Reading isn't a critical aspect of a person, but it certainly does reflect on the mindset. Someone who isn't actively acquiring information isn't very likely to be open about differing ideas and concepts. Reading is one of the most fundamental ways to acquire that information.
]]>She is better (but not good) on the social issues. However, right now I am dying to read Andrew's shitstorm-in-the-making on her positions on homosexuality being a "choice." I suspect he is going to disagree, with (ahem) "gusto."
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Sarah Palin is profoundly clueless about the economy and foreign policy but she handles questions about the gays and abortion pretty well.
If that doesn't tell you all you need to know about today's Republican party, I don't know what does.
This isn't just any white collar job, this is the Vice President of the United States.
It's astounding to me how many millions of people, even if this is a blowout, will vote for this woman.
]]>. . . Need I say how this would sound if she had said "I have a black/hispanic/Asian friend"?
]]>The christian right is voting for these two no matter what she does. The game is with the undecideds (as always)... and the many undecideds out there who have been alarmed by her appalling lack of knowledge, curiosity and coherence (coupled with a propensity to not just lie, but to tell easily demonstrable lies) are not going to be mollified by Lou Dobbs telling them she "beat expectations."
She needs to turn in a performance so good that it frames her past performances as abherations. She needs to prove she's not as stupid as she's made herself out to be so far. I predict this is beyond her.
It's not as good as "Bible Spice."
]]>As much as I despise Dumbya, that is simply not true.
]]>Really?!?!
Andrew can add that to his list of Sarah Palin lies.
]]>Palin should be the "liars" mascot for that site. What a sick, sad, worthless liar she is!
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She's the love child of Forrest Gump and Phyllis Schlafly.
I bet Obama and Biden could generate such a list. How can this be happening?
If you want to finish off the night in appropriately black humor, I recommend Marc's post with the list of questions from Hewitt.
Couric: And when it comes to establishing your world view, I was curious, what newspapers and magazines did you regularly read before you were tapped for this to stay informed and to understand the world?
Palin: I've read most of them, again with a great appreciation for the press, for the media.
Couric: What, specifically?
Palin: Um, all of them, any of them that have been in front of me all these years.
Couric: Can you name a few?
Palin: I have a vast variety of sources where we get our news, too. Alaska isn't a foreign country, where it's kind of suggested, "wow, how could you keep in touch with what the rest of Washington, D.C., may be thinking when you live up there in Alaska?" Believe me, Alaska is like a microcosm of America.
*boggles*
]]>Field & Stream of Consciousness
Douchebag Quarterly
Mademooselle
Furthermore, it's a direct follow-up to an answer she gave the other night. Queried about her passport she said that she'd understood the world through books and other material. It's perfectly legitimate to ask her what books.
]]>It's a toss up between Caribou Barbie and Bible Spice.
]]>I think where McCain might have miscalculated is among the independents who are the key to the election.
]]>"If McCain would have just let her do more talk radio, she would be totally prepared!!!"
]]>The New Yukker
Vanity Fur
The Pacific (The Atlantic is just for elite Easterners)
Mooseweek
Come on. Palin is a blank slate and there are only a few weeks for people to get a sense as to what she's about. In that circumstance, and considering the possible importance of the job she's going for, it's not just a fair question - it's also a FUCKING SOFTBALL most people could knock out of the park.
]]>She didn't ask what books. Never mentioned books. She asked about newspapers. The obvious underlying premise of the question is, "wow, you're really dumb; what if anything do you read?" True premise, but it just seems like slightly inappropriate piling-on to me.
]]>Look, she sounded like an idiot on the bailout and the Alaska/Russia thing, but when she's asked about stuff she actually knows, about she sounds perfectly fine. I'm not sure why Coates is such a hater all of a sudden.
]]>Implicit in this criticism is the assumption that one would know that Palin doesn't read papers or mags. And as little as most around here think of her, I can't imagine anyone betting much, before now, that a governor and VP candidate doesn't read ANYTHING (even online?). As someone mentioned, this question is the meatiest of softballs, and it stumped her. Think about that. Is there any question Palin can't answer that is not a gotcha question?
]]>In Mrs. Palin's defense I would like to say that there is a good probability she gets her news from sky angel network.
Studies have shown that Skyangel Network viewers are more informed than homeless people.
Sarah Palin More informed than a homeless person.
I would also like to point out the astonishing parralells between Sarah Palin and Judy Martz. it's scary how alike the two are.
]]>I really disagree as to the premise of the question. It's worth knowing a person's intellectual background and where their ideas are coming from. If you're getting all your ideas from your own head and people you know, then you're going to have a pretty limited range of ideas. I mean, does she depend on Limbaugh and Hewitt for the news? Is it condescending to assume that she reads? Couldn't she have just said the NRO or something?
]]>Yeah, let's stick to questions about snowmachines and beauty pageants and the Baby Jesus. You know, the really important shit related to the JOB SHE'S TRYING TO FILL.
Seriously, is her nomination a secret liberal plot to reveal just how stupid every conservative in the country is? The defenders of Sarah Palin here are offering comments just as dumb as hers are.
You think that's a winning strategy, rab? Really? "Just ask her questions any old hockey pig could answer! She can't be expected to know anything else!"
]]>Huh, well, two out of three ain't bad. But if Palin has any New Ideas, I sure haven't heard them yet. I do hear a lot of dog-whistling, though..here's hoping that pit bull don't hunt.
Rats, I'm all out of beer. I'm going to go cry myself to sleep now.
Happy Birthday! Cheers!
Personally the arguments of "respect" or "deference" drive me batty. This is a democracy, remember. Voters decide who is in charge. In order to do that we need know who these people really are. Not who their handlers want us to think they are. Who they are. It's a job interview. If I were going on a job interview trying to claim I'm competent or know something about a particular field, I'm going to expect to be grilled about any and all of my claims in that interview. She claimed to have a worldview not based on traveling much, but on reading. Perfectly fine, maybe less than I would like in a world leader, but nonetheless, not disqualifying. So, this was a follow-up to find out what sort of reading has formed her worldview. And she can't back up that claim. Now, you as employer, that's okay with you? Sorry, not enough for me.
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