Weekly Roundup, September 5-11, 2011

By Blueberry T

Monday, September 5, 2011

She’s Running

Kathleen cuts to the chase. Instead of focusing on the details of the race in Iowa that Palin ran last weekend, she recognizes that this is meant to be a clever signal of the fact that she is running. This is part of what Palin means about being unconventional; she’ll put out these messages and allow her followers to read the signals and symbols. (We know that Palin loves leaving these little hints, like the names of the kids or statements like “I was only pregnant a month” or “it was the easiest pregnancy of them all,” where the truth is hidden in plain sight.) Time will tell whether coming in second among women in her age group is quite the symbolism she intends…

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Palin’s NH supporters

Kathleen takes a closer look at some of Palin’s die-hard supporters in New Hampshire (not that there are too many). These Palin fans share the delusion that Sarah will save America and will stay the course to steer the country, oblivious to the fact that she is a Certified Quitter. Kathleen also links to an interesting article from Religion Dispatches, “Whom Will She Wreck?” that examines Palin’s star power as a populist leader of the disaffected, giving voice to their deep dissatisfaction.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Coulter and Ingraham criticize Palin

Oh, happy day! The GOP is starting to hit Palin harder, including these critiques by Ann Coulter and Laura Ingraham. They specifically took on the “loooooooong tease” by Palin about running, and commented on her terrible poll numbers. But Palin doesn’t pay attention to polls (which are for strippers and Bristol), except when it is her own staff that is manipulating the numbers to make her look good… Coulter also mentioned the hate mail from Palin’s cult whenever anyone has the temerity to criticize their Queen.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Dusty deconstructs the GOP debate

After a quick critique of the superficial – hair styles, ties, etc. – Dusty takes apart the Republican talking points from Wednesday’s GOP debate (the one that was so all-important that it trumped the President’s address to a joint session of Congress). Let’s see – Obamacare, Obama inexperienced and weak leader, no new taxes, small government (except the big parts that they like), yadda yadda. There is a very interesting quote about the GOP’s strategy of obstructing government to make it look bad, and then using that to capitalize on people’s disgust with government. Cynical but effective.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Dinner with Levi!

Okay, Leadfoot, we are all in this for you! Politicalgaters are collectively rooting for a winner in our midst, so that Leadfoot can enjoy the prize of spending some time with Levi Johnston as part of the promotion of his book, due out next week. Good luck, everyone!

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Remembering

Dusty began a weekend of remembrance of the terrible events of 10 years ago: “…please take a moment to remember those who are gone and those who survived the attacks. Remember the first responders and all those who offered assistance in the days that followed. Remember all our service men and woman who have died since 2001 and those who are still fighting overseas today…Today is a day to remember but it is also a day to look towards the future because to only remember but not look forward does not honor the memory of those who have gone on before us.” Our wonderful readers also reminded us of the ways in which 9/11 was used to justify the unjustifiable, lest we forget.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Let the light shine in

Kathleen offers some balm for our troubled souls on this day of sad remembrance. Music, puppies, flowers, butterflies… let the light shine in.

Some Comments and Links:

Laprofesora952: The fact that we question the validity of her running yesterday shows how deeply she has damaged her own credibility. Would anyone question Rick Perry if he said he ran a half-marathon? Of if Michelle Bachmann claimed she did? Every single thing Sarah Palin does and says is suspect, and that is her own doing…

(Part of) what Dusty17 would say to Sarah: Before trying to restore this country you first need to restore your own personal image. When people question every single thing you do and say…it means they do not find you trustworthy…people are not able to trust anything you say or do...

Toccaro: Sarah, Sarah, Sarah.....don't be coy. We know you are running. We also know that you are not smart enough to do debates, so these photo ops are your way of speaking to your base and letting them know that you are doing things your own way. But the bottom line is, we know you are running......and we can't wait. Trust me, we. can. not. wait! Oh, and neither can Rove, Cheney, the Bushes, (ya just don't insult mama Barbara Bush), and ALL of those people you threw under the bus. I am sure THEY can't wait either!!!!!

Psalm023: People will eventually find out she's unqualified by having to experience her. She can't hide her stubborn streak, her inability to work peacefully with others. She can't hide her faults forever. They will be exposed to those who work closely with her, and after a ton of resignations, and disillusioned aides and staff, she'll blame everyone, mainstream media, everything but herself.

It's bound to show up. All we do is sit and wait it out. Sit and watch her defeat each and every opportunity shown her because of her vindictive personality. Like Spock said, "you must learn to govern your passions, they will be your undoing".

ProChoiceGrandma: To belatedly answer Dr. Laura's question - Palin is the worst possible role model, faking a pregnancy to hide the hypocrisy of her failed "abstinence-only" parenting, and then using that baby for fame, fortune and fooling the pro-life voters for her political ambition.

Nin1963: Paylin needs to "quit dithering", and "man up", find her "cajones", feed that "fire in the belly" and "get in the game". Enough of the political prick tease already; time to shit or get off the pot Paylin.

Aussiegal77: … Never one to disappoint, is she? When it comes to rising above it all, Sarah is the first to sink to the lowest…

Patrick: "Free speech" is only worth the money if you are given some space to exercise it. I liked the recent comment by Floyd a lot, who explained in a few sentences why moderation on a blog is unnecessary. If something really "bad" happens in the comments, you can correct it afterwards.

The internet can develop it's full force if a strong community is created. Then it can become really powerful. Many right-wingers have realized this as well, by the way, and put great efforts into building into right-wing online armies.

Certain rules are needed on a blog, but if you deliberately suppress unpleasant opinions, you create only a fan club, not a community. There is a clear distinction between trolling and voicing ones opinion. Real trolling is usually pretty easy to spot. It's important in general to give as much freedom as possible.

Azure Ghost: Too bad Perry can't extinguish the Texas fires as quickly as he did his campaign.

Kilob: *laughs* Bachmann... Those seeking to come to the United States should learn to speak english, learn US history and the Constitution and not be a drain on US taxpayers. All three would keep Bachmann from coming here under her rules and stop Palin at the border!

Myrtille2 found this by Erick Erickson on conservatives losing interest in Palin.

Paradigm Shift posted this on Chris Christie’s speech at the Koch Bros. confab.

cheeriogirl linked to Ezra Klein at WaPo summing up the GOP debate: "Mitt Romney looked like he had already won the Republican nomination. Rick Perry looked like he will win the Republican nomination. Michele Bachmann looked like she was beginning to realize she definitely wouldn’t win the Republican nomination."

More on the GOP debate from politicususa; h/t to juicyfruityy for the link.

Here is msnbc’s summary of the debate in 45 seconds ;-)

The Last Word: Sunnyjane, with h/t to cheeriogirl and NomadicJoe

Perhaps we should hijack the far right's determination to "take back America" and give it an entirely different slant: Take America back to its best ideals.