There's so much good stuff going on in the political arena right now, I don't even now where to begin.
How about here...
Ladies and gentlemen: James Dobson and Focus on the Family, Phyllis Schlafly and the Eagle Forum, Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly, Anne Coulter, Ralph Reed, Pat Robertson and the 700 Club, the National Rifle Association, the Ku Klux Klan, and Newt Gingrich are pleased to announce "The New Family and Moral Values Coalition."
Women! No longer do you have to be barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen.
Women! No longer do you have to question whether it is right to go to college or acquire a degree at an institution of higher learning as more than just back-up in the event your darling husband dies suddenly.
Parents! No longer do you have to extol the virtues of abstinence and moral chastity to your sons and daughters.
Men! No longer do you have to be the primary breadwinner in your nuclear family.
Mom and Dad! No longer do you have to counsel your sons and daughters about finding the right mate and carefully and prayerfully considering marriage.
In one fell swoop, Sarah I'm-Going-to-Finish-Breaking-the-Glass-Ceiling Palin and her geratic leader-god John I'm-Clueless McCain have rewritten the evangelical right's moral values agenda without even breaking a sweat.
Know what the cherry on the sundae would be?
The cherry on the sundae would be, if John McCain's third wife,* announced that her soldier son is gay.**
How perfect would that be?
*****
And speaking of marriage and gays and family values, I admit I'm gloating at the fact that the standard bearers of the defense of marriage are now back-pedaling and praising Gov. Palin and her family for supporting their daughter's out-of-wedlock pregnancy and encouraging her to marry the father of her baby.
Yeah, there's a defense for marriage if ever I've seen one.
And gays are the threat to traditional marriage?!
Yeah, okay. You keep telling yourselves that, folks. If you talk it up long enough, you can convince yourself of anything.
*****
Am I alone in this or are you women voters insulted by McCain's choice for a running mate?
Maybe I'm making a mountain out of a mole hill, but it seems to me that women of intelligence are smart enough to see through McCain's pick as nothing more than a feeble attempt to pander and patronize women voters.
Just because some women who supported Hillary are upset she didn't win the primaries or was passed over as Obama's VP pick, doesn't mean Palin represents a good replacement.
Women don't vote for women simply because they're women. We have too many ideals and issues at stake to be that simplistic.
If women voters think Palin is the right person for the veep job, they will vote for her, regardless of their conservative or liberal politics.
Having said that, though, most women I've talked to on both sides of the political spectrum find McCain's choice insulting to their intelligence.
*****
And speaking of women in the political spectrum, I noticed a sign the other day that just leaves me flummoxed.
HILLARY SUPPORTERS 4 McCAIN
Are you serious?!
You'd rather have four more years of Bush & Cheney Co. than vote for Obama-Biden? I'm honestly not sure what that will accomplish.
Even if I wasn't totally sold on Obama and I was upset that Hillary didn't clinch the nomination and was passed over for the Veep position, I'd rather take my chances with Obama than with McCain. You're not voting for McCain because you think he's the best candidate. You're voting for McCain to punish Obama.
In the end, all you're doing is cutting off your nose to spite your face, as the old adage goes.
Stupid. That's all I have to say. Stupid.
*****
Remember the 3:00 a.m. ad Hillary ran asking voters, when that call comes at that ungodly hour, who do you want in the White House answering the phone?
Ladies and gentlemen, I submit that we have to ask ourselves that very question now.
If something happened to Obama (and given the racist, backwards thinking of some of my fellow Americans, it's a sad possibility) or McCain (the dude is 72 and he has cancer, which means an early is demise is his sad possibility), who would you rather have stepping into the presidency?
Frankly, the idea of Palin makes me shudder.
It probably shouldn't, though, right? I mean, as the pundits and Cindy McCain have so adroitly pointed out, Gov. Palin has plenty of foreign policy experience. After all, Alaska is close to Russia.
Yeah, that thought helps me sleep at night.
I think the Right needs a new name.
How about the Moron Majority?
* Credit goes to Jon Stewart for that new moniker for Gov. Palin!
** Credit for that peach of a thought goes to my friend, G.T.
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19 comments:
As I told a coworker yesterday, there are a lot of things I don't understand. Really.
The latest quote I heard from Governor Palin came when she was asked if the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance offended her. She said that if it was good enough for the founding fathers, it's good enough for her.
Now, since the Pledge was written in 1902, became "official" in 1942, and had the words "under God" added in 1948, one has to wonder about her knowledge of history (as well as geography and current events). She's not only a nut job, she's not a particularly bright nut job.
The fact that being close to Alaska is actually being peddled as foreign affairs experience? So laughable that I'm...laughing. WTF? I saw that clip on Jon Stewart and about peed myself. That is grasping at some mighty thin straws...
Yes, it's a completely asinine pick that demonstrates exactly what Republicans think of women.
Mark my words: McCain is going to die of malignant metastatic melanoma, and it will be a very quick process. I do NOT want silly Palin and her vapid self-righteous ignorance and the sophistication of a hill billy, with her finger on the button. WTF have things come to??
Bleah.
I, for one, love Governor Palin... because she is the best thing that could have happened to the Democrats! If they're wise they will keep quiet and let more and more revelations emerge about her in the press until it is beyond laughable. We're close now. Either she stays and McCain is shown as a bad decision maker or she leaves and McCain is shown as a bad decision maker. Love it!
As for the so called Hillary supporters, it's amazing that they refuse to listen to her now saying "No way! No how! No McCain!" Voting for her ideological opposite does her no honor at all.
I am totally laughing and appalled all in the same sentence over the selection by McCain. Who cares whether Sarah Pallin's daughter is pg? It's life, it happens get over it. What I'm appalled about it that there are people out there who will vote for her because she's a woman.
Some voters won't look at her stance on women's rights, they'll appaud because her pg 17 year old daughter is going to marry the father. The poor baby. It's the worse possible reason in the world to get married. Arranged marriages make much more sense.
McCain's reasons for picking her are as transparent as silk stockings. And yet people are sucking it up. Hopefully people will start listening to what comes out of both their mouths before November 4th.
And while I'm against voting the party line, I am digusted with Democrats who would rather vote against their own personal beliefs and politics because they are po'd Hillary didn't get the VP nod. She shot herself in the foot months ago, anyone with eyes could see it coming (accept Hillary and her political advisors.)
Gilahi: It is a mystery to many of us. I missed the Pledge of Allegiance gaffe. Of course, you know how they'll spin that. "What Gov. Palin meant was, if the Founders were good with using the phrase 'under God', she's comfortable with it, too." Why can't politicians on both sides of the aisle do two things: 1) admit when they're wrong and 2) say the words, "I changed my mind"?
Di: Wasn't the Jon Stewart clip priceless. Someone needs to appoint that man to the Office of Common Sense. And you're right: the choice of Palin sends a very loud, clear message about what Republicans think of women. Not exactly an inspiring message, is it?
Lacochran: Oh, I love Gov. Palin, too. She's exactly the boost the Obama campaign needs to push it to victory. But you're right in saying that the Democrats need to not focus heavy criticism or attacks on Palin and just let her hang herself. She and McCain will do a fine job of torpedoing his presidential aspirations.
Cele: I agree, insofar is it's nobody's business and life happens. But I do care in that were the tables turned, the Evangelical Right (the Moron Majority) would use out-of-wedlock teen pregnancy of a Dem candidate's family member as fuel to say that Dems are immoral and unfit to run our God-fearing, righteous country. I love that they're having to backpedal on their moralistic self-righteousness. Serves 'em right! And I'm with you on those Dems who are parting from Obama to vote for McCain. Disgusted is a kind word.
I heard that Russia thing too. I was FLABBERGASTED. And yes, I'm offended by this choice too.
You know what? I think he picked Palin because obviously she knows how to change a diaper. You think pink casted Cindy is going to change out the Depends?
Something to think about...
Wing-nuts every last one of them!
Jess: Flabbergasted is a good word for it. Thunderstruck would be a another one.
Wicked: You're always so practical. I hadn't thought of that. Hm... I hope this isn't a glance into the future of the Republican plan for universal health care in America.
Lucy: Is Lee Iaccoca still alive?!
I'm sick. Seriously. The thought that so many people are cheering McSame and Palin on to the White House is making me sick.
And it didn't help that I just listend to Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee. My head hurts and I can't feel my face. Did I just have a stroke? My chest hurts too.
Did you know that war vets made it possible for us to have desks in schools because they paid for them? Yes -- it's all very logical, and sadly that is the logic typical of Romney's and Huckabee's speeches.
This is all too familiar.
- Phoebe
It's all about not letting individuals make their own choices. Gay people shouldn't be allowed to make their own decision to marry, and straight pregnant teenagers are forced to marry by their supposedly forgiving and accepting Christian parents because it's the "right thing to do."
[High voice...] Boy I am soooo glad I am a woman and all the difficult decisions in life will be made by my man. (*OUCH* - That was me slapping myself...)
Phoebe: Did you catch Palin's speech last night? The pundits kept saying "Palin has made her case", I kept thinking, "Yes, but she has failed to persuade."
I found her speech and the audience bland, monotone, and Stepford. The level of diversity was so scant, it frightened me. All I saw were mostly white men and women with a smattering of Asians, Hispanics, Blacks, and other people of color. Compare that to the folks at the DNC Convention and I think the contrast between what America is (rich and diverse) versus what some Americans want it to be (white and exclusionary) was stark and immediate.
As for Palin's delivery, I could have done without a lot of the pithy rhetoric and sarcasm. If she wants to debate tough issues and change, then step up and be intelligent, but cut the biting sarcasm. It just made her look silly, I thought.
Budgie: I felt sorry for that young man who's the father of Willow's baby. He's been pulled into this and is being used as a pawn to paint a picture of values that just sets my teeth on edge. The Moron Majority is finally being seen for what they have always been: hypocrites.
Oh thank you thank you, I've been wanting to have this conversation. I'm writing first and reading comments after when I have more time (I'm like those people who talk without listening...), but I wanted to say this:
McCain's choice shows us what he really thinks about the role of VP and of women; he doesn't think much of either.
Did you see the body language between the two of them last night? It looks like she already hates him. They were very stiff together and she makes him look SO OLD!
The stories of teenage pregnancy are entertaining (and there's an interesting post at http://www.greatwhatsit.com/archives/2756 about why a social conservative's family life is fair game). But ultimately I think the Palin factor is just a smokescreen for THE ISSUES. And for once, I think Americans are separating narrative and personality from the issues. USA! USA!
Hope so anyway...
Meanwhile, thus far Palin hasn't done squat for McCain's numbers.
The comments totally rock. Wicked and Phoebe hit on logical view points I'd not even considered.
I agree, the social right, would totally destroy a Democrat nominee's family if they included a teen pregnancy, abortion, or idiot. Strike the idiot, they'd vote him into office.
I tend to shy away from political speeches, I mean 99 percent of the time they mean jack. This year I was totally captivated by the DNC speeches, every single one. What little I have heard of the GOP's has given me despair and migraines. I've run out of my Imatrex.
There's at least one Hillary Clinton supporter who's in no doubt that she's voting for Barack Obama in November. Palin may be a woman but I'll vote for the party of reason and evolution. Thanks.
Adriana: Always glad to accommodate. You know me: I can't keep my opinions to myself! Last night's interaction between McCain-Palin was so painful to watch. And his endorsement was so clipped, it was readily apparent he only chose her to be a maverick. I think he said, "Do you see why we chose her to be the next vice president of the United States?" And then, that was it.
By comparison, when Obama made his "surprise" appearance after Biden's acceptance speech last week, he said considerably more about his running mate and why he values him. McCain's silence said volumes and not in a good way.
I read the Great Whatsit's article and I have to say, 100% spot on. Fellow commentors, if you haven't read it, copy the link Adriana provides and have a read. It's worth every sentence! Thanks for sharing it, A!
Cele: Like you, I, too, enjoyed all of the DNC speeches I heard. The RNC speeches, on the other hand, have done little to inspire. And, like you, I'm at risk of running out of Relpax before tonight is over!
Foilwoman: Yeah! Now if we can just convince the rest of the deluded among Hillary's supporters, we'll be good to go!
brilliant rant!
"Am I alone in this or are you women voters insulted by McCain's choice for a running mate?"
insulted is way too mild a word for what I feel.
speaking of brilliant is your proposed name for the right "moron majority" - but we can thank goodness that they are only a majority in their head
Kim: Insulted was the best I could do at three in the morning when I wrote this. Other words I can think of:
LIVID
ANGRY
DISGUSTED
INDIGNANT
OUTRAGED
McCain is an idiot.
Oh, wait. I've said that before. Well, it bears repeating.
Kimy,
Insulted is only the tip of the iceberg I feel over McCain's selection... note I am registered Republican, because I'm lazy and have never changed my affiliation to Independent.
My mother raised me to think and yet Thursday night when I went to dinner with her, I was shown once again how she (and many others) just suck down the crap dished them. My mother, a big believer in women's rights, has no clue that right to life is the Republican party platform. No clue. She was totally shocked when I brought it to her attention.
Yes, let's vote in Dumb and Dumber McCain and Palin, and set American's civil rights back on their heels one hundred years or more.
Now do you want to feel really secure in your voting process? A friend of mine is an elections activist. She led me to this link... You'll probably have to copy and paste
http://www.alternet.org/democracy/94895/voting_machines_can_never_be_trusted,_says_gop_computer_security_expert/
To save you time to get to the meat of the matter, listen to cut three. Ouch.
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