What's bothering me about Palin - NOT political

[mellytu74]

I've thought about posting this for a couple of days.

Sarah Palin's recklessness in having her last baby has been bothering me.

At first I thought the Texas-to-Seattle-to-Anchorage-to-Wassilla trip showed moxie.

But the more I thought about it, the more it unsettled me.

I understand her reasoning in wanting to have a child in Alaska and not Texas. Makes perfect sense to me.

When her water broke, she gave her speech, then got out of Dodge (or Houston, as the case may be), got on a plane to Seattle, changed planes and went to Anchorage. Then rode 45 miles in a car to home.

Two things bother me.

The first: The Anchorage Daily News reported that she didn't tell the crew on the flights.

Even if she wasn't showing -- I can see where she wouldn't show at 7 1/2 months, she's a thin, athletic woman -- she owed it to her own health and that of the baby to at least let the crew know.

The second: Not stopping to have the baby in Anchorage. There would have been plenty of time to get her doctor to Anchorage, especially if the doctor had been notified at the time Gov. Palin left Houston.

Special needs birth, older mother. Why not stop in a state-of-the-art facility in Anchorage? Why risk the extra ride?

For someone who seems to embrace life - and I mean in the broad mooseburger-eating, pageant-entering, sportscaster, snowemobile-riding, ice-fishing, life is a banquet joie de vivre - it doesn't seem to fit.

She put herself and her special needs child at a terrible risk. I'm glad nothing happened and everything turned out well but where's the guarantee in that?

And that's been bothering me and I can't shake it.

My friend's son and DIL had a Down Syndrome baby four months this week. Sophia. Beautiful little girl.

The DIL wasn't allowed to ride AMTRAK's Metroliner from Philadelphia to NYC at 7 1/2 months after she leaked. A 90-minute train ride.

I have two first cousins with DS daughters, my goddaughter's sister has DS (mother is a college friend) and a friend from grade school has a DS daughter with autism.

My college friend had bedrest in an Army hospital in Ft. Hood for six weeks because she'd had a miscarriage not long before that pregnancy. She did not know that Katie would be DS.

For my cousins and grade school friend, the DS child was not their first child and the labor was shorter than previous pregnancies.

Those three knew that they were having a special needs child. In each case, for their last two months, the doctors were very cautious.

My one cousin was a half-marathoner and in her 20s when she had Peg.
The doctor wasn't sure that she should be going to Ocean City, NJ, from Philadelphia.

So, why didn't Sarah Palin tell the crew she was late in her term?

Moxie or recklessness? I don't know.

[Bob Juch]

That certainly gives credence to the rumor that she wasn't pregnant.

[themanintheseersuckersuit]

This is what Palin's spokesperson had to say about it.

http://www.newsminer.com/news/2008/apr/ ... -scrutiny/

[Appa23]

That certainly gives credence to the rumor that she wasn't pregnant.

What????

How does the fact that Governor Palin followed her doctor's advice to fly home to have the baby, seeing that she was not yet in labor, show that she was not really pregnant?

[themanintheseersuckersuit]

Plains report daughter's pregnancy

[Bob Juch]

That certainly gives credence to the rumor that she wasn't pregnant.

What????

How does the fact that Governor Palin followed her doctor's advice to fly home to have the baby, seeing that she was not yet in labor, show that she was not really pregnant?

What she did was risky. If she hadn't been pregnant, there would have been no risk.

Obviously the new disclosure that her daughter is pregnant blows the rumor out of the water.

[mellytu74]

This is what Palin's spokesperson had to say about it.

http://www.newsminer.com/news/2008/apr/ ... -scrutiny/

Well, I guess I feel better after reading that.

Just, based on the experiences of everyone I know - especially Em's not being able to take the Metroliner - it just seemed riskier than it should have been.

[Tocqueville3]

Melly, I am absolutely convinced that you would not have posted this if Palin were a Democrat and she were Obama's running mate.

I had a similar discussion with my mother this morning. She said that Palin should not have accepetd the offer to be vp. Mom said she should be home with her downs baby and it makes her an unfit mother to be out campaigning instead of taking care of her baby. What a crock. My mom and every other liberal would be praising Palin and talkng about her as if she was another savior of the Democrat party if she were Obama's running mate. But she's not and you all can't stand that and so you have to cut her down at every turn. You all are just seething because there is a woman on the ticket of the GOP and there's just another old white guy on the Democrat ticket. Y'all don't like it when the same old double standards are turned around on you, do you?

Maybe instead of trying to dig up false dirt on Sarah Palin you all should maybe read up a little bit about Obama's good friend Bill Ayers.

edited to add this:

I've seen few if any of you criticize Palin for her stance on issues. Instead you all have to cut her down personally. Or say crude things about her.

[TheConfessor]

Obviously the new disclosure that her daughter is pregnant blows the rumor out of the water.

It does? How so?

[marrymeflyfree]

So, why didn't Sarah Palin tell the crew she was late in her term?

Moxie or recklessness? I don't know.

If she had told the crew, it is quite likely they would have denied her boarding. At CO, the policy is that pregnant women can fly at any time, unless there are clear signs that mom is in labor or that it may be imminent. I don't know what Alaska's policy is, but it's probably very similar. Even for governors.

There are so many variables, though....my water had been broken for well over 5 days before the midwives finally gave me the castor oil smoothie from hell. It doesn't always mean that labor is imminent, and doesn't always mean that the fetus will be in any danger. Most American OB's demand that women deliver within 12-24 hours of mom's water breaking, but honestly it is often an unnecessary time constraint - and the rule is often applied even when there are no signs or symptoms of a problem. And I can understand how she would want to give birth close to home in case the baby needed extended NICU treatment/etc.

But...having said that...given that it was a month early with a special-needs baby, and especially given how quickly her labor would likely progress considering it was her 5th child....well, yikes. I'm all for trusting the natural progression and process of birth, but...youch. That's pushing it. But then again, I'm sure we don't know all of the details of her circumstance.

[dimmzy]

I had a similar discussion with my mother this morning. She said that Palin should not have accepetd the offer to be vp. Mom said she should be home with her downs baby and it makes her an unfit mother to be out campaigning instead of taking care of her baby. What a crock. My mom and every other liberal would be praising Palin and talkng about her as if she was another savior of the Democrat party if she were Obama's running mate. But she's not and you all can't stand that and so you have to cut her down at every turn. You all are just seething because there is a woman on the ticket of the GOP and there's just another old white guy on the Democrat ticket. Y'all don't like it when the same old double standards are turned around on you, do you?

I hate hypocrisy in all forms. If she were a Democrat, I'd say that a 15-hour-a-day job is NOT appropriate for new parents, regardless of sex.

You can't ridicule the notion of a "village raising a child" when you have round-the-clock nannies.

You can't decry gay marriage for destroying marriage when you've been divorced (yes, JOHN MCCAIN, I mean you).

You can't pledge eternal love of your spouse when you're sneaking around (too many to count--Dems with women, Republicans with men, everybody with interns.)

[Bob Juch]

Obviously the new disclosure that her daughter is pregnant blows the rumor out of the water.

It does? How so?

Do the math.

[mellytu74]

Melly, I am absolutely convinced that you would not have posted this if Palin were a Democrat and she were Obama's running mate.

I had a similar discussion with my mother this morning. She said that Palin should not have accepetd the offer to be vp. Mom said she should be home with her downs baby and it makes her an unfit mother to be out campaigning instead of taking care of her baby. What a crock. My mom and every other liberal would be praising Palin and talkng about her as if she was another savior of the Democrat party if she were Obama's running mate. But she's not and you all can't stand that and so you have to cut her down at every turn. You all are just seething because there is a woman on the ticket of the GOP and there's just another old white guy on the Democrat ticket. Y'all don't like it when the same old double standards are turned around on you, do you?

Maybe instead of trying to dig up false dirt on Sarah Palin you all should maybe read up a little bit about Obama's good friend Bill Ayers.

Tocque --

As I mentioned at the top, I wondered whether or not to post lest it be perceived as political.

What did I post that was false dirt?

I posted her itinerary and the experiences of my friends and family who had DS children.

And my concerns that she put her child at risk which would seem at odds with what she believes.

TMITSSS posted something that eased my concerns.

I said as much.

I don't believe for one second that Trig is not her child and the story "lends credence" to those silly rumors.

That's dirt and I didn't post that and I said it was silly in the thread about the rumor.

I think Gov. Palin is a breath of fresh air and seems to have a real zest for life.

No matter what your politics, how that be viewed as a bad thing?

I think she is intellegent and the debate with Biden will certainly be more lively than most VP debates.

I do not, however, think she was thoroughly vetted.

I disagree with your Mom. I couldn't disagree with her more.

I certainly can see Gov. Palin's husband providing a great deal of support for her on the campaign trail and that includes the baby.

I wonder about Gov. Palin's stands on the issues. Except for the energy and the environment and abortion, I don't know what they are.

Puiblic transportation, infrastructure, OSHA - especially because her husband was/is a dangerous field. I'm sure we'll find out where she stands on them over time.

I wasn't going to post this, lest it be hijacked as political.

I'm sorry you perceived it that way because it certainly wasn't my intention.

[TheConfessor]

Obviously the new disclosure that her daughter is pregnant blows the rumor out of the water.

It does? How so?

Do the math.

I haven't seen any numbers, only your conclusion. I do know that I'm less than a year younger than my brother, so I guess my parents figured out whatever math was involved.

[Tocqueville3]

Melly, I am absolutely convinced that you would not have posted this if Palin were a Democrat and she were Obama's running mate.

I had a similar discussion with my mother this morning. She said that Palin should not have accepetd the offer to be vp. Mom said she should be home with her downs baby and it makes her an unfit mother to be out campaigning instead of taking care of her baby. What a crock. My mom and every other liberal would be praising Palin and talkng about her as if she was another savior of the Democrat party if she were Obama's running mate. But she's not and you all can't stand that and so you have to cut her down at every turn. You all are just seething because there is a woman on the ticket of the GOP and there's just another old white guy on the Democrat ticket. Y'all don't like it when the same old double standards are turned around on you, do you?

Maybe instead of trying to dig up false dirt on Sarah Palin you all should maybe read up a little bit about Obama's good friend Bill Ayers.

Tocque --

As I mentioned at the top, I wondered whether or not to post lest it be perceived as political.

What did I post that was false dirt?

I posted her itinerary and the experiences of my friends and family who had DS children.

And my concerns that she put her child at risk which would seem at odds with what she believes.

TMITSSS posted something that eased my concerns.

I said as much.

I don't believe for one second that Trig is not her child and the story "lends credence" to those silly rumors.

That's dirt and I didn't post that and I said it was silly in the thread about the rumor.

I think Gov. Palin is a breath of fresh air and seems to have a real zest for life.

No matter what your politics, how that be viewed as a bad thing?

I think she is intellegent and the debate with Biden will certainly be more lively than most VP debates.

I do not, however, think she was thoroughly vetted.

I disagree with your Mom. I couldn't disagree with her more.

I certainly can see Gov. Palin's husband providing a great deal of support for her on the campaign trail and that includes the baby.

I wonder about Gov. Palin's stands on the issues. Except for the energy and the environment and abortion, I don't know what they are.

Puiblic transportation, infrastructure, OSHA - especially because her husband was/is a dangerous field. I'm sure we'll find out where she stands on them over time.

I wasn't going to post this, lest it be hijacked as political.

I'm sorry you perceived it that way because it certainly wasn't my intention.

Okay. I think I blew that a bit outta proportion. Sorry.

I think I'm cranky from all this hurricane talk. It seems like these fools on tv are just waiting for the flood wall at the Industrial canal to burst. It's like they're salivating over it.

I was reading a story comment on NOLA.com last night and the commenter said he thought the media was having one gigantic orgasm over all this hurricane/ flood stuff. I'm not sure that would be my choice of words but it certainly is descriptive.

[mellytu74]

Tocque --

Since we're talking about a former basketball player, in hoops terms, no harm, no foul.

I understand your jumpiness. The TV coverage of the Industrial Canal reminds me of the coverage of Y2K.

I was working for the Electric Company. I'd started out as a contractor in the communications department in 1997, working on Y2K issues, including outreach to business and residential customers.

By 1999, I'd become the editor of the bi-weekly employee newspaper (which, after the merger with ComEd grew to 12,000 circulation).

Y2K dovetailed with the regular publication schedule for the first January issue.

I wrote & edited everything that could be wrriten ahead of time, sent it to the designer. We had proofs that lacked only the Y2K stories and pictures.

All I would need to do is write a short story about how well things worked and take some digital pictures.

A local TV reporter - a completely odious guy - kept hovering and hovering. When nothing went wrong, he was beyond disappointed. He damn near cried.

So, yeah, I understand the jumpiness.

[etaoin22]

My $ .02 worth:

When you're the Boss, you just don't do it this way. Reflects poorly on the dignity of the State.

I am sure if Gov. Perry had been aware, he would have graciously offered some sort of jet transport from the Govt. of Texas (I am sure they must have something smaller than a C-17

[Estonut]

It does? How so?

Do the math.

I haven't seen any numbers, only your conclusion. I do know that I'm less than a year younger than my brother, so I guess my parents figured out whatever math was involved.

I have read that Trig was born in April, and new baby is due in December.

[Beebs52]

Do the math.

I haven't seen any numbers, only your conclusion. I do know that I'm less than a year younger than my brother, so I guess my parents figured out whatever math was involved.

I have read that Trig was born in April, and new baby is due in December.

That's sorta what I was going to say. Probably conceived in April, when the baby was born. That would be cutting it virtually impossibly close unless the episiotomy was a work of sparkling genius or the c-section (I have no idea how the baby was born) was also a work of sparkling genius.

Trust me--if you've just had a baby you aren't immediately working to have another one within days. If you'd ever had or know someone who has had a baby you'd realize that. A bit bloody enaht.

Amended to put "the baby" since it gets confusing when trying to explain who had what child and when. That's why this is all so goofy.

[marrymeflyfree]

I have read that Trig was born in April, and new baby is due in December.

I think it's an unlikely story, but I guess it could be possible. If Trig was born in early April and the new babe is due in late December...it certainly is possible to get pregnant again immediately after giving birth.

And of course..when you're 17, just looking at a penis is bound to get you pregnant...

[Beebs52]

I have read that Trig was born in April, and new baby is due in December.

I think it's an unlikely story, but I guess it could be possible. If Trig was born in early April and the new babe is due in late December...it certainly is possible to get pregnant again immediately after giving birth.

And of course..when you're 17, just looking at a penis is bound to get you pregnant...

!?!?! You just went through it. Do you REALLY think that?

[marrymeflyfree]

!?!?! You just went through it. Do you REALLY think that?

Well...yeah. I could tell you why, but that might be a bit TMI even for me! I'll just say that the bod's ability to re-right itself can be pretty amazing.

Edited to add: ...but seriously unlikely.

[Estonut]

If Trig was born in early April ...

The first page of Google hits seems to agree:

Trig Paxson Van Palin was born at 6:30 a.m. April 18, 2008.

[Beebs52]

!?!?! You just went through it. Do you REALLY think that?

Well...yeah. I could tell you why, but that might be a bit TMI even for me! I'll just say that the bod's ability to re-right itself can be pretty amazing.

Edited to add: ...but seriously unlikely.

Well, maybe your mind/body/hormones may have agreed, I seriously doubt, within literally days, that the insides would have. I may be wrong. I've only had two kids. You're a way better healer than I ever was.

Occam's Razor. I mean. Come on.

[Weyoun]

That certainly gives credence to the rumor that she wasn't pregnant.

What????

How does the fact that Governor Palin followed her doctor's advice to fly home to have the baby, seeing that she was not yet in labor, show that she was not really pregnant?

What she did was risky. If she hadn't been pregnant, there would have been no risk.

Obviously the new disclosure that her daughter is pregnant blows the rumor out of the water.

Are you a woman? It seems like to me that someone who has had four kids already and was listening to her doctor might have some idea what she can and can't do.

I bet you are thrilled, in some lurid way, about hearing the news about Palin's daughter. Kossacks roolz!