Sarah Palin’s Trip to Ireland – seeking the itinerary
Posted by Maman Poulet on 31 Aug 2008 at 06:00 pm | Tagged as: US Election 2008
Update: It’s just been confirmed that I was right. She stopped over to refuel and did not visit. Bloggers do the vetting again…
So the Republican’s Vice Presidential Nominee Sarah Palin has visited Ireland – this is listed as part of her foreign travel experience. She only got a passport last year and visited US troops (Alaskan National Guard) in Kuwait and Germany.
Two words to describe that visit to Ireland I think.
SHANNON STOPOVER! *
I could of course be wrong and Governor Palin was over to find her roots?? More as I get it.
*For US readers the Shannon Stopover refers to planes landing at Shannon Airport to refuel when on their way to and from parts of Europe/Middle East. Shannon Airport sees many US Military and contractor flights arrive there each month for refueling – passengers get off the plane for a while and then get back on again. Hardly a visit to Ireland?
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Foreign policy certainly isn’t her forte, I suppose. I do wonder if she had her photo taken with JFK’s mural, as he’s you know, a Democrat and all.
It’s always seemed to me that the VP candidate is chosen primarily to balance the weaknesses of the presidential candidate: if you’re old, you pick someone young. If you’re moderate, you find someone more hard-line. If you’re a goof, you find someone more glamorous.
Not a great way to pick someone who’ll have to take over if you’re assassinated or accidentally fall off the White House roof, etc. But right now, they’re not worrying so much about who can run the country, as who can WIN the election. And she’s shore got a purdy smile on her, eh?
ARGH.
Oh we could do an imaginary Itinerary? Ballyporeen to visit Reagan’s folks?
Her much touted “command experience” as C in C to the Alaska National Guard needs to be viewed in light of the fact that that force is equivalent in size to the total number of women serving in the An Garda SÃochána
The population fo the state that she governs is about 30,000 LESS than the city of Limerick…
[...] Suzy has the theory. It consists of two words; stop over. [...]
Legally speaking if she stopped over in Ireland on the way to the gulf then she never actually entered the country. The stop over is a transit lounge type affair and she would never have passed through immigration. Given the layout of Shannon it is possible she never set foot on Irish soil as she would spent her time in the elevated gateway areas. That is if she was a stop over.
It is probably embarrassing that Palin was the chair of a committee on European Affairs, and this one stop-over was her one trip to the EU. Oh, wait…
Now, now, be nice to Karen Walker’s sister children!
While I don’t share all her politics, she seems far more savvy than Dubya was back in 2000. (I do remember what Americans thought of him back then; I was in LA in Dec 2000 during the legal wrangle over Florida. There were t-shirts all over a gay bookstore in WeHo marked ‘This is not my President’… but views changed on 9/11 and there has been backhanded respect since). Although I’ve not met her, and Palin may not have global experience like Hillary, I don’t believe that she’s a dolt like Bush and McCain has certainly shaken up the election campaign.
BTW: I thought Alaska has a population of 690,000 not 30,000. C’mon, give the girl a break and see how she does. I’m being nice as I think McCain is really trying to dump the Bushies (morons one and all)and return the GOP to more ‘traditional’ conservative politics.
Oh, and when Obama gets out of his cave or wherever he’s hiding this week, perhaps he can tell us when the Obama bounce in the polls will happen … I know this is caustic for a Monday… but the Dems chose the wrong candidate and I’m a “PUMA adopté”.
My theory is Palin runs this time, and demystifies the idea of a woman at the top of US politics, and then Hillary is more “reasonable” as the nominee in 2012. Old dog, long haul and whatever!
Hillary didn’t get nominated Sean, get over it already!
If the people of the United States elect the McCain/Palin combination after being the laughing stocks of the world for re-electing bush/cheney then we truly need to be at the bottom of the heap of third world countries for being the most intellectually ignorant people on earth.
Nicely spotted… of course, if the Republicans are now claiming that the Shannon stopover is “on Irish soil”, then where does that leave the rendition flights?
On another note, did anyone hear Sam Smyth ask his American friend (name, anyone?!) if he fancied Palin on yesterday’s Sunday Supplement? Seemingly this is the most important issue to Sam. Now, as a woman I will freely admit Obama’s looks and youth will definitely get him a few votes, but it’s pretty far down on the list of reasons any woman will vote for someone. Why does this always, always come up with women candidates?
SeanR, did people forget about Ferraro? I can understand why the Dems might have wanted to the why the election went but if it didn’t demystify things 24 years ago then it ain’t going to help now. There is even a chance that if McCain completely blows this election (which I doubt he will mind) that people might say that a women on the ticket is down right toxic.
[...] Guard and to Ireland. Someone should ask the spokesman about her trip to Ireland too, because a blogger over at Mamanpoulet theorizes that it may have been a quick stop-over on Palin’s way to the Middle [...]
Renditions flights were allowed by Bertie … you’re not all naive on that?
McCain is absolutely not in the same camp as Bush… much closer to Reagan IMO. McCain will come under pressure to close Gitmo – how can a former POW keep it open ethically?
Ferrero was added to the ticket by Mondale as I recall. I completely disagree that it is toxic to have women on the ticket, ditto a gay man, etc. etc… I may not entirely be in agreement with politics, but I do praise equality.
I’m not really sulking about Hillary so much as I object to creeps like Edwards blocked Hillary. My beef is that if the story about John Edwards/love child had surfaced back in December 07/January 08 (and it obviously was ‘known’), then Hillary would now be the nominee as Edwards would not have done well in Iowa, and she would have ended up ahead. I am quite over her not getting the nomination herself but I think Obama is completely barking mad for not having swallowed his pride and asked her to be the VP nominee. (This is what Reagan did back in 1980 although he disliked Bush Snr – who referred to supply side economics as ‘voodoo’ and the combination went on to win twice).
The GOP has been quite ‘attentive’ to the political issue of New Orleans this week, and that will play well. Silence from the Dems…
Sarah Palin considers any kind of interfacing with the lower forty-eight states as “foreign policy” experience because she is a member of the AIP – ALASKA INDEPENDENCE PARTY. Their motto is “ALASKA FIRST!” and she considers Alaska a different country than the United States. Sure, that certainly destroys McCain’s “COUNTRY FIRST!” motto and sloganeering but no one ever said McCain had good judgment. If McCain is selected President it will just be more of the McSame BAD DECISIONS based on BAD POLITICS. I want to know how Palin gets a security clearance if she was for Alaska seceding from our United States? She would be like a Manchurian candidate. I don’t trust her at all!
[...] (original post here) [...]
I’m sorry but if a formal Pub is not entered into, you have not {been} so, please, leave the mindless Noise posts for the US mindless Bush supporters to feed.
Good catch!
“PUMA adopté�. Which equals a republican
SeanR: Sorry, but you’re still sulking about Hillary. Clinton and her advisors (mainly Wolfson) are trying to make Edwards the scapegoat; but there are a number of rebuttals that analyze polling data.
And Obama has made several statements of what he’s going to so to help out NO. Real suggestions, about his email list, and getting people to contribute money and time. As opposed to McCains new-found concern for NO. McCain will probably end up visiting NO, even though that would just be a photo-op that would actually get in the way of helping people. Just like when he refused a request from the governor of Iowa to not visit for a “tour” of the flooding back in June.
But, hey, keep up the PUMA talking points. Nice to see you dealing so well with your disappointment.
Check it out.
troopergate, dairygate, sex -edgate.
She is a failure, and McCain more for not vetting her.
For 8 years we Americans have suffered the embarrassment of George Bush. Now we are in fear his cohorts will, once again, cook the books and elect Johm McCain. Saints presrve us! This “Maverick” is anything but. He’s a doddering old man with nothing to offer anyone.
SeanR, I believe you misread MaureenMcM’s post. She did not say Alaska’s population was 30,000. She said Alaska’s entire population is 30,000 less than the city of Limerick.
[...] the suggestion that Palin’s foreign travel experience included Iraq, Germany, and Ireland. As an Irish blogger suspected, the Ireland “trip” turns out to be a refueling [...]
I don’t think the population of Alaska is 30,000 less than Limerick. Limerick with suburbs is about 90,00. Alaska is around 690,000
[...] Irish blogger Maman Poulet notes: So the Republican’s Vice Presidential Nominee Sarah Palin has visited Ireland – this is listed as part of her foreign travel experience. She only got a passport last year and visited US troops (Alaskan National Guard) in Kuwait and Germany. [...]
[...] least one Irish blogger, Suzy Byrne, stepped forward to call blarney on that: Two words to describe that visit to Ireland I think. SHANNON STOPOVER! [...]
[...] Did the McCain campaign know that Palin basically lied to the media and the American people? Or did this Irish blogger do the vetting that the McCain campaign couldn’t be bothered to [...]
Sean R.
If you gave Hillary ALL of the delegates available from Iowa (57, 45 pledged and 12 super)and gave zero to everyone else she still wouldn’t have beat Obama. Edwards only managed to earn a total of 6 delegates before he dropped out! http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/scorecard/#D
And what makes you think that Hillary would want this right-wing, absolute nobody from Alaska shattering her glass ceiling? She’s worked so hard for many years and now you think she’ll want some newbie paving the way for HER? This wretch is no Hillary, is trying to use Hillary’s struggle to her own advantage by saying “it isn’t over for us women yet” but she is against everything that Hillary stands for. If it were me I’d come out swinging.
No, Obama hasn’t been photo-opping down at the coast, but his campaign did send out emails requesting donations be made to the American Red Cross for those affected by Gustav.
And finally, you want some bounce? Here it is: http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-09-01-poll-monday_N.htm
Sean: I was an Edwards supporter who worked with many other Edwards supporters. NONE of us would have voted for Hillary if Edwards wasn’t on the ballot. When Edwards pulled out, everyone got behind Obama.
I have a strong feeling that “PUMA” members are new to politics. In 2004, Howard Dean was the popular choice (and my choice) before the DNC and DLC decided that Kerry would be the candidate. Did the Dean supporters vote for Bush? Hardly. We got behind the Democratic candidate.
In this election, Hillary was the DNC/DLC choice. Unfortunately for her and her supporters, her campaign was dysfunctional. Obama ran a smart, grassroots campaign. Get over yourself and do what’s best for the country.
[...] Did the McCain campaign know that Palin basically lied to the media and the American people? Or did this Irish blogger do the vetting that the McCain campaign couldn’t be bothered to [...]
Excellent catch on this one Suzy, brilliant.
By Mrs. Palin’s criteria I can now count the USA among the countries I’ve visited, after two stopovers in LA and one in Hawaii. Brilliant! Of course, it also places me in the ranks of illegal Irish in America, as I had no visa of any kind…
[...] it’s true. Her plane stopped to refuel at Shannon on the [...]
Nice one Suzy.
OH! OH! I once had a two hour stopover in Singapore, and the dutyfree lounge there is bigger than Wasilla, I also had a 1 hr stopover in Bahrein… gawd I’m so much more travelled than I knew. See, already Sara is broadening my horizons… if not her own.
[...] it turns out that Irish blogger Maman Poulet managed to catch Sarah Palin in a big fat lie that the mainstream media never even bothered to [...]
Pictures Proof Positive Sarah Palin visited Ireland
Did she leave the plane? What time did the plane refuel, and was she awake or asleep? The foreign policy expert consensus is that it’s less serious experience if you sleep the whole time.
Sean R:
HAhahahahahahah
‘Ethically?’ How can anyone keep it open (ehtically or not)?
Dude – It’s John McCain and the Republican party!
They have no ethics! heeheeheehee
Remember the Keating five?
The biggest crook of them all was McCain. Then he did a mea culpa and got rehabilitated after a few years.
You’re funny
[...] I think Sarah Palin has had her 5 minutes of fame…and I’m not going to become a Palin Pop Culture blogger (However I did laugh when I read that she had not been to Iraq but suddenly remembered a trip to Mexico – for a holiday no less although John Aravosis thinks it might be a day trip to Tijuana based on the Shannon experience!) [...]
[...] more: From The vaults: Sarah Palin’s Trip to Ireland – Seeking The Itinerary (Maman Poulet) [...]
Has she never even been to Canada then???
Forgot to mention…I once had a layover in Vienna that lasted over 12 hours. I actually stayed in a Viennese hotel and walked around a few streets.
I’m supporting Palin: I expect in return to be appointed Ambassador to Austria once she’s replaced McCain; surely with my experience I’m qualified.
Gotta check out the trailer to the upcoming movie, “The Palin Presidency”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abZLjIpHzj8
[...] a nod to Suzy at Maman Poulet, who got the biggest cheer of the day for what was probably the most important Irish blog post of 2008. October 8th, 2008 in Politics (Ireland) | tags: commission, damian o’broin, damien mulley, eu, [...]
[...] don’t think there will be any photos of her stop over in Ireland [...]
[...] exhausted me as a blogger and human being thanks to my curiosity about Sarah Palin’s ‘trip to Ireland‘ and a scoop about Irish Rail enforcing discrimination in terms of same sex couples and [...]
[...] to Suzy Byrne who (I read at the huffington post no less!) pointed out that Sarah Palin’s claim to have travelled abroad to visit “Germany, Kuwait and [...]
[...] http://mamanpoulet.com/?p=437 [...]
Nice catch. Good luck in the blog awards next week. Ruairi
[...] Lots of searches here yesterday for Sarah Palin and Ireland. I don’t know if they were looking for this story which is nearly 18 months old. Some searches on twitter showed people planning to move to Ireland if Palin gets elected in 2012. [...]