# Dear God, thank you for not electing Sarah Palin **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 6, 2008, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-god-thank-you-for-not-electing-sarah-palin/471399 "2008-11-06T03:01:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-god-thank-you-for-not-electing-sarah-palin/471399/81 "2008-11-07T15:14:16Z")
> [@kingpengvin](#): > > …She showed many occasions of being intellectually lazy and unwilling to bother to learn. Every speech was empty platitudes and stupid attacks. Is anyone really surprised that came back to bite her? That’s about it in a nutshell. She came across as very shallow. She is Joe Sixpack’s hero, not mine. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-god-thank-you-for-not-electing-sarah-palin/471399/82 "2008-11-07T15:24:39Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I’m not eligible for the office, so it won’t ever be an issue, but I have to believe that almost anyone would have found it very difficult to say no to a chance to be VP - and to be the first female GOP nominee, I might add. > > I don’t blame Palin for this whole deal at all. Her options were “yes” and “no”; the party’s options were legion. I would have absolutely no interest in the job. Particularly when my teenaged daughter was preganant and I’d just given birth to a child with Downs. But even without it - I hope my daughter never sells her body for money, or goes into politics. But then, I’ve turned down promotions in the past when it meant less time with my family - or more responsibility than I felt I could handle. If you can’t handle a job, you have an obligation to turn down the job. If you offer me $500 to paint your three story house, I can’t ethically accept that if I’m afraid of heights. Of course, you need to recognize you can’t handle the job. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-god-thank-you-for-not-electing-sarah-palin/471399/83 "2008-11-07T16:25:50Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > At the same time, she could have said “I just had a special needs child. I’m sorry, I can’t.” She wouldn’t have had to admit she wasn’t ready for the national stage. But that would have required a self awareness on her part. Hell, she had the perfect reason to turn down the invitation without admitting, even to herself, that she simply didn’t have the chops for it. I can only conclude that her ego wouldn’t allow her to take even that escape hatch. ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-god-thank-you-for-not-electing-sarah-palin/471399/84 "2008-11-07T16:47:05Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Much as I would enjoy believing all this stuff, this seems to continue to be a one source story. Nobody else seems to be able confirm or dig up new supporting material. > > I’m moving this into my bullshit pile. Even if it is complete bullshit it says volumes about the campaign and about the news source. Either the McCain camp or FOX News was lying then, when they said Palin was qualified, or one of the two is lying now. I’m doubly glad Palin wasn’t elected, given that we obviously can’t trust either. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-god-thank-you-for-not-electing-sarah-palin/471399/85 "2008-11-07T17:17:33Z")
I understand the repubs trying to make the best out of a mess. They played the hand they stupidly dealt themselves. What I have trouble forgiving are dopers who vigorously defended her. They had to be lying. They had to know better. She showed how lost she was from the beginning. She was an embarrassment and they are purging her right now. She will be a trivia question in 5 years. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-god-thank-you-for-not-electing-sarah-palin/471399/86 "2008-11-07T17:44:37Z")
> [@Frostillicus](#): > > The World Studies teachers at my school constantly comment that when they teach world geography to the Freshmen at the beginning of the school year, an amazingly large percentage of them think that Africa is a country, not a continent. From this, I can now conclude that Sarah Palin is at least as smart as a typical 9th grader at Kelvyn Park. I wonder if the term African American confuse people. We say Italian American, Mexican American, Japanese American and so on. Still, my kid knew all the continents and understood evolution when he was six. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-god-thank-you-for-not-electing-sarah-palin/471399/87 "2008-11-07T17:59:32Z")
> [@DanBlather](#): > > I wonder if the term African American confuse people. We say Italian American, Mexican American, Japanese American and so on. Still, my kid knew all the continents and understood evolution when he was six. Sure, but we say Asian-American too. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-god-thank-you-for-not-electing-sarah-palin/471399/88 "2008-11-07T18:54:02Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Maybe, but if so, they fooled Carl Cameron. No. Carl Cameron reported that this is what somebody said. That’s not the same as decalring the claim itself to be true. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-god-thank-you-for-not-electing-sarah-palin/471399/89 "2008-11-07T19:11:08Z")
The one I feel sorry for is Tina Fey. She’s lost that lucrative side gig playing Palin on SNL now. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-god-thank-you-for-not-electing-sarah-palin/471399/90 "2008-11-07T19:25:53Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > The one I feel sorry for is Tina Fey. She’s lost that lucrative side gig playing Palin on SNL now. Sounds like she is [not too disappointed](http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2008/11/tina-fey-says-s.html): > [@](#): > > “I have to retire just because I have to do my day job,” reveals the creator and star of NBC’s 30 Rock (which experienced a 20 percent ratings uptick for its Oct. 30 season premiere). “I think [Kristen] Wiig would do a really good job.” As for whether there’ll be an official Palin torch passing, she says, “Maybe we could get a real torch. Or I could give Wiig the Palin wig.” ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-god-thank-you-for-not-electing-sarah-palin/471399/91 "2008-11-07T19:49:47Z")
> [@xanthous](#): > > Let me get in on this prayer circle. > > Dear God, > Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you. > > Amen. I’m sorta torn on the whole thing. On the one hand, thank Og she isn’t makin’ changes and settin’ policies in the Senate, or a heartbeat away from runnin’ the fuckin’ country; but on the other hand, now she’s back in Alaska where we get the decidedly unpleasant opportunity to continue to see her on the news periodically. I’m can’t wait to see how she deals with a state senate that is now split evenly between the parties. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-god-thank-you-for-not-electing-sarah-palin/471399/92 "2008-11-07T19:52:02Z")
> [@Tony](#): > > Particularly laughable was when he said her ignorance on matters of geography are not a problem because she “can be tutored. I mean, c’mon, she’s not stupid.” > > Actually, she is. Tutoring when it comes to geography is fine if the person is in third grade, not a person who has “executive experience.” An adult can learn. The problem with her is that she is willfully ignorant and has no interest in educating herself. A tutor is wasted if the student doesn’t give a shit. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-god-thank-you-for-not-electing-sarah-palin/471399/93 "2008-11-07T20:01:16Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > An adult can learn. The problem with her is that she is willfully ignorant and has no interest in educating herself. A tutor is wasted if the student doesn’t give a shit. [Alaska On eBay? Election Numbers Update | HuffPost Latest News](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shannyn-moore/alaska-on-ebay-election-n_b_142021.html) Chiefguy is this a story in Alaska? The vote totals actually dropped . Only in Alaska did that happen. Even after huge rallies and many new registrations. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-god-thank-you-for-not-electing-sarah-palin/471399/94 "2008-11-07T21:28:26Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > [Alaska On eBay? Election Numbers Update | HuffPost Latest News](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shannyn-moore/alaska-on-ebay-election-n_b_142021.html) Chiefguy is this a story in Alaska? The vote totals actually dropped . Only in Alaska did that happen. Even after huge rallies and many new registrations. It’s discussed in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=491623), but it really hasn’t been in the news here at all. I know that the [538.com](http://538.com) people have some very raised eyebrows about it, as it was the only state (I think) that didn’t meet their predictions. Haven’t heard even a whisper of an investigation, though. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-god-thank-you-for-not-electing-sarah-palin/471399/95 "2008-11-09T19:54:09Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Much as I would enjoy believing all this stuff, this seems to continue to be a one source story. Nobody else seems to be able confirm or dig up new supporting material. > > I’m moving this into my bullshit pile. Ok, I take this back. IMO, Sarah herself has confirmed she doesn’t know that Africa is a country. [Here is the interview link.](http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2008/11/09/sarah-palin-calls-critics-jerks-doesnt-rule-out-talk-show/) The relevant quote: > [@](#): > > So, no, I think that if there are allegations based on questions or comments that I made in debate prep about NAFTA, and about the continent versus the country when we talk about Africa there,… Sorry, Sarah, apparently you STILL don’t get that there is not a country called ‘Africa’. ---
**Author:** ![hawksgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ed655f/32.png) [@hawksgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawksgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-god-thank-you-for-not-electing-sarah-palin/471399/96 "2008-11-09T22:57:10Z")
I want to say that this would be an outrageous level of stupidity. But I can’t. I see high school kids almost every day that can’t tell time on an analog clock. Nothing surprises me anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-god-thank-you-for-not-electing-sarah-palin/471399/97 "2008-11-09T23:06:25Z")
> [@hawksgirl](#): > > I want to say that this would be an outrageous level of stupidity. But I can’t. I see high school kids almost every day that can’t tell time on an analog clock. Nothing surprises me anymore. I don’t think any of those high school kids were two steps from the most powerful office in the world last week, though. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-god-thank-you-for-not-electing-sarah-palin/471399/98 "2008-11-09T23:08:58Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Dear **Fish** , > > I had nothing to do with this. You people elect your own leaders and create your own Heaven or Hell. > > Signed, > > YHVH PS I did choose a human as my Anointed One to achieve this superhuman task, but please stop confusing him with Me. He prefers to be addressed simply as “Mr. President-Elect” for now. ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-god-thank-you-for-not-electing-sarah-palin/471399/99 "2008-11-09T23:17:23Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Sorry, Sarah, apparently you STILL don’t get that there is not a country called ‘Africa’. That could just be a(nother) slip of the tongue (and how could it be anything else at this point? That’d be insane.), but… eek! ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-god-thank-you-for-not-electing-sarah-palin/471399/100 "2008-11-09T23:17:44Z")
I would think that someone with her experience and background (no, I’m not being sarcastic) would display more fluency in interviews. Her speech routinely lacks content and is full of meaningless jibber-jabber. The American people really did dodge a bullet in her not being elected. Imagine how cringe-worthy her press conferences would be. I’ll be happy when we can stop talking about this trainwreck of a politician, though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-god-thank-you-for-not-electing-sarah-palin/471399.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-god-thank-you-for-not-electing-sarah-palin/471399.md?page=6)