Mike Michaelson — September 20, 2008

You should not be criticizing Palin. I bet you're a liberal who doesn't say the pledge of allegiance or wear a US flag pin! You traitor! Palin is all-knowing and is a servant of the one true God.

Mike Michaelson — September 20, 2008

Futhermore, when Palin says that dinosaurs roamed the earth 4,000 years ago, well who are you to question her?! When she says we are on a jihad against "people who hate freedom" in the Middle East, you better agree. If you don't, you're a traitor. I am proud of Sarah for continuing to breed and spawn kids after 40, regardless of the increased likelihood of complications. God is looking out for all of us. That women bear children with horrible deformities is a testament of God's love.

Sam — September 21, 2008

Sarah Palin's experience:

Sarah Palin on Economics:

Sarah is the Governor of the State of Alaska, a U.S. State with the population of approximately 700,000 people. Under Sarah's leadership, this year, each Alaskan will receive an Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend (from Alaska's oil wealth) of approximately $2000. On top of that, because of the high gas prices, each Alaskan will receive an energy rebate of $1200. She knows what needs to be done to balance energy resources and a budget. She has an 80% approval rating as Governor of Alaska, so the citizens are on her side and she is on their side.

In 1973, Joe Biden voted against the construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS). The Trans-Alaska Pipeline System was constructed, and since then, the pipeline has supplied 15 billion barrels of oil to the U.S.

Sarah Palin on Foreign Relations:

Here are photos of Sarah Palin visiting her Alaska National Guard troops in the Middle East:

http://asecondhandconjecture.com/index.php/2008/08/30/sarah-palin-kuwait-gallery/

Her troops get sent to Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Kosovo, and she gets briefed constantly on their mission, well being, and what is going on in that region that could affect her troops.
With Canada, she has to deal with immigration/customs crack down at the border.
Her troops train Mongolian troops every year.
Alaska is home to 2 major U.S. Air Force bases: Eielson Air Force Base in Fairbanks, and Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage. Russia is a few miles from Alaska's coast. U.S. Air Force planes intercept Russian planes all of the time.
Alaska has an enormous coast line and foreign boats cruise around the waters all of the time, which can turn into an international situation. If an emergency arises, she has to know what is going on not only in her state but around it.
The Missile Defense system that her troops run protects the U.S. from a nuclear attack.
As the Governor of Alaska and the Alaska National Guard Commander and Chief, she is ultimately responsible for anti-terrorism measures in Alaska. When they found pics of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System in a cave in Afghanistan, they sent Alaska Army Guard troops to guard it and train in anti-terrorism measures. A man was recently sentenced to 13 years in prison for plotting to blow up the pipeline.
She sent a C-17 plane with Alaska National Guard troops to help with the Hurricane Gustav response effort, which included troops available for search-and-rescue missions.

To summarize, Sarah Palin has years of executive experience in economics, the oil industry within the U.S., and U.S. National Defense. She knows first hand about teamwork, and is ready to lead our country.

George Washington: "We take the stars from Heaven, the red from our mother country, separating it by white stripes, thus showing that we have separated from her, and the white stripes shall go down to posterity representing Liberty."
Obama: “I won't wear that pin on my chest”.

Reid  — September 21, 2008

Mike, you must be kidding. There is no one true God. Ask the Hindus, Muslims, Mormons, Jews etc.... In fact, there is no physical evidence that God or Jesus roamed this Earth. We have stories from many people who preach that they did exist, but no evidence. We call this faith. Just like I have faith that it will start snowing November 5th and stop April 15th. Furthermore, I once read a book about a young boy who went to a school in England and learned magic. I have faith that one day my daughter will go to that school too!
Reid

Ron — September 22, 2008

I'm not really sure why I'm responding to this, but here goes...

FactCheck.org aleady debunked the claim that Governor Palin sought to impose creationism on the public schools. She said that discussion and debate are healthy in a learning environment and lamented the hostility shown toward even discussing questions about the theory of evolution. It's a big leap from there to say she wants to implement creationism as part of the school curriculum. In fact, she said, "I don't think there should be a prohibition against debate if it comes up in class. It doesn't have to be part of the curriculum."

This leads me to a question: Why do Matt Damon and others of his ilk feel motivated to belittle and insult the people who buy the tickets and watch their performances, thereby allowing them to live an opulent lifestyle that very few of the people they demean will ever see? There are millions of people of faith who believe that God created the heavens and the earth, yet Hollywood is condescending and insulting to them. Why can't they believe what they wish without impugning the beliefs of others?

As for the last post, the historical record of Jesus substantiates that He did indeed "roam the earth." The Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, the Talmud, and Roman historians Cornelius Tacitus, Gaius Suetonius Tranquillas, Thallus and others all spoke of Jesus. Why would the Talmud, among the holiest texts of Rabbinical Judaism, mention Jesus at all? Clearly, Jesus was a person of significance in Jewish and Roman history. Most reputable scholars have rejected the non-historicity of Jesus.

Whether or not you believe He was resurrected is where faith comes in. If you believe in His resurrection, then everything changes and you can't just live life without consequences. If you don't believe, then nothing matters and you can live however you want. Thanks for giving me an opportunity to express my point of view!

Coral — September 22, 2008

wahahahaha i'm 15 and i think palin's a looney! if she believes in creationism still, she's not utilizing the brain god gave her. you want to know why in the bible it states that the world was created by god in seven days?!-because if god had tried to explain evolution to people who had recently discovered fire, and knew not that the earth was round, their heads would explode. but now that our race is smarter with the brains god clearly thought we should have (and use) it makes perfect sense to think logically. palin's an ignorant fool. i think god would agree.

David Todd Kessler — September 22, 2008

psst: Hey Damon: Based on creation theory, we might even find some today, since they are intelligently designed. Also, based on freedom of religion, she can believe what she wants and I'll vote for her with a smile knowing she believes in God and not that we're from monkeys. I like a site called answersingenesis.org.

Tom Boyd — September 23, 2008

Thanks for the comments, particularly the well-reasoned efforts to educate us on who Palin really is. It's good to know that she's not exactly hoping to teach Creationism in schools, although it sounds like that's the way she's leaning. It's also comforting to know that she has, at least, SOME experience as Gov. of Alaska.
I'm still not comfortable with her, however. The entire state of Alaska is smaller in population than Denver, and she has only been in office for a very short time. I don't think she's qualified purely because of her lack of experience.
But there's more:
1) Her few appearances in public have been derisive, insulting, childish and designed to tear the nation apart - not bring it together. Partisanism is getting worse, not better, and as a middle-of-the-road, centrist voter, I'm particularly interested in having leaders capable of leading true bi-partisan efforts. McCain definitely has a record and demeanor that proves he's capable of it, as does Obama, so at least on that point I'm hapy with the two candidates.
2) She appears to be one who would continue the war on science. Even if she's not gone so far as to be a "Creationist," she is Pentacostal. Research pentacostalism and you will discover beliefs which, to me as a scientifically educated person, are shocking.
3) People who worked with her during her short political career are coming out and saying that she was very, very difficult to deal with and took things very personally. Most of these comments have come from her fellow republicans.
4) Her husband apparently has a huge role in Alaska's government right now. We know little about her, and even less about him. How can we trust that these two people might be the most powerful in the free world should McCain pass away. What I hear about Palin doesn't impress me (hockey mom is not a requirement for the presidency), and even so I still need much, much more information about her and her husband before I would be at all comfortable seeing them in office.

As one more note: Those who argue for Creationism should understand that there are a few things which are historical in the Bible, but that does not mean the bible is an authoritative text on everything - nor that it's accurate on each and every thing (was the Tower of Babel real? Did people really live 430 years back then?) Furthermore, there is not now nor will there ever be a good answer to this question: Why is the Christian creation myth more accurate than any of the thousands of other creation myths of history. Why, for example, not take the Greek religious creation myths to be accurate over the Christian creation myth?

Sam — September 23, 2008

Thank you for your honesty and insight, Tom. A couple of things: in her interview with Shaun Hannity, she said that she is FOR teaching Evolution in schools, as her father is/was a science teacher. She has Christian beliefs like some of our Founding Fathers, but I think she realizes that she can't and should not force her beliefs on anybody. If you're able to watch her interview with Shaun Hannity on Youtube, etc., he asks her about the various rumors going around about her, and she answers whether they are true or false. Despite all of the rumors and negative things the media tries to dig up on her, she still has a high approval rating.

Abraham Lincoln had 18 months of schooling (formal education), largely self-taught, wise, and well respected. And I like the fact that she quotes from him and the Declaration Of Independence, which makes me feel more comfortable about her, aside from her many accomplishments.
Just my opinions, thanks for listening.

Mike Michaelson — September 23, 2008

Hi Reid. There is only one God. Don't be a subjective pagan. Everyone who is voting for Palin is doing so because she knows what God wants. There is no other reason to vote for her!

God wants us to have lots of guns and kill people who don't agree with us. Unless, of course, they are fetuses.

Tom — October 7, 2008

Mike,

YOU ARE HILARIOUS!

Tom — October 7, 2008

People have a right to be frightened by Sarah Palin. Nothing against her, but if she has less experience, or experience that cannot be validated, then she is simply not qualified. She has not been involved in any decision regarding national security or foreign relations, yet she said she had experience in that area.

The fact of the matter is, she makes people nervous because they are smart; they are thinking, 'Holy Crap! PRESIDENT Palin?'

naes — October 11, 2008

To beleive in the written scripture and in God as the creator does not mean that a person can't believe in evolution. The scripture is open to interpretation. It does not state that dinosaurs roamed the earth 4000 years ago. Some believe that the 7 day reference might be in gods time which may be much different from our time. Also the book of Genisis is also a written history of a story told over many generations maybe thousands of generations. What is most important is your own relationship with God. Even evolution has missing pieces. Big Bang theory fits genisis as well, if you want it to. Faith Faith Faith get it or not.