Sarah Palin's been responsible for so much poetry being written in the past two years that it would make romantic poets like William Wordsworth take notice. The awe-inspiring poems written about her have captured the very essence of what makes her tick and appeal to so many Birthers, Wingers, Deathers, and Tea Partiers, however mad they might be in their political orientation.
After her breath-taking performance last weekend at the Tea Party Convention in Nashville, don't be surprised that what we get next is a series of country music hits about Palin from Music City.
Tea Party Ogre in Nashville, TN Adam Zyglis, Buffalo News, Buy this cartoon
This weekly diary takes a look at the past week's important news stories from the perspective of our leading editorial cartoonists (including a few foreign ones) with analysis and commentary added in by me.
When evaluating a cartoon, ask yourself these questions:
1. Does a cartoon add to my existing knowledge base and help crystallize my thinking about the issue depicted?
2. Does the cartoonist have any obvious biases that distort reality?
3. Is the cartoonist reflecting prevailing public opinion or trying to shape it?
The answers will help determine the effectiveness of the cartoonist's message.
I know that people are today making fun of you in the media and on the blogs because of your Nashville appearance at the Tea Bag Pay As You Go Event. They're complaining about your irritating voice, your inability to complete a sentence, your having no plan and your writing on your hand. They say you are speaking "word salad." That's sad, but that's how it is in America. People have the right to make fun of their politicians, and they should. And, lest you forget, you're a politician. Or maybe now you're not a politician any more and you're an entertainer. Or something. Anyway, those folks cherish their "right" to make fun of you.
Regardless, I have a small proposal for you to consider. I realize that it's unorthodox to print it here and publish it on the Internet, but after all it is 2010 so I beg your indulgence. How else can I get your attention? And I know from how you dealt with all those couture clothes you got from John McCain's campaign, that you understand self promotion for profit.
My proposal: How about you pay me $50,000 before your next "speech" and I will write it for you. I am an excellent writer. I know grammar and sentence structure. I know how to construct a paragraph. I had an elite, liberal education at a very expensive, fancy, elitist college, and I have a graduate degree from one of America's most revered universities, and I've written books. But don't worry. I won't tell anyone about any of that. Let's put it this way: I know how to write. And I'll keep what I write simple and direct so that your audience will follow it perfectly. And they'll hear every single dog whistle I insert in the text. You know about dog whistles already I'm sure. Look at that great one you "borrowed" from Lee Greenwood about your being proud to be an American.
I assure you the speech I will write for you will be (1) far more whacked out than the one you gave in Nashville (it will scare liberals to death), (2) far more clever (you might be tempted to say "cleverer") and (3) your supporters, all those superannuated, semi and fully retired, more or less rich, white folks, will really love it. They will have something that is akin to an orgasm when you deliver the speech I will write for you. Only it won't be an actual orgasm, that might just kill them, no, they'll just smile and hyperventilate and cheer a lot. And want to smoke afterward.
You know how to reach me. I am ready. We both can grow rich while saving America.
Sarah I Have No Ethics Palin gave the keynote speech tonight at the first National Tea Party convention in Nashville.
The former Alaska governor criticized the Obama administration's handling of the attempted bombing of a U.S.-bound airliner on Christmas Day, saying the suspect should have been interrogated more intensely. She said he doesn't deserve the constitutional rights that U.S. soldiers are willing to die for.
I guess this means nothing to Sarah Palin
CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE
and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment
The States Parties to this Convention,
Considering that, in accordance with the principles proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations, recognition of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,
Recognizing that those rights derive from the inherent dignity of the human person,
Considering the obligation of States under the Charter, in particular Article 55, to promote universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms,
Having regard to article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both of which provide that no one may be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,
Having regard also to the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Being Subjected to Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, adopted by the General Assembly on 9 December 1975 (resolution 3452 (XXX)),
Desiring to make more effective the struggle against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment throughout the world,
ARTICLE 3
In the case of armed conflict not of an international character occurring in the territory of one of the High Contracting Parties, each Party to the conflict shall be bound to apply, as a minimum, the following provisions:
(1) Persons taking no active part in the hostilities, including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those placed ' hors de combat ' by sickness, wounds, detention, or any other cause, shall in all circumstances be treated humanely, without any adverse distinction founded on race, colour, religion or faith, sex, birth or wealth, or any other similar criteria.
To this end, the following acts are and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever with respect to the above-mentioned persons:
(a) violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture;
Both of which were approved by the U.S. Senate and signed into law.
Sarah Palin doesn't believe in the rule of law either as evidenced by her her complete ignorance of the rights afforded those arrested within the United States:
The Miranda Warning
The Constitution reserves many rights for those suspected of crime. One of the fears of the Framers was that the government could act however it wished by simply saying an individual was a suspected criminal. Many of the rights in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, such as habeas corpus, the right to remain silent, and the right to an attorney, are designed to ensure that those accused of a crime are assured of those rights.
Police were able to take advantage of the fact that not everyone knows their rights by heart. In fact, it is likely that most citizens could name a few of their rights as accused criminals, but not all of them. The police's position was that if the accused, for example, spoke about a crime without knowing that they did not need to, that it was the person's fault for not invoking that right, even if they did not know, or did not remember, that they had that right.
This was the crux of the issue in Miranda v Arizona. In 1963, Ernesto Miranda was accused of kidnapping and raping an 18-year-old, mildly retarded woman. He was brought in for questioning, and confessed to the crime. He was not told that he did not have to speak or that he could have a lawyer present. At trial, Miranda's lawyer tried to get the confession thrown out, but the motion was denied. In 1966, the case came in front of the Supreme Court. The Court ruled that the statements made to the police could not be used as evidence, since Miranda had not been advised of his rights.
Sarah Palin, her supporters, members of the Tea Party, Conservatives and the Republican Party don't believe in the Constitution or the Bill of Rights because they give the accused and the weak protections they would have never agreed to. These people are anti-immigrant, against equal rights, racist and believe that America is a Christian Nation when the Constitution clearly states that there will be a separation of church and state.
Today, Americans are engrossed in earthquake coverage. The tremor in Haiti bought unimaginable death and destruction just south of our borders. Events related to the recovery and rescues emerge as banner headlines. Haitians Seek Solace Amid the Ruins. For a week now, the struggle to survive, revive the injured, and retrieve the bodies strewn on the streets of Port-au-Prince was also the central theme of most every broadcast. In the midst of the misery, many Americans, felt desperate for a reprieve from the devastation that emotionally drained them. Millions took time to escape in a welcome distraction. Sassy, former Governor and Vice Presidential candidate, Sarah Palin Made Her Debut appearance on Fox. Tomorrow another reality will replace these stories, just as each superseded the hoopla over Harry Reid's reference to race. Metaphorically, the tales provide persons, policies, and, or practices fifteen minutes of fame. In actuality, these fade from our mind quickly.
This weekly diary takes a look at the past week's important news stories from the perspective of our leading editorial cartoonists (including a few foreign ones) with analysis and commentary added in by me.
When evaluating a cartoon, ask yourself these questions:
1. Does a cartoon add to my existing knowledge base and help crystallize my thinking about the issue depicted?
2. Does the cartoonist have any obvious biases that distort reality?
3. Is the cartoonist reflecting prevailing public opinion or trying to shape it?
The answers will help determine the effectiveness of the cartoonist's message.
To corporate media hacks, there are no objective facts. Because they are incapable of either researching or comprehending what can be demonstrably proved, they dumb down all issues to mere partisan controversies. There is no scientific method. There are no historical contexts. There are two sides to every story, even when there really aren't. Everything can be a legitimate source of bickering.
It's not just juvenile, and it's not just unprofessional; it is, in fact, dangerous. If a prominent Republican went flat-earther, Wolf Blitzer, David Broder and their ilk would reliably report on the new controversy over the shape of the earth. Andrea Mitchell just proved her credentials as an upstanding member of this upsidedown cult of unreality. On the eve of the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference, she interviewed Al Gore. Did she ask him about the science of climate change? Did she ask him about the politics? Did she ask him if the politics was dangerous, given the science? Of course not. As reported by Steve Benen:
This morning, Gore appeared on MSNBC, where Andrea Mitchell read from Sarah Palin's Facebook page to ask the former vice president questions about climate change.
Let's think about that, for a moment. Al Gore may be an imperfect messenger, but his understanding of climate change is steeped in science. He's written books about it. Books that he not only read, but actually wrote. He won a Nobel Peace Prize for his work explaining climate change and trying to get the world to deal with it. In contrast, Sarah Palin has no understanding of climate change, whatsoever. Not only does she not understand the science of climate change, she doesn't appear to understand science. Nothing in her resume credibly qualifies her to discuss climate change. To be kind, one could say that her best and most consistent professional qualification is that of a quitter. She's not very good at it, but she does have plenty of experience.
But even more surreal is the context of Mitchell's question. A supposedly serious supposed journalist asks a Nobel Prize winning expert what he thinks of the nitwit ramblings of an ignorant anti-intellectual that were posted to a Facebook page? Has the corporate media really dumbed itself that far down?
Apparently without laughing in her face or being stupefied into horrified silence, Gore gave Mitchell a succinct response:
"Well, you know, the global warming deniers persist in this air of unreality," Gore explained. "After all, the entire north polar icecap, which has been there for most of the last 3 million years, is disappearing before our eyes. Forty percent is already gone. The rest is expected to go completely within the next decade. What do they think is causing this?"
MITCHELL: Palin calls it "junk science." She says, "The agenda-driven policies being pushed in Copenhagen won't change the weather, but they would change our economy for the worst."
Congratulations to buhdy for making the site work. Really. No thanks to me. I pulled out right about the time I was predicting that "occupant" could not possibly win, no matter what. Well, there you have it. Never underestimate the importance of the novelty factor which (it would be churlish to dwell on) appears to have pretty much worn-off.
But that's not why I'm here. I'm back to congratulate the winners and to wish one and all well. I sincerely do hope that rationality and critical thinking will prevail as we learn more and more about the cobbled-together pseudo-science underpinning Al Gore's awkward adventure, otherwise known (cruelly) as the 'dog ate my data'. The environment is in trouble and devoting so much time and energy away from real problems, like the amount of plastic we produce and ingest, has cost enough already.
You folks elected McCain-lite and for that I'm sure you're all suitably proud. I would have much preferred the real thing and a frank statement confirming the US would stay in Afghanistan and Iraq for as long as it takes to bring stability to both countries.
You've opted for the worst of both worlds, instead: a pack of Bush-like promises to 'Finish the job', whatever the fuck that might mean on any given day, with enough cannon-fodder to piss off all the locals but not provide any real security, all under the command of a general who sees little wrong with outsourcing rendition, assassination and 'snatch and grab' teams to Blackwater.
Good thing, McCain lost. Because there's not much chance he would have done much more than build a few nuclear power plants and allow the climate-science cranks to perpetuate their lies a few years longer. Take a bow.
Sometimes art imitates life, and as far as fiction goes, "Going Rogue" by Sarah Palin is truly a work of art just as a plate of dinner thrown at the wall can be, in a sense.
"I'm very disappointed. I think it was very rude. She could have at least apologized, and she didn't even do that," said Teresa Hedrick. [...]
"We bought two books from Borders to have our receipt and our wristband to get it signed tonight," said one woman. "My books are going back to Borders tomorrow."
"We gave up our entire workday, stayed in the cold. My kids were crying," said one man. "They went home with my wife. She was out here in the freezing cold all day. I feel like I don't want to support Sarah."
Nothing screams Maverick and Leadership louder than throwing supporters under the bus just moments after they bought your crappy ghost written book, does it? How else does one gain the approval of the masses in politics without proving that you are capable of making the tough decisions to get the public's attention, and then as soon as you have the masses approval, showing the guts to make tough decisions like kicking them to the curb ASAP like the useless, duped saps that they are. That isn't indifference, it's political strategery, you betcha. (Written in Palinspeak for any potential RW lurkers)
Gods, it's like they cloned Bush as a woman.
My only guess after hearing of this story is how Fox News will make this look like a crowd of angry protesters railing against the Government.
Just one more bit of proof that the one thing Sarah Palin does well is quit half way through the job while leaving people mystified as to why people support Sarah Palin in the first place.
Elsewhere in this volume, she talks about creationism, saying she "didn't believe in the theory that human beings - thinking, loving beings - originated from fish that sprouted legs and crawled out of the sea" or from "monkeys who eventually swung down from the trees." In everything that happens to her, from meeting Todd to her selection by Mr. McCain for the Republican ticket, she sees the hand of God: "My life is in His hands. I encourage readers to do what I did many years ago, invite Him in to take over."
I am sitting here watching Chris Matthews and his guests consider Palin possibilities. They are talking about her book and her inability to take responsibility but her ability to get people to support her. They spoke on her comment to Couric about being able to see Russia from Alaska, therefore being able to understand foreign policy with Russia and I swear I can't tell if they are serious or not. They are saying she is short on smarts and ability, but through all of this she IS a contender for president. And it really seems like they are trying to be serious.
What is this? I don't have to go into her history as a character on the scene since her nomination for vice president, but how can you devote a segment of your show to bolster/ponder/consider this , I'm sorry, polarizing nitwit, as a real contender for president?
Something is wrong. With Chris Matthews. He offers that Palin impresses him even though her thoughts aren't clear. How can you try to propel this woman? Chris better get out of town with this nonsense.
Why on earth does this woman not have to earn it? Why are they giving her this? Because she can move a crowd? Because she can form a crowd? The media has the ability to make or break or pass altogether. And they are opting to give her handicap ponits? This lady is Carrie Prejean on steroids. Orly Taitz on a mild sedative, but not presidential, Not smart. Not a leader. She quit her job. She whines. She attacks. She polarizes. She is currently at war with her daughter's baby father, a mere teen, if twenty. She believes there are 2 Americas and that it is her job to make the America she sides with win.
I am baffled by Chris' segment on her. I am not going to go backward from a sensible leader to insanity.
In short, I want an apology from Chris from this segment of his show, or I want Chris to admit he's a troublemaker.
Crossposted at Daily Kos. Look in the Comments Section of Daily Kos for more cartoons on the economy and sports. Somehow, I couldn't fit them in the main text of the diary.
THE WEEK IN EDITORIAL CARTOONS
This weekly diary takes a look at the past week's important news stories from the perspective of our leading editorial cartoonists (including a few foreign ones) with analysis and commentary added in by me.
When evaluating a cartoon, ask yourself these questions:
1. Does a cartoon add to my existing knowledge base and help crystallize my thinking about the issue depicted?
2. Does the cartoonist have any obvious biases that distort reality?
3. Is the cartoonist reflecting prevailing public opinion or trying to shape it?
The answers will help determine the effectiveness of the cartoonist's message.
This weekly diary takes a look at the past week's important news stories from the perspective of our leading editorial cartoonists (including a few foreign ones) with analysis and commentary added in by me.
When evaluating a cartoon, ask yourself these questions:
1. Does a cartoon add to my existing knowledge base and help crystallize my thinking about the issue depicted?
2. Does the cartoonist have any obvious biases that distort reality?
3. Is the cartoonist reflecting prevailing public opinion or trying to shape it?
The answers will help determine the effectiveness of the cartoonist's message.
ThehippiesWingnuts, who had neverreally believed they were the wave of the future anyway, saw the election results as brutal confirmation of the futility of fighting the establishment on its own termsby stealing elections and voter suppression.
There had to be a whole new scene, they said, and the only way to do it was to make the big move - either figuratively or literally -
from
Berkeley to the Haight-Ashburycognitive dissonance to sheer lunacy, from pragmatism to mysticism, from politicspropaganda todope violence...
The thrust is no longer for
"changeobscene wealth" or "progress retrogression" or "revolutionblind obedience," but merely to escape enslave, to live on the farfar right perimeter of a world thatmight have beenthey do not understand. .
.
.
.
.
.
.
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Those "death panels" really do exist MediaMatters -- August 20, 2009
To date, the media have debunked the "kill granny" lie more than 40 times. The nonpartisan FactCheck.org says the claim of mandatory counseling on ending seniors' lives is "a misrepresentation." ABC's chief medical editor, Dr. Tim Johnson, said "the idea about death panels" is "not at all legitimate." PolitiFact.com has called "death panel" claims "a ridiculous falsehood." When the Associated Press conducted a fact check of the bogus charge, it reported, "No 'death panel in health care bill.' "
After former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin claimed that "Obama's 'death panel' " could decide the fate of her parents or her son who has Down syndrome, conservative radio host Larry Elder aptly called her comments "over the top." [...]
It seems Sarah's still leading that pied-piper Twitter Parade ...
Are you sitting down? Do you have your popcorn ready?
I thought after a rough week of BaucuCrats, Blue Dogs and Wingnut Obstruction, some of us could use a good laugh.
A reality based laugh!!!
As for myself, I have been laughing at this so hard my sides hurt.
About a third of Americans think the best job for Palin is homemaker (32 percent), while nearly one in five see her as a television talk show host (17 percent). Vice president of the United States comes in third (14 percent), followed closely by college professor (10 percent), with president coming last (6 percent).
Republicans think the best job for Palin is vice president (27 percent), followed by homemaker (18 percent), talk show host (14 percent), president (12 percent) and professor (7 percent).
When Fox News throws you under the bus, you are either a Democrat, or your FINISHED.
Housekeeper? You mean the Sarahnator's chances of being President one day are dead?
Dead as the moose stew in Sarah's freezer.
I'll give you a moment to get your self ready before we go below the fold for more of the live comedy show known as the future of the Republican party.
I know you like your pop stars to be exciting, but I'm afraid I simply can't be bothered right now. I've been on sabbatical, you see-I'm not doing anything remotely interesting at the moment, so I don't want anyone getting the wrong ideas-but it seemed as if everyone was getting on well enough without me. False prophets choked the life from already-poisonous atmospheres, vile succubi debased humanity's collective sanity, mendacious tyrants clashed over dust-strewn deserts, and the New York Yankees have been restored to their proper royal status. Ah me, what's a happy cad to do under such joyous circumstances?
Reform Immigration -
March on Washington
Hunter S. Thompson revised 2009
