Moosing Sarah -- Time for the Dems to Leash the Pitbull
It seems forever since the Democrats completed their triumphant Convention in Denver with its Obama/Biden/Clinton/Kennedy unity ticket and its intoxicating sense of take-it-to-the-finish line momentum. What happened? Not Sarah Palin. How could a small-time Alaska mayor and first term Governor derail the Obama freight train? No it was not Sarah Palin but the extraordinary reaction to McCain's wildly irresponsible decision to make her his running mate that seems to have paralyzed the Party.
Something about Palin scrambled the otherwise steady nerves of the Obama campaign. As if they were believing everything she was saying. Assuming that the Republican base was the country and hence thinking her success at her Convention there would be replicated nationally. (Did you see the face of that convention? Is that really the face of America?) Afraid to be accused of sexism (ironic after how it disposed of Hillary); or of unwarranted anger (Obama sometimes seems like Governor Dukakis, unwilling to rise to the bait even when it would be politically smart to do so).
Why is it so hard simply to tell the truth about Palin? Yes she is a successful and politically smart woman to be admired for that reason. But she is also a typical Republican values hypocrite preaching choice for women - except when it comes to pregnancy; preaching that family should be kept out of the political searchlight - except when it is useful to parade her own family on center stage; preaching against earmarks - except when it help her career to solicit them for Alaska; preaching about America first - except that she actually has made a career out of putting Palin first, Alaska second and America last (check out her Alaska secessionist husband).
She is a successful and politically smart woman, but she is also a right wing extremist who tried to delete books she didn't approve of from the town library where she was mayor and tried to fire the librarian when that didn't work; who is a creationist and, like the current occupant of the White House, who has little use for science, whether it is the science of evolution or the science of global warming; who never had a passport until last year when she visited her National Guard troops in Kuwait. Otherwise a stranger to the world in which America must make its way.
She is a successful and politically smart woman, but she is not merely pro-life, she is a no-exceptions-never-mind-rape-or-incest pro-lifer who thinks woman have no right to participate in decisions about what happens to their bodies if they become pregnant.
What the Democratic leadership has yet to figure out is that the real gender bias in the Palin appointment is the patronizing attitude that assumes what would and should be savaged and ridiculed in a man must be condoned or even welcomed in a woman.
Dukakis was skewered by twisted stories about rapists and released prisoners because he wanted to appear reasonable. War hero Kerry got swift-boated by men who never served in the military. Is Obama now going to let himself get moosed by a parochial Alaskan know-nothing because she's a woman?
Time to get mad. At Palin. At McCain. At the Bushes (yes both of them). Gender equality means women can't hide their biases and dogmatism behind gender.
Speaking of men, it is not really Palin but McCain who is the perpetrator we need to criticize. It is McCain who cynically chose a far right wing ideologue who shares the worst biases of the current administration in Washington and made her his running mate in a "campaign against Washington."
In other words, it is not the pit-bull in lipstick but the man who unleashed her who bears the responsibility. Michael Vick went to prison for turning his pit-bulls loose on others. I'm not recommending putting McCain in jail, just keeping him and his snarling (or is that a smile?) running mate out of the White House. Your move, Senator Obama.
Read more analysis from HuffPost bloggers on John McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin
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I am in total astonishment of the media's positive coverage of Palin/McCain ticket. Did I miss something but are they not suppose to remain unbias? I have viewed C-Span, C-Span2, MSNBC, FOX, CNN, ABC, CBS, & NBC and they have all with the exception of Keith O. are now using the Palin/McCain talking points. I thought that I would be able to watch the political campaign progression until Nov., however, I don't think that I can stomach this nonsense. For the good of the American people are we not suppose to know all of the pertinent information concerning the views and political posturing of those that we are suppose to elect to the highest government office in the U.S. Wasn't it the same Media bias that didn't pursue the right information or as a matter of fact any information that got us in a war with the wrong people, we didn't go after the people who terrorized our land. It's time for the American people to be very afraid and not in the since that the Republican party wants us to be. I don't fear Obama/Biden ... I fear Appalling/McSame. (Will we have any Freedom Right Acts left?) What's Canada's National Anthem, Flag and any other history I may need, so that I don't appear to be a tourist when I give up my American Citizenshi
you are most welcome here - our manifest destiny is for Peace, Order and Good Government. We may be boring but we're not scary.....
Halt the bombing. It is time fellow Democrats to pull off the gloves and start swinging. We are all too aware from past contests the depths of the Republican arsenal from swift boating to dirty tricks…to all-out lies and acquisitions. Well guess what, this election is no different. Get dirty or we will again, get dirty.
Sarah “Bulldog” Palin should be confronted like any other politician. Because she happens to be a women does not make her off limits. Based on her lack of qualification alone we have a responsibility to attack her on every front, from experience to judgment.
There are 7 weeks left. The message should be clear. She is not qualified, she is being shielded from the tough questions, she has no foreign policy experience, she was not vetted for the VP job but rather to win the election, the are skeletons in her closet and they should be exposed. NO MORE MISTER NICE GUY…go get her.
Lizard1, I quote you, 'Halt the bombing. It is time fellow Democrats to pull off the gloves and start swinging. We are all too aware from past contests the depths of the Republican arsenal from swift boating to dirty tricks�to all-out lies and acquisitions. Well guess what, this election is no different. Get dirty or we will again, get dirty. '
That is all you have done so far is whine and throw mud dirt lies and inuendos across the board. I have yet to see one upright and honest question to Palin about anything but her looks and working as a women in a 'MANS' job.
You are so uncertain of your pick, you have chosen to be dirty filth from the get go. Stay that way, you people are so funny.
In casting a vote for Sarah Palin the voters are saying it's about time a woman was considered for a higher office. Sarah Palin will break that glass ceiling, and in doing so will make it easier for women in the future to run for higher office. She is smart, accomplished, and has solid family values. American women can relate to her, and they want her to succeed. I for one applaud Senator McCain for selecting her as his VP choice. Positive change will be coming to Washington and it will be on the McCain/Palin ticket.
You have got to be kidding me!!
well, thank gawd, not all women or men want the same 'ole sh*(t as the last 8 years. "solid family values", what the heck is this? The values that the repub's seem to own? No others can have "family values", what a crock. There are many smart and accomplished women out there, but that does not automatically make them qualified to be vp, possible president.
Too pollyanish view and of course, there are many who agree with you, but the question will be answered when people get out to vote and once sarah shows how she is being groomed and cannot stand on her own and answer question that is when we will see what this country is made up of and if the country goes repub again, it will be a sad day for us and the world.
WHOA! That Kool-Aid is some POWERFUL stuff!!
This Election is Obama's to lose! he needs to take the Bull by the horns! And so does Joe Biden! It's imperative to be quick to answer these lies and innuendos! Barack Obama and Joe Biden needs to speak out quick, succinct, and hard on the rhetoric of the McCain and Palin Campaign! It seems the majority of the media is NOT challenging their statements!
We can all agree that McCain staged a real coup in the political theater department and who woulda thunk he coulda done it? Happily Obama and Biden understand the importance of theater even while claiming to be all about the ideas. So far it looks like they are planning to ignore the tabloid themes of McPalin & Company, and hope to resist the temptation to froth at the mouth, in order to show that there are no plans for change in the GOP camp other than a repeal of Roe vs. Wade and an attempt to blame "liberals" for all the disasters of the last 8 years.
On "Meet the Press" Biden did a GREAT job of countering GOP attacks. Like the Clintons, he appears energized by conflict. Only 2 months left, but the game ain't over, far from it.
So glad to see some of you coming to your senses. So many on this blog sounded like a bunch of whiners about McC getting his bounce from the convention. Get it together folks and take on these extremists. That's what Obama and Biden will do. Send money. Knock on doors. Keep the facts flowing. Make phone calls. Do all you can. We can't have another Republican term in the WH.
All I have to say about Sarah Palin is… she is a brunette Ann Coulter. She represents the worst of the worst of the Republican Party. And she is a complete and utter distraction!
That being said… Let’s stay focused on the real message. McCain = Bush! Obama = Change!
Obama equals change alright $ 9.65 to him and Congress, 35 ¢ to you!
You deserve a brake today at Obama's, house of cards and other illusions.
Go for it - turn Michelle loose.
I second the motion. And Hillary, too. She said she'd do everything she could to help Obama win, and I'd love to see BOTH of them take Sarah down, being bright, articulate and substantive women. I also think it's a GREAT idea to turn Palin's --AND McCain's--words back on them, exposing all their ridiculous self-contr
I agree the Obama campaign needs to be forceful, not nice, right now. One need not be nasty to make a point. clearly and definitely.
The repubs get very whiny when their own tactics are turned on them. They've become so thin-skinned, even the most reasonable questions and critical thinking about their Veep pick and her tissue-thin resume is labeled "an attack on Sarah Palin!" It's not an attack, it's insisting that she make the case for herself as Hillary had to do, and as every American woman currently holding elected office had to do.
Gee Sarah, for a self-described pit-bull, you sure are whiny! *rubbing finger and thumb together. This is the world's tiniest violin, and it's playing JUST for you, dear.
Sarah Palin's own words should be used to open voters' eyes. Why does a candidate need to be a"pit bull" to articulate policies and ideas? Agressive pit bulls do not have a good reputation for their discrimination of who needs to be attacked. Frequently it is children or those who are minding their own business who are the victims. If we want a change in the tone of politics, the last thing we need is a person whose instinct is to eviscerate half or more of the American people. I certainly felt wounded as I listened to her. The Obama campaign needs to pick her words apart and show America what she really was saying. Americans won't like it when they can get beyond the happy smile and truly hear what she thinks of us and what she'd like to do to us. How about a commercial showing the horror of being attacked by a real pit bull (with my apologies to all of the pit bulls who are much friendlier than Governor Palin).
Let's start new party....t
Sarah Palin is a great lady. Only those who are intimidated by a woman trash her.
She is a typical right wing hypocrite, you know, the kind that say do as I say, not as I do. I really don't need some arrogant self righteous know it all from Alaska moralizing to me. There are thousands of women out there in the world who are more deserving of being called a "great lady". Women who have actually done something to make this world a better place for all of us. Do I really care that she was mayor of some one horse town somewhere?
OK , so then, what makes her a "great" woman ???
Please list her "great" achievements. I would like to know about her greatness. Then maybe I can compare her with other great women, say, someone like Margret Thacher ???
Or are you just blowing smoke up the backside ??? Huh ???
LOL.....th
"Sarah Palin is a great lady".
Only two things wrong with that comment !
So why is it that I'm not intimidated by Hillary, who is a far greater woman than Sarah Palin will be if she lives to be a thousand? I was totally fine with Madeleine Albright as Secretary of State, too. If I object to Condoleezza Rice in that position it's because I disagree with her, and feel that she puts personal loyalty to the president above the good of the country. If Pakistan could elect Benazir Bhutto, I believe America will elect a woman president in my lifetime, if not this year. I support Obama, but had Hillary won the nomination, I'd have whole heartedly supported her in the General Election.
But NOT just any woman will do when it comes to the presidency--the office is too important. ifI would not vote for Hillary in the primary, even while I admire her, Why the HELL should I vote for Palin?
I criticize her because I believe she is disastrously underqualified to be one potential myocardial infarction away from the White House. I violently disagree with her on every topic of importance to me. I don't like her sarcasm and nastiness. I don't like her willingness to use her official position to settle personal scores. And as a librarian I TOTALLY dislike it that the first thing she asked the librarian of Wasilla was how to go about BANNING books.
NEVER piss off a librarian!
Thanks for this voice of reason. Yes, I think putting her own words out there is a fabulous idea. Anyone who digs up a good quote, post it here.
What's happened? The dumbing of America has happened. It is unimaginable that this should be a close race. The fact that it is leaves me very little hope for the futrue this country. And with the media being corporatized, there is little hope that anything resembling "fair and balanced" will emerge anytime soon.
It may be time to just give the neocons the country, lock, stock , and barrel. Let them have another 8 to 16 years, and let the voters pay for it.
I have just designed a new bumper sticker and am debating whether or not to use it. It says, "America Deserves John McCain". Sad but true. I don't think Americans will be for any significant change until things get extremely bad. The only way to ensure that is to let the Republicans keep the White House, Congress, and the press. Increase COE salaries another 6 fold and cut in half again the average workers wages. Have a war with Russia. China will be next. Or China could just call in our loans. See if we can avoid the draft then. It won't matter by then anyway. We'll be spread so thin Pakistan could take us out.
America Deserves John McCain. We have let the founders down. We have given the US over to the corporatocracy they feared. Apparently such a nation as theirs could not long endure.
Well most insightful! And yes true America has turned a curve and voila its in la-la land!
I have a Born-Again wife. I told her 25 years ago that a country run by her kind would go to ruin quick-time. Didn't realize how quick!
They simply cannot reason right. Logic is not in their vocabulary, let alone in their brain!
And unfortualely easy pickins for the confidence men!
They have no clue as how they are being used and abused. Just God, Abortion, and Homosexual is enough to make them vote for unicorns!
I have a brother-in-law who is a fanatical right-winger, a typical Joe-Republican! But he'll lose his job, all his money, and even his house, and yet still blame Clinton! Amazing but true!
How did we ever get this low?
Obama should go on the attack. Legitimately. His slogan should be DON'T BE FOOLED. He should have lots of ads with this slogan theme DON'T BE FOOLED till it is completely DRILLED INTO THE PUBLIC'S HEAD.
The ad should start off with the words DON'T BE FOOLED - then make the relevant point and conclude with DON'T BE FOOLED. The key is to show that the McCain-Palin ticket is a fraudulent ticket - full of lies and manipulation. The ads could be 15 to 20 seconds long. THERE IS SO MUCH MATERIAL to work with.
The Republicans right now are winning in the way they are branding their team. Given the triteness of their team they should not be anywhere near Obama in the polls. GET GOING OBAMA. The oppositionis pure evil.
You hit the nail right on the head so I'm at a loss for words. Let's hope some of the Obama people read this.
MY QUESTION IS WHO ARE THEY POLLING DID THEY POLL YOU
There is "silly" and there is "worse than silly" and as I figured some time ago, Mr. Obama has too many neagatives, and has added one more with the overly blustering Mr. Biden. to create the ticket from Superficial, USA. Ms. Palin was but the catalyst for the reaction and public let-down of Mr. Obama, and after not picking Ms Clinton, Mr. Biden is the added fuel for a decisive loss. Whatever muses reach Mr. Obama's ear, complexity and substance are not among them, but when he added Mr. Biden and all his excess baggage to the equation, to quote the late Jim McKay, "the agony of defeat," was in the air and is now palpable. There is no quick fix. The leftist sputtering of anti-Palin symbology each day created a backlash. Mr. Obama needs to focus on his issues, and their constituency. Mr. Obama will get the bulk of the Black vote, Hispanic vote, left of center vote--he does not need to do much there--they have no where else to go. He is going to lose 20-30% of the Hillary vote, no matter what Ms Palin's stance is and that can be devestating. Unless she campaigns enthusiastically, that loss may get worse with each attack on Ms Palin. Mr. Obama needs to rekindle the spark and vitality that has waned and appear attractive to the main stream voters of the center. It will be interesting to see if he can do that.
When are Dems going to learn that this high-and-mighty "we are above attack tactics" doesn't work!!?? Americans want blood sport, they want confict, and they want MOST to know that whomever they elect their leader won't just sit there and take it when other coutries come after us!
Don't tell me we all want love and happiness - look at what entertainment gets the highest ratings. If this is really going to be about "the American People," the Democrats need to start speaking America's language. The two GOP'ers picked for the ticket are rife for attack, but the GOP machine has done a great job of subduing us lest we look like heartless barbarians attacking a POW war hero and a girl. Time to take it back.
As a Pa. Dem that does not cling to my gun I am terrrified Obama has been out gunned .
I was in a local diner and the talk is: It should have been Hillary & Obama. The Republicans are going to win. Bye, Bye, American pie.
Democrats and their liberal propaganda units, i.e the liberal Media and sites like this one shows liberals in a complete meltdown. Sarah Palin has caused panic and it is amusing to watching the fallout. Barack the manchild is stumbling around trying to get some traction - any traction that he can find in the Palin dominated news. Oh bummer is so out of message now creating gaff after gaff. Bye bye obama. C'ya!
Sen. Barack Obama slips up on ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulos and refers to his "muslim faith". George Stephanopoulos then says......
And this will be good for America how?
Please look at the last 8 years and try not to have the attitude that a presidential election is on the same level as a high school Homecoming Queen election.
Unfortunately a lot of people think it was a wildly irresponsible decision to make Obama the Dem. nominee. They cannot seem to get past his associations and some think total lack of experience. As it is now I think most people have made their choice and some vote party line. I'm a bit surprised that the luster is off Senator Obama. He doesn't seem to have the drive he began with. He seems to be playing it safe, not good in politics or football. :D
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