Other than a presidential election, can there possibly be very many activities that will make you certain the inmates are truly running the joint? Even given the ever-widening gap between ethical politics (oxymoron alert) and Politics As Practiced, the utterly ludicrous course this campaign has taken since Sarah Palin was selected as John McCain’s running mate is surely a sign that Hell has frozen over like a wooly mammoth in a glacier. (Not to worry – with global warming, the glacier will be releasing Hell sooner or later.)
What were they thinking? Did McCain and Company cynically believe such a photogenic, personable female (yes, the camera does indeed love her) would (a) automatically pull in the female vote because Palin is a female and (b) automatically pull in the male vote because Palin is a “hottie” female? If that’s where they were coming from, they’d better get a new tour guide because this road is getting rocky real fast. I sincerely hope most people – female and male – are smarter than that.
Those of you who have kindly shared with me a mug or two of the sacred brew over the past few years – you know I rarely get political on this blog. I’m usually very wary of pressing my opinions on others. If we agree, I’d be preaching to the choir. If we disagree, we probably aren’t going to change each other’s minds and we run the risk of straining perfectly good friendships. Besides, let’s face it – this is not a blog that is read by vast numbers of people, no matter what their persuasion.
Still, sometimes I feel something is so terribly, vitally, utterly important that I just HAVE to stand up and be counted. This is one of those times so please bear with me, Coffee Mates. For the last two-plus weeks, I’ve been digging everywhere I can to find out who Sarah Palin really is and what qualifies her to be our vice president, if not (shudder) our president. At best, the news is not good. At worst, it’s terrifying. At least, that’s the way it looks to my mind.
But you make up your own minds. If it’s of any use to you, I highly recommend this most absolutely kickin' Alaskan web site, Mudflats. This woman writes with intelligence, humor and, I believe, fairness. If you scroll back through the entries since Palin hit the headlines, I think you’ll see what I mean. Be sure to read the (mostly) thoughtful comments following each of her posts. You certainly won’t be bored. Another site that may be helpful is the very new Women Against Sarah Palin site. Letter after letter from people who are angry, horrified and/or insulted by what is perceived as a cynical, self-serving and dangerous choice. (The above Sandra Day O'Connor photo and quote were "borrowed" from that site. Thanks, folks.)
Your mileage may vary. That’s as it should be. Different strokes for different folks. I just hope the majority of us choose the strokes that will, in the long run, be healing and productive for ALL of us.
What were they thinking? Did McCain and Company cynically believe such a photogenic, personable female (yes, the camera does indeed love her) would (a) automatically pull in the female vote because Palin is a female and (b) automatically pull in the male vote because Palin is a “hottie” female? If that’s where they were coming from, they’d better get a new tour guide because this road is getting rocky real fast. I sincerely hope most people – female and male – are smarter than that.
Those of you who have kindly shared with me a mug or two of the sacred brew over the past few years – you know I rarely get political on this blog. I’m usually very wary of pressing my opinions on others. If we agree, I’d be preaching to the choir. If we disagree, we probably aren’t going to change each other’s minds and we run the risk of straining perfectly good friendships. Besides, let’s face it – this is not a blog that is read by vast numbers of people, no matter what their persuasion.
Still, sometimes I feel something is so terribly, vitally, utterly important that I just HAVE to stand up and be counted. This is one of those times so please bear with me, Coffee Mates. For the last two-plus weeks, I’ve been digging everywhere I can to find out who Sarah Palin really is and what qualifies her to be our vice president, if not (shudder) our president. At best, the news is not good. At worst, it’s terrifying. At least, that’s the way it looks to my mind.
But you make up your own minds. If it’s of any use to you, I highly recommend this most absolutely kickin' Alaskan web site, Mudflats. This woman writes with intelligence, humor and, I believe, fairness. If you scroll back through the entries since Palin hit the headlines, I think you’ll see what I mean. Be sure to read the (mostly) thoughtful comments following each of her posts. You certainly won’t be bored. Another site that may be helpful is the very new Women Against Sarah Palin site. Letter after letter from people who are angry, horrified and/or insulted by what is perceived as a cynical, self-serving and dangerous choice. (The above Sandra Day O'Connor photo and quote were "borrowed" from that site. Thanks, folks.)
Your mileage may vary. That’s as it should be. Different strokes for different folks. I just hope the majority of us choose the strokes that will, in the long run, be healing and productive for ALL of us.
10 comments:
I'm not American, but I share your thoughts. Here's someone else too http://www.opendiary.com/entryview.asp?authorcode=D295687&entry=20674&mode=date
Scary these days. We're having an election and our candidates are so pitiful I'm thinking of hibernating for a few years. Of course, there may not be a world when I wake up. What with these grandiose plans to cover Alaska with oil rigs, maybe the polar ice cap will finally be melted and we'll all be under water.
Thanks for the link, Wilma. I have to chuckle at your hibernation comment -- because I recall frustrated voters saying, after the last election here, they felt like moving to Canada! It's kinda like moving up the street in the same neighborhood. (grin)
Dee, thanks for taking the time to do the digging. I will, indeed, be following your links as it's always nice to have some information to back up what my gut has been screaming from day one.
I don't have a source for you at the moment, but did you know that approximately one-third of all vice presidents have done some time as president filling out someone else's term?
Do I really have to go? I haven't liked the lady, day one, without hearing all the stuff. Call it gut reaction.
I'm still reeling over the fact so many yankee's are prejudiced. I wasn't brought up that way, whot happened?
Did you see my purdy turkey yesterday?
Thanks, Dee. US politics are not easy for a foreigner properly to understand and it helps when a trusted friend airs her views. On your word, I shall not vote for Ms. Palin... ;-)
Dee, I am with you 100%. I'm doing what I can here in Ohio to not get McSame elected. And then to have him pull this stunt...it's unbelievable. She knows how to treat Russia just because she can 'see' it from her backyard??? Oh, yeh, that's the kind of person I want running my country. McSame is OLD and has a long, long, long, long sheet of things that have physically wrong with him and are currently wrong. Palin is a missed heartbeat away from running our country. What gets me is that the McSame forces were digging hard at Obama for not having experience.
Another link: http://dailysource.org/palin which summarizes all the poop on palin since day 1 of the September surprise. It's a neutral site, actually.
Polar Bears for Obama!
This Presidential race is NUTS! I can't believe that anyone would consider electing that sickly space-cadet and his scatter-brained side-kick! You've got two experienced and sane people on the other ticket. Yes, I think Obama has the kind of experience we need; most importantly, he's worked as a community organizer on the grass-roots level. With Joe Biden behind him, and the sharp crew of economic advisors he has lined up, I believe he'll take this country back for the common folk. We need to get the oil cartel out!
Politics in general leave me cold, but whoa, we are in deep doo-doo now. I usually don't listen to political postulations, but I did listen to Sarah Palin, but only once. She strikes me as a climber, no matter over whose back she climbs, and is full of herself to boot. The more I see if her, the less I like her and as for her much older running mate, he made a mess in his lunch box by picking her. What was he thinking?
Frankly, I don't see much choice this year in the voting booth. I may not vote at all. It's a sad thing in this great country to be in this situation.
But never fear, either global warming or the hell that is Wall Street will get us all in the end.
I am glad I am of the age that lets me out of all of this in a few years. And yes, it's bad for our grandchildren, but it's too late to fix it now.
Can you hear the voice of doom in this comment?
Ava
I'm choir indeed.
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