Palin's Hat Trick

Romney Giuliani Biden Clinton McCain and Obama all have ego's large enough to see themselves as President. Obama’s must have come full force with his victory in the Democratic Race, and the others all have long history at the center of government power. Even Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina can stand up their victory’s as giving them a right for consideration at any top spot. That’s understandable even if personally vain.

What got me is, what is there to Sarah Palin’s ego going from here to the White House? its a large jump for a Soccer Mom/Governor of Alaska, it can’t have ever crossed her mind until this week.

To her Alaska skills she has Karen Rehfeld, as the director Office of Management and Budget in Alaska, Rehfeld has held other top spots in the State Government and has done work at state levels. That’s a plus for Palin, like Reagan having people under you who can do the job goes to your bottom line. So what people does she have to run a nation? that can’t have ever crossed her mind. It is just looking at who she is really, and how far she thinks she can go. Growing that ego takes some time. Does she think this will happen for real or is it not going to be real so no loss?

Sarah Palin was wonderful and very likeable ----but --this Small Business Agenda the Republicans always push as the answer to jobs in our economy is a malicious farce.

The SBA subsidizes BIG franchising in the USA under the guise of helping the small business man.

Under Republican leadership, the franchisors, the banks and the lenders, and the other special interests have grown franchising and the exploitive powers of the franchisors to use the cheap labor and the cheap "venture" capital of small Americans to grow their
big" franchise systems under the guise that they help the small business man.

Since neither Palin nor McCain are attorneys, they probably don't even understant what is going on. Would they care if they knew or would they push this Small Business Agenda to the American people while Big Business is selling our good jobs out to the Global Economy?

What? This is Businessweek... what is this pandering doing here? That speech (written by the Rove-Bush contortionists) given to a room of nearly all-white people (so representative) was full of outright lies and smears. She is a tool. As are so many GOP - supporting the massive tax cut for the wealthiest 2% ...okay, sure -that's what this country, this world needs. Greedy & unenlightened.

So we can talk about her son going to Iraq, but not the unwed pregnant teen daughter? We can't talk about her complete lack of qualified experience (to potentially be leader of the western world and all that) ...because that is sexist? So we can bring up her attempt to ban books in the library either? That's where her small-town values seem to lie...

For her to say Obama's speech was a "cloud of rhetoric" is preposterous, now that was a great speech. Even Pat Buchanan! publicly stated it was one of the best speeches he ever heard.

Canceling Businessweek print edition, sorry Bruce Nussbaum, i will have to find my innovation inspiration elsewhere.) If this is business news, then I will look elsewhere.

while watching palin's well re-hersed speach, i kept waiting for some good news as to what she would like to do for the economy but only heard her brag about what mccain was and the so called bad things obama would do. i really expected the context of her speach to be a lot better and focused on todays economy.

Personal charm? A pit bull. That's charming. Hockey? That's charming, too. Sarcasm. That's charming. Insult and innuendo. More charm. Alaska - #1 in pork barrel and federal funding per ca pita. That's living off the land, sort of. Come on, folks. Nice speech. Wrong position on the issues. That is all that counts.

I love regular Americans. I want Sarah for President. The PTA is better than what we have.

The rights of women are not served by having a single ideology, in which all women are subscribed. Defining women’s rights in such a way denies the many voices of women, and their diversity of views. Ideology is the power of slavery and the enemy of independent free thinking.

Palin is labeled as anti woman because she does not support abortion. I think the right to choose, is the right to say that you can be feminist without supporting abortion. That you can be for responsibility, for birth control, that there are other options besides abortion.

On the issue of gay rights, there is civil marriage which is a legal contract binding two citizens together in a partnership. I can see no legal reason for anyone to restrict this right to enter into a partnership as long as one can enter the agreement with a sound mind as in any legal contract. As for the religious definition of marriage that should be left to religious groups to define.

The democratic ideals sought by the founders of our country embraced the idea, of freedom, by granting freedom to others with whom we have opposing views. Our collective freedom is guaranteed only by allowing the other to have freedom to oppose our views.

As a nation our greatest strength is the diversity of voices and opinions we have as citizens. In this election, I choose to embrace diversity by supporting local democrats, while supporting the Republicans in the Presidency. Why? I think the democrats, and the mass media at large, have subverted the voices of middle class, working families. Democratic leadership with help from the mass media has injected their opinions, and desires, for those of whom they represent. They have the opinion, that they know what is best. After all, we are a republic, not a true democracy. The problem as I see it is that we have the worst of both. We elect our leaders in a popularity contest, which we call democratic, while we are governed as a republic.

The democratic leadership, made a political calculation in which they felt that they could ignore the will of middle class America, and women in particular, because what choice did they have but come back and support the candidate they chose, due to issues such as abortion, and gay rights. The democrats have played the fear card that they have stated is reprehensible, complaining that the republicans have used fear in past elections to win.

The stakes cannot be higher. If the democrats prevail, it will signal to Democratic leaders that middle class Americans can be taken for granted. It means that your power to influence government is diminished. This result must be avoided at all costs. Defeat means an America, ever more divided, further separating from the middle and moving toward the extremes. If history is to be a teacher, then we should look to Rome. Rome's strength was her middle, and when it was lost, Rome was lost.

Voting for McCain/Palin is a matter of voting country first. It is stepping outside of us and doing what is best for the whole. A large group of people today have grown up in an innately selfish world. They have little experience in relegating themselves to the common good of all. If America is to once again regain her luster, we must once again place ourselves as servants to the idea of America.

Hey Hiptrigger, I know it's tough having just one mainstream media entity lean slightly right, when 99.9% of the rest of the outlets you digest stuff from are so liberal that even H. L. Mencken says "hey you may want to tone it down a bit" but really try to hold it together ok!

Of course you can always go read US Magazine to get your fill of Sarah bashing.

I thoroughly enjoyed Palin's speech last night. But as a devout Christian, I find her exclusive views offensive and un-Christ like.

She gave a good speech; but if we're going to vote based on speeches, she still doesn't beat Obama's rhetoric.

We still don't know her, so I think there's a lot more in store in the next 60 days.

John McCain has turned this race into a carnival. It's been fun watching the Republicans try to spin a part-time mayor job in which Sarah Palin left her town of 7,000 millions of dollars in debt, and chalk that up to "executive experience." It's also been fun to see their completely surreal spin that Palin's 18 months in the governorship (during which she was involved in at least one scandal so far) as some sort of success.

Palin is really nothing new. She's a government insider (friends with Ted Stevens), an earmark hog, and her social positions are even farther to the right of Dick Cheney.

If John McCain is forced by the Christian right to nominate an extremist to the ticket just to win their votes, it's a sign that the Republican party is in trouble long-term. The Republican record has been abysmal on the economy, and the party has been shedding moderates for years now. They are forced with a tough choice -- give up the fringe right-wing social positions and anger the Christian right (which will help them win back women and moderates), or continue to throw red meat to their base. Sarah Palin is a cynical attempt to appeal to both groups, but so far, only the radicals in their party seem excited.

She was like the daughter of Don Rickles or something – she just kept quipping snarky barbs at Obama and never really said anything of substance it was unbelievable. I thought she would start off with a few shots maybe even a dozen shots at the Dem’s and then get into the Republicans vision and her qualifications. But it honestly never came she just kept going on and on with insults to Obama. She also slammed the media. So, it is the Republican recipe for success – attack and insults any opposition and claim the media is liberal. The get elected and run our country into the ground.

@Gus: and can you pretty please remind us of all the things of substance that Obama/Biden mentioned in their own speech?

It is very interesting to see that nearly everyone who is posting something on this blog happens to be bashing a witty, and well done speech by someone who is obviously more fit to help run the government than Obama ever could be. Also, it is interesting to see that somehow Obama has managed to keep himself out of the political mire that Illinois Governor Blagojevich has been trying to keep himself out of. Illinois has always had some of the worst crooked politics of our country and Obama has somehow managed to keep himself out of the muck. Seriously, look into what he has helped Blagojevich try to get passed and one will see that Obama shouldn't even be considered for the job.

@Charles Root: I read multiple sources and triangulate. I come to BW for a break, my mistake. Obama or McCain will only be biz news *after* one of them is elected - then it has real bearing, otherwise a column like this at this time is what I said it was: pandering, using a pulpit. Anyway, how far to the right are you? Etymologically, 'Conservative' means to do little, hold back, status quo, not to innovate, self-interest. 'Liberal' means to have a lot, expansive, progressive, innovation. It's funny because conservative by it's very name means same-old, same-old. Liberal is a great word. I want an ice cream sundae and apply the chocolate "liberally". /tongue-in-cheek

@Kimberly Peacock: Nice cut & paste from your neocon email list, did you paste that all by yourself - you are such a dear! / sarcasm. Really, why don't we all do that. But you know what, I can form my own sentences, here:

No really, as far as Palin is concerned, we are not giving her or the old man the Nuclear codes. Simple as that, we want to build a world where people work together and live in this world - not race to Armageddon and the 'next world'... i.e. not carry on the values of those white warhawks at at the Xcell center. A room full of white folks drumming the same war cry. I am white and I can't stand the wacko claim to some kind of 'uber-patriotism' these people think they have. We all love America (or should.) "Country First" is not ignoring needs at home and keeping the world torn apart and aflame. Corporate CEO's behind their electronic gates, their loopholes and their outsourcing of american know-how is not reflective of 'Country First'.

Oh yeah, Palin -sure she's nice, decent, a mom all that (I have one too), so are a lot of folks, but:
-- she lied in that speech and was snarky
-- she is using her kids for political gain, really isn't that the McCain ploy? Forget the liberal media bashing.. someone who just had a fifth child after 14 years for some reason is the best choice to have a 72-year old's back? This is The Office of The POTUS we are talking about.
-- Who is going to care for the little one with Down's? Family values. Oh wait, McCain has always said the Veep's job is largely ceremonial anyways.
-- she is a flip-flopper, pork-barrel, bridge to nowhere
-- she is married to a guy who is member of AIP, does not put US Consitution first; secessionist, puts Alaska first.
-- abuse of powers: Troopergate 24 attempts to get that trooper fired, then finally when Gov, fires his supervisor
-- Misplaced fundy values trying to ban books as mayor of a town -population: less than 9k, let's keep Church & State separated, thank you ..the Founding Fathers were onto something there perhaps...
-- Lenscrafters "In About an Hour" is a not a line-item for experience
-- killing bears, riding a snowmobile and being able to skin a moose counts for little, these are basic skills available to anyone with time on their hands in remote parts of nowhere with cases of beer on hand. I should know, I am from Colorado. (substitute deer for moose)

And so on, but even if we forget all that, **in terms of experience and vision** this is the best the country can do? God help us.

Oh wait - back to McCain, those sneaky devils almost made us forget about him! ...because what, what is he offering that's new, that isn't the same upper crust bull%^&* that has divided this country further and further apart over the last 40 years?

I waited anxiously to hear Sarah Palin talk about not where she stands on important issues such as healthcare, education, and the economy. I was impressed with her tenacity; however, I'm still waiting to her more policy-related discussions.

Palin speaks -- Dow drops 350 points.

Got that?

Obama is a joke - giving his speech on the same day as MLK???? He is definitely NOTHING like MLK and never will be.

I cannot wait to get to the meat of what Obama is proposing. We will soon learn that all of his nonstop promises about what he will do is just a bunch of hot air - just like him.

"I thoroughly enjoyed Palin's speech last night. But as a devout Christian, I find her exclusive views offensive and un-Christ like."

I totally agree. Where was Matthew 25 in this "Christian?" I don't understand her demeaning attitude toward community service. She basically demeaned all of the inner city church organizations and others that are trying to help the "least of these" in their time of need.

Many of these "Evangelicals" are not compassionate enough and are not performing the work Jesus called them to do. Rather, they judge people first, to determine whether they "deserve" help in their own mind. Jesus never asked how a person found themselves in need, he just served them, without regard to their "sin".

Also, it seems to me, that the last folks that some of these "Evangelicals" are willing to help are Americans in need. We'll jump on ships and planes to deliver needed supplies to those in need around the world, and that is wonderful, but when it comes to our own people, we often rather blame them for the their condition and become indifferent toward their needs as if they were not as deserving.

People... Read the "Sermon on the Mount" and learn the "B Attitudes" and think about what Jesus was calling on us to do. We are to serve under to lift up, not rule over to put down the people of the world.

Traci: Who are you to judge Mr. Obama as a joke because he gave his acceptance speech on the "Dream" speech anniversary? Mr. Obama never claimed to be Dr. King. Nevertheless, Mr. Obama is a servant of the people and has proven so many times over.

Governor Carter went on to be a president
Governor Clinton did the same.
If that is the case, Governor Sarah Palin is well qualified.
One may disagree with her policies but she has more executive experience than Obama and Biden combined.
munidas pereira M.B.A (McGill)

Governor Sarah Palin recently claimed that the Iraq War is “Gods War”.
Has she recently spoken with God? or did she receive a text message from him?
Does she, in fact, believe that the American public is receptive to this ignoble philosophy?
Most developed societies, whether secular or religious are fundamentally anti-war. To suggest, as she did in her statement, that “ this war is Gods War” and by implication is pro-war i.e. “killing is OK” as long as long as a war is in the interest of the USA.
----Blasphemy, misguided ideology.---
She might find it educational to go to Andrews Air force Base to have a look at (in) one or more of the incommoding coffins from Irak that have been scheduled for a closed coffin funeral service.
There are clearly other issues that may enlighten her to the idea that War is not The American dream. The true American Heroes are the ones who endeavor to keep America from the carnage of war and subsequent consequences, among them ,subject fine folks like Senator McCain to years of torture.
If Governor Paling truly believes that war is Gods work, she differs form most of civilized people of the world, who, whether of any of the Abrahamic religions or others, believe in a God of coexistence and peace

I write my own thoughts. Here is another...

Thomas Jefferson, founding Father of the Country, Author of the Declaration of Independence, believed that the federal government’s powers should be curtailed, believed in small business as opposed to big business, which candidate most represents his views? Surprise, it’s not Obama but John McCain!
Would you vote for Thomas Jefferson today if he were running, or would you vote for Carl Marx, and the Russian revolution?
A choice between life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and Government choosing what is best, which will you choose?