One World
Via Kos:



Thank you, my socialist Russian comrades.

Labels: palin, politics

- posted by Cynthia @ 4:36 PM | | | Link |

 
Hey Sarah Palin


Very sweet song. (Hey There Delilah is a radio play fave of mine -- yes, laugh if you want.)

Labels: palin, politics

- posted by Cynthia @ 11:05 AM | | | Link |

 
Better Than Expected Is Not Better
Just saying.

Good afternoon, friends. Have been seeing a whole bunch of articles around the tubes that are trying to put a horserace spin back on the election. I guess blowout reporting gets dull. Debate expectations for Sarah Palin were so low -- and I'm sorry that we Democrats fell into the trap of helping to lower them way beyond subbasement level -- that the fact she walked into the room and didn't barf on her notecards from nervousness (tho there were a few moments I think we saw her panic) STILL doesn't qualify her for president (because that's the qualifications a vice presidential candidate should have).

Not even president of Wasilla High School (or whatever it might be called).

A lot of folks out there like to cheer for the plucky underdog, the can-do girl with the bubbly personality and the little-girl hairdo (when her hair is up she looks like an adult -- when she wears it down and pulled back so sweetly, we know she's trying to be young and adorable).

I think in her mind she's living the script of Legally Blonde 3, Elle Goes to the White House.

Unfortunately, I think Elle's dog Bruiser has a better chance of getting my vote than Sarah Palin does.



(Oh no! Now they'll accuse me of calling Sarah Palin a dog!!)

Joe Biden was the one who seriously beat expectations for me. He really brought it. Have watched American Idol, Dancing With the Stars, etc. etc. and they always keep urging the contestants to keep raising the level of their performance, just do it, let it all out, etc. Joe's combination of knowledge, passion, directness, and honest answers to Ifill's questions blew me away. I'd really expected to hear talking points, stump speech stuff, etc., the Democratic version of the crap Palin was spewing. He can reel that stuff off by the yard.

This was a whole new side of Biden I hadn't seen. I really felt as though he felt he was debating for the life of the country, like a latter day Daniel Webster debating the Devil.

Anyway, just back from a dress-up (with pantyhose!) ladies' luncheon where this was the main topic at the table.

The "ladies" I was with saw through her with ease and were not very ladylike in their assessments either.

Probably because they were actual, grown-up women.

Labels: palin, politics

- posted by Cynthia @ 4:53 PM | | | Link |

 
The Energy Expert
In preparation for tomorrow's debate, I've been going back over all the Palin video clips from the past few weeks, trying to figure out my favorite.

Does doing this cramfest make me qualified to be President? I believe it does. My head is now at least as empty as George Bush's.

The winner:



I hadn't seen this when it first came out. It has it all -- the idiocy, the irritating voice -- plus Wolf Blitzer. What more can you ask?

Labels: palin, politics

- posted by Cynthia @ 7:44 PM | | | Link |

 
Sarah Palin's Tanning Bed Part 2
Regardless of whether the Vitamin D touted by the tanning bed industry is good for you, since Palin was pregnant for a lot of the time she's been governor, was it safe for her to use it?

The complete answer thread from Yahoo Answers has a lot of opinions. Is it wrong if I highlight the following answer?

no, your internal temperature rises too high before you know it.

Unless you want a retarded or defected baby, dont tan while pregnant, ESPECIALLY not when you're under 12 weeks as the embryo is insanely heat sensitive.

There you go. Since the email from the tanning bed company's PR firm is the first I've heard of this, I just wonder how long she's been using it. It did strike me as odd that she seemed rather tan for an Alaskan in all the pix, even compared to her hubby and kids.

I guess this means that while the blog is perhaps no longer a Palin-free zone, it will never be snark-free.

Labels: mccain, palin, politics

- posted by Cynthia @ 7:26 PM | | | Link |

 
Sarah Palin's Tanning Bed?
From today's junk email folder:

Press Release

Indoor Tanning Association
September 15th, 2008
Contact: ITA Media—202.420.7865

Sarah Palin Said to Have a Tanning Bed in Alaska Governor’s Mansion

Tanning Beds Provide Much Needed Vitamin D in Northern Latitudes

WASHINGTON – Today the Indoor Tanning Association addressed rumors that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, who was recently chosen as Presidential Nominee John McCain’s running-mate, had installed a tanning bed in the Governor’s mansion.

According to online reports, a Palin spokesman confirmed in 2007 that the Governor “did have a tanning bed put in the Governor’s Mansion,” Adding that, “It was done shortly after she took office [in early 2007] and moved into the mansion.”

In locations such as Alaska, tanning beds provide important health benefits as a source of UV light. In the bleak winter months, many Americans experience vitamin D deficiency and the best way to manufacture vitamin D is through exposure to UV light. But it is impossible to get the requisite amount of vitamin D from the sun in cities north of 37 degrees latitude for as many as 6 months out of the year; people living as far north as Juneau, Alaska, are deprived of vitamin D from sunlight for even longer.

In addition to increasing the risk of many types of cancer and heart disease, vitamin D deficiency is also linked to many common wintertime complaints such as fatigue, depression and aches and pains.

While partisan bloggers and the sun scare industry will use this as an opportunity to undermine Gov. Palin and demonize the indoor tanning industry, the fact is that Governor Palin’s decision to get UV light from a tanning bed positively impacts her health.

“Moderate amounts of indoor tanning allow Governor Palin to experience the many health benefits that come with exposure to UV light,” said Dan Humiston, President of the Indoor Tanning Association and candidate for United States Congress (R-NY27). [ed. ROFL] “Especially in dreary northern locations like Alaska, indoor tanning can help guard against wintertime depression and ward off diseases associated with vitamin D deficiency.”

“Kudos to Governor Palin for standing up to dermatologists and other members of the sun scare industry who are trying to frighten Americans away from UV light.”

I kid you not.

Labels: mccain, palin, politics

- posted by Cynthia @ 5:17 PM | | | Link |

 
Getting Too Easy
... to mock the Palin:



Didn't see Tina Fey on SNL (SNL has sucked for 20 years -- have stopped watching as a protest in case I buy something advertised during the show by mistake). Someone said she was dead on, a scary thought.

I had predicted Gibson would go easy on her, throwing her the following questions:

1. Do you like hockey?

2. A final question: kittens or puppies?

Any of you men out there who still believe women will get pissed off if you question this individual about her record and beliefs, I would like to string you up and then tie them around your neck.

Labels: palin

- posted by Cynthia @ 6:31 PM | | | Link |

 
Hometown Values, Alaskan Style

OUTSTANDING!

‘Alaska Women Reject Palin’ Rally is HUGE! « Mudflats

The rally was organized by a small group of women, talking over coffee. It made me wonder what other things have started with small groups of women talking over coffee. It’s probably an impressive list. These women hatched the plan, printed up flyers, posted them around town, and sent notices to local media outlets. One of those media outlets was KBYR radio, home of Eddie Burke, a long-time uber-conservative Anchorage talk show host. Turns out that Eddie Burke not only announced the rally, but called the people who planned to attend the rally “a bunch of socialist baby-killing maggots”, and read the home phone numbers of the organizers aloud over the air, urging listeners to call and tell them what they thought. The women, of course, received many nasty, harassing and threatening messages.

[...]

Never, have I seen anything like it in my 17 and a half years living in Anchorage. The organizers had someone walk the rally with a counter, and they clicked off well over 1400 people (not including the 90 counter-demonstrators). This was the biggest political rally ever, in the history of the state. I was absolutely stunned. The second most amazing thing is how many people honked and gave the thumbs up as they drove by. And even those that didn’t honk looked wide-eyed and awe-struck at the huge crowd that was growing by the minute. This just doesn’t happen here.

Then, the infamous Eddie Burke showed up. He tried to talk to the media, and was instantly surrounded by a group of 20 people who started shouting O-BA-MA so loud he couldn’t be heard. Then passing cars started honking in a rhythmic pattern of 3, like the Obama chant, while the crowd cheered, hooted and waved their signs high.

So many wonderful pictures on the blog, Mudflats, which has followed the Alaskan scene for some time. You might almost call it the the Archpundit of the North. (via Kos).

Labels: obama, palin, politics, women

- posted by Cynthia @ 11:39 AM | | | Link |

 
I, Too, Am Ready
... to play in the NFL.

... to dance with the Bolshoi Ballet.

... to win American Idol.

WHAT? Did I hear someone say I HAVE NO QUALIFICATIONS?

YOU COMMIE SEXIST!!!

Here endeth my Friday morning sermon (yes, I'm qualified for that, too).

Labels: palin, politics

- posted by Cynthia @ 9:00 AM | | | Link |

 
Why Is This Not On Front Page of NYT?
UPDATE: McClatchy Newspapers has it now. Thanks, Atrios, who adds

Who knows, maybe we should have some sort of innovative libertarian a la carte police system, where you basically get billed for parts and labor whenever you call them. Access to the law based on your ability to pay, that kind of thing.

Indeed.

ORIGINAL OUTRAGE:

While Mayor, Sarah Palin Charged Rape Victims for their Own Justice

Let's put this into perspective. One of the services that almost every American (with the exception of a few hardcore Libertarians, I suppose) agree that our government should provide is policing and investigation into crime, especially of a violent nature. Rape, one of the most difficult to prosecute, disproportionately affects women--young women, in fact. If Palin wants to play fierce mother hen in her stump speeches, I suggest she explain how it is that she wouldn't do everything in her mayoral power to make sure that rapists be caught and prosected.

Just compare this to Joe Biden's responsibility for the first 1994 Violence Against Women Act, and role in all the updates (including the 2005 rewrite that ultimately outlawed this practice).

You don't have to be a woman to know what's right and what's wrong. Go get 'em, Joe.

LET US NOT FORGET WHO BARACK OBAMA CHOSE FOR VP: JOE BIDEN

Labels: biden, palin, women

- posted by Cynthia @ 4:53 PM | | | Link |

 
It Could Happen


From All Spin Zone.

Have been sorting out links on the side in preparation for the coming season (yes, the art season too -- sad how many galleries and blogs have shut down). If I removed yours just at the point you'd decided you really better get back into things again, just let me know, and I'll put it back.

Am feeling extraordinarily sad reading this mockup. I just don't comprehend how the country has gotten itself into this situation. It's way beyond snark.

UPDATE: Have been screwing around trying to get the best image of the above, but all attempts have failed, so going back to the original since it looks more Yahooy. You're just going to have to squint. Big note: you do realize this is a fake, right? Visit them above for tons more commentary.

Labels: mccain, palin

- posted by Cynthia @ 5:08 PM | | | Link |

 
What Is Really Offensive
... about all this, other than McCain's offensive choice for VP to begin with, is how all the commentators, late-night hosts, pundits, etc. etc. -- including a good many "liberal" types -- feel like they have to tippy-toe around the Palin choice. As though women will automatically take offense if ANY woman is criticized, regardless of whether she has adequate credentials to be Vice President or President.

My head explodes a million times over at this attitude. We're big girls! We can take it! Do you think we can't tell the difference between valid criticism on policy, credentials, vision for our country and ad hominem attacks like those inflicted on Hillary Clinton? (Well, hominem is probably the wrong-gendered word, but it's been a long time since I've had to use Latin).

I do not see a million women leaping up to defend this woman's meagre resume. To defend her daughter, yes, so lay off. And lay off her appearance, her voice, her laugh, her clothes despite her barfingly fake hip-ness -- "First Dude," my Aunt Fanny.

It is, however, valid when her private and public lives collide -- for example, when she endangered her son's life by flying from Texas to Alaska for his birth, just so he'd be born in Alaska, just so he'd have Alaskan citizenship. It's the only reason I can think of that she would do such a thing after her water broke.

But doesn't it show a fantastic ability for planning, that she's always thinking one step ahead? I mean, come the revolution, when Alaska secedes from the Union, he won't have to worry about getting treated in Alaskan hospitals or getting Alaskan social services, or getting ripped from his mother's arms if he's caught on the wrong side of the fence.

And this is the party of Lincoln? With a secessionist Vice President?

Always thinking ahead.

Labels: palin

- posted by Cynthia @ 11:13 AM | | | Link |

 
Head Still Exploding


Archpundit (who I haven't visited in a long time but felt compelled to) has a longer version of this.

It's a Friday of a long weekend, the time to dump stuff. If they wanted to steal thunder, wondering why they didn't announce earlier. Just incompetent, I guess.

Labels: palin

- posted by Cynthia @ 6:20 PM | | | Link |