Good lord when the GOP decides to engage in bankrupt identity politics, they go hard..."This crisis mode that we are in..." She just a bag of catch-phrases, "politics as usual," "bipartisan action," "the taxpayers," "shoring up our economy," "reigning in spending."
The Beautiful Struggle: A Father, Two Sons, and an Unlikely Road to Manhood 
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T-NC, she is nothing more than an empty pantsuit.
What a great big bag of gas this woman is. She's a shallow, mean, little woman, who is convinced that the rest of us are going to hell. If it was the only alternative, I'd rather have four more years of W than this waste of DNA (which she probably doesn't believe in).
My wife is trying to keep me chivalrous toward her, which is hard, real hard.
What's striking to me about Palin is how well she recovers from being flustered. Like most of us, when she gets caught bullshitting her voice starts to quaver, her grammar breaks, her face falls, etc. A completely normal response to being over one's head.
But unlike most of us, once she gets through having bullshit her way through her lack of knowledge and gets back to her rhetoric her voice settles, her countenance lifts and she charges ahead as if nothing happened. That's not normal. Not good or bad; but definitely not normal.
My new theory is that Palin may blow. She won't withdraw because of "family reasons;" she'll withdraw because the McCain campaign said "You can do it!" and then did everything in their power to convey that she is an incompetent twit they don't trust. And it won't be a modest and graceful exit sacrificing herself for the good of the party.
Look, on the issues I would never vote for her. I also think she's woefully unprepared to be elected to high office, even if her understanding of Alaskan issues is good--she hasn't managed to pivot that into an understanding of national issues. BUT it's got to suck to work for people who so clearly despise you. There was a moment in the "meet the foreign guys" photo op where a reporter called a question about what she'd learnt and she seemed to want to answer, and talked to McCain, and he kept shaking his head. After a month of being treated like a nincompoop by her boss and everyone around him, why should she want 4 or 8 more years of the same? Why not break loose, take her base, and run with it? (In Alaska, building a national presence away from the looming goons who want to trap her into fundraising Barbie.)
Different subject: Jason Zengerle at the Stump has the brilliant suggestion that Chris Rock be given equal time after all Bill Clinton utterances. I second.
If I didn't know better, I'd think that Palin was spoofing herself.
At the 2:40 mark: "We've got to see trade as opportunity, not as a competitive, scary thing."
What is wrong with that quote on trade?
I don't happen to agree with the idea that globalisation has been good for the U.S., I think from a long term perspective we've screwed ourselves...and that "free trade" as the salve for every economic woe has not turned out well.
But, what is wrong with her quote?
She really doesn't sound any worse than Bush to me in this interview.
Now of course, that's a low, low bar, but the man did get elected twice. At this point it's hard to condition myself to the thought that we might actually be capable of doing better.
I think the phrase should be "reining in spending" since the metaphor is that "spending" is a horse, and we are pulling "in" on its "reins" to slow it down.
By itself, nothing at all. Surround it with the words on either side and it is apparent that she is floundering for something to say.
The average high school debater would do better than this. At least they study the topics before answering questions about them.
this reminds me of that old IBM commercial of buzz-word bingo.
Let me beat the Republican blogs to it and say, "Ta-Nehisi is sexist, he called the governor a bag." There, now I think clueless, cliche machine is non-sexist
Oh my...that was scary...it reminded me of the skit on living color when Damon Wayans plays the convict that uses big words that does not make any sense...and she is rambling...the other part...is that this is messed up...John McCain should not have asked her to be his VP...she was not ready...
libertarian, there is nothing wrng with that phrase, but that is the point, it is meaningingless. There is no policy that it is about, plus it doesn't answer the questions.
She might as well be saying eating vegtables is better for kids than eating ice cream.
"She really doesn't sound any worse than Bush to me in this interview."
---
Perhaps, but while on the campaign trail (in 2000), Bush sounded pretty confident and was typically on-message. He didn't give up that facade until after the election.
"The al .. as I say, inaction is not an option, we've got to shore up our economy -- this is crisis moment for America, really the rest of the world also, looking to see the impacts if America were to choose not to shore up what has happened on Wall street because of the, the ultimate adverse effects of what has happened on Main Street and then how that affects this globalization that we're a part of in our world, so the rest of the world really is looking at John McCain, the leadership that he is going to provide on this, and if those provisions in the proposal can be implemented and make this proposal better, make it make more sense to tax payers then again John McCain is going to improve his leadership."
Jeebus -- has she ever heard of the period? She speaks like she's IMing.
Train wreck. Every bit as awful as Bush, Jr. in 2000. Remember how bad that was?
Wu Tang. Wu Tang.
Olympic torch burnin, flame so sweet, the thrill of victory, the agony, defeat...
"reigning in spending"
Ordinarily, I would view this as a typo, but Palin's oblivious bullshitting probably should be trascribed in oblivious orthography. Do people say "fronting" anymore?
"After a month of being treated like a nincompoop by her boss and everyone around him, why should she want 4 or 8 more years of the same?"
She's very ambitious and wants the power of the VPs office (Then she can finally fire Wooten.lol) Her best chance is with this ticket. She wont be ready for president until 2016 at the earliest.
"Why not break loose, take her base, and run with it? (In Alaska, building a national presence away from the looming goons who want to trap her into fundraising Barbie.)"
She might be facing a recall in Alaska. She has effectively let the John McCain campaign invade Alaska and take over state government there. Alaskans are rabid Republicans. They hate outsiders coming in telling them what to do and they are fuming at Sarah Palin for sacrificing their independence for her national ambitions. Then there the matter of her Attorney General, the state's top law enforcer, advising people to break the law.
John Henry writes: "She wont be ready for president until 2016 at the earliest."
Is that the year brain transplants will be perfected? Because that's the only way Sarah Palin's meat will ever be ready for president.
By the way, Mr. Henry, as a Red Sox fan, let me take this opportunity to thank you for buying the team.
"Is that the year brain transplants will be perfected? Because that's the only way Sarah Palin's meat will ever be ready for president."
To be fair, I dont think she's dumb; she's just inexperienced. No one can cram for the VP in 2 months. Its just ridiculous. I guess you can argue its dumb to think that. But, I'd say its more overconfidence than anything. Many smart people do this. I see it alot with project estimates.
You might agree with Fallows in saying she's uninterested in national issues. But, I'd argue she'll be interested once she thinks that its possible to win on a national level. She's driven by ambition. If she could learn everything in 2 months to be VP she would. But, that's just impossible.
She could do it in eight. And by that time the Happy Jesus Campers will have come of age.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CgvgjfwyPs
Your college Marc has the latest in the ongoing saga of the Palin rollout. She's sticking to the party line. Doggonit, she can see Russia from her house, and that's all the foreign policy experience that she needs.
Just saw the latest on Palin and Russia. No wonder why they want to cancel the VP debate. That was embarrassing. "When the Putin enters America's airspace..." WTF.
Mccain is a cowboy who jumps madly about without a plan or any consideration. And Palin doesn't know anything about anything.
To be fair, I dont think she's dumb; she's just inexperienced.
I think this is a reasonable assumption, but I think she might actually be fairly dumb. Watch the exchange on Russia. It's over at Sullivan's site. She tries to elaborate upon how Alaska's proximity to Russia matters. At one point, she states that the Alaskans keep an eye on them.
I'm serious. She gives an answer that doesn't have anything to do with experience. It's just plain stupid. Full stop.
COURIC: You've cited Alaska's proximity to Russia as part of your foreign policy experience. What did you mean by that?
PALIN: That Alaska has a very narrow maritime border between a foreign country, Russia, and on our other side, the land-- boundary that we have with-- Canada. It-- it's funny that a comment like that was-- kind of made to-- cari-- I don't know, you know? Reporters--
COURIC: Mock?
PALIN: Yeah, mocked, I guess that's the word, yeah.
COURIC: Explain to me why that enhances your foreign policy credentials.
PALIN: Well, it certainly does because our-- our next door neighbors are foreign countries. They're in the state that I am the executive of. And there in Russia--
COURIC: Have you ever been involved with any negotiations, for example, with the Russians?
PALIN: We have trade missions back and forth. We-- we do-- it's very important when you consider even national security issues with Russia as Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where-- where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border. It is-- from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there. They are right next to-- to our state.
The video a string of people above me are referring to, in which she clarifies for Katie Couric exactly what they mean when they cite that Alaska is near Russia, really can't be posted too often.
Putin should fly into Hawaii next week just to mess with everyone's heads. Then on to California! Or Oregon!
Asher posts: "PALIN: That Alaska has a very narrow maritime border between a foreign country, Russia, and on our other side, the land-- boundary that we have with-- Canada. It-- it's funny that a comment like that was-- kind of made to-- cari-- I don't know, you know? Reporters--
COURIC: Mock?
PALIN: Yeah, mocked, I guess that's the word, yeah."
She had to stop herself because she couldn't remember the word "caricature," which was probably a Big New Word one of her handlers had given her for just this situation. And sweet Katie bailed her out with a Little Word that's easier to say.
Hilarious.
She makes Putin sound a magical witchcraft dragon.
The best part for me was Couric having to give her the word "mock". You can't make this stuff up.
She is, to put it mildly, not smart folks. She is closer to being dumb as a post.
Seriously?
Whoever put her name on the consideration list needs to be fired, yesterday.
I even think Couric is disgusted with her. Seriously, how snotty did she sound when she asked Couric "where do they go," in a rhetorical way. Ugh.
Jake says: "She is, to put it mildly, not smart folks. She is closer to being dumb as a post. "
Would that be one of Fred's posts or one of Libertarian's?
"She makes Putin sound a magical witchcraft dragon. "
OMG--audible snort of laughter that frightened my co-workers. Brilliant.
I haven't looked very hard, but I'd like to see some evidence of these "trade missions" with Russia that Palin yipped about.
You wanna play "stump the candidate"? Huh? Do ya?
Sarah Palin on the first Wednesday in November, 2008:
Gosh, it's so grody that we lost, John McCain, but can I keep all these neat dresses and pantsuits that John McCain's campaign bought for me?
"Wu Tang. Wu Tang.
Olympic torch burnin, flame so sweet, the thrill of victory, the agony, defeat..."
Beat me to it Stacy. I saw this post at work, and once I saw the title I immediately started tapping my foot and nodding my head to the beat. One of the best tracks ever.
Then I thought, Binary Star Waterworld Too. The saga continues, it only gets better!
Every interview Palin has given so far is another brick cemented into Obama's road to the White House. She is so transparently clueless in these interviews. From day one, I knew this pick would be disastrous for McCain. The woman IS one of the Christian hockey moms that surrounded me growing up in small town Leave-it-to-Beaver-land (thanks Bubs). That truly frightens me.
I'm pretty sure 'Triumph' is in my top five favorite hip-hop song of all time. Inspectah Deck's opening verse is one of my favorite ever as well...
I apologize, my grammar is terrible today. Palin's rubbing off on me.
The thing is, I'm pretty sure she can do better than this. Even a couple of pre VP Alaskan interviews, you get a MUCH better sense from the woman.
I think the McCain "preppers" for her, are basically ruining her - mainly for the reasons that she doesn't say something crazy, but what has ended up happening then, is they've produced a fearful, automaton, spouting vague talking points.
Emotionally, she is just afraid, afraid, afraid, and she looks for her talking points to answer the questions.
I agree, she is seriously over rehearsed and is so afraid of saying the wrong thing that she rambles through all the talking points at the same time.
They need to rise or fall on the woman they chose as VP and should let her be herself whatever that brings.
Couric went much too easy on Palin. When you are asked a question, and you answer with rambling, unfocused, and very close to meaningless half sentences, you really should be called out. This woman is a vice presidential candidate so when is she going to be scrutinized at the level that office deserves?
If these are the kind of qualifications that are acceptable for a vice president, then we may as well just have some kind of national lottery to decide who the president will be in the future and it should be open to everyone over 18 who is not institutionalized. Palin proves we are all potential presidential candidates, especially me because I've lived near the Mexican border for 30 years so I have some serious foreign policy experience.
I think I'm the only one who likes Reunited much more than Triumph.
Nah, not as many verses, although all of them are strong. The chorus is kind of cheesy, too.
Even though I am going to vote for Obama, I find myself wanting to like Palin. We disagree on a lot of things -- mostly to do with the role of government, but I like her energy and agree with her on a few social issues. She just is not up to this right now, and frankly may never be. She is the rare politician that I think would do better by being in the Senate rather than being a governor. One thing the Senate teaches you is to learn just enough about a wide variety of topics to be able to bs about them for 2 minutes.
There are two visual images that come to mind when I think of her:
1. Watching someone who can tread water but can't swim. You keep waiting for them to at least doggie paddle or freestyle, but they just tread water.
2. Sarah Palin, fittingly enough, is a point guard that can't shoot, can't dribble to her left, and only knows 3 of the plays. She can get her team fired up, and the coach likes her though. She reminds me of Jason Kidd in the half court -- everyone plays 5 feet off him because he can't hit long range shots. Obama and Biden just need to remind themselves though that if they get too close, she can drive right by them. Just back off and let her turn it over.
As someone said above, you can't learn this stuff in 8 weeks. I think she'll drown in the debate with any help from anyone. Maybe in 2016 after a term or two in the Senate.
@Libertarian, re: trade quote --- I think it's already been pointed out in various ways, but it was the way she said it that jumped out at me --- she sounded like she'd read the idea in a textbook while cramming in the previous two days. The quote on paper or screen doesn't look as bad as it sounded coming out of her mouth.
No, Blue Moon, you are just wrong that this woman should ever have been anything other than a hockey mom.
America deserves better. When I hear this woman speak, I cannot even believe she is a vice presidential candidate. It is as though the GOP has finally decided that the president and vice president HAVE to be fools, so that the neo-conservative think tanks and the corporations can rule unhindered.
God help us. I can't even believe what is happening anymore.
How is it possible that every new clip that comes out is actually worse than the previous ones? I keep thinking she has finally hit rock bottom, only to be amazed the next time she opens her mouth.
Oh, and can we please get some of this at the VP debate: huh?
Yeah... fewer verses can be a good thing when it means you don't have to listen to Cappadonna and Masta Killa. I also never liked the beat.
What is most amazing is that people are actually trying to find meaning in what she says. This woman spews talking points that have gotten jumbled in whatever she uses for a brain and that is what comes out of her mouth. There is very little relationship to the question asked and the response.
She makes Ahmadinejad sound like a world class orator. She is an embarrassment and when is she going to be called out for what she is?
NOBODY Black, who was this fucking stupid, would even be acknowledged.
I realize now why she bothers me so.
It's one thing to know about White Privilege. It's another thing to have it shoved in your face in the form of Sarah Palin.
But for real, when it comes to Wu, it's all about the C.R.E.A.M.
Just watched this now that I'm home. Gotta love Palin lamenting the way partisan politics stands in the way of progress. I'm pretty sure I saw another clip, from this very same interview, where Palin mocks Obama, suggesting he'll 'put his finger to the wind' while looking for a solution.
Aside from being partisan, I want to second other posters' comments about what a joke it is to have this mental raisin, whose only insight after the monumental surprise of being offered the VP spot was not to blink, making fun of Obama. Really Sarah - no self reflection?
I honestly can't fathom how someone in her position isn't positively shitting bricks at the prospect of being in this deep and so far over their head.
A-mazing.
The words that come out of her mouth are completely nonsensical. I can't follow her blathering. Healthcare? Huh? I thought we were talking about the bailout? Huh?
I wonder what foreign leaders think of her. Who could take her seriously? Actually, I hope the answer to that question is: Nobody.
It's really stopped being funny. She needs to step down from the nomination. Seriously.
Remember the scene in Good Will Hunting where Ben Affleck was interviewing with a law firm that thought he was Matt Damon's character? That's what this interview reminds me of.
She just a bag of catch-phrases, "politics as usual," "bipartisan action," "the taxpayers," "shoring up our economy," "reigning in spending."
Whenever I hear the word "bipartisan", I am reminded of this story:
"In America, we have a two-party system," a Republican congressional staffer is supposed to have told a visiting group of Russian legislators some years ago.
"There is the stupid party. And there is the evil party. I am proud to be a member of the stupid party."
He added: "Periodically, the two parties get together and do something that is both stupid and evil. This is called bipartisanship."
What is there left for Tina Fey to do?
What's new pussy cat? Ahhh yes, I remember back when she was introduced as the deadly and scary "Barracuda." So much verbiage spent building up this small town chick-chick. She sounds frightened. She ought to be, the poop is sprinkling onto the fan and splatters will soon follow...
McCain's folks has to keep the lipsticked pig under wraps, 'cause a city wise 12 year old could take her on and win.
I wonder if we're getting played. Expectations for her debate performance are now about as low as they could possibly be. If she forms a complete sentence or Biden slips up at all, it's going to look like a victory for her.
Sorry about all that.
It makes me worry that the GOP has something truly deviant up its sleeve -- like maybe some "tragedy" will befall Palin, and McCain will scoop up votes when, close to election day, American grief will come pouring out on behalf of the damaged ticket. McCain could pick someone decent and the country will sigh a great sigh of relief. The story of the day would be McCain's valiant carrying on in the face of adversity, while Obama would get virtually no press. Lord, when did I get this cynical?