Will Sarah Palin's candidacy ultimately help or hurt regular moms fighting to balance working and parenting?

Great point glrogers, although the democrats will never, ever understand. I admire Sarah Palin as I am a working mother too. I give her credit for wanting to be a part of the Republican party who will actually enforce a change to this wreck of a country. Since the Democrats run the House, the Democrats had a big hand in where we are today, economically, so I can't understand why they keep blaming it all on Bush.

Things will never change if Obama is in office.

I have to disagree with you Sue. Some Democrats will understand. I just changed my political status this year to Independent. And one of the reasons was, because of the change I was afraid would take place if Obama is elected.

glrogers - "Good point...... I don't feel someone with 143 days of experience as a Senator is competent to run our country."

I proved up higher in these comments that you don't know what you are talking about and here is another time that you are uninformed. It looks like you are taking a stab at Obama and last time I checked 9 years does NOT equal 143 days. He has 9 YEARS in the Senate!

SueZQ - "Since the Democrats run the House, the Democrats had a big hand in where we are today, economically, so I can't understand why they keep blaming it all on Bush.

Things will never change if Obama is in office."

You too. The democrats DID NOT have a big hand in this failing economy, it was FAILING BEFORE they took control of Washington!!!! PEOPLE OPEN YOUR EYES!!!! The re-PUKE-licans are DESTROYING our country!!!

If McBush gets in with this woman who does not believe in women's rights, they will have us all rolling in the aisles and speaking in tounges before you know it!!!!!!!!!!

Because the Democrats took over January 2007... Bushie has been in the White House since January 2001. If McCain/Palin win in '08, America will definitely be in a Depression sooner rather than later.

You all seem to forget. Congress is headed by the Democrats. Congress are the ones who make most of the Bills that affect us. Alot of Bills passed by Congress since Bush took office had to do with the Budget/Spending/Taxes which many had to do with INCREASING taxes instead of decreasing.

The Democrats have had a majority, a small one, for 20 months. Usually it takes a lot longer than that to get anything through Congress. I have looked up the status of bills I have heard of and found out that they have been in committee that long. The Republicans had a majority in Congress since 1994, and we have a Republican as President. I don't think Democrats have ALL the answers, but to blame the economy on their leadership is pretty thin when it has been heading in this direction for several years, when the Republicans have had plenty of time to do something about it and haven't.

Please share with me what lies Palin has told and where you have gotten this information. I am a senior woman, working grandmother, widowed. I do not find Palin "sarcastic or snotty" when I have seen her on television nor in person here in our area this week. On the other side, I have not found Obama (or Biden) sarcastic when they makes their "funny" pokes at the opposition. I take it for what it each - politics and trying to get us on their sides.

check her bridge to nowhere record, check her earmarks record, check her selling jet on ebay when it was not, all not true and said REPEATEDLY, so that is all we have to go on since she is NOT ALLOWED to talk to anyone that can actually ASK questions, ask yourself why that is since no one else has had that privilege.

One correction to your comments, Palin said she put the airplane on Ebay. When it did not sell on Ebay, it was still sold. I read somewhere that Palin was for the bridge, then when all the other stuff was added to the bill and they found out the cost, she changed her mind and said Alaska did not want it. I do not know about the earmarks, I have tried to find some information but so far have not found anything really definitive. A friend of mine has a son and daughter-in-law who are both teachers in Juneau and we have them doing some searching and fact finding for us. Will let you know what we find out.

Hillary Clinton has never appealed to me on any level! However, there is all kinds of information on Palin, Obama, McCain and Biden going around that people are saying is true. But it hasn't been proven either way. until then, people need to quit spreading the "rumors" and "lies" around.

It doesn't matter what party you are from, there's a bunch of crap being spread from every party. People don't want the truth. It's obvious. People try to knock the other one down with rumors and lies. Nobody is winning by doing this!

All I keep hearing in CA where I live is that Palin did an excellent job on her speech. That she was a strong speaker. This is from all parties. They may not agree with her politics but they said she was a strong force to go to Washington and would probably get the reform side down well.

independant mama

so why don't give money back for the bridge?

Palin followed through on a campaign promise to sell the Westwind II jet purchased by the Murkowski administration for $2.7 million in 2005 on a state government credit account against the wishes of the Legislature. In August 2007, the jet was listed on eBay, but the sale fell through and the plane was later sold for $2.1 million through a private brokerage firm...

Oh yeah..Blame Palin for the bridge. Congress headed by Nancy Pelosi (Democrat) approved it...
On Wednesday November 16, 2005 : Congress stripped the specific earmark allocation of federal funds for the two bridges in the bill, without changing the amount of money allocated for use by Alaska. Yet Congress still gave them the money. In August 2007, Alaska's Department of Transportation stated that it was "leaning" toward alternative ferry options, citing bridge costs, despite having already received the funds from the federal government. After national public opinion turned against the bridge for being wasteful spending. Palin stated: Ketchikan desires a better way to reach the airport, but the $398 million bridge is not the answer. Despite the work of our congressional delegation, we are about $329 million short of full funding for the bridge project, and it's clear that Congress has little interest in spending any more money on a bridge between Ketchikan and Gravina Island. Much of the public's attitude toward Alaska bridges is based on inaccurate portrayals of the projects here. But we need to focus on what we can do, rather than fight over what has happened. Asked why she initially supported the bridge, Palin's communications director Bill McAllister said, "It was never at the top of her priority list, and in fact the project isn't necessarily dead … there's still the potential for improved ferry service or even a bridge of a less costly design... She changed her mind, he said, when "she saw that Alaska was being perceived as taking from the country and not giving . Now, if any of the money is used (in which it was and $75 million is sitting in a fund reserve) to improve the roads to the islands and/or used for alternative methods (in which it was), they do not have to return the money. Now here is the funny part. Remember $75 million. Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) offered an amendment to the Senate's appropriation bill to transfer the $223 million that Congress had previously approved for a bridge in Ketchikan, Alaska, to fund reconstruction of a hurricane-damaged bridge in Louisiana. Dubbed the "Bridge to Nowhere," the bridge in Alaska would connect the town of Ketchikan (population 8,900) with its airport on the Island of Gravina (population 50) at a cost to federal taxpayers of $320 million. In opposing Senator Coburn's amendment to defund the bridge, one prominent Senator told a closed-door meeting of conservatives that the plan was simply impractical. Many of the earmarks, he claimed, are counted towards a state's equity bonus and thus are part of the state-by-state allocation formula. Defunding the bridge, he said, would direct at most $75 million to Louisiana, with the remaining $148 million returning to Alaska as money the state could use at its discretion for road projects.

Raising healthy children is a great contribution to the world. I personally did not want anyone else raising my children and I know Iam blessed to have a partner that loves me and supports me and that some have no choice but to do it alone. just because you have a womb does not mean you have to have children. Having children is a big responsibility. You are taking on a life long job as a guide for someone that is going to go out there and leave their mark on the world. This is the hardest job in the world and if you choose to be a parent would be the best legacy you will leave behind. Every women has the right to choose how they want to lead there lives. I applaud and respect women that decide that having children isn't the right thing for the to do.

Do you know the Palin family? For such strong comments about her family interaction and how they have made their decisions about how their family works, one would assume you have first hand knowledge about them. Please share some more about your personal knowledge of their family, it is fascinating....

I'm from rural Alaska. Alaska is a small state with a LOT of land. Those in the lower 48 can't identify how close it is even with so much area to live. We all know each other, and OF each other. Long dark winters do that. We have to hold together and help each other, even when we don't like each other. Palin's family is a-typical of the disfuntional families that are in Alaska. It's a real problem.
Did you know that teen pregnancy runs highest in the nation in Alaska? Or that teen suicide, drug addiction, alcoholism is also highest in the country in Alaska? Or that school drop-outs is also highest in the country in Alaska? These things are indicative of kids without parenting! Or that Wasilla is the home of the labs for making meth-amphetamines, or for growing marijuana in the state of Alaska. Yes, I'm absolutely sure she has smoked it and inhaled, as she stated. I'm curious as why no one has gotten a hold of what a problem drugs are, and kids on drugs are, in Wasilla, and how Palin did nothing to address it...NOTHING!! Why do you think her son Track is now in the Infantry of the Army in Iraq? Wake-up!

Akred59 -My best friend lived in Alaska for about 15 years. Her son and his wife are both teachers in Alaska today. They are raising their children there. They all love Alaska. Their stories about the place they live does not reflect what you are saying. But to be fair, I will look up the statistics you have quoted. You make it sound like a horrible place. I find it interesting that Palin has such a high approval rating up there.

akred59- Did you or anyone else ever consider that before she ran for a office she sat with her family and asked THEM what they thought or that she just woke up one day and said "Hey honey, I am running for City Counsel so go change the diapers and make the kids breakfast. See ya in four years?" Come on think..

Whats is the difference of her holding up Trig, her own child, from other candidates taking some young baby out of their mothers arms and holding them up in the air at some political rally in front of crowds of chanting people. At least Trig KNEW whose arms he was in. The baby Obama was holding up had no clue.

Oh, by the way..You all know she has a Degree in Communications/Journalism and worked in the media. She knows what she is doing avoiding them until the time is right.

Independant Gramma: Alaska is a wonderful place! But Wasilla is considered to be more of the ghetto of Alaska than any other part in the state, and from some of the things I've stated, rightly so. As for teachers in the state, good ones are in short supply. When I pulled my gifted son from the schools there in 2002, Alaska schools were 48th in the nation. I still homeschool.

I agree with your post. Anyone who puts herself and her career before her children is not the person I want as my VP. She should be there for that special needs chld who will need her more during his first formative years than the other four, one of which she has already failed by not educating her to the importance of abstinance or birth control until she is fully ready to become a parent. She has failed in her family like in my book and hence is not who I want to represent me.

WOW! By the way, Bristol is named after a beautiful bay in Alaska. I have a grandson named Orion which is kind of a different name. I love the name Teona, and Shaniqua. I happen to be Native American. I am also a Conservative. I am also a Christian (which about 85% of Americans claim to be). I am also a senior, working woman. I am not voting against Obama for his race, his superficial qualities, or both. I will vote against him because I do not agree with his politics. Michelle Obama was called on the carpet for her comments about being an American.
Palin and her husband can be called to account for anything they say also. Palin announced that her daughter was pregnant probably because of the rumors that the little boy was her daughter's baby and probably because it was going to soon be obvious! Don't you think that since the daughter is five months pregnant that her condition was discussed within the family and that the decision was made that they support her and are not ashamed of her. By the way, if she had practiced abstinence as her mother believes, she would not be pregnant. It does work, 100%.
By everyone makes mistakes, it is how they go on from there that counts. I have worked with and till work with women of several different races and darn, some of them do act "uppity" and "elite" and it isn't a matter of race, just personality!!!! I think some people try to make certain words race or gender related and that is a shame!

Well said Gramma!

John McCain said he didn't really love America until he was deprived of her (when he was in Vietnam) how is that different from Michelle Obama saying for the first time in my adult life I am really proud of my country? I know their our times when I am ashamed of the things that take place in my country. Is everyone on this board proud of everything that has occured in America such as racism, sexism, injustice, cruelty, slavery, hate, prejudice and sending young men and women off to die in senseless wars?

First of all, what makes you think that having Obama/Biden in office will be any different? He has no track record on issues to back him up and Biden couldn't even stay in the race because he was not popular among voter. The voters had spoken. If they didnot want him for President, why would they want him as VP??? If this was 2012 and Obama was running, he may have my vote for then I would know more on how he really stands on issues. Right now Bill Cosby or Morgan Freeman would get my vote over Obama.

Next on agenda..Bristol. Okay, okay, we all know she and her beau had a romp in the hay which resulted in a pregnancy. I rather hear it from Palin's mouth than from some news media who would make it sooo juicy we would think we were there!! Did you ever stop to think how many teenage girls younger than Bristol there are in the US who already have 2 or 3 kids and all by different daddy's? Palin is not ashame of her daughter's condition and I applaud her. How many parents out there kick their daughters out when they come home with the news? Those girls are out on their own and standing in the welfare lines or staying in some rat hole with no family support. One stated if she practiced abstinence since her mother is so big on it, she would not be pregnant. Well what daughter actually listens to their parents. When you are in love and you have some horny guy stating he loves you more than anything..need I say more??

As for Michelle Obama..No, I would not want her as First Lady. First impressions are very important to alot of people and hers was horrible. She distributed an "air" about herself like she was better than the rest of us and we were to bow at her feet because her husband just may be our next President. To say she was never proud to be an American was the biggest err she could have done to Obama's campaign next to him refusing to place his hand on his heart during the National Anthem because he believes it to be a "Song of War". And if he is such a Christian as he claims, he would have proudly placed his hand on the Bible to take his oath into Senate.

When did John McCain he didn't really love America? My brother's were in Nam, my nephews in Iraqi and all will tell you they never realized just how much their country meant to them until they were sent off to fight in some foreign land and saw what the people there lived with day after day.

RIGHT ON, Political-493347!!!! I could not have said it better, the real underlying issue behind why Barack can't close the deal!!!

Did you decide that she has what it takes after one speech, which was written for her? As a mother of two and grandmother of one, I don't think any woman who puts herself and her career first over her five children, one of which is a pregnant, unwed teen mother to be and one who is a special needs child is such a great person who I would want to lead my country. I know that we females are great and can definately lead. She needs to lead that special child during his formative years because he will need more care than probably the other four, one of which she has already failed with. You have to take all everything in a person's character when selecting a leader. A positive leader has to lead by example. She has shown a poor example to me.

larry garcia - Oh, so it is okay to be a young male with no type of leadership whatever to be President, but not a young female who has leadership experience. So in otherwords, you voted for Hillary right?

Arthur..Obama hasn't lied?? Right now he vows to cut taxes when in fact he has voted several times on tax increases that have hurt us. He stated he was against spending for the war when he fact he voted several times to increase spending on the war.

That is a lie, did the Republicans hire you to continue to keep up false information, back up your statement with facts, or stop posting lies. Wake up our Country is in trouble a Bush/ Mccain doctine got us in this mess, and now we need a new party in the White House to get us out of this mess. Do You have health care? Do you know someone who doesnt have health Care? Do you know someone who lost a family member in Iraq, a war John Mccain is ok staying 100 years, thousands dead, we spent so much money in Iraq lining DicK Cheneys pockets, yet we have bridges collapsing, poverty, kids in America going to sleep hungry. Stop with the propaganda and tell the truth, it will set you free.

I agree

It's good to know at least one person did there homework.

Apparently neither of you did and Arthur you better "google" some more to find out where your candidate stands on issues and how they voted.

Also, you may find that there are some things a Lt. Govenor has no power over if the Govenor is capable of making the decision.

You idiots with your internet degrees in economics and political science should first explore the real issue of who was chairing the senate and house banking regulatory committes. They are the ones you should be scoulding. they are the ones who created this problem not Mr Bush. Do you see your problems you listen to to much TV and read to many left leaning media types. They will be the first to start pointing fingers sort of like al sharpton gaffes. And by the way for all former BRA burners who stood around that small fire way back when "SARAH PALLIN" is the real deal. She is the "WOMAN". who can help lead AMERICA back to it's roots.

amen akred59

I called the comments that "Obama is the anti-Christ" stupid and your comments are just as stupid!
Do you work for the Obama campaign? You keep posting comments like this but you do not answer or respond to people you comment or question you. Kinda sounds like some of your ccmplaints against some of the candidates...

Independent Granny: If your so independent, why so far all you comments are anti-Obama?

I've answered you Grandma...
and NO, I'm not working for Obama. I'm a simple woman, fighting for my life right now with a very rare and aggressive cancer, Goblet Cell Carcinoid. Today I see my Surgical Oncologist down here in Washington, I had to leave my home in Alaska to get a decent doctor that may be able to save my life, where others said it was hopeless. Today, in the next two hours, I get the verdict of an 18 hour surgery that I may not survive. And Truthfully, I'm terrified of leaving my boy without a mother in a country ruled by the likes of McCain, who is completely unstable, and Palin, a viscious woman that has shown no thought for HER own kids.

Prbably because I have watched his campaign for a year and a half, I watched the Democrat Convention, I have listened to the media, I have read the newspapers, I have googled Biden's voting records. Some of Obama's ideas appeal to me as a working senior woman and grandparent, but he, in all this time, has not defined how he plans to do all these things he is promising on the campaign trail. I am a conservative, I am registered as an Independent. McCain would not have been my first choice and I want some definite answers from him also.

Then stop being so anti-Obama. At least wait until after the first debate. That's if your mind is not made up already!!!

akred59 -
Thank you for your intelligence and insight.
My hopes and wishes are with you for good news in your health battle.
God speed.

I am certainly ready for heaven! I am a strong Christian and quite firm in my beliefs. Negativity and degrading others is what God does not want us to do. I would say that if Sarah Palin is a hippocrit she has a lot of company in that arena!

akred59, apparently you don't understand the scripture you were trying to quote. "Without natural affection" meant "homosexual" in that passage. Then there's your term "incontinent" in that passage. Last I checked that meant not being able to hold your pee. If you're going to try to quote scripture, get it right, for pete's sake!

Sarah Palin is a very talented person and very capable of the VP candidacy. Even Obama and Biden have said she is a skilled politician.

Panda lover: I completely understand the scripture that I quoted...let's see if you have done your homework.
INCONTINENT in scripture comes from the Greek word "akrates", and it means "without self control", period. And it was not my term, it comes from the KJV. As well as "without natural affection", yes it can mean homosexual, but it also is given meaning for a mother that isn't, so to speak.
That particular scripture from II Timothy I quoted was appropriate, for it is about Apostacy predicted in the last days, and who true Christians need to watch out for and AVOID. It also states clearly in Romans 16....
"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and AVOID THEM. For they are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good and fair speeches decieve the hearts of the simple."
Palin gives painted up speeches that decieve the simple, as well she causes divisions and rifes contrary to what we are to have learned, that means those of us that truly give ourselves over to serious study of our Bibles. You need some serious time in that Bible of yours, that is if you have a proper Bible, the KJV, if you are to understand it.

8isTooMuch:
God Love and Bless you richly!! I got the verdict and it wasn't the 18 hour MOAS (mother of all surgeries). I'm so relieved, I've already had enough surgery to last a lifetime. This kind of cancer is considered a "surgical illness". So I'm back in the waiting and testing game again, which can almost be just as hard. The tumor in my liver begs to be watched, but the chances that it is of the Goblet Cell Carcinoid variety is been cut down to almost nothing. YEA!! So now I get a three month break, where I don't live and breath this cancer ever second, till all the testing I go through starts back up again. I'm thankful for a little breather so I can VOTE for Obama/Biden. :o)

dianemc2:
I am NOT a New Age Christian, with a New Age Bible perversion. I am a KJV Bible Believing Christian! And we that are, are to be bold in pointing out the difference. The Truth is never, nor can it be construed by a Christian, as "negative and degrading". We are to "be instant in season, out of season, to reprove, rebuke, exhort.. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine...And they shall turn away their ears from the Truth, and shall be turned unto fables....
We are to "Judge All Things"...That is the judgement of "Discernment" to know the difference between right and wrong and the discernment of those that would preach true doctrine or false doctrine.
We are to "Judge Not Lest Thou Be Judged"....That is the judgement of "Condemnation", which is in the Lord's most capable hands, not mine own.

Do you know that when the minimum wage is raised, that cost is passed on to you? Companies raise the price of their products to cover wage increases.

Gee, I thought they would reduce the pay of their CEO's.
Have you ever tried to survive on minimum wage?
Many thousands are because they have lost their decent
paying jobs.

powefolks- you posted Republicians vote to raise pay for the average American???They won't even raise minimum wage let alone promote equal pay!!!

You better go and start looking on how the issues the canidates voted in the Senate. You may be very surprised..If I remember correctly, some Democrats voted NOT to increase the minimum wage.

Again, Palin has a degree in Communications/Journalism and has worked in the media. She knows what she is doing.

Donna S.:
Why do you keep touting Palin's education as a plus, or some sort of standard that she knows what she is doing or will do as VP? For when one truly looks at her education and is educated themselves, it's looks more than a bit embarrassing. Here ya go....

Sarah Palin received her bachelor's degree (B.A.) in journalism after transferring FIVE TIMES IN SIX YEARS: Hawaii Pacific University, North Idaho College, University of Idaho, Matanuska-Susitna College, University of Idaho again. NONE OF THE COLLEGES HAVE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS. *There are no records of any honors achieved. Sarah hasn't released her records to the public, normally an indication that no honors were received and the grades were enough to graduate.*

Have you ever heard of snopes? I check snopes for everything, including stories about all the candidates. It is very insightful! You would know that the pictures are fakes as well as most of the crap you hear about Obama. I wish everyone would try to be informed about these things. My goodness all of us are the ones choosing the lesser of two evils to run our Country. Please be informed when doing so! Also, akred59, how dare you be the judge! Apparently you do not know your bible very well either. I'm pretty sure it says something about "Judge not, lest you be judged" You know nothing about my Christianity and if I choose to vote for the republican ticket I'm pretty sure I won't be turned away from the pearly gates. Also, I'm not sure what makes any one think that politicians have to be so far above reproach. They are all people just like us. Everyone makes mistakes and bad choices! Yes, they need to be accountable but not any more than the rest of us! We just need to start picking better people to represent us. Just so all of you know, I am undecided and doing research to make up my mind. Reading the bicker back and forth makes all of you (sorry to say, mostly, not all, dems) look like a bunch of judgemental, hypocritical a$$'$.

Audi..
I too have been doing my research everytime I read that one candidate said they were for this or against that. The wonderful world of the internet. I was totally against McCain until Obama was nominated (which by the way I was a Hillary Supporter) and the way he was worshiped by the media. I then started my research and found that McCain was not all that the media has cut him out to me. Everyone seems they won't vote for McCain for they can't stand Palin and if McCain craoks while in office she will be our new leader. Yet they seem to forget Biden. Biden could not make it in the primaries and no one wanted him. The voters had spoken. Now, what if Obama makes it and croaks? You are all stuck with Biden who by the way has voted with McCain on many issues.

kraig wake up all she is. is a token for the party she hasn't a clue of whats going on thats why the gop won't let her give interviews except mr gop charlie gibson. and when the new wears off the gop's new toy then we can get to the issues and see the truth if we really want 4 more years of the same.

KRAIG, BEING A MOM MEANS MORE THAN JUST HAVING CHILDREN, IT MEANS BEING THERE FOR THEM, I AM ALL FOR WORKING AND BEING A MOTHER I AM A 45 YEAR MOTHER OF TWO BUT WHEN YOU DECIDE TO HAVE CHILDREN THERE ARE DECISIONS THAT SHOULD BE MADE FOR THEM. I CHOSE A JOB THAT ALLOWS ME THE AVAILABILITY OF BEING THERE FOR PTA, AND TEACHER CONFERENCES, SCHOOL AWARD ASSEMBLIES AND THE NURTURING CONVERSATIONS YOUNG CHILDREN NEEDS FROM MOTHERS, ESPECIALLY MY DAUGHTER SO A GOVERNOR OR GOD FORBID VP IS NOT A JOB A MOTHER OF 5 AND DEFINITELY NOT A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD SHOULD HAVE AND I AM THE MOST PRO CAREER PERSON OUT THERE BECAUSE I GET NEEDING TO BE YOUR OWN PERSON BUT THERE HAS TO BE A BALANCE AND I DONT SEE THAT BOND WITH HER AND HER NEW SON. I'VE SEEN HER HUG HIM AND PASS HIM OFF WHAT A SHAME FOR HIM...BUT TO FORGO ALL THESE ACCUSATIONS SHE SHOULD LET US GET TO KNOW HER AND HER FAMILY BUT SHE HAS NOT .

As mean as you are towards her Rhonda, I don't think she WANTS to let you get to know her! Who would blame her? NOBODY in their right mind!