Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Sarah Palin: Going Rove


If you will be kind enough to indulge me, I would like to propose a toast: Here's to Sarah Palin; may she never - EVER - go away.
`
I am going to go out on a limb here: No woman since Eleanor Roosevelt has done more to further the cause of progressive politics in the United States of America than has our Sarah.
Don'cha just love her? I sure do!
`
A woman in Texas by the name of Stephanie Garcia has a blog called,
Lady Steele, Modern Super Hero. Yesterday, in a posting aptly titled "Going Stupid", she offered her readers five different variations on the definition of the word "rogue" - courtesy of the good people at Webster's Dictionary:

1. Vagrant, tramp

2. A dishonest or worthless person: scoundrel

3. A mischievous person: scamp

4. A horse inclined to shirk or misbehave

5. An individual exhibiting a chance and usually inferior biological variation

This certainly begs the question: did she or any of the geniuses who surround her have the wit to even do a cursory look into into the definition of that word? And she wants to be president. Is this a great country, or what?

The lady is at it again.I have spent an unhealthy amount of time in the last fifteen months thinking about Sarah Palin. Is she for real?
Does she actually believe the nonsense she spouts on a daily basis? Is she insane or merely dumber than dog shit? Her latest contribution to America's shattered political conversation is her memoir, Going Rogue. The fact checkers who were given advanced copies of the book a couple of days before its publication seem to be unanimous in their opinion that it is drenched in distortions and baldfaced lies. She has picked up the fallen torch of Josef Goebbels and Karl Rove: The bigger and more outrageous the lie, the better it may be utilized to further the cause of one's idiotic political agenda. She has learned more-than-a-few lessons from the masters of distortion.

For the record: I have not read Going Rogue, nor do I have any intention of doing so. I have enough political non-fiction to keep up with to waste any of my time on fiction. That is the reason I never read Gore Vidal's historical novel on Abraham Lincoln. What's the point when there are so many great biographies? Besides, it's been quoted and dissected enough in the last twenty-four hours - by Liberals and Conservatives alike - that I'm able to draw some reasonable conclusions.

One such conclusion that is unavoidable is the woman's jaw-dropping shallowness. When telling the story of how she was confronted at one point with news reports that she and her husband Todd were going to divorce, one would think (indeed one would hope) that she would offer for the reader's contemplation a heartfelt description of her abiding love for her husband; how their union could not be tossed aside like some disposable camera - that she and Todd took their wedding vows seriously. No, there was none of that....

"Dang, I thought. Divorce Todd? Have you seen Todd???"


TRANSLATION: If Todd gains fifty pounds, he's toast.

Thirteen years into their marriage,
Eleanor Roosevelt was confronted with her husband's affair with her social secretary (and distant relative of mine - I come from a long line of home wreckers) Lucy Paige Mercer. After contemplating divorce, it was decided that they would continue their union. Years later, she confided to her friend, Joesph Lash, the reasons for saving their marriage. They were many and complicated. This, I can assure you, was not one of those reasons:

"Dang, I thought. Divorce Franklin? Have you seen Franklin???"

Ah, substance!

The book offers all sorts of lame explanations as to why the Republicans got their heads handed to them at the polls a year ago - and conveniently avoids the unavoidable: the choice of this idiotic woman to be "one heartbeat away from the presidency" will go down in history as the most profound political blunder of the era. The very fact that she was perceived as a viable, competent candidate is further proof (as if further proof is really necessary at this late point) that the Republican National Committee has been overtaken by maniacs. Did they actually believe that she was up to the task? You bet'cha!

"What do you read?"

That is not really much of a "Got'cha" question, is it? Obviously you would be able to answer it in a heartbeat: "Well, among other things I read 'The Rant' by Tom Degan." (And don't you dare deny that you read it. You're reading it now, GOTCHA!) Ask me the question and I would be able to give you a fairly long list without batting an eye: Time, Newsweek, Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, The Nation....I typed that out without a moment's hesitation. And those are just some of the publications I read. So why is poor Katie Couric being condemned by the diva of the Klondike for making such an "unfair" inquiry?

I think that the more relevant question would be this: how come the Governor of Alaska and nominee for so high an office could not answer so basic and simple a question without the benefit of notes and Que Cards?

"What do you read?"

The fact that she was unable to improvise an answer is quite revealing. I mean, who the hell hasn't heard of Time or Newsweek? She couldn't even come up with "The National Review" - the Bible of the right wing! Even Mad Magazine would have been appropriate under the circumstances. If it weren't so funny it just might be a tad disturbing.

The most interesting and intriguing thing about all of this is the total absence from the book's pages of the name, Levi Johnston, Sarah's none-too-bright, former/future son-in-law and the father of her grandson (whom he happily admits was named after the rock band, Van Halen, and his favorite hockey equipment company - genius). He says that his obviously ghost-written and devastating portrait of the Palins in
last month's Vanity Fair was only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. This is one kid she really should avoid pissing off. Better to omit him from the text entirely.

It is a given that Sarah Palin will not be going away any time soon. Does she have a shot at the nomination in 2012? Unfortunately the answer to that question is: probably not. Oh! But what a gift that would be! The final nail in the coffin of the right wing as a viable political force in this country. But I believe in miracles, and I'm going to pray that the Republican base shrinks between now and then to such a horrifying degree that the nomination is hers for the asking.

Wouldn't that be a wonderful thing? Can you even imagine?

Tom Degan
tomdegan@frontiernet.net

SUGGESTED READING:

Eleanor and Franklin
by Joseph Lash

It was also made into a two-part, television movie in 1975 starring Jane Alexander and Edward Hermann in the title roles. It is available on DVD.

AFTERTHOUGHT:

The geniuses at Google Ad Sense have decided that since this is a piece on Sarah Palin, they should advertise her book at the top of the page. Don't waste your money.

38 Comments:

At 10:34 AM, Blogger charles moore said...

Oh Tom, Et tu????? Everything you said is well stated and true and I will admit that I was wondering when you would step up to the plate to write about her, but I have a severe case of Palin Fatigue. I am sick and tired and bored to death with her, her overworked imagination, her inflamed ego and constantly shifting lies.

The constant news chatter about this shallow, not too bright woman makes me wonder if this is what it is like to live with a venereal disease?

 
At 11:10 AM, Blogger Terry Pierson said...

As always, good stuff. And as you mentioned, not only could she of just listed some of the major magazine publications that everyone knows (Time, Newsweek, etc.) to Katie Couric, but how about some of those old fashion...what do you call them? Newspapers. She doesn't seem like a New York Times reader to me...but maybe the Wall Street Journal at least?

 
At 11:28 AM, Blogger Tom Degan said...

Hi, Charles,

Yeah, I know that it's become trite to write about Sarah Palin - but it's irresistible!

J.R.O.

According to Levi in the Vanity Fair piece, she doesn't even read the Alaska Dailies. Wouldn't that just figure?

Tom

 
At 11:40 AM, Blogger StephanieG said...

Don't even get me started on Levi. Seems to me that he's managing the media better than Lady Palin could imagine doing on her own. As if she's not hurt herself enough in the liberal media, he's the icing on the cake!

Lady Steele

 
At 12:39 PM, Blogger Sue said...

Good post on putting the stupidity on display! I'm Palined out too, and bored stiff with her. I would rather stick a pin in my eyeball then read her trashy book. The rogue definitions are hilarious and just show her and her keepers stupidity!
BTW, "you betcha" she's so famous for comes from Disney channels Mickey Mouse Playhouse cartoon!! Yup, you betcha!!

 
At 12:50 PM, Blogger LCS said...

I saw this on Reddit:

"Going Rogue Reviewed: "Millions of copies will be sold of a book written by someone who can’t write, intended for an audience that doesn’t read, about the thoughts of a person who doesn’t think."

Brilliant!

America: where Democrats are Republicans and Republicans are batshit insane!

 
At 1:11 PM, Blogger Darlene said...

I have to start editing before I post. Two typos ;-(

 
At 4:45 PM, Blogger ArchieBunkerNYC said...

I agree that currently Sarah Palin does not have enough experience to be President of the USA. Her experience for President of the USA, however, is far greater than our current President.

Archie Bunker Queens

 
At 6:25 PM, Blogger Archivist said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

 
At 6:27 PM, Blogger Archivist said...

I particularly love the 'Dang, have you seen Todd' (shirtless, tanned, all sexy and virile under the Texas sun) comment, when considered with her 'SEXISM' cry/whine over Newsweek cover that SHE POSED FOR, in that aging cheerleader shot!

Does she ever hear herself??

Oh .. and thanks for the kudos on my blog post about Sarah: The Tragic Hero .. I've got one of those 'librul elite Educations' dontcha know?? (wink)

www.archivist1000.blogspot.com

 
At 7:22 PM, Blogger Tabor said...

Came via that delightful Darlene and while I am so totally tired of publicity given this talking head...I did get a laugh.

 
At 7:45 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

The thing that annoys me the most about the incessant coverage of this woman is the endless speculation about whether she's positioning herself to run for President in 2012.

Of course Our Lady of Perpetual Victimhood is going to run. (Duh!) She's running now. With her ego, how could she do otherwise?

-Kat

 
At 12:58 AM, Blogger Dearest Friend said...

I'm with Charles...a little...but I had to read this. The "No Sarah Palin" sign goes on the front door after this. Great, great stuff.

She is the epitome of corporate America middle-management, I realize it now. Act like you are loving and care about the "little people" while treating them like shit...and stealing their souls and then thre's her opposite...

That fine lady in the miner's helmet and the combat boots who went from one corner of the 48 states to the other then pissed off generals and admirals by showing up everywhere and anywhere during World War II - and genuinely cared. She served soup in soup kitchens and square-danced with the townfolks. She listened to every soldier tell his stories of home and personally wrote to many of their families! She wouldn't say a bad thing about her sons or daughters-in-law (Despite the bad marriaged all the Roosevelt children seem to end up in - she let them learn from their mistakes...)

I doubt Eleanor would have ever whined about how she looked on the cover of Life or Time...no time for that sort of thing!

Oh, and as a woman...if I had to live with Todd or Franklin...well, have you seen Franklin? (He was very handsome as a young man!) No - I mean...to play the old high school game - only for grown-ups...I think day to day life with FDR would be far superior to living with Todd, doncha think, ladies? Much more interesting over the morning coffee perhaps more tiring and challenging intellectually, yes but what a life!

Here's to Franklin's "Missus" as he liked to call her - a real lady and a woman for other women to REALLY look up to. And I do mean REAL.

Goodnight all...

Mary

 
At 11:37 AM, Blogger A Musing Mom said...

Love it, Tom. It seems that a segment of this country has taken to thriving on ignorance.

Thanks for visiting my blog! I'll be back!

 
At 1:37 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

another def. for rogue. The US of A and Israel. Both the leading perpetrators of terrorism on earth.

 
At 4:20 PM, Blogger Dave Dubya said...

It's pitiful to see all the liberals green with envy 'cause they don't read "all of 'em" like Sarah does.

No wonder her depth of wisdom and understanding of the world is way beyond you mere mortals.

 
At 5:12 PM, Blogger Friko said...

You absolutely must not get rid of Sarah Palin over there.
There is little enough levity in politics since you got rid of Bush and his Bushisms which brightened our papers no end. In fact, things around Palin have got far too quiet recently, if we hadn't had a lovely big article about the huntin' shootin' fishin' boy who is her grandchild's father we'd be having withdrawal symptoms.

 
At 9:01 AM, Anonymous Frank Fisher said...

As usual the majority of the comments here are left by a bunch of liberals talking smack about someone and offering no solutions to any of the problems we face as a country.

If you don't care for Sarah Palin, fine, but you need to remember some of the past VP's we've actually had. There was the wonderfully wooden Al Gore, the clueless appearing Dan Quayle and I would be remiss to leave out our current VP, the gaffe-a-second Joe Biden. I think he needs some polish too.

If any of you have an idea on how to fix things without spending us into oblivion or making us appear weak to the rest of the world, this conservative is willing to listen.

Since Mr. Degan was kind enough to leave me a comment on my blog, I will add a link to his so people can see the other side of things to better make an informed decision.

I will also read others blogs that I find out about here, such as Lady Steele's. Maybe some of you should do the same.

Thanks,
Frank

 
At 12:34 PM, Blogger Tom Degan said...

While I obviously don't concur 100 % with Frank's review, he came by his opinion thoughtfully and honestly. He claims he is not a good writer but I disagree. Here's a link:

http://aconservativesview.blogspot.com

Cheers!

Tom Degan

 
At 1:56 PM, Blogger PCS said...

Another definition of rogue: An organism, especially a plant, that shows an undesirable variation from a standard. That seems to be a fitting description of Sarah Palin.

 
At 2:10 PM, Blogger PCS said...

I visited "Uncle Frank's" blog and noticed he doesn't have a problem talking "smack" about President Obama ("Uncle Barack"?). Naturally, in the land of unreality, talking smack has a different definition.

 
At 5:41 PM, Anonymous Paul K said...

Sarah Palin is the greatest un-mitigated disaster to hit the Republican Party since Barry Goldwater's choice of William Miller to be his running mate in 1964 which this old man still remembers well as a young Delegate and the infamous Johnson Daisy Ad not withstanding. Palin as a vote-magnet for Independents? Ha! The worst idea since 'New Coke' (remember that one?) I feel it safe to say that ole Barry, bless him, is spinning in his grave at the state of the Party. Put Palin on The View with those other cackling hens where she belongs.

 
At 5:48 PM, Blogger Tom Degan said...

Thanks for the post, Paul K....

You have reminded me of something I have thought of often. Were Barry Goldwater to come down the pike today, Mr. Conservative (as he was known in his day) would not be able to get the GOP nomination - for anything. He's be dismissed as a radical Lefty.

They just don't make Republicans like he and Teddy Roosevelt anymore. Pity.

Cheers!

Tom Degan

 
At 8:03 PM, Blogger Frank said...

To PCS,
I refer to our current president as "Uncle Barack" because of the way he wants to fundementaly change our country. In my opinion he wants people to think of him when they think of one one of the symbols of the US. Instead of Unlce Sam, it's Uncle Barack. If that's talking smack, then I plead guilty, but I'm not saying the man is "batshit insane" or wonder if this is how it is to live with a venereal disease as I have read in other comments here today. But thanks for reading.
Frank

 
At 9:24 PM, Blogger Ken Riches said...

There is nothing about her that interests me. Goes to show that beauty is absolutely more than skin deep.

 
At 4:21 AM, Blogger Lydia said...

Darlene sent me via a recent post raving about your blog. I must thank her. This is the most consoling space I've encountered on the internet/regular media since Palin's book was released. I'm putting you on my blogroll after this first visit, and that is a first also!

 
At 3:27 PM, Blogger ArchieBunkerNYC said...

Has anyone heard from the Eco-Fascist Al Gore about the 61 megabites of confidential files placed onto the internet by a hacker who broke into the computers at the University of East Anglia’s Climate Research Unit?

It appears that Warmist scientists may have manipulated or suppressed evidence in order to support their cause. Sounds like Climate Gate will become a popular phrase. Al uses 12 times the energy of the average US citizen.

I hope Al can take time out from watching his Polar Bear Movies to comment.

- Archie Bunker Queens

 
At 8:55 PM, Blogger Kelsey said...

Aw, come on. Have a sense of humor. Be a good sport and read the book for yourself. It might surprise you.

 
At 11:15 AM, Blogger Dearest Friend said...

Changing things without spending...hmm, can't have change without talking things out and listening to each other. I'm reminded of the story in the old testament about the Tower of Babel!

Oh yes, and research too! Find out what works, what doesn't and what could work with a little bit of changes made based on technology available and the right people doing the right jobs.

I see liberals respecting the opinions and thoughts of the conservatives, it'd be great if we were afforded the same respect in return. Saying John Kerry is clueless or Gore is wooden or Obama is inept doesn't help anything, really.

I suppose Mrs. Palin is getting a bit of a lambasting in some places but it seems like we're giving her a chance to say what she has to say and not INVENTING things she did or didn't do to further the liberal agenda. What's been written here by "liberals" is based on the facts we have from her own words through the debates of 2008, interviews we've seen and the book itself. If she cited one usable reference to her accusations and ridiculous prounouncements, I might think, maybe she's right...but I haven't heard or seen her do this yet.

As any good teacher or librarian would say, "Look it up!"

Mary

 
At 10:06 AM, Anonymous Paul said...

Palin is a hottie and if people like her then that's their business. Personally I like some things about her, but would I vote for her for President ? Probably not, but that is my right as an American. :-)

 
At 3:54 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

Mannn is she Hott!

 
At 6:14 PM, Blogger Atom Smasher said...

It is so very entertaining to read and hear the reactions that Sarah Palin gets from the Left and "professional" punditry on both sides.

I think she's great for conservatism and politics. Qualified for Prez? I wouldn't mind someone with a bit more experience and polish myself, but she couldn't do worse than who's sitting in the chair right now, IMO.

Still very entertaining to see the teeth grinding though - keep it up!

-smasher

 
At 11:45 AM, Anonymous Nasti O'Really said...

We in the Neanderthal Party are getting sick and tired of all you Sapien party Goody-Three-Shoes ragging on our Most High Moose Queen, She-Rah Pail-In. You'd think you quasi-modern liberal upright types had nothing better to do than go after poor, defenseless Ice Age HockeyPuckers like Her Moosiness. You really oughta be ashamed of your selves, and their selves, as well. Hmmph! It's Carbonaceous Era Bloggers like this one, and that endoftheworldetc.blogspot.com anti-Neanderthal that make us want to go away and form our own party.

And you aren't invited. So there. Psthlpthssp!!!

 
At 9:29 AM, Blogger Cosmic Navel Lint said...

Apparently Mickey Mouse now wears a Sarah Palin watch. Kinda appropriate.

Good blog Tom, glad I found it. Keep up the good fight mate!

 
At 12:47 PM, Blogger Beth said...

I loved this, Tom. Interesting that I read it today, because I'm thinking about an entry concerning Palin's preoccupation with God. The woman is a lunatic with just enough appeal to a certain portion of our populace to be somewhat of a threat. I'm constantly reminded of Greg Stillson in The Dead Zone.

 
At 12:50 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well Tom, after reading your Afghanistan piece, I was thinking of adding you to my blogroll but this piece really nailed it. Consider yourself added!

I'm afraid (or maybe happy) to say don't count Ms. Palin out yet. With the self-immolation of Mike Huckabee (who recently got Willie Horton'ed), Sarah may be able to sweep Iowa. She may very well get the nomination considering the brain-dead nature of so many Republicans lately.

By the way, the comment on Goldwater reminded me of something. Whenever I see Sarah I picture William F. Buckley up in heaven, bent over 90 degrees vomiting his guts out. If you want a scientific measurement of how far the conservative movement has fallen, I give it to you: from Buckley to Palin.

 
At 11:15 PM, Blogger Chris said...

Just LOL and then some......her again? Yawn..........

 
At 11:19 PM, Blogger Chris said...

Forgot to tell you....if you don't want to read the book, and who does, go to Margaret and Helen for a side-splitting review, chapter by chapter!!!!! Go back and you can read her review of Coulter's book as well.......

 

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