Is This a Democracy or a Monarchy?

A couple of weeks ago, I turned on my television to tune into the Sunday morning news shows hoping to get a glimpse of Sarah Palin in order to learn more about her. I remember hearing from Bob Schieffer that McCain's campaign manager Rick Davis had said, "Palin won't do many interviews until she is treated with respect and dignity." I thought I heard wrong. Thank G-d for Tivo. I rewound it and played it again. Then I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Dignity and respect??? Someone should tell McCain's campaign that dignity is within the individual and respect is something that has to be earned!

We are already seeing the continuation of the Bush-Cheney reign of secrecy with the cloistering of Sarah Palin. The McCain campaign wants to keep her in hiding [along with his medical records] and shelter her from rigorous vetting. This woman is running for Vice President of the United States! Don't they feel the American people have the right to know what she thinks??? This is a democracy not a monarchy! She's not the Queen! When you run for the second highest office in the land, you better be ready to answer questions from the press and the American people. The public needs to see her and hear her, to read about her so they can judge her and cast an informed vote on Election Day.

This reminds me of the movie business. When the studio knows it has a dud on its hands, they ban reviewers from seeing it beforehand.

And these ridiculous claims of sexism. When you are a woman running for Vice President, you are in a male domain, playing on their field. You don't get special treatment and you shouldn't want special treatment. You want to be treated equally. You are open to praise and attack and you need to be prepared for both. Just like Barack Obama, Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton, you need to hold press conferences and answer tough questions about the most pressing issues facing our country, like the economy, foreign policy, and the Iraq war.

Recently, Palin met with world leaders at the United Nations. Initially, the press was only permitted a photo op and not allowed to question Palin about her meetings or her opinions on foreign affairs. After a number of news organizations objected and CNN pulled their camera crew from Palin's first meeting, the campaign agreed to let reporters in, but were then escorted out after a mere 40 seconds! And in response to the anger over her being sequestered, the McCain campaign has agreed to only a few major broadcast interviews as a result of the pressure...certainly not enough to get to know her as a candidate. In her interview with Katie Couric, Palin fumbled badly through a series of questions on critical national and international issues. When Couric asked Palin to explain how Alaska's proximity to Russia enhances her foreign policy credentials, Palin responded with "Well, it certainly does because our next-door neighbors are foreign countries." Is this the foreign policy experience that is going to aid Palin in her dealings with Putin and Ahmadinejad??? This really makes me worried about McCain's judgment to have picked someone so blatantly unqualified.

John McCain didn't fare any better this week either. In the wake of the country's economic crisis, he decided to suspend his campaign and not show up for the first debate (does that mean he can't handle more than one issue at a time?). He wanted to "rush" back to Washington DC to work on a Wall Street bail out plan with Congress...a debacle he is partly responsible for. And then, it took him 22 hours to get back to DC.after doing an interview, a speech and spending a night out in New York. When McCain finally got to DC, he sat silently at the White House meeting, failing to put forth any type of plan to help lift the country out of its economic woes.

In his latest Time magazine interview by James Carney, McCain was quoted as being "prickly," "abrasive" and "determined not to stray off message" as he arrogantly refused to give answers to many questions, stating "read my books" instead.

How can these two people be trusted to rebuild America's diplomatic relationships abroad? Can we trust McCain, who has been known to lose his temper quickly and erupt in anger at the drop of a hat, to have his finger on the nuclear button? I know I don't stand alone when I say...I don't want to find out!

Comments

[lizwrites2008]

My answer is a dictatorship from the looks of this interactive spoof if Palin were President.

http://www.palinaspresident.us/

Click on the items to see Sarah almost seem like Dr.Strangelove or Alexander Haig with his Presidential Line of Succession faux pas when Ronnie Raygun got shot.

And she was wondering what the VP does?

http://lizwrites.wordpress.com

http://lotuswritingcommunications.wordpress.com

http://www.lotuswritingcommunications.net

[bobtr900]

Barbra,
You are the greatest. And your words are right on the money. Not only do I love your music and acting, but I love your politics as well. You are a class act, all the time. I nominate you for Americas Ambassador to the world. You, dear lady, are the kind of person, and the specific person, that must represent America on the world stage. Barbra, you bespeak class, dignity and true sophistication. When this country decides to put it's best image forward, it will make you an Ambassador to represent and speak on behalf of the rest of us.

Sarah Palin is most certainly NOT, that person; not in any way, shape or form. She has neither class nor dignity; and I am sorry to say, has the sophistication of a bag of hammers. I cannot begin to comprehend how she can ever speak for or represent America. I cringe when she is on TV and wonder what she is going to say next. Actually I am as embarrassed for us, America, and for her. Someone ought to tell her she is making a fool of herself and spare her the embarrasment. Someone is using this poor woman in a most shameless way. And she does not have the personal diginity or character to grasp what is happening to her.

I nominate Barbra Streisand and James Brolin to travel the world as American Ambassadors to begin the long process of repairing our world image.

[Chapeau]

I concur with Poster above -- Barbra get thyself to Florida ... Silvermans' Schlep is great.

Thanks for doing what you do!
Your voice does make a difference and that's why they hate you for it.
Never Stop.

PS: I'm dying to see "W" the Movie ... com'on whadya think?

[magen]

Tell these things to your fans in south Florida!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!

Please, SHLEP down there and do a FREE COCERT where you say all these things!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sarah Silverman is promoting "The Great Shlep" where young Jews are supposed to go down to Florida to visit their Grandparents and convince them to vote for Obama.

Posting on Huffpost is preaching to the choir.

You have the power to make a difference in a swing state, Babs, please, please, please use it!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dehrenstein]

SING OUT LOUISE!!!!!!!

(And Babs, you've simply GOT to do "Gypsy" next.)

[mercury613]

"Dignity and respect??? Someone should tell McCain's campaign that dignity is within the individual and respect is something that has to be earned!"

You said it, sister.

[Blue08]

Palin won't be elected....so who cares what she thinks?

More secrecy and lies from the Republicans...... no surprise there...

[andvoodoo2]

I hope you're right. My daughter goes to a very well respected university (my alma mater). Today she had a teacher ask a class for a show of hands as to which kids knew who they were voting for. My daughter and one other kid raised their hands. Everyone else said they were "undecided". (Translation: Don't know, don't care.) Most admitted they will not be voting.

[K.J. Dwyer - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank you for mentioning the importance of rebuilding our relationships abroad.

I recently covered a "Debate Watch" event in Buenos Aires, where I reside. The article is posted today in the Off the Bus section of HuffPo.

As Jimmy Carter says, as the honorary Chariman of Democrats Abroad, those of us who live outside the United States know first hand how low our stock has declined in world opinion. This isn't just an issue for expatriates, but for ALL Americans, because the resonance of world opinion affects the whole of American foreign policy. It is of CRITICAL importance not just in terms of our reputation, but in our ability to negotiate the extremely delicate diplomatic mine fields that exist at present.

This is not just a "popularity" issue. This goes to the very heart of our credibility to act as honest brokers around the world and I do not exaggerate when I say that a McCain/Palin win would be DEVISTATING to all Americans in this regard.

It's important to note that the OVERWHELMING (2-1) majority of Democrats Abroad voted for the nomination of Barack Obama. The international support he is receiving from Americans and foreigners alike is not a "celebrity" driven issue (as those craven members of the McCain campaign have tried to aver), but rather an issue of how critical it is to have a leader in place who values diplomacy over the failed military and demonizing tactics of the last eight years.

[SereneStory]

When I first saw Sarah Palin, I immidiately thought: "Tina Fey has to play her on SNL!" Then, poor Tina pleaded to the press after winning three Emmy Awards: "I do not want to play Sarah Palin after November 4th. Please help me!" Ironically, we know Tina better than Sarah, and frankly, I think McCain would have made a better choice had he picked Tina Fey for VP!

This country has been saddled with "Parody" characters in the White House for the past eight years!!! It's time to end the charade and elect Barak Obama and Joe Biden; real people who take this country and the job of leadership seriously.

[CSull2005]

Well stated Barbra.

The selection of Sarah Palin as his VP choice was the first desperate decision by McCain and one which clearly shows that he put his desire to win this election ahead of the the security of our country. I've read statistics which indicate there is at least a 17% chance of John McCain passing away in the next four years - leaving Ms. Palin as President. A frightening thought at best.

The "suspension of his campaign" was desperate decision number two. This was, in reality, another impulsive decision that displayed McCain's poor decision making skills.

John McCain is clearly ill-suited to be President of the United States and Sarah Palin is litle more than a joke on the American People. Will people buy it? They might. They elected George Bush twice.

I want to have hope - but these past eaight years have made it much harder.

If this country elects McCain/Palin - we deserve what we get.

[Nan2008]

John's message is "I was a POW"...WOW, where have we heard that line before. But don't mention the fact that he's wrecked 5 fighter jets. He was a worse pilot than George, does that say something about how he would be as a President.

The Republican Sweetheart, Sister-Sarah, has been kept, in my opinion under wraps for a few reasons. John suffers from the Prince Charles syndrome, when the crowds came in droves to see her and not John, John soon had her put away. And now we hear he's liberating her from the ties that bind, GAWDS, how many ways can you spin something? She will come to the debate all primed with 'ONE LINE ZINGERS'. Her messages will be short and sweet, much like the attention span of the Republican base. I certainly hope that Joe comes ready and able to point out the fact that America is not in mood to be entertained with CUTE ONE LINERS.

John's tires are pretty flat in the polls and Sarah is the air he needs. It's all a strategy by the GOP to keep his bus in motion to finish line. It wouldn't surprise me if he were to be elected that Sarah will suddenly decide to go home to her family and then John can put Joe Lieberman in as his VP.

[FaceYourFears]

But if she delievers nothing but one line-zingers, that will make her look even less prepared for VP.

[Nan2008]

You would this so, accountability doesn't seem to matter to their base. Since when does that matter, to the RR? Remember early on in this campaign someone from the GOP stated that it would be run on personality. Also, remember the 'Shock'n Awe'...'Mission Accomplished' theme. Sarah's statement about Pit-bull's and lipstick, set the tone.

[oafishcad]

Are you kidding? That woman is pure ambition. She put her ambition above the reputation of her daughter. She doesn't care that she is unqualified for the office, she wants it anyway.

[uniquelyme]

I completely agree with you: she did put her own ambition above the reputation of her daughter. That alone says nothing good about her supposedly spotless character.

Also, for the record, I would say the EXACT same thing if Palin were a man. She has no more honor than McCain does, it's disgusting.

Hope, not fear. GObama '08!

[hopeless277]

Alls I know is that I'm a Republican like my daddy before me. John McCain is a Republican, I'm votin' for John McCain. Oh, and that purdy little lady he's got there for his runnin' mate. I'm votin' fer her and her five kids.

[FaceYourFears]

LOL....REAL LOUD!!!!!

[ianrthorpe]

Is there some confusion in your mind barbara as to what constitues a monarchy? Come on, you've visited Britain often enough, you ought to know by now.

It is right the American public should be allowed some insight into Sarah Palin's thoughts on various issues. it is also right the American public should be allowed to know that Senator Obama is actually elegible to run for President. This could easily be achieved by his answering the allegations made in Phillip J Berg's lawsuit rather trying to bury the suit in legal wrangles until after the election.

Having one rule for American citizens and one for Indonesian / Kenyan muslims is neither Democracy nor Monarchy, it is oligarchy.

http://greenteeth.blog.co.uk/2008/09/25/the-palin-nightmare-4778550

[andyboy]

Hi Barbara!

I love your music. And your politics. Palin is the physical manifestation of Ms. American Pie.

[ElBruce]

I'd be more concerned about fascism. And the quote was "deference and respect," not "respect and dignity."

[CallMeNAG]

That makes the quote even more hilarious.