I'm Not Sure, New Yorker Television Critic Nancy Franklin, How Do You Feel About Sarah Palin?

In a TV review based on one episode:

When it comes to Palin specifically, there is the fundamental problem that some of us don't want to see or hear any more of her than we have to. And there are those whose objections have a physiological basis as well as an ideological one: the pitch and timbre of her voice, the rhythms of her speech, her syntax, and the way she coats acid and incoherence with cheery musical inflections join together in a sickening synergy that distresses the listener, triggering a fight-or-flight reaction. When Palin talks, my whole being wails, like Nancy Kerrigan after Tonya Harding's ex-husband kneecapped her: "Why? Why? Why?"

Nick Gillespie on "Myth Alaska" here.

Comments

[Number 2]

"When Palin talks, my whole being wails, like Nancy Kerrigan after Tonya Harding's ex-husband kneecapped her: "Why? Why? Why?""

Kinda like I feel when I read New Yorker TV reviews.

[ClubMedSux]

Kinda like I feel when I read New Yorker TV reviews cartoons.

That would be my edit.

[marlok]

Aren't reviews of TV shows in magazines kind of a relic of the pre-internet era?

This New Yorker article is not a review, really, but more comfort food for liberals who have grown impatient waiting for Obama to deliver their unicorns.

[TomD]

Aren't reviews of TV shows in magazines kind of a relic of the pre-internet era?

Aren't references to the New Yorker as if it's not part of the Internet kind of weird? Especially when the very piece in question is linked at the top of this post?

[TomD]

Aren't reviews of TV shows in magazines kind of a relic of the pre-internet era?

Aren't references to the New Yorker as if it's not part of the Internet kind of weird? Especially when the very piece in question is linked at the top of this post?

[Jim Treacher]

Wasn't once enough?

[Ted S.]

"The pig should say, 'My wife is a slut'."

[JW]

Based on that comment alone, I look forward to our new Palin overlord, or at least a continuation of the Nailin' Palin series.

Anything that annoys the Regressives that much can't be all bad.

[Tacos mmm...]

98% bad isn't much of an improvement.

[JW]

Over what we have now? I call 6 of one...

Of course, this falls nicely into line with the new standard for presidents of "There's no WAY s/he is as bad as the last one."

[Pro Libertate]

You could call them Recessives, too.

[JW]

If only they were.

[Ragin Cajun]

the pitch and timbre of her voice, the rhythms of her speech, her syntax, and the way she coats acid and incoherence with cheery musical inflections

Are we talking about Palin, or Obama here?

[rac]

Let me be perfectly clear, there are those that would say that my voice's timbre and inflection prove that I am a practicing Kenyan-born, Muslim. We must reject that kind of thinking.

[Brett L]

New Yorkers are going to throw stones at the glass house of grating accents?

[Tony's toeshine]

Ragin Cajuns are from NY?

[Ragin Cajun]

Well, Ron Guidry did live there once.

[Brett L]

I was piling on, not disputing.

[Tony's toeshine]

In that case ... carry on!

[Bugs Bunny]

Our accents are LOVABLE! Absolutely LOVABLE! You must have us confused with nasally Connetuckians and Jersites.

[Gilbert Gottfried]

NY voices are like musical instruments! Musical instruments I tell ya!

[Zeb]

I think that the pitch and timbre of Obama's voice is quite nice (I'm sure the smoking helps). His rhythm and syntax certainly leave something to be desired, though.

[Tony's toeshine]

Like many people, Obama's rhythm is best when he is discussing familiar topics using words that he is used to saying. The various audio clips of Obama when he is talking about the flaws in the US Constitution and when he is talking about wealth redistribution demonstrate this.

Obama starts speaking haltingly when he is saying things he is not used to saying - pretty much anything good about the US or capitalism. He also stutters and sputters when he thinks he is in danger of saying something that may be politically damaging. It is an indication of how little of his public image is genuine. He is always having to think about he is supposed to be saying rather than just speaking his true beliefs.

[Sal Paradise]

I don't care for Mrs. Palin, but she certainly seems to make the right enemies.

[Mainer]

Thank you for that clarifying thought.

[Mongo]

Yeah -- people really over-react to her. It's like Bush dwelling too much on Kanye West.

[greg]

@JW, have they made any new videos in the nailin' palin series to cover the Palin - O'donnell angle. Just asking for a friend.

[JW]

Far be it for me to claim to be an connoisseur, but tell your friend that he has a smashing idea.

I propose we have a fem-friendly series of Krytsal Ballin'.

[Fiscal Meth]

Shootin Jizzies On The Mama Grizzley's Titties.

[Linus]

That's what libertarianism is all about, Charlie Brown.

[Fiscal Meth]

I see you chose a small l. Is it not also the position of the LP?

[Linus]

There is no LP. It's all a sick joke.

[alan]

I can't be the only one who finds O'Donnell and her squirrely hair to be unattractive. Caveat: I've seen an MTV video from almost twenty years ago where she was definitely hot.

Double caveat: whatever her other flaws Michelle Bachman is one hot momma I wouldn't mind wearing out a bed spring or two riding.

[JW]

And now we can have the Bachmann Palin Overdrive strap-on series.

[alan]

You Nailed that one!

[Slut Bunwalla]

Bachmann Turn Her Over...uh, drive.

That didn't really work.

[JW]

Bachmann Palin Let-her-drive.

That works.

[Anonymous Coward]

A friend...right.

I've told people that political-themed porn is a largely untapped market that would probably sell well.

[John]

I am not what to make of this show. I am starting to think that one of the reasons why the media hates Palin so much is that she is building a model that makes them irrelevant. I am not sure if Palin wants to be President or the next Oparah. But no matter what she is building a model for a public figure that will make the old line media completely irrelevant.

Instead of going on Sunday morning talk shows and shows like 60 minutes that no one watches anymore, she set up her own facebook page. She is now doing her own reality show. She is totally ignoring the old line media. Every day that Palin has a following and public influence, is a day that she stands as an example that the mainline media doesn't mean shit anymore. If Palin can do it, anyone else can do it.

[Mainer]

Someone commented on that article about the garbage collection monopoly that statists love systems with a single point of failure. Seems like a few TV networks and major newspapers fit that concept. So I see your point that if you are used to controlling the chokepoint, and someone can just ignore you, that's got to be a huge threat.

[John]

If they were not so silly and ignorant, they would have embraced her after the election and then credited any success she had to their embrace. That way they could have maintained the illusion of still being gate keepers.

[Triumph]

she is building a model for a public figure

To poop on!

[TrickyVic]

What is mainline media?

[John]

The major networks and cable news networks, news magazines and about ten or fifteen major city newspapers as well as the Wall Street Journal and a couple of other publicans.

There isn't much of it left anymore.

[TrickyVic]

Well if cable news networks are mainline media, and Fox News is a cable news network. She's it part of the mainline media.

[John]

True. But I don't think the people at the New Yorkers would consider Fox News to be mainstream.

[Timon19]

The media you inject intravenously?

[JW]

"Coming up next on the Speed Ball Network..."

[TrickyVic]

And what is old line media? Broadcast channels?

[zeroentitlement]

That accounts for why a New Yorker TV critic might chafe in her Depends whenever she hears/sees Palin, but if Palin is pursuing the presidency, she'll need the geezer vote, which means she'll eventually need to suck up to "60 Minutes," Baba Wawa, and other ancient media. We have an aging population, and appealing to the youth vote (a segment that doesn't always bother to get out and vote, as seen last week on Prop 19) won't get her far.

[John]

That is what she has the reality show for I guess. And not even geezers watch 60 minutes anymore.

[geezer]

60 minutes is a long time to go between naps.

[Dr. Gillespie]

not even geezers watch 60 minutes anymore

John, you are so full of shit. Seriously, who does your thinking for you? 60 Minutes had over 15 million viewers last Sunday, beating every other prime-time broadcast show except Sunday Night Football.

[alan]

15 million geezers, that sounds about right.

[John]

Fifteen million people out of a population of 300 million? BFD. No one cares what those shows have to say anymore.

[FOX News]

That's a hell of a lot more viewers than we get.

[Zeb]

But what percentage of the population are geezers? Let's say 10%. That is only twice the 60 minutes audience. And quite a lot for any TV show now that the rich tapestry of cable and the internet has spread out the viewing audience so. I would bet a lot that if she runs for national office again, she will feel (or perhaps actually be) compelled to go on 60 minutes.

[alan]

And quite a lot for any TV show now that the rich tapestry of cable and the internet has spread out the viewing audience so.

Geezers don't like choices. What's hard to understand about that? Weather Channel - Sixty Minutes Weather Channel -- Sixty Minutes - Weather Channel -- Goddamnit they took Matlock reruns off the air!

[mad libertarian guy]

And not only that, but a President Obama interview took back seat to a Steelers-Bengals game that is ultimately inconsequential to this season.

[alan]

And not only that, but a President Obama interview took back seat to a Steelers-Bengals game that is ultimately inconsequential to this season.

Like in Snow Crash when the president was pissed that everybody was meh to his very presence, and barely anyone even recognized him, how is that NOT awesome?

[Dr. Gillespie]

Goes to show you how brain-dead NFL fans are. They'll watch anything.

[Dr. Gillespie]

Fifteen million people out of a population of 300 million? BFD.

It's not the number, John, it's the share. Wow, it's like somebody taught a hamster how to type.

[Tony]

Palin is a delusional idiot and your boner for her is pathetic.

[generic Brand]

PalinObama is a delusional idiot and your boner for herhim is pathetic.

Now you can be part of the club too, Tony!

[Anonymous Coward]

I thought Tony only had boners for Joe "Every single great idea that has marked the 21st century, the 20th century and the 19th century has required government vision and government incentive" Biden.

[rac]

Honestly, I love what Palin does to these people. On the other hand, her voice is fingernails on the chalkboard for me too.

[John]

She is a walking affront to their roles as gate keepers.

[mad libertarian guy]

Which may be her only good quality.

[?]

We're only hearing the frequencies audible to humans.
Think of how the wolves must feel.

[JW]

It's the wink and gun hand that kills it for me.

[SugarFree]

But you love it when I wink and give you gun-fingers. But then, I always give double gun-fingers. 'Cause I ain't stingy.

[JW]

That's only because you think I'm winking.

It's really a painful grimace with a lazy eye.

[SugarFree]

Is your gross physical deformity why you won't be my Facebook friend? Like you are with your boyfriend Episiarch?

[JW]

Someone's all revved up from last night's Glee.

[SugarFree]

Seriously... did you not know the friend request who's profile picture was a guy wearing a T-shirt that said "SUGAR FREE" wasn't me?

[JW]

Hmmm, I don't recall that, but check your FB page.

[SugarFree]

You just got confirmed. Prepare yourself.

[JW]

That's odd. My newsfeed just turned into a slashfic feed.

[alan]

But you love it when I wink and give you gun-fingers. But then, I always give double gun-fingers. 'Cause I ain't stingy.

Yeah, but when you do it, you do it perfectly in tune to the swanky old school stripper tune in our heads. Palin does it, she looks like she is imitating Dana Carvey's Church Lady.

[RyanXXX]

I have the same reaction, rac. Listening to her speak makes my hairs stand up, but I love the rage she ignites in Progressives

[Tony's toeshine]

I like the way she talks, the cadence and inflection, not the rambling sentence structure. And who doesn't love the Fargo-like "you betchas". I'd take her speech over "Kennedy talk" any day.

[Warty]

Sal Paradise|11.10.10 @ 2:47PM|#
I don't care for Mrs. Palin, but she certainly seems to make the right enemies.

rac|11.10.10 @ 2:58PM|#
Honestly, I love what Palin does to these people. On the other hand, her voice is fingernails on the chalkboard for me too.

This, and that.

[Trespassers W]

Sal Paradise|11.10.10 @ 2:47PM|#
I don't care for Mrs. Palin, but she certainly seems to make the right enemies.

rac|11.10.10 @ 2:58PM|#
Honestly, I love what Palin does to these people. On the other hand, her voice is fingernails on the chalkboard for me too.

Warty|11.10.10 @ 3:00PM|#
This, and that.

^^^^ This +1

[Zeb]

Indeed.

[SugarFree]

Palin isn't half as entertaining as the desperate antics of her apologists. She makes the right enemies, but also the wrong allies.

[John]

Who are her allies and why are they so objectionable?

[SugarFree]

You are my bellweather, John. If you slobber all over a politician, then I know that they are no libertarian.

[Mean Girl]

John|11.10.10 @ 3:09PM|#
Who are her allies and why are they so objectionable?

That would be you, John. You should read the things you say!

[John]

Little girl, the adults are talking. Why don't you go fix your hair or something.

[Mean Girl]

I don't see any adults here.

[Bernieyeball]

They are all over at Facebook!?!

[John]

Since you are not one, it makes sense you wouldn't know how to recognize one.

[Mean Girl]

John, are you the love child of Michael Savage and Laura Ingraham?

[John]

I don't even know what that is supposed to mean.

[Pip]

STFU, bitch.

[Slut Bunwalla]

Michael Savage, now there's a voice with enjoyable timbre and inflection. Guy's insane but he's got such a great speaking voice.

[John]

It is funny. I have never slobbered over Palin. I have only defended her against the ridiculous attacks. I have never said I would vote for her for President or that if she ever was President I think she would be a good one.

People just think I slobber over her because I seem to be the only person whom she doesn't bring out bizarre irrational behaviors.

[SugarFree]

It's not you, John, it's everyone else? Really? You're going with that? The lone sane voice?

To be fair, you do occasionally stop short of claiming she can turn water into wine and raise the dead.

[John]

Go back and look. Go find what I have said about her. What you will find is a lot of me saying things like Obama is no smarter than she is or that she is a typical if skilled politician. At most you will find a lot of qualified or backhanded compliments.

What you will also find is you and I having this same conversation about ten times. And each time it is the same thing with projecting all this shit on me that just isn't true.

I don't own the facts, but I do own my opinion. And I have given my opinion on Palin about a million times. Stop pretending that is something that it is not. That MNG level chicken shit. You are generally above that.

[Fleeing Cali]

Hi John, I agree with what you're saying. She's not brilliant, she's not dumb. Her qualifications for VP might have been iffy, but much more qualified than the Messiah was to be president.

[generic Brand]

And is there any way she would have been as bad as Biden is for Barry? That's debatable as well.

[Tony's toeshine]

And is there any way she would have been as bad as Biden is for Barry?

The thought of Biden as President always gives me vertigo.

[J sub D]

Pioneered by Bush the Elder, the self-preservation tactic of picking an incompetent laughing stock as VP to reduce the likelihood of assassination attempts by sane people was practiced by both political parties in 2008.

Hope and pray that it works.

[mad libertarian guy]

You mean Obama is younger than 35 and not born in the US? Because as far as I know, those are the only qualifications.

Anyone who insists that politics takes more qualifications than the Constitution requires is doing it wrong.

It's not fucking rocket science, as progressives would have us believe.

[SugarFree]

But no matter what she is building a model for a public figure that will make the old line media completely irrelevant.

Yes, Mighty Palin will pull down the towers of the evil media establishment and lead her people into Republican heaven!

You can have all the opinions you want, John. The more grandiloquent, the better. For the lulz.

[John]

"Yes, Mighty Palin will pull down the towers of the evil media establishment and lead her people into Republican heaven!"

Oparah Windfry build a media empire. Does that mean I like her? Does that mean I want her to be President? I fucking loath Obama and think he is the worst President since Wilson. But, what he did and the way he ran his campaign in 2008 was certainly different and worth noting. Love her or hate her Palin has a following and a lot of influence. That is reality. And she is doing it in an entirely different way than anyone has done it in the past. I find reality loathsome. I have no idea whether to run away or laugh. But, it is very interesting. Pointing that out is not slobbering. You just think it is because you can't think straight on this subject. I don't know why.

[SugarFree]

Yes, John. Keep rocking back and forth muttering "I'm not the crazy one, you're the crazy one!" It's bound to convince me any minute.

You're obsessed with thinking your enemies are obsessed. That's the only projecting going on here.

But I'll leave you to it.

[John]

SF,

As I said above. I own my opinion. It is what I say it is. If I wasn't here, I could see where it would be an issue. But I am here. And I keep telling you I don't look at Palin as anything other than a fairly skilled populist politician. That should end the issue. That is my opinion. I just gave it. Why you continue to insist that it is not really that and is something else of your rather than my creation, is beyond me.

[SugarFree]

And I have my own opinion, which disagrees with your opinion. I don't deny that you have an opinion. I deny that your's is the objective version of reality. And it seems like a few people agree with me.

[John]

SF,

You can't have an opinion on what my opinion is. My opinion is what I say it is. End of discussion. You can say anything you want. You could say that I am support communism or am a Red Sox fan. But when I come back and say "no I am not a communist and am not a Red Sox fan" that is it. I am not. I get to decide. Your own opinion is the only thing you get to control.

[SugarFree]

Whatever, John. Like talking to a wall.

[JW]

John--I gotta say that I'm with Sug on this one. Your frequent defenses of Palin verge on "if you like it so much, why don't you marry it?"

OTOH, back in the days of Bush I, I can recall myself saying to someone "I can't believe you've reduced me to defending Dan Quayle."

Sometimes the excesses of [Insert name} Derangement Syndrome would cause me to defend the undefendable.

[John]

JW.

How many fucking times do I have to write "no I don't think Palin is anything other than a skillful politician who seems to have a grasp on the new media" before someone actually reads it?

It is like people like Sugar Free can't accept the fact that a reasonable person could not hate Palin's guts. So, therefore I must have some delusional obsession with her since I am not on his side. The whole thing is just pathetic on his part.

[Confused]

But John, I'm still not clear on your opinion.

[Tony's toeshine]

OTOH, back in the days of Bush I, I can recall myself saying to someone "I can't believe you've reduced me to defending Dan Quayle."

Meh. potato/potatoe

[East Bay Jay]

"You're obsessed with thinking your enemies are obsessed"

And it's proven, John, because you comment on Palin threads. You're obsessed, dude.

Why not go with the flow and pass the popcorn, John?

[Citizen Nothing]

"I have never slobbered over Palin."
Hahahahhhahhhahhhahahahhhaaaaa -- gasp, wheeze -- hahahahhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[John]

I will tell you the same thing I told SF. I own my fucking opinion. And I have given it now and in the past. And it is not slobery at all. I have never said she is anything other than a good politician. I don't buy into the idea that any other politician any smarter than she is. But I also don't think she is the great American hope.

So stop lying or projecting opinions that you wish I had on me.

[Tony]

Palin is a delusional idiot and your boner for her is pathetic.

[Citizen Nothing]

I just changed my mind, John. If Tony agrees with me, I must be wrong.

[SugarFree]

Just a spoof Tony. I don't think real Tony (insomuch as that creature actually exists) has been here for weeks. Not even in the AGW threads. Fakeity, fake, fake.

[Fleeing Cali]

If she's an idiot, she sure is a successful one.

I don't worship her, but I don't understand your hatred of her. Threatened?

[Tony]

Threatened? She is vastly unpopular in this country, and the only reason she's still all over the TV is because of what a sideshow freak she is.

And I don't hate her. It's not her fault she's an idiot or that people shove speaking fees at her. I just think John's massive erection for her is pathetic.

[Tony's toeshine]

I just think John's massive erection for her is pathetic.

Some people would say that a massive erection is never pathetic.

[John]

She is vastly unpopular Tony. That is why she gets a million dollars an episode. So I guess all of the people watching this show are people like you watching for the train wreck. Jesus Tony. At least try to live in reality.

[Tony]

I think she polls about 20% favorable or something. I'm pretty sure she was a major factor in McCain's loss too.

[TrickyVic]

""I'm pretty sure she was a major factor in McCain's loss too.""

I think he would have done worse without her.

[John]

Tony you are dellusional. You live a fantasy world where you think anyone with a D after their name gives a flying fuck about your rights as a homosexual. You support a party that wouldn't walk across the street to give you equal rights and maintains large blocks of supporters (blacks and Hispanics) who generally hate your guts. And you do so because you are so stupid and delusional they have managed to convince you that they are somehow different from the other side.

You pretty much define pathetic and delusional. You should strive to have Palin, or really any other normal person's, grasp on reality.

[Tony]

John I'll take your not-so-veiled homophobic remarks and the fact that the GOP mostly thinks gays are a threat to society under advisement as I seriously consider joining you.

[John]

The Democrats care so much about homosexuals. That is why they ended DADT and the defense of marriage act. Tony the Libertarians and a few conservatives are the only ones who would ever stand up for your rights as a homosexual and ever actually treat you as a human being worthy of respect rather than just another interest group to be exploited. You are just sad.

[Tony]

John this may surprise you but I don't vote solely on gay rights issues. Even if I did, I'd have to choose Dems every time. Is there a 3rd choice, or are you suggesting the GOP is better on this issue?

I'd rather be exploited as a voter for a party that somewhat reflects my policy views than exploited as a society-killing bogeyman like the GOP has done.

[John]

Why wouldn't you vote Libertarian? How can you vote for either party when you freely admit neither one of them care about your as a person? The Libertarians do? If there were ever a Libertarian government I can guarantee you there would be gay marriage and an end to DADT.

[Tony]

Why wouldn't you vote Libertarian?

Ha! And what exactly have libertarian elected officials done for me lately?

Besides, if we had a libertarian government, I may have equal rights, but it would be little consolation for the shithole of a country I'd have to live in.

[John]

So you are so attached to a dying leftist ideology that you will vote for people who actively sell you out and discriminate against you. But Palin is the one who is delusional.

[Tony]

If liberal Democrats ran things, I'd have equal rights. That's what I am. A liberal Democrat. It's not them voting against repealing DADT, it's your stupid Republicunts. I don't believe in voting 3rd party so I think I've made the right decision. Stop trying to convince me that Dems are somehow exploiting me. What would be the point? Who benefits? If Obama or Nancy Pelosi could rule by fiat gay marriage would be legal (I know what Obama's stated opinion is, but he's lying). The only impediment to full equal rights for gays are stupid conservatives who hate gays.

[Kool]

I don't believe in voting 3rd party...

Congratulations! You win the TEAMREDTEAMBLUE t-shirt! It's a Beefy Tee, ready for a lifetime of screwing everyone else's rights and freedoms.
Have fun!

"Don't believe in?" It's not a fucking religion. It's not string-theory.

"believe in"
God, you're a fucking idiot.

[Tony]

Kool, let me elaborate. I think voting 3rd party is a pointless and counterproductive exercise in vanity in a country with 2 entrenched parties that aren't going anywhere anytime soon.

[Kool]

And with cheerleaders like yourself, who admitedly don't care that a huge portion of your team actively want to discriminate against your sexual preference, you're right. Those 2 parties aren't going anywhere.

[mad libertarian guy]

If Obama or Nancy Pelosi could rule by fiat gay marriage would be legal (I know what Obama's stated opinion is, but he's lying).

You keep tellin' yourself that, Tony. I mean it's not like it was a group of REPUBLICANS who brought about a lawsuit to end DADT, and that it was OBAMA who filed a lawsuit to stay the decision which effectively overturned it.

Oh wait. That's exactly what happened.

You're a greyhound, Tony, chasing after the rabbit. They don't plan on giving it to you because they know when they do, a good chunk of homosexuals (many of whom are highly educated and have high paying jobs) will flee the Dems because gay rights will no longer be an issue.

But you go ahead and keep thinking that those at the top have your best interests as a homosexual at heart.

The only one you're foolin' is yourself.

[quaso]

They don't plan on giving it to you because they know when they do, a good chunk of homosexuals ... will flee the Dems because gay rights will no longer be an issue.

That's absurd. The D & Rs don't end DADT because they know the overwhelming majority of voters don't want them to. Actually enacting gay political goals is a huge political loser, at least outside of SF.

[Tony's toeshine]

If liberal Democrats ran things, I'd have equal rights.

They have been running things for the past 2 yrs. Are you happy in your gay-positive paradise?

[Shorter Tony]

Being classified as second class is SO much better than having freedom.

[generic Brand]

Tony|11.10.10 @ 3:36PM|#
Palin is a delusional idiot and your boner for her is pathetic.

You're becoming redundant, Tony. I can't believe you're letting Chad beat you in the trolling department.

[Goobs]

John-
I agree with you. These days, you either vehemently proclaim your hatred of Palin, or you must be a slobbering Palinite. I find her to be a useful decoy who is (right now) saying most of the right things about limiting the scope and power of government. People should be happy about that, despite her overly affected accent.

That said, I believe the word you are looking for is "imputing" not "projecting". Unless you think that SF and Citizen secretly love Palin and so are projecting that love on you.

...wait, never mind.

[Joshua Corning]

SugarFree Just because Palin is triumphant does not mean you have to kick John around when he points out that fact.

Sorry you hate her and sorry how much it bothers you. But please stop the random bouts of rage.

It is tiresome...and the fact that Palin is triumphant should give John some breathing room to talk about it.

To be honest i would like to read what he has to say...he should not have to defend against your accusations that he is Palin's secret love stalker.

[SugarFree]

Joshua,

The funny part is that you think I'm in a rage. It's hilarious. Yes, this must be all about my seething hatred of Palin.

It is tiresome...

At least you got something right. Palin-love is very tiresome.

[Finchy]

Expect giddy "Huckabee-Palin 2012" prognostigasms at your local Thanksgiving supper.

[John]

When has Palin ever allied herself with Huckabee?

[Finchy]

It was a comment on SF's comment about Palin attracting the wrong allies. I made no contention that it would come from Palin's Thanksgiving table.

[SugarFree]

Not mine. Libertarians only, please. That's why I have a coverage charge.

[JW]

But then you miss out on the uncomfortable political arguments at the table.

[SugarFree]

Even though I don't spend Thanksgiving with my family, even if I did I wouldn't have to hear it. They are cheerfully apolitical shading into "Bitch about whoever is in charge." No religious talk either, except my lunatic Freemason uncle muttering about Catholics.

[JW]

I spend Thanksgiving with the wife's family, who are mostly progressive Jews. We've agreed not to bring up politics with me.

[SugarFree]

Because of your rampant anti-Semitism?

[JW]

I actually think that would offend them less.

[mad libertarian guy]

I spend mine with the wife and kid at the gun club.

[Ska]

Well you have to blame the missing Wild Turkey on someone.

[CorporateDrone]

That's a good idea. It keeps out the riff-raff.

[SIV]

but also the wrong allies.

What's wrong with FIJA and the Alaska Independence Party?

[SugarFree]

Bellweather Part 2.

[Citizen Nothing]

Towing the bellweather?

[TeamBarstool]

Ringing the bellweather?

[SugarFree]

Rimming the weather's bell.

[TeamBarstool]

Tonguing the Lion?

[Citizen Nothing]

Storming the bellweather?

[Ragin Cajun]

Bellweather is not the same as bellclimate.

[SIV]

I know that some Americans think Palin is stupid, but I never realized that she thinks we're stupid.

What do you mean "we're" Kemosabe Nancy Franklin?

[AlmightyJB]

cha' ching$

[Urkobold?]

IS IT JUST THE URKOBOLD, OR ARE PALIN'S TITS MUCH BIGGER THAN FEY'S?

[Mysterious Shirtless Lawyer]

Dude, your tits are much bigger than Fey's.

[Urkobold?]

AT LEAST THE URKOBOLD HAS TITS, YOU ODD, ODD PERSON.

[Mean Girl]

Fey looks like she went to a knife fight armed with a spoon.

[The Gobbler]

That reminds me when Dennis Miller had a show on TV and took calls. Tina Fey was the guest and before anyone realized what the caller was saying, he managed to get out that he thought her scar was really sexy and that his underware was already down around his ankles.

True story.

[capitol l]

They must have cut him off before he could say "baba booey".

[James]

I can't believe I just scrolled back up to take a look.

[Urkobold?]

THE DISTINCTION IS CLEARER IF YOU PUT ON THESE MAMMARY-ENHANCING GLASSES.

[Spoonman.]

That, or they're more saggy to the sides.

[Barely Suppressed Rage]

Meh. Not a big Palin fan myself - but I'd hit it. `course, I've been married 20+ years, so at this point, the range of what I'd hit is pretty broad.

[John]

It should have always been broad. Most women have their charms.

[Warty]

A smile makes most every womern bangable.

[John]

That is true. And women who never smile are distinctly less bangable for it.

[alan]

It should have always been broad. Most women have their charms.

You read too much Shakespeare.

[alan]

Most women greatly over estimate their own internal moral goodness, and get away with being assholes without ever being called on it.

[Douglas Fletcher]

Broads, booze and cigarettes, that's what makes a man happy until he's dead. Then he's just dead.

[Bernieyeball]

The song I heard years ago about the only three things a man needs are "Loose shoes, Tight c*nt and a warm place to sh*t!"

[SugarFree]

3-in-1

[Warty]

Legitmate LOL.

[Rafi]

Yeah, that was one of mine.

[alan]

Loose is better. More flow control on my part.

[TrickyVic]

It would be interesting if Palin won in 2012. She would inherit the war(s), possibly a bad economy and possibly a split Congress. Then when she disappoint because she can't live up to her campaign promises, people will realizes what many of us already know. She's not that great.

[Citizen Nothing]

You could replace "Palin" with the name of any politician who has any chance in 2012, and the same would be true.

[generic Brand]

What about Gary Johnson? Or are you writing him off as not having any chance in 2012?

[mad libertarian guy]

If only Johnson had a chance, but Republitards won't let him get within a year of the white house vote because they see him as a "leftist libertarian" out to kill America's moral base and eviscerate the history of our Christian founders.

From a comment concerning Gary Johnson at AmSpec:

Libertarians (the Leftist ones) are the most vile creatures other than staunch Communists that I've read, on the face of this earth.

Like Timmy* here who seems to espouse their "credentials" they in fact HATE conservatives.

They are trying to take over the Republican party.. like he always posts: "We're inside the GOP now."

Yes, they are. The Pauls had to run as Republicans in order to get elected.
They are in fact, Libertarians.
Trying to use Ronald Reagan's quote to justify their godless politics doesn't wash. Mr. Reagan would NEVER agree to their anti-Israel, anti-war, pro-abortion hateful ideology.

Timmy* and his ilk may SAY it's "His" TEA party rebels, but the TEA party he's referring to isn't the TEA party most Americans relate to.

Why do you think Michelle Bachmann and others have proposed a resolution backing Israel? Because they realize this anti-Israel faction among the TEA party~ and reject it!

America will NEVER be a Leftist Libertarian anti-war, anti-Israel, lawless country.
We've suffered and died to make this country what it is now and that is not going to change.

The "fiscal" only crap that these Libertarians promote is just that. There's way more to conservatism than just fiscal responsibility and I believe I've just explained it quite well.

This Johnson dude is just yet the latest example of this ilk... and I'm here to be the constant thorn in his and all of their collective sides!

Real conservatives need to post more here and take these people to task. If we don't stand up against them they will get by.
"..but when anything is exposed by the light it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light." Eph. 5:13.

If this represents even a small sliver of those who identify as Republicans, Gary Johnson has no shot because he doesn't support their moral agenda. Most republitards, it seems, has not yet learned that the success of their party is now at a crossroads: fiscal responsibility and individual liberty, or upholding their moral agenda via government force.

[dhex]

that's pretty awesome, though. that that dude is nuts and stuff, i mean.

[TrickyVic]

I totally agree.

[Kool]

All politicians lie.

[RyanXXX]

She'd be a transformative candidate, a fresh face to usher in a post-gender era. 😉

[John]

No politician is that great. And every President is not going to live up to their campaign promises. Reality gets in the way. You don't think Ron Paul wouldn't disappoint a bunch of Libertarians expecting him to end the fed and retreat to fortress America? Of course he would. Reagan disappointed people. He never reduced the size of government like he promised and he went back on a lot of his early tax cuts later in his administration. It was only later that people appreciated him. Anyone who puts all of their hopes in a politician and thus by extension the political process is going to be disappointed. They have to be. The political process is about compromise. And even if it wasn't things never work the way you think they will.

[Tony's toeshine]

Put your faith in good ideas, not people or organizations.

[The Gobbler]

I put mine in liberty.

[Tony's toeshine]

That sounds like a good idea.

[Tony's toeshine]

... unless by "liberty" you mean some low rent stripper

[TrickyVic]

Sure, but I don't see you defending others like you do Palin.

[John]

Because no one else is subject to the ridiculous and over the top attacks that Palin is. Like I have said a hundred times, calling Palin stupid is a way for dumb people to feel smart. And that annoys me.

[TrickyVic]

""Because no one else is subject to the ridiculous and over the top attacks that Palin is.""

Everyone in politics is subject to ridiculous attacks, not just Palin.

[John]

I defend her because I disagree with the idea that she is somehow less bright than any other politician or that she has doesn't have a few interesting things to say. She is a lot closer to libertarian views than many politicians. She is not a libertarian. But she is closer than a lot of them. Yet, Libertarians hate her as much as liberals and hate her more than many other politicians who hold much more un libertarian views. It makes no sense.

[mad libertarian guy]

She's a politician?

Since when?

She's a Tea Party/Conservative America celebrity who gets a lot more credit and blame than she deserves. The sooner we can get our focus off of her, the better.

Ultimately, she's inconsequential in affecting policy and I'm sick and fucking tired of the entire country talking about her at all.

When she can actually make something happen, let me know and maybe I can muster up enough to give a shit.

[Tony's toeshine]

she's inconsequential in affecting policy

People are policy, esp. people who are elected.

[John]

And just because I don't think she is stupid or some kind of threat to America doesn't mean that I don't think she would, like every other mortal, disappoint as President.

[Douglas Fletcher]

Sorry, but I thought that comment wasn't that great.

[TrickyVic]

I'll pretend to care.

[Bernieyeball]

And she can resign after awhile saying she can be more effective outside of government since she doesn't have support in congress.
The precedent has been set. See RMN.
I wonder if her VP will go first?
This is too crazy...history DOES NOT repeat itself.

[dillkare]

The TV review seems to be 1 part catty complaints about Palin and 1 part complaints about the kind of contrived scenes and silly dialog that can be found on any reality show. Why does anyone read such fluffy stuff?

[Dr. Gillespie]

So we can comment on it here. Because our lives are so empty...and we are so very, very lonely...thanks for nothing, dillkare.

[Colin]

You be sure that TLC wasn't expecting a single New Yorker subscriber to be tuning into the show.

[Old Mexican]

Re: Colin,

You be sure that TLC wasn't expecting a the single New Yorker subscriber to be tuning into the show.

There, more accurate.

[Citizen Nothing]

So I'm the only one who still subscribes to The New Yorker? You'd think they'd try to please me more.
(It is true I don't watch TLC. Hmmm.)

[John]

Isn't TLC all midget reality shows now? And what is in the New Yorker? I have read it a few times and other than the cartoons, I honestly can't remember a single thing about it.

[Tony's toeshine]

Real estate adds for the Hamptons.

[Tony's toeshine]

*ads

[Citizen Nothing]

I get it for the occasional Oliver Sacks or Ian Frazier sightings.

[Citizen Nothing]

And to watch as Hendrik Hertzberg drifts ever deeper into insanity -- actually, that's the funniest thing in The New Yorker these days.

[DanD]

Fellow New Yorker subscriber here.

I hate myself.

[radar]

Not a Palin fan, but I do just love the frothing vitriol she inspires in leftist clowns. She's useful for that alone.

[Old Mexican]

And there are those whose objections have a physiological basis as well as an ideological one[.]

Yes, they combine compulsory misogynism with leftism.

What I can say about Sarah Palin is that she's far prettier than Tina Fey, which is saying a lot - and less annoying, which is not.

[John]

Interesting thing about Fey. I remember before everyone thought she was pretty thinking she was attractive. Then all of the sudden she got painted as some raving beauty and she has become less and less attractive as time as gone on. Now, I wonder why I ever thought she was attractive to begin with. Part of that is that I think she hasn't aged very well. But part of it to is playing within your own division. As long as she was the nerdy girl on SNL, you never compared her to truly gorgeous women. Once people started claiming she was really good looking, you did. And that comparison was not favorable.

[Douglas Fletcher]

I took a look at a New Yorker a few weeks ago. I felt like I was reading some sort of historical relic.

[JW]

The comics are still pretty good.

[Old Mexican]

That's the New York Times, JW, not the New Yorker.

Duh.

[JW]

That's the NYT Op-ed page.

Duh.

[Mongo]

Last Xmas, I stood five hours in line at that shit-hole Mall of America to get her book autographed (for me Mum). Al Jazeera (English) interviewed me as I was standing in line with those thousands of supporters of hers. When I said that I didn't like her book or Palin, it was like that scene out of the 1970s Invasion of the Body Snatchers: everyone turned to me, pointing, with their mouths agape.

SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

[Ragin Cajun]

Well, you probably shouldn't have thrown that tomato at her.

[Mongo]

Ha! That's right -- I forgot about that.

[Dr. Gillespie]

It's tough being a pawn in the game of life.

[The Gobbler]

You added a "the" that doesn't belong there.

[Dr. Gillespie]

The "a" doesn't either. Also the "it's tough being" part. What we've got here is failure to communicate.

[capitol l]

Why didn't you just buy the book on Amazon, grab a pen, and write on the inside cover: "To momma mongo, Whoopee Sarah Palin." 5 Hours is too damn long to wait.

[John]

I wouldn't wait five hours to see a Led Zeppelin reunion. Why anyone would wait five hours to see a politician escapes me.

[capitol l]

I'd wait if they had the Bonham/Jones zombies playing.

[Ragin Cajun]

Jones is a zombie?

[capitol l]

Wow, I really thought he was dead. He always was a quiet guy.

[capitol l]

...IS a quiet guy. He's still dead in my mind.

[The Gobbler]

Who the fuck goes to the Maul of America?

[Mongo]

It used to be called the "Mall of Africa" (haw-haw!) back in the 90s.

Now it's just fat white people wearing Vikings and Twins gear in the joint.

[capitol l]

161 comments in, and not a one about the actual show. Has anyone seen the show, and have an opinion regarding it.

Also, do you guys have to gang up on John and his massive pathetic Palin boner so much? Jeeze, give the guy a break.

[Pro Libertate]

I don't even know what this thread is about.

[The Gobbler]

I never do.

[Pro Libertate]

That's why I come here.

[John]

Yes, anyone who doesn't think is stupid has a pathetic boner. Fuck off. Stop projecting your own obsessions. on me. And I haven't watched the show nor will I. But I am sure someone on here has even though I am supposed to be the obsessed one.

[capitol l]

Wow, rage does impair your ability to type. I could really care less about yer pathetic boner, John.

You need to relax on these Palin threads, you get all worked up. Have a little fun, christ she's a politician.

Also, the article linked above is a review about her teevee show, and everyone has an opinion to express about everything except the merits of the teevee show in question.

[John]

I get tired of people telling what my opinion on something is. And no one has an opinion on the show because I am not sure it has been broadcast to the public yet. I think this woman saw a preview.

[SugarFree]

I get tired of people telling what my opinion on something is.

Do you even understand what an "opinion" is? All we do all day long on this board is give our opinion on things.

[John]

yes. And when someone says "John, you think X" and I come back and say "no I don't think that at all I think Y", it is really fucking annoying when the response is "no you don't". I know what I think.

[The Gobbler]

No one knows what they think, John.

[T]

Since when is commenting on the topic of the blog post required, or even expected? Besides, we have better things to do than watch TV: we post here.

[capitol l]

It doesn't matter anyhow; the show isn't on for a week. Though, I am curious as to whether it will be any good or not, and will probably watch an episode.

[Tony's toeshine]

I am curious as to whether it will be any good or not

I read a review. The show is no good. And Sarah Palin is irritating. And stupid. And opportunistic.

[Dr. Gillespie]

I am supposed to be the obsessed one

Maybe it's because you go on and on and on about her. Repeatedly. Day after day. And you never say anything new or original.

[John]

Yeah because I always bring her up in threads that have nothing to do with her. As opposed to engaging in threads that are about her.

Piss off.

[Joshua Corning]

Huh?

I can see how her resignation speech was incoherent at the time...but she had enough in it about what she was going to do and actually did that it now seems prophetic.

One could argue that she simply grabbed the tea party coat tails....still her choice of coat tails was a better bet then what 90% of the pundits from the left and the right chose to grab hold of.

[John]

When they were all telling themselves the Tea Parties were AstroTurf, she knew it was real. Granted, it is not much of an accomplishment to be smarter than the pundits. But it is pretty obvious she is whatever that is worth.

[Tony]

Yes they're so grassroots they have a former vice presidential candidate as one of their spokespeople... whatever dude.

[John]

So grassroots, they just helped the Republicans win 60+ seats in the House and more State houses than they have had since reconstruction.

Scoreboard Tony. You will never see another majority like 2008 again. And all you got for it was a failed stimulus, and blame for all of the country's problems.

[Tony]

So wait, are they an independent grassroots movement, or Republican sheep? You seem to be arguing both.

[John]

It was more of a takeover. And the Republicans were the only alternative so they had to vote for them. Your side is so horrible, people are now looking back fondly on George Bush. His approval rating is only two points below Obama's.

[Tony]

Don't cream yourself too much over the Republican victory, guy who was pretending to be a libertarian upthread.

[John]

I never pretended to be a libertarian you idiot. I just said you of all people should be.

[Fluffy]

Everyone knows that I don't like Palin, but I think I can separate that out from my feelings long enough to assure you that, yeah, her voice and accent are excruciating.

I don't care if she's reading an audio book of Atlas Shrugged, or announcing that I have just won the Powerball. I can't listen to her. I also have never successfully sat through Fargo. It's just nails on a blackboard to me.

[John]

I am that way with Boston accents. My in laws are nice people. But they drive me insane. It is just torture to listen to them. Nothing against them as people. But my god that accent is annoying. Everyone has a certain accent that drives them up a wall. The Minnesota one doesn't bother me. But that is just me.

[The Gobbler]

The thing that I didn't like about Fargo was that the plot was weak. Most of the time I thought I was watching a Quinn Martin production along the lines of Barnaby Jones. There really wasn't a lot of character development either.

But to there credit, the Coen brothers nailed it on the Iron Range hookers.

[John]

"Go Bears!!" That is a great scene. I thought it was more like an episode of Columbo. The plot of every Columbo episide involved Peter Faulk bothering people so much that they finally just broke and confessed to the crime to get him off of their heads. When you think about it, that is pretty much what Francis McDomand did to James Macy in Fargo.

[The Gobbler]

Your Columbo analogy makes sense. Thanks.

[Mongo]

You should hear the accent combo of Minnesotan, farmer and Indian up in the Red Lake Rez of northern Minnesota.

[Wayback Machine]

Liberals are grassroots,
The Tea Party is Astroturf.

[Tony]

John imagine a woman. She's got a folksiness to her but quit halfway through her term as governor to make $12 million on book deals and speaking fees. Now imagine she's a Democrat. You wouldn't be criticizing her for any of that would you?

[John]

Why would I care? it is a free country. I never begrudge people making money from the free market. I just begrudge them stealing it via the government.

And you routinely defend half wits like Nancy Pelosi on here. So don't tell me for a moment, you wouldn't love Palin if she were a liberal.

[Tony]

All of the women Democratic governors I know are willing to serve out their terms unless promoted, and can speak English coherently, so I have trouble imagining the counterfactual.

[John]

We know Tony. you love all Democrats, even as they are voting against Gay marriage and escalating all of the wars you claim are immoral. We got it. There could never be a counter factual where you don't think anything and everything about any Democrat is wonderful. We know the routine.

[Tony]

John you are being obnoxiously concern trollish with this gay rights thing. You are a Republican. What the fuck business do you have bitching about Democrats' stance on the issue? It's a million times better than your own party's.

[The Gobbler]

Name one thing that the National Democrat party has done for gay folk. One thing. One.

[Tony's toeshine]

Name one thing that the National Democrat party has done for gay folk..

Barney Frank. The Dems have made him a shining example of gay-goodness and gay-integrity in public office.

[John]

That is why we have gay marriage, an end to DADT and a gay rights title in the CRA thanks to two years of Democratic rule. Right Tony? You vote for people who hate you Tony.

[Tony]

Maybe, but I'm sure as hell not voting for the ones who hate me more.

[capitol l]

Dude, you'd vote for Fred Phelps if he could deliver single payer.

[Zeb]

I don't know which is more boring: fighting with John about what he says his opinion is, or fighting about whether or not Palin is whatever it is that some people think she is.

All I have to add is that everything she wants to say should be reinterpreted by William Shatner.

[John]

If it is boring don't do it.

[Zeb]

I try not to.

[The Shat]

You...........betcha.

[me]

I happen to think Palin is an idiot who is being swept along by the mysterious forces which govern the universe. That being said and being bit of a geezer myself, in my fantasy Sarah is on top with her glasses on and all it would take is one wink and one shot with her gun hand and it all be over in seconds. I can hear her voice in my ear "You betcha!"

[?]

I still think Trig is the brains of the outfit.

[Douglas Fletcher]

Just die.

[?]

In a fire?

[MattXIV]

The problem with Palin is that she's consistently shown an inability to articulate coherent policy positions.

She's good at the culture war and manufactured outrage schtick and particularly effective at tapping into the conservative sense of cultural identity, even having introduced and developed the "mama grizzly" archetype. That ability to personify the "Real America" conservative cultural identity is what drives both the haters and the fans.

But Palin doesn't put anything on the table beyond being good at the Team Red side of Team Red/Team Blue tribalism. She's never had anything intresting to say about policy and doesn't seem to know much about it or want to learn. Whether or not Palin is actually dumb, the culture war-focused level of political discourse she is by choice primarily involved in (which is also the level her most vehement critics tend to be on) is profoundly dumb.

[?]

Well put. She has discovered what makes Republicans tick and has effectively exploited their hopes and fears in a profoundly anti-intellectual way.

[MJ]

New Yorker writer shamelessly wallows in her provincialism and cultural bigotry.

Ho hum, "Dog bites man" story.

[Zed]

Why didn't she just type "Sarah Palin is an insufferably annoying snowbilly cunt"?

[?]

Anyway, the show is shot, edited and in the can, and nobody died. What possible reason can there be, then, to watch? Perhaps it will prove useful in the near future as a torture device. An hour of that voice and I'd be confessing to the Lindbergh kidnapping.

[J.E.C.]

So, is someone who has a visceral hatred for the subject the best choice to review the show?

[MichM]

"So, is someone who has a visceral hatred for the subject the best choice to review the show?"

Writing from Podunk? Have you never read a review? Reviewers have opinions about well-known subjects, even before they review a particular piece of work.