Sarah Palin is NOT the presidential candidate!

[Sylvia727]

I'm getting seriously irritated with everyone who treats the GOP candidacy as if Palin was their ticket. She's the vice-presidential candidate, not the presidential. And yet too many people act as if they're choosing between Obama and Palin. They're not! John McCain will be president if the Republicans win, not Sarah Palin! Her opinions are no more important than Joe Biden's, but when was the last time you saw any concern about him? Hell, just read the thread titles here in Politics and count how many have "Palin" in the title.

It doesn't help that she's atypical for a politician (read: not old white dude), and quite photogenic. Nor does it help that the media puts her and Bristol on the front of at least half the covers of the supermarket tabloids. It's the cult of celebrity rearing its ugly head. Who cares about the boring dudes discussing our future? Let's gossip about the younger black man and the pretty hockey mom!

Some people justify themselves by saying that McCain's veep choice is more important than Obama's veep choice. Personally, I think Obama's just as likely to get assassinated by a racist as McCain is to have a heart attack. He's not that old, people! Early seventies? Does that really sound like a feeble old man to you? The average life expectancy of an American man is around 77. McCain's a lot healthier than that. He's good for at least one term.

[Greenday]

Life expectancy for males in the US is currently 75.29 years. McCain is 72. That puts him right near the average age. Everyone knows the older you get, the more likely something will happen. Let's take my grandfather for example. He was perfectly fine for the most part. Then, in his last year, year and a half, things went downhill pretty quickly. At McCain's age, that wouldn't surprise me if it happened to him sometime in the next four years. And a lot of people are thinking that way too. A lot of people don't believe he will make it four years. And if you think that way, voting for McCain is basically voting for Palin for president because if McCain doesn't make it through his 4 years, Palin will become president.

[Amethyst Hunter]

Problem is, not just McCain's age and questionable health history - it's the people backing him that make the difference. Dominionists are actively *praying* for McCain not only to win, but to drop dead - literally - the second he sets foot in the White House so that Palin can move right in. That's why the hardcore right is now so excited whereas before the VP announcement they were only lukewarm about McCain (whom they didn't consider "conservative" enough!). They had a buddy in Bush; now they have a chance at getting one of their own in to do some real damage. And given that certain dominionist groups like Joel's Army are so violent-minded, I honestly would *not* put the possibility of assassination beyond them (two words: Jesus Camp. Chilling stuff); they'd be looking for any way to get McCain out and Palin in, and when Palin served whatever sick purposes they had in mind, I'm sure they'd find a way to get rid of her as well (because dominionists can't stand the thought of any woman, even one of theirs, having any sort of power).

So yes, I do think that people are very right to be concerned over this. And I'd be just as worried if it was Biden who had dominionist ties instead of Palin. Dominionism threatens *everyone*.

[Giggle Goose]

Kinda OT; but my grandfather died at age 72 and had health conditions for the rest of his life. After serving in a POW camp in....you guessed it, Vietnam.

But he was still a Democrat. :P

It sounds cruel; but if someone is so close to death why would they even care if they screw up? They're going to die anyway! And then Palin would come in and fuck things up even MORE.

[Rapscallion]

The average life expectancy figure is somewhat skewed for people who have access to the best healthcare, which McCain undoubtedly has. I don't particularly support either side in this, but the expectancy figure produced by statistics is generally a mean average.

Mind you, I happen to think that Sarah Palin is in the MILF territory. Can anyone else agree with this? Let's get to the important issues here!

Rapscallion

[Greenday]

The average life expectancy figure is somewhat skewed for people who have access to the best healthcare, which McCain undoubtedly has. I don't particularly support either side in this, but the expectancy figure produced by statistics is generally a mean average.

Mind you, I happen to think that Sarah Palin is in the MILF territory. Can anyone else agree with this? Let's get to the important issues here!

Rapscallion

No healthcare or amazing health care, no one can stop the problems with getting older. They happen no matter what.

As for the most important issue, her being a MILF, I honestly don't think she's a MILF...at all. Definitely not hot. And I can't find any photos that'd make me think otherwise.

[Sylvia727]

I don't find it likely that McCain dies in office. Possible, plausible, sure, but not likely. Many, many people live past the average life expectancy. About half of the population, actually. And when you consider that McCain has no serious health risks, his personal life expectancy shoots way up. According to wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_United_States_Senators_by_age), 25 us senators are 70 or older, as well as 5 of the 9 supreme court justices.

Sure, it's a possibility that McCain will die in office. It's also a possibility that Obama will die in office. Given the radicals and racists and the previous attempts, Obama could very well be assassinated, and Joe Biden the next president. So why isn't an equal fury being made over him?

And no matter what, McCain would take office before Palin, so his policies are just as, if not more, important than hers. So why her face plastered all over the news, but not his?

[AFPheonix]

He has had a recurring cancer though. It would not be out of the spectrum of possibility that it would come back with a vengeance during his term and put him out of commission.
Also, most US Senators have not had to go through physically what he did in the war. We can't be sure that that won't lower his life expectancy to some degree.

[Arcade Man D]

Umm.... Sylvia. I really hope those were typos.

[Seshat]

Based on what little I know, Biden's a fairly typical Democrat. Nothing essentially newsworthy.

Palin is an extremist Republican.


Extremists who are one bad accident away from major global power are definitely newsworthy.

[IDrinkaRum]

As some staunch Republicans like to say:

"Biden is either going to gaffe his way out of the V.P. position or he's just going to up and leave because of unsubstantiated health problems."

But then again, if that happens, Obama would definitely have to then have Hillary on his ticket. :D

And for everyone's information, Adam West (of Batman fame) is 80 years old today. So he's lived past the 75.29 years men are supposed to live in the United States. :p

[DesignFox]

Mind you, I happen to think that Sarah Palin is in the MILF territory. Can anyone else agree with this? Let's get to the important issues here!

Rapscallion

Maybe it's just because I'm a woman, but I think Palin is damn creepy...Look at her face in the photos....creeeeeepy.

And on topic...from what I'm reading, I do think it's a damn scary thing that the possible second in command is so extreme. Shit hits the fan with McCain and we're all in trouble.

[AFPheonix]

As some staunch Republicans like to say:

"Biden is either going to gaffe his way out of the V.P. position or he's just going to up and leave because of unsubstantiated health problems."

But then again, if that happens, Obama would definitely have to then have Hillary on his ticket. :D

And for everyone's information, Adam West (of Batman fame) is 80 years old today. So he's lived past the 75.29 years men are supposed to live in the United States. :p

There's quite a few men who died younger than 75 today to even out that average, too.

Yay for statistics.

[Greenday]

Umm.... Sylvia. I really hope those were typos.

The mis-spellings brings up something that really irritates me. Calling Obama "Osama" is just plain ridiculous. It's not witty. There is no comparing the two. Obama is a good man. Osama is a freaking nutcase who wants to destroy America. They are polar opposites. Palin has a name similar to Stalin. Does that make them the same person? Cause if having a name that rhymes with someone else makes you the same, there's no way anyone should vote for someone who commits genocide.

[AdminAssistant]

Simple, there isn't anything anyone can do (beyond preventive health care) to keep McCain from having a cancer relapse or a heart attack. But the Secret Service can damn well protect Obama. Also, we are not in the Civil War, folks, and the South was desegregated 50 years ago. Yes there are a handful of racist nut jobs out there. But to think that hordes of people are going to be aiming sniper rifles at Obama, should he be elected, is a little ridiculous.

However, if the unthinkable happens to Obama, then he has an extremely competent and experienced replacement. Joe Biden isn't in the news - because what can they slam him with? A few verbal gaffes? Joe Biden was an extremely smart choice made by a candidate who needed to beef up his foreign policy credentials. Palin was a ridiculous choice, probably forced on McCain to draw in those oh-so-important Christian Conservatives and far righters that were afraid of McCain's moderate-ness. I used to have a lot of respect for McCain, but he has allowed himself to be pushed so far right in the past year, combined with his "bulldog" of a VP...yeesh.

[Boozy]

Mind you, I happen to think that Sarah Palin is in the MILF territory. Can anyone else agree with this?


My husband agrees. And hates himself for it.
Her husband (Todd?) ain't so bad himself.

Umm.... Sylvia. I really hope those were typos.

I think they were, because Sylvia correctly used "Obama" in the OP, so I doubt she's trying to make a point. I can understand the confusion, frankly...most people who make that slip don't mean anything by it. We've seen the name "Osama" in the news every day for 7 years. It's really under the skin at this point.

[IDrinkaRum]

Simple, there isn't anything anyone can do (beyond preventive health care) to keep McCain from having a cancer relapse or a heart attack. But the Secret Service can damn well protect Obama. Also, we are not in the Civil War, folks, and the South was desegregated 50 years ago. Yes there are a handful of racist nut jobs out there. But to think that hordes of people are going to be aiming sniper rifles at Obama, should he be elected, is a little ridiculous.

However, if the unthinkable happens to Obama, then he has an extremely competent and experienced replacement. Joe Biden isn't in the news - because what can they slam him with? A few verbal gaffes? Joe Biden was an extremely smart choice made by a candidate who needed to beef up his foreign policy credentials. Palin was a ridiculous choice, probably forced on McCain to draw in those oh-so-important Christian Conservatives and far righters that were afraid of McCain's moderate-ness. I used to have a lot of respect for McCain, but he has allowed himself to be pushed so far right in the past year, combined with his "bulldog" of a VP...yeesh.

And the Secret Service agents did such a great job at keeping John F. Kennedy safe, MacGovern (though not the President, but was running for the office was shot and paralyzed) safe, Robert Kennedy safe, and Ronald Reagan safe too. (Nice mix of Dems and Repubs there).

As for Biden. I know quite a few people who are upset with Obama (and these people support him) for picking Biden. Why? The man is a plagiarist. That makes him suspect in some people's eyes.

As for MacCain dying during his presidency? My husband just told me during dinner that a guy he knew who was 38 years old, had a wife and 2 kids died in his shower. He had a brain aneurysm. So even if Obama isn't targeted by racist asshats who think the Civil War never ended, he could die from an aneurysm justlikethat. So there is nothing to stop Biden from taking over the Presidency as there is nothing from Palin taking over the Presidency if MacCain were to "kick the bucket".

[BlaqueKatt]

I think they were, because Sylvia correctly used "Obama" in the OP, so I doubt she's trying to make a point. I can understand the confusion, frankly...most people who make that slip don't mean anything by it. We've seen the name "Osama" in the news every day for 7 years. It's really under the skin at this point.

also some posters type and run spell check in MS word* before posting(which I should start as I just lost an hour's worth of mostly research and some typing when firefox crashed-looking up a 2006 article from the chicago tribune detailing Michelle Obama's 260% raise after her senator husband gave the hospital she worked at a million dollars of taxpayer money, and several articles on McCain's cancer** (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/09/us/politics/09mccain.html))

The media says Obama's family is off limits-but refuses to grant the same courtesy to McCain and Palin. How many articles written on McCain's divorce, and Palin's daughter/disabled baby? And people can honestly claim there is no media bias?


And I'm tired of anytime anyone says anything against Obama it's obviously racist-yet "the republicans need a thicker skin, attacking Govorner Palin isn't sexist"

and the lovely "McBush" comments, I am sick and tired of it-I'm not voting for either one, but am constantly being told by Obama's supporters, I'm racist/uneducated/ignorant etc. for not liking their candidate. Gee way to win me over guys :rolleyes:

I actually feel this article (http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/openingargument.php) sums it up As does this (http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/09/from-the-fact-1.html)-putting out-of-context Rush Limbaugh quotes on an anti-McCain ad-linking them because they're republican-where's the media outrage?

There will be none.


*which changes Obama to Osama-just throwing out another possibility.

**The melanoma removed in 2000 was Stage IIa on a standard classification that makes Stage IV the most serious. For Stage IIa melanoma, the survival rate 10 years after diagnosis is about 65 percent. But the outlook is much better for patients like Mr. McCain, who have already survived more than seven years.

For patients with a melanoma like Mr. McCain’s who remained free of the disease for the first five years after diagnosis, the probability of recurrence during the next five years was 14 percent and death 9 percent, a study published in 1992 found.

[Sylvia727]

Umm.... Sylvia. I really hope those were typos.

Oh lordie. I typed it correctly, thought "wait, that's the terrorist", and typed it wrongly. I blame the radicals confusing me and a lack of caffeine.

My sincere apologies.

... the Secret Service can damn well protect Obama.

There's only so much they can do. As fast as security is updated, so are the methods for getting around them. The first non-white president? Who happens to be black, the race farthest from white ethnically, socially, and politically? He is and will be hated by a certain segments of our population...not that we have any more racists than others, but because we're large enough that we have more citizens of every type. I've heard enough bs about him now, from people who aren't violent sociopaths.

Yeah, the first black president of America, whether Obama or someone else, is going to have assassination attempts. A successful attempt isn't likely...but it is possible and plausible, and a very real concern for Obama's veep.

Joe Biden isn't in the news - because what can they slam him with? A few verbal gaffes?

That can account for his absence on the tabloid covers. But why isn't he being discussed as much in legitimate political circles? Name an issue, and I can quote you McCain's, Obama's, and Palin's positions on most, but Biden's on only a few.

The media says Obama's family is off limits-but refuses to grant the same courtesy to McCain and Palin.

In fairness, Obama's had his share of scandals. I've heard about his hateful former reverend, his "anti-American" wife, and a whole load of horse manure that turned out to be completely unsubstantiated. But those issues are far more "public" than a pregnant teen or a special needs baby, and yet Palin's children are splashed all over the magazine covers. Adults can make decisions. Children, not as much.

My concern isn't that Palin is in the news at all. And while I'm angry that she's attacked for being female and being a mother, that's not the point of this thread. The point I was trying to make is that some people are treating her as if she's more important than McCain. I would prefer to see the presidential candidate discussed as if he might, y'know, become the most powerful individual in the USA. Just sayin'.

I would also like to see the candidates' personal lives kept personal, but that's another rant entirely. And just for the record, lest people think me biased, I'm an independent voter and I still haven't made up my mind which way to vote.

[IDrinkaRum]

My father had skin cancer - on the back of his neck (Irish American with the fair skin and hazel eyes) - yeah, he tans as red as a lobster. He had it removed back in 2001. His doctor told us he was lucky that he came in when he did. If he'd waited just an extra week, he'd have been in Stage III and his chances for survival would have gone down significantly. My father is still alive.

My grandfather also had skin cancer (fair skinned, full blooded German). It was on his face. He died of an aneurysm in his stomach. Not the cancer.

*knocks on wood* I am as fair skinned as my father and Grandfather. I haven't gotten cancer - yet. And I do not tan at all - I go to red and thetn after the red fades, I'm very white.

Just because you have skin cancer doesn't mean you will die from it or that it will recur. Just as if you have other forms of cancer.

Just wanted to point this out.

[Rapscallion]

There may not be many people with sniper rifles and the desire to kill a black president, but unfortunately it only takes one to slip through.

Rapscallion

[Slytovhand]

And for everyone's information, Adam West (of Batman fame) is 80 years old today

Well - of course he's not dead... he's Batman!!!!! He can't die!

(ok, admittedly, Christopher Reeves did... but he had too much kryptonite exposure...)

[Greenday]

My friend's dad died at 50 years old. They couldn't figure out what he died of. He was an extremely healthy person. I guess that goes to show you that death really can be a random thing, no matter what your health is like. For all these people that live past the age expectancy, there are plenty who die younger too.

[BlaqueKatt]

Yeah, the first black president of America, whether Obama or someone else, is going to have assassination attempts. A successful attempt isn't likely...but it is possible and plausible, and a very real concern for Obama's veep.


and as I've pointed out previously-there's already been one (http://cbs4denver.com/investigates/assisination.plot.obama.2.802827.html), before he's even taken office. The attempt was thwarted, but this was at the DNC-and follow up here (http://www.thedenverchannel.com/politics/17293887/detail.html?rss=den&psp=news)-they admitted after arrest they wanted to assassinate him, but they're only being charged with weapons violations-

"Johnson told a Secret Service agent, described only as SA Torres, that "Adolf had, in fact, threatened to kill Obama on a prior occasion ... that he wanted to kill Obama on the day of his inauguration and ... would specifically use a 22-250 sniper rifle."

Special Agent Shane Abraham of the ATF goes on to write, "Johnson then told (SA Torres) there were no political reasons for wanting to kill Obama, the only reason is because Obama is black."

Gartrell was arrested near Denver with two rifles, a bulletproof vest, ammunition, walkie-talkies and suspected drugs.

But the US attourney General says they're not a threat-they were just "drug addled" racists.

[blas87]

You don't think anyone wouldn't try to assassinate a woman president?

There's been assassination attempts on almost every president......

[IDrinkaRum]

Everyone wants to assassinate the President for either the love of a woman, the love of the country, or the love of themselves. And who's say that someone doesn't want to assassinate McCain?

[Seshat]

The point I was trying to make is that some people are treating her as if she's more important than McCain. I would prefer to see the presidential candidate discussed as if he might, y'know, become the most powerful individual in the USA. Just sayin'.

She's the most extreme of the four. This makes her the most newsworthy of the four.

IMO. YMMV.

[ArcticChicken]

Obama could very well be assassinated, and Joe Biden the next president. So why isn't an equal fury being made over him?


Because Democrats are more scared of Gov. Palin than Republicans are of Sen. Biden.


The media says Obama's family is off limits-but refuses to grant the same courtesy to McCain and Palin.

Sen. Obama's scandals happened during the primary, and the media doesn't want to keep writing the same stories, so the scandals are skew towards Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin.


And I'm tired of anytime anyone says anything against Obama it's obviously racist-yet "the republicans need a thicker skin, attacking Govorner Palin isn't sexist"

This is driving me absolutely crazy. I hate that people are saying this.

I'm a liberal, in fact I'm so liberal that no one would elect me for any major political office, were I to choose to run, and I will be voting for Sen. Obama, I'd quite literally have to see him burning down an orphanage on live national television before I'd even think about staying home on election day, much less voting for anyone else. That being said, I understand that other people have reasons for choosing Sen. McCain, beside his ethnicity, and I respect that opinion, even though I disagree.

I'm going to stop talking before I have to go start a new thread on why I hate politics.

[Gravekeeper]

Everyone wants to assassinate the President for either the love of a woman, the love of the country, or the love of themselves. And who's say that someone doesn't want to assassinate McCain?

You don't have to assassinate McCain. You could just wait him out to be honest. ;p

[MystyGlyttyr]

You don't have to assassinate McCain. You could just wait him out to be honest. ;p

Literally the first thing I've heard from any of the debates over the candidates that made me LOL for real.

So far as age, I don't debate that much for anything else. I've always preferred older people to folks closer to my own age, because 99% of people my age are complete MORONS. ...and only 98% of older people are complete morons.

Proven with science! (not really)

Anyway, I prefer experience to flash, always have. Flash makes me think that I'm supposed to get blinded to something important while I'm looking at the shiny lights and big names and whatever else, so when someone tries to paint themselves as big and shiny and awesome, I start wondering what they're trying to distract me from and start doing more digging on my own.

(And this applies to both sides...people could probably read my posts and figure out which way I lean, but it won't be this post...)

[protege]

Because Democrats are more scared of Gov. Palin than Republicans are of Sen. Biden.

Actually, they're doing it because it's *trendy* to bash Republicans. They know that anything putting that party in a bad light will get viewers.

[Greenday]

Just like it's trendy for Republicans to bash Democrats?

[protege]

The Republican/Democrat *rivalry* has been going on for years. I meant more of the "OH NOEZ, REPUBLICANS R BAD" media mentality, and how they're responsible for every bad thing that happens, and how if we say anything different, we're accused of being "racist," "homophobic," etc. In other words, it's OK to bash Republicans, but not so the other way. For example, the Iraq war. It's simply too easy to blame them, especially since several Democrats voted in favor of it. That fact is usually overlooked. Do I hate the Democrats because of that? Nope.

Yes, I am a registered Republican. Do I always vote that way? Hell no--I try to vote for whoever I think is the better candidate. Also, I do not agree with some of the things with the party. I don't agree with their stand on gay marriage and religion. About the only thing I agree with...is that we need *less* government. There's enough federal meddling in our lives as it is.

[AFPheonix]

...The commander in chief at the start of the war was republican. A republican administration planned and bungled it. I don't think we've forgotten that democrats voted for the war at the time, but we also have to remember that at the time, we were being lied to by the republican administration about why we needed this war.
This is the bummer of being an unpopular party in power who has made quite a few tactical errors in governance. You get raked over the coals daily.

Oh, and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3E0kO7xZXw&feature=related

Dude.

[AdminAssistant]

You get raked over the coals daily.

Just as Clinton did 10 years ago. Frankly, whoever's President has a bullseye on them in terms of media scrutiny. Any screwup - big (botched war) or small (extramarital affair) is going to make the news.