This blog printed on 100% recycled electrons.
I wish I could study this hard: Sarah Palin says she reads everything:
There you go: Gov. Palin reads more newspapers and magazines than the entire South Dakota blogosphere combined (and South Dakota is quite the litte microcosm of America itself, you know).
This question (repeated twice like almost every question Couric poses to Palin) shouldn't even provoke a blog post. It's not a gotcha question. It's not even hard. This is puffball stuff. Ask me, "What newspapers and magazines do you read?" and I'll say, "Oh, Madison Daily Leader, New York Times, Harpers, a little Economist..." and we move on to more policy questions.
Instead, Palin says "Most of them"? "All of them"?! I only say that if I'm being a wiseguy.
Instead, Palin turns a simple question into another shining example of, at best, her brittle defensiveness, and at worst, her blithering idiotry... neither of which are characteristics America dares put in the room to negotiate with Putin. (Oh, but wait: not a problem, since the McCain Administration won't even meet with our allies, like Spain.)
Sarah, you have a degree in journalism, so you should know this: sometimes, a simple question is just a simple question. You don't have to twist every answer into a pre-emptive strike on some imagined slight. Using every question as an opportunity to vomit back a steaming mass of poorly digested talking points only makes things worse. Just answer the question. It's not that hard... is it?
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"I think she has pretty thoroughly — and probably irretrievably — proven that she is not up to the job of being president of the United States."
—David Frum, conservative columnist, former G.W. Bush speechwriter, in Adam Nagourney, "Concerns About Palin's Readiness as Big Test Nears," New York Times, 2008.09.29.
Drinking Liberally Update (11/15/2024)
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In Politics: Nationally: The Election is over and the wrong side won. I
have nothing to contribute to the barrels of ink being used by Pundits to
explain a...
3 days ago
Want the real scoop...read the Drudge Report.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's because I can't imagine anyone is this inept, but is it possible she is sounding dumb on purpose. That way if she manages to make it off the stage on Thursday without falling down, it will be a win.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't you just quit with these posts, Cory, and admit you don't like her, you don't think she is up to the job, and let it go? We know you don't like her, or McCain for that matter, either, but it's easier to go after Palin. You made your point many posts ago. It's just getting tiresome.
ReplyDeleteCNN made note of this too, so Cory's obviously "right on".
ReplyDeleteDan Quayle is a rocket scientist now, hindsight being 20/20.
The Palin/Biden debate will be the most watched t.v. program in history. And like anonymous 9:52, I too will be amazed if she doesn't "f" up her own name.
Thanks, Anon 11:47!
ReplyDeleteAnon 11:38: it's not that I don't like Gov. Palin. What I really don't like—and what I hope a majority of Americans don't like—is the idea of placing a heartbeat from the Presidency a person so unqualified, so unversed in national and international affairs, and so incapable of formulating coherent policy positions on the important matters of the day (I've put more on the public record about the mortgage bailout than she has).
I'm also alarmed by her apparent paranoia and animus toward so much of America—she views so many of us not as fellow Americans but as enemies out to get her, members of "that culture" (remember the her response to the foreign travel question), people who are somehow less authentically American than she. (Oooo... I feel another post developing! Better not log in for a few days, Anon. ;-) )
Honestly? This post is great!
ReplyDeleteWhat really gets me is the disservice her joke of a campaign has done to all women!
But Cory, you forgot one thing. She does have
national and international affairs experience. She can see Russia from the shores of Alaska.
Just like I could play in a pro-football game...I saw a game once at the Metrodome.
That gives me experience...right?
And She is still has more qualifications then Barack Obama.
ReplyDeleteExecutive, Political, Economical and Organizational, too for that matter. Of course, you would have to take a serious look at it; instead of descriminating her for Palins sex or the population of her constituents.
WOW, Some things the opposition sells better than you could yourself!
Hey, cory callis, you're hearing things again. Not one criticism I have leveled has anything to do with Palin's sex or the demographics of her constituency. Her words speak for themselves: I would laugh at anyone who made such absurd statements, male or female, Alaskan or South Dakotan, whatever. Stop imagining the straw men you wish you could debate debate with; deal with the raw fact of what your own candidate is saying.
ReplyDeleteAnd in the real world, Obama has more experience dealing with the national and international issues a President has to understand than Palin. Obama can speak articulately about pretty much everything. Palin just barfs back the talking points and gives no specifics. If she has experience, her own words aren't showing it.
I'm sure Hilter thought that he never said anything discrimanatory, either. It was all for the "right minded" people or for the expansion of the country.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean ;).
Yeah, that Sarah Palin should read "the Real News" not that Faux stuff. "Everything" what the heck is she doing reading everything? She should know what to read!
I'm coming around caheidelberger!) ;)
Cory Callis seemed opinionated in that first post so doubted he would change his views so easily. Obama will be the next president to let us feel good again, about ourselves.
ReplyDeleteWho needs a President to feel good about being an American?
ReplyDeleteWOW!
Making people feel good again was a Ronald Reagan trait. In fact there are a few similarities to Obama.
ReplyDeletePalin has animas toward Americans? Come on now. When you hold saintly Obama' feet to this same fire for all he heard and evidently agreed with at Trinity church, when you do the same for his past associations with people who actually did not like America so much that they bombed buildings, you might have some credibility here. And how about Obama's remarks in CA about how certain Americams were bitter and clinging to guns and religion?
ReplyDeleteActually, Anon 8:04, I'll stick by Obama on this one. Obama understands that some Americans live very different lives from him, but he doesn't demonize those people. The "clinging" comment? I honestly don't think he was demonizing those people; he was saying that when the economy goes sour, folks do feel bitter about broader politics and cast their votes more based on their positions on guns and religion. It more sociology than criticism. Sarah Palin can't even talk about foreign travel or reading habits without waging the culture war.
ReplyDeleteIf you disagree with him, Obama will at least sit down and try to understand where you're coming from. Disagree with Palin or just ask her a simple question, and she brands you an "other," a spoiled rich kid from an alien culture, someone with less journalistic ethics than she learned in her storied academic career.
Palin's words express a clear animus toward anyone who is not like her. Obama understands better than anyone on the ballot that we can't live that way in the 21st century. Wake up, Dorothy: we're not in Wasilla any more.
Sorry, I don't agree that Obama is the great uniter. He has used race baiting in his campaign again Clinton and then against McCain. I know you won't agree, but this is not just my opinion.
ReplyDeleteAnd he is using class warfare very effectively in his campaign. He advocates taking from those he considers rich and redistributing wealth to the lower economic strata. He sees nothing wrong with this, and it's working in his campaign very effectively, essentially buying him votes among the poorer and the young (who haven't yet held jobs, paid taxes, etc for the most part and simply buy into his campaign of change we need).
Even in these last days of economic strife, he still didn't give up his income redistribution plans and expanded gov't programs. His policies play very well for those who look to the gov't to solve their problems and provide for them.
I believe that if he is elected he will be a disaster for this country, and it has nothing to do with his race; it has everything to do with his misguided policies.
He does not have the experience you seem to think he has. He has never run a business or a state, been in charge of a budget, been in charge of the armed services, all of which Palin has.
I know you don't agree, Cory, and that I guess is what makes this nation great. Only time will tell who is right if Obama unfortunately gets elected.
Nonnie
You're right, Nonnie -- we'll keep disagreeing. Obama is more of a uniter than McCain or his running mate. The GOP is trying to fight the old culture wars and play the old, threadbare rhetoric about big government is bad (even as laissez-faire economics collapses around them and requires an enormous government intervention).
ReplyDeleteIf Obama's "redistribution plans" are class warfare, they're a pretty lopsided warfare, giving 95% of Americans a break.
But on uniting and executive experience: Obama has plenty of managerial experience organizing 700-some volunteers in his voter-registration efforts. And I'll still argue Obama's experience in building from scratch a national campaign organization from scratch with more active donors, not to mention primary season voters, than the population of the entire state of Alaska and South Dakota (maybe ND, too, though I have to check the numbers) is a greater executive feat than anything Gov. Palin has done minding the store in Juneau, in a state flush with extra revenue from oil. He's united more people in a common cause than Palin ever has as an administrator.
And "in charge of the armed forces"? Come on, Nonnie, you know you're stretching. That's like saying I know how to build a central sewer system because I'm head of the Lake Herman Sanitary District. I have the statutory authority, but I've never used it, and would still need an awful lot of advice if I did, just like Palin as (shudder with me as I say it) Commander-in-Chief.
I'm still waiting for someone to explain how 95% of the country is going to get a tax cut under Obama. Does that include the illegals who pay no taxes? Does it include the 40% or so lower wage earners who already pay no taxes. And I am talking Fed income taxes, not payroll taxes. If someone gets a break on payroll taxes and that is what Obama is including in his 95%, that is only letting them off from contributing to their own SS. There is a difference between payroll contributions and income tax.
ReplyDeleteAnd if he is giving even more to those who already pay no taxes via expanded earned income tax credits or some such, that is also not a true "lower tax."
Please explain Obama's continued use of 95% and what it means.
He has not given up any of his expensive gimme programs, even in this financial crisis, according to his speech this morning. And although not rich, I can pretty safely bet that I'll be paying more taxes under Obama than I am now.
Cory says:
ReplyDelete"Disagree with Palin or just ask her a simple question, and she brands you an "other," a spoiled rich kid from an alien culture, someone with less journalistic ethics than she learned in her storied academic career."
+ Cory, is that based on first-hand experience? I've never met the woman and had a chance to disagree with her or ask her any questions, so I cannot say. I do feel uncomfortable with the prospect of Palin as President (should anything happen to McCain).
Anon 11:15 says:
"...although not rich, I can pretty safely bet that I'll be paying more taxes under Obama than I am now."
+ Assuming my income remains flat, I suspect I would pay less under Obama at first, but more later. I think that Obama would not veto tax-increase bills that McCain would. I hope, nevertheless, that I am fortunate enough to rise into the category of those upon whom such a government would feel compelled to take more.
I believe the Dems will gain power in this election and they they will overreach, they will overtax the American people, and the people will react by electing more Republicans to the Legislature after a few years. The pendulum just keeps swinging back and forth between one Big Brother and the other.
"Sorry, I don't agree that Obama is the great uniter. He has used race baiting in his campaign again Clinton and then against McCain. I know you won't agree, but this is not just my opinion.
ReplyDeleteAnd he is using class warfare very effectively in his campaign. He advocates taking from those he considers rich and redistributing wealth to the lower economic strata. He sees nothing wrong with this, and it's working in his campaign very effectively, essentially buying him votes among the poorer and the young (who haven't yet held jobs, paid taxes, etc for the most part and simply buy into his campaign of change we need).
Even in these last days of economic strife, he still didn't give up his income redistribution plans and expanded gov't programs. His policies play very well for those who look to the gov't to solve their problems and provide for them.
I believe that if he is elected he will be a disaster for this country, and it has nothing to do with his race; it has everything to do with his misguided policies."
Werent these the same beliefs of the communist party that took over, Russia in the early 1900's?
You cant take from the rich and give to the poor in an economic redisturbution this very concept has pushed many a country into civil unrest and even civil war. One of the saddest things is no one gets if you make these rich companies pay for all of his economic development and redistribution. The only person who will pay for this is the little guy like you and me, not some CEO in a plush office with several vacation homes. Think Gas & milk are expensive now just wait till Obam is elected
Like you , Stan, I've not had the pleasure of speaking with the governor firsthand (neither has the vast majority of the press corps). I base the statements you reference on statements Palin made in her Couric interviews (see the links in the comment your reference).
ReplyDeleteYou know what, Ronald Reagan had his own Ideas.
ReplyDeleteName one original thought from Obama? Or something close to original.
Original thought from Obama, or something close?
ReplyDelete--Google for Government (Palin copied that)
--A totally Web-ified campaign that uses text messaging and social networking, among other things, for organizing a nationwide campaign and mobilizing hurricane relief (McCain's campiagn copied that, sort of)
--appointing a federal Chief Technology Officer to run Washington's info tech more like a business
--boost economic development by creating 5 million "green-collar" jobs
Thing is, I'm sure if you Google long enough, you can find someone else who had one or the other of those ideas. Ditto with McCain. But wherever he's getting them, Obama is bringing 21st-century ideas to the White House, while McCain-* are still fighting the Cold War and the culture wars.
I couldn't believe that Palin couldn't name one paper or magazine that she had read. Any woman with half a brain could have named Good Housekeeping or The Ladies Home Journal. I realize they probably aren't ones that a political person should be reading, but at least she wouldn't have come across as being illiterate.
ReplyDeleteI would have guessed she would say she reads the Bible.
ReplyDeleteBut, of course, she would have said that would have upset someone, so of course her logic about staying neutral was the best.
She can read, right?
Hopefully the debate last night will stop some of this nonsense about Palin's abilities.
ReplyDelete