Palin Bailin’ Out

Every blogger worth her or his salt has already had a lot to say about Sarah Palin’s gobsmacking resignation yesterday. I can’t possibly improve on what they had to say (you should visit Mudflats, the companion piece at Huffpost, and Andrew Sullivan’s “Iceberg” post and catch up there).

I heard fairly long clips of this speech on NPR on my way home, and I was trying to make sense of it and drive safely. All too soon, I gave up on trying to parse the unparseable and concentrated on getting home without incident.

Some of the phrases I heard, however oddly constructed, stayed on my mind, however. It seemed as if the entire thing, which is very disjointed, is almost like a coded message to her supporters requiring almost Enigma-caliber calculations to decipher.

The transcript of her speech was posted on the official website of the Governor’s Office, complete with odd textual flourishes and punctuation. It reads very much like a sophomore essay on Alaskan history and economics, but is so badly written that it couldn’t get a grade better than C- if it were submitted for review.

I’m going to read it over, now, and try to make some notes to myself about what I think she’s talking about or to what she is really alluding. I could swear I heard some “dogwhistle” phrases and want to verify what I thought she said.

Hi Alaska, I appreciate speaking directly TO you, the people I serve, as your Governor.

People who know me know that besides faith and family, nothing’s more important to me than our beloved Alaska. Serving her people is the greatest honor I could imagine.

Political boilerplate, but unconventionally informal and unpolished

I want Alaskans to grasp what can be in store for our state. We were purchased as a territory because a member of President Abe Lincoln’s cabinet, William Seward, providentially saw in this great land, vast riches, beauty, strategic placement on the globe, and opportunity. He boldly looked “North to the Future”. But he endured such ridicule and mocking for his vision for Alaska, remember the adversaries scoffed, calling this “Seward’s Folly”. Seward withstood such disdain as he chose the uncomfortable, unconventional, but RIGHT path to secure Alaska, so Alaska could help secure the United States.

This reads like an except from an old civics paper, or better yet, plagiarized from an eighth-grade history textbook

People who know me know that besides faith and family, nothing’s more important to me than our beloved Alaska.

This line is a typo, a repeat of the statement in the introduction. They must have cleaned up the text after TPM copied it off the Alaska Governor Sarah Palin page.

Alaska’s mission – to contribute to America. We’re strategic IN the world as the air crossroads OF the world, as a gatekeeper of the continent. Bold visionaries knew this – Alaska would be part of America’s great destiny.

This statement starts off with an incomplete sentence – it has an implied verb only. Alaska is in a strategic location and is used as a stopover and refueling point on some international air routes, sure. The strange emphasis on “in and of the world” makes me think of Biblical verses somehow.

Our destiny to be reached by responsibly developing our natural resources. This land, blessed with clean air, water, wildlife, minerals, AND oil and gas. It’s energy! God gave us energy.

Another missing verb in the first sentence is not a good start. Then an incomplete thought in the second sentence brings us to a stray concept – it’s God-given energy. It’s nice that Sarah thinks clean air and water is so great, as she’s in a state that’s been horribly damaged by the oil industry. And it’s a terrific place to shoot wildlife in, also!

So to serve the state is a humbling responsibility, because I know in my soul that Alaska is of such import, for America’s security, in our very volatile world. And you know me by now, I promised even four years ago to show MY independence… no more conventional “politics as usual”.

“Importance.” Alaska is of such importance, TO America’s security, in our very volatile world. Other bloggers have already pointed out the “four years ago” statement is misleading. Next, I think the use of the word “independence” here may be a shout-out to the Alaskan Independence Party. Finally,plenty of people are hooting derisively at “four years ago.”

And we are doing well! My administration’s accomplishments speak for themselves. We work tirelessly for Alaskans.

We aggressively and responsibly develop our resources because they were created to be used to better our world… to HELP people… and we protect the environment and Alaskans (the resource owners) foremost with our policies.

Yes, working tirelessly is good except when you’re not in the State Capitol, not living in the Governor’s Mansion, and not making yourself available to the Legislature while it’s in session. Still reads like an eighth-grade essay about Alaska natural resources, and Econ for Dummies. Throw in a random word like “foremost” instead of “first” for extra credit, Sarah! You might bring your grade up to a solid “C.”

Here’s some of the things we’ve done:

We created a petroleum integrity office to oversee safe development. We held the line FOR Alaskans on Point Thomson – and finally for the first time in decades – they’re drilling for oil and gas.

There goes that environment you’re so proud of protecting.

We have AGIA, the gasline project – a massive bi-partisan victory (the vote was 58 to 1!) – also succeeding as intended – protecting Alaskans as our clean natural gas will flow to energize us, and America, through a competitive, pro-private sector project. This is the largest private sector energy project, ever. THIS is energy independence.

Hold on there, Ms. Soon-To-Be-Former-Governor. THIS is sending Alaskan energy to Canada for their oil sands extraction, according to dKos. And lots of people fed at that trough, making it win-win for bipartisanship.

And ACES – another bipartisan effort – is working as intended and industry is publicly acknowledging its success. Our new oil and gas “clear and equitable formula” is so Alaskans will no longer be taken advantage of. ACES incentivizes NEW exploration and development and JOBS that were previously not going to happen with a monopolized North Slope oil basin.

Are those all acronyms, or is this more emphasis? This should have been in bold or italics on her transcript. I won’t grammar-gestapo the whole thing, but it’s awkward, and I have no idea if it’s factual.

We cleaned up previously accepted unethical actions; we ushered in bi-partisan Ethics Reform.

That’s great. How’d that new house turn out that Todd built with his “buddies?” I hear the windows are exactly like the ones in the multi-million dollar sports complex nearby that Wasilla is on the hook for paying off. After all, as mayor, you blocked local zoning requirements for building licenses.

We also slowed the rate of government growth, we worked with the Legislature to save billions of dollars for the future, and I made no lobbyist friends with my hundreds of millions of dollars in budget vetoes… but living beyond our means today is irresponsible for tomorrow.

We took government out of the dairy business and put it back into private-sector hands – where it should be.

This section is whistling up cheers and support from the “big government bad, unfettered business good” crowd.

We provided unprecedented support for education initiatives, and with the right leadership, finally filled long-vacant public safety positions. We built a sub-Cabinet on Climate Change and took heat from Outside special interests for our biologically-sound wildlife management for abundance.

Translation: “I got rid of some Godless Commies in the Education Department and some enemies in that crappy Public Safety department, too, also. And that Global Warming is a crock, I’m supposed to always say “Climate Change” just like Mr Rove always tells me. And I got to shoot a moose from a state helicopter! How cool is that? We have lots more stuff to shoot! For Freedom! And guns!”

We broke ground on the new prison.

Is there an executive suite? Do you get to redecorate? Is that why you’re so visibly and audibly upset?

And we made common sense conservative choices to eliminate personal luxuries like the jet, the chef, the junkets… the entourage.

TWEET! Good girl, Sarah. Bring it here. You used “conservative” even though it added no meaning to the sentence, other than it wasn’t a word associated with the Godless Commies.

And the Lt. Governor and I said “no” to our pay raises. So much success in this first term – and with this success I am proud to take credit… for hiring the right people! Our goal was to achieve a gasline project, more fair oil and gas valuation, and ethics reform in four years. We did it in two. It’s because of the people… good public servants surrounding the Governor’s office, with servants’ hearts and astounding work ethic… THEY are Alaska’s success!

Okay, we’re done here! Do I get extra credit for finishing early? Oh. What is or are “servant’s hearts?” Is this some kind of Christianist code word? I heard Palin’s spokesBarbie use that same term when she was paraphrasing the statement (with better grammar and syntax) for Anderson Cooper, who all but scratched his head in bewilderment over all the basketball analogies. In fact, you’ve got to take a break and watch this. I’ll get a Spoot. Not that kind of spoot, though I think there’s plenty of it in this transcript.

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/E0XRot6ydGM" width="425" height="344" wmode="transparent" /]

We are doing well! I wish you’d hear MORE from the media of your state’s progress and how we tackle Outside interests – daily – SPECIAL interests that would stymie our state. Even those debt-ridden stimulus dollars that would force the heavy hand of federal government into our communities with an “all-knowing attitude” – I have taken the slings and arrows with that unpopular move to veto because I know being right is better than being popular. Some of those dollars would harm Alaska and harm America – I resisted those dollars because of the obscene national debt we’re forcing our children to pay, because of today’s Big Government spending; it’s immoral and doesn’t even make economic sense!

Outside = The United States, The Lower 48, Washington.
SPECIAL interests = Godless Commie Environmentalists.

She must have watched that Canadian show and been impressed enough to inadvertently quote Shakespeare, too. There is some speculation that the GOP power elite don’t want Republican governors refusing the stimulus plan. Oh, and don’t forget, Big Government bad. Alaskan Independence good, but not really the same as “non-partisan.”

Another accomplishment – our Law Department protected states’ rights – TWO huge U.S. Supreme Court reversals came down against that liberal Ninth Circuit, deciding in OUR state’s favor over the last two weeks. We’re protectors of our Constitution – federalists protect states’ rights as mandated in 10th amendment.

That’s right, get in a good smack against the activist (liberal) judges. I wonder if this statement was also cribbed from leftover debate notes? Maybe she re-watched the PowerPoint presentations so many times, the bullet-points no longer had to be written on her sleeve. And “Federalist?” TWEET!! GOOD GIRL! Who’s a good girl?!?

But you don’t hear much of the good stuff in the press anymore, do you?

See Bush 43 playbook, “Iraq War: Good news about our mission, for the accomplishment of”

Some say things changed for me on August 29th last year – the day John McCain tapped me to be his running-mate – I say others changed.

Please don’t say tapped… not with all the babies bein’ birthed in the family this year.

Let me speak to that for a minute.

Political operatives descended on Alaska last August, digging for dirt. The ethics law I championed became their weapon of choice. Over the past nine months I’ve been accused of all sorts of frivolous ethics violations – such as holding a fish in a photograph, wearing a jacket with a logo on it, and answering reporters’ questions.

Every one – all 15 of the ethics complaints have been dismissed. We’ve won! But it hasn’t been cheap – the State has wasted THOUSANDS of hours of YOUR time and shelled out some two million of YOUR dollars to respond to “opposition research” – that’s money NOT going to fund teachers or troopers – or safer roads. And this political absurdity, the “politics of personal destruction” … Todd and I are looking at more than half a million dollars in legal bills in order to set the record straight. And what about the people who offer up these silly accusations? It doesn’t cost them a dime so they’re not going to stop draining public resources – spending other peoples’ money in their game.

Good thing you appointed or controlled the nearly powerless state ethics committee, then. She shoots, she scores! But better not mention troopers… stick to education and transportation. You also get a point for that very obscure Reagan/Clinton era reference, which your fellow Republicans do so well. Everything is much easier to understand when it’s all reduced to Good and Evil, Angels and Demons, Inside and Outside, Big and small, isn’t it? Anyway, you’ll soon be spending other people’s money now that you’ve succeeded in setting up that PAC to help you deal with these gnat-like ethics annoyances. Just Google “Palin Alaska Fund” and see what Musket Balls has to say on the matter (no linky love for them, though).

It’s pretty insane – my staff and I spend most of our day dealing with THIS instead of progressing our state now. I know I promised no more “politics as usual,” but THIS isn’t what anyone had in mind for ALASKA.

Insane is right. And why do you keep harping about “politics as usual?” I understand political graft, small-time grifting, and ethics violations are all part of the proud Alaskan tradition of independence of thought when it comes to troublesome facts and bothersome rules. I think you think “politics as usual” really means “liberal haters digging up inconvenient truthiness and actually applying critical thinking on old stuff you have to say and do to get elected. And so forth.”

If I have learned one thing: LIFE is about choices!

“FWEEEEET! A GREAT BIG HELLO, TO ALL MY SUPPORTERS IN THE TRENCHES! Keep on choosing life, and keep your powder dry. Also. For LIFE.”

And one chooses how to react to circumstances. You can choose to engage in things that tear down, or build up. I choose to work very hard on a path for fruitfulness and productivity. I choose NOT to tear down and waste precious time; but to build UP this state and our country, and her industrious, generous, patriotic, free people!

Fruitfulness, for freedom! Got it. We’re gonna need moar baybees.

Life is too short to compromise time and resources… it may be tempting and more comfortable to just keep your head down, plod along, and appease those who demand: “Sit down and shut up”, but that’s the worthless, easy path; that’s a quitter’s way out. And a problem in our country today is apathy. It would be apathetic to just hunker down and “go with the flow”.

That quitter’s way out really is for losers, for whom there are and will always be consequences.

Nah, only dead fish “go with the flow”.

Which sure pisses off the bears, because somebody cheated and used dynamite upstream, or dumped fish guts illegally. Who cares about bears, anyway? If you can’t shoot ’em, shave ’em, so they don’t get overheated in that “climate change.”

No. Productive, fulfilled people determine where to put their efforts, choosing to wisely utilize precious time… to BUILD UP.

And there is such a need to BUILD up and FIGHT for our state and our country. I choose to FIGHT for it! And I’ll work hard for others who still believe in free enterprise and smaller government; strong national security for our country and support for our troops; energy independence; and for those who will protect freedom and equality and LIFE… I’ll work for and campaign for those PROUD to be American, and those who are INSPIRED by our ideals and won’t deride them.

I WILL support others who seek to serve, in or out of office, for the RIGHT reasons, and I don’t care what party they’re in or no party at all. Inside Alaska – or Outside Alaska.

There’s that weird emphasis again. It seems quitter Gov. Sarah’s been reading impeached Gov. Blago’s playbook, too. I’m sure glad Sarah wants to protect freedom and equality and LIFE… but equality for whom? For those who can sing along, apparently, but not those deriders, who are just a bunch of haters and liberals and foreigners and comedians. (Bonus track with improved lyrics!)

But really, it’s all about the Benjamins. Sarah is announcing that her new job will be to raise money for Republican candidates in the next election, wherever she happens to be needed. She’ll support “pro-life,” anti-woman, anti-goverment, pro-business social conservatives up the ying-yang. She’ll be like Barack Obama, except white and delightsome! Showering money and getting back to conservative principles in towns all over the pro-America parts of this great country! Also.

I’m getting tired, and my bold button is starting to wear out. Next paragraph, please.

But I won’t do it from the Governor’s desk.

I’ve never believed that I, nor anyone else, needs a title to do this – to make a difference… to HELP people. So I choose, for my State and my family, more “freedom” to progress, all the way around… so that Alaska may progress… I will not seek re-election as Governor.

Okay, sure, whatever. We all figure you probably wouldn’t have been re-elected in a cakewalk… you’d have had to actually, like, campaign or something.

And so as I thought about this announcement that I wouldn’t run for re-election and what it means for Alaska, I thought about how much fun some governors have as lame ducks… travel around the state, to the Lower 48 (maybe) (emphasis Blogula Rasa’s, with a snicker), overseas on international trade – as so many politicians do. And then I thought – that’s what’s wrong – many just accept that lame duck status, hit the road, draw the paycheck, and “milk it“. I’m not putting Alaska through that – I promised efficiencies and effectiveness! ? That’s not how I am wired. I am not wired to operate under the same old “politics as usual.” I promised that four years ago – and I meant it.

It’s not what is best for Alaska.

I am determined to take the right path for Alaska even though it is unconventional and not so comfortable.

With this announcement that I am not seeking re-election… I’ve determined it’s best to transfer the authority of governor to Lieutenant Governor Parnell; and I am willing to do so, so that this administration – with its positive agenda, its accomplishments, and its successful road to an incredible future – can continue without interruption and with great administrative and legislative success.

The entire country and parts of the world yesterday did a spit-take and said “Huh?” yesterday. Twitter went mad when an Alaskan TV journalist, @JasonLambKTUU, sent a “BREAKING NEWS” tweet.

My choice is to take a stand and effect change – not hit our heads against the wall and watch valuable state time and money, millions of your dollars, go down the drain in this new environment. Rather, we know we can effect positive change outside government at this moment in time, on another scale, and actually make a difference for our priorities – and so we will, for Alaskans and for Americans.

Who’s this “We” you’re talking about? The GOP? Your two-hearted alien overlords? Try and sell it.

Let me go back to a comfortable analogy for me – sports… basketball. I use it because you’re naïve if you don’t see the national full-court press picking away right now: A good point guard drives through a full court press, protecting the ball, keeping her eye on the basket… and she knows exactly when to pass the ball so that the team can WIN. And I’m doing that – keeping our eye on the ball that represents sound priorities – smaller government, energy independence, national security, freedom! And I know when it’s time to pass the ball – for victory.

And for Freedom. And incoherence and… hey, were you in that Easy Spirit shoes commercial, in heels?

I have given my reasons candidly and truthfully… and my last day won’t be for another few weeks so the transition will be very smooth. In fact, we will look to swear Sean in – in Fairbanks at the conclusion of our Governor’s picnics.

I do not want to disappoint anyone with my decision; all I can ask is that you TRUST me with this decision – but it’s no more “politics as usual”.

Okay, okay. “Politics as usual,” but Alaska trusted you to be Governor and you’re quitting, and Wasilla trusted you to be mayor and you stepped down to run, and then you were trusted with an important state post but quit so you could criticize a former ally from your failed campaign for Lieutenant Governor. What’s a state (or nation) to trust? You went to how many obscure Western colleges before you finally got some kind of degree?

Some Alaskans don’t mind wasting public dollars and state time. I do. I cannot stand here as your Governor and allow millions upon millions of our dollars go to waste just so I can hold the title of Governor. And my children won’t allow it either. ? Some will question the timing. ? Let’s just say, this decision has been in the works for awhile…

I, uh, huh? Were you negotiating a book deal, or finding a stylist willing to come to Alaska so you can do mavericky journalistic stuff for Faux Nooze?

In fact, this decision comes after much consideration, and finally polling the most important people in my life – my children (where the count was unanimous… well, in response to asking: “Want me to make a positive difference and fight for ALL our children’s future from OUTSIDE the Governor’s office?” It was four “yes’s” and one “hell yeah!” The “hell yeah” sealed it – and someday I’ll talk about the details of that… I think much of it had to do with the kids seeing their baby brother Trig mocked by some pretty mean-spirited adults recently.) Um, by the way, sure wish folks could ever, ever understand that we ALL could learn so much from someone like Trig – I know he needs me, but I need him even more… what a child can offer to set priorities RIGHT – that time is precious… the world needs more “Trigs”, not fewer.

Wow, that’s the longest parenthetical clause I’ve seen outside of “Tristram Shandy.” Also: please don’t make me barf with the Important (prop) Children. Again. Also.

However, I do think that making fun of Trig is wrong and bad – even worse than hauling him around to make the Mommy-Quiverfull-Womb-Industrial Complex happy. And then handing him off like a 15# bag of Yukon Gold potatoes as soon as the klieg lights turned elsewhere. However, that Photoshopped image of some radio guy as Trig wasn’t making fun of the kid – it was slamming the radio guy for, uh, being insufficiently weaned.

My decision was also fortified during this most recent trip to Kosovo and Landstuhl, to visit our wounded soldiers overseas, those who sacrifice themselves in war for OUR freedom and security… we can ALL learn from our selfless Troops… they’re bold, they don’t give up, they take a stand and know that LIFE is short so they choose to NOT waste time. They choose to be productive and to serve something greater than SELF… and to build up their families, their states, our country. These Troops and their important missions – those are truly the worthy causes in this world and should be the public priority with time and resources and NOT this local / superficial wasteful political bloodsport.

Burnish those international foreign policy merit badges, that’s a good kid. Mention “LIFE” and “(Support Our) Troops” too. Also. Again.

May we ALL learn from them!

Amen. Especially those ragheads in Iraq-iranighanistan. And that creepy guy in North Korea.

*((Gotta put First Things First))*

*((You Actually Have a Communications-Journalism Degree? And Isn’t This Last Things Last?))*

First things first: as Governor, I love my job and I love Alaska. It hurts to make this choice but I am doing what’s best for Alaska. I’ve explained why… though I think of the saying on my parents’ refrigerator that says “Don’t explain: your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe you anyway.”

But I have given my reasons… no more “politics as usual” and I am taking my fight for what’s right – for Alaska – in a new direction.

Yadda, yadda, yawn.

Now, despite this, I don’t want any Alaskan dissuaded from entering politics after seeing this REAL “climate change” that began in August… no, we NEED hardworking, average Americans fighting for what’s right! And I will support you because we need YOU and YOU can effect change, and I can too on the outside.

(That should be air quotes around “Global Warming” to make the point you think you’re making, Gov.)

We need those who will respect our Constitution where government’s supposed to serve from the BOTTOM UP, not move toward this TOP DOWN big government take-over… but rather, will be protectors of individual rights – who also have enough common sense to acknowledge when conditions have drastically changed and are willing to call an audible and pass the ball when it’s time so the team can win! And that is what I’m doing!

Sarah cheers from the sidelines FTW!

Remember Alaska… America is now, more than ever, looking North to the Future. It’ll be good. So God bless you, and from me and my family – to ALL Alaska – you have my heart.

This is a summary, correct? You’re repeating yourself just to hammer home the points? Go team! TWEEEEET!

And we will be in the capable hands of our Lieutenant Governor, Sean Parnell. And Lieutenant General Craig Campbell will assume the role of Lieutenant Governor. And it is my promise to you that I will always be standing by, ready to assist. We have a good, positive agenda for Alaska.

In the words of General MacArthur said, “We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.”

What is this, a military coup? Or is this the Royal We, and Sarah is abdicating For The Children She Loves?

And by the way, that line should read “In the words of General MacArthur,” or “General MacArthur said,” not both. Also.

That was exhausting, but there you have it. While finding snarky and non-snarky links to add, I ran across this amazing piece from the Christian Science Monitor website. Not only is the post itself a model of journalistic integrity and accuracy (even forecasting Palin’s later problems with interviews on policy, though not the “country of Africa” fiasco), the comments are amazing.

St. Paul, Minn. (date is September 1, 2008)

In a convention already thrown off-kilter by hurricane Gustav, the news that GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s teenage daughter is pregnant has added yet another wrinkle to the proceedings.

“Obviously, it’s not what these energized delegates want to hear,” says Susan MacManus, a political scientist from the University of South Florida in Tampa, who spent Monday afternoon at the convention center.

The reaction among delegates has been twofold, she says: First, they wish they had been told up front so they would not be blindsided. Second, they surmise that the situation humanizes Governor Palin even more, as she and her family deal with a situation that many American families face.

Palin’s oldest daughter, 17-year-old Bristol, is five months pregnant and will marry the father of the child, Palin and her husband disclosed Monday. The Palins decided to make the announcement to quell Internet rumors that Sarah Palin’s fifth child, four-month-old Trig, is in fact her daughter Bristol’s baby.

Bristol Palin’s decision to have the baby comports with the antiabortion views of many of the delegates here. And so, given the alternative, there was a good-news element to the story.

The Palin announcement reopened the question of how closely GOP presidential candidate John McCain had vetted Palin before selecting her as his running mate, a move that surprised the political world last Friday. If he had not known of the daughter’s pregnancy until now, what would that say about the thoroughness of Senator McCain’s scrutiny – and about Palin’s judgment? Two top McCain advisers, Stephen Schmidt and Mark Salter, told reporters in St. Paul Monday that Palin had indeed informed the campaign of Bristol’s pregnancy during the vetting process, according to the Associated Press.

“Many American families have experiences like this,” Mr. Salter said. “Unfortunately, it has to play out in the public spotlight.”

Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, speaking in Monroe, Mich., Monday, said that Palin’s daughter should not be a campaign issue.

“Let me be as clear as possible … I think people’s families are off-limits and people’s children are especially off-limits,” said Senator Obama.

Going forward, if the pregnancy story engenders criticism that Palin is somehow a “bad mother” or has “too much” going on in her life to be an effective running mate and potential vice president, watch out for the backlash from women, says Ms. MacManus.

During the Democratic primaries, the media came in for criticism over perceived sexism in their coverage of Hillary Clinton. “The whole Hillary thing reignited every bad feeling about how hard women had to fight,” says MacManus. “Beating up on Palin is not a good idea.”

The real challenge for Palin ahead will come when she starts doing in-depth press interviews about policy.

Oh, yeah, let’s remember those challenges for a moment. OK, done. There sure were a lot, and hey… Bristol and Levi never did get married, did they?

1. sickened | 09.01.08

What excellent family values Mrs. Palin has. Maybe she should be teaching her kids about the abstinence-only teachings she believes in and promotes. Talking the talk, but not walking the walk.

And what kind of a mother puts her pregnant teenage daughter in the spotlight like this? It seems rather selfish to subject her daughter to this kind of scrutiny just to advance her political career. No senstitivity, no judgement, no mothering.

She plans to be out campaigning with a pregnant teenage daughter and a five-month-old baby with Down’s Syndrome. I think this is an outrage and hypocrisy at it’s worst.
2. bushie | 09.01.08

I think the public – especially those considering voting for the McCain/Palin ticket – should be disappointed that she choose to release this information on the day a hurricane hits. Is this what you want from your leaders? For another eight years? This is straight out of the Rove playbook. I think this country is worthy of a little more honesty and straight talk.
3. Cadmus | 09.01.08

Did McCain know about this before choosing Palin?
It seems McCain’s vetting of Palin left a lot to be desired.
4. Ron | 09.01.08

McCAIN/PALIN new campaign slogan “COUNTRY FIRST – CHILDREN SECOND”

7. Sue | 09.01.08

It was not necessary for Palin to disclose her daughter’s condition or personal business in order to quell the internet rumors about Trig – a birth certificate could have done that without violating her daughter’s privacy. Obviously, she is allowing her daughter to be used for political purposes, which is reprehensible.
8. Mark Bohannon | 09.01.08

First, we find out Sarah Palin and her husband opted to have a baby knowing full well the risks of having a Down Syndrome baby after age 35. Then they parade the child’s disability around like a pity cry. I feel so sorry for that child having to be raised by ignorant, exploitive parents. Next, we find out that her under age daughter has been living in sin and is now pregnant. I suppose there will have to be a maternity wing added to the White House to accomodate all the Palin offspring, illegitimate and otherwise.
9. Ruth Penny | 09.01.08

Everyone who believes the McCain knew about Bristol’s pregnancy when he seclected her mom to be his running mate, say aye. McCain continues to show poor judgement — but could it be that poor?

40. Gerald Shields, Seattle, WA | 09.01.08

Let’s put this story in perspective: If you got a VP candidate who’s a supporter of abstinence-only education and opposes sex education programs and then your 17 year old daughter is having a “out of wedlock” pregnancy. Palin’s comments: We are proud of her decision to keep the baby and we are pround that we are going to be grandparents. What does that say for the effectiveness of these programs and what does that say for that candidate’s judgment in general? This is where I disagree with Obama on. The evangelicals and the republicans can’t have it both ways. I cannot in all respect see this as anything but an example of hypocrisy.
41. missy | 09.01.08

Isn’t abstinence the conservative recommendation for premarital sexual relations, in which case, how does the Palin family fit in? Teenage pregnancy is not something Christians embrace either. THere is a HUGE problem in morals here and it would be sickening to see what is a failing at best and hypocrisy at worst mad out be the GOP to be a positive situation.
42. Chuck Ewe | 09.01.08

Interesting how all of those Family Values folks love to preach out of the old testament when it supports their hatred, but when it’s one of their own, it’s a whole nother thing all together.The Bible says that fornication or immorality is an abomination, and considered as “filthy” before God (Revelation 17:4).

In order to avoid immorality, the Bible says that God created marriage (1 Corinthians 7:1-2). In Hebrews 13:4, the Bible says, “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” This is a reality.

The Bible says that if a Christian is sexually immoral, other Christians should separate their company and fellowship from him/her (1 Corinthians 5:9-11).

And don’t try to explain this all away by saying Jesus died for our sins so it is OKAY. These books came AFTER Jesus.
43. Zack Centre | 09.01.08

While running for Vice President, when does Palin have time for her children? Is this the new” Republican motherhood”? Am I the only one astonished that Palin seems to use her children as props for her presidential aspirations? I feel sorry for her children who have shown the need for vast amounts of love, affection and direction, unfortunately they will have to settle for far less. She is not a shining example for women, motherhood or America.
44. Kieth | 09.01.08

Just goes to show that preaching abstinence does not work. Let’s not bury our heads in the sand.
45. Doc Holliday | 09.01.08

Of course the republicans are going to try and put a positive face on this situation. And, indeed, the candidate’s families should be off limits to their opponents’ campaigns. But public opinion and the blogosphere are not so controlable and this will create at best concern and at worst a frenzy. The bottom line is this, the first truly important decision the presidential nominees make is the selection of their running mates and Obama most certainly showed superior judgment in choosing Biden. If you are familiar with Texas Hold ‘Em poker, McCain went all in on a very weak hand. Sarah Palin may be a smart lady, and she may be someone that many American moms can relate to, but no way does she appear presidential to anyone other than the most partisan republicans, and McCain already had those votes anyway. My bet is that McCain’s advisors are already pressing him to cut her loose and try to salvage from all this mess by choosing another running mate that will instill more confidence in the minds of the swing voters he desperately needs to have any shot at all of winning. There is very little silver lining to all this if you are a republican.
46. Craig | 09.01.08

I don’t understand McCain picking her. He does not need to appeal to the right wing of our party. This shows a horrible first executive decision. It makes it look like they didn’t want anyone to know something they had to know would come out. If they didn’t, the Shame on John McCain.

A VP candidate that comes equipped with both an ethics and sex scandal.

Oh my gosh.

49. Summer Rhodes | 09.01.08

It is not at all clear whether Governor Palin could get ready for discussions of policy. She never really had to before, as mayor of the small town of Wasilla before her whole two years as governor of Alaska.

Her own state is losing ice daily, with towns buckling under the folding now melted permafrost, yet Governor Palin denies global warming exists.
More about Governor Palin’s denial of global warming:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/08/29/palin_not_convinced_on_global.html

There is a current investigation into what happened when Governor Palin fired someone because she didn’t like the way she treated one of her family/friends during a divorce.
More about “Troopergate”:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h7VIY5GfDmjy-A5HsGLuHvA0SHtgD92U6SG82

We’ve had enough of that in the current administration.

It’s time for some real change. Obama/Biden O8!

79. Bettiee | 09.02.08

TEAM: McCain/Palin
Slogan: Leadership You Can Secede With
Motto: Country First? Republic of Alaska.
FYI. Having a secessionist as a VP is very un-USA.

80. George Fredericks | 09.02.08

The issue is not about Bristol Palin. It is about the undue haste in which the McCain Team obviously operated to try to deflate the finale of the Democratic convention. I think the story correctly captures the feelings of many, if not most, delegates, and I would dare say Americans, in the use of the word ‘blindsided”. I applaud Obama’s unequivocal response in his statement that the pregnancy is a personal family matter. But clearly, the decision-making capabilities of McCain are clearly in the open for question.
95. Benjamin | 09.03.08

What I find amusing is the contention that the world shoulf “leave Palin’s family out of it,” when the woman introduced herself to the world with her entire family there. I recall, I learned all about Track and Trig, etc. Her family was a huge bullet point for her, but we have to leave alone all of the wild hypocricy of a politician taking the stance that abstinence-only sex education works while her very child becomes pregnant? And that it’s noble for a 17 year-old girl to be married with a child? While not necessarily limiting, it sure changes her chances in life.

So get real, Palinphiles – you cannot ask the public to leave her private life alone and at the same time want the Government to insert itself into peoples’ personal lives by limiting the choices of women made pregnant by rapists. Not unless you have adopted a child of incest. You cannot want Government out of our lives except to limit the most important choices some women have to face and to send our boys and girls off to die or be maimed in Iraq.

And Cassidy? What are you talking about? Do you think everyone who doesn’t agree with McCain/Palin is “Obama?” He hasn’t said anything about babies/STD’s.

Yeah, that’s how it was, and that’s pretty much how it played out. The Palinphiles even now are circling the wagons and defending Gov. Palin’s completely unexpected and impulsive decision to resign (I don’t believe her when she says the decision has been coming on for a while). They’ll be there for her when she asks for money, they’ll show up at events in the early-primary campaign states, and we’ll have plenty of fodder to discuss for at least a couple of years.

Here we go. Palin’s bailin’ out, and it’s unclear whether she can parachute her there to a future in politics, or if she’s merely jumping out of a sinking boat.