Republican McCain-Palin Presidental News

By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer 10 minutes ago

DENVER - John McCain tapped little-known Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his vice presidential running mate on Friday in a startling selection on the eve of the Republican National Convention.

Two senior campaign officials disclosed Mccain's decision a few hours before the Republican presidential nominee-to-be and his newly-minted running mate appeared at a rally in swing-state Ohio.

Palin is a self-styled hockey mom and political reformer who has been governor of her state less than two years.

Palin's selection shocked numerous Republican officials.

In making his pick, Mccain passed over several more prominent prospects who had figured in speculation for months — Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge among them.

At 44, Palin is a generation younger that Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware, who is Barack Obama's running mate on the Democratic ticket.

She is three years Obama's junior, as well — and McCain has made much in recent weeks of Obama's relative lack of experience in foreign policy and defense matters.

Palin flew overnight to an airport in Ohio near Dayton, and even as she awaited her formal introduction, some aides said they had believed she was at home in Alaska.

She is a former mayor of Wasilla who became governor of her state in December, 2006 after ousting a governor of her own party in a primary and then dispatching a former governor in the general election.

More recently, she has come under the scrutiny of an investigation by the Republican-controlled legislature into the possibility that she ordered the dismissal of Alaska's public safety commissioner because he would not fire her former brother-in-law as a state trooper.

Well, we're going to have a 1st this next presidency: Either the first black President or the first female Vice President.

bobrob2004 wrote:

Well, we're going to have a 1st this next presidency: Either the first black President or the first female Vice President.

Not necessarily...a third party candidate could win

Is it treason if I say

Spoiler:

catbox_9 wrote:

bobrob2004 wrote:

Well, we're going to have a 1st this next presidency: Either the first black President or the first female Vice President.

Not necessarily...a third party candidate could win

Is it treason if I say

Spoiler:

No way will a third candidate win;


Not the way our elections are set up and how the media; especially the liberal ones bamboozle the average voter

May as well vote for McCain.


Obama would be horrible for our nation as President


We don't need a flag hating, socialist Muslim in the Oval Office

Ron Paul has my vote!

Friday, August 29, 2008
McCain picks Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as running mate
Gary Heinlein / Detroit News Lansing Bureau

DAYTON -- In a stunning surprise, Republican John McCain chose first-term Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate, tossing aside his widely reported "short list" of better-known candidates.

McCain and Palin, who is pro-life and carries conservative credentials, appeared together for the first time today, to the wild cheers of supporters at a lunchtime rally in battleground Ohio.

A self-described hockey mom, lifetime National Rifle Association member and chief of an oil-producing state, Palin is 44; McCain turns 72 today -- and was serenaded by the crowd with the "Happy Birthday" song. She's a Washington outsider; he's a United States senator.

Both, however, describe themselves as Republican mavericks. And all those factors, the McCain camp believes, will play well with voters and steal some thunder from Barack Obama's campaign.

McCain said he looked for a running mate "who can best help me shake up Washington and make it work again for the people who are counting on us."

He said "had many good people to choose from" but picked Palin, the daughter of teachers and the wife of fisherman and oil field worker, because she has executive experience and a record as a reformer.

"She's not from Washington and she's not from these parts, but when you get to know her, you're going to be as impressed as I am," McCain told the Ohio audience.

"She's exactly who I need; she's exactly who this country needs to help me fight the same old Washington politics of 'me first.'"

"Senator, I am honored to be chosen as your running mate," an ebullient Palin said following McCain's introduction.

"I will be honored to serve next to the next president of the United States."

Palin said that as governor, she "stood up to the old politics as usual," including the oil industry and "the good old boy network."

"To be chosen brings a great challenge and I know it'll demand the best that I can give and I promise no less," she vowed.

Despite Hillary Clinton's failure to get onto the Democratic ballot, Palin said gleefully, "It turns out the women of America aren't finished yet and we can shatter that glass ceiling once and for all."

Palin is the first woman on a Republican presidential ticket -- Geraldine Ferraro ran for vice president as a Democrat in1984 -- and could be attractive to disaffected Clinton supporters who haven't jumped onto the Obama bandwagon. But Palin also might be ripe for criticism that she's relatively inexperienced -- the same rap the McCain campaign is hanging on Obama.

Palin, whom McCain said has a "fighting spirit and deep compassion," is credited with reforms of her out-of-the-way state, which only has three Electoral College votes. She has five children, including an Army enlistee who'll deploy to Iraq next month and a baby born in April with Down Syndrome, and she appeared on the cover of Vogue magazine this year as a woman to watch.

Her husband, Todd Palin, is part Yup'ik Eskimo, and is a blue-collar North Slope oil worker who competes in the Iron Dog, a 1,900-mile snowmobile race. They've been married 20 years today.

That the McCain campaign kept its surprise under wraps until this morning was nothing short of miraculous, given the blanket news coverage of the candidate, and of those he reportedly was considering to run with him against Democrats Obama and Joe Biden. The strategy may help the Republican ticket take control of the political spotlight from the Democrats, whose convention ended in Denver Thursday night, and increase interest in next week's Republican convention.

Among those short-listers on whom speculation has centered for weeks were Michigan native Mitt Romney and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, whose state hosts the GOP national convention in St. Paul next week.

Some Michigan Republicans had hoped for Romney, whose father was governor in the 1960s. Mitt Romney won Michigan's Jan. 15 presidential primary over McCain and some analysts believed he would help boost McCain in a key battleground state.

But the two battered each other in the primaries, which occasionally took on a bitter tone, and some conservatives are uncomfortable with Romney's flip-flop on abortion, which he now says he opposes.

Saul Anuzis, the chair of the Michigan Republican Party, said Palin "helps with the voters that propelled (Gov. Jennifer) Granholm to victory in Michigan: suburban voters, especially women in places like Oakland County and West Michigan."

Anuzis said she'll excite Republicans who are strongly pro-life. As governor of a state with a tradition of outdoor sports, and as a government watchdog, Palin also will appeal to hunters and government reformers, he said

"She will appeal strongly to our voters all across Michigan who believe in the right to bear arms and can speak the same language of the hundreds of thousands of Michigan voters who spend their fall hunting deer in northern Michigan," Anuzis said.

He acknowledged some disappointment that Romney wasn't picked because of his Michigan ties and knowledge of the auto industry.

"Of course, for Michigan's sake, we would have loved to see our 'favorite son' be on the ticket, but there is a lot to get excited about with Sarah Palin."

In a Rasmussen Reports survey released Friday, two-thirds of likely voters were unsure when asked if they had a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Palin, the highest level of uncertainty among 11 potential running mates tested, and a sign that a large majority of Americans are unaware of the Alaska governor.

She was elected two years ago after defeating incumbent Gov. Frank Murkowski, also under an ethical cloud, in the Republican primary. Her victory came after six years as mayor of Wasilla, a town of about 8,500 people.

Staff writers Gordon Trowbridge, Deb Price and Charlie Cain contributed to this report.

I like Palin, she has taken on corrupt politicians in Alaska and has an approval rating in Alaska that is over 80%! She has taken on big oil companies, has reformed the Alaska government, cutting junk programs, as Governor, is commander and chief of the Alaska National Guard, wants to go to clean power, but drill for Oil in the short term, while starting to work on Nuclear power, Hydrogen powered cars, wind power, etc!

She wants to stop wasteful spending, and cut taxes on the middle class and lower.

She has beliefs closer to Ron Paul than the failed do nothing Rep. and Dems we see in government today.

laprimamirala wrote:

Ron Paul has my vote!

Is he running?

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

I like Palin, she has taken on corrupt politicians in Alaska and has an approval rating in Alaska that is over 80%! She has taken on big oil companies, has reformed the Alaska government, cutting junk programs, as Governor, is commander and chief of the Alaska National Guard, wants to go to clean power, but drill for Oil in the short term, while starting to work on Nuclear power, Hydrogen powered cars, wind power, etc!

She wants to stop wasteful spending, and cut taxes on the middle class and lower.

She has beliefs closer to Ron Paul than the failed do nothing Rep. and Dems we see in government today.

I think McCain made a wise choice

gs78 wrote:

laprimamirala wrote:

Ron Paul has my vote!

Is he running?

doesn't matter! I'm writin' him in!

laprimamirala wrote:

Ron Paul has my vote!

I was rooting for him although I never really researched why...

I like his policy of nonintervention
I like his hatred of fiat-based currency although I tend to believe that will never be fixed
I very strongly oppose his support of an anti-flag burning amendment
I don't really like his pro-gun attitude or his blasé attitude about whether individuals should be allowed to own automatic weapons
I like his support of jury nullification, but technically it's already perfectly legal in every state
I do like how he wants to eliminate affirmative action in college admissions
I very strongly oppose his opposition to Roe v. Wade
I am glad to see he supports stem cell research
I support his pro-same-sex union policy and forbidding the federal government from defining marriage

Overall, we could do worse.

gs78 wrote:

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

I like Palin, she has taken on corrupt politicians in Alaska and has an approval rating in Alaska that is over 80%! She has taken on big oil companies, has reformed the Alaska government, cutting junk programs, as Governor, is commander and chief of the Alaska National Guard, wants to go to clean power, but drill for Oil in the short term, while starting to work on Nuclear power, Hydrogen powered cars, wind power, etc!

She wants to stop wasteful spending, and cut taxes on the middle class and lower.

She has beliefs closer to Ron Paul than the failed do nothing Rep. and Dems we see in government today.

I think McCain made a wise choice

McCain criticizes Obama for having not enough experience. So what does McCain do? Goes ahead an picks a running mate with even less experience!

Obama should have picked Hillary to be his running mate and now McCain goofs on his choice. Really smart candidates we have here...

catbox_9 wrote:

laprimamirala wrote:

Ron Paul has my vote!

I was rooting for him although I never really researched why...

I like his policy of nonintervention
I like his hatred of fiat-based currency although I tend to believe that will never be fixed
I very strongly oppose his support of an anti-flag burning amendment
I don't really like his pro-gun attitude or his blasé attitude about whether individuals should be allowed to own automatic weapons
I like his support of jury nullification, but technically it's already perfectly legal in every state
I do like how he wants to eliminate affirmative action in college admissions
I very strongly oppose his opposition to Roe v. Wade
I am glad to see he supports stem cell research
I support his pro-same-sex union policy and forbidding the federal government from defining marriage

Overall, we could do worse.

LOTS worse...

bobrob2004 wrote:

gs78 wrote:

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

I like Palin, she has taken on corrupt politicians in Alaska and has an approval rating in Alaska that is over 80%! She has taken on big oil companies, has reformed the Alaska government, cutting junk programs, as Governor, is commander and chief of the Alaska National Guard, wants to go to clean power, but drill for Oil in the short term, while starting to work on Nuclear power, Hydrogen powered cars, wind power, etc!

She wants to stop wasteful spending, and cut taxes on the middle class and lower.

She has beliefs closer to Ron Paul than the failed do nothing Rep. and Dems we see in government today.

I think McCain made a wise choice

McCain criticizes Obama for having not enough experience. So what does McCain do? Goes ahead an picks a running mate with even less experience!

Obama should have picked Hillary to be his running mate and now McCain goofs on his choice. Really smart candidates we have here...

What you said. They both screwed up but I'd say McCain's screw-up was worse.

catbox_9 wrote:

bobrob2004 wrote:

gs78 wrote:

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

I like Palin, she has taken on corrupt politicians in Alaska and has an approval rating in Alaska that is over 80%! She has taken on big oil companies, has reformed the Alaska government, cutting junk programs, as Governor, is commander and chief of the Alaska National Guard, wants to go to clean power, but drill for Oil in the short term, while starting to work on Nuclear power, Hydrogen powered cars, wind power, etc!

She wants to stop wasteful spending, and cut taxes on the middle class and lower.

She has beliefs closer to Ron Paul than the failed do nothing Rep. and Dems we see in government today.

I think McCain made a wise choice

McCain criticizes Obama for having not enough experience. So what does McCain do? Goes ahead an picks a running mate with even less experience!

Obama should have picked Hillary to be his running mate and now McCain goofs on his choice. Really smart candidates we have here...

What you said. They both screwed up but I'd say McCain's screw-up was worse.

I agree.

laprimamirala wrote:

gs78 wrote:

laprimamirala wrote:

Ron Paul has my vote!

Is he running?

doesn't matter! I'm writin' him in!

It won't be counted

too bad! they don't want my vote very badly then, do they?

Quote :

McCain criticizes Obama for having not enough
experience. So what does McCain do? Goes ahead an picks a running mate
with even less experience!

Obama has no executive managerial experience. He has not even been there, this term in Washington, since he has been on the election trail. At least his VP choice has some experience, but not executive!

Palin has at least been a governor of a state and done the same type of work a President, or VP will do. I'll take 20 months of fighting corruption in government, and reforming a party as a Governor (with an over 80% approval rating), over Obama's wishful thinking (and single digit approval rating)!

At least her beliefs are also closer to those of the founding Fathers!

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

Quote :

McCain criticizes Obama for having not enough
experience. So what does McCain do? Goes ahead an picks a running mate
with even less experience!

Obama has no executive managerial experience. He has not even been there, this term in Washington, since he has been on the election trail. At least his VP choice has some experience, but not executive!

Palin has at least been a governor of a state and done the same type of work a President, or VP will do. I'll take 20 months of fighting corruption in government, and reforming a party as a Governor (with an over 80% approval rating), over Obama's wishful thinking (and single digit approval rating)!

At least her beliefs are also closer to those of the founding Fathers!

You got that right!


The more I read about her; The more I agree with McCain's decision

Saturday, August 30, 2008
Alaska Libertarian Party congratulates Sarah Palin
by Eric Dondero

In the late Fall and early Winter of 2006, I spent two months up in Alaska working for the Libertarian Party of AK, on an initiative to overturn the ban on smoking at Anchorage bars and bingo parlors. During that time I had the pleasure of spending a great deal of time with Libertarian Party of Alaska State Chairman Jason Dowell. Jason is 32, and works at a well-known downtown Anchorage restaurant. I even crashed on Jason's couch a few nights.

I was there at the height of the election season. Jason and I got to know the Sarah Palin campaign volunteers and staffers. During the final three days of the election, we volunteered for her Campaign. In fact, by chance, we ended up waving signs with Sarah Palin herself, and her Mom on the busiest street corner in all of Anchorage for about 3 to 4 hours. We stood with Sarah, her Mom and two other volunteers right in the very narrow median waving the bright red signs to passers by right at rush hour. (Photo of one of her sign waving events.)

In fact, as soon as Sarah Palin realized who it was that was by her side, she turned to Jason and gave him a big hug and thank you for volunteering for her campaign. Then she shouted out excitedly to her Campaign Manager across the street, "The Libertarians are here... They're endorsing my campaign..."

On Election Night Jason and I made our way to the Egan Center in downtown Anchorage for the traditional gathering of all Alaska politicos and media. Thousands were there. That day Libertarian Gubernatorial candidate the ever-flamboyant Billy Toien told other Libertarians that they should just vote for Sarah, and not him. He had dropped hints of this at previous "debates" with Sarah and the dreaded Democrat candidate fmr. Governor Tony Knowles. Jason also informed other Libertarians that he was "voting for Sarah" as LP State Chairman. Libertarian stalwart Rob Cliff, LPA State Secretary, and organizer of the Ancorage LP weekly meetings, agreed. Rob had hosted Palin as a speaker to the LP of Anchorage supper club in May of that year.

We met Billy, and about 6 or 7 other Libertarian Party members at Egan. We all sat at one round table that was reserved for the LP. Billy was still joking around that he had actually voted for Sarah and not himself. Nobody could tell if he was serious or not. Some of the more radical LPers just shook their heads.

By about 9:00 pm the big board was showing Sarah Palin comfortably ahead. By about 9:30 pm it was clear she had won.

Around that time she strolled in with a legion of hootin' and hollerin' supporters. She eventually made her way up to the podium.

During her gracious but enthusiastic acceptance speech, Governor-elect Palin, mentioned the Libertarian Party twice, and went out of her way to point to "her friend" Billy Toien seated at the nearby table of Libertarians, and to thank him for his support and the support of the Libertarian Party.

After the speech, Jason Dowell was one of the first individuals she shaked hands with and gave a hug too. It was clear that the Libertarian Party of Alaska was a welcome member of her coalition.

Today, Jason Dowell posts this blog entry at the official Libertarian Party of Alaska website:

LIBERTARIAN PARTY OF ALASKA CONGRATULATES SARAH PALIN

By now, most, if not all have heard the news about presidential contender McCain choosing Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. This blog would like to remind libertarians that Governor Palin has in the past taken her time to address and hear the concerns of the Alaska Libertarian Party.

Palin once described herself as in agreement with many libertarian values when she was running for Governor in 2006. Eric Dondero, a libertarian republican activist for many years, writes a good article describing Palin’s libertarian tendencies.

Is Palin a full-blown libertarian? No. Is she the best person for the job? I’m pretty partial to Wayne Allyn Root, the Vice Presidential nominee of the Libertarian Party. Bob Barr’s choice for veep, Root has an extensive resume, and is a businessman, television producer and author.

Overall, the selection of Sarah Palin by McCain is a good thing. McCain could have picked rabid gun control advocates Rudy Guliani, Michael Bloomberg or Joe Lieberman, all of whom were mentioned as under consideration by McCain as a running mate.

gs78 wrote:

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

Quote :

McCain criticizes Obama for having not enough
experience. So what does McCain do? Goes ahead an picks a running mate
with even less experience!

Obama has no executive managerial experience. He has not even been there, this term in Washington, since he has been on the election trail. At least his VP choice has some experience, but not executive!

Palin has at least been a governor of a state and done the same type of work a President, or VP will do. I'll take 20 months of fighting corruption in government, and reforming a party as a Governor (with an over 80% approval rating), over Obama's wishful thinking (and single digit approval rating)!

At least her beliefs are also closer to those of the founding Fathers!

You got that right!


The more I read about her; The more I agree with McCain's decision

That's what we all need to do! Instead of just taking the talking points of the Dems and Repubs, we need to read up on her.

If you remember, I earlier posted an article about her filing a law suit against the Federal Govt. for telling state governments what they can and can't do with their own land! It really irks me when the federal government oversteps their legal bounds and do things that the constitution clearly states are up to the individual states to determine, and really illegal for the Fed. Govt. to even try to do! The Federal government is out of control, and it will take a maverick, like Governor Palin, to reform the Fed. Govt.!!!! We need an outsider, who has not made her life, living in politics, (unlike the Clintons) to reform the Republican party (as well as all the other parties).

I think it is interesting that in the above article, it is the Libertarian Party of AK that is praising her!

I agree

Another problem with this selection - she's from Alaska. By doing that it pretty much guarantees they'll win Alaska. Of course Alaska has only 3 electoral votes and has never not voted Republican so they gained nothing. Obama didn't really gain much picking someone from Deleware (although Deleware is sort of a swing state) so I'd say his bad pick is less bad.

The best choice would have been a VP from Virginia for either one of them as Virginia is far enough away from their home states and the latest polls there are 46.0% to 46.0%

catbox_9 wrote:

Another problem with this selection - she's from Alaska. By doing that it pretty much guarantees they'll win Alaska. Of course Alaska has only 3 electoral votes and has never not voted Republican so they gained nothing. Obama didn't really gain much picking someone from Deleware (although Deleware is sort of a swing state) so I'd say his bad pick is less bad.

The best choice would have been a VP from Virginia for either one of them as Virginia is far enough away from their home states and the latest polls there are 46.0% to 46.0%

True;


But I think McCain made a better decision than Obama did;