Washington File

The thing that really gets me about Palin is how she somehow justifies the war in Irag as "God's will". Now I wouldn't really consider myself to be religious but I do know a thing or two about the Bible, and nowhere did I read that it was in "God's will" to kill thy neighbour. People can't pick and choose which rules in the bible they believe and which they don't.

Not to worry we in Canada will survive whether the states elect the two suits or the war hero and the hockey mom.Too bad none of our parties up here doesn't have the guts to find somebody real like Sarah Palin.I bet she's the only one of the four who understands what most regular folks go through every month just to pay the bills.Now if only she didn't shoot guns and believe in god we might not be to "threatened" to listen to her message.....

This is a job bid, two teams come to me to offer their services and goods, what would one look at.

Team One: Is Innovative, amiable, fresh, get’s me fired up, inspired and motivated. Shows me possibilities and positive change. Lays out clearly their game plan, instead of harping about their competitors. Uses visualization sales method. Shows youthfulness and Maturity. Has Diverse appeal, more Diplomatic and Negotiable. An Open club. "We are all in this together" approach, e.g. everyone is an American, strength as a whole.
Plays on Leadership material.(e.g. JFK, Ronald Reagan, FDR, MLK)

Team Two: Confrontational, Rebel, not open to negotiations "my way or the highway" approach.
offers me sarcasm instead of solutions. Vague.Can relate closer to the seniors and retirement pool but is out of touch with many. Uses fear-of-loss sales method. Is defensive or hostile. "Us v.s. Them" approach, e.g. the liberal media, 9/11. Has more Traditional appeal, not much diversity, more Steadfast and Indignant. An Exclusive Club. Plays on sympathies like (e.g. sexism or P.O.W. our troops, or persecution) Victim material.

I’d hire the Obama and Biden Team.

Sarah Palin’s Speech: The Good & Bad From a Business Person Perspective.

Good: Coachable, very well read, brilliantly scripted, I’d say she did a fantastic job of
Rallying the Republican Crowd up. Personal touch, I loved the feisty hockey Moms analogy, a lot of women can relate to that, I can relate to her. Adorable kids. No doubt she’s a great mom. Agrees with a lot of what the Obama/Biden team said about Washington.

Bad: Confrontational, offers sarcasm instead of solutions. Makes it clear,She’s not an approachable person, might not be a team player in any corporation.Works better as an individual if placed in the job pool. Perfect for running a State like Alaska, not a large nation. Shows good Administrative skills. I say let her get more seasoned, build up her skills in the Senate and a few short years from now - I’d vote her for a higher position. For now, Not Executive material.

Jerry from Seattle said: "This woman is real. Get over it and get used to it."

Well, Jerry, she may be real as in flesh and blood. however, she lives in a fantasy world.

I'm not trying to be a muckraker here (okay, I am), but I honestly think that the office of the presidency and/or vice-presidency should be OFF LIMITS to anyone who takes the Bible literally. I mean, come on. When you base your entire life and world view on what is written in ancient storybooks (written by ordinary men), you DO NOT have a firm grasp on REALITY.

The business of governing the most powerful (and dangerous) country in the world should be left to those who are grounded in the real world, guided by logic and reason, and who don't have their judgment clouded by tales of mythical sky Gods that border on the absurd.

Then again, if that were how things ran, then Obama would be out of luck as well.

AMERICA. Where leaders are REQUIRED to believe in invisible sky Gods.

Yay Democracy!!

I have never understood how CBC and its core viewers could be so repulsed by America, yet be so fascinated by their politics.

The most left wing member of the Democratic Party is to the right of the old Canadian Reform party. Democrat does not mean Liberal.

Sarah Palin summed up her views, her administrative style and her potential VP candidacy this way:

"What's the difference between a pit-bull and a hockey mon?... Lipstick."

This, in a complete nutshell, is what the US (and the rest of the world) will get in a VP and stand-in President if McCain and Palin are elected in November.

Obama and Biden had better be ready for a knock-down, drag-out junkyard scrap because this Tonya Harding wannabe WILL go for the groin. The gloves have come off and Obama and Biden better be ready to endure a lot of cheap shots from the Republicans. Mudslinging doesn't even begin to describe what's in store for the Democrats.

If Obama and Biden hope to take the White House, they have to do some key things:

1. Not be dragged to the Republicans' level of discourse.
2. Play up the "Time for Change" card.
3. Watch their backs.
4. Develop a concrete, tangible blueprint for change. Work hard on the substance and not the style.
5. Learn how to use blunt, straight and accurate tactics. Sophistication won't get them past the ballot box in November.

Either way, the US and the rest of the world are in for a 3-D three-ring circus.

Never mind "God Bless America," from now on, it's more like "God Help America."

Libby, you and people like you SHOULD be alarmed! She signaled the beginning of the end of the Obama "Silly Season". "Change" can no longer be passed of as policy. This woman is real. Get over it and get used to it.

It's hard to understand why so much is being read about her from Palin's speech last night when all we really know from it is that she is able to use a teleprompter and can read words written for her by skilled speechwriters.

Republicans are trying to play Palin card because they know that Hillary Clinton's well deserved popularity won the hearts of Americans.
Sure, Sarah Palin is not Hillary. But the fact that even almost unknown politician attracted so much attention at the Convention proves that Democrats lost big. Obama's speeches overshadowed Hillary's knowledge and experience, and it's a sad thing for America.
It should be Hillary Clinton's age in the White House.
Now, Sarah Palin has to beat Obama to show Democrats what they really lost.

I live in the middle east and work at an american university so my only sane US news comes from the CBC website. The possibility of having a red-neck, bible thumping yahoo in line for the presidency terrifies everyone over here. Please tell me that she will have to debate Biden on issues! I am more and more alarmed about the mentality of our US neighbors. Scarier than terrorists!

Lance, let's look more closely at Obama.

Let's look at his 'experience'. He has no business, executive or military experience. He has never managed any business or government of any size.

He is woefully unqualified to be president.

Let's look at his 'judgment'. His friend and financial backer Rezko has been convicted of fraud. He consorts with Bill Ayers, a terrorist, who admitted he built bombs to kill Americans. He considered Rev Wright, a racist whackjob, to be his mentor and sounding board of 20 years. So much for his judgment.

Let's look at his 'accomplishments'. They are so meagre or non-existent as not to be mentioned by any speaker (including himself) at the Democratic convention.

Let's look at his choice for VP. Joe Biden graduated 86 th out of 95 from law school and is an admitted plaigarist. In the race to be the Democratice candidate for president he was made zero impression but did say something which was correct: Obama has no experience to be US president.

Hmmm, looks like the plan for Sarah Palin also included POUNDING Obama all the way back to Hawaii, in her speech. I can still see him flying through the air, I certainly think his team is aware of a "change" in the election after that speech and I think they are now looking deep down in hades for a "hope" to win.

That is the strongest speech I have heard yet in the race. Powerful, politically incorrect comments and the strength of the tone had such force that you have to pity the fool who will go against this woman. In fact the bait is so blatant that you almost want the Democrats to go for it, I feel like I am watching Gladiators, that is what I call free speech.

Only a woman could give a speech of such intense force, it was like watching a maternal instinct unleashed on a soft liberal America that threatens her family. What is it they say about female grizzlies or is that the hockey mom's with lip stick.

I still am in shock that the Democrats messed this up. Hilary would have been able to attack back, it would have been a cat fight with Hilary the winner.

Trying to watch this from a Democratic strategic point of view is baffling, they don't even have a playbook for this situation. Palin's speech was the warm up pitch in good old fashioned hard ball politics but now it isn't the good old boys club playing with each other, it is a ivy league african american, a small town american mom, a war hero, and Biden must be asking how the heck do I get out of here.

Get ready for a show Canada because this one is going to get intense.

Might I add another rebuttal to "Defund the CBC", who says:

"Why has Obama not endured the scrutiny that Mrs. Palin has to endure? What about Rezko, Ayers, Wright, ..."

Are you kidding? Through non-stop coverage, Rezko, Ayers and Wright have become household names in the US. The pundits barely have time to get apoplectic about flag pins, terrorist training in Islamic madrassas and Kenyan ceremonial clothing anymore.

I have spent the last two years splitting my time between the U.S. and Canada and I cannot, for the life of me imagine that Americans will vote for the status quo with McCain. Though sadly I suspect they will.
My problem is the bias demonstrated within this article and the blind hatred written in the comments here. Heaven forbid that she might actually have a brain and win the debate.
Some attacks on her have resembled rabid dogs in their ferocity. Palin should be given the opportunity to sink or swim by her own abilities not taken down by vicious gossip.

Commenting on the article "The Plan for Sarah Palin"

America's housewife? Are we actually referring to a female politician as a housewife? The bias in that article was palpable.

Len. Where do you get your demographic and psychographic information, my man? "Like Canada, the US is divided equally amongst Conservatives and Liberals." Most pollsters out there will tell you that the "liberal" element of Canada accounts for about 65% of the population.

As for Obamania, Palin-gate and experience, well, the Bush regime has and had a tonne of it. And they're doing a great job...

Obama vs Palin continued.

2. Work Experience
Obama
-Business International Corporation. Owned by the Economist group it assists American Companies doing business internationally.
-New York Public Interest Research Group. Non-Partisan political research group.
-Professor of Constitutional Law at University of Chicago (12 years)
-Civil Rights Attorney
-Director, Developing Communities Project – which assists young Americans in getting a college education, among other things.
-Published two books
-Served on the boards of several noted charitable and philanthropic organizations.

Palin
-Worked briefly as a television sports reporter
-Helped with her husbands fishing business.
-Came second in a beauty contest.

3. Political experience
Obama
-Elected three times to the Illinois Senate where he is credited with creating legislation to crack down on electoral fraud, climate change and nuclear terrorism. Total nine years in State Senate.
-Elected to the United States Senate in 2004. Four years in Congress.

Palin
-One term as councilor and two as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska. Population: 6,715. Lowered local taxes and built a recreation centre. Fired a number of individuals who didn’t support her campaign.
-One and a half years into her first term as Governor of Alaska. Being investigated by the Alaska Legislature for abuse of power and improper actions. Her record already contains a litany of controversial, self-serving and strange political decisions.

4. International Travel
Obama
-During his term in Congress Obama has travelled on official business to Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Obama has travelled extensively throughout his career.

Palin
-Has left United States soil twice in her life. Once on vacation in Ireland, and the other time to Germany and Kuwait on strictly ceremonial business.

----So Defund---- You are a troll – planting lies. This time you got caught.

How “Defund the CBC” can claim that Sarah Palin has “more experience than Obama” is an outrageous statement which must be challenged. That Obama has yet to have one accomplishment named by any of his supporters is an outright lie. Defund – you are being debunked.

Obama vs Palin

1. Education
Obama
-Occidental College in Los Angeles. 2 years.
-Graduate Columbia University with Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and International Relations
-Graduate Harvard Law School, served as Editor in chief of Harvard Law Review supervising 80 editors. Graduated with Juris Doctor and Magna Cumj Laude.

Palin
-One Semester Pacific College in Hawaii
-Graduate University of Idaho with Bachelor of Science in Communications and Journalism.

---more to come---

I don't know why many of the comments refer to Palin as the ace card that McCain is using to win the presidency? The reality is that this is politics; here in Canada or abroad; it is a dirty game of who can lie more and not be caught, just long enough until they get elected. I am a supporter of Obama, just because he seems to hit the right notes, but at the same time, this is exactly what is worrying me. The presidency is also a JOB and who doesn't lie or exaggerate the truth to get the job?

Its quite hilarious to read these silly comments from completely clueless right wing Americans as well as the hopelessly ignorant conservative Canadians defending This DANGEROUS lunatic Palin

If you folks support her radical Evangelical beliefs then I truly feel sorry for u...seriously

Sad Sad state of society today!!!

Yet another reason to end the taxpayer subsidization of CBC, could they be any more in the tank for Obama? What happened to journalistic integrity?

Palin has more experience than Obama. Why has Obama not endured the scrutiny that Mrs. Palin has to endure? What about Rezko, Ayers, Wright, the Annenberg Papers, and his yet to be named accomplishments.

Obama has yet to have one accomplishment mentioned by any of his supporters.

If I may respond to No Sunglasses - I'm neither elitist nor urbocentric. I'm a small-towner now living in TO, and I'm simply observant. The US has managed to keep its population over-fed, over-stimulated, and under-educated while providing very carefully controlled mainstream media. Unless the population at large cares to know more, learn more or do more about the candidates on the slate, then the GOP will be re-elected WITHOUT having to steal the election as they did in 2000. Obama's both smart and intelligent, but oh my God, does he have a tough row to hoe. How do you wake up 330 million people?

Obama is obviously his own man and has the confidence to be in charge. McCain and Palin hide. Which would you want to lead?

Every time anyone over there speaks publicly they always end with: "God bless America".
All I can say is: "God help America, and Canada too, for that matter".

Like Canada, the U.S. is divided equally amongst Conservatives and Liberals so the election will be close no matter who the candidates are. If Palin is as tough as everyone says she is, she will show it during the campaign and earn the respect bestowed upon her by being selected as John McCain's runningmate. So let's sit back and see if she delivers...

If America embraces a secessionist flip-flopper political neophyte to be one heartbeat away from the most powerful position in the world, then I would say the world will be the loser.

I sincerely hope you are wrong Henry. If no one will challenge her ignorance, then their whole primary process is a farce.

McCain hasn't held a news conference since August 13. All of his speeches are now read directly off the teleprompter. His long-planned interview on CNN's Larry King last night was cancelled at the last minute. Reporters are no longer allowed on the Straight Talk Express. Without Joe Lieiberman whispering in his ear reminding him of the differences between Sunnis and Shias, Iran and Pakistan, and probably even day and night, McCain's handlers won't let him come anywhere close to an unscripted moment.

Sarah Palin will never have a news conference. Could you imagine some of the questions that would be put to her?

The National Enquirer, which actually broke the Bristol Palin baby story, now reports that Mommy Palin was forcing her 17-year old child to get married immediately after the GOP convention, and only then would they break the news to the world that the girl was pregnant (but married!). The little girl refused... now wonder she looks so depressed in all the recent photos.

And now it's learned that Sarah Palin, the Queen of Family Values, actually conceived her first child before she was married! Yes, it's true! No comment from the McCain campaign though.

What a disater this is turning out to be! Did McCain ever drop the ball on this one. Is this the guy you want answering that 3am phone call at the White House!?

Henry's last point about Palin's upcoming debate with Biden is bang on in my opinion. Surely this was one of the main reasons for the McCain campaign to select her, because it puts Biden on a debating tightrope with the coveted Independents. Go too soft on Palin and the debate is a wash. Go too hard on Palin and it resonates badly amongst both independent men & women who are more likely to have moderately conservative gender values.

I also agree that the nomination is likely meant to shore up the evangelical base. It seems to come right out of a West Wing plotline in fact. However, I wonder if this move was really necessary, as history has shown that Republicans are far more likely to hold their noses and vote for the candidate regardless of their views. It's much more a Democrat problem to have voters stay home on election day because they're not 100% for the candidate.

The GOP machine has become the new benchmark at mobilizing their base. In contrast, the Democratic base has been slowly whiddled away, as more minorities achieve success and want to protect what they have from others, as unions continue to become less of a voting block, and as the urbanized poor face increasing difficulties even getting to polls which have been migrated out to the suburbs.

Combined with the GOP's well-honed attack machine, it is still Obama & Biden who have the hardest journey over these last two months to win the White House.

Champ's on the money with this article.

It is what it is. I don't get emotional in politics but this game of political chess was McCain sneaking a pawn to the end of the board and going Queen me and check at the same time to the Democrats.

They will be on the defensive till November and if they go on the offensive it will blow back at them and create further sympathy for Palin.

Strategically, I almost feel sorry for the Democrats, it is like watching the high school chess winner play Bobby Fisher. Why oh why did they sacrifice their Queen, (Hilary) so late in the game...

tall deep voice is showing that elitest view that is evident in liberal, democrat, big city know it alls, hedging his bets with the sage view that if McCain/Palin do get elected it will be the stupid and gullible masses that do it. How sad!

Now that the comics are having a field day with jokes about shotgun weddings in Alaska (with guess who totin' the shotgun?) and McCain looking thoroughly rueful, I'd like to think that the GOP is quite "verkackt". (Although one should never underestimate the gullibility and mass stupidity of the common US herd.) How electable is this pair? It appears to be less and less every day.