Meet Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska. She is often rumored as being on John McCain’s “short list” of possible Vice Presidential running mates. Read her biography, see photos and a video of her below.
Sarah Palin
Official Portrait
Sarah Palin is both the youngest and the first female governor in Alaska’s relatively brief history as a state. She’s also the most popular governor in America, with an approval rating that has bounced around 90 percent.
This is due partly to her personal qualities. When she was leading her underdog Wasilla high school basketball team to the state championship in 1982, her teammates called her “Sarah Barracuda” because of her fierce competitiveness. Two years later, when she won the “Miss Wasilla” beauty pageant, she was also voted “Miss Congeniality” by the other contestants.
Sarah Barracuda and Miss Congeniality — interesting nicknames for an interesting woman. Fire and nice. A happily married mother of five who is still drop dead gorgeous. And smart to boot.
But it’s mostly because she’s been a crackerjack governor, a strong fiscal conservative and a ferocious fighter of corruption, especially in her own party that she enjoys such high marks from her constituency.
And she is unashamedly pro-life stating that “every innocent life has wonderful potential.” This played out in a real-life drama for Palin and her husband when in April of this year she delivered her 5th child who has Down Syndrome. She said this of her newborn son, Trig:
“I’m looking at him right now, and I see perfection. Yeah, he has an extra chromosome. I keep thinking, in our world, what is normal and what is perfect?”
She would be a decided asset and most certainly excite the base: an independent Republican governor, a woman, a fiscal conservative, a defender of life against the creeping culture of death and a fresh face in national politics.
Step up Senator McCain and choose Governor Sarah Palin as your running mate!
8.29.2008 UPDATE: There is huge speculation that Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska, is going to be McCain’s VP pick today. Romney and Pawlenty have been eliminated and word is that Palin left Alaska this morning under heavy guard.
There is more about Sarah Palin along with more photos here.
8.29.2008 UPDATE: CNBC is reporting that Palin is the McCain Vice Presidential pick for John McCain. Fox news is now reporting that she IS the pick!!!!!!!!!
8.29.2008 UPDATE: Right Pundits has the video of John McCain nominating Sarah Palin. We also have the Sarah Palin bio here and pictures of Palin including The Sarah Palin Vogue magazine photo. Its all below the fold. Check out Sarah Palin acceptance speech of the nomination for the vice presidency.
Stay tuned. We’ll keep you updated.
Sarah Heath Palin was born February 11, 1964 in Sandpoint, Idaho so her age is 44. She is the current Governor of Alaska. In addition to being Alaska’s first female governor, and its youngest, Palin is also the first who was born after Alaska achieved statehood.
Sarah Heath Palin arrived in Alaska with her family in 1964, when her parents came to teach school in Skagway. She graduated from Wasilla High School in 1982 and received a bachelor of science degree in communications-journalism from the University of Idaho in 1987.
Palin served two terms on the Wasilla City Council from 1992 to 1996 and became a two-term mayor and manager of Wasilla, one of Alaska’s fastest-growing communities. She was in office from 1996 to 2002. Governor Frank Murkowski appointed Palin as Ethics Commissioner on the state’s Oil and Gas Conservation Commission where she served from 2003 to 2004, later resigning in protest over what she perceived to be the “lack of ethics” of fellow Alaskan Republican leaders including the Republican Party Chairman.
In 2006, Palin won the Republican primary for Governor, defeating then-Gov. Frank Murkowski. She went on to win the general election in November 2006, defeating former Governor Tony Knowles. Palin said in 2006 that education, public safety, and transportation would be three focuses of her administration.
In a recent guest blog, Governor Palin spoke about comprehensive energy policy that includes increased domestic production of oil and gas, renewable and alternative energy, and conservation. You can read it here.
Palin is married to Todd Palin, who is a lifelong Alaskan, a production operator on the North Slope and a four-time champion of the Iron Dog, the world’s longest snow machine race.
Todd and Sarah fish in Bristol Bay with their children – Track, Bristol, Willow, Piper and newborn son, Trig. Through Todd’s Yup’ik grandmother, Alaska’s Native heritage plays an important role in their family. Track enlisted in the U.S. Army on Sept. 11, 2007.
Prior to taking office, Palin served on numerous boards and commissions throughout the state. She was active in her family’s pursuits – including serving as a sports team mom and school volunteer. She also runs marathons.
Palin is a lifetime member of the NRA and enjoys hunting, fishing, and time with her family.
Sarah Palin - Photos
Sarah Palin Nomination Speech - Video
“Sarah Palin on Glenn Beck” Video
July 28th, 2008 at 2:29 am
Q&A
1. Which McCain Veep pick is SIMULTANEOUSLY the safest AND boldest?
ANSWER: Sarah Palin
2. How can McCain SIMULTANEOUSLY attract both Hillary AND Bob Barr voters?
ANSWER: Sarah Palin
* * *
This in over the weekend from the Conservative Voice:
“Desperately seeking Sarah
July 26, 2008 10:00 AM EST
By Stephan Andrew Brodhead
Desperately seeking Sarah
Americans need a little Palin Power
Sarah Palin the current Governor of Alaska is John McCain’s ultimate choice for VP. I do believe a woman is next in line for the presidency. All Conservatives like her. She is popular in Alaska. Hillary supporters would relish her. She would solidify a 12 or possibly 16 year Republican executive.
John McCain’s boring campaign is wearing thin. I need a little Palin Power to get me interested again. They would say ‘but she is only a half term Governor!’ And your point is?
That’s all I have to say about that!�
July 28th, 2008 at 5:39 am
No mention of the investigation into accusations Palin fired a state commissioner for not firing her sister’s ex-husband?
July 28th, 2008 at 6:20 am
good morning bob. yes i could have mentioned it but it seems to be in the early investigation stages. and as you see, the ex husband of her sister still works for the state so it seems to be confusing at best and NOT against Sarah since she is making her mark on cleaning up corruption in state government. i think at best it will look into nepotism in general? but since you brought it up, please give it your best shot.
July 28th, 2008 at 6:43 am
i think at best it will look into nepotism in general? but since you brought it up, please give it your best shot.
We’ll see where the investigation goes, but at this point i’m hard pressed to think of a member of the Alaska GOP that’s not under some sort of corruption investigation. I’m not sure McCain will want to highlight GOP scandals surrounding Murkowski, Stevens, Young, etc. by picking one of their brethren.
July 28th, 2008 at 7:13 am
The ’scandal’ is being debunked, with Palin coming out looking even better and stronger.
Moreover, I think this is a trumped up thing — “mountain out of a molehill” against Palin — especially compared to Obama/Rezko, Obama/Rev Wright for example. Conveniently, Trooper Wooten — at the likely behest of the union — is out of the country. I believe there’s a possibility there’s more there vis a vis Halcro and the Democratic Party (unsuccessfully) looking for dirt on Palin — their fully comprehending that a Veep Palin will almost assuredly lead to Obama’s defeat in November. I have posed these questions (which I would invite the Anchorage Daily News and/or local TV outlets, KTVA and KTUU, to investigate):
1. Who paid for Trooper Wooten’s sudden extended vacation out of the country and unavailable for comment, that is, seeing he was on a State Trooper’s salary reportedly complaining about child support arising from his divorce custody proceedings with Sarah Palin’s younger sister? Is there a record of Wooten asking for leave from work?
2. Did the Democrats do some vetting of their own on the more than ethically clean Governor Palin, and the sum total of their sleuthing was that Palin’s younger sister had been married to and later involved in a contentious divorce and custody proceeding with a State Trooper who made a death threat against the Palin sisters’ dad if he retained a lawyer to represent his younger daughter in the proceedings, and because of that and other threats, Sarah Palin and her husband reported their concerns (at Public Safety Dept. direction) to the State Trooper’s boss, Public Safety Commissioner Monegan, who happened to be a Governor appointee?
3. Why would Sarah Palin — manifesting great political skills throughout her entire career and is widely reported, and acknowledged by her, to being considered as a VP running mate for Senator McCain — choose to replace Commissioner Monegan prior to an imminent announcement by Senator McCain as to his running mate, rather than, if at all, after that announcement?
4. Why would Monegan, through a known political foe of Palin, facilitate to be known his now publicized contention that he was removed, in part, because he would not fire Trooper Wooten when the events surrounding the threats being reported to Monegan occurred some time in the past and Gov Palin was careful never to call for Wooten’s firing, reiterating that personnel and disciplinary matters are not a regular part of her duties?
July 28th, 2008 at 7:37 am
Bob
Sarah Palin has fought corruption within the GOP as well as state government in particular. To paint her as part of the problem is unfair and not true. She was the catalyst that exposed the corruption.
Is it so difficult to imagine an honest politician like Sarah Palin? I wonder if you would feel the same way if she had a (D) after her name.
July 28th, 2008 at 7:39 am
Bob
and your point about not highlighting the past corruption of other gop… for that reason alone, Sarah Palin would be a terrific choice. She is a corruption buster!
July 28th, 2008 at 7:48 am
Unfortunately, from what I have gathered from sources is that Palin is probably not very high in the mix. In fact, it seems that McCain is more leaning towards Tom Ridge more then anyone. Leave it to McCain to pick someone boring and find a way to make his VP do him no good at all. I swear, McCain could have won this thing weeks ago, but I think he is bound and determined to loose this election.
July 28th, 2008 at 7:52 am
Ridge is pro-choice isn’t he?
Kate - in politics there is such a thing as “guilt by association” - if Palin is the choice, the first few weeks will be spent talking about GOP corruption in Alaska, along with her own scandal involving her sister’s ex-husband.
The other problem for Palin is one of lack of experience. She’s been the mayor and councilwoman for a town of 8,500 people, and governor for about what, 18 months? And in that time she’s signed a bill extending benefits to same-sex couples. Not exactly the stuff that will endear her to the social conservatives already wary of McCain for his stance on stem cell research.
July 28th, 2008 at 7:57 am
Bob
the investigation is hardly a scandal — please don’t embellish it. I also think you need to read her positions. She is not for gay marriage even though she signed the bill for benefits. And as far as stem cell research? I said she was firmly pro-life. So you don’t like her. That’s cool but don’t misrepresent her.
Bryan is McCain picks Ridge I will need therapy!
July 28th, 2008 at 7:58 am
is=if. my fingers aren’t working this morning!
July 28th, 2008 at 8:16 am
She is not for gay marriage even though she signed the bill for benefits.
So in addition to being part of the corrupt Alaska GOP, she was against same-sex partner benefits before she was for them? Or was she for them before she was against them?
(see, spin works both ways)
July 28th, 2008 at 8:18 am
Is it so difficult to imagine an honest politician like Sarah Palin? I wonder if you would feel the same way if she had a (D) after her name.
FWIW, I like what I’ve read about Palin, though she’s got even less experience and is far more of an unknown than even Obama.
But spin is spin.
July 28th, 2008 at 8:39 am
Bob you are smart enough to know that approving benefits for same sex partners doesn’t assume that you support gay marriage. but enough on that.
I’m glad to see you think she has some merit and yes she is far less experienced and less known but she is intriguing and can play catchup really fast. imo.
July 28th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Bob you are smart enough to know that approving benefits for same sex partners doesn’t assume that you support gay marriage. but enough on that.
I never said Palin supports gay marriage, what I said was her support for same-sex partner benefits isn’t going to endear her to the GOP right. And, the fact that she can’t seem to make up her mind, e.g. she was for them before she was against them then for them again, means she’s a flip-flopper.
July 28th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
“1. Which McCain Veep pick is SIMULTANEOUSLY the safest AND boldest?
ANSWER: Sarah Palin”
how about general patraeus?
assuming he isn’t a drunk or a womanizer i think a mccain/patraeus ticket would CRUSH any dem ticket.
cons: military/military ticket, no econ experience
pros: hands down wins the credibility gap “in these trying times”
i think the gop would win close to 350 ev’s
July 28th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
fortunately for dems, i doubt mccain has even considered it
July 28th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
The Dems making an issue of Palin’s (lack of) experience would be rich indeed! She’s got more actual accomplishments, qualifications and experience than Obama TIMES TEN!
I would say, bring it on!!!
July 28th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
lisab
i think petraeus would be amazing too. he’s terrific.
July 28th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
kate,
president bush would have to approve it because he is a serving officer and would have to basically retire … giving up some pretty good jobs in the future
but i cannot imagine who the dems could get eo even come close to his staure.
general clark? i don’t think so.
July 28th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
lisa
yea wes the weasel is over. i am not sure petraeus would even want to go into politics… it is such a smarmy life compared to the military.
and yes there is no one in the democratic party close to him imo. he’s the best.
July 28th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
yup petraeus does not need politics, but i bet he would serve his country if asked by mccain. these military guys have a thing about loyalty and service …
i just want the dem party to reform. i’m a liberal but just cannot support infanticide, abandoning the women and children of iraq to islamic terrorists, driving up the price of oil so they can feel good about themselves in their brie and wine parties while the poor around the world starve.
it would be ice to have a dem party where the dem leader did not think that oral sex in the oval office with an intern was ok.
i’m not asking for full blown principles overnight … but a couple of rules of thumb might be good
July 28th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
rule of thumb … keep your pants on and zipped up in the oval office …
not a difficult rule to follow you would think, and certainly not one you would have to review with an incoming president.
“ok mr. president, this is the oval office as you can see. that red phone there is to the kremlin. condoms are in the top left hand drawer, and we’ll send the interns over later so you can pick the ones you want to work with … ahem … closely.”
July 28th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
lol lisa i so HEAR you. here’s a secret… i was president of the young dems in college so i know exactly what you mean!
July 29th, 2008 at 10:25 am
Ted Stevens was just indicted on 7 criminal counts.
He has made numerous public statements in recent weeks backing Palin for VP.