So is this what you want one heartbeat away from the White House?
Wed, 2008-09-24 20:54
#1
So is this what you want one heartbeat away from the White House?
Wed, 2008-09-24 20:54
#2
How old is John McCain anyway?
[b]ABOUT SARAH PALIN
by Anne Kilkenny
I am a resident of Wasilla, Alaska. I have known Sarah since 1992. Everyone here
knows Sarah, so it is nothing special to say we are on a first-name basis. Our
children have attended the same schools. Her father was my child's favorite
substitute teacher. I also am on a first name basis with her parents and
mother-in-law. I attended more City Council meetings during her administration
than about 99% of the residents of the city.
She is enormously popular; in every way she's like the most popular girl in
middle school. Even men who think she is a poor choice and won't vote for her
can't quit smiling when talking about her because she is a "babe".
It is astonishing and almost scary how well she can keep a secret. She kept her
most recent pregnancy a secret from her children and parents for seven months.
She is "pro-life". She recently gave birth to a Down's syndrome baby. There is
no cover-up involved, here; Trig is her baby.
She is energetic and hardworking. She regularly worked out at the gym.
She is savvy. She doesn't take positions; she just "puts things out there" and
if they prove to be popular, then she takes credit.
Her husband works a union job on the North Slope for BP and is a champion
snowmobile racer. Todd Palin's kind of job is highly sought-after because of
the schedule and high pay. He arranges his work schedule so he can fish for
salmon in Bristol Bay for a month or so in summer, but by no stretch of the
imagination is fishing their major source of income. Nor has her life-style ever
been anything like that of native Alaskans.
Sarah and her whole family are avid hunters.
She's smart.
Her experience is as mayor of a city with a population of about 5,000 (at the
time), and less than 2 years as governor of a state with about 670,000
residents.
During her mayoral administration most of the actual work of running this small
city was turned over to an administrator. She had been pushed to hire this
administrator by party power-brokers after she had gotten herself into some
trouble over precipitous firings which had given rise to a recall campaign.
Sarah campaigned in Wasilla as a "fiscal conservative". During her 6 years
as Mayor, she increased general government expenditures by over 33%. During
those same 6 years the amount of taxes collected by the City increased by 38%.
This was during a period of low inflation (1996-2002). She reduced progressive
property taxes and increased a regressive sales tax which taxed even food. The
tax cuts that she promoted benefited large corporate property owners way more
than they benefited residents.
The huge increases in tax revenues during her mayoral administration weren't
enough to fund everything on her wish list though, borrowed money was needed,
too. She inherited a city with zero debt, but left it with indebtedness of over
$22 million. What did Mayor Palin encourage the voters to borrow money for? Was
it the infrastructure that she said she supported? The sewage treatment plant
that the city lacked? or a new library? No. $1m for a park. $15m-plus for
construction of a multi-use sports complex which she rushed through to build on
a piece of property that the City didn't even have clear title to, that was
still in litigation 7 yrs later--to the delight of the lawyers involved! The
sports complex itself is a nice addition to the community but a huge money pit,
not the profit-generator she claimed it would be. She also supported bonds for
$5.5m for road projects that could have been done in 5-7 yrs without any
borrowing.
While Mayor, City Hall was extensively remodeled and her office redecorated more
than once.
These are small numbers, but Wasilla is a very small city.
As an oil producer, the high price of oil has created a budget surplus in
Alaska. Rather than invest this surplus in technology that will make us energy
independent and increase efficiency, as Governor she proposed distribution of
this surplus to every individual in the state.
In this time of record state revenues and budget surpluses, she recommended that
the state borrow/bond for road projects, even while she proposed distribution of
surplus state revenues: spend today's surplus, borrow for needs.
She's not very tolerant of divergent opinions or open to outside ideas or
compromise. As Mayor, she fought ideas that weren't generated by her or her
staff. Ideas weren't evaluated on their merits, but on the basis of who
proposed them.
While Sarah was Mayor of Wasilla she tried to fire our highly respected City
Librarian because the Librarian refused to consider removing from the library
some books that Sarah wanted removed. City residents rallied to the defense of
the City Librarian and against Palin's attempt at out-and-out censorship, so
Palin backed down and withdrew her termination letter. People who fought her
attempt to oust the Librarian are on her enemies list to this day.
Sarah complained about the "old boy's club" when she first ran for Mayor,
so what did she bring Wasilla? A new set of "old boys". Palin fired most of the
experienced staff she inherited. At the City and as Governor she hired or
elevated new, inexperienced, obscure people, creating a staff totally dependent
on her for their jobs and eternally grateful and fiercely loyal--loyal to the
point of abusing their power to further her personal agenda, as she has
acknowledged happened in the case of pressuring the State's top cop (see
below).
As Mayor, Sarah fired Wasilla's Police Chief because he "intimidated" her,
she told the press. As Governor, her recent firing of Alaska's top cop has the
ring of familiarity about it. He served at her pleasure and she had every legal
right to fire him, but it's pretty clear that an important factor in her
decision to fire him was because he wouldn't fire her sister's ex-husband, a
State Trooper. Under investigation for abuse of power, she has had to admit that
more than 2 dozen contacts were made between her staff and family to the person
that she later fired, pressuring him to fire her ex-brother-in-law. She tried to
replace the man she fired with a man who she knew had been reprimanded for
sexual harassment; when this caused a public furor, she withdrew her support.
She has bitten the hand of every person who extended theirs to her in help. The
City Council person who personally escorted her around town introducing her to
voters when she first ran for Wasilla City Council became one of her first
targets when she was later elected Mayor. She abruptly fired her loyal City
Administrator; even people who didn't like the guy were stunned by this
ruthlessness.
Fear of retribution has kept all of these people from saying anything publicly
about her.
When then-Governor Murkowski was handing out political plums, Sarah got the
best, Chair of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission: one of the few
jobs not in Juneau and one of the best paid. She had no background in oil & gas
issues. Within months of scoring this great job which paid $122,400/yr, she was
complaining in the press about the high salary. I was told that she hated that
job: the commute, the structured hours, the work. Sarah became aware that a
member of this Commission (who was also the State Chair of the Republican Party)
engaged in unethical behavior on the job. In a gutsy move which some undoubtedly
cautioned her could be political suicide, Sarah solved all her problems in one
fell swoop: got out of the job she hated and garnered gobs of media attention as
the patron saint of ethics and as a gutsy fighter against the "old boys'
club" when she dramatically quit, exposing this man's ethics violations (for
which he was fined).
As Mayor, she had her hand stuck out as far as anyone for pork from Senator Ted
Stevens. Lately, she has castigated his pork-barrel politics and publicly
humiliated him. She only opposed the "bridge to nowhere" after it became
clear that it would be unwise not to.
As Governor, she gave the Legislature no direction and budget guidelines, then
made a big grandstand display of line-item vetoing projects, calling them pork.
Public outcry and further legislative action restored most of these
projects--which had been vetoed simply because she was not aware of their
importance--but with the unobservant she had gained a reputation as "
anti-pork".
She is solidly Republican: no political maverick. The State party leaders hate
her because she has bit them in the back and humiliated them. Other members of
the party object to her self-description as a fiscal conservative.
Around Wasilla there are people who went to high school with Sarah. They call
her "Sarah Barracuda" because of her unbridled ambition and predatory
ruthlessness. Before she became so powerful, very ugly stories circulated around
town about shenanigans she pulled to be made point guard on the high school
basketball team. When Sarah's mother-in-law, a highly respected member of the
community and experienced manager, ran for Mayor, Sarah refused to endorse her.
As Governor, she stepped outside of the box and put together of package of
legislation known as "AGIA" that forced the oil companies to march to the
beat of her drum.
Like most Alaskans, she favors drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
She has questioned if the loss of sea ice is linked to global warming. She
campaigned "as a private citizen" against a state initiaitive that would
have either a) protected salmon streams from pollution from mines, or b) tied up
in the courts all mining in the state (depending on who you listen to). She has
pushed the State's lawsuit against the Dept. of the Interior's decision to
list polar bears as threatened species.
McCain is the oldest person to ever run for President; Sarah will be a heartbeat
away from being President.
There has to be literally millions of Americans who are more knowledgeable and
experienced than she.
However, there's a lot of people who have underestimated her and are
regretting it.
CLAIM VS FACT
•"Hockey mom": true for a few years
•"PTA mom": true years ago when her first-born was in elementary school,
not since
•"NRA supporter": absolutely true
•social conservative: mixed. Opposes gay marriage, BUT vetoed a bill that
would have denied benefits to employees in same-sex relationships (said she did
this because it was unconsitutional).
•pro-creationism: mixed. Supports it, BUT did nothing as Governor to promote
it.
•"Pro-life": mixed. Knowingly gave birth to a Down's syndrome baby BUT
declined to call a special legislative session on some pro-life legislation
•"Experienced": Some high schools have more students than Wasilla has
residents. Many cities have more residents than the state of Alaska. No
legislative experience other than City Council. Little hands-on supervisory or
managerial experience; needed help of a city administrator to run town of about
5,000.
•political maverick: not at all
•gutsy: absolutely!
•open & transparent: ??? Good at keeping secrets. Not good at
explaining actions.
•has a developed philosophy of public policy: no
•"a Greenie": no. Turned Wasilla into a wasteland of big box stores and
disconnected parking lots. Is pro-drilling off-shore and in ANWR.
•fiscal conservative: not by my definition!
•pro-infrastructure: No. Promoted a sports complex and park in a city without
a sewage treatment plant or storm drainage system. Built streets to early 20th
century standards.
•pro-tax relief: Lowered taxes for businesses, increased tax burden on
residents
•pro-small government: No. Oversaw greatest expansion of city government in
Wasilla's history.
•pro-labor/pro-union. No. Just because her husband works union doesn't make
her pro-labor. I have seen nothing to support any claim that she is
pro-labor/pro-union.
WHY AM I WRITING THIS?
First, I have long believed in the importance of being an informed voter. I am a
voter registrar. For 10 years I put on student voting programs in the schools.
If you google my name (Anne Kilkenny + Alaska), you will find references to my
participation in local government, education, and PTA/parent organizations.
Secondly, I've always operated in the belief that "Bad things happen when good
people stay silent". Few people know as much as I do because few have gone to as
many City Council meetings.
Third, I am just a housewife. I don't have a job she can bump me out of. I don't
belong to any organization that she can hurt. But, I am no fool; she is
immensely popular here, and it is likely that this will cost me somehow in the
future: that's life.
Fourth, she has hated me since back in 1996, when I was one of the 100 or so
people who rallied to support the City Librarian against Sarah's attempt at
censorship.
Fifth, I looked around and realized that everybody else was afraid to say
anything because they were somehow vulnerable.
CAVEATS
I am not a statistician. I developed the numbers for the increase in spending &
taxation 2 years ago (when Palin was running for Governor) from information
supplied to me by the Finance Director of the City of Wasilla, and I can't
recall exactly what I adjusted for: did I adjust for inflation? for population
increases? Right now, it is impossible for a private person to get any info out
of City Hall--they are swamped. So I can't verify my numbers.
You may have noticed that there are various numbers circulating for the
population of Wasilla, ranging from my "about 5,000", up to 9,000. The day
Palin's selection was announced a city official told me that the current
population is about 7,000. The official 2000 census count was 5,460. I have used
about 5,000 because Palin was Mayor from 1996 to 2002, and the city was growing
rapidly in the mid-90's.
Anne Kilkenny David Osborne [ 24 September 2008: Message edited by: NorthReport ]
[email protected]
August 31, 2008
Public Strategies Group
[email protected]
25 Belcher St.
Essex, MA 01929
978 768 3244[/b]
Wed, 2008-09-24 22:19
#3
Wow - what a pathetic interview she had with Katie Couric:
quote:
Couric: You've said, quote, "John McCain will reform the way Wall Street does business." Other than supporting stricter regulations of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac two years ago, can you give us any more example of his leading the charge for more oversight?Palin: I think that the example that you just cited, with his warnings two years ago about Fannie and Freddie - that, that's paramount. That's more than a heck of a lot of other senators and representatives did for us.
Couric: But he's been in Congress for 26 years. He's been chairman of the powerful Commerce Committee. And he has almost always sided with less regulation, not more.
Palin: He's also known as the maverick though, taking shots from his own party, and certainly taking shots from the other party. Trying to get people to understand what he's been talking about - the need to reform government.
Couric: But can you give me any other concrete examples? Because I know you've said Barack Obama is a lot of talk and no action. Can you give me any other examples in his 26 years of John McCain truly taking a stand on this?
Palin: I can give you examples of things that John McCain has done, that has shown his foresight, his pragmatism, and his leadership abilities. And that is what America needs today.
Couric: I'm just going to ask you one more time - not to belabor the point. Specific examples in his 26 years of pushing for more regulation.
Palin: I'll try to find you some and I'll bring them to you.
[url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/24/eveningnews/main4476173.shtml]Did a moose eat her homework?[/url]
Wed, 2008-09-24 23:27
#4
The scary thing is that because of McCain's age, if the Republicans win, she really is only one heartbeat away from the While House, and she stands a good chance of taking over as President.
Thu, 2008-09-25 06:37
#5
ElizaQ
Well all on has to do is take a look at the three interviews that she has done, two if you don't count the on with Sean Hannity, the fact that she won't talk to the press at all, no off the cuff press conference, that the press was actually barred from her meetings with 'world leaders' except for photos, that the McCain campaign demanded that the debate format be changed to a question and answer format because of her 'inexperience' and it just wouldn't be fair and it's quite easy to see why the suggestion of 'postponing' the VP debates has come up.
Thu, 2008-09-25 06:51
#6
ElizaQ
[url=http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/09/24/army/]Why is a US Army Brigade being assigned to the 'Homeland'[/url]
quote:
For more than 100 years -- since the end of the Civil War -- deployment of the U.S. military inside the U.S. has been prohibited under The Posse Comitatus Act (the only exceptions being that the National Guard and Coast Guard are exempted, and use of the military on an emergency ad hoc basis is permitted, such as what happened after Hurricane Katrina). Though there have been some erosions of this prohibition over the last several decades (most perniciously to allow the use of the military to work with law enforcement agencies in the "War on Drugs"), the bright line ban on using the U.S. military as a standing law enforcement force inside the U.S. has been more or less honored -- until now. And as the Army Times notes, once this particular brigade completes its one-year assignment, "expectations are that another, as yet unnamed, active-duty brigade will take over and that the mission will be a permanent one."After Hurricane Katrina, the Bush administration began openly agitating for what would be, in essence, a complete elimination of the key prohibitions of the Posse Comitatus Act in order to allow the President to deploy U.S. military forces inside the U.S. basically at will -- and, as usual, they were successful as a result of rapid bipartisan compliance with the Leader's demand (the same kind of compliance that is about to foist a bailout package on the nation). This April, 2007 article by James Bovard in The American Conservative detailed the now-familiar mechanics that led to the destruction of this particular long-standing democratic safeguard:
Thu, 2008-09-25 07:28
#7
Boom Boom
quote:
Originally posted by ElizaQ:
[url=http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/09/24/army/]Why is a US Army Brigade being assigned to the 'Homeland'[/url]
Interesting, but what does it have to do with this Sarah Palin thread? Maybe I'm missing something?
Thu, 2008-09-25 07:32
#8
ElizaQ
quote:
Originally posted by Boom Boom:
[b]Interesting, but what does it have to do with this Sarah Palin thread? Maybe I'm missing something?[/b]
Well the thread that this one was continued from moved into more a general election thread that covered much more the just Palin. The topic of the army brigade being deployed home was posted in it last night.
If North Report wants this one to be just about Palin then I can continue that old thread into a General Election thread as well I guess.
[ 25 September 2008: Message edited by: ElizaQ ]
Thu, 2008-09-25 07:35
#9
She has an "enemies list". And Richard Nixon was actually Vice-President under Eisenhower, and proved himself to be an unprincipled, ornery and dangerous SOB.
Yes, he could be economically flexible and pragmatic, and this same stance also led to some breakthrough diplomacy, but he could also be [i]morally[/i] 'flexible and pragmatic'.
He had no objection to rooting through peoples' IRS records to dig up embarrassing information on them, nor did he have any issue with using the FBI as his own goon squad.
Spot the similarities to Sarah Palin, folks.
Thu, 2008-09-25 07:37
#10
Boom Boom
quote:
Originally posted by ElizaQ:
The topic of the army brigade being deployed home was posted in it last night.
I missed that. Sorry. [img]redface.gif" border="0[/img]
Thu, 2008-09-25 08:15
#11
McCain is 72. I think there's a good chance she will take over the White House IF they win/ steal the presidency.
I wish there was some kind of Women's Lib Quality Control, so that when a woman finally breaks the "glass ceiling" & becomes president, the US becomes a fountain of peace & compassion.
but Sarah Palin does not evoke Peace & Compassion. She seems like something right out of the Karl Rove Playbook.
Thu, 2008-09-25 08:56
#12
ElizaQ
quote:
Originally posted by SwimmingLee:
[b]McCain is 72. I think there's a good chance she will take over the White House IF they win/ steal the presidency.I wish there was some kind of Women's Lib Quality Control, so that when a woman finally breaks the "glass ceiling" & becomes president, the US becomes a fountain of peace & compassion.
but Sarah Palin does not evoke Peace & Compassion. She seems like something right out of the Karl Rove Playbook.[/b]
If Palin gets into office I really wouldn't count it as breaking the glass ceiling. The folks in control of that ceiling have made a big hole for her to climb through. No breaking needed.
Thu, 2008-09-25 09:01
#13
ElizaQ
[url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/25/sarah-palin-calls-for-imp_n_129... Calls for 'Surge' in Afghanistan[/url]
quote:
In the second part of CBS News' sit down with anchor Katie Couric, the conversation will switch to matters abroad, including the ongoing conflict on Afghanistan. Palin's obviously been well coached in the nuances of McCain foreign policy! At least well enough to deploy the term "Surge" whenever you don't have a cogent strategy to suggest.COURIC: Why is it much more challenging there? Can you explain that?
PALIN: The logistics that we are already suggesting here, not having enough troops in the area right now. The... things like the terrain even in Afghanistan and that border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, where, you know, we believe that-- Bin Laden is-- is hiding out right now and... and is still such a leader of this terrorist movement. There... there are many more challenges there. So, again, I believe that... a surge in Afghanistan also will lead us to victory there as it has proven to have done in Iraq. And as I say, Katie, that we cannot afford to retreat, to withdraw in Iraq. That's not gonna get us any better off in Afghanistan either. And as our leaders are telling us in our military, we do need to ramp it up in Afghanistan, counting on our friends and allies to assist with us there because these terrorists who hate America, they hate what we stand for with the... the freedoms, the democracy, the... the women's rights, the tolerance, they hate what it is that we represent and our allies, too, and our friends, what they represent. If we were... were to allow a stronghold to be captured by these terrorists then the world is in even greater peril than it is today. We cannot afford to lose in Afghanistan.
????
Thu, 2008-09-25 09:24
#14
Forget Sahrah Palin - she makes Rona Ambrose look credible. The type of female role model for our young people is Audrey McLaughlin, the first Woman to be leader of a Canadian political party when she led the NDP from 1989-1995. Olivia Chow and Anne Lagace Dowson continue that tradition.
Thu, 2008-09-25 10:56
#15
ElizaQ
quote:
Originally posted by Monsieur Firmaments:
[b]Forget Sahrah Palin - she makes Rona Ambrose look credible. The type of female role model for our young people is Audrey McLaughlin, the first Woman to be leader of a Canadian political party when she led the NDP from. Olivia Chow and Anne Lagace Dowson continue that tradition.[/b]
Well if you're talking about role models I totally agree. Forget it. It's hard though to completely 'forget' her though considering she very well could be hoisted into the role of 2nd to the one of the most powerful positions in the world.
Thu, 2008-09-25 11:03
#16
ElizaQ
quote:
COURIC: You've cited Alaska's proximity to Russia as part of your foreign policy experience. What did you mean by that?PALIN: That Alaska has a very narrow maritime border between a foreign country, Russia, and on our other side, the land-- boundary that we have with-- Canada. It-- it's funny that a comment like that was-- kind of made to-- cari-- I don't know, you know? Reporters--
COURIC: Mock?
PALIN: Yeah, mocked, I guess that's the word, yeah.
COURIC: Explain to me why that enhances your foreign policy credentials.
PALIN: Well, it certainly does because our-- our next door neighbors are foreign countries. They're in the state that I am the executive of. And there in Russia--
COURIC: Have you ever been involved with any negotiations, for example, with the Russians?
PALIN: We have trade missions back and forth. We-- we do-- it's very important when you consider even national security issues with Russia as Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where-- where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border. It is-- from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there. They are right next to-- to our state.
[url=http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/25/141534/323/1003/610224]Link to Couric video[/url]
The thought that this person could be President is absolutely astounding. It's painful.
Whats even more unbelievable is the numbers of people that think she would be great and the best President evah. I say President because out of any VP candidate she has the most chance of having to take on that role and there is already talk of her running for the next POTUS after this term.
Thu, 2008-09-25 11:40
#17
Le T
Seems like standard GWB stuff. Are we supposed to be shocked that the Republicans have put forward another know-nothing, xenophobic, ignorant-of-world-affairs, down-home-boy/girl candidate?
Hasn't anyone seen the Simpsons' movie?
Thu, 2008-09-25 12:45
#18
Thu, 2008-09-25 16:53
#19
ElizaQ
quote:
Originally posted by Le Tйlйspectateur:
[b]Seems like standard GWB stuff. Are we supposed to be shocked that the Republicans have put forward another know-nothing, xenophobic, ignorant-of-world-affairs, down-home-boy/girl candidate?Hasn't anyone seen the Simpsons' movie?[/b]
This one is actually way worse then GWB stuff, never thought that was possible. It's even shocking many Republicans.
Fri, 2008-09-26 05:51
#20
Wow F'ing Wow.
[url=http://www.alternet.org/election08/100397/sarah_palin%27s_very_bad_inter... Interview @ Alternet, in 3 parts[/url]
people need to do what they're good at. maybe she'll start a blog on wilderness survival, moose-butchering, how to start a cantakerous snowmobile.
Fri, 2008-09-26 06:47
#21
ElizaQ
Here's two views from people that are considered Pro-Republican pundits.
[url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/viewpoints/storie... to Solve the Palin Problem[/url]
quote:
If at one time women were considered heretical for swimming upstream against feminist orthodoxy, they now face condemnation for swimming downstream – away from Sarah Palin.To express reservations about her qualifications to be vice president – and possibly president – is to risk being labeled anti-woman.
Or, as I am guilty of charging her early critics, supporting only a certain kind of woman.
Some of the passionately feminist critics of Ms. Palin who attacked her personally deserved some of the backlash they received. But circumstances have changed since Ms. Palin was introduced as just a hockey mom with lipstick – what a difference a financial crisis makes – and a more complicated picture has emerged.
As we've seen and heard more from John McCain's running mate, it is increasingly clear that she is a problem. Quick study or not, she doesn't know enough about economics and foreign policy to make Americans comfortable with a President Palin should conditions warrant her promotion.
-----------------------------
Finally, Ms. Palin's narrative is fun, inspiring and all-American in that frontier way we seem to admire. When Ms. Palin first emerged as Mr. McCain's running mate, I confess I was delighted. She was the antithesis and nemesis of the hirsute, Birkenstock-wearing sisterhood – a refreshing feminist of a different order who personified the modern successful working mother.
----------------------------------
If BS were currency, Ms. Palin could bail out Wall Street herself.If Ms. Palin were a man, we'd all be guffawing, just as we do every time Joe Biden tickles the back of his throat with his toes. But because she's a woman – and the first on a Republican presidential ticket – we are reluctant to say what is painfully true.
What to do?
Mr. McCain can't repudiate his choice for running mate. He not only risks the wrath of the GOP's unforgiving base, but he invites others to second-guess his executive decision-making ability. Mr. Obama faces the same problem with Mr. Biden.
Only Ms. Palin can save Mr. McCain, her party and the country she loves. She can bow out for personal reasons, perhaps because she wants to spend more time with her newborn. No one would criticize a mother who puts her family first.
Do it for your country.
[url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/25/opinion/25Cohen.html]Palins American Exception[/url]
quote:
Sarah Palin loves the word “exceptional.” At a rally in Nevada the other day, the Republican vice-presidential candidate said: “We are an exceptional nation.” Then she declared: “America is an exceptional country.” In case anyone missed that, she added: “You are all exceptional Americans.”I have to hand it to Palin, she may be onto something in her batty way: the election is very much about American exceptionalism.
This is the idea, around since the founding fathers, and elaborated on by Alexis de Tocqueville, that the United States is a nation unlike any other with a special mission to build the “city upon a hill” that will serve as liberty’s beacon for mankind.
But exceptionalism has taken an ugly twist of late. It’s become the angry refuge of the America that wants to deny the real state of the world.
From an inspirational notion, however flawed in execution, that has buttressed the global spread of liberty, American exceptionalism has morphed into the fortress of those who see themselves threatened by “one-worlders” (read Barack Obama) and who believe it’s more important to know how to dress moose than find Mumbai.
--------------------------
But, let’s face it, from Baghdad to Bear Stearns the last eight years have been a lesson in the price of exceptionalism run amok.To persist with a philosophy grounded in America’s separateness, rather than its connectedness, would be devastating at a time when the country faces two wars, a financial collapse unseen since 1929, commodity inflation, a huge transfer of resources to the Middle East, and the imperative to develop new sources of energy.
Enough is enough.
------------------
I’m going to try to make this simple. On the Democratic side you have a guy whose campaign has been based on the Internet, who believes America may have something to learn from other countries (like universal health care) and who’s unafraid in 2008 to say he’s a “proud citizen of the United States and a fellow citizen of the world.”On the Republican side, you have a guy who, in 2008, is just discovering the Net and Google and whose No. 2 is a woman who got a passport last year and believes she understands Russia because Alaska is closer to Siberia than Alabama.
If I were Obama, I’d put it this way: “Senator McCain, the world you claim to understand is the world of yesterday. A new century demands new thinking. Our country cannot be made fundamentally secure by a man who thought our economy was fundamentally sound.”
-------------------------
Palinism has its intellectual roots. But it’s dangerous for a country in need of realism not rage. I’m sure Henry Kissinger tried to instill Realpolitik in the governor of Alaska this week, but the angry exceptionalism that is Palinism is not in the reason game.
Fri, 2008-09-26 08:49
#22
ElizaQ
[url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/26/first-obama-mccain-presid_n_128... Great Debate About the Debate[/url]
The debate are on. After deciding that he's done enough to save the economy and it's safe to leave Washington McCain will be attending the debate.
Not sure why though. He's apparently already won according to his web ads on the net today.
[url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/images/26Sep_Friday_WSJ.JP... wins Debate![/url]
[ 26 September 2008: Message edited by: ElizaQ ]
Fri, 2008-09-26 08:57
#23
Stop the Drama, Vote Obama.
Fri, 2008-09-26 08:59
#24
Ha! Good slogan.
Fri, 2008-09-26 09:00
#25
Can't take credit for it, but it's apropos.
Fri, 2008-09-26 09:04
#26
I think we should all get a vote in the American election. [img]smile.gif" border="0[/img]
Fri, 2008-09-26 09:09
#27
That would certainly help.
Sat, 2008-09-27 15:27
#28
ElizaQ
[url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections... Camp Prays For Palin Wedding[/url]
quote:
IN an election campaign notable for its surprises, Sarah Palin, the Republican vice- presidential candidate, may be about to spring a new one — the wedding of her pregnant teenage daughter to her ice-hockey-playing fiancй before the November 4 election.Inside John McCain’s campaign the expectation is growing that there will be a popularity boosting pre-election wedding in Alaska between Bristol Palin, 17, and Levi Johnston, 18, her schoolmate and father of her baby. “It would be fantastic,” said a McCain insider. “You would have every TV camera there. The entire country would be watching. It would shut down the race for a week.”
Absolutely nothing would surprise me this election. What just seems absolutely nutz just doesn't seem so anymore.
There have been net rumors flying around about some big announcement tomorrow or Monday with most speculating that it may have something to do with her removal from the ticket. When I came across this I said heck maybe this could be it, plus it does have a humorous and sorta of pathetic element.
I note also that I'm pretty sure this is a Murdoch owned paper, so if there was anyone to slip a 'leak' it would be him.
Sat, 2008-09-27 16:12
#29
Appropriating the feminism label is very interesting. What I haven't heard (not that I hear that much) is an analysis that says that Palin, like many women (to varying degrees of course), have benefited from the gains of the women's movement. But unless they are working toward women's equality, they have no right to be called feminists. I've heard nothing about what Paleo has done for women (except to be a role model by virtue of her successes).
Sat, 2008-09-27 17:19
#30
remind
Read some of the other Palin threads.
And in respect to this:
quote:
Inside John McCain’s campaign the expectation is growing that there will be a popularity boosting pre-election wedding in Alaska between Bristol Palin, 17, and Levi Johnston, 18, her schoolmate and father of her baby. “It would be fantastic,” said a McCain insider. “You would have every TV camera there. The entire country would be watching. It would shut down the race for a week.”
They apparently are quite willing to publically exploit Bristol, but no one else can say a word about her, because her life is "private"! [img]rolleyes.gif" border="0[/img]
Sat, 2008-09-27 17:25
#31
Cynical opportunism coupled with vapid photogenic ease.
The worst of Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, combined. Hallelujah.
[ 27 September 2008: Message edited by: DrConway ]
Sat, 2008-09-27 17:42
#32
ElizaQ
quote:
Originally posted by remind:
[b]Read some of the other Palin threads.And in respect to this:
They apparently are quite willing to publically exploit Bristol, but no one else can say a word about her, because her life is "private"! [img]rolleyes.gif" border="0[/img] [/b]
Yeah no kidding.
I figure this is one of three things. It's just stupid, ragmag type gossip that sells papers and not true at all, it's been planted in the hopes that American media will pick up on it and the speculation over 'if' will catch on and distract from all the questioning of Palin that's happening right now or it's actually true.
If it's true I totally agree with Dr. Conways assessment and that the strategists are the most base level human beings and utter morons, operating in some sort of alternate dimension.
Sat, 2008-09-27 17:53
#33
remind
Who won the debate actually?
Sat, 2008-09-27 17:58
#34
Scott Piatkowski
quote:
Originally posted by remind:
[b]Who won the debate actually?[/b]
quote:
CNN poll results:Who did the best job tonight?
Barack: 51
McCain: 38
Mon, 2008-09-29 17:57
#35
You feminists are going to love this one:
[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSdFIDygFwM]Sarah Palin swimsuit competition video[/url]
Mon, 2008-09-29 18:08
#36
Are you sure you didn't mean "You sexists are going to love this one"? What next from Mr. Bong, a KKK comic doing Obama in blackface?
[ 29 September 2008: Message edited by: martin dufresne ]
Mon, 2008-09-29 18:23
#37
ElizaQ
Have no idea if I fall into the 'feminist' category but I really could give a rat's butt one way or another about some stupid video of Palin in a swimsuit. All this really does is prove that this point on her VP resume which has been bandied about, isn't actually a lie or exagerated.
And just as a side note or bit of trivia in case anyone was wondering why in the debate McCain kept using the phrase "I wasn't Miss Congeniality" it was was bait for Obama to go after Palin because that's what she won in that video.
Mon, 2008-09-29 19:20
#38
quote:
Originally posted by martin dufresne:
[b]Are you sure you didn't mean "You sexists are going to love this one"? What next from Mr. Bong, a KKK comic doing Obama in blackface?[ 29 September 2008: Message edited by: martin dufresne ][/b]
Now what, L'il Inquisitor, could you possibly mean by that?
Mon, 2008-09-29 19:27
#39
quote:
Originally posted by martin dufresne:
[b]Are you sure you didn't mean "You sexists are going to love this one"? What next from Mr. Bong, a KKK comic doing Obama in blackface?[ 29 September 2008: Message edited by: martin dufresne ][/b]
A comparable video would should Obama himself in blackface, i.e., colluding with the oppression of a group to which he himself belongs, for some short-term personal benefit.
Mon, 2008-09-29 19:30
#40
The analogy I point out is that, in both cases, someone from a minority group would be mocked using a demeaning stereotype in a self-interested attempt to keep him or her away from power. (This from a self-alleged progressive on a progressive board.)
Mon, 2008-09-29 19:34
#41
quote:
Originally posted by martin dufresne:
[b]The analogy I point out is that, in both cases, someone from a minority group would be mocked using a demeaning stereotype in a self-interested attempt to keep him or her away from power. (This from a self-alleged progressive on a progressive board.)[/b]
The analogy I pointed out is that, in both cases (one real, one hypothetical) someone from a minority group betrays, mocks, and demeans other members of that group by presenting a demeaning stereotype in a self-interested attempt to gain power.
I am prepared to mock the woman till kingdom come! (This from a self-alleged progressive on a progressive board.)
Mon, 2008-09-29 21:06
#42
Oh boy, the old sexist/racist finger pointing circle-jerk has begun. Let the faux-outrage shine.
Thread.... derailed.
Mon, 2008-09-29 21:08
#43
quote:
Oh boy, the old sexist/racist finger pointing circle-jerk has begun. Let the faux-outrage shine.
Thread.... derailed.
Bah, you could ignore the finger pointing instead. After all, it's just His Holiness, St. Martin, weeding out the sinners and threatening them with eternal damnation. No big deal.
quote:
A comparable video would should Obama himself in blackface, i.e., colluding with the oppression of a group to which he himself belongs, for some short-term personal benefit.
Yeah, maybe something like that, except Palin took part in this opposite-of-feminist spectacle 25 years ago. It isn't as if she's using her Miss Alaska background for personal gain today...or is it?
Maybe a closer comparison would be that porn star who ran for high office in Italy. Then again, the more I see of US politics, the more I think the whole exercise of yanqui "democracy" is pornographic on some level.
[ 29 September 2008: Message edited by: al-Qa'bong ]
Mon, 2008-09-29 22:46
#44
Does this explain why you seem to be "getting off" airing this video here? [img]tongue.gif" border="0[/img]
(Finger-pointers so hate having fingers pointed back at them...)
Tue, 2008-09-30 21:03
#45
At whom do you think I am pointing fingers?
Your "I'm a gutless weenie" smilie aside, are you trying to prove that words matter by using incoherent statements accompanied by a vaguely critical tone?
Wed, 2008-10-01 05:44
#46
ElizaQ
quote:
Allow me to introduce myself. I am a traitor and an idiot. Also, my mother should have aborted me and left me in a dumpster, but since she didn't, I should "off" myself.Those are a few nuggets randomly selected from thousands of e-mails written in response to my column suggesting that Sarah Palin is out of her league and should step down.
Who says public discourse hasn't deteriorated?
The fierce reaction to my column has been both bracing and enlightening. After 20 years of column writing, I'm familiar with angry mail. But the past few days have produced responses of a different order. Not just angry, but vicious and threatening.
Some of my usual readers feel betrayed because I previously have written favorably of Palin. By changing my mind and saying so, I am viewed as a traitor to the Republican Party -- not a "true" conservative.
[url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/30/AR200809... Omen In My Mail[/url]
Wed, 2008-10-01 06:03
#47
Okay, Martin and al-Q, you've both made your points. Let's move on.
Wed, 2008-10-01 07:26
#48
M. Spector
[url=http://www.thestar.com/USElection/article/508762]Best of Sarah Palin on YouTube[/url]
The Toronto Star's collection of the choicest links to YouTube videos.
Wed, 2008-10-01 07:53
#49
Scott Piatkowski
Couric: What newspapers do you read?
Pallin: [url=http://www.truthdig.com/avbooth/item/20080930_couric_stumps_palin_with_q..., all of them.[/url]
Wed, 2008-10-01 08:47
#50
This isn't as ridiculous as you make it seem, Scott. Politicians and journalists do read practically all major papers or have them scanned and clipped by their staff.
Wed, 2008-10-01 08:56
#51
Scott Piatkowski
quote:
Originally posted by martin dufresne:
[b]This isn't as ridiculous as you make it seem, Scott. Politicians and journalists do read practically all major papers or have them scanned and clipped by their staff.[/b]
Right. That's what she meant. [img]rolleyes.gif" border="0[/img]
Did you watch the clip and see the deer-in-the-headlights look in her eyes as Couric pressured her on what should have been a simple question to answer?