The VP Debates, or How I Learned to Lose All Respect
It's times such as these in which I kind of wish I didn't care about politics nearly as much as I do. Because, dammit, Sarah Palin irritates me to my very core. Not only do I disagree with pretty much every one of her political stances (really, the ONLY issue on which I probably agree with her would be anti-gun control), I find her to be one of the most annoying people I've ever had to listen speak. Her "folksiness" is the same as George W. Bush's - insincere and naive. She manages to be both condescendingly smug and completely in over her head at the same time. I agree whole-heartedly with Anderson Cooper's assessment - she's a parody of herself. Over-confidence does not compensate for incompetence. As such, she's following in Bush's steps in another respect - being a completely polarizing American political figure.
One of the most telling things she said tonight? She didn't "make compromises" with others in Alaska, but was still "bipartisan" and "got things done". I don't know about everyone else, but, from what's been reported about her administration, I read that as "it was my way or the highway." That's not leadership. That's being an outright bully. Though, I guess that plays into her "pitbull in lipstick" mentality.
Oh, and I understand that debates are scripted. But did she really have to make it so obvious? Evading a question is one thing, but she outright ignored questions and just went back to something completely unrelated.
Biden didn't win this debate. Palin lost it. But, I guess when mostly everyone expects you to fall flat on your face, this will be considered a victory for the McCain camp.
By the by - any politician (or citizen, for that matter) who doesn't actively defy the practice of forcing rape victims pay for their own rape kits should be impeached. You're not upholding the precepts of your office. In a rape, the woman's body is a crime scene. One of the foremost functions of government is to serve and protect the citizenry from crime. Would you make a murder victim's family pay for the crime scene unit to collect evidence? Would you force victims of fraud to pay for the police to interrogate suspects? Would you force anyone to pay for the prosecution in trial. No. That's why we have taxes. Despite all her talk of cutting them, cutting them, cutting them, they do serve a purpose.
Perhaps that's one of the most telling things about Sarah Palin, and, in the end, John McCain. We'll cut taxes. We'll cut them so much that the free market will dictate everything. The military will be funded by Sports Authority and Boeing; the justice system by those who can buy it. The rest of you? You're on your own. Or you appeal to your lords and masters. And we'll have a new law of the land - Corporate Feudalism - headed by true Robber Barons.
One of the most telling things she said tonight? She didn't "make compromises" with others in Alaska, but was still "bipartisan" and "got things done". I don't know about everyone else, but, from what's been reported about her administration, I read that as "it was my way or the highway." That's not leadership. That's being an outright bully. Though, I guess that plays into her "pitbull in lipstick" mentality.
Oh, and I understand that debates are scripted. But did she really have to make it so obvious? Evading a question is one thing, but she outright ignored questions and just went back to something completely unrelated.
Biden didn't win this debate. Palin lost it. But, I guess when mostly everyone expects you to fall flat on your face, this will be considered a victory for the McCain camp.
By the by - any politician (or citizen, for that matter) who doesn't actively defy the practice of forcing rape victims pay for their own rape kits should be impeached. You're not upholding the precepts of your office. In a rape, the woman's body is a crime scene. One of the foremost functions of government is to serve and protect the citizenry from crime. Would you make a murder victim's family pay for the crime scene unit to collect evidence? Would you force victims of fraud to pay for the police to interrogate suspects? Would you force anyone to pay for the prosecution in trial. No. That's why we have taxes. Despite all her talk of cutting them, cutting them, cutting them, they do serve a purpose.
Perhaps that's one of the most telling things about Sarah Palin, and, in the end, John McCain. We'll cut taxes. We'll cut them so much that the free market will dictate everything. The military will be funded by Sports Authority and Boeing; the justice system by those who can buy it. The rest of you? You're on your own. Or you appeal to your lords and masters. And we'll have a new law of the land - Corporate Feudalism - headed by true Robber Barons.