Sarah Palin. Huh. Who would have thunk it? On the upside, I had but a few waking hours of moping over Barack Obama's failure to do more than give climate change a single passing reference and again champion the delusional notion of "clean coal" in his otherwise impressive acceptance speech last night before the Republican nominee reminded me just how little he really cares about the subject.
Now, I know vice-presidential choices never make a measurable difference in the election. But let's face it, the probability that McCain will not be able to complete one term in office is considerably higher than usual. Does anyone really think it appropriate to run with a backup whose c.v. ;;;; less than two years as governor and a stint as mayor of a suburb of 9,000 ;;;; is as weak as Palin's?
But that's not the most troubling aspect of McCain's latest demonstration of his brand of judgment. At least, not from a scientist's point of view. Thanks to Grist's rapid rundown on Palin's record, we know that she:
- Believes intelligent design should be taught along with evolution in science classes
- Does not attribute global warming human forces
- Sued the Interior Department over its decision to list the polar bear as a threatened species
- Has pushed to open Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling
- Opposed a statewide ballot initiative to prohibit or restrict new mining operations that could affect salmon in the state's streams and rivers
- Believes we can "drill our way out of our problem"
The only bright spot, and it can only be called "bright" in a relative sense, is that
On September 14, 2007, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin signed Administrative Order 238, establishing the Climate Change Sub-Cabinet. The sub-cabinet will consolidate the state's knowledge of climate change in order to recommend policies and measures to guide the state's mitigation and adaptation efforts [and] directs the group to consult with the president of the University of Alaska and explore ways to promote development of renewable energy sources such as geothermal, wind, hydroelectric, and tidal resources...
But her convictions on the climate crisis are highly suspect, given that her husband's job is "an oil production operator for BP on Alaska's North Slope" and that just last week she said:
When I look every day, the big oil company's building is right out there next to me, and it's quite a reminder that we should have mutually beneficial relationships with the oil industry.
It's far too soon to tell if Palin will turn out to be a stupid choice. The electoral preferences of the American people are too unpredictable to weigh in at this point. But for those that care about science and the planet's Class M status, she's possibly one of the worst vice-presidential candidates in history.
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OTOH, this guarantees a 'milestone' in US government. We'll either have our first black president, or our first female VP.
Wouldn't surprise me if that was a significant factor in McCain's choice, especially since McCain would love to capture all the Clinton supporters who are still mad at Obama.
qetzal, too bad Palin is on the record calling Hillary Clinton a whiner. I think that would also make her hold out supporters whiners as well.
Another stupid evolutionist. James and his superstitious cohorts believe something that the pioneer for the evolution already refuted himself and was deeply sorry for the follower whom he misled.
Back to the issue, Palin is a terrific choice for McCain and the detractors are already shaking their boots, fearing a mass exodus of female voters going to McCain's camps. Of course, experience is a great minus and in the even McCain dies prematurely, she would be stepping into the world's most powerful office. That being said, she is still much more substantial than the hollowman (Obama).
At least she has held an executive position (albeit short)- something we have to be real and say that Obama has never done.
Funny comparison - Young inexperienced history making guy with old experienced dude on the side (neither one ever having held an executive position) compared to the old experienced guy with the young history making lady on the side (one of which has had an executive position). Who knows, the lady may just be the most executive level qulaified person of the bunch!
As for climate change - keep the gas prices high and fixes will come. I just hope the other studies of sunspots actually causing a cooling are not true. (one crazy blog summarizing http://ideonexus.com/2008/02/13/sun-spot-cycle-prompts-fears-of-global-… )
Then we will be all pissed off at everyone not doing more drilling.
Anyone who switches camps to vote for McCain because he picked a woman never gave a damn about Hillary's policy positions on anything. Some women may. Most of the ones I know aren't that short-sightedly self-hating.
I think Palin was a terrific choice; her choice will ensure the Republican's loss in November.
- No foreign policy experience when dealing with other nations, diplomatically, militarily or otherwise when such is a critical need.
- No national domestic policy experience.
- Together with McCain, less statewide office experience (25+2=27 years total) than Obama/Biden (35+2=38 years total).
- No real executive experience. Her entire constituency is less than that of 16 U.S. MAYORS!
Thank you, John McCain. Excellent choice! :-)
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Palin certainly is the best choice for Democrats. Any McCain-leaning women should be sufficiently scared off by Palin's anti-choice rhetoric.
The added bonus: we get to see conservatives pretend that they wanted Palin all along (or had even heard of her before today).
Obama's a progressive. That means "clean coal" is just a stepping stone toward the goal of truly clean energy. McCain's a regressive. That means he misses the good ol' dark ages. He curses the Enlightenment and all the blasted liberalism it brought with it.
This "executive position" criterion is so fraudulent I want to puke. What, you can be president because you filled out performance reviews and made hiring and budget decisions? What a crock.
The only "executive" characteristic that matters in the presidency is the ability to synthesize large volumes of disparate, even conflicting, input and make a sensible decision. Everything else is insight, clarity, and statesmanship, and variations thereof. None of which, I might add, have been in evidence the last eight years.
Slightly OT... I'd give Obama a bit more credit on the Climate Crisis. After all, he did have Gore give the a speech just before his. In the broader context, the Mile-high Stadium event was incredibly good with respect to science and energy policy. (Of course the benchmark is dismally low.)
Executive experience like the wonderful job Bush has done?
Why is it that so many of the science impaired are also language impaired?
The VP debate is not going to be pretty, especially when Biden asked why she doesn't believe in AGW, and McCain does.
And then there's Troopergate...
Re Reg
1. Mr. Reg, another god damn liar repeating the totally discredited claim that Darwin repudiated his theory of evolution on his death bed. Tkhere is not a jot or a tittle of truth in this claim.
2. Yessir, the women who supported Senator Clinton are just eager to vote for Governor Palin who supports returning the coat hanger to the medical instrumentation involved in abortion. Mr. Reg has his head stuck where the sun don't shine and lacks the intelligence to grab his hindquarters with both hands.
I hope your commenter's are right and that her being a woman won't swing the vote in their direction.
Religion has no place in US politics and should never be an issue for people seeking public office. However, when candidates allow it to become an issue i.e. does McCain/Palin support the teaching if ID; should Roe vs. Wade be overturned on religious grounds; etc. than the debate becomes a question of whether or not their religious views will become part of their public policy. With his selection of Palin, McCain seems to have allowed religion to become part of the debate, so unless he can show that religion will have no role in their administration, he should not be elected. Of course an anti-McCain vote for Obama is not really a vote for the policies Obama, but more of a lesser of two evils vote.
thanks
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