Sarah Palin: An Unwise Choice
By worldwise1
@worldwise1 (14885)
United States
August 30, 2008 12:09pm CST
August 29, 2008
Shocking Choice by John McCain
WASHINGTON-- Senator John McCain just announced his choice for running mate: Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska. To follow is a statement by Rodger Schlickeisen, president of Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund.
“Senator McCain’s choice for a running mate is beyond belief. By choosing Sarah Palin, McCain has clearly made a decision to continue the Bush legacy of destructive environmental policies.
“Sarah Palin, whose husband works for BP (formerly British Petroleum), has repeatedly put special interests first when it comes to the environment. In her scant two years as governor, she has lobbied aggressively to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling, pushed for more drilling off of Alaska’s coasts, and put special interests above science. Ms. Palin has made it clear through her actions that she is unwilling to do even as much as the Bush administration to address the impacts of global warming. Her most recent effort has been to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove the polar bear from the endangered species list, putting Big Oil before sound science. As unbelievable as this may sound, this actually puts her to the right of the Bush administration.
“This is Senator McCain’s first significant choice in building his executive team and it’s a bad one. It has to raise serious doubts in the minds of voters about John McCain’s commitment to conservation, to addressing the impacts of global warming and to ensuring our country ends its dependency on oil.”
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The Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund (www.defendersactionfund.org) provides a powerful voice in Washington to Americans who value our conservation heritage. Through grassroots lobbying, issue advocacy and political campaigns, the Action Fund champions those laws and lawmakers that protect wildlife and wild places while working against those that do them harm.
This message came to me in the form of a newsletter that I regularly receive from Rodger Schlickeisen of Defenders of Wildlife. I already had my doubts about John McCain's selection for his running mate in the coming election. Seriously, it does not inspire confidence to know that the second in command of the highest office in the land describes herself as a soccer mom. Add to this the fact that she has very little experience and you get the picture. So, as usual, when I want the facts about a lot of issues, I went to Michael Savage's radio talk show. Admittedly, he can be heavy-handed at times, but, in spite of this I find that he is right on about political issues much of the time. He stated that McCain's choice of Mrs. Palin is a huge error and is likely to have a very negative effect on his run for the Presidency. I'd like to know your thoughts on this situation.
3 people like this
13 responses
@CherylsPearls (1269)
• United States
30 Aug 08
I get the same newsletter as I belong to Defenders of Wildlife. Ms. Palin is a sorry choice for VP. She has no experience in foreign relations at all, something desperately needed by our country since Bush has alienated most of the world with his ignorance and bullying.
Everyone's mantra now is that Palin has more "administrative and executive" experience. She has been governor for less than two years; I hardly think that what she has done so far has given her any indication as to what is needed in the federal government.
I think Obama's choice of Joe Biden for VP, someone I already admired, shows a lot more serious thought and concern for the country than McCain's choice. Do we really want to be stuck with "hockey mom" as our leader? I think not!
2 people like this
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
31 Aug 08
"Do we really want to be stuck with "hockey mom" as our leader? I think not!"
I love the way Democrats, even female ones, become so anti-feminism when the woman in question is a republican. If it were a democrat you'd be gushing over how down to earth she was as a soccer mom. You'd be saying how she knows what it's like to be a mother, etc., etc. I knew remarks like yours would be flooding in as soon as he picked her.I'm sure NOW will attack her as well to promote their own hypocrisy.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
30 Aug 08
I am in full agreement with you, CherylsPearls. To piasbird: It would be foolhardy not to consider who is next in line if something were to happen to McCain while in office, just as with any other President.
1 person likes this
@piasabird (1737)
• United States
30 Aug 08
She's more than just a hockey mom and I think she'll be fine as vice president. It's McCain who will be president and he has the foreign experience.
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
31 Aug 08
But the best way to keep yourself alive when you are a president is to have a vice president that No one wants in office. It worked for George Bush SR. Did anyone outside his family want Dan Quayle to become president? I don't think so. All I thought was that this pick is a slap in the face for the conservatives.Would they really vote for a women V.P.? I don;t think so.So what are their choices, MCCain and a woman or jump to the other side.They are sc*wed!
1 person likes this
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
1 Sep 08
Tasker if you can vote for this ticket, that's all that counts.
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
31 Aug 08
"Would they really vote for a women V.P.? I don't think so."
Why don't you think so? I've been saying for that last several months that he should choose her as VP. Many others were saying he should pick Carly Fiorna or Kay Bailey Hutchison. None of those were considered front runners ahead of Romney, but that's because they didn't run in the primaries and had less name recognition. Despite what many liberals like to imply, There are plenty of female republicans and many male republicans who would be more than happy to see a woman in the white house.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
31 Aug 08
I believe, sarah, that most reasonable-thinking people are amazed that he wasn't advised against making this choice. I can't quote where I heard it from, but the talk is that his advisers strongly urged against his making this move.
1 person likes this
@rogue13xmen13 (14402)
• United States
31 Aug 08
This was a very bad choice for him. She does not have much experience and you can tell that he did this out of desperation.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
31 Aug 08
I believe, rogue, that it was done in an effort to distract people from worrying about his age. Also, he probably thinks that women will be so flattered by his selection of a woman that they will automatically flock to his side. Wrong!
@Meljep (1666)
• United States
31 Aug 08
Governor Palin is a breath of fresh air compared to the old, stale, same Washington we've seen for years. She's willing to stand up to corruption and big spending and say - It's enough. Putting an airplane on E-bay - now that's proof that she can reign in spending and be fiscally responsible. She said that her state has been waiting for 50 years to help the USA with oil, but red tape has stopped them from helping. Being a governor has given her executive office experience, which is more than Obama OR McCain have.
IMHO - the Republican party has become more like the old Democratic party, the Democratic party is becoming more like the Marxists.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
31 Aug 08
I'm glad, Meljep, that your opinion is not the only one that will count on election day. Since she brings so much "experience" to the table, it's mystifying that McCain would choose someone who would so outshine him.
@newtondak (3946)
• United States
30 Aug 08
Actually she said "hockey mom" not "soccer mom" - and she has more administrative and executive experience than McCain, Obama and Biden put together.
I urge you to examine the issues on your own rather than listening to the media or to the views of special interest organizations.
1 person likes this
@CherylsPearls (1269)
• United States
30 Aug 08
A secretary has more administrative experience than most politicians. That doesn't mean much. In today's world, the US needs a leader with good foreign relations experience. That would not be Ms. Palin as she has none. McCain can't even remember what country he is in half the time, or who is who in what country. God help us all if they are elected.
2 people like this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
30 Aug 08
I take it from your remarks, newtondak, that you have a personal relationship with Mrs. Palin? Do further enlighten me!
@newtondak (3946)
• United States
31 Aug 08
Everything I have said either came from Sarah Palin's mouth directly (i.e hockey mom) or is public knowledge that can be researched by anyone with a working knowledge of the internet. I don't NEED to have a personal relationship with her to have these facts.
Do your homework - enlighten yourself - and please do it BEFORE you vote!
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
30 Aug 08
I wasn't aware of the information you provided, worldwise, but like you I have concerns about Palin's ability to lead this country if the situation called for it. I plan to keep as informed as I can about all of the candidates and will also be looking at their chioces for key cabinet positions but, as of today, I'm still concerned...and confused!
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
30 Aug 08
The information is out there to be easily found, spalladino. We should all be concerned about who would be second in command should the unthinkable ever happen.
@Barbietre (1438)
• United States
30 Aug 08
Well while you are researching also look up her record on environment which mostly sides with oil companies.
1 person likes this
@bonbon664 (3466)
• Canada
1 Sep 08
I think it was a pretty wise choice. To me she sounds like a very competent woman. As far as being inexperienced, they all are when it comes to being the President and Vice President of the United States. I think she compliments McCain well. I like the woman, I think she's great in front of the media. It will be a very interesting debate.
@Smith2028 (797)
• United States
31 Aug 08
I suppose it is a good thing that Sarah Palin was the choice and not her husband then huh?
This is one of the most ridiculous arguments I have ever heard. So Palin believes in relieving our dependence on Foreign Oil and opening up a Reserve that is a majority of the time a barren wasteland. The Caribou have adapted to everything else in Alaska, so why can't they adapt to this?
@Smith2028 (797)
• United States
31 Aug 08
I will concede that ANWR does have all those things that you claim in your post, but you must also understand that the area they want to drill is in the coastal plain, which is barren wasteland, I have seen it myself.
http://www.anwr.org/gallery/pages/48-Coastal_Plain_summer.htm
http://www.anwr.org/gallery/pages/51-Coastal_Plain_summer4.htm
Two pictures of the area in which they want to drill.
But for arguements sake, I must ask you do do a couple things for me. First, move out of your residence. If you don't own it, then petition to have it torn down. Wildlife lived there before, and there are alternatives to you living in their space. Second, if you own a car, get rid of it. Wildlife inhabited the area where there are now roads, and there are alternatives to driving. Next, make sure to quit your job and petition to have the building torn down. Wildlife lived there and there are alternatives to working. Actually while you are at it, if you are this concerned about wildlife, you need to petition to have everything torn down and let the wildlife roam.
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
31 Aug 08
It's kinda hard to "adapt" to less land and having their migration patterns and such -- which they've had for longer than either of these fuel crises have been in memory.
Science says stuff that may seem like small disruptions to us, may not be so small to other things, so bleh. Variables again, which are kinda important...
The problem isn't solely the "foreign" part of "foreign oil"...who the heck do you think OWNS foreign oil? The countries only dictate what the companies do when they're in their countries and help deliberate the costs...do you really expect much more integrity from these same companies while they're in America?
...They have thousands of land contracts within the U.S. which they're not taking any use of...and they ask for more in places we'd never consider giving them otherwise...why?
Just think about it.
@CherylsPearls (1269)
• United States
31 Aug 08
Smith, evidently you have not done your homework on ANWAR. A barren wasteland? This area contains the greatest variety of plant and animal life of any conservation area in the circumpolar north:
195 bird species from all continents except Europe have been seen there; home to 36 species of land mammals; calving grounds for the Porcupine caribou herd, the second largest herd in Alaska; contains all three species of North American bears (black, brown, and polar); 9 marine mammal species live along its coast; 36 fish species inhabit its rivers and lakes; home to North America's farthest north Dall sheep population; more than 300 archaeological sites have been found there; contains several warm springs, which support plant species unique to the area; has no known introduced species.
I guess this may not mean anything to some people, but to others, it means more than the price of oil. Especially when there are alternatives to drilling there.
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
31 Aug 08
Most americans want us to start drilling for domestic oil, we can no longer afford to heat our homes or run drive our cars to work. ANd don't hit me with take public transportation - I would get off of the bus and have another 15 miles to walk.
We need to be drilling for oil and researching and implementing energy alternatives.
Drilling for oil does not mean destroying the eco system...it does mean altering it. We should be able to drill for oil and minimize the impact of its effects.
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
1 Sep 08
Well we can have some oil spills or people who die of exposure in their homes because they can not afford to heat them or people who can't afford to drive to work anymore so they lose their jobs.
The farther we transport the oil, the more likely there is to be an issue with it (as someone else has pointed out).
@revellanotvanella (4033)
• United States
31 Aug 08
well when I stop hearing about oil slick beaches and penguins maybe ill consider but then again, oil spills have come to be just a walk in the park to people
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
31 Aug 08
" Her most recent effort has been to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove the polar bear from the endangered species list, putting Big Oil before sound science."
Actually sound science has shown that the polar bear population has increased. Putting them on the endangered species list after their population increases is nonsensical. If she's in the pocket of big oil then why exactly did she raise taxes on oil profits and give taxpayers each $1200 to combat the high gas prices?
"Seriously, it does not inspire confidence to know that the second in command of the highest office in the land describes herself as a soccer mom."
First off it's Hockey Mom. Second, what's wrong with being a hockey mom? Without a fair bit of research I couldn't tell you who the last president was that wasn't a parent. Frankly I think the fact that she's an active mother while doing an outstanding job as governor is just more evidence of how capable she is of leading without neglecting her family. If you don't think she's an outstanding governor just take a look at her record approval ratings in the 80s that have even been in the 90s.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
31 Aug 08
The same rationalizations were probably used when the herds of buffalo were wiped out, Taskr, because people can come up with any argument when it serves their purpose. Nobody's belittling her skills as a mother here, and she described herself as a "hockey mom." True, most all of the men who have held high office have been fathers, but it is still true today that the majority of caring for and nurturing children is largely the responsibility of the mother. Simply being a good mother does not qualify anyone for high office.
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
1 Sep 08
I just find it fascinating that liberals who claim to be so interested in women's rights are the ones who keep implying, and sometimes outright saying, that they don't want a hockey mom in charge. I could give you a nice list of quotes from various liberals on mylot, all of them women, that show exactly how hypocritical liberals are when it's a republican woman who's advancing a political career.
Since she's been successfully raising four children while holding public office over the last 16 years, I see no reason she couldn't continue to be an excellent mother while being vice president.
@piasabird (1737)
• United States
30 Aug 08
YOU listen to the Savage Nation? LOL I use to listen to him a lot in my car while on my way to work on midnights. He is right about some things but way off base about others. And I think he's wrong about this issue.
Sarah Palin is a fine choice for VP and after checking out Hillary Clinton's fan web site a lot of the Clinton supporters are going to vote for McCain now. They are extremely angry with the way the DNC treated Clinton and dismissed them.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
30 Aug 08
That is nothing but right-wing propaganda put out by those who would like to derail Obama from his goal. Of course the Dems are going to stick together in this. Everyone I know is very fearful of allowing another Republican to take office.
Michael Savage is the only right-wing show I listen to -because I believe in "knowing the enemy."
Michael Savage is the only right-wing show I listen to -because I believe in "knowing the enemy."
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
30 Aug 08
Yes I was aware of this yesterday after doing some research. If you would like to read the article I found on yahoo about it here is the link.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080805/ap_on_re_us/polar_bear_lawsuit
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
30 Aug 08
Regardless of her many glowing qualities, Zephyr, they don't add up to qualify her for such a lofty position.
@dbusichio (80)
• United States
31 Aug 08
It's quit apparent that you are an Obama plant. Set in place to distract the real truth Of the republican campaign.
The real truth is Obama is sinking in the polls and their going to do and say everything possible to decieve the voters.
Govenor Sarah Palin is just what Washington needs, a young, vibrint, fresh politician. With a no bull-s--t attitude,that just might straighten out Washington once and for all, and may I add a woman VP.
She is pro-life, she has created jobs,she has taxed the big oil companies to give back revenues to the tax payers in Alaska, she has cleaned up corrupted politician and brought them to justice from within her oun Republician party, She is against pork barrel spending, She is very much concerned about environmental policies.
One thing you fail to see about Govenor Sarah Palin, she governs The State of Alaska. There is a big deference between a policy maker and one who governs a state.
She will, with no dought be a great running mate for the republican party. As the first woman VP. A very bold and positive move for the party.
I have seen thousands if not millions of hits on the internet of good positive inputs for John MaCain and Sarah Palin.
You shouldn't spread such false rumors. Michael Savage is nothing more than a WINER,and a SCHMUCK.
Oh, by the way It's Hockey Mom, not Soccer Mom, I know exactly were your head has been. Don't want to embarrass you among all our readers.
John MaCain/ Sarah Palin 2008
