" Day one, She toots her own horn, on standing up to wastefull pork, and was against the bridge to nowhere, she says. Another version of that story, is she was for it until it became the poster child of wastefull spending, and federal funding was yanked. Leaving her to put several hundred million of state money to actually go foreward or not. Bridge to nowhere was sponsored by the republican senator Ted Stevens, one of several linked to various scandals in politics throughout the state.

I am sure her name came up in reports I read or saw, on the VECO Stevens ties, but I don't recall the context or substance of it. More studious folks than me, can find those facts or ties, in short work I am sure. One report was on PBS frontline I think, but am never completely certain of everything. "

" //but am never completely certain of everything//

Yes, that certainly seems to be the case here. Of course, in times like these, what difference does it make if you don't know the facts? The main idea is to just throw some crap out there that casts doubt on Palin and hope that someone believes it. "

" Maybe McCain picked for for the fact the she has a very thin resume. It may have been difficult to find any republican without a lot of baggage.

Or perhaps he didn't want to possibly wind up with another Dick Cheney. Remember how Bush touted Cheney's experience? That worked out pretty good didn't it?

Let's just hope McCain's handlers checked out her stock portfolio for any military arms supplier holdings, similar to Cheney's Halliburton options. LOL! "

" I am still in SHOCK that they have only met once before the pick "

" Further research shows it was PBS Now, Not frontline, that recently dove into the VECO Stevens, and many other alaskan politicians financing.

Wiki had the different version of her stance on the bridge to nowhere. I don't proport pointed diferences to be facts, but merely possible differences in the interpretation of the information. Any compost inadvertantly or intentionaly flung, sticks or it doesn't. Many more adept at researching accredited information and passing it or their summaries of it on, are regular contributors to this forum. I just mentioned what I readily happened across, and am not someone who has any hopes, or motives of steering any personal beliefs.

Everyone should take it upon themselves to believe, or not, the information presented in anything, from any source. Dig as deep into the available information, as they wish, and to provide insight into the possible conclusions that they derive from it, when they want to.

Picking a woman is a great historic step for this party. Of all the women that could have been chosen, why this one was, is a relavent question. She is aparently a former beauty queen, and appears to be a better than average public speaker. Having just now become aware she existed, and seeing her speak once, that is my impression.

I am more of a substance consumer of products and people, and am not easily caught up by appealing packaging, well formed advertizing, or self motivated verbage. Is it a good product that is usefull, worth the price of what it supposed to be for, with being capable of performing its recommended or claimed duties and function, the prominent bottom line. "

" isn't a question of belief, they spoke one time, she's your typical hockey mom lol with the typical scandal behind her belt, what was he thinking,ah yes we established he doesn't "

" AND she is better looking than Hillary.
Yes I am not fooled by good looks but it seems to promote votes by many.
But her age can help Prez and hopefully make right some wrongs.

In 50 years we will all KNOW. "

" Where does one even begin... it's a 'beauty and the beast' type of partnership... she's a failed 'beauty queen' - bimbo anyone?... numerous personal scandals... he met her ONLY ONCE??? what!!???... and what is WITH the hair? (is it some biblical thing? - i.e. not cutting your hair? yet wearing LOTS of makeup and obviously not answering to her husband and staying home with the many kids?)... against all forms of birth control, for unmarried AND married couples alike... is totally against a woman's right to choose... yet she even admits to 'choosing' to have her latest tot with Down Syndrome, when SHE could have chosen not to, but doesn't want to allow other woman to have such a luxury of choice... just two years ago was a mayor of a town even smaller than Charleston, and that shows her experience to lead the free world?... it only took the republicans nearly almost 25 years to be the 'mavericks' to pick a female running-mate... so looks like they are a quarter-of-a-century behind the dems, yikes... McINSANE is showing his true character AND judgment with this hail mary 'pick'... and lastly... Gustav 'raining' on the GOPs parade, which is perfect irony since all those 'prayers' by 'good christians' to have rain on Obama's historic speech weren't heeded... plus it is a nice reminder of the mess of the post-katrina debacle that was allowed to happen by the republicans exactly three years ago! "

" McCain is 72, has had cancer several times, and is not in the best of health. Yet, he picks someone that 2 years ago was the mayor of a small Alaskan town? The Dems nailed it when they said she is "One heartbeat away from being president". Her comment yesterday in PA was "It is nice to see the rest of the country". She has hardly been out of her home state and Alaskan polotics are hardly the same as Washington. It also seems hypocrtical that she will "take on big oil" when her husband is an oil field worker and all most everything in Alaska revolves around oil. This pick was to soley to put a woman face on the campaign as there are more women voters than men. It is no going to work and actually will work against him. The women I know are outraged by the GOP more or less using a woman in an attempt to get McCain elected. "

" Ugh, this is my politics is.... well, friggin stupid. Are we talking about her policy, or are we talking about how her being a woman will draw in votes? Better yet, she is a good looking woman, so she will get even more votes!!!

Ya, I hope at some point some substance will leak into these campaigns. "

" Bush, Cheney Will Not Attend GOP Convention Due to Hurricane-

President Bush will skip the Republican National Convention on Monday and instead travel to Texas to meet with emergency workers and people who evacuated the Gulf Coast as Hurricane Gustav bore down.

A high ranking party official, speaking anonymously, said this tragedy was a Godsend, if would keep the party from being embarrassed at having to have Bush speak, considering that Bush is probably about the most unpopular president in history.

After a briefing Sunday from Federal Emergency Management Agency officials, Bush urged residents to heed local officials order to evacuate.

Do not put yourselves in harms way or make rescue workers take unnecessary risks, he said. And know that the American people stand with you. Well face this emergency together, and unlike during Katrina, I will actually do something this time and not wait for weeks before I act.

Bush said he had been assured that New Orleans levees are stronger than they have ever been, but that there is a serious risk of significant flooding across the Gulf Coast, especially in that city.

The message to the people of the Gulf Coast is this storm is dangerous, he said.

Well known coward and draft dodger Vice President Dick Cheney will also not attend the convention on Monday as scheduled because of his cowardlyness and concern over Hurricane Gustav, and just like he did during Vietnam will be hiding behind his wife's coattails, the White House announced Sunday. But he did mention that he had recommended Halliburton be given the contract to clean up any messes from the storm, additionally noting that the formal bidding process should be suspended, so the crews from Halliburton could get right to work.


First Lady Laura Bush, the only Bush left not hated by the majority of Americans, however, is still expected to address delegates on the opening day. The main focus of her talk will be about how honest her husband has always been with the American public.

John McCain, not to be outdone by Bush, will also most likely skip the convention so he can run around getting in the emergency workers way too. Cindy, never one to miss a good photo-op has said she will be there offering cases of Budweiser beer to all the victims, at cost. Besides Cindy said if that Alaskan hussy is going to be there, she was going to keep an eye on the old philanderer. "

" Music man wrote: "she's a failed 'beauty queen' - bimbo anyone?... numerous personal scandals..." I guess becoming governor of Alaska is a failure? Please recite some of those scandals instead of just throwing comments like that out there, a favorite tactic of the left (and sometimes right). Also: "plus it is a nice reminder of the mess of the post-katrina debacle that was allowed to happen by the republicans exactly three years ago! "" Allowed to happen by the Republicans, huh? Can we say Ray Nagin and Mary Landreau? Both dems by the way and in charge of New Orleans and Louisiana at the time. I notice Nagin has gotten a lot smarter this time. But Louisiana also has a Republican governor now. Bobby Jindal, the future of conservative politics. "

" Palin almost recalled as mayor:

Did they even do anything CLOSE to vetting Sarah Palin?

Seems that Palin honed this skill back as Mayor of Wasilla, where she was nearly recalled, for firing the Police Chief and Library Director for not supporting her in her 1996 race for Mayor.

Yes, that's right. Hack n' Sack Sarah didn't even try to hide it. She didn't say the Police Chief and Library Director were doing a bad job. No, she fired them for "not fully supporting her efforts to govern" (i.e., not endorsing her for Mayor).

Seriously, though, we're coming off eight years of cronyism and inept leadership in the White House, which led to everything from Heck Of a Job Brownie to the US Attorney Firing Scandal. Sarah Palin's emerging record as Mayor of Wasilla and as Governor are almost a complete mirror of that (though closer to the Mayberry scale than leader of the free world).

But it is a glimpse into the type of "leader" she is. An inept hack, in the George W. Bush mold, who was so brazen with the little power she was given that she faced citizens trying to remove her from office. Did John McCain even ask her about this, the one time he talked to her on the phone before picking her?

If John McCain wanted a woman on the ticket, there were plenty of conservative women to choose from, who have a respectable record as public officials, and who would arguably be ready to be Commander in Chief. That he chose Sarah Palin, who is nothing short of an embarrassment, speaks volumes about the kind of judgment McCain will show as President. For if he's willing to put a nearly-recalled, under-investigation inept hack one heartbeat away from the Presidency, what kind of judgment will he show when choosing Judges and Justices, Secretaries of top departments, and administrators of lead agencies?

This isn't putting Country First. It's putting Political PR first (and not even good PR at that). Sarah Palin as a VP nominee is an affront to the intelligence of every American, and a freakin' embarrassment.

Well done, John McCain. You've shown possibly even worse judgment than George W. Bush, which until now was almost an impossibly high bar to meet.

Old John might come to regret not doing a better job of checking this clown out before he selected to her to be his VP. And we all thought Dan Quayle was a boob. She's starting to sound like the Leona Helmsley of politics. "

" Let's take a look at what the fine folks of Alaska think about McCain's choice for VP:

Since yesterday's shocking arrival of Gov. Sarah Palin as John McCain's running mate there has been the usual cable news and print blathering about the pick from those who know little about her. But what about the journalists close to home -- in Alaska -- who know her best and have followed her career for years?

For the past 24 hours, the pages and web sites of the two leading papers up there have raised all sorts of issues surrounding Palin, from her ethics problems to general lack of readiness for this big step up. Right now the top story on the Anchorage Daily News web site looks at new info in what it calls "troopergate" and opens: "Alaska's former commissioner of public safety says Gov. Sarah Palin, John McCain's pick to be vice president, personally talked him on two occasions about a state trooper who was locked in a bitter custody battle with the governor's sister.

"In a phone conversation Friday night, Walt Monegan, who was Alaska's top cop until Palin fired him July 11, told the Daily News that the governor also had e-mailed him two or three times about her ex-brother-in-law, Trooper Mike Wooten, though the e-mails didn't mention Wooten by name. Monegan claims his refusal to fire Wooten was a major reason that Palin dismissed him. Wooten had been suspended for five days previously, based largely on complaints that Palin's family had initiated before Palin was governor."

A reporter for the Anchorage daily, Gregg Erickson, even did an online chat with the Washington Post, in which he revealed that Palin's approval rating in the state was not the much-touted 80%, but 65% and sinking -- and that among journalists who followed her it might be in the "teens." He added: "I have a hard time seeing how her qualifications stack up against the duties and responsibilities of being president.... I expect her to stick with simple truths. When asked about continued American troop presence in Iraq, she said she knows only one thing about that (I paraphrase): no one has attacked the American homeland since George Bush took the war to Iraq."

His paper found a number of leading Republican officeholders in the state who mocked Palin's qualifications. "She's not prepared to be governor. How can she be prepared to be vice president or president?" said Lyda Green, the president of the State Senate, a Republican from Palin's hometown of Wasilla. "Look at what she's done to this state. What would she do to the nation?"

Another top Republican, John Harris, the speaker of the House, when asked about her qualifications for Veep, replied with this: "She's old enough. She's a U.S. citizen."

If McCain is elected we had all better pray for his good health. LOL! "

" Politics as a whole has to change, and people right along with it.

The country is in the realm of the tidy bowl man, but it isn't just Bush/Cheyney that put us here. How they got a first term, isn't why the last almost 8 years have happened. Decades of people calling for and running for office on change, has inspired poles, but little substance has come of it. Bush/Cheyney, and Blago, "insert any politician" are responsible for their actions and involvement or lack of it, but that they could act in the ways they have, was decades in the making. Policies of previous administrations set the stage and continued contributing to the last two terms being what they have been.

No change will happen overnight. We won't be getting a clear view, from inside or out, things are different, one hundred days into the term of whoever is elected. It will be a long road, lots of broken government, will have to be fixed internally. Simply sending one or two people to replace some others, on its own will not fix or change much of anything. One vote, or group of them the other way, won't make government suddenly begin to miraculously work.

This presidential cycle has potential to effect some change, no matter how it turns out. Degree, and direction are where the differ the largest. Either set of candidates are a risk, as all change is. Politics is too greatly divided on too many issues, an ironic reflection of what used to be referred to the melting pot. Government and extreme personal views are more closely represented by a smelting pot. Various different ingredients placed in a bowl, take up their own space, repel different substances, and remain largely divided though simple physics. Proper mixing and combining are required to make them not be that way. Try baking bread by just adding the ingredients, to the bowl leave it as long as you like, but don't stir or mix it. You could waste time and put it in the oven, just for good measure, but anything other than a clumpy mess won't be gotten from it.

Structures, and centuries old tradition needs to be some of what gets changed ultimately. They arguably served their purpose at some time, but are divicive and antiquated in the possibility of government to function in the times of today. Changing one or two people or even a partys majority, will not change polarized things. Often just like a magnet, it just flips over to the other side of the same coin.

Many have played games, made their own interpretations, or rules/ personal exceptions and some represent a constitution and democracy can be handed out, and built from nothing in the time it takes to rebuild a few bombed out buildings. The list of both parties flaws is likely longer than their strengths, if looked at side by side. Polarized observation often shrinks one column, and lengthens another, simply because of the I my right, you your wrong, approach to life by some.

Government is often the best proof reaction, is not often the best action to pretty much everything in the long term. Reaction is sometimes called for, but how much, when and where is a commonsense tied character trait.

This election as all are, is hinged on who will react, act or continue to fail to act to responsibly represent the people. All the people, not just some or a party. How often they will choose to do which, form of the word act, and how much action is taken to reduce the severity or need for reaction. It comes down to commonsense, compassion, and character. Who reflects yours, and who can be seen as lacking one or all, from your point of view. Of all the platforms any sides presents, in any campaign, more focus on that needs to be the deciding factor in poliics. Those who seek office simply to have it, should have their ultimate motives questioned. Some have managed multiple terms, simply so the party holds the seat. The chairs are full, but the representations provided are still empty as a result of it.

Too many cardboard cutout politicians already fill the ranks. Ability to lead and bring divisions together, is the only way progress or lately even simple government business can be achieved. Common ground has to be the goal. Every issue should not be a left hand verses right hand armwrestling match. It just doesn't work, and it looks silly trying to make it. United standing hand in hand, on one thing at a time can be done. Only when people and government see that it can, and come together to get things done, with achieving a goal in mind, instead of adhering to their individual personal or pet ones, will any of the potential power people, not a person holds be realized.

United we stand divided we fall, is our slogan. Those largely being just words, has been our unfortunate legacy. "

" Fox News is bare-face lying about Sarah Palin today. Their on-screen chyrons identify the anti-abortion Palin as "pro-choice." Still hoping to confuse those HIllary voters, I guess. "

" MiKe P mUsT hAvE aTtEnDeD oNe ToO mAnY cHeEsE fEsTiVaLs. "

" Sorry I often am wordy with my comments. The little window, would be much easier to keep track of how long it was, if I only one lined, tYpEd like im 4, or just had nothing to the topics to add, other than one lining the comments, and tYpInG like I was 4. "

" "I pledge that tomorrow night, and if necessary throughout our convention, we will act as Americans, not as Republicans," McCain told reporters moments later.

In response to the impending huricane, Mc Cain might not be at the republican convention. He is ensuring everything is in order with the governments response, on this one. I guess its just unfortunate luck that Katrina didn't happen in an election year, and during his convention, or he might have been right out front of the cameras at the last one too. Glad to see when it counts, and tragedy strikes, he can be an American and not act as a republican. ...lol had to pass this tid bit on... "

" Upon reading about Palin's trooper-gate incident, I have to wonder if the McCain folks were aware of it when they selected her? Perhaps they should have checked into her past a bit more, and McCain should have had more than just one meeting with her before selecting her as his running mate. The more I read the more I think she was a pretty poor selection. "

" What does mcwimpy the third insignificant other think of seethru sarah? "

" Desperate move on his part. They are so lucky they have the hurrican so they don't have to hold a convention. They're better off when they say nothing and don't disturb the herd. "

" In a statement released Friday, Alaska Democratic Party communications director Kay Brown said, John McCain will have to explain why he believes Sarah Palin, the former mayor of a town of 7,000 with absolutely no foreign policy experience, is the best person to serve literally a heartbeat away from the presidency.

We'll all be waiting to hear that one. LOL! "

" McCain picked Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. That locks up Alaskas three electoral votes for the GOP. "

" Summarizing Newt on Palin [Greg Pollowitz]

Newt Gingrich is on Fox News talking Palin. To summarize: one, when asked if he was worried about her experience, he said, no, because she's more experienced that Barack Obama; and two, when asked how he thinks she'll do in the debate, he answered that he's a little concerned that she'd beat Joe Biden so badly that he'd get a sympathy vote.

Newt deserves an academy award for those comments. Wow, talk about partisan spin. "

" Cindy was on GMA monday, she explained most everything. I won't be accused of misquoting her, or half truthing her, so find out what she had to say, or someone else try to use this womans name in a sentence with something she said, and have it not seem like a half truth. I can't do it, without lots of spit and polish, or paraphrasing the whole thing, and still would have trouble. "

" Lets see this almost, sort of,not really factual Left wing bias paper is akin to the NYT by a Anonymous author? Well so much for facts.
Lets see Palin ran a business,ran a city and ran a state******************
Obama..single handedly prevented the "Born Alive" bill from reaching the floor for a vote in IL.the other 8 yrs Nothing. 140 working days in Washington and voted present. Obama the Infanticide President!!! And Ol'Slow Joe has ran nothing in his long career. Yep those are great qualifications on the Dem side.
I have never seen a paper have so many anonymous reporters. "

" Smart choice there to land the women's vote, McBush. They will really identify with Palin.
After all, what American woman doesn't long to gun down large animals from a helicopter? "

" More on Sara:

August 30, 2008
Top Ten Sarah Palin Scandals

And now, for those of you who want some vetting of this unknown person who's just been jetted into the national limelight, here are the top ten Sarah Palin scandals (and for a woman who's been in office for less than two years, it's an impressive list):

#10. Cluelessgate. She sounds totally clueless talking about Iraq or foreign policy.

#9. Censorgate. She asked her town librarian if the library "could live with censorship of library books.

#7. Buchanangate. She was a big supporter of Pat Buchanan's 1996 rather hard-right, somewhat anti-semitic run for office. That ought to win over voters in Florida.

#6. Whinergate. She called Hillary Clinton a whiner. THIS is the candidate who's supposed to win over disgruntled Clinton supporters? Can we say "Phil Graham"?

#5. Kidgate. Not only is she staunchly anti-choice, she recently had a Down's Syndrome child. While making a choice to give birth to and raise such a child is certainly courageous - and will be at least as appealing as Biden's personal backstory - many women will wonder how she can decide to leave such a child while campaigning for the White House. And you have to wonder at her judgement to get pregnant in her mid-forties, after already having four children, knowing the risk of having a child with such a disease (or was this an example of what happens when right-to-lifers don't use contraception?) Won't all this, along with her membership in a notorious anti-choice organization called "Feminists for Life," seem like she's exploiting a baby for ideology, and turn most women off?

#4. Superstitiongate. Not only is Palin anti-science, she wants to teach Creationism in schools.

#3. Sexual Scandalgate. She appointed a known sexual-harassment offender to office then had to fire him.

#2. Oilgate. She's vetoed legislation for wind and solar energy and is securely in the pockets of big oil (her husband works for British Petroleum). She's even willing to let polar bears die for oil.

#1. Troopergate. She fired her public safety commissioner because he refused to fire a state trooper who was the ex-husband of her sister and engaged in a bitter custody battle. Can we say "Bush Administration"?

Troopergate, you say? Just you wait: Want more on the deliciously "Northern Exposure Meets Nixon"-esque intricacies of the abuse-of-power... "

" Sarah Palin's unwed 17-year-old daughter is expecting. Hmmm. I guess that's what you get for your "Just say no" abstinence-only sex education, eh? "

" Now, now HP, You wouldn't engage in partisan spin, nor would anyone on the Democratic would they? :-) "

" Now we find out she has an unmarried teenage daughter who is pregnant. Its getting better. LOL! "

" Why Billie, my friend, you know I'm about the least partisan poster on here. LOL! "

" Actually, what most concerns me about Sarah Palin is that she is a moron who thinks the founding fathers wrote the Pledge of Allegiance.
---
Question: Are you offended by the phrase "Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance? Why or why not?
Palin: Not on your life. If it was good enough for the founding fathers, its good enough for me and I'll fight in defense of our Pledge of Allegiance.
---
The pledge, of course, was not written until 1892 and the words "under God" were not added until the 1950s, in a fit of rabid McCarthyism. "

" Hey TQ, even I knew that. Maybe McCain should have picked me. Actually, any 7th grade history student would know that one.

Seriously, are we going to get a new scandal a day from this woman?

This just gets better by the hour!

Hopefully this woman will step down before she embarrasses the Republicans any more with her unholy past, Leona Helmsley style of management and ignorance about our country's history. Perhaps they need to figure a way to keep her away from reporters.

I'll bet old John is starting to question the wisdom of selecting this clown now. "

" Investigation to begin into whether Governor Sarah Palin abused her power in firing Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan

By Corey Allen-Young


Lawmakers will hire someone within a week to investigate whether Governor Sarah Palin abused her power in firing Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan. The legislative council approved 100,000 dollars for the investigation that will find out whether Palin was angry at Monegan for not firing an Alaska State Trooper who went through a messy divorce with Palin's sister.
On Monday afternoon, the Joint Legislative Council, filled with Republicans and Democrats, voted 12 to 0 to formally call for an investigation against Governor Palin in a mannerthat they are stressingwill be unbiased and done in a timely fashion.

This should be good! "

" Eh, find dirt on one politician, & an equal amount can be found on another.
Next case.
lol "

" Early in her tenure as mayor, the city council threatened to recall Palin over accusations that she fired the city's police chief, Irl Stambaugh, and the library director, Mary Ellen Emmons, without warning. She accused them in a letter saying: "I do not feel I have your full support in my efforts to govern the city of Wasilla. Therefore I intend to terminate your employment ..." (The Anchorage Daily News, via nexis) ... "

" Ms. Palin's 17 year old daughter is pregnant, wonderful example "

" What do you think the Fox News reaction would be if the Obamas or the Clintons had an unwed teenage daughter who was pregnant? "

" oh my... and now news hits that her underage, 17yo, daughter is 'preggers'... this soap opera/train wreck/melodrama is only getting better with each day... the religious right and 'family values' wingnuts are yelling: IT'S A PRIVATE MATTER!... yet... if it had happened to any Dem they would have the bonfire ready for burning them alive at the stake... it's a double-whammy... first Gustav reminds everyone about how Bush and his REPUBLICAN-led gov let thousands die ... he was too busy having birthday cake with JOHN McCAIN... or as he he now routinely called: John McSame or McInsane... to care about a few black Americans in dire needs... now this family values moment... the double-standard is just too much... it's like a punch line of some joke... so much for abstinence-only education folks... if this is how the former beauty-queen loser instills her values to her children, then the GOP is really up a creek with no clue... they say that her daughter is PLANNING on marrying the underaged father of her baby... bet it'll be a shot-gun wedding for sure... with Sarah and the rest of her NRA gun-nuts standing there with their AK-47s ready to fire... family values... family values... and here I thought having Dick Cheney's lez daughter give birth to a child with her 'roommate' was the epitome of hypocrisy on the republican front... 'country first', indeed!... we'll be laughing all the way to the polls and obama inauguration "

" "Lets see Palin ran a business, ran a city, and ran a state."

What business, her home? I am all for defining housewife as a full time occupation, but that hardly is a resume suited for VP.

What city? You mean the town of 9,000 people?

You mean she was governor of the third least populated state? You do realize that 80 cities in the United States are larger than the entire population of Alaska, right?

Her qualifications are a flipping joke. Maybe that is McCain's plan? Pick an unqualified woman, attract women voters, then play off the fact that she'll be ripped apart for being so mediocre, and draw in even more votes from women? "

" No wonder Cindy McCain was so excited about this woman, Palin. She makes Cindy look like a Sunday school teacher. "

" At the current rate of a Palin scandal a day, and about 62 more days to go, will there be 62 more scandals? "

" The moment this story broke, a countdown to november began. There is two short months till it winds down. All they have to do is make it that long, with both of them having at least one good leg to stand on, and they accomplish what they hope to.

This hurricane was reported to be a four, as it entered the gulf. It crossed and landed as barely a two.

For the last 7 years, the media has been largely led around by the nose, as to where the news is, and where it isn't. Headline driven news is easily distracted, by chum strategicly placed well away from where prime fishing might be.

This administation, didn't invent the process, but it has become quite adept at it. Complacent reporting, has feed right into it being easily distracted from more. Its much easier, to just print released information, than to take the time to investigate, and ask relavent questions. A few planted questions, and there is more smoke to chase, or steered provided information to print.

Smoke grenades are being tossed and the countdown is three days closer. There will likely be many, slight of hand distractions, in the next two months. A campaign that had no substance, except for sheparding many sheep, and having hopes of reeling in a few strays, has not made any strides in substance, with the filling out of its ticket. It can likely be seen as a seinfeld show campaign, it represents nothing, is built on a foundation of nothing, and only has a chance to win, if its opposition manages to take its self out of the game, by something huge, or little things snoballing into something substancial. Mc Cain looks the part of the token no chance candidate every time he does an interview.

Cindy said she spoke to Palin, before John Called her the next day. Pick was delayed for her to get back from abroad. Cindy said alot. Seems to me he might be a bit more under her thumb, or have her hand up the back of his shirt, pulling his maverick mouth string, more than has been made public record or put together. Perhaps she should be the top name on the ticket, if she is anything like she came across, in her interview. "

" All unqualified comments aside, how about those Republicans. I am genuinely impressed with their attitude during hurrican Gustav. McCain cancels the first day of the convention because we are all Americans -- or perhaps because the hurrican would overshadow the convention. Bush is unable to speak to the nation at his party's convention -- how convinent an excuse, as Bush will not be seen at the convention, a testament to his popularity within his own party. Laura Bush is asking for donations to help the people affected by Gustav. The RNC website is playing up the issue, and Fox News is driving it home.

Funny thing is, what about Fay last week? What about Hannah next week?

Sorry, but I'm not buying. This should have been done 3 years ago, not now during an election year. Disgusting. "

" http://tinyurl.com/5ucvd3

This article is a view from Republicans on their possible future rolls, and where they likely stand in current ones. Not aparently a biased piece, but presents some of them facing a bit of reality. Something not often done in any politics. "

" Mike P says:

Seems to me he might be a bit more under her thumb, or have her hand up the back of his shirt, pulling his maverick mouth string, more than has been made public record or put together.

You could be right Mike, and if you recall Huey Long said "a chicken in every pot" so if we hear "a Budweiser in every fridge", we'll know you were right. LOL! "

" I suspect that this pick is directly related to being able to drill in ANWAR. That's the only reason that I can find to pick Palin. They are going after the big oil money. "

" Becky wrote on Sep 2, 2008 9:46 AM:
" I suspect that this pick is directly related to being able to drill in ANWAR. That's the only reason that I can find to pick Palin. They are going after the big oil money. """"

exactly....nevermind the country's welfare, lets pad the pockets of their cronies in big oil....like they don't already have enough. "

" let those who are without sin cast the first stone........... "

" TQ (but no answers) " Sarah Palin's unwed 17-year-old daughter is expecting. Hmmm. I guess that's what you get for your "Just say no" abstinence-only sex education, eh? "

I forgot that when schools promote sexual behavior among teenagers by passing out condoms that there are no teenage pregnancies. Give me a break. When schools teach so called sex education girls still get pregnant. When schools teach abstinence girls sometimes still get pregnant. If condoms are used girls sometimes still get pregnant. If abstinence is used girls never get pregnant. The problem wasn't that her mother is for abstinence education. The problem is it wasn't used. Sometimes young people as well as adults make mistakes. I thought you lefties think it is ok to have sex with anyone anytime. "

" For folks who don't like John McCain and would not vote for him in a million years, you people are awfully concerned about his pick for VP. If she's really as bad as you say, I would think you'd be delighted. Apparently you aren't. Careful, your fear and bigotry are showing. "

" "If she's really as bad as you say, I would think you'd be delighted. "
----
Oh, I am, I am. I just love Sarah Palin (cough, cough "Harriet Miers"). "

" The Question wrote on Sep 2, 2008 4:28 PM:
" "If she's really as bad as you say, I would think you'd be delighted. "
----
Oh, I am, I am. I just love Sarah Palin (cough, cough "Harriet Miers"). """"

i love her too TQ...

you just have to love it! another move to purely get elected without political interests or the country taken into consideration. and it backfired big time.....this thing can only get better. "

" the fascist GOP at work....3 journalists bloodied and arrested were released today in Minneapolis where they were arrested on the convention floor for "obstructing a police officer".

and this is the party some people want to elect for another 4 more years. "

" Among other less attention-grabbing news of the day: it was learned that Ms. Palin now has a private lawyer in a legislative ethics investigation in Alaska into whether she abused her power in dismissing the states public safety commissioner; that she was a member for two years in the 1990s of the Alaska Independence Party, which has at times sought a vote on whether the state should secede; and that Mr. Palin was arrested 22 years ago on a drunken-driving charge.

Aides to Mr. McCain said they had a team on the ground in Alaska now to look more thoroughly into Ms. Palins background. A Republican with ties to the campaign said the team assigned to vet Ms. Palin in Alaska had not arrived there until Thursday, a day before Mr. McCain stunned the political world with his vice-presidential choice. The campaign was still calling Republican operatives as late as Sunday night asking them to go to Alaska to deal with the unexpected candidacy of Ms. Palin.

Although the McCain campaign said that Mr. McCain had known about Bristol Palins pregnancy before he asked her mother to join him on the ticket and that he did not consider it disqualifying, top aides were vague on Monday about how and when he had learned of the pregnancy, and from whom.

While there was no sign that her formal nomination this week was in jeopardy, the questions swirling around Ms. Palin on the first day of the Republican National Convention, already disrupted by Hurricane Gustav, brought anxiety to Republicans who worried that Democrats would use the selection of Ms. Palin to question Mr. McCains judgment and his ability to make crucial decisions.

At the least, Republicans close to the campaign said it was increasingly apparent that Ms. Palin had been selected as Mr. McCains running mate with more haste than McCain advisers initially described.

Up until midweek last week, some 48 to 72 hours before Mr. McCain introduced Ms. Palin at a Friday rally in Dayton, Ohio, Mr. McCain was still holding out the hope that he could choose a good friend, Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, independent of Connecticut, a Republican close to the campaign said. Mr. McCain had also been interested in another favorite, former Gov. Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania.

But both men favor abortion rights, anathema to the Christian conservatives who make up a crucial base of the Republican Party. As word leaked out that Mr. McCain was seriously considering the men, the campaign was bombarded by outrage from influential conservatives who predicted an explosive floor fight at the convention and vowed rejection of Mr. Ridge or Mr. Lieberman by the delegates.

Perhaps more important, several Republicans said, Mr. McCain was getting advice that if he did not do something to shake up the race, his campaign would be stuck on a potentially losing trajectory.

With time running out and as Mr. McCain discarded two safer choices, Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, as too predictable he turned to Ms. Palin. He had his first face-to-face interview with her on Thursday and offered her the job moments later. Advisers to Mr. Pawlenty and another of the finalists on Mr. McCains list described an intensive vetting process for those candidates that lasted one to two months.

They didnt seriously consider her until four or five days from the time she was picked, before she was asked, maybe the Thursday or Friday before, said a Republican close to the campaign. This was really kind of rushed at the end, because John didnt get what he wanted. He wanted to do Joe or Ridge.

This choice has got the Repugs spinning their little hearts out too, even though they are no doubt cussing old John out for selecting this dud.

Sounds like old John is so desperate that he was will to throw his two friends under the bus and go with this totally unqualified candidate. "

" father bob says:.....this thing can only get better.

You are so right, fb, this thing is getting better by the day. I have never heard the old radio drama queen, Limbaugh get as shrill as he was today. I think he senses what McCain has done to his party.

Think about it, McCain goes around for weeks claiming Obama has no experience and then picks a running mate with ZERO experience on a national scale, who has more personal baggage than Rudy Giuliani. Even Limbaugh sees the writing on the wall. "

" Exclusive: Chief Fired by Palin Speaks Out.


The July firing of Alaska Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan by Gov. Sarah Palin, who was announced as John McCain's running mate on Friday, has unearthed a stream of soap-opera-like details about Palin, her husband, her family and top state appointees. The controversy has also cut against Palin's reputation for holding an ethical line and standing up to colleagues in the Republican Party over matters of principle.

Monegan, 57, a respected former chief of the Anchorage Police Department, said in an interview with The Washington Post's James V. Grimaldi on Friday that the governor repeatedly brought up the topic of her ex-brother-in-law, Michael Wooten, after Monegan became the state's commissioner of public safety in December 2006. Palin's husband, Todd, met with Monegan and presented a dossier of information about Wooten, who was going through a bitter custody battle with Palin's sister, Molly. Monegan also said Sarah Palin sent him e-mails on the subject, but Monegan declined to disclose them, saying he planned to give them to a legislative investigator looking into the matter.

Palin initially denied that she or anyone in her administration had ever pressured Monegan to fire the trooper, but this summer acknowledged more than a half a dozen contacts over the matter, including one phone call from a Palin administration official to a state police lieutenant. The call was recorded and was released by Palin's office this month. Todd Palin told a television reporter in Alaska that he did meet with Monegan, but said he was just "informing" Monegan about the issue, not exerting pressure.

"She never directly asked me to fire him," Monegan said.

But he said Todd Palin told him Wooten "shouldn't be a trooper. I've tried to explain to him, you can't head hunt like this. What you need to do is back off, because if the trooper does make a mistake, and it is a terminable offense, it can look like political interference.

"I think he's emotionally committed in trying to see that his former brother-in-law is punished."

The allegation against Palin, "undercuts one of the points they are making that she is an ethical reformer," said Democratic state Sen. Hollis French, who is managing a $100,000 investigation into the firing of Walter Monegan.

Washington Post- "

" McCain has a history of fooling around, could Palin actually be another one of his bimbos? Just kidding...

Actually there are reports that senior Republicans are starting to worry, as a new scandal a day comes out.

I here there is a car-wash-gate scandal coming out. LOL!

I'm wondering if there is talk behind the scenes on how to gracefully get rid of her? "

" Sara Palin is starting to make Dick Cheney look ethical. Did I really say that? "

" Off the Net:


Labor Day brought us an ugly media feeding frenzy when it surfaced that Sarah Palin's teenage daughter is pregnant. But the real scandal for John McCain's V.P.-to-be is the flurry of stories that as a politician in Alaska, Palin had a voracious appetite for the very congressional earmarks and pork barrel spending that John McCain has made a signature issue of trying to stamp out.

As mayor of Wasilla, a suburb of Anchorage, Palin hired one of Alaska's most connected lobbying firms to secure almost $27 million in federal appropriations for her constituents, according to the Washington Post. Wasilla benefited mightily from Palin's decision: federal earmarks for $900,000 in municipal sewer repairs, $1.9 million for a local transportation hub, and $15 million for a rail link, among other pet projects. For a town of just 6,700 people, this amounted to thousands of dollars per resident in federal largess. And the lobbying firm, Robertson, Monagle, & Eastaugh, wasn't just any band of wannabe legislators. The firm is closely linked to Alaska's two most notorious pork barrel Republicans, Senator Ted Stevens and Representative Don Young (Stevens was indicted this summer for accepting and failing to report hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts from VECO, a now-defunct oil services firm).

It gets worse. The McCain camp has made much of Palin's supposedly principled decision as governor to decline federal money to build the "Bridge to Nowhere," a national symbol of pork barrel spending run amok. In her speech accepting the position as McCain's running mate, Palin recalled: "I told Congress, 'Thanks, but no thanks,' on that bridge to nowhere....'If our state wanted a bridge,' I said, 'we'd build it ourselves.'"

Stirring stuff. But as USA Today reports, Palin was actually for the Bridge to Nowhere before she was against it. Campaigning for governor in 2006, Palin trumpeted her support for the $233 million bridge to reach an island of just 50 inhabitants. And displaying an unnerving understanding of how the dirty appropriations game is played, she even urged quick action to build the bridge while Alaska's congressional delegation (i.e., Stevens and Young) was well-positioned to secure the necessary federal tax dollars. Only when the bridge became a public relations debacle did Palin flip positions and declare that Alaska didn't need it after all.

We've been told by the McCain camp to overlook Palin's thin rsum because she's an insurgent pork-busting reformer in the mold of John McCain. We've been misled. Palin was looking for federal handouts just like every other self-interested politician that John McCain excoriates. Take that card away, and what does she really offer?

That's the real scandal about Sarah Palin. "

" the republican convention is a joke anyway, of course McCain didn't want to go through with it because he knows it won't be anything like the democrats, I imagine right about now he is wishing that he picked another v.p. candidate, although he knew Ms. Palins daughter was pregnant from the one time they spoke "

" How's today's JG-TC Online Poll shaping up?
LOL! "

" Good grief! Now we learn there are nude photos of Palin being printed in newspapers around the world. And some of you thought Bush made us the laughing stock of the world.

Good choice, McCain.... LOL! "

" Teen pregnancy shouldn't be an issue, but lets bring the boy out on the campaign trail with the family. Don't focus on this, but put more of its sordid story in the frames of our family photos. Common sense seems to be severely lacking there. Speech tonight might shed some light on all the misunderstandings. "

" Leftist demonstrators throwing caustic fluid in a delegate's face, shouting obcenities at them, obstructing their walking. Leftist bloggers and so-called journalists making up lies to try to ruin Sarah Palin's life and the lives of her family. Leftists even going so far as to release her social security number. Why would anyone ever want these kinds of people running our government? Certainly not me. "

" Dear Harry Pooper and Father Boob:
I read your opinions often for comic relief but this is a red letter day for you. I had to chuckle today about the nude photos of Sara Palin when you had to have known it was a hoax. It is one thing to be critical of someone, but to knowingly spread playground gossip is no more than a pathetic bid for attention on your part. All the name calling says a lot about you too. Were the other children unkind to you on the playground when you were small? If your history was investigated like Sara Palin's, what would we find? Why do you end your poison penmanship with "lol". Laughing out loud is an odd thing to follow the hurtful and many times false words you spew. There is room to be critical of Sara Palin I am sure but at least she doesn't hide behind childish "Harry Pooper" and "Father Boob" names and hurl stones at people who step out into the real world to make a difference. It doesn't really matter who you are. From what you write people know what you are. Right Harry Pooper?
Invicta is the motto of the Men of Kent and you all ready know my name. "

" Letter from Wasilla

A note to all by Anne Kilkenny



Dear friends,



So many people have asked me about what I know about Sarah Palin in the

last 2 days that I decided to write something up . . .



Basically, Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton have only 2 things in

common: their gender and their good looks. :)



You have my permission to forward this to your friends/email contacts

with my name and email address attached, but please do not post it on

any websites, as there are too many kooks out there . . .



[ This was already posted on Washington Independent comments area,

with a controllable hotmail account, and was obviously meant by the

author to be read. ]



Thanks,

Anne

IT'S A LONG LETTER SO PLEASE USE THE TINY URL: http://tinyurl.com/5eluj5 "

" WHATS FUNNY IS THAT NONE OF IT HAS BEEN LIES SO FAR SAPIENT "

" invecta hit the nail on the head. they jump on everyone as racism for saying anything about omamba, but they can spout thier sexism and religious intolerance and not expcet anyone to say anything about it.
to injustice most of the stories i have heard have been proven to be less than factual.
as for experence i think that she is more qualified than obamba and just as qualified as w.j.clinton was when he was elected and if i remember correctly he was almost impeached just like she was almost recalled. "

" " Dear Harry Pooper and Father Boob:

Wow, now that really shows some deep thinking, and I guess you showed us, huh pilgrim....

And to think, I was under the impression that all of those years spent driving around in a city department truck were wasted. If I had only know that you were reading up on psychoanalysis, I wouldn't have griped so much about your wasting the tax payers dime.

Anyway thanks for the analysis.

I would like a turn now: let's see, perhaps you are a disgruntled ex city worker who never really rose above doing general labor work, and in spite of all of your long winded nonsensical letters to the editor, telling the powers to be how to do their job, everyone sort of ignores you. And I have a suspicion that you've had more than one failed marriage, and have strained relationship with the rest of your family. And I suspect you have a pretty good understanding about how it is to get picked on on the playground. How did I do?

Remember now, I have the upper hand because I know who you are, so don't try any fibs on us. LOL! "

" This is the party that claims they believe in family values - I feel a woman with five children and one with Down syndrome and one pregnant and unmarried with a young man that in his facebook says he does not want children and uses the f word describing himself, should be home with those children more and not be in a job that will require so much time. Also how can this party say that Obama does not have enough experience but she is fine - she could be president at any time after only being a governor a short time and mayor of a small town. I thought part of their priorities is dealing with foreign relations which she has no experience.
It amazes me that Democrats are not supposed to talk about family problems or personal things and that is all they talked about with the Clintons. Chelsea would have been called every name under the sun had it been her. I think McCain was desperate to appeal to women, NRA and pro lifers for votes. "

" Dear Harry Pooper:
You asked me how you did? You did exactly what everyone knew you would do. You ranted and raved and hid behind your funny little name but never spoke about the lie you told earlier about nude photographs of Sara Palin.
And what makes you think I don't know who you are? People talk. And as predicted you spewed venom and ended with LOL. How sad. Some "upper hand" you have there Harry Pooper? "

" As wrong as you have been about everything you have ever posted on here, what makes you thing all of the photos are phonies, Einstein? You might wind up with egg on you face over this. LOL! You failed to grade my analysis on your personal profile, so how did I do? Right on target, wasn't I? That's OK, you don't have to answer, I know. Just slink off and hide in your little miserable corner of the world. "

" Dear Harry Pooper:
Since the world is round and therefore has no corner to slink off into I will slink off to bed and ignore you. ;o) slink...slink...slink "

" I was born in Mattoon as were my parents, gparents and ggparents and I still have immediate family as well as extended family in Coles,Cumberland, Moultrie, shelby and doublas counties. It makes me sad to see the deterioration which has taken place over the years since the Eisenhower Administration/New York Central Tracks were removed after the federally imposed merger of the RR's sending the E-W trains through Illinois on the Pennsylvania tracks. Just look at the growth and prosperity in Effingham now. Please DO NOT vote Republican in November. If you vote for Obama you have an opportunity to have some growth - perhaps even another shot at Future Gen. Mattoon has voted Republican for far too long - it is too poor to continue to do so. Ask all your relatives all over the country to vote for the Democrats. Try to get some attention for central and southern Illinois from the federal government - Republicans will never give it - from DDE days to today when the current president took future Gen to TX. Fight Back! Don't be sheep. Please. I hate coming home these days to see the poverty and decay. "

" Don't get you hopes up, Bricker, after all people in this country were stupid enough to elect the idiot currently living in the White House, twice. "

" Finding excuses? McCain's cancer you seem so worried about was melanoma--
that's skin cancer and he sees his doctor and that is very good. Also worried about his age? Hey he has a mama that is 95 or 6 and still going strong and her mind is alert and agile. I'm 77 and no dementia at all still
know alot more about life than a lot of you after all I've had alot more life experiences than some of you and,If we have even a natural intelligence we
do not make the same mistake twice. I believe in McCain's values and he's certainly had life experiences that some would have crumbled under and had integrity to stand his ground. Oh and about Palin??? I was a working mom of four and a housewife and did fine thank you very much. This is a woman who has alot to give, highly gifted, intelligent, and tested in the political field and to be much admired for her moral values too. Some of you are against her because she's a christian, I say Praise the Lord!!! This ticket has my vote. "

" People with good values don't cheat on their spouses, Jay C. Is McCain's infidelity a part of those values you admire? "

" McCains a cheating criminal and Palin's a bimbo, plain and simple "

" don't worry jay c this is coming from someone who's favorite presedent left his legacy all over an interns blue dress. "

" injustice85 wrote on Sep 7, 2008 4:15 PM:

" McCains a cheating criminal and Palin's a bimbo, plain and simple "

I hope you don't mind me moving this over to one of the more active threads, injustice85.

I just thought it said so much in so few words. "

" Hate to inform you of this, rounder, but Clinton was a cheating scumbag, just like McCain and now it appears Palin too. The difference between Clinton and McCain and Palin is that you Repugs are willing to overlook McCain and Palin's dalliances but can't get past Clinton's BJ. "