Palin's Speech Rallies Up More Than the RNC: OffTheBus Writers Explain What They Find Most Offensive

OffTheBus has received tons of submissions from contributors who watched Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin accept the Republican Party nomination last night. Many OffTheBus writers found Palin's remarks to be full of anger and light on substance. Here are some examples:

Ron Hebshie called her speech a "venting session."

"It was too partisan and too nasty. While her personal story might connect with a segment of the electorate, she shot herself in the foot with a constant stream of negativity that seemed unnecessary and out of place. "

Robyn Ewing called the speech a "rhetorical lynching."

"Her philosophy on the reason for governing was, "To leave this nation better than we found it."
Uh. Where have you been for the last eight years, Palin? The country's in the toilet and guess which party was at the wheel?"

Many contributors, like Patrick Kelty, took issue with Palin's argument that Obama has little significant experience because he was merely a community organizer.

Story continues below

advertisement

"The irony of Gov. Palin's ignorance is that during the same speech in which she proclaimed to be a fighter for the "regular American" and introduced her husband as a proud member of the Steelworkers union, she attempted to diminish and belittle the efforts of someone whose first path in public service was to assist many of the people she now claims to be fighting for. "

Another contributor, Brandon Mersman, took issue with the accusations throughout the night that Obama has been a so-called flip flopper.

"This is interesting considering the position changes McCain has made in order to run for president. McCain would not even support his own immigration bill if he had to vote on it today. "

Contributors like Barbara Fischkin also responded to Palin's reference to being a "hockey mom" and gave some parental advice of their own.

"Sarah Palin said that the difference between a pit bull and a hockey mom is lipstick. I think the true answer is deeper than that. I think that a true hockey mom tells her sons and daughters that being a good parent takes maturity. That if you are a teenager you might look for the resources in your parents' night table drawer. (condoms?)"

Many writers thought Palin's attacks on Obama were completely false and uncalled for. Rusty Russell wrote that Palin spoke with confidence and poise, but her "diatribe" about Obama was hateful.

"Basically, Sarah wanted us to know from the get-go that Obama intends to tax us into a naked, sniveling mass of goo, sell our homes & spend the money buying copies of the Koran for illegal-alien Islamic extremist porn-producing gang members, give all the oil in Alaska to, I don't know, France, maybe, kill all the babies, burn all the small businesses to the ground and level most of small-town America to make room for resorts for lobbyists."

Comments

[Tane]

Her vitriolic sarcasm proved that she is definitely not a Stateswoman. I would no sooner trust her to lead diplomatic efforts than I would trust her to appoint heads of organizations such as the EPA. Will this nation really stoop to elect a Cheney in dress? There's a reason that pit bulls are banned in so many cities, they are volatile and often vicious - just what we need in a leader, not!

[withcheese]

She is a polarizing figure. If you are upset then the best thing to do is take action. Campaign for Obama and Biden. Put your energy into something good. Donate money if you have it to give. Become a community organizer in your own right.

[J E Mugford]

Ms Palin is a very unsettling example of why John McCain can not be allowed into a position of decision making. He rushes out to locate someone that no one knows in an effort to avoid being less popular than he already is, then having located an unknown person, he fails to find out she is an extremist with views that embarrass every Christian, every true conservative...ok every living mama. He then turns the convention over to her as his own presentation is so weak that he knows it will put people to sleep unless its packaged with the most pandering and inexcusable references to Sept. 11th.

[rshrink]

Palin was picked by McCain because he struck out with the ministers who said outlandish things and had to back off of seeking their support, which he needed to get the support of the religious right. He gets the same thing with Palin, however, it is likely to come to the same conclusion. She is as mean spirited as the ministers, having some very high idea about herself as compared to other people who simply don't realize something that she does. She is not like Obama. She doesn't attempt to understand other ideas. She likes ideas which can lead to a benefit for her such as drilling for oil. Lets not worry about what it may do to the environment. Why not? Because that hurts the bottom line for her, which is an increase in wealth. Obama is thinking green for the sake of the environment and for the sake of increasing jobs for those who are currently displaced. Palin would not think of this, being preoccupied with joining the currently well placed.

[rshrink]

McCain is a troubled soul. He is nasty and self serving, left his wife because she was disfigured in a car accident and after she had waited for 5 1/2 years for him to come home from Viet Nam. He was fooling around with his current wife before he decided to leave Carol, his first wife. Other people took care of Carol's medical expenses. Dukakis said that he and another senator were "thrown out of McCain's office, because he didn't want to discuss legislation with them. McCain couldn't get the religious vote by courting nutty ministers, so he fixed on Palin who he thinks will serve the same purpose. He is taking oil money and has wealthy lobbyists running his campaign. He now espouses every view that Bush has espoused. He wants school vouchers, meaning more privatization, which means Halliburton High will be all over the country, brainwashing our children. Privatization is no bid contracts for your friends in high places. Is Obama pushing privatization? Has Obama not said many times that we need to come together and solve problems? He continually seems to indicate a willingness to compromise and understands, due to his community organizing background, that problems don't get solved until everyone is reasonable okay with what is happening. Palin and McCain are both too self-involved to understand this concept. They are mean spirited, willing to do whatever it takes for them to get ahead and the rest of us be d....

[rshrink]

My impression of Palin is that she is ambitous, greedy, loyal to the wealthy and powerful, willing to stomp on anyone who would get in the way of her ambitions, preaches morality and lives unethically, in other words, a Republican. No wonder the RNC crowd loved her. They love Ann Coulter as well.

[ElizabethMN]

I am awaiting Gallup tomorrow when they had today to analyze the Palin effect. While antecdotes are interesting, real analysis and research will tell a fuller picture.

[deb813]

funny you mention the pta, that does seem to be her greatest strength at the moment, being the quintessential pta mom.

[SDindependent]

I find it offensive to that she would disparage community organizers.

These are a few in history

Peter,Jame­s,John,And­rew,Philip­,Bartholom­ew,Matthew­,Thomas,Ja­mes, ,Thaddeus,Simon, Matthias.... and of course there was Jesus.

They were brothers, commanded by God to look after the least of us.

[dnels14]

we dont expect nothing less from mcpalin and the mcrove playbook.

[wandering girl]

the *one* thing she didn't say - and I don't know whyever not:

"Jesus was a Republican."

[SPENCER]

mmm... you know, the PTA and Christian Coalition do community organizing, too. I think the anger is going to build up and the media might catch on to this.