McCain picks woman for VP slot

Pliny · September 4, 2008

Sarah Palin is being questioned not for continuing to work, but about taking on what is perhaps one of the most demanding jobs in the world, a job that could make her the President of the United States and put the fate of hundreds of millions of people in her hands. Are you suggesting that millions of working mothers with special needs children are not constrained in any way by their circumstances, by the needs of their children? Are you saying the needs of their children never cause them to make compromises in the vocations they pursue or would like to pursue? Are you saying that a special needs child has no impact on a mother's or father's life? Are you saying that a parent who is engaged in a job that demands their full attention and most of their time can give their special needs child all the care they need?
It seems that what you're saying is that having a special needs child would have no impact on Sarah Palin's ability to do one of the most demanding jobs in the world, and doing one of the most demanding jobs in the world will have no impact on Sarah Palin's ability to give her special needs child the care he needs. In other words, having to care for a special needs child has no affect on parents' lives. Is that your assertion?

I guess your assertion is that a special needs child should have an "effect" on parent's lives. What should that effect be? Stay at home? Give up the hockey Mom life?

kimmy · September 4, 2008

Someone else did write it. Matthew Scully, to be precise.

You haven't heard a speech from either campaign at either convention that wasn't created without help from speechwriters. Why is the use of speechwriters suddenly an issue for Palin, when it wasn't for Obama or Hilary?

And she proved she can read it off the teleprompter! So I guess she's one up on Bush!

Obama and Hilary use teleprompters too. However, I'm not sure if coverage of their speeches has ever been quite so blunt about choosing camera angles that show the teleprompter as it was during Palin's speech.

The bottom line is that Palin's performance was so compelling that her detractors are left grasping at straws in their efforts to undermine it.

-k

Stephen Best · September 4, 2008

I guess your assertion is that a special needs child should have an "effect" on parent's lives. What should that effect be? Stay at home? Give up the hockey Mom life?

I'm asking does having a special needs child have an effect on parents' lives? I would expect that it would. Is your assertion that having a special needs child has no effect? What's "should" got to do with it?

kimmy · September 4, 2008

Sarah Palin is being questioned not for continuing to work, but about taking on what is perhaps one of the most demanding jobs in the world, a job that could make her the President of the United States and put the fate of hundreds of millions of people in her hands. Are you suggesting that millions of working mothers with special needs children are not constrained in any way by their circumstances, by the needs of their children? Are you saying the needs of their children never cause them to make compromises in the vocations they pursue or would like to pursue? Are you saying that a special needs child has no impact on a mother's or father's life? Are you saying that a parent who is engaged in a job that demands their full attention and most of their time can give their special needs child all the care they need?

Are you suggesting that millions of working mothers with non-special needs children are not constrained in any way by their circumstances, by the needs of their children? Are you saying the needs of their children never cause them to make compromises in the vocations they pursue or would like to pursue? Are you saying that a non-special needs child has no impact on a mother's or father's life? Are you saying that a parent who is engaged in a job that demands their full attention and most of their time can give their non-special needs child all the care they need?

I'm saying that working moms with special needs children, like my cousin, are not "abandoning their children", as you accused Palin of doing. I'm saying that working moms with special needs children find ways to make it work. And they do it without all of the resources that will be available to Sarah Palin.

The backpedaling and hedging and rationalizing has been fun to watch. It's not that she's a working mom, it's that she's a working mom with an infant! It's not that she's a working mom with an infant, it's that she's a working mom with a special needs child! It's not that she's a working mom with a special needs child, it's that she's a working mom with a special needs child who wants to have a really tough job!

Maybe you should go back to making fun of the beauty pageant angle; that was working better for you.

-k

jdobbin · September 4, 2008

The bottom line is that Palin's performance was so compelling that her detractors are left grasping at straws in their efforts to undermine it.

It certainly was a speech to rally her supporters. It remains to be seen whether it will attract Clinton Democrats. A poll out yesterday showed only 9% of Clinton supporters were prepared to make that jump to McCain after Palin was brought on the ticket. There may be more by the end of the week with a post convention bounce but the big sticking point for many women remains abortion. Even John McCain's wife disagrees with Palin on striking down Roe v Wade. Cindy McCain didn't seem to know what her husband's position was on the subject either.

Palin might be a wonderful speaker but it scares women that they might not be able to get an abortion unless their own life is in danger. That was the only exception Palin and many of her supporters were prepared to support. Rape and incest didn't qualify.

Edited September 4, 2008 by jdobbin

bush_cheney2004 · September 4, 2008

... If you have links to statements where he belittled the role of public servants like city mayors, I'd be interested to see them. Can you provide those links?

I don't have to, since you have already demonstrated that the Obama campaign withdrew a statement that clearly was a mistake. Payback is a bitch.

bush_cheney2004 · September 4, 2008

.....Maybe you should go back to making fun of the beauty pageant angle; that was working better for you.

It sure was....a wonderful diversion while Gov Palin lined up her sights...then BOOM!

Liam · September 4, 2008

I don't have to, since you have already demonstrated that the Obama campaign withdrew a statement that clearly was a mistake. Payback is a bitch.

You claim Obama said something he never said. Your own response acknowledges that you lied by making the claim.

bush_cheney2004 · September 4, 2008

You claim Obama said something he never said. Your own response acknowledges that you lied by making the claim.

Hey Perry Mason, nothing has been "proven" either way with regard to what Obama may or may not have actually said. It is enough for me that Obama's campaign staffers, which he claims management experience for (LOL), issued a statement that was later retracted for obvious reasons:

Obama appeared to dismiss Burton's statement. "I think that ... campaigns start getting these, uh uh, hair triggers, and the statement that Joe and I put out reflects our sentiments," Obama said when asked about the contradiction in the tone of the two statements.

daniel · September 4, 2008

Now the contest is between a President Obama and a Vice President Palin. Who needs or wants McCain around any more? He's only going to be the same old same old with Palin sitting around waiting to change things.

bush_cheney2004 · September 4, 2008

Now the contest is between a President Obama and a Vice President Palin. Who needs or wants McCain around any more? He's only going to be the same old same old with Palin sitting around waiting to change things.

OTOH, who needs Palin or Obama when we know who is the most qualified to be POTUS. Biden has already been marginalized, with Palin being compared to Obama.

Black Dog · September 4, 2008

Have we heard from Todd Palin yet about what his specific role in helping Trig and Bristol will be? Is he going to be stay-at-home dad?

Honestly: who gives a shit?

Stephen Best · September 4, 2008

I'm saying that working moms with special needs children, like my cousin, are not "abandoning their children", as you accused Palin of doing. I'm saying that working moms with special needs children find ways to make it work. And they do it without all of the resources that will be available to Sarah Palin.

Were we talking about your cousin? For all I know your cousin's a better mom than Sarah Palin. Is your cousin a better mom than Sarah Palin?

Stephen Best · September 4, 2008

Honestly: who gives a shit?

Todd and Sarah and Bristol and Trig and millions of voters.

Argus · September 4, 2008

OTOH, who needs Palin or Obama when we know who is the most qualified to be POTUS. Biden has already been marginalized, with Palin being compared to Obama.

Unfavourably.

Unfavourably when compared to Biden too.

bush_cheney2004 · September 4, 2008

Todd and Sarah and Bristol and Trig and millions of voters.

Huh? You are speaking for millions of voters while being a non-voter yourself?

How is that possible?

Edited September 4, 2008 by bush_cheney2004

bush_cheney2004 · September 4, 2008

Unfavourably.
Unfavourably when compared to Biden too.

That leaves one man/woman standing...John McCain.

Black Dog · September 4, 2008

Todd and Sarah and Bristol and Trig and millions of voters.

Outside of the first three parties, it's not anybody else's concern, not is it relevant. The question is not "Is Sarah Palin a good mother" but "Is Sarah Palin the right choice for VP?"

....

As for Plain's speech, it's been getting good reviews and will probably give the team a bounce. But, considering the context, it was like dunking on a kid's basketball hoop and thinking you're ready for the NBA.

Stephen Best · September 4, 2008

Huh? You are speaking for millions of voters while being a non-voter yourself?
How is that possible?

You haven't been following the stories coming out of the U.S. media? I don't speak for voters, I merely report what the media says about voters. I'm surprised you needed the clarification. You did need a clarification? Is that right? If so, for your benefit, I'll try to be more precise in the future.

Argus · September 4, 2008

You haven't heard a speech from either campaign at either convention that wasn't created without help from speechwriters. Why is the use of speechwriters suddenly an issue for Palin, when it wasn't for Obama or Hilary?

Because they had something of a history. They were known qualities/quantities. This was Palin's first speech on the big stage and some people are suggesting that the words spoken were such as to prove that she is something great. In reality, she likely played no part in choosing the words to the speech. The words were crafted by others.

Now I don't know about Hillary, but I've read that Obama actually takes a very hands-on approach and does a lot of his own writing, which speaks well of him (no pun intended)

The bottom line is that Palin's performance was so compelling that her detractors are left grasping at straws in their efforts to undermine it.
-k

You found it compelling? I found it a tired retread of old hard-right-wing Republican rhetoric and phony populasm. She loves her country? What a surprise. She loves her family? Shocker! Probably loves apple pie too, though that wasn't mentioned. And I found a lot of it more than a little disingenuous at times. She said something about "a time for politics, and a time to put our country first" which is ironic, because in choosing his running mate McCain decided against putting his country first by choosing a capable number two to stand with him in the event they had to step into his shoes, and instead choose pure, crass identity politics. She spoke of how, as a mayor, she actually had responsibilities, unlike Obama, but what kind of responsibilities? Making sure Joe Morgan is reminded to close his gate so the cows don't keep wandering out? She said if her state wanted a bridge they'd build it themselves, and she said "No thanks" to congress for the money for the bidge to nowhere - which in reality, she had favoured and supported. Congress spends too much? Perhaps, but for most of the last decade it's been a Republican congress and a Republican white house. They're going to do something about dependance on foreign oil? Really? Why haven't they done something over the past couple of decades, then?

I am not, btw, an Obama supporter, or at least, I wasn't before McCain stepped into it with this appointment. Now, if I was voting, I'd have to vote Obama, even though I still have a lot of doubts about his experience and his policies.

bush_cheney2004 · September 4, 2008

You haven't been following the stories coming out of the U.S. media? I don't speak for voters, I merely report what the media says about voters. I'm surprised you needed the clarification. You did need a clarification? Is that right? If so, for your benefit, I'll try to be more precise in the future.

Thank you...that explains a lot. If I understand the clarification, you are only parroting back that which you garner from US media? Why am I not surprised.

I'm sure the "media" is asking the same questions about Obama's children....not!

Argus · September 4, 2008

That leaves one man/woman standing...John McCain.

Up until this appointment I was leaning toward him. But since he chose to put his political chances ahead of his country's well-being I've reconsidered. And I've been reading up a bit more about his platform. He appears to have completely abandoned everything he ever stood for in order to woo the Christian right. He's no longer any kind of maverick, but a born-again, bible-thumping, anti-abortion, gun-loving, tax-cutting, who-cares-about-deficits phony Bush style Republican.

Who needs another one of those?

bush_cheney2004 · September 4, 2008

He's no longer any kind of maverick, but a born-again, bible-thumping, anti-abortion, gun-loving, tax-cutting, who-cares-about-deficits phony Bush style Republican.

Yes, and this time he got nominated....funny how that works, huh?

Who needs another one of those?

Only about 50,000,000 American voters. What you need is, of course, irrelevant for the matter at hand. But do go on....

Stephen Best · September 4, 2008

Outside of the first three parties, it's not anybody else's concern, not is it relevant.

What's of concern and what's relevant isn't decided by some arbitrary authority such as yourself. Each individual decides what to them is relevant and of concern. Some people think Britney Spear's custody issues are relevant. You can approve or disapprove of what people--and in the case of Sarah Palin, perhaps millions of people--concern themselves with and think relevant. What is not relevant or of concern to them is your approval or disapproval.

Black Dog · September 4, 2008

What's of concern and what's relevant isn't decided by some arbitrary authority such as yourself. Each individual decides what to them is relevant and of concern. Some people think Britney Spear's custody issues are relevant. You can approve or disapprove of what people--and in the case of Sarah Palin, perhaps millions of people--concern themselves with and think relevant. What is not relevant or of concern to them is your approval or disapproval.

But there's no evidence that Palin's parenting abilities and priorities are relevant to anybody but the chattering classes who have opted to make it the focus of their attack. I gotta hand it to you, though: I've seen a lot of concern trolls in my time on the intertubes, but you take the cake.