This is for everyone who believes in the media's view of a certain politician; please, please read

[fpb]

I answered this to one of my online friends, but I think everyone ought to read it

Comments

[jordan179]

As a Republican, this all totally amuses me, because the media ranting about Palin -- which is their own fault, because they swallowed all these stories without fact-checking them -- has backfired badly on the Obama campaign. The more that the MSM hangs on like grim death to this image of Palin, the more that it destroys their own credibility, and the higher the McCain-Palin poll numbers climb.

This isn't an accident. The modern American Left primed this situation by their vicious, ad hominem based debating style. Now, they're demonstrating it to the country as a whole -- and America is rejecting them.

[curia_regis]

I've barely paid any attention to anything on Palin

[fpb]

So you are saying that you would take what fandom_wankers have to say about me seriously?

[curia_regis]

No. I don't think I know any of them personally. In any case, I know you.

But surely you can see why somebody who doesn't know you personally, and knows somebody from f_w personally might take what they say at face value?

[fpb]

I think that the mob mentality on the Internet is seriously dangerous. These people never have to take responsibility for what they post. Most of the time, they post under assumed names. As a result, they do not much care what they say or how they say it. Sooner or later, they will kill someone.

From the Outside looking in....

[stigandnasty919]

Lies, smears and distortions seem to be the order of the day in American politics. When most of the press appear to be partisan it becomes difficult to have any idea of the what the truth is. And with both the left and right in the US having their own sites 'correcting factual errors' in the reporting of one area or the other, I get the distinct impression that its almost impossible to believe anything anyone says about any politician.

If the press is in such a bad state, and if electors cannot know who and what they are voting for, the whole nature of democracy has to be called into question.

One thing that has occured to me over the past few days - wasn't there a guy Joe McClain, or John McCane or something involved in this election? Is he not standing anymore? Nobody seems to talk about him anymore

[super_pan]

I am sorry about your friend; fighting with a friend over politics is a terrible thing.

I see that you feel very strongly for Palin, and I will never agree with you on this matter. But you should know that I take things you say to heart, and you have encouraged me to look at my sources of information critically, and you help me understand the point of view of people with whom I disagree. It doesn't mean I will change my mind, but I try to understand.

[fpb]

Thank you. That is all I would ask for. Indeed, I do not support the McCain-Palin ticket across a large range of issues. I have already challenged the common reading of the Second Amendment, as you may remember, and I have said that, if anything, Obama's position on health care is disappointingly over-prudent, and that the US need a European-type national health system with universal coverage. I think however that these things can well be taken care of by Congress - which will have a Democrat majority, unless the Democrats themselves ruin their own chances. I think, however, that there are two issues on which I can only support McCain: foreign policy and abortion. And it so happens that they are the two issues on which the President can do most. The President can at most veto Congress-approved laws on matters such as healthcare or taxation, and that veto can be overcome; but the President nominates Supreme Court judges and conducts foreign policy, and I think that McCain is a better choice for both these issues

[sartorias]

I pay no attention to the media treatment of political situations--it's just another form of fictional entertainment.

I will say that I was extremely offended by Sarah Palin's speech, and that's all I will say on the matter.

[fpb]

I would like to be told what exactly you found offensive. Not to argue about it - you know what offends you. But I would like to know. Here is a transcript of the original script: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94258995

[sartorias]

I probably shouldn't do this, but what the hey:

I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a "community organizer," except that you have actual responsibilities. I might add that in small towns, we don't quite know what to make of a candidate who lavishes praise on working people when they are listening, and then talks about how bitterly they cling to their religion and guns when those people aren't listening.

We tend to prefer candidates who don't talk about us one way in Scranton and another way in San Francisco.

And:

As for my running mate, you can be certain that wherever he goes, and whoever is listening, John McCain is the same man.

Um, no, actually, McCain has said conflicting things in different places, like "I'm a Baptist" in Baptist country, very recently.

But here's a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators: I'm not going to Washington to seek their good opinion. I'm going to Washington to serve the people of this country. The implication that the opponents seek good opinions before the self-

[fpb]

I think you are wrong in a considerable number of ways, but I said I would not challenge you, and I will not.