Political Venting - Before I Go Crazy

John McCain, never wishing us to be bored, announced on Friday (after jerking around the national media in damn-near hilarious ways) that he was choosing Sarah Palin as his running mate. For those of you reading my blog as proof that you are truly in the dark, Sarah Palin is the current governor of the great state of Alaska.

Mrs. Palin, a person of youth and vigor, has been governor for the last 18 months. Before that, she was the mayor of Wasilla, AK, population 8,700 and some change (but whether you can believe in that change or not, I leave to you).

She has been out of the country all of once in her life, in 2007 visiting Alaska National Guard Troops in Kuwait. So her foreign policy experience is beyond nil. But, let's forgive her of that.

She has no experience with the economic issues facing our country. What knowledge she has of jobs going overseas is impossible to gauge, as Alaska's economy is not (and has never been) based on manufacturing. So, can we get an opinion from her on how to keep jobs from going overseas? But let's forgive her of that, also.

What really has me scratching my rather large head is all the unknowns about her. Since McCain's announcement, I have received the following pieces of information about her, or questions about her.

• She is currently being investigated for firing the head of the State Troopers for not firing her ex-brother-in-law. She says she didn't have anything to do with that, but there seems to be a great amount of evidence otherwise.
• She believes that creationism should be taught in school along with evolution. So much for the separation of church and state.
• She believes that abortions should be totally banned, including instances of rape and incest.
• She believes that humans play no part in global warming. She's not even sure there is such a thing, even though the melting of the glacier's in her home state should be evidence enough for me.
• She believes that drilling will solve our dependence on foreign oil. I shall start typing again after laughing my considerable ass off.

Now, the Republican propaganda machine would like you to believe that she is as experienced as Barack Obama (now that's a bad joke). They would like you to believe that she is pure as the Alaskan snow. That she has fought for ethical behavior in Alaska (but...Alaska's politics is so dirty that it makes Louisiana seem pristine). That she fought against "the bridge to nowhere", although there is plenty of evidence that is not the case.

Simply, do not believe what you hear from the Republican's.

She is not a feminist. She does not believe in equal pay for equal work.

She does seem to be a right-wing nut-job.

She is not, under any circumstances, a leader in the way that Hillary Clinton is a leader. Not even close.

Enjoy the unwrapping, the unwrapping of the mystery that is Sarah Palin.