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As Gustav winds down, Republicans rev up - will you be watching?

posted Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008 9:30am

See more on: Blogs, News & Current Affairs, NewsHour With Jim Lehrer, Republican National Convention, Vote 2008

It was an unusual holiday weekend. First came the news of Sen. McCain's selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his Vice Presidential running mate. Then, the evacuation of New Orleans in preparation for Hurricane Gustav.

Then, word that the RNC would dramatically scale back its first day of activities – a convention first. And that politics would take a back seat to hurricane response and recovery.

With less hurricane damage than expected and the RNC back on track, I am curious to see what happens next and am especially eager to hear Gov. Sarah Palin's speech, scheduled for tomorrow night (Wednesday).

My friends – Democrats and Republicans alike – were all surprised by the Palin pick. Who was this woman that we all knew so little about? What did she stand for? And would she help or hurt McCain's chances?

The media has gone to town with these questions and more, including news of her 17-year-old daughter's pregnancy. For more on Palin and her views, watch this Charlie Rose interview and a recent episode of "Now on PBS."

So what's your take on the Palin pick? And what are your hopes for the RNC and the McCain-Palin ticket?

Weigh in here on Panorama.

This week, the "NewsHour" team brings you live, uninterrupted coverage of the Republican National Convention. Tune in from 6 to 9 p.m. and enjoy full coverage of podium activities and speeches, news analysis, historical perspective and more.

And check out our Vote 2008 section for our online campaign coverage, including new video blog reports from The UpTake, a citizen journalism organization.

-Elizabeth

Tune In

PBS Convention Coverage - A NewsHour Special Report
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What's your point of view?

Minnie
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 › 1:54pm
Palin is not the kind of women that I am proud to have in office should she be elected. She reminds me of McCains plastic snap on wife. Now he can come to offcie with a snap on VP if he "god forbid" becomes elected.

ABC
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 › 3:58pm
Palin's politics are 180 degrees opposite of mine, so it matters not that she is a woman, she does not represent my points of view. It also scares me to have 2 self-styled mavericks at the top of the ticket. I think we need a thoughtful, pragmatic, but well-grounded president who can look at all sides and then, make a decision.

Kadie
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 › 4pm
Sarah Palin is exactly the type of women we need as VP
How can she not be - running a state and household at the same time -Great for MaCain. Besides she can take all the unfair character assination and attacks.
Tuseday Sept. 2, 2008 3:56

Sherry
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 › 4:09pm
Palin is against a woman's right to choose. She said if her daughter was raped, she would still not condone an abortion. She believes only in abstinence and would not fund education teaching safe sex. Palin's views are a giant leap backward for everyone who believes in the freedom of choice and equality for the sexes.

Will
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 › 4:20pm
How is it that all these self-styled Liberals continue to think that they can launch these horrible, personalized attacks on ANYONE who doesn't have the same core beliefs they do? The verbal assaults listed above are from people who have NO idea who Sarah Palin is, yet is someone who - - in the entire State od Alaska which, if I remember correctly, has many Republicans AND Democrats- -- - has an in-state approval rating approaching 90% !! Even their chosen Messiah, who to the best of my knowledge, has NO executive experience. NONE. Yet they are willing to drink the Kool-Aid, and follow this admitted Socialist through a wall, and take your hard earned savings to give to whomever.

Wake up leftists, before it's too late. Oh, yes, why don't you watch and listen to Palin's speech this week.

Jacquelyn Wonder
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 › 4:27pm
McCain is the oldest person to ever run for President; Sarah Palin will be a heartbeat away from being President. What a reckless and unthinking decision he has made. I believe it will haunt him in the days to come.

Coco
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 › 4:28pm
I don't think I can bring myself to watch the RNC. I just feel very disconnected from their trickle-down (yeah right!) economics, 1950's social policies and outright lies repeated so often they become "truth."

The DNC gave us hope. The RNC gives us fear.

Loy Banks
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 › 4:29pm
John McCain has done himself proud in selecting Sarah Palen for the VP Post. They certainly have our vote. McCain is just the person we need as President of the United States. A 72 year young true hero, who knows all about domestic issues, with fantastic knowledge concerning foreign affairs. Sarah Palen has more executive experience and street experience than Obama or Biden, even at her young age. I really believe the American People will will make the "right" choice with McCain and Balen. They have the USA's interest at heart, unlike their opponents.

Mary
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 › 4:31pm
Making "executive"decisions for a small town and then a state of less than 700,000 people for 2 years does not qualify her to be our Commander in Chief. This was McCain's first major decision and Palin was a choice forced on him when his own #1 and #2 choices didn't please his campaign managers. I think time will show this was huge a mistake. Is this how McCain will choose his cabinet?...He won't, others will choose for him?
And anyone who believes Palin will take even a single vote from the Hillary camp is deluded.

AM
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 › 4:32pm
Palin's beliefs in sex education and reproductive issues may fit her own philosophy and I respect that. I think she should respect other points of view on family planning issues for all women. She has less than 2 years governing a state smaller than the size of most US cities and how does this qualify her to run our great nation if the need arose? if elected she will set women back many years on reproductive issues. It is a huge disappointment that McCain could not find a suitable running mate, man or woman.

Ron
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 › 4:39pm
Selection of Palin was a master stroke. Having a female as a partner on a national ticket is long overdue.

Besides, as a person who is not part of the Washington milieu, she can more easily connect with the ordinary people of the country.

Her 18 months of 24/7 duty as the Governor of Alaska more than qualifies her to be considered an "experienced" candidate. In those 18 months she has probably faced more challenges and had to make more decisions affecting the well being of the general public than the average member of Congress.

As for the daughter? Who cares? She is a teenager who made a mistake, like millions of teenagers across the country. It is a personal and private matter for the family only, and neither voters nor the government have any business getting involved.

Barry
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 › 4:54pm
Two quick things re above comments. So you don't think Sarah Palen has the necessary "Executive experience" to be President? Well, exactly what does Obama have? By his own admission, he has NONE. He says it's not important because the "people will rule". Oh really? And it would be OK because he and his henchmen picked Joe Biden? A guy who has spent his entire career in the Senate and who was tossed out of college for plagiarism? (Yep, look it up). Now for you women who think you know enough about Sarah to know exactly what her beliefs and direction on abortion are. Funny, other than she personally doesn't believe in abortion, doesn't mean to me that she'd tell you what you have to do, does it. And the Hillary camp - - I am hearing reports that MANY are either switching or considering it.

Ann
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 › 5pm
I find it incredibly insulting that John McCain would hope to garner Hillary Clinton voters with his choice of Sarah Palin as a running mate. To paraphrase Lloyd Bentson, "She's no Hillary Clinton".

Dianne
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 › 5:20pm
I think McCain choosing a woman as his running mate was in response to Obama not choosing Hillary. He's hoping to get Hillary supporters who have said they won't vote for Obama, still an unlikely scenario. At the same time, McCain is hoping to get the Evangelical voters who did not vote for him in the primaries, which is now much more probable. McCain's pick shows me just how desperate the Repulicans feel this year, and how they will resort to old tactics to win. In this case, it is making abortion THE issue again when the economy and the war in Iraq (where thousands of innocent civilians including CHILDREN have been killed) were the main issues. The trouble is that there are a lot of people in our country who will vote on just the abortion issue. I know-I used to be one of them. No more.

Sandra
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 › 5:21pm
When John McCain made his feeble attempt to
steal the DNC's thunder, it drew a huge contrast
in style and judgement.
To be an effective leader, one must first inspire.
Encouraging people to find the best in themselves
is paramount to moving forward.
John McCain's policies are retro.
Joe Biden is ready.

phyllis hugins
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 › 5:44pm
I am a retired Kinder specail ed teacher...my comment... With a small Downs baby.. THAT MOTHER SHOULD BE HOME!! That child needs all the care the mother and the family can give! (plus her 17 year old "mother to be" will need her mom, also).

Anna
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 › 5:52pm
I agree with all who say Palin is the wrong pick. How can the Republicans say the Dems are launching horrible personalized attacks on McCain and Palin when McCain has done nothing but lie in all his tv ads. I believe he picked Palin as a joke on everyone. She is not ready to be VP. Perhaps in twenty years after she has been a US Rep or US senator and her Downs baby is older.

Kevin
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 › 6:19pm
I'm an independent, and honestly just a little lost when it comes to this choice. I'm excited that McCain chose a woman, but I wonder why he didn't pick a more qualified woman. What about Olympia Snowe, or the female governor of Connecticut? I'm a little dismayed that it seems like McCain isn't doing much to explain why she's the most qualifed choice, and is slamming everyone who doubts him as sexist---a pretty strange comment who laughed while someone called Hilary a b***h, and said that Chelsea Clinton was so ugly that Janet Reno must be her father. I guess I'm leaning more to Obama now, but I genuinely wish that I had a better choice than either of them at this point.

Eleanor
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 › 6:47pm
McCain said he makes "quick" decisions... that's obvious!What in the world induced him to pick an unqualified person for his VP? Her charm? Because she can hunt caribou? Play basketball? Who is going to play "Mother" to her five children if she is tending to "World affairs" (with no background training for the same)? Sarah could possibly be America's First Woman President! If I were McCain I wouldn't go caribou hunting with her!

Gene Venable
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 › 7:53pm
The Republican Convention seems much more poorly managed than the Democratic Convention, especially if you are watching it on CSPAN, as I am. No context was provided to the audience about what we were watching in the section I have seen so far. For example, Barbara Bush and her husband appeared while a firefighter was talking. The firefighter seemed to stop mid-speech for a very long time, without comment, while the cameras showed them. Then, without explanation, the firefighter resumed her speech. And I didn't for a moment see what the speech had to do with Republicans or Republican ideals. As I say, these were disconnected incidents, without context and without much meaning.

Hopefully, things will improve.

Dick
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 › 7:57pm
Sarah Palin is painfully unqualified to be Vice President. She is on the ticket to solidify the right wing republican base behind McCain and to appeal to women - all blatantly political reasons, having nothing to do with the qualities necessary to lead this country. It is the worst kind of choice, and tells me that John McCain is a loner, who has no intention of involving the vice -president in anything, and could care less who his vice-president is, so long as she gets him elected.

Terrilou
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 › 8:04pm
Eleanor is right about quick decisions..also called shooting from the hip. Ignoring the fact that he has chosen an incredibly unqualified running mate, consider the fact that he chose her with so little thought. Will he decide to invade Iran with the same amount of forethought? It's frightening to think of such an inexperienced person running our country!

Duane
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 › 10:02pm
I feel McCain demonstrated a real lack of judgement even tho he claims to have much experience. So much for experience when the judgement is poor.

Teresa
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 › 10:26pm
I'm appalled at McCain's choice of running mate. Palin is a right-wing fundamentalist who will bring women's rights back to the dark ages. Furthermore, she is extremely inexperienced. What was McCain thinking? She'll sink his ship for sure.

I also think that Hurricane Gustav was karmic payback to the Republicans for what happened in Florida. Gore should have won.

Cathleen Krahe
Wednesday, September 3, 2008 › 5:15am
Having children requires one to take responsibility for caring for them. It is impossible to to care for 5 children, including a 5 month old Down syndrome baby, be Governor of Alaska and run for Vice President. So much for family values. Where will she be if her 17 year pregnant daughter needs some support? She has subjected this poor girl to having her personal life on the front pages of newspapers. A mother should be protecting and supporting her children.

Colonel Ward
Wednesday, September 3, 2008 › 7:41am
Now comes the test of opportunity equality for women. Gov Palin hopefully will seize the the opportunity to open our eyes to the double standard we experience. She must be seriously considered for her capability and wisdom. The way she faces everyday family challenges must be considered as indications of her strengths.

Judy
Wednesday, September 3, 2008 › 8:30am
The question about Sarah Palin is not can she cope with being a working mom but how has she been doing it so far? Has her experience affected her social agenda? Has she done anything to improve the lives of working mothers in Alaska?

Phyllis
Wednesday, September 3, 2008 › 9:34am
McCain and Palin must be a genuine threat to the liberals to evoke the vile, self righteous comments. Without the circus of the DNC and with their eyes on the reality of this country's needs, RNC has given us vision and hope. I, too, eagerly await Sarah Palin's speech tonight. I have good friends in Alaska who have shared their admiration and trust in Sarah. I hope our country is able to do the same.

Jeane
Wednesday, September 3, 2008 › 11:01am
McCain and Palin are a genuine threat to liberals and all thinking individuals. While they may be very nice people, they are not what this country needs in our top leadership positions at this point in history. McCain seems almost as out of touch with the dramatic changes taking place in our world as George Bush (either). The economy is poised on the edge of disaster and we are still pouring billions of dollars into a war we never should have started in the first place. Palin, on the other hand, is virtually unknown, but what I've seen so far is not impressive. I agree with many who have noted that her family seems to be suffering while she promotes "family values."

Carrie
Wednesday, September 3, 2008 › 12:29pm
I an frightened by the possibility of Palin trying to handle a world crisis when her knowledge is more in line with killing a moose or chairing a PT meeting. She is attractive and outgoing but I wouldn't want her guardian of my child much less my nation. I'm all for having a female in office but shouldn't we find someone with some worldly experience? More of the Bush adminstration is bad but probably better than having Palin president.

Ron
Thursday, September 4, 2008 › 1:29pm
O.K. all of you above who thought Sarah was unqualified. I never could figure out how you got there without knowing anything about her. Even my most ardent liberal friends grudgingly now admit she is a real and powerful homeland force for the fly-over states to be reckoned with.

Coco
Thursday, September 4, 2008 › 2:56pm
Sorry guys but executive experience in a state with a population smaller than the city of Denver doesn't begin to match up to intelligence and good judgment. The speech was filled with petty, below the belt comments with absolutely nothing to do about foreign policy, domestic policy and everything else that this election is about. Palin and McCain offer more of the same bad policy of Bush (McCain has voted with Bush more than 90% of the time-some Maverick). Palin is totally and completely against a woman's right to choose (even in cases of rape or incest), pro-gun, and left her 9,000 person hamlet of Wasilla in debt after her 8-year tenure there. No thanks!

Ron
Thursday, September 4, 2008 › 3:40pm
I completely agree with the polls showing that a majority of Americans feel that the media (TV, radio & print) are trying to do a hatchet job on Palin, just like they did on Hillary. Obviously, the majority of the liberal to ultra-liberal media want Obama to be elected, and so they "spin" the interviews and reportage. There should be a law requiring a warning label on all political reportage (like on medicine or cigarettes), identifying the political leanings (whether right or left, conservative or liberal) of the reporter, regardless of whether TV, radio or print (the worst offenders, right or left, are on talk radio). To get as balanced, and as objective, a report as possible, I regularly view PBS/RMPBS, BBC, the German State TV English Language programs, and read the Economist.

Maryann
Saturday, September 6, 2008 › 4:36pm
I would never vote for such a vitriolic personality. Sarah did nothing in her speech but denigrate, insult and impugn. Neither she or McCain said anything concrete about the SERIOUS issues we face' not only as a nation but as people of all walks of life. Sarah is and would be very dangerous as our President. Listen to her one way speech....how can you expect her to make friends across the aisle and thru the world. Thanks but not thanks. As a woman there are much more issues than just abortion rights. I want my grandchildren to grow up in a safe, clean and prosperous country that is regarded highly once again through the world.