Sheila Nevins | 08/30/2008 9:17 am

Sheila Nevins: Why Palin Is a Great Choice

WOW ladies take a breather. This is a wonderful choice. It is a clear choice and that’s what America stands for. The issues that Palin represents though reprehensible to me - represent a constituency and a voice. American democracy represents the right to disagree. It also represents majority rule. The cards are on the table - race, abortion, gun control, stem cell research, taxation, godliness - you name it. There’s no fudging here - no middle of the road. rhetoric. Americans will declare their absolute preferences. And a woman will stand for this. Being a woman doesn’t mean agreeing with the WOW dames. Palin may not be in whom we trust, but there is an odd equality in the sheer selection. Women can be as arbitrary and right wing as any man. And for those of us for whom Sarah Palin’s beliefs belie our deepest convictions. So be it. The great truths lie in an honest ballot box. Vote and live in America or flee if you must. Great choice in the divide A civil war without bullets. Three cheers for clarity.

What Other wOw Women Are Saying About Sarah Palin:
Whoopi Golderg on Sarah Palin and Joe Biden
Joan Ganz Cooney: The Choice of Palin Is Irresponsible
Marlo Thomas: They Don’t Understand Women

Read more about: John McCain, News, Politics, Sarah Palin

379 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Dona - The Executive Branch is in Republican hands. The Congress is in Democratic hands. The government is split. The Congress has lower ratings than President Bush. Last I heard they were approaching single digits. I think some of the “desperation” could be directed toward the Congress. The Dems have had control of both houses for some years and what has been proposed and worked on in Committee to get some sort of comprised legislation passed. Very little. When President Clinton was in office and the GOP took control of the Congress, the GOP did not wait around for a Republican president before they offered to the whole Congress one bill after another. Some the Dems agreed upon and after some compromised amendments legislation was passed. Work was being done. Very little is being done now. In fact the Congress as yet to pass one spending bill as yet for this session. Their performance is deplorable!

By Bonnie Oliver on 08/31/2008 5:08 pm

Bonnie, Actually the Democrats have only had the control of both houses for 1 year and 10 months………..not years as you state. They inherited the mess the Republican had made for the past 12 years. Republicans held control from 1994 to 2006. If someone came in and totally trashed my house and everything I owned for 12 years It would take me a lot longer than 22 months to put it back right…………Especially if at every corner the Executive branch is held by an incompetent administration………..who took us into an illegal War……..brought our economy to rock bottom. did nothing to help save our world from pollution……etc. I believe in Miracles…………..but we sure haven’t had any lately. It’s going to take a total house cleaning to get back on the right track for all Americans.

By Dona Howlett on 08/31/2008 8:44 pm

e-mail alert

Very well, Dona. For the last year and 10 months, the Dems who have controlled both houses have offered very little to the country. The last rating I saw for Congress was 9% and that was about 3 weeks ago. Not too good, I am afraid. Isn’t doesn’t appear that they are any better at house cleaning than they are as passing required legislation.

By Bonnie Oliver on 09/01/2008 1:09 am

Bonnie - if I’m not mistaken, it takes a two-thirds majority vote to pass legislation in the Senate. The Democrats do not have that number and the Republicans have been as obstreperous as possible thereby preventing the passage of anything of substance.

By Maurine H on 09/01/2008 9:48 pm

e-mail alert

Hello Maurine - I believe the “out” party is always obstreperous but good leadership finds a way to compromise. I do not think the Democratic leadership in Congress is either very strong or capable. That is not to say that Republican leadership is always perfect; on the contrary, they can be just as incapable as the Dems. But to be this late in the session with members wanting to be home to campaign and not to have at least one of the 13 appropriation bills passed is proof of very poor leadership by this Congress.

By Bonnie Oliver on 09/01/2008 11:04 pm

Yea, I agree, somewhat, Donna…however, seeing the mess and doing something about it are two very different things….oh! Wait! I forgot…they DID give themselves a raise and leave for a 5 week vacation while most Americans struggled to pay the prices at the pump. IF the Dems want to “prove” they can “clean up the mess” of the last 12 years….as you put it…..at what point do they stop whining about t and roll up their sleeves and actually do something?

By Terri Kay on 09/01/2008 1:09 pm

e-mail alert

Terri Kay…well said! BRAVO…I have felt that way for some time b/c most Dems think the Gov’t should do it all..oh wait they are the Gov’t so that’s why its not getting done…

By C Hardy on 09/01/2008 4:11 pm

e-mail alert

Terri, I’ve always thought the congressional 5 week vacation in the summer is too much…………that seems to be what they do year after year………….so don’t just blame the Democrats……….I didn’t see any of the Republicans offer to stay on the job……….The Democrats might hold the majority by a few seats……..but the Congress pretty much is divided equally by both party’s. If ‘We the People’ don’t like what our congress is doing we should make our thoughts known and try to change the way it’s run. I’m an old woman and I’ve tried to do my share over my life………….now I think it’s in the hands of the younger women who have more energy and good health to do the job. I can still write letters and I do……………. All I know is things in this Country are the worst I can ever remember. We’ve been through a lot in my life time The 2nd World War…….Korea……….Vietnam….other small Wars through out the world. The first Gulf War (which Daddy Bush) messed up………..now this illegal War his son GW has us in. We have the biggest National Debt in the History of our Country (during the last Democratic Presidency) President Clinton left office with a surplus of money………Little George has gone through that and now has us in such a deep debt my great great grandchildren will be paying it off. I just hope the Chinese don’t decide to forclose our loans. McCain called the home owners who are going into foreclosure irresponsible……..I wonder why he doesn’t think his crony GWB is irresponsible for getting us in such a debt. You say the Dems should roll up their sleeves and actually do something…………that’s exactly what we are trying to do by making Barack Obama our next President.

By Dona Howlett on 09/01/2008 4:30 pm

e-mail alert

Actually, a large group of republicans stayed in the congress while Ms. Pelosi shut the lights off. They stayed because they wanted to resolve the issue. When Ms. Pelosi took her place in charge of the congress she promised to work to accomplish her “100 items” list. Instead, she felt her book tour more important. BOTH parties have failed us for a long time now. You give a “chronical” of the wars..but you neglected to mention: “Bay of Pigs” and also how President Clinton did nothing when our Marines’ dead and be-headed bodies were being drug through the streets of Somolia…this is on one incident of neglect during his administration when our soldiers had been attacked. It’s your job to point on every Republic gaff…and Republican’s job to point out the gaffs of the Democratic leaders….point being…they’ve all screwed up during their administrations… You also neglected to give the entire statement John McCain gave. He spoke about Mortgage lenders who ripped off many hopeful home owners and he also talked about many older folks who’ve gone into foreclosure because of medical bills they couldn’t pay. But the entire truth of the matter is…there are a large group of people in this country…need to also take responsibility for the irresponsible choices of mortgaging homes for which they couldn’t pay. No person, male or female, human or alien who is elected in this country will ever been deemed “flawless” or perfect….but we forge ahead…being proud to be Americans with warts and all. I just happen to believe, whose Grandfather, all four uncles and three cousins, who are and were Marines would say the same. There’s more to be proud of this country for than not.

By Terri Kay on 09/01/2008 5:07 pm

e-mail alert

When these Republicans controlled Congress up until they lost it in 2006 they took the MOST vacation time and spent the LEAST time actually working in Congress than any previous Congress in history. The “staying to work” when Congress adjourned was a stunt. And as far as the military supporting the Bush/McCain Iraq Occupation… Obama is STOMPING McCain 6 To 1 in campaign donations from the military personnel.

By DeBúrca obj on 09/01/2008 11:52 pm

e-mail alert

Interesting Perspective, Deburca.

By Terri Kay on 09/02/2008 6:36 am

e-mail alert

I understand what you’re saying Sheila and it’s impossible to disagree that we can make our voices heard best by voting. I think the problem for many of us, I know at least for me and a couple others, is that we feel that this megalomaniacal, corporate/evangelical fueled republican power machine that has been behind the last eight years of the most corrupt government in our lifetimes literally stole the last two elections and is in an even better position to do so this time with the faulty electronic voting equipment. We’re not completely convinced that our votes really count anymore. I find your last line the most intriguing though; “A civil war without bullets”. If the only real divide was in philosophies it would undoubtedly remain such, but with the philosophical divide running nearly along the same lines as the economic disparity you have the potential for something much more than a war of words and votes. The republicans are essentially saying “Let them eat cake” to the people who have lost their livelihoods due to corporate greed and influence. The evangelicals are using their influence to force us to live our lives according to their beliefs. There’s a post in another thread right now advocating splitting this into two countries and this isn’t the first time I’ve heard that suggestion. History does tend to repeat itself.

By Sherrie Crews on 08/30/2008 1:16 pm

e-mail alert

L/O/L! Clarity is one thing, but for a Presidential candidate to choose as his VP someone whom he has only met once, at a convention, and spoken to once by phone is clearly irresponsible. What’s commendable about that? I don’t think he was thinking very clearly or even had time to assess the clarity he was giving the rest of us in his choice.

By Alice Alice on 08/30/2008 1:20 pm

e-mail alert

Thank you, Sheila Nevins, for giving me a point to think about which has broadened my view from yesterday. As a registered Republican, originally I felt insulted by the party for seeming to throw any woman my way as a paltry temptaion to vote for John McCain. The choice of Sarah Palin as the Republican VP candidate offers an opportunity to women which should not be ridiculed. The sooner ALL Americans come to realize that all American WOMEN are as diverse of opinion and cause as all American MEN, the sooner we can move on to governing our country in a manner which serves all of its citizens.

By Oh! My Favorite on 08/30/2008 1:41 pm

e-mail alert

“Do you know what the first two “powers and duties” are for the mayor of Wasilla, Alaska? Check their municipal code: 1. Preside at council meetings. The mayor may take part in the discussion of matters before the council, but may not vote, except that the mayor may vote in the case of a tie; 2. Act as ceremonial head of the city” John McCain himself has said the most important decision for a presidential candidate to make, is to choose a Vice Presidential candidate ready to take over as president if need be. Palin is the latest in a long list of McCain flip-flops and the most damning of all. To anyone who thinks Palin may be a good choice I ask that you read the following: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-j-elisberg/the-worst-vice-president…

By DeBúrca obj on 08/30/2008 2:24 pm