Beyond The Palin.....George Bush, Karl Rove And John McSame 2008.


    The Republicans faced a dilemma this year: still madly in love with the Regan-inspired policies of George Bush, they pragmatically realised that they needed plenty of distance from the overwhelmingly unpopular president if they wanted even the slightest chance at winning the election. Karl Rove to the rescue. The tactic was as simple as it is brilliant. Avoid being seen with him (Bush) at all costs. Mention his name rarely, better yet, never. Then endorse and adopt all his policies as if they were your very own. They’ll never know. Guess what? They don’t. (conversely, you can mention Ronald Reagan all you like).
    John McCain is not at all George Bush’s third term. How do I know? Rush Limbaugh told me so.   
    Now I know that Rush Limbaugh would never, ever lie to me. It’s just coincidence that all his ideas are brains-smashed-against-the-wall right-wing. Just as it’s nothing but coincidence that all those guys happen to be extreme right-wingers. And you’re not going to tell me that the fact that they’re all on hundreds of stations most of which are owned by the biggest broadcast corporations in the history of the (broadcasting) business has anything to do with their ideology. No sir. It just happened to work out that way, that’s all. Nor do I want to hear that free-market style de-regulation is the reason those huge broadcasting companies can now exist. That’s just more liberal-socialist-commie mumbo-jumbo. I’m so sick and tired of all those liberals in the media!
    Before I get on to what I really want to talk about, who are those “liberals in the media”? I’m the only one I know. EVERY talk show I hear features some right-wing wacko, who spends most of the time blaming Barack Obama for things that happened when he was minus 8. They’ve now taken to calling themselves “alternative”. Don’t ever listen to these jerks if you’ve just eaten. One thing puzzles me however. Since 100% of  these talk-commentary shows are right-wing, how is “the media” all “liberal”? Or is there some bizarre logic by which they consider themselves not to be a part of the media?
    Forgive the digression. The real purpose of this article is commentary about Sarah Palin. In last Thursday’s vice-presidential debate she did quite well delivering rehearsed Republican talking points, even if her English was a little fractured. In fact, she was so eager to show off her delivery, she boldly stated that she would give answers to the question she would have wanted to have been asked....not the question that was asked. Another stroke of genius by Karl Rove.

“And I may not answer the questions that either the moderator or you want to hear, but I'm going to talk straight to the American people and let them know my track record also.”

    This tactic has many advantages, offset by only one (big) disadvantage. First, you are always perceived as being on the offensive, (second) never on the defensive. Third, you get to completely avoid nasty little subjects you don’t want to deal with, (such as John McCain’s plan to tax your employer-provided health care coverage). Or, again as in this instance, when queried about Joe Biden’s claim that John McCain does not want to allow bankruptcy court judges to be able to amend the principal of  “Joe Six Pack” ’s mortgage:

“That is not so, but because that's just a quick answer, I want to talk about, again, my record on energy versus your ticket's energy ticket, also.”

Forth, you’re always at your best, since you’re always delivering the lines you rehearsed so well. The big disadvantage? Smart people will quickly sense what you’re up to and you will look unknowledgeable and out of touch. Governor Palin did just that. Oops! Not to worry, though. Rush Limbaugh and The Big Lie Boys will tell everyone that smart people are all pinko-commie-liberal college professors in the media....not at all to be trusted. Yet, it seems this time Karl might have mis-calculated, for folks seem to be catching on. Oops again!
    There You Go Again and other Folkish Phrases

    Governor Palin could not resist Ronald Reagan’s famous phrase, also uttered in a debate. She told us how she stood up to Big Oil. Additionally throwing in a liberal dose of folksy colloquialisms of the golly-gee, doggone, and garsh-darn variety, she attempted to prove her right-wing credentials (at least in Karl Rove’s mind) and show the world that Republicans are just plain folks who ain’t gonna give in to them big ol’ corporations.... Nice try....
That Pesky Constitution


PALIN: (on being asked about the duties of the VP) “Of course, we know what a vice president does. And that's not only to preside over the Senate and will take that position very seriously also. I'm thankful the Constitution would allow a bit more authority given to the vice president if that vice president so chose to exert it in working with the Senate and making sure that we are supportive of the president's policies and making sure too that our president understands what our strengths are.”
    The governor seems to have a singularly odd interpretation of the Constitution as it relates to the office of vice president. (Is this becoming a habit with Republican VP’s?) So let’s get it straight... The vice president’s duties consist of  a: Presidency of the Senate, voting only to break a tie, and b: assuming the presidency in case of: “removal (impeachment)...death...resignation or inability to discharge the powers and duties of the said office....”. Besides the implicit responsibility of keeping up to date on matters of state so that one would be knowledgeable if that second duty should become necessary, there is nothing else. Since the Constitution describes the duties of the vice president, I would assume that any official increase of authority would necessitate a constitutional amendment. Since the vice president is (also) sworn to uphold the Constitution, I’d sure feel happier if she knew what was in it.
    My feelings? This woman is spectacularly unqualified to take the world stage that the vice presidency would thrust her upon. She is unknowledgeable, naive, and unsophisticated, but NOT stupid. Given time, she could unquestionably carry her own political weight. In my opinion, she would have been much better equipped for the job if she had been the senator from Alaska, rather than governor of a state with only 2.2 times the population of Dutchess County, N.Y., or 3.3 times the population of Yonkers, N.Y.. There are more people in Columbus, Ohio than in the entire state of Alaska. The town she was mayor of (Wasilla) has about 1/3 the population of Poughkeepsie, N.Y.. This truly is a pathetic amount of experience to bring to the vice presidency of the United States. Yes, I know that will make all the right-wingers angry, but face it, folks: even if you added the population of Wasilla to the entire population of Alaska, you still wouldn’t have as many people as  Columbus, Ohio. Conclusion? either Sarah Palin is unqualified, or the mayor of Columbus should run for VP next time around.
Another Digression

The Constitution is neither long, written in arcane legal language, or stuffy, formal “thee / thou” English. READ IT! A short time reading the Constitution will tell you (if you already did not know) what exactly it is that makes this country great, and why it is so important to defend the Constitution against the Bushes and Cheneys of this world.
Attack Dog Role

    Now that McCain is slowly sinking in the polls, the Swift Boats are being cut from their moorings. John McCain and Sarah Palin are on the attack, trying to smear Obama with invidious lies and calumnies. They’re desperate, and it shows. Although both Obama and McCain voted for the Wall Street Fat Cat Bailout and Champagne with Caviar Fund, Republicans are taking the (deserved) hit on the economy, since for the last eight years it’s been their show. The rich certainly got richer, but they got even more greedy, and set the Trickle-Down-O-Meter too low.
    It’s Sunday night as I finish this up. Tomorrow, Rush Linbaugh and The Big Lie Boys will spew their intellectual vomit into the ears, minds and hearts of the faithful. They will listen and never question....or will they?