Sen. McCain Picking Idaho Native For VP?
It looks like Sen. McCain might be making a bold selection for Vice President in picking Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. She apparently has good conservative credentials and seems to be very pro-drilling, but the choice kind of throws out any "experience" advantage Sen. McCain might have had. (On the other hand, it didn't matter for the first President Bush in running Dan Quayle against Lloyd Bentsen.)
Gov. Palin was born in Idaho, and graduated from the University of Idaho in 1987, so this probably locks up Idaho's electoral votes for the GOP. (/sarcasm) Still, I can't help but seeing a little bit of a Geraldine Ferraro effect in her selection. I'm still backing Sen. McCain (identity politics-wise, I really have no choice, with a retired Navy officer running with someone with Idaho connections), but I think he could have made a better choice. Having someone go from former small-town mayor to being one heartbeat away from the Presidency in two years is a little extreme, IMHO.
Update 1314 29 Aug: While Gov. Palin might not be the best choice from a political standpoint, I think it's absolutely great from the perspective of looking at who would bring out the most humorous reactions from others. As someone who thinks both candidates for President are acceptable (for very different reasons), I'm not as interested in the results this time as I am in the process. I'm excited to find out many completely absurd statements can be made in the shortest time. Will it be the "social conservatives" tripping over themselves to say that they've always thought it was perfectly fine for the mother of young children to be working outside the home? Or will it be the DUmmies and KOSsacks who end up saying ridiculous things the Obama campaign will eventually have to condemn? (The best one I've seen so far: This DU thread discussing the likelihood that Gov. Palin didn't really have her 5th child, but that it's really her teenage daughter's.)
Mainstream Democrats will be trapped by their own fear of appearing to speak badly of any person belonging to a "minority" group (for fear of offending others of that minority) that Sen. Biden may end up pulling his punches in the VP debate. I look forward most, however, to Democrats who won't have any problem wondering how any woman could ever choose to have so many kids (especially those with disabilities) and making snide little jokes about "I bet McCain can't wait to drill Palin". I expect 9 weeks of absurdity galore!
posted by Bubblehead at 9:25 AM
46 Comments:
After reading the INL bio you put up, maybe Sarah Palin will want to drill out at A1W for oil.
You just never know.
AFE2
SF, CA
McCain 08
8/29/2008 10:03 AM
I see shades of Harriet Miers. Desperate to find a woman who agrees with his policies, he's picked the person with the most experience available - almost none. I can't see any reason she was picked aside from the hope of a numbers boost due to her gender. That's insulting to women.
There are Republican women who might have made good candidates. Rice has long declined to go into politics, but she (despite associations with the Bush administration) would have been a formidable choice. While I don't agree with all her policies I think she has the right temperament and experience.
Palin? Never heard of her until today.
8/29/2008 10:08 AM
Palin has MORE experience than Obama in executive leadership - Obama has NONE. Furthermore, Palin is better for her stand on issues.
Obama and Osama - the only difference is a little bs
8/29/2008 10:48 AM
then they may be a good combination... Let's just wait and see. As for me, I haven't made my choice for the next United States president..=)
8/29/2008 11:01 AM
Brilliant choice. An bright woman from average background who worked her way up from the PTA to the Governorship of one of the best run states in America.
I'm impressed that we have 4 candidates all of whom, like them or don't, are all worthy of a great deal of respect.
Go PALIN! McCain/Palin '08!!
8/29/2008 11:03 AM
As a card-carrying D, I am delighted with McCain's choice. He's backed by polling: Hillary's pro-life Christian-conservative backers were asked if they would now vote for McCain ... and both said yes. McCain said Mrs. Pallen reminds him of a gal he dated when he was running around on his first wive: "She's a hottie."
Seriously, this takes off the table for the Rs any discussion of judgment and any pretense that the 72-year-old Republican candidate is backstopped by someone with a clue on how to step into the presidency. History will record this day as the date of the dumbest political move in American history. This guy is a putz.
8/29/2008 11:21 AM
Let's see Ducky, based upon your argument Obama shouldn't be elected because he has ZERO executive leadership experience. What about Obama's relationships with Dr. Khalid Abdullah Tariq al-Mansour, Bill Ayers, Tony Reszko, Jermiah Wright, Frank Marshall Davis, et al? Might that give you reason to rethink support of this Manchurian candidate?
8/29/2008 12:27 PM
I figured after Biden was selected by Obama, there was really no risk in McCain's selection. I mean really, Biden cheated his way through law school, tried to run for President and got ran out because he stole a speech, and when the buzzword is change he's guy who's been a senator since 1972...when somehow he was sworn in when he was an unconstitutional 29 years old.
I think this is an attempt to pick up disaffected Hillary voters...you know all the ones that wanted to vote for her because she was a woman? I guess McCain thinks they will vote for Palin now. We'll see.
8/29/2008 12:47 PM
Bottom line:
She is H O T !! and she definately puts the M in MILF.
8/29/2008 12:48 PM
My, my, my!!! More hate rhetoric from conservatives. reminds me of an e-mail I received a while back from a retired USN Captain submariner whom I had served with and respected until that e-mail. His e-mail proposing Mrs. McCain as best First Lady accused Mrs. Obama of being a racist!!! What the hell was he thinking??? I know this guy is carrying water for McCain. I'd expect that kind of stuff from hard core segragationsts in the south (don't kid yourself, there still there) but not from a retired naval officer who knows better.
Sorry Bubblehead, being a retired naval officer ain't enough to ensure my vote especially when his retired Navy pals put out that kind of crap.
My two cents......
DBFTMC(SS)USNRET
8/29/2008 1:02 PM
Yes DBFTMCDASS, segrationists are still here. So much so that the last two publicized Klan meetings here in Alabama were planned, scheduled and attended by Klansmen from good ol' Indiana. Last I checked, that wasn't exactly the Heart of Dixie. Having grown up in Alabama, but lived in Kentucky, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Washington, California and Hawaii, I can attest that, by far, the most racist states that I've lived in were Illinois and Michigan. Blatant - both ways. Don't kid yourself with your holier than thou carpet bagging proclamations.
Lastly, when a liberal can't argue facts, they throw out the hate rhetoric comment. Show me, DBFTMCDASS, in this thread, the "hate rhetoric."
8/29/2008 1:29 PM
I just look at who can run the country. I’m R but I have swung to the D side a time or two. I only have to vote my ticket in the primaries.
McCain has the experience but he is 72 and if elected will be the oldest President. I kind of expected him to choose a woman but I thought it would be Rice. I wanted a VP who could run the country if POTUS is not capable to do it. At least Palin is young enough.
Obama does not have the experience but the other day Jimmy Carter said he has as much experience as a Governor from Texas, Arkansas or Georgia to be President. I don’t have a lot of confidence in Biden. His track record is questionable and he has a ton of skeletons in the closet.
We’ll see what I do on Nov. 2nd.
That Damn Good Looking Aganger From Iowa.
8/29/2008 1:47 PM
My, my, my anon,
getting a little defensive there? Hate = a strong feeling of dislike or ill will--Websters. More than a few thoughts expressed here that fit that criteria, including yours. Don't go away angry tho, the political season is just getting started!!! You'll have plenty of opportunity to continue the typical conservative hate rhetoric instead of addressing the real issues.
Keep a zero bubble.....
DBFTMC(SS)USNRET
8/29/2008 1:50 PM
DBFTMC(SS) - I was being sarcastic about the "identity politics" thing; I'm completely opposed to identity politics for being a reason for voting for someone. Sorry I didn't make that clear.
8/29/2008 2:41 PM
Interesting choice. Like bubblehead, I can't wait to see how this works out. As a complete DC outsider, she is much more of a 'change' candidate than Obama, however she also deflates one of the big arguments against him: experience.
And if I may respond to the Rice comment...the one time I was present at one of her speeches, it was very flat and uninspiring. Afterwords, during the Q&A session, she danced around every single question that was put up. This was at Canoe U., so it's not like it was a hostile audience either. Maybe she was having a bad night, but that speech really turned me off of her.
8/29/2008 2:47 PM
The first thing that I thought of when I heard Governor Palin was selected as McCain's running mate was an article in the Seattle Times a few weeks ago.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008103325_alaskatax07.html
The article talks about how much money Alaska has made on a new windfall tax signed into law by Governor Palin. In another article I have read, she states that she is opposed to a windfall tax on oil companies, however, she signed it into law.
If she is opposed to it, why would she sign it into law? Alaska is heavily Republican. Does she lack the influence in state politics to block this tax? On the other hand, maybe she really does support the tax.
Of course, she is the most attractive candidate on either ticket...maybe I will drive over to Moscow and hang out at the U of I campus and look at girls for the rest of the day.
8/29/2008 2:54 PM
This almost makes me want to post to my blog!
8/29/2008 2:59 PM
Will finally guarantee a elected ticket with either an African-American or woman. Ditto for a non-governor President in the modern era. Unfortunately, Ms. Palin and her state are only known to people who live there or watch "Deadliest Catch."
8/29/2008 3:54 PM
You guys remind me of virgins talking about sex. No clue.
8/29/2008 7:58 PM
Deleted a comment. No need to get personal here.
8/29/2008 8:01 PM
I'm pretty sure Condeleeza is pro choice. McCain wouldn't pick her if that were true. I never heard of FFL before the Roberts nomination, whose wife is a past officer and current legal counsel. I was never clear about one issue of the FFL policy platform.
Does anyone know? Does FFL seek to make abortion obsolete through societal change or are they seeking to criminalize? Their tracts promote the former and don't ever specifically speak to the latter.
I have not heard Palin's views on this either.
8/29/2008 8:48 PM
Sarah Palin has more experience in the executive branch of government, as a Mayor and Governor, than McCain, Obama, Biden, Barr (Libertarian), Root (Libertarian VP), Nader (New Law Party), Gonzalez (NLP VP), Baldwin (US Taxpayers), Castle (US Tax VP), McKinney (Green), and Clemente (Green VP) combined.
PW
8/30/2008 1:09 AM
So.... DBF,
What are the real issues?
What are Obama's accomplishments?
What is his plan?
He certainly speaks well (or as they said in Blazing Saddles, he uses his tongue prettier than a $2 whore...).
Seriously, let's take all the rhetoric and emotion out of it. Convince me, with logic and facts, why should I vote for Obama?
8/30/2008 6:54 AM
I'd love to hear that. I really am not a McCain fan at all (or the GOP as a whole), but at least one can make logical arguements for their positions. I like to argue and I am not closed minded, so let's hear it DBFTMC.
Oh, there is a big difference between not agreeing with someone's positions and hate.
8/30/2008 7:58 AM
I think we all know what the real issues are in this years election. The state of the economy, not talking about the stock market here but the impact of conservative policies on the day to day economic decisions Americans have to make. The war in Iraq, it's impact on our overstretched and very tired military and worn down equipment. The Cheney energy policy thats done nothing to bring us closer to getting a handle on our energy needs in America. Health Care is an issue for many Americans. I'm fortunate I have Medicare and TriCare For Life and live in a rural area where providers still accept payment from them.
That pretty much sums up the issues as I see them.
Personally I consider myself a Fiscal Conservative and a social progressive.
I just don't see how McCain is going to get the nations Fiscal house in order continuing the Bush policies of selling our debt to China to fund the war. There was a time when ALL citizens were asked to sacrifice by funding a war through specific taxes, Bond Drives targeted to defense, etc. President Johnson (a Democrat) started the process of "Guns and Butter" during the Viet Nam war that continues on today. You'all know as well as I do that the Clinton Administration with the assistance of a Republican Congress and Senate managed to get the Federal deficit under control. Kinda Ironic don't you think? Democratic Administration demonstrating Fiscal Conservatism when they've been painted by their opponents for decades as taxers and spenders, while in fact for the last eight years its the Republican administration thats been on a spending spree and paying for it by selling Federal "paper" to China.
My vote will go to Obama by default. McCain's positioning himself to give us another four years of current policies doesn't do it for me. He has had very limited organizational leadership and executive experience as a Squadron Commander and that was close to 30 years ago. He's said he'll keep us in Iraq for 100 years if thats what it takes to win there while Afganistan where we really need to whip ass is falling apart. He has stated he's not real sharp on economics, and doesn't personally use computers or e-mail. He is also 71 years old which is a liability in my book.
Thats pretty much as I see it, so let the debate begin.
Keep a zero bubble......
DBFTMC(SS)USNRET
8/30/2008 9:30 AM
What I'd like to see a candidate, either one, say is that the economy and national security are not separate issues. Both tie pretty well into energy security, and the combination of all three issues is what I consider the most important debate in this election. (does anyone even know, or care, what Teddy Roosevelt's or Abraham Lincoln's views on abortion were? Palin is a staunchly pro-life Republican woman and I think this is why she was chosen over much more qualified people. I say this as a woman who would love to see more women in higher positions of power, as long as they're just as qualified as any man for the job. I think the Republican party has been hijacked by religious fundamentalism and the choice of Palin confirms this to me, disappointingly.)
The dollar has been run down dramatically in the last few years due to Bush's irresponsibly cutting taxes and spending more at the same time. While I'm not necessarily against short term, special-case budget deficits, here's no long term fiscal responsibility in his policies. "$1200 of free money for everyone!" is not economic policy. Personally I would rather pay more taxes and have what's left over worth more and inflation kept down. We were stationed off-station in Europe for my husband's shore tour and felt the financial pressure of the low dollar. McCain has promised to keep Bush's tax cuts in place, Obama is going to roll them back. There's disagreement over who will be affected by this exactly, but I think it's clear that the wealthiest people have absolutely benefitted far more than anyone else. And I would happily pay more myself if it meant a strong economy not beholden to lending nations.
This deficit is putting us at the mercy of China and being bogged down in the Iraq war makes us seem weak to other countries. While I don't think it's the primary consideration, I would also like to see a leader who can work with NATO and other countries' leaders without alienating them. A president who doesn't send an anti-UN contemptuous belligerent to be our UN ambassador like Bush did. Obama is much more popular in Europe than McCain (in Europe it looks like about 80% of citizens are hoping Obama wins). Again, not the primary consideration but it does affect me personally - on overseas assignments I feel much safer when I don't have to walk to the embassy through a gauntlet of protestors, for example. And really, why are we so at odds with our European allies?
As far as energy policy goes, I would love to see an ambitious policy that drove innovation and diversification. This is going to be the biggest issue in the future and no domestic drilling is going to solve it. I think Obama's policies have been better on this (and he's been pushing to increase fuel efficiency standards on carsfor years), though I do wish he was more in favor of nuclear power and less so regarding natural gas and coal. Personally I find it shameful that we're still burning coal in the 21st century for energy at all, but I don't see either candidate willing to alienate voters in states where that's a big part of the economy.
I would like to see: a push to do research on solar, wind energy, geothermal, tidal, nuclear power, and efficient biofuels (while very carefully watching environmental effects and required fertilizer inputs of that last one, since what I've seen is not encouraging to be honest). We should immediately start building reactors with the latest technology as something to tide us over for a while, while still actively researching and transitioning to more renewable sources. I don't think any one energy source is a panacea, even as someone who has done graduate research in one of these areas. We should NOT be building new natural gas plants - it's a terrible, inefficient, stupid idea to build a plant that burns natural gas to create electricity to power people's electric stoves. I don't believe in gas credits or tax holidays because I think that cheap gas have led people to make poor choices in terms of urban development. We've created huge cities in places that are fundamentally uninhabitable - like all those retirement communities in far-out places that require constant air conditioning and don't have enough groundwater to support the population. I think this is just asking for trouble. Our farms are getting eaten up by suburban sprawl and I think dumping money into badly planned, unlivable-on-a-small-scale suburbs is a mistake that will profoundly affect our future and should be reversed as soon as possible.
I don't think either party platform is perfect--that's why I'm an independent. But in this election, I think Obama's policies address the concerns of creating a stable and prosperous long term future better than McCain's. I see McCain as being too shortsighted--I think it's worth sacrificing a little now in order to have a long term prosperous economy. Keeping tax cuts while running a massive budget deficit, using drilling as a "solution" to keep oil dependency going, and using policies like stop-loss and Individual Augmentee to temporarily boost numbers in Iraq while destroying the rates at which people are enlisting, reenlisting, and extending contracts (almost none of the JOs on our boat are signing on for a department head tour) all seem very short-sighted to me.
8/30/2008 10:32 AM
I think that our monetary policy is our biggest threat. It is at the heart of all sorts of problems. The fact that our government is essentially owned by China scares me. Obama shows his ignorance or his understanding of a stupid electorate when he says he will give us all some free money - yeah that will make things more affordable...just like the last stimulus package did..sorta like pouring gasoline on a fire and expecting it to go out.
McCain says he doesn't know much about economics but someone voted for him in the primary anyway.
I think I will vote for Bob Barr.
8/30/2008 3:26 PM
Article I Section VIII of the US Constitution needs to be required reading. The weak dollar, the growing debt to China, the "stretched thin" armed services are just a few of the complaints in this thread that have nothing to do with the presidency. The animus I see here is misguided.
8/30/2008 4:46 PM
Agree about Fiscal Policy. While Obama hasn't specifically said he wants to return to budgeting sanity, my hope is that bringing the troops home from Iraq will dramatically reduce the Fiscal bleeding as well the casualties. I think he's gonna be all over the Iraqies with their 84 billion dollar budget surplus this year and I expect Congress to get tough on war funding given that. Rolling back the Bush tax cuts will also help. I've read that Obama has some of Clintons finance and economic guys as advisors. Given their success during the 90's in turning the deficit around sounds like a smart move. However, it'll be like trying to derail and turn around a locomotive and it's gonna take more than 4 years to get us out of this fiscal hole. McCain wants to continue the current Bush fiscal policy and was using Phil Graham (Mr. Enron law)as an economic advisor so he doesn't get my vote.
My two cents......
Keep a zero bubble......
DBFTMC(SS)USNRET
8/30/2008 4:54 PM
I suggest we raise the stakes on Obama's tax plans. Let's tax everyone who makes over $1M at a 100% marginal tax rate over that $1M. I mean, honestly, who really needs more than $1M/year to live comfortably in this country, and if we could just confiscate all their income above that, think of all the revenues we could generate for the treasury.
It's comical that people think that returning the Clinton's economic team will return us to those halcyon days of the '90s. The Clinton administration used some pretty slick debt financing (trading long-term for short-term debt) to reduce the deficits, and only agreed to a balanced budget after the 1994 GOP takeover of Congress when Newt Gingrich, et.al. basically forced it upon him (same for welfare reform).
We have a huge deficit problem now because yes, this President couldn't find the nuts to veto a single spending bill in his first 6 years, and the demands of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and when the burdens of Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security are added in, we have a recipe for disaster that I have seen nothing from Obama that is realistic, while McCain's and (yes, Bush's) plans to allow some privitization of SS are treated as DOA by Dems. Meanwhile, Obama promises to socialize the entire health care system, placing that in the hands of the same people that brought us the rest of our entitlement mess. So, if you like government solutions, he's our man.
As for the abortion issue, I love how people like to cast it as some kind of "religious" hijacking of the GOP that the ticket is necessarily pro-life, supporting a key plank in the GOP platform since 1980, while giving the Democrats a pass on their similar litmus test for pro-choice candidates. Heck, the D's until this year wouldn't even allow speakers on the podium who were pro-life. You'll find a lot more pro-choice elected Republican's than you'll find pro-life elected Democrats.
And, polling indicates that of those who use this as a single issue, they lean towards the pro-life position, so it's smart politics, as well, despite what the MSM want everyone to believe.
As for energy policy, McCain has a much more realistic approach to this, as he really is for much more of a kitchen sink strategy, recognizing the need for (near) immediate relief, while searching for the alternative sources that can power our future, and reduce greenhouse emissions. Yes, he's for increasing use of the massive natural gas resources this country possesses and for more research and use of clean coal technology. I can't really understand why we would oppose using the two energy sources we have in greatest abundance in this country, if we can harness them in environmentally sound, and efficient ways, but, I suppose some of the anonymous posters have reasons for this that they can't share in a short post (not that this is a short post!). I can't see a path to energy independence that doesn't use natural gas, coal, and nuclear power, at least while we explore and develop other technologies.
But, perhaps I'll compare and contrast Obama's and McCain's plans on my own blog, where I won't feel compelled to keep it short and we can have a discussion just about energy policy.
8/30/2008 10:24 PM
Unfortunately, I'm going to have to apply a litmus test to the candidates and Palin is failing this one. Will science and logical thinking prevail? In this case, Palin seems to support teaching Intelligent Design aka Creationism in public schools. To me this defeat of public education has longer term impacts that I need to pay attention to over shorter term items such as monetary policy.
Carl
8/31/2008 11:55 AM
Wow Carl, that's extremely open minded of you to throw out valid questions of a theory and then treat the theory as fact. Par for the course . . .
8/31/2008 8:42 PM
tEvolution _is_ a fact. Creationism is religion masquerading as science. Don't confuse the term _theory_ when used to describe scientific principles.
I say the sun revolves around the earth Let's teach both theories and let the students decide for themselves?
Our nation is declining in science and math education and we want to pretend that this is "teaching the controversy?"
Let's elect a smart candidate for a change, not one who is "regular folks." We've had eight years of "regular folks."
9/01/2008 4:21 AM
So..... What is the difference in McCain saying that we will be in Iraq as long as necessary (for security reasons) and Obama saying he will leave a contingent of troops in Iraq (for security reasons) indefinitely?
9/01/2008 7:49 AM
Let's elect a smart candidate for a change, not one who is "regular folks." We've had eight years of "regular folks."
So the question is, where do you draw the line between a 'regular folk' and a 'smart candidate'? Give everyone an IQ test? Only allow people from MENSA to run? What can I, as Joe Voter, use to distinguish the smart candidate from the stupid candidate? Count the number of grammar mistakes in a speech (or gaffes: President Biden or "Barrack America")? Base it on accent (because if someone sounds stupid, they must BE stupid...it's a proven fact! Just watch Joe Dirt)?
As I recall, neither Bush or Kerry were outstanding performers in college (with Kerry doing slightly worse). Should I not vote for McCain because he graduated near the bottom of his class? Should I vote for Obama because he has spent many more years reading books and writing papers than McCain?
How do you define a smart candidate vs a stupid candidate?
9/01/2008 8:15 AM
Well Anonymous, I can prove, using math, that the earth travels around the sun, despite what you say. On the other hand, you don't have the evidence to prove evolution. You can trot out pieces with many holes, but in the end, you have a theory - not a fact. And if you're so confident of the theory, why not allow it to be taught along with relevant questions and counter theories? Why not present all of the facts and theories?
Open minded is a liberal's claim, but rarely do they practice what they preach.
9/01/2008 8:24 AM
"Open minded is a liberal's claim, but rarely do they practice what they preach."
[sarcasm on]
The anonymous poster above is obviously a very open-minded person.
[sarcasm off]
Glad to see we can start painting people with same brush. Are you really saying everyone with liberal leanings is a hypocrite?
--Steve.
9/01/2008 11:03 AM
From what I have seen around on television and in various places on the internet, including this blog, people seem pretty split on this.
People that support McCain think Palin was a brilliant and daring choice, and demonstrates what a maverick he truly is.
People that support Obama seem to think that Palin is a bad choice, with a potential scandal brewing around her possible involvement to try to get her ex-brother-in-law fired, and thinking she will alienate female voters with her stance on abortion.
Big surprise. McCain supporters think she was a great choice, Obama supporters think she was a bad choice. Guess I will have to wait until the polls come out to see if very many moderates were pushed away or pulled towards a particular candidate because of this choice.
9/01/2008 11:10 AM
While evolution is technically still a theory as there are no scientific experiments to *prove* it, there is an overwhelming body of evidence that supports this theory all the way down from our knowledge of how reproduction works, to studying the evolution of species over time.
If someone wants to teach religious pseudo-science to their children, so they can home school them, thus ensuring that they will be both socially awkward AND blindly indoctrinated into pseudo science. Leave the rest of the country's kids out of it.
There is literally *no* evidence backing up the theory of intelligent design apart from "Gee, it's just such a miracle that we're all here".
9/01/2008 3:15 PM
At least she wants to drill for oil. Short term drill for oil long term get us off of oil with new technology.....Obama says Change....I just wish he would change and talk specifics on what he will do besides raise taxes...where is the cutoff for the raising of taxes....what is he going to cut... As far as going after Palins daughter being pregnant...these people are the same who will yell Stay out of my womb
9/01/2008 7:22 PM
". . . so they can home school them, thus ensuring that they will be both socially awkward AND blindly indoctrinated into pseudo science . . ."
King, you must not get out among your subjects enough. If you did, you would be up on current events and have read just how much better prepared for college and life in general the typical home-schooled student is compared to the typical publik skooled stoodent.
9/01/2008 7:54 PM
As well as being a submariner, I grew up the child of a submariner and occasionally you'd run into the 'home schooled kids'. Far more often than not they were socially underdeveloped, probably because they didn't interact as much with people that weren't either their parents or siblings.
Of course, there's always exceptions and some kids were more or less normal despite the lack of learning at the "school of hard knocks" that is the school yard, but the parents have to be pretty vigilant to make sure that their children have friends and interact normally with peer groups.
9/01/2008 10:22 PM
"How do you define a smart candidate vs a stupid candidate?"
I'd say Harvard Law graduate vs. bottom-of-his-class USNA is a good place to start.
'course, aw shucks, that just means he's regular folks.
9/02/2008 8:04 AM
That's funny, anon.
Nobody seemed to think too highly of Bush II's Harvard MBA. Maybe I shouldn't be that impressed with O's Harvard JD, either (read some excerpts from his books, the man could use an editor). Maybe Harvard's not all it's cracked up to be.
9/02/2008 3:29 PM
first VP to be a tube girl?
9/12/2008 3:12 PM
Looks like Ms Palan is off to a good start. Lets go to war with Russia over Georgia, What did you say was Bush's foreign policy? and last but not least, the war in Iraq is a holy war! Yep, can't wait to hear more from her!!!
My two cents, and keep a zero bubble.......
DBFTMC(SS)USNRET
9/12/2008 3:57 PM
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