DENVER (AP) — John McCain tapped Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, a conservative who shares his maverick streak, to be the Republican vice presidential running mate on Friday in a startling selection on the eve of the Republican National Convention.

In an announcement, McCain’s campaign said that Palin, who has been governor less than two years, “has the record of reform and bipartisanship that others can only speak of.

“Her experience in shaking up the status quo is exactly what is needed in Washington today,” the announcement said.

McCain and Palin were appearing together in swing-state Ohio later in the day.

Palin has a strong anti-abortion record, and her selection was praised warmly by social conservatives whose support Mccain needs to prevail in the campaign for the White House.

This is certainly a surprise (especially as Harriet Miers is still available). Seriously, though, given his age and health, he’s not doing the American people any favors choosing someone with Ms Palin’s resume, or lack thereof. If McCain wins, we have a very real chance of finding his VP in charge eventually. I was hoping he’d pick someone with serious economic credentials to balance his ignorance on the subject. Someone with an understanding and a plan for positive impact on our disabled economy. If nothing else, though, this should mute the Republican claim that Obama is not experienced enough.

Obama is STILL not experienced enough.....but I agree that it isn’t the best pick.  I also think that they shouldn’t use the headline “Taps female Governor”....

A Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Runner up Miss Alaska 1984, a pending investigation against Palin approved 12-0 by the bipartisan Joint Legislative Council, 1 1/2 years as Governor and previous to that 2 terms as mayor of a town of <7000 people.  McCain has lived longer than his father and grandfather, so we really need to think “Is Palin ready to be president?” Based on her experience, or lack there of, the answer is a clear “Absolutely not.”

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, John McCain’s surprise vice-presidential pick, is the subject of a legislative probe into claims that she abused her office by trying to get her former brother-in-law fired from his job as an Alaska state trooper.

Seeing how McCain only chose Palin because she appeases the religious right he would do well to cut his losses now before she is caught up in a bitter family scandal.

Finally after months of fawning, obsequious media coverage of Obama, McCain has completely upstaged him!  I don’t think that Obama supporters can really attack Palin’s experience or ethics without turning the spotlight back on his own lack of experience or ethics.

bzz_bzz - 30 August 2008 01:31 PM

Finally after months of fawning, obsequious media coverage of Obama, McCain has completely upstaged him!  I don’t think that Obama supporters can really attack Palin’s experience or ethics without turning the spotlight back on his own lack of experience or ethics.

Its not a game, bzz.  You want a Commander in Chief in charge of our young troops’ lives who has heard about the war in Iraq “on the news”?

I’ve been so focused on state government, I haven’t really focused much on the war in Iraq. I heard on the news about the new deployments
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/08/palin-on-iraq.html

This is far from acceptable.  Its not about “upstaging”, its about our lives and our livelihood.  Aside of being mayor of a small town and becoming governor with a little over 100,000 votes, Palin hasn’t even held a job.  And in the short time she’s held public office, she’s already under an ethics investigation in her home state.

I realize this isn’t a game.  Fortunately, the top of the ticket is McCain, who advocated the successful surge strategy long before it was implemented and who has made foreign policy one of the most important parts of his campaign.  Comparing McCain’s foreign policy and military experience with Obama’s shows how weak Obama really is.  Say what you want about Palin’s experience level but Obama is no more qualified and with virtually no private sector work experience, some would argue much less qualified.  Continually mouthing the words “hope” and “change” are not accomplishments.

Oh, and tea_time, if you’re going to cite Sarah Palin’s record, don’t just cherry pick the things that you think highlight her lack of qualification.  Do you honestly think she’s never had job?!  Per Wikipedia:
“Palin holds a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism from the University of Idaho, where she also minored in political science.  She married Todd Palin, her boyfriend since high school, on August 29, 1988. She then briefly worked as a sports reporter for local Anchorage television stations while also working in commercial fishing with her husband.”
She started in politics serving on the PTA, was elected to the Wasilla city council, was elected mayor and ran for lieutenant governor.  Also:
“Governor Murkowski appointed Palin Ethics Commissioner of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, where she served from 2003 to 2004 until resigning in protest over what she called the “lack of ethics” of fellow Alaskan Republican leaders, who ignored her whistleblowing complaints of legal violations and conflicts of interest.”
She has taken on corruption in her own party, implemented tax relief on the city and state levels for her constituents and has had high approval ratings for much of her tenure.

Oh, and one more thing--if the number of votes cast in a gubernatorial election matters, what does that say about our “governor” that she was elected with 133 votes that Dean Logan “found” down at the King County elections department?

Experience counts.  Every Democrat given a microphone for the last year has said so.

What’s this baloney about Governor Palin’s “lack of experience”?  I hope Governor Palin takes on Senator Obama head to head.  Experience as a governor making decisions and running a state vs a senator wanting to be president and talking eloquently about his dreams?  No contest.  A governor who has taken on big oil and won vs a senator wanting to be president who talks about taking on big oil but has accomplished nothing?  No contest.  A governor who has driven ranks of corruption out or her state vs a senator wanting to be president who talks a lot about integrity in government?  No Contest.  A vastly more experienced president backed by a vp with real executive experience vs a senator lacking even legislative success backed by another senator whose executive experience is running a senate committee?  Where’s the contest there?  As our next president we’re supposed to vote for the senator who has accomplished nothing but talk because the more qualified candidate for president has selected a vp who has “only” run a state?  You must be kidding me. 

No experience???  Just because talk radio warriors and blogsphere experts say so doesn’t make it so.  You go get ‘em Governor Palin.  Don’t let anyone disrespect your experience, accomplishments, or ability.

Palin will not know what to say.  When asked about “the surge” she said she heard of new deployments “on the news”.  She’s out of her league. Her resume consists of 2nd runner up Miss Alaska, 2 terms as Wasilla mayor, pop. ~7000, and 1 1/2 years as governor.  When asked about handling Iraq, along with her response about hearing of “the surge” on the news, she said she didn’t pay attention to much outside the state of Alaska. Good luck to her in Alaska - Lord know she needs it with the upcoming investigation and the $15 million ice arena Wasilla residents are paying for in remembrance of Palin’s 6-year mayoral legacy, strikingly similar to Bush’s baseball stadium land deal in Texas.

bzz_bzz - 30 August 2008 01:31 PM

Finally after months of fawning, obsequious media coverage of Obama, McCain has completely upstaged him!  I don’t think that Obama supporters can really attack Palin’s experience or ethics without turning the spotlight back on his own lack of experience or ethics.

No kidding.  Can anyone say “Tony Reznik”?  How about “Jeremiah Wright”?  As a matter of fact, here’s a very interesting little piece about Obama’s political tactics back in 1996:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3Ned5TQoW4

Thursday night while watching Obama’s speech, I wondered why McCain didn’t announce his Veep choice that day in order to take a little steam out of Messiah Obama’s platform.  When I watched the coverage of McCain’s announcement of Palin the next day, however, I understood why he waited and realized that there were people all around the country saying “Barack who?”

Tea Time

Do you actually believe that McCain brought her on to be the Expert on The War in Iraq?  If so, you are wrong..

She is being investigated due to the fact that her Ex In Law was put on report more than once and was not fired but a guy that was replaced by her.  Nothing more.  It is an investigation of Conflict of Interest.  Nothing more. 

Look at her record of tearing down the Corruption in Alaska that has haunted Alaska for the past 20 years.  She took them on.  She Won. 

Experience or not, she has a proven track record for change.  Barack has nothing.  Biden is worse.  Ask the Mortgage industry..

McCain is the oldest presidential candidate in history, living more years than his father and grandfather, and you’re suggesting, Tigers, that McCain isn’t considering what the VP would do about the war in Iraq, in Afghanistan, or the War on Terror in general, keeping us safe from terrorists who wish to attack us on our own soil if she were to have to step into the Commander in Chief position?  What would she do?  She doesn’t know either, just a month ago she was filmed saying “What exactly is it that the VP does everyday?” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=006axc2aELE&feature=related

An inexperienced, religious fundamentalist who abused her power to try to have her ex-brother-in-law fired, who didn’t even know what the job of VP was about...great candidate for the person who will fill McCain’s spot.

Palin took on corruption? Ha! Ted Stevens is dancing a merry jig.

Hello, the White House isn’t the PTA.

Experience or not, she has a proven track record for change

I don’t think diapers count.

Define ‘track record’....18 months does not a track record make. 

It’s easy to give tax breaks to oil rich Alaskans when the state always has a surplus, it’s easy to give up private planes and personal chefs and claim you’re working for the regular citizen, Palin doesn’t believe in climate change, she doesn’t believe women should control their own bodies and she doesn’t believe Bush made a mistake rushing into Iraq and wasting 4,150 American lives and $551,000,000,000 tax payer’s dollars....and Osama bin Laden is still out there.

McCain himself has a low opinion of the vice presidency, which he’s frequently described as a job that involves attending funerals and checking on the health of the president. (Happy 72nd birthday, Johnny!)

Lee_USA - 31 August 2008 04:36 PM

An inexperienced, religious fundamentalist who abused her power to try to have her ex-brother-in-law fired, who didn’t even know what the job of VP was about...great candidate for the person who will fill McCain’s spot.

Palin took on corruption? Ha! Ted Stevens is dancing a merry jig.

Hello, the White House isn’t the PTA.

Do you know this to be an indisputable FACT Lee? 

I’d accept this alot easier than Barack sitting in the same Hatred filld church for the last 20 years and then all of sudden claims he didn’t agree with Reverend Race Card.

Do you know this to be an indisputable FACT Lee? 

I’d accept this alot easier than Barack sitting in the same Hatred filld church for the last 20 years and then all of sudden claims he didn’t agree with Reverend Race Card.

What is fact is this:

Palin asked the question just a month ago “What is it the VP does everyday?”

That after she said she doesn’t pay that much attention to politics outside of Alaska, she heard about redeployment of troops on the news.

Palin took on corruption? Ha! Ted Stevens is dancing a merry jig.

Do you know this to be an indisputable FACT Lee? 

Palin has not been shy about taking on at least some of the GOP establishment in Alaska. She unseated a Republican governor in a primary fight and in the recent congressional primary she endorsed the opponent of longtime Republican congressman Don Young. But all that only highlights her seeming unwillingness to buck Ted Stevens too much. She pointedly did not endorse any of Stevens recent opponents in his Republican primary.

Recently Palin said - “I have great respect for the Senator. He needs to be heard across America. His voice, his experience, his passion needs to be heard across America so that Alaska can contribute more.”

Yep.

Lee_USA and tea_time, you guys are soulmates in liberal hypocrisy and all joking aside, you should probably meet in person because you would have a lot in common.  Maybe you could get together at the food co-op for something vegan, free-range, grass-fed, cage-free and organic.  Top it off with a couple of fair-trade, shade-grown soy lattes.  Then you can gnash your teeth about George Bush or fantasize about a socialist utopia or do what ever else libs do when they hang out. 
You all wouldn’t be so hysterical about Palin if you weren’t really worried!  She is going to shore up the Conservative base in ways McCain can’t.  Obama is much further left than the mainstream of this country will ever be and the more he talks, the more obvious it becomes.

Can’t focus on the issue - have to resort to personal attacks.

Any comments on the issues bzz?  1 month ago Sarah Palin didn’t understand what a VP does everyday, now she’s running for that position and could very likely be CIC.  If you’re good with that, its not because of good judgment, its because of Democrat hatred and nothing more.