Pandered to the far-right
EDITOR:This letter is in reference to the Sept. 8 letter "Bashing of Sarah Palin." The letter states:
"If you happen to be a Democrat, you are now aligned with a venomous party. Anyone who takes hateful potshots at a 17-year old pregnant teenager or a 4-month old Down syndrome baby is repulsive and deserves to be repudiated. There is no place in our society for such deplorable behavior. Have we lost all respect?"
As a Democrat, I take offense to the implication that I am "repulsive" and belong to a "venomous party."
The letters has assumed, and wrongly so, that all Democrats have been hateful against Governor Palin's two daughters. To say that we have attacked a 4-month old Down syndrome baby is a complete lie. A few idiots in Internet blogs might have, but not the party. Senators Obama and Biden have publicly said that families are off limits.
Unfortunately, the selection of Palin has put the Democrats in a Catch-22 situation. If she is attacked for her views and policy, the Republicans will cry "sexism." If she is not criticized, Palin's ultra- conservative beliefs will be ignored. She will be able to continue espousing her Karl Rove formed ideas unchecked.
Her convention speech energized the party but did we hear anything substantial? Her tone was very sarcastic and strident. To mock Senator Obama's "work as a community organizer" was over the top.
It degraded the sacrifices of Dr. Martin Luther King and Caesar Chavez. Of course, many in the Republican base like to avoid any connection with the disadvantaged and poor. They don't fill the coffers of the Republican "war chest."
In my view, Palin is nothing more than a Dick Cheney, without the experience, I might add, in an attractive woman's garb. Oh, I'd better avoid saying "attractive;" that's a sexist comment. I've had enough of Dick Cheney and his ilk hanging around Pennsylvania Avenue. Eight years of a Cheney led administration is enough.
The letter also goes on to quote former President Clinton's Secretary of State: "Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright once said, 'There is a special place in hell for women who do not help other women.' No doubt Madeline was referring specifically to Democratic women. But have no fear; Sarah Palin is a woman of courageous substance who can take the heat and has no intention of spending time in Madeline Albright's 'feminists' kitchen.'"
I don't believe that Madeline Albright was, to quote the letter, "No doubt specifically" referring to Democratic women. She endorsed Senator Hillary Clinton and advised her on foreign policy. Now, Albright is serving as an adviser to Senator Obama.
As to, "take the heat," that remains to be seen. As of this writing, she hasn't been allowed to give an interview. "Courageous?" "Substance?"
Well, she has stood up to a moose or two. She has, as Commander and Chief of the Alaskan National Guard, also kept her borders free from invasion by Russia and the Yukon. She has learned, during her brief political career in Alaska, to walk over the bodies of her critics unscathed. She has, like many astute politicians, said that "pork" will not be tolerated but will keep federal funds anyway.
The "Bashing of Sarah Palin" letter is typical of many "modern" conservatives. They simply "parrot" information from "ultra-right" web sites like the Free Republic. As a matter of fact, most of the information in the letter was written by "boy wonder" Ben Shapiro in his article, "The Hypocritical Woman-Hating Left Targets Palin" found on townhall.com.
Sadly, the party of Reagan and Goldwater has moved drastically to the politics of the far-right, derision and intolerance.
Senator McCain is more honorable than this but has had Palin forced upon him by the new core of the Republican Party. He has pandered to the far-right, in order to get elected. Is this the kind of "change" we want in Washington?
Thomas Martin
Iron Mountain
|
PatrickMarble
|
|
|---|---|
|
09-13-08 4:49 PM
|
To be honest, I am not a registered Republican. I would probably vote Libertarian if they had a valid candidate. I try to look at the big picture when I make a decision. I don't look at my silo, but rather the country as a whole. I wish I worked for Halliburton. I hear they pay very well. I believe that bin Laden is in Pakistan. I think most people do. For some reason, we are afraid to ruin the one friendship we have in the region. I don't know that I would call it a strong relationship, but that is what it is. Until we decide that we want to actually want to him, he will remain free from justice. As for Irag, I do agree that we went in under false premice. Hindsight has told us that. Too bad we didn't have that hindsight upfront. Regardless, look past mainstream articles and you will see that a lot of good has been accomplished over there. A lot of good people have died and that obviously is not good. Less troops died this summer in Iraq than murders in Chicago.
|
|
whiteagle
|
|
|
09-13-08 3:37 PM
|
Patrick – works for McCain campaign. He will try to turn table his way even if you have a round table in front of you. I wouldn’t be surprised he works for Halliburton! They moved headquarters to oversees so they don’t have to pay taxes on money they receive from US tax payers, is it ironic? People like Patrick and whole GOP will not admit that they made a major mistake taking this country to the war. It is not a war on terrorism, that one is in Afghanistan, and we are loosing it, because Bush didn’t care about terrorism, he cared about certain groups making money. Current VP was a one of the Halliburton boys! GOP business as usual. Vote McCain and you will have the same old boys club in Washington!!! Elite is the McCain not Obama. Obama was raised by a single mother that worked her “rear end” to meet the ends so her kids can became someone! That's a FACT!
|
|
lacountc
|
|
|
09-13-08 3:09 PM
|
And where is Bin Laden by the way? Weren't we supposed to "smoke him out?"
|
|
lacountc
|
|
|
09-13-08 3:08 PM
|
After re-reading my posts I don't believe any rational person would consider them "angry" nor "bitter." Seems like an attempt to compartmentalize me there Patrick. That dog don't hunt.
|
|
PatrickMarble
|
|
|
09-13-08 2:44 PM
|
At the end of the day, I am happy that the Bush era is coming to a close. It will take away the do nothing liberals only thing they have to complain about. Bush is an itiot, Bush did this, Bush did that. Great. You only have to deal with him for a few more months. It is funny that the Dems are trying to paint McCain to be the same person. McCain is more of a Democrat than half of the Domocrats. The proplem you all have is that your party has been hijacked by a bunch of Left wing extremist and you don't know how to get it back. And, you feel dirty voting for the person that actually carries the same values as you. It is OK. One day you will realize it.
|
|
PatrickMarble
|
|
|
09-13-08 2:40 PM
|
Unfortunately, terrorism has a negative impact on our economy. 9/11 proved that. Your anger continues to prove that. If the Clinton regime had taken care of the terror problem (Bin Laden) when they had the chance, we wouldn't even be talking about it. That does not negate the fact that taking out the last two months, the unemployment rate has been lower than in the Clinton era. Please take a look that the average unemployment rates for the two eras. Don't take my word for it. You can even look at the LA Times to get your data. Facts are facts. I too was living in Chicago when 9/11 happened. I saw my company eliminate about 30% of the workforce. I am not happy about it, but it happened. Those people are all working now and most are not bitter has you are.
|
|
lacountc
|
|
|
09-13-08 2:25 PM
|
Once again, after reading Patrick's letter I have to comment. The unemployment rate is at a 15 year high. Headlines don't write themselves. Asserting that it was higher under Clinton than it is right now is a denial of reality.
|
|
lacountc
|
|
|
09-13-08 2:23 PM
|
And another point...when the US was attacked -prior to- WWII (emphasis on prior to), the attack occurred at a US Naval base on an island that was later to become a US state. Did that really affect employment in the lower 48? Perhaps the lingering GREAT DEPRESSION might have been more of an employment issue than the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Your deflection on this issue is really pathetic.
|
|
lacountc
|
|
|
09-13-08 2:17 PM
|
Also Patrick, following 9/11 I was working for a company that makes the jets, warships, missiles and bombs (among other things) used for war. You fail to address that in your sympathy for my job loss. People at that company were giving high-fives on 9/11 because they thought it meant job security. Five months later they laid-off 2500 people nationwide. Does that make sense to you?
|
|
lacountc
|
|
|
09-13-08 2:10 PM
|
Patrick, this is not 1938, this is 2008. I can surely attest that the job market for people in my field has crumbled from "High Demand" to "You're lucky to have a job." The reason that I went into my field was that during the Clinton years there was 100% job placement and almost zero layoffs. Since Bush took over, it's been "you're lucky to have a job." That is not "anecdotal," it's fact. Granted I'm not a lumberjack, carpenter, or plumber who's services will always be in demand. But nonetheless, under the Bush economy I have seen demand for the services of my profession decline tremendously. It was a startling shift from going from a high-demand profession to being difficult to get a job. And it all occurred once Bush took office. They say correlation does not mean causation but given recent trends, the model fits.
|
|
KellyJ
|
|
|
09-13-08 2:08 PM
|
This is a democratic Congress, Nonamiss. Place your blame where it belongs.
|
|
davepete
|
|
|
09-13-08 1:55 PM
|
McCain and Palin continue to assert that Gov. Palin opposed the infamous "Bridge to Nowhere." They do so in their speeches and ads, and their supporters say so on television until their pants are on fire. McCain and Palin also claim the Alaska governor opposes earmarks -- despite the fact that she's gotten her state so much pork she's at risk for trichinosis.
|
|
maleman
|
|
|
09-13-08 1:35 PM
|
One of the reasons we can’t trust dems in the white house is because of war. We might not even be this war had President Clinton not shirked his obligation to protect our country by ignoring terrorism and let bi laden go when he had the chance to take him. Or when President Carter was paralyzed when Americans were taken hostage by Iran. Of course the threat of Ronald Reagan made them release the hostages. Most democrats don’t understand the threats of today. They think we are the threat. I will have to agree that some in the democrat party may be. When some the democrats think Hillary Clinton is to conservative what can a person say.
|
|
PatrickMarble
|
|
|
09-13-08 12:24 PM
|
Anecdotal. I think a proper comparison would be to the unemployment rate after the US was attacked in WWII. Comparing the 90's to just after 9/11 is funny. Nice try, but that dog don't hunt. I am sorry you lost your job. A lot of good people did. That wasn't due to Bush or the Republican party. The facts remain the same. The average unemployment rate is lower in the Bush admin than in the Clinton admin. Fact. Call it what you want, spin it how you want, the facts are the facts.
|
|
lacountc
|
|
|
09-13-08 11:50 AM
|
Five months after 9/11 I was laid off from my job in Chicago (at a defense contractor, no less, you know, missiles and bombs) and was unable to find another job. The FedEx envelopes stopped arriving. It took me more than 3 years to get back to the employment level that I was previously at. Don't tell me the economy is better now, I know it isn't. Luckily I'm in medical devices now, an industry not typically affected by economic ups and downs. Bush has been a plague on this country and, whether Obama wins or loses, we'll all be better off with that oaf out of office.
|
|
lacountc
|
|
|
09-13-08 11:45 AM
|
I can say with certainty that employment was better under Clinton than it is now. I graduated from college in May '01. During my last year and a half of college all I had to do was email a resume to companies and usually within two weeks I'd would get a FedEx envelope slipped under my door with plane tickets and an interview itinerary. These were usually accompanied by a travelers check stipend and rented car. I took a job in Chicago, turning down offers in Boston, Philly, Colo, San Diego, and so on, because my mother was being treated for breast cancer in the UP.
|
|
PatrickMarble
|
|
|
09-13-08 9:51 AM
|
Actually, I may the only one not living in the woods. I happen to live in a very large city. I may be the only one posting on this page that is. I guess the near 6% unemployment rate for the entire Clinton era was a good thing. Until the last year with the house crisis, the unemployment rate has been under 5% for the Bush era. It must be difficult for you people to drive with the blinders on. If you would look at some of these numbers through your own eyes and not those of the leftist media, you might actually be able to make a decision on your own. You guys make me laugh. I guess being sheltered you look for government to bail you out all the time. Good luck with that.
|
|
whiteagle
|
|
|
09-13-08 9:43 AM
|
I think you should pay more for it, not less. Last time I checked the govt. didn’t have a magic wand to make currency. Iraq war, was never about them coming here and nuking our cities, you have to be one of the last idiots in this country to still believe that Iraq war is about the WMD and terrorist. If you even have any logic left, we should be in Saudi Arabia not Iraq, 15 of 19 that attacked us on 9/11 were from Saudi Kingdom, what kind of democracy are we supporting called Kingdom, each time I see Bush holding a hand of the Saudi King, I see whole logic of RNC. O, by the way, Afghanistan is not the same as Iraq, so you don’t confuse both!
|
|
maleman
|
|
|
09-13-08 8:57 AM
|
Some will agree with whiteeagle & nanomiss we need to stop this war. So what if a city or area in country is attacked or nuke, who cares we don’t live near a metro area. Let the muslim extremist multiply like rabbits. We need more people like President Clinton who will over look terrorist activity, because if we ignore it maybe it will just go away. Then we will have plenty of money to help people get on social security disability, free health care to all so you don’t have to take care of yourself. And when you eat yourself into oblivion you can have a doctor clip your toenails. We can even extend unemployment for up to 5 years for those who can’t find a job. Eventually there will be enough sloths looking for a free handout. But there’s not quite enough yet. There is lot democrats that are looking at the people represented them and can’t identify. If the Obama campaign keeps attacking women and elderly people there will be even more turning to McCain.
|
|
whiteagle
|
|
|
09-13-08 8:56 AM
|
Patrick – you need to wake up and smell the coffee MEN-------?FACTS, I am wondering if your head got stack somewhere in the woods, no TV, no Newspaper or maybe you found some old newspaper dating back eight years and you are coming up with these wonderful facts, not realizing is 2008.
|
|
PatrickMarble
|
|
|
09-13-08 1:27 AM
|
Are you guys kidding me? The economy is in the trash. I don't believe we have even started a recession. Yes, the housing market *****. But, overall, the economy is plugging along at a decent pace if you compare it to most historic data. While the left wing media wants you to believe the economy is so bad, you would be hard pressed to find too many stats to back it. If it is unemployment stats, take a look at the stats during Slick Willy's tenor before you spout too much. As for how bad the Republican party is, aren't they the ones that freed the slaves. The Democrats voted against it. Remember the Jim Crow laws, if not, please take a few minutes to do a few searches. It will speak for itself. Take a peek at the voting records of the Democrats in the 60's during the civil rights votes. Not too many Democrats were in favor. Barely a majority of them, yet most Republican were. Check which party has been on the side of the minorities before you say too much. Facts...
|
|
whiteagle
|
|
|
09-12-08 10:09 PM
|
Vote McCain...and you will have a pain........at the pump, in grocery store, with your taxes! All the RNC members want is to keep every penny of their money. They want to pay as little as possible to the coffers of govt., but they want a WAR and middle or a poor class to pay for it! As soon as you tell them to pay more, they tell you their favorite: “a trickle down theory.” They are bunch of bigots. Think how much good we would have done in US, if we invested all of 600 billion we blow on the unnecessary, imaginary treat of WMD, Al-Qaida, that was created by the current VP and Bush choir known as Iraq war? McCain already sounds like a broken record, if you listen to his speeches he repeats every other word twice! Guy already doesn’t remember how many homes he have. It will just only get worse.
|
|
maleman
|
|
|
09-12-08 7:13 PM
|
Yes, liberal media, which aligns with Obama, attacked Palin's daughter. I don’t think Obama is an attack kind of guy. He’s just hoping to get his message of change and hope out, hoping things will change by changing things we hope for so that people can hope for change. But who ever is running his campaign is a dunce. In his latest TV ad he implies because McCain is old and don’t use the internet he’s out of touch. It makes Obama looks like he is attacking old people saying they are out of touch. Which some will look at it that way. Now he will drive more of our aged voters to McCain .
|
|
DaleRay19
|
|
|
09-12-08 7:07 PM
|
" I offer you Peace. I offer you Love.I offer you friendship. I see your beauty. I hear your need. I feel your feelings My wisdom flows from the Highest Source. I salute that Source within you. Let us work together for Unity and Love." - Mahatama Gandhi It could all just be so simple....:) namaste' {{{ souls }}} ~j~
|
|
Malamute
|
|
|
09-12-08 5:25 PM
|
Name one piece of Legislation that Lincoln Authored while in the Illinois State Senate or the United States House of Representatives? Without using google. :) I can name several bills that Obama has helped legislate. The Feingold-Obama Lobbying and Ethics Reform Bill. The Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Bill. And beyong that, ok i will give you that he has campaigned for the last 20 months yet that still gives Lincoln and Obama 8 years in the State Senate of Illinois, and Lincoln had 2 Years in The U.S. House of Representatives while Obama has 2 Years experience in the U.S Senate. If it was good enough for one of our GREATEST presidents in History, i know it is perfect experience for today. Younger Presidents: Teddy Roosevelt(42), John Kennedy(43), Bill Clinton(46), Ulysses Grant(46), Grover Cleveland(47). So before you spout, know the facts. :)
|