A Lesson for Sarah Palin: How to Take a Real American Family Road Trip

By Leadfoot_LA

Please consider this post as a “mental health break,” which I think everyone needs right about now. Also, thank you in advance for letting me share some of my photos.

Every year I take Bella to at least one of our great national parks (socialism at its finest!). This year’s trip happened to fall shortly after Sarah Palin dragged Piper around on her money seeking One Nation Bus Tour, er, “family vacation.” As I watched her trip unfold, my heart ached for Piper, who is close in age to Bella. While it gets harder to feel sorry for her as incidents of bratty behavior increase, I still feel for Piper since she is too young to know what a real family vacation should be like. With a sociopathic mother, she may never know “normal.” In an attempt to help Piper, I put forth these tips for Sarah as she plans the next leg of her bus tour. THIS is how real Americans take a road trip, Sarah:

1.) When you decorate your bus, don’t make it all about you.

2.) The goal of a good family vacation should not be to raise money. It should be to enjoy each other’s company, and make memories for the kids.

3.) Everybody goes. Staying home or leaving the vacation part of the way through is not an option. You can’t even leave to go home to fish. Here, Bella and her cousins explore Carhenge in Nebraska:

4.) Teach the kids about other cultures. We know how you feel about minorities, but tolerance will become ever more important as your kids move into adulthood.

5.) The kids should have to learn about all presidents, not just Reagan.

6.) Let them enjoy the scenery. Kids should not have to navigate paparazzi or sign autographs. Nor should they be used as a hard surface for you to sign autographs. They are kids. If you must satisfy your ego by signing autographs on a family vacation, leave them on the bus.

7.) Show them the national parks. I cannot stress this point enough. Bella and her cousins have a chant they say at every park:

“Who owns this park?”

“We do!”

“What did it look like 100 years ago?”

“Just like this!”

“What will it look like 100 years from now?”

“Just like this!”

It underscores the importance of conservation in terms even a child can understand. Here, Bella and a cousin stand outside the gate to Yellowstone:

Kids also need to learn how priorities change once you are surrounded by nature. Only the simple things matter. Your blackberries won’t even work in most parks, so you don’t have the stress of reading blogs to see if the truth has been revealed yet. Your only concerns will be to drink water, avoid too much sun and don't get lost.

Arches National Park:

A quote from one of my favorite movies of all time, “Grand Canyon,” sums up my feelings on our national parks nicely:

“You ever been to the Grand Canyon? It’s pretty, but that’s not the thing of it. You can sit on the edge of that big ol' thing and those rocks... the cliffs and rocks are so old... it took so long for that thing to get like that... and it ain't done either! It happens right there while you’re watching it. It’s happening right now as we are sitting here in this ugly town. When you sit on the edge of that thing, you realize what a joke we people really are... what big heads we have thinking that what we do is gonna matter all that much... thinking that our time here means diddly to those rocks. Just a split second we have been here, the whole lot of us. That's a piece of time so small to even get a name. Those rocks are laughing at me right now, me and my worries... Yeah, it’s real humorous, that Grand Canyon.”

You matter to Piper because you are her mom. Can’t you focus on that and stop worrying about whether you matter to the rest of us? Even for just a week for "family vacation?"

Mesa Verde National Park:

8.) Let the kids buy silly souvenirs. Spending time together as a family makes them happy, but nothing made Bella and her cousins as happy as the $60 we spent on rocks at the rock shop. Piper doesn’t need an $800 purse, when something as simple as rocks and sombreros works so well.

9.) Use pop culture trends to teach kids about landmarks and history. Planking is huge right now – all the kids are doing it. So let the kids have some safe fun doing something they think is cool, but while they do it, make them listen to your speech about how the interstates ruined small-town America and killed Rt. 66. Maybe you would have absorbed the Paul Revere story better if you had combined it with some fun.

10) Now listen carefully, Sarah, because this is a big one – and I do mean it in more way than one – take a hike!

I know how you love “hard work” – well the effort and journey of the hike almost always makes the destination more delicious. The 3 little dots on that big rock below are Bella and her cousins, raising their arms in joy at a job well done:

11.) Appreciate what you have, and the opportunities you have been given. Life is full of twists and turns. Someday soon, it may all be gone.

12.) Finally, never, ever quit.

Even when the sites get boring (at the Great Salt Lake, the girls resorted to picking out their favorite rock because the scenery was “lame”), you must push on. Quitting is for, well, quitters.

Are Sarah Palin's Persistent Accusations Against President Obama a Cry for Attention?

Guest Post by Teutonic

So Sarah keeps bumping up her garbage to new levels of slanderous contempt for our president.

I think she will keep it up until he responds, she is screaming for attention from him, is manic in her chase to replace and deface the American presidency.

The latest and greatest of her ramblings borders on Hanoi Jane's and Tokyo Rose's insane yet incessant barking, and seeks to undermine the fabric of the United States.

I try to reconcile the pathos of the narcissist and conceptualize the entire "I ran, I lost, I must run again" mantra that underlies her current message.

But it makes no sense. Whatever drives her to take such an offensive position touting everything that is wrong in America is Obama's fault, seems to be driven more by need for attention than a need to serve and make America a stronger, and more respected nation.

Palin, former Virginia Sen. George Allen and Iran-Contra figure Oliver North, all have one thing in common. They lost.

Oh how egregious they must think that the nation has become, to cast them aside like barely polished old shoes.

The gist of her meal began here...

From the Huffington Post:

Back on May 31, 2010, before Bin Laden was laid to waste in the Arabian Sea, Israeli naval commandos killed nine pro-Palestinian activists in clashes aboard a Turkish ship headed for Gaza.

She also said Obama lacked the resolve to stand up to Russia and China.

"Do they think, really, that we're getting anything in return for all this bowing and kowtowing and apologizing? No, we don't get anything positive in return for this," Palin said at the event spearheaded by a Norfolk talk radio station.

"So while President Obama is getting pushed around by the likes of Russia and China, our allies are left to wonder about the value of an alliance with our country any more. They're asking what is it worth," she said.

Does she not get the fact that her constant twittering to undermine the position of our president, gives comfort to out enemies?

Do the Chinese and the Russians really look at us as if we are a weak and terrified nation?

It seems they have spent the last 5 decades patterning themselves after us as opposed to America emulating them.

Is it wrong to strive for equanimity on the world stage? To seek a common bond as opposed to an iron fist?

America stands on its own. We are by far the strongest nation on earth, with a resolve of the people that we shall never surrender to tyranny.

It is the strength derived from kindness, that lends the might to a yet to be unsheathed sword.

If our enemies had an ounce of the technological might we have, then yes, the world would be afraid. But the world is not afraid. Because we have temperance. No nation fears us, because we have the resolve to restrain our weapons, and seek a path that is right in terms of human decency. We are imperfect, but we try to be better.

Americans are proud, because we are kind. Americans are proud because we are strong. Americans are proud because we do what we feel is the right thing to do. We don't need a sword, because we are the sword.

So Ms Palin. In your relentless path to feed your ego, and mend your hurt feelings, do not allow your vainglorious aspirations to tarnish us. You do not speak for me, nor do you speak for most of our people. You assemble words in rows, and then deliver tired sentences of rhetoric that serves no one but you. You flourish instead of flounder because you are the end product of the American Dream. You are allowed to speak freely, and condemn those that ensure that freedom. The same countries you portray as being stronger than us, deny those freedoms to their own people.

It is your right, and obviously you exploit that freedom. There are many with far less, that are kinder to our leaders. There are many that have sacrificed so much more, and argue so much less. There are many less privileged, that make it through the day without having to launch a traitorous tirade about the inadequacies of our commander in chief.

You have that right as is granted to us all in this free nation of ours, to voice your opinion. But you haven't fought for it. You are the welfare recipient of blood shed for your freedom, by the sons of this nation. You may on some other day lean to your son's contribution to service, but where is yours? Please don't call the Governorship of Alaska a personal sacrifice Ms Palin, because that would be in poor taste.

You rail on and on. But where your criticism of the state of the union are severe, your contributions for relief lack merit.

You are a carnivore of opportunity. You feast on the weakened and lay in wait for misfortune. A Predator. No lipstick can cover that facade.

It will be fun to watch you slowly disassemble and fail.

Your time is up.

BTW- you great American you- You haven't earned the right to thank me for my service, I am an honorably discharged Navy Corpsman (E5). I did my time attached to the grunts over seas.

What we stood for was to be ready and vigilant and to fight potential tyrants like you. Your mask is your citizenship, your saving grace is America.

President Obama's Address to the Nation on Independence Day.

By Kathleen

In his Fourth of July address to the nation President Obama says that America can live within its means while still investing in the future even if there are tough choices to be made. He states that both parties need to come together and through their love of the United States find solutions to the problems regarding the deficit even if they do not see eye to eye on everything.

There is not much more to add to this than to wish you all a truly happy and peaceful Fourth of July (click on document to enlarge).

You can read a copy of the transcript here

Please use this as an open post.

UPDATE:

This is a great documentary by John Wellington Ennis about his search for democracy in the USA. Well worth watching. These are the freedoms that need protecting.

Weekly Roundup, June 27-July 3, 2011

By Blueberry T

Monday, June 27, 2011

Fascism in America

Sunnyjane’s guest post on the rise of fascism in America is a must-read. No less an authority than Mussolini said that “Fascism…is the merger of the state and corporate power.” Sounds like the Supreme Court's manifesto. Referencing an article by Laurence Britt, sunnyjane highlights key characteristics of fascism that are at the core of right-wing politics today:

• Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism
• Disdain for the importance of human rights
• A controlled mass media
• Religion and ruling elite tied together
• Power of corporations protected
• Power of labor suppressed or eliminated

Several readers pointed out Umberto Eco’s writings on fascism, including this piece from the NY Review of Books.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

The Sarah Palin™ Brand

Last week I took a look at what the Bristol Palin™ brand stands for, and this week Dusty explores the Sarah Palin™ brand. Dusty identifies what Sarah’s values are to her loyal following and what makes her stand out and be compelling. Then she takes a closer look at the truth behind the Palin Brand and finds a lot of image creation, smoke and mirrors. What does she stand for? “Two words- Sarah Palin.” What makes her stand out? “Good looks & charm.” Dusty concludes: The real “Palin Brand” is "Baffle them with Bullshit."

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Nick Broomfield documentary and other clips

Patrick shows a series of video clips featuring Sarah Palin and her mini-me daughter. The first is from Nick Broomfield’s soon-to-be-released documentary, showing how people who ask unscripted questions of Palin are treated at her speeches. We then get to see that B®i$tol Palin™ “cannot say on TV…how much she hates Levi Johnston.” [BBT: Alaska courts, please take notice of this abusive behavior by Bristol.] The little charade about whether Sarah will run or not continues, but happily, many Americans see Bristol as the vapid, worthless little b**ch that she is. More Sarah Word Salad, and then we see living proof that miracles will never cease, as Eddie Burke says that Frank Bailey is telling the truth about her.

Friday, July 01, 2011

Sarah Palin’s Crucifix

Kathleen has a genius for getting to the root of Sarah Palin’s manipulative and suggestive imagery. In this post, she highlights Palin’s unsubtle co-opting of the Christian cross as a symbol of her own imagined personification of Christ and his persecution. She often portrays herself as a victim because it plays into this persecution imagery. As Kathleen says, “Sarah Palin attracts such remarks and attention because she invites them through her own persistent and cynical manipulation of her image. She does so because she wants to be regarded as the next saviour of the right and, as she sees it, of America itself.”

Saturday, July 2, 2011

What Would Sarah Do?

Ennealogic gets down to the nitty-gritty: what would Sarah and others like her actually do, were they to assume power in this country (gasp). First, actually, what would they undo? Programs that regulate corporations, protect citizens and the environment or help the poor, disadvantaged and elderly. What would they do? They would help corporations and the wealthy continue to pay less than their fair share of taxes, and help corporations access the public treasury through privatizing functions typically performed (often better and at less cost) by government, including: health care, military, infrastructure, education, transportation, law enforcement and public safety and safety net programs. Patrick adds an excellent documentary by Robert Greenwald on the profiteering by Halliburton and other private contractors who have siphoned off billions of dollars in profits in the Iraq war and reconstruction. Very sobering.

Sunnyjane reminded us: Happy Quitters Day, Sarah Palin!

Some Comments and Links:

Texasgal2009 (re Cindy McCain): I think Bristol might have reacted the way she did because she had recently been involved with a power struggle with another older woman over her child. As a result she misinterpreted a very generous offer as an attempt to gain control over her child.

BfromC: A lot of Pella doors there for Palin to plow right through. Hopefully they are all marked E X I T

Linda1961: …It sounds like Bristle planned upon losing her virginity on that camping trip and is upset that she can't remember that special night…

Sleuth1 pegged Bristol perfectly: This is the same 15-year-old who blacked out on whine coolers? (deliberate typo)

HopeforAmerica: Bristol looks like she enjoys her recent interviews publicly talking about her sex life. She is so full of herself and so full of shit. ETA: She gave exactly the same answers on [Hannity and] Good Morning America… It is worth it to watch the video just to see Bristol openly talk about her sex life. Who would expose themselves in this way? She seems to enjoy it, like Sarah appears to when people talk about her in a sexual way.

OneMorePoint: She is a full-on fame whore. Nothing more. Attention for its own sake. It's like a drug for her. She needs it. Without the attention and the feeling of popularity that it gives her, she goes into a depressive spiral..... I guess we know why her family participates in these schemes. Helping her get her next "fix" is better than suffering through another "black" period.

Sunnyjane: …when you've REALLY been date-raped, you call a cop, not a publisher. [Later on Bachmann/Palin] Maybe she'll start her own party, the Ask Me No Questions, I'll Tell You No Lies Party.

Indy_girl: The "Palin Brand": Spout nonsense, pose for cameras, take money. [BBT: this seems to cover them both nicely.]

Daisydem: …It is all about Sarah. Bristol's book is even really all about Sarah. Bristol's book signings are all about Sarah. And the entourage making their way to the elevator was all about Sarah…

Laprofesora: So what does Scarah do for attention now? She went to her "premiere", did Brystil's "book" signing, and now she's stuck with "jury duty" for a month. Meanwhile frenemy Michelle Bachman is everywhere. What's a narcissist gotta do to stay in the news cycle?

MamaGrisly: Releasing a version of this crappy work of cruci-FICTION that includes lynchings and crucifixions will backfire, just like the Blood Libel video. A lot of people might fall for $P's attempts to play the victim, but devout Christians will balk at comparing her little bullshit problems she brought on herself to the crucifixion of their savior.

Mitchethekid: $arah Payme is a lying, malignant narcissist. She has the depth of a well worn dime… She talks endlessly about how much she loves America and yet she knows nothing about it, or it's history and she spends most of her time pitting one group of American's against another… This woman will never hold office again. She isn't even qualified to be on The Jerry Springer Show…

Dusty17 finished Older_Wiser2’s Bristol™ quote: “I just slept with one guy…” ...at a time? Is that the rest of the sentence or just the unspoken part of the sentence?

Texasgal2009: Isn't it amazing how right wingers who loudly tell the government not to regulate their guns, want the same government to regulate our bodies ? They don't want the EPA to have any power over air, land and water pollution but they want the government to control what adults do in the privacy of their bedrooms.

Here’s a link from juicyfruityy on Michele Bachmann from politicususa.

Zane1 linked to Colbert having fun with Michele Bachmann; brilliant!

Link from Twitter: Roger Ailes planned Fox News model during Nixon days.

Azure Ghost wowed us with her graphics skills; here and here and below are some examples. H/T to Jewels, who did the original graphic below, "enhanced" by Azure Ghost with RAM's face.

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Note by Patrick:

Thank you so much again for the great roundup, Blueberry Tart!

I would like to add two very funny videos dealing with Sarah Palin to the roundup which I discovered last week.

Jimmy Kimmel Live - Jake Byrd was at the scene of Sarah Palin's movie premiere:

First part in the series: Sarah Palin/Michelle Bachmann - Great Moments in American History:

Real World Consequences of GOP Policies - Part 1 - What Would Sarah Palin Do?

By Ennealogic

Let's examine exactly what it means if Sarah Palin's (and the GOP Teabagger's) policies found purchase in our laws. We know from speeches given by Palin, Pawlenty, Santorum, and Bachmann et al, that there are a few basic principles they'd enact should they get into a position of power.

1. Reduce the size of Government -- that is, privatize as many government services as possible and do away entirely with others
2. Undo Regulations -- rescind or abolish current laws that govern what business can do
3. Maintain (extend or even increase) Tax Cuts, particularly for the wealthiest potential taxpayers

Palin told Fox News,

What President Palin would do is cut the federal budget, making sure that we're crowding out private sector investment. We will cut that spending. We have no choice.

(I doubt she meant that statement about making sure to crowd out private sector investment...) But in this post we'll examine what it would mean to cut basic services and turn them over to the private sector.

Reduce Goverment (aka privatize)
There are some services that should not, to my mind, ever be "for profit." Feeding the hungry, for one. Healing the sick, for another. Educating our children, in the broadest sense, for another. Providing for our national defense. Insuring that our research and development efforts in all kinds of areas continue. On and on... once you put a profit motive in there, you bastardize the effort and diminish it until it is just a game for dollars.

Mr. Pawlenty received (well-deserved) criticism for saying that if we can Google a good or a service, the government should not be in the business of providing it.

KUDLOW: What’s your Google test? You’ve got this very interesting part about the Google test and you want to sell off a bunch of assets. Can you quickly tell us about the Google test in the Pawlenty plan?
PAWLENTY: Sure. The premise it, look, if you can go on Google and find a service or a product that’s available in the private sector, then government probably shouldn’t be producing or providing the product.

Here are a just a few government (federal, state, local) services and goods:

• Health Care (Medicare)
• Prisons
• Education
• Military
• Infrastructure
• Transportation
• Police
• Retirement (Social Security)

Each of these systems (and yes, you can 'Google' them all) are mostly under government control and they are not for profit. Each system strives to pay for itself as best it can. There is a strong push to eliminate government efforts in each of these areas. What would happen if we privatized them and made them solely into for-profit enterprises? By definition, privatization invites corruption due to lack of oversight. We can petition the courts for grievances against public institutions, but we have very little recourse against Exxon or Xe or Dow Chemical.

Corporations exist to make profits. They have several avenues to pursue. They can increase prices, reduce quality, reduce quantity, or create desire for a product/service through advertising. Corporations also can enslave their workers in a variety of ways, making sure employees are paid the least amount possible in wages and benefits.

• Health care - Privatizing Medicare means costs would go up, coverage would decrease, and there would be no incentive to cure people or provide preventive advice because that would reduce the billable visits and medications. Drug companies would try to create demand by telling people via advertising to "ask their doctor" about various drugs (they already do!), even in absence of a legitimate diagnosis. And no matter what, we have to pay a for-profit insurance company. I guess that isn't so bad if you have a lot of money invested in health care enterprises.
  
• Prisons - Many states are already outsourcing prison facilities. But how do prison corporations make more money? By jailing more people and by making sure that their recidivism rate remains high. That means, no positive programs aimed at returning offenders to society, and advocacy for strict laws and penalties for even non-violent offenses. It means hiring inadequately trained staff, and understaffing and doing whatever you can to do what the state does only cheaper.
  
• Education - Turning the education of our children over to charter schools and religious organizations and even promoting home schooling has long been a goal of the religious fundamentalists. But once children go to "private" schools, the community at large has little to no say in the curriculum. Who decides whether actual history or revised history is taught? Who can say if 'intelligent design' is actually treated as scientific theory? And who, in the end, is accountable for properly educating our children?
  
• Military - Already, and with great vigor, the Bush II administration turned over large parts of military operations to private companies in Iraq. What happened as a result? We saw out-of-control mercenaries (Blackwater) and poisoned water supplies and shoddy electrical work and sub-standard food and poorly maintained vehicles. We paid dearly for this, both in dollars as well as lives, morale, and international respect. We lost control because the private companies dodged accountability for their actions.
  
• Infrastructure -Bridges and roads connect us all. When these are privatized, we see tolls and degradation of roadways and bridges. Again, who is then accountable to make sure we can safely travel between Washington, DC, and Des Moines, IA or Salt Lake City, UT? Left to for-profit companies that you could Google, we'd pay hundreds of dollars just to travel 1000 miles across the country in tolls and fees, not counting gas and vehicle repairs.
  
• Transportation - Speaking of traveling, without non-profit dollars going into high-speed rail and automotive engineering and flight research, we simply would not have any advancement at all in these areas. Privatizing means fewer options and higher costs for consumers. And forget the space program!
  
• Police/Fire - All too often folks forget that a non-profit law enforcement agency is what we count on for our personal safety and the justice that we know is embedded in the national and state constitutions. Could you imagine a corporation taking over law enforcement? Who would watch the watchers? Or if we had to make an advance payment to the Fire Department in order to get a response when our houses are burning down? "Sorry, you didn't pay earlier. We'll watch while your dwelling burns to the ground."
  
• Retirement - Throughout our work life we are hired by many different kinds of companies. Some are still able to provide a retirement benefit, but many are not. Yet all employers are mandated to deduct from our wages and add in themselves to a pool of funds to insure that when we retire we at least have minimal benefits based on our years of effort. Privatizing Social Security means that no monies must be set aside. It also means that we have to manage our own retirement account in "the market" with its predictable volatility. So, instead of a guarantee, we get to spin the wheel and take our chances. And we have to pay a broker for the privilege, to boot!

If Sarah Palin had her way, we wouldn't even have a National Endowment for the Arts, or a National Endowment for the Humanities, or funding for National Public Radio or National Public Television. We probably would privatize zoos, parks, museums and libraries too. After all, history is in the eye of those who edit Wikipedia, and if she says Paul Revere rang bells and shot a rifle to warn the British, who are we to disagree?

Next installment I'll take a look at what would happen if we abolished regulatory agencies and let "the market" decide what goes.

[Disclaimer: I work for a contractor who has a contract with a major federal government agency -- in essence, the government has been allowed to get 'smaller' for years now by hiring contractors to do vital work that keeps government running. The problem is, government pays us about double what they would pay if they hired government employees to do the jobs we are doing. Go figure...]

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Please re-tweet:

http://twitter.com/#!/politicalgates/status/87165952927600640

http://twitter.com/#!/politicalgates/status/87161322667651072

http://twitter.com/#!/politicalgates/status/87160915794989057

http://twitter.com/#!/politicalgates/status/87160621795254272

http://twitter.com/#!/politicalgates/status/87160224640802817

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Update by Patrick:

I thought it would be appropriate to add Robert Greenwald's eye-opening documentary "Iraq For Sale" to Ennealogic's post.

Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers is the story of what happens to everyday Americans when corporations go to war. Acclaimed director Robert Greenwald (Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price, Outfoxed and Uncovered) takes you inside the lives of soldiers, truck drivers, widows and children who have been changed forever as a result of profiteering in the reconstruction of Iraq. Iraq for Sale uncovers the connections between private corporations making a killing in Iraq and the decision makers who allow them to do so. Brave New Films are both funded and distributed completely outside corporate America. Over 3000 people donated to make Iraq for Sale, and it is up to you to distribute it. Give copies to co-workers and organize a screening in your neighborhood. Get involved! http://iraqforsale.org/

Sarah Palin's Crucifix -- The Cross She Willingly Wears

By Kathleen

After Sarah Palin's appearance in Pella, Iowa at the debut screening of Stephen Bannon's documentary film, The Undefeated, there was some discussion on the various anti Palin blogs regarding the belt that she wore which depicts a crucifix. Whilst pondering it's significance I thought of this painting by Steve Saiz which he titled "Here's your Blood Libel!" (BTW -- it is still for sale.) Click to enlarge:

Whether we like it or not Sarah Palin is a part of the political discourse and as such her image is associated by those who support her with that of a victim. Especially she is considered to be a victim of those people who are bemused or appalled by Palin's somewhat polarising and disturbing political message. Those who discredit or who make fun of Palin are considered as haters or even, as Sarah Jones at politicususa pointed out, potential killers wishing death on Palin and her family because Palin thinks that they are threatened by her.

When I first wrote about the above painting I pointed out that I believed that the artist wanted to express that Sarah Palin's emotional state as the nail is being hammered into her was beyond self control -- that it was one of ecstasy, rapture and loss of self. Or as Palin would say, it is not about me, I am doing this for you. The artist portrays Palin as actually enjoying any perceived attacks on her because she is more than happy to be the victim, the sacrificial lamb, because she believes that she will reap the rewards of having done so. Just like Saint Teresa as depicted by Bernini.

With this in mind, and please also hold the above image in your consciousness whilst doing so, I would like you to read the following article at the Los Angeles Times which reveals that Stephen Bannon will soon release an uncut version of The Undefeated. In the uncut version Bannon reveals that the new release will feature "crucifixions, lynching and suicides." Yes, you read that correctly, and in my mind there can now be little doubt that Sarah Palin's crucifix belt was not an accidental accessory that she casually flung on for the hell of it. After all, in Sarah Palin's world there really are no coincidences. Especially if they are rhinestone studded in order to attract attention (click to enlarge).

There can also be little doubt that Stephen Bannon regards artistic works such as the above painting by Steve Saiz as hateful or part of the "pop-culture beat down" of Sarah Palin, former governor of Alaska, now rabble rouser of the highest order, but I wonder what he thinks of her use of such images to further her agenda of being seen as a victim of hate. Personally I think that it is very likely that Bannon will believe that Palin is merely expressing subtlety and irony through her choice of accessories and that it is OK for her to do so. However, the fact remains that a person making a derogatory remark about her use of accessories is considered by Bannon as crude and worthy of significant outrage.

Sarah Palin attracts such remarks and attention because she invites them through her own persistent and cynical manipulation of her image. She does so because she wants to be regarded as the next saviour of the right and, as she sees it, of America itself.