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twitterREPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION:
State’s delegation ecstatic over Palin
If history is guide, base will see revelations as attacks, rally behind pick
Sam Morris
From left, alternate delegate Mei Herbert, Nevada GOP Chairwoman Sue Lowden and Assembly Minority Leader Heidi Gansert are among Nevadans attending the Republican National Convention who are enthusiastic about the choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as John McCain’s running mate.
Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008 | 2 a.m.
Patrick Ginter paints a portrait of the presumptive Republican nominee for president, John McCain, and his running mate, Sarah Palin, on Monday outside the Republican National Convention in St. Paul. "It's political season so you gotta paint political," Ginter said.
Sun Expanded Coverage
Sun Archives
- Odds on Palin dropping out of race (9-2-2008)
- With creeping pessimism, partisans fight for party’s soul (9-2-2008)
- Palin’s Priority: Parenting or Politics? (9-2-2008)
St. Paul, Minn. — Nevadans at the Republican National Convention are ecstatic about Sarah Palin, the surprise pick of Sen. John McCain to be the party’s vice presidential nominee.
“I am tickled to pieces,” said Ulli Miyashiro, who lives in Las Vegas.
State Sen. Barbara Cegavske’s eyes lit up when asked about Palin.
Nevada delegates and their guests, and especially women, match the national mood of a Republican base thrilled that one of its own will be the nominee, according to Chuck Donovan, executive vice president of the conservative Family Research Council.
The Sun interviewed nine Nevadans at the convention, including party veterans and newcomers. They were enthusiastic about her and eager to recount details they find compelling in Palin’s public record and private life.
The first-term Alaska governor was elected in 2006, taking on a party establishment soaked in alleged corruption and scandal.
Palin recently gave birth to her fifth child, her youngest, a Down syndrome baby. She’s a hunter and an angler, a fresh-faced former union member whose husband is blue collar and known as the “First Dude.”
All these attributes, plus a dose of evangelical Christianity, have the Republican base excited.
Assembly Minority Leader Heidi Gansert, R-Reno, called Palin’s appearance on the national scene inspirational. “It’s excitement we really needed,” Gansert said.
The response comes as an examination of Palin’s relatively thin resume has raised questions: Her 17-year-old daughter is pregnant, which called attention to Palin’s support for abstinence-only education; Palin has hired a lawyer to deal with allegations and an investigation into whether she fired the public safety commissioner because he wouldn’t fire Palin’s former brother-in-law; her husband until 2002 was a member of the Alaskan Independence Party, which has favored secession from the United States, and, contrary to statements at her weekend campaign appearances, she initially supported the “bridge to nowhere,” a federal project in remote Alaska that became synonymous with pork barrel spending.
The new information seemed to throw the campaign off message for a day as it entered its convention and raised doubts about how thoroughly McCain had vetted Palin. The McCain campaign has sent a team of operatives to Alaska to dig a bit deeper, NBC News reported.
At the same time, McCain’s opponent, Sen. Barack Obama, reached 50 percent support nationwide for the first time in a Gallup daily tracking poll.
To Republicans here, though, questions about Palin mostly represent carping from an elitist press corps hostile to their values. They said they believe McCain had thoroughly reviewed Palin’s history before making the choice. Mei Herbert of Sparks said she trusts McCain to make the right pick.
Danny Tarkanian said the new Palin revelations were minor, on par with Obama foibles: “You’ve got a candidate who’s admitted to using cocaine,” he said, referring to the Illinois junior senator’s admission of teenage drug dabbling.
A potential scenario emerged: As with President Bush and other Republican favorites, the more the media investigate and reveal, the more the Republican base will embrace her in the face of what it sees as unfair attacks.
“She’s tough, she shares our values and she gets things done,” said Brittney Evans, a delegate and aide to Rep. Jon Porter. Nevada delegates said Palin’s daughter’s pregnancy is a personal matter.
Delegates said the Republican base is finally energized about this election. Volunteers have streamed into the state party office in recent days, Gansert said.
Republican women were especially happy seeing one of their own take the national stage in a profession — especially on the Republican side — dominated by men.
Sue Lowden is chairwoman of the state party and a former state senator. “I’m so happy as a hockey mom and a pageant sister,” she said. (Palin’s entrance into the race has brought “hockey mom” into the political lexicon, and she was a pageant contestant, like Lowden, a former Miss New Jersey.)
Lowden praised Palin for taking on the Alaska Republican establishment and beating it: “You go girl!” she said.
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Lowden's praise of Palin: “You go girl!”.
This coming from the Nevada state chairperson that even her own party calls her "inept".
There should be a contest between Sue Lowden and Cindy McCain over whom's had more plastic surgery.
They're awfully proud of Palin's record in Wasilla, taking over the town with a balanced budget and leaving the town $22 million in debt while raising taxes on families and the oil companies.
That's exactly the type of executive experience that Bush brought to the table. Failed venture after failed venture.
Poor Republicans just can't catch a break.
Anyone that says they're ecstatic over McCain choosing Palin is either stupid or a liar. John McCains choice of Palin is gonna wind up costing him the election. He needed to make a smart choice for his veep & he blew it.
Oh please you Dems are just sad and angry that you have no chance of beating the McCain Palin ticket. You'll lose by 5 to 10 percent in November because as usual you picked an unelectable candidate.
I take Palin anyday over Obama the man with that never has made an executive decision.
Obama had as a core fund raiser one of the biggest crooks in South Chicago.
Obama who had that biggest crook help him buy him a house.
Palin stood up against her own party establishment.
Obama has not ever stood up against the Democratic party on anything.
Obama never saw one single crook in South Chicago politics.
Obama has a keen eye.
@mikeg: Not surprising how you revert back to your robot ways. Everything is left and right with you. Turn off the television.
The truth is I'm a republican precinct captain, and I just tell it how it is.
I guess the joke's on you.
Such a sexist remark (about the plastic surgery) coming from a Precinct Captain - I can only imagine the amount of intelligence it took to come up with that observation. As far as sexist and/or insignificant observations go I'd venture a bet that McCain has had some 'work' done himself, but unlike you I fail to see what that has to do with a persons qualifications to be either President or Vice-President.
Let me commend the Republicans on this board for opposing sexism and criticism of a candidate's family. I'm glad that the consistency of your principles will thus lead to your vote for Barack Obama, since you obviously could never vote for a candidate who said, publicly, "Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because Janet Reno is her father."
That "man" was John McCain.
To those trying to access Sarah Palin's website's history go to http://www.archive.org then search for palinforgovernor.com .
From her website archive at http://web.archive.org/web/2006050601424...
"Granted, my unapologetic passion for sports may play an exceptionable role in shaping my worldview, but I'm convinced the formula for success in the sports arena is essentially the same in the political arena. In fact, I believe all I ever really needed to know I learned on the basketball court."
This is NOT the way to handle international affairs. Foreign policy is not a game, peoples lives and livelihoods are at stake.
Obama is a good example on to handle foreign affairs.
He annouces to the whole that he would attack soverign Pakistani territory without their permission. Pakistan is highly unstable country with a large extreme Mulism population and nuclear weapons. He basically told that the pro-USA goverment to go screw themselves. He shows excellent diplomatic skills there.
First he says Iran is not so great of a threat.
Now, he says Iran is a serious threat.
He wants Russia, Iran, China, Pakistan, India and Israel to destroy their nukes and not hide them and I guess have a magic device to detect that.
Obama changed his statements on troops in Iraq and Georgia in the same day.
Obama has been practicing his skills at foriegn policy for 3 years.
I think he needs some more practice.
I Like Her! She will be a fine Vice President. And in another 4 years,she will be an outstanding President.
Jfnance32, how can you criticize Obama when you don't even know the foreign policy positions of the candidate you support?
What is Sarah Palin's position on Iran?
What is Sarah Palin's position on North Korea?
What is Sarah Palin's position on the Russia/Georgia conflict?
What is Sarah Palin's position on Israel?
What is Sarah Palin's position on Syria?
What is Sarah Palin's position on Iraq?
I'll take Obama's foreign policy knowledge and the respect for him by world leaders over the gigantic question mark of Sarah Palin any day!!!!!
Nance, spreading you lies and talking points here as well, eh?
Obama said Iran is not a threat like the Soviet Union was. You intentionally leave that last part out, and have been destroyed on that before, but that's just a simple fact. You've even admitted that the U.S.S.R. could blow up the world in 21 minutes, but Iran doesn't have any kind of that capability.
It's comparing Mike Tyson to a welterweight.
He wants to re-engage the nuclear community in arms reduction and negotiations. I guess you think we should sit back and let the nukes spread.
Why don't you prove your "Obama changed his statements on troops in Georgia and Iraq in the same day." You've NEVER proven that statement.
Obama proved his foreign policy skills before the Iraq war, when he accurately predicted that it would be a disaster for the United States. That we would be mired there far longer than the Bush administration's predictions. That we were going to war for politics, not on evidence. And he was right.
He said he wants to continue hard diplomacy with enemy states like Iran, and will not take any option off the table when it comes to Iran.
He said, five years ago, that we needed to finish the job in Afghanistan and take out al Qaeda. That we were taking our eye off the ball. And now? Bush is scrambling to find troops to reinforce Afghanistan and sending cruise missiles into Pakistan. You seem so worried about Obama threatening al Qaeda, but Bush is already attacking them, INSIDE PAKISTAN.
On the major foreign policy issues of our times, he was right and the Bush administration was wrong.
That's exactly the type of foreign policy knowledge we need.
What is Sarah Palin's position on Iran?
What is Sarah Palin's position on North Korea?
What is Sarah Palin's position on the Russia/Georgia conflict?
What is Sarah Palin's position on Israel?
What is Sarah Palin's position on Syria?
What is Sarah Palin's position on Iraq?
These are all legitimate questions. Why haven’t they been asked by the MSM?
They are excellent questions, and it goes to show that all this screeching from the right-wing about the "liberal media" is a joke.
But then, curiously, Palin hasn't sat down with any news program, newspaper or talking head show to give us details.
What are they hiding?
thebs,
Give the girl a chance. The media has not addressed any issue of substance since she was
chosen to be the VP. I would like to hear questions of substance, dealing with her experience and policies asked by anyone other than those with an agenda.
A chance? Sorry, the executive branch is far too important to toss someone in there without knowing where they stand.
She doesn't need a chance. All the Republicans around her can do is talk about her "executive experience."
And when you show them the fruits of that experience, a town of 7000 that's gone from a balanced budget to being $22 million in the hole with her at the helm.
When she introduced herself as being against the "Bridge to Nowhere," yet she wasn't, at first. In fact, here's a funny little tidbit: Sarah Palin wearing a sweatshirt in SUPPORT of the Bridge to Nowhere: http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/7378/no...
She introduced herself, and all the Republican talking heads were babbling about how she was a "reformer." Now we know she traveled to Washington in search of $26.9 million in earmarks, hired a lobbyist who had ties to Jack Abramoff to secure those earmarks, and as governor, requested another $200 MILLION in earmarks for Alaska from Ted Stevens, the senator from Alaska who is currently under indictment for taking bribes from an oil company.
Oh, did I forget to mention she ran Stevens' 527 group as the director for awhile? Where's McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform when you need it?
She doesn't DESERVE a chance.
thebs,
Thank you for the Daily Kos talking points. Its this lack of objectivity that got Joe Lieberman elected vs. Ned Lamont. Try to look at the needs of the people and what is right, not the objectives of the party.
Peace
Georiga:
In the morning, Obama statement was in line with Bushes statement which was more neutral with Russia.
http://www.newshoggers.com/blog/2008/08/...
By the next day, Obama's statement was in line with McCain's statement which was more hawkish toward Russia.
He puts up his finger in the wind to make foreign policy.
http://www.newshoggers.com/blog/2008/08/...
Iran:
" mean think about it. Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, these countries are tiny compared to the Soviet Union. They don't pose a serious threat to us the way the Soviet Union posed a threat to us....You know, Iran, they spend one-one hundredth of what we spend on the military. If Iran ever tried to pose a serious threat to us, they wouldn't stand a chance."
Sounds to me that is down playing the threat.
After:
"Iran is a grave threat. It has an illicit nuclear program. It supports terrorism across the region and militias in Iraq. It threatens Israel's existence."
Sounds to me that he is now enhancing the threat.
Iraq:
Obama has campaigned on removing combat forces from Iraq within 16 months of taking office. But yesterday in Fargo, North Dakota, he told reporters: "I am going to do a thorough assessment when I'm there. I'm sure I'll have more information and continue to refine my policy."
Here are some other conflicting statements by Obama on Iraq.
“America cannot afford to withdraw immediately, said Obama, an early opponent of invading Iraq.
That would create more chaos in Iraq and make it "an extraordinary hotbed of terrorist activity," he said at a meeting of the Illinois News Broadcasters Association. It would also damage America's international prestige and amount to "a slap in the face" to the troops fighting there, he said.”
Nukes:
“Obama will set a goal of a world without nuclear weapons, and pursue it.”
Obama is very naïve to think that Russia, India, Pakistan, China, Iran and Israel will destroy their nukes, and not expect anybody to hide some.
Afghanistan:
Obama was in-charge of a sub-committee that oversaw NATO. Military operations in Afghanistan are ran by NATO. Obama never saw fit to have a meeting on Afghanistan.
Obama was part of a senate trip to the Middle East. The senators in their planned trip had a planned stop in Afghanistan. Obama decided that Afghanistan was not that important to visit and skipped that part of the trip.
Pakistan:
Yes, Bush has attacked terrorist in Pakistan.
Bush has never said..."Screw you Pakistan, we are going to attack anytime we want to."
Obama announces to the whole world that US will attack and he could care less what Pakistan thinks about it. It is very boneheaded thing to do. It hurts our allies in the fragile Pakistani government. He really shows that he is a rookie. He needs to learn to be more diplomatic with his words. He could have said that they will be very aggressive in attacking terrorist camps in Pakistan. He did not have to mention that he would do it without Pakistan’s permission.
Geez Nance, your historical knowledge is even more shallow that your knowledge of Palin's positions!
He's SPOT ON with Iran and you know it. Iran isn't nearly the threat that the USSR posed. And apparently, you disagree with him! I've seen you feebly attempt the counterpoint to that, but I'm glad to see you've completely given up trying to convince the opposite.
He's SPOT ON with Georgia and Russia and you know it. He made some statements, the Russians escalated the crisis and he, SMARTLY, altered his language. DUH!
He's SPOT ON with Iraq. He has ALWAYS said withdrawal will be done in concert with the conditions on the ground. You have NOTHING here.
He's SPOT ON with nuclear arms talks. I guess you thought it was naieve of Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton and Bush to enter into arms treaties with the USSR/Russia. What a joke. You need a little history lesson. Start with SALT I, SALT II and START and the NNPT!
He's SPOT ON with Afghanistan, making the case FIVE YEARS AGO that we shouldn't divert attention from Afghanistan and al Qaeda. And what happened? We lost control of key parts of Afghanistan and al Quaeda can now traipse back and forth between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
He announced that he would take action if he had actionable intelligence on al Qaeda targets in Pakistan. That's the right stand. McCain called that stand "naieve," even though Bush has been lobbying cruise missles over there for YEARS.
Naieve? That's ridiculous. What is McCain gonna do? Wait for them to strike again? Is that why TIME asked why McCain was being "Weak on Al Qaeda?"
You failed on EVERY ONE of these points.
Try again.
Obama spot on being wrong:
1) Today Iran not that serious of threat...do not worry about Iran..It is not as big as the USSR....do not worry.
Oppps...I goofed....Iran is a GRAVE THREAT!
2) Georgia....Russia is just doing some peace keeping duties...no problem....
Opps....I goofed...Russia is being very very bad.
3) Nukes:
"“Obama will set a goal of a world without nuclear weapons, and pursue it.”
The naive rookie is pursuing to get rid of all nukes in the world.
He is not bright enough to correct that statment yet.
5) Iraq
Yes I will withdraw troops no matter what condition in is Iraq. No, I will listen to the generals. Yes I will withdraw troops no matter what the condition is in Iraq, No, will listen to the generals.
6) Pakistan.....according to CBS News: "Barack Obama said Wednesday that he would send troops into Pakistan to hunt down terrorists even without local permission"
I am OK with the policy but it is so bonehead to annouce it to the world and to the population in Pakistan.
"Hey Pakistan....screw you" policy by Obama is damaging to the ally of Pakistan that allows tons of military supplies to be trucked through their country to support our troops in Afghanistan.
Rookie
LOL, a naieve rookie like Reagan or Nixon, right? Or Palin?
Tell me about SALT, SALT II, START and the NNPT, Nance.
Tell me how those were naieve.
You have NOTHING to back up your debunked talking points. You LOST on Palin, you've LOST on every foreign policy issue you just listed.
You can't give us a CLUE as to what Palin's positions are on ANY of those issues!
LOL! A whole lot of nerve! Man, your double standard is INTENSE!
"I am OK with the policy but it is so bonehead to annouce it to the world and to the population in Pakistan."
Of COURSE you should tell people you want to eradicate al Qaeda. You should also, though, alert your allies, otherwise you have clusterbucks like this:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/04/world/...
Chaos and anger in Pakistan after Bush sent in troops with no warning.
That's the flipside, and that's your argument.
BRILLIANT!
Tell me, Nance, what are Palin's positions on those issues you mentioned?
Does she support attacking al Qaeda in Pakistan? Or sending more troops into Afghanistan?
Isn't it a severe double standard for you to attack Obama, but give Palin a completely free ride?
Of course. It's your double standard!
I will vote for Obama for his leadership skills.
He worked very hard to get an unopposed bill passed.
Ah, the roll over.
You're so predictable.
So where does the potential VP Sarah Palin really stand on the illegal alien pestilence. Will THE PEOPLE be made aware of the truth and not propaganda before the closing days of the presidential election. People who are in this country illegally are lawbreakers, even though the Congress made it a civil penalty. It's stealing jobs from citizens and legal residents and offers nothing to America, but OVERPOPULATION and chain migration. Everybody is crying about the Economy? But do you realize the amount of money taxpayers are contributing to the lifestyles of illegal aliens.Not just 12 million as you hear in America?
That number was given 6 years ago? Today it's probably between 20 & 30 million and climbing! You are supporting their free health care, education and more than the unsuspecting taxpayers realizes. Assign to you by the parasite employers all around us. Both Presidential candidates are going to deliver to their corporate donors and special interest groups AMNESTY! That will lead to OVERPOPULATION, because the census estimates we will another 120 million more mouths to feed in just twenty years. A 50% increase in people. But what about the millions, just waiting to scramble across our undermanned border? The SAVE ACT (H.R.4088) is our last chance. Full facts at NUMBERSUSA, CAPSWEB
What is Sarah Palin's position on Iran?
"What is Sarah Palin's position on North Korea?
What is Sarah Palin's position on the Russia/Georgia conflict?
What is Sarah Palin's position on Israel?
What is Sarah Palin's position on Syria?
What is Sarah Palin's position on Iraq?
These are all legitimate questions. Why haven’t they been asked by the MSM?"
You're ABSOLUTELY RIGHT! Why haven't they been asked? Because all anyone can talk about is her 17 year old daughter (not that she chooses to keep her baby, just that she is having one), whether or not she is the mother of a baby with Down Syndrome (although there was no demand of the same for Edwards), and that she is a fan of teaching abstinence (the difference is that conservatives don't murder their mistakes, they accept them).
Actually, she volunteered the info on her pregnant teenage daughter. No one asked her about it. SHE let the cat out of the bag on that one.
I'm still waiting for her to say "Ok, what's going on in my family is our business. Here's what I think about Iran, North Korea, Russia/Georgia..." etc. But she seems to like the sympathy she and her family are receiving way too much to go into the issues that are important and that matter to the American people.
She had her chance to share her views on the issues last night. Instead she chose to bash the Democratic candidates, which is exactly what someone who has no idea of what she has gotten herself into would do.