Vox Day on Sarah Palin
By Amir | September 7, 2008
Vox raises some of the concerns I have, only from a different angle.
One of my initial concerns was that–by identifying herself as a feminist (she’s a member of Feminists for Life, a pro-life feminist group)–she betrays a potential affinity toward nanny statism.
(For the record: I was once a member of FFLA, but chose not to continue as my politics became increasingly libertarian and I began to see that–while I lauded their pro-life position–they were too socialist than I found comforting.)
Vox, in turn, relays a letter from someone who knows Palin and is on friendly terms with her, and expresses that very concern.
While I am less-concerned that she was a sportscaster and beauty queen–I can’t knock her for capitalizing on those opportunities–he is rightfully concerned that she may find herself coopted and corrupted by a system that she seeks to change. If she has socialist tendencies, she may very well find herself at home in Washington.
The issue is whether she believes that government is the solution to social problems or, does she believe, as The Gipper did, that government IS the problem.
On one hand, she said a lot of the right things this past Wednesday. She mentioned that she is not intending to become part of the permanent political class, and that she is not looking for the media’s good opinion. Those were Reaganesque Statements, and–if she’s for real–she may find herself mentioned in that company before her political career ends.
On the other hand, if she’s going to be for more federal programs at a time we need to be scaling those back, then McPalin will only be another 4 years of Bush, only the Veep will be better-looking. She may advance the ranks, even become President one day. But government will only get bigger in volume and structure.
With Reagan, we got structural deregulation even though the volume of government increased. The latter was beyond his control, as Congress declared his budget proposals dead on arrival.
McCain and Palin have records as fiscal conservatives while their critics are rightfully concerned about their possible tendency to support more government structure when we need less of it.
Topics: News/Commentary | 2 Comments »
My Guy married to Everymom
By Ame | September 7, 2008
The first time I read this article, which Amir and I have discussed here and here, I wondered what Ellen thought was so wrong with being Everycouple:
“Don’t misunderstand: I would not, could not disparage my marriage (not on a train, not in the rain, not in a house, not with a mouse). After 192 months, Will and I remain if not happily married, then steadily so. Our marital state is Indiana, say, or Connecticut — some red areas, more blue. Less than bliss, better than disaster. We are arguably, to my wide-ish range of reference, Everycouple.” (emphasis mine)
Or what she thought was so wrong with being Everyman:
“Nor is Will the Very Bad Man that I’ve made him out to be. Rather, like every other male I know, he is merely a Moderately Bad Man, the kind of man who will leave his longboat-sized shoes directly in the flow of our home’s traffic so that one day I’ll trip over them, break my neck, and die, after which he’ll walk home from the morgue, grief-stricken, take off his shoes with a heavy heart, and leave them in the center of the room until they kill the housekeeper. Everyman.” (emphasis mine)
Or what she thought was so wrong with being Everymarriage:
“Still, beneath the thumpingly ordinary nature of our marriage — Everymarriage –runs the silent chyron of divorce. It’s the scarlet concept, the closely held contemplation of nearly every woman I know who has children who have been out of diapers for at least two years and a husband who won’t be in them for another 30. It’s the secret reverie of a demographic that freely discusses postpartum depression, eating disorders, and Ambien dependence (often all in the same sentence) with the plain candor of golden brown toast. In a let-it-all-hang-out culture, this is the given that stays tucked in.” (emphasis mine)
So when I read this article, I found poignant the reference of Everymom:
“And in the brief time that McCain and Palin have been campaigning since she introduced herself to the nation, many women at their events have said they identify with her personal struggles.
“She’s every mom,” said Lindsey Denny, a mother of 7, including a set of quintuplets, two of whom have special needs like Palin’s infant son with Down syndrome. Denny said Palin’s inclusion on the ticket was “110 percent” the reason why she went to see her Saturday.” (emphasis mine)
Which caused me to wonder, further still, the poignancy of being married to he’s STILL My Guy?
“Todd is a story all by himself.
He’s a lifelong commercial fisherman … a production operator in the oil fields of Alaska’s North Slope … a proud member of the United Steel Workers’ Union … and world champion snow machine racer.
Throw in his Yup’ik Eskimo ancestry, and it all makes for quite a package.
We met in high school, and two decades and five children later he’s still my guy.” (emphasis mine)
~Ame~
Topics: News/Commentary | No Comments »
Palin’s Church Focuses on Turning Gays Straight
By Amir | September 7, 2008
That could be effective if Palin is in that church. If I were gay, she’d make a straightie out of me.
Topics: News/Commentary, Humor, Politics | No Comments »
Obama Does a Quayle…Again
By Amir | September 6, 2008
Hat tip to Vox Day for this.
As a lifelong Penn State fan, I find Obama’s lack of knowlege of the Penn State Nittany Lions to be treasonous.
I went to the Penn State-Pitt game in 1982, which Penn State won. They would go on to beat Herschel Walker and the Georgia Bulldogs, giving JoePa his first National Championship.
Todd Blackledge…Curt Warner…Greg Garrity…Kenny Jackson. Heroes all!
And the Pitt team they beat? Their QB was none other than Dan Marino.
Topics: News/Commentary, Politics, Sports | 2 Comments »
We’re On the Hook for Fannie and Freddie Now
By Amir | September 5, 2008
We are getting a backdoor albatross, to the tune of $5 trillion.
Howmuchyawannabet this doesn’t get much attention in the election season?
A trillion here…a trillion there…pretty soon we’ll be talking about real money!
Topics: News/Commentary, Economics/Finance, Politics | No Comments »
In Her First Test, Palin Delivered
By Amir | September 5, 2008
She’s not out of the woods yet, but–if Wednesday night was any indication–the conservative wing of the Republican Party may have found their next great star in Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.
She will have more challenges. The scrutiny over her troopergate scandal may be more sizzle than steak, but she will have to answer for her role. From what I have seen, it appears to be petty, but she’ll still need to answer the questions in a straightforward manner.
But her biggest challenge will be October 2, when she goes head-to-head with Sen. Joseph Biden (D-DE). Her job is probably going to be the hardest of all, because–as a Veep candidate–she must look Presidential, present the case for her leadership, and even land some shots on O’Biden (intentional spelling), while not making the debate about her or Biden, and without committing any Dan Quayle bloopers.
If she delivers on October 2, she’ll have a promising future irrespective of what happens in November. If McCain wins, she will be the Vice President; in all likelihood, she would go on to be a formidable Presidential contender. If McCain loses, she goes back to being a governor, and in 4 years will be the GOP frontrunner.
For now, the GOP has reason to celebrate, as Palin was the key reason the GOP convention shattered ratings records set by the DNC convention. Her performance has stimulated the financial backers, and that will be very critical as the race gets tight. The conservative base–very tepid with McCain–is extremely energized.
If Palin commits minimal blunders, and performs well against Biden, then the O’Biden ticket will have to hope for an October Surprise.
Topics: News/Commentary, Politics | 1 Comment »
My $0.02 on Palin-McCain Performances
By Amir | September 5, 2008
Ilana Mercer says it all.
Topics: News/Commentary, Politics | 1 Comment »
Underwhelmed by the McCain Speech Last Night
By Amir | September 5, 2008
I’d bet that most conservatives wish Palin was on the front end of that ticket.
Topics: News/Commentary, Politics | 10 Comments »
Black Bear Busts Pot Farm
By Amir | September 5, 2008
Looks like bears enjoy getting high, too.
Topics: News/Commentary, Humor | 19 Comments »
Exchange of the Day
By Amir | September 5, 2008
“Jeff”, commenting at Boundless, said this:
As Christians, we are called to let go of property.
To which Farmer Tom responded:
Ok, I want everything you have, all of it, your wife, your car, your money, everything. I even want your job.
Now, who is right here, you our me? You claim that we are to let go of our property. You quote a verse to back your position, great. Hand it over. You win. Now you can be super spiritual. Give it all to me. I’ll do with it as I please. It’s no longer yours, it’s mine.
Topics: News/Commentary, Christian Life, Politics | 8 Comments »
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