McCains running partner.

[Moonbiter]

If you want to now exactly what kind of.... words fail me, but check out [url="http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2008/09/03/545655.html"]THIS[/url] little video, the speech she didn't hold last night. After you've seen it, I think you will understand just how deep into the fruit-farm the Republicans have dug this time.

[VonDondu]

After you've seen it, I think you will understand just how deep into the fruit-farm the Republicans have dug this time.

What do you mean by "after I've seen it"? I watched it, and I did not see anything out of the ordinary at all. It's exactly what you would see in any small town church in America. Sarah Palin could have been replaced by George W. Bush or John McCain and it wouldn't have made any difference. Did you have a different impression of Republicans before you saw that video?

[Moonbiter]

What do you mean by "after I've seen it"? I watched it, and I did not see anything out of the ordinary at all. It's exactly what you would see in any small town church in America. Sarah Palin could have been replaced by George W. Bush or John McCain and it wouldn't have made any difference. Did you have a different impression of Republicans before you saw that video?

Actually, yes. "US troops are in Iraq doing God's work"???? I don't think even GWB would have dared to utter that sentence in public. As a matter of fact I seem to recall The Shrub and his cronies specifically trying to avoid the "crusade"-rhetoric. I'm waiting for when they dig up the vid where she calls Arabs "subhumans."

[galraen]

Actually, yes. "US troops are in Iraq doing God's work"???? I don't think even GWB would have dared to utter that sentence in public. As a matter of fact I seem to recall The Shrub and his cronies specifically trying to avoid the "crusade"-rhetoric. I'm waiting for when they dig up the vid where she calls Arabs "subhumans."

On second thoughts I'll keep my attempt at a witty comment to myself.

[VonDondu]

Actually, yes. "US troops are in Iraq doing God's work"???? I don't think even GWB would have dared to utter that sentence in public.

That's funny. I mean, it actually made me giggle. I just did a quick Google search with the terms "god's work iraq bush" and got nearly three million results. Here are couple of results from the first ten:

George Bush: 'God told me to end the tyranny in Iraq' | World news | The Guardian

BBC - Press Office - George Bush on Elusive Peace

Check out what Dubya Bush's father, President George H. W. Bush, said when he ordered troops to Somalia. At the very end of the clip, to paraphrase, he said something like, "To the men and women who serve this country in uniform, let me say, you're doing God's work."

YouTube - George Bush/Somalia Invasion - "Doing God's Work"

And might I add, what a hell of a "time capsule" that video is. Back then, America was adamantly opposed to using our military if there was any risk that any of our soldiers might be hurt or killed, especially on a unilateral mission that had no end in sight. (Kay Bailey Hutchison was one of the biggest wimps when it came to military risk back in the early to mid-nineties, and she was even opposed to "humanitarian" and/or "peacekeeping" missions.)

And how about this: "We will not dictate political outcomes; we respect your sovereignty and independence." Har, har! Where was Rush Limbaugh?

As a matter of fact I seem to recall The Shrub and his cronies specifically trying to avoid the "crusade"-rhetoric...

That's partially true. Bush once used the word "crusade" to describe his "War on Terror", and he had to backtrack and apologize for it. But when he spoke in private to conservative audiences, he continued to use religious rhetoric. Again, from the first ten Google results:

Bush Tells Group He Sees a 'Third Awakening' - washingtonpost.com

[rmemmett84]

You know.. I tend to agree with those who are saying that it's dirty to bring family into any of this.. in my view one's private life should be sacrosanct, no matter who you are. However, all of that being said, what really rankles me is the utter hypocrisy involved... Palin allegedly represents conservative "family values," and amongst other things promotes abstinence amongst teens. Yet meanwhile, her daughter is running around at parties engaging in under-aged drinking and premarital sex.
Hey... no big deal in my books personally, I kind of expect teens to behave like that. BUT, if you are going to endorse a particular set of values, then you had better make sure you are squeaky clean yourself, family included.
I can't stand hypocrites of any stripe...


Obviously, none of this really impacts how well qualified Palin is for the position, but like others have said, I seriously have to wonder how being mayor of some podunk Alaska town qualifies as experience. IMO, McCain took a huge gamble and it could well bite him in the ass.

OK lets set the record straight. She can promote family values and abstinence and educate and encourage her children to follow but she can't live their lives for them. What person here never did anything they knew their parents disagreed with? Does this make our parents failures or hypocrites? I don't see how.

Secondly, in addition to being the mayor of a podunk town she was also the governor of the largest state in the union. With a 80% approval rating and a budget surplus (which coincidentally was returned to the taxpayers as it SHOULD be) I say she was a pretty damn successful governor.

For people who complain about hypocrisy I find it quite odd that Palin who is a VICE-presidential candidate is scrutinized harder than Obama who is a presidential candidate. I have yet to find any amount of experience in his resume qualifying him more for the job than Palin. He has never run a city or a state. He's never run a successful (or unsuccessful for that matter) business. He's never even authored a piece of legislation. He sits on no committees in Washington. Other than being a dynamic speaker what else is there?

I think McCain made a very good choice for a running mate. Heck, when I look over her track record I wish the ticket was reversed.

Now have at it...let the conservative bashing begin...I have strong shoulders I can take it.

[galraen]

Conservative bashing? I haven't seen any of that in this thread, just right-wing extremist religious nutjob bashing!

[Lady Dragonfly]

I consider myself independet but tend to vote democratic. This time around I was planning to stay home because I don't like the presidential candidates, but after a bit of research on Palin, I am thinking about voting Republican in November. For the first time ever. Because of Palin. She is much more experienced than Obama, there is no doubt about it. Actually, I like her a lot.

[Xandax]

OK lets set the record straight. She can promote family values and abstinence and educate and encourage her children to follow but she can't live their lives for them. What person here never did anything they knew their parents disagreed with? Does this make our parents failures or hypocrites? I don't see how.<snip>

It is a matter of using a political rhetoric which means it is bad for others to do something, or end up in some situation, but when it happens for themselves it is "allowed" and "good". That's where the hypocrisy comes into play.
Notice the outcry in the "public" when some random celebrity gets pregnant at 17, or imagine how these people would have reacted if Obama had a 17 year old daughter who was 5 months pregnant.

Nobody here is blaming the child for getting pregnant but the behaviour and spin laid forth by the religious right wing doesn't fit together with their own rhetoric - which makes them hypocrites and causes the "fun" in the situation.

[Chanak]

Conservative bashing? I haven't seen any of that in this thread, just right-wing extremist religious nutjob bashing!

Ah well...don't you know, good sir, that the right-wing extremist religious nutjobs have been working hard these past 10 years so that in the United States, right-wing extremist religious nutjob = conservative? Really, it's been quite the slide into hell for us all.

[Moonbiter]

Ah well...don't you know, good sir, that the right-wing extremist religious nutjobs have been working hard these past 10 years so that in the United States, right-wing extremist religious nutjob = conservative? Really, it's been quite the slide into hell for us all.

LOL! Amen to that! Wonder how it feels to be a normal, blue-collar conservative of the old school in the US nowadays. "Here's your choices: You can either vote for the religious fascists or the lefties. What's it gonna be?" Actually, the truth is that the Democrats are slightly right of what we call conservative here in Europe. It's conservatism without the deranged religious rhetoric and the chest-beating war chants.

[rmemmett84]

It is a matter of using a political rhetoric which means it is bad for others to do something, or end up in some situation, but when it happens for themselves it is "allowed" and "good". That's where the hypocrisy comes into play.
Notice the outcry in the "public" when some random celebrity gets pregnant at 17, or imagine how these people would have reacted if Obama had a 17 year old daughter who was 5 months pregnant.

Nobody here is blaming the child for getting pregnant but the behaviour and spin laid forth by the religious right wing doesn't fit together with their own rhetoric - which makes them hypocrites and causes the "fun" in the situation.

I have heard no "spin". In fact I think about the only time it was referred to other than by the other party was in Palin's own speech. Where she said they were a normal family with normal problems. She didn't try to sugarcoat or excuse her daughter. She said even the greatest blessings, which the birth of a grandchild certainly is no matter the circumstance, can also be the greatest trials. Sounds pretty on the $ to me.

P.S. I have yet to hear anyone, including Republicans mention that Obama himself was born out of wedlock. If this was as big an issue with right wingers as you presume would it not have been addressed?

[rmemmett84]

I consider myself independet but tend to vote democratic. This time around I was planning to stay home because I don't like the presidential candidates, but after a bit of research on Palin, I am thinking about voting Republican in November. For the first time ever. Because of Palin. She is much more experienced than Obama, there is no doubt about it. Actually, I like her a lot.

Yeah she did run that podunk town afterall.

I couldn't agree more. I will gladly vote for McCain solely in the hopes that Palin may run herself in 2012. If she can do for the country what she did for Alaska we will all be in a better place.

[Xandax]

I have heard no "spin". In fact I think about the only time it was referred to other than by the other party was in Palin's own speech. Where she said they were a normal family with normal problems. She didn't try to sugarcoat or excuse her daughter. She said even the greatest blessings, which the birth of a grandchild certainly is no matter the circumstance, can also be the greatest trials. Sounds pretty on the $ to me.

P.S. I have yet to hear anyone, including Republicans mention that Obama himself was born out of wedlock. If this was as big an issue with right wingers as you presume would it not have been addressed?

One only have to remember back to when the oh-so-famous Jamie-Lynn Spear became pregnant to start digging out the hypocrisy of the more ... lets call it right wing of America. However now when it is "their own" who're in a "predicament" it is treated vastly different.

It might not be Palin who've stated such words - but we're talking about the more religious right wing supporters being hypocrites which again form the foundation for these politicians rhetoric.

[rmemmett84]

One only have to remember back to when the oh-so-famous Jamie-Lynn Spear became pregnant to start digging out the hypocrisy of the more ... lets call it right wing of America. However now when it is "their own" who're in a "predicament" it is treated vastly different.

It might not be Palin who've stated such words - but we're talking about the more religious right wing supporters being hypocrites which again form the foundation for these politicians rhetoric.

You're right I completely forgot about the call for Jamie Lynn's head.:laugh: They are both very undesirable situations. I've heard no one say to the contrary. The only people who made a stink about Jamie Lynn's and the Palin girl's situation were the media...and we all know how right wing they are.

Give me a break. You want to see hypocrisy. Better yet you expect to see hypocracy...so guess what you do.

[Chanak]

Give me a break. You want to see hypocrisy. Better yet you expect to see hypocracy...so guess what you do.

Ah...my favorite can of worms.

Right-wing hypocrasy in the United States...that is the can of worms. And indeed, what a squishy and overflowing can it is. You will be hard-pressed to find a powergroup so obsessed with their own moral superiority...and who takes such sanctimonious pleasure in denouncing others for their lack of morals...than this slice of American society.

As I commented earlier in this thread, American Conservatism has been usurped by neo-cons and religious zealots...to the degree that their specific agendas set the dialogue of "conservatives" in America. One might wonder why people take such delight in holding these sycophants of the holy to the fire when they make the slightest mistake.

That's a no-brainer. Their modus operandi...and how they attain power and hold on to it in the first place...is the purposeful engendering of a completely false image of themselves and what they stand for in the minds of a vulnerable and gullible public. They typically spend a great deal of broadcast time talking smack about any who oppose their particular brand of dogmatic hate and religious intolerance. So little wonder when one such paragon of American moralty is revealed to be as fallible as the rest of us heathen-folk, we take great pleasure in roasting them for it. I certainly know I do.

One doesn't have to take my word alone for it, though. A casual perusal of recent events (say, the past 7 years) will illuminate the truth to anyone with a smidgen of intellect and integrity.

Here's a tidbit for you. That bastion of conservative American supremacy...i.e., the family, marriage and so forth...revealed to the light of day. [url="http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_dira.htm"]Click here[/url]. Come to find out, American religious leaders aren't exactly honest about themselves and their flocks to the public. Not very surprising, eh? :laugh:

They represent the backbone of "conservative America." These are the folks Palin is designed to appeal to, since McCain himself ain't too popular with the religious crowd.

[BlueSky]

Being generally non-political myself....when I read this, it did worry me somewhat....but as all things posted on the web, who knows....:laugh:

"While Sarah was Mayor of Wasilla she tried to fire our highly respected City Librarian because the Librarian refused to consider removing from the library some books that Sarah wanted removed. City residents rallied to the defense of the City Librarian and against Palin's attempt at out-and-out censorship, so Palin backed down and withdrew her termination letter. People who fought her attempt to oust the Librarian are on her enemies list to this day."

from this site: adn.com | Alaska Politics : "I have known Sarah since 1992..."

[penguin_king]

there was a pretty funny section on Sarah Palin on Mock The Week (UK topical quiz show) i'll try to find a link and post it here, i guess its semi-on topic.

ok here it is, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU0wjVRtmTg

[rmemmett84]

Ah...my favorite can of worms.

Right-wing hypocrisy in the United States...that is the can of worms. And indeed, what a squishy and overflowing can it is. You will be hard-pressed to find a powergroup so obsessed with their own moral superiority...and who takes such sanctimonious pleasure in denouncing others for their lack of morals...than this slice of American society.

As I commented earlier in this thread, American Conservatism has been usurped by neo-cons and religious zealots...to the degree that their specific agendas set the dialogue of "conservatives" in America. One might wonder why people take such delight in holding these sycophants of the holy to the fire when they make the slightest mistake.

That's a no-brainer. Their modus operandi...and how they attain power and hold on to it in the first place...is the purposeful engendering of a completely false image of themselves and what they stand for in the minds of a vulnerable and gullible public. They typically spend a great deal of broadcast time talking smack about any who oppose their particular brand of dogmatic hate and religious intolerance. So little wonder when one such paragon of American morality is revealed to be as fallible as the rest of us heathen-folk, we take great pleasure in roasting them for it. I certainly know I do.

One doesn't have to take my word alone for it, though. A casual perusal of recent events (say, the past 7 years) will illuminate the truth to anyone with a smidgen of intellect and integrity.

Here's a tidbit for you. That bastion of conservative American supremacy...i.e., the family, marriage and so forth...revealed to the light of day. [url="http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_dira.htm"]Click here[/url]. Come to find out, American religious leaders aren't exactly honest about themselves and their flocks to the public. Not very surprising, eh? :laugh:

They represent the backbone of "conservative America." These are the folks Palin is designed to appeal to, since McCain himself ain't too popular with the religious crowd.

While I tend to agree that the REPUBLICAN PARTY does draw a considerable amount of support from the religious right I think you may be oversimplifying this. Conservatism is a train of thought or moral compass if you will (I don't know that these are the right terms but I think you will get my meaning) and the actions of a few who claim to be conservatives is not derivative of the whole movement. If this was the case could we not make the generalization that are liberals were "terroristic" because of the actions of a few zealots who blow up abortion clinics?

[VonDondu]

If this was the case could we not make the generalization that are liberals were "terroristic" because of the actions of a few zealots who blow up abortion clinics?

Are you suggesting that the terrorists who blow up abortion clinics are liberals? They are terrorists by definition (a fact that the Bush administration always overlooks), but I always thought they were conservatives.