Regardless of how you feel about Sarah Palin, are the following things correct to do?

[Rapscallion]

What amuses me, in the wee hours before an extra early shift at work, is that I've just realised that the young man who was undoubtedly whispering sweet nothings is (likely) being forced to accept the results of his actions. Gives me an amusing tingle.

Rapscallion

[Flyndaran]

What amuses me, in the wee hours before an extra early shift at work, is that I've just realised that the young man who was undoubtedly whispering sweet nothings is (likely) being forced to accept the results of his actions. Gives me an amusing tingle.

Rapscallion

Forced? As much as I despise the possible VP, that's a pretty serious accusation. Also, I have no idea why intimidation would make you tingle.

[Greenday]

Forced? As much as I despise the possible VP, that's a pretty serious accusation. Also, I have no idea why intimidation would make you tingle.

Getting a VP-candidate's daughter knocked up in an election year, you really don't have any other choices other than to "be positive" about it.

[blas87]

I have NO problem with a woman striving for VP.

I have NO problem with working moms.

I have NO problem with one day having a female president.

I have a problem with the fact that all of these McCain ads are throwing mud at Obama for being "inexperienced" and "not ready to lead".

Yes, and 2 years as governor of Alaska qualifies her as "ready" and "experienced". Granted, she'd only be VP, but VP has to be ready to take over if the president gets killed or dies, and we all know McCain is getting up there and isn't 40 anymore........

That's my problem.

[AdminAssistant]

What amuses me, in the wee hours before an extra early shift at work, is that I've just realised that the young man who was undoubtedly whispering sweet nothings is (likely) being forced to accept the results of his actions. Gives me an amusing tingle.

Rapscallion

Me too, Raps.

If nothing else, perhaps it can be a lesson to all the other teenage boys pressuring their girlfriends into the bedroom. I feel for both him and the daughter, but neither are blameless.

[Rapscallion]

Forced? As much as I despise the possible VP, that's a pretty serious accusation. Also, I have no idea why intimidation would make you tingle.

More than one sort of forcing, my good person. See, if he did back out of admitting his responsibility, the news of exactly who he was would leak (probably unintentionally), and he would be hounded by the merciless packs of the press. He's in a situation where he has to do what's right, and as AdminAssistant says it's a warning for others to damn well use contraception, or to keep it in their own pants for a bit longer. Might encourage a few teenage girls in the lesson that holding an aspirin between their knees is the only way a pill can guarantee no pregnancy (I have to thank RecoveringKinkoid for that one).

Fact is, there's a good example of what to do right, and a salutory lesson in what to avoid doing unless you're prepared to accept the consequences. It's far better than someone skipping out on his child and 'babymommy'.

Rapscallion

[SuperB]

There's a lot going around about Sarah Palin, some even from Obama's camp as at least two of his registered user's blogs have been deleted for spreading falsehoods.

As for her beliefs and how they impact/are impacting her kids, when she said "I would choose life" w/regard to the question about rape and abortion she simply stated it as her choice. She never said she would force any of her kids into a specific decision but those desperate to make her look bad never report on that angle. That her daughter is having the baby and marrying the father is also not proof that any of it is forced. Until there is proof, definite accusations should not be spoken of as fact. And lets face it, Roe VS Wade is in no danger of being overturned regardless of who takes office.

As for her experience, she has the same amount of foreign affairs experience as Obama. 0%. Obama only has two years of experience on her as a Jr. Senator and he's the Presidential candidate.

In my opinion, she's being ripped into simply because she is extremely likable, personable and appears to be strong willed. McCain isn't Bush but the fear that he will 'stay the course' is so strong that those against the Bush administration, regardless of party, are not happy that she seems to have rejuvenated the Republican party and they definitely don't want that.

Just my .02

[Greenday]

In my opinion, she's being ripped into simply because she is extremely likable, personable and appears to be strong willed. McCain isn't Bush but the fear that he will 'stay the course' is so strong that those against the Bush administration, regardless of party, are not happy that she seems to have rejuvenated the Republican party and they definitely don't want that.

Well, first off, I think people have good reason to not be happy if the Republican party is rejuvenated if they don't want to see another 4 years of a Bush-like presidency.

Also, I think a lot of people just have problems with her ethics (or lack of) and her extremist views.

[AdminAssistant]

And lets face it, Roe VS Wade is in no danger of being overturned regardless of who takes office.

Well, that depends on if McCain/Palin gets to chose any Justices.

As for her experience, she has the same amount of foreign affairs experience as Obama. 0%. Obama only has two years of experience on her as a Jr. Senator and he's the Presidential candidate.

So, being a United States Senator means you don't have ANY foreign policy experience or exposure? In a time of diplomatic crisis, I'd rather have someone who will take the time to think things through, make an intelligent plan, and attempt some diplomacy - rather than someone who will march in with heavy artillery and a KILL 'EM ALL!! attitude. Not to mention the fact that Obama has a seasoned foreign policy expert by his side.

And, should the President be, erm, relieved of duty - then you have Palin or Biden. Which of those two is better qualified to lead?

In my opinion, she's being ripped into simply because she is extremely likable, personable and appears to be strong willed.

I don't think she's likable or personable. She's a bulldog in a snappy suit. Her views are so extremist and foreign to me that...I can't even begin to comprehend it. She attempted book bans when she was the mayor of Podunkville. Multiple times. She has fired numerous people for rather suspicious reasons and chalked it up to 'cleaning house'. She believes in stripping women of their basic rights and yet calls herself a 'feminist'. Her values and ideals are suspiciously close to that of George W. Bush. And that's NOT a change I can believe in. That's not change at all.

[SuperB]

The banned books list has been debunked for a while now. Several books on
that list weren't even published when she was Mayor. Not one book was banned and all the hype is over a single question she asked the librarian.

As for firings, who is office doesn't fill positions with those of the same wavelength? That, my friends, is politics as usual regardless of office or partisanship.

Extreme views:
She's pro-life. I have a hard time with that being consider an "extreme view", I call it being responsible for one's actions. When asked about rape, she simply said she would choose life. I don't recall seeing any other quote on that subject and find most of what's being claimed based on it quite a stretch.

She prays. Any religious person prays and most of the time it's that issues you have no control over be "God's will" one way or another. That's not unusual in any way and not indicative of any of the bogus claims that she think war is "sent from god".

I would like to see less blinders in this election, personally regarding all the dirt digging and smear campaigns going on from both sides. I'm no fan of Obama but even I have corrected quite a few of the false emails friends and family have forwarded my way about him. (sworn in on the Koran - False. Refusing to salute the Flag - False, etc.) And neither candidate have yet to truly explained their idea's of "change" to my satisfaction.

http://explorations.chasrmartin.com/.../palin-rumors/

[Greenday]

Extreme views:
She's pro-life. I have a hard time with that being consider an "extreme view", I call it being responsible for one's actions. When asked about rape, she simply said she would choose life. I don't recall seeing any other quote on that subject and find most of what's being claimed based on it quite a stretch.

I consider the pro-life stance to be extremist. Pro-choice allows people to make their own decisions, whether you agree with them or not.

[SuperB]

We will definitely have to agree to disagree there since I believe life begins in the womb.

[Flyndaran]

We will definitely have to agree to disagree there since I believe life begins in the womb.

Then you would be wrong. Life began almost four billion years ago and hasn't stopped since.

Sperm and eggs were alive long before they merged.

What you probably meant was that a person's existance as a person begins in the womb. Which no one is arguing as third term infants are classified as people by nearly everyone in the world.

Your difference of opinion lies in the fact that you equate a single celled organism, a zygote, to have equal or more rights as the woman gestating it.

I would think that my girlfriend's life should be at least as valuable as something with more complexity than an ant.

[SuperB]

Then you would be wrong. Life began almost four billion years ago and hasn't stopped since.

Sperm and eggs were alive long before they merged.

What you probably meant was that a person's existance as a person begins in the womb. Which no one is arguing as third term infants are classified as people by nearly everyone in the world.

Your difference of opinion lies in the fact that you equate a single celled organism, a zygote, to have equal or more rights as the woman gestating it.

I would think that my girlfriend's life should be at least as valuable as something with more complexity than an ant.

You make a lot of assumptions based on a few words. (what else do I mean?)
Once implanted, the zygote is the beginning of a person. Read the Sarah Palin and the media thread for a more detailed idea of where I stand but more than being pro-life I am pro-responsibility.
This is where I stand and have no problem agreeing to disagree with anyone. I entered this thread to point out the rumors on Palin aren't all true, not debate the ethics of abortion. That conversation will lead nowhere. It won't change my mind or experience and I've no desire to change anyone else's mind. I will however point out that it's a stretch to equate Palin's personal decision with a declaration of fact that she wants the same for others.

As I said, I would like to see less blinders in this election, personally regarding all the dirt digging and smear campaigns going on from both sides. I'm no fan of Obama but even I have corrected quite a few of the false emails friends and family have forwarded my way about him. (sworn in on the Koran - False. Refusing to salute the Flag - False, etc.) And neither candidate have yet to truly explained their idea's of "change" to my satisfaction.

[jayel]

I'm bothered by the fact that everyone uses Sarah Palin's child with Down Syndrome and Bristol's pregnancy as 'proof' of how extreme her views on abortion are. People act as if these are situations where any normal person with common sense would have chosen abortion.

So if you choose to have a child with Down's Syndrome you are obviously not in your right mind? Becase obviously if a baby is 'defective' you should get rid of it? Or could it possibly be that they wanted and loved the child regardless? Is that considered the 'wrong' choice in this day and age?

So the seventeen year old is having a baby. That means she was forced to have it by her mother? She couldn't have WANTED to keep it? I know plenty of middle class young girls who have gotten pregnant and chose to keep the baby. They weren't forced, so why does everyone assume Bristol is being forced to have the child and doesn't want it?

A huge point I want to make: If Bristol wanted an abortion, could she not have had one? Secretly, behind mom's back? She's seventeen after all. She probably could have done it and no one would have ever known.