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Palin used the opportunity to introduce herself properly to the American people. She talked about her family, her life and achievements in Alaska, energy policy, and what a McCain presidency would mean for America. She wasn't afraid to confront Obama and his record but dished out her barbs with a smile on her face. It was a bravura performance, which will have struck terror into the hearts of Democratic strategists - and Joe Biden. Here are a few excerpts from the speech...
Her best joke was unscripted. She saw banners in the audience which read HOCKEY MOMS FOR PALIN. She smiled and said...
Before I became governor of the great state of Alaska, I was mayor of my hometown. And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves. I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a "community organizer," except that you have actual responsibilities. I might add that in small towns, we don't quite know what to make of a candidate who lavishes praise on working people when they are listening, and then talks about how bitterly they cling to their religion and guns when those people aren't listening. We tend to prefer candidates who don't talk about us one way in Scranton and another way in San Francisco...
We've all heard his dramatic speeches before devoted followers. And there is much to like and admire about our opponent. But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform - not even in the state senate. This is a man who can give an entire speech about the wars America is fighting, and never use the word "victory" except when he's talking about his own campaign. But when the cloud of rhetoric has passed ... when the roar of the crowd fades away ... when the stadium lights go out, and those Styrofoam Greek columns are hauled back to some studio lot - what exactly is our opponent's plan? What does he actually seek to accomplish, after he's done turning back the waters and healing the planet? The answer is to make government bigger ... take more of your money ... give you more orders from Washington ... and to reduce the strength of America in a dangerous world. America needs more energy ... our opponent is against producing it.
Victory in Iraq is finally in sight ... he wants to forfeit. Terrorist states are seeking new-clear weapons without delay ... he wants to meet them without preconditions. Al Qaeda terrorists still plot to inflict catastrophic harm on America ... he's worried that someone won't read them their rights? Government is too big ... he wants to grow it. Congress spends too much ... he promises more. Taxes are too high ... he wants to raise them. His tax increases are the fine print in his economic plan, and let me be specific.
The Democratic nominee for president supports plans to raise income taxes ... raise payroll taxes ... raise investment income taxes ... raise the death tax ... raise business taxes ... and increase the tax burden on the American people by hundreds of billions of dollars...
In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers. And then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change.
You know, they say there is only one difference between a hockey mom and a pitbull.
Lipstick.
It brought the house down and she delivered the line perfectly. Sarah Palin socked it to her critics in the liberal media, both in the US and around the world. She showed guts, determination and an ability to come out fighting. She'll need all those qualities in spades over the next sixty or so days. Last night she caused people to hesitate, to wonder if they had misjudged her. Now she has two months to prove her worth.
The full text of the speech is HERE. Or you can watch the whole thing...
Sarah Palin provokes hot reactions from her opponents. If you haven't seen the speech, watch the video before you comment on it. It might give you pause for thought.
171 comments:
I'm miles out of line with Palin's politics, but she has got style and I have to admit that I see some double standards at work in the way that she is being viewed and assessed by the liberal/left side. I do think however that it's possible to acknowledge someone's strengths - personal and political - while asking whether their experience and skills make them suitable for a particular role, and I do find it a bit of a stretch to see her as a credible candidate for V-P and by implication the top spot. And of course it's perfectly reasonable to oppose her on the ground of political difference.
Iain, I know she's your Republican Diva but she thinks creationism is a valid scientific theory and wants it taught in schools.
I saw the speech. although her accent grated, boy, was it a nice change to hear a politician say what she stood for and not be afraid of the consequences.
One delegate interviewed afterwards said 'we may have our very own Maggie Thatcher'.
Boy. Do we need a Sarah Palin in this country right now. You might not like what she says but you know where you're going.
Does anyone know where our shower of *** are going? They don't even know!
Prety good speech but unfortunately she doesn't really have the gravitas to be VP. "Hockey Mum" sums it up really.
I still find it a bit of a worry that as a potential President (should McCain keel over) she has barely left the borders of the USA and therefore could be considered very 'insular' for a possible stand in to the leader of the free world.
If some reports are to be believed she only received her first passport last year to visit Alaskan troops in Kumait. Is this true?
Also the fact she believes the invasion of Iraq is God's work doesn't bode well for any kind of diplomatic solutions to the world's problems.
It's going to be an interesting election!!
I don't care if her speech was the greatest ever or how "kickass" she was. Her politics stink and that is what matters to me.
Bit rich of these political types to bleat over their kids being targets and yet drag them on stage in front of millions. Nearly as tacky as the excessive flag waving, chanting and breast beating. Why do Americans feel the need to get so carried away with their patriotism? You can be patriotic without being tediously shouty about it!
I set the recorder and caught the last few minutes of the speech.
I agree that it was really good stuff.
It disturbs me deeply that someone who is a creationist and who thinks the world is 6000 years old (and who is therefore of questionable sanity) is likely to have her finger on the nuclear button before long. McCain is an old man and is unlilely to last 2 terms in office, even if he doesn't die.
Deeply worrying.
There are no good choices on offer.
She might give a 'kickass' speech but her politics are (to a lot of people) nuts.
Obama is a fantastic orator - but a lot of people don't like his politics.
Cameron did that fancy thing giving a speech without notes. He's still a nob.
It's not the ability to string sentences together that concerns people, it's her politics.
For instance: she's won millions in boondoggles for Alaska and then has the gall to accuse Obama of wanting to grow the government.
Same old Republican double standards - just a different type of person spouting them.
I spend a lot of time in the States.She's hardcore conservative which'll shore up the Republican vote but with independents she doesn't connect
I'm with Nick and others. She is a creationist and wants this subject to be part of the science curriculum at school in the US.
7th century Islam was less dogmatic than this. She's a nutter, a fundamentalist.
Remember, Hitler wasn't half good at speeches. Even today George Galloway and Tony Benn are electric to watch. But they spout dangerous rubbish. Delivering a good speech isn't proof of anything.
I get sikc of people giving her a hard time.she does what she says on the tin.I wish there were more like her.
the hypocrisy of the leftie meeja is unbearable given they are the biggest bunch of 'bleeding hearts for smackheads' normally.
'I saw the speech. although her accent grated, boy, was it a nice change to hear a politician say what she stood for and not be afraid of the consequences.'
I agree
The best line was the community organiser phrase. I wonder how many people who go to church every Sunday and vote Democrat and New Labour know their respective parties think they're loons? (judging from the comments on this site and elsewhere).
Anyway, thank God for a politician who says what she thinks.
Shouldn't the title of this post be 'Sarah Palin's "Written for her by Bush Speechwriters" Address' ???
She really doesn't like Washington - I counted four derogatory references. Presumably that's why she wanted Alaska to have nothing to do with the place?
Look let's get this straight. The election is turning into a real feast for people like me who are interested in this sort of thing. The Left may sneer but this is democracy in action. A real treat and just on a sexist note she's a very attractive women.
Freedom to Prosper
Could those who keep 'accusing' Sarah Palin of being creationist, please explain what they mean, and point to REAL evidence for that point of view?
As far as I am aware I was taught 'creationist' ideas at school because I went to RE classes and learnt about Genesis. Then I went to biology classes who taught me about evolution. Then I read around both subjects and made up my own mind, based on a good education.
I'm not going to speculate on Mrs Palin's views, because I don't actually know what they are. But I do believe in giving children a good education, telling them about different points of view, and allowing them to make up their own minds. That has to be the base of democracy.
But the way so called 'liberals' use education for indoctrination and social engineering, they are bound to scream abuse at anything that does not accord with their own views - which are rather warped in my considered estimation.
She is clearly the Republican's pitbull to say what she likes about Obama so that McCain can appear the statesman.
On all counts the Democrat ticket looks stronger, so long as they do not get caught up in the dogfight.
Nice to see an honest, ordinary, hard working person making good. And also a practicing Christian. She could well be the next but one President. Excellent stuff.
To Andrew Efiong - sorry if I'm wrong, but your last name sounds Efik (Nigerian). Were your parents/grandparents 'nutters' for believing in Genesis? Is this not a religious belief? How is a religious belief a sign of insanity? In Nigeria Darwin is taught in biology classes and Genesis in Sunday school and RE. As far as I know this lady is ok with both being taught in both their contexts.
Delivering a good speech isn't proof of anything.
Quite right Andrew (11.29), so why do Obhama lovers think that is all he has to do!
Magic, a leader who can read an autocue, well.
Shame about her views on almost everyting from abortion, gun control, homosexuality, state control, oil, big business regulation, and so on.
Oh forgoet she belives in creationism, as in pure fact.
A female Abu Hamza without the hook, a fundamentalist who gives a good talk.
I'm glad you like her, Iain!
Unfortunately, she would find you and your lifestyle morally abhorrent, and believes that reading the Bible would "cure" you.
Other than that, I'm sure you'd get on fine.
Miranda: You didn't get a good education if you can't tell the difference between a scientic theory and a myth.
Evolution: something which has withstood rigerous analysis and is the best explanation we have for the way we have evolved.
creationism:none of the above.
If Palin is similarly unable to tell the difference between objective evidence and wishful thinking then it would be dangerous to let her anywhere near the White House
Palin has basically excelled at everything she's done, and in America is a vote-winning machine.
She may lack a little gravitas, but then again, she is (by her own admission) a pitbull with lipstick. Far tougher than the Dalai Bama at any rate.
I like her a lot. I think her speech recognition software needs to learn a few more political words though...
anonymous at 11.28, she's not on board to appeal to independents. Expect to see her campaigning in Virginia and North Carolina and other places where the Democrat's own religious loon is challenging and really shouldn't be. Meanwhile McCain will focus on persuading moderate swing-voters in Ohio and Pennsylvania that he is in good enough health to keep the nutcase well away from the Oval Office.
To Miranda and AfricaMum: she wants creationism taught in science lessons, as part of the science curriculum.
By all means let people go to RE but we all know some of the stories are metaphors and not the literal truth. Man didn't walk with the dinosaurs but she wants this to be included in science lessons.
"Shouldn't the title of this post be 'Sarah Palin's "Written for her by Bush Speechwriters" Address' ???"
So, you must think Obama wrote his own speech then...?
I've watched the speech a few times, she's good. I suspect she's also articulating the views and a very large number of her fellow citizens.
I just wonder if the mentions of her son going to Iraq won't run into the Prince Harry problem. He looked nervous, and I can see why.
I hope I'm wrong on this.
I don't care what kind of speech she makes. I just can't take somebody seriously who gives her five children such ridiculous names.
Miranda said...
Could those who keep 'accusing' Sarah Palin of being creationist, please explain what they mean, and point to REAL evidence for that point of view?
This is from AP. I can't believe a non-creationist would push for it to be taught in schools??
As a candidate for governor, Palin called for teaching creationism alongside evolution in Alaska's public schools. She has not made clear whether she accepts the theory of evolution as fact.
By the way Africanmum, people aren't nutters for believing things when there wasn't much evidence for the contrary. For example people though the sun rotated around the earth until Copernic and Gallileo said otherwise, people thought Brown was a solid Chancellor until his boom turned to a bust.
Creationism is fine for Sunday school but it doesn't belong in a biology class, does it?
It's all well and good until McCain keels over a month into his presidency. Charismatic or not does anyone really believe she could cope with being the next potus?
Might sound snobbish but with a journalism bachelors from a state university, limited experience of wider America beyond Alaska (by her own admission) and even less experience of the world outside of America is she really cut out for international (or even high-level domestic) politics? Perhaps she can learn on the job but it's a hell of a risk.
My nan is funny, charismatic and full of 'common sense' life experience but I doubt she'd make a good president.
Iain, I know Americans do it, but do you have to use the phrase "liberal media" as well? If you mean "left-wing media" then say it!
"Liberal media" just means a media not beholden by tradition.
I always thought Ann Coulter summed things up nicely when she said, "If Democrats Had Any Brains They Would Be Republicans"
Some very misleading stuff on this thread about Sarah Palin and creationism.
She has said simply that she is in favour of both sides of the argument being debated in the classroom, because she is in favour of open and healthy debate
She has also that she would NOT want to put creationism on to the curriculum. Indeed in Alaska she specifically ruled out doing so.
The idea that she is some kind of right-wing nut shows either ignorance or malice – please see the report here from the Anchorage Daily News in 2006 before her election as Governor.
In an interview Thursday, Palin said she meant only to say that discussion of alternative views should be allowed to arise in Alaska classrooms:
“I don’t think there should be a prohibition against debate if it comes up in class. It doesn’t have to be part of the curriculum.”
She added that, if elected, she would not push the state Board of Education to add such creation-based alternatives to the state’s required curriculum.
Members of the state school board, which sets minimum requirements, are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Legislature.
“I won’t have religion as a litmus test, or anybody’s personal opinion on evolution or creationism,” Palin said.
Check it out http://dwb.adn.com/news/politics/elections/story/8347904p-8243554c.html
Gosh, talk about pit-bulls, the lefties are out in force today aren't they?
She must really have you lot rattled if all you can do is call her a creationist.
So, she shoots guns...so what?
So, she doesn't like homosexuality..so what?
There's plenty of sane people out there who agree with her views. Does that make them unfit to live on this planet?
According to some of you, it does.
I dont care for the US politics at the moment save for the fact that Bush will soon be out of power!
There is too much happening in this country to be worried about what is happening across the pond, and would rather concentrate on the downfall of Brown and his entire corrupted government!
VPILF?
MILF?
GMILF?
All of the above?
Too many questions???
Your video link is 23 mins short of the total speech. It misses some very important topics.
The whole speech can be seen here:
http://uk.youtube.com
/watch?v=PiD1X8baE9Q
http://uk.youtube.com
/watch?v=gozyYCT68lc
http://uk.youtube.com
/watch?v=FmzBbCAWgNE
http://uk.youtube.com
/watch?v=PKOQBU31MoI
http://uk.youtube.com
/watch?v=XECMGBfiCK8
Shame we don't have anyone of such resolve and integrity in the UK.
Like you Iain I was awake to hear her. The style was kickass just she did say that McCain should be judged on his deeds well some of her own words are not backed up by her own deeds. Which seeing as I was googling a few things about her I picked up on whoops!
What a pleasure to see and hear a real human being on the political stage. She reminded me of David Cameron's Conference Speech last year before the spin doctors, advisers, money men and hangers-on got to him.
And what exactly is creationism? Surely its just religious education starting with Adam and Eve and Genesis before working through to Revelations. A bit like history starting with the stone age and working up to WW1. Would it be sensible to ban teaching about the stone age in case children took to wearing animal skins and living in caves?
As an atheist and a medical scientist, I am all for creationism being taught in schools. I do not fear my ideological opponents. Rather I relish the prospect of debating them, confronting them, and winning arguments based on reason and logic. In contrast, all the left can do is censor and ban.
The more liberals and dimocrats squeal about what Sarah Palin says the more we know that she is hitting the right nails on the head.
Kick Ass - didn't Levi say he would do that?
"Her best joke was unscripted."
I doubt there was anything in there that wasn't scripted.
Good gag though...
The speech cleared the low expectations hurdle set up unwittingly by the liberal media and encouraged by the McCain team but it was utterly devoid of subtance or policy. The surprise is that she chose to go after Obama using some pretty tired Republican points of attack. This now means that she becomes just another Republican attack dog and that it is legitimate for Obama and Biden to attack her on the issues.
And there are plenty. She has been caught on video saying that the war in Iraq is a mission of God. She also believes that victims of rape and incest who become pregnant should be forced to bear the rapist's child to term.
Less exciting but just as relevant, she has garnered millions in pork barrel earmarks for her state despite claiming that she is against it and she was for the $200M boondoggle bridge project in Alaska despite now claiming she was against it all along.
The problem with picking someone new in the hope that they aren't tarred with the stains of the administration is that you run the risk that once everyone else has done the vetting that McCain palpably did not, she will tank like Iain Duncan Smith.
Oh and she also thinks that gays are an abomination in the eyes of God. You do pick 'em Dale
She may look attractive and have unthinking conservatives in some kind of self masturbatory rapture but there are a full two months in which all of these issues are going to come out.
Her line about her job as a small-town mayor being "sort of like a 'community organizer,' except that you have actual responsibilities" kinda hits the Messiah right in the testicular region ;-))
John Fund in the WSJ sums up the liberal msm response nicely.
"Liberal commentators glumly noted the thunderous applause in the convention hall last night. But they could do precious little to attack. Even Keith Olbermann, MSNBC's official attack dog, could muster only this as commentary on Mrs. Palin's performance: "People who like this sort of thing will find this ... the sort of thing they like."
An interesting line right at the end of the speech when she mentions "special interests" who have tried to block McCain ever since the 2000 primaries.
That would be Bush and the evangelical right wouldn't it? It would be interesting to know which side she was on during that little family dispute.
I think I am in love...
I am utterly opposed to what Palin believes in, but that was an excellently crafted speech, really well delivered. I don't know what make syou think the hockey mom/pitbull line was unscripted though??? And can anyone identify the guy in the audience with 5.04 minutes left to go on the Fox video? What a nose!
I'll have to catch her speech; I'm sure it was good but her views are extreme and i find it quite perturbing that a candidate such as this is running in 2008.
On the flip side you can't say that Obama will be a good president because he can deliver a good 'un too. But his policies are more in the 21st century than Gov Palin's.
I gave up just before she started. Romney, Huckabee and Guiliano were quite a set of three stooges to warm up the inevitably highly partisan crowd. The pit bull gag was funny but it will come back to bite her on the butt.
She will not fair so well in debate. And whatever you may say her record does not stand up to Obama's. It is not even close to it. The effort at belittling that will also come back and bite the Republicans in my opinion.
Creationist
Hockey mom (not a good thing)
Anti-choicer
Flat-earther
Big-oiler
Wasteland-driller
Corruption issues (trooper)
Privacy issues (hubby at meets, cc'd on govt texts)
Loony issues (burning books)
Exploiting family
Gun toter
Alaska separatist
Belligerent warrior
Gay hater
Exec positions:
1. PTA ho
2. Mayor equivalent to local cllr or chair of parish council
3. Governor of grant-dependant state
4. Troublemaker within party
And that's without anything else coming out, and sticking to the politics and judgement.
She is not fit for the job. That's obvious. As Emily Thornberry said on R5L this morning she wouldn't be on the ticket if she were not a woman. Not close to it. And it is not positive action it is opportunistic and empty tokenism.
There are many many far better women out there than this one.
It was hilarious listening to Carly Florina (who is one of those women) trying to avoid any straight answers on all this woman's kooky beliefs. And if SP gets in and kicks arse as she's supposed who is to say she will not overcome McCain and get her programme instead of his?
Romney was scarey. Calling out Bush as a liberal???
Huckabee preaching. Guiliano stand up. The most useful discourse for the next 61 days might be :
"Who should replace Sarah Palin either before the election when she has to retire hurt or soon afterward when the unreality of all this bites?" [And she may have delivered a few percent of people who can't see her demise coming]
I can see that her speech will do a lot to get traditional Republican voters out but will it - will she - get the undecideds and those in the centre on board? Isn't that where elections are won?
Ms Palin wants Genesis taught in Science, as Science. That's the difference. Creationism is lunacy. Far more so than other religion. So rest easy Africanmum, you're OK.
anon.11.50.
"Shame about her views on almost everyting from abortion, gun control, homosexuality, state control, oil, big business regulation, and so on."
It's the votes stupid.
What happens btw if McCain keels over a week BEFORE the election?
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Palin just read a speech written for her by George Bush's scriptwriters - same old Bush guff.
Sarah Palin will have a big reality check as soon as she has to do a few tough interviews- no script, no 'adoring crowd'.
Was it really a good idea for her to 'taunt' the press? Doh. I'm quite sure Bush/McCain/Palin are toast.
I love the way David Cameron just gave a speech in Pakistan declaring himself a LIBERAL conservative - dissing Bush/McCain Republican Party.
Iain, even your great leader of the modern liberal Conservative Party knows that Obama will win. Even DC knows the Republicans have got it all wrong wrong wrong.
:)
Canvas, glad to see you are so on message. Do you seriously think Obama doesnt have speechwriters? If that's the best you can come up with as a criticism...
Palin is, by all accounts, a very good debator. We shall soon see.
Obama wrote his brilliant acceptance speech . He is obviously far more intelligent and knowledgeable than Ms Congeniality.
Anyway, if she is so 'qualified' (LAUGHABLE) then why doesn't McCain just run for VP? Palin and her redneck family are so embarrassing. A token woman who brings nothing to the ticket.
How very pretentious of you. Substitute the word redneck for working class. You'd never dare say that about anyone here, would you?
I'm not sure my post went through, if it did justdelet this one please.
________________________
So her best bit was the pitbull joke eh? - She has said it begore and it was written up a few days back, so hardly original.
I notice most of the 'in favour' of the very glamorous Ma Palin appear to be male. Why am i not surprised about the fawning?
Do you all honestly think she wrote that speech? - It's funny that not so long ago she was praising Obama - then of course there was the time she belonged to the Alaskan equivalent of the SNP... Then there is her pro-life stance, and teach abstinence in school - she was for the bridge to nowhere before she realised it would have to be paid for by Alaskans and not out of the Gov't purse. The pro gun lobby adore her - last night someone compared her to Maggie T (she is nowhere near her leauge)
There is plenty out there to read about her if any of you will stop thinking with your nether regions and go look. Maybe then you will come out with a more balance view.
And as a mother and grandmother I was apalled at the way they kept that baby in the hall amongst all that noise - just passing him from one to another like pass the parcel.
I am a Conservative but I am definately not one that would or could support her.
jo
Where's Vertiy? She must be screaming 'Yes! YES!! Oohhh,YEEEEESSSSS!!!!'
It was a good speech to energise the faithful. I'm sure we'll see how it played in suburbia soon enough.
It didn't address, though, what the main problem is with her, and why McCain shouldn't have picked her.
David Brooks wrote an interesting piece for the NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/02/opinion/02brooks.html
saying that Palin was gifted, and "allows McCain to run "as the crusader for virtue against the forces of selfishness ... to make cleaning out the Augean stables of Washington the major issue of his campaign."
However, Brooks pointed out that she shares "McCain’s primary weakness" -- substituting a moral philosophy for a political philosophy.
Brooks: "If you are going to lead a vast administration as president, it really helps to have a clearly defined governing philosophy, a conscious sense of what government should and shouldn’t do, a set of communicable priorities."
"If McCain is elected, he will face conditions tailor-made to foster disorder. He will be leading a divided and philosophically exhausted party. There simply aren’t enough Republican experts left to staff an administration, so he will have to throw together a hodgepodge with independents and Democrats. He will confront Democratic majorities that will be enraged and recriminatory."
"On top of these conditions, he will have his own freewheeling qualities: a restless, thrill-seeking personality, a tendency to personalize issues, a tendency to lead life as a string of virtuous crusades."
"He really needs someone to impose a policy structure on his moral intuitions. He needs a very senior person who can organize a vast administration and insist that he tame his lone-pilot tendencies and work through the established corridors — the National Security Council, the Domestic Policy Council. He needs a near-equal who can turn his instincts, which are great, into a doctrine that everybody else can predict and understand."
"Rob Portman or Bob Gates wouldn’t have been politically exciting, but they are capable of performing those tasks. Palin, for all her gifts, is not. She underlines McCain’s strength without compensating for his weaknesses."
Lot of misconceptions here, propably readers of the Daily Kos and Andrew Sullivan. Some things need clearing up:
1 As sceptical at 12:05 said, she does not believe creationism should be taught in schools, just that it is ok to be debated.
2 She does not believe that "gays are an abomination". She has a number of gay friends and vetoed a bill denying gays welfare benefits. She only believes that marriage should be between a man and a woman.
3 She uses guns. If there is one place in the western world where guns are almost a necessity, it's Alaska, so why the surprise.
4 She's not qualified to be VP. Juries out here, that's not a determination that can be made until we know more about her. Let's wait until we see her interviews and the debate before we make that determination. The point is that it's hard to make the case that Obama is qualified to be the president. During his time as a politician, Obama has achieved nothing. He's not responsible for a single piece of legislation and mostly votes present in the senate rather than making a decision.
In my lifetime, there have been five really significant politicians in the UK and USA; the two Clintons, Reagan, Thatcher, Blair. I believe that as an advocate for small government western conservitism, Sarah Palin could be a sixth and that's something that excites me.
Great speech, great delivery but what about the person? What kind of a hockey mom goes back to work three days after the birth of a baby - who looked after the baby?
The pit bull joke is an old one and as a pit bull isn't much good for anything except fighting - your point is?
There is no more committed feminist that I - but I shrink from the token woman - do you think if Hillary hadn't had such a large following that McCain was hoping to win over Palin would have had a chance?
Politics is the art of the possible and knowledge of the system and how to make it work to deliver what you want is what you need. "Yes Minister" was an allegory for how it works not just for how it works in the UK.
Kicking a** in Alaska ain't the same as driving through the bureaucracy in Washington.
Hockey Mum/Pitbull unscripted? Her use of that joke appeared in print many times before the convention.
It may have been a good speech; it may have inspired republicans; it will have appealed to many democrats uncomfortable with Obama's style. But in the cold light of November will that make her a good VP? Much too soon to say.
Sarah Palin - change you can believe in.
Iain - there is a huge world of difference between 'working class' and REDNECK.
Redneck= anti-intellectual.
i often wonder about your judgement Iain.
OK, she can read a teleprompter well and preach to the converted. It was an entertaining speech for those interested in sarcasm, and sound-bite over substance.
But point to me where she offered a genuine vision for the future of America? Her speech was biography - sucking up to the boss - slagging off the other guy, and at times lying outright about Obama's policy.
People have said she's a breath of fresh air, something new and exciting. Well, she's a new face, and a pretty one at that, but it was the same old Republicans for me, strike fear into the hearts of Americans and hope for the best. It worked in 2000 and 2004, it's up to our friends across the pond to decide if fear will decide their votes again.
Chris Paul and Canvas are laughable. They read worthless blogs like Daily Kos and Andrew Sullivan and their ilk and accept what's written as gospel.
"Redneck" - god what an elitist snob.
Chris Paul has obviously not done any substantive research into this women, he just trots out the liberal attack lines from the liberal blogosphere as the truth.
She's not a big-oiler, she attacked big oil in alaska and broke up their monopoly on the pipeline. She's not an Alaska seperatist, that was a Daily Kos lie. Their evidence by the way was "a goldminer said she was". Really well researched that one.
The liberals can't bear the thought that a working class women can be a republican, it interferes with their perveted view of the world through identity politics glasses and confuses the hell out of them.
She's a hideous right wing nightmare - I couldn't care less about her experience or the fact she is a woman. I'm fundementally opposed to everything she believes in and stands for - from her corruption (trying to have her brother in law sacked - which she has never outright denied) through her belief in creationism - which is an assualt on science and reason. Tax cuts for the wealthiest, the Iraq war - support of Bush's policies (including the Bush doctrine), her apparent confrontational approach to everything.
And Iain, how can you be pro-life and opposed to universal healthcare for children?? Their life is sacred up until they are born apparently?
Personally as a human being I don't know why she would want to put her daughter through the tabloid gauntlet over her pregnancy - she knew it would be a huge story before she accepted the job but still chose to put her daughter through it - she is putting herself above her family's well-being.
There is nothing here for moderates or liberals, which I presume is why she is polling so badly with those groups at the moment.
She is helpful to McCain as an attack dog and nothing else. If he wins and then dies and she becomes president then god help us all.
The more you read the speech, the more curious it becomes for what she doesn't say. No climate change denial, no reproductive rights for rapist fathers, just one passing reference to guns, and absolutely no God (apart from the standard God Bless America at the end). Looks like the Republican strategists are going to make her tone it down on the rare occasions they let her address a national audience. Maybe us liberal whingers aren't the only ones worried about her.
Palin is a redneck and she appeals to rednecks.
A fact is a fact is a fact.
She spoke well. Her delivery-style was good. Her content though left a lot to be desired. I learnt a lot about her as a mother, wife, daughter and even sister. I learnt that she has eschewed the trappings of power. I learnt the great esteem in which she holds those misfortunate enough to be old enough to have been subject to conscription. I learnt absolutely nothing though about her political views except that she believes the USA should drill up Alaska and that withdrawal from Iraq would be defeatist.
I look forward to seeing her debate (absent scriptwriters) over the next couple of months and to seeing whether or not she then comes unstuck.
What are "new-clear" weapons? Are they like Cif or Mr Muscle?
Come on Canvas what you really mean by redneck is Not One of Us. You really are a snob.
Hardly surprising that most posters on here are turned off by her politics. Any idea of common ground between UK Conservatives and US Republicans should have been dropped years ago.
Yet there still seems to be this idea among Tories that Republicans are Tories with daft accents. Whereas the truth is that the centre ground in the US is so far to ther right of that in the UK that slightly right-of-centre Democrats and very left-of-centre Republicans are more the US equivalent of Tories. Whereas, if you want to find a UK equivalent of today's Republican party as a whole, you'd need to cross UKIP with Peter Hitchens and the BNP.
Having said that, Palin's elder son is cute as hell. If I were a US voter, he could come round and pole...sorry...poll me any time.
In the final analysis (as Marx would say), Palin's job is to get the vote out.
And according to this report it isn't working.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5g10yMHTRWB1ghQ8OLKEKxdHvWiQQ
You might appreciate the fact that she is a woman, speaks her mind, works hard but it don't mean you swallow her politics and put an X by her name.
Nuts but good said...
"And can anyone identify the guy in the audience with 5.04 minutes left to go on the Fox video? What a nose!"
His nose is quite normal. If you look closely you will see that he is wearing a head microphone which gives the appearance of a nose extension.
Whatever did happen to Tracey Flick?
I have a special needs 27 year old, and this woman says families like ours have a friend in the white house. I too have a husband a few kids later (32years) can I be VP in the whitehouse?
What does she offer? They criticised Cameron for talking about his son, why praise this one.
She's a token candidate - nthing more.
The speech was great, she handled herself well and the Obama campaign has a problem (and knows it).
A lot of the negative stuff that has come out about her is rubbish.
About Creationism she was asked a question and answered it, but said she hadn't thought about it much - obviously not a big priority for her. Obama tells us he's a Christian so he presumably believes Jesus rose from the dead after three days. How is this less crazy than Biblical creationism?
About allegedly trying to get her ex-brother-in-law sacked: the guy tasered his 10-year old stepson.
Do we hear both sides of the story in the media? No. Because a conservative woman, or even a woman who doesn't kow-tow to the liberal left stereotype of what a woman should be, do or say will get hammered for it.
That was not a brilliant speech - it was very well delivered but you could have put a dead donkey up in front of that audience and they'd have got a standing ovation.
There were also several inconsistencies, expect to see more scrutiny about her record in public office - the 'bridge' issue is going to be the next one she's scrutinsed hard on.
Sarah Palin comes across as very likeable and her family is adorable, bumps and all, but Iain, John McCain is not the only one who's judgement needs to be called into question - you really are putting her on a pedestal here.
Nuts but good said...
And can anyone identify the guy in the audience with 5.04 minutes left to go on the Fox video? What a nose!
Bob Schieffer CBS News
I think you'll find that the cameraman was having a bit of a laugh! Which network were they from!!
There're an awful lot of misogynistic pigs among Democrat supporters. Their pathetic attacks on Palin make a welcome change from their usual stance of accusing anyone who won't vote Democrat of being a racist.
I mean a redneck is a redneck.
ANTI-INTELLECTUAL
Sempronius ar 14:03 said: "About allegedly trying to get her ex-brother-in-law sacked: the guy tasered his 10-year old stepson."
Well said, more power to her elbow as far as this goes.
Now if we wan't to talk scandals, how about the man who secured his home with the help of a convicted corrupt criminal, or the man who sits on a commitee organised by a terrorist, or the man who gets earmarks with the aid of a lobbyist who just happens to be Joe Biden's son. Now those are scandals you can believe in.
millymollymandy. here we go again.
If anything, you could argue that her very selection as candidate is an act of sexism, given that she was clearly selected purely on her gender.
The only thing separating the woman, who was chair of her parish council 6 years ago, from the most powerful job on earth is the health of a man well into his 70s with a history of cancer.
can we get real please?
How many children have been killed or maimed by pitbulls - with or without lipstick? God help the children of Iraq. Gold help America.
Got to say I don't agree (surprise). I thought the speech said very little than what we have already been told by surrogates. It didn't expend at all on the Republican ticket's visions for office either.
I know VP nominees are supposed to be attack dogs, but most at least say something about the main issue (the economy) other than 'our guy is great the other guy is crap').
She again talked about the bridge to nowhere- saying she killed it- forgetting that she supported it when running and even when it died still took all the money for it to spend on other things instead.
She repeated that Obama will raise taxes- when his plan will cut them for both middle and lower class people while only raising them on the rich.
She repeated that Obama's plans will lead to a deficit, when by all accounts McCains plans actually create an even bigger deficit (neither will actually create a surplus).
Finally- when the hell do the Republican's lay into Community Organisers?? I thought they loved their country and wanted people to do things off their own back to make it better?? Then again, I really can't remember the last time a Republican candidate followed the teachings the preached...
oh and by the way:
Anonymous 12:04pm
As a rule anyone who thinks Ann Coluter sums something up nicely is crackers- even most of the right can't stand her.
This idea that she wants creationism taught in schools is a crock. It's pure circular reporting, and if it's not addressed, it'll seen be up there with the 'no such thing as society' distortion.
For the record, she has stated explicitly that she thought that 'creationism' - and there are different types - could be debated in schools, and that it "doesn't have to be part of the curriculum". She has *never* said it should be taught in science classes as an alternative to evolution.
But more important than what she might or might not believe - and we must assume that Mr Obama believes a lot of 'crazy' things as well, such as the resurrection of Jesus and the virgin birth - check her record. If she were the sort of 'fundamentalist' Christian beliefs so many people seem to want to believe, you'd expect it to creep into her policies as governor or mayor. But it didn't - and, unlike Mr Obama, she *has* a record of decision-making which can be scrutinised. In fact her first veto as governor was of legislation to stop health-care benefits to same-sex partners of public employees.
Obama is a fantastic orator!!
what a load of twaddle. A great orator does not need notes or autocues! Which tell him when to stop and when to raise his voice!!
etc. etc.
The man is a phoney, no ideas man just like our Tony Blair. A man who believes in central control and taxation - just like our tony Blair.
I watched the speech by Mrs Palin. The race is now going to be very, very interesting and I do believe that President McCain will be sworn in, in January!
Obama has upset middle america, small town america and even his own supporters by his ditching of the Reverend Wright. He has shown that he will say anything and do anything, and blow loyalty!! to get elected.
He is a charlatan and will be exposed as such.
No wonder the Tories are getting rather excited. Choosing leaders based on speaking ability is what they have done with "Dave" Cameron.
And so what if she gave a good speech? Her views - which will help define her actions - are appalling. Iain, what's your take on the place of Creationism in schools? Religious Studies yes -along with every other creation myth - science no.
And do other viewers think that the war in Iraq is doing God's work?
Methinks the lefties protest too much.
He He, Palin has got them well and truly rattled. :)
Great to see a down to earth, hard working, life experienced and honnest politician for once. Do they fear/see the makings of another Margaret Thatcher?
Before we here in the UK start criticising Mrs Palin about her experience just ask yourself what experience Tony Blair had before becoming PM or Gordon Brown before he became Chancellor.
At least she ran somthing more complicated than a Policy Forum.
Palin has strong beliefs. Is she pushing those beliefs on anyone?
The part of the speech where she identifies groups of people in a variety of US states says to me she recognises that people are different and that she values those differences.
An apparently tolerant person who exposes the prevailing pseudo 'tolerence'?
west
----
@ chrome diplomat 2:27 PM said...
"As a rule anyone who thinks Ann Coulter sums something up nicely is crackers- even most of the right can't stand her."
But she does occasionally have her moments, and that line was one of them.
Two quick points if I may.
1. What's not really being talked about in all the excitement, is how this affects Republican electioneering. GOP enthusiasm was at a real low pre-Palin. They were outvoted 3-1 in the primaries by the Dems but last night seemed to have injected a lot of energy into a very well organised party machine. This is a party most pundits predicted would lose the 2004 election but their local campaigners and get out the vote apparatus won it for Bush. I'm starting to feel confident they'll be able to do it again.
2. I wonder how John McCain is feeling about this now. He's been left relatively alone by the Democratic attack dogs as they focus on Palin, so from that perspective, it's a good thing. I do wonder though whether he's starting to feel a little marginalised by the positive attention Palin's getting within the party. There's already talk (in jest for the moment) of flipping the ticket. Has he created a beast he's going to struggle to control?
canvas said...
Palin is a redneck and she appeals to rednecks.
A fact is a fact is a fact.
From the OED..a redneck is an uneducated working class white usually from the Southern States.
Canvas, you've got it wrong as usual...She's not uneducated and she's not from the South. If you're going to hurl insults about then check their accuracy first.
It was an utterly absurd speech.
It began with her playing the victim against liberal elitism and playing up her pride in coming from a small town etc. Then she became the elitist, with her initially charming but fast degenerating into distasteful and rude attacks on Obama. Mocking a man for rejecting a lucrative law career in order to go and help poor kids on the streets of Chicago is just embarrassing.
Her attacks on Obama's lack of experience were just ridiculous. This is a woman who's governed a state for 1 1/2 years. Obama might not be particularly experienced, but you could make a case for being a State Senator in Illinois followed by a US Senator representing a greater achievement and giving him greater experience than being Mayor of Wasilla and then Governor of Alaska for 18 months. It was like Mitt Romney attacking rich East Coast elitists. Oh wait.
The line about Obama wanting to read terrorists their rights just served to highlight her lack of foreign policy nous. It was blunt and flippant, and in contrast to the nuanced and intelligent nature of her opponent.
The whole section on the tax burden was also totally lacking in nuance. You could use the lines she used for an argument against any tax whatsoever. She was trumpeting the old standard Republican lines, without stopping to think 'hang on, which policies have led to this mess in the first place?'
This was a speech that will certainly energise die hard Republicans but it's not going to have any positive effect on unaligned voters.
She repeated the 'bridge to nowhere' line, despite her rejection of funding for it having been shown to be a somewhat more complicated story in the media.
She again praised herself for fighting against earmarks, despite evidence showing that she won millions of pounds worth when she was mayor of Wasilla via regular to trips to the Alaskan senators in Washington.
I wish Cameron was like her in her.
Conservative Cabbie -
you make 2 very good points. I totally agree it's reinvigorated the GOP machine. However, it's going to be interesting how Palin is seen in the bigger picture, the consensus here is that he needed a ticketsplitter, not someone to shore up the base.
I made that very same point this morning - the Dems are now running against Palin, not McCain. His judgement, and whether this is ultimately a stroke of genius, or a bad call, is going to depend on how she stands up to the Dem attacks and the fact checking on her record.
What are the odds on Palin vs Clinton in 2012?
If it doesn't work out for her at the White House, perhaps HM might ask the lady to take over at No 10...
She couldn't do any worse. In fact my dog couldn't do any worse.
The whole thing of how leaders emerge in the USA worries me. Whoever wins they are light-weights, likely to foul things up for us all.
@ Arkangel 3:17 PM said...
"From the OED..a redneck is an uneducated working class white usually from the Southern States."
Lol, rednecks are not an exclusive southern preserve, as travel across the US confirms.
But, that does not alter the fact that Canvas is blowing thru his rear orifice.
Am I the only one who sees a bit of the Demon Headmaster (or, if you will, the Terminator) in her manner?
America does need a personality like her somewhere in government (Condoleezza Rice, e.g.?) but right now it's the Democrats' policies that are what Washington needs to pursue. Think back to the early 60s, when it was Nixon up against Kennedy - are you so sure Nixon would have kept his hand off the nuclear button during the Cuban missile crisis? Right now, it's a more sober, isolationist USA that I'd like to see come next year...
Also, to continue the Kennedy comparison, the thought of Palin as a potential future President (as compared, for example, with a potential future President Biden) fills me with nothing but dread.
It is disgusting for a woman and mother of a Down's Syndrome child to profess support for special needs children while as Governor of Alaska she has cut $5m in special-needs education, 62% of the entire budget.
The lefties whining on hear about Palin's "appalling" views are worth the admission fee alone. The sheer hubris that they alone have the right views and policies on anything and everything is breathtaking in it's scope.....and very, very funny.
So she can read a speech that someone wrote for her. How impressive. Not.
From what I've read about her, she strikes me as being a bit of a nutter, with control issues, from what I've been reading about her.
I can't understand why so many people on the right are enraptured with this idiot.
Mcain could have chosen Romney or even Liebermann, but made a cynical choice instead.
Andy C, hi. Not sure what you mean by ticketsplitter, but McCain absolutely needed to shore up the base. Conservative republicans were very unhappy with McCain, there was even talk of a convention floor rebellion if he had tried to get Liebermann or Tom Ridge nominated as his VP candidate. Don't forget McCain raised an extra 10 million dollars solely off the back of this pick. Purely from a party perspective, she has been a fantastic pick.
Whether she is good enough to "one heartbeat from the presidency" is another debate to which I'm sure time will provide the answer. Let's wait 'till she's done some of the sunday morning shows before we judge whether she will be able to step into the breach.
Excellent speech but if she is a Creationist, she is either a stranger to reason or is able to compartmentalise basically hatstand notions. Neither qualifies her for even a school governorship, let alone high office.
anoymous @ 3:00pm
Good God no!
I get really annoyed with the Right constantly calling the left stupid.
It doesn’t happen here so much (thankfully we can be a bit more civil to each other, although read some of the comments on Guido and you begin to wonder..), but in the US the right are constantly saying anyone who disagrees with them are stupid.
Prime example is Bill O'Reilly saying that all of Jon Stewart's Daily Show viewers were 'pot- smoking college drop outs' (I think was the wording he used). Few weeks later it was shown that O'Reilly's audience has a far higher rate of non-college graduates and that the Daily Show audience was in fact highly educated.
Same with Coulter- the only people who actually listen to her are simply moronic.
The right have some intelligent guys- I don't agree with them, but they have though things through. I just wish the right would occasionally accept the same of the left- we've got a fair few academics over here too!
(As well as all the best Comedians :-))
CC - wrt ticketsplitter, someone to bring over independents and waiverers. The concept of her bringing over Hillary's disaffected is a load of nonsense, it's not going to happen.
Agreed she has definitely shored up the base and re-grounded the campaign on the right.
Have you seen the Colbert sketch where she replaces McCain as the front runner? Very funny.
On the second point, I'm not judging - we have different opinions on this one. But I think the point you made was very very valid. From a US perspective, all the attention has flipped to her, obviously somewhat as a result of his age but also because she is genuinely quite likeable (whatever you make of her politics and experience).
If anything, you could argue that her very selection as candidate is an act of sexism, given that she was clearly selected purely on her gender.
Jonathan - this has to be just about the most sexist comment I've seen yet. And the disinformation about skin cancer is truly disgraceful. Yes - melanoma is potentially a life threatening disease, but if caught early it is very easy to treat and the prognosis is extremely good indeed. Ill-informed scaremongering about McCain's health is irresponsible in the extreme and shows a complete lack of conscience.
Don't get me wrong, I think Biden's a corporate whore (MBNA's, to be accurate) and a warmonger but he's going to demolish her in the debates - by every measure except that used by raving GOPers, that is.
That's if she makes it that far - Rove may have forced her onto McCain's ticket but the level of known questionable activity on her part suggests there's plenty more in the closet, and you can guarantee the Donk's Oppo Research are staying in the Wasilla hotel rooms next to the GOP's belated vetting squad.
arkangel, I am an American woman and I'm telling you PALIN IS A REDNECK.
OK, she got a mickey mouse degree in journalism with a minor in political science. She still holds ignorant anti-intellectual views.
She is queen of the rednecks.
I love all this Tory horror at the use of the word 'redneck'. Tories are the first to make 'chav' jokes.
hypocrites hahaha
Sarah Palin IS a redneck. Take it on the chin.
I get the impression there's a number commenting on here who are getting jealous of the attention you're giving this jezebel Iain.
Anonymous said, "Shame about her views on almost everything from abortion, gun control, homosexuality, state control, oil, big business regulation, and so on".
Well, Anonymous, that tells us a lot about you.
A lot of very cross people posting at present; do you work for the BBC?
Chrome Diplomat, the best bit of that research was the fact that being a TDS viewer means that on average you're more informed about the world than someone who watches Fox.
canvas said...
arkangel, I am an American woman and I'm telling you PALIN IS A REDNECK.
OK, she got a mickey mouse degree in journalism with a minor in political science. She still holds ignorant anti-intellectual views.
She is queen of the rednecks.
I love all this Tory horror at the use of the word 'redneck'. Tories are the first to make 'chav' jokes.
hypocrites hahaha
Sarah Palin IS a redneck. Take it on the chin.
Firstly you said redneck=anti-intellectual...now you say she holds ignorant anti-intellectual views.
Now what would they be? Views, perhaps, which don't coincide with your take on what is an intellectual.
With regard to Tory horror at the use of redneck...it's one of your words, not ours so, if you're going to use it, make sure you know exactly what it means.
You denigrate our use of the word 'chav'.Yes we use 'chav' but its use is not exclusive to Tories and, more to the point, we know exactly what it means.
she doesn't really have the gravitas
Hey, wrong election, that was the Democrats' boring mantra in 2000 !
Last night she did exactly what she was supposed to do and then some.
For those sneering that the speech was written by others - get over it, that's the way it's done these days tho' the speaker has considerable input and she has a record of writing her own.
As anchor Chris Wallace said to Hillary's guy Wolfson "You Dems have now got a big problem". The Dems are now running scared and you can be sure their allies in the media, who have mostly abandoned any sense of impartiality, are digging for dirt. Too bad they've still not properly investigated the gaping holes in Obama's background, but he's a Democrat.
It's going to get ugly sooner rather than later because the left cannot deal with criticism or opposition.
Palin will eventually become the first female President of the USA.
Iain - you are at risk of becoming a self loathing homosexual for giving Palin any credit. She'd sooner sneer in your face than be accepting of you and your recent civil partnership.
McCain and Palin would set the US further back into the dark ages.
Andy C
WRT someone who can bring over independents and waiverers, I think she can do this. She will pick up some Hillary supporters, but I agree probably not enough to count.
Actually, I'll condition that last statement. By Hillary supporters do you mean disaffected female voters upset at Obama's percieved sexism? If so I agree, they probably won't come over to McCain - Palin. However she is going to appeal bigtime to smalltown America, the ones who think Obama belittles them and who doesn't represent their values. Not all of them are Republicans, Hillary got a lot of support here in the primaries. Palin will definately appeal to them. Whether that's enough....
From what I saw on the morning news she delivered her speech beat perfect. And her put down line on Obama and change was irrisistably superb.
From what i saw it was played out to absolutely no comment from the BBC hosts - so i judge it has left 'the' Left dumbfounded.
The VP acceptance speech is not meant to be a policy speech, it's a "here I am" speech to boost the top of the ticket and to also deliver some red meat for the crowd. She did all that perfectly.
Chris Paul "her record does not stand up to Obama's. It is not even close to it.
What is Obama's record exactly ? Most docs seem to be "lost" or "unavailable" so how can we tell ?
Wasn't it odd that there was no one, no one, from his past on stage with him last week, no old friends, colleagues etc to say what a great guy he is etc ?
Still, with friends like Wright, Ayers etc I guess he has to stay away.
You're right, her record is not even close to BO's - it's way ahead.
BO is toast.
OK, let's debate Creationism in biology. Let's also debate if the moon is made of cheese, let's debate if homosexuality is wrong, let's debate if gassing the Jews was an optimal policy and more.
Frankly I don't see why so many Brits on here are cheering for someone they can't even vote for.
As someone said above, Galloway and Benn make good speeches. Those good at rhetoric usually make good demagogues.
Oscar, you've done the classic thing - calling me sexist without explaining why.
If she wasn't asked on the ticket to gain the female vote, why has she gone out of her way to talk about Hillary Clinton and herself as a mother? She was brought in to try and win over the women unsure of Obama post-Primaries. Are you really contending this?! It's not sexist to recognise it.
As for the cancer thing, 8 Presidents, all younger than McCain, have died in office. With McCain in his 70s and with a record of an illness most would consider serious do you really think it is wise to have his standby being so inexperienced?
It shows a lack of judgment and conscience on McCain's part for doing it, not on my part for recognising it.
Judging from the reaction of the likes of Chris Paul and canvas, she's a blazing success already... ;)
As the Republicans are finding out, they don't have to do any negative campaigning - the Democrats nutroots are doing it all for them!
Left wing sphincters really are twitching today, aren't they? Since you can judge someone by their enemies, I come to the conclusion that she'll make a damn fine VP.
Palin wanted to ban books when she was a local mayor. Kickass!
She left a town of 8000 people with $20 million in long-term debt. Kickass!
Two weeks ago, she sat in church, and listened to a man say that terrorist attacks on Israelis are God's "judgment of unbelief" of Jews who haven't embraced Christianity. Very kickass, right, Iain?
Pregnant teens are bad, unless they're Palin's daughter, kickass!
A town with a meth lab for every 200 people is bad, unless it's the town where she was mayor. Drugs are kickass!
The Republicans have been in control of the White House from 1980 to 1992, and from 2000 to 2008, and in control of the US Congress from 1994 to 2006. Yet, all of the problems in America are down to "liberals" and "big government" - which they have had nothing to do with. The entire crowd chanting "USA" -- becoming a term of defiance and division: "We're real Americans -- and you’re not."
This is Kickass America.
"new-clear weapons" ???!!!
And who has the MSM been talking about all week. That old dog McCain has pulled a blinder.
@ chrome diplomat 4:14 PM said...
" I get really annoyed with the Right constantly calling the left stupid."
Lol, but the left are stupid. The problem lies in the fact that they won't face up to it and perpetually try to legislate everyone else down to their low stupid level.
If lefties weren't stupid they would not make a mess of everything they touch. Look at the UK for the last ten years. The lefties tried to copy the capitalists without understanding the basic principles and ended up making a mess of things, again.
Now it's going to take ten years of right wing government to sort out the current mess, and for the dimwit masses to loose their short term memory, and again get wooed by the lefties siren call of another false socialist paradise.
Scott Redding says:
"She left a town of 8000 people with $20 million in long-term debt. Kickass!"
Another one who reads the intellectually challenged Daily Kos.
Liberals need to understand - Daily Kos is not a quality news source. It is a sight for deranged Obamamaniacs who get their knickers in a twist at any sign that the Messianic One's coronation might be in doubt.
Thought She sounded like Ann Coulter lite. It was a neat trick to leak the story about Her pregnant daughter and then use it to attack the Democrats for negative tactics. Those Repugs are priceless.
@ scott redding 6:27 PM said...
"Palin wanted to ban books when she was a local mayor. Kickass!
She left a town of 8000 people with $20 million in long-term debt. Kickass!"
Oooooh, hissy fit!
"The Republicans have been in control of the White House from 1980 to 1992, and from 2000 to 2008, and in control of the US Congress from 1994 to 2006. Yet, all of the problems in America are down to "liberals" and "big government" - which they have had nothing to do with. The entire crowd chanting "USA" -- becoming a term of defiance and division: "We're real Americans -- and you’re not."
You really don't know how the US government works, and the division of responsibility between the executive and the legislature, do you?
CC - yes I think the term disaffected Hillary voters is a undefinable term, there are some such as Pat Balakian - who have decided just to vote for McCain out of spite, but I think these are very limited.
I think where she is going to be effective is those women who are just not interested in policy but just want a woman, regardless of stance on abortion, religious rights etc. And having watched the news over the past couple of days, there's actually quite a lot of them out there.
Sarah Pailn has appeared in this month's FHM:
http://pushjelly.blogspot.com/2008/09/news-round-up.html
Trawling thru various blogs I noticed quite a few postings like the three examples below;
My wife went nuts over this speach. She said it is about time that we have a Real Woman facing everyday issues of family, work, budgets, etc. to represent US. I guess that means that Governor Palin got another woman vote in November from a 10 year Democrat.
and
All I know is, I had to keep my life-long Democrat wife from jumping on top of the kitchen table to cheer Sarah on last night. Its not the political party - its the underlying message that she belongs in the debate, she has something new to offer and she can win.
and
I am a woman, a mother, live in surburbia, pro-choice, detest Bush and Cheney, and am also one of those much dicussed " Hillary" voters. I liked the choice of Sarah Palin on Friday, thought it shook the race up. By Sat., I was furious with the left blogoshere and media for what I believe is despicable and vile coverage of her ( I'm glaring at you Daily KO's and Rachel Maddow) By Monday, as a mother, I began to feel a fierce protectiveness towards her children. Tuesday I spent all e-mailing US Weekly informing them of my permenant boycott of their rag. And , THEN, Wednesday night, I felt that I had finally found someone to get EXCITED about. I on board with Sarah Palin.
loads of Lefty posts.
They just do not like it when a person of common sense, a true grafter with experience of real life is recognised by society. It means all their pseudo intellectual think tanks and useless political degrees have gone to waste.
Tarquin is STUFFED. (so is Ed Balls)
Palin is fabulous. I wish we had some like her in the UK.
I'm not defending her views or her intellect here. The point is:
1. She says what she actually thinks.
2. If elected I suspect she would do exactly what she says.
3. She doesn't care about the 'you can't do that' timidity to politics that is so painfully common.
4. She's prepared to give voters a clear choice - a stark choice even. A breath of fresh air compared to our tweedledum vs tweedldee options here.
5. She promotes, almost forces you, to think what you really believe in. Love her or hate her.
Politics should be about giving voters real choice and politicians honestly doing what they promised.
That should apply equally to both sides of the political spectrum. Palin happens to be on the right, the far right. Don't care. I would be delighted to see a Palin of the left too.
What I'm sick to my fucking stomach of is the spinning, look alike, empty, corrupt and useless shower of shit that is the average politician.
Love Palin for that alone.
iain - if you want another margaret thatcher, well you've just seen it.
and its sarah palin.
absolutely OVER THE MOON with her.
37 million watched it in america. as good as obama.
sidenote: i see the dem shills are doing the usual "creationist" slurs.
yeah - keep trying guys. the Obamessiah is an empty suit. he's a loser and associates with Marxist terrorists like Bill Ayers.
ever notice how the MSM have never mentioned the Bill Ayers link?
by the way - guess what Palin did when oil prices went up - and thereby give the Alaska treasury even more money because of petrol tax.
she gave a tax rebate to every Alaskan citizen.
THATS the difference folks. while over here we have socialists pissing YOUR money up against the wall.
by the way - on the creationist stuff - its been cleared up by LGF a few days ago.
(and LGF is an ardent anti-creationist type, but on the right of the political spectrum)
Palin has NOT pushed creationism as governor
of course she wouldnt - she's anti-big government. and being anti-big government means that you DONT shove your ideas down peoples throats.
you're whole politcal raison d'etre is to LEAVE THE PEOPLE ALONE. that is conservatism in a nutshell.
unlike the New Labour Socialists who do it ALL THE F**KING TIME....
the hyporcrisy and lies of the Obamadroids is just incredible. and boy are they going to go down in flames come November - big time.
The snobs of the left could never accept that the daughter of a common grocer(never mind a son) was worthy to be our Prime Minister (Margaret Thatcher).
History is repeating itself on this thread. The left resent Sarah Palin because she is a good mother, a grafter, a church goer, a self made success and a highly intelligent commoner.
Andy C: "I think where she is going to be effective is those women who are just not interested in policy but just want a woman, regardless of stance on abortion, religious rights etc. And having watched the news over the past couple of days, there's actually quite a lot of them out there."
I think that's a little disingenuous although I take your point.
It's not just that they want a woman regardless of policy. I agree with you that they may disregard their stance on abortion, but they will vote for McCain-Palin because they will be able to relate to her. She's a mother of 5 from a working class background, she got into politics by joining the P.T.A., she was a successful high school athlete (something that's very important in smalltown America).
Barack Obama will just not resonate at the same level. He's Ivy League, a career politician, never has a 'proper job' as they will see it and, I hate to say it, is black.
White smalltown America recognize Sarah Palin in themselves, Barack Obama not so much.
Pleasure debating with you as always.
Joe Biden today lowering expectations for the debate already:
"I will be unrelenting in my debate with governor, the governor of Alaska in terms of the positions she has taken. But I will not do what she is able to do so well, and many of it's not bad. I am not good at the one-line zingers that go at, you know, that's not my deal. So if that is going to be the measure of how these debates go, then I'm not going to do very well."
Chris Paul-Emily Thornberry would not be an MP if she was not a woman. She found an ancient by law so she couldsend her children to a Grammar school in Potters Bar from Islington . She lives in mouth watering Georgian splendour and lets out one of her other properties to Oxbridge Labour creeps working the system. She has to be about the most platitudinous waste or air in the solar system and yet you are so impressed with her pronouncements on someone who is a little more than political yes-person.
I have no special problem with Palin`s odd religious beliefs, as I am accustomed to being tolerant of religious positions . As far as I know her religion does not required her to kill me unlike some . I am a little troubled by your assertion that she hates gays . Perhaps we should ask Ruth Kelly how one reconciles her not dissimilar religious convictions with tolerant government . She seems to manage ,and this attempt to denigrate someone on the basis of their religion is somewhat distasteful.
I also like your sneer at ‘governor of a grant maintained state ‘. As Labour has virtually no support at all outside areas subsidised in one way or another I am surprised at your contempt , still looks like you are learning .
I can see she has some people worried and I think she will highlight to weirdness Obamah. People are starting to notice he is a bit ..well ..odd , off putting , untrustworthy, it’s a mild form of nutty Brown syndrome . She sounds like a real person and that’s important as Mr. Clarke and others know
CC - not being disengenious, I've been watching the news channels 24/7 since Friday and I'm genuinely disturbed at this sentiment that some women are going to vote McCain/Palin on the basis that she's a woman.
One comment was 'well she's raising five kids, so she must be pretty organised'.....you have got to be kidding me.
It saddens me that anyone could think like that - either left or right, I would be as opposed to her candidacy if it was Hillary being voted for the very same reason. I think that's just an awful reason to vote for someone.
However, your point about identity is spot on - she's small town america vs urban liberalism. It's just some of these voters have not articulated themselves particularly well.
Pleasure as always, and a good evening to you.
Oh my God
I am really really scared
For the fans.
Sarah Palin's biography video that was cut from last night because Giuliani overran.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddRoiVWfLyU
Jonathan - it is plainly sexist to say that the ONLY reason Palin has been selected is because she is a woman. You have completely ignored all her manifest qualities, amply demonstrated last night. 99.9% of humanity could not do what she has done. Of course the fact she is a woman is important. But to say she was selected for that reason alone is not only sexist it is plain stupid.
As for the idea that John McCain is at death's door - it is highly irresponsible to exploit fears about skin cancer as part of a political ploy. Proper education on the subject is fine - scaremongering is not.
And if you are trying to panic people with a 'vote McCain - get Palin' line it's beginning to look like that will encourage rather than deter many voters.
Sarah Palin's experience or lack of experience is as irrelevant for her as it is for Obama. What is relevant is her political outlook, since that's what will define any decision making she has to do, and that's what is scary to anyone who was hoping that this election would see the back of knee-jerk, insular, ignorant decision making in the highest office on the planet.
After all the sneering at Palin for calling her children silly names from our media, it should be pointed out that Joe Biden has one son called Hunter and another called Beaux. Where were all the media put-downs about that?
Given John McCain's age and health record the American people in November could well be electing a future US president. The thought of someone who not only thinks creationism is a valid scientific theory but believes that the earth was created only 6,000 years ago occupying this role is surely truly shocking. And as for the comparison with Margaret Thatcher, which some right wing commentators on both sides of the Atlantic have made, this is utter nonsense, and is certainly no compliment to Mrs Thatcher. While the former British Prime Minister was prepared at times to play to the prejudices of her core supporters, she was ultimately well educated in both science and the law, intellectually able and rationale in her beliefs. Sure, Sarah Palin can rouse an audience but we are talking about someone who could be the leader of the western world, not a potential winner of Big Brother or Miss World.
The financial irresponsibility in her administration of Wasilla isn't some sort of DK fantasy.
"During her mayoral administration, most of the actual work of running this small city was turned over to an administrator. She had been pushed to hire this administrator by party power-brokers after she had gotten herself into some trouble over precipitous firings, which had given rise to a recall campaign."
"Sarah campaigned in Wasilla as a 'fiscal conservative.' During her six years as mayor, she increased general government expenditures by more than 33 percent.
"During those same six years, the amount of taxes collected by the city increased by 38 percent. This was during a period of low inflation (1996-2002). She reduced progressive property taxes and increased a regressive sales tax, which taxed even food. The tax cuts that she promoted benefitted large corporate property owners way more than they benefited residents."
"The huge increases in tax revenue during her mayoral administration weren't enough to fund everything on her wish list, though — borrowed money was needed, too. She inherited a city with zero debt but left it with indebtedness of more than $22 million."
"What did Mayor Palin encourage the voters to borrow money for? Was it the infrastructure that she said she supported? The sewage treatment plant that the city lacked? Or a new library? No. $1 million for a park. $15 million-plus for construction of a multi-use sports complex, which she rushed through, on a piece of property that the city didn't even have clear title to. That was still in litigation seven years later — to the delight of the lawyers involved! The sports complex itself is a nice addition to the community but a huge money pit, not the profit-generator she claimed it would be. She also supported bonds for $5.5 million for road projects that could have been done in five to seven years without any borrowing."
Hang on a mo'
I don't know what Sarah Palin's personal views are regading Darwin and Genesis, but from what I have read her answer when that question was posed was she didn't see a problem with the discussion of both doctrines and letting kids make up their own minds. That's not such a bad policy in itself - teaching kids to think and reason.
But has anyone else considered this? Sarah Palin is a conservative politician. A lot of US conservatives (even in Alaska) are deeply Christian. Let's say that it's not a good political move to openly denounce a belief widely held by many of one's potential voters, even if one thinks it's completely bats**t crazy. The "let them both be taught" answer is actually a neat cop out. There's no absolute commitment either way.
I know this kinda knocks the "Palin says what she thinks meme", but hey! She's still a politician whatever else she may be.
On the subject of silly names, what about Barack Hussein Obama II ?
Just watched the link. Bloody hell- she is BRILLIANT!
A lot of disinformation is being pumped out about Palin's so called 'beliefs' in creationism and Christian fundamentalism. Archduke has already pointed out the article in lgf that knocks the creationist meme on the head. As for fundamentalism - it's a largely discredited term that the liberal left now refuse to use in relation to Islam. Anyone who knows anything about religion will know that the idea of 'fundamentalism' is highly problematic and is a term used only by religious detractors. Palin was brought up a Roman Catholic but joined a non-denominational church in her teens. She seems to combine modernist ideas about an ecumenical approach to Christianity with basic biblical beliefs. This simply accords with modern American culture. I would say the driving force in her personality is not any of these demonising categories imposed by panicking Obama supporters. In fact it seems that apart from local politics, it is sport that has been her chief motivator and realm of her early achievements. How scary is that?
@ scott redding 11:42 PM said...
"The financial irresponsibility in her administration of Wasilla isn't some sort of DK fantasy..."
Ooooh, more hissy fit!
Lol, is that the best you can do pumpkin?
Barack Hussein Obama II President of the United States.
Sounds kind of strange to me. It doesn't have an American ring to it.
Oscar, I didn't ignore her other qualities beyond being a woman. I just couldn't see any. She got on stage, bitched about Obama and sucked up to McCain, and got off the stage and went home. I genuinely don't see what's so impressive.
I wasn't saying McCain is on deaths door, but I was suggesting he should recognise he is getting on a bit, has been seriously ill several times in the past and having a back up with more than a few years on the PTA and 18 months as Governor of the most sparsely populated state in the country might be a tinsey bit of a good idea.
But hey, don't let the facts get in the way of a good rant eh Oscar?
Palin may not have said she believed in Creationism, but for what is worth here are 3 reasons why it is a valid subject for consideration in a scientific context:
1. It is a belief, which might be termed a refutable hypothesis. It is extraordinarily difficult to refute the idea that the world was not created in an instant a few thousand years ago, or even last night, together with all of its embedded memories, except on the basis of it being absurdly implausible. Nevertheless it is a good example of an implausible hypothesis that is difficult to refute conclusively by logical deduction rather than by a value judgement.
2. The concept of creationism gives a useful introdution into the study of computation theory and finite state automata. Don't comment on this until you have read the works of Marvin Minsky, as sane a professor as ever graced MIT.
3. Thinking about creationism may encourage students to consider the origins of the universe, and in particular particle physics. If we accept that animals and plant life have evolved, students can consider at what lower levels (chemical, molecular, atomic, subatomic) the universe has also evolved and in particular at which level they consider that matter or energy was "created" and at which level it has "evolved".
But the best reason is that it makes the thought police froth at the mouth.
It was your rant Jonathan - not mine. I just pointed out the inherent sexism of your position. No wonder you support Obama - you shift your ground with every post.
Oscar, for crying out loud - putting your fingers in your ears, stamping your feet and saying I'm sexist doesn't make it so.
I note you didn't dispute any of my last comment which says it all. Call me sexist if you want, namecalling is apparently a standard debating tactic of the right if you and Palin are anything to go by.
Yes I do support Obama - I'm sure he's delighted - because he's actually focussed on the future, McCain only has his past to rely on and that's why he can't go two minutes without telling a Vietnam anecdote.
Jonathan - ooh you are getting in a tizz! I did explain why you were being sexist, but you are apparently unable to take on board criticism. The fact you can't see Palin's qualities doesn't mitigate the charge of sexism. Saying I can't see Obama's qualities would not mitigate a charge of racism if I said the only reason he was selected is because he's black. This in fact was the position of one journalist who was roundly condemned for her statement. But when the boot is on the right, rather than the left foot, you are oblivious to prejudice. I'm not name calling for the sake of it. I'm legitimately pointing out prejudice.
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