Poor Sarah
You know, I feel bad for Sarah Palin. Understand, I'm sure that she really has no use for gay people. Hell, she probably has little use for people who are "different" in any way. I am trying not to stereotype people in an isolated state such as Alaska. And I really should give people in states that I would call "backwards" the benefit of the doubt. But quite honestly, it has been my experience that people who spend their entire lives in isolated areas are very bigoted and narrow minded in their views. They don't like "different" and they are threatened by anyone not like them.
A lot has been written about Palin of course. One of the most absurd things to come out is how "gay friendly" she is. She vetoed a bill that would have stripped health benefits from the spouses of state employed gay couples. So I hear stories about how open minded and fair she is because, according to her, she has lots of "gay friends". But if you dig deeper into the story, you find out what really happened. The state supreme court ruled that the bill was unconstitutional under state law because it singled out a specific group. So it's true that Palin did in fact veto the bill, after the state attorney general informed her that the bill was unconstitutional. She then turned around when it was convenient (such as now) to show how fair she can be by vetoing an unfair bill, when in fact she had no choice in the matter.
But beyond all of that, I honestly have no interest in seeing this woman disgraced and humiliated because she happened to be asked by John McCain to be Vice President. After all, I'm absolutely certain that the woman had no clue about what she was in for, and how her life would be torn upside down by the media. And now, with politicians of the past saying anything and everything to get elected, today there are fact finders who check out everything you say to validate how truthful the statements are.
The Vice Presidential debate next Thursday could be painful to watch. My hope is that Joe Biden will say what needs to be said, but not chew her up and spit her out. I don't think it's necessary for that to happen to make the point that this candidate is way over her head. Even McCain's camp is worried about her.
Capitol Hill sources are telling me that senior McCain people are more than concerned about Palin.
The campaign has held a mock debate and a mock press conference; both are being described as "disastrous." One senior McCain aide was quoted as saying, "What are we going to do?" The McCain people want to move this first debate to some later, undetermined date, possibly never. People on the inside are saying the Alaska Governor is "clueless." (source)
Rather sad really. I have a feeling that they are just going to abandon her. A good thing for the Obama/Biden ticket, and it shows a complete lack of judgement on John McCain's part. But I will go away with a rather empty feeling after it's all said and done. I suppose that's politics.





Well I watched this 'live' in bed (2.00-3.30am here in the UK) and thought that Biden behaved impeccably and didn't get carried away with the longwindedness he appartently sometimes falls prey to. Sarah Palin was able to give an honest account of herself; although she did a lot better than many people had been anticipating she would, I think most people will have concluded pretty easily who 'won' the debate and drawn their own conclusions from the different ways the two performed on the night.
I've come to the conclusion a long time ago, though, that whilst we speak more or less the same language our politics are radically different so I have stopped trying to predict what might happen in US elections - it's probably as much of a mystery to me as British politics are to most Americans.
Bill it pains me so to hear people from across the pond talk about Americans this way.
I've lived here all of my 32 years, for the most part in one blue state or another, and I think I would do a better job explaining British politics then American politics.
In a large portion of America notions like: intelligence, progress, secularism, science, liberty, evolution, etc. Are demonized, being anti-science is somehow a foundation for a political position.
I believe Biden showed remarkable restraint, I believe Palin failed to answer several of the questions asked, and Ifill failed us all by allowing it.
You would have to be able to follow the non-sequiturs on National Review to follow the theology that is red-state-think.
You are right about the debate. There were times that I thought Biden was going to take her head off. I'm glad he kept his cool and kept his eye on the REAL target; MCCAIN.
And I just love the way she couldn't answer the damn questions. Scary.
Does Biden really have to say anything? Obviously answer the questions posed, be concise and direct, then yield the remaining time to Palin.
The longer she talks the deeper she digs. He doesn't have anything to prove, or have to do any of the work to embarrass or show the country who and what she really is.