I know how I make my decisions as a mother, and that has brought me to a place where I can never - ever - safely assume how someone else comes to their decisions.
I know that the massive majority of mothers love their children (and we all know that such a statement seems so frivolous compared to how that love is lived out).
I know that the strength, love and abilities of my husband are also major factors in these choices.
I know that my support system, my extended family, my church, my God ... all vital parts of prioritizing my family and my life.
I know that at different times of my life, and under varying circumstances, my choices would have varied on many different things.
My first reaction to Palin was to be extremely defensive - as a mother.
Yeah. Didn't know diddly-squat about her political history or where she stands on the issues.
Boy, I had some gall.
Doesn't mean I don't care about family. Just means that I turned into a 30-second judge and jury. I chose snap judgments over taking the time to research and understand what this woman could do for our country (let's face it ... she could play second fiddle her whole term, or tragedy could strike and she could be leading America!). I rarely take the easy road, but this time I jumped at it.
Boo. Boo, Christine!
Sarah Palin has the ability to lead. She has got it going on. You just have to decide if her "goings on" best represent you.
Sarah Palin would do fabulous, despite her lack of experience. Oh wait ... isn't it Obama with the lack of experience? Well, now people are pointing out that McCain's pick was so random, but only made to try to grab votes he was missing. Um ... or was that what Obama did with Biden?
See ... this kind of stuff won't end. It won't.
You can listen to it ... or not. How about, instead, we just all do our research. Vote on the issues that best represent us. Majority rules (okay, okay ... electoral College rules). Minority tries not to pout. We have unbelievably interesting and wonderfully historic choices this year.
However, I know so many of you are wishing we didn't have parties. Wishing we could just mix and match Presidents and V.P.'s like Garanimals?? THAT would be super interesting!
Friday, September 05, 2008
What Christine thinks about Palin
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15 comments:
thanks for adding thoughtfulness to the debates. it's a rare thing these days.
The only thing I didn't like about her speech was her little Obama slams along the way. As much as I personally won't vote for him, I don't ever appreciate negative jabs that take away from ones own positives.
That aside, I thought she was SOOOOO incredible and what an amazing speaker. I would have fallen over dead if my tele-prompter went out in front of that crowd. I think I trust her with her finger on the button. I'm also glad she's good with a budget. I like practical people.
McCain is certainly not a speaker but he impresses me with his loyalty to our country. I cannot fault his service in the least. I do wish I had seen Cindy speak. I missed that part.
What sort of research did you do? Something more than listening to her speech? What's up with the cut at Obama? Did he criticize her for lack of experience?
I, too, have done research on her and it didn't involve listening to her speech. It involved researching her stand on issues that are important to me and reading about her many years as an elecgted official.And just to answer the above comment, yes, he absolutely criticized her for her lack of experience. He specifically addressed the fact that she was "only a small town mayor" and had zero foreign policy experience.
I had already made up my mind to hate her. I've always been a diehard liberal. But I was curious to know more about her and listened in to her speech.
Man, she had me at "special needs". I have to admit - as a special needs mom - that one little statement made a big impact. And then when McCain mentioned autism.. well, I really can't wait until the debates start to get a good feel for where I really stand. I guess what I'm trying to say is that my closed mind is now a bit more open.
My husband is threatening to divorce me if I vote Republican (silly billy - if he'd just get his U.S. citizenship, maybe he'd have a say in it) - but this time around, I'm going to really look at the issues and not just vote for a certain party just because that's what I've always done.
Should be interesting.
Leslie
Wow Leslie! You comment is so refreshing! I love that this election has made you stop and take note and not necessarily do what you have always done! Fantastic! I thik that is Christine's point exactly!
Not that this will shock my good pal Christine, but I am McCain/Palin all the way!
I am sorry that my questions sound more like comments--and curlish comments at that. :-/
This is totally the conversation I've been having with my neighbor and friends.
I am SO glad that so many of us are stepping back... researching and making choices that do not always focus on party but issues and the person.
I'm impressed with Palin...
This is going to be an interesting couple of months for sure..
I really like Palin and I line up with her and McCain on my issues. The comments on this post are refreshing. Next few months should be interesting.
I'm neither a Republican nor a Democrat, but I do have a question. If Sarah Palin's background were wrapped up in a package that resembled, oh...I don't know...say Madeline Albright, would she be as highly praised? Would she even have been considered VP material. I know many women who are considerably more accomplished, more astute, more knowledgeable than Palin, but their public rockets are never launched because they lack visual appeal. It disturbs me tremendously that we are nearly always willing to listen harder and give the benefit of the doubt to physically attractive people.
I listened to her speech--eyes closed--and heard nothing but shrill sniping at the opposition.
Leadership? I think Crunchy Mom has the right stuff. Heck, I teach at a low-income public high
School. Each day I manage, instruct, and discipline over 170 16-year-olds. I could lead.
(From an AP article on Palin’s address at a convocation:
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin told ministry students at her former church that the United States sent troops to fight in the Iraq war on a "task that is from God.")
Sorry, If I have to get screwed, at least don’t let it be by Pharisees telling me it’s God’s will.
Manifest Destiny made us rich, but it robbed our souls. I prefer to manifest my own destiny—
I hope it includes vision, inspiration, gentility
Good job, Candis, looking at the whole picture and finding out if someone can really represent you.
Ya' know, very few of us actually have a perfect match as a candidate. Many of us care deeply about issues that are not the hot-button, always-discussed things at the forefront of Convention speeches. It's living community at its rawest form - accepting leadership from someone that must represent millions.
I must admit, I can't wait to read about this election in the history books!!! SOOO fascinating!
Oh, and just for fun - tonight at BookStop I saw McCain and Obama paper dolls. Hilarious.
I think Sarah is really, really likeable. Her speech was inspiring, and I was also getting a little misty with her promises to special needs family.
But . . .
When I listened closely, I heard some sentiments that disturb me. Particularly, about the war, and her promise to the troops that we will finish the fight that they have started, and not give up on them. To me, supporting the young men dealing with the continuing occupation in Irag means getting them the heck outta there. Hearing the above comment about her view that this war is a mission from God, and I am even more disturbed.
She nearly had me at "special needs" too! But as an anti-gun, pro-choice, anti-Iraq war, pro health care for all, special needs mom, I had to step back and say that it's clear that Obama better represents my values.
Look Christine!! NLA in NYC finally figured out how to open google account!
I think all voters need to do their homework! Research each issue to make sure you know how you feel about that particular issue. Then research each candidate and don't just listen to speeches but look at their history and voting records as well. Question things they say in their speeches and do the research to see if they are in fact telling the truth. It's only after knowing your own point of views and what you hold dear that you can then look at the candidates with open eyes to see which one has the best overall BIG picture for you.
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