Depress Conference

Days earlier, Marc Ambinder of the Atlantic reported that a McCain aide said it would be a while before the Governor is subjected to direct questions from the press. The campaign, Ambinder wrote, will "effectively deal with the media's complaints, and their on-the-record response to all this will be: 'Sarah Palin needs to spend time with the voters.'"

PRESS: Okay, it's October. Can we speak to Governor Palin now?

GOP SPOKESPERSON: I'm sorry, the Governor needs to spend more time with her family.

P: I thought she needed to spend time with the voters.

GOP S: Her family are the voters, except for her children and almost-baked grandchild. They are the voters of tomorrow, because our children--and I know the Governor feels very strongly about this--are our future.

P: Okay, but--

GOP S: The state slogan of Alaska is, as you may know, "North to the Future." Since our children are our future, and the Governor's children are her (and their father's, whoever he or they is or are) future, then the Governor lives by the motto, "North to Our Children." Of course, at the North Pole there is no further point north, so when Mrs. Palin is ice fishing and whale skinning and polar bear shooting and Eskimo hunting at the North Pole her motto is "Nowhere to Our Children." That is why she is running. Do you have children?

P: What? Me? No, but--

GOP S: Then you have no future. Meanwhile, I will have to insist that you stop asserting this blatant anti-Palin bias. The American people don't want the liberal press to tell them what to think. They want to make up their own minds.

P: Okay, but how can they make up their own minds if everything you people say about the Governor is a lie?

GOP S: The American people are perfectly capable of making up their minds based on lies. That's what you liberal media refuse to recognize.

P: Actually, the media aren't really that liberal--

GOP S: You challenge Sarah Palin's experience as a POW at your peril.

P: Huh? Wait--

GOP S: Where were you when Sarah Palin was giving birth in a Viet Cong prison? Or I suppose you had "other priorities."

P: No, see--

GOP S: Where were you when Ronald Reagan liberated that concentration camp? Where were you when George W. Bush flew combat missions over Alabama? Where were you when John McCain went around being a maverick and his own man and everything?

P: You--

GOP S: This election is not about "the issues." It's not about "the economy." It isn't about "the past eight years" and it isn't about "the future."

P: No, wait, see, you just said...Um (consults notes) "North--"

GOP S: It isn't about what I just said. It's about faith. Simple, honest American faith. Let me tell you something. With all due respect: There is more faith in a hockey mom from the north hunting caribou in the wild precious wilderness resources of five wonderful, pregnant children--all schooled at home and homed at school--from the PTA, belief in Jesus Christ, and a beauty queen making mooseburgers on a Bridge to Nowhere that God created in 6,000 years out of abstinence, patriotism, polar bears, free enterprise, and the Alaskan National Guard, than there is in all of your Hollywood celebrity abortions, global warming, and "community organizers."

P: Are you insane?

GOP S: Ask the American people if they think we're insane.

P: Hm. Good point. Okay, thanks!

Cross-posted at What HE Said

Comments

[ceindependence]

Funny how the press feels the power to demand an interview on their timetable with Palin. Funny how the progressives feel that Fox news is not on their side like a Keith Obermann or Brian Williams, Dan Rather or Katie Corick and therefore Obama should not have to interview with Fox or even participate in a debate at Fox. Now with the shoe on the other foot, the progessives whine like little babies. As usual the progressives have the attitude to follow the rules when it is in their favor only. The posts back then were that Obama should have nothing to do with the network percieved to be on the other side. Doesn't it bother the progressives when they contridict themseleves? Not really, as long as they get their way. They just change the subject, make an accusation and move on. Standard progressive MO, the end justifys the means.

[Bhutan]

Considering the fact that McCain didn't bother to vet Palin don't you think it's a good idea for the American people to get a chance to understand her through both sides of the rather than through the protective embrace of the GOP?

What is she afraid of? I thought she was a pitbull? Let's see her answer some questions from a a wide variety of journalists.

[Herrington]

Can you spell irony? It is a classic, the propagandist accusing the opposition of propaganda. You waste your breath, err, keystrokes.

[Herrington]

Oh, and I should mention, the difference between propaganda and political discourse is truth.

[joeythetrollslayer]

When the rest of us (not the 39 million evangelicals who are going to vote Republican) find out about what Sarah really believes, they won't be so enthusiastic. Assemblies of God? Breakaway church? Yeah, they are anything but mainstream.
Alaska is about 30 years behind in most everything. Their fresh new ideas include a bigger drill for oil. Meanwhile, halfway around the world-the economic powerhouses of China and Japan are working on hydrogen and electric cars, wave power stations, and fast breeder nuclear power that generates very little waste which can be recycled (unlike anywere else).
Hunting, being outdoors, moose, and rural america are great, but not as a national direction. This is 2008, not 1908.

[Pupadup4oBama]

If it weren't so sad and true - this would be hilarious.­...

Actually - come to think of it, i think it would make a great SNL skit!!!

[metalpipe]

A good satire on Republican talking points. It really rings all too true.

[JimR]

The sad thing is that the Fourth Power, or Fourth Estate as it is sometimes called, seems to have abrigated its responsibilities to monitor government voluntarily.

[PuppaX]

I really try to not be so cynical all the time. It hasn't worked for more than a few hours at a time in years.

[swift goat pet for truth]

"The American people are perfectly capable of making up their minds based on lies. That's what you liberal media refuse to recognize.­"

It has worked the last 2 cycles. It will work again.
Low information voters LOVE Sarah Palin.
Corporate Media will ensure they stay in love, at least until the election is over.

The American People get the kind of government they deserve.
They have the last two cycles.

[jeanrenoir]

Of course the American people can make up their minds based on lies. What else is new? They are dolts. But Obama's also turning into the black Dukakis for his wimpy response to Palin's castratiion. Hillary's castration is why working people don't trust him as tough enough to be commander. Palin just finished Hillary's job on him. And his response was as pathetic as Dukakis's to the infamous question about his wife being raped. Unless the Dems come up with a truly tough candidate, they'll never win again. And Hillary's not it. Palin will chop her into mincemeat if they battle in '12.

[Republicnotademocracy]

After being saturated by Hillary for a year, Sarah is a breath of fresh, clean Alaskan air! The "press" can go take a hike.

[Tenley]

The litany of political scandals, and every day with her it's a new melodrama, and her calculated and crude attack strategy -- Sarah Palin is much much closer to the GOP's version of the Clintons than she is to the Obama phenom. I've already got Palin fatigue and if you found Hillary trying you'll very soon experience it too.

[Republicnotademocracy]

Tenley, you may be right, but it will take awhile for Sarah to become as tiresome as Hillary...

[Herrington]

Yeah, you are so right. After all the smoke has cleared we can see what a brilliantly qualified and substantial candidate Hillary was compared to the hillbilly from Alaska. Thanks for pointing that out.

Oh and it is a Representative form of Democracy not a Republicno­tademocrac­y. A republic that is not a democracy is an oligarchy.

[Republicnotademocracy]

Hi, Herrington; long time no see! It's getting dicey again, eh?

[RedDogBear]

This was hilarious. The scary thing is that its not all that far from what they really say. I heard someone on the radio the other day say "well they (the republicans) are not a reality based community" as if that was an actual viable alternative. BTW, speaking of how hard it is to tell fact from satire these days did you know that the Republicans decided to call their "war room in Denver set up to hammer Obama during convention week" the "Ministry of Truth" Yes, you are remembering correctly, that was the name of the organization dedicated to spreading official lies in Orwell's 1984 -- really, not making this up http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2008_08/014416.php

[dadele]

The press has plenty to report on about Palin without an interview. There is the hockey rink, the scandals, the parenting, the church, etc... Cover all of it, all the time and let her beg for the opportunity for an interview.

[RamiPan]

Good point... I would love to see the McCain campaign beg for an interview. Then they'll complain, like they did before, that the media doesn't pay attention to them...

[SeaBlood]

The press conference you just spoke of reminds me of something from "Alice in Wonderland". It's total nonsense. Sadly, with today's voters' IQ ratings, it would be a total success.

[ToonMoene]

I give up.

In school (i.e. 35 years ago), I learned about the separation of the 3 powers: Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary.

I'm all fine and dandy with a Fourth Power, called the "Free Press".

After all, its existence and freedom from harassment from the Executive power is well established in the Constitution of the US of A.

Now, could someone, please, explain to me, in small words, why the Fourth Power, given its Constitutional defense, can't ask the (sitting) Governor of Alaska (Executive Power) some *political* questions (note the emphasis).

Thanks in advance,

[Liberal2]

"...Now, could someone, please, explain to me, in small words, why the Fourth Power, given its Constitutional defense, can't ask the (sitting) Governor of Alaska (Executive Power) some *political* questions (note the emphasis).­..."

Ummmm, cuz the answers would result in the rethug party losing even more Congressional seats and the White House??? I think that's the reason. I may be wrong.

[uther44]

I would say the American people, the real people who like to think on their own, are getting tired of the likes of Olbermann and Matthews tell us how we should think, and if not that, then manipulate things to imply the very view they want you to see.

I mention those two only because they have been pulled from what should be "news forums" .

I just wish both sides would simply be fair and honest about things. Put your commentators and such where they need to be - in opinion pieces.

[klosskid]

Actually, the press is referred to as the "fourth estate". Like the legislative and judicial branches of government, It relinquished all perceived "powers" to the executive branch in an affirmation of obedience to George W. Bush.