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><channel><title>Chris Abraham &#187; decisions</title> <atom:link href="http://chrisabraham.com/tag/decisions/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /><link>http://chrisabraham.com</link> <description>Because the Medium is the Message</description> <lastBuildDate>Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:08:23 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en</language> <sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency> <generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1</generator> <xhtml:meta xmlns:xhtml="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" name="robots" content="noindex" /> <item><title>McKinney is a Website You Can Talk To</title><link>http://chrisabraham.com/2009/02/11/mckinney-is-a-website-you-can-talk-to/</link> <comments>http://chrisabraham.com/2009/02/11/mckinney-is-a-website-you-can-talk-to/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:44:11 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Chris Abraham</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Advertisement Methods]]></category> 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isPermaLink="false">http://chrisabraham.com/2009/02/11/mckinney-is-a-website-you-can-talk-to-what-does-that-even-mean/</guid> <description><![CDATA[Othersource in Poland partnered with McKinney ad agency to build a Flash 3D engine with artificial intelligence for the McKinney website that&#8217;s launching this week. Compared to other sites in the Semantics category, this one has an unusual level of interactivity. Users can ask the site questions, via the keyboard, using everyday language and expressions, [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div
style="float:left;margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;"> <a
class="DiggThisButton DiggMedium" href="http://digg.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fchrisabraham.com%2F2009%2F02%2F11%2Fmckinney-is-a-website-you-can-talk-to%2F&title=McKinney+is+a+Website+You+Can+Talk+To" rel="news, tech_news"><span
style="display:none">Othersource in Poland partnered with McKinney ad agency to build a Flash 3D engine with artificial intelligence for the McKinney website that&#8217;s launching this week. Compared to other sites in the Semantics category, this one has an unusual level of interactivity. Users can ask the site questions, via the keyboard, using everyday language and expressions, [...]</span></a></div><p></p><div
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class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px;"> <a
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src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fchrisabraham.com%2F2009%2F02%2F11%2Fmckinney-is-a-website-you-can-talk-to%2F&amp;source=chrisabraham&amp;style=normal&amp;service=bit.ly&amp;service_api=R_fd087a8f486f224d453b4a84e0b4109f&amp;b=2" height="61" width="50" title="McKinney is a Website You Can Talk To" alt=" McKinney is a Website You Can Talk To" /><br
/> </a></div><p><a
href="http://www.othersource.com"> Othersource</a> in Poland partnered with <a
href="http://www.mckinney-silver.com/">McKinney ad agency</a> to build a Flash 3D engine with artificial intelligence for the <a
href="http://www.mckinney.com/">McKinney website</a> that&#8217;s launching this week.</p><p>Compared to other sites in the Semantics category, this one has an unusual level of interactivity. Users can ask the site questions, via the keyboard, using everyday language and expressions, and the proprietary “conversation engine” will decipher them and then fetch relevant results.</p><p>This means the user becomes liberated from the navigation. You no longer need background information to search the site &#8211; you just ask it a question.</p><p>Also, the site is completely index-able, bookmark-able, etc… from every page &#8211; even the video thumbnails have a unique URL. And every single page is a printable PDF, laid out for A4 or newsletter.I also found a nice blog post about it over at <a
href="http://adverlab.blogspot.com/2009/02/agency-site-with-chat-bot.html">AdLab</a>, <a
href="http://adverlab.blogspot.com/2009/02/agency-site-with-chat-bot.html">Agency Site With a Chat Bot</a>:</p><blockquote><p><a
href="http://www.McKinney.com">McKinney</a> has built a <a
href="http://www.pandorabots.com/botmaster/en/home">Pandorabot</a>-based chat bot (aka &#8220;conversation engine&#8221;) into its <a
href="http://mckinney.com/">brand new site</a> with a somewhat trippy interface. See if you can catch answers that were pre-scripted to make the machine sound particularly intelligent as opposed to the generic chat bot cop-outs like &#8220;Say what?&#8221; or &#8220;Come again&#8221;. &#8211; thank you, <a
href="http://www.cloudoutloud.tv/2009/02/mckinney-a-website-you-can-talk-to/">Michelle</a></p></blockquote><p><span
id="more-5492"></span>Here&#8217;s the proper press release from <a
href="http://www.McKinney.com">McKinney.com</a>:</p><p
align="center">&nbsp;</p><blockquote><p><strong>McKinney.com &#8211; A Website You Can Talk To</strong></p></blockquote><blockquote><p>Warsaw, Poland (February 10th, 2009) &#8212; Warsaw-based interactive agency Othersource announced today the launch of <a
href="http://www.McKinney.com">McKinney.com</a>, a groundbreaking website created in partnership with the awardwinning advertising agency, in Durham, N.C.</p><p><strong>Conversations with a website<br
/> </strong>Using cutting edge technologies, the new McKinney.com is reinventing the conversation had between the ad agency and its audience. Compared to other sites in the Semantics category, the site possesses an unusual level of interactivity. Visitors are able to ask the site questions, via the keyboard, using everyday language and expressions, and the proprietary &#8220;conversation engine&#8221; will decipher them and then fetch relevant results.</p><p>The functionality is groundbreaking. The back-end employs a 3D Flash engine with artificial intelligence, and the interface design is cutting-edge, making it one of the most experiential and unconstrained agency sites on the Web.</p><p><strong>Unique tech mix<br
/> </strong>Othersource worked with linguists who understood, on a high-level, the structure of language. They also enlisted programmers familiar with semantics to help develop the sophisticated algorithm. &#8220;Creating the conversation engine&#8217;s &#8216;brain&#8217; was quite labor intensive,&#8221; said Othersource Managing Partner Thomas Krotkiewski. &#8220;We enlisted two linguists (one a PhD from the University of Oxford), to analyze questions provided by McKinney, and to supply us with all possible ways the questions could be posed. If this search method fails, a backup proprietary tag search function will launch and search matching content. And finally, if the answer is still thought to be inadequate, the question is forwarded to McKinney for human processing. To be sure the conversation engine learns from its mistakes, there is a conversation history log on the proprietary Content Management System. This level of integration between conversation engine and website is completely unique,&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;We were looking for a production partner who would not only bring our vision to life, but enhance it,&#8221; added Keith Ciampa, who served as McKinney’s interactive creative director on the project. &#8220;Most true innovation happens on the fringes of the industry, by people who are passionate about what they do and willing to take risks. When we explained our vision for a conversational site, based on a completely open architecture, which could grow and become smarter the more it was used, Othersource knew we were asking for something that had never been done, and they couldn&#8217;t have been more excited to help us figure it out.&#8221;</p><p><strong>Conversation-driven search<br
/> </strong>A proprietary tag search was built into the back end of the new site so search results can be presented dynamically, and not just direct visitors to a static page. For example, a visitor can ask a question like, &#8220;show me TV campaigns for client X from November last year&#8221; and an animated 3D tunnel will appear, with search results as moving thumbnail images, that the visitor can fly through. &#8220;As far as we can tell, this functionality is unique,&#8221; said Krotkiewski.</p><p><strong>Like gas molecules<br
/> </strong>The site has an advanced 3D graphical interface. &#8220;The key to the 3D interface is the ‘cloud view,’ which shows a cloud of graphical thumbnails, moving like molecules in a gas, bouncing randomly off each other while also reacting to mouse input. The cloud can be filtered by the visitor to only show thumbnails representing certain types of content,&#8221; said Martin Ignaczak, Account Director at Othersource.</p><p><strong>Flash without drawbacks<br
/> </strong>The site has overcome the limitations of Flash: &#8220;The site is fully searchable by Google, each page can bookmarked and linked to, and each view can be downloaded as a printable PDF,&#8221; continued Ignaczak. Working in the virtual</p><p>New technologies were key to organizing the project. Othersource used video-conferencing, VoIP, instant messaging, e-mails, and other electronic means of communication to coordinate the work with McKinney. &#8220;We only met face-to-face after the launch, which proves we are able to run even very complex projects completely in the virtual,&#8221; added Krotkiewski.</p><p>&#8220;We are honored by McKinney&#8217;s decision to partner with Othersource for the production &#8212; we were competing with some quite well-known US interactive agencies in the pitch. Being chosen in spite of being based overseas is quite a feat. We hope this project is the beginning of a long relationship with McKinney. We also expect it will generate more opportunities for us in the US overall,&#8221; said Krotkiewski.</p><p>&#8220;Partnering with Othersource on this project was both a rewarding and challenging experience,&#8221; said McKinney Interactive Technology Director Trevor O&#8217;Brien. &#8220;The biggest hurdle was taking existing technologies and customizing them to work together in ways they were not initially intended to. Othersource helped deliver a site that is an experiential and innovative place to interact online. It&#8217;s exciting to see what two like-minded teams can create together.&#8221;</p><p><strong>About Othersource<br
/> </strong>Othersource provides interactive services from strategy to production to companies around the world. In 2008, the agency participated in projects for companies such as MetLife, The National Constitution Center in Boston, Accenture Poland, Puma, Imation Europe and others, in Poland, Sweden, Holland, the UK and the USA. The majority of its clients are Advertising and Interactive agencies that need support in creating campaign strategies, creative concepts and interactive production for their clients. About McKinney McKinney is an independent advertising agency that’s focused on reinventing the conversation between people and brands. Our goal is to lead the convergence of offline and online (today, 35% of our revenue is interactive and 88% of our frontline staff is actively engaged in the digital space), to identify relevant applications for new technologies and to deliver game-changing ideas that deliver extraordinary results for our clients, their customers and our people.</p><p>Founded in 1969, the Durham, NC-based agency’s clients include Coldwell Banker, Gold’s Gym, Major League Gaming, The NASDAQ Stock Market, Partnership for a Drug-Free America, ProShares, Qwest Communications, Sherwin-Williams, Travelocity, Virgin Mobile USA, Virgin Atlantic Airways, and Brown- Forman Corporation brands Bonterra, Chambord, Sonoma-Cutrer, Southern Comfort and Tuaca.</p><p>Most recently, Virgin Atlantic Airways and McKinney took top honors at the Interactive Advertising Bureau’s MIXX Awards that celebrate the &#8220;mixx&#8221; of creativity and effectiveness in digital marketing. Virgin Atlantic’s experiential launch, &#8220;Love from Above,&#8221; won a Gold MIXX in the Mobile Platforms category for the company’s first-ever WAP site.</p><p>For more information, visit our website at <a
href="http://www.mckinney.com">www.mckinney.com</a> or the McKinney Newsroom by contacting Janet Northen at <a
href="mailto:janet.northen@mckinney.com">janet.northen@mckinney.com</a>.</p><p><strong>Additional information:<br
/> Thomas Krotkiewski<br
/> </strong>Managing Partner<br
/> Othersource<br
/> <a
href="callto:+48601145398">+48-601-145398</a><br
/> <a
href="mailto:thomas@othersource.com">thomas@othersource.com</a><br
/> Timezone: GMT+1<br
/> Janet Northen<br
/> Partner &amp; EVP, Director of Agency Communications</p><p><strong>Janet Northen</strong><br
/> Partner &amp; EVP, Director of Agency Communications<br
/> McKinney<br
/> <a
href="callto:+19193134062">+1 919.313.4062</a><br
/> <a
href="mailto:janet.northen@mckinney.com">janet.northen@mckinney.com</a></p></blockquote><script type="text/javascript">(function() {var s = document.createElement('SCRIPT'), s1 = document.getElementsByTagName('SCRIPT')[0];s.type = 'text/javascript';s.async = true;s.src = 'http://widgets.digg.com/buttons.js';s1.parentNode.insertBefore(s, s1);})();</script><a
class="DiggThisButton DiggCompact" href="http://digg.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fchrisabraham.com%2F2009%2F02%2F11%2Fmckinney-is-a-website-you-can-talk-to%2F"></a>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://chrisabraham.com/2009/02/11/mckinney-is-a-website-you-can-talk-to/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>3</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>In Response to My Whopper Virgins Response</title><link>http://chrisabraham.com/2009/01/27/in-response-to-my-whopper-virgins-response/</link> <comments>http://chrisabraham.com/2009/01/27/in-response-to-my-whopper-virgins-response/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jan 2009 01:38:25 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Chris Abraham</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Adage]]></category> <category><![CDATA[AdAge Blogger]]></category> <category><![CDATA[AdAge GIN]]></category> <category><![CDATA[AdAge Global Idea Network]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Global Idea Network]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ian Lurie]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Portent Interactive]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Whopper]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Whopper Virgins]]></category> <category><![CDATA[abraham]]></category> <category><![CDATA[alls]]></category> <category><![CDATA[audience]]></category> <category><![CDATA[audiences]]></category> <category><![CDATA[bad taste]]></category> <category><![CDATA[beens]]></category> <category><![CDATA[brand]]></category> <category><![CDATA[broiler]]></category> <category><![CDATA[burger king]]></category> <category><![CDATA[burgers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[buzz]]></category> <category><![CDATA[campaigning]]></category> <category><![CDATA[campaigns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Chris]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Chris Abraham]]></category> <category><![CDATA[clothes]]></category> <category><![CDATA[consumers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[controversy]]></category> <category><![CDATA[conversational]]></category> <category><![CDATA[conversations]]></category> <category><![CDATA[conversions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[critique]]></category> <category><![CDATA[decisions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[documentaries]]></category> <category><![CDATA[documentary]]></category> <category><![CDATA[doe]]></category> <category><![CDATA[dollarization]]></category> <category><![CDATA[europe]]></category> <category><![CDATA[fast food]]></category> <category><![CDATA[fly]]></category> <category><![CDATA[foods]]></category> <category><![CDATA[generations]]></category> <category><![CDATA[global idea]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Globalism]]></category> <category><![CDATA[good marketing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[goode]]></category> <category><![CDATA[goodness]]></category> <category><![CDATA[helicopter]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Humor]]></category> <category><![CDATA[kids]]></category> <category><![CDATA[liberals]]></category> <category><![CDATA[liking]]></category> <category><![CDATA[littl]]></category> <category><![CDATA[locals]]></category> <category><![CDATA[lurie]]></category> <category><![CDATA[marketability]]></category> <category><![CDATA[marketer]]></category> <category><![CDATA[marketers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Marketing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[marketing marketing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[middle class]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Money]]></category> <category><![CDATA[nationalities]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Networks]]></category> <category><![CDATA[News]]></category> <category><![CDATA[people]]></category> <category><![CDATA[probability]]></category> <category><![CDATA[productivity]]></category> <category><![CDATA[respondents]]></category> <category><![CDATA[rest of the world]]></category> <category><![CDATA[sake]]></category> <category><![CDATA[scathing response]]></category> <category><![CDATA[sense of humor]]></category> <category><![CDATA[shoulds]]></category> <category><![CDATA[social]]></category> <category><![CDATA[socialism]]></category> <category><![CDATA[socialization]]></category> <category><![CDATA[taked]]></category> <category><![CDATA[target]]></category> <category><![CDATA[target audience]]></category> <category><![CDATA[targets]]></category> <category><![CDATA[think]]></category> <category><![CDATA[thoughtful critique]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ugly Americans]]></category> <category><![CDATA[urban centers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Video]]></category> <category><![CDATA[virgins]]></category> <category><![CDATA[wendy]]></category> <category><![CDATA[whoppers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[wrote]]></category><guid
isPermaLink="false">http://chrisabraham.com/2009/01/27/in-response-to-my-whopper-virgins-response/</guid> <description><![CDATA[&#160; When I wrote my scathing response to the Whopper Virgins campaign as perpetrated by Burger King over on Ad Age&#8217;s Global Idea Network, Ian Lurie responded with Whopper Virgins: Not Appalling. Not Brilliant, Either. Whopper Virgins: Not Appalling. Not Brilliant, Either Chris Abraham over at Marketing Conversations wrote an thoughtful critique of Burger King’s [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div
style="float:left;margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;"> <a
class="DiggThisButton DiggMedium" href="http://digg.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fchrisabraham.com%2F2009%2F01%2F27%2Fin-response-to-my-whopper-virgins-response%2F&title=In+Response+to+My+Whopper+Virgins+Response" rel="news, tech_news"><span
style="display:none">&nbsp; When I wrote my scathing response to the Whopper Virgins campaign as perpetrated by Burger King over on Ad Age&#8217;s Global Idea Network, Ian Lurie responded with Whopper Virgins: Not Appalling. Not Brilliant, Either. Whopper Virgins: Not Appalling. Not Brilliant, Either Chris Abraham over at Marketing Conversations wrote an thoughtful critique of Burger King’s [...]</span></a></div><p></p><div
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/> </a></div><p
class="title-author">&nbsp;</p><p
class="asset-header">When I wrote <a
href="http://adage.com/globalideanetwork/post?article_id=133445">my scathing response</a> to the <a
href="http://www.whoppervirgins.com/">Whopper Virgins</a> campaign as perpetrated by Burger King over on <a
href="http://adage.com/globalideanetwork/post?article_id=133445">Ad Age&#8217;s Global Idea Network</a>, <a
href="http://www.portentinteractive.com">Ian Lurie</a> responded with <a
href="http://www.portentinteractive.com/blog/whopper-virgins-not-appalling.htm">Whopper Virgins: Not Appalling. Not Brilliant, Either</a>.</p><blockquote><p><a
href="http://www.portentinteractive.com/blog/whopper-virgins-not-appalling.htm"><strong>Whopper Virgins: Not Appalling. Not Brilliant, Either</strong></a></p><p>Chris Abraham over at Marketing Conversations wrote an <a
href="http://adage.com/globalideanetwork/post?article_id=133445">thoughtful critique of Burger King’s new Whopper Virgins</a> campaign.</p><p>I appreciate Chris’s opinion: The video is at times jingoistic and, frankly, a little embarrassing if you’re an American. Burger King went out of their way to find people in local clothing minutes from major urban centers in Europe. How exactly did they do that? Much of the video is just more ugly Americans pointing and giggling at the rest of the world.</p><p>I also see Burger King’s thinking: This is a great viral piece. The effort alone &#8211; flying a broiler all around the world to cook burgers, for gosh sakes &#8211; is worthy of a documentary.</p><p>So, is the Whopper Virgins campaign ‘good’ marketing? Marketing should:</p><ul><li>Help the target audience make informed decisions about products. Nothing about this video does that. Nothing tells me why I’d want a Whopper.</li><li>It should not make the target brand look foolish. Burger King ends up looking (in my opinion) a tad silly. They spent who-knows-how-much money to shoot this. Could they have better spent the money on other aspects of marketing? Or on their product? Also, “Whopper <strong>Virgins</strong>? Are you kidding me?</li><li>Make me want the product. This video utterly fails to do that. Granted, I’m a classic middle-class liberal. So I have no sense of humor. But I’m also an avid fast food consumer. This video makes me want Wendy’s.</li><li>Take risks. Good marketers take chances now and then. Nothing wrong with that. And this video clearly takes a gamble.</li><li>It should generate buzz. It’s certainly done that, with headlines like “Socially Awkward” and “Just Bad Taste?”.</li></ul><p>I don’t think this video deserves the controversy it’s generated. You could interpret it as offensive. But would you consider it as offensive if the video had been done by National Geographic? Probably not.</p><p>But it’s not good marketing, either. It’s an art project: A huge investment of dollars in something that probably won’t pay off, in spite of the kerfuffle right now.</p><p>How many burgers do you have to sell to pay for that rental helicopter, I wonder?</p></blockquote><p
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href="http://www.kansascity.com/940/story/991013.html">KansasCity.com</a>, thanks to a link from <a
href="http://twitter.com/aisle7">@Aisle7</a></p><blockquote><p><strong>Full text of President Obama&#8217;s Inauguration Speech 2009</strong></p><p>My fellow citizens:</p><p>I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.</p><p>Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.</p><p>So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.</p><p>That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.</p><p>These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land &#8211; a nagging fear that America&#8217;s decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.</p><p>Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America &#8211; they will be met.</p><p>On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.</p><p>On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.</p><p>We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things.</p><p>The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.</p><p>In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted &#8211; for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things &#8211; some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.</p><p>For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life. For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.</p><p>For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn. Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.</p><p>This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions &#8211; that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.</p><p>For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act &#8211; not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology&#8217;s wonders to raise health care&#8217;s quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.</p><p>Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions &#8211; who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.</p><p>What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them &#8211; that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works &#8211; whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public&#8217;s dollars will be held to account &#8211; to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day &#8211; because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.</p><p>Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control &#8211; and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous.</p><p>The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart &#8211; not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.</p><p>As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience&#8217;s sake.</p><p>And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more. Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.</p><p>We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort &#8211; even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.</p><p>For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus &#8211; and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.</p><p>To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society&#8217;s ills on the West &#8211; know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.</p><p>To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world&#8217;s resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.</p><p>As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment &#8211; a moment that will define a generation &#8211; it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.</p><p>For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter&#8217;s courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent&#8217;s willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.</p><p>Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends &#8211; hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism &#8211; these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility &#8211; a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.</p><p>This is the price and the promise of citizenship.</p><p>This is the source of our confidence &#8211; the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.</p><p>This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed &#8211; why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.</p><p>So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America&#8217;s birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:</p><p>&#8220;Let it be told to the future world&#8230;that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive&#8230;that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it].&#8221;</p><p>America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children&#8217;s children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God&#8217;s grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.</p></blockquote><script type="text/javascript">(function() {var s = document.createElement('SCRIPT'), s1 = document.getElementsByTagName('SCRIPT')[0];s.type = 'text/javascript';s.async = true;s.src = 'http://widgets.digg.com/buttons.js';s1.parentNode.insertBefore(s, s1);})();</script><a
class="DiggThisButton DiggCompact" href="http://digg.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fchrisabraham.com%2F2009%2F01%2F20%2Ffull-text-of-president-obamas-inauguration-speech-2009%2F"></a>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://chrisabraham.com/2009/01/20/full-text-of-president-obamas-inauguration-speech-2009/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>3</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>Revised Whopper Virgins Post on AdAge</title><link>http://chrisabraham.com/2008/12/23/revised-whopper-virgins-post-on-adage/</link> <comments>http://chrisabraham.com/2008/12/23/revised-whopper-virgins-post-on-adage/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:54:54 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Chris Abraham</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[BK Whopper]]></category> <category><![CDATA[BK Whopper Virgins]]></category> <category><![CDATA[burger king]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Burger King Whopper]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Whopper]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Whopper Virgins]]></category> <category><![CDATA[actuall]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Adage]]></category> <category><![CDATA[aim]]></category> <category><![CDATA[american imperialism]]></category> <category><![CDATA[american provincialism]]></category> <category><![CDATA[authenticity]]></category> <category><![CDATA[beens]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category> <category><![CDATA[blogged]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Blogging]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Blogs]]></category> <category><![CDATA[bucharest romania]]></category> <category><![CDATA[burgers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[buzz]]></category> <category><![CDATA[campaigning]]></category> <category><![CDATA[campaigns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[controversy]]></category> <category><![CDATA[costumes]]></category> <category><![CDATA[costuming]]></category> <category><![CDATA[couples]]></category> <category><![CDATA[critique]]></category> <category><![CDATA[cultures]]></category> <category><![CDATA[decisions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[disgust]]></category> <category><![CDATA[documentaries]]></category> <category><![CDATA[documentary]]></category> <category><![CDATA[documentary film]]></category> <category><![CDATA[doe]]></category> <category><![CDATA[dresses]]></category> <category><![CDATA[endeavors]]></category> <category><![CDATA[evenings]]></category> <category><![CDATA[fast food restaurant]]></category> <category><![CDATA[filmmakers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[films]]></category> <category><![CDATA[flagship]]></category> <category><![CDATA[flame]]></category> <category><![CDATA[flame broiler]]></category> <category><![CDATA[flames]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Friends]]></category> <category><![CDATA[garb]]></category> <category><![CDATA[genetics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[globe]]></category> <category><![CDATA[immunology]]></category> <category><![CDATA[marketability]]></category> <category><![CDATA[marketer]]></category> <category><![CDATA[marketers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Marketing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[masters]]></category> <category><![CDATA[matt creamer]]></category> <category><![CDATA[mcdonalds]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Media]]></category> <category><![CDATA[mom]]></category> <category><![CDATA[motrin]]></category> <category><![CDATA[noble aim]]></category> <category><![CDATA[obligation]]></category> <category><![CDATA[obsession]]></category> <category><![CDATA[onli]]></category> <category><![CDATA[openness]]></category> <category><![CDATA[paragraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[paragraphs]]></category> <category><![CDATA[people]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Pepsi]]></category> <category><![CDATA[phd]]></category> <category><![CDATA[possibilities]]></category> <category><![CDATA[post]]></category> <category><![CDATA[propane]]></category> <category><![CDATA[provincialism]]></category> <category><![CDATA[quality expert]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Restaurants]]></category> <category><![CDATA[revisions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[sandwich]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Search]]></category> <category><![CDATA[shoulds]]></category> <category><![CDATA[sorts]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Spirit]]></category> <category><![CDATA[suicide]]></category> <category><![CDATA[taste test]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tradition]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Travelers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Twitter]]></category> <category><![CDATA[twittering]]></category> <category><![CDATA[twitters]]></category> <category><![CDATA[universe]]></category> <category><![CDATA[University]]></category> <category><![CDATA[virgins]]></category> <category><![CDATA[whoppers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[wrote]]></category><guid
isPermaLink="false">http://chrisabraham.com/2008/12/23/revised-whopper-virgins-post-on-adage/</guid> <description><![CDATA[I posted version one of this article on my blog already. I showed it to Matt Creamer, my editor over at AdAge, and he told me he didn&#8217;t care if I had already posted it but that I would need to add a couple primer paragraphs to bring people into the history behind the Whopper [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div
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style="display:none">I posted version one of this article on my blog already. I showed it to Matt Creamer, my editor over at AdAge, and he told me he didn&#8217;t care if I had already posted it but that I would need to add a couple primer paragraphs to bring people into the history behind the Whopper [...]</span></a></div><p></p><div
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src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fchrisabraham.com%2F2008%2F12%2F23%2Frevised-whopper-virgins-post-on-adage%2F&amp;source=chrisabraham&amp;style=normal&amp;service=bit.ly&amp;service_api=R_fd087a8f486f224d453b4a84e0b4109f&amp;b=2" height="61" width="50" title="Revised Whopper Virgins Post on AdAge" alt=" Revised Whopper Virgins Post on AdAge" /><br
/> </a></div><p>I <a
href="http://chrisabraham.com/2008/12/21/5366/#title">posted version one of this article</a> on my blog already. I showed it to Matt Creamer, my editor over at <a
href="http://adage.com/globalideanetwork/">AdAge</a>, and he told me he didn&#8217;t care if I had already posted it but that I would need to add a couple primer paragraphs to bring people into the history behind the Whopper Virgins controversy. I wrote a couple-few paragraphs and submitted and Matt posted it yesterday, <a
href="http://adage.com/globalideanetwork/post?article_id=133445">One Whopper &#8230; and Hold the Ugly-American Sauce</a>:</p><p><span
id="more-5373"></span></p><blockquote><p><strong><a
href="http://adage.com/globalideanetwork/post?article_id=133445">One Whopper &#8230; and Hold the Ugly-American Sauce</a></strong></p><p><em>Burger King Campaign Shows Off American Provincialism at Its Worse </em></p><p>Burger King has brought the Whopper vs. Big Mac taste test to the farthest corners of the globe in search of <a
href="http://www.whoppervirgins.com/">Whopper Virgins</a>.  According to the site, there are still people in the world who have  never been marketed to by either McDonald&#8217;s or Burger King, to say  nothing of having tasted the two flagship burgers of each fast-food  restaurant. For these people, Whoppers and Big Macs were either  spirited to them from the closest restaurants&#8211;In the case of  Bucharest, Romania, both were within 15 minutes&#8211;or the burgers were  made by hand by a quality expert on a specially-designed propane travel  flame broiler.</p><p>Whopper Virgins promised to be a proper documentary film, I was  assured. The filmmakers would simply find people who have not been  market-bombed by McDonald&#8217;s &#8212; a few of the uncorrupted &#8212; and allow  them to taste both burgers <em>et voila</em>!  Nothing could go wrong, surely, from such a noble aim, right? I mean,  their goal was to simply escape the mediasphere and find some folks who  have remained (until, of course, now) pure from the media machine <em>(Schrodinger&#8217;s documentary!).</em></p><p>Of course, a lot of the buzz about this documentary happened on <a
href="http://www.trendrr.com/timeseries/whopper_virgins_%28Number_of_Matching_Twitter_Posts_per_Day%29__413180">Twitter</a>, especially in light of <a
href="http://www.sciam.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=motrin-moms-a-twitter-over-ad-take-2008-11-17">Motrin Moms</a> and the <a
href="http://adage.com/globalideanetwork/post?article_id=133043">Pepsi suicide ads</a>. People have been very leery of the entire endeavor. And, of course, it has been called <a
href="http://mamanetbebe.blogspot.com/2008/12/whopper-virgins.html">American imperialism</a>.</p><p>The <a
href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2FmCCVbBFU">Whopper Virgins documentary</a> reveals as much about the provincialism of Americans as it does  possibly about the &#8220;primitives&#8221; they&#8217;re documenting. Besides, the  American obsession with the &#8220;<a
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noble_Savages">Noble Savage</a>&#8221; is so 18th century. And this sort of untoward behavior is the furthest thing from <a
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noblesse_Oblige">noblesse oblige</a>. They are neither being noble nor are they honoring any sort of moral obligation.</p><p>My one question is whether authentic cultural garb was procured for  these taste-testers. I hate to burst your bubble but Bucharest is a  proper city with a <a
href="http://www.unibuc.ro/en/home">major university</a>.  I have a friend who has her Masters in genetics and her Ph.D. in  immunology. She almost never dresses in these Romanian costumes. Wait,  actually never. Not only that, but this McDocumentary (sorry McDonalds)  should have been edited because the open and honest interviews with the  ugly Americans is appallingly insensitive and disgusting.</p><p>So, tell me, are those traditional cultural costumes authentic or  monkey suits? Was this the decision of the bonehead producer or the  director, or did this crisp, minty-fresh garb just happen to be what  these folks were wearing? Were they just aching to be used there in the  back of everyones&#8217; closet? Or, was this the regalia these test subject  were wearing when and where they were discovered? I really want to  know!</p><p>The most deplorable part of this documentary is the critique and  unself-aware commentary of the way these test subjects took to the  burger, along the lines of &#8220;These people are so authentic because they  don&#8217;t even know how to eat a burger to say nothing of a sandwich.&#8221;</p></blockquote><p><object
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class="DiggThisButton DiggCompact" href="http://digg.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fchrisabraham.com%2F2008%2F12%2F23%2Frevised-whopper-virgins-post-on-adage%2F"></a>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://chrisabraham.com/2008/12/23/revised-whopper-virgins-post-on-adage/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>The Social Mediasphere is Truly Global</title><link>http://chrisabraham.com/2008/12/10/the-social-mediasphere-is-truly-global/</link> <comments>http://chrisabraham.com/2008/12/10/the-social-mediasphere-is-truly-global/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:05:54 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Chris Abraham</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Adage]]></category> <category><![CDATA[AdAge Blogger]]></category> <category><![CDATA[AdAge GIN]]></category> <category><![CDATA[AdAge Global Idea Network]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Advertising Age]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Social Mediasphere]]></category> <category><![CDATA[social network]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Social Network Service]]></category> <category><![CDATA[social networking]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Social Networking Site]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Social Networks]]></category> <category><![CDATA[adopters]]></category> <category><![CDATA[alls]]></category> <category><![CDATA[amazement]]></category> <category><![CDATA[asia]]></category> <category><![CDATA[attendees]]></category> <category><![CDATA[beens]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Berlin]]></category> <category><![CDATA[berliner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[berliners]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category> <category><![CDATA[blogged]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Blogging]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Blogs]]></category> <category><![CDATA[bogart]]></category> <category><![CDATA[brand]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Bratislava Slovakia]]></category> <category><![CDATA[brit]]></category> <category><![CDATA[brits]]></category> <category><![CDATA[business card]]></category> <category><![CDATA[cards]]></category> <category><![CDATA[change]]></category> <category><![CDATA[checks]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Community]]></category> <category><![CDATA[conferences]]></category> <category><![CDATA[conversational]]></category> <category><![CDATA[conversations]]></category> <category><![CDATA[conversions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[couples]]></category> <category><![CDATA[credentials]]></category> <category><![CDATA[cultures]]></category> <category><![CDATA[czech republic]]></category> <category><![CDATA[decisions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[dedication]]></category> <category><![CDATA[doe]]></category> <category><![CDATA[dorms]]></category> <category><![CDATA[e mail]]></category> <category><![CDATA[emergence]]></category> <category><![CDATA[English]]></category> <category><![CDATA[evenings]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Facebook]]></category> 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<category><![CDATA[populations]]></category> <category><![CDATA[post]]></category> <category><![CDATA[probability]]></category> <category><![CDATA[profiles]]></category> <category><![CDATA[relationship]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Relationships]]></category> <category><![CDATA[respects]]></category> <category><![CDATA[slovakian]]></category> <category><![CDATA[social]]></category> <category><![CDATA[socialism]]></category> <category><![CDATA[socialization]]></category> <category><![CDATA[sorts]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Spanish]]></category> <category><![CDATA[speakers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[students]]></category> <category><![CDATA[tag]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tagging]]></category> <category><![CDATA[taked]]></category> <category><![CDATA[think]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Twitter]]></category> <category><![CDATA[twittering]]></category> <category><![CDATA[twitters]]></category> <category><![CDATA[twittervision]]></category> <category><![CDATA[visibility]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Wall]]></category> <category><![CDATA[web]]></category><guid
isPermaLink="false">http://chrisabraham.com/2008/12/10/the-social-mediasphere-is-truly-global/</guid> <description><![CDATA[Please enjoy my latest AdAge Global Idea Network blog post, Social Media Are Truly Global &#8212; Just Ask a Slovakian: Don&#8217;t Underestimate the Reach of Twitter, Facebook: (Via Adage) Social Media Are Truly Global &#8212; Just Ask a Slovakian: Don&#8217;t Underestimate the Reach of Twitter, Facebook Recently, I was a speaker at a conference in [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div
style="float:left;margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;"> <a
class="DiggThisButton DiggMedium" href="http://digg.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fchrisabraham.com%2F2008%2F12%2F10%2Fthe-social-mediasphere-is-truly-global%2F&title=The+Social+Mediasphere+is+Truly+Global" rel="news, tech_news"><span
style="display:none">Please enjoy my latest AdAge Global Idea Network blog post, Social Media Are Truly Global &#8212; Just Ask a Slovakian: Don&#8217;t Underestimate the Reach of Twitter, Facebook: (Via Adage) Social Media Are Truly Global &#8212; Just Ask a Slovakian: Don&#8217;t Underestimate the Reach of Twitter, Facebook Recently, I was a speaker at a conference in [...]</span></a></div><p></p><div
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class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px;"> <a
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/> <img
src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fchrisabraham.com%2F2008%2F12%2F10%2Fthe-social-mediasphere-is-truly-global%2F&amp;source=chrisabraham&amp;style=normal&amp;service=bit.ly&amp;service_api=R_fd087a8f486f224d453b4a84e0b4109f&amp;b=2" height="61" width="50" title="The Social Mediasphere is Truly Global" alt=" The Social Mediasphere is Truly Global" /><br
/> </a></div><p>Please enjoy my latest AdAge Global Idea Network blog post, <a
href="http://adage.com/globalideanetwork/post?article_id=133127">Social Media Are Truly Global &#8212; Just Ask a Slovakian: Don&#8217;t Underestimate the Reach of Twitter, Facebook</a>: (Via <a
href="http://adage.com/globalideanetwork/post?article_id=133127">Adage</a>)</p><blockquote><p><strong><a
href="http://adage.com/globalideanetwork/post?article_id=133127">Social Media Are Truly Global &#8212; Just Ask a Slovakian: Don&#8217;t Underestimate the Reach of Twitter, Facebook</a> </strong></p><p>Recently, <a
href="http://adage.com/globalideanetwork/post?article_id=133024" title="Global Idea Network: Abraham">I was a speaker at a conference</a> in Bratislava, Slovakia, called Daily Web. Everybody there was  super-connected. Everyone was on both Facebook and Twitter. While I was  at the conference, I received invites from my fellow attendees get  connected on Twitter, Facebook and even LinkedIn.</p><p> During a break, I was told that there are about 60,000 Slovakian users  of Facebook, using a mix of the available Czech interface and the  English. They were all much newer to Twitter, but the conference did  have a <a
href="http://twitter.com/dailywebsk" title="Daily Web Twitter conference profile" target="_blank">Twitter profile</a> and I chose to create the hash tag for the conference, #dailywebsk. I  was told Facebook is beginning to bogart the populations of local  Slovakian communities and there are plans to localize Facebook into  Slovakian the way that it is localized in the Czech Republic and  Germany.</p><p>This got me to thinking. All of the Brits I have been meeting  in Berlin are more keen on getting my &#8220;Facebook e-mail,&#8221; the e-mail  that would allow them to easily <a
href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=500059453" title="Abraham on Facebook" target="_blank">find me on Facebook</a>,  rather than asking for a business card. Are cards going obsolete? Or,  at the very least, are your Twitter and Facebook credentials more  important on your site, your business card or your name tag than your  e-mail, phone and fax?</p><p>All of my German friends are on Facebook as well, sharing  images and adopting the social network with as much dedication and  abandon as we do in the U.S. Same thing goes with my friends from  Mexico and Colombia. When I attend conferences these days, I am likely  to be recognized as <a
href="http://www.twitter.com/chrisabraham" title="Abraham on Twitter" target="_blank">@chrisabraham</a> as I am by my name.</p><p> However, I admit that I live in a rarefied air and so there might be  issues of connectivity, class and access that I am not addressing here.  That said, I am still amazed whenever I take some time to click on over  to <a
href="http://twittervision.com/maps/show_3d" title="Twittervision" target="_blank">Twittervision</a> to watch a global representation of the whole Twittering world.</p><p> Because of the nature of Facebook and Twitter, localization works very  well. Since both social networks allow you to easily communicate with  your friends, and your friends are generally a lot like you. There  isn&#8217;t a lot of cross-talk between English-, German- and  Spanish-speakers.</p><p> There are no barriers, of course, between the different locales and the  different languages. The barriers are emergent. Since I have quite a  few Facebook friends and Twitter followers, 2,707 and 2,374  respectively, I get a lot of cross-talk between languages, and that  pleases me. What makes me even happier is when I visit someone&#8217;s Wall,  sort of like the publicly visible whiteboard that lots of students hang  outside their dorm room. I often see a mixture of Spanish, German and  English, all mixed up, according to each particular relationship.</p><p>The feeling I have, however, is that Twitter and Facebook are  not perceived, worldwide, as American imperialism. And I think this is  fantastic. Why is that? I think it&#8217;s because Facebook and Twitter  created relatively neutral platforms and then got out of the way. This  is especially the case with Twitter, which is perfectly inert: 140  characters. No context, only essential conversation.</p><p>After being a part of the Twitter community for a little while,  the whole nature of it falls away and it becomes invisible, a simple  communications vehicle, disassociated from its origins: like the phone,  texting, TV, electricity, e-mail, the internet! Who cares who invented  these things, after all, when each nation, culture and people  ultimately make it their own. And this is what is happening with  Twitter and Facebook &#8212; people are making them their own.</p><p> I really don&#8217;t use MySpace very much at all. In fact, I embarrass myself every time I look at my <a
href="http://www.myspace.com/chrisabraham" title="Abraham on MySpace" target="_blank">MySpace profile</a>.  That said, every band in Berlin has a MySpace profile, just like every  other band in the entire world. Globally, you&#8217;re likely to see a  MySpace address if the band you&#8217;re digging on has an internet presence.  Even if your favorite global brand has its own website, there&#8217;s a good  chance that they also have a MySpace address. A couple weeks ago, I  checked out three bands here in Berlin and they all has MySpace URLs: <a
href="http://www.myspace.com/orchestreminiatureinthepark" title="Orchestre Miniature in the Park" target="_blank">Orchestre Miniature in the Park</a> and <a
href="http://www.myspace.com/timandpumamimi" title="Tim and Puma Mimi" target="_blank">Tim and Puma Mimi</a>.</p><p> None of these bands think about the gross imperialism associated with  their decisions; they have adopted all of this American innovation with  complete ease. Back in the day, Friendster had a terribly time sorting  out its business model internationally. Its success in Asia bogged down  its servers while confounding its salespeople on how to make any money  from all these community members who were dedicated participants but  not generating any local revenue. It was probably because the worldwide  ad networks and the global sales of ads were not there yet, focused  mostly on the U.S. market. Now times have changed. Here I am in Berlin  being served not simply German ads but also geo-targeted ads based on  exactly where my data is being served.</p><p>I have taken all of this in due course and just considered it  normal; however, I realized tonight that it isn&#8217;t normal. It occurred  to me that folks might not know how thoroughly adopted these Web 2.0  platforms are worldwide. How many people around the world refresh  Facebook and Twitter many times an hour at their workplace, the same  way everyone does it, even among an ever-growing population in the  Slovak Republic.</p></blockquote><script type="text/javascript">(function() {var s = document.createElement('SCRIPT'), s1 = document.getElementsByTagName('SCRIPT')[0];s.type = 'text/javascript';s.async = true;s.src = 'http://widgets.digg.com/buttons.js';s1.parentNode.insertBefore(s, s1);})();</script><a
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isPermaLink="false">http://chrisabraham.com/2008/12/01/on-the-bob-garfield-chaos-scenario-for-advertising/</guid> <description><![CDATA[According to Jonathan Trenn, over at Marketing Conversation &#8212; Bob Garfield&#8217;s &#8220;Chaos Scenario&#8221; may start locally &#8212; the world of advertising is in a place of chaos &#8212; spanning the dead zone between traditional advertising methods and new media advertising. Bob Garfield&#8217;s &#8220;Chaos Scenario&#8221; may start locally If you haven&#8217;t read Bob Garfield&#8217;s presentations of [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div
style="float:left;margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;"> <a
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style="display:none">According to Jonathan Trenn, over at Marketing Conversation &#8212; Bob Garfield&#8217;s &#8220;Chaos Scenario&#8221; may start locally &#8212; the world of advertising is in a place of chaos &#8212; spanning the dead zone between traditional advertising methods and new media advertising. Bob Garfield&#8217;s &#8220;Chaos Scenario&#8221; may start locally If you haven&#8217;t read Bob Garfield&#8217;s presentations of [...]</span></a></div><p></p><div
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src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fchrisabraham.com%2F2008%2F12%2F01%2Fon-the-bob-garfield-chaos-scenario-for-advertising%2F&amp;source=chrisabraham&amp;style=normal&amp;service=bit.ly&amp;service_api=R_fd087a8f486f224d453b4a84e0b4109f&amp;b=2" height="61" width="50" title="On the Bob Garfield Chaos Scenario for Advertising" alt=" On the Bob Garfield Chaos Scenario for Advertising" /><br
/> </a></div><p>According to <a
href="http://digitalstreetjournal.com">Jonathan Trenn</a>, over at <a
href="http://marketingconversation.com/2008/11/30/bob-garfields-chaos-scenario-may-start-locally/">Marketing Conversation</a> &#8212; <a
href="http://marketingconversation.com/2008/11/30/bob-garfields-chaos-scenario-may-start-locally/">Bob Garfield&#8217;s &#8220;Chaos Scenario&#8221; may start locally</a> &#8212; the world of advertising is in a place of chaos &#8212; spanning the dead zone between traditional advertising methods and new media advertising.</p><blockquote><p><b><a
href="http://marketingconversation.com/2008/11/30/bob-garfields-chaos-scenario-may-start-locally/">Bob Garfield&#8217;s &#8220;Chaos Scenario&#8221; may start locally</a></b></p><p>If you haven&#8217;t read Bob Garfield&#8217;s presentations of how advertising will evolve over the next few years (<a
href="http://adage.com/article?article_id=45561">Part 1</a> and<a
href="http://technology360.typepad.com/technology360/2007/03/bob_garfields_c.html"> Part 2</a>), then you should. He calls this the &#8220;Chaos Scenario&#8221;&#8230;a perfect metaphor for what he describes. In it, he argues that traditional advertising is dying out as media usage and consumer behavior are changing. Much of the change has its roots in the rise of the internet as a marketing vehicle. But, Garfield points out, new methods and practices have yet to fully pan out. And many companies haven;t come to grips with this new and show no signs of doing it any time soon. This is going to cause (my interpretation) chaos as traditional media outlets struggle to get advertisers while these advertisers struggle to figure out how to advertise effectively with their limited knowledge.</p><p>For the most part, I agree with his thesis. Most major traditional marketing-oriented mediums are becoming less effective as promotional vehicles. Media usage is more dispersed, more personal, and thus, more controlled by the end user. And many times those end users today are choosing to ignore or avoid the advertising messages that are send their way. Whether it ends up being as dire as Garfield suggests, I have no idea, but changes are coming and neither the advertising mediums nor the advertisers themselves are ready for it.</p><p>And I think <a
href="http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.san&#038;s=95389&#038;Nid=49746&#038;p=359531">local is where we&#8217;ll see it first</a>. I see this happening one the local level over the next three years. Goldman Sachs is predicting that traditional local advertising vehicles &#8211; local TV, newspapers and radio stations &#8211; are going to get hit particularly hard during this recession. I&#8217;m going to agree, and the key world there is &#8220;particularly&#8221;. That&#8217;s because local advertising is hurting anyway as advertisers have already been pulling back because it doesn&#8217;t work like it used to. Add to that further cuts in ad spend and you could get a serious amount of casualties on the local media market.</p><p><a
href="http://img.mediapost.com/publications/10/chart1125c.jpg"><img
src="http://img.mediapost.com/publications/10/chart1125c.jpg" class="alignnone" height="225" width="400" title="On the Bob Garfield Chaos Scenario for Advertising" alt="chart1125c On the Bob Garfield Chaos Scenario for Advertising" /></a></p><p>In the above graphs, we can see that newspaper get hit the hardest. Readership is down in the first place. That&#8217;s permanent. People have stopped buying newspapers for whatever reason &#8211; a lack of interest in news, having news available online, and getting quick news capsules in other mediums. A poor economy has little or no effect on newspaper buying. We won&#8217;t be seeing a rebound once the economy bounce back.</p><p>The collapse of players in the local ad market will reduce the options for advertisers. Yet the demand will probably still meet the supply. So we&#8217;ll see further erosion. Craigslist, satellite radio, and cable TV will make this so.</p><p>One of the alternatives will be local online advertising. But I don&#8217;t see many local advertisers ready for this. I still see most local companies that are likely to advertise having little more than brochureware websites. I see very little use of local Google Adsense coming from traditional businesses. And, again, the websites are neither optimized for online search nor are they set up with the correct landing pages for potential ads. Local businesses SHOULD be developing internet strategies, but the decision makers in them don&#8217;t go to our conferences, they don&#8217;t read our blogs, they&#8217;re not on Twitter. Nor are they probably on Facebook or MySpace. They&#8217;re far from it.</p><p>So while they&#8217;ll be temporarily holding back ad dollars during tough economic times, they&#8217;ll be likely losing some of their traditional advertising choices. And they won&#8217;t be ready or equipped to start marketing on new media &#8211; because they&#8217;ve chosen to not take the time to learn it. The end result? Chaos.</p></blockquote><p>I call it white knuckle syndrome: holding on to the handholds you have, frozen on the face of the cliff, because you don&#8217;t know where the handholds of the future are. This chaos is pretty amazing to watch as the economy pitches and GM bails on Super Bowl.</p><p>Advertising knows it needs to jump off the locomotive before it pitches into the gorge (the bridge is out!) but reaching out to the proffered hand of the guy in the helicopter seems pretty risky too. But, as the current handholds become chalky and you start to feel them crumble under your weight, you&#8217;ll need to find somewhere else to go, and quick!</p><p>I tell anyone who will listen to me that the current crop of advertisement methods is too ephemeral.  The moment you spend the money and your ad runs is the moment it is either gone to the grave &#8212; unless you&#8217;re smart and willing to keep it alive, in conversation, online on YouTube for the spots or on a blog somewhere for the print work &#8212; or you will feel compelled to keep on throwing money at it ad infinitum, because contextual ads, banner ads, etc, only last as long as you write checks.</p><p>What my specialty is is online conversation marketing, online public relations, and online earned media.  When you earn peoples&#8217; attention and when they choose to speak about you, your clients, and your services, then you have a gift that keeps on giving &#8212; this is content that lasts well past the campaign and into the future.  This is both the sort of thing that Google loves &#8212; it is SEO catnip &#8212; and it is just the sort of content that flows, both upstream to A-list bloggers and to mainstream media and down to your readers, aggregators, and to other bloggers and other blogs.  If you want to see some examples of powerfully successful blogger outreaches, check out <a
href="http://www.abrahamharrison.com/thank-you-all-who-supported-international-medical-corps">International Medical Corps (IMC) 2008</a>, <a
href="http://www.abrahamharrison.com/thank-you-again-survivor-corps-bloggers">Survivor Corps Operation Survivor 2008</a>, and <a
href="http://www.abrahamharrison.com/thank-you-fresh-air-fund-bloggers">Fresh Air Fund Summer 2008</a>, <a
href="http://ahllc.eu/book-promotion-blogger-pr">Jerry White&#8217;s I Will Not Be Broken book promotion</a>. In many cases, these campaigns are close to a year old, yet they still still live in hundreds and hundreds of blogs and feed Google&#8217;s index until all of these blogs are taken down.  It is really amazing how effective this sort of &#8220;advertising&#8221; promotion works.  What&#8217;s better, when the campaign is over and the client &#8220;turns off&#8221; our tap, the content continues living and isn&#8217;t just shut off like it is with banners, buttons, and contextual advertising.  Very interesting, very cool, and powerfully effective.</p><p>Remember how much fun Communication Arts is to page through? &#8212; CA is intoxicating!  Well, every ad you make can be as interesting, as long as you&#8217;re willing to come out of your art department and share your process, share your experience, share your steps.  Keeping those ephemera alive through narrative, sharing, conversation, and story, is what social media is, it is what customer service is, it is surely what branding should be.</p><p>Anyway, There is a lot of opportunity in this time of chaos, of this time of transition. The same sort of transition (and opportunity) happened when PCs came online, replacing the <a
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_Selectric_typewriter">IBM Selectric II</a>; when the Internet changed E-Commerce, threatening to eviscerate bricks and mortar stores, and it is happening now, more than ever, with advertising, marketing, and PR.</p><p>To me, <a
href="http://www.chrisbrogan.com/">Chris Brogan</a> said it best the other day on Twitter, &#8220;customer service is the new PR.*&#8221; Looking at what <a
href="http://twitter.com/comcastcares">@comcastcares</a> has been able to do, customer service is the new PR, the new marketing, and the new advertising.</p><p>So, as those handholds start to get chalk and begin to crumble, it is important to at least set your eyes on a new handhold &#8212; or maybe a <a
href="http://abrahamharrison.com">helping hand</a> &#8212; before your original handhold turns to powder.</p><p>I know there is so much money &#8212; huge buckets of hot cash &#8212; in TV commercials (and you&#8217;re still all stoked from your experience &#8212; and profit &#8212; from the presidential campaign) but you need to diversify! You need to start spreading your weight over a number of holds: left and right foot, left and right hand &#8212; and hopefully a <a
href="http://abrahamharrison.com">belay man</a> and some crampons and a few anchors and camming devices&#8230; as much as you can do.</p><p>This is a time of chaos, and your mistakes will all be gentle and you will be admired for doing cool stuff, so it is a perfect time to make the leap.  Right now, SEO, SEM, affiliate and marketing firms, PR firms, and <a
href="http://cabraham.com">social media consultants</a> are doing ad buys, are learning advertising, are becoming severely profitable.</p><p>They drink your milkshake.</p><p>But it is not too late.  It is a time of chaos, it is a time to take risks.  Learn from what has happened to your cousins, PR and main stream media. Evolve or perish.  Yes, these will be interesting times for Madison Avenue and around the world.</p><p>And for you who have yet to do the reading, please check out <a
href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738204315/chrisabraham">Cluetrain Manifesto</a> and <a
href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/047174719X/chrisabraham">Naked Conversation</a>.</p><p>Oh, and no, I have not read Bob Garfield&#8217;s original presentations of how advertising will evolve over the next few years (<a
href="http://adage.com/article?article_id=45561">Part 1</a> and<a
href="http://technology360.typepad.com/technology360/2007/03/bob_garfields_c.html"> Part 2</a>); however, I plan to &#8212; and I plan to say more after I do.  I merely intended to cross-post Trenn&#8217;s article from Marketing Conversation &#8212; I just didn&#8217;t realize I had such a strong opinion on the issue until I started writing my standard introduction and analysis paragraph.</p><p>* I can&#8217;t find the quote that Chris Brogan made, however, I can find <a
href="http://twitter.com/chrisabraham/statuses/1030976684">my quoting of him on Twitter</a> &#8212; maybe someone can help me find his original Tweet.</p><script type="text/javascript">(function() {var s = document.createElement('SCRIPT'), s1 = document.getElementsByTagName('SCRIPT')[0];s.type = 'text/javascript';s.async = true;s.src = 'http://widgets.digg.com/buttons.js';s1.parentNode.insertBefore(s, s1);})();</script><a
class="DiggThisButton DiggCompact" href="http://digg.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fchrisabraham.com%2F2008%2F12%2F01%2Fon-the-bob-garfield-chaos-scenario-for-advertising%2F"></a>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://chrisabraham.com/2008/12/01/on-the-bob-garfield-chaos-scenario-for-advertising/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>Abraham Harrison Case Study of International Medical Corps</title><link>http://chrisabraham.com/2008/10/14/abraham-harrison-case-study-of-international-medical-corps/</link> <comments>http://chrisabraham.com/2008/10/14/abraham-harrison-case-study-of-international-medical-corps/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:22:33 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Chris Abraham</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[About Abraham Harrison]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Abraham Harrison]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Abraham Harrison Case Studies]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Abraham Harrison LLC]]></category> 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isPermaLink="false">http://chrisabraham.com/2008/10/14/abraham-harrison-case-study-of-international-medical-corps/</guid> <description><![CDATA[CHALLENGE: This was a two week, high pressure campaign focused on getting International Medical Corps (IMC) into the final five of the American Express Members Project $2.5 million giveaway competition. 1,190 projects were nominated for participation in the competition, Amex cardholders could vote for their favorite project, and the top five projects receive a portion [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div
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style="display:none">CHALLENGE: This was a two week, high pressure campaign focused on getting International Medical Corps (IMC) into the final five of the American Express Members Project $2.5 million giveaway competition. 1,190 projects were nominated for participation in the competition, Amex cardholders could vote for their favorite project, and the top five projects receive a portion [...]</span></a></div><p></p><div
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/> </a></div><p><img
src="http://ahllc.eu/imcLogo.jpg" alt="imcLogo Abraham Harrison Case Study of International Medical Corps" width="200" height="137" hspace="10" vspace="10" align="right" title="Abraham Harrison Case Study of International Medical Corps" /><strong>CHALLENGE: </strong>This was a two week, high pressure campaign  focused on getting <a
href="http://www.imcworldwide.org/">International Medical Corps</a> (IMC) into the <a
href="http://www.membersproject.com/project/view/OZH1P1">final  five</a> of the <a
href="www.membersproject.com/">American Express Members Project</a> $2.5 million giveaway  competition. 1,190 projects were nominated for participation in the  competition, Amex cardholders could vote for their favorite project,  and the top five projects receive a portion of the $2.5 million in  grant money.</p><p>The   challenge that <a
href="http://www.abrahamharrison.com">Abraham Harrison</a> faced was to take IMC, a relatively low-profile  $100MM per year organization that gets all its money from government  grants and had essentially no support base among the general public  and activate a mass wave of support and votes for the organization &#8211;  in two weeks.</p><p> International Medical Corps is a global,  humanitarian, nonprofit dedicated to saving lives and relieving  suffering through health care training, relief operations, and  development programs.</p><p><strong>STRATEGY:</strong> <a
href="http://abrahamharrison.com">Abraham &amp;  Harrison</a> has developed strong relationships with a large group of  bloggers interested in humanitarian issues who in turn act as  influencers in their communities of readers. The goal, as with all  online influencer outreaches, was to earn these bloggers&#8217; support and  their willingness to act as repeaters and amplifiers of our client&#8217;s  message, get their implicit or explicit endorsement, and motivate  their readerships to action &#8211; in this case to vote for IMC in the  Amex Members&#8217; Project competition.</p><p> Abraham &amp; Harrison was in constant consultation with the  client, advising International Medical Corps on their message  copy, their use of widgets, their posting of banner ads, and guiding  their broader strategic decisions.</p><p><strong>TACTICS: </strong>Abraham  &amp; Harrison reached out to close to 4000 bloggers across a  spectrum of demographics. The Abraham &amp; Harrison team reached out  to these bloggers multiple times over the course of two weeks  directing them to the Members Project website and the helpful,  blogger-friendly Social Media News Release that made blogging on the  topic an easy cut-and-paste action. <u><a
href="http://internationalmedicalcorps.smnr.us/" target="_blank">http://internationalmedicalcorps.smnr.us/</a></u></p><p> Abraham  &amp; Harrison also turned to its strong presence on Facebook,  Twitter, and several other social networks, building groups and  messaging followers as well as the broader Abraham &amp; Harrison  community. To drive SEO and further traffic, every one of the over  190 blog posts was posted on Digg and several other social  bookmarking platforms.</p><p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>Within two weeks  the team at Abraham &amp; Harrison had achieved close to a 10%  response rate to the outreach emails, leading to over 190 blog posts  with more trickling in daily. Millions of impressions were  made, and given the permanent nature of blog posts and the resultant  presence on the search engines, impressions will continue to be made  into the future.</p><p>International Medical Corps was able to fend off  challenges from those organizations in 6th and 7th place, finally  finishing in the top five, guaranteeing them a portion of the $2.5MM in grant money.</p><blockquote><p><em>&quot;Abraham &amp; Harrison has been a tremendous asset to International Medical Corps during our American Express Members Project campaign. Their online strategy and outreach helped introduce International Medical Corps to many new audiences and raised our visibility during this time-sensitive campaign. International Medical Corps was written about in more than 170 blog posts. </em></p><p><em>&quot;Abraham &amp; Harrison brings a unique approach to online public relations. The worldwide web is a vast space, yet Abraham &amp; Harrison has found a formula to reach out to target audiences, effectively raise awareness and get online readers and activists to take action. </em></p><p><em>&quot;The entire Abraham &amp; Harrison team has been fantastic. Each team member brings creativity and passion to the cause. Without a doubt, International Medical Corps would engage Abraham &amp; Harrison for another campaign.&quot;</em></p><p>Rebecca Milner<br
/> Vice President, Institutional Advancement<br
/> <a
href="http://www.imcworldwide.org/">International Medical Corps</a></p></blockquote><script type="text/javascript">(function() {var s = document.createElement('SCRIPT'), s1 = document.getElementsByTagName('SCRIPT')[0];s.type = 'text/javascript';s.async = true;s.src = 'http://widgets.digg.com/buttons.js';s1.parentNode.insertBefore(s, s1);})();</script><a
class="DiggThisButton DiggCompact" href="http://digg.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fchrisabraham.com%2F2008%2F10%2F14%2Fabraham-harrison-case-study-of-international-medical-corps%2F"></a>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://chrisabraham.com/2008/10/14/abraham-harrison-case-study-of-international-medical-corps/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>Sarah Palin Comment Thread Par Excellence</title><link>http://chrisabraham.com/2008/10/10/sarah-palin-comment-thread-par-excellence/</link> <comments>http://chrisabraham.com/2008/10/10/sarah-palin-comment-thread-par-excellence/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:52:16 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Chris Abraham</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[2008 Elections]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Comment Thread]]></category> <category><![CDATA[John McCain]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Par Excellence]]></category> <category><![CDATA[presidency]]></category> 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isPermaLink="false">http://chrisabraham.com/2008/10/10/sarah-palin-comment-thread-par-excellence/</guid> <description><![CDATA[If you have not been keeping on top of all of the great comments streaming in to the AH Poll entitled &#8220;If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah Palin be competent to be President?&#8221; you are really missing out! Some of them are the most insightful, thoughtful, and brilliant collection of thoughts representing [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div
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style="display:none">If you have not been keeping on top of all of the great comments streaming in to the AH Poll entitled &#8220;If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah Palin be competent to be President?&#8221; you are really missing out! Some of them are the most insightful, thoughtful, and brilliant collection of thoughts representing [...]</span></a></div><p></p><div
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/> </a></div><p>If you have not been keeping on top of all of the great comments streaming in to the <a
href="http://ahpoll.com">AH Poll</a> entitled <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/palin/">&#8220;If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah Palin be competent to be President?&#8221;</a> you are really missing out!  Some of them are the most insightful, thoughtful, and brilliant collection of thoughts representing the best and the worst of the right and the left! Roll up your sleeves and batten your hatches because you&#8217;re going to have one hell of a ride. Oh, also, these comments are in reverse-chronological order so the most recent are at the top. If you want to keep track of them live, please <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/palin/#comments">go visit them where they love and breathe</a>. Read below for the most amazing Sarah Palin comment thread of the Internets!<br
/> <span
id="more-5087"></span></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-147">Palin = MORON</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://sogetthis.com" rel="nofollow">Anonymous</a> (not verified) on Fri, 10/10/2008 &#8211; 12:58.</div><div><p>Only  a complete moron would vote for a Republican after the past 8 years of  idiocy. McCain is a Bush croney and Palin is just an idiot.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/147">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/147/Palin-MORON">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-146"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-146">reply to KB in IA</a></div><div> Submitted by ab (not verified) on Fri, 10/10/2008 &#8211; 08:52.</div><div><p>KB,<br
/> Sorry, I don&#8217;t usually reply to these remarks, but I couldn&#8217;t resist&#8230;&#8230;..<br
/> What message of &#8220;hate&#8221; are you talking about?<br
/> If someone doesn&#8217;t agree with your worldview, that doesn&#8217;t<br
/> mean they hate. Where is your tolerance?<br
/> AB</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/146">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/146/reply-KB-IA">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-145"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-145">Palin</a></div><div> Submitted by Walter Arndt (not verified) on Thu, 10/09/2008 &#8211; 22:23.</div><div><p>Only a person with his head in the sand would vote for a democrat.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/145">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/145/Palin">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-144"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-144">Re: If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah Pal</a></div><div> Submitted by KB in IA (not verified) on Thu, 10/09/2008 &#8211; 21:54.</div><div><p>Things  might get interesting soon, since the Alaska Supreme Court said today  that the investigation known as Troopergate could proceed, dashing the  hopes of the McCain/Palin campaign to stonewall it until after the  election (article at <a
href="http://www.adn.com" title="www.adn.com">www.adn.com</a>).  Amazing that someone CURRENTLY under investigation for misuse of public  office, could be stirring up crowds with a message of hate.  Mind-boggling that someone who had to attend 5 or 6 different colleges  before getting a degree in journalism, can try to make a bogeyman out  of someone who graduated with honors from Harvard Law. I hope Alaska  gets their Governor back soon&#8230;if they even want her back.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/144">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/144/Re-If-John-McCain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-Sarah-Pal">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-143"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-143">Re: Palin</a></div><div> Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 10/09/2008 &#8211; 18:06.</div><div><p>Are  you as crazy as she is? It IS the republican party that has messed up  this Country over the last 8 yrs. We may not get out of this mess we  are in. Take your head out of the sand. Obama IS the best selection  this election.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/143">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/143/Re-Palin">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-142"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-142">Qualified?</a></div><div> Submitted by  Leo (not verified) on Thu, 10/09/2008 &#8211; 17:17.</div><div><p>Mrs.  Palin is much more qualified to be President than Obama who has done  absolutely nothing but organize thugs in ACORN! She could save this  Country from Socialism and all the corruption the Democrats are up to.  He is not capable of telling the truth and Hollywood and the Media are  doing their best to cover for him. He is not qualified to be a Senator  and should be on trial for treason.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/142">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/142/Qualified">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-141"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-141">Pailin </a></div><div> Submitted by GE Mayer (not verified) on Thu, 10/09/2008 &#8211; 16:53.</div><div><p>Not  only is Palin not qualified to be Vice President much less President, I  am incensed, that John McCain would insult my intellegence by picking  such a &#8220;newby&#8221; above several well qualified, experienced women who have  served the country and the Republican party.<br
/> I expect my Comander in Chief to Carefully sellect an individual more  qualified than him/herself to take over. It shows John&#8217;s thinking.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/141">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/141/Pailin">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-140"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-140">Palin?  Presidential material?  No, doggone it!</a></div><div> Submitted by Krissi (not verified) on Wed, 10/08/2008 &#8211; 21:35.</div><div><p>While  I admire Sarah Palin&#8217;s spunk and determination, I think that she is  completely out of her league as not only a vice president but also a  president. If people would take a good look at her record, they&#8217;d see  that she doesn&#8217;t even have a good grasp of the issues.</p><p>In addition, she&#8217;s been caught in numerous lies and distortions. For  example, she did not sell a jet on eBay &#8212; she tried but failed; the  jet was sold later to a private buyer. She did not leave the town of  Wasilla financially sound; she left it in debt. She says she;ll be a  strong supporter of kids with needs. In truth, Palin actually slashed  funding for schools for special needs kids by 62%.</p><p>And her famous, &#8220;I told the Congress &#8220;thanks, but no thanks,&#8221; for  that Bridge to Nowhere. If our state wanted a bridge, we&#8217;d build it  ourselves&#8221; line? More spin. Congress&#8217; requirement that funds be spent  on that bridge (aka the &#8216;earmark&#8217;) were removed before Sarah Palin  became governor. She was, therefore, in no position to tell Congress  anything about the bridge, one way or the other. During her campaign,  she said she supported funding for the bridge.</p><p>There are more examples, of the fibs and many examples of her poor  insight into our nation&#8217;s problems. I could list them all, but I  encourage you to do your own homework (forwarded emails DO NO COUNT)!</p><p>If MCCain and Palin win this election, I&#8217;ll probably be hoping for a lengthy, overseas assignment &#8212; maybe four years or more!</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/140">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/140/Palin-Presidential-material-No-doggone-it">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-139"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-139">Palin is Failin</a></div><div> Submitted by GA for Brains in the White House (not verified) on Wed, 10/08/2008 &#8211; 21:02.</div><div><p>W &#8211; below C student<br
/> McCain &#8211; at the bottom of his class<br
/> Are we really electing the best? Shouldn&#8217;t we elect someone better than  we are? And someone not ready for the assisted living home? Someone who  can remember the name of his opponent instead of calling him &#8220;that  one&#8221;. McCain left right away after the debate &#8211; seniors do go to bed  early, probably past his bedtime. As for integrity, check out McCain&#8217;s  involvement in the S&#038;L bailout, he was right there along side W&#8217;s  brother Neil. All working to steal investors&#8217; money. Just like King  Henry is doing now, rewarding his Wall St. buddies.</p><p><strong>And we wonder why this happens to us???</strong></p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/139">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/139/Palin-Failin">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-138"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-138">Palin</a></div><div> Submitted by Ed Sherrill (not verified) on Wed, 10/08/2008 &#8211; 10:49.</div><div><p>Not  only is Sarah Palin competent to become President, she is idealogically  and tempermentally better suited to be President than John McCain.  Republicans are going to be very sorry thet chose McCain over Mitt  Romney. I only pray the Democrates don&#8217;t screw up the country so bad  over the next four years that it can&#8217;t be fixed.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/138">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/138/Palin">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-136"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-136">Is she for real?</a></div><div> Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 10/07/2008 &#8211; 22:13.</div><div><p>If  Joe Biden winked at the camera 5-6 times during the debate, wouldn&#8217;t we  be calling him a pervert? Come on people, get serious. Sarah Palin is a  joke &#8212; an embarrassment to Americans who take our politics &#8212; and the  plight of our country &#8212; seriously.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/136">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/136/she-real">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-134"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-134">Is Sarah Palin Qualified to be President?</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://www.selfhelpdaily.com" rel="nofollow">Joi</a> (not verified) on Tue, 10/07/2008 &#8211; 13:34.</div><div><p>To  be sure, Sarah Palin doesn&#8217;t deserve the crucifixion the media and  entertainment world are giving her (and her family). McCain might  deserve some of it, after all &#8211; he picked her. Why? She&#8217;s female. I  admire the man completely &#8211; he is an American hero and I can&#8217;t even  begin to imagine the hell this brave man endured.</p><p>However, when it came to choose running mates, I belive Obama chose  one that was best for the country and McCain chose one (he thought) was  best for the campaign.</p><p>I THINK that he lost the race with his choice.  I KNOW he lost my vote.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/134">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/134/Sarah-Palin-Qualified-be-President">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-133"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-133">Surprising VP choice</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://thebrandbuilder.wordpress.com" rel="nofollow">olivier blanchard</a> (not verified) on Tue, 10/07/2008 &#8211; 13:30.</div><div><p>Hindsight  is always 20/20. Perhaps Gov. Palin&#8217;s weaknesses weren&#8217;t 100% obvious  to Sen. McCain when he picked her. (So much for due diligence, I  guess.) Did he want a dynamic, charismatic, family-friendly VP  running-mate? Of course. And she fit the bill&#8230; on the surface, at  least. But honestly, weren&#8217;t there better choices (male or female) for  the job? Competent, charismatic, appealing, worldly Republican  governors or senators? People he actually knows and trusts? 30 years in  politics, and he can&#8217;t think of a single person he has worked with who  would be a better choice for a running mate? He goes with a complete  stranger? I find that bizarre. Irresponsible, even. I just don&#8217;t get  it. There are plenty of smart, competent, experienced women in the  Republican Party who would have made a great running mate.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/133">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/133/Surprising-VP-choice">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-132"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-132">Don&#8217;t confuse appeal with competence</a></div><div> Submitted by DBStevens (not verified) on Tue, 10/07/2008 &#8211; 12:21.</div><div><p>Too  many people in this country confuse personal appeal with competence,  and make decisions based on who&#8217;s the most charming or even who&#8217;s  sexiest. Or they make decisions based on generalities such as &#8220;we need  a woman in the White House.&#8221; A COMPETENT woman in the White House would  be a great asset to this country. There is no doubt of that.</p><p>But we can&#8217;t decide the leaders of our country based on a visceral  reaction to her charm and folksy demeanor (there is a lot of doubt as  to the sincerity of that demeanor anyway&#8230;she shows signs of being  rather ruthless). During these times of uncertainty and fear, it&#8217;s  natural to want some comfort, to feel that the person leading our  country is down-to-earth and &#8220;real.&#8217; We felt good about Bush and people  like Rudy Guiliani for a short time right after 9/11. They appealed to  our emotions and need for reassurance. But that demeanor means nothing.  It&#8217;s the actions that matter, and in the time following 9/11, both Bush  and Guiliani&#8217;s true nature was revealed&#8230; incompetence and  self-serving.</p><p>Sarah Palin acts cute and has a pretty face. That&#8217;s perfect for  president of the PTA. But has not gained enough experience to be  president of a country. The job of Vice-President or President is NOT  an &#8220;on-the-job-training&#8221; type of job. Being Mayor of a tiny town in a  remote state, then Governer of that remote, sparsely populated state  (670,000, way smaller than a city like El Paso, TX) is not enough  experience to lead a country whose every move has global implications.  Palin treated the job of Governer like a telecommuting job, she worked  form her hown home for 86% of the year.</p><p>No matter how intelligent she may seem to be, no matter how  ambitious or driven she may seem, and ESPECIALLY no matter how pretty  or charming she is, she is not ready for the responsibilities of a job  like President. Without experience, without having the time to really  begin to understand the nature of national and global dealings on every  level, no matter how much coaching or guidance she would receive, Palin  would either crumble under pressure or make very bad decisions with  repercussions that could shake this country and its international  stature to the core. Or she wouldn&#8217;t act quickly enough at  all&#8230;stalling and deflecting decisions (as she does with many  questions, or with such events as the investigation dubbeed  &#8220;Troopergate&#8221;).</p><p>I also worry about the demands of her family. During times of her  family&#8217;s need, do we want someone faced with the dilemma of either  neglecting her family&#8217;s needs because of her duties as Vice-President,  or neglecting the VP duties because of her family&#8217;s needs? Neither of  those are good choices&#8230;.Sarah Palin has too many personal  responsibilities.</p><p>Palin also shows all the signs of behavior very similar to  Bush&#8217;s&#8230;including a tendency toward cronyism, abuse of power, and  self-serving decisions that flout the law.</p><p>She even mispronounces the word &#8220;nuclear&#8221; just like Bush. Certainly  that&#8217;s a small point, and that pronunciation is commonly recognized as  a sub-standard metathesis of the word, but it&#8217;s very annoying to listen  to.</p><p>So wake up American. Move your responses from your gut to your  brains, and make sure you understand the repercussions of your vote.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/132">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/132/Dont-confuse-appeal-competence">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-131"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-131">I&#8217;m moving&#8230;</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://www.andyosier.com" rel="nofollow">Andy Osier</a> (not verified) on Tue, 10/07/2008 &#8211; 10:15.</div><div><p>John  McCain himself isn&#8217;t capable of running the country; I shudder to think  of the train wreck a Palin administration would be. If they win, I&#8217;m  seriously considering a moving. How&#8217;s the January weather in Berlin,  Chris?</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/131">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/131/Im-moving">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-130"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-130">Big State&#8230;&#8230;little experience!</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/126" rel="nofollow">Anonymous</a> (not verified) on Mon, 10/06/2008 &#8211; 18:11.</div><div><p>Granted, we&#8217;ve got plenty to worry about at home!<br
/> But we&#8217;re talking about a Governor of a state bordered by 2 foreign  countries, Palin is the proud NEW owner of a passport! (barely 1 year)<br
/> The world is smaller than ever and so is our standing in it. We don&#8217;t  need &#8220;a little Wasilla in Washington&#8221;. We already have a narrow minded  view of the world with our current administration.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/130">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/130/Big-Statelittle-experience">link</a></li><li><a
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id="comment-129"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-129">Palin for presidnet?</a></div><div> Submitted by Joyce (not verified) on Mon, 10/06/2008 &#8211; 16:49.</div><div><p>She  would call on the brightest brains in the Republican party, put them in  positions of power and support, and do her best to do the best she  could for her country. She&#8217;s an acheiver and would never accept failure  for herself. She has Condeleesa, Romneys, Huckabees and several others  who want to serve and members to help and advise her. Her history shows  that she uses support and advise to guide her towards her goals and  accomplishments. She would take the credit for it too.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/129">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/129/Palin-presidnet">link</a></li><li><a
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id="comment-128"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-128">Re: If McCain dies is America Screwed?</a></div><div> Submitted by Allison (not verified) on Mon, 10/06/2008 &#8211; 15:10.</div><div><p>Palin  is the only person that does not have someone dictating what she says  about policy and does not try to appear to have all of the answers. She  certainly knows how to find the answers. She has integrity, and knows  truth when she sees it and definitely has mankind&#8217;s best interests as  her priority. These are some of the things that make her the best  candidate for the job. I am sick and tired of politicians with agendas!  She is a real person that is capable of any good, or decent task put  before her. She will also employ the same type of people to work beside  and under her. The point that she is not capable of selling us down  stream for a special interest group, or her own pocket, or fame makes  her my choice in a leader &#8211; regardless of the presence of McCain.  Allison</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/128">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/128/Re-If-McCain-dies-America-Screwed">link</a></li><li><a
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id="comment-127"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-127">Re: If McCain dies is America Screwed?</a></div><div> Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/06/2008 &#8211; 15:08.</div><div><p>Palin  is the only person that does not have someone dictating what she says  about policy and does not try to appear to have all of the answers. She  certainly knows how to find the answers. She has integrity, and knows  truth when she sees it and definitely has mankind&#8217;s best interests as  her priority. These are some of the things that make her the best  candidate for the job. I am sick and tired of politicians with agendas!  She is a real person that is capable of any good, or decent task put  before her. She will also employ the same type of people to work beside  and under her. The point that she is not capable of selling us down  stream for a special interest group, or her own pocket, or fame makes  her my choice in a leader &#8211; regardless of the presence of McCain.  Allison</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/127">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/127/Re-If-McCain-dies-America-Screwed">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-126"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-126">Re: Re: If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah</a></div><div> Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/06/2008 &#8211; 12:47.</div><div><p>She didn&#8217;t ride in on her &#8220;own merits&#8221; She rode in on her SEX. PERIOD.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/126">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/126/Re-If-John-McCain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-Sarah">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-125"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-125">If McCain dies is America Screwed?</a></div><div> Submitted by RisingFromDecadence (not verified) on Mon, 10/06/2008 &#8211; 12:17.</div><div><p>It&#8217;s  the most frightening and compelling reason to not elect McCain to date.  It&#8217; clear that the choice was to win vs. what&#8217;s right for the country.  And it saddens me that with so many strong female candidates out there  McCain has landed on this choice. It speaks volumes of his lack of  sound judgement and doesn&#8217;t do justice to the feminist movement.</p><p>I couldn&#8217;t agree more with &#8220;Double Standard&#8217;s&#8221; comments about  education, and intelligence vs. the &#8220;experience&#8221; of a low-population  governor. Has it somehow become a negative trait for our president to  be articulate well educated and even published?</p><p>I think its safe to now say, like every great civilization, America  has grown from it&#8217;s indestructible, can-do &#8220;adolescence,&#8221; and has  entered it&#8217;s &#8220;decadent&#8221; period of greed, fear, fat and a lack of clear  vision. America needs a president who will bring intelligence, a new  vision, and optimism so that we don&#8217;t lose the real values we&#8217;ve grown  up to believe are American such as truth, innovation, compassion,  charity and vision.</p><p>Our values as a nation should not be confused with same sex  marriages or religious agendas. I seem to remember from my grade school  social studies classes that America was born as a nation with the  purpose and promise of many freedoms. Personal choice values are not to  be mixed with National values. Growing up, this difference has been why  I&#8217;ve been so proud to be an American. In the last 8 years much has  changed. I believe that only with the leadership of Obama will we be  able to regain our credibility and our course as a nation. Most  importantly, America could be &#8220;Proud Again.&#8221;</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/125">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/125/If-McCain-dies-America-Screwed">link</a></li><li><a
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id="comment-124"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-124">Answer the question</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://ascannerbrightly.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Jaz-Michael King</a> (not verified) on Mon, 10/06/2008 &#8211; 10:40.</div><div><p>As  an unbiased, unable-to-vote immigrant, can I point out that as usual,  from either of your minimalist two sides, when the question is simply  If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah Palin be  competent to be President?&#8221;, the arguments spin off to why the opponent  isn&#8217;t. Maybe that will be the next question, but like I wanted to yell  at Palin while watching the debate&#8230; answer the question posed to you.</p><p>Everyone has their weak points, and in some respects, Obama, who has  considerably more than two years in the US Senate as his experience (he  was a state senator, you know) has plenty. However, I think there&#8217;s a  good reason hockey moms and joe sixpacks don&#8217;t run. No-one wants  regular folk in charge. You all want a ruling elite no matter how much  you profess to the contrary.</p><p>There are plenty of strong, competent women on both sides of the aisle in the USA. Gov. Palin is not one of them.</p><p>She is not qualified because she is not qualified. Being as  unqualified as anyone you wish to compare her to does not make her  qualified. Her inabilty to answer a straight question makes her  unqualified. I personally believe the fact she is the kind of person  who can compete in a beauty contest makes her unqualified. And as of  today, her assertion that Obama&#8217;s political career started off in the  living room of a terrorist (all of a sudden, he&#8217;s been a politician a  lot longer than two years according to the Republicans) has pulled her  from the absurd to the surreal.</p><p>Don&#8217;t get me wrong, Obama seems to pander to some vaporous &#8220;change&#8221; mentality, but that wasn&#8217;t the question.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/124">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/124/Answer-question">link</a></li><li><a
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id="comment-123"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-123">Palin Unqualified</a></div><div> Submitted by Anonymous jones (not verified) on Mon, 10/06/2008 &#8211; 09:16.</div><div><p>The  difference between Obama and Palin is that Obama thinks. He&#8217;s smart  enough to go to Harvard, graduate high enough in his class to be  president of the Harvard Law Review there. He&#8217;s a thinker who doesn&#8217;t  shoot from the hip. He knows the Constitution inside and out and knows  if something is just a whim to increase his own power compared to a  great idea which would help millions of people (think fairer taxes,  health insurance coverage). Palin bankrupted Wasilla which is now 23.5  MILLION dollars in debt. She has no idea of what real issues are out  there&#8212;she doesn&#8217;t have any idea of what to do in a financial  situation, a diplomatic situation or anything beyond her own home. She  shows no compassion for others who are not in her situation (religious,  financial, educational, political) and has no international experience.  We do not need another DOPE in the White House. McCain has shown very  poor judgment in choosing an under-educated (a BA is like a high school  degree these days) fool rather than a smart, intellectually  sophisticated worthy VP candidate. This is a sellout of the Democratic  process. Such a shame. But then again, McCain graduated at the bottom  of his class (894 out of 899), so what does he want with a smart second?</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/123">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/123/Palin-Unqualified">link</a></li><li><a
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id="comment-122"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-122">Just because she could, does not mean she should.</a></div><div> Submitted by Bjshazam (not verified) on Sun, 10/05/2008 &#8211; 22:34.</div><div><p>Does  it not trouble anyone who has been posting here that we have reached  this point at all? I&#8217;ve been writing draft after draft of posts here,  trying to find the right balance that won&#8217;t come across as too  ideological, or that won&#8217;t be automatically dismissed by the true  sycophants because it contains some Left or Right code word that  justifies their turning off of the brain. Can&#8217;t do it. She&#8217;s too  dangerous, and it angers me so much that we as a country have been put  in the position of having to opine about the staggering impropriety of  her selection as McCain&#8217;s running mate.</p><p>Consider:</p><p>My brother is a great guy. Smart as a whip, with what I think is  decent judgment (except for his love of the Yankees). I trust him  implicitly. So, should I be in a position to name him to, say, the  Supreme Court, I would expect no questions from anyone about his  qualifications. According to the Constitution, he is legally qualified  to be a Justice, even the Chief Justice. I already told you he is smart  and has good judgment. What else do you need to know? How dare you  question my choice or his desire to serve?</p><p>The President of the United States has a mind bogglingly huge amount  of discretion in executing the job. The president can, without  obstruction by court or Congress, lay waste to our financial system,  impede entirely the execution of justice, or unleash Armageddon. The  office of the president can disband virtually unilaterally the entirety  of the intelligence gathering power of the U.S., or focus it all on the  least secure among us &#8212; with no recourse by anyone.</p><p>Most of the time, this isn&#8217;t an issue. Regardless of your political  persuasion, we have been blessed mostly with chief executives that took  the burdens of job dead seriously. A president of the entire country,  not just those who cast the votes.</p><p>Now the bar has been set so low that we cannot figure out the right  words to describe how wrong it is for a candidate to relish the fact  that she really doesn&#8217;t understand the job the Constitution has laid  out. That this is somehow an asset to a campaign makes me ashamed for  my country.</p><p>That John McCain affirmatively foisted this train wreck upon his own  party, and possibly upon the country, is a sin for which he should  never be forgiven.</p><p>That she is considered by some to be the next face of the GOP, and a  real contender for the nomination next time around, should make my GOP  colleagues shudder and the nation weep.</p><p>I don&#8217;t want a hockey mom or joe six-pack running the country. Hell,  I don&#8217;t want anyone like me running the country. I want a president.  And she is not it.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/122">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/122/Just-because-she-could-does-not-mean-she-should">link</a></li><li><a
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id="comment-121"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-121">make that Palin UNQUALIFIED PERIOD</a></div><div> Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 10/05/2008 &#8211; 22:25.</div><div><p>Darn, brain outrunning my fingers.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/121">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/121/make-Palin-UNQUALIFIED-PERIOD">link</a></li><li><a
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id="comment-120"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-120">Palin qualified period</a></div><div> Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 10/05/2008 &#8211; 22:22.</div><div><p>And  the mental midgets who are using that as a ruse to comment on Obama  miss the entire point. Biden IS qualified to fill in shoudl something  happen to Obama (go to smoking gun to see why that IS an issue).</p><p>Palin is a bimbo and if you do not think so, Palin supporters, then  take this simple acid test: were it Obama who made those brain dead  comments instead of Palin, what would you be saying about him? Gotcha!</p><p>jim</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/120">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/120/Palin-qualified-period">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-119"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-119">Palin Not Qualified</a></div><div> Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 10/05/2008 &#8211; 22:01.</div><div><p>Anyone  that believes that Sarah Palin is qualified to be President is kidding  themselves. It has nothing to do with the fact that she is a woman. The  fact that she is SO unqualified is what made her pick an insult to  every hard-working, intelligent woman out there. She was picked for her  good looks and her folksy charm. There were MANY more qualified women  in the ranks of the Republican party that could have been chosen.<br
/> Palin attended five different colleges before she was finally able to  stick out a degree program. She majored in journalism and  communications and couldn&#8217;t name ONE newspaper or magazine that she  reads on a regular basis. She minored in political science and doesn&#8217;t  know what the Vice President&#8217;s role and duties are in our government.  She has abused her power in every political post she has been elected  to, has lied about her record both as mayor and governor and her short  political career has been marked by scandal. She says that she fought  the energy interests in Alaska, but her campaigns have all been heavily  funded by energy companies.<br
/> In short, she&#8217;s not smart, she&#8217;s lacks integrity, she has gotten most  of what she has attained on her looks and charm and these things don&#8217;t  add up to someone who is qualified for Vice President, nevermind the  Presidency. If you want her to be your leader, move to Alaska. This  country and the world cannot afford another incompetent leader at the  helm. One more bumbling idiot at the helm will spell doom for the  future of all of the citizens of this country.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/119">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/119/Palin-Not-Qualified">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-118"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-118">qualifications.</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://crazypolitics.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Crazy Politico</a> (not verified) on Sun, 10/05/2008 &#8211; 20:10.</div><div><p>If Gov. Palin isn&#8217;t qualified to &#8220;POSSIBLY&#8221; become president, then what of Barack Obama?</p><p>What exactly is his qualification for the job? A couple of  non-descript years in the Senate with no major legislation to show for  that time? A history of voting &#8220;Here&#8221; on controversial issues so as to  keep a rather neutral record when running for the next higher office?</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/118">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/118/qualifications">link</a></li><li><a
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id="comment-117"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-117">Re: If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah Pal</a></div><div> Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 10/05/2008 &#8211; 14:49.</div><div><p>Does  she have enough political experience for the position of president? I  would say not&#8230;.. but then again, there&#8217;s nothing like a long run of a  president that can&#8217;t even string a sentence together in English to  remind you that you don&#8217;t really need much skill for the job. It&#8217;s  whose behind the president that counts no?</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/117">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/117/Re-If-John-McCain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-Sarah-Pal">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-116"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-116">Is Palin Qualified to be President?</a></div><div> Submitted by Thoughtful_Independent (not verified) on Sun, 10/05/2008 &#8211; 11:49.</div><div><p>I&#8217;m  a registered independent. I was waiting for the VP picks to be made  before making my mind up. VP&#8217;s Gore and Cheney have both illustrated  the growing importance of the VP position in the Executive Branch. The  magnitude of the nations and worlds problems highlight the fact that  the top two elected officials in the US need to have a wide range of  capabilities., strong intellect, and global perspective. At minimum,  the President needs a knowledgeable confidant and advisor he/she can  trust.</p><p>For all of her folksy charm, Governor Palin displays very little of  these qualities or qualifications. If you take the time to investigate  the educational and professional accomplishments of our sitting VP&#8217;s  over the past 50 years, even the most biased observer would conclude  that Governor Palin would be the least educated and least experienced.  If you don&#8217;t have the time to look at all of them, just compare her  against Dan Quayle who was arguably the weakest of the sitting VP&#8217;s.  Quayle&#8217;s accomplishments at the time he was selected as Bush&#8217;s running  mate dwarf Palin&#8217;s.</p><p>Upon inspection, the rabid and exaggerated claims about her energy  expertise and executive experience vaporize (the claims of foreign  policy experience are not even a valid topic). Living in an oil rich  state, shuffling petrodollars from the oil companies to the citizens in  the form of dividends, &#8220;negotiating&#8221; potential terms of a yet unplanned  and unfunded natural gas pipeline, and a college degree in journalism  do not qualify one as an energy expert.</p><p>Furthermore, the role of Governor of Alaska is diminished in  complexity compared to the Governors of the lower 48 due to factors  such as: 1) very small population (the whole state has a population  smaller than typical medium sized US cities), 2) the largest Alaskan  cities are smaller than many small ciities or large towns in the lower  48 (Anchorage = ~280K, Fairbanks = ~35K, Juneau = ~35K), 3) low  industrial output (Alaska is ranked near the bottom compared to the  other 50 states), and 4) a budget which is majority funded by revenues  from oil and gas companies. The hardest problem of the Alaskan governor  appears to be deciding how much money to send from the Permanent Fund  to the citizens versus how much to stash away for a future time when  oil revenues begin declining.</p><p>I find the argument that Palin has more &#8220;executive experience&#8221; than  McCain, Obama or Biden to be disingenuous. If executive experience is  really so important, Mitt Romney should be the Republican candidate for  President or, at minimum, the VP candidate. While I was not a huge fan  of Mr. Romney, his skillset is so superior to Palin&#8217;s that comparisons  are impossible. The same can be said with respect to experience in  matters of the economy. Ironically, Mr. Romney&#8217;s biggest shortcoming  appeared to be that he was a Washington outsider. Now being from our  most remote state is a strength for Palin?</p><p>My perspective is that the most successful Presidents of the last 50  years (for arguments sake Eisenhower, Reagan and Clinton) were able to  balance their core idealogical positions with advocacy for programs and  policies that improved the situation for the majority of US citizens  and improved our stature in the global community. Each of these  Presidents had well educated and highly skilled running mates. As an  Independent who holds a blend of conservative and liberal positions,  this mix is what I am weighing the most. My assessment is that  Obama/Biden have a better overall leadership/intelligence/world view  profile than McCain/Palin. McCain could have selected a male or female  running mate who would have tilted my assessment in his favor.  Unfortunately, for reasons only he and his advisors can comprehend, he  went with a female ideologue with weak academic, intellectual and  professional skills.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/116">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/116/Palin-Qualified-be-President">link</a></li><li><a
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id="comment-115"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-115">Re: If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah Pal</a></div><div> Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 10/05/2008 &#8211; 06:15.</div><div><p>@  CanIGet2NewZealand</p><p>What does it take to satisfy people like you?<br
/> or&#8230; is this a display of jealousy ? Ms Palin does make a rather  impressive appearance on a simple &#8216;ride in from the Wilds of Alaska&#8217;.<br
/> Instead of complimenting a person on a job well done you prefer to show the &#8220;cat fight&#8221; attitude.<br
/> What has Obama more than Palin?</p><p>If Obama had been a white boy from Illinois, would he have received  the nomination of the Dem Party? If your answer is NO _ then you must  vote for Palin for she rode in on her own merits not on her skin color!</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/115">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/115/Re-If-John-McCain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-Sarah-Pal">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-114"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-114">Re: If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah Pal</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://questionitnow.com/educationb" rel="nofollow">REB 84</a> (not verified) on Sun, 10/05/2008 &#8211; 00:35.</div><div><p>Would John McCain be a competent president?  This is a question you should be asking.<br
/> <a
href="http://questionitnow.com/educationb/2008/09/which-is-real-mccain.html"> QuestionItNow &#8211; Will America lead?</a></p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/114">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/114/Re-If-John-McCain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-Sarah-Pal">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-113"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-113">Re: If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah Pal</a></div><div> Submitted by CanIGet2NewZealand (not verified) on Sat, 10/04/2008 &#8211; 19:28.</div><div><p>Palin has been governor of a state with the population of Poughkeepsie, New York .</p><p>The State of Alaska, despite its conservative appearance has been  giving out money to its citizens from its oil dividens (Alaska  Permanent Fund) (<a
href="http://www.newamerica.net/publications/articles/2003/sharing_alaska_style" title="http://www.newamerica.net/publications/articles/2003/sharing_alaska_style">http://www.newamerica.net/publications/articles/2003/sharing_alaska_style</a>)  since the 1970&#8242;s. The money Palin boasts about giving her citizens is  money of this sort, the citizens of Alaska have been receiving these  payments for almost 40 years. How can she use these payments as part of  a discussion of her fiscal capabilities as Governor?</p><p>Governor Palin impresses me as being a cross between a Barbie Doll  and that really annoying head cheerleader that the intelligent girls  all could not stand in highschool.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/113">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/113/Re-If-John-McCain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-Sarah-Pal">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-112"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-112">Palin was a mistake for McCain in the 1st Place</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://www.ireport.com/people/FranklinB?view=documents&#038;viewingAsOthers=true" rel="nofollow">FranklinB</a> (not verified) on Sat, 10/04/2008 &#8211; 16:52.</div><div><p>I  have been publishing my thoughts on this matter for awhile now  regarding the selection of Sarah Palin for VP. I gave my views on her  initial selection here:</p><p>Did John McCain have good judgement?<br
/> <a
href="http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-72657" title="http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-72657">http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-72657</a></p><p>Sarah Palin is not my Vice President<br
/> <a
href="http://digitalseller.tblog.com/post/1970016179" title="http://digitalseller.tblog.com/post/1970016179">http://digitalseller.tblog.com/post/1970016179</a></p><p>Sarah Palin is just another pretty face<br
/> <a
href="http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-86323" title="http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-86323">http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-86323</a></p><p>McCain will have to pick a new VP<br
/> <a
href="http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-94699" title="http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-94699">http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-94699</a></p><p>VP Debate was great, for Biden and Obama<br
/> <a
href="http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-102625" title="http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-102625">http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-102625</a></p><p>Overall I agree that McCain is kind of a maverick, but also he is a  big gambler. Instead of picking one of the most qualified in the arena,  he went outside to a relatively unknown woman who he knew could  energize the base. That has happened, but with such obvious liabilities  that only a pure conservative will think she is qualified, because pure  conservatives don&#8217;t care who is in that position as long as that person  is republican, conservative and can walk &#038; talk. Hannity has said  publicly that he believes she would be qualified to fill the top job,  and so did Limbaugh as well. I got yelled at the other day by one of my  very oldest and best friends who couldn&#8217;t believe I didn&#8217;t think she  was for real. That was before the Couric interview. Now after the  debate I know I have made the right choice with Obama and Biden. The  financial collapse is bad enough, but if there was a President Palin  someday, it could be an even worse disaster for our country.</p><p>Obama and Biden are consistant in their positions on the Iraq war  and other matters regarding the need to help the middle class. I  believe McCain has no interest in the working class folks in this  country, and even if Palin does have that interest, she is not  knowledgeable enough to make any difference. JMHO</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/112">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/112/Palin-was-mistake-McCain-1st-Place">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-111"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-111">You&#8217;re Kidding, right?</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://onthebloc.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Shelly Roberts</a> (not verified) on Sat, 10/04/2008 &#8211; 14:04.</div><div><p>Sarah  Pallin is an embarrassment to the Republican Party, who may well be  qualified to run for PTA vice president, but hardly for the  heart-beat-away position of Vice President of the United States.</p><p>In the debate with Sen. Bieden Palin spoke repeatedly an d stiltedly  from obviousy drilled-in talking points rather than from any  appropriate knowledge. With a wooden, albeit cheerful presentation  worthy of earning her the title of Best Stepford Candidate.</p><p>Palin&#8217;s presentation was a constant one-note, praise-singing  golly/gee campaign advertiisement for John McCain, and did litttle if  anything to present any viable credentials as a candidate for the high  office into which she has been so thoughtlessly thrust.</p><p>I&#8217;d pity her for the position for which she has been recruited if  the holder of that position didn&#8217;t stand such a strong chance of  becoming the leader of the free world with a 79 year old unhealthy  running mate &#8211;shudder&#8211; a horrifying thought.</p><p>It shouldn&#8217;t be enough merely that she didn&#8217;t panic, screw up or cry  to qualify her as even a contender in the so-called debate. I have some  issues with Mr. Bidden as well, but at least he came across as someone  who has done more than simply look west and north in the direction of  the former Soviet Union, and self-pronounce a competency in foreign  affairs. That&#8217;s way too much like watching Animal Planet and  proclaiming veterinary competence with elephants.</p><p>Did Sarah win the debate?  She wasn&#8217;t ever even qualified to enter the race.</p><p>Is she qualified to be President regardless of the state of John McCain&#8217;s health?  You&#8217;re kidding, right?!</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/111">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/111/Youre-Kidding-right">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-110"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-110">Dummy be gone! THINK!</a></div><div> Submitted by Skillet Marimba (not verified) on Sat, 10/04/2008 &#8211; 11:27.</div><div><p>The G.O.P. targets DUMMYS but DUMMYS are finally starting to wake up. Dummy be gone.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/110">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/110/Dummy-be-gone-THINK">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-108"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-108">If McCain Died, Is Sarah Palin Qualified To Lead This Nation?</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://legalconsulting.wordpress.com/2008/08/30/obama-biden-a-winning-ticketbut-obama-clinton-a-landslide-victory/" rel="nofollow">Patrick Pearce</a> (not verified) on Sat, 10/04/2008 &#8211; 09:33.</div><div><p>Let  me first establish that I am not hopping on any band waggon here to  vilify or demonize Sarah Palin because she is a woman. My argument is  limited to choice. Based on both Vice Presidential Candidates, Sarah  Palin and Joe Biden of the Republican and Democratic Party  respectively, should one of these men (Whether Obama or McCain) died or  become incapacitated as President of the United States, and  constitutionally the Vice President is next in line to assume the  presidency, I unequivocally would trust the experience of Joe Biden to  lead this great Nation over Sarah Palin. I am sure I share the same  views as most sensible Americans. I used to hear that John McCain was a  stubborn man, I am now convinced. There are so many more experience and  viable Republicans out there to be VP, why did he chose Sarah Palin? If  only some of these potentially great men would listen to somebody  instead of arrogating to themselves because of ego, they would be such  great leaders. Obama-Biden victory in November, hands down! See my  recent post at: <a
href="http://legalconsulting.wordpress.com/2008/08/30/obama-biden-a-winning-ticketbut-obama-clinton-a-landslide-victory/" title="http://legalconsulting.wordpress.com/2008/08/30/obama-biden-a-winning-ticketbut-obama-clinton-a-landslide-victory/">http://legalconsulting.wordpress.com/2008/08/30/obama-biden-a-winning-ti&#8230;</a></p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/108">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/108/If-McCain-Died-Sarah-Palin-Qualified-Lead-Nation">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-107"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-107">Palin Better than Most</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://thescoundrel.wordpress.com" rel="nofollow">thescoundrel</a> (not verified) on Sat, 10/04/2008 &#8211; 09:21.</div><div><p>I  tend to disbelieve anything that comes out of any politicians mouth.  Politicians are liars&#038; cheats. While they are kissing your baby  they are picking your pocket at the same time. The President&#8217;s Job is  limited. The Congress is where most of the power in this country lies.  They make legislation, they pass legislation and even if the President  vetoes that legislation, they have the power to override it. A relative  rookie politician, Palin, actually has more executive experience than  McCain, Biden or Obama. Now that is scary since she is merely a VP  nominee. I would vote for her over Obama or Biden. She has a limited  track track record of what Obama/Biden pretends to have without any  track record to prove their claims: Palin has shown the grit to fight  her own party as governor of Alaska. Obama has shown me nothing for the  time he was in my state of Illinois government or once he was elected  Senator. He was no more than a puppet to Emile Jones that is the strong  arm thug of DEmocrat Gov. Governor Blagodabitch, the soon to be cell  mate of ex Republican Gov. George Ryan. So yeah I would trust Palin  much further than I would Obama leading this nation. Obama only  understands Chicago and Springfield style corruption which he was a  part of.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/107">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/107/Palin-Better-Most">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-106"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-106">If John McCain died&#8230;</a></div><div> Submitted by Pat Baker (not verified) on Sat, 10/04/2008 &#8211; 08:21.</div><div><p>To Anonymous:<br
/> I have been hollering &#8220;Double Standard&#8221; all summer&#8221;. You hit the nail  on the spot. When Obama was trained by the late great Saul Alinsky  &#038; his staff to learn how to be a better community activist, take  surveys, housing problems, school problems in the poor Chicago  districts, Palin sneered at the his outcomings, stating all those  programs arenow defunct. Her ignorance is bliss. Reason: Viet Nam war,  &#038; the 60&#8242;s riots cost us plenty At least Obama was vetted. Some  pundits t laughed him. I too, was trained by Alinsky, this great Jewish  community consultant for the poor back in the late 60&#8242;s. If Palin was  crossed examined by a Judge/Atty she would simply say I will only  answer the questions I wish to reply to. My people call it &#8220;double  standard&#8221;. Thanks, Anonymous for reminding me that I don&#8217;t need on the  job training vp by McCain/Palin ticket.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/106">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/106/If-John-McCain-died">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-104"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-104">my vote</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://www.squidoo.com/leanandripped" rel="nofollow">joe</a> (not verified) on Sat, 10/04/2008 &#8211; 07:35.</div><div><p>Ihave  no faith or trust in any politition, democrat or republican, they all  end up shafting the middle class in the end,She will be no better or  worse than the rest of the lot.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/104">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/104/my-vote">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-103"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-103">This Election is More Irritating than Usual</a></div><div> Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 10/04/2008 &#8211; 07:26.</div><div><p>Why  do people feel someone who has been a Senator for 2 years is more  qualified to be President than in the unlikely event McCain has to be  replaced by Govenor Palin??? The other thing that keeps being over  looked is Nancy Pelosi has been two heartbeats away from President??  She is qualified?? Unfortunately, people are being too influenced by  the media and not doing there own research. Quit using the medias  opinions and form your own. Do some real research. Somethinf fun to do  is go to <a
href="http://abcnews.go.com/politics" title="http://abcnews.go.com/politics">http://abcnews.go.com/politics</a> scroll down to the Match-o-Matic II  game.  It is ver interesting.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/103">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/103/Election-More-Irritating-Usual">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-102"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-102">Does Being Governor Make Governor Palin Qalified?</a></div><div> Submitted by artbcpa (not verified) on Sat, 10/04/2008 &#8211; 01:54.</div><div><p>In  &#8220;Third Out of Four&#8221; the commentator points out that Clinton and Reagan  were both Governors before becoming President. We shouldn&#8217;t forget that  Jimmy Carter was also a Governor before becoming the most incompetent  president in the history of the United Staetes. He also may have been  among the academically brightest of all recent Presidents. What does  all that tell us?. &#8230;NOTHING.</p><p>Whether Sarah Palin was a Governor or Barack Obama was at the top of  his academic class does not ensure that either will or will not do a  good job in their respective positions.</p><p>We need to make our decision based on factors more likely to lead to  a successful Presidency. After eight years of the most secretive,  nontransparent Presidency in history, we need someone who will instill  trust in the institution of the Presidency and restore confidence in  the people of the country.</p><p>We had several such Presidents in the prior century &#8211; Franklin  Roosevelt, John Kennedy, and Ronald Reagan. Each had a vision for the  country which was clearly articulated and embraced by the people. In a  choice between the idealistic Barack Obama and the wily curmudgeon,  John McCain, Barack Obama is clearly the choice of what this country  needs at this time in history.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/102">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/102/Does-Being-Governor-Make-Governor-Palin-Qalified">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-101"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-101">Palin is not our woman.</a></div><div> Submitted by Pam (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 23:59.</div><div><p>I  know that I do not want Palin. I know that I don’t want her anywhere  near our foreign policy. I know that I don’t like what she said in the  debate about ‘expanding’ the role of vice president. I know that I  don’t like her far right, religious views that can impact the world in  a bunch of ways that I don’t like.</p><p>There are other things I don’t like about her, though, I can’t say I  am completely sure about my reasoning. I don’t like her winks and her  nods. I don’t like how she talks to us like children.</p><p>I question my own opinion about these things, as I am not sure if I  know what I want or expect in a female politician. It’s a very  important thing. This first woman. This example of all of us. This  person in whom I place so much of my future and that of my daughters.  Hmmm, too much pressure?!?</p><p>Do I want her to be more of a man than any of the men at the table?  Competing in the same way as men, but climbing the ladder in stilettos?  Or do I want her to be the nurturing female that gets things done  without men being any the wiser? With charm and feminine wiles that  could will men to do what they might not have done, otherwise?</p><p>I thought, when considering Hillary, that I didn’t want a woman  President who had a husband that is a former President. My sister then  pointed out that we might not consider too many women that did not have  such a sense of the White House.</p><p>It’s difficult. These women, up for consideration, don’t have  military backgrounds. Yet, she would be responsible for ‘pushing the  button’ and/or ending a war.</p><p>I guess, even if I did not have a problem with her foreign presence,  her religious intent or her understanding of the role she was about to  take on, I would still have an issue to deal with.</p><p>So, I don’t like Sarah, but, who do I like?  And, the bigger question for me, why?</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/101">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/101/Palin-not-our-woman">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-100"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-100">Re: Poll</a></div><div> Submitted by FD (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 23:24.</div><div><p>To King of Chatalot: I&#8217;m an independant, but I voted once and the poll will not allow me to vote again.<br
/> The only way someone could vote twice is through a proxy, but I tested that idea fater reading your comment.<br
/> It didn&#8217;t work.<br
/> I tried several different proxies, I reset my ip, and nope, it would not allow me to vote again.</p><p>Take off the tin foil hat.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/100">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/100/Re-Poll">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-99"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-99">Poll</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://www.chatalot.net" rel="nofollow">King of Chatalot</a> (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 22:11.</div><div><p>I  find it amazing that Democrats would stoop so low as to make multiple  votes in this silly poll just to bend the outcome towards their way of  thinking&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;..so to make it appear as if they are the  winners&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.</p><p>&#8230;but then&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;considering that they will ultimately lose in November I&#8217;m not totally surprised&#8230;&#8230;..</p><p>&#8230;..merely amazed&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/99">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/99/Poll">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-98"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-98">Palin&#8217;s hand on the &#8220;Nukular&#8221; button? </a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://mediaconcepts.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Media Concepts</a> (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 21:39.</div><div><p>I  can&#8217;t decide whether that&#8217;s hilarious, or horrifyingly frightening. I  think it&#8217;s both. Based on McCain&#8217;s age alone, historian Doris Kearns  Goodwin says that there&#8217;s almost a one in three chance that McCain  would die in office were he to be elected. Factor in his FOUR bouts of  Melanoma, which is often fatal regardless of the victim&#8217;s age, and  those odds increase markedly.</p><p>Something to think about.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/98">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/98/Palins-hand-Nukular-button">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-97"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-97">It&#8217;s about leadership</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://politicalvindication.com" rel="nofollow">Shane from PV</a> (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 20:30.</div><div><p>The  presidency is about leadership, and if we can survive eight years being  led by an Arkansas governor who would rather molest the hired help than  pay attention to what Osama Bin Laden is doing, then America will do  just fine with a President Sarah Palin. She certainly has more  leadership experience than her opponents. Does that mean I would have  made her my choice for VP? I would have loved to see Mitt Romney as VP,  but she&#8217;s smart, focused, and knows how to lead. The important  question, if she should ever end up in the Oval Office, would be who  she surrounds herself with. That&#8217;s another reason why Obama would be  very scary as president. He has terrible judgment, and considering the  people he has surrounded himself with throughout his life, and the fact  that as president he will have to decide what advice to act on when it  comes to important issues &#8211; I don&#8217;t trust him to be able to distinguish  from among a bevy of poor advisers the advice least damaging.</p><p>Obama supporters, like so many on this comment board, have no idea  who Obama really is &#8211; frankly, no one does. Obama has locked up his  records, is protected by a compliant press, and says only what he  thinks Americans want to hear. He&#8217;s a charlatan, but his supporters  don&#8217;t care. <em>That&#8217;s why this question is so ironic.</em> They hate  Bush/Republicans/conservatives more than they fear the inexperience of  their presidential candidate and manchild Barack Obama. The derangement  of the left has led them to support and oppose issues not because they  want to protect their country or improve the lives of Americans, but  because they hate their adversaries and will do or say anything to beat  them (the &#8220;this war is lost&#8221; quote by Harry Reid comes to mind &#8211; how  incredibly telling). I think this frothing derangement will cause them  to self-destruct again as they did in 2000 and 2004, where Americans  got a good look at the mindless bitterness and spite that inspires the  left. McCain will win in a squeaker.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/97">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/97/Its-about-leadership">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-96"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-96">Palin is more qualified than most&#8230;</a></div><div> Submitted by Greg (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 20:24.</div><div><p>I&#8217;m  not a big political kind of guy nor do I follow many campaigns. I voted  for a democrat and a republican for president; the best person for the  job always gets my vote. But this is the first time in a long time that  I&#8217;ve seen an honest person make it this far in politics. Usually they  get creamed by the media &#8211; Palin is still holding her own. What you see  is what you get &#8211; nice change of pace especially since I&#8217;m originally  from Delaware. No doubt this isn&#8217;t true for Biden &#8211; he&#8217;s all over the  place telling you whatever it is you want to hear whenever you want to  hear it.. I don&#8217;t dislike Biden and yes, he is qualified to continue  the same old Washington politics; not what I&#8217;m looking for this year at  least.</p><p>I&#8217;m still wondering why Obama thinks Biden represents change? Not even close.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/96">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/96/Palin-more-qualified-most">link</a></li><li><a
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id="comment-95"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-95">Sarah Palin&#8217;s much sharper than Obama or Biden</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://www.morethings.com" rel="nofollow">Al Barger</a> (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 20:08.</div><div><p>Not  to put too fine a point on it, Sarah Palin&#8217;s the sharpest person of the  four here. People I think get that when they get a good look at her as  in her famous nomination speech or last night&#8217;s vice presidential  debate.</p><p>Of course, this ain&#8217;t from lack of media attempts to Quayle-ize her.  Look at the double, triple, quadruple standards. It&#8217;s supposedly some  proof that she&#8217;s a moron that she didn&#8217;t choose to spit up a list of  newspapers she reads for Katie Couric.</p><p>But Joe Biden says the most ignorant nonsense day after day, and it  doesn&#8217;t make the news. When the current financial meltdown started a  few weeks ago, Biden was out criticizing Bush reaction. See, when the  1929 market crash happened, FDR when on television to show people that  he was involved and doing something. FDR wasn&#8217;t president, and there  was no television then. This nonsense didn&#8217;t make the news. Imagine if  Palin said something that stupid.<br
/> =====================================<br
/> Little known Palin fact:<br
/> FACT: Having run out of ammunition during a hunting trip, Sarah Palin  once took down a moose using a beauty pageant tiara as a boomerang.</p><p>More Palin fun facts I just made up, and a couple hundred pictures of our girl<br
/> <a
href="http://www.morethings.com/images/sarah_palin/sarah_palin-photo_gallery001.htm" title="http://www.morethings.com/images/sarah_palin/sarah_palin-photo_gallery001.htm">http://www.morethings.com/images/sarah_palin/sarah_palin-photo_gallery00&#8230;</a></p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/95">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/95/Sarah-Palins-much-sharper-Obama-or-Biden">link</a></li><li><a
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id="comment-94"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-94">Re: If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah Pal</a></div><div> Submitted by Robert (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 20:00.</div><div><p>Joe Biden, VP  (Vice and Plagiarist)</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/94">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/94/Re-If-John-McCain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-Sarah-Pal">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-93">Re: If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah Pal</a></div><div> Submitted by Ethel W (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 19:50.</div><div><p>Obama has done much good thru working for ACORN.  Remember, from tiny acorns, might oak trees grow.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/93">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/93/Re-If-John-McCain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-Sarah-Pal">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-92"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-92">Barack&#8217;s leadership skills in government?</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://playborhood.com" rel="nofollow">Mike Lanza</a> (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 19:43.</div><div><p>Please folks &#8211; give us an example.  And please, make it a good one.</p><p>If this were an election for Student Body President, I might vote  for the dude, but he&#8217;s applying to be the Leader of the United States  of America. Is there anything in his governmental experience that  indicates that he can be a great leader? Anything?</p><p>This ain&#8217;t no popularity contest&#8230;</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/92">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/92/Baracks-leadership-skills-government">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-91"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-91">Palin as Prez? No Way</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://janetleejohnson.com" rel="nofollow">Janet Johnson</a> (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 19:41.</div><div><p>I&#8217;m  tired of Sarah Palin. I&#8217;m tired of kicking her around, of waiting for  her to have a public brain freeze, of hearing her droppin&#8217; g&#8217;s and  bringing nuc-u-lur back into the lexicon (I hope we&#8217;re almost finished  with that coming out of the White House).</p><p>At the same time, I&#8217;m proud that she&#8217;s the second legitimate woman  who&#8217;s a running mate on a presidential ticket, the first to &#8220;electrify&#8221;  a country. I&#8217;m mortified as I write that, but I&#8217;m proud of that big ol&#8217;  crack in the glass ceilin&#8217; she&#8217;s added to Hilary&#8217;s 18 million others.  (sigh)</p><p>As most of your poll-takers agree, no way is she qualified to be president. God help us all if she&#8217;s a heartbeat away.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/91">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/91/Palin-Prez-No-Way">link</a></li><li><a
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id="comment-90"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-90">Re: If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah Pal</a></div><div> Submitted by Stevie (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 19:35.</div><div><p>Do  I feel that a citizen of this country who has not kept abreast of the  foreign policy situations, and the current administration doctrines is  qualified to step in as head of state in an emergency? No&#8230;.<br
/> Do I feel that someone who will terminate people who disagree with her is worthy to be in the White House? No&#8230;&#8230;.<br
/> Do I feel that someone who feels that because she is a woman she should  be treated with deference in a television interview should be leading a  country? No&#8230;..<br
/> Does a cram session with various political pundits counteract her  inacurate knowledge of what life is like for the rest of us in the  lower 48? No&#8230;&#8230;<br
/> Does this woman have the ability to gain respect of various world  leaders particularly those from countries where women are considered to  be less than equal? no.<br
/> what we really need is a Margaret Thatcher type.. the closest we have is Hilary Clinton.<br
/> Anita Palin is no Hilary Clinton<br
/> And being a POW and being in the Vietnam War does not make you the  right person to be president either. There are plenty of Vietnam Vets  and others who were POW&#8217;s .. and they aren&#8217;t running for President&#8211;  though John Kerry did.. and he wasn&#8217;t a POW.. he served his country.  Don&#8217;t bank on that one being the ACE..</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/90">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/90/Re-If-John-McCain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-Sarah-Pal">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-89"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-89">Re: If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah Pal</a></div><div> Submitted by Ken S (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 19:29.</div><div><p>Or maybe Obama would want his friend Tony Rezko to advise him on ethics in government.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/89">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/89/Re-If-John-McCain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-Sarah-Pal">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-88"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-88">Re: If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah Pal</a></div><div> Submitted by Ken S (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 19:28.</div><div><p>Or maybe Obama would like William Ayers for his Secretary of Defense, since he knows how to blow things up.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/88">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/88/Re-If-John-McCain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-Sarah-Pal">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-87"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-87">Re: If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah Pal</a></div><div> Submitted by Ken S (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 19:25.</div><div><p>Maybe  Obama can install Rev. Wright as Secretary of State. All the other  nations of the world will love his philosophy: God damn America!</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/87">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/87/Re-If-John-McCain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-Sarah-Pal">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-86"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-86">Re: amazing 75% believe Palin cant be President</a></div><div> Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 19:23.</div><div><p>I  think where the logic breaks down is that you&#8217;re assuming all  Governor&#8217;s are created equally. An American Governor&#8217;s principal job is  running the state, and to be honest, I&#8217;m not sure how good a governor  she is, but thats for the people of Alaska to decide. But as an  American, I feel that she&#8217;s dangerously ignorant of world affairs and  issues around a global economy.</p><p>And frankly, I think we&#8217;ve had enough of that already.</p><p>On the other hand, Obama and Biden are far more savvy. If you  watched the debate, you&#8217;ll have noticed how rarely Palin answers a  direct question. She&#8217;s not dumb, but she&#8217;s not worldly either. And  worse, she revels in her inexperience.</p><p>If she ever gets into the Presidential office, you might just wish  for the good ol days when GW was in charge. And if that doesn&#8217;t scare  you, it should.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/86">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/86/Re-amazing-75-believe-Palin-cant-be-President">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-85"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-85">Re: If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah Pal</a></div><div> Submitted by Ken S (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 19:21.</div><div><p>Don&#8217;t you love it when a public relations man calls people degrading, hateful names?</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/85">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/85/Re-If-John-McCain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-Sarah-Pal">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-84"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-84">That is just dumb</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://www.dpkpr.com" rel="nofollow">Dan Keeney, APR</a> (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 19:16.</div><div><p>You  and your swill slinging dopes really should stop. Aside from Billy Bobs  missing teeth with Confederate Flags in their pickups, Americans  understand that Senator Obama is as American as you or I.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/84">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/84/just-dumb">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-83"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-83">Re: If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah Pal</a></div><div> Submitted by Ken S (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 19:15.</div><div><p>Someone  commented on here that we live in a Global society and therefore need  Obama. Folks, this world is getting so screwy and dangerous, that is  exactly why we do NOT need a post-modern green horn such as Obama as  POTUS. All the pie in the sky he professes is absolutely meaningless  without solid, tough, and REAL national security. Somehow, grandiose  social programs lose their luster when you have a nuclear missile up  your ass.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/83">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/83/Re-If-John-McCain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-Sarah-Pal">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-82"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-82">double standard</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://www.madeinhead.org" rel="nofollow">Jason Preston</a> (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 19:12.</div><div><p>Palin  took five tries and five years to get a journalism degree at  undistinguished schools, and managed to be an undistinguished student  at all four schools involved in her quest for a chance to be a TV  reporter. Obama was at the top of his class at every step of his  collegiate journey. When pressed three times to answer, Palin cannot  name a single existing newspaper or news magazine that she reads. If  you can&#8217;t see the difference here, perhaps you&#8217;re not an ideal student  or intellect either, but only through pride does a person lacking in a  certain virtue seek to exalt that lack. Just because I&#8217;m not tall  enough to slam dunk doesn&#8217;t mean I push for the NBA to hire more short  people! The Presidency&#8217;s the hardest job in the world, or one of them.  Stellar intellect, stellar ethics, and stellar success in life should  all be ironclad prerequisites to the job. If Palin is qualified to be  President, I am twice as qualified and will expect Palin fans&#8217; votes  when I make my run for high office.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/82">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/82/double-standard">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-81"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-81">Re: If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah Pal</a></div><div> Submitted by Cowboy X (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 19:10.</div><div><p>Who  is qualified to be the President? There is no class to take to become  certified. We have to put our trust in a person. I wish that person  were Ron Paul!</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/81">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/81/Re-If-John-McCain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-Sarah-Pal">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-80"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-80">amazing 75% believe Palin cant be President</a></div><div> Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 19:00.</div><div><p>So  75% believe Palin cant be president in case something happens to  McCain. So I guess its OK to be an inexperienced presidential  candidate, but if your a vice presidential candidate who has actually  run a state, you don&#8217;t qualify. The logic here escapes me completely.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/80">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/80/amazing-75-believe-Palin-cant-be-President">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-79"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-79">Sarah Palin: Unfiltered</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://www.petitiononline.com/CBSPALIN/petition.html" rel="nofollow">John Schuller</a> (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 18:50.</div><div><p>CLICK ON MY NAME TO SIGN THIS PETITION</p><p>To:  CBS News</p><p>Sarah Palin herself has requested to speak to America without the  Media Filter in the Vice Presidential debate. ?I like being able to  answer tough questions without the filter of the mainstream media  telling the American people what they just heard,? she said in her  closing.</p><p>The people of the United States of America deserve to see the CBS Katie Couric interviews with Sarah Palin in their entirety.</p><p>This should be acceptable by Republicans and Democrats as it will  let Sarah Palin talk to America without the filter created by editing  and leaving important information on the cutting room floor.</p><p>Let us see an edition of &#8220;Sarah Palin: Unfiltered&#8221;.</p><p>This will allow Americans to see the real Sarah Palin.</p><p>Sincerely,</p><p>The Undersigned</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/79">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/79/Sarah-Palin-Unfiltered">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-78"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-78">Seriously&#8230;</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://newyorkmomentsblog.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">newyorkmoments</a> (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 18:49.</div><div><p>regardless  of the VP candidates&#8230;are we really going to vote in a Hussein????  Seriously?? I&#8217;m saddened that I&#8217;m not going to be able to vote Democrat  this election.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/78">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/78/Seriously">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-77"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-77">Re: If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah Pal</a></div><div> Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 18:43.</div><div><p>I  sent John McCain a $1000 in September 2007&#8230;when his campaign was  flailing. I believed his voice needed to be in the debate. Until Sarah  Palin&#8217;s acceptance speech I did not send a penny to any other  candidate.</p><p>I was so outraged by the poor judgment demonstrated by McCain &#8212;  there were thousands, if not tens of thousands, of more capable,  competent men and women who could serve as his VP. I promptly sent a  large contribution to Obama. And with every solicitation letter I  receive from John McCain (they arrive daily), I write to ask for my  money back.</p><p>Whether &#8220;Joe six-pack&#8221; likes it or not&#8230;we live in a Global  Society, not an igloo nation. We already had Joe-six pack from  President for the last 8 years. Doesn&#8217;t any one remember &#8211; &#8220;George W.  Bush is the guy I want to have at my BBQ&#8221;???&#8230;Well &#8211; we got him&#8211; only  we got bbq&#8217;d.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/77">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/77/Re-If-John-McCain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-Sarah-Pal">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-76"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-76">Re: Would it be so much to ask&#8230;</a></div><div> Submitted by Eric (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 18:35.</div><div><p>Would it be so much to ask for a Presidential nominee who actually had some experience?</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/76">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/76/Re-Would-it-be-so-much-ask">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-75"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-75">Would it be so much to ask&#8230;</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://www.liesdamnedlies.com" rel="nofollow">Ian Thomas</a> (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 18:32.</div><div><p>&#8230;for a VP nominee who actually had some experience *before* she takes office?</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/75">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/75/Would-it-be-so-much-ask">link</a></li><li><a
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id="comment-74"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-74">Third out of four</a></div><div> Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 18:30.</div><div><p>Stack  rank all four candidates &#8212; Obama, Biden, McCain and Palin &#8212; in terms  of experience, and she comes out 3rd out of 4. Obama is last.</p><p>Stack rank all four candidates in terms of executive experience &#8212;  meaning, &#8216;has the candidate ever managed a budget before, had headcount  before, and had to make decisions as opposed to provide advice&#8217; &#8212; and  she incredibly comes out first amongst the four, as she&#8217;s been both  governor and mayor.</p><p>Being the governor of a state was good enough for Clinton, good enough for Romney, and good enough for Reagan.</p><p>Those who attack her experience must feel terrible that Obama is the  leading candidate for the Dem&#8217;s, given his extraordinarily thin resume.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/74">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/74/Third-out-four">link</a></li><li><a
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id="comment-73"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-73">If Barack Doesn&#8217;t Die, Is He Qualified?</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://playborhood.com" rel="nofollow">Mike Lanza</a> (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 18:29.</div><div><p>Be  honest, folks. In his career in *government*, not running a campaign,  has he ever demonstrated outstanding leadership or executive skills?  Sarah certainly has, but her experience may nonetheless be too light.</p><p>Barack Obama has the least leadership or executive skills of *any* of the major candidates for president or vice president.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/73">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/73/If-Barack-Doesnt-Die-He-Qualified">link</a></li><li><a
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id="comment-72"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-72">Not a fan, but c&#8217;mon</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://www.dpkpr.com" rel="nofollow">Dan Keeney, APR</a> (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 18:21.</div><div><p>I&#8217;m  not a Sarah fan, but she has a solid foundation &#8212; an ability to  connect with men and women, powerfully deliver her messages and ramp up  quickly on complex subjects. The actuaries estimate that there is a 75%  chance that Mr. McCain would survive a first term. Presumably, the  chances of him passing in the first YEAR would be very small. So the  real question would be &#8212; If Sarah Palin had at least a year as Vice  President under her belt, would she be competent to be President if  John McCain were to be incapacitated? I don&#8217;t have any doubt that she  would. I will not be voting for the GOP ticket, but the fear mongering  about Ms. Palin&#8217;s ability is baseless and perhaps sexist.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/72">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/72/Not-fan-cmon">link</a></li><li><a
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id="comment-71"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-71">To Pat Baker,  Actually, she</a></div><div> Submitted by The Sensible J. (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 18:01.</div><div><p>To Pat Baker,<br
/> Actually, she has NOT been governor for a few years. She has been a  governor since 2007, she won the election at the END of 2006. So, not  even 2 years yet.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/71">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/71/Pat-Baker-Actually-she">link</a></li><li><a
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id="comment-70"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-70">Re: If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah Pal</a></div><div> Submitted by The Sensible J. (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 17:58.</div><div><p>When  a lot of people say she was put in the VP nominee ticket because she  would shake things up for the Republican party, that&#8217;s scary. Why was  that the first and foremost reason why she was picked?!</p><p>We are not running a popularity contest here for god&#8217;s sake. We need  a leader, a WORLD LEADER that will get American back into the  respectful country it is amongst other nations in this world. Not a PTA  mom who claims she can juggle 5 kids when in fact her nanny, chef,  driver/pilot, gardener and 20 other staffers take care of the Mom role  for her. I&#8217;m all for the &#8220;women can do the same if not better job than  men&#8221; ideal, but come on, she isn&#8217;t even up to par on her events and  history. When you can only make punch points and be a talking head,  that is NOT a leader. She can&#8217;t even name ONE supreme court decision  other than Row vs. Wade. And being able to see Russia from Alaska does  not qualify as foreign experience. We do not need and DO NOT want an  average Joe or Jane to be our president or vice president.</p><p>It is scary when our (by that I mean the republicans) expectations have sunk so low.</p><p>And it&#8217;s even more scary when people are voting for republican  SIMPLY because she&#8217;s pro-life, even for those women who were victims of  rape or incest would NOT get a choice. That alone, to me, is hugely  undermining the equality so many women have worked so hard for so many  years.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/70">reply</a></li><li><a
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id="comment-69"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-69">Sarah Palin Qualified</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://cashflowtipsbydon.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Don S</a> (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 17:54.</div><div><p>Maybe  the most appropriate question is . . . if Barack Obama is elected  president, whether or not John McCain dies, is he qualified to lead the  country?</p><p>Being a governor is a proven road to the White House. Alaska is a  strategic state. Let&#8217;s see: Clinton was from Arkansas &#8212; even less  strategic, Carter from Georgia and Reagan from California . . . Bush  from Texas . . . oh, sure, I saw a post on the Huffington Post this  week that said &#8220;Bush is intellectually challenged.&#8221; Of course, there  was no evidence to support the claim.</p><p>Obama is currently more likely to become president than Sarah Palin  and that&#8217;s something that should concern all clear-thinking Americans.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/69">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/69/Sarah-Palin-Qualified">link</a></li><li><a
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id="comment-68"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-68">Re: If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah Pal</a></div><div> Submitted by Jerome Schindler (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 17:53.</div><div><p>How  could she possibly be any worse that what we have been subjected to  recently. I am sure Harry Truman&#8217;s skills woudl also have been panned.  McCain ought to be a good choice as nobody has been sure what party he  belongs to for many years.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/68">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/68/Re-If-John-McCain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-Sarah-Pal">link</a></li><li><a
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id="comment-67"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-67">Re: Re: If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah</a></div><div> Submitted by Bill Platt (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 17:45.</div><div><p>Deluded?  Although she has as much or more experience than Obama, you are willing  to suggest that my delusion is that she could not be President, but  Obama can be?</p><p>The only delusion is that Obama&#8217;s experience is greater than hers.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/67">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/67/Re-If-John-McCain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-Sarah">link</a></li><li><a
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id="comment-66"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-66">Re: If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah Pal</a></div><div> Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 17:31.</div><div><p>Palin is absolutely not qualified &#8211; anyone who thinks so is deluded.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/66">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/66/Re-If-John-McCain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-Sarah-Pal">link</a></li><li><a
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id="comment-65"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-65">Re: pailin would shove her heels up putin&#8217;s a&#8230;</a></div><div> Submitted by Chemosapien = Idiot (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 17:29.</div><div><p>The point was she won&#8217;t take no crap.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/65">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/65/Re-pailin-would-shove-her-heels-putins">link</a></li><li><a
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id="comment-64"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-64">Re: Re: If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah</a></div><div> Submitted by Chemosapien = Idiot (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 17:27.</div><div><p>Too bad they don&#8217;t have a minimum test for people to take in order to qualify for the job.</p><p>Then James they should do the same before becoming parents. Maybe  then we won&#8217;t have so many libetards. Bunch of whiners don&#8217;t know a  good thing when it slaps them upside the head.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/64">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/64/Re-If-John-McCain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-Sarah">link</a></li><li><a
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id="comment-63"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-63">Re: Re: Palin is a Disgrace Which Makes McCain a Fool</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://www.taipaninvestor.info/blog" rel="nofollow">Gerald</a> (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 17:26.</div><div><p>As  a Vietnam veteran I can assure you that sad fact by itself (yeah, we  lost a war we had no business being in) does not qualify anyone to be  President. While I respect McCain&#8217;s service to his country McCain  himself has admitted that he collaborated with the enemy and signed  documents condemning America&#8217;s.bombing of Hanoi as being war crimes.</p><p>As at the time we were carpet bombing a densely populated Hanoi with  low level B-52 bombing runs, the North Vietnamese perhaps had a point  that a stressed out and in terrible pain McCain decided to agree with.</p><p>Not that I blame him. Fortunately, my POW camp experience was  limited to a combat training exercise at Camp Lejeune, N.C. It was only  for a very long day but that was enough to make brave grown men trained  for combat by battle hardened US Marines cry out in pain. McCain&#8217;s  experience had to be horrible and I&#8217;m sure that the scars, mental and  physical, must still be with him.</p><p>However, I wasn&#8217;t referring to McCain other than his grandstanding  poor judgement in selecting Governor Palin as his running mate. Sarah  may be a swell gal, certainly her down home nature appeals to a lot of  down home people across America, but please, qualified to perhaps have  to step into the President&#8217;s role?</p><p>She is a little league player suddenly thrown into the major  leagues. I admire her spunk but fear her aggressive claim that she is  ready to serve when she can&#8217;t even handle soft ball interviews. Who  wants a President just like an average Joe? In case you haven&#8217;t noticed  there are very complicated problems that America faces that will  require outstanding leadership to solve.</p><p>I&#8217;m not a big Obama fan either but at least the man has first class  intelligence and a first class temperament. He doesn&#8217;t tend to shoot  from the hip or fire, ready, aim like old fighter pilots are apt to do.  Palin was a choice designed to fire up the Republican Party&#8217;s  conservative base and in that the move was successful. But at what risk  to the country if McCain and Palin are elected?</p><p>With the odds being about one in four that a 72 year old cancer  survivor would not make it another four years a President Palin is a  frightening possibility.</p><p>That&#8217;s putting country first? Please! Give me a break.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/63">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/63/Re-Palin-Disgrace-Which-Makes-McCain-Fool">link</a></li><li><a
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id="comment-62"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-62">ldaught2  AHEM ! ! !</a></div><div> Submitted by Chemosapien = Idiot (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 17:24.</div><div><p>ldaught2</p><p>AHEM ! ! !</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/62">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/62/ldaught2-AHEM">link</a></li><li><a
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id="comment-61"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-61">Re: Competent?</a></div><div> Submitted by ldaught2 (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 17:16.</div><div><p>//Until then, keep reading all the world&#8217;s magazines and Newspapers. They actually can teach you a lot.//</p><p>Are you kidding?? what can a bias newspaper and magazine teach??  (and that would be all of them)That is the most idiot statement I have  read!</p><p>To answer the question&#8230;Could Palin be President?&#8230;yes yes and  yes&#8230;.The other 3 on the ticket was in the senate and HELPED drive  America where we are today! I dont care if Palin comes from a goat  farm, she could do better than this stinkin government!!</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/61">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/61/Re-Competent">link</a></li><li><a
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id="comment-60"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-60">Re: If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah Pal</a></div><div> Submitted by Ken S (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 17:15.</div><div><p>Lady Coveted&#8230;.another woman that feels threatened by good looking successful women.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/60">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/60/Re-If-John-McCain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-Sarah-Pal">link</a></li><li><a
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id="comment-59"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-59">Re: If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah Pal</a></div><div> Submitted by Ken S (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 17:14.</div><div><p>James flew in from that alternate universe that Joe Biden lives in.   Maybe the Missouri Truth Squad can help him.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/59">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/59/Re-If-John-McCain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-Sarah-Pal">link</a></li><li><a
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id="comment-58"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-58">pailin would shove her heels up putin&#8217;s a&#8230;</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://the-coveted.com/blog" rel="nofollow">lady coveted</a> (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 17:14.</div><div><p>being as putin&#8217;s no longer president of russia.</p><p>dmitri medvedev succeeded putin back in march, she&#8217;s so out of touch she&#8217;d probably miss that point too.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/58">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/58/pailin-would-shove-her-heels-putins">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-57"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-57">Re: If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah Pal</a></div><div> Submitted by James (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 17:08.</div><div><p>She&#8217;s  competent all right. Competent enough to ban books at the public  library, books she has never even read. Competent enough to try to fire  a librarian who was just doing her job, Competent enough to veto sex  education for minors, (surprise there huh?), competent enough to fire  the head of the troopers who refused to fire her ex-brother in law for  unjustifiable reasons.</p><p>No wonder repugs love her so much, she&#8217;ll fit right in..*L*</p><p>At least Obama went through a process and garnered enough votes to  earn the right to be where he is today. Palin was handed the position  because McCain needed a quick fix and liked the way she looked and  talked.</p><p>Was she the most qualified and best suited republican for the job?  Of course not and people are not being genuine if they say yes. For  that reason McCain should and will lose this election.</p><p>Too bad they don&#8217;t have a minimum test for people to take in order to qualify for the job.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/57">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/57/Re-If-John-McCain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-Sarah-Pal">link</a></li><li><a
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id="comment-56"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-56">Re: Re: Pansies? then what&#8230;</a></div><div> Submitted by Chemosapien = Idiot (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 16:54.</div><div><p>Palin would shove her pretty heels up Putin&#8217;s ass.  Then make him beg for more.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/56">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/56/Re-Pansies-then-what">link</a></li><li><a
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id="comment-55"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-55">Re: If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah Pal</a></div><div> Submitted by Ken S (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 16:52.</div><div><p>Yes.  She would do a great job, because she has intelligence coupled with  common sense, grit, and good solid values. Would to God that this  country had had dozens of Presidents like her instead of some of the  buffoons we&#8217;ve suffered through.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/55">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/55/Re-If-John-McCain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-Sarah-Pal">link</a></li><li><a
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id="comment-54"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-54">Re: People around you</a></div><div> Submitted by Chemosapien = Idiot (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 16:52.</div><div><p>No he&#8217;ll bring them in from the hood.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/54">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/54/Re-People-around-you">link</a></li><li><a
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id="comment-53"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-53">Shooting wolves from a Copter</a></div><div> Submitted by chemosapien (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 16:50.</div><div><p>is  not the kind of Hunter i respect&#8230;..and margaret Thatcher is on her  way over their to whoop your ass for comparing her to Palin&#8230;.Thatcher  was one of the most intelligent and tough politicians in modern  times&#8230;.Palin doesn&#8217;t have a college education and she can&#8217;t even  stand up to KATIE M*^#ATHERF%*#KING COURIC&#8230;.stop comparing her to  Thatcher</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/53">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/53/Shooting-wolves-Copter">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-52"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-52">People Around You</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://www.Matt-Sanchez.com" rel="nofollow">Matt Sanchez</a> (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 16:49.</div><div><p>Obama  will have the flag stomper and terrorist, Dick Ayres and the God D@*$  America Reverend Wright. Both these gentlemen have doctorates!</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/52">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/52/People-Around-You">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-51"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-51">People around you</a></div><div> Submitted by chemosapien (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 16:46.</div><div><p>it  is very important who the president brings into their admin&#8230;..I&#8217;m  certain Obama isn&#8217;t going to fill his cabinet from his high school  yearbook like little miss Palin</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/51">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/51/People-around-you">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-50"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-50">Obama Qualified</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://www.Matt-Sanchez.com" rel="nofollow">Matt Sanchez</a> (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 16:46.</div><div><p>A one-term governor who is the most popular governor in the country.</p><p>Of course, that&#8217;s one more term than former &#8220;community organizer&#8221; and one-term senator.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/50">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/50/Obama-Qualified">link</a></li><li><a
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id="comment-49"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-49">Re: Pansies? then what&#8230;</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://americanandproud.net" rel="nofollow">Robert</a> (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 16:46.</div><div><p>Obviously  you haven&#8217;t seen Sarah Palin in the real world, she hunts guts and eats  things that get in her way, I would imagine you are the type of idiot  that thought Margaret Thatcher was a bad choice too&#8230;.Russia would beg  for forgiveness from Palin and Putin would be licking Sarah&#8217;s boots in  red square&#8230;.</p><p>Moron.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/49">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/49/Re-Pansies-then-what">link</a></li><li><a
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id="comment-48"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-48">Re: If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah Pal</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://mrclm.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Chris Meirose</a> (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 16:45.</div><div><p>More  competent than Al Gore. More competent than Dick Cheney. More competent  than Dan Quayle. Palin would do just fine. Being president is as much  or more about who you have around you than anything else. You must be  able to make tough decisions, and know what you believe in, but at the  end of the day the experts you surround yourself with as President will  make or break your term in the modern context.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/48">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/48/Re-If-John-McCain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-Sarah-Pal">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-47"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-47">Re: If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah Pal</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://www.pullinsreport.com" rel="nofollow">Scott Pullins</a> (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 16:43.</div><div><p>She&#8217;s clearly not competent.</p><p><a
href="http://pullinsreport.com/2008/10/03/scott-pullins--online-poll--do-you-have-faith-in-palin-3.aspx" title="http://pullinsreport.com/2008/10/03/scott-pullins--online-poll--do-you-have-faith-in-palin-3.aspx">http://pullinsreport.com/2008/10/03/scott-pullins&#8211;online-poll&#8211;do-you-h&#8230;</a></p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/47">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/47/Re-If-John-McCain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-Sarah-Pal">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-46"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-46">Pansies? then what&#8230;</a></div><div> Submitted by chemosapien (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 16:43.</div><div><p>russia  calls us a bunch of homos, and Putin slams his shoe on the desk?  &#8230;&#8230;if Palin were president Putin would literally rape her mouth on  live telivision then claim he thought she was the &#8220;entertainment&#8221;</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/46">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/46/Pansies-then-what">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-45"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-45">Re: Re: Palin isn&#8217;t competent to wipe my ass</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://americanandproud.net" rel="nofollow">Robert</a> (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 16:42.</div><div><p>The  answer is YES, she has run something, SHE has more experience RUNNING a  government than ANY of the candidates&#8230; So yes she is Qualified.</p><p>Obama isn&#8217;t qualified to be elected dog catcher, McCain at least has  the experience in dealing with hostile forces, and for you libtards  there still are hostile forces at work oh and they are hoping for Obama  too&#8230;</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/45">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/45/Re-Palin-isnt-competent-wipe-my-ass">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-44"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-44">Re: Margaret, its me God</a></div><div> Submitted by Margaret (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 16:41.</div><div><p>I  didn&#8217;t say NO degree. I said not an &#8220;Ivy League Degree&#8221;. I was just  giving my opinion &#8211; &#8220;If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would  Sarah Palin be competent to be President?&#8221; My answer is yes.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/44">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/44/Re-Margaret-its-me-God">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-43">Palin</a></div><div> Submitted by Matt Jones (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 16:40.</div><div><p>Clinton&#8217;s  budget experience was a budget of Arkansas which was smaller than  cuyahoga county. Obama has ZERO budget experience. She can manage a  budget. She communicates and articulates the GOP positions more  effectively than McCain, Bush, Cheney and Dole to name some powerful  people.</p><p>go to Canada you commie bastages!</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/43">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/43/Palin">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-42"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-42">Re: Palin is a Disgrace Which Makes McCain a Fool</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://americanandproud.net" rel="nofollow">Robert</a> (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 16:39.</div><div><p>and  an Obama/Biden victory will make us look like a bunch of pansies&#8230;I  would love for you to explain how a war veteran that went through what  McCain did would cause the world to look at us as a laughing stock? Mrs  Thatcher was looked at a little off by the owrkd but she did fine? is  it you are scared of women or hunting women?</p><p>Palin is the only candidate in the race I would vote for president  and be happy about it. I will vote McCain just to get Sarah Palin  closer to the Big Job.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/42">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/42/Re-Palin-Disgrace-Which-Makes-McCain-Fool">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-41"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-41">Re: Palin isn&#8217;t competent to wipe my ass</a></div><div> Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 16:35.</div><div><p>The US is going to hell because McCain&#8217;s buddy George Bush set us on that course.  4 more years of that?</p><p>BTW, the question was if McCain kicks, is Palin qualified?  And the answer is no.</p><p>Instead of attacking Obama, how about telling why you think Palin is  qualified? Is it because even you know she isn&#8217;t? Typical Republican.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/41">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/41/Re-Palin-isnt-competent-wipe-my-ass">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-40"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-40">&#8220;College Education&#8221;</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://www.Matt-Sanchez.com" rel="nofollow">Matt Sanchez</a> (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 16:35.</div><div><p>All  those &#8220;economic experts&#8221; have great post-grad degrees from high end  schools. Hopefully, that will help them as they look for a new job.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/40">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/40/College-Education">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-39"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-39">Palin is a Disgrace Which Makes McCain a Fool</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://www.taipaninvestor.info/blog" rel="nofollow">Gerald</a> (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 16:34.</div><div><p>Palin  makes a big deal about her &#8220;six pack joe&#8221; ways and seems to be proud of  her ignorance. We have had almost eight years of a largely  disinterested in the world at large President and see where that has  taken us. American is on a slippery downward slope and it will be  difficult to avoid a hard crash and burn landing.</p><p>I for one don&#8217;t want someone as VP, who may well end up being  President, who is just another six pack Joe yahoo. America is the  laughing stock of the world just to have such a yahoo candidate.</p><p>If McCain and Palin are somehow elected American&#8217;s standing in the  world as a world leader, much less a super power, will be further  reduced to the vanishing point. We would be looked upon as a nation of  village idiots.</p><p>It&#8217;s not that I love Obama. Come to think of it with the choice down  to Obama or McCain perhaps we American have found the perfect means to  self destruct. The support given by McCain and Obama for the $700  billion bailout bill (before another $100 billion or so in pure pork  was added) is another giant step in that direction.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/39">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/39/Palin-Disgrace-Which-Makes-McCain-Fool">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-38"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-38">Re: Re: Palin isn&#8217;t competent to walk my dog</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://americanandproud.net" rel="nofollow">Robert</a> (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 16:33.</div><div><p>&#8220;You  idiots care more about a donkey and an elephant than you do about the  stars and stripes. You get what you deserve.&#8221; The truest statement  since Reagan stated the most scary thing ever was &#8220;I&#8217;m from the  government and I&#8217;m here to help&#8221;</p><p>I wouldnt be so dead set against OBAMA if he were more Country  first, rather than Blame everyone else&#8230; HIS party has led congress  for the last 2 years and we have gone from solvency to bankruptcy and  BOTH parties are to blame, ONLY one party is used to responsibility,  the other is used to &#8220;Tolerance&#8221; and forgiveness of their own&#8230;.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/38">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/38/Re-Palin-isnt-competent-walk-my-dog">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-37"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-37">Re: Margaret, its me God</a></div><div> Submitted by chemosapien (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 16:31.</div><div><p>you  mean like the modern day general who doesn&#8217;t have a college degree? are  we suddenly recruiting presidents from third world countries? because  EVERY American General has a college degree&#8230;&#8230;lets not pretend we  live in the world of 2 centuries ago</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/37">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/37/Re-Margaret-its-me-God">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-36"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-36">Re: Palin isn&#8217;t competent to walk my dog</a></div><div> Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 16:28.</div><div><p>Nothing  like partisanship. That&#8217;s right put the party before the country. No  wonder the US is going to hell in a rocketship. You idiots care more  about a donkey and an elephant than you do about the stars and stripes.  You get what you deserve.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/36">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/36/Re-Palin-isnt-competent-walk-my-dog">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-35"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-35">Re: Palin isn&#8217;t competent to walk my dog</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://americanandproud.net" rel="nofollow">Robert</a> (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 16:28.</div><div><p>Oh  and I&#8217;m qualified because I am a black community organizer.. Don&#8217;t look  at the communities I organized or anything, just trust me for CHANGE&#8230;  BS, it is highway strong arm robbery, ACORN? Rev Wright? Ayers?  Phlegar? Farakhan? Ok Palin has what? A couple of LIES perpetrated by  the elitist media that have been debunked. Yeah Obama in 08 and the end  of our nation in 09&#8230;.good plan.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/35">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/35/Re-Palin-isnt-competent-walk-my-dog">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-34"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-34">Re: Re: If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://experiencecurve.com" rel="nofollow">Karl</a> (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 16:27.</div><div><p>It&#8217;s  ironic that if you guys had listened to Carter in the 70&#8242;s you would  not be as f**cked as you are now and you would probably have energy  independence.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/34">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/34/Re-If-John-McCain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-Sarah">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-33"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-33">Palin isn&#8217;t competent to walk my dog</a></div><div> Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 16:24.</div><div><p>Say  what you want about Obama, he&#8217;ll make a much better President than  either &#8220;I&#8217;m qualified because I can see Russia from my pooper, yah, you  betcha&#8221; or &#8220;I&#8217;m qualified because I was a POW a million years ago,  wait, what was the question again?&#8221;</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/33">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/33/Palin-isnt-competent-walk-my-dog">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-32"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-32">Re: If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah Pal</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://www.Matt-Sanchez.com" rel="nofollow">Matt Sanchez</a> (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 16:19.</div><div><p>Palin  Derangement Syndrome is alive and well as the media blitzkrieg is  desperate to discredit the Palin/McCain presidential ticket.</p><p>Palin handily beat Biden down last night, and that causes severe swelling in the liberal frontal lobe.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/32">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/32/Re-If-John-McCain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-Sarah-Pal">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-31"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-31">Competent&#8230;OBama?</a></div><div> Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 16:19.</div><div><p>So  you say go back home hockey mom&#8230; Wow&#8230; your complete lack of what a  hockey mom is.. basically a communtity leader&#8230;hmmm Let&#8217;s see Omaa is  just that, he has not been a Governer, worked a state budger.. .his  short political careeer shows less tenure that Palin. Fair is Fair ,  your last paragraph shows your compete ignorance,,, go read a bit  yourself!</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/31">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/31/CompetentOBama">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-30"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-30">Re: Margaret, its me God</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://www.omarhamada.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Anonymous</a> (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 16:19.</div><div><p>You mean like George Washington?</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/30">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/30/Re-Margaret-its-me-God">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-29"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-29">Re: If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah Pal</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://republicaninthearts.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Incognito</a> (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 16:14.</div><div><p>and  how about looking at it this way&#8230; with all Biden&#8217;s asinine gaffes  would people be thrilled to have him as president, if Obama were to  die? I&#8217;d be much happier with a Palin presidency than either an Obama  or Biden presidency.</p><p>She&#8217;s done very well for Alaska&#8230;thank you very much.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/29">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/29/Re-If-John-McCain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-Sarah-Pal">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-28"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-28">Re: If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah Pal</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://www.golfblogger.com" rel="nofollow">GolfBlogger</a> (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 16:10.</div><div><p>It&#8217;s  not saying much, but I think Palin&#8217;s more qualified than Obama. The  problem is that if you vote Republican, an unqualified person MIGHT  become president. If you vote Democrat, an unqualified person WILL  become president.</p><p>The only logical ticket is Biden-McCain &#8212; one which, during the primaries, Joe Biden said he wouldn&#8217;t mind.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/28">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/28/Re-If-John-McCain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-Sarah-Pal">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-27"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-27">Margaret, its me God</a></div><div> Submitted by chemosapien (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 16:09.</div><div><p>you  would not make a good president nor would anyone who doesn&#8217;t have an  University Degree&#8230;..watch that sassy little Katie Couric if you want  to know why Sara Palin is completely incompetent</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/27">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/27/Margaret-its-me-God">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-26"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-26">What the&#8230;?</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://www.soldiersperspective.us" rel="nofollow">CJ Grisham</a> (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 16:07.</div><div><p>If Palin isn&#8217;t competent enough to be President, then Obama is even LESS competent to hold the position!!</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/26">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/26/What">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-25"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-25">Re: If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah Pal</a></div><div> Submitted by Margaret (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 16:03.</div><div><p>Why  won&#8217;t Sara Palin be a competent President? Is there anything about  Obama that makes him more intelligent than Palin? It offends me as a  person to think differently. I believe she would do as well, if not  better, than any other of the men or women who have made a run during  this election.</p><p>I didn&#8217;t go to an ivy league college. I haven&#8217;t served as a PTO  chairperson or any other office but I think I would make a darn good  president. I&#8217;m excited to think that maybe we might have something  fresh in the office. From Hillary to McCain it is the same old same old.</p><p>Margaret</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/25">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/25/Re-If-John-McCain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-Sarah-Pal">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-24"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-24">experience or education ?</a></div><div> Submitted by James (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 15:57.</div><div><p>While  one could argue all day long about the experience factor between Obama  and Palin, one can&#8217;t argue much about the difference in education. I  would rather have someone educated in the highest office of the land.</p><p>Thanks, but no thanks for that sweet talkin&#8217;, well read gal from Alaska.</p><p>Don&#8217;t YA know?</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/24">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/24/experience-or-education">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-23"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-23">Re: If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah Pal</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://americanandproud.net" rel="nofollow">Robert</a> (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 15:55.</div><div><p>I  am voting for McCain/Palin for precisely that reason, I would be WAY  more happy with Palin as President than I will be with McCain.<br
/> If Obama wins we ALL lose&#8230;.Oh and a preemptive dismiss to those that  say it&#8217;s because he is black&#8230;Its not because he is black its because  he is a communist/socialist libtard baby killing gun taking no  leadership other than &#8220;ACORN&#8221; type skills&#8230;. but vote how you want, I  cant wait till you liberal idiots get what you want, just like after  Carter, you came crying to the Conservatives to save you, Obama is a  black Carter maybe worse.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/23">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/23/Re-If-John-McCain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-Sarah-Pal">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-22"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-22">NFW</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://twww.mahamatzav.org" rel="nofollow">rebaaron</a> (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 15:54.</div><div><p>Sarah  Palin is a poser. She&#8217;s so enamored with Ronald Reagan I believe, in  part, because she&#8217;s just like him &#8211; an actor. Reagan wasn&#8217;t a president  as much as he was able to act like a president. The VP debates last  night showed this &#8211; Palin is all show and no substance. What&#8217;s really  scary is she believes that she&#8217;s capable. I think she really has no  idea and is not capable of getting it. I think some call this  sociopathic tendencies?!</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/22">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/22/NFW">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-21"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-21">Palin Did Better Than Expected</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://baconeatingatheistjew.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">The Atheist Jew</a> (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 15:53.</div><div><p>She proved to me that she doesn&#8217;t have an IQ of 75.  It is more like 90 or 95.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/21">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/21/Palin-Did-Better-Expected">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-20"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-20">National Level Experience (NLE)</a></div><div> Submitted by chemosapien (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 15:53.</div><div><p>Palin  is an order of magnitude more Podunk than any national political figure  in modern times. Case in point, 6 months ago, Palin said, flat out, she  is not INTERESTED in national policy, as in she doesn&#8217;t have the time  or will to keep up with what is going on in this country&#8230;when you use  NLE as the measure Obama is far ahead of Palin, exemplified by the fact  that the very first thing he did in the Senate was get a law passed to  help secure &#8220;loose nukes&#8221; in the former USSR&#8230;.compare that to Palin  who apparently could not even pass a seventh grade civics test (doesn&#8217;t  know any supreme court cases besides Roe v. Wade?)</p><p>All the PAlin supporters are the same , pardon my french, IDIOTS who  supported GW because he&#8217;s a guy they can drink a beer with&#8230;..Palin  sure is a regular joe&#8230;Joe Retard that is</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/20">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/20/National-Level-Experience-NLE">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-19"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-19">Re: If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah Pal</a></div><div> Submitted by brad (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 15:53.</div><div><p>If  something happened to McCain on day one would Palin be ready? No, BUT  what makes you think Obama is? Lets talk about the TOP of the ticket.  Give me a break!!!</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/19">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/19/Re-If-John-McCain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-Sarah-Pal">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-18"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-18">And Barack is Qualified? </a></div><div> Submitted by J (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 14:33.</div><div><p>I  love how people point out how Palin&#8217;s not qualified SHOULD something  happen to McCain. And what makes Barack qualified? He&#8217;s been in the  Senate for 2 years? And if he is elected, he&#8217;s it. At least with  McCain, we&#8217;re electing a very seasoned and proven person who has a  pretty good track record for change. Obama can talk about change but he  hasn&#8217;t walked it at all.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/18">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/18/And-Barack-Qualified">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-17"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-17">Re: Re: McCain&#8217;s &#8220;Cancer&#8221;</a></div><div> Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 13:32.</div><div><p>Source please.  Media previously said superficial Basal cell.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/17">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/17/Re-McCains-Cancer">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-16"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-16">Re: McCain&#8217;s &#8220;Cancer&#8221;</a></div><div> Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 13:15.</div><div><p>He has had MELANOMA. The deadliest form of skin cancer</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/16">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/16/Re-McCains-Cancer">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-15"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-15">Competent?</a></div><div> Submitted by rusmayse on Fri, 10/03/2008 &#8211; 00:48.</div><div><p>Poor  Palin. I commend her on the acceptance of such a difficult position in  such a tough time. It takes a really strong person to take on the role  she has. And I do agree with the fact that she may &#8220;catch on quickly&#8221;.  I&#8217;m just particularly concerned and unsure she has any idea what she is  doing. Period.<br
/> Go back home hockey mom. Gain experience over the next 8 years. Become  more involved on a national level. Listen to the cries of us people.  And then please, come back again :) Until then, keep reading all the  world&#8217;s magazines and Newspapers. They actually can teach you a lot.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/15">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/15/Competent">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-14"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-14">Not as a woman, or a man</a></div><div> Submitted by TomCollins2100 on Thu, 10/02/2008 &#8211; 23:33.</div><div><p>Are  you kidding? The notion that she&#8217;s being unfairly judged as unqualified  because she&#8217;s a woman is absurd. If she were a man, McCain would have  been laughed out of the country for picking a first-term governor with  no other applicable experience and zero national &#8211; let alone foreign  policy &#8211; qualifications.</p><p>Women with any brains at all should be insulted that McCain and the  Republicans think that they will vote for any woman they offer, or  belive this particular woman is remotely qualified to run any country,  forget about the United States.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/14">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/14/Not-woman-or-man">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-13"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-13">RELEASE THE MEDICAL RECORDS</a></div><div> Submitted by chemosapien (not verified) on Wed, 10/01/2008 &#8211; 16:02.</div><div><p>what  you say is partially true, superficial skin cancers are not fatal,  especially with decent healthcare, but WE DON&#8217;T KNOW THE EXTENT OF  MCCAIN&#8221;S CANCER because he won&#8217;t release ALL of his medical  records&#8230;&#8230;don&#8217;t sit here and defend him against this criticism, when  his campaign could put this completely to bed with a single phone call  to his doctor.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/13">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/13/RELEASE-MEDICAL-RECORDS">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-12"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-12"> Palin needs to read a American History Booko</a></div><div> Submitted by pat baker (not verified) on Wed, 10/01/2008 &#8211; 15:41.</div><div><p>I&#8217;m  sick of McCain calling Obama a on the job learner, community action  worker. Palin is is a affrimative action herself. Mrs Bush said she was  a &#8220;quick learner&#8221; Do I need a vp who is a quick learner? She&#8217;s just a  Gov for a few years, no national experience. She can&#8217;t answer straight  question. These photo opts with people from the MiddleEast aren&#8217;t  getting on my nerves, they are making me sick Who cares if she&#8217;s cute  while my 401 K might go down the tubes!. Hillary Clinton would run  rings around her. I don&#8217;t need a &#8221; on the job VP during these troubled  times..</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/12">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/12/Palin-needs-read-American-History-Booko">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-11"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-11">McCain&#8217;s &#8220;Cancer&#8221;</a></div><div> Submitted by <a
href="http://www.omarhamada.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Omar Hamada</a> (not verified) on Wed, 10/01/2008 &#8211; 15:33.</div><div><p>Enough  of the cancer stuff!!! Talk about spin and/or ignorance! When&#8217;s the  last time someone actually died from superficial squamous or basal cell  skin cancer? Answer: NEVER. Now if it were actually melanoma or other  types of invasive squamous cell cancer, then it would be a different  story &#8211; BUT IT&#8217;S NOT!!!!!!</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/11">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/11/McCains-Cancer">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-9"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-9">but seriously, she reads ALL the newspapers</a></div><div> Submitted by Dave (not verified) on Wed, 10/01/2008 &#8211; 00:55.</div><div><p>Check  out her interview with Katie Couric. She shares that she reads ALL the  newspapers in the world. She must be really freakin smart. She also  graduated from the University of Idaho. I mean it doesnt get much more  prestigious than that. And besides, who is Biden to talk.</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/9">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/9/seriously-she-reads-ALL-newspapers">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-8"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-8">Don&#8217;t Fret</a></div><div> Submitted by Chris A (not verified) on Wed, 10/01/2008 &#8211; 00:48.</div><div><p>Don&#8217;t  worry about Palin. If you saw her interviews, you would know that  the&#8230; War in Iraq and reforms to our economy and importance in the  field of green energy under the umbrella of job creation and then  health care.<br
/> She knows what everyone needs&#8230;</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/8">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/8/Dont-Fret">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-7"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-7">Re: If John McCain died or became incapacitated, would Sarah Pal</a></div><div> Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 10/01/2008 &#8211; 00:45.</div><div><p>uh hu &#8230;..uh hu !!!</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/7">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/7/Re-If-John-McCain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-Sarah-Pal">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p><a
id="comment-6"></a></p><div><div> <a
href="http://ahpoll.com/content/if-john-mccain-died-or-became-incapacitated-would-sarah-palin-be-competent-be-president#comment-6">come on,  hes only had cancer</a></div><div> Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 09/30/2008 &#8211; 22:59.</div><div><p>come on,  hes only had cancer 3 times. plus,  its not like hes old or anything</p></p></div><div><ul><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/reply/4/6">reply</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/comment/6/come-hes-only-had-cancer">link</a></li><li><a
href="http://ahpoll.com/forward">Email this comment</a></li></ul></div></div><p>And, here&#8217;s an embed of the poll, if I&#8217;ve piqued your interest by now:</p><p><script type="text/javascript" src="http://widgetserver.com/syndication/subscriber/InsertWidget.js?appId=8eaed869-bb53-4d27-9b3b-d790184cb9c9"></script><noscript>Get the <a
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class="DiggThisButton DiggCompact" href="http://digg.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fchrisabraham.com%2F2008%2F10%2F10%2Fsarah-palin-comment-thread-par-excellence%2F"></a>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://chrisabraham.com/2008/10/10/sarah-palin-comment-thread-par-excellence/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>Help! Help! I&#8217;m being repressed!</title><link>http://chrisabraham.com/2008/06/22/help-help-im-being-repressed/</link> <comments>http://chrisabraham.com/2008/06/22/help-help-im-being-repressed/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Sun, 22 Jun 2008 00:00:39 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Chris Abraham</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[holy grail]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Monty Python]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Monty Python and the Holy Grail]]></category> <category><![CDATA[ACT]]></category> <category><![CDATA[anarcho]]></category> <category><![CDATA[angin]]></category> <category><![CDATA[arthur king]]></category> <category><![CDATA[autocracy]]></category> <category><![CDATA[biweekly]]></category> <category><![CDATA[bosom]]></category> <category><![CDATA[bosoms]]></category> <category><![CDATA[britons]]></category> <category><![CDATA[clop]]></category> <category><![CDATA[collectives]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Community]]></category> <category><![CDATA[decisions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[dictatorship]]></category> <category><![CDATA[discourse]]></category> <category><![CDATA[dogma]]></category> <category><![CDATA[economic]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Economics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[executive officer]]></category> <category><![CDATA[expectation]]></category> <category><![CDATA[fool]]></category> <category><![CDATA[fools]]></category> <category><![CDATA[goodness]]></category> <category><![CDATA[haste]]></category> <category><![CDATA[imperialist]]></category> <category><![CDATA[interns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[listener]]></category> <category><![CDATA[lord arthur]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Love]]></category> <category><![CDATA[ly]]></category> <category><![CDATA[man]]></category> <category><![CDATA[monty python and the holy]]></category> <category><![CDATA[objective]]></category> <category><![CDATA[old arthur]]></category> <category><![CDATA[old man]]></category> <category><![CDATA[old woman]]></category> <category><![CDATA[onli]]></category> <category><![CDATA[people]]></category> <category><![CDATA[political discourse]]></category> <category><![CDATA[providence]]></category> <category><![CDATA[sevens]]></category> <category><![CDATA[social]]></category> <category><![CDATA[social differences]]></category> <category><![CDATA[socialism]]></category> <category><![CDATA[socialization]]></category> <category><![CDATA[sorts]]></category> <category><![CDATA[taked]]></category> <category><![CDATA[think]]></category> <category><![CDATA[thirties]]></category> <category><![CDATA[violence]]></category><guid
isPermaLink="false">http://chrisabraham.com/2008/06/22/help-help-im-being-repressed/</guid> <description><![CDATA[The best political discourse takes places in Monty Python and the Holy Grail [clop clop] ARTHUR: Old woman! DENNIS: Man! ARTHUR: Old Man, sorry. What knight live in that castle over there? DENNIS: I&#8217;m thirty seven. ARTHUR: What? DENNIS: I&#8217;m thirty seven &#8212; I&#8217;m not old! ARTHUR: Well, I can&#8217;t just call you `Man&#8217;. DENNIS: [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div
style="float:left;margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;"> <a
class="DiggThisButton DiggMedium" href="http://digg.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fchrisabraham.com%2F2008%2F06%2F22%2Fhelp-help-im-being-repressed%2F&title=Help%21+Help%21+I%26%238217%3Bm+being+repressed%21" rel="news, tech_news"><span
style="display:none">The best political discourse takes places in Monty Python and the Holy Grail [clop clop] ARTHUR: Old woman! DENNIS: Man! ARTHUR: Old Man, sorry. What knight live in that castle over there? DENNIS: I&#8217;m thirty seven. ARTHUR: What? DENNIS: I&#8217;m thirty seven &#8212; I&#8217;m not old! ARTHUR: Well, I can&#8217;t just call you `Man&#8217;. DENNIS: [...]</span></a></div><p></p><div
align="right" style="float: right; padding: 0px 0px 5px 5px;"><a
name="fb_share" type="button_count" share_url="http://chrisabraham.com/2008/06/22/help-help-im-being-repressed/"></a></div><div
class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px;"> <a
href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fchrisabraham.com%2F2008%2F06%2F22%2Fhelp-help-im-being-repressed%2F"><br
/> <img
src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fchrisabraham.com%2F2008%2F06%2F22%2Fhelp-help-im-being-repressed%2F&amp;source=chrisabraham&amp;style=normal&amp;service=bit.ly&amp;service_api=R_fd087a8f486f224d453b4a84e0b4109f&amp;b=2" height="61" width="50" title="Help! Help! Im being repressed!" alt=" Help! Help! Im being repressed!" /><br
/> </a></div><p>The best political discourse takes places in <a
href="http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/mphg/mphg.htm#Scene%201">Monty Python and the Holy Grail</a></p><blockquote><p> [clop clop]<br
/> ARTHUR:  Old woman!<br
/> DENNIS:  Man!<br
/> ARTHUR: Old Man, sorry.  What knight live in that castle over there?<br
/> DENNIS:  I&#8217;m thirty seven.<br
/> ARTHUR:  What?<br
/> DENNIS:  I&#8217;m thirty seven &#8212; I&#8217;m not old!<br
/> ARTHUR:  Well, I can&#8217;t just call you `Man&#8217;.<br
/> DENNIS:  Well, you could say `Dennis&#8217;.<br
/> ARTHUR:  Well, I didn&#8217;t know you were called `Dennis.&#8217;<br
/> DENNIS:  Well, you didn&#8217;t bother to find out, did you?<br
/> ARTHUR:  I did say sorry about the `old woman,&#8217; but from the behind<br
/> you looked&#8211;<br
/> DENNIS:  What I object to is you automatically treat me like an inferior!<br
/> ARTHUR:  Well, I AM king&#8230;<br
/> DENNIS:  Oh king, eh, very nice.  An&#8217; how&#8217;d you get that, eh?  By<br
/> exploitin&#8217; the workers &#8212; by &#8216;angin&#8217; on to outdated imperialist dogma<br
/> which perpetuates the economic an&#8217; social differences in our society!<br
/> If there&#8217;s ever going to be any progress&#8211;<br
/> WOMAN:  Dennis, there&#8217;s some lovely filth down here.  Oh &#8212; how d&#8217;you do?<br
/> ARTHUR:  How do you do, good lady.  I am Arthur, King of the Britons.<br
/> Who&#8217;s castle is that?<br
/> WOMAN:  King of the who?<br
/> ARTHUR:  The Britons.<br
/> WOMAN:  Who are the Britons?<br
/> ARTHUR:  Well, we all are. we&#8217;re all Britons and I am your king.<br
/> WOMAN:  I didn&#8217;t know we had a king.  I thought we were an autonomous<br
/> collective.<br
/> DENNIS:  You&#8217;re fooling yourself.  We&#8217;re living in a dictatorship.<br
/> A self-perpetuating autocracy in which the working classes&#8211;<br
/> WOMAN:  Oh there you go, bringing class into it again.<br
/> DENNIS:  That&#8217;s what it&#8217;s all about if only people would&#8211;<br
/> ARTHUR:  Please, please good people.  I am in haste.  Who lives<br
/> in that castle?<br
/> WOMAN:  No one live there.<br
/> ARTHUR:  Then who is your lord?<br
/> WOMAN:  We don&#8217;t have a lord.<br
/> ARTHUR:  What?<br
/> DENNIS:  I told you.  We&#8217;re an anarcho-syndicalist commune.  We take<br
/> it in turns to act as a sort of executive officer for the week.<br
/> ARTHUR:  Yes.<br
/> DENNIS:  But all the decision of that officer have to be ratified<br
/> at a special biweekly meeting.<br
/> ARTHUR:  Yes, I see.<br
/> DENNIS:  By a simple majority in the case of purely internal affairs,&#8211;<br
/> ARTHUR:  Be quiet!<br
/> DENNIS:  &#8211;but by a two-thirds majority in the case of more&#8211;<br
/> ARTHUR:  Be quiet!  I order you to be quiet!<br
/> WOMAN:  Order, eh &#8212; who does he think he is?<br
/> ARTHUR:  I am your king!<br
/> WOMAN:  Well, I didn&#8217;t vote for you.<br
/> ARTHUR:  You don&#8217;t vote for kings.<br
/> WOMAN:  Well, &#8216;ow did you become king then?<br
/> ARTHUR:  The Lady of the Lake,<br
/> [angels sing]<br
/> her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite, held aloft Excalibur<br
/> from the bosom of the water signifying by Divine Providence that I,<br
/> Arthur, was to carry Excalibur.<br
/> [singing stops]<br
/> That is why I am your king!<br
/> DENNIS:  Listen &#8212; strange women lying in ponds distributing swords<br
/> is no basis for a system of government.  Supreme executive power<br
/> derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical<br
/> aquatic ceremony.<br
/> ARTHUR:  Be quiet!<br
/> DENNIS:  Well you can&#8217;t expect to wield supreme executive power<br
/> just &#8217;cause some watery tart threw a sword at you!<br
/> ARTHUR:  Shut up!<br
/> DENNIS:  I mean, if I went around sayin&#8217; I was an empereror just<br
/> because some moistened bint had lobbed a scimitar at me they&#8217;d<br
/> put me away!<br
/> ARTHUR:  Shut up!  Will you shut up!<br
/> DENNIS:  Ah, now we see the violence inherent in the system.<br
/> ARTHUR:  Shut up!<br
/> DENNIS:  Oh!  Come and see the violence inherent in the system!<br
/> HELP! HELP! I&#8217;m being repressed!<br
/> ARTHUR:  Bloody peasant!<br
/> DENNIS:  Oh, what a give away.  Did you here that, did you here that,<br
/> eh?  That&#8217;s what I&#8217;m on about &#8212; did you see him repressing me, you saw it didn&#8217;t you?</p></blockquote><script type="text/javascript">(function() {var s = document.createElement('SCRIPT'), s1 = document.getElementsByTagName('SCRIPT')[0];s.type = 'text/javascript';s.async = true;s.src = 'http://widgets.digg.com/buttons.js';s1.parentNode.insertBefore(s, s1);})();</script><a
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Profile]]></category> <category><![CDATA[advertiser]]></category> <category><![CDATA[advertisers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Advertising]]></category> <category><![CDATA[attachments]]></category> <category><![CDATA[attractiveness]]></category> <category><![CDATA[attributes]]></category> <category><![CDATA[beens]]></category> <category><![CDATA[benefit]]></category> <category><![CDATA[beverages]]></category> <category><![CDATA[billions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category> <category><![CDATA[blogged]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Blogger]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Bloggers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Blogging]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Blogs]]></category> <category><![CDATA[brand]]></category> <category><![CDATA[campaigning]]></category> <category><![CDATA[campaigns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[cascade]]></category> <category><![CDATA[celebrities]]></category> <category><![CDATA[chapman]]></category> <category><![CDATA[china]]></category> 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<category><![CDATA[portfolios]]></category> <category><![CDATA[post]]></category> <category><![CDATA[private messages]]></category> <category><![CDATA[profiles]]></category> <category><![CDATA[programing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[promoter]]></category> <category><![CDATA[promoters]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Promotion]]></category> <category><![CDATA[protect]]></category> <category><![CDATA[providence]]></category> <category><![CDATA[publishers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[pup]]></category> <category><![CDATA[recording artists]]></category> <category><![CDATA[release]]></category> <category><![CDATA[relevance]]></category> <category><![CDATA[relevancy]]></category> <category><![CDATA[resourcefulness]]></category> <category><![CDATA[respects]]></category> <category><![CDATA[social]]></category> <category><![CDATA[socialism]]></category> <category><![CDATA[socialization]]></category> <category><![CDATA[spending time]]></category> <category><![CDATA[tag]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tagging]]></category> <category><![CDATA[taked]]></category> <category><![CDATA[target]]></category> <category><![CDATA[tea]]></category> <category><![CDATA[traffic]]></category> <category><![CDATA[tv shows]]></category> <category><![CDATA[ubiquitous]]></category> <category><![CDATA[universe]]></category> <category><![CDATA[University]]></category> <category><![CDATA[visionaries]]></category> <category><![CDATA[visionary]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Wal-Mart]]></category> <category><![CDATA[web]]></category> <category><![CDATA[widget]]></category> <category><![CDATA[widgets]]></category> <category><![CDATA[worries]]></category><guid
isPermaLink="false">http://chrisabraham.com/2008/06/21/coketag-facebook-application-is-fun-and-useful/</guid> <description><![CDATA[I just spent some time setting up my own CokeTag for my Facebook Profile after hearing about it from CC Chapman. What I like about it is that it isn&#8217;t nefarious. One just sets it up to reflect one&#8217;s interested, passions, properties, and there you go! There&#8217;s a lot of fun there because you can [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div
style="float:left;margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;"> <a
class="DiggThisButton DiggMedium" href="http://digg.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fchrisabraham.com%2F2008%2F06%2F21%2Fcoketag-facebook-application-is-fun-and-useful%2F&title=CokeTag+Facebook+Application+is+Fun+and+Useful" rel="news, tech_news"><span
style="display:none">I just spent some time setting up my own CokeTag for my Facebook Profile after hearing about it from CC Chapman. What I like about it is that it isn&#8217;t nefarious. One just sets it up to reflect one&#8217;s interested, passions, properties, and there you go! There&#8217;s a lot of fun there because you can [...]</span></a></div><p></p><div
align="right" style="float: right; padding: 0px 0px 5px 5px;"><a
name="fb_share" type="button_count" share_url="http://chrisabraham.com/2008/06/21/coketag-facebook-application-is-fun-and-useful/"></a></div><div
class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px;"> <a
href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fchrisabraham.com%2F2008%2F06%2F21%2Fcoketag-facebook-application-is-fun-and-useful%2F"><br
/> <img
src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fchrisabraham.com%2F2008%2F06%2F21%2Fcoketag-facebook-application-is-fun-and-useful%2F&amp;source=chrisabraham&amp;style=normal&amp;service=bit.ly&amp;service_api=R_fd087a8f486f224d453b4a84e0b4109f&amp;b=2" height="61" width="50" title="CokeTag Facebook Application is Fun and Useful" alt=" CokeTag Facebook Application is Fun and Useful" /><br
/> </a></div><p>I just spent some time setting up my own <a
href="http://www.coketags.com/">CokeTag</a> for my <a
href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=500059453">Facebook Profile</a> after hearing about it from <a
href="http://www.cc-chapman.com/2008/06/19/coketag-and-my-thoughts/">CC Chapman</a>.</p><p
style="text-align: center"><img
src="http://chrisabraham.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/coketags.png" alt="coketags CokeTag Facebook Application is Fun and Useful"  title="CokeTag Facebook Application is Fun and Useful" /></p><p>What I like about it is that it isn&#8217;t <em>nefarious</em>. One just sets it up to reflect one&#8217;s interested, passions, properties, and there you go! There&#8217;s a lot of fun there because you can set up the <a
href="http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=9925749903">CokeTag</a> to reflect who you are, instead of just biting everyone and sucking their blood. So, I chose to reflect myself through my favorite TV shows, movies, sites I own, sports I do, and my favorite foodie sites. Then, after you <a
href="http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=9925749903">install the CokeTag application</a>, set it up, and so forth, you can start grabbing other people&#8217;s CokeTag or you can even check out who is checking you out via the <a
href="http://apps.facebook.com/coketag/faststart/clickreport?mid=671">Click Tracker</a>. At the end of the day, I don&#8217;t have the vision for the CokeTag application; however, CC does and so here&#8217;s what his vision is,</p><blockquote><p>&#8220;Trying to make people realize how kick ass this would be for musicians to create a CokeTag and then fans can take it and share it on their sites. or a brand could.&#8221;</p></blockquote><p>Here&#8217;s the <a
href="http://www.coketags.com/announcement/">Social Media News Release</a> for the campaign&#8230;</p><p><span
id="more-4708"></span></p><blockquote><p
align="center"><a
href="http://www.coketags.com/"><img
src="http://www.coketags.com/announcement/files/coketag.jpg" alt="coketag CokeTag Facebook Application is Fun and Useful" border="0" width="326" height="100" title="CokeTag Facebook Application is Fun and Useful" /></a></p><p
class="header1">Coca-Cola Launches CokeTag Facebook Application With Olympic Tie-In</p><p
class="subheads">&nbsp;</p><p
class="header4" align="center">CokeTag Application Empowers Anyone to Promote Themselves and Their Interests With a Do-It-Yourself, Portable Application.</p><p
align="center"><span
class="header4"><em>June 6, 2008</em></span></p><p
class="header2">Facts</p><p><span
class="header4"><strong><span
class="bullet"><strong><img
src="http://www.coketags.com/announcement/files/coketag-bands2.gif" alt="coketag bands2 CokeTag Facebook Application is Fun and Useful" align="right" vspace="8" width="234" height="507" hspace="10" title="CokeTag Facebook Application is Fun and Useful" /></strong></span>What is a <a
href="http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=9925749903" target="_blank">CokeTag</a>? </strong></span></p><ul><li
class="bullet">A <a
href="http://www.coketags.com/" target="_blank">CokeTag</a> is a personal, customizable widget for individuals, bands, bloggers, artists, and companies to share links to content they want to promote and drive traffic to anywhere on the Web.</li><li
class="bullet">Empowers users to bundle links to on- and off-Facebook content in an attractive convenient package, which is associated with and accessible from their Profile or Fan Pages and shared via Facebook private messages or Wall posts.</li><li
class="bullet">Coca-Cola released <a
href="http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=9925749903" target="_blank">CokeTag</a> to provide an engaging and relevant online experience for consumers. The useful application is another way that Coca-Cola is leveraging innovative technology and social media to reach consumers where they are increasingly spending time online.</li><li
class="bullet">One of the first uses of a <a
href="http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=9925749903" target="_blank">CokeTag</a> will be to promote the <a
href="http://www.coca-cola.com/template1/index.jsp?locale=en_US&amp;site=../we8/we8.jsp" target="_blank">we8</a> recording artists. we8 is an artistic and cultural exchange, uniting eight of China&#8217;s most exciting artists and design firms with eight of the West&#8217;s most progressive musicians to design a vision and soundtrack that celebrates the infinite possibilities that await when the doors are flung open from East to West. The <a
href="http://www.coca-cola.com/template1/index.jsp?locale=en_US&amp;site=../we8/we8.jsp" target="_blank">we8 program</a> is being launched as part of The Coca-Cola Company&#8217;s 2008 Bejing Olympic Games marketing activities.</li><li
class="bullet">The <a
href="http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=9925749903" target="_blank">CokeTag</a> application is being launched as a beta. Among others, the goal is to watch, listen and learn from consumers to determine how the community wishes to use the application and to gather suggestions on how to improve it as it expands outside of Facebook.</li><li
class="bullet">The Coca-Cola Company aligns itself with delivering the promise of a cross-platform web experience, consistent with Coke’s brand value of bringing people together for social connections across cultures.</li><li
class="bullet"><a
href="http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=9925749903" target="_blank">CokeTag</a> is the result of a partnership between The Coca-Cola Company and Linkstorm, which is an advertising technology company that is pioneering a new approach to social networking, online marketing and publishing.</li></ul><p><span
class="header4"><strong>Benefits and Features </strong></span></p><ul><li
class="bullet">Includes a self-service editor that puts the creator in control of the <a
href="http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=9925749903" target="_blank">CokeTag</a> content and skin.</li><li
class="bullet"><span
class="header4"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><img
src="http://www.coketags.com/announcement/files/coketag-causes.gif" alt="coketag causes CokeTag Facebook Application is Fun and Useful" align="right" vspace="5" width="212" height="439" hspace="10" title="CokeTag Facebook Application is Fun and Useful" /></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></span>Every <a
href="http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=9925749903" target="_blank">CokeTag</a> packs several levels of easily navigated, expandable menus in a stylized, compact design that allow visitors to instantly navigate to specific content that they are interested in and want to see more about.</li><li
class="bullet">The built-in click tracker lets creators know every time someone looks at their <a
href="http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=9925749903" target="_blank">CokeTag </a>and which links they visited. This data is only viewable to the creator of the <a
href="http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=9925749903" target="_blank">CokeTag</a>.</li><li
class="bullet">Sharing and posting features facilitate viral distribution via highly targeted personal networks for friends and fans.</li></ul><p><span
class="header4"><strong>Distribution </strong></span></p><ul><li
class="bullet">Initially built for <a
href="http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=9925749903" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, the plan is to allow for a <a
href="http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=9925749903" target="_blank">CokeTag</a> to live beyond those walls and will soon be available across OpenSocial sites (i.e. MySpace, Bebo, etc.) and eventually to the greater Internet on Blogging platforms and elsewhere. The goal is to empower users with ubiquitous Web distribution for sharing the information that matters to them and maintaining it one place.</li><li
class="bullet">Facebook users can add a <a
href="http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=9925749903" target="_blank">CokeTag</a> to both their personal profile as well as to any Facebook Fan Page. This opens it up so that a company, band or special event can build a <a
href="http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=9925749903" target="_blank">CokeTag</a> full of links about them and then fans can take that <a
href="http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=9925749903" target="_blank">CokeTag</a> and add it to their own profiles.</li><li
class="bullet">Current Facebook distribution options includes:<ul><li>Create and post your <a
href="http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=9925749903" target="_blank">CokeTag</a> on your personal profile page</li><li>Create and post a <a
href="http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=9925749903" target="_blank">CokeTag</a> to any Facebook Fan Page you administer</li><li>Grab and post any <a
href="http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=9925749903" target="_blank">CokeTag</a> that you discover on to your own personal profile</li><li>Send a <a
href="http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=9925749903" target="_blank">CokeTag</a> as Facebook e-mail attachment</li><li>Post a <a
href="http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=9925749903" target="_blank">CokeTag</a> as a Facebook Wall post</li></ul></li></ul><p
class="header2">Quotes</p><p
class="header3">Attributed to Michael Donnelly, Director, Worldwide Interactive Marketing, The Coca-Cola Company :</p><p
class="quote"><span
class="header3"><a
href="http://www.coketags.com/announcement/files/michael_donnelly_lg.jpg" target="_blank"><img
src="http://www.coketags.com/announcement/files/michael_donnelly.jpg" alt="michael donnelly CokeTag Facebook Application is Fun and Useful" align="right" border="0" vspace="5" width="85" height="121" hspace="12" title="CokeTag Facebook Application is Fun and Useful" /></a></span>&#8220;The Coca-Cola Company&#8217;s social networking approach has been one of very sincere respect for the communities we participate in. We prefer to politely enter and let the already existing ecosystem help guide us in the right direction as we continue to learn what works best for our brands.&#8221;</p><p
class="quote">&#8220;I&#8217;m excited about the <a
href="http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=9925749903" target="_blank">CokeTag</a> program, because while we are starting small and simple, we look forward to quickly growing it beyond Facebook with feedback, advice and counsel from consumers.&#8221;</p><p
class="quote">&#8220;While Facebook may be the starting point for <a
href="http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=9925749903" target="_blank">CokeTag</a>, it is only the beginning. We are excited to be working towards the potential of expanding the use of the CokeTag application throughout the web and we are now working on the best way to leverage the OpenSocial platform. We are looking forward to the day when anyone could potentially create a <a
href="http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=9925749903" target="_blank">CokeTag</a> and have it on all of their social network profiles and their blog and only have to worry about updating it in one place. That excites me.&#8221;</p><p
class="quote">&#8220;We made a distinct decision not to overly brand this application.  We want this to be a helpful utility that connects consumers in a way that is all about them, not us.&#8221;</p><p
class="header3">Attributed to David Sidman, Founder &amp; Chief Executive Officer, Linkstorm:</p><p
class="quote"><span
class="header3"><a
href="http://www.coketags.com/announcement/files/david_sidman_lg.jpg" target="_blank"><img
src="http://www.coketags.com/announcement/files/david_sidman.jpg" alt="david sidman CokeTag Facebook Application is Fun and Useful" align="right" border="0" vspace="3" width="85" height="112" hspace="12" title="CokeTag Facebook Application is Fun and Useful" /></a></span>&#8220;Coke is the inaugural partner of our <a
href="http://www.linkstorms.com/pup/" target="_blank">Portable Universal Profile</a> (PUP™) platform for social media. Their vision and commitment have brought the platform to life in the form of a <a
href="http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=9925749903" target="_blank">CokeTag</a>. The platform is a unique way for brand marketers and advertisers to add great value to social media users’ experiences with a fun, unobtrusive and useful tool.&#8221;</p><p
class="quote">&#8220;Unlike many other social media marketing programs which force themselves between the users and what they really want to be doing, the PUP enables the brand to become a conduit for user communications.  The brand message can be as subtle as the sponsor and its community may wish, but the application is designed to enhance the user experience of connecting and sharing with friends without intruding&#8221;</p><p
class="header2">Multimedia</p><p>In addition to the website, <strong><a
href="http://www.coketags.com/" target="_blank">www.coketags.com</a></strong> ,we have assembled the following links and multimedia that will assist you in informing others about the application.<br
/> <span
class="header4"><a
href="http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=9925749903"><img
src="http://www.coketags.com/announcement/files/3coketags.png" alt="3coketags CokeTag Facebook Application is Fun and Useful" align="right" border="0" vspace="5" width="396" height="312" hspace="8" title="CokeTag Facebook Application is Fun and Useful" /></a>IMAGES</span></p><ul><li><a
href="http://www.coketags.com/announcement/files/coketag-bands2.gif" target="_blank">Musician / Band CokeTag</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.coketags.com/announcement/files/coketag-scififan.gif" target="_blank">Sci Fi Fan CokeTag</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.coketags.com/announcement/files/coketag-causes.gif" target="_blank">Causes CokeTag</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.coketags.com/announcement/files/3coketags.png" target="_blank">Triple CokeTag Shot</a></li></ul><ul><li><a
href="http://www.coketags.com/announcement/files/coketag.jpg" target="_blank">CokeTag Logo</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.coketags.com/announcement/files/Coca_Cola_Script_Logo.gif" target="_blank">Coca-Cola Banner</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.coketags.com/announcement/files/the_cocacola_company_logo.gif" target="_blank">The Coca-Cola Company Logo</a></li></ul><ul><li><a
href="http://www.coketags.com/announcement/files/linkstorm-logo.gif">Linkstorm Logo</a></li></ul><p><img
src="http://www.coketags.com/announcement/files/facebook.png" alt="facebook CokeTag Facebook Application is Fun and Useful" vspace="5" width="109" height="38" title="CokeTag Facebook Application is Fun and Useful" /></p><ul><li><a
href="http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=9925749903" target="_blank">CokeTag Facebook Application Page</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Coca-Cola-we8-Artists/18910541735" target="_blank">we8 Fan Page</a></li></ul><p><img
src="http://www.coketags.com/announcement/files/delicious.png" alt="delicious CokeTag Facebook Application is Fun and Useful" vspace="5" width="149" height="31" title="CokeTag Facebook Application is Fun and Useful" /></p><ul><li><a
href="http://del.icio.us/coketags" target="_blank">http://del.icio.us/coketags</a></li></ul><p
class="header2">About</p><p><span
class="header3">About Coca-Cola</span><br
/> The Coca-Cola Company is the world’s largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 450 sparkling and still brands. Along with Coca-Cola, recognized as the world’s most valuable brand, the Company’s portfolio includes 12 other billion-dollar brands, including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid and Georgia Coffee. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, juices and juice drinks and ready-to-drink teas and coffees. Through the world’s largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company’s beverages at a rate of 1.5 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that protect the environment, conserve resources and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. For more information about our Company, please visit our Web site at <a
href="http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/" target="_blank">www.thecoca-colacompany.com</a>.</p><p><span
class="header3">About Linkstorm </span><br
/> Linkstorm is an advertising technology company that is pioneering a new approach to online marketing, e-commerce, publishing and social networking. The company’s unique ad enhancement technology significantly improves performance of all online advertising and improves user engagement by overlaying cascading menus onto any ad format and quickly connecting customers to the information they want. Clients include national and global advertisers, agencies and publishers such as Cisco, Microsoft, Wal-Mart, Chevrolet, HP, Ogilvy, MRM and Hachette Filipacchi. Linkstorm is headquartered in New York City and is funded by visionary investors such as Esther Dyson and Jim Rutt.  For more information, please visit <a
href="http://www.linkstorms.com/" target="_blank">www.linkstorms.com</a></p><p
class="header2">Contact Info</p></blockquote><blockquote><table
class="contact" border="0" width="375"><tr><td
width="74">Contact:</td><td
width="291">C.C. Chapman</td></tr><tr><td>Phone:</td><td>508-241-1062</td></tr><tr><td>Email:</td><td><a
href="mailto:cc@theadvanceguard.com">cc@theadvanceguard.com</a></td></tr><tr><td>Website:</td><td><a
href="http://www.theadvanceguard.com/">http://www.theadvanceguard.com</a></td></tr></table><p
class="header2"> Tags &amp; Sharing</p><p><a
href="http://technorati.com/tag/cocacola" target="_blank">Coca-Cola</a> | <a
href="http://technorati.com/tag/coke" target="_blank">Coke</a> | <a
href="http://technorati.com/tag/coketag" target="_blank">CokeTag</a> | <a
href="http://technorati.com/tag/coketags" target="_blank">CokeTags</a> | <a
href="http://technorati.com/tag/Facebook" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a
href="http://technorati.com/tag/facebook+application" target="_blank">Facebook Application</a> | <a
href="http://technorati.com/tag/widgets" target="_blank">Widgets</a> | <a
href="http://technorati.com/tag/social+media" target="_blank">Social Media</a> | <a
href="http://technorati.com/tag/we8" target="_blank">we8</a> | <a
href="http://technorati.com/tag/linkstorm" target="_blank">Linkstorm</a></p></blockquote><script type="text/javascript">(function() {var s = document.createElement('SCRIPT'), s1 = document.getElementsByTagName('SCRIPT')[0];s.type = 'text/javascript';s.async = true;s.src = 'http://widgets.digg.com/buttons.js';s1.parentNode.insertBefore(s, s1);})();</script><a
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