An ongoing, eclectic commentary on Unitarian Universalism, after retirement from active ministry--as I see it, practice it, and love it, with sidebars on life, love and the pursuit of happiness.
Monday, November 30, 2009
I JUST DON'T GET IT
13 comments:
Elz
said...
At American Thanksgiving Saturday Night in Montreal, we were rather cautious as to who had selected these snippets and whether these folks are actually typical. We felt that there might have been more informed conservatives in that crowd who didn't serve the agenda of the interviewers.
You could come up with an equally ignorant group from any other part of the political spectrum, especially if you tried. After all, how many of us REALLY knew what Obama would do when he became president?
Oh, I guess that is what we in Norway call "one-sided-journalism". What do you call it in America? I am sure you also would find Americans saying different and more wise things. But it would not be that great show.
In particular I enjoyed the lady saying to get rid of the polar bears in order to drill for oil. Yeah, you go lady :-)
I am sure U*Us also would find Unitarians saying and doing different and more wise things than U*U COP and Juan Vera. But it would not be that great a show either. . . :-)
This sounds just like the folks who were at her book signing in Grand Rapids, MI. All the news stations carried it and the reporters seemed as excited as those in line, so I didn't sense any bias on their part. Very few of the comments were substantive; but the consensus was that she can "give America back to the people". I think she appeals most to those who feel that their way of life is threatened. MichiganME
But is there anything substantive that can be said in favor of this person's candidacy for president of the US?
She's sharp, she's charismatic, and she's got administrative experience in both government and business. She's also got a history of breaking up good old boy networks and bucking her party when she thought it was right.
She's got experience as a state governor in the largest and possibly the most male-dominated state in the union. Fourteen of our 43 presidents so far were state governors before achieving the presidency. As governor, she had consistently high approval ratings and made a name for herself by cutting costs and living modestly.
If we want to get into identity politics, she'd be the first woman president, the first president married to an ethnic minority, and the first northwesterner in the White House. (That last appeals to me.)
I think she also has an advantage in that she knows a president can't solve all of America's problems, which our current president is just now finding out to his dismay. However, she does make a good picture as our representative to the rest of the world, and that's an important part of the presidency.
Okay, scratch that. I don't know where my brain was at. The current president is also married to a member of a minority. However, the Palins would be the first biracial family in the White House, which is still a milestone.
Although he doesn't admit it, Barack Obama is not technically "Black" but "Biracial." And if that were the qualification to make someone president, someone could have been found long ago.
The key question with Palin is her husband's massive involvement in the day-to-day acts of governance. There are many reports of his attending meetings, with and without her. I think our experience with the Clintons showed us that people want the chance to vote for the person who exercises that kind of power.
I get it. The dark side of the force is always at work. Fox "news" is on 24/7 spouting lies. Rush is on all day spouting lies. Some of them will stick among the uneducated and the bigoted among us. The R trend is to appeal to the lowest common denominator.
13 comments:
At American Thanksgiving Saturday Night in Montreal, we were rather cautious as to who had selected these snippets and whether these folks are actually typical. We felt that there might have been more informed conservatives in that crowd who didn't serve the agenda of the interviewers.
You could come up with an equally ignorant group from any other part of the political spectrum, especially if you tried. After all, how many of us REALLY knew what Obama would do when he became president?
Oh, I guess that is what we in Norway call "one-sided-journalism". What do you call it in America? I am sure you also would find Americans saying different and more wise things. But it would not be that great show.
In particular I enjoyed the lady saying to get rid of the polar bears in order to drill for oil. Yeah, you go lady :-)
True enough Knut.
I am sure U*Us also would find Unitarians saying and doing different and more wise things than U*U COP and Juan Vera. But it would not be that great a show either. . . :-)
This sounds just like the folks who were at her book signing in Grand Rapids, MI. All the news stations carried it and the reporters seemed as excited as those in line, so I didn't sense any bias on their part. Very few of the comments were substantive; but the consensus was that she can "give America back to the people". I think she appeals most to those who feel that their way of life is threatened. MichiganME
This is exactly how Bush was elected in 2004. Fox "News". I don't get it either!
I agree that the video may well have been edited to display only the most ignorant comments; you can't believe everything you see or hear.
But is there anything substantive that can be said in favor of this person's candidacy for president of the US?
What would you suggest?
Oops! I overlooked the "private" piece, Robin. Sorry.
But is there anything substantive that can be said in favor of this person's candidacy for president of the US?
She's sharp, she's charismatic, and she's got administrative experience in both government and business. She's also got a history of breaking up good old boy networks and bucking her party when she thought it was right.
She's got experience as a state governor in the largest and possibly the most male-dominated state in the union. Fourteen of our 43 presidents so far were state governors before achieving the presidency. As governor, she had consistently high approval ratings and made a name for herself by cutting costs and living modestly.
If we want to get into identity politics, she'd be the first woman president, the first president married to an ethnic minority, and the first northwesterner in the White House. (That last appeals to me.)
I think she also has an advantage in that she knows a president can't solve all of America's problems, which our current president is just now finding out to his dismay. However, she does make a good picture as our representative to the rest of the world, and that's an important part of the presidency.
Is that enough to be said?
the first president married to an ethnic minority
Okay, scratch that. I don't know where my brain was at. The current president is also married to a member of a minority. However, the Palins would be the first biracial family in the White House, which is still a milestone.
Although he doesn't admit it, Barack Obama is not technically "Black" but "Biracial." And if that were the qualification to make someone president, someone could have been found long ago.
The key question with Palin is her husband's massive involvement in the day-to-day acts of governance. There are many reports of his attending meetings, with and without her. I think our experience with the Clintons showed us that people want the chance to vote for the person who exercises that kind of power.
I get it. The dark side of the force is always at work. Fox "news" is on 24/7 spouting lies. Rush is on all day spouting lies. Some of them will stick among the uneducated and the bigoted among us. The R trend is to appeal to the lowest common denominator.
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