“Ease Up on Palin”? Why?

New Feminist‘s comment on this thread wasn’t seen fit to be posted, but we’ll say what we have to say anyway:

Palin was not a good choice because the cost of energizing the Republican ticket was alienating moderates – an inevitable problem, it’s true, and one that has little to do with Palin per se. A moderate choice wouldn’t have energized the Republican base, and had Lieberman been on the ticket, McCain would still have lost and the veep pick would still be getting part of the blame for that loss. So on that head, Palin is not to blame.

Nor is she stupid, but quite savvy; she is, however, willfully ignorant (who doesn’t know at least the name of at least one goddamn news source?)

Nobody demonized her; she hurt herself. Quit trying to protect the pretty lady and act like her ignorant comments wouldn’t have been any big deal until the media started … what? Twisting her words? Making stuff up? Hell, SNL’s parodies didn’t even have to change her words to be funny. It’s called reporting, people. Journalism majors, take note. Conservatives, stop bitching about the Mega Industrial Media Complex – you sound like liberals.

And finally, critiquing Palin’s effect on the ticket is not “making fun.” No dogs need be called off, because none were set. In any case, Palin is a hunter – she should be able to handle a little hunting.

It’s TRULY Morning in America

When the Republicans said it, it was a way to use people’s hope as a way to keep office (remember that, all you squawkers about Kool-Aid)?

Now, it’s actually true. It is Morning in America, and with hard work it will be a bright and glorious day.

Joe the Plumber, Tax Maverick!

The McCandidate’s Man of the Hour last night was Joe the Plumber, who’s concerned about having to pay more taxes under Obama. Joe wants a tax break. Funny – he’s already given himself one:

`Joe the plumber,” the Toledo, Ohio, man whose complaints about Barack Obama‘s tax plan were highlighted by John McCain in the final presidential debate, owes the state of Ohio almost $1,200 in back income taxes.

According to records on file with the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas, the state filed a tax lien against Samuel J. Wurzelbacher for $1,182.98 on Jan. 26, 2007, that is still active.

~ Bloomberg.com

No sense of civic duty, that’s what we see here. Taxes? Sharing for the common good? Ptah. Who needs a society where people work together and look out for each other, when we could have a society of proud individuals, hoarding their Preciouses.

Pro-Life, Pro-Obama

http://www.prolifeproobama.com/index.htm

How are the Mighty Fallen

McCain needs a game-changer. Tonight’s debate isn’t it.

He avoids eye contact with Obama; he will not name him beyond a jerk of the head and a reference to “this one.” He glares. He writes notes, stabbing the tablet so that the water in the glass on the shelf under the writing surface shakes. He makes “jokes” and nobody laughs. He reverts to tripe in his talking points, which increasingly reflect the stylistic influence of Sarah Palin (“uh, and also”).

His fans yell “Kill him [Obama]” and his vice-president doesn’t miss a beat. His ads pander to racism (“How disrespectful“). And his big campaign strategy is to turn himself into Hillary Clinton: A democrat for change + experience who has nothing to do with bad ol’ Bush – because that’s a proven strategy for success. At least Hillary is a Democrat; McCain just wants to be one if that’s what it takes to win.

David said it well: How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Johnathan, thou was slain in thine high places.

Full-Flavored Mavericks!

So round, so smooth, so fully packed! So quick and easy on the draw!

And best of all – that milder, smoother tobacco never leaves an aftertaste! They’re good for you!

Health Care that Covers Abortions?

There’s a possibility that Obama’s health care plan would cover abortions, if, that is, he gets elected and his health care plan goes through exactly as he wants it with no compromises whatsoever on controversial issues — which of course it won’t.

But that won’t stop people from getting offended at the possibility. They will squawk about THEIR tax money. They forget: Render unto Caesar those things that are Caesar’s.

Single-Issue Voters

Every single-issue voter whose single issue is abortion should themselves this question:

What good has my vote accomplished in the past?

Has voting for pro-life candidates, especially presidential candidates, helped to overturn Roe vs. Wade? Has it helped to change public opinion, which is still roughly 75% in favor of keeping abortion legal?

And if the answer is no – and it is – why are you going to vote that way again, in this 2008 presidential election?

That sounds like a rhetorical question, but it deserves to be asked and answered as a real one.

McCain Feels Sorry for Biden

There’s a headline for you, courtesy FOX News.

A belated moment of compassion, you think, for Biden’s sorrow over the death of his first wife and their daughter? The Grand Old Man showing the spunky youngster that we can be noble in defeat and show compassion for a fellow American?

No.

“You know, I almost felt a little sorry last night for my old friend Joe Biden,” McCain said; “she did a magnificent job and she is the news for the big spending, smooth talking, me first, country second crowd in Washington and Wall Street that we have got a message.”

Did you notice that “almost”? There’s no compassion here, only crowing triumph.

Indeed, Palin did deliver a message: a message of relentless self-centeredness. She had memorized her talking points and she memorized them thoroughly and well; she delivered them spiritedly. But when the man next to her lost control briefly, she had an opportunity to be so much more than a great speaker: she had the opportunity to show a heart, to be her own shining city on a hill, — to express some gentleness, however briefly.

And she didn’t even blink. “Back to me….”

To expect gentleness from a woman candidate is not sexist. Both men and women should have some class. McCain and Palin both showed that, despite the pretty music they can make, when the lip-sync machine is off, they are tone-deaf.

The Mavericks!

FOX News is wet with delight and triumph. After some digging, they’ve found video of Sarah Palin talking coherently about a Supreme Court decision.

So why didn’t Palin talk like this when questioned by Katie Couric? Either Palin just can’t handle pressure, like, at all, or she chose not say anything about the Exxon decision. Why? Almost certainly, Top Maverick and his Team told her not to because they didn’t want Bottom Maverick suggesting that big oil companies should pay big penalties.

McCain is screwing over his own running mate, forbidding her to use the knowledge that she has and helping to make her a laughing-stock for the rest of her life. Mavericky.