McCain only met Palin once. [link]
Karl Rove, “She’s the mayor of, I think, the second largest city in Alaska before she ran for governor.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), “Gov. Palin took on Ted Stevens. If she can take him on, she can take on the Russians.”
“It’s not that Sarah Palin is inexperienced. It’s that this is gross political misconduct.” [column]
“…the possibility that Obama might win Alaska did not worry Palin.” [link]
Local Alaskans criticize Palin, July. “The bloom is definitely falling off the rose in Alaska, and the Palin honeymoon may be finally wearing off.” [blog]
Palin’s parents surprised, pleased and proud.
“On a one to 100 scale, it’s about 101,” Sally Heath said. Arriving back at home in the early morning hours… “It was a total surprise,” Chuck Heath said.
Palin’s staff had no idea.
Palin’s press secretary, Bill McAllister, said he didn’t find out about the VP position until after 5:30 a.m. today. [August 29]
“This is like hiring a carpenter who is good with a saw to be the person to operate on your tumor.” [comment]
Oops. Pentecostal upbringing and relations with Israel? [column] Palin supported anti-Semitic Pat Buchanan for president [link]. (Thanks Polly)
Column upon column of reactions at Huffington Post. [link]
Supportive local: “Finally an honest politician Alaska can be proud of rises to national level. I will give her all my support. Alaskans must unite to help Governor Palin with everything she needs in the coming months. I for one am ready to man the phones, process mail, babysit, clean her house, anything she needs.”
Supportive local: “There’s no better person to identify with Alaskans and every day Americans.”
Wasilla High School principal Dwight Probasco … plans to make T-shirts. [link]
Supportive: “Some of the things she did was to put the state’s airplane up for sale on eBay. Governor, You’re No Dan Quayle.” But Sarah Palin fibs about selling the jet on eBay.
More Republican ‘support’:
The McCain campaign has reveled in its down-to-earth appeal, knowing the middle-class is key to any general election. It paints Obama as the out-of-touch celebrity, McCain as the humble war hero.
But, with the recent attention given to McCain’s definition of rich, his ignorance of the palaces he keeps, and the transformation of his Straight-Talk Express to the No-Talk Jet, the appeal’s been tarnished.
Palin’s the perfect spit-shine; She fishes. She hunts. She started her career as a sportswriter. Her eldest son Track enlisted in the army on September 11, 2007, and, in a perfect media moment, will be deployed to Iraq on September 11, 2008. Her husband is a champion snowmobile racer, and is often referred to in Alaska as First Dude.
Lastly, as an added bonus for those who are worried that McCain would lose the evangelical flock, Palin is a conservative Christian who opposes abortion. In short, for all her inexperience, Palin brings some formidable qualities to the table.
A Republican’s concise and crippling look at The Maverick’s other options. [link]