Since Sarah Palin made it through the VP debate without staring off into space for more than three seconds at a time, the campaign’s decided to get nastier.
She even had the audacity to ridicule Katie Couric, who had apparently “annoyed” her. Sure, Palin was annoyed, because she simply couldn’t answer any questions which hadn’t been previously scripted for her by the McCain camp. How was she unable to name one news publication, or one Supreme Court case other that Roe? Those questions were not only too easy to miss, but absolutely fair game. If we know that our leaders follow national and international news, we can be assured that they know what’s going on out there and what issues are affecting their constituents and the world in general.
Sarah Palin is ignorant and chooses to stay ignorant. She’s gone through life winking at people to get her way, and it makes me feel really sorry for the 40+% of this country who are actually buying it.
She’s now playing into the “average” American’s xenophobia and fear of terrorism, by trying to link Obama with domestic “terrorist” William Ayers. And around the web, I’ve seen Obama referred to as “Hussein” Obama and “Obama bin Laden.” Can people get any more ignorant?
First of all, CNN and the Associated Press fact-checked the McPalin accusation, and has shown that Obama’s relationship with Ayers was “tenuous” at most. So what if Obama doesn’t have a European name, and his middle name is Hussein–are these reasons to assume he has anything to do with Saddam Hussein and terrorists in the Middle East or at home?
That’s like saying that ever since Timothy McVeigh bombed the Oklahoma City Federal Building, I can’t trust guys named Timothy anymore. That’s like saying that because my last name is Kim, I probably have something to do with nuclear weapons research and Kim Jong Il.
Sadly, a good percentage of this country really is that stupid, and they’re proving it right now.
When was it ever bad to be smart? In its desperation to win this election, the Right wing is trying to equate intellectualism with elitism. The Right wing is saying that Palin is a refreshing change to “Washington elitists” like Barack Obama, who graduated from Harvard Law and owns not more than one vehicle between himself and his wife. If you call me an elitist as well, because I graduated from a highly-respected academic institution and because I read the news, then so be it. I’m an elitist. I happen to like information, thank you very much.
Back in the day, long before complex societies and governments were formed, people lived in small tribes. We were social animals, as we are now. Strength in numbers kept us safe and allowed us to progress. We chose leaders who were the smartest and strongest of the pack. Believe it or not, we didn’t choose the guy with the cutest laugh, or a perfected hair-toss.
Sometimes, we didn’t get a choice, and the smartest, strongest guy would take over against the will of others. Rarely would these tribes be matriarchal. Guys were bigger; they had a tendency to win.
Societies and governments became larger, more complex and stratified. Ruling entities were often ruthless, despotic, and savagely took power away from the masses, savagely entitled themselves with the “right” to own other human beings. Many governments to this day rule in such a manner. Many societies to this day are far from being democratic.
We’re in America, people. Do you realize just how lucky we are? We get the right to vote! Even if we have vaginas! Yeah, even Black folks! This is a democracy, and has been a model for newly-established democracies all over the world. But really–shame on us. Shame on this country for abusing our democracy, taking democracy for granted, for electing stupid people with money and a hunger for power to govern our nation. We’ve elected leaders because we found them “charming,” or because they’d be really cool to hang out with. Is this what we’re doing with our precious right to vote? A right that people all over the world would and have died for?
Next month, if this country elects a guy who can’t figure out how many houses he owns and already has one leg in his own coffin, with a running mate whose campaign platform is “winking and smiling,” then we’re frankly f—ed. I love this country, but if we keep dumbing ourselves down, and then elect such a ticket, I’ll be terribly disappointed in the American people once again, and very afraid for the fate of our great nation. (–JK)
[Image: Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images]
Copyright © 2008 Jenny Kim, culturepress.
21 Comments
October 6, 2008 at 8:55 am
Thew winking was used to keep her from staring off into space……..for years I have tried to defend the American voter and the choices they have made….but this time if they elect the McPalin ticket I will no longer defend them.
October 6, 2008 at 9:35 am
I just deleted a comment from a user named “Jeff” who “declared” me stupid! Haha! Brilliant!!! I’m usually not one for censorship; I’m always up for a fair argument, even if you do prove me wrong (I can admit defeat–and I have done so readily on this blog and elsewhere), but I will not be called names and berated on my own site.
Too bad for you, Jeff, that you are such an unhappy, lonely, masturbatory soul that you have to resort to such condescension in order to validate your “intelligence” and self-worth.
Oh, and this is classic! Your blog’s headline is simply “You’re stupid. I’m smart.” You assume this of anyone who stumbles upon your blog, before you even give ‘em a chance to speak. Again–masturbatory. You need to jack off to your own “intelligence,” because that’s all you’ve ever had, isn’t it, Jeff?
To answer your questions, Jeff:
A) “Re Ayers, he did support Obama with money in an early campaign – nobody is disputing that.”–You are indeed correct. Both the Obama and McCain campaigns have accepted money from shady sources. I’m am neither a Democrat nor a Republican, if that makes any difference. I simply don’t trust the McPalin campaign.
B) Yes, I do believe that we’d be f—ed. The Bush administration and its cohorts have driven this country down to shits, and I don’t see how a McCain administration would get us out of this mess. If something were to happen to a President McCain (knock on wood), I believe that Palin has neither the intellect nor common sense to avoid being seriously manipulated by the neocon Right and/or drive us into all kinds of unnecessary military conflicts. I honestly believe that it’s a fate worse than Bush.
C) “What instances in the last 20 years of ACTIONS (not words, because words are free to say) makes Obama a stronger smarter candidate than McCain?”–I’ve never actually stated anywhere that Obama is such a strong candidate. McCain is simply a really bad choice. I once respected McCain and readily defended him, but he has sold his soul to his party. He’s completely out of touch with the state of this country, and is no maverick. http://www.truthout.org/100508A Obama has had few years in the U.S. Senate, I admit, but nowhere–no one (other than the McPalin camp)–has ever called into question Obama’s integrity and intellect. We need a leader with just those qualities: integrity and intellect. I’ll even take those over “experience.”
D) “You are a sheep that has built an opinion based on tv shows, sound bites, and popular opinion.”–Jeff, my friend, I have not watched television since 2003, and I have been boycotting pop media/culture since I was 19. I had never heard of YouTube until last year, never heard of such sites as digg.com until three weeks ago. (And this is rare for a “Gen-X” American such as myself)
I have opinions of my own, Jeff, and you are sadly mistaken in your analysis of who you’re talking to. You have never walked a day in my shoes, nor have I in your shoes, and therefore your personal attacks were unnecessary. I’m not running for political office; I’m not trying to get any votes. And I will even refrain from returning your personal attacks by submitting any of this onto your blog, because I, fortunately, have a very satisfying life, and don’t need to go around giving myself points for calling people with real opinions “stupid.” I pity that your self-esteem is based on just that.
To other readers: Yes, I do realize that my blog post was all about calling a good percentage of Americans “stupid.” I’m talking about people who say they’re voting for Palin just because her shoes are always so “cute!” I’m talking about people who don’t trust anyone with a Muslim name, people who think the “coolest” candidate is whom we should vote for (not that I’d ever get on these people’s blogs and berate them). Even if your opinion differs starkly from mine, if you have a real opinion–not based on superficialities or trivialities–then, trust me, I would never “declare” you stupid.
October 6, 2008 at 10:10 am
lobotero, thank you, I agree completely. I have always defended my country, out of genuine patriotism–but this time, if we elect McPalin after these eight long years of Bush–if this country proves that it hasn’t learned any lessons from recent history, I might even go so far to say that I’ll be embarrassed to be an American…for the first time in my life…
October 6, 2008 at 12:33 pm
“When was it ever bad to be smart?”
Well, at least since GW came into his reign. He is a big culprit in the dumbing down of America… I mean, if our president can’t even speak in complete sentences, let alone complex ones, what message does that send to the populace?
“In its desperation to win this election, the Right wing is trying to equate intellectualism with elitism.” — So true! Female Science Professor has a great post about this in relation to Obama as “professorial.”
And, just a brief comment on your reference to matriachal societies — they were actually for more common than mainstream hisotory would lead us to believe. See, for example, Who Cooked the Last Supper: A Woman’s History of the World.
October 6, 2008 at 1:42 pm
I am just doing what you have done to half the US.
You said:
1. Sarah Palin is ignorant and chooses to stay ignorant.
2. You feel sorry for 40% of this country because of what they think.
3. A good % if the US is really that Stupid.
4. You’ll be terribly disappointed in the US public if they don’t vote your way.
Sounds to me like you can citizen and ridicule half the US, but yet you tell me I am a horrible, unhappy, lonely, masturbating person for simply stating “you’re stupid”? Is that not a double standard? All I did was call you “stupid” only one time, but look at the barrage I got back
My post was to show you that you took sincere issues and used their extremes as a basis to push your judgment so therefore your blog post was in no way fair. I gave you a fair justification of why people would be concerned with the Ayers issue, yet in your post all you did was point out only third party extremisms. This is like saying all Islamic people are evil because they are terrorists. Not true is it? Is this what you want to be saying to the US? Do you understand what I am saying? You took a benign sincere issue, linked it to its counters extremists, and then somehow linked it to people who support McCain and Palin – Really?
Regarding C, yes that was my statement. I didn’t say you did but rather implied you said it by eliminating all the positions. So, basically you said it – did you not? It is like saying we need a smart person to write on this blog, and we have you, and me, but I cannot give the job to you because you are stupid. Would this not be saying I am smarter?
You state “The Bush administration and its cohorts have driven this country down to shits” yet you have given no proof of this. You seem to think that because you state it, it makes it true? If you care to list the steps taken to drive this country into “shits” you will be expected to defend your statements.
I also noticed that you cherry picked my comment and eliminated some of it, including a test that would help people understand how much they are being misled.
Feel free to post whatever you want on my blog. I only add to the blog once a year in November 18th, but I would respond to comments at any time during the year. I could not care less if your comments are good, lame, hurtful, or antagonistic – as long as they are relevant. My blogs title is such because I can guarantee you that you disagree with all of the statements on it despite the cold hard facts. That is a sign of stupidity. I know you will disagree with them because I choose my subjects carefully, then turn them over to show their real side – as I have you.
I find it very satisfying that all I do is call you stupid, and you’re first action is to delete my comment. If you truly stood behind your thoughts, you would let all comments post automatically, and unedited.
Finally, I must let you know how disappointed I am in the fact that you first completely censored by post, then cherry picked it, then did unto me tenfold the single item that made you sensor my post in the first place. When people read your reaction to my comment, they will know they are dealing with uneducated person.
You made this very easy, but you probably don’t know what I am doing, do you. (question mark specifically omitted)
I’ll be happy if Obama OR McCain is elected. So actually, I am much happier than you can ever be, seeing how distraught you’d be if McCain is elected – Really? Please… Why so much drama?
October 6, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Professor What if: Yes, the election and re-election of GW were already such a disappointment, and yes, you’re absolutely right–there were more matriarchal cultures than are acknowledged. I remember reading about such matriarchies in the book, “C*nt” by Inga Muscio (not that it was such a brilliant work, but it had some good info) and other such woman-centered literature. I know of the book, “Who Cooked the Last Supper: A Woman’s History of the World,” but haven’t had the opportunity to read it just yet. I do hear that it’s a must-read.
October 6, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Jeff, I appreciate your second attempt at commenting on this post, and I won’t delete (or edit) this one, especially since it is significantly less condescending than the original comment, and I understand, more than you would believe, where you’re coming from now.
We can agree to disagree. Let’s just say that I’m stupid and you’re unhappy, intellectually masturbatory, and I can only assume that while you’re actually quite articulate and well-informed, your social skills are severely lacking in tact and charm.
So, no, we don’t need any drama, now do we. (question mark specifically omitted)
You mentioned that I had responded with a barrage, but really your original comment was about as verbose of a rant as my response was. Again, we can simply agree to disagree. You have your agenda, as I have mine. I have strong opinions, and you like to look at all sides and all arguments of an issue and consider that to be an integral aspect of your intellectual prowess.
October 6, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Thanks, culturepress, for a well-written and thoughtful post as always. I hear now Sarah Palin is asking to come on SNL to make fun of Tina Fey. Now there’s a well-aimed dart in a time of economic turmoil and crisis of confidence. As we’ve both said before, she really is a performer at heart, and I think, given her druthers, she’d rather be Tina Fey than Vice President.
Peace out and in.
JABG
October 6, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Sadly the elections have now been lowered to the standards of beer commercials.
Btw, Nice site! I will be popping in here now and then.
October 6, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Just wanted to tell Root2Sqaured that I think that is an excellent analogy!!! What beers would you say prospective candidates would be likely to promote?
October 7, 2008 at 1:25 am
for Jeff:
“Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives.”–John Stuart Mill
He made the observation not me….
October 7, 2008 at 6:56 am
I’ve linked your blog to my “awesome blogs” this is too good and everyone needs to read it. Sarah Palin has definitely crossed the line and McCain needs to realize he hasn’t got a chance in hell. When he had the opportunity to talk about the issues people wanted to hear, he chose instead to ridicule Obama. When he had the chance to select a running mate that might have given him a shot at the white house, he chose moose killing – wolf killing – gun totin – hockey mom – joe america six pack – script reading Sarah Palin. No matter what went wrong in his campaign he somehow tried to blame Obama for it. This ticket is toast and the american people ARE smarter than to fall for the B.S.
Sarah Palin loves the spotlight, but come November 4th the polls will shut her up once and for all and she can take her butt back to Alaska and clean up the mess she’s created there. Great blog.
October 7, 2008 at 11:06 am
JABG: Yes, Palin would make a decent Tina Fey, because she really’s just into attention and putting on a show
That’s sad… that she can BE the parody herself, because that’s all she really is… a walking parody!
Root2Squared: Beer commercials, yes! My sister had said months ago, long before the Palin selection, that the only way McCain has a shot is to pick some “NASCAR redneck, Bible-belt babe” and in essence, that’s exactly what he did… the Alaskan and politician-equivalent to a NASCAR redneck, Bible-belt babe.
October 7, 2008 at 11:08 am
pvdugas – thanks for checking out my blog! I’m linking your blog on my site as well. Great points. I can’t wait ’til this whole McPalin charade is over! I’m just hoping that we keep up this momentum…
October 9, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Did you see that Todd Palin is taking the wrap for trooper-gate?
October 10, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Lobotero: Oh really–Todd’s taking the rap? Wow, I was out of town for a day, and I missed a lot of news! So, McPalin is unable to stop the Troopergate investigation, and now they’re up to more dirty tricks. It is so obvious that Sarah Palin has a lot to hide and she knows that she did wrong; the campaign is going far out of its way to protect her.
October 12, 2008 at 10:22 pm
I like to lean just right of moderate and think I’m not all that stupid. The guilt buy association drives me crazy. Why does conservative have to equal redneck, gun tottin’ country music lovin’ religious nut job?
I went through a stage in my life where I was the busy mom who didn’t have time for the front page of the news paper. It was probably the darkest time in my life. I felt completely disconnected from my brain and any intelligent thought
Anyway, I am disappointed by Palin. I had high hopes, but she’s left me standing in the rain. I just can’t follow her onto that doomed freight train of mud slinging. I wrote a post about my buyers remorse…I’d love it if you’d check it out and tell me what you think.
http://nataliegowen.wordpress.com/2008/10/04/palin-induced-buyers-remorse/
October 12, 2008 at 10:24 pm
Oh crap, huge type-o right after I said I’m not stupid. I meant “guilt BY association”
October 13, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Stay at home feminist: Thank you for posting this very honest, very thoughtful comment. (And we’re all susceptible to committing typos! You’re clearly intelligent, and it was obviously just a typo!!!) I just read your post. Thank you for sharing your thoughts (and your frustration) with this campaign.
Myself, I’m very left of moderate, which doesn’t necessarily mean that I have something negative to say about every conservative candidate. When Palin was first announced as McCain’s running mate, I thought, “Ok, I remember she’s the first female governor of Alaska. Don’t know anything else about her… What’s that you say? Hockey mom/PTA mom turned reform-minded politician? Okay, sounds interesting. I can go for that.” But then, I read more about her… and frankly, she’s not nearly qualified to be VP or (knock on wood) President. We really have to listen to her, not just be enamored by the pretty smile and charm. All of us–progressives, moderates, and conservatives alike–if we’re really listening to her, we can’t deny that she’s not even saying anything half the time. She’s just a trophy candidate, as you’ve stated, Stay at home feminist.
It’s almost anti-feminist to support a woman who was obviously selected because she’s gutsy and attractive, but has little or no real qualifications for the job. To me, that’s like hiring the flirty woman who showed the most cleavage in her job interview, without even even looking at her resume. And that’s certainly not feminism.
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