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September 10, 2008 at 09:19:15
Obama Must Call for Palin's Removal from the Ticket by Rip Rense Page 1 of 2 page(s) |
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To quote W.C. Fields, The Democrats must "take the bull by the tail and face the situation." Sarah Palin must be dealt with, and without restraint. No more of this focus-group pre-figuring all the language, all the angles, of each carefully staged "attack." That will focus-group Obama right out of the White House. The fact is that the woman is now the central issue of the campaign. The fact is that the woman is unfit for office. Obama must call for her removal from the ticket in the interests of national security, and call into question McCain's impetuous, imperious, nutball "judgment." He must make the correct and compelling case that putting this corrupt amateur governor with zero foreign policy credibility in direct line to become president should McCain's health give out is wildly irresponsible, and jeopardizes the health and safety of the nation. 
Palin is under investigation for ethics violations in Alaska related to allegations that she used her office to try to fire an ex-brother-in-law state trooper (of all things bush league!) She spends Alaska taxpayer money to take her family on trips, to fund her visits to sporting events, to pay for her husband's jaunts. Total for her husband and daughters alone (including commuting from home to work): $43,490. She bills the state a travel per diem when she spends nights at home in Wasilla (of all things bush league!)
She is withholding e-mails that pertain to so-called "Troopergate," and reportedly implicate her husband in anti-law enforcement union influence peddling. She believes that so-called creationism (read: Bible scripture) should be taught in schools. She tried to get certain library books banned while mayor of Wasilla, then threatened the librarian when her request was refused.
She lies easily, from claiming to have stopped the infamous "Bridge to Nowhere" to saying that Obama opposes nuclear power and offshore drilling. . .to boasting that she is anti-government "earmarks," when in fact she has sought and won hundreds of millions of fat Washington dollars. She tried to cover-up her 17-year-old daughter's pregnancy, and to arrange for a quickie marriage prior to the Republican National Convention. She's had an "affair," as the polite term goes, with her husband's ex-business partner.
Need more?
She belongs to a weird "end times" Evangelical church that believes God has designated Alaska as a refuge for the "annointed." She has called the disastrous Iraq occupation "a task from God," has exhorted church members to pray for an Alaska natural gas pipeline, a project that she insanely labels "God's will." There are reports circulating that she has referred to Obama as "Sambo," and eskimos as "Arctic Arabs."
Then there is her champion, callous hypocrisy concerning teen pregnancy and birth control. Her daughter---who obviously emulates one-time good-time gal Sarah (who in college favored T-shirts such as "FCK---The Only Thing Missing is U")---is five or six months pregnant, probably by a local lout whose Myspace page (long pulled) says he enjoys "fuckin' chillin'." Yet Palin has cut funding to pay for housing---housing---for teen mothers.
And in a move that would have pleased the Marquis de Sade, Palin---who inhumanely insists that pregnant rape victims bear their children---saw to it as Wasilla mayor that rape victims must pay for their own sexual assault exams, at a cost of up to $1200. Now there's compassionate conservatism.
And you can laugh off the fact that she says "pundint," "nook-yoo-luhr" (her RNC teleprompter spelled it phonetically so she would say it correctly) and "Eye-RACK," but these are sure indicators of, well, exactly what she is: a person with a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Idaho. Take it from me: a degree in journalism is like a degree in nose-picking. Anybody with fingers can do it. You learn journalism on the job, not in a classroom. It's definitely a step up from majoring in physical education. And if you disagree with this, you must at least admit that the degree did not prepare her to spell or speak properly.
The woman is a scandal circus. And we've probably only seen the first ring.
Never mind that the country is traumatically split between so-called right and so-called left. (The right is comprised largely of extremist corporatocratic religious fanatics, and the profoundly ignorant; the left largely of cautious "centrists" who are essentially conservative.) Never mind the acrimony and charges of "negative campaigning" that would ensue from calling for Palin's removal. Americans have grown accustomed to having acrimony with breakfast, and the campaign is already ugly. Do the right thing. Palin is unfit for office, and every sensible person can see this (this leaves out, apparently, members of a Hillary support organization called WomanCount, which wretchedly called for backing off of Palin because some have said a mother of five can't do justice to a full-time job.)
Palin's appointment, in other words, is not just a matter of an opponent's policies being "dangerous," "wrong-headed," or various other conventional campaign cliches. It is a matter of a famously impulsive, high-rolling candidate (who loves to play craps) caving in to advisors and picking a frighteningly unqualified person to become vice-president of the United States. Dick Cheney is a towering statesman by contrast. It is a matter of aged McCain throwing caution to the wind---when caution was never more required---and grabbing a nice-looking, young piece of baggage without so much as a routine FBI background check. All the McCain aides did was Google Palin, which is slightly more thorough than making goo-goo eyes at her.
The choice was not merely a cynical grab for hard-core reactionary extremist right-wing Evangelicals. It was not merely a cynical ploy to make the campaign look progressive and compel more ladies to vote for the increasingly corpse-like McCain. It was not merely a cynical means of sexing up a campaign that would otherwise have been led by boring old white guys (God help us---Joe Lieberman.) It was all of these things---but with breathtaking disregard for the safety and welfare of the nation.
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| 11 comments |
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Though it's interesting that Dave Lindorff posted this, the
piece itself can't be regarded as anything more than someone's private & fanciful reverie. The points are well-argued (& I agree with most of them), but there is precisely zero chance of Obama making even a 1-cm move in this direction. Neither he nor any of his advisors has even the courage required to stake out a principled position on even the Iraq War or FISA, which are at least conventional issues, in the sense that no one would challenge Obama's right to say what he thinks about them. So it's ludicrous to suggest that he'd even consider the unprecedented step of telling his opponent who may or may not be on the ticket. No one has ever been that presumptuous. Palin is more popular now than Obama. It's both chilling & amusing to imagine what would happen if he attempted a move like this. He'd be crucified by the media in less than 20 minutes. It's true of course that Palin "should be" forced off the ticket. That's not only because she's manifestly unqualified, but because her ideas belong to the realm of theocratic fascism. But no two-faced Democrat would be able to explain this to the country, for the same kinds of reasons that they never moved to impeach Bush. In fact, Bush is no more qualified to be president than Palin, but no Democrat ever dared suggest it. And Bush has committed dozens of impeachable crimes, but no Democrat (aside from Kucinich) has ever dared say so. The Obama campaign has been too gutless to mention this inconvenient truth, so I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for them to come out & directly confront the issue of Palin. As usual, the Democrats would rather lose the election, than speak any inconvenient truths. by Richard Mynick (2 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 1552 comments [255 recommended, 5 rejected]) on Wednesday, Sep 10, 2008 at 10:38:40 AM  (0+)
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Obama must be terrified of Palin
by Don Gist (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 9 comments) on Wednesday, Sep 10, 2008 at 12:18:21 PM (0+)
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Offensive
I don't necessarily think that Obama needs to call for her off the ticket (although she should be considering she takes God's will and turns them into policy) but he needs to go offensive. You could blame the MSM but the battle is being fought on the Republican's turf. Obama needs to telling the truth and yell it long and loud enough so that people will pay attention. He can start with "McCain only wants to give tax breaks to the wealthy." Or "McCain's chief advisors are Washington lobbyists." Maybe even call McCain's service record into question, worked pretty well against Kerry. Yes, he still needs to answer the questions and lies that the McCain camp is throwing his way but his best bet to fend it off is to make sure that McCain and Palin spend most if not all of their time defending themselves against Obama's attacks. Obama can't win this election on the defensive, hoping that people will hate the Republican brand enough to just vote democratic. by Joe Bechtold (8 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 42 comments) on Wednesday, Sep 10, 2008 at 12:35:33 PM (0+)
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Obama bumped from American idol
The people have called in their votes and Obama is no longer the american idol. Palin is the new craze. Maybe Obama should bump Biden and pick someone from American idol as his running mate. by Gallaher (2 articles, 0 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 990 comments [34 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Wednesday, Sep 10, 2008 at 12:42:50 PM (0+)
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Sure
Palin is as qualified as the turnips in my yard and as dangerous as the Taliban, but she's the pick at this point. I question what makes you think Obama will change anything other than his clothing? Anyone that doesn't recognize that the war on terror and the abrogation of our rights are bi-partisan efforts is asleep at the wheel, a BUDster, using a term coined appropriately by George H. W. Bush. The only option at this point for Americans wishing to change anything is peaceful civil disobedience and that would entail withholding taxes and votes. This country is at a crossroads. The primary reason for abrogation of rights and the war on terror is an elite understanding that Peak Oil and Climate Change will reduce food and water supplies and potentially reduce electrical output for billions of people dependent upon organized government for survival. Humanity is at a precipice with few choices. The scale of the crisis is the largest in the history of civilization and will require a response to these interconnected problems that is also the largest in the history of our species. Personally, I'd prefer McCain wins because he'll sink us deeper into war faster than Obama, who will do the same albeit more slowly, which will then allow the average American, who's asleep at the wheel, to perhaps wake up to reality and provide the only reasonable antidote when the system can't be changed from within as is apparent right now. We aren't facing a "Palin Problem." It doesn't matter who wins this election. We're facing a national problem that we haven't and aren't preparing for which is of biblical proportions and Americans simply can't face facts when lifestyle changes are necessary for survival. Peaceful civil disobedience, withholding taxes, is about the only alternative left to the American Public and the sooner events lead to that the sooner we'll see effective changes within government and nothing like that will take place until the majority of Americans are on their collective knees. In 2050 survival will be based on ones ability to convert grains to edible food, purify water and barter if the present course isn't changed. Band-aids as a solution to festering wounds, which has been US Government Policy for years, will ultimately lead to the untimely death of the patient. by jeff prager (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 188 comments) on Wednesday, Sep 10, 2008 at 4:03:33 PM (0+)
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Reply: withholding taxes
Not a good idea. I have seen people go to prison for a very long time for doing this. One guy was in his seventies and they gave him 120 months (10 years) note - there is no parol in the federal system. He basicly had to live out his life in a prison camp. His wife was ill and cound no longer take care of herself. She couldn't even make the trip to visit him in prison. It was a very sad sight. by Gallaher (2 articles, 0 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 990 comments [34 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Wednesday, Sep 10, 2008 at 5:06:06 PM (0+)
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Is this supposed to be comedic material?
Seriously, this sounds like that British "comedian" on MTV last week. Aside from the fact that a bunch of Rip's accusations have proven to be lies, having Obama demand Palin's dismissal a) provokes howls of laughter and b) would backfire. Oh, by the way: Joe Biden told some supporters at a campaign stop that he thought Hillary Clinton was a more qualified VP candidate than he was. Oh, really? by Scott (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 745 comments [30 recommended, 3 rejected]) on Wednesday, Sep 10, 2008 at 7:49:45 PM (0+)
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Go Obama
I want Obama to win so the democratic party will quit cryin' so in four years after he's taxed the gas companies to shut down production and gas goes up to $8.00 a gallon and he still won't drill for oil, because he has a better idea, he just can't think of it at the moment, and Hillary comes back in 2012 promising real change... for real this time... We hear the same thing from the Democratic Party every four years... Change.... Didn't Nancy Pelosi say the same thing if she got elected.... and we want to trust Obama? I would NEVER vote for a woman President, but if Sara runs against Hillary in 2012 She has my vote....... hey cut the C$#P let's drill for oil and look for alternative solutions and quit p*ssy footin' Someone please tell Obama before he takes office Russia and Iran are not small countries...... by don bybee (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 206 comments) on Wednesday, Sep 10, 2008 at 9:33:03 PM (0+)
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Is he palin in comparison to the former mayor of Wasilla?
We are seeing the results of the two party , one idea politics, that is now in Americhka . Say goodnight, Gracie! Brother Wolfie has seen this flick too many times before. by Wolfie (9 articles, 0 quicklinks, 33 diaries, 1208 comments) on Thursday, Sep 11, 2008 at 1:09:24 AM (0+)
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What?
Since when is the obvious most capable candidate in the race supposed to run disciplinarian and high moral authority over his opponent's choices? Simply said the electorate should take the judgement he used in this selection as a very clear indicator of his future fitness in judgement. by Rockingthebase (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 5 comments) on Thursday, Sep 11, 2008 at 6:52:28 AM (0+)
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No lie
"Aside from the fact that a bunch of Rip's accusations have proven to be lies,"---previous comment. Not a single assertion concerning Palin in this column has been proven to be a lie. None. Zip. Zero. ---RR by Rip Rense (5 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1 comments) on Saturday, Sep 13, 2008 at 4:34:44 PM (0+)
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