2008: Sarah Smile - 2013: She's Gone
I never thought I would live to hear me say these words, but thank goodness for Hall and Oates.
"The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby
with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama's 'death panel'
so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their
'level of productivity in society,' whether they are worthy of health
care. Such a system is downright evil."
"The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby
with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama's 'death panel'
so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their
'level of productivity in society,' whether they are worthy of health
care. Such a system is downright evil." -Sarah Palin, August 7, 2009
`
Yeah, she's gone alright. I have mixed emotions about this latest development. True, she was (and is) a cancer on America's body politic. True, she's a textbook example of how it is still so easy for even the dumbest white people to succeed in so race-conscious a society. But oh how I'm gonna miss Fascist Barbie. She was the Buster Keaton of unintentional comedians. Early in the 2008 campaign John Cleese said that he no longer believes that his fellow Monty Python alumni, Michael, is the funniest Palin on the planet. How I wish I could thank her personally for those gales of laughter these past four-and-a-half years.
On the day in 2008 that Sarah Palin made her first appearance as John McCain's running mate, I knew next-to-nothing about her. The only thing I knew for certain was that she was the Republican governor of Alaska. I didn't even have a mental image of her. A quick google search of her name revealed some curious facts. The first thing that struck me was the date of her birth - February 11, 1964. That was a milestone day in my life that I could remember distinctly! It was the very day that my beloved grandmother, Loretta Doran Clements, died unexpectedly in South Bend, Indiana. For the historical record, it was also the day that the Beatles played their first concert in the United States. At her first joint appearance with McCain in Dayton, Ohio, she didn't make much of an impression on me to be sure. As I said on this blog at that time, she had all the gravitas of Sally Field as Gidget. The moment she opened her mouth it was instantly apparent to me that the McCain campaign had made a dreadful blunder. Good for them.
Can you imagine the "what ifs" that poor John McCain must experience every waking hour of each and every day? He originally wanted Joe Lieberman for his running mate. That was too much for the geniuses at the RNC to handle. Lieberman? A former Democrat - and a Jew??? Absolutely out of the question. They insisted on a right wing neanderthal that would appeal to "the base". If Senator McCain had had his way, there's every reason to speculate that he would have won that election. He might even be at the dawn of his second term at this very moment. It's no wonder he has turned into such a cranky old curmudgeon - and who could blame the poor bastard?
We really need to face some hard and uncomfortable facts. 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 state-of-the-art 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!
Move over Lou Gehrig. Barack Obama has got to be the luckiest man on the face of the earth. Throughout his career, whenever he has sought elective office, fate has always been kind enough to place in his path to power a genuine headcase (Remember Alan Keyes?) That is precisely what happened in 2008. Not to my surprise, Sarah Palin and John McCain went down to screaming defeat on Election Day. Of course she placed the blame - not on the idiocy of the campaign that was waged - but on the "lame-stream media". You see, they insisted upon asking a litany of awkward and tricky "gotcha" questions, as Katie Couric of CBS did when she posed to her this brain-bender:"What do you read?"
During her last campaign appearance with McCain, although the senator was smiling, it was a clenched-teeth kind of grin - or rather a grimace. His eyes revealed a very different emotion. It was all-too-clear to me that he would have strangled her then and there given the opportunity. It gives me the dry heaves to contemplate how close this incurious, mean-spirited and idiotic woman came to being "a seventy-four year old heartbeat away from the presidency".
And so back she went to Juneau; back to the relative obscurity of the governor's office in a relatively isolated state, light years from the thrill and glamor of New York and Washington. And then there was the money - and all that money. The offers came pouring in from the right wing scream machine. They wanted Sarah as the new face of conservatism in America. Fox Noise was beckoning. Oh, the dilemma.
There was a buck to be made, many millions of them in fact. The job of governor was a drag, and compared to the offers she was getting it was a low paying gig. What to do? Abandon the citizens of Alaska she was sworn to serve. Just tell them that those evil liberals had made governance impossible. She had to save America from those awful people. In fact her plan was to cash in on her new found celebrity - BIG TIME.
"And so Alaska may progress, I will not seek reelection as governor."
Sarah Palin, July 3, 2009
What the....DID SHE JUST SAY THAT??? You bet'cha!
She was on her way. A few people in the media speculated that she would seek - and receive - the 2012 GOP nomination. That was my most cherished prayer, but I concluded early on that it would never happen. My luck has never gotten that good! But what a scream a "Sarah for President" campaign would have been. Can you even imagine? It's all over now. Her fifteen minutes are up. For four years she hopped around the country with one foot on a banana peel and the other one in her mouth. It finally became clear to everyone that this silly and shallow woman doesn't have the substance of a half-eaten box of Fruit Loops. Her time as a cultural and political icon was destined to be brief. The amazing thing is that she was taken seriously by anyone for half a minute.
This week it was announced by Fox News that they will not be renewing Sarah Palin's contract as a commentator on that awful network. When someone's act gets too weird even for Fox, it's a pretty good sign that one needs to fold up the tent and go home. Maybe they're heeding the warning of MSNBC's Joe Scarborough who has publicly admonished the Republicans for being "the Party of Stupid". Whatever the reason, she's history.
Not long ago I watched the 1958 film "A Face in the Crowd" with Andy Griffith. It is the story of a homespun singer/philosopher whose lust for power and treasure turns him into a feared and vengeful demagogue. In the end his world caves in on him and he finds himself alone and disgraced. The parallels to the story of Sarah Palin are eye-opening.
Tom Degan
Goshen, NY
tomdegan@frontiernet.net
SUGGESTED VIEWING:
Game Change
I don't normally suggest any film I haven't seen but I'll make an exception here. Every review I have read says that it is superb. It's about Sarah Palin's involvement in the campaign of 2008. It was originally broadcast on HBO and has been released on DVD. I can't wait to see this one!
Reader Dave Dubya just sent me this link from the Media Matters website. It contains video clips of the Top Ten Worst Things Sarah Palin Said during her stint on Fox Noise:
http://mediamatters.org/blog/2013/01/26/the-10-worst-things-sarah-palin-said-on-fox-new/192403
I'm gonna miss that gal.
posted by Tom Degan @ 12:49 PM
47 comments
47 Comments:
It is interesting how she quickly vanished from stage center into thwe background after the Giffords episode.
I feel she was partly responsible along with those others who are totally irresponsible in words and actions.
It is a sad day in America when a lunatic can be turned on to the public as a viable candidate for the highest office in the great nation.
Shame on you John McCain!
On the rabid radical Right of American politics, beliefs and dogma trump education and experience...always.
Simply shout "death panels", "socialism" and "liberal media" loudly and often enough, and you're qualified to run for any office in the land on the Republican ticket.
Oh, and add "teleprompter" to that list. They love "teleprompter"...except when Bush used one. But it's OK for Republicans to use a teleprompter, reality has no bearing on the hypocritical cult of the radical Right.
We remember Cheney saying, "Reagan proved deficits don't matter". Yup. Not a peep from them on that. No tea party protests over that. Nosiree.
Yes, as a nation, we are practically begging for corporate controlled idiocracy to replace our democratic republic.
Good. She single-handedly poisoned the entire healthcare conversation. An awful, awful person.
"The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama's 'death panel'…" ~ Sarah Palin
Ignoring for the moment that death panels aren't in the ACA (IPAB isn't that*) or that they exist in private health insurance, without Obamacare her kid won't have to stand in front of death panels, because Down Syndrome is a pre-existing condition.
To sum: With Obamacare, no death panels. Without Obamacare, no death panels (because no insurance).
"It's no wonder he has turned into such a cranky old curmudgeon…"
"Turned into"?
* And even if it was death panels, IPAB is for Medicare, of which suffers of Down Syndrome typically don't have the life expectancy, 60 currently, on average, to reach.
The 10 Worst Things Sarah Palin Said On Fox News
Obama yearns for slavery along with Marxist thugs and dingbats...Oh my.
Thank you for that, Dave. I just provided your link at the bottom of the article. PRICELESS!
All the best,
Tom
Game Change, adapted from Mark Halperin and John Heilemann's bestselling nonfiction account of the 2008 election, is an excellent film. It won a Golden Globe for best motion picture made for television as well as individual awards for Julianne Moore and Ed Harris.
Steve Schmidt, the campaign's chief strategist, stated: "Ten weeks of the campaign are condensed into a two-hour movie. But it tells the truth of the campaign. That is the story of what happened." Nicolle Wallace, a chief Palin 2008 aide, said she found Game Change highly credible, saying the film "captured the spirit and emotion of the campaign." Wallace also told ABC News Chief Political Correspondent George Stephanopoulos that the film was "true enough to make me squirm."
Dave!
You've been gone a while. How are things in Ypsilanti? Cold enough for you?
What do you think about that asshole Al Gore?
In a final regulation issued Wednesday, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) assumed that under Obamacare the cheapest health insurance plan available in 2015 for a family of five will cost $20,000 for the year.
So if you cant pay the bill for Obama care what happens then?
Under Obamacare, Americans will be required to buy health insurance or pay a penalty to the IRS.
The IRS’s assumption that the cheapest plan for family of five will cost $20,000 per year is found in examples the IRS gives to help people understand how to calculate the penalty they will need to pay the government if they do not buy a mandated health plan.
“The annual national average bronze plan premium for a family of 5 (2 adults, 3 children) is $20,000,” the regulation says.
Hey, I thought this was the "affordable" health care act? Maybe there death panels hidden in this as well, anyone read it to know for sure?
(CNSNews.com) – In a final regulation issued Wednesday, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) assumed that under Obamacare the cheapest health insurance plan available in 2016 for a family will cost $20,000 for the year.
Under Obamacare, Americans will be required to buy health insurance or pay a penalty to the IRS.
The IRS's assumption that the cheapest plan for family will cost $20,000 per year is found in examples the IRS gives to help people understand how to calculate the penalty they will need to pay the government if they do not buy a mandated health plan.
The examples point to families of four and families of five, both of which the IRS expects in its assumptions to pay a minimum of $20,000 per year for a bronze plan.
“The annual national average bronze plan premium for a family of 5 (2 adults, 3 children) is $20,000,” the regulation says.
Bronze will be the lowest tier health-insurance plan available under Obamacare--after Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Under the law, the penalty for not buying health insurance is supposed to be capped at either the annual average Bronze premium, 2.5 percent of taxable income, or $2,085.00 per family in 2016.
In the new final rules published Wednesday, IRS set in law the rules for implementing the penalty Americans must pay if they fail to obey Obamacare's mandate to buy insurance.
To help illustrate these rules, the IRS presented examples of different situations families might find themselves in.
In the examples, the IRS assumes that families of five who are uninsured would need to pay an average of $20,000 per year to purchase a Bronze plan in 2016.
Using the conditions laid out in the regulations, the IRS calculates that a family earning $120,000 per year that did not buy insurance would need to pay a "penalty" (a word the IRS still uses despite the Supreme Court ruling that it is in fact a "tax") of $2,400 in 2016.
For those wondering how clear the IRS's clarifications of this new "penalty" rule are, here is one of the actual examples the IRS gives:
“Example 3. Family without minimum essential coverage.
"(i) In 2016, Taxpayers H and J are married and file a joint return. H and J have three children: K, age 21, L, age 15, and M, age 10. No member of the family has minimum essential coverage for any month in 2016. H and J’s household income is $120,000. H and J’s applicable filing threshold is $24,000. The annual national average bronze plan premium for a family of 5 (2 adults, 3 children) is $20,000.
"(ii) For each month in 2016, under paragraphs (b)(2)(ii) and (b)(2)(iii) of this section, the applicable dollar amount is $2,780 (($695 x 3 adults) + (($695/2) x 2 children)). Under paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this section, the flat dollar amount is $2,085 (the lesser of $2,780 and $2,085 ($695 x 3)). Under paragraph (b)(3) of this section, the excess income amount is $2,400 (($120,000 - $24,000) x 0.025). Therefore, under paragraph (b)(1) of this section, the monthly penalty amount is $200 (the greater of $173.75 ($2,085/12) or $200 ($2,400/12)).
"(iii) The sum of the monthly penalty amounts is $2,400 ($200 x 12). The sum of the monthly national average bronze plan premiums is $20,000 ($20,000/12 x 12). Therefore, under paragraph (a) of this section, the shared responsibility payment imposed on H and J for 2016 is $2,400 (the lesser of $2,400 or $20,000).”
Hey Tom,
I have to disagree with you completely, Caribou Barbie will be back. ...much like most viruses.
I predict a 'lip-service' swing to the Center just to buoy her relevance and credibility. This woman is the Don King of politics and we have enough gullible schlubs in this country to keep buying "her" books (y'know things other people wrote, but her picture is on).
It is amazing that this dolt holds such sway among the electorate. She has offered nothing to any debate ever. Her "down-home plain-spoken" faux patriotic ramblings are 'genius.' It's like "Mad Libs" for Conservatives.
Inter-sparce any thought with the words: "socialism," "hard-working Americans," "liberty," "patriotic" and "conservative" and you have a "Palinism," gobbled up by far too many dim-witted voters.
Who the fuck talks like this in real life?
I was especially disappointed to see Sarah on the "Today" show a few months back. There was a segment where she and other guests were asked to discuss the failing ratings of Oprah's network. The other guests gave her insights and Sarah had a chance to be...well to be Sarah--a real person with an opinion on an everyday ordinary thing.
She couldn't.
She went on some measured tired about how the entire network was failing because it needed a "conservative show, with conservative, patriotic values, the foster liberty" or some horseshit.
Mark my words Tom--"She'll be back" and with a bigger dick than the Terminator's. (No--Todd doesn't count!)
I also can't believe you haven't seen "Game Change!" Julian Moore is exquisite in her impersonation of Palin. I actually found the movie to be at times sympathetic to both Palin and McCain. It's not a bash piece.
It is clear from her career and the movie, that Caribou Barbie will be back championing "truth, justice, and the American way."
...if only any of it were genuine.
~Unless
Jay @ www.loraxlog.blogspot.com
To witness Sara Palin's true followers just click over to: http://conservatives4palin.com/
These people are faithful to the end. I'm hoping they will be mortgaging their homes, and cashing in 401's and insurance policies to supply money to Sara's Super PAC for the glimmer of a presidential run in 2016. She will drain them dry.
TOP-11 “ONLY IN AMERICA” OBSERVATIONS — BY A CANADIAN*
1) Only in America could the rich people – who pay 86% of all income taxes – be accused of not paying their “fair share” by people who don’t pay any income taxes at all.
2) Only in America could people claim that the government still discriminates against black Americans when they have a black President, a black Attorney General, and roughly 18% of the federal workforce is black while only 12% of the population is black
3) Only in America could they have had the two people most responsible for our tax code, Timothy Geithner, the head of the TreasuryDepartment and Charles Rangel who once ran the Ways and Means Committee, BOTH turn out to be tax cheats who are in favor of higher taxes.
4) Only in America can they have terrorists kill people in the name of Allah and have the media primarily react by fretting that Muslims might be harmed by the backlash.
5) Only in America would they make people who want to legally become American citizens wait for years in their home countries and pay tens of thousands of dollars for the privilege while we discuss letting anyone who sneaks into the country illegally just ‘magically’ become American citizens.
6) Only in America could the people who believe in balancing the budget and sticking by the country’s Constitution be thought of as”extremists.”
7) Only in America could you need to present a driver’s license to cash a check or buy alcohol, but not to vote.
8) Only in America could people demand the government investigate whether oil companies are gouging the public because the price of gas went up when the return on equity invested in a major U.S. oil company(Marathon Oil) is less than half of a company making tennis shoes(Nike).
9) Only in America could the government collect more tax dollars from the people than any nation in recorded history, still spend a Trillion dollars more than it has per year – for total spending of $7-Million PER MINUTE, and complain that it doesn’t have nearly enough money.
10) Only in America could politicians talk about the greed of the rich at a $35,000.00 a plate campaign fund-raising event.
11) Only in America can a man with no background, no qualification sand no experience … and a complete failure at his job … be re-elected.
Wonderfully written, Tom.
I agree with the other commenter who recommended "Game Change." I read the book first, and enjoyed it very much. HBO did a great job with the movie, and I liked IT so much that I think I've watched it three times already! I think you'll enjoy it as much as I did. Happy viewing!
Anon 10:16
Great observations.
Harley,
I find it interesting that the focus is on someone from the past who has been pretty much destroyed and no longer in a position of power. That seems rather hateful and spite filled.
Instead of dealing with the on going failures of the person they supported for re-election, they would rather high five each other over someone who never held a public office that effected them, losing face time in the media.
Makes zero logic to do that unless it a way to avoid having to face the realities of:
Unemployment back up to 7.9
8,500,000 of us have left the work force since Obama's first election
Gas prices heading towards $4.00 again.(BLAME BUSH?)
Another attack on one of our Embassy's
Obamacare's cheapest plan will cost $20,000 for family of 5, I though it wasn't going to cost anything? The good thing is I'll be able to keep my Dr. right?
Senator Reid backing fellow Dem Senator Menendez in prostitute scandal
Mr Gore (aka oil is bad for us) sells his cable tv network to an oil producing country
Tawana Brawley is going to be forced to pay those who she falsely accused of raping her(Rev Al,any comment?)
Chuck Hagel
Detroit MI
Chicago murder rate.
I'm sure some one will post saying all of the above are Bush's fault, or the GOP's run Congress, or that I'm a racist for having even provided this list. But none of those attempts will change the hard cold fact of this country is in major decline and they rather talk about an V.P. nominee from over 4 years ago and say how happy she lost because how stupid she is, while overlooking the current V.P. (Joe Biden just in case some of the readers don't know who the current v.p. is) total lack of any brain power or common sense!
Oh Harley,
I forgot to close with
"WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE ANY WAY?"
Chuck, if you were more politically informed you could put together a much more powerful critique of Obama. Conservative websites do not cover many of his worst policies because they are in favor of them. Here is one of many:
http://www.alternet.org/story/156059/trans-pacific_partnership%3A_under_cover_of_darkness%2C_a_corporate_coup_is_underway?page=0%2C1
Tom
That's a rotten job of Photo Shop used to put Palins head on the photo of a woman with a gun.
BTW, How's the job search coming along, any long on getting a job? How long has it been for you? Unemployment must be a drag.
Chuck,
I do find it gratuitous, unhelpful, and obvious. Many conservatives were not big fans of hers. I don't see the point. I could point to equally ridiculous Democrats that have haunted Washington for years.
Yup, looks like the Conservative War on Women has spread to Islam.
"Following a recent outbreak of swine flu in the West Bank, which later spread to Gaza as well, ‘Issam Shawer, a columnist in the Hamas daily Falastin, wrote that women are the worst transmitters of diseases because they tend to gather in groups and to move from place to place. He advised them to wear a niqab, saying it protects them from infection, and called to limit their movement in the next few months in order to curb the spread of germs.
The following are excerpts from his article:
“The swine flu virus, H1N1, is spreading through the West Bank towns, especially the northern ones. Four people have died so far and dozens are sick, and the numbers are increasing, [though] we hope they will stop.
“I believe that women are the most numerous and fastest transmitters of viral diseases and epidemics such as swine flu, and I am not making baseless accusations when I describe them as such. This is especially [true] in Arab societies like ours, which follow customs that are positive and pleasant, but are also deadly in [certain] unusual circumstances. [For example, when there is need] to make a condolence call, women emerge from every corner and flock from every direction, even from afar, and then congregate in one place. They comfort [the family] and also trade stories – this is very important to them – and spread news and rumors, but also viruses that waft through the stuffy air. Then they disperse, and many go on to perform some other duty at some other home or function hall. This is why I think women are the fastest transmitters of epidemics."
Blame America, blame Bush, blame Corp Greed, blame the Rich, blame capitalism, on the count of:
one
two
three!!
Tom,
Since I am not a skeet shooter (don't like their taste no matter how they are cooked) maybe you know the answer to this.
The photo the White House released today of Obama shooting skeet, are skeet shot that low to the ground? I don't shoot skeet so I don't know, but the photos shows the shotgun discharging almost parallel to the ground.
Help
Chuck, it's called tracking. Same thing for shooting birds or skeet. You track them as they leave the ground rather than simply standing there pointing your gun up in the air hoping that you can hit something as it flies by. That's how Dick Cheney managed to shoot his friend in the face.
You know, the right comes roaring out any time there is a comment about one of their own. But instead of lauding the person in question, they jump on Obama.
You all might spend a little more time finding a candidate who merits our votes and stop picking easy targets to lead your GOP.
You can be serious about Palin. Neat looking but a vacant mind and proud of it.
Sorta of runs with the GOP party: Warren Harding, Coolidge, Bush 2, and the cardboard candidate, Romney who had no clue about people. You lose because you pick weak candidates.
"Neat looking but a vacant mind and proud of it."
Are you talking about Joe Biden, Maxine Waters or Shelia Jackson Lee?
BTW, I don't see you defending what has been poster here about the Obama failures.
Anonymous "BTW, I don't see you defending what has been poster here about the Obama failures."
When you write that; I read "Why don't you spend a few hours or an evening researching, drafting and posting a reply (as you have repeatedly done in the past) to a copy 'n' pasted from somewhere else, made-in-bad-faith argument from someone who will ignore it (bad faith, remember), only to watch them move on to another copy 'n' pasted, made-in-bad-faith from somewhere else".
Say Modusoperandi,
Why don't you deal with the facts given in the "cut and paste" post instead of trying to distract by attacking it's source?
HUMMMMMMM?
Pointing out that Anonymous is here, not for dialogue, but to throw crap at the walls isn't a distraction; it's a fact.
I can't argue with your depictions of Mrs. Palin, namely because I can't find another political mind that is worthy of any greater consideration.
All of these people are bought to sell the populace on the image of themselves, their political party, the political apparatus, and the greed they profit from and proliferate.
What I question about Palin is if she was put into place on purpose? The Democrats were smart enough to know that a woman can't win the Vice Presidency, not to mention the whole Kahuna. This is evidenced in their hamstring of H. Clinton. I don't think there was any intention by the Republican party to win that election, or that last one. It's no different than putting that "you rang?!" Lurch John Kerry against GWB in his second running. Not much different than the "you rang?!" Lurch Gore they put against him in the first election.
What I am saying is they have a giant collection of politicians to put forth as president, many extremely articulate, physically attractive (or appearing of trustworthy) and capable of winning. Ron Paul is the perfect example. But for some reason, this continual bait and switch election cycle keeps hitting the voting booth with a decided outcome.
Sarah Palin was the perfect choice to lose an election. Even if the actual vote count were in Republican favor, how easy would it then be to make a few virtual software switches and change the outcome. No questions asked. But just to be safe, put an unbelievable, doubtable, crisis agent in there to make sure of the outcome.
The problem liberals are having today is their reality check just bounced.
Elections have consequences.
Elections have consequences. That is a funny line coming from a Conservative because they totally ignore all that came out of the Cheney administration. Eight years of hell for this country and never a word of criticism. Not a word of blame for 9/11 or letting North Korea obtain a nuclear weapon. The off shoring of 10 million manufacturing jobs with traitorous tax code changes.
They killed the Super fund program and also the "New Source Review", which was Clinton legislation to have the coal plants eliminate Mercury and other heavy metals coming from their smokestacks. 13 years of 50,000 tons of pollutants being spread over the country so Big Coal can have higher profits.
They brought us institutionalized torture which I feel is on the same level as legalizing pedophilia.
Conservatives as a rule are too cowardly to ever admit any mistake or error, unlike me and other Liberals who regularly points out the failings of Obama.
L.A.Times April 13, 2012 A short history of the N. Korean nuclear saga.
March 2001: President George W. Bush takes a chillier tone on North Korea than his predecessor, Bill Clinton. North Korea calls Bush's policies “hostile.”
===============================================================================
Clinton signed the Agreed Framework of 1994 that allowed North Korea to build a light water reactor for “civilian” purposes. Iran followed suit in 1995 when they restarted construction on the Bushehr power plant with the help of Russian and German engineers and the blessing of the Clinton administration.
To the great surprise of liberals everywhere, in 2006 North Korea exploded their first atomic bomb with Iran now well on the way to doing the same.
================================================================================
The leftist media spin is that the current crisis in North Asia is the result of George W. Bush calling Pyongyang a member of the 'axis of evil.' In reality, the soft-line appeasement policy taken by Clinton against North Korea and China is what has led us to this point.
For example, former Clinton adviser Paul Begala, now serving as a talking head on CNN, claimed that the Clinton administration contained the threat from North Korea. Clearly, Mr. Begala missed the 1990s.
Of course, Mr. Begala simply forgot that Clinton's military chief of staff testified in 1998 that North Korea did not have an active ballistic missile program. One week later the North Koreans launched a missile over Japan that landed off the Alaska coast.
==========================================================================================================
CNN 3/1/2012....1999: U.S. eases sanctions
North Korea allows U.S. inspections in return for help on its potato yields. Inspectors find no evidence of nuclear activity during its visit.
Later in the year, President Bill Clinton agrees to ease economic sanctions against the country. A U.S.-led international consortium also agrees to sign a $4.6 billion contract to build two nuclear reactors in North Korea.
2001: North Korea threats
Unhappy with the progress on its promised power plants, North Korea threatens to restart its nuclear weapons program. It says it will start testing missiles again unless normalized relations are resume with the U.S.
James,
You can squawk all you want about the cutting and posting of the information above. I simply wanted you to see how wrong you are.
Then there is your claim of allowing 9-11, are you talking about the most recent 9-11 or the one 10 years ago?
And finally your statement about our countries condition under Bush vs. Obama. Tell us, what the average unemployment rate was under Bush vs. Obama. Do you really believe that things are better now? Stop sipping the kook-aid, oops, I meant kool-aid, it is starting to effect your mental capacity.
P.S. Aren't you getting a little tired of blaming all of Obama's failures on Bush? How long does Obama have to be in office before he owns his failures?
You are not paying attention, I am not an Obama supporter. You have never seen me mindlessly defending Obama like you do Bush.
My whole point was in the 13 years I have been reading politics, I have never seen a Conservative criticize Bush's policies. It is idiotic to think we have gotten to this point in just the last 4 years.
Conservatives as a rule are too cowardly to ever admit any mistake or error, unlike me and other Liberals who regularly points out the failings of Obama.
"rule are too cowardly to ever admit any mistake or error, my whole point was in the 13 years I have been reading politics.'
Well here you go James,
Bush wasn't a conservative, he spent money like a sailor on leave.
Now do you agree with the new info you have concerning N Korea?
Chuck Morre.
Biden in Europe this week, speaking to the Munich Security Conference.
“We have seen positive steps recently to address the eurozone crisis, with the European Central Bank pledging to stand behind countries willing to launch reforms, and with Greece, Ireland, Poland* [*sic-Portugal], Spain and Italy all taking important steps to put their economies on a sounder path."
Needless to say, Poland is not even a member of the Eurozone, and its economy is in considerably better shape than that of debt-ridden Portugal. Biden’s blunder is the latest in a series of Obama presidency insults relating to Poland.
AHHH Joe, hello, anyone in there?
Tom,
Looks like once again you are ahead of the curve! Keep up the good work of saving the planet!
"Want to reduce the effects of global warming? Stop working so hard. Working fewer hours might help slow global warming, according to a new study released Monday by the Center for Economic Policy and Research.
A worldwide switch to a “more European” work schedule, which includes working fewer hours and more vacation time, could prevent as much as half of the expected global temperature rise by 2100, according to the analysis, which used a 2012 study that found shorter work hours could be associated with lower carbon emissions.
The Center for Economic Policy and Research is a liberal think tank based in Washington."
Carney Defends Assassinating US Citizens With Drone Airstrikes: “Legal, Ethical, And Wise”…
Still upset over illegal wiretaps under GWB? How come the progressive/liberals aren't screaming about this?
You are absolutely right about this. Some are - but certainly not enough. Joan Walsh just made this very point a few minutes ago on her Twitter account. She said that if this were the Bush administration we so-called "progressives" would be screaming bloody murder. We're not.
We should all be speaking out against these atrocities.
Tom,
The Righties are full of false equivalence.
Remember when we criticized Bush doing these things? We were accused of "aiding the enemy" by the hypocrites on the right. Many liberals condemned Bush, and now Obama for continuing the Bush/Cheney abuses. Not so on the Right. They condemn only Obama for doing what Bush did. In fact Cheney actually accused Obama of "aiding the enemy". Yeah, the guy who ordered bin-Laden's death was accused by the chicken hawk war criminal himself. Never mind Obama accomplished what his gang failed to do.
Amazing.
Liberals are. But nobody listens to dirty hippies like Digby and the Guardian and Esquire. And the, I'm told, Liberal Media is too busy chasing shiny things ("How often does Obama really shoot skeet? News at 11", "Lipsynch-gate!" or "The Deficit: How much more does Defense need to fight it?") to investigate. If they did, they might accidentally commit journalism!
Here is an article on Mother Jones about drones and Obama.
http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2013/02/obama-targeted-killing-white-paper-drone-strikes
We are killing people in 7 or 8 countries now, in most instances there is only the vaguest idea who they are droning. The whole policy is insane and the drones are coming here shortly.
Getting Droned will soon be a part of every day speech. Almost makes me miss Bush.
"Many liberals condemned Bush, and now Obama for continuing the Bush/Cheney abuses."
Many Liberals?? Please. All liberals condemned Bush. Few liberals are even aware of the Obama govt approving the Assassinating US Citizens With Drone Airstrikes. Know why, because its not on MSNBC, or CNN or NBC, or CBS or ABC. And they are simply too busy trying to figure out how to keep their socialistic life styles to worry about the man they helped reelect latest "questionable" behavior.
Can you imagine if this statement came from the Bush White House? The lefts reaction would have made OWS look like a Sunday School ice cream social!
Dave, get your head screwed back on. Just one time try to address the behavior of the current PRESIDENT, not the former President. Any way, your comparison is again a failure. When did the Bush administration have its Attorney General say it was "“Legal, Ethical, And Wise" to assassinate US citizens?
God your are such a Bush hating, dogma filled, left wing extremist, prison guard. Your positions and statements are laughable. Most of the time they are nothing more than rewritten, re worded statements right off the CPUSA website.
Dave, have your turned in your assault weapons yet, or are you going to keep them to defend against being "Droned"? (tip of the hat to James for that term, well done, sir, well done.)
Tom, is your next thread going to address this violation of our Constitution by the man you supported in the last election? Do you feel Romney would have done this if he had won? Do you think only male citizens will be "Droned" in order to prevent the perception of a war on women? Who do you think will be the targets of the drones, left wing groups, or right wing groups?
Chuck Morre cuts and pastes,
Toure: “I’m Comfortable” With Obama Assassinating Americans Who “Do Not Pose An Immediate Threat” To U.S. Interests…
Mind-blowing hypocrisy, Toure and his fellow libs Hi Dave!) railed for years against Bush’s anti-terror policies and here he’s totally cool with Obama’s assassination policy.
"Of the scores of people dubbed terrorists and taken out by American military drone strikes, three men all killed in the fall of 2011 were U.S. citizens."
Dave, who was the President in 2011?
I'm afraid I'll have to say DD is right - and I think it's a valid comparison. Both are "questionable" but I think ultimately necessary techniques. I didn't have issue with Bush's policies of gathering intel from al Queda. I don't take issue with the current Obama drone policy. If it begins to be misused, okay, that's an issue. But, just because something can be misused doesn't mean it will be. If that was the litmus test, we'd not allow a standing army - or much of anything really.
And you lefties were fearful of losing your freedoms to a right wing conservative republican President?
Wonder if the good Congresswomen was against illegal wiretapping under Bush?
“The President has put in place an organization with the kind of database that no one has ever seen before in life,” Representative Maxine Waters told Roland Martin on Monday. “That’s going to be very, very powerful,” Waters said. “That database will have information about everything on every individual on ways that it’s never been done before and whoever runs for President on the Democratic ticket has to deal with that. They’re going to go down with that database and the concerns of those people because they can’t get around it. And he’s [President Obama] been very smart. It’s very powerful what he’s leaving in place."
Maxine Waters
Anonymous said @ 4:12 PM
Well said. Keep posting.
To the anonymous person who posted at 4:12 PM:
Thank you so much for that gem! I have used it at the bottom of my latest piece!
That was priceless!
Sincerely,
Tom Degan
Tom,
His post at 11:35 is also of similar "quality". And they wonder why they're called "Wingnuts"? LOL!
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