Media Continues to Poke Palin

Politics is a tough business. One must be thick-skinned to put up with all of the attacks, but it has been very evident to me and many others that Governor Palin has had to deal with attacks, not questions. Furthermore, the questions are coming from every media source including European media. Just think for a change ... Why hasn't the media been as thorough in their attacks and questions regarding Senator Obama? And why so much scrutiny for a vice-presidential nominee? Why are they comparing the Republican's vice-presidential nominee with the Democrat's presidential nominee?

More than a week ago, I read an article entitled "Scholars Question Palin Credentials" written by David Mark and Fred Barbash. It was carried on all national and international media wire services, which means that everyone all of the world would have access to it. From reading the title, one would assume that very learned people do not think that Governor Palin has what it takes to be a vice-presidential nominee.

Here are some of the comments made by the interviewed scholars:

So unconventional was McCain’s choice that it left students of the presidency literally “stunned,” in the words of Joel Goldstein, a St. Louis University law professor and scholar of the vice presidency. “Being governor of a small state for less than two years is not consistent with the normal criteria for determining who’s of presidential caliber,” said Goldstein.

“I think she is the most inexperienced person on a major party ticket in modern history,” said presidential historian Matthew Dallek.

“It would be one thing if she had only been governor for a year and a half, but prior to that she had not had major experience in public life,” said Dallek of Palin. “The fact that he would have to go to somebody who is clearly unqualified to be president makes Obama look like an elder statesman.”

“Not to belittle Alaska, but it’s different than the basket of issues you deal with in big, dynamic states.” Dallek said.

Brad Blakeman, who ran the 1988 Republican convention for GOP nominee George H.W. Bush, turned the experience question on its head, suggesting accomplishments in office mean more than time accrued.

“Here’s a governor who may have served two years, but her accomplishments are worth eight,” said Blakeman, citing Palin's work as governor on ethics reform and an Alaska oil pipeline. “She’s got as much experience for being vice president as Barack does to be president.”

Palin, on the other hand, is a total “wild card,” said Stanford historian David Kennedy.

“If she had been around for two terms as governor — or been a senator — it would have been an incredible choice,” said historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. “Who else could he have found who appealed to the conservative base … and as someone who was a reformer?”

After reading the article and the quotes by five scholars, I found it rather odd that four of the five persons quoted were heavily against Governor Palin. I found out within 24 hours why scholars seemed so dead set against Governor Palin. Senator McCain's campaign had seen the article and provided some insight. David Kennedy is a maxed-out Obama donor. Joel Goldstein is also an Obama donor. Doris Kearns Goodwin is a Demorcrat Party donor. Matthew Dallek is a former speech writer for Dick Gephardt, who was a long-time Democrat in the House of Representatives.

The only scholar with whom we are given some background is Brad Blakeman, who worked for President George H.W. Bush. Mr. Blakeman liked the Palin nomination.

The news story written by David Mark and Fred Barbash was purposely slanted against Governor Palin and purposely did not reveal the political credentials of all of the so-called scholars. This is an excellent example of why one cannot believe everything they read.

Here's some things to think about ... who is being described with these characteristics? Under 45 years old ... loves the outdoors ... hunter ... a Republican reformer ... took on the Republican Party establishment ... a parent of many children ... on the national ticket as vice president with less than two years in the governor's office. It's not only Sarah Palin, but it's Teddy Roosevelt -- one of the most revered, successful and progressive Republican presidents of the 20th century.

Just think for a change ... Why hasn't anyone from Mr. Obama's past stepped up to promote him? No one from Hawaii. No one from his community organizing days. No one from his days at Columbia University or Harvard. No one from the legislature in Illinois. I wonder why?

9-11: Always Remember and Never Forget

On that morning in 2001, I was just as unsuspecting as any other average American. I had no idea that Muslim terrorists would make good on their declared war on the United States and bring so many innocent people to their deaths.

Yes, it's depressing to think about. Just looking through pictures or listening to news clips causes my chest to rise and fall in the hopes that I won't cry again. And you may say, "Why put yourself through that? That's history. Move on."

Well, I don't ever want to forget what happened, and more importantly, I don't ever want to forget how I felt that day and the days that followed. Once a year, I need to relive almost every moment in a fast-forward type of newsreel that will bring all of those emotions back to me to remind me of why we fight.

God bless all those innocents who died in those horrible attacks. God bless all of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in attempting to rescue those innocents. God bless all of those troops who have died and continue to fight to make sure that terrorists do not kill on our shores again. God bless America.

Scaring me again: Part II

Mr. Obama is scaring me again. No, it's not because of what he is saying because he is now beginning to sound like a middle-of-the-road politician, not the liberal, far-left politician that he has been all of his life. He's starting to make sense, but it is coming at the expense of changing his mind on things AGAIN! The man is indecisive and flips and flops, and that's what scares me.

When do his changes of heart occur? In two situations: one-on-one interviews that Mr. Obama always seeks to avoid and after poll numbers come out. Now you may wonder if Mr. Obama seeks to avoid these interviews, how is it that he is giving them? He has to now. People are tiring of the empty message of hope and change without details.

Last week, Mr. Obama granted an interview with Bill O'Reilly with Fox News. The first of four parts aired on Thursday night. After months of claiming that the surge would not work, was not working and Mr. Obama voted against funding it, Mr. Obama finally admitted that violence was down and had worked beyond his or anyone's "wildest dreams," he would still not admit that he was wrong about the surge because political progress in Iraq had not moved as quickly. He's parsing words and insulting the intelligence of Americans. The surge is working, and it was always the proposed plan of his opponent, John McCain. That is why Mr. Obama cannot afford to admit that it is working. However, he finally did concede that violence is down.

Today, Mr. Obama meets one-on-one with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos. Mr. Obama is asked about his response to a question on abortion from the Saddleback Church Forum where he and Mr. McCain answered questions separately. Pastor Rick Warren asked the two presidential candidates when a baby gets human rights. Obama replied that the question is “above my pay grade,” while John McCain won love from the right by saying quickly, “At the moment of conception.”

Today, Mr. Obama tells us what he intended to say. Intended to say? Come on. You can't expect us to take you seriously if you keep changing your mind about things like this. You don't get do-overs in the high-stakes world of decision-making.

Today, Mr. Obama says, “What I intended to say is that, as a Christian, I have a lot of humility about understanding when does the soul enter into … It's a pretty tough question. And so, all I meant to communicate was that I don't presume to be able to answer these kinds of theological questions.”

Mr. Obama goes on to say, “What I do know is that abortion is a moral issue, that it's one that families struggle with all the time. And that in wrestling with those issues, I don't think that the government criminalizing the choices that families make is the best answer for reducing abortions.

“I think the better answer — and this was reflected in the Democratic platform — is to figure out, how do we make sure the young mothers, or women who have a pregnancy that's unexpected or difficult, have the kind of support they need to make a whole range of choices, including adoption and keeping the child."

So now Mr. Obama is not so forthright in his stand for abortion. He now professes to be in favor of "a whole range of choices, including adoption and keeping the child."

Just think for a change. Do you think Mr. Obama saw the images of Sarah Palin and her downs syndrome baby at the Republican National Convention? Do you think Mr. Obama sees Sarah Palin's poll numbers going through the roof? Do you think Mr. Obama feels he needs to speak more like mainstream Americans think?

I have to ask this question: Who is Barrack Obama and what does he really believe?

Displaced, But Still Observing

Hurricane Gustav roared into the Gulf Coast, and I had to vacate temporarily. First to Alexandria, Louisiana, but that wasn't far enough away. Then to Nashville, Tennessee, where I had a most enjoyable time, and lastly to Greenville, Alabama, which was nothing more than a way to cut the return trip home.

Gustav proved to be a wimp compared to the way the media painted him, and once again the media was wrong. Isn't that the way things have been going for the media?

They were wrong about Gustav, wrong in the way that they have vilified the daughter of Governor Sarah Palin, and wrong about the way that they have protected Barrack Obama and ignored his weaknesses and questionable alliances.

This video of Newt Gingrich being interviewed by Ron Allen of MSNBC sums up this entire presidential election and media love fest with Barrack Obama:

Just think for a change. Can YOU name one thing that Barrack Obama has done? Didn't think so ...