Charlie’s Blog

Charlie,
I was surprised too but then I remember not long ago she was on “Vogue” magazine.
Obama is nominated for President but Palin is only for VP.
We can’t put their experiences for comparison on this case, I guess.
What do you think?
BTW,,,your son in-law is very good on prediction.

I am a former Hillary supporter who feels disenfranchised, and will not be voting in this election. The selection of Palin does not make me re-think this decision, as I am firmly opposed to drilling in ANWAR, support abortion rights, and am a PETA member, to boot. That said, there is no one McCain could have selected who would have shared my views. And, I do admire Palin’s strong record on ethics. I think, like Hillary, that Palin is a fighter (something that can’t be said about Obama). All in all, I think it was a bold and gutsy move. Would that Obama would have asked Hillary to join him. And,I’m glad to read your blog, Charlie.

Two questions:
1. Is Sarah Palin the best woman, much less the best person, to replace John McCain as president should that be necesary?
2. Did John McCain put the well being of the nation, or his political ambition, first when he made this spur-of-the-moment decision?

Oh happy day. McCain/Palin 08.

Does either Obama or Biden have any governing experience? Wonder about their management styles. What kind of teams will they select?
Palin may be the only one of the bunch who has any real experience, though it be slight. She may be the only one who has rooted out any corruption personally.
When I was young and in the army, it was popular for us to sit on the front steps of the barracks and brag about how we would act in certain emergencies. Philosophy is no good here.
You find out only when it’s time to act. Studying management skills isn’t experience.
We have no clue about the teams these people will put together, how they will have the office of President function.
Doesn’t seem to me a job for OJT. I’m very concerned.

mpCT: “Palin actually has more of a legislative record ”
Palin has never been a legislator and certainly has nothing like the 4000+ votes on public record for Senator Obama. Our opinions can certainly differ, but you’re making up facts out of nowhere with that statement.

As a woman, I feel very strongly about a woman’s right to choose. Although it would be terrific if we finally had a woman as president or vice-president, I just can’t bring myself to vote for someone who I know will do his/her best to overturn Roe v Wade. I just can’t. McCain has promised, if elected, to appoint conservative justices to the Supreme Court who will do just that, as well as strip gays’ civil rights. So, I say no way, no how, no McCain/Palin.

As for experience and accomplishments–when it comes to Obama vs Palin–how about basketball as a metaphor here? Barack Obama shoots hoops for fun–Sarah Palin led her high school basketball team to a state championship. Is it possible that says something about the differences between the two of them?

Hey, George, my man–
Apparently you didn’t see the excellent ABC News coverage of all that big business lobbyist money flowing in Denver to grease the palms of all those upstanding Democrats: “Follow the Money.” Didn’t you happen to see the ABC News producer get hauled off by the police for trying to cover that story. You’re a tad naive, my friend, if you think the Democrats have any cleaner hands than the Republicans. Why not join us Independents and do some thinking for yourself for once?

oh and by the way… the blogging is the bomb, ‘as the kids are saying,’ as you’d say.
It gives me a chance to see someone, that I admire and study as a little bit more of an actaul person.
It’s awesome.
j.

Jhw. Biden has no political executive office experience and neither does Obama. Neither have ever been governors or president.

@midwestlady: I’m not arguing for a candidate or trying to draw a comparison. I’m just saying that Palin at this stage is still something of a Rorschach test, just as Obama was when he first became a public figure outside of his home state.

All you people blah-blah-blahing about experience–whether it’s Obama or Palin or whoever–get a life. When it was just Obama being criticized for lack of experience, Democrats found ways to rationalize. Now that it’s Palin being criticized for lack of experience, Republicans find ways to rationalize. Anybody remember 1992 when an obscure Governor from Arkansas (where?) ran–he didn’t have national experience either! And I noticed that Bill Clinton pointedly made that clear in his speech at the DNC. So let’s all agree once and for all: ‘lack of experience’ is a sham game that politicians throw at each other like so much mud. Sometimes it sticks and sometimes it doesn’t. But let’s stop pretending it’s the ultimate litmus test. It’s NOT! American Presidential–AND Vice-Presidential–history is full of people who, by definition, didn’t have experience. Let’s see–just how much ‘experience’ did Abraham Lincoln, whom everyone worships, have? Go read up on him–you’ll be amazed. I’m not arguing for either the Democrats OR the Republicans. What I’m saying here is that I’d rather have someone of character and personal strength–whether we’re talking Obama OR Palin–than some ‘experienced’ and often corrupt politician. So stop the spinning nonsense about ‘experience,’ please. All you’re doing is showing that you’ve sold your soul to some political party.

Come on, Charlie! You’re showing your political leanings & I thought that was a no-no. I, as an independent, could not believe it when your said he’s old enough to be her father. What? Biden isn’t old enough to be Obama’s father? I think that was totally uncalled for.

Hi Charlie,
First of all, I’m glad to see you blogging. It gives me a different perspective on how you view the news you cover. You asked about which was better the “party video” or the more “reportorial” ones you made. Just my 2 cents… It’s hard to see much difference without seeing them side by side. I’m glad to see you not talk over them though. Being able to view them helps me feel more included as a viewer in that part of the convention. On the political race between Mcain and Obama; the way I see it, we have two liberals competing for the highest elected office. On the one hand we have a liberal Democrat teamed up with another liberal Democrat and on the other a liberal Republican teamed up with a Conservative. My nod goes to go to the liberal Republican even though I wish we had a real Conservative candidate I could really get behind for President. I guess I’m just not “mainstream” enough. See you in St. Paul.

I predicted McCain would pick a woman for VP at least two months ago. I knew he had to step outside the box to have any chance of winning. Picking a more established choice ie. Romney would have cemented his defeat. Although Palin has no experience on the national level, her resume is impressive, especially in the ethics department. Did my homework on her a few days ago and I am impressed. However, as a registered Republican, I can’t take a chance on McCain and get more of the same for the next 4 years. I’ve been so disgusted with the Bush Administration and how they’ve run things, I’ll be voting for the Obama/Biden ticket. I do think it’s going to be a horse race now. McCain choosing Palin was obviously pandering to women, especially disenfranchised Hillary supporters. It was a brilliant chess move. By selecting Palin, Obama’s king has just been put into jeopardy by McCain’s queen. It will be an extremely interesting and close election.

Hi Charlie!
I really wish that America will wake up and smell DECEPTION!! Obama has NO real record to stand on!! Ask yourselves this…IF he were to cut taxes for 95% of us…Where is he going to get the $$$ for ALL of his new “ideas’??? Don’t get me wrong, I am ALL for tax cuts, BUT…CHECK OBAMA’S RECORD…He voted to increase tax cut’s for person’s earning $42,000!!!!! WAKE UP PEOPLE!! Obama is like the freaking pied piper of “Change Craving Americans”! People are so thirsty for change he has them drinking the sand!! No one bothers to check the records of these 2, they only go on what each candidate says!! Remember people, TALK IS CHEAP!! Action speaks LOUDER THAN WORDS!! Check their records!! McCain isn’t any better, but at least he has reached acrossed party lines!!! I SAY WRITE IN AND VOTE FOR HILLARY!! SHE IS THE ONLY CANDIDATE WHO IS QUALIFIED TO RUN THIS COUNTRY!! Mark my words, we are in TROUBLE HERE FOLK’S! I am in such disbelief about this election! I am a registered Democrat and I am now ashamed to be!! We had a wonderful candidate, one to believe in when Hillary was running, now I feel ALL hope is gone unless we GET HER BACK!! I mean really, vote for the lesser of the 2 EVILS this year??Not on your life! I am going to vote my conscience and vote for Hillary!! God help us all!!

Charlie, this is my 5th return blog to you: Remember to get in some personal rest time this weekend, as you will be up front for a second week.
I do believe McCain is desperate in his VP choice, though she appears to be a wonderful woman, Mom, wife, governor, and former mayor. What if, something should get in the way of McCain completing his term, at any time?
Then, we know what will happen. I also believe other statesmen have been overlooked and what do they get for it.
As for McCain’s craft in taking the attention away from Obama’s Thursday night “defining moment”, no one, no political party can take away from that awesome gathering of 85,000 plus people “in the crowd” at Mile High;
our “defining moments”, be they spiritual, political, emotional, and or personal, are just that “defining
moments” because they are defined by all those who participated in the speech that Obama gave; for myself, Chicago may be miles away from Denver, but my spirit is lifted, not, was lifted, and that just inspires me to forge ahead with all that I can still do, even in small ways. We all can relate to “defining moments” of our own; we identify with others’ “defining moments” because we have walked in those shoes for similar reasons, and can relate to the person(s) and the event.
If I were to dwell on where I was when John F. Kennedy was assasinated, when Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy were assasinated, or even the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attack, (all of these in the classroom forum, with young children), it would be a pretty dark experience.
I look forward to more “defining moments” through the Obama-Biden presidency-vice presidency, always, “God-willing.” Thanks for your unique presentation, and dialogue with Diane and George, for making me take a look at the “whole picture.”
God Bless!

Obama’s speech was extraordinary. It is so refreshing to hear someone who can articulate his ideas–I’m sure that is a great part of his appeal for me. Sound bites don’t do it. And it made me very proud to see a person of color nominated as a major party candidate–I really did fear the Presidency would be a white man’s world long after our society had become otherwise.
As for Palin, I like gutsy women but do not feel that women are interchangeable. Each candidate–male or female–has to be judged on their own merits. If you like Hillary Clinton it does not mean you will like Sarah Palin. They are not in the same league no matter what qualities or qualifications you care to judge by. And Limbaugh’s comment that “we have the babe on our ticket” was just plain insulting; why are people repeating it like it was an endorsement? She will need to do some good and aggressive campaigning in order to overcome that sort of base comment.

Especially here we need an executive not a no good senators with 12% rate for approval. They can not even work with each others, especially when they decided to go on vacations while I cut down my car trip this summer. Thanks but no thanks to, I pick a good mayor any time than just talking senators. the more more bills they pass, the more tax the people pay as in “Show me the money” in this case for the bills.

Of course. Even Anderson Cooper, CNN, is leaning to left wing. But at least Charlie and George Stephanopoulos are much better than MSNBC team. Too bad, I used to like Brian Williams. He should quit NBC but it’s too late for him. What a waste of talent! No wonder why Foxnews is number one!!

Now, how classy are the Republicans? Cutting back on all the convention hoopla because of Gustav is welcome. Of course, the Dems are very lucky that the anointing among the Ionic columns was not interrupted…they would have been in a twit! Obviously, Charlie, you didn’t think the Republican’s convention was of much importantance, since we saw you in NOLA and not St. Paul. Oh well, what else is new???

Has anybody seen what I see when I look at Palin? Remember Mackenzie Allen (Geena Davis) in “Commander In Chief” series: sharp looking VP, nice-looking, talented husband; only 2 kids, however. Seems that Mackenzie (an Independent) is thrown into the role of President of the US after President Bridges dies in office. Was the show predictive of 2009? Will folks who liked the “Commander in Chief” show see Mackenzie Allen (Geena Davis) when they look at Palin?

So people aren’t talking about Obama dying and is Biden qualified…why not…any body can die, at any time, anywhere, media bias…unbelieveable…

So where exactly is Obama going to take us? How will he do it? Who will pay for it? Will we really get to go? Or will we be working so others can go?
Obama, nice looking, smooth talker, promise you the sun, moon and the stars. how do you know if you will like where he takes you…since you really don’t know where he is going, does he knows where he’s going? Or is someone leading him on…

Charlie,
I agree with you wholeheartedly that you should stray from even mentioning anything personal or family-related. Gender, race, or religion won’t solve our national problems, and you would be opening a whole can of worms and fodder for Republicans to cry sexism. Stick to the issues; nevermind the hockey-mom stuff! Make the comparison between her and Biden; they are the ones running for the same position. And challenge her about speculation on her qualifications: being for the bridge to nowhere before she was against it, asking for over $300 million in earmarks and then keeping $27 of that for the road to no where, and so on. I hope you treat her like any other male candidate and field tough questions.

The whole 20/20 thing is exactly why main stream media has become a joke. That was nothing more than an attack on Palin and I found it insulting.
Tuned out for good in Tennessee.

Charles Gibson:
That was the most unfair interview with Sarah Palin….It’s flawed because of editing by the news media ..I certainly won’t be among viewers on the evening news here. Please do us a favor and interview Obama in the same manner with trick questions. Do you know the Bush Doctrine? And you are a professional.

Charlie, don’t you think the network could save alot of money if Sam would stay in the studio and give the weather instead of running all over the world taking in the sights?