Rejecting Palin, Alaska's Largest Paper Endorses Obama-Biden

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell, conservative commentator Christopher Buckley and others have cited Republican presidential nominee John McCain's selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin in explaining their reasons for rejecting the Republican ticket and backing Democrats Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

Now comes the ultimate rejection.

The largest newspaper in Alaska, a publication that has often sided with and encouraged Palin over the years, has endorsed the Democratic ticket.

The major daily newspaper editorial page that knows Alaska's governor best acknowledges in today's editions of Alaska's most widely-circulated newspaper that "Governor Palin's nomination clearly alters the landscape for Alaskans as we survey this race for the presidency..."

"But, the paper's editors add, in a note that speaks volumes about that quiet discussions going on among thinking Alaskans as the November 4 election approaches, "it does not overwhelm all other judgment."

Reflecting on McCain's selection of their state's controversial chief executive, the Daily News editors allow that, "Governor Palin has shown the country why she has been so successful in her young political career. Passionate, charismatic and indefatigable, she draws huge crowds and sows excitement in her wake. She has made it clear she's a force to be reckoned with, and you can be sure politicians and political professionals across the country have taken note. Her future, in Alaska and on the national stage, seems certain to be played out in the limelight."

"Yet," they add, "despite her formidable gifts, few who have worked closely with the governor would argue she is truly ready to assume command of the most important, powerful nation on earth. To step in and juggle the demands of an economic meltdown, two deadly wars and a deteriorating climate crisis would stretch the governor beyond her range. Like picking Senator McCain for president, putting her one 72-year-old heartbeat from the leadership of the free world is just too risky at this time."

It is difficult to imagine that any individual or publication will offer a more convincing -- nor a more devastating -- critique of the McCain-Palin ticket than the Daily News presents Sunday under the headline: "Obama for President: Palin's rise captivates us but nation needs a steady hand."

Here is the editorial in it entirety:

Alaska enters its 50th-anniversary year in the glow of an improbable and highly memorable event: the nomination of Governor Sarah Palin as the Republican vice presidential candidate. For the first time ever, an Alaskan is making a serious bid for national office, and in doing so she brings broad attention and recognition not only to herself, but also to the state she leads.

Alaska's founders were optimistic people, but even the most farsighted might have been stretched to imagine this scenario. No matter the outcome in November, this election will mark a signal moment in the history of the 49th state. Many Alaskans are proud to see their governor, and their state, so prominent on the national stage.

Governor Palin's nomination clearly alters the landscape for Alaskans as we survey this race for the presidency -- but it does not overwhelm all other judgment. The election, after all is said and done, is not about Sarah Palin, and our sober view is that her running mate, Senator John McCain, is the wrong choice for president at this critical time for our nation.

Senator Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee, brings far more promise to the office. In a time of grave economic crisis, he displays thoughtful analysis, enlists wise counsel and operates with a cool, steady hand. The same cannot be said of Senator McCain.

Since his early acknowledgement that economic policy is not his strong suit, Senator McCain has stumbled and fumbled badly in dealing with the accelerating crisis as it emerged. He declared that "the fundamentals of our economy are strong" at 9 a.m. one day and by 11 a.m. was describing an economy in crisis. He is both a longtime advocate of less market regulation and a supporter of the huge taxpayer-funded Wall Street bailout. His behavior in this crisis -- erratic is a kind description -- shows him to be ill-equipped to lead the essential effort of reining in a runaway financial system and setting an anxious nation on course to economic recovery.

Senator Obama warned regulators and the nation 19 months ago that the subprime lending crisis was a disaster in the making. Senator McCain backed tighter rules for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, but didn't do much to advance that legislation. Of the two candidates, Senator Obama better understands the mortgage meltdown's root causes and has the judgment and intelligence to shape a solution, as well as the leadership to rally the country behind it. It is easy to look at Senator Obama and see a return to the smart, bipartisan economic policies of the last Democratic administration in Washington, which left the country with the momentum of growth and a budget surplus that President George Bush has squandered.

On the most important issue of the day, Senator Obama is a clear choice.

Senator McCain describes himself as a maverick, by which he seems to mean that he spent 25 years trying unsuccessfully to persuade his own party to follow his bipartisan, centrist lead. Sadly, maverick John McCain didn't show up for the campaign. Instead we have candidate McCain, who embraces the extreme Republican orthodoxy he once resisted and cynically asks Americans to buy for another four years.

It is Senator Obama who truly promises fundamental change in Washington. You need look no further than the guilt-by-association lies and sound-bite distortions of the degenerating McCain campaign to see how readily he embraces the divisive, fear-mongering tactics of Karl Rove. And while Senator McCain points to the fragile success of the troop surge in stabilizing conditions in Iraq, it is also plain that he was fundamentally wrong about the more crucial early decisions. Contrary to his assurances, we were not greeted as liberators; it was not a short, easy war; and Americans -- not Iraqi oil -- have had to pay for it. It was Senator Obama who more clearly saw the danger ahead.

The unqualified endorsement of Senator Obama by a seasoned, respected soldier and diplomat like General Colin Powell, a Republican icon, should reassure all Americans that the Democratic candidate will pass muster as commander in chief.

On a matter of parochial interest, Senator Obama opposes the opening of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, but so does Senator McCain. We think both are wrong, and hope a President Obama can be convinced to support environmentally responsible development of that resource.

Governor Palin has shown the country why she has been so successful in her young political career. Passionate, charismatic and indefatigable, she draws huge crowds and sows excitement in her wake. She has made it clear she's a force to be reckoned with, and you can be sure politicians and political professionals across the country have taken note. Her future, in Alaska and on the national stage, seems certain to be played out in the limelight.

Yet despite her formidable gifts, few who have worked closely with the governor would argue she is truly ready to assume command of the most important, powerful nation on earth. To step in and juggle the demands of an economic meltdown, two deadly wars and a deteriorating climate crisis would stretch the governor beyond her range. Like picking Senator McCain for president, putting her one 72-year-old heartbeat from the leadership of the free world is just too risky at this time.

Comments (53)

1. I guess if you are a Christian fundamentalist the McCain/Palin ticket is more than exciting. But, a lot of us see it as more of the same nonsense that has been going on for 8 years now. An Administration that has no respect for laws or following them but makes them up as they go. Who have no respect for the American people or the Constitution. The kind of people who will abuse their power and use it for their own selfish interests. Who will continue on with the same failed policies of George W Bush and the Republican hierarchy. There isn't much of a decision to make when it comes to who to vote for this election of 2008!

   Posted by ganddw42 at 10/26/2008 @ 09:56am

2. The Daily News is merely recognizing what 55% of the country recognizes...

   Sarah Palin isn't qualified to be Veep (i.e. to be Prez if something happened to McCain) and McCain CHOOSING her to be Veep...proves his judgement flawed...

   and that's all he ever had going for him.

   Posted by Maskdelta at 10/26/2008 @ 10:10am

3. Something good came out of Alaska, I have hope for our Russian neighbors!

   Posted by truthandjustice at 10/26/2008 @ 10:39am

4. Shhhhhh...

   Everybody keep the Alaska jokes down.

   Let's pretend we're taking anything coming out of Alaska serious while this topic runs.

   In a few days we can go back to the moose, glacier, sled dog, hunting, and gun jokes.

   Posted by bleedingheart at 10/26/2008 @ 10:40am

5. Palin has little to worry about as regards her financial future. Im sure the offers from the right wing after they lose the election will ensure her future.

   I wouldn't say as much for McSame. Who will just fade into a crack somewhere. Hell, there was some hollywood type hyping Palin as a new Hollywoood Action Hero in the vein of Angelina Jolie on MSNBC.

   We live in interesting times..

   Posted by chaoszen at 10/26/2008 @ 10:54am

6. Just who is this Sarah Palin?

   What is it about her that she does not understand American governance but regards the state as her own sovietized instrument with which to settle personal scores, aggrandize her own endless and hideously narcisistic vanity, and buy un-needed junk while passing the bill onto the community?

   What of her freakazoid religion that she appears eager to ram down other people's throats with ludicrous talk of George W. Loser's vanity war as G-d's mission?

   Has Palin ever been in the pro-American enclaves where people work and achieve and do not dictate their faith to others? Or has she only been within the insular bubble of secesionist lowlifes and creeps like her pal "Black Helicopter Steve"?

   And, when they are not punching themselves out and then trying to blame other people for it, what is it about the contemporary Repugnant Party that it is so set on tokenistically promoting the unqualified -- such as George W. AffirmativeActionForTheRich who owes his un-deserved place at Yale to a legacy admission (Daddy went there) and his woefully un-earned place in the White House to Daddy's SCOTUS appointments?

   Posted by PhilMcCrevice at 10/26/2008 @ 10:57am

7. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNQRfBAzSzo

   nuff said

   Posted by leftofcenter at 10/26/2008 @ 11:07am

8. Posted by bleedingheart at 10/26/2008 @ 10:40am

   Yes and in a few days you (as "bleedingheart" "Nader supporter") will disappear from this blog....

   though you may return as a new nick and more honestly, as the Republican you are!

   heheh

   Posted by Maskdelta at 10/26/2008 @ 11:11am

9. RIP: Nixon's southern strategy.

   40 years of hate & fear & ignorance, over at last.

   Benighted bigots will not vanish, but there will no longer be enough of them to decide national elections.

   Posted by sloper at 10/26/2008 @ 11:19am

10. "...among thinking Alaskans..."

    I just kind of cringed at this phrase. Not my article to write but I think "among the thoughtful Alaskans" has a "kinder, gentler" tone. Those same Alaskans had a LOT of courage and wisdom to dismiss the pressure and do what had to be done. And a lot of folks in the lower 48 are, well, just plain thoughtless. End of PC rant.

    Posted by A_Pax_On_Your_Houses at 10/26/2008 @ 11:55am

11. Posted by sloper at 10/26/2008 @ 11:19am

    If Obama wins North Carolina....the "Solid South" is broken. It took Jimmy Carter and Watergate to break int ONCE in 1976.

    But if a Southern state votes for an African-American liberal, the old days are gone for good.

    The even scarier thing (for proponents of the "Southern Strategy") is that GEORGIA has been polled at only "LEANING McCain". He shouldn't be less than 10 points ahead down there in ANY poll!

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/26/2008 @ 11:57am

12. Every minute spent roasting Palin is a gift to Bush... as her job clearly is to distract the left-wing from an assiduous appraisal of the Bush administration's consistent violations of the 'public trust' as they sit out their term in the White house 'letting the chips fall' where they may...

    Palin's goofy provincial countenance has little to do with the financial crisis, Bush's 'wrong way down a one way street' approach to world-wide diplomacy, or the misappropriation of hundreds of billions of dollars to intrinsically centralized, morally questionable, and provocative military technology... money that would have been more logically spent on R and D for the civilian technological revolution we are on the brink of... that (incidentally) represents 'the real economy'...

    ...that allows us to skillfully make this pending evolutionary leap... into the 'peaceful pondering' of our 'civilization changing' 21st century new world agenda...

    Until we set our sights higher... we can't do the 'good work' that has always been America's way of effectively undermining barbaric societies...

    The world is waiting... let's not disappoint them again...

    Posted by ttr at 10/26/2008 @ 11:59am

13. Posted by ttr at 10/26/2008 @ 11:59am

    A high five on that, good buddy.

    Posted by A_Pax_On_Your_Houses at 10/26/2008 @ 12:21pm

14. APOYH 10/26/2008 @ 12:21pm

    CLACK!

    Posted by ttr at 10/26/2008 @ 12:36pm

15. If Obama wins North Carolina....the "Solid South" is broken. But if a Southern state votes for an African-American liberal, the old days are gone for good. Posted by Maskdelta at 10/26/2008 @ 11:57am

    True enough. We live in historical times. Almost unreal. The political landscape will be changed forever, if it already hasn't been.

    The irony is it took the worst President in U.S. history to bring about this change.

    Thank You! George W. Bush. You may still yet be looked at fondly at some distant future.

    Posted by chaoszen at 10/26/2008 @ 12:54pm

16. Watch for Palin to negotiate lucrative publishing and broadcast deals for herself. Her wish to be media star (has)will come true, by means which are ever more revealing of the incestuous relationship of big media and politics.

    Posted by OneVote at 10/26/2008 @ 12:56pm

17. and if one considers ALL factors, however distasteful, Magic's chances of dying in office is conceivably greater than McCain's!-----Posted by HAPPYLonghorn at 10/26/2008 @ 12:21pm

    Gotta love a HAPPY rationalization...

    "Don't be afraid of Palin as Veep, McCain's in fine health and it's more likely Obama will be assassinated!"

    Oh, that's going to win over LOTS of folks, huh?

    Meanwhile David Brooks, David Frum, Peggy Noonan, Christopher Buckley, Kathleen Parker, Colin Powell, etc., etc., etc., etc.....

    don't seem to be buying it!

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/26/2008 @ 1:09pm

18. Magic's chances of dying in office is conceivably greater than McCain's! Posted by HAPPYLonghorn at 10/26/2008 @ 12:21pm

    I may have to talk to a friend in the F.B.I. Looks like they may close Guantanamo before a few of the real Terrorists are rounded up and questioned.

    Posted by chaoszen at 10/26/2008 @ 1:23pm

19. OUCH!!!!!>

    Posted by eniobob at 10/26/2008 @ 1:23pm

20. After checking out this article on the Anchorage Daily News' page, it seems that many of the readers did not necessarily agree with this endorsement. I think it may speak more for the paper than for the Alaskan voters.

    By the way, I'm interested to know why this story hasn't broken on CNN or Daily Source.

    Posted by KAMitchell1 at 10/26/2008 @ 1:38pm

21. I was elated to read the ADN has come out to support Obama/Biden. I went to their site and read the editorial and thought it was very well written. I have cast and mailed my ballot, so for me, it is done. My choice was vote democrat or not at all. I have always been registered independent. I do not believe in the two party system. It is clearly unhealty and divisive. Republicans and their politics are disgusting and revulsive to me. They are selfish to the extreme. They are greatly deceived. They are wrong, stupid, ignorant, a thousand words I could use and go on forever. I have a long time very good friend who is staunch Catholic and Republican. Amazingly, we are still friends during these trying times, but we value our friendship more than we do political views. The good God we both believe in, is opening his eyes, and he is re-examining his beliefs and values, as I constantly do as I bcome more awake and consciously aware and continue to grow as a person. We are all in this reality together. We should be for the welfare and good of us all an at the global level. We should all be working together. Sarah Palin revolts and disgusts me and when this election is over, I hope to never see her face or hear her name again unless it is at impeachment hearings. Same for Bush and his buddies. No argument can stand with me regarding these horrible people. I hope the democrats get the majorities they need in the House and Senate because at this time, this is clearly what we need to get speedy legislation through to try and fix this mess. I'm for more EQUALITY and fairness than anything else. I'm for all people. I'm for ethics, integrity and HONOR, which go beyond any imperfect man made law. I'm for doing the right thing, which goes way beyond money.

    Posted by oneofmany at 10/26/2008 @ 2:38pm

22. Our country just launched an unprovoked terrorist attack on the sovereign nation of Syria. The timing is undoubtedly focused on raising tensions in order to influence our upcoming election.

    I would suspect the dark lord Cheney at the root of this.

    Why haven't these prople been arrested? The ones responsible are agents of government sponsored Terrorism.

    This unlawfull act will have dangerous repurcussions in coming days.

    The media is only mentioning it as an aside at this point.. Disgusting.

    Posted by chaoszen at 10/26/2008 @ 4:35pm

23. I guess if you are a Christian fundamentalist the McCain/Palin ticket is more than exciting.

    Posted by ganddw42 at 10/26/2008 @ 09:56am

    Well, they are exciting, in the way that car crashes are exciting, the kind of thing that you can't not watch, no matter how hard you try.

    Posted by skeletonman at 10/26/2008 @ 5:50pm

24. Palin must really be a great governor. Her number one newspaper endorsed someone else. She must feel great. She is so funny on SNL. She may have her own talk show. McCain and Palin have thrown Bush under the bus. Soon we will see republicans throw them under the bus as well. Then America will throw two people under the bus. But there is one more- Joe the fake plumber. He must go under the bus.

    Posted by drjalee52 at 10/26/2008 @ 6:46pm

25. Yay!

    So they reject the religious fanatic and the PTSD sufferer, to endorse the AIPAC whore, and the hypocrite.

    Yayyyy!

    Posted by TexasFlood at 10/26/2008 @ 6:46pm

26. It's the liberal media conspiracy!

    It couldn't just be the paper endorsing their chosen candidate, it's a big conspiracy against the republicans...

    Spoooooooky.

    Posted by TexasFlood at 10/26/2008 @ 7:37pm

27. Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/26/2008 @ 7:04pm

    Yeah, LL....it really shows where YOU sit on the political spectrum when the main newspaper in ...ALASKA...is "far left"!

    LOL.....At this rate, the Birmingham (AL) News and Deseret News (SLC, UT) will labelled as "Pravda"!

    (Ooops, forgot...Deseret News is Mormon and their WORSE than Commies to you...heheh)

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/26/2008 @ 8:07pm

28. Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/26/2008 @ 8:11pm

    What is the "fine distinction" between saying the Anchorage Daily News IS "far left"...

    and saying "their conclusions in this editorial as being more like the far left LA Times".

    A one-time "anomaly" in their editorial stance?????

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/26/2008 @ 8:13pm

29. Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/26/2008 @ 8:17pm

    But given THIS ONE editorial by the ADN...

    you judge them "comparable" to the "far left LA Times"?

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/26/2008 @ 8:21pm

30. lvliberty -

    I wanted to recommend you a great book, non partisan, which might help you, at least be more interesting in your posts.

    It is called "getting to yes" and was written by three lawyers from Harvard (probably very elite, but intelligent none the less - Roger Fisher, William L. Ury, Bruce Patton), on conflict dealing.

    They make an interesting point in that book, a very often overlooked fact by many right leaning individuals...

    ...that being right on your own doesn't amount to much. And being right in general means a whole lot less than what people actually feel...

    The rest of the book is pretty interesting too.

    I apologise for my impatience, it just seems like so much is at stake at the moment, and your being right and feeling justified is about, is at the bottom of the pile.

    Posted by marilynm at 10/26/2008 @ 8:24pm

31. I will remain passionate in my belief that an Obama presidency is dangerous for the future of our nation. Especially when coupled with large majorities of Democrats in both halls of Congress.

    Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/26/2008 @ 8:54pm

    well, the last 8 years of coca-cola were a real hit, eh.....

    maybe let pepsi have a chance.

    remember, pepsi is what <i>REALLY</i> "TORE DOWN THAT WALL!!!!!"

    Posted by frosty zoom at 10/26/2008 @ 9:26pm

32. Lvliberty -

    I try to stay away from the whole "belief" thing when it comes to politics. When I hear people say "I believe..." it always sends a chill down my spine.

    I was on an airplane the other day, talking with a complete stranger about politics, and this person suddenly, from out of nowhere asked me whether I was a catholic.

    It had been an interesting and gentle conversation up till this point. I had to let her know, as tactfully as I could, that where I come from we don't usually talk about our beliefs in public, especially at the same time we talk about politics. It is considered to be dangerous and also impolite to mix the two.

    I never feel "right" when it comes to my beliefs. The interesting thing about belief is it doesn't seem open to debate, the ideas of right and wrong, in the same way politics and philosophy are.

    I wont argue with your belief, because as you say yourself, there is no possibility to change someone else's belief.

    Don't you find it uncomfortable to connect government and governing with belief? Do you feel that your political ideas are beliefs?

    Barack Obama has all the solid qualities and qualifications for the mindbogglingly difficult job of Pres. of USA. This is not my belief, it is my opinion though. And he is assuredly more qualified than his opponents. This seems to be a fact, but not to everyone. There are very many reasons to support BO in his candidacy, almost none of them related to belief. We must hope and trust he is rational enough to leave his beliefs outside the OvalOffice when he gets there, and just take his political acumen, empathy and energy in. Unlike those who went before.

    I still recommend the book, it is excellent.

    Posted by marilynm at 10/26/2008 @ 9:45pm

33. <i>Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/26/2008 @ 8:33pm </i>

    Right; this is the line of argument that Mask just seems to ignore. Your argument is that their neutrality is at best suspect given a substantial distortion of the facts. Whether accurate or not, Mask should at least give this argument the dignity of a response instead of pretending he's responding to it while he simply ignores it.

    Posted by Thrawn at 10/26/2008 @ 9:47pm

34. belief - confidence in the truth or existence of something not immediately susceptible to rigorous proof

    opinion - a personal view, attitude, or appraisal

    I must confess to not being so inclined to always find opinion very convincing either these days.

    As if having an opinion and stating it was all one needed to be considered noteworthy.

    Posted by marilynm at 10/26/2008 @ 9:50pm

35. Posted by Thrawn at 10/26/2008 @ 9:47pm

    THRAWN (and LVLIB), I am simply not accepting the "It's like the far left LA Times...but they may be completely right the REST of the time" weird-ass rationalization that LVLIB is trying to make.

    Either the ADN editorial board is somehow schizophrenic and "this one time" is sounding "far left"....or it's likely that they believe such things on a routine basis

    Or.....that anything pro-Obama is automatically called "far left" by LVLIB and he's set the bar for "leftist" so far to the center...maybe into the Right, that it's ridiculous.

    Guess which idea I'm going with????

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/26/2008 @ 9:55pm

36. Here is some important information. Sarah Palin, Warrior Princess for God http://marlenewinell.net/node/129

    Palin is on a mission from God and she's fighting a spiritual war. While that may sound extreme, it is exactly the mindset she has. It fits the bible-believing fundamentalist/evangelical subculture she is part of and it fits her language and behavior. Most people who have not been a "born-again" true believer do not realize what all of this really means. But the idea of Palin serving in high office is alarming to many former believers. Having been there myself, including an upbringing in the Assemblies of God Church, I will try to connect the dots and explain why this is serious

    Shorter Open Letter to Sarah Palin: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/valerie-tarico

    By Marlene Winell, PhD. http://marlenewinell.net/node

    Posted by ChagrinChagrin at 10/26/2008 @ 10:41pm

37. Anchorage Times article is very... er ....Alaskan.

    All they said was "She doesn't have the experience she needs".

    I can live with that. I'm tired of someone who wants that much power who says "kinda', and "sorta" and "you betcha" as she makes bizarre geographic and economic generalizations, and she speaks of the socialism she knows nothing about. Not to mention all the spaeaking in tongues crap which I feel is just plain phoney balony religious quackery. Add all that up and I agree with the article.

    But then they went and added polarization into the argument by reminding us that they were for drilling in ANWAR. Guess you can't have everything.

    There's a lot of smart people up there. Been there many times. But there is also that 'we've-gotta-conquer-nature-and-make-her-bend to-our-will' thing. And there's a lot of 'almost-a-libertarian' stuff in local politics. Visit Alaska, though... it's stunning.

    Posted by ficheye at 10/27/2008 @ 01:01am

38. If it quacks, waddles, and shakes it's tailfeathers like a commie, it probably is a commie.

    Posted by A_Pax_On_Your_Houses at 10/27/2008 @ 03:07am

39. That is why everything starts with belief.

    Posted by Darin_the_Troll at 10/27/2008 @

    WRONG!!!!

    Everything starts with presence. The ONE, the ALL in ALL. I thought you were Christian (with a capital C).

    Posted by Truthman at 10/27/2008 @ 09:20am

40. After this fiasco, Gov Palin will not likely see the light of day. Her 15 minutes of fame are up! Why? She's unscrupulous, lies without blinking, abusive, far too right, and sorely lacking in the basics of higher education. She might be charasmatic, but she is sorely lacking in elegance, good judgment, thoughtfulness, integrity and the list goes on and on. Either you have class or you don't. It's not something you can pretend. You're born with it. She's not!

    Posted by Isabella17 at 10/27/2008 @ 09:27am

41. Sometimes the hypocrisy and IRONY meet at a magnificent nexus...

    "Do you believe in absolutes? Do you believe that democracy is the only legitimate form of government?"-----Posted by Darin_the_Troll at 10/27/2008 @ 08:58am

    So Darin you DON'T believe in some absolutes or that democracy is the only legitimate form of government?

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/27/2008 @ 09:55am

42. Posted by Isabella17 at 10/27/2008 @ 09:27am

    It's becoming increasingly obvious (from leaks within the McCain SIDE of the McCain/Palin campaign)....that Saint Sarah is making her move for...2012, not 2008.

    I think she's got just enough brains to see this year as a loser in the making....but not enough brains (and PLENTY of EGO) to think that all this adoration she's getting from the base, can be parlayed into getting the TOP slot as GOP nominee in 2012.

    The McCain folks are all set to blame her for a defeat....and vice-versa. But if she gets the base behind her (and they are stupidly suicidal), she might win the nom in 4 years without the McCains, David Brooks, David Frums, Peggy Noonans, Christopher Buckleys, etc.

    (and naturally, if she does, those folks and a LOT of sane Republicans know that Obama would cruise to an easy "Reagan-1984" re-election victory in '12.)

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/27/2008 @ 10:00am

43. We shall see. I personally still have hope in Americans that 4 years of massive tax increases, a Democratic Congress run wild with spending that increases the debt by several trillion more, the attempts to make this more of a socialist nation will open the doors again for conservativism.

    Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/27/2008 @ 10:04am

    If you recall Clinton reduced the debt. Remember, Ray Gun ran the debt up. Rev. make something else up so we can continue to experience your genius.

    Posted by Truthman at 10/27/2008 @ 10:27am

44. If it doesn't, I will be either relocating out of the US (or at least to Alaska), or praying that my time on earth is short. I would hate to see what 8 years of Obama does in destroying this nation.

    Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/27/2008 In comparison to the massive strides forward of the last eight years. By the way rev. I'll be praying for your wishes to be granted also.

    Posted by Truthman at 10/27/2008 @ 10:31am

45. your paper online, I see you aren't any different than the Washington Post or NY Times...philosophically and politically. So, if you weren't scared out of your wits with Nancy Pelosi being 2 heart beats away for the past 8 years, you just weren't thinking, or your reasoning is pure BS. Given the fact that Biden had a near fatal aneurysm in the past, and the fact that Sen. Obama has less experience than Gov. Palin, I can only guess your real reason is that you might just be a little on the sexist side. Gov. Palin is brilliant, and aggressive, and I believe ready for whatever comes her way.I most definitely am voting for the McCain/Palin Ticket and hope to vote for the Palin Presidential ticket 4 years down the line. Think about this, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Barney Franks, Howard Dean, and Senator Obama who is on record saying the Constitution is flawed, and he wants to redistribute the wealth....you might just want to build a bridge to Russia with that kind of mentality running the Country. I should add that I have been a registered Independent for over 35 years, and might just register Republican .

    Posted by 4NoParty at 10/27/2008 @ 11:03am

46. Newspapers have become "just another Democrat constituency" looking for Congress to protect them from free and fair competition. _DARIN

    you guys just cannot admit that it is your candidates multiple failings can you? It HAS to be a media plot against you and yours, doesn't it.

    Therefore; Peggy Noonan, Chris Buckley and Colin Powell are a part of the Vast Leftwing Conspiracy.

    We are having more luck in our plot to take over the world than I could have hoped. I look forward to sharing kool-aid with Gen Powell at the next hippy meeting and having him explain to me how it was that he allowed the NYT to scare him off of Gods choice, Sarah Palin.

    Posted by crabwalk at 10/27/2008 @ 11:15am

47. Palin was never qualified to be the Governor of Alaska (population 700,000), let alone VP of the country.

    One can only hope that her future, in Alaska and on the national stage, WILL NOT be played out in the limelight.

    Palin deserves to wither and fade. Who knows maybe she will finally read a book or a paper with her new found free time.

    Posted by timenotonmyside at 10/27/2008 @ 11:26am

48. Is the Financial Times a lib rag too?

    Posted by crabwalk at 10/27/2008 @ 11:32am

49. 2+2= price of tea in outer Mongolia.

    Posted by crabwalk at 10/27/2008 @ 12:14pm

50. Is Sarah Palin even qualified to be Governor of Alaska?

    Posted by SOLE2 at 10/27/2008 @ 12:18pm

51. hmm, that does not sound like opposute to me Darin. It sounds like McCain is not up to the job of fixing his parties messes, ie he has failed.

    The opposite of failure is success. See: Obama campaign.

    Failure: see Iraq, Afghanistan and Bush admin. All of which you support. All of which failed due to mismanegement and ineptitude, not as you would have us believe often, the fault of the "liberal" corprorate media.

    I guess the MSM is just into supporting a Moosleum Arab America-Hater. Like Gen Powell and Scott McClellan.

    Posted by crabwalk at 10/27/2008 @ 12:33pm

52. The MSM, if we are to believe Darin and his cohorts, is a librool bastion. This has been true for decades. The print media is, of course, the worst. They have seen circulation plummet in the last five years.

    Darin says that they are reacting to this by backing Obama. But, if they want change, they would double back and become more conservative, therefore attracting what we have been told is the "mainstream", the "real Americans" that vote conservative, not attempt to go with more of the same.

    Posted by crabwalk at 10/27/2008 @ 12:40pm

53. What the author left out, perhaps because he did not know, is that the Anchorage Daily News always endorses the Democrat. It says more about Sarah Palin that the Daily News has praised her and her policies in the past, which they occasionally have. But then again, there are many people in the Lower 48 who don't know anything about us beyond the fact our state is bright blue and lies off the coast of Mexico in an inset.

    Posted by lemonfemale at 10/28/2008 @ 1:53pm