parah salin?

[BeautifulBurnout]

Originally Posted by Troy McClure

Now, they do this in other countries where the people are not free. Let us fight for what is right. John McCain and I, we will put our trust in you."

Jason

... like most of Western Europe you mean?

This really is last-ditch scaremongering. Obama is right of centre by any European standard.

[Deckard]

Originally Posted by BeautifulBurnout

... like most of Western Europe you mean?

This really is last-ditch scaremongering. Obama is right of centre by any European standard.

That's what's funny about it all. They must imagine we're here in grey uniforms eating our state-supplied "United Kingdom of Britain" Corn Flakes or something...

[gambit]

The Anchorage Daily News endorses Obama for President.

[Deckard]

It probably won't make a difference, but... oops!

[Sean]

More Palin brilliance, and more displays of level-headedness from her mob-I mean, her audience...

The governor continued to press the campaign’s message of the day: that Barack Obama and congressional Democrats will, if elected, expand government and redistribute the hard-earned dollars of regular Americans, criticisms that brought on accusatory shouts of “socialist!,” “Communist!” and, at one point, “Hussein the socialist!”

This woman increasingly seems to me to be thinking that she's the poster-girl for the future of the Republican Party. As an independent who still has respect for some Republican ideologies, I sure hope the party doesn't decide to take the Palin route. If they do, then I think we'll be seeing our country spiral into a poisonous, ideological battle that will last for many years and cause nothing but serious problems. Honestly, her brand of Republicanism has me, for the first time in my life, truly frightened of what we may face in a possible future where she's running the show. Realistically though, I have a hard time believing that enough people like her to ever put her in the White House. I hope...

[chuck]

I guess until someone from the GOP really comes out and calls her on the bullshit - she's going to be able to keep going. And that's not going to happen during the next couple of weeks. I'm amazed that some of the noises about the rift between her and McCain are even getting out. Just examples of how erratic the McCain-Palin ticket is. But after the election - there might come a reckoning - and I would hope that those who really believe in conservative values (small govt, less taxes, less foreign intervention) actually step up.

Reading Sullivan, who's a conservative, he talks of this internal war - and has a hope for the future of the conservative movement in the US. As a political way of thinking the McCain-Palin-GW Bush-Rove ideology is far removed from traditional conservatism. (As I understand it anyway.)

I think Palin is the obligatory result of the last 8 years of Rove-led/O'Reilly-managed/Fox spun bile. It's only natural for her to appeal the base level responses of the electorate - after all, that's what Rove appealed to and who Fox speaks too.

If you've watched any of O'Reilly's rants over the years - as dirty and as sordid as that might make you feel - you can understand how those screaming "socialist", "communist", "kill him" feel justified.

This isn't a culture war - it's a thinking war.

And war is not even the right word for it. It's a battle over the discourse - not the content of the discourse - but how we even go about discussing the content. Possibly a little too post-modern and meta for most - but hugely important.

I think the polls are showing that - they're so random and all over the place - and in part I think that's because so much polling takes place now, a certain percentage of those polled play the game. No-one really knows what those polls mean - and do people even believe the polls, or place much faith in them.

Palin and those who buy into her discourse are frustrating to me on a personal level.

But those who are thinking - on both sides of whatever issue is at hand - well they need to be looked out for and listened too.

Case in point:

http://www.conservativesforchange.com/

[chuck]

Originally Posted by gambit

The Anchorage Daily News endorses Obama for President.

What's odd about that endorsement is this quote:

The election, after all is said and done, is not about Sarah Palin, and our sober view is that her running mate, Sen. John McCain, is the wrong choice for president at this critical time for our nation.

Is McCain a poor choice because he's not presidential or because he chose a complete amateur for his running mate?

For me - it's a bit of both.

Gov. Palin has shown the country why she has been so successful in her young political career. Passionate, charismatic and indefatigable, she draws huge crowds and sows excitement in her wake. She has made it clear she's a force to be reckoned with, and you can be sure politicians and political professionals across the country have taken note. Her future, in Alaska and on the national stage, seems certain to be played out in the limelight.

oh. god. please. no.

I don't know if I'd call what's being sown in her wake as "excitement".

Incitement possibly - stirring up of racially based, negative stereotypes possibly,

Incoherent, rambling, inaccurate statements - definitely.

I mean - judging the reports from her campaign stops - could you really be in there and walk out feeling excited, lifted and positive about the future?

[cured]

Palin is going to be in some trouble when she gets back to Alaska. She's rubbed republicans the wrong way, as with democrats, and with the legion of cronies she's employed coming out into the light, there will definitely be some very tough moments ahead for Governor Palin.

[cacophony]

Originally Posted by chuck

Wait.

All that money - and they can't get her the right scarf to wear?

Donkey?

have you read the totally "plausible" (read: not plausible in the least) explanation?

On the same day, reports began flying about Sarah Palin's $150,000 wardrobe, the Eye was in Reno at a rally where the vice presidential contender donned something she got for free: a Democratic scarf given to her by Linda Williams, a former Californian.

Williams said she gave up her prized vintage 1970s scarf — blue and red and ringed with donkeys — to send a message that she was supporting Palin after Hillary Rodham Clinton left the race. And she said Palin was happy to wear it as she autographed signs at the rally Tuesday.

oh yeah. i tooooooootally believe that story.

[gambit]

Elisabeth Hasselbeck calls media scrutiny of Palin sexist, then uses gender stereotypes.

Palin was prompted by her introducer, Elisabeth Hasselbeck of The View, who in a self-described “sassy” preamble, said the media had become “fixated” on what she wore.

“Now, with everything going on in the world, seems a bit odd,” Hasselbeck said. “But let me tell you, this is deliberately sexist.”

“Did I mention that this woman, she’s got a real knack for cleaning,” Hasselbeck said. “She cleaned up house in Alaska. Yup. All that corruption went out with the trash.”

...

“It’s getting hot up here,” Hasselbeck said. “And I promise you, when it gets hot in the kitchen, she may be from Alaska, but this woman can take the heat.”

Cacophony, the ball is in your court.