What's wrong with most of the commentators in the mainstream media?
Following Sarah Palin's less-than-a-complete-train-wreck performance (which is the operative word) in Thursday's debate, one after another of them said that she had "passed the test"--that she had shown that she is competent to be president. She's "credentialed" now, they tell us.
Huh?
Surely most of them know better. Yes, Governor Palin showed that she is not an imbecile. But that hardly means that she demonstrated that she is prepared to be president (as the incumbent has so forcefully shown).
Not being stupid doesn't equate to not being ignorant.
"Everybody's ignorant, only on different subjects," Will Rogers rightly said.
The problem is that the subjects on which Sarah Palin is ignorant are precisely those on which a president must be knowledgeable.
Reciting memorized answers to questions you ask yourself does not constitute passing a test.
So why are so many MSM pundits acting as if Mrs. Palin did well and "passed the test"?
The only plausible explanation is that they are engaging in self censorship in an attempt to counter the constant drumbeat from the Sewage Stream Media (SSW)--Faux News, Limbaugh, Drudge, et. al., that they have a "liberal bias." Too many of them have been intimidated by the right wing.
The SSW's shot across Gwen Ifill's bow the day before the debate appeared to have led her to avoid asking Governor Palin for any specifics or examples.
Enough!
Here's my message to the Mainstream Media:
Get some ovaries! Tell it like it is, so the American public won't be misled into thinking that Palin demonstrated that she is qualified for national office.
These are the points you ought to be making about Sarah Palin's performance on Thursday:
Being able to put on a performance doesn't equate to being informed.
Winking isn't a sign of thinking.Cute doesn't mean qualified.
Nose crinkle doesn't mean "knows much."
Chirpy doesn't mean capable.
Folksy doesn't mean fit.
Wink-wink doesn't mean well-informed.
Energetic doesn't mean experienced.
Perky doesn't mean prepared.
Pretty doesn't mean proficient.
Pert doesn't mean pertinent.
Corny doesn't mean competent.
Saucy doesn't mean substantive.
Now, doggone it, being "hot" is not a qualification for the presidency.
And . . .
Being from a small town doesn't mean being for the average person.
Geographical proximity doesn't constitute foreign policy knowledge."Christian" doesn't mean follower of Jesus' teachings.
Being female doesn't mean being pro-woman.
But . . .
Wink-wink does mean "W" - W-squared.
You betcha!
{Historian Robert S. McElvaine is Elizabeth Chisholm Professor of Arts & Letters at Millsaps College. His latest book is Grand Theft Jesus: The Hijacking of Religion in America 
.}
A big smile does not mean you can lead.
Smooth talk does not mean you can get things done.
Big ideas do not mean they will become programs.
Energetic does not mean experience.
Handsome does not mean competent.
Comparing Governor Palin to Obama:
Obama wants to tax oil companies excess profits. Governor Palin has taxed oil company excess profits.
Obama wants to take on the special interest groups. Governor Palin has taken on special interest and won.
Obama wants to have the US less dependant on foreign oil. Governor has worked to have a new gas pipeline to make us less dependant on foreign oil.
Obama wants ethics reform. Governor Palin has lead ethics reform resulting in the removal of politicians from office.
Obama wants to increase education spending. Governor Palin increased education spending.
Obama wants to give everyone a tax refund. Governor Palin gave every Alaskan a tax refund.
Obama has named a post office in his 4 1/2 years as a senator. Governor Palin has done all of the above in 1 1/2 years as a Governor.
Both dream. Governor Palin has been able to turn dreams into reality. Obama is still dreaming.
Who has acomplished more?
Pork- 231 million for a former bridge to nowhere, which she previously supported and worked for -Uncle Ted between 2003-2006
Leaving the town of Wasilla 22 million in debt and building a hockey rink that no one can easily get to.
Troopergate
Appointing her high school buddies to Dept of Agriculture positions.
Being able to "see" Russia is not the same as being able to negotiate.
Trade missions to nowhere.
Putting the burden for paying for rape kits on the individual and their insurance companies ( why should the taxpayer pay for these in a state that has the highest per capita rape and assault?)
Having an affair,allegedly, with her husbands ex business partner.
Allowing her husband to stick his nose in on governmental affairs even though he is not a state employee, representative or otherwise.
Sanctioning the aerial hunting of apex predators (wolves, grizzly bears) for the purposes of influencing prey livestock.
Charging the state for 314 per diem days while working from her lovely lakeside home.
Has 2 planes- not on ebay.
Can't name a significant SCOTUS case- not even one that happened in her back yard.
( Exxon case, which has been plead down from 5 Billion to 500 million )
Should I continue?
wink, smile, darn it, you betcha!
1) Governor Palin did not pass the bridge to no where but she sure killed it.
2) Trooper gate are unproven allegations. Just like Obama's "Terrorist ties".
3) Appointing "buddies". What politician has not appointed reliable friends that they trust to get the job done?
4) Negotiating. As Governor, Governor Palin successfully negotiated new taxes on excessive oil profits. As a Senator, Obama has negotiated ....Nothing.
5) Rape kits. If someone has insurance why not have the insurance pay? That's why premiums are paid.
6) Affair. Pure unproven slander. Besides using Democrat logic Bill Clinton had a proven affair in the Oval Office. So if it did happen, then she would be qualified to be a Democrat President.
7) Hillary ran Bill Clinton's Health Care initiative. She was not a government employee.
8) Hunting is sometimes necessary.
9) Her per diem charges are legal under Alaskan law. She also saved the state $240,000.00 a year by selling the governor's plane.
So back to my question:
What has Obama done in the senate? In 4 1/2 years he pushed through a bill naming a Post Office. Does one named post office qualify someone for President?
Governor Palin still has acomplished more in 1 1/2 years a Governor than Obama has in 4 1/2 yeas as a Senator
No thanks.
What can change is the willingness for voters to be honest with themselves. In other words, are they willing to think their way through the dense smoke screen that is Sarah Palin or will they cave into the cloying narrative that is being actively aided and abetted by much of the media that portrays Palin as some folksy, common woman with here to fore undiscovered abilities and knowledge that will miraculously appear if and when McCain becomes ill or dies.
Which brings us to McCain and his health status. Why won't he let medical experts see his records in full? What is he hiding? Could it be that he is failing and unwilling to be honest about it (how many other times in his life has he lied for personal gain? A lot).
Which is a real problem, in that McSame remains their bosses' favorite, and that's who signs the paycheck. But the real media professionals know that, if their career requires an ultimate loyalty, they're going to have to move in Obama's direction, just enough at least to appease most viewers into belief in their even-handedness if not advocacy for the increasingly popular Democrat, or soon, if momentum swings even harder for Obama,nobody much will pay attention to their earnest attention-seeking. They can't influence opinion or election outcomes if nobody's watching. Hence the delicate dance of trying to be attractive to viewers and bosses simultaneously. Only the most facile and agile will succeed. Which is the 800 lb. hippo in a tutu nobody wants to mention.
She is none of the things we need in a president. She is certainly none of the things I would want to see in someone who claims to be a feminist.
And she is not a humanist, which is what we desparately need our next president...ALL presidents...to be.
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