What do you think of Sarah Palin?

[deepimpact2]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

While I agree with the substance of this post, I think the angle of "qualified" is overblown - the only "qualification" to be VP, on a pragmatic level, is whether or not Americans will elect your ticket.

It's kind of being results-oriented to say "clearly she fails by this measure" since Obama was steam-rolling regardless, but there was a bump for the Republicans after her introduction (and, presumably, until she opened her mouth on national TV).

It's safe to say she didn't really do a great job as VP candidate, however we want to define that role.

I don't know about the person who posted that response about other qualified Republican women, but when I think of "qualified" in that respect I think of someone who is at least aware of what is going on in the world. Someone who can at least name a periodical that they read. Someone who doesn't have to be coached on all major issues that are taking place in the world. Perhaps a better word instead of "qualified" would have been "intelligent."

[Thetagirl218]

Originally Posted by californiagal01

What do you all think of Sarah Palin? Do you think she was qualified to be Vice President? Is she really a reformer?

Wow....This is post number 3 that the OP has started against conservatives! lol!!! First a sorority's political choice, than country music, now Sarah Palin....What next, a discussion on the separation of church and state?

As to the actual thread....dittos to AnchorAlum.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by deepimpact2

I don't know about the person who posted that response about other qualified Republican women, but when I think of "qualified" in that respect I think of someone who is at least aware of what is going on in the world. Someone who can at least name a periodical that they read. Someone who doesn't have to be coached on all major issues that are taking place in the world. Perhaps a better word instead of "qualified" would have been "intelligent."

I know that's what you think of - but that's not really the functional definition here.

Let's put it this way: does the Republican party think that "intelligence" or "public service" or "seniority" are the most important factors for a VP? Clearly not, or they would simply put that into an equation like some sort of UAW promotion calendar. So yeah - Palin was a failure, not because she wasn't smart enough (how many Americans can give a rational answer to what to do about Georgia?), but because she was not capable of turning enough people on to her to get elected.

Also - every politician is coached on major issues. Every single one. It's why Senators have a staff, it's why the President has a cabinet, et cetera. I know it's an aside, but just saying.

[DGTess]

IMHO, the thing that made Palin unqualified was her theocratic views.

As for the party, the Republicans made a mistake in not letting Palin be Palin. Mind you, I don't think she was the appropriate choice, but then they tried to make her fit a mold she was not meant to fit.

KSigkid, you're right ... the media annointed the messiah from the start. The only question was whether the media could overcome the Clinton machine.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by DGTess

KSigkid, you're right ... the media annointed the messiah from the start. The only question was whether the media could overcome the Clinton machine.

Well, to be fair, that's not exactly what I said. I was disappointed that Obama had so much momentum coming out of the primaries, but I didn't say it was a media thing. It was a combination of a bunch of factors and, unfortunately, the Republicans never overcame that.

ETA: As a former member of said media (and staunch Conservative), I'm not going to say that the media "anointed" a certain candidate. Maybe I'm a bit of an idealist in that regard, but the point remains...

[deepimpact2]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

I know that's what you think of - but that's not really the functional definition here.

Let's put it this way: does the Republican party think that "intelligence" or "public service" or "seniority" are the most important factors for a VP? Clearly not, or they would simply put that into an equation like some sort of UAW promotion calendar. So yeah - Palin was a failure, not because she wasn't smart enough (how many Americans can give a rational answer to what to do about Georgia?), but because she was not capable of turning enough people on to her to get elected.

Also - every politician is coached on major issues. Every single one. It's why Senators have a staff, it's why the President has a cabinet, et cetera. I know it's an aside, but just saying.

There is a difference between being coached on issues and being ADVISED on how certain issues should be handled. It isn't about being able to necessarily give a rational answer about what to do about Georgia on the fly, but more about at least knowing that there is an issue with Georgia in the first place. Not to mention the fact that when she said that she had foreign policy experience because she could SEE Russia, that showed just how clueless she really is about what foreign policy experience entails. I think many people who were able to take a step back and view Palin with an objective eye realized that she really wasn't smart enough for the job. Longstanding ected Republicans switched sides because of her presence on the ticket. That says quite a bit.

[DGTess]

Not to mention the fact that when she said that she had foreign policy experience because she could SEE Russia, that showed just how clueless she really is about what foreign policy experience entails.

Um, that was Tina Fey.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by DGTess

Um, that was Tina Fey.

Ummm...no...Palin did actually say it and Tina Fey made a parody of it...which the public blew out of proportion.



GIBSON: What insight into Russian actions, particularly in the last couple of weeks, does the proximity of the state give you?

PALIN: They're our next door neighbors and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska.



http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2...5782924&page=2

[deepimpact2]

Originally Posted by DGTess

Um, that was Tina Fey.

Actually Palin said that.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

Ummm...no...Palin did actually say it and Tina Fey made a parody of it...which the public blew out of proportion.



GIBSON: What insight into Russian actions, particularly in the last couple of weeks, does the proximity of the state give you?

PALIN: They're our next door neighbors and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska.



http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2...5782924&page=2

This is a LOT different than "I can see Russia."

Don't get me wrong - Palin was ripe for parody, but the SNL skit was a face-smashing for Palin and really helped shape public perception.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

This is a LOT different than "I can see Russia."

Don't get me wrong - Palin was ripe for parody, but the SNL skit was a face-smashing for Palin and really helped shape public perception.

I think we are more or less are saying the same thing...it was said, it got blown out of proportion, parodied and the public rolled along with the misconception for God only knows whatever reason.

But oh well...

[deepimpact2]

I don't know why everyone keeps bringing up the SNL skit. I didn't even see that. I'm just going by what I heard when she did her interview with Katie Couric.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by deepimpact2

I don't know why everyone keeps bringing up the SNL skit.

It was one of the most-discussed portions of the campaign season. Tina Fey (and Sarah Palin, for that matter) has gotten a lot of publicity out of those skits.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

I think we are more or less are saying the same thing...it was said, it got blown out of proportion, parodied and the public rolled along with the misconception for God only knows whatever reason.

But oh well...

Yeah, agreed - although I think it's pretty clear that Palin herself gave people plenty of reason (as deepimpact is indicating).

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by deepimpact2

I don't know why everyone keeps bringing up the SNL skit. I didn't even see that. I'm just going by what I heard when she did her interview with Katie Couric.

Tina Fey has been named one of the most influential people in 2008. That kind of says something.

I actually dressed as Sarah Palin for Halloween. On the back of my shirt, I had iron-on letters that read, “I can see Russia from my house!” Almost everyone that read it laughed, and made comments, some saying that Palin was incredibly stupid. I would tell them that she didn’t actually say that, it was Tina Fey, and about 95% of the people I said that to, replied with something along the lines of, “Yea, but she (Fey) only said that because Palin did first.”

McCain might have been reaching for votes from women by running with Palin, but as far as I can tell, it shouldn't be insulting to anyone. The intelligent women know better, and the dumb ones voted for McCain simply because of Palin. And yes, I guarantee you there are quite a few people in this country who voted for McCain because a “regular old soccer mom” was on the ticket. Just as there are some people who thought Palin was stupid because of what was on SNL. Just as there are some people who voted for Obama because he's black. I could go on and on.

And if you’re surprised that a politician used such a tactic to get votes that they might not otherwise have received, then you obviously don’t pay that much attention to politics.

Again, dumb move on McCain’s part to pick HER. But I understand his thought process. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that some people who voted for Clinton did so because she’s a woman.