basketball, Sarah Barracuda, was resurrected in the press. Early in her term, she shocked oil lobbyists when she was so bold as to not show up when Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson came to Juneau to meet with her. Palin, after scrapping Murkowskis deal, WOULD NOT GIVE BIG OIL THE TERMS THEY WANTED, yet insisted that the companies still had an obligation under their lease to deliver gas to whatever pipeline Alaska built. She invited the oil companies to place open bids to build a pipeline, but they refused. A bid by TransCanada, North Americas largest pipeline builder, was approved by the legislature in August.

        * Palin also RAISED TAXES ON OIL COMPANIES after Murkowskis previous tax regime PRODUCED FALLING REVENUES in 2007, DESPITE SKYROCKETING OIL PRICES. Alaska now has some of the highest resource taxes in the world. Alaskas oil tax REVENUES ARE EXPECTED TO BE ABOUT $10 BILLION in 2008, twice those of previous year. BP says about half its oil revenues now go to taxes, when royalty payments to the state are included.

        * Recently, Palin APPROVED GAS TAX RELIEF FOR ALASKANS, and paid every resident $1,200 to help ease their fuel-price burden.

        * Some other Palin accomplishments include supporting and signing an ETHICS BILL passed by the Alaska legislature and creating the ALASKA HEALTH STRATEGIES PLANNING COUNCIL to find innovative solutions to effectively provide access to, and help reduce the costs of, healthcare.

        (Continued in my post below - Sara Palins accomplishments/experience)

        • Posted By: marksgershenson @ 09/26/2008 3:00:27 AM

          Obviously you never saw her interview with Couric. Can you look somebody in the eye, straight faced and say, this is a person I want to be a hearbeat away from being POTUS after that interview? Unless of course you enjoy lying to yourself. Frightening prospect. You cannot compare a Harvard graduate to mediocrity. Good God wake up!

  • Posted By: NewsWkDickG @ 09/24/2008 11:20:13 PM

    Why is the McCain camp working over time to keep Palin out of any scrutiny? Now they want to postpone the Obama-McCain debate and then push back the Biden-Palin debate. Interesting!

    • Posted By: ronnie8365 @ 09/25/2008 1:43:00 AM

      Is biden going to wear one of those bird cages on his head when he debates Sarah......you sure he can make it to the stage? He has to have some mental disorder o either a form of turrets. Every thing that comes out of his mouth is ignorant....everyone will be watching to see the gaff machine in action.

      But we already know he is going to screwup royally so he can cover for Baraks lack of judgement in picking him. So Barak can get someone else. And it won't be Hillary because she wants him to fail as much as I do.
      Barak is smooth like when Palin was picked his "staffer" says she is just a mayor of a small town he floats that out there and see how it plays then if it goes bad ...he blames the staffer...if it goes good .."well I have said that all along" what a fake empty suit. who is nothing but a politician...he is the same old tired political game of say anything to get in office....Hope and change my ass......

      • Posted By: marksgershenson @ 09/26/2008 3:00:02 AM

        Obviously you never saw her interview with Couric. Can you look somebody in the eye, straight faced and say, this is a person I want to be a hearbeat away from being POTUS after that interview? Unless of course you enjoy lying to yourself. Frightening prospect. You cannot compare a Harvard graduate to mediocrity. Good God wake up!

  • Posted By: careerdaytrader @ 09/25/2008 11:52:17 AM

    OBAMA EXPLAINS WHY HE DOESN'T SALUTE THE US FLAG !!!!!!!!!

    Obama 'explains'

    Hot on the heels of his explanation for why he no longer wears a flag pin, presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama was forced to explain why he doesn't follow protocol when the National Anthem is played.

    According to the United States Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, Sec. 171, During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform are expected to stand at attention facing the flag
    with the right hand over t he heart.

    'As I've said about the flag pin, I don't want to be perceived as taking sides,' Obama said. 'There are a lot of people in the world to whom the American flag is a symbol of oppression. And the anthem itself conveys a
    war-like message. You know, the bombs bursting in air and all. It should be swapped for something less parochial and less bellicose. I like the song 'I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing.' If that were our anthem, then I might salute it.'

    Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this could possibly be our next president!!

    I, for once, am speechless. He has absolutely NO pride in this country!!!!!

    This is outrageous!!!! He doesn't deserve to be dogcatcher!!!

    (Oh, sorry dogcatchers, I mean you no disrespect.)

    LET'S SEND THIS CLOWN DOWN THE ROAD KICKING ROCKS!!!!

    • Posted By: star3 @ 09/25/2008 3:04:00 PM

      Careerdaytrader, I completely agree. This guy, Obama is a total un-patriotic imbecile, and i can't believe anyone is actually taking him seriously as a presidential candidate. The world already knows how to sing, so we do not need a new National Anthem; what we need is a president who is realistic and has definite workable plans to fix the economy and to bring about positive changes in the government programs, which is what John McCain and Sarah Palin want to do, but Obama wants to change the country. America does not need changing, it has worked fine for over 200 years, its some changes in our government policies that need the change--not America. But, of course, anytime a sensible solution is offered, we get static from the left. There was never this much division between between the two parties until it was infiltrated by liberal hippies whose brains are still warped from all the drugs. A friend of ours use to tell us there was an under current of negative activity going on in America by people who wanted to destroy the American way of life, and re-build it to a socialist country. This was in the late 70s, early 80s; we laughed at him because this scenario seemed preposterous at that time, but, apparently, this friend was much more observant than we were, then it, eventually, became so obvious, we could not ignor it. I believe this trend has been going on for a lot longer than most of us realize, and I believe the Kennedy brothers (not counting Teddy), John F. and Bobby were the last of the true democrats, which might explain why they were assassinated. People, you need to think carefully when you vote this November!

      • Posted By: marksgershenson @ 09/26/2008 2:57:16 AM

        Obviously you never saw her interview with Couric. Can you look somebody in the eye, straight faced and say, this is a person I want to be a hearbeat away from being POTUS after that interview? Unless of course you enjoy lying to yourself. Frightening prospect. You cannot compare a Harvard graduate to mediocrity. Good God wake up!

Reply

Report Abuse

Enter comments if any for reporting abuse