Sarah Palin, Wrong Woman for the Job

John McCain's choice of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as running mate shows how desperate he is to distract attention from the fact that he is a cranky old man with nothing to offer but more of the same. Palin is a blatant pander for the women's vote. He must think we have the collective IQ of a Tampax.

Sure, Palin is cool -- she's pretty and vivacious and athletic, a former beauty queen who runs marathons, hunts , fishes and eats mooseburgers, plus she's got five kids with unusual names like Willow and Track, including a newborn with Down's syndrome. I feel tired just thinking of what her daily life must be like, and if she were my neighbor I would probably like her a lot. It shows how deeply feminism has penetrated American culture that even anti-choice, right-wing-Christian women are breaking out of the old sugary-submissive pastel-suited stereotype. And if life were a Lifetime movie, Palin would do just fine running the country should McCain keel over. Girls can do anything! and look great doing it!

But seriously. Vice President? After a stint as the mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, a town of less than 8000, and barely two years as governor of a state with more grizzly bears than people? She makes Obama's resume look as thick as Winston Churchill's.

Here's the reality: Palin is a rightwing-Christian anti-choice extremist who opposes abortion for any reason whatsoever, except to save the life of the girl or woman. No exception even for rape, incest, or the health of the woman. No exception for a ten-year-old, a woman carrying a fetus with no chance of life, a woman on the edge of suicide-- let alone the woman who is not ready to be a parent, who is escaping domestic violence, who is already stretched to the limit as a single mother. She wants to force over one million women and girls a year to give birth against their will and judgment. She wants to use the magnificent freedom the women's movement has won for her at tremendous cost and struggle--the movement that won her the right to run those marathons and run Alaska -- to take away the freedom of every other woman in the country.

Her selection does not tell us McCain is a "maverick" who is just stringing the Christian right along, wink-wink. It tells us that he has thrown in his lot with James Dobson, the Family Research Council, the Catholic hierarchy and others for whom criminalizing abortion is the number-one issue. His record of votes against abortion and birth control--125 votes out of 130 in his Congressional and Senate career-- apparently wasn't quite enough for them. By choosing Palin, he wins their enthusiastic support.

McCain is gambling that women will vote their gender, and not their interests.

I expect pro-choice women will see through this gambit pretty fast. If not, we really are as dumb as he thinks we are.

Comments (237)

1. Lifetime movie, or perhaps Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

   She's just cashed in her golden ticket it appears and is set to tour the magical factory with Gene Wilder as her guide.

   But McCain could have made it all so much more compelling if he had given every American voter the chance to purchase the new McCain Bar and have our own chance to win!

   Posted by b_kool_66 at 08/30/2008 @ 3:11pm

2. great bloggin', katha. this is such as sleazy stunt by flippy mac. she's a hot, smiling, fascist.

   but she IS hot...

   Posted by ibbleblibble at 08/30/2008 @ 3:14pm

3. Hey .. you know this will be a party WH with even more debauchery potential than Bill Clinton. Let's look at the facts

   John McCain was a party animal from High School days on thru the Naval Academy (and a notable underachiever in both academically)...and a womanizer. Him and BC oughta go bar-hopping sometime: http://www.usvetdsp.com/jan08/mccain_military_record.htm

   Cindy McCain was a drug addict: http://www.salon.com/news/feature/1999/10/18/drugs/

   and aside from the 8 houses owns a BIG beer distributorship (oughta pull in the NASCAR vote)

   (Of course they first met while McCain was married...but hey, what the hell. She has such a poor moral compass she doesn't even consider her half-sisters as siblings) http://tinyurl.com/6fexrx

   Palin of course is smoking pot and slaying the wiley moose.

   Oughta make for an interesting BBQ at the WH, yes?

   check out their new campaign button at: http://tinyurl.com/5ppo69

   Posted by leftofcenter at 08/30/2008 @ 3:22pm

4. Well, this tough gal has to go build a chicken house so off the blogs I go, but I'm with Katha. Women like my sweet wonderful homeschooling, veggie growing, creationist, pro-life mom of eight neighbor will be wild for Palin. The rest of us will just say WTF and shake our heads as we vote for Obama.

   My neighbor is the best, but she has no clue that the only thing protecting the life she loves are the politics of the sinners she hates.

   Posted by Pogge at 08/30/2008 @ 3:22pm

5. >>>Here's the reality: Palin is a rightwing-christian anti-choice extremist who opposes abortion for any reason whasoever, except to save the life of the girl or woman. No exception even for rape, incest, or the health of the woman. No exception for a ten-year-old, a woman carrying a fetus with no chance of life, a woman on the edge of suicide-- let alone the woman who is not ready to be a parent, who is escaping domestic violence, who is already stretched to the limit as a single mother.<<<

   Hurray, Katha!

   You are correct - Palin is TOO EXTREME for America!

   She also is VINDICTIVE and prone to ABUSE OF POWER, and her recent ethical troubles remind us of Karl Rove who fires public servants based on their politics. The funny thing is that Palin is WORSE THAN ROVE, in that she fires public servants because they don't carry out personal family vendetta's! Small time thinking from a a small-time politician, yet McCain and the Republicans think she is ready to step in and run the United States of America if McCain's cancer acts up again and he has to step aside.

   Posted by Metteyya at 08/30/2008 @ 3:37pm

6. Sarah Palin's sister Molly married a guy named Mike Wooten who is an Alaska State Trooper. Mike and Molly had a rocky marriage. When the marriage broke up, there was a bitter custody fight that is still ongoing. During the custody investigation, all sorts of things were brought up about Wooten including the fact that he had illegally shot a moose (yes folks this is Alaska), driven drunk, and used a taser (on the test setting, he reminds us) on his 11-year old stepson, who supposedly had asked to see what it felt like. While Wooten has turned out to be a less than stellar figure, the fact that Palin's father accompanied him on the infamous moose hunt, and that many of the dozens of charges brought up by the Palin family happened long before they were ever reported smacked of desperate custody fight. Wooten's story is that he was basically stalked by the family.

   After all this, Wooten was investigated and disciplined on two counts and allowed to kept his position with the troopers. Enter Walt Monegan, Palin's appointed new chief of the Department of Public Safety and head of the troopers. Monegan was beloved by the troopers, did a bang-up job with minimal funding and suddenly got axed. Palin was out of town and Monegan got "offered another job" (aka fired) with no explanation to Alaskans. Pressure was put on the governor to give details, because rumors started to swirl around the fact that the highly respected Monegan was fired because he refused to fire the aforementioned Mike Wooten. Palin vehemently denied ever talking to Monegan or pressuring Monegan in any way to fire Wooten, or that anyone on her staff did. Over the weeks it has come out that not only was pressure applied, there were literally dozens of conversations in which pressure was applied to fire

   Posted by Metteyya at 08/30/2008 @ 3:39pm

7. him. Monegan has testified to this fact, spurring an ongoing investigation by the Alaska state legislature. But, before this investigation got underway, Palin sent the Alaska State Attorney General out to do some investigative work of his own so she could find out in advance what the real investigation was going to find. (No, I'm not making this up). The AG interviewed several people, unbeknownst to the actual appointed investigator or the Legislature! Palin's investigation of herself uncovered a recorded phone call retained by the Alaska State Troopers from Frank Bailey, a Palin underling, putting pressure on a trooper about the Wooten non-firing. Todd Palin (governor's husband) even talked to Monegan himself in Palin's office while she was away. Bailey is now on paid administrative leave.

   As if this weren't enough, Monegan's appointed replacement Chuck Kopp, turns out to have been the center of his own little scandal. He received a letter of reprimand and was reassigned after sexual harrassment allegations by a former coworker who didn't like all the unwanted kissing and hugging in the office. Was he vetted? Obviously not. When he was questioned about all this, his comment was that no one had asked him and he thought they all knew. Kopp, defiant, still claimed to have done nothing wrong and said to the press that there was no way he was stepping down from his new position. Twenty four hours later, he stepped down. Later it was uncovered that he received a $10,000 severance package for his two weeks on the job from Palin. Monegan got nothing.

   Posted by Metteyya at 08/30/2008 @ 3:40pm

8. "He must think we have the collective IQ of a Tampax."

   Yep....GOP and McCain betting you gals are dopes.

   Besides being wrong...what does that tell you???

   Posted by Maskdelta at 08/30/2008 @ 3:43pm

9. Sounds like it's going to be a big fancy 'wedding' at the convention, but just wait and watch the 'marriage' fall apart.

   Posted by mapalesa at 08/30/2008 @ 3:44pm

10. Palin's better half --Michael that is:

    www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tym0MObFpTI&feature=related

    5 minutes of time well spent --Michael is the aviator on the last minute of the furiously foolish but wonderfully witty footage.

    Posted by b_kool_66 at 08/30/2008 @ 3:51pm

11. Happy-McCain has lots of experience,but then proved that that experience means nothing because he was so ignorant as to pick a running mate that is under investigation at the time the VP choice was made.When it comes to politics,quite often, experience means to be experienced at being ignorant.

    Posted by i'm nobody at 08/30/2008 @ 3:55pm

12. Biden's "Violence Against Women Act" will be used to win the debates and the election

    Irony of irony

    Whatever Biden does during the debate will be pounced upon by the right-wing nuts.

    Biden will loss not on issues but behavior - mistreatment of the helpless little woman 'just like what the Democrats did to Hillary' they will say. That will be the narrative!

    Biden will be assaulted / slaughtered for abusing the next VP no matter what he does.

    WIBLE

    Posted by wible at 08/30/2008 @ 3:57pm

13. The entire purpose of the Palin selection was to insure that Evangelical voters could feel some modicum of enthusiasm toward McCain, someone they were resisting, and it was a purpose which succeeded in every possible way. And with Obama/Biden impossible to distinguish from McCain/Palin as to Iraqi, Afghanistani and Russian warmongering, AIPAC ownership being as wide and deep ranging as it is, the Obama campaign is understandably in a lather. I mean when Kate Pollit is inspired sufficiently to froath at the mouth about Palin you know that McCain has hit a home run.

    Obama has thrown away what otherwise might have been the Democrats best chance to elect a President together with accompanying congressional majorities in recent memory. The memories of authentic progressives are typically long and all the conventions in the world won't reverse the Obama flip-flops on FISA, campaign finance reform, NAFTA and drilling. Zogby reports significant defections of liberal voters from Obama because of this unprincipled waffling. These defections plus the reignited Republican base could easily spell the difference.

    Progressives should vote Nader. It looks as though you'll have a lot of company.

    Posted by john lowell at 08/30/2008 @ 4:01pm

14. I agree and understand with the points made in this article and I realize its a piece that tries to focus on the abortion issue, but couldn't the author in passing mention the other major policy positions that reveal Palin to be hopelessly wrong-headed in her worldview?

    Such as her view that global warming is not man-made? This position has been widely discredited and disproved by a majority scientific consensus. Its "the world is flat" club" all over again. Also what about the fact that she believes creationism should be taught in public schools? If any unscientifically ethnocentric narrative can be taught using public funds than I say "screw creationism! lets teach Lord of the Rings-ism. The Matrix-ism?" As a last point what about the fact that she is suing the EPA to get Polar Bears removed from the endangered species act so she can mine their habitat for fossil fuels? I think that we can become energy independent without killing more species. Call me an optimist, I guess.

    Posted by dnewton at 08/30/2008 @ 4:02pm

15. Listening to you.

    In the cool celerity of a diffident young bird I try to forget a dying behaviour, the sound of a picture and a luminous care, easily, like an earnest desire.

    Francesco Sinibaldi

    Posted by Sinibaldi at 08/30/2008 @ 4:03pm

16. Obama has less experience than Palin. He was 8 years a state senator -- a part-time job. He has been 4 years in the US Senate, but spent 2 of them running for President. With all of this experience, what has he done? What major legislative victories are the result of his efforts? There's one. He championed the effort to defeat the Born Alive Infant Protection Act in the Illinois state senate. That's it. What good are all of the elections he has won? He's done nothing with them.

    Posted by Gullible at 08/30/2008 @ 4:07pm

17. A 4-term state senator and a Campaigning-But-"Present" US Senator. But seriously. President??? Posted by 2HAPPY at 08/30/2008 @ 3:48pm

    I like that you guys are trying to destroy his time in the Senate now. Awesome. I love how crazy you guys are going. This is sweet sweet music to my ears.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/30/2008 @ 4:09pm

18. You know why I know the rights point about just trying to get the evangelicals is BS. There were much much better choices to do that job. He chose the worst option to complete the mission of getting evangelicals. That's why it's BS. This is a desperate move and the scramble from the right to justify this and start throwing out terms like sexism and ageism is proof of that desperation.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/30/2008 @ 4:14pm

19. 2Hap "Gender and gender only" ... puh-lease. Please tell me you aren't that stupid. You DO realize that gender was the main reason she was chosen right?

    But I guess you're up for a bit of gratuitous pandering....

    bout par for the course I suppose

    Posted by leftofcenter at 08/30/2008 @ 4:22pm

20. Hey, Sarah Palin wants her "Bring'em on" moment too.

    http://tinyurl.com/5by79t

    &&&&&&

    WOW, Palin fits right in with a hsuB / cHeney / McPOWhowmanyMANSIONS new con repub dic'tator admin:

    "I do now have to tell Alaskans that such pressure could have been perceived to exist although I have only now become aware of it," Palin said.

    But Palin said her decision to fire Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan last month had nothing to do with his refusal to dump trooper Mike Wooten.

    The governor said evidence of what she called a "smoking gun" conversation, and other calls made by her aides, only recently surfaced as the attorney general started an inquiry at her request into the circumstances surrounding her firing of Monegan. Palin wanted the review because a special investigator hired by the Legislature is about to investigate the firing and a legislator has been quoted in a newspaper story talking about impeachment.

    The majority of the calls came from Palin's chief of staff at the time, Mike Tibbles, according to information gathered by the state attorney general's office. Attorney General Talis Colberg and Palin's husband, Todd, also contacted Monegan about the trooper."

    http://tinyurl.com/6embgh

    Doesn't that all sound so very familiar?

    Just don't Plame me for stating the facts mam...

    er,

    Posted by hsuBfools at 08/30/2008 @ 4:23pm

21. Happy-So,what you are saying is that if McCain had picked a male then the democrats would not have put that male down and would have supported that male choice,but is against this choice,not because she is under investigation and not because she flip flopped on the bridge to nowhere, and not because she admitted to knowing nothing about Iraq,etc,but because she is a woman.I noticed that you avoided my post to you about experience and getting a running mate who is under investigation in favor of nonsense about women and democrats.Your target audience does not read the Nation.

    Posted by i'm nobody at 08/30/2008 @ 4:29pm

22. Yesterday republicans were praising this choice,but after 24 hours they are,mostly,hiding because they figured how bad this choice is and,simply,can't spin it.Happy is trying,but failing miserably,to spin it.

    Posted by i'm nobody at 08/30/2008 @ 4:36pm

23. But it's McPOWhowmanyMANSIONS that calls his wife a cunt, but can't even afford to pay the rent on all the mansions he lives in!

    And then smiles and laughs when someone called Hillary a bitch.

    I sure those with other film clips will beg the question of Palin-- what does she really think of her willing subjugation to McPOWhowmanyMANSIONS...

    Posted by hsuBfools at 08/30/2008 @ 4:42pm

24. A woman from Alaska who hunts and goes fishing is my type of woman,but not McCain's type and the wrong one for him to have picked.Never pick a running mate who is under investigation..All that experience and McCain can't figure that out?

    Posted by i'm nobody at 08/30/2008 @ 4:49pm

25. and probably selling it like Barry did.

    Posted by frankgrits at 08/30/2008 @ 5:24pm

    and a youthful FrGr 'probably' went down on guys...

    Posted by hsuBfools at 08/30/2008 @ 5:34pm

26. for money. 'Probably'

    Posted by hsuBfools at 08/30/2008 @ 5:39pm

27. Could very well be that McCain uses colorful language. Alot of Presidents have...

    Posted by frankgrits at 08/30/2008 @ 5:24pm

    Yeah, Nixon.

    But then Nixon again never sang 'bomb bomb bomb bomb Vietnam'. So McPOWhowmanyMANSIONS is probably a lot worse.

    Posted by hsuBfools at 08/30/2008 @ 5:44pm

28. FrankLimbaugh-I see that Rush has told you what to say and you said it.The trooper,as you know,was cleared,but I'm not surprised to see a Clinton cult follower excusing abuse of power since that was Bill's and Hill's favorite past time.No one,but lvliberty,is buying into your bs and you are just making yourself look more childish every day.No politician is above reproach and if doing favors for family members by abusing your power is the way she will rule in Washington then she is your typical politician.

    Posted by i'm nobody at 08/30/2008 @ 5:53pm

29. Posted by 2HAPPY at 08/30/2008 @ 4:05pm

    :-)

    Posted by john lowell at 08/30/2008 @ 6:38pm

30. Speaking of women with the wrong man for the job:

    "My father had nothing. He and my mother sold everything they had to raise $10,000," she said. "I'm proud of what my dad and my mother did and what they built and left me. And I intend to carry their legacy as long as I can."

    Cindy meant to say, "I intend their legacy to carry me as long as it can."

    http://tinyurl.com/5kbkcq

    Posted by hsuBfools at 08/30/2008 @ 7:08pm

31. If the obama/Biden ticket were reversed, that's a ticket I could lve with but it's not.----Posted by frankgrits at 08/30/2008 @ 5:21pm

    Another lie from FRANK.

    If FDR and Jack Kennedy were running mates this year for the Dems, FRANK would vote for McCain...

    it's ALL about getting Hillary 2012.

    Everybody, even his new right-wing friends, know he'll turn on a President McCain before 2009 is over!

    Posted by Maskdelta at 08/30/2008 @ 7:10pm

32. Folks, our country is in BIG trouble. Our economy is in dire straits. In addition to not dealing with torture, abuse of the Constitution; banks are closing at rapid pace; people are losing their homes, their jobs and their possessions more and more each day. We're hated and ridiculed all over the world, and worse. None of this is because we have no one who fishes, hunts, eats moose burgers and has a down syndrome infant. Let's not allow ourselves to become distracted. This "Miss Congeniality" was a rabid right wing talk show host who only recently got her passport. These times require the intelligence of people who understand constitutional law and diplomacy.

    Posted by WeldonRobeson at 08/30/2008 @ 7:15pm

33. *This gets funnier and funnier all the time. The democrats reject a woman who's the most qualified of all the candidates to be President, then they critisize the repubs for choosing a woman who has a stronger background that their own candidate.*

    Forgive me, but besides being a mayor of a village and governor of a state with the third smallest population for eighteen months, what exactly HAS she done? What is her foreign policy background? National defense? There is one simple fact you cannot deny, Frank: McCain could very well find himself in a situation where he is incapacitated (possibly for an extended period of time) and Palin would have almost zero skills tp draw upon to deal with the situations that would arise. I see nothing in her background that honestly qualifies her as a governor, much less the second office in this land. I'm not even going to get into the ethical slips, she's little more than a "hockey mom" with ambition. I guess, however, that's enough for you Frank.

    Posted by yutsano at 08/30/2008 @ 8:03pm

34. Posted by JOMAMMA at 08/30/2008 @ 8:07pm

    MAASCH, let me ask you, straight up...

    YOU know that FRANK is only supporting McCain/Palin to keep 2012 open for Hillary?

    ...and that if McCain won, he'd turn on him and start attacking him within 6 months of the Inaugural (for the same reason)?

    Posted by Maskdelta at 08/30/2008 @ 8:17pm

35. I don't back candides (fictional French characters aren't my forté) but looking at the options out there Obama is the most attractive one. Though you're making a very big assumption, I am in fact most likely going to vote for McKinney because Obama will win my state easily and I want some party diversity in the process.

    Barring that, tell me the horribly pressing needs the town of Wasilla, Alaska, has that would call for bold decision making or strong interpersonal skills. You are also conveniently ignoring the fact that Alaska is like Texas, which means it is a strong legislative state. The governor jus suggests laws, it's the legislature that gets them moving.

    Sarah Palin has no national policy experience period. She's a major lightweight that just happens to have a vagina and an R after her name. The fact that that is good enough for you says more about you than I care to think about.

    Posted by yutsano at 08/30/2008 @ 8:26pm

36. Posted by JOMAMMA at 08/30/2008 @ 8:29pm

    Oh, come on, John.

    You HONESTLY are going to say you weren't going to vote for WHOEVER the Repubs put up this year...especially if it was Hillary as nominee and ATLEAST as much since it's Obama??!??!?!?

    Posted by Maskdelta at 08/30/2008 @ 8:33pm

37. *too bad, but I guess his son might be around...they are grooming him and he is , what does HAPPY say...HALF and HALF..1/2 angelo, 1/2 hispanic, and 100 % conservative...the world and the worms turns..*

    Actually it was my understanding that Jeb's son was more of a moderate than Dad, and MUCH more photogenic. He's also well-spoken and very politically skilled, but as far as I've found out he hasn't shown much interest in the family business. But he's also in his late 20's, let's give it a few years.

    Posted by yutsano at 08/30/2008 @ 8:36pm

38. *Ok, so you don't feel that a mayor of a small town does anything important or a governor of a state as large as Alaska doesn't count. Can you guess which MALE governor has only two years experience in a smaller state but was on Mccain short, short list?*

    Ultimately irrelevant as he did NOT pick him but rather chose her. And Alaska is geographically huge but population-wise ranks in the bottom five in the US.

    *Can you at least give her credit for exposing corrupt republicans and getting rid of them.*

    Given.

    *Or for giving everyone a tweleve hundred dollar check when her state benefitted from the energy boom?*

    Actually that check has existed in Alaska for a very long time. I went to college with a girl who was a citizen of Alaska and she got a check every January that paid off a few of her bills. It's one of the reasons why becoming a citizen of Alaska is tough but worth it (honestly I'd live in Juneau!).

    *Or how about giving birth to a downs syndrome baby that most liberal women would have aborted. Can you find it in your heart to give her props for those things?*

    A personal CHOICE on her part is also ultimately irrelevant, but I'll turn that back on you Frank. How much attention do you think she will be able to dedicate to her office with the extra challenges of a special needs child? I respect her decision but the road she has ahead of her will be difficult enough without the pressures of national office on top of it. In fact, I would speculate even being governor with a working husband would be almost near insanity with the attention her new baby would need. Should that disqualify her? Not necessarily. Should it be a factor in the decision? You bet your bippie.

    Posted by yutsano at 08/30/2008 @ 8:46pm

39. *JM: only range-fed beef goes in my gut, protein-rich grasses. good stuff! stronger flavor than grain-fed beef. give it whirl sometime, all you need on the meat is salt.*

    What? No steak au pouivre?

    Posted by yutsano at 08/30/2008 @ 8:47pm

40. If she gives as good as she gets in a debate with Biden...cool. If she does the damsel in distress routine I hope he flattens her.

    I loathe tough women who turn into girly girls when it's convenient. I know it's chauveinistic but I expect better from my own.

    Posted by Pogge at 08/30/2008 @ 8:48pm

41. This is all so sad and so needless. If we would be like Finland (KVH says Finland is good) and have 15 or 20 political parties, and some sort of socialism-du-jour, then all would be good!

    Posted by sntauri at 08/30/2008 @ 8:52pm

42. Posted by yutsano at 08/30/2008 @ 8:26pm

    Now, now, don't give in to vagina envy-though I can't blame you! They are tidy, tucked away and never have to be removed from a three-year old boy's zipper (my poor brothers-I wouldn't let my boys near zippered pants until they were five).

    Yup, vaginas are spiffy and we love having them!

    Posted by Pogge at 08/30/2008 @ 8:56pm

43. Posted by JOMAMMA at 08/30/2008 @ 9:00pm

    Should have seen that coming :)but we appreciate your support!

    Posted by Pogge at 08/30/2008 @ 9:03pm

44. Monegan, 57, a respected former chief of the Anchorage Police Department, said in an interview with The Washington Post's James V. Grimaldi on Friday that the governor repeatedly brought up the topic of her ex-brother-in-law, Michael Wooten, after Monegan became the state's commissioner of public safety in December 2006. Palin's husband, Todd, met with Monegan and presented a dossier of information about Wooten, who was going through a bitter custody battle with Palin's sister, Molly. Monegan also said Sarah Palin sent him E-MAILS on the subject, but Monegan declined to disclose them, saying he planned to give them to a legislative investigator looking into the matter.

    Palin initially denied that she or anyone in her administration had ever pressured Monegan to fire the trooper, but this summer acknowledged more than a half a dozen contacts over the matter, including one phone call from a Palin administration official to a state police lieutenant. The call was recorded and was released by Palin's office this month. Todd Palin told a television reporter in Alaska that he did meet with Monegan, but said he was just "informing" Monegan about the issue, not exerting pressure.

    Posted by Metteyya at 08/30/2008 @ 9:05pm

45. Now we know Palin is a LIAR as well because she said she "never contacted" Monegan about Wooten, when the emails PROVE just the opposite!

    Way to go McCain!

    Posted by Metteyya at 08/30/2008 @ 9:08pm

46. Pogge, you don't need to be brought upto speed, right?

    You KNOW why FRANK is supporting McCain and Palin? And it's nothing to do with them?

    Posted by Maskdelta at 08/30/2008 @ 9:09pm

47. Posted by frankgrits at 08/30/2008 @ 9:18pm

    Too late, FRANKGRITS! She is toast!

    Look for a withdrawal from the ticket soon with the "I don't want to be a distraction" excuse!

    She pressured Monegan to fire Wooten and then lied about it to the public. And as Katha points out, her anti-abortion views are not mainstream and too extreme for America.

    PALIN IS ANOTHER DISHONEST AND ETHICALLY CHALLENGED POLITICIAN WHO IS TOO EXTREME FOR AMERICA!

    Posted by Metteyya at 08/30/2008 @ 9:26pm

48. Posted by Metteyya at 08/30/2008 @ 9:26pm

    METTE, not cast aspertions on your predictions ability, but...

    didn't you also ASSURE us that Obama's Veep would be Kathleen Sebelius????

    Posted by Maskdelta at 08/30/2008 @ 9:35pm

49. Posted by frankgrits at 08/30/2008 @ 9:04pm

    I just watched the Glenn Beck interview with Sarah Palin.

    She's a shark. All bets are off. I don't want to see John McCain win this election, but handling her with kid gloves would be an insult to all of we women who are willing to debate in the workplace, the street, the market and even the churches without moderators to protect us.

    Posted by Pogge at 08/30/2008 @ 9:38pm

50. Posted by Maskdelta at 08/30/2008 @ 9:35pm

    MASK,

    I know you are trying to bait me into the right-wing Jew thing again, but the plain fact is the McCain's judgment is SERIOUSLY being questioned by his pick of Palin, and this will all unravel soon as more details come out concerning Palin's hypocrisy as a reformer and extreme views.

    Posted by Metteyya at 08/30/2008 @ 9:42pm

51. "only range-fed beef goes in my gut, protein-rich grasses. good stuff! stronger flavor than grain-fed beef. give it whirl sometime, all you need on the meat is salt."

    What...no fresh-ground pepper?

    How about this: Palin let a genetically defective child come to term. She found out when it was well within first trimester and so could have chosen to terminate safely (for her.) Some might think that is indicative of poor judgment. I mean, what other life-altering (or nation-altering) decision might she make based on her imaginary friend's "list of things to do / not do"?

    Posted by leftofcenter at 08/30/2008 @ 9:49pm

52. >>>He's nothing like George Bush.

    Posted by frankgrits at 08/30/2008 @ 9:51pm<<<

    But he VOTES with Bush 90% of the time!

    Posted by Metteyya at 08/30/2008 @ 9:56pm

53. Posted by frankgrits at 08/30/2008 @ 9:38pm

    Cripes Frank, google her. She is in direct opposition to everything I believe and everything Hillary Clinton believes for that matter. She is very proud of her positions and they are all over the Internet in her own words. It's not like we have to make this stuff up. Her resume, thin as it is, is posted on her website as part of her bio. The woman is not remotely qualified to serve as president and if she were not a woman no one would be pulling any punches.

    I want to see one of us-as in "progressive female"-in the oval office before I die, not just the first vp with a vagina who is lucky enough to have an old man drop dead there first.

    Posted by Pogge at 08/30/2008 @ 10:00pm

54. FG.... You mean like she's a pot-smoking moose-eater with her own little Plame-gate in Juneau?

    Posted by leftofcenter at 08/30/2008 @ 10:05pm

55. Posted by Metteyya at 08/30/2008 @ 9:42pm

    I'm not trying to bait you...You're making a pretty STRONG prediction...

    "Too late, FRANKGRITS! She is toast!

    Look for a withdrawal from the ticket soon with the "I don't want to be a distraction" excuse!"

    and I'm saying your track record for predictions is about as good as....FRANK's!

    heheh

    Posted by Maskdelta at 08/30/2008 @ 10:05pm

56. Posted by Pogge at 08/30/2008 @ 10:00pm

    Pogge, FRANK doesn't want to you to vote for Palin because she's a woman...

    he wants you to vote for Palin because OF a woman...Hillary.

    Everything he is doing or saying to get McCain elected, is so that Hillary gets to make her last (and it would be) shot at it in 2012.

    Nothing more.

    Posted by Maskdelta at 08/30/2008 @ 10:07pm

57. >>> Limbaugh almost exploded in delight at the pick.

    Posted by frankgrits at 08/30/2008 @ 10:00pm<<<

    Limbaugh is going to be crying the blues soon as she resigns in disgrace as a last ditch effort to help the McCain ticket.

    Yes, it is about McCain's JUDGMENT!

    Posted by Metteyya at 08/30/2008 @ 10:09pm

58. How about this: Palin let a genetically defective child come to term. She found out when it was well within first trimester and so could have chosen to terminate safely (for her.) Some might think that is indicative of poor judgment. I mean, what other life-altering (or nation-altering) decision might she make based on her imaginary friend's "list of things to do / not do"?

    Posted by leftofcenter at 08/30/2008 @ 9:49pm

    Have you lost your freaking mind?!

    Trisomy 21 is THE most common genetic anomoly in humans, one in every 800-1000 births.

    These kids are wonderful! They laugh, play, sing, read, write, do arithmetic, have friends, work, act in movies and series, and enjoy life just as much as you do etc., etc., etc.

    I can see you have never met a child with Downs.

    So much for the compassion of the 'left'.

    Posted by Benchrest at 08/30/2008 @ 10:10pm

59. I don't see her resigning over the trooper scandal or, well, anything. I think she wants her moment in the national spotlight and then she'll move back to Alaska and deal with whatever comes along.

    Posted by yutsano at 08/30/2008 @ 10:12pm

60. Posted by frankgrits at 08/30/2008 @ 10:06pm

    She's fine thanks. Living in TX and making more money that her old Dad. As to the above...was playing Devils advocate. But there is a grain of fact in there that points to a dichotomy of mindset. There are many people who, if they find out early enough (well within the 1st trimester) to terminate. I personally find nothing "wrong" with this (I'm not going to say its a "good" thing either, but in many ways beats the alternative of bringing a soul into he world who will never quite fit) While there are also many who do the "God's will" argument - which is quite simply fantasy. (Just like the folks who take fertility treatments .. have a "litter" and say "It's god's will to bless us." When in fact God's will was to make sure they didn't procreate at all.)

    BTW You ever copy the "Fireside Chat" a while back when I posted?

    Posted by leftofcenter at 08/30/2008 @ 10:16pm

61. Posted by yutsano at 08/30/2008 @ 10:12pm

    She has to resign.

    Once Monegan does a national TV interview about the emails he received from Palin pressuring him to fire Wooten, it's over!

    Posted by Metteyya at 08/30/2008 @ 10:19pm

62. Posted by frankgrits at 08/30/2008 @ 10:00pm

    I am pro-choice and I would have an abortion if a fetus had any number of defects. Because I have worked with disabled adults and children since I was 13 I know there are some things I would never put a person through. I worked in a facility once where there were dozens of patients who had been bed ridden, unable to walk, talk or react to their environment in any way since birth.(Some had tubes that pumped digestive juices into thier stomachs so they wouldn't starve to death). The one thing they did feel was pain-obviously. If you spend twenty years on a crowded, underfunded, understaffed public hopital ward you won't be repositioned as often as you should be among many other discomforts. I wouldn't force my dog to live like that much less my own flesh and blood.

    However, I would never abort a Down's baby. They have enormous potential for enjoying life and bringing joy to their families. Their disability is a trade off and one of God's little miracles as far as I am concerned. I have often used them as my argument against the validity of Revalations since most of them understand the teachings of Jesus perfectly but can't make head nor tail of Revelations.

    Don't oversimplify the decision to have an abortion. I've made it and in the same circumstances I would do it again, but I have never, ever treated it lightly.

    Posted by Pogge at 08/30/2008 @ 10:20pm

63. Bench .. see my 10:16 above. By extrapolation the logic could be extended to any number diagnosed serious genetic anomalies. A primary reason many choose abortions is to save themselves (and hence society) from the need to care for the seriously defective.

    We have removed ourselves from "survival of the fittest" and there is a cogent argument that over the long term this is bad for humanity.

    Posted by leftofcenter at 08/30/2008 @ 10:22pm

64. BTW, when did FRANK become a "pro-lifer"?!?!!??

    About 36 hours ago?

    Posted by Maskdelta at 08/30/2008 @ 10:29pm

65. Posted by leftofcenter at 08/30/2008 @ 10:22pm

    I found out I was pregnant months after a close friend was traumatized by first having a child so severly deformed that half it's head, genitalia and some internal organs were missing or presented outside the body and then watching doctors take heroic and pointless measures to save the baby.

    I asked my OB what he would do in like circumstances and being an earnest pro-lifer he said he would do pretty much the same thing. Much as I liked him I changed doctors. My son was born healthy, but it gave me some peace to know that if something had been horribly wrong he would have been allowed to die quietly in my arms rather than on an operating table.

    Posted by Pogge at 08/30/2008 @ 10:32pm

66. Posted by frankgrits at 08/30/2008 @ 10:05pm

    Unlike MASK, I have ALWAYS known that your support of Hillary was to help whatever Republican get elected. Hillary as the nominee was the best shot the Republicans had at galvanizing the Republican base to win in November, and now dividing Democrats with the Hillary thing seems to be the only shot the Republicans have left.

    You are a Republican Troll here on The Nation, and the 2012 Hillary thing doesn't fly with me at all. At least HAP and LVL are honest enough to admit it.

    Although I think that Hillary may be secretly interested in undermining Obama's candidacy to promote herself one last time, to suggest that you are so attached to Hillary that you would waste time on this board promoting a 2012 speculative thing for Hillary Clinton strains credulity.

    You are promoting McCain because you are a Republican operative, plain and simple!

    Posted by Metteyya at 08/30/2008 @ 10:32pm

67. What a laugh Ms. Pollitt is. Senator Obama's resume? You're taking the bait, sucker. This will come as a shock, no doubt, but the great Senator from Illinois, where I am from, "has a resume that would fit on a post-it note with enough room to print the OED. In Chicago, where I was born in Cook County Hospital, and where I worked for a liberal who bucked the Chicago Machine in the early 70's, "community activist/organizer" choose you own silly title, is just a ward heeler. A grubbing precinct captain who helps the party get out their voters on Primary Election day. After time, the ward heeler gets to sit on the back bench of the Illinois State legislature and collect splinters in his butt as he keeps the bench warm for somebody's nephew. When the legislature's in session, said ward heeler gets a fax or hand delivered list from his china-man, every Monday morning with the week's marching orders. Is that the resume of the Democrat's choice that impresses you so? When's the last time Senator Obama raised a whimper about any activity conducted by the ongoing criminal conspiracy in Illinois called "government" From your looks Ms. Pollitt you've had a diabetic reaction to the street pretzels that you must inhale like m&m's. The East Coast pretends sophistication, but wears its clothing tags on the outside. Ms. Pollitt aint got a clue.

    Posted by TeeGee at 08/30/2008 @ 10:37pm

68. Actually, the more I hear about this Palin/Wooten business the more I'm reminded of Deliverance. To be the chief executive of Wasila must be enough for a reissue of Dueling Banjoes. This should really impress the world!

    Posted by WeldonRobeson at 08/30/2008 @ 10:42pm

69. Pogge....glad your child popped out fine. My first wife and I chose to terminate a pregnancy years ago. Moreso because we were poor, ill-prepared and not getting on well. It would have been a bad decision to bring a child into the world at that point in time 9and we did try "not to", but sometimes stuff don't work)

    But yes, my point (that apparently only you got) was that Palin's "no abortions, no-way, no how" isn't acceptable to many Americans.

    As to the medical ethics parts....tends to make some folks a bit touchy it seems. But that's OK. I teach env science classes and I often poke people in uncomfortable spots to get them to think about stuff that they choose to ignore.

    Posted by leftofcenter at 08/30/2008 @ 10:49pm

70. You ladies and gentlemen are in such a twist. . .every other rant seems to continue decrying Senator McCain's "Seven Mansions", which he couldn't remember owning. I am much more taken, that the Messiah only owns One Mansion, that he bought about three years ago. Real estate transactions are not oral arguments in the Supreme Court. He can't remember sitting at a closing for a Million Dollar house whose vacant adjacent lot was sold simultaneously at the same closing for Three Million to a guy he's met a few times in 20 years named Reszko. Why would anyone want to confess to remembering that? With any luck, U.S Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald will have Barack indicted in time to see election day. You may have missed that Reszko's sentencing has just been postponed. In Chicago, that means the convicted is singing for a tailored set of strips. Sing Tony! Sing!

    Posted by TeeGee at 08/30/2008 @ 10:50pm

71. Frank.....the Fireside Chat in case you didn't get previously

    http://home.avenuebroadband.com/~dvaughn58/GOP_theater.html

    Posted by leftofcenter at 08/30/2008 @ 10:51pm

72. This is just pathetic. Not the comments, which barely rise above the level of high school taunts, but Katha Pollitt's column. I thought feminism and NOW stood for the advance of all women. It seems that they are simply partisan political hacks,seeking the advance of discredited left wing ideas, under the guise of speaking out for all women. It's funny, I would have thought that feminists would be overjoyed at seeing a woman selected for the second highest elective office in the country. Unfortunately for Palin, her beliefs do not measure up to the standards for women established by their self-appointed spokesperson Pollitt.

    I love how the knives have come out for her, knives being wielded by supposed "feminists". Who can blame them? The sooner they throw her under the bus, the sooner they can can get back to portraying the GOP as solely composed of old white men.

    On the experience issue: Pollitt doesn't have a leg to stand on. Woodrow Wilson's vice president went from governor of Indiana to VP. FDR's second VP never held an elected office before being chosen. His only experience was as Secretary of Agriculture.

    I guess it will really frost Pollitt's cookies to see HRC come so close, then have the GOP put the first woman in the office.

    Posted by twillie at 08/30/2008 @ 11:01pm

73. "governor of a state as large as Alaska doesn't count. Can you guess which MALE governor has only two years experience in a smaller state but was on Mccain short, short list?"

    Gee Frank, I guess that would be the male who had been Lt. Governor of the same state for the prior four years. Before that, he had spent two years as mayor of Richmond (pop. 200,000--that's at least 25 Wassilas).

    Incidentally, as has been pointed out here, governors govern people, not geography. Alaska is VERY small population-wise. If two years of that is sufficient executive experience, then McCain could just as easily have picked the Staten Island Borough President.

    Posted by brunowe at 08/30/2008 @ 11:18pm

74. Posted by leftofcenter at 08/30/2008 @ 10:49pm

    The thing is two pro-lifers won't agree on what justifies abortion-though in your case I can assure you it would probably be hellfire and damnation fer sure since the world we bring children into doesn't account for much with most of them. I always want to ask if a pregnant woman should have aborted at Auschwitz? What if she were living alone on the prairie in 1866 with a husband who beat her and would damn sure beat the child?

    The child we adopted was born into a decent family with a decent home. He was never physically neglected or abused, just tolerated rather than wanted. It hurt him every day of his life. We don't have much money and are old and crabby. The only difference between this family and his birth family is that we really, really love him and wanted him with us always. I know the pro-life arguement is that this is exactly why every baby should be born, but for every happy ending like ours there are thousands of tragedies. They just don't get it.

    Posted by Pogge at 08/30/2008 @ 11:54pm

75. Just relax Katha, you'll be able to legally kill all of the unwanted, unborn children you want.

    You cite all of the extreme instances of abortion. What about most abortions, Katha, aren't they matters of convenience? A form of birth control?

    But that's okay, war is legal murder too, isn't it?

    Rowe vs Wade is the law of the land. And a McCain/Palin administration isn't going to change that. I think what bothers pro-choice advocates is that Palin may just get people to to take another look at the morality of abortion.

    Just like I bet you want pro war people to look at the morality of warfare they support.

    Posted by freiheit1 at 08/30/2008 @ 11:58pm

76. On March 1, 2006, Grimes sustained the allegations, saying, "The record clearly indicates a serious and concentrated pattern of unacceptable and at times, illegal activity occurring over a lengthy period, which establishes a course of conduct totally at odds with the ethics of our profession." Wooten was suspended for five days.

    That fall, in a surprise, Palin defeated Gov. Frank Murkowski in the Republican primary and went on to win the general election. She took office in December 2006 and appointed Monegan, who'd just retired as Anchorage police chief after five years, to be public safety commissioner, a cabinet position.

    In January 2007, Palin's husband, Todd, a commercial fisherman, oil company worker and champion snowmobile racer who was now first gentleman of Alaska, invited Monegan to the governor's office. Todd Palin asked Monegan to look into the Wooten matter. Monegan did and later told Todd there was nothing he could do because the matter was closed.

    Monegan told The Washington Post that Palin called him a few days later on his cellphone, and that he told her the same thing. She brought it up again in February 2007 in the state capitol building and Monegan warned her to stay at arm's length.

    Monegan said Palin mostly backed off, but kept raising the matter indirectly through e-mails. In the fall of 2007, Monegan said he alerted her to a bad jury verdict against a trooper in rural Alaska, and she replied by mentioning Wooten, but not by name.

    Posted by Metteyya at 08/31/2008 @ 12:07am

77. "She said troopers like this one and my former brother-in-law, or that trooper I used to be related to, are the things that make people not trust troopers," Monegan told The Post yesterday.

    Monegan said he also got telephone calls from three Palin appointees, including her then-chief of staff, Mike Tibbles; Commissioner Annette Kreitzer of the Department of Administration; and Attorney General Talis Colberg.

    Colberg said at a news conference this year that he was one of staffers who called Monegan. Colberg said he called after Todd Palin asked him about "the process" for when state troopers make death threats against the first family.

    "I made an inquiry and was told by Commissioner Monegan that there was a process in place and that it was handled and it was over. And I reported back to the first gentleman that there was nothing more that could be done," Colberg said.

    With each of the calls, Monegan became more concerned and warned each caller about exposing the state to litigation from Wooten. Monegan told Tibbles: "This is not your issue. This is something I am supposed to handle. Every time we talk about this, it is discoverable. Do you want this trooper to own your house?"

    Meanwhile, Todd Palin continued to collect evidence against his former brother-in-law and lobbied for his dismissal, records and interviews show. In April 2007, he told the Anchorage Daily News that he met just once with Wooten's boss, Col. Audie Holloway, to give her pictures of Wooten driving a snowmobile when he was out on a worker's compensation claim.

    The legislative investigation is looking into whether information was leaked from Wooten's personnel file.

    Posted by Metteyya at 08/31/2008 @ 12:09am

78. In an interview yesterday, Alaska Deputy Attorney General Michael Barnhill said that a member of the governor's staff made at least one telephone call to Holloway about the snowmobile incident reported by Todd Palin. Diane Kiesel, Alaska state personnel director, called because she believed the troopers should know there might be a violation of law, Barnhill said.

    "People in the administration made contact with the Department of Public Safety to deal with the worker's compensation file," he said.

    Barnhill said the attorney general's office does not think the governor's staff should be banned from making calls about Wooten to his superiors.

    In July, Palin's chief of staff told Monegan he was being fired because the governor wanted to "go in a different direction," Monegan said.

    Monegan went public, alleging that his firing was connected to his failure to remove Wooten. The state legislature launched its investigation, and the governor asked the attorney general's office to conduct an internal investigation.

    Barnhill said the review, made public two weeks ago, found that half a dozen officials had made about two dozen phone calls regarding Wooten. But only one call was determined to be improper, a tape-recorded conversation between Palin's chief of boards and commissions, Frank Bailey, to a police lieutenant.

    In the call, Bailey said, "Todd and Sarah are scratching their heads, 'Why on earth hasn't this, why is this guy still representing the department?' "

    Palin suspended Bailey with pay, saying she knew nothing about the call.

    Palin still faces the review by the legislature.

    Posted by Metteyya at 08/31/2008 @ 12:10am

79. State Sen. Hollis French (D) said that both Republicans and Democrats authorized the hiring of a former prosecutor to determine whether Palin "used her public office to settle a private score." French described the prosecutor, Steve Branchflower, as a "straight shooter,"

    French said the investigation of the popular 44-year-old governor had been criticized throughout the state until about two weeks ago, when the governor's office released the audiotape of Bailey.

    Such evidence points to a violation of Wooten's privacy, French said.

    "We're seeing clues or signs that matters from his personal confidential file were being shared to generate talking points against the trooper as drums being pounded to get him dismissed," French said yesterday.

    The legislative report is due in October.

    Posted by Metteyya at 08/31/2008 @ 12:11am

80. With the report due out in OCTOBER from the Alaska state legislature on "whether Palin used her office to try to settle a private score", and the Washington Post hot on the case (the above posts were from that paper), if McCain doesn't cut his losses now, he is toast in OCTOBER.

    Posted by Metteyya at 08/31/2008 @ 12:14am

81. Seriously, people! Life is not a Lifetime movie

    (that's funny.)

    no way. it's way better.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 08/31/2008 @ 12:17am

82. McCain is gambling that women will vote their gender, and not their interests.

    by someone up there.

    no. it's all about imagery.

    he'll keep her safe.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 08/31/2008 @ 12:19am

83. Sounds like it's going to be a big fancy 'wedding' at the convention, but just wait and watch the 'marriage' fall apart. Posted by mapalesa at 08/30/2008 @ 3:44pm

    you understand.

    never say never.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 08/31/2008 @ 12:20am

84. Cebterffvirf fubhyq ibgr Anqre. Vg ybbxf nf gubhtu lbh'yy unir n ybg bs pbzcnal. Posted by john lowell at 08/30/2008 @ 4:01pm

    Posted by frosty zoom at 08/31/2008 @ 12:21am

85. FemiNazis

    Posted by 2HAPPY at 08/30/2008 @ 4:01pm

    c'mon, happy,

    'nuff of this dark side nonsense.

    the force is strong in you. don't let it be your master.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 08/31/2008 @ 12:23am

86. In the cool celerity of a diffident young bird I try to forget a dying behaviour, the sound of a picture and a luminous care, easily, like an earnest desire.

    Francesco Sinibaldi

    Posted by Sinibaldi at 08/30/2008 @ 4:03pm

    i saw a skink today.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 08/31/2008 @ 12:25am

87. this tough gal has to go build a chicken house

    Posted by Pogge at 08/30/2008 @ 3:22pm

    go figure.

    chicken's the only ones left who can afford a new home.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 08/31/2008 @ 12:27am

88. Half & Half's

    Posted by 2HAPPY at 08/30/2008 @ 4:30pm

    happy,

    under many definitions my son is Half & Half.

    and my son,

    eight years of empathic wisdom that is he,

    would be wondering why someone would care.

    why someone would be tainting the beauty that is his existence with a snarky remark whose sole purpose is to offend the heart.

    we are all Half & Half.

    or did you have three parents?

    Posted by frosty zoom at 08/31/2008 @ 12:32am

89. happy,

    if you want to play politics on the "dirty" side,

    your victory will be soiled,

    and it can only bear the most rancid of fruits as "recent" events clearly illustrate.

    if you believe a certain path of "government" is best,

    than follow that path righteously,

    straying not into the gullies of filth that corrupting influences offer along the way.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 08/31/2008 @ 12:39am

90. Prediction: by the end of September, Palin will hold a tearful press conference to discuss which of the following: (a) her husband's tax returns; (b) her husband's affairs; (c) her husband's drug use; (d) her kid's drug use; (e) her daughter's pregnancy or abortion? Will she stay on the ticket? These folks have not lived their lives anticipating public scrutiny.

    Palin also gives Hillary a role in the Obama campaign.

    Posted by AH at 08/31/2008 @ 12:49am

91. Could very well be that McCain uses colorful language.

    Posted by frankgrits at 08/30/2008 @ 5:24pm

    twat in the world are you talking about?

    Posted by frosty zoom at 08/31/2008 @ 12:51am

92. Watch the repubs convention and listen to their side. you'll sleep better.

    Posted by frankprojects at 08/30/2008 @ 7:36pm

    this comment is very telling.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 08/31/2008 @ 12:53am

93. Guess your true colors are coming out now.

    Posted by frankprojects at 08/30/2008 @ 7:37pm

    this comment is very telling.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 08/31/2008 @ 12:55am

94. come on, everyone, LETS ALL GROW UP ALREADY.

    Posted by Zero at 08/30/2008 @ 8:29pm

    i sure do miss the html bold.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 08/31/2008 @ 12:56am

95. come on, everyone, LETS ALL GROW UP ALREADY.

    Posted by Zero at 08/30/2008 @ 8:29pm

    this woman is being used.

    for her imagery,

    and if they pull it off,

    she'll be shoved aside to the office of the 17th branch of government.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 08/31/2008 @ 12:57am

96. On the experience issue: Pollitt doesn't have a leg to stand on. Woodrow Wilson's vice president went from governor of Indiana to VP. FDR's second VP never held an elected office before being chosen. His only experience was as Secretary of Agriculture.

    You've missed the point. The issue is that selecting Palin totally cancels McCain's use of the experience argument. Incidentally, Wallace had also served as Commerce Secretary and had started a successful agricultural business.

    Posted by brunowe at 08/31/2008 @ 01:00am

97. I do not think McCain and Bush are the same..

    by john maasch

    nor do i.

    however their teams of "advisors" are.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 08/31/2008 @ 01:00am

98. range-fed beef

    Posted by yutsano at 08/30/2008 @ 8:47pm

    but cows have such beautiful eyes.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 08/31/2008 @ 01:02am

99. I loathe tough women who turn into girly girls when it's convenient. I know it's chauveinistic but I expect better from my own.

    Posted by Pogge at 08/30/2008 @ 8:48pm

    damn straight.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 08/31/2008 @ 01:05am

100. Frosty, lay off Happ and the Half and Half crap.

     Three decades ago some fool in Montana chewed me out because I, a 19 year old, hadn't had even one baby for the white race. Scandalous! He asked me an interesting question though, how was I going to feel someday when there were no more blue-eyed blondes.

     I replied that if it meant fewer people like him it couldn't be an entirely bad thing, but that ultimately our descendants would probably all be part Chinese anyway so he could kiss my curls and round eyes good-bye too. If it gives us a shot at peace on Earth(an admittedly long one)I'm okay with it.

     Happ is a bigot, he's really good at it, he's just worrying about a harmless minority instead of the vastly more dangerous majority.

     Posted by Pogge at 08/31/2008 @ 01:08am

101. Do you remember when Al Gore debated Bush and had it all over him intelligence wise? Remember how he shook his head condescendingly whenever Bush spoke?

     Posted by frankgrits at 08/30/2008 @ 9:04p

     yep.

     everybody knows we need dumb people making our decisions.

     Posted by frosty zoom at 08/31/2008 @ 01:11am

102. Besides, it is better than eating alone.

     Posted by JOMAMMA at 08/30/2008 @ 8:52pm

     actually,

     because of the current (and previouses) administration,

     you're going to be eating many loans.

     Posted by frosty zoom at 08/31/2008 @ 01:13am

103. not just the first vp with a vagina who is lucky enough to have an old man drop dead there first.

     Posted by Pogge at 08/30/2008 @ 10:00pm

     i've heard rumours about ol' dan quayle.

     (sorry mr. quayle. just a joke.)

     Posted by frosty zoom at 08/31/2008 @ 01:15am

104. We have removed ourselves from "survival of the fittest"

     Posted by leftofcenter at 08/30/2008 @ 10:22pm)

     not really.

     we've mitigated some of the "entropy" in order to allow humans to breed a whole bucking funch

     and live longer lives.

     but we still live in the same ecosystem.

     "fittest" has a much broader scope for humans than it does, say, for finches,

     but ultimately,

     it is still the same.

     Posted by frosty zoom at 08/31/2008 @ 01:23am

105. Posted by frankgrits at 08/30/2008 @ 5:24pm

     If you are out there Frank let me tell you that in 22 years of wedded bliss my husband has never used the "c" word in my presence-God bless him. If he were to use it in reference to ME he would be sharing his colorful language with my divorce lawyer.

     That is the lowest insult a man can throw at a woman and almost all men know it. No woman I know would stand for it.

     Maybe committing adultery lowers the bar?

     Posted by Pogge at 08/31/2008 @ 01:26am

106. Just like I bet you want pro war people to look at the morality of warfare they support.

     Posted by freiheit1 at 08/30/2008 @ 11:58pm

     that's why there is a need for "free" birth control.

     abortion sure is icky.

     so is war.

     i think it'll be easier to solve the war thing.

     one day we will be vulcans!

     Posted by frosty zoom at 08/31/2008 @ 01:29am

107. Posted by Pogge at 08/31/2008 @ 01:08am

     happy's my friend.

     it pains me to see such foul things arise from his fingers.

     my son is the first human in my close family to have brown eyes.

     Posted by frosty zoom at 08/31/2008 @ 01:34am

108. Posted by frosty zoom at 08/31/2008 @ 01:34am

     Same here.

     Posted by Pogge at 08/31/2008 @ 01:37am

109. one day we will be vulcans!

     Posted by frosty zoom at 08/31/2008 @ 01:29am

     We cannot find our Surak fast enough....

     Posted by yutsano at 08/31/2008 @ 01:37am

110. brunowe- I have certainly not missed the point. McCain's selection does not change the fact that he has a wealth of experience, and Obama has little or none. The selection of Biden did not change the level of Obama's experience, and the selection of Palin does not diminish McCain's experience.

     BTW, Wallace was Commerce Sec AFTER he was VP.

     Posted by twillie at 08/31/2008 @ 01:43am

111. Frosty, was it you who referred me to bbadgerbadgerbadger.com?

     Posted by Pogge at 08/31/2008 @ 01:43am

112. "I am pleased to see that we have differences. May we together become greater than the sum of both of us."

     - "Surak"

     Posted by frosty zoom at 08/31/2008 @ 01:49am

113. Posted by Pogge at 08/31/2008 @ 01:43am |because before I sign off I have to tell you there are at least a dozen people with it stuck in their head who are sure it's part of some sort of mind control device since they can't get it out :)

     Choice!

     Posted by Pogge at 08/31/2008 @ 01:50am

114. http://www.badgerbadgerbadger.com/footy.html

     Posted by frosty zoom at 08/31/2008 @ 01:51am

115. BRING IT ON, SENATOR

     Did I hear her right. Did Miss Sarah (the underside of the GI Joe/Barbie Doll ticket) actually say "Bring it On" during her acceptance speech. Lets puts aside the fact that Georgie later repudiated that infamous, post 9/11 comment as being too inflammatory. Instead, lets ask this question, "Senator Obama, did you hear that. Did you hear that. Did she really say, "Bring it On ...... or was it "Bring HER On?

     As much as I despise Hillary, as much as I wish she would go away for good, this election is too important to cater to my individual pet peeves.

     In a way, politics is sometimes like the game of poker. The best bullshitter usually wins. Are you listening Barack. In choosing his running mate, John McCain essentially said, "I"ll see your black guy, and I raise you a chick."

     Whatca gonna do Barack.

     I know what you're thinking. And you're absolutely right, Senator. According to Hoyle, its time to bring her on. Her of course, meaning Hillary.

     Its time to announce some pre-election cabinet picks, including, Hillary (God, I sometimes hate myself) as Secretary of State.

     Your response, in poker parlance.

     "I'm throwing in the bitch. I'm all in."

     Posted by bobforer at 08/31/2008 @ 02:26am

116. Posted by frankgrits at 08/30/2008 @ 7:37pm

     I noticed FrGr didn't deny that he probably went down on guys for money in his younger days...

     Just goes to show that anything 'probably' happened.

     Who knew!

     Posted by hsuBfools at 08/31/2008 @ 03:54am

117. Actually what's going to happen is the counter-re-unexpected that McPOWhowmanyMANSIONS has planned all along.

     It'll come out at just the right point during the new con repub dic'tator convection that Palin was using the soccer-mom/governor facade as cover as she's really a triple secret agent that's programed to never sleep and that's when she travels the world putting out one global crisis after another -- hands on. It'll be revealed that since the world is in such a mess that cHeney had to blow her cover in order for her to become the next VP. It's national security after all, big time.

     And that trooper she got fired was really AQ...

     Happy ending-- huh FrGr.

     Posted by hsuBfools at 08/31/2008 @ 04:35am

118. Hey, don't know if you ever saw my mentioning Amer. Int'l Group....it was $18 when I mentioned it on Tues. or Wedn., it closed yesterday at $21!! Posted by 2HAPPY at 08/30/2008 @ 4:30pm

     I have nothing to say to the rest of your point because it is true strategy but I think it will backfire.

     This last thing however I'm pissed I didn't invest yet. Need to set up an online account.

     Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/31/2008 @ 05:21am

119. Or how about giving birth to a downs syndrome baby that most liberal women would have aborted.

     Posted by frankgrits at 08/30/2008 @ 8:36pm |

     There is no evidence to support this assertion; you do disservice to all women by assuming that you can look into their hearts and render such a judgment.

     No one knows what goes into the decision to carry or terminate a pregnancy beyond the woman (and man) involved.

     Saying stuff like that makes us guys look like paternalistic, patronizing jackasses.

     Posted by skeletonman at 08/31/2008 @ 06:27am

120. BTW, Wallace was Commerce Sec AFTER he was VP.

     Posted by twillie at 08/31/2008 @ 01:43am | ignore this person | warn this person

     I stand corrected on that point.

     "McCain's selection does not change the fact that he has a wealth of experience, and Obama has little or none. The selection of Biden did not change the level of Obama's experience, and the selection of Palin does not diminish McCain's experience."

     Except that it shows that McCain doesn't consider that level of experience necessary for someone who needs to be able to step into the shoes of the President. It makes his use of that issue hypocritical.

     Posted by brunowe at 08/31/2008 @ 06:46am

121. Posted by frosty zoom at 08/31/2008 @ 01:23am

     I beg to differ. While we still are an unnaturally large part of the bulk ecosystem, we take it upon ourselves to use technology to bring members into the breeding population that would otherwise be "selected against."

     The net affect is the opposite of eugenics (which BTW: FrankG...was NOT started by the Nazis but by Darwin's cousin, Sir Francis Galton. The Nazis just gave it a bad name.) So we piss in the gene pool and wonder why the water is funky.

     In fact 'Harris polls in 1986 and 1992 recorded majority public support for limited forms of germ-line intervention, especially to prevent "children inheriting usually fatal genetic disease" ' [referenced line in the Wikipedia article on Eugenics]

     Posted by leftofcenter at 08/31/2008 @ 07:14am

122. Unlike the neocons, I want a president that is thoughtful and reflective

     Unlike the neo-cons I see the president as a figurehead and spokesperson, not a King.

     Unlike the neo-cons, I want a president that speaks clearly, knows where other countries are and has real world experience, not just a Washington insider.

     Posted by crabwalk at 08/31/2008 @ 09:04am

123. Words that will return to bite the neo-cons in the ass:

     Joseph Farah, World Net Daily, "President Gigolo?": But if there is one characteristic of Kerry's life that should disqualify him absolutely as a candidate for president, it is the fact that he has sought out millionaire wives to take care of him. Not to put too fine a point on it, he's a serial gigolo.

     Rush Limbaugh, throughout 2004: I mean, [Kerry]'s been there, but he's basically a skirt-chaser, folks. He's a gigolo. . . .Kerry is cheap. Most gigolos are. I mean -- I think it -- I think it goes with the, with the definition. . . .[W]hat do you consider a fair wage? John Kerry considers a fair wage a wife with 500 million. So, he had to find a company that had one. Well, there aren't too many of these companies that have little heiresses running around that are single, have 500 million that some guy can marry into

     Hannity & Colmes, Jan. 24, 2004: ANN COULTER: John Kerry can't really speak to the middle class tax cuts, inasmuch as he is ... SEAN HANNITY: Yes. ANN COULTER: ... a kept man. He lives off the money made by other men and left to their daughters or wives.

     Good Morning America, October 5, 2004: CHARLES GIBSON: In going, in going through the book, John Kerry. You refer to him as a gigolo, the male Anna Nicole Smith . . . . What does that achieve, Ann? ANN COULTER: Well, okay, then I don't want to hear him talk about a middle class tax cut when he has made his living living off rich women. I mean, it is simply a fact that he has married two heiresses. His specialty in life, I mean, if he has an economic plan, I think the one I'd like to hear about is how to snooker millionairesses into marrying me and living off them. I mean, that is not an, a, a trivial point.

     Posted by crabwalk at 08/31/2008 @ 09:07am

124. New York Times, March 14, 2004: Comedians have tried the Rich Guy persona along with a variation of the Gold Digger, which Jay Leno used in explaining how Mr. Kerry would eliminate the federal deficit: "He said all we have to do is find a really rich country like Switzerland and marry it."

     Rabbi Smuley Boteach, World Net Daily, May 25, 2004: Now, having a wife who provides you with a private jet and eight multimillion-dollar vacation homes provides for a comfortable life. But is this the right preparation for becoming president? . . .

     Taki Theodoracopulos, American Conservative, May 24, 2004: If John Kerry wins in November, he will be the premiere president of this great country of ours to be also a gigolo. The dictionary defines "gigolo" as a man supported by a woman in return for his sexual attentions and companionship. It might sound rough for John Kerry, but it's right to the point. Let's face it. The 44th president (maybe) is as close to a gigolo as I can think of, and I have known many.

     Posted by crabwalk at 08/31/2008 @ 09:10am

125. You neo-cons ARE SUCH FUCKING HYPOCRITES!!

     Posted by crabwalk at 08/31/2008 @ 09:12am

126. Go ahead neo-cons, go back into your archives, read your "leaders" comments about how a mere gigolo senator and a person with no experience are no way, no how, ready to lead this country!

     My, how you have backpedalled.

     sheep!

     BOO!

     Posted by crabwalk at 08/31/2008 @ 09:16am

127. BTW, the search continues...

     for pics from the 1984 Miss Alaska swimsuit compeition!

     Posted by Maskdelta at 08/31/2008 @ 09:45am

128. C'mon, it's all over.

     It's Obama.

     Now have a last laugh at the right &just move on, hard & fast.

     Focus on senate & house races, let's ensure a Dem landlside.

     Forget all the nonsense.

     Keep your eyes on the prize.

     From now on.

     Posted by sloper at 08/31/2008 @ 09:59am

129. WOW all the arguments the new con repub dic'tatorship followers are making about Palin's exec experience being more than Obama's on the MSM right now all apply to McPOWhowmanyMANSIONS as well!

     Like when has McPOWhowmanyMANSIONS ever been an executive!

     And then the new con repub dic'tatorship followers are arguing that Palin has gone after her own party to reform it and that Obama is lock step with the dems!

     Like how much has McPOWhowmanyMANSIONS voted against the hsuB/cHeney admin? 5%. And in almost all of what one would think would be the deepest convictions of McPOWhowmanyMANSIONS, especially like torture - he totally agrees with the hsuB/cHeney admin to continue doing it.

     So aren't the new con repub dic'tatorship followers really saying that Palin is better qualified than McPOWhowmanyMANSIONS?

     YES.

     Of course-- but like McPOWhowmanyMANSIONS, do they even get it?

     NO.

     Posted by hsuBfools at 08/31/2008 @ 10:32am

130. Gov. Rudy 9/11 G. himself is saying that McPOWhowmanyMANSIONS, having no exec experience like Palin, is not as qualified!

     Posted by hsuBfools at 08/31/2008 @ 10:45am

131. Are new con repub dic'tatorship followers totally insane?

     Apparently yes.

     Posted by hsuBfools at 08/31/2008 @ 10:47am

132. Posted by Pogge at 08/30/2008 @ 10:20pm

     Sir, you're filth, just filth. And self-deceived enough to expect serious people to believe that you'd abort defective children for their own sake, it would seem. Find a hole you'll manage to fit in and crawl into it, you nauseatingly self-centered pig.

     Posted by john lowell at 08/31/2008 @ 11:15am

133. Posted by john lowell at 08/31/2008 @ 11:15am

     Pogge is a female, lowell. So it's "MA'AM, you're filth!"

     you wacko!

     Posted by Maskdelta at 08/31/2008 @ 12:01pm

134. Posted by Maskdelta at 08/31/2008 @ 12:01pm

     Like you, any gender works with a worm, schlub.

     Posted by john lowell at 08/31/2008 @ 12:22pm

135. Curious how we've moved on from desperately smearing Palin with whatever we found handy (and I'm still waiting for a link to back up Metteya's extensive chronicle of alleged wrongdoing by Palin.) to pure ad hominem attacks on McCain.

     As for "republican dictatorship", it is clear that you wouldn't know a dictatorship if it bit you in your lily-white liberal wing-nut rump. Guess how many protests were allowed by the Chinese government through its application process during the Olympics? Guess how many protests will be allowed to take place in the Twin Cities during the GOP convention? If you guess "zero" and "countless", you display an intelligence rarely found in someone who links "Republican" and "dictatorship" in a sentence.

     Posted by twillie at 08/31/2008 @ 12:46pm

136. Holy sh@#. A small town mayor with her finger on the nuclear button. And a right wing, born twice, fundamentalist at that. Wow what a country! If McCain's poll numbers go up I'm starting my nuclear shelter now. We have already started practicing hiding under the dining room table.

     Posted by lachatte at 08/31/2008 @ 12:56pm

137. Posted by crabwalk at 08/31/2008 @ 09:10am

     The thought of Cindy McCain with John as a gigolo makes me throw up a teeny bit. (Guess he's got a real sidewinder missile there.)

     Remember "V" ... its not just for victory! http://home.avenuebroadband.com/~dvaughn58/GOP2008.html

     pass it on *************************

     john lowell .. go crawl back under your rock

     Posted by leftofcenter at 08/31/2008 @ 1:11pm

138. The 'Women's Vote' is a myth!

     Senator Clinton and Governor Pain are proof that women can and do diverge on important issues.

     Even on the question of whether women should vote!

     Most people are totally in the dark about HOW the suffragettes won votes for women, and what life was REALLY like for women before they did.

     Suffragettes were opposed by many women who were what was known as 'anti.'

     The most influential 'anti' lived in the White House. First Lady Edith Wilson was a wealthy Washington widow who married President Wilson in 1915.

     Her role in Wilson's decision to jail and torture Alice Paul and hundreds of other Suffragettes will never be fully known, but she was outraged that these women picketed her husband's White House.

     "The Privilege of Voting" is a new free e-mail series that follows eight great women from 1912 - 1920 to reveal ALL that happened to set the stage for women to win the vote.

     It's a real-life soap opera! All true!

     Suffragettes Alice Paul and Emmeline Pankhurst are featured, along with TWO gorgeous presidential mistresses, First Lady Edith Wilson, Edith Wharton, Isadora Duncan and Alice Roosevelt.

     There are tons of heartache on the rocky road to the ballot box, but in the end, women WIN!

     Thanks to the success of the suffragettes, women can now support the candidates they choose, left, right, in-between or GREEN!

     Exciting, sequential e-mail episodes are perfect to read on coffeebreaks, or anytime.

     Subscribe free at

     www.CoffeebreakReaders.com/subscribe.html

     Posted by VirginiaHarris at 08/31/2008 @ 1:44pm

139. Posted by leftofcenter at 08/31/2008 @ 1:11pm

     Imagine yourself as actually having something to contribute, noxious slime? I wouldn't. Only bacteria you can't smell are permitted here.

     Posted by john lowell at 08/31/2008 @ 1:45pm

140. Fve, lbh'er svygu, whfg svygu. Naq frys-qrprvirq rabhtu gb rkcrpg frevbhf crbcyr gb oryvrir gung lbh'q nobeg qrsrpgvir puvyqera sbe gurve bja fnxr, vg jbhyq frrz. Svaq n ubyr lbh'yy znantr gb svg va naq penjy vagb vg, lbh anhfrngvatyl frys-pragrerq cvt.

     Posted by john lowell at 08/31/2008 @ 11:15am

     Posted by frosty zoom at 08/31/2008 @ 1:47pm

141. "As for "republican dictatorship", it is clear that you wouldn't know a dictatorship if it bit you in your lily-white liberal wing-nut rump. Guess how many protests were allowed by the Chinese government through its application process during the Olympics? Guess how many protests will be allowed to take place in the Twin Cities during the GOP convention? If you guess "zero" and "countless", you display an intelligence rarely found in someone who links "Republican" and "dictatorship" in a sentence."

     Posted by twillie at 08/31/2008 @ 12:46pm

     Yea! We have "free speech zones" here in Amerika.

     Sheesh!

     Posted by Malcontent at 08/31/2008 @ 2:25pm

142. "Imagine yourself as actually having something to contribute, noxious slime? I wouldn't. Only bacteria you can't smell are permitted here."

     Posted by john lowell at 08/31/2008 @ 1:45pm

     Of course. Those orderless bacteria fit in nicely with the invisible man in the sky, who counsels you. And the unwritten rule that only xtian views are "moral".

     While I am 100% percent for cherishing existing people for their abilities and enhancing the quality of EVERYBODYS life. I see no reason to intentionally breed for defects, because of some emotional construct of "blood" or "soul", that which you would refuse to breed in any form of animal husbandry.

     There is a HUGE chasm between Eugenics and choosing to adopt, rather than create a person who's liberty and pursuit of happiness will be impeded by a foreseen genetic defect.

     I also see an exponential difference in quality of life between an "unwanted" healthy baby and a "unwanted" special needs baby. Ms. Palin's child will no doubt be fine. But all those institutionalized babies, living miserable existences, didn't just magically appear there.

     Abortion may be the crudest of options. But, it's not necessarily the worst.

     Eric

     Posted by Malcontent at 08/31/2008 @ 2:37pm

143. Welcome, "Pogge," and welcome, "VirginiaHarris"! I enjoyed your posts more than most of the others on this very, very long thread! Don't let the trolls get you down!

     Posted by JakobFabian at 08/31/2008 @ 2:46pm

144. Holy Mary Mother of Christ... Sounds like Sarah Cheney, oops I mean Palin is to Alaska what Kwame Kilpatrick is to Detroit! Reckless Republicans Roll again. Fools...

     Posted by Sybs at 08/31/2008 @ 3:10pm

145. Posted by john lowell at 08/31/2008 @ 1:45pm

     bwah-ha-ha ... begone foul troll. Get thee back to the dung-filled sty!

     ....and that's Professor Slime to you, dipshit.

     Quel chapeau d'âne!

     Posted by leftofcenter at 08/31/2008 @ 3:59pm

146. FG...... gotta call a foul where I see one. What Obama said was Iran was not a big threat like the former Soviet Union.

     And yeah, I'd trust a Harvard magna cum laude graduate any day over an immoral, underachieving Bush wanna-be.

     Posted by leftofcenter at 08/31/2008 @ 4:09pm

147. Posted by Malcontent at 08/31/2008 @ 2:37pm

     ".... with the invisible man in the sky, who counsels you. And the unwritten rule that only xtian views are 'moral'."

     One would have to wonder what purpose is served by your pointing to a so-called "invisible man in the sky", Eric. Could there be a need for self-assurance? I'd be willing to give you better than even money on that. Your repeating mantras of this kind doesn't make your atheism real, little guy, all it does is make your personal insecurities more evident.

     "I see no reason to intentionally breed for defects, because of some emotional construct of "blood" or "soul", that which you would refuse to breed in any form of animal husbandry."

     And that one earns you the Iron Cross First Class. We'd arrange for Joseph Mengele to do the honors, but he's long dead. Don't let that put a damper on your National Socialism, though. Maybe you'll get your chance for the hangman's noose after the next Nuremberg.

     "Abortion may be the crudest of options. But, it's not necessarily the worst."

     Well, in your case we can't point to abortion as having been the crudest of options. Sadly, you're here with us. In you case, perhaps we can point to conception as having been the crudest of options, eh?

     Posted by john lowell at 08/31/2008 @ 4:19pm

148. Posted by leftofcenter at 08/31/2008 @ 3:59pm

     Aw, did I manage to bang-up poor baby's delicate sensibilities? Is ou smarting? Here's some advice, pig: Stay out of uneven contests, you'll embarrass your again.

     Posted by john lowell at 08/31/2008 @ 4:30pm

149. " Sadly, you're here with us. In you case, perhaps we can point to conception as having been the crudest of options, eh?"

     Posted by john lowell at 08/31/2008 @ 4:19pm

     There's that old xtian compassion.

     Can you really say such things, AND feel morally superior?

     If I know my offspring will have a high chance of birth defect, then I would adopt. Seems more compassionate to me. Sorry your adherence to ancient dogma prevents you from seeing it that way.

     As to the man in the sky, He is your construct, not mine. Your attempts to project your irrational fantasies on me are lame.

     You also failed to address the miserable existence of institutionalized children. Why don't you adopt one of them?

     But, rest assured, the tone of the rest of your post, leaves no doubt in any rational persons mind, as to your compassion, for the living.

     Posted by Malcontent at 08/31/2008 @ 4:57pm

150. Posted by john lowell at 08/31/2008 @ 4:30pm

     "Stay out of uneven contests, you'll embarrass your again."

     ...and where would my "again" be john? Getting into a battle of wits with the likes of you is kinda like kicking a puppy. It is unkind and serves no purpose, even if he did crap on the floor.

     So instead I say "bad dog john, b-a-a-a-ad dog *thwack, thwack* {sound of rolled up newspaper}

     Don't make me rub your nose in it!

     Posted by leftofcenter at 08/31/2008 @ 4:58pm

151. I think I've figured how why FRANKGRITS is now crazier than before, and it makes sense...

     He HAS to lavish praise on Palin, to get her and McCain elected, to get 2012 for Hillary...

     but here's the problem.

     Palin as Veep for 4 years will be THE most "experienced woman in politics"...no longer Hillary. And if McCain declines a 2nd term, Palin will easily be presumptive nominee and have it ALL OVER Hillary on "experience".

     And FRANK has figured this out and the PARADOX is driving him crazy--

     "Help Palin and McCain, to get Hillary 2012....but in helping Palin, he HURTS Hillary in 2012.

     Don't help Palin and McCain, and Obama gets 2012!"

     He's working against his own interest LONG-term, to get his SHORT term goal.

     And he knows it!

     Posted by Maskdelta at 08/31/2008 @ 5:04pm

152. "Obama has less experience than Palin. He was 8 years a state senator -- a part-time job. He has been 4 years in the US Senate, but spent 2 of them running for President. With all of this experience, what has he done? What major legislative victories are the result of his efforts? There's one. He championed the effort to defeat the Born Alive Infant Protection Act in the Illinois state senate. That's it. What good are all of the elections he has won? He's done nothing with them."

     Posted by Gullible at 08/30/2008 @ 4:07pm

     DUDE! What HAVE you been smoking? You need to get your news from someplace other than the rest room walls or Bill O'Riley (same difference).

     Obama's lisst of accomplishments is long and impressive. I'm not going to do your research for you, after all, you're the one who's making an ass of yourself with uninformed statements, but if you want to look, here's a good place to start: http://tiny.pl/8t9l It contains lots of links to other lists of Obama achievements.

     It's no wonder you right wing nut cases sound so ignorant. You ARE!

     Posted by stubearto at 08/31/2008 @ 5:23pm

153. Posted by leftofcenter at 08/31/2008 @ 4:58pm

     "...and where would my "again" be john?"

     Lets just let this latest be your "again", pig, I don't think we'll require a better example. Find a chemical toilet in some state park to tumble into, won't you, kindly? You won't even need to call for help. You'll be right in your element.

     Posted by john lowell at 08/31/2008 @ 5:37pm

154. Posted by john lowell at 08/31/2008 @ 5:37pm

     So you don't buy into that whole "Turn the other cheek" thing....more an Old Testament "eye for an eye" type????

     LOL

     Posted by Maskdelta at 08/31/2008 @ 5:51pm

155. I'm an expat from SF, CA but now work for a public health organization in AK. I can't believe people's reaction here after Palin was chosen as the GOP's VP candidate on Friday. People are celebrating like they have won the lottery. I should say that abortion rights are not a moral but a public-health issue - if the rights are taken away, it is the poor women who are going to suffer from the consequences, as they might have to resort to underground, unsafe abortion clinics. I don't know what these people are thinking here - they work in public health, and yet they are a unanimously bible-thumping, "pro-life" crowd. I am not sure if it is really life that they want to "pro". I am also surprised that in this whole hospital (and this whole town) there is no different opinion! I am so annoyed...

     Posted by phatkatt at 08/31/2008 @ 6:43pm

156. This seemingly reckless act is proof that McCain has about as much judgement as Britney Spears. I think the guy knows he is going to lose and doesn't want the history books to remember him as the old white guy that lost to the first black guy. Now the history books will say, "McCain lost because of his great effort to advance the cause of women."

     Posted by amberk50 at 08/31/2008 @ 7:50pm

157. "McCain wasn't forced to pick someone with foreign policy experience like Barry was. He chose a reformer because people want Washington reformed. He and Sarah are both Mavericks and they will bring real reform to Washington, not just lip service as Barry is offering.

     Posted by frankgrits at 08/31/2008 @ 3:48pm | ignore this person | warn this person "

     Wrong, she isn't a maverick. She is a religious rightist in the Buchananite fringe of the party who didn't even know what the Vice President did just a few months ago.

     Further, it still doesn't change the fact that McCain clearly doesn't consider experience to be a prerequisite.

     Finally, there is nothing maverick about McCain's current political positions. He is simply offering a continuation of the Bush administration's policies--having betrayed the principles he ostensibly stood for in 2000--to do so.

     Posted by brunowe at 08/31/2008 @ 7:51pm

158. Posted by amberk50 at 08/31/2008 @ 7:50pm

     ????

     For just repeating what Mondale did 24 years earlier?!??!?!?

     Posted by Maskdelta at 08/31/2008 @ 7:52pm

159. Posted by john lowell at 08/31/2008 @ 5:37pm

     Your specious arguments and poor grammar show only that you can take the moron out of the trailer park but you can't take the trailer park out of the moron.

     So get well with yourself: pop open a Bud Light, kiss your dog, beat your wife and screw your sister (unless they're the same in which case skip a step) -- you'll feel better in the morning once you listen to Rush Limbaugh.

     Posted by leftofcenter at 08/31/2008 @ 7:56pm

160. Palin investigation info on local AK TV channel 11

     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UJ-MHz90TY

     Posted by leftofcenter at 08/31/2008 @ 8:10pm

161. Posted by Maskdelta at 08/31/2008 @ 5:51pm

     There can't possibly be anything any more ridiculous than a slug like you pretending to have some knowledge of how the Christian faith is rightly lived-out, Maskslug. That's something really worthy of laughing out loud about.

     Why don't you do this blog a favor and go join leftofcenter in that chemical toilet he'd fit into so nicely.

     Posted by john lowell at 08/31/2008 @ 8:33pm

162. Posted by leftofcenter at 08/31/2008 @ 7:56pm

     Heading for the exit, pig? Next time, better to stay out of the kitchen if you can't handle the heat.

     Posted by john lowell at 08/31/2008 @ 8:40pm

163. Your nastiness matches your politics but at least you're consistent. Now try your hand at beating up on a woman . . .

     Posted by amberk50 at 08/31/2008 @ 8:46pm

164. Posted by john lowell at 08/31/2008 @ 8:40pm

     WTF are you squealing about trailer trollop? I was actually IN the kitchen making dinner. As a single dad, sometimes I have to feed the little nipper.

     You should really try pulling your head outta your ass sometime. Might get rid of the shitty viewpoint you seem to always have.

     http://tinyurl.com/8uggu

     Posted by leftofcenter at 08/31/2008 @ 9:20pm

165. Posted by JakobFabian at 08/31/2008 @ 2:46pm

     If you check back Jakob, thanks! And thanks Mask for straightening out the John Lowell's gender confusion.

     John is one of those compassionate christians, isn't he? As opposed to the compassionate Christians that is

     Posted by Pogge at 08/31/2008 @ 9:33pm

166. Posted by john lowell at 08/31/2008 @ 8:33pm

     Well, lowell, enlighten me.

     Where did Jesus say "fling epithets, curse those who contradict your beliefs, and return insult for insult!"?

     Somewhere in Matthew? or is it Luke?

     Posted by Maskdelta at 08/31/2008 @ 9:40pm

167. Posted by Pogge at 08/31/2008 @ 9:33pm

     funny, I coulda swore he/she/it was a blithering idiot .... or maybe old LIBZ reborn (you had to be here to appreciate)

     Posted by leftofcenter at 08/31/2008 @ 9:45pm

168. Definitely the weirdest poster I have seen, but then I'm new here and can't post much-have a husband, farm, kid, job, friends-and yes, church and volunteer work. I plain don't have the time or energy to work up that kind of rage over a difference of opinion. What a sad, sad individual.

     Posted by Pogge at 08/31/2008 @ 10:07pm

169. Posted by leftofcenter at 08/31/2008 @ 9:20pm

     When do you expect to explain to your little one how close he/she may have come to not being born if you were in the mood, filth, or perhaps how many of his/her siblings met that fate. Think you'll have time for that while you're in the kitchen? Maybe better to slip into that chemical toilet I'd suggested for you.

     Posted by john lowell at 08/31/2008 @ 11:28pm

170. Posted by john lowell at 08/31/2008 @ 11:28pm

     Do you know how much you sound like Hannibal Lecter? Really creepy and quite crazy.

     If they give you a choice between prayer and electroshock I recommend the electroshock. Might not cure you, but I would feel better.

     And what is this obsession you have with chemical toilets and filth? Did someone lock you in one as a child for being a very bad, bad, bad little boy?

     Creepy.

     Posted by Pogge at 08/31/2008 @ 11:38pm

171. Posted by Maskdelta at 08/31/2008 @ 9:40pm |

     Now how or why would I ever presume to lecture a theological giant like you, Maskedca-ca. I'd be at a complete loss in the presence of your usual highest order scriptural exegesis and those incisive analyses of the theological tradition you typically can be expected to produce. I mean who needs Aquinas to inform us about the Christian life when we've got you, eh? Want to let us in on the topic of this week's homily? I'm all ears. :-)

     Posted by john lowell at 08/31/2008 @ 11:53pm

172. Posted by Pogge at 08/31/2008 @ 11:38pm

     I think I dealt with you earlier, didn't I, reptile. You were that proud kid killer that any decent community would ask to report to the local police if ever you moved. Sure, find a comfortable place to clean your scales but, please not here. The underside of a rock is to be preferred for oafal like you.

     Posted by john lowell at 09/01/2008 @ 12:05am

173. Maskedca-ca.

     What is it with you and the feces/filth/chemical toilets? Is it the "John" thing? I mean seriously? What is up with that? If you can use words like exegesis and incisive in the same sentence I would expect insults that rise to at least the level of, say, third grade?

     Posted by Pogge at 09/01/2008 @ 12:05am

174. And now offal?

     Do you know how strange you sound? How demonic you sound? Maybe you are one of those poor tortured fools who think you have the keys to the promised land when you are, in truth, the devil spawn.

     Have you really prayed on it brother? Have you looked deep into your squirming dark little soul and wondered why you are so full of hate and filth and foul things if your soul is pure and your cause is just?

     Just askin' :)

     Posted by Pogge at 09/01/2008 @ 12:13am

175. If you're getting FLACK you know you're over the target. It will be just deserts to see the NAG gang slowly die because they think the only right important to woman is the right to kill a baby. Thirty years of feminism and it all comes down to one issue, pro-abortion. Governor Palin has done more to advance the man-woman relationship and the sour old hags discount all her accomplishments because she has morals and principles.

     What a joke because this article make Biden out to be more of a woman that Governor Palin.

     I have never seen such outright viciousness directed toward a mother and politician. This hatred put out by the NAG's explains why feminism is dying on the college campus. How do you explain to young women that the only thing that makes you "the right women" is to forget your mortality and faith in God, is to support 24/7 abortions?

     One question a feminist can never answer is "If a woman is responsible enough to make an abortion decision, then why was she not responsible enough not to get herself in that position? Abortion is birth control of last resort, and basically allows woman to act like irresponsible sluts. This is hardly a worthwhile trait to support.

     Posted by Exton1 at 09/01/2008 @ 12:30am

176. John Lowell

     My recommendation: Wake up at 3 am and ponder how long eternity is, realizing of course that there is no way to escape it.

     Such a humbling experience. Good for the soul. Makes you very much aware of how dangerous it is to suppose you and you alone know the the unknowable and the all knowing mind of God.

     Good night,

     Posted by Pogge at 09/01/2008 @ 12:30am

177. Posted by Exton1 at 09/01/2008 @ 12:30am

     Answer me this, wise one, if a man is responsible enough to choose to have sex without a condom or a vasectomy why isn't he responsible enough to carry, give birth to and raise the resulting child?

     Oh, right. He can't be forced to be pregnant, give birth or raise a child, so why bother his saintly head with birth control.

     Like you guys care about men who are sluts and whores.

     Posted by Pogge at 09/01/2008 @ 12:46am

178. I think Democrats' ads in general are not too effective because they are too ideological and therefore do not engage the public.

     I would say about Ms. Palin something like: "we adore our soccer (and hockey) moms, they protect and care our kids, do all the grassroots works in our states, they build communities throughout the US....but isn't it too much of a burden to handle them our foreign policy? Ms. Palin will only support McCain's policies not only because she's a veep candidate adhering totally to the principal, but because her endeavors have been basically those of a hockey mom and should continue to be so..."

     By the way, this is NOT exclusion of women. Hillary is NOT a soccer mom, nor for ex. Barbara Boxer. It is submitting to the public the evident, to reach the national scenes one wants to put some years on it and develop critical opinions on several matters.

     Posted by Frank42 at 09/01/2008 @ 01:15am

179. who didn't even know what the Vice President did just a few months ago.

     Posted by brunowe at 08/31/2008 @ 7:51pm

     mr. bush hasn't known what the vice president has been doing for the last eight (please, america, no more) years.

     Posted by frosty zoom at 09/01/2008 @ 01:24am

180. I'm all ears. :-)

     Posted by john lowell at 08/31/2008 @ 11:53pm

     actually, you seem to be all leaden fingers.

     Posted by frosty zoom at 09/01/2008 @ 01:26am

181. anyhoo,

     i thinks it's prudent to stop making a fuss about this woman.

     let her fade away.

     Posted by frosty zoom at 09/01/2008 @ 01:28am

182. Posted by john lowell at 08/31/2008 @ 11:28pm

     What is it with you and chemical toilets? Did your fundyvangenut father beat you and lock you in one when you were bad.

     "I told you Johnnie...if you touch yourself God will see it and punish you. Now I have to beat you with this here bible and lock you in the chemical toilet ... again." *thwack, thwack* "Nooooo Daddie .. I'll be good." (bring back any fond memories Johnnie Port-o-john?)

     ...and yeah, I made decisions in my youth that I regret. Haven't we all? I will at least own up to mine. And yes, the children of my first (and very troubled) marriage know all about it thank you very much.

     Besides ... assuming you are a "true believer" at this point, I would ask you: Who the fuck are you to judge me you obtuse pedantic bitch? Methinks its time for Daddy to whoop you with that bible again.

     Posted by leftofcenter at 09/01/2008 @ 04:58am

183. My daughter (age 8) said it best this morning when we were trying to explain this all to her:

     "So basically, she's a diva who likes guns."

     Posted by skeletonman at 09/01/2008 @ 05:13am

184. Posted by skeletonman at 09/01/2008 @ 05:13am

     out of the mouths of babes.

     ------

     then this out of the mouth of a babe

     "I don't know what the VP does". Vote for me for VP, I am the best candidate for the job, McCains experience lead him to the most qualified candidate.

     Posted by crabwalk at 09/01/2008 @ 05:27am

185. McCain saying that the rich / middle class line is #5 million

     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zovk-H5qmBE&feature=related

     Palin saying she doesn't know what the VP does can see here:

     http://home.avenuebroadband.com/~dvaughn58/GOP2008.html

     Posted by leftofcenter at 09/01/2008 @ 06:29am

186. "Palin saying she doesn't know what the VP does can see here:"

     She didn't say that. What she was asking McCain's people was, "What am I going to be allowed to do?"

     It's a subtle difference, but an inportant one that I am happy to point out to you, leftofcenter. No need to thank me.

     Posted by twillie at 09/01/2008 @ 07:11am

187. She didn't say that. What she was asking McCain's people was, "What am I going to be allowed to do?"

     Posted by twillie at 09/01/2008 @ 07:11am

     Answer:

     Not a lot.

     Posted by skeletonman at 09/01/2008 @ 07:25am

188. Wonder how long it will be ere a Sarah Palin Dickipedia entry is made.

     Posted by skeletonman at 09/01/2008 @ 07:47am

189. Posted by twillie at 09/01/2008 @ 07:11am

     Let me do you a favor and point out that you are WRONG. The interview was done 3 weeks before she was asked to be VP. Watch the clip...

     ...and I quote "What is it exactly that the VP does everyday?"

     Posted by leftofcenter at 09/01/2008 @ 08:12am

190. "What is it exactly that the VP does everyday?"

     Posted by leftofcenter at 09/01/2008 @ 08:12am

     he retires to his secret chamber........

     Posted by frosty zoom at 09/01/2008 @ 09:35am

191. This whole Palen thing brings to mind the very popular bumper sticker we all saw floating around on enlightened driver's cars: "Somewhere, a village is missing it's idiot!"

     Can't imagine that foolish woman running the country. So what if she hunts. So do I, but I'm smart enough to know that I can't run a country.

     So she ran a little village of people. So she was PTA president.

     B - F - D!!!!

     What a moronic choice from an even moronic candidate. McCain - the RepubliCANT choice.

     Posted by jsebenoler at 09/01/2008 @ 10:34am

192. Thanks, Red River. Glad you are enjoying the visit. BTW, the door is down the hall, to the LEFT. Take care, now. Bu-Bye :)

     Posted by jsebenoler at 09/01/2008 @ 12:29pm

193. Posted by frosty zoom at 09/01/2008 @ 09:35am

     and summons his evil minions to do the devil's work

     Posted by leftofcenter at 09/01/2008 @ 12:38pm

194. <i>He must think we have the collective IQ of a Tampax. </i>

     Wonder what Freud would say about your analogy (^o^)

     Posted by chinpoko at 09/01/2008 @ 1:10pm

195. 2 happy: "Between now and Nov. 4th, you will get a once-in-a-generation chance to see the Demos try to tear a second woman of achivements down, because of gender and gender ONLY......Just study the Demos' top-of-ticket's `achievements'....the answer will be so self-evident.....you'll know which ticket to vote for!"

     No, sorry, Hapster, we'll be pointing out that her beliefs and ideas for the country are way outside the mainstream. Creationism, absolutism on abortion, discredited trickle down economic policies, ignorant (or nonexistent) foreign affairs ideas, false statements on her opposition to the Bridge to Nowhere, abuse of power in Troopergate, dismal environmental record. You'd love the Dem's to go after her on gender, but the problems with Palin aren't gender based, it's that she's an extremist. With the Hillary comparison you're just trying to stir up trouble. Anyway, as a "woman of achievement" Palin pales beside HRC --who wasn't "torn down" she got narrowly beat.

     And for such a staunch family values crew, what's with the 5 months pregnant 17 year old daughter? A couple of 'birds and the bees' talks get missed when Mom was over at City Hall?

     Posted by ohsotired at 09/01/2008 @ 2:00pm

196. Katha Pollitt says "Life is not a Lifetime movie!". How right she is!

     Suppose the rumors pan out that Sarah Polin faked her pregnancy and it's really Bristol's daughter. Then the statement becomes instead,,,

     "Life is a plot line in Desperate Housewives".*

     *Actress Marcia Cross played Bree Hodge, whose daughter was pregnant. Bree pretended the baby was really hers, by padding her clothes to appear pregnant. Sarah Palin seems not to have thought of this complicated maneuver...

     Posted by NevadaNed at 09/01/2008 @ 2:55pm

197. "I'm used to being productive" "We want to make sure that is a fruitful position for me."

     I did watch it, leftofcenter. When you take a single quote, and use it without any context whatsoever, you can make a person look pretty bad.

     Let me give you an example: "So get well with yourself: pop open a Bud Light, kiss your dog, beat your wife and screw your sister." Now, what kind of a horrid, horrid person would say something like that?

     Posted by twillie at 09/01/2008 @ 3:01pm

198. <i>He must think we have the collective IQ of a Tampax. </i>

     Wonder what Freud would say about your analogy (^o^)

     Posted by chinpoko at 09/01/2008 @ 1:10pm

     soaked in irony.

     Posted by frosty zoom at 09/01/2008 @ 3:07pm

199. INTERESTING TO READ THE COMMENTS OF PALINS ALASKAN RESIDENTS REGARDING HER PERFORMANCE AND LIFESTYLE.

     MUCH OF THE SENTIMENT IS FAR FROM WHAT WE ARE HEARING FROM THE CONSERVATIVES AND/OR THE PRESS.

     SEEMS THEY ARE NOT ALL HAPPY WITH HOW SHE IS MANAGING AFFAIRS AND HER EXPERIENCE AND JUDGMENT IS AND HAS BEEN CALLED INTO QUESTION FOR MANY MONTHS.

     THERE IS MUCH WE DO NOT KNOW ABOUT PALIN AND I BELIEVE NOW THAT THE SHOCK HAS WORN OFF, THERE WILL BE A LOT OF NEW DISCOVERIES.

     ABUSE OF POWER IN OFFICE, THE STORY SURROUNDING HER DAUGHERS PREGNANCY AND MUCH MORE ......

     INTERVIEW THE MOTHER-IN-LAW!!!

     Posted by Hoot at 09/01/2008 @ 4:53pm

200. So after being a voter for 26 years and observing Cheney these past 8 she doesn't think the VP of the nation will be as busy as being Gov'r of a mainly empty state?

     As to the end bit .. perhaps I snapped a bit hard, but I get a bit miffed at condescension

     Posted by leftofcenter at 09/01/2008 @ 5:00pm

201. GIVE ME A BREAK! PALIN IS IN A POLITICALLY NO WIN POSITION OF HER OWN MAKING.

     O.K. Anyone can have a pregnant teenage daughter -- and maybe when she was vetted she told this truth to McCain. So far it's no "big deal." And yes indeed, it is a private family matter.

     But let's examine the truth of Sarah Pelin's own pregnancy. Let us assume she is telling the God's honest truth [irony intended] and her fifth child Trig is actually hers. Accumulating, verifiable news accounts paint a very bad picture of Palin's judgement and character.

     1. The day Trig was destined to be born in Alaska many thousands of miles away, Sarah Palin's waters reportedly broke while she was scheduled to give a very public keynote address in Texas. So far so good.

     2. Then according to Palin herself, she flew back to Alaska on a commercial flight while in labor -- a condition that she concealed from the airline and crew. She easily could have given birth to Trig in a nearby Texas hospital.

     3. If #2 is true then while a public official, Gov. Palin violated airline policy with her deceit and endangered her baby, the aircraft, crew, and passengers. If her several hours long -- "secret" -- labor had progressed to birth, the pilot may have decided to make an emergency landing somewhere.

     4. So then by her own admission, Palin behaved in a wreckless and irresponsible manner the day she gave birth to Trig.

     5. Palin is a wreckless and irresponsible person who is capable of deception and dangerously violatiing rules for trivial reasons (or she is lying about Trig being her child).

     Who needs a person with such poor character and poor judgement a heart beat away from becoming Presdent of the United States of America with her finger on a nuclear button?!

     Posted by Granpah at 09/01/2008 @ 5:36pm

202. Is it possible that she was chosen because she has a 17 year old child who is pregnant and planning to get married and have a child? I cannot be for her education or the fact that her husband has won the ironman. She is charming but I cannot see how she can get the vote Hillary's disenchanted women who hit the glass ceiling. The force of hitting the glass ceiling must have knocked some sense into them.

     I betcha that Sarah was just as surprised as the rest of were of her selection.

     Happy Labor Day,

     Posted by lopezmarin at 09/01/2008 @ 5:43pm

203. Thank you Katha. This was an excellent article. My opinion is that McCain does not have good judgement and knows nothing about leading this country. God help us if these two get in office. What makes me so angry is this woman could not hold a thimble to Hillary. I think it so degrading that John McCain and the republicans would exploit women in this manner.

     Posted by kdonahoe at 09/01/2008 @ 5:50pm

204. Sarah Palin's years as mayor and governor have given her far more executive experience than both Obama & Biden together have accumulated.

     In addition, as governor she commands the Alaskan Nat'l Guard, giving her infinitely more military command experience than the academic, Obama, and the Viet-Nam War draft dodger, Biden, put together have.

     Besides, she rides a Harley and a snowmobile, as well as hunts & fishes. Her mother is reported to have said, "She's more adept with a gun than with a mascara wand."

     Even so, as Jack Kelly of Pittsburgh said, "She's still drop dead gorgeous."

     Don't know 'bout effete urban Lefties, but to I a Catholic, WIA Viet-Nam veteran living in rural Colorado she is a very attractive person whose capabilities have been verified by her fellow Alaskans, who make her the most popular governor in the nation.

     McCain/Palin certainly is going to receive my vote.

     Posted by Banshee5 at 09/01/2008 @ 6:25pm

205. leftofcenter: Maybe she wasn't thinking of Cheney. Maybe she was thinking of the Quayle and Gore vice presidencies, which wasted whatever talents they had.

     Granpah: I don't consider left-wing blog hit pieces to be "accumulating, verifiable news accounts", do you? Who "reported" that her water broke?

     "Palin is a wreckless and irresponsible person who is capable of deception": I would characterize her actions as, almost as bad as getting serviced by a White House intern in a hallway off the oval office. Almost, but not quite. And that was the guy who actually had his finger on the nuclear button.

     Posted by twillie at 09/01/2008 @ 6:29pm

206. Do any of you "old timers" on here (like FrankG, or LL or Crabs notice that John "chemical toilet" Lowell sounds an awful lot like the acrid and pompous verbosity of NaCl?

     Posted by leftofcenter at 09/01/2008 @ 6:48pm

207. Last Friday was the day for the weigh-in for the giant pumpkins and cabbages at the Alaska State Fair. Sarah Palin was planning to be there for the big event. It's too bad she chose to go to Dayton instead. She could well have said, "I'm sorry but I have an important engagement in Alaska so please ask someone else to be vice president. I'm not sure what a vice president does but I do know how to judge a cabbage."

     Posted by sigridsmith at 09/01/2008 @ 7:12pm

208. As to the end bit .. perhaps I snapped a bit hard, but I get a bit miffed at condescension

     Posted by leftofcenter at 09/01/2008 @ 5:00pm

     what i meant about evolution is that,

     although we've somewhat changed "survival of the fittest"

     into

     "survival of the fattest",

     entropy's little game plays on and on and so does evolution.

     even for humans.

     Posted by frosty zoom at 09/01/2008 @ 8:26pm

209. hey, does anybody else suspect johnlowell is really mark canyon in disguise? I'm getting a very similar vibe...

     Posted by maddox at 09/01/2008 @ 8:49pm

210. Posted by maddox at 09/01/2008 @ 8:49pm

     Was mark canyon nuts as well?

     Just asking since he put me on his "filth" list. Not that I wasn't in honorable company, but the dude is a little skeery in a "serial killer who lives in his mom's basement" movie plot sort of way. G'nite.

     Posted by Pogge at 09/01/2008 @ 8:54pm

211. This is a call for all Obama supporters to ignore the 72 year old war hawk and his laughably inexperienced side kick from Alaska. Do not give the conservative media what it wants; do not play into the hands of the hardcore right. Sarah Palin is simply put part of a carefully planned political strategy to lure Democrats into saying something stupid or arrogant about a mother who, regardless of what the liberal community might think or say about her, will nonetheless be heavily supported by the Christian evangelical block of the Republican party. This is inescapable fact. Any attempts to tear down this obviously underqualified and potentially reckless choice for Vice Presidential candidate with will do a few things which are counterproductive to our cause: Even giving Sarah Palin the time of day will: 1) Envigorate the right, encouraging more conservative Republicans (who's minds are already made up about Barack Obama and therefore probably won't change about McCain/Palin) to turnout and vote 2) Open the door to negative attacks on Obama, further highlighting Republican talking points 3) Show a disregard for the politics of hope, undercutting our movement for change's mantra of abandoning the political bickering and negative ways of the past And probably most importantly: 4) Interfere with what is her's and McCain's inevitable collapse. The work is already done: America is ready for change and it won't come from the direction of McCain/Palin. Everyone knows this already. And negative attacks against a governor from one of the most sparsely populated states in the Union won't help us achieve our goal, which has been and should always be: To elect Barack Obama the President of the United States because he will make a great President. Let us focus on why.

     Posted by tskinner at 09/01/2008 @ 10:06pm

212. Maybe I will wake tomorrow and learn that I just dreamed this fantasy.

     Posted by Harry G. at 09/01/2008 @ 11:53pm

213. Gotta love the one above who says they're gonna vote GOP because of Palin's "Annie Oakley" / "Easy Rider" thing .. what a whack job. Hey, mebbe you guys shoulda ran a NASCAR driver as VP. Same logic right?

     "Yup, she drives fast and dips snuff...thas all I need to know. Get-er done...yee-haw."

     Posted by leftofcenter at 09/02/2008 @ 02:11am

214. With 267 comments already, I'm sure my point has been posted, but I've got to say McCain has insulted everybody with the prospect that this naive young woman could be President should he die in office. It's outrageous.

     Posted by tolerford at 09/02/2008 @ 03:02am

215. I suppose ol' enlightened Katha thinks (snicker) Cindy Sheehan would be a better candidate.

     People like Pollitt, or Valenti, another chip-on-the-shoulder feminist, can't stand it when one of their own tells them, essentially, that they are full of crap.

     Thing is,if Michelle Obama ever listened to them, she probably would tell them that too.

     Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 09/02/2008 @ 09:11am

216. I'm glad to see a principled defense of using killing as a reasonable way to solve social and personal problems. Can we count on your support of the death penalty to solve another set of social problems? How about war to solve some foreign policy issues? Stefaneau

     Posted by stefaneau at 09/02/2008 @ 12:16pm

217. Katha is right; this is nothing like a lifetime movie. This is more like an HBO original series, something along the lines of "Big Love." Here is the first family of Alaska, Christian conservative moose hunters, and yet they are merely human. Think of the contradictions here. Can the facade hold? How much will it strain the family? Does the governor do it for the people of Alaska or for her bottomless appetite for respect? How does her Native fisherman husband fit into this? Usually, men are more plagued by a bottomless appetite for respect. How does he deal with his secondary relevance? You could think of many political and emotional subplots (and when you can't, throw in some moose hunting!). Sort of like the west wing, but with a danker darker, more realistic view of human nature I think Sara's being asked to run as vice president is just too unrealistic and should be saved for the sixth season when the show needs to jump the shark.

     Posted by Rod Bickles at 09/02/2008 @ 2:30pm

218. We're writing about Palin's viewson sex education over at the CA NOW blog: http://www.canow.org/canoworg/2008/09/sarah-palin-and.html

     Posted by canow at 09/02/2008 @ 3:50pm

219. http://tinyurl.com/65o7qq

     Posted by FLaim at 09/02/2008 @ 8:25pm

220. Phillip Wylie once wrote: The problem with Americas common man is that..."he is so common". The myth that commonness is equal to goodness is part of our national obsession with defining success as a commodity we can buy and sell on the open market of acceptence. John McCain has chosen Sarah Palin as his running mate because of her limitations, not her accomplishments. Palin's resume' might qualify her to be mayor of a small town; and, with some stretch of generous judgement, to be Govenor of Alaska. But her qualifications to be next to that one-heart-beat-away, as VicePresident, are nonexsistent. Dan Quayle enjoyed the same limitations. And George W. has proven the Conservative need to illiminate intellect as a governing resource at Federal level,is alarming.

     Posted by dominick9 at 09/02/2008 @ 9:48pm

221. McBraindead and Palin are the new cartoons.

     Cartoons for president.

     This is all she is--a cartoon.

     Posted by Dogtail at 09/03/2008 @ 02:15am

222. Sarah Palin is a feminist only in teh sense that she has used her feminity to get a place in teh patriarchy while helping to reinforce -- NOT an authentic feminist.

     As a Hillary supporter, I find the plopping of Palin into the role of McCain's running mate both cynical and insulting. Even if you delete the abortion issue from teh table, Palin's antagonism to science (cretionism in a science class?? Come on Sarah, get a clue), and degrading policies regarding environmental protection that make even Bush look environmentally aware are serious enough to disqualify her... not to mention that she has stated she didn't know what the VP does -- and aksed if hse'd be as busy as she is in her current job. This is beyond ludicrous.

     McCain's pick did something I didn't think was possible: change my decision to write-in Hillary in November to a firm decision to vote for Obama/Biden.

     Posted by writer47408 at 09/03/2008 @ 02:26am

223. I am appalled and outraged that Sara Palin could represent all the women that have gone before so that she could be where she is. She would set us back into the caves

     When I think that she does "Not believe" in the choice of abortion in cases such as Rape and "Incest" I say there are some screws loose here!!!

     It sounds abusive. She would tell her own daughter if pregnant from relative or say a father... Sorry you have to have this baby... What planet is she from? That's how inbreeding and retardation comes about.

     Even conservatives don't say that... I hope there is some in dept examination and exploitation of just what this pea brain woman is about. Does she not have a uterus?

     Posted by Roxanna at 09/03/2008 @ 03:14am

224. "Expect the unexpected" Is what happens in USA. The way John Kerry was nailing down Bush like a prize fighter in every area so convincingly and the press boxes spoke so high of him in all debates and conventions. The ratings went high for Kerry, and even the beltboys kept saying Kerry spoke and looked like the president etc. But Bush won and all the pundits were proven wrong.

     So people are fools, they should first acquire lot of knowledge reading various journalists' articles and form their own opinions. But , not just going by believing the impressive speeches. Michael Douglas of wall street star could have won all elections or Al Pachino for that matter, if the people have the tendency to get carried away by speeches, nobody can help them. Getting Bush re-elected for the 2nd time itself proves the missing elements in people that is Ethics, ignorant to facts, lack of information, conscience, gambling attitudes, lack of wisdom and lack of responsibility.

     Republicans and demcrats, these are for the politicians but not for us, we should just elect the good guy who will benefit us - period, but its so foolish when Republicans and demcrats is emphasised as if they are two different religions! Beware Palin was chosen only to round up Hilary's votes but not for her experience nor competency and I can bet not even it was discussed in the DNC that she has the potential to be a good VP, it was just to compile Hilary votes.

     Posted by aleemsyed at 09/03/2008 @ 06:27am

225. Posted by leftofcenter at 09/01/2008 @ 6:48pm

     You could be right. He sounds too intelligent to be LIBZSUCKS.

     So let me get this straight. We have McCain, who has no experience dealing with economics, running for president of a country that is in dire economic straits. He picked Sara Palin as his running mate, who has slightly more experience dealing with economic issues and no legislative or foreign policy experience. Sure, she was mayor of a town of 5000(?) and a governor of a state with the fifth smallest population in the country. I guess republicans do like inexperienced politicians considering Bush got two terms in office with no foreign policy experience and having dodged the Vietnam War as well.

     I will do what one poster stated above, let it fall by the wayside. I, for one, was not surprised by McCain's pick.

     Posted by k330k at 09/03/2008 @ 08:05am

226. The thing that bothers me....

     Paulin's kid is pregnant. Paulin supports abstinence only. Now, forget for a moment that the kid is pregnant. There are worse things. What if the kid had HIV or worse, AIDs? How would that change the discussion?

     Fact is, the kid had unprotected sex. Presumably she didn't get any education about protected sex. The family should be grateful she only got pregnant.

     Now, many have said, this is a private family matter. If it happened to my kid, or your kid, that would be right. But this lady is up for the second highest executive office. Is it not fair to look to her decisions about how to raise her kids and extrapolate them to how she would influence official policy?

     Equally damming for me is that she wants equal time for creationism in science classes. Does she have any science background at all...even in high school? Can we trust her with conservation or environmental issues? I'm thinking she is a case of Bush again even more than McCain is.

     Just my 2 cents.

     Posted by Brillig at 09/03/2008 @ 10:31am

227. "Palin of course is smoking pot and slaying the wiley moose."

     enough of iraq, global warming, women's right to choose (which she opposes) and sex education (which she opposes, obviously).....

     will she legalize marijuana for everybody else???

     will she lower drinking age so we can enter the modern age like the rest of developed democracies???

     will she and her daughter be a role model for other young impressionable 17 yr. olds who would be legal in bars???? we have two colleges here....that would be awesome..she has my vote.....

     MSM after attacking obama for a year now says family and personal lives are off limits....hypocritical a holes........enough is enough......

     Posted by jrs112 at 09/03/2008 @ 10:37am

228. jrs112: re: legalize marijuana....dream on. Don't know why, but 40 years of trying to get this thru has taught me that some folks really, really oppose it. I mean really. And they seem to have the money and the votes to make their wants stick.

     Posted by Brillig at 09/03/2008 @ 10:55am

229. Undeniable truth #24: Feminism was established as to allow unattractive women easier access to the mainstream of society. By the looks of your photo, Katha, you need all the help you can get -- YIKES!

     I am truly enjoying seeing the true colors of the left come out -- it's all about hate and intollerance for people who think differently than you. This is ALL you have to cling to. Seriously, get some help.

     Posted by noobamanation at 09/03/2008 @ 1:10pm

230. Posted by noobamanation at 09/03/2008 @ 1:10pm

     I agree totally except for your observation on Ms. Pollitt and plug-in "right" for "left" and we're definitely on the same page.

     Posted by k330k at 09/03/2008 @ 1:59pm

231. Paulin, the all American mom. Now, is she Reba or Roseanne?

     Posted by Brillig at 09/03/2008 @ 4:09pm

232. 1. Palin and her husband flirts with succession from the United States.

     2. Palin attempts to ban library books she doesn't like and fire the city librarian if she doesn't go along.

     3. Palin fires police chief of Wassila because he wants the bars to close at 2am rather than 5am and this upset Palin's bar owner campaign contributors.

     4. Palin fires her chief public safety officer, the former police chief of Anchorage, because he doesn't want to be used in her family feud in firing the ex-husband of her sister.

     5. Palin skipped out of paying her taxes and fees on her car wash that she owned, and failed to file required financial statements.

     6. Palin's pastor of 30 years thinks political opponents of Bush won't go to heaven and that Jesus is some kind of war general that kills people that don't believe in him.

     7. Palin voted to strip funds from a group that helps teen moms, LIKE HER DAUGHTER, get skills and lead productive lives after pregnancy.

     8. Palin hired an Abramoff lobbyist to get earmarks that even McCain objected to

     9. Palin inflates her foreign policy experience by claiming a refueling stop as a "visit to Ireland".

     Posted by Metteyya at 09/03/2008 @ 7:09pm

233. This article is very weak.

     "Sure, Palin is cool -- she's pretty and vivacious and athletic, a former beauty queen who runs marathons, hunts , fishes and eats mooseburgers..."

     This paragraph is indeed an endorsement of Palin.

     "But seriously. Vice President? After a stint as the mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, a town of less than 8000, and barely two years as governor of a state with more grizzly bears than people? She makes Obama's resume look as thick as Winston Churchill's."

     This paragraph is simply absurd. It is a very BIG problem for Obama that the comparison of credentials is even being approached. Obama is diminished each time he, #1 on his ticket, is compared to Palin, #2 on her ticket. Even if it were true that Obama has better credentials than Palin to be president, the fact that the comparison isn't immediately dismissed out of hand is harmful to Obama. It's even worse when he looses in the comparison. It's a loose/loose argument for Obama.

     A couple of things from this paragraph:

     "She wants to force over one million women and girls a year to give birth against their will and judgment."

     First off, the Vice President does not have the power to force anything with regard to abortion. She might break a tie in the Senate, but that hardly rises to the level of malicious force.

     "She wants to use the magnificent freedom the women's movement has won for her at tremendous cost and struggle--the movement that won her the right to run those marathons and run Alaska -- to take away the freedom of every other woman in the country."

     This is nonsensical blather. By becoming the first woman Vice President she will, in fact, open doors for even more women. It's very disturbing to consider feminism is supported exclusively by abortion rights.

     Posted by Person at 09/03/2008 @ 7:16pm

234. This is nonsensical blather.

     Posted by Person at 09/03/2008 @ 7:16pm

     ah,

     you've taken the first step.......

     Posted by frosty zoom at 09/04/2008 @ 12:39am

235. Katha Pollitt,

     YOU HAVE LOST YOUR MIND:::::

     Are you kidding me? Sarah Palin is fully qualified, though not suited to be Vice President. Qualified Constitutionally, but not suitable because she is a rightwing, anti-life, genocidal ideologue in all respects. But seriously, what are you and the rest of the leftwingnut gatekeepers at The Nation doing? It is obvious that since Obama-Biden has nothing to offer you people (surprise! surprise!) you now have resorted to bogus arguments as to why the other side should not be elected. The Nation is now a pathetic shell of itself. Long gone are the days of the Firebrand, when Katrina Vanden Huevel vowed not to support anyone who does not make vowing to put a speedy end to the Iraq War as part of their platform. So much that vaunted bold principled stand.............All of you have been co-opted by the leftwingnuts in the Democratic Party and are now Gatekeepers to Hell...........

     Posted by POSEIDON at 09/04/2008 @ 02:46am

236. A note about framing:

     Too many progressives have accepted the right-wing frame, and continue to fall into the trap of referring to the president as the "commander in chief".

     That's fine for right wing cowboys and camo'd wanna-be's, but if you're tired of our incessant militarism, and resent the fact that those who "represent" us would advocate endless war in the service of their agendas, then you would be well served to remember that we need to elect a PRESIDENT; a leader and diplomat who would have the vision and skill to restore our once-great nation without constantly threatening to blow shit up.

     Posted by drhammer at 09/04/2008 @ 10:09am

237. How come no one seems to mention Palin being a member of ALASKAN INDEPENDENCE PARTY? and now she said "COUNTRY FIRST" slogan. Seems kind of silly don't you think.

     Posted by greeklady at 09/05/2008 @ 12:52pm