Here's a thought.
I don't want to get in to what caused the economic crisis. It's all complicated and controversial.
While I was driving today, I was listening to a radio show talk about the "foreclosure problem."
Rhee Tackles Classroom Challenge -- Printout -- TIME:
Michelle Rhee:
"I don't give a crap.' Don't get me wrong. Creativity is good and whatever. But if the children don't know how to read, I don't care how creative you are. You're not doing your job."I think I love her.
Assuming you took my earlier advice... take your profits now... dead cat bouncing.
I totally kicked ass on this Americans Civics quiz. Supposedly, college educators averaged 55%. While I scored a totally rocking 87.88% (29 out of 33), and I don't even have a degree. Via Kevin Drum
Dow Jones falls 444 points to 7552.
False bounce. The DJI isn't finished diving. I predict a low of 7500 +/- 200.
Experts: Lack of playtime is hurting children - Kids and parenting- msnbc.com:
Without ample opportunity for forms of play that foster innovation and creative thinking, she argues, America’s children will be at a disadvantage in the global economy.
“Play equals learning,” she said. “For too long we have divorced the two.”
Some of the factors behind diminished play time have been evolving for decades, others are more recent. Added together, they have resulted in eight to 12 fewer hours of free play time per week for the average American child since the 1980s, experts say.
Among the key factors, according to Thompson:
- Parents’ reluctance to let their kids play outside on their own, for fear of abduction or injury, and the companion trend of scheduling lessons, supervised sports and other structured activities that consume a large chunk of a child’s non-school hours.
- More hours per week spent by kids watching TV, playing video games, using the Internet, communicating on cell phones.
- Shortening or eliminating recess at many schools — a trend so pronounced that the National PTA has launched a “Rescuing Recess” campaign.
- More emphasis on formal learning in preschool, more homework for elementary school students and more pressure from parents on young children to quickly acquire academic skills.
The Frustrated Teacher get's it right in the comments...
"I mentioned in another post here that I have zero expectations when it comes to how I teach. I assume the kids in my class have unconcerned, uneducated, too busy, drug addicted parents. That way I am sure to cover all that needs to be covered, aside from reading writing and arithmetic.
I checked my stats today and noticed a strange spike in traffic last week. This usually means someone linked to me, but I have no idea who, and my poor mans counter only has the last 100 visit history.
My 3rd grader has a sleepover this weekend, where they told ghost stories.
Ben Chavis, who took over American Indian Public Charter in 2001, when it was struggling academically and in danger of losing its charter, said there was no mystery to his schools' success. It begins, he said, with at least 90 minutes a day of math and English, and a no-nonsense approach.
"These poor kids are doing well because we practice math and language arts," he said. "That's it. It's simple."
ANNUAL REPORT: Poor test results in 'three R's' come after four years of gains.
I was just reading Kevin Carey's latest post about teacher quality, or more specifically alternate certification programs vs. traditional certification programs. He brings up an interesting point about the possibility of there being some sort of mystery innate factor that heavily influences student outcomes and teacher effectiveness.
MSNBC: Homeowner denial: My home is gaining value
To a homeowner, a low, but realistic, listing price is "like someone calling your kids ugly," Ariely said with a laugh.
I've been playing around with facebook and twitter the last few days.
So I am watching the Obama victory speech, and I am feeling it. Seriously, I'm telling my wife, who isn't so accepting, that his speech is pretty decent, he is saying all the right thing, then... he starts with the "Yes we can" thing.
First, I would like to thank everyone who voted... thank you for exercising your right, no matter who you voted for.
My two and a half year old has a stomach bug. I was up all night cleaning up after her.
If Obama wins, promise me that there wont be any more youtube videos like this:
http://parentalcation.blogspot.com/2008/10/still-alive.html#comment-1939693891531904620
Last week my unit had a big inspection, so I spent the last few weeks prepping for it. This week, we are having an exercise, so I am on 12-hour shifts.
To all the educators who read this blog.
The experts seem to be wrong at least half the time, so let me try my hand at a little economic forecasting.
Nouriel Roubini, the professor who predicted the financial crisis in 2006, said the U.S. will suffer its worst recession in 40 years, causing the rally in the stock market to ``sputter.''
Obama will win the election. Not a terrible thing.
Palin is said to have abused her power by "failing to act" to prevent her private citizen husband from lobbying to have an Alaskan State Trooper fired, after the trooper tasered an 11-year old, threatened to kill his father, and drank on duty.
MSBNC's headline is: "A legislative committee's investigation concludes GOP VP nominee Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin unlawfully abused her authority in firing public safety commissioner."
Nuff said.
In the second finding, Branchflower says Monegan's refusal to fire Wooten was not the sole reason for his dismissal but that it was a "contributing factor." Still, he said, Palin's firing of Monegan was "a proper and lawful exercise" of the governor's authority.
October 5th, and we already have our first snow of the year.
Over the past 25 years, the average Alaskan has received roughly $1,200 from the state each year. When fuel costs spiraled out of control in rural Alaska, instead of focusing on suggestions to help rural residents weatherize their homes or develop small-scale renewable energy sources, Palin wrote every Alaskan a second check for $1,200.
July 2008
Alaskans endure some of the highest energy costs in the nation, but they are seeing some relief, thanks to legislation signed by Governor Sarah Palin in May. The measure provided $300 million to the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) for three programs to help Alaskans reduce energy bills and make their homes more energy efficient.
With a fresh infusion of $60 million into the state's Home Energy Rebate Program, thousands of Alaska homeowners are clamoring to receive home-improvement rebate checks worth as much as $10,000, creating an unprecedented backlog and leaving many people frustrated and stressed with the process to get a piece of the big state giveaway.I would wager to say that this program was more successful than anything that Barack Obama has done to improve energy conservation.
Ok, Palin finally redeemed herself. Maybe it was low expectations, but it's clear she got more positives out of the debate than Senator Biden.
Well, I swore I wouldn't vote for anyone who supported the bailout, so I am skipping this year's election.
Too bad.
Good things my kids teachers are doing this year:
My 8th grader has spent the last three hours working on a "government accordian book". She has used colored paper, glue on letters, stencils, and drawings so far.
Ever notice how those who lived through the "Great Depression" talk about it like it's a badge of honor. You always hear about how it built character and taught them the value of savings and thrift.
Why is a financial meltdown such a bad idea?
Up is down. North is South.
I can't watch anymore Sarah Palin interviews. It's like McCain turned her into a puppet.
I'm with K-Lo over at the Corner.
As everyone knows, she's in New York City through tomorrow. I realize she has a busy schedule. I know she has Katie Couric time to carve out. But as John McCain does anything but inspire, how about a total Sarah charm offensive? Drop by and see old friend Larry Kudlow. Give Elisabeth Hasselbeck and the girls a drop-in. Tell Alan Colmes you really missed him last week. Call Rush Limbaugh (you know, the guy who hailed you as a conservative "babe" months ago, finally.
I have a confession. I come from a family of very liberal Democrats. I swear I don't think a single person in my immediate family has ever voted for a Republican... never ever.
This morning my mom messaged me, saying that she didn't like Palin. My mom doesn't dislike anyone, yet Palin has somehow gotten under her skin. Weird.
Anyways, politics is now an off-limits topic in my family. Hopefully my Mom doesn't read this.
Just in case... I love you Mom.
McCain wants to limit execs to $400,000
The New York Times has an inordinate amount of influence on national politics considering they are the local newspaper of the crooks on Wall Street that made money off of the backs of main street.
I say screw the bailout. Let's just pump money into AIG, since we already own it, and take over the credit industry. So what if the other companies fail, we (the taxpayers) can just buy the assets on the cheap. We would be one of the only players out there with enough capital to loan directly to the citizens.
All else being equal, if we accept that Palin doesn't have any experience or expertise for federal government, then I think she is the perfect candidate for President.
Whether you agree with him or not, you have to admit that Charles Murray is funny as hell.
What do you make of the fact that John McCain was ranked 894 in a class of 899 when he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy? I like to think that the reason he ranked so low is that he was out drinking beer, as opposed to just unable to learn stuff.
It's ironic that the same people mocking Palin for her inexperience are championing the same experts to get our economy out of the position that they put themselves in.
Let's be clear. This financial crisis was created because the liberals (and Bush) liked the idea of the poor being able to buy houses, and Wall Street figured out a way to profit of the idiocity of the whole concept until the whole ponzi scheme went bust.
Every single person working for AIG right now should have his paycheck cut to a reasonable government salary.
No I didn't burn out... I am on 12 hour shifts for an exercise at work.
When I first heard about Obama's "pig in lipstick" comment, I thought... no, he ain't that dumb. Then I found out that he followed it up with an "old pig" joke.
Have you noticed the media smears and non-stories written against Sarah Palin are having a shorter and shorter lifespan.
Labels:
Obama,
Sarah Palin
Thanks to Governor Palin, the state of Alaska publishes it's "checkbook" online for public viewing.
I decided to go and compare Sarah Palin's "per diem" payments to those of State Senator Hollis French, the democrat leading the "troopergate" investigation.
According to the detailed report of expenses for the dates 1 July 07 to 30 Jun 08, Governor Palin was paid a total of $5,212.91. In the same time period, Hollis French was paid per diem of $25,009.12.
Hillary Clinton, who I am a big fan of, deserves kudos for not being driven into "gutter" campaigning. She continues to talk about issues, and refuses to follow the Obama campaign into the mud.
Steve Benen over at the Washington Monthly thinks that Obama's like "They must think the American people are stupid" is a good campaign slogan. I admit that I am not neutral, but I don't think the line works that well, at least for swing voters. I am not sure what would work for him, but I don't think he can turn Palin into a weakness, best for him to pray that she flubs on her own (though I don't think it's likely). Democratic candidates don't do well on attacks unless it is on issues of "corruption". I think a good move would be to take a deep breath for a week or two, then announce some sort of major position in his administration for Hillary Clinton (who was my initial pick). It might be too late, but it's his best shot to shore up his support. If he had picked Hillary as VP, he robbed McCain the impact of Palin and he would of cemented her base of women voters. I think in the end, its these two decisions (Hillary and Palin) that will analyzed over and over. This is the year of women. Sort of ironic that the Republicans stole the thunder.
I think the "experience" question is going to be the most difficult question to answer during Sarah Palin interviews. Sooner or later the "executive experience" answer will get old.
Palin's leadership: Opinion adn.com
The Anchorage Daily News has an op-ed piece up about Governor Palin.
It's definitely no puff piece, but there are some key points they mention that the media and the left aren't aware of.
Palin is the only major political figure in the past 20 years who regularly comes to Daily News editorial board meetings by herself, with no flunkies or handlers.
...
Palin dislikes the give-and-take that usually helps smooth the way for political decisions. She states her case and expects legislators to base their actions on the merits of the issue.
...
One of Gov. Palin's great strengths as a reformer also has a downside. She has a fervent sense of what's right and what's wrong and has little concern for political consequences. This fearless sense of righteousness has generally served her well -- as when she went after Alaska's arrogant and corrupt Republican political establishment.
...
One big surprise about Palin's term as governor: She has been thoroughly bipartisan. Her most reliable supporters on her big three accomplishments have been Democrats. The partisan side that Palin showed in her acceptance speech Thursday is something Alaskans haven't seen in her time as governor.
It is so annoying to see all these Republican talking heads do such a crappy job of articulating Governor Palin's true views on issues.
I was watching a Charlie Rose interview with Governors Palin and Napolitano, and get this... Governor Napolitano is the one that brings up the significance of being a Commander of the National Guard. She says "It's a big responsibility."
They are desperate... all sorts of rumors flying about affairs, racial comments, etc...
Sarah Palin meets and greets returning troops at the airport, at Elmendorf AFB, and at Fort Richardson whenever they arrive. She has shown up at 2am just to say "welcome home". This isn't a publicity stunt. She does it because she cares.
I have read about a lot of accusations about Alaska being a welfare state, and how it takes a lot of federal funds.Publish Post
I am completely remiss. I should of pointed out Christina Samuels rebuttal of the false claims of Sarah Palin cutting money from special needs.The difference in funding, however, is because the Alaska Challenge Youth Academy moved to a budget line item of its own. In the fiscal 2009 budget, you can see that the academy alone has a budget of $6,082,100. When you add that to the $3,156,000 that is being spent on all the other projects, it adds up to $9,238,100--an approximately 12 percent INCREASE in spending on all those particular programs, put together, since fiscal 2007.
It should also be noted that Alaska spends far more on education than just these few programs indicate. Education is typically one of the biggest parts of any state's budget, and in Alaska lawmakers plan to spend about $1.2 billion for fiscal 2009.Edweek also has a few more Sarah Palin related articles up.When asked during a televised debate in 2006 about evolution and creationism, Palin said, according to the Anchorage Daily News: "Teach both. You know, don't be afraid of information. Healthy debate is so important, and it's so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching both."
In a subsequent interview with the Daily News, Palin said discussion of alternative views on the origins of life should be allowed in Alaska classrooms. "I don't think there should be a prohibition against debate if it comes up in class. It doesn't have to be part of the curriculum," she said.Alaska has one of the nation’s most unusual performance-incentive programs, which rewards school employees with payments for gains in student achievement. The state-run program is distinct in that it includes many different kinds of employees, from administrators and teachers to custodians and secretaries, offering them payments for increased student performance at their school.
and
Members of education organizations in Alaska generally spoke favorably about Ms. Palin’s record on school issues since she took office in January of 2007. The governor has become a popular figure among the 13,000 members of the Alaska National Education Association, said Barbara Angaiak, president of the state affiliate of the National Education Association.
The union official credited Ms. Palin for having backed a legislative proposal, which became law this year, that overhauled the state’s school funding system. That plan brought more money to the state’s many rural and remote school districts and raised spending for students with special needs. ("Alaska Legislators Overhaul Funding," April 30, 2008.)
I own the website hotgovernor.com (nothing but a holding page right now). I thought about selling it and donating the money to the McCain campaign, but I am afraid whoever bought it would use it for nefarious means.
Alaska calls them snowmachines. The rest of the U.S., uses the word snowmobile.
Do you think the secret service is having nightmares about trying to guard Sarah Palin while she is hunting in the middle of an Alaskan winter?
The election has come down to two lawyers versus a hockey mom and a veteran.
A certain someone who got in a certain situation, was hardly mentioned in the media today. I guess having that person's significant other on state with her wasn't such a bad idea after all.
As the Weekly Standard pointed out, there is an evil smear going about, which I was able to get retracted at Washington Monthly.
The Weekly Standard pointed to this article over at edweek by Sean Cavanagh which also disproved the notion.
But I have even more information. The original smear is based on funding documents for "Special Schools". What they failed to note, besides for the movement of the Alaska Challenge Academy funding to a separate category, is that Alaska special education funding is also covered under the Department of Education and Early Development Student and School Achievement.Gov. Sarah Palin and state lawmakers have gone ahead with an overhaul of Alaska’s school funding system that supporters predict will provide much-needed financial help to rural schools and those serving students with disabilities.
The plan, enacted in the recently concluded session of the legislature, is based on recommendations issued by a legislative task force last year. It will phase in a greater flow of money to districts outside of Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city, over the next five years.Advocates for rural and remote schools have lobbied for years for more funding, in particular noting the higher fuel, transportation, and other costs associated with providing education in communities scattered across the vast state.
A second part of the measure raises spending for students with special needs to $73,840 in fiscal 2011, from the current $26,900 per student in fiscal 2008, according to the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development.
Palin: "To the families of special-needs children all across this country, I have a message: For years, you sought to make America a more welcoming place for your sons and daughters. I pledge to you that if we are elected, you will have a friend and advocate in the White House."
Sarah Palin might have changed her mind on this one recently. However, a comment here notes that Palin actually slashed funding for schools for special needs kids by 62%. Budgets: FY 2007 (pre-Palin), 2008, 2009 (all pdfs).
A commenter (Jim Syar) accused Sarah Palin of reducing the special education budget by 62%. That is false. The special education budget actually increased by nearly 12%, as explained below.Burn. I posted in the comments. Check back to find out if a retraction is printed.
As Syar correctly notes, the Alaska 2007 budget for special education was $8,265,300. But that included $5,352,000 for the Alaska Challenge Youth Academy.
In the 2009 budgetary document to which Syar links, astute observers will note that there is no mention of the Alaska Challenge Youth Academy. Instead, you have to look elsewhere. And guess what: There is now a specific document providing $6,082,100 for the Alaska Challenge Youth Academy.http://www.gov.state.ak.us/omb/09_omb/budget/EED/comp2837.pdf So combined with the $3,156,000 that Syar notes, the total is $9,238,100. A nearly 12% INCREASE, not a 62% decrease.
Posted by: SB September 3, 2008 3:38 PM
Screw politics...
The Obama campaign will try and divert focus away from Palin, and try and redirect it back to McCain. He has a better chance against him.
Much is being made of McCain's vetting process. Let's be real folks. He went with his gut instinct, which is what the President must do in a crisis. Weigh the options and make a decision. Well I am here to tell you that the decision that the media has been decrying all weekend is starting too look like a brilliant choice.
Quotes from the comments over at Washington Monthly.
After tonight, I was so worried that I coughed up another $100 to the Obama campaign. And $10 to ActBlue.
This will test the Obama campaign.
Posted by: John O on September 4, 2008 at 12:02 AM | PERMALINKI agree with the poster who said this will launch a comeback for McCain. This speech is going to be very well reviewed, and not just on wingnut sites. The MSM is going to cream big time, and tomorrow we'll see many, many Sarah puff pieces. At minimum, tonight will end all the distracting silliness about Palin leaving the ticket. She was everything they needed her to be.
On the positive side, Barack in his speech laid down a kind of gauntlet for the Republicans when he challenged them to run a positive campaign on the issues. Now that they've done exactly the opposite, no one can blame him for responding in kind. I only hope he's capable of actually doing so.
Posted by: mib8 on September 3, 2008 at 11:54 PM | PERMALINKThe chances of her leaving the ticket just dropped to approximately zero.
Yes that's true. I was wrong. She is in.
But thats the best news imaginable.
She is all about base.
But base isn't enough to win this time around.
She is an alienator and a divider.
That's the wrong tack to take in 2008.
This chick is good. But not good enough. Obama, just like in the Primary, will find another gear. Voter turn out. Voter turn out. Please don't let them steal yet another one. Please.
Posted by: getready on September 3, 2008 at 11:36 PM | PERMALINKShe is all about base. But base isn't enough to win this time around. She is an alienator and a divider. That's the wrong tack to take in 2008.
It worked before, it can work again.
Sorry, kids, Governor Palin is delivering. The RNC and the fascist machine are going to go "all in on Palin". How many low-information voters can the DNC reach before November?
What will be interesting to observe is how the trad media reacts. Brooks, Coulter, Limbaugh, Boortz, Hannity, O'Reilly, Krauthammer, Broder, Will, et al, aren't going on vacation for the next 9 weeks. How tightly they embrace this ticket, and how the rest of the crew (National Enquirer included) goes about the business of journalism is going play as big a role as in 2000, 2004.
Complacency for the Democrats puts McCain and Palin in the West Wing.
Posted by: GuyFromOhio on September 3, 2008 at 11:12 PM | PERMALINKYou're all wrong. This speech, despite its bullshit, is going to launch a huge McCain comeback.
Red meat for the droolers. Pitch perfect, and Biden will get hassled if he's too mean to her.
Did I mention that McCain was a POW?
I, for one, am worried. Most of the electorate doesn't give a flying shit about reality, nor do they view politics as having any impact on their lives. Think, "sporting event," or, if I may, "beauty contest."
You'll see. McCain will keep her away from the press (that groundwork is already laid) and it will be another nail-biter, despite any objective evidence for what it should be.
Posted by: john O on September 3, 2008 at 11:09 PM | PERMALINK
America sees what the Alaska already knew. Whether you support her politics or not, she is good.
Obama and McCain should refuse to talk to any reporter representing a news organization that has anything currently published about Governor Palin's daughter.
Labels:
media,
Sarah Palin
I would never, ever, ever survive a media vetting even 1/10th as intense as Governor Palin.
Is There a Particular *Reason* that Community Organizer Barack Obama and his Surrogates Refuse to Acknowledge that Sarah Palin is the Governor of Alaska?
LINK DELETED
NOTE: Original post deleted because Independent George pointed out I was out of line, which I was. I apologize.
This post is a preemptive "I told you" so for me to link to in the future, after the following events take place.
1. Sarah Palin's speech at the RNC kicks ass.
2. Sarah Palin performs awesome at her first interview/press conference.
Oh, and to really enjoy it, I am including this video for all my doubting thomas readers.
Oh, it's going to be so enjoyable. Feel free to use it as well.
Folks, it looks like the smear machine is running out of oil. Fortunately the left wing outsmarted themselves. They piled up so much shit in such a short period of time, they forgot to realize that it all gets ignored for the big scandal of the daughters pregnancy. In the long term, the only thing that the public is going to remember is that a poor 17 year old was put through the ringers because of the left wings invasion of privacy.
Prediction: The heat will intensify out of desperation on Thursday after Governor Palin's highly successful speech.
You know it's true. Obama lies in bed at night thinking about Palin. In the last few days, the only argument that the Obama campaign can make against McCain is that he picked Sarah Palin.
I say, yes, yes he did choose her. She isn't going away. He should be scared.
It's pretty sad when a Presidential candidate finds himself running against a VP candidate, and still loosing.
Let's be absolutely honest here. McCain gambled. I am not denying it. I understand the left wing attacks on her. They recognize that she is charming, and has the potential to destroy Obama/Biden in the election, but here is the irony in their concentrated attacks.
McCain can not cut her loose period. If McCain cut her loose, nothing short of capturing Obama on video having crumpets with Osama Bin Laden would be enough to win the election. That is a fact.
All the attacks and dirt dug up in the next week (I doubt it will take longer than that, and I suspect most of the major dirt has already been found), and unless they come up with a true smoking gun, it will all fade into memory within two to three weeks.
At that point, the McCain/Palin ticket will simply rest on how well she handles the media.
Now I am going to wait right here, but go over to youtube and watch every Palin video you can find. Go... now... I'll be here when you get back.
Ok, your finished finally.
Now honestly, what were your opinions.
Exactly. "Wow" is exactly what I thought. She is frickin good.
The media will start every interview with the full intention of ripping her to shreds, but once she flashes that smile and lets out that self depreciating laugh a few times, the reporters or more importantly the audience will be putty in her hands.
The haters will always be haters, but we don't need their votes. We need the votes of those middle class working Americans who will realize that Palin is just like them.
Sorry, got off track there. Bottom Line: concentrated attacks help us since they will blow over sooner. McCain won't get rid of her, so no use trying.
Kevin Drum - Mother Jones Blog: Where is Sarah?
WHERE IS SARAH?....Has Sarah Palin granted an interview yet to the national press? Just curious. I haven't seen one yet. They're going to have to let her face the media mob eventually, aren't they?
UPDATE: Here she is in People magazine. It's the obvious choice, and I imagine that Fox News and GMA and Parade are on deck too. The national political press corps that might actually press her on serious issues, though? Wait and see.
The hits and dirt coming flying faster than the right can reply, dilute, rebutt, or explain; but it occurred to me, what's the point. I don't think it matters, because the majority of voters aren't blog reading political junkies, and are going to end up loving Governor Palin, and here is why:
1. Pregnancy - The only thing voters are going to take home from this pass weekend is that her daughter is pregnant and she was forced to talk about it because of horrible Internet rumors. Palin 1 - Left 0.
2. Flip flops on the bridge to nowhere. The general public doesn't care. Every single politician they have ever heard about has been accused of flip flopping. Once the words bridge and Alaska are mentioned, the rest is going to sound like "blah, blah, blah..."
3. Troopergate: any 60 minutes investigation is going to end up with this simple conclusion. The trooper in question did for a fact at least do the following: taser an 11 year old, threaten to kill Governor Palins parents, drink on duty in his patrol car, and all he got was 5 days suspension.
4. Charm. The simple fact is that she is very very charming and articulate. As soon as the first interviews are shown on network TV, the public will come away with the impression that she has her shit together.
5. America will identify with her. She has more in common with the average American than any national politician in decades.
So bring on the dirt, the rumors, the accusations; All publicity is good publicity, at least in Governor Palin's case.
Sarah Palin Facts · Little Known Facts About the Alaska Governor:
- Sarah Palin isn’t allowed to wield the gavel at the convention because they’re afraid she’ll use it to kill liberals.
- Sarah Palin can divide by zero
Sorry, but it's funny, and I don't think it will do major harm to her reputation. Palin certainly has replaced Obama as the most interesting politician. She makes Obama look like Joe Biden.
Howard Kurtz - A Blogger, a Baby, a Cry of Concern - washingtonpost.com:
"It is hardly unusual for a teenage girl to become pregnant, and unless she is Jamie Lynn Spears, who sold her baby pictures to OK! magazine, the news value is minimal. But some media commentators say Palin is fair game, not just because she is running for national office but because she is a self-described 'hockey mom' who told the nation that her eldest son is headed to Iraq.
'Once she's brought her children in as selling points, unfortunately the bad comes in with the good,' says Lisa Bloom, a Court TV anchor. 'She's integrating her mom quality as a key part of her résumé. We didn't do that in the press; she did that.'"
Quick, before it's scrubbed - Democratic Underground
Screen shot before its taken down...
I sent a myspace message to the girl warning her... hopefully she makes her myspace profile private.
Every time I go online, I come across another drive by on Governor Palin, in what is turning out to be the largest organized smear job in political history.
Going to go watch TV.
Today the Obama campaign demanded that Sarah Palin offer concrete proof that her children are really hers.
Not content with photo's showing Sarah Palin pregnant 5 days before giving birth to her youngest son Trig Palin, they are demanding that she produce birthing videos, and DNA analysis for each and every child.
An Obama spokesman was quoted as saying "She is much too hot to have given birth five times, besides everyone knows it is way to cold in Alaska to conceive children. We have reason to believe that her kids are the prodigy of Hitler and Stalin."
Meanwhile, Obama tauts his executive experience as a community organizer in Chicago.
"I remember the struggles with getting the residents to march in a straight line during a protest march, but by chanting "Yes, we can" over and over, they overcame, and by god, they marched in a straight line."
I feel dirty even having to post this, because the disgusting rumors about Governor Palin and her son Trig are the lowest of slimeball politics I have seen, at least since the evil rumors about Senator McCains daughter brought by the Bush campaign 8 years ago.
All I have to say is that the liberal blogosphere is going to come out of this with a lot of mud on their face. It's to bad, because I use to respect bloggers like Kevin Drum, Mathew Yglesias, and Andrew Sullivan.
Wow, who would of thought that a vice presidential pick could bring out so much blatant sexism in the media. Only a few weeks ago, they had nothing but love for Governor Bobby Jindal despite him being even younger and having way way less experience than Governor Palin.
It seems like the whole main stream media is on the edge of their collective seat waiting for Governor Palin to fail. They obviously haven't watched any of the multitude of interviews she has done in the last year. I can not wait until the first public televised interview when Governor Palin makes the media look foolish.
I am not afraid. McCain let her loose.
Hopefully, the McCain/Palin campaign releases Todd Palin from campaign stumping duties soon. He just isn't built for it. The guy is obviously charming, but it's equally obvious the guy belongs back in Alaska in a pair of jeans. Personally, I think it looks a little ackward for Governor Palin to have him hanging around in the background of all these media stops.
As the father of four daughters, the sexism against Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin disgusts me. A majority of it comes from the main stream media, but there is a good chunk of it coming from the Obama campaign and disappointingly, the good old boy network of the Republican party.
To understand how Sarah Palin looks at things, please go read this Times interview with her.
Here is what she had to say on being a woman in politics.
I've totally ignored the issues that have potentially been affecting me when it comes to gender because I was raised in a family where, you know, gender wasn't going to be an issue. The girls did what the boys did. Apparently in Alaska that's quite commonplace. You're out there hunting and fishing. My parents were coaches, so I was involved in sports all my life. So I knew that as woman I could do whatever the men were doing. Also that's just part of Alaskan life.I sincerely hope that I can instill the same sort of attitude in my Alaskan raised daughters.
I have only lived in Alaska for one year, but I wanted to share with you my impression of Alaskans so that you might have a better idea of what sort of environment Sarah Palin comes from, and what sort of person she is.
Alaskans are incredibly independent. This is the sort of place that attracts people looking to earn their fortune the old fashioned way, with their hands and their wits. It is the sort of place where success isn't automatically assumed to happen to only those with a college degree, but that success happens due to a good old fashioned work ethic and a little bit of miners luck. While they definitely lean towards the conservative side, there is a strong libertarian way of looking at things. Alaska is full of mavericks and people here have a live and let live sort of attitude.
Alaskans are conservative, but in a different sort of way than southerners. While there are plenty of Churches, religion here is not worn on a persons sleeve, but is demonstrated in the way people live their lives and treat other people. People here are just as likely to spend Sundays worshiping in nature as they are in a building, especially during fishing season in June - August.
One of the things that shocked me and my wife when we first moved here from South Carolina, is how friendly people were, even at typically bureaucratic places like the passport office or the DMV. And when I say friendly, I don't mean the sort of "good manners" type of friendly, I mean in a sincerely, eager to welcome you to Alaska, friendly.
Outdoorsy; Alaskans are very outdoorsy. When you live in a state as beautiful as Alaska, it is a given that people would enjoy the outdoors, but what really surprised me was how much even the winter doesn't slow them down. Their hardiness is bred in elementary school. In my kids elementary school, they have outdoor recess unless it gets down to something like -10 to -20 degrees F. In most places in the lower 48, any temperature 5 or more degrees below zero is enough to shut down the school. My kids spend more time playing outside in the middle of winter that they did during the spring, fall, and summer of South Carolina put together.
Now what does this mean for Alaska. Well I think the first thing to note is that many politicians are going to look at Sarah with an initial condescending attitude. Her looks, camouflage a no nonsense, take no prisoners, lets get down to business sort of attitude. What many Republicans have yet to realize is John McCain has probably single handily started the reform and modernization of the Republican party by choosing her as his running mate. Make no mistake, that she is loyal to a tee, and will stick with and by John McCain unwaveringly, but she will have very short thrift for the "good old boy" network that exists in today's Republican party.
She will be the antithesis of Barack Obama's elitism and arrogance. As you have may already noted, she is a social conservative based on her deeply held religious convictions, but unlike many Christians out there, her beliefs are tempered by a sense of doing right and respecting others point of view. This is a woman that resigned from a pretty cushy job as Palin Ethics Commissioner of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, because a member of her own party of legal and ethics violations. Then after defeating a corrupt governor, she swept into the old boy system of Alaska politics and completely turned it on its ear.
Finally, I want to say something about her experience. Let's be real here, no one has the entire breadth of hands on experience to deal with the complexity of the job of the American Presidency. What we need in the office is someone who has executive experience to take in information and to quickly make an executive decision based on sound advice and the information available at hand.
I ask you this. In the next couple of days, carefully watch her, watch the way she handles herself. Metaphorically look her in the eyes, and then... then do the same with Joe Biden and Barack Obama. I also want you to listen to her on the issues. If you truly don't think she has what it takes to be President or don't agree with her, then don't vote for her, but I think that you are going to realize that she is one of the few politicians out there that is truly sincere and is someone you will trust to lead this country.
God help me, I can't stop watching (train wreck, maybe).
She's likable. Cute. Perky. Might play well with some mom's in the midwest. She has that upper midwest twang (which I have to say is getting to me. I didn't realize Francis McDermond from Fargo was on the ticket). Too bad she's as full of shit. But this is their convention so it's to be expected.
Posted by: MsJoanne on September 3, 2008 at 10:56 PM | PERMALINK