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Ken M
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
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Topic Author's Original Post - Sep 28, 2008 - 04:05pm PT
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The Palin Problem
By Kathleen Parker
Sunday, September 28, 2008; Page B07
If at one time women were considered heretical for swimming upstream against feminist orthodoxy, they now face condemnation for swimming downstream -- away from Sarah Palin.
To express reservations about her qualifications to be vice president -- and possibly president -- is to risk being labeled anti-woman.
Or, as I am guilty of charging her early critics, supporting only a certain kind of woman.
Some of the passionately feminist critics of Palin who attacked her personally deserved some of the backlash they received. But circumstances have changed since Palin was introduced as just a hockey mom with lipstick -- what a difference a financial crisis makes -- and a more complicated picture has emerged.
As we've seen and heard more from John McCain's running mate, it is increasingly clear that Palin is a problem. Quick study or not, she doesn't know enough about economics and foreign policy to make Americans comfortable with a President Palin should conditions require her promotion.
Yes, she recently met and turned several heads of state as the U.N. General Assembly convened in New York. She was gracious, charming and disarming. Men swooned. Pakistan's president wanted to hug her. (Perhaps Osama bin Laden is dying to meet her?)
And, yes, she has common sense, something we value. And she's had executive experience as a mayor and a governor, though of relatively small constituencies (about 6,000 and 680,000, respectively).
Finally, Palin's narrative is fun, inspiring and all-American in that frontier way we seem to admire. When Palin first emerged as John McCain's running mate, I confess I was delighted. She was the antithesis and nemesis of the hirsute, Birkenstock-wearing sisterhood -- a refreshing feminist of a different order who personified the modern successful working mother.
Palin didn't make a mess cracking the glass ceiling. She simply glided through it.
It was fun while it lasted.
Palin's recent interviews with Charles Gibson, Sean Hannity and now Katie Couric have all revealed an attractive, earnest, confident candidate. Who Is Clearly Out Of Her League.
No one hates saying that more than I do. Like so many women, I've been pulling for Palin, wishing her the best, hoping she will perform brilliantly. I've also noticed that I watch her interviews with the held breath of an anxious parent, my finger poised over the mute button in case it gets too painful. Unfortunately, it often does. My cringe reflex is exhausted.
Palin filibusters. She repeats words, filling space with deadwood. Cut the verbiage, and there's not much content there. Here's but one example of many from her interview with Hannity:
"Well, there is a danger in allowing some obsessive partisanship to get into the issue that we're talking about today. And that's something that John McCain, too, his track record, proving that he can work both sides of the aisle, he can surpass the partisanship that must be surpassed to deal with an issue like this."
When Couric pointed to polls showing that the financial crisis had boosted Obama's numbers, Palin blustered wordily: "I'm not looking at poll numbers. What I think Americans at the end of the day are going to be able to go back and look at track records and see who's more apt to be talking about solutions and wishing for and hoping for solutions for some opportunity to change, and who's actually done it?"
If BS were currency, Palin could bail out Wall Street herself.
If Palin were a man, we'd all be guffawing, just as we do every time Joe Biden tickles the back of his throat with his toes. But because she's a woman -- and the first ever on a Republican presidential ticket -- we are reluctant to say what is painfully true.
What to do?
McCain can't repudiate his choice of running mate. He not only risks the wrath of the GOP's unforgiving base, but he invites others to second-guess his executive decision-making ability. Barack Obama faces the same problem with Biden.
Only Palin can save McCain, her party and the country she loves. She can bow out for personal reasons, perhaps because she wants to spend more time with her newborn. No one would criticize a mother who puts her family first.
Do it for your country.
Kathleen Parker is syndicated by theWashington Post Writers Group. Her e-mail address iskparker@kparker.com.
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Flashlight
climber
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Sep 28, 2008 - 07:23pm PT
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Wow. Original. A Palin-hater copy/pastes an article.
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Captain...or Skully
Big Wall climber
Nunya, America
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Sep 28, 2008 - 07:34pm PT
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I don't hate her, I just think she's LAME....
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Flashlight
climber
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Sep 28, 2008 - 07:37pm PT
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You didn't copy/paste the article either. :)
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dirtineye
Trad climber
the south
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Sep 28, 2008 - 07:46pm PT
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You are missing the point fleshlight.
Kathleen Parker is not exactly a left wing bleeding heart liberal-- actually she's a right winger.
George will has also expressed reservations about Palin.
So have MANY republicans, who have had the misfortune to listen to her talk on subjects she knows NOTHING about.
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Flashlight
climber
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Sep 28, 2008 - 08:17pm PT
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George Will and Kathleen Parker "masquerade" as conservatives.
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Ouch!
climber
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Sep 28, 2008 - 08:32pm PT
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That Katy Couric interview was devastating. That was scary as hell. Redeems poor Dan Quayle as the dumbest hammer in the sack.
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HighDesertDJ
Trad climber
Arid-zona
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Sep 28, 2008 - 08:42pm PT
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"George Will and Kathleen Parker "masquerade" as conservatives."
What do you know. A conservative trying to undercut the character of the person speaking instead of the substance of what they were saying.
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Mtnmun
Trad climber
Top of the Mountain Mun
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Sep 29, 2008 - 12:05am PT
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Is there a problem with left wing bleeding heart liberals? I'm proud to be a liberal. :^)= Climbing!
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Flashlight
climber
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Sep 29, 2008 - 12:23am PT
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Not attacking their character, just saying they aren't what others claim they are.
Parker just doesn't like her because her verbal delivery isn't Reaganesque...big deal? Where is the "substance" in that?
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dirtbag
climber
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Sep 29, 2008 - 12:28am PT
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Show us one coherent thought in the Couric interviews. Just ONE coherent thought.
I'm not asking for slick interviews, charisma, etc.
How about some slight indication of a knowledge base about national issues? Is that too much to ask from someone trying to be PRESIDENT?
Good luck there.
F*#K John McCain. Patriot my ass, selecting her was about the worst thing he could do for his country. What a pathetic sell out.
He chose a complete f*#king ditz. Good job John!
I actually liked McCain before this (though I disagreed with him on most issues.) No more.
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stevep
Boulder climber
Salt Lake, UT
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Sep 29, 2008 - 12:36am PT
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Actually, Parker seems to be just as concerned about the content -- "Totally Out of Her League" was the quote.
And saying Will is not a conservative? Apparently better representation are blowhards like Limbaugh, Coulter and Hannity?
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Flashlight
climber
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Sep 29, 2008 - 12:39am PT
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Why don't you blowhards spend more time building up YOUR guy? Show us why we should vote FOR him. How is Obama better than McCain? Your entire campaign here on ST is criticizing Palin, the VP nominee?
That is pretty strong.
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HighDesertDJ
Trad climber
Arid-zona
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Sep 29, 2008 - 12:49am PT
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Because people already know how great our guy is. It's way more fun to point out how hilariously awful yours is.
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dirtbag
climber
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Sep 29, 2008 - 12:49am PT
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Covered in another thread, Jody. Dig it up and comment.
You Lois and others said that since McCain picked her, your enthusiasm for McCain shot way up.
You guys are the ones humping her leg.
Well, look at what you are getting: a total ditz to hold the highest office in the world. Way to go.
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Flashlight
climber
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Sep 29, 2008 - 12:53am PT
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Nice way to avoid answering the question.
Where did I ever say my enthusiasm for McCain shot way up?
I am STILL not voting for McCain, I just want you guys to show what Obama has over McCain.
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HighDesertDJ
Trad climber
Arid-zona
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Sep 29, 2008 - 12:57am PT
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Judgement, thoughtfulness, coolheadedness and the lack of a giant bucket of right wing loonies demanding that he do stupid crap backing him up. Experience in the world outside the political and economic elite in the last 30 years also a plus.
(Also a VP that isn't laid out flat by questions like "what evidence can you give that John McCain is a maverick?")
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dirtbag
climber
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Sep 29, 2008 - 01:05am PT
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Jody you said you loved Palin. Glad you're not voting for McCain, but this is your gal speaking.
And again, dig up the other threads rather than change the subject.
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WBraun
climber
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Sep 29, 2008 - 01:11am PT
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She's stupid .....
Boo hoo, there goes the credibility ......
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