I want lower taxes, lower health care cost, more security, less dependence on oil, more government help with my son's college costs, secure retirement and reasonably priced popcorn at the movies (excessive profits by big corps., you know). I actually prefer ham to turkey during the holidays.
-----Added 23/11/2008 at 06 : 46 : 04-----
Happy to be of service.:thumbsup:

Apparently, a photographer asked her if she was OK with the Turkey slaughter in the background and her reply was, "no worries".

I do have to say that, I don't find anything remotely disgusting about the image of animals being slaughtered for food. In fact, I think these sorts of images need to be seen on TV. It's actually a big trend in mainstream TV in the UK right now. There are a number of TV shows and specials that deal with this subject from, Hugh's Chicken Run and Jamie's Eat to Save Your Life to Kill It, Cook It, Eat It. I wish I could see more of this sort of stuff on TV.

I just wish that Pailn was smart enough to make the analogy that Ace made... Sadly, I don't think that was what she intended at all.

She may be a genius who actually knows her target audience pretty well. Obama knew his target audience and did/said what need to be done/said to get the nomination - now he is moving to the center right as fast as he can. Similar to Bill Clinton, Bill Clinton, Bill Obama Clinton maybe the next four years won't be so bad after all. Looks like Obama will have an excuse to delay all of his big promises - while everyone focuses on turkeys - wow the irony.

Palin may be a reasonable governor (as more becomes clear, I think probably not very reasonable)...but every time she opens her mouth or every action she takes, she demonstrates that she is lacking in understanding either national policy or how politics at the national level works.
-----Added 23/11/2008 at 06 : 59 : 19-----
What target audience? The social conservative base and Joe the Plumber?

There is a reason why nearly every Republican in Congress and among the governors are distancing themselves from Palin. She is an accident waiting to happen.

So. . You make an assumption based-on-zero-evidence-or-facts about a group, and then use that assumption draw conclusions about them.

And we're supposed to take the rest of your post seriously?

I have been posting my views here for some time, some take my posts seriously others don't. I occasionally use humor and some hyperbole from time to time, but generally there is a factually based foundation in what I post. When I give my opinion or the way I see something I normally state it as my opinion or that it is my viewpoint. My viewpoint on the media was premised with "I bet...". I think most people understand what comes after a person makes that type of an introduction to a viewpoint. But I am not an English major, I am not a very good writer, my profession is not based on communication skills, and I went to a state school in the Midwest and I don't drink coffee with steamed milk - so take it all for what it is worth.
-----Added 24/11/2008 at 11 : 46 : 51-----
What are the approval ratings of Congress/Republicans in Congress/Govenors referenced and Palin?

Power to the People! Who cares what the elite thinks.

I'm completely lost on this logic that being elite is a bad thing. I want my doctor, lawyer, realtor etc... to be elite. Just as I want the people I elect to be elite. Heck I've been to Alaska and I hired a fishing guide. I wanted him to be an elite fishing guide. And I could not have cared less if he wanted foam on his morning coffee.

Being elite, being educated and studying issues and subjects is a good thing in my book.

BTW- I can't write for shit either.

coming from you the outer reaches of the fringe right by way of you, ace has a creepy khymer rouge twang to it, of a piece with that great idea of sending everyone who wears glasses for a period of re-education in the country which would force them to recognize the error of their pointy-headed ways by encouraging them to dig huge edifying holes with picks and wheelbarrows with the aim of helping them to become one with the salt of the earth, initially as a metaphor, then not.

The problem is really with pseudo-intellectuals. For example I have a bachelors degree and one of my best friends doesn't- the only thing that means is that I went to school and did what it took to get a diploma and he did not. In my view a pseudo-intellectual makes judgments based on something like a diploma rather than the individual. It seems Palin's biggest problem is that she is an outsider or different than those inside the beltway or those in the media fraternity. People secure with their intellect don't need to demean others and are accepting of the value of what differences bring to the table. No person is perfect but that does not mean they can not do great things or bring value.

I really have no idea what is or who is a pseudo-intellectual.

I think Palin problem was she couldn't answer basic questions then blamed the media for asking questions. If I asked my Realtor what the closing costs on a property would be and they answered "what are closing costs?" I'd find another Realtor. When a person running for VPOTUS is asked what that job entails four times and doesn't know the answer four times I longer take them serious as a viable candidate.

It could be reasonably suggested that Palin is a pseudo-intellectual (a person exhibiting intellectual pretensions that have no basis in sound scholarship....a person who pretends an interest in intellectual matters for reasons of status {as VP candidate}) if one were to consider how she claims to understand Russia because "you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska"

PALIN: And, Charlie, you’re in Alaska. We have that very narrow maritime border between the United States, and the 49th state, Alaska, and Russia. They are our next door neighbors.We need to have a good relationship with them. They’re very, very important to us and they are our next door neighbor.

GIBSON: What insight into Russian actions, particularly in the last couple of weeks (re: invasion of Georgia), does the proximity of the state give you?

PALIN: They’re our next door neighbors and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska.

GIBSON: What insight does that give you into what they’re doing in Georgia?

PALIN: Well, I’m giving you that perspective of how small our world is and how important it is that we work with our allies to keep good relation with all of these countries, especially Russia.

-----Added 24/11/2008 at 05 : 02 : 35-----
or her wacky interpretation of the First Amendment and her pretentious interest in "protecting candidates from the media"

"If [the media] convince enough voters that that is negative campaigning, for me to call Barack Obama out on his associations then I don't know what the future of our country would be in terms of First Amendment rights and our ability to ask questions without fear of attacks by the mainstream media." --Sarah Palin, getting First Amendment rights backwards.

I think they're a lot of folks running around each with their own definition of pseudo-intellectual. I always wonder when I hear someone use the term what they think it means.

As for Palin in general I find her and her following frankly scary. She doesn't appear to have even the most basic gasp of issues or even how our government works. Yet she and a lot of her followers want to put her in charge. To me she's GWB in a pair of pumps. Little knowledge of the inner workings of things and little curiosity in obtaining any knowledge. She's also shown a complete willingness to appoint people not based on their experience or knowledge but on their loyalty or friendship to her, see her agriculture department head for further info on this subject. If she does make it into politics on the national level I can see her making her own "heck of a job Brownie" statement. The only difference will be the name and she'll probably add a wink.

People seem to like her because they can see some of themselves in her, I think some guy's want to see a small part of themselves in her but that's a whole another issue. It's like "hey she's just like me, yeah!" Personally I don't want someone just like me running things. I want someone way smarter then me running things. I want a well educated, intellectual with massive curiosity running things. That in no ways means I think only someone who attended a school like Harvard qualifies. Personally I don't care if you went to Blue Mountain community college in North Carolina (I have no idea if thats a real school, just trying to make a point) I care whether or not you can answer questions regarding SCOTUS cases if you're looking to be in a position to possibly appoint SCOTUS judges.

This illustrates the trouble with your point of view. You assume all journalists are upper-crust snobs out of touch with the common man.

I got my degree from a midwest state school, too, and I drink my coffee black. I started my career making significantly less than a shift manager at McDonalds. I could quit right now and double my salary by becoming a PR flunky for some mid-level corporation. I'm not rich, I'm not elite, and I frankly resent the implication that just because I happen to know how to write a coherent sentence and get it broadcast on television, I must be some elitist bastard snob.

Precisely. The neo-cons have brainwashed a certain susceptible subset of the population into thinking that elite is bad, and dumbassery is good. Elite gets shit done. Elite should be something to aspire to, not to shun. It's amazing how backward we've become.

We've become a society where improving ourselves is considered bad. Where gaining experience in a job is a bad thing (Washington insiders!). The problem is not that they have been in Washington for a long time. The problem is that they have been in Washington for a long time making dumbassed decisions.

Plus, it's hypocritical. Had GWB been able to run for a 3rd term, neocons would have voted for him. Why? He is now not only a Washington insider, but the most highly placed Washington insider. Strom Thurmond and Jesse Helms were both Washington insiders. If republicans think Washington insiders are such a bad idea, why the hell did they keep re-electing them?


And I point out again, that you made judgements based on something that you assumed, without even as much evidence as a diploma. Are you calling yourself a pseudointellectual, or do unique rules apply to you?

Huh, I had no idea you were a journalist and writer. You elitist fucking snob. Err, I mean that's interesting.




Not sure I'd use the term brainwashing or not but the neo-cons and their taking head water carriers have manage an amazing feat. They've managed to convince a whole lot of people that being elite is a bad thing. Yet at the same time they've managed to also sell it that being super rich isn't elitist or a CEO of a major corporation is worth every dime they make... sometimes even if the company is losing money. In a way they've manage to sell a new definition of the term elite. I've always understood the term elite to mean either a group within a society made up of those with high intellect, social, or economic status. Or a the most skilled member(s) of a group. Now it seems a ton of people use the term elite in a context that seems to mean a know it all type person that thinks they're better then everyone else. I hear, over and over again, comments like "that elitist, latte sipping snob." It's early here I'm enjoying my morning coffee. I too usually drink my coffee black but every once and while I'll have a latte. This morning is one of those morning. I must be an elitist latte sipping snob. Perhaps we should get together for an annual elitist fucking snob meeting? Though I'm not sure I'll fit in since my latte is from a box mix mainly made by Nestle (just add hot water,) that I buy at Wal-Mart.


Pseudo intellectual is like the term elite, I don't even know what it means any more. The goal lines on the meaning of words and issues in general seems to be changing constantly, IMO. People who I consider to be intellectuals are suddenly pseudo intellectual and people I would consider pseudo intellectual are suddenly common folks with good common sense. Most of the time these common folks with good common sense lack any and all common sense, again IMO. I've sat and watched the actions of GWB and I see someone with little in common with common people. He strikes me as a guy who was born on third base and seems to think he hit a triple. Yet many people I know tell me they like GWB because he a lot like them, just a common down home guy that they'd probably enjoy having a beer with. I hear stuff like that and think- really? You think a guy like GWB is just like you? Do you think you could get a legacy admittance into an Ivy League school?

Nothing seems to mean what I thought it meant. I read Ace's posts and I'd swear he's a hard core free market capitalists. At the same time I read "Power to the People! Who cares what the elite thinks.' I immediately think Marxism and socialism. Up is down, down is up and I have no idea what the most basic terms mean anymore.

I never understood why Obama's choice of lettuce was supposed to disqualify him from being president, for that matter.

Jeopardy Style:

Answer: psuedointellectual, elite, socialism

Question: What are words that have been repurposed by conservatives to mean "stuff we're not supposed to like"?

They're just code words. If you're in on it, you know exactly what they mean. They're just convenient signal words for helping the troops figure out which people they're supposed to align themselves in opposition to.

Find your nearest conservative and tell him that you didn't like your lunch because it was too elitist. They'll know exactly what you're saying, even though you aren't saying anything at all.

If results matter, it looks like the State headed by Palin is one of the few not facing budget problems, I guess being a simple minded person and balancing a budget has some merit in tough times.

http://www.cbpp.org/9-8-08sfp-f1.jpg

A link to the full report:

State Budget Troubles Worsen

Large oil and gas royalties may have been a factor as well.

I am definitely not an intellectual or even a pseudo-intellectual. I play video games, drink grape flavored Kool-aid, can't spel, and Tivo episodes of South Park.

Alaska funds about 90 percent of the state budget from royalties and taxes on oil producers. Soaring oil prices for most of the year and a higher windfall oil profits tax pushed through last year by Paln might explain it.

what will happen now with the declining oil prices....when the budget is based on $100/barrel oil.

Given the population of her state and it's revenue source I think it would be news if the state didn't have a positive cash flow. Wonder if the drop in oil prices will reduce the checks they send to residents each year this year?

Yea, that's it. Perhaps we should send a note to the Govenator in Caaaleeefornia.:thumbsup:
-----Added 12/12/2008 at 05 : 56 : 45-----
Yea, what will happen? Will you change your view of Palin if she continues to manage the state in a fiscally conservative manner, balances and delivers her budget in a timely manner?

I did not think so. real results really don't matter do they?

ace....you were grasping for straws with that post and your kudos to the gov you put on a pedestal. Anyone who knows anything about state finance understands Alaska's unique revenue situation.

Yea, given population as a factor why is Vermont having problems.

P.S. - Vermont's population is less than the population in Alaska.
-----Added 12/12/2008 at 06 : 03 : 12-----
Yea, everyone knows that, but me, I guess. Am I to conclude that you feel that it doesn't take any skill or intellect at all to manage Alaska's budget?

Yep..I guess everyone but you.....tully, sapiens and I all saw it at the same time. :)

It takes far less skill or intellect to balance a budget when you have soaring revenues as opposed to declining revenues as in many states.

The price of oil is pretty volatile, even I know that. Perhaps the simple concept our parents always emphasized (at least mine did, and I bet Palin's also) - in good times set some aside for a rainy day. I love simple minded people.

I heard Venezuela has a surplus this year*, how about that Chavez, Ace?

*actually, I have no idea

I bet she is counting on revenue from the natural gas pipeline that she touts as her achievement...even as it may be under investigation for the manner in which her administration structured the RFP for the project to favor a political friend and contributor by freezing out competitors.
-----Added 12/12/2008 at 06 : 20 : 12-----
Yep...thats pretty simple minded.

Even a child can save when the parents throw a windfall amount of money at him....more than he knows what to do with.

added:

IMO...here is one reason why Palin has no long term viability as a national candidate.

Colin Powell says it well:

"Gov. Palin, to some extent, pushed the party more to the right, and I think she had something of a polarizing effect when she talked about how small town values are good. Well, most of us don’t live in small towns. And I was raised in the South Bronx, and there’s nothing wrong with my value system from the South Bronx.

And when they came to Virginia and said the southern part of Virginia is good and the northern part of Virginia is bad. The only problem with that is there are more votes in the northern part of Virginia than there are in the southern part of Virginia, so that doesn’t work.

It was that attempt by the republican party to use polarization for political advantage and it backfired..... "

Palin is a polarizing figure in addition to being viewed as a lightweight because of the many stupid things she says... and as long as she continues to kowtow to the social conservative base or offer more of her pearls of wisdom, that wont change.

They cant win with her and they cant get rid of her...that is the dilemma faced by the Republican party. It will be fun to watch it play out.

I would guess dealing with a budget in any state would take skill and intellect. But I'd say it's safe to say in a state where you have enough income to pay very resident each year it's probably much easier then in a state without such a revenue stream.

give Vermont the oil revenue from Alaska and i'm positive they'd be in the black

Pretty much. I have no idea about Palin's management of her state's economy, however, in Canada Alberta and Saskatchewan and Newfoundland have been big oil producers these last few years, and guess what? They're in the black. Meanwhile, the traditional economic engine of Canada - Ontario with traditionally strong manufacturing and technology sectors - is suffering this year.

Worldwide, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and other petro-dollar nations have been doing well, while places like Germany, the Uk and France have taken a hit.

It's not hard to spot the common denominator.

I was reading an IBD editorial the other day on this very issue. Here it is:

IBDeditorials.com: Editorials, Political Cartoons, and Polls from Investor's Business Daily -- Chavez Steps Into 'Devil's Excrement'

P.s. - To the folks who don't like IBD, please spare me the grief about this being an IBD editorial. I have heard it all before. Feel free to check the facts yourself.
-----Added 14/12/2008 at 10 : 07 : 48-----
Do you think Alaska's natural and other available resources exceeds that of, for example, California? Are you suggesting that managing resources has no role in what many States face today?
-----Added 14/12/2008 at 10 : 10 : 11-----
Give me Warren Buffet's money and I would be in the black too. So, what is the point here? I don't get it? Just because Buffet has more money than I do, does that mean that I can't manage my money?

Come on guys, give the lady some credit, gee.:no:
-----Added 14/12/2008 at 10 : 13 : 35-----
Ok, again I ask - will your view of Palin change given the decline in the price of oil and Alaska continuing to balance it budget in the future under Palin.

I doubt it. And it is clear to me that some are just "haters" and results and actual job performance don't mean a thing.

I dont hate her...I just believe she has been a marginal governor at best, her ethics have been questionable and she has demonstrated neither the intellect nor the vision to be President or Vice President.

I have no idea - I doubt I'll think much about her unless she finds a cure for cancer or starts WW3. Alaska doesn't really enter my thoughts very often.

I was merely responding to another post about how oil-based economies have all done well in recent years.

If she has been smart enough to squirrel away a lot of the excess cash to cushion the blow of declining oil prices and not blow it all on silly expenditures, I would certainly give her credit for having a few extra brain cells, of course.

This is not true. I will try one more time, different source:

Bloomberg.com: Exclusive

Regardless of the spike in oil revenues, those revenues can be mismanaged, and there is the issue of volatility in the price of oil which mean the good times have to be managed against the bad. Funny but that seem to be an argument US oil companies made to Congress as the CEO's were put through the ringer.

{added} To clarify - Oil revenues have been at record levels for many oil producing nations and they have benefited, however, with our current oil prices the economic conditions in these countries that are mismanaged quickly deteriorates. I was listening to CNBC and they quoted Buffet this morning - "When the tide recedes you get to see who was swimming naked" .

I don't know what you want me to say - I told you that if she manages her economy through the hard times ahead, I would give her credit for her intelligence in doing so.

Do I think she deserves any particular credit for showing a surplus when times are good? No, no politician deserves credit for that regardless of who they are. The mark of a smart leader is how they do during the lean times.

I don't get it. She balanced a budget where the income/revenue stream exceeds expenses. Who can't do that? If the budget wasn't balanced that would be news.

at this point I feel like Ace is just defending her because he doesn't want to concede to the democrats in the thread, not because he likes Palin

Happy New Years, ace!

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