More about Gov. Palin -- www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/us/politics/14palin.html

Regardless of who I may vote for, I too say thank you so much Kelli Ann for reaching out to the candidates, and for everything else you do to represent our interests in Washinton.

Okay, if this proves to be true, this is the most despicable thing yet. This man cares nothing about anyone but himself -
http://www.nypost.com/seven/09152008/postopinion/opedcolumnists/obama_tried_to_stall_gis_iraq_withdrawal_129150.htm?&page=0

Okay, Kim, apparently you're seeing something worthwhile & productive in this that I'm not. I'll be curious to see what this *healthy* political dialogue accomplishes for our kids.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Diane,
It was so tempting to respond more in kind to your insults, but instead I will simply explain that sometimes when the obvious or idiotic gets pointed out to us, it's because we have said something that clearly overlooked the obvious.

Let me spell it out a little differently since the obvious left you examining my reasoning processes instead of yours. I have a 13yr old daughter who has a very rebellious spirit (in addition to most likely being ADHD & is overly impulsive). I cannot begin to tell you how much it thrills me to hear someone who apparently has no clue assert that the fact that my daughter chronically lies to & steals from me is my deficient parenting skills & failure to teach her moral values.

You are using the same cruel judgment on Gov. Palin that you would probably *strenuously object* to having used on you in relation to your child's problems.

Have you never made impulsive choices that you regretted afterward? Did you never rebel against your parents as a teenager? Do you blame your parents for any bad choices or mistakes you made?

My mother raised me with higher than average standards & was a good person - not a perfect mother, but definitely decent & tried the best she could. I certainly don't fault her for my own rebellion as a teen - it was not a poor or lack of moral formation that was at fault.

It was the siren call of the culture that I jumped into with enthusiasm. I was one of those pig-headed kids that preferred to learn from my own mistakes than sage advice or other's experiences. Thank goodness, I've survived to repent of my stupidity without too many scars to show for it.

Please stick to honestly assessing Gov. Palin for her politics - which is pretty obviously the ulterior motive in your personal assault - & stop judging her as a mother when you do not have sufficient access to that information to be able to do so.

It's so hypocritical to hear lefties decry the invasion of the private lives of Democrats - as if one can be dishonest in one's private life but be trustworthy on the job - while claiming that the private lives *of the children* of Republicans are fair game.

Or I suppose we could continue in this vein & start discussing the judgment & character of a politician who has an affair with a woman while his wife is possibly dying from cancer. Or a politician who has multiple affairs on his wife including even in the Oval Office (actually that applies to several Democrats come to think of it).

Kelli - Sorry about the misspelling. I knew about the "i"...just typing quickly and not paying attention.

I agree that Autism needs to be on every candidate's radar. I also know that both Obama and Biden have responded to A-CHAMP's questions regarding our children's situations, but as of this moment, I have heard of no response from either McCain or Palin. I find that disturbing. I will be honest here and tell you I have never voted for a Republican for president, but I have voted Republican in local elections.

I dismiss Sarah Palin for long list of reasons, and will not support her just because she has a special needs child. (Which is what started this whole back and forth to begin with...read janedoe's comment...first one posted).

Grace....I have never said something like this on AOA....but your comment was the most idiotic, try-to-get-her-angry comment I have ever seen here. Congratulations. You got me angry. (so maybe it wasn't so idiotic, if that was goal) Of course I have children. And one of them is on the Autistic spectrum. What the hell do you think I am doing on AOA? If I didn't have a kid with Autism, I'd probably be reading great novels instead of Autism blogs.
Puleeeze.

Diane,
Would you ever consider voting for a Republican or a conservative? If not, then you have revealed that you are indeed a single issue voter.

I also have to believe that you don't have any children of your own to assert that you can judge a woman's mothering skills on her children's mistakes. The same mother who produced JFK & RFK also produced Teddy...

Actually Diane, I haven't decided who I'm voting for yet; the point is that autism needs to be on every candidate's radar and it seems like you're willing to *dismiss* a major VP candidate based on her party affiliation and you're using her daughter's decision to try and do it.

BTW: My name is with an "i"

So, Kelly....am I understanding that you ARE a one issue voter? If so, therein lies our difference.

FYI

http://gov.state.ak.us/archive-55823.html

Infant Immunization Week
Sarah Palin, Governor

WHEREAS, every day, nearly 12,000 babies are born in the United States. Every year in Alaska approximately 10,000 babies are born.

WHEREAS, every year, thousands of children become ill and suffer needlessly from diseases that could have been prevented by timely childhood immunizations.

WHEREAS, these new citizens need on-time immunizations to protect them against 14 vaccine-preventable diseases before age 2.

WHEREAS, infants are especially vulnerable to infectious diseases and complications that these diseases can cause.

WHEREAS, immunization is the single best way for children to be protected from vaccine-preventable diseases.

WHEREAS, National Infant Immunization Week is an annual observance to highlight the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases.

WHEREAS, the United States will join those in the Western Hemisphere and Europe to celebrate Vaccination Week in the Americas and European Immunization Week to make the importance of infant immunization an international event.

WHEREAS, parents are encouraged to talk to their healthcare provider to ensure that their infant is up-to-date on immunizations.

WHEREAS, healthcare providers play a critical role in educating parents about the importance of immunization and ensuring that infants are fully immunized.

WHEREAS, the success of vaccination has led to the near elimination of some previously common and life-threatening diseases. Most parents, grandparents, and even healthcare providers have never seen the devastation caused by vaccine-preventable diseases such as polio or measles. However, these diseases still exist in the world. Vaccination is necessary to keep outbreaks of preventable diseases from occurring.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Sarah Palin, Governor of the state of Alaska, do hereby proclaim April 19-26, 2008, as:

Infant Immunization Week

in Alaska, and encourage all parents to recognize the importance of this week.

Kelli Ann -- I have seen many, many religious families (where I live) teach their children the joy of religion. Their children grow up and keep religion active in their lives. That is how I know that. When a parent teaches their child to appreciate the beauty of something, whether it be religion, abstinence, sunsets - whatever - and the child grows up to respect the things taught, the teaching was done effectively. This is not about choices, Bristol's or anyone else's, its about teaching and learning. If you go back and read some of the earlier comments on this post you will see that this started because I believe that Sarah Palin - well -- just go back and read if you care to. I'm done with the moose hunter with lipstick.

Check out their voting records folks. I was recently informed also that every past, present, and future U.S. President is related to Queen Elizabeth - to include McCain and Obama. Why did our ancestors escape from England? Freedom! It is worth looking into. I was also recently informed that President Bush has NEVER vaccinated his own children and has been quoted on the record that he would never take a flu vaccine. Another thing worth checking out. Call me a conspiracy nut, but I find it all too convenient that the only candidates that make it to the end are the ones who receive the most campaign funds from Big Pharma!!

http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=53270

http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=9490

Kelli Ann wrote: Gimme a break. Her daughter is on the brink of adulthood and unless her parents plan on forcing her to wear a chastity belt and holding the key, she obviously has a free choice.

To Kelli Ann and others who agree with this statement I say this: Teaching to abstain from sexual relations prior to marriage is just that. It does not matter that the girl is on the brink of adulthood. The values of this belief were not taught.

I don't want Sarah Palin teaching my kids anything.

Regarding Senator Obama, I just want to say that I don't think we should jump to conclusions based on one impromptu comment. I'm not even sure whether he understood the question, or whether we understood his reply.

One can be for vaccines but not be for taking away individual choice (just like someone can work to prevent unplanned pregnancies, be against abortion, but support the right of individuals to choose).

I don't think any of the candidates have proven a commitment to our cause. I believe the best we can do is keep trying to educate them.

When A-Champ sent a questionnaire to the presidential candidate about autism, Sen. Obama and Sen. Biden responded, but Sen. McCain did not. They have now sent the questionnaire to Gov. Palin -- we shall see whether she responds.

Read Sen. Obama's response here: http://autismactionnetwork.org/

I've long been against socalized medicine for a variety of reasons, but you have to wonder if the government were responsible for the cost of their damage, perhaps they'd take a closer look at the damage they do. Maybe that's the real reason why Sweden banned thimersol in 1991 and why most European countries have banned many dangerous chemicals we continue to use here. Not out of love for people or the environment, but to protect their own budgets.
If you're picking up the tab for chronic health problems, it is your best interest to take a closer look at the environment. I've given up thinking government or industry can be good on their own, but maybe we can trick them into it.

"For those who think that Palin didn't understand Charlie Gibson's "Bush Doctrine" question when she asked him to clarify what he meant - I suggest you look it up at Wikipedia & compare it to Charlie's condescending assistance. She knew what he was asking better than he did & was making sure that he explained specifically what aspects he wanted her to affirm or reject."

Of course! Palin couldn't even begin to answer the question of whether she agrees with the Bush Doctrine because she's so deep within the neoconservative debate over its true meaning that she had to narrow the parameters of the question to even begin to formulate her answer.

Sarah Palin, hyper-intellectual!

And just in time to follow up my other post comes an interesting snippet just found online - Palin certainly has more cred on national security than Obama (not hard to do) & more discretion than Biden who only takes one foot out of his mouth to put the other one in...

Subject: Important info re: Palin's Nat. Secur. Cred

Just picked up some little known info on Palin's National Security Credentials. Some have shrugged off her position as Commander of the Alaskan National Guard but see this:
"Alaska is the first line of defense in our missile interceptor defense system. The 49th Missile Defense Battalion of the Alaska National Guard is the unit that protects the entire nation from ballistic missile attacks. It's on permanent active duty, unlike other Guard units.

As governor of Alaska, Palin is briefed on highly classified military issues,homeland security, and counterterrorism. Her exposure to classified material may rival even Biden's.

She's also the commander in chief of the Alaska State Defense Force (ASDF), a federally recognized militia incorporated into Homeland Security's counterterrorism plans.

Palin is privy to military and intelligence secrets that are vital to the entire country's defense. Given Alaska's proximity to Russia, she may have security clearances we don't even know about.

According to the Washington Post, she first met with McCain in February, but nobody ever found out. This is a woman used to keeping secrets.

She can be entrusted with our national security, because she already is."

George Faught
State Representative, OK House District 14

P.S. For those who think that Palin didn't understand Charlie Gibson's "Bush Doctrine" question when she asked him to clarify what he meant - I suggest you look it up at Wikipedia & compare it to Charlie's condescending assistance. She knew what he was asking better than he did & was making sure that he explained specifically what aspects he wanted her to affirm or reject.

Thanks for articulating what so many of us are feeling, Kim. I've got a kid with cerebral palsy and a kid with autism. Our health insurance doesn't pay for much, and we pay for 100% of all their therapy and mental health services, and 20% of all the EEG's, orthopedic surgeries, epilepsy meds, MRI's, to the tune of over $20,000 per year in out of pocket costs to us. So this is an important one issue, but NOT the only issue.

Please remember, those of you who think Sarah Palin is so great, that you'll be electing McCain. The same McCain who said we'd be in Iraq for "100 years", the guy who repeatedly skipped out on voting for the energy bills before Congress, the same McCain that can't remember how many houses he owns (8) and who has regular, documented temper tantrums.

But wait, there's more! Their campaign's grotesque, perverse accusation and lie that Obama only wrote one piece of legislation which mandated sex ed in Kindergarten. The bill actually was about giving kids of all ages tools (at their level) to recognize a sexual predator and get away. I personally would like my kids to know how to avoid sexual predators, how about you?

Palin would like rapists, even rapists of children, to father babies that those raped children have to carry to term. She would like mothers who will die in labor to also carry their babies to term.

Palin's speech was full of distortions and blatant lies, about Obama, and about her own "accomplishments" including the famed support of the Bridge to Nowhere, and her "deep" (2 years only) involvement in PTA.

If you think Alaskans like Palin, try asking the Native community. She is reviled by non white, non Christians in Alaska.

And ... she is the one claiming that her mothering is part of the "experience" that qualifies her to be President. So what is that experience? Recently, five months ago to be exact, her water broke and she GOT ON A PLANE and flew from Texas to Alaska. Not only is it illegal to fly on a commercial airplane while in labor, it's cruel endangerment to the child-to-be. Is this the kind of "mothering" you want for our kids, not to mention our country? She has NO IDEA what it's like to have a special needs kid when her kid is only 5 months old. She's no expert, and she's no advocate.

Under her governorship, spending on education in Alaska remained flat, in spite of the state's booming oil industry revenue filling its coffers. She raised it $100 per student. Big whoop.

And, just tonight on ABC she talked about how "Perhaps so" we'd go to war against Russia. She knows all about Russia because, "They’re our next door neighbors and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska..."

People, WAKE UP!!!

Ah, I feel better now, thank you.

For those that believe universal health care will lead to forced vaccination. You never know - but that hasn't happened in Canada. People there are pretty much just as free to make decisions for themselves as they are here. In fact, the documented cases of harassment or refusal to treat seem to be much more frequent here. I was recently denied care because I refused to get a mammogram; a different procedure, but still an issue of freedom of choice. Yes, right here in the wonderful privatized system of the USA.

Diane, no massive disagreement just on a few of these mothering posts.
Yes, what's with the ghastly colors and strange hair dos this election year. As if there wasn't enough drama eh?

FYI, I caught a shot of Sarah Palin's nephew with Autism in Newsweek.
He was cradled in Mom's arms did not appear to be high functioning, but who knows.
If she is like my sister (we are closer than pantyhose 2 sizes small), Sarah got blow by blow details every moment past regression.

I know it will take more than a VP in the know. It will take a Congress, a Senate and a reformed HHS/CDC that prioritize children over industry.
I'm hoping for either change or reform, yesterday.

Pamela --- She operates on family values but goes back to work three days after the birth of her (?) baby. (let's not go into that one at this time) So, for that reason, her role as a mother is fair game.

As for her ability to perform the job. Puleeeze. She has so little experience that women in this country should be appalled at John McCain for choosing her. She is a ploy to get votes for him. Its unfortunate (and kinda amazing) that women do not see this. She did a masterful performance presenting a speech that someone else wrote. Period. I don't see anything worthy of my vote.

And by the way, it was Cindy McCain's style choices that were being referred to, not Sarah Palin's.

Good night. I have to get up early for work.

I don't think that Senator Obama is going to make any good change's to help in aiding to the vaccine reform, by his comment's he sound's like he might go in the opposite direction by mandating vaccine's even further for scare of Polio and other disease's like he commented on. The fact is Obama is going to be the change the Autism community was hoping for! So, think twice before you select his name on the ballot.

Hillary, if there's one thing a biomed autism Mom knows, it's that we're very much on our own. Of course no candidate can fulfill my caviar wishes and champagne dreams. We all have to prioritize our lists and choose the candidate who meets enough to allow us to sleep at night. Some issues are deal breakers though, as many here are telling us.

I love America and will remain a proud American regardless of who wins and what happens. I'll keep my passport,(which I got in 1986, not 2007) tucked away. ;)

Neither candidate could (nor will a candidate ever exist who could) take care of all of the problems that you are worried about. Although my worries are different from yours and certainly not as stressful, I have worries too. And I understand to some extent what you are going through. When I was in my twenties, my severely handicapped older sister was raped by a caretaker and left with an STD. I thank God she did not get pregnant. (And yet I somehow remain in favor of Life.) I feel your worry. I know at least one part of what you are thinking.

Here is what I think about when similar worries get to me...and don't get me wrong, I'm as patriotic as the next mom. But if I put myself in your shoes, if I think about what it must be like to live your life, with worries as deep and as broad as yours, it makes me think that you don't need a new president, you need a new country. Like Sweden. Or Denmark. Or the Netherlands. Or someplace else where the government sees it as their purpose to care for every need of every person in the country. That will never happen in America, no matter who is the President or the Vice President. In our country, the solution is local. Small groups of people banding together to take care of one another. That's what we need to work for, hope for, pray for. I don't know how it will happen, all I know is that if we rely on our government to provide the help we need, we will be sorely disappointed.

Well I totally agree with you for once Diane. It was a big mistake to hand Trig off to Cindy.
I don't think I would let Cindy McCain hold my baby either!
Bad idea.
What the hell would I do if he threw up on her
$300,000 Oscar de la Renta dress!!!!

I know this is a huge issue - trust me! I want to HEAR OBAMA SAY "I'll will fight to make all AAP recommended vaccines mandatory and I will end ALL exemptions" before I jump ship. People may stay home in protest - but I don't know how the vaccine issue alone changes a voter from Obama to McCain, unless there were other gray area issues as well and this is simply a tipping issue.

I think this conversation we're all having is fantastic, by the way. You, our readers, are the best.

Kim

Kim,

I'm not a "one issue" voter either, normally. This is one hell of an issue though. It basically means that with Obama, based on that statement, we might possibly lose the freedom of choice when it comes to vaccines. Whether one believes vaccines have anything to do with their child's autism, or not, it's a slippery slope that many do not want to start on.

It's more than that though. The fact that he answered so quickly is what bothers me. Secondly, he cited polio. The polio vax has never really been a concern to this community. So I have to look at it as this man just gave an opinion on something that is very important to me, without understanding any of the facts. Practially off the cuff. That's scary. I'm not even going to get into the fact that McCain has come out against big pharm FAR more than any other Democratic candidate, something I've just come to realize.

Considering the issues that AOA has chosen to advocate for, I'm surprised that you are belittling this concern in this way. This is "the" concern for many in this community. Much like how a lot of the fundies have chosen to make abortion their sole deciding factor. That matters to them more than anything, as does this issue to me.

I will make concessions just about everywhere else. This is not one of those things I'm willing to bend on. If Obama's feeling is that we should not have a choice when it comes to vaccination, then I still HAVE a choice when it comes to my new president.

Based on this one issue, that would be John S. McCain.

-AL

I starting having my doubts about Obama after reading this excerpt from “The Danger of Excessive Vaccination During Brain Development: The Case for a Link to Autism Spectrum Disorders by Russell L. Blaylock, M.D.

“While a number of people and even physicians, think they desire a universal health care system (a euphemism for socialized medicine), here is something to consider. The government will use access to health care as a way to mandate vaccinations for all Americans. Those who refuse any of the mandated vaccines will be denied access to health care, meaning you will not be able to see a doctor or enter a hospital or clinic.

All federal programs will have completion of vaccine mandates as a requirement. This could be linked to social security, food stamps, housing subsidy programs and other such federal programs. Remember, they use such tactics now for access to schools and daycare centers. One may even have to prove that they have had all their required vaccinations before they can use public transportation, such as busses, trains and airplanes.”

So much for freedom.

Has anyone heard back from Obama or any of his staffers about all of the posts here??
I guess what bothers me the most about Obama's comment on selective vaccination and worries about polio coming back is the LEVEL of his implicit ignorance on this hugely important topic. It was so dissapointing to me. I was about to put an Obama sticker on my car and now I am truly unsure if I will show up at the polls.

On the Palins - screen name reference...
Sarah Palin only brought Bristol's pregnancy front and center, after the Daily KOS brought up the incredulous notion that Trig was her(Bristol's)baby.
Personally, if I was informed that my baby has some sort of birth defect I would do the best I could to keep the pregnancy low key until I got a grip on what lie ahead.
Having friends who have received a dx of Down's while pregnant and witnessing the devastation of a "dx: of less than perfect child" I totally understand her rational to deliver at a local hospital away from the scrutinizing of the press.
The KOS concocted a John Edward's like sting operation that miserably failed and brought Bristol's pregnancy to the surface.

2 points for "gutsy honesty" for mother and daughter, which is more than I can say for the likes of Bill Clinton (I did not have sex with that woman)and John Edwards.
Bristol's pregnancy was not worn as a badge of honor, Trig covered her belly the day of she was announced the VP pick.
Shame on the press for exploiting it.
Kudos to Obama and the reporters who took the high road on this topic.

As a conservative it is a little ironic to hear Democrats pound a working mother.
It is also a little weird to see Elizabeth Edwards and Hilary Clinton stand by their men, covering up their womanizing indiscretions. Does this not pull up a few planks in the democratic feminist agenda.

I have great appreciation for transparency,
it is not a flaw to be human.
Here is a fantastic article by Camille Paglia a liberal atheist in Salon.
For someone who does not share my core value set I couldn't agree with her more.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/paglia/2008/09/10/palin/

"Conservative though she may be, I felt that Palin represented an explosion of a brand new style of muscular American feminism.
At her startling debut on that day, she was combining male and female qualities in ways that I have never seen before. And she was somehow able to seem simultaneously reassuringly traditional and gung-ho futurist.
In terms of redefining the persona for female authority and leadership, Palin has made the biggest step forward in feminism since Madonna channeled the dominatrix persona of high-glam Marlene Dietrich and rammed pro-sex, pro-beauty feminism down the throats of the prissy, victim-mongering, philistine feminist establishment.

In the U.S., the ultimate glass ceiling has been fiendishly complicated for women by the unique peculiarity that our president must also serve as commander in chief of the armed forces. Women have risen to the top in other countries by securing the leadership of their parties and then being routinely promoted to prime minister when that party won at the polls. But a woman candidate for president of the U.S. must show a potential capacity for military affairs and decision-making. Our president also symbolically represents the entire history of the nation -- a half-mystical role often filled elsewhere by a revered if politically powerless monarch.

The gun-toting Sarah Palin is like Annie Oakley, a brash ambassador from America's pioneer past. She immediately reminded me of the frontier women of the Western states, which first granted women the right to vote after the Civil War -- long before the federal amendment guaranteeing universal woman suffrage was passed in 1919. Frontier women faced the same harsh challenges and had to tackle the same chores as men did -- which is why men could regard them as equals, unlike the genteel, corseted ladies of the Eastern seaboard, which fought granting women the vote right to the bitter end."

Hum... sounds like the Mom to special needs to me.
Some people crumble when challenged, some nurse their special needs baby in the governor's office. They own up to their child's teen pregnancy.

Unless you want to dissect the private lives of members of both parties.
Bristol's pregnancy should not be (press) fodder.

I don't think we can conclude that not being for selective vaccinations means forced vaccination. I'd like to ask Obama if he means he thinks doctors should make recommendations for patients - which is what we have now -and many of us change the vaccination schedule for our kids or eschew it altogether. I did not hear, "I will force every American to fully vaccinate their children." Again, I'd sure like to ask him to clarify. And I do think he's "educable." Which is encouraging.

As a remember Sarah Palin's speech at the convention she was very much attacking the Democrats. But for some reason it is not ok to attack or even question her - I see this in the "press" every day.
I can't vote for someone I know so little about. As strange as this may sound I think I would rather vote for someone that is not going to address autism than someone that is going to address it in what I consider the wrong way.

To add to the Sarah Palin comments-

http://newsblaze.com/story/20080910060350reye.nb/topstory.html

Your comment about Palin's choice of having many kids was vulgar and very offensive.

You should be a little bit more respectful of those who choose to have large families and stop making vulgar disgusting comments about their birth canal.

“Many children with Down syndrome have health complications beyond the usual childhood illnesses… [they] have a higher incidence of infection, respiratory, vision and hearing problems as well as thyroid and other medical conditions”.

I wonder if this puts children with Down Syndrome at higher risk for Primary Immunodeficiency? If so, babies with Downs Syndrome could be at higher risk for vaccine failure/ severe adverse reactions. Could this possibly be why there is such a high rate of autism among those with Down's Syndrome?

I have always wondered why they are at a higher risk for developing autism. It will be interesting to see how little Trig is vaccinated, and how he responds.

For all of the same reasons mentioned, I am very much on the fence, which is a first, as I come from a long line of Democrats who I may very well piss off this year.

Kim, my Sarah Palin "mothering" response was directed at Diane who stated "Damn, she doesn't even take care of her own".
I apologize if you thought I directed it to your commentary. I should have directed the post to Diane, who would have no way of judging Sarah Palin's mothering techniques from one month of media coverage.

Right on, Kim.

No matter who you vote for, vote FOR someone and not AGAINST the other guy. This mindset is exactly what the Republicrats love!

http://brushfires2008.com/2008/08/27/lesser-evil-revisited/

Jane, here's one reason: From the LA Times blog on Mark Blaxill's piece a comment from a doctor:

My wife and I wrote down few thoughts after watching Ms Palin speech last night:

5 month old baby belongs neither in the audience nor on stage, surrounded by loud screaming and flashing lights, at a gathering of thousands.

Trig Palin was born with Down syndrome. According to NADS (National Association for Down Syndrome) “Many children with Down syndrome have health complications beyond the usual childhood illnesses… [they] have a higher incidence of infection, respiratory, vision and hearing problems as well as thyroid and other medical conditions”.

Perhaps Trig Palin suffers from none of these ailments, but any infant’s high susceptibility to infection might be reason enough for the parents to avoid subjecting him to large crowds. Would it not have been wiser if baby Trig made his appearance in the convention hall via satellite from a hotel room in care of a family member or a baby-sitter?

Trig Palin is obviously a very quiet child. He does not scream or struggle the way other infants his age might have done. Down Syndrome genotype affects a toddler’s response threshold and intensity (1). Because of a muted response to stimuli, infants with Down syndrome can appear less volatile and fearful than other babies, and often exhibit less anxiety upon being separated from their mothers (1). Baby Trig's inability to express the level of discomfort and anxiety he is experiencing seems to have made him an ideal political prop for his parents.

Governor Palin would like us to entrust her with the welfare of all the children in this country. Yet in caring for her own baby, she showed an alarming lack of judgment.

Dr. Pavel Osten and Julia Kuhl

Reference:
(1) Children with Down Syndrome: A Developmental Perspective; Edited by Dante Cicchetti & Marjorie Beeghly; Cambridge University Press

I'm not implying, i'm SAYING IT. So far, she's been a mayor for two terms and a governor for less than two years with a very, very happy and satisfied set of constituents.

All the while being a wife, mother, businesswoman and let's not forget, a maverick.

What i especially like about her is when she found out her fifth child had special needs, she considered it an "honor" to be given such a responsibility.

Why, are you implying that Sarah doesn't know how to take care of Kim's kids?

AMEN!