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Title: A Study in Character Assassination: How the TV Networks Have Portrayed Sarah Palin as Dunce or Demon
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URL Source: http://h
Published: Oct 30, 2008
Author: By Colleen Raezler and Brian Fitzpatrick
Post Date: 2008-10-30 18:26:28 by OliviaFNewton
Keywords: Palin
Views: 637
Comments: 64
On Wednesday’s “Special Report,” Fox News anchor Brit Hume cited CMI’s new study, “A Study in Character Assassanation: How the TV Networks Have Portrayed Sarah Palin as Dunce or Demon.” The study found that the media portrayal of Palin has been overwhelmingly negative, smearing the Alaska governor as an unqualified dunce or demonizing her as McCain’s attack dog. Hume stated: CMI PIECE: An analysis of two weeks of coverage of the GOP vice presidential nominee reveals unremitting hostility from the network news. By Colleen Raezler and Brian Fitzpatrick, Culture and Media Institute FULL REPORT Executive Summary| Pdf Version In just one month, the percentage of Americans who viewed GOP vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin unfavorably soared from 32 percent to 49 percent, according to a new survey. Might hostile media coverage account for Palin’s skyrocketing unfavorable rating? Polls conducted in September and October by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press report a stunning reversal in public perceptions of Palin. An October 21 story posted on Pew’s Web site stated: “In the current survey, 49% of voters express an unfavorable opinion of the Alaska governor, while 44% express a positive opinion; in mid-September, 54% viewed Palin favorably, compared with 32% who had an unfavorable opinion. According to a Nexis search, the networks ran 69 news segments covering Palin between September 29 and October 12, a period that included the October 2 vice-presidential debate. CMI analyzed all 69 segments and found that 37 portrayed Palin negatively, only two were positive, and 30 were neutral. CMI defined “positive” stories as stories that included more elements placing Palin in a favorable light than elements criticizing her. “Neutral” stories contained equal numbers of positive and negative elements, represented straightforward factual reporting, or treated Palin and Democratic vice-presidential nominee Del. Sen. Joe Biden equally. “Negative” stories contained more unfavorable elements than favorable, or gave preferential treatment to Biden. For example, on NBC’s October 3 Today show, reporter Amy Robach said Palin “accused” Biden of “looking backwards,” but she said Biden merely “challenged” whether GOP candidate John McCain is truly a “maverick.” ABC was the most biased of the three networks. Out of ABC’s 15 segments about Palin, 9 (60 percent) portrayed a negative image of the Alaska governor, and 6 (40 percent) were neutral. NBC was the second-most biased network with 15 negative stories (54 percent) and 13 (46 percent) neutral. CBS was the least biased with 14 (54 percent) negative stories, 2 (8 percent) positive and 10 (38 percent) neutral. The positive portrayals appeared in the two halves of CBS Early Show anchor Harry Smith’s two-part interview with Palin’s parents. Not one of the evening network news shows ran a positive story about Palin. The overwhelming preponderance of negative stories might have been justified if all the news about Palin had been bad, but the two major news events affecting Palin coverage during the study window tilted both ways. At the beginning of the study period on September 29, Palin was still enduring network news attacks that replayed, over and over again, the most problematic moments from her September 24 interview with CBS News anchor Katie Couric. Four days into the study window, however, Palin turned in a solid performance in the highly publicized October 2 debate with Democratic vice-presidential nominee Joe Biden. CMI found that during the study period, the media crafted three principal narratives about Palin. 1) Palin is a dunce lacking the qualifications and intellect to be Vice President. 2) Conservatives are revolting over the dunce’s nomination. 3) Palin is a demon, little more than an attack dog victimizing Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama. Narrative 1: Palin Is a Dunce, Lacking Qualifications and Intellect Rarely have the news networks based so many “news” reports on a comedy show or an old interview from a rival network. Couric’s interview with Palin, however, and Saturday Night Live’s demeaning parodies by Tina Fey, proved to be irresistible clubs for beating up the GOP vice-presidential nominee. Most observers agree that Palin did not perform well in the Couric interview, but the network coverage dwelled on the worst moments, making Palin look as unprepared and inexperienced as possible. No fewer than 21 network news stories attacked Palin’s qualifications and intellect, and 8 of these featured ridicule from SNL. 14 stories replayed the most embarrassing clips from Palin’s CBS interview with Couric. ABC played 3 Couric clips, CBS aired 5, and NBC aired 6. (The CBS count does not include the original airing of the interview.) [snip] The networks failed to acknowledge adequately that Palin was doing more during her speeches than attacking Obama. She was also talking about issues, McCain’s plans for the nation, and her own qualifications. In a speech in Clearwater, Florida on October 6, Palin noted what she has done in office in Alaska: As mayor, I eliminated taxes on personal property and I eliminated taxes like small business inventory taxes. Those burdens on our small businesses, we got rid of them. Property taxes were too high. Every year that I was in office I reduced [taxes]. And as governor, I brought the same agenda of positive change on a state level. I came to office promising to control spending, by request if possible, but by veto if necessary. And today, our state budget is under control and we have a surplus. And I put the veto pen to nearly half a billion dollars in wasteful spending. (Applause) We suspended our state fuel tax and I’m returning a chunk of our surplus money right back to the people of Alaska. It’s their money and they can spend it better than government can spend it for them. (Applause) Imagine that. Imagine that, having that principle. And that’s what we’re going to bring on a national level also. That principle of knowing that – no, the people, our families, our businesses they know best so let them keep more of what they earn and produce and not have this government take trying to quote, “solve” all the problems for our families and our businesses. No, we’re not going to do that. Conclusion ABC, NBC and CBS are distorting the public perception of Sarah Palin by incessantly assassinating her character, even citing people they usually ignore, conservative columnists, because they have criticized Palin. The networks have actually stooped to mocking Palin by repeatedly rebroadcasting parodies from Saturday Night Live, as if frivolous entertainment belongs in the evening news. Rich Noyes, the MRC’s research director, found in his study, Obama’s Margin of Victory: The Media, that “the Big Three broadcast networks have showered Obama with positive – even glowing – news coverage, protected the candidate from the attacks of his rivals, and shown little interest in investigating Obama’s past associations or exploring the controversies that could have threatened his campaign.”
As mayor and as a governor, I reminded people that government is not always the answer. In fact, government too often is the problem. So we got back to basics and we put government back on the side of the people.
Link: http://www.cultureandmedia.com/specialreports/2008 /SarahPalinChar/SaraPalinFull_Report.htm
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#1. To: OliviaFNewton (#0)
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The media didn't have to "smear" Palin. She "smeared" herself with her own idiotic statements, and now her fans look for someone to scapegoat. Nobody in the media forced her to repeat the neocon lie about the Saddam-9/11 connection, www.vetvoice.com/showDiary.do? http://diaryId=1946">www.vetvoice.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1946 nobody in the media forced her to call the war in Iraq "God's will," and nobody in the media made her give answers to questions like this: COURIC: Why isn't it better, Governor Palin, to spend $700 billion helping middle-class families who are struggling with health care, housing, gas and groceries; allow them to spend more and put more money into the economy instead of helping these big financial institutions that played a role in creating this mess? PALIN: That's why I say I, like every American I'm speaking with, were ill about this position that we have been put in where it is the taxpayers looking to bail out. But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health-care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy [emphasis added], helping the—it's got to be all about job creation, too, shoring up our economy and putting it back on the right track. So health- care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions and tax relief for Americans. And trade, we've got to see trade as opportunity, not as a competitive, scary thing. But one in five jobs being created in the trade sector today, we've got to look at that as more opportunity. All those things under the umbrella of job creation. This bailout is a part of that. If she looks like a lightweight and a nutcase, she has only herself, or perhaps her neocon advisors, to blame. It's true that the media go out of their way to make Obummer look good. He's a mediocre mind promoted by affirmative action, who'd be an unknown, second-rate hack lawyer if the DNC didn't need a new golden boy, and they make him out to be some kind of Messiah. But nobody has to go out of his way to make Palin look like an idiot - she does that well enough by herself.
I'd dare anyone here to switch places with her and give this a go.
What's your point? George W. Bush is under even more scrutiny and pressure. Does that mean that we can't say that he's an idiot and a liar?
Seems rather obvious to me.
Taken at face value, it means that none of us have any right to criticize ANY politician because they are under a lot more public pressure than any of us are. Why does her argument only apply to Palin? Can't we say the same thing about Bush, McCain, Obama, Hillary...ad nauseum?
What I suspect may be going on, at least at one level, is that Sarah has become a liability because she insists upon thinking for herself and is not fully under the thumb of the controllers. This is supported by the fact of a McCain Staffer giving the Presstitutes "background" information that she has "gone rogue" (this is just not done by campaign "staffers" except by intent and malice a forethought) and by her apparent recognition that she was supposed to be part of the "losing" team. She has evidenced an unwillingness to roll over an play dead upon command. Also it would, to some degree, match up with the attempts to keep her from talking to the Presstitutes. As always there are "wheels within wheels" and everything is not as it is portrayed on the surface for the ignorati.
"The difference between an honorable man and a moral man is that an honorable man regrets a discreditable act even when it has worked and he is in no danger of being caught." ~ H. L. Mencken
Whale away at it. I agree whole heartedly. Do you recall ANYONE past or present using their free speech to demean anyone to the degree that has Palin has endured???? The ugly name on the T shirts and signs has NOTHING to do with politics, not even as to how stupid she is. Myself, had I been Palin, I would have withdrawn when the gender thing appeared and it was totally accepted by MSM. Totally and mentioned only by Fox and Drudge. It really does not matter, this is just a sideshow to entertain the masses. We are saddled with two losers, that is the main feature.
George W. Bush was ridiculed and demeaned for his stupidity and ignorance, often fairly and correctly, sometimes unfairly and incorrectly. Hillary Clinton was ridiculed and demeaned nonstop by the Limbaugh-bots and FOX News (though she shouldn't be - she agrees with them on just about everything except party affiliation). A lot of the attacks on Hillary weren't about policy or intelligence either - they were about her cleavage, her cellulite, or even comparing Chelsea Clinton to a dog (Limbaugh). What makes Sarah so special? This type of mudslinging is part of the game. Why? Because if it weren't there, people would see that the Two Party Emperor has no clothes. It's obvious that no matter whether D's or R's win, we get the same damn policies on issues that count, whether it's the Wall Street bailout or war. So to disguise this obvious fact, campaigns have to be about name-calling. Otherwise there's nothing else to talk about. People should realize this before going into politics, and if they can't take it, there are always other career options.
Do you suppose that is why GOOD people do not enter politics? I assume you have seen the signs etc I referred to???? I would hope you would consider them beyond the pale even in politics.
I would wager the last choice is the case - McCain's neocon advisers who were foisted on Palin, who made her memorize McCainesque Beltway double talk gobbley-gook and spout it off to every question from the press whether the gobbley gook response was appropriate to the question asked or not. And your referring to Palin as a lightweight and nutcase is hilarious when you submit quotes from the Couric interview to prove your criticism, but you say nothing about the intellectual lightweight, off-camera tirade-inclined bi*ch, Ms. Smiley Katie. ( read Ed Klein's biography about the real Katie) It strikes me that your negative judgment and criticisms are highly biased against Palin, as you search to find flaws in her all the while being totally blind to those flaws existing in the person sitting side-by-side to Palin.
I would wager the last choice is the case - McCain's neocon advisers who were foisted on Palin, who made her memorize McCainesque Beltway double talk gobbley-gook and spout it off to every question from the press whether the gobbley gook response was appropriate to the question asked or not. Then there are two possibilities. Either her statements reflect her own beliefs (in which case she's a nutcase), or she's an easily manipulated ignoramus with no core beliefs or values (an opportunist like George W. Bush). Either way, she's bad news. And your referring to Palin as a lightweight and nutcase is hilarious when you submit quotes from the Couric interview to prove your criticism, but you say nothing about the intellectual lightweight, off-camera tirade-inclined bi*ch, Ms. Smiley Katie. ( read Ed Klein's biography about the real Katie) I'm sorry, but did Katie FORCE Palin to spout that nonsense? Did "the liberal media" FORCE Palin to repeat lies about how "Saddam did 9/11" or talk about occupying Iraq being "God's task?" (To his credit, warmonger though he is, at least McCain, unlike Bush and Palin, doesn't go around telling people that God is on the side of his holy war like some demented Ayatollah). It strikes me that your negative judgment and criticisms are highly biased against Palin, as you search to find flaws in her all the while being totally blind to those flaws existing in the person sitting side-by-side to Palin. It's not bias, I'm just facing facts and basing my opinion on what Palin says, as opposed to wishful thinking. I have heard absolutely nothing from Palin that sounds any different from what I've been hearing from Bush, Cheney, and Rove for the past 8 years. If anyone is biased, it's people who make excuses for Palin when she says the same things that you criticize in Bush. The excuses that Palin fans make show the same mindset as the Obamaites, where wishful thinking trumps reality. Obama sounds like a neocon on foreign policy now, but his supporters pretend that he's an anti-war candidate like Ralph Nader. Palin sounds like Dick Cheney in a skirt, and her fans pretend that she's a libertarian in the mold of Ron Paul.
If I were Palin, I would not have withdrawn from the race because of the MSM attacks. I would have called a nationally televised press conference and lashed into the MSM for their baseless sexist attacks on her as well as their anti-Christianity positions and their shameful attacks on her pregnant teen and their negativity to her disabled baby publishing photos and scurrilous articles about what they judge to be a waste of RNC $ to clothe a mere Down's baby nicely for the campaign trail. I would end my conference with a promise to the American people that I would not withdraw because of the unfair and incessant attacks of the media because I know the American people deserve to have the opportunity to have candidates running for office such as herself who are not MSM-annointed, MSM-promoted but rather candidates who are ordinary people trying to represent ordinary American voters in DC. I would have turned the tables on the MSM and appealed to Americans and their commonly shared values about family, children, equality of women,Christianity - and positioned the MSM to look hateful, jealous, atheists who are attacking Palin because she is representative of the America that is majority America and not their oddball post-modern fringe hobby-horses.
I don't think Palin is any of the above. I think Palin is an ordinary American who worked hard and made sacrifices along with her family to make good on her aspirations to attempt fix what she saw as entrenched political problems in her local town and state government.She did not just moan and groan on forums like I do and all of us do here. Palin walked her talk. And we need more ordinary Palins in DC doing what she did instead of being saddled with the same old Beltway insider, Methuselah chair warmer, sold-out, empty suit incumbents. Palin is not a perfect candidate by a long shot but what I like about her is that she is so ordinary and natural ( except when she was under the influence of McCain's phony neocon speech maker advisers) and she looks like me and she talks like me and she has a husband and children and she's not embarressed about her religion and she doesn't hide her pregnant teen or Down's baby and she doesn't spend her evenings at cocktail parties with millionaires in their mansions. She's ordinary and she's proud of it. That's why out of the 4 people running for Pres and VP, Palin is the most qualified candidate - she best represents the values and dreams of mainstream majority ordinary Americans.
Funny how the people of Alaska, a pretty independent bunch, saw fit to elect her as governor. Calling her stupid is tarring them with the same brush, and guarantees that Alaska will go for McCain. What REALLY drives people nuts is that she's a Christian and doesn't go for abortion, faggotry, etc. and the MSM are possessed by Satan in their zeal to put her down.
The people of Texas and Arkansas saw fit to elect Bush and Clinton as governors, and they had very high approval ratings to boot. As President, Bush had an approval rating of 80%+ in 2002. I guess that means that we should extend the same respect to Bush and Clinton as you all do to Palin. What REALLY drives people nuts is that she's a Christian and doesn't go for abortion, faggotry, etc What drives me nuts is that she sounds like George W. Bush when she talks about foreign policy, immigration, and just about anything else, and that her fans pretend not to hear any of it.
I think you are right - though I wouldn't expressed it quite as emphatically as you have. ;) MSM think of themselves as the "intellectual elite" of the nation. barf - most of them have journalism degrees - at best - which is similar to getting a degree in Drama Fine Arts - ie. the 2 dullest intellectual knife-departments on any US college campus. Anyways because MSM think of themselves as progressive forward thinking intellectuals, they have all taken as personal crusades the project of promoting the minority to weird positions because they smugly believe majority America is yesterday and oddball fringe is the future. MSM despises a majority America symbol like Palin and so they gang bang her incessantly. She represents everything that they want to undermine and bring down.
Imagine if Palin was a Democrat. Whoa! Your points are on damoney. Plus, neither Palin nor McCain are lawyers. That's a plus right there, nothwithstanding Bush wasn't one, but he was an MBA.
Kind of like the reason Colin Powell supports Obama instead of McCain. Because Obama "looks more like him" (though he obviously wouldn't come out and admit that). when she was under the influence of McCain's phony neocon speech maker advisers What makes you so certain that she doesn't agree with the neocon foreign policy views that she spouts? Wishful thinking? Seems to me that her talk about protecting Israel, waging a Holy War against Iraq, and stopping "that madman Ahmedinjad in Eye-ran" are right up the typical Christian Zionist alley.
RP: Kind of like the reason Colin Powell supports Obama instead of McCain. Because Obama "looks more like him." I guess blacks aren't the only ones for whom identity politics is more important than policy. scrapper: when she was under the influence of McCain's phony neocon speech maker advisers RP: What makes you so certain that she doesn't agree with the neocon foreign policy views that she spouts? Wishful thinking? Seems to me that her talk about protecting Israel, waging a Holy War against Iraq, and stopping "that madman Ahmedinjad in Eye-ran" are right up the typical Christian Zionist alley. Oh puhleaze RP I thought you were better than to assign a racist meaning to my remarks. You know exactly what I meant and that's why you pasted only a few of my comments and purposely took them out of context. I meant Palin is ordinary and she embodies the values and attributes of ordinary mainstream majority America as opposed to McCain and Obama and Biden who represent the Beltway political elite who breathe rarefied air as they sit on high, removed from ordinary Americans. As for Palin being a Christian evangelical, I have no problem with her choice of religion. However, I agree with you, that it is seriously wrong for her to mix her evangelical's tenets into her view of what our nation's foreign policy in the ME should be. I'm not sure if her recent vocalness in that regard is related to her religion or whether it is related to Joe Lieberman's tutelage of her views - McCain assigned him to coach Palin on ME foreign policy, as I recall. Whatever... I have pointed out on numerous occasions here that Palin has flaws and warts and that she was far from a perfect candidate. What appeals to me about Palin is that she comes from the ordinary US populous and not from the Beltway insider elite.
That is why she will be shunted aside ASAP when the dust settles.
This type of mudslinging is part of the game. Why? Because if it weren't there, people would see that the Two Party Emperor has no clothes. It's obvious that no matter whether D's or R's win, we get the same damn policies on issues that count, whether it's the Wall Street bailout or war. So to disguise this obvious fact, campaigns have to be about name-calling. Otherwise there's nothing else to talk about. People should realize this before going into politics, and if they can't take it, there are always other career options. Wow, Rupe, that's really good!
She believes that The Allied Petroleum Expeditionary Forces are on a mission from God.
I've read that it's Romney who is pressing the Republican party machinery hard to have Palin deep-6'd as soon as the election is over so she doesn't try to keep a political profile nationally and aspire to run on the GOP ticket in 2012.
A: Cars, houses, politics, religion. Q: What four things effectively lobotomize Uhhmerkkin sheeple and cause them to lose their minds?
HOUNDDAWG: She believes that The Allied Petroleum Expeditionary Forces are on a mission from God. If Palin really said that, then she is wrong to mix her faith with our nation's foreign policy. I already said that in a message above.
I said no such thing. Identity politics is about more than race. A lot of veterans will vote for McCain because he's "one of them." A lot of the (white) Starbucks crowd will vote Obama because he's "one of them," with race having nothing to do with it. I just think that voting for somebody based on identity politics instead of policy is foolish, whether the identity is based on culture, race, religion, gender, or anything else. A lot of people seem to be willing to overlook any and every policy disagreement as long as a candidate looks and sounds right to them.
Seems to me like Sarah Palin is a nice lady. She maybe means well and likely started out, as many politicians do, with good intentions. She comes across like a good, decent woman. However, the nonsense she spews about the war on terror etc. and the rest of the gov't propaganda is just one more indication that she's only part of the big lie. So she must be either dishonest or stupid or both. Good lookin' enough though. The press is simply doing what it's master tells them to do. Lie and propagate disinformation to entertain and keep the masses confused and mislead. My opinion for what it's worth not that anyone really asked for it. Bill Kristol supported (and possibly suggested) McCain's pick of Palin for VP. That's reason enough for me to detest her.
I agree completely that the MSM had a ball with Sarah, but why in god's name did she and McKooK willingly go on SNL and other late night shows - the very places that despise her and their politics? They play right into the enemy's hand.
I believe he floated Joe Liebervitch's name too.
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”—Samuel Adams
GWB under more scrutiny? Hahahahaha!!! You can say what you want, pretty obvious that nothing factual matters. When the iron fist drops the kidding around will probably not be so funny.
Very interesting info coming from within the Obama campaign. Internal polls reflect his extreme weakness to a DB like McCain. Still, Obama is the weakest by any measure, and hopefully people will figure that out despite the convenient offing of gramma the day before he packs up the truck and moves to Beverley. Hills that is. Swimmin' pools. Movie stars. And did you hear this? OBAMA NEVADA CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR TOLBERT DEAD AT 44 http://wcbstv.com/topstories/nevada.terence.tolbert.2.855160.html Gosh almighty.
Good job wud. Unable to see diferences up close or far away.
Well, it's like meeting the enemy on their own turf and taking it. Painful as it was to watch, they walked in and measured the midgets for the minds they professed to have.
Sorry, what do you mean by that?
Since you are so invested in the elections, can you be specific about the pros and cons between Obama and McCain on the issues. Please leave party affiliation out, just the facts. Taxes First Ammendment Second Ammendment Fourth Ammendment Personal property Jobs Social Security Medicare Education Homeland Security Wire Tapping Torture Amnesty Just to give you a few issues to focus on.
I am far from being invested in the elections and sorry, but think that being specific about the issues might be an inefficient use of our time. Both McCain and Obama are puppets and don't represent the people and I'd rather talk about nothing than talk about either one. It is definitely nice to talk to you though. "If Voting Changed Anything They'd Abolish It." ~ Ken Livingstone "Don't vote, it only encourages them." My friend Tim when he was drunk.
I might add that I couldn't answer your question very well if I wanted to as I'm not very knowledgeable about the issues.
Well you seemed invested. You should be. Because whether you want to be or not, you are.
Neither are Obama voters. So, don't feel alone.
Maybe you have a point there. I am invested as I have taken a bit of an interest in the elections, but not much. I have more of an interest in what happens to us, but think the elections will be rigged and/or the leaders have already been selected. The best I can come up with so far is to buy lots of rice and a woodstove (which I haven't done yet) and pray (which I have done much of).
Hahaha.... You're funny. Would you vote for McCain?
You're funny. Would you vote for McCain? Nope, voting for Palin. After the treatment she has recieved, by gosh, she's more likeable than the others. As long as we are voting for the cult of personality, I like hers best. Isn't that all that matters to win?
You really are an airhead. You won't vote for mcnutz but you will vote for Palin. That is a joke. Any treatment little Sarah got was because she is outta her class. Those answers she gave katie couric says it all. She is so naive she doesn't realize how she is being used. Yeah, she's ready to be president alright, she's on par with bush, a real intellectual. DUH!!!!!!!!!!!
Any treatment little Sarah got was because she is outta her class. Those answers she gave katie couric says it all. She is so naive she doesn't realize how she is being used. Yeah, she's ready to be president alright, she's on par with bush, a real intellectual. DUH!!!!!!!!!!! It's a spite vote. And lets face it, Biden is no rocket surgeon either. ;)
OK, I'll pay your game: Amnesty - Both candidates favor amnesty (sorry, "path to citizenship") for illegal aliens. Taxes - Obama will raise taxes and spend more. McCain will continue Bush's policy of spending and borrowing (or printing) more, which will cost us just as much in the longer un. First Amendment - Obama will support hate speech laws. McCain might too. He'll certainly support "Patriot Act" type sedition laws to stifle dissent. Second Amendment - The only issue where McCain is marginally better. Fourth Amendment - Both support the Patriot Act. Kiss your Fourth and Fifth goodbye. Personal property - I haven't followed either candidate on the issue of Federal Land grabs. I would guess that Obama is for them for any reason, McCain is probably for them as long as there's a "national security" excuse built in. Jobs - Both supported the Wall Street bailout. This will encourage even more irresponsible behavior on Wall Street, because they now know they can count on a bailout every time their hedge fund schemes tank. In the long run, this will wreck our economy, because what happens on Wall Street spills over onto Main Street, even if there's a delay of a few months. Wire Tapping - Both support the Patriot Act, and the right of the government to tap your phones and read your emails in the name of "national security." Homeland Security - Both believe in the fraud known as the "War on Terror." Reason enough not to vote for either. Torture - Both say that they're against torture. Talk about finding a needle in a haystack or good qualities in hack politicians.
You've made Bill Kristol (who's out pimping his new Alaskan puppet) a very happy gremlin.
Actually, the credit belongs to those pounding Palin. Otherwise, I wasn't going to vote.
Many people found the gender attacks against Palin as being acceptable. I know most of them have Mothers and some have wives and daughters, in that vein I wonder if such is the language they use with them. Disgusting.
The people who complain about "sexist" attacks on Palin never complained when an anti-Hillary group with the acronym C._._.T. was created, when Limbaugh compared Chelsea to a dog, or when comments about Hillary focused on her cellulite and sagging chest. I agree that such comments have no place in politics (and this is from somebody who despises both Hillary and Palin for political reasons), but it's ridiculous to see Democrats complain about these tactics and then turn around and use them themselves, just as it's ridiculous when AM radio neocon shock jocks start complaining when the same language that they use to describe Hillary is used to describe Palin.
R_P. Just a general point. Do you actually consider this slop they toss at us politics? It's vaudeville w/o the grease paint or talent.
I know most of them have Mothers and some have wives and daughters, in that vein I wonder if such is the language they use with them. Disgusting. Apparently their mothers, wives and daughters are not worthy of any respect or decency. Anyone spawning such hateful people came from poor stock. Too bad they reproduce.
It's not politics, it's gossip about political candidates. The reason they do that is because (as my list in an earlier post shows) there is almost no difference between the candidates. If political discussion focused on issues instead of personalities, there would be nothing to talk about. What is there to discuss? "I support the Wall Street bailout!" "So do I!" "I want more wars!" "So do I!" That doesn't leave much room for constructive debate, does it? That's why campaigns focus on hair plugs, lipstick, pigs and barracudas, who smoked pot when, who screwed who and how, and other things that the Reality TV addicted rubes can relate to.
One is marginally better? One is much better actually. Obama has flipped on everything to get the nomination. He flat out lies to your face and people seem to love it. Stupid people.
Rupert... I was unaware of such and you will not find me on record anywhere endorsing such gender vulgarities as visited on Palin.
Debates? Palin and Biden the Zionist had one "debate" and Johnny the Whack got three cracks at Mr. Affirmative Action. This isn't politics. This is a Hollywood production driven by the corporate media. Deep down I'm not even sure votes are counted, so in that respect our selections have less validity than turd world nations.
Those are facts not attacks. hehehehe
You sound like those wingnuts who in 2000 told me that Bush was "much better" than Gore and that my vote for Buchanan was a "vote for Gore." Bush was not "much better" than Gore would have been. In fact, Bush's Presidency has been worse than eight years of Clinton. If Bush hasn't taught conservatives a lesson about voting for "lesser evils," nothing will. As for myself, I will keep voting third party in every election until one of the main parties runs a halfway decent candidate instead of human garbage.
I see you're still stumping for obama
It's the second mouse that gets the cheese
And I see that you're still a lying prick. Where do I say anything good about Obama? Back the crap that you post up with facts, or admit that you're a liar and move on to Free Republic or Little Green Footballs. I voted for Bob Barr. I say that I oppose both parties, and my voting reflects that fact. You say that you oppose Bush and neoconservatives, and then you go around telling people it's their duty to vote for neocon candidates.
It is their duty to stop obama...period
It's the second mouse that gets the cheese
Look, I have no interest in starting another pissing match with you. I already voted for Bob Barr, you've either already voted or made up your mind for John McCain, and neither of our posts will change that. I don't believe in voting for "lesser evils" (people used that line of thinking to support Bush, and look where that got us), and I don't see neoconservative Republicans as any better than liberal Democrats. If you disagree with that, fine. When I look at McCain/Palin, I see Lieberman/Kristol. When I look Obama/Biden, I see Jackson/Sharpton. Would you vote for either Bill Kristol or Jesse Jackson?
And neither do I. I'll say that Bob Barr picked the wrong election cycle to run in. This time if we don't elect McCain: WE WILL HAVE A GOVERNMENT 100% DEMOCRAT. I think that's a bad idea for the following reasons: Do you really want to see socialism imposed on this country in a matter of months? Do you want scores of activist Federal Judges appointed by these leftists? Do you want the 2nd Amendment eroded further than it already is? Do you want Supreme Court Justices appoint by these people? Do you want the capital gains tax rate to more than double, stifling long term investment in this country?
It's the second mouse that gets the cheese
If Bush hasn't taught conservatives a lesson about voting for "lesser evils," nothing will. As for myself, I will keep voting third party in every election until one of the main parties runs a halfway decent candidate instead of human garbage. Listen, I've done my homework on both. Wasn't going to vote until Palin was unfairly and viciously attacked by people that sit here today claiming moral highground for choosing not to vote for evil while behaving like pigs. I voted to kick the pigs. As for the 'issues', we had our chance to unite behind a decent candidate but allowed ourselves to be manipulated by an organized commie machine. Casting a vote for 3rd party is fine, but everyone knows they have zero chance under the current political configuration. So, condemn me if it makes you feel better. But please, take it to those that acted like mysogynistic aholes. Many have already tipped their hand to their woman troubles.
#2. To: Rupert_Pupkin (#1)
But nobody has to go out of his way to make Palin look like an idiot - she does that well enough by herself.
#3. To: OliviaFNewton (#2)
I'd dare anyone here to switch places with her and give this a go.
#4. To: Rupert_Pupkin (#3)
What's your point?
#5. To: Cynicom (#4)
#6. To: OliviaFNewton, Cynicom, christine, TwentyTwelve, Wudidiz, Rupert_Pupkin, all (#0)
(Edited)
#7. To: Rupert_Pupkin (#5)
Taken at face value, it means that none of us have any right to criticize ANY politician because they are under a lot more public pressure than any of us are. Why does her argument only apply to Palin? Can't we say the same thing about Bush, McCain, Obama, Hillary...ad nauseum?
#8. To: Cynicom (#7)
(Edited)
#9. To: Rupert_Pupkin (#8)
People should realize this before going into politics, and if they can't take it, there are always other career options.
#10. To: Rupert_Pupkin (#1)
If she looks like a lightweight and a nutcase, she has only herself, or perhaps her neocon advisors, to blame.
#11. To: scrapper2 (#10)
(Edited)
#12. To: Cynicom (#7)
Myself, had I been Palin, I would have withdrawn when the gender thing appeared and it was totally accepted by MSM. Totally and mentioned only by Fox and Drudge.
#13. To: Rupert_Pupkin (#11)
Palin sounds like Dick Cheney in a skirt, and her fans pretend that she's a libertarian in the mold of Ron Paul.
#14. To: scrapper2 (#13)
(Edited)
-Schweizerische Schuetzenzeitung (Swiss Shooting Federation) April, 1941
#15. To: X-15 (#14)
(Edited)
Funny how the people of Alaska, a pretty independent bunch, saw fit to elect her as governor.
#16. To: X-15 (#14)
(Edited)
What REALLY drives people nuts is that she's a Christian and doesn't go for abortion, faggotry, etc. and the MSM are possessed by Satan in their zeal to put her down.
#17. To: scrapper2 (#13)
#18. To: scrapper2 (#13)
(Edited)
I like about her is that she is so ordinary and natural and she looks like me and she talks like me
#19. To: Rupert_Pupkin (#18)
scrapper: I like about her is that she is so ordinary and natural and she looks like me and she talks like me
#20. To: scrapper2 (#19)
What appeals to me about Palin is that she comes from the ordinary US populous and not from the Beltway insider elite.
#21. To: Rupert_Pupkin (#8)
George W. Bush was ridiculed and demeaned for his stupidity and ignorance, often fairly and correctly, sometimes unfairly and incorrectly. Hillary Clinton was ridiculed and demeaned nonstop by the Limbaugh-bots and FOX News (though she shouldn't be - she agrees with them on just about everything except party affiliation). A lot of the attacks on Hillary weren't about policy or intelligence either - they were about her cleavage, her cellulite, or even comparing Chelsea Clinton to a dog (Limbaugh). What makes Sarah so special?
#22. To: scrapper2 (#19)
As for Palin being a Christian evangelical, I have no problem with her choice of religion. However, I agree with you, that it is seriously wrong for her to mix her evangelical's tenets into her view of what our nation's foreign policy in the ME should be.
#23. To: Cynicom (#20)
That is why she will be shunted aside ASAP when the dust settles.
#24. To: Rupert_Pupkin, christine (#11)
The excuses that Palin fans make show the same mindset as the Obamaites, where wishful thinking trumps reality. Obama sounds like a neocon on foreign policy now, but his supporters pretend that he's an anti-war candidate like Ralph Nader. Palin sounds like Dick Cheney in a skirt, and her fans pretend that she's a libertarian in the mold of Ron Paul.
Mike Flaherty: Yeah, it's been there a long time. I wish I knew which corner.
My Man Godfrey (1936)
#25. To: HOUNDDAWG (#22)
scrapper: As for Palin being a Christian evangelical, I have no problem with her choice of religion. However, I agree with you, that it is seriously wrong for her to mix her evangelical's tenets into her view of what our nation's foreign policy in the ME should be.
#26. To: scrapper2 (#19)
Oh puhleaze RP I thought you were better than to assign a racist meaning to my remarks
#27. To: Original_Intent, OliviaFNewton, Cynicom, christine, TwentyTwelve, Rupert_Pupkin, all (#6)
"It is like a trance. So what can break a trance? The only thing that can break the trance is the light of truth."
~ Canadian Philosopher John McMurtry as he comments on the psychological warfare that has afflicted us all
#28. To: wudidiz (#27)
#29. To: OliviaFNewton (#0)
#30. To: Rupert_Pupkin (#28)
Bill Kristol supported (and possibly suggested) McCain's pick of Palin for VP. That's reason enough for me to detest her.
#31. To: Rupert_Pupkin (#3)
What's your point? George W. Bush is under even more scrutiny and pressure. Does that mean that we can't say that he's an idiot and a liar?
#32. To: Original_Intent (#6)
As always there are "wheels within wheels" and everything is not as it is portrayed on the surface for the ignorati.
#33. To: wudidiz (#27)
However, the nonsense she spews about the war on terror etc. and the rest of the gov't propaganda is just one more indication that she's only part of the big lie. So she must be either dishonest or stupid or both. Good lookin' enough though. The press is simply doing what it's master tells them to do. Lie and propagate disinformation to entertain and keep the masses confused and mislead. My opinion for what it's worth not that anyone really asked for it.
#34. To: Jethro Tull (#29)
but why in god's name did she and McKooK willingly go on SNL and other late night shows - the very places that despise her and their politics? They play right into the enemy's hand.
#35. To: OliviaFNewton (#33)
Good job wud. Unable to see diferences up close or far away.
"It is like a trance. So what can break a trance? The only thing that can break the trance is the light of truth."
~ Canadian Philosopher John McMurtry as he comments on the psychological warfare that has afflicted us all
#36. To: wudidiz (#35)
Sorry, what do you mean by that?
#37. To: OliviaFNewton (#36)
Since you are so invested in the elections, can you be specific about the pros and cons between Obama and McCain on the issues.
"It is like a trance. So what can break a trance? The only thing that can break the trance is the light of truth."
~ Canadian Philosopher John McMurtry as he comments on the psychological warfare that has afflicted us all
#38. To: OliviaFNewton (#36)
"It is like a trance. So what can break a trance? The only thing that can break the trance is the light of truth."
~ Canadian Philosopher John McMurtry as he comments on the psychological warfare that has afflicted us all
#39. To: wudidiz (#37)
#40. To: wudidiz (#38)
I might add that I couldn't answer your question very well if I wanted to as I'm not very knowledgeable about the issues.
#41. To: OliviaFNewton (#39)
Well you seemed invested. You should be. Because whether you want to be or not, you are.
"It is like a trance. So what can break a trance? The only thing that can break the trance is the light of truth."
~ Canadian Philosopher John McMurtry as he comments on the psychological warfare that has afflicted us all
#42. To: OliviaFNewton (#40)
Neither are Obama voters. So, don't feel alone.
"It is like a trance. So what can break a trance? The only thing that can break the trance is the light of truth."
~ Canadian Philosopher John McMurtry as he comments on the psychological warfare that has afflicted us all
#43. To: wudidiz (#42)
Hahaha....
#44. To: OliviaFNewton (#43)
Nope, voting for Palin. After the treatment she has recieved, by gosh, she's more likeable than the others.
#45. To: LACUMO (#44)
You really are an airhead. You won't vote for mcnutz but you will vote for Palin. That is a joke.
#46. To: OliviaFNewton (#36)
(Edited)
Taxes First Ammendment Second Ammendment Fourth Ammendment Personal property Jobs Social Security Medicare Education Homeland Security Wire Tapping Torture Amnesty
#47. To: OliviaFNewton (#43)
Nope, voting for Palin.
#48. To: Rupert_Pupkin (#47)
You've made Bill Kristol (who's out pimping his new Alaskan puppet) a very happy gremlin.
#49. To: OliviaFNewton (#48)
Actually, the credit belongs to those pounding Palin. Otherwise, I wasn't going to vote.
#50. To: Cynicom (#49)
(Edited)
Many people found the gender attacks against Palin as being acceptable.
#51. To: Rupert_Pupkin (#50)
I agree that such comments have no place in politics
#52. To: Cynicom (#49)
Many people found the gender attacks against Palin as being acceptable.
#53. To: Jethro Tull (#51)
(Edited)
R_P. Just a general point. Do you actually consider this slop they toss at us politics? It's vaudeville w/o the grease paint or talent.
#54. To: Rupert_Pupkin (#46)
#55. To: Rupert_Pupkin (#50)
The people who complain about "sexist" attacks on Palin never complained when an anti-Hillary group with the acronym C._._.T.
#56. To: Rupert_Pupkin (#53)
That doesn't leave much room for constructive debate, does it?
#57. To: Rupert_Pupkin (#50)
comments about Hillary focused on her cellulite and sagging chest
#58. To: OliviaFNewton (#54)
One is much better actually.
#59. To: Rupert_Pupkin (#58)
#60. To: Flintlock (#59)
(Edited)
I see you're still stumping for obama
#61. To: Rupert_Pupkin (#60)
#62. To: Flintlock (#61)
It is their duty to stop obama...period
#63. To: Rupert_Pupkin (#62)
I have no interest in starting another pissing match with you
#64. To: Rupert_Pupkin (#58)
You sound like those wingnuts who in 2000 told me that Bush was "much better" than Gore and that my vote for Buchanan was a "vote for Gore." Bush was not "much better" than Gore would have been. In fact, Bush's Presidency has been worse than eight years of Clinton.
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