I'm a hockey mom, too, having spent the last nine winters ferrying my now-15-year-old daughter to and from one frigid ice rink after another. I've been there, rising in the dark to guide a warm child into a cold car, both of them balky and cranky in the pre-dawn hours, then hurtling down the highway in a mad dash only to spend the next two hours huddling in a sports facility warm room under fluorescent lights, sipping Dunkin Donuts with the other pathetic hockey parents, all of us looking at least a decade older than we appear to those who see us in the hours after nine a.m. It's a bonding experience, the same way prison must be.
And yet for years we've been sorely overlooked, overshadowed by the more popular and telegenic soccer moms – hey, it's easy to look good when your kid plays an outdoor sport during daylight hours! You can't blame a hockey mom for feeling ignored, invisible, and under-appreciated . . .
And yet for years we've been sorely overlooked, overshadowed by the more popular and telegenic soccer moms – hey, it's easy to look good when your kid plays an outdoor sport during daylight hours! You can't blame a hockey mom for feeling ignored, invisible, and under-appreciated . . .
So I figured, when Republican presidential candidate John McCain picked Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and it was revealed that she's a hockey mom, too, that we must have more than a thing or two in common. And that must be what McCain figured, too. Women like me – white, 40ish, married with children – are considered to be one of this election season's swing demographics . . .
Let's start with the things we don't have in common:
1. Palin doesn't believe global warming has been proven.
2. Palin is in favor of teaching creationism alongside evolution in public schools.
3. Palin believes abortion should be illegal, even in cases of rape and incest, except in limited cases in which it might be necessary to save the life of the mother (presumably so she can go on to have more children!) . . .
Basically, Palin's hockey-mom-dom is the only thing that might remotely recommend her to anyone but the most ultra-conservative voters. Turns out, for hockey-mom swing voters, a shared devotion to mouthguards might not be enough of a connection to outweigh her extreme-right stance, her inexperience and her randomness.
Read Tuttle's full post here.
Seriously, can anywhere out there explain to us the selection of Sarah Palin as anything other than a cynical bid for disgruntled Hillary supporters? This Politico item that lists six things the Palin decision says about McCain is helpful, but we're still confused by what seems like an embarrassingly bad choice.
Reader Comments ( Page 6 of 8)
76. Have any belief system ya like. Just don't seek national office so you can use it as a bully pulpit.
If ya believe that thunder is caused by Thor then a job as a meteorologist ain't for you
Who said anything about a bully pulpit except you.
My ancesters did in fact believe that thunder was cause by Thor. He was one of many of the "gods" that they believed in and paid respect to. This did not stop them from understanding weather and the seas. Discovering and settling in North America, four hundred years before those wayward types from the Mediterranean. They settled vast sections of Northern Europe and established trading sites from Northen Europe down to almost the middle East. The spread knowledge and culture. Not to bad for a bunch of believers without a "bully pulpit"
M2D5 at 11:30AM on Sep 1st 2008
77. I am a "hockey mom". I am a single mother of 4 and I am supporting my family on my own by working 50 hours a week. While I am concerned about the possibilities of global warming I don't really care if the vice presidential candidate is not convinced of its reality (I'm not convinced, either). I am pro-lfe and a member of Feminists for Life (what a radical idea that feminists should should seek to protect the most powerless and vulnerable...!). And I think it's just fine for the THEORIES of evolution AND creation be taught in schools. And I have long felt that public high schools should offer a course on theology that would explain the basic tenets of world religions in a thorough and un-biased way, thereby hopefully fostering a better understanding of culture and history.
I'm not a Republican or a Democrat.
And I like Sara Palin.
Donna at 12:30PM on Sep 2nd 2008
78. Apparently you folks missed some subtle hints, Dunkin Donuts is based in Massachusetts and Tuttle is a self confessed "obamamaniac", so what we have is a partisan post from a left leaning Massachusetts democrat.............consider the source.
Jack at 7:56PM on Sep 1st 2008
79. Palin doesn't say that she "doesn't believe in global warming," just that she isn't convinced about the extent to which mankind can accect it one way or the other. Kate Tuttle casts a shadow on other "hockey moms" if they are truly allowing her to be their voice. When some "genius" from the left can explain what mankind has done to melt the polar ice caps on MARS, I'll be a bit more convinced that "WE" are the cause. Now that they are finding ancient settlements beneath the ice where it has melted, it doesn't take much intellect to conclude that it was once a BUNCH warmer than now, WAY before the industrial revolution or CO2 emissions from hydrocarbon fuels being burned. But go on and drink the algore Koolaid if you want and see what a shithole, third world country we end up living in.
URKiddinMee at 4:02PM on Sep 1st 2008
80. Still, you gotta love the whole 'naughty librarian' thing she's got going on!!
Keith J. Mohrhoff at 1:23PM on Sep 1st 2008
81. Ada calhoun Im going to make this comment short as possible because A.O.L.print the truth so they wont post this. I AM sorry you're illiterate but you could tell the truth.You don't know what A hockey mom is, or is it a mom/dad with a daughter playing. It is not what you describe. some qualifications for GOV.SARAH PALIN business executive, P.T.A.understanding the education process ,coach, 12 year's elected office council-woman, mayor, 2 year's governor,cammander-in-chief of the national guard on call 24/7, takes care of the states economy and budget which is the best in the nation .veto's and sign's bill's 2 years as Governor could equal 20 years in the U.S. senate. She even help's Dem. Jimmy Carter build homes for Habatate for humanity in Michigan
Dan at 1:33PM on Sep 1st 2008
82. Ok, and now today the other shoe drops - her 17 year-old daughter is 5 months pregnant! And, John McCain knew that when he nominated her! I think Mrs. Palin got one of the cancelled copies of Lynne Spears' parenting book "How to Ensure Being a Grandmother Before Age 50." She was in the Governor's office, her husband is away drilling for oil - who was at home watching the daughters? Not Sarah Palin. I have a non-pregnant, non sexually active beautiful 17 year-old daughter, and I have always said "Teenagers are just like toddlers who are bigger than you - you have to watch them every minute!"
I hate to say this, because I beleive in equal rights for women, but Sarah Palin needs to pack her GOP baggage and go back home to take care of her special-needs baby and her daughters. She can't reign her own household, let alone the free world.
Sarah at 1:53PM on Sep 1st 2008
83. Let look at experience. Obama ingratiated himself into the very corrupt political machine in Chicago. He accepted bribes from the felon Resko (favorable mtg. rates),joined Rev, Wright's church for political reasons (wow-how bad is that?). What about Michelle's creme puff hospital job, what about endorsing Daley's cronies right down the line, what about voting "presesnt" 133 times -
Now take Palin. She went in and took on the corrupt "old boys network" (the one Obama slithered into and made home) She fought the good fight and Alaska is better off for it. How much of an imprint did Obama make? Same o' same o'
What a contrast. No one is talking about character in this election. But it is character that will make or break a country.
Kathy at 1:55PM on Sep 1st 2008
84. Big deal if sarahs daughter is preagnant she is marriing the man in question. Also she is not having an abortion, she is taking responsiility. Unlike Obama made the comment he did not want his daughters to pay for that kind of mistake, so to say who is more responsible, her daughter or obama. i would say Sarahs daughter. It is to prove also she does not believe in abortion. you liberals have got nothing better to do thanb to try to find fault.
tom f at 2:03PM on Sep 1st 2008
85. Another thing you forget to mention - While Obama was in Illinois, he was busy pandering and ingratiating himself right into the very corrupt political machine. No one will argue that Chicago has a bad problem with corruption. He endorsed Daley's cronies "down the line", fell into Wrights Church (for political reasons), and befriended the felon Resko (moved in across the street) Accepted a ridicously favorable a mortgage from him (bribe?).
What did Palin do? She went after the very "old boys corrupt network" that Obama slithered into and made home. She cleaned it up, fought the good fight and Alaska is better for it. How much better is Chicago off with Obamas' influence? same o' same o'.
What a contrast. You can sugar coat this all you want. Obama, to me, is seriously lacking the character department. It will catch up with him. I always does.
Kathy at 2:03PM on Sep 1st 2008
86. For those of of you comparing Palin experience to Obama, see below. Also there is an article on the washingtonmontly.com regarding Palin's executive experience, read, I dare you.
(Facts)
Palin Resume: Bachelor's degree in Journalism from the University of Idaho. Briefly worked in broadcasting as a sports reporter for local Anchorage television stations. Palin spent four years on the Wasilla "City" Council. Two-term mayor of Wasilla, population approx 6000, from 1996-2002. Governor of Alaska, population 670,053, from December 2006 to present. Currently under investigation.
Obama Resume: Bachelors degree in political science and foreign relations from Columbia U. Law degree from Harvard Law School. Editor of the prestigious Harvard Law Review. Graduated Magna Cum Laude. Majored in Constitutional Law. 2+ yrs. as a community organizer between college & law school. Practiced civil rights law, law professor at University of Chicago. Wrote two best-selling books. Senator of the 13th district in Illinois from 1996-2004, representing approx 653,647 constituents. Representing Illinois in the U.S. Senate from 2004-2008 Obama was representing approx 12,831,970 constituents. Member of Veterans' Affairs Committee; Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs; Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions. Created the largest and most effective field campaign in modern Democratic history. Broke new ground through use of online organizing. (The original two lists compiled by Puma J; additions by Kossacks.)
Senator Obama's legislative record/bills found here: http://tpzoo.wordpress.com/...
Economic summit meetings with such people such as former Clinton administration Treasury Secretaries Robert Rubin and Lawrence Summers, former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine, Warren Buffett, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt, and two officials from George W. Bush's first term as president: Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill and Securities and Exchange Commissioner William Donaldson.
Meetings with his senior advisory group on national security which includes such people as Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Senator David Boren, former Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Secretary of State Warren Christopher, Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig, Dr. Tony Lake, former National Security Advisor, etc.
Further Obama has been to the Middle East and met with the leaders of Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel, and Palestine, as well as with the leaders of some of our European allies, and the leaders of our military.
cb at 2:59PM on Sep 1st 2008
87. if you have been following the media you will now hear that Obama wants a thousnad dollar stimulas for everyone agin but do you know who he wants to pay for this. the big oil companies, you see they do not want to see oil prices nor your gas prices drop. they want them where they are. By the way obma how is your brother have you talked to him lately. Maybe you should give him a bit of your money that you got through all the scum you have had dealings with?
tom f at 2:09PM on Sep 1st 2008
88. Sarah: Two things: A) I once heard a police captain reply that "the police department neither expects nor wants [him] to run his squad the way he does his family. B) There are many successful professionals--marriage counselors among them--whom are themselves, divorced.
Keith J. Mohrhoff at 2:23PM on Sep 1st 2008
89. You AGW proponents have been brainwashed. Nobody who understands the issues disputes that the earth has been warming. The question is how much does a minor greenhouse gas CO2 contribute and how much do humans contribute to it. None of this is known or quantified. In fact the current hysteria is based solely on computer models that their modelers admit do not handle climate feedbacks. The declaration by the Dept of interior that the Polar Bear is threatend based on a computer modle is ludacrous and Palin called them on it. The count on the ground by field surveys show an increase in Polar Bear numbers. This is called wildlife science by the way. Even more ludacrous would be the wasting of billions of dollars forcing the build out of inefficient wind and solar technologies that can never be more than 10% of our energy source. Do you think that all utility providers in the past have been stupid and not taken advantage of this wonderful technology or been in the back pocket of oil companies? How naive can you be? By their nature they are unreliable/intermittent and need 80 to 90 percent of their capacity in backup fossil fuel systems to insure grid integrity. The prefered fuel in natural gas because it can be fired on and off quickly. Why do you think T Boone is promoting wind? Because he's concerned about global warming? Or is it the handful of natural gas stocks he has in his portfolio? He's no different than Gore. Wind and solar companies cannot exist without tax subsidies and higher guaranteed prices for their electricity. Cap and trade would do nothing but create unsustainable industries on the back of american consumers. They are a piece of the energy pie but not the solution. Wake up and do some research.
McCain/Palin do need to clarify and minimalize stance on abortion and ID. ID/creation science does not even belong in a religious or philosopy class let alone a science class. It is not science. Plus they are in the executive branch and can do little more than appoint sympathetic justices and promote contraceptives and adoptions on the abortion issue. They are sworn to uphold the law of the land and abortion is the law of the land.
These last two points need to be minimalized or they don't stand a chance. If they attack on clean environment while promoting a sensible energy policy that does not include cap and trade they stand a good chance.
Zee at 2:48PM on Sep 1st 2008
90. Just remember this folks. In a year or so, people will be saying, "remember that guy Barrack Obama"? He will be history, just like John Kerry, whoever he was. Pretty irrelevant.
Dave Fenner at 2:57PM on Sep 1st 2008