Palin says woman on ticket could help in 2012

Even if Palin were the GOP's standard bearer in 2012, Obama is a shoo-in for re-election, as he will effectively use the power of his incumbency to win a second term. Palin’s star power won’t survive into 2012. Many brighter (!) GOP stars will emerge during the next 8 years.

Palin would be an embarrassment as a presidential candidate. She is not worthy of all of this attention.

Obama is a shoo-in for re-election" Well, when you have carte blanche and all, of course. I would hope there is going to be a lot more Hispanics in his administration.

Since he is keeping a few Bush guys around, I was hoping Condi stays and Alberto is is re-instated.

As for Palin running, I'd take over Hillary any day. Condi should run.

Many brighter (!) GOP stars will emerge during the next 8 years." There are a few good ones there. Bobby Jindal seems real cool. I hope more Cuban American Repubs try to step up as well as a Tex-Mex.

She is not worthy of all of this attention." Why not? Her experiences are not that far much lower than what Obama had, and really what did Hillary have?

Sure her statement on Russia being so close and a few other flaps, but Obama messed up on the amount of states and Hillary thought she was sniped at in Bosnia.

I don't think she would win, but to call her an embarrassment is real low class.

Sarah Palin is a top contender....as the gift that will keep giving to the Democrats.

Sarah Palin '12! :-)

"the gift that will keep giving to the Democrats"

Or the woman who will kick the Democrats out of the White House.

Sushi - Glad to see you on board! Nyuk nyuk nyuk!

"her newfound popularity"

Something liberals can't fathom.

Sarah Palin '16, too! :-)

Sushi - So, you think Palin will win in 2012?

Or even better, 2 women...at the same time

Sarge - "Sushi - So, you think Palin will win in 2012?"

I'm drooling at the mouth for Sarah Palin to run again, and again!!! :-)

Sushi - I'n afraid you misunderestimate the woman.

Sushi - I'n afraid you misunderestimate the woman...no he is always OVERestimate Pre.elect Obama. In the next 4 years he has to defense vigorously anything the C-I-C 's say or do:like increase tax on top 5 % is not enough so must go further down...and so on.

I have the perfect slogan for Palin's 2012 election campaign after four years of Obama's failed experiment in socialism. "CHANGE!"

What can you say? If she decides to run in 2012 she wont have to be vetted again:)

To say Obama will be elected in 2012 is a tad premature... Just maybe when you hold all your eggs in one basket you end of with all of them broke.. Let him serve a few years then either raise him to the sky or lower him to the Bush.. Judging his ability to run a country well enough to get reelected before he even takes office is just weird....

I like Condi and/or Powell to give it a go....

Maybe Bill Gates will do it, hes a shoe in...:)

...my philosophy that it’s crazy to close a door before you know what’s even open in front of you.

Then there's the philosophy that it's prudent to keep your doors closed and locked until opportunity knocks and identifies itself and until you have verified the opportunity. That, I think, would be conservative.

edwards,

It seems to me that it's far too early to say that Obama is a shoo-in for re-election. He hasn't even taken office yet. Once he does take office he'll have to keep the economy afloat for 4 years in a way that, say, Carter could not. And he'll have to get us out of Afghanistan on some kind of graceful terms.

I don't think it is clear that anything can restore the economy (as opposed to the stock market) and he will be blamed for any lack of success in putting people back to work. I think it is at least possible that in an era of globalization the loss of jobs is not reversible without an unacceptable trade-off in higher prices. It is also not at all clear that his focus on Afghanistan will yield anything other than continued bleeding. For centuries, Afghanistan has been the place where empires go to die.

Go Palin! Nothing on earth could guarantee a Democratic victory more! well, except maybe the splintering of the GOP into separate factions... which could also happen if Palin tries to run. GO PALIN!

Have to admire her optimism if not her politics. Considering that the US economy is currently heading down the gurgler, perhaps President-elect Obama can put aside political differences and find a job for America's most famous hockey mom/pitbull cross. Then again, because America's economy is heading down the gurgler, perhaps President-elect Obama should find a job for Joe the Plumber, who will apparently be free after he has fixed a certain Arizona homeowner's sink.

Here is a woman who is barely literate yet the Republicans want to put her forward in 2012.

i am smarter that Palin and judging by some of my post here it is not a compliment to her

Joe the Plumber, who will apparently be free after he has fixed a certain Arizona homeowner's sink.

7 sinks...or was it 8?

PALIN '08!!! Go Sarah!

I'm considering not just supporting her in mind, but also breaking some rule and donating money so that she can run in '12!

The problem with libs is they confuse being educated with being smart. I mean, Obama is Ivy League trained, including being president of the Harvard Law Review, yet doesn't even have the smarts to recognize that socialism has proven itself to be a dismal failure time and time again. Some of the most educated people I know are some of the dumbest. So I don't buy this nonsense about Palin's education.

The fact that Palin wasn't indoctrinated by leftist political science university professors makes her even more appealing. There are plenty of people I'd rather have president, including Palin, than some clueless over-educated Harvard graduate elitist with ten letters after his name who thinks he's "smart."

Socialism? Obama? How about Bush and the boys buying up previously private enterprises? And pumping state money into the markets? Motor industry next?

When was being dumb ever appealing? If you want Palin for President (ever - even hard line Republicans ended up thinkinjg she was a liability to McCain) you must also be lacking some smarts.

The problem with most people is that they confuse another person's agreement as a testimony to their intelligence. A person may be educated without being smart. We may be suffering through a presidency based on that possibility. Of course, a person may also be uneducated, or relatively so, without being smart.

In particular, people are not so smart if their educations are so lacking that they do not understand that (1) capitalism has never proven itself to be a political success absent elements of socialism, (2) systems that have elements of socialism are not systems of state socialism and (3) what is required is an enabling mix of free enterprise and state regulation.

More than a few conservatives who have been indoctrinated by leftist political science university professors also reject Palin.

Helter: "The problem with libs is they confuse being educated with being smart."

Well, you really need not worry about either, since you are a proven example of buying into McCain/Paline doctrine even AFTER they lost the election! Since I have to spell it out for you, Obama is not a socialist, nor is he going to turn the US into a communist/Marxist nation.

The fuss about Palin is not only is she not 'educated', but she's also not smart, meaning she, like you, also need not worry herself with complicated words like 'socialism' and that there's a difference between it and 'social programs', even though they could sound alike to a couple of kindergarten kids. You see, the problem with being uneducated and being in office, unlike our man Obama, is that you are supposed to be implementing policy that helps the country in relation to the countries around it and all over the world. You can't very well do that when you are uneducated as to which countries are in North America, and that Africa is not a nation but a continent, etc.

Sez

capitalism has never proven itself to be a political success absent elements of socialism

There's a difference between capitalism that includes elements of socialism, and socialism that includes elements of capitalism. Obama clearly represents the latter as evidenced by his plans for wealth redistribution and the Marxists he has surrounded himself with, such as Saul Alinsky, Bill Ayers, Jeremiah Wright, etc. Surely you don't see Obama as a champion of free-market economics?

Helter - "The fact that Palin wasn't indoctrinated by leftist political science university professors makes her even more appealing."

She's 44 and appears to believe Africa is a country not a continent.

I have yet to hear what you or any other GOP supporter thinks of this.

Do you somehow agree? Have you got any comment at all?

And her 'I can see Russia from Alaska therefore I'm strong on national security' comment. Why do you put up with this garbage? Where are your comments condemning these logic-free ramblings?

"There are plenty of people I'd rather have president, including Palin, than some clueless over-educated Harvard graduate elitist with ten letters after his name who thinks he's "smart."

You don't do yourself or the entire GOP any service by supporting a total idiot like Sarah Palin.

Sarah Palin is the living personification of the dumbed-down, misinformed intellectual lightweight that voted Bush in twice, and the fact that so many GOP supporters flocked to Palin's rallies during the campaign proved one thing - birds of a feather flock together.

I find it astonishing that, considering America is one of the most advanced countries on Earth, there are still people who refuse to sit still and think issues through.

Despite Obama's relative lack of experince, he is very sharp mentally, he speaks coherently most of the time (reflecting intelligence) and he is smart. Unlike the two GOP candidates this time.

And, while many GOP supporters on this board were ridiculing Obama for being a 'community organizer,' it's very interesting to find out recently that the experience Obama gained from being a community organizer was behind the way he built the biggest, most successful grassroots supporter base in the history of U.S. politics - and that was fundamental in his victory.

Palin '08!!!

Go Palin! Nothing on earth could guarantee a Democratic victory more!"

Smitty, what if she were to switch parties?

smithinjapan:"The fuss about Palin is not only is she not 'educated', but she's also not smart, meaning she, like you, also need not worry herself with complicated words like 'socialism' and that there's a difference between it and 'social programs', even though they could sound alike to a couple of kindergarten kids."

Before becoming governor of the largest state in the most powerful nation on earth Sarah Palin chaired the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.

Do you actually believe that having held that position and negotiated a pipeline deal with Canada she does not know what Africa is?

Seriously?

Do you believe everything you are told?

How about YOUR work experience? Ever been head of an organization or a company?

I notice you enjoy calling others fools. Is it all the people you have below you?

Smithinjapan - "Obama is not a socialist, nor is he going to turn the US into a communist/Marxist nation."

The fact that there's GOPpers out there who still buy this simply underlines one of the reasons they lost - as Obama kept saying: the Republicans just don't get it.

Thankfully for America in this election, they never did.

skipthesong: "Smitty, what if she were to switch parties."

First, I don't think she ever word. Despite her claims to be a forward thinker, she's extremely conservative and does not embrace things like gun-control, freedom of choice with abortion, and other key typically democratic and forward thinking viewpoints. IF however, she were somehow to switch parties, and were elected to run for the president of the Democratic party, you would see a landslide victory for Republicans. This woman is a curse; not because she's 'a threat' to anyone per se, as some people seem to say, but a menace and a hypocrite.

Palin: "I would be happy to get to do whatever is asked of me to help progress this nation,”

I hope you remember that the next time the majority elects for you to shut your trap like they did a week and a half ago.

Despite her claims to be a forward thinker, she's extremely conservative and does not embrace things like gun-control, freedom of choice with abortion, and other key typically democratic and forward thinking viewpoints.

You forgot she's also not into that spreading the forwarding thinking spread the "wealth" thing either as we march all together singing Kumbaya.

Skip- "Smitty, what if she were to switch parties?"

You're assuming the Dems would be dumb enough to take her? :-)

Sarah Palin '12!!!! and '16!!!!

That should be 'would', not 'word'.

powdrfinger - "smithinjapan..How about YOUR work experience? Ever been head of an organization or a company?"

Sorry, I wasn't aware smithinjapan was running for president of the U.S.

smithinjapan, pray tell - have you or have you not announced your candidacy? :-)

sailwind: "You forgot she's also not into that spreading the forwarding thinking spread the "wealth" thing either as we march all together singing Kumbaya."

hahaha... you guys really crack me up... I mean, you REALLY do. Here's what I want you to do, sailwind; I want you to show me Americans who don't want more money. I want you to show me Americans who will literally say, "No thanks to more money, give it to the top 5% of the nation, please." And don't just pull up the stats of people who voted for McCain -- it's pretty clear you guys don't have a clue what you actually want. Let's see your people who think it's socialist to get a tax break. Oh, but one condition only: those who say they are against socialism and are don't want to get more money, the also need to define socialism and capitalism in their own words (ie. without using a Webster's).

You don't need to actually do it, sailwind... I already know the answer. Zero. The only people who would STILL be unhappy with Obama's tax breaks for the middle class would be those who are taxed MORE to compensate, which is to say, the disgustingly rich 5% of the nation. They probably still can't define both socialism and capitalism, as you likely can't, but hey.

Fortunately, you guys lost. We forgive you your anger and resentment, sailwind. Good luck with trying to be angry over the tax break you get. I'm sure you can find someone to be angry at then, too.

Sushi: I didn't even see powderfinger's comment... where did it go off to, I wonder. Must have been very relevant to the thread.

Anyway, again... let's see Palin take the people's request to disappear from politics since she's 'willing to do whatever people want to progress the country'.

Smitty, what if she were to switch parties?

With her stances on abortion, gun control, and taxation? I doubt voters would buy the sudden change of heart.

And her 'I can see Russia from Alaska therefore I'm strong on national security' comment. Why do you put up with this garbage? Where are your comments condemning these logic-free ramblings?

Oh, lets see. Alaska has Fort Wainwright and Eilson Airforce base in Fairbanks. Elmsdorf Airforce base is in Anchorage. NORAD has an extensive radar network all over Alaska to monitor a potential first strike by Russia.

Now imagine if Alaska had elected an anti-military Governor. One who advocated dismantling the bases in the State as the cold war was ever and these were relics from a bygone age. As pressure built to close bases no longer needed after the cold war and that Governor wanted the bases turned back over to the State.

You'd call that Governor a little weak on national security wouldn't you?

She's advocated a continued Military presence in her state because she can see Russia from her perch in the union.

Hope that clears that up for you.

Gov Sarah Palin said Wednesday that a woman would be good for the Republican presidential ticket in the next election in 2012, but was coy about whether that woman might be her.

Where's she gonna find one?

If she decides to run in 2012 she wont have to be vetted again

She won't have to be vetted, but she might need some booster shots.

Smith, They probably still can't define both socialism and capitalism, as you likely can't, but hey.

Socialism and Capitolism

My definitions.

Socialism A progressive political system that takes the power away from wealth creators and gives it to wealth distributors. Wealth distributors are typically a class of highly trained government bureaucrats who are being watched by a class of political commissars, who, in turn, are being watched by a class of secret police, all of whom are banded together by shared progressive morals. Because progressive morals are relative by definition, a certain measure of absolute propaganda is necessary to encourage collectivism and discourage counter revolution. Since such propaganda is delivered through mass media, arts, and schools, a degree of ideological monopoly, uniformity, and censorship is also required in those fields. The resulting mass enthusiasm creates a vibrant state-subsidized culture, leading to great economic successes and technological breakthroughs, e.g., in North Korea.

Capitalism A system that forces people, through a false concept of private property, to pay for the goods they already have the right to own. This pressures the masses to work for a living.

Hope that clears that up for you.

You're assuming the Dems would be dumb enough to take her? :-)" I don't think they are allowed to refuse her. Have either you look at the lower echelons of both parties? You'd be surprised who/what is there..

Besides, they gathered around Hillary before they realized she would not have won and then backed Obama.. Very few people jumped on Obama until he started gaining momentum.

LFR: "With her stances on abortion, gun control, and taxation? I doubt voters would buy the sudden change of heart." Show me a politician who hasn't flip on many issues when it was time to be re-elected. The same holds true for the common folk when they vote. Take a look at the very many black conservatives, almost all of them who voted for Obama said things to the effect "He stands completely opposite of what I believe in, but at the same time, I'd willing to by pass them to help an African American reach the highest office in America" See, even his main base (which I hope is not the only main base) didn't fully back him until he was gaining speed.

People will swing if the media calls for it.

BUT, "I would be happy to get to do whatever is asked of me to help progress this nation,” Man, talk about kissing butt...

sailwind: I know full well what both forms of government are, and know that the former cannot possibly succeed as it is defined. I also happen to know that your definition is riddled with subjective speculation as to what 'socialism' means, although I give you kudos for at least having the stones to try where none of your ilk could otherwise.

Anyway, the whole point of the exercise was not to clear things up 'for me', but to clear them up for yourself, since you were foolish enough to buy into, and even more foolish to STILL buy into, the idea that President Obama represents socialism because he wants to invest more in social programs. A shame you didn't fully learn the lesson, but it's a start. Class dismissed, and don't forget to do your homework. For you, sailwind, a 10,000 word essay on Socialism and why Obama does not in any way represent it. Good luck!

sailwind and smith, you two please kiss and make up... if you want to know what direction many socialist in America are going to, the real one, you need to look at this: http://progressivelabor.890m.com/index.php/spanish

Obama is not a marxist, socialist, communist, or even a capitalist and really, who is any one of those definitions to the bone? If you look at the military, it is some what run like a socialist state, in fact a dicatorship in many respects.

smith, Palin's Africa Knowledge Rumor is similar to Obama not knowing the amount of US states rumor. Come on, leave it alone, its immature. Man, other than aday, is there anyone here who has graduated before the Y2K?

You know, Sarah Palin is right.

Why wouldn't America elect a woman to be president in 2012?

After four years of this effete, metrosexual, guns-really-scare-me Barack Obama, with his ridiculous William Ayers inspired dream of establishing a Department of Non-Violence, she'll seem like John Wayne.

His first day as president-elect and what does the media's chosen one do? He ridicules 87 year-old Nancy Reagan for something that Hillary did while in the White House.

No cohones and no class.

Oh, lets see. Alaska has Fort Wainwright and Eilson Airforce base in Fairbanks. Elmsdorf Airforce base is in Anchorage. NORAD has an extensive radar network all over Alaska to monitor a potential first strike by Russia.

Now imagine if Alaska had elected an anti-military Governor. One who advocated dismantling the bases in the State as the cold war was ever and these were relics from a bygone age. As pressure built to close bases no longer needed after the cold war and that Governor wanted the bases turned back over to the State. You'd call that Governor a little weak on national security wouldn't you? She's advocated a continued Military presence in her state because she can see Russia from her perch in the union.

That you're the one making this one possible, but valid, interpretation of "I can see Russia from here" instead of Palin only serves to prove our point. These words were never uttered by anyone in the McCain campaign. She isn't ready for the national stage. Maybe in four years, with a LOT of hard work. But as it stands, no way in hell.

discourage counter revolution.

Great post sailwind. Yes, discourage counter revolution by disarming the masses (gun control), eliminating freedom of speech/thought (fairness doctrine), and a proletarian guard to keep any dissenters in line (civilian national security force). Sounds like Obama's got everything covered.

"Now imagine if Alaska had elected an anti-military Governor. One who advocated dismantling the bases in the State as the cold war was ever and these were relics from a bygone age. As pressure built to close bases no longer needed after the cold war and that Governor wanted the bases turned back over to the State."

Oh, please! You act as it Palin built these bases with her own hands! The type who would WANT the Cold War back on again and thus insist on having the bases? I can see that, same as Helter_Skelter's paranoia that 'disarming the masses discourages counter revolution', but build the bases she did not.

Helter: As well as your ludicrous assertion that the 'big revolution' is on its way and the US needs to arm itself and prepare the militia, I find it funny that in the next breath you basically reject the idea of having any sort of militia to keep law in check (and WHAT Obama means by 'civilian force' has not at all been determined yet). Utter hypocrisy in the same sentence! Then you top it off with 'limiting freedom of speech' when the bush government did more of that to its citizens than any American government in the brief history of the US. Astounding.

In a way, though, you guys not at all changing your tune despite the serious beating you took in the election and the fact that the majority of Americans flat out rejected your way of thinking is very reassuring. It means that you're more than ready and willing to take the exact same beating in four years time.

In an article talking about the future of the GOP and if it would fracture or regroup, it was interesting to hear the majority of people saying exactly the same thing: that ANYONE looking beyond 2010 was not only jumping the gun, but being foolhardy. They pointed out that it was presumptious to be fielding any idea of who would run for president, and not very smart given the serious beating the Republican party just took.

So, boys and girls, keep the chants of 'Palin 2012' coming! It just shows that nothing at all was learned by the Republican massacre last week, and means they're going to go through it again if nothing continues to change.

skipthesong: "smith, Palin's Africa Knowledge Rumor is similar to Obama not knowing the amount of US states rumor. Come on, leave it alone, its immature. Man, other than aday, is there anyone here who has graduated before the Y2K?"

skip, even if it WERE a rumour, and I don't believe that it is for a second, the woman PROVED she didn't know a thing about Africa when 'defending' herself on the subject. She said, "Of course I know the difference between Africa the continent and Africa the country..."

Dude, there is NO country called Africa! Hahaha... South Africa, to be sure, and dozens of countries besides, but none called Africa. It's not at all immature to call her on such facts.

Wow, I forgot all about America's long history of counter revolution. Anyways, I'll just point out that the last time The Republicans were left holding the bag when the economy collapsed, it took them 20 years to win the presidency again, and to do that they had to run a guy named Eisenhower. You might have heard of him. He had a little executive experience running things too, just like Governor Palin does. Perhaps in a slightly more difficult job though. I think 20 years would make a good over/under number this time too. I am taking the over myself.

Powder: "Why wouldn't America elect a woman to be president in 2012?"

While I would LOVE to someday see a female president, you don't simply elect someone because they are female; you elect them based on their qualifications and their ability to do the job. Sarah has neither of the aforementioned.

Dude, there is NO country called Africa!" So, I guess you wouldn't have taken it as a slip of the tongue?

Sorry, but I really hate seeing people being picked on so much.......

ONLY IN AMERICA would anyone even dream of a crazy woman who knows probably less about diplomacy than I or any of the other millions of political studies/international relations graduates in world, believes in outrageous things such as god created the world and thinks gay people are "sick", ever being elected as the leader of the nation.

Skip: "So, I guess you wouldn't have taken it as a slip of the tongue?"

I can take certain gaffes as clear slips of tongue, although granted they can be pretty hilarious at times of often one's tongue slips and they accidentally say what they mean instad of pandering to what the receiver WANTS to hear, but in this case, no, it was not a slip of the tongue, especially falling on the heels of criticism of the initial mistake she made.

I don't like picking on people at all, but if it's deserved I have no trouble pointing out something like this.

Palin?

For 2012? ?

LOL!!!

Again, what were those Republican-types thinking?? :-)

Oh, by the way - Palin '12!!!! Sorry, did I say I fully and wholeheartedly support Sarah Palin running for president in 2012?

If not - and just for all the effeminate, Conservative, gun-lovin' raw-meat eating, social outcast, Africa-ignorant, Euro-type-embaracing anti-choice, war-lovin' Republicans out there who may have missed it -

Sarah Palin '12!!!

As if times weren't tough enough for the Republicans, Bush just yesterday said he was proud that Obama had won the presidency, and now Sarah Palin is talking about jumping ship and has stated for the record book that she is willing to play a role in the Obama Administration.

And to cap it all off, those Europ-types have once again proven beyond a shred of doubt that they can outguess those Republicans any day of the week.

Tough days, indeed.....

However, that said - Sarah Palin '12!!!

"Palin’s role at the Republican Governors Association conference highlights her newfound popularity."

Could she be ...The One???? Could Sarah Palin be...a Celebrity???

Could she be pallin' around with George Bush???

Just wondering. :-)

You've really got to wonder what's going on when the Republicans out there will accuse a man who isn't even president yet of being a 'Socialist' or a 'Marxist,' and yet they think it is totally OK that their own former candidate Sarah Palin at the age of 44 doesn't appear to know that Africa is a continent.

ONLY IN AMERICA would anyone even dream of a crazy woman who knows probably less about diplomacy than I or any of the other millions of political studies/international relations graduates in world,

You've done so much with your degree, What State are you Governor of?

The problem with libs is they confuse being educated with being smart. I mean, Obama is Ivy League trained, including being president of the Harvard Law Review, yet doesn't even have the smarts to recognize that socialism has proven itself to be a dismal failure time and time again. Some of the most educated people I know are some of the dumbest.

Others have made that argument about Obama as well, Helter Skelter. For example, "He went to Harvard and became an educated fool," someone spoke scornfully of Obama before declaring, "We're not impressed with these folks with these eastern elite degrees."

Betcha you'd never thought you'd find yourself in agreement with a former Black Panther, Bobby Rush, whose Congressional seat Obama was vying for?

Incidentally, the same argument was used successfully against GWB when he, too, lost his first election, also running for a Congressional seat. His good ole boy incumbent opponent publicly sneered at his Ivy League educational credentials and dismissed their relevance to rural West Texans. Lesson: Anti-intellectualism runs very deep in America and it's perpetuated by people like you.

Anyone can make a factual error. Remember McCain speaking of problems on the Iraq-Pakistan border when they don't share one? By contrast incoherence should raise concerns about a candidate's ability to navigate complex issues. In this regard, here's Sarah Palin's explanation for how this idea she thought Africa was a country came to life:

“My concern has been the atrocities there in Darfur and the relevance to me with that issue as we spoke about Africa and some of the countries there that were kind of the people succumbing to the dictators and the corruption of some collapsed governments on the continent, the relevance was Alaska’s investment in Darfur with some of our permanent fund dollars.”

In defending her poor performance with Katie Couric, Governor Palin uses the elitist angle to paint Couric as patronizing which annoyed her and resulted in the response which was ridiculed:

What do you read up there in Alaska?" To me, that was kind of a little bit annoying because I'm like, "What do you mean what do I read in Alaska. I read the same things that you guys read in New York and there in L. A. and in Washington State. Who do you mean what do I read up there?"

In fact, however, Couric's question did not refer to Alaska. Rather she asked: "And when it comes to establishing your worldview, I was curious, what newspapers and magazines did you regularly read before you were tapped for this to stay informed and to understand the world?"

A far greater problem in American society than overeducated elites is the inability of people from all walks of life to take responsibility for their own choices and short-comings. Sarah Palin merely exemplifies this national characteristic.

Conservatives talk of the need for "standards," which I agree with. Yet, as usual, they only seem to apply to others.

"Palin at the age of 44 doesn't appear to know that Africa is a continent"

For cryin' out loud, SushiSake3, she's the governor of Alaska. Do you really think she doesn't know that Africa is a continent, not a country? The liar who said that remains anonymous for good reason.

The liar who said that remains anonymous for good reason.

Yeah Sarge she also knew she was getting Pranked!lol Sarge I dont think you have accepted the fact that she should never been on the McCain ticket. She was a bad pick then and gets worse by the hour.

BTW be she is against whistle blowers also......What ys think there, is she for Freedom of speech or not?

She reminds me of Evita, no not the musical but the politician. Evita was corrupt and a very low person. Palin has the same qualities. She is willing to do whatever it takes to win. Even if it means lying to the public.....

Yeah right this woman is clueless, she needs allot of training before is even close to run for the Republican nomination.

BTW you think that the other wantanabes in the far right will just roll over and give Palin the nomination? I dont think of Huck or any of the other animals will be willing to give it up. She can also kiss off the VP spot. No one on the far right is willing to follow in McCain`s mistakes

No-nonsense conservative intellectual George Will is a smart and well educated guy. He doesn't have much sense of humor but, well, ya can't have everything.

Nonetheless his Sunday column, entitled "Democratic Ironies, Republican Afflictions," anticipated Palin's claim that "a woman on the ticket could help in 2012."

These conservatives, smitten by a vice presidential choice based on chromosomes, seem eager to compete on the Democrats' terrain of identity politics, entering the "diversity" sweepstakes they have hitherto rightly deplored.

Predictably there's been no acknowledgment from Palin's supporters here that you have in fact gone down this slippery slope which conservatives have long decried for lowering standards.

"and yet they think it is totally OK that their own former candidate Sarah Palin at the age of 44 doesn't appear to know that Africa is a continent."

Palin's father is a high school science teacher. And by most accounts I have read a very good one. Do you honestly believe that his daughter doesn't know where Africa is and that it is not a country but a continent? Do you honestly believe that running against the most famous man Kenya has ever produced, ironically an American, she was was completely unaware of Africa? I mean, come on. Hers is the political party that under Reagan bombed Libya, remember? Hers is the party that over the last 8 years has done more to help Africa than any administration in US history - and don't forget, she is one of those 'fundamentalist' Xtians. Surely she has been challenged on her position on abstinence and AIDs, and surely she was asked about Bush's program for Africa. Also, didn't she supposedly have at her church in Alaska a visit from an African priest who blessed her and prayed for her protection? Think. She's in her forties. As a journalism student in the 80's, living in Hawaii and on the mainland US she had to have encountered protests against S Africa's apartheid regime. Those are just a few examples that come to mind.

Seriously, all you do repeating childish lies like that is confirm the institutional bias in the American media.

And another thing - Palin was not candidate for president, as your post implies. She was selected to run as the vice president.

I am pretty sure you know that.

But imagine if every time I spoke of sushisake3 I referred to you as "the guy who thought Palin was running for president," huh-huh-huh.

"she should never have been on the McCain ticket. She was a bad pick then"

That must be why McCain surged in the polls right after he picked her.

"Yeah right this woman is clueless"

She has more clues than Obama.

In my local newspaper it said that Palin was considering running for presidency on 2012... I didn't like her not because she is a republican but because she made an embarrasment of women with her dumb comments during the campaign (I'm not saying that she was dumb or idiot, but her speeches and comments certainly were)Now with this article I don´t know is she for real or it is just plain naive.

Sarge - "For cryin' out loud, SushiSake3, she's the governor of Alaska. Do you really think she doesn't know that Africa is a continent, not a country."

Sarah Palin said it, not me.

Palin's father is a high school science teacher. And by most accounts I have read a very good one. Do you honestly believe that his daughter doesn't know where Africa is and that it is not a country but a continent?

After all these years that Americans called themselves Americans and they call the U.S. "America" (either both Republicans and Democrats) It is not surprising that someone thinks Africa as a country...

I'm American too you know?, The whole continent is called America, not only the U.S. So, go easy on Palin for that, most of you think of America as a country don't you?

powderfinger - According to Fox News Chief White House Correspondent Carl Cameron, there was great concern within the McCain campaign that Palin lacked "a degree of knowledgeability necessary to be a running mate, a vice president, a heartbeat away from the presidency," in part because she didn't know which countries were in NAFTA, and she "didn't understand that Africa was a continent, rather than a series, a country just in itself."

Powderfinger - "Do you honestly believe that running against the most famous man Kenya has ever produced, ironically an American, she was was completely unaware of Africa?"

Yes.

"I mean, come on. Hers is the political party that under Reagan bombed Libya, remember? Hers is the party that over the last 8 years has done more to help Africa than any administration in US history - and don't forget, she is one of those 'fundamentalist'"

We are not talking about her party, we are talking about her.

Most folks that really hate Palin in my opinion is because she shows them all up with their fancy degrees and what not that they are really slackers after all.

Pretty much it in a nutshell if you ask me.

MSNBC retracts false Palin story; others duped

The problem is, she was duped too and has already put up her own explanation for why someone could have gotten the impression she thought Africa was a country when she spoke about Darfur.

Maureen Dowd nailed the issue on Saturday as one of a violation of trust:

She said that the anonymous aides scapegoating her were “cowardly” “mean-spirited,” “immature,” “unprofessional” and “jerks.”

She’s right. And where was the usually gallant John McCain during all this? Usually Republicans protect their own. There was plenty W. didn’t know during his coaching sessions when he was running for president, but it never leaked out from staffers.

And yet, Palin still seems disturbingly unconcerned about how much she does not know.

Sailwind, by your logic anyone who complains about an over-emphasis on appearance must be ugly. George Will, a critic of both GWB and Palin whom he doesn't feel "measured up," is certainly arrogant. But a slacker? Nope.

"In an interview broadcast on NBC television Wednesday, Palin said she would feel comfortable with President-elect Barack Obama as commander in chief."

The Republican-types must have missed that quote. :-)

Betz

Quoting George Will now. The world has gone surreal. Salon run out of fodder?

"Most folks that really hate Palin.."

Sail, if Sarah Palin was doing an ordinary job/filling an ordinary role, there would be no problem.

What riles me the most is that she insulted so many Americans by claiming she had what it takes to be VP, and that so many Americans bought into the lunatic notion that she was actually half-qualified.

This isn't just perception - she proved herself again and again to be undereducated, to be almost worse with her words than Bush (that's incredible in itself), and with 5 kids including one with Down's Syndrome, she was clearly kidding herself and playing extremely dangerous games with Americans by actually accepting john mccain's request to run for VP.

The fact that she dragged down the GOP ticket and was instrumental in mccain's loss is, I think, testament to this.

Oh, and Sailwind, care to comment regarding Sarah Palin's lack of knowledge about Africa being a continent, or her quip about how living next to Russia somehow gives her national security experience?

Were these comments OK with you?

"Hers is the political party that under Reagan bombed Libya, remember? Hers is the party that over the last 8 years has done more to help Africa than any administration in US history - and don't forget, she is one of those 'fundamentalist' Xtians . . . blah blah blah"

Hers is also the political party that supposedly opposes abortion, and yet, Palin, when asked about Supreme Court cases, couldn't even name Roe v. Wade. Your argument is paper-thin.

Quoting George Will now. The world has gone surreal.

I've read his column for years. And I know he's arrogant from personal experience. I once saw him in a movie theatre and he kept walking back and forth until someone recognized him!

But that's not the point of my post which was to illustrate where your logic takes you. In a nutshell, there's no value to any complaint since it simply reflects inadequacy on the part of the complainer. Scary world!

Note to GOPpers - honestly, after being thrashed in '06 and then being whipped again in '08, please try coming up with some stronger arguments.

Defending the indefendable - such as Palin's Africa comment - does not count as an argument and does nothing for your credibility on this board.

Thank you.

(I'm not saying that she was dumb or idiot, but her speeches and comments certainly were)

I think "vacuous" sums it up.

Joice: "I'm American too you know?, The whole continent is called America, not only the U.S. So, go easy on Palin for that, most of you think of America as a country don't you?"

I see where you're coming from, and appreciate the moderate tone, but the answer's no. Most of us probably realize that the continents within the same part of the hemisphere (between east/west, that is) are the Americas, and that the US is within North America. I never think of America as a country, although I don't correct anyone who is American for saying so, either. It's become far too much the norm to bother trying to change so that it's correct. Africa? There's no excuse for Palin's mistake on that.

Sailwind: "Most folks that really hate Palin in my opinion is because she shows them all up with their fancy degrees and what not that they are really slackers after all."

Well, it's pretty clear YOUR degree wasn't in English, anyway. I think I can stumble through it still and see what you want to get at, but could you be less of a slacker at it next time and use correct grammar and what not, or do you want to try and mimic Palin's interview-style of speaking from now on....

hahaha... yeah, 'outsmarts' us! HA! Once again, we see someone on the right on this board who has been hurt and misdirects his/her anger. I haven't seen anybody aside from Helter really coming on here and pointing out people's 'fancy degrees', and that was to try and rip up Obama.

Sail, I would go as far as to bet that those without 'fancy degrees' have been causing the most trouble for America lately.

Testament to this is Bush - who claims to have a degree, but if he studied as hard as he attended the Texas Air Guard, you've got to wonder...

Oh, and Sarah Palin, who at age 44, has only just discovered that Africa isn't a country.

And judging by the arguments posted on this thread, it seems like the Republican-types couldn't care less that the woman they tried so hard to vote in has the IQ of toothpaste.

That's just one more reason why they aren't in power any more.

This lack of intelligence is a serious issue. Can you imagine VP Sarah Palin landing in Pretoria and meeting with, say Bishop Desmond Tutu, and saying she is happy to be in his continent?

Hello?

It's this intelligence deficiency that a 'fancy degree' can go some way to rectifying, but let's face it - a lot of 'intelligence' is gained from time spent paying attention in the general education system.

When dealing with Sarah Palin, someone who appears to have such a massive intellectual black hole, you've got to wonder - as most sensible people did - whether she really had what it took to be VP.

Thankfully for America, not to mention the world, Americans in their millions disagreed with that notion.

This just in on CNN.com - Palin emphasized her admiration for the president-elect in the interview. "I'm proud of Barack Obama," she told [Larry] King. "I pray for him, his family, the new administration. I look forward to the good things that are in store for this nation."

And just yesterday she said she was willing to do anything in an Obama administration.

Now she's praying for the next President of the United States of America?

Sounds to me like she just wants to associate herself with the winners and grab any job she can get.

[Let's just hope Obama forgets that it wasn't even a month ago that the same Sarah Palin accused the President-elect of 'pallin' around with terrorists'!]

see where you're coming from, and appreciate the moderate tone, but the answer's no. Most of us probably realize that the continents within the same part of the hemisphere (between east/west, that is) are the Americas.

Sorry, I got lost. But I was pointing out that the "mistake" made by Palin can be made by the U.S. people whe they say "America" when they are really saying "The U.S. of America", to level up the speeches... Geographically, one cannot forgive a VP candidate saying that of course,it is a thing taught in 3-4th year or elementary school

Joice: I got what you were saying. It's still not quite the same thing (by the way, what I was saying is that there's not really an 'America' continent, there are two, known as the Americas; North and South, with some governments recognizing Central America as it's own kind of entity, even though not technically a continent)

A woman on the ticket other than her might help. If she's pitching a Palin run for president forget about it.

January 22, 2012. Retiring to her study, President Palin prepares her agenda for the next day.

First: schedule invite with the President of Africa; Second: sale at Neiman-Marcus; Third: get Charlie Gibson fired; Fourth: schedule round table with Prime Minister of South America; Fifth: call Joe Biden for botox advice.

76waystofly

I think Palin wants to squeeze in an appointment with the French Prime Minister, Nicholas Sarkozy, at a Canadian radio station.

(yawn)....hasn't she bogged off back to Alaska and obscurity yet?

Heh, won't be long, "sarah".

Alaska Gov Sarah Palin said Wednesday that a woman would be good for the republican presidential ticket in the next election in 2012

And if it were somoene like Olympia Snowe, it would be.

palin...not so much.

Taka

Shoot!

I forgot to mention, Altria, you are on an absolute roll on this thread!

Taka

Betzee

Betcha you'd never thought you'd find yourself in agreement with a former Black Panther, Bobby Rush

Hey, even a broken clock is right twice a day.

I myself have met many people who didn't attend "fancy schools" and yet have first-rate minds. By the same token, I would not be happy in a workplace devoid of colleagues who appreciate how book learnin' can enrich your life.

The problem for the GOP is that it has made a Faustian bargain with evangelical Christians in exchange for their support (which was critical to GWB's two electoral victories). The religious right, as John McCain found out, vets candidates for their views on a host of issues which traditional conservatives such as Barry Goldwater would have deemed irrelevant to governance.

As a consequence, those who advance up the ranks, such as Sarah Palin, are seen as qualified by virtue of their willingness to promote the approved theology. That's why she drew enormous crowds comprised of people who were probably far less concerned with whether she knew Africa was a continent and not a country than the fact she opposes abortion on all grounds.

The cost of this has been high (both to aspiring national leaders and the country). A Republican like Arnold Schwarzenegger, who does not subscribe to this agenda but has been effective as a Governor of the state with the sixth largest economy in the world, finds the path to national office effectively blocked.

As both George Will and Christopher Buckley are acutely aware, this transformation of the GOP has resulted in its being "dumbed down," as well representing a diversion from the principles of conservatism.

The NY TImes is reporting that "Palin's Appeal Proves Durable"

"...the big question for Gov. Sarah Palin has been whether her backers would remain enthusiastic over the long run.

"As it turns out, over the past few days, about 1,000 people have donated tens of thousands of dollars to Our Country Deserves Better, a political action committee that is planning a pro-Palin advertisement later this month.

“We thought it would be appropriate to have the thank-you ad run around Thanksgiving,” said Joe Wiezbicki, the PAC’s coordinator. The group expects to shoot on Monday and raise “a couple hundred thousand dollars” to buy airtime nationally."

NY Times Friday, November 14, 2008 Politics

I have no doubt Governor Palin's supporters will continue to back her. The only skeleton in the closet might be contained in her medical rocords, which she never released despite claims she would. Regardless, there are not enough of them to put her in national office. The "big tent" Republican Party which Karl Rove anticipated would create a "permanent Republican majority" has collapsed.

Sooo, it's really up to Republicans on how they should proceed. One, Andrew Sullivan who voted for GWB in 2000, writes on his blog:

The impulsive, unvetted selection of a total unknown, with no knowledge of or interest in the wider world, as a replacement president remains one of the most disturbing events in modern American history ... That the Palin absurdity should follow the two-term presidency of another individual utterly out of his depth in national government is particularly troubling ... Until we figure out how this happened, we will not be able to prevent it from happening again...

Her candidacy, in short, was indefensible. It remains indefensible. Until the mainstream media, the GOP establishment, and the conservative intelligentsia acknowledge the depth of their error, this blog will keep demanding basic accountability … There comes a point at which you have to simply call a time out and insist that this farce cease and some basic accountability and transparency be restored to the process.

Dare I say it- she is a more horrific prospect to me as US president than Bush is.

You've done so much with your degree, What State are you Governor of?

Excuse me, Sailwind, without having a clue what I do - personally I would want someone I feel is smarter and more qualified than I am to be my leader and make decisions for the country, not someone on my level or of uncertain ability. And my comment was more to her extremely right wing fundamental beliefs that I cannot believe a nation (or at least half of one) can support in a leader.

There you go again quoting socialists to back up your points again, Betz. Oh, wait. Did you say Republican? Never mind.

personally I would want someone I feel is smarter and more qualified than I am to be my leader and make decisions for the country.

Agreed I thought Reagan was one heck of a President myself also.