Ain't Even Trying To Hear It

Recently I've been called stubborn, a block head, unyielding, and obstinate all in a loving way by people I truly care about. You know who you are and I love ya. We all know the truth about ourselves often come from those close to us but not in this case. In this case I am right...for me.

The issue is why I REFUSE to watch Fox "news".
I do not watch Fox "news"
I do not want to watch Fox "news"
I do not need to watch Fox "news"
I do not intend to watch Fox "news"
It comes down to, I do not consider the bilge propagated by Fox employees "news". They hired Sara Palin as an analyst for goodness sake. I can't take them seriously. Even an op-ed must contain facts which support the opinion. This, for me, is the difference between Fox "news" and MSNBC, and less so CNN.
MSNBC is more like local news on steroids, more stimulating on the political front. While I do not always agree with MSNBC, or CNN, my personal research has found them more in-dept and factual and less sensational than Fox.

Oddly enough, I hear the Fox noise without even tuning in. Beck, Hannity, O'Rielly and to some extent, Limbaugh seep into conversations around me. I get phone calls, e-mails, tweets etc. from folks pissed off about something a Fox head said. Why would I seek out the vitriol coming from these corporate tongs? Why would I pay to be insulted? Why would I support a company that totally hates me and everything I believe? I use the list of sponsors that dropped Glenn Beck as a buying guide (http://bit.ly/a3nX8o). Put another way, I hate war movies, why would I go see "Hurt Locker?" It's more than not wanting to subject myself to the idiocy, the hyperbole or the lies, it's the truth void and re-writing history. I ask myself why listen when I know I'll get angry, throw something, use some colorful verbiage and resolve nothing. Why seek out aggravation with no pay off? It isn't like they're saying anything of import or substance.
To my pals: You are all bright people who think for yourselves, stand firm in your belief and let me do the same. I won't watch Fox, period. Call me :)

LISTEN TO AN AUDIO

Abbott and Costello had it going on in this explanation of American politics. Clear as mud.

LISTEN TO AN AUDIO

Right(s) Out of a Chicken's Ass

Sipsey from "Fried Green Tomatoes: "Oh it don't make no kind of sense. Big ol' ox like Grady won't sit next to a colored child. But he eats eggs- shoot right outta chicken's ass!"

Simple but, clear. Succinct yet apropos. How many of us have heard a grandmother, grandfather or senior mutter something so simple, yet right on point? Seems pretty clear to me. My Dad use to remark how slaves were used in the kitchen, as mid-wives and nanny's. He wondered why it was okay to put slaves in the kitchen where all sorts of things could be done to food, or imagine the damage that could be done to children in the care of a pissed off slave.
All the teabagger racially tinged cries of taking the country back makes me wonder back to where, when, why and, from whom? Wonder what the indigenous people have to say?
Maybe they mean back when the government was not involved in providing protections from ourselves. Back before women and minorities were protected or covered by social security or unemployment insurance? Back when there was no such thing as equal pay or equality except for old rich white men. Or back when children were not covered by labor laws. Maybe back when there was no medicare or medicaid. Back before the EPA developed standards for water and air quality? Back when women could not own property and were treated as property? Back when child abuse was a common day occurrence? Back when boys went to school and girls stayed home?
Does this seem ass backwards for a country that deems itself a world leader. A country that sits in judgment on how other countries treat their citizenry? A country that prides itself in being on the cutting edge. I call it arrogance. Sounds to me like they are not fighting to regain perceived loss of rights, but instead, an extension of rights to a greater majority. Consequently, the teabagger platform is strengthening the rights of Corporate America.
Corporate America should be the target of all this anger, yet it is corporate America that is reaping the benefits right out of a chicken's ass. The Boston tea party may have had grounds in equal representation, but it was also directed at big businesses such as the East India Tea Companies monopoly. Look at the recent failure of the drug import bill. Can the drug import bill be compared to tea imports in 1773? Why should Americans pay twice as much for medication developed in the US by American companies? Look at the tax breaks given companies moving jobs overseas. What about the huge farm subsidies? Do teabaggers realize that if anyone is getting in between them and their doctor, it is big pharma and the insurance companies. Should we revisit NAFTA? Have you walked through a Target or Walgreen and looked at labels? (I do not shop Wal-Mart but imagine they're worse). Have you called a customer service number lately and asked where they are located? What about the recent SCOTUS decision giving citizen rights to big business?
Get corporate America out of the kitchen and away from our children. Stop shooting eggs out your ass. Stop the corporate welfare.

Repug Hypocracy

Unpatriotic: Special Comment by my 72-year-old friend By GottaLaff

Rick Warren Strikes Again

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Out Damn Spot and Take Palin With You

Why are we still discussing Palin? What is so interesting or news worthy about this person? Since the election in November 2008 she televised the brutal murder of turkeys, had several televised word wars with her daughters boy friend and David Letterman, she quit her job, supported losing GOP candidates when she didn't even know what they supported, parroted GOP talking points, put her name on a book someone else wrote, whined, shifted blame and signed autographs. As they say, "Where's the beef?"
I just don't get it. Any thoughts she's had were given to her by her "advisers." She's being used and she doesn't even realize. Palin is an empty vessel being filled by the Dick Armeys of the GOP. She knows nothing of national politics and her catch phrase is "cut taxes so businesses can keep what they earn." That top down economics worked so well in the past, right? Palin would be another Dubya. Dubya was manipulated before elected, and throughout most of his administration. I would guess Palin and Dubya have about the same IQ, low end of the gene pool. What substantive thoughts has she contributed to ANY debate? What has she offered to health care reform, Afghanistan, Iraq, the national debt, (except the tax thing and that's a worn out 45 rpm), education, poverty, global warming or diplomacy. The whole drill baby drill thing was wrong on so many levels. Fortunately President Obama has not, so far, given into that way of thinking.
I just really don't get the media attention. Kill the spot light, turn the mic off and please leave us in the dark. I do not want to go through the next three years hearing the soapbox opera life of Palin, really, I don't. If she declares her candidacy or does something SUBSTANTIVE then okay. Personally she is a distraction, an annoyance, the chicken head eating freak in the circus, a mosquito in my ear, a train wreck I don't want to hear about until it happens. Out damn spot. Who in the media is bold enough to pour the stain remover on her smear?

Green 960 - KKGN

Green 960 - KKGN

Mormons In the Front

I have no love for religion and that is vividly obvious to anyone that knows me. That said, I can honestly say some more than other religions I find more reprehensible than others. Contrary to what might be inferred by the title of this piece, Mormon's are not out in front on my overall list of loathsome religions,but they are on this issue.
I've pretty much ignored LDS unless it knocks on my door or approaches me in any other way. I worked for a Mormon once, we had issues. I don't think it was because he was Mormon, he was a prick of the natural order, so it came naturally. He was a little pinched face guy with facial features I'd get caught up in instead of listening. He'd open his mouth to speak, but nothing came out for a good 10-15 seconds. His mouth and eye brows would do these contortions. It was almost like watching really fast time lapse photography. Odd. I remember my mother always taking out of state visitors up to see the Mormon church in the hills. I never understood why that was an attraction since we could never go inside, and our church was Baptist. I look up there occasionally now and I still hate the place, high above the flat lands on a hill it stands. A beacon to,...what?
Elder Oaks’ is attempting to draw an analogy between those that suffered during the civil rights movement, and those supporting prop 8. According to Oaks, those supporting prop 8 were fired, intimidated and boycotted because they were opponents of prop 8. He does say that the intimidation received by Blacks was worse. By inference I'm assuming he meant "comparable" as in lynchings, rapes, bombed churches, fire hoses, dogs, and locked up in prison suffered by Blacks and supporters. Needless to say, I disagree. One of us misses the point.
I believe the right to marry who you choose is a civil right. I do not believe the two issues can be compared. The movements, the emotion, the ingrained humanity, the foundation for the opposition and resulting impact can not be compared.
Oaks' limits his supposition to the alleged "intimidation" received by opponents of prop 8. Again, I totally disagree. "Intimidated" with boycott, a business has a choice. "Intimidated with being fired, there is a choice and legal avenues. Intimidation did not kill 4 little girls in that church. Intimidation did not lynch thousands of Blacks, or drag them to their death, or burn their homes, or sic 90 pound dogs on women and children, or hose them with fire hoses. That is not intimidation, that is death by racism. Blacks had no choice, no rights, no safety net, no protection or no where to turn. Backlash from this issue can not be compared to the back lashes whipped Blacks suffered. Perhaps Oaks is saying the intimidation is born of homophobia? Blacks had no choice, they were Black and would remain Black regardless of ANY law.
Oaks' comments still does not put the Mormon church at the top of my all time list, but it goes to the front of the line on this issue. As with most religious zealots, Oaks missed the point. I will say in deference to the front runner on my list, the Catholic church was very active during the civil rights movement but they are also confused over prop 8. I've never seen an LDS member on a civil rights picket line. Maybe I missed it.

The Booger Lobby

I hate lobbyist, and lobbying. Why are they booger? They are boogers because they are sticky and no matter how hard you flick them they still stick. Do not misunderstand me, this disdain I have for lobbying IS NOT restricted to the right, it includes lobbyist on the left. "One Person, One vote" is the election mandate in this country. Lobbyist erode the process.

I don't know about you, but I can not and would not pay my congressional representatives as incentive to do what is right. I have attended rallies, gone door to door, given seniors rides to the polls, donated what money I could afford, worked late into the night to get them elected. Why should I have to "lobby" them to do what they promised, what I elected them to do? So no matter how hard I work to get them elected, all it takes is a big fat check to void my efforts.

An organization or business is not and individual regardless of what the SCOTUS may decide. By allowing businesses to have influence in Congress via lobbying, legislation is diluted to profit. The people, the voters, the people paying their salaries, the people living with the consequences, are further minimized in the Democratic process. This is the process we've hung onto and faulted others for not allowing to prosper within their boarders. We have invaded other countries and criticized them for not being Democratic. How can we criticize foreign elections or processes when ours is so manipulated by greed and the the dollar. One Person, One Vote.
The current Health Insurance reform debate is a prime example of the mutilation of the system by lobbyist. http://bit.ly/vl3Co

What do health insurers believe campaign contributions will net them in Congress' health care reform debate? http://bit.ly/10UuC1

Put Down the Pen, Raise the Sword

Many, including myself, have faulted President Obama for being too pragmatic. We've wondered about his insistence on including the naysayers, racist, and harbingers of hate in discussions of public policy. Personally, I have chided myself often for over thinking issues to ad nauseam and as a manager of others, sometimes it works to my detriment.
Democrats won the election right? Democrats currently hold both houses and the Presidency, right? For the first 6 years of his administration, Dubya's house had at it's peak a +31 advantage in Congress and a +10 advantage in the Senate. Legislation passed during those years include:
The Invasion of Iraq; The patriot Act; No Child Left Behind; Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001; The Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003; The Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act; The Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2004; The Medicare Prescription Drug (billion dollar baby), Improvement, and Modernization Act; The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act; and, established The Department of Homeland Security in 2002.
After the 2006 election the 110th Congress, Democrats went up 233/202 in the House and 51/49 in the Senate. Long story short, no, the republicans continued on their march to rightsideville. The only mentionable legislation was the U.S Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007. This bill had more riders on it than a major city transit bus.
After 2008 election the Democrats gained even more seats and went up 256/177 in the House, and 60/40 in the Senate. Now we're going to get some legislation more citizen friendly...right? Eh, somewhat.
My point is, when Republicans are in control of both houses and the White House, the rich prosper. Democrats in control of all three,...the rich prosper. Am I getting frustrated, yes. Are others getting frustrated, yes. Have I given up, not completely, but I have weakened. Maybe the Democrats need a Newt Gingrich in the Senate because my faith in Harry Reid is fading.
I sometimes wonder if it is just too early in his administration to get frustrated with Obama and Congress, but the ripples in the sand propel me forward. I've worked on campaigns in the pass, but not as hard as I did for Obama (after I decided to support him over Hillary).
I understand and accept his desire to work for peace, and to have an inclusive administration. I recognize the need to work with the opposition and make concessions in an effort to gain ground on the many issues facing the US. I get it, really, I do. Oh, wait, what has he gained from the right? Well, let's see they demanded concessions on TARP, and the budget, he conceded, they voted against him anyway. The health care debate has about driven me insane with the backstabbing and posturing. One day republicans like Chuck Grassley are willing to work with Democrats, the next day he's regurgitating the death panel lie. Yet, Obama turns around and publicly thanks Grassley for his cooperation. I appreciate Obama' efforts to work with the republicans, really, but that change is not going to happen. After eight years of Dubya pushing through legislation, invading countries, stomping on citizen rights and just being a jerk, I appreciate Obama because he has attempted to work with the opposition. Really, I appreciate the effort, but the result is they are not willing and I agree with Bill Maher (http://bit.ly/Ww9zL). I would like to see him bitch slap a couple of the bluedogs and smack Bachus around a little. Tell the republicans to either help row or get off the damn ship. Work from the bully pulpit to push health care reform. Take tips from Dubya and push legislation through for the good of the country. I appreciate that he thinks things through and doesn't have knee jerk reactions as Dubya did. My appreciation and many like me have limits.

I say, put down the pen and raise the sword. I would not at all be surprised if Obama is a one term president, not by the vote but by design. I think he has an agenda and he has given himself 4 years. While that opinion would be sad, it would not surprise me to see the Democrats struggling to find a replacement.

Race not Reason

Inhofe: I'll Vote Against Reform Without Reading Bill
http://tiny.cc/bXJ32

Rex Rammell, Idaho GOPer, Jokes About Hunting Obama
http://tiny.cc/SiWmi

Race-Based Protests Directed At Obama Continue To Rise
http://tiny.cc/61RdH

Secret Service Interviewed Pastor Who Prays For Obama's Death
http://tiny.cc/CAbvx


These are just four of the most recent headlines that are proving to be very disturbing, yet constant over the past 8 months. There have been worse comparing our President to Nazi's, socialist, communists, Satan, and the anti-Christ. He's been accused of building his own army, planning to kill old people, not being a citizen, being a Muslim, being a racist and destroying America. The biggie for some is he's planning to take away their guns and put insurance companies out of business and eliminate medicare.
Is all this hate because he is Black? Are all these lies rooted in the deep racist neighborhoods that had been laying dormant all these years? Will this country ever be rid of race based politics? Since when was it acceptable for a gubernatorial candidate to joke about hunting the President with a gun? Why is it okay for a US Senator to publicly say he was going to vote a bill down without reading it simply because media says he should? This is the same media that supports deathers, birthers, teabaggers, and gun toters. This is the same media that has the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, and Glen Beck. Sad

What Today's Klan Looks Like

I was wondering if we knew this

KKK Photos: What Today's Klan Looks Like

Are we seeing more of this because of the Internet? Is there really a resurgence as some say because of President Obama? Did Blacks get uppity, or step out of their place by electing a Black man?

Maddow v. Buchanan v SCOTUS

I wonder who hasn't seen this video, and why not.
The Political Carnival: VIDEO: Maddow v. Buchanan on Sotomayor hearings, race. 2 words: No contest.

I was going to rant and rave about all the inconsistencies and bold face lies in Pat's racist ramblings, then figured I was better than that. What I will say is that in my research I found that Blacks have fought valiantly in EVERY war this country was involved in, including Normandy. Blacks were slaves when the US constitution was written and not even considered citizens, yet they fought for this country.
It was not that Pat ignored these facts, but that others out there not as intelligent as, not as influential, not as recognized believe his rantings, and for that I say shame on Pat, shame on America. All the work of the civil rights movement is being ignored. All the advances, points made are being buried in hateful rantings of a failed 2x Presidential candidate.
This is not the first time Pat's rantings has uncovered more of his racist views. While huffing for his book "State of Emergency" he said, " I'd like the country I grew up in. It was a good country. I lived in Washington D.C. - 400,000 black folks, 400,000 white folks, in a country 89 or 90 percent whites. I like that country." When asked if that was the way he wanted to keep it, he said no. He went on to say that people should not alter the composition without consulting the American people. While I am not sure how that would work in today's society, I am quite sure it would be a demagoguery mess.
Affirmative has been and will continue t be an issue in this country. What Pat fails to accept, not recognize but accept is Sotomayor may have been a AA baby, but she epitomizes the reason why a hand up is sometimes necessary. If schools, resources, teachers, books, classrooms, are not on equal ground, a student given a little assistance can go a long way. Grants, scholarships, work study programs are available only to so many students. Even then, the challenges facing minority students are not on equal ground with white conterparts. Yes things have improved, but if in 2009, there are still those that feel all is right with our educational system, shame on America. In the time of cutbacks, schools taking a 10% cut in some districts, does not have the same impact as in another district. In this, I do not mean white versus black, but with and without.

Extremism in the Military, but no Gays

I wonder if this comes as a surprise to ANYONE
SPLCenter.org: SPLC Urges Congress to Investigate Extremism in the Military
Back in April Janet Napolitano "accidently" released a report entitled "Rightwing Etremenisim: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment," which identified veterans in the report. Right wingnuts went crazy. http://tiny.cc/MQGLE Napolitano later apologized.
Take a look at some of the Facebook pages of some of the soliders on the right side of the article. Wearing a uniform does not make you an angel or a patriot. Best to look at it as soliders protecting "their" country, not "the" country. It's not like these guys had an epiphany once they put on the uniform and crossed the border. They were racist/extremist before they joined. They developed their racial or religious bias way before going to the middle east. What's even more disturbing is many of these soilders will return to the states and enter the law enforcement arena. Whether thier choice is local police, FBI, or CIA, think of the impact to be had, the trail to be forged.
My question, are these guys still in uniform? Why are extremist acceptable when being gay/lesbian is not? Why are prevayors of hate and violence allowed to serve "their" country, but gays are not allowed to fight for "the" country.
Serving in uniform in a volunteer military is admirable, granted, but it should not provide cover nor training for evil. I have much respect for and will honor military personnel serving "the" country in uniform. I realize there is a personnel shortage and the military is spread thin, but, DADT still excist and 13,000 have been discharged because it. How many have been discharged for being racist or extremist? Napolitano should not have appologized, she should have been lauded for foresite.

Why Ask The Question

Does Racism Still Exist?
I wonder, why even ask the question?

This article appeared in the Huffington Post on 7/9/09
Ian Millhiser: Sessions Uses Sotomayor as a Pawn in His Lifelong Crusade Against Civil Rights

Another article was in The Nation and posted on 7/9/09
Racism at the Pool
A group of Black and Latino youngsters in Philadelphia, PA are denied access to the pool at the Valley Swim Club because " There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion...and the atmosphere of the club." It didn't matter to the club that the day camp these kids attended had arranged for the swim day, and had paid $1900 to swim with white people.
It isn't so much that the question is still being asked, but that some seem to think the election of President Obama would change the answer.
We have one (well kinda) Black Supreme Court Justice, we've had two Black Secretary of State (well kinda), we have one Black Senator, (well kinda), we've had four Black Governors. Why is the question still be asked?
Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III of Alabama has the answer, ask him.

Newsvine - Shannyn Moore to Sarah Palin: I Will Not Be Muzzled!

Newsvine - Shannyn Moore to Sarah Palin: I Will Not Be Muzzled!
Sarah Palin just keeps on giving.

Understanding The Noise

8/29/58 - 6/25/09

I wonder what he would say

There's been a lot of noise on the social media circuit regarding the amount of attention given to the death of Michael Jackson. I suppose for those that are aggressively active in the political arena, and starving for a voice in the world, this attitude makes sense. Those that live for news on the Iran election and death of Neda, the debates in DC regarding health insurance and energy, the economy, the unemployment rate, the Afghanistan war, the appointment of Sotomayor, the pull back in Iraq, the death of an entertainer must seem trivial.

I mean after all Farrah Fawcett (6/25), Ed McMahon (6/23), Billy Mays (6/28), David Carradine (6/3), and more recently Karl Maulden (7/1) did not receive such press accolades or attention world wide. I follow several people on twitter that have made catty comments regarding this phenomenon, and to them I say, I can care for more than one thing, allow me the freedom of compassion in more than one venue. I suppose , allow, is the incorrect word because I will deal with his death as I please, as I feel comfortable with, until I understand his death.

I will admit some of the noise from the coverage has been a bit much. I've heard the same "Breaking News" over and over again. There has been a cacophony of noise and supposition regarding his health, the three children, his ex wife, the will, drugs, the day before and the actual day he died. They've covered his child hood, his relationship with father and family. They've discussed his possible suicide, Neverland, where to bury him, how to honor and memorialize him and there have been two autopsies.

Well all that is well and good, but I am still dealing with accepting that he is dead. There are few entertainers that truly have an impact on me. Michael Jackson was an impacting entertainer. I didn't realize what impact he had on me until last Thursday.

When I first heard that he had been taken to the hospital, I just figured he was ill and would still be okay. I was watching news of Farrah Fawcett who had died earlier in the morning on the same day. I watched "Charlies Angels" Farrah's death was expected, and I do not apologize for the fact that she just didn't have that much impact on me. I figured Michael was just ill and would be okay. I even made mention to someone the old saying about deaths coming in three's (McMahon and Farrah being the other two). Approximately 30 minutes later word came out that he had died but it had not been confirmed. I sat and starred at the message in total disbelief, it could not be true, no way, no how. Recently there was a rumor that Patrick Swazye had died. Patrick Swazye is been ill, but he is still alive. All of this was going through my head, another unfounded rumor, so I did not believe Michael had passed. Later when it was confirmed that we had lost Michael, I did not cry but my heart hurt. I was truly affected.

Someone asked me did I love him? Why were so many people were saying they loved MJ? I can't answer for anyone else, but I loved watching him perform, loved his music, I remember his beginnings and my heart hurt as his death was confirmed. His music made me feel good and I wanted to dance and move like him. I loved going out and hearing music by MJ. I was a pretty good dancer, and I had certain moves I used on MJ songs. I never tried to copy MJ in his moves because that was just silly. I hated the whole crotch grabbing thing, but that was his signature and he could have it. Yes, I did sing his songs and It sound pretty good in the bathroom. I thought I sounded just like him when I sang "Ben". I have albums, cassettes, CD's and mp3 recordings of MJ. I even have a VHS tape of Micheal. From vinyl to digital I have my piece and I love it. I love my memories, and here more than a week after his death, a bit of the denial remain. I am am proud of that collection as I am of my vinyl of "Hard Days Night" which I will never sale. Did, or do I love MJ? I love the way he made me feel, I loved the way his music made me move on the dance floor, I loved the showmanship. I never met him but went to two of his concerts. He was not part of my family but his music was a part of my life at a stage that was alive.

My memories include a red jacket like Michael's, mine was silk and soooo cute. I had a white glove lapel pin I would wear when we went out clubbing. I recall my friend Vickie and I were a bit drunk. We were going down the street singing rather loudly, "Beat it, beat it, beat it." Donna, another friend told us she would beat us if we didn't shut up. We were too liquored up to care. Geeks allover the world were ecstatic because he made white socks and black shoes acceptable.

I am a toy collector so I understand his collection of oddities. My collection comes nowhere near his, but I understand his desire for nearness to a childhood,

What difference does it make how people remember as long as they do, and, they do it in a manner that brings them comfort.

There's a deep seeded feeling for me that I have lived through something great, something not to be closely rivaled in a very, very long time. I've often said I can not dance to music I can not feel, perhaps that is the loss I feel. While I realize his music will be around for many years, he will not.

For those out there that do not understand, I am sorry...for them. It will soon be time for the media to get back to wars, the economy, supreme court justices etc...oh, they never went away; they didn't mean less; MJ just took center stage one more time.

RIP MJ sing a little dance a lot, you will be missed.

Todd S. Purdum on Sarah Palin | vanityfair.com

I was wondering about the Sarah Palin phenom, slow day.



Todd S. Purdum on Sarah Palin vanityfair.com:

Read the entire article, but, I think the following sentence says it all;

"What does it say about the nature of modern American politics that a public official who often seems proud of what she does not know is not only accepted but applauded?

Merriam Webster defines a phenomenon as:
1)an observable fact or event; a: an object or aspect known through the senses rather than by thought or intuition: b: a temporal or spatiotemporal object of sensory experience as distinguished from a noumenon c: a fact or event of scientific interest susceptible to scientific description and explanation. 3a :a rare or significant fact or event b: an exceptional, unusual, or abnormal person, thing, or occurrence.

As like most of the world I had not heard of Sarah Palin until she was selected by John McCain as his running mate. Also like most people I thought McCain was attempting to attract the female vote by selecting Palin. Obama did not select Hillary Clinton as many thought he should, but had selected Biden a week earlier. McCain bypassed several other well known female republicans and stronger male republicans in order to make a statement, be mavericky so to speak. Palin wowed them at the RNC and they were all excited. She said cool things like comparing herself to a pit bull in lipstick, and jesting about the work of community organizers and the whole bridge to nowhere mess. Oh she had'em, they loved her. Then she traveled with McCain for at least a month, no lone appearances. She continued to give the same juicy speech which started to atrophy and dry out.
Then the press started asking unscripted questions which had nothing to do with pigs, pit bulls, lipstick or bridges to nowhere. The press discovered the 49th state and attacked like locust. Everyone wondered why she was being protected and always traveled with McCain. Biden was traveling alone, making speeches and answering questions. Then came the Charlie Gibson, Katie Couric, interviews, SNL, Ayers, the monkey, the cries of "kill him", "terrorists" and her (and her families) expansive wardrobe. Yet the crowds roared on, the predominately white, gun clinging religious crowd yelling patriot slogans and hate.
Is this a phenomenon? Does this meet any of the definitions by Merriam Webster? Palin's dip into the national pool was an observable fact, and was not temporal or spatiotemporal, but was it a rare or unusual fact or event? Well it was weird by political standards and I believe she was in way over her head and capabilities.
For me, she came off cocky, unprepared and opportunistic. The latter is not negative in and of itself, but not in concert with the former. An analogy Palin would like is a player needs to know when to pass the ball when that player has no history as a outside shooter. Palin took the shot unprepared with no history or skill, and she missed.
The McCain/Palin loss was not totally her fault but she did not help it. She may not have heard those people yelling, "kill him" and "terrorist" at her speeches the first time, but she had to have heard them thereafter, she made no attempt to stop these people. Through the spending spree for herself and her family, her lack of knowledge in geography, the canned superficial responses to questions, her lack of knowledge in world politics, blaming the media for her short comings, through it all, she remained cocky.
Palin was as a puppy that was smacked on the nose and sent from the national arena. She is still whining and blaming the media because she was not potty trained.
She went back to Alaska, continued to air her dirty laundry while arguing publicly with the baby daddy of her grandchild, had 15+ actions filed against her personally, made an attempt to turn down stimulus dollars and was very vocal against Obama's policies. I won't even mention the airport to know where the state is building with stimulus dollars.
This past Thursday Sarah girl quit. In her usual superficial rambling way, she said a lot of nothing as to her reasons. The one thing I found interesting in her resignation was that she did not want to be a "lame duck" in the position. Keeping in mind that she has another 17 months before the end of her first term in office.
Phenomenon, maybe, but definitely strange, odd, and headed for the history books for a chuckle or two.