physucsc11 said:
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It all started out the morning after Obama's acceptance speech, which most people found moving. McCain pronounced that his running mate would be Sarah Palin, virtually a non-entity from Alaska. Naturally, following an announcement like that, the media was anxious to jump out at any snip-bit of information that could be found about her. It just so happened that the first piece of information that came out was her teen-daughter's pregnancy - in the midst of a debate of whether or not McCain's pick was an appeal to women, or whether or not it was going to influence the election.
1. Harry Truman was a "non-entity" as well. He turned out to be a fine president.
Nobody ever called Harry Truman an "intellectual," did they. No, the man had common sense and decency, very unlike the "intellectual" Theodore Kaczynski, aka the Unabomber.
2. "snip-bit" is a word I have never seen nor heard before. I hope I never see it again.
3. It stands to reason that people who bring up such trivia as "non-entity" and "snip-bit" would focus on a teenager's personal and private life, instead of issues.
physucsc11 said:
Contrary to how the McCain campaign and the media currently seem to view the media's initial response to this news, the response was predominantly in support of Mrs. Palin. Immediately you had republican spokespersons coming on the air to two words: "executive experience", and "reformer", while providing as reasons the bridge to nowhere, tax breaks for Alaskans, etc. This of course was before her acceptance speech at the GOP convention. Except for liberal websites and blogs online, nowhere was her ability to be VP really questioned. Even if somebody would ask the question on CNN or Fox, it would just be a question, something that would be debated - a very natural process. However, McCain proclaimed that all of this debate was really an outrageous, sexist attack upon Palin. It was enough for a few Republican talking heads to come one the air a few more times and proclaim the media's treatment sexist in order for the message to stick.
1. "republican" (sic) is a proper name, and should be capitalized.
2. Sarah Palin's resume is of vastly distant importance compared with John McCain's.
3. In any event, Sarah Palin's resume is more impressive by any objective measure than Barack Obama's.
4. Why attacks on Sarah Palin cannot be considered sexist when attacks on Barack Obama are so often characterized as racist, Democrats do not wish to, and cannot, explain.
I even remember thinking before Palin actually came on to the stage at the convention how nice the media had actually been to her, making her a star before she even gave her first speech. During the speech I was thinking to myself, as I did during the speeches of all the others speakers at the convention: lies, deceit, bad reading of the teleprompter, and the ability to make a joke. I also couldn't help but notice how natural she felt on stage insulting Obama's community service, followed by the GOP crowds rabid laughter. I thought to myself: this is the first time you are presenting yourself to the public, have some humility for god's sakes. Feel free to talk about your accomplishments in Alaska or McCain's ability to "change" this country, but don't insult a candidate who has lead an honorable campaign with so many followers.
Was this a "lie":
1. Barack Obama's claim that his parents met at the Selma March, 1965, when he was illegitimately conceived in 1960?
2. Barack Obama's claim that the "surge will not work" when he has subsequently admitted that the surge has "worked better than THEY thought it would"?
3. Barack Obama's countless disclaimers of his close associations and influences by terrorist Bill Ayers, and "mentor" Jeremiah Wright?
4. Obama's and Democrats' claims of Bush culpability for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac incompetence, when Obama has the two biggest, most incompetent executives from those agencies on his campaign staff?
5. And on and on.
I believe that 50% of the country felt the way I felt, and the other 50% fell in love with her.
Nobody in the media questioned her outright lies, and nobody blamed her for not saying a thing about the issues and policies, or about touting yourself a reformer but citing false evidence. Honestly I thought to myself: you know, the American people are smarter than that, especially after hearing the same kind of empty promises and divisiveness from Bush and Karl Rove all these years. I thought to myself that perhaps at first women would like her, just because she represented all that they could become, but then realize that she lied the first time she ever made a national appearance, and that her extreme stance on issues important to them would change their minds.
"Extreme stance" = "not liberal."
At this point it seems that McCain and Palin can do whatever the hell they please. The more controversy? The better. Any rational accusation of experience to be in the White House - sexism. Any demand to talk about what's important to America - ignored.
At this point I feel on the verge of giving up on the American people and the democratic process. If they don't realize what has been going on and sober up, and McCain and Palin go on to win the election, they will show their utter carelessness and disregard for their future.
I will almost wish I didn't have the intelligence (sic) to realize what this country is coming to. By the way, coming from the old Soviet Union, I can tell you that this is almost as bad as the lies that were spread by the dictators in order to silence the opposition. Exactly how Putin now has a what 90% approval rating? (sic)
Coming hot on the heels of the self-promoting declaration of "intelligence," we get "Exactly how Putin no has a what 90% approval rating?" One might THINK that former Russkies would know how deadly and destructive socialism is, but no, one would be wrong to so think.
When it comes to "lies," nobody does them better than Democrats. Nobody.
"depending on what the meaning of 'is' is."
I'm laughing so hard ; I'm crying.
