September 4, 2008

Palin Attended 4 Colleges in 5 Years to Earn Diploma

The Republican vice-presidential nominee, Sarah Palin, had a much more diverse experience in higher education than has been previously reported.

The Associated Press reported this afternoon that Ms. Palin, the first-term governor of Alaska, began her college career at Hawaii Pacific University, where she studied for one semester in the fall of 1982.

From there, she spent two semesters at North Idaho College, a two-year institution; two semesters at the flagship University of Idaho; one semester at Matanuska-Susitna College, a two-year campus of the University of Alaska at Anchorage; and her three final semesters back at the University of Idaho, where she completed her bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1987. —Eric Kelderman

Comments

1. actually the linked article now says “Palin attended 5 colleges in 6 years”

   just like the “average” hard-working american… right? except with much more executive experience, of course… :))))

   — doodoo    Sep 4, 06:34 PM    #

2. So, let’s see. It is Hawaii Pacific, Northern Idaho College, University of Idaho, and University of Alaska, for a total of nine semesters, with graduation from the very decent University of Idaho. If one is looking to find fault, I think one must go into more detail than this—and, since there are so many people seeking to find fault, I have no doubt that the effort will continue.

   The fact of the matter is that people can go to even the best of schools and come out believing some pretty crazy things—and one can easily find examples of faculty members at the best of institutions also having nutsy ideas. Face it, some smart and even well educated people sometimes have irrational thoughts and do bizarre things. All the more reason to carefully examine information and ideas and not merely accept “authority” as a basis of belief and action.

   So I urge people to look carefully at the ideas of the two campaigns, rather than trying to find some characteristic of the individuals involved upon which to rest their trust and choice.

   Here at CHE, one might imagine that we would be examining the attitudes of the candidates toward the science and humanities and toward the support of scholarship and research and public education.

   Does Governor Palin have a body of journalistic productivity that can be examined? Does Senator Obama have writing to be examined? At least, we know his two books—actually written by him—are still on the bestsellers list. There is no reason to not know what he says he thinks. Let’s see about the others too.

   — Joe Erwin    Sep 4, 07:18 PM    #

3. Too busy being real! Booyakasha! Respek!

   — Ali    Sep 4, 08:31 PM    #

4. Here comes the media hate again… People, how about judging by her real life accomplishments???

   So let’s see, she has a lot of experience, accomplishments, not to mention ethics and substance — on levels of life, real life, and real political life. She would be real CHANGE for America! A woman who’s got a big caring family, and yes, executive experience, savvy skills, and education to boot.

   But just because she’s a Washington outsider she gets all the hate… How narrow-minded!!!! So many sexist and biased questions don’t even deserve to be asked, let alone answered!

   I say she should be on top of the ticket! GO SARAH!!

   — GOMcPalin    Sep 4, 08:42 PM    #

5. http://www.comedycentral.com/videos/index.jhtml?videoId=184086

   — just for kicks    Sep 4, 09:03 PM    #

6. I find it interesting that people keep bringing up her “executive experience”. Ok – Gov. of Alaska for not quite half a term…mayor of a very small town in Alaska. Ok I’ll grant that is some experience. Oh and just for the record she does have more “executive experience” than Obama but that applies to John McCain as well. McCain has exactly the same amount of “executive experience” as Obama. So is she more qualified than her running mate?

   — J    Sep 4, 09:23 PM    #

7. As of now, the A.P. headline says “Palin switched schools 6 times in 6 years.” Whatever this says (or not) about her fitness to be president, it doesn’t suggest that she’s likely to be a leader in promoting higher education….

   — GailB    Sep 4, 10:23 PM    #

8. come on – how can people really pretend she is more that a bone for the right wing christian republicans and the nra types to chew on?. what more do you really need to know? dress up the decision, and her record all you like – she was a hung out for the crows to land on…and land they have.

   — Amazed    Sep 4, 10:39 PM    #

9. Here’s Palin in “thoughtful “ mode”:

   http://tinyurl.com/6cwf7m

   — Noodles    Sep 4, 10:52 PM    #

10. Palin’s “varied” educational experience may not be a measure of her academic strength and ability to be an advocate for higher ed.

    Are reports that she tried to fire a librarian for not removing books with bad language true? If so could that be a reflection of her attitude towards education?

    — DJB    Sep 4, 10:56 PM    #

11. MR, perhaps you have commented without reading the Obama books. That “grandma under the bus” thing is total fantasy, and is just repeating something you heard some spinner say.

    Do you know what Governor Palin has (or has not) produced in the way of TV journalism or written word? I do not know, so I was not claiming she was deficient. We do know that Obama wrote a couple of pretty remarkable books and that it did not take him all that long to do so—and that he had tangible accomplishments in south Chicago and in the state legislature before his election to the US Senate.

    Let’s not disrespect ANY of the candidates. There is no need to spin anything. Let’s just deal with the objective evidence. If you have some evidence to describe, it is welcome.

    — Joe Erwin    Sep 4, 11:01 PM    #

12. Many students cannot afford to attend the universities that academia seems to rate so highly.

    There is no requirement that a presidential or vice presidential candidate graduate from an Ivy League institution – or was that added when mainstream America was not paying attention.

    — CEE    Sep 4, 11:07 PM    #

13. Switching schools several times does not say much of anything about Governor Palin. I would consider class rank or GPA to be much more important than changing schools. My guess is that she probably ranked much higher in her class than did her running mate—not that Senator McCain graduated near the bottom of his class because he was dumb—he was just not very serious about school and was apparently somewhat of a playboy. We know he was the son and grandson of admirals—apparently the basis for his admission to the Naval Academy. He didn’t take school seriously. Maybe she did. I imagine she was just somewhat flexible. Does anyone out there know anything about why she changed schools? I advise not to believe the worst. Find out the facts and let the chips fall where they may.

    — Joe Erwin    Sep 4, 11:10 PM    #

14. I am no fan of Palin, she is not qualified to be VP and I will not be voting for her Party, but let’s be fair, there is no crime in attending several colleges. There could be a million reasons for her jumping around- finances, scholarship opportunities, family emergencies, etc.

    The bigger question is will she understand the importance of science and technology on a high level, of the value of a liberal arts education and give money to these enterprises?? I would say, “Probably not” because education is not high on the GOP agenda in general (look at NIH cuts these past years) and No Child Left Behind has not been fully funded. Palin herself does not have respect for scientific evidence as demonstrated by her suggestion that we teach creationism alongside evolution. She does not realize that one is science and the other is faith. This does not bode well for higher ed.

    — DrFunZ    Sep 5, 12:54 AM    #

15. For Christ’s sake, people – look at their positions on important issues! Where do they stand on the environment, on Iraq, on poverty and unemployment, on immigration? That’s what we should be discussing and comparing. The decisions the President and VP will make in office will affect the entire planet, not just your little neck of the woods.

    — whoever    Sep 5, 01:06 AM    #

16. I wonder if the Obama partisans will live to regret their cynical interest in Palin’s academic performance.

    But now that the subject has been broached, they might want to consider the implications of the fact that the Obama campaign has put a total lock-down on information about his performance at Columbia, refusing for example to release his transcripts. Hmm, I wonder why not? By contrast, Bush’s mediocre Yale grades were leaked before the election, and even Kerry released his equally mediocre transcript after the election. And remember, Obama himself was a transfer from Occidental to Columbia.

    Of course someone will point out that Obama graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard Law. Well then why doesn’t he publish his LSAT score (since we know both Bush’s and Kerry’s so-so SAT and IQ scores).

    I’m not dissing Obama here. But what goes around comes around. The truth is that academic talent often does not correlate well with leadership skills. John McCain for example graduated near the bottom of his class at the Naval Academy. But Obama fans should be careful what they wish for before they start a mud-slinging match about academic credentials. You never know what might turn up.

    — Calm Observer    Sep 5, 02:19 AM    #

17. Actually, the breadth of Sarah Palin’s undergraduate career might well have been the reason that she has been so successful and lauded as a governing executive. Howard Garder’s theory of multiple intelligences would impart that we are not all meant to be successful in academics, not all meant to lead. Some of us need multiple advanced degrees, some do not. You make the call.

    — FAB    Sep 5, 05:55 AM    #

18. Well if the media had looked at it Obama attended five colleges and earned two degrees. Mmmmm is the media biased? You tell me.

    — fred douglas    Sep 5, 06:30 AM    #

19. re#15 “…give money to these enterprises” and “… one is science and the other is faith”

    These two comments identify a proclivity toward big government and secular humanism which is antithetical to the republican position. I imagine this is why the writer does not like Gov. Palin.

    — DJ    Sep 5, 06:37 AM    #

20. Have we not learned a thing these last eight years? President Bush’s term in office was a disaster, not because he was a republican, but because he was incompetent.

    We absolutely must expect more from our elected officials. If they do not have the practical experience, and lots of it, then they better have an exceptional education.

    Sorry, a B.S. in Journalism from the University of Idaho just doesn’t cut it, and neither does a two year stint as governor of a state with the population of Memphis.

    The President of the United States (and by extension, the Vice President), are exception positions, to be filled by exception people. We’ve had enough mediocrity to last several lifetimes.

    — Weasley    Sep 5, 06:39 AM    #

21. Anon writes, “As a right-winger, Palin will appeal to the narrow 59 percent of Americans who voted for another former small-market sportscaster: Ronald Reagan.”

    Uh, right-winger, Ronald Reagan was a box office draw for nearly a decade, and governor of California, which has the 7th largest economy in the world (not to mention the largest population in the U.S.). Hardly a small-market sportscaster.

    — Weasley    Sep 5, 06:54 AM    #

22. Do you all really think we actually have any say in who’s president? No one’s vote counts, it’s all a game. The media holds the cards.
    Nothing about what we’re told really matters. The media will play it the way the powers want it to be portrayed to sway the public one way or the other.

    — Wellons    Sep 5, 07:09 AM    #

23. Is she running for a reality show or an absolutely crucial political office?

    Judging by all the outpouring of support for the REAL-ness of her “experience”, I would guess it’s for a reality show that would bring CHANGE to the White House, yeah!

    As people have already said, her switching of colleges is not and should not be a political issue — but the way McCain refuses to answer questions about the entire VP process and especially Palin’s political qualifications is a warning: no transparency, lots of secrecy, and emotional indignation all around — “I was a POW, she’s a hockey mom, stop viciously attacking us” is the refrain for every reasoned criticism and every reasonable question…

    Just what else are we not allowed to ask about? Why is McCain so eager to silence every criticism? What kinds of questions will be off limits as the campaign goes on, perhaps to the White House itself?

    Please, please, look at the political records of both tickets and bear the last 8 years in mind…

    — ridikls    Sep 5, 07:22 AM    #

24. Sorry, Wellons, your “locus of control” problem is showing, if not something a little more sinister regarding attribution of conspiracy.

    But, to be fair, yours are not the least sane nor most bizarre comments here.

    Of course people are biased. That is made abundantly clear here. Many in the media are biased, but not by any means in only one direction. We are constantly bombarded with messages intended to sell us something. That is one of the reasons we need to learn and teach critical thinking skills.

    We all need to evaluate lots of information from a variety of sources, always considering the sources and the value and importance of the information.

    We need to be able to discriminate between objectively verifiable information and rumor, and carefully weigh conclusions drawn from evidence to see whether those conclusions are really warranted.

    Those engaged in political “spin” are attempting to influence how and what we think. If we are to be FREE in the best sense of the word, we must learn to be free thinkers. Education offers opportunities to learn how to be a free and critical thinker. Not everyone who gets a degree automatically gains this ability, just as some people who are self educated become very astute in evaluating information.

    To be free in deed, one must be free in thought. Otherwise, we will be manipulated in the ways “Wellons” suggests.

    — Joe Erwin    Sep 5, 07:39 AM    #

25. @mr, Obama writes most of his own speeches. Check it out.
    And if you think Palin wrote any of her address for Wednesday night. you are sadly mistaken.

    — Wonderin'    Sep 5, 08:00 AM    #

26. What exactly are Palin’s great accomplishments? What great pieces of legislation has she authored? What incredible “changes” has she instituted to make her city or state a better place for American citizens? Please be specific because all I have heard is that she had “responsibilities” in her job as major and governor. Most adults I know have responsbilities so what sets her apart and makes her eligible to be a heartbeat away from the presidency of the United States?

    — Fed up with BS    Sep 5, 08:05 AM    #

27. Isn’t the real accomplishment the fact that she graduated. How many people start and never finish? How many people graduate from better known schools and impact their town, state and country as Palin has?

    — Tony Guerrero    Sep 5, 08:09 AM    #

28. Yeah! When did tenacity become a baggage?

    Plagiarism is the bane of academicians, especially the liberal arts types. So, is Biden the most famous plagiarizer more qualified to be Vice President? Or, is “HE” getting a pass since he is on the liberal ticket or because boys will be boys?

    The media darling Ted Kennedy was caught cheating in school. None of the Kennedys got admitted to school because of merit. They all were legacy admits meaning money and pedigree got them admissions. Is that more desirable? Darling Obama did not start at Columbia but transferred there from a much less known little school in California.

    Give me a break! I was not planning to vote for McCain and Palin but the media bias makes me feel that this is the ticket I should back.

    — Independent    Sep 5, 08:09 AM    #

29. @ S. Britchky,

    Thank you for providing a typical McCainian response —

    1) shift the conversation to “liberals,” to Obama, Gore, Kerry (oops, they’re not even running in the race! have you read the news since 2004?)

    2) dwell on trivial issues (how many classes did X take? what grade did she/he get? this is crucial to the race!)

    3) avoid the substantive questions about McCain’s judgment, lack of transparency, refusal to answer questions, interviews, refusal to explain exactly what qualifications does Palin have for possible the #1 political office in the country, and so on and on…

    Thank you and come again!

    — ridikls    Sep 5, 08:12 AM    #

30. Palin gave up her jet and personal chef. That puts her ahead of 90% of D.C.

    — Small town boy    Sep 5, 08:20 AM    #

31. I’m not surprised attention is being paid to Palin’s unfocused pursuit of a bachelor’s degree and minor details of her life. After all, I’ve seen 21-year-olds with more substantial resumes.

    Beyond all the rhetoric and spin, there is no question that Palin is supremely unqualified for the position of VP. She lacks the experience, skills, and personal integrity to be one heartbeat away from the Presidency. My only question is whether her nomination is actually intended as the insult is it to the American people or is simply a sick joke.

    — K Williams    Sep 5, 08:24 AM    #

32. So, what’s the point of the story? If yoiu want to dog the woman, go ahead and do it. A story saying she went to a bunch of schools has no point.

    — Kenner    Sep 5, 08:29 AM    #

33. After listening to both McCain and Palin—and I’m voting for Obama—I have to say that the choice of Palin for VP goes along with the conventional strategy of choosing an attack-dog (or “pit bull with lipstick”) so the presidential candidate can remain “above it all”. I think it’s odd that the Republicans, a party I used to think was about the rich white old-money Establishment, now has a huge component of less-educated, working class fundamentalist Protestants who can be easily distracted from hard issues such as the economy, foreign wars, and environmental problems by talk of abortion and religion, areas where feelings rule and attempts to convince people to change their minds always fail. It will be interesting to see if people vote with their pocketbooks in mind this November.

    I like McCain, but the fact remains he is 72. The thought of Palin running the country (and thus having yet another ill-equipped head of state making us the laughingstock of the world) makes me shudder.

    — Susan Peters    Sep 5, 08:30 AM    #

34. People, let’s control our blood pressure here. There is such a thing as stating a fact that is potentially of interest without saying it’s bad. There are places where you can get a free blog if you want to rant.

    — me    Sep 5, 08:32 AM    #

35. We all know that nearly any idiot can graduate from some US college or university with a BA. With the pandering and coddling of students that goes on here it should tell us something that it took Palin so many tries in different institutions to find one that would pass her through! No, just graduating from some college in the US is not any particular mark of achievement, other than that she had enough money to pay the tuition.

    — reality check    Sep 5, 08:32 AM    #

36. I’m a hockey mom with 5 kids (13 to 19). Newsflash: none of them are pregnant or have gotten anyone else pregnant. Rather than spend time opposing sex education and censoring books in the library how about spending more time at home? Do I sound like a conservative man with this comment? No, I’m a woman with a full-time job, but I don’t lie about my age, have affairs, or leave my 3 day old child to further my career! Interesting how there was no mention of Family Values at the RNC. You can’t have it both ways.

    — fwt    Sep 5, 08:41 AM    #

37. I feel that I know very little about her of substance and appreciate knowing something about her schooling.

    — me 2    Sep 5, 08:44 AM    #

38. Palin graduated from college – great. I do not care how long it took her or where she went to school. We all had different journeys in education. I care more that she is not unprepared for this position. The new symbol for the GOP should be a sheep wearing a blind-fold. The majority of Republicans wanted McCain for the fact that he was not nearly as polarizing as Huckabee, slimey as Mitt Romney or brash as Giuliani. Hurrah for the GOP, they made a decent decision and had a good chance to demonstrate that they had more wisdom than their last choice, Bush-Cheney (chimp and organ-grinder). but NOOOOO.. the GOP machine couldn’t take the chance of losing their far right base, so they found, as the GOP usually does, the ONE diversity exception to just about every rule (think Gonzalez, Rice, Chao, Mineta of the Cabinet – they have been ineffective, not because they are minority, but because they are GOP) -They found Palin a pro-NRA, anti-environmentalist, anti-abortionist, fundamentalist with five children, a special needs child in a energy-resource rich state.

    Let’s face it.. do you REALLY think Guiliani is delighted that this person is on the ticket? Do you think Mitt Romney is gushing because Palin has less experience than he had? But, what were they to do except put on those blindfolders and Baaa baaa baaa following the machine. The members of the GOP with any brains must had gone to the vapors when Palin was announced, but they had no choice but to fall in line. I bet Giuliani, who had more experience running NYC than Palin has had in her six months in Alaska, wanted throw up after he gave his speech!

    — Drlalala    Sep 5, 08:44 AM    #

39. I’m still waiting for John Kerry to release his military records. If only the press were so diligent on that as they are with Palin’s academic career. Kudos to her for her persistence in getting a degree AND for seeing that there more to living than slavishly following one’s academic preparation for an entire lifetime. She has more interesting and successful facets to her life than most of the writers here (including me). That suggests an open and inquiring mind which seems sadly lacking in the comments above.

    — academics on parade    Sep 5, 08:58 AM    #

40. Without additional information on her academic career, I see only relevant question: Is her position on what constituttes a successful college career consistent with her experience or the tradtional view that it is all at one school in four consecutive years.

    — Mark    Sep 5, 09:04 AM    #

41. Is this now the Chronicle of Political Education?

    — focus    Sep 5, 09:09 AM    #

42. Oh please can people stop with the executive experience babble! Executive experience for less than 2 years over a small state in population, mean nothing. Especially when she has been accused of abusing her power. I’m all for a female VP but not this one. She still needs to grow into the Executive leader she claims she is. Have you heard her speak? She sounds like she’s running for High School President.

    — observer    Sep 5, 09:10 AM    #

43. Palin was an outstanding pick for McCain’s running mate. She might even make a decent VP—before Dick Cheney, vice presidents did not run the country…into the ground or anywhere else. But for McCain, Palin has reenergized what was a doomed campaign and has the right wing foaming at the mouth and hollering for devolution dressed in freedom clothes. McCain could not possibly have done better for his win-at-any-cost agenda.

    But I have to salutte S. Britchky’s howler: “Sen. McCain’s chief deficiency is his executive experience.” That’s rich. McCain’s chief deficiency is being wrong about nearly every policy question.

    — BertW    Sep 5, 09:10 AM    #

44. One reason I sometimes hate working in higher education, is that many in it only see four year colleges as higher education. Even more do not respect the many students who struggle with life issues. These students often have to disrupt their college education, make changes, and find it difficult to finish is 4 years from one institution. Who cares how many institutions she attended? If you do, get over yourself.

    — Ann    Sep 5, 09:11 AM    #

45. Three points jump out at me in this Palin thread. First, “executive experience”: this has been the standard for arguing that governors make better presidents (Reagan, Carter, Clinton, Bush II) than legislators (Kennedy, Johnson, Ford, Bush I). Ultimately, it’s not very convincing, though it has been pretty well demonstrated that the nature of legislative records (having to vote on issues in different forms hundreds of times) makes legislators more vulnerable to attack than governors. The Republicans repeatedly asserted that Obama hasn’t run anything. But he has run a brilliant campaign, which involves being the chief executive of an enormous organization and selecting the right advisors, etc. Against heavy odds, he defeated Hillary Clinton, in part because he outsmarted her in campaign strategy. Of course, there’s only so far one can go in viewing the campaign as an audition for office.

    Second, I would heartily endorse the idea that our presidents should be exceptional people with demonstrated superior intelligence, knowledge of the law and world affairs, and superior communication skills. Again, the campaign often allows these skills to be demonstrated, and that counts more than where someone’s degree is from. But anti-intellectualism in this country has reached such a height under the Bush administration that candidates who show they are smart and able to communicate complex ideas with clarity are ridiculed for being elitist or talking down to people (Gore was hit very hard with this charge, and Bush “won” the debates by losing them and appearing more like an average Joe).

    I’m an Obama supporter, but I would acknowledge that McCain, with his heroic military experiences, and with a 25-year career in the Senate is well-qualified to be a presidential candidate. He is a worthy opponent, but it is not clear at all that Palin is.

    Third, the argument that McCain/Palin represents “change” and that Palin with her familiar far-right politics will “shake up” a Washington that has been run by the right for 8 years (five of them with the Republicans controlling the White House and both houses of congress) is unconvincing. If McCain wants to distance himself from Bush, he MUST voice clear criticisms of Bush’s record and policies. If he fails to do that, he has no credibility as a candidate promising a new direction in Washington. Most voters recognize that the last eight years have been disastrous. Logic suggests that the Republicans (under the Bush administration) have failed and we should give the other party a chance. I don’t think McCain can defeat this logic unless he explicitly challenges the Bush record. Yes, “change” is vague, and, yes, there is good change and bad change. But both parties are rallying around “change” because voters are disgusted with the status quo. But the Democrats have a much stronger case that they actually represent a political change from that status quo. Apply that familiar canard from Reagan: Are you better off than you were four years ago or eight years ago?

    — Golden Rose    Sep 5, 09:11 AM    #

46. Re:, Ms. Smith’s latest rant:

    Gee, when “I think some of the old, wrinkled men, sitting in there offices secretly sipping their wine and have NO idea of what it’s like be a governor, mayor, in charge of a state’s national guard, etc.”, I think of John McCain!!!

    — Drlalala    Sep 5, 09:12 AM    #

47. So what? I started at the University of California Berkeley, dropped out before classes actually started, stayed out of school for a semester, went to a junior college for two quarters, then to the University of Washington for two quarters, then to the University of California at Davis, where I managed to graduate four years after I finished high school. Four schools in four years. Then two more degrees in the next four years. Some people just take some time to figure out where the right place is for them.

    — ME    Sep 5, 09:15 AM    #

48. Well, she certainly did a lot of damage to retention rates all over the country!

    — Mervyn Emrys    Sep 5, 09:15 AM    #

49. Why is the Chronicle blog not reporting on Joe Biden’s undistinguished career at Syracuse Law. His first year he flunked a class for plagiarizing, he actually stole 5 pages verbatim from a law review article and passed it in as his own work. He staggered to the finish line, graduating 76th out of 85 students. A real scholar.

    Also who is going to take care of Obama’s kids if he wins? Michelle has a full time job making $300K+ /year.

    http://rightwingprofessor.blogspot.com/

    — right wing professor    Sep 5, 09:16 AM    #

50. Do you REALLY think Joe Biden is delighted to be playing second fiddle to a community organizer/state senator with 140 days experience in the Senate?

    — Robert    Sep 5, 09:21 AM    #

51. Right Wing Professor:

    Michelle Obama stopped working this past spring. Once again, don’t let facts get in the way of making your point.

    — fwt    Sep 5, 09:21 AM    #

52. Palin = not qualified.

    McCain, while qualified, doesn’t get it.

    — no thanks    Sep 5, 09:26 AM    #

53. Many of the posters are trying to make the AP article and Chronicle News Blog piece into editorials for or against Palin. In fact they were only factual reports of the educational portion of the CV of the woman who may very well become president at some point in the next four years. They were no more opinionated than the articles that reported that President Reagan’s higher ed consisted of a bachelor’s degree from Eureka College.

    — Dave    Sep 5, 09:29 AM    #

54. Her whole life history (including all the so-called life-‘experience’ by being involved in so many different things) screams “unstable”.

    Even using that baby for photo ops at the late night events during the convention was disgraceful. A five-month old baby should have been in bed at those late night hours.

    — NYMOM    Sep 5, 09:32 AM    #

55. After reading all the news from all sides, I really get the impression that the Republicans have a lot of explaining to do…

    I’ve heard lots about Obama, knew about McCain for even longer, heard all good and bad on both sides, but Palin… still a total and baffling mystery to me.

    It’s kind of disconcerting — virtually no real info (comparable to McCain or Obama), and the stuff about her life is very vague so far…

    I’d really like to hear the Republican leadership speak more about her, and please don’t rehash what we know about Obama, Biden and McCain.

    Can someone point me to more substantive information about Palin’s “executive experience”?

    — W    Sep 5, 09:33 AM    #

56. Below is a link to a video of a speech that Sarah Plalin gave to her childhood church in Wasilla. The speech/ address is from just a few months ago. The video was taken from the churchs website http://www.wasillaag.org/
    The more controversial statemtents are between 4:03-4:58 and 5:30-6:15.

    http://webcastr.com/videos/politics/palins-church-may-have-shaped-controversial-worldview.html

    — Tom    Sep 5, 09:36 AM    #

57. The last I looked John McCain is the one being considered for Prez. The left is so against Palin because they wanted to be the 1st to bring minorities into national politics. I notice no one is attacking McCain why is that, is that because he is a distiguished Senator who has a record of making Change. Can anyone out there please tell me what piece of legislation BHO has done, please anything. You say Palin is one heartbeat from office, i would rather have a layer between offices then a president with truly no expereince and no history of change then maybe taking some change out of Bill Ayers pocket to help destroy america. People say she is a unfit mother and no family values, well her kids look happy to me, or maybe you don’t think she has values because her oldest is in service to our country? How does the lady no her kids have knocked someone up, and she still has time a few are still in the early teens, i hope one does just to show her not to throw stones, oh while you are throwing, remember BHO parents where never married, some family values. Stick to the issues like Higher ED, the new HEA was passed by Dems, how is that working out for minority or poor students struggling to get loans, and you can blame higher tution on the unions driving up Pilled Higher and Deeper who think writing books is more important then teaching you, no wonder they don’t want their earmarks to go away, they may have to actually go to class and teach. I hope you all have a nice day, a remember getting through college is a journey, your own personal journey.

    — WOW    Sep 5, 09:38 AM    #

58. So, more experience for her!

    — Golden    Sep 5, 09:46 AM    #

59. Remember, the baby is on Alaksa time which was only 6pm. Get your facts straight. An MO did not quite her job she is just on a leave, and who is watching the kids while she is on the road!

    — NYMOM    Sep 5, 09:47 AM    #

60. The terrible grammar and numerous misspellings in many of these posts suggests to me that so-called “comment trolls” are alive and well even on the CHE website. And I love the logic of this statement, from #62 (WOW): “The left is so against Palin because they wanted to be the 1st to bring minorities into national politics.” Um, since when are women a minority group?

    — bookish    Sep 5, 09:59 AM    #

61. Three words…

    WRITE
    IN
    HILLARY!

    — J    Sep 5, 10:17 AM    #

62. we always hear women and minorites in the same breath, and since most high level positions are held by men, women are still in the minority in that reference, hope i spelled everything right for you…

    — WOW    Sep 5, 10:17 AM    #

63. Palin is no less qualified than was Spiro Agnew!

    — Steve    Sep 5, 10:19 AM    #

64. Bye the Bye, as far as speeches go let us not ignore the fact that they are written, analyzed, and assessed by professional experts —- teleprompters enable the delivery of the same. Ergo, delivery of a speech in our era is somewhat akin to an actor/actress reading his/her lines.

    If the quality of a speech is being judged, then we are really judging the writer (and the consultive team involved), and not the speaker —- and, if the delivery of a speech is being judged, then we are judging merely the performance per se. In my opine if “Performance” is being considered as a “Major Determinant,” then we have really “Short Changed” ourselves —- for clearly Hollywood has a lot more to offer.

    Now consider the “Electioneering” aspects involved, a prime consideration herein being the adoption of a word [or short slogan] which captures the imagination of the masses.

    Obama’s mantra of “Change,” trumped “Experience” —- Given that Obama beat Clinton, and led McCain in the polls.

    Since “Experience” was unlikely to deliver, it behooved McCain to embrace “Change.” —- Palin provided the ideal means for diametrically shifting from “Experience” to “Change.”

    We now have two competing mantras of “Change” —- What does “Change” each camps “Change” mantra really signify?

    Shouldn’t we be looking and what “Change” means in terms of actual “Policies” and the “Associative Impacts”? Or, should we act as mere “Cogs” simply repeating the “Chants”?

    — zahid    Sep 5, 10:20 AM    #

65. #32 “Independent” writes: “Plagiarism is the bane of academicians, especially the liberal arts types.”

    Ok, let’s see who actually plagiarized on this discussion board: that loser called “Anon” (#22) who cut and pasted a piece by Ann Coulter. Unless, of course, Ann is finally reading CHE.

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/ucac/20080903/cm_ucac/thebestmanturnedouttobeawoman

    — RKO    Sep 5, 10:20 AM    #

66. Does how many colleges you attend make a person? I took college classes waiting for my enlistment date in the Air Force; took a few clasess here and there after joining; finished my Associates degree before getting out and deciding what I wanted to major in; then I went to school and worked full time getting two degrees.

    The point? I went to school where ever I could, where ever I lived, and I worked full time taking classes that fit in with my work schedule. No one looks at my transcripts and says, wow, “how many colleges? You must be worthless?

    We should look at facts – It is apparent that this presidential race will continue to divide this nation. It doesn’t matter who is in the office – we will not see change because of the people sitting in the congressional and senate seats.

    Until our political system is revamped we are destined to be what we are and have been for years. We will continue to let foreign countries buy up our businesses and fire our employees. Our unemployment will continue to rise as we send jobs overseas. We will continue to allow politicians to pass laws that have so many riders attached padding some project we don’t need that other nations will continue to laugh at us.

    We will continue to attract immigrants (legal and illegal) because we are a nation that will support them with wellfare, food stamps, and other things while they search for jobs.

    Face it – we are a nation divided and how many colleges someone attended, their grade point average, or manuscripts won’t change it.

    It is our country, and bottom line is that if we don’t like it – we either live with it or leave. May God Bless our Country and help her through the trying times – the next several years will be challenging no matter who we elect for the title of President or Vice President.

    — So What?!?    Sep 5, 10:25 AM    #

67. Seriously. She’s a total joke. My mouth is agape that people even try to defend her. Just the fact that she has no more higher education than a bachelor’s degree I find disturbing. More anti-intellectual hypocrisy from the right. They honor her unwed pregnant teenage daughter – and even the loser who knocked her up – but moralize about and judge everyone else’s pregnant teenage daughters – and cut funding to help the ones who have no support systems. It’s nice that Bristol Palin has all this support system around her to help with a baby. Lots of other women don’t. Palin obviously does not care about this.

    And, 67, minorities, e.g. women, who work hard to gain office so that they have power to pass more legislation and rules to further oppress women and minorities in general are not the kind of minorities I want in my government. Republicans pick her and people find her palatable because she is NOT a defender of women’s rights, as Clinton was. Of course Palin is not offensive. She’ll go along with everything the wealthy white men tell her they want her to do regarding her own reproducitve organs.

    — J.    Sep 5, 10:28 AM    #

68. But, but she’s a “mother, moosehunter, maverick.” What more do we need to know, really?

    — Bonnie    Sep 5, 10:29 AM    #

69. She is also a pitbull!

    — Sept    Sep 5, 10:34 AM    #

70. To #10
    It’s a fake picture. See
    http://primebuzz.kcstar.com/?q=node/14223

    — J. Foley    Sep 5, 10:35 AM    #

71. Re: WOW’s post: Ph.Ds making HUGE salaries?Because of unions?Are you kidding? Haliburton execs (you remember that Cheney group) make MILLIONS a year- thanks to Cheney. Tax cuts for the wealthy and a war that is bleeding us dry, a failed mortgage system, lowest unemployment, all of which means the federal coffers are now empty!! I, and many other Ph.Ds like me, on the other hand, work FT teaching 4 college courses a term for 25 years make 60 K-70K a year. And we do not get stock!

    And you want to blame the professors for the deficit??

    BTW, the baby was in Minneapolis, not Alaska (or even “on Alaska time” ) – get your facts straight. Not to mention that all that noise can harm delicate baby eardrums – the idiots in charge should have thought of that – I hope they had earplugs for the baby. But then again, there were so few people at the GOP convention the sound might not have been too loud.

    — Drlalala    Sep 5, 10:37 AM    #

72. Hats off to the Republican Party and Senator McCain’s campaign. The choice of selecting Sarah Palin was pretty brilliant. Think about it. You choose a person from relative obscurity and drop them into the position to potentially be Vice President of the United States. You do this a little more than 2 months before the election. The blogosphere and the main stream media go wild trying to catch up on 16 months of vetting Senator Obama has had and the decades Senator Biden has had. In the process the blogs and the press inevitably get some things wrong, go too far in their rush to scoop each other. You pounce on their mistakes and cry sexism, elitism, and any other “ism” that is politically expedient. As a result, you are now justified in “shielding” Governor Palin from the big bad left-wing media by not giving interviews and not having her answer questions. After all, the questions would likely be all about tabloid-level fringe ideas like “what’s your stance on issues, Governor Palin” or “what are your qualifications to hold the office of Vice President, Governor Palin” you know, crazy stuff. Now that the Governor is protected, however, she is perfectly positioned to assume the attack dog role of slinging insults and one-liners at the opposition without having to deal with the messy business of answering any “legitimate” questions about herself. Well done, Republicans. Well done.

    — thedoc    Sep 5, 10:50 AM    #

73. The main question becomes: so what? Folks attend multiple schools in order to graduate all the time. That being said, what are Governor Caribou’s positions on the issues that matter?

    I do know this: she is not a supporter of the Constitution, looking to ban library books and firing the local librarian, attends a far-right wing church, has no sense of national security by announcing her son’s future deployment, has several scandals in play in AK and has a teenaged knocked up daughter—good abstinance only education at work. What’s not to like about her?

    — bigfruitbasket    Sep 5, 10:51 AM    #

74. #74 – while i enjoy the political banter amongst the comments…

    as a flaming liberal, and pitbull owner – please do not compare palin to a pitbull – they are actually (contrary to this country’s great biases) mellow, kind, and very kid-friendly dogs…and actually not people-aggressive. thus eliminating all comparison to palin. while not the forum for pitbull virtue extolling, the comparision to a dog breed that is oft-understood is frustrating to an owner.

    nevermind that my pitbull would never own a gun, be pro-life, or be anti-intellectual.

    — sara    Sep 5, 10:54 AM    #

75. Are you saying that she is not even a good pitbull? Not even qualified on that count?

    — Sept    Sep 5, 10:55 AM    #

76. While everyone is focusing on the education or lack of it in the new jewel in the crown of the Republican party, foreign VP business goes on as usual: http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jkJxQFQEoiYj7g-zPEMuT5riM3xw
    It would be nice if that billion dollars went to our own Georgia state schools and universities. I am concerned about Palin’s stand on higher education funding, much moreso than on her foreign service experience: I heard that she is already an expert in Russian affairs because she lives right across the Strait.

    — Observer    Sep 5, 11:03 AM    #

77. I returned to grad school to pursue a Ph.D. at the age of 50. One of the biggest disillusions for me was the lack of open-mindedness among faculty and grad students. Prejudice and hypocrisy are often disguised with a rich vocabulary and a clever turn of a phrase. Bottom line is that despite high intelligence, folks in academe are typically just as prone to be overtaken by their emotions. Rational thought and discussion are especially rare when the topic turns to politics and this is evident every time politics is brought up in the Chronicle.

    — JohnS    Sep 5, 11:09 AM    #

78. The last time we put an academic underachiever in office, we invaded a country that did nothing to us, we now have record unemployment, a mortgage crisis, banks closing, airlines declaring bankruptcy, and we’re the laughing stock of the international community. At some point, Americans have to believe, that we can’t do any worse by electing a magna cum laude graduate from the top law school in the country, instead of a guy who did nothing in 26 years but support the failed policies of Bush I and Bush II, and every time he opens his mouth, you hear a noun, a verb, and POW. It will take smart people to get us out of the mess we’re in…just like it took Bill and Hillary to get us out of the mess Bush I got us into. Any comparison of Obama’s or Biden’s academic credentials with McCain’s or Palin’s is whistling in the dark.

    — OBAMA 2008    Sep 5, 11:15 AM    #

79. Palin is a sop to conservatives who think’values’ matter more than actual ability to lead and govern on issues that matter to EVERYBODY, like the economy or foreign relations.

    But she was also chosen over other similarly socially conservative potential running mates because McCain knew she would be a distraction. Americans would have so much to say about her (as a woman, as a small-town mayor) that they would forget about the deeply troubled waters into which the Bush Republican administration (and it is a Republican administration, for all of McCain’s attempt to distance himself from it) has taken us.

    “It’s the economy, stupid.”

    — Sally Washington    Sep 5, 11:16 AM    #

80. I wish the Chronicle would cease its predictable shilling for Democrats. Can we have some integrity, even if it is just a little?

    — a plea    Sep 5, 11:24 AM    #

81. Hey drlalala, you should read the CHE salary page sometime, or just get a better job. As far a huge salaries go, how much actual funds do you bring into your university, if it is billions of dollars then you should get a huge fat contract. WOW, 4 college course a term, when is the last time you change your syllabus or took a year sabbatical? You choose higher ed because you probably could not make it in the real world. And yes I know the RNC was in St. Paul not Minneapolis (facts again) but his biological clock is on Alaska time. Oh, as far as the crowd yeah the DNC had more you could tell by the buses parked outside, must have been the ones the MOB used for Kennedy!

    The one thing about education, you know Abe Lincoln never had a college education and he did something no DEM could do, free people and bring the country back together. Education is only a stepping stone, the personal drive to be a successful person comes from with-in and Mr. McCain and Ms. Palin both have it.

    BTW, I noticed no Republicans spoke up for BHO but a former VP candidate sure spoke up for McCain looks like he is the guy to work across party lines to bring CHANGE…

    — WOW    Sep 5, 11:29 AM    #

82. On the mater of education, I just wonder what accomplishments would have flowed from Abraham Lincoln’s going to college. If he had not had less than one year of formal education, he might have amounted to something.

    — Wondering    Sep 5, 11:30 AM    #

83. JohnS, # 83, you are absolutely correct. The amount of liberal bigotry and close-mindedness in academia is simply astounding. It is much less common, however, among those who have had a “life” before they entered academia, especially if that life involved manual labor, serving in the military, or working in a small business.

    Mao’s idea of forcing those who inhabit academia to work in the rice fields and in the factories had some merit in that it brought such cloistered folk face-to-face with the world.

    — So true    Sep 5, 11:40 AM    #

84. Absolutely fascinating discussion.

    — P    Sep 5, 11:40 AM    #

85. How about constituencies? The reported approval rating for the executive performance of Governor Palin is around 80%; and for Congress, less than 10%. Perhaps more than any other candidate in this race, or in recent history, Governor Palin has a more “in touch” perspective on the lives of average Americans. What evidence do we have that “experience” means a damn thing when it comes to politics? With as little performance as we have gotten out of Congress or the executive branch, in the past 16 years, I wish we could wash them all out and replace with hockey moms.

    — joetrivium    Sep 5, 11:41 AM    #

86. Obama writes most of his speeches, and he wrote his books? Hardy, har, har, har.
    I would write more, but I have to go out and organize a community before lunch.

    — I organize    Sep 5, 11:46 AM    #

87. To “Ms. Smith, #19”: Palin’s speech was delivered fairly well because she practiced 5 hours. So, we know that coaching works. She is also an accomplished speaker as governor. That said, please examine the sneering, aggressive slant to her speech. After hearing her, I thought that Joe Biden should show her how little knowledge she has about foreign policy. I think that he should wipe up the floor with this person.

    — Ann    Sep 5, 11:51 AM    #

88. This is the best view on Sarah Palin I’ve seen all week:

    http://smartremarx.com/135/the-glass-ceiling-cracked/

    — Ibid    Sep 5, 11:54 AM    #

89. Uhhhh…I’d like to point out, that McCain graduated near the bottom of his Naval Academy class, and it’s pretty obvious he hasn’t stepped into a classroom in over 40 years. He’s hardly a man who could comment on higher education, and his party line epithets about school choice are targeted at destroying teacher’s unions, not improving secondary education. What you’re hearing from McCain, that makes him sound so smart, is twenty-six years of practice BS’ing the public. To those of you who try to discount the value of having smart people in charge, think about that the next time you need a doctor or a lawyer, or the kind of people you want teaching your children.
    One other point. This so-called “poll” on Palin’s job performance was based on asking about 400 people in Alaska, after she unseated a corrupt and unpopular govenor. One of the values of getting a good education, is the ability to question polls and numbers that look too good to be true. The fact that no one outside of Alaska ever heard of her, is proof that all politics are local, and that you get what you poll for.

    — OBAMA 2008    Sep 5, 11:55 AM    #

90. I wish we could have a little civility in our discussions and respect for each other as we consider one central fact: It is abundantly clear and obvious to all that Sarah Palin did to Barack Obama was Jesse Jackson merely talked about doing.

    — call for civility    Sep 5, 11:58 AM    #

91. The calculated insult to all the capable Republican candidates that the selection of Sarah Palin represents in the GOP is amazing.

    — Mark    Sep 5, 11:59 AM    #

92. What’s even more troubling is that John McCain finished in the bottom 1% of his class at a 3rd tier college. He’s a dim bulb, just like Bush, another legacy admit without entry qualifications or the motivation to succeed. They end up being the butt-boys for their wealthy fathers’ political cronies.

    — Brilliant Blonde    Sep 5, 12:01 PM    #

93. What are the anti-academic, anti-ivory tower types doing at the Chronicle of Higher Education?

    — WhatsUpWithThat    Sep 5, 12:01 PM    #

94. He #93, to bad BHO could not show her any foreign policy. Should not the person in charge know more then the second? Although i guess the left does not like Biden, in 4 prez bids less then 1% of votes… makes you think

    — WOW    Sep 5, 12:05 PM    #

95. Re Joe Erwin (#12), Mr. Obama DID say his grandmother had the attitudes of a “typical white person.” If that doesn’t qualify for throwing his grandmother under a bus as #3 suggests, I don’t know what does. It’s a direct quote taken off the air. He has never denied it. RE Sarah Palin, whatever her qualifications (or lack of them), to snidely suggest that going to multiple colleges is evidence of some negative attitude toward higher education, or some personal failing is elitism at its worst. She is like many students in that regard, and her persistence and diversity of experience might well make her even more appreciative of higher education than someone who had a straight-through easier ride of it…

    — Publius    Sep 5, 12:06 PM    #

96. Answer to #99: Whining! To reverse #87 WOW’s formula” “WOW, 4 college course a term, when is the last time you change your syllabus or took a year sabbatical? You choose higher ed because you probably could not make it in the real world.” These anti-academic academics choose to whine because “probably they could not make it in the academia, could never publish anything slightly interesting, and never gained their colleagues’ respect with real academic work.”

    — ssoorryy    Sep 5, 12:06 PM    #

97. I don’t particularly care for Palin or McCain and am voting for Obama. McCain had so many other brilliant choices and I am not sure how she got to be the one to become his running. However, what does attending several universities have to do with her character and quality other than she stuck to something and saw it to the finish. Doesn’t sound like a problem to me…

    — b.d.g.    Sep 5, 12:08 PM    #

98. #99, what do you mean? Please explain. Which posting is anti-academic?
    Don’t you, like, totally value diversity of thought and ideas from those who are marginalized.
    You know what I’m saying?

    — what?    Sep 5, 12:10 PM    #

99. George W. Bush has degrees from both Harvard AND Yale.

    — Andrew Austin    Sep 5, 12:11 PM    #

100. It’s great to see and hear a female Cicero, as well as a Ronald Reagan. It’s so much better than hearing stuttering Barak Obama when he is without teleprompters.

     — Schmidt, Alvin    Sep 5, 12:12 PM    #

101. The original news article attempts to simply state facts— Do we not know the educational insittuitions attended for all candiates for high national office? Why are Palin supporters so defensive? The only politcal implication here is for higher education policy: Republicans can’t now honestly argue for retention rates in assessing outcomes.

     — perplexed    Sep 5, 12:17 PM    #

102. anon – besides plagiarizing the writings of someone who thinks election laws apply only to others & NOT her, your diatribes mean nothing if you are so ashamed of what you write to not even put your name on your posts!

     — Gary    Sep 5, 12:23 PM    #

103. hey #102, actually was a tenured professor who could not take anymore of my peers saying theirs was the only way, plus wanted to make more money, plus i thopugh higher ed for for education and looking at all points of view, not just push your views on me. I have voted DEM for the last 8 elections, this time i will vote for mcCain, i would have voted BHO if he would of not lied to the american people by saying” i will not run for president in 08, i will stay in congress and get some experience.” he is just another washington guy, so between 2 washington guys i will take the one with more experience and real world foreign policy.

     Oh, the person who said the academys are 3rd tiered schools good luck getting in and staying in, plus the next time we loose thousands of our country men, send in the students from your campus…

     — WOW    Sep 5, 12:24 PM    #

104. The Republican Party should be called the Orwellian Party for managing to make inexperience = experience (oh, right, “executive” experience), unwed teen mother = example for families to follow, and intelligence = stupidity. Palin’s educational patchwork at obscure institutions will no doubt be represented as the height of scholarship against Obama’s own stellar career at the Ivies, which will be redefined as somehow elitist and anti-American, even though droves of people practically sell their souls to get into them. It’s positively frightening that any major party could put forward a loose cannon like Sarah Palin and then try to sell her as someone who should be in line for the presidency. Now it seems that a real person like Barack Obama, who really worked his way through schools and shone at Harvard and beyond is somehow unfit to be president while a trailer trash mama with a knocked up daughter could be OK because she can skin a moose and brag about being a “hockey mom.” Geez. (And, look, I only mention the knocked up part because Palin and her party insist on the fairy tales of abstinence education alone, no abortion ever, and so on. Another Orwellian stroke has her talk about her daughter’s decision to keep the baby, eliding over the issue of pre- marital sex, which drives Republicans nuts, and all the rich old white people in the Party somehow forget that and applaud her as a terrific moral mom.)

     And of course the most Orwellian thing is the Republicans running against Washington as if they weren’t responsible for the whole tawdry, appalling mess of the last eight years. I really can’t understand how any middle class person can be a Republican—is it willful brain damage or what?

     One more thing, don’t blame the press for your troubles, Republicans. Boo hoo. You just can’t take it and you know for a fact everyone gets it just about the same. If anything, Obama has come under a lot more scrutiny recently than McCain—for example, no one seems to pick up on the fact that McCain the “maverick” voted with Bush 90% of the time. Some maverick.

     — Will    Sep 5, 12:25 PM    #

105. What kind of example will she be for the nation. All of the things America has said was right and just is being challenged by her. the double standard is in play here. She is no role model for my daughters.

     — Earl    Sep 5, 12:28 PM    #

106. # 96, right on!

     — you are right    Sep 5, 12:40 PM    #

107. 99 tried going to the site and it said it did not exsist.

     — ouramericas    Sep 5, 12:43 PM    #

108. As a motner of a former teen, I would find it devestating if I only taught my daughter absentence and she then came up pregnant! If this is what Ms Palin believes in and paractices, I without a doubt believe she failed her daughter. SO, how can a reasonable person expect her with such a perspective to look beyond her narrow beliefs to act in the best interest of this county?

     — Ruth    Sep 5, 12:50 PM    #

109. 94 tried going to the site and it said it did not exsist. (99 was incorrect)

     — ouramericas    Sep 5, 12:52 PM    #

110. This is shocking news. Can’t she just attend college for four years like Abe Lincoln did?

     — john    Sep 5, 12:54 PM    #

111. Then do we also judge the education of a military spouse who attends multiple institutions while following a husband/wife around from one location to another? Or military being reactivated and pulled from school to serve their country and so they continuing education with on-line coursework through another school? Or the person who takes 10 years to complete a degree while raising a family. Think about it. Her education came from quality accredited institutions. There are many who aren’t the “traditional” student going through in four years at one school.

     — ps    Sep 5, 01:01 PM    #

112. In response to # 3: Please define “real” accomplishments. Secondly, all politicians use speech writers. You are using faulty methods of argument.

     — kelly    Sep 5, 01:02 PM    #

113. The one thing you are all doing is calling anyone who went to these kids who attended these schools stupid by picking on her education. I guess if you don’t have the money to make it through in four years you are dumb. She made it, and unless you are in her house or have a perfect family, and many don’t including BHO who did not have married parents don’t pass judgement.

     — am I also stupid    Sep 5, 01:03 PM    #

114. I am not going to look at the comments anymore. This is incredibly rancorous. I went to 9 schools K-12 and 4 universities through the doctorate. Since then I’ve taught at 7 universities, from small private who emphasize teaching to large public R-1s. All this has been by choice and was also influenced by life events. I think moving has done nothing but enrich my understanding of people, cultures, and the world. How exactly are many of you interpreting the report that she sent to many schools before finally graduating at one of them? I see it as a story of tenacity, leaving all politics aside. (BTW – I’ll be voting for Obama for reasons of my own.)

     — Boy Dean    Sep 5, 01:05 PM    #

115. There is nothing remarkable in Palin attending a number of institutions. More students do this all the time. Move on, nothing to see here….

     — Al    Sep 5, 01:07 PM    #

116. When you’re a POW, a maverick, a POW and a maverick, you don’t need to worry about this kind of horse hockey from a hockey mom.

     — crosspostedfromWonkette!!!    Sep 5, 01:11 PM    #

117. At least she did graduate, which is the desired result. Considering 50% plus of incoming freshmen don’t, it is a tribute to her commitment.

     — Cicero    Sep 5, 01:16 PM    #

118. I definitely agree with the earlier posts about civility, decency, and the lack thereof. I hate to concede anything to the last few decades’ mindset, but this is proof positive that there really is no such thing as human objectivity, regardless of a person’s education or lack of it.

     Speaking of which, if WOW and others like her really are or have been tenured professors, then God help us all. I realize this is not the milieu in which to expect perfect punctuation, capitalization, grammar, and spelling, but blatant illiteracy is out of place in a complaint about anti-intellectualism. Sure, part of it is doubtless just the hardening of my arteries, but the real question about this “discussion” is whether the content or the form in which it is presented is more appalling.

     On the brighter side, though, score one for “multiculturalism, domestic academic variety”: left and right, liberal and conservative seem about equally barbarous.

     — Dan    Sep 5, 01:31 PM    #

119. Well, gang, I’m back from my lunch break, during which I took about 12 or 14 minutes and organized four communities. Not bad, even if I must say so myself.

     — the organizer    Sep 5, 01:52 PM    #

120. In the upcoming Obama administration, I will not settle for the position of Director of National Poetry or the Secretary of the Department of Caring and Hugs! I want to work in the Ministry of Truth.

     — Winston    Sep 5, 01:57 PM    #

121. The discussion is interesting, to be sure, but I’m also sure that most citizens would not be impressed with academia based only on this conversation. Most of our views on the candidates will be shaped in the next 60 days … unless we are so party oriented that honest evaluations don’t matter.

     — Bob    Sep 5, 02:08 PM    #

122. I sense the Machiavellian hand of Karl Rove somewhere in all this Republican-biased media “storm”. What in heaven’s name are we doing comparing the Vice-presidential nominee of one party to the PRESIDENTIAL nominee of another party? Are we that convinced McCain would, if elected, die in office?

     — Dan Redick    Sep 5, 02:14 PM    #

123. Clearly the fundamental issue of prime importance should be:

     What one will do in office?

     Yet the primary focus in general seems to be oblivious same.

     Should assertions of superiority in an intellectual forum like this one at least focus on:

     Economic Policies, with their intertwined complexities?

     Foreign Policy, in conjunction with our nation’s interactions with other nations?

     Trade Policy, and its consequential impacts on our own labor force?

     Immigration Policy, and its implications for our citizenry?

     Social Policies, and their societal implications?

     National Health Policies, and its effects for the well-being of our citizenry?

     Do the analysis of the above not merit consideration, or must they take a backseat to “Party Line Politics”?

     In my opine a “Focal Shift in Perspective” —- is “Critical.” A meaningful discussion which states, this is what ‘A’ plans to do, and the expected consequences are … vs. this is what ‘B’ plans to do, and the expected consequences are …

     Maybe, I am hoping for too much, should have left the matter alone after my earlier comment (#69).

     — zahid    Sep 5, 02:25 PM    #

124. # 132, Karl Rove is under your bed, and I have a list of 128 of his secret followers.

     — Mac    Sep 5, 02:25 PM    #

125. I’m scared. I started with Edwards, changed to Clinton and will vote for Obama. I wasn’t too worried, even if McCain won perhaps it would’nt be the end of the world.

     BUT

     He is 72 and while that is no failure, the fact is he has had cancer several times. Sarah Palin as President? That’s too scary to contemplate.

     Everyone thinks her speech was so great. She didn’t write it, she delivered it. Any actress could have done as well.

     I’m terrified at the imjpact of the media on public opinion – especially TV. I have not had one in my house for over 20 years and when I do see iit I’m appalled at what’s considered public discourse.

     The political conventions, like the Olympics focus on the ‘back story’ or sentimental versions of family life, personal challenges etc. Issues are vaguely discussed and apparently not relevant to the viewers. Obama certainly seems to have some plans but no one really cares, its all about his childhood ambition to be president, his family and so on,.

     We are no longer citizens but merely consumers and we buy the product that most pulls our heartstrings.

     TV has made our culture into a long running Oprah show.

     Re Ms. Smith – a community organizer is exactly what we need. The President is not king and no matter his VPs views on abortion it won’t happen. Did it happen in the last 8 years?

     What we need is someone who can work with both parties to achieve consensus on vital issues, not some bombastic ‘maverick’ who will just create more dissention.

     Our country is in big trouble and we need to get our house in order now.

     — clk    Sep 5, 02:28 PM    #

126. it is funny how “organizing communities” is belittled, yet it is a practice that is a foundation of democracy. what do you also do as a pta member? or getting out the vote. i used to work in a country where they don’t organize communities…it was authoritarian and had one ruling party since independence. maybe that is preferable to some of the sad ideologues who seem to lurk more and more on this higher education site…

     — Amazed    Sep 5, 02:29 PM    #

127. Wonderful. Just as it occurred to me that I should have included examples, Ruth and Ms. Smith provided them. Ruth, the USA is a country, not a county. Ms. Smith, just to choose a single example, it’s toe the line, not tow. And WOW, “loose” is an adjective, meaning “not tight”; the verb is “lose” for heaven’s sake.

     Obviously, I am a shallow SOB to worry about such things, but I can’t help feeling that the package indicates something at least about the contents. And people in academia wonder why people outside academia don’t take academia nearly so seriously as academia does.

     And the demonizing goes on. . . .

     — Dan    Sep 5, 02:30 PM    #

128. #133, I congratulate you and I hope that you are right.

     As I near retirement, however, I can see huge pressures being placed in various formal and informal ways on tenured colleagues who do not adhere to the Party Line, and life for them has become a lving hell, complete with physical sickness caused by unrelenting efforts made by the Entrenched Gang to oust them from their offices, from committees, and even (very soon) from their positions. Please believe me when I tell you that there are ways to drive tenured colleagues from academe.

     Do not be too confident with your tenured status. Good luck!

     — watch out    Sep 5, 02:33 PM    #

129. I applaud Sarah Palin for finishing her degree. It’s a huge accomplishment.

     That said, I won’t be voting for McCain. Frankly, I think the war in Iraq has failed to make the USA safer – true there have been no attacks on American soil, but the terrorists flocked to Iraq after Saddam was toppled and managed to kill thousands of American soldiers there. Bush has forgotten about all the other places terrorists are hiding. I haven’t heard McCain say anything about refocusing the effort.

     — Steven    Sep 5, 02:35 PM    #

130. At 81, Anon: It’s interesting that you automatically assume I’m a man, and that yo think I’m a liberal. I’m actually a conservative who still is not bought over by all the lies that the republicans want us believing. Good for you that you are sticking to the hypocrits who call themselves the Republican Candidates.

     — observer    Sep 5, 02:53 PM    #

131. # 137, Amazed. No one that I know of is against communities organizing themselves, but since when do people actually get paid to do that. PTA, Rotary, civic musicals and theater, etc., are all fine. No one is against any of these voluntary organizations, and most of us are very active in a number of them. It’s the political organization that is questionable, especially when it is tax money that supports (directly or indirectly) such organizing efforts. It simply smacks too much of National Socialism or Stalinist undertakings to politicize the populace. Civil society and civic space are entirely good, but using tax money to “organize” people is not.

     — we are for them    Sep 5, 03:01 PM    #

132. It seems to me that it is the fact that Republicans constantly question Obama’s experience that is causing Democrats to question the irony of the choice of an inexperienced VP candidate. Which then makes Republicans think Democrats are attacking Palin. Aren’t queries allowed? I want to know more about this person. Why doesn’t McCain really explain why he chose her, and why over others? What makes her stand out and what makes him believe that together they are a winning team?

     I don’t think she is inexperienced overall—running a small city or state doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t develop the same skills used to run larger ones. BUT she is not experienced enough for me, based on what I’ve seen, to be the vice presidential candidate.

     Really, both parties are so very similar and yet the country is so divided and people feel such hatred for the other side. Think of all of the elections you’ve witnessed—how many candidates that end up elected actually do what they say they will do? Conventions and even debates are soundbites. What do EITHER of the parties REALLY propose to do, about a great many serious topics? Special interest groups really get their grips on once someone is in office and I’d vote for a candidate from EITHER party if I knew that just once that would not happen. But it can’t—there’s too much power and money and they’ll be stymied in anything else they try to do if they don’t give in. It’s a vicious circle.

     By the way, those of you who say “leave if you don’t like it” just astound me. Remember what this country is supposed to be about? We ought to be able to share our opinions and express our differences without attacks. But that’s what we see the parties doing in the media so I guess we think its ok….

     I strongly disagree with a lot that has been posted here but I respect each and every one of your opinions (though TRULY I don’t know how some of you think what you do, but that’s the beauty of it, right?).

     OK. Since this whole thread started with Palin’s education, my thoughts are that an everyday kinda gal—a “real person”—an average American—(defined here as a hockey mom, moosehunter, pro-life, religious lipstick wearing pittpull) is not what I want in the white house. We’ve had an average Joe in there for 8 years and I haven’t been able to watch the President speak for that long—I get physically uncomfortable. He’s an embarrassment. I can’t believe the American people feel proud and secure being represented by someone like him. How? Because he is someone like them? It makes no sense to me.

     — Really    Sep 5, 03:12 PM    #

133. RE:#96 and civility. I wonder if the tone would change if only registered users could post with real names and institutional affiliations made public. The nasty tone might often be the result of anonymity. It breeds carelessness and irresponsibility.

     — rouge    Sep 5, 03:30 PM    #

134. #142, so I take it you would be against, for example, the social workers who try and get groups of elderly men to come together and create self-help groups so they are not isolated in inner city SROs (old residential hotels), or historic and contemporary attempts for city planners to bring together residents via staffed site offices so local neighborhoods can be better planned, in a way more appropriate for the residents and their needs/tastes? Talk about ideology taking priority versus practical problem solving to enhance quality of life. National Socialism? Stalinism?! Simply bizarre.

     — Amazed    Sep 5, 03:32 PM    #

135. So she went to four colleges so what, the fact is that many people go to a number of colleges for various reasons, if someone who is otherwise on the fence votes against the GOP ticket because of that they are very shallow indeed.

     — Warren    Sep 5, 03:43 PM    #

136. How can anyone possible even considering voting for a person who wants creationism taught in the public schools, who advocates banning books, who is against abortion even in cases of rape or incest, and who thinks the Iraq war was “from God”? Palin’s position is absolute nonsense!

     — reality check    Sep 5, 03:57 PM    #

137. Ummm….so what?

     — Jennifer    Sep 5, 04:12 PM    #

138. I would like to know how it’s possible that the Republicans saying that Obama not using the word “victory” when it comes to the war in Iraq “now that we are so close” is a bad thing…. There is no “victory” to be had!

     — Really    Sep 5, 04:16 PM    #

139. Ditto Reality Check (#147) —- add to that her nonchalant and frivolous attitude towards individual rights —- as she flippant dismissed the same for some in her speech [Quote; “Obama wants to read them their rights” —- or words to that effect].
     It is scary to think that if one is accused [rightly or wrongly] —- that one should not even be informed of their rights. What else is one to expect as a progression to same?

     Additionally, the fundamental issues pertinent to policies as stated earlier (#134) remain a question mark.

     — zahid    Sep 5, 04:36 PM    #

140. # 145, Amazed. No, I am not against self-help efforts. I have taken part in these and quite often led them. The idea of elderly men (or women), etc., etc., coming together to make life better for themselves in rural or urban places presents no problem. Voluntary association is a truly wonderful aspect of American history, one that serves as an example for most of the world.

     It’s just when such efforts are led by “professional” organizers via political movements that trouble arises. There is often a political agenda, one that very often leads to pressures, and then conformity, and then mandatory participation, and then obligatory public affirmation of the “mission” of the undertaking.

     On this matter, the difference between authoritarian governments and totalitarian governments is huge and significant. In authoritarian situations the individual simply cannot challenge those in power, but that individual does not have to publically show up in parades, etc., and affirm the value of the Party or the Leader. In short, not much of the society is politicized. In totalitarian societies, on the other hand, such public affirmations are mandatory, and there is next to no civil or civic space that is not politicized. Everything, including “the private,” is deemed to be public.

     I have known quite a few community organizers over the decades, and believe me when I tell you that their ideas of eventual mandatory participation in their community projects are really worrisome, especially for those who know the histories of National Socialism, Stalinism, today’s Cuba, etc., etc. Many of us who have known such community organizers know with a high degree of certainty that helping the marginalized to enjoy better lives is really quite peripheral to their goals. Their goals center around the mobilzation of the populace and the using of this mobilzation for larger political purposes. The “help” they give to marginalized groups is often really a cover to achieve political dominance.

     I do not know Barack Obama. Therefore, I have no idea whether or not the Totalitarian Temptation has afflicted him. I do know that it has afflicted quite a few “community organizers” I have known over the decades, and some of them have openly said they favored societies that model themselves after National Socialism, Stalinism, or today’s Cuba. Some are truly open about their vision of utopia. I do not share that vision.

     — we are for them    Sep 5, 04:40 PM    #

141. @127: It’s not Democrats that brought out the fact that she went to several colleges. The journalists are not Democrats. Just because Obama went to Harvard, on student loans by the way does not make him elitist. People from middle-class families who go to ivy league schools are not elitist. Ivy League schools are open to everyone who is willing to do the work required to get in. So stop all the elitist whining. That’s not the issue. Please focus on the issues.

     — observer    Sep 5, 04:49 PM    #

142. Re: WOW’s assault on those who teach at smaller liberal arts universities:
     some of us who are tenured do not leave to earn more money because money is not our goal, unlike yours by your own admission, not my judgment.
     And to assume we cannot do other things in the real world is hubris and disrespect. Some of actually think that SERVICE is valuable and are willing to sacrifice the big bucks. Clearly you do not think this way… you wanted to be in a place where everyone listens and agrees with you, and make a higher salary. You said this, not me.

     My post was NOT complaining about my salary or my workload. I was COMPARING it to CEOs of big companies since you were suggesting that Ph.D.s are draining us becauseunions earn them big salaries. MOST of us do not belong to unions, most of us do not make high salaries listed in the CHE postings because most of us do not work for large state or Ivy universities.

     Unless you are biologist with a degree in neuroendocrinology like I am, do NOT lecture me on biological clocks of infants, and yes, Minneapolis is different from Saint Paul, they are separated by 8 miles. OK, call me liar for 8 miles – at least it is not off by 3000 miles.

     re: Anon: The “real” doctors TEACH the medical students and they hold Ph.D’s!! At least that is what I was doing when I showed my last medical student the results of a brain infarct in a real human brain.

     Bullies, you two are, but we can take it. Unlike the GOP who is complaining that others are asking a few questions about their choice of VP.

     — drlalala    Sep 5, 04:58 PM    #

143. Looking at Palin’s record from the retention viewpoint, it’s very unusual for someone with a number of transfers to actually graduate in a reasonable amount of time. Whatever else was going on in her academic career, she was focused enough to get the degree. I think that’s about the only conclusion I’d draw from the article.

     — Dulcie    Sep 5, 05:16 PM    #

144. Come on folks! I’m not sure why we have the commotion over who is qualified and who is not. Who really cares. 99% of those writing comments today (i realize this is a supposition) already knew who they were going to vote for prior to the announcement of any VP nomination. I’ll take a another supposition. Most people posting would vote for an un-named person regardless if D or R was trailing the name over a known quanity of Lincoln, Washington, Jesus Christ, FDR, Bear Bryant, Gordon Gee carrying the symbol of the opposing party.

     So really, beat Palin up. She does have more education than 75% of the American population. I certainly think that she has achieved an office (Governor) that the commenters here (plus Obama, Biden, and McCain) have not/will never achieve.

     If it makes us feel better about our insignificant selves, let’s rip them all to shreds. Palin, McCain, Biden and Obama. Our problem is no one is qualified to be president, and that includes all current president and ex-presidents-living or dead. It is too complex for one person to be a “decider.” But instead, we want someone to motivate us, inspire us, and make us proud.

     Isn’t sad that we little people under the cover of psuedo-identies rip into all 4 of these folks, because we want someone elected that will make us feel good enough to do what we should already be willing to do—-without either a former POW or eloquent speaker in office.

     — seth    Sep 5, 05:19 PM    #

145. The reason that the McCain/Palin ticket just might succeed, unfortunately, is that it mirrors the majority of the US population: ignorant, reactionary, xenophobic and proud of it.

     — reality check    Sep 5, 05:45 PM    #

146. Maybe someone can enlighten me concerning the manifest and widespread need of those in academia to put down the American public. What psychological pathology drives this need? It seems to be a product of the last four or five decades, perhaps ever since Adlai Stevenson lost to Ike in ’52 and ’56. What drives it?

     — jim    Sep 5, 05:59 PM    #

147. Umm…. maybe honesty? Awareness? God forbid, education? That’s such a terribly dirty, elitist concept! We sure don’t want to be “elitist” in this country do we? So, let’s all celebrate our LACK of education as if it’s a GOOD thing. Maybe because we do happen to KNOW a little something about history, about politics, about injustice and inequality, about the use of political rhetoric to blur awareness of real issues and cover them in a haze of “character-driven” innuendo.

     — reality check    Sep 5, 06:40 PM    #

148. #159, You are right on the mark! Why don’t people realize America has a HAPPY empire? Other empires both past and present ruled by coercion and violence. We maintain our position of world power and influence because we are benevolent and compassionate. Iraq, Nicaragua, Vietnam, Colombia, Venezuela, Korea, Iran, Palestine just don’t want to be happy. What is it with those people?! I’ve never seen such ingratitude.

     I hope the Obama/Biden ticket succeeds and pulls back our benevolence and compassion. Then all those countries will be begging for us to come back. That will show all those idiotic college professors!

     — Croak    Sep 5, 07:27 PM    #

149. Croak…you are a complete idiot. Happy? If Americans are “happy” it’s because they are simply stupid and unaware – ever heard the phrase “ignorance is bliss”? Other countries don’t want to be happy? Have you ever been outside of the US? mr, you have a problem with cheese, now? Are you one of those “American fries” morons too? Our “benevolence”? You must be joking. The two of you prove my point better than I could have hoped! Thank you.

     — reality check    Sep 5, 08:05 PM    #

150. Easy, Reality Check. I was joking. It was a sarcastic response to 159. Either I’m not good at satire or the left and the right are that far apart for it to be believable. I hope I’m just bad at satire.
     Peace.

     — Croak    Sep 5, 08:46 PM    #

151. Whoa! What a heated discussion. A couple of things come to mind for me in reading these posts. Some of the elite (yes we are elite…all of us) professors/grad students/administrators have way too much time on their hands to be spending so much time on these postings – must have cush jobs. And two, we need a revolution. Our system is broken. I’ve said it before (and actually, to be clear have borrowed/plagarized/stolen from someone else) that Obama and McCain have far more in common with one another than they do with most of the U.S. public.

     I think it is appalling that people with as much education as is represented here that spellings, grammatical errors, and gutter level incivility is rampant. The name calling, the speaking down to, the electronic yelling…I really hope this is not what college students have to endure. This is truly a sad state of affairs. As for the anti-intellectualism – this entire list of postings (well most of them) are testament to that fact.

     I am disgusted that our nations academic leaders can find no better way to express their political proclivities than to name call, pull the terrorist card (remember McCarthyism?), or focus on matters that are non issues such as the number of colleges one attends. Disgusting.

     What this country needs is a revolution. Our systems are broken – yes the old systems built and developed to maintain white supremacy are broken. Is anyone truly surprised? I’ll vote for Obama because I can’t tolerate one more year of intolerance and because I don’t feel like I have any other choices. The elections should be about individual votes not an electoral college. The elections should be about the issues not popularity or media spectacle. Those who are elected should have some moral and ethical backbone as well as a good education which can come from a great many places besides 4 year institutions.

     All of the people throwing out insults sound as if they themselves are above reproach. Those in glass houses should not cast stones. I’m sure many of us did much more poorly in our undergrad days than we would have had we actually focused beyond the next party or person who caught our infatuation or class the bored us to tears. I’m sure most of us have made decisions we are not so proud of – I know I have made a number of those. I’m sure many of us have things in our lives or pasts that if we were to run for a public office would embarrass us if they were to come to life with full force and vengance.

     Also, since when did critiquing U.S. culture and politics mark one as anti-American? News flash: America constitutes a couple of continents – North and South. People can be North American, South American, or even Central American but when we say American we really mean North American because the others aren’t quite worthy enough to live in our great white nation (said with disgust.) Actually, I believe our very Constitution provides for dissent, in fact, invites dissent. To dissent and critique the systems that be is the very meaning of patriotism the Founders meant as they framed our Constitution. It is sickening to me that people want to cry foul and claim that those who critique failing systems (on either conservative or liberal sides) as being unAmerican. Grow up, the play ground is big enough for all of us and all of our ideas. I am neither more or less American…or rather, North American than any one else…I am less white than many.

     This country really needs a re-orientation of some of the fundamental values and ideals that have been held so dear. What is greatly needed is a critique of what has been and a new direction for the future. And guess what…we aren’t going to accomplish it in this space.

     — sick of the smack talk    Sep 5, 10:38 PM    #

152. you do realize that Sarah Palin’s speech was written by the team and handed to her to perform, right? That’s the way it’s done. So judge her delivery, not the words.

     — RBC    Sep 5, 11:31 PM    #

153. @ Anon and the rest claiming Obama “terrorist ties”:

     The reason why no one is “defending” Obama here is the following:

     No sane person, Republican or Democrat or whoever, would choose to believe the hateful, revolting rants of conspiracy theorists over the simple and amply-documented facts about Barrack Obama.

     In regard to your “terrorism” smears, there is no “question” to be answered — only noxious bile (and potentially illegal slander against an individual).

     Have a nice day expending your hatred while the rest of the world goes on,

     — Thomas    Sep 6, 08:49 AM    #

154. Hey, Anon, could you do me favor, please? Would you put your dance on youtube? Please? Would love to see it! Thanks!

     — vegsor@hotmail.com    Sep 6, 11:12 AM    #

155. I am very disappointed with the Chronicle of Higher Education for 1) its failure to adequately report on the Ayers/Obama “education” initiative and 2) its failure to write an article like the one here that would actually frame up any noteworthy issues and 3) its failure to monitor these blogs from becoming rants for lunatics.

     Conservatves are just that. They want to know both sides of an issues before making a judgment. Liberals simply vomit at the mouth. Let me give you an example. A blogger from another CHE blog offered everyone the opportunity to understand the significance between the Ayers and Obama connection and why it was so important for Stanley Kurtz to investigate. “Helping Out” provided an editorial link and a radio link of Kurtz giving an interview on Chicago’s WGN News station with Milt Rosenberg. Of interest is that Rosenberg invited Obama’s campaign to attend and participate and the opportunity to debate, refute, or whatever. Obama refused. Instead, Rosenberg was surprised by the “firestorm of angry protesters…e-mails and calls denouncing him for…providing a platform to this character assassin (Kurtz)).”

     More disturbing is what Kurtz had to say that really needed some explaination from the Obama campaign. He stated that the Chicago Annenberg Challenge (CAP) in which Obama was the first Chairman of the Board and in which he received his first executive experience, spent $50 million in seed money plus $60 million in matching donations (total of at least$110million) and didn’t accomplish anything. So the ranting lunatics can scream about Palin’s college career, but the fact is that she did accomplish something as a Governor and Obama did not accomplish anything as a community organizer. Kurtz provided another disturbing fact about Obama that needed to be explained when he compared the projects that CAP funded over the ones that it did not fund. What did not receive funding? District 5 Math/Science Initiative did not receive funding. The Chicago Algebra Project did not receive funding. An initiative that focused on Math and Science to the Latino population that was learning English as their second language. What did receive funding? The South Shore African Village Collaboration that wanted to make Juneteenth a Holiday. Obama has demonstrated in his limited executive experience that he will simply waste $110 million dollars. He won’t spend money on math and science initiatives, but he will spend money on pork barrel projects for his friends or whomever will rant loud enough to get him elected. What is worse, he will add another level of bureacracy as he did with CAP in that any schools that wanted to collaborate, had to first go to the crackpots that got the funding. Can you imagine how many years Obama set back the Chicago Public Schools by turning away people that really thought change was on the way? In other words, he did more harm than good. If you don’t like what I just wrote. I am only the messanger. Go to the sources and then come back here and debate:

     http://globallabor.blogspot.com/2008/08/authoritarian-radicals-barack-obama.html

     http://caster.wgnradio.com/podcasts/x720full-043-080827.mp3

     Oh, and a suggestion to the CHE reporters—do you suppose you guys can actually report something newsworthy instead of throwing red meat to the pack of angry dogs?

     — JAS    Sep 6, 11:29 AM    #

156. Time is running short. Gotta go and organize a community or two before lunch. Ta.

     — must run    Sep 6, 12:36 PM    #

157. The VP is always a heartbeat away from being POTUS, so the VP spot is just as important as the presidential candidate. The presidency is about decision making ability and organizational ability. The decision making of the RNC candidates suggests we should be concerned:

     McCain’s snap decision to chose an unknown based on a few characteristics — i.e. photogenic news hound and right wing dogma — portends horrific decision making as a president.

     Palin’s decision making is evident in her view that this was her only chance to get into the national arena at a time when her daughter needed privacy? Priceless. Gov. Palin can’t even lead her family — 17-year old Bristol rebelled against her mother’s marriage plans for which I commend the young woman. At least Bristol is doing some serious thinking about future consequences.

     Why did Palin leave so many schools — we need to know why which is much more important than the number.

     And yes, that baby should not have been up late at night, nor exposed to so many people before his immune system is fully competent, nor kept awake so late. I wondered if he had some serious rx on board??

     This is how they want to run our nation? Based on THEIR needs, not reasoned decision making. Scary.

     — CC    Sep 6, 02:43 PM    #

158. Hi CC, You’re pretty downright scary yourself. Did you go to: http://globallabor.blogspot.com/2008/08/authoritarian-radicals-barack-obama.html

     http://caster.wgnradio.com/podcasts/x720full-043-080827.mp3?

     Oh, of course not. Can’t get too much information in that little head of yours can we?

     If Palin is a hearbeat from being the President, thank god. It sure beats Obama being the President with his wacky social agenda. I just love the fact that he sides with Bernadine Dohrn’s stance on juvenile offenders. Yeah, takes a terrorist to know how juvenile offenders think. Why do you say Gov. Palin can’t lead her family? Please, give us an example other than the fact that her 17 year old daughter got pregnant out-of-wedlock. Is that the reason? Please tell me that’s a crime or in some way a reason so we can start shaping social policy and changing legilsation with that thought. Why did Palin leave so many schools? Why did Michelle Obama flunk the bar exam? Why did Barack Obama get admitted to the bar 2 months after the usual admittees? Both of them received the benefits of an elite education and an elite first legal job at Sidley Austin, but both aren’t laywers any more. Do we need to know the reason? You’re probably an undergrad, but please try to get your fingers to press the links I just gave above and then give me your thoughts on Obama’s educational plan. Ok? Thanks

     — JAS    Sep 6, 03:30 PM    #

159. JAS — What a waste of time those links are — a couple of puny obsessive efforts to find a smoking gun that doesn’t exist. Do you ever get tired of all those wacky conspiracy theories?
     Ayers is a professor at UIC — maybe you should plead your fears to the university. Dorhn served her time and she is right about not putting juveniles in with the adult offender population — I guess you could say she really knows whereof she speaks! But guilt by association?? If that were valid, then most of us would be in big trouble.
     Both Obamas passed the bar exams — what a little mole hill you are trying to dig, and not successfully. And that they aren’t practicing law now — whatever is a problem with that? And that a grant program didn’t succeed in sorting out the Chicago school system . . . doesn’t even merit a response.
     UG? How wrong you are on that as well.

     — CC    Sep 6, 08:21 PM    #

160. Governor Palin is a proven supporter of education.

     You can say what you want about her transcripts and colleges, but even now she is studying, investigating, being briefed by the best experts in the country — when she’s done and comes armed with answers for interviews, the communist sexists of the liberal media can’t hurt her any more!

     MSNBC YouTube excerpt on Sarah Palin studying McCain’s record in seclusion for two weeks so she doesn’t make mistakes

     And exactly what will his highness BHO do in the two weeks that Sarah has to study up on John McCain? Probably have someone else write another “speech” about how the country needs “change”? How pathetic! Hypocrites.

     Whatever it is, it’s useless, ‘cause when Sarah is done studying, in two weeks or so, look out — quake in your boots, Obamabots!!!

     — TAW    Sep 6, 09:07 PM    #

161. CC, You didn’t read the link and you didn’t listen to the radio interview did you? No, you’re just another one of those south-side Saul Alinsky radicals that thinks he or she can just call up a radio station and block free speech: http://www.obamapolitics.com/node/119

     When such a childish, undergrad, tactic doesn’t work, you come on this blog and rant. When someone calls you on it, you ignore the facts. Answer the question, kid, was Obama right or wrong on the $110 million he funded instead of the $110 million he did not fund? I don’t think that is a conspiracy theory. I think that is a policy theory.The connection to Professor Ayers and Dohrn underscores that they are not teaching their undergraduate students properly to the point that they think they can go through life “protesting” to get what they want. As for the Obamas going to ivy leagues and not passing the bar the first time in the case of Michelle, maybe the CHE will do an article on how effective the ivy league education is in preparing its students to become lawyers. Afterall, public universities seem to be doing a pretty good job at a lot less the cost. Maybe the CHE will investigate more when the Senate reviews how universities spend their endowments. Seems to me they are charging a lot for tuition in order to support some pretty wacky professors.

     Ms. Smart, #180, Good point on Israel. Don’t you think Joe Lieberman would make an excellent Secretary of State?

     — JAS    Sep 6, 09:44 PM    #

162. Things fall apart.

     This conversation is amusing, but gets nowhere. Nobody is going to change nobody’s mind.

     But just let me say this and provoke some real hateful language: Liberal does not mean socialist. Y’all don’t know from socialist. Obama and Clinton are too close to the center from me. I’m for some real progressive change. Let’s move to the left from the mushy middle and think about the common good. How ‘bout a little social justice, folks?

     — The Center Cannot Hold    Sep 7, 11:01 AM    #

163. Oops! That should be “anybody’s mind” (been working on a Slavic language where double negatives are compulsory).

     — The Center Cannot Hold    Sep 7, 11:03 AM    #

164. How refreshing that she’s not an alum from an Eastern school, especially of an Ivy League School! So many of the alums of these schools lack any common sense. As an A.B. and M.A. holder from an Ivy League school, I congratulate McCain’s choice choice of a VP candidate with an abundance of common sense & a deep sense of humanity.

     — PTS    Sep 7, 12:27 PM    #

165. This website is devoted to higher education? Your news article is teetering on the brink of yellow journalism. Changing schools may not mean anything. What can one deduce on that fact alone? However, when Gov. Palin expounds on teaching creationism in public schools and says that she doesn’t believe that humans contribute to global warming, one could deduce that her education in science was lacking. Because she tried to ban books that contained “inappropriate language” while mayor, one could deduce that her education regarding the First Amendment was lacking. (This is especially disconcerting since she was a journalism major.) Palin’s agendas are dangerous to higher education. These six schools apparently could not rend the curtain of ignorance. Please explore these most critical issues—not how many years of education or how many schools, but Palin’s lack of knowledge.

     — Molly    Sep 7, 03:49 PM    #

166. AFTER reading the 100+ emails reflecting personal thoughts on this subject, Gov. Palen’s education, I found the responses quite interesting and most definitely – intellectually stimulating. True education is at work in this comment column for it gives an interpretation of the late Carter G. Woodson’s “Miseducation of the Negro.” Published in 1933 with thoughts relevant to the 21st Century and especially the 2008 Presidential Election, the Governor of Alaska and former Mayor of the Sept 11th, Rudolph Giuliani, quite obvious of their disdainment/contempt for those who are in the discipline of Community Organizing, e.g., Saul Alinsky of Chicago, collectively, or maybe, only the Democratic Presidential nominee, Barack Obama specifically.
     THEIR views however are quite deceptive. For those who often serve as Community Organizers have a relationship with those who have received degrees in Urban Studies. Community Organizers as well urban planners have the awesome task of responding to the needs of the Central City (called today the Inner City), places like small town America or small town Alaska, or Big-City New York. These persons the Republicans would have us discount their skills and visions, are actually the ones who lay out for mayors, governors, even Congressional leaders and Presidents, the steps necessary to make the City, small and big, more livable, likeable, and more than merely tolerant for the citizens who occupy the area. For those commentators in this column who have assumed the blanket authority of being “political correct” for Republican conscientiousness possibly have not been able since their educational days to understand the dialectical relationship which exists between Community Organizers and Elected officials.
     ELECTED officials may have dreams or visions, but the persons who assist them in actualization are often Community Organizers. If anyone should be knowledgeable of the administrative side of government, local, state, and Federal, it would be the Community Organizer. Why? Because they must be certain what they are recommending will not pass the mustard, but will stand when tested. Anyone who has served as Mayor may not come with the necessary qualifications; they just merely appoint people around them who know the ropes. Mr. Giuliani with all respects did not have the necessary qualifications for Mayor, he was simply tough on crime, administered a budget, and if that qualifies one to run a city, why not simply elect only CPA’s?
     FINALLY, how did this discussion lead to a defining moment of interpretation of Woodson’s seminal study? The summary is best stated by the PERSON whom Gov. Palen and sometimes “Mayor Sept 11” forgot, “He (she) who would be great among you, let him (her) be your servant.” Maybe we should ask if Jesus was a Community Organizer. And if He was, would that make the Governor and Mayor less belligerent, and even the commentators of this column more understanding

     — Larry C. Menyweather-Woods    Sep 7, 06:18 PM    #

167. You know…this is great. Leftists are going berserk. Their candidate is sinking in the polls (and in the political futures markets—even more telling), and they’re becoming unhinged. This, combined with the hilarious irony of their claiming Palin is unqualified (but Obama is? What a joke!) is simply delightful. Their hate and venom is only helping McCain. Keep it up!

     — Snooch    Sep 8, 11:40 AM    #

168. I am a usually republican-voting female independent. I think she’s a flake.

     — Sophie    Sep 8, 04:31 PM    #

169. There sure seems to be a lot of discussion that doesn’t tie into the possibility that this woman could become President. Does she had education and/or experience enough? I wonder if she could even get into grad school (and I’d want at least that level skills for a President).

     In any case, Palin is not the least bit comparable to Obama, and shouldn’t be. How does she stack up against Joe Biden?

     — Tootz    Sep 8, 04:58 PM    #

170. I do not care where she went to school. I do think that you clean up your own house first before trying to fix anyone else. I would say that if the candidate was man or woman. If you own child, will not follow your leadership (she can’t fire her daughter), then why would America follow her?

     — Ray    Sep 9, 08:55 AM    #

171. Why are people making a stink about this? What difference does a person’s college education career make after they are in their 40’s and have a proven track-record of accomplishments??

     By the way, I am voting for Obama.

     — Larry    Sep 9, 01:00 PM    #

172. Ray and Suria:

     What’s a “tool?” And what does “If you own child” mean? Is that a reference to slavery?

     — The Center Cannot Hold    Sep 9, 07:32 PM    #

173. My Friends, the real piece of info to examine on Gov. Palin’s college adventures is this: Several schools, several states, and if publicly funded institutions, probably residency requirements to get in-state tuition. Did she establish in- state residency at each of these colleges? How did she do this? Those records, which go to the heart of integrity, would be far more interesting to me as a summa cum laude grad from an Eastern University, who also had dismal SAT scores!

     Ready on the left, ready on the right, ready on the firing line…

     — Peggy    Sep 9, 11:19 PM    #

174. And Al gore flunked out of every grad schools he was admiited/got into.

     — Michael    Sep 10, 03:29 PM    #

175. Karl Rove never finished college. Bush and Cheney were flunkies. Look at their fine accomplishments.

     — betsy    Sep 10, 08:35 PM    #

176. I’m voting for Obama because he is better able to handle complex information and work in tense situations with a variety of differing viewpoints. Biden knows a lot about Pakistan and that is also a benefit to the Obama ticket. I’m not in the mood to take a risk with impulsive McCain. I want enlightened change not angry self congratulatory change.

     — me 2    Sep 11, 08:39 AM    #

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