The Sarah haters have spent the weekend villifying the announcement of Gov. Sarah Palin that she is leaving her position as Governor at the end of the month. Many say she has ended her political career, while others say it is a “true Sarah” move!
Seems to me that Gov. Kathleen Sebellius left her post in Kansas before her term ended. Janet Napolitano left Arizona. Rahm Emanuel was re-elected by his district in Illinois on November 4th, 2008, and days later became the Secretary of State.
But, then again, they are Democrats!
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July 6, 2009 at 7:20 pm
AKBarbie
Support Sarah!
July 6, 2009 at 11:56 pm
stothes
That’s a little bit of an apples to oranges comparison. All of those people mentioned were appointed to cabinet level positions, they didn’t just resign without explanation from government after a strange press conference of colloquialisms and sports metaphors.
But yes, I’ll agree that this is a “true Sarah” move, since it’s just another addition to her habit of early resigations. She resigned as mayor of Wasilla before her term was up. Then she resigned from the petroleum board ethics panel before her term was up. And now she’s resigning as governor of Alaska before her term is up.
July 7, 2009 at 5:17 am
JAMES
I am looking at this move in an open-minded way. It is not quite apples and oranges, because each of those people were elected for a job by their constituents. If the media and political hacks are going to say that Palin failed to fulfill what she was elected to do, the same applies to the others, even if they were tapped for other appointmentd– the principle is the same. I had not heard that Palin had resigned as Mayor, and I know that to run for Governor, she had to resign from the petroleum board. Some states or municipalities will not permit one to be in one position and running for another…. depends on the laws and charters.
July 7, 2009 at 5:20 am
JAMES
One thing for sure, it will be interesting to watch.
On another note, all politicians know the political fighting that they must endure, but in Palin’s case, the attacks moved beyond her to her children, and no matter what the circumstances, the media and bloggers crossed the line. Even as much as George Bush was hated, the media only lightly touched on his daughters (college partying, etc.)– nothing like thye have done to Palin’s children.
July 7, 2009 at 1:04 pm
stothes
James,
Sleazy attacks on the kids aren’t unique to just Sarah Palin. Remember all the awful things that were said about Chelsea Clinton? Or Mary Cheney?
July 7, 2009 at 3:25 pm
JAMES
Actually, if you look at attacks on political children, you will find Palin’s have been far worse than any. Additionally, the word was put out that “Chelsea” was off limits, and the press basically honored that request. Mary Cheney chose an alternative lifestyle, and even the attacks on Mary Cheney did not go to the Palin level. Relating Willow Palin at 14 in a joke about Elliott Spitzer is crossing the line, and then doctoring a picture of Gov. Palin’s son Trig to have a distorted face is not only tasteless and pathetic, it is outright cruel. Even Mary Cheney would acknowledge the difference in attacks on her for her choices as opposed to attacks on Trig Palin for something beyond his control.
July 7, 2009 at 2:27 pm
mrje
I think Palin is communicating (very well) that she believes that SHE has become a (local) DISTRACTION for the business of Alaskan’s.
The media circus and frivilous law suits, has caused the state to spend a couple of million of dollars, defending her (sucessfully), as well as 1/2 a million bucks out of her own pocket….
THUS, she has not been working for her constituents since August 2008… not spending TAX DOLLARS wisely.
Doesn’t anyone care about THAT?
PLUS, she is NOT RICH… she now owes a wad of money that could bankrupt her family… all because of the obamanuts who are frightened of her popularity.
A book and speaking tours could help her personally (financially)… WHAT’S WRONG WITH THAT?
It is both refreshing and honorable, that she moves aside so the citizens of Alaska can get “the job done”, and curtailing their Govenor’s “expenses”. She has become a financial liability in her state.
Our deceptive, talking-two-sides-of-their-mouth “press” and politicians, just cannot believe the FACE truth of this matter.
Combine the above with the mind-twisted commentary regarding her family… she has done the right thing.
As far as Chelsea and Cheney are concerned, the media abuse was short lived… and SQUASHED.
….and I don’t remember the press tracking them down to a remote fishing area to get a comment from their parents.
July 7, 2009 at 11:42 pm
stothes
Those are perfectly acceptable reasons for her to bow out. So, why didn’t she just state those reasons instead of all the cryptic metaphors and allusions? Why not just say, “Hey, we’re a normal middle class family that can’t afford these frivolous lawsuits and I don’t have the time, money, or energy to deal with all this dumb crap anymore.”
But, that’s not what she did. Instead she held one of the most ridiculous press conferences that I’ve ever burdened my ears with.
I’m a conservative too. Not a social conservative, but a fiscal conservative and an intellectual conservative. Goldwater, Taft, and Buckley must be rolling in their graves if Sarah Palin is the spokesperson of modern conservatism.
July 7, 2009 at 11:03 pm
stothes
James,
How has Palin been more vilified? Can you provide examples other than the chattering class of bloggers and comedians? I’ve yet to see a Senator smear Palin the way John McCain did to Chelsea Clinton. I’ve yet to see a former ambassador call Bristol Palin a “selfish hedonist” like Alan Keyes did to Mary Cheney.
And Mary Cheney didn’t CHOOSE anything. She’s a lesbian trying to live her life and was inadvertantly brought into a political battle because her father didn’t have the cajones to stand up to his bosses ignorant rhetoric. No one chooses to be gay. I can tell you that firsthand.
Sarah Palin hasn’t been victimized anymore than any other politician of her caliber. She just whines about it more.
July 8, 2009 at 5:35 am
mrje
Sometimes when normal people are in a whirlwind of life-changing events, they believe the whole world can see it.
For those closest to her, and those who have the ability to imagine what her life has been like for the last year, “we” understood exactly what Palin said.
Judging by many other media comments, either they are really stupid, or they really did not understand what she was saying. OR, they cannot imagine the affects THEY can have on someone’s life.
Mary Cheney is an adult and very few shared the opinions of those who bashed her…. plus, the liberal media was always on her side.
Actually, the media was bashing Dick Cheney, for being a conservative and having a lesbian daughter… somehow, they link this phenomenon to him as being hypocritical.
July 8, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Interested Bystander
Hey All,
Just a couple of thoughts.
The media has printed unsubstaniated stories about Palin having an affair, that Trig was actually Bristol’s baby, that Palin accepted 150 grand worth of clothes fro the GOP (which was given to charity if my memory is correct, and the media sure didn’t play that up now did they?), reported on the ethics charges brought against Palin (which every one has been found to be frivilous, and I haven’t heard much about THAT in the media), vilified her for EVERY interview she gave, and the list goes on and on.
The only conclusion a reasonable thinking person can come to is that the media is scared of Palin, and is trying to destroy her, which is just plain sad.
As far as being born gay, my opinion is that if you think people are born gay, then are people born to be pedophiles, and rapists, and born with the desire to have sex with animals, or born with wanting two partners and all of the other sexual “desires” that people have?
I find this hard to believe that people are born gay, it’s a choice that people make. Maybe gay people have some problem with their head or something, I don’t know, but I sure do know I’d like to rob a bank and live happily ever after, but I’m not going to do it because it is WRONG. Not because it’s against the law, but because it is wrong. I’m not suggesting that being gay is wrong, but what I am trying to do is suggest that it is a choice.
July 8, 2009 at 3:48 pm
mrje
Personally, I am confused if this is a choice, or if people are born this way. I lean toward “choice”.
All I know, is that I believe a person should not PUSH themselves on, or try to join a group, IF they do not meet certain criteria of the established group.
OR ELSE THEY ARE INFRINGING UPON OTHER PEOPLES RIGHT TO FORM A GROUP.
This is a fact of LIFE.
People SEEK to join groups of “like kind”. That is why we have groups… clubs…. organizations… the people who join, do so, to be surrounded by those who THINK THE SAME WAY, BELIEVE the same way.
American’s should be allowed to do this.
However, some PEOPLE just want to INTRUDE on a group, to make a point… or try to prove a point of prejudice…. “they won’t let me in so they are bigots”.
We (USA) allow all sorts of groups to have their “own” organizations and even television stations… I would not PUSH to be a regular participant on BET (Black Entertainment Television). I would not choose to be part of a Korean Protestant Church.
I’ve lived all over the world and RESPECT our differences and learn from everyone…. And I have found that MOST foreigners and those of OTHER minority groups, are OPEN to share their differences with me… I can learn and use details that I find good or useful, OR, I can choose to reject their ideas. Nobody gets offended… Everybody learns.
I would never PUSH to join a gay/lesbian dating service. Nor, would I attempt to infringe upon any other minority group… just to “join”, to make the point of being “equal”.
I believe that if gay/lesbian groups want to have the same rights as married folks, then they can fight for the rights… but not for the TITLE of being MARRIED.
I believe that this “title” is reserved ONLY for one man and one woman… period. Most of our society agree with my decision.
IB, you are a brave person to reveal your hear-felt feelings here… be prepared for a myriad of other type of comments that twist your words and feelings.
I understand, completely, what you are saying here… However, you and I may NEVER agree to join the same group(s)… right?
July 8, 2009 at 3:48 pm
stothes
IB,
The MSM didn’t report on the affair or that ridiculous Trig story. Those were bloggers like Andrew Sullivan reporting that hot trash. Those people aren’t the media. The MSM did report on Sarah’s expensive wardrobe, because it’s a valid point to the recurring theme of GOP hypocrisy. She was touring the country acting folksy and talking about Joe 6-pack while the GOP had her all dolled up in clothes that cost more than most families make in a month. This criticism wasn’t unique to Palin. The media also criticized McCain for not knowing how many homes he had and for wearing overpriced Italian loafers. Alot of people like myself see these things as valid criticisms because the GOP have this tired schtick of trying to portray themselves as a salt of the earth crowd while vilifying the Democrats as elitists. They’re ALL wealthy elitists, so it’s good that we have a media that calls them out on it. And those clothes of Palin’s were eventually sent to charity, but it wasn’t until months later after Huffington Post reported that the clothes had been sitting in bags outside a GOP office.
And you can have whatever opinions you want about homosexuality, but your views are nothing but opinion and speculation. If you’re not gay then you don’t know. In my previous post I just said that I can tell you firsthand it’s not a choice just as any other gay person will tell you the same thing. Instead, you chose to form your own opinion of the personal lives of law-abiding taxpaying adult citizens with a sexual preference different than your own by comparing them to pedophiles, criminals, and rapists and suggesting that they have a mental disorder.
July 8, 2009 at 4:22 pm
JAMES
When the Huffington Post and Daily Kos are in attendance at White House Press conferences, and when the Obama campaign uses the Daily Kos to release the President’s alleged birth certificate, it is beyond “bloggers” dispensing the information. The Trig comments were a part of the Huffington Post. With regard to homosexuality, the research is almost equally split on nature versus nurture. I will state that I believe that there is a group of the population where it is nature, but in growing numbers, it is now becoming a choice, diminishing the nature argument. No, am not gay, but of those I know who are, 80 % are by choice! Furthermore, I have in no way compared any gay taxpayer to pedphiles, criminals (alothough it is against the laws of nature), rapists or any such. As far as mental disorder, if you state that it is nature, then it is a disorder, as it had been classified by the APA. If someone wants to pursue that lifestyle, that is fine. I just don’t need to see it at the beach or in the park, and I do not need to explain to my six year old why two men are cuddling in the doorways of a store in the mall.
Abraham Lincoln knew that despite his inclinations toward the same sex, he married and had four children. Every culture since Adam and Eve has had a ritual of marriage for one man and one woman, and in every culture you will find that the concept of homosexuality was deemed wrong. This is not an American thing or a religious thing… it is a basic law of nature.
Does that mean that I value your opinion any less? Absolutely not. Do I think it diminishes your contribution to our society? No.
Regarding Sarah Palin…. this will be a “wait and see” story as it unfolds. The polls are showing that she has not yet affected her future possibilities, but polls are fickle.
July 8, 2009 at 4:51 pm
mrje
The BLOGS are rapidly becoming the MSM… while they may be considered a minority TODAY… I give it 2 years and they will be considered the MSM…
and it may be that those who hold the “ownership” of certain sites or writings, will be rated for their UNbiased reportings, OR BIASED reportings.
AND there will be “groups” that “join” those sites that relate to the public.
It is the way of the future. OR ARE WE THERE ALREADY?
So DISmissing the blogesphere for “its” remarks, as if people do not consider them a source of “opinion makers”, is no longer a valid justification, since we are now on the cusp of changing our media…
Until someone decides to CHANGE it again.
I fear MORE that could happen.
July 8, 2009 at 5:00 pm
mrje
You should know that there is always a budget for wardrobe in almost any occasion where a powerful group, wants to put forward the image of their “doll”. Especially in politics…
THIS is precisely what those did NOT hear from the msm… They chose to make it a speciality and it worked (for the most part).
Just like those GRADES we ALL waited patiently to come out (from DC)… Our national banks being audited for their viability… OOOOO OHHHHHH AHHHHHH… we all waited for the results.
NO ONE told us that these “tests” are conducted on a regular basis… almost MONTHLY, by the FDIC.
The msm WON this battle, because of our ignorance.
July 8, 2009 at 5:37 pm
stothes
James,
How is it against nature? Homosexuality is widespread in the animal kingdom. If a species were driving itself to extinction because of homosexuality then that would be a valid point, but humans (or any other species)aren’t and have never been in any danger of going extinct because of homos.
Your historical argument seems a little strange. The original concept of marriage was not one man and one woman. It was one man with multiple women with the wives being subservient to the wills of their husband. I don’t think most western women would be willing to going back to that tradition anytime soon. Traditional marriage also used to be arranged without regard to love. Should we go back to that as well? Most of the old traditions regarding love and marriage have been modified to modern standards, so I don’t understand why people always point back to the days of old for same sex couples.
When you talk about Honest Abe, what are you saying? Are you implying that gay people should just suck it up and lead a hetero-normative life to appease society so that no one in the mainstream is offended? That’s bs, James. This is America and I’m of the opinion that people should be able to live their lives as they see fit, true to themselves, as long as it doesn’t infringe on anyone’s life, liberty, or pursuit of happiness.
Mrje,
I get what you’re saying. And you and IB are both entitled to your opinion. Just like I’m entitled to my rant as well. I’m not trying to downgrade anyone here. I appreciate that JAMES lets me bitch and moan without censoring me, but I’m pretty passionate about this issue because it’s something I’ve had to battle since I was a fifteen year old kid that decided to be open and honest about who I was. It’s something I’m passionate about because I’ve had to fight both physically and mentally for over half my life because I chose to real about the person I truly am. I’m no different than anyone else…I just want to have a good life with my family, make a decent living, and hopefully retire with a little slice of the American pie. I’ve been with the same person in a monogamous relationship for almost six years now. You may not consider it normal, but I do. If someone was equating your relationship to bestiality, rape, and pedophilia then I’m sure you would take offense too. I’m just saying…
July 8, 2009 at 6:31 pm
JAMES
OK… I don’t want to put us in the same class as the animals in the wild. Without any disrespect, I use the concept of “male-female” as we have in “nuts and bolts” and other parts situations. Call an auto parts supplier for certain parts, and they’ll ask you if you want the male or female part. Doesn’t that kind of put t all into perspective. I did say that I think some gays are that by nature, but more and more, that is not the case. Listen to the comments of todays teenagers………… choice is becoming “stylish”.. “the “in” thing!. In the 60’s and 70’s, it was “free love”, today, it’s “same sex” love. I do not consider you or your significant other as 2nd class citizens. Don’t consider your comments as “Bitch and moan” because you ae entitled to your view and to defend it, and you also respond to the opposing view with the same respect. While I may not approve of your arrangement, it is yours. I do not support gay marriage for the simple reason that marriage is a relationship between one man and one woman. If a couple chooses to live together without the bonds of marriage, that is their decision, and a see a same-sex relationship as the same scenario. In today’s times, in order to protect assets, etc., perhaps civil unions should be recognized, if a state so desires. However, even if they are not, gay couples can legally protect each other with proper documentation, including their living wills and health directives.
I am not saying that the mainstream should be appeased. I am saying that, in my opinion, the mainstream should not be made to conform to appease the alternative lifestyle. That does not mean to discriminate against it in employment or housing, but at the same tie, it should not be taught in school to second graders in their reading books.
July 8, 2009 at 6:43 pm
JAMES
And Stothes, as a husband I am happy that I got to choose my beautiful and loving wife, but, with levity, as a Dad, I would like to be a strong supporter of “arranged” marriages!
July 8, 2009 at 5:49 pm
mrje
I thoroughly respect what you are saying. And I missed the part that you were “ranting”. MY point is that we are all free, to do no harm AND belong to our own groups, without being labeled bigots in one way or another. I did not think you were downgrading anyone here; and I think it is great that you accept us the way we are. Thanks.
Keep your patience nearby as most of us (both of us) have beliefs that cannot be changed, but it does not mean that we cannot engage.
This is life. Hey, tell me you never laughed at Archie Bunker in All in the Family? He insulted us all!
July 8, 2009 at 6:33 pm
JAMES
Archie Bunker!!!?? Are you trying to age us all!!?? BTW, as controversial as ALL IN THE FAMILY was in its day, it would not be allowed on the air today, because it lacked political correctness.
July 8, 2009 at 8:18 pm
stothes
James,
LOL, buddy, I’m gonna assume you’re not a mechanic? Auto parts aren’t usually male or female these days. Electrical and computer parts yes, but auto parts…not so much.
Sorry man, I just had to razz you for that one.
July 9, 2009 at 1:55 am
JAMES
no I am not a mechanic, but I will tell you I recently purchased some fittings for some sprinkler repairs, and yes, the box on the shelf at Home Depot said Male and Female. Even in the strongest of debates, there has to be a bit of humor!
July 9, 2009 at 12:12 pm
mrje
plumbing and irrigation parts are male/female… and recently I put together a floor lamp that named the parts the same… I was pretty good at identifying them LOL
July 9, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Interested Bystander
Hey All,
The most funny moment from the Bunkers in my opinion was when Archie was trying to tell Meathead about putting on his socks and shoes. Meathead was putting on one sock and shoe and then the other, and Archie was trying to tell him, “No Meathead it’s sock, sock shoe shoe so if you have to run out of the house real quick you don’t look like an idiot.” It was hilarious.
And stothes,
I do not equate being gay with rapists or pedophiles or beastiality. I was simply using the logic that if you believe that you are born gay, then those people can use the same excuse. I meant no disrespect to you, or other gay people by posting that comment, but in my opinion, my reasoning is sound. I honestly have nothing against people who are gay unless they flaunt it in my face, and claim that I have to accept them because they are gay.
Congratulations on having a commited relationship. It’s an everyday struggle only some days are more of a struggle than others. I have been married 26 years, so I can comment from experience.