My neighbor (R) asked me if I'd seen the Palin speech.

[crim son]

She thought it was wonderful, and that Palin had lead an "ordinary" life, but was clearly very intelligent and strong. She then derided another neighbor for being a serious Hillary supporter, but supporting Obama now that Hillary is out of the running. She said Obama was an idiot not for picking Hillary as VP. This woman's opinion is always interesting (if icky) because she is the wife of a doctor, has a degree in accounting or something, and lives very well. She is also just about the kindest, most unassuming person you could meet. Oh, and she's Catholic. Her stance forces me to recognize that apparently rational, good people are not only willing but EAGER to support the McCain candidacy. My thought: :wtf:

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. I watched Palin's speech - not only was it without content, it was actually offensive.

She's a Republican, so I figured it wouldn't be a good speech and wouldn't have much content, but it was far worse than I thought it would be.

She's fucking scary.

[Parche]

8. I Loved The Rudy Guiliani Phony Laughs

And Cindy McCane's Phony smile

and the humour from Sarah Palin....well, she ought to be a stand up comedian, she is funnier then Robin Williams :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :hi:

[MsTryska]

2. Racism?

that's the only logical explanation - the country is down the shitter, I can't see any other reason than not wanting a black man to be president to opt for 4 more years of this crap.

[southpaw]

4. Nope... sexism.

Apolitical types who were supporting Hillary simply because she is a woman see the switch to McCain/Palin as the logical choice... since there is a woman on the ticket.

They were never supporting Hillary because of her policy positions... only because she is a woman.

That's sexism.

Not to say that racism couldn't be a part of the picture... in some cases it is the whole picture. But these PUMA types seem to be the most sexist people on the planet these days.

[crim son]

5. I had a discussion about that today: the power of racism and sexism

and how it might undo Obama... in this case we were speaking of reverse sexism, where not having a Hillary on the ballot could be our undoing. It isn't that simple, though.

[graywarrior]

22. Token Woman

My head wants to explode.

[Fire Walk With Me]

6. In a frightening environment, people are less likely to choose the unknown.

Guess what? Republicans have given us a frightening environment for this very reason.

[DS1]

3. It was like watching a pre-teen taunt the adults while assuming

there wouldn't be any repercussions.

[crim son]

7. She may be used to getting what she wants and manipulating people to ensure it.

An interesting thing about my neighbor: she has incredibly low self-esteem. She was also raised in a very poor household. I'm always trying to put it all together and figure her out. Anyhow, people see what they want and expect to see, apparently.

[SPKrazy]

9. The threat from Palin

is her perceived "ordinariness" however she is undoubtedly anything but ordinary to be so apparently unqualified and picked. It is her not so hidden support of drilling ANWR and her far right religious beliefs that seem to be her only qualifications that I see. That and she is a good distraction for the media to target and then she can plead to the masses how unfair the media is targeting her. Meanwhile she says that we are just about to win in Iraq and the Dems want to leave. :wtf: I'd like to know how we are winning. No one is saying that unless I missed something big.

I think that the world is a flat circle for someone like Palin and she's kind of a "I got mine" kinda person I imagine too. But she is charming in a seemingly "ordinary way" I fear that the most.

[SPKrazy]

24. Gosh and I even left a lot of this stuff with "no one"

and he said he'd pass it on to you

and you don't reply to me :cry:

[crim son]

26. Well, he didn't!

I was gone most of the afternoon, at D's. I'll check the messages :hug:

[NJmaverick]

10. Your post reminded me of this quote

John Kenneth Galbraith:

The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.

[crim son]

12. He's one of my father's favorite authors.

Dad is a repug. :crazy:

[NJmaverick]

17. I would think that would make the quote all the more

powerful

[NJmaverick]

18. I would think that would make the quote all the more

powerful

[crim son]

19. Well, it's another one of those questions to ponder.

Dad was a physician/surgeon, and English major and a very kind man who pulled his investments from South Africa when my sister pointed out how unethical it was to be in there. He's also anti-choice and as an obstetrician/gynecologist, he had endless opportunities to speak and act on his view. He is not religious. He certainly doesn't see himself as selfish... his family had lots of money from oil and banking so he came by his republicanism naturally.

It's SO STRANGE how people come to pick & stick with their allegiances.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

11. A degree in accounting means that you've learned a job skill

First off, apologies to accountants who are well-educated, perhaps because they read widely or because they earned their accounting credentials after they already had a liberal arts degree.

An accounting degree doesn't necessarily mean that you're educated. Take it from one who taught hundreds of business and accounting students during my teaching career. At many schools, it means that you've taken four or five general education courses--sometimes the ones chosen by the business department-- and then devoted the whole rest of your four years to business (often indoctrination into Friedman's economic theories) courses and accounting courses. Add ROTC and one of the fundamentalist Christian groups, and you have a perfect fledgling Republican.

[crim son]

13. Not in this case.

Your point is a good one, but my friend went to Boston College and has a four year degree. I have worked with the two-year certificate accountants and they're a different breed than those who've had a liberal arts education.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

23. At Boston College, maybe, but there are less prestigious schools

where general education consists of a few courses taught in a perfunctory manner, and the rest of the schedule is devoted to accounting and business, with maybe a few information technology courses.

I even taught at a school where the business department told the students which courses they had to take for their general ed. requirements.

Take a curriculum like that, add ROTC, and Campus Crusade for Christ, and you end up with an unquestioning mind.

[crim son]

25. I do believe it.

I can't help but if you're in the Crusade for Christ you're already a bit off. :eyes:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

27. Yeah, well, they do a lot of recruiting on campuses

Just like gays and lesbians :sarcasm:

[Crazy Dave]

14. Was too busy watching "Ghost Hunters"

Which seems more real and believable to me

[ScreamingMeemie]

16. Dude! Run!

[ScreamingMeemie]

15. WTF is right...

This whole thing is loaded with it. I am so afraid the freaks (not meaning your friend, but the radical Christian right) have been properly motivated.

[crim son]

20. Well, she is a bit of a freak, my friend.

We were close before the 2004 election. Since then I'll see her and wave hello; usually that's it. She is the kind I fear most, because I cannot understand her at all.

[crim son]

21. dupe/delete.

grrr

[cwydro]

28. I find myself afraid of this woman

because she will appeal to the right wing wacko vote, but all wrapped up in a pretty mommy package.

Very scary.

[crim son]

30. Yep. Suddenly the McCain camp doesn't look as stupid as they did

two days ago. People who will like Palin are not people who are going to look beyond the speech and the pretty face. I was looking at Craiglist "rants and raves" (just because it is SO irritating!) and a number of people were singing her praises, blissfully unaware of her separatist past, her lies about earmarks, or "troopergate", for example. And how will they find out? Not the MSM, that's for sure.

So I wrote 'em. Haven't heard back. :P :hi:

[leftyclimber]

29. The content of the speech was everything in this life that I am opposed to.

OTOH, she is tremendously fun to imitate -- kind of like a female Dustin Hoffman as Rain Man. I kept expecting her to say, "Six minutes to Wapner," or "Qantas. Definitely Qantas."

I have managed to discuss that abomination of a speech with approximately zero people around my neighborhood. If you take a gander at my avatar, you can hazard a guess why. :scared:

[crim son]

31. Oho! "Six minutes to Wapner!" :rofl:

I only made it half way through the thing because once it turned bad it was obviously going to stay bad, so what was the point of listening?

[Enthusiast]

32. Did you ask her if she knew

Pentecostal members believe Catholics are going to hell?

[crim son]

33. No, because we have agreed to start walking in the mornings,

three times a week. She will become better informed, I assure you. :evilgrin:

[crim son]

34. Another dupe. Sorry.

[Benevolent]

35. Your neighbor is mistaken

She did not address the issues. It was all about "drill drill drill", her relatives, and other similar irrelevant stuff. I don't recall her offering her views on education, health care, etc.

[Mesteryo]

36. maybe it's greed...

She probably has a household income of over $250,000 and supports McCain because he promises to cut taxes even more if elected. Country first...after pocketbook.