WTF

[todicefor]

so, i hate sarah palin. OKAY i might be slightly biased but you know what? i don't care. i don't see how being smarmy is being personable. how can people find that appealing in a vp candidate? i don't want the people in the white house to seem like they are on the same intellectual level as me or like they are folksy or quirky. i want the people

Comments

[smilencheer]

That makes some sense, actually, but at the same time, it is important to talk about these things on the worldwide, or at least nationwide stage. There are many people who do not think about these issues, as their world sphere is unaffected or perhaps just seems that way. To not discuss these things is akin to pushing them under the rug, out of sight and out of mind. In that way nothing gets done. Many people do not think much about political issues, but they may watch at least the debates. It is a chance to reach to them. I worry about leaving things just up to a politician, no matter who he or she may be. They might hold good views themselves, but will they be brave enough to do anything about them, willing to jeopardize their career in that way? If they made a campaign promise it is more likely, if not certain, of course, that they might feel obligated to do something.

I don't know much about Ifill- I don't watch PBS. It was very gutsy to say such a thing, though not in a good way. There is being bold and there is being brash, being rude. Palin has such an affected artlessness to her, it unsettles me. There are pieces of it that are just simple inexperience and unprofessionalism, but there are also large chunks that are acted on purpose. 'Say it ain't so, Joe!' is a good example. That line came to quickly, too fast and too practiced sounding to have been made on the spot. That line was fed to her, or perhaps something she came up with herself, and it was very odd. Much about her perplexes me. She does not seem like a VP candidate, and I do not mean that in a 'refreshing' sort of way. She reminds me of a woman who works in a daycare center who is so often surrounded by small children who find all exaggerated antics amusing that she forgets not to act that way in front of adults.

It would speak of a very deep coldness or else very repressed emotionality if he had not teared up, I think. It was very real, he obviously did not come into the debate planning to speak of them at all, and good for him. He has always been a man to put his family first- didn't he almost resign after the crash? I remember my father saying something to that effect- which is so ironic, considering Palin's very condescending nature about family care. She acts like she has the monopoly on being a parent because she is The Woman, but after all, it's not like being Governor of Alaska is a part time job. None of the candidates are stay-at-home parents, nor should they be, but she acts like she knows the most of anyone in the world about parenting when that is blatantly not true.

I don't actually quite recall that moment- I think I shall look it up. I was less aware of that election, my family was moving at the time, I believe it was to Tucson?

I would quite like to get you started on the issue of her special needs child. I don't really know much about that- though I have to say, I have a baby cousin and I know, there is no way my family would bring her, late at night, into somewhere with so much overwhelming stimuli and bounce her around like a prop. I kept thinking, that poor baby! He should have been kept at a hotel, somewhere calm and quiet.

Ah, yes, I was watching on C-Span at Lauren's with some other cheerleaders. It was interesting, because many of the other girls were Republican, as you can assume, it being St. Micahel's, but several said that if they could vote, they would be wary about voting for a ticket with Palin. Forgive me if this might be slightly sexist to say, but I think that girls are quick to see through the particular act that I feel Palin is putting on- the cute and slightly dumb, flirtatious act, I mean. And as cheerleaders, we know that act well. It is one thing in high school when we want to get some guy to carry out stuff, but in politics? I'd rather not.

[todicefor]

oh, that's true, that wasn't what i meant at all. of course its important to keep these thing in the public eye. i guess what i really meant was that a lot of times these elections get clogged up with so many issues: all the issues are important, but there are just too many for all of them to be the main focus. in this election, the important things are really the economic crisis, foreign policy esp. with the war in iraq and with helping isreal (though again, maybe i'm biased), the energy crisis, environment etc... then again, i think you might be slightly naive... politicians are fairly notorious for promising and not delivering. no, i think that activism should fall more on the people's shoulders. the average american might not be able to understand the minutiae of diplomacy or health care plans if they haven't studied that sort of thing, but equality? i think most people can understand equality. looking backwards, at the ever important precedent, some if not most of the important rights related breakthroughs in US history come from the PEOPLE standing up and saying hey, government, this is what we deserve, this is what we need, now give it to us. the obvious example that comes to mind is MLK and the march on washington culminating in the i have a dream speech, but that's hardly the only one. rallies and protests are a staple of the american governing process. no, i think if we want something to change, we can't just wait for a politician to be enlightened and unafraid, we need to do it ourselves.

LOL @ "She reminds me of a woman who works in a daycare center who is so often surrounded by small children who find all exaggerated antics amusing that she forgets not to act that way in front of adults." i was thinking that she was sort of a cross between an annoying tourguide, one of your friend's moms who clearly has no clue that kids actually possess brains, and a girl who acts ditzy so that guys will sleep with her. only in this case, the tourists+ the dumb kid+ the guy= america and that worries me. i think a lot of her more 'folksy flavor' shit is fed to her. like, ive been to alaska and PEOPLE DO NOT TALK LIKE THAT.

yeah, he almost resigned but mike mansfield, who he mentioned last night, convinced him not to. he actually got sworn in in the hospital. he was a single dad for like 5 yrs? i don't quite remember. but yeah, palin has no right to act like she is the best parent ever. i mean, come on. i cant believe anyone is falling for that. she acts so superior about it. yuck.

well, so, the down's syndrome baby. she brings him up a lot, right? well, the fact is, the community of parents with down's syndrome kids? can't stand her. they hate that she makes such a huge deal about her decision to keep the baby, a decision all of them obviously made as well. also, she acts as if she knows everything about raising a child with special needs- except that trig isn't even a year old yet! she hasn't yet faced even a tiny fraction of the issues. it's pretty offensive.

ohh, that must have been interesting. i assume some of them liked palin and hated biden then?

[smilencheer]

Huh, what you are saying has a lot of sense to it. While I cannot be as cynical as you, dear Diana, in regards to the usefulness of politicians, I agree that much responsibility rests on the backs of us, the regular people. Actually, that does give me quite the idea... allow me to gestate it for a bit, darling, but then may I borrow your ear?

Ah, yes, I had not thought about how you might see all the discussion of Israel, being Jewish. I'm afraid that here I must profess my ignorance- I would love if you would explain a bit about some of these things to me? Having never been Jewish, or really particularly religious at all, I'd love to hear some of that perspective.

Yes, it seems so contrived and fake. I say it over and over, but it is so true. I do not like the way she speaks! It has this feel of assumed closeness to it, but, with all respect, I do not know her and do not want to! She is a political figure, not someone I know in real life! She has such a strange blend of both condescending to the American public while at the same time presenting herself as, frankly, rather uneducated. To use ain't and gonna? How embarrassing would it be, to have a vice president who does not speak the national language correctly.

All that information is very, very fascinating. You have given me so much to think about with all these candidates! You are truly a gem, my darling, I am so glad we can talk about these things. Otherwise, I fear I would be quite out of the loop.

Oh, yes, some of them were quite for Palin, or at least McCain. Even where her personal delivery lost her some points, her views gained her back their bias. Perhaps it is judgmental of me, but I can only think that they might not care so little about McCain's bad health plan and the taxes were they a little less well off... It is one thing for them to say that such things are less important than the war when they are unlikely to be personally affected, but in my family it is a different story... These things do matter so very much. They are not to be glossed over just because they contain dense numbers and are less easily articulated.

[todicefor]

ugh, i hafta go to bed, so i'll respond better tomorrow or call you or whatever, but here are some thoughts:

a)oh, i think politicians are USEFULL but they have to be acting all the time. actually, you could make a pretty good politician, emily. ever think about it?
b) your plans usually are funky, so sure. unless you want me to burn bras with you, in which case, i LIKE my bras so NO.
c)this is one of the jewish oriented political blogs that i check...it's pretty unbiased right or left, though a bit to the left because, well, jews usually do slant that way for obvious reasons. it can sort of let you know?
d) israel is and always will be WAY important. like, up until recently my family travelled there very year to plant a tree (its a thing) but now we can't because my mom gets nervous about the political climate there.
e)assumed closeness is a good way to put it. ITA
f)i doubt anyone could keep you out of the loop if you wanted to be in.
g) yeah, people do definitely care about what effects them most...but i think everyone will be effected by the economy crisis, you know? but i see your point, and that must have been kind of a weird situation to be in.

[smilencheer]

Well, goodnight, my sweet one! I will speak to you upon the morrow.

In response:
a)A politician? Is there an insult hidden in there somewhere, I wonder? But really, I've never thought of it, I haven't the slightest idea what I wish to do when I grow older.
b) I do not plan on forcing you to bra burn, have no worries. Nothing radical from me, as ever.
c)Thank you for that!
d) I am very sorry to hear that you can no longer go. That must be upsetting.
e) Thank you.
f) Again, I thank you for your vote of confidence!
g) It was weird and a bit uncomfortable. I do not often feel the need to pull myself out of conversations, but I did that night. Sometimes, I think it would be much easier if I were to forego my scholarship at St. Michael's and attend public school instead... but, no, I am happy where I am and it is easier, with my mother working there and all.

[todicefor]

CRAP, we're having an intellectual conversation! um, quickly, let's talk about SHOES.

[smilencheer]

Oh, my dear! You make me giggle.

I still have my fabulous gogo boots. I must think of other occasions upon which to wear them! Halloween, perhaps? I need to decide on a costume... I believe Mason is throwing the party this year, as Jake has graduated?

[todicefor]

sexay! and yeah i think its mason. no invites yet, but its a footballer thing so probably him. asher should know. i have no idea what i am going as, if i get invited which is never certain. usually being ashers bff gives me a pass into the cool crowd but since i scare them sometimes it doesn't.

[smilencheer]

I'm sure you'll be invited, my love! It isn't a real party without you.