washington-post

Seeded by Prudence

Former GOP senator calls Palin a 'cocky wacko'

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Former Rhode Island Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee has called vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin a 'cocky wacko' and said her selection as John McCain's running mate has energized supporters of Democrat Barack Obama. Republicans, Democrats, Independent alike are sending their money to Obama's campaign to defeat McCain because of fear for Sarah Palin.

By: Jane Hamsher Friday October 3, 2008 7:04 am

Sarah Palin proved last night she's more qualified to host a game show than be Vice President of the United States.

I cannot believe that we are seriously thinking of placing this dodo bird within reach of the Presidency.

It is beyond my comprehension why everybody, every single Republican except but for a handful few, are rationalizing for Sarah Palin as somewhat capable when 95% of this nation are saying the reverse?

Are the Republican out of steps in this high tech environment of today? Are the Conservatives still hanging on to their outdated philosophies and principles? Are they aware that CHANGE always brings progress? History are full of said CHANGE, change that we are able to reach where we are at right now. The High Tech environment is one proof we have come a long way because of change. SARAH PALIN IS THE BACKWARD SYMBOL OF PROGRESS AND MUST BE EXTINGUISH BEFORE SHE CAN DO HARM TO THIS PROGRESSIVE NATION. AMERICA, THIS WOMAN, THIS SARAH PALIN IS A HAZARDOUS MATERIAL FOR THE HEALTH OF THIS SOCIETY.

THINK AND BE ALARMED.

Of course there are many smart people that are out there that would naturally support Republicans because of the Republican platform. There are many cultural conservatives and many businessmen that feel the Republicans represent their best interests.

Then there are people like my mother who rails against taxes (and illegals). Every dollar that has come her way has been paid from the government. Her father worked for the DOD and then for a city, he retired with a pension and Social Security. My father was in the military and when he passed away she married a policeman who now has a pension. She has worked for the state and for a public university. Her mother's healthcare in the end was provided by Medicare. I do question my Mom's judgement.

My problem is with the way the Republicans are packaging Palin. Her "handlers" are purposely making her appear shallow and superficial, they may have done too good of a job.

Finally some straight talk!! Perhaps Americans will finally wake up to the fact that the person flying the plane should probably be a trained pilot -- and that to solve our problems in economics, education, environment, health care, and foreign policy we need the BEST minds available, not the next door neighbor.

The central problem: many claim they want access to better education while expressing tremendous resentment and outright hostility toward educated people. Some don’t know enough to know what good education is or why it is important. They don’t think of themselves as ignorant and hate being made to feel that way. Some resent being expected to do academic work to gain access to higher salaries and status.

Cynically and successfully, the GOP exploits these resentments knowing that ignorant people are more easily manipulated during elections and ignored after. As Conason said, merit is always exclusionary, never inclusionary. So many are so ignorant that dumb is the new standard for populist.

But winning election battles is not the same as winning the war. The sad truth is that our educational system is producing citizens who are not competent to vote and a workforce that is uncompetitive in the global job market. Conservatives can chant USA all they want; but they don't seem to see that, leaving aside the benefits of a more just and humane society, high quality education for all is essential for technological innovation, national prosperity, and international respect.

What to do? Let's start by having a national conversation about the role of government and of citizens in a democracy. Let's talk about what really makes America strong. Raise standards for teachers and students alike. Institute universal quality pre-K. Mandate civics, comprehensive American history, geography, grammar, and research skills in the curriculum. Value science and the scientific method. Shut down diploma mills and make politicians as well as educators accountable for schools in their districts. Rebrand smart as the new bling. Get serious about investing in the ultimate sustainable resource: American brain power.

You may be about to elect a cypher, someone "Lotus Feet" brilliantly described as the projection of you liberals' hopes and wishes, and delusions I may add.

Today's cover story in the NY Times spends pages of small print vainly trying to erase Bill Ayers and Bernadette Dohrn from his Obama's closest circle of friends and associates. The article actually describes my relationship with my closest friend. We live in the same neighborhood and see each other irregularly. We have served on boards together and have worked together to help several organizations, and we have been to each others homes. I guess the NYT was trying to say that because Barry Zero didn't share drinks with the former and still unrepentant terrorist every Friday night down at Jimmy's, they really only had a casual acquaintance and were not among each others' best friends.

The article and the regular cast of Saloon Obamabots also go to great pains to NOT refer to the radical, Saul Alinsky inspired group, Acorn, which this very day is continuing its practice of registering made up voters to help elect their favorite radical.

Most of you are well educated, but education can sometimes compound our worst human trait which is arrogance.

You may not be what Joe Conason calls "dumb," but you are intellectually lazy to constantly repeat the latest politically correct mantra that our current economic crisis has been caused by a lack of regulation by the Bush Administration. You do not want to take the time to see that Democrat fingerprints are all over this mess. You could, if you wanted to, and if your were not so smug, try to read up on the horrible consequences of The Community Reinvestment Act and it's protection and expansion by the Clintonites and by Democrats in Congress year after year. You could, if you were not so full of your smug complacency and certitude, take a clear look at a monster of an organization called Fannie Mae.

Your intellectual dishonesty could destroy all that we should all hold dear about this country.

The Community Reinvestment Act is another supposedly well intentioned but I think cynical Democrat sponsored give away gone bad. It's gone so bad that it may have torpedoed our economy so badly that we will have to be both very lucky and very good over the next decade or two not to be faced with the end of our nation as we know it.

You Democrats saw no problem with promising the impossible: titles to property with no equity, no personal history of solvency and credit worthy behavior. The horror of it all is you can and you will make things even worse if you get the chance next month.

Our prosperity has been driven right on the edge of a cliff, and we could loose our freedom

and our democracy and everything we hold dear and have come to take for granted thanks to your arrogance.