Why Sarah Palin is BAD news

[Amethyst Hunter]

So by now most everybody's probably still reeling from the surprise of the day, i.e., McCain's VP pick. Thus far there has been quite a bit of fun-poking at this decision, but this is anything BUT funny. This is downright frightening, especially if you're a female:

http://www.talk2action.org/story/2008/8/29/182057/888 - This post, written by a former dominionist walkaway, gives up the ugly news. Sarah Palin is not only *extremely* anti-choice (as you'll see below), she's affiliated with what is quite possibly a stealth dominionist attempt at the highest seat of power (remember, McCain's getting up there in age, and frankly, I'm cynical about his lasting out one whole term, let alone two). Excerpts from the article:

Palin explicitly promoted "teach the controversy" by calling for the misnamed "creation science" to be taught in public schools (as now well documented in Kitzmiller vs. Dover School District, it's known that "creation science" is nothing more and nothing less than a method of putting young-earth creationism in public schools)...

Creationism is bullshit. Pure and simple. It doesn't come anywhere close to a serious and honest discussion of "could there have been a Supreme Being who possibly made the earth and all things in it?" All it is is the so-called Xtian Right's attempt to brainwash people into believing THEIR version of religion so they can have more little 'soldiers' for their 'armies'. I'm an agnostic, and I have no problem with people believing in a God who may or may not be responsible for such, but I draw the line at this kind of subversive indoctrination. It doesn't belong in the science classroom, period.

It also appears that Sarah Palin is a member of a misnamed group called Feminists for Life. FFL in fact engages in "cultural appropriation" of women's suffrage icons to promote a very woman-unfriendly agenda that--despite attempts to sound "not like those crazies in Operation Rescue"--would not only criminalise abortion but the IUD and hormonal birth control methods, and potentially everything outside the rhythm method (the term "abortifacient birth control" is a codephrase in the dominionist "pro-life" community for hormonal birth control--partly due to a unique urban legend claiming "the pill" and other hormonal birth control causes abortion and partly because of a unique definition of pregnancy beginning at conception rather than at implantation (the latter is what most mainstream OB/GYNs use) and thus making anything preventing implantation potentially "abortifacient").

FFL promotes such fun bogosities as "post-abortion syndrome" (the idea that having an abortion will inevitably lead to PTSD and insanity), ((This has recently been proven *false* by the American Medical Association - it's a favorite lie of anti-choicers. Maybe a few women do regret having an abortion, but by and large the majority of women who have had one have never reported any such feelings; in fact many have said they felt relief.)) and promotes mandatory waiting periods and misinformation guidelines that can be insurmountable for poor or rural women--even those forced to make the most heartbreaking choice because of a nonviable pregnancy. In fact, one of their biggest causes isn't feminist at all--they actively promote the idea that the best choice for women is to stay home as fulltime mothers, and it can be well argued that the only traditionally feminist viewpoint they really support is women's suffrage!

One of the big things FFL promotes is deceptive "pregnancy counseling centers"--where pregnant teens are forced to essentially listen to an altar call on how "abortionists want to murder their children" whilst a pee-stick test clears--and if she tests "yes", she gets a hard-sell to keep the child or to check herself into a dominionist-run "halfway house for teenage moms" where she will ultimately be forced to sign her kid over. ((Another example of how dominionists are trying to build their own little 'army'. PCCs also will have nothing to do with birth control dispensation and deliberately falsely advertise themselves - to the point of setting up shop right next door to legitimate women's clinics - in order to confuse women looking for the legit clinic.)) (Yes, there is an entire private adoption industry in the dominionist community--mostly focusing on adopting out the infants of poor teenage mothers who have been forced to give their kids up and who have been either scared into it or checked into such facilities by their parents.)

So yeah, if you take birth control - even for medical necessities like PCOS or other - you'd be royally screwed. As someone who is on the Pill for just such a reason (irregularities that could worsen if I wasn't on it), this infuriates me beyond all belief. The difference between genuinely "pro-life" people and anti-choicers is that real pro-life people, while they would not choose abortion themselves, *will not subvert anyone else's right to make that choice even though it may differ from their own.* Anti-choice people don't even want you to have access to birth control - which is the very thing that would help *prevent* a lot of abortions!

As for abortion itself, I support it. I can understand why some people may not agree with it, but I firmly believe the choice needs to be available to prevent worse from happening (Speaking only for myself, I'm celibate, but if God forbid I was attacked, I would do everything up to and including tossing myself down a flight of stairs or drinking poison, if I was denied a safe and legal abortion - hell, we already have women doing horrid things like douching with Mountain Dew or dipping into dangerous herbal concoctions). The ONLY way the abortion rate will ever be lowered successfully is by properly educating people and improving birth control rates. Abortion is a problem in that it represents a failure of communication and birth control, two things which can easily be fixed to prevent an unwanted pregnancy from ever occurring. Not only is Palin apparently affiliated with a group that is solidly against such sex ed/birth control, she's on record as saying that she doesn't believe that even rape/incest victims should have the option to abort, and frankly, I have NO respect for anyone who thinks a rape victim should be forced to bear and give birth to something she doesn't want.

And needless to say, considering the gravity of what Dominionist rule would mean for *everyone*, it is most assuredly NOT a good idea to put a stealth Dommie/Dommie sympathizer within reach of Very Bad Toys, if you get my drift. Some of these fanatics have VERY itchy trigger fingers and a hate-on for certain people/countries the size of the Pacific Ocean. If you identify as Christian, don't be fooled into thinking that you'd be safe from their aim - if you're not *their* flavor of bastardized religion, you're toast just the same as the groups they hate.

Obama "scary"? I don't think so, compared to this.

[Giggle Goose]

I wonder if she's even been to Washington D.C. before...... :confused:

[Boozy]

The dominionists must pull in a lot of money and a lot of votes. Because without the evangelical appeal of this woman, she's pretty much the stupidest choice McCain could have made.

She's completely inexperienced, which should make everyone nervous. McCain is old. What if something happens to him and Palin becomes President? She has literally zero experience in diplomacy or foreign policy. She's been a state governor for 2 years...that's it.

Plus, it's hard to start pointing the finger at Obama and calling him a rookie when you've picked someone with far less experience as your own running mate. The McCain campaign has now completely lost use of the "experience matters" strategy. McCain has basically announced that lack of experience doesn't matter. That was a big plus for the Republicans, and now they can't drive the point home.

The Republican campaign is as poorly managed as the Democratic one was in 2004. I'm thinking Obama is going to win in a near landslide at this point.

[daleduke17]

She's completely inexperienced, which should make everyone nervous. McCain is old. What if something happens to him and Palin becomes President? She has literally zero experience in diplomacy or foreign policy. She's been a state governor for 2 years...that's it.


I like the fact that she has minimal experience. That, if she does become POTUS, could finally get some questions asked on why stuff is done a certain way or even an entirely new perspective on different topics.

I saw that happen in the fire district I used to live in. Year after year of the same people (or similar) and then a new person was elected in and questions started getting asked about the whys and hows. These weren't stupid questions, but questions about why stuff was done a certain way...and it lead to some changes (some as she only lasted on term :( ).

And yes, I do understand that a fire district of ~3,000 =/= a country of ~305,000,000.

And no, I don't plan on voting for McCain. Or Obama.

[Greenday]

At least I can stop hearing the "Obama is inexperienced" crap. Bush was experienced. He sucked. Thus having experience doesn't make you a good candidate for president.

I never really liked the thought of McCain becoming president. Now I can't even fathom it.

[smileyeagle1021]

the thread title is wrong... Sarah Palin is the BEST news ever... if you're an Obama supporter...

seriously, what was McCain thinking?

[AdminAssistant]

seriously, what was McCain thinking?

"Hey, I can pull in all those rogue Hillary supporters! Where's a woman?!?!"

That's what he was thinking.

I am initially thankful that he did not choose Gov. Mike Huckabee - because that man is just an idiot of the highest degree. However, this lady is just scary scary scary scary. She is, however, the uber-conservative wet dream. Blarg.

No offense to those moderate Republicans who chose their party based on fiscal responsibility, etc. But Republicans like Gov. Palin scare the bejeesus out of me. They say the Democrats want too much government, then try to outlaw birth control? WTF??

I just can't WAIT for the VP debate - so that the very experienced Senator Joe Biden can hand her ass to her on a platter. :D

[Giggle Goose]

I think if Joe Biden can handle dictators he can handle the soccer (excuse, me HOCKEY) Mom. :p

[Amethyst Hunter]

The dominionists must pull in a lot of money and a lot of votes. Because without the evangelical appeal of this woman, she's pretty much the stupidest choice McCain could have made.

She's completely inexperienced, which should make everyone nervous. McCain is old. What if something happens to him and Palin becomes President?

Actually, what I'm betting is that this is *exactly* one of the reasons they chose her as the stealth candidate. Remember, McCain's up there in years, and I honestly wouldn't expect him to last out a full term, let alone two. With Palin, my guess is that if something happened to McCain, and she got in, the dominionist puppetmasters behind the scenes would be figuring out a way to get rid of her, probably by cooking up some sort of scandal the way they witch-hunted Clinton I in the 90s (Or worse...the real hardcore dommies make no secret about their bloodthirstiness). By that time, they'd most likely have found a way to stack the Supreme Court in their favor, and once Palin served her purpose, it's kick-the-woman-back-to-the-kitchen time - because dominionists at heart just can't stand ANY woman having any sort of independence or power.

[Greenday]

Oh snap! I just realized I now have a comeback against those stupid Obama/Osama people! You know, Palin is only a couple letters off from Stalin...I guess they must really be alike then.

[Sylvia727]

Oh snap! I just realized I now have a comeback against those stupid Obama/Osama people! You know, Palin is only a couple letters off from Stalin...I guess they must really be alike then.

*cackles hysterically*

Thank you. You just made my day.

[CancelMyService]

Apparently there's a story working it's way around the blogs that Palin's fifth child (the one with Down's syndrome who seems to be missing from all the family photos that came out after the announcement) is really the child of Palin's 16 year old daughter. Photos of Palin taken in what would be the late stages of pregnancy don't seem to show much in the way of what you'd expect someone in the last trimester to look. Also the OMGLIBERALMEDIA~! doesn't seem to have any mention of it either, which is probably for the best since it would just give the GOP another chance to play the role of victim being abused by the left wing masses.

I don't really have much of a comment either way on the story other than it certainly adds some more hilarity to her pick as a VP candidate.

What does boggle my mind is how I've seen a few diehard GOP'ers (who were probably going to vote for McCain anyway) being all "I would feel more confident with Palin in charge than Obama".

Really? Why?

I'm serious, why?

No offense to any Alaskans that may post here, but what does running that state prepare someone for in terms of being the second most powerful person in the United States?

The one thing McCain had going for him was the experience gap between him and Obama, and this pick seems to undercut all of that.

I think it's very telling that all of the ads McCain and various GOP groups have produced have been one of three things:

1. Obama isn't experienced enough to lead.
2. Obama is popular, which somehow makes him unfit to lead.
3. Obama is friends with a guy who was associated with a group that set a bomb off in the capital 30+ years ago (complete with 9/11 references for the full TERRA TERRA effect).


Now not only has he negated the only line of attack that was legitimate, all he's left with is tired old republican fear mongering instead of addressing the issues. You may not agree with Obama's take on said issues, but you have to admit he's at least addressing them instead of only focusing on mudslinging.

Having said that, I couldn't help but giggle at the new Obama ad with the remake of the "Don't Know Much" song, complete with the famous Bush-McCain manlove hug photo.

[Boozy]

Apparently there's a story working it's way around the blogs that Palin's fifth child (the one with Down's syndrome who seems to be missing from all the family photos that came out after the announcement) is really the child of Palin's 16 year old daughter.

Highly unlikely. The chances of a child being born with Down's syndrome to a mother under the age of 30 is one in one thousand. The odds for a mother over the age of 40 is one in one hundred. The odds increase exponentially with age, which means that the odds of a 16 year-old giving birth to this child are virtually nil. The vast majority of Down's syndrome babies are born to older moms.

I hope the media doesn't run with this idiotic rumour. For once I'd like to see a election focus on the actual issues.

[CancelMyService]

80% of Down's syndrome cases are born to mothers under 35. Not saying that means the story is true, but it's not impossible either.

[Rapscallion]

I would imagine that would be because most births are to mothers under 35? (I'm guessing at this and have no statistics to back me up, but I think the concept is right).

Rapscallion

[CancelMyService]

I would imagine that would be because most births are to mothers under 35? (I'm guessing at this and have no statistics to back me up, but I think the concept is right).

Rapscallion


Right, the amount of births is a sliding scale as the age of the mother increases so in terms of births there's more babies with Down's born to mothers under 35 but a higher percentage of those above.

[Giggle Goose]

Oh lordy....and her 17-year-old daughter is pregnant. I know this makes them a more "real" family or whatever, but the irony of that happening after she preaches all about values and whatnot is just too delicious.

I know it's off-limits to talk about the kids, but this has a lot to do with Palin's parenting. She probably didn't let her daughter use birth control (since she's SO against it) so she went and got pregnant. Whoops!

[Greenday]

I know it's off-limits to talk about the kids, but this has a lot to do with Palin's parenting. She probably didn't let her daughter use birth control (since she's SO against it) so she went and got pregnant. Whoops!

I bet she didn't even teach her kid about sex at all, not just birth control.

[Amethyst Hunter]

I bet she didn't even teach her kid about sex at all, not just birth control.

Very likely not - Dominionists are staunchly against women having any sort of control over their own bodies at all, hence Palin's extremist stance against reproductive rights. (That, and they believe in the numbers game - outbreeding the "enemy" and making more little "warriors" for God)

[the_std]

Or maybe Palin's daughter did what 90% of teenagers do and rebelled against her parents and went and did all the things she's not supposed to do. Parents can't be held infinitely responsible for their kids actions, especially if the girl is seventeen years old.

The fact that her daughter is a pregnant teenager does not mean that Palin is a bad mother. She might be a bad mom, but that fact alone does not prove it.

[AdminAssistant]

Palin opposes birth control AND sex education. I'm guessing (although I don't know) that she probably prescribes to a 'women do what men tell them to do' policy on relationships, and has preached that to her children. So when boyfriend did what all teenaged males do and started pressuring daughter to have sex, she 1) didn't have a farkin' clue how reproduction works and 2) didn't want to say 'NO'.

It's just a theory, I have a lot of them.

The fact that the daughter is pregnant doesn't make Palin a bad mom. The fact that Palin wants to keep teenagers in the dark regarding the facts of sex and reproduction...well...yeah. Despite the fact that since President Bush has been pushing this "abstinence only" sex ed bullshit, teenage pregnancies have skyrocketed. The fact that Palin has a living example of how "abstinence only" sex education doesn't work in her very family, to me, makes her lose any credibility she might have had as a politician.

This woman scares the living hell out of me. I used to think, "Oh, well, if McCain gets elected, at least it'll be better than Bush". Now I am wholly committed to do everything I can to make sure this nutjob doesn't get into the Chain of Command. *shudder*

[Boozy]

There is an argument to be made that if Palin had educated her daughter about birth control, then this may not have happened.

However, I also remember what it was like to be 17. People tend to be very short-sighted and impetuous at that age, regardless of what kind of liberal education or parenting they have had. I don't judge. One stupid decision and it could have been me.

Like I said, it would be nice if this campaign could focus on the actual issues that will affect millions of Americans and the world.

[Dreamstalker]

I was talking with my mom about this (she didn't know about Dominionism at all!) and she says that Joe Biden will need to tread carefully in the debates because of Palin's gender and McCain knows this (that's why he chose her). Is that true? Maybe.

I think Biden will hand Palin's ass to her anyway. Does McCain have any arguments left (he's obviously lost the 'experience' one)?

[IDrinkaRum]

When I was in high school, we had thorough sex education. We saw the movies, we learned about STDs, condoms, etc. I still knew of girls who got pregnant. Heck, we had a day care for students to leave their kids at so they could go to class. My area in my town is the "affluent" part of the county I live in. High income. 2 working parents. Luxury cars & luxury homes. But girls are still getting pregnant ... funny that.

Obama has said that legislating abortion and thinking about it is "above his pay grade". WTF does that mean anyways?

There are some people who do not believe in abortion and who do believe in abortion. We cannot say who is right and who is wrong. (For the record on me? I'm against both the death penalty and abortion, so there. I'm also a non-practicing Catholic).

[Dreamstalker]

My high school had zero sex ed. What passed for it in "Health class" in junior high was pathetic; seemed like just enough to say they were doing it, but not enough so kids actually learned anything useful. My mom wasn't afraid to let me read her anatomy textbook to fill in the gaps...but back then there weren't all these "protect the chiiildrreeeen" groups, or at least they were still relatively quiet.
Obama has said that legislating abortion and thinking about it is "above his pay grade". WTF does that mean anyways?

???? I don't get that either. Source?

[IDrinkaRum]

Dreamstalker - Found this on YouTube

Above my pay grade? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mem_xEcZHVY)

Pelosi, a Catholic, doesn't reveal much on her party's candidate's words (http://newsbusters.org/blogs/brad-wilmouth/2008/08/25/brokaw-asks-pelosi-about-obama-s-abortion-above-my-pay-grade)

Above pay grade comment not really about abortion but about when babies are considered human - at conception or at birth or something like that? (http://www.palmettoscoop.com/2008/08/16/abortion-above-obamas-pay-grade/)

[Dreamstalker]

Apparently, Palin's speech resulted in nearly 10 million dollars in donations within 24 hours to the Obama campaign.

*wonders how the Republicans are going to explain that one*

[Boozy]

Apparently, Palin's speech resulted in nearly 10 million dollars in donations within 24 hours to the Obama campaign.

Do you have a source?

[Pedersen]

Do you have a source?

I'll provide the source, and I didn't even supply the story.

I did the unimaginable: I typed palin's speech results in nearly 10 millions dollars in donations within 24 hours to the obama campaign (http://www.google.com/search?q=palin's+speech+resulted+in+nearly+10+mill ion+dollars+in+donations+within+24+hours+to+the+ob ama+campaign), and the very first result is entitled Daily Kos: Thank you Sarah Palin, for the $10 million donation (http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/5/05539/51610/382/587462).

And, funny thing, it seems to talk about just that. Strange. Whoda thunk it?

[AdminAssistant]

Apparently, Palin's speech resulted in nearly 10 million dollars in donations within 24 hours to the Obama campaign.

*wonders how the Republicans are going to explain that one*

I can explain it. John McCain is far enough towards the middle to make moderate Democrats somewhat comfortable. Like, "Well, if our guy doesn't win, that's okay, because either way, it's an improvement!" I felt that way. I don't agree with all of his policies, but I certainly respect McCain as a politician and leader.

Palin? As ridiculously far right as you can get. So congrats to McCain on securing the batshitcrazy ultra-Christian-conservative vote, at the expense of rallying people against the VP choice.

[MadMike]

I'll provide the source, and I didn't even supply the story.


Now THAT is just hilarious! :D

[Boozy]

I'll provide the source, and I didn't even supply the story.

I did the unimaginable: I typed palin's speech results in nearly 10 millions dollars in donations within 24 hours to the obama campaign (http://www.google.com/search?q=palin's+speech+resulted+in+nearly+10+mill ion+dollars+in+donations+within+24+hours+to+the+ob ama+campaign), and the very first result is entitled Daily Kos: Thank you Sarah Palin, for the $10 million donation (http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/5/05539/51610/382/587462).

And, funny thing, it seems to talk about just that. Strange. Whoda thunk it?

Thank you, Pedersen.

I was making the suggestion that members who post details drawn from current news stories might consider posting a link where at all possible (although it's not required by any means). I thought Dreamstalker might have had one handy. It's usually preferable to have a link so that we're all reading off the same page.

As I said, it's not required, just very much appreciated. :)

[Dreamstalker]

Sorry about that, I had heard it from my boss first and the computer I was using was refusing to do web searches...someone beat me to it though :p I'll definitely remember next time.

[Boozy]

It's no problem at all. Like I said, I just thought you might have a link handy.

[Amethyst Hunter]

It's good to see mainstream media is catching on bit by bit. Here's some more browsing material...




Time Magazine reports on Palin's questions about possible book-banning:
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1837918,00.html (NOTE: Snopes has already disproven that there were actually any banned books; however, it is clear enough that at the very least Palin *was* asking about the possibility of doing so at an undefined point in time.)

Apparently, Palin thinks it's pretty funny when a radio shock jock calls one of her Alaskan opponents a "bitch" and a "cancer." She laughs at it:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/31/palin-laughs-as-opponent_n_122776.html (NOTE: The video link in the story was removed by YouTube (how interesting...). To hear the audio, click the hotlink reading "full clip" above it.)

In keeping with her abrasive personality, this one's unconfirmed, but I wouldn't be surprised if there was some basis to it - Sarah Palin is reported to have said "So Sambo beat the bitch," when she heard about Obama's win over Hillary:
http://www.laprogressive.com/2008/09/05/alaskans-speak-in-a-frightened-whisper-palin-is-%E2%80%9Cracist-sexist-vindictive-and-mean%E2%80%9D/

Watch a McCain spokesman repeatedly rebuff the question as Campbell Brown keeps asking for an example of Palin utilizing the national guard:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxMCp1vydEI

McCain evidently got his nose so out of joint after this interview that he threw a tantrum and canceled a CNN appearance:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/02/mccain-goes-vindictive-on_n_123320.html

An ABC commentary on the infamous Troopergate:
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=5724378&page=1

Hunting non-endangered animals within reasonable regulation is fine; however, I think most of us (with the exception of Palin) can agree that shooting wolves from a plane is not very sportsmanlike:
http://www.slate.com/id/2199140/

Palin doesn't think polar bears should be listed as a "threatened" species, because their inclusion on that list might jeopardize Alaska's oil pipeline prospects (remember, she comes from an oil family):
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jiV2WBHEmiS0_TAkxcdOD_WFHDkAD92S4MS04

A critical examination of Palin's acceptance speech:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080904/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_fact_check

Palin is said to have billed the taxpayers for nights she spent at her house, as well as charging them for her kids' travel expenses when the family went out of town. This may or may not be accepted standard practice depending on Alaska's government, but it's rather odd, no?:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/09/09/ST2008090900325.html?sid=ST2008090900325&s_pos=top

A great summary of why Palin is a terrible idea for this country: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/07/opinion/07rich.html?ex=1378440000&en=20cbb79ef0bedc51&ei=5124&partner=facebook&exprod=facebook

Sarah Palin "won't rule out" war with Russia. You read that right. War. With. Russia. Because hot wars with Russia always turn out so well for the non-Russia side:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-palin12sep12,0,555508.story Putting all else - even her extreme anti-choice views - about her aside, this alone makes me say OH HELL *NO* to a Palin candidacy.

Not only does Palin not support abortion for rape and/or incest victims, as mayor, she made Wasilla the only place in Alaska requiring rape victims to pay for their own rape test kits:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jacob-alperinsheriff/sarah-palin-instituted-ra_b_125833.html

The New York Times is asking questions, and finding some unsurprising answers:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/us/politics/14palin.html?_r=2&hp=&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

Also from the Times, Maureen Dowd does a piece on Palin:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/opinion/14dowd.html?_r=2&hp&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

A great blog post from someone who attended the "Alaska Women Reject Sarah Palin Rally." The rally wound up having a higher turnout than Palin's official rally!:
http://mudflats.wordpress.com/2008/09/14/alaska-women-reject-palin-rally-is-huge/

Salon.com weighs in:
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/09/17/palin_mayor/

And the rest of the country is catching on now that the glitz has worn off - Palin's fallen 10 points in the polls since Sept. 13th:
http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/stumper/archive/2008/09/16/palin-s-favorability-ratings-begin-to-falter.aspx

[CancelMyService]

Honestly I think everyone was just kind of surprised at the pick and after the initial shock wore off, everyone's kind of "uhhh, yeah I don't know about this".