The Observation Deck

Danielle,

I want to make sure I understand your view here.

So if you were in her shoes you would have turned down the VP to help her?

Would you have also resigned as gov since the daughter would have been all over the Alaska news?

IMHO any of this would have hurt the daughter more then help. She would have had more guilt the rest of her life knowing that her mistake not only changed her life but could have kept her mom out of the white house.

Who is to say they didn’t discuss it and the daughter was ok with it?

Why would adoption be better? She obviously has a supportive family.

The only reason I thought I would know what you would do is because I know you teach your kids to have personal responsibility, so I didn't think you would compound the issue by making you kid feel more guilt by changing your life. (Like if you moved just to keep your child from being embarrassed)

Ryan

No matter, it could have been handled much better by the McCain camp.

Had they released it in the bio, the day they announced her, at least it would have been over and done now. It would have shown America that Palin was properly vetted and that McCain crew had done their homework.

Instead the story comes out that "the Maverick" was told no to Joe Liberman, and slammed his fist and selected Palin, as a last desperate move.

It underlines judgement, decision making, temperament. While Palin is looking strong, McCain is looking foolish.

FWIW


.

This is a good point. Joe Biden had a similar choice point in his career. He lost his wife and daughter in a car wreck just prior to be being sworn into his new job as Senator. He could have chosen to quit and stay with his injured sons but took the advice of many around him telling him to stay and support his family at the same time. So he did, commuting to and from DC from his home in Delaware every day.

So I think if Palin ends up in the WH, she should commute back to her home state to help take care of her child and grandchild.

Okay, this is off-topic, but there's a 1996 comedy I truly enjoy called "Citizen Ruth" with Laura Dern, Swoozie Kurtz, and a number of wonderful actors. It's about a hapless huffer suddenly thrust into the middle of the pro-choice/pro-life struggle.

Danielle Masters wrote: But back to Sarah Palin, putting myself in Sarah Palin's place I would probably not be running for vice president at least not for a few years. But what do I know, I am just a mother of 5 with two special needs children. I know nothing of the stresses she is dealing with.

Her husband is a SAHD. I'm not really agreeing with the argument against her (not that you are arguing about it, just that you mention you could not imagine the stress of it). People saying she should not be running for VP when she should be taking care of her disabled child really bothers me. This would be a non issue if she were a man.

This would be a non issue if she were a man.

Amen!

This would be a non issue if she were a man.

Yep!

The Palins will have access to the best state services and can afford the best private sector nannies to take care of their disabled child.

Republicans have controlled the white house for 20 of the last 28 years. Why is being nominally "pro-life" such a valuable part of their platform? We shouldn't need big government preventing women from getting abortions.

Most Americans pay a premium to live away from Other Peoples' Kids, and to not have to raise their children in close proximity to Other Peoples' kids.

The pregnancy is irrelevant and should be off limits. What matters in all of this is not Palin, but McCain. He made a blatantly political choice--apparently without a great deal of consideration--in what is one of the most important governing decisions he can make.

But we are asked to believe that it is Obama that would be a risky candidate.

Valerie Molinski wrote:This would be a non issue if she were a man.

Not so sure, Jerry Ford took hit for his son's drug arrest.

GWB took heat for his daughters drinking and partying.

While it should be off limits, I suppose, and the poor girl is going through enough already without having to bare the weight of the 2008 Election. It does speak to many issues that her mother has addressed.

Yesterday I was watching Bill Bennett say that this was off limits. Well off limits as far as the election. But what they were talking about was "abstinence as a realistic method of unwanted pregnancy in teens." So is it off limits too? Or do we find another teen mother that has nothing to do with public life and use her?

I say leave the families out, but what will the bloggers say? the ones that seem to be setting the tone for discussion on race, sex, education, religion, etc.


FWIW

Jim, I was not referring to her daughter's pregnancy. I was referring to the fact that Ms. Palin has 5 kids, one of which is special needs, as an argument that she should not be running for VP because she should be 'mothering her brood' instead.

The pregnancy is a whole other issue. While I agree that it sucks for her daughter and she should not be used as fodder in an election of a parent, Ms Palin should be prepared to take some lumps.. since she is against sex ed and has voted against it. It speaks directly to her platform. I have other issues with her (anti-gay rights, ANWR drilling, anti stem cell research, etc....) so this is minimal to me. I know she cannot control what her teenage daughter does 100%, but if you make it part of your whole political issue, you cannot wave it away with "do as I say, not as I do" and expect most people to be ok with that.

Mark Moran wrote:What matters in all of this is not Palin, but McCain.

Given McCain's advanced age, I think his choice of VP is absolutely important considering there's a stronger possibility of them assuming the office.

McCain's decision making was rushed and shows desparation, but the choice was made. But Palin's politics and background is just as critical since she is one heart-beat away form the Presidency...litteraly.

McCain fights against teen pregnancy prevention

Here's a shocking quote from the article...

"Ahhh, I think I support the president's policy," McCain said.

less than a week into her VP position, she has flip flopped

McCain criticized by GOP for supporting bail-outs for big companies

Scrutiny engulfs Palin


The reality of today is that while preaching abstinence should be the target among sex-ed teachers AND PARENTS, it can't be the only lesson that is taught. It looks like Palin is a victim of the broken policies that she herself supports.

While she has only been a governor for 20 months, she has plenty of baggage and allegations to bring to the table. Some of the allegations were expected though, like the legislative probe against her for abusing her power as an elected official, since she is a Republican governor after all right?

Valerie Molinski wrote:Jim, I was not referring to her daughter's pregnancy. I was referring to the fact that Ms. Palin has 5 kids, one of which is special needs, as an argument that she should not be running for VP because she should be 'mothering her brood' instead.

Val

Her motherhood is one of her best traits. For years I have sat in disbelief as many mothers I know, handle home, kids, schools, work, and on and on. I could never do it, mothers seem to have a pretty good inner strength.

Anyone, running for public office should expect lumps and bumps. Running for president, could and should be some strong scrutiny. I would hope stronger than normal hiring practices.

.

The reality of today is that while preaching abstinence should be the target among sex-ed teachers AND PARENTS, it can't be the only lesson that is taught. It looks like Palin is a victim of the broken policies that she herself supports.

She believes that it is the job of the parent and not of the state to explain these type things to young children... This has nothing to do with her policies... This is about a choice that her daughter made.