Online oddsmakers recently set book at 8/1 odds for the VP pick of Senator John McCain, Republican Sarah Palin, having to be dropped by McCain's campaign in order to try to save his bid for the presidency. Bookmaker.com currently has John McCain as the +160 underdog in the race between him and Senator Obama for the Office of the President of the United States.
These online betting groups do not figure the odds in the race for President of the United States simply on the candidates' policy positions. They change the odds they are willing to give online betters by the rise and fall of positive or negative press coverage and as each new scandal breaks. Big money is involved and these bookmakers pay attention to scandals such as being caught in outright and repeated lies as the McCain campaign is now in their futile attempt to promote and prove their claim that John McCain's vice-presidential pick has extensive security and foreign policy experience because as Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin was "in charge" of the the Alaskan National Guard.
The McCain campaign has ignored the reality of the Alaskan National Guard Commander stating “she has made no command decisions, other than sending some troops to help fight a few brush fires and march in parades at county fairs” while the oddsmakers have not.
Bookies, in looking to make money, consider every personal foible, every act of foolishness and watch for any unexpected peek into the true heart of both candidates. These online bookmakers are not in the business of losing money so they play close attention to the candidates and their running mates, including all family members, in their quest to beat the odds and turn a profit off what is always the hottest race in our nation other than Derby.
Bookmakers understand the meaning of public perception and stay more informed about elections than the average American voter. If they don't, they lose money. They stay on top of breaking stories such as the one reported by Anchorage Daily News concerning recorded remarks made during last January's far-right "The Bob and Mark Show" radio between host, Bob Lester and Governor Sarah Palin during their on air telephone exchange.
Palin's conduct during this radio interview had bookies scrambling to change the odds they were giving and sent shock waves into the national political arena not so much because of the highly offensive remarks made by Lester about Alaskan Senate president, Lyda Green, known for feuding with Palin over a wide range of legislation and known by Sarah Palin to be a cancer survivor, but because of Governor Palin's repeated outbursts of laughter and fits of giggling over the crude remarks made by Lester.
On air, Lester asked Palin if Senator Lyda Green cares about her own kids. Palin's recorded response is a long burst of laughter.
Lester goes on to say "Governor you can't say this but I will, Lyda Green is a cancer and a bit*h." Palin goes into a fit of laughter for the second time.
Next Lester makes fun of Senator Lyda Green's weight problem making jokes about her chair, describing it as "big and cushy". Palin, for the third time in a row, responds with yet another belly laugh.
Lester then asks Governor Palin if he could visit in person with her and she responds in the affirmative, stating "I'd be honored to have you."
Not once did Governor Palin try to calm down these rude and offensive remarks thrown at Senator Green by this far-rightwing shock jock, but she did, however, release a statement to her local press after the incident explaining:
"The Governor called Senator Green to explain that she does not condone name-calling in any way and apologized if there was a perception that the comment was attributed to the Governor."
Actions like this by Governor Palin often seem to be in conflict with her strict religious upbringing as a lifelong Pentecostal fundamentalist Christian whose strong family values advocate the teaching of intelligent design, abstinence-only sex education, and firm opposition to abortion even in instances of rape, incest or even if the life of the mother is in danger. Palin is devout in her beliefs and often speaks from the pulpit of her church.
"Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending [U.S. soldiers] out on a task that is from God... That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan.
"I think God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that [$30 billion dollar] gas line built, so pray for that."
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