My very own governor as Republican Vice President nominee!

[Warbird]

I really didn't think McCain would pick Palin as his VP candidate.  She's a go getter and she is good looking, so I understand his choice.  I do think Mitt Romney or Huckabee may have been a better choice but time will tell.  I certainly have no complaints.  It'd be good for my state to have a sitting VP.  Talk about making history!  Sarah is our very first female governor.

What do you guys think about this?  And please...  do not delve into a bunch of political ramblings? Thanks. 

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/08/29/mccain-to-name-running-mate-on-friday/

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/29/palin.republican.vp.candidate/index.html

http://www.newsminer.com/news/2008/aug/29/speculation-over-mccain-veep-turns-alaska-governor/[url]

[Tom]

Putting her worth aside, I think that it is asking a lot to use this election to break ice on the Republican ticket.  A first time female Governor might be a hard sell when it's McCain that needs to be sold.

I guess we'll find out in a few minutes.

[Warbird]

I agree with ya, Tom.  I do think he picked her, in part, to try and appeal to the younger crowd and that 'popular vote' from the swing voters.  As you said, time will tell.

[Tom]

Well, It's official now.  McCain has made the announcement and I've listened to the first VP speech.

I'll have to say that the person who wrote that speech is a no-nonsense person with moxie enough for either position.  If it was written by Palin then she is a very strong, not-to-be-questioned, individual.  That's what it will take for the "Team" to win.  I just hope that her past behaviour of seeking out misappropriations, whether in her own party or not, isn't an indication that she won't take a #2 position in Government.  That was an arguement that many had bout Hillary, if you remember.  It's not the VP's place to run the country, but to do the bidding of the President and follow up on his assignments.  Here again, we well see.

I'll have to admit that  I was impressed.

Did you see McCain's face when, in the closing moments of the speech, Ferraro was honored,  and then, did you see him almost disappear when Hillary was honored,  both of them for cracking the glass ceiling of Womens suffrage.   He gathered his composure a little when he discovered that her point was for women to join with them and help shatter the glass ceiling.

I hope it doesn't just boil down to people voting just to put a woman in the whitehouse.

[DanG]

Whatever the motives, and whoever wins this election, I hope they turn out to be the best President and Vice President we've ever had.

Warbird, what does the consensus seem to be up there?  Y'all are the only ones with any real knowledge of your Governor.  I know all your papers are gonna be full of cheerleading right now, but what about the past 2 years?

[Gary_C]

Yes Warbird, now we want to hear the inside information.

For me, first appearance looks very good. She appears to be the type of person that we have all complained is not running for office. She is tough and willing to take on the good old boy politics that we all detest.

I like her alot. 

[breederman]

My first thought was about the same as Toms, that this is not the election to run a young female for veep just because she is young and female but then I heard her speech. I too think I like her. 

[Rocky_J]

One of the articles I just read mentioned that she was involved in outing Stevens and the other dude for their illegal crap. That's pretty gutsy for a young Republican to out senior Republicans for fraud and risk getting squashed like a bug.

With that in mind, and McCain's stance on eliminating pork barrel spending, looks like this country might have a fighting chance after all. Bush has destroyed the national budget and Obama just wants to spend more (to 'help the unfortunate'). More government spending isn't going to get us out of this mess, it's what got us into this mess.

[scgargoyle]

I've been reading about her for several months- and I'm impressed. For the first time this election, I'm starting to fell a glimmer of hope. She would have been my first choice, but I was shocked to see she'd been picked. I also think it's a way for McCain to pick up some disgruntled Hillary (women) voters.

[Warbird]

Warbird, what does the consensus seem to be up there?  Y'all are the only ones with any real knowledge of your Governor.  I know all your papers are gonna be full of cheerleading right now, but what about the past 2 years?

Palin is very well liked up here.  The extreme left folks like to poke barbs at her because of her party affiliation but they are ineffective because of how strong she is (both as a person and as Governor).

My opinion is that she does a great job.  I attended the swearing-in ceremony, as it was held here in Fairbanks (also a first).  A lot of folks were initially nervous about what she would do as Governor.  There was a big scare that she would attempt to move the State capitol to Anchorage or Wasilla (and the extreme left fed into that as a scare tactic).  Those fears turned out to be unfounded.

Sarah is a solid, no-nonsense, stand up and duke 'em out woman.  To boot, she is tough as nails (she was back at work 3 days after recently giving birth to her youngest son).  She might be seen as somewhat young, but she has been swimming with the 'big fish' for a few years now and she has more than held her own.  Palin has been great for Alaska and has seen to some outstanding economic reform.  She has good morals and all in all, I think she will do a great job as VP.

Tom, I believe Sarah will "do the bidding of the President" as well as any VP in history ever has.  I believe she can and will do the job with the appropriate respect, attitude, style, and flair, such as has never been seen in a VP before.  The only caveat I see to this is if the President were to direct her to commit a crime against the people of the US or do something outright illegal.  I honestly think she would stand up against it.

Anyway, that's my take on all of this.  She gets a good endorsement from me.

Now as to the downside for us Alaskans, if she is elected, the 'succession' might be a bit weird.  Succession laws here are interesting.  It might even be more strange, depending on if Parnell manages to beat out Young for Congress (here's hoping!  I really like Parnell, too).

ps.  Humorous side note...  Gov Palin's web site has been only intermittently available due to extremely high traffic since the announcement. 

[Warbird]

I just asked a buddy of mine what he thought about this and he said, "I'm voting for Obama!"

I said, "WHAT?!" (hook, line and sinker).

He said, "I don't want them to take her away from us!  She's the first good Governor we've had in years!" 

[moonhill]

Now there is a bit of Hope and Change on the other side of the isle. 

She hunts, fishes and was active in sports.  It sounds like her family is down to earth.  Not the educated Washington types, kind of like us, the working class, somewhat relatable. 

As Tom mentions, time will show more, 2 more months.  I am interested in what the media will have to say, and what side they will continue to fall on.    My Yahoo page has already started, not enough experience.......             Tim

[Norm]

I read up on her today and I like her. After Mr McCain has had his Presidency I'm looking forward to her's.

[Faron]

Well,  I am sold.  It took guts to take on corruption within her own party and win.  The nickname "Barracuda" from her high school basketball days tells me where she comes from too.

[Kansas]

I think she will pick up few, if any hillary voters. However, she gives the conservative wing of the Republican party reason to perk up-their support of Mccain has been pretty tepid. If she gets some of  them to turn out at the polls, then she has done her job. In the end though, no matter what party, rarely do people vote because of who the VP candidate is. Sometimes a VP candidate can sway a few voters from their home state, but not much more.

Warbird, I'm curious, do you think Sen. Stevens can win the general election?

[TexasTimbers]

I already said it on another thread, but I too suddenly find myself enamored with a "political figure". Not since Ronald  Reagan have I had so much hope .

I am suprised to continue to hear so many people infer (not here but on the "news") that McCain chose her because she is a woman. Man that's bunk. If he did chose her for that reason, I guess he has since learned he has gotten an intelligent, articulate, salt-of-the-earth working mom who somehow found time to start changing the wrold around her, and ended up as Governor of Alaska.

Unless she has a hidden past, and I don't thnk she would have been chosen if she did, then she is going to show herself to possibly be the first VP in history to cause fence-sitters to jump off. The media all week while the DNC ran their convention kept saying how "history shows a VP selection has never swayed voters either way" - well I think they may have to change their tune now. Even me, old fed-up-with-it-all himself, have had a smile on my face ever since I watched her speak with such a perfect blend of calm, firm, authority, intelect, and *sincerity*!

While McCain was giving his speech, I remarked to my wife "DanGit!! I wish the heck he would have taken the time to memorize his speech he is reading every word form his cue cards!!" And then as Palin was walking up to the mike I uttered to my wife in a low tone almost exasperated from McCains painful delivery . . . "I hope she doesn't have to look at every word on the cards.." And derned if she didn't harldy ever even glance down.  


Like I said, I can't wait until the poles (hehe) polls open I am gonna be first in line. I only hope McCain will ask to her counsel when he calls on his advisors, because this woman could not have gotten where she has unless she also has wisdom. And we need alot of wisdom to arrive in Washington DC as soon as possible.

[bmill]

I am very glad to see her on the ticket. I am sick and tired of all the bums in the senate. She may be just what the country needs.

She's pretty darn cute too!

[mike_van]

I've been  a McCain supporter all along, todays announcment  is a real breath of fresh air for politics.  I think he made a great choice - 

[Handy Andy]

DIttos!  You guys have said it all.

[Warbird]

Warbird, I'm curious, do you think Sen. Stevens can win the general election?

Based on how the primaries went and what I know of our state, he will likely win it.  He has brought in too much money for the state.  Most folks see that as a good thing and for lack of a better term, their vote has been bought.