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Is it just me, or does it seem like Americans are getting the run around lately, with stories that just don't seem to add up? Naturally, one or two oddities don't make a case for lies and deception. However, a critical mass of irregularities calls for some intelligent investigation and explanation. After 9-11, the Republicans showed how skillful they are at manipulating smokescreens around sensitive subjects and then attacking questioners for being "un-American." The controversy around Sarah Palin's pregnancy and birth has the same sort of aroma. All tied up into a neat package, no questions allowed, and all the while getting "curiouser and curiouser." It seems that we have only been thrown a few scraps of half-truths regarding Sarah Palin's very unusual circumstances regarding the labor and birth of little Trig. And there's been some mighty peculiar behavior, some which could be considered to be quite dangerous to a child. So, this is not just a private family issue, this exemplifies how the American people might expect Sarah Palin to act on our behalf, and, importantly, on our children's. Until we know which half of those scraps is the truth, we can look at the different pieces, and wonder how they all add up in the mind and heart of one who hopes to represent us as vice president - and who could become president. How a mother treats her own children, or conducts herself in a situation where an unborn child might be at risk, reveals a lot about how she might cast a deciding vote where all of America's children are concerned. So ascertaining an understanding of her personal standards and sense of ethics, and how that might affect us and our children, is our privilege and our responsibility, as American citizens. If I were Palin, and a series of quirky circumstances combined in some bizarre way to shed doubt on my admittedly unusual story, I would be glad to prove that my words have been truthful, beyond a shadow of a doubt, believing that I owe that, at least, to the country I want to serve. And, as a mother, I would consider it my duty to protect my daughter from idle rumors – particularly those that were in any way related to my own actions or career- in every way possible, and I don't care how many pelvic exams that would require of me. Young Bristol certainly appears to be a very sweet girl, who loves and cares for baby Trig in a deep and genuine way. If she is pregnant by five (or however many) months, that is her own business, and I certainly do not condemn her for that. It happens. But I do not want to see her sacrificed on the altar of her mother's political career, which seems to be happening, even now, no matter what the truth is. And, if all Sarah says is true, she is the one who can easily change that. When Palin accepted the offer to run for vice president, her life -at least the part of it that can affect American citizens -became an open book. If she has nothing to hide, then all she has to do is turn the pages to reveal the truth. Simple, quick, and it deftly nips the whole ruckus in the bud. If I were Sarah Palin, and Trig were my own baby, I would be mad as hell about having my daughter dragged through this. And I would be on a protective mother's wild rampage to prove the truth to vindicate her. I'd throw all my solidly supporting evidence on the table and say, "You're all wrong, and there's the PROOF!" And, on the table would be: * Records of my OB-GYN appointments and procedures, including amniocentesis; And that would be that, and the sooner, the better. www.merylannbutler.com
Concerned American Citizen
The Republican Party has now become the Jerry Springer Party. by
Mark Watterson (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 84 comments)
on Wednesday, September 3, 2008 at 8:07:10 AM
Personally I don't care What i do care about and thanks to Bob Herbert's piece in the Times today, someone has said it better than I can--we have so many issues to worry about and need to focus on this election season that the true parent of this baby has to be put way down on the list. Not because it does not matter but because the people who are losing their homes today are just more of interest to me and should be of more interest to all of us. The kids starting school today who do not have the money for lunch, supplies let alone clothes, healthcare and other essentials worry me today. What also worries me is that they throw us a bone and we gladly with our tongues hanging out go running after it. This is not the issue this season and just cannot take up too much more of our time. Defeat the people who bring this kind of distraction to the table rather than be distracted by it is my new mantra. by
Deborah Emin (20 articles, 1 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 78 comments)
on Tuesday, September 2, 2008 at 7:45:26 AM
It is not a small thing for a VP hopeful I guess I'm funny this way, but I have a real problem with someone who is vying for the vice presidency faking a pregnancy and the birthing of a child that was really borne by her 16-year old daughter, and did it to avoid political embarassment. If this is what happened, this lady needs to say so. If it's not, as Meryl points out, it is an easy thing to prove. We've had more than enough of a White House filled with liars and hypocrites. Just give us the facts and be done with it. This is a HUGELY different issue than lying about an affair as Edwards and Clinton did. by
JC Garrett (40 articles, 65 quicklinks, 7 diaries, 604 comments)
on Tuesday, September 2, 2008 at 8:10:37 AM
Again, as I have said before... ...this does matter to me! HOWEVER, I want someone serving me that has integrity and is not a liar. While I DO think that this is a personal family matter, this has EVERYTHING to do with telling the truth from the beginning. And getting others to lie for you, especially children and medical officials and doctors? And showing her children that this was acceptable behavior? This is what Sarah Palin has done. I think she is crap and not fit for the office she has been selected for. And the people did not select her...not sure who did, but probably not McCain since he did not even know her. by
Anita Stewart (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 52 comments)
on Tuesday, September 2, 2008 at 10:14:14 AM
A retired sales ad marketing trainer, escapee from the automobile business, who reads vorciously and writes whenever possible. The rest of the available time is spent doing woodworking or cooking. Lives in central TX, where the weather is great and politics are dubious. Usually logical and sensible but can be very cranky when assaulted by anybody leaning too far to the right and doesn't know it.
What is at issue There is certainly enough being written about this ap-Palin-g catastrophe, but there are two issues at the bottom of all this. The first is one of hubris, manifested here by the conservative insistence that the rest of the world must overlook this batch of shortcomings and moral misteps, while they maintain the absolute right to condemn everyone else's. The second is the simple matter of truth: Mrs. Palin is unwilling to express it or face it because it hobbles her ambitions. Those two flaws in her character are enough to disqualify for her for high office. by
Ivan Hentschel (8 articles, 0 quicklinks, 9 diaries, 280 comments)
on Tuesday, September 2, 2008 at 12:20:24 PM
ap-Palin-g! omg you are good! by
Meryl Ann Butler (53 articles, 61 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 531 comments)
on Tuesday, September 2, 2008 at 5:16:09 PM
Mother of a Marine in Iraq, three teenagers and a patriotic American Woman. (Out)Rage on the Page
I agree You are correct. She can easily dispel all rumors, etc. with doctor records and paternity tests. Beginning with a pack of lies about your medical history is only a precursor of what's to come. by
Sharon Frigiola (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 15 comments)
on Tuesday, September 2, 2008 at 5:13:35 PM
Open minded artist, OMA...my grandkids' name for me. Creative knowledge seeker who bugs the hell out of those too lazy to connect the dots. What's left of nature photographer, arts manager, events producer, culture & heritage preservationist, environmentalist, Independent and defender of the real Constitution of the United States.
A mother's instinct Comment from Ratings: is to protect her child above all else, especially if it is harmed in any way. The photos I saw of Bristol holding her baby brother looked more like the instinctive holding of a young baby by its mother. However, Palen's behavior, while in pre-mature labor with a severely disadvantaged baby, defies credibility. The standards she holds for others but does not keep for herself disqualifies her for the second highest position in our country. We've already had 8 years of dishonesty. ENOUGH! by
Penel (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 48 comments)
on Tuesday, September 2, 2008 at 5:37:08 PM
thank you, my point exactly and my mother's instinct is to protect children, mine and others, from Sarah Palin. by
Meryl Ann Butler (53 articles, 61 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 531 comments)
on Tuesday, September 2, 2008 at 5:52:37 PM
A lifelong progressive liberal and a Democratic Township Precinct Committeeman in Naperville, IL.
Waiting If this story IS true, they hope to just have it go away. And it could work. This won't be the worst thing that this the version of the GOP has gotten away with, simply by acting indignant. If it's NOT true, Rove will let it hang out there for as long as possible to make the simple questions seem petty, before showing the proof that should be easy to provide. These are Ruthless people. by
TomMikesell (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 24 comments)
on Tuesday, September 2, 2008 at 6:05:25 PM
A retired sales ad marketing trainer, escapee from the automobile business, who reads vorciously and writes whenever possible. The rest of the available time is spent doing woodworking or cooking. Lives in central TX, where the weather is great and politics are dubious. Usually logical and sensible but can be very cranky when assaulted by anybody leaning too far to the right and doesn't know it.
All things considered As some contributors have correctly observed, at some point this mess should stay behind closed doors. Everybody needs a little privacy. HOWEVER, when we are talking about someone running for a high office like this, it would be more helpful if the GOP would stop parading around the imperfect as perfect and expecting everyone else to swallow it without question. Tunnel vision is usually counter-productive. Mike, the GOP becomes indignant only after someone challenges their arrogance. The conservatives believe they are always right and if you disagree or find fault, you must be wrong. Conservatives and wingnuts are always a legend in their own mind. This is their rationale for being, as you so aptly put it, "ruthless". And I don't think you can be ruthless and compassionate all at once, unless you want to call that "tough love". But I never knew a conservative who could do that for the (pardon the expression) "right" reason, either. Monty Python should be here, now. by
Ivan Hentschel (8 articles, 0 quicklinks, 9 diaries, 280 comments)
on Wednesday, September 3, 2008 at 10:19:21 AM
Political junkie who is tired of the the debacle of the last 7 plus years. We're over-due for a change. Obama/Biden 08
Falsifying paperwork to cover this up would be easy, for Rove. At this point, even though I believe everything about this leads to the conclusion that there's a cover-up, we need to back off and stay vigilant. Or find some substantial evidence -- like school attendance records. Otherwise, we'll end up in another trap. We're winning right now -- let's not screw this up. by
mysticalme (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 6 comments)
on Tuesday, September 2, 2008 at 6:16:13 PM
I am a retired science teacher who has a passion for protecting our environment and for politics. Like the candidate I supported for president, John Edwards, I see how everything is connected--our foreign policy is connected to our environmental policy, which is connected to our economic policies, etc.
Where Are the Issues? Sarah Palin's private life, including that of her daughter, should be off limits for progressives and for the media. The same privilege should be granted to John Edwards and his family...These things matter not in determining who would best lead our country. We are no better than the Republicans or the corporate media when we engage in gossip...Please, let's lead by example and cover the issues. by
Kathy Callan (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 8 comments)
on Tuesday, September 2, 2008 at 6:59:27 PM
Here's an Issue When Governor Palin's water broke last April 17th, she was in Texas, attending a closed-door "energy forum" with 9 governors and the CEO's of 5 major energy industry polluters. Rather than tend to the imminent birth of her son, she stayed for the forum, gave a 30 minute speech, and then flew all the way back to Alaska (at least 9 hours), and then drove another 43 miles to her preferred hospital. Clearly, her priority was this meeting. 1. Makes me want to know more about this meeting with the rich and powerful. Especially given her supporting drilling in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge, wishing to repeal the status of the polar bear as an endangered species, and claiming that global warming isn't related to human behavior. 2. Makes me also see her "pro-life" stance is one of convenience and facade, not compassion. Conveniently worn to enhance her self-righteous appeal to the Christian Right, and conveniently ignored when it means actually doing something to nurture life -- not just bear it. Without compassion, "pro-life" is just an arrogant tactic. by
Barbara Bellows-TerraNova (20 articles, 1 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 77 comments)
on Wednesday, September 3, 2008 at 5:38:31 PM
robert wolff lives on the Big Island, called Hawai'i, pretending that his environment has not changed, even though this island was "discovered" a few years ago: the price of land has quintupled, houses are built all around, inhabited by other white people who do not belong here. Then, of course it all crashed. Our street now had a dozen new houses, half of them empty, for sale.
what this is about All this talk is exactly what the Reps designed. Springing Palin a few hours after Obama's speech -- instantaneously, the entire world forgot about Obama, focusing on Palin. The Rep convention postponed because McCain had to show how caring he was by paying attention to the hurricane, Obama lost to view. Haven't we learned these years? What they say, the photo ops, are never what it is really about. Confuse your opponent by doing completely unexpected things, even stupid things. Stupid is forgotten when the next unexpected thing hits us. We should have learned that untruths are forgotten when the next shock and awe is shoved in our face. True or not is not important. These surprises are about putting us off balance. Giving the Media juicy headlines -- swift boating to distract. What secret services do to "soften" suspects evidently works to soften voters. Non-stop loud music, flashing lights, sudden changes... makes rational thinking or acting very difficult. Confusing with collateral factlets thrown all around: nothing but distraction. Palin falling into the fray a few hours after Obama's show is very smart manipulation. The violence of pre-emptive police action is manipulation on two levels -- harrassing the protesters, but also distracting everyone else. And it is not even october yet. We must keep our eyes on the ball -- ignore the flashing lights, the unexpected bits and bytes that hit the screen. by
robert wolff (13 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 14 comments)
on Tuesday, September 2, 2008 at 8:32:59 PM
Conservative prolife anti-death penalty tree hugger. Believe that less government is good government, government cannot solve anyone's personal problems, the government taking money from one group of people and giving it to another group of people is a crime, and that people should take responsibility for their own lives.
Focus on the issues Isn't anything private anymore? How many people would run for public office if the slime balls were getting their jollies rummaging through candidates' private medical and personal records? Would you? If you are demanding Gov Palin release all of her private records why don't you post your OBGYN and other private records? Please include your x-rays, driving records, complete descriptions of problems you had in the delivery room, when you went to the doctor and why, any problems your relatives have had, and your grades and job evaluations from 1st grade on. Did your water break early? Why? Did you drink alcohol during your pregnancy? Was your child normal? We want to see if you are qualified to comment on the qualifications of an intelligent, hard-working, honest, tough woman who happens to be mother for public office. Or, better yet, why don't you do as Obama wants you to do: focus just on the issues? Is there some reason you do not want to? Or is it that Senator Obama and his supporters are just kidding about about wanting something called Change and really just want to keep up the old politics of personal destruction. by
Mad Jayhawk (2 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 466 comments)
on Wednesday, September 3, 2008 at 1:28:18 AM
Focus on the TEXT Um, are you sure you posted this comment on the correct article? Please notice that I did not “demand” that Gov. Palin release her records, I only said that I would be willing to release my own, if it meant protecting my child/children. And no, I never drank while pregnant, and yes, the moment my water broke I called my doctor who said “get thee to the hospital”, which I promptly did, without delay, delivering a healthy baby with an Apgar score of 10, which I was told was a first in that hospital (Apparently breaking the 9.9 record). And if protecting one of my children required releasing those records, I would do it, without a second thought. There are many irregularities here, and therefore many issues, and that is why people are focusing on them. For an excellent and chilling perspective, see John Toradze’s article posted today, Why Trig Palin's parentage is a national security matter. by
Meryl Ann Butler (53 articles, 61 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 531 comments)
on Wednesday, September 3, 2008 at 4:48:36 PM
Huh? Which article are you commenting on? Meryl Ann, I had the same kind of reaction when Mad Jayhawk commented on my article, "Sarah Palin and the Closed Door Energy Forum Where Her Water Broke". Was he really commenting on this article? It didn't even make sense. It's pretty much an effort to discredit without logic... As for me -- I, too, thank you. by
Barbara Bellows-TerraNova (20 articles, 1 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 77 comments)
on Wednesday, September 3, 2008 at 5:47:49 PM |
