Home > Jay Bookman > Archives > 2008 > September > 03 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USIs Palin victim of media conspiracy?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The McCain campaign and much of the Republican Party are outraged at media coverage of Sarah Palin. McCain strategist Steve Schmidt set the tone perfectly Wednesday, whining about a “faux media scandal designed to destroy the first female Republican nominee.”
Well cry me a river. Let’s take that claim apart, and let’s start with this:
A relative handful of columnists and commentators and a larger number of bloggers have indeed wondered in public about Palin’s decision to accept the nomination so soon after giving birth to a son with Down syndrome, a condition that requires a lot of attention, and when she has a 17-year-old unmarried pregnant daughter. How, they have asked, could Palin do right both by her family and her country?
To the McCain camp, such questions constitute a “vicious and scurrilous” media campaign to ruin a promising conservative candidate, using sexism to do it. Is that true?
Fortunately, we have a similar set of circumstances to compare against the Palin case. In March of 2007, John Edwards decided to continue his presidential campaigning even after his wife was diagnosed with terminal cancer. The reaction will sound familiar.
Rush Limbaugh said the Edwards were turning their eyes to the campaign when they instead should turn their eyes to God. Katie Couric, in a “60 Minutes” interview, accused Edwards of mining his wife’s condition for sympathy votes.
“Even those who may be very empathetic to what you all are facing might question your ability to run the country at the same time you’re dealing with a major health crisis in your family,” Couric told Edwards.
And in Time magazine, columnist Jay Carney wrote that “surely many average Americans have to be wondering at what point the candidate will decide that his duties as husband and father to three children, including a 6- and 8-year-old, trump his duty to his country and the cause of winning the White House.”
Edwards is a man; he is also a liberal. Yet, he faced the same questioning and second-guessing that Palin is now undergoing. Why? Because human beings are drawn to human stories, and the media have an economic incentive to tell those stories, regardless of political bent.
The McCain’s camp complaint about a media “feeding frenzy” focused on Palin is even more precious. John McCain chose to introduce a totally unknown player to the national scene at a critical point in the campaign, and he did so by portraying her as a gun-toting John Wayne mother of five, riding out of the wilds of Alaska to clean up Washington.
And they claim to be shocked at the “feeding frenzy” they set off? In the first hours after the announcement, TV reporters had so little information about Palin that they were reduced to reading off Wikipedia for information. Of course, the media descended on Alaska to try to fill in the gaps as quickly as possible.
The story the McCain camp peddled was so appealing that Palin even drew coverage from US magazine, People and National Enquirer, outlets that would never have wasted ink on a Kay Bailey Hutchison or Tim Pawlenty. Their interest was human, not political.
The real reason Schmidt is angry is because the reporting has shown that so much of the original McCain narrative was untrue.
Palin was cast as a reformer who fought the infamous “Bridge to Nowhere.” But in fact, she ran for governor in 2006 as a champion of the pork-barrel bridge and “opposed” it only after it was clear the project was dead. We were told that Palin abhors earmarks, the special congressional appropriations that Alaska politicians have used to bleed billions from the American taxpayer. But it turns out Palin fought to get earmarks both as mayor and as governor, hiring lobbyists and going to Washington herself to bring them home.
It’s not the media’s fault that the cinematic story envisioned by McCain and his staff has fallen apart on closer inspection. They just didn’t do their homework, and they got caught.
Comments
By Goldie
September 3, 2008 3:39 PM | Link to this
I love how McBush is supposed to be such a tough guy, and yet he keeps whining like a big cry-baby about all the media attention he’s finally getting.
Oh, boo-hoo.
By Midori
September 3, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this
hmmmmmm………
popcorn? check
dr. pepper? check
think I’ll sit back and watch the fun…..
By FlaLady
September 3, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this
You are way off base on this one, Jay. Take a look at the usual suspects: CNN, MSNBC, WaPo, HuffPo and even ABC, CBS, NBC. All of the attention Palin and her daughter are receiving centers around sexist, misogynistic drivel, lies and innuendo. Don’t be surprised if there isn’t a major backlash on this. I’m a centrist who also was angry by the treatment Hillary Clinton received by the media. This is even worse.
By hester
September 3, 2008 3:52 PM | Link to this
So far about all Palin has said about herself is that she is “proud wife and mother”. That is the information she supplied. And that makes her family life open to comment. If she wanted her family out of bounds she shouldn’t have drug them in with her. She knew her 17 year old would be commented on — and the fact that her littlest one would be too. She just didn’t give a rat’s fart! Selfishness is a Republican value —but not mine! She is a Republican.
By AJC/DNC Management
September 3, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this
She’s a victim of an idiot assault mob:
I have always tended to think that conservative complaints about the media are a little exaggerated. There are occasionally obvious instances of bias and clear examples of a double standard, but most reporters don’t want to fall into those and some conservatives are surely too sensitive to them. But this week has changed my view. I have never seen, and I admit that I could never have imagined, such shameful, out-of-control, frenzied, angry, condescending, and pathetic journalistic malpractice. The ignorant assault on Palin’s accomplishments and experience, the breathless careless airing of deranged rumors about her private life, the staggeringly indecent mistreatment of her teenage daughter in a difficult time, the ill-informed piling on about the vetting process, the self-intensifying circle of tisking nodding heads utterly detached from a straightforward political event, have been amazing and eye-opening.
By @@
September 3, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this
Because human beings are drawn to human stories, and the media have an economic incentive to tell those stories, regardless of political bent.
Well Jay, I can’t say that’s true for me when it comes to politics, but whatever…….
Anyhoo, it’s rather sad that the media would choose to plunge that economic incentive right through the heart of a 17 year old girl.
To be honest, I was a little put out with Edwards at the time when his wife’s illness intersected with his campaign. Then I thought, what the hay! If his wife’s on board, who am I to judge? They’re adults after all.
Later on, and with little, if any coverage at all, from the liberal media, I find that someone else was puttin’ out for John.
In the first hours after the announcement, TV reporters had so little information about Palin that they were reduced to reading off Wikipedia for information. Of course, the media descended on Alaska to try to fill in the gaps as quickly as possible.
Now ‘ya see ^^^ there? That’s a liberal media’s impatience. Can’t wait, JUST CAN’T WAIT!!!! Wait for what would be my question — all the truth, lies, and innuendos that are fit for print.
All in a day’s work for those invested in OBlahMa.
Oh, btw — over at Wooten’s? There’s another OBlahMa (leftist) supporter who’s promoting something called “The Blossip” where supposedly there are pictures of Palin’s daughter drinking. On the site it said “We know BO said to back off, but we just couldn’t let this go unnoticed.” (Paraphrased) headline: “Drinking Babies at the Trashed Trailer Park in Alaska”
Do you want me to direct them to your site Jay? It’ll up your numbers. Not many conservatives posting there or here. I suppose that can be attributed to our inability to engage civilly?
I’m paddlin’ upstream from your river of tears Jay.
By Bosch
September 3, 2008 4:06 PM | Link to this
I think Jay pretty much said it all
“Cry me a river” but I would have added, wingnuts afterwards.
Jay’s much more gentlemanly.
Gotta run! I haven’t won the lottery yet (although I’m intrigued by this person who still hasn’t claimed it in Mableton - I’ve checked my ticket) -
Gotta pay the tax man!
Have a pleasant evening.
By Bosch
September 3, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this
Oh one more thing:
And Jay,
Heard this on NPR - they changed her Wiki page the day before the announcement.
By @@
September 3, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this
hmmmmmm………
popcorn? check
dr. pepper? check
think I’ll sit back and watch the fun…..
And I see Midori has “slouched down” to enjoy her favorite soap opera HERE. Hoping beyond hope that she’ll be able to contribute to the script.
You go girl. We women have all gotta stick together, right?
By TW
September 3, 2008 4:25 PM | Link to this
Goldie - McSame’s doing that old man crying thing - he can’t help it. Most men get that way when they get close to the dirt nap. Look at Bush Sr. - cries all the time they say. Nothing wrong with crying, don’t get me wrong - I’m just glad compassionate conservatism is back and will be able to comfort the Senator from Arizona when he gets trampled this November.
By Winston Smith
September 3, 2008 4:35 PM | Link to this
How ironic that Bookman’s case study for this opinion piece is John Edwards. Yes, I remember all of the media hounds sniffing for dirt around his presidential campaign run—oh wait, that was only the National Enquirer doing the job this summer that the media should have been doing months ago. Yes, I remember how the uber-conservative Katie Couric and all of those right-wingnuts at Time raked John Edwards over the coals with their loaded questions and wicked insinuations—oh wait, those were actually open invitations for Edwards to tear up as he talked about how his love for country kept him going through tough times. The appropriate analog here is not Edwards, but Clarence Thomas—derided, mocked and defamed on mean-spirited grounds over and over again despite overwhelming evidence of his remarkable intelligence, qualifications and integrity.
And Jay—try doing some original journalism instead of just warming over the makeshift anti-Palin claims trotted out by Huffington Post and Daily Kos. You embarass all of us who actually have to claim the AJC as our hometown paper.
By T
September 3, 2008 4:36 PM | Link to this
I don’t know if it is sexism. I think the articles about her daughter are cr@$^. Just like the ones about Obama’s wife. So I don’t read them. Maybe I will. I don’t think that it will change my opinion of McCain. Still scary.
By cataplasm
September 3, 2008 4:40 PM | Link to this
I don’t think the Republicans can complain about the media investigating Palin. She is an unknown from the middle of nowhere. It is arrogant to expect that we will simply accept the RNC press releases without question, especially after being misled on the Iraq war.
If some of the RNC/McCain statements about Palin had not fallen apart under initial probing this may well have become old news. As it is there is enough smoke to suspect a fire may exist. I applaud the media for their action and would do the same if they were doing it to a Democrat.
I agree that Bristol is a non-combatant in all this and should be left alone but, given her mother’s views on sex education and it’s apparent failure to protect Bristol from an unwanted pregnancy I believe it is fair comment to link the two.
By David Bruce
September 3, 2008 4:41 PM | Link to this
While I am a Democrat and am voting for Obama/Biden, I feel for Palin’s predicament. Unfortunately it’s the way of the press when you are in the public eye, and she couldn’t be any more in the public eye than she is now.
All in all, I think this election cycle has not been nearly as divisive as those in the past. I think that the American media have moved more toward the mundane drivel that used to be owned by People magazine to gain reader interest. I don’t happen to like that kind of news, but that’s why I usually read the paper or the internet, so I can skip it by.
By Mike
September 3, 2008 4:42 PM | Link to this
Another lame partisan attack, but hey what do you expect from Bookman? Something outside of standard partisan bounds?
Not likely. Whether it is Michael Savage with mindless hate or Bookman with his mindless hate, its all the same.
How are the clicks coming Jay? Hope your selfish and corrupt racket to secure your undeserved job at the expense of your scammed advertisers and your paper’s reputation is paying off.
Keep turning those pages Jay, even if it is the same 50 people you cultivate and goad all day long. Now that is some advertising value. It’s as valuable as throwing a pile of direct mail in the garbage. Regardless, it sure isn’t preventing the AJC from sinking at a much faster rate than industry average.
But you don’t care about any of that, you just want to turn your clicks for your own selfish purposes as the AJC lays off real journalists who actually contribute something to society besides Keith Olbermann’s crib notes.
By The Jerk Store
September 3, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this
I am a human and when it comes to politics I don’t much care for human stories. Our founding fathers would turn over in their graves if they knew or heard what politics has become…
By Goldie
September 3, 2008 5:00 PM | Link to this
An advisor for McBush stated the other day in the Washington Post that “this election is not about the issues”, so I guess McBush’s campaign has laid their personal issues wide open for the media and everyone else to try and digest.
Once again, the Repugs showing what incompetent boobs they really are.
By Goldie
September 3, 2008 5:11 PM | Link to this
McBush prefers that America and the media not talk about today’s issues:
Campaigning in eastern Ohio, Obama noted that McCain campaign manager Rick Davis said the election would be decided largely on voters’ perceptions of the candidates’ personalities.— “This election is not about issues,” Davis told The Washington Post this week. “This election is about a composite view of what people take away from these candidates.”
By Goldie
September 3, 2008 5:16 PM | Link to this
Another lame partisan attack, but hey what do you expect from Bookman? Something outside of standard partisan bounds?
Another Repug whiner — Give it up, Mikey. No matter how much you hate reading anything outside of your very narrow view, you keep coming here to this blog and whining about “nobody writes what I tell them to!”
Get over it. Start your own blog.
By Mike
September 3, 2008 5:18 PM | Link to this
“By Goldie
Once again, the Repugs showing what incompetent boobs they really are.”
Hey Jay. That clever and insightful statement should be worth some of the clicks that you value above all.
Who needs reporters who actually go out and inform readers? All you need is a partisan hack and a comments section.
Why get your clicks from a large user base who wants to be informed by facts when you can fire the staff, keep a few partisan hacks and let Goldie do the work for you. It’ll be years before the advertisers catch on that their advertising dollars are being wasted on a tiny collection of nuts (myself included) who don’t look at the ads at all.
By Bush go away
September 3, 2008 5:27 PM | Link to this
Now Cindy McCain has joined in the sheer, abject, total, stupidity by claiming that Palin is a foriegn policy expert because Alaska is the closest state to Russia!
What’s next, saying that because McCain’s home state of Arizona is closer to the equator than Obama’s home state of Illnios that makes McCain more qualified to talk about global warming?
Grasping at straws, grasping at straws.
By AJC/DNC Management
September 3, 2008 5:39 PM | Link to this
By Bush go away September 3, 2008 5:27 PM Now Cindy McCain has joined in the sheer, abject, total, stupidity
Considering how little that Fake Temple Pilot knows, Cindy McCain could have said Sarah’Cuda knows more about foreign policy than Dimwit does because she owns an Irish Setter, she wouldn’t have been lying.
Unless, of course, he had his teleprompter with him.
By findog
September 3, 2008 5:39 PM | Link to this
The issue is that the first daughter of Alaska is not getting married until after the birth because she would be off of the Governor’s medical insurance benefits so Bristol and Levi start out with a government freebee.
That flies in the face of two GOP stances.
First is personal responsibility and not counting on the government to bail you out.
The second is that health care in America should be based on a market driven solutions and not government based coverage.
It is not that there is an unmarried pregnant teen of a politician (either party) it is that they a scamming the insurance industry for coverage.
By Robyn
September 3, 2008 5:57 PM | Link to this
The question of media conspiracy is clearly Republican Scare Tactics.
Why are the Republicans down on the Media for reporting on something that is so important to the safety and welfare of the American people?! What in the world are the Republicans trying to do? Are we under some sort of Dictatorship? We don’t even have the right to be concerned,ask questions and know every last detail about a person they pick out of the blue to possibly run our country? I believe the media should keep digging!!! We need to know everything we can about this already suspicious person named Sarah Palin. John McCain should come up with an another excuse for this incredible mistake he’s made. Gambling with our lives, how dare he!!!!
By N-GA
September 3, 2008 6:09 PM | Link to this
The GOP has insulted every American voter. Even the GOP pundits are dissing Palin in private, yet supporting her in public. You know, typical GOP hypocrisy.
History will say that Bush’s decision to invade Iraq was the worst decision ever made by a sitting president. This one will go down as the woest decision ever made by a predidential candidate.
Can you believe the B.S. spewing from the mouths of the GOP? Her overseas experience includes visits to Germany, Kuwait and Ireland. Then we find out Ireland was a refueling stop. They tout her role directing the Alaska National Guard (for 18 months) as military experience. Well, it certainly compares to GWB’s experience.
And her business experience? Working in the fishing industry. Not even mentioned in her work bio on the Alaska government website. I guess they had to make something up to reinforce her creds.
The GOP proved that American voters were gullible with the results of the last 2 elections. Now they want to prove that the voters are just plain stupid.
By Midori
September 3, 2008 6:10 PM | Link to this
Poll shows women don’t like Sarah Palin They are deserting the Republicans Speech today will be chance to fight back
ALASKA Governor Sarah Palin was a risky choice for John McCain - and the Republican presidential candidate is about to find out just how risky.
A national poll shows most US women are unimpressed as her stance on issues like abortion and pre-school education becomes public.
They have thrown their weight behind the Democratic ticket in the race for the White House, with 52 per cent of women polled saying they will vote for the all-male Democratic ticket of Senator Barack Obama and Joe Biden, and just 41 per cent said they would back Senator McCain and Governor Palin in the November election.
The poll comes as the McCain camp defends the vetting process used to select Governor Palin.
By Midori
September 3, 2008 6:14 PM | Link to this
McCain Camp Knocks Down Enquirer’s Palin Rumor
ST. PAUL, MINN.) – John McCain’s campaign threatened legal action against the National Enquirer today for running a story about McCain’s running mate, Sarah Palin, allegedly having an affair with her husband’s business partner.
“The smearing of the Palin family must end. The allegations contained on the cover of the National Enquirer insinuating that Gov. Palin had an extramarital affair are categorically false. It is a vicious lie,” said McCain senior adviser Steve Schmidt.
“The efforts of the media and tabloids to destroy this fine and accomplished public servant are a disgrace. The American people will reject it.”
The Enquirer also alleges that Palin unjustly fired a public safety official while she was governor of Alaska, but the story is based entirely on unnamed sources. The Enquirer has also paid sources in the past to speak with them, something mainstream media outlets do not do.
“Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin look forward to discussing the issues that Americans care about, fixing broken government, creating jobs, making our country energy independent and securing the peace for the next generation by bringing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to a victorious end,” said Schmidt.
does she, or doesn’t she??
only her hairdresser knows for sure……
By Midori
September 3, 2008 6:26 PM | Link to this
Peggy Noonan, Mike Murphy Caught On Tape Disparaging Palin Choice: “It’s Over,” “Political Bullsh*t”
By jos
September 3, 2008 6:30 PM | Link to this
It is so typical of liberals to justify the absolute raping of a woman and her family. When someone questioned Michelle Obama on her “never been proud of America” comment, you’d have thought the world was coming to an end. Now she is off limits. Liberals always talk big about inclusion, but if a black or a woman dares not follow the liberal B.S. line, they bring out the big sticks to beat them down. Clarence Thomas was lynched and now they are raping Sarah Palin. Just another day in the liberal neighborhood. Go ahead Jay - rationalize all you want, rape is still rape.
By Paul
September 3, 2008 6:35 PM | Link to this
Jay
The title of your piece specified “media conspiracy.”
Your first examples of Republicans “doing the same thing” (is this becoming a justification theme?) was Limbaugh, a right-wing entertainer. He’d have attacked Edwards over anything. Katie Couric accused Edwards of using his wife’s condition to get votes, which is different than questioning whether or not he should have run in the first place. Her comment about his ability to focus – having a spouse with a terminal condition elicits a much more intense, consuming emotional reaction than raising a baby (even one with difficulties) or having a kid getting married and having a baby. Carney’s point was, I believe, that Edwards could find himself in the role of single parent while president – and that constitutes an ongoing situation that could be a problem.
I agree with your point about the media using any story to make money. But I notice you didn’t cite any articles about the Edwards situation as the – what – three front-page articles the NY Times had about Palin, or the other big-gun publications? I think ‘that’ media is a tad different than Limbaugh or US Magazine.
Another difference – the Edwards story was broken by that paragon if investigative journalism, The National Enquirer. The Palin story – heavily by DailyKos-fueled rumors not that Palin’s daughter was pregnant, but that she’d had the baby and Palin foisted it off as her own. Would the truth have come out? Sure, it would have been released after the nomination hoopla had died down. Does anyone seriously think Sen McCain was going to say “here’s my VP selection. Here’s why I picked her. Oh, by the way, the media didn’t figure it out and hasn’t done any dirt digging, so let me lead by telling you all: her daughter’s pregnant!” (wild cheers and applause follow)…
McCain knew, he didn’t think it relevant. Score one for the maverick. Obama found out, he didn’t think it relevant. Score one for the classy guy. McCain chose to introduce a totally unknown player to the national scene at a critical point in the campaign? No kidding! Isn’t that part of the point in ‘creating a buzz’ or ‘demonstrating I’m a maverick’? Totally unknown? I’ve listened to several media types who said they were aware of McCain’s interest but discounted it. Sounds like media sour grapes over poor investigations, lack of sources, Beltway thinking and getting a surprise sprung. Don’t you think it possible for a person to play the role of the office they occupy? And what gets politicians elected is “bringing home the bacon?” But as a member of a ticket opposed to earmarks, have the ability to switch gears? I agree the PR, if as portrayed, can be viewed as opportunistic or hypocritical. But she’s a politician. It’d be great if tonight she said “darn right I fought for money for my constituents. It was the system foisted on us by broken Congress. But now I’m part of a team to fix that.”
But why did you open the Pandora’s Box of earmarks? Get ready with the comparisons of Obama’s record to McCain’s –and the likelihood of who’ll veto an earmark-laden spending bill.
Hey N-GA!
Glad you’re back!
By AJC/DNC Management
September 3, 2008 6:44 PM | Link to this
Buh bye Peggy!
By Mr. Johnny
September 3, 2008 6:50 PM | Link to this
I’ve been a Democrat all my life. I’ve been tone deaf all my life. Until now. I finally hear what Republicans have heard since Goldwater – unmitigated, unchallenged, unashamed, unhinged liberal media bias.
By Midori
September 3, 2008 6:51 PM | Link to this
The Palin story – heavily by DailyKos-fueled rumors not that Palin’s daughter was pregnant, but that she’d had the baby and Palin foisted it off as her own.
that’s not true, Paul — the Enquirer broke the story.
I posted the link in yesterday’s thread.
However, of course the internets are rife with gossip and rumors.
I remember the “investigative” team from Free Republic who posted about font size and type face to dispute the documents CBS used with the TANG/Bush AWOL story.
It’s wide open now, Baby.
let the chips fall where they may……
By RW-(the original)
September 3, 2008 6:53 PM | Link to this
Is Palin victim of media conspiracy?
No, Jay, she’s a target. She can only become a victim if she allows herself to become one. nothing to date would indicate that Governor Palin is willing to let these jackals make her a victim.
What’s with all the stories about crying lately? Have you been listening to Barry whine for the last 19 months?
N-GA,
How much combined military experience do Obama and Joe ‘five deferments” Biden have?
By Paul
September 3, 2008 7:05 PM | Link to this
Midori
I did miss that post. I was relying on a Sep 2 column in the Washington Post in which Moulitsas said he was skeptical but was reluctant to tell folks to knock off with the rumors. I suppose it stuck in my mind as some of the blogger’s comments became downright despicable - all that stereotyping many of you here fight against about the true nature of ‘liberals’ was shot to pieces in a few minutes over at the Kos.
I noticed the Enquirer story was dated the same as the Post. So the Enquirer now has the Edwards story and the Palin story? Where’s Rodney Dangerfield saying “I don’t get no respect!”?
RW-(the original)
I’ve been waiting for Biden’s five deferments to hit. It’ll be interesting to see if that’s what’s brought up when he invades Sudan or Pakistan. But you forgot - when the deferments ran out, oh yeah, wait… I had asthma as a teenager!
Like I’ve said, it was the game played during Vietnam.
By AJC/DNC Management
September 3, 2008 7:06 PM | Link to this
Aahhh, yes, “news” weak, do we believe them now or do we believe them then?:
New research shows that voters give female governors significantly higher marks than their male counterparts on such qualities as honesty, cooperation and caring—as well as toughness. And at a time when the national debate has become poisonously partisan, governors like Napolitano, 49, and Palin, 43, are making their mark with a pragmatic, postpartisan approach to solving problems, a style that works especially well with the large numbers of independent voters in their respective states.
In Alaska, Palin is challenging the dominant, sometimes corrupting, role of oil companies in the state’s political culture. “The public has put a lot of faith in us,” says Palin during a meeting with lawmakers in her downtown Anchorage office, where—as if to drive the point home—the giant letters on the side of the ConocoPhillips skyscraper fill an entire wall of windows. “They’re saying, ‘Here’s your shot, clean it up’.” For Palin, that has meant tackling the cozy relationship between the state’s political elite and the energy industry that provides 85 percent of Alaska’s tax revenues—and distancing herself from fellow Republicans, including the state’s senior U.S. senator, Ted Stevens, whose home was recently searched by FBI agents looking for evidence in an ongoing corruption investigation. (Stevens has denied any wrongdoing.) But even as she tackles Big Oil’s power, Palin has transformed her own family’s connections to the industry into a political advantage. Her husband, Todd, is a longtime employee of BP, but, as Palin points out, the “First Dude” is a blue-collar “sloper,” a fieldworker on the North Slope, a cherished occupation in the state. “He’s not in London making the decisions whether to build a gas line.”
In an interview with NEWSWEEK, Palin said it’s time for Alaska to “grow up” and end its reliance on pork-barrel spending. Shortly after taking office, Palin canceled funding for the “Bridge to Nowhere,” a $330 million project that Stevens helped champion in Congress. The bridge, which would have linked the town of Ketchikan to an island airport, had come to symbolize Alaska’s dependence on federal handouts. Rather than relying on such largesse, says Palin, she wants to prove Alaska can pay its own way, developing its huge energy wealth in ways that are “politically and environmentally clean.”
It’s no coincidence that two of the nation’s most popular women governors come from frontier states (Arizona and Alaska were the 48th and 49th, respectively, to join the Union) without established social orders that tend to block women from power. In Washington (the 42nd state), Gov. Christine Gregoire and both U.S. senators are women, a trifecta yet to be achieved by any other state. As women reach these top jobs, even more women enter the political pipeline. “When voters perceive things are bad, they expect a woman candidate to come in and create change,” says Debbie Walsh of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. “Voters give them license not to fit the mold.”
Although she has been in office less than a year, Palin, too, earns high marks from lawmakers on the other side of the aisle. During a debate earlier this year over a natural-gas bill, State Senate Minority Leader Beth Kerttula was astounded when she and another Democrat went to see the new governor to lay out their objections. “Not only did we get right in to see her,” says Kerttula, “but she asked us back twice—we saw her three times in 10 hours, until we came up with a solution.” Next week in Juneau, Alaska lawmakers will meet to overhaul the state’s system for taxing oil companies—a task Palin says was tainted last year by an oil-industry lobbyist who pleaded guilty to bribing lawmakers. Kerttula doesn’t expect to agree with the freshman governor on every step of the complex undertaking. But the minority leader looks forward to exploiting one backroom advantage she’s long waited for. “I finally get to go to the restroom and talk business with the governor,” she says. “The guys have been doing this for centuries.” And who says that’s not progress?
Bwahahahahahaha.
By @@
September 3, 2008 7:08 PM | Link to this
Good grief! Andy’s using RW’s nicknamed nickname for Governor Palin.
Both of you…….just go ahead, be that way.
Men!
Thbbppttttt.
By Scott in Canada
September 3, 2008 7:13 PM | Link to this
Uh, OK. Comparing John Edwards wife-has-cancer situation to Palin’s baby (or Bristol’s baby to be) is not really a comparison. Palin’s baby isn’t dying. Bristol’s will likely be born healthy. Palin won’t be facing the emotions of watching someone die - she’ll be a mother. Your argument implies that Americans should place some sort of child-bearing requirements on females who seek to become president or v-p. In other words, they can’t run if they have too many kids, or their kids aren’t healthy enough or whatever. And that’s ridiculous. Criticize her for her political stuff (which, to your credit, you have). But applaud the Republicans for daring to pick someone who actually has a life - and criticize the Democrats for not doing it first.
By N-GA
September 3, 2008 7:16 PM | Link to this
RW,
About as much military experience as Bush and “five-deferments” Cheney had when you voted them into office.
Hello Paul, good to re-connect. BTW, tried the brisket recipe. The Zach’s rub was terrific, but the brisket was too dry. I think the specific cut I purchased was too thin and cooked too fast. I went with 250 degrees and pulled it out after 14 hours. I did use the fahrenheit scale. I’ve been told the brisket is the hardest to master. So far, I agree.
By RW-(the original)
September 3, 2008 7:18 PM | Link to this
Paul,
Biden wrote about what a great athlete he was as a youth and forgot about that asthma thing. Of course he could have been writing about Neil Kinnock’s youth.
You were right the first time about the Koz Kidz, but they’re now trying to scrub away the evidence.
By @@
September 3, 2008 7:19 PM | Link to this
For those here who may be interested, Wooten has Waiting for Sarah on his marquis. He’s open late.
Of course, the liberal loons are there.
Jay, how about engaging with your loons here while the conservatives gather over there to celebrate Sarah’s big night.
You’ve got your brown paper bag at the ready, right?
They come in handy when hyperventilating.
By RW-(the original)
September 3, 2008 7:23 PM | Link to this
N-GA,
The correct answer is zero. Thanks for playing.
By Denise (Brooklyn, New York), Member, P.U.M.A. Pac
September 3, 2008 7:25 PM | Link to this
You are one of the misogynists everyone is blogging about. How dare you sink so low, oh never mind, you are used to it. No one is whining, but there is a lot of black journalism going on and it must stop. If someone is not an honorary member of your boys’ club you skewer them, how galant pig!
By AJC/DNC Management
September 3, 2008 7:25 PM | Link to this
Guess who?:
They claimed Palin was chosen only because she’s a woman. In fact, Palin was chosen because she’s pro-life, pro-gun, pro-drilling and pro-tax cuts. She’s fought both Republicans and Democrats on public corruption and does not have hair plugs like some other vice presidential candidate I could mention. In other words, she’s a “Republican.”
But at least liberal reporters had finally found someone their own size to pick on: a 17-year-old girl.
As this goes to press, the latest media-invented scandal about Palin is that McCain didn’t know her well before choosing her as his running mate. He knew her well enough, though admittedly, not as well as Obama knows William Ayers.
By N-GA
September 3, 2008 7:28 PM | Link to this
RW,
Now that McCain has selected Palin as his running mate, you can rationalize voting for him.
Between them, I suspect they could land an airplane successfully 4 times out of 5.
By Dave
September 3, 2008 7:29 PM | Link to this
Wow…another Democrat surrogate puppet story that focuses on smearing to promote their candidate. I can’t wait for this election to end so those real journalists who write balanced factual stories can resurface.
By Midori
September 3, 2008 7:29 PM | Link to this
What’s galling is this: When the subject is a pregnancy to an unwed, minority teenage mother growing up in some (presumably Democratic) urban area, that pregnancy becomes fodder for lectures from conservatives about bad parenting, the perils of welfare spending and so on. But when the subject is a pregnancy to an unwed, white teenager from some small town in a Republican state, that pregnancy is…a celebration of the wonders of God’s magnificence—and choosing life!
-Thomas Schaller
By Ray
September 3, 2008 7:30 PM | Link to this
Your choice of Edwards in this discussion is a very poor one. He is toast, a political has been who will join the ranks of Elliot Spitzer and fade into the distance. He has no political or moral credibility. He is a politically exposed liberal hack who has been outed by, whoa, the National Enquirer. He let down all of his lawyer friends in the Demo trial lawyer assn who spent 100s of thousands of dollars in his campaign, only to find that he, like others in their midst, couldn’t keep it in their pants. Why do we all even give him any time on this blog. He is a lawyer hack, an opportunist who didn’t make the grade and someone who you wouldn’t want your daughter to associate with. He disgusts the average person with half a brain.
By Paul
September 3, 2008 7:31 PM | Link to this
Hey N-GA
Much brisket is sold largely trimmed of fat. I’ve had the same experience you have with untrimmed. Next time you layover at D-FW I’ll send you home with a proper untrimmed, sealed 14-lb brisket.
Glad you liked the Zach’s. I love it when I find something like that I like as well as anything I concoct (and forget to write down what I did so I can’t duplicate it).
If you missed it earlier today, prior column, Obama’s going to be on O’Reilly Thursday night for an interview. I leave on another trip tomorrow at 0700 but the DVR’s all set.
RW-(the original)
So much for Moulitsas and his anything-goes free speech. Could it have been concern over negative publicity, not over his blog’s conduct? Nawwwwwww…..
By Dave
September 3, 2008 7:32 PM | Link to this
Wow…another Democrat surrogate puppet story that focuses on smearing to promote their candidate. I can’t wait for this election to end so those real journalists who write balanced factual stories can resurface.
By Paul
September 3, 2008 7:36 PM | Link to this
AJC/DNC Management 7:25
Didn’t I say this pick was going to be immensely entertaining? Huh? Didn’t I? Why yes, I did!
Ray 7:30
I believe he picked Edwards to illustrate how the media treat politicians with personal foibles. He wasn’t the story - just the means to the end - the story was media treatment and Republican reaction.
By N-GA
September 3, 2008 7:37 PM | Link to this
Dave,
Is that the same kind of story as the one about McCain having fathered an illegitimate biracial child? That was the story released by Bush supporters during the S. Carolina primary. There are a few others as well.
At least your claim tying this one to the democrats can’t be proven…they are not that sleazy.
By RW-(the original)
September 3, 2008 7:43 PM | Link to this
Midori,
Do you have evidence that Hawaii was a Republican state when that unwed white woman got pregnant and gave birth to Barack?
Paul,
Are you sure the O’Reilly interview with Obama is going to air tomorrow or will it just get taped tomorrow? it seems like an awfully tacky move on Obama’s part to finally decide to the interview and have it aired on the day Mccain accepts his nomination.
By Ray
September 3, 2008 7:46 PM | Link to this
Paul,
Yeah, you are probably right. He is still a hack and Palin is a saint compared to him.
By PressSupporter
September 3, 2008 7:50 PM | Link to this
This whole “the media is picking on us” thing is nothing more than political BS that the GOP is using to garner the public’s sympathy. Let’s see - The Palin’s send out a press statement about their pregnant daughter, the press reports it to the public, the public reacts negatively, and the GOP starts pouting and whining about it? Wow, what do they want, only positive reactions? This is insane! This is like an actor or athlete doing something scandalous, and complaining about the media, because the public reacts negatively. Listen, if you do not want to under a microscope, do not become a public figure - don’t become a politician, an actor, a professional athlete, etc. - stay away from the limelight like the rest of us, or don’t do anything that might cause a negative reaction from the public. You can’t have it both ways. You can’t just use the media when things are in your favor, and expect them to turn away, when something doesn’t paint you in a good light.
By PressSupporter
September 3, 2008 7:50 PM | Link to this
This whole “the media is picking on us” thing is nothing more than political BS that the GOP is using to garner the public’s sympathy. Let’s see - The Palin’s send out a press statement about their pregnant daughter, the press reports it to the public, the public reacts negatively, and the GOP starts pouting and whining about it? Wow, what do they want, only positive reactions? This is insane! This is like an actor or athlete doing something scandalous, and complaining about the media, because the public reacts negatively. Listen, if you do not want to under a microscope, do not become a public figure - don’t become a politician, an actor, a professional athlete, etc. - stay away from the limelight like the rest of us, or don’t do anything that might cause a negative reaction from the public. You can’t have it both ways. You can’t just use the media when things are in your favor, and expect them to turn away, when something doesn’t paint you in a favorable light.
By AJC/DNC Management
September 3, 2008 7:52 PM | Link to this
Anybody else remember how when Jim Jeffords left the Republicans to become an “Independent,” the goony news had gleefully repulsive stories about him being “principled” 24/7 for about a week?
Well, I’ve waited 24 hours now to see if the Conservative media would assault the sensibilities of it’s consumers with a moron propaganda campaign but you know what, seeing how there isn’t one, they must respect us and our intelligence more than the pinkos in the drive by media respect their little slobbering dullards.
I guess they know the deal, same as we know the Lieberman story.
By N-GA
September 3, 2008 7:53 PM | Link to this
The UK has had to deal with tabloid “journalism” for decades. At least in the USA it was relegated to the National Inquirer and a few other rags. Then Rupert brought it to the USA and put it on the airwaves. So much for in depth news coverage.
The (number of) viewers decide what is “news” now. And the majority (LCD) want scintillation, innuendo, gossip and scandal.
The “Greatest Generation” won’t be resurrected anytime soon…and neither will Walter Cronkite, Chet Huntley or David Brinkley.
By Bosch
September 3, 2008 7:53 PM | Link to this
Lets see ….
Lime juice - check
Rum - check
More rum - check
A little more run - check
Club Soda - check
Ice - check
I have a big glass!
Now, I’m ready for the speeches.
By Buzz
September 3, 2008 7:56 PM | Link to this
The attacks by the libs on Palin only confirms that she was the proper choice. They are shaking in their boots. See you libs in November… LMFAO!
By AJC/DNC Management
September 3, 2008 7:59 PM | Link to this
Pre Cuda question- Should she rip the media or remain gracious about her rapists?
Discuss among yourselves.
Personally, I think she should introduce her beautiful young woman of a daughter Bristol and say that Bristol has a message for you goon squad members:
Bristol Palin- Y’all need to get a life.
Kookman would grind his teeth for a week.
America would swoon.
By Midori
September 3, 2008 8:01 PM | Link to this
LOL, Bosch
I couldn’t drink until now.
Was getting my air conditioner repaired, and I have to wait for this sweatbox to cool off :)
Have one for me, Bud.
I can’t watch that crap — haven’t had dinner yet :)
Hey RW — Here’s one for you:
What should I tell my granddaughters?
I’m a little perplexed.. Until the last few days, I was under the impression that premarital sex by teenagers and out of wedlock births by the same are something that society generally does not approve of.
But now we are going have the spectacle of a teen aged unwed mother and the sperm donor (to use Dr Laura’s term) being feted on stage during a national political convention. To the best of my knowledge this has not happened before.
I have one pubescent and one almost pubescent granddaughter and I’m wondering what their grandmother and I should say to them should the question of premarital sex and out of wedlock births arise, particularly so in light of the upcoming situation at the RNC. Y’all are aware, I’m sure, that children tend to ask awkward questions and I could really use some help in trying to come up with answers.
*Could some of you social conservatives help me out here? I know y’all are the arbiters of all things moral and I’m just an old liberal/progressive, atheistic dirty hippie who has no clue when it comes to morals. What is the party line on unwed teen sex and motherhood these days? *
By N-GA
September 3, 2008 8:07 PM | Link to this
Bosch,
I’m going with a 2002 Justin Isosceles, a New York Strip (Montreal-style), a baked potato with too much butter, and a comfortable chair. I suspect we will meet on the same plane.
Just remember, she will be saying what the campaign wants her to say, not what she would say.
Good night, all!
By AJC/DNC Management
September 3, 2008 8:08 PM | Link to this
By Midori September 3, 2008 8:01 PM I have one pubescent and one almost pubescent granddaughter and I’m wondering what their grandmother and I should say to them should the question of premarital sex and out of wedlock births arise, particularly so in light of the upcoming situation at the RNC.
Well, for one, they survived the Klintoons saying that a Lewinsky wasn’t sex, you know?
By @@
September 3, 2008 8:09 PM | Link to this
I think the impact of the O’Reilly/OBlahMa match up will depend on just how hard Bill pushes the candidate.
If OBlahMa uh, ah, and errrrrrrs alot, McCain will appear all the more decisive in his acceptance speech.
A stark contrast on the same night.
Could work.
By PaleoCon
September 3, 2008 8:11 PM | Link to this
“What is the party line on unwed teen sex and motherhood these days?”
Same as it has always been: a private family matter. Liberals have spent years hating conservatives for supposedly trying to be “arbiters of all things moral”. We could not care less what you do. We just disagree on social issues. For some reason, liberals are offended if anyone doesn’t agree with their social views, and these people must be demonized in some way.
Do you think the left is any less self-rightous than the Jerry Falwell crowd? As the posts on this blog demonstrate, the left is always saying that conservatives are bad people. Why are you any different than a conservaive toung clucker. You aren’t. You are just the liberal face of intolerance.
By AJC/DNC Management
September 3, 2008 8:16 PM | Link to this
Huh, my question answered so soon:
*But here’s a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators: I’m not going to Washington to seek their good opinion - I’m going to Washington to serve the people of this country.”
Now wouldn’t ya, Barracuda?
By Paul
September 3, 2008 8:16 PM | Link to this
RW- (the original)
I understand Obama’s interview with o’Reilly will air tomorrow, during McCain’s acceptance speech. At first I thought it kind of a stealing the limelight, then I thought, well, he’s not going for the people who will just have to watch McCain anyways.
Thank heavens for digital video recorders -
Bosch
More rum….
N-GA
G’night.
And as for your wine and dinner selection -
thbppptttttttttttt!!!!!!!!!!
By TW
September 3, 2008 8:24 PM | Link to this
The rally behind Palin is the lesser of two evils. To dump her at this point - like any CEO would had his assistant hired her without permission, would result in a bigger landslide than we will already see. But to ignorantly line up behind her negates any bipartisan smell leiberman might have left on the stage last night. It’s a lose-lose. Say your wrong or continue the wrong way of doing things? Republicans are making the only move they got. Sadly, it’s still a loser.
Should have pickled Romney. Really, should have picked Romney.
God I miss the real Republicans.
By Bosch
September 3, 2008 8:35 PM | Link to this
Midori -
Howdy! Oh my God when I drink the redneck comes out in me. We don’t run the AC in the Bosch household - we are green freaks. We walk the talk.
(At least I didn’t type “GAWD” - not that drunk yet)
Don’t worry, with the GOPers pep rally gearing up, there’s plenty of rum and ice (and club soda and lime juice) to go around - I just drained the first tumbler - working on number two - so this one is for you sweets!
Isn’t it great to be an American? Plenty of ice and rum for everyone!
But, who is this blonde chick on my TV - she’s no Sheryl Crow. Um, she’s no where near Sheryl Crow. Eww. The crowd doesn’t even like her. Good lord the GOPers are quiet - maybe they are just being polite.
The other Bosch told me something funny just now - Palin is like something out of Harper Valley PTA.
N-GA,
Glad to see ya’ again. Don’t be a stranger on the blog - we need your intelligence and candor.
You just reminded me - I forgot food. I’ll be right back.
I don’t fly to Dallas much, Washington D.C. quiet a bit, but for Paul’s brisket, I’d make a “sacrifice.”
Okay, back -
Guacamole - check
Salsa - check
Chips - check
But after that blonde chick - my appetite has gone South.
By @@
September 3, 2008 8:44 PM | Link to this
Man, I wish I could go back and pull up all the leftist posts over the last three years that advocated oral sex as a preventative measue to pregnancy.
All the leftist posts that said it’s natural for teenagers to engage in sex as if we didn’t know that already.
Why just today, some leftist posted that kids don’t wanna get married, they just wanna have sex.
The difference between conservatives and liberals on the subject, is that conservatives don’t ADVOCATE teen sex like the liberals do. We don’t turn the personal responsibility over to surrogates to handle in our absence. We talk about it with our kids, hope for the best, appreciate the successes and offer support for the consequences if our efforts fail.
Why does everyone think raising children is such a difficult tas? A challenging task, but not THAT difficult.
By RW-(the original)
September 3, 2008 8:45 PM | Link to this
Paul,
O’Reilly’s show doesn’t come on at the same time as the speech. He did just confirm that it would air tomorrow and it was basically a take it or leave it . Apparently Team Barry said it was to take some of the buzz away from Republicans and it was fair because Mccain named Sara’Cuda on Friday after his convention. My first thought is why not Friday then.
O’Reilly also said it’s only going to be one segment. It was also reported earlier today that Obama met in secret with Fox upper management three months ago and one of the topics was to reign in O’Reilly if Obama agreed to go on.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Just remember, she will be saying what the campaign wants her to say, not what she would say-N-GA
Need any more evidence of which side of the aisle the truly misogynistic bigots reside?
By AJC/DNC Management
September 3, 2008 8:45 PM | Link to this
Bosch: You know how much energy is consumed to distill liquor?
Do you realize how much fuel is burned to haul the salsa across the border?
Are you watching TV, that horrid waste of energy?
You hog.
Turn off your computer now, slobbo!
By Paul
September 3, 2008 8:54 PM | Link to this
RW-(the original)
Thanks for the up to date info. I posted a link to the meeting early today in Jay’s previous column. Sorry for not linking here but I’m working a deadline, then packing for a 0700 trip for a son’s engagement party, plus doing this - but O’Reilly was preparing a 25-part piece (that’s what he said - 25) on Obama as he said we don’t know who he is as he won’t take interviews. I kinda wondered if that’d get some attention from the Obama camp. Always better to tell your own story than to have someone tell it for you.
AJC/DNC Management 8:45
What I said to Bosch goes for you, too.
More rum!
By TW
September 3, 2008 8:54 PM | Link to this
So, Palin can’t handle her brother in-law, redneck with a snow blower and a beer, but she’s gonna get bin laden?
Maybe Springer can work that comedy angle into the show?
GOP ‘08 - Proud to be Ignorantly embarrassing America…
By @@
September 3, 2008 9:00 PM | Link to this
It was also reported earlier today that Obama met in secret with Fox upper management three months ago and one of the topics was to reign in O’Reilly if Obama agreed to go on.
Say what?????? That’s disgusting! What a wuss!
That’s alright, I just saw My Dennis talking to Bill and Dennis told him “The Factor would be the last gas station before OBlahMa goes into the desert. From there it’s into the bubble. You gotta hit him hard on specifics because nobody else is going to.”
By BiteMe
September 3, 2008 9:08 PM | Link to this
Jay, I don’t blame you. If I were you or any other liberal journalist I would be running for cover, trying to deny the sexist, unfair and intrusive coverage of Sarah Palin. You guys got your “anything for Obama” way out in front and stepped on your own crank. Now you are going to wear the consequences around your professional neck. While you should be ashamed, you are only running for cover.
Not to worry. The public has a long memory and the credibility of the media is taking yet another click nearer the tidy bowl.
Your snarky, unrepentant tone does not fool anyone. We saw the NY Times run three page one stories to attack Palin. Liberals like you were afraid of her and hoped to destroy her quickly. But you failed and exposed yourself in the process. The media, the AJC included, has been all about doing what ever they can to elect the Chosen One. Now you are changing tactics and trying to run away from your own attacks.
Obama says to leave the families out of it while his allies in the press and on the blogs do the opposite. By your own actions you have exposed him as either impotent or a hypocrite. You have been exposed as a sanctimonious hypocrite almost daily.
By AJC/DNC Management
September 3, 2008 9:20 PM | Link to this
By @@ September 3, 2008 9:00 PM It was also reported earlier today that Obama met in secret with Fox upper management three months ago and one of the topics was to reign in O’Reilly if Obama agreed to go on. Say what?????? That’s disgusting! What a wuss!
@@: There is good reason that I call him O’Pinko.
He’s a foil for the left, a groper too, I have it on solid information that he wept when Bruno cut and run.
He’ll probably hold the teleprompter up to Fake Temple Pilot’s face.
I hardly ever tune into Fox anymore, notice how they have a fascination for the really morbid and for the Hollywood tarts?
It’s so………….lib like.
By luckovitch muse
September 3, 2008 9:23 PM | Link to this
cartoon idea:
show obama firing a double barrel shot gun (this being the first time he ever fired a gun) with “Palin” on one barrel, “Media” on the other, with obama’s face back fired in black gun powder.
By RW-(the original)
September 3, 2008 9:24 PM | Link to this
@@,
Nothing in the story indicated that Fox agreed to reign in O’Reilly, although I’m sure they wouldn’t say it if they did.
Paul,
One odd thing B O’R said when he was talking to Dennis Miller was that it would be a lengthy discussion. That flies in the face of his saying it would only be one segment so this might be a multi part interview broken up on different nights.
By "The Corporal"
September 3, 2008 9:29 PM | Link to this
Jay
You are so blind to this that it’s not even worthy of a reasoned reply …………
By RW-(the original)
September 3, 2008 9:40 PM | Link to this
Sara’Cuda got more votes running for Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska than Joe Biden got running for President of the United States.
Bwahaha
By T
September 3, 2008 9:54 PM | Link to this
For all of those whom really believe that military experience is so wonderful, please consult someone that has spent time in the military first. Do you know how many private Joe Snuffies there are?
By Jay
September 3, 2008 9:55 PM | Link to this
Jay, the media has let Barry O go for 19 months without once looking into his past or asking one single tough question. Those that do are written off by their colleages as right wing nuts or have their access cut off by the campaign staff.
Gov Palin comes on the scene less than a week and already droves of media people are in Alaska trying to dig up any dirt they can find.
I’m not too upset that the media is doing their job, just upset that they are so one sided about doing it.
Jay too.