Horserace
August 29, 2008 1:02 PM

Meet Sarah "Barracuda" Palin

She may claim to be “just an average hockey mom,” but John McCain’s running mate Sarah Palin is anything but average.

The reaction to McCain’s shocking selection of the Alaska governor has been all over the map, but one argument no one can make about Palin is that she is a bland choice.

It’s not just her credentials as the youngest and only female governor in Alaska’s history that make Palin so intriguing. How many vice-presidential candidates in American history have been avid moose hunters, sports reporters or beauty queens? Palin is all three.

When Vogue Magazine asked her what her favorite meal was, she didn’t settle on pizza or Mexican. "Moose stew after a day of snowmachining,” she said. Does it get any more Alaska than that?

The Alaska governor might be just a “plain Sarah” herself, but her children’s names are far more dazzling: Track (18), Bristol (17), Willow (13), Piper (7) and Trig (4 months).

Trig has Down syndrome, and his mom told the Anchorage Daily News that he is “absolutely perfect.”

Her husband Todd, whom Palin met in high school, is a champion snowmobiler, but Palin’s sport of choice is basketball. She was a star point guard in high school and earned the nickname “Sarah Barracuda” for her hardnosed style of play.

Her opponent at the top of the Democratic ticket Barack Obama (better known in high school as “Barry O’Bomber” for his strong jump shot) is fond of taking breaks from the campaign trail to play pickup games on the basketball court.

Forget the debates—how about a one-one-one contest between The Baracuda and O’Bomber?
Tags:
palin ,
sarah palin ,
mccain ,
obama
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The Off-Beat
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by smurfcrusher August 29, 2008 1:27 PM PDT

Trig has Down syndrome, and his mom told the Anchorage Daily News that he is %u201Cabsolutely perfect.%u201D


Ah, if only the whole world could be so perfect...
Reply to this comment
by memekiller August 29, 2008 1:29 PM PDT
She''s about as good of a choice as McCain could make, but I''m a bit confused by how choosing her is "historic". The Democrats choose Geraldine Feraro over 20 years ago. It''s a breakthrough for Republicans, I guess, but a few decades behind the times in terms of politics.
Reply to this comment
by typegirl-2009 August 29, 2008 1:37 PM PDT
She says she thinks her child with Down''s syndrome is perfect....... ahhhh, I like her already!!! Best wishes!!!
Reply to this comment
by jetlizhan August 29, 2008 1:49 PM PDT
go get ''em girl! i can tell i''m gonna like you - hopefully, as our vp.
Reply to this comment
by SBFilmguy August 29, 2008 1:57 PM PDT
Me thinks Florida just came in to play. The older Jewish voters who were concerned about Obama''s ability to protect Israel are not going to be comforted by Palin''s "credentials" as a Born Again Christian snowmobiler, and being a "reformer" in Alaska is about as impressive as being an albino at a Norwegian beauty pageant.

On the other hand, I do think it is now certain that McCain can count on Alaska''s 3 electoral votes. Is this going to be a George McGovern blow out in reverse?
Reply to this comment
by smurfcrusher August 29, 2008 2:06 PM PDT
typegirl - You are obviously perfect. :)
Reply to this comment
by KYJurisDoctor August 29, 2008 2:08 PM PDT
John McCain%u2019s pick of Sarah Palin is a SOLID one for REAL Conservatives, and announcing the pick today is a strategic masterpiece, knocking out Barack Obama/Joe Biden%u2019s after convention euphoria!.

Did I mention that I loved EVERYTHING she said after being introduced by John McCain?

EVERYTHING!! OsiSpeaks[dot]com
Reply to this comment
by rhunter10 August 29, 2008 2:47 PM PDT
Nice gimmick choice.
Country first? More like campaign first--and a desperate campaign at that.
It speaks volumes about McCain''s bad judgement that his pick for president if he kicks it, is someone with NO foreign policy experience -- none, nothing, nada.
John McCain:wrong about Iraq, wrong on the economy, and now just desperately wrong.
Reply to this comment
by rhunter10 August 29, 2008 2:48 PM PDT
Nice gimmick choice.
Country first? More like campaign first--and a desperate campaign at that.
It speaks volumes about McCain''s bad judgement that his pick for president if he kicks it, is someone with NO foreign policy experience -- none, nothing, nada.
John McCain:wrong about Iraq, wrong on the economy, and now just desperately wrong.
Reply to this comment
by bratz21-2009 August 29, 2008 2:54 PM PDT
Outstanding Pick......Hurray !!!
Reply to this comment
by nancysabet August 29, 2008 2:59 PM PDT
Excellent choice! Thank you McCain for choosing a woman. That is a real CHANGE we can believe in, not the rhetoric Hussien Obama wants us to believe.
Reply to this comment
by nancysabet August 29, 2008 3:00 PM PDT
Now that''s the real CHANGE. I will vote for McCain on Nov.

Hillary supporter
Reply to this comment
by greenfun August 29, 2008 3:02 PM PDT
OMG. Brilliant! The dems can kiss my @ss now. McCain clearly cares more about women''s issues. Bo couldn''t even choose HRC-which would have assured him victory. What an idiot!
Reply to this comment
by liberalme August 29, 2008 3:04 PM PDT
Did I mention that I loved EVERYTHING she said after being introduced by John McCain?

EVERYTHING!! OsiSpeaks[dot]com

Posted by KYJurisDocto

You mean after McCain said they will lead with politics not principle???

Yep love that one!!
Reply to this comment
by mattcat25 August 29, 2008 3:06 PM PDT
I wonder if John McCain will have Sarah show all %u201Cthe goods%u201D just like when he had his wife Cindy enter in the Miss Buffalo Chip (topless optional) contest?

I think VP is more important, we should be able to see EVERYTHING!
How%u2019bout it Jonnnie?
Reply to this comment
by im4honesty August 29, 2008 3:08 PM PDT
DAN QUAYLE WITH A PONY TAIL.

ROFLMAO!!!!!
Reply to this comment
by joe_transit August 29, 2008 3:12 PM PDT
I''m not sure if I should laugh or cry. If Sarah is the most qualified republican available for VP and if she is ready to lead our country in the unfortunate event of a McCain death at 72, 73, 74, or 75 years old in office, and if this is an example of McCain''s good judgment, and this is suppose to display that McCain puts country before politics, what do I do laugh or cry?
Reply to this comment
by memekiller August 29, 2008 3:13 PM PDT
It took them 24 years to put a woman on the ticket after we did. Which means, a non-white male will be their nominee (as opposed to simply being selected for affirmative action reasons) some time around 2032.
Reply to this comment
by calimak August 29, 2008 3:15 PM PDT
So sad that the Republican Party has to lower their standards in a "panic play". Nothing against Palin, but the truth is, McCain is 72, if he goes down, I don''t want the future of this country to be handled by someone that was mayor of 9000 people. Speaking candidly, this is a move to sweep up "HRC Supporters". The truth is Palin and Hillary are very different on issues and experience. I am a HRC supporter, and any HRC supporter should be able to tell the only thing that Palin and HRC have in common is their gender. Don''t fall for the GIMMICK!
Reply to this comment
by rizabove August 29, 2008 3:19 PM PDT
This is the worst birthday gift 72 old McCain has ever given to himself. He just lost the election. Pandering will not work, not this time. Palin is NO Hillary Clinton, what an insult.
Reply to this comment
by liberalme August 29, 2008 3:19 PM PDT
I''''m not sure if I should laugh or cry. If Sarah is the most qualified republican available for VP and if she is ready to lead our country in the unfortunate event of a McCain death at 72, 73, 74, or 75 years old in office, and if this is an example of McCain''''s good judgment, and this is suppose to display that McCain puts country before politics, what do I do laugh or cry?

Posted by joe_transit

The ONLY reason McCain chose Palin is because she''s a woman and he thinks it''s an "in your face" to Obama.

McCain is a simple man and no VP can change that--we have already lived under leadership of leading with politics rather than principle.
Reply to this comment
by rizabove August 29, 2008 3:20 PM PDT
Obviously McCain puts himself before his Country. He figures women will run out an vote for a woman who opposes women''s rights? Palin=puppet.
Reply to this comment
by rizabove August 29, 2008 3:24 PM PDT
IOUSAthemovie.com---McCain should have choosen someone who could bail us out of our debt owed to China, not some woman who believes in being barefoot and pregnant.
Reply to this comment
by allurfears August 29, 2008 3:24 PM PDT
McCain''s choice puts POLITICS over PARTY. He had a multitude of more qualified people to select (including Republican women), but chose someone to "stick it to Obama".

How sad. This woman has only 18 months experience, before that she was part-time mayor of a 7500 person town.

She has NO foreign policy experience- she hasn''t even been out of her state to deal with foreign leaders. America''s enemies will eat her alive.

Don''t forget- she used her power to get an ex-husband of her relative fired from a state job. She''s under investigation for misusing her power to get him fired.

This is a weak pick. It looks all shiny on the surface, but once people take a little closer look at her she will be seen as the corrupt empty suit she is.

McCain has NO INTEGRITY. His "Country First" slogan is nothing more than that. "Winning First" should be his slogan. It is more accurate.
Reply to this comment
by smartee569 August 29, 2008 3:26 PM PDT
I would certainly rather have someone WITH skills teaching a novice than a novice having to be TUTORED by someone with skills. I think that McCain made a great choice. Someone with values...that''s something the dems certainly lack!!!
Reply to this comment
by sarav1-2009 August 29, 2008 3:30 PM PDT
Sara is just a political pawn for the Republicans. They are hoping to win over the Hilary votes.Great for women but she is not Hilary and not enough to win my vote.
Reply to this comment
by fralene-2009 August 29, 2008 3:32 PM PDT
Aw jeez, can''t we do better than Alvin the Chipmunk and Pebbles Flintstone?
Reply to this comment
by donbl1 August 29, 2008 3:49 PM PDT
Interestingly, Gov. Palin has more executive experience than Obama, Biden and McCain together.

I watched her speech today and she is not used to being a follower. Strong and effective speaker.

AND, both she and her husband are union members......
Reply to this comment
by undecided081 August 29, 2008 3:53 PM PDT
I have not decided where to go yet.I am no expert on politics. I am not in favor of the war. However I dont want to fight them here. Also, Bush inherited a recession from a Democrat controled white house and congress. Republicans take control of the white house and the congress and we have a huge economic boom in this country. Democrats take control of the congress a while back and we are in a recession again. Please help me understand! I am leaning towards Obama, but why do democrats cause recessions?!?!
Reply to this comment
by szkeptik August 29, 2008 4:04 PM PDT
So Hilary supports womens rights. What about all those women harrassed by Bill and Hillary stood around and did nothing. She was too intent on keeping quiet so that she could profit financially and politically from Bill.
Sarah Palin is a great choice she is honest and has done more in her period as governor than Obama has done in his whole life. Obama is a classic preacher but totally lacking in executive experience or even foreign policy exposure. Take away the grin and what is left?
Reply to this comment
by deacon20081 August 29, 2008 4:05 PM PDT
"She has been called Saint Sarah" NO that is not a joke.
The 44-year-old Gov. Palin is a mother of five. She served as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, (pop. 8,500) and was winner of the Miss Wasilla pageant. ( A beauty pageant in a town 8500? Competing against who ? ) She was a MAYOR of a Village of 8500, whoopTdo.

Give me a break ! This woman who is being investigated for "Troopergate" in Alaska by the Legislature, is seemingly fit to be PRESIDENT if McSame flakes out? Talk about lack of experience!
She also pushed for TransCanada Corp., a Calgary-based energy company,to be given the primary contract to lead the $30 billion Natural Gas Pipeline along with $500 million in matching grants from the Northern Slope.
This woman is NO SAINT. Good Job McCain now we are certain you are senile.
Reply to this comment
by donbl1 August 29, 2008 4:15 PM PDT
deacon, obviously you are spreading trash as all those issues have been vetted by McCain.

She has more executive experience than Obama, McCain and Biden combined.

BTW, you left off her time as Chairman of Ethics Committee and Governor........
Reply to this comment
by andy1942 August 29, 2008 4:17 PM PDT
In 2000, Palin endorsed Pat Buchanan for President.
Reply to this comment
by david1737 August 29, 2008 4:17 PM PDT
Bottom line McCain voted against equal pay for equal work for women.

Then with a stunned look McCain couldn''t articulate an opinion on the issue. This after having vote no on the issue.
Reply to this comment
by wogerwabbit August 29, 2008 4:18 PM PDT
DEMOCRATS4MCCAIN!

Posted by elicatlover at 03:26 PM : Aug 29, 2008

Who are you kidding, you''re no Democrat... you''re just earning a days pay from the McCane campaign as a paid idiot blogger. Slimeball.
Reply to this comment
by david1737 August 29, 2008 4:18 PM PDT
If elected with McCain support paying his Veep Palin equal pay for the job?

Reply to this comment
by david1737 August 29, 2008 4:20 PM PDT
Posted by WogerWabbit

Thank you!

Democrats beware of fake Dems claiming that they support McCain.

It''s another Repub. electoral scam.
Reply to this comment
by milcrow August 29, 2008 4:22 PM PDT
Undecided081, Republicans normally "fix" recession by borrowing more money from the future. When Democrats attempt to balance the budget, the bills catch up. W is the champion of borrowing, putting his Dad and Reagan to shame with the debt he has run up in Iraq. The Republican solution to terrorism is to start wars. This is like pouring gasoline on an ant bed. It makes the problem worse, but at least you have a big brown patch on your lawn as a testament to your frustration.
Reply to this comment
by david1737 August 29, 2008 4:25 PM PDT
McCain voted against equal pay for women!
Reply to this comment
by david1737 August 29, 2008 4:37 PM PDT
Undecided081

Please do some research. The Dems inherited the recession of the early 90s after 12 years of Republicans in the White House.

By the end of the 90s the Dems had created over 22 million new jobs and left a $5.5 trillion dollar budget surplus. And oil cost about $38 dollars per barrel.

Then the Repubs. took over and our debt is approaching $10 trillion dollars.

The Repubs have sold our country''s future to communist China (3/4 of a trillion dollars in T-bill.)

Oil cost over $100 per barrel.

The dollar has been devalued.

Home foreclosers are up more than 150%.
Reply to this comment
by david1737 August 29, 2008 4:38 PM PDT
Undecided081

If you want answers google both Phil and Wendy Gramm.

Wendy Gramm is directly responsible for Enron.

Phil Gramm is directly responsible for the Subprime meltdown.
Reply to this comment
by david1737 August 29, 2008 4:40 PM PDT
Undecided081

McCain himself was one of the Keating 5.

Google the Savings and Loan Scandal, Bush family/McCain Keating 5.
Reply to this comment
by undecided081 August 29, 2008 4:42 PM PDT
That still doesnt really answer my question Clinton balanced the budget, but we were still in recession when he left office and he had a democrat controlled congress. The reps take control of the WH and the Congress and we have a boom. Dems take control of congress again and we are right back into recession again.
Reply to this comment
by undecided081 August 29, 2008 4:46 PM PDT
So you are saying that clinton took over a recession?
Reply to this comment
by CBSTV August 29, 2008 4:53 PM PDT
The names Governor Palin gave her children are reason enough to suspect her judgment.

Then, of course, there is the matter of her being a hardcore Republican.
Reply to this comment
by undecided081 August 29, 2008 4:53 PM PDT
david1737 Thank you for pointing that out I will check myself. However, weren''t gas prices and mortage rates fine just a couple of years ago? I dont claim to be an expert, but it seemed everything was fine with our economy until the dems took back control of the congress. Obama seems like a good man and in step with my generation that is more than likely where I will vote. From what I understand the dems have controlled the congress 90% of the time in the last 30 years and all those things that you pointed out happened under their watch. Right?
Reply to this comment
by CBSTV August 29, 2008 5:00 PM PDT
For what it''s worth, gasoline prices were at an all-time low (when adjusted for inflation) during the Clinton Administration. I don''t necessarily correlate these two factors.

The economy flourished during the Clinton Administration and started to tank in 2001. But again, I don''t necessarily make a direct connection between the President and the economy.
Reply to this comment
by pollroller1 August 29, 2008 5:06 PM PDT
I haven''t decided who I will vote for yet. I like both McCain and Obama.
Reply to this comment
by undecided081 August 29, 2008 5:09 PM PDT
I think that is my point. The pres sets aggendas on what he wants, but the real control is congress and it seems that everytime they have control our ecomomy goes haywire. it seems it would be better for us to have a dem in the white house and reps in congress.
Reply to this comment
by mattcat25 August 29, 2008 5:14 PM PDT
Alaska, OIL

Oil, Alaska.

Hmmm,


There is millions of acres in Prudhoe Bay on the North Slope of Alaska next to ANWR (%u201Canwar-anwar!%u201D) that the Oil Companies are not in production of already approved Oil and Mineral Right harvesting.

OIL, Republican Governor, inexperienced, dumb broad, Oil, Alaska, REPUBLICANS%u2026.

VICE PRESIDENT!!!
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