Sen. McCain on Justice Sotomayor

David Fitzsimmons, Arizona Daily Star

Letterman vs. Palin -- Decision: Palin

I'm a big David Letterman fan. Always have been. Never could stand Jay Leno, but I always appreciated Letterman's inherent anarchy. Sarah Palin? Not so much. In fact, I thought she was an embarrassment who hurt John McCain far more than she helped him during last year's presidential campaign and election.

However, in this current issue involving Letterman and Palin, I'm coming down hard on Palin's side.

In case you are not familiar with this whole affair, here it is in a nutshell: Sarah Palin and her daughter visited New York City and, while there, took in a Yankee game. Letterman joked about it and said while they were at the game, Ms. Palin's daughter was "knocked up" by the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez.

Heaven knows, I'm no prude, but I find that joke offensive and not one bit funny. I'm thinking it was crafted by one of the show's writers, but Letterman should have exercised good judgment and cut the joke before the program's taping.

But it gets worse. Letterman claims he thought Ms. Palin was traveling with her 18-year-old daughter Bristol who was in the news during the presidential campaign because she was pregnant and unwed. (OK, but this fact doesn't give Letterman the right to make offensive comments about her.) It turns out, however, Ms. Palin was actually in the company of her 14-year-old daughter Willow, so now Ms. Palin is going around saying Letterman is condoning statutory rape (an argument I don't agree with).

Letterman went to great lengths on his show Wednesday to say he would "never, ever make jokes about raping or having sex of any description with a 14-year-old girl." I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt on this one, but, I think the age issue here is irrelevant. He should have known the joke was not funny (which we all know is not a crime), in extremely poor taste and bordered on being slanderous.

Most, if not all, of my friends and associates will also confirm the fact that I am an A-Number-1 cynic and I can't help but think all this has more to do with Conan O'Brien than it does with Sarah Palin. I think Letterman saw that O'Brien, who has just succeeded Leno as the host of NBC's late night talk show, was vulnerable ratings-wise and decided to strike immediately with something that would draw attention to his program. Apparently it has worked. For the first time in more than four years, Letterman has drawn higher ratings the last couple nights than his NBC rival and is poised to win the week's ratings battle. And, of course, unless you're convicted on corruption charges, it's difficult for an Alaskan politician to remain in the headlines and I'm positive Ms. Palin is jockeying to be the GOP presidential nominee in 2012. So it's to her benefit to keep this "moral outrage" of hers on the front burners as long as possible.

Now I have one more question and I'm through with this subject: Why has Alex Rodriguez been so quiet during all this?

UPDATE: If you're planning on watching Letterman tonight to see if he stokes this fire, you'll be disappointed. Letterman always tapes his Friday shows on Mondays.

Taking Reagan out of context and other Palinisms

In her closing remarks of Thursday night's vice presidential debate, Sarah Palin quoted Ronald Reagan who once warned that if Americans weren't vigilant they would find themselves spending their “sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was like in America when men were free.”

Does anyone recall what Reagan was referring to when he uttered those words? Was it the communist threat from Russia? Was it terrorists? Was it South American insurgents? No, what he was ranting about was Medicare. Historian Robert Dallek recently reminded us that Reagan “saw Medicare as the advance wave of socialism, which would ‘invade every area of freedom in this country.’ "

It would be interesting to know if Ms. Palin agrees with this stupid notion or whether she was once again babbling words that had absolutely no meaning or context as when she said: "Now, doggone it, let’s look ahead and tell Americans what we have to plan to do for them in the future. You mentioned education, and I’m glad you did. I know education you are passionate about with your wife being a teacher for 30 years, and God bless her. Her reward is in heaven, right?”

It's no wonder that Joe Biden often turned to moderator Gwen Ifill and say: “Gwen, I don’t know where to start.” Yeah, it's difficult to know where to start when you are debating someone who is nothing but punctuation.

My all-time favorite Palin line, however, came during a recent appearance in an airplane hangar in Youngstown, Ohio, when she said how happy she was to be there because her homestate of Alaska has, per capita, the nation's most "small planes and small pilots."

There has been a lot of criticism of the fact that during the debate she said she felt the vice president was a member of both the executive and legislative branches of the federal government. I, too, think she said that although her exact quote was “Well, our founding fathers were very wise there in allowing through the Constitution much flexibility there in the office of the vice president. And we will do what is best for the American people in tapping into that position and ushering in an agenda that is supportive and cooperative with the president’s agenda in that position.”

Got that?

Sir, you have no call to get snippy with me

More than one person has suggested that during last night's VP debate, Sarah Palin came across as a character from the film "Fargo."

Who is this Kilkenny person and why is she saying all these things about Sarah

Anne Kilkenny is a woman not unlike political activists you'll find in most cities. She studies city activities, attends just about every city council meeting (speaks at many of them) and lobbied city hall for years to get an ordinance changed that would allow her to put a paved driveway in front of her house.

What sets Ms. Kilkenny apart these days is that her city in question is Wasilla, Alaska, where GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin served as a city council member and later mayor. When Palin became the nominee, many of Ms. Kilkenny's friends in the Lower 48 sought out her opinion of Ms. Palin. Her response has become legendary, prompting more than 13,700 e-mail responses and, to date, a half a million Google hits.

Former Wasilla city council member Nick Carney refers to Ms. Kilkenny as "the watchdog of the council. She came to the meetings and made sure we were dotting our Is and crossing our Ts." Former deputy mayor Judy Patrick, however, calls Ms. Kilkenny "a nut case."

Much of the response she has received has been vitriolic. When asked if she would do it again, knowing what she knows now, she replied: "I continue to believe that it's important for people to participate as informed voters, and there is a moral obligation to share what we know about the people that are running for office."

Ramblin' with Sarah

The GOP vice presidential nominee did not acquit herself too well last night in an interview with Katie Couric on CBS television.

When Couric asked her if President Bush's bailout should be directed more toward Main Street than Wall Street, Palin replied:

"That's why I say I, like every American I'm speaking with, we're ill about this position that we have been put in . . . where it is the taxpayers looking to bail out. But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the healthcare reform that is needed to help shore up our economy. Um, helping, oh -- it's got to be all about job creation too. Shoring up our economy, and putting it back on the right track. So healthcare reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions, and tax relief for Americans, and trade, we've got to see trade as opportunity, not as a competitive, um, scary thing, but 1 in 5 jobs being created in the trade sector today. We've got to look at that as more opportunity. All of those things under the umbrella of job creation. This bailout is a part of that."

Got that?

When she was asked how Alaska's proximity to Russia made her equipped to handle foreign relations issues, she said:

"We have trade missions back and forth. We, we do, it's very important when you consider even national security issues with Russia as Putin rears his head and comes into the airspace of the United States of America, where, where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border. It is from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there. They are right next to, to our state."

Sure. Fine. Whatever.

Barack bending the truth as well

I've pointed out instances in which I felt GOP Presidential nominee John McCain has been misleading and downright incorrect in his attacks against his Democratic opponent Barack Obama. But now it's Obama that's going to the darkside in a series of ads that misrepresent McCain's record and stance on certain issues.

An Obama radio advertisement currently running in Wisconsin says McCain "has stood in the way" of federal funding for stem cell research. Wrong. McCain voted against it once, but since 2001 he has consistently opposed President Bush by supporting the funding. It's his running mate, Sarah Palin, who doesn't support it. An Obama ad in Virginia mistakenly says McCain supports tax cuts only for oil companies, when, in truth, his corporate tax break plan covers all companies. Obama has also released ads that misrepresent McCain's positions on Social Security and immigration reform.

This is another reason, however, why it was wrong of McCain to try to cancel tonight's Presidential debates. American voters deserve to hear from the candidates themselves and not form their views from the misleading and false advertising emanating from both camps.

UPDATE: As of this afternoon, the debate is on. (Yeah!) It can be seen beginning about 8 p.m. on the four major television networks, PBS, CNN, Fox News Channel, MSNBC and BBC America.

Palin's Pegler

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. writes this painful reminder and warning about someone who inspires GOP veep nominee Sarah Palin. I just wish John McCain would pull a McGovern and dump this woman.

Times examines Palin's Place

The Sunday New York Times has an examination of GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin's record as a public official in Alaska. It makes for a fascinating read. The two most important paragraphs are here:

"Throughout her political career, she has pursued vendettas, fired officials who crossed her and sometimes blurred the line between government and personal grievance, according to a review of public records and interviews with 60 Republican and Democratic legislators and local officials.

Still, Ms. Palin has many supporters. As a two-term mayor she paved roads and built an ice rink, and as governor she has pushed through higher taxes on the oil companies that dominate one-third of the state’s economy. She stirs deep emotions. In Wasilla, many residents display unflagging affection, cheering “our Sarah” and hissing at her critics."

The story says he is extremely loyal to her friends, even when that loyalty may not be in the best interests of her state. According to the story she appointed a high school classmate to the $95,000-a-year directorship of the State Division of Agriculture. The classmate's qualifications? She said as a child she loved cows.

John's choice

John McCain was always my preferred candidate among the Republicans who sought their party's nomination for President this year. So, of course, I was pleased when he secured the nomination. The one thing that bothered me was his age. If elected, he will be the oldest person to assume the nation's highest office, three years older than Ronald Reagan was when he was elected. Add to that McCain's history of medical problems, especially with melanoma, and there is a natural cause for concern. According to insurance actuarial tables, McCain has a one in six chance of not completing a single term.

That's what makes the choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate so troubling. When the decision was announced, I felt McCain failed to make a choice based on what's best for the country, but what was the best way for him to win the election. I was hoping Gov. Palin would do something -- anything -- to prove my fears unfounded, but after watching her much publicized television interview this week, I am more convinced than ever that she was a bad choice. The thought of her occupying the Oval Office is incredibly frightening to me.

But her being on the ticket is not the only reason I can't vote for McCain in November. The very fact that McCain chose Palin says a lot about his decision-making capabilities and none of those things are complimentary. If McCain really thinks Gov. Palin is qualified to be President, it demonstrates an amazing lack of judgment on his part. If, on the other hand, he chose her for strictly political reasons (which is what I am convinced happened) than that paints a picture of someone who is completely irresponsible.

I also find it distasteful that the McCain strategy seems to be to push Gov. Palin out front, to claim that experience and being qualified for high office are bad things. If this is true, as she seems to claim, what does that say about the person at the top of her ticket? And does the campaign really think the American voter is stupid enough to buy this argument? What kind of businessman is going to set his employment criteria as hiring the least experienced, the least qualified applicant possible? He won't be staying in business very long. But that's exactly what Palin is telling the American voter to do.

Personally, I was concerned when Gov. Palin seemed to have absolutely no idea what television interviewer Charlie Gibson was talking about when he asked her about the "Bush doctrine." The McCain campaign tried to spin this by saying there are probably very few voters out there who can explain the Bush doctrine. You know what? They're right, but these people aren't on a major party presidential ticket either. I'm betting John McCain, Barack Obama, Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton would have no trouble talking about the Bush doctrine.

I was equally concerned when she claimed she had special insight into Russia because she is able to see that country from an island off the coast of Alaska. I've flown over Russia a couple of times, which, according to Gov. Palin's logic, makes me more qualified than her on international affairs. But, then, Palin claims qualifications should not be considered when selecting those who are charged with finding solutions to this country's economic woes, fighting Al Qaeda terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan, providing health care to our citizens, dealing with the AIDS epidemic, China, energy costs, etc.

I was concered later that day, at the deployment of troops, including her son, to Iraq when she said these soldiers would be fighting "the enemies who planned and carried out and rejoiced in the deaths of thousands of Americans?" Where has this woman been for the last seven years? Doesn't she know that Iraq and Saddam Hussein had nothing to do the with Sept. 11 attacks? Or is she simply deliberately trying to falsify history?

We are completing an eight-year period in which the United States was led by an individual who was not prepared for the Presidency and, as a result, made terrible decisions that led us into a disastrous war and our current economic crisis. What this country desperately needs right now is someone who is prepared, is thoughtful and can make sound judgments. From what I've seen since the last couple days of the GOP convention is that the Republican ticket can't offer the American people that kind of leadership.

Palin's pipeline pipedream

During her acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention and on the campaign trail, GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin has been touting how she single-handedly engineered a deal that jump-started a long-delayed 1,700-mile gas pipeline project that would deliver natural gas from Alaska's North Slope to the Lower 48. Here's what she had to say:

“And when that deal was struck, we began a nearly $40 billion natural gas pipeline to help lead America to energy independence. That pipeline, when the last section is laid and its valves are opened, will lead America one step farther away from dependence on dangerous foreign powers that do not have our interests at heart.”

Problem is that her statements imply more than reality is prepared to deliver. According to this story in today's New York Times, Ms. Palin has "overstated both the progress that has been made and the certainty of success." For those who don't want to read the entire story, here's the pertinent paragraph:

"The pipeline exists only on paper. The first section has yet to be laid, federal approvals are years away and the pipeline will not be completed for at least a decade. In fact, although it is the centerpiece of Ms. Palin’s relatively brief record as governor, the pipeline might never be built, and under a worst-case scenario, the state could lose up to $500 million it committed to defray regulatory and other costs."

Plus, she is getting pushback from those who once supported Palin's pipedream. Alaska State Senator Bert Stedman, a Republican and co-chair of the Senate's Finance Committee, said the state's contract with the developer chosen for the project gives up too much leverage with little guarantee of success. "There is no requirement to lift one shovel of dirt or lay down one inch of steel," Stedman said.

Of course this is not the only instance in which Palin has deliberately tried to mislead the public. She also received a big cheer during her convention speech when she said she put the Alaska governor's private plane on eBay. What she failed to say, however, is that the plane didn't sell on eBay and she wound up peddling it to a businessman at a $600,000 loss to the State of Alaska. Or even that the plane was used, not for the governor, but to transfer inmates from Arizona's overcrowded prisons to penitentiaries in Arizona.

Sarah Palin has too much Heart

Apparently when GOP Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin took to the stage at the Republican National Convention, the folks in the soundbooth played Heart's 1970s hit "Barracuda." That apparently didn't sit so well with Heart's Ann and Nancy Wilson who issued the following statement right before their record label slapped the Palin campaign with a cease-and-desist order:

"Sarah Palin's views and values in NO WAY represent us as American women. We ask that our song 'Barracuda' no longer be used to promote her image. The song 'Barracuda' was written in the late 70s as a scathing rant against the soulless, corporate nature of the music business, particularly for women. (The 'barracuda' represented the business.) While Heart did not and would not authorize the use of their song at the RNC, there's irony in Republican strategists' choice to make use of it there."

If I never hear the term "hockey mom" again, it will be too soon

Even after her speech last night (which I thought reverted to typical neo-con strategies, namely "If you can't refute the message, then attack the messengers" in Sarah Palin's media bashing), I would still feel more comfortable if John McCain had chosen this woman to be his running mate. I guess he wants to divorce himself from all things Texan.

Eight reasons why Sarah Palin is more qualified than Barach Obama

I have hesitated jumping on the Sarah Palin dump truck in print (although My Hero and I had a "What was John McCain thinking?" conversation last night); however, this is just too funny to pass up.