Americans - Sarah Palin?

[krazy]

I'm wondering what Americans in Singapore think of Sarah Palin?

I can't find any non American that isn't amazed she has been nominated. They are also appalled, sickened and scared by the thought of her actually being elected vp.

What are your thoughts?

[Old Mike]

I am appalled by the tendency of non-USA citizens to comment on what is a purely internal issue. 

[Dr. Phil]

I am not an American but neither am I appalled, sickened or scared at the prospect of her being elected vice president.
Quite simply, she may not be the worst option.

[michael539]

I am American and am appalled, dismayed, angry, confused, cynical, and ashamed about the appointment of Palin as well as the entire agenda of the Republican party.  This is and was not the Republic party of my younger days- it has devolved into this deregulated greed/power sort of clusterf. that has higher accountability to the short term interests of big business and their own pockets.   

A local business professional commented to me yesterday that for him and many others, it was especially confusing that it appeared that so many Americans were buying in to the McCain positions (or lies, anti-positions, and plagiarized positions).  It is hard to explain apathy, chosen ignorance, and bitter hopelessness among many of my fellow citizens.

Many of us might read Huff Post, Daily Kos, Wash Post, NY Times, Guardian, CNN, BBC and abundance of others to get a real idea of what is happening.  Most Americans don't even read their local paper past the sports page.
I guess we will see if ignorance remains bliss as Rome starts to burn, with the smoke drifting across others nations.
m

[fareastjunebug]

I got this via email, but it gives a view on how bipolar Americans can be in their perceptions of the candidates.
 
"
* If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you're 'exotic, different.'
* Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, a quintessential American story.

* If your name is Barack you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.
* Name your kids Willow, Trig and Track, you're a maverick.
 
* Graduate from Harvard law School and you are unstable.
* Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded.
 
* If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience.
* If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with fewer than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking executive and next in line behind a man in his eighth decade.

* If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're not a real Christian.
* If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and then you're a true Christian.
 
* If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.
* If, while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option in sex education in your state's school system while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you're very responsible.
 
* If your wife is a Harvard graduate laywer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't represent America's.
* If your husband is nicknamed 'First Dude', with at least one DWI conviction and no college education, who didn't register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA, your family is extremely admirable."

I'm much more worried about Palin than McCain as she is one melanoma away from the presidency. I realize I am going to pay more taxes with Democrats in office, but I am almost a single issue voter over an unjustified and immoral war and I can see an inexperienced and weak president who has never been to war starting another.

[krazy]

Dr Phil - so she is better than Joe Biden, the only other VP candidate? given your previous replies in various forums i don't know why i am suprised by this one, but i am - i assume you are either not serious or haven't thought about it too much.

[Dr. Phil]

Dr Phil - so she is better than Joe Biden, the only other VP candidate? given your previous replies in various forums i don't know why i am suprised by this one, but i am - i assume you are either not serious or haven't thought about it too much.

Be specific. What previous replies do you refer to?

I have said from the beginning of the year that from a very poor crop, Hilary is the most likely harvest. But you all conspired (republicans and liberal press) to destroy her with inexplicable levels of subtefuge and venom.

You now are increasingly immersed in spin to convince us that Obama is "brilliant". Well, not even a "gushing" liberal press went so far as to describe him as brilliant. As for constitutional professor, I thought he was the equivalent of a temporary teacher.

I have always been highly citical of Bush/Cheney and republican foreign policy and also the US philosophy which basically promotes self-interest above national and global interest; and the glutinous consumption chasing the ever increasing profits. The "American Dream".

The global collapse of economies today can all be tracked back to corruption inside the US banking sector and its starting to get serious and millions of ordinary folk will pay the bill, for generations to come.

We also see another corrupt Israeli premier about to resign in disgrace but for USA it will be business as usual.

So right now, if fareastjunebug takes her tongue out of her cheek, I will agree with her previous post. Any why not?
Many a true word is spoken in jest.

[so what]

I am appaled by the whole american electoral system. Apparently intelligence, credibility, reliability and capability are no longer requirements to get the job of (vice)president of america.

Its appaling to see how much money the americans spend to elect the next moron-in-power and how seriously they take themselves while doing so.

However I have to congratulate america for being true to the american dream.
In the land of big cars, big houses and big burgers it is actually quite logical a big idiot will have to lead.

[working_mom]

Be specific. What previous replies do you refer to?

Now, we wont know that, right?? Cos the replies or the posts for which you replied will disappear....Just like the way this one will disappear 

[cactus]

On one hand, yes, Sarah Pailin feels lightweight compared to a Hilary Clinton or a Condoleeza Rics.

On the other hand, the whole idea of democracy is that we stop putting on social class airs to bar people from qualifying for office. I saw her debate Joe Biden and frankly, I was saddened, yet impressed --she is an excellent, intelligent common person in the wrong political party.

My idea of America at its best is 1,000,000 citizens like  her waking up and turfing out the candy-faced Ivy League degenerates who just voted for the bailout.

Despite all her faults, if America was more influenced by Sarah Pailain and less by sell-outs in the employ of Wall Street, it would be a much better country.

[BoardAdmin2]

She is what she is - not an inherently bad person, and by most accounts reasonably competent to run a state of 600,000 or so people.  Would she make a good president for the USA? that's for the American people to decide through their votes.  History shows that when a US presidential race is close, the candidate with the most 'foreign' support usually loses.  Same in many other countries outside the EU.

[Vulcanl]

The polls started breaking to ObamaBiden after the first and only debate so far between McCain and Obama.  The latest available give Obama a 6 point or so margin.  This does not include the Biden-Palin debate.  Will be interesting to see if her performance helps McCain. 

My personal opinion is no, as the nation's attention has been turned to economic issues and if that remains the case one would think it will favor Obama.

At this stage this is the lone wildcard in this contest: race.

There is a swath of white Americans who are pro-Obama when polled but when it comes to election day they won't pull the lever for him.

[chitown]

At this stage this is the lone wildcard in this contest: race.

There is a swath of white Americans who are pro-Obama when polled but when it comes to election day they won't pull the lever for him.

...and one should not think for a moment that the McCain campaign won't exploit this.  They will talk about Jermiah Wright, Franklin Raines, ACORN, along with William Ayers, and his name to imply Barack Obama lacks "judgement.".  This is to appeal to Joe and Josephine SixPack's fear of a world that has become complex and an America in which they are increasingly becoming the minority.

As an African American, the above mentioned associations are part of the code language that McCain will use to communicate to these people that you can't trust Obama because he is black.  To me, the word "change" (a word that Obama has been over using) is a code that conotes a plea to America to make the leap of faith and look beyond race and other factors that are preventing us from moving forward as a culture.

[YumMum]

Dear oh Dear, after the events of the last week where Palin was exposed for the utterly uninformed, empty, shell that she is, I cannot believe there is anyone on the planet who is left with anything other than a sense of shock that she is still in the race at all.  The interviews last week were shocking to the core.  She is utterly clueless, and there was no spin involved in exposing her for the nice but shallow woman that she is.  No clue about foreign policy.."hey, we in Alaska live next door to Putin".. (who is no longer even the ruler of Russia by the way), incapable of naming any newspaper or magazine that informs her of political and economic activities in the US, incapable of naming any US Supreme Court case involving a challenge, ("I'll get back to you on that..").  Not to mention her near-senile ramblings about the economy/healthcare etc.  I am utterly ashamed to be an American right now.  How can some many people believe that this "nice", mediocre, inexperienced hockey mama, who is completely incapable of demonstrating any substance whatsoever, possibly be a leader of our nation.  It is totally ludicrous.  I will hand in my citizenship if this woman even makes it to the ballot.  I am ashamed of the American people, the Republicans, and anyone who attempts to defend the indefensible by supporting this egomaniac.  She is no more qualified than me to step into this race.  I have no strong political bias, one way or the other, but it's insane to have such a lightweight running for such a critical role.

Old Mike - your comment earlier about non- Americans having no right to have a view about this election issue shocks me.  The mess the world is in right now in terms of financial markets, is down to Wall St /  Bush incompetence.  Everyone deserves to have a voice in this election, 'cos the result will impact the world.  The US election IS a global issue, the results of which will impact every nation in the world, so take away the inward viewpoint, and accept that this election can be commented upon by anyone who stands to be impacted by the outcome.  Just look at what's happening globally today / this week.  Anything that happens in the USA impacts everyone, so everyone has a right to comment, be they Alaskans, New Yorkers, Brits, Russians...open your mind.

[T2K]

A quick rundown on the parties involved from my perspective:

Palin - She comes across as a being totally out of place, way over her head.  No experience of the world or anything more than small town / small state politics.  She's being coached to deliver some lines, and she's a disaster if left on her own.  She could possibly be an ok VP under the old (pre-Cheney) VP model.  Attend state funerals on behalf of the US, smile, do nothing stuff.  Clearly, she's a tactic to get McCain elected.

Obama - He's made some really bad choices about who he associates with, and I do judge people by the company they keep.  Not much experience in gov't.  Nutjob radical black separatist preacher, ex-violent domestic terrorist hosting a fundraiser for him...not Presidential material. 

Biden - A long serving and experienced guy.  Liberal / Socialist slant to him, but nothing too unusual in that in the US Senate.  Talks about FDR being on TV during the Great Depression...makes him look sloppy with details.  He should be the Democratic nominee maybe, with Obama as his running mate.

McCain - The only one that seems solid, and I like that he and Bush / Cheney are all but outright enemies that can barely countenance each other.  I'll be voting for him and trusting that he lives the whole 4 years, which seems likely since his 95 year old mom is on the campaign trail with him.  After him - Palin needs to disappear back into the Alaskan sunset, he will be too old to run again and she can't possibly run as the R candidate.  No idea what will happen in 4 years.