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Another Bullet Dodged By Palin's Loss

We're not going to have Gov. Sarah Palin to kick around any more much longer, which is fine by me, since all I ever wanted was for her not to become Vice President and for people to recognize John McCain's astoundingly reckless judgment in choosing her for the ticket, but I do find this amusing and can't resist writing about it.

The New York Times recaps her final moments at the Arizona Biltmore Wednesday and last trip aboard her McCain-Palin campaign plane:

As Ms. Palin’s entourage of two dozen family members and friends boarded the plane, and aides scurried around loading diapers, bottled water and a Louis Vuitton duffel onto it, Ms. Palin darted over to the reporters, whom she regularly derided as “Barack Obama’s friends in the media” in her stump speech, to shake hands and say goodbye.

[More...]

24 family members and friends? Wow, did we dodge a bullet. With Obama, we often complained he threw people under the bus. Palin, it seems, wanted to put everyone and then some on it.

Good riddance, Sarah. Had you and McCain won, watching (and paying for) your entourage for the next four years would have been as unbearable as listening to your garbled sentences.

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  • Display: Sort:
    Not to be contrarian (5.00 / 3) (#1)
    by Steve M on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 11:12:59 AM EST
    but I recall reading that 35 Bidens were on hand for the Chicago celebration Tuesday night.

    Thank God Sarah and Todd Palin's (5.00 / 5) (#3)
    by oculus on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 11:14:06 AM EST
    first grandchild didn't have the audacity to be born early.  

    Parent
    That would have been the bolt (3.00 / 2) (#16)
    by scribe on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 11:48:05 AM EST
    flying out of the train wreck and killing the innocent bystander a mile away, that would have made the spectacle complete.  

    When's her hockey redneck BF going to stand between the minister and the shotgun and say "I do", anyway?

    Parent

    Hatin' Sarah Palin (1.00 / 2) (#149)
    by taurus1353 on Fri Nov 07, 2008 at 02:05:31 PM EST
    Attention Palin haters!
    I don't understand why liberal kool-aid drinkers hate this woman so much.
    This is evidence that there are loons to the left and to the right.
    Look, you're talking about someones daughter, somebody's sister, somebody's wife, a mother of a child here, let it go, you don't like her policies disagree on that, but to demean her and hate her in the manner that you do, really makes me wonder, why ?
    And i'm starting to believe a theory, and this is my theory, those who hate her are women who has had an abortion and men who are somehow involved in an abortion, and your conscience is eating you inside, and Sarah and her baby is a reminder that what you killed was a living breathing human being and you're actually angry at yourself and your expressing it by being angry at Sarah who chose not to do what you chose to do, maybe you need some psychatric treatment.

    Parent
    That wedding (none / 0) (#100)
    by Socraticsilence on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 03:19:20 PM EST
    is basically in Crist limbo, who knows if its happening now?

    Parent
    When Obama won (5.00 / 1) (#115)
    by coigue on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 04:11:45 PM EST
    I got an e-mail from my sister:

    Palin's daughter's boyfriend is sooooo relieved right now!!!



    Parent
    Probably all arrived via Amtrak. (5.00 / 4) (#4)
    by oculus on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 11:15:29 AM EST
    Probably not Amtrak (5.00 / 1) (#32)
    by Pepe on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 12:08:26 PM EST
    if you really think about it. Especially Biden's mom, right? Talk about silly season. In fact do you think it is a possibility that she flew on a chartered airplane to spare her the labor of public transportation at her age?

    But let's for kicks that Amtrak was appropriate for financial reasons...

    If you were traveling to Alaska along with you family from a national political event that you were part of would you use Amtrak for both you and them? Is Amtrak even available to Alaska?

    Steve M. is correct upthread about the Biden's and you can be certain that Obama had people there as did many of his staff who were away from their families for the better part of two years, and why shouldn't they. And I'd bet they were all comped by the campaign and didn't sleep at the Motel 6.

    To point out that Palin did have people there and not point out the Obama campaign, and then to point out a designer carry bag truly shows the ,er, reporter had a definite political bent to his, cough, story.

    I'd like to say that silly season has ended but we all know it has just shifted gears. I'll go out on a limb and say we have not heard the last of Palin in the tabloid press or elsewhere.

    Parent

    My comment was snark. (5.00 / 2) (#56)
    by oculus on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 12:58:23 PM EST
    OK (none / 0) (#113)
    by Pepe on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 03:54:16 PM EST
    It didn't read as snark.

    </snark>
    would be helpful

    Parent

    OMG Pepe (5.00 / 1) (#116)
    by coigue on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 04:12:47 PM EST
    Having a sense of humor ... (5.00 / 1) (#141)
    by cymro on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 07:06:15 PM EST
    ... is also helpful.

    Parent
    Yeah, right (5.00 / 1) (#144)
    by Melchizedek on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 08:29:11 PM EST
    Someone hasn't been reading this site's comments for the last eight months. You could cite farm production numbers in Lithuania and it would somehow be a slight against Hillary and an Obamabot talking point.

    By the way, now that we know Palin thought Africa was a country, how about tootired and all the other bitter, self-righteous PUMAs who cast their ballot for her?

    Hope you're proud.

    Parent

    But did he drag (5.00 / 0) (#14)
    by themomcat on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 11:45:41 AM EST
    them every where at the campaign's expense? this sounded like a movie, "The Great Adventures of Sarah & Todd".


    Parent
    Well (5.00 / 3) (#20)
    by Steve M on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 11:52:24 AM EST
    It's not clear to me that Palin dragged a 24-member entourage everywhere, only that they were present for the campaign's farewell event.

    Parent
    Booooooo (5.00 / 2) (#53)
    by Exeter on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 12:54:20 PM EST
    Intelectual honesty?!? Booooooooo ;)

    Parent
    Didn't he have 4 generations on stage? (none / 0) (#5)
    by nycstray on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 11:16:49 AM EST
    I would assume so... (5.00 / 2) (#7)
    by Steve M on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 11:18:33 AM EST
    I love Biden's mom.  She was quite memorable at the convention.

    Parent
    Heh (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by eric on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 11:17:34 AM EST
    Wasilla hillbillies, indeed.  Wow.  I wonder how much money she ended up looting from the RNC and McCain.

    I hope (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by WS on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 11:22:01 AM EST
    she robs them blind as far as I'm concerned.  

    Parent
    Some forms of.... (5.00 / 5) (#22)
    by kdog on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 11:59:05 AM EST
    "wealth redistribution" are more agreeable than others I suppose.

    Parent
    Hmm (5.00 / 0) (#10)
    by connecticut yankee on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 11:35:49 AM EST
    Was it the famous Luis Vuitton bag that Piper was photographed carrying last month?  

    I hope she absolutely looted the RNC. Baghdad style.  So long Sarah, and thanks for all the supreme court appointments!

    We're not getting our last licks in (5.00 / 2) (#19)
    by scribe on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 11:50:47 AM EST
    We're just getting warmed up.

    Sy Hersh has let on that his sources - new and old - are all telling him "you want to hear about abuses that have gone on?  Call me January 21."

    I look forward to the dam bursting;  if I were Obama I'd let it be known that people leaking about Bush, Cheney and their abuses will suffer nothing, if they do the leaking now.

    Hope springs eternal... (none / 0) (#34)
    by ks on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 12:09:29 PM EST
    ...but reality is another matter. Nothing is going to happen to Bush and Cheney.  Bush will head off to his ranch and be forgotten and Cheney will head back to the boardroom and be forgotten.

    Parent
    god forbid (5.00 / 4) (#35)
    by SM on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 12:11:44 PM EST
    Yeah, god forbid her immeidate family of 7 and her other friends and relatives (seriously, 24 isn't really that big, that's assuming that the press really meant 24 when they said two dozen and didn't round up) might have wanted to be there with her if the McCain/Palin ticket did win.

    Or maybe only the dems are allowed to have a huge entourage at their victory bashes. Seriously - 35 Bidens (and that's only family)?

    Thank you (none / 0) (#150)
    by delandjim on Sun Nov 09, 2008 at 10:15:16 AM EST
    Thank you for some common sense. I was thinking the same thing about immediate family. Four children here, (son in Iraq wouldn't be there)Husband, parents, sister? Brother-in-law?, expected son-in-law? Nephew (from tasing incident) That is already 12. Not to hard to think there might be 12 other people that are close to her.

    Parent
    It is an EMB-190 (5.00 / 2) (#48)
    by Wile ECoyote on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 12:46:05 PM EST
    I would guess because they did not need a large passenger jet.  Boeing and Airbus have ceded the small passenger jet market.  

    Having a little Palin withdrawal? (5.00 / 5) (#49)
    by Exeter on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 12:46:40 PM EST
    It's commonplace for the candidate's close friends and family to be there on election night and if they already had a plane going to Alaska, who cares (besides those suffering from PDS) if they rode along?  There is no indication that this was her traveling entourage.

    I agree... (5.00 / 5) (#52)
    by Exeter on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 12:53:11 PM EST
    This was the only news in the story:

    Ms. Palin called Mr. McCain "a uniter," but saved her most lavish praise for Senator Barack Obama.

    "This is an historic a moment," she said. "Barack Obama has been elected president. Let him be able to kind of savor this moment, one, and not let the pettiness of maybe internal workings of a campaign erode any of the recognition of this historic moment that we're in. And God bless Barack Obama and his beautiful family and the new administration that we're in. It is time that we all pull together and work together and America is going to reach her destiny."



    BS (5.00 / 3) (#55)
    by squeaky on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 12:56:04 PM EST
    $150,000 +++ is worthy of criticism, no matter who you are, especially when the main theme of GOP attack was $150 haircuts and democrats being elitists, which Palin was supposed to counter.

    It reeks of hypocrisy.

    $150,000 bad to attack on... (5.00 / 1) (#151)
    by delandjim on Sun Nov 09, 2008 at 10:24:34 AM EST
    From what I have heard, the "Wasilla Hillbillies" weren't in the stores personally. In fact on the the stores that does remember shopping for them specifically said staffers. So if you are buying for someone else, more that one size needs to be purchased (accounts for one third of it already sent back according to McCain) Did you see how Todd Palin looked the first time out? Of course he needed to redone, I'm not really a snob but he looked blue collar and you don't see that on a campaign trail. Also consider, they are from Alaska it doesn't get too warm up there and they campaigning in some pretty warm states and may have needed appropriate clothes.

    I would prefer issues with her governing or positions be picked apart. This petty stuff just will raise sympathy.  Yes she has positions, look into when she ran on her own.  

    Parent

    On a serious note (5.00 / 2) (#58)
    by Slado on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 01:03:59 PM EST
    I find the smear campaign against Palin by the McCain "campaign" dispicable.

    She was just minding her buisness in Alaska when McCain picked her out of nowhere.  Jaralyn's real point is correct that this was McCain's decision.  If she wasn't the VP he needed then he screwed up.   I thought more of him then to allow his VP choice to be his excuse.  


    Seriously (5.00 / 1) (#105)
    by jondee on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 03:30:26 PM EST
    it's about theres-nothing-wrong-with-the GOP and conservatism and Bush and deregulation and regime change etc etc We would've won if it hadnt been for that (conservative, Christian, pro-deregulation, pro-regime change) woman.

    Parent
    More To The Point (5.00 / 3) (#64)
    by squeaky on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 01:12:36 PM EST
    watching (and paying for) your entourage for the next four years would have been as unbearable as listening to your garbled sentences.

    Have to agree. Would have been a nightmare.

    After 8 years of listening to (5.00 / 4) (#66)
    by oculus on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 01:14:06 PM EST
    George W. Bush (or trying very hard not to listen to him), I'm ready for change.  

    Parent
    can you spare some change? (none / 0) (#118)
    by coigue on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 04:15:33 PM EST
    Are you kidding me. Haven't (none / 0) (#119)
    by oculus on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 04:18:59 PM EST
    you heard McCain was deluded in saying our economy is strong?

    Parent
    No. Really (5.00 / 1) (#122)
    by coigue on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 04:26:14 PM EST
    I want a cup of coffee.

    Parent
    You know I actually really think (none / 0) (#123)
    by coigue on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 04:30:00 PM EST
    that McCain/Palin is really Bush/Cheney turned upside down.

    Parent
    hey, i hope we have palin (5.00 / 3) (#68)
    by cpinva on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 01:17:29 PM EST
    to kick around for awhile, i like it! in fact, i hope she returns to DC, from time to time, so we can all make fun of her. of course, she is low-hanging fruit, but what the heck. she will serve as a reminder (as if we need one) of why mccain isn't president.

    with any luck, they'll get her to speak at republican prayer breakfasts, bestowing her insightful analysis on them, and protecting them from witches.

    yes indeedy, nothing proved what a twit mccain is, more than his selection of an even bigger twit for veep. we need to constantly remind the electorate just how little mccain (and by extension, the republican party) thinks of them, that he seriously believed he could pawn someone even more intellectually vacuus then him on them.

    I hope the subject changes very quickly (5.00 / 4) (#69)
    by oculus on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 01:28:32 PM EST
    from Sarah Palin to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, and Russia.  

    Parent
    ^^ Is this sarcastic? (5.00 / 2) (#73)
    by daria g on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 01:49:33 PM EST
    I can't tell.  I hope we can focus on the economic crisis and the war, you know, serious issues, instead of flinging poo at a candidate who already lost the election!

    Parent
    clarification (none / 0) (#74)
    by daria g on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 01:50:03 PM EST
    My post was directed at cpinva, not oculus' post just above :)

    Parent
    well daria, (5.00 / 2) (#88)
    by cpinva on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 02:39:28 PM EST
    if reminding the electorate, from time to time, just how bad the "conservative" republicans are is, as you call it, "flinging poo", than i'll gladly accept the job.

    too often (see the past 28 years), we forget why it is we threw the bums out to begin with, and foolishly let them back in. from nixon to bush II, every republican administration has been an unmitigated disaster.

    it's called looking out for the best interests of my country.

    Parent

    Oh yes, good idea (none / 0) (#152)
    by delandjim on Sun Nov 09, 2008 at 10:29:12 AM EST
    Lets kick her around some more. Raise more sympathy for her while the GOP regroups and come up with a plan. Good idea. They when they are ready again in two to four years lets drag her out again and really piss people off see if we can get their turnout up to enough to pick off some Dem seats.

    Boy that really sounds like fun.

    Parent

    Typical woman. Probably changes (5.00 / 5) (#71)
    by oculus on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 01:32:56 PM EST
    her mind alot also.

    Colbert Said It Best (5.00 / 0) (#77)
    by MTSINAIMAMA on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 02:09:06 PM EST
    He called the Palin's "grifters".

    Let them all stay in Alaska, along with Stevens and Young.

    Look people (5.00 / 1) (#78)
    by eric on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 02:13:28 PM EST
    if Al Gore or Joe Biden dropped $150K on clothes for himself and his family, didn't know Africa was a continent and not a country, and gave those clueless interviews to Couric and others, I would call him a dimwitted spendthrift, too.

    Don't try to down-rate me or try to impute some kind of sexism on me, because I say what I say because it is my opinion, regardless of gender.

    Sorry (5.00 / 1) (#84)
    by squeaky on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 02:29:11 PM EST
    I have no patience for religious zealots who are determined to send America back to the Dark Ages.

    Not sure why you feel the need for a rescue job. She is an extremist. BiPartisanship is more about defining the middle which has shifted leftward.

    Palin and her ilk can move to the redefined center, if they are interested. Don't hold your breath.

    yeah, yeah... (5.00 / 2) (#93)
    by S on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 02:46:45 PM EST
    yeah, fine, sarah palin is the devil...she is the worst person in the world...she is coming to take every right of yours away...she is mean...a mean lady...is that enough for you...

    immature, ridiculous nonesense...she is no threat to anyone...

    frankly you sound like the zealot...progressives are supposed to be open minded...you sound like you live in your little well defined world...

    get out there and meet some people that are different than yourself...have a different opinion than yours once in a while...it expands the mind...you don't have to be afraid of them...or hate them...you can simply disagree with them... we are allowed a diversity of opinion in the USA...

    Parent

    The Devil? (3.66 / 3) (#95)
    by squeaky on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 02:53:31 PM EST
    Sorry I do not believe in such things. Nor did I say that Palin is the worst person in the world. Hyperbole is not working for you, here.

    You must have slept through the last 8 years. Many have died because of GOP policies. Palin, McSame and their cronies are most definitely a threat.

    You can campaign for her, be my guest.

    And you know nothing about my world, so give it a rest.

    Parent

    S. Love your posts on this topic. Word of (none / 0) (#114)
    by Angel on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 03:54:40 PM EST
    caution.  Don't argue with Squeaky, he/she/it does not know how to let it be....  I thought Squeaky had been banned, but maybe that's just in BTD's threads, not sure.  Anyway, just a word of caution.

    Parent
    Squeaky has never been banned from (none / 0) (#117)
    by Jeralyn on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 04:14:29 PM EST
    TalkLeft.

    Parent
    I've never seen so much.... (5.00 / 3) (#85)
    by kdog on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 02:32:06 PM EST
    sympathy for lying, thieving, crooked politicians in my life as I have during this election season.

    Very odd phenomenon...you would think Palin was gonna restore our civil liberty or bring peace to the Middle east upon election or something.

    Ain't It Amazing (5.00 / 1) (#89)
    by squeaky on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 02:42:37 PM EST
    Must be some kind of hardwired thing that has to do with making history.

    Sure does not seem reasonable, to me.

    Parent

    Sexism (5.00 / 7) (#94)
    by chrisvee on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 02:48:46 PM EST
    hurts all women, not just the target.  That's why many people are defending her.  You may not agree she's a victim of sexism and possibly you're correct but those who do believe it will defend her even if we'd never vote for her and agree with nothing that she represents.

    Parent
    She Is Clearly (5.00 / 3) (#96)
    by squeaky on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 03:01:03 PM EST
    A target of sexism. But once she accepted the VP slot, she is in my face and I am not going to give her a free ride because she is a woman. I am sure that is one of the reasons Rove chose her. Any criticism could be labeled sexism, especially after the horrible treatment Hillary got. I thought it a clever move and am glad it backfired.

    SHe is right wing religions nutter. That is the basis for my dislike. Enough of that. I do not care how smart or successful she is.

    Parent

    Fair enough... (5.00 / 2) (#98)
    by kdog on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 03:09:59 PM EST
    but I don't hear any criticism of her womanhood, at least around here.  I hear criticism of her intellect, her spending of redistributed wealth, her corruption, her views...as it should be.

    Parent
    k dog , you don't hear it (5.00 / 1) (#121)
    by Jeralyn on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 04:24:44 PM EST
    because I've never written a post attacking her "womanhood."

    Parent
    Oh, didn't you see? C. Rice sd. she (none / 0) (#108)
    by oculus on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 03:44:45 PM EST
    won't, in fact, be able to bring peace to the Middle East before Jan. 20.

    Parent
    have you ever heard of agree to disagree? (5.00 / 3) (#97)
    by S on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 03:04:51 PM EST
    have you ever heard of the notion of 'let's agree to disagree'...or the notion of 'I might vehemently disagree with you, but I will fight to the end for your right to express yourself'

    ...perhaps some lawyers are in the house?

    ...these are notions in democracy...even a good psychological approach to avoiding wars...live and let live...I won't kill you just because I disagree with you...

    the point is, you, or I, do not have to support Hillary, or Palin, or Joe, the Plumber, or Dennis Kucinich, or ANYONE...but they all have a right to get in the game and compete...

    and this past election season CLEARLY showed most objective and fair minded people, that a woman, regardless if she was a Democrat or a Republican, was fighting to compete with a different set of rules...the women, on both sides, had to fight distortions, faux scandals, distrations, hairdos, wardrobe, their kids, etc...

    so my point is, Sarah Palin does not scare me in the least and I support her chance, her opportunity to compete, just like I support Jeralyn's opportunity or Hillary's etc...

    what I do not support is pushing the person out of the game based on stupid, sexist reasons and with a ferocity the men managed to evade...

    I am not making excuses or protecting anyone in particular, I am standing on principle...

    I pray the Democrats with all the power we now have are truly ready and mature enough to lead and make POSITIVE change...I hope we can be proud or ourselves...sometimes I wonder...

    Baloney re "leave poor Sarah alone" (5.00 / 2) (#109)
    by DFLer on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 03:48:12 PM EST
    This (below) from the Newsweek article is huge. She is not an innocent. Here in my small town, her small town values came to the fore on election day and after Obama won, in the form of nasty hate mail left on the doorstep of our County HQ, calling O a terrorist etc., and in the form of rocks thrown through the windows...breaking them.

    Palin inculcated a virus of hate, and gave permission to people to express it.

    The Obama campaign was provided with reports from the Secret Service showing a sharp and disturbing increase in threats to Obama in September and early October, at the same time that many crowds at Palin rallies became more frenzied. Michelle Obama was shaken by the vituperative crowds and the hot rhetoric from the GOP candidates. "Why would they try to make people hate us?" Michelle asked a top campaign aide.


    Aha (none / 0) (#128)
    by eric on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 04:46:51 PM EST
    Winona, I presume.  Didn't hear about the note, did hear about the broken windows.

    Parent
    yer right ..Winona (none / 0) (#130)
    by DFLer on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 04:56:56 PM EST
    The party workers who picked up those notes in the AM decided to keep it to themselves  for election day....I presume to keep the vibe positive for da workers. ....the rocks came thru at 2:00 am after the election

    Parent
    Garbage. (5.00 / 2) (#120)
    by TChris on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 04:20:01 PM EST
    If you can find me another candidate of either gender who bled $150,000 from a campaign for a family wardrobe, I'll criticize that candidate too -- particularly if it's a Republican claiming to be just one of the "common folk."

    As for hypocrisy, even if the Edwards and Palin situations were equivalent ($400 vs. $150K), good for the goose = good for the gander.  Some of the most fun this election season consisted of throwing back on the Republicans the various charges (like flip-flopping) that they've leveled against Democrats in the past two elections.  Redirecting an attack back toward the enemy -- making them drink their own medicine -- is strategy, not hypocrisy.

    more garbage (5.00 / 1) (#131)
    by DFLer on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 05:02:29 PM EST
    good lord she couldn't name the countries of NAFTA...there's only three!

    thought Africa was a country, not a continent...apparently confused it with South Africa.

    bullet dodged indeed!

    Yeah, that was a trick question, right? (none / 0) (#135)
    by MyLeftMind on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 05:11:06 PM EST
    NAFTA, um, North American, um North American countries, hmm...

    Let's see, not Russia...

    Parent

    Content analysis of the amount (5.00 / 1) (#136)
    by Cream City on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 05:16:07 PM EST
    of posts and comments devoted to Palin at this site, versus those allotted to McCain -- the GOP candidate for president, by comparison -- would suggest far more concern about the candidate for vice president.

    Why is that?  

    One could hypothesize, perhaps, that TL thinks the vice presidency will continue as in the current administration -- that the vice presidency will be far more powerful than the presidency?  And, therefore, TL sees that in the next administration, Obama will be just a token, and Biden will be the real power in the administration.

    No?  Other hypotheses welcome, then. . . .

    McCain: 72 years old. (none / 0) (#137)
    by oculus on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 05:28:10 PM EST
    Past incidents of malignant myeloma.  Add in POW for 5 and 1/2 years with multiple fractures and poor medical treatment.  Obviously such a man wouldn't last one minute after the inauguration.  Clearly not enough time for Ms. Palin to grow into the possibility of being President.  <snk.>

    Parent
    I'm guessing you're unspoken point (none / 0) (#139)
    by ChrisO on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 05:51:10 PM EST
    is that the got more negative attention because she is a woman. Sarah Palin received an extra dose of scrutiny because she was the only one on the ticket who was unknown to the public. She was a mean spirited, horrible campaigner, who spouted talking points without having any idea what she was saying. Biden made his share of gaffes, but he also was known, and has made many articulate, informed statements, so his gaffes aren't all we know about him.

    Palin has no one to blame but herself. She undoubtedly was the recipient of sexist attacks when she was fist named, but she quickly gave people other things to talk about. I recall Dan Quayle getting much the same treatment, so I don't think it's based on gender bias. I believe that Hillary paved the way for Palin, who would have received much more sexist treatment if Hillary hadn't already gone through so much of it.

    Palin sounded like someone raving on a barstool at times. You may have heard about her rally where she heard protesters in the back of the crowd, and said "I hope you've thanked a veteran for giving you the freedom to protest," In fact, they were her supporters chanting "Sarah." But she immediately went to the whole "I bet you hate the troops" meme without having any idea who she was talking to. She trotted out this stuff again and again, and it was often clear that she had no idea what she was talking about.

    And McCain got plenty of rough treatment, especially as his campaign got meaner and meaner. But he had an established persona that was very positive, which mixed the reaction to him. I can't stand the guy now, but every time I see him raise his arms halfway I am reminded that he has served with honor.

    The things Palin is being criticized for (other than the 24 person entourage, which to me is perfectly acceptable. I mean, she was in position to become Vice President. What's wrong with having a bunch of family with you at a time like that?)are consistent with what we've seen from her time as governor. Questionable expenses, putting her family on the government dime, ethical problems. This stuff wasn't all just made up because she was a woman.

    Parent

    Gosh, no. But your fixation (none / 0) (#143)
    by Cream City on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 08:11:15 PM EST
    on gender is fascinating!  Do tell more.

    Parent
    Oh please (none / 0) (#148)
    by ChrisO on Fri Nov 07, 2008 at 11:21:08 AM EST
    My "fixation" on gender might have something to do with the fact that the bulk of the comments on this thread address gender issues. I rarely write about gender otherwise.

    And it's more than a little disingenuous to post an oblique comment that invites interpretation, then snark at me for guessing at your meaning. I generally like your posts, and you are usually not shy about speaking your mind. Perhaps if you had done so in this case I wouldn't have had to guess at your meaning.

    Or am I to believe that you really thought the concern here was that Palin would be as powerful as Cheney? I think we both know that no one here even hinted at that.

    Parent

    I think I'm glad I didn't see this thread (5.00 / 3) (#140)
    by Teresa on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 06:32:07 PM EST
    before all the deletions.

    There comes a time when all the making fun of Sarah Palin can backfire. My mother absolutely hated this woman. I couldn't believe how much she (Palin) got under my mom's skin.

    The past two days of the media making fun of her have produced some sympathy for her. It's actually starting to bother her. If this continues, the people of Alaska will get offended and probably send her to the Senate. You can only take so much of it.

    She was probably doing a pretty decent job for what the state of Alaska's needs are. Obviously, she wasn't prepared to be VP. That's McCain's fault. He had his nose stuck so far up Lieberman's, his true choice, butt that he didn't properly vet her.

    The people on his campaign leaking all this stuff are the lowest of the low for trying to blame her for his weaknesses as a candidate. It makes me think very badly of him if he doesn't speak in her defense. They had 7 months where they could have been preparing her. Word may have leaked that she was being considered but she would never have been thought of as more than a huge dark horse.

    I realize she could have said no, but how many times did I read regarding Hillary's VP wishes, that it is a job you do not turn down when truly asked.

    And as a certified TN hillbilly, I kind of resent this country bumpkin tries to go to Washington stuff. I think some of the Romney people McCain's campaign hired are making sure he has no competition in 2012. Being unexposed to things doesn't mean you aren't intelligent enough to learn them.

    Odd that my posts were deleted (5.00 / 0) (#142)
    by ericinatl on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 07:36:05 PM EST
    Just because I criticized sexism?

    As a gay man, I think I think I understand sexism because it is quite akin to homophobia (though we arguably further down the food chain -- see Prop 8).  I oppose everything Palin stands for, but I will not sit back while people (including women) continue to perpetuate the sexist attacks.  Focus on the substance, please.  

    If (4.83 / 6) (#75)
    by chrisvee on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 02:05:51 PM EST
    the McCain/Palin ticket had won, Sarah Palin would have made history -- and it would have been just as important to people as the historic moment we did enjoy on Tuesday night.

    In fact, even in losing this was a historic moment for the Republican Party -- heck for both parties -- because we don't get to see many women up on that stage on election night -- at least not as nominees.

    I don't find it inappropriate at all that she had her extended family with her to share the moment.  I recall seeing quite a few Bidens around at the convention (although I didn't check specifically on Tuesday night). The article seems to have a bias and to extend that to imply that this would somehow be an ongoing pattern of abusive behavior on her part seems a little premature and unfair.

    The notions expressed here in the comments that she's a golddigger or breeds too much or whatever are just too distasteful.

    Hitler Was Historic Too (3.66 / 3) (#80)
    by squeaky on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 02:15:54 PM EST
    So what.

    Her gender is not the problem, at least for this commenter. She is a right wing religious zealot. We have had enough of that, thank you.

    Parent

    Godwin's Law n/t (5.00 / 3) (#87)
    by chrisvee on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 02:37:44 PM EST
    Guess That is Historic Too (5.00 / 1) (#92)
    by squeaky on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 02:45:27 PM EST
    But nevertheless as unimportant as Palin's gender is compared to her politics.


    Parent
    don't violate Godwin's (none / 0) (#102)
    by Socraticsilence on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 03:21:23 PM EST
    Use Evita, or perhaps Thatcher (though Palin is nowhere near Thatcher's competency, same political thuggishness though).

    Parent
    I think a lot of the PDS (4.75 / 4) (#76)
    by vml68 on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 02:05:52 PM EST
    is not just because she is a woman but because she is a beautiful woman. And she became Governor of Alaska on her own merit. For most women, you can either be good-looking or successful, dog forbid you are both.
    Instead of focusing on her policies they want to push the image of the bimbo beauty queen spending some rich guys's money.

    Tina Fey (none / 0) (#124)
    by TChris on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 04:30:49 PM EST
    Tina Fey is very successful and at least as attractive as Sarah Palin.  I don't hear anybody putting her down for being both.


    Parent
    Yes Tina Fey is successful and attractive... (5.00 / 1) (#129)
    by vml68 on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 04:54:59 PM EST
    Maybe I should qualify my statement and exclude women who are in the entertainment business, models, etc.
    JMO as someone who works in the financial field, there is an inverse relationship between level of attractiveness and how seriously you are taken.

    Parent
    When I spoke to male Republicans who (none / 0) (#132)
    by MyLeftMind on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 05:06:07 PM EST
    were enamored with Palin, it was clear they liked what she stood for and liked her looks, but not who she really was.  She represented the wild-streak, down home, anti-government conservative mentality, but she was also a successful woman in her own right.  The quintessential Republican dilemma is how to promote female leaders when so many right wingers despise strong women.  Palin can run again in 2012, but she'd better be on the bottom of the ticket or they'll never get enough of their misogynist men to vote for her.  

    Parent
    'Don't hate me because I'm beautiful and rich' (none / 0) (#134)
    by TChris on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 05:10:03 PM EST
    Yeah, successful beautiful women have such sucky lives.

    Parent
    Must be a branding consultant. (4.00 / 3) (#43)
    by scribe on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 12:25:24 PM EST
    Maybe thrown out of more remunerative work by, um, maybe McSame's failure to pick and stick with a favorite brand for himself?  Maybe the ad revenue at RedState is so far down they had to start kicking out their commenters?

    Who knows - who cares.  Point is, good ol' been-here-three-weeks-ks knows what is good and what is not and has no shortage of p*ss and vinegar stored up to fuel telling us which is which.

    And, in so doing, dodges the points I made.  I wonder if ks even knows who Seligman is.

    Dial it back a bit, read and learn, ks - we're all p*ssed and wanting to go after straightening things out.

    But do - do - do get rid of that "Politics of Personal Destruction" Rethuglican tell.  It's annoying.

    It's not the Politics of Personal Destruction (3.50 / 4) (#13)
    by scribe on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 11:45:18 AM EST
    Rather, it's showing these people - Palin, McCain, et als. - as what they are.

    That it looks to you like "Personal Destruction" is more a reflection of your prejudices and preferences than anything else.  

    I didn't hear (or see) a peep out of you when we were discussing and defending Governor Siegelman and the political persecution, prosecution and incarceration he suffered from Karl Rove and the Republicans for having been a successful Democratic officeholder and candidate in Alabama.

    I didn't hear or see a peep out of you, standing up for them, when Geoffrey Feiger and others were prosecuted in federal court on trumped-up (and meritless) charges - in retaliation for having supported John Edwards in 2004 - charges whose provenance led straight back to Rove's office.

    I didn't hear or see a peep out of you, when we were discussing the US Attorneys Rove had Bush fire for lack of political fealty - when they refused to bring meritless "voter fraud" cases to intimidate into not voting people inclined to vote Democratic.

    I didn't hear or see a peep out of you, when Bush's DoJ went after and indicted for money-laundering crimes one of the most prominent criminal defense attorneys in Florida for having the temerity to issue an opinion letter on the provenance of funds used to pay another lawyer to defend someone Bush and his DoJ wanted convicted.

    I didn't hear or see a peep out of you every time Jose Padilla's torture and show trial were the topic of discussion here.

    Only when Republicans get their hindparts caught in the wringer of justice do you see fit to complain.  And you do so loudly.

    You ought to learn something - calling it the "Politics of Personal Destruction" is a seriously amateur tell that you are a Republican, defending only Republicans, and blind to the crimes Republicans commit.

    you assume, wrongly, (3.50 / 2) (#91)
    by cpinva on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 02:43:46 PM EST
    that all of us support this. i don't. i expect full-bore, hard nosed partisan politics, from obama and congress. it's the only way to be sure.

    what about the new way of doing polictics and bipartisainship...just words, huh?

    the republicans can either follow, get out of the way, or get crushed. it matters not the least to me which one they choose.

    here's a quarter, go call someone who cares.

    Like I said (3.00 / 2) (#2)
    by fiver on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 11:13:48 AM EST
    I second your opinion ks (3.00 / 2) (#18)
    by cawaltz on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 11:50:24 AM EST
     I do not always agree with Palin but I ADMIRE her. Here is a woman who instead of complaining about government got involved. The group she is part of was instrumental in passing the Child Enforcement Act, The Domestic Violence Act, and is attempting to get aid for college students who find themselves pregnant so they can continue school. Her state is the only one to have a positive GDP. Her approval rating is at about 80%. "Dodged a bullet" indeed.

    Not anymore (5.00 / 2) (#26)
    by WS on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 12:03:50 PM EST
    her approval rating is way down.  Also, the Alaskan economy is starting to take a hit because of low oil prices.  The Alaskan economy is completely dependent on the oil industry and federal largesse.  Drilling is her solution to everything.  

    Parent
    It is through the roof (3.00 / 2) (#125)
    by cawaltz on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 04:37:31 PM EST
    as compared to the approval rating of Congress. I do agree with ks though, the derangement I see here is positively astounding. But hey, if you all want to behave as if this is the schoolyard junglegym so be it, it's y'alls funeral when average Americans decide that you aren't any better than the party you just replaced and the cycle continues on and on and on and on. Keep namecalling and playing games, I'm sure that will fix the country.

    Parent
    oh and also (3.00 / 2) (#127)
    by cawaltz on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 04:45:00 PM EST
    it's great that you missed my point and ignored the working with a group partly responsible for the Child Enforcement Act, the Domestic Violence Act and everything other than the approval rating ands ignored the fact that every other place in the US is ALREADY at a negative GDP. Great job ignoring facts that don't support your opinion. You guys will look just like the GOP party in no time at all. God, what I wouldn't give for a little intellectual honesty.

    Parent
    Question (none / 0) (#133)
    by TChris on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 05:07:16 PM EST
    What group is that?  Just curious.

    Oh, and you don't really think Sarah Palin is responsible for all the oil under Alaska (which is the only reason Alaska is so economically healthy), do you?

    Parent

    Why I hate palin so much (1.00 / 3) (#147)
    by taurus1353 on Fri Nov 07, 2008 at 10:46:49 AM EST
    Attention Palin haters!
    I don't understand why liberal kool-aid drinkers hate this woman so much.
    This is evidence that there are loons to the left and to the right.
    Look, you're talking about someones daughter, somebody's sister, somebody's wife, a mother of a child here, let it go you don't like her policies disagree on that, but to demean her and hate her in the manner that you do, really makes me wonder, why ?
    And i'm starting to believe a theory, and this is my theory, those who hate her are women who has had an abortion and men who are somehow involve in an abortion, and your conscience is eating you inside, and Sarah and her baby is a reminder that what you killed is a living breathing human being and you're actually angry at yourself and your expressing it by being angry at Sarah who chose not to do what you chose to do, maybe you need some psychatric treatment.


    I don't agree with the premise on abortion (none / 0) (#153)
    by hairspray on Sun Nov 09, 2008 at 12:07:38 PM EST
    being the point of Palin Hate.  It is more about sexism. There is a factual error in the above about a fetus being a living breathing
    human being.  Cellular tissue regenerting yes, but  breathing onlyafter a birthing process.

    Parent
    LOoks like (none / 0) (#25)
    by themomcat on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 12:02:42 PM EST
    Sarah may have had more people on her bus, but Obama won anyway.


    heh (none / 0) (#146)
    by connecticut yankee on Fri Nov 07, 2008 at 09:22:33 AM EST
    Huffingtonpost has a story about the RNC sending a lawyer up to AK to inventory and reclaim the clothes at issue.