Sarah Palin: An Introduction

2008-08-29 · list · John · 2:43 · watch on YouTube

Topic: US politics & society · mode: News analysis · tags: timely hook

John introduces John McCain's surprise running mate Sarah Palin in seven points (Alaska governor, social conservative, anti-corruption, family, no foreign policy experience, Alaska-centric), with jokes, and asks Republican nerdfighters for their view.

What is said

The parts of the video and what is said in each (★ — how much it matters to the video).

00:00:00 — Greeting; since Hank avoids the news, John will tell him about VP nominee Sarah Palin; theme

• ★★ John tells Hank, who does not like watching the news, what he needs to know about presumptive Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, a pick that surprised John. — 00:00:02 · Republican Party

00:00:19 — Seven things about Sarah Palin

• ★★★ John says Sarah Palin is the 44-year-old governor of Alaska and has been governor for just under two years. — 00:00:19
• ★★ John says that before becoming governor Palin headed the city council in Wasilla, Alaska. — 00:00:27
• ★★★ John says Palin is reliably conservative on social issues important to the Republican base: strongly pro-life, against gay marriage and a lifelong NRA member. — 00:00:34 · Republican Party
• ★ John notes Palin is literally a moose hunter. (playful) — 00:00:45
• ★★★ John says that in what might be the most politically corrupt US state, Palin has a reputation for being strongly anti-corruption, a point in her favour. (hedged) — 00:00:50
• ★ John says he briefly lived in Alaska. — 00:00:57
• ★★ John says Palin is married to a commercial fisherman, which he counts in her favour. — 00:01:04
• ★★ John says Palin's son Track has joined the Army and is going to Iraq, joking that the name is a political liability and the deployment an asset. (playful) — 00:01:17
• ★ John adds that Palin's husband is a semi-professional snowmobiler who races snowmobiles. — 00:01:34
• ★★★ John says Palin has absolutely no foreign policy experience. — 00:01:43
• ★★★ John expects the McCain camp to say her inexperience doesn't matter because McCain has plenty; he jokes that holds only while McCain is alive, which he thought was why one picks a vice president. (playful, hedged) — 00:01:47
• ★★ John calls Palin a very Alaska-centric governor who, unlike governors such as Kathleen Sebelius or Rod Blagojevich, has not led on national issues. — 00:02:02
• ★★ John is not convinced her energy policy has been influential outside Alaska, though she is very popular in Alaska. — 00:02:14

00:02:22 — Ask to (Republican) nerdfighters for views on the Palin pick; sign-off

• ★★ John asks Nerdfighters, particularly Republican nerdfighters, to say in comments what they think of the Palin pick. — 00:02:22 · Nerdfighteria, Republican Party

00:02:33 — Scavenger hunt part two finished; another BlogTV live show today

• ★★ John tells Hank the Nerdfighters finished the second part of the scavenger hunt. — 00:02:33 · Nerdfighteria
• ★★ John says he already did one live BlogTV show and will do another today at 3:30 pm Eastern, link in the sidebar. — 00:02:33 · link in the sidebar

Humor (significant)

• John, who briefly lived in Alaska, explains why her anti-corruption reputation stands out. — 00:00:57

  “Alaska has about as many uncorrupt politicians as it has pleasant winter days”

• John imagines McCain answering Joe Biden, whose son is going to Iraq, in poker terms. — 00:01:26

  “I raise you an Alaskan infantryman named Track.”

• McCain's camp will say her lack of foreign policy experience is fine because McCain has loads. — 00:01:54

  “Just so long as McCain is you know, alive.”

Threads in this video

• asked · John asks Nerdfighters, especially Republicans, what they think of the Palin pick (2008) — John asks Nerdfighters, particularly Republicans, what they think of the Palin pick, in comments. (00:02:22)
• milestone · Nerdfighter scavenger hunt (2008) — John reports the Nerdfighters finished the second part of the scavenger hunt. (00:02:33)

Mentioned

Central: Alaska · Sarah Palin

Also: People: Joe Biden · John McCain · Kathleen Sebelius · Rod Blagojevich · Todd Palin · Track Palin

Works: The Simpsons

Organizations: BlogTV · National Rifle Association · Republican Party · United States Army

Concepts: anti-abortion movement · same-sex marriage

Places: Iraq · Wasilla, Alaska

Events: United States presidential election

Characters: Sea Captain

Also centred on Alaska: The world will change.

Also centred on Sarah Palin: Sarah Palin Resigning! Four Possible Reasons Why

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