Please tell me when Reagan was president what kind of experience did he have. When George Bush Jr. got swarn into office, what did his resume look like. How the governer in californian, you know the terminator what is his experience. Oh yeah the wrestler out west I think that is where he is located?” what was his experience. stop it with the lack of experience both candidates have. all i what to know are they a quite study. also, i feel if Sarah Palin wants to stomp with the big boys then let Joe Biden have a debate with her. dont call in hillairy. if sarah can dish it out, she should be able to take it. if not, she is not really to go into washington. because we know the good ole boys don’t play fair.

Cingred, There is a reason why Palin is compared to Obama. Simply put the number two person on the Republican ticket is more qualified than the number one on the Democratic ticket. Hey the press, the pundits, and Democratic insiders characterized her as a beauty queen, hail Mary, neglectful mother, and generally unqualified. Well there are those that would like to point out that she is more qualified than Obama. Everyone knows that Obama does not hold a candle to McCain when it comes to experience.

In seeing some of the new ads compairing Palin to Obama, I’m a little confused as to why McCain is even on the ticket. Who is running Palin or McCain?

I have little doubt about the sincerity or ability of Senator McCain. However, I question his judgement in either accepting advice or taking a lone decission on his running mate. I had never heard of her before the announcement !! How many of you have ??? I do not knock what I dont know but what I suspect is that she is a rather insignificant cog in the big wheel with no experience in International affairs, a rather short life, compared with McCain in the political spectrum. Regarding her ability, let me put a worse case scenario to you (which is not beyond the realms of possibility) Assume McCain and Palin are elected and take power. McCain is 72 years old, If, God forbid, he died or became incapacitated whilst in office that would make Palin President !!!! Think about not just the US consequences but those for the rest of the world. Of course if you think she can handle it OK but I doubt it. Obama has covered himself in that kind of circumstance. I would, as a UK citizen, value your comments on the scenario I have described.

You don’t have to wear an American flag pin to be patriotic. Where did this notion come from? I never wear one, nor do I stop ever time I see an American flag and recite the Pledge of Alligence. Does this make me any less patriotic? To be igonorant enough to not do your homework, and vote strickly on propaganda spewed to you from the far left, extreme right, and the mainstream media is, to me, unpatriotic. Barack Obama’s experience is almost exactly parallel to that of Abraham Lincoln. Last time I checked, Lincoln was considered one of, if not the greatest president of our country. John McCain has served our country as a soldier, POW, and Senator since before I was born. There is no doubt that he is patriotic. There is no doubt that he loves his country, but the doubt lies in where he wants to lead it. Our country is at a point that things just need to get better. I initially leaned towards McCain I used to agree with McCain, but as his campaign has progressed it has become clear he has not interested in change. His pick of Sarah Palin as his VP should anger women. He is betting on women to vote on the emotion of finally breaking the glass ceiling, not on what needs to be done to fix this country. Our foremothers who fought for our rigtht to vote faced the arguement from men that we were not capable of voting on issues, that we could only vote with our emotions, and that is why we shouldn’t have the right. John McCain is now banking on this, and I take it as an insult. We did not fight for our right to vote to become politcal toys in what is probably the most important election of my lifetime. This is not why I am not voting for McCain. This is why…. He believes in the war in Iraq, which we all know should have never happened. He is pro-life. I am okay with that, but I will not be pro-life until we find a way to take care of the unwanted children in an environment that gives them an equal chance. Trust me the Foster Care system is not way. He thinks our economy is strong. Yeah, tell that to an Ohioan. Thats just to start. So if you are voting on whether or not someone wheres a pin, well I just feel sorry for you.

We have not had anyone GOOD to vote for in many years. It is only the lesser of two evils. I am not sure Obama is a good choice. I hear so much about Palin and her family, her lack of experience. Correct me if I am wrong but no one has made a big deal about Obama NOT respecting our American Flag and pledge. He is more disrespectful in not doing so than any woman choosing to have a baby with problems, or having a daughter who has made a mistake. From what I can tell SHE has voted and Obama only counted as present not a vote regardless.

I agree Jim. This entire campaign McCain and any breathing Republican has been attacking Obama on the experience issue. The mantra is “not ready”. It is all you hear. Then McCain picks Palin to be one breath aaway from the presidency. She has no experience in any kind of foreign policy but its all suddenly great news and not an issue. This is a complete double standard and typical of the twisted way the Republicans campaign. More blatant lies. More support for the ultra rich at the expense of the middle class, more war, more debt, more jobs sent overseas. The country is in shambles after eight years of “experienced” Republican leadership. I’ll take my chances with Obama’s abilities. Surely anyone can do bvetter than they have. Anyone. There should not be any doubt in any thinking person’s mind that McCain equals 4 more years of failed Bush policies. Bush has dug the US into a hole so deep it will take generations to fix it, if it is even possible. Now McCain is promoting more of the same. If you believe, pray and pray hard, that we will be delivered from the Republican party, their greedy, mindless supporters, and their plans to lead us into ruin!!!

Sarah Palin is a reformer all right; one of the impressive things she did in Alaska was she sued the federal government to remove the Polar Bear from the endangered species list…… Seems it was getting in the way of oil drilling…something her husband does for a living. Yeah she will surely “shake things up” in washington if elected–like more good ‘ole boy politics for big oil, wow what a new idea…..sorry after watching part of the republican convention last night I got depressed and thought about moving to another country, it’s hard to believe so many ignorant people have convinced themselves that more of the same failed policies will be good, I guess it has been good for them… but not for the average American. Please THINK for yourself before you vote…..

I am happy either way. For now, there will be no Clintons in the White House. These people are the worst criminals ever. They invite street-gang drug dealers to the white house etc..etc…etc… It blows my mind that people are so enamored with the Clinton’s charisma, fail to see through their fakeness and refuse to think about their evil character. They are evil to the core–false. I’ll take 10 hockey moms, 10 Obamas before I vote for those low lifes. And get real “SN”. Like you didn’t want Hillary because of her sex–yeah right.

What an amazing election. For a day or so I thought for sure there might be some competition between the two major parties. I’m actually stunned at the moment. Are the republicans turning over the presidency on purpose? First they attempt to counter the Democrats with a woman VP who has absolutely no idea about what’s going on and then tonight the President speaks (I’m not sure why I’m surprised because he’s no speaker to begin with) and completely sinks the republican party altogether (I mean for real, they have to play that clapping sound in the background that you would watch on a old time comedy on TV? really, the US is NOT that stupid, are we?). Oh!, and get this, the republican party president to be, doesn’t even know how to use a PC? How would he even have any forethought in how our militaries should operate and/ or what their technical strategies could be given that everything is operated by computers these days. (Trust me, I have a military background and I know our capabilities). I really have looked at both sides of this situation. This year, just as everyone else has, I’m quite stunned with what’s going on. This country has always been a major power house and we need to remain far superior to all other countries around the world. Everyone REALLY needs to sit back and trust their feelings and vote for what they really believe in…. Another 4 yrs of property loss, lost wages, destitution? or revitalization of properties, income, and self-worth? I think it’s evident, take a stand and vote your true feelings…..

The GOP has lost this election! What a terrible, awful, and dangerous choice for the GOP VP candidate. Palin has just a few months of state experience as an elected official,she has no international experience,she is under federal and state investigation in regard to intervening and violalting state employees rights (and in fact a law enforcment employee) and possibly commiting a felony in doing so, and Palin is an individual with a special needs infant who has chosen to feed her own ego rather than meet the important needs of the Down’s Syndrome baby in the first three years of the infant’s life (the most important years to ensure that cognitive stimulaltion occurs and the baby can develop to its greatest ability). And clearly, since she has decided to be negiligent in her special needs baby’s life, Palin has also decided to place her needs for noteriety ahead that of the needs of her children! A sixteen year old daughter who is pregnant and is now being forced to marry the teenage father! Who would allow political party managers dictate what a daughter must do in order that her mother try to look acceptable in the public’s eye? This is a form of prostitution, forcing a teenage daughter to wed so that the Palin family trys to look less disgusting that it is.

Palin = THE WRONG CHOICE For all you Republican fools, Palin has no clue as to what a VP does: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=006axc2aELE Hey McCain, don’t think all the female voters out there are that stupid to fall for your tactics. Just because you nominated a female to run with you in your hopes to capture the Clinton votes, it’s not going to work. At least find someone who is actually qualified to do the job if you’re going to go for a female candidate….especially one who has a good handle on their teenage kids and provides a good example on what good parenting is all about. Scandalous!!!

Well I believe we are in for 4 more years of indecision, poor judgment, and lack of partisanship. I’m a Republican, and was concerned with Mr. McCain’s age and health as were others. With that I would have thought he would have picked a well seasoned (man or women) with the ability to run the county in the event he would need a respite. I think he missed that boat a little. I’m here in PA, and I think Palin was a better pick than Ridge but not by much. I am truly concerned that in a few short months either Obama or McCain will be running our country. But then again it could be worse. (I think?) McCain’s pick for VP has strengthened Obama’s run for the White House.

Every four years is the reminder haw shallow we are. We vote firstly for person who is cuter, better liar, use more scare tactics, can bs more, has military experience, appropriate religion and can threaten the world more. Not on intellectual capacity and diplomatic capability. How about look some one with class, intellect, good temperament and with new policy ideas. How about evaluate how the old policy affected us in pass and if we need policy changes in the future. We get in the gender and race, and statistic how many white, black or Hispanic we have. We are racists and now we guessing witch group is racist.. We continue to brag about how great we are and how we freed and saved the world. We are calculated, money hungry and arrogant we go to free some nation only if we see $ benefits, or if we know we will win or we thing we could be attack This is too much for us: How about being diplomatic, smart, and humble and lead by example. News stations not reporting anymore they are extensions of they favored party nominees and interested in slander and gossip only not the policies details. Do we understand now why the world does not like us? If you answer I don’t care you are arrogant and this is why.

Many blogs I have reviewed this weekend show very mixed reviews on Palin. I think we need to weigh both tickets equally and it seems that Presidential and VP picks experience levels do not match up. The question I would like to ask bloggers is: ‘Whose experience on the ticket matters most to you?’.

Here’s an interesting New York Times article about Wikipedia’s information about Sarah Palin: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/01/technology/01link.html

Political parties, platforms and issues aside, I have only one basic question for my fellow Americans given John McCain’s age and medical history … President Palin? With 49 other state Governors, 99 state Senators, and over 450 state Congressmen/persons to pick from, what does this say to us about McCain’s future Executive judgments and decisions, both domestically and on the world stage? Bill, New York

I was a dedicated Clinton supporter and had reservations about voting for Barack but thanks to McCain’s selection of Sarah Palin for VP I have no doubt. I am voting for Barack Obama. Did McCain really think that just because he picked a woman we would vote for her? How insulting. Why would I pick a woman who doesn’t believe in woman’s rights and who disagrees with all Hillary’s and my views on all issues. There is no comparison with her and Hillary Clinton. Hillary is superior. Compared to Sarah Palin all of a sudden Senator Barack Obama looks extremely experienced and knowledgable. Thanks McCain for showing me the light. I’m just sorry for McCain that he wasn’t able to select a VP that he wanted but was pressured by the right wing to select someone so conservative and totally unsuited for the job. I could only imagine what else the right would force him to do against his better judgement. A leader should do what is correct and not pander for votes.

As a young (relatively speaking) card-carrying member of the Republican party, I’m appalled by McCain’s choice for the Vice-Presidency. I always thought it was a close race and to be honest with you I’m not too sure who was going to get my vote this November—and of course, this really doesn’t help. If I was one of his advisors I’d expect to be fired. Who bought off on this idea? If everyone did, someone wasn’t doing his/her job and if this was a complete surprise to his entourage then they definitely weren’t doing their jobs. I find it hard to believe that no one raised their hand in class and said, “Boss, this is a monumentally idiotic and possibly senile idea, BECAUSE…” Obama’s choice for Vice-President caused no ripples—his choice made sense. Biden is a nice complement to Obama. He’s an older, experienced statesman that gets along with the common man. This is a decent choice to cover up the supposed faults of Obama—the inexperienced elitist—or the presumption of it. Now McCain, what can Governor Palin do for you? A relative nobody (especially to the lower 48 states) who’s a self-proclaimed “hockey mom” who two years ago was the mayor of Wasilla, Alaska—population 9000, she’s the poster child for inexperience. (Isn’t this what you’re telling America about Obama?) Instead of complementing the Presidential nominee she highlights his faults. His age—her inexperience. What if something happened to McCain? Can we see her as the next President? I would venture to guess that if something happened to Obama in office, that most of us would think Biden could hold down the fort until the next election. This is at best an interesting publicity stunt, at worst the loss of yet another bid for the Presidency by McCain. Do you think he’s gonna run again if he loses this one? Fat chance, that’s if the voters even let him run again. If Governor Palin does become the Vice-President would she have any real power or sway? Will she have the President’s ear like Cheney or Gore? Who does she know in Washington to play her political hand? How will this “hockey” mom deal with the pressure of high-stakes politics? I give her two chances—slim and none. But maybe I’m wrong… People say this will be a historic election—the first black President (do people forget he’s also half white?) or the first woman Vice-President. Has politics been dumbed down to this circus level? Don’t answer that. In any case, I think more people will be involved in this election maybe because of all this. Maybe people will actually listen to the debates. (How is Palin going to hold her own against Biden? It’s gonna be like a porcupine in a balloon factory—does she even have a chance?) No, I’m not gonna vote for the Vice-President—I’m voting for a President. We’ll see what happens. For McCain it’s the 4th quarter of the Super Bowl, he’s the quarterback doing the two-minute drill and instead of picking a proven star wide receiver off the bench he picks a rookie, leaving the team (and the fans) in shock. Good move or bad move? The next two months will tell, but instead of having his head in the game for the last push, he’s going to be defending his choice. So, from the cheap seats, you have my opinion: John McCain, what ARE you thinking?

Experience??? How about governor of the State of Alaska. Look up her resume and compare her work experience to Obamas. Remember presidents rarely come from the senate. Only 1 president out of the last 20 became president after being a senator. Why, Governors actually run something. Legislators create laws? This year we will have our second senator as president. The last guy was JFK and if memory serves me correctly he was a war Hero. Kinda sounds like Mccain has the Nod. Lets look at the great experience of Obama. I am amazed at how people can say this guy is ready to lead the greatest country on earth. I am most amazed with him working 9 years at a law firm and best he could do is associate. Organizing 1983-1988 Director of the Developing Communities Project (DCP), a church-based community organization originally comprising eight Catholic parishes in Greater Roseland on Chicago’s South Side. 1989-1991 Attended Law School 1992 Led Chicago’s Project Vote! push. This effort resulted in a record number of voter registrations, over 600,000 in Chicago. 1) Teaching 1993-2004 Visiting Law and Government Fellow, then Senior Lecturer, in Constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School. Law Practice 1993-2002 Worked as an associate attorney with Davis, Miner, Barnhill & Galland. Illinois Senate 1996-2004 chairman, Health and Human Services Committee United States Senate 2004-present

W-ho…. is she and where did she come frommm????? Wow isnt her voice annoying

Personally, I’m not sure if McCain’s choice was the best. I keep hearing that voters are worried about the economy and the war, and Sarah Palin, as talented as she may be, doesn’t seem to be personally focused on those issues. What I take from her is that she is strongly pro-life, and while I realize this is an important issue for the Republican voting base, will it make much of a difference? I would guess that those voters, even if they are unsure about McCain’s dedication to their cause, would vote for him anyway as the “lesser of two evils”. Is he aiming to win over Hillary’s supporters who aren’t sold on Obama? I think if they really support Hillary, they would follow her instructions to vote for Obama. Its interesting. McCain is a capable contender, so there may be more to this story than we know at this moment in time.