To Hate Like This Never Felt So Good -- Taking Revenge on Sarah
From the get-go, I've been pretty Machiavellian about this election. "Do what you gotta do, Obama, Axelrod et al. I won't criticize too much as long as you make it to the White House." Winning campaigns are a lot like sausage, I figured. While you enjoy the tasty finished product, you don't always want to see what happens to get there. But unlike in 2004 where my enthusiasm for Kerry was really just motivated by distaste for Bush, my happiness with Obama was much stronger than my dislike of McCain.
And Then Sarah happened. And it got personal.
On the night she gave her acceptance speech and the RNC, like so many devoted liberals, I couldn't contain my rage. She really got under my skin.
Oh, it's on.
And then I jumped off the deep end.
I don't just want Obama to win. I want this woman to lose. Badly. I want her destroyed. Publicly. And I want her to suffer.
As I told my boyfriend this the day after her speech, (in the interest of self preservation he hadn't even watched it) he rightfully looked at me like I was a lunatic.
Maybe I was.
Reading about her all day as I edit blogs here at HuffPost probably didn't help with my anger. I started to tell friends and family outside of work that in the interest of my mental health, wecouldn't talk about her.
I tried to let my feelings mellow, but the woman has the ability to get my blood pressure to rise instantly.
Then a couple days ago, my friend Alex Leo sent me an email:
This has been going around. I think it's fabulous and thought you would too...
Instead of (in addition to?) us all sending around emails about how horrible she is, let's all make a donation to Planned Parenthood. In Sarah Palin's name. And here's the good part: when you make a donation to PP in her name, they'll send her a card telling her that the donation has been made in her honor. Here's the link to the Planned Parenthood website:https://secure.ga0.org/02/pp10000_inhonor
You'll need to fill in the address to let PP know where to send the "in Sarah Palin's honor" card. I suggest you use the address for the McCain campaign headquarters, which is:
McCain for President
1235 S. Clark Street
1st Floor
Arlington, VA 22202PS make sure you use that link above or choose the pulldown of Donate--Honorary or Memorial Donations, not the regular "Donate Online"
A couple of bloggers have since mentioned this idea, including Patt Morrison who started this trend of donating in "honor of" Bush to Planned Parenthood 8 years ago. But with Sarah it feels like an even more appropriate place to donate since she's the newest poster girl of anti-feminism.
And today in the New York Times, Hillary Clinton and Cecile Richards made the urgent case for why we need to support women's reproductive rights now because of new rules the Bush administration is proposing that could greatly limit women's access to reproductive services.
I'm not sure how exactly to calculate a dollar amount that I should give in honor of Sarah that would appropriately counteract all the aggravation she's caused me. The formula might look something like this:
Number of times she's lied about the bridge to nowhere + number of nights I couldn't fall asleep because I was thinking about her + number of blogs I've read about her + one quarter of the cost she charged victims for rape kits in Wasilla + number of times she's compared herself to Hillary Clinton = ????
The idea of giving to Planned Parenthood seems like a healthy channeling of my frustration. I have, in fact, noticed that everyone is worried about money since we are in the middle of a massive financial crisis. But sometimes you just have to do something nice for yourself. And for Sarah.
UPDATE: Blogger John Neffinger gave me the following pertinent info:
I heard about this from someone else today and we were discussing this: The problem is the McCain campaign is run by contemptuous little anti-choice staffers -- no one who cares will ever see those cards. A better address might be the Palins' home, where at least her local postal workers and neighbors will notice:PO Box 21
Wasilla, AK
Happy donating everyone!
Follow Katherine Goldstein on Twitter: www.twitter.com/KGeee
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HAAAAAAAAAA. Love it.
Now that's the passion we need. Get out the vote!
Oh, thank God I'm not the only one who can't sleep because of the burning rage against this woman.
I have come to the conclusion that you cannot appeal to a concience that doesn't exist. The McCain campaign & Sarah Palin included have decided to completely ignore all of us. There was an interview with someone on Rachel Maddow's show (can't remember her name ,sorry) - she said she was imbedded with the McCAin campaign this week and they have "stopped caring" about telling the truth, or about what the media thinks about it. They have hit the gutter, and there they will stay. The only thing I am donating to is Obama's campaign. And I will pray every day that God will not let our country fall into the hands of these people who are willing to compromise their own sense of decency to win this election. That, and I'm tired of war, and tired of young people dying in wars that we shouldn't be in, and I just can't stand to think we will enter another war with Iran. I'm giving money from my credit card I can't afford to Obama. I'd rather go into debt trying to save this country than go into debt for another war none of us can afford.
GREAT GREAT IDEA!
Wow I felt the same effing way the nite of her hatred speech.
I had anxiety attacks and anxiety for the past 2 weeks and have slowly calmed down but im still freakn pissed off.
This woman is not worthy of the Vice presidency or presidency at all.
She charged rape victims for their forensic exams. are u freakn jking me???? What woman in their right mind would do that. NO ONE. SHE IS NOT FOR WOMENS RIGHTS AT ALL.
If the women vote is republican this year just bc their is a vagina in the ticket then americans and esp american women should me ashamed.
Did you vote for hillary in primary? why didn't you? she is not what Palin is (hill has the track recod of fighting for women's rights) but still men and liberal feminists like you hated her!! such sexist hypocrisy y'all have shown and this will cost the dems the election! and serves you right.
Love it. Will mention it in Fake Sarah Palin blog, with Sarah's own twist, of course!
http://wha
Frakkin' love your blog, "Sarah"..E
To quote that great American, Rush Limbaugh, " Babies, Guns and Jesus..Hot Damn!"
I'm cross-posting on my blog, linked it and will continue to do so, in my travels on "the internets.
Absolutely perfect idea and solution to my shoes colliding with the television set numerous times during the day.
Onward!
It may be more fitting to make the donation in Bristol and Levi's name.
How appropriate Heavenhelpusall, I even love your handle! Virutual High 5 to ya!
The statement "in the interest of self preservation he hadn't even watched it" says so much about the author and the people she surrounds herself with. Fact gathering from both sides of an argument is a matter of intelligent decision making. To take misinformation (some of which was stated in the article) without researching the facts shows a clear bias. Dennis Prager points out, you have to read what the other side thinks in order to know that you're right. Consistently I've watched liberal arguments resort to this kind of visceral hatred and name calling because the rationale of their arguments deadends with nowhere else to go, but name calling. A strong enough argument doesn't need namecalling, but the liberal matra has become "FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!! [as long as you agree with me]" By the way, if you are interested in getting another side of the argument on reproductive rights that is logical and medically accurate please see the movie "The Silent Scream" on YouTube. It might change your life.
I saw the humor that the statement--instead of taking it literally, I took it to mean that the boyfriend--not the author--would rather prefer to avoid any heated discussions with the author, and the best way is to deny of having watched the speech. Have no knowledge of it is the easiest way to stop the conversation from actually happening.
Other than that, I agree with you completely that it is important to hear both sides of an argument in order to make informed decisions.
"...watche
The contributor here betrays his/her bias, beginning with the adverb, "consistantly". Begs the question, have you never seen the conservative argument resort to hatred and name calling? If not, its because you have failed to look.
I absolutely have a bias - just as you do. My point is the people blogging here would hate me for the sheer fact that my bias differs from yours - nothing more.
Look for yourself.
http://www
Now imagine it with the even newer technology of 4D sonogram
Please tell me what Sarah's argument for not paying for rape kits is? I really need to understand how a woman can further victimize a victim??
While I in no way condone the fact that Wasilla did this, it is a reprehensible practice, but it seems it was a standard practice across the State of Alaska because The State quit incurring the costs from their end so they passed this cost onto the small cities. It seems this was spearheaded by the Chief of Police and there is no evidence that Sarah Palin voted on this when it went before the City Council. I’m not making excuses for her that she didn’t know – she should have and, I’m sure in hindsight she wishes she had. However, there is enough fingerpointing to go around. We could talk about Obama’s record of voting against “The Baby Born Alive Act” three separate times – even when all of the people who support the right for an abortion agreed that it was written acceptably, including NARAL, Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer. We could talk about Obama’s half brother, George Obama, living in poverty in Africa while Obama is on the Presidential Stump saying we need to “be our brother’s keeper.” The fact is Sarah Palin has made mistakes. The fact is Obama has made mistakes. We need to stop the hatred and realize we are all people with passionate issues on which we don’t always agree, and just vote according to our hearts, no matter which way we vote.
I think being open to learning others viewpoints is the best way to grow as individuals and to learn how we ourselves feel. I do have a problem with having others opinions forced on me, whether it be religious beliefs or reproductive rights. As a survivor of incest, I will never again let anyone have control over my body, that includes the pro-life religious right. You may believe whatever you wish and you have the right to live those beliefs. I demand the same.
I’m so sorry for the pain you’ve endured. Your points are well taken and you have a respectable point of view that is well thought out and not just brought about by an irrational hatred of an individual strictly because they don't agree with you.
a little joke, good way to start my morning...
While suturing a cut on the hand of a 75 year old rancher, whose hand was caught in
the gate while working cattle, the doctor struck up a conversation with the old man.
Eventually the topic got around to Palin and her bid.
The old rancher said, "Well, ya know, Palin is a 'Post Turtle'".
Not being familiar with the term, the doctor asked him what a 'post turtle' was.
The old rancher said, "When you're driving down a country road you come across
a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that's a 'post turtle'.
The old rancher saw the puzzled look on the doctor's face so he continued to explain.
"You know she didn't get up there by herself, she don't belong up there, and she
don't know what to do while she's up there, and you just wonder what kind of
dummy put her up there to begin with".
How appropriate and funny!!!
Fabulous!!! That anology was perfect.
To funny, you hit the nail on the head.
Katherine, I understand that Sarah will personally teach you how to field dress a moose and take you on an aerial wolf hunt if you back off a little on the pro-life issue?
Obama/Biden
Katherine,
I can totally understand where you're coming from, because I've been feeling the same way about Palin since she was chosen.
While sexism is nothing new, and always make me angry, it usually comes from men. When this kind of anti-woman sentiment comes from another woman, it's hard not to get even angrier because it feels like she's a traitor. And the worst part is that it sure looks like, on a lot of things, she sold us out not because of genuine idealistic differences, but because it was beneficial to her personally.
I've been dealing with my anger by venting on "Women Against Sarah Palin" petition, and digging up articles about how her approval rating is dropping like a rock. But I love the idea making a donation in her honor at Planned Parenthood. Not only would it be a great slap in her face, but it would be doing something useful to combat her destructive ideas.
Lee
I'm sorry, but kid games, exactly like Sarah would play on you, are not the answer even to feeling better. Because, Sarah Palin is not the cheerleader you hated because she teased you, she is the real thing now, one heartbeat away from owning your ovaries and committing your children to a perpetual war.
And the extent to which her handlers can be trusted to temper the abject craziness that her candidacy portends has already been exhibited in the Bush 43 administration.
This is the most serious business. Cry if you must, rant if you must. Then fight for the liberty that she perfectly intends to take from you.
Screw that!
Donate to Planned Parenthood.
MUCH more effective than crying and ranting, and it IS fighting for the liberty of WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS!
Herrington must be a man...
"Herrington must be a man"
Busted. I'll slink away now.
I think it's a BRILLIANT idea. As she says, a very healthy way to channel our frustration.
"Oh, it's on".....li
SP speaking is like nails on a chalkboard, thank heavens our tv has a mute button. If you used your formula to calculate a donation you'd be sending your paychecks for the next three years. Better to donate a sum you're comfortable with. I had to chuckle about the donation idea.
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