Palin Is Ready? Please.

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  • Posted By: gpls19 @ 09/28/2008 8:03:59 PM

    Those of you who are supporting Sarah Palin are blinded by Ideology. As a registered independent, I was willing to give the governor the benefit of the doubt until I saw her interviews. I don???t know how anyone, who actually cares about the wellbeing of this country, can simply ignore the obvious: Mrs Palin does not have the intellectual chops to occupy the second highest office in the land and be one heart beat away from the presidency. It is time that we stop electing politicians into office simply because we happen to think they are just like us. Unless we start voting for leaders who are first competent and last share our ideology, our beloved country will plunge deeper and deeper into the abyss. People, Enough! We are confronting serious problems in this country, we can no longer afford to vote for politicians simply because they are pro guns, anti gays, and anti abortion. Enough is Enough!

  • Posted By: mixer @ 09/28/2008 7:58:02 PM

    I am a former US Marine and son and grandson of US Marines. I really have a great respect for what John Mcain has given our country. His pick of Sarah Palin is for no other words shocking. How dare he risk our countries future our childrens future with a person so ignorant. I am voting democrat this time the republicans
    are destroying the very fabric of our democracy with decisions such as these. God speed to our country

  • Posted By: Past Democrat @ 09/28/2008 7:22:32 PM

    Palin has the most needed qualification to be the vice president " Integrity " and a history of working for the prople she represents. Mccain also has " integrity " and did not make his selection of Palin, without weighing the pros and cons. Palin has solidified the republican base and permitted Mccain to demonstrate his maverick style. This article is the opinopn of one person whose intentions have never been put up for scrutiny for integrity to this country . I am a citizen of the US, a Vetern , a tax payer and a former democrat who left the party because of their choice of Obama as their canidate for president who has never accomplised anything except self promotion to the heigth of his incompitance. Has the author of this article ever questioned Obama who visited the middle east ,spoke to the military and came back tp ignore their accomplishments,and advice to leave Iraq by milestones and not a calander.

    • Posted By: sherrybb @ 09/28/2008 7:56:32 PM

      Your candidates have repeatedly lied over and over and over again..esp Palin. (the Bridge, earmarks, the cook to just mention a few). Integrity??? Obama has been questioned over and over again for the past 20 months. Too bad you are voting for the candidate who has voted far less for veterans rights than Obama. I suspect there is another reason you can not stand Obama.

    • Posted By: texaslibby @ 09/28/2008 7:38:38 PM

      Perhaps you should read up on Obama's history of supporting veterans and of McCain's legisilative nonsupport of veterana . Obama has consistently been a advocate for veterans in his position as a member of the Senate Veteran Affairs Committee. Here's a start...http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/index.cfm/page/weblog/subpage/display_blog/bid/4E0486CA-E0C9-CC83-B33EAF1744BDDABF

    • Posted By: marksgershenson @ 09/28/2008 7:27:41 PM

      Perhaps experiece of Palin sounding more like someone who has no brain. Experience that makes Dan Quayle sound like a genius compared to Palin. Experience that if I lived next to Canada, that I can say I have foreign policy experience. Experience to compare a Harvard constitutional lawyer who has a brain, to someone who is clueless? Do I need to go on? This is not a Republican versus Democrat issue, this is an issue that affects people on a global level too. Think MACRO!

    • Posted By: marksgershenson @ 09/28/2008 7:25:19 PM

      Kathleen Parker, an early supporter of Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin, said Friday recent interviews have shown the Alaska governor is "out of her league" and should leave the GOP presidential ticket for the good of the party leave the GOP presidential ticket for the good of the party. Parker's comments follow those by prominent conservatives David Brooks, George Will, and David Frum who have all publicly questioned Palin's readiness to be vice president.

      And the above list of conservative commentators are some of the most prominent on the right side of the spectrum. Considering the facts and the commentary of these well respected journalists posting what they did, can you still look someone in eye, knowing that Palin could become POTUS, and say without hesitation, or trepidation that she is ready right now to lead our country after seeing Couric's interview with Palin?

      And don't give the BS that Couric was hard on her. If you saw the debates last night, Couric's questions were easier than the ones that both McCain and Obama were given. So if you think Couric was hard, what is she going to do when she has her face-off with Biden? Case closed.

  • Posted By: jptong @ 09/27/2008 10:47:00 PM

    I am a registered republican and usually side with the associated platform. Palin, however, forces me to go against my party. She would be a heartbeat away from being commander in chief. McCain used very poor judgement.

    • Posted By: george abrahams @ 09/27/2008 11:03:55 PM

      Sure, much better to have someone who will tax us all to death, destroy our freedoms and weaken our military like Obama. Take a look at what he is doing in Missouri. He is trying to use prosecutors to squelch free speech. The governor of Missouri released a statement denouncing the Obama campaign's tactic.

      • Posted By: Cazador1972 @ 09/28/2008 7:53:56 PM


        Excuse me sir, the one who gave us this obscene deficit, broke our military and took away our freedom was George Bush with the rubber-stamped republican majority in congress until 2006. Get your facts straight.

        Not only are republicans making things up about Obama, they want to blame him for the things REPUBLICANS DID!

      • Posted By: davehere @ 09/28/2008 12:16:02 AM

        McCain's plan will tax the average American MORE than his counterpart's. You would only feel more tax pain under Obama if you make more than $250,000 per year or you are filthy rich. It doesn't sound like you are either of those so you don't have to worry. As for freedoms, after what the Republican White House has done to us for the last 8 years, there aren't any left to worry about. So relax.

        • Posted By: george abrahams @ 09/28/2008 5:31:17 AM

          The tax will fall on the companies who provide the job or on those who run the companies. That measn the the companies will have ti increase the price of the items they sell to account for the increased tax or for the tax on the compensation for those employees. The price of a Macdonald's hamburger will go up. A rich person who makes 50 time what an average person makes can't eat 50 times as many hamburgers, so the tax cost will just fall on those who make less. No matter where a tax is imposed, poor people pay all the taxes. Either you pay the tax directly or it's in the cost of the item you buy.

      • Posted By: marksgershenson @ 09/28/2008 12:29:47 AM

        Kathleen Parker, an early supporter of Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin, said Friday recent interviews have shown the Alaska governor is "out of her league" and should leave the GOP presidential ticket for the good of the party leave the GOP presidential ticket for the good of the party. Parker's comments follow those by prominent conservatives David Brooks, George Will, and David Frum who have all publicly questioned Palin's readiness to be vice president.

        And the above list of conservative commentators are some of the most prominent on the right side of the spectrum. Considering the facts and the commentary of these well respected journalists posting what they did, can you still look someone in eye, knowing that Palin could become POTUS, and say without hesitation, or trepidation that she is ready right now to lead our country after seeing Couric's interview with Palin?

  • Posted By: jayniktej @ 09/27/2008 10:42:11 PM

    You are absolute right. She doesn't have any foreign affairs experience. When Clinton ran for President, what International affairs experience did he have.
    Oh! I forgot he is a Democrate. They don't need one it comes to them automatically and the Liberals like you wiull give them a pass..

    • Posted By: marksgershenson @ 09/28/2008 12:30:36 AM

      Kathleen Parker, an early supporter of Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin, said Friday recent interviews have shown the Alaska governor is "out of her league" and should leave the GOP presidential ticket for the good of the party leave the GOP presidential ticket for the good of the party. Parker's comments follow those by prominent conservatives David Brooks, George Will, and David Frum who have all publicly questioned Palin's readiness to be vice president.

      And the above list of conservative commentators are some of the most prominent on the right side of the spectrum. Considering the facts and the commentary of these well respected journalists posting what they did, can you still look someone in eye, knowing that Palin could become POTUS, and say without hesitation, or trepidation that she is ready right now to lead our country after seeing Couric's interview with Palin?

      • Posted By: Cazador1972 @ 09/28/2008 7:47:18 PM


        Kathleen Parker sure did. Here it is:

        http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MDZiMDhjYTU1NmI5Y2MwZjg2MWNiMWMyYTUxZDkwNTE=

    • Posted By: Cazador1972 @ 09/27/2008 10:51:24 PM


      Clinton was a Rhodes scholar at Oxford. He was also a three time governor who never made any wild claims about foreign policy credentials... You know, like saying he visited Ireland because he had a fuel stop-over there.

      • Posted By: annieb346 @ 09/27/2008 11:18:53 PM

        Please, you can't expect those on the right to know what a Rhodes Scholar is. They live in an alternate universe, where you get to be editor of the Harvard Law Review by way of Affirmative Action.

  • Posted By: edrummist @ 09/28/2008 7:45:47 PM

    Mr. Zakaria you are spot on. McCain chose Palin on the basis of gender, not qualifications and that is an insult to women and all voters who care about substance and recognize McCain's pandering. Clearly, Sarah Palin is stunningly unqualified to be VP and if McCain has any respect for this country, he needs to ask her to bow out. As we observed from the Couric interview, Palin does not even grasp many issues. In these uncertain times in terms of economics, war and terrorism, strong leadership is a must. I have no trust in McCain and do believe he would likely drag this country into further economic problems and other domestic problems.

  • Posted By: dermr @ 09/28/2008 7:10:14 PM

    It's appalling how the pundits are doing their job. No one is asking the question about whether Obama is qualified to be president. Instead, they are exausting their ATP to rebuke Sara that she is not ready to be president in case situation arises. For god sake, she is running for vice president. Obama is running for president. Ask question about whether Obama is qualified first, then, only then you still have ATP. Ask trivial (theretical-rarely happened) question whether Sara is able to step in as president.

    • Posted By: wildernesskitty @ 09/28/2008 7:44:47 PM

      sorry you obviously are unable to think through the logic completely - any VP pick ultimately IS a Presidential pick because they're next in line. DUH.

    • Posted By: marksgershenson @ 09/28/2008 7:29:04 PM

      Obama has been vetted by the press and public for over 18 months. Palin's handlers are too afraid, and that is not an opinion, that is just plain fact.

  • Posted By: MKRome @ 09/28/2008 12:24:57 AM

    Holy Sh%t!

    How did you write this? Get back out in my field an pick my turnips!

    • Posted By: marksgershenson @ 09/28/2008 12:26:58 AM

      Kathleen Parker, an early supporter of Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin, said Friday recent interviews have shown the Alaska governor is "out of her league" and should leave the GOP presidential ticket for the good of the party leave the GOP presidential ticket for the good of the party. Parker's comments follow those by prominent conservatives David Brooks, George Will, and David Frum who have all publicly questioned Palin's readiness to be vice president.

      And the above list of conservative commentators are some of the most prominent on the right side of the spectrum. Considering the facts and the commentary of these well respected journalists posting what they did, can you still look someone in eye, knowing that Palin could become POTUS, and say without hesitation, or trepidation that she is ready right now to lead our country after seeing Couric's interview with Palin?

    • Posted By: tc125231 @ 09/28/2008 12:38:15 AM

      Youve been hitting yourself in the head with a hammer AGAIN?

    • Posted By: PanosQ @ 09/28/2008 12:31:57 AM

      Just as long as we are all clear that these are the Palin supporters!!

  • Posted By: edrummist @ 09/28/2008 7:43:34 PM

    Mr. Zakaria you are spot on. McCain chose Palin on the basis of gender, not qualifications and that is an insult to women and all voters who care about substance and recognize McCain's pandering. Clearly, Sarah Palin is stunningly unqualified to be VP and if McCain has any respect for this country, he needs to ask her to bow out. As we observed from the Couric interview, Palin does not even grasp many issues. In these uncertain times in terms of economics, war and terrorism, strong leadership is a must.

  • Posted By: sunnfjord @ 09/28/2008 7:39:51 PM

    Comment to abemahl: I did not call the American people stupid. I lived in the US for 38 years. But an overwhelming number of Americans know little about the world outside its borders. Obama's closing statement struck a cord with me. When I decided to move to the US in 1966, America was respected and admired. It was the greatest country in the world and I was proud and grateful that I would have a chance to live there. Now, Americas standing in the world has sunk to its lowest ever. When the American people was at the most vulnerable point in their lives, the Bush Administration used the fear tactic to get the people's support to start an unjustified war that so far has killed over 4,000 Americans and over one hudred thousand civilians. Then he has the audacity to tell his allies in Europe "you are either with us or against us". With McCain in the WH we will have a continuation of the same foreign policy. Unfortunately, with my now American accent, people think I am an American. I don't expect you or any American to spread anti-American poison. Just give us a US president we can work with.

  • Posted By: wildernesskitty @ 09/28/2008 7:36:19 PM

    Yes Palin is a VP pick, one step behind McCain who would be our oldest elected President, already in questionable health. And Monique - sorry you obviously are unable to think through the logic completely - any VP pick ultimately IS a Presidential pick because they're next in line. DUH.

  • Posted By: Berto @ 09/28/2008 7:29:02 PM

    Senator Obama - is the Senator of one of the most populous states in the union, he captured the Dem nomination against a group of the most experienced Democratic politicians. He's been speaking with reporters, snswering questions and depating opponents for over a year. His poll numbers improve more and more as people get familiar with him. He has established is own group of advisors - signaling a departure from the Clintons crew. He is a Lawyer and understands the constitution, and he is brilliant, thoughtful, and tough when appropriate. He has limited experience and a "Chief" Executive. But to say SP is ready for VP or POTUS because she was the Mayor of a town of 800 (or 8000) and Governor of a state of 800,000 for 16 months is stupid. The County Executive of Essex County, NJ (pop 800,000) would have ample qualification under that comparison. What person with any interest in National Politics does not know what the "Bush Doctrine" is. The only chance McCain has in this election is if he asks Gov. Palin to step down.

    • Posted By: marksgershenson @ 09/28/2008 7:35:39 PM

      Unfortunately, you are absolutely correct with your analysis. I think this issue is going to blow-up on McCain. Talking about shooting oneself in the foot....and its not only being picked up on the left wing, the right wing is also chiming in on this issue. That is scary.

  • Posted By: wildernesskitty @ 09/28/2008 7:31:04 PM

    Healthcare reform taxes our economy's shores, those, bailout opportunity trade relief umbrella sends out those. There - I'm qualified for VP.

  • Posted By: wildernesskitty @ 09/28/2008 7:30:43 PM

    Healthcare reform taxes our economy's shores, those, bailout opportunity trade relief umbrella sends out those. There - I'm qualified for VP.

  • Posted By: Therese in NV @ 09/28/2008 5:35:43 PM

    Oh please you democrats, stop beating the same old horse, it is getting old. Let's address the "white elephant in the room." You are soooo worried about Sarah Palin becoming President if something happened to Senator McCain. However, you are willing to put Barack Obama in as President, who doesn't have 1/3 of Sarah Palin's executive experience. I might add, neither does Joe Biden. Sarah Palin has very strong, executive, domestic policy, national security and reform policy experience. Alternately, granted Joe Biden has been on the Foreign Policy committee, however, he has ZERO Executive Policy experience necessary for a President. Matching the two vice president candidates, Sarah Palin, overall, has more experience in governing than Joe Biden. Sarah Palin's weak area is foreign policy, this is something she can learn quickly. Joe Biden's weak area is national security, executive experience, reform policy experience. It will take him longer to come up to speed. Sarah Palin as Governor has accomplished more reform; than Joe Biden as Senator. Their records speak for themselves. Sarah Palin is definately qualified to be Vice President and President should that ever arise. However, I don't really forsee this as a realistic fear, Senator McCain is in excellent health and look at his 90+ year old mother still going strong. It appears he comes from good genes.......

    • Posted By: sunnfjord @ 09/28/2008 6:40:08 PM

      Combine the experience of George W. Bush (Governor of Texas), Cheney and Rumsfeld. Take a good look at where America stands today. Are you happy? I rest my case.

      • Posted By: skylemon @ 09/28/2008 7:27:04 PM

        Amen to your words and I like to add, boy this woman scares the pants of the democrats bit time. I hope the american people open their eyes to the truth, and that is that the bible speaks of an atichrist and god help us, but I believe the american people are about to elect him for president. God have mercy on us, and John McCain and Sarah Palin need our prayers so they can stand firm againts this evilness.

    • Posted By: nowaynohownomccain! @ 09/28/2008 6:11:14 PM

      "Sarah Palin's weak area is foreign policy, this is something she can learn quickly."

      In regards to your word "quickly", are we talking about a lifetime, 10 years, 4 years or a month? My objective observation tells me she still has not learned the basics about U.S. policies and cannot even give a coherent answer to simple questions. Given all the evidence of her incompetence and lack of intelligence, we have to therefore disprove the GOP's theory that she is qualified. You do know how a scientific method works, don't you?

      • Posted By: Mimi13 @ 09/28/2008 6:20:38 PM

        But what about his father? He doesn't look so good, I'm afraid. He's been six feet under for more than 20 years.

        Are you absolutely positive that McCain inherited the longevity gene from his mother. You know both his father and grandfather died young --- father at 70, grandfather at 63 -- of sudden fatal heart attacks. It's just as likely that McCain got the paternal sudden death gene.

    • Posted By: TheGarnisher @ 09/28/2008 5:54:57 PM

      McCain doesn't have any executive experience either... he's a SENATOR. You know... the legislative branch? Didn't you have social studies class in your school? I think they covered this on day 1.. So by your logic, Palin is the only one in the race qualified to be President. And based on her inability to give a coherent answer on any question of consequence, that's a laughable argument to make. Just admit you'd vote for a lump of mud as long as they have an (R) behind their name and you'll be so much happier.

    • Posted By: jjefferson15 @ 09/28/2008 5:46:40 PM

      Your very stupid, can't see the forrest for the trees.

    • Posted By: marksgershenson @ 09/28/2008 5:40:06 PM

      Have you read anything by George Will, David Brooks or David Frum? These are journalists who are not democrats...this is not a democratic versus republican issue. This is an issue that everyone should be concerned, and not have your head in the sand.

      Kathleen Parker, an early supporter of Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin, said Friday recent interviews have shown the Alaska governor is "out of her league" and should leave the GOP presidential ticket for the good of the party leave the GOP presidential ticket for the good of the party. Parker's comments follow those by prominent conservatives David Brooks, George Will, and David Frum who have all publicly questioned Palin's readiness to be vice president.

      And the above list of conservative commentators are some of the most prominent on the right side of the spectrum. Considering the facts and the commentary of these well respected journalists posting what they did, can you still look someone in eye, knowing that Palin could become POTUS, and say without hesitation, or trepidation that she is ready right now to lead our country after seeing Couric's interview with Palin?

      And don't give the BS that Couric was hard on her. If you saw the debate, Couric's questions were easier than the ones that both McCain and Obama were given. So if you think Couric was hard, what is she going to do when she has her face-off with Biden? Case closed.

  • Posted By: yan8410 @ 09/28/2008 7:21:36 PM

    Gov Palin"s answer to Couric"s questions; - were they answers to the questions or jokes?

  • Posted By: gpls19 @ 09/28/2008 7:18:34 PM

    As long as we continue to elect people based on ideology rather than competence, this country will always find itself that it's in.

  • Posted By: jordanny @ 09/28/2008 7:11:51 PM

    thank you for stating exactly what I had been feeling about McCain.s choice of Palin. As you so well write another case of his putting self interest over the country's welfare. I am a lifelong republican a senior white female who will vote for Obama this time because of McCain's deceptive tactics. Deception is a great military tactic but has no place in one's own country,

  • Posted By: Reality_Mack @ 09/28/2008 5:42:20 PM

    Well Therese, it looks like its you and your corrupted logic and poor opinions versus the overwhelming majority here in the USA and lets not forget the rest of the world - who, I assure you, are laughing their heads off at this farce of a nomination - as am I.

    • Posted By: FrancoisTO @ 09/28/2008 7:09:14 PM

      As a foreigner who, like many of his compatriots, is watching this election campaign with interest considering the impact the U.S. has on the world, I can confirm that we would indeed laugh our heads off at this nomination if it wasn't actually so frightening.

  • Posted By: clover2 @ 09/28/2008 2:24:50 PM

    Who cares if he's a Muslim. He has more sense than John McCain. David Brooks said that he stopped watching Palin's interview with Katie Couric--it was just too excruciating to watch.. This woman is an embarassment. She's really is clueless if she thinks Alaska's proximity to Russia gives her foreign policy credentials. I hope the day of reckoning is coming.

    • Posted By: moniqueO @ 09/28/2008 7:02:44 PM

      .

      So , you are OK with a guy that has a Radical anti American past and his Harvard Law School Education days was paid for by Khalid Al-Mansour, a Black Muslim and Black Nationalist who was a ???mentor??? to the founders of the Black Panther party at the time the party was founded in the early 1960s.
      "Al-Mansour has worked closely with a Saudi billionaire anxious to ???exert influence in the United States,??? Prince Alwaleed bin Talal. It will be recalled that the latter was the Wahhabi whose largesse then-New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani famously spurned after 9/11 upon learning the Saudi royal had blamed American policies for that day's horrific attack. Obama reportedly benefited from [his] help in securing a position at Harvard Law School.???

      "New questions have been raised about Obama???s student loans and Obama???s ties to a radical Muslim activist who reportedly was raising money for Obama???s Harvard studies during the years 1988 to 1991."

      You are OK with Radical Muslims having a huge influence on a POTUS?

      You are OK that Obama???s former pastor Jeremiah Wright ??? who called on God to ???damn America??? ??? convicted terrorist William Ayers, and Frank Marshall Davis, a ???Stalinist black communist??? whom Obama described as a formative influence during his early years in Hawaii."

      But Palin "scares you"

      Go read the Washington Times on this!
      and that
      A leading national security expert has cited this exclusive report by Newsmax correspondent Kenneth R. Timmerman in an article about Barack Obama???s ties to controversial figures.

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