Posted By: James on Tuesday, November 18, 2008
The Africa thing was a hoax. But it's still telling that lots of people believed it might have been true...
Posted By: Lee on Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Well Bush did say something very similar about Africa being a nation that needed Americas' help. Even if he meant to say group of nations or something, every politician should be looked at by their track record, not the things they say. If they were all honest, then every politician would be supportive of and supported by every cause, creed and always successful.
Posted By: JD on Tuesday, November 18, 2008
I do not believe that Sarah Palin was the villian of the election that she was portrayed to be. She was, quite simply, in a position that was entirely inappropriate for her, and a poor fit for the McCain campaign. She obviously had sufficient political skill to work her way up to the governorship of a state, which is something very few of her detractors would have been able to do.While that shows management experience well beyond the average citizen, the ability to address issues at a state level are only a small part of what would be required at a national level. I was apalled by her broad statements, which in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, can be attributed to being unprepared for the difference between a regional race where it is a common winning strategy to fire up a specific base with outrageous rhetoric, and a national race, where it is important to unite the country, or at least enough to secure more than half of the electoral votes.She was ill prepared for the national stage, no different than a lawyer trying to practice medicine she was out of her field. Except she was in the spotlight every day, and therefore provided ample material for punch lines, much like another vice presidential pick two decades ago, and the soon to be former president.That does not make her a villian, or an idiot, just a very bad choice for this particular job. That says a lot about the leadership of the campaign that allowed this choice, as well as about her.Now, if she does not learn from this, well...
Posted By: Jim on Wednesday, November 19, 2008
I think she'd be fun to talk to, if I were lonely and we were in a remote bar somewhere.
Posted By: Mike on Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Governor Palin's treatment by the press has been biased. The Africa comment has been played way more than Obama's "57 states" comment. He was running for the top job, shouldn't his comments command more attention? It is unbelievable that people are getting away with so many ist comments like the "remote bar" posting. Can you imagine such comments about any other candidate, unless they had a history of inappropriate behavior (Clinton, Hart, Edwards etc.)?
Posted By: Maggie on Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Isn't it true Palin was accomplished enough to finalize a new natural gas pipeline? Isn't it true that as Governor of Alaska she has more national security issues responsibilities than most if not all of Congress? You know being in such close proximity to Russia, Soviet Union, whatever they're calling it these days....
Posted By: Patriot Pete on Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Dear Maggie,No, it's not true that she finalized a new natural gas pipeline. That's still very much up in the air. And, no, it's not true that she has more national security issues reponsibilities than most if not all of Congress. She never even made a trade agreement with Russia or even Canada. She probably can cook a mean moose chili in a crockpot whilst charging Alaska a per diem to stand in her kitchen and talk to reporters. As a nation, we should all give thanks to God that, yesterday afternoon, he slammed that door shut on a Senate seat for her. Come to think about it, maybe we should all pray that she is the GOP nominee in 2012. That would ensure another 4 years of President Obama, Thank God!
Posted By: John Westra on Wednesday, November 19, 2008
OK... so Palin didn't have the best qualifications for the job... neither did Obama. You say she called Africa a nation... Let's compare "Apples" (VP Candidate) to "Apples" (VP Candidate), "Biden is a gaffe machine." His gaffes, including those about Obama, make Palin's trivial by comparison. One of my favorites was: “I mean, you got the first mainstream African American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy.”By the way, what exactly IS an "African American?" How many generations removed from which continent does one have to be to qualify? Are black-skinned US citizen's whose ancestors came from the Caribbean "African Americans?" Is Obama "African American," even though he is the product of a mixed race marriage? Is he even the first "Black" president?I think it is VERY important for leaders at all levels of government to have the skills and experience necessary to do the job. Frankly, I wish potential candidates had to pass an appropriate test that demonstrated relevant subject matter expertise and skills in communication, problem solving, team building, etc. before they could run for office. But then, I wish every CITIZEN had to pass the same test we give to legal immigrants who want to become citizens, before they are allowed to vote! But hey... as long as people like the person they are voting for, who cares if that individual isn't qualified or people think the Constitution guarantees inflated union wages and gives the government the right to redistribute wealth as they see fit, right!?It's easy to cast stones. It's just not very credible when you live in a glass house with shattered windows.
Posted By: ECH on Wednesday, November 19, 2008
John Westra, Remember the one drop rule: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_drop_rule
Posted By: Headshot on Wednesday, November 19, 2008
John Westra, if any person qualifies as an African-American, Barack Obama certainly does. Considering that his father was an economist from Kenya (black African) and his mother was an antropologist from Kansas (white American), that is just about as clearly mixed (race or origin) as you can get.
Posted By: Kevin Flynn (from Canada) on Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Isn't it time you Americans got over the "African-American" thing and let your President-of-all-Americans get on with his job.Oh and while you're at it, stop your extravagant waste of resources, financial, environmental and your men and women fighting wars that only benefit the arms manufacturers and the oil people.
Posted By: Good Life on Thursday, November 20, 2008
Once an image is established in the public mind it is almost impossible to change. Palin in the public mind is a ditsy twinkie (fluff on the outside and goo on the inside). Sort of a female Dan Quayle. That is going to stick like tar on a hot day.
Posted By: History Chaser on Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Canada you don't get a vote, thank goodness!Barack Obama may technically be African-American, but he never walked the walk, just talked the talk. He always had his doting grandparents to fall back on. He was sent to a very exclusive private school from age 10 to 18. Then enjoyed the benefits of a world class education paid for by some means of which we are not privy.He traveled to Pakistan, Africa and many other places which certainly wasn't free.Ms. Harrop, you give yourself away saying you couldn't think straight until Sarah Palin was no longer a threat in 2008.You need to check Zogby's latest results:http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/palin_zogby_poll/2008/12/01/156857.html?s=al&promo_code=725A-1And Google and other search engines whose staff are amazed at her continued popularity.http://www.sarah-palin-2012.blogspot.com
Posted By: Good Life on Tuesday, December 02, 2008
The far right Republican base still loves Palin, but there is a sharp drop off at the middle of the party. She couldn't draw a single moderate vote. I guess that means she could get the nomination, but the general would be worse than Johnson-Goldwater.I'm betting on Jeb Bush in 2012 or 2016. The machinery is still there.
