Don’t believe the hype: Palin’s divorce just a rumor
Thursday, August 6th, 2009
Sarah Palin and husband, Todd are not getting divorced. Just a little internet rumor created for “fun.” Seriously, we must re-evaluate that word.
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Wednesday, July 8th, 2009
Isn’t it funny how conservative radio, print publications and Faux News are always squawking about how the media isn’t on their side? Are they serious? They are a big part of “the media.”
The amazing thing is people listen to them and — not only do they believe every word — they repeat their talking points verbatim. When people do that, they make it obvious where they’re getting their “news.”
Here’s a better idea: Try exploring several different types of news sources. Why? Because “the truth” everyone is seeking isn’t going to be found on one station, in one paper or on one radio setting. “The truth” is likely a mixture of various points of view.
Check out some international news. Don’t stop at the “World” section of the newspaper. Check out an actual international news source like the BBC, AllAfrica.com, Al Jazeera and more. What are other countries concerned about today? What are they saying about America?
Spend some time with NPR, “Frontline” and “The News Hour” with Jim Leher. Notice how the commentators aren’t screaming or being confrontational. That’s because they’re goal isn’t to entertain, it’s to inform.
Purposely seek news outlets you believe you’ll disagree with. What are they talking about? Can you relate to their point of view?
Interested in a particular issue? Go to the library. Read a book. Heck, read two. Educate yourself on the issues. Don’t assume any media outlet or personality has their facts straight. They might, they might not. But, how will you know if you aren’t armed with facts? Note: An opinion is an opinion, not a fact.
And, here’s a truth for you: We’re all more alike than we are different. We all want the same basic things: Safety, a good job, a loving family, a healthy community.
So, what’s all the shouting about? Stop bitching like belligerent children and start discussing the issues like grown folks intent on bettering the world for the next generation.
Why elide the fact that Sarah Palin is a darling of Fox News, the highest rated cable news network in America? Or that she is regularly defended by Mr. Limbaugh, famous television personality Sean Hannity, and Mark Levin, a nationally syndicated radio host whose latest book just ended a run atop the New York Times bestseller list? Or again, surely these savvy Sarah Palin defenders know that the editors of National Review and The Weekly Standard, tenured members of the political establishment, lined up behind her candidacy, and that Gov. Palin herself is a millionaire who enjoyed a six-figure family income before she ever took the statehouse—never mind the lucrative book contract and pricey speaking fees now available to her.
Here’s a preview of a documentary everyone should watch, “Out Foxed.”
Wanted: An inner editor for Palin
Monday, July 6th, 2009
On the Fourth, people at the big cookout we attended talked a lot about Sarah Palin’s resignation announcement. That is, when they weren’t talking about Mark Sanford (best overheard exchange: “I want to send an e-mail to Jenny Sanford but I don’t know her address.” “Try jenny@luvguv.com.”). But back to Palin, whose resignation led to lots of jokes and even a few interesting political insights, but the whole time, I kept thinking how badly Palin needs a good inner editor. “Rambling” doesn’t begin to describe her off-the-cuff speaking style.
In Palin’s hands, or rather mouth, what could have been a short, clear statement of intentions and reasons turned into a meandering, only occasionally coherent 3000-word trip through every nook and cranny of Palin’s amorphous inner mix of Positive-Thinking Happy Thoughts and Resentful Anger. Self-important pronouncements bumped up against conservative catchphrases, but that’s OK because no sooner had she started talking about one thing, then she was on to another one, and then she’d take time for a couple of tangents, and then maybe if you’re lucky, she’d circle back around to what It was she’d started talking about in the first place. It was probably fascinating for those who study self-absorption in fast-talking ADD sufferers.
Coming after Palin’s incoherent TV interviews during the 2008 campaign, her performance Friday should eliminate her from consideration for future political office. But this is the country that re-elected George W. Bush, so, like it or not, anything’s still possible. In case you missed it, here’s the official text of Palin’s speech, along with a video.
Is Palin just misunderstood?
Monday, July 6th, 2009
Palin spokeswoman Meghan Stapleton vouches for the authenticity of the (Facebook) posting in which Palin casts herself as someone who has been misunderstood:
“How sad that Washington and the media will never understand; it’s about country. And though it’s honorable for countless others to leave their positions for a higher calling and without finishing a term, of course we know by now, for some reason a different standard applies for the decisions I make.”
How sad that we misunderstand? What is she talking about?
How about this: How sad that you fail to understand, Sarah Palin.
The citizens of the U.S., most of them at least, are not as dumb as you think. You seem to be under the false impression that if you rattle off enough key words we won’t notice that you’re just jibber jabbering. Sorry to break it to you, governor: We notice.
Listen, Sarah. Go hole up in the Wasilla library. Spend some time reading history, geography and civics books.
When you’re done there, head right over to the town shrink. You’ve got issues. Deal with them in the privacy of a psychiatrist’s office, not on camera. You’re not misunderstood. Your doctor, and perhaps a few meds, will help you realize that.
In fact, we see right through you. You’re a power hungry bitch who isn’t getting her way, so you’re pasting on a fake smile right before dashing off to fulfill your “higher calling.”
We get it. Now, run away damaged star. Lick your wounds and get your head straight. And, for goodness sake, stay the hell away from the media (and off of Facebook and Twitter). We’ll stop covering you as soon as you stop making an ass out of yourself.
Sarah’s greatest (misunderstood) hits:
Further reading: Palin’s lawyer threatens to sue the media
Sarah Palin to step down as governor of Alaska
Friday, July 3rd, 2009
Here’s a Twitter-flavored report about Palin’s resignation on PoliticsDaily.com.
And here’s another a straight-up news thingie about the story from KTUU-TV in Alaska.
The Wack List: July 1
Wednesday, July 1st, 2009
Five people, places and things we really ain’t digging today.
• Palin — she’s confident she’ll win “the race”
• A UNCC dean who allegedly just couldn’t keep her hands out of the cookie jar … or bank account
• More job losses
• Americans and our weight issues
The neverending campaign. No, not that one.
Wednesday, July 1st, 2009
Good news: Al Franken is finally going to be seated in the Sentate. Now the Democrats have their supposed 60th vote. (Though, Sen. Franken says that’s not his M.O.) So, after only eight months, Minnesota’s election night has finally dawned.
In other political news, the McCain-Palin ticket is still making headlines. Makes you wonder, does Sarah know the election is over?
The crowds begin streaming into the Evansville Auditorium and Convention Centre a couple of hours before the arrival of the “special guest speaker” at the Vanderburgh County Right to Life dinner on a soft Indiana spring evening—nearly 2,200 people in the banquet hall, 800 more in an adjacent auditorium watching the proceedings on a live video feed. The menu is thick slices of roast pork and red velvet cake, washed down with pitchers of iced tea, and when Sarah Palin finally enters, escorted by a phalanx of sheriff’s deputies and local police, she is mobbed. The organizers of the dinner, billed as “the largest pro-life banquet in the world,” have courted Palin for weeks with care packages of locally made chocolates, doughnuts, barbecue, and pastries, and she has requited by choosing Evansville, a conservative stronghold in southern Indiana, as the site of her first public speech outside Alaska in 2009. Like Richard M. Nixon, who chose the coalfield town of Hyden, Kentucky, for his first post-resignation public appearance, Palin has come to a place where she is guaranteed a hero’s reception.
Further reading: Was Palin suffering from postpartum depression during the campaign?
And, Palin says she could beat Obama … in a road race
Sarah Palin, Superstar:
Palin’s pissed off again
Thursday, June 25th, 2009
Sarah Palin really needs to get over herself. Not satisfied with bashing David Letterman for cracking a joke about her daughter, now she’s raising hell about a political blogger in Alaska who photo-shopped an image of a conservative talk show host, Eddie Burke, onto the head of a baby being held by Palin. The blogger was designating that Burke is just a little too pro-Palin for the blogger’s taste. Now, though, the Alaska governor has jumped on her self-righteous-indignation horse again, saying that the baby in the original photo was her latest, Trig, who is a special needs child, and thus that photo shouldn’t have been “desecrated” (her words) for political purposes. Sarah, it’s like this: if you parade your family around as political props and mascots — including inserting Trig into your acceptance speech at the GOP convention, for God’s sake — you have no just cause to complain now. I don’t know if Palin is really as thin-skinned as she appears to be; probably not. But her “poor pitiful me” act is no doubt helping her with the educationally challenged crowd that thinks she comes close to resembling a competent leader. But let’s cut to the chase here. There are lot worse things on the net about Palin than having some guy’s head photo-shopped onto your baby’s picture. In fact, here’s one for you. It was designed by someone who sees Palin’s Christian, anti-abortion, pro-war schtick as a great way to provide soldiers for any upcoming wars. Enjoy.
Brown to Palin: ‘Go away and read some books’
Monday, June 15th, 2009
Sarah Palin. In love with herself, power and the idea that she might be on the ticket in 2012. What she’s not in love with is knowledge. That’s scary.
Tina Brown, founder and editor-in-chief over at The Daily Beast, laid out a plan for Palin that includes shutting the hell up and spending time outside of the spotlight and with a stack of books.
Sarah might be able to rile up a crowd, but until she adds some context to her sound bites she’s going to continue to come across as a firebrand who’s best trick is stirring a pot of crazies.
Take a leaf out of Hillary’s book, Sarah. (Or from Condi Rice, for that matter. Clinton’s predecessor in the job likewise knows how to disappear herself for a bit while she recoups and rebrands.) Bide your time, don’t waste it. Study up—and shut up. If you were a real power woman, we wouldn’t be hearing from you right now, so soon after your vice presidential flameout. You’d be too busy preparing yourself for the day when you have something to say worth hearing.
Even the B-52s have the formula right, “Before you talk, you should read a book.”
Palin to Letterman: ‘You’re pathetic’
Wednesday, June 10th, 2009
What? All he said was that she looks like a slutty flight attendant.
Sarah Palin called David Letterman “pathetic” Tuesday after the CBS “Late Show” host said the Alaska Republican governor sports a “slutty flight attendant look.”
“What a commentary there,” Palin said of the comment during an interview on conservative host John Ziegler’s Los Angeles-based radio show. “That’s pretty pathetic, good ole David Letterman.”
In a follow up to Palin’s weekend trip to New York, Letterman’s “Top Ten” list on Monday featured “highlights of Sarah Palin’s trip to New York.” Number two on the list was “bought makeup at Bloomingdale’s to update her ‘slutty flight attendant’ look.”
Here’s the top ten highlights of Sarah Palin’s trip to New York:
