Pundits agree that the excitement around Sarah Palin has begun to "fade" for those who are not Christo-fascist extremists, but very few commentators actually analyze the whopping lies that she contnues to tell.
For some, the record of Palin's petty and vindictive vendettas against percieved enemies is all they need to dismiss any further consideration of this small-state wonder. Others have watched her nonsensical responses to questions from journalists, and recognize that Palin lacks greatly the depth required for the Vice-Presidency.
Only a few articles have actually dissected her claims to being a "major part of the energy solution for America".
A recent editorial by Dick Polman in the Philadelphia Inquirer reflects on Palin's repeated errors and lies.
"Populism Gone Wild: Palin Latest Example of Push To Mediocrity"
The editorial's main argument is that, with Palin, McCain continues the Bush policy of selecting inexperienced and inept functionaries to perform the administration of government.
Recalling the long list of unqualified party hacks who failed miserably in key administrative positions, Polma sees Palin as another example of choosing party orthodoxy over wisdom, skill, or experience.
But, Polman also calls the Palin camp on their continued lying about the role of Palin in energy.
On ABC News, Palin trumpeted the bogus fact that "Alaska produces nearly 20% of American energy". The federal government estimates the contribution from Alaska at 3.5%
Palin boasts in a stump speech that Alaska produces "nearly 20% of American oil and gas."
Wrong again.
Government data shows that 7.4 % of American oil and gas comes from Alaska.
The boasts about Alaska are not simply the pretensions of a naive and over-eager Governor, they are part of the "big lie" that Americans can consume the amounts of oil and gas that we currently consume and not buy from foreign sources.
McCain has repeatedly evaded this topic, suggesting in his remarks that Americans can drill our "own" oil.
But, even the most ambitious estimates of off-shore drilling production do not begin to match the 13 million of gallons of oil that Americans import each day.
Palin is slick and shrewd, but she is lying about the path to energy independence.
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Comments: 63
The woman won Alaska not by her popularity but by her opponents unpopularity.
She represents a very small number of people.
Alaska has one third the population of Manhattan.
Did Palin really claim that the earth was 5,000 years old or is that BS?
One of the outstanding factors in the early years of this "exploration of power" was that the media clearly reflected the issues, whether flattering or not, and the stands taken by both men and women, whether flattering or not. This sort of media scrutiny resulted in careful consideration of issues -- lest a direct quotation expose the prejudice or lack of awareness on the part of the speaker.
The media was not a "friend" to one side or the other but an impartial witness to the process. Of course, they were not completely innocent of skewing in one direction or another -- the reporters were human -- but in the newness of women on the political scene as participants, it was early enough to have everyone curious in what was actually happening.
Look how far we've come! The media is a complicit participant in party politics, blinders and all. They have decided, after 75 years, that all women have to offer the country is a bit of hollow eye candy -- nothing more than a magician's diversionary sidekick.
I would like to side-kick the media. Is there a forum where we can scream at the morons who won't do their job in reporting facts?
This is his 4th time running he couldnt even beat Bush.
I think the GOP knows that any repub after Bush doesnt stand a chance in heck of winning so they put poor ole McCain in the hot spot so as not to waste a real candidate....well OK I didnt come up with that theory until now but it sounds kind of good.
I have not seen a quote to that effect, lori, but few Creationists will say this point-blank.
Palin declares herself to be a Creationist, and these folks advocate teaching these beliefs in science classes.
You have to be a "true believer" of some kind, with the ability to "tune out" the cognitive dissonance, in order to support Republicans in ths election cycle.
Sadly, Dannielle, there are few ways to "speak back" to the mass media.
There are more ways to communicate "around them", however.
Sad, yes. Also, frightening.
Hooray, Margaret.
I grew up in Pennsylvania and used to read the Philadelphia Inquirer more regularly.
When I first heard the qualifications of "the woman from Alaska" I thought it was a joke...but then I soon realized it wasn't. Oh my goodness, what has happened to this country that a woman from Wasilla, with no background in diplomacy, world affairs, domestic affairs or anything else, would be nominated to be "a heartbeat away from the Presidency". Lunacy at it's best.
Talking to some of my Alaskan friends, Inuit I might add, they are embarrassed that she is representing their state on the national scene. "She doesn't represent us...she's in the pocket of Big Oil. Kiss the Arctic Wildlife Reserve goodby....and wolves, too. Aerial killing of wolves is fine by her.
" Kiss the Arctic Wildlife Reserve goodby....and wolves, too. Aerial killing of wolves is fine by her. "
Sadly true, elizabeth.
I ampleased to see that the enthusiasm for this smalll-minded twit has begun to abate.
When I looked for more info at the Discovery Institute site, I found the following article where they give the anti-abortionists and Palins credit for leading us to accept what most of us accepted in the 70's and they criticized. I just gets more disgusting everywhere I look. In short, I've found plenty that proves she is evangelical/dominionist and supports creationism - but nothing (so far) directly from her about 5,000 years. I think it's safe to trust that is her belief, but will keep looking for proof.
Sarah and Todd Palin and the Quiet Success of the Pro-Life Movement "The experience of the Palin family symbolizes the effect of the pro-life movement on American culture: Abortion has been made more rare; unwed motherhood has been normalized. However you feel about that outcome, it is not well-described as either left-wing or right-wing."
Palin seems to believe being female is enough to attract female voters to the GOP. It may be for some. However, there are those of us who are female who find her sense of who she is and who she says she is does not mesh.
Palin is authentic and she took on the corrupt powerful ( Alaskan AND DC ) Republican party establishment . She is also a skilled politician. The notion that she doesn't appeal to a large segment of the public is wrong.
What is scary is that she was chosen for McCain by a small but powerful religious right group who had been kept out of the election process until now. It is back to the culture wars of the 60's time but now the danger of a fascist state is much greater.
The powerful group who picked her for McCain are trouble.
This old study - a bit long- is relevant:
http://www.sott.net/articles/show/165994-The-Dominionism-Apostasy-The-Despoiling-of-America-by-Christianity-turned-Evil
Clarke, this was the exciting "myth" with which Palin burst on the national political scene.
There are numerous stories, including a good one here on Gather (I will have to hunt for the link) that include more ambiguous and contradictory details.
I do not believe that anyone comes out of a one-party machine such as Alaska enjoys wth "clean hands" (or a "pure heart" ).
Never fear, GREMS, I write on political topics when I become sufficiently roused about the devastation of our national life.
My political writing does tend to offend and alienate some of the folks who enjoy the vintage postcards.
Perhaps I should adopt an alter.
A: Palin is an attention hound. She has always liked being the center of attention and its not going to stop here.
B: People that like her have refused to acknowledge that she lies. Its Bush syndrome all over again but this time Bush has handed the puppet strings over to McCain/Palin.
I fear that you are right, Bryan.
Clarke, this was the exciting "myth" with which Palin burst on the national political scene.
>>>>
Forget the media crap. The fact is she took on big oil and the poltical establishment .
She is a creature of Big Oil, Ruth.
But, you would know that just from hearing Palin repeat the lies about drilling.
More sentimental myth-making, and a load of crap.
She seized the opportunity to run against a corrupt boss. That was a smart move.
She did nothing to reform the deeply-entrenched corruption in Alaska. Her much-touted opposition to earmarks has already been exposed as a fraud.
Just wait until the Don Stevens trial begins. His entire defense will be "it was business as usual".
I don't know how you can translate Palin's (and the hunting public's) concern about flow control to "taking on big oil".
I would love to read about Palin's "taking on big oil".
a friend sent me this today, i got a laugh outta this for sure! ------below
Since Palin gave her speech accepting the Republican nomination for the Vice Presidency, Barack Obama's campaign has raised over $10 million dollars. Some of you may already be supporting the Obama campaign financially; others of you may still be a little honked off over the primaries. None of you, however, can be happy with Palin's selection, especially on her positions on women's issues.
So, if you feel you can't
support the Obama campaign financially, may I suggest the following fiendishly brilliant alternative?
Make a donation to Planned Parenthood. In Sarah Palin's name. And here's the good part: when you make a donation to PP in her name, they'll send her a card telling her that the donation has been made in her honor.
Here's the link to the Planned Parenthood website:
http://www. plannedparenthood. org/
You'll need to fill in the address to let PP know where to send the "in Sarah Palin's honor" card.
I suggest you use the address for the McCain campaign headquarters, which is:
McCain for President
1235 S.
Clark Street
1st Floor
Arlington , VA 22202
Feel free to send this along to all your friends and urge them to do the same.
http://www.sott.net/articles/show/165994-The-Dominionism-Apostasy-The-Despoiling-of-America-by-Christianity-turned-Evil
I love it, Donna.
What a splendid way to "talk back".
I believe that this has already begun to occur, Debra.
Exactly, Wil.
I recalll the wonderful comment you made, which was removed by the thin-skinned whiner in Arkansas, that you tried not to make decisions about candidates based on fears of an Assyrian invasion. (In reference to a desperate attempt to link Obama to the ancient enemies of Israel).
Luddites, right? or were they against Technology? And, can they tell the difference, anyway?
I think there is another layer of difficulty here, Dannielle.
They are not anti-technology in the sense that the Luddites opposed machines because they displaced workers.
The argument of the extreme Christian Right is with the sources of power and authority, especially authority, in the modern secular world.
Their reasoning follows roughly a line like this:
People are not paying attention to God
God is no longer seen as the originator and the mover of all human events,
Science has robbed him of His unique role in Creation
In making personal decisions, people look for empirical data instead of asking "What does God want?"
(It is hard for secular-minded people to understand how it grates upon fundamentalists to hear discussion of homosexuality turn on "the findings of science")
There is an enormous revolt against medical (scientific) interaction with child-birth. One of the things that many fundamentalists want to outlaw is in vitro fertalization - if God wants you to have baby, you will have one.
and, there is a growing fundamentalism that accepts the Roman Catholic opinion that contraception is part of the "culture of deah".
Again, the decision s not left to "science", but should rest in God's hands.
One of the freakiest things going on in the Bush administration is the continuous assault on contraception.
"The Pill Kills" is the slogan among the anti-science right.
Dannielle Spoon Archer Palin S., Sep 21, 2008, 3:37pm EDT
It's an interesting theory, that's for sure. I don't know though. If they really believed that McCain didn't stand a chance, why then are they dumping so much money and other resources into his campaign? The polls still have this thing neck and neck and we're down under 50 days to the vote.
I think they have every intention of making sure that McCain / Palin get their ticket into the White House on November 4th.
Voter caging, anticipated voting irregularity and a totally vile and loathsome campaign... I think they are pulling out all the stops.
Do you think that Palin was their October surprise or can we expect something much worse within the next week or two?
There you go again, Dannielle. Looking at scientific projections instead of thinking about God.
Do you think that Palin was their October surprise or can we expect something much worse within the next week or two? "
Oh, I have no doubt that the campaign will get meaner and nastier in the next five weeks.
I certainly hope one of the good guys is planning a systematic review of McCain's criminality in the Savings and Loan debacle.
If Republicans dominate government for eight years, you will have a huge recession.
Happened with Reagan, happened again with Bush.
Please pretend that you can't see it.
Unfortunately, they are against the Constitution and fear citizens having rights.
I say NO Bailout......NO WAY!
just sickening
I believe that you are correct, Ron,
These witless Republican Neo-Cons must be taught real fear of the people.
I wish to God that all the rascals would be turned out en masse.
I'm with you, Aniko.
I believe that there are plans of escalating deceit should McCain flounder in the polls.
So true.
These people don't seem to understand anything about this country. The oath of office is to protect the Constitution, not keep us from all harm. One is possible; the other is not.
I believe that there are plans of escalating deceit should McCain flounder in the polls. I agree, which is why I keep encouraging people to support McCain in polls.
There were other references to unqualified party hacks appointed to ky positions, also!
:-)
It is hard to over-estimate the damage done to this country by the failed Bush administration, APE.