Disclosures on Palin Raise Questions on Vetting Process

[Zenlitened]

Source: New York Times

A series of disclosures about Gov. Sarah Palin, Senator John McCain’s choice as running mate, called into question on Monday how thoroughly Mr. McCain had examined her background before putting her on the Republican presidential ticket.

On Monday morning, Ms. Palin and her husband, Todd, issued a statement saying that their 17-year-old unmarried daughter, Bristol, was five months pregnant and that she intended to marry the father.

Among other less attention-grabbing news of the day: it was learned that Ms. Palin now has a private lawyer in a legislative ethics investigation in Alaska into whether she abused her power in dismissing the state’s public safety commissioner; that she was a member for two years in the 1990 of the Alaska Independence Party, which has at times sought a vote on whether the state should secede; and that Mr. Palin was arrested 22 years ago on a drunken-driving charge.

Aides to Mr. McCain said they had a team on the ground in Alaska now to look more thoroughly into Ms. Palin’s background. A Republican with ties to the campaign said the team assigned to vet Ms. Palin in Alaska had not arrived there until Thursday, a day before Mr. McCain stunned the political world with his vice-presidential choice.


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/02/us/politics/02vetting.html?hp

---

Mission accomplished, huh? It's out there now, all of it. And it's all about McCain, as it should be.

McCain's blunder: Choosing a running-mate whose phony, fragile, manufactured image couldn't even hold up to a few days' scrutiny.

For his "soft" supporters, it's really got to call his judgement into question.

He's lost whatever touch he may have had, and could very well go from Media Darling to Laughingstock before he even makes his acceptance speech later this week.

[Kali]

1. the team assigned to vet Ms. Palin in Alaska had not arrived there until Thursday, a day before Mr.

the team assigned to vet Ms. Palin in Alaska had not arrived there until Thursday, a day before Mr. McCain stunned the political world with his vice-presidential choice.

the team assigned to vet Ms. Palin in Alaska had not arrived there until Thursday, a day before Mr. McCain stunned the political world with his vice-presidential choice.

the team assigned to vet Ms. Palin in Alaska had not arrived there until Thursday, a day before Mr. McCain stunned the political world with his vice-presidential choice.

the team assigned to vet Ms. Palin in Alaska had not arrived there until Thursday, a day before Mr. McCain stunned the political world with his vice-presidential choice.

the team assigned to vet Ms. Palin in Alaska had not arrived there until Thursday, a day before Mr. McCain stunned the political world with his vice-presidential choice.

shout this and e-mail it to all your repuke aquanitances!

[SarahPalinTooRisky]

3. Crazy

This is so halfhazard it's ridiculous.

[just want the truth]

28. Vested? Right.!!!

I already believed that McCain was irresponsible after the Forum between he and Obama a few weeks ago. Honestly I was very impressed with his answers and was extremely confused after watching the entire event. That was until the next day when I heard that he was in his car almost the entire time Obama was being interviewed and not in the Cone of silence as he was said to be. He swears he did not listen to the questions on the radio or otherwise but I found that hard to believe when I recalled his mention of an upcoming question about Supreme Court Justices before it was asked. He covered it pretty quickly but I did not forget it. Just for grins let's just say that he did not listen to the radio or otherwise. I find it extremely irresponsible for a potential president of the US to not have arrived for the event and be in the cone of silence prior to the event so these kinds of doubts could even be raised.

Now this below has convinced me even more that McCain does not take any of this seriously. I don't think that we can afford for him to be in office.

With time running out — and as McCain discarded two safer choices, Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and former Governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, as too predictable — he turned to Palin. He had his first face-to-face interview with her on *Thursday and offered her the job moments later. (Moments later?)

"Republicans close to the campaign said it was increasingly apparent that Palin had been selected as McCain's running mate with more haste than McCain advisers initially described."

*the team assigned to vet Ms. Palin in Alaska had not arrived there until Thursday, a day before Mr. McCain stunned the political world with his vice-presidential choice.

Thursday they arrive to VET her and Thursday he spoke with her and within moments offered her the job.

What a joke! Just check some of her information. There are so many inconsistencies. When was Trig born April 23 as noted in her BIO or April 18 as noted in her interview with the Boston Globe? The question is why is that information untrue? Is it an accident. All I know is a lie is a lie no matter what it is about. Also why would she fly at all being pregnant let alone when her water had broken? Is that good judgement?

They are saying she has been Governor since 2006 making it appear that she has been in office for almost three years. So tell me who are they trying to fool. In her BIO is a link to when she actually took office which was Dec. 4th 2006. She has been in office for 21 months as of Thursday of this week. Remember we are also talking about the same person that prior to being Mayor was a member of an organization that was in favor of Alaska seceding from the US?

She promotes abstinence education in schools but is unsuccessful at performing this on her own home front.

I am not attacking her because I think less of her. We all have personal problems. The difference is I am not going to get on a soap box promoting things because I want to get votes when I cannot even achieve them in my personal life. I would also not use my family for my personal gain. From the way I see it she is shooting for the sympathy vote on different levels. This is not about what you are achieving or not achieving in your family life woman, this is about what you stand for and your qualifications which so far I don't see anything appealing. You are the biggest flip flopper of them all. Was John McCain looking for someone that would flip flop more than him? If so he probably found it. Earmarked monies, no earmarked monies/bridges to no where, no bridges to no where? What is it?

[gauguin57]

2. The article talks about how no one of consequence in Wasilla was questioned before vp nom announced.

Now, that's just irresponsible to the citizens of American, Grampy McSame!

[creeksneakers2]

4. McCain didn't have to select a pick until the middle of this week

He jumped the gun to destroy Obama's post convention momentum. The fate of the world was decided on how it would fit into the news cycle.

[chill_wind]

9. Well worth repeating. A serious FACT that escapes all intelligence of radical righties. n/t

[ckramer]

5. looky

[eowyn_of_rohan]

8. I saw a pic of her today on Democracy Now, from the 80s

She had a tee shirt on that said something to the effect, "I may be broke but I'm not flat busted"... :grr:

[torbird]

11. You sure...

...it didn't say "classy lassy"?

[shellgame26]

17. who's the one in the birthday suit?

[progressivebydesign]

25. the resemblence of the naked one is remarkable. Is that her?

the chin, the earlobes, the collarbones, all look the same. Where did that come from??

[torbird]

6. Good lord.

Now the McCain people are admitting their stupidity, after an entire day of insisting that she was fully vetted? This is a trainwreck the likes of which I have never seen. I can't turn away. It's fascinating. And sickening. And very satisfying for this old Dem.

[chill_wind]

7. Off to the greatest page. K & R! n/t

[Mark E. Smith]

10. Palin: The gift that keeps on giving

GOP nominee McInsane's first big executive decision!

[Hissyspit]

12. Disclosures on Palin Raise Questions on Vetting Process (McCain Says He Knew of Pregnancy)

Source: New York Times

Disclosures on Palin Raise Questions on Vetting Process

By ELISABETH BUMILLER
Published: September 1, 2008
ST. PAUL —

- snip -

Among other less attention-grabbing news of the day: it was learned that Ms. Palin now has a private lawyer in a legislative ethics investigation in Alaska into whether she abused her power in dismissing the state’s public safety commissioner; that she was a member for two years in the 1990s of the Alaska Independence Party, which has at times sought a vote on whether the state should secede; and that Mr. Palin was arrested 22 years ago on a drunken-driving charge.

Aides to Mr. McCain said they had a team on the ground in Alaska now to look more thoroughly into Ms. Palin’s background. A Republican with ties to the campaign said the team assigned to vet Ms. Palin in Alaska had not arrived there until Thursday, a day before Mr. McCain stunned the political world with his vice-presidential choice. The campaign was still calling Republican operatives as late as Sunday night asking them to go to Alaska to deal with the unexpected candidacy of Ms. Palin.

Although the McCain campaign said that Mr. McCain had known about Bristol Palin’s pregnancy before he asked her mother to join him on the ticket and that he did not consider it disqualifying, top aides were vague on Monday about how and when he had learned of the pregnancy, and from whom.

- snip -

At the least, Republicans close to the campaign said it was increasingly apparent that Ms. Palin had been selected as Mr. McCain’s running mate with more haste than McCain advisers initially described.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/02/us/politics/02vetting.html?_r=1&em=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1220328585-51aHaiLAGgqK+CkRBbe4Mg

[Dem2theMax]

13. 'McCain Says Knew of Pregnancy'

OK, come on. Fess up. Who here actually BELIEVES that one? :rofl:

[torbird]

16. Yeah, right

If he knew, and if Mrs. Palin is so all-fired proud of her daughter's condition, why is Bristol holding the new baby at the announcement of the VP pick? There is a picture of it online and Bristol has the newborn and a blanket covering her entire front -- it looks like someone was trying to hide her belly to me. How dumb are we supposed to be, John?

[George II]

14. If he knew in advance, he's downright stupid...

...if he didn't know in advance he's downright naive.

[ticked]

15. I say he's both>> stupid and naive n/t

[George II]

18. "As word leaked out.....

....that Mr. McCain was seriously considering the men, the campaign was bombarded by outrage from influential conservatives who predicted an explosive floor fight at the convention and vowed rejection of Mr. Ridge or Mr. Lieberman by the delegates. "

These guys are acting like old-time Democrats - dividing themselves and allowing the opposition to win easily! Keep it up, repubs!!

[George II]

19. More from the NYT article:

"Although The Washington Post quoted advisers to Mr. McCain on Sunday as saying Ms. Palin had been subjected to an F.B.I. background check, an F.B.I. official said Monday the bureau did not vet potential candidates and had not known of her selection until it was made public."

WHY would a federal agency conduct the vetting of essentially a private person for a private (Republican) organization? I would think that this is totally out of the realm of FBI responsibility until AFTER she was a federal employee?

[standslanted]

20. I wonder if?

What if we are reading this entire situation wrong? What if this was planned to offer Gov Palin as the VP, knowing what will/would OCCURE? Because this VP pick is somewhat confusing.... are we here for a reason???. Could this be a simple Bait-n-switch move? What if latter on, the real VP pick is chosen by McCain?

[Quantess]

23. True there is a reason for everything, whether intentional or not, that's something else entirely.

If a different VP is later chosen by McCain, then he will REALLY look like a flip-flopper, even more than he is already.

[jberryhill]

24. Then he's still tarred

Look up "McGovern Eagleton".

[George II]

27. I don't think so...

...the negative effect of withdrawing a bad candidate should counteract any "positive" effect. This one just shows bad judgement and should be seen as such my most Americans. Certainly the media is already portraying it as such - bad judgement.

[clspector]

21. Can anyone

say, Stalking Horse?

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

22. WHAT vetting process?

The choice of Palin demonstrates the same complete incompetence that has been McDipshit's legacy all along.

Raise your hand if you're even a little surprised at anything that's happened. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

:shrug:

[radfringe]

26. sounding like a last minute snap decision

McCain was the presumptive nominee since march, he had 5 months to review and vet prospective VPs

what was he doing during that time?

part of a vetting process is to chose a vice-presidential running mate because a) the person is clearly qualified, b) they work well together, and c) he/she can help win the election. Vetting also means finding what is hiding in the closets, and weaknesses that the opposition may seek to exploit during a campaign and coming up with the appropriate spin to counter any attacks.

it's pretty obvious that mccain chose Palin because she could help him with evangelicals and perhaps attract some clinton supporters - he put politcal considerations above all else

palin's closet aside - what does this say about mccain's judgement? he wastes 5 months and then makes a last minute decision, is this how he would operate as president? making last minute, snap decisions based on politics?

in a time when we have really big problems at home and abroad, in the middle of two wars - is he going to drag his feet for months and then make last minute POLITICAL decisions based on little to no information?

do we want another 4 years of someone who shoots first and asks questions later?

the palin pick exposes mccain's lack of foresight and poor judgement.

[just want the truth]

29. Snap Decision

Being President it seems like there might be at least a few snap decisions that have to be made. If this is an example of what it would be like with McCain as President we would be in a lot of trouble at 3am in the morning when the red phone rings.