Just…Painful

Comments

[mediageek]

If in the course of being interviewed by Katie Couric you manage to make her look intelligent and well-thought, you might just be a complete twit.

[GOP Talking Points]

PANIC SEXISM PANIC SEXISM PANIC SEXISM PANIC SEXISM PANIC SEXISM PANIC SEXISM PANIC SEXISM PANIC SEXISM PANIC SEXISM PANIC SEXISM PANIC SEXISM PANIC SEXISM PANIC SEXISM PANIC SEXISM PANIC SEXISM PANIC SEXISM PANIC SEXISM PANIC SEXISM

[Episiarch]

If you watch it with the sound off, she comes off much better.

[KT]

At least she's one of us and not one of those damn elites! Durr durr durr.

[Seitz]

That crazy Putin, always with the head rearing and such.

[BDB]

And like, such as, the Iraq...

[Davebo]

The fact that her selection energized the GOP base does not exactly reflect well on the GOP.

[JW]

I've driven through New Jersey on a number of occasions. *I* was the one driving the car. That must make me some kind of expert on big hair and gold chains.

[BDB]

That all depends, JW. Did Tony Soprano rear his head in your car-space?

[Orange Line Special]

I posted this at MattY's site, but since this and his site are indistinguishable I might as well report it here:

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Pardon me for interrupting the BHO! BHO! BHO! BHO! chanting, but it's not like AK is DE or anything like that.
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P.S. LibruhtariansForTheGloriousLeader.com is still available, if Reason wants to get started on that now.

[Adamness]

Remember space shuttle Challenger? When it blew up, there was a teacher on board to show that even civilians can be an astronaut without much experience, and that they can relate better to the American people who became bored with space program.

Well, that's what Sarah Palin is. She's the Christa McAuliffe of politics.

[Orange Line Special]

I'm sick and tired of IllegalMexicans rearing their heads in my airspace.

[brotherben]

I think I know where the extra chromosome came from.

[JW]

That all depends, JW. Did Tony Soprano rear his head in your car-space?

No, but I have trade missions with HBO regularly.

[Episiarch]

That must make me some kind of expert on big hair and gold chains.

This is you?

[JW]

Damnit! Outed again.

[brotherben]

Note to McCain: when giving a new veep pick a crash course in political speech and talking points, avoid the George W. Bush clips.

[Dello]

I don't know about rearing her head, but her head is definately in her rear.

[Episiarch]

JW, did you get a new haircut?

[dhex]

lonewacko, did you reserve RacistAssholesForBeingSmotheredInCrazySauceWhileFearsOfSexyMamacitasHavingAnchorBabiesByTheSideOfTheNAUHighway.com yet?

just curious.

[FatDrunkAndStupid]

Sorry, but I'm with Palin on this one. Ron Paul isn't a briliant foreign policy thinker because he hung out in Iran and Afghanistan for a few years in the 1960's. Couric's underlying premise, that world travel or frequency with which one attends cocktail parties with the clueless foreign policy elite serves as evidence of foreign policy credentials is the thing we should be mocking. The only we could properly assess Palin's foreign policy ideas would be to ask her about them, which we can no longer do because once she signed on as VP she became a mere spokesman for McCain's views, not her own. The only thing we have to guide us are her associations with Buchanan and AIP, both of which reflect positively on her instincts, and at the very least are enough to vault her ahead of McCain, Biden, and Obama in terms of soundness of her foreign policy thinking.

[James]

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MDZiMDhjYTU1NmI5Y2MwZjg2MWNiMWMyYTUxZDkwNTE=#more

Even at the NRO, they think she is out of her league...Republicans in general love shitheads though...voting for morons makes them feel better about themselves.

[gmatts]

"Our next door neighbors are foreign countries. They're in the state that I'm the Executive of."

If they're in the state, how are they foreign countries? Maybe she thinks that Russia and Canada are Indian reservations.

"It's funny that a comment like that was, uh, kinda made to, ahh...charch..uhh, ya know...I don't know...Reporters!"

Well she nailed the last part with the McCain strategy so far. Just blame the media for people thinking that she's dumb. Well played, governor. You nailed that!

[rhywun]

I can't watch at work but if it's this good maybe it will be on Maher tonight?

[Jamie Kelly]

She should have just punted and said, "I watched 'War Games,' and Anchorage was one of the first targets."

[JW]

Fuckin' A, motherfucker.

[joe]

Sarah Palin is qualified to chair the Board of Selectmen in all but the largest New England towns.

[Episiarch]

"Ma, I'm outta protein!!!"

[BDB]

Didn't the Republicans used to rag on Bill Clinton for being "Commander-in-Chief of the Arkansas National Guard"?

[joe]

"Washington's gone. New York's gone. Los Angles is gone. Denver's gone, and God knows what else. The president is dead, half the Joint Chiefs are confirmed dead and the rest are missing. What do we do?"

"OK, first things first. Are you in contact with Sarah Palin?"

[PapayaSF]

I'll admit her foreign policy credentials are as thin as Obama's. So the point is...?

[BDB]

Obama never claimed that because Illinois borders the Great Lakes, which are across from Canada, he is a foreign policy expert.

[Dagny T.]

You guys are missing her point. Alaska borders Russia and Canada! Those are foreign countries! Don't make her say it again!!

I think she may have been waiting for a gold star, pat on the head, or similar. A+ in Geography! See, she's smart AND pretty!

[James]

I am not sure that this doesn't work in the Republican's favor, how many ridiculous things has Bush said in interviews? Republicans are proud and boastful and jingoistic about thier ignorance. We've seen it all before, yet Palin somehow at times makes Bush seem profound.

[Naga Sadow]

PapayaSF,

Her foreign policy credentials are impeccable. She is governor of a state sqeezed between Russia and Canada. Ever hear of a Russian airstrike or Canadain blitzkreig getting through to Anchorage? I didn't think so!

[Butler T. Reynolds]

What foreign policy experience did Jimmy Carter have growing peanuts and being governor in Georgia?

What foreign policy experience did Ronald Reagan have?

How about Clinton?

Not that I support Palin, but this issue is sort of dumb. What's more important is where she stands on foreign policy issues. But then, we don't usually dig that deeply in to where a VP nominee stands.

[BDB]

"What foreign policy experience did Jimmy Carter have growing peanuts and being governor in Georgia?
"

None. Boy, that sure worked out well, didn't it?

[Episiarch]

Alaska borders Russia and Canada! Those are foreign countries!

And hostile ones at that! The Russians violate our airspace, and we can never forget what the Canadians did to the Baldwins!

[BakedPenguin]

"Well, I've been to Canada, but that doesn't count, because it's like, attached."

[Naga Sadow]

Fuck the Baldwins, Epi. There's to damn many of them for my liking. What is there? Some sort of cloner army of Baldwins training in the wilderness of Canada for the inevitable showdown with humanity.

[joe]

Papaya SF, what does Sarah Palin think about the Obama-Lugar bill, expanding Nunn-Lugar nuclear nonproliferation program to include things like landmines and anti-aircraft rockets?

I can see Russia from my house!

[Just Plain Brian]

Not that I support Palin, but this issue is sort of dumb

Which issue - that she doesn't have the experience, or that she keeps pretending she does?

[Paul]

Who's Sarah Palin?

[joe]

What foreign policy experience did Jimmy Carter have growing peanuts and being governor in Georgia?

What foreign policy experience did Ronald Reagan have?

How about Clinton?

Those are fair questions. And in 1980, 1976, and 1992, those three candidates were each accused of not having adequate knowledge of foreign policy, and had to demonstrate their knowledge of and facility with the issues by discussing them throughout the campaign. Ultimately, each of them was able to do so well enough that the public achieved a sufficient level of confidence in them to trust that they were up for the job.

Like, when Vladimir Putin rises up into our airspace, you know?

[Episiarch]

Some sort of cloner army of Baldwins training in the wilderness of Canada for the inevitable showdown with humanity

And now I have the basis for my next screenplay.

[gmatts]

"What's more important is where she stands on foreign policy issues."

But the point is that this interview was an attempt to let known her stands. And if you can listen to her answers there and tell me what her stands are, I'd love to know. Because all she did was produce a procession of words totally lacking any coherence.

[srjenkins]

PapayaSF: The point is she isn't terribly bright. The point is not her foreign policy experience, or lack thereof.

[henry]

Night, night Sarah. Pack up the reformed slut and the retard baby and whatever else appealed to "the base", and get the hell out of town.

Nice group, those Republicans!

[Dagny T.]

What's more important is where she stands on foreign policy issues.

My beef with this isn't necessarily her lack of experience (although that's part of it). She deserves merciless mocking for going on TV sounding like a blithering idiot. She brought the whole "we're neighbors!" thing on herself, and then continued to defend it.

There's no excuse for going on TV and sounding that retarded. Even coked out starlets can manage complete sentences.

[Pro Libertate]

This campaign so pathetic. Two of the four candidates have inadequate experience, and the other two have shown in their years of experience that they don't belong in the executive. Yet as horrid as this race is, people still waste their time fighting over who is less competent. After a certain point, it doesn't matter.

While I still intend to vote for the idiot LP candidate, this bailout nonsense is making me think that we need gridlock more than we need anything else. I wish McCain were more of a partisan in some respects, because he'd have a nice, quiet, do-nothing presidency with a Democratic Congress. Assuming it stays that way for any part of his term.

[brotherben]

I think it may have been Couric's Sharon Stone-esque leg crossing after each question that flustered Gov. Palin.

She did say her favorite food was mooseknuckle stew.

[J sub D]

It's gonna be a blowout on Nov. 4th.
GOP bootlickers stalwarts, it's time to start worrying about house and senate seats. This POTUS thingee is over.

[Dagny T.]

And now I have the basis for my next screenplay.

If you cast some Canadians*, and agree to premiere it on the CBC, I can almost guarantee you some sweet, sweet gov't grants.

*Not that I'm looking for a part or anything...

[Episiarch]

this bailout nonsense is making me think that we need gridlock more than we need anything else

Actually, Pro "Adonais" L, I have this feeling that Congress is going to flip back to the GOP soon. Their approval rating is (I believe) lower than the President's, and the breathtaking incompetence and opportunism of Reid and Pelosi isn't helping. Obama straightjacketed by a GOP Congress would be a lot better than McCain with a Dem one.

[Naga Sadow]

Intellectual property, Episiarch! Pay up!

[Fluffy]

Katie Couric is obviously a witch. Palin should get her church friends together, and they should hunt Katie down, capture her, and burn her.

Yes, everyone, it is in fact my intention to use some kind of variation of the "Sarah Palin and witchcraft" joke in every thread I can work it into.

[James]

"Actually, Pro "Adonais" L, I have this feeling that Congress is going to flip back to the GOP soon."

If by soon, you mean 20 years or so, then ok, in the long run of time that is soon. The projections are for Dems to pick up 14-18 more seats this time around, and after the 2010 census, if the Dems can hold or expand their advantage in govs and state houses, they will be able to redistrict and implement a systemic majority.

[Episiarch]

Intellectual property, Episiarch! Pay up!

Catch me! Wildcard, bitches! Yee haw!!!

If you cast some Canadians*, and agree to premiere it on the CBC, I can almost guarantee you some sweet, sweet gov't grants

Listen, being a producer is like being a pimp. And you of course get into your own supply. Why else do it?

Not that I'm looking for a part or anything...

You can be a PA. Now go get me some green tea.

[Pete Guither]

As others have noted, the issue is not whether she has more or less "foreign policy experience" than Obama or Clinton or anybody else. The issue is that this is supposedly a Vice Presidential candidate who is acting like a complete and utter moron.

If she had said "Katie, what really matters is what the next administration will do about foreign policy, and let me articulate the most critical things we need to do from day one" - then she could have made herself at least sound... competent.

I'm betting that if Bill Clinton had been asked about whether the Arkansas National Guard was sufficient foreign policy experience for a Presidential candidate, he wouldn't have answered "Well, we're only one state away from Mexico."

[BDB]

The 2010 census will have most of the growth in Southern and Western red states, with places like New York and Mass losing seats. So that hurts Democrats.

[joe]

I agree, Fluffy. They should step on Katie Couric's neck to crush the spirit of the python.

[James Ard]

The MSM never questions a Democratic VICE-presidential candidate's foreign policy creds. And when Republicans nominate a FP heavyweight for vp the press spins it to tarnish the top of the ticket as lacking. Palin flubbed the answer, but I bet her proximity alone keeps her more informed about Russia than most around here.

[James]

"The 2010 census will have most of the growth in Southern and Western red states, with places like New York and Mass losing seats. So that hurts Democrats."

Well again, Democrats have been doing better and better out West. There will be a shifting of seats, but how the districts are drawn will make the difference. There is no indication that the total percent of Americans is getting more Republican, if anything it is the other way around. And as for the horizon, the current crop of 18-30 yr olds is the most Democratic since FDR.

[BDB]

Do you really, honestly believe that, James?

[BDB]

James Ard, not James.

[James]

I actually even saw a projection that because of immigration, it was likely that by 2020 Texas would be a blue state.

[Brian24]

A better-prepared candidate would have met the initial blowback about "AK borders Russia!" by laughing it off with a simple, "Oh, Katie, some political consultant came up with that talking point, and frankly it's a little silly. Now I may not have been secretary of state before, but here's what I think about our foreign policy situation..."

However, for that strategy to work, the ellipsis has to be followed by her actually making intelligent, cogent points about our foreign policy. Something she is clearly not able to do.

[James]

"However, for that strategy to work, the ellipsis has to be followed by her actually making intelligent, cogent points about our foreign policy. Something she is clearly not able to do."

It isn't just foreign policy, it has become very clear that Alaska (the Welfare Queen of America) is just not part of the big leagues, Gov. Palin has difficulty answering a lot of questions...that is when she is not running from them.

[joe]

The MSM never questions a Democratic VICE-presidential candidate's foreign policy creds.

Uh huh.

Joe Biden. Joe Lieberman. Al Gore. Sarah Palin. Lloyd Bentson.

Anything jump out at you?

[James Ard]

BDB, Which part? the Gravitas mantra of 2000 or the proximity argument? I probably know more about Mississippi than joe does because I live next door.

[Pro Libertate]

Let's get down to the brass tacks: Which candidate will get me my money back and wreak vengeance on Washington Mutual's former executives? Hmmmm? The government is obligated to make right what is wrong and to enrichenfy me. I read that somewhere.

[James Ard]

Didn't hear it for Edwards.

[Just Plain Brian]

Gov. Palin has difficulty answering a lot of questions..

Must be why she didn't win Miss Alaska - probably forgot to mention she wants world peace during the interview.

[Fluffy]

Joe Biden. Joe Lieberman. Al Gore. Sarah Palin. Lloyd Bentson.

Anything jump out at you?

Oo! Oo! I know this one!

Only one of them, to the best of my knowledge, is protected against witches and the Evil Eye.

[BDB]

Is the part of Mississippi you border a barren, depopulated wasteland?

[Brian24]

Compare this to the way you would hire somebody to work at your company. First, a prospective employee puts what they feel are their best credentials onto a resume. I review that resume; if I feel their credentials are worthy, I then have them over for an interview so I can evaluate their judgment, knowledge base, communication skills, etc.

Now, I work for an investment bank. So I frequently get resumes from people who, say, worked at Morgan Stanley. Alternatively, sometmes I get resumes from people who worked in completely different industries; if their experience or accomplishments are impressive enough, I may still give them an interview.

However, someone who sent me a resume that said "lived next door to Morgan Stanley," offering that as their main qualification, would not get an interview.

[Naga Sadow]

Pro Lib,

In the heat of your wrathful comment, did you invent a new word? Enrichenfy? Brilliant!!!

[joe]

You know, like, when Haley Barbour rises up and, enters our airspace...

[Brian24]

Joe Biden. Joe Lieberman. Al Gore. Sarah Palin. Lloyd Bentson.

Anything jump out at you?

Five people who have never been in my kitchen!

[brotherben]

"You know, like, when Haley Barbour rises up and, enters our airspace..."

Mississippi has that kinda technology?

[Shem]

Their approval rating is (I believe) lower than the President's

And as long as most people think "that Senator Snakeoil/Congressman Cronyism is good people, bringing in jobs like that. If only the rest of those greedy fat cats were the same," then collective approval ratings mean absolutely nothing.

[joe]

I get it - Vladimir Putin is a witch.

Witches rise up and fly over places all the time.

Damn, maybe Sarah Palin really is best-qualified to run our foreign policy.

Naw, that's silly. Vice-Presidents don't run foreign policy!

[Naga Sadow]

Ouch, brotherben. I live in Mississippi. Biloxi, specifically. Please understand that there are two Mississippi's. There's Mississippi and South Mississippi, and neither one likes the other.

Disclosure: I hate Mississippi

[James Ard]

BDB, you don't think there's a Russian version of The Deadliest Catch up there? The fishing villages plus the military presence probably comes close to the population of non-coastal lower MS. Granted, knowing something about it doesn't amount to much.

[BDB]

*shrugs* I can look it up in Wikipedia later, but IIRC the area of Russia that borders Alaska is where they Soviets used to put the Gulags. Usually Gulags aren't located near major population centers.

[Pro Libertate]

Naga Sadow,

Yes, my anger makes me stronger. You should understand that better than most. Hey, cool, I'm shooting lightning bolts out of my fingers! What's that about?

Anyway, did I make up that word? I thought I just plagiarized it or adapted it from some other wordish-like word.

joe,

Lieberman's Jewish?

[brotherben]

N S,
I have family in Brookhaven. I lived there myself 3 decades ago. It has its charms, but being up to speed on many things isn't one of them.
BTW, I now live in southeast Alabama.

[James Ard]

But do you hate South Mississippi, Naga?

[BDB]

Alabama making fun of Mississippi? How does that work?

[Naga Sadow]

brotherben,

Wow! You moved to the one state that Mississippi is ahead of in the union. Sucks to be you.

[Episiarch]

Look, it's kind of pointless having southerners make fun of southerners. You should leave that to arrogant, condescending New Englanders such as myself. You fucking inbred racist hicks.

[James Ared]

The joke goes, the best thing about GA is AL, the best thing about AL is MS and the best thing about MS is AR. I don't think AR uses that joke.

[BDB]

"Wow! You moved to the one state that Mississippi is ahead of in the union."

Where do West Virginia and Arkansas rank?

[Smappy]

Well, that's what Sarah Palin is. She's the Christa McAuliffe of politics.

She's the Harriet Meiers of Presidential campaigns, only it would be too painful for the ticket to yank her.

I'll admit her foreign policy credentials are as thin as Obama's. So the point is...?

The point is, as others have pointed out, she not only lacks foreign policy, but the capacity to form coherent sentences on the subject.

Much like the Bush Doctrine flub. GOPers insist there are multiple versions of the Doctrine. Fine. If she listed a few of them and asked Gibson to specify which he was referring to, more power to her. But when she just obviously tries to B.S. her way through, it's pretty clear that she's not just stumbling over which version.

Palin flubbed the answer, but I bet her proximity alone keeps her more informed about Russia than most around here.

Yeah, her state borders that cosmopolitan Russian District of Chukotka. Combined Population: 53,824. Its Western border is only a couple thousand miles away from Moscow. You know, it's just like how the Mayor of Thule, Greenland is an expert on Canadian politics because he's within spittin' distance of Nunavut!

[PapayaSF]

So Biden would be a better VP because he's smarter? Based on what? Decades of being wrong on pretty much every substantial foreign policy issue? Being a condescending blowhard, serial plagiarist, and a gaffe machine easily the equal of Dan Quayle?

It's easy to mock Palin. Heck, it's easy to mock any politician. But with all her flaws, I'd pick her over Biden in a heartbeat, on Buckley first-N-names-in-the-phone-book grounds, if nothing else. She can at least see libertarianism from her house, which is more than Obama and Biden can say.

And where have been all the gotcha interviews with Obama and Biden? I must have missed them.

[Naga Sadow]

James Ard,

I do. Too much of the rest of the state gets a say on things down here. When my degree is finished, I'm outta here. Florida or California are the only options so far.

[BDB]

"Look, it's kind of pointless having southerners make fun of southerners. "

You haven't lived until you're in Rockbridge County, Virginia, literally a stones throw away from the WV state line and hear some toothless redneck in a wifebeater making West Virginia jokes.

[brotherben]

Epi, fuck you! I am not a racist.

[Naga Sadow]

Epi,

Whatever hippie. Open your wallet as we tend to get more federal largesse than we give.

[Pro Libertate]

I know a justice on the Mississippi Supreme Court. He hates North Mississippi.

Episiarch,

The Northeast is an insipid, wet-noodle version of America. The South, Midwest, and West (except for California and parts of the Pacific Northwest on alternate months) are ashamed of you and are hoping you'll secede. When you do, you'll note that we won't go to war to keep you.

[Pro Libertate]

Naga,

Come to Florida. It's where the Urkobold and O.J. Simpson live. And we have cheap housing. Heck, you could live in a different house in my neighborhood every month.

[James Ard]

Naga, you might get a good deal on a foreclosed home there.

[BDB]

Florida has cheap housing?

[Naga Sadow]

For the record, the largest concentration of white trash I have ever seen was in New Jersey. California came in a close second.

[Episiarch]

Epi, fuck you! I am not a racist.

Mr. Chuck Noblet: [to Jerri] You are a big, fat, stupid *zero*, fatty.

Jerri Blank: [hurt] Fatty?

[joe]

joe,

Lieberman's Jewish?

Pro Lib,

Did you know that John McCain was a POW?

[Naga Sadow]

Pro Lib,

Taktix said the same thing. I'm checking on housing in December before people start getting their checks from Uncle Sam. Condo is a priority for now. Housing secondary.

[Episiarch]

The Northeast is an insipid, wet-noodle version of America

Yes, but we talk like Thurston Howell III and have yachts.

[Pro Libertate]

BDB,

What people are offering and what people are paying for homes down here are two different things. And it's only going to get worse. However, for maximum value in an area where you can get a job, I recommend the west coast of the state.

Episiarch,

You mean that you call your little toy boats yachts.

[Pro Libertate]

joe,

No, but he's Scottish, damn your hide. If he starts wearing a kilt and says that Rowdy Roddy Piper will be his Chief of Staff, I'm campaigning for him.

[Episiarch]

For the record, the largest concentration of white trash I have ever seen was in New Jersey.

So you've been to Willowbrook, then?

[joe]

And where have been all the gotcha interviews with Obama and Biden?

You have got to be kidding. Joe Biden has done Meet the Press and the other Sunday shows something like 200 times in his career.

Gotcha interviews. Yeah, that Katie Couric is a real pit bull.

[Episiarch]

You mean that you call your little toy boats yachts.

Sunfish, yacht, it's all good...

[Isaac Bartram]

The government is obligated to make right what is wrong and to enrichenfy me. I read that somewhere.

I know youre kidding but judging from a lot of the whining I'm hearing, it's not enough that the government must guarantee jobs, housing and medical care to the middle class, the welfare state must now maintain the value of your house and your stock portfolio no matter how overpriced they were when you bought them.

[BDB]

Joe Biden has actually been on Meet the Press more than any other politician. Second place, weirdly, is John McCain.

[Shem]

For the record, the largest concentration of white trash I have ever seen was in New Jersey. California came in a close second.

That's because they have more people generally. You have to go by percentage of White Trash as compared to overall population to get reliable numbers.

[Pro Libertate]

I did notice in Boston that they have a bunch of free boats that you can just jump in and use. Down here, we shoot you if you do that. Or the Coast Guard does, assuming correctly that you're probably a Drug Lord.

[Naga Sadow]

Pro Lib,

Too true. I was in Navarre a few days ago and the place is covered in for sale signs. I ask around about one that was priced at around 220k(I don't remember anymore) and the dude says he paid 210k for it. So fucking what! If no one is buying your shit for what you paid then it isn't worth what you paid!

[Pro Libertate]

Isaac,

You're right, forget the money. Just get me my revenge.

Naga,

Just live in a vacant house.

[Episiarch]

Down here, we shoot you if you do that

I guess you've never gotten your propeller snagged on a lobster trap buoy line. If the lobster fisherman who owns that trap sees you fucking with it he will shoot at you.

[Naga Sadow]

Pro Lib,

You mean by right of claim? Conquest . . . I like it. I will need a cadre of men-at-arms to ensure my will is carried out. You in?

[joe]

Palin -> Quaylin -> Stockdalin.

[R C Dean]

I think Palin and her handlers are making a real mistake by yammering on about Russia. Just drop the Russian angle, and talk (and talk and talk) about your energy work with Canada. The pipeline, all that shit.

Its both credible, and it puts energy (a winning issue for them) back on the radar.

[Pro Libertate]

Episiarch,

Nah, we've got traps here, too, though many are for stone crabs.

Naga,

Per Johnson v. M'Intosh, property can be acquired through conquest. Adverse possession is no good, so I'd take your home by force, if I were you. Say the owners were savages and weren't really using the land, anyway.

[James]

I am convinced that a good civil war is what this country needs, cull the herd a little...

[Naga Sadow]

EXCELLENT!!!!!

*wrings hands with delight*

[Jim Bob]

I am, as usual, late to the thread, but as far as I'm concerned BDB won it at 1340.

Pro, dude, pro.

[Episiarch]

What we need is Lex Luthor as president.

[Just Plain Brian]

What we need is Lex Luthor as president.

Lex Luthor lies too much - we need someone with Military experience and straight talk, like General Zod!

[joe]

Great idea. He could talk Vladimir Putin into suicide in 14 minutes.

[Pro Libertate]

Just Plain Brian,

You are correct. I'd kneel before Zod. For America.

[Episiarch]

Zod/Luthor '08! It's a dream ticket!

[Max]

What we need is Lex Luthor as president.

He prefers the job of Treasury Secretary.

[Pro Libertate]

Ticket or coup d'?tat partnership, either way.

[Max]

Palin -> Quaylin -> Stockdalin

Stalin -> Putin -> Palin

[TrickyVic]

"""Their approval rating is (I believe) lower than the President's, and the breathtaking incompetence and opportunism of Reid and Pelosi isn't helping."""

It's been in the gutter for longer than the dems have had control. But the approval rating is bullshit, or Americans are dumber than a rock. America pick both of their presidential candidates from Congress. If we really hated Congress, Obama nor McCain would have won their primaries. Palin is good for the republicans because she's the only outsider in the race. Unless she implodes by defending too many white lies. But as someone else already said, the republicans love that shit.

[Episiarch]

Stalin -> Putin -> Palin

"It goes from God...to Jerry...to me."

"I guess it goes from God...to Jerry...to you...to the cleaners, huh Kent."

[brotherben]

Max,
after she was prayed over for protection from eevil spirits and a financial blessing, she can't possibly be in the same paragraph with tose fellas.
She is the "chosen one." On a mission from God.

[joe]

God, make a way. Make a way.

Like, he didn't even pray that God's will be done, just that I win! So, vote for me, Christians.

[JP]

Finally had a moment to listen to this. She sounds like George Costanza coming up with reasons why he can't attend the funeral for J. Peterman's mother.

[TallDave]

I agree with Radley: Couric is painful to watch.

Did she really need to ask why being governor of a state essentially bordering two nations, one them fairly hostile, involves a certain amount of "foreign policy"? Couric is totally unqualified to interview Palin.

This is even worse than when Gibson didn't know what the Bush Doctrine was, and proceeded to invent his own definition then state it as fact, then told Palin his other misqute about God was "her exact words."

The lack of qualified media in this country is a serious problem.

[TrickyVic]

"""Lex Luthor lies too much - we need someone with Military experience and straight talk, like General Zod!"""

But instead we got Zapp Brannigan.

For those that don't know who he is.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zapp_Brannigan

[joe]

TallDave isn't even trying anymore.

[Episiarch]

But instead we got Zapp Brannigan.

"You win again, gravity!"

[Smappy]

TallDave,

Preventive strikes are a part of the Bush Doctrine. If Palin had said "That's only part of it, now let me give you the other three elements and tell you what I think of them," I would be impressed. Or, if she asked for clarification by saying, "The Bush Doctrine comprises several policies, including unilateralism, preventive strikes, and treating countries that harbor terrorists as terrorists; Which of those are you talking about?" again, it would be good for her.

But when her responses were 1) "In what respect, Charlie?" and 2) "His Worldview?" combined with 3) her dear in the headlights eyes, well, let's just that the lack of qualified GOP veep nominees is a more serious problem than the lack of qualified media.

[Smappy]

Dear = deer. Argh!

[Just Plain Brian]

But instead we got Zapp Brannigan.

"...And like all my plans, it's so simple an idiot could have devised it!"

[JP]

her deer in the headlights eyes

That's one thing that struck me in the Couric clip -- the tense way Palin looks as Couric is asking her initial question, like she's thinking really hard.

[BDB]

So, according to TallDave, the only place Palin gets a fair shake is Sean Hannity?

[SIV]

brotherben,

Brookhaven? I've been there before. I used to whine to my boss why I couldn't stay somewhere more cosmopolitan like Hazelhurst or McComb.

[TrickyVic]

"""The lack of qualified media in this country is a serious problem."""

Qualified media? I think Ben Franklin had a couple of quotes about that.

"""Did she really need to ask why being governor of a state essentially bordering two nations, one them fairly hostile, involves a certain amount of "foreign policy"?"""

Does it? How many foreign policy meeting did she attend? I'll give her some credit if she attended meeting with Russians and Canadians to discuss any policy. But it's not really the same. You can't get foreign policy experience by proxy, you need real experience. If you really think she has real experience, go ahead. I have a higher bar of what that means.

It would be smarter for her if she stopped claiming her little mole hill is a mountain.

It's sort of like her talking up her experience as commander in chief of the AK national guard. When was the last time they were deployed when she was giving the orders. She has about as much CiC experience as a wife waving goodbye to her military husband.

[TallDave]

Snappy,

"In what respect" is a perfectly valid question, and so is asking if Gibson meant Bush's worldview. She just looked like she was asking a question. Gibson was clearly more confused than she was.

Meanwhile, we have Biden talking about FDR being on TV in 1929, so the Dems should be a lot more worried.

[joe]

Oh, yeah, we're panicked. That's why the Repblicans insisted on changing the VP debate format - because of how much Palin is going to pwn him.

[TallDave]

There were trade missions and whatnot. Nothing earthshattering, but how much foreign policy did Clinton or Bush or Reagan conduct as governors?

She has about as much CiC experience as a wife waving goodbye to her military husband

Which is still more than Obama.

[gmatts]

"Did she really need to ask why being governor of a state essentially bordering two nations, one them fairly hostile, involves a certain amount of "foreign policy"? Couric is totally unqualified to interview Palin."

Well now that your take on the questions are known, what did you think of the answers that Palin gave to all of the questions?

Can you provide an example or two of an answer from Palin that showed her grasp of an issue?

[TallDave]

So, according to TallDave, the only place Palin gets a fair shake is Sean Hannity?

No, I'm sure the MSM is totally fair despite being about 9:1 Dem, and all the polls that find people believe the media biased left by about 3:1 are just right-wing propaganda.

[BDB]

Hey TallDave, is the National Reviw a qualified media organization?

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MDZiMDhjYTU1NmI5Y2MwZjg2MWNiMWMyYTUxZDkwNTE=

[BDB]

I await for TallDave to call the National Review "leftwing propaganda".

[Seitz]

Nothing earthshattering, but how much foreign policy did Clinton or Bush or Reagan conduct as governors?

Probably about as much as they claimed to have, unlike Palin, who thinks staring at the ocean makes her an expert. If she was honest about it, people wouldn't be giving her a hard time. She's not being criticized for a lack of experience. She's being criticized for claiming experience she doesn't have.

Why is that so difficult for dipshits like Talldave to figure out?

[Pro Libertate]

I am curious about how many trade delegations go through Alaska. I would imagine plenty do, especially from Russia and Canada, but she wasn't governor long enough to get a whole lot of experience in that kind of work.

Closer to home, it is absolutely true that the governor of Florida does a lot of talking with foreign representatives and even, occasionally, foreign leaders. It's fairly typical of border states or states with ports.

[brotherben]

SIV,
Cosmo Hazlehurst, LMFAO

Talldave, Yes, Charlie was more confused because Charlie was trying to figure out how the fuck she made it on the ticket.

[TallDave]

Can you provide an example or two of an answer from Palin that showed her grasp of an issue?

She was never asked any questions beyond "what did you mean by that?" and "Aren't you unqualified?"

[TrickyVic]

"""Meanwhile, we have Biden talking about FDR being on TV in 1929, so the Dems should be a lot more worried."""

Do you have a link, that would be funny.

[Smappy]

She just looked like she was asking a question. Gibson was clearly more confused than she was.

I guess some reality filters are simply impregnable.

Meanwhile, we have Biden talking about FDR being on TV in 1929, so the Dems should be a lot more worried.

Yup, Biden says stupid stuff, alright. No question about it. And I won't be voting for his ticket. That does not make Palin a competent Veep nominee.

but how much foreign policy did Clinton or Bush or Reagan conduct as governors?

As has been stated before, lack of experience isn't a deal-breaker. Lack of both experience and any semblence of competence is.

[BDB]

Come on, TallDave, out the National Review as the liberal propaganda mill it really is!

[gmatts]

"Probably about as much as they claimed to have, unlike Palin, who thinks staring at the ocean makes her an expert."

Palin has inspired me. I was looking at the stars the other night and now I think I'm all set to become an astronaut?

[TrickyVic]

"""She has about as much CiC experience as a wife waving goodbye to her military husband

Which is still more than Obama."""

Unless you actually believe that a wife waving goodbye is really CiC experience. They're both tied at zero.

[TallDave]

Probably about as much as they claimed to have, unlike Palin, who thinks staring at the ocean makes her an expert.

What? She didn't claim it made her an "expert" on foreign policy. She just said she had some experience. Sheesh.

She's no more or less qualified than other governors who have become President. All Republicans are either labelled "dumb" or "evil" and since she's a mother of 5 evil is out.

Good luck with the "dumb" meme, it certainly helped you beat Reagan and Bush.

[joe]

BDB,

You're right, they really are going to shriek about the media deciding the election when they lose.

[Just Plain Brian]

Do you have a link, that would be funny.

It certainly was:

http://cbs2.com/politics/joe.biden.interview.2.823202.html

[gmatts]

"She was never asked any questions beyond "what did you mean by that?" and "Aren't you unqualified?"

Fair enough. Did any of her answers to those questions demonstrate that she's able to put a coherent response together? If you just provided me with a blank transcript - no names involved - I would have thought that Keith Richards had been interviewed.

[TallDave]

Lack of both experience and any semblence of competence is.

I seem to remember the same complaints about Reagan and W, and they both won twice.

Palin managed to get 80% approval while raising 5 kids. That's competence in politics and life.

[TrickyVic]

"""Palin has inspired me. I was looking at the stars the other night and now I think I'm all set to become an astronaut?"""

You've seen the stars so you have experience as an astronaut. Well more than a blind man. So your qualified to fly the shuttle.

[brotherben]

For those of you wondering how Camelback church grew so fast I give you Talldave. Their are millions more just like him.

[joe]

What? She didn't claim it made her an "expert" on foreign policy.

No, but she does know more about energy than anyone in America.

How screwed are the Republicans? John McCain making the above statement about Sarah Palin didn't even get covered, because there were too many other Republican Campaign Collapsing stories.

[BDB]

Did Reagan or even Bush ever have a writer at the National Reivew asking them to get off the ticket for the good of the Party?

[BDB]

Bush is a great bullshitter. He can make stuff up when he doesn't know anything about the thing he's being asked about, and make it sound plausible.

Palin can't even do that.

[TallDave]

Did Reagan or even Bush ever have a writer at the National Reivew asking them to get off the ticket for the good of the Party?

Yes, more than one.

[BDB]

O RLY? You wanna find a link from September 2000 where a National Review writer says Bush is "in over his head" and should step down?

[TallDave]

Bush is a great bullshitter. He can make stuff up when he doesn't know anything about the thing he's being asked about, and make it sound plausible.

You've confused Bush with Biden.

[joe]

And I get called a partisan shill for saying she was a gimmick pick.

[brotherben]

And in many circles, having a pregnant, unmarried 17 year old daughter gets a "fail" in the child raising category.

[TallDave]

O RLY? You wanna find a link from September 2000 where a National Review writer says Bush is "in over his head" and should step down?

It was said numerous times when he ran for governor, and in the primaries.

Meanwhle, half the Democrats want Biden to step down for Hillary, and the campaign won't even deny the rumors.

[BDB]

"And I get called a partisan shill for saying she was a gimmick pick."

You know what, if Obama had picked Dennis Kucinnuch as his running mate I think you would actually be saying what a fucking stupid move that was.

[BDB]

TallDave-

From September 2000. You know, this late in the campaign.

Find an article from The Nation or The American Prospect that says Biden should step down, please.

[joe]

You've confused Bush with Biden.

So, he's a gaffe machine who looks like a fool whenever he open his mouth, and is going to get destroyed by Sarah Palin when they debate; and also a great bullshitter who can tapdance really well when asked about a subject he doesn't know anything about?

I hear John McCain's farts cure epilepsy, and Barack Obama is a cannibal.

[TallDave]

I give you Talldave. Their are millions more just like him.

Yes, there are lots of intelligent, successful people out here in Middle America.

[BDB]

"Yes, there are lots of intelligent, successful people out here in Middle America."

Oh God. The Heartland(t) Card. Here it comes.

[BDB]

BTW, TallDave, in case you missed it, BrotherBen said he lives in Alabama earlier in the thread.

Such an elitist state.

[gmatts]

"So your qualified to fly the shuttle."

I just hope that Putin doesn't poke his head into my airspace. In the event it does happen, I guess I can call Palin to "send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on him".

[Smappy]

Lack of both experience and any semblence of competence is.

I seem to remember the same complaints about Reagan and W, and they both won twice.

And she may well pull this one off. Stupid American public and all that. I've got no serious beefs with Reagan, btw (beyond the beefs I would have with any prez). And I supported W in '04.

Palin managed to get 80% approval while raising 5 kids.

I know correlation isn't causation, but it's a tempting premise here.

No, by all accounts I've heard she sounds like she's been a pretty decent Governor. And I'm sure if Couric were to talk to her about Alaskan politics and Alaskan issues, she would come off just fine. But she strikes me as being a lot like a local news anchor. Great at what she does as far as it goes, and a local celebrity, but not someone you'd put in front of a national audience for the big show.

[TallDave\'s johnson]

Mmmmm ... I wanna git me some of that Christian MILF booty!

[TrickyVic]

Yeah, that Biden statement is pretty funny.

""You've confused Bush with Biden.""

No he got that right. But it seems Biden is doing a good job of trying to catch up to Bush.

"""And in many circles, having a pregnant, unmarried 17 year old daughter gets a "fail" in the child raising category."""

Yeah, but in the christian right circle she is now doing the right thing because abortion is a no no. The points gained for being anti-abortion is greater than the points lost for a pregnant 17 year old.

[joe]

BDB,

I wrote that Dick Cheney did great in the 2000 debate, and disputed someone else's statement that John Edwards was going to beat him.

Do you know why I did that? Because I don't a point of sticking my head under the covers and going to my happy place whenever the candidates I support are in the soup.

[mantooth]

Qualified?

In what respect, TallDave?

[TallDave]

Oh well, I can see the Obama backers have taken over the thread and are as usual utterly impervious to the facts.

Good luck with your "dumb" meme, boys. It's worked real well for you in the past.

[Smappy]

BTW, TallDave, in case you missed it, BrotherBen said he lives in Alabama earlier in the thread.

And I'm in Kansas. The heartland doesn't get any heartier than that.

Okay, maybe Iowa . . .

[BDB]

I'm still waiting for those dozens of National Review articles that called Reagan and W. unqualified during the general election, and called on him to step down.

[TallDave]

TallDave's johnson | September 26, 2008, 4:53pm | # Mmmmm ... I wanna git me some of that Christian MILF booty!

LOL you guys stay classy, I'm out.

[SIV]

At her worst she is still better than the other three.

[Smappy]

I wrote that Dick Cheney did great in the 2000 debate, and disputed someone else's statement that John Edwards was going to beat him.

Yeah, Cheney gave him a shelacking. Even now when I listen to Cheney the way he carries himself and the tenor of his voice makes him sound reasonable. I have to remind myself of what he's actually saying in order to disagree.

[joe]

So, BDB, how's the panic?

[BDB]

The Republicans are imploding in a almost, dare I say, Democratic Party fashion.

[joe]

Me, too, smappy! I want to believe what Dick Cheney says...I don't know why, but his demeanor just oozes credibility.

Which is pretty ironic.

[TrickyVic]

I find it funny that they use Palin's experience as governor as executive experience. She served, what, half a term? Bill Clinton served 6 times that much.

[BDB]

The funny thing is, in any other election, Biden's gaffes would really be hurting Obama.

But McCain and Palin just suck out all the oxygen with the former's stunts and the latter's even bigger gaffes.

[BDB]

Tricky Vic--

Right before Obama was picking his VP and was considering Kaine, Karl Rove said Kaine doesn't have enough experience to be Vice President because his experience consisted being Governor of Virginia for three years, and Mayor of Richmond (which he called "not a very big town") eight years before that.

[brotherben]

BDB, I am not elitist. I know how to read and write, thank you very much.

[BDB]

"LOL you guys stay classy, I'm out."

I guess TallDave is suspending his H&R posting to go focus on the economy.

[TrickyVic]

""""At her worst she is still better than the other three."""

Don't be so sure, the party has a way of influencing the candidate once elected. Sara Palin the VP may not be the same Sara Palin which Alaska is familar. But too bad you don't get to vote for her. You would be voting for McCain.

[joe]

Right before Obama was picking his VP and was considering Kaine, Karl Rove said Kaine doesn't have enough experience to be Vice President because his experience consisted being Governor of Virginia for three years, and Mayor of Richmond (which he called "not a very big town") eight years before that.

By way of making the argument that Obama was going to put his electoral prospects first, instead of Putting Country First.

[TrickyVic]

BDB, I doubt Karl Rove believes Palin has the experience, But she is an outsider. By picking an outsider the republicans sucked the wind out of Obama's "we represent change" strategy. Especially so when Obama picks a career Senator for VP. Weaken your enemy's strengths. That's a strategy that would make Rove proud.

Palin was not picked for her experience which is why I think it's stupid of her argue she has it. She suppose to represent change, a fresh face untarnished by Washington politics.

[Ass-to-mouth]

Hey Reason! When can we expect you to pull your head out of Sarah Palin's delicious ass and cover actual issues?:

Russia engages in 'gangland' diplomacy as it sends warship to the Caribbean

Russia flexed its muscles in America's backyard yesterday as it sent one of its largest warships to join military exercises in the Caribbean. The nuclear-powered flagship Peter the Great set off for Venezuela with the submarine destroyer Admiral Chabanenko and two support vessels in the first Russian naval mission in Latin America since the end of the Cold War.
"The St Andrew flag, the flag of the Russian Navy, is confidently returning to the world oceans," Igor Dygalo, a spokesman for the Russian Navy, said. He declined to comment on Russian newspaper reports that nuclear submarines were also part of the expedition.
The voyage to join the Venezuelan Navy for manoeuvres came only days after Russian strategic nuclear bombers made their first visit to the country. Hugo Ch?vez, the President, said then that the arrival of the strike force was a warning to the US. The vehemently antiAmerican Venezuelan leader is due to visit Dmitri Medvedev, the Russian President, in Moscow this week as part of a tour that includes visits to Cuba and China.
Peter the Great is armed with 20 nuclear cruise missiles and up to 500 surface-to-air missiles, making it one of the most formidable warships in the world. The Kremlin has courted Venezuela and Cuba as tensions with the West soared over the proposed US missile shield in Eastern Europe and the Russian invasion of Georgia last month. Vladimir Putin, the Prime Minister, said recently that Russia should "restore its position in Cuba" - the nation where deployment of Soviet nuclear missiles in 1962 brought Russia and the United States to the brink of nuclear war.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article4804157.ece

[BDB]

TrickVic-

Running on your opponents message is a sure-fire way to lose. People will take the name brand over the store brand every time.

[Ass-to-mouth]

Or how about this?

Prosecutors and sheriffs from across Missouri are joining something called the Barack Obama truth squad. . . . They will be reminding voters that Barack Obama is a Christian who wants to cut taxes for anyone making less than $250,000 a year. They also say they plan to respond immediately to any ads and statements that might violate Missouri ethics laws.

http://www.kmov.com/video/index.html?nvid=285793&shu=1

[Kolohe]

A-t-M:

BFD. Sending one SAG a quarter way around the world for the first time in fifteen years ain't all that much of an achievement - especially if you had spent the better part of century doing even more.

[DIANE]

I think I'd title it 'JUST PALIN-FULL'....

(smile - a poor effort at a pun I guess).

But, Palin is painfully 'full', and I'm guessing it's moose-shit!

[Max]

And I'm in Kansas. The heartland doesn't get any heartier than that.

Okay, maybe Iowa . . .

Nebraska.

[TrickyVic]

"""Running on your opponents message is a sure-fire way to lose."""

Not if it's a winning message.

[TrickyVic]

""" People will take the name brand over the store brand every time.""""

Every time huh? No one has ever bought the store brand? I guess that's why my local Key Food store keeps ordering Key Food brand products.

Obama is running as an agent of change. But with McCain, how can someone that's been part of Congress for 26 years adopt that strategy? Get an outsider.

Well see soon if it fails or not.

[Ass to Mouth]

BFD. Sending one SAG a quarter way around the world for the first time in fifteen years ain't all that much of an achievement - especially if you had spent the better part of century doing even more.

20 nuclear cruise missiles and up to 500 surface-to-air missiles ain't a BFD?

Prosecutors and sheriffs from across Missouri - those would be public employees - are joining something called the Barack Obama truth squad ain't a big deal.

How long before you ask me to like your boots in the gulag?

[Ass to Mouth]

like = lick

[Smappy]

Nebraska.

Nah, I've been there, man. Nobody hearts Nebraska.

[jason]

clearly you were not in omaha.

omaha is not nebraska, for the rest of you.

[Kolohe]

20 nuclear cruise missiles and up to 500 surface-to-air missiles ain't a BFD?

Max salvo and capacity are two different things.

If I'm reading it right, per this a Kirov can fire about 20 anti ship missles at once, and an additional 12 missles which can be either anti-ship or anti-air (or it could be all 96 at once, it's not entirely clear). and there's possibly either 2 or 40 additional missles. So max salvo at most about 100; well within the capability of Aegis (although it will sweat a little)

That aside, Kirov is a ship built in the 80's that was neglected for a decade, and has a conops that was rendered obsolete on Dec 7, 1941.

And once you play the nuclear card, it's the last card you will play.

So yes, BFD.

[Kolohe]

Don't to much care for that other thing, fwiw.