Why does Biden get a pass?

Sarah Palin asks the question in a CNN interview:

Palin: I'm concerned about and focused on just the next two weeks, Drew, and again getting that message out there to the American public. Thankfully, too, the American public is seeing clearer and clearer what the choices are in these tickets. I think, some revelation just occurred, not just with Joe the plumber but revelation occurred with [Democratic vice presidential candidate] Joe Biden's comment the other night that, he telling his Democratic financial donors saying that, he said mark my word, there's gonna be economic, and, or international crisis he said, if Barack Obama is elected, because he will be tested and he said there are four or five scenarios that will result in an international crisis with an untested presidential candidate in Barack Obama and -- first I think we need to thank Joe for the warning there. But, Joe's words there I think, can shed some light, too, in terms of the contrast you have in the tickets. John McCain is a tested leader. He has gone through great adversity. He has the scars to prove it. He has shown his true leadership. It hasn't just been all talk, and Joe Biden's comments there about an untested, as he had said in the primary, unprepared candidate to be president, I think was very telling.

.....

CNN: [LAUGHS] I mean, did Joe Biden get a pass?

Palin: Drew, you need to ask your colleagues and I guess your bosses or whoever is in charge of all this, why does Joe Biden get a pass on such a thing? Can you imagine if I would've said such a thing? No, I think that, you know, we would be hounded and held accountable for, what in the world did you mean by that, VP presidential candidate? Why would you say that, mark my words, this nation will undergo international crisis if you elect Barack Obama? If I would've said that you guys'd clobbered me.

The full transcript here.

Related item at The Corner, wherein Byron York corrects CNN's misrepresentation of his words.

And a hilarious piece from Iowahawk on Biden's prediction of doom.

Accomplished, smart, beautiful, happy... what's not to dislike?

Like so many others, I am spellbound by the Sarah Palin story. Sounds like an '80s mini-series starring Farrah Fawcett, doesn't it?

Anyway, I've been reading around the blogs and reading women's reactions to Sarah Palin as VP. Now I don't know much about Governor Palin, obviously, but it's been fun reading and hearing what some women have to say about her. Meow.

Let me just stop a second to point out that I have not always been a sheltered parasitic housewife. I worked for 20 years. And I worked around a lot of women: married, single, with and without kids. Even in my current nonworking state I come into contact with loads of women at the homeschool group, the soccer field, the library... and I am one of those people that women seem to want to spill their guts (and their opinions) to. I don't know why but it has always been thus. And I have always known a lot of bitter women. Women who can't stand, just cannot stand to see another woman who has something she does not have, but wants.

So I think I know some of the reason there is a negative reaction from women - not just feminist pro-choice women but women in general: jealousy and insecurity.

Governor Palin is a dream: she's smart, accomplished, tough, beautiful, and apparently happy. And happily married, at that. She's got a handsome husband. She is also supremely attractive to men because of the aforementioned attributes but also because of the things she does: she hunts! She fishes! She plays sports! She also has a real life and real problems that come with it, and it appears she handles them with grace (we'll see as time goes on). She seems to be comfortable with her faith and her ethics and values.

So you can see why women have to harp on her hairdo.

Some Palin-related links

Well all weekend I have been snatching bits of time to collect Palin-related links, only to come home from the grocery store ($115 poorer, even with the $5 off $40 coupon, but having scored loads of cheap meat) and learn the new big news about the teen pregnancy in the fam.

The pregnancy story bothers me a lot. But I am optimistic about the possibilities here. Certainly the Palins are going to be living out their faith in a very public way. The seminarian expressed optimism (oh yeah) that this won't turn into a big deal because the press always stays away from the candidates' kids. I'm sure they will this time. Right?

Well, I was just about done so what the heck, maybe people who actually did something fun this weekend instead of gobble up news stories might be interested:

From Hot Air: Desperation from Democrats

From NOW: A press release reminding women that when they mean "women's rights" they really just mean the right to an abortion. (Found at Right on the Left Coast.)

Semi-related to that - I think it's funny how some people are gushing over Mrs. Palin's courage in not aborting her last baby even though she knew he had Down Syndrome. I guess they can't comprehend that for some people, killing the baby is simply not an option under consideration.

Sandy at Falling Like Rain has some comments about abortion. The links she provides might be interesting to you too, particularly if you are a Christian woman on the fence about a working mom in a high position in government.

Douglas Wilson is pastor of a Reformed church in Moscow, ID. I don't agree with every word that comes out of his mouth, though his books on marriage and childrearing are excellent. I enjoyed his comments on Mrs. Palin. Read all the way to the end! The reference to Deborah can be found in Judges 4.

The Democracy Project has 10 reasons Sarah Palin is a good pick.

City Journal's Heather MacDonald has concerns about upping the diversity ante: can we ever have an all-white-male ticket again?

And finally, Scrappleface on the teen pregnancy story. (Just so you know - it's a satire site.)

If I hear "...one heartbeat away..." one more time...

well, I don't know what I'd do. But it's making me crazy.

I can't stop thinking about Sarah Palin as VP. I admit I had not really known anything about her. I guess I had a vague idea that Alaska had a pretty sharp female governor. Her supposed lack of experience does not worry me. I do agree with those who are saying she has more executive experience than Obama.

Last night I spent some time looking for reactions by conservative Christian women. I was right in guessing that some would not be happy about McCain's pick. Who's taking care of those kids, especially that baby? Should a woman be in authority over men? I am disturbed by women who say they won't vote in this election. People you have got to vote! And while I believe, in theory, in "voting your conscience" even if that means a third-party candidate, as a practical matter it's just not helpful. I voted Libertarian a few times. Now I see that there is too much at stake to vote for a candidate who can't win.

But I also saw some people talking about this woman being brought forward "for such a time as this." (That's a reference to the Old Testament book of Esther. Great book, check it out.) To imagine a staunchly pro-life, family-loving woman in a high position in government... almost seems providential. Another blogger is excited about the effect Mrs. Palin's candidacy may have on peoples' perception of Down Syndrome babies.

This morning while I was walking the dog I was pondering all this, and I suddenly thought about Christians who think it's fine for a mother to leave her children in boarding school or with other relatives to go work in the mission field. It seems like to some folks, abandoning the kids in order to do "God's work" is OK, but having childcare while doing some other kinds of work is evil. Of course that assumes that only direct ministry work is "God's work." I don't happen to agree with that. All work can be God's work if it is done with his glory in mind.

Of course I am also a person who believes that God is sovereign and it is he who raises up and brings down nations. He graciously allows us to participate in this (that's why you need to vote!) but ultimately we will get the government we deserve (who said that first, anyway?). And if we are worried about God's curse, what is worse: a woman who gets help caring for her kids, including her Down Syndrome baby, or a guy who would have supported her in aborting her baby, maybe even letting him die if the abortion failed? That is not necessarily a rhetorical question, if you are of a mind to comment on it.

Well, that's enough of my thoughts, scattered as they are. Here is some Mark Steyn for some more cogent thoughts on the topic.