Sunday, August 31, 2008

McCain and ... Palin?

I hate being manipulated, but this is what he's done--or at least what he's trying to do. McCain chooses a woman running mate and now all the Hillary backers are going to go his way? Puh-lease. That so denigrates women's intelligence. But hey, Palin's a macho gal, right? A gal who hunts moose and has a mouth on her has to be a good choice for good ole boys. That denigrates everyone's intelligence.

And McCain and Palin just met, something like not more than two weeks before? Bizarre.

I liked Obama prior to his speech the other night, but now I love him. He's sincere, brilliant, and has heart. If you haven't heard it, please, do so now. Here's a link. Or read it here. But what you don't get with the printed version is the sincerity of the man. Obama is awesome. And he writes his own speeches: Imagine!

I didn't dislike McCain before; I just wasn't going to vote for him. But now he seems like a major idiot, someone who's seriously losing his marbles. And should he lose his life while in office, Palin would be president? That's truly scary. Even my brilliant Republican friends, whom I love, can't think this is a good idea. Can they?

Ergh. My friend Marrie says truth is stranger than fiction and she is so right. It's scarier than fiction, too.

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am ashamed to say this but I've always wondered what affect six years in a VC prison camp might do to a person's mind. Now I know.
j.

Nicole Nelson said...

Some are saying that at least as much as a bid for the Hilary voters, the Palin move was an attempt to secure the votes of ultra-conservative Republicans. She's to the right of Bush!

And have you heard the rumor out there that her "fifth" child was actually her grandchild, the baby of her 16-year-old daughter? (Strictly rumor status, but stranger than fiction for sure; the "evidence" is pretty interesting!)

Anonymous said...

Furthermore, it pains me to say this, but could McCain actually be the Manchurian Candidate?
j.

Anonymous said...

Did you read the NY Times this morning? They ran a piece on this issue. It mirrors a lot of what Barbara says here. As for the truth being stranger than fiction part....that's why I take a lot of what happens to me in my everyday life and weave it into my stories! I wish I was creative enough to come up w/some of the stuff I've seen and heard throughout my lifetime.

Anonymous said...

Hey Babs,

It has been a long time, hasn't it?

When ABC News interrupted Good Morning America’s last half hour for breaking news, I stopped my morning routine, standing still in curious anticipation. My mood quickly soured to dismay, then anger at McCain’s good old boy insult to modern women.

Did John McCain really think we women would follow him to the edge of the cliff like lemmings simply because we have the same internal plumbing as Sarah-Who-Palin?

I can only imagine how this is being played on the international stage. If the last eight years under the buffoonery of George W hasn’t convinced our allies and enemies the Republicans are out of touch with reality—this surely will.

It is quite fitting, however, in this day and age of instant celebrity, reality shows, and YouTube where the untrained, untalented, and unvetted become famous. And for what?

Sarah Palin is the American Idol candidate of the Republican Party, plucked from obscurity to center stage of American Politics.

I can’t wait for the debates to begin. The only thing missing will be Randy, Paula, and Simon.

Marrie said...

I love this morning's announcement that Palin's 17 year old unwed daughter is five months pregnant. Not that there would be anything wrong with that in normal circumstance, but considering her mother's supposed views on this type of thing . . . . We're only 3 days in and the hypocrisy is already spreading on thick.

At least it dispels the rumor that her five month old Down’s syndrome child isn't actually her grandchild.

Is this an election or a bad episode of Jerry Springer?

If I were more of a cynical conspiracy nut, I'd suspect McCain of planning Gustav to avoid looking like a fool at the convention. Ha!

Nicole Nelson said...

Another rumor, excuse me for that, but this one is too rich not to mention. Supposedly she may have been a member of an Alaska secession movement that she evidently addressed as governor... Did they vet this woman at all?

Anonymous said...

Barbara ... You are a good writer and teacher ... but wrong on politics. McCain knew it was time for a woman to be chosen to serve as President or VP of the USA. He chose Palin because she is qualified to lead and serve, will bring a real change to Washington DC, and will be the best VP candidate and to help him win the election.
Harrison

Robin Lemke said...

I think there's another way to look at it. Take the fact that she's a female off the table - McCain just got his base back. I watched James Dobson on tv cheering for Palin - Dobson was going to sit this election out and many, many of those who respect him were also. McCain got those votes, and was able to stay true to himself by choosing someone with that reformer, maverick personality that he has.

I think it was a pretty cool move that I didn't see coming.

And I'm a Democrat. ;)

Just another angle to see it from.

Anonymous said...

Glad this topic has prompted so many responses. And Harrison, do back up your feelings with facts, please. (And who are you, by the way? You seem to know me....)

Anonymous said...

Take a look at Sarah Palin's bio! I think she has a lot more to offer than being a moose hunter. She should not be a slap in the face to anyone wanting women to be recognized for who they are and what they've done.

Besides, she's always been proud to be an american...unlike Michelle Obama....or did we forget about her comments recently on that subject.

LUKE...

Anonymous said...

It pains me to say this, but I suddenly feel attracted to Sarah; to protect her; to shield her and defend her against this awful burden that has befallen her in our country's time of need. She's a babe.
j.

Anonymous said...

Exactly, J....you nailed it....She's a babe! Chosen because she's a babe, meant to attract all the conservative, frustrated men who need a babe to balance out McCain's anemic demeanor! Why not have a babe in office, a Vogue cover girl? We've had actors as president and governor, we've had closet homosexuals, we've had male babes and male ditz jobs. Now it's time for a babe as VP, so when McCain pops off, we'll have somebody pretty to gaze upon (even if she votes down sex education in the schools and then wants to keep it hush hush that her daughter is pregnant). Sure, a babe! Why not? This is America, after all!

Anonymous said...

YES, BARBARA, YES!
j.

Anonymous said...

Given the number of women at the St. Louis rally wearing "Democrats for McCain" shirts, your fears might have some foundation.

Certainly 4 of 5 Hillary supporters are more loyal to ideology than stoked about being eight years away from a female president. (See also Clarence Thomas, Condi Rice, and Alberto Gonzalas.)

But... given the current polls... twenty percent of Hillary voters may be all it takes to put this election out of reach for the Dems.

I don't think you need to worry about Irvine or California, Barbara. I'm pretty sure your 55 electoral votes (and the 31 votes from New York) will go blue even if Joseph Stalin's short-haired pointer tops the Dem ticket.

The rest of us dweebies out here in fly-over country? We see Palin as Reagan in a skirt: Great communicator with center-right values. Reasonable, but not a wingnut.

I was going to vote Obama. Sometimes you need 4 years of Jimmy Carter to remind people of why Reagan was such a great president. Sometimes four years of a bad president are better than eight years of a mediocre president.

But I'll suffer eight years of Mediocre McCain in order to groom Reagan in a skirt for the job.

I understand why you aren't stoked. 16 more years of the opposition party in the white house is a long time.

We'll see. It's going to be a barn burner.

Anonymous said...

It pains me to say this, but could dwight be right?!
j.

Anonymous said...

Well, I don't even know where I fit into this mix, but here goes.....

Former liberal, now a pretty conservative gal. However, I don't get whipped up over much that the Republican party holds dear.

Maybe I'm more of a libertarian at times, more of a liberal at times. Maybe it just depends on the moon or my cycle :)

Palin's lack of experience does unnerve me somewhat, but as charismatic as Obama is, and let's face it, he oozes it, I don't want him to be my president.

My biggest concern in this concern is the threat of radical Islam. That's it. They scare the hell out of me.

Obama thinks the threat is not as serious as we imagine it to be.....in fact, I think he and John Lennon "imagine" a world that is utopian and unrealistic.

All that to say, darn it, I came to your blog because I want to learn how to become a better writer. And here we are talking politics?

Shoot me.

Anonymous said...

Ha--yes, politics does sometimes find its way into this blog. But hey, read yesterday's post on the short story/novel form and you'll forget all about politics--for a time, anyway.

Anonymous said...

Well, while I have your attention, let me tell you, I love your book "Pen on Fire"

Excellent resource and it's inspiring me a lot. Lots of freestyling going on around here these days. :)

I may sign up for some of your online classes.

Anonymous said...

Thank you! Hope to see you at Gotham or UCI...

Facebanned said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Ok, that's it. I see in your profile that you love jazz & blues.

I don't care what your politics are, I'm in. ;)

Louisiana gal, born and bred. We cut our teeth on the blues and well, at 51, I just can't shake them from my bones.

I no longer live in the delta, but you can take the girl out of the delta, but you can't take the delta out of her.

So tell me, would that be the Chicago blues, the Memphis blues, the Delta blues, the Texas blues?

Anonymous said...

To all those who didn't catch my sarcasm (including Barbara)I am not now nor have I ever been a Republican.
j.

Anonymous said...

Glad you said that "J", cause I totally missed it........(not)

Well? Can you flaming liberals at least give the girl props for coming out and staring her accusers down?

Oh, come on, don't tell you you didn't watch it!

Anonymous said...

McCain/Palin is a nightmarish, upside down, perverted, noir Capra film. Somebody please wake me up.
j.