The Masculinization of Sarah Palin: She Hunts, She Fishes and She Rides a Harley

Gender really does not matter to me. I am not attracted to men who shoot animals or lie either.

Seems to me that she's a Pottsylvanian spy. Otherwise she wouldn't have such a strong interest in moose and squirrel.

Very interesting article. The GOP is certainly using her to fill their male fantasies! First, Rush Limbaugh declares "we've got a hottie on the ticket." Now, they show her in all her rustic glory. Can a woman get any more desirable to the GOP male fantasy? If only she'd appear on the cover of "Maxim" in a skimpy outfit, she'd have the election locked up.

LOL, Christine. Actually she is going to be the fold-out in "Field & Stream".

I am reading Ms. palin as a power freak and absolutely the LAST thing this country needs more of.

My take on Sarah Palin is just exactly what Priscilla P. said. And worse than this, is the fact she doesn't know enough about international politics.

I have heard some very, very nasty rhetoric as a result of the story coming out about her comments on the Jews and their troubles in the Middle East. Very disturbing. Nazism is not dead in America. It seems to have filtered into mainstream America.

The draft being enacted is a cause for concern, and it will have to be enacted if we try to have any more wars with anymore countries. I always thought diplomacy was supposed to be for trying to get peaceful solutions. Threatening other countries and stomping our feet just does not seem to be very diplomatic to me.

My major surprise about all this is that she has been proven to have lied on a number of occasions. Why would anyone trust her not to lie if she becomes Vice President, or are we just so accustomed to being lied to that it is deemed okay. It is not okay to me.

Oh, and Carla, I forgot. We are being cajoled, bribed, insulted, sweet-talked, everything. We've even been told to just sit this election out if we can not vote for McCain. Being the only Democrats in the family is like being a criminal now. My daughter was actually asked what God she actually worshiped. As if she is a traitor and a non-christian. This has gotten very ugly. I just will not answer the phone when the call is from relatives. My daughter answers and then cries or goes ballistic at the things that are said to her.

Lynn, I really do understand. I'm facing this in my own family as well. Stay strong.

Lord-a-mercy, Lynn and Carla. That bad? You both have my sympathies.

My family doesn't discuss religion when we get together. Four generations under one roof encompasses Southern Baptists, Presbyterians (USA and PCA varieties), Mormons, Methodists, Lutheran, Muslim and agnostic.

Politics is a different matter. In that, at least for this election, we are united. Democrats, one and all. Y'all are both welcome to visit anytime.

Hugs!

Thanks, Linda B. It's sad when these so-called Christians become vicious and full of hate. It used to be that people just agreed to disagree and it didn't matter who you voted for. But now Republican families are ostracizing their very own flesh and blood because they choose to vote Democratic. And their preachers are actually condoning it. It has become a religious campaign and a fight against evil, according to some I have spoken with, who actully heard the "battle call". Disturbing and frightening.

Carla, When you said vicious and full of hate, you could not have said it better. My daughter actually told me she could not believe her grandmother would love the Republican party more than her on flesh and blood. The wounds from this election will carry far into the future. And they are getting this in their church.

Wow, I guess I'm lucky. I haven't recieved any of those emails...or insults from my family. My heart goes out to those of you who have to put up with that. I remember the good old days (really not so long ago), when who you voted for was none of anyone's damn business. I guess that would be the whole point of the curtain on the booth.

I wonder if Sarah has better aim than Dick.

Anyway... I just really, really hope that the american public is not as stupid as the republicons think we are.

Funny, I just went through some of this today at MY birthday party with my family and friends. I'm sorry to say fear mongering is alive and well in America. There's really nothing you can say to change a bigot.....well, except for arguing, and that doesn't help anything.

Some people just won't agree to disagree. The misconceptions and generalizations are unbelievable. I don't understand how they think they will change someone's mind with insults.

My immediate family knows better than to get me started on politics; however, an old "friend of the family" loves to taunt me and usually I try not to engage him....but it's so impossible to bite your tongue when you're hearing racial and religious prejudice being spewed all over the place.

Gosh, Patty, I'm so sorry to hear this. How sad. Today should be a happy day for you and not a day when you are attacked because of your political beliefs. My brother is a bigot too. Uses the n-word all the time. I had hoped that by now our country would have moved beyond that, but there is still that part of our population.... It sickens me. Hang in there Patty. You are among friends here.

Since when are hunting, fishing and riding a Harley limited to males? If Sarah was male, would anyone care about her hobbies?
Today's polls show McCain leading by a generous margin, which is credited to Obama's slanderous attacks on Sarah Palin. These things have a way of coming around to bite one, it seems.

Slanderous, Jan? They would have to be lies to be slanderous--and they're not. The truth eventually comes out. And it is. Just you watch.

What about Palin's slanderous attacks on Obama? Not to mention the nasty, biting sarcasm she uses in her speeches. I think someone in that position should be able to express a different point of view without being so rude about it. Is that how she will speak to other world leaders when they disagree with her?
BTW, hunting, fishing, Harley riding, etc. are completely irrelevant. They are something ANY woman can do... no one is asking about her hobbies, they are being paraded about as though they matter. What they should be talking about is what makes her special, what sets her apart. They have nothing, so they show her hunting as though it is a big deal. My mom hunts too, so does my (female) cat. Are they qualified to be VP?

Her hunting doesn't bother me. Neither does her membership in the NRA. What scares me is that she looks like a deer in the headlights when it comes to policies of this country. Is she qualified to be VP? No. Jenn D's cat would make a better VP than Sarah (Eye Candy) Palin!

It has become a religious campaign

(Move over Reverend Wright, you're nothing compared to this.)

Sarah Palin: Dominionist Stalking Horse

The Despoiling of America: How George W. Bush became the head of the new American Dominionist Church/State

"RobertsonÂ’s act [resigned his position as President of the Christian Coalition] was symbolic, but it carried a secret and solemn revelation to the faithful. It was the signal that the Bush administration was a government under God that was led by an anointed President who would be the first regent in a dynasty of regents awaiting the return of Jesus to earth. The President would now be the minister through whom God would execute His will in the nation. George W. Bush accepted his scepter and his sword with humility, grace and a sense of exultation.

As Antonin Scalia, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court explained a few months later, the Bible teaches and Christians believe “… that government …derives its moral authority from God. Government is the ‘minister of God’ with powers to ‘revenge,’ to ‘execute wrath,’ including even wrath by the sword…”[3]"

I can spell republican- S-H-I-T-F-O-R-B-R-A-I-N-S

Since when is a 3 point lead "generous?"


Lea- Don't go. We have to fight for OUR country. We need you.

LOL @ Mugg. No points for spelling but 100 for making me laugh.

As Mayor of Wasilla, Palin Cut Own Duties, Left Trail of Bad Blood

Sandy, thanks for getting this out there. Most people aren't aware of Palin's Dominionist ties. And it is scary, very scary.

And David, thanks for the link. Palin leaves blood wherever she goes. The link to the web sigtht that shows her sitting on a sofa with the carcass of a bear draped across it (complete with the head) really upset my stomach. Trophies. And we all will become her trophies if she gets elected.

Wolves have been killed in Alaska way before Gov. Palin was in office. It's called predator control.

"Wolves and bears are very effective and efficient predators on caribou, moose, deer and other wildlife. In most of Alaska, humans also rely on the same species for food. In Alaska's Interior, predators kill more than 80 percent of the moose and caribou that die during an average year, while humans kill less than 10 percent. In most of the state, predation holds prey populations at levels far below what could be supported by the habitat in the area. Predation is an important part of the ecosystem, and all ADF&G wolf management programs, including control programs, are designed to sustain wolf populations in the future." http://www.wc.adfg.state.ak.us/index.cfm?adfg=wolf.control

I just wish more people cared about unborn babies as much as they seem to care about the conservation of these predators.

Lera, use the link that I provided. This is a fallacy.

I just wish more people would stick to a topic once in a while instead of whining about things that have never happened (products of conception are NOT unborn babies any more than Lera's period was an unborn baby).

Patty B., I heard an interesting discussion on CNN a few minutes ago. In a panel discussion of religion, race, and gender, this question was asked of the panelists: "Is bigotry a sin?"

I wonder what the answer would be if some people of faith who say they are not racist did some serious soul searching.

The misconceptions are running rampant because the negative attack ads, and Palin's pick as vice president, are intentionally re-igniting the culture wars.

Won't it be refreshing to have someone in the White House who can bring people together toward positive change? We need Barack Obama now more than ever!

I have to say those hunting ads -- which are NOT, but the way, produced by Barack Obama or his campaign, Jan -- are revolting and uncalled for. We have enough to talk about with McCain's record of voting with George Bush 91% of the time, his ill-conceived economic ideas, and his risky behavior with regard to foreign relations.

I wonder what the answer would be if some people of faith who say they are not racist did some serious soul searching. I'm not convinced many of them have a soul. It seems they've sold those to the corrupt Republican Party, which I would consider the devil if I believed in such things.

Lisa, I have to think most religions would consider bigotry a sin.

~~and yes, the discussion I was having was with people who claim to be "religious, Christian" people! If anyone ever writes a Gather article on "How to Convert a Bigot," I'll be the first in line to read it!

~~back to the subject of this article: I've read some opinions in newspaper columns that Sarah Palin has connected with so many women because they perceive that she is "one of them" (soccer mom, etc. ). I have to say, I'm NOTHING like her!

First, I'm not a Mom. I'm a wonderful aunt and a tremendous great aunt, but not a Mom;

#2. I hate guns. Don't own one, never have. I've never shot and killed anything and don't plan to unless it's baring it's teeth and charging me.

#3. I was a vegetarian for a few years so don't even get me started about field dressing a moose. Never gonna' happen.

#4. I've never tried to get books banned at my local library. Hello??? you don't like the subject matter, don't check it out. Pretty simple, isn't it?

#5. I won't presume to tell other women what to do with their own bodies. I don't know exactly when life begins and neither does Sarah Palin. I do know the Bible says that Adam became a 'living soul' when God breathed the breath of life into him. I also know this question's been debated for centuries by all types of people. PLEASE! Let's not bring the federal government into our bedrooms and family planning decisions.

#6. I've had a passport for 20 years and have traveled internationally on several occasions. This probably gives me more foreign policy experience than Sarah Palin.

#7. Although some people have considered me attractive, I'm no (ex) beauty queen. However, I'm being an ex-beauty queen will be a tremendous asset if you're around John McCain very much.

#8. Although I grew up in a small town (pop. 5,000), I somehow managed not to become a narrow-minded, ultra-conservative, my-way or the highway kind of person. And lest anyone think I'm besmirching small towns, I'm not! It's just more difficult to obtain a "global view" if you have been somewhat sheltered all your life or haven't ventured out much beyond your little corner of the world.

#7, second sentence should read "However, being an ex-beauty queen..."

(Gather needs editing options for comments!)

Lera (and all conservatives, AND the government), please keep your nose out of my vagina.

I wanted to add one more thing about Sarah and how she might advocate for education. Despite the fact that her parents were teachers, both of her oldest children dropped out of high school. Track finished his GED only so that he would be able to join the military. I don't think education is very important to her. Well, she did manage to finish a semester at 5 different colleges.

And this woman is supposed to converse with national leaders about things that she hasn't even considered, contemplated or conversed?

Jenn, everytime I look at your post I burst out laughing, amazing!

Lera, I almost gag when I read your perspective on predator control, you read alaska fish and game excerpts and you're an expert. You need to come on up when they bring a gutshot wolf in on a plane. You should come around when someone becomes afraid of bears and shoots one that has to be tracked for hours and then usually dies a slow, miserable death. Let nature take care of it's own, you stay warm in your little house in the burbs.

Jenn, Joanne and Patty, I love you ladies! Thanks for so eloquently speaking out and saying what needs to be said.

Lisa and Sandy, you two are great too. Thanks for staying in there and speaking up.

Patty, I agree, you definitely have more foreign policy experience.

I do want to take up fly-fishing, someday. I think I'd feel safer with Joanne.

A new article from someone who knows her - "It confirmed, they said, that God was making use of Wasilla. "She will take our message to the world!" rejoiced an Assembly of God youth ministry leader, as the church band rocked the high-vaulted wooden building with its electric gospel."

I just posted that article, Sandy. Thanks for linking it.

ok, Joane, looks like someone better nominate me then!
~~by the way, I can also count to ten in German~~ and can say "Where's the bathroom" in Spanish.

Great article and great agreeing comments ...

Hey I speak spanish and russian and I took two semesters of middle eastern politics, can I head your foreign policy cabinet.

wow -- I think I'd better nominate YOU! let the vetting commence.

*****LONG PAUSE*****

OK, all done. You're good to go. I used the John McCain Exclusive VP Vetting Procedure.
(Oops, forgot a question: You're not a terrorist, are you?)