Quote of the Day
"In the concerted effort to destroy Sarah Palin, her husband, and her children, we've seen the progressive blogosphere and professional media adopt the no-holds barred, street-fight viciousness of a community organizer fighting for scraps. The petty brutality has trickled down from the man they idolize, a man cool enough to befriend and use aging terrorists and racist ministers as they can help him, and callous enough to discard friendships decades old if it suits him, without a backward glance.
For all his eloquence behind a teleprompter, Barack Obama is still at heart a thug, and his disciples learned well from their master."
- Confederate Yankee
For all his eloquence behind a teleprompter, Barack Obama is still at heart a thug, and his disciples learned well from their master."
- Confederate Yankee
Labels: links to greatness, politics, quotes
posted by scalpel at 8:40 AM
68 Comments:
Looks to me like nobody is allowed to scrutinize Sarah Palin for fear of being labeled a thug. How's that for a free election?
Wingnuts use demonization as an everyday tool. Can't take as good as you give, huh?
I have an idea--let's talk about Obama's kids! What are their grades, who are their friends? Any disciplinary problems in school?
Let's get email addresses for BO and his family and publish them...along with private pictures, etc.
We'll discuss how teenage boys aren't safe around BO.
We'll say he's pretty, but must be stupid since he's...pretty.
Then you'll understand demonization.
BC
Funny -- a few months ago he was "Obambi" -- too young and hopelessly naive to lead this nation in tough times.
Now he's a thug from the South Side of Chicago.
Consistency was never your strong suit, I'll grant you that.
Maybe -- just maybe -- the democrats have finally nominated someone who won't (to quote Untouchables, another Chicago great) bring a knife to a gun fight.
'Course this is still less vicious and infinitely more fair than the abuse Kerry was subjected to in 2004. Purple heart band-aids. Reap the whirlwind, kids.
Wasn't it the Republicans that pioneered the ultimate dirty smear campaign? I can faintly remember Carl Rove being behind a project calling people in North Carolina before the primaries to ask people about how they felt about McCain's black son, not mentioning he was adopted. (I think this was Bush-era)
It kinda sucks to have your own parties' tactics used against ya, huh?
No one is allowed to criticize Obama -- if you do, you're raaaaacist.
Never mind his ties to radical ex-Weathermen, the fact that his harpy wife quotes from the "Rules for Radicals" in her screechy, harridanesque screeds, or the fact that he's the third-highest recipient of Fannie/Freddie mac dollars in his mere four years in the senate.
Pay no attention to the socialist behind the curtain. HOPE! CHANGE!
You nominate a person for the second highest office in the country who beyond her state has no national exposure, reputation, or familiarity and then you criticize people for exercising not only their Constitutional rights but indeed their duty as citizens and you have the audacity to point your finger of blame. You consistently whine that the media portrays every single attack against Obama as racist but cry when anyone is critical of Palin and say she's being mistreated because she's a woman. It's very interesting how weak conservatives are once you fight back and show some strength - sort of like the school yard bully who finally gets his shoes knocked off and spends the rest of his recess cowering in the corner.
The simple truth is McCain chose Palin and took a gamble. The initial response to her nomination was positive and Republicans for once felt, even if for the briefest of moments, a slight relief and glimmer of hope for November. But as the truth comes out about Palin, and as John McCain continues to flip-flop and pander for political expediency, this choice is finally being seen for what it is: the nail in the coffin. McCain will continue to spiral down from this point -- yes the media will continue to try to play it as a closer race than it is which is how they keep circulation and ratings high -- but it's over and now Republicans can smell the stench of that rotting moose carcass and all that's left is desperation and despair.
Wow calling the african american candidate a thug and a communists...that's not racist at all....It is only what they did to King when he was fighting for civil rights. I do not care about Palin's pregnant daughter or her personal pics in her email, but I do wish she would stay the hell out of my uterus.
Being a thug and being a poorly prepared neophyte politician who is unready to lead are not mutually exclusive conditions, obviously.
This quote bothered me so much that I had to return and ask a question: What is the point of posting such an incendiary statement, and demonizing those who don't agree with you?
More important to me, though, is this: Where do you stand on the issues in this campaign? How will the two candidates' health plans impact you and your work? Which do you believe will be better for you and the others who choose to practice medicine?
What is more important to you as a person - name calling or rationally discussing what each candidate's plan means for you, your family, and your community?
Given the State of our Union today: crumbling economy, two wars, disastrous long-term foreign relation complications, archaic and failing energy policy, decaying health care industry driven by corporations and health conglomerates -- what is it then that McCain and 4 more years of generally the same failing policies will accomplish? If we take nothing else away from the last 8 years it should be that these policies aren't working. You suggest Obama is a neophyte -- yet when a young priest is given that title he isn't deprived of his parish or of his congregation. Sometimes leaders are crafted from decades of experience (or in McCain's case seemingly centuries of experience and possibly vampirism) and at often critical other times leaders are born out of a necessity for innovation and change. The argument that Obama will be an inadequate leader because he is relatively new to politics is pointless and indicative only of typical Republican fear-based politics and honestly downright hypocritical considering they've nominated Palin for VP for McCain who looks like he's been in rigor for the better part of the last 8 years.
There is nothing wrong with demonizing demons. My position is that a pinch of socialism is acceptable (even desirable) but too much is counterproductive. I support the disconnection of medical insurance from employment as suggested by Senator McCain.
This article hits the nail on the head.
Your article is a good read, but it doesn't seem to suggest a way to address the problem. I am an ardent capitalist. I generally loathe the idea of government intervening in the markets to any extent. But I'm also a Christian and I see people everyday who cannot afford health care or who haven't been fortunate enough to have good health to qualify for insurance that they may possibly be able to afford. And somewhere a long the lines I have a hard time accepting that the best health care is reserved exclusively for those who have the most money. Why is it bad, then, for us as a society to accept the tax burden of supplying excellent health care to everyone? We accept the tax burden of supplying roadways and drinking water to everyone, why is excellent health care any less important?
Why do Republicans have no problems with spending $555 billion in Iraq to "free the Iraqi people" but cannot grasp the idea of spending money to provide good health care to U.S. citizens who work hard and pay taxes? Certainly very few could provide empirical, tangible evidence that would suggest that if we had not gone to war in Iraq but had instead spent $555 billion on the US health care crisis that we wouldn't now be just as safe from terrorism while also having provided a lot more help to a lot of sick Americans.
I value the notion that to tax those who have been productive enough to obtain their own sufficient health care infringes on their freedom by forcing them to sacrifice for those who haven't been productive enough -- but does that mean the answer is to simply allow money to solve all problems and cast away those that for whatever reason haven't been as productive? Is this the extent of our humanity? Furthermore, is this representative of the Christian ideals so allegedly important to the Republican base to simply abandon the sick and poor, the less fortunate, those in need? Is this representative of what it means to be an American of any political subscription?
Why are there so many anonymous cowards?
Does no one have the balls to spill their bile and own it? Aren't you PROUD of the discord you sow?
Be a grown-up, and accept responsibility for your position, be it popular or not.
Sign your shit, or shut the fuck up.
You sounded just like Sarah Palin dodging Charlie Gibson there! Good job ;)
BTW -- I posted 6 - 10 - 12 - 13 - 15 -- now you know.
CrankyProf--
I see your profile, but you're anonymous yourself. Your name is not listed (unless it's really "CrankyProf"), nor your home address.
My real initials are BC. I'm less anonymous than you!
well I am not anonomous !! I am Stacy from California!!! and I have been on Scalpels blog ever since I got this darn laptop!! appx,2 yrs,,, and I don't see why it IS important to post and either leave a name or leave it blank!!! who the heck cares, it's what is inside the post that matters,and right now, the company I work for is laying off a bunch of more people this Sunday, and I just might be on that list!! the economy is going down and we as People, black, white, brown, or red, or fricken Blue!! need to come together at a crisis like this and find some way how to get back and take back what is ours and in this fight, we stand together, and do something abiout it!!! scalpel, I consider you a friend, and all of you here, please pray for me when I go in to work on Sunday!! my sincere thanks, Stacy .....
I'm a big fan of anonymity on the internet, such as it is, but it would help if the various anonymi would at least put a pseudonym at the end of their post so we can tell one anonymous commenter from another.
That's the one thing Scalpel and I might agree on. You build up a reputation for what you know and what you think, how consistent you are and how well reasoned your arguments are. A train of thought persists beyond one post. When I tell Scalpel his politics is full of BS, he's heard that from me before and knows exactly where I'm coming from and can resume his previous outrage rather than start a new one. Continuity counts for something.
I think McCain is a absolutely honorable American. I think Obama is inspirational. I think it is great that we finally have a choice of the good, instead of voting for the less of two evils.
However, I am not impressed with Sarah Palin. I may like her fiesty personality, but I hate everything she stands for.
She was mayor of a town that is as bog as some highschools. The population of Alaska is the same as most cities. Alaska may be big on land, but small as small can be.
Her leadership seems based on hiring other people to do her job, and wasting government resources.
I really could care less about someone's dysfunctional family. EXCEPT!!!! But how dare her tell me, or any other family in America, what family values are.
I am insulted, as a woman, that she could be the first woman in the white house. That sickens me. And before you start talking shit about me being a liberal ass....I am not a fan of Hillary either (accept she is much much much much more qualified).
McCain is tired, the poor man should retire honorably.
That woman is just too too damn close (one heartbeat away) to the presidency if they are elected.
I am an Obama fan, and I have been from the beginning. I hope you can wake up from your republican induced coma to see that this is about more than how hot Palin looks in a swim suit.
She is just way too religious for me. (regardless of how she is affiliated politically) No one that much in bed with God should be in public office. Not even a governor of a relatively unpopulated state or mayor for that matter. Separation of church and state and all....
Honestly, an pragmatic agnostic would be the best person to run our country, but they could never get elected what with 23% of Americans calling themselves "Evangelicals".
erp--your tolerance is NOT showing! You just don't like Christians. Intolerant!
BC
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Our countries forefathers believed in God.
And George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Regan were presidents with a DEEP faith in God.
Our country was all the better for having these outstanding presidents.
I was wondering about all the anonymous comments too.
I think BOTH political parties use every opportunity to whine about an offense or mud sling...and frankly...I just want to hear about the ...ISSUES!
Btw...I have never heard of any female political candidate ever demeaned by being called a porn babe or whatever they call Palin. Or that people voting for a candidate (in this case Palin) are white trash.
Or anything as outrageous being said that her only qualification is that she hasn't had an abortion.
Or any candidates child's cell phone number put out there for public knowledge.
Where are the privacy rights activists now? They come out of the wood work to decry the rights of the terrorists being violated.
I don't like it when either side makes personal, gnarly comments about another human being. They don't have anything of substance to say when they resort to that.
Comment deleted: Because I can't possibly monitor this discussion frequently enough, I am curious what would merit deletion beyond complete obscenity.
5 of the anon posts were from me -- I'm sorry but I was at work and didn't take the time to log in or add my name to these posts. I agree it's important to be able to discern the various anonymous posts from one another in order to understand the cohesion of posts/posters.
I am only intolerant of religious people (I don't care which religion it is) who wear their hearts on their sleeves and then try to force (or legislate) their rules/regulations/beliefs on the public. It's a free country but please keep such things to yourself.
>>Btw...I have never heard of any female political candidate ever demeaned by being called a porn babe or whatever they call Palin. Or that people voting for a candidate (in this case Palin) are white trash.
Or anything as outrageous being said that her only qualification is that she hasn't had an abortion.<<
seaspray is really out of line on the knocks on Sarah Palin. First off, you obviously have selective hearing or you would include all the wingnut slanders we ever heard about Hillary.
Most of the knocks on Palin are legitimate. Your outrage at the outliers ignores that. She is demonstrably inexperienced and clueless on foreign policy. She appears to be petty and vindictive in running Alaska. She has flip-flopped from allowing the Troopergate investigation to proceed to stonewalling. She illegally used private email accounts for state business. She lies, lies and lies some more. The bridge to nowhere and now the road to nowhere epitomizes the lies. One of her supporters claimed that she needed a tanning bed to ward of clinical depression. She refused to let Wisalla pay for rape kits because (egads!) they contained emergency contraceptives. Sure, you might not think that all of these knocks are fairly portrayed, but in aggragate they're fatal.
You ignore my kooks and I'll ignore yours.
I'm pretty left-wing, Scalpel, but I do have to admit people have been pretty nasty to Sarah Palin (as unqualified as I think she may be).
Charlie Gibson in particular was condescending and rude; on top of it all, ABC cut most of the footage that made Palin look even remotely intelligent.
Maybe you're on to something...
"You ignore my kooks and I'll ignore yours." I like that 241. :)
I respect and admire Hillary and would much rather she was the one running. I've never heard her called a "Porn" star which is so debasing in my opinion.
And I have never liked mean knocks against any candidate...like she wears pantsuits because she has cankles, or her hair or being called ugly which she is not.
Seriously...when people do that it detracts from the substance of what they really want to convey and reminds me of juvenile playground behavior or lame HS bully idiocy.
I do give a pass to SNL..because I think most of their political skits are hilarious! Was it Will Farrell that did our current President Bush? LOL! He was spot on with that. And Tina Fay (sp?) is perfect for Palin. And let's not forget the guy who impersonated Al Gore..."LOCK BOX." Hilarious!
But the "NEWS" media need to stay on task and hit the hard ISSUES head on without all the petty distractions.
And the lipstick thing last week...give me a break! First of all Palin's lipstick line was very funny at the convention. Loved it... cute joke!
Then I do think Obama saying that followed up with the "Old fish wrapped in paper" comment about lipstick on a pig was intended as a little humor and dig for his base and maybe some fence sitters to appreciate. That being said... I as a usually conservative voter could care less. SERIOUSLY! These candidates have a lot thicker skin then to be thwarted by silly things like that. BUT... I think BOTH parties use these stupid things to have an excuse to puff something up, attempting to cause the other party to look bad hoping it will rile up the not so thick skinned voting masses. I guess they are pulling out all the stops.
I want to hear about health care, the military and national defense, the budget, economy,taxes, etc.
Speaking as a mother...if anyone ever did what that e-mail hacker did and exposed my children...I'd be a tigress and what justice done for that act. A standard has to be set. In this age where so many privacy rights are violated...there has to be a standard set. Go after an adult is one thing and if illegal not right but they can fend for themselves..but the kids should be off limits. Whatever happened to decency and honor??
And now even I have spent to much time discussing these things!
241...specifically...what lies is she perpetuating? If they were anything significant...the proof would be all over the news with a big "Gotcha!"
What specifically did she say in her e-mails that she will now be charged for violating her state government's policies? (I haven't bothered to read her e-mails because I don't care)
I think it is alright to change your mind on something if you see the error in your ways. It takes more strength and character to go against the crowd then to just take the comfortable position of going with the flow... maybe stuff your pockets, assure your job for the future.
Her actions...cause me to think their is a glimmer of hope that she and McCain might actually make a difference in that s-l-o-w working Washington D.C. government.
This country has become too divided...too partisan...and instead of truly working for the good of the people and the country...they are more concerned with their maintaining party lines. God forbid either side should sign a bill that would be good for the "country" but yet dare to cause the other party look good. What about the "party" agenda? So they stonewall!
And isn't it interesting that all these years...starting in the 90's with the Clinton administration (Fanne May and Freddy Mac)right on through these Bush Administration years ...all these years...they did nothing to prevent the financial disaster going on now that we...the American citizens are now going to have to pay for? And yet..in these recent THREE DAYS both parties have come together with some plan to try to save the day? Where the heck were they before? And if they could do this now in 3 days..then WHY couldn't any of them do anything to prevent this in a decade or so? I'm just sayin.
Oh and Bush actually did propose some solutions earlier during his administration...but the democratic congress along with a few republicans voted his efforts down.
Sometimes voting..is just voting for the lesser of the 2 evils.
I want to see some candidates get in that really are "For the people" regardless of who it is.
May the best man win!
Also...when I heard Palin was the VP pick I was upset, said who the H is Sarah Palin? and then as I have followed the news... I do think she has more experience for the job than Obama.
I know some of you disagree.
This is a sincere question...what exactly is it that causes you to believe Obama is more experiences than Palin? What are his accomplishments that you can point to that demonstrate he is indeed ready over Palin?
And I do think McCain has the experience... although there is that "heartbeat away from the presidency" concern.
I do think the dems should stop focusing on Palin. The nutty cruel stuff will backfire because people do like her and it boosts the republican cause.
It should really be Obama vs McCain and hit hard on the difference in issues and similarities if any.
Scalpel..I know long so delete if you wish. I copied it already. :)
obama = thug...love it
sarah is freaking out the democrats...they are all in an uproar...what a brilliant choice on mccains part!
obama = thug...love it
sarah is freaking out the democrats...they are all in an uproar...what a brilliant choice on mccains part!
obama = thug...love it
sarah is freaking out the democrats...they are all in an uproar...what a brilliant choice on mccains part!
obama = thug...love it
sarah is freaking out the democrats...they are all in an uproar...what a brilliant choice on mccains part!
I apologize for my misspelling of "Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac" and some other errors. I didn't proof read at all because I had company come over and so I quickly published my comment.
Seaspray, that comment was awesome. Thanks!
According to Democrat Charles Rangel, Sarah Palin is "disabled." Is that his best shot?
Remember Al Gore and the "extra chromosome right wing"?
Democrats: the caring, sensitive party.
BC
Whether or not you think Palin is being unfairly targeted, I think this sums up pretty neatly why voting for McCain/Palin is a bad idea:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frank-schaeffer/an-open-letter-to-all-rep_b_127709.html
Any time you get your ideas at the Huffington Post, you're in trouble!
BC
That article confused me. Franky says that Republicans hate half of their own country, then explains why half of his country (the Republican half) is stupid, vile and evil. Don't you yourself hate half of your country, Franky?
BC
Anonymous 10:02 - I read the article and vehemently disagree! Talk about lies and erroneous perspectives and misrepresentations. Frank apparently didn't bother to do his homework! Or he didn't think it was important because of his all consuming bias.
I believe in God and usually vote conservative... but to say that because I or others disagree with some views that we "hate" anyone not in line with our views..is LUDICROUS!
The following is just one little snippet from his post.
He writes:"If you could feel shame there would have been a series of contrite public apologies at your convention for the incredible fiasco of non-governing that has typified the Bush administration. My pension, other people's pensions, our homes, jobs and economy are in chaos because of you. Young Americans are dying in Iraq because of you. The world is a more dangerous place because of you. America is hated because of you. Yes, that is you personally. I blame all of you."
REALLY?
It's 03:48 and reading that post has thoughts running through my head so fast I think my brain might explode!
He talks of republicans being hateful while his entire post reflects exactly that.
Just too much too respond to with that post.
He calls republicans bastards, thick headed,crude resentful rubes,ignorant,maudlin, hate filled,subversives,blasphemers, warmongers,idiots ..to name a few of his descriptions.
What a nematode! I know I shouldn't have called him a nematode....um well...at least I didn't call him a lipstick wearing nematode. ;) I'm KIDDING!
Btw...John McCain came out against torture.
There is too much in that post to pick apart..I take issue with the entire piece of drivel.
"Barack Obama is still at heart a thug"
To compare Obama (a Magna cum laude Harvard graduate) to a thug is quite a bit of a stretch, eh? I suspect something else is at work here, especially since we all know the racial connotation behind the word "thug."
It is not hard to destroy Sarah Palin. She is a low class trashy idiot. She makes it easy for the rest of us.
To compare Obama (a Magna cum laude Harvard graduate) to a thug is quite a bit of a stretch, eh?
Obama's orders to his people:
"I want you to argue with them and get in their face," he said."
Sounds like thuggery and intimidation, to me.
It is not hard to destroy Sarah Palin. She is a low class trashy idiot.
And your evidence is....
And you forgot *white* trash, you racist.
BC
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It is clear that Sarah is hurting the Dems in their internal polls, or the vitriol wouldn't be coming out as it is. Obama's background in Chicago machine politics has led to this point, where his backers are behaving as mobsters and thugs. His effete pretense of being opposed to it, "families are off limits" isn't enough. Where is the outrage? Why aren't they being fired?
The questions about Palin's foreign policy experience are really absurd. Did anyone question John Edwards' qualifications like that? That is pure sexism.
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joints; Kerry was on the Committee for Foreign Relations, so obviously, it wasn't as necessary that his vice presidential candidate have that experience, especially with Kerry not under threat of imminent death.
John McCain doesn't have as much foreign policy experience, one place most would say we've been very lacking the last eight years or more. Also, being the cancer ridden half corpse he is, that puts Sarah Palin very close to becoming the president. If indeed that happened, foreign policy experience is something to be concerned about. You can't sit here and compare apples to oranges. "Oh noone asked Edwards about his foreign policy experience" that's because circumstances were different.
Now we've all seen McCain parade his mother around to show off how long she's lived, but as a doctor Scalpel. I'm sure you have experience with this subject, who typically lives longer? Men or women? Are the male members of McCain's family that preceded him still alive?
because really, this is one of the fewer elections where there's a good chance either could die in office. If Obama wins, it's possible that people who can't come to terms with the color of his skin may attempt to assassinate him. If McCain wins, he could die in the Oval Office or in a hospital bed from returning cancer or simply of natural causes.
So now more than ever, we shouldn't only be paying attention to the presidential candidates, we should keep in mind the fitness of their successors.
Please tell me how does a woman who had to attend six different colleges and took six years just to graduate from a fourth tier college fit to represent America? Who is the only person in her family to have even GRADUATED college? A woman who would rather risk embarrassing her pregnant daughter in the media in order to advance her own career? Who thinks dinosaurs existed just 4,000 years ago? Have you lost all sense of class and intelligence?
PS: I'm white, actually. Funny how that works. Not just judging people by the color of their skin.
PSS: I voted for Ron Paul in the primaries so I know the difference between class and intelligence and just white trash. Apparently some people do not.
Well the good news in all this Scalpel is that so many people know how disgruntled you are, that anything you say lost all credibility long time ago. Fire away, hot shot!
"Kerry not under threat of imminent death."
Funny, everyone is under the threat of imminent death.
ee; Not true, both Obama and McCain are at risk much more than Kerry. Too bad Scalpel isn't a life insurance adjuster or I'd ask him that question as well. Know any life insurance adjuster blogs?
"Please tell me how does a woman who had to attend six different colleges and took six years just to graduate from a fourth tier college fit to represent America? Who is the only person in her family to have even GRADUATED college?"
I'm willing to have a president who didn't attend one of eight colleges, all of which are in a distant part of the country from me.
Let's see--your argument is that Sarah Palin's parents didn't go to college so she's unfit? Huh--and we thought Obama was elitist. Go back and rethink what you're saying!
I can think of many reasons to take longer than four years to graduate. I graduated in five years--I changed my major and then went to a school better suited for the new major. I took ten years to get my first Master's--my second took six years.
The dinosaurs--do at least a little fact checking on that one. You can't believe everything movie stars say.
BC
by the way, I've posted quite a bit of anonymous comments here, and this is my google ID, but I did not post from this ID from work because I don't trust the computer or the network, that aside...
BC;
The reason colleges and schools were invented were to give accountability when students failed.
Harvard wouldn't be a top law school if it turned out a majority of the shitty lawyers
MIT and Berkley wouldn't be top tech schools if they turned out a majority of the shitty IT professionals.
The reason schools exist is because it gives accountability up the line. If the school Scalpel came from turned out shitty doctors then it'd probably be hard for him to get a job.
If Palin was a doctor, and went to all those different schools, who would we hold responsible if she was a shitty doctor? the last one? the first one? all of them? That's the point of school. You can trace back someone's negligence, and blame the people who taught them to be that way, or the people who neglected to do their job as educators to prevent them from getting to their position in which they were able to hurt someone.
This isn't as personal as most people make it out to be. Of course when you're attacked or someone you know is attacked for some reason or another, you'll be upset and wish to defend them, but you have to understand the rest of us have our concerns as well, and just because we didn't ask about Edwards' foreign policy experience doesn't mean we shouldn't ask about Sarah's, the question didn't come up, but it did now, and it's a free country, she could even be the person who leads it one day. Don't you think I have a right to know the answers to my questions about things relating to what could possibly be the longevity of the country I was born and raised in?
"The reason colleges and schools were invented were to give accountability when students failed."
I doubt there's any kind of philosophical history for this statement.
Palin graduated from the U of Idaho--they're "responsible" if you wish. That means they examined her on the way in and on the way out and she passes their test. UOI has a law school but no med school. A great architecture school. A respected TV/film department.
If she took her time getting there, because of raising children, not being able to afford tuition, or whatever, it doesn't make her stupid. Right?
BO wrote in his book about being a lackluster student for a period. Maybe Palin had a similar period. Do you know?
Not everybody in every part of the country thinks the ultimate in education is found in the Northeast. I don't for one.
Is Harvard a good school? For grad school, yes. Undergrad, not really--too many uninvolved profs, too many classes taught by TAs. In many instances, UOI may be a superior education.
A case could be made that Palin has a diversity of experiences that make her a better fit for the job.
As for Scalpel, I would hold the name on his MD sheepskin accountable. Not the CC he went to right out of high school when he wanted to be something else.
By all means ask about everyone's credentials--but it's pretty elitist to turn your nose up at someone who didn't go to Harvard, etc.
Unless Harvard is BO's only qualification. Is that what you're saying?
BC
I'm not turning my nose up at her at all, to be honest when she was picked I thought she was a very strategic choice of candidate and I was eager to see what my mom and my sisters thought of the choice. They were horrified at what seemed to be a play at their vote, but this has all been said before by many women.
I've heard some people try to argue about Sarah Palin having more executive experience than Obama in her eighteen or nineteen months as Governor. I've also read that Alaska does not have any sales tax or state tax, and thus really doesn't have budget outside of what's given to them by the petroleum companies. (I got my information from here by the way; http://www.bankrate.com/yho/itax/edit/state/profiles/state_tax_Aka.asp )
So she's not balancing a budget based on what the 680,000 citizens pay, the citizens pay nothing except on vehicles, assumably for roads. All the projects in Alaska are either funded by the petrol companies or the federal government. So how is that having executive experience?
Also, BO doesn't just have a bachleor's, he has a J.D. in law, and was president of the Harvard Law Review managing something like eighty editors. Probably in close proximity to them, How many people do you suppose Sarah had to deal with on a daily basis during her tenure as Governor?
Not only that, but ontop of being president of the Harvard Law Review, he also taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago. Personally, I'd prefer a president who has a firm understanding of the constitution. It wasn't long ago that Ms. Palin was asking people to tell her just what it is that a vice president does.
Not only that, but Sarah only has a BA in Journalism, and before she was mayor worked as a sports newscaster. I'm not sure that qualifies you as someone who has to be... up and up on current events outside of inconsequential televised or non televised entertainment.
This isn't about being elite as much as it is about looking at the facts. I'm only twenty four and I already try to take everything into consideration when I make choices such as these. I'm the most lazy slacker nobody you can imagine, yet I'm still able to keep up with the issues, and from what I've learned through others and my own resarch I have found that Ms. Palin can't hold a candle to Mr. Barack Obama. It's not just about menial issues, it's on nearly every issue. I make no taxable income so it matters not to me who is elected outside of the general health of the nation. Though I agree much more with Obama's tax cuts because they are aimed at the lower/middle class, and that has always been what has made America strong.
I'm sure some of you have a lot more vested interest in this, seeing as Scalpel is a doctor and probably will fall under the new tax increases, I can see why he would be angry, yet as an avid reader of his blog I can swear I've heard him bitch before about people coming in and raping medicare/medicaid/etc and getting away with it, what if all those bills were suddenly paid? and it wasn't such a waste of time for the hospital? Wouldn't that make Scalpel's life better? Besides that, with everyone having health care, the drug seekers could stop coming to the ER and just doctor shop to find their fix, and it would be much less taxing on the hospitals and then the health care system as a whole. More truly sick people would be seen, and seen quicker, and we'd have less of Scalpel's rants about drug seekers because they would all be able to doctorshop till infinity to get what they wanted, and thus leave the ER's alone. I know of doctors in my home area of Detroit who will perscribe pretty much anything for anyone, but the ER's get stuck with the business because these people without healthcare can only get their drugs from the ER, which kinda has to treat them.
In addition, more people being insured means more business for the hospitals and therefore more growth in that sector instead of less. Instead of the declining level of insurance and less people visiting the hospitals because they cannot afford it.
(I am uninsured and recently suffered a bad cut on my foot which led me to believe I could have tetanus, yet I could not go to the hospital for a shot because I could not afford it, nor could I go before the symptoms had fully set in, because the ER most likely wouldn't have treated me. I already have a bill there on an unrelated incident many years ago that even living with my parents [with health insurance] I was not insured for.)
I don't think giving Obama a shot would be the worst thing that ever happened, however, giving McCain a shot could put us into the ground, and that I cannot come to terms with, I'd rather let you guys blame it on the Dems after the country is already fucked than think that I let some fucker completely run us into the ground after the absolutely horrid last eight years we've endured. I couldn't vote against Bush in his first term but I assure you, I have been aware and voting against him and the republicans ever since.
"ee; Not true, both Obama and McCain are at risk much more than Kerry. Too bad Scalpel isn't a life insurance adjuster or I'd ask him that question as well. Know any life insurance adjuster blogs?"
Everyone IS at risk of death, any moment, any day, any where. Hell, I've seen a 7month pregnant chick, a 16 year old girl and a 50 year old dude all die this week...and THEY were perfectly healthy.
Nope, don't know any life insurance adjuster blogs.
What an interesting comment thread. I wasn't expecting quite the volume or intensity of responses, particularly since I only linked to another blogger.
For the record, I'm not angry, frustrated, scared, or nervous. Politics is just entertainment to me, although I do indeed cherish the value of my one vote. My head won't explode if my candidate loses...but I look forward to enjoying the angst of my political opponents when my candidate defeats theirs. Again.
LOL.
I make a comfortable living, and I will continue to do so no matter who is president. If necessary, I'm sure I can reduce my AGI to less than 250K through various devices to avoid the Obama tax hike. But I have serious doubts that those of us who are fortunate enough to be able to declare income under that arbitrary level will be able to keep his thuggish hands out of our wallets.
Regarding the possible windfall that I might reap under a nationalized healthcare system, my opposition to socialism is a principle that is more important to me than any additional income I might (doubtfully) earn under such a system. After all, I am a patient as well as a physician, and as a patient (and a taxpayer and a voter) I oppose the concept of socialized medicine.
mr gremlin,
Wherever Alaska gets its money, Palin manages a budget of 11 billion dollars. She decides how to spend it. That's management. It's not deciding what stories go where in the Harvard Law Review. And you do understand that a governor manages more than 80 editors, right?
Since BO has zero executive experience, I think Palin must have more.
BO was an adjunct teacher. He was a senator for about a year and a half before running full time for pres. He managed 80 whole people. These are his qualifications? That's good enough?
Remember, Palin is the VP candidate. Please compare BO with John McCain. Go ahead.
No, really. Let's hear it.
BC
Actually BC, assuming Sarah gets the VP seat she'll not have managed an 11 billion budget because so far the Alaska state budgets have only been this big; http://www.adn.com/legislature/story/378507.html
Or something like 12 billion over five years, not in one. I know she hasn't been Governor that long. If she took office in December of '06 then she'll only have managed 6.5 billions worth of budget in two years. The 11bil you mention I believe is the projected budget for '09... Damn, I wonder what's going on in Alaska that the budget jumped nearly threefold in the years she's been Gov?
To put this in perspective.. Chicago has been mentioned as having a city budget of 6.3 billion, or nearly twice what Sarah managed per year, or less than she managed over two years.
LA has a city budget of around 7billion, and New York City has a 59b budget.
The yearly budget of the university of cali is 19 billion.
I didn't come up with all of this myself of course, to save you the googling time you can see where I pulled from with it's original sources cited here; http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_state_budget_of_Alaska_for_2008
So I mean, relatively, Sarah Palin might as well even not be called Governor. She's also the first Governor who refused to relocate to the capital city (I think)
To me, this doesn't sound like some awesome crazy mission critical job that she deserves mad props for. Sure, she's done a decent job and people like her (though I'd attribute that simply to her not being involved in taxing the citizens) but it certainly isn't any more altruistic or any harder than anything Obama did.
Now, if we'd like to compare Obama to McCain, we can get to that sir!
McCain crashed more planes not under enemy fire than any person would be allowed to crash under enemy fire before losing their ability to be a pilot. Being third from last in his class, while admittedly not really meaning that much kind-of lets you know why the military prefers pilots whom are better students in school. Airplanes are expensive, and crashing them is even more so. Had his father not been an Admiral I doubt he would've been allowed to waste so many precious US assets. Had he given up after crash 2 or 3, he wouldn't have ended up a POW for all those years. If he was held to the normal standards set for pilots, none of it would've ever happened, and he might not have that crazy looking lump on the side of his face now (whatever the hell that is)
After eight years of our great military chief Commander Bush (this is sarcasm), not only blurring the lines between different branches of government, removing the checks and balances put in place to prevent one branch from going out of control, I don't believe we need any more military influence in our government. It's extremely dangerous to have a militarily based and run government as we've all seen what that has done to citizen's rights in other countries.
Also Scalpel, I've been reading up on Obama's healthcare plan and I'm no expert (especially having no insurance myself) but I'd say it's a far cry from "Socialized" medicine, it's just a government introduced healthcare plan that you can choose to use or opt to go through the private sector. You don't have to have it unless you're a child, which I'd agree is pretty important for children.
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/healthcare/#coverage-for-all
Keep in mind I'm not trying to change your vote, that would be silly, but I do enjoy discussing the points with you all. This certainly seems to be a subject nearly everyone has an opinion on, and for once I think that's actually really good.
So come on ladies and gents, fire away.
-Mr. Gremlin
I'm so bummed! I wrote a long comment in response to Mr Gremlin and it just disappeared when I hit some keys fast. Can't find it. if it weirdly shows up here... just know it wasn't finished.
Mr G-R-E-M-L-I-N... did you do some gremlin high jinks with my comment? ;)
Now I have to go close the pool for the year. :(
seaspray; I ran into a key logger today that purports to be intended for backup use, kinda like what you would want if you lose text that you've typed into web forms. It's website is located here-> http://sourceforge.net/projecthttp://sourceforge.net/projects/pykeylogger/
I guess it's also great for spying on other users of your computer, but unless you spend time configuring it, it will not hide itself.
mr g--
You didn't actually compare BO's extensive credentials to McCain's, you only listed a few things about McCain.
How many airplanes has BO flown? How many other pilots was he put in charge of? The Navy seeks leadership qualities for these. McCain admits freely that he blew off school. Has anyone...anyone...seen BO's transcripts? No...he won't release them.
How many billions has BO managed? He doesn't run Chicago, or any of those other cities. He managed 80 writers, I think you said. Not the same as fighter pilots, don't you think?
Please, tell us what BO's qualifications are, other than he wants hope and change. Please. Anything he's done? How about that community organizer thing. Any success there? Is Chicago now organized? Did that work out for him?
BC
oh, BC, and everyone...THAT seems to be the burning unanswered question...what on earth has BO done?
You sure know how to get people fired up :)
Mr Gremlin...thank you for your suggestion... but I am so technically challenge. :)
I am concerned about Obamas controversial affiliations and how that may ultimately affect our national security.
I would like someone to please lay out (sans rhetoric) exactly what it is that qualifies him to be president. ??
This is a sincere question.
Maybe I am wrong (feel free to correct me in the error of my ways), but when I listen to McCain (who I didn't warm up to until the Rick Warren debate/event)...I know exactly where he stands. Everyone does and can vote accordingly. He is clear and concise. He is what he is. That is what I saw that night and have since. I didn't pay attention before that. But I actually listened to Obama more than him, and while a gifted orator...I still am not clear about his issues and feel like while standing in the middle of and consulting with his 300 advisers, his finger still goes up in the wind to check the direction of the breeze.
I can't wait for the debate Friday night!
I found this blog by accident and I can't believe that someone who actually listens to the candidates could write this drivel.
McCain changes his story constantly. Palin can barely utter a coherent sentence and when she makes sense, she talks about how great it is to be a soccer mom, regardless of the question she has been asked.
I've been a Republican since 1972 and I can't believe how low my party has fallen in the last 8 years. Hopefully, we won't have four more years of lies and failed policies. I wish the author of this blog would think about the issues before spouting off.
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