Thread: In defense of Sarah Palin

Actually, while I do not espouse Mr. Kees views on many points, he is articulate and, when i have seen him speak, is informed. He is does not rely on winks, big toothy smiles, or switching from standard American English to "gosh darn! Darn right! We gotta..!" He also does not use the word "like" constantly.

Palin has two main experience points: Energy issues in Alaska and challenging corporate corruption within one industrial sector - oil. While those are laudable causes, her use of "folksy" language and constant repitition of talking points does not lead me to believe she could hold her own in a conversation with any of the world's leaders. I wonder how much briefing she had before visiting the UN on the "class trip"? I'm sure there was an atlas involved.

Her inability to answer simple questions for an interview is shocking and would be for anyone who has been in politics for more than a year.

But, as with most things in the US, if you appeal to people's emotional and visceral aspects (how many men like her because they think she's cute or becasue she has awakened high school memories of wanting to date the prom queen? I guess they'll be using something other than their fingers to push the buttons in the voting booth......), they will place their brains in neutral. It worked for Bush in 2000 and 2004....somehow a graduate of Choate and Yale who had never held a job requiring manual labor (along with all his other glowing accomplishments) managed to convince blue collar and middle class America that he was just like them. Don't tell people how you are going to solve the problem, tell them whom to blame and why it isn't their fault.

Apparently, for many, the sting of getting bent over for 8 years isn't painfull enough yet.

This trend in the US (started by the GOP) that "intellectual = elitist snob, clueless, and un-American" is producing what we have now - a woefully uninformed electorate. The founding fathers of this nation were all educated and intellectuals - some the most brilliant of their century (Franklin, Jefferson, Adams, Payne, Hamilton, Washinton, Monroe, etc.) and were respected internationally as well. The US has achieved greatness through the combination of intellect and back-breaking labor...you need both to move forward.

Palin is just another in a long series of puppets paraded out for "infotainment". "Look at me! Perky boobs, tight buns! Big toothy smile! I can'[t tell you where is tand on 90% of the critical issues unless someone briefs me first, but..Hey! Don't let that bother you...check out the hair!"

The Democrats are no better - Obama has his own issues with Chicago politics and nutball religious leaders, as well as waflling on many issues; however, I can see him speaking with national and political leaders and not having to carry a Websters and a Rogets with him.

Neither party impresses me - the GOP is so far from what Lincoln and his associates founded that it is unrecognizable. The Democrats have left Jefferson in the dust.

The election will be like choosing which form of cancer will kill you...either way, you're dead.

We had a saying in the Army: BOHICA - Bend Over, Here It Comes Again

Originally Posted by WireBeard

The Democrats are no better - Obama has his own issues with Chicago politics and nutball religious leaders, as well as waflling on many issues; however, I can see him speaking with national and political leaders and not having to carry a Websters and a Rogets with him.

Neither party impresses me - the GOP is so far from what Lincoln and his associates founded that it is unrecognizable. The Democrats have left Jefferson in the dust.

The election will be like choosing which form of cancer will kill you...either way, you're dead.

We had a saying in the Army: BOHICA - Bend Over, Here It Comes Again

I tend to agree with you about the Dumbocrats, but you may be selling Obama short. He's answered the issues pertaining to Chicago politics. When the Chicago Tribune broke the story of his land deal with Tony Rezko, Obama went back to Chicago and met with reporters and editors from the Trib. He answered their questions and at the end, they said they were satisfied with his answers.

As far as Jeremiah Wright is concerned, think of it this way: They taped the guy's sermons for 20 years, and were able to come up with two instances where he went over the top. On the one -- Damn America, over the invasion -- I was frankly saying some pretty over the top stuff myself. Obama became friends with the guy over his community activities and charity work, which nobody has questioned as far as I've heard.

The Repugs have driven this country into the ditch -- and they did it on purpose. Now, they're promising more of same. What do we have to lose giving the other side a chance?

j

Originally Posted by WireBeard

This trend in the US (started by the GOP) that "intellectual = elitist snob, clueless, and un-American" is producing what we have now - a woefully uninformed electorate. The founding fathers of this nation were all educated and intellectuals - some the most brilliant of their century (Franklin, Jefferson, Adams, Payne, Hamilton, Washinton, Monroe, etc.) and were respected internationally as well. The US has achieved greatness through the combination of intellect and back-breaking labor...you need both to move forward.

Well put, those you listed above would mostly likely be seen as elitist by todays standards. Most were well traveled even by todays standards and it was a lot harder to be well traveled back in their time.

At one time education was thought of as a way out of the back-breaking labour, today the uneducated, and those who have no desire to be exposed to bigger and broader ideas, wear it like a badge of pride. The United States basically is living on the contributions of citizens of the past. Unfortunately the present and future look bleak, if the world started over again today, I fear the US would not be a superpower.