No Terrorist Mention At Palin Scranton Rally

Today in Scranton, Palin totally backed off any terrorist innuendos. She didn't even say the word. Instead she talked about McCain's energy "plan," her "record," other stuff that doesn't matter and special needs children.

I have to say, I agree wholeheartedly with her position on special needs children. All children are perfect, no matter what challenges they face. They have a place and it is at the head of the line. That's how all vulnerable people should be treated.

But frankly, I think Palin uses her son too much to try to divide. That's kind of icky. As if democrats don't consider children with autism, Down Syndrome or other challenges as special.

I think she's trying to insinuate that all democrats just run out and have an abortion.

During the rally, there was another "kill him" outburst.

Times-Tribune:1:25 p.m.

Chris Hackett addressed the increasingly feisty crowd as they await the arrival of Gov. Palin.

Each time the Republican candidate for the seat in the 10th Congressional District mentioned Barack Obama the crowd booed loudly.

One man screamed "kill him!"

Supporters have been noted shouting “kill him,” “terrorist,” “off with his head” and other equally incendiary terms about Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama. Others have directly suggested Mr. Obama is a Muslim, which he is not, or a traitor. Some comments even drew rebuke from Republican presidential nominee John McCain.

Other than the lone man, there were no other such outbursts.

Republicans Using Palin as Campaign Tool

This is their new old talking point - the media swooned for Obama but ignored Hillary because she is a woman. 

Carly Fiorina, who seems to be head of the Republican Sexism Charge Department, is again hollering sexism. It's all the talk at the republican convention. 

Sarah Palin is unqualified and being hailed a hero for her mother credentials, a pregnant teen and keeping her baby with downs syndrome. 

I'd really hate to think those things are extraordinary. There are plenty of mothers out there who kept their special needs baby and not all women run out for an abortion when they see a plus sign. 

I guess now teen pregnancy is great too, so long as the young girl marries the father. Sexism? What if Sarah Palin's daughter didn't want to marry? Just saying.

None of it adds up to vice president. 

See, the republicans still have this notion that we want to elect Obama for the sake of history, not for his qualifications. They see Obama as the affirmative action candidate.

They are probably like Howard Wolfson, who converted from Hillary supporter to Obama supporter. They just haven't paid attention to Obama's credentials. McCain doesn't even have a clue of Obama's path to presidential nominee. 

It seems republicans thought they could one up the democrats by choosing the personable Ms. Mooseburger and then say that she's more qualified than Obama, while touting her hunting and mothering skills. The republicans are using Sarah Palin as a tool to win an election. That's sexism. 

Rush Limbaugh, who's advocated for Palin, and a whole slew of men have called Palin a "babe." That's sexism. Women should be appalled. Somewhere there's a group of men gathered in a room hooting and hollering, cackling too, as Karl Rove smiles devilishly. 

Did you know that Alaska is now one of the most important states in the union? 

Here's a bit from the observant Peggy Noonan:

Final point. Palin's friends should be less immediately worried about what the Obama campaign will do to her than what the McCain campaign will do. This is a woman who's tough enough to work her way up and through, and to say yes to a historic opportunity, but she will know little of, or rather have little experience in, the mischief inherent in national Republican politics. She will be mobbed up in the McCain campaign by people who care first about McCain and second about themselves. (Or, let's be honest, often themselves first and then McCain.) Palin will never be higher than number three in their daily considerations. They won't have enough interest in protecting her, advancing her, helping her play to her strengths, helping her kick away from danger. And – there is no nice way to say this, even though at this point I shouldn't worry about nice – some of them are that worst sort of aide, dim and insensitive past or present lobbyists with high self-confidence. She'll be a thing to them; they'll see the smile and the chignon and the glasses and think she's Truvi from Steel Magnolias. They'll run right over her, not because they're strong but because they're stupid. The McCain campaign better get straight on this. He should step in, knock heads, scare his own people and get Palin the help and high-level staff all but the most seasoned vice presidential candidates require. She has a lot more to say.

McCain Shows Judgment Lapse

Listening to McCain's Ohio event this morning, Sarah Palin was audibly nervous and spoke little of her own experience (she has little) and instead cheered for McCain and pandered to Hillary. 

The way she spoke was cheerleader-ish in content and tone (maybe it's just her high-pitched voice). As a woman, what an insult. What an insult to think that women just want a woman in high office. She has to be qualified. She has to be even more qualified, given that McCain hammered Obama on experience. The audacity. 

The choice shows McCain lacks judgment in choosing a vice president, someone to take over in case he gets sick or otherwise, who's lacking. Alaskans say: it's like one of your friends was chosen for one of the highest offices in the nation. They're shocked.

Alaska? I could run Alaska. 

She has five children, so she obviously doesn't believe in birth control. I admire her not aborting her baby with down syndrome but she's not a special case. I'd argue most women wouldn't have an abortion if they were carrying a downs syndrome baby. But even still, that does not make a vice president or a president. Abortion is not the single most important issue to this nation, contrary to what conservatives preach. 

She's also accused of using her power to benefit her sister, in the middle of a custody battle. 

She's against putting the polar bears on the endangered list. It would hurt oil business, she said. She doesn't believe the ice is melting, contrary to scientific evidence. She wants to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. I'm so sick of oil. 

Let's not forget she was Miss Alaska runner up.

She likes to hunt and fish and eat moose burgers. She was called Sarah Barracuda. Who cares. 

McCain chose Palin purely for politics. He did NOT choose someone to help him govern. This was an effort to shock, gain attention, sway a few Appalachian women voters (PUMAs). He's out of touch, no doubt.