EDITORIAL: Sarah Palin, conservative maverick

I hate that word. Maverick,Sarah Palin, I am still not sold., and I want to know more about this scandal I keep reading about. What exactly did she do? You can see her old pictures and bio at http://www.veeppeek.com

When do you folks - I mean the editors, the commentators, the talk show hosts and all alike - stop being cheerleaders and act and speak with some sense? Our country comes first and then everybody else - Republican , democrat or independent. If McCain's choice of a woman as his running mate was mainly to appease the disgruntled Hilary's supporters, I am scared to think of his cabinet choices - to appease whom - domestic or foreign.

I understand that Mrs. Palin thinks global warming is a hoax, and believes in Intelligent Design instead of evolution. The ability to hold onto beliefs in the face of overwhelming contradictory factual evidence is not an attribute the United States needs right now in it's elected officials. Senator McCain could have made a better selection.

ttolley perhaps you could cite some sources for what you 'understand' to be Ms. Palin's positions. I haven't seen any such statements. Is this another stealth disinformation ploy by Obama's webmasters?

As a matter of fact, a relevant statement most easily found (Washington Post) reflects a fairly common position: "I will not pretend to have all the answers," Palin said about global warming, according to the Anchorage Daily News. Her spokesman clarified at the time that "she's not totally convinced one way or the other. Science will tell us ... She thinks the jury's still out." Next bogus assertion...

Gov Palin did not say global warming is a hoax. She said the science should determine what we do. You can make up stuff but at least quit torturing quotes to fit your bias.

Another thng about Gov Palin is that she has a record of honesty. Check out this Obama statement. During the Saddleback debate and after his "...above my pay grade ..." remark he commented about abortion rates. Senator Obama said that abortions during the past 8 years have not decreased with a right to life President. Here are the statistics. You judge whether or not Obama told the truth. http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/... "Thirty-five years after the Supreme Court legalized abortion in the U.S., abortion rates are at their lowest level in three decades —....... According to the Guttmacher Institute's 2005 survey of abortion providers, the abortion rate fell 9% in five years, to 19.4 abortions for every 1,000 women between the ages of 15 and 44; the 1.2 million abortions performed in 2005 numbered 25% fewer than the high of 1.6 million in 1990. That would seem to be good news, whether you view abortion as an evil, or a necessary evil, or a routine medical procedure…. "

I see the word honesty on this blog page. And some comments that only science is the litmus test for credibility as a candidate. I submit Bill Clinton as an example of dishonesty from a party that takes no stock in the possibility of our world being designed by a Creator. Which would you rather have for president? A pragmatic man who cares little for God or an honest woman who follows wisdom from the Creator himself?

I love this choice, I aggree with her on almost every issue, she is well spoken and pleasing to look at, but those glasses.........

Sarah Palin brings a breath of fresh air into the room. She looks fresh, sounds fresh because she lives a normal life reflective of smaller community and a more connected almost rural way of life. She actually shops with her kids, does the things most "normal" people do. As the crush of her new respsonsiblities and duties set in, I think this Sarah will still find the time to be "mom and wife", if just a little more tired. Now this is "Change" we can live with!

Sarah Palin changes the entire election. No other VP selection in recent history has had as much effect on a presidential election as hers will. Her resume is compelling and inspiring. As I read her life story and look at how courageously she stands by her convictions, I am constantly reminded of the great Teddy Roosevelt. Not only will she change the election, she will change the Republican party for the better. I wish her great success.

Foreign policy? She grew up watching the Russian bear play in her backyard. And Alaska's economy is almost completely resource based, which means she's probably familiar with how globalism works. No, what the Times wants to know is if she supports the war for another 4 wasted years.

Based on the several loony left commentaries below, it appears that Gov. Palins selection has really upset the Demorats. It looks like they are really struggling to find any truthful and substantive ways to attack her (the answer is they wont be able to). They are just sorry you cannot say the same thing about Nobama and Biden. They are both so target rich with so many issues to explain.

She has a great personal story and is very likeable. I think she has accomplished her first mission - to fire up the base. We'll have to stay tuned to see if she accomplishes her second mission - to fire up a significant percentage of independent and democratic women. I see this one being more problematic for her, but we'll see. In the end, I think independent and moderate conservative men don't react well to this decision. He's 72, she doesn't come off presidential enough, and is a woman. This will leave many men questioning McCain's judgement and age. Of course, if she fires up the base enough, maybe this won't matter. My guess is that in the end, this hurts McCain.

Had a Democrat selected a running mate with as thin a resume as Ms. Palin's, the Times' editorial would have set a new world record for the most uses of the terms "inexperienced", "shallow", "risky", "naive", and "dangerous" in a single missive. And if residing across the Bering Strait from Russia constitutes foreign policy experience, let's not forget that Alaska is also our closest state to the North Pole. Perhaps Senator McCain can also nominate Ms. Palin as his official emmisary to Santa's work shop.