"Jay Honeck" wrote:
She's fiscally conservative (thank goodness), pro-family without being
sickeningly uber-religious, well educated, well spoken, and is comfortable
in front of cameras. That's called a "home run" in politics, and McCain
showed (for at least this moment) a true stroke of leadership genius
when he took this very risky step.

I couldn't disagree more that it was "genius," but I do agree it was
risky. I had been on the fence, and it's a deal breaker for me.

There are plenty of fiscally conservative, pro-family, well-educated,
well-spoken, comfortable-in-front-of-cameras people who aren't any more
QUALIFIED to *possibly* be our next President than Ms. Palin. Of all the
people McCain knows from his lengthy career in politics, Ms. Palin is
the most qualified person he can come up with to be our Commander in
Chief in his absence? We're supposed to be happy about that? Tells me
all I need to know about his decision-making as far as who he, as
President, would appoint to various position ON OUR BEHALF ... i.e.,
someone he's known for 6 months and met with *twice*. That's not exactly
confidence-inspiring!

Genius? I have a different word for it.

Also, despite what you say about her politics being different than
Hillary's, I think she may sway a lot of women voters, for two reasons:

1. There *are* a lot of single-issue voters, and being a woman is a big
reason they will vote for her.

I'm a woman voter. I couldn't care less that Palin is a woman. I want
someone with the QUALIFICATIONS and experience to take over if something
should happen to him. Less than a handful of years in Alaska and an
activist in the PTA aren't what I consider qualified to be POTUS, and
that *is* what people consider when a 72-year-old presidential candidate
with prior health issues picks a running mate.

And I'm a pilot, too, but the fact that she owns a Cub on floats isn't a
relevant reason for me to automatically vote for her, either!

2. A lot of women HATED Hillary. There was no "middle ground" with
Hillary -- you either loved her, or hated her, and I know just as many women
who despised her as loved her. Palin, on the other hand, seems to be
well-liked by all women, at least so far.

She's not "well-liked" by me and several other women I know, at least
not in the context of possibly being our next President! She may be a
great person and a good mom, but again, those qualities alone don't make
a person qualified to be President.

That, of course, can turn on a dime in our country. All it will take is one
compromising photograph, or one sniff of a shady deal, and POOF -- her
candidacy will be gone.

How about QUALIFICATIONS?
I personally couldn't care less about compromising photos or if the baby
is hers or her daughter's ... I want someone who is QUALIFIED.

Shirl