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Roger Ebert on Sarah Palin: The American Idol candidate
I think I might be able to explain some of Sarah Palin’s appeal. She’s the “American Idol” candidate. Consider. What defines an “American Idol” finalist? They’re good-looking, work well on television, have a sunny personality, are fierce competitors, and so talented, why, they’re darned near the real thing. There’s a reason “American Idol” gets such high ratings. People identify with the contestants. They think, Hey, that could be me up there on that show!
My problem is, I don’t want to be up there. I don’t want a vice president who is darned near good enough. I want a vice president who is better, wiser, well-traveled, has met world leaders, who three months ago had an opinion on Iraq. Someone who doesn’t repeat bald- faced lies about earmarks and the Bridge to Nowhere. Someone who doesn’t appoint Alaskan politicians to “study” global warming, because, hello! It has been studied. The returns are convincing enough that John McCain and Barack Obama are darned near in agreement.
Here’s some of what she said in her interview with ABC’s Charlie Gibson. Forget American Idol, I wonder if a beauty contestant would give answers like… Oh, that’s right. She once was one.
Uncle Dave said, “I don’t want a vice president who is darned near good enough. I want a vice president who is better, wiser, well-traveled, has met world leaders, who three months ago had an opinion on Iraq.”
So, if you want that in a VP, you want a pres with more. So, that means your not voting for Obama.
It’s like one of those questions:
If Tommy is taller than John,
and John is taller than Fred…
#1 – Paddy-O
Both the President AND the Vice President should be competent. 50% isn’t good enough.
Personally, I don’t want a candidate who is cuter, sunnier, or who I’d like to have a beer with (or a screw with for that matter). I just want someone who would think before speaking (or shooting), who would consider all variable of complex equations and would be smart enough to consider a bigger picture and a longer-term view. I don’t dislike McCain or Palin, I even kinda like them. I just don’t think they are wise enough or patient enough to lead this country. And Obama? He is young and may not have experience (what is that experience, anyways?), but he is a thinker and he knows how to keep his cool.
#2 “Both the President AND the Vice President should be competent. 50% isn’t good enough.”
Yep, tough election choice this year…
#3 – Proud Alien
Good post.
Not sure if you saw this. Pretty nasty stuff:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/11/14119/1262/889/595083
What would simon say? probably a lot of things that should be said. I don’t need another religious cook trying to run things here, biting off other people’s (Obama’s) advertisement. Everything that comes out of a republican’s mouth and ad for them this month so far has such a spin the off balance alarm is going off, and stupid “Small Town” America is too stupid to notice.
What’s Palin’s IQ? McCain’s is just barely enough to get him a few places above dead last at Annapolis—about 894 out of 899, if memory serves—but how smart is Sarah, anyhow?
I’m guessing. 110 at the most. 97 is probable. Not as a measure of the woman, mind, but as a measure of the decision maker, her talents appear to lie outside analysis and inspired intuition—more in the “feelgood” category of manipulation.
So far, she has repeated the “Thanks but no thanks” lie dozens of times and commentators have busted her chops on it time and again, but the feelgood message—though fraudulent—keeps packing them in.
Oh, America. How far outside the world will you sink?
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.
Sarah joke: “Honest to God, Charlie, everybody knows that you don’t screw in a light bulb; you screw in a bed.”
Jeez was the whole interview nothing but soft pitches like those? All Gibson did was play straight man and let her go on about how she’d stop at nothing to protect American lives.
Palin is really GWB in a younger, sweeter and sexier package, but still dumb as dogshit.
Doesnt it worry you Americans that these morons have access to the launch codes? Personally I prefer the one with the finger on the button to be able to pronounce ‘nuclear’.
Plus, she has squishy knockers.
Palin reminds me of Bush, full of the confidence that faith in Jesus gives her. She, like Bush, can call on God for wisdom at any time to help compensate for her own shortcomings. Unfortunately, once these people feel led by God to do something, following any other course would be tantamount to rejecting God’s will. That’s a definite no-no in Christian circles. If I read her correctly, she’s a dyed-in-the-wool Evangelical with a personal relationship with Jesus. Yikes!
I’d feel less apprehensive of a Republican victory if McCain were 10 or 20 years younger and in robust good health. If the company that makes political action figures is open to new ideas, my suggestion would be “Sarah Palin, the Sexy Nurse” who can care for McCain in his declining years (while Cindy plays tennis).
How old is the Earth, Failin’ Palin? We all need you to answer that particular question please..
LOL She is toast. Nice interview. I bet you Republicans are all proud and secure in your choice for VP. Too bad she will cost you the election.
Keep backing and promoting her. She has just become your Albatross.
Um, yeaaahhhhhhh.
“…I believe in — that Jesus Christ died for my sins, and that I am redeemed through him. That is a source of strength and sustenance on a daily basis. Yes, I know that I don’t walk alone. And I know that if I can get myself out of the way, that I can maybe carry out in some small way what he intends. And it means that those sins that I have on a fairly regular basis, hopefully will be washed away. ”
Yeah, that Palin is such a fundie…oh wait, Obama said that.
There are plenty of things to dislike about Palin, but I just can’t believe that an Obama supporter would complain about her religion when he comes off as just as much of a whack job as her
“I just can’t believe that an Obama supporter would complain about her religion when he comes off as just as much of a whack job as her”
Yes they both have silly beliefs. The difference is that Palin thinks her beliefs should be used to govern. Obama does not.
The Republicans are like a self-parody this year and, yet, somehow most Americans aren’t even noticing.
I mean, for example, when McCain did that ad comparing Obama to Paris Hilton, was he not even thinking about Sarah Palin?
I mean, for goodness sake, who seems more like Paris Hilton — Obama or Palin?
#13 – Angel, you horny bastard
>>Plus, she has squishy knockers.
That’s the big draw.
After her watching her TWO TIMES on TV tonight, I realize that my trained parrot could give better answers than she does.
If she looked like President Cheney/Rove, she’da been Gong Showed by Chuck Barris himself.
Talk about all sizzle, no steak. She makes Brittney Spears look like Winston Churchill.
Sheesh.
No steak? She stopped the bridge to nowhere, while Obama and Biden voted for it. Plus the vote was to give the money for the bridge instead of relief from Hurricane Katrina!
I’d agree with Uncle Dave, about a VP being more seasoned, rather than just attractive. If I didn’t believe the post is just for show.
I’ve been noticing this policy of large corporations and federal departments, hiring female spokespersons, to handle the tough questions from the press. Back when Mike Wallace had teeth (60 Minutes). Male spokesmen were easy to take to task about their company’s actions. And then the middle aged spokeswomen start to appear. And male investigative reporters couldn’t brow-beat them, because it would look bad. And every major Fed department got them too. I suspect this is why Bush appointed Rice as State department head. It’s all about deflecting the hard questions, with a female who can claim ignorance now and then. Because obviously, she’s not privy to what the old boy network is up to. Palin could end up being McCain’s pretty excuse face. So he won’t have to try explaining policy badly, as George Bush does. She does have a BS in Communication Journalism. The GOP has probably decided that’s a big plus after a Prez who can barely put to thoughts together.
Also, I’m not sure anyone from Alaska should be in charge of the rest of us, who live in normal daylight – nighttime cycles. Those six month long daylight and night cycles, have got to mess with one’s head. It’s a bit like having a vampire as VP. Or like someone who thinks they lived on forever sunny Mt. Olympus.
As a Brit looking on I wasn’t up to now particularly worried about who would win in November. After all McCain has got to be better than Bush, but now with Palin on the ticket everything has changed. For us Europeans, Palin looks like just more of the same and she could well become president which for those who like conspiracy theories would think is probably the plan.
The liberal reputation for being elitist and condescending is every bit earned. They can’t stop themselves and don’t even know they’re doing it. Fun to watch as people are noticing now.
#25 Elitist and condescending is one thing but openly cheering on a complete dunce just because shes YOUR complete dunce is MORE OF THE SAME in my book.
Nothing to do with politics, I just find her style irritating. Not as irritating as Al Sharpton, but pretty darn close.
I got it! Her voice reminds me of Hedy LaRue from the film version of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.
OK, Charlie!
#17 – QB
Palin doesn’t know much about the world or national and international politics… and people are willing to vote her into a position where she’s the potential President of the United States of America… Scary… very scary…
That little gal gona eat you libs lunch.