Palin imposed a "gag order" on city employees, when she was Mayor of Wasilla. They were instructed not to speak to the media. There was one newspaper in town, published bi-weekly, (I think.) Anyway, In a similar move, the McCain campaign appears to have imposed a "gag order" on Governor Palin. I think they should lift the "gag order" and let her speak. Don't recall this happening ever in modern American politics. You have a candidate on a major party ticket for Vice President. She's under a "gag order." Tells me all I need to know about Sarah Palin, and The Republican Party.

Sarah Palin is a curveball, but she was an incredibly stupid choice by McCain. She has serious, serious flaws (see my post below--she actually publicly endangered the life of an infant, just like Michael Jackson). She has committed several crimes, and the chances of her cobbled-together image of a perfect family staying pristine in a sustained national spotlight are pretty slim.

She's no barracuda, just a MILF the GOPers are hot for. I hear she's real mean and tries to get people fired a lot, but that's about the extent of her powers. McCain found out about her from some blogger's website; she's not some shadowy mastermind.

All we have to do is keep up the pressure. Take some time every day to comment on the stories about her, stating plain facts and citing sources. We can't depend on the MSM ever picking anything up, because they're just plain lazy, and their editors censor them.

Some people say the National Enquirer knows all, and intends to reveal all, but they are doling it out week by week to sell magazines. Well, America can't afford to wait. People need to know NOW about the things that make her unelectable. It might take eight full weeks just to let it sink in with people who don't watch any news at all but still intend to vote.

If enough blog pressure is generated, the MSM would have to at least comment on the fact that the blogs are talking about her many scandals, since they've now made segments about the blogosphere part of their daily lineup.

Just take it one step at a time, one scandal at a time, make it simple, and tell the truth. She's a varnished facade puffed full of hot air, nothing more, but we can't afford to take even such a ridiculous threat nonchalantly. This nation must have change, and anything that stands in the way, MILF or not, must go.

When I first heard the little sweetheart had been nominated for VP, I couldn't believe it. If I was a republican, I'd have already changed my party affliation to democrat. Who knows what kind of 'threat' she'll be to the Obama/Biden team; time will tell. We can only hope this election won't be so close and become another "decision" by the supreme court in favor of the good ole' conservatism partee. My support has always been with Obama/Biden and will be to either they are in the white house or until beauty and the beast are. I'm sure the gal makes a great govenor. However, the thought of her as the second-in-line to the president scares the beejeebees out of me. Let's hope the non-thinking, soap-opera/romance novel addicts don't latch onto her simply because she's an 'all-American mom'. We need to remember that the current VP has done quite a bit of mischief during his term; the position does have power. I am curious to see how the Obama/Biden team continue their campaign, what their strategy will be now. What amazes me is the strategy of McC to choose her on the whim that because she's a woman that women will jump to vote for her simply because of that fact. Please do not insult me! I am not young, but I am a woman - and I don't like someone in my face flaunting sexist strategy in an attempt to get my vote. No one tells me what to do. Meanwhile, I'm hoping they'll be one of those cool Obama/Biden campaign buttons that says "ultra-runners for Obama/Biden" :) Peace!

I hope Obama/Biden is not going to try to "Outsmart" Palin. It would be so easy and it would also mean the loss of the election I am afraid. As usual, the Republicans are appealing to familiar feel good,symbols; Motherhood, Bible, Faith, Toughness, etc. Rick Davis, McCaine's campaign manager in a quote that will surely go down in history, says that this campaign is Not about issues! I hope the Dems are listening. Therefore, if the Dems are to engage and defeat McCaine/Palin, they have to speak the same language, a point that Malcolm X repeatedly made, a language the electorate can grab onto and identify with. Why not take what they are giving us and give it right back to them? A split screen ad. Palin on one side surrounded by her kids either at a Hockey match or in the kitchen baking cookies talking about her Matronly duties and the other side of the screen is Ahmadinejad of Iran, screaming about how he is going to wipe Israel off the face of the map? Or President Kim of North Korea reviewing masses of troops as them march by in a seeming endless sea of precision? No commentary neccessary, let Palin's vapid words speak for themselves. How could her own words be sexist?

_______________________________________________________ The Solution to the Middle Class Financial Problems! http://TheInstantPayRaise.Com

I am sorry to let my cynical mindset show, but I think that Sarah Palin (and John McCain, for that matter) are a threat to Obama to the extent that American voters are unable to think critically! Or perhaps to think at all! I do believe that Americans in general are very dumbed down, and those who have drunk the Republican Kool Aid are the worst of all! I hesitate to assign an IQ level, but it is certainly in the low to low-average range! This is bad news for democracy! And it will only get worse if Palin/McCain (because that is what the hype is) are elected. However, part of me believes that we get what we deserve, and we did get George W. Bush for 8 years, so who is to say we have learned those sad lessons in any meaningful way? I am lucky, in that I live in Oregon--which is about as liberal and democratic as one can find in this whacky country! Kate Madison Depoe Bay, Oregon

This isn't about John McCain anymore. McCain wasn't going to do anything anyway. He doesn't know enough about anything other than surviving as a prisoner of war to have any real agenda. That's why he got his reputation, he just gave the most common sense answer to something he had no real understanding about, and never bothered to read the talking points. He'll be happy just to get his picture on the White House wall, and maybe sneak a night in the Lincoln bedroom. Palin is the rising star for both the Dominionist mold of evangelical Christianity and the Oil industry in Alaska. She is ready to be, do, and say anything for the political interests of the most powerful industry on the planet, in exchange for the opportunity to impose a radical theological agenda on domestic and, especially foreign policy. The Oil companies don't care if the puppet they have in office is a fanatical whack-job. Even during the 'End Times', everybody will still have to buy gasoline, and they may be able to hold off the adoption of those pesky alternative energy innovations for a few more years. It's a Palin - McCain ticket now, and I hope Obama can comprehend what's been unleashed against him. Palin is serious bad news.

The Silver Bullet:

http://startelegram.typepad.com/politex/2008/04/governors-water.html

I first read this story on BuzzFlash and my jaw hit the floor. This is enough to take anyone down. Men simply don't realize how explosive that is. She took Trig away from any possibility of medical care for over 10 hours. That's child endangerment and it's against the law.

Let's organize and get a group of prominent OB/GYNs to take out an ad in The USA Today as a public service to impressionable first-time mothers who may think it's okay to follow the example of the governor of Alaska and board a plane while in labor. For the public's benefit, these doctors would spell out exactly what could have gone wrong.

No accusation, no political comment, just a public service explaining that you should not make this choice, even though a prominent and popular female politician did it.

Here's Obama's chance to address to the public about just what kind of politician she REALLY is! When I heard the commotion about her daughter being pregant, my reaction to it was: "Obama.... here's your chance!" I certainly wouldn't go after the poor girl (hey, there are plenty of good people who find themselves with an unplanned pregnancy), but I would certainly go after Palin's/McCain's moral philosophy towards (1)Abortion (against it - even for rape and incent, and are just biting at the bit to overturn Roe v. Wade), (2) Birthcontrol (don't want to finance access to reasonable contraceptives), and (3) Sex Education (They both certainly don't want to actually educate children about reproduction, and think that by teaching abstidence that it will solve the problem of unplanned pregnancies in young people.) Obama needs to let the public know just how radically out of touch these two are with their philosophies concerning reproduction. I can't tell you how THRILLED I was when I heard an AD on the radio today blasting McCain for wanting to overturn Roe v. Wade (I live in PA). Perhaps Obama realizes the opportunity which has fallen on his plate. Let's hope so! He needs to show the "complete picture" to America and let the citizens put two-and-two together to conclude: "What the heck? No wonder Palin's daughter is pregnant!" and "My daughter/niece/granddaughter could be the next one under a McCain/Palin administration!" - not to mention exposing the rest of McCain's/Palin's radical and outragious ideas for a "better" America.

...something like a ...7-11. A temporary distraction, full of junk food and big gulps. And then 4 years later we'll be worse off than we are today because we fell sucker to the second biggest snow job in American History.

For that reason, I suggest we do completely ignore Palin.

Obama and Biden should start some Republican ass kicking -forget McCain and Palin specifically. They're small players in the bigger and more ominous scheme of things.
We all should LOUDLY remind Americans who stands lurking in the shadows, BEHIND them, who props them up and pulls their strings.

It's time to stopped the centrist ass kissing and call out all of the extremists in the Republican party, Bush is an old story - there's hundreds more of 'en still standing in Congress ready to do more of the same!!

DO YOU WANT MORE REPUBLICANS IN THE WHITE HOUSE??

But the media won't stop. They admitted their support of George Bush and the war in Iraq totally destroyed this country and killed millions - but they'll do it again in a heartbeat - for profit.

The real question is:
Is this country just as stupid as they are -still?

Nationalism is not terrorism. And an adversary is not an enemy.

It would be a big mistake for the Democrats and the Obama campaign to ignore Sarah Palin. Many voters
are going to connect with her personal story, as if she were on Oprah. At the same time she has, it seems, a background that could make her as much a liability as an asset for the McCain ticket.

Already there's a Newsweek story online about how the national RNC and McCain campaign are trying to
shut down, or at least postpone, the already ongoing Alaska investigation into so-called "trooper-gate." If the Democrats are smart they won't let this go on behind the scenes. They should make such a stink about the outside interference that whether or not the investigation is completed early in Oct or late Oct, everyone hears about it. The Republicans should not get away with presenting her as Mrs. Clean, Mrs. Maverick etc etc. She apparently left the town of Wasilla with huge bonds or something for the construction of a sports facility.

Last night Jon Stewart, or was it Rachel Maddow on Countdown?, said that Rove said it made no sense to go after your opponent's weaknesses. You had to go after their strengths.

So Mom of the day is prepared to leave the care of her children, well, let's just think of the 3 youngest - 4 months, 8 (?) years and 15 - to others while she goes out on the campaign trail? That's not the right-wing picture postcard mom. Every day there should be a new revelation about her public political history. Did she really "flip flop" on the notorious "bridge to nowhere?" Is it true she never sent back the money to the federal government? What about Alaska being the recipient of huge Federal largesse? I think per capita it's the state that gets the most from Washington. I suspect that most of the states that consume more Federal $$ than they pay in federal taxes are "red" states. How about it investigative journalists? This information must be easy to get from the public record.

Just ignoring Sarah Palin because most of us know she isn't the least bit qualified to be VP is not smart. The stakes are too high. The future of our republic is in jeopardy.

Colleen Clark
Cambridge, MA

George Lakoff is right to raise the alarm about Palin's selection. Since "our national political dialogue is fundamentally metaphorical" this means our people do not respond to rationality or reason. Yes, we must keep stating the facts over and over and over but we must also figure out a way to pierce the irrationality that guides so many people. I suggest getting Brian Sweitzer of Montana and Bill Clinton on the campaign trail in the toss-up states. They are "populist" enough and speak in the metaphors of common sense that will appeal to the earnestly ignorant among us. AND, we must keep on registering and organizing under the radar because, in the end, only a massive turnout will carry us to victory.

We have to keep stressing over and over that if you elect Republicans you will always get war and recession. McCain called himself a fighter 25 times in his acceptance speech. All Obama talked about was "Hope." Do you want more war and recession or do you want hope of peace and prosperity?

She will be a problem if they do not make her just another news cycle. She is a major distraction, and I would argue that Obama needs to forget her and concentrate on McCain and the issues.

If you have the stomach for it: Palin is NO SURPRISE to the Democrats. They vetted her in 2006, when she was elected Governor of Alaska. A full-blown 63 page report can be seen at http:///www.mudflats.wordpress.com Like I said, if you have the stomach for it. I think the one and only surprise may have been the 5 month old baby, and the pregnancy of her daughter. Get a grip people. Democrats are smarter than they usually are given credit for being.

I completely understand Senator Obama's restraint at going on the attack vs his opponent's character flaws... coming from a (relatively) young man (much less young Black male), it could easily be viewed as "disrespectful" if not "uppity" (or whatever code-word Rethugs are using for that term are lately).

But Sarah Palin's "ABSTINENCE ONLY" agenda denies America's teens & young men and women the information they need to have less risky sexual experiences, and thus subjects them to unnecessary risks of pregnancy and especially SEXUALLY TRANSMITED DISEASES. And, despite the MILLIONS of taxpayer dollars Palin and Repubs spend on their theocratic "Moral Values" agenda, "abstinence only" didn't work... even in her own family.

America has been given yet one more intelligence test.

Yes, I'm concerned.

Fool me once, shame on you.

Fool me twice, shame on me.

Fool me three times, just shoot me.

Woe be to the US if the electorate if they select their leaders on a person who has appeared four times and given the same speech three times---a carefully crafted speech (written not by her) laced with half truths and unverified embellishments. She will NOT be available for any press conferences and be kept from appearances for an indefinite time. The other candidates have been publically vetted for 18 months and she has been public for 4 days. Wake up to this dangerous, deceptive person who has a vindictive reputation for those who would oppose her policies. Imagine her with her finger on the red button or dealing internationally. Recall she got her first passport last year and has only travelled to Kuwaiti and German military bases with an airport stopover in Ireland. She said she sold the Alaskan jet on Ebay for a profit which was a lie. She said she was responsible for the natural gas pipeline from Alaska (solving part of the energy problems). Untrue and the pipeline will not be built for 17 YEARS. She has not been vetted. "A nation of sheep begets a govt of wolves" E.R. Murrow. Beware of this mystery candidate.

I will be very short and to the point PALIN is not going to be a burdin to McCain. Why? have all you people gone stupid. The CORPORATE CONTROLED MEDIA is McCains POCKET, they have been from Day ONE,this just the ICEING on the CAKE. Palin is the CCM way to steal the ELECTION and make it LOOK LIGET. Wake UP PEOPLE, and PALIN will never face a honist PREESS, it will always be a PRESS on the order of FOX, or CNN Wolf-E boy you know FOX'S sister station CNN.

Based on? The near certainty of a nuclear war with Russia should McCain/Palin be elected.

This AIP stuff is explosive, you're right, the Dems really ought to run with it. You have Palin's comments at the AIP event alongside the foaming comments of this America-hating Conservative bolshevik who founded the AIP.

PALIN'S A STEALTH FASCIST+ZIONIST! She's a FEMALE PRETENDER to the 'HUEY LONG 'mantle' without A BRAIN CELL in her head! She's ALL POSITIVE APPEARANCE & NOTHING BUT NEGATIVE 'SUBSTANCE'. That means GOP-ERS & WEALTHY OLD WHITEBOY THIEVES'LL LOVE HER & MCCAIN 'fronting off' the DEMOCRATS' ISSUE TALK with CREAMPUFF LOGIC & 'CANDY TOPICS' like 'Who's more of a...McCain or OBAMA? PALIN or Biden? The real deal is PROMINENT FEMALES & FEMALE DEMOCRATS NEED TO RIP PALIN A NEW A#$@OLE over her LIES, INEXPERIENCE & RELIANCE ON B.S.-ING FOLKS ON IMPORTANT ISSUES 'CAUSE SHE DOESN'T KNOW CRAP! The TRICK IS TO NEVER LET HER PLAY 'VICTIMIZED EMPTY-HEADED CUTIEPIE'! SNEAK UP ON HER & CATCH HER IN HER 'CRAP' - 'SEX, LIES & VIDEOTAPES'! Ms. 'WHITE American Values' with a PREGNANT UNWED DAUGHTER?! Just take it slow with her. She's SO DAMN STUPID UNDER 'IT' ALL, she'll STUMBLE. When she DOES, JUST POUNCE ON HER 'CUTIEPIE' JUNK & RAM HER GOOD BUT GENTLELY - NO BLOOD & NO SCREAMS. LIKE CAN WOMEN DO.

Palin has been a candidate for 1 week and the Dems are already figuring out how the election will be lost. If 1/100th of the sh*t that is known to be true about this lady was linked to Obama -Brian, Charlie and Katie (yes in the that order - f*ck this PC sh*t) would have roasted Barack into submission. I am a registered Dem, who really thinks Ron Paul would be the best President - but we all know that's not going to happen. Why is Buzzflash and from the looks of things a few of its posters (yes you jflynn) so scared of this woman??? She wants to be in big leagues? Fine - organize and make sure that everyone knows her REAL story. If Barack had any d*mn sense he'd have his campaign operatives dispatched to EVERY talking head show and keep repeating the true talking points about Palin until the media - liberal, corporate,or otherwise - can no longer ignore the stories. She addressed a secessionist group (remember the confederacy anyone?) as governor of Alaska for f*ck sake!!! There is so much REAL dirt on this lady its unbelievable. Does anyone in the Democratic Party "power" structure have any backbone? Unbelievable.

Linking McCain to Bush is just telling the truth, just like linking Conservatives to NeoConservatives is telling the truth. Conservatives got the NeoCons into power, wouldnt be no NeoCons without Cons, tomorrow NeoCons would instantly disappear if the "Con" support dried up overnight. I disagree with Paul Craig Roberts, brilliant guy usually, who wrote in Counterpunch the other day that NeoCons arent Cons. I disagree with Mike Gravel, billiant guy usually, who wrote in Counterpunch the other day praising Sarah Palin to high fundamentalist authoritarian heaven. Bush is the Conservatives fault. Iraq is the Conservatives fault. ____ is the Conservatives fault. You know that is a fact. Conservatives say Liberal like they were chanting mantras. Conservatives arent standing up for mainstream Liberals, saying that Marxists arent Liberals, instead they try and link Liberals to Stalin and Pol Pot and even Hitler. But linking Bush to every Conservative Republican Authoritarian in the world who casts their lot with Bush, is only telling it like it is.

She has already made a huge difference and shocked most people with how quickly she has done so. And I wouldn't be too quick to assume that Biden is going to be able to walk right over her. She's intelligent, charismatic, photogenic, and has both a beauty pageant and broadcaster background which indicates a very high level of comfort with the television camera. Add to that the sportscaster training --- broadcast sportscasters must train themselves for quick memorization of facts, figures, and names with instant recall of that data. Don't forget the Kennedy / Nixon debates. Those who saw the debate felt Kennedy won. Those who just listened to the debate felt that Nixon won. 99.9% of Americans today will watch - not just listen. While this race is up to the Democrats to lose, the easiest path to that loss is to take the McCain/Palin ticket for less than it is.

Lakoff's article was interesting, but I think that Palin will be old news after this weekend. The 2 hurricanes in the Atlantic will get more news this weekend. I can't wait for the VP debate. (If there is one)

AND THEN GET BACK TO THE BUSINESS OF DISPLAYING THE FOOL WHO IS JOHN "THE BUSH REPUBLICAN" MCCAIN of course until then.... as NFL Player MICHAEL VICK will attest to ..... THE ODDS WILL BE ON THE PITBULL..... however there is a need for some more detailed comparison--------> 1) a pitbull with not international knowledge has the good sense NOT to run for Vice President 2) a pitbull understands that it IS a bitch 3) if you have sex with one of them, and you still have your BALLS, it was a pitbull 4) pitbulls don't get on John THE BUSH REPUBLICAN McCain's MILF list 5) pitbull wouldn't make sense being in a wet T-shirt contest with Cindy and Sarah 6) pitbull doesn't spread it's legs with husband's partner 7) pitbull teaches pups sex education at the kennel 8) pitbull does not believe that man coexisted with dinosaur 9) pitbull has babies in groups of 5 or.... oops.... nevermind 10) pitbull goes for the throat, soccer mom goes much lower PLEASE FEEL FREE TO HELP ME WITH THIS LIST.... the Toilet Reader Version should hit the rolls soon RIDDLE..... how many alaskan REPUBLICANS does it take to screw in a lightbulb ? ? ANSWER..... sorry.... alaskan REPUBLICANS don't screw in lightbulbs... they screw in High School Hockey Locker Rooms, because they haven't attended any SEX EDUCATION classes...... Signature lines are currently turned off due to high traffic.