Sarah-gance
It's too funny. In the late summer of 2008 when candidate John McCain announced his curious choice of a running mate, I immediately ran to the computer to do a google-search of the name, "Sarah Palin". I knew next-to-nothing about the woman other than the fact that she was the governor of Alaska. The first thing in her paper-thin biography that stood out for me was the date of her birth: February 11, 1964. I remember that day - distinctly! That was the day my beloved grandma, Loretta Doran Clements, died in South Bend, Indiana at the age of sixty-eight. The photograph on the left was taken in 1912 when she was just sweet sixteen. Wasn't she lovely? I just had to share that with you!But other than that interesting coincidence there was not a heck of a lot in her biography that really stood out. Truth be told, I was more than a little puzzled as to why the GOP would think her an asset to the ticket. The moment she opened her mouth at her first campaign stop in Dayton, Ohio, I could only think of one thing:
Sally Field as "Gidget".
When someone like Sarah Palin can make it as far as she has, it can mean only one thing and it's not a particularly good sign. We are living in a culture that has been custom-tailored for idiots. When a person who can barely put two coherent sentences together without the aid of a teleprompter becomes one of the best-selling non-fiction authors of the decade, that's usually a pretty good indicator that society is spiraling downward at a fairly decent clip. Fasten your seat belts, kiddies!
I had always believed that Monty Python alumni Michael Palin was the funniest person in the world to bear that name. In fact it should be stated for the record that the two Palins are equally funny. The only difference is that Michael works very hard at it. Sarah's funniness, on the other hand, is purely accidental. The woman is a scream; the Buster Keaton of unintentional comedy.
"And so Alaska may progress, I will not seek reelection as governor."
Sarah Palin
July 3, 2009
As I asked on this site shortly after she made that remark (which was scripted), "DID SHE JUST SAY THAT??? You bet'cha!"
Let's face some uncomfortable facts here, shall we? Our Miss Sarah is the quintessential Republican politician. In that respect she's not all-that-different from Trent Lott. Like Lott (whom I don't like a lot), when faced with the choice of honoring the promise she made to govern the people of her state or abandoning her office to make a truck-load of money, she chose the latter - to hell with the people. There was a quick buck to be made - many millions of them in fact - and she was going to make it come heck or high water! Sarah Barracuda wasn't about to let something as trivial as her oath of office get in the way. Her cover story was that she was being persecuted by the Liberal media and her political enemies and that to continue as governor would have been untenable. Clever. And I'm Joan of Arc. Someone hand me a hankie.
This was the week that Sarah Palin went home - not to Alaska - but to FOX Noise, which, as we all know, is her ideological home and where the dear gal truly belongs. It really is loads of fun to watch her waxing moronic with the likes of Bill O'Riley and Glenn Beck. When the Beckster asked her to name her favorite Founding Father, she hemmed and hawed and then said "All of them". When pressed further by Beck she finally blurted out, "George Washington". Seriously, you can never go wrong with George Washington, can you? Talk about your gotcha interviews.
And now she's revving her engines, getting ready to become the forty-fifth president of the United States. Already there are throngs of pundits out there who are saying that she's dreaming; that she'll never get the nomination - but stranger things have happened....
On second thought, let me correct myself: Nothing that strange has EVER happened. Not in all American political history has anything as remotely weird as that ever happened. I don't believe it's even come close to happening. Fascist Barbi becoming the standard bearer for a major political party? Come to think about it, it is probably a bit of a long shot. Oh, but what fun that would be! Can you imagine?
Like a bolt out of the blue
Fate steps in to see you through
When you wish upon a star
Your dreams come true
Jiminey Cricket
I am going to wish upon a star that Sarah Palin gets the nod of her party in three years. It would only mean electoral doom for them. I cannot believe that the American people, in the end, would be nutty enough to send her to the Executive Mansion in 2012. I realize that this is merely a pipe dream on my part, but it is not out of the realm of possibility. So far out of the main stream has that party drifted in the last thirty years, a Sarah Palin candidacy is not only possible - it is damned-near inevitable! Long gone are the Everett Dirksons and Nelson Rockefellers who would keep the loony right wing in check. Millicent Fenwick is merely a cherished but faded memory. Those folks are dead and I have a hunch that they won't be coming back anytime soon. Let's face it: the Republican Asylum has been taken over by the inmates. It's kind of funny when you think about it.
Then again, leave it to those idiotic Democrats to screw up a good thing. As I write these words, the party of Edward Moore Kennedy is within hours of losing his seat - a seat from one of the most Democratic districts in the entire nation - a district that has been solidly Democratic since 1953 (five years before I was born!) Every time I forget why I left that worthless party twelve years ago, they always cheerfully remind me. And I appreciate that, I really do.
Contrary to the accusations that have been made against me, I do not and never have hated America. But, man! My country sure as hell has a talent for embarrassing me. That being said, I hope Grandma Clements would be proud.
Tom Degan
tomdegan@frontiernet.net
AFTERTHOUGHT:
I know it's getting a bit off track but I can't help mentioning it: February 11, 1964 also marked the day that the Beatles made their first concert appearance in America - in Washington DC.
Special thanks to cousin Walt Clements for the photograph of our grandmother, Loretta Doran Clements
For more recent postings on this deplorable, hideous cesspool of commie, liberal propaganda, kindly go to the following link:
"The Rant" by Tom Degan
You oughtta be ashamed of yourselves for even reading this stuff!
And please pray for peace....
posted by Tom Degan @ 3:43 AM
68 comments
68 Comments:
Tom Degan, je vous lis avec beaucoup d'intérêt et le doux visage de votre adorable grand-mère l'emporte, évidemment, de beaucoup sur la mine effrontée de la Palin !
TRANSLATION:
Tom Degan, I read you with great interest and the sweet face of your adorable grand-mother obviously wins by a mile over Palin's insolent mug.
ANSWER:
Larry, je vous remercie pour le complément, mais a vrai dire, ce n'est pas le visage de la Reine des Glaces qui m'inquiete, mais ce qui se cache derrière!
TRANSLATION:
Larry, thank you for the complement, but, truth be told, it is not the Ice Queen's face that worries me, but that which hides behind it.
Thanks to brother Jeff Degan for providing the French-to-English translation. To my utter shame, I do not speak the language. I will someday, though!
Who would have ever guessed watching our Country "Crash & Burn" could be so entertaining?
Though Mrs Palin is an obvious Sociopath and worthy of our disdain; I prefer to save my disgust for her supporters and anyone that still relies on Fox for news.
Her motivation is clearly to gain wealth but her biggest supporters are often poor whites. I can only assume its her breasts and really "sexy" wink that wins them over.
Thank God I'm not given to being an Atheist. I would suffer endlessly believing this was as good as it gets.
Tom,
While I agree with you about the nature of Sarah Palin, I worry about the possibility of her becoming the Republican nominee for President. Last time over 50 million voted for her ticket and it's just possible that she could get 60 million next time. She's a very dangerous person. I can't even imagine the amount of damage that she could do to this country. When I laugh at the stupid things she says, it's tempered by the thought that there might be enough people in this country who would view her "I didn't go to no fancy school" logic as enough reason to vote her in to the highest office in this land. I don't want to be crying the "tears of a clown" in 3 years.
Tom,
If you have not seen the movie "Idiocracy", I would suggest you rent it. I see us inching towards that future everyday.
Thank goodness I only have 20-30 years left on this planet. I don't think it will be fit for habitation for much longer, especially if the Republicans make a come back in the next decade. Drill, baby, drill!
Peace to us all!
"we are living in a culture that has been custom-tailored for idiots"
Boy, ain't that the truth.
Hi Tom, a CBS poll today shows that 71% of the people do NOT want Palin to run for president. Of course we all know that polls come and go and sift constantly.
It is frightening, however, to see the number of people who really think that she is qualified to run for office. I think a big deciding factor may be how long she stays with Fox News. Someone as intellectually lightweight as Palin can't hang on too long. Just like being governor, she will become bored or irritated at being out of her depth, while not knowing that she is out of her depth and she will then flutter on to something else.
The sad thing about many of her most ardent supporters is that they look at the number who watch her on Fox and take that as a sign of approval, not realizing that like a train wreck a lot of people are watching to see her make a fool of herself. She does make for good comic relief.
But yes, also very dangerous and sad and discouraging that so many people are so completely enamored with her.
At this point, I agree with Anon in that I am glad I don't have that many more years to live and see what happens to this once great country of ours.
If I never hear the name Sarah Palin again it would brighten my day. She is an empty dress (suit).
I find it frightening that so many people are oblivious to what is happening to this country. Ignorance rules.
You said it best, Tom. The inmates have taken over the asylum.
Your grandmother was lovely and you have every right to be proud of her.
Thank you, Darlene. Although I was only five-and-a-half when she passed from this life, I remember her well. I can still hear the sound of her voice all of these decades later.
Today she lies next to my grandfather, Walter Clements, in the little rural Catholic cematary in Hodgenville, Kentucky - the town Lincoln was born in.
Thank you for the nice thought. I'm sure grandma appreciates it.
Love,
Tom Degan
One of the things that keeps Queen Palin in the limelight is all the people who write about her expressing disbelief at her popularity. If they would instead ingnore her and make a point of never mentioning her again or watching her etc. She would quickly fade from view.
you have got
to love Palin
all that cash
she's a bailin
it simply proves
this country's ailin
if she's elected
we'd all be failin
can't you hear them
they are a wailin
all that love
for Sarah Palin
yes we try
you hear us railin
don't dear God
vote for Palin
they won't listen
the heights their scalin
and it's our coffin
they'll soon be nailin
Tom all things die maybe it will soon be time to bury the USA. If we elect this clueless nitwit we deserve our fate. I thought GWB was a puppet this women will be so far out her depth we will be able to see the strings. I would certainly have liked to hear her name another founding father. During the election it has been revealed that she had no knowledge of the Cold War or how North and South Korea were formed can you imagine her as President wait you already have.
I was pleased to see South Bend in your entry. I am sure your grandmother enjoyed living here.
As for Palin, I think when she accepted the Fox job, that was the end of her chance to be nominated.
tom, please move to europe, where you can enjoy the company of other underacheivers who do not believe in themselves and think they have to have others to help them to make it.
if only we could vote you and your friends 'off the island'.
Now there is a happy thought
To quote the late, lamented Jack Benny:
"Well!"
Cheerio!
So let me get this straight. You liberal nazis think that Insane Hussein / O-Shit hasn't been liberal enough. If that's the case then Brown would have won Mass 75-25 last night.
Chivas Kennedy is rolling in his grave right now and it simply puts a smile on my face. I know JFK is awfully proud however.
We will always be center right which makes you clowns irrelevant.
Just move to Europe instead of sitting around and bitching as to how Americans are just dumb.
Hope all is well Tom.
Harry from Mass
Tom, I second the recommendation of Idiocracy if you have not seen it yet. Thank you for your column. I don't know why our critics assume we are under achievers, when we often have high paying jobs, graduate degrees, and support policies that may cost us more in taxes, but help them...curious.
We absolutely and completely need to bring civics back into our curriculum. We also need to wrestle our history text book content out of the hands of TX politicians. Some training in critical thinking would not hurt our kids either...
I am thinking of learning French. Since liberals are accused of looking down on America any how, I could move to France, make them right and get free health care and good wine in the bargain!
Harry from Mass, Nazi (an abbreviation for "National Socialism") leaders were opposed to the Marxist idea of class conflict, and opposed the idea that capitalism should be abolished and that workers should control the means of production. For those who consider class conflict and the abolition of capitalism as essential components of socialist progress, these factors alone are sufficient to categorize "National Socialism" as non-socialist. Consequently, your reference to "liberal nazis" [sic] would be considered a contradiction in terms, or more appropriately, an oxymoron. However, sir, you on the other hand fit the description most adequately. Of moron, that is.
And let me add that not all Americans are dumb, but enough are so that our culture is being destroyed by corporatism and acute corruption at all governmental levels. As long as right-wingers, like yourself, insist on believing the fiction of "the American Dream", which has never been a reality, corrupt politicians will continue to side with corporate interests over that of their constituency.
Our government, no matter which party is in control, operates behind a cesspool of incorrigible elites running the show and fronting the whole spectacle behind the terminated ideas of "democracy" and "freedom". It's been a long time in the making; it certainly didn't commence nine years ago, as far too many liberal-minded people like to think, but it goes back a lot further. It didn't even begin with the Reagan years, though it certainly accelerated during those years. The changes started almost imperceptibly, and definitely without being noticed (except by a select few), until now the plundering and robbing is at warp speed. The corporatists are firmly entrenched and in the driver's seat. We, the working class who mistakenly think we're middle class, aren't even in the back seat. We're tied up in the trunk, effectively gagged, and being held for a ransom that nobody will, or can, pay. The elite and the moneyed are on a joyride, after robbing us of every penny we have, and don't have, and are speeding toward oblivion with the top down.
Harry, you keep believing the "American Dream", whatever that is. Dream on, my friend, because it's all you'll have left.
p.s. Harry, please don't get the mistaken idea that I'm a fan of Obama. Nothing could be more inaccurate. He's a corporatist, in a long line of corporatists, who has been effectively hand-selected and perched upon the presidential throne of corporate supremacy. This has been going on for decades, under the guise of "democracy" and "free elections". Unfortunately, the scam has been successful and the American people have been duped.
Well, how about that ?? The voters in MA are sending the male version of Sarah Palin to D.C. !!
Ellis D., it is indeed the Grand Old Party.
Let's see what we have here: Palin the ex beauty queen, Brown the naked centerfold, Vitter in diapers playing with prostitutes, Larry "Wide Stance" Craig trolling for male sex in an airport washroom, Ensign doing a staff members wife while his parents paying them off, not to mention the draft dodgers of the previous administration. Wow!
Any others to add to this list of clowns?
Tom!
How about that election in MA!!!!!...Gotta love it huh!...Happy New Year to You!
Anne
What a sorry sad sack you are! Sitting over here eating rancid cheese puffs, puffing out your bloated cheeks and spouting off 'rants' on topics of which you haven't the least of clues!
Sarah Palin is an American first; a small-town self-made woman, a mother, a daughter, a wife, then comes (the least important of all) a politician. That's exactly opposite of your far-left professional 'community organizer in chief' who spent years studying a political faux-'religion', Black Liberation Theology, and constitutional law on the side, for the sole purpose of taking our Constitution apart and rendering this little country down for the looters and moochers who only want to turn us into just another nation of dirty socialists. Your half-baked attacks on Sarah Palin aren't nearly as crazed as Andrew Sullivan's, but I can visualize him in you.
And you, in him.
In the life of a Palin, supply-side is to economics what trickle-down is to pregnancy test kits.
Well, Tom, I hate to say this, but it used to be that you knew your own worthiness by the quality of your enemies. Trouble is, your enemies are idiots. I read their rants and I have to say they do confirm everything you say about them. They open their mouths and spout Nazi-like threats, completely misunderstand the nature of "free speech" as well as "democratic republic. But then they were schooled in America and never learned history.
Are they just louder than people with intellect, or are they close to being a majority? The crazy thing is, for me, is how often they declare their stupidity and ignorance by suggesting we move to Europe, when Europe doesn't want Americans to emigrate. We are rude, ignorant, undereducated and violent. We say things like "Your mother!" and "I hope you DIE for disagreeing with me!" The Nazis were a minority but they were able to take over most of Europe. This time they have taken control of America, but their moral compass is smashed and their ability to rule effectively is minimal. They always fail to keep their country safe because they always want to go kill lots of Others. Why is that? Social Darwinism?
REMEMBERING TED KENNEDY
A drunk Ted had been driving back from a party to the family 'compound' on Martha's Vineyard when he veered off a bridge and into a deep tidal dike.
Drowned: Mary Jo Kopechne was killed after Ted Kennedy drove his car off a bridge with her inside
Mary Jo was in the back seat and, while he claimed he was just giving her a lift back to her hotel, it was widely thought that he had picked her up for sex. Kennedy swam ashore to save himself, but left Mary Jo to drown - in fact, it was even worse than that.
It was nine hours before he reported the accident. In the meantime, he walked back to his motel, complained to the manager about a noisy party, took a shower, went to sleep, ordered newspapers when he woke up and spoke to a friend and two lawyers before finally calling the police.
Divers later estimated that if he had called them immediately, they would have had time to pull out Mary Jo. She had not drowned, but had survived in an air pocket inside the car - she was asphyxiated only when the oxygen ran out several hours later.
As always, Ted used the family name to save his neck. In any other state but Massachusetts, the Kennedys' home turf, and with any other name, he would have been charged with homicide.
Instead, he escaped with a slap on the wrist: a two-year suspended sentence and the loss of his driving license for a year. He had been allowed to plead guilty to no more than the charge of leaving the scene of an accident.
Kennedy lawyers arranged for him to pay £55,000 to the Kopechne family from his own pocket with a further £30,000 from his insurance. Mary Jo's mother later said: 'I don't think he ever said he was sorry.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1209313/Ted-Kennedy-The-Senator-Sleaze-drunk-sexual-bully--left-young-woman-die.html#ixzz0dFsM1qjS
Barabara, you are right on the money. Their proggtardly hero, Ted Kennedy, was a drunken, irresponsible, self-centered killer.
Mary Jo desperately clawed at the back window of that '67 Oldsmobile as her air pocket ran out, a horrible death; but Sarah Palin, now, is really the for-real enemy of these far-left losers.
Douchenozzles, all.
Thank you, Serr8d. You just explained why Sarah is unqualified to hold the highest political office in the country.
New Plain Poster
Enjoy!
Another great piece Tom!
Serr8ed, you said...
"Their proggtardly hero, Ted Kennedy, was a drunken, irresponsible, self-centered killer."
So, George W. Bush wasn't? Oh, that's right, Dubya's been clean all these years. He killed hundreds-of-thousands of innocent Iraqis without the excuse of being under the influence of alcohol.
Stalin said, "One death is a tragedy; one million is a statistic." I can think of no better example.
Leave it to a Liberal / Communist / Nazi to quote Stalin.
Give me more Guardian. What did Mao say? or Hitler? or Insane Hussein? tell me...
Thanks again for the lovely and articulate lesson about corporate greed earlier.
Harry from Mass
I just howled when I watched her interview with Beck. I loved the founding fathers part, with their diverse diversity, but what really got me was when she mentioned the "founding mothers." [laughing] I'm cracking up all over again just thinking about it!
Tom, you're getting some lively banter with this post it seems you struck a nerve. I love the posts defending Palin quite funny and utterly absurd, as for Kennedy well rich people of whatever political stripe have been getting away with murder since... After the disaster in Mass it would appear that neither party can or will represent this nations interest and with the recent SCOTUS decision we just lost government of the people by the people etc..
We are now the Republic of Walmart
and a decision that was rendered straight down ideological lines, thanks GWB. Those Justices are poor excuses for human beings wait don't humans have consciences, because they sure don't. By the way Harry the ass from Mass thanks for your moronic comments they always provide a liberal dose of side splitting humor with there succinct and irrelevant points.
Well, which one is it Harry? Am I a liberal? A communist? Or am I a Nazi?
You have no idea what the philosophical or political differences are, do you?
That's the danger behind all of this, Harry. There are millions, just like you, who don't either. And that's what scares me.
Guardian you are wasting your time the Internet is filled with moronic posters like the ass from mass. Just think he posts anonymously then adds his name(if that's his name) what is the purpose of that. Plus you will find the preponderance of anonymous posters are nit witted conservative republicans who provide very little in the way of constructive dialogue much like their representatives in D.C. They are just vacuous vessels that parrot and mimic the same talking points over and over again. Plus you correctly nailed it he does not understand the differences between the various philosophies and is suffering from what is called echolalia. Let's watch him google that word. You made a very poignant point with that quote from Stalin he was a monster but then again so is Bush.
Jefferson, Liberalism is a Subsidiary of the Communist Party.
Harry from Mass
No, Harry, you're absolutely, and totally, off-base. The ideas of individual liberty, personal dignity, free expression, religious tolerance, private property, universal human rights, transparency of government, limitations on government power, popular sovereignty, national self-determination, privacy, "enlightened" and "rational" policy, the rule of law, respect for science, fundamental equality, a free market economy, and free trade are what constitute liberalism.
Your remarks confirm everything that I've already suspected about you. You're just another ignorant and sound-bite spouting mouthpiece who doesn't have the faintest clue what you're saying, or even what it all means. And Harry, that's what scares the piss out of me. Your kind is growing by leaps-and-bounds in this country. You know why? You lack critical thinking skills, and your thirst for truth and knowledge has been stripped from your very being.
Good luck in the future, Harry. When the corporatists (i.e., fascists) drag you from your home one day simple because you're Lebanese, think about everything liberalism tried to bestow upon you. You, and the millions who hold similar viewpoints as you, may finally understand one day. But, unfortunately, it will be too late by then. Far too late.
@ Jefferson's Guardian - Here, here Sir! Bravo!
Always refreshing to see the Fox News Borg roundly and comprehensively spanked!
Jefferson, what does being Lebanese have anything to do with. I'm more american than you will ever be. You Liberal Nazi.....
Harry from Mass
I can going to try to state the other side without being condescending. What the democrats want to do is give insurance to those who don't have it by raising taxes to GIVE it to people who can not afford it instead of making it cheaper so people CAN afford it. Giving is bad. Making it cheap so people can afford it is good.
Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for life. People value more what they earn than what is given to them.
Republican plan is simple: Get REAL competition by allowing me to shop isnurance across state lines, like we do with auto insurance. Can you imagine how expensive that would be if you were limited to shopping within state only.
And two, tort reform, tort reform, tort reform. Guess what? There are bad doctors and doctors who make mistakes. But the tort system is messed up. Give it a thought for a second. Someone who wasn;t really hurt by a doctor sues for $500,000. The insurance company knows it is muuuuch cheaper to settle out of court for this amount rather than spend millions in court where they may have to spend many more millions if they lose, even if the doctor isn;t really at fault but an over-emotiojury wants to set precendence. What would you do if you were an insurance company.
The only thing democrats have attacked the republican plan on is the fact that it isn't THEIR plan.
Really, can someone tell me what is wrong with the Republican plan/
So, Harry, now I'm a liberal Nazi; before I was a communist.
Which is it?
Harry, perhaps you ought to understand the definition of the various labels you pin on people prior to using them. Because, frankly, it's apparent you haven't a clue.
Good luck with that Jefferson's G: I often find trying to 'debate' anything of substance or import with a member of the Faux News Borg about as rewarding as trying to play a game of table tennis with someone who is either unwilling, or unable, to provide a return of service.
The result is the same in either case: unrewarding.
Bconvis, you make great points. However, these clowns won't respond. Product of the pussification of this country.
Jefferson, Communism is the HQ with Nazism and Liberalism being a Sub of Communism.
To the moron who continues to mention Fox news - check the ratings guy. How is PMSNBC and CNN working out for you? How is that hope and change O-Shit promised your sorry ass working out for you?
I love seeing O-Shit fail on a day to day basis. As that A-Hole Chris Matthews said a while back "I get tingles up my leg" watching O-Shit fail every single day.
All the best to you Bconvis. The rest of the moonbats can shove it.
Harry from Mass
Harry,
Here's a piece which explains your spiritual home (Faux Noise), and a film of you and your buddies struggling to explain what's wrong with the US - and then struggling further to have a clue about what to do about it:
Fox News: Flat Earthers-R-Us
Sarah Palin Book Signing
You and your ilk's inarticulacy are the problem, not the solution.
Good afternoon Cosmic. Thank you for the hilarious links! You have a masterful site, sir, and I wish you the best of luck! If you don't mind, I'll stop by occasionally to add my American two cents (which is just about the value of the American dollar, these days). As for Fox News, and more specifically, Harry's insistence that more is better, or at least "right", it suffices to say that the United States is on the slippery slope toward economic and cultural oblivion. Indeed, both the right and the left agree upon this, unfortunately the right is looking in the wrong places -- analogous to the old woman who lost her reading glasses in the kitchen, but looked for them outside in the garden because the light was better.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, there are millions of ignorant Harrys inhabiting this once proud nation; millions of ignorant and sound-bite spouting mouthpieces, who don't have the faintest clue of what they're saying, or meaning, mistakenly thinking of Fox News as the Holy Grail of political and economic thought. But, you and I, and Tom, and millions of other enlightened individuals do have an obligation to point out their inaccuracies, rhetoric, and most of the time, outright lies. However, we can only lead these dumb fux to knowledge; we can't make them think.
Tom,
So, in your view then, Michael Jordan would have been 'quitting' if he had resigned from the Bulls subsequent to some thug doing a 'Tonya Harding' number on his knees disabling him to the point where he couldn't even walk anymore? Yep, you would insist that he ought to be out there on the court, scooting about in his wheelchair.
You folks so illustrate 'hutzpah'.
When you cannot do the job you have been hired to do, the responsible thing to do is to resign. Palin says that the tsunami of 'ethics allegations' made it impossible for her to do her job.
She says she knew that the decision to leave might destroy her political future. She says she left anyway, because the interests of the people of Alaska were more important than her political future. She demonstrated integrity of the first order.
Why shouldn't I believe her? Because you say so? How about a little evidence?
And before you dismiss my comment out of hand, the practice of disabling a political opponent by tying them up in expensive, time-consuming legal proceedings isn't new. It was something popularized by corporations to use against their critics, and only lately taken over by the left.
Cosmic Naval Lint includes this gem:
"Now, Palin's claim to be able to see Russia from her house notwithstanding"
This is the sort of blatent LIE which completely destroys your credibility, CNL. Palin never said that. Tina Fey said that. Whether you can distinguish between them is debateable.
What is not debateable, in fact, is that what Palin actually did say is true. You can indeed see Russia from Alaska. Little Diomede to Big Diomede. Those are islands in the Bering Strait, you geographically challenged nitwit.
Tom,
With all the best to you as well, you HAVE NO EVIDENCE for you belief.
David,
Your comment begs a response. Sarah Palin did not leave her job for the benefit of the Alaskan people. She left because there was a bloody fortune to be made in the lower forty-eight that could not be made in the governor's office. If she cared so much for Alaska and its people she would have stayed there. At last report she was looking for a home in the Hamptons.
Seriously, David. It is my belief that the woman is a fraud and a fool. Thank you for the comment, though, pal.
All the best,
Tom Degan
Tom,
You are repeating yourself. Is there a person there, or is this the Deganbot??
You caught me! I made a couple of typos in there and I just wanted to correct them. You are on your toes, I've got to admit!
Cheers!
Tom
Tom,
Correct a typo? How do you do that? I need to do it. I left the 'r' off a 'your'...either my fingers are too cold, or too old.
I am curious to know how you know what Palin's 'real' motivations are? I myself have never (sigh) been able to read minds.
Time to make some coffee and thaw out my fingers.
Re Charles Moore at 444:
"Larry "Wide Stance" Craig"
Apart from any other issues surrounding this incident, I am compelled to point out that there is a perfectly good reason to have a 'wide stance' at the urinal in a public mens' room. Just look at the floor...I mean, who wants to stand in a puddle of dribbled piss?
Well, it would appear that we've found a real 'Teabagging for Palin' believer in David...
The most "responsible" thing Palin could have done was not to have placed herself in the position where her "ethics" (assuming she does indeed have any) were brought into question in the first place.
And, being the venal specimen she is, instead of trying to clear any good name she might have had, she quits and runs, and opts for the easy money of the Faux News Borg - proving that perhaps her "ethics" were always somewhat, ahem, elastic...
And as for Palin's egregious stupidity, any claim that Alaska has a "border" with Russia is ridiculous: it is separated by water - and given that, regardless of where you are in the world, the line-of-sight visible horizon is only 12 miles (at sea level), the only place you'd be able to "see Russia", as David claims you can, is if you're up in a plane, or up on the highest peak of one of Alaska' remote archipelagos - neither of which the average person is likely to do just to get a peak of something which is 50+ miles away at it's closest point; so sorry, David, you're attempts at making Palin seem in any way credible just won't wash to the thinking people reading this.
Jefferson's Guardian said:
"No, Harry, you're absolutely, and totally, off-base. The ideas of individual liberty, personal dignity, free expression, religious tolerance, private property, universal human rights, transparency of government, limitations on government power, popular sovereignty, national self-determination, privacy, "enlightened" and "rational" policy, the rule of law, respect for science, fundamental equality, a free market economy, and free trade are what constitute liberalism.
Damn! Smoked out!! I must be a 'liberal'!!! Maybe I can put my 'VRWC Founding Member' membership card in the family scrapbook.
Shall we take 'Respect for Science' as a start? Good. Now, how does it help science to falsify data and conspire to suppress work which contradicts yours? I agree that no one who is a 'scientist' should ever do that. And those who do should be derided, mocked and de-funded.
'Limitations on government power'. Yes. I don't want the government in my bedroom. Or on my phone. Or in my refrigerator. Or in my medicine cabinet. And ESPECIALLY in my doctor's examination room.
'Religious tolerance'. Yep. I should think we would all be on board on not forcing people to choose between working in emergency rooms and remaining faithful to their religious convictions. 'Hello, Martha Coakley!!'
I can go on and on. I do hope you get my drift.
Wikipedia to Cosmic Lint:
"The islands are separated by an international border as well as the International Date Line which is approximately 1 km (0.6 mi) from each island. At the closest distance between Little Diomede and Big Diomede, the two islands are about 3.8 km (2.4 mi) apart. The small habitation on Little Diomede Island is centered to the west side of the island at the village of Diomede.
The Big Diomede Island is considered the easternmost point of Russia."
Palin is correct. You are in error.
And yet, David, you're still missing the point of the original Katie Couric question to Palin: "how does any proximity to Russia award you credibility or foreign policy credentials?"
By all means enjoy your pedantry, David, but all you're doing is providing us with a clear insight as to the type of person who bats for Palin.
Now, seeing as Palin could not, let's see you try and provide an answer to the above question?
Hey, maybe you'll find the answer on Wikipedia?
And sorry to rain on your parade even further, David, but, even according to your beloved Wikipedia, Alaska doesn't have a land border (let alone a contiguous one) with Russia - oh, and the International Date Line is not 'a border', it's one of the meridians marking time zones.
Perhaps now you'll appreciate why serious scholars do not use Wikipedia - as anything which can be edited whilst you read it cannot be taken seriously.
Lint,
Sarah answers the question best, in her book. Which is a fair bet that you haven't read. I'll quote a bit for your edification:
"...Alaska's geographic position makes our relations with Pacific Rim countries of great strategic import, and that we're the air crossroads of the world. That Russian bombers often play cat-and-mouse with our Air Force near Alaska's airspace. That I dealt with Canadian officials on a weekly basis and have signed agreements concerning everything from security to salmon fishing, and that NAFTA has significantly affected our economy." (pages 274-275)
And it goes on a bit in this vein. Alaska has international aspects which just don't apply to backwaters like Arkansas.
One thing everyone should take away from the Couric 'interview' is that given the propensity of the media folks to 'edit for effect', one should insist on total 'creative control' over the product before agreeing to talk.
Yes, David, if you wouldn't mind, please answer Cosmic's question. I'm also anxious to know.
As far as your response directed toward me, please do go on. Actually, to be honest, I don't get your drift -- other than I feel you're rudderless and without direction. Is that what you meant?
I'm sorry, David, even quoting chunks from her barely literate missive doesn't answer the question being posed - as it just makes the same ham-fisted attempts to state how close Alaska is to Russia and Canada (the latter with whom, at least, the US does have a contiguous land border).
So, again, seeing as Palin signally fails to come even close in elucidating on precisely why any proximity to Russia might lend her any credibility or foreign policy credentials, perhaps you might try on her behalf?
Oh, the HORROR! It isn't a 'border', as defined by Cosmic Navel Lint.
Palin never said Alaska had a 'land' border with Russia. She said it is a "...narrow maritime border...". Which is both true and accurate. There is NO international, high-seas ocean involved in a 2.8 mile strait. One moves directly from one political jurisdiction to another.
I'd bet the residents of Michigan would be surprised to know, that according to you, they don't have a border with Ontario, because it is water.
David,
Now you're just back-pedalling and digging yourself a bigger hole mate (so I'd recommend you stop digging).
Let's see if you can stop your habitual obfuscation, misdirection and dissembling and actually answer the question being asked of you?
Q: In what way might proximity to Russia accord Sarah Palin any form of credibility or foreign policy credentials?
It's OK: we'll wait for an answer.
Yes, I'm waiting also...
Cosmic Navel asks:
"So, again, seeing as Palin signally fails to come even close in elucidating on precisely why any proximity to Russia might lend her any credibility or foreign policy credentials, perhaps you might try on her behalf?"
She didn't fail in elucidation. You failed in comprehension. She possessed actual experience in dealing with the international issues (fishing, oil, etc.) which came within her purview as governor. And her two years experience was ever so much more than Obama's, which was what? Going to school in Indonesia?
That being said, no President needs to know every detail concerning everything. That's what experts are for, and why you hire them. Any really good executive knows how to delegate and refrain from micromanaging jobs his subordinates should be doing. So when picking an executive, one looks for that ability, not a 'wikipedia' in a suit.
"Actually, to be honest, I don't get your drift"
It's a figure of speech. You folks here educated, or not?
The way I see it, J.G., is that almost all of your political program directly betrays the items you propose to be the core of your political philosophy. As cognitively dissonant as a Jesuit Whorehouse.
And now, I thank you for a fun afternoon, but I must go. It's off to Costco! Can you believe I'm shopping at an outfit which featured ChickenLittle Algore on it's magazine cover?
Actually, David, she failed in both elucidation and comprehension - and if you disagree, then it's perhaps worth a visit to a dictionary to remind yourself of what both these words mean.
The bottom line, David, is you're just another enraged and not very articulate Palin-lovin'-teabagger who refuses to admit that the target of his desire is a hopelessly out of her depth wannabe-never-gonnabe (unless you count being a shining light amongst the Faux News Borg as some form of accolade).
You're just not comfortable with her being righteously lampooned for the poltroon she is. Added to which, your default position is one of intractable pedantry - which has never been a worthy substitute for content - and a bubble within which it's impossible to 'get' satire, as it just passes you by (as you've more than amply illustrated here).
Try looking up satire on your favourite font of 'knowledge', Wikipedia: it won't explain it to you, but at least you can tell your grandchildren that you once read something about it...
another great post tom.this is kevin,from rochester new york.your wonderful granny,must be spinning in her grave along w/ted kennedy,and other people who died before our political system was hijacked by "fascists",when they hear, and "yes they do",what is happening to amerka.wrong spelling is intentional.i will bet dollars to doughnuts,if this idiot palin gets the republican nod in 2012,she will pick"pin up boy"as her running mate.god this is going to be funny.keep the faith.
I dont believe she will get the nomination. There are other Republicans in front of her with presidential aspirations, Mitt Romney,Huck and perhaps Gingrich. I think they will assassinate her before too long. She really is a nasty bit of work but I think the three of them will sharpen up the chain saw blades and take this ignoramus down! She could not hold her own in a debate with Bart Simpson. The biggest sin of the last election, in my opinion, was the truly horrid moderating of the VP debate done by Gwen Ifil. She could have held her feet to the fire and made her answer questions....or attempted to make her. Palin could not have answered them is the point. Perhaps if just one journalist would ask her some pointed questions...like "can you identify Iran on this map?"...even the tea party rabble would recognize her perfect storm of buffoonishness! It appears she may have some tax issues on the horizon although she does have a remarkable ability to convince her followers that up is down. SIGH. She is a combination of arrogance and ignorance and a whole lot of mean in my opinion. She offends me as a woman. She offends me as a Christian. She offends me as a human maybe, too.
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