Republican presidential candidate John McCain announced his vice presidential running mate yesterday, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, 44.
Casey Mayville reports for Government Technology, “Elected governor in 2006, Palin became Alaska’s first female governor, as well as its youngest. She will be the first politician from Alaska to run on a national ticket in a campaign for vice president.”
“Palin has made efforts to expand the use of technology in Alaska. In 2007, Palin announced a new online training program for workforce development. The Work Ready/College Ready program helped to assess skills and offered training courses,” Mayville reports. “‘The skills needed to enter many vocations are similar to the skills needed to get into college,’ explained Palin at the time. ‘Work Ready/College Ready lets students know what level of skill they need for the occupations they’re interested in, how well they match up in those skill levels and it provides training to reach their goals.'”
Full article here.
More about Alaska’s “Work Ready/College Ready” program that was announced by Sarah Palin last August via GovTech here.
Carrie Tait reports for The Financial Post,” Ms. Palin, 44, is a lifetime NRA member who is in charge of a conservative state. She’s bullish on drilling offshore and opening up more of the contentious Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to exploration and production. ‘People are realizing, too, there’s been some deception, I think, from some on what ANWR is all about. Of the 20 million acres up there, we’re looking at 2,000 acres as a footprint,’ she said in the interview. ‘With new technology, with directional drilling, maybe that footprint [will] shrink even more.'”
MacDailyNews Note: CNBC’s Maria Bartiromo talks with Sarah Palin about ANWR drilling, which also touches on technology, in an 11:41 video interview here.
Stefanie Olsen reports for CNET, “Mead Treadwell, a technology-focused venture capitalist and chair of the U.S. Arctic Research Commission, a federal advisory commission to President Bush and Congress on Arctic research issues, said he met Palin when she was the mayor of Wasilla, a small town in Alaska. Treadwell said that she has long been open-minded about the need for technology to solve problems.”
“‘We’re a natural energy economy and you can’t drill on- or offshore without bringing the best technology, like 3D seismic technology to find areas for drilling, directional drilling to exploit it, and satellites. She’s supportive of new tech,’ Treadwell said,” Olsen reports.
“Palin’s father-in-law was at one time staff officer at the Alaska Science and Technology Foundation, the state’s seed capital fund for technology. According to Treadwell, she was critical of her incumbent Republican rival Frank Murkowski in 2006 when he shut the foundation down. In her inaugural address as governor, she emphasized the value of research into science and technology,” Olsen reports.
“Despite Alaska’s absence of a big tech industry, the state’s chief industries, oil and gas, as well as some telecommunications, require cutting-edge technology. Treadwell said that in discussions with Palin about balancing development vs. the environment, she typically points to technology as a solution,” Olsen reports.
Full article here.
While we’re still exploring exactly which tech devices Palin uses currently, Bridget Carey reported yesterday for The Miami Herald of “the BlackBerry-wielding Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who had bloggers buzzing early Friday about her tech-centric lifestyle. She’s also three years younger than Obama.”
MacDailyNews Take: Send Palin an iPhone immediately, Apple!
As for Obama’s V.P. pick, Joseph Biden, 65, Carey reports, “The technology issue isn’t so much of his wired lifestyle as it is about his past stances on technology issues like Internet freedom and privacy. Biden has spoken out against peer-to-peer networks that allow the sharing of music and other copyrighted material. On the topic of Internet privacy, he is in favor of allowing communications companies to hand over a user’s personal information to the government, but with the intention to crack down on child porn and piracy.”
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Michael R.,” “Dennis,” and “Jen” for the heads up.]
MacDailyNews Note: If anyone has links to articles and/or photos of Palin and technology (listening to her iPod, using a Mac, or even a ratty old Dell) or any of the other candidates – Biden, McCain, and/or Obama – please send them to the MacDailyNews Webmaster (link below) for inclusion in this or future articles.
@Arnold Ziffel “Barack Obama is the person who can lead our nation now”
And just what exactly do you see in his resume that says “leader”? His experience boils down to two occupations, lawyer and senator (and that goes for Biden too). All that means is that he’s good at *arguing* with other people. Arguing isn’t leading.
I’m going to vote for those who’ve actually done some real reforming (McCain-Palin) over one who only talks about it while reading off a teleprompter and an old school Washington politician (Obama-Biden).
Nuff said.
USA, USA, USA!!!
Democrats…don’t be a hater, like your candidate. USA rocks!
“What a double standard… if the Clintons were Republicans you guys would have been laughing your asses off at statements like that.”
There are already plenty of Democrats who’d laugh at the statement I made. My sentiments aren’t those of the party. Instead I’d say most Dems disagree with me.
You think all Democrats love the Clintons? The long drawn out primary process wasn’t enough to prove otherwise?
No, I wouldn’t be laughing if it was a Republican. I don’t make judgments about anybody’s personal family decisions.
“As for HuffPost and Kos, I never said that there were official Dem Party outlets, but reading them gives one some valuable insight into the mindset of the typical “hope-n-change” voter.”
No, reading them gives you insight into the mindest of the typical HuffPost and Kos comment poster. It’s a very, VERY tiny percentage of the millions of Americans who support Barack Obama and Joe Biden, most of whom don’t sit on the internet all day chatting about politics.
The article fails to mention that this tech/science “friendly” VP candidate has called global warming a hoax and is pushing to teach creationism in schools. Doesn’t sound like someone we should be excited about as a future leader in the field of technology.
Democrats….your boy didn’t even bother to visit our troops while doing his overseas tour. Could it be that he was against the war and believes in fighting evil with humility? Yeah, let’s all be humble and let evil run roughshod all over the world…..good grief, Obama is the new Neville Chamberlain.
Dems/Libs,
While you’re all shitting all these bricks up in Boston, NYC, and over in LA, can you at least come on down and do it in nice neat line on the border?
We might as well be productive now.
As a Republican it’s difficult to support presidential candidate McCain when deep down inside most of us can’t stand him, if not loathe him. After all, he is one half of McCain/Feingold and McCain/Kennedy bills that made him the “maverick” – or as we called him before a “traitor” and “RINO.”
McCain during the election = Bush Lite
McCain after the election = Democrat Lite
Re:”The reason for this is that, because you’re not in a controlled studio situation, you get an adrenalin dump and this affects your whole system throwing your carefully rehearsed moves out by just enough to render them ineffective. That’s why if it was just you and me, I’m vicious enough to fancy my chances of beating the living crap out of you (and I am a lot younger than you). “
I shouldnt waste the time responding to this, but………….you make the assumption that our “system of carefully rehearsed moves” is not 500-1000 hours per year of practice involving actual hand to hand combat conditions.
Assumptions are dangerous as I would assume that you know.
And, when you are trained in hand to hand combat, what should comes with it is the ability to recognize and avoid almost intuitively those situations that lead to street fighting. We recognize those of you that enjoy street fighting and let you mix it up with each other. We just go on about our business.
Have a nice day.
“Democrats….your boy didn’t even bother to visit our troops while doing his overseas tour. Could it be that he was against the war and believes in fighting evil with humility?”
Well if that was the reason, why’d he kick off his foreign tour at an Army base in Afghanistan?
If he hates the troops so much, then why’d he meet with General David Petraeus in Iraq?
If he wants to fight evil with humility, then why was he calling for extra brigades of troops to be sent to Afghanistan over a year ago when John McCain said it wasn’t necessary? Wonder what that could’ve done to stop a resurgent Taliban from retaking their territory after regrouping on the Afghan/Pakistan border for years.
Take away the scripted speeches and teleprompter and you get this.
Pathetic.
Let’s not get into politics here. But if we must, then this is a very dangerous ticket and a startling example of politics over judgement. Technology aside, allowing the religious right to get into the White House again will alter the very nature of our country, the Supreme Court, and probably the world. This is very serious. This woman wants creationism taught in schools, doesn’t give a damn about the environment, knows nothing about foreign policy, and- not running for office myself, I can say what the dems can’t- she’s a bimbo with breasts who is no more Hillary Clinton than Al Sharpton is Barack Obama. If you’re gonna talk politics (or vote), you better do your homework. There’s much more, but I’m feeling too ill to even get into it. Check it out..
MDN, gonna take you to task here. What the FRACK does this have to do with Apple or Mac news? Yeah, its about technology, and so was the Biden/RIAA one, but this is pure pandering. WOW! Way to troll for hits and page views, something MDN has learned really from some anti-Apple tech analysts.
This is a politician who favors teaching creationism in schools–she gets around the issue by saying teach both. Earlier this year she stated she had no idea what a Vice President does. Hello! The VP presides over the Senate and casts the tie breaking vote. The VP is a member of the executive branch of government, stand in for the President during ceremonies where the President isn’t available or attending, and most importantly: STANDS IN FOR THE PRESIDENT IF THE PRESIDENT IS REMOVED FROM OFFICE FOR WHAT EVER REASON!
Don’t doubt people won’t take into account who the VP is and that persons qualification post Bush-era of an emperor presidency and shogun vice presidency.
Both conservative and liberal commenters have all acknowledged that the McCain’s “Obama has no experience” argument is completely off the table. That was McCain’s selling point! Along with judgement, McCain is huge on questioning Obama’s judgement. McCain choose a running mate that is about to be deposed for abuse of power. Even if she’s cleared no political campaign, especially for the highest office in the land, wants to have to juggle the attention that’s going to bring. This now takes a state matter and blows it to a national one: Whitewater all over again.
I’ve been reading both liberal and conservative commentators about this choice. Conservative are touting her evangelical roots, stance on abortion, and drilling for oil, but they, like their liberal colleagues, are questioning this choice, and not necessarily in a good way. Hell, even Republican Senators from her own state are saying she is in no way ready to be Vice President.
McCain himself only met her twice! Twice! What does that say about his vetting process? One of his own campaign manager stated on national tv that he’s unsure of McCain’s relationship with Palin. RED FLAG, RED FLAG!
McCain says she’s ready to be President if needed. Prove it!
I really do hope that she survives this politically and personally. I wonder if her husband is now going to have to quit his job because he work for British Petroleum. He’s not an executive, but this info will be used at some point to argue that she’s too close to oil. Some will say that it gives her a unique view inside the oil and energy industry. Hell, she even supported Obama’s energy plan, until this info was scrubbed from her website.
This truly is going to be an interesting election.
Oh, and MDN can we get back to some Mac news? And here’s an idea why don’t you start a political blog and move such posts and discussion to it.
What an idiotic hornet’s nest MDN stirred up with this media-fluff of an article intended to fill space without actually having to say anything probative.
Given: she’s a babe – prettiest picture posted on the site in quite a while.
Given: her experience is questionable, but she IS the only one of the four with EXECUTIVE experience. No foreign policy experience. No national experience. But, she HAS been an executive in the minor leagues.
Given: she knows how to use the Internets – unlike McCain. But she opposes teaching Evolution in schools or investing in non-fossil fuels.
As a choice for VP, she is no better than Joe Biden. (WTF was Obama thinking?) She may win over a modest percentage of hard-core ‘women’ voters, those ignored by Obama when he did NOT choose Hillary, and she may draw in the Radical Religious Right (Conservatives, that is, who quote the OT instead of the NT), but … still, a weak-a$$ choice.
N O W can we go back to discussing Mac-related topics? PLEASE?
@R2 “No, reading them gives you insight into the mindest of the typical HuffPost and Kos comment poster. It’s a very, VERY tiny percentage of the millions of Americans who support Barack Obama and Joe Biden”
Then why do many mainstream Dem pols attend the YearlyKos/NetRoots conventions (and therefore give legitimacy to that hateful site) if they’re only a “tiny percentage”?
@R2
I mispoke….I meant visiting the injured troops in the hospitals in Europe..
Funny, the main battle was in Iraq and Obama wants to send more troops to a smaller scale war in a country that has less importance to our national security and interests. Duh…. The surge in Iraq has brought us very close to full victory in the war in Iraq. Obama was against the surge.
Yay macs!
Now McCain has campaigned vigorously on the notion that Obama is untried and untested and too young to be Commander in Chief or President.
Then he needs to surprise the people and take some of the spotlight off of the Dems after the convention so he picks Palin.
McCain keeps on flip-floppin and the media could care less. Palin may or may not prove to be a viable and qualified veep but at least by McCains stated standard she is not.
Sure the Maverick likes to roll him some dice. How do you like this trait in a president? McCain’s choice was cynically desperate, regardless of the Palin reality. McCains own words illuminate this fact.
I have no idea how Obama will do. But he beat down the Clintons, ran a great and disciplined campaign, made a solid, considered VP choice and is an intelligent human being. I’ll take my chances with the smart guy, you go ahead and vote for the gambler–we all will suffer together with the others choices and I’ll bet any voter will consider their decision far more seriously than McCain did the VP choice.
I’ve just been made aware of another reason why I could never vote for a Dem, given the quality of the people they call their leaders…
Apparently, hurricanes are really funny!
@ccap1 “Obama … made a solid, considered VP choice”
No, he made a calculated and safe choice which had more to do with world events (Russia/S Ossetia conflict) at the time.
“As a choice for VP, she is no better than Joe Biden. (WTF was Obama thinking?)”
If you’re saying Obama didn’t do well in terms of a calculated decision to bring in some specific demographic, I could see (and would be glad he chose not to go that route).
The choice for your VP is the very first, and very serious, executive decision a candidate will make.
What Obama thought was, “Who is the person I want to trust with the country should something happen to me?” The answer was Joe Biden. I don’t see how he went wrong there.
The answer when McCain asked himself that question was Sarah Palin (after the religious right told him that Tom Ridge, Joe Lieberman and Mitt Romney weren’t allowed).
Karl Rove was right. He just picked the wrong candidate.
“‘I think he’s going to make an intensely political choice, not a governing choice,’ Rove said. ‘He’s going to view this through the prism of a candidate, not through the prism of president; that is to say, he’s going to pick somebody that he thinks will on the margin help him in a state like Indiana or Missouri or Virginia. He’s not going to be thinking big and broad about the responsibilities of president.'”
@ Sue
“I hope she’s a Mac user!” What in the hell kind of stupid statement is that? You going to vote for someone based on the fact that she might be a Mac user? You need professional help…
ByeTakeCare,
Here the problem with the “victory in Iraq” arguement: Bush never defined what that “victory” was supposed to be. First it was WMD’s, then regime change, then it became the war on terror. Many thought that victory was accomplished when Bush landed on the carrier and had a banner that read “Mission Accomplished”. Some thought it was when Saddam was captured, tried, and hung. New its being tied to the surge.
Personally, I say it’s when Iraq has a $79 billion surplus and when its government is all but demanding a time table for complete withdrawal. The surge is no longer the condition on the ground, the current conditions are that the Iraqi government wants to take control of their own security, especially now that they have the financial ability to do so. Victory is at hand, a date will be set for our troops to come home proudly for the job they did, and the billions of dollars we’re spending can now be refocused where it should be–on America!
She has less experience than Obama, and people are falling for this hook, line, and sinker. Good luck, neo-cons.
@R2
It turns out that the Obama campaign is running a website smearing Sarah Palin.
Read here for all the gory details.
she wants to have creationism taught in schools. yeah, just what this country needs.