And… I have yet to hear a “drill hear/drill now” argument that will lower gas prices Today. Conservation is the only realistic plan for the short term. Though I know it’s not possible for many people, I will make it through the month on one tank of gas and it has not impacted my standard of living.

Perhaps my small faith in the American voter is misplaced? However, I don’t think a significant number of people will overlook the failings of McCain/Palin. Neither is worthy of representing our nation and I think that fact will only become more apparent with time.

pete. The people that can’t fill their gas tanks are going to find Palin interesting.
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No doubt they’ll gladly sit back and patiently wait the 10 years it will take for off-shore and/or ANWAR drilling to come on line! Hmmm, wonder how much of a difference THAT’LL make at the ole gas pump!

Nice bow tie… is George Will your hero?

I am David Brooks.

BTW, I wanted you to know that I watched almost all of the three part series of the british documentary about creating the necessary illusions to get the support for military action in the U.S. (It been a few months, I forgot the name of it).

It was very interesting and reminded me of Noam Chomsky’s manufacturing consent.

Thanks for the tip.

But again, we’ll see. You may be right.

Additionally, it’s obviously to soon to mean much, but this Rasmussen poll (today) doesn’t really signal Palin as a ridiculous choice or horribly offensive to insulted women voters.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/palin_makes_good_first_impression_is_viewed_more_favorably_than_biden

I think that the number who actually follow that logic will be in the hundreds. At most. People who are angry because they can’t fill their gas-tank won’t vote against their personal interests because of an accident of birth.

Be honest. Not every America is that conscientious. A huge majority of Clinton supporters will vote for Obama. But what if 5% of Hillary voters switch to McCain because they want a woman on the ticket. That’s nearly a million votes. Could have made a difference in ‘04. Would have definitely made a difference in ‘00.

Thanks for finally illustrating that she was ONLY pikced BECAUSE she is A WOMAN.

And also for illustrating the cover tactic of any pending election fruad on the part of the Republicans.

When you say she was picked solely because she’s a women, you’re ignoring those points.

The thing is, I’m NOT ignoring the hollowness of being touted as a POPULAR candidate when your 80% approval rating is based on a state with a population less than VERMONT’S.

And the DEPTH of her other ACCOMPLISHMENTS is very questionable, given her LACK OF EXPERIENCE.

Should make the Sunday morning talk shows interesting.

Be honest. Not every America is that conscientious. A huge majority of Clinton supporters will vote for Obama. But what if 5% of Hillary voters switch to McCain because they want a woman on the ticket. That’s nearly a million votes. Could have made a difference in ‘04. Would have definitely made a difference in ‘00.

They will find out in November how badly wrong they were.
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They’ll know by Monday morning, if not already, Wayne. Jack McCafferty said he got 11,000 emails in the first hr after the news came out… and many, many of them were not flattering to the choice.

I’m sure there are male Republicans who can meet all the other qualifications you mentioned. Palin was chosen purely to appeal to Hillary Clinton supporters, which was a stupid move because Hillary Clinton supporters will not vote for a pro-life, pro-gun, pro-drilling candidate. McCain (or whoever actually made the selection on his behalf) chose Palin because they think women in this country are more concerned with voting for a woman than they are with voting with someone who believes in the same things they do. They will find out in November how badly wrong they were.

I have serious reservations about Palin if she believes that the world was created in six days, 6,000 years ago.

We have evolved to a place where our ideas about faith should be, if not more rational, at least more tolerant.

Although some of Palin’s characteristics appeal to me, a serious belief in creationism, that close to the white house, would also be a deal breaker for me.

It’s long past time, as much of the world has already figured out, to put aside childish fantasies and magical miracles. We, as a species, MUST use every bit of human wisdom to build a world which will continue to maintain our civilization. Evangelicons seem unable to accept that fact.

Not unable, pete, unwilling. The Evangelicals believe we are close to the End of Days, and they don’t really care what happens to those of us who they claim will be “left behind”. As far as they’re concerned, that’s our problem. So they aren’t even least bit interested in preservng a world for future habitation by humans, because the way they see it, only sinners will be around to use it.

Did I mention also that they’re batshit insane?

But, she is a governor with an 80% approval rating. A brief record of popular accomplishments in Alaska. Strong pro-life credentials. Lifetime member of the NRA. Intimate knowledge of domestic drilling issues. Opposition to pork barrel projects and fighting corruption.

When you say she was picked solely because she’s a women, you’re ignoring those points.

If McCain picked Elizabeth Hassleback, I would find your charge much more credible. I concede that Palin was picked, in part, because she’s a women. But, to dismiss Palin’s conservative credentials could lead to an underestimation of her potential to motivate Republicans to the polls. McCain probably can’t do that.

I do attack the issues. Ms. Palin’s only apparent credentials are as a representative of a group I affectionately call psycochristians. That’s an automatic “deal-breaker”.

Personally, I wouldn’t consider her to run the town she came from, much less as a representative of the United States. And I will do everything within my limited power to prevent legitimizing a delusional worldview. And I will show no mercy based on gender, race, or even mental infirmity.

It’s long past time, as much of the world has already figured out, to put aside childish fantasies and magical miracles. We, as a species, MUST use every bit of human wisdom to build a world which will continue to maintain our civilization. Evangelicons seem unable to accept that fact.

(NOTE: I admire Sen. Obama as a man of Faith with the wisdom to realize that imposing his Faith on another is wrong. Ms. Palin has proved to be the opposite.)

I think there’s more than just the tiara. But, we’ll see.
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Riiiiiiiiiiight… there’s that firm, unshakable belief in a flat earth… and that overwhelming 2nd place finish in the 1984 Ms Alaska Beauty Pageant… and her in-depth knowledge of what the VEEP does, and her long-term relationship w/ McStain… and her depth of knowledge on what has happened in Iraq…

So many good reasons…

Love the bow tie…