Redmond and Elvis over at Bob Cesca's Awesome Blog are doing a hilarious chapter-by-chapter review of Sarah Palin's "Going Rogue," which they have re-titled "Why Me Not President?" So far they have covered Chapters One and Two. I'll share a few excerpts, but read both posts in their entirety, they don't disappoint.Chapter One:
"The Sarah Palin of Going Rogue loves the word "independent" (wink-wink!) and warns against the evils of Big Government while gushing over how patriotic she felt when, as a kindergartner, she watched with "overwhelming pride in our country" as an American landed on the moon. Ground Control To Major Palin: NASA is a government agency, you dolt.
...Chapter One wants to tell you how an independent, go-getting, and fiercely independent (also, independent) woman doesn't need ridiculous fancy-pants Big Government Liberal Equality Programs like Title IX to succeed in the world, except when she benefits from them directly ("I'm a product of Title IX"). Confusing. And while I wanted to hear the Rocky Anthem pounding proudly behind her sporty tales of Pushing Through the Pain ("hard work and passion matter most of all"), I couldn't help but cap every paragraph like this with a bewildered Yeah, but you quit, Quitter. When the Going Got Tough, the Gov Got Lost."
Chapter Two:
"Much like Chapter One the logic employed in "Kitchen Table Politics" is so at war with itself I want to punch myself in the face for even using the word "logic" in association with this book. Watch how Fiscal Genius Palin armed with Common Sense Power solves funding a new police force for Wasilla:
Of course, we'd have to pay for it. There were two options on the table: increase property taxes or adopt a sales tax. I didn't like either, but raising property taxes meant more government control over what residents owned. A sales tax would be fairer and more optional.... So in the campaign I supported the 2 percent sales tax only if it correspondingly reduced property taxes. (p. 65)
Did anyone else's head explode trying to reconcile how she reached her fiscal goal by increasing sales taxes while simultaneously reducing property taxes by the same amount? I'm no financial wizard, but I'm pretty sure that leaves you exactly where you started.
...If there's one thing this chapter can actually teach anyone who hasn't shot themselves in the brain to make it stop, it's the universal ability for evangelicals to reconcile their ambitions with God's Will. God just so happened to want Sarah Palin to become a political powerhouse with all the fame, attention and million dollar book deals she could duct tape to a baby. And how does she truly know this is what He wants? Why she prays everyday and looks for "signs" to show her "the right road" (p. 84)."
Not enough Sarah yet? Take a look at Matt Taibbi's, Sarah Palin, WWE Star.
Glutton for punishment? Here's part of her interview with Bill O'Reilly. From Crooks and Liars:
I know that last response was difficult to follow (surprise!) so here it is in print:
"I believe that I am because I have common sense, and I have, I believe, the values that are reflective of so many American values. And I believe that what Americans are seeking is not the elitism, the, um, the, ah -- kind of spineless -- a spinelessness that perhaps is made up for that with elite Ivy League education and -- fact resume that's based on anything but hard work and private-sector, free-enterprise principles. Americans could be seeking something like that in positive change in their leadership. I'm not saying that that has to be me."
I'm sure that clears it up for you. UPDATED: It just keeps getting better. From Newshoggers: Palin begins Chapter 3 with this quote and attributes it to legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden:
"Our land is everything to us.... I will tell you one of the things we remember on our land. We remember than our grandfathers paid for it -- with their lives."
Now, if that's not the sort of thing you'd expect a hall of fame basketball coach to say, that's because, of course, he didn't. Students of American Indian history might recognize that passage as belonging instead to John Wooden Legs the post-WWII Northern Cheyenne tribal leader who -- though a contemporary of John Wooden's -- was not the same guy."
So size doesn't really matter?
I am SOOOOOO glad to hear that.
Voice,
Exactly... :O)
Did y'all see this? Alaska blogger Shannon Moore (a true Palin nemesis) discussed Palin's book with some people who know her best, including her former legislative director John Bitney.
"Moore asked Bitney if Palin is sane. Bitney's response: "Is a sociopath sane?"
AH, if you're female, we've been taught to believe that 1200 ccs really is 1800 ccs -- that's why women are so bad at measurement. ;-)
Carguy,
don't be alarmed... :O) I'm pretty sure research verifies that brain size is only important within 'parameters' which means that from a functional view 1200 cc is roughly equivalent 1800 cm. So that's what they say, but I'm thinking you might be closer to the truth.
By George, I think you've GOT IT!
I was watching "Nova" the other night about the evolution of "man". Cro Magnon actually had a bigger brain that we do. That's a bit disturbing. Especially if that "trend" continues. OTOH, that COULD explain a lot of things.
I remember years ago hearing of a phenomenom regarding the average baseball fans self evaluation. A high percentage of average joe's asserted that yes they were capable of playing professional baseball when asked if they had what it takes to be a big timer. That is laughably ridiculous but trust me, I know from personal experience that it's a true phenomena.
I was just reading about Iowans viewing Palin favorably and it occurred to me that this is a similar phenomena taking place with Sarah Palin fans in place of baseball fans. They vicariously inject their capability to 'run the big show' onto one of their own...Ms Palin.
That's gotta be it.
I'll bet she's one of those people who says..."I could care less".
Gee machine, thanks for the honor. I spent lots and lots of time among these people, often in public meetings when they would show up, mad as hell at somebody, just not sure who. Then they would ask which one up front was their city council member, not knowing that in that particular city, we elected all members at large. So they probably hadn't bothered to vote in the first place. Gee, what a surprise. I sat in on lots of tax appeal meetings, with everyone always bitching that their taxes were too high, but not one person could ever say what the city tax rate actually was, they just knew it was too high.
Ignorant to the core, arrogant about their ignorance, and mad as hell that they got caught at it. Palin / Beck in 2012. That's their ticket.
artemusg wins teh intarnets with his spot-on characterization of Bible Spice.
That I believe. Over at the chron a few months ago, some twit was doing the usual Teabagging belittling of the President. I mentioned that he, among other things, had authored two best-selling books.
That other person responded, "I didn't know that he had a book." (Note: she said "a* book. Not "books", thereby showing that she couldn't even read that I had said TWO books).
Upon which I wittily replied (you knew I couldn't reply in any other way!), "I guess you haven't stepped foot inside a bookstore in the last several years, have you?"
They don't read. They don't watch anything except Fox News. They proudly proclaim their anti-intellectual, anti-knowledge stance. What the hell, they have all realized it is *so much easier* to just let buffoons such as Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck do all their thinking for them.
Wish I knew who to attribute this to, but the writer is unknown: "Followers of Sarah Palin are showing up in book stores this week, many for the first time.”
Artemus,
Here's a high five from me. It's a bit tragic but when my 9-year old daughter and I were in the bookstore the other day, I pointed out Sarah Palin's book and suggested we get it. She just said, "Father, everybody hates her!" I tried to be kind by reminding her that not 'everybody' does hater her. I then pointed out a book by Glen Beck and remarked that she was looking at the picture of one of the great minds of the 21st century. She just shrugged and said, "Who cares!" Really, what I wanted to see was the reaction from people around me and my daughter. I wanted to see if I could elicit "frowns, laughs, nods" What I did see was very judicious looking away whenever I glanced. Hmmm, pretty stoic behavior if you ask me. I hope my daughter didn't think I was serious! We'll have to have one of our sitdowns when I pick her up tomorrow afternoon.
Thorpe,
most times when someone makes a comment such as yours, people, myself included, just smirk, and give a metaphorical nod...BUT, if one REALLY thinks about it, a dawning occurs. Why not? Personality disorders run the spectrum of etiologies with one of the undercurrents being genetic predispositions. So yeah, maybe so.
From Frank Rich in today's NYT: "Palin’s political appeal has never had anything to do with facts — or coherent policy positions. The more she is attacked for not being in possession of pointy-headed erudition, the more powerful she becomes as an avatar of the anti-elite cause."
She is the new GOP, not just anti-elite, but anti-government, anti-knowledge, anti-everything. They call it "common sense", but it is really just stupidity and resentment, born of their failures in their obligations as citizens, but instead calling themselves "patriots".
Poor Sarah, she's the second "child that was left behind". The first one was Bush....makes you wonder if being a NeoCon isn't a genetic disorder.
I admit it...sometimes I just wanna cry...hahahahaha. That is just so sad, but I'm feeling charitable today so let's just assume she's really not an idiot just hopelessly inarticulate...hey, that kinda reminds me of GWB, except GWB really was an idiot, too. And, I suspect so is Palin.
With the right screaming about Obama's birth certificate, I think the left should counter with screams for Palin's scores for I.Q., achievement, SAT, ACT, GRE, anything that would demonstrate that her intellectual and/or emotional growth level is above that of an elementary school child. And the right loves her. Honestly, I don't get that anymore than the right understands me for being impressed by the credentials of a bonafide author, Harvard trained attorney, highly articulate, very empathetic, thoughtful and respectful human being that has the instincts of a CEO and the heart of a philosopher. jeez, i just give up!