Joe Sixpack's Girl
Her mission: Echo McCain's great society message, smile a lot, sound folksy, and try to make it sound like you're saying something when you're saying nothing. Oh, and say a lot of stuff with a lot of pep and spirit that sounds very reminiscent of McCain's Great Society rap.
Palin put on a good show, but it was clear: she was all talk, some memorized facts and talking points, and the bright idea to keep coming back to energy policy when she had nothing to say about a particular issue. Oh, and there were emotional appeals. How soccer moms feel. She knows it. Great. And you may not be a fan of Joe Biden (the "vice-plagiarist" candidate I like to call him), but the guy's been in the Senate a while and knows a few things. He's actually had a passport for quite some time.
I am a fan of the McCain health care plan, which levels the playing field for the self-employed, so we won't be paying for health care with after-tax dollars, while people who work for some big company get it as a before-tax perk. Nuh-uh.
Palin was full of it on gay civil rights and "tolerance," and how she has a wide variety of people in her circle of friends and family. (Translation: "I know gay people.") Unfortunately, Palin's acquaintance with gay Alaskans and "tolerance" from the rest of us won't grant gay people the rights and tax breaks straight people can get through marriage. Both said they were against gay marriage. It's my suspicion it's Palin's religious nuttery that makes her that way, and Biden's voter pandering. My take on it: Allow civil marriage for everyone and let the church marry or not marry whomever they want.
Getting back to the debate, Biden was full of it on the idea that there should be help for those who got ridiculous mortgages -- and not just "adjustments" on the interest, but on the principal. Um, Joe...who pays? How about not me, or the rest of us who happen to work hard to live within our means.
About Palin's remark that they didn't have health insurance at one point. I hope she was using birth control then, and not relying on public assistance to pick up the cost of any catastrophes suffered by her children. Whoops, is that socialism sneaking in? Do as I say, not as I did socialism? (I'm still waiting for a conservative candidate.)
Palin was also full of it when she talked about when Iraqis can govern. Um, lady, these are these endlessly warring tribal barbarians, and they're going to keep warring and killing each other long after you and I are off the planet, providing one of the other warring tribes from a neighboring country doesn't nuke them all off the planet first.
Oh yeah, and there's nucular. Nucular, nucular, nucular. I'd really had enough of that in the last administration. How depressing.
Finally, slick Joe and peppy Mrs. Joe Sickpack both seemed to do okay in tonight's debate overall. He didn't attack her, and she managed to seem strong and folksy and to ramble and say not a lot of stuff substance without really showing it.
The loser of the evening? Of course, the Libertarian party, which didn't manage to figure out that they needed to put forth a candidate with the charisma of Palin or Obama to catch the attention of voters, and become viable for a change.
Change? Yeah, when anybody sees a candidate who embodies any, please wake me from my long depression.
I still wanna vote for her more than any of the other three, though that doesn't say much
Crid [cridcridatgmail] at October 3, 2008 1:53 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2008/10/03/joe_sixpacks_gi.html#comment-1594987">comment from Crid [cridcridatgmail]Yeah, I know what you mean. I want to vote for her, too, then I remember she's running for Vice-President.
Amy Alkon at October 3, 2008 1:59 AM
I understand your frustration with the fairly common mispronunciation of "nuclear" but as an error it's pretty much de minimus. And nowhere near as bad a *President* Carter's pronunciation of it as "newkier." John Updike even took notice of that in one of his "Rabbit" books.
BlogDog at October 3, 2008 5:21 AM
I thought it was rather interesting, in a train-wreck sort of way. Neither one really spoke out about a solid, viable plan that Congress could actually put into action to get this country back on its feet. It's wonderful that they could talk about "change" but neither one defined what that "change" would entail. Both my daughters said they would get extra credit for watching it, but #2 feel asleep halfway through! o_O
Flynne at October 3, 2008 5:35 AM
"Biden was full of it on the idea that there should be help for those who got ridiculous mortgages -- and not just 'adjustments' on the interest, but on the principal."
Amen.
Dennis at October 3, 2008 6:03 AM
Flynne - I am no longer willing to believe that Congress is interested in a viable plan.
Because any such plan would necessarily require that they turn on their friends and benefactors.
Oh, and that a significant number of them commit seppuku (political or literal, I don't care any more).
As P.J. O'Rourke wrote: "We don't need term limits. We need prison."
I don't watch debates. You know why? Because no useful information is transmitted.
brian at October 3, 2008 6:08 AM
Rights and tolerance are functions of a prosperous economy. Gay rights are progressing no matter who is in office. Abortion (except maybe 3rd trimester) will never be made illegal.
If we have a socialist president and democrat congress we are screwed. Look to Europe and Canada to see what our future is “crappy health care and no 1st amendment rights.”
David H
David H at October 3, 2008 7:03 AM
What Amy said.
Jeff at October 3, 2008 7:31 AM
You're right on the "tolerance" thing Amy. I did a lil entry on it yesterday. Click my name and scroll down ("Coming Out Against Religious Bigotry") to see the youtube video about Palin's "tolerance" of gay people in her home state. You could tell she was trying REALLY HARD not to snap and say "GAYS WILL BURN IN HELLLLLL!!!!" Her smile during her tolerance bit was incredibly forced.
Overall I feel like I wasted an hour and a half of my time watching the debate. They just regurgitated what they were spoon fed to say, and they didn't even do it that well.
The theme with Palin was "get off track, look around like I'm lost/confused, remember I have my trust list of Official Talking Points in front of me...pick one of them and get overly excited about it even though it has nothing to do with what Biden was talking about."
I wanted to see a little blood and less fact manipulation.
Gretchen at October 3, 2008 8:03 AM
Me, too, Gretchen, me, too.
And I did not like in the slightest my growing impression of Palin -- that she never met a question she couldn't duck, or a subject she couldn't change when she doesn't know the answer.
Yeah, about that "energy policy"...
Amy Alkon at October 3, 2008 8:06 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2008/10/03/joe_sixpacks_gi.html#comment-1595080">comment from Amy AlkonHere's the YouTube link. And foxy photo, Gretchen!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfL2l1dk8nA
Amy Alkon at October 3, 2008 8:10 AM
Now that I think about it, the debate kind of reminded me of this old joke:
A woman in a hot air balloon realized she was lost. She lowered her altitude and spotted a man in a boat below. She shouted to him,'Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don't know where I am.'
The man consulted his portable GPS and replied,'You're in a hot air balloon, approximately 30 feet above a ground elevation of 2,346 feet above sea level. You are at 31 degrees, 14.97 minutes north latitude and 100 degrees, 49.09 minutes west longitude.'
She rolled her eyes and said,'You must be a Republican.'
I am,' replied the man.'How did you know?'
'Well,' answered the balloonist,'everything you told me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to do with your information, and I'm still lost. Frankly, you've not been much help to me.'
The man smiled and responded,'You must be a Democrat.'
'I am,' replied the balloonist.'How did you know?'
'Well,' said the man,'You don't know where you are or where you're going! You've risen to where you are due to a large quantity of hot air!
You made a promise that you have no idea how to keep and you expect me to solve your problem!
You're in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but, somehow, now it's my fault!'
Flynne at October 3, 2008 8:20 AM
re: Nuclear/Nucular
This is a regional pronunciation, not an indication that anyone who prounces the word as 'nucular' is less intelligent. 'Nucular' doesn't bother me, probably because I live in the west and know several intelligent people who pronounce it that way. I am originally from a working-class neighborhood in Philly, and it never bothered me when I heard the word water pronounced as wooter.
I am bugged by Warshington, though. Not sure why.
Beth at October 3, 2008 9:07 AM
"And foxy photo"
Right back at ya, baby ;-)
Gretchen at October 3, 2008 9:36 AM
"The guys been in the Senate a while and knows a few things"
Really?
Here's a sample of Joe's "knowledge":
"Article 1 of the Constitution defines the role of the Vice-President. That's the executive branch. He works in the executive branch. Everyone should understand that.
The primary role of the Vice President is to support the President...The Vice President is to preside over the Senate only when in fact there is a tie vote. The Constitution is explicit, the only authority the Vice President has from a legislative standpoint is to vote only when there is a tie vote. The idea that he's a part of the legislative branch is a bizzare notion invented by Dick Cheney."
Well, no, Joe, that notion was invented by the Founding Fathers. Article 1 of the Constitution defines the scope and powers of the legislative branch, not the executive branch, and it defines all of the duties of the Vice President: "The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided", etc. Article 2 lays out all of the powers and duties of the executive branch ("The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States" etc.), and it does not give the Vice President any powers or duties at all. There's nothing in there about giving the President advice or stroking his ego.
If Biden is so confused about the first 2 Articles of the Constitution, what are the odds that he's fully up to speed on the rest of it? And this guy's been a Constitutional lawyer, a professor of law, and/or a Senator longer than you or Sarah have been alive.
Biden seemed like the authoritative elder statesman in this debate, but when you examine the substance of his statements carefully, they crumble.
As for the Libertarian party, I agree with you 100 %. Maybe they'll learn their lesson and be viable in 2012, but in 2008 a vote for Barr is effectively a vote for the Obamunist.
Martin at October 3, 2008 10:52 AM
> This is a regional pronunciation...
> I am bugged by Warshington, though
See? every time Beth says something, I like it.
Meanwhile, I don't understand why people harp on Palin's inexperience so much.
In any other context, the people who argue this point will go absolutely ballistic at the suggestion of any standards which challenge a mindless egalitarian ideal. They'll turn completely, ape-shit insane. (For example, see Amy on gay marriage, above.) 'We're all completely identical! We're all exactly the same! We all have to have exactly the same treatment!'
(In the golden years of the early naughts, Loveline used to great radio bits about this. "We cannot judge each other, Doctor... It is impossible to judge.")
But when a bright, articulate, remarkably typical 46yo woman gets nominated for veep, suddenly these friends of the common man are howling to be governed by a professional (and grotesquely self-selected) political class.
I'm starting to think that some people's selections for admirable femininity are a little bit twisted. Anyone remember this bunny?
| Logan, a former swimsuit model
| who is CBS' chief foreign
| affairs correspondent, made
| headlines this year when a CNN
| reporter and a US defense
| contractor in Iraq got into a
| brawl over her. The contractor
| impregnated Logan, who is due to
| give birth in January.
(PS- The contractor was married. Love that.)
Crid [cridcridatgmail] at October 3, 2008 11:11 AM
Whoa! Wiki says Logan was married, too. And she's upset with media interest in her personal life! And she's a reporter on the TV!
Crid [cridcridatgmail] at October 3, 2008 11:13 AM
So, Sarah Palin's intolerant? Yet, in her first month as governor, Sarah Palin vetoed a bill that would have prevented Alaska from giving public employee benefits such as health insurance to same-sex couples.
http://dwb.adn.com/news/government/legislature/story/8525563p-8419318c.html
The Republican sponsor of the bill said he "would have like to have seen her stand up to the courts."
Instead, she stood up to her own party.
Then again, I'm sure there's a really big gay constituency in Alaska that she was sucking up to.
Conan the Grammarian at October 3, 2008 11:57 AM
re: Nuclear/Nucular
If "nucular" was good enough for the intelligentsia when Walter Cronkite said it, why isn't it good enough when a conservative says it?
Conan the Grammarian at October 3, 2008 11:59 AM
Check Wikipedia for a list of presidents who pronounced nuclear as nucular. One of them was Jimmy Carter, who was trained in the US Navy's nucular power program.
Robert at October 3, 2008 5:12 PM
Logan married the defense contractor who knocked her up.
Why does Obama not have any old girl friends? Is Michelle the first woman he dated? Just wondering.
KateCoe at October 3, 2008 6:13 PM
Crid -
In any other context, the people who argue this point will go absolutely ballistic at the suggestion of any standards which challenge a mindless egalitarian ideal.
Call me elitist, but I am all about politicos being educated to be politicos. I would also much rather see politicos who go up in the world of politics to have, experience in well, politics. Of course I also suffer from the inane notion that they should also understand who exactly they are supposed to represent.
But the whole common man as politico is a pile of shit. Common men are, well, rather common. I would much rather see leaders who are absolutely fucking exceptional wo/men. That's actually what my biggest problem with bush when he was running the first time around - way too fucking common, in spite of growing up with wealth and privilege.
The experience issue, aside from him being a fucking republicrat, is also the biggest problem I have with Obama.
DuWayne at October 3, 2008 8:41 PM
> I would much rather see leaders
> who...
First of all, we're not hiring a leader, were hiring a President and a veep.
This is not some niggling rhetorical point with me. One of the most repugnant things about Obamamania is this teenage fascination with him. I don't want leadership from him. I don't want him to tell me how to think. I don't want him to show me how to handle my money, or refine my aspirations, or manage my personal relationships, or make peace with the environment, or any other such thing.
Presumably you don't, either. So why talk about these people as 'leaders'? I don't understand why more people don't get that. Especially on this freaking blog, where I've been shooting down phrases like that for a long time. See the thread with Norman nearby: We're Americans, dammit. We don't need no stinkin' leaders.
> I would much rather see leaders
> who are absolutely fucking
> exceptional
And I'd like the guy who flips my burgers to be Wolfgang Puck. I want Lewis Hamilton to drive my taxicab when I go to LAX. When I have computer problems, I want Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer to come and fix it. And they'd do it, too, but they'd charge a lot of money.
Everybody who actually has a salable skill on this planet is doing something worthwhile. Here in the States, we get that, so we just try to get the least corrupt fucker we can find to show up at the office and stay out of the way.
Haven't you noticed --in the past three weeks especially-- that there are no Abe Lincolns on the scene? Do you understand why?
Crid [cridcridatgmail] at October 3, 2008 10:03 PM
Yet another woman whose judgment I trust is saying this.
Crid [cridcridatgmail] at October 3, 2008 10:44 PM
Amy, we know that you don't like her and want to diminish her every chance you get. Fine.
But are you aware of the MANY factual inaccuracies Joe Biden made? I could have said "lies" but was trying to be polite!
Anyhow, the polls seem to indicate that most Americans have more faith in Barack Obama & Joe Biden to rescue the economy, save the world, and who knows what else.
I predict that no more than 6 months into the Obama presidency, many of those same Americans are going to feel like they bought a $2,000 Plasma TV from their local big box store, only to discover that from the outside it looked slick and modern but inside there were not actually any components.
Here in Canada a few years ago we ran into the same problem with one Paul Martin. Thankfully he was in a minority gov't situation and was thrown out after a short time. You guys don't have that option. So sad.
Robert W. at October 6, 2008 8:47 PM
But are you aware of the MANY factual inaccuracies Joe Biden made? I could have said "lies" but was trying to be polite!
The Wall Street Journal addresses a few:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122325448093406451.html
Conan the Grammarian at October 7, 2008 11:09 AM
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