Note: As of this morning, there were over 2000 Palin diaries.
We have identified over 100 issues, problems, and embarassing comparisons for McCain's unbelievably reckless VP choice in 1 weekend.
In past comments, several of you have asked why bother collecting all of this info on a VP choice.
This is really about McCain's COLOSSALLY bad judgement
I believe that this choice (McCain's first and most important exeutive decision in his run for the white house) clearly illustrates so many things that are wrong with his decision-making and his candidacy.
It is becoming increasingly clear that this candidate was not vetted at all.
I have NOT included wild rumors, speculations about Palin's personal life or her family - issues only! Please don't bring her family problems into this thread. There is more than enough information here to define this candidate as an extremist fringe candidate who represents Bush / McCain's failed policy of picking ideology over experience and qualifications.
Thanks to everyone who helped identify and find references for these issues!
Really - it boggles the mind that a VP candidate who has only been in a statewide office for 20 months could be this bad. This is almost too easy - like shooting fish in a barrel... or wolves from a helicopter.
Please feel free to edit my tags, add issues, suggest deletions, provide new info. or correct mistakes. Your feedback is welcome!
As many of you suggested, I have reorganized these issues by category for your reading convenience. I have also placed some of the more damning info higher in the list. Feel free to suggest new categories.
Sarah Palin doesn’t understand the role of the VICE PRESIDENT and is NOT QUALIFIED.
- This is another example of McCain continuing Bush's policy of picking public servants for their ideology over the experience.
- She doesn't know what the Vice President really does.
- She apparently hasn't taken a stand on most major political issues
- She's focused on Alaska not the fact the she would be Vice President for the whole nation.
- She was also quoted saying "We want to make sure that that VP slot would be a fruitful type of position, especially for Alaskans and for the things that we’re trying to accomplish up here for the rest of the U.S."
- She is the least educated Vice Presidential candidate in recent history. (NEED LINK)
- The Alaskan legislature only meets 90 days per year. How much has she really had to do in her 20 months in office?
- But does she think she's ready? - "Absolutely, Yup, Yup."
- Despite claims from the McCain camp, she did not receive a background check by the FBI (Atlantic Monthly)
"The Federal Bureau of Investigation did not participate in the vetting of Gov. Sarah Palin and did not conduct a background check as part of the process, an FBI spokesman said today.
The Washington Post reported Sunday, citing an interview with campaign manager Rick Davis, that the vetting process ‘included reviews of financial and other personal data, an FBI background check and considerable discussion among the handful of McCain advisers nvolved in the deliberations.
‘In general, we do not do vetting for political campaigns except as it might regard investigations needed for security clearances,’ said John Miller, the chief FBI spokesperson.
The FBI did not participate in a vet, nor did it run a background check of Gov. Palin as part of the process.
Palin might already have a clearance that relates to her duties as governor. But the FBI can’t speak to that, and in any event, those investigations wouldn’t be accessible to the McCain campaign anyway."
- Is her pick just another example of McCain's gambling problem? He's been known to roll the dice before (and he apparently loses a lot).
Sarah Palin is closely linked to CORRUPTION and ABUSE OF POWER and is UNDER INVESTIGATION.
- She is under investigation for abuse of power..
- There are audio recordings regarding her involvement in Troopergate - always bad
- Following the Bush / McCain doctrine, she has lawyered up and is already claiming executive privilege in Troopergate.
- Sarah Palin has an Abramoff problem - a Pro-Palin illegal mailer was sent during her gubernatorial campaign on behalf of Palin by the RGA, the DC group that got money from Abramoff, Reed, etc.
- Which reminds us that McCain has a BIG ABRAMOFF Problem.
- She's deeply connected to the Bridge to Nowhere.
--Fun fact from skiddlybop -- Use your word-processor word count on her very first speech when McCain introduced (and damn near met) Palin last Friday.
It's only 637 words into her very first address to America that she LIES to the American people -- that's the sentence where she makes with the "Thanks but no thanks" Bridge to Nowhere bullshit.
She couldn't get 650 words out of her mouth before lying to the American people. What does that tell you about Palin, McCain and the Republicans?
- Terre pointed out that she's connected to VECO - the company at the heart of Ted Stevens' troubles. She also received an endorsement from Ted that has suddenly disappeared from her webpage.
- There have been discussion of witness tampering and possible impeachment hearings related to charges of her abuse of power
- She's either going to be distracted by being deposed soon or she is going to draw negative attention by trying to avoid being deposed.
- Sen. Ted Stevens and Rep. Don Young (both under investigation) campaigned for her in 2006. (NEED LINK)
- Palin was the director of Ted Steven's 527 group - Ted Stevens Excellence in Public Service Inc.
- She has a history of trying to fire those who don’t support her.
- She hired a man with a history of sexual harassment to replace Dept. of Public Safety Chief, Walt Monegan, the center of the "Troopergate" controversy.
Sarah Palin has NO FOREIGN POICY EXPERIENCE and NO UNDERSTANDING OF THE WAR IN IRAQ.
- Although according to Cindy McCain and the folks at FOX think she’ll be fine because "Alaska is near Russia."
- She didn't even have a passport until last year.
- Palin stated "I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq."
- McCain's campaign can't explain how she has any foreign policy experience. (Great video)
- Then McCain's campaign started making stuff up about what she did in her role as Commander in Chief of Alaska's national guard.
Sarah Palin's selection seems like a DESPERATE AND IRRESPONSIBLE POLITICAL PLOY.
- McCain only met Sarah Palin ONCE
- McCain only talked to Palin TWICE making this a purely cynical and desperate political appointment
- New information indicates that she was picked by the ultra conservative Council for National Policy, not by McCain, which includes Tony Perkins, James Dobson, and other well-known ideologues. She's not really HIS VP choice (nor is he a maverick). According to official CNP policy, "The media should not know when or where we meet or who takes part in our programs before or after a meeting." Wouldn;t it be nice for the MSM to finally investigate this group?
- Her selection has angered Romney & Pawlenty.
- Past quotes by Rove make Palin's selection look like desperation.
- Palin's selection provides a clear example of John McCain's hasty decision-making and breathtakingly poor judgement on important issues (like who would be best qualified to take his place if he could not complete his term).
- She was vetted too quickly
- McCain only picked her the night before making the announcement.
- This is an example of McCain's hast decision making. As McCain stated in his 2002 book.
I make them (decisions) quickly as I can, quicker than the other fellow, if I can," Mr. McCain wrote, with his top adviser Mark Salter, in his 2002 book, "Worth the Fighting For." "Often my haste is a mistake, but I live with the consequences without complaint.
- This choice was irresponsible.
- This choice raises the issue of McCain's age (Is Palin ready to take over if he cannot complete his term?).
- McCain is putting his desire to be President over the good of the country. (NEED LINK)
Sarah Palin is a FLIP-FLOPPER.
- She appears to oppose windfall taxes on oil companies at the national level but supported them to benefit her state.
- She supported Obama's energy plan, before she was against it.
- She didn't support McCain in the primaries.- in fact she thought none of the candidates looked good.
- She flip-flopped on the Bridge to Nowhere too. She’s now being called McCain's bridge to nowhere.
- She was for earmarks before she was against them. Despite McCain's alleged stance on earmarks, Palin still got 31 of them for her state.
- She was for corruption (Ted Stevens) before she was against it.(NEED LINK)
- She’s still pursuing a second Bridge to Nowhere. (NEED LINK)
- Palin used to be excited that Obama was edging ahead of McCain in Alaska.
Sarah Palin is an EXTREMIST who represents SEPARATIST / FRINGE POLITICS
- Sarah the secessionist supported the Alaskan Independence Party which has discussed, among other things, "infilitrating" the national parties to advance the goals of the AIP.
- America First or Alaska First? Given her connection to the AIP, will anyone question HER patriotism?
- Will she disown this statement by the founder of the AIP - "I'm an Alaskan, not an American. I've got no use for America or her damned institutions." - Joe Vogler, founder of the Alaskan Independence Party
- She believes the Pledge of Allegiance was written by the founding fathers.
- Sarah Palin, Buchananite - Palin supported Pat Buchanan in 2000
- Wexler pointed out
John McCain's decision to select a vice presidential running mate that endorsed Pat Buchanan for President in 2000 is a direct affront to all Jewish Americans. Pat Buchanan is a Nazi sympathizer with a uniquely atrocious record on Israel, even going as far as to denounce bringing former Nazi soldiers to justice and praising Adolf Hilter for his "great courage."
At a time when standing up for Israel's right to self-defense has never been more critical, John McCain has failed his first test of leadership and judgment by selecting a running mate who has aligned herself with a leading anti-Israel voice in American politics. It is frightening that John McCain would select someone one heartbeat away from the presidency who supported a man who embodies vitriolic anti-Israel sentiments.
- Her past support of Buchanan may alienate certain Florida voters.
- Palin embraces loyalty tests to herself.
Sarah Palin is strongly ANTI-ENVIRONMENT.
- DRILL DRILL DRILL!
- She doesn’t think global warming is man-made.
- She doesn't think polar bears should be listed as endangered because it interferes with her drilling plans.
- She advocated AGAINST mine safety / pollution control
- She wants to destroy 1.5 MILLION ACRES of ANWR, not the 2000 acres she has lied about on the news.
- She fighting to prevent Belugas from being listed as endangered.
- She supports aerial hunting of wolves even though it was outlawed by Congress. She's using a loophole.
- In addition to polar bears, belugas, and wolves, for the first time in Alaskan history she is supporting hunting black bear sows and cubs.
- She was so opposed to a clean water bill that she may have broken the law to fight it.
Sarah Palin is terrible on WOMEN’s ISSUES.
- She stated that she would force her own daughter to have a rapist's child.
- She called candidate Clinton a whiner. Why does everyone in the McCain campaign think others are whiners?
- She laughed at an opposing politician being called a cancer and a bitch the same way that McCain laughed at Hillary Clinton being called a bitch.
- Some of the PUMA's already believe that John McCain is patronizing them.
- Her selection also raises the issue of McCain's past unfavorable statements against women.
- Her selection also makes JOhn McCain seem even creepier.
- She's part of Feminists for Life - see loserboy’s diary.
- She's against sex education - abstinence only.
- She’s AGAINST BIRTH CONTROL. She consider births control pills and IUDs abortifacients. It would be awesome if someone asked her McCain's now famous "should insurance companies cover viagra/birth control" question.
- Her selection has opened the door for a bigger role for Clinton in Obama's campaign.
Sarah Palin is terrible on HEALTH CARE
- She's opposed to universal health care
- She opposed to stem cell research.
Sarah Palin is NOT POPULAR with voters.
- This choice is NOT helping McCain's polling numbers,
- This choice is not helping with women.
- Undecideds apparently don't like the Palin pick. Thanks marabout40!
- She's not popular with conservatives and her selection has created a major rift among the Republicans.
- Focus groups don't like her.
- Scarborough & Buchanan mocked Palin before her selection and declared her unacceptable and condescending to women.
Sarah Palin is a DOMINIONIST and would allow her religious beliefs to guide policy.
- She's linked to the Dominionist movement and Joel's Army.
- Believes Creationism should be taught in science classes
- Don't believe the whispers that she’s a moderate on GLBT issues. She's opposed to state health benefits for same-sex partners and only vetoed a resolution that would have ended state benefits because the Supreme Court had already declared it unconstitutional.
- She is a theocrat who created a Christian Heritage Week in Alaska last year. Hat tip to beltane.
Sarah Palin was a BAD MAYOR and not as popular as McCain would have us believe.
- She was a bad mayor who left her town's economy in tatters.
- The top 2 ALASKAN newspapers question her fitness for the job.
Miscellaneous:
- She has 3 houses to go with McCain's 7 or 8 or 9. By the way, there are 2118 houses in Wasilla.
- Palin may have been scrubbing her own wikipedia page
- Her husband, Todd Palin, seems deeply connected to her efforts to govern and has been called the "shadow governor" of Alaska.
- Her husband is on BP's payroll creating a possible conflict of interest.
- Like Bush and McCain, she can't admit when she's wrong.
- The United Steelworkers have already spoken out against her.
- She favors censoring library books (Alert your local librarian!)
- Palin is currently in the middle of a controversial gas pipeline project in Alaska. She’s favored the ‘TransCanada’ proposal that will run the pipeline through Canada, in effect shipping US jobs over the border. Many Alaskans, including former governors, have favored the "All Alaska Route". According to the head of the company supported by Palin "Nothing goes ahead until Exxon is happy with it."
- Her administration she destroyed Alaska'a state owned dairy - this dairy was called mat maid and had been in business for over 50 years.
APT COMPARISONS
- Bernie Kerik
- Harriet Miers
- Dan Quayle
- "Heck of a job" Brownie
- No one could have anticipated "Hurrican Sarah"
- Eagleton
- Monica Goodling
- The mother of all "Hail Mary's"
- Incitatus
Rumors that need sources:
- Sarah Palin is allegedly involved in battles with Native Americans in Alaska over a number of issues regarding tribal lands including whether tribes in AK should have sovereignty or be subject to white laws and administrations, and whether she ran a provision through her legislature that allowed the oil and gas pipeline to Canada to run without compensation or jobs or consent, through native areas.(NEED LINK)
- She may have actually run on the Alaskan Independence Party ticket when she was running for mayor of Wasilla.
- She made extremely poor use of Eminent Domain during her time as mayor.
- ... How long before she drops out to spend more time with family?
- ...