Governor Sarah Palin is named as McCain's running mate; Democrats spew disgusting sexist remarks in response.
I have not been following the "veepstakes" as closely as some. I think the VP pick matters more for McCain than it does for Obama because of McCain's age, but really wasn't paying attention to the candidates that much. Gov. Sarah Palin was a surprise to me because I knew only vaguely of her. Being involved in my own political activities, I haven't paid as close attention as I should have.…
Article comments
— go to most recent comments26 - Clavos
I now believe that the most important issues in America are the overabundance of centipedes in vaginas, /b/tards, paint-huffing Warriors fans, Domo-kun attacks, excessive linking to Rick Astley songs, and tough-guy Godwinning n00bs. FAIL.
I have no idea what that means (for all I know you could be speaking Farsi), but I don't think it matters.
27 - Baritone
Dave,
John's article is a perfect example of what I am talking about. He cherry picks a few offensive comments and then, despite his strategically placed italics, he conflates them into an across the board attack against the left which is bullshit. I can assure you and John that I could go to any number of right wing sites and find equally offensive comments. While the extreme right includes the likes of neo nazis, skinheads and the Klan, its likely that I wouldn't have to go that far out there to find truly offensive comments against the left. But my rant goes beyond the above.
I'm not suggesting that we shouldn't discuss politics or the candidates. The problem arises when we make blanket statements about a group or charges against politicians without facts to back them up, or as is more often the case, the supposed "facts" are quoted from totally biased sources. I have been guilty of that as have most of the bloggers here at some point or other. Some are worse offenders than others. I just think it would be far more fair and far more useful if we would limit ourselves to what we know and not spew out crap that represents what we want to believe and/or what we want others to believe.
Some say it's time honored political discourse. I say it's bullshit.
B
28 - Dave Nalle
You can call it bullshit, btone and I might agree with you in many cases. But in this particular case, the irony is that the sometimes extremely partisan Bambenek didn't have to go out and cherry pick comments. I went out and did a little research myself. The level of hate and smear coming from the left directed at Palin is like nothing I've ever seen. He didn't have to be selective at all. I could line up hundreds of quotes as bad or worse than the ones he provided, all from the last 24 hours.
And BTW, you're just as guilty as he or anyone else is when you say things like "the extreme right includes the likes of neo nazis, skinheads and the Klan" when you should know perfectly well that these people are outside of the normal political structure and not really part of the right wing in America at all. Their basic political beliefs are inconsistent with anything which the Republican party supports and they are certainly not welcomed in any party organizations within the GOP. By suggesting that they are part of the political right, you are attempting to smear anyone who is right of center by association, and that's unacceptable.
Dave
29 - John Bambenek
I love it how people try to read between the lines to divine my intention... I put those points of emphasis (some) in there for a reason... because I realize it is some. But when the DKos board, and arm and instrumentality of the DNC, is *wall-to-wall* mysogyny, that should tell you something.
So basically, you are ignoring what I'm writing, playing Miss Cleo to figure out what I really mean, and then bashing it.
In logic we call that a "strawman".
30 - handyguy
I doubt that Baritone is suggesting we all stop commenting...just that we stop taking cheap shots and making false generalizations. But this is the Commentariat subdivision of the Blogosphere, and unsupported or barely supported attack rhetoric will continue to make up the majority of postings. Probably including Baritone's and my own, and certainly including our maestro of the hyperbolic one-liner, Mr. Nalle.
And I guess it would be more boring, though more accurate, if people wrote such comments as:
Leftie: John McCain is a good guy [not a crazy, grumpy old geezer]. I just don't think he should be president, because his militaristic foreign policy and barely defined domestic/economic policies would continue the downward spiral of the current failed administration. Sarah Palin? Nice person, feisty, inoffensive. But choosing her seems far more gimmicky than substantive. And her social conservatism is not what I want in someone a heartbeat away from the presidency.
Righty: Barack Obama is a good and honorable person [not a closet terrorist or unpatriotic or even merely an empty suit]. But I don't want him to be president because he's a liberal, and I disagree with him on abortion, taxes and military policy.
As I say, not comments likely to be posted in large numbers on here or other web-megaphone sites. But it would be a relief if people on both sides would stop portraying their opponents as dangerous bogeymen and debate policy.
31 - John Bambenek
Nope... no big name Democrats are saying anything bad or sexist about Palin... they're moral pillars, these guys.
32 - Clavos
Good idea handy!
Here's mine:
Barack Obama is a good and honorable person. But I don't want him to be president because he's a liberal, and I disagree with him on taxes and military policy.
33 - Baritone
Handy's comments mirror my feelings. Also, I would say that while his examples may not be exciting, or capable of spurring passions, they are, in fact, better suited to a reasoned debate.
The inflammatory comments I found on the DailyKos were from individuals. The Kos is open to anyone to make comments. Such individuals on the left are in equal measure to the extreme right wing organizations I mentioned above.
None of the main line organizations nor the Democratic party itself support or sponsor those hateful comments. All the shitty comments prove are that there are assholes on all points of the political spectrum. There is plenty of trash out there coming from the right.
Also, when I checked on the Kos, there were also a number of comments regarding Palin that were respectful and positive. Most simply don't know the woman and don't quite know what to say about her.
B
34 - John Bambenek
FYI, the Daily Kos *is* a mainline DNC operation, and when they have conferences, DNC candidates show up.
And maybe the posts today have moderated somewhat, but the posts I saw on Friday were wall-to-wall hate speech.
35 - Zedd
Hey All,
Martha Stewart - you guessed it, Secretary of the Interior. hmmm what about the exterior? What the heck, Interior and Exterior. She's good at all that.
36 - RJ Elliott
Matt #25:
LOLWUT? ^_^
You fap, you lose! :-3
37 - Baritone
I give up John. You are of course correct. All us Democrats are hate spewing, baby killing, racist, misogynists who write objectionable comments about female VP candidates. You got us dead to rights.
Meanwhile, the right wing flies high amongst the whispy golden clouds with nary a dark thought and the hand of god gently keeping ya'll aloft above the Democratic muck and mire. Bless your pea pickin' hearts.
I am now off to splay open the bellies of some aborted babies to eat their innards - and suck up their stem cells, perhaps with some fava beans.
Oh, and by the way, I reakkt hate women! Hate their bloody guts! And I'm going to write disgusting comments about them on hate filled left wing web sites! So there!! HaHa!!!
B
38 - Pablo
Dave Re 28 said:
"And BTW, you're just as guilty as he or anyone else is when you say things like "the extreme right includes the likes of neo nazis, skinheads and the Klan" when you should know perfectly well that these people are outside of the normal political structure and not really part of the right wing in America at all."
Now that is pretty funny coming from the likes of you Davey boy. Not only have you done everything in your meager power to link unsavory characters with Dr. Paul's movement, you might want to double check your constituency again at the Republican meetings that you were attending in Texass. As you have disclosed and many of us already knew, it is filled with hateful, petty, narrow minded bigots.
Your overt hypocrisy as usual knows no bounds bubba.
39 - Condor
"excessive linking to Rick Astley songs, and tough-guy Godwinning n00bs" - whoeversaidit
Oh crap... In amongst my Allan Holdsworth, Danny Gatton, Jaco Pastorious, Jim Hall, Tal Farlow, Barney Kessell, Joe Pass, Miles Davis, Chet Baker, Clifford Brown, Dizzy, Charlie Parker, Talking Heads, U2, Allman Brothers I also have a Best of Commodores, Sly Stone, Woodstock, Hendrix, Cream, Chris Farlowe, Grateful Dead, Dread Zepplin, King Crimson.... Mantovani, Percy Faith, Mancini.... a bunch of Great American Songbook renderings from the likes of Fitzgerald, Cole, Oscar Peterson and a dogpile of other impressive musicians in my CD barn...
I do have a "Best of Rick Astley" and I only now do I feel less than worthy for that....
But I don't have a Richard Harris sings Macarthor Park... can anyone burn me a copy (Jet)?
Now... what kind of rub was the reference to Rick Astley? Was that some sophomoric attempt to discredit certain demographics?
40 - John Bambenek
You can believe that Baritone, that certainly isn't my point.
xoxoxo
41 - Dan Miller
The party of compassion? Oh. Hurricanes are funny! I get it.
The link has a You Tube video of the conversation.Dan(Miller)
42 - Baritone
Sorry John, your point, then, alludes me. The structure of your post did in fact conflate the hate comments with the left in general. That is such a popular pastime here.
The fact is that neither Obama, Biden nor his campaign had anything to do with those comments which is what you apparently want your readers to believe.
If McCain/Palin lose in November it will be because the voting public will have rejected their platform in favor of that of Obama/Biden. It will not have been because a handful of bloggers made distasteful statements on some blog site. All this self-righteous bleating about what low bottom feeders the Democrats are will have been rendered moot.
B
43 - Clavos
Hey Dan(Miller),
Your link doesn't work.
Clav(os)
44 - Dan Miller
Sorry about that. The link worked when I found it on Drudge (it's still there), when I posted it, and thereafter. Now it doesn't.
Were I a conspiracy theorist, I would suggest something. But, then, I ain't.
Dan(Miller)
45 - Glenn Contrarian
John -
Generally speaking, a man expects others to do what he would do himself given the same situation and circumstances.
THAT, sir, is why you posted so much drivel about the Democratic Party.
Know what? My party has been compared to 'herding cats' - because we Dems are of such a wide range of cultures and lifestyles and beliefs that it's hard to get us to truly organize. The Republicans have always been better at organizing, at keeping their mouths shut and keeping in lockstep behind whoever the leader currently is. That's why Republicans win elections even when there are more Democrats.
You are ASSUMING that the Dems would keep their mouths shut and keep in lockstep...but how can that happen when even DEMOCRATS were protesting against Obama et al outside the DNC in Denver? Have you EVER seen Republicans protest at the RNC?
Ha!
If a Democrat protests Democrats, we might disagree, but we don't try to stop them unless they get out of control. Tell you what - try doing protesting at the RNC and see what your fellow Republicans do to you....
46 - John Bambenek
Baritone-
I'm sorry you can't read, but besides putting the qualifying words in a font so large they could be seen from space, I'm not sure what else I could have done.
Glenn-
I'm not sure you've ever paid any attention to the Republican Party if you really think that. In fact, organization is our chief problem, seconded by the fact that up until the Palin nomination, every single GOP state convention was protested, up to and including many normal donors simply not donating. We've been having a full scale riot on our end. Thanks for playing though.
47 - Dan Miller
Here is another link to the comments on a YouTube video about how funny it is that the hurricane is heading to Louisiana in time for the Republican convention. Mr. Fowler commented on the video,
He has now apologized. Perhaps this one will stay up for a while. And, of course, one must hope that Mr. Fowler was sincere in his apology.Whether the hurricane is a Cat 3, 4 or 5, it will not be much fun for those there.
Dan Miller
48 - Clavos
That's what he gets for riding Coach...
49 - Condor
Dan, I have been following Hurricane Gustov closely....
In the aftermath of Katrina I cut through wood and snakes for over 2 weeks before hitting high tension wires.
To gaff off the natural power of water, volcanic action and meteorists is uneducted... witness the mayor of NOLA who challeged the Army Corp of Engineers last week when HE made a statement to the Corp of Engineers that "now let's see what they got" or something to that effect..... DUMMY.... it's not nice to fool nature...... and the scrubbing effects, as in reference to water, should not be underestimated....
Water is destructive.... so is seismic (sp?) and volcanic ... at el.....
My point. NOLA is 20 some feet UNDER WATER... perhaps it wasn't such a good idea... it may have seemed so at the time (i.e. mid 1800's).... but after a few signifcant near misses and an Katrina... it seems less and less like the "perfec" place to stake a claim.
What is it about living next to the 3rd or 2nd most powerful river in the world.... couple with the effects (not to mention potential) of hurrican action..... that people (politicians) don't freaking understand.
IT IS TIME TO GIVE UP THE EXPERIMENT!!!!!
QUIT THOWING TAXDOLLARS AT CRAP THAT IS OF PISS POOR DESIGN.... i.e. some watershed 20+ feet under water... I.E. New Orleans..... let it go... it is doomed... it wasn't ment to be.....
A study in the dynamics of power of water, as a desctructive force.... will illuminate my point!!!
50 - Clavos
GOOD NEWS!!
Gustav is coming ashore at this time as a Category 2 storm.
The eye is just brushing Grand Isle, LA.
It appears that, thanks to it weakening, and the preparations/evacuations, loss of life will certainly be minimal, and property damage may be less, as well.
Apparently, this wasn't the apocalypse, Ruvy...
51 - RJ Elliott
Have you EVER seen Republicans protest at the RNC?
Ha!
I thought Ron Paul and friends were protesting it, like, right now?
52 - RJ Elliott
RJ here. I will be semi-sorta live-blogging the Palin speech in this article's comment section tonight, for anyone who is interested.
I'll do my best to be objective. :-/
53 - Jordan Richardson
I think we should all play the "USA Chant Drinking Game."
54 - RJ Elliott
BTW, Rudy is speaking right now, and he's ripping Obama a new one.
55 - RJ Elliott
Serious question: Were there any chants of "USA! USA!" at the Democrat's convention? I didn't watch much of it.
56 - RJ Elliott
I must admit that the Palin pick somewhat undermines the GOP's attacks on Obama's inexperience.
57 - Jordan Richardson
Not that I can recall. I didn't watch all of it, though. Also not present at the Democratic Convention: the All-White Male Fellatio Circle.
58 - Jordan Richardson
Okay, so now there's a "Drill, Baby, Drill" chant. Well done.
59 - RJ Elliott
The GOP has really been pushing the energy (oil drilling) issue over the last few days. I suspect that topic will make up a significant portion of Palin's speech.
60 - Clavos
makes sense. It's said to be her long suit.
61 - RJ Elliott
"Also not present at the Democratic Convention: the All-White Male Fellatio Circle."
Larry Craig and Mark Foley weren't invited to the DNC? [rim-shot]
62 - Jordan Richardson
Rudy just said that when the Dems gave up on Iraq, they gave up on America. What an absolutely shameless, ironic statement!
Wouldn't it be fair to say that Rudy and his GOP gave up on America when they gave up on finding bin Laden? And wouldn't the inference that support for the war equals support for America disparage the majority of the public who stands against the war?
What's next? Pitchforks and torches?
63 - Jet
the All-White Male Fellatio Circle??? Damn it, did anyone record it or post it on U-Tube?
64 - troll
"Drill, Baby, Drill"....NLP - republican subtle sexism
65 - RJ Elliott
Now Rudy is nailing Obama on flip-flopping. Good stuff.
66 - Jordan Richardson
Larry Craig and Mark Foley weren't invited to the DNC? [rim-shot]
Nah, Larry's car stalled and Foley didn't get the IM.
67 - Matthew T. Sussman
"Serious question: Were there any chants of "USA! USA!" at the Democrat's convention? I didn't watch much of it."
Not sure either, but I do recall several spontaneous bouts of "Latvia! Latvia! Latvia!" Don't know what that was about.
68 - RJ Elliott
"Maybe they cling to religion there" = Home Run
69 - Clavos
Best line in the speech came during the section about Obama flip-flopping:
"If I were Biden, I'd ask for that VP thing in writing."
70 - RJ Elliott
Sarah's on now. She seems poised and not nervous. So far, so good.
71 - RJ Elliott
The Palin family is damn telegenic. Give them that, at least.
72 - Matthew T. Sussman
LEAVE SARAH PALIN'S FAMILY ALONE! By the way let me introduce you to her five children. Vote for McCain.
73 - RJ Elliott
I am actually touched by this speech. SRSLY. And I'm a fairly heartless bastard.
74 - troll
imagine that - what a shock
75 - RJ Elliott
Bitter Clingers FTW!