Sarah Palin plus or minus: A discussion with video

The assumption in promotion has always been:

Never mind what they're saying, as long as they're talking about you, it's good. (By the way, is Joe Biden still the Democratic vice presidential candidate?)

The vice presidential selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin by Sen. John McCain may cause a reexamination of that theory. She's certainly been the most talked-about and most-viewed since she exploded on the political scene Aug. 29 in Dayton, Ohio.

But is that good? Some recent polls have shown she's hurting McCain in some sectors. What do you think?

Watch this video discussion about her and then leave your reaction/opinion/views below, please.

--Andrew Malcolm

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Comments

[Umberto Zanabria]

We are witnessing the world taken over by the Narco-Petro dollars in Venezuela, Ecuador, Argentina, and Bolivia. In the US large amounts of money from "UN-NAMED" source such as Hugo Chavez’s Multimillion dollars packaged luggages have been channeled to the LEFT.
Now the left can buy the pollsters, The NY Times, and the MSNBCS's of the world to propagate their hate, the portrayal of terrorist lovers as heroes, and in-morals and people haters as nice guys. But, the people that believes in working hard for what you want and a free non-socialist America will stay the course and vote for McCain and Palin.

[garth gordon]

No comment needed, I think Alec Baldwin said it the best
when he mistook her for Tina. SARAH PALIN IS A JOKE FOR ONE OF AMERICA'S HIGHEST OFFICE. LMAO

[Palin loves Obama]

You should check out sara palin doing the wiggle walk. Its on youtube under wiggle walk krazy

[RLamb]

I strongly supported Hillary Clinton. Deeply unhappy over the way she was treated by Mr. Obama, the DNC and Democratic Party officials, and feeling betrayed by the Party, I decided to support McCain.

I wasn't pleased with his choice of Sarah Palin, but felt I could understand his reasoning. She did, indeed, seem to re-energize the Republican Party. She certainly was a crowd-pleaser. I even rationalized that, as governor of Alaska, she must have more experience and ability than what she initially displayed. I was certainly going to give her a chance.

After these weeks of exposure she has not acquitted herself; quite the contrary. I now realize there is no way I can vote for McCain with her on the ticket. I now have almost no confidence in Ms. Palin's intellectual curiosity or her knowledge or her ability to handle sensitive situations.

Obviously she is a very smart and very capable person; she does, after all, competently serve as Alaska's governor and that is not an insignificant accomplishment. She does, indeed, have an excellent grasp of energy policy.

But why doesn't she demonstrate more of that intelligence or capability? More and more she comes across as a silly sorority girl (no boos, please--not all are silly). She can run things, yes, but she appears to have little depth -- and to be out of her depth.

She has displayed a startling lack of knowledge about the constitution and the courts and foreign affairs. This hasn't been helped by her comments on the stump (many of which were probably scripted for her) or her cutesy demeanor.

No one could approach Hillary Clinton as a total package with incredible intelligence, a prodigious grasp of issues, complete understanding of the political process and a life-long commitment to all things political -- she is a true political animal. Sarah Palin is so far removed as to be, in many ways, the anti-Hillary.

It doesn't matter a whit to me how much has been spent on Ms. Palin's campaign wardrobe; the media has hyped that nonsense to death in my opinion. But I do care about readiness to become president should it become necessary. She might attain that readiness in the future, but she's on the ticket right now. She needs readiness now and she just doesn't have it.

[Ami Woods]

Sarah Palin is an impressive woman. She's beautiful. She's held a marriage together through the media spotlight with her high school sweetheart. She's raised five children, now one with special needs. She's an accomplished athlete, musician, and outdoorswoman. She's succeeded in several industries and worked hard for each of her positions. She's proud to be Alaska's first female governor. She's now the first GOP vice-presidential nominee. She's even succeeded in all of her roles with a common, undergrad degree from a non-ivy league school. I am impressed with her and to those who disagree and find her simple, unintelligent, and without merit...I say, "Not possible." No one has that amount of luck. You just can't have that many accomplishments without the brains and skill to back it up.

[Pat in Idaho]

Sarah Palin is a disaster as a VP pick. I can't even imagine her running this country, should McCain get elected and become unable to serve - he has had several melanomas and is 72 years old! This woman appeals to the uneducated and the worst part of "the base". An astounding number of voters - including Republicans - are not voting for McCain because of his choice of Palin.

[Independent in Ohio]

Another reason to vote for McCain and Palin...Tina Fey is leaving Earth if they get into office. I no longer watch SNL and have not for many years due to the fact it is just plain stupid and not funny anymore. I have to admit I did tune in once I heard Sarah Palin was going to be on the show but, I doubt I will tune in again. As I said it is just plain stupid anymore. I truly wish Hollywood would figure out that the majority of Americans do not care about Fey's, Baldwin's, or any other celebrities political view points. We simply watch them for entertainment purposes. We make or break their success. Usually once a show or sitcom gets too preachy I (as well as many others) tune out. As far as ratings it sounds as if SNL should be trying to book Sarah Palin every week. Too bad last Saturday was not sweeps week!

[chet mccabe]

SARAH is the worst candidate ever for VP. After lining with Republicans for years we now support OBAMA for many reasons: McCain's JUDGMENT; McCain's campaign of NEGATIVITY; and Palin being who she is with no assets of any kind and a total liability.

[RR]

While Fey does a good impression of Palin, it's a totally sarcastic mocking put-down... this does -not- help any candidate. As far as the commentary by the reporters... I really have a problem when these talking air-heads go on and on about the portrayals... "pitch perfect" and "bumbling buffoon". Sarah Palin is such that any woman who wears 'bangs' and puts on glasses is suddenly said to be Palin... and calling Gerald Ford a 'bumbling buffoon'? No. Chevy Chase -played- a bumbling buffoon. Gerald Ford might not have been the picture of grace, but the only reason to actually call him a buffoon is if you have some Republican-hate going on... (or Ford-hate). Reporters should just report the news... morning shows should report the news... sarcasm and negativity, well, that can be left to Saturday Night Live. Do we really want to know the reporters opinions? Is that a 'perk' of their job description now? And yes, Biden has disappeared off the radar... perhaps thanks to the media and SNL... or we might see the gaffes he is 'reported' to have made (but we don't see much of) or we might see examples of the famous temper. So much for 'celebrity'.

[Roberrt Whittenh]

There are many ways to lose a presidential election. John McCain is losing in a way that threatens to take the entire Republican Party down with him.

[dagon maung]

It is good to have a person like Sarah Palin in the US Government.

At least, we the opponents of the US, can say that there is a joker in the US government.

Go on. Please vote for Sarah Palin.

[SherryP]

I think that the exposure on Palin does make her a celebrity. It is fun to watch both the SNL and the real Palin say things. I would NEVER vote for her, but she is fun to watch.
PS. I would never vote for Paris Hilton either, but she is also fun to watch. I think it is they are so visible and so culturally shortchanged.

[Susan Bernofsky]

I'm not interested in character assassination such as we've been hearing of all the candidates, but to me it is 100% obvious that Sarah Palin lacks the knowledge and experience to be President of the United States and that therefore she is utterly unqualified for the post of Vice President (particularly when paired with an elderly Presidential candidate, which makes the possibility of her being called to serve as President quite high if the two are elected).

[dutch163]

Yes, I think Palin hurts the McCain ticket and his choice of Palin does not say "Country First"
It screams :"gimmick to trick women and right religious into voting for ME THE GREAT MCCAIN "
she is by all we have seen, not at all presidential material
she cannot even learn what a VP does, she is a parrot
repeats "talking points"
as a woman,as an American I am insulted by the choice

[YolandaD]

If Tina Fey had been using scripted material written by SNL writers I doubt Palin's image would've suffered. SNL rips on everyone, portraying people in funny fictional situations.
However, Tina Fey's script DID NOT come from SNL writters, it was almost verbatum... quotes straight from Palin's mouth! This was fact presented with humor.. not fiction. SNL and Tina Fey didn't damage Palin's image. Palin did.

[Bee Juniper]

Women speak out on the Palin candidacy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWK9ZDxxHnU

[Earl_E]

I think Sarah will enjoy her next four years back in Alaska as Governor, she might get a bump in national media coverage, which might help her in 2016 for the next run at the Whitehouse.

[ThinkCube]

We currently have a Governor that became president and Bill Clinton was also a Governor so from a technical aspect she meets the requirements to be Vice president. then again so does any american of age and citizenship without a record. Has she shown the world that she is capable, I think not. What understanding she has displayed about the control the Vice President has in the US Senate is scary. The VP is not to "get in there and work with the senators" the VP is to ONLY break a tie in the senate and be prepared to be President should the situation present it self. Essentially the VP will work on special projects the president puts them on until needed in another fashion. Her attitude strikes me as being opportunist in nature and scares me to think of her in a position to be groomed for presidency in the future. Overall the worst thought of all is that I would not put it past some enemies of our nation to want harm the president to put her into the presidency to screw us over! it's been said that they are afraid of McCain but not Obama so why would the thought of that be a stretch.

[Dominick A. Leone]

The political pundits are saying that the attention Ms. Palin is getting from Saturday Night Live will prove to be positive, however it will most likely only prove to improve her likability. Gov. Palin is a likable woman: she is personable, attractive, and genuine. The question is, will these traits as seen on TV equate to more votes.

I am not a Republican, at least not as I understand the fractured party as it exists today, but I like Gov. Palin. Perhaps I should be more clear and precise: I like her as a person not as a candidate. I appreciate her steadfast dedication to Regan-republicanism. However, her social politics are what fries her for those of us in the center who might just have voted for the McCain ticket.

Sorry Gov. Palin, "hot or not", likable not withstanding, your politics are too much like the babbling buffoon of 2000 (and God forgive us of 2004).

Happy Hunting (RUN BAMBI),

Dominick Leone

[david]

We are in serious trouble with the economy, we need brilliant educated people in office, not marginally lackluster minds, and certainly not a bag of hammers like Palin. She's the dumbest candidate in the history of dumb.

[JB]

The addition of Sarah Palin to the ticket was the exact moment John McCain lost this 40-something, white, educated woman's vote. You do the math.

[susan hoff]

sarah palin does not represent the vast majority of white, female voters. she is an insult to our intelligence. her ideas take us back 100 years. only the rich,white ,republican male would even think of putting someone as ignorant as her on the ballot.

[Alexandra]

The pro-Obama press is trying to do to Palin, what they did to another white woman – Hilary.

Liberal press can’t stop talking about GOP spending 150k for Palin to Look Presidential (The clothes will be donated after the election).

OBAMA has spend 600+million to talk about how he is going to REDISTRIBUTE OUR WEALTH ACCORDING TO HIS LIKEING AND THE LIKING OF HIS FRIENDS, REV. RIGHT, AYER, REZCO, FARAKKAN and MOST OF THE MEDIA IS ‘MUM’ about it.
THIS KIND OF MANUPILATION IS DANGEROUS TO OUR DEMOCRACY. This ELECTION HAS PROVEN TO ME THAT THERE IS MORE SEXISM in this country than RACISM.

[thgthg]

Sarah Palin is one of three key reasons why, after waiting for 8 years to vote for McCain, I am giving money and volunteer support for Obama campaign.

Reasons, in chronological order:

1. McCain's unwavering support for the idiotic war without any purpose, whether pragmatic or idealistic.

2. McCain's unscrupolous shift to the far right, in search for votes, Palin being the main indicator of the desperate and ethics-free dash to gain support. Palin is an essence of politics replaced by marketing, looks winning over brain, sex appeal meaning more than true inspiration, mediocracy superceeding talent, greed for power over any desire to do useful for society. She is so clear about her main interest being about connecting to people, not about doing something for people that I can't understand how 40% of the country don't not see it. This search for love of the country instead of respect of the country,, on an unprecedent level brought about by her, is just down the lines of Hitler's and Chavez's succession to power. I hope we know better.

3. Complete lack of organization in his campaign. He can only run, like a maniac-depressive, on ups and downs. He needs to let things slide down the drain so he could pick them up seconds before his cause is dead. He proved it during his run for President. He is a bad manager and him hiring all-Bush advisors and Palin as his team proves it.

Yes, Obama is unknow, yes, Rev Wright is still in the shadows and bothers me, yes, he does not have experience. But experience that he got in running his campaign proves a lot. Already. I hope he will shift to pragmatism after taking the power. I am praying.

[Emily B]

I believe that Sarah Palin is the nail in the coffin for McCain. He *certainly* lost my vote when he selected her - she is WAY TOO conservative for my liking, and she has no experience. AND she can't name a Supreme Court Justice decision other than Roe v Wade. Ummm...that is a problem. Sadly, the "I can see Russia from my house" was not a Saturday Night Live skit. She has only served to invigorate the base that would never vote for Obama anyway. As a former Republican and current Independent, I am voting for Obama. in fact, I am going to phone bank for him today.