Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin Is McCain's VP Pick

[HAL 9000 96]

I'm gonna steal these from Fark, they're just too good not to pass along:

Lets see Obama:

Obama entered Harvard Law School in late 1988 and at the end of his first year was selected as an editor of the Harvard Law Review based on his grades and a writing competition.[17] In his second year he was elected president of the Law Review, a full-time volunteer position functioning as editor-in-chief and supervising the law review's staff of 80 editors.[18] Obama's election in February 1990 as the first black president of the Harvard Law Review was widely reported and followed by several long, detailed profiles.[18] He graduated with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) magna cum laude from Harvard in 1991 and returned to Chicago where he had worked as a summer associate at the law firms of Sidley & Austin in 1989 and Hopkins & Sutter in 1990.[17][19]

Palin:

In 1984, after winning the Miss Wasilla contest earlier that year, Palin finished second in the Miss Alaska beauty pageant which won her a scholarship to help pay her way through college.[5] In the Wasilla pageant, she played the flute and also won Miss Congeniality.

Yeah, that's exactly the same being the top of your class at Harvard Law school and being the winner in beauty pageants is the same experience for president.

And:

Oh, I needed that. The day after the vice-presidential debate, there are going to be chunks of Palin in Joe Biden's stool.

Well you know... indeed a smart and strategic choice that we can all laugh at. Lets see how many more judgement and experience calls we continue to bitterly read here.

Let me get this straight, anyone here who doesn't think this was a dumb choice is "bitter"?

I see the same old misogyny we saw in the primaries is rearing its head again.

Definitely didn't get it Robin... I am not playing opposites. Nor am I labeling anyone or hating anyone on account of gender... perhaps you could shoulder the brunt of proving (if you're indeed calling me a woman hater). Just the usual suspects that know little more to do than laugh with pettiness are the bitter ones.

Like I stated quite easily to read (not directed at you, btw), its a matter of strategy that may not end up being the smarted move after all. I think the bulk majority of Democratic voters are either completely over the entire misogyny drama show we all saw during the Primary season. Not to mention the obvious Republican attempt to drive chaos into the Democratic Party... which again... makes one wonder where certain people's logic lies... with issues or with bitter pettiness. I for one prefer to focus on things that matter like those things Obama is campaignin over.

And I wasn't directing that "misogyny" charge at you, btw. Although I'm sure as someone who likes to focus on "

the issues" you will agree that whether or not this woman was once a beauty queen is irrelevant.

As for "bitter" I think you might want a better choice of wording if you want to win people over. constantly using that word to describe people who might not agree with you strikes me as quite petty.

I think suggesting that the choice of Sarah Palin as solely an attempt to "drive chaos in the Democratic party is wrong. She is a good choice for the Republicans for many reasons - a few of which I have stated upthread. She is not a perfect choice, and she is inexperienced (though with 2 more years executive experience than Obama) and if people want to focus on the "issues" that is a fair way to criticize her. Bringing up her looks or the fact she was a runner up to Miss Alaska is.....a little dangerous.

Yes I agree that it really isn't a big deal. Nor do I think looks is a relevant factor in electability... contrary to what known case studies shed light on about the subject... but that's another topic.

Not sure I have to win anyone over. That's what the campaign is supposed to do. For all anyone knows here, I could actually be a Republican continuing some dirty campaign game on VJ.

[Ggreen 12]

8 more years of Bush!t...

[Marlita 0]

What if there were 2 white men running against each other. One picked an attractive woman that was well qualified as a running mate. The other picked an attractive woman, not really qualified, but with bigger knockers. Would you still consider the strategy smart?

Exactly, this shows that McCain is not choosing anyone for what they can do for this country his sole purpose in choosing her was for votes...votes to get HIM in office. I mean honestly people...do you think McCain and his crew will EVER let that lady run anything. She'll be another Cheney.

OMG! If HC supporters vote for this ticket JUST for the sole fact that JM picked a woman, well let them fools vote that way. That would be the stupidest thing ever. I really thought that HC supporters were alot smarter than that, but with comments like this I am rethinking that position.

And BO is pulling African-American voters for the same reason....

HA! Thats what everyone seems to think...but in reality most Black voters were HC supporters cause they were big fans on BC. But now that HC is out they are moving more to BO.

got any facts to back that up?

I'm Black and most everyone I know is too!

in the big picture ... you and people you personally know ... might be considered a very very very small group

well duh! But so many people who are not Black seem to think they have a clear idea on what we think in this election, just by lookin at our skin color. When in actuality they are so off base its amazing. I dont just mean myself and friends I mean the Black Community. *(thats how we see it)

so ... you and your friends represent the whole black community?

where are the illegal ... mexican ... brown peoples commenters?

*guys ... this is a real soft pitch ... gonna hit it*

haha, oh God you didnt get it. Guess you have to just know.

[HAL 9000 96]

Better to refer to common sense. Not that statistics favor much in terms of natural intelligence in many beauty queens... but still...

Really now.....do you have IQ statistics of beauty queens to prove this? Are being beautiful and being smart mutually exclusive? Interesting.

Refer to my previous reply. While I do think that intelligence, as a psychosocial component of one's learning, tends to take a back seat in our society as displaced by other endeavors we all know fairly well, it is not absolutely mutually exclusive to physical appearance.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Better to refer to common sense. Not that statistics favor much in terms of natural intelligence in many beauty queens... but still...

Really now.....do you have IQ statistics of beauty queens to prove this? Are being beautiful and being smart mutually exclusive? Interesting.

Well, beauty queen is not the same thing as beautiful woman.

No it is not. But having a bit of fun in a beauty pagaent doesn't make you a less smart/an airhead. I mean, does liking things like beauty contents, reality television and makeup undermine your intelligence or make you less of a feminist? I tend to think not.

Not sure I have to win anyone over. That's what the campaign is supposed to do. For all anyone knows here, I could actually be a Republican continuing some dirty campaign game on VJ.

You have one to win over. But I know a lot of Dems who like Obama but really hate how strident of some of his supporters can be.....kind of the way I feel about religion.

[Jenn! 918]

Better to refer to common sense. Not that statistics favor much in terms of natural intelligence in many beauty queens... but still...

Really now.....do you have IQ statistics of beauty queens to prove this? Are being beautiful and being smart mutually exclusive? Interesting.

Well, beauty queen is not the same thing as beautiful woman.

No it is not. But having a bit of fun in a beauty pagaent doesn't make you a less smart/an airhead. I mean, does liking things like beauty contents, reality television and makeup undermine your intelligence or make you less of a feminist? I tend to think not.

Maybe I have certain prejudices about that, but if I were to speak honestly, yes I would think that generally speaking, pageant contestants are less intelligent than women who would not participate in that sort of thing.

That's not to say that I think Ms. Palin is unintelligent by any means. Just speaking generally...

And I also feel pageants are anti-feminist as well, in addition to being a poor example for young girls.

[amiquechu 0]

Why are some liberals so pissed about McCain's VP selection? Nervous, maybe?

[no name 1]

Better to refer to common sense. Not that statistics favor much in terms of natural intelligence in many beauty queens... but still...

Really now.....do you have IQ statistics of beauty queens to prove this? Are being beautiful and being smart mutually exclusive? Interesting.

Well, beauty queen is not the same thing as beautiful woman.

No it is not. But having a bit of fun in a beauty pagaent doesn't make you a less smart/an airhead. I mean, does liking things like beauty contents, reality television and makeup undermine your intelligence or make you less of a feminist? I tend to think not.

Maybe I have certain prejudices about that, but if I were to speak honestly, yes I would think that generally speaking, pageant contestants are less intelligent than women who would not participate in that sort of thing.

That's not to say that I think Ms. Palin is unintelligent by any means. Just speaking generally...

And I also feel pageants are anti-feminist as well, in addition to being a poor example for young girls.

We also know she is a hunter & was captain of her bball squad and surely athleticism means you're a good leader. (See Obama {THE SMOKER} shooting hoops yesterday). But sh*t, why focus on any strengths when the Obama-bots can just pull out the misogyny #######.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Better to refer to common sense. Not that statistics favor much in terms of natural intelligence in many beauty queens... but still...

Really now.....do you have IQ statistics of beauty queens to prove this? Are being beautiful and being smart mutually exclusive? Interesting.

Well, beauty queen is not the same thing as beautiful woman.

No it is not. But having a bit of fun in a beauty pagaent doesn't make you a less smart/an airhead. I mean, does liking things like beauty contents, reality television and makeup undermine your intelligence or make you less of a feminist? I tend to think not.

Maybe I have certain prejudices about that, but if I were to speak honestly, yes I would think that generally speaking, pageant contestants are less intelligent than women who would not participate in that sort of thing.

That's not to say that I think Ms. Palin is unintelligent by any means. Just speaking generally...

And I also feel pageants are anti-feminist as well, in addition to being a poor example for young girls.

I thnk if she had defined herself by her beauty or her pagaent wins it would be a fair point but she hasn't so it's not. She was also a star basketball player, apparently.

I'm not a big fan of pagaents but I think women have bigger fish to fry than beauty pagaents.

[natty bumppo 297]

What if there were 2 white men running against each other. One picked an attractive woman that was well qualified as a running mate. The other picked an attractive woman, not really qualified, but with bigger knockers. Would you still consider the strategy smart?

Exactly, this shows that McCain is not choosing anyone for what they can do for this country his sole purpose in choosing her was for votes...votes to get HIM in office. I mean honestly people...do you think McCain and his crew will EVER let that lady run anything. She'll be another Cheney.

OMG! If HC supporters vote for this ticket JUST for the sole fact that JM picked a woman, well let them fools vote that way. That would be the stupidest thing ever. I really thought that HC supporters were alot smarter than that, but with comments like this I am rethinking that position.

And BO is pulling African-American voters for the same reason....

HA! Thats what everyone seems to think...but in reality most Black voters were HC supporters cause they were big fans on BC. But now that HC is out they are moving more to BO.

got any facts to back that up?

I'm Black and most everyone I know is too!

in the big picture ... you and people you personally know ... might be considered a very very very small group

well duh! But so many people who are not Black seem to think they have a clear idea on what we think in this election, just by lookin at our skin color. When in actuality they are so off base its amazing. I dont just mean myself and friends I mean the Black Community. *(thats how we see it)

so ... you and your friends represent the whole black community?

where are the illegal ... mexican ... brown peoples commenters?

*guys ... this is a real soft pitch ... gonna hit it*

haha, oh God you didnt get it. Guess you have to just know.

actually the 747 cruised right on by at 35k feet.

*the noise you heard was the 747 ... after it passed over*

[Ggreen 12]

Why are some liberals so pissed about McCain's VP selection? Nervous, maybe?

They shouldn't, he has a little chance to win anyway. (maybe she will show him how to use a computer)

[Peikko 1,575]

I am really shocked by this decision on McCains part and if this is an example of his "judgement" calls god help us all! Having looked at this womans bio it is thin to say the least> McCain has questioned repeatedly Obamas experience and his readyness to be commander in chief and said he would pick someone ready (at his age I would say this IS imperative) to step into the role of Commander-in-chief well I'm sorry if this is the best and most experience he could bring to the ticket there must be a lot we don't know about other apparently better qualified candidates. I feared the Romneys of this world who would have added economic experience to this ticket. If this is a nod to Hillary voters, gun toters or pro lifers then all I can say is the same as I said when I heard the news WOW!

And as an aside that will probably get me flamed. I am a liberal all for working women but even I balk when I see a woman with four children at home and one is a mere baby I question whether she has her priorities in the right place ........ flame away.

Widge I completey agree with you. JM has downed BO for lack of experience all thru this election and then he picks this woman! Is SHE ready to be president? Cause thats what will happen if JM kicks the bucket.

She is just as ready as Obama. But the difference is if elected Obama WILL be learning on the job, with Palin she wouldn't be unless something happened to McCain.

Oh dear God! Do you see how this makes it so much worse!

Yes it does. If Obama is elected we will be assured of someone that has no clue. At least Palin will get to be VP for a while first. Your right, it would be so much worse to have Obama.

Again so-say-you brother Gary.

Leadership is not a one man affair, if that were the case. Nor should anyone in the position they're in rely on having a clue to judge the capacity to govern. The last two terms should ring a bell.

So-say-you also. I happen to think that Bush is a very good leader. Now I know there will be dozens of eye rollers at that statement but I really do think Bush is a good leader. I would rather have 8 more years of Bush than one minute of Obama.

Would you care to share what you believe are his leadership skills? The one thing I think recommends him as president is his affability. He is not smart, he is not diplomatic and he is not profoundly engaging.

I am also not quite sure how Barack is so lacking in leadership skills either. He is not my first choice, but is by no means a ridiculous choice with no merit either.

I do understand that politically, you have no truck with Dem policies but that's a different thing entirely.

[Jenn! 918]

Better to refer to common sense. Not that statistics favor much in terms of natural intelligence in many beauty queens... but still...

Really now.....do you have IQ statistics of beauty queens to prove this? Are being beautiful and being smart mutually exclusive? Interesting.

Well, beauty queen is not the same thing as beautiful woman.

No it is not. But having a bit of fun in a beauty pagaent doesn't make you a less smart/an airhead. I mean, does liking things like beauty contents, reality television and makeup undermine your intelligence or make you less of a feminist? I tend to think not.

Maybe I have certain prejudices about that, but if I were to speak honestly, yes I would think that generally speaking, pageant contestants are less intelligent than women who would not participate in that sort of thing.

That's not to say that I think Ms. Palin is unintelligent by any means. Just speaking generally...

And I also feel pageants are anti-feminist as well, in addition to being a poor example for young girls.

We also know she is a hunter & was captain of her bball squad and surely athleticism means you're a good leader. (See Obama {THE SMOKER} shooting hoops yesterday). But sh*t, why focus on any strengths when the Obama-bots can just pull out the misogyny #######.

I don't know if you're addressing me - I'm certainly no Obama-bot and I was just addressing the issue of beauty pageants in general. I don't really have any issue with Palin.

I thnk if she had defined herself by her beauty or her pagaent wins it would be a fair point but she hasn't so it's not. She was also a star basketball player, apparently.

I'm not a big fan of pagaents but I think women have bigger fish to fry than beauty pagaents.

I would agree with that. I'm not even sure when the pageant got brought up. It's no more relevant to her campaign really then her great set of legs!

[Peikko 1,575]

I didn't realise liberals or dem supporters, or independants were 'pissed' about his selection. There are several points of view ranging from strategically smart to ridiculous, but I can't see anyone foaming at the mouth and getting upset by his pick.

[Ban Hammer 13,349]

obomabots engage!