I think there are likely Saudi women who would be much better qualified as a Vice President contender of the United States than Sarah Palin. In fact as I think on some of her responses to queries it made me realize that gee…maybe I could someday fit a profile as a Vice President. No; I’ve not been Mayor of a small Alaskan town or Governor of a State but I have met foreign heads of state…I even met a few U.S. presidents during my old diplomatic career. I’ve not only traveled to war zones but I have worked in them in Iraq and Pakistan. But this post is not about me and whether I’d ever be a viable candidate. This post is about Sarah Palin and perhaps she should consider coming to serve in Saudi Arabia rather than the United States of America.
Here are some of the issues I see with her so far that would make her an ideal citizen of Saudi Arabia:
o Favors creationist teaching instead of evolution. This is also what is taught in the Saudi school systems.
o Speaking of the Saudi school and education system, the way she parroted her answers to Charles Gibson also indicated she can learn by rote memorization. Another endearing point for bringing her to Saudi.
o She hinted that Iraq war is a mission from God. Many sheiks and clerics may agree with her but perhaps for differing reasons.
o She does not believe in abortion even in the case of rape and incest (only time she accepts it is if the mother life is in danger). Again, this teaching would go down well in Saudi Arabia.
o Her husband was a member of the Alaskan Independence Party, which has a platform of cessation from the Union, She is rumored to have been a member but no one can make the paper trail stick yet. However, she addressed the convention of the party as late as this year. For a party (Republican) that is running on a platform of country first. If this sticks to her she has a major problem. How can you be a Vice President and support something as crazy as cessation even if that was 10 years ago. Now this one would likely get her in trouble with a monarchy.
o Her previous church of which she was a member of all her life until 2 years ago, believes that God speaks through people in tongues. I’m sure that would endear her to the Muttawa.
o She “should” know much about oil coming from the key American producing state. The Ministry of Oil here in Riyadh would appreciate that.
And then we get to her stance on issues. Oh dear…she has contradicted herself. For example, she spoke in a speech on Obama asking for ear marks when she asked for more per year than him. She even hired a lobbyist to help her get earmarks when she was a small town Mayor. She also lied outright about selling a state airplane on e-bay at a profit (it was sold privately and for a loss)
She lied about the bridge to nowhere. She was for it when running for governor and then reversed her position when she won and used the money for other projects (there was NO “thanks but no thanks”, she took the money). She is exaggerating her success in the pipeline project. It will take a minimum of 10 years to get it done and not even 1 mile has been built yet. She needs to get the federal government on and oil companies on board (not an easy task since she alienated the oil executives). So in essence she is claiming a touchdown when she is still on the 50 yard line. What is worse is she is selling the pipeline victory as something that will impact Americans soon, when it will take at minimum 10 years to have any impact.
Do not get me wrong, she is a very smart lady and can speak very well. But there are so many issues that make her the wrong VP… for the United States of America.
you know i think you got a bit hard on us (Saudi) you hate palin thats fain but what do we had to do with it we don’t even have the same religion as she is
http://www.womenagainstsarahpalin.com
I cannot speak about “that woman” without automatically referring to her with names far worse than the only ones I’ll use here. (I’m trying to keep it clean for ya’ll)
here goes..
That hose beast is my worst political nightmare and an embarrassment to women. I hope she suffers a humiliating loss.
’nuff said
sorry. wrong link
http://www.womenagainstsarahpalin.blogspot.com
to see what MOST (evolved) women feel about her.
LOL. This post was funny.
Various family members of mine have already stated that she’s no better than the Taliban and would fit in quite well with them. I agree. She just needs to lose the heels and put on a burka and preferably tone down her annoying voice
Its kind of funny really, all the similarities between her and the “islamic extremists” (which i’m sure to her encompass the entire populations of the middle east and south asia) she’s working so hard to save America from.
Carol, I have no doubt that you have more and better qualifications that she does for filling the VP slot, so please refrain from putting your name in the same paragraph with hers. That’s too much of a compliment– to her.
And now I will check out that link supplied by Andrea.
When McCain announced she’ll be running with him, I immediately thought ‘Thank God, they’ve lost!’
(but still keeping fingers crossed, cuz hey, it was the Americans who voted for Bush twice!)
3zoby – thanks for your comment. Yes; perhaps I was too hard on Saudi Arabia for dreaming to foster Sarah Palin on the Kingdom! (smile) But I still believe that as compared to Palin, there are a number of Saudi women who would make a better choice as a VP of the United States than her.
It is going to be an interesting election for sure… whichever way it goes, groundbreaking history will be made. I pray for continued faith and good judgment in the American people when they go to the polls.
heh…. it’s almost amusing that someone living out of the country has the exact same feelings that I do about dear Ms. Sarah. I’ve managed to point out to quite a few people about her anti-choice stance, and they were totally amazed. It scares me how little people actually research the candidates prior to voting.
This is going to be a very very strange race, one the one hand, you’ve got a woman running for VP and on the other hand, you’ve got a black man. My poor father’s head is spinning like the gal in the Exorcist, he’s 86 and from NY and both choices aren’t very acceptable to him!
Molly,
Thanks for your comment. And something that I have not seen covered as much yet in either US or foreign media, is how America and the Presidential race is being perceived outside by other nations. Most Saudis I speak with are not following the race too closely and are (naturally) only interested in “how will this affect Saudi Arabia” rather than focus on the smear and other campaign issues taking place.
What happened to the simple principle of “You lie on your resume, You do not get the job”. i.e. bridge to nowhere. I thought that should be an automatic.
I think that McCain picked her as a marketing tool to try to sway women voters away from Obama…..just that simple. He chose her after only one meeting with her, right? The Republicans were desperate and wanted to get someone on the ticket that would pull up the numbers in their camp and hopefully it would be someone who would have very little dirt in their background. Who better than someone working in the ‘middle of nowhere’ like Alaska!
But, it’s a woman at least! Look how long we’ve waited to have a woman in office. I think that women are far too critical of her. But, like you, I’m in the Obama camp.
Carol, you need to move to Washington and get more involved! : ) Then, we can all vote for you and say, ‘Remember when…’
Gee, Bedu, I thought your blog wasn’t about Sudi-bashing? Yet you are happy to assign Palin to them? well better to saudi Arabia then America.
As America is so fond of poking around in other people’s countries and olitics I still think we should all get a vote in who becomes president.
Tee, I still doubt wether the Americans did vote for Bush the first time, I found the whole issue very doubtful.
you nailed it…She is not and never will be the right candidate for Vice President. Her politics are scary and she has not a clue about international issues.
Aafke –
“As America is so fond of poking around in other people’s countries and olitics I still think we should all get a vote in who becomes president.”
I like that comment!!
It’s interesting reading everyones views. I am sure at some point there will be those who have a different perspective and support Sarah Palin. And I do want to reiterate I’m using my “black humor” here with this post in an attempt to highlight why I do not think she is a suitable candidate.
“What happened to the simple principle of “You lie on your resume, You do not get the job”. i.e. bridge to nowhere. I thought that should be an automatic.”
LOL, that’s a great thought but I think we would never have a president if that were the case. The US would be in a permanent state of anarchy
This election needs to be looked at so very carefully and from a number of different angles. I think that there is a high chance that the VP could very well end up as the President more so than in past elections. Therefore it is essential that voters looks at the candidates thoroughly; know who they are; what are their track records; how knowledgable are they on the critical issues pertaining to be domestic and foreign policy. One should not make a vote due to gender, race, religion or ethnicity. It should be based on who has the most and right qualifications to get the job done, be a leader and be a Commander in Chief of the number one super power in the world.
I only have one thing to say. It could only happen in the good old U.S. of A. No abortion rights for rape victims!!!! Excuse me. Where is the morality in that. I have been following your blog for a long time,having spent five years in K.S.A. in various places; Jubail, Jeddah and Yanbu. I’m now based in Cairo and have to say I find your blog very interesting and informative. Bravo
Thanks for your comment Denise. I’m glad to hear you are enjoying my blog
Denise, I agree with you. Rape victims should have their say. How horrible to force someone to go through labor after that.
——————
‘It should be based on who has the most and right qualifications to get the job done, be a leader and be a Commander in Chief of the number one super power in the world.’
If your statement is true, Carol, then how did we end up with George Bush for 2 terms? Was it the pregnant chads? The hanging chads? The half punched chads? And what of all of the missing ballots? I hope this next election is better run than the last one. That was really an embarassment.
A2S: I cannot answer your question but just hope that the American public has learned their lesson!
I wrote about why her selection makes me so angry on my other WP blog (illusionsofme), and though overseas, it’s hard not to get wrapped up and angry and frightened at what may happen in America come Nov. 4. I have been known to overestimate the intelligence of the American voter before, but I hope this time we as a country can do the right thing and vote for genuine change and hope that things get better, because I believe they will.
Sigh. Though you neglected to mention that Bristol Palin’s pregnancy would NOT go down so well in KSA
. – maya
According to the latest polls, the majority of women voters have switched their support from the Obama camp to clearly supporting the McCain-Palin ticket. I thought women were smarter than that! I think the US is way overdue for a woman president, but I certainly won’t let that be the only factor that weighs in my decision of who to vote for. Thank you for pointing out some of the many reasons why we should not elect Palin as the VP.
Maya – Thanks for your comment.
Susie – Exactly; I am not opposed to the thought or concept of female VP or Pres — as long as she has the right qualifcations and credentials.
Okay…so whats our third choice?
May God save his world by helping Americans give some sense on the day of voting in Presidential election..already world is paying too much for the mistake of Bush’s election twice..
When one hears the views of Palin, and think of her victory with MC Cain as US president, one starts wondering whether There is any chance of Bush getting a third term….that woud be better than a win for Republicans…
hmm. let’s see if this works…
if not try this
okay..so can’t embed a video. check.
)
I wish every not so bright woman in this country who is considering or has decided to vote for Palin because she’s a woman would remember 2 things 1)she is the exact OPPOSITE candidate as Hilary in 99% of issues and 2) remember that pretty popular toxic girl we all knew in highschool, who got away with everything, and hurt everyone?
I do.
american2saudi.. there’s a movie out now in the US called…”Stealing America: Vote by Vote”, about how the last 2 elections (which were obviously fraudulently won) were influenced by computer hackers. Polls not matching results, noone knowing why. Potential computer virus.
I prefer to think this was the option rather than believe the majority of voters were mindless enough to want Bush.
Andrea – that video is great!
Andrea, great video, I’m going to nick it for my own blog.
I am convinced the first ”election” of Bush was rigged, and I wouldn’t be sure of the second.
Hahahaha!
Carol,
this is funny! I loved it so much, and I also loved the first comment! Cant stop laughing… hahaha
I can’t wait to share some of what’s been said here with my republican friends. (hehehe)
I’m a Saudi and I’m carefully following this election as I have carefully followed the previous ones. I find this one to be rather amusing! The big fuss about that lipstick remark is just an example of how amusing this election can be.
Aafke, there will be a debate in your country about which one of the two will be best for Europe. I wouldn’t have missed it if I were there.
I’ll end with a small reminder. Angela Merkel (Germany’s Chancellor) is not a great speaker. Moreover, she’s done below average in her debates with her opponents during election days. Yet, and despite all of that, she’s considered one of the greatest leaders in Europe now, and she was chosen by Forbes Magazine to be the most powerful woman in the world in the present time, and she has done a lot for Germany. Most Germans (who are perfectionists and critical of everything) like her. What I’m trying to say is that, great leaders mustn’t be great speakers, and great speakers mustn’t be great leaders.
Bristol’s pregnancy plays like a call for help from an Alaskan wilderness. Bristol is not your ordinary American teenager. She is the daughter of a woman who has chosen career over family. She’s been raised in the most prohibitive Christian sect in existence, a sect that doesn’t even believe in lipstick, much less what it can lead to!
This family is certainly not “an American story” as one commentator said apologetically.
As for a woman in the White House, I wouldn’t vote for her unless she were passed menapause. Call me sexist.
I think American women should compare the 2 VP candidates not just on gender, but also on how they supported women issues (same for the top of the ticket also). Bidden has been on the right side of those issues all of his career from championing the “Violence Against Women Act.” to improving wages. I do not see any accomplishments for Palin in this area other than the fact that she is a woman.
It is sad that Bidden is not looked at seriously with all the media coverage of Palin over the last few weeks. He is a great man with decades of service to the country all while maintaining his home in Delaware and riding the train 4 hrs every day so he can be there for his children (after his wife and daughter were killed in an accident). He is also not doing it for wealth as the record shows he is the poorest senator with a personal wealth of under $300K even with 32 years as a senator.
I am just amazed on how the media completely diverted coverage from such qualified and dedicated public servant to a scandal laden new comer. May be Bidden should shoot a moose or better yet a pig with lipstick to get attention. ….
I have to say that Piper and Willow are favorite names of mine, and Bristol is beautiful too… But I’m of the opinion that she must not have much respect for men in general (for which I’d deign to high five her) to name her boys Track and Trig. I saw that and thought… wha?…uh.. (looong pause) heh?!?
Seriously. What is that about?
Trig sounds just too robotic or nickname-ish for a child with downs syndrome. Did she not consider he’d be teased.
ugh. now i’m being catty. sorry
Last comment I swear.. (this election gets me riled)
I just read a web board that pointed out something…obvious?
You TRACK animals, and kill them by pulling the TRIGger.
nice.
(totally beats my idea that the family loves running and math).
Oh, my goodness, how funny! And here, as a conservative Christian, I had a problem with a woman running for such a high office! LOL! Are ya saying Saudi Arabians are more progressive than me? Because I go out unescorted sometimes… ;]
I am so enjoying the comments from everyone.
Nader – there are some excellent women leaders in the world but sadly I do not see Palin with the leadership qualities needed unless one likes the pitbull (her own self acclaimed) or barracudo (her old nickname) style.
Marahm – I also view that Sarah Palin has chosen her career over her family as a matter of priority. Call me old fashioned but I also think a woman with young children is not a good candidate for the White House as a VP or President. Like you, a woman perhaps with one child or grown children is probably in a better position to manage family and the high powered position.
Saudi in US – I have high hopes that the issues you have raised in regards to Biden will be brought up in the debates, in the media and through the campaign.
Andrea – I enjoy the analogy of Trig and Track’s names!
Mrs. C – I am pleased to say I have indeed met some Saudi women who can easily run circles around Sarah Palin with their energy and intelligence.
I wouldn’t go by the heavily edited ABC interview or the obviously skewed stories of the major newspapers. Reading in between the lines, Palin does have adequate executive and administrative experience. Her weakness is a comparative lack of legislative experience. That’s not an insurmountable problem because veeps are in a position to pick up this stuff very quickly, due to their job (their only job, really, unless the President decides otherwise) of presiding over the Senate.
So unless McCain drops dead within six months of the election, I wouldn’t worry if Palin could handle the presidency. I’m just not sure what she would do with it. Two months to figure that out…
I loved this, post, thank you and you are right. She is not an advocate for women’s rights at all.
As for who in the USA voted for Bush before and who will be voting for McCain and Palin in November? The Americans I’ve spoken with in person who are voting for McCain are afraid. Maybe terrified is a better word. They really think if Obama wins he won’t protect his country.
They have bought hook, line and sinker the message that our government has been telling us ever since 9/11; that we should be afraid, that we should be aggressive against the world because everyone hates us, that if we do not stay afraid and if we are not vigilant and hostile towards anyone who thinks differently than they do and anyone outside our own country, then the USA will be taken over, terrorists will run rampant, we’ll taxed to pieces, etc., etc.
I have been told to my face that I should move out of the country simply because I’m going to vote the opposite of them. And with great anger, too.
Scary.
Yeah, you might say things are a tad polarized over here.
There are so many citizens here who are so afraid of the future right now, I’m not sure what’s going to happen with this election.
It’s going to boil down to the people who want change and the people who are afraid of change.
Thanks Solomon2, Annie for your comments.
I am very much looking forward to the debates. It is one thing for the candidates to campaign in their various locations and throw digs at one another but it is a whole different ballgame when we have them facing off each other and questioned on issues.
http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/palin-hillary-open/656281/
Check this out, lol, some bits are funny! Enjoy : )
palin should move to KSA and stay there.
gr8 post, american bedu.
[...] in abortion… She 'should' know much about oil coming from the key American producing state.” Posted by Ayesha Saldanha Print Version Share [...]
Tee, Bettyx,
Thank you both for your contributions!
Regards,
Carol
Tee thank you for that link, the video is now ”unavailable” on YouTube!!!!
She reminds me a lot of Bush…as long as he has cue cards he can answer the question somewhat intelligently…but when hes forced to answer off the cuff so to speak…his idiocy shines forth clear as a bell….and she appears to be the same. Answers by rote until a question comes up she wasnt prepared for…then she is stumbling with her answer or repeating the question as a delay mechanism etc…very Bush like…very scary.
Coolred – Can anyone say “Bush Doctrine?”
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It always amazes me how approx 50% of the American voting population can vote for people like her.
We already know that the earth is round, but it seams that these far right people want to take us back to the 1400’s….
The worst part is that the US is having such an influence on the rest of the world, otherwise it would be laughable.
Casper
Alaska Woman Agaisnt Sarah Palin have over 1400 people show up. the lastest rally in the history of the state. more people showed up than for Palins welcome home trip last month.
Spreed the word.
Assalamu’alaikum Wr,Wb
I am so sorry to search your blogspot
I am muslim in Malaysia, and well come you to my blogspot
Thank you
Sarah Palin has another advantage that Joe Biden lacks. She was Miss Congeniality in statewide beauty pageant in 1984. She was also voted “Miss Wasilla” in local beauty contest; eloped at 24.
UAE – I’m not sure if those are necessarily advantages or indicative of being able to co-lead or lead the world’s largest super power!
Well, after all those years of showing the macho side, its time US regain its lost respect by display of a “softer” side. And, who is more apt for the role than a former Miss Beauty Pageant.
a former Miss Beauty Pageant whose nickname is “Sarah Barracuda” and who compares herself to a pitball (with lipstick) does not sound all that soft to me!
Snort!!!!
American Bedu
1) She may favour creationist teaching but she never say that she will pressure schools to teach creationism instead of darwinian theory.
No, she did not lie.
2) You may think she parroted her answers to Charles Gibson but someone may think that she just prefer to speak proper english with a good diction
3) She did not say that iraq is mission from god. Actually she said ‘that our national leaders are sending them out on a task that is from God, that’s what we have to make sure we are praying for, that there is a plan, and that plan is God’s plan.’” (Ever hear the phrase “Not my will, but Thine, be done”?) .
4) Actually she, herself may not believe in abortion. However when asked if she will prohibit abortion she answered that decision will be up to people and not herself
5) Her husband may have supported independence for alaska but she is not her husband. If the view of wives are the same as the husbands (and the other way round) Obama’s view on america and americans will be very derogatory. A question for you – Are Michelle Obama views on USA the same as her husband,? Hmm………
6) Her previous church was worse than the present church of Obama’s? And what the church she was going to has anything to do with how good a vice-president she may be? Her religious views are her own and haven’t much to do with her politics…………………hmm, well, I forgot that you are living in the ME where religion is everywhere and permeates everything.
7) Oh, well, nobody can contradict hereself or himself. I am sure you did not change your views in years, I am also sure that you never contradicted yourself. Woe, woe to one who contradicts himself.
****
I wonder why many people from the ME and so many liberals in US are so scared about Palin? Isn’t it because she is a career woman, a conservative, like shooting moose and has strong views on things?
Thanks for coming forward with opposing views, Ella. Interesting it took 56 previous comments before receiving one comment that seemed to favor or support Palin… a little telling, no?
I do not recall seeing anyone comment they are scared of Palin. The issue stems from concern that she is not the right candidate for Executive Leadership of the United States of America.
I received this from a friend in an email. The original source is not known but worth sharing here:
Subject: oh vey and double oh vey
I’m a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight…..
· If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you’re “exotic, different.”
· Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, a quintessential American story.
000000000000000000000000000000
· If your name is Barack you’re a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.
· Name your kids Willow, Trig and Track, you’re a maverick.
000000000000000000000000000
· Graduate from Harvard law School and you are unstable.
· Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you’re well grounded.
000000000000000000000000000
· If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate’s Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran’s Affairs committees, you don’t have any real leadership experience.
· If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you’re qualified to become the country’s second highest ranking executive.
000000000000000000000000
· If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you’re not a real Christian.
· If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you’re a Christian.
-000000000000000000000
· If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.
· If , while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option in sex education in your state’s school system while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant , you’re very responsible.
000000000000000000000000000
· If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family’s values don’t represent America’s.
· If you’re husband is nicknamed “First Dude”, with at least one DWI conviction and no college education, who didn’t register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA, your family is extremely admirable.
OK, much clearer now.
american bedu
perhaps people who support Palin do not read your blog,
perhaps they know that they would not change your views,
perhaps they do not like to waste their time
and prehaps they think that comparing Palin to Michelle is unnecessary. Palin may become a vice president but Michelle will be a wife of president.
Uh, BTW according to 2006 income tax return, Michelle’s salary was $273,618 from the University of Chicago Hospitals.
When did you say Michelle gave a prestigious position for……..no money? Ups, sorry, you said for “less prestigious position” – as for money I assume you would say that it is just near poverty level.
American Bedu,
o She does not believe in abortion even in the case of rape and incest (only time she accepts it is if the mother life is in danger). Again, this teaching would go down well in Saudi Arabia.
In Islam, abortion is allowed in most cases for the first 4 months. And allowed Always in cases of rape and incest.
o Her previous church of which she was a member of all her life until 2 years ago, believes that God speaks through people in tongues. I’m sure that would endear her to the Muttawa.
God speaks through people in toungues?
Not true in Islam.
Essam – this was a complete “tongue-in-cheek” post… not to be taken literally!
That’s cool. But some people don’t know about Islam, so I don’t want to digest wrong information about it.
I don’t want (them).
[...] they both live in the Kingdom (she features in my book The Blogging Revolution). Here she offers a unique perspective on Republican Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah [...]