The Blog Formerly Known As Vote '08

(above: George W. Bush, when he was a college cheerleader) 

[what's with the series of quotes in the headline of this post? bear with me.  I'm conducting an internet experiment. ]

Thanks to everyone who gave me their two cents this week! What a week it was! One of the most active yet here on the Vote08 Blog! 

Here’s what you’ve been saying - mostly about Palin:

“We can really vote for a good looking woman! However, what will we do about Sen. Ted Stevens from Alaska?” - Lee

“Having just spent some time in Alaska taking with the “real” people (small business owners, small commercial fishermen and loggers, construction workers and supervisors, and many, many local wage earners,) she is a great pick. They say so. Ted Stevens? Please research what she has said, as govorner, about the senior senator. Alaskans still believe in innocent until proven guilty, not guilty by implication in a news story. Her ethics, ideals, and ambitions match those of hard-working Americans. All this and she is a working mom, too. While you are at it, check out her husband. He is the epitome of Hard-Work University himself! In addition, check out their kids. You can’t help but be impressed, especially after what the Democrat Convention came up with.” - Jim

“Yay, we can all wish President Obama well, now that John has handed the presidency to him on a silver platter. She will NOT appeal to the Hillary voters he thinks she will, she is too rabidly right wing. And how many right wing men want a woman one step away from the White House? I see Bob Barr doing a bit better than expected… Also, look up Wooten-gate.” - Jason

“A woman with a degree in journalism who is conservative? Now THAT’S an oxymoron! Better to have a sharp, well-versed woman one heart-beat away from the White House than an inexperienced elitist!” - Jim

This takes care of the “holier than thou” stance of Ms. Palin and the religious right and reflects negatively on John McCain’s judgement in picking Ms. Palin as his running mate. If the daughter is part of a committed couple, why are they not already married? This will be a shotgun wedding and I feel sorry for the potential husband and the baby to be part of such a hypocritical family.

“As a Hillary supporter, who equally liked and now supports Barack Obama, I was flabbergasted at the pick of Ms. Palin– Hillary, like Barack, ran her campaign not on the basis of gender ( or race), but on qualifications and ideas. The choice of Palin– and her own acknowledgment that she is running as a female first–is cynical and insulting to women. She obviously has a lot on her plate, and as a relatively young woman has plenty of time to get involved in national politics when she is done nursing her baby and helping her daughter through a difficult time. This is not a “sexist” remark– I am a 66 year old feminist female who has been helping to raise her stepson for 21 years. She should put her family first and go back to her job in Alaska where she is apparently doing a good job and leave national politics to the more qualified.” - Susanne

“Many parents can’t make sure their children don’t do what they want them to do. So I think it is important to look at what Palin can do in our country, not about her families.” - Margaret

“We cannot judge people on the challenges with which they are presented, but how they accomplish great thing by meeting those challenges. Look forward to Governor Palin being our next Vice President. She is obviously the best person for the job.” - Jim

“I agree the daughter is not fair game but what about her mother’s decision to place her pregnant seventeen year old in the media glare? Obama was accused to doing anything to get himself elected by Mc
Cain but Palin appears to be putting her personal ambition above her family’s needs in this matter.” - Sue

“Well, what CAN Sarah do for the country if she can’t even instill the “family value” of waiting until marriage or even graduation to have sex? I want my leaders to lead by example. She needs to get her house in order before she tells me how to run mine. She is WAY to religiously extreme to brush this off as “well, this happens in the best of families.” This is hypocrisy like I have never seen. She even wanted to personally ban books in the town library when she was a mayor!! This lady is scary dangerous, everyone should read up on her extremism.” - Jason

“In regards to the charts, I am not a big Biden fan. I am surely not a big Palin fan. But if I had to say who I would want to lead as president between the two (if they had to step in), it would have to be Biden. How could anyone chose otherwise? She has been mayor for a town with a population below 10k!!! Now she is governor of a state with more bears than people (could be true, I don’t know…). Does that make me less likely to vote McCain? Yes! How can it not? Quit fooling yourselves by thinking otherwise.” - Jason

“I think she is a very wise choice to run for Vice President. And as far as instilling family values, you can only go so far. You raise your children the best you can and they (not the parents) are responsible for their decisions, good or bad. SHAME ON THE MEDIA, including News Channel 9 for giving this so much attention. This pregnancy should be a private family matter, it has NOTHING to do with whether or not she is a good VP candidate. I am not an Obama fan but I will say AMEN to his stand on this subject, let this family deal with this privately!!!” - Terri

“Go McCain. Good choice!” - Renigeid

“The children of candidates have historically been off limits, there is no reason that young Bristol should be any different. A press release was made to prevent the media and the mindless masses from screming that there was a cover-up. Palin has not in any way thrown her daughter to the sharks, she’s merely trying to make the best of a Catch-22. And to those that question Palin’s stand on Abstinence Only education in school I would say that you cannot have it both ways. The schools are funded by tax dollars. No tax dollars pay for abortions or adoptions so the only responsible stand (based on that thought) is abstinence. Parents, family, or maybe a family doctor can educate one-on-one better than the teachers (most of which are trained in literature, science, math, and liberal arts, not philosophy, theology, or anatomy and physiology). Leave this young woman alone. And look at Mrs. Palin’s experience as it pertains to the job at hand. Learn what she has done or not done in her various elected positions. Which parent among us would want our employer to judge us based on our home life?? I love my children, But I’m not sure I want my next raise to be based on how well they behave when they out being teenagers, learning to be themselves and testing their God-given freewill.” - Amanda

“I have been a life-long conservative democrat, but I don’t understand what all the fuss is about with Mrs. Palin’s daughter. #1-She didn’t try to hide this from anyone #2–she’s “walking her talk” by not aborting her grandchild, to save family face. Can the same be said for the Kennedys, or the Clintons, or the Roosevelts? Why can’t both sides stick to issues and what can help the country? If this is what politics is really all about, then I’m glad I went with the military and medical services. A good dose of truth might help too!!!!” - Chuck

“Will McCain always do his gambling as president like he did when he decided to pick Palin?” - Margaret

I think this is a great pick and if everyone can heed your advice to open their mind about it, we’ll be in much better shape.

“Also, to the comment: “Palin appears to be putting her personal ambition above her family’s needs..” - Sue…. I think Rudy Giuliani said it best this morning when he pointed out that this question has not been raised with Barack Obama, even though he has two young daughters. I look forward to her speech tonight.” - Nathan

“Sarah Palin is the most unqualified candidate for the V.P. in my lifetime (I am 67 years old) and it is disgusting that John McCain can even try to justify such a selection. It reflects the shallow measure of John McCain’s ability to make sensible decisions. God Help Us if we are saddled with a Republican administration for another 4 years!” - Glenn

“Sarah Palin has the country in an uproar, and for good reason…the liberal left is running in fear of losing this election. John McCain vs Barack Obama would have been a close race, but McCain/Palin vs Obama/Biden will be an embaassment for the liberal left. The only way to hurt McCain is to destroy Sarah Palin, and the only way to destroy her is to destroy her daughter. Anyone who associates themselves with liberalism should be hanging their heads in shame for the way the liberal media is attcking Sarah’s daughter. I am looking forward, as are most people to hearing Governor Palin’s speach tonight. Isn’t it funny that when discussing experience all the liberal media has to say for Governor Palin is that she was the mayor of a small town in Alaska. Obama on the otherr hand has no leadership experience at all, he started campaigning for president the moment he took the oath of office as a Senator. John McCain was not my first choice for the candidate of my party, I voted for Mike Huckabee, but I do not think Senator McCain could have chosen a better running mate.” - William

“If our enemy is ever Polar Bears or Eskimos, she’s the one we need! If I were a betting person, I’d bet this decision will come back and bite Senator McCain squarely in the buttocks. Rest assured if she’s done all she is rumored to have done, she’s made some enemies along the way. When dealing with foreign countries-I don’t think beauty will change their minds. They don’t recognize women in the same light we do-people they should have to deal with and they won’t!” - Brenda

“I’m an Obama voter who has been nervous about this pick. Only this morning can wrap my brain around why. McCain’s team spent the last days setting the bar laughably low. They’re playing victim of the liberal media. Palin appears as an average, normal, clean-scrubbed family type; yet she has a secret vicious-predator side; firing political enemies, hypocritical family history, burning books… She’s the female George W Bush.” - Bill

“In regard to the “Bush” presidency, no one should make any judgements without first walking in his steps. How many presidents have taken office and immediately, the country was attacked by someone whose only objective was to destroy the lives of innocent people? What do you do? I got mad and I’m still mad. We should never forget what happened on 9-11, 2001. I’m sure Mr. Bush won’t . Unfortunately, it seems as though many in congress and in the media have. We cannot afford to bicker among ourselves and forget who’s trying to destroy our country. We need to unite as “one nation, under God” again. Thankyou!!!” - Chuck

“I’m still having a hard time understanding how the bar can be set low when she has as much experience as Obama. Even though it’s not in Washington, it still counts.” - Nathan

“Politics is a dirty, nasty business. Palin sure seems like she has Hillary as a hero. She can fling mud, lies and contempt almost better than both Clintons put together! She’ll go far, but she won’t be VP in 08. Fairer sex indeed.” - Jason

& there were other, non-Palin comments as well…

“I think Cindy McCain should be the one for vice-president. She has been doing so much and enjoyed listening to her. A independent intelligent lady has been worried about what will cause McCain with his 5 years in his war to give him problems.” - Margaret

“I thought the content was outstanding despite the less then superb delivery. There are so many issues for [McCain] to deal with in the speech of his life that I think he could have went on for several hours. I appreciated that he spoke more about his family and the change he hopes to bring and not spend much time bashing the other candidate. Overall grade: A-” - Nathan

“For both of the candidates, I think it is important they keep in mind Matthew 6:33, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” God rewards those who live His will and not their own. Also for Obama and his response of “That’s above my pay grade,” to the question of “When does life begin.” Psalm 139:13 says,” For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” There are plenty of other passages that make it clear life is a precious gift and should not be intentionally terminated before birth.” - Nathan (responding to this post)

“I hope the RNC Convention gets as much play as the DNC when Gustav dies down. It would be sad for the most important election in a long time to be lopsided when it comes to convention coverage. Maybe the Republicans could hold a big convention-like rally when there is no threat of hurricanes to the U-S.” - Nathan

I hope you can tell that all points of view are welcome here. I am so glad all of you are spirited enough to comment! I also hope you stay engaged, & you certainly can do that by reading this blog! Once again, thanks for voicing your views!!

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