Sarah Palin and the Two Americas

[Marilyn. 340]

even the best parents aren't perfect... sheesh

[GaryC 7]

I find this all so rich. The dems are supposed to be the party of rising above the the personal attacks. Yet we have nothing but personal attacks now that they feel threatened. So much for the "new direction" that Obama promised.

[Marilyn. 340]

oh Gary.. what are we going to do with you??

[SteveLaura 0]

You guys don't disappoint. Keep proving my point. McCain/Palin has you running scared. If not then why this huge outpouring of hatred? This is going to be a fun election to watch.

Gary, do you think she's experienced to be a heartbeat away from the top job? Can you sell that, without bringing up Obama?

She already has more executive experience than Obama. Given the choice between the two I would choose Palin any day.

So, do you think her record stands on its own? Because it seems that you do need to use Obama as a comparison in that answer. What specifically about her two years experience is good enough for you?

What specifically in Obama's 4 years of experience is good enough for you?

Ok, I'll answer. Then your turn.

I see the President more as an influential figure. Someone to inspire (eg Kennedy and the Space Race) and to set a tone for the country (although I wasn't paying much attention to US politics in the late 70s/early 80s, it appears that Reagen was able to do that in a way that Carter was not - the 'morning in America' ad, for example). I see these things in Obama. He is bringing people into politics in a way that has little to no precedent. If that many people care about the country, and will follow through beyond Nov, that's great for the US - regardless of whether you're left or right. People do need to get involved in their communities, and I see that possibility with an Obama victory.

Now. What do you see in Palin?

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Shamelessly stolen from Fark:

Dear Santa,

I've been really good this year. As an early Christmas present, could you make the first question presented to the VP candidates in their debate, "On this blank map of the world, please point to Afghanistan." Make both of them answer at roughly the same time. I realize that isn't really a debatable postulation, but it'd be fun to watch all the same.

Thanks!

Why do we assume she must be stupid?

Since she's been to Kuwait and has a son serving in Iraq I'm pretty sure she knows where Afghanistan is

Because she has a 17yr old knocked up daughter and she thinks every american family is cool with it. Maybe she needs to do some educating at home first, before she starts preaching to the rest of the nation of what she can do for us. Perhaps she has some items on her 'to-do' list at home that aren't taken care of.

My sister was pregant at 17 - is my mother stupid?

She lacked to teach your sister some items. Your mother is not running for the VP of the US either. With that type of status, you should have a solid background, and her's is closer to Britney's than to a real VPs.

And to Gary's "are you running scared" I'm running and laughing my a$$ off with this nominee. I think its a joke.

Is that so now? How is it that my brother and I had exacly the same background and both were not teenaged parents and went on to get advanced college degrees and great jobs? Just like Sarah Palin also raised a son who is serving our country in Iraq. Do you know how condescending and sexist your remarks sound?

My comments were to be condescending. They are not sexist. I dont care what you or your brother, or your neighbor ended up doing in life. I dont care about your sister either. 17yr old pregnancies are wrong. A VP should be a role model, as a leader, as a woman, as a mother. Not teaching your kid and setting them up for a hard life is a failure as a parent. Certainly not VP material. So get up off your high horse, this is not about your or your family.

Are you that f&cking dense that you don't understand how your remarks play out? Among ordinary people like my family? (who happen to be in a swing state).

Seriously, you people are sounding worse than Pat Buchanan and Dan Quayle - and you're supposed to be the "progressive" ones!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

even the best parents aren't perfect... sheesh

Yep. You can't control everything your kids do anyway, especially not when they're teenagers - unless of course you're willing to be some sort of authoritarian ogre standing over the child with a big stick. Then again they're just as likely to be messed up by that approach and grow up to become some sort of Oxford cloth shooting spree maniac.

Dunno - if I knew someone whose teenage daughter got up the duff would I be justified in finger pointing and making out that her parents are to blame?

I would have to say no.

So if its not ok for me to do it to a friend, why is it OK to do it to a complete stranger?

Edited September 3, 2008 by Paul Daniels

[LaL 418]

I am a dem and I am categorically not "threatened" nor "running scared" of Palin. I find it curious, and do see many points as to why she was selected, but scared - I am not.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I am a dem and I am categorically not "threatened" nor "running scared" of Palin. I find it curious, and do see many points as to why she was selected, but scared - I am not.

The difference is that Gary has already decided that you are "scared" and "threatened" so its the only context in which he can frame the comments.

I'll go further and say that even the unjustifiable comments about Palin don't suggest that either - its the same old #######-for-tat that's been going on forever and a day. Clearly a lot of people haven't and aren't willing to move beyond that cack.

[morocco4ever 63]

Now now, aren't you all being a little hard on Gary? You must understand his rose colored glasses. Remember his views on Bush? Nuf said.

Gary, I don't think anything hateful is really being said about her. I think everyone has opinions, similar to you. Not everyone is going to agree with you. You must learn to handle this a little better. Especially considering how you have continual bashed Obama. It's all politics afterall. The same ####### that happens every 4 years.

Personally I don't know her stance on issues well enough to comment on her. I do, however, think that his selection was for other reasons than her political stand. That I don't agree on. But for me, time will tell. It appears others on here know much more about her than I do.

So I really am interested in the question that you refused to answer. What is it about her that makes you think she is qualified?

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I am a dem and I am categorically not "threatened" nor "running scared" of Palin. I find it curious, and do see many points as to why she was selected, but scared - I am not.

You know, I'm not going to vote for John McCain, but as a woman a little part of me cheered when she was announced because of what it meant for women, and I fundamentally disagree with her worldview. Here is a woman who is a feminist's wet dream - she has it all, a family and a career. She's a star athlete, hunter (I hate hunting), governor, beauty queen, small business owner. She outshines her husband and can run with the boys.

Will I vote for her because of this things? No, I won't. But tearing her down using sexist language and dismissing her impressive accomplishments among people who consider themselves "liberals" really makes me question their commitment to issues that are important to women. It's depressing.

Edited September 3, 2008 by rkl57

[GaryC 7]

You guys don't disappoint. Keep proving my point. McCain/Palin has you running scared. If not then why this huge outpouring of hatred? This is going to be a fun election to watch.

Gary, do you think she's experienced to be a heartbeat away from the top job? Can you sell that, without bringing up Obama?

She already has more executive experience than Obama. Given the choice between the two I would choose Palin any day.

So, do you think her record stands on its own? Because it seems that you do need to use Obama as a comparison in that answer. What specifically about her two years experience is good enough for you?

What specifically in Obama's 4 years of experience is good enough for you?

Ok, I'll answer. Then your turn.

I see the President more as an influential figure. Someone to inspire (eg Kennedy and the Space Race) and to set a tone for the country (although I wasn't paying much attention to US politics in the late 70s/early 80s, it appears that Reagen was able to do that in a way that Carter was not - the 'morning in America' ad, for example). I see these things in Obama. He is bringing people into politics in a way that has little to no precedent. If that many people care about the country, and will follow through beyond Nov, that's great for the US - regardless of whether you're left or right. People do need to get involved in their communities, and I see that possibility with an Obama victory.

Now. What do you see in Palin?

So in other words it's not about experience. I see.

Keep in mind that McCain HAS the experience needed now as opposed to Obama using some sort of a magical power of persuasion to bring the country together. But to answer your question on Palin, First and foremost she is a conservative. That is what is important to me. She brings an unashamed set of values with her that is exactly what I want to see in a VP. She had the guts and determination to stand up to corruption even in her own party and clean house. Can Obama say that? He came up in one of the most corrupt political landscapes in the country, Chicago. Have you seen any attempt from Obama to try and correct any of that? Nope. In fact he embraced that corruption with his association of Rezco. I also like the idea that she has no ties to Washington and no back she has to scratch. I would hope that when McCain wins he will turn her loose on Washington and shake it right down to it's roots.

[morocco4ever 63]

You guys don't disappoint. Keep proving my point. McCain/Palin has you running scared. If not then why this huge outpouring of hatred? This is going to be a fun election to watch.

Gary, do you think she's experienced to be a heartbeat away from the top job? Can you sell that, without bringing up Obama?

She already has more executive experience than Obama. Given the choice between the two I would choose Palin any day.

So, do you think her record stands on its own? Because it seems that you do need to use Obama as a comparison in that answer. What specifically about her two years experience is good enough for you?

What specifically in Obama's 4 years of experience is good enough for you?

Ok, I'll answer. Then your turn.

I see the President more as an influential figure. Someone to inspire (eg Kennedy and the Space Race) and to set a tone for the country (although I wasn't paying much attention to US politics in the late 70s/early 80s, it appears that Reagen was able to do that in a way that Carter was not - the 'morning in America' ad, for example). I see these things in Obama. He is bringing people into politics in a way that has little to no precedent. If that many people care about the country, and will follow through beyond Nov, that's great for the US - regardless of whether you're left or right. People do need to get involved in their communities, and I see that possibility with an Obama victory.

Now. What do you see in Palin?

So in other words it's not about experience. I see.

Keep in mind that McCain HAS the experience needed now as opposed to Obama using some sort of a magical power of persuasion to bring the country together. But to answer your question on Palin, First and foremost she is a conservative. That is what is important to me. She brings an unashamed set of values with her that is exactly what I want to see in a VP. She had the guts and determination to stand up to corruption even in her own party and clean house. Can Obama say that? He came up in one of the most corrupt political landscapes in the country, Chicago. Have you seen any attempt from Obama to try and correct any of that? Nope. In fact he embraced that corruption with his association of Rezco. I also like the idea that she has no ties to Washington and no back she has to scratch. I would hope that when McCain wins he will turn her loose on Washington and shake it right down to it's roots.

So if she was the presidential candidate rather than McCain, and she was running against a democrat with many years of political experience and accomplishments behind him or her, who would you vote for? Would it depend on the issues, or would your vote remain the same since you are obviously a devout republican?

[rclouse 0]

Shamelessly stolen from Fark:

"On this blank map of the world, please point to Afghanistan."

This is actually pretty good... they should test all politicians running for national office with something like this!

That was actually my point in pasting it here. Federal politicians should be well versed in geography.

And yes, I have great confidence that Biden would pass that test. Palin, not so much.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Shamelessly stolen from Fark:

"On this blank map of the world, please point to Afghanistan."

This is actually pretty good... they should test all politicians running for national office with something like this!

That was actually my point in pasting it here. Federal politicians should be well versed in geography.

And yes, I have great confidence that Biden would pass that test. Palin, not so much.

Tell me why.

[IAMX 3,055]

No need to watch the McCain attack ads, just read Gary's posts, as he seems to have spoon fed from those same ads.

Experience!

Change?

Experience!

Change?

All political ad, not much substance.

Edited September 3, 2008 by SRVT