Palin rescheduled Alaska's "State of the State" speech to attend son Track's graduation...

[npincus]

So, is that how we can expect Ms. Palin to govern? Postpone the people's business, the affairs of state and country, to accomodate her personal needs? Tell THAT to all the cops and fireman who go to work on CHRISTMAS... tell THAT to the families who send their sons and daughters to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan, who have empty tables at the holidays (and every other day)... Ms. Palin rescheduled her message to the people of Alaska so she could watch her son's graduation? I suppose if there is an international crisis, we should expect our leaders in office to say "Not now, my family comes first". I know Hillary was ready to lead.

If 72 year-old, cancer survivor McCain should croak in office... will Ms. Palin TAKE the 3AM call or turn the ringer off to let the baby sleep?

http://bobandmarksuck.com/blog/audio/Palin-responds-scheduling-conflict.mp3 -- Palin discussing the rescheduling on an Alaskan radio program (3/4 of the way in, a host calls Palin's political nemisis a "bitch" and Palin laughs heartily)

[kwolf68]

1. Its definately not practical

But it will indeed play well to the 'family first' crowd.

[DarthDem]

2. Those Radio Hosts

I've read that they are basically the house organ for Palin. Whenever she needs amping up, she goes on their show, where they do whatever they have to do to help her out. Sort of the Faux News, radio style, for, uh, Alaska. It's funny and sad at the same time.

[npincus]

3. OMG... they define her opponent as a "cancer' and it is "an attack on motherhood"

holy shit. Where are her priorities? That shit may play in Alaska, but not in DC.

[DarthDem]

5. That's Exactly Right

Giggling like a schoolgirl when the local morning zoo idiots - - and remember, Alaska is basically about the size of Baltimore - - make fun or a political adversary's illness?? Um, not very vice presidential, Sarah.

[npincus]

11. did her adversary have cancer??????

(how do you spell her name- please)

[DarthDem]

14. Lyda Green

Yep, cancer survivor. Here's a link that is informative:

http://www.adn.com/opinion/comment/v-printer/story/295464.html

[npincus]

15. thanks, was able to find and already posted about this!

dkos has it today: http://openthread.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/8/30/82113/4808/746/579971

[DarthDem]

17. Right

It's . . . rather damning. She sounds like a bubbleheaded idiot on that tape. And consorting with the local morning zoo idiots . . . well . . . that speaks for itself. Does (say) Joe Biden call into Jack & Billy in the Morning in Wilmington to laugh about illnesses befalling Republicans in Delaware?

[npincus]

18. an apples to apples example would be Biden laughing at a fellow Dem

who had a wife and child killed in an auto crash. Real f*cking funny.

[PA Democrat]

16. Lyda Green is is a cancer survivor. Palin knew that and still laughed.

Great article and a link to the actual audio in this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6828539

[K Gardner]

4. I don't think the retiming is a big deal. I think the way she handled it should be the focus.

[npincus]

6. I think the opposite

I listened to the whole interview and she comported herself appropriately, except gigggling at the slur "bitch". But what happened when past GOP candidates were overheard cursing or speaking inappropriately? NOTHING. Remember, B*sh called NYT reporter Adam Clymer a "major league asshole"... candidate B*sh gave an interview to George magazine and was noted that he spiced his conversation with expletives. Trust me, no onw will give a DAMN that she giggled at the word "bitch".

However, the rescheduling of STATE BUSINESS for her personal schedule (she is an elected public servant) calls into question the whole "3AM call" issue. And, I am a woman and a mother, but think that questioning her priorities as a mom with 5 children, one of whom has special needs, IS a valid issue... I don't give a damn how it sounds. Our country, the world is rife with crises and she's a neophyte, a dangerous roll of the dice.

[PA Democrat]

19. Agree. You do not resolve a scheduling problem by engaging in a tasteless, cruel

on air attack. This should have been handled privately, not in the public eye by trying to gain sympathy and by juvenile namecalling.

Will Palin play the "motherhood card" like McCain plays the POW card? Early indications are YES.

[seaglass]

7. I don't know what you mean. My husband is a Firefighter and when

he's been scheduled for Christmas or birthdays, he has asked to swap shifts with someone else. Because yeah, spending Christmas/birthdays/holidays with our family comes first. Sometimes you can make the swap, sometimes you can't. What's the big deal?

[npincus]

10. I respect and appreciate what your husband does.

Respectfully, your husband is not an elected official who is now in the position of (protentially) becoming our COmmander-in-Chief. We can only judge this neophyte by her short resume in public office. Have you ever heard of a governor, or a president, for hat matter, rescheduling a report to his/her constiuents to be at a family event? Why would you make an exception for a woman? Don't you think the Repubs would be ALL OVER this, had Obama done the same?

As for your personal example, when your husband swaps a shift that means there is someone performing the duties for him, and there isn't an empty chair somewhere (or an empty seat in the firehouse). Not apples to apples.

[seaglass]

12. You're the one who brought Firefighters into it, I certainly didn't

compare them to Governors or VP candidates.

How do you get that I'm making excuses for her because she's a woman? I wouldn't have an objection to a man doing the same exact thing. All kinds of people who work, both mothers and fathers, juggle their work responsibilities with their family responsibilities - I've pretty much done it all my life as has my husband.

Was there some hardship suffered because of the date change that I'm not seeing?

[npincus]

13. no... I was comparing the selfless performance of public servants

at inconvenient times to an ELECTED public servant who reschedules her duties because they may fall at inconvenient times.

I was honoring public servents' sacrifice not denigrating them, and comparing them to an elected official who will be a heartbeat asway from the presidency. Maybe rescheduloing an annual report to her constituents is OK in a low-population state like Alaska, but she is in the "big leagues" now, and will get the same treatment/scrutiny as all other potential presidents, who have to pass the "3AM call" bar.

[JohnnyLib2]

8. Worked in Alaska, apparently.

And that is the right place for her in 2009.

[sandnsea]

9. I would expect a small state governor to do that

Actually, I'd expect the school to contact the governor and work out the date in advance. Small states have different expectations of their politicians.