[2Bulgarianbeauties]

Barak did not put his kids on national TV for a leg up? Come on! He did it because it would be fun afternoon for the kids I am sure.

I cannot wait to hear all the bad stuff about Sarah, since the press ignores Barak's sweeheart loan on his house, his best buddy that is sorry he was not more successful in blowing up the Pentagon, etc. And how crazy - to announce a party's vice president candidate and talk about issues improtant to that party! Insane.

And I agree with crick, these people have been running for president for 4 years. It should have started 6 months before the election. This is exhausting.

[Saya]

Originally Posted by mdesi

Next, the daughter is 17 and this is a medical issue. She deserves as much right to privacy and to be treated with the same respect we give all potential birth mothers and mothers. I am saddened that the media has chosen to pick this apart. Most of us know first hand how hard an unplanned pregnancy is on any woman, and to have it taken to the national spotlight is really disconcerting - no matter where our political leanings take us.

You're absolutely right, and I've been thinking about this a lot in the context of this board. I can't imagine what this young woman must be feeling right now, but I wish her all the best.

[2Bulgarianbeauties]

Originally Posted by SupaModel

How is it that the Republicans tout that abstinence only is the best way to prevent teen pregnancy and then praise Mrs. Palin for supporting her teen daughters pregnancy. I personally don't like abortion but I don't think it's my place to choose for someone else. Another thing that I find very disturbing about their pro-life stance is that as a party they a pro-war, pro-guns (including the assault weapons that are being used to kill off the youth of our communities), pro-death penalty and pro-animal slaughter for sport. How is it that they can square these positions and get away with? I would like to get clarity on these issue and hope that there will not be religious references used to argue their views.

Because conservatives believe that a baby is human at the moment of conception. The child has done nothing wrong and deserves to live. War is done to protect a nation, or to free people oppressed. Is it all right to ignore the thousands of mass graves found in Iraq, or the tourcher (sp?) rooms? Or the future destruction that Iraq could inflict with WMD (And for all the doubters the UN agreed that WMD exist). In addition, the death penalty is supported by some (but not all) because these people have been given the chance at life, and inflicted such harm on society that they do not deserve to continue to live. Guns are supported because the bad guys always can get guns, the good guys should have a right to protect themselves. A criminal is less likely to attack someone when they have to be concerned that person can shoot back. If they know a person is defenseless, they are most likely to be attacked. Finally, conservatives believe that humans have dominion over animals, that they are not human, do not have souls, and are not equal to humans.

Hope that helps.

[aclee]

Originally Posted by SupaModel

pro-guns

I just have to comment, that even as a democrat, I support home owners right to bare arms. Making more gun laws doesn't effect criminals. They are criminals, that means they don't follow the law. Law abiding citizen follow the law, so the only people that gun laws effect are the ones already following them anyway...how does that help?

I don't own guns, but those that want to, should have that right to protect themselves and their home as long as they follow gun laws and register them etc...

[coachmur]

supa-model, what better way to prevent stds, unwanted babies, unplanned pregnancies, broken hearts, etc. than abstinance. As a mother of a beautiful, naive, innocent 16 year old daughter I am in full support of abstinence and guess what? I haven't mentioned how I vote. It has nothing to do with politics imho. I want my innocent, naive, pure, virginal sixteen year old to stay that way until she is old enough physically, and emotionally to move on. GO ABSTINANCE. It sure would have saved the Palin family alot of pain.

as far as gun control, don't forget it takes a criminal behind that gun to pull the trigger. the criminal is the killer, not the gun. guns do not make the bad choices. just the same would be banning cars because drunk drivers use them to murder innocent victims. that happens all the time.

[Jo Ellen]

The way I see it... life happens... and I do not believe the presidental canidates should be judged nor decided on based on personal family issues. Yes the things that happen in those families are known by the public but they certainly don't need to be drug through the mud because of it. JMO

[BlessedbySnuggs]

In a perfect world "abstinence only" is the way I am sure that most people feel, but to ignore the facts, doesn't change them. That's why we have so many teenagers pregnant and many that also have STD's, also many that aren't ready to be parents, but have to grow up so quickly. So, obviously, yes, I am definitely for "abstinence only", but reality has got to set in, and we have got to start looking at alternatives/solutions for our young children/teens. EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION!!!! There needs to be more classes, where teens are faced with raising children, so they can truly see how difficult being a parent at a young age is. They also need to see the reality in full force of unprotected sex and STD's. I also believe that it isn't just the educational system that should be responsible to teach our children about this, but if parents aren't going to do it, somebody has to. Don't get me wrong, I believe that parents should be the ones talking about this, but unfortunately, not all parents are around all the time to explain about the birds and the bees.

[thanksgivingmom]

Originally Posted by 2Bulgarianbeauties

Finally, conservatives believe that humans have dominion over animals, that they are not human, do not have souls, and are not equal to humans.

Is this true? Is this a traditionally conservative stance or a religious stance? Just curious

**FWIW I'm not saying that I agree or disagree - I eat meat (mm) but don't believe that dog fights resulting in dog's deaths are okay because they don't have souls...**

[aclee]

Originally Posted by Jo Ellen

The way I see it... life happens... and I do not believe the presidental canidates should be judged nor decided on based on personal family issues. Yes the things that happen in those families are known by the public but they certainly don't need to be drug through the mud because of it. JMO

I'm not saying *I* feel this way, but MANY do...If she can't manage her own life(ie her daughter), how will she manage the country?

My opinion? Watching how she deals with "crisis" or unplanned circumstances in her family does indeed indicate how she handles stress and the daily things that "pop up" as a VP (and let's face it, as a potential President, McCain ain't getting any younger!) Yes, the daughter should get the privacy she deserves. The mother however chose to be an elected official and be in the public eye...she doesn't get that same right really...it's just how it works. It's like the movie stars that say they want privacy when they go out wearing no panties...sorry, but getting your picture taken 50 million times a day is what made you famous, don't complain about it now...same goes. Her beliefs, in family, etc are WHAT got her elected, that goes hand and hand with what she does in her personal life.

If someone was a convicted pedifile would you say that was there personal life, and we shouldn't know? If they abused their wife, or had a bunch of domestic calls to the police that they were never charged on? Personal life/family life and being an elected official go hand and hand...granted, she's not a criminal...but her personal life is fair game for how she lives, and who she is...and THAT is how we decide who to vote for...by WHO they are. Right now part of who she is, is a mother to an unwed, pregnant teenager; mother to a newborn with downs... Is that a bad thing and she shouldn't be elected? No, but how she deals with it; shows who she is.

[2Bulgarianbeauties]

Originally Posted by thanksgivingmom

Is this true? Is this a traditionally conservative stance or a religious stance? Just curious

**FWIW I'm not saying that I agree or disagree - I eat meat (mm) but don't believe that dog fights resulting in dog's deaths are okay because they don't have souls...**

Probably more religious than conservative, but since the two are often linked, it is hard sometimes to separate. Also, I do not think most conservatives approve of watching dogs maul each other. But hunting/fishing rights are supported.

And finally, this is my take on conservatives, some other conservatives may see it differently.

[mdesi]

Remember, the daughter is not profiting from being the topic of media speculation. The daughter is the one that is pregnant, and should be given the same rights to privacy that the future mother of my adopted baby will be given. This is NOT the same thing as a public figure going out w/o underwear. My beliefs about this are completely apolitical. Really, all sides need to leave this young woman alone.

My biggest hope in all of this is that Palin family gets this young woman a counselor that specializes in unplanned pregnancies. This kid is being put through the emotional ringer on a national stage, which really turns my stomach.

[SupaModel]

My reality growing up in the inner city and someone in rural Pennslyvania is definitely different. I am not saying do away with the 2nd amendment BUT I do have a problem with young kids in my old neighbor (mostly AA and Hispanic) shooting each other with AK-47!

Also my real problem with Palin is she's anti-choice (no matter how I feel government doesn't have the right to control my body!) she's anti -gay and she want to overturn woe v wade. She wants to teach creationsim (sp?) in school! I'm sorry I owe everything to god but I think it's ignorant to not believe in evolution. She's so far right it's sickening! Also she's NOT QUALIFIED!!!

Obama 08 - YES WE CAN!!!!!!

[aclee]

Originally Posted by SupaModel

I am not saying do away with the 2nd amendment BUT I do have a problem with young kids in my old neighbor (mostly AA and Hispanic) shooting each other with AK-47!

Obama 08 - YES WE CAN!!!!!!

I have a problem with this too Supa, but more gun laws isn't going to change it...higher penalties for illegal guns, and law enforcement will change it...

[loveajax]

I think what I would be most curious to know is whether the rumors that the daughter was out of school for months on a claim of "mono" were true. To me, that means that the mom is putting her own political career over the education of her daughter (in other words, was the mom "dictating" this to try to keep this thing "under wraps"?). If that was the case, that would bother me. Also, if the mom is "forcing" the DD to marry her boyfriend. Yeah, that would bother me too. (I don't know if either of these are true, btw...just thinking out loud).

Mdesi, I honestly haven't seen anyone "bashing" this girl (to me, it's more about how the mom has handled things (not that it matters since I am not voting for her anyway)....In fact, Obama has said talk of it is "off limits" (which I respect).

[manni28]

I think what I would be most curious to know is whether the rumors that the daughter was out of school for months on a claim of "mono" were true. To me, that means that the mom is putting her own political career over the education of her daughter (in other words, was the mom "dictating" this to try to keep this thing "under wraps"?). If that was the case, that would bother me. Also, if the mom is "forcing" the DD to marry her boyfriend. Yeah, that would bother me too. (I don't know if either of these are true, btw...just thinking out loud).


Me too! I found the whole story very “odd”. She ( a high risk mom with a downs baby) flying eight hours from Dallas to Alaska and then driving thirty miles to a smaller hospital to have her “baby”. It doesn’t add up? Plus nobody ( even her staff) knew she was preggos? The daughter transfers from her school and then was “sick” with mono for three months ( they say she was showing by then)? Sorry it sounds like what they use to do “back in the days” when a teenager was preggos. I have seen photos of Palin when she was to suppose to be seven months ( she didn't look preggos) and I have seen photos of the daughter, and she LOOKED preggos.

If these photos are true, then who would want a VP who isn't honest?

Supamodel:

Also my real problem with Palin is she's anti-choice (no matter how I feel government doesn't have the right to control my body!) she's anti -gay and she want to overturn woe v wade.

I agree with you.