Palin Is Ready? Please.

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  • Posted By: dlmenchaca @ 09/30/2008 4:21:01 PM

    I am a single mother of two, grandmother of one who raised my family alone on the salary of a public school teacher. Both my children are educated, healthy, working, tax-paying, voting individuals. I am part of that 54% of American women and I'm voting for Obama-Biden. I would like a woman to be leader some day but not just any woman and not someone who is going to extend the policies of Bush and his power-mongering friends. Our country is in a mess and Obama's level headed, sincerity about helping us get out of it seems easier to stomach than the ranting and raving propaganda the Republican Party throws at us. I do not want a maverick and his cheerleader running my country. I want someone with expertise in the Constitution to help me put it back together again.

    • Posted By: mslater2008 @ 09/30/2008 6:52:03 PM

      I'm with you dl, I'm a single parent of two and am sick of the way our government has become so arrogant and our of control. It's time for a level head, a dove and not a hawk. And if Obama cannot see out his term, I will sleep very well at night with Biden as President. The thought of McCain/Palin having the codes to a nuclear strike scares the hell out of me. I am also part of the overwhelming women's vote for Obama/Biden. I don't know where they're taking the polls, but I can tell you, we are the silent majority. This article by Mr. Zakaria was journalism at its best, uncensored, unabashed and truthful. It is what it is, Palin is not who I want to lead this country should McCain not be able to see out his term. As Mr. Zakaria pointed out, it's a 1 in 5 chance that she will. Scary odds. He is right when he says it's not that she's unprepared for any interview, it's that she not only doesn't understand the question, she STILL, after being nominated what...3-4 weeks ago....STILL cannot answer obvious questions about the issues. None of the other candidates are given the questions ahead of time, why should she have them ahead of time? Is this grammar school? Are we taking open book tests now for the White House?

  • Posted By: neos @ 09/30/2008 6:46:55 PM

    To Rasztalos and all others who feel that poor old Sarah was manhandled by the press.
    I feel your pain, I mean who do those mean old journalists think they are? Asking Sarah those dumb questions on Foreign Policy and the economic meltdown? Where do they get off expecting Sarah to know all that 'presidential' stuff? They weren't nowheres near as sweet as Bill O'Reilly was when he interviewed that Obama guy on his show. Why couldn't Charlie and Katie be nice and help her with the answers like Sean Hannity did?

    What are the odds that if the debate goes poorly, Sarah will work up a tear or two to go after the sympathy vote??

  • Posted By: rasztalos @ 09/30/2008 6:00:11 PM

    Katie Couric is making news not reporting it, Courics' interview with Sarah Palin was like that of a prosecuting attorney in a murder trial. Condescending as Charlie Gibson with his aggressive demeanor and body language. I have not heard any candidate be put into a cross examination like this before not even the governor of Arkansas who had no experience that was running for president. Palin did not do well with her responses as she was subjected terse badgering to see if she would break down and cry. As Mr. Zakaria claims that Palin was repeating "talking points by campaign advisers, simple ideological mantras" she certainly did not do a good job of it.

    • Posted By: neos @ 09/30/2008 6:42:36 PM

      Yeah, who do those mean old journalists think they are? Asking Sarah those dumb questions on Foreign Policy and the economic meltdown? Where do they get off expecting Sarah to know all that 'presidential' stuff? They weren't nowheres near as sweet as Bill O'Reilly was when he interviewed that Obama guy on his show. Why couldn't Charlie and Katie be nice and help her with the answers like Sean Hannity did?

    • Posted By: marksgershenson @ 09/30/2008 6:10:25 PM

      Here you go Palin fans...What has been exposed of Palin is called the Peter Principle. I will even provide the link....http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Principle Every person with the exception of Bush and his administration reaches it some point in their life. Eight years late, and this article has nothing to do with him.

      When a person is properly vetted, they go through an interview process. When a person is improperly vetted, things come out sometimes in the worst possible fashion. When you saw Palin being interviewed by Couric, the answers that were given by her were unscripted. Unfortunately, questions were not asked of Palin like Couric and the three other interviews she gave as part of the vetting process. If she was asked anything like that before she was introduced, she would never have made the cut. Or you can speculate that she was given questions like that, and McCain liked the answers she gave. We will never know.

      Sure you can practice for the debate. Sure you can even memorize some things, and perhaps we may see some improvement on her answers Thursday. However it does not change the fact she has gone way over her head with her abilities.

      George Will, David Frum, and David Brooks and Kathleen Parker have asked her to step down. Zakaria is now joined in the chorus of concern. I think that everyone should be taking a close look and think about one thing. Do you think based upon her interviews, that you can look at someone in their eye and say, I think Palin is presidential, and can take over in a moments notice?

  • Posted By: bluebloodedLV @ 09/30/2008 6:37:54 PM

    Lori & Jim sitting in a tree.....w e e p i n g.....because McCain is done and so is Palin. Theanks, but noo theanks!! hahahaha

  • Posted By: Bobaparis @ 09/30/2008 6:31:45 PM

    Enter Your Comment Well, I've been saying for eight years that we never appreciated Reagan until we had to put up with Dubya; and now I can confidently say that we never appreciated Dan Quayle's expertise and intelligence, until Sarah came along.

  • Posted By: Ian in LR @ 09/30/2008 1:47:28 PM

    Why is it that most of the pro-Palin posters want to talk about Obama's "lack of experience" whenever Palin's idiocy comes up? The two aren't the same. Obama went to Columbia and then Harvard for his JD. Both are Ivy League schools. Palin went from one mediocre school to another for six years to get a bachelors degree in journalism. This investment has served her very well, as anyone who has seen her interviews since being selected can attest. If you don't like Obama, for whatever reason, so be it. Trying to deflect the justifiable criticism of Palin by saying Obama (or Biden) lacks this or that does nothing to refute the allegations of Palin's intellectual shortcomings.

    • Posted By: wjgaddis @ 09/30/2008 2:04:34 PM

      Are you making the argument that one's place of education makes them more qualified . . . i.e. an Ivy league educated candidate is always a superior to one that is not? If so, can I extrapolate that an Ivy-leagued trained doctor, or lawyer, or business person (or whatever) is superior to those that are not? Careful what position you take here . . . I understand that you probably don't believe this but that is what you are stating . . . I attended Yale ('91) for my undergraduate and Cambridge ('02) for my PhD. . . does this mean I am, by virtue of my education, a better, more qualified human than you? No, it does not . . . we both know that . . .

      Restate your position and make a better argument.

      • Posted By: Ian in LR @ 09/30/2008 6:28:22 PM

        If you are stating that one shouldn't make a distinction between someone graduating at the top of their class from Harvard or graduating at the top of their class from Moosejaw Community College, then I will continue to differ with you. Neither school makes one person "better" than another, but I believe, generally, that the requirements for getting into an Ivy League school, let alone graduating, are a bit more stringent than at most public universities. Also, I see Obama's being a scholar of the Constitution as more applicable to the position he seeks than Palin's brief stint as a sportscaster preparing her for the position she seeks. (Although she might do a great play by play when King George III (McCain) starts bombing Iran.) Do I think Governor Palin could have matriculated from Harvard? Not likely - based on what I have seen of her. Since our current president is a Yale alum, however, there are certainly exceptions - no offense. It seems odd that someone would spend the money or accept a scholarship to Yale or Cambridge if going to any old school would or should suffice. What makes the $100k car better than the $20k car? Is it all perception? Of course not. Is it five times better? Hardly. They both do the same basic job of transportation, but would you pick a Yugo over a BMW? Better yet, how about a Pinto?

        My comments about Governor Palin are based as much on her answers to the very few questions the press has been allowed to ask as on her formal education. Perhaps you can translate her gibberish into insightful, thought-provoking statements, but I am at a loss to do this. As to thinking that someone who graduated from a more prestigous school is always the better choice. No, this certainly can't be the only criteria. (Is having command of the English language too much to ask?) However, I can tell you, without reservation, that based only on this singular point, if I were given the choice of having one of two potential surgeons, to do my heart procedure, and was told that one went to medical school at Harvard while the other went to medical school at Universidad la Guyana by-the-Sea, (don't bother checking) I would pick the Harvard person.

        Ultimately every comment on here (or any blog) is the opinion of the poster. We can all make arguments for or against almost any position and back them up with facts - while at the same time ignoring any facts that may counter said position. I have agreed with the editorial and given my reasons why as others have agreed or not, based upon their reasons.

      • Posted By: fccFH @ 09/30/2008 4:31:25 PM

        I agree with your comment- but what I think should be emphasized is not so much where these candidates went to school, but how they performed, because that is a strong measure of intelligence. And the fact that Obama did graduate Magna from Harvard does say something vs. the fact that Palin attended several schools, one of which she failed out of says something as well. If Obamas Magna were at a different school I do not think it would matter, but his standing at the top of his class should not be discounted. In these times where one crisis seems to follow another, be it war, economic issues, health care??? it is important that we have a leader who has a proven track record of sound thinking and processing- Bush has difficulty with this, yet he too went to Yale and Harvard- so that does disprove the theory that one who attends an Ivy is some automatic, born leader. But Bush did not do so wonderfully at these schools either. So maybe it is unfair to put Obama on a pedestal for the schools he attended, but I think he should be lauded for his academic achievements.

    • Posted By: Jim Johnson @ 09/30/2008 2:15:25 PM

      Palin is like me. She is Governor of a country of a million. She is in charge of a budget of billions of dollars. She has had to supervise thousands of employees, On the other hand, I did poorly in high school, never got a college degree, and became manager for a major corporation supervising a hundred people, responsible for the 10 billion dollar annual payroll for 130,000 employees and retirees, and an annual department budget of 10 million dollars. Are you putting down the hardworking middleclass like me? What gives you that right? What has Obama ever done in his lifetime? Become a failed community organizer that accomplished nothing. It is hard to believe in the years of the Iraq War that there have been more Americans killed in Chicago than in Iraq and Afghanistan put together. I think Obama needs to return to Chicago and start over. He can then rejoin his friends, the convicted real estate embezzler, the domestic terrorists, his hate ministers, the head of the Nation of Islam, and his other foreign terrorists supporters. That is his world of accomplishment. From a poor community organizer to a multimillionaire in just a few short years. But, he had lots of help and now they support him for president. By the way, are you one of his previous supporters in the Chicago political underground?

  • Posted By: RiversideWarrior @ 09/29/2008 7:38:53 PM

    You can't make this stuff up but the fact remains that Palin reflects the uneducated redneck constituency that comprises the Republicans, they will vote any way they are told to by their preachers in the pulpit.

    • Posted By: John suncityca @ 09/30/2008 6:23:17 PM

      Do you actually read what you write before you send it?

    • Posted By: LindaMcStaf09 @ 09/29/2008 8:25:51 PM

      you are right on about that. I personally have some family members who voted for Bush to ensure they would go to heaven!!!! I am terrified of what this country will become with a McCain-Palin presidency. If we don't get Obama in the White House, it may be curtains for America as we now know it. We need to change the direction from a downward spiral economically, educationally, and a continual rise in health care costs and the loss of freedoms. We need a president who will usher in an era of new hope where the American people will become more active in politics and work toward a better future for our great nation.

  • Posted By: dafame @ 09/29/2008 8:49:51 PM

    Everyone is missing the point here. This has nothing so little do with politics and so much to so with race, plain and simply. I know there are alot of people that aren't going to want to here this but I'm a white guy and I know without any shadow of doubt that if Barack Obama was white this thing wouldn't even be close. We live in a free country people. One that affords us to even be racist if we want to. But with so much to lose right now I suggest we all take a look in the mirror and ask the question "am I willing to allow the downfall of my counrty simply to keep the white house white"?

    • Posted By: John suncityca @ 09/30/2008 6:18:50 PM

      The RACE card? You are WEAK.

  • Posted By: 2008concerned @ 09/29/2008 9:31:40 PM

    Mc Cain picked Palin on pure career first move, not because he loves the country. Granted Palin is young and pretty, but that hardly qualifies her to be VP of the most powerful country, The VP's job is not to be a soccer-mom but to provide counsel to the president, to be well versed in foreign relations and issues, world economics, domestic issues relating to healthcare, jobs, poverty. And very importantly, a fact that is hardly being mentioned in the press.......... the ability to step into the president's shoes if some thing should happen............ and btw be atleast 45 years old, at that time. Palin is only 42 years old, are the republicans and press so enamoured by her that this point is not brought up ? Or do we want a constitutional crisis if this were to happen before she turns 45 years old ????? Wake up America !!!!

    • Posted By: John suncityca @ 09/30/2008 6:15:28 PM

      Actually, if you had a clue, the only "requirement" for vice president is to cast a vote in the Senate (as President of the Senate) in case there is a tie vote. There is NO OTHER REQUIREMENTS, especially not the ones you MADE UP.

    • Posted By: sfkeating @ 09/29/2008 10:19:58 PM

      The age specification is 35 years, dummy. Get to know your Constitution: Article 2, section 1. It's only been in there for a couple of hundred years.

  • Posted By: wildwest1010 @ 09/30/2008 6:04:26 PM

    We Americans should have learnt a lesson or two from electing George W. Bush. Like Palin, he was utterly unqualified and incompetent for the job he was given (largely by the rednecks I believe). See what a mess he has made to the country. Now everyone is suffering and it may take generations to correct this costly mistake.

  • Posted By: mmcdonell @ 09/30/2008 4:28:51 PM

    McCain's choice of Palin was reckless, irresponsible, and definitely not representative of his "country first" slogan. This was evident from the start. The sad part is that so many in our democracy are swayed by superficiality. Some today have claimed that Palin and Clinton are not much different- both governed small states. How they can overlook the fact that Clinton was a Rhodes scholar and Yale Law graduate while Palin barely earned an undergraduate degree from a 2nd tier public university. This just indicates that many don't value educational achievement or what it takes to really understand complex national and international issues. They value the mediocre and somehow believe that you can cram for the presidency. Both Palin and McCain should be removed from the ballot.

    • Posted By: wildwest1010 @ 09/30/2008 5:59:56 PM

      Well said indeed. We Americans should have learnt a lesson or two from electing George W. Bush. Like Palin, he was utterly unqualified for the job he was given (largely by the rednecks I believe). See what a mess he has made to the country. Now everyone is suffering and it may take many generations to correct this costly mistake.

  • Posted By: N.Olson @ 09/30/2008 8:59:29 AM

    Although i dont have to vote in the US as a Dutch citizen, I follow the US always closely. I love the country, but somehow you manage to elect weird politicians. McCain in the debate scared me. An old man, talking about ages ago and trying to generate credits out of the fact that he has been around for a long time.
    As if the world has not changed more the past few years , and at current speed will change even more. His attempt to add youth to his campaign with Sarah Palin, is windowdressing only. A nice picture search via Google. But now that she has to express an opinion and her views, well i geuss you get the hockey mom approach. From a distance all of this looks to me more "4 more Republican years" then trying to put the US
    interests first.
    It is ofcourse not the US goal is "to be liked around the world" as such. But if the goal is to serve US interest's earning respect by cooperating, leading, inspiring, having an open mind, and care and listen to what the world has to say; as a direct consequence it most certainly serves US interests as the world is willing to work with the US. Today and tomorrow more important then ever. I beleive that this enables the US to save money on the military, homeland security etc as it eliminates enemies by turning them into pragmatic partners.
    McCain's experience and his single minded military view on things, might hinder this more then help it. As mr Zakaria's concluded in his impressive article on the position of the US in the world, a few weeks ago; the world around the US is growing quicker and bigger then the US is, and there is a growing number of forces to recon with. The world can survive without the US more and more every day.
    I fear that the McCain's and Palin's of this world tend to "go it alone" based on an old and/or ignorant worldview.
    It appears to me that Obama's bottom up view (educate, invest, develop, repair, protect ) on people and infrastructure would serve US interests more , but probably wont get him elected.




    • Posted By: John suncityca @ 09/30/2008 5:56:38 PM

      I am also a Dutch citizen (ya, right), und after seeing the debates I am really afraid of how relatively naive and ineperienced Obama seemed. I don't think he really understands the gravity of intermational affairs. It seems he lacks military knowledge and may be confused as to how to react to world events. He seems like a very young man, almost child like. I don't know if others might see that as a weakness. I hope the American people will take us Europeans into consideration and tray to elect someone who will be steady and reliable.

      Hans from the Netherlands:)

  • Posted By: DaveWK @ 09/30/2008 5:44:18 PM

    You're on the mark, Mr. Zakaria. McCain's pick exposed his impulsiveness and poor judgment.

  • Posted By: Samilt9 @ 09/30/2008 11:00:25 AM

    Sarah Palin is not ready to lead this country as VP. I truely feel for her. She has got to know in her heart that she is out of her league. This is a seaon of great turmoil on every level and in every area. McCain's choice of a VP pick was for political reasons. He did not put HIS country first in his choice of a VP. His actions are not of a mature, wise, and experienced leader. Palin should step down. MacCain is only using her, which reveals to me the character of this man. He'll do anything to win. Question: What happens if McCain does win (slim chance)? We are all in trouble! Palin should listen to the voice inside of her, and step down.

    • Posted By: wjgaddis @ 09/30/2008 11:05:55 AM

      You state that Palin is not ready to lead this country as the VP. Fine . . . do you also believe that Obama is ready to lead this country as the President? A sound argument can and has been made that he lacks as much experience as she does . . . Don't read me wrong; I am not saying you are wrong in your assessment but, rather, stating that the same criticism can be applied to Obama . . . what say ye?

      • Posted By: lifeonaplate @ 09/30/2008 12:13:52 PM

        It isn't a sound argument in the least, actually. We're talking about a fundamental difference on the level of knowledge; not of "experience." The criticism here is that Palin does not understand fundamental issues that affect the country, from the economy to foreign affairs. A few months ago she admitted that she doesn't even know what a Vice President actually _does_. Bait and switch from Palin to Obama simply makes no sense and is unsustainable.

        • Posted By: wjgaddis @ 09/30/2008 12:44:01 PM

          Again, I won't attempt to argue that Palin has a substantiated (perhaps not even a basic) understanding of economics, foreign affairs and other important issues as would be required of a presidential/VP candidate but I still have yet to see any evidence, via the record or experience, that Obama has accumulated and demonstrated a level of understanding for the same issues much more than quick wit and the ability to speak . . . don't confuse one's ability to think quick on their feet and articulate in a public forum with experience and wisdom . . . Oft times there isn't a correlation.

          • Posted By: SavethisCountry @ 09/30/2008 1:07:11 PM

            Well at least these past 8 years we've made the correlation between not thinking on your feet, and making 'gut' decisions. Didn't work too well did it. Keep making excuses when Palin fails. It is ALL important, experience, intelligence, ability to think on your feet especially in the international scene, ability to argue your policies with interviewers, etc etc, Please quit 'picking' a specific area to win the she vrs he arguements are realize if you don't show some strength in all areas, you are a concern.

            • Posted By: wjgaddis @ 09/30/2008 1:30:47 PM

              From where in my comments have you ascertained that I am a Palin supporter? Keep making excuses for her? You confuse me . . . I am not one to support a candidate by tearing down the other; rather, I am postulating the crux that Obama, as well as Palin, lacks experience and an understanding of some of the base issue facing our nation.

              • Posted By: John suncityca @ 09/30/2008 5:41:51 PM

                That's because "savemycountry" is a lemming.

      • Posted By: SavethisCountry @ 09/30/2008 12:51:44 PM

        Don't be too quick to obcure experience with Intelligence. IT may just keep you from getting a job some day. Corporations do look for experience but they also look for a level of intelligence. So too when looking at all the candidates, you look far beyond just experience, but you must look at other factors like the ability to learn, level of intelligence, talk in complete sentances (sorry Bush). In this case if you wash the level of experience, the intelligence factor is a no brainer. She belongs in a small town leadership role, and best we keep her from the international scene.

        • Posted By: wjgaddis @ 09/30/2008 1:24:54 PM

          Good return . . . I like that you approach your position from logic and reason; not emotion or knee-jerk posturing. My point is really not too dissimilar from yours in that I believe intelligence and experience are co-existent requirements and one does not necessarily beget the other. In order to determine the credibility of either takes research and thought . . . a well delivered answer on a political stage does not mean a candidate is intelligent nor does a candidate's inability to articulate well indicate they lack wisdom. It's the entire package which is only discernible by truly knowing the candidates record (both professional and educational), their position on the issues by how they have voted; not by their words (which are often motivated by political expediency).

          Of course, we really haven't broached the subject of character . . .

  • Posted By: marksgershenson @ 09/30/2008 5:17:40 PM

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8__aXxXPVc

    Case closed

  • Posted By: brijetbrazi @ 09/30/2008 5:08:56 PM

    Thank you for laying it out so well. I had the same feelings when watching this interview. I have been simply incredulous since the day she was choosen but was shocked even more by the comical way she responded to Katie's question. The only problem is it is not comical when considering the drastic implications her inadequacies present to her ability to be a key leader of our country.

  • Posted By: brijetbrazi @ 09/30/2008 5:08:33 PM

    Thank you for laying it out so well. I had the same feelings when watching this interview. I have been simply incredulous since the day she was choosen but was shocked even more by the comical way she responded to Katie's question. The only problem is it is not comical when considering the drastic implications her inadequacies present to her ability to be a key leader of our country. Please god let anything but her and Mccain's presidency come to being. We may as well, at that moment, kiss our country goodbye. At least Obama appears to be heading in a better direction them and he deserves a chance to prove himself.

  • Posted By: midnight05 @ 09/30/2008 4:49:02 PM

    John McCain does not care about governing. He cares about getting elected. He doesn't care that he's 72 and has had four episodes of a particularly deadly cancer (I saw a young man die of it and it wasn't pretty). I don't tthink John McCain cares about us at all. George Bush had a running mate who, no matter how toxic and nasty he might be, is capaable of taking the reins and be President without prompting. Clinton chose Gore, a man capable of taking the reins and governing. Does John McCain, even in his biggest fantasy trips, think that Sarah Palin is capable of being President? Is he saying to God, "you wouldn't dare kill me. Look at what is going to take my place"? If so, it's a dangerous bargain that we, as Americans, can't afford.

  • Posted By: egretbay @ 09/30/2008 3:46:44 PM

    At first blush I saw possibility. At second blush cheap fortified wine with a screw cap.

    • Posted By: Jim Johnson @ 09/30/2008 3:53:45 PM

      At first sight of Obama, I saw corruption, hate for our country, out-of-control desire to turn this country to Socialism and Maxism, his radical character, his sleezy relationships, and his desire to destroy America. And, it has gotten worse!

      • Posted By: fccFH @ 09/30/2008 3:57:13 PM

        First off, its marxism, not maxism, and could you please provide some examples. I am not seeing you on this one? Radical? Hate for our country. Where are you getting this?

        • Posted By: Jim Johnson @ 09/30/2008 4:11:53 PM

          This dang keyboard keeps making mistakes. You like to discuss important issues. LOL! What a birdbrain!

          • Posted By: fccFH @ 09/30/2008 4:48:09 PM

            Yeah, dont you hate it when that dang keyboard makes all the mistakes, not the person typing them. I am sure that explains why all of Palins comments come out sounding like incoherent gibberish- its that dang teleprompter. But you still have not answered the question- please explain his radical background and give some examples of his hate for this country. It sounds like some- birdbrain- propaganda that does not have much factual backing, much like McCains stump promises and speeches he has been spewing out these past few weeks.

        • Posted By: Jim Johnson @ 09/30/2008 4:10:19 PM

          Now, I see why you are backing Obama. You have not been listening or just plain ignoring it like most liberal idiots. What anti-American group do you belong to?

          • Posted By: marksgershenson @ 09/30/2008 4:15:03 PM

            do you know the words conventional wisdom? If you did you would understand why people are concerned about PALIN. This blog is about PALIN not Bush, not McCain, not Obama, not JFK, or any other president or presidential candidate. And so far your remarks are off the WALL

  • Posted By: El Mugroso @ 09/30/2008 4:45:49 PM

    The REAL reason for "Sarah Palin" be of the current significance is that WHOMEVER were in her place would only be a FART-beat away from becoming president, due to McCain's age/health condition. Of course it does intensify for the particulars of Sarah Palin being conspicuously unqualified and even a RISK for the positions contended.

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