Sarah Palin First Impressions

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Posted August 29, 2008 | 03:06 PM (EST)




Before I had even a moment to recover from the history making of last night and Obama's incredible speech, my cup overfloweth with excitement about McCain's vice presidential announcement this morning, a visual bonanza! So much to see, so much to chew on, I don't even know where to begin!

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I will try not to dwell about lame TV producers of McCain's announcement this morning.. God knows what screens to the left and side of his head that made everyone behind him look like they were either shifty or channeling Ramtha. Nor McCain, whose peeps can't get it together to use a teleprompter and look us in the eye. (Hello, McCain.. there's new technology out there...Google much?) Today's on screen gaffe was almost as bad as when Hilary had every member of the Clinton administration standing behind her when she was defeated in Iowa vs. Obama's endless sea of admiring smiling faces.

Nor am I going to talk about the fact that Sarah Palin just plunked out a baby IN APRIL. This is the profile of pro-life "my friends". How about being a pro-mother? I know people make babies and go back to work. I am one. But this ain't no nine to five job. This is the vice president of the the United states whose running mate had cancer and just turned seventy two today. I can't wait to see the debates and know she's lactating and has cheerios in the bottom of her purse.

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What I really want to talk about is her hair. Can someone please get this woman to a SuperCuts? What is that thing on her head? I admit, I am completely jealous of her flawless Linda Carter Skin. And I fully expect her to take out that plastic hair clip, pull off her glasses, rip off her blazer to reveal either Wonder Woman or Demi Moore in Disclosure. But the hair has GOT TO GO.

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The choice is such a transparent attempt to get the Hillary votes. Some said that when Obama chose Biden, it was a sign of the party's feeling Obama's weakness on his foreign policy experience, but this is far more dramatic and cynical. No offense to older men, but sometimes they make bold moves just to let us (and themselves) know they're still alive. I think this is the case with the with the Republican Party in general. Hey, let's start another war!

She'll probably do well in the debates. She's likable, women rule in general and she'll be underestimated. Having never seen nor heard of her before except her speech just now, even I like her...for PTA president. As a former Hillary supporter, I have to admit, the first thought when I saw Joe Biden up there with Obama, was "Darn... There's no more girls up there." While I love seeing a woman in the fray, this is indeed an unusual pick. I just learned that she's a die-hard creationist. Can you imagine? Someone a heart beat away from the presidency who doesn't believe in science? I'm dumbstruck.

All I know is that I'm more excited about television watching this fall than when Mel Gibson got outed as an anti-semite or when Rielle Hunter curiously declined to get her infant's cheek swabbed (DNA test) twelve hours after John Edwards offered a paternity test to prove that he wasn't screwing around on his wife. This is going to be the gift that just keeps on giving.

Don't touch that remote.


Read more reaction from HuffPost bloggers to John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate


Kimberly Brooks is an artist and writer who writes weekly column on the HuffingtonPost where provides commentary on the creative process and showcases other artists' work from around the world. Sometimes she writes about the election because she just can't help herself.

Before I had even a moment to recover from the history making of last night and Obama's incredible speech, my cup overfloweth with excitement about McCain's vice presidential announcement this morning...
Before I had even a moment to recover from the history making of last night and Obama's incredible speech, my cup overfloweth with excitement about McCain's vice presidential announcement this morning...
 
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Kimberly, since when is not believing a hundred and fifty year old hypothesis with no credible evidence but used as the basis for survival-of-the-fittest capitalism in the late 1800's, the racist eugenics movement and the theory that blacks are lower on the scale than whites denying science? The reverse is true. Half of Americans reject molecules to man evolution including many scientists. There is a list of those with the nerve to say so on answersradio.com. Many are Asians who are far smarter than you. How many more are there afraid to lose their jobs because of intolerance.

No creationist I have read denies evolution in the sense of change, but they do reject an origins hypothesis which is a leap of faith and which is necessarily atheistic and for which there is not one shred of evidence.

99% of those who mock creationists could not accurately relate even two parts of the hypothesis of evolution. Can you?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:49 PM on 09/01/2008

How......fascinating..... Here, folks, is the reason to vote with your brain rather than let the lobotomists win. Someone, please send this person some money so he/she/it can get an education.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:37 PM on 09/01/2008

I am a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a premier institution. 800 on level II math. Perfect in National Merit Math. Studied advanced science. How about YOU? A senior Orthodox Jewish Professor had a running challenge to anyone to prove that the earth was any older than the Jewish Calendar. NO ONE could do so.

Ad hominem attacks that are baseless are obviously your modus operandus. Facts only, please!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:48 AM on 09/02/2008

You are wrong in sOoo many ways, where do I start? It's obvious that you get your "scientific" information in Sunday School. And are you seriously blaming the deeply flawed survival-of-the-fittest defense of unrestrained capitalism, on the scientists who researched the REAL theory of evolution? Aside from Craig Venter (and he's not really a scientist) no scientist gets into it to make themselves rich, because it just doesn't work that way.

Are you just stringing together "scientific-sounding" words, when you say some Americans reject "molecules to man evolution?" Because sadly, there is simply no sense or meaning in that sequence of words. You could not possibly have heard any intelligent person with "the nerve to say" such nonsense.

No wonder scientists and scientifically literate people think they're smarter than you. THEY ARE.

For your last invitation to "accurately relate even two parts" of the theory of evolution, I assume you mean "relate," to refer to an ability to simply state the principles involved. You say that as if you think it's hard. Just because science is greek to you, don't think it's so for everyone.

Evolution is based on 1) change in a species over time, whether sudden or gradual, and for whatever cause, and 2) life's hardships weeding out a portion of the less-favorable changes, before the individuals in question can reproduce. These are the core principles, and the whole theory is based on observations that support these theses.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:49 PM on 09/03/2008
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You know, people can get on line and make all the snide and pithy remarks they want -- myself included -- but if we want to assure the future of this country, we had better make sure we do all that we can as individuals to make sure Obama is elected. That means talking to people about the issues instead of the hype make sure you take at least one person in to register and then on November 4th take one person with you to vote. Women should be talking to each other and separating the truth from the smarm. Palin is dangerous for this country and the buyer remorse will be incredible.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:46 PM on 09/01/2008

McCain must be insane to think that Hillary supporters will just come blindly over to support this chick, just because she has a vagina. That's the only similarity she has with Hillary Clinton, who is a veteran Senator, brilliant attorney and who is a tough-as-nails campaigner. I still think Hillary will be president one day, and this country will be better for having her.
And as for Biden taking it easy on Palin...for the love of God, I hope he rips this dizzy broad to shreds when he debates her. Don't take it easy on the poor baby. I hope he makes her cry. If she wants to play with the big boys, then she has to know how to take it. Did anyone want Obama or McCain to take it easy on Hillary? Does anyone think Putin will take it easy on her if she becomes president? How about the leader of Iran?
This isn't a time to treat the little lady like a little lady. if you want to play with the boys, sweetie, you'd better grow a set of balls.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:09 AM on 09/01/2008

Obama and Biden look like they belong in the White House. McCain and Palin look like they should be shopping around for old-age homes. His judgement is seriously QUESTIONABLE!!! Also, I saw a picture of Sarah Palin holding a rifle-how irresponsible is it to be a mother holding a gun with five children that look up to you-was she not affected by Columbine???!!!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:34 AM on 09/01/2008

So cops shouldn't point guns either? Columbine was the fault of demented cultic young men. It wasn't done by hunters. If you lived in the country, in a state that would stretch from LA to Savannah Georgia and be larger than Texas, California, and Montana combined with a rape rate double the average, the BEST thing you could so for your kids is have a gun to protect them. If you call 9-1-1, they might be a hundred miles away. You might notice that colleges are beginning to have some teachers armed who have the background to handle that, because advertising to criminals that you have a cam pus of sitting ducks shows no respect for the value of the lives of young people.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:53 PM on 09/01/2008

I did not say anything about Police carrying guns! I am questioning her judgement to promote guns when she has five children that look up to her. The MISGUIDED RIGHT believe this image is a good one and will probably use it in their campaign ads BUT I SAY I am OFFENDED BY IT. I have children and I am trying to teach them that guns are bad, they kill good people every day, and sadly at times, kill curious children when parents thinks they hid their gun so well....

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:19 AM on 09/03/2008

Obama and Biden Look like they belong in the White House. McCain and Palin look like father and daughter shopping around for old-age homes. McCain's judgement is seriously QUESTIONABLE!!! Also, how irresponsible is it for a mother to to hold a rifle with five children who look up at her-does she not remember Columbine???

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:19 AM on 09/01/2008
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AMEN!!!!!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:35 PM on 09/01/2008
- bodo I'm a Fan of bodo permalink

I still don't believe it. Is McCain really that stupid, or did his melanoma finally spread to the brain? Imagine leaving the safety of 300 million people to this person, as if he were leaving her an old sofa in his will -- he should be certified!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:16 PM on 09/01/2008

Junk from the right and the left.....OK...let's look at this from another perspective - which Presidential Candidate do you think the enemies of the U.S. want as President?--Greg--http://us.imdb.com/name/nm2734923/

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:34 AM on 09/01/2008

Didn't you know everyone is an enemy of the US. We pissed off all of our friends and made our enemies hate us even more and we should be verrrrrrry afraid...remember!?!

You must read about Sarah from some Alaskans who know her record::

http://grizzlybay.org/SarahPalinInfoPage.htm

Please pass it on!

Obama / Biden '08

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:16 AM on 09/01/2008

The implicit message McCain is sending with this pick is (a) I will kiss up and support the Rev. James Dobson's Religious Right agenda to get elected in spite of the fact I hate these people and (b) Hillary's female PUMA crowd is so stupid that they will vote for any woman even if it's a woman like Palin who stands for every thing Hillary despises.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:07 AM on 09/01/2008

So you hate "these people"? Hardly Obama's stated message, yet it seems his folks have more hate than could fit in Iraq. Nothing new. No change. Such vitriolic hypocrisy.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 07:03 PM on 09/01/2008
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Palin

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:44 PM on 09/01/2008

Right. Russia's Putin is terrified of negotiating with Palin when McCain has bout of cancer #5. Are you kidding me?

Also, I am astounded that Republicans continue to compare Obama to Palin with a straight face. Obama worked his way up from nothing with a hard-working single mom as his only support, went to college, then law school, became the head of the Harvard Law Review, became an effective community organizer in the south of Chicago, spent 8 yrs as a State Senator, and another 4 yrs in the U.S. Senate, has demonstrated his abilities as a strong effective leader by organizing one of the most effective campaigns for President in American history, draws hundreds of thousands of people to see him speak all over the world (remember our alienated allies?). He has shown his ability to hire great staff, to manage a sprawling 50 state organization, and effectively communicate and inspire millions of Americans.

His recent trip to Europe and the Middle East, his effective campaign, his depth of knowledge of the issues, his temperament and judgment -- have convinced all but the most ideologically stubborn Republican voters that he has passed the "commander-in-chief" test.

In contrast, may I remind anyone that McCain is a terrible administrator? As I recall, his campaign went bankrupt twice. To revive his campaign, and in exchange for fundraising support, his staff was completely replaced by Bush-ites (representatives of the man who smeared McCain's character in 2000).

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:59 PM on 09/01/2008

Ahem. Mr. Obama listened to "Rev" Wright or twenty years, maintained a relationship with an unrepentant terrorist, had only one victory as a community organizer, was scared to vote much of the time in the Illinois Senate, and spent most of his time as a Senator campaigning for President. Being adored by the Palestinians and post-Christian wimpy Europe raises more questions than answers. Being the most radical abortion/infanticide advocate without EVER given thought to when a human life is actually scientifically formed is reckless and irresponsible. He NEVER crosses the aisle, is doctrinaire, and is curlishly nasty to those who question him. He was wrong on Iraq, wrong on the surge, and now wrong on Afghanistan. Russia was mired there for almost a decade and had none of the logistical nightmares we would have. Study geography and learn from Vietnam!

Obama wants to slash new systems right when the Russian Bear has reawakened. He is reckless and overestimated his diplomatic skills. Trust me, Palin would be much tougher than Obama IF McCain bit the dust. The agism and sexism shown by Dems this year shows that it is all a sham. Moses started at eighty and went forty years. Do you think Obama would have done any better with the Pharoah?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 07:01 PM on 09/01/2008
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John McCain was absent from key votes such as the vote on immigration on Oct 25, 2007 on a bill similar to one which bore his name in the past. He left the session early to skip the vote. McCain skipped every one of the 15 votes deemed critical measures for the environment, including votes where the Arizona Senator's yea would have meant passage by a single-vote margin.

He claims Gov. Palin's record and experience are stronger than Senator Obama's. A visit to the website obamasresume.org shows the Senator's educational and working experience. I believe serving in the Illinois senate for 8 years and the U.S. Senate for 4 years, makes him more qualified than the governor of Alaska who served for 18 months. Her prior experience was as mayor of Wasilla, a town with a population of 5,000 when she served. The mayor's duties are similar to those of a small town's manager who is accountable and responds to the town council.

If McCain thinks Governor Palin is competent to lead this country in the event of his being incapacitated, I strongly question his judgment. I do not want my children's lives in her hands if or when the cold war with Russia starts up. Could I trust her judgment and ability to stare down Vladimir Putin if necessary based on her stronger experience? I don't think so, do you?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:36 PM on 08/31/2008

He voted against his own immigration bill. What does that tell you? Another gutless act.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:48 AM on 09/03/2008

This whole Palin thing will go down in the annals of feminism as its most embarrassing and darkeest hour if the barbs keep up.

The righties over the years did not even do to Clinton what has been done to this woman in just two days.

It just shows a lack of total morality, ethics, shame, and class.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:25 PM on 08/31/2008

The insult to feminists is that she was nominated. There are far more qualified women out there than Sarah Palin. Her nomination is an embarrassment.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:19 PM on 09/01/2008

Can you belive that a person that was a Govenor of a State in these United States thinking that they could hold higher office. And she is a woman too. Come on. And she has kids, 5 of them and a husband and he actually has a real job??? Come on what are they thinking about? Dont we want change in Washington? Real change Not a Washingon insider. Someone who has been there every day for the last 20 plus years voting on pork projects. You just cant have a person like that either. What? Who did Obama pick? Oh Wait a second. Back space over those last comments. I hear Biden really enjoys hip hop. And he gave his entire household staff Ipods for Christmas last year so he is way up on technology. The Dude isone bad you know what, ya I am talking about Joe.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:08 PM on 08/31/2008

Her husband works for BIG OIL...BP. ALASKA is investigating her and her office for abuse of power...troopergate...She was for the Bridge to nowhere and now is against it...I am a mother and I would never judge her on that, but her record, or should I say the lack there of one that is already tainted, is fair game.

Anyone with a brain, knows that we need change, and that it will not be easy. We know that we must fight for change. No way, No How, No McCain.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:00 PM on 09/01/2008

Pragmatically, Obama needs Biden to help him get the persuasion part of the legislative process done. That is why Bush brought Cheney on board. Plus he gets benefit of Biden's experience and foreign policy expertise.

Palin has no relationship with Congress and McCain has pissed off at least half of his caucus with his temper and penchant for name calling. Again, she will be little more than a glorified Christmas tree ornament as long as McCain is alive (and who knows how long that will be?). The real jobs will be given to McCain's male cronies such as Phil Gramm.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:58 AM on 09/03/2008
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So if Hillary cries, she's not ready to be President, and if you pick on poor Sarah too hard, ppl will vote for her and McCain b/c they feel bad for her?! Get off the playground ppl!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:09 PM on 08/31/2008

Good Lord!..........Her clothes and her hair are NOT the problem.
Those who believe that they are .....
are part of what IS the problem......

Kill your television, airheads
tm

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 07:15 PM on 08/31/2008

I can't see this lady being anything but mentally weak if she laughed at her opponent for Gov of Alaska because she had cancer !!
This may not be a plus for the Republican ticket !!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:17 PM on 08/31/2008
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Yeah, that was a complete no-no.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:42 PM on 08/31/2008
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Love the 'pro-mother' comment

The entire abortion debate should be about that...

Gotta draw the line on comments about hair and clothes, though: ladies...please, let's not give life to the stereotype

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:06 PM on 08/31/2008
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"Can you imagine? Someone a heart beat away from the presidency who doesn't believe in science? I'm dumbstruck."

Why are you dumbstruck? We currently have a President who doesn't believe in science!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:44 PM on 08/31/2008
- kaks I'm a Fan of kaks permalink

I'm guessing Brooks was being a tad ironic. Of course she knows Bush sneers at science.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:17 PM on 08/31/2008

Define science! Do you know the difference between change and natural selection and
molecules-to-man evolutonary theories of origins???

Because so called science education teaches you not to question, you think half the country are idiots who actually see design in the human body, As an architect it is Q.E.D. I know what is designed and what is thrown together. The body is far more intricate than any building I have designed.

Offer me one proof for evolution, and try it with the huge number of Asian scientists who have
discarded molecules-to-man evolution.

Have you noticed that molecules-to-man evolution proponents avoid debate with creationists? They lose over 90% of the time. It is not coincidental. All proponents take their stands by faith because we weren't there and no transitional forms have ever been found.

If you were open-minded, you would not denegrate the "faith" of another. Isn't mutual respect the hallmark of Obama? I see none of it with any of his backers (including my wife!)

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 07:15 PM on 09/01/2008

Let us start with this question: where did God come from?

And as long as I'm here, why are you so invested in creationism? Religion is largely a product of the fact that people are afraid of death and want to believe that they will somehow continue to live even when their bodies give out. Sorry to break the news, but you become worm food when you die. Deal with it. Don't make up a bunch of fairy tale b.s. in order to salve over your fear.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:02 PM on 09/03/2008

Sarah puts her hair up and wears red power suits when she wants to exude power and determination. She lets her hair down and wears white when she wants to project innocence. Check out her appearance when she "released" the audiotape incriminating her director of Boards and Commissions who spoke on her behalf without her knowledge (uh-huh) and is now on paid administrative leave. He hasn't been thrown under the bus-yet.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:36 PM on 08/31/2008

Kay Bailey Hutchinson does the same thing. It's probably pretty common among women who work in high powered jobs.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:03 PM on 09/03/2008
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