Blog Update!
For those of you not following me on Facebook, as of the Summer of 2019 I've moved to Central WA, to a tiny mountain town of less than 1,000 people.

I will be covering my exploits here in the Cascades, as I try to further reduce my impact on the environment. With the same attitude, just at a higher altitude!

Thursday, October 2, 2008

VP Debates or why 2 + 2 = Chicken

I have to tell ya, I'm excited about the Vice-Presidential debates that will be on tonight. Not that I'm expecting anything intelligent to be uttered on either side, but man I'm hoping that we can get some more quotes to top these gems (from Sarah Palin's interviews with Katie Couric):

On the $700 billion financial bailout:
"That’s why I say I, like every American I’m speaking with, we’re ill about this position that we have been put in where it is the taxpayers looking to bail out. But ultimately what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy. Helping the — it’s got to be all about job creation too, shoring up our economy and putting it back on the right track. So health care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions and tax relief for Americans and trade — we’ve got to see trade as opportunity, not as competitive, scary thing, but one in five jobs being created in the trade sector today — we’ve got to look at that as more opportunity."

In response to what newspapers Sarah Palin reads to get her news:
"I've read most of them, again with a great appreciation for the press, for the media." When asked which ones specifically: "Um, all of them, any of them that have been in front of me all these years." When pressed further: "I have a vast variety of sources where we get our news, too. Alaska isn't a foreign country, where it’s kind of suggested, 'Wow, how could you keep in touch with what the rest of Washington, D.C., may be thinking when you live up there in Alaska?' Believe me, Alaska is like a microcosm of America."

On explaining how her proximity to Russia enhances her foreign policy credentials:
COURIC: You've cited Alaska's proximity to Russia as part of your foreign policy experience. What did you mean by that?

PALIN: That Alaska has a very narrow maritime border between a foreign country, Russia, and on our other side, the land-- boundary that we have with-- Canada. It-- it's funny that a comment like that was-- kind of made to-- cari-- I don't know, you know? Reporters--

COURIC: Mock?

PALIN: Yeah, mocked, I guess that's the word, yeah.

COURIC: Explain to me why that enhances your foreign policy credentials.

PALIN: Well, it certainly does because our-- our next door neighbors are foreign countries. They're in the state that I am the executive of. And there in Russia--

COURIC: Have you ever been involved with any negotiations, for example, with the Russians?

PALIN: We have trade missions back and forth. We-- we do-- it's very important when you consider even national security issues with Russia as Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where-- where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border. It is-- from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there. They are right next to-- to our state.

On what Supreme Court decisions she disagrees with:
"Well, let's see. There's, of course, in the great history of America rulings there have been rulings, that's never going to be absolute consensus by every American. And there are, those issues, again, like Roe v. Wade where I believe are best held on a state level and addressed there. So you know, going through the history of America, there would be others but ...."

Asked again: "Well, I could think of, of any again, that could be best dealt with on a more local level. Maybe I would take issue with. But you know, as mayor, and then as governor and even as a vice president, if I'm so privileged to serve, wouldn't be in a position of changing those things but in supporting the law of the land as it reads today."

Alrighty then!

So, what does 2 + 2 equal? Well, maybe it's a question we should ask the candidates. Who do you think will have a coherent answer?

MODERATOR: Governor Palin, what is two plus two? You have 90 seconds to respond.

PALIN: (Pause) Chicken?

MODERATOR: Chicken? Is that your answer, governor?

PALIN: I'll have to get back to ya on that one there, Gwen.

40 comments:

Anonymous said...

Remember Crunch, it is the meek who shall inherit the earth. Scary, huh.

Robj98168 said...

And don't forget that gem- "I'll get back to ya on that" (rob shivers)

Anonymous said...

Ugh - she makes my skin crawl...

I was looking forward to tonight's "debate" as well. But I'll probably be WAY to uncomfortable after the first 15 minutes to keep watching.

Tara said...

Oh lawdy. The answers were bad enough on video. Seeing the transcripts makes me cringe all over again.

Anonymous said...

Tara took the words right out of my mouth!

It makes me very uncomfortable to listen to her answer any/all questions. And yet I just heard a NPR segment where folks were just "ga-ga" over her.

*sigh*

Peak Oil Hausfrau said...

If Sarah Palin were a real patriot she would admit that she is unqualified and step down.

Mama Seoul said...

It hurts. So painful to watch. She lacks a deep understanding of US and World history. That is a lot to catch up on. I don't think she is stupid, just not knowledgeable of history, the world and the law, three areas that are critical. Obama clearly has her beat on all three areas.

Anonymous said...

Clueless in Alaska sums it up with Palin

True Mama said...

I'm more excited for tonight's debate than I was for last week's. I feel like I should be sitting down with a tub of popcorn or something.

OTOH, I'm finding all this terrifying at the same time.

equa yona(Big Bear) said...

palin will have 90 seconds to provide non answers from her talking points. She will tell homey little stories about slaughtering wildlife from helicopters(probably leave out the helicopter part) and PTA and come out of this looking shiny and happy. Unless Gwen Ifel does a better job with probing follow ups-unlikely. Even then, the same morons who like her today will like her tomorrow.

Anonymous said...

But lest we forget, Biden is a real gem too. It should definitely be an entertaining evening no matter what side you want to win. But Biden has a lot more experience in Washington, politics, and debates - one one hope he would come out smelling like a rose on this one.

Anonymous said...

I just don't understand the people who are chosing to vote for her? Are they really voting FOR Palin or just AGAINST Obama? I'm not sure and that frightens me. On the funnier side, be sure to check out SNL's take on a couple of the Palin interviews - especially her interview with Katie Couric. I'm afraid if I don't laugh, I'll cry in desperation.
Debbie C

Crunchy Chicken said...

I updated my original post in case any of you get confused :)

Maeve said...

I went to CBS's website so I could watch the whole interview, not just the 3 minute etc clips off of YouTube. Watching the video was a bit... unnerving. I sat there just dumbfounded. Reading the transcript just clarifies how astoundingly not-ready Palin is for this.

There were spots all throughout that interview where Katie Couric could have really gone after answers, and was gracious enough to "let it slide".

Palin couldn't even say "ya know to be honest, I didn't really pay that much attention to global politics, but these people -insert names here- are giving me some valuable insights into the ongoing issues facing America, and I'm confident that I'll be up to speed when McCain is President."

I'll be watching the debate tonight. I'm curious to see what unfolds. I hope I don't end up having nightmares when I go to bed.

Lori said...

I have to say that I'm absolutely terrified that 1) McCain-Palin will win and 2) something will happen to McCain.

The good news as far as I'm concerned is that (per NPR this morning) 85% of respondents in one poll agree that Sarah Palin is not qualified to lead the country. I'd guess the other 15% don't have a television.

mechiko said...

This is why for the first time in my life I'm almost ashamed of being from Alaska...
If it makes you feel any better, nobody in the Capital voted for her!

LatigoLiz said...

Well, hopefully the rest of the country that doesn’t see what we (and darn near ALL of my friends and relatives) see will WAKE UP AND SMELL THE KOOL-AID! One can hope.

Marimoy said...

Miami has a larger population that the entire state of Alaska. Does that make Mayor Manny Diaz a suitable vice presidential candidate? I would say more than Palin, due to the sheer numbers of countries represented in the community and the amount of people he actually represents... but even still, please tell me this is all a sick cruel joke. I am watching this on closed caption because her voice grates me.

Erika said...

Folks give me a hard time for not watching things like political debates... but, it seems like I may be the lucky one - not having to hear all this, um... what's a nice word for crap?

--Erika

Rev. Peter Doodes said...

This frightens me. This woman could be the leader of the free world! Al, we all need you...

Blessings from the UK

Anonymous said...

I pulled up the Couric interview and the SNL skit. I started the SNL skit first and watched it for a bit and then switched over to the interview. Oh my. The interview was so hard to watch. It was worse than dissecting poetry in my high school English class. I'm going to try to watch the debate tonight.

Jenn said...

It's definitely frightening - I actually shared a ride into SF today and made the mistake of saying I couldn't wait to see how Palin screwed up tonight. The driver who revealed herself a self-avowed Sarah Palin fan and invited me to get out of the car "right now" -- seriously.

I asked her how she could imagine that Palin wouldn't when she has screwed up all her interviews so far and the driver said that "they were all really hard on her and put her on the spot."

I pointed out that Palin couldn't even name a newspaper that she reads regularly nor could she name a Supreme Court Case other than Roe v Wade (Miranda v Arizona, anyoen? Brown v Board of Education?).

If Palin is to be VP, she needs to be able to respond competently and cogently when put on the spot.

My boyfriend's parents are representative of most Americans - she says, "Well she is a sharp cookie... how else could she be governor" and he says he doesn't pay attention, he just votes Republican, "it makes it a lot easier that way."

I think people like them, bless their hearts, should not be allowed to vote. Being an active member of a democracy is work - you need to understand the issues and what is at stake. I don't think Palin quite understands, either.

DBS said...

Sarah needs to stay in Alaska to defend our borders from Russian invasion. Her frontline abilities there are way to important for her to abandon and come to Washington.

Anonymous said...

I'm afraid that she has solidified some stereotypes about women (we don't read newspapers, we don't know much about politics, we might have know-how, but aren't very technical, we aren't good at expressing our thoughts rationally...) It bums me out to have her out there, and it does make me very uncomfortable to see her muddle her way through incoherently.

I'm interested to hear from some of the pro-Palin people who were defending her a couple of weeks ago here. Do you think she is the most qualified candidate?

Gretchen said...

Okay, just going to say one more time, so much for you staying out of politics except for the environmental issues.

(You said this in comments on 8/30/08)

And, just for the record, last time I checked, it is possible to support a candidate without smearing his or her opponent. I think you constantly cutting down Sarah Palin is a weak escape. How many posts have you done in support of Joe Biden?

Shandy said...

I've spent the last eight years completely unable to watch my own president on television without feeling physically ill (really), and I get the same feeling with this folksy, gal-you-wanna-have-a-beer-with, helicopter-huntin' piece of work. If her total lack of knowledge and perspective aren't frightening enough, an actuary figured out that, based on McCain's age and health, Palin has a 1 in 6 chance of ascending to the Oval Office. Those odds are, to me, horrifying.

Yet, millions will line up to vote for that ticket because she's just plain folks. The ignorance and narcissism in this country is truly astounding.

Anonymous said...

Don't underestimate Sarah Palin. She is a Master Debater. Just take a look here for proof (scroll down a bit when you get there):

I'm Pullin' For Palin - The Unofficial Tribute To Our Future VPILF
http://www.pullinforpalin.com/

Lee said...

Palin has turned US politics into a FARCE.

The rest of the worls is just laughing at the US, and wondering how many stupid Americans will actually vote for this idiot.

I mean, we've voted for fascists, socialists, and other nasties in the past, but none of them have been such complete idiots as the US seems to vote in with regularity.

Bush was bad, but this...ummm - do I call her a 'lady?' - is a joke.

It's too absurd to be true. Except that it is true.

We're all laughing over here. Absolutely insane.

[Shakes head.]

Unbelievable.

Tara said...

Sharon Handy - thanks for bringing up the narcissism factor. I get really annoyed when citizens feel that their elected officials should be just like them - people they can relate to. I'm sorry, but I don't need to relate to them, or identify with them. What I need is for them to be competent, knowledgeable, posessed of sound judgement and critical thinking abilities, and prepared to uphold the constitution (in a nutshell). I would HOPE that the people we elect to our two highest offices would in fact be far more intelligent than I am. That would not make them "elitist" - it would make them qualified. Do you want your heart surgeon to be an all-around good fella you might like to have a beer with, or do you want him to know a little something about, oh, I don't know...heart surgery?? If he was better at performing heart surgery than you, would you consider him an elitist? People seem to forget that the Presidency (and VP) is a JOB. Candidates should be screened and expected to possess certain skills, just as if they were interviewing for any other job.

Whew! Sorry. Rant finished.

Crunchy Chicken said...

Don't forget to print out your Palin bingo cards for tonight's debate: http://www.palinbingo.com.

On recycled paper of course!

Anonymous said...

My, oh my, you have some judgemental people on this comment board...

After we've finished our judgemental tirades, do that voodoo that your mother tried to teach you and "say something nice."

Sweetly Single said...

umm as a Canadian, I'm terrified of that person.

Sure... she's a mom who has everything.....but seriously

I have yet to hear or see a comprehensible thought or opinion.

Anonymous said...

Crunchy, the BINGO card was great! But it was missing "nucular"

Anonymous said...

@ anonymous

Something nice......how about, nice hair, great wink and cute outfit?!

diana

Anonymous said...

Never commented here before - but I have to say, anonymous, that as citizens in a democracy it is our job, our obligation, and our pretty-damn-near-sacred responsibility to make judgments regarding our elected officials and those who aspire to such roles. We should all be pretty sobered by the choice we have, given that it affects not just our own country but who-knows-how-many others around the word.

Anonymous said...

When people say (or imply) things like "people who would vote for Palin shouldn't be allowed to vote" I wonder exactly what type of democracy they want to live in. The kind Obama is promoting, where children will be forced to volunteer in order to graduate high school (oh sure, it's a nice idea, but it's also forced labor). Instilling it under the guise of federal funding incentives doesn't make the program any less forced. Palin may be green, but I believe she's just as smart as Biden, and so far as we know, hasn't plagarized (amazed he wasn't disbarred for that). Frankly, knowing past Supreme Court cases and how judicial review came about isn't the most useful thing for a VP. If I were to vote for McCain-Palin (and I'm still undecided) it would be for the McCain end of the ticket. The cult of Obama that has overtaken the nation doesn't seem to require knowing all that much about Obama's policies or platform before joining (can any one of you really explain his proposed tax plan? his proposed health plan?). I find most Obama supporters to be just as clueless as Palin and following the charisma (and "Hope" "Change" etc.) rather than the issues. McCain is leaning right to get elected-Obama is normally so far left he's practically a socialist, is leaning center. Both will shift back to their normal positions once they're elected, and I'd rather have a moderate than a quasi-Marxist.

Lee said...

OMG - Stella's comment.

I think I need to do kegels. I just about wet myself!

Nucular! Nucular. Nucularrrrr...

*ROTFL*

Lee said...

Re: the judging issue.

Judging is what we do when we vote. That's what democracy is about - being able to judge for ourselves who we want to lead us.

Who would I want to lead me? If I could choose the perfect candidate, I would want someone who was going to protect our planet, firstly, and economy, secondly. I would want someone who valued education highly, and who was working to support people who are doing it toughest of all. I would NOT be supporting someone who thinks drilling for more oil that *may* be there and that *may* partially reduce the cost of oil in 10-15 years time will solve all our problems.

And I would NOT vote for someone who believes they have the right to force women who are raped by their own fathers to have the baby.

I would also not vote for someone who cannot even name a single newspaper when asked which one she reads!

Yeah, I'd have a beer with Palin, mainly so I could laugh at her with my friends, all of whom are far more intelligent and capable of leading a country than she. But I don't want her leading a country, which is what will happen if the aging man who man be president has a heart attack (not uncommon in 70+ men in the US).

Get a grip, people. Vote for someone who can be respected, who is intelligent, thoughtful, considerate and wise. None of the above applies to Palin.

Anonymous said...

Bill Clinton was a governor of a small state when he was elected PRESIDENT. And his foreign policy experience consisted of smoking pot at Oxford. But, I guess that's different because he's a democrat. He kept the world happy by giving them everything...including shipping all our jobs across the border where environmental laws are ignored.

And while I'm at it. The economy is in shambles partly because no one realizes you can't base your entire economy on consumption. Wal-Mart doesn't generate money. You SPEND money there. Manufacturing jobs create money.

Anonymous said...

Actually, the judging comment was aimed squarely at people like daharja who feel it their place to judge her as a person; as in "...how many stupid Americans will vote for this idiot" or "...do I call her a lady? - is a joke", rather than her policies and programs.

Obviously, in a democracy we use our vote to judge whether or not we believe a particular candidate's ideas, policies and programs match what we want, but we don't need to pass judgement on the person.

That "have a beer with her so I can laugh at her" comment: Rather cruel. What do you do for fun? Kick babies? Make jokes about crippled kids?