The Palin timebomb

Just when you think you've seen it all, politicians turn around and
make things even more freaky. Here's my top ten list for why Palin
is a bad choice for VP and Presidential backup. In no particular
order:

1. She's a fine example for the failed policies of abstinence-only
programs and no sex-ed for young people.

2. "Sarah Palin told ministry students at her former church that
the United States sent troops to fight in the Iraq war on a "task
that is from God."" (AP) Sounds like the medieval crusades? War is
not glorious or righteous.

3. "Palin has never ordered Alaska National Guard to do anything."
(McClatchy Newspapers). She has no foreign policy experience since
National Guards fall under the control of the Feds when they are
mobilized outside the state and even sometimes within the state.

4. She thinks creationism should be taught in schools. The Bush
administration has done enough to undermine the public's trust in
science. Let's rebuild the importance of science and facts as cited
by experts and teach students only what can be scientifically explored and contested.

5. She is willing to restrict a woman's right to choose, even in
times of rape or medical necessity. No one thinks abortion is a
good thing, but for those who are against it, they should first
create systems to educate people about safe sex, provide
contraception, and create systems to support mothers who do not
want to keep the child.

6. Her hand is in the back pocket of the oil industry. Why keep
ourselves chained to old, polluting technology? New wells won't
produce oil for years and will forever change pristine land.
Conservation will take effect immediately and will save far more
energy in the long run.

7. She's no reformer. Out of all the states, Alaska lavishes in
pork-barrel spending and each resident gets hansome payouts from
the oil industry. She has supported both of these.

8. She's got little experience. She participated in local
government of a town of < 10,000 residents. And she's been governor
for less than two years of Alaska--the 3rd smallest state. Its
population of < 700,000 is smaller than most mid-sized cities. Add zero foreign policy experience, she's not qualified to be president if the old man turns for the worse. (Going by the Social Security Admin's statistics, a man of 72 has a 1 in 3 chance of not seeing his 80th birthday).

9. Cronyism. She is under investigation for trying to have people fired because of family turmoil. Since word of her nomination, more money has been pumped in to bolster her defense.

10. Lightning rod. There are so many things wrong with this pick, and the zealots are so feverishly rallying behind the single issue of abortion (wait, didn't they used to be against premarital sex? why are they celebrating it now?), no one is talking about McCain or the larger issues that are out there.

Let me work on others...with this time bomb it's only a matter of time before more turns up!