# And again -- who IS Sarah Palin **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 2, 2008, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686 "2008-09-02T15:30:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Happy\_Booker\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/71c47a/32.png) [@Happy\_Booker\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Booker_1)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/21 "2008-09-02T17:22:07Z")
I can picture an ad that shows someone clouting McCain upside his head and saying, “You could have had a Bobby Jindal.” (An experienced, young. thoroughly socially conservative Republican) ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/22 "2008-09-02T17:22:24Z")
Here’s an ([http://www.andrys.com/palin-kilkenny.html](http://www.andrys.com/palin-kilkenny.html)), posted online by someone who has known her from Wasilla for many years. Not necessarily an unbiased source, but background info, nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/23 "2008-09-02T17:23:00Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Consider, if Obama was considering someone who was pro-life, wouldn’t you expect one of his advisors to grab him by the lapels, shake him vigorously and ask “what the hell are you thinking”? Obama did seriously consider someone who was pro-life. Tim Kaine (who, coincidentally was also a neophyte Governor and a Mayor before that) is pro-life. He was reportedly on the very short list, and no one in theparty freaked out about him being pro-life. They were more concerned with his lack of experience (which is still better than Palin’s). ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/24 "2008-09-02T17:25:12Z")
> [@Happy\_Booker](#): > > I can picture an ad that shows someone clouting McCain upside his head and saying, “You could have had a Bobby Jindal.” (An experienced, young. thoroughly socially conservative Republican) Jindal’s got the Van Helsing problem, though. If not for that, I think he might have had a better shot. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/25 "2008-09-02T17:26:31Z")
Has the Alaskan Independence Party thing caught on in the media? I figured MSNBC would be talking about that by now. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/26 "2008-09-02T17:30:09Z")
> [@DoctorJ](#): > > Like Tim Kaine, you mean? He was on the shortlist to the very end. > > I think the Democrats would tolerate a pro-lifer who otherwise brought a lot to the table. Not so for the Republicans. They’ll put a few in the Senate, but on a national ticket it just isn’t going to happen. Sorry, I wasn’t very clear – it’s not that McCain couldn’t have chosen/considered a pro-choice candidate, but that it’s perfectly reasonable for those around him to have pointed out–vigorously–the impact of the decision. Following your notion that the Republican base would be less tolerant of a pro-choice candidate, it’s even less child-like or tantrumesque for those with access to him to be VERY loud about the folly of such a choice. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/27 "2008-09-02T17:36:05Z")
> [@DoctorJ](#): > > Like Tim Kaine, you mean? He was on the shortlist to the very end. Yeah, and [here’s Rove’s comment regarding Kaine:](http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/08/10/ftn/main4336134.shtml) > [@Karl Rove](#): > > “With all due respect again to Governor Kaine, he’s been a governor for three years, he’s been able but undistinguished,” Rove said. “I don’t think people could really name a big, important thing that he’s done. He was mayor of the 105th largest city in America.” > > Rove continued: “So if he were to pick Governor Kaine, it would be an intensely political choice where he said, `You know what? I’m really not, first and foremost, concerned with, is this person capable of being president of the United States? What I’m concerned about is, can he bring me the electoral votes of the state of Virginia, the 13 electoral votes in Virginia?'” Replace the pertinent names and years of service in there and see what the Republicans _ought_ to be saying about Palin. Also with regards to the “experience” issue–the majority of Palin’s “executive experience” took place [here.](http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h16/smartaleq/wasillacityhall.jpg) Does this mean she’s ready for [this?](http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h16/smartaleq/lbjswearingin.jpg) Me, I’m thinking “not so much.” :smack::dubious::smack: ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/28 "2008-09-02T17:36:24Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > Here’s an ([Andrys.com for sale](http://www.andrys.com/palin-kilkenny.html)), posted online by someone who has known her from Wasilla for many years. Not necessarily an unbiased source, but background info, nonetheless. Hinted at in that e-mail here is some more details on her firing people when she became mayor. The more I learn of her the more she actively _scares_ me. Bad enough if she became VPOTUS. If she fell into the POTUS position I’d be hugely concerned. > [@](#): > > If a small-town mayor ever ruled with an iron fist — it was Palin. Eleven days after taking office in 1996, she mailed letters to each of the city’s top managers requesting that they resign as a test of loyalty. > > The Anchorage Daily News at the time reported the strange events: (via Nexis) > > - Mayor Sarah Palin sent the resignation requests Thursday to Police Chief Irl Stambaugh, public works director Jack Felton, finance director Duane Dvorak and Mary Ellen Emmons, the head of libraries. A fifth director — John Cooper, who oversaw the city museum — resigned earlier this month after Palin eliminated his position.\* > > Cooper initially resisted resigning, but to no avail. Palin also later fired the police chief, saying she knew in her “heart” that he did not support her. She left the head of libraries a letter saying she was out — though Palin later decided to spare the librarian after being convinced that she would tow the line. > > SOURCE: [washington independent game - build up the town again](http://www.washingtonindependent.com/3767/palin-involved-in-ousting-scandals-from-the-start) ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/29 "2008-09-02T17:39:09Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I believe she is a fully-vetted sacrificial lamb being used to show that the Democrats aren’t _really_ for women’s rights. They already have the smirky attack ads ready for when she steps down in tears-“We _tried_ to put a woman in the White House, but those hypocritical Demos persecuted her!” Romney, or someone like him, is already waiting in the wings. Stupid question: Could the Republicans name a new VP candidate without calling for another convention? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/30 "2008-09-02T17:39:10Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > Has the Alaskan Independence Party thing caught on in the media? I figured MSNBC would be talking about that by now. I’m kind of suprised about that too. If it was Obama, that story would get its own theme song and logo. ---
**Author:** ![RetroVertigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@RetroVertigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RetroVertigo)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/31 "2008-09-02T17:41:14Z")
[QUOTE=Bearflag70] Has the Alaskan Independence Party thing caught on in the media? I figured MSNBC would be talking about that by now. [/QUOTE] I have not heard it on MSNBC today. I did hear a short snippet about it on ABC’s cable news channel early this morning. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/32 "2008-09-02T17:41:59Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > Here’s an ([Andrys.com for sale](http://www.andrys.com/palin-kilkenny.html)), posted online by someone who has known her from Wasilla for many years. Not necessarily an unbiased source, but background info, nonetheless. Hinted at in that e-mail here is some more details on her firing people when she became mayor. The more I learn of her the more she actively _scares_ me. Bad enough if she became VPOTUS. If she fell into the POTUS position I’d be hugely concerned. > [@](#): > > If a small-town mayor ever ruled with an iron fist — it was Palin. Eleven days after taking office in 1996, she mailed letters to each of the city’s top managers requesting that they resign as a test of loyalty. > > The Anchorage Daily News at the time reported the strange events: (via Nexis) > > - Mayor Sarah Palin sent the resignation requests Thursday to Police Chief Irl Stambaugh, public works director Jack Felton, finance director Duane Dvorak and Mary Ellen Emmons, the head of libraries. A fifth director — John Cooper, who oversaw the city museum — resigned earlier this month after Palin eliminated his position.\* > > Cooper initially resisted resigning, but to no avail. Palin also later fired the police chief, saying she knew in her “heart” that he did not support her. She left the head of libraries a letter saying she was out — though Palin later decided to spare the librarian after being convinced that she would tow the line. > > SOURCE: [washington independent game - build up the town again](http://www.washingtonindependent.com/3767/palin-involved-in-ousting-scandals-from-the-start) ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/33 "2008-09-02T17:42:06Z")
Bristol likely comes from her sportcasting days. Bristol ,Conn. is the home of ESPN. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/34 "2008-09-02T17:44:09Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > Stupid question: Could the Republicans name a new VP candidate without calling for another convention? Yes. It’s happened before, most recently in 1972 when McGovern replaced Eagleton. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/35 "2008-09-02T17:46:19Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > Stupid question: Could the Republicans name a new VP candidate without calling for another convention? Why do you think they are pushing all that bad info about her to the press so soon? They would like to be able to pull this off _during_ the convention. Do you really think the Pubbies suddenly became totally inept at damage control? Do you really think Rove doesn’t have a hand in this manipulation? ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/36 "2008-09-02T17:46:23Z")
> [@BetsQ](#): > > White trash. “White trash” can be easily deguised in jokes by referring to her “Jerry Springer family.” Everyone will get the joke and because Springer brings on guests of all ethnicities, no one will be offended. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/37 "2008-09-02T17:46:31Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Hinted at in that e-mail here is some more details on her firing people when she became mayor. The more I learn of her the more she actively _scares_ me. Bad enough if she became VPOTUS. If she fell into the POTUS position I’d be hugely concerned. So would the rest of the world. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/38 "2008-09-02T17:48:33Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Hinted at in that e-mail here is some more details on her firing people when she became mayor. The more I learn of her the more she actively _scares_ me. Bad enough if she became VPOTUS. If she fell into the POTUS position I’d be hugely concerned. Honestly, I can’t get behind the outrage on this one. I’m whole-heartedly against Palin because of her views, but I don’t see this action upon entering the Mayoral job as worth mentioning. Any elected official at any level gets to put their own people in positions reporting to them. Be it Mayor, Governor, or President. The people who were there before - sorry, bye-bye. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/39 "2008-09-02T17:48:40Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > Here’s an ([Andrys.com for sale](http://www.andrys.com/palin-kilkenny.html)), posted online by someone who has known her from Wasilla for many years. Not necessarily an unbiased source, but background info, nonetheless. Has the email been vetted? (heh) I can’t exactly say why, but this paragraph gives me the most chills: > [@](#): > > While Sarah was Mayor of Wasilla she tried to fire our highly respected > City Librarian because the Librarian refused to consider removing from > the library some books that Sarah wanted removed. City residents > rallied to the defense of the City Librarian and against Palin’s > attempt at out-and-out censorship, so Palin backed down and withdrew > her termination letter. People who fought her attempt to oust the > Librarian are on her enemies list to this day. I’d want to know more about the authenticity of the email’s origin and the relationship/history behind the author and Palin before letting this sink in. But if true, _what_ books? ---
**Author:** ![WF\_Tomba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d9b06d/32.png) [@WF\_Tomba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WF_Tomba)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686/40 "2008-09-02T17:49:09Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > The more I learn of her the more she actively _scares_ me. Bad enough if she became VPOTUS. If she fell into the POTUS position I’d be hugely concerned. Eh, I think she’d be a weak President, ultimately. Being a small-town tyrant doesn’t mean you can do the same thing in the big leagues. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-again-who-is-sarah-palin/461686.md?page=3)