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Sarah Palin: A Bold Choice
Guest Column | By Joel Himelfarb | September 1, 2008
To be quite honest, I find myself somewhat torn about John McCain's selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his running mate. Her lack of a public record (at least through Saturday, when this was written) on the major foreign policy challenges facing the country is troubling. How can anyone gauge one way or the other whether she would be capable of serving as commander-in-chief if something were to happen to a President McCain? At least in the short term, making the case that she can do this will have to be the McCain campaign's top priority.
Put that tremendous caveat aside for just a minute, however, and you find that there are other reasons to like the Palin selection. Attractive and charismatic, she is probably the most conservative person to run on a Republican ticket since Ronald Reagan, and one of the things I admire most about her has been willingness to take on members of her own state Republican Party whose ethics have been questionable. She has also left Democrat Party feminist apparatchiks fit to be tied - in much the same way as President George H.W. Bush's nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court angered people on the political Left like the Congressional Black Caucus, who seemed to believe that the "black seat" on the court should be the exclusive domain of liberal activists like Thurgood Marshall.
For example, veteran Washington lobbyist Debbie Dingell, a big-time Hillary Rodham Clinton backer during the primaries (and wife of Democrat Rep. John Dingell of Michigan) fumed that she had spent all day Friday talking to women who felt "insulted" by McCain's selection of Palin. "This is just sheer political pandering," Mrs. Dingell fumed. "I don't think women are going to buy it." This angry, petulant reaction highlights one of the things I like about the Palin selection - it reminds people who the Left-liberal activists who dominate the Democrat Party really are: angry, bitter people with an outsized sense of political entitlement. Many backers of Democrats Barack Obama and Joseph Biden can't contain their anger over the fact that the Republicans have a decent chance this year to elect a female vice president. This is a painful reality to people who made 1992, the year Bill Clinton was elected president, the "year of the woman" and have long taunted Republicans about the "gender gap." For years, the political Left has prided itself on its success at class-warfare, "mascot" politics - in other words, emphasizing people's membership in particular racial, ethnic and gender-based groups over the fact that we are all Americans.
The Democrat Party, coming off a big electoral victory in 2006, is poised to make big gains in the House and Senate this year, and should be on the verge of a landslide victory in the presidential election as well. But Obama and Biden are in real danger of losing - and a large part of the reason why the Republicans are so competitive this year is mascot politics, and specifically the brutal political warfare during the primaries between Obama and Hillary. Politically and philosophically, the differences between these two politicians were marginal at most. While the specifics of their political agendas differed, the essentials were basically the same. Both were high-tax, big-government liberals who favored vast expansions of federal social-welfare spending and/or mandates on the private sector. Both opposed the troop surge in Iraq and voted to undercut it time and again in the Senate. Both seemed to blame President Bush (and not Kim Jong Il, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad or craven Western politicians like Jacques Chirac) for international hostility to the United States. The primaries were a bitter struggle between the Clintons and the feminists on one side, who thought they were entitled to have their candidate as the party standard-bearer, and hard-core liberals and black activists who thought they were no less entitled to have a black nominee, Obama, carrying the torch for the Democrats. In the end, Obama ran a much better campaign and won the nomination - but only after a bruising political struggle that divided the Democrat Party and has given the Republicans a fighting chance to keep the White House.
Now, with the Palin selection, the feminist Left is hit with the ultimate indignity: Hillary won't make history this year, at least as far as winning an election is concerned. And even worse, the woman who may win national office isn't the pro-abortion-rights feminist who tolerated her husband's serial infidelities for more than 30 years in order to become president. Instead, it's a much younger pro-life conservative with a stable family life - a mother of five with one son in the U.S. Army and another who is an infant with Down syndrome. Sarah Palin is a repudiation of everything the feminists on the political Left have stood for. And she may be about to win – unlike Hillary. whose own party rejected her. Put all of these things together, and there are powerful reasons to like McCain's choice of Sarah Palin.
Yet, despite all of this, I have a number of concerns, because Sarah Palin's views on some key national issues remains a mystery. For example, there is the issue of illegal immigration. I spent hours searching without success for any writings or statements about illegal immigration. As best as I can tell, none exist. Should we therefore assume that her position on the issue is identical to that of McCain - who has generally been a strong supporter of open borders? People who follow this issue very closely have no idea about Palin's views on the issue, and given McCain's past collaboration with Teddy Kennedy in support of mass amnesty, the mystery is troubling.
But by far the biggest issue about Palin will be foreign policy. Get ready for an onslaught of news reports on the major networks and articles in the Washington Post and New York Times comparing her unflatteringly with Biden - articles that will tout at great length his foreign-policy experience. The point of the pieces will be: "Sure, Obama is an ingenue who got Iraq completely wrong. And yes, he has only been paying attention to the stuff for a few years, but he has a lot of smart advisors around him. And even though he has a lot less experience than John McCain when it comes to foreign policy, Obama's inexperience is compensated for by the fact that Biden, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has 35 years of foreign policy experience, while Palin has none." This could gain traction for the Democrats unless Palin in the coming weeks begins to give interviews explaining her own worldview (think about a very compressed version of what former California Gov. Ronald Reagan did between 1975 and 1979) and contrasts it with Obama- Biden.
Sarah Palin is about as experienced on foreign policy as Obama was when he came to the Senate three and a half years ago. That could be a political problem unless McCain is willing to do something that goes against his instincts: have his campaign drive home the point that on so many of the foreign policy issues he has addressed during his Senate career, Joe Biden has simply been on the wrong side of history. In 1972, for example, he was elected to the Senate at age 29, running as an anti-war candidate, as John McCain's time in the Hanoi Hilton was about to end. Biden should be asked about his opposition to the war and what happened after the United States was defeated in the spring of 1975 - including the horrific sagas of the "Boat People" and Cambodian genocide. Perhaps Mr. Biden could talk about his advocacy of President Carter's SALT II Treaty and his opposition to the Reagan defense buildup of the 1980s that helped win the Cold War: Mr. Biden was tireless in working against it, and he also opposed President Reagan's efforts to fight communism in Nicaragua and El Salvador. Biden also fought tooth and nail against the 1991 Gulf War that drove Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait. Although he voted to authorize the use of force in Iraq in 2002, Biden has spent much of the past five years or so mobilizing opposition to what the United States has been doing in Iraq, including the very successful surge. He has been a strong advocate of dialogue with Iran. And he has opposed efforts to reform the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to ensure that the United States can eavesdrop on foreign terrorists operating outside the United States without obtaining warrants beforehand.
The bottom line is that much of Biden's experience consists of pursuing policies that have undermined U.S. strength in the world. If McCain and Palin are unable or unwilling to make this case, Biden will continue to have a free pass when it comes to foreign policy. And he will try to use it to pound Sarah Palin (and McCain's hopes of winning the election) right into the ground.
FamilySecurityMatters.org contributing editor Joel Himelfarb is the assistant editor of the editorial page of the Washington Times.
Guest columns do not necessarily reflect the views of Accuracy in Media or its staff.
43 Comments | Post a Comment
Oh Fred - its a shame that you hate yourself so much! IT must be horrible to have to look at yourself in the mirror every day while being such a downer type of person! Go take your meds!
The Libs can’t stand it…a women on the verge of a national office. And what does her pregnant daughter have to do with her qualifications? The liberals that spout change, change, change have to be scared to death that a Conservative with no political baggage and/or background will actually be a change.
I was shocked that McCain had the courage to select Sarah Palin as his running mate - I thought less of McCain. Immediately, I went from probably plugging my nose until I could not breathe voter for McCain, to a supporter of the ticket just because of his VP pick.
And I am not surprised at all on the left’s immediate attacks upon her. People can speculate on why they are attacking, but to me it is because she IS Conservative - they can use all the excuses they want to dis her but in the end they are dissing her because of her Conservatism and her maverick (for a politician) attacks on the status quo. Everyone can talk about “change” all they want, but this woman is the only one who really IS for change and smaller government that is not in our faces and stealing our rights in violation of the Constitution.
It is sad that the MSM immediately tried to find scandals to try and out her - it shows that the left that claims to be enlightened is NOT so. The sexist rhetoric is pathetic. Somehow these intolerant journalists have the view that Conservatives stand only for a stay at home mom and that a woman cannot raise kids and lead her state at the same time. And this is coming from the left?
Let’s face it, of the Presidential nominees and their VP picks, Palin is the ONLY one with executive experience. She may not have been in politics all that long, but she has been leading Alaskans longer than Obama has been a Senator, and she has a track record to ponder, where OBama has voted present so much so he would not have a track record, that a voter has to see that Sarah Palin is FAR MORE qualified to become the CinC than Obama.
And comparing Palin and Biden is ridiculous. After all, isn’t this entire election about doing things different than they have been done as the way they have been done HAS NOT WORKED. Biden has been in the Senate since Palin was nine years old - that is the staus quo not change. Oh and then they scream she is from a very small populated state - Alaska. Hey, Biden is from a small populated state - Delaware. Both have only ONE Congressman at large to represent their state’s in the House.
Then we hear the smears about her daughter Bristol. Wow, that is getting really low. We can’t talk about Obama’s kids, we couldn’t talk about Chelsea, but the left has already trashed that young woman. Okay, she got pregnant and she is 17. While Conservatives may hope their children will wait until they are older, and until they are married, but THIS Conservative knows that what we may want and what happens in America today - whether they are Conservative OR Liberal is not always what happens. And I know this because as a young man of 18, my girlfriend of 16 1/2 also was with child, and that was in 1972 - not 2008. And in Bristol’s case, she is having the baby, and marrying the father, where I was not allowed to marry the mother of my offspring, and they FORCED her to have an abortion and kill the child. I guess that is the difference between a Conservative and a Liberal, as my prospective parents in law were definitely liberal in 1972.
I look forward to Mr Palin being able to walk his daughter down the aisle in the White House when she marries the father of her child. And Sarah Palin, being the Alaska governor and Bristol’s mom is not responsible for her daughter’s pregnancy. She could easily be a stay at home mom and Bristol would still have become with child. Mrs Palin is not less of a mother because of doing two things at once.
How successful of a mother has she been? Well I saw genuinely well mannered and respectful children, they were not faking it. I see children that are patriotic as her oldest son is an example. I see children that are excellent examples for kids across America of what we hope in our children. Are they perfect - NO, but in 2008 America they are pretty close to be so. And Sarah Palin did this while also leading her state.
It is obvious that it is an excellent marriage - as they were not faking the genuine affection that Todd and Sarah Palin must have for each other. I see a good and involved father. In fact, feminists should rejoice in Palin. She is what feminists have been saying is what their movement is all about. A mother and a Governor, and has done a remarkable job doing BOTH. And the husband is a part of the family structure and not a detached observer - and yet he is a man, not a whoos.
I see an entirely new election here, and Sarah Palin has added that dimension to the mix. McCain made a wise decision, and that is what we expect from our leaders - our Presidents.
guess that is the difference between a Conservative and a Liberal, as my prospective parents in law were definitely liberal in 1972.
It is so unfortunate for the child, but perhaps you missed out on a lifetime of living with Liberal inlaws.
I have so many friends that are now voting for McCain instead of sitting out this election. As for myself, it will be without holding my nose. I don’t worry about Sarah Palan and her ability to withstand the punishment of the Democrats nastiness in attacking her family and value system. I come from a family of hunting women who also field dressed their kill, alone. They were all able to take their bumps in life with strength, courage and class. I cannot wait to see her up against Biden. I will be popcorn ready for that show.
Hi Julie, the comments sections on the main articles each day have now been eliminated. AIM has had their fill with Sullivan.
I hope with Palin, that hunting can return to the parts of America that the liberals have destroyed it. It may still exist where you come from, and certainly it is alive and well in Alaska, but boys and girls learning to hunt in much of America has almost become a thing of the past. And the wildlfe is out of control as deer routinely are killed and cars demolished because they are now so abundant without hunting.
I hope I said it okay before. I meant that I would vote for McCain with a very plugged nose, but now that he has added Palin, I will not have to plug my nose at all - because of her!
Three cheers for aim. I’m a Texas girl. My Grandmothers family came over Bandera Pass in the Hill Country in covered wagons. They suffered a lot of loss from the Indian attacks. My Grandmother was the epitome of a pioneer woman. She taught my father and his brothers how to camp and hunt. Hunting is alive and well in Texas. The ranchers imported an Indian deer years ago called the Axis. They mate all year long. This thing is more prolific than rabbits. They eat everything. Hunting season is all year long for this rascal. They are short and stout with a rack that is so huge it looks like they could topple over. The importation of foreign deer is not one of my favorite topics. The black buck, a tiny deer with straight spirally horns is so small it can crawl under a deer fence. I hope their mating habits aren’t as prolific as the Axis. Most people are not aware of the dangers of too many deer. Motor cyclist around here are really at risk. Lots of deaths reported from these entanglements. Personal encounters and domestic dog encounters end up badly too.
As far as foreign policy is concerned with Palen..I would trust her over Obama any day. Shoot, I would trust her over Rice right now. I am not too excited about Rice encouraging Israel to give away the farm. Huge mistake.
Frankly, Obama is a puppet. I am really afraid of his handlers. This is my reason for fighting this election as hard as I am. The Democrat Party has turned into something that wants this particular version of America gone.
A Texican, huh? I am a Washingtonian, but now in another blue state of Minnesota - hope he doesn’t come to this thread and find that out? My foreparents came to American on one side before th Revolution, and the Norwegian side, when everything west of the Mississippi was wilderness for the most part, and even parts of the east side by the Mississippi was also mostly unpopulated. Settled not far from here in Iowa, and then his son my great grandfather went to Washington just after it became a state.
I have messed up two cars because of deer, and with the overpopulation, they are also eating up the corn and soy beans around here. Liberals screw up everything - stop hunting and the wildlife takes over. Stopped logging and destroyed one of the largest employers in Washington, and now it burns down each year because the forests are not controlled any longer like they were. In Washington, we were in our third generation of trees, and there was actually more acres under trees than what the state had started with, and then the environmentalists got their nose in it, and thousands lost their jobs, lumber is expensive as heck, and each summer the forest fires destroy more and more.
So do you drawl when you talk so slowly? lol
To the conservatives on this board or even the liberals. I have to share an email I received from a MOST LIBERAL man named JOhn Purchase who lives in Az. We have been having an ongoing debate about FDR being a President who did abuse his rights as President and put out legilation such as the sedition act, and incidentally what Bush today is accused of doing with the patriot act.
But the telling thing is the reaction to Sarah Palin - see his comments below and let me know your thoughts. I will send them to him!
...“One comment about Sarah Palin: she is lauded by the religious right for having delivered a baby with Down’s Syndrome even though she knew the situation in advance. But none of these consider the pure selfishness of condemning a child to a miserable existence. She may have shown her religious beliefs but it’s the child that has to live a life as a mental and physical cripple, not her. And then a Down’s Syndrome baby cannot be simply dumped somewhere while she goes and plays politics on a campaign trail; they need continuous, unremitting care. How is she dealing with that? Unlike the newly reported situation with her pregnant daughter, which happens in many families and is her affair, she did have the opportunity to resolve this situation but took the self righteous, selfish route. I despise her for that.”
Your thoughts on this blog??
Dear John Purchase: Man, I was shocked that he would want to just kill this baby. But I have a question for him? When he gets older and is a “burden” on society, his liberal thinking buddies will want to just euthanize him, or maybe if he has children they will want to snuff him earlier if he has an inheritance for them. Liberalism breeds liberalism, and perhaps his kids won’t want to wait until the old goat croaks.
And as for the baby, Sarah Palin seems to be doing just fine raising a fine family and looks to me that she can raise the child with extra needs and handle public life all at the same time. Besides, the oldest daughter perhaps is getting a learning experience she will need soon herself being nanny to her brother. I feel so sorry for the daughter though, the left has been so very nasty to this young woman - that is the tolerant people amongst us - seems tolerance is really coming from the right that I can see.
So one has to be perfect to warrant the trouble the parents will have to go through to be so gracious as to allow their child to be born. No defects or low IQ…anything that constitute a miserable existance. So what is that miserable existance Mr. Purchase? Have you ever had a downs syndrome child in your family? Have you ever seen the bright smile of a downs child with the sight of a bright balloon or being in a swimming pool. Just the slightest of wonderful sights elicits a grin bigger than Dallas. Simple huh? To be so happy in a scary world. Sounds like somewhere I’d like to be right now, so I wouldn’t know that there were people out there that want the simple, the innocent, dead. Yes, dead Mr. Purchase, because the bottom line for that child with the extra x Chromosome that is aborted for their retardation is death. I have a great nephew that is a downs child Mr. Purchase. He is a happy child. Gloriously happy. He is loved by his parents, siblings, family and friends. Is he a burden? Some extra care, but Mommy works. Mommy has to work, because the Democrats have engineered society so that Mommy has to work. Democrats like you, that would hate to even look at that dear child because he isn’t perfect or that you think he should not have been allowed to live because you think he would be miserable. Well I am here to inform you Mr. Purchase, that boy is happier to be alive than anyone I have ever met. And because there are people like you in this World, sometimes I wish I were him.
Of course I have that Texas drawl Jack. I was scared everyone would notice and BS would know where I was from. You mean I don’t drawl when I write? Heavens to Betsy!
There is not one thing that the Dims do that don’t blow up. They can’t leave anything alone. Then, the last eight years the damn Republicans tried like hell to become them. Pretty close..like twin twisted sisters. I won’t even go to the local Republican womans meetings because of that. Bad choice really…bad for my business. I can be really stubborn to my detrement. But, if I lived in Liberalland like you, I would go to satisfy my rebellious side, and to aggravate the Liberal neighbors. Watch out for ACORN up there, they are doing some dirty work.
This stuff the leftyloons are doing is not making me mad. Palen doesn’t need my mad. She hunts Moose for Gods sake. Anyone that hunts anything as pssed off as a Moose Buck has some kind of guts. I have been on an Elk hunt. Thats mean enough for me. I was the one under the truck.
All I can say is, Go Palen. She is going to be so much fun to watch. Let em rile her up…it’ll just make it better.
I can see the difference now between your regular posts, and this post. You had to be really careful with your language and sentence structure, as this post at least tells me you are southern. I am actually in rural Minnesota, down on the Iowa border, and this strip all along the border in Southern Minnesota and the strip across the Northern part of Iowa is really leaning Conservative, though the mindset amongst Scandinavians (Swedes, Danish, and especially Norwegians in this area) is leaning liberal, but these are still small town type folks. I suppose I have a bit of it in me too, as I originally come from 5 generations of Democrats, that came from this area in the 1850’s. But Eastern Washington state must have got a bit of it out of me. I am from the traditional Democrats, so as the party went left, I ended up being like a Southerner, and became Republican, and now I don’t even call myself that as it has gone to fare to the left and I am a Conservative.
I actually have a lot in common with Ron Paul on smaller government, except I come from the part of the Democrats that were pro-American when it comes to support of military. I like to call myself a Henry Jackson Democrat - and Lieberman identifies with that which makes him lean our way except I don’t have the socialism in me that he has attained over the years - but he is an old H Jackson Democrat. I am a “traditionalist” American. Where Ron Paul is anti-Iraq War, I am pro. I even have parts of me that identify with the Libertarian Party. But Conservative still describes me best, and Palin makes me happy, even though she may be a bit to liberal leaning for me. And I say that because anyone that has worked for government these days (even a short time) becomes tainted, I suspect. They get that, I am important and you work for me, and I don’t work for you attitude. Even though it used to be the opposite, and is really the opposite, they get tainted in the government atmosphere.
Now, I hope that Palin is different, and I can say this, I suspect she is the closest to being a Conservative that we have had in generations, so I make the above comments, but believe we have a keeper if she doesn’t become tainted. It is also the reason, I believe, that the left is going SO berserk beating on her and her family right now. They are scarred - really scared. I think she can be another Reagan, though she is starting a whole lot more to the right than he did.
What scares me is he was going to really take on government, and especially the Dept of Education, and instead he left all these criminals in place and let them get bigger, but he was great for expanding the military, and we could sure use that larger military right now. We are working our soldiers to death because of the small size of our army.
I suspect you now can better understand a bit how I tick? lol
Helen…I left this out of my last rant on Mr. Purchase.
she did have the opportunity to resolve this situation but took the self righteous, selfish route. I despise her for that.”
If you were a woman I would answer you differently for this comment Mr. Purchase. Yes she was righteous for her decision, because unlike you, she sees abortion as murder. And because you are a man and NOT a woman, you would have no idea that RIGHTEOUS would be far greater than the horrendous pain of knowing you MURDERED your own child. SELFISH is the woman that spreads her legs and takes no responsibility for her own action. SELFISH is the woman that kills the child so she can continue making the same mistakes. For you to despise someone because she makes good and righteous choices for herself, her boyfriend and her future because of her belief system, indicates that you have a problem making nice with anyone. You are indeed a sick human.
Helen its your bag. But bozos like this really get my goat. It goes way back for me on this topic, and I see red. Men need to back off when it comes to saying something like “resolve this”. AGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Reminds me of Earnest Hemingway. “Just letting the sunlight in”. Sorry, really sensitive on this issue.
You need NEVER apologize for supporting those who have been born with any type of disability - your words to John are exactly what I feel. And apprently so do his “liberal” constiuents as shown by the following. Notice most are Democrats!!
Thanks for your thoughts on the matter.
Sessions, Kennedy, McMorris Rodgers, and Holmes Norton Launch Down Syndrome Caucus
Washington, DC - U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions (R-Dallas) has launched the Congressional Down Syndrome Caucus with co-chairs Congressman Patrick Kennedy (D-MA), Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC).
“As the father of a young man with Down syndrome, I have learned firsthand the endearing and valuable contributions that individuals with Down syndrome bring to their families and communities,” Sessions stated. “I am always inspired by their dedication and enthusiasm for life, and I have made disability advocacy and research among my top priorities in Congress.”
“I am pleased that the Congressional Down Syndrome Caucus will champion their continued development through increased education opportunities, employment and savings options, and research to improve quality of life,” said Sessions.
The Congressional Down Syndrome Caucus is designed to educate Members of Congress and their staff about Down syndrome and to promote public policies that would enhance the quality of life for individuals with Down syndrome, including through the following goals:
To raise expectations and improve outcomes in education
To remove barriers to economic opportunity in employment and in programs that promote savings and investment.
To promote and fund research that accelerates the development of effective treatments and therapies.
To promote inclusiveness for people with Down syndrome.
To help provide family support services and a community of care model.
To protect the rights of those with Down syndrome and make sure those rights are being enforced.
The Caucus will also promote the translation of Down syndrome research into effective new treatment through interdisciplinary cooperation among NIH Institutes, the FDA, the CDC and privately funded scientists and clinicians. Research support will also focus on broadening the understanding of related secondary disorders that affect significant numbers of individuals without Down syndrome, including Alzheimer’s disease, atherosclerosis, and developmentally-associated cognitive impairment.
“We live in a nation that believes in providing all children with an equal chance to achieve, that every child deserves an equal chance to succeed,” said Congressman Patrick Kennedy. “Early identification leading to early intervention with behavioral services provides the best outcomes for kids. We especially want to see young adults with Down Syndrome be able to make the transition to young adulthood with integrated supports to protect their best potential and highest aspirations.”
“It’s important for parents with a developmentally disabled child to know that they are not alone,” stated Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers. “There are tremendous resources, support, and early intervention available to families. As a mother of a child with Down syndrome, those resources and support have been invaluable. I look forward to helping other parents make sure their children with Downs reach their full potential.”
In addition to congressional outreach, the Caucus will work with national and local Down syndrome advocacy groups to develop leading-edge initiatives that support individuals with Down syndrome.
“I look forward to working with Congressional Down Syndrome Caucus members to raise awareness of Down syndrome issues, support research, and expand opportunities for Down syndrome population.” Sessions concluded.
In the U.S., over 350,000 individuals have Down syndrome, which is a genetic condition that causes delays in physical and intellectual development. Individuals with Down syndrome have 47 chromosomes instead of the usual 46, and they are prone to health complications such as congenital heart defects, infection, respiratory, vision and hearing problems, and other medical conditions.
Jack…do you say Minnesoooooooota yet? :0)
Thanks for noticing the difference in written accents. I so like writing for fun and the relaxed exchange of views without fear of some idiot taking apart each one of your sentences looking for a crack to exploit. ie the Catholic thing. I threw scriptures at them to make them shut up. I really liked the Jesus thing. He gave me an opening with that question. Zap! Got him with the words in red. I gave myself kudos for awhile.
We have been watching the Convention tonight. My husband is afraid the schedule has been changed on her speech for something other than speech change. I don’t think so. Her speech really did need to be worked on. Given what has happened and been said about her family and children…....I’m going to turn the AC down…..flames are going to shoot out of that television. Much like Thompson who is speaking right now, but with a womans fire. Thats the hot spot at the pointy end of the flame.
I thought about our deer conversation a little earlier as I watched 80 white tail cross our front yard. We need an earlier deer season, except its really too hot to start much earlier.
You can call me Conservative if you can call me anything. I was raised Republican by a father that was truly Conservative long before the term was in vogue over here in the U.S. He had a heart for the worker. As a businessman and entrepeneur his Mexican and black employees were his family and treated this like family. When they stole from him, it broke his heart. But, he never stopped believing in them. When I hear the horrible accusations the democrats make about the Republicans, it rankles my soul. Yes, the Parties all have their bad, but in the past, they really had their good. Both parties did, before the Beltway addiction took place, and the politicians became lifelong parasites on the public payroll voting themselves hefty pay raises. The real sickness in the far left is the Communism that has crept in like a virus. Many years ago when I was studying Microbiology, I learned that when a virus goes into a cell it changes the internal Government of that cell. That is why a virus is so difficult to eradicate. The good cells turn deadly. That is why cancer is so difficult to defeat. The body has to be poisoned by toxins to survive. So many die from the efforts. I pray that it doesn’t happen to our Country.
Nah, but I have relatives (we were 1st Cousins about 5 generations ago, and come from the same mother and father 6 and 7 generations ago) on the other side of the Minnesota line in Iowa that pronounce it as Minnesooooota. It is the Norwegian in them that does that, and after 4 generations in Washington, I lost that Norwegian speak, though I remember my grandfather speaking a bit of Norse.
I also was watching the convention tonight, and loved Thompson’s speech. Why couldn’t he have talked like that when he was running for President? And then Lieberman, wow! Sadly though, when Congress goes back into session in a few days, I suspect he will get payback from the Democrats. Bush was just so-so.
I think Sarah Palin was put off until tomorrow just because the first night of the convention was cancelled because of Gustave. And McCain goes the next night. They had to shuffle around to eliminate one day, but they also had a script that they wanted to play, and tonight was introducing all the facets of McCain. And I will say, I did not know all the pain and suffering (in detail) that he went through in Hanoi. The pundits made it sound like it was an old story to them, BUT by the way people were really listening in that audience, I don’t think many Americans really do know, and that includes Republicans.
The next day of the script is Sarah’s, and then McCain’s and the official nomination. I do thing they took her off the campaign trail the last couple days because of the nastiness of the liberals, and the smut they have been saying. I think they still want her fresh for tomorrow night instead of beaten to death by the media.
I have an email Conservative friend in Alabama who I think may be much like you.
The people at the convention are still all excited about Palin, and I think they would not have been as excited had it been someone other than her?
Biden’s 35 years of Foreign Policy/Foreign Relations STINKS! His ‘experience’ runs almost parallel to America’s non-reponse to terrorists attacks. Stop and think about it.
35 years ago: 1973. Now, find a site that shows the start of terrorists attacks, worldwide and against US Embassies, ship, Marine Barracks, US citizens, right on up to 9/ll. All during those 35 years of his foreign policy experience..for what? If you don’t learn from history, you’re condemned to repeat it. And repeat and repeat and repeat it. Do nothingism is not the answer.
Those terrorist attacks went UNRESPONDED TO; UNANSWERED; UNPUNISHED. Where was the Foreign Relations Committee then? What was our Foreign Policy until 9/11: appeasement; negotiations (which resulted in NOTHING); talk until the NEXT
attack, then talk until the NEXT attack, then talk…..until 9/11?????
If Bush hadn’t gone for it, it’s still be talk, talk, talk.
It wasn’t the UN that was attacked: it was the UNITED STATES embassies, Marine Barracks, ship, persons. You can’t hide behind the UN..most of who hate us.. and expect them to do anything. The Security Council is always 3-2, England and us being the 2, when America has proposed anything. They just want the checks on time.
Foreign Relations Committee: Obama & Biden both members of it. Birth place of Obama’s sponsored infamous S-2433, Global Poverty Act..an $84+ BILLION DOLLAR, 7% GNP, budget-breaker, but it also stands to put the United States compliant with the UN on things the U.S. NEVERY RATIFIED!
Think ban on small arms/weaponry; think a standing UN Army; think kids education from 1-12th grades; nice, BUT UNDER WHOSE CRITERIA? Islam is already being taught overtly and covertly in some US school systems. Think. Think.
That’s Obama’s Bill, and it passed the Foreign Relations Committee by VOICE VOTE (same as the
House)(no one held accountable). It can come to the floor at any time, and if Obama is elected, put it cement: HE WILL SIGN IT. Why not? He sponsored it!
Obama’s Foreign Relation/ Foreign Policy experience? Him going to Kenya, a Muslim country, shortly after being elected Senator, and
THERE, he criticized THEIR President and stands on a platform with the opponent, Odinga. I’ve read that so much bloodshed and violence followed
THAT, that the President gave Odinga some sort of power share.. THIS FROM A NEW U.S. Senator?
GOOD JOB, OBAMA!
Need to know more of such foreign experience? Take his 5 day gain-some-experience-tour, in which he removed the American flag from his plane and replaced it with a Big O. NICE JOB, OBAMA!
Palin has more EXERCUTIVE experience than either Biden or Obama, but she wasn’t always Mayor or Governor. She’s also mother of 5, and unless a millionaire, as such she had to know that when you ran out of RED ink, and still had 4 black ink pens….. TIME TO BUDGET! Time to cut out the family “pork,” and get down to inflating the tires to make ends meet. THAT CARRIED OVER TO HER GOVERNORSHIP, and I’m sure some didn’t like THAT. But every under $50,000 a year earning family sure identifies with it. (We are under
$25,000 a year and I SURE UNDERSTAND IT, and I
believe even I could carry that over to government, were I to earn my way up the ladder as she has done.)
Yes, as an Executive, as a Vice President, I think she’d do a great job..if (God forbid) McCain were to not finish his term. I think the country would be in better shape than if Obama were not able to finish his.
I look at Biden’s accomplishments…. there ARE some, aren’t there? Well, I’ll still keep looking for something postive.
She’s not a lap dog; she’s not in the D.C. loop with the other loopy liberals. She’s not a lobbyist’s spoon fed pet. She’s America at
its best. It’s no wonder the liberals don’t quite get it. They’ve been so out of touch for so long, they don’t KNOW the America outside the loop. Look at their pitiful approval rating: 9%
overall….3-6% in MY group of independents/ undecided. And they EARNED EVERY DISMAL, NEGATIVE POINT OF IT.
I vote the person, NOT the party, and I truly hope and pray that these Democratic incumbents will be put out and draw their platinum parachute retirement. (YES, there are exceptions. The vote to “vacation” for 5 weeks was 213-212, so some Democrats were thinking of their constituents needs, and not their own, and joined Republicans on the vote.) Find out if YOURS was one of them, and vote him/her back in. It apparently was a stand-up vote, so they ARE accountable whether they voted for staying or for leaving for 5 weeks.
Do YOU realize, according to their calendar, they will come back from this vacation for a short while in Sept and then LEAVE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR? NO SESSIONS IN ALL OF OCT, NOV, AND DEC? 8 months ‘work’ and draw 12
months pay? Wonder if the IRS will accept only 8 months of my taxes WITH representation?
The one asset a leader needs is the ability to appoint the right person to the right position. As it is in Washington, it seems to not necessarily work out that way… too many political pay-backs to take care of, too many needed political connections…. Palin owes none of them anything. Just THAT alone is a great asset! I think McCain figured her out in great detail before bringing her aboard.
GREAT JOB, McCAIN !!!
Helen, You’re not even qualified to shine my old RVN jungle boots. Perhaps you should venture into Mae Sot, Thailand and witness what Dr. Cynthia Maung is doing for the Burmese refugees.Then too a trip into Vietnam to see how the Agent Orange (and other chemical) victims are doing. Let alone the recovery from ‘The American War’ (as they call it). Nay, You support the Eternal Wars of the Neocons (Trotsky Communists) and the killing/maiming of Iraqi/Afghanni children.
I shall not get into an argument with an Idiot
as their first task is to lower one to their stature and then win from experience.
Don, Tis your PNACers (Cheney,Wolfowitz,Jeb Bush et al) who wanted to estabilish a “Liberal Democracy” in Iraq. This from their Website before it was abandoned/shut down. Seems ya have been Sucker Punch Sallied to the MAX!
Sarah Palin - A Bold Choice
Yes, and now that we have heard from her twice, once in Ohio, and now from the Convention Floor - clearly - the Right Choice.
And what a lead in - Rudy Guiliani - did himself proud and the party proud.
The lines I loved - Biden should get his VP pick in writing from Obama - Next Time Obama needs assistance making a Foreign Policy decision - call John McCain - and from Sarah Palin - When the Styrofoam Greek Columns are returned to the Hollywood Back Lots, and the Lights are Turned Off - and When the People Have Left - and Obama is Alone…...
Julie O - She Done Good! And Mr Sullivan, who thank God is not on this thread - you minions for Obama are losing in November, me thinks!
I was really going to stay on my newly constructed time blocks, focusing on my business and I have already made an exception…for you Jack.
You wrote in Southern! Well done darlin. If we can beat the money coming from Clooney and pals in Europe, it will be Gods miracle. He will get the credit. Why, for his sake aren’t they being charged criminally for this? Me thinks…and I have to agree with my sister on this one, and I hate that, is Clintoon got away with it with the ChiComs so why not Obama? What a sink hole.
MOVE OVER SOCCER MOMS! These hockey moms (MY favorite line) are pit bulls with lipstick, and teeth. A hockey player with teeth…imagine that!
Dems with the help of msm are preparing for the slaughter (or started last night even before the speech) and the Borking will begin. It will be worse than what happened to Clarence Thomas. She will be skinned and fileted like a catfish. But, she is a Bad a#$#S and a tough woman. I am greatly impressed. Lord help her and her family.
I am proud of the Republicans right now. We are pulling together now, for the first time in years. Ask your friend in Bama if he is from lower L.A. He will get a kick outa that one. I spent 14 long years in Georgia, before I got back to my beloved Texas and know the proud folks of Dixie well. I even learned the North Georgia and North Alabama dialect. Its a funny thang. You can go fishin adder dinner and not adder supper cuz its dark. Diddy is Daddy, and you don’t take someone anywhere, you carry em. I love the South.
Carolyn, good post, and hang in there. Ignore Fred, and don’t debate him and he will slink off to the wild blue yonder.
Ah, Julie O. A Debate isn’t the issue. Making with the Standard, ‘go take your meds’ insults and other denigrating stunts (like G.W.s WMDs gig before the Washington Press club) are The Issue.
Do your History on Texas, the Mexicans and Commanche welcomed the first settlers as friends and were treated to the Aggressive Behaviors of the later ones… Tis the same ole History of Human Kind, friends/guests becoming intruders/invaders. Nothing to be proud of there.
Speaking of guests becoming intruders/invaders. Nothing to be proud of there.
I’m not from Texas, but I understand enough about Texas history to know that Americans were “asked” by the Mexican government to come down there and settle. An allotment was set aside for them, and as long as they agreed to become Catholic, they were given considerablely large areas each to settle their family. The Mexicans even appointed Stephen Austin to be their representative to the American settlers, and everything was okay for awhile.
And then an egocentric martinet named Generalimisimo Santa Ana got control of the government, and was from the party that hated Angelos, and immediately took all their rights as Mexican citizens - which is exactly what these former American citizens were. They were told that their lands were to be forfeited and Stephen Austin was thrown in prison in Mexico City when he went there on behalf of the people that he had helped through the immigration process on behalf of the Mexican government.
Of Course, the Texicans of Mexico revolted, especially when armed troops were sent in to subdue them. So they marched on them and overthrew those Mexican troops - and Mexican mexicans were amongst those Texicans that threw the bas**rds out. Santa Ana then sent all the army he could raise to eniliate them - give them no quarter - kill them all. He did that especially at Goliad and at the Alamo. Now all the Texicans were in revolt, and they after a real fight defeated ALL of Santa Anas troops, and Santa Ana, and he signed a document that ceded the territory to the Texicans.
The Texicans formed a government, and from 1836 to 1845 they had their own Republic. Because of the illegal incursions across the border by the Mexican government in violation of their treaty, the people of the Republic of Texas knew they needed to attach themselves to the United States if the constant skirmishes were to come to an end.
The people of Texas VOTED to become a state in the Union of the United States, and within a year Santa Ana was across the border in full force trying once again to take the territory he lost in war against his own citizens. Now he didn’t have to just deal with the few Texans of the past, but the US declared war because a state in the Union was invaded, and the United States Army not only threw them out in battle, but took Mexico south all the way to Mexico City in battle. In the peace treaty, they gave all the territory south of Texas back to them, and a legal boundary was created by treaty between the two nations.
At a later time thereafter, the Mexican government government needing money, they SOLD a strip a land south of New Mexico territory to the US called the Gadsden Purchase. And ever since then Mexico has been trying to reclaim the land that they once held. BUT THEY HAVE NEVER HAD A LEGAL RIGHT TO ANY OF IT. They lost it due to Santa Ana and his wars - and they agreed to cede it due to losing in battle, because of wars they started.
So guests did not become intruders/invaders, they became Mexican citizens and their government broke their agreements with them, and invaded THEM. But the Mexicans coming into this country today are NOT GUESTS, and never have been guests if they came here illegally. They are law breakers and therefore they are intruders/invaders.
An what of the Commanchie? The Indigenous peoples..
Point being that for all the Don’t Mess with Texas B.S. seems that anytime anything is amiss… they whine to Washington for salvation.
Then too we’ve had three Texas Presidents and Three Useless Wars.
The Gadsden Purchase was to gain favorable rail road land from the U.S. point of view.
The term, “Illegal” says it all in regard to the recent issue.
A true ‘Conservative’ would be getting This Nation free of Debt and Independant on all fronts once again. Instead of all this incessant
oral mastrubation.
Comanche’s? Who gives a damn about them. You idiots and your indigenous peoples. Every land in the world at one time or another was peopled by others - besides the Spanish took the land from the Camanch, then the Mexicans took it from the Spanish, and then the Texans took it from the Mexis, and then the Texans gave it to the US, and ever since then the Mexis have been trying to take it back, and you want to pick up your roots and go back to the land in the world wherever the heck you came from and give it all back to the Comanch? And what’s going to happen if you get to that country wherever your forefathers and foremothers came from and some idiot back there wants to give that all back to whomever “indiginous” people lived there before your forefathers and mothers?
And besides somewhere along the line Americans or Texans or Mexis or Spanish made a treaty with the Comanch, gave them some trinkets and firewater, or something else worthless and the Comanch idiots ceded their land. How do you know they aren’t like most of the other Indians - there’s a reason they use the term - Indian Giver. That’s someone that gave up there land, got something for it, and still wants it back - so what if they were too stupid at the time to figure out that the things they got for it weren’t worth squat.
Must have been educated in US public schools and colleges - as the stupid today were, huh?
And why pick on Texas? Certainly we’ve had other idiots in the White House, and they didn’t all come from Texas? AND name me one natural disaster that occurred in Texas, that they whined and got aid from Washington?
Well said, Jack.
The left would have us all believing that everything was so peaceful and harmonious in this country among the various Indian tribes before the evil white Europeans came over and caused nothing but bloodshed, and that there was no fighting, raping, pillaging, and torturing among those tribes prior to the European’s arrival.
Americans of all colors who were born in this country are just as “Native American” as the American Indians are.
If I held the same distorted view of American history as the radical left holds, I would, at least, have the courage of my ‘convictions’ to attempt to relocate to my ancestral country, which in my case would either be Italy or Ireland.
But guess what…these America-hating hypocrites will never leave.
FYI - The Comanche were fighting with other tribes in the plains area of Colorado after moving from WYOMING. They did raid and they were at the same time partners with the settlers who moved into the west. They were known for their “horses” -many of which were stolen and often traded/sold them to French and AMerican settlers.
They were formidable opponents who developed strategies for fighting on horseback with traditional weapons.
Warfare was a major part of Comanche life.
The dreaded Comanche raids into Mexico, going as far south as Central America, traditionally took place during the full moon, when the Comanche could see to ride at night. This led to the term “Comanche Moon,” during which the Comanche raided for horses, captives, weapons, and simply to spread terror.
The Comanches maintained an ambiguous relationship with the Europeans and later settlers attempting to colonize their territory. They were valued as trading partners, but they were also feared for their raids. Similarly, the Comanches were at war at one time or another with virtually every other Native American group living in the Great Plains, leaving opportunities for political maneuvering by the European colonial powers and the United States.
Today they are among the most highly educated native groups in the United States.
About half the Comanche population still lives in Oklahoma, centered around the town of Lawton. In July, Comanches from across the United States gather to celebrate their heritage and culture in Walters, Oklahoma at the annual Comanche Homecoming powwow.
Many Comanches, especially those living in and around Lawton, Oklahoma, claim descent from Quanah Parker. (My cousin!)
Pizcaj - and if you went back to Italy, unless you were actually descendant from the Romans rather than the Italians - then you would have to leave there if PC History was observed. If you went to Ireland - the Celts are the original Irish, I believe, but don’t forget that a lot of Ireland was settled by Vikings of all Scandinavian heritage, even the City of Dublin was Viking started, so maybe PC history would make you have to go somewhere else than there? lol
Helen Sabin - thank you for the enlightening info on the Comanches, though I always thought that Quanah Parker was Cherokee, wasn’t he? So he was a cousin back there a few generations, huh?
Parker was a few generations back - and your comments to PIZ are right on.
There will ALWAYS be someone who came ahead of us that takes over from and to have ANGST about it or even to debate it other than in a scholarly setting is ridiculous. And their descendents are among us so shall we change discussions?
How about this one: Sarah Palin went to Landstuhl Medical Center a YEAR before Obama and she didn’t go to the gym first either! That ommission is one of egregious irresponsibility by Obama.
AND….how about this one - the DNC and Obama campaign threw away THOUSANDS of flags into the trash and into dumpsters which were rescued by an employee at Invesco Center where the “GREEK GOD” appeared, and given to Vietnam Vets who brought them to the MCCain /Palin rally in Colorado Springs yesterday and which were then distributed to the folks in attendance.
There weren’t any left behind either!!
OR how about the Obama’s having us PAY through taxes for their “start up” NON -profit?? IBD posts the following. IF you want the entire article let me know and I will post it here.
Not all the recruits appreciate the Public Allies PC indoctrination. “It was too touchy-feely,” said Nelly Nieblas, 29, of the 2005 Los Angeles class. “It’s a lot of talk about race, a lot of talk about sexism, a lot of talk about homophobia, talk about -isms and phobias.”
One of those -isms is “heterosexism,” which a Public Allies training seminar in Chicago describes as a negative byproduct of “capitalism, white supremacy, patriarchy and male-dominated privilege.”
The government now funds about half of Public Allies’ expenses through Clinton’s AmeriCorps. Obama wants to fully fund it and expand it into a national program that some see costing $500 billion. “We’ve got to have a civilian national security force that’s just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded” as the military, he said.
The gall of it: The Obamas want to create a boot camp for radicals who hate the military — and stick American taxpayers with the bill.
I have not heard of the Public Allies thing, though, in effect, that is almost all what our public schools are all about today. They teach PC all day, and somewhere along the way they forget the 3 R’s - but the problem with that is they (the left) do not have perfect control over education - almost perfect control - but nor perfect. They can not indoctrinate those that come from Conservative School Districts, that the locals refuse to allow the teaching of PC; they can not indoctrinate those at Private Schools, even though they have made inroads there and are trying to control Privates into teaching PC - most are still out of the control of the PCers - and the home schooled, of course, are almost out of PC hands, though they have been getting their noses into this more and more also.
So having a national program where they have mandatory indoctrinate in PC and being taught to vote only for the liberals does not surprise me. These are people that will do and say ANYTHING to get their agenda crammed down our throats.
The so-called Fairness Doctrination - shutting up the right so they cannot speak also is what we can expect from Obama. In addition, he is for and had actually assisted in pushing through the Senate that law that would force us to pay more than 85 billion annually to the UN, so they can redistribute it around the world without US scrutiny - and of course they will give it to those that hate us the most - this Global Poverty Act, still has to make it through the house and be signed by the President, so I suspect it is on hold until the next administration - as it probably couldn’t make it through the house right now, and Bush wouldn’t sign it, but Obama would.
I don’t know why the people that vote to the left can not see that they will bankrupt everybody and collapse our economy doing these things and whatever other secret plans they have to tax us to death. Obama is good about making it sound like only the super rich will pay for it, but Americans are idiots if they believe that. I guarantee the super rich can not pay enough taxes to fund all these criminal leftist schemes, so it will cause taxes to go up all the way down to the poorest. And I guarantee, every raise in taxes for the rich will cost us, because they are the people that we work for, that own our homes, or manufacture products that we need, and if THEIR costs go up, they are certainly going to raise our costs on anything they provide. They will still make as much money as before, and we will have to pay through the nose.
The Great Depression that started in 1929 will seem like a picnic in comparison to the economy collapse they will create.
Jack - Not ALL schools are PC - I am a college professor and teach my students to THINK and RESEARCH -and when they do, it is amazing how many shift their thinking about politics.
Most ALL Americans however are fed up with congress and want to throw BOTH sides out! I am right there with them. The self serving and corruption you see even on both sides of the Presidential candidate tickets is astounding.
I admire MCCain for his service and for NOT taking PORK - I can’t find anything YET to admire about Obama and the more research I do on him, the more disgusted with him I am. I am disgusted with McCain over some of his stances especially on Illegal Immigration. Thankfully he has the common sense to support drilling here and now and other forms of energy production, including clean coal, nuclear, etc. I can’t find anything yet to admire about Obama. There is NO legislation he has done that makes sense, yet - there might be some and I read every day the bills he has voted on (NO! NOt those that are voted as “present”) of which he has about 160 - but I keep hoping to find something. HIs global poverty initiative is a disgrace!!
He is a Marxist in disguise and I don’t use that term lightly. When you see his statements, legislation, voting record, etc. it is clear where he will take this country. I suggest you clear out of the stock market, housing and put your money overseas in New Zealand where they are paying 12% interest on savings accounts.
And Helen, I would be a college professor if too many schools were not PC as they are. I was raised in a world where if you worked hard and got good grades you would go far, but that was before PC. I went to school when PC was taking over. At first, scholarships covered my way because of my academic performance - and then PC took those away to give them to people that did not deserve them, but diversity was more important than promoting excellent work. I especially know as these people that got my scholarships were so lacking they required tutoring and that is what I did to make ends meet, and they were also so very lazy that they did not show up for tutor sessions.
I am a Phi Beta Kappa, so yes, I was a very good student, but because I was not liberal, but conservative, the liberals in control destroyed my future. So please, Helen, you may be the exception to the rule, but as a rule PC is an absolute out of control disease in the schools - and if you are honest, you know that.
And another way a person learns to think for themselves, is go back to school as a non-traditional student. Students just out of high school are easily led by the PCers, but a non-traditional can see through the Bull, and that can change politics. I started as a Democrat, and 7 years later I was a Republican and now I am a Conservative.
Jack - I too believe that most teachers in most K-12 schools and universities teach PC today! However there are some who don’t. It would be interesting to do a research study on this topic. I wonder if there are any PH.D candidates on this blog?
I quit a job in California (which were as valuable as gold) due to this type thing. Most said I was crazy to do it but like McCain/Palin, there comes a point where you have to stand on honor sometime and do the hard thing.
I wonder if you would do me a favor and give me your reaction to this piece I wrote to send to the local newspaper in reaction to a piece they published about MCC? The piece was so biased it was disgusting that it was published. Let me know your thoughts would you? And I hope that all on this blog write and express their opinion about Obama - share your thoughts with your friends and neighbors. ALSO note the video I reference on YouTUBE - look at it - most powerful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG4fe9GlWS8
Editor c/o The Gazette
Dear Editor,
I am asking you to consider publishing this rebuttal in your “Other Voices” section of the editorial pages. I feel that the article, McCain Abandoned Ways to Take Last Shot At Office by E.J. Dionne, September, 7, 2008, is patently biased and is clearly propaganda. I want to present “the other side” of the discussion that Dionne left out of his article so your readers get an alternate picture of the points the author presented in the article. Thank you.
E.J. Dionne in his article, McCain Abandoned Ways To Take Last Shot at Office was clearly biased and his major points need to be examined to see his propaganda.
First Dionne opines that ”...The Republican crowds at the nomination played into the worst stereotypes of their party as a privileged class resistant to change and the ridicule in the speeches given aggravated the country’s cultural schisms and replayed worn out harangues against weak liberals.” He doesn’t define what the “cultural schisms” are or what “worn out harangues are” nor does he identify who the “weak liberals” are in the article leaving us to guess. Just think Michelle Obama, Nancy Pilosi, Harry Reid, John Edwards and his mistress, and Teddy Kennedy if you think liberals are “weak!”
Dionne creates bias by claiming ALL Republicans as “privileged” just as he classifies ALL liberals as “weak!” The bias of Dionne shows as he ignores Obama as the man who started “race baiting” in January 2008 with his “race” speech. Remember it? The one where he called his Grandmother a “TYPICAL WHITE person?”
And if there is such a schism then how did Obama get where he is today? Remember this statement from Obama’s nomination speech: ”… Four years ago, I stood before you and told you my story – of the brief union between a young man from Kenya and a young woman from Kansas who weren’t well-off or well-known, but shared a belief that in America, their son could achieve whatever he put his mind to.” Apparently there aren’t schisms if Obama as well as almost fifty thousand BLACK entrepreneurs can get businesses going: The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation recently reports, “While the overall rate of adult entrepreneurial activity declined slightly between 2004 and 2005, the rate of African Americans starting businesses increased.” In 2004, the foundation reports, 40,200 African Americans started a new business every month. Each month during 2005, by comparison, a total of 46,700 Blacks launched a business. “African Americans were the only ethnic or racial group to experience a gain,” they concluded.
The country’s schism is only in Dionne’s mind. Remember it was Barack himself who raises the issue of race. He talks about the “Bitter Americans who cling to religion and to their guns and bibles! He talks about Americans who can’t quite see his face on a dollar bill because it isn’t the right color! Obama raised the issue of “slavery” which occurred over one hundred forty three years ago ignoring the fact at least seven generations have passed since that time and that many thousands of WHITES died and brother fought against brother to free Blacks from slavery. Obviously slavery didn’t stop him as he and Michelle are doing quite well with over four million in income and a 1.65 million dollar, 6 bedroom, 4 bathroom home with granite floors for which he got a BELOW MARKET, LOW INTEREST, NO POINT, NO FEE SUPER SUPER JUMBO LOAN. This is a weak liberal not doing well in a country filled with schisms? Hardly! Only in Dionne’s mind.
Second point: Most all republican are not privileged nor do they play into the stereotypes that Obama himself brings up in almost every speech or gathering in which he talks. Just take a look at the crowd who showed up at the Colorado Springs McCain/Palin Rally this past Saturday. They were of all ages, races and financial dispositions and most were working people. Vietnam Vets were present, Democrats fed up with Obama who came were older working men and women. The physically challenged such as the small business owner in the wheel chair who came with his beautiful German Shepard clearly isn’t privileged nor were the many special needs children who came with their families. Nor was the young man John who works at the Black Bear Diner and who had to trade shifts in order to hear McCain and Palin speak. Nor was this young man who gives a most powerful reason on why and who he is voting for on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG4fe9GlWS8
Third Point: Dionne says that Palin mocked “community organizers” in her nomination speech and said that Republicans never needed a neighborhood advocate. She was mocking Obama’s CLAIM about the “wonderful accomplishments he achieved” as a community organizer and NOT the organizers themselves. According to newspaper reports such as this from the Boston Globe, Obama did NOTHING to help his constituents in Chicago when he was both a community organizer and a STATE SENATOR!
”…A Globe review found that Obama was responsible for obtaining millions of dollars in local, state and federal subsidies for developer friends of his such as Antonin Rezko who built apartment that were so badly mismanaged they deteriorated so completely they were no longer habitable.” Cynthia Ashley, who since 1994, has lived at one of the 258 apartment buildings in Obama’s district, Grove Parc, when Obama was a “Community Organizer,” statedabout the cold winds that came through the walls and having no heat… “No one should have to live like this, and NO ONE did anything about it!” Sharee Jones who lived in a different apartment building, Lawndale, built by Rezko who funded Obama’s first run for the senate with a large monetary donation and who helped the Obama’s buy a home in 2005, had an apartment filled with rats. “No one would do anything about them,” she complained. A group of Lawndale residents gathered to rally against the Democratic candidate for the US Senate, Barak Obama.
This is the “community organizer” Palin criticized and rightly so!
Fourth Point: Dionne’s comment that Chants of Drill -Baby -Drill are only done at Republican Conventions totally ignores that these same chants are being done by seventy five percent of the AMERICAN people who are fed up with high gas prices which have climbed to almost double during the time the DEMOCRATS have been in power these last two years! Remember it was the DEMOCRATIC party who went on “vacation” and didn’t bring the drilling ban to a vote! Nancy had a book tour to do after all!
Fifth point: Dionne says McCain panders to the Republican right wing he once disdained ignoring the condemnation MCCain gave in his nomination speech toward his own party!
Sixth Point: He stresses that McCain makes ”…Old politics of demonization work,” and ignores the demonization done by the Obama camp –“They are bitter and cling to their guns” when talking about AMERICANS in general!
Seventh Point: He says Cynicism was apparent in MCCain’s choice of Palin ignoring the cynicism and propaganda stated by Obama in his nomination speech: ”…I will also go through the federal budget, line by line, eliminating programs that no longer work and making the ones we do need work better and cost less – because we cannot meet twenty-first century challenges with a twentieth century bureaucracy.” I wonder if this will apply to the four million dollars taxpayers give to the non profit, Public Allies, started by the Obamas and funded by both the Obamas and the Clintons? You know the one mentioned by Investors Business Daily in their multi part report about “THE AUDACITY OF SOCIALISM” where Michelle’s and Obama teach heterosexism defined as “white supremacy, patriarchy and male-dominated privilege” as a by product of Capitalism! And these candidates for President and First Lady say they ”...Love America?” – a nation based on capitalism? IS this why Obama wants income re-distribution? Is it WHITE SUPREMACY to make money? And what about the almost fifty thousand BLACK entrepreneurs who are using capitalism to succeed? I thought this was the American Dream not white supremacy! I wonder if he will tax these BLACK entrepreneurs if they make over $250,000.?
What is cynical, as well as disgusting and disgraceful is this from the Washington Post: “Sen. Barack Obama sought more than $3.4 million in congressional earmarks for clients of the lobbyist son of his Democratic running mate, Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware, records show.” Yet, Obama brags about being the “author” of legislation that created the toughest ethics reform in history! Apparently Obama doesn’t think that ethics are involved in giving almost one million dollars a day in taxpayer funded pork to his buddies and their kids for every day he has been a United States Senator! I think that his Chicago constituents living in the rat infested, completely deteriorated apartment buildings built by Antonin Rezko and funded to the tune of almost $500 million by Obama would not agree that Obama was an ethical person who cares about his people!
Finally, Dionne ends his piece with these words about McCain, ”...A single speech on a September night is not enough to resurrect the man who might once have brought the country together” – but clearly referrs to Obama who in his nomination speech said, ”...We are the party of Roosevelt. We are the party of Kennedy!” - yes the same Kennedy who once stated, “I don’t lose sleep over the problems of Negroes. ” Apparently Obama doesn’t either as shown by his poor record of achievements as a community organizer and State Senator. I ask this, if Obama can’t get rid of rats in an apartment building in his own district in Chicago, how will he ever be able to run this country?
Helen, first of all, I would not waste my time reading any article by E J Dionne - he long ago so discredited himself that anyone that commences with reading anything by him has to understand that it will be worthless partisan rhetoric.
Though having said that, I read your entire rebuttal, and if that can’t effectively rebut what Dionne presents as truth that is really untrue, then nothing could. Perhaps you will save a few that are gullible from being indoctrinated by Dionne, but I suspect that most that read what he regurgitates are already so indoctrinated we must really just write them off as unsalvagable to America.
I attempted to watch the YouTube video, but as I suspected my old mac computer is just too old with antiquated software to watch it. I am one of those fat cat Republicans also that can not afford a computer or software newer than 2000, that I got as a hand me down from my brother in 2003. I fight to pay the bills to keep a roof over my head. If I was one of those minorities like Obama though, I suspect I could get some kind of handout to get a new computer, huh?
But then that is the other difference between us, as I want no government handouts and just ask that they stay out of my face and not steal from me, and readers of Dionne believe they have some kind of Constitutional Right to handouts from us rich Daddy Warbucks Republicans.
Frankly this election to me comes down to this. I used to have a little extra income a few years ago, but inflation due to the high cost of gasoline took that - I have no more to take. If they take more when I am already struggling paycheck to paycheck to stay above water, I will be out on the street and sleeping below some bridge somewhere. And frankly I haven’t ever done that and the possibility scares me to death.
With McCain and Palin, if they do as they say, maybe prices can come down a bit again, and no new taxes would be great. With Obama, it is tax tax and tax, and regulate that costs more that is effectively a tax, and increasing gas costs as they want us all walking (except them).
Hi Helen and Jack…
Off topic, but I have some news not making news, so what else is new?
My husband had to cover for his employer at a Home Show in The Woodlands, TX. I went along to do some walk around prospecting for my own business. What I learned was amazing. Real Estate is booming, business is booming. Thousands of houses and subdivisions from Galveston to North of Houston are in the planning stages. No signs of a slow down. Business was brisk at the home show. I came home with 5 prospects. No negativity there. Texas seems to be a bubble of growth compared to the rest of the Country.
The Indian/Mexico thing really had me tickled. Its too bad the Karankawa Indians on Padres Island were wiped out, since they had quite a taste for humans. They might have loved filet of Democrat. I am sure they would have supported their continued existance. Much like today, since they too will be standing in line for the beheading. What about the Apaches in Texas. I am pretty sure my memory isn’t incorrect on that one. Whoever attacked my family in covered wagons going over Bandera Pass had a happy for scalps. Isn’t it amazing that Fred doesnt’ realize that his happy rear end would not be alive and kicking if the residents before had not been removed or assimilated. Maybe he wants to sacrifice himself in a Grand Mea Culpa? Anyway, great job in Texas History. Much better than I could have done. LOL
This is truly a great read for me!! I love the quality information and news your blog provides 
I have you bookmarked to show this to my brother!
Thanks,
Fred - Come one buddy - She attends her family quite well. She didn’t leave them behind when she was nominated and made them part of hersuccess. Her kids travel with her and so does her husband! Get off the male chavunist pig routine that went out in the 70’s. She is a sitting governor, has more practical experience than all three males, was a small business owner and is pretty enough to be on vogue! She is much better than ugly and mean spirited Michelle - the hypocrite!! She is terrific and will be a great VP!! GO SARAH!!
Firstly, I also think so. Think it may be created a history. And appreciate the republican’s for this bold choice. But recently updating news upset me so deeply. I think really she created some negative image int the bail out situation. Hope Republicans will recover it within a very short time.
What makes me like her is her “down to earth” manner and she isn’t corrupted ....yet!! I laugh at these folks who are upset that the McCain campaign bought her clothes - she didn’t have enough or a campaign as she is like us - typical workers who don’t pay like Obama does - $6000. for a custom made suit or Michelle who pays $2500. per outfit she wears as a minimum or Hilliary who pays around $5000. for those awful pantsuits she wears. McCain will win NOV 4 as the ones who vote for him are WORKING!! None I know have been called by any polster! Go SARAH!!
It is obvious that it is an excellent marriage - as they were not faking the genuine affection that Todd and Sarah Palin must have for each other. I see a good and involved father. In fact, feminists should rejoice in Palin. She is what feminists have been saying is what their movement is all about. A mother and a Governor, and has done a remarkable job doing BOTH. And the husband is a part of the family structure and not a detached observer - and yet he is a man, not a whoos.
The post is nice.. but it’s over Obama become president. Let see what he does .
September 1 at 10:36 pm | #1 | Link
She’s ‘Conservative’? Didn’t read about her pregnant 17 yr old single daughter, eh?
Then too she should be spending her time caring for her Down Syndrome new born not galavanting all over with Political ambitions.
Seems like she’s the typical Busy Body Liberal if anything.
McCain is tending to his flock of Wack-o’s and his Trophy Female habit.