people with a real education, a real interest in national and international affairs, and who aren't inclined to use positions of governmental power to carry out personal vendettas?

heaven forbid.

What intense scrutiny has she come under? I mean, seriously, WTF?

Being asked what newspapers she reads?

kmmontandon: What intense scrutiny has she come under? I mean, seriously, WTF?

Being asked what newspapers she reads?

Be fair. She has to run Alaska, deal with big oil over drilling in ANWAR, fix breakfast for the kids, take Bristol to LaMaze, make sure that Bristol's fiance hasn't escaped from his shackles, change the oil on Todd's snowmobile, field dress a moose, smile for cameras and keep an eye on Putin.

You can't expect her to remember the names of the 37 newspapers she reads daily, can you?

I presume the massive double standards in the portrayal of family values, international affairs and fiscal responsibility between Liberals and Conservatives that the media enthusiastically relays from most conservative outlets straight to its viewer/readership doesn't count as unfair scrutiny?

Intense scrutiny? Being interviewed by Katie Couric is not intense scrutiny. It is a softball league. You can even hit the ball drunk.

burndtdan: people with a real education, a real interest in national and international affairs, and who aren't inclined to use positions of governmental power to carry out personal vendettas?

heaven forbid.

And for the win.

Intense scrutiny?!?

"What newspapers do you read?"
"Name ONE supreme court decision you disagree with"
"What do you think about the economic bailout plan?"

WTF? Intense scrutiny is throwing her on Meet The Press for an hour, which is what every other candidate has done. She can't even handle Katie Couric!!!!

When I heard that question/"answer" about the newspapers and magazines I didn't have enough faces to palm.

She's the Governor of Alaska and she couldn't even say "Well, I start off with the Anchorage Daily News and the Fairbanks News-Miner, of course?"

And what adult American politician couldn't rattle off the names of Time, Newsweek, U.S. News and World Report, the Washington Post, New York Times and Wall Street Journal?

Even if she DOESN'T read those, could there be a simpler, more ubiquitous list of publications?

Jamespoon: I presume the massive double standards in the portrayal of family values, international affairs and fiscal responsibility between Liberals and Conservatives that the media enthusiastically relays from most conservative outlets straight to its viewer/readership doesn't count as unfair scrutiny?

It's the same double standards you see in the culture wars.

Openly insult and make fun of New York and California? Folksy and standard.
Hint that there may be problems in rural America? F*** you, America-hater.

Benjamin Franklin famously said that "a Republic, if you can keep it". At this rate, I have my doubts.

Obama, McCain, and Biden have been under intense scrutiny their entire political careers. Palin? Who the hell is she? We only have weeks to figure it out before she, maybe, becomes Vice President of the United States.

So, yes, this scrutiny is EXACTLY what the media is for. It's their duty. Suck it up, Palin, and give us answers.

Mr. Coffee Nerves: When I heard that question/"answer" about the newspapers and magazines I didn't have enough faces to palm.

i just wished i could have palmed her face.

SLAP!

Mr. Coffee Nerves: She's the Governor of Alaska and she couldn't even say "Well, I start off with the Anchorage Daily News and the Fairbanks News-Miner, of course?"

In fairness, since she reads all of them, she probably doesn't have a set order.

I wish all the candidates were under actual intense scrutiny, and before they're nominated... when they're in the primaries. But now is a good time to start.

If I could ask Palin anything, I'd ask her to define "victory" in Iraq. I genuinely want to know why Obama/Biden's 16 month withdrawal/handover of the country to its own leadership is a "surrender" and what constitutes a victory if that does not.

Mr. Coffee Nerves: When I heard that question/"answer" about the newspapers and magazines I didn't have enough faces to palm.

This is a good idea. I'm going to start face palming other people around me whenever Palin says something stupid.

Palin: WHAAAARRRRRGARBLE

Me: Woo hoo! *sticks hand in face of cubicle neighbor*

Police: We told you to stop that. *tase*

It's okay.

This "journalist" is one of the contrary at all costs far-right self-styled shock writers.

She's been pushing the anti-left (or even middle, depending on the issue) thing up the hill for years and years. Big John Howard supporter when he had his reign. She is the equivalent of Foxy Adam's Apple in the States.

Not looked upon as anyone worth listening to by anyone who's read a book that doesn't have "non-toxic and bath safe" written on it.

If the left said the sky was blue, she'd argue that it was the global warming doomsayers who don't have any evidence of blue, etc etc.

burndtdan: people with a real education, a real interest in national and international affairs, and who aren't inclined to use positions of governmental power to carry out personal vendettas?

heaven forbid.

THIS!

Well, when we get into really dire straits, we still have Mark Knopfler to represent us.

If a male VP candidate came out with all of the things Palin has said, you can be damn sure that he wouldn't be the VP candidate anymore.

Of course, she wasn't picked for her brain, but for her lack of a penis.

Demetrius: If a male VP candidate came out with all of the things Palin has said, you can be damn sure that he wouldn't be the VP candidate anymore.

Of course, she wasn't picked for her brain, but for her lack of a penis.


Better yet, picture her words coming from an entirely different woman say...Madeline Albright.

Demetrius: Of course, she wasn't picked for her brain, but for her lack of a penis.

This was the stumbling point for Romney. While his broad conservative appeal and roof-dogging ways made him an ideal running mate, he balked at the "chopping your penis off for America" part of joining the ticket.

DamnYankees: Jamespoon: I presume the massive double standards in the portrayal of family values, international affairs and fiscal responsibility between Liberals and Conservatives that the media enthusiastically relays from most conservative outlets straight to its viewer/readership doesn't count as unfair scrutiny?

It's the same double standards you see in the culture wars.

Openly insult and make fun of New York and California? Folksy and standard.
Hint that there may be problems in rural America? F*** you, America-hater.


When I first moved downstate, I would hear things like this all the time. People who've lived in rural Illinois their whole lives spent an inordinate amount of time deriding the crime, corruption, and sin of Chicagoland once they found out that's where I'm from.

That insulting someone's hometown like that could be insulting never crosses their minds, especially when downstate is more moral, cleaner, and how can you be bored when church has socials every weekend and Chambana is a mere 40 minutes away?

I really get sick of the assumption that small towns are inherently better than cities.

/anyone in Chicago/Milwaukee looking to hire a tech writer?

"But if everyone was as unqualified as same intense scrutiny applied to Palin were applied to other political candidates, democracy would be in dire straits. Who would be left to represent us?"

The U.S. spent $70 million investigating Mr. Clinton. What's your point?

Mr. Coffee Nerves: Even if she DOESN'T read those, could there be a simpler, more ubiquitous list of publications?

She could say, and would probably be pretty close to the truth, that her assistants clip stories for her to read and/or brief her about news events, and she hasn't had time to actually sit down to read a newspaper or magazine in quite awhile.

But that would be, I don't know, reasonable. Maybe it sounds too elitist to have assistants.

Jubeebee: DamnYankees: Jamespoon: I presume the massive double standards in the portrayal of family values, international affairs and fiscal responsibility between Liberals and Conservatives that the media enthusiastically relays from most conservative outlets straight to its viewer/readership doesn't count as unfair scrutiny?

It's the same double standards you see in the culture wars.

Openly insult and make fun of New York and California? Folksy and standard.
Hint that there may be problems in rural America? F*** you, America-hater.


When I first moved downstate, I would hear things like this all the time. People who've lived in rural Illinois their whole lives spent an inordinate amount of time deriding the crime, corruption, and sin of Chicagoland once they found out that's where I'm from.

That insulting someone's hometown like that could be insulting never crosses their minds, especially when downstate is more moral, cleaner, and how can you be bored when church has socials every weekend and Chambana is a mere 40 minutes away?

I really get sick of the assumption that small towns are inherently better than cities.

/anyone in Chicago/Milwaukee looking to hire a tech writer?

I'm originally from a town of 1000, and the double standard even pisses me off.

For one, how many small towns practically brag about being "the meth capital."

GAT_00: Well, when we get into really dire straits, we still have Mark Knopfler to represent us.

But he's so far away from us!

This is sickening.

Scrutiny?

More like a lynching.

If Obama wins, the daily ass covering for him by the media will be a hoot to watch. It's unprecedented so far. The guy is setting records for going far on very little.


I really get sick of the assumption that small towns are inherently better than cities.

Works both ways. Bill Maher said on The Daily Show the other night that there were two Americas. The sophisticated, Europe-like America and redneck, hick America.

Even Jon Stewart's audience was put off by that.

The thing is the Couric question about naming a Supreme Court decision she disagreed with, WAS a softball question. Couric undoubtedly knew that Palin had issued written press releases and made public statements condemning the Court's decision in the Exxon Valdez damages matter, just 3 months back or so.

Couric was giving her the set up to simply recall that in that one of the few issues that has ever been decided directly tied to Alaska and one which Palin was known for complaining about and Palin couldn't even remember it. That wasn't something she needed to be "schooled" or "coached" on, she should have known that is it was an issue directly tied to her function as the Governor of Alaska.

Fail indeed.

GAT_00: Well, when we get into really dire straits, we still have Mark Knopfler to represent us.

The taxpayers certainly aren't getting their money for nothing, so I'm not sure Knopfler can do the job.

Intense scrutiny? Like the Fark Independents^(R) have been flailing in the general direction of Obama/Biden praying feverently that it will hit, much less stick?

We seem to be doing pretty alright.

Really? The job is public speaking right, whats difficult about "What papers do you read?"
Answer : Anchorage Times, but then I will read the Times and the Wall Street journal on line.
Just say something coherent. The expectation is that the person taking the job will be able to express themselves in some manner that makes sense and calms the public in times of trouble. A wink when the economy is collapsing does not calm me.

DamnYankees: Openly insult and make fun of New York and California? Folksy and standard.
Hint that there may be problems in rural America? F*** you, America-hater.

I see you've met my dumbshiat brother-in-law.

Yes, I think that if there is one thing we can agree on, it is that the standards we use to pick our lawmakers are far too strict. We should pick leaders who are "Feisty" and have "Gumption"

Well then maybe stupid biatches shouldn't run for office.

The ability to answer minor questions on civics and policy for a would-be office holder?
To respond with the name of ONE major newspaper, never mind if she actually reads it or not?

The ability to name a Supreme Court case she disagreed with?
These are not minor issues. Would you hire a CEO who had no idea what the company they wanted to run did and simply said "I'm going to do what's best for the stockholders"? Would you willingly go into surgery with a surgeon who can't name any medical journals that they read, who went to five medical schools in four years and simply asked you to trust them to do what's right?

Of course you wouldn't. And yet, we're being asked to hire a vice president who has only the faintest inkling of what the job entails.

Can you imagine if other politicians, Like Joe "Six Pack" Biden were intensely interrogated on such demanding issues as:

1) What newspapers do you read?

2) What do you think of Bush's foreign policy?

3) What foreign policy experience do you have?

4) What specifically has your running mate done to increase economic regulation?

5) Name a Supreme Court decision. Literally any Supreme Court opinion. One???

If this is "intense scrutiny" then Celebrity Jeopardy is Mastermind.

/This is the only month that starts with "Feb"....

I'm shocked, SHOCKED that a Rupert Murdoch owned paper would be publishing far right pro-Palin articles.

Bullshiat.

She has recieved scrunity because she has said dumb things. The sad part is that this overshadows things like Troopergate, which in my opinion is the corollary to her ineptitude, because if there is one thing worse than a superficial candidate, it is one who potentially uses power for personal vendetta.

/Other candidates have been derided for what people they know, are related to, or worked with said. But Sarah, she gives us a lot of material herself.

Bittergate
Jeremiah Wright
Sekrit Muslin
Fake Birth Certificate
Bill Ayers
etc, ad nauseam

God forbid we ask her what papers she reads.

CravenMorehead:

Try this one...

"But if the same intense scrutiny applied to Palin were applied to other political candidates, democracy would be in dire straits. Who would be left to represent us? work!"

Cyborg77: If this is "intense scrutiny" then Celebrity Jeopardy is Mastermind.

In what respect, Cybie?

Jebus, she's running for vice president, not running in the Special Olympics.

Let's treat her like an adult going for a major political office, not a retard who's going to get a pat on the back and a medal regardless how bad she fails.

I loved my fathers comment during the debate where Palin said something about sending kids to college:

"What the hell does she know about kids in college. She's sent one kid to war and one to whore."

/I love my family

burndtdan: people with a real education, a real interest in national and international affairs, and who aren't inclined to use positions of governmental power to carry out personal vendettas?

heaven forbid.

Typically, those people are running their own businesses because that's the way that effective people can make the most positive impact on the world. They don't have the time for 'official' public service and it would decrease their ability to do good by removing their direct control of the flow of money, etc.

This is not exactly a new problem, they were running into the same issues in the 1700s when they were just setting up as a pure republic. We're a nation of businessmen, and our government is run not unlike a business, but the only people left to run the government are the ones that lack the inclination (Democrats) or the skill (Republicans) to pull off organizing anything properly. There are enough exceptions and general willingness to work with the ineptitude to pull us through, though, thankfully.

"But if the same intense scrutiny applied to Palin were applied to other political candidates, democracy would be in dire straits."

If you don't want a candidate scrutinized, pick someone we've heard of.

importedbeer: Bullshiat.

She has recieved scrunity because she has said dumb things..

That's the point. Biden has arguably said the stupidest thing this political season namely that FDR addressed the nation when the stock market crashed.....on television....in 1929. Of course you will not see a Newsweek story or SNL skit or Letterman joke about how stupid Biden is.

Hang On Voltaire: importedbeer: Bullshiat.

She has recieved scrunity because she has said dumb things..

That's the point. Biden has arguably said the stupidest thing this political season namely that FDR addressed the nation when the stock market crashed.....on television....in 1929. Of course you will not see a Newsweek story or SNL skit or Letterman joke about how stupid Biden is.

Dude, I am gonna go out on a limb and say that not being able to name even one other Supreme Court decision outside of Roe V. Wade when asked during an interview she had plenty of time to prepare for is dumber than Biden's off the cuff comment about FDR being on TV. I know you won't see it that way. But it's true. It's not just a little 'stupider' it's a LOT 'stupider'.

Hang On Voltaire: importedbeer: Bullshiat.

She has recieved scrunity because she has said dumb things..

That's the point. Biden has arguably said the stupidest thing this political season namely that FDR addressed the nation when the stock market crashed.....on television....in 1929. Of course you will not see a Newsweek story or SNL skit or Letterman joke about how stupid Biden is.

Yeah, you're right. What if he's just utterly stupid and doesn't know anything about foreign policy? WE'LL NEVER KNOW. There's literally NOTHING on the public record about this Joe Biden guy. Has HE ever met a foreign leader? Thanks a lot, mainstream media!

Hang On Voltaire: Biden has arguably said the stupidest thing this political season namely that FDR addressed the nation when the stock market crashed.....on television....in 1929.

OMG that's 1 million billion times stupider than not being able to name a newspaper or a Supreme Court case.