A review of HuffingtonPost.com and Wikipedia.com have helped to shed some light on the Republican Vice Presidential candidate. Here is a list of some of the things I have learned about the Washington newcomer:
1. Attended 5 colleges in 6 years; eventually graduating with a degree in communications-journalism from the University of Idaho (btw, she minored in political science -- future aspirations, maybe. ;)
2. Won the Miss Wasilla Pageant, and finished second in the Miss Alaska pageant. (This should explain her idealist style of speaking -- "If given the chance, I will end world hunger and rid the world of the liberal media".
3. Had early political success and climbed a steady ladder of success in Alaskan government. She served 2 terms in the city council and as mayor of Wasilla (pop. ~7000), chaired and served as ethics supervisor of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission and in 2006 was elected governor of Alaska.
4. Nicknamed "barracuda" in high school, she has proven to be ferocious when necessary even when dealing with family members. Sarah her mother-in-law's run for mayor by endorsing the opposition candidate, Dianne Keller. When her brother-in-law alledgedly abused her sister, Sarah is rumored to have had a direct had in trying to get him fired and then fired the Public Safety Commissioner when he failed to dismiss her brother-in-law.
5. Strongly opposes abortion, even in the case of rape or incest; strongly opposes "safe" sex education; religiously conservation and is a member of the NRA.
6. Her husband was a member of a group that advocates the succession of Alaska. What happened to "Country First."
After seeing and hearing Mrs. Palin's preformance at the convention, it is clear to me that McCain was looking to gain the undereducated, probably racist nonblack vote. Mrs. Palin appears to be a very polarizing candidate and a Republican victory in November would prove to be very divisive. The chaos of the last administration has left this country in total disarray nationally and abroad. We will need leadership that has the judgment and diplomacy to bring the country together to correct the ills of the last eight years. McCain and the Republicans are correct, that government cannot solve all the problems but we are going to need someone who can inspire and motivate people to organize their communities to initiate change.
So while I respect Mrs. Palin for her success as a woman and an American, I was appalled at her policy and quite frankly her judgment when it comes to her positions on abortion, the choices she made on the day of her last son's birth, and by choosing to read such a negative and polarizing speech at the RNC.
Mrs. Palin you are an accomplish woman, no doubt; but your positions are not needed in Washington. Perhaps you should stay in Alaska where 80% of the people agree with your positions; however, 70+% of the American people are convinced that the social conservatism of Bush that you advocate are not right for our country.
