From NBC's Michael Levine

As questions have been raised over how thoroughly Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign vetted Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for the V.P. slot, it seems the McCain campaign was unaware of a video -- available online -- in which Palin talks about God's role in U.S. military action overseas, according to a political operative familiar with the situation.

The video, first reported by the liberal blog HuffingtonPost.com, is from a June Palin speech to the graduating class of commission students at Palin's former church in Wasilla, Alaska. While describing her family, Palin told students about her oldest son, 19-year-old Track, who is set to be deployed to Iraq this month with the U.S. Army. She urged students to pray “that our leaders -- that our national leaders -- are sending [soldiers] out on a task that is from God.”

She added, “That's what we have to make sure that we are praying for: that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan.”

So, it wasn't about the oil. It's a holy war instead?

Ah...

But if it is God's Plan, you don't have to discuss it. It in fact really cannot be discussed. God's Plan. Any plan or direction by any man isn't the point here, it has no relevance. God's Plan and he is in-effable.

Recycled reasoning... Pope Urban II would be proud.

...is fucking alarming. I knew the religious right liked this woman, but didn't realize it wasn't just because she's been a complacent baby factory.

Wow. Totally nuts. Sounds like American Taliban.

Religion, however, was not strictly a thread in Palin's foreign policy. It was part of her energy proposals as well. Just prior to discussing Iraq, Alaska's governor asked the audience to pray for another matter -- a $30 billion national gas pipeline project that she wanted built in the state. "I think God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built, so pray for that," she said.

From Sarah's lips to God's ears (or is it the other way around?), that's energy policy in Alaska.

Read the whole article here:

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I'm sorry, the mind boggles. Can someone please explain to me how it is God's will that some gas line be built, why God cares one way or the other about a freaking pipeline, and how it is that Sarah Palin knows with such certainty what God's will is?

Come to think of it, seem a bit counter-intuitive that God would be in favor of a pipeline cluttering up his Creation. I mean, if He really wanted a pipeline there, don't you think he would have just put it there to begin with? So I personally am a skeptic that God looks with favor on this pipeline. There can be little doubt, however, that Sarah certainly does look upon it with favor.

Can someone please explain to me how it is God's will that some gas line be built, why God cares one way or the other about a freaking pipeline, and how it is that Sarah Palin knows with such certainty what God's will is?

Well, God, apparently, has plans for football games and which entertainers win Oscars and Grammys, so it's really not that much of a stretch.

Assuming that you believe you can discern God's will for you, which is a pretty common belief among Christians, isn't it possible that another way to read these comments is that she is suggesting that the nation should try to be on God's side? That is, not, "this is our will, God, now You bless it", but "God, let us know what You want so that we can be on Your side"? Perhaps one could say it is a distinction without much difference, but I think the second approach is much more humble and consistent with belief as I understand it.

On another note, what is a commission student?

"I think God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built, so pray for that," she said.

If you can torture this statement into supporting that viewpoint, more power to you.

You know, Horus, some women want to be moms to big families, and desire the children that they have (or even want more). Do you have some evidence that she's been "complacent" or did not desire her children? The little I've seen suggests the opposite.

That is, not, "this is our will, God, now You bless it", but "God, let us know what You want so that we can be on Your side"? Perhaps one could say it is a distinction without much difference, but I think the second approach is much more humble and consistent with belief as I understand it.

The problem is, NFP, that 99 and 99/100% of the time, it turns out that - amazingly enough! - God wants the politician to do exactly what the politician wanted to do in the first place. I can count on the fingers of no hand (a Zen exercise) the number of times I've heard a politician say, "you know, I'm really in favor of x, but I don't think it's what God wants us to do".

Hello, NFP. You're as reasonable as christians get (I joke! I kid!), do you think Palin is a good choice for VP?

I certainly see the strategic value: 1) It wiped a strong DNC off the headlines completely, 2) She really appeals to some of the more, um, strident American Christians (tm)- James Dobson, et al, and 3) Anybody the Liberal Media hates so much must be a great person!

But I don't see the political value. What does she add to the McCain ticket other than votes from the base?

FWIW, I think Biden was a bad strategic pick (bringin' home Delaware! Woot!), but a good political pick (very knowledgeable, foreign policy experience, years in the Senate, etc.).

Well, granted, that seems to support the former rather than the latter viewpoint. However, I think it's in the link, where she is discussing the pastor praying over her, where she comments something along the lines of "he wasn't just praying for God's will to be done" as if she thought that was unusual or not how she would typically pray.

I'm sure we'll have no shortage of quotes in upcoming weeks to see which end of the spectrum she comes down on more frequently.

Hey Bugger. You'd have to qualify any of my comments, or discount them, because I haven't really followed the primaries, etc., all that closely, at least until closer to the election (I'm registered independent), and we don't have cable TV. From the little I've seen, it seems to be a rather transparent ploy to grab disaffected supporters of Mrs. Clinton. How many of those will really vote for Mr. McCain? Should one really pick one's running mate on such narrow criteria? Isn't it condescending toward women to assume they would vote soley on gender? If she was a guy, would she be the pick? On the other hand, how many people really vote on the "team", or combination of pres. and vice-pres., as opposed to just the presidential candidate? Perhaps the calculation was, pick up more votes in energized base, as you say, plus disaffected Clinton folk, versus votes lost to those uncomfortable with Ms. Palin's inexperience.

I did notice some energy in some strongly pro-life folks at a birthday party we were at last weekend regarding the choice of Ms. Palin.

OT to Bugger: How's your little one doing? Starting Pre-K or K this year? Still home full-time?

NFP Guy:

I did notice some energy in some strongly pro-life folks at a birthday party we were at last weekend regarding the choice of Ms. Palin.

OT to Bugger: How's your little one doing? Starting Pre-K or K this year? Still home full-time?

Thanks for asking, NFP. She's great, growing like a weed and smarter every day. She'll start 'Kindercorral' in another week. We had lots to do earlier in the summer, but these last few weeks have just been the two of us staring at each other, so I think we're both ready for school to start!

She's just starting soccer and she does. not. like. to. "lose". My wife says she gets it from me... I don't see it. ;-)

As for Palin, it doesn't really seem like McCain vetted her well. Every day brings a new semi-scandal, so her strategic value may not hold. But, Republicans (for better or worse) rally ferociously around one of their own who seems to be attacked by The Media, so picking someone with her brand of baggage may give McCain the kind of conservative street-cred he's been missing. We'll see, I think she's make or break for McCain now.