We're in Big Trouble
We're talking to ourselves.
And we're not saying anything that's going to help win this election.
Everyone who cares knows that Sara Palin is a born again, right wing Republican. That she's a right-to-life, anti-gay, anti-global-warming, book-banning kind of gal.
No one seems to care.
The package and not the content is what's attracting interest. How cute she is when she says it. How cute she is when she skins a caribou. How cute are those barely grown expectant children of hers.
My first instinct was to scream from the roof tops that no self respecting woman was going to fall for this McCain manipulation. But apparently, plenty have. Plenty share her views and the crowds and the TV ratings are growing. The same way they grow for American Idol and other reality shows. Seems like we would rather watch ourselves, however diminished, on TV and in the public eye than people watch people with actual skills and talents. Watching people just like ourselves eating bugs and falling into vats of peanut butter has become a favorite American past time. And apparently, we would rather have an ill informed, inexperienced leader than one with experience and education. Experience has been denigrated to the level of liberal as a word. It's to be laughed at and ridiculed. And a lot of people are buying it. And we're supposed to slink away, like the nerd in high school being attacked by the football player.
But this isn't high school and we're supposed to know better. We have got to take back these words and what they stand for. Leaders need to be chosen from the most talented among us, not from the bottom of the barrel. And we shouldn't be afraid to say so.
What kind of misplaced chivalry would keep the Democrats from calling Sarah Palin what she is? An ignorant, misinformed, inexperienced, bigoted fraud. And unless we find a way to do it, she will be running the country before we have time to turn around.
This will not be easy. I spent hours on the telephone to Ohio Democrats last presidential election. There was no way I was going to convince these working class Democrats that they were wrong to vote for Bush. Kerry scared them. And no manner of logic would turn it around. They voted against their own economic interests, against college for their kids, against their own medical care, against their first amendment rights. Why, because they had been told that Kerry was going to challenge their belief systems. He was "for abortion", "against the troops."
We're going to have to frame the argument in the same way. Who is Sarah Palin? A woman for sure. The package is nice, but the content is out of date and spoiled. If she gets anywhere near power we can expect global warming, the destruction of the constitution, the end of Choice, and books banned in our libraries. And we've got to make people understand this. And even if we can frame it this way, the question remains, are there many Americans who would care? Enough to sustain the constitution? Life as we know it?
I am terribly afraid that we are counting on good sense, and decency and it has gone the way of the ten cent subway ride. We are not thinking about each other. We are thinking about ourselves. Why else would we even consider a woman who tried to get her brother in law fired from his job for daring to divorce her sister. Who tried to get a local librarian to remove books she disapproved of from the library.
Politeness is not in order. We need to be scared. Terribly scared. We need to pull out all the stops. She's not going to self destruct in front of an audience who likes these things about her. Who abhors the clarity and thoughtfulness of Obama. There is no drama in it. There's drama in teenage pregnancy, political scandal and moose hunting.
McCain seems to have known just what he was doing. Now the question remains, do we?
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In light of the revelation of Sarah Palin's interview being granted to ABC's Charlie Gibson, please stand with me by sending a collective email to ABC, NBC, CNN, CBS, etc., to make sure the questions they ask are fair and do not misinform the voters. I have drafted the letter which can be found at http://my.
I know some of us may be discouraged and might think "What good will a letter do? They won't listen to us anyway." Please don't feel defeated. Whether the media powers that be take consider our letter or not, we'll know that we are doing our part by all means within our reach.
I hope I see your names pop up in my inbox.
Other than your last sentence I agree totally. I don't believe it was McCain who chose Palin. He isn't savvy enough to have made that calculated decision.
Regardless, the less informed need a spokesperson they can relate to who will lay out for them what is fact and what isn't. Someone to show them why Palin and MCain are a dangerous choice. Someone who can explain why ANY democrat would benefit them far more than an ill-informed, deceitful, self-absorbed republican. This population relates to Palin because they think they are like her. They have daughters who have been pregnant out-of-wedlock teens and they have had to raise their kids' kid. They have husbands who have blue-collar, poor paying jobs. They never graduated college but if they had it would have taken six years just like Sarah. They don't get that keeping a child is a choice which Palin believes a woman (except the ones in her family) shouldn't have. They are the small-town girl who is trying to make it big (think about all the folks on reality TV who humiliate themselves for fifteen minutes of fame). Their spokesperson isn't Oprah, George Clooney, or Brad Pitt. They don't relate to these people. It will have to be a blue-collar Jeff Foxworthy-type (sorry Mr. Foxworthy). Even Cindy Sheehan might work. Someone who knows someone needs to call that someone TODAY.
Then, frankly - in fact please - quit talking about her!
My gosh, the more you talk about her and worry about her the more power she actually has!
Seriously. This is becoming a self fulfilling prophecy.
She had ONE speech. This evil neophyte has had one real moment. And fearful talk like this only increases her influence and aura. You're actually CREATING her legend!
Maybe if people stop writing endless pieces about her she would become less relevant. The ones who are making her relevant and empowering her are the ones who won't stop discussing her. And considering what a cipher she is, there's nothing to discuss.
This is a textbook example of playing into your enemy's hand.
I agree. This is a classic repug distraction from the last eight years of hell!
You're right, but it won't do any good to tell the author this. She is operating in full-out panic mode, which interferes with rational thought.
well said!
I think this is a great idea--I have been trying myself not to click on anything with her name in the title or her picture on it (even the opinions good or bad)--its small but its all I can do. Imagine if everybody just STOPPED. Now that would actually be bold!
Agree. Marginalize her.
I see a little of Benezair Bhutto, in Sarah Palin, only in that she is a mother of small children, picked or selected by older men to be a "poster woman" for their cause. The good thing is that United States is not Pakistan, we don't let the powers tell us who to vote for.
People understand that neither McCain or Palin are uniters. People, i'm sure want to see Palin, succeed in life but being Vice President of this country during these high stake times, where America's image, economy, and ability to win a wider war is at a very delicate balance, is not happening. Likewise, she belongs to a brain trust, that is drastically and quickly failing the country. When people go behind that curtain, Nov. 4th, American's wider interest and concerns will win out.
No I think the image of Sarah Palin is captivating and interesting but the right wing brain trust shaping her image, does not get it but they are good at winging it, and getting people like you to doubt yourself. Maybe that's why the US looses its brain trust, under current Republican regimes.
Would agree totally with you, but for one thing Disney, GE, Viacom, and Murdoch -- all want profits and the candidate and agenda that will get in their way the least. They own the airwaves. This is all these people will be seeing over the next 2 months. Remember this is why this type of article must be written about Palin. There will be no voice like this over the airwaves.
Be afraid, be very afraid. I'm sure it will be the end of the world as we know it if SP gets into power. Wait, she will only be VP...what are the chances that McCain will die in office? Perhaps a little higher than many other presidents, but the chances are still low.
Even if she does become president, she will not be a dictator, she has to deal with a democratic congress.
Relax, it's not the end of the world. So you nominated the wrong guy...or gal. You get another chance in 4 years.
This election is unlike any in recent times. Four more years of the same and we are really going to be in deep, deep trouble (and we're already in deep trouble). It used to bother me that Obama always came across as sounding so serious during his speeches - then I realized..
Did you hear them at the convention
Carmen
It's not just McCain's death. Read the 25th Amendment:
Article 3: Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.
Article 4 of Amendment 25 simply delays this process, but McCain will not object. After all, his good friend Joe Lieberman will lead the charge to remove McCain, reluctantly of course, but for the good of the country.
How many more arctic ice sheets will disappear in four years? How many polar bears will drown because of that? How much will those horrible dead spots in the oceans spread in four years? How much farther away will we be from doing anything to develop sustainable fuels?
How much of the Constitution can be changed by a simple executive order in four years?
Do we really have four years to spare?
The actuarial odds of a 73 year old man dying before he's eighty is 1 out of 3. This number does not factor in subjects who have had four bouts with melanoma.
If elected (or selected) McCain would be the oldest person ever to serve as president. He has a history of serious health issues, especially with recurrent melanomas.
Given McCain's age and heath concerns, it is quite possible that Palin would find herself thrust into the presidency.
Sarah Palin is NOT QUALIFIED for this important position. She lacks even the basic experience for the job. Serving as the mayor of a small town and 1/2 a term as governor in a state with a very low population is NOT sufficient experience for the presidency. Having five children is also not sufficient experience, as some on the Right have claimed.
More than ever before, we must decide this election on policies, not personality. Maybe she'd be fun to share a beer and a bowl of moose stew with, but running my country? No freaking way.
This is the best article i've read in a long time. Very, very true.
It's frightening to think that much of the country doesn't take our own laws and government seriously enough to bother learning anything about her other than that she's cute (which she isn't) and moral (also, she's extremist and self-congratulatory rather than rooted in faith), and really interesting and untalented and not too bright (all seemingly true), not to mention, corrupt and so staunchly supporting her personal attachments that law and right fall by the wayside.
One would think people wouldn't be so stupid, in large numbers, as to fall for the packaging when the nation needs viable and effective content.
Then again, that same one would be surprised at the idiocy replete in humanity, and never so evident as when watching trainwrecks get pity votes and relation votes instead of issue votes.
The people who brought us Bush/Cheney are going to try again this election.
If McCain wins he will resign for health reasons early in his Presidency.
I agree there is a lot to be fearful about. But continually ranting about her and being fearful is not going to swing this people who are sadly lacking sense and who look for a coming 'dark age' complete with lords & ladies and religious rule as a good thing. I guess they think they are all going to be ladies instead of serfs and chattel. I hear repugs claim that Democrats hate democracy when they are the ones who seem to miss the point and the true meaning of the word. They are the ones who wrap themselves in flag while trying to tear apart the constitution . The're the ones who are giving in to the terrorists by trying to push women back into chattel status like the fundamentalist Muslims. To me there is little difference between The Muslim terrorist and the Religious right. They will go to any extreme, commit any veal act and sacrifice up their own young to FORCE the world around them to comply with thier ownideas.
I don't know what to do but let the media find her out. They have had so little time. I think we need to start ignoring her and concentrate on McCain. He is the one who would be president and he is the weakest link
As the saying goes, "don't panic". There's lots of time, and Obama has a fantastic campaign with good people.
And there is one thing we can do: reject the politics of mediocrity. You can't convince people who won't listen, but you can spread the word that we need to stop letting politicians use "smart guilt" (as I describe it) to make people feel bad about voting for intelligent, educated candidates.
Obama knew what he was doing when choosing Biden over Hillary. An Obama, Hillary ticket would have never won, ever. To tell you the truth: a kind of wacky 72 year old man not in the best of health and a hardly known women governor, is another big problem, in the voting booth. The voting booth, behind the curtain is where it is going to count.
This Country always moves forwards. So when you say, "no one seems to care." I can say, that maybe no one really knows her yet, its been 2 weeks, give this process 2 months.
As far as Vice Presidential selection, Obama forced this move on McCain. No, McCain did not know what he was doing in selecting Sarah Palin, but Im sure it makes some people feel good, but it really was a bad choice, and a bad move. But she definitely appeals to people "hearts." but that is not enough, when people are really serious about this election. I mean serious.
to add on to your comment - she also only appeals to a certain base.
I think moderates and independents do NOT like her stands on certain issues - she is too far to the right for them.
So, while the base may be all riled up now....I think the people that are voting for them are the ones that weren't going to vote for a black man to begin w/ and this is just their excuse to NOT vote for Obama.
I honestly believe there are more people now that WOULD vote for Obama and it has nothing to do w/ race anymore.
I have a motto - chaos before peace.
We have to think of that...all of this talk about her, is just raising more discussions about her and McBush...i
We also have to keep in mind that even though more people might have tuned in to watch McGreenScr
We knew this was going to be a roller coaster ride...now we just have to wait for the ride to come to a complete stop.
I agree. The 'shoulda wouldas" keep saying how Clinton would've sealed the deal. but There are so many people who loathe the Clintons. Do people forget how much they were hated during Bill's presidency? And it was a time of PROSPERITY. We can speculate how the Clinton/Obama ticket would've been, but we don't know. McCain wouldn't have picked Palin but someone else. There's gotta be some black Repub woman out there not tied to the Bushies that he could've picked.
McCain played a better hand. And the Repubs lie. And the media sensationalizes. Obama wasn't juicy any more. So the media's going after the 'juicy' Palin pick. I think we'll end up with 4 more years of Repub. rule. The position of President has been lowered to be, not a position held by an intelligent being, but by someone you'd want to have over for barbecue. That's the way they framed it the last 2 times, why wouldn't it work this time?
And Palin's getting interest from those who didn't want to vote for Obama any way. Whether because they're religious freaks or because of Obama's color. There are many reasons why we'll probably lose this. If Obama doesn't go on the Palin attack, then on Nov 5th we'll say "he should've attacked her." If he does attack her, then we'd say "He should've left her alone." So it's pointless to speculate.
Palin was a brilliant strategic pick but a horrible pick in reality.
Hey TenThings, where have you been these last 8 years. "This country always moves forward." Are you out of your mind?! You are counting on people being reasonable and thoughtful when they go to the voting booth. We have seen in the last two elections that this doesn't happen. It's like we are a bunch of battered women that somehow keep ending up with abusers.
I thought this country was seriously messed up in 2000 and 2004. Based on Bush's recent approval ratings being so low, I had hope that people had come to their senses. But, It's happening all over again. I just don't get it. If McCain gets elected, then there really is no hope for a sensible, intelligent, thoughtfull, positive person to be elected in this country. We are going to elect an old, backward-thinking, out-of-touch fogey and an uninformed, extremist hockey-mom to run this country over a thoughtful, intelligent, forward-thinking, progressive and his capable running mate. For the life of me, I will be mysitified when this happens, just as I was in 2000 and 2004. We will be doomed to a grim future for our children with serious climate problems, religious extremism, less and less freedoms, poor health care, a greater gap between rich and poor, a lowering standard of living for most of us. How can people be so stupid?
We didn't move forward in 2004, and now the momentum is going against us again. I agree,
this is probably the high point for the Palin hysteria, but it is clear she will be the front man
(woman) for the republican party now.
McCain didn't select her. His handlers did. He's a yes-man for the Religious right.
Obama knew what he was doing when choosing Biden over Hillary. An Obama, Hillary ticket would have never won, ever. To tell you the truth: a kind of wacky 72 year old man not in the best of health and a hardly known women governor, is another big problem, in the voting booth. The voting booth, behind the curtain is where it is going to count.
This Country always moves forwards. So when you say, "no one seems to care." I can say, that maybe no one really knows her yet, its been 2 weeks, give this process 2 months.
As far as Vice Presidential selection, Obama forced this move on McCain. No, McCain did not know what he was doing in selecting Sarah Palin, but Im sure it makes some people feel good, but it really was a bad choice, and a bad move. But she definitely appeals to people "hearts." but that is not enough, when people are really serious about this election. I mean serious.
to win against the Democrats, but a good choice for Republicans to see where they are as a party. There is a difference.
Sarah Palin will go on to help the Republican party define itself, post Reagan, put not in the White House.
Yes, but what are "all the stops" we must now pull?
I'd suggest continued hammering of news media that report on Palin's speeches without fact checking them, or noting how little she is presenting herself to questioning, the necessary interview for the job of Almost President.
It's a tough line to walk though: hammer Gov. Palin too hard, and she may become more sympathetic, a media target whose only fault is being too sincere and zealous, those right-wing values that cover for crimes and incompetence.
The polls show McCain ahead by four today.....
We have been lied to by the Republican Party and they are lying every single second of the day and PEOPLE ARE BELIEVING IT. These people are believing every single word that comes out of McCain's and Palin's mouths. I am sickened with the voting block of our country that think these two are going to help us.....Dem
Pulling out all the stops, at the local level, could start with making sure you've given what you can to the campaign, urging your friends to do the same, and coordinating with your local O/B field office to volunteer with canvassing, phone calls, etc. If we all do a little bit, it can move the needle a lot. It's also good therapy to counter the fear of the alternative outcome.
Didn't anyone tell you?" America is the Stupid Country. If eight years of George W. Bush didn't pr5ove that,, how about the Republican presidential candidate's cclass rank (894 out of 899)? It seems that anything willing to be puppet for the disgusting Neocons is perfect maaterial to be president.
And now you are surprised to leaarn that the Republicans are not the only idiots in the land.
Why?
Hey O must have not done well in his science and math classes!! That is why he majored in Political Science. Then he studied Law. Great! we want a lawyer to tell us how the National Science Foundation will spend its money to increase America's competitiveness. At least McCain will spend more money on military research which has led to big things like roll out (not invention - Al Gore did that) of the internet (started with DOD Darpanet)
I can only imagine that other leaders in the world are rofltao (rolling-o
I agree. the Democratic Party gives the American people too much credit. They think the citizens actually read articles and decipher the truth for themselves. The vast majority of people listen to their preacher's or their neighbor's views and believe the e-mails in their inboxes.
The American people vote from their gut, not their brains. Obama is floundering and will probably lose this election because he overestimates the intelligence of the vast majority of Americans.
The citizens are more afraid of Obama than a far right extremest Palin. We all know her from our own neighborhoods, Obama is different, not just the color of his skin, but his ideas. Change is too scary for most .
The Democratic Party refuses to fight nasty enough to win this election. Just watch the ads- Republican ads hit on taxes, health care, taxes and how scary Obama is. Democratic ads just say McCain is Bush. They refuse to attack McCain or Palin. The Democrats are going to lose unless they decide to fight like Republicans.
Damn right!! I just read a comment where a fella was suggesting that if McCain wins, Americans should come to Canada. A self-styled world leader is now close to offering refugees. Is this how kingdoms fall?? Through their recklessness and stupidity??
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