Sarah Palin's Kathleen Parker problem

Is Ms. Parker surprised by the vitriol dumped on her for expressing her opinion on Sarah Palin? She shouldn't be. Just follow a few topics in the Swamp to see how narrow minded some people can be. Sadly, it's not just the right wing whackos. Ugly diatribes can come from either extreme. Too bad the guy who claimed he was going to be a "uniter" did such a poor job of it.

The newspaper thing reminds me of the time when people tried to out Obama for not remembering what magazine he read a story in about a boy who wanted to bleach his skin. See when candidates run on nothing---but their visions---the only thing you have to pin them on is silly stuff. You can knock her for her "nonsensical" answers, but in the primary I had a hard time following Obama's answers--as they were and still are round about testing the waters answers. Not to mention Stephanopolouse ( I hope I got that right) asked Obama about a court case in one debate and Obama, a lawyer, botched that one too. Maybe Palin should have said I'll get back to you on those cases later like Obama did. So their about even. Either way----

I am aware that Dumpster indeed should be capitalized since it is a trademark, but it was not in Parker's original column at townhall.com. That kind of editing of quoted material makes me nervous. What gives, Tribune?

"and cannot think of a Supreme Court ruling"

Can you?

W/o google, how many non-lawyer-types can name ANY historical, or even recent, Supreme Court rulings -- and then have a well worded opinion on those, on the fly?

Beyond Roe v Wade, of course.

Wonder how much Daley, Stroger, Blago, Schkowsky, Durbin, Barney Frank, or any "reputable" politician knows about the Supreme Court.

Not that I'm trying to defend her, across the board; but, the tilt of the MSM to lemming their way through criticismsn like this is teetering on the disgusting.

Maybe she should have been asked about FDR's television appearances (Biden), or suggesting that Russia's invasion of Georgia be brought up to the Security Council for discussion even though Russia has a veto (Obama).

Rove perfected the defense of incompetence by labeling doubters as "haters", "elitist", etc. The U.S. is facing some of the biggest challenges in it's brief history, and we're supposed to leave poor Sarah alone. She's stonewalling her Alaska investigation, she continues to misrepresent her position on earmarks, and her answers to important questions are a non-sensical jumble of rhetoric and sound-bites. This isn't a game, people. You saw what happened (is happening) with the last incompetent that found his way to the White House.

Kathleen Parker didn't get the memo - incompetency and being unfit for office no longer disqualifies someone for executive office in today's Republican Party.

I think you said what is on everyone's mine including the Republicans from what I have blogged but they are not as strong as you to says it. Mccain would have won my vote and respect if he stated that he may need to make a better choice. Instead he still feels this choice is acceptable for the US. The whole world is laughing at us enough and he confirmed to me that he is just another bush. STAY STRONG!!! we need this in these very unsure times.

This is the problem with the media, they find some people who don't like sarah Palin, whether they are republicans or not doesn't matter, and they say, see even Kathleen Parker or Bush's speech writer don't like her. WHO CARES! you don't think there are Democrats that don't like Obama? There are plenty, but the liberal media doesn't talk about that. All i know is that everyone i know is voting for McCain and Palin. They don't care what the media elites think.

Uh, Kenneth, 'right-wing whackos' are, by definition, on the right, I think - true? That would make them Republicans, am I correct? No one can unite Republicans and Democrats until the election is over. Just saying.

yes , i think sarha, bail out. mc cain should not have here....well the polls show obana ahead ....if she talks more....land slide!!

Kathleen Parker is not the only one to notice. But hard core republicans have dug in and are blindly staying loyal to a party who has let the nation down with their candidates. McCain has shown very poor judgement throughout this campaign... choosing Palin is really only one example.

Obama is winning this race... on his own merit... and not on his own merit. There are more and more tax paying American's who just can't stomach what the republicans are doing and what we know they will continue to do.

I've never voted democrat in my life... but I will next month. Did Obama win me, or did McCain lose me... what do you think?

Ms. Parker is just saying what most of use Republicans are thinking, PALIN is nothing more then a talking head with nothing to say.

It's at times like this that I like to quote Ambrose Bierce, an American columnist from the turn of the last century:
"In our country, and under our republican form of government, brains are so highly regarded that their possession is rewarded with exemption from the cares of public office." Sadly, a hundred years later it seems no less true.

I am not a lawyer, nor do I profess to be a historian, but I do have a basic understanding of American History. However, if she can't recall Brown v. Bd. of Education or the Dred Scott case, then she simply isn't educated. These, along with Roe, are historical in the decisions that were made. If she can't even recall those, then Parker is clearly correct in calling for Palin to step away from the ticket.

Angie--It's the Trib adapting copy to its own editorial style guidelines. It's not anything to be suspicious about, and it's not unusual....

Boy, how far we've fallen as a nation. Mothers across the nation can no longer tell their children that if you study hard, you too can become President of the US. Now, as GW, McSame (890 out of a graduating class of 895) and Palin are proving (5 colleges to get a degree in Journalism), any idiot can grow up and become POTUS! The fact that this election is even close is an indictment against brains in America. Wake up, public, and smell the stupidity!

Pete, I can quickly think of other Supreme Court cases I disagree with. How about Bush v. Gore for starters?

Pete: Brown v. Board of Education--who doesn't know that one? Just sayin--although Palin wouldn't disagree with that one, on purpose.

And if she really wanted to fire up right-to-lifers, she could mentioned the whole Schiavo mess, and argued that the Supreme Court should have intervened.

She totally could have gone after Planned Parenthood v Casey and Lawrence v. Texas as well, for all those wingnuts out there.

She didn't need to know the precise name of the cases, but she should have known of these cases if she wasn't living under a rock.

What amazes me is how Democrats totally lose perception of the incompetence in their own ranks. Guess who was behind this financial crisis. Guess who was promoting "a mortgage for everyone"?

Dave-- It's the "media elites" job to separate substance from propaganda. I know you think hate radio and the $48 million man, Rush Limpbaugh, represents we commoners, well, they don't and he doesn't. BTW, I'm sure Frank and Mark are surprised to learn that they represent the "elite" in this country, and that the man of nine houses who married into money knows the pain of the "little people". Republicans are such sheeple.

Dave ... you say: "you don't think there are Democrats that don't like Obama? There are plenty, but the liberal media doesn't talk about that." That's true, except for the dozens and dozens of stories I've read about Hillary supporters who don't like Obama and might not vote for him, and some white Dems who may not vote for Obama because of his race. Give me a break.

I read Parker's column twice
and it makes no sense to me
that Palin should step aside. In
fact, Parker's argument does
border on idiotic, so calling her
an idiot seems to be reasonable.

Hey Pete, how 'bout the Supreme Court decision that handed the Presidency to George Bush -- remember that one, or have you been living under a rock for the last eight years?

I'm an Obama voter, so I don't need any convincing that Palin is unqualified, but really, she makes no sense. I don't often agree with Kathleen Parker, but this time I do. It's unfortunate that there are so many outright nasty people out there who feel it necessary to insult her so outrageously just because she offered an opinion.

I am not an attorney, I never attended law school.

Fist case: Plessy Vs Ferguson, the court established the “Separate but Equal” doctrine. As long as facilities are equal they can be separate segregating individuals – in this case by race.

I disagree with this decision and the court overturned this decision in Brown v the Board of Education of Topeka stating separate is inherently unequal.

Second Case: Times v Sullivan, the court established a litigant must prove actual malice if the person defamed is a public figure or celebrity. Actual malice meaning the publication intended to cause personal harm to the individual by publishing an article.

This was a tougher one for me, but I concede a standard to apply to these cases is needed to help restrict personal opinions of the parties and the article. Decision must be applied uniformly in similar cases. With that in mind I can agree with Times v Sullivan. I would find it difficult to adjudicate fairly on a case-by-case basis if it involved a public figure I respected. With this doctrine in place, I am far more comfortable listening to the facts of a case and ensuring the precedent is upheld.

I remember all three of these cases (Plessy v Ferguson; Brown v Board; and Times v Sullivan) from my college American Government course I took as an undergrad. I believe Sarah Palin has a Bachelor Degree as well. I was able to prepare this reply on the fly (I did double check spelling, but in a verbal response that would not be necessary) and I believe I am not qualified to be VP; being 2nd in line to pick Supreme Court Justices I expect her to have a basic understand of cases like the above. I believe this was an excellent question – well done Katie Couric.

Mr. Silva,
Please put loyality among journalists aside. Ms. Parker is dealing with the consequences of her words and poor timing and choice of subject matter. There are many issues that can be explored and discussed prior to and after elections. So please jump off the band wagon. The road always has a curve.

Matt-- You beat me to it, but you're absolutely right. Any high school senior should be able to recall those landmark cases. And if one is familiar with those, as they should be, then Plessy v. Ferguson, as well. And how about Miranda v. Arizona? I mean, aren't there 5000 or so episodes of Law and Order out there that mention Miranda?

Since when did it become "quaint" to be ignorant? And the answer about what publications she reads, "all of them"---please! Was she afraid to say American Spectator, Red States, Newsbusters? We know she doesn't read the NY Times, Washington Post or any of the MSM or "drive-by media", as Limpbaugh likes to call it. Maybe all she reads is Vogue, for crying out loud. And this is the person who could be in the Oval Office? Yikes!

Point lost at great price
I’m surprised Kathleen Parker put so much emphasis on Governor Palin’s poor articulation and lack of knowledge concerning such questions that Senator Obama has not been given during this entire campaign, due to their level of difficulty. I don’t think Governor Palin’s struggle in interviewing qualifies her less for the Oval Office than Senator Obama’s own past record of his questionable activism as a “community organizer” alongside William Ayers or his own voting record in the U.S. Senate.
While I support Ms. Parker’s right to her opinion concerning Governor Palin and agree with her point concerning the dangers of “stifling free speech” (Chicago Tribune, Voice of the People, Oct. 1, 2008), expressing it so has a Reverend Jeremiah Wright ring to it with its timing; and her worthy point concerning public discourse is likely lost to most readers at a very great price to the McCain campaign.
Diane Doyle
Evanston

Dave, Kathleen Parker is not a member of the "liberal media". She is a conservative columnist. Parker thinks Palin has demonstrated that she is not up for the job. I certainly sympathize with Palin, who was asked tough, tricky gotcha questions like "what newspapers do you read?". I'm glad to hear you'll stand by Palin no matter how incompetent she appears to be. I hope she does well in the debate because John McCain can lose this election on his own without any more help from Sarah Palin.

Incompetency and being unfit for office no longer disqualifies someone for executive office in today's Republican Party and is equally true of the Democrat Party --- you forgot to finish what you were saying, Neal.

I have been reading Kathleen Parker for years.

Her column doesn't surprise me, even though I don't agree with it.

Mrs Parker also doesn't believe that women should serve in the armed forces, that they should let the men do it.

I didn't know that she felt this way about politics too, but it won't stop me from reading her column.

Actually, she wrote a column about the movie "Winn Dixie", so it is maybe three columns she wrote that I don't like.

Exhibit A: Colbert zings Chicago Tribune for Obama story

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2007/05/colbert_zings_chicago_tribune.html

Exhibit B: "GIBSON: Senator Obama, the District of Columbia has a law -- it's had a law since 1976; it's now before the United States Supreme Court -- that prohibits ownership of handguns, a sawed-off shotgun, a machine gun or a short-barrelled rifle.

Is that a law consistent with an individual's right to bear arms?

OBAMA: Well, Charlie, I confess I obviously haven't listened to the briefs and looked at all the evidence. "

Parker is surprised that the bile she has nurtured for so long has turned on her?

Sorry if I'm not more sympathetic. But Parker has been stoking this anger and violence for years. Let's all say farewell to the seething wounds, imagined fears, and bullish hatred that is American conservatism.

Sarah Palin should drop out! She is an embarrassment as an American! -Glasses and an "up-do" don't make someone intelligent.

SteveA-Mo...
Are you saying that, in writing a column about a VP candidate in the weeks before an election, Kathleen Parker demonstrated poor timing and choice of subject matter? Should she have saved her misgivings for after the election?

This is the problem with the media, they find some people who don't like sarah Palin, whether they are republicans or not doesn't matter, and they say, see even Kathleen Parker or Bush's speech writer don't like her. WHO CARES! you don't think there are Democrats that don't like Obama? There are plenty, but the liberal media doesn't talk about that. All i know is that everyone i know is voting for McCain and Palin. They don't care what the media elites think.

Posted by: Dave | October 1, 2008 4:33 PM

Shocking news, Dave, that you insist on voting for McCain/Palin. The problem here isn't whether or not you care what others think. It's that you won't bother doing any thinking of your own. Just mosey on through life as ignorant as the doorknob and call anyone who disagrees a "liberal elitist." Seems to have worked out well for you and your friends the past eight years, Dave, don't you think?

Why is anyone in this country shocked by McCain selecting Palin as his V.P? He probably assumed since some people(heaven knows who) actually voted to have us live under the regime that we have for the past almost 8 years and possibly never noticed the lack of mental capacity of our illustrious leader, that perhaps we wouldnt mind doing it for a few more.

Palin should go home to Alaska..It is too bad that the Repubs don't have the ba**s to tell McSame how they feel..Plus I am starting to get tired of hearing about his POW days he brings up every time something does not suit him..All Palin will know after the debate is just the rhetoric they have tried to pound into her head....She lives in a dream world of radical views that make no sense...

In 1989, the Exxon Valdez ran aground in Prince William Sound near Valdez, Alaska, creating the largest oil spill ever in some of the richest fishing grounds in the world. In 1994, plaintiffs were awarded $5 billion in punitive damages. Exxon has dragged this case on for years and in June of this year the Supreme Court reduced the punitive damages to 1/10 the original amount. This is a BIG DEAL in Alaska and our Governor couldn't even remember this case? Give me a break! That is truly out of touch.

I have long been of the opinion that, for all the religious rhetoric, the neo-cons are Darwinists who will feed on anyone who doesn't agree with them, including their own. This is not the deterioration of discourse, but of free thought and free speech. When a friend puts an Obama sticker on her car and gets her car dented in a lot where she often parks, this is not the suppression of discourse, but of free expression. Pardon me, but these are different. The former prevents discussion. The latter prohibits any expression that does not conform to narrow guidelines and will only tolerate agreement. Why do people shy away from calling this kind of censure what it is? Hitler gave us Kristallnacht. Stalin gave us the purges. George Orwell warned us about it in 1984 and Animal Farm. Let me assure you. It is not just discourse that is being run down, but free thought. This is the kind of thing that should make all Americans rise up, that is, if they know what this country has come to stand for and why their ancestors decide to risk the trip over here.

I am surprised at the number of people who cares what this writer has to say one way or the other. I never heard of her before this.

I don't condone the awful things being said against Parker but how about the stuff against Palin? That's where this all started. Various folks have said she should be gang raped, then a bar owner paints a nude portrait of her. Blame the lefties for starting the mess.

And it's obvious (as it always has been) for the womens libbers that it's not progress they want for women, they want everyone to think like they do. A conservative woman (as Palin or Rice) gets slammed from the start.

Question:Is Palin anywhere near the best qualified Republican McCain could have picked for Vice President?

The problem isn't Parker, it's Palin. McCain lost my respect with his inexcusable veep choice.

"I am surprised at the number of people who cares what this writer has to say one way or the other. I never heard of her before this."

So you're not a conservative republican or, like Palin, you don't read much. Until she spoke truth to McCain and her party she was a darling--the thinking republicans Anne Coulter. Obviously you are in the Know-Nothing wing of your party, whose members are the scourge of American republicanism. You have the vote, but you do not read, which means you make little effort to systematically follow (or make) arguments and refutations for yourself as you are weighing the issues of the day. You voted for GW Bush because he comes from the same wing of the GOP--Know-Nothing, and proud of it.

Ignorant AND free is a social and political circumstance that no nation can sustain for long.

What periodicals or magazines Palin reads for current events, or what Supreme Court decision she hails or disagrees with is just another way to decry the very thing she entered the race to combat; Washington politics as usual. We have allowed others to create an imaginary measure of qualification of a candidate for national public office and we just tacitly accept it. Liberals make it part of their own arguments and conservatives love Palin more with every new attack. These comments aren't made objectively or else the one reporting them or else it would be considered a "slow news day."

Almost every bit of political punditry, analysis and opinion is made up of cynicism. Without it, there's no hope of any political news talk show or newspaper columnist ever being made. We thrive on the stuff that brings our opponent down, and then, we start believing it when something like polls convince us we've lost.

People love Sarah Palin for many reasons, but the honeymoon needed to wear off because Sarah Palin truly has substance. She can be, as any politician can be, wordy, suffer from occasional stammering while trying to explain complex policy views, and she might not have answers to everything she is asked, but within her are the core conservative beliefs that need representation in the White House. She has the conviction and the UNfamiliarity with Washington beltway politics that is needed in the White House. She has the ability to analyze situations and make executive decisions, stand up for Americans within our borders and abroad. She has distinctive and stylish elegance when she needs it, she has the grit and stalwart backbone, the intelligence and the confidence to the job beyond expectations. We raise the bar to cause her to fail when she hasn’t even taken the test when she hasn’t even taken the test.

I try to be objective when I comment and I believe my standards would be the same if the situations were reversed on the tickets. I believe in keeping things fair and civil. Most of the discourse against Sarah Palin is not civil; Ms. Parker's comments? ... well… they were, indeed, civil.

When George W Bush became president, I told my son: "Well, your generation has absolutely no excuse for failing in life, because the bar for ultimate success is so very low now. Intelligence and conscience are no longer necessary." Now we have Palin. The Republican Party views the presidency and vice presidency as perfunctory posts that are best held by weak people who will buckle to the Party elite and their agenda. I don't know which is more sad: The candidates who step out of their depth to fill these posts and wind up pathetic puppets and universal jokes, or that part of the voting public that identifies with these characters so much that they vote for a Bush or Palin in order to validate the weakest parts of themselves.

Palin took 6 years & 5 schools to get a degree in journalism. This should ring alarms for anyone. Even with her extensive studies in journalism, she can't seem to handle basic questions by the media without looking confused as if she was a beauty queen contestant asked "what makes you qualified to deal with Russia?". She recently says she is a feminist, even though she is a social conservative. Is that an attempt to get the NOW vote?

Now do you know why, after over a month, Palin has yet to do a single press conference? I'm willing to bet she won't do any up until the election.

More republicans then are willing to admit believe Palin is a disaster, but are stuck with the "loyal to the bitter end" mindset.

What will happen to republicans after the election when their meltdown occurs?

We, as a country, will never live down the "I can see Russia from my house, therefore I have foreign policy experience" nonsense that Sarah Palin is still spewing. The Republican Party has broken down and needs to be completely replaced, and it should start by replacing Sarah Palin.

There once was a lady named Sarah,
Whose looks were the equal of Farrah.
But her rusted shut brain
sent McCain down the drain
So Barack on the bible will sweara'

Kathleen Parker was just trying to increase her readership. I've never heard of her before this. First she tried praise for Sarah Palin, and then tried criticizing her to see what effect that would have. What she found out was that Palin is extremely popular among women. Palin is a very smart woman and the only one with the experience of running a state and having a 80% approval rating. Couric with her stupid pop quiz of trivia questions was amusing in her attempt to act as Obama's attack dog to discredit Palin. Actually, Palin showed herself to be gracious and good natured in dealing with a hostile and biased reporter with the intelligence of a fruit fly, no offense to flies intended who serve a purpose in being irritating as they buzz around. Why don't they surprise Biden or Obama with pop quizzes on national television. It would be fun to hear Biden's inventive recall of history and watch Obama start waving his hands as he ad libbed and changed the subject and glared at the reporter who dared to embarrass him. His Truth Squad would deal with that reporter later.

I am a dye-in-the-wool independent, but I do expect the parties to present candidates for President and Vice-President who are not just experienced, but intellectually curious about the human condition. Needless to say I have been largely disappointed each four years since I cast my first vote. But what I find so offensive about the Palin selection is that there are any number of gifted women in the Republican party--Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins, Kay Hutchinson, even Lisa Murkowski in just the Senate--who would have been more effective long-run choices to run for VP. Palin pales in comparison. What was McCain (or his handlers) really thinking???

John P,
I couldn't resist:

There once was a mom named Palin,
Whose grades through 5 colleges were failin',
But McCain's made his choice,
Needing a more youthful voice,
But they're behind and the polls show they're trailin/'

The more I listen to Obama and McCain, the more I think I'll vote Libertarian.

Palin = the base personified

Not even the Anchorage Daily News? Geez Sarah. You are the governor aren't you?

Here is another for you: The Wall Street Journal. It will come in handy now adays!

mark: well written, thank you. the amount of vitriol Parker has received for speaking her mind and stating the truth illustrates perfectly what nutjobs lurk in the republican party. we need a president AND vice president who *are* polished and don't flub the important stuff -- not someone with whom we can "identify."

how about bush v gore if you want a recent Supreme court decision? Don't think you need to be a scholar to use that example!

So, Chaz, not reading, not keeping up on current events, and not having a basic knowledge of this nation's history are positive qualifications for the Vice Presidency of the United States, huh?

Gibson and Couric weren't sandbagging Palin - they were asking her basic questions about the state of the nation, questions that any semi-educated college graduate would be able to answer. While it might be true that many people wouldn't be able to answer these questions either, they aren't running for Vice President. Palin is.

But I guess nowadays just saying someone is qualified makes it so. Perception is reality, I suppose. War is Peace, and all that. It's a glorious thing, today's conservative mindset.

Palin is so bad that she wrote her own material for Tina Fey to use, and it was HILARIOUS.

Another Supreme Court case that I disagreed with? That's easy, Kramer vs. Kramer. I thought it was obvious that Kramer should have won, but the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Kramer instead.

Maybe Kathleen should have looked at the reason why McCain had to resort to a personality rather than a person of substance. Or she could have pointed out that Obama has the most humbling moment of mediocrity of all four nominees: graduate of the most prestigous law school in America and and the best job he could find was pimping Tony Rezko's slums. Harvard Law Review editor to a glorified real estate closer??? That's the same area code, bus route and ballpark of mediocrity as Palin and he's probably standing on home plate when you start glossing his 'leadership' in the congressional record or the state legislative record (quick Obama backers: name a peice of legislation he AUTHORED- not sponsored- in the state house or congress).

Kathleen likes Obama more that she likes Palin. Fine. What she should have done is come out and said that. But she didn't want to come off as shallow- which she is- so she sermonized her feelings and then bronzed them for good measure to make her pronouncement Significant and Momentous. Now she's baffled about some angry disagreement?

I'm baffled too: why does the Trib continue to pretend to be conservative or republican by publishing morons like Kathleen, Chapman et al. We get it: you don't believe in the conservative republican vision. I doubt there are very many people who still remember you founded the the GOP so just let it go: start putting people who you agree with on the op ed; get rid of the faux right wingers and end the charade. Please?

Ms. Parker's opinion about the incompetency of Ms. Palin is, yet again, reinforced by another CBS interview where She cannot answer a question becase she clearly does not know the answer. Miilions of American faces will be sore tomorrow night from the excessive cringing that will occur during her responses (or lack thereof). many voters will appreciate seeing her get KO'd by Biden tomorrow. Somebody's got to knock some SENSE into her!!!

selina: You said, "The whole world is laughing at us enough and he confirmed to me that he is just another bush. STAY STRONG!!! we need this in these very unsure times."
---------------------------------
Will you please specify a few of the world's newspapers that have printed an article where they are laughing at us?

Kathleen Parker was just trying to increase her readership. I've never heard of her before this.
Posted by: speak the truth | October 1, 2008 8:08 PM
_________________________
Which just goes to show that you are completely out of touch with reality. KP is a regular at the Tribune. Weekly. Either you never read the Opinion section, which seems obvious, or you were too incurious to actually see if anyone had an opinion. Either way, it makes you irrelevant to this debate, because by your admission, you don't follow opinions, except your own.

_________________________
Fact is, KP is a well recognized Conservative columnist and is being pilloried for going against repubic orthodoxy. That seems to be crime against humanity. So while you conservatives eat your own, we Democrats will accept all into our tent, including Kathleen. Welcome Kathleen. Your opinion is as welcome today as it will be tomorrow, for it makes us wiser and stronger. And that makes a better America.

Actuaries, those who predict lifespan, say there's a one in five chance McCain will die in office.
Let me postulate a thought.
McCain is elected but dies before taking office. Palin becomes President without even a day of on the job training.
While I've had fantasies about an amateur in the White House, someone from totally outside the Geltway, someone with relatively obscure credentials, I've never seriously considered it. Especially someone who apparently hasn't studied history or kept up with current events. Now, I realize the Presidency has its handlers and an entire Administration would be in place to help her, she alone would be the one making the final call, especially in the case of a terror attack. She alone would have her finger on the nuclear trigger.
Maybe most of her supporters don't think about things like that. Maybe they figure, hell, she's smart, she'd figure it all out. It ain't nuclear physics after all. And she WAS Governor of Alaska, after all.
Yep. Folks who think that way voted in Mr. Bush. And they're still out there.
This should be some real fun.

What upsets me the most is the kool-aid drinker response. "She's real, she's one of us." And that qualifies her? For some kooky reason I want my president to be smarter than me. And with McCain's health issues, Palin has a good shot.

The kool-aid drinkers will also shout, "It's the liberal media elite bias!" No sorry, this is the truth...she's not presidential material. We've had 8 years of an authoritative, faith-based, media-bubbled, secretive, corrupt, hypocritical, GREEDY, OIL-FRIENDLY, FREE MARKET administration and I don't want the chance of someone who's even more extreme.

There's a good one for the black helicopter conspiracy theory crowd. Perhaps she's a plant by the neocon fundie far right to take back the White House.

BTW my favorite Supreme Court case was Pepsi vs. Coke.

Kathleen,
Thank you for saying what many,many of us were thinking. I am not even sure Sarah Palin is qualified to be a schools PTA Vice-president, much less the Vice-president of the United States. She would do everyone a favor and say, NO Thanks I am not qualified at this time. I believe John McCain lined up photos of every female Governor and picked the best looking without any research. This is his style, act first, find out the facts second.

It baffles me that some will continue to defend Palin despite clear and compelling evidence that she's not as bright as the Right had hoped. I'm guessing that many posting here are merely parroting talking points in some effort to convince and persuade. Perhaps that's because thinking may require knowledge and, for some, that's lacking, too. If that's the case, I understand why many consider Palin one of their own. There's comfort among equals.

Palin is not stupid, but she is intellectually incurious, dangerously shallow and she is culturally illiterate.

Unfortunately, that puts her right in the American mainstream--especially among republicans.

This is what happens when you reject reason and science. This is what happens when you base your politics on fear and hatred. This is what happens when When you have a party based on ideology and not facts. And this is what happens when the people who DO know the difference cynically manipulate others for their own personal gain.

Just as the current economic mess is the natural end-product of republican conservative economic policy, Sarah Palin is the natural end product of republican conservative culture wars and cultural ideology.

I still pack a Chicago punch even though I have lived in Alaska for 25 years. I am a nurse. What Sarah Palin should have easily been able to roll out would have been the Alaskan cases before the US Supreme Court in the last 6 months and that are pending in the next 6 months! Exxon Valdez: the largest oil spill in US in the WORLD was settled without significant award for damage to Alaskans after 20 years. Challenge to Megan's Law that allows convicted sexual offenders not to enroll on the Alaskan sexual offender list. Morse V Frederick: freedom of speech issue related to Juneau school system. Kensington Mine Environmental case that will be heard in December. Sarah Palin does not READ.

As a conservative, I agree with the liberal news media that no female is capable to function in any business capacity if they are mothers -- or prospective mothers.

That is why men are more dependable in any business context.

Women were meant for childbearing.

That is their natural function.

Females have no business in Congress or in Corporate boardrooms, or journalism or in business in general..

Isn't that what the press is saying about Palin?

I agree with the liberal press.

I thought the question was to name a Supreme Court decision with which Palin disagreed. I doubt many Americans know of Dred Scott. What does being a well-versed person of the Supreme Court's rulings have to do with governing? Mayor Daley himself said he was going to ignore the recent Supreme Court ruling upholding the 2nd Amendment's guarantee of a right to bear arms. So there.

As a kid, I used to watch dancing bears at circuses. Of course, they did not dance well, but they (sort of) danced. We have the same low expectations of Palin, and some people will be pleased if she can get through the next day without a huge gaffe. However, given the situation that our country is in, why are our expectations so low of a person to fill such a vital position as VP?

On the issue of experience. Why is our country in such a financial mess with all of the experienced, highly educated members of our government? Seems to me all of their "experience" has gotten us where we are. Think about that.

Funny she can't even mention the recent Supreme Court verdict that reduced the Exxon fine for the oil spill up there. She was knee deep in that one and adamantly opposed to it!!!

There's just no point in trying with some people. You need a certain level of knowledge and intelligence to understand why many of Palin's answers are nonsensical and why it's very important that Palin doesn't read newspapers and couldn't even recall the Exxon v Alaska decision she decried three months ago. Many of Palin's supporters simply don't reach that level and honestly don't see the problem. It's why education has to be our national priority in the future.

Kathleen Parker is like the kid who shouted the emperor has no clothes. I tip my hat to her for that--she is brave.

Wow.

Comments on both sides are degenerating.

1. Dems: She was asked for a case she DISAGREED with. She agreed with Gore v. Bush. Brown and Scott are both cases that have since been overturned. Had she brought THEM up, you people would be ripping her for using dead cases from a sixth grade Social Studies book.

2. Reps: One of your own suggests an IMPROVEMENT (replacing Sarah), and your pro-life people suggest Parker should be ABORTED? And nobody see the HYPOCRASY in this?

Wow.

We normal independents have to tolerate you extremists, why can't you tolerate each other?

Marlene: I'm having trouble recalling any vp or president of any party as dim as Sarah Palin/George Bush. When did smarts become a bad thing? Why do Palin supporters feel better about someone dumber than the average Joe being at the top of their ticket? Baffles the mind. Aren't you insulted?

The problem I have with Mrs. Palin is that she already has so many things going against her like Travelgate, etc. She seems just like another politician who takes advantage of the position. When will we have someone who has morals and sticks by them? Is that too much to ask?

Since when did being "just like me" become a positive thing in selection of a position of this magnitude? I keep hearing that Governor Palin may not be well versed on this, or that, but she's a mom from a small town and "she's just like me" so I am going to support her. Let us be clear. Look yourself in the mirror the next time you are near one and ask the question. "Am I qualified to be the next Vice President of the United States of America?" So be honest with yourself and answer NO!

Here is the story, on one side you have a leader that has not led as president before (as most presidential candidates), he is young, intellectual, analytical and thinks of what needs to be done. He understands the needs of the nation along with the history as the lead on the ticket. He speaks and inspires people to want to hear more and see what he has to offer. Yes he is a politician and the reality is that he may want to do a number of things, but the number one job of who ever gets in office will be to clean up the mess we are in now or dig deeper in the pile.

On the other side you have status quo and a regular everyday citizen who understands the needs of her STATE and is being pushed to the national spot light because of the lack of excitement for the status quo part of the ticket. People come out in large numbers not because they are inspired, but because they are seeking to know who she is and what she really has to offer. In each event until now (with the exception of her exception speech, which was delivered well and written by someone else), she has delivered nothing more than a more empty comments that make more and more people seek to hear something of substance from her. I think the American people are smarted than what the Republican Part thinks and it is not sexist to say she is not ready, it is the truth.

Bottom line here is you shouldn't be looking at the MSM for the information needed to make an informed decision. These are nothing more than big companies trying to make big bucks and will do and say whatever it takes to get people to watch so they can sell advertisement to get paid. Simple as that. If you truly want to make an educated decision take the time to go on the government web site and look at each candidates records. Ever fact and document is recorded and public record. The only problem is that takes time and effort and it is easier to sit your but in front of the TV and let someone else do it for you. I can't even watch the cable news anymore because it is so biased. You want to hear how great and wonderful the republician party is and how everything is democrat's fault watch FOX same goes for MSNBC but on the democrat's side. It is sad that we have become a nation of puppets who follow MSM and get our knowledge from half truths, rumors and nice little stories that seem to leave out details/facts. No wonder no one in this world looks up to us anymore and mocks us. "gotcha" questions, give me a break. How could asking what newspapers you read be a gotcha question. If someone walked up to you on the street an asked the same question you are telling me you couldn't name one or say I don't read the newspaper. She stumbled badly on a simple everyday conversation question just as badly as the supreme court question. And I don't expect most regular people to be able to answer a question about supreme court cases but someone running for VP should. If you own stock in a company you would expect the CEO or COO or CIO to know the basics of economics. Would you put your money in a company who's CEO doesn't know the first thing about business? of course not because you don't want the company ran into the ground and loose you money. Guess what you put your money(TAXES) in the biggest company in the world(US GOV.) and guess what you saw what the last Pres./VP(CEO) did to this once great company over the last 8 years. We need the best people who have knowledge and sense to make the right decisions. I have 3 small children, a mortgage(no it isn't subprime) health insurance going up again this year and I might be loosing my job because of the economic situation. How can a man worth 100M, 13 houses, 7 cars a private jet. free health insurance possibly know what I and millions of other are going through or have been through. I am tired of old rich men running this country. It's time for the middle class to stand up and revolt and do something, if nothing else get out and vote if you don't like any candidate write one in, vote independent, vote green, I don't care but VOTE.

Sarah Palin's inability to recall Supreme Court cases she disagrees with is hardly a damning indictment. But what is disturbing is the trend. There are clear signs NOT that Palin isn't intelligent, but that she simply hasn't immersed herself in the issues a president needs to know well. This isn't something that can be compensated for in days, or even weeks. It takes years to become knowledgeable enough much as it does in many other fields.

Kathleen Parker was brave enough to point out this truth that Republicans KNOW but are refusing to say in pubic. Yes, SARAH PALIN WAS A MISTAKE. Go ahead and say it, you'll feel better once it is over. Palin has already done tremendous damage to McCain's candidacy and more will come. It is not a personal judgment on her to acknowledge that it is time for her to withdraw her name if McCain is to have any chance in the election it's just a political fact. And it's time to also admit that it may already be too late to save his campaign from the Palin debacle.

Lets disregard for a minute she is running for the National Office of VP and focus on being the highest ranking Politician / leader in Alaska - her interview responses leaves me extremely perturbed,,,especially due to her proximity to Canada and Russia... All that Joe Six pack stuff, hunter/fisher etc...means little in the grand scheme of things...the person occupying the second highest ranking office of the US must be rational,more transparent and engaging than the current occupant. I hope she get abit of recovery at the debate, but the foregone conclusion by many including me is that she is not the best candidate available to the GOP for this ticket... temporary excitement does not equate longevity to deal with complex domestic and , yes, international problems...

I watched you on cnn today .I am sure you would like Sarah palin to drop out as most democrats would. some of us vote for people who hol God as still being god and to to be our advisor. too many wrong things about obama
concerning him ad his relationship to God.