Locals shocked by McCain's VP selection
Blair native living in state says ‘It’s taken everyone in Alaska by surprise’By Jessica VanderKolk, jvanderkolk@altoonamirror.com
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» View national coverage.Former Blair County resident Kevin Strong now lives in North Pole, Alaska, and although he's excited his governor was chosen as John McCain's running mate Friday, he's mourning the possible loss of her leadership.
Local voters and party leaders alike expressed shock and surprise when McCain announced Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential pick.
The Republican presidential hopeful made the announcement on the heels of the Democratic National Convention, which ended Thursday night with Democrat Barack Obama's nomination acceptance speech.
The Republican convention begins Monday in Minneapolis-St. Paul.
Palin, 44, a first-term governor, is married with five children. The Palins' oldest son will deploy to Iraq this fall, and the youngest was born this spring.
Strong, who grew up in Roaring Spring and traveled to Alaska for college, has lived there for 18 years, but he plans to move to Bellwood before the Nov. 4 election.
"It's taken everybody in Alaska by surprise," he said, adding that the rumors started at 3 a.m. Alaskan time, 7 a.m. Eastern time. "She's been an excellent governor for the past two years. She stands on her principles, as opposed to the party line."
Although Alaska's Legislature meets only a few months each year, Strong recalled Palin calling lawmakers back twice this year for state business: to authorize a natural gas pipeline and to discuss extra funding to help Alaskans pay for home heating oil.
"On our newspaper comment boards, everyone refers to her as Gov. Sarah or Sarah," Strong said. "She has a very positive reputation."
Joe Wales of Altoona had never heard of Palin and said he would have to listen to the news of the pick.
Wales said the only greater surprise would be someone from a different party. He still is undecided between McCain and Obama.
"I'm still open," he said. "Maybe that's what he's looking for. The Republicans are really throwing something in there."
Jane Keen of Duncansville called Palin an "excellent" choice. The registered Republican said she supports McCain.
Keen watched the coverage of Palin joining the McCain ticket with other women at New Image Beauty Salon in Altoona.
"I never dreamed it," she said of the pick. "I was very, very surprised. Pleasantly surprised."
Keen said it's time a woman had the chance to take the position. Palin's large family should not be a deterrent, Keen said.
"She'll have wonderful people to look after the children while she's at the White House," she said. "It'll be a wonderful experience the whole way around for the children."
Blair County Republican Chairman A.C. Stickel said he expected former presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney to earn the spot, as did Democratic Chairman Frank Rosenhoover.
Stickel said he's excited about the choice, previously considered those on McCain's short list, including Romney, former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
"McCain just proved once again that he is a maverick," Stickel said, adding that Palin's gender and age "don't hurt. While she doesn't have a lot of Washington experience, she has executive leadership experience to step in and be president."
Not much is known about Palin, Stickel said, but she is pro-life and a member of the National Rifle Association.
Rosenhoover called the pick a "bold maneuver." He said he had never heard of Palin before the announcement and doesn't know anything about her.
He doesn't believe supporters of former candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton will be swayed by McCain's choice.
"A lot of women were for Hillary because she was an outspoken supporter of absolute women's rights," Rosenhoover said. "I don't think you're going to see voters swing toward a person they don't know anything about."
Mirror Staff Writer Jessica VanderKolk is at 946-7465.
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homerbeep
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09-04-08 2:37 PM
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redfox: What?? You wanna translate that for us? BTW, YOUR CAPS LOCK IS ON!!
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Chuxspringer
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08-31-08 8:53 PM
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Maybe with someone like Gov. Palin we can only hope she has an opportunity to succed him.
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newfalls
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08-31-08 8:35 AM
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ummmm-is he asking for problems?-my god! should he keel over -she;d be president -oh my! our country would really be in trouble -is it him or her suffering -post partum blues?-her acceptance [at this time]is very questionable --------
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epb262
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08-31-08 12:13 AM
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Maria Bartiromo of CNBC interviewed Governor Palin in Alaska just a few days before McCain picked her for V.P. The interview aired Friday night on CNBC. A portion of the interview is still available on CNBC's website. Bartiromo's questions focused mainly on oil and gas exploration and production in Alaska. It is a MUST SEE. I was thoroughly impressed with Governor Palin's knowledge of the subject. Her husband has worked 20 years in the oil fields on Alsaka's northern slope as a blue collar worker (a "sloper"). He works a week on / week off schedule. Comes home on the off weeks and is a commercial fisherman while at home. Again, it's a MUST SEE.
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redfox666
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08-30-08 8:19 PM
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hmmmmm.I WONDER WHAT DOES HIS YOU NO WHO THINK.
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redfox666
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08-30-08 8:16 PM
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MR CLINTON GOT HIS OFF IN THE WHITE HOUSE, AND U NO WHAT THEY SAY, WHATS GOOD FOR THE GOOSE, WELL U NO THE REST...MCCAINE HAS A GOOD HEAD ON HIS SHOULDERS ???????
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guttertroll
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08-30-08 7:03 PM
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jimdandy: We wouldn't expect you to understand that many people are not selfish and willing to share their lives with more than one child. Did you expect that upon learning the child had down syndrome, she should have sucked it down a sink? She's not catholic but listed as christian but, she makes a better Catholic than Ol'*****em out BIDEN.
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jimdandy
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08-30-08 3:52 PM
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Ms.Palin can't be too smart. Having a fifth child at the age of 44, is taking a bit of a risk! Since she is pro-life and a devout catholic, than I guess she doesn't believe in contraception either.
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jlaw65
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08-30-08 1:24 PM
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Whats funny as*****ALL the dems and the left news agencies were all going to spend this entire weekend talking about the DNC and the glorious speech by Obama and guess what happened?? Old McCain trounced them. All the dem and lib talk show hosts looked like they were gonna cry. I LOVED IT!!! Theres been nothing but Palin all over the news. And what a great pick he made in this woman. Talk about conservative?? I guess McCain for being so old according to the dems and libs has outfoxed them AGAIN!!
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allegheny
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08-30-08 11:59 AM
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She would probably be the first vice president since Teddy Roosevelt capable of skinning a moose. :) The foreign oil companies Palin deals with are bigger than many nations. What foreign policy experience does junior Senator Obama have?
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guttertroll
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08-30-08 11:44 AM
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Yep I'd say that ya'll are sweatin' bullets. Especially when your posts contain nothing relative. I agree with Chux, YOU GO GIRL!
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guttertroll
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08-30-08 11:39 AM
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This is just ONE of the reasons you libs are running scared: "Not only does Palin oppose abortion as a matter of policy, but she chose to give birth to her youngest child, a son, after a prenatal exam indicated Down syndrome. Studies show that about NINE IN TEN pregnant women who are given a Down syndrome diagnosis have chosen to have an abortion."
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UNCOMMONSENSE
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08-30-08 11:17 AM
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McAlzheimers strikes again!
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UNCOMMONSENSE
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08-30-08 11:15 AM
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McCain has truely lost it! It seems as pressure gets higher, his decisions get more rediculous! Just the man we need with his finger on the NUCLEAR button!!
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Chuxspringer
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08-30-08 10:47 AM
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How long before Palin & troopergate is brought up?
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Chuxspringer
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08-30-08 10:39 AM
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As Obama put it, I think there is room for change. The difference in a nutshell: Palin is the Chief Executive of an entire state. Obama never was chief executive of anything. Palin is commander of the Alaska National Guard. Obama has no similar experience. Palin is chair of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission. Obama has no similar experience. Palin is chair of the National Governors Association (NGA) Natural Resources Committee. Obama has no similar experience. In fact, in the last 18 months while Palin was working on solutions to the energy problem Obama has been running for office.
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RazMnaz
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08-30-08 10:22 AM
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Hillary probably e-mailed Obama right after Palin was selected and said "You Dumbass."
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imovedaway
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08-30-08 9:00 AM
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Card carrying member of the NRA, PTA and loves the outdoors... A pretty, smart women with a family. Sharp as a tack and very professional. Dedicated to her country and statesman. SHE has my VOTE.... I'm guessing little Ms. Hilliary is besides her self...LOL To funny
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MeerReedr
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08-30-08 8:50 AM
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I'd rather take a chance on McCain's health and have the lesser experienced but up-and-coming Palin as VP (where she'll quickly learn the ropes), than go with the Dems where the lesser experienced person is going to be in the driver's seat. Does anyone really think Biden, with all his experience, will be happy and content playing second fiddle to Obama?
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Chuxspringer
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08-30-08 8:40 AM
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Why is it that this pick is so controversial. What qualifications DOES a president need? Yes I agree 'toids' are shocked. Shocked that it may just be a conservative Republican WOMAN as the next VP and set up for the Presidency. YOU GO GIRL!
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JimmysuperflySnuka
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08-30-08 8:26 AM
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It certainly was a savvy political move on McCain's, but God forbid if he gets elected and something happens to him. An Obama, hillary, Biden, McCain,a Romney, I can see these people having the stature to represent the US on the world stage, but this Sarah Palin? Give me a break. McCain is putting his own election over the Country's future. Can he really say with a straight face that Palin is better qualified than Romney, Thompson, even Huckabee?
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MeerReedr
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08-30-08 8:22 AM
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Perhaps that was his intention, but I think it may have more far-reaching effects. For example, I'm a rather conservative, male, pro-life (Catholic) voter. Although I was leaning a bit toward McCain, for the most part I felt I didn't have a dog in this race. I was planning to stay home on election day, but now you can bet I'll be at the polls.
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kilgore
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08-30-08 8:15 AM
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mcsame throws a desperation "hail Mary" already? and once again he expects a pretty woman with ethic issues to further his career at least he didn't cheat on his current wife with this one or did he? hhhmmmm...that would explain it
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jimdandy
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08-30-08 7:51 AM
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No matter how nice or good this woman is, McCain only picked her to try to get the Hillary backing women to vote for him. If McCain wins the presidency, then Obama can blame himself for not picking Hillary as his VP! I feel he would have won easily if she was his choice. ( I guess he didn't want Her and Bill double teaming him for the next 4-8 years.)
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