Gov Palin

[AMTCM John Long]

I'm surprised no one started a thread here yet. Thoughts...good/bad idea??

John

[ETC Joe Jester ret]

John,

Google must have had a million or two hits when McCain announced his choice.

She looks to be a good choice and the only one in the race with "executive experience".

[BMC Russell Miller]

Sounds good to me, I looked her up and she come with alott of good ideas.

[PAC Jamie Devitt-Chacon ret]

I love this choice! Her resume is very impressive -- heck, anyone who can run a state and a family of five at the same time can vice-run this country.

[AMTCM John Long]

IMO...she seems to have the blocks that interest me checked off. I'm cautiously watching what transpires over the next couple of months. I am not a diehard Sen McCain fan and he was not my 1st choice (or 2nd or 3rd). However, she seems to bring some traditional conservative value balance to counter Sen McCain's shortcomings. When people call McCain a maverick, I see that as a negative.

[ETC Pat Kaschube]

One of the things I do like about McCain is that he doesn't preach fromt the standard Conservative, Republican party line speach book everytime he talks. That is one of his strong points. Too many people in the country can only look at things from either Hannity or Colmes point of view. Anyone that tells me the Conservative Republican or the Liberal Democratic way is the only way to run this country is immediately dismissed on my list of someone I want to talk to about politicswith, vote for, or for that matter someone that I even want to vote. That is just a way too narrow minded way of looking at this country.

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

I don't think there was a better choice out there....... Executive Experience, from the state at the forefront of the energy issue, son on his way to Iraq, husband is a union member, she's a lifetime member of the NRA and an avid hunter, working mother of five, took on corruption in her own party,.....

the one thing that they keep bringing up is that she is being investigated for firing someone who refused to fire her former brother in-law........ a State Trooper who was (reportedly) driving under the influence, hunting illegally,threatened to kill a member of her family, beat his wife, and tasered his 10 year old step son..... pick any one of those charges and prove them, and I'd fire him as a police officer.

Oh yeah, and she's good looking........ not that someone's appearance has ever mattered in this country.
I think that we've just been formally introduced to our first female president.

[FSC Jeff Stumpf]

We can only hope!!!! She was a great Govenor took over in AK and turned things around after Kowles and Murkowski (sp). I was very suprized by the chose but I think it is a good one. She really know how to stick to a budget and doesn't back down to pressure, and she will bring balance to the ticket. Also McCain is old so she may be the next Prez.:D

Jeff

[FSC Jayare Parker (Ret)]

She's got my vote. I am a former 26 year resident of Alaska untill I retired last year and moved down here to Alabama where the cost of living is less.

Jayare

[ETC Joe Jester ret]

... not that someone's appearance has ever mattered in this country.

Nice sarcasm.

[HSC Chris Fly]

They could bring Reagan back and I wouldn't vote Republican this year....

I thought her speech at the RNC was boring and full of mushy non-sense along with petty attack after attach on Obama. I'm actually glad I wasn't in AK when she was governer.

But, that's just my .02

[ETC Pat Kaschube]

I though Govenor Palins speech was exactly what it needed to be. Most people have no idea who she is, she wove her introduction to America throughout the course of her speech. She demonstrated the ability to speak clearly which was a plus. She provided some background with regards to her political experience which is good. Basically she was showing America who she is and where she comes from. Maybe a few too many zingers directed towards the Dem's but for me they were pretty funny. I think it is a breath of fresh air and now lets see what happens during the debates.
We aren't voting for the VP's anyway. I'm not sure how much influence this has on voters but it is a small part of my decision making process.

[YNCM Doug Squires (Ret)]

Gee Chris - don't old back.... tell us how you really feel!

[HSC Chris Fly]

:D, that's just the way I am!

All I know is her speech didn't hold a candle to Hillary's at the DNC and she wasn't even on the ticket for VP!

[AMTCM John Long]

Chris,

Political ideaology aside.....I think folks can relate to Gov Palin alot better than they can with Sen Clinton. IMO, Sen Clinton doesn't have the regular person "street cred" that the Gov has. Where Gov Palin could give you her moose chili recipe if you asked, Sen Clinton would tell you to wait a second so she can ask the caterer or house chef. That's something you can't buy or fake.

The other problem Sen Clinton has had for years is her delivery style. I can always tell when she is trying to look intelligent or cutsie in her speeches. She will slow down her pace, drag out a series of words and increase the volume. It makes her look unnatural because I know that is not her vocal style.

And lets continue to be honest....pant suits or skirts????;):cool:

John

[CWO Charlie Rice (BMC)]

I listened to Gov Palin's speech and found nothing of substance. It was your basic rah, rah, apple pie and flag waving speech but nothing of the issues. They are riding the "change" band-wagon, but didn't say just how their administration would be any different than the last 2 Republican administrations.

So what of this "Bridge to nowhere" where she supposedly told the Feds "No thanks". Every report and article I've read said she was all about the bridge until the last minute. She claims that she refuse federal aid, yet we're told she did indeed keep the federal money.

I dunno about her yet. She may or may not be a good thing for the Republican party but com'on...can she really count her mayoral term and 2 year stint as Governor of a little less than 700,000 population as "executive experience" equal to running a country of 300 million? Please...my lab has as much being the Queen pooch of this house.

Realistically, none of the candidates have real executive experience on the level of which would be considered valuable in a President. Heck, Arnold and Rudy would fit that bill considering the size of their respective populations and State budgets. Palin? I think not.

It is my sincere hope that if McCain does get elected, that he will return to the Maverick status he once enjoyed a couple years ago rather than the kow-towing shill for the right wing that he has become trying to get elected. That man I can respect. This one, I cannot.

[AMTCM John Long]

CWO Charlie,

IMO I wasn't expecting her first national speech to spell out how a Prez McCain will solve world hunger. That is Sen McCain's job to do that, then she can address that in her subsequent speeches. My expectation was for her to introduce herself to the country, tell her story and explain her positions on the issues.

Speaking of speeches.....they are just that, speeches. I think one has to look at what the member has done leading up to that point, not what they say. It's akin to actions speak louder than words.

John

[HSC Chris Fly]

On a related note, I'd vote for Arnold Swachzanegger (sp) in a heartbeat! He has done wonders in California

[BMC Jason Brennan]

I'm actually glad I wasn't in AK when she was governer.


Why?:cool:

[BMC Jason Brennan]

can she really count her mayoral term and 2 year stint as Governor of a little less than 700,000 population as "executive experience" equal to running a country of 300 million?

I guess you would only have to be the president to gain that experience:cool:

[SKC Raymond Kurtz]

IMO...she seems to have the blocks that interest me checked off. I'm cautiously watching what transpires over the next couple of months. I am not a diehard Sen McCain fan and he was not my 1st choice (or 2nd or 3rd). However, she seems to bring some traditional conservative value balance to counter Sen McCain's shortcomings. When people call McCain a maverick, I see that as a negative.

McCain was labled a maverick for constantly voting against Republican and conservative ideals. I never liked McCain all that much and still don't but I have to vote for him because a vote for someone else is a vote for Barack Hussein Obama.

McCain was very smart in picking Palin as his VP choice. If he would've went for someone like Lieberman or Ridge it proably would have hurt his stance among conservative, pro-life voters.

[CWO Charlie Rice (BMC)]

I gave you examples of the Governors that would fit the bill of Executive experience, but I guess you chose to ignore that part of it in your pursuit of sarcasm.

Since Columbus, OH has a population of of a bit over 700,000, it's Mayor qualifies as having executive experience, right? After all, that is more than the population of the whole State of Alaska...by about 100,000.

As I said, the push that Palin is the only candidate to have "executive experience" is laughable. Heck, Ray Nagin (pre-Katrina) would have more than Palin by that type of reasoning and I sure as heck wouldn't want him to run for President or VP based on that.

[HSC Chris Fly]

Why?:cool:


I just don't like her or some of the stuff she says/does...

[ETC Joe Jester ret]

As I said, the push that Palin is the only candidate to have "executive experience" is laughable.

Being laughable doesn't dismiss it as a true statement.

What executive experience does the other candidates have?

If John McCain was CO, then he certainly would have some executive experience, but I don't recall being a CO as part of his resume.

What is laughable is Obama claiming that his time as a community organizer is executive experience. He did that when he justaposed his experience in that activity with the second chair's experience on the Republican ticket. Shouldn't he be comparing his experience with McCain's?

[ETC Joe Jester ret]

Chris,

Her values not aligning with yours certainly qualifies for you to vote elsewhere.

My only comment would be, and your certainly under no obligation to justify your decisions, have you visited some of the many sites that rate your answers with those running, to see how they agreed with you?

During the primary season, you can bet McCain didn't rank high on the comparison with me, but he did rank higher than the D's running.

It's tough to get a second chance at a first impression. I'm sure as we move closer to the election, there will be more links available to judge the candidates with respect to your views.

Democracy is not a spectator sport. All the polls in the world attempt to influence the voting public, when the only poll that counts occurs in November.

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

Charlie, the Mayor of any size town has executive experience. You can weigh the importance of the experience by the size of the town they rule if you want.... but they are the executive in charge. The Governor of any state can say the same thing. They are the one in charge. Just as an OinC is the one who gets credit for the executive experience at a unit. Just at face value you might say that someone at a unit with 30 people gets more executive expeience than the person at the unit that had 6....... but in reality, what did the 6 person unit do? That 30 person unit might have been more self governing.
Some executives let sleeping dogs lie while others shake the tree and see what comes loose.

Without looking this up....... off the top of your head...... 9/11 ...... Guilliani was the MAYOR of New York City.... who was the GOVERNOR of New York at the time? Who gained more executive experience from that time?

[AMTCM John Long]

Just for grins, I followed up on Stu's train of thought about executive experience. More specifically, what is it? Here's what I found on Wiki.

Also....I did a head count. Seventeen of the 43 Presidents had either Governer or Lt Governer experience prior to becoming the Prez.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Presidents_by_previous_execu tive_experience

This is a list of the previous Executive Experience of Presidents before they became President of the United States. Executive Experience is defined as experience where one is the top (or 2nd top) decision maker for the company, State, large military unit, etc. (See for example, Army General, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Vice President of the United States, prior President of the United States, and Chief Executive Officer.) In cases where the President had no previous executive experience prior to becoming President of the United States, their experience just prior to being elected is also listed.



Order President Previous Executive Experience
1 George Washington General of United Army of the Colonies
2 John Adams Vice President of the United States
3 Thomas Jefferson Governor of Virginia & Vice President of the United States
4 James Madison No Previous Executive Experience, Virginia state legislature (1776-79) & Continental Congress (1780-83)]
5 James Monroe Governor of Virginia
6 John Quincy Adams No Previous Executive Experience, United States Senate (1803-09)
7 Andrew Jackson General of the Army (United States) & Military Governor of Florida
8 Martin Van Buren Vice President of the United States
9 William Harrison General of the Army (United States) & Military Governor of Indiana Territory
10 John Tyler Governor of Virginia, United States Senate Vice President of the United States (in by death of WHH)
11 James Polk Governor of Tennessee & Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
12 Zachary Taylor General of the Army (United States)
13 Millard Fillmore Vice President of the United States
14 Franklin Pierce General of the Army (United States)
15 James Buchanan No Previous Executive Experience, Pennsylvania House of Representatives (1814-20) & United States House of Representatives (1821-31)]
16 Abraham Lincoln No Previous Executive Experience, United States House of Representatives (1846-48)
17 Andrew Johnson Mayor of Greeneville, Tennessee, Governor of Tennessee, Military Governor of Tennessee, Vice President of the United States (in by AL assassination)
18 Ulysses Grant General of the Army (United States)
19 Rutherford Hayes General of the Army (United States) & Governor of Ohio
20 James Garfield General of the Army (United States)
21 Chester Arthur Vice President of the United States (in by JAG assassination)
22,24 Grover Cleveland Mayor of Buffalo, New York, Governor of New York & President of the United States (elected twice but not consecutively)
23 Benjamin Harrison General of the Army (United States)
25 William McKinley Governor of Ohio
26 Theodore Roosevelt Assistant United States Secretary of the Navy, Governor of New York & Vice President of the United States (in by WM assassination)
27 William Taft Governor-General of the Philippines, United States Secretary of War
28 Woodrow Wilson President of the Princeton University, Governor of New Jersey
29 Warren Harding Lieutenant Governor of Ohio
30 Calvin Coolidge Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, Governor of Massachusetts & Vice President of Northampton Savings Bank
31 Herbert Hoover United States Secretary of Commerce
32 Franklin Roosevelt Assistant United States Secretary of Navy, Governor of New York
33 Harry Truman Vice President of the United States (in by FDR death)
34 Dwight Eisenhower General of the Army (United States) (Supreme Allied Commander, Army Chief of Staff)
35 John F. Kennedy No Previous Executive Experience, United States House of Representatives (1946-52) & United States Senate (1952-60)]
36 Lyndon Johnson Vice President of the United States (in by JFK assassination)
37 Richard Nixon Vice President of the United States
38 Gerald Ford Vice President of the United States (in by RN resignation)
39 Jimmy Carter Governor of Georgia
40 Ronald Reagan Governor of California & President of the Screen Actors Guild
41 George H. W. Bush Vice President of the United States & Director of Central Intelligence
42 Bill Clinton Attorney General of Arkansas, Governor of Arkansas
43 George W. Bush Governor of Texas

[ETC Joe Jester ret]

Nice list.

Whomever is elected, he will be the sixth president in the history of these united states without executive experience.

Other than Abraham Lincoln and JFK, nothing comes to mind quickly (as being remembered from school those many years ago) as an outstanding contribution to these United States during their presidencies.

JFK had some command experience.

[CWO Charlie Rice (BMC)]

Stu,

I do hold that the mayor or whomever you choose as an example should have a broader, more diverse experience level to "qualify" as executive experience. By your reasoning, any SN running a couple SAs would qualify as having executive experience. I just can't see it.

Guliani definitely qualifies as the Mayor of a city of 8 million people. Where is the population cutoff? I dunno...but I do expect that the person leads more than a Dogpatch population level. Can you really compare Palin's experience with Guliani's?

George Pataki comes to mind. Actually the only reason I even remember is because I thought Guliani was running roughshod over him and that Pataki should have done more during that time.

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

If those SN had NJP, budgetary authority and did their EERs or approved which schools they could attend....yeah, we could start comparing them.

I could compare Palin and Guilliani's experience in that they were both the final word in all decisions made at the city level. You can continue to write off her experience, but that doesn't change the fact that she's the only one on either ticket that has any. She's the only one on either ticket that has run any level of government.

Pataki was the governor and Guilliani did have to go to him anytime he needed or wanted more money. Mayors get together with other Mayors and discuss issues that they face. Governors get together with Governors. OinCs get together to discuss issues that we face, but many of us would be lost in a conversation with a bunch of Sector Commanders because that experience doesn't always transfer or translate.
Does experience as a Mayor or a Governor mean that you're ready to be President? Not neccassarily, though it is the only experience some of them have taken in. Does it better prepare you to take on bigger roles? I'd say in most cases,....yes. I'd say she passed Government 101.

[HSC Chris Fly]

I could compare Palin and Guilliani's experience in that they were both the final word in all decisions made at the city level. You can continue to write off her experience, but that doesn't change the fact that she's the only one on either ticket that has any. She's the only one on either ticket that has run any level of government.


The problem is that the town of Wasilla is a suburb of Anchorge, hardly comparable to NY...

[ETC Joe Jester ret]

The problem is that the town of Wasilla is a suburb of Anchorge, hardly comparable to NY...

Size of the town has nothing to do with making decisions. Granted a larger town would have more decisions, but the core responsibilities are consistent.

It is those core responsibilities as the person responsible to the people that defines the "executive experience". Yes, CEO's of companies and owners of small businesses share similiar core responsibilities qualifying them for "executive experience".

If we were going to follow Charlie's example, only the mayors of large towns should be elected president, as they truely have "executive experience".

The reality is, even Rudy only had experience with 11/300ths of the population. I can only think of about three Generals who were president, Washington, Grant, and Eisenhower. The mold for the office of the president was Washington.

Age is the only requirement for the offices in our government and voting for officers to fill those offices. I'm sure you know it, as you swore to support and defend the document where it's written.

Like I said before, make your issue list, compare each candidate with your issue list. Vote for whoever compares the most favorably with you. If your so intent on voting for or against a vagina, I think that is stupid. There's more to democracy then vote for me because I'm black, vote for me because I'm not black, vote for me because I'm a man, vote for me because I'm a woman, vote for me because I'm pro-choice, vote for me because I'm anti-choice.

[SKC Raymond Kurtz]

What the heck is a "community oraganizer" anyways? Was it a paid position? What did Barack Obama do while on that job? Him saying that he is more experienced than Palin is a joke. He has only been in the US Senate a very short time and has little experience at the state level.

Another thing I find laughable is Obama promising tax cuts. Right. Clinton promised tax cuts during the '92 election. What did we get? The biggest tax increase in history.

When you hear a democrat saying he or she is for tax cuts, he or she really mean that they are for tax increases. When they say they are pro-defense, what they really mean is that they are anti-defense.

Bottom line. Democratic politicians usually do the opposite of what they say and that's why I don't trust them and will never, ever vote democrat under any circumstances.

[HSC Chris Fly]

It is those core responsibilities as the person responsible to the people that defines the "executive experience". Yes, CEO's of companies and owners of small businesses share similiar core responsibilities qualifying them for "executive experience".



So, what you're saying is that the "CEO" of jim bob's bait and tackle that has a "board" becuase they have two investors has the same "executive experiance" as the CEO of Ford Motor? I'm sorry, but I can't buy that...

I'll even go so far as to say a local guy that own's 2 or 3 McDonalds has no where the experiance that CEO of Mattel has. Size does make a difference.

Someone on another board said Palin had a harder job than the average mayor becuase she knew everyone she was leading and thus it would be harder to say no. I disagree with that statement, I think it's easier to talk yourself out of it becuase you can "make it up to them" at a later date. I just can't believe that she had to make the same tough decisions as say, the mayor of Indianapolis, IN. In your analysis, the mayor of Kodiak or St. Paul, AK has the " executive experiance" to be VP or President. Let's not forget, George W had plenty of "executive experiance"...

[HSC Chris Fly]

What the heck is a "community oraganizer" anyways? Was it a paid position? What did Barack Obama do while on that job? Him saying that he is more experienced than Palin is a joke. He has only been in the US Senate a very short time and has little experience at the state level.

Another thing I find laughable is Obama promising tax cuts. Right. Clinton promised tax cuts during the '92 election. What did we get? The biggest tax increase in history.

When you hear a democrat saying he or she is for tax cuts, he or she really mean that they are for tax increases. When they say they are pro-defense, what they really mean is that they are anti-defense.

Bottom line. Democratic politicians usually do the opposite of what they say and that's why I don't trust them and will never, ever vote democrat under any circumstances.

Do you have anything to back any of this up or that it is any different with either party?

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

Chris, a Mayor, is a Mayor, is a Mayor....... they are the Executive of that Government, regardless of its size, regardless of its location. You don't have to accept that, but it's true. Discard her service if you want too, she's still the only one thats had any.
And from your comments of our sitting President, I take it that you don't care much for his service either....... Are you, Chris Fly, better off than you were 8 years ago? Would you say that the people who are worse off than they were 8 years ago should blame the President, Congress, or....let's say themselves?

[HSC Chris Fly]

Stu,
I guess we'll have to agree to disagree about where the mayor issue is "true" or not...

As far as our sitting president, all I will say is I'm better off because I worked my butt off to make Chief during the last eight years, nothing else. I'll say one thing, the big oil people sure are better off then they were eight years ago....and coincidentaly, our executive branch is a big part of that party...

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

Chris, then you should buy stock in those big oil companies and thank God you live in a country where you're allowed to do that.
And coincidentally, the other party has been in charge of Congress for the past two years.......... when did the price of oil really start climbing again?
They can point fingers at each other all day long, there aren't alot of innocent politicians on this one.
And Chris, we can agree that you don't want to accept the truth about the Mayor issue. Let me put it into perspective for you........ you HSC Chris Fly have absolutely no medic experience whatsoever. I have just determined that unless you have been the attending Physician in an ER for a major metropolitan hospital what ever experience you claim just doesn't measure up.
Now when you decide that Govern Palin has earned executive experience I'll recognize your medical experience.

[HSC Chris Fly]

wow Stu, that's pretty far fetched...

I would never say I had anywhere close to the amount of knowledge or experiance that an ER doc has...

Just as I would say I don't have the same experiance running a clinic that the CWO3 that ran the Yorktown clinc has. I've not had that opportunity yet, maybe I never will.

You might as well say an OIC of a harbor tug has the same experiance as a CAPT on the Healy... I'm not saying the OIC couldn't do the job of the CAPT, it's just not the same level of experiance. (I figured you delved into my rate, I could delve into yours)

BTW- I never said Palin didn't have executive experiance, I said it's not the same as a mayor of a much larger city...

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

Chris, most OinCs would have done things differently than what was done on the Healy......... that might not have been the best example that you could have used. Bottom line is that both gain executive experience.

And you keep bringing up the Mayor of a small town....... She's the Governor of the State, a state you said you were glad you didn't live in. You could have been in the 20% of the people who don't approve of her administration. And you said Hillary Clinton's speech blew her's away....... it's kinda funny the mainstream media hasn't ever played clips from that non -stop. One speech and Governor Palin was dubbed a Star.......... I guess we'llhave to agree to disagree on those points....

[ETC Joe Jester ret]

Chris,

I said the core responsibilities were similiar. I never said she made the same amount of decisions as any other mayor or governor.

The regulatory agencies don't give small towns that much of a break. OSHA, EPA, and the alphabet of regulatory agencies apply whether your in a town of 7000 or a town of 7 million.

Do I think there are more problems in bigger towns? Sure. You have a much bigger bureauracy to deal with those problems. A small town, the elected officials deal with those same problems; only because they are fewer. Of all the decisions made in NYC, how many were handled at a lower level and how many reached Rudy's desk for resolution? Rudy had a lower percentage of problems because of the bureauracy. This is not disrespecting Rudy, but it's a function of the size of the bureauracy. A small town mayor would see a larger percentage of the daily problems.

You can juxtapose that against the bureauracy called the Coast Guard. How many problems reach the CO from your area? I'm guesing very few, as you handle the vast majority of them. I was approached by the CEA (CMC) who inquired why he didn't see too many people from the school where I taught. I told him us Chiefs handled the problems.

You might want to review CG Regulations. The last time I did, the core responsibilities for the Commanding Officer were exactly the same for the Officer in Charge, in fact, it was stated that where the Regulations used CO, it also applied to OIC. And like the mayorial example, the CO has a bigger bureaucracy to deal with the problems. You may disagree with that assessment, but, the regulations are what you will follow as long as your in uniform.

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

Joe, by CG Regs the positions are nearly identical, but there are still many things that need to have a Commanding Officer's signature or endorsement. When we went to Sectors some of those gaps increased.

[SKC Raymond Kurtz]

Do you have anything to back any of this up or that it is any different with either party?

Which part? Look all of it up on the 'net. Obama did hold the position of community organizer. Obama has served less than six years in the senate. Clinton did raise taxes even after he said he wouldn't. If I recall, he said he would have to raise taxes the day after the election because he and his people ran the numbers and he found out we could not afford a tax cut.

There is a reason more governors get elected to the White House, it all boils down to the experience of running a state. Being in the senate and the house does not offer that much real world experience. Especially because these clowns refuse to live under their own laws.

So which part do I need to back up my statement with? All of what I said is pretty common knowledge. Maybe it was a little partisan (after all I am a registered republican) but the tax increases under Clinton are part of the record.

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

Ray, I think you're a little more than a litle partisan on this issue. Under most famous political promises, it wasn't a Democrat that told everyone to "Read my Lips"......

and almost everyone who ever ran for the presidency and won, there was a promise to change business as usually in Washington. It's harder for a career Senator or Congressman to sell themselves as a Washington outsider.... Only two Presidents in our History have ever gone directly from the Senate to the Oval Office. Who ever wins this year will be the third to do it.

[ETC Joe Jester ret]

Stuart,

There will always be somethings that require a Commanding Officers signature.

At the very large units, you have an officer, junior to the commander of the unit, as Commanding Officer of Enlisted Personnel.

At the core there isn't a lick of difference between the OiC and the CO. Just as, at the core there isn't a lick of difference between the EMT working the ER at a Dallas hospital and an HSC who is an EMT.

I could care less who people vote for.

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

I care more about who is allowed to vote, than how they vote. If it were up to me, only people who have paid income tax would be allowed to vote. Kinda like playing cards, if you don't ante up, ..........

[MSTC Shad Hudgins]

Being laughable doesn't dismiss it as a true statement.

What executive experience does the other candidates have?

If John McCain was CO, then he certainly would have some executive experience, but I don't recall being a CO as part of his resume.

What is laughable is Obama claiming that his time as a community organizer is executive experience. He did that when he justaposed his experience in that activity with the second chair's experience on the Republican ticket. Shouldn't he be comparing his experience with McCain's?

McCain was the XO and then CO of of the VA-174 Air Group, Navy's largest squadron, around 5k members assigned to the unit. Following that, Senate liason. Advanced to O-6 and became the Director of the Senate Liason Office.

I'd call that some executive experience.

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

Shad, I suppose you've already heard the counter arguement that the squadron never saw combat while he was in command......... like that somehow diminshes the executive experience he gained?

The whole thing is funny from the outside looking in. Senator Obama was ridiculed for claiming to have been the executive of his own campaign and taking credit for its success..... meanwhile the same people saying he isn't in charge of his own campaign were bashing Senator Clinton for the failure in her campaign, calling it her first executive descisions.......

Same thing....Governor Clinton got credit for when he was Commander and Chief of the Arkansas National Guard, where Governor Palin is getting the opposite response from the same people.

[MSTC Shad Hudgins]

Shad, I suppose you've already heard the counter arguement that the squadron never saw combat while he was in command......... like that somehow diminshes the executive experience he gained?

The whole thing is funny from the outside looking in. Senator Obama was ridiculed for claiming to have been the executive of his own campaign and taking credit for its success..... meanwhile the same people saying he isn't in charge of his own campaign were bashing Senator Clinton for the failure in her campaign, calling it her first executive descisions.......

Same thing....Governor Clinton got credit for when he was Commander and Chief of the Arkansas National Guard, where Governor Palin is getting the opposite response from the same people.


Really? Haven't heard anyone make that case, yet! I stress yet. In fact, very few people know that he actually was an XO/CO. Most people thought his military career was over after returning from Vietnam.

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

We heard it yesterday and just had to shake our heads and smile.....

[BMCS Jim Madsen]

At first I thought that McCain was just "pandering" for votes as most politicians do. I am not a particular fan of McCain. In my opinion, he is all over the place. Not that I am not, but I think he is a bit of a loose cannon. I am not a fan of party politics either though. To many games of who is in control and power politics rather than getting something done. I have intentionally held my thoughts because I wanted to get somewhat educated on who Sarah Palin is. As I have watched and learned a little about her, I am indeed impressed. She seems to stand for something. That is rare in politics anymore. Most politicians seem to stand for whatever will get them elected. The thing I like most about her is that she seems to have a great deal of integrity. She has enough real experience in making executive decisions, especially those that are unpopular with the lobbyists, to satisfy my desire to know what she is all about. I am not sure if I can say that about any of the other candidates. While I thought this was a foolish decision at first, I am glad I held my typing fingers for a while. I think this was indeed a good choice. Both politically strategic and good for those of us that vote with their head and not just their emotions.

[GMC Kevin L. Godwin]

Does it really matter, the way I see it makes no difference. The question is,

Is America divided by government or has government divided America? As much as I really do not care for a Parlimentary system of Government, It is nice that it can be dissolved and new elections called for when the people have had enough. Maybe that is what we the people should be calling for, none of the above and fire all of them. The Dem and Reb are to busy blaming, pointing, lying, cheating, stealing, and so on.. to do the job that you and I hired them to do.

In my opinion Gov Palin to me is no different than any other hack we have in office right now. Palin, Reed, Clinton, or whoever. All equally weak and worthless.

President Washington spoke about the dangers of political parties in his farewell speech over 200 years ago:

"The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries, which result, gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of Public Liberty."

Nothing more for me to say

[SKC Raymond Kurtz]

Most politicians seem to stand for whatever will get them elected.

Therein lies the problem with modern American politics. Too many politicians think they have a right to serve for life and will lie, cheat and steal to keep their job. Just think what America could look like if politicians just did their job and nothing else.

[GMC Kevin L. Godwin]

Both Senator's are asking me to hire them for a job. It isn't the media job to tell me who to hire, it isn't the bloggers job to convince me who I should want in the White House. It is my job to look up the their voting records, their stance on issues that impact on my family and country.
I am not voting for a Democrat President or a Republican President, I am voting for the American President.

[ETC Joe Jester ret]

Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.
— John Quincy Adams, Sixth President of the United States (1767-1848)

This is as true today as it was in Adam's time.

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

Yeah, but Joe, you still have to pick the principle...... You could write in the person you really want to win, or simply vote against the person you really don't want to lose. Which principle do you go by?

Just going from the topic, what if you thought Governor Palin deserved to be the President more than any of the other people on any ticket, so you wrote her in...... would you consider those votes "lost" in the grand scheme of things? ( Assuming of course a couple of million other people don't write her in as well.)

I personally like Cindy McCain more than any of them, but I think she has a better chance of becoming First Lady than President, and it might be too far into the process for me to change enough people's minds.

[AMTCM John Long]

Therein lies the problem with modern American politics. Too many politicians think they have a right to serve for life and will lie, cheat and steal to keep their job. Just think what America could look like if politicians just did their job and nothing else.

Just think what America would look like if we had mandatory term limits for Congress.:) I would like to know what the candidiates (Prez and VP) position is on that.

I can't help but think these guys/gals who have been there too long forgot what the real life experiences are like for the regular folks. You can say they have a gap in their life experience by being in Congress too long.

[GMC Kevin L. Godwin]

I would like to see a Employee performance review on each elected office each year. That way if they fail to do the job that they are hired to do, or fail to meet the public's expectation, we don't have to wait until the end of the term to replace them.
Imagine if the Speaker of the House and Senate had to answer for the 19% approval rating of Congress, Or the President answering for the 24% approval rate. Talk about giving the power to govern back to the people.

[FSC Jeff Stumpf]

I would like to see them have normal jobs and serve the people without pay the way it use to be. I know they do more these days (or create more work for themselve) but isn't that because the create all these stupid laws. Maybe we can start enforcing some of the laws instead of creating more :mad:

Jeff

[AMTCM John Long]

I would like to see a Employee performance review on each elected office each year. That way if they fail to do the job that they are hired to do, or fail to meet the public's expectation, we don't have to wait until the end of the term to replace them.
Imagine if the Speaker of the House and Senate had to answer for the 19% approval rating of Congress, Or the President answering for the 24% approval rate. Talk about giving the power to govern back to the people.


At the moment...

Prez Bush = 32.8%

Congress = 17.8%

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

Kinda funny that members of Congress keep reminding us how poor the Presdient's approval rating is.

[BMCS Jim Madsen]

I would like to see a Employee performance review on each elected office each year. That way if they fail to do the job that they are hired to do, or fail to meet the public's expectation, we don't have to wait until the end of the term to replace them.
Imagine if the Speaker of the House and Senate had to answer for the 19% approval rating of Congress, Or the President answering for the 24% approval rate. Talk about giving the power to govern back to the people.

The only problem I see with the latter is then folks would govern by polls which is not necessarily the best thing either. I like term limits better. 2 terms and your out. At least one term on the sideline before you can try for the other side of congress. (2 terms in House, 1 on the bench to regroup prior to running for Senate). I also think the retirement system for congress and president / VP needs to be looked at. Sure wish I could get that kind of retirement for a few years of service.

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

....and if you consider the money they rake in for speaking engagements you wonder why they even need a retirement check.....