I'm tired of liberal women's groups purporting to speak for me. I'm even more tired of self-interested celebrities thinking they can sway my vote. Sit here by my fireside and let's chat about what really matters.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Obama is Truly Scary
Is the country supposed to shut down because Obama is calling a work strike for his supporters - for the sake of winning? What's going on here? This man is really scaring me more and more every day. If this is the control he is having right now - I'm really scared about what types of things he will push as president. He does appear to think he's above it all.
At the very least, he's a salesman making empty campaign promises for things he can't fulfill because there is no money to do it with. I don't like that, but I could endure it if that were the only thing to be concerned about.
But I am concerned about more. He says he's going to "change" not only America, but the entire world. That makes him pretty scary. I kind of doubt that every country wants him to be their president; to take a leadership roll in the direction their country goes or laws their country passes. (although it seems several would love to see him as a world leader.)
But what makes it particularly scary is that it appears he really does think he has the power to change the world. The power to change people. Yet half of us, and many in the world, don't want him to change us. So...there would be only one way to make his opponents submit to his vision. Many dictators, intent on making changes their opponents don't like, have used scary methods to make those changes.
I do fear a man that is comfortable around people that are comfortable with murder. I do fear a man that talks about changing America and changing the world, although half of Americans don't believe the way he does on the issues. How will he change the Americans that oppose him? How will he change the minds and behavior of me, my family and our friends?
Either "change" in America is an empty campaign promise, or he intends to hurt me. Not sure what form that hurt will take or if it will take more than one form. But that's the way I perceive it.
He's a really scary person.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Response to Mr. Tonello regarding Joe the Plummer
How Our Candidates Insult American Intelligence
Mr. Tonello, you referred to middle class America as the "lowest-common denominator," and a commentor to your article said that speaking about Joe the Plummer is a "glorification of mediocrity."
This is what one of the major problems is. This campaign has revealed the way left-leaning Americans truly feel about fly-over country and the people in it,.
This campaign hasn't been a vilification of the exceptional, it has been a vilification of Iowa corn country, Alaska oil field workers, Wyoming ranchers, Idaho potato farmers, Minnesota fishermen, Montana hunters, North Dakota beet farmers, Pennsylvania coal miners, and all the nursing assistants, electricians, carpenters, waitresses, and yes, plummers, in our society. Joe the Plummer resounded with a large number of us.
Sure, Joe the PHD is important,too. And so is Josephine. But for many of us, having Sarah Palin in the race made us feel we might be truly heard for the first time in a long time, rather than just used as campaign rhetoric and props.
We aren't Norman Rockwell paintings. We're real people. We truly exist. We are half of the voting public. Raised in the Twin Cities but spending most of my adult life in rural America as well as rural Canada, yes, I have met Josephine. I have also met Jose the illegal immigrant, (he lives in rural areas as well), Joey the locavore-hunter-fisher-writer-vintner-overall-Renaissance man, Joe, the homosexual, and even Joe the millionaire-philanthropist. We aren't stupid. I can know all these people, love them, and still feel socially conservative.
It's safer to say that you have never truly met us. You've seen us in the movies, particularly when there is something Hollywood wants to make fun of. But you've never really known us - or loved us.
DyingInIndianCountry.blogspot.com
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Biden Angry Reporter Asked Tough Questions
A Florida Reporter from station WFTV asked Senator Biden about Acorn, Spreading the Wealth, and Obama's preparedness to be Commander and Chief. Senator Biden, as the questions progressed, appeared to get angrier and angrier and began responding with sarcasm.
Barbara West quoted Karl Marx and asked if the comment about "spreading the wealth" wasn't being Marxist.
"Are you joking?" Biden exclaimed.
West then asked if Biden was implying America was no longer the world's leading power when he said that if Obama wins, he would be quickly tested as president.
"I don't know who's writing your questions," Biden responded.
According to an Orlando Sentinel blog. the Obama camp then killed the station's interview with Biden's wife. They report that Laura K. McGinnis, Central Florida communications director for the Obama campaign, wrote, "This cancellation is non-negotiable, and further opportunities for your station to interview with this campaign are unlikely, at best for the duration of the remaining days until the election."
See the interview - Biden Angered by Tough Questions
It's about time someone asked them a tough question.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Governor Palin Dressing Up for the VP Role -
Remember, she and her family didn't have lots of time to prepare for the Republican Convention. That's why the campaign ran out to buy the family new clothes, get it? The money wasn't spent on her alone - the campaign wanted the entire family to be primped up.
Which means she really is just like me and my family.
By the way, if you look at the number of stores and the dates, many of them on the same day in different cities, it's hardly likely that she herself was even doing the shopping. Do you think she had time to shop as she jumped from city to city? The campaign had a professional buyer choose the clothes and bring them to her.
According to reported records of the Federal Election Commission, this is shopping list for Ms. Sarah Palin and her family:
• $75,062.63 spent at Neiman Marcus on Sept. 10.
• $41,850.72 to Saks Fifth Avenue in New York on Sept. 10.
• $7,575.02 to Saks Fifth Avenue in St. Louis on Sept. 10.
• $5,102.71 to Bloomingdale’s in New York on Sept. 10.
• $789.72 to Barney’s New York on Sept. 10.
• Charges of $4,396.94 and $512.92 at Macy’s in Minneapolis on Sept. 10.
• $4,537.85 to Macy’s in Minneapolis on Sept. 22.
• $349.50 to Lord & Taylor in New York on Sept. 25.
• $4,902.08 to Atelier New York, a men’s clothing boutique, on Sept. 10.
• Two separate charges of $98 to Pacifier, a high-end baby store in Minneapolis, on Sept. 10 and Sept. 25.
• $98.50 to Steinlauf & Stoller, a sewing supply store, in New York on Sept. 25.
• $133 to the Gap in Minneapolis on Sept. 25.
McCain's team did the shopping. That's their prerogative. She looks great.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Why The Democrats Must be Defeated This Year
Mr. Balko, you wrote;
- “I'm not thrilled at the prospect of an Obama administration (especially with a friendly Congress)”
- “This isn't to say that Barack Obama would be any better. Government would undoubtedly grow under his watch. And from my libertarian perspective, he has been increasingly disappointing even on the issues where he's supposed to be good. We may not go to war with Iran in an Obama administration, but we'd likely become entrenched in a prolonged nation-building adventure in the Sudan. Obama's vote on the FISA bill and telecom immunity also suggests that, for all his criticisms of President Bush's use of executive power and assaults on civil liberties, Obama wouldn't be much better.”
This wasn’t a convincing argument as to why we should vote for Obama instead of McCain. In fact, all I understood from the article is that you are mad at the Republicans. There wasn’t anything in the article to tell me why I should choose the Democrats instead.
The scariest thing you mentioned was that, “Congressional Republicans failed to rein in the Bush administration's naked bid to vastly expand the power of the presidency (a failure they're going to come to regret should Obama take office in January).”
I’m sorry, sir, your argument taught me things I hadn’t known about Obama and has convinced me that it is imperative that Senator McCain win the election.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Senator McCain: Only One That Will Govern from the Center.
Mr. Davis went on to claim, "Mr. Obama seems to me to have greater political flexibility to reach out and govern from the center than Mr. McCain."
What?
Sir - you point out that Senator McCain moved right during the campaign to placate the conservative and religious right base of his party. You claim that Senator Obama is in the center. But you know just as well as the rest of us that Senator Obama has also moved to the right during the campaign in order to placate conservative Democrats as well as centrist Republicans.
The Truth - which everyone of us is well aware of - is that Senator McCain is normally in the center and Senator Obama is normally way to the left. Senator McCain is usually in the center. That’s why he chose a conservative governor for his running mate.
So the fact is, Senator McCain, as he has proved time and again in the past, is the one more likely to reach across the aisle and work with everyone. Senator Obama has a clear history of judging things right or wrong through very leftist glasses.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Todd Palin and Gun Rights
“I know John and Sarah will work to get the government back into the people’s hands,” Todd Palin said when he visited Scheel's Sporting Goods in Morehead, Minnesota Friday. The crowd of about 200, packed into the store, cheered and waved McCain signs as well as bumper stickers with the words, "Read My Lipstick McCain-Palin ’08.”
He went on to tell us that Alaskans share a lot of common interests with Minnesotans. “hunting and fishing and, of course, our Second Amendment rights.”
"I know Sen. McCain and my wife will continue to fight for those Second Amendment rights with your support,” he said.
He reminded us that not only is Senator McCain the only candidate that fully supports gun rights, but he’s also the only one with a plan to encourage both big and small business, which is what the economy needs. The other thing that he wanted us to remember is that should Democrats control the Senate and House as well as the Executive Branch, not only will Obama’s foreign Policy be implemented without opposition, but his domestic policies as well, including his economic and health care plans.
Finally, he told us not to mind the critics that claim that Sarah, as a woman and mother, can't do the job. "She’s been told that in every job that she’s had, running for Mayor, they told her you can’t do it because you’ve got Bristol, Track and Willow. So, any female that puts herself into politics is always going to have that criticism and so, she’s faced challenges before and at the end of the day, she always proves them wrong."
He was humble, kind, and to the point. On the drive home, one of my adult daughters commented that while listening to Senator Obama speak in a stadium earlier this year, she found it very hard to pay attention. She said Obama had good inflection when he is speaking, but his content was just too smooth. As she put it, too “politician.” On the other hand, she really enjoyed listening to Mr. Palin. He wasn’t a polished speaker, but she said that’s what she liked. He was real, and you knew that what he was saying was really coming from his heart.
Why is Sarah Palin our Esther?
Sarah isn't perfect, but the jokers currently running Congress are far less perfect. It's beyond me why half of America is suddenly saying that the vice President needs to be one of the "Good Old Boys", after screaming for so long about "change. Why is it that their idea of change means putting someone politically nurtured by the corrupt Chicago establishment into the office of the President?
Not only is Sarah an average person from outside of the beltway, someone who truly represents change, but finally, here is a woman that is on the right side of the issues.
- Abortion is wrong. Even during the most difficult times of my very turbulent life, aborting my children has never been a consideration. Sarah understands this. The woman's movement has never understood women like me.
- Open up ANWR to drilling. If a few acres of American tundra can make a difference, we should be doing that rather than buying oil from overseas.
- None of us like the war. But I do believe, as Sarah does, that McCain is the only candidate that understands what to do in Iraq.
- Corrupt government employees - including corrupt Senators, State Commissioners, or even Troopers - need a swift boot out of office.
- Socialism is wrong. Although we have been low income, my husband vowed in 1992 not to take anymore welfare or entitlements. He made that vow and from that time until his death, he kept it - doing everything he could with his own two hands to feed us. We did not want our neighbors to have to take care of us. We came to understand Capitalism and agree with fiscal conservatives like Sarah. We do believe the Democratic push on the banks laid the foundation for this current crisis.
- My husband, a member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, fed our family through hunting. He taught our children to hunt and cut up the meat on our kitchen table. There have been times when this was our only meat. We believe in hunting and gun rights for all US citizens(excepting convicted criminals).
- Yes, Creationism is something that many Americans believe in. We aren't nuts; it's part of our religion - (Remember? That thing that the first amendment allows us to have...) So when my kids come home from school, I need to re-teach them and explain that evolution is just a theory - there is no proof for it. Then I explain to them why. (Yes, as a former RN, I have an Associate in Science and can explain.) This is why many of us choose to home school. Something else we have a right to do.
- And yes, I and other parents like me are glad to have a home school mom in high office. You see, when so many from the left mock us and try to take away our right to teach our children our faith, that's a very scary thing.
- And Sarah believes in prayer. When I have listened to her pastors on the Internet, I have appreciated them. They are no different than any of the pastors I have grown to love here in the lower forty.
Fed up with them both, I have voted independently for about eight years.
When this campaign season began, I supported Duncan Hunter. When he bowed out, there was no one left that I felt I could get behind. No one was a good as Hunter, as far as I was concerned.
However, when McCain chose Palin, it made a difference for me. I realize that as VP she won't have much clout. But she'll be there, she'll have a voice, and she will be a breathe of fresh air. Obama supporters can mock her - and us - all they want. It doesn't change a thing. I want her in high office.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Joe the Plummer is a Regular Guy -
I, just like Joe, am dreaming about buying a business, so I was interested in Joe's question and Obama's answer. I, just like Joe, have also gotten behind on my taxes in past years. In my case it was property taxes. All this proves is that taxes are too high for struggling families. Did I expect my neighbor to jump in and pay it for me? ABSOLUTELY NOT. We found ways to pay our own bills.
Contrary to what Obama states in his "spread the wealth" plan, taxes need to be lowered for EVERYONE and government reduced. I don't want other people's wealth. I want the room to grow myself. Businesses need a chance to thrive in order for everyone to benefit.
Leave poor Joe alone. He's just an average guy who I'd like to thank for having the guts to ask Obama the question he'd asked. It helped us all a lot to hear Obama's plan for "spreading the wealth."
Cuss Whites & Palin; but Don't You Dare Say Anything About Obama
The left has called her every name in the book, made every derogatory gesture possible, and even worn T-shirts calling her the "C" word. But don't you dare say anything in support of her or you'll get the same. And don't you ever, ever dare say anything negative about Senator Obama.
Jesse Jackson, Pastor Wright, Michelle Obama, and Louis Farrakhan have all given warning that Senator Obama might not view non-blacks in an equal and just manner. Relationships with Bill Ayers, Acorn and Tony Rezco have also warned us that Senator Obama might use corrupt methods to obtain his objectives. But don't you dare think any of it might be true, and heaven help you if you talk to anyone about it.
No one has published photos of Michelle Obama in lewd poses. No one has been reported to have worn a T-shirt calling Senator Obama the "N" word, but that hasn't stopped the left from insinuating its opposition are all nothing but "R" words. Jesse Jackson, Pastor Wright, Michelle Obama, and Louis Farrakhan have each insinuated that all white people are inherently racists and most especially those that disagree with the left. Even Democratic Rep. John Murtha said the other day; "There is no question that western Pennsylvania is a racist area." Michelle Obama is reported to have said last week, “African Press International is supposed to support Africans and African-American view. It is strange that API has chosen to support the racists against my husband."
When I first became a member of an inter-racial family almost 30 years ago, I was initially surprised by the amount of racism coming from extended family members across the kitchen table. Because whites that are the ones primarily accused of racism, I had assumed that minorities must be relatively free of bigotry and very attuned to equality and justice. I was wrong. In all my years, other than one neighbor two doors down, I had never heard bigotry from the mouths of my white family and friends. The biggest surprise for me with my new in-laws was the hate generated toward other minorities - more so than toward whites. But in either case, it was very disturbing. Not everyone at the kitchen table was filled with that hate and rage, but I am no longer naive. It's a real issue.
However, racism from the Obama camp isn't the only disturbing issue. The way the left treats Governor Palin is mind-boggling. Few on the left have stood up in her defense. The main stream media says nothing about the terrible way she is being treated. Why are these people acting so horribly? Her politics, spirituality and way of life are nothing new under the sun. A large percentage of our nation agree with her and live their life very similar to hers. So what is all of this hatred really about? Why are these people so afraid of Governor Palin?
And why are so many NOT afraid of Senator Obama? Acorn and Ayers are not non-issues. They are warnings. When Obama talks about change, he really means it. Only most of his supporters haven't clued in to what that change might actually be. Dr. Corsi, author of the "Obama Nation," was recently arrested in Kenya where he was scheduled to hold a press conference by invitation of missionaries in the area. No documented word yet on why he was arrested. (He has since been released.) We know it was said that he didn't have a work permit, but many have gone to Kenya to minister at evangelical churches and camps for short periods of time - two weeks to a month - without a work permit, including our own pastor several times.
For those who wish to pull out worn arguments that Troopergate and the Keating Affair are worse than any of Senator Obama's associations, please don't bother.
1. The Troopergate ethics inquiry concluded that Palin was 'proper and lawful' in firing a state commissioner - but failed to keep her husband from meddling in the trooper's discipline. There is nothing wrong with an administrator releasing those that don't work well with the administration, or worse still, those who might be a danger to the public.
2. McCain was also cleared of impropriety for the Keating Affair.
3. Four of the Keating five were Democrats. But in fact, there was really only a "Keating Three," because both McCain and John Glenn were actually held blameless. Later, Robert Bennett, Chief Counsel to the Democrats during the investigation, repeatedly said that McCain should not have been included in the investigation. He said that here was no evidence of any wrongdoing, and the Democratic controlled Senate simply kept McCain involved so it would be “bipartisan” scandal.4. McCain's involvement with Keating has been public knowledge for years. No one is allowed to question or examine Senator Obama's history. This is the difference.
I agree with Tucker Bounds, spokesman for Senator McCain, who said, “Americans need to ask themselves if they’ve ever befriended an unrepentant terrorist, or had a convicted felon help them buy their house — because those aren’t smears, those are true facts about Barack Obama.”
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Will Obama Keep His Promises?
Joe the Plumber represents many of us small business owners - many of whom don’t like Obama's Robbing Hood economic plan. He can't cut taxes to 95% of the population and yet still fund all the different programs he claims he'll fund. He's making empty campaign promises. I am afraid of what he might really do once he was in power, especially with the government now so involved with the banking industry. We need to know more about him before we put him in such an important seat.
Jesse Jackson Stirs Racism
Jackson said, "Obama is about change, and the change that Obama promises is not limited to what we do in America itself. It is a change of the way America looks at the world and its place in it." Jackson makes Obama sound like a messiah that assumes he truly can change the way half of America feels on the issues.
Taheri then asked Jackson if Obama's election will close the chapter of black grievances linked to slavery. Jackson appeared to take a deep breath and think, then responded, "No, that chapter won't be closed. However, Obama's victory will be a huge step in the direction we have wanted America to take for decades."
Of course he wouldn’t respond that it would be closed. The milking of white guilt has got to be maintained as long as possible. This is why he needed to stop and think before he responded to this unexpected question. Of course, white people can never, ever be absolved of the guilt they're all supposed to feel.
Jackson then rejected the suggestion that Obama was influenced by Marxist ideas in his youth. He said, "I see no evidence of that. Obama's thirst for justice and equality is rooted in his black culture." Again, Jachson shows his prejudice by insinuating that justice and equality are things foreign to non-black cultures. And yet, Obama sees no injustice in taking hard earned money from laborers and giving it to those that haven’t earned it. He sees no injustice in destroying the lives of unborn babies. He see no injustice in the agreements Palestinians have made with Israel, only to back track when the agreements weren't convenient anymore.
But, Taheri asks Jackson, is Obama - who's not a descendant of slaves - a typical American black? Jackson emphatically answered: "You don't need to be a descendant of slaves to experience the oppression, the suffocating injustice and the ugly racism that exists in our society," he says. "Obama experienced the same environment as all American blacks did." (while growing up in Indonesia and Hawaii as well as attending Columbia University and Harvard Law School.)
Jackson also strongly supports Obama's idea of opening up direct dialogue with the Iranian leadership. "We've got to talk to tell them what we want and hear what they want," Jackson says. "Nothing is gained by not talking to others."
This ignores the fact that many non-western countries have a foundational worldview different from Americans. One can not simply assume that by sitting down at the table one can talk things out if there is no foundational agreement in goals and objectives. Mid-eastern countries are notorious for saying what’s necessary at the table and then doing their own thing, because their goals and values are different than ours. We have a foundational history in America of attempting to compromise so that everyone benefits as a nation. They have a foundational history of doing what is necessary to benefit their individual tribes and clans, and that doesn't always mean their nations. Remember, as an example, that most of Saddam Hussein's administration came from his home town of Tikrit. They were members of his clan. This is common in the Middle-east. Clans come first – even before their nation. (See “From Beirut to Jerusalem” by Tom Friedman.) Compromise isn't a foundational value. Survival of and benefit for the clan is.
Jackson says that as long as the Palestinians haven't seen justice, the Middle East will "remain a source of danger to us all." He doesn’t understand that Justice isn’t what many of our Mid-east opponents are really looking for. They are looking to win, irrespective of justice.
Jackson goes on, "Barack is determined to repair our relations with the world of Islam and Muslims. Thanks to his background and ecumenical approach, he knows how Muslims feel while remaining committed to his own faith."
I don’t doubt that Barack, having attended a Muslim school in Indonesia as a child, understands how Muslims feel. My greater concern is that neither Obama or Jackson, despite calling themselves Christians, understand the way Christians feel or have any real understanding of Christianity at all. Jesus Christ had special warnings for those that would harm children, as abortion does. Christians also understand the special purpose God has for the Jewish people in the Middle East. And Christians understand that God made us all in his image. Race is unimportant in the eyes of God. My husband used to say he was a Christian first and a Native American second because when he accepted Jesus Christ, he accepted his part in the family of God – first and foremost. This is the way we’ve raised our kids. We don’t identify ourselves as Indian, White, Jewish, German, or Irish. My children are all of those things, but first and foremost, they are Christian. All the rest is secondary. It would be great if our society as a whole, including Obama and Jackson, would consider race a non-issue.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Why is Sarah Palin our Princess Di?
Don't celebrities understand that in mocking Sarah, they are alienating many of people that - up until this last month - used to watch their movies?
Liberal women's organizations have never spoken for me. Even when I was a teenager, those organizations never understood or spoke for me. Hillary Clinton has never understood evangelical mom's like me. Even further, I have never cared for any of the so-called top named Christian women's leaders, either. When I have seen video's of "inspirational" Christian women speaking, I've never felt any closer to them with their poofy hair, religious dogma and perfect lives than I have Hillary.
But Sarah is different. She isn't perfect.And not only is she like me in that respect, but finally, here is a woman that knows how I feel about the issues - and feels the same way.
- Abortion is wrong. Even during the most difficult times of my very turbulent life, aborting my children has never been a consideration. Sarah understands this. The woman's movement has never understood women like me.
- Open up ANWR to drilling. If a few acres of American tundra can make a difference, we should be doing that rather than buying oil from overseas.
- None of us like the war. But I do believe, as Sarah does, that McCain is the only candidate that understands what to do with Iraq.
- Corrupt government employees - including corrupt Senators, State Commissioners, or even Troopers - need a swift boot out of office.
- Although we have been low income, my husband vowed in 1992 not to take anymore welfare or entitlements. He made that vow and from that time until his death, he kept it - doing everything he could with his own two hands to feed us. We came to understand and agree with fiscal conservatives like Sarah. We do believe the Democratic push on the banks laid the foundation for this current crisis.
- My husband, a member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, fed our family through hunting. He taught our children to hunt and cut up the meat on our kitchen table. There have been times when this was our only meat. We believe in hunting and gun rights for all US citizens.
- Yes, Creationism is something that many Americans believe in. We aren't nuts; it's part of our religion - (Remember? That thing that the first amendment allows us to have...) So when my kids come home from school, I need to re-teach them and explain that evolution is just a theory - there is no proof for it. Then I explain to them why. (Yes, as a former RN, I have an Associate in Science and can explain.) This is why many of us choose to homeschool. Something else we have a right to do.
- And yes, I and other parents like me are glad to have a homeschool mom in high office. You see, when so many from the left mock us and try to take away our right to teach our children our faith, that's a very scary thing.
- And Sarah believes in prayer. When I have listened to her pastors on the internet, I have appreciated them. They are no different than any of the pastors I have grown to love here in the lower forty. I am so glad that Sarah, a prayerful woman, is in the position she is in.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Let us Pray
"I am a Christian and I dont agree with a lot of what Obama says, but (mudslinging is a waste of time) ...When can we look at the issues? And for other christians, have you even prayed about who you are going to vote for or do you just kind of you know already know the mind of God and who He wants to put in office. My nose is bloody and scabbed because I am face down praying for this election. And I truly feel regardless of who it is we need to be praying for our president, even if we don’t want him to be, because it’s not about us."This is a very good point. We need to pray for God's hand in this election, trust that God is working His plan according to His will, and - if we are trusting God's hand - accept who He places and pray continually for that president.
Lord I bring this country before you. Thy will be done. I pray for all the very, very angry people on both sides of the debate. Lord, in Jesus' name, help our country to turn to You and trust You. Bring peace and understanding where there is none, and Your righteous discipline and response to sin where it is required. Lord, I pray this country will turn to You on bended knee and know that You are God. I pray for all the candidates, McCain, Obama, Palin and Biden. Lord, do whatever is necessary to bring them to their knees before you. And I pray that the person of Your choice is elected President. In Jesus' Holy name, Amen.
Democrat Visit to a Palin Rally -
A PUMA pointed me toward a ticket to a Palin rally in LA today. USC did not start until five so I went. Or rather I lolly gagged my way to the Home Depot Center - how big could this rally be??? - this is LA - ???
Bad idea. She packed the tennis stadium (10,000) and the over flow sat and watched the jumbo tron where the LA Galaxy Soccer team plays. But I got in....It was fascinating. 2 immediate thoughts:
1. She was introduced by a President of a NOW chapter - wow.I have not decided who I will vote for. I did not go as a supporter of this ticket. I went to see Palin. Anyone who has every been in the same room as Bill Clinton - however big - knows what a "star" is. I wanted to see if she was a "star". I can say without question she is a "new star". The idea of her is clearly electric to her party. She owns the stage like Bill Clinton does. She has not quite mastered the relationship between herself and the crowd. 2 pods made themselves known. One she dropped the house on with a line about fighting for the first amendment. The other she handled by ignoring - which I rarely think works.
2. She brought up Bill Ayres.
A few important take aways for me:
1. The difference between the role of women circa 1988 GOP and the 2008 version is something to behold. To say I was flabbergasted that former President of a NOW chapter, talking about equal pay and Geraldine Ferarro, introduced Palin at a large GOP rally is an understatement. This is not the GOP I remember - the one with shrinking, smiling wives off to the side. Think Nancy Reagan. Women were front and center. The code words were "working moms" - but what they were talking about was "robust women as equal partners." "Family Values" as a sledge hammer is out - "Women as a very valuable and equal partner in a family" is in.All in all - it is clear to me that the GOP is not my party. But it was a compelling afternoon. Palin is a fascinating figure. Whatever McCain's motives were in choosing her - the choice changed the game. Whether she wins or loses, Palin will be around for a while.
2. If she wants it, Palin has a future in her party regardless of the outcome in November. They LOVE this woman - like they LOVED Reagan.
3. The crowd was younger and more racially diverse than I expected it to be. Including more than a few Black Americans.
4. A group of about 40 Obama people demonstrated outside. The chant was "Hey, hey ho, ho Sarah Palin has got to go." This is the most tired chant one can imagine. It is like hippies have taken a page from civil war re-enactors. Dress up as if it is 40 years ago and do a historical play.
5. Of the four people on the ticket, Palin is the only one who is not a member of the "elite." This is true even during her stump speech. When she talked about her father growing up in North Hollywood is feels entirely sincere and middle class. Even Clinton's talk of being from Hope, Arkansas had the sheen of being canned. It is not that "I want to have a beer" with her. It's that I would not be surprised in the least if I saw her in line at the grocery store. The closest antecedent I can conjure is Harry Truman. Still, even Truman doesn't quite work. She is a mom, not a dad. This feels entirely new in American politics.
6. Having been to Democratic rallies over the years I must say: Republicans are nicer and more respectful. At least the ones I saw today. Everyone picked up their trash. A small, but telling, fact. Plus, is was organized. People stood in line and waited their turn to get in. I know that only an old school Democrat would find this worthy of note.
7. Based on the number of Hilary stickers in the parking lot - PUMA's were represented.
Democrats for McCain
Quoting from the site, tominpaine.blogspot.com,
"Many Democrats seem to be going through a period of conflict over this election. They see Obama for what he is, a dishonest, snake oil salesman, unfit and unqualified to be President, throwing out one sweet talking lie after another at the political Mr. Goodbar, trying to pick up as many votes as he can get. And while most reject him, they also are recoiling over the idea of having a one night stand with a Republican, any Republican, though the guilty pleasure of having Obama lose and cheating on the cheater is too good to resist.But what they worry about the most is , how will they feel in the morning?"
Aside from Obama's unfitness for the job ( which is reason enough) the other compelling reason for an Obama defeat is to reform and fumigate the Democratic Party which Dean, Pelosi, Brazile, Chuck Schumer and others has turned into the Obamacratic Party which becomes more and more of an embarrassment every day as Pelosi's disastrous performance with the bailout bill proved.Obama is the nominee because of a dishonest primary in which these same people, along with the press did
everything possible to sell Obama as the nominee and do it dishonestly as they knew how including rigging the roll call vote violating every Democratic Party rule and procedure in the process."