Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 "Rumor had it there was free Hannah Montana tickets - " Man, McCain should have picked Hannah Montana for his VP...then he would really have sealed the youth vote too!!
Originally Posted By Ursula How insulting to my gender. She should just put on her big girl panties and have at it. Lord knows I've had to do that many times in my male-dominated career.
Originally Posted By mele LOL! It's totally true. I thought Sarah was tough...but she needs to be protected from WORDS? Great. She's a hockey mom who kills animals in her spare time but she's afraid of questions? Great. But it's the Dems who are sexist?
Originally Posted By gadzuux <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26853766/" target="_blank">http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26853766/</a> Palin relents on reporter ban Campaign spokeswoman says it was all just a 'miscommunication' Associated Press 9:53 a.m. PT, Tues., Sept. 23, 2008 NEW YORK - Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, who has not held a press conference in nearly four weeks of campaigning, initially barred reporters from her first meetings with world leaders Tuesday, but reversed course after they protested. At first, campaign aides told the TV producer, print and news agency reporters in the press pool that followed the Alaska governor that they would not be admitted along with still photographers and a video camera crew taken in to photograph her meetings with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, who are here for the United Nations General Assembly this week. She also was to meet later with former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. These sessions and meetings scheduled for Wednesday are part of the Republican campaign's effort to give Palin experience in foreign affairs. She has never met a foreign head of state and first traveled outside North America just last year. [My Note - how ridiculous is this? Shaking hands with some people for a photo op at the UN is now considered "foreign policy experience"? Are they kidding?] At least two news organizations, including The Associated Press, objected to the exclusion of reporters and were told that the decision was not subject to discussion. Presidents and members of Congress routinely allow reporters to attend photo opportunities along with photographers and the reporters sometimes are able to ask questions during the brief photo sessions, usually held at the beginning of private meetings. CNN, which was providing the television coverage for news organizations, decided to pull its TV crew from the first meeting, with Karzai, effectively denying Palin the high visibility she had sought. But after the campaign agreed to let CNN's producer in as well, the CNN camera crew joined the session. According to the CNN producer who was let into Karzai's hotel suite with the photographers just before noon, Karzai was talking about his son. Palin was nodding, and asked what his name is. Karzai replied his name was Mirwais and explained that it means light of the house. The media were escorted out after about 40 seconds. Campaign aides subsequently announced that reporters would be allowed to accompany photographers into the later sessions with Uribe and Kissinger. At that point, campaign spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt said it was all just a "miscommunication." Earlier, she had said, "The decision was made for this to be a photo spray with still cameras and video cameras only." ----------------------------------------- I know I'm repeating myself, but these kinds of tactics and maneuvers can only highlight how unprepared this woman is for the job. We were joking last week about giving her a tour of epcot to expand her world knowledge - this isn't much better. The idea that they can shield their candidate from the press during the entire campaign is a clear indicator of desparation and fear. Also a tacit acknowlegement that she's not capable of speaking to the press. So who believes she's capable of being vice president? And then - as a reflection of the overall tone and tenor of the McCain campaign - they lie. They were as explicit as could be that reporters would not be permitted during these photo ops. Then, buckling to pressure, they fob it off as a "miscommunication". Why would anyone support this woman? Give me one good reason. She's already served her only purpose - to energize the conservatives and christians and anybody else dumb enough to get excited over her. Palin's nomination is one of the most gravenly political calcuations of modern politics. And speaks the the cynicism and lack of personal integrity of McCain himself.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>Why would anyone support this woman? Give me one good reason.<< 'Cause she's "real". So real, that she needs to go 4 weeks with no press conference while seeking the second-highest office in the land. How people go on defending this, well, it escapes me. Because if it were Hillary Clinton, these Palin apologists wouldn't be giving her this free pass, you can bet your adjustable rate mortgage on that.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney An entire 40 seconds of press coverage after relenting about it huh? Hell, that's been the most the press has gotten to her outside of her campaign speech stomps in weeks.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <[My Note - how ridiculous is this? Shaking hands with some people for a photo op at the UN is now considered "foreign policy experience"? Are they kidding?] > They were hoping for just the photo op - Sarah shakes hands with Karzai and boom! - instant "foreign policy experience." The thing is, visuals are powerful. And that visual would be all some people already predisposed to like Palin would need to be convinced she's "ready."
Originally Posted By oc_dean >>Why would anyone support this woman? Give me one good reason. She's already served her only purpose - to energize the conservatives and christians and anybody else dumb enough to get excited over her.<< Give me a big high-five! Best Summary I've ever heard on Miss Palin!
Originally Posted By DlandDug >>[My Note - how ridiculous is this? Shaking hands with some people for a photo op at the UN is now considered "foreign policy experience"? Are they kidding?]<< Hey, it sort of worked for Obama when he played basketball with the troops. Or am I just being cynical?
Originally Posted By gadzuux >> Hey, it sort of worked for Obama when he played basketball with the troops. Or am I just being cynical? << He went there with a specific intention to meet and spend time with the troops. So yeah, you're being cynical. You'd be hard-pressed to out-cynical me though. However, if you'll recall, that he was criticized by conservative pundits anyway - for not spending time with the troops. Sometimes you can't win for trying.
