Palin Discussion [split]

[Eleas]

I wonder what will Palin respond when someone told her the founder of genetic research is a priest. That might cause her to be shocked that a devote christian is the one who started it. Those bible thumpers will be unable to say anything in regards to genetic research when they know that a priest is the one who founded such a field of science.

*sigh*. With every other post you make, Ray, you seem to take pains to reveal truly stunning naiveté. You seriously think a hardcore fundie would even blink upon hearing the above -- assuming he didn't flat-out denounce you as a liar? It's a fool's errand. You can't educate someone who starts out from an assumption of being correct. The most you can do is mock them until their arrogance is softened by shame, but that's a crapshot most of the time.

[Braedley]

I need to clear my brain before re-reading this, because it's taken my already cloudy mind and befuddled it further. Genetic research, regardless of the species that it's done on, is a good thing!

[Alyrium Denryle]

I need to clear my brain before re-reading this, because it's taken my already cloudy mind and befuddled it further. Genetic research, regardless of the species that it's done on, is a good thing!

Indeed! though I suppose she has now revealed her true colors. She wants us to use human fetuses for genetic and developmental research. After all, they would be more applicable to advancing humanity. Cant get any better research subject than something created in the image of god afterall.

Now that I think of it *twirls mustache like a certain top-hatted canadian* I think I will go into evodevo just so I can... kill babies.

[SirNitram]

Define Irony: Woman who arranged collective ownership of a resources and pays out a stipend says this:

"See, under a big government, more tax agenda, what you thought was yours would really start belonging to somebody else, to everybody else," Palin said. "If you thought your income, your property, your inventory, your investments were, were yours, they would really collectively belong to everybody."

Cribbed from a speech. Yes, folks, Obama is going to abolish Private Property.

I wonder if she or McCain realize that the more they turn this into Socialism vs. Capitalism, in an enviroment where people saw Capitalism crash and burn hardcore, that the referendum might not be wise? I mean, I don't expect a communist revolution, but they're certainly doing their idealology no favors.

[Alyrium Denryle]

*Whistles and hums while stitching a hammer and sickle into an american flag where the stars used to be*

I don't expect a communist revolution, but they're certainly doing their idealology no favors.

*hides needle and thread*

Wait what? Did I miss something?

(Sorry, couldnt resist)

Well what this could signal is the rise of something we have never had in the US. A Viable American Left. Something which I must say I would be rather pleased to vote for in future elections. Socialist "Heads will Roll" revolution or no.

[SirNitram]

Don't be naive. The idiots who unfortunately control the reporting of politics once it's out of the campaigning are already hammering down the rules, and you can bet your candy ass it will be on repeat for the next four years. The basics are being laid down by those who cheered for the hyper-partisanship, excessive spending, and growing extremism of the Bush years.

Now, however, it is insistance on bipartisanship, balanced budgets, and moderation. If the people elect Obama on his proposals, the first thing to do is, according to these idiots, throw out those proposals and become a Republican. The balanced budgets call right now is particularly insane; apparently, they stopped teaching what Herbert Hoover did in office.

[RedImperator]

I wonder what will Palin respond when someone told her the founder of genetic research is a priest. That might cause her to be shocked that a devote christian is the one who started it. Those bible thumpers will be unable to say anything in regards to genetic research when they know that a priest is the one who founded such a field of science.

*sigh*. With every other post you make, Ray, you seem to take pains to reveal truly stunning naiveté. You seriously think a hardcore fundie would even blink upon hearing the above -- assuming he didn't flat-out denounce you as a liar? It's a fool's errand. You can't educate someone who starts out from an assumption of being correct. The most you can do is mock them until their arrogance is softened by shame, but that's a crapshot most of the time.

And besides all that, Gregor Mendel was an Augustinian monk--a dirty papist.

[VT-16]

Someone dropped the N-bomb in a Palin rally recently, and notice the lack of any repudiation on her part, even though it disrupted her speech for a second.

[ArcturusMengsk]

Oh, lookie: more ethics investigations for Queen Sheba.

The complaint against Governor Palin, alleges Misuse of Official Position: "Gov. Palin attempted to and in fact did use her official position for personal gain by securing unwarranted benefits for her daughters..." All the allegations contained in the complaint are related to state reimbursed travel.

As long as it finds its way into the news cycle, I'm happy.

[Coriolis]

So...who's the socialist again?

She is, at the very least, a fellow-traveller of what might be called socialism with an Alaskan face. The state that she governs has no income or sales tax. Instead, it imposes huge levies on the oil companies that lease its oil fields. The proceeds finance the government’s activities and enable it to issue a four-figure annual check to every man, woman, and child in the state. One of the reasons Palin has been a popular governor is that she added an extra twelve hundred dollars to this year’s check, bringing the per-person total to $3,269. A few weeks before she was nominated for Vice-President, she told a visiting journalist—Philip Gourevitch, of this magazine—that “we’re set up, unlike other states in the union, where it’s collectively Alaskans own the resources. So we share in the wealth when the development of these resources occurs.” Perhaps there is some meaningful distinction between spreading the wealth and sharing it (“collectively,” no less), but finding it would require the analytic skills of Karl the Marxist.

(The quoted portion is the last paragraph of the story)

Once again, the McCain campaign gets egged by their own stupidity. If only the media would point it out.

[Alyrium Denryle]

So...who's the socialist again?

She is, at the very least, a fellow-traveller of what might be called socialism with an Alaskan face. The state that she governs has no income or sales tax. Instead, it imposes huge levies on the oil companies that lease its oil fields. The proceeds finance the government’s activities and enable it to issue a four-figure annual check to every man, woman, and child in the state. One of the reasons Palin has been a popular governor is that she added an extra twelve hundred dollars to this year’s check, bringing the per-person total to $3,269. A few weeks before she was nominated for Vice-President, she told a visiting journalist—Philip Gourevitch, of this magazine—that “we’re set up, unlike other states in the union, where it’s collectively Alaskans own the resources. So we share in the wealth when the development of these resources occurs.” Perhaps there is some meaningful distinction between spreading the wealth and sharing it (“collectively,” no less), but finding it would require the analytic skills of Karl the Marxist.

(The quoted portion is the last paragraph of the story)

Once again, the McCain campaign gets egged by their own stupidity. If only the media would point it out.

I will confess to being rather bitter about this, as my parents were both irresponsible morons who despite a decent income never set my dividend aside so their son with a 140+ IQ and out of the cradle scientist aspirations could go to college without having to take out loans. By the time I was old enough to realize that this money existed it was too late. Parents divorced and we move out of state.

*grumbles at having to take out 17000 USD for my undergraudate work and even more for grad school*

[ArcturusMengsk]

Sarkozy calling

Uh-oh. The Canada Press (the Canadian version of AP) reports:

MONTREAL — A Quebec comedy duo notorious for prank calls to celebrities and heads of state has reached Sarah Palin, convincing the Republican vice-presidential nominee she was speaking with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

In the interview, which lasts about six minutes, Palin and the pranksters discuss politics, pundits, and the dangers of hunting with current vice-president Dick Cheney.

The Masked Avengers, who have a regular show on Montreal radio station CKOI, intend to air the full interview on the eve of the U.S. elections.

The well-known duo of Sebastien Trudel and Marc-Antoine Audette have also tricked Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and French president Jacques Chirac.

Just in time to dominate the 'political comedy' sections of Hardball, Countdown with Keith Olbermann, and The Rachel Maddow Show.

[SirNitram]

Q: What is the end result of the long push to turn the media into a Golden Mean Output Machine, being nothing but faithful stenographers so that the GOP can say whatever it wants and never be called out more than 'Well, all politicians lie'?

A: Link

ABC News' Steven Portnoy reports: In a conservative radio interview that aired in Washington, D.C. Friday morning, Republican vice presidential nominee Gov. Sarah Palin said she fears her First Amendment rights may be threatened by "attacks" from reporters who suggest she is engaging in a negative campaign against Barack Obama.

Palin told WMAL-AM that her criticism of Obama's associations, like those with 1960s radical Bill Ayers and the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, should not be considered negative attacks. Rather, for reporters or columnists to suggest that it is going negative may constitute an attack that threatens a candidate's free speech rights under the Constitution, Palin said.

"If [the media] convince enough voters that that is negative campaigning, for me to call Barack Obama out on his associations," Palin told host Chris Plante, "then I don't know what the future of our country would be in terms of First Amendment rights and our ability to ask questions without fear of attacks by the mainstream media."

However she feels about the way her story has been told in the press, Palin told WMAL she is not discouraged.

"It's sort of perplexing to me, because I'm a practical person and plainspoken also, but just cutting to the chase and calling things like I see them, just like most Americans. But this has not left a bitter taste in my mouth, the bitter shots taken by the mainstream media and by some of the elitism there in Washington," Palin said.

"What this has left me with is a very energized and positive feeling about America, because there are enough Americans who are desiring the positive change that John McCain's gonna usher in."

Plante then suggested that in her next sit-down interview, Palin should tap the reporter on the knee and ask, "So who you votin' for?"

Palin laughed and said, "Yeah, maybe that just would say it all."

"I'm gonna try that," she said.

Using negative attacks should not have people calling them negative attacks! CENSORSHIP! CENSORSHIP! FIRST AMENDMENT!

[ArcturusMengsk]

Here's the 'Sarkozy' interview.

X fucking D

What a dumbshit. Sarkozy doesn't even speak English in reality, which is why he's always surrounded with translators.

[Ender]

I like the "oh, God, oh shit..." from the aide in the background after they tell her they pranked her and she passes off the phone.

[Kodiak]

She seemed insulted that she had to wait for Sarkozy to get on the line, even though he's the frickin' President. I did a spit take when she giggled on the phone to him.

[Braedley]

The reference to Nailin' Paylin made the prank. I wonder if she caught that.

[Kodiak]

The reference to Nailin' Paylin made the prank. I wonder if she caught that.

They said a lot of things she didn't respond to, and I think most of it was that she couldn't understand his "outrageously French" French accent.

[DaveJB]

Palin got punk'd.

Note that when asked about when she'll be President, she remarks "maybe in 8 years." It seems that she truly believes that McCain is going to win the election and serve two full terms. At least she had the sense not to say that she thought McCain was going to lose this time round but was going to run herself in 2012, which would have caused a major shitstorm within the GOP.

[Big Orange]

Oh dear, it gets worse and worse. She's officially sunk McCain's chances, han't she?

[DaveJB]

Oh dear, it gets worse and worse. She's officially sunk McCain's chances, han't she?

Not in the slightest. She might have been fooled by this prankster, but she didn't really say anything damaging in the "conversation" she had. In fact, given the sympathy factor and the good-humoured way she handled it afterwards, it'll probably benefit her a bit, albeit not really to any significant extent.

It doesn't really make any difference though - McCain was sunk long before this happened. It would have been the icing on the cake though, if she had slipped up and said something humiliating.

[Teebs]

The reference to Nailin' Paylin made the prank. I wonder if she caught that.

They said a lot of things she didn't respond to, and I think most of it was that she couldn't understand his "outrageously French" French accent.

I quite liked the fact that she didn't pick up on "Sarkozy" referring to the Prime Minister of Canada when he praised her foreign policy experience "Steph Cars" and the Prime Minister of Quebec "Mr Richard Zetsera".

The rapid fire French bits were also golden "as we say in French putting lipstick on a pig".

[Big Orange]

Oh dear, it gets worse and worse. She's officially sunk McCain's chances, han't she?

It doesn't really make any difference though - McCain was sunk long before this happened. It would have been the icing on the cake though, if she had slipped up and said something humiliating.

But I'm willing to be the minion who answered the phone and gave it to Palin was fired.

[Mayabird]

Listening to Palin was painful. She's speaking to (what she thinks is) a head of state as if she's the manager of the local 7-11 meeting a new part-time employee. What a twit.

Yeah, not only is that minion gone, but she's never getting a job in Alaska ever again. Palin is a vindictive bitch like that.

[The Yosemite Bear]

I still feel sorry for her future son in law....

I'm betting the family will force him to join the military, and send him to afganistan...