Palin's pride.

[Anonymous]

I have been having trouble articulating this issue. Palin seems to be proud of her lack of academic achievement (as sated by someone else). She seems to be proud of her family mishaps. She seems to be proud of her inexperience. She also seems to feel entitled. The Republicans are spinning this really well.
I would like to know, as an African American, would you hire me if I walked in to your office looking for a job, and I took pride in not knowing much?
In all honesty, I don't think that a White man could bet away with this. She is capitalizing on the woman thing in a way that I have never seen before. This could be a smoke screen, but I hope that she does not carry that pride to Washington if she wins. I don't want to her making speeches about how proud she is of screw ups in office. We've had 8 years of that.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry, but I'm genuinely confused. Can you point me to someplace where Palin says she's proud of her "lack of academic achievement"? Or of her "family mishaps," whatever you deem those to be? I agree that she's proud to not be a Washington insider. Can you point to something she's said that suggests a sense of entitlement?

I'm an Obama supporter but I find your post to be lacking in fact and substance. If you can back it up with some actual statements Palin has made in regard to my questions above, I'd love to see them.

[Anonymous]

I think I understand what you're getting at. I don't have specific quotes in mind, but she does portray herself as "just your average gal" kind of way. (Hypocritically touting her slim experience as bigger than it is at the same time, IMHO.) I don't think it's unique to her, though. I think it's part of the anti-elite mantra of the Republicans. There is a strong strain of anti-intellectualism among many Republicans. Look at George W. Bush-- He totally personifies this, sadly. You see it in the anti-science policies of his administration in everything from global warming, to FDA/drug regulations, and more. I remember when Bush took his first trip to Europe early in his tenure (before 9/11) and ridiculed a reporter for asking a question in French during a press conference in Paris.

Re: her family. When she said during her speech last night something about what a typical family looks like from the inside, it was as if she were saying, yeah, my family life is crazy, Ha Ha Ha.

[Anonymous]

18:47 PP again... I think this whole anti-intellectual, I'm just an average, small town gal/guy thing often works politically because many Americans think it doesn't take great intelligence or special knowledge to run a government, just "common sense." As such, they care more that politicians understand them/reflect them. This is what we've seen in the ecstatic support Palin's received from evangelical, especially women Republicans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think I understand what you're getting at. I don't have specific quotes in mind, but she does portray herself as "just your average gal" kind of way. (Hypocritically touting her slim experience as bigger than it is at the same time, IMHO.) I don't think it's unique to her, though. I think it's part of the anti-elite mantra of the Republicans. There is a strong strain of anti-intellectualism among many Republicans. Look at George W. Bush-- He totally personifies this, sadly. You see it in the anti-science policies of his administration in everything from global warming, to FDA/drug regulations, and more. I remember when Bush took his first trip to Europe early in his tenure (before 9/11) and ridiculed a reporter for asking a question in French during a press conference in Paris.

Re: her family. When she said during her speech last night something about what a typical family looks like from the inside, it was as if she were saying, yeah, my family life is crazy, Ha Ha Ha.

I didn't interpret her statement about her family in that way.

You know, we haven't had a whole lot of luck electing Democratic presidents in the past 20 or 30 years. We managed it just twice, with two moderate Southern governors. Maybe we should give a little thought to this, huh? I don't think denigrating Palin for being an "average gal" is really the way to go. First off, Joe Biden is an awfully average guy in terms of his academic pedigree. And there are a whole lot more Americans who didn't go to college, or who went to state universities, than there are who went to Harvard and Columbia. I have a Ph.D. and master's degree from top programs and universities myself, but I just don't think this is an effective line of attack.

[Anonymous]

Agreed. See my subsequent post. (We were writing at the same time.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think I understand what you're getting at. I don't have specific quotes in mind, but she does portray herself as "just your average gal" kind of way. (Hypocritically touting her slim experience as bigger than it is at the same time, IMHO.) I don't think it's unique to her, though. I think it's part of the anti-elite mantra of the Republicans. There is a strong strain of anti-intellectualism among many Republicans. Look at George W. Bush-- He totally personifies this, sadly. You see it in the anti-science policies of his administration in everything from global warming, to FDA/drug regulations, and more. I remember when Bush took his first trip to Europe early in his tenure (before 9/11) and ridiculed a reporter for asking a question in French during a press conference in Paris.

Re: her family. When she said during her speech last night something about what a typical family looks like from the inside, it was as if she were saying, yeah, my family life is crazy, Ha Ha Ha.

I didn't interpret her statement about her family in that way.

You know, we haven't had a whole lot of luck electing Democratic presidents in the past 20 or 30 years. We managed it just twice, with two moderate Southern governors. Maybe we should give a little thought to this, huh? I don't think denigrating Palin for being an "average gal" is really the way to go. First off, Joe Biden is an awfully average guy in terms of his academic pedigree. And there are a whole lot more Americans who didn't go to college, or who went to state universities, than there are who went to Harvard and Columbia. I have a Ph.D. and master's degree from top programs and universities myself, but I just don't think this is an effective line of attack.

You are spot on.

I would suppose that denigrating Palin for her average roots only makes the republican base stronger and more unified. It also immensely turns off and draws in people who don't look down on others because of their differences. I for one, would never want to be associated with the 80% of the liberals posting to these message boards. Their bigoted attacks on Palin and references to "country bumpkins" is classless, unsavory, and pompous. It's even apparent on this board when we had the period of posters attacking burbs vs. city living. The disparaging elitist references to people who chose to live in the burbs was in poor taste and is along the same disparaging lines. Certainly at the very least these posters are not only poor ambassadors of their party, but through their arrogance and vitriol are doing the work for the republican party at the grass roots level. They are showing the overt hypocrisy that Palin pointed out in how Obama talks one way in Scranton and another way in San Fran.

For the record, it is NOT just evangelical Christian women who are energized by Palin as another poster mentioned. I know many middle of the road women who are energized by her and thought they had their minds made up for Obama and are no longer sure.

I would not say that DCUM is a good place to judge the pulse of American women. I think DCUM is only a good sampling if you want to know what the far left is thinking and right now Palin has them sweating and scrambling to regroup

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think I understand what you're getting at. I don't have specific quotes in mind, but she does portray herself as "just your average gal" kind of way. (Hypocritically touting her slim experience as bigger than it is at the same time, IMHO.) I don't think it's unique to her, though. I think it's part of the anti-elite mantra of the Republicans. There is a strong strain of anti-intellectualism among many Republicans. Look at George W. Bush-- He totally personifies this, sadly. You see it in the anti-science policies of his administration in everything from global warming, to FDA/drug regulations, and more. I remember when Bush took his first trip to Europe early in his tenure (before 9/11) and ridiculed a reporter for asking a question in French during a press conference in Paris.

Re: her family. When she said during her speech last night something about what a typical family looks like from the inside, it was as if she were saying, yeah, my family life is crazy, Ha Ha Ha.

I didn't interpret her statement about her family in that way.

You know, we haven't had a whole lot of luck electing Democratic presidents in the past 20 or 30 years. We managed it just twice, with two moderate Southern governors. Maybe we should give a little thought to this, huh? I don't think denigrating Palin for being an "average gal" is really the way to go. First off, Joe Biden is an awfully average guy in terms of his academic pedigree. And there are a whole lot more Americans who didn't go to college, or who went to state universities, than there are who went to Harvard and Columbia. I have a Ph.D. and master's degree from top programs and universities myself, but I just don't think this is an effective line of attack.

You are spot on.

I would suppose that denigrating Palin for her average roots only makes the republican base stronger and more unified. It also immensely turns off and draws in people who don't look down on others because of their differences. I for one, would never want to be associated with the 80% of the liberals posting to these message boards. Their bigoted attacks on Palin and references to "country bumpkins" is classless, unsavory, and pompous. It's even apparent on this board when we had the period of posters attacking burbs vs. city living. The disparaging elitist references to people who chose to live in the burbs was in poor taste and is along the same disparaging lines. Certainly at the very least these posters are not only poor ambassadors of their party, but through their arrogance and vitriol are doing the work for the republican party at the grass roots level. They are showing the overt hypocrisy that Palin pointed out in how Obama talks one way in Scranton and another way in San Fran.

For the record, it is NOT just evangelical Christian women who are energized by Palin as another poster mentioned. I know many middle of the road women who are energized by her and thought they had their minds made up for Obama and are no longer sure.

I would not say that DCUM is a good place to judge the pulse of American women. I think DCUM is only a good sampling if you want to know what the far left is thinking and right now Palin has them sweating and scrambling to regroup

"I think DCUM is only a good sampling if you want to know what the far left is thinking and right now Palin has them sweating and scrambling to regroup.""
Laughing my head off, I think we have different opinions on what "far left" means. You are probably a "far right" person, correct?

[Anonymous]

Actually, PP I am not far right...very far from it. I think your bias got ahead of you as I'm sure it does very often.

I consider myself libertarian or capitalist which is more of an economic association that goes in lock step with libertarians. Among hot button issues that people like to take the mantle on: I am pro-choice simply from the fact that I do not think abortion is a government issue (among MANY other things), I am against war from the standpoint that I don't think we should be in the business of nation building and prefer a president with a more isolationist approach, and I really don't care if gays, polygamists, or siblings want to marry it is not a government issue. I simply believe that government should take a very limited and basic role in our every day lives.

However, abortion, war, and gays are not my hot button issues (well war is a little, but we are stuck in the mess Bush made and NEITHER elected president will be orchestrate an ideal exit or victory). I'm much more concerned about taxes, free markets, slashing spending, and economic health. This is because in this great country we make our own destiny and I believe that its the government's job to create an environment where I can be successful. I work in the government space (yes, I am a hypocrite and I benefit handsomely from the big spending, but I’m just “working the system” that has been created) and I KNOW first hand the government is not capable of running SHIT efficiently, which is why I get paid so well. It starts with all of the dead weight government employees hanging around waiting lazily for their pensions to kick in. Working with these people is an exercise in frustration. At this point in the game, the only candidate that comes near my issues is McCain (although still far off). Obama is way off. Obama gives people a warm fuzzy, but that's all he does for me. I can't vote on warm fuzzies. And I certainly can't vote for someone that wants to make the inefficient government that can't run SHIT (let alone fire all of the dead weight working there) even bigger.

The far left mis judge that people like myself, who don't go to church and who are not "far right" are voting in large numbers for McCain, simply because there are only 2 candidates and he comes closest to our ideals. The far left is busy alienating potential voters by people like myself rednecks and evangelicals (like it’s a slur) when it could not be farther from the truth. Maybe I’m simple, but it just makes them seem plain old crazy. The more I see these people throw mud at fellow Americans the more I'm "clinging" to my vote.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I would not say that DCUM is a good place to judge the pulse of American women. I think DCUM is only a good sampling if you want to know what the far left is thinking and right now Palin has them sweating and scrambling to regroup

"I think DCUM is only a good sampling if you want to know what the far left is thinking and right now Palin has them sweating and scrambling to regroup.""
Laughing my head off, I think we have different opinions on what "far left" means. You are probably a "far right" person, correct?

Far left person here, also laughing my head off. You don't know what you're talking about if you think the average DCUM poster is "far left"!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Actually, PP I am not far right...very far from it. I think your bias got ahead of you as I'm sure it does very often.

...

The far left mis judge that people like myself, who don't go to church and who are not "far right" are voting in large numbers for McCain, simply because there are only 2 candidates and he comes closest to our ideals. The far left is busy alienating potential voters by people like myself rednecks and evangelicals (like it’s a slur) when it could not be farther from the truth. Maybe I’m simple, but it just makes them seem plain old crazy. The more I see these people throw mud at fellow Americans the more I'm "clinging" to my vote.

I'm another that you might call "far left", although I agree with you on many things. However, I am an enthusiastic Obama supporter. But I like much about McCain also. I accept your thesis that those characterized as far right are more complex than the category implies. However, I think the same is true of the left, from the religious left, like Jimmy Carter or the Catholic Democrats for whom Obama worked as an organizer, to unions, to academics like me, to people who don't fit in any obvious category.

Even though I don't believe there is a God, I pray that we can find a way to get past these often misleading labels.

[Anonymous]

For the record, it is NOT just evangelical Christian women who are energized by Palin as another poster mentioned. I know many middle of the road women who are energized by her and thought they had their minds made up for Obama and are no longer sure.

I would not say that DCUM is a good place to judge the pulse of American women. I think DCUM is only a good sampling if you want to know what the far left is thinking and right now Palin has them sweating and scrambling to regroup



Doubt it. When the Roe v Wade thing is emphasized, women will know how to vote.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Actually, PP I am not far right...very far from it. I think your bias got ahead of you as I'm sure it does very often.

However, abortion, war, and gays are not my hot button issues (well war is a little, but we are stuck in the mess Bush made and NEITHER elected president will be orchestrate an ideal exit or victory). I'm much more concerned about taxes, free markets, slashing spending, and economic health. This is because in this great country we make our own destiny and I believe that its the government's job to create an environment where I can be successful. I work in the government space (yes, I am a hypocrite and I benefit handsomely from the big spending, but I’m just “working the system” that has been created) and I KNOW first hand the government is not capable of running SHIT efficiently, which is why I get paid so well. It starts with all of the dead weight government employees hanging around waiting lazily for their pensions to kick in. Working with these people is an exercise in frustration. At this point in the game, the only candidate that comes near my issues is McCain (although still far off). Obama is way off. Obama gives people a warm fuzzy, but that's all he does for me. I can't vote on warm fuzzies. And I certainly can't vote for someone that wants to make the inefficient government that can't run SHIT (let alone fire all of the dead weight working there) even bigger.

May I suggest that you quit your government job? I think you'd be happier, and if things in your workplace are already such a disaster, it's not like things will get worse after you leave. FWIW, I'm a federal employee who feels like I'm doing a job that serves a definite public need and that would never be picked up by any private enterprise. I greatly value working in the public service, and am not particularly interested in working for some company (even if it were my own) that exists just to make money. Certainly there is inefficiency in government, but if you've ever worked in the private sector, you will have noticed that companies can get up to some serious waste as well.