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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You can now begin to imagine what it has been klike to be black in this country. We did not believe you all would elect Reagan twice let alone once and you did. He crippled the unions and you turn around and elected his VP who was a CIA agent which should have been a harbenger of things to come, such as indivual freedoms, then you elected B. Clinton who was center right. He threw the black folks a few high profile jobs and then sent more to jail and threw others off well fair (sort of good). Then her comes Bush again and you elect him twice. Un F'ing believable. I did not vote for him,in 2004, but hoped he would win to us show how he would end the war. Well you now that answer. Now you all are going to elect McMock and S. Surrogate who cares nothing about you and your families. Greed is the order of the day. C. McBeer will be a Billionaire when J. McMock is done with this country.
In the pharmacopia mediated American consciousness, the voters are being presented a choice between a strong young black male lawyer, and a strong, young, fertile, white, working mother.
Since the lever pull in the "swing" demographic always goes to the least scary, you are absolutely on target to point out the Dem campaign has to pivot and recast. The threat is that for some important Americans, it really is about choosing an American idol (in the Biblical sense). Fox News pundits play the Simon role, and the Repubs have to be credited for their mastery of propaganda and media manipulation.
The truth is, Dems aren't desperate enough yet. Not enough to throw off their sense of being entitled to fair play, truth in media, and swift public judgment of lies and liars. It ain't gonna happen. Not in our lifetime.
When Dems get desperate instead of disillusioned and angry, they'll see the enemy for what it is - middle school children being let into the Mayor's office and the Police Department, to play with money and guns.
It's time for some adults to take control. Take it.
You said "What kind of misplaced chivalry would keep the Democrats from calling Sarah Palin what she is? An ignorant, misinformed, inexperienced, bigoted fraud."
Ignorant Meaning: due to or showing lack of knowledge or training
Palin: Foreign Relations = True
Obama: Said he would Invade Pakistan to get Bin Laden also said he would meet Iran with no Preconditions So Obama is truly Ignorant
Misinformed....Um isn't this the same as Ignorant?
Inexperianced Meaning: lack of practical experience
Palin Foriegn Relations None. Executive Experiance 2 years ran an 11 Billion dollar state
Obama None (See above) and Executive Experiance None has not even run a lemonade stand yet
bigoted a person who is utterly intolerant of any differing creed, belief, or opinion.
I have not read one story where Palin showed any Racism
Excellent article. Here's my theory: Until MSM does some real reporting and factchecking on Palin's record as well as media favorite McCain, then we should just stop watching MSM until they grow a pair and report on the blatant inconsistencies with Palin and McCain's record.
The NYT and WSJ investigated and ended the career of our Governor Spitzer -- in a few weeks -- based upon investigations in both DC and NY. HUGE populations and large witness lists had to be processed -- yet it was done.
More than ten days have passed and we have to garner what info we obtain on Sarah Palin from frightened Alaskans blogging -- and our own personal networks.
To think a State w/less population than we have on a city block, river to river -- has obtained NO INFORMATION, despite scandals involving abuse of power and conflicts-of-interests involving her family affecting STATE EMPLOYEES -- meand MSM does not want to find out and have elected their Iraq War runup strategy to run down the clock.
The MSM appears to be intimidated by the GOP convention and I don't think we can count on them to do their job. Charlie Gibson of ABC, for example, asked Obama every personal and "Gotcha" question he could possibly have asked Obama during the debate he moderated. Now, he's agreed to do the interview on her turf and their campaign gets to decide how many follow ups he gets. If he plays ball, he gets more tape. If not, goodbye Charlie. Of course, no self-respectable journalist would pander just to get a story but I'm willing to bet the farm that Gibson will do a puff interview so that the McCain camp can say, "See, she's doing interviews just like everyone else."
It has been ten days now and I have yet to see Sarah Palin say anything without the use of a script that has been written for her. That's not a candidate. That's an actress.
The bottom line here, is that many - if not most - Americans are ill-informed and easily misled. They are shallow in their thought processes, have a short attention span, and prefer to consider personalities over policy. When coupled with a media that has abrogated its responsibility to accurately report the news, the result is an electorate that simply doesn't know what the hell it is doing. Put more bluntly, too many people are just too stupid. Think that's hyperbole? Check out the packed house at a professional wrestling event, or watch the "Jaywalking" segment on Jay Leno. These people can - and probably do - vote. Scary, isn't it?
Just sitting back and analysing what is happening I kind of compared the Middle East with America.
The Middle East problems all seem to come from religous fanatics that keep their culture back like what existed in the Middle Ages. An example would be how women are treated and regarded by their society.
America now seems like about a third of it's population could be categorized in the same manner as religous fanatics.This is segment of society that constantly grows through reproduction and in the eyes of many can almost be termed child abuse by indoctrination.
It seems fairly accurate to compare how the religous fanatics in both countries only have one dominate concern which is to see the entire country or it's population conform strictly to it's religous beliefs and fashion laws to conform to their thinking.
After reviewing and giving the latter lots of thought I feel very fortunate to live in a country that almost unanimously demonstrates a penchant for keeping religion out of politics allowing our politicians to deal with problems that affect their citizens not their religous beliefs.
I still believe that Palin wasn't McCains move but Rove's. First Rove let's it out that he doesn't like McCaines choice so supposedly McCain goes against his party for picking Palin. Then Palin turns out to be this popular success with the media. I know Rove actually chose her to get the religious nutwing base in McCains camp. Don't for a minute think that McCain had anything to do with it.
If McCain and Palin win, it will not demonstrate that Democrats made a mistake any more than a Republican win in 2000 or 2004 demonstrated that Democrats made a mistake. It simply means that the Republicans, with the mainstream corporate media and certainly the right-wing media offering assistance, could nominate virtually anyone in the country, probably including recently paroled rapists and murderers, and win an election against any Democrat, no matter who it is. McCain, and to a greater extent Palin, are obvious frauds to anyone who plays close attention. But the Republicans and the corporate media will hide their faults and magnify, or even make up out of whole cloth, the faults of the Democratic ticket.
If they do win, I doubt seriously I will ever pay any more attention to US electoral politics, as it will obviously be a total sham, a complete joke.
Steve Schmidt has taken over the McCain campaign. This is Rovian politics and it panders to the American public that loves a scandal, that loves Britney and watches Vh1 celebrity love competitions.
I would ask every American: HOW do we turn this around? How do we turn this on its head? How can WE spin things in our favor? How can WE ridicule them? -all the while keeping our dignity.
We have to find a way and quit complaining.
I'm hoping the Obama campaign is in the process of figuring this one out and we'll be on our way.
Hope.
silly silly silly. i think this is all hype. I have confidence that americans will come to reality before Nov 4th. Everyone was up in arms that obama was too young and not experienced. For them not to realize the same thing about Palin would be hypocrisy. Obama is going to win this election and bigger than most think. The media just wants you to stay tuned and bring up their ratings and revenue.
I'll continue to volunteer and canvass and make phone calls. But I am definitely distraught. The people love Palin. What can you say?
STOP WHINING FOLKS AND GET TO WORK!!
This is not going to be easy, never was and anyone who thought it was is as big a dolt as anyone voting for that crazy ticket of McP.
I, for one, have no intention on giving my power away to a few random polls- DO YOU KNOW that the Gallup poll that everyone is so up in arms about is a sample of about 1600 (or less) people?
1600, and here we sit in a country of 300 million. Hmmm...this is the blip that worries you? All these polls have a couple of thousand random folks on any given day of the week. Polls do not determine outcomes, pro or con of your viewpoint.
So stop being such pansies and grow up! Anything worth having is worth fighting for, and all that starts with your own attitude first.
Make a decision-ON OR OFF?
Obama/Biden '08
Sherry,
I am ON!!!!!! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!
I will read and re-read your post until November 4th 2008 & then I will go out and vote OBAMA/BIDEN 2008!!!!! When I return home, I will not turn on the TV or radio and listen to anything that has to do with our election! I will not allow myself to be consumed with any stories that would promote discouragement or gloom... instead I will focus on what has and continues to give me hope, OBAMA/BIDEN 2008.
As in the words of the song, "STAND",
"After all you've done all you can, you just STAND......."
I think this sums things up pretty well...
"If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools..."
- Rudyard Kipling
Isn't it ironic. We bemoan America's ability to compete in the world's market place and fear the fact that we do so poorly in educating our children. However, we spent the last 8 years led by an affirmative Action C student (How else did he get into Yale?) and the republicans want us to elect another Affirmative Action C student (How else did McCain get into & stay in the Naval Academy given his disciplinary problems and lack of performance?)
Intelligence, intellect & hard work in an academic setting is a negative if your name is Obama
Patriotism & heroism is a negative if your name is Kerry
But Celebrity is quite alright if your name is Palin
Unfortunately, as I can attest to, many voters see this whole election as an American Idol sort of contest.....the most popular contestant wins...it's a game. Facts and reason do not count here. At my office, everyone but me is resigned to voting for whatever Republican is on the ticket. They still believe Obama might be a muslim, and have bought into the "inexperience" claim. But these people are not the "undecided voters." If they could, they would vote for Bush again, even though they believe he is a disaster. Their minds are closed, and the challenge of opening them is a threat.....So, I believe that no matter how much we are able to counter the lies put forth by the Repugs, they will not suddenly change their minds. They are intellectually lazy and there is simply no reason to be frustrated by that fact. The hope for the Dems is that we have an amazing number of new voters and that each and every one of them actually VOTES!!
Keep it simple. Quit talking about Sarah Palin. Do you remember who won the last American Idol, Survivor, or any other reality show? Americans can seem to stay focused for more than a couple of days. So change the conversation.
Start speaking in soundbites to everyone. "McCain hates POW/MIA families." "McCain hits old ladies in wheelchairs." "McCain hates the troops." McCain is a rich bastard who hates Americans." "McCain will ban books." "McCain will nuke us all." "McCain will open your mail."
Keep it simple, keep it scary, take off the gloves. Our children deserve us to fight for their futures. Then we can go back to a more civilized world, and start working on educating people.
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