Popdose - Latest Comments in The VP Debate: Palinpalooza (Wink, Wink)

Re: The VP Debate: Palinpalooza (Wink, Wink)

Allen — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:40:06 -0000

Great. So even less work.

Re: The VP Debate: Palinpalooza (Wink, Wink)

JonCummings — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:24:52 -0000

Hey, she's a sports-twinkie, not a weather-twinkie. There's a crucial difference. (Fewer green screens, I believe.)

Re: The VP Debate: Palinpalooza (Wink, Wink)

Allen — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:14:02 -0000

You know, I expect "some" sort of traipsing out of family. Kids, etc. It's part and parcel of the sport of politics and everyone knows that. To an extent.
When Palin not only made mention of her "Special Needs" baby but then showed said baby being coddled by...yet another baby, they introduced not just the children quotient but a callous, kids-as-happy-meal-toy aspect. To that end, bringing the kid on stage at the end of the veep debate was nothing more than a photo op with the re****o-prop.
And yet, Biden's quick choking up did more for me with images of dead children that I have never seen.
The difference is that the former is crass and calculated and the latter seemed to be somewhat real.
For some reason people really want to give her a pass on things like that and I don't think we should. I think she is exactly what she seems: an opportunistic, social/political climbing television weather-twinkie (let's see who is offended by that one) who used her looks to get anywhere she could. In many ways, Sarah Palin sets the women's movement back 50 years.
She should be stopped.
Thankfully, it's happening as we speak.

Re: The VP Debate: Palinpalooza (Wink, Wink)

JonCummings — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:55:09 -0000

Cannot defend that ad...though, far as I can tell, it aired only once before they pulled it in shame...

And hey, at least Social Security (and "private accounts" in a stock market that's down 2000 points lately) is an issue that's relevant to voters, unlike the crap the Republicans are cooking up to change the subject...

Re: The VP Debate: Palinpalooza (Wink, Wink)

autodidact — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:36:06 -0000

"To that end, expect Michelle and the girls to take a higher profile over the next four weeks as McCain and the Rovians pull out all the despicable Republican stops. "

Yes, that would be while Obama runs truthful informative commercials about how McCain wanted to cut Social Security checks by 50%. ;-)

I still say the best way to decide this is pistols at thirty paces.

The Bitter Cling-er

Re: The VP Debate: Palinpalooza (Wink, Wink)

rahulgupta — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:37:09 -0000

I'm totally late to this conversation, but I have to say that this whole article articulately reflects the conversation my wife and I have been having since the debate...

and I completely second "Candyland and chess" as the best, most concise description of the debate.

Re: The VP Debate: Palinpalooza (Wink, Wink)

JonCummings — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 01:07:27 -0000

I think that's too general a statement. Practically EVERY politician trots out the family at some point -- if he or she has one -- because a pretty picture of the wife/husband and kids says, "Look, I've got peeps -- I'm just like you."

If it's done judiciously, it works and it's inoffensive. One of the few things the Clintons did well in merging their personal and political lives was to show off just enough of Chelsea -- the walk to Madison Square Garden at the '92 convention was memorable -- without exposing her too much, and they were vigilant to keep her out of the media. (Georgie Boy wishes he'd been a bit more vigilant with Barbara and Jenna during his first term.)

Obama went too far when he allowed "Extra" to do a family interview over the summer, but he reined it in quickly. Otherwise, his trotting out of the fam has been nothing but a positive for him, especially in an election where he's been trying to beat back the "this guy's not like you" attacks from Hillary and the Republicans.

To that end, expect Michelle and the girls to take a higher profile over the next four weeks as McCain and the Rovians pull out all the despicable Republican stops. Batten down the hatches...

Re: The VP Debate: Palinpalooza (Wink, Wink)

DwDunphy — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 19:35:31 -0000

And, like I said before, you don't see Palin trotting out her young unwed teen daughter like that. Politicians, like Hollywood stars, who use their kids as any sort of publicity point make me recoil.

Re: The VP Debate: Palinpalooza (Wink, Wink)

Allen — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 13:08:55 -0000

If I was using my daughter as a means to propagate my own standing then someone calling me out and referring to her as "weezey McSympathy child" would probably be right.
She's dead now but she would have most likely laughed her ass of at that statement.

Re: The VP Debate: Palinpalooza (Wink, Wink)

Allen — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 21:49:52 -0000

For the record (and thanks to those that came to my defense) here's what I meant regarding the "retardo-prop" comment.
This is not how I refer to Trig. Nor is it how I imagine anyone else does, least of all that family.
However, the way they are treating Trig and his place in the campaign is as a prop. A "disabled" child. A "special" child. In the 70s we called it retarded and, yes, it was a pejorative even then. Using that word in that way was my way of giving voice to just how low they have gone in their pandering to what they consider their base.
I couldn't put the word in quotes because no one has actually used it, but I can actually imagine a time or a place where Steve Schmidt and Rick Davis are in a smokefilled back room and Steve says, "Yeah, at that point she should pick up that retarded kid of hers and kiss it." Because that's how these people think.
I know. I've dealt with their ilk in advertising brainstorm sessions, i social circles, etc.
Sadly, the point got lost because of the un-pc word I used.
To this point I add this:
I am working at an Obama HQ in a very decidedly african american neighborhood. Today someone brought two bags of Oreos. One regular and the other white or vanilla.
I turned to one of my co-horts, a salty and very well respected mover and shaker in the hood and asked, "Can we put up a sign over the white ones that says 'White Only'?"
His suggestion was that we make sure we put one over the regular that say "Blacks Only".
The office manager shouted out, "No! I like the white ones!"
In a PC white majority office, I would have been strung up for this.
I think I prefer this office.

In short: sorry, didn't mean to offend. But I still think Trig is being used. And it's sad.

Re: The VP Debate: Palinpalooza (Wink, Wink)

DwDunphy — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 18:38:06 -0000

To directly address this, that's why we have Schultz smack dab between Biden and Palin, if his famous catchphrase is any indicator.

Re: The VP Debate: Palinpalooza (Wink, Wink)

autodidact — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 18:14:00 -0000

Has anybody perused the fact check on this debate from Newsweek? It seems the verbal fudge was flying fast and furious from both sides. So I guess in the end it boils down to style?

Frankly, I haven't watched the debate. I plan to do so tonight. Did Biden ask Gwen Ifill to rise up from her wheelchair for applause?

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Re: The VP Debate: Palinpalooza (Wink, Wink)

DwDunphy — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 14:04:13 -0000

But how is it a head-scratcher? The Republican Party is stereotypically viewed as being old, fat, white men. In a time where people want to run from what they might view as abject failure, they move toward just about everything atypical of the GOP.

Re: The VP Debate: Palinpalooza (Wink, Wink)

Dan — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 11:42:26 -0000

Let's face it. This debate means zippo. Obama's going to win this thing, despite the fact that he's an empty suit. The guy came out of nowhere, has little or no track record, and thus a lot of people fill this vessel with their own projected hopes and dreams. He's an articulate, smooth talking lawyer. And that's about it. I'm not thrilled about McCain either, but Obama's meteoric rise is a real headscratcher.

Re: The VP Debate: Palinpalooza (Wink, Wink)

You People are Sick — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 11:16:18 -0000

maybe it isn't any of your business who is caring for tis baby but the Palin's? But my best guess is Todd or one of the kids was holding Trig DURING THE DEBATE? I don't know about you, but if I just debated in front of 70 million people, I'd want to hold my baby first thin! and not be an asshole to suggest otherwise.

Re: The VP Debate: Palinpalooza (Wink, Wink)

DwDunphy — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 08:23:04 -0000

Gwen did neither good nor bad. She was adequate, but in fairness, she did keep Palin's response times lower than Biden's. Some say that was a bias toward the Obama / Biden ticket but I disagree. If you really want to help the ticket, you keep the opponent rambling until they shatter. Ifill's interpreted "help" if it was intended completely backfired.

Re: The VP Debate: Palinpalooza (Wink, Wink)

:-D Shea — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 22:42:24 -0000

So how did Gwen do? Is she going to sell a lot of books?

Re: The VP Debate: Palinpalooza (Wink, Wink)

David_E — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 20:57:45 -0000

This was my original point, as well. I happen to agree with Allen re: Trig's political "appearances." I was just so taken aback with the invective he made his point with that the bitterness and thoughtlessness of the words overwhelmed the message.

Again, I don't consider this PC so much as simple empathy and humanity. Surely the same words hurled back at Allen would hurt in a similar situation.

Re: The VP Debate: Palinpalooza (Wink, Wink)

Oldetymer — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 20:03:26 -0000

Damn DW, is that what you want in your obit, death due to a spork? at least bring out the silverware before you make a rash decision.

Re: The VP Debate: Palinpalooza (Wink, Wink)

jefito — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:52:55 -0000

But he WAS going after Palin -- for using her baby as a prop. You disagreed with the way he phrased it, that's one thing, but his original point remains.

Re: The VP Debate: Palinpalooza (Wink, Wink)

steve — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:50:26 -0000

Ok, agreed. But I have no problem with it being said the way you just did. Throwing epithets out there does nothing but show anger, hate, and childishness. That was the reason I commented.

Re: The VP Debate: Palinpalooza (Wink, Wink)

steve — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:47:27 -0000

you know what, if you say he's a good guy I'll take your word for it. I just wish people would tone down the hate and go after Palin or any of them based on their politics - not their handicapped children.

And I insult both liberals and conservatives, as I feel that both groups (aka D's and R's) robotically follow a dogma vice actually think about issues and form their own opinions. If they actually took time to form their own opinions about things, both parties would collapse and the country could put aside the failure of the 2-party system, and all the hate, & partisanship that comes along with it, as demonstrated by Mr. Allen's original comment.

Hell, I'm sure folks in Congress throw insults at each other that are just as bad (maybe not in the open but no doubt at the water cooler). That's what the two party system has gotten us. Children throwing insults at each other.

Re: The VP Debate: Palinpalooza (Wink, Wink)

DwDunphy — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:44:02 -0000

I'm actually offended by how Biden keeps using his dead wife and the accident that nearly killed his kids... Yes, it happened, but I'm of the mind that the kids are off the table. They shouldn't be used for jockey positioning.

It's simply that Palin is so much more vocal about her special-needs baby, and by plopping the kid front and center, of course there's going to be this sort of attention paid. Truly protecting the kid would be to keep the kid out of the spotlight. Aside from the son going to Iraq, you don't see her being as vocal about her daughters, do you? Isn't she, by her actions, causing this baby to be singled out.

You have to admit that much.

Re: The VP Debate: Palinpalooza (Wink, Wink)

mojo — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:40:33 -0000

well, I've shoveled some coal into this hopper and I shall depart. I do hope if Palin's elected (clearly I do not prefer that outcome) she becomes an advocate for handicapped children. I would be pleased to pay more taxes toward that, and her pollsters would have a hard time disputing that it's a bad play.

Re: The VP Debate: Palinpalooza (Wink, Wink)

jefito — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:34:02 -0000

Oh, I'm sure you'll assume whatever you like no matter what I say -- based on the comments you've already made here, assuming things about people is one of your favorite things to do.

For the record, although Allen used a phrase I wouldn't have chosen, I know him, and I know he's an extremely compassionate person, especially with regards to children, so I'm willing to give him a mulligan for it. I also understand why you might take issue with what he said -- but what gets my dander up is when you come in here and start throwing insults at all liberals everywhere, or the site in general. I think you're guilty of demonstrating some of the same behavior you're condemning so loudly.

Not that I expect you to stop now. You'd be much less entertaining if you did, actually, so I'd be sort of disappointed. Keep right on issuing blanket condemnations and wallowing in your righteous indignation.