Palin: 5 colleges, 6 years, 1 degree

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/04/vp-hopeful-palin-attended-5-colleges-in-6-years/

Excerpt from Sarah Palin's interview with Katie Couric

My favorite comment to this was "I'm close to my foot, I should be a podiatrist." The Republicans are sending this woman in to deal with terrorism, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, North Korea, Darfur...

An excerpt from Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's interview with Katie Couric to be aired later tonight on the CBS Evening News:

COURIC: You've cited Alaska's proximity to Russia as part of your foreign policy experience. What did you mean by that?

PALIN: That Alaska has a very narrow maritime border between a foreign country, Russia, and on our other side, the land-- boundary that we have with-- Canada. It-- it's funny that a comment like that was-- kind of made to-- cari-- I don't know, you know? Reporters--

COURIC: Mock?

PALIN: Yeah, mocked, I guess that's the word, yeah.

COURIC: Explain to me why that enhances your foreign policy credentials.

PALIN: Well, it certainly does because our-- our next door neighbors are foreign countries. They're in the state that I am the executive of. And there in Russia--

COURIC: Have you ever been involved with any negotiations, for example, with the Russians?

PALIN: We have trade missions back and forth. We-- we do-- it's very important when you consider even national security issues with Russia as Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where-- where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border. It is-- from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there. They are right next to-- to our state.

PBS Poll: Vote to Say Palin is Unqualified

PBS is doing one of those instant online polls to ask "America" if they think Sarah Palin is fit to be Vice President.

The GOP has launched a successful all out blitz to get Republicans to go on the site and click "Yes". As a result right now it looks like 62% of "America" thinks Palin is qualified. The Republicans are going to be milking this for all its worth in their press efforts.

Here's the link: http://www.pbs.org/now/polls/poll-435.html
You don't have to enter your email address or anything, just click "NO".

Comic Gold: Palin

If you haven't seen it, check it out. As Mike would say, "that's comic gold!"
http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/palin-hillary-open/656281/

There's also a hilarious essay in the New Yorker. It is so ridiculous.
http://www.newyorker.com/humor/2008/09/22/080922sh_shouts_saunders

Better

If I only read this article yesterday. I think it is kind of freaky that this article addresses all of my concerns. It seems that a lot of people feel the way I do. I'd like to think that I was different, had different thoughts and ideas. But, in many ways, it's nice to know that I'm part of a larger community of people who care about this world and want to make a difference.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/11/opinion/11collins.html?em

Different note: I heard a great little article in my WSJ podcast about how while green solutions in the US are optional and novelties, they are making a huge impact in developing nations. There's a stove that releases 75% less emissions. There are solar LED lights lighting up many poor neighborhoods. Really cool.

The Election Continues to Depress Me

I literally cried at my desk when McCain announced Palin as his running mate. She and McCain have been all over People Magazine and the rest of main stream media - which, let's face it, mainstream America follows. I'd like to think that the majority of people, especially women will focus on values as opposed to the fact that she is a woman but I'm starting to get discouraged. This morning I thought of writing Obama asking - begging - him to do a better job and show that he hasn't turned his back on women. Today, my friend S sent me a bunch of articles on Palin and a note on how incensed she is about the Republicans.

Excerpts from M. Dowd's editorial:
-What kind of budget-cutter makes a show of getting rid of the state plane, then turns around and bills taxpayers for the travel of her husband and kids between Juneau and Wasilla and sticks the state with a per-diem tab to stay in her own home?
-Why was Sarah for the Bridge to Nowhere before she was against the Bridge to Nowhere, and why was she for earmarks before she was against them? And doesn't all this make her just as big a flip-flopper as John Kerry?
-What kind of fiscal conservative raises taxes and increases budgets in both her jobs - as mayor and as governor?
-When the phone rings at 3 a.m., will she call the Wasilla Assembly of God congregation and ask them to pray on a response, as she asked them to pray for a natural gas pipeline?
-Does she really think Adam, Eve, Satan and the dinosaurs mingled on the earth 5,000 years ago?
-Why put out a press release about her teenage daughter's pregnancy and then spend the next few days attacking the press for covering that press release?
-As Troopergate unfolds here - an inquiry into whether Palin inappropriately fired the commissioner of public safety for refusing to fire her ex-brother-in-law - it raises this question: Who else is on her enemies list and what might she do with the F.B.I.?
-Does she want a federal ban on trans fat in restaurants and a ban on abortion and Harry Potter? And which books exactly would have landed on the literature bonfire if she had had her way with that Wasilla librarian?
-Just how is it that Fannie and Freddie have cost taxpayers money (since they haven't yet)?
-Does she talk in tongues or just eat caribou tongues?
-What does she have against polar bears?

McCain Chooses Palin as Running Mate

My spidey senses were tingling. On Sunday, mom, D and I were driving back and I was telling them that they NEED to vote in November. Mom goes, "I don't like Obama. I really wanted Hillary. I really wanted a woman for president." Then, as news started speculating about McCain's potential running mates and how many of Hillary's supporters would back McCain instead of Obama, I thought, he should pick a woman. And he did. She is the Republicans’ first female candidate for vice president, conservative, pro-life and supports drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve. This is serious.

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M sent me a long email this morning about her thoughts of the campaign. Being in DC and and a Republican, it has been really interesting to talk through issues with her and see where she's coming from. A friend said, "In DC people don't date across party lines" but in all the ways we are different we expand each other's boundaries.