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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And here's the rest of what I wrote, but apparently I was too long winded: The facts are out there. AND, now she is suing to stop the investigation into whether or not she abused her power, stating a State statute that says someone running for office cannot be investigated for an ethics complaint. WHAT??? Excuse me, but that law applies to people RUNNING for state office. Not for those already in office. AND she said that she wants the AK Personnel Board to perform the investigat
Being an ex-Alaskan and ex-Alaska state employee, when I FIRST heard that Gov. Palin was the VP nominee, I was excited. THEN, I did some digging and it didn't take much digging to find out just how bad she really is. I know that reporters are busy people and that they just cannot spend an inordinate amount of time on one topic. But...plea
DFrost,
Please go easy on Johnny Boy.
Your computer skills surely dwarf his, so you shouldn't expect him know about these all of these little details concerning Sarah. Additionally, you need to keep in mind that he was backed into a corner by religious conservatives to pick a social conservative, and strategically forced into picking a female. So, I beg you to understand - there are very, very few women who object to abortion in cases of rape and incest, and Sarah is simply the best of the bunch.
However, all is not lost. Regarding national security, she's quite knowledgeable about energy and is all for energy independence (well, okay, as long as it's about drilling, and not that silly stuff like wind, solar, or putting air in your tires…) and you can see Russia from Alaska (okay, it's only one of their islands that you can see from one of Alaska's islands, but still…)
You still won't learn. Attacking Palin moves swing voters in swing states TO Palin. The best thing you can do is ignore her. Blackout. Focus on McCain. Notice as the campaign focused on Palin, they took the lead. As we get the focus back on McCain, Obama gets the lead.
You may feel good in your own little circle about your attacks, but they only hurt the larger cause. THINK. You are not looking for agreement or accolades in NY, LA or Chicago. You need to influence swing voters in Ohio, Florida, Colorado, West Virginia. Yes, I know repugnant to the elitists, but its the reality.
Is this too complicated for you guys? Think before you attack. Keep the objective in mind, Obama in the White House.
I disagree. At some point the sh*t piles up to the point where people just can't in good conscience support her. The chick is a scandal a day.
I'm guessing you haven't read about Palin's dropping approval numbers and multiple polls showing Obama tied or dead even in many swing states (not that all polls are accurate, but when a large number of them show the same thing, well, there's something right about them). The attacks on Palin are working bc she hasn't been allowed to create a narrative about herself that is ingrained in the American mindset. Not to mention, that by noting the FACTS around the Palin absurdity, McCain's judgment gets called into question again and again.
And, then again, how exactly is donating a couple bucks to PP an attack on Palin??
It's sticking up for a freedom she wants to take away.
I totally agree with you...ther
Her hate for wildlife is sickning..
Who would call this broad a 'miracle mom'; I could be one, too, if I could have a chef, housekeepers, chauffeurs, personal assistants, nannies, etc., etc. Get real!! She's a phony and a liar.
Mom is always there for their kids ...someone else is raising hers
She is a JOKE
"Her hate for wildlife is sickning."
What's so great about wildlife?
I bet you live in the city where you aren't trouble by bears and coyotes, let alone wolves and moose, which pose a danger to humans. Most of the animal rights kooks don't have to deal with animals on a daily basis.
I notice that nobody is howling about protecting the rights of rats and cockroaches.
I mean, why be morally consistent if you can rant your head off about a problem that doesn't affect you?
I'm one of those "animal rights kooks" and I DO deal with animals daily, and I agree with Stella42 that "her hate for wildlife is sickning"!!! Do you know what the word "humane" means? Didn't think so.
Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to the body and soul.
John Muir
To the lover of wilderness, Alaska is one of the most wonderful countries in the world.
John Muir
“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountain is going home; that wildness is necessity; that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life.”
John Muir
I used to envy the father of our race, dwelling as he did in contact with the newmade fields and plants of Eden; but I do so no more, because I have discovered that I also live in 'creation's dawn.' The morning stars still sing together, and the world, not yet half made, becomes more beautiful every day.
John Muir
"This grand show is eternal. It is always sunrise somewhere; the dew is never all dried at once; a shower is forever falling; vapor is ever rising. Eternal sunrise, eternal sunset, eternal dawn and gloaming, on sea and continents and islands, each in its turn, as the round earth rolls."
John Muir
I find the "motherly" instincts of those of you who are WORRIED about your daughters reproductive rights if Palin & McCain get in.
How about defending your daughters reproductive rights by telling them to keep it in their pants.
Palin's daughter didn't but she's choosing the right thing to do.....rai
I'm sorry, liberals get upset when one talks logic....s
From one who knows of the pyschological ramifications abortions cause, more abortions should not be the goal of liberals or the abortion factory headquartered as PLANNED PARENTHOOD! It should be to discuss ways for young women to not throw themselves at every guy b/c he may or may not break up with them. If you as parents spent time with them instead of throwing money at problems as LIBERALS love to do.....and OBAMA wants to do.....and get zero in return....
OBAMA will drive gas to $7 a gallon, kill the stock market with his loopey capital gains increase from 15% to 28% ..........
Amazing, absolutely amazing. Sofia, your torturous logic defies belief. Teach abstinence although the VP nominee did and she's so respected by her daughter, her daughter ignored her?
All 'liberals' should tell their children to throw themselves at boys and get pregnant? I thought you believed in abstinence. Under the old maxim 'practice what you preach' - are you going to do so?
'Liberals throw money at problems'. That comment really made me smile. Didn't you just witness a Republican White House throw up to a Trillion Dollars at their little 'problem' on Wall Street?
Honestly, keep it up, you're great entertainment Sofia.
Being liberal does not mean that we teach our daughters to 'throw themselves at every guy'. Believe me, among all my friends (all liberal) not a single unwanted pregnancy happened. We teach our daughters to be responsible. I do not think that it is responsible to raise a child at 17 and for a mother to insist that her daughter have that child. I would say that we are much more open to sexuality in general and are aware of the fact that our children will have sex, and it is better to educate them, give them all the information possible, and if they get pregnant, make sure they get the full picture of the consequences of having that child. As sad as abortion itself is, it is something that was around since the beginning of time and will be with us forever. The safer me make it the better for our daughters. I would be the first person my daughter would talk to in case she gets pregnant, because she knows that I will give her the best and most honest advice.
First off, you are looney tunes, calm down, take a few deep breaths. If I were your daughter, I'd run away from home.
Second, "abortion factory headquartered as PLANNED PARENTHOOD!" WTF?? Why don't you go over to your local PP and ask about what they actually do there? It's not all about abortions, looney. Women can go in for checkups, breast exams, birth control and STD counseling, etc.
Kids are gonna have sex. Wouldn't you rather your daughter KNOW about her options for birth control and where to get it, than not? Better they are educated with all the facts, not just the cherry-picked abstinence only version. Statistics have already proven AO doesn't work. Bristol is a perfect example of that. She didn't know to ask Le-Jo to put a condom on, and since she didn't ask, playa that he is, didn't. I've read he's got another child out of wedlock up there... Mr. Responsibility.
He and other boy's like him are the reason girls need comprehensive sex ed. Bristol wouldn't been in this predicament if she'd known the whole truth about him and sex. Girls who've had comprehensive sex ed are much more street smart and sensible than the innocent little sheep with AO. They rarely find themselves pregnant getting ready for shotgun weddings.
Now lighten up and work on being a more open-minded mother, and just a better person all around. And quit freakin' out. It's not all that bad!
a person like this will never, ever, choose to be informed. the idea of learning what Planned Parenthood actually does is an absurdity to them. they are comfortable with their ignorance and will never do anything to disrupt that comfort zone.
it's similar with people who keep saying, 'but i don't know anything about Obama, how can I vote for him?" they are too lazy/scared to do any research, preferring ignorance. i'm not sure what they're waiting for. do they think Obama's going to ask them out to brunch to explain his stance on the issues?
You appear to understand the problem of unplanned pregnancy at the same level as your 7 & 9 y.o. daughters. I truly hope they don't turn out like Bristol Palin. Perhaps if her Mom had spent a little less time advancing her political career and a little more time being a responsible parent, things would be different for her too. Family values can be relative, it seems.
My daughter is seventeen and a senior in high school. Her mother and I have tried to instill in her the progressive values we hold dear. Despite our best efforts, she is human and subject to the many foibles and pitfalls of life. Someday in the future, she may be confronted, God forbid, with the decision to terminate a pregnancy. I want that decision to be between her, her doctor and her clergy person, should she choose to include one. I fail to see where the likes of Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas fit into the equation. Or Sarah Palin and John McCain. Or Barack Obama.
No one is "pro abortion," but many are "anti choice." Fewer unwanted pregnancies mean fewer abortions. Knowledge is power. Support sex ed. Fight the spread of STDs. But the bottom line is...I believe every woman has the right to make rational and informed decisions concerning the processes that go on inside her own body.
Obama has said, and who can disagree, the goal is fewer abortions. Education on effective birth control is proven to reduce the number of women seeking abortions. Abortion rates went DOWN under Clinton, not up. Poor Bristol's plight shows how effective abstinence only education is. Comprehensive sex ed does teach abstinence, but it teaches abstinence FIRST, and how to stay safe and unimpregnated second.
If your kids wanted to solo in an airplane, would you forbid their learning how to use a parachute? You think that would keep them on the ground? Did you know young kids are engaging in oral/anal sex? And that they are more likely to engage in unprotected intercourse, get STDs and become pregnant, because they try to stay abstinent, but are not prepared when they act like so many humans and yield to temptation?
You can talk all you want about kids "keeping it in their pants" while your kids are 6 and 9. Wait. And remember this? "Judge not, lest ye be judged and found wanting."
It is good to know that there are others like me out there. Maybe we can start a support group. I stayed up to watch the acceptance speach and have barely slept since! It is not like I have time for this, but everynight my husband is telling me to shut off the computer and get in bed.
I cannot understand how any woman can look at her and not become infuriated. I would love to have a woman in the white house. I was kind of hoping that she might actually know about the office,
the government or women's rights. She claims to support women, women's rights and have strong family values. I guess I should be more tolerant and not try force my family values upon her, but I keep wondering while she and her husband are jetting all over the country who is reading to and tucking her children in at night? I wonder how she is a proponent of women and yet it is reported that she went back to work within days of giving birth. Then again after I gave birth I was not able to bring my children to work and have state paid employees help watch them (maybe she should look into some new legislation that will allow new mothers to bring their babies to work.) I also thought bonding with my children may some how be important to establishing family values.
Having a family does not = family values!
After Barack Obama's victory over Clinton, I was undecided. Until now. My reason is that the mere suggestion that Palin will appeal to women who were Clinton supporters is becoming more and more insulting. In what country does the McCain group think that Palin "replaces" Clinton? Not in the US. That is like saying you may as well vote for Biden instead of McCain, since they both have white hair. It has taken only a week for me to realize that she does not represent the modern day woman. Her actions toward rape victims, her views on reproductive rights, her distorted views of her record are frightening.
Another thing: I think the interest in Palin was primarily one of curiosity. After a while her strange vocal intonation will no longer mesmerize. I'm afraid it will have the opposite effect. This may be a superficial reason for rejecting her but I'm sticking with it. It's not more superficial than the McCain camp picking Palin as a running mate.
That annoying accent is a cross between The Church Lady and Principal Victoria.
"Oh dear. Who is the Democratic candidate for President? Why it's Satan."
I don't think her strange vocal intonation ever mesmerized. I think it probably harshed the buzz of the men who were drooling over her. I hope she just keeps on TALKING.
she pronounces nuclear "nookuler". shades of george w. bush, I almost gagged!
Don't forget to go to the Women Against Sarah Palin website and tell the world what you think of her. Over 150,000 women already have!!!
Nice spam generation site. Yes, give us your email so that we can ask for money for the next 10 years and nag you on other fund raising issues.
I did it and it felt great! I needed an outlet and now I feel I've done something.
I absolutely agree with this article. I feel enraged this woman of no substance ran out swinging against someone who is way out of her league. As a former Republican, I feel completely betrayed by McCain... Its not that I trusted him to begin with but at least since he wears the POW badge as the "love of country" persona, I expected more of him than have him make not only a blatantly political pick but also a woman who has virtually NO EDUCATION and NO REDEEMING QUALITY save for the fact that she hunts Moose (I am a hunter too)....
It is such an insult to foist this woman on the American people that it has spoken volumes of the type of executive decisions McCain is capable of making.... Selecting a self proclaimed country bumpkin to be a heart beat away from the presidency. McCain himself having admitted that he is totally at sea with everything about governance except WAR. How sad is this....
Palin... a reminder of the future that awaits us all if we do not go out and elect the RIGHT LEADER--OBAMA!
I like the way you think.
If all that hate actually makes you feel good I think you have more problems than Sarah Palin.
Ms Goldstein is writing a blog. Her problems are largely hers. Ms Palin wants to rule the world. Her many problems could quickly become our problems. We have plenty already, and don't need any more. Got a problem with that?
Are you kidding? The entire Republican party was an I Hate Hillary club for most of the past twenty years. She was accused of murder! Multiple murders! Until it was in the Repub's interest to encourage division by pretending they respected her. Laughable.
We are finding out that SP is not just like us, not the friendly neighbor, not wholesome. Instead, she's the nightmare boss who comes in and fires everybody, the bully who makes a big show, the know-it-all who makes a complete mess and lies to cover it up. Blechhh.
They tried to make a scandal out of a comment many of us use to describe more of the same. Another comment popular long ago, was buying a pig in a poke. As in, sight unseen. Sort of like Palin.
I find myself in the same position. I just don't see how anyone with half a brain could possibly consider voting for a ticket that had this proudly intellectually incurious woman for VP. She doesn't know much, hasn't had any interest in the rest of the world, already has all the answers and can't be persuaded to change her mind. Sound like anyone we know who has been in the White House for the past 7+ years? And at least he and Laura figured out how to keep the twins from getting pregnant when they were teenagers.
it is good to find someone who feels like I do, soooooooo good, this woman would lead us to hell, like the wolves, with cut off leg, hanging over an airplane, shameful!!!
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