SARAH PALIN - Run, salmon, run!
By Taylor Jones | July 8th, 2009 | PERMALINK
I’ve discovered that I have something in common with Sarah Palin: The ability to ramble incoherently. So, permit me to blather away! If you get bored, multitask while you’re reading, or skimming, this blog. That’s what I’m doing as I write it.
But don’t worry, I won’t talk about Bristol Palin or the rest of the Palin brood. I’ve never caricatured the Palin’s oldest daughter — and, as far as I’m concerned, the children are outstanding in every way. I’ve never caricatured soon-to-be-ex-First-Dude Todd Palin, either. I’ve wanted to, but I just haven’t gotten around to it. But I will say this about Todd: He’s VERY well groomed for an Alaska outdoorsman. He trims his goatee just so — the kind Brad Pitt, Ben Affleck or some other Hollywod stud might grow. And there’s always a hint of mousse in his hair, perhaps as a counter to the whiff of moose urine in his lumberjack shirt. He’s sort of metrosexual, Klondike-style!
…Not that I’m trying to pass judgment here. I recall the time, a few years back, when there were some major renovations being done on my old house. The contractor guys were knocking down old walls, raising enormous clouds of thick dust, and breaking quite a sweat. Yet, when I stopped by to check out their work one lunch hour, these burly, filthy men were sitting in a circle, eating their deli sandwiches, and discussing hair care products and cologne. Todd Palin would have fit right in there. Me? Not sure I ever sweat enough to need cologne. Besides, I prefer to emit a neutral aroma whenever possible.
But I digress, as does Governor Palin! She’s not only the best-looking elected official in the United States, but she’s a joy to caricature. Her facial features could not be easier to capture and exaggerate. Not sure who is going to replace her as best-looking elected official when she quits the governorship at the end of July? Texas governor Rick Perry, maybe? According to the late Texas columnist, Molly Ivins, Governor Perry certainly has the “pertiest” hair of any governor. And Texas needs a handsome, well-coiffed leader as it prepares to secede from the rest of the United States. The sooner, the better, in the opinion of some.
But back to Sarah. Those big brown eyes that slant 
a bit downward: the distinctive eyelids; mascara and eye shadow applied to perfection; the oddball, designer glasses that frame and accentuate her eyes so well. Then there’s that lovely, square-shaped skull. Not that square heads are necessarily attractive — often they aren’t. But in Ms. Palin’s case, squareness works: the prominent cheekbones; the strong chin that narrow-chinned comedian Tina Fey can somehow mimic with devastating precision. It’s all great for caricature.
A lot of people think noses are the key to caricature, but they’re not. It’s the eyes, which is why I can go on ad nauseum about them. Still, regarding Governor Palin’s nose, it’s a beaut! Small and finely sculpted — by genetics, not the knife — with an almost vertical bridge. As with her eyes, the glasses just seem to be a perfect fit for her nose.
I could go on — and, well, why not? Governor Palin’s mouth is also great for caricature. It’s a beautiful mouth: lipstick applied as though she worked at a department store cosmetics counter; and her perfect teeth come to a bit of a point where the two top, front incisors meet. This gives her some bite — some credence to the “Sarah Barracuda” nickname she earned on the high school basketball court.
And Palin has aged well. The fine wrinkles under her eyes and around her mouth are lovely. Parishoners at her Wasilla church should pray that the governor doesn’t fall prey to the Botox needle. She’ll never need it.
At age 45, the governor still has a fine figure, too. Clearly, the former beauty pageant contestant did not go to pot after settling for runner-up in the 1984 Miss Alaska contest. But, alas, I must qualify a bit on this point: Don’t tell the governor, but she doesn’t have the greatest legs. They’re kind of blah! My cartoon legs of Sarah Palin are always shapelier.
But there’s more. Sarah Palin, we’ve been told, can field dress a moose. But she won’t break a nail doing it! She tends to them carefully, and does whatever it takes to keep her hands looking soft during the harsh, sub-Arctic winters. She wants her hands to look their best while she employs those well-practiced gestures during interviews with Katie Couric. Which actions, of course, only fall into Tina Fey’s hands on Saturday Night Live!
So there you have it. I’ll leave the governor’s peculiar, erratic behavior, her quitting for the “sake of Alaska,” and other odd and contradictory comments and actions, to more qualified pundits. And her accent, speaking style and use of sarcasm — kind of Roseanne Barr without the wit — I’ll leave that to Ms. Fey. But I have to hand it to the governor — she’s been a blast for me and all other caricaturists and editorial cartoonists. Whatever she ends up doing after leaving Juneau, I don’t think she’s venturing far from our collective conscience.
Thanks for stopping by. If you’d like to see additional samples of my work, please click here.
Comments
Comment from Bull
Time July 15, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Sarah, dead fish are not the only thing to go with the flow. Just ask your urban and urbane compatriot, Joe the Plumber. May your journey be swift (boated) and your company be firm.
Comment from G H
Time July 15, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Terrorism is the possibility that Palin could be powerful in USA
Comment from DANN
Time July 15, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Hey Taylor,
Your cartoons are pretty good but your writing about them leaves something to be desired. Stick to your day job.
No need to fret about losing Sarah as a ready subject for your caricatures. She has no plans to be out of the public eye or the spotlight any time soon.
You’ll have plenty of opportunities to draw her likeness over the next 3 1/2 years.
Comment from Terry
Time July 15, 2009 at 5:24 pm
It is amazing how this lady can turn the Liberals into a frenzy by doing anything at all. Go for it girl… give them ulcers. With the D’s planning on cutting Medicare for the Seniors to pay for medical for others, it will likely be a totally new Congress the next time around. A solid block of Seniors in candidate Palin’s camp could roll over all the spenders.
Comment from SHOLLYMAN
Time July 15, 2009 at 5:26 pm
I and most Americans dislike the meaness of the press towards Sarah Palin and ESPECIALLY her family! I will Never watch Dave “what’s his name” on late night again. He is vicious, and he need not be! And, so are many of the “Cartoon Crowd”. I want to smile, there is too much to make me frown. I don’t need more to hate, I want to smile; feel good - hence cartoons.
Why all the meanness - BOTH ways politically! i am certain Obama is doing what he thinks best. And I am certain McCain would have also. Whate’s all the venom coming from? And, what is it turning us into?
If a cartoon cannot be a joy to read - why read it at all! Who needs the pain! I have no joy in ANY criticism! and I do not want should be a enjjoyable pursuit!
Satire can be fun, but this cartoon, along with many others is way out of the field.
Comment from joe donahue
Time July 15, 2009 at 5:36 pm
to think that anyone could consider this woman to be any kind of a leader in this country speaks to the decline of the republic. she is only more dangerous now, mein kampf comes to mind. It cant happen here right?
Comment from Oscar
Time July 15, 2009 at 5:46 pm
“Whate’s all the venom coming from?”
Easy. Tune in to talk radio. That’s where all (or at least 90%) of the venom is coming from.
Comment from Moose Killer From TX
Time July 15, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Nobody ever heard of Sarah Palin, until John Mcain nominated her for VP. Immediatly afterward. the state
run media and the liberal nation attacked her and her family relentlessly. Do you know why? It’s because
they are scared to F- - - - en death of her !
Comment from Chris
Time July 15, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Joe, SAD commentary, what is it that you think Obama is doing? Mein Kampf, really? Sounds like you need a history lesson:
I predict two things in the coming years:
1. Major, serious inflation - Caused by the devaluation of the dollar as we literally continue to print money for the “Obama plans”.
2. He’ll blame it all on previous administrations as we become a socialist nation beholden to our creditors.
We all share a measure of responsibility, yet everyone would rather point a finger or tear someone else down or watch a funeral for a pedophile…
America is headed for a fall that will make Rome’s fall pale in comparison…
Comment from Wild Wilbur
Time July 15, 2009 at 5:57 pm
@joe donahue
Goodness gracious sakes, Joe….”mein kampf (sic) comes to mind. It cant(sic) happen here right?”
Do you live in cave? No TV? No print media? It’s happening daily before your very eyes, and Ms. Palin has nothing to do with it.
Comment from isleshire
Time July 15, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Really, no reason to bash Texas.
Governor Perry won with only 39% of the vote. So don’t blame us.
Texan
Comment from Oemissions
Time July 15, 2009 at 6:33 pm
I like your cartoons and I enjoyed your descriptive process.
Comment from james
Time July 15, 2009 at 6:52 pm
The more Sarah Paine-land speaks the happier I am she and that old-fart, Johnny McCain, lost their executive office leadership bid. Can you believe these two total nit-wits were the best the Republican Party could offer? Sad state of affairs. The former President and his sad-kick destroyed the once great “Grand-Old-Party.” We now effectivly have a one party system—and that ain’t good for our once very great and wonderful country.
Comment from John Mayhew
Time July 15, 2009 at 7:47 pm
The Democrats are so shrill everytime Mrs. Palin steps up to speak. They are so worried when they see and hear the truth. Governor Palin might even say “May God Bless America” at the end of her speach, now that really drives the liberals crazy. I wish for Mrs. Palin to have a long and successful career.
Vietnam - Class of 67 - May God Bless You (even the liberals) in Jesus name,
John
Comment from Scott
Time July 15, 2009 at 7:55 pm
>>Thanks for stopping by. If you’d like to see additional samples of my work, please click here.<<
After reading your rant, I think I\’ll pass.
Comment from Colleen McShea
Time July 15, 2009 at 9:03 pm
James, that is precisely where the Democrats were in 2004. Remember “Bush Country” map? Please do not bet the farm that the Republicans are done, or you will lose it. Obama’s numbers are already beginning to sink, and will go farther when people realize he has a radical agenda. Without the media covering up the fact that we haven’t even seen his birth certificate and not showing us Biden’s dozen mistakes (while playing Palin’s single poor interview daily), they would never have won. She is the one reason McCain had a chance, and she is not going anywhere.
Comment from JimG
Time July 15, 2009 at 9:54 pm
John Mayhew: \"The Democrats are so shrill everytime Mrs. Palin steps up to speak. They are so worried when they see and hear the truth. Governor Palin might even say “May God Bless America” at the end of her speach, now that really drives the liberals crazy.\"
I can\’t speak for all the millions of Democrats, Independents, and thousands of Republicans that opposed her nomination, but what scared ME about Sarah Palin being a heart attack away from being Chief Executive of the United States of America was:
1) She is intellectually clueless.
2) She is intimately connected to an extremist cult espousing Alaskan secession.
3) She had an African witch hunter and two cult members ritually bless her efforts to combine Church and State in time for The Rapture in an inappropriate appearance in front of a religious congregation, acting in her role as governor, not as a private citizen. I believe, as did the Founders, in separation of church and state as a primary condition of a free society.
4) She was a newbie governor whose only other civic experience was being mayor of a tiny backwoods wilderness town (now ex-quitting before her first term was up for no particular reason-some\"brave leader\"! Belatedly, another reason). In other words, she is as far away from the issues facing the rest of the \"lower 48\" as one can be.
5) She could not speak in complete sentences. Didn\’t we just have eight years of that? Enough already, we look dumb enough as it is in the eyes of the world after electing GW Bush in 2004. (The \"crowning\" by the SCOTUS in 2000 didn\’t count IMHO)
6) She was a divisive hatemonger who whipped crowds into a hateful xenophobic frenzy in the campaign. Not the qualities a leader of The Free World should be displaying. Quite the opposite, really.
Last but not least, and enough to be the only reason :
7) She shamelessly displayed complete ignorance of issues and particulars critical for our time in history in all her debates and interviews, but chose to attack the media instead of sharpening her knowledge of issues.
Not because she was a conservative! That came a distant second for me. The GOP could and should have offered a real leader instead of a complete joke. I am sure many others felt the same way.
Comment from Wild Wilbur
Time July 15, 2009 at 10:31 pm
@JimG Jimmy, insert either the name Barack Obama or Joey Biden in your epic discourse, and the result is exactly the same….If you aren’t scared by your current president Womb-to-Tomb and the
Gaffester, then you deserve kneecap and tax, and Canadian-style health care. Don’t ever let me hear you complain in the future, or we’ll just label you as another whiny, bitchy, bleeding heart Democrat Socialist Liberal Progressive Moron……………………….
Comment from JimG
Time July 15, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Duh. I gave seven reasons so I should have said way down the list instead.
Hey I would vote for a Republican if they showed they could be good for the whole country, i.e all its citizens, not just the rich, but they hardly exist anymore. I think the last good one in the White House was Eisenhower. Old-school conservatives have been Stepford-ed out of political existence by the new breed of amoral right wing radicals and phony family values hypocrites that constitute the new GOP.
Comment from JimG
Time July 15, 2009 at 10:48 pm
Wild Wilbur: The proof is in the pudding. Its too soon to tell. If as Obama pointed out, his policies turn out to be a failure, we will see him head toward the dustbin of political history, then we can wise up and elect an Independent the next time. Screw this 2 party con job. It’s like “good cop bad cop” for both partisan groups. You talk like a paranoid, with nothing but the hot air of talk radio to keep your nightmares afloat. After 8 years of utter failure and taking his eye off the ball, if it ever was on it that is, the proof of W.’s (and Cheney’s) failure of leadership is staring us all in the face as we stare down the road to Depression. Sure the Dems were there too and took part in the mess we are in but face facts they got nothing but presidential vetoes for 6 straight years. Everything takes time, and the US system is built to take things slowly. So looking for overnight signs of positive change at a time like we are in is going to be a losing proposition. Ain’t gonna happen. The mess Wall Street got us into is too mucky to clean up overnight.
Comment from Wild Wilbur
Time July 15, 2009 at 11:34 pm
@Jim G The Republicans are only for the rich? Strongly disagree. Too stereotypical… The liberals have claimed for decades to be for the poor and downtrodden. Has the predicament of these souls improved over the past several decades? I think not. Jackson and Sharpton have milked their plight for years and made $millions off these poor, clueless individuals. Every election cycle the left-wing promises milk and honey, but never delivers. It’s only a ploy to garner votes. Think ACORN and the $millions squandered.
FLOTUS, babies, and grammy tour Europe on our dime while unemployment soars toward 10%. Obama stirred the pudding a few days into office and it hasn’t gelled yet. The stimulus bill is a total failure. Need proof? In my state, we will build two bridges totaling $350 million stimulus dollars which won’t be completed until 2017! Congress proposes health care for us plebeians, but they won’t participate in the program. We don’t need a health care overhaul, we need a total overhaul of the federal government. Several states have declared their sovereignty, and I hope many more follow their example. We can only blame our own complacency for the quagmire we’ll never escape…..Initiate term limits and throw the bums out! Alan Greenspan should be incarcerated at Gitmo! But the beat goes on and everyone gets the blame but the politicians and civil servant leeches…..Go figure…
Comment from JimG
Time July 15, 2009 at 11:35 pm
To appease Wild Wilbur I took him up on his advice to replace Biden and Obama for Palin in my list:
1) Obama is intellectually clueless.
2) Biden is intimately connected to an extremist cult espousing Alaskan secession.
3) Obama had an African witch hunter and two cult members ritually bless his efforts to combine Church and State in time for The Rapture in an inappropriate appearance in front of a religious congregation, acting in his role as governor, not as a private citizen. I believe, as did the Founders, in separation of church and state as a primary condition of a free society.
4) Biden was a newbie governor whose only other civic experience was being mayor of a tiny backwoods wilderness town (now ex-quitting before his first term was up for no particular reason-some “brave leader “! Belatedly, another reason). In other words, he is as far away from the issues facing the rest of the “lower 48″ as one can be.
5) Obama could not speak in complete sentences. Didn’t we just have eight years of that? Enough already, we look dumb enough as it is in the eyes of the world after electing GW Bush in 2004. (The “crowning” by the SCOTUS in 2000 didn’t count IMHO)
6) Biden was a divisive hatemonger who whipped crowds into a hateful xenophobic frenzy in the campaign. Not the qualities a leader of The Free World should be displaying. Quite the opposite, really.
Last but not least, and enough to be the only reason :
7) Barack Obama shamelessly displayed complete ignorance of issues and particulars critical for our time in history in all his debates and interviews, but chose to attack the media instead of sharpening his knowledge of issues.
You know, Wilbur, somehow it just doesn’t work…
Wonder why…
Comment from JimG
Time July 15, 2009 at 11:53 pm
Wild WIlbur:
I will second that. He was a true incompetent who did not deserve his stellar reputation as some kind of economic Yoda.
WIld WIlbur:
Ditto. I am all for it. We need some new greedy self-serving hypocritical assholes to replace the current ones.
Comment from JimG
Time July 15, 2009 at 11:57 pm
Cagle, this is messed up! I can’t use or paste in quotations! What’s up with that? Screwed my last post up.
Wild WIlbur: Alan Greenspan should be incarcerated at Gitmo!
I will second that. He was a true incompetent who did not deserve his stellar reputation as some kind of economic Yoda.
WIld WIlbur: Initiate term limits and throw the bums out!
Ditto. I am all for it. We need some new greedy self-serving hypocritical assholes to replace the current ones.
There. That’s better.
Comment from Wild Wilbur
Time July 16, 2009 at 12:07 am
@Jim G You’re catching on! A few more tweaks and we’ll have you functioning normally. You show true promise. You’re definitely a keeper.
Check back tomorrow. The thread will revert back to Michael Jackson cartoons, and how he single-handedly changed not only his face, but the face of America!! Tschuess!
Comment from DANN
Time July 16, 2009 at 12:40 am
@Wild Wilber or should I say ‘Louie the lib’
Are you ashamed to use just one name to stand behind, or are you just a coward?
How many aliases DO you use to try to make it appear that there are more of the outraged, Right wing wounded ducks out there than there really are?
Keep writing in, your rhetoric always provides me with a good laugh.
Comment from Jim
Time July 16, 2009 at 3:12 am
Taylor, stick a sock in it. Your cranial cavity is firmly ensconced in its rectal repository.
Comment from Tim Stocken
Time July 16, 2009 at 4:38 am
Dann = I think you outed Willy Lou. You know, he is far from stupid, but he certainly is more stuck on himself than necessary. Whoever you are (Hardcore one?) you should realize there are many from both the left and the right who have far more on the ball than you.
But you know, that is a mistake made by many on the right. Pat Buchanan is now on a campaign to prove Judge Sotomayor is an intellectual lightweight. The woman graduated first in her high school class at a well respected New York City Catholic high school. She was second in her class at Princeton and made the law review at Yale. Listening to here testify in front of the Senate, she clearly has knowledge of every case ever brought up before the Supreme Court. I have a degree with three little Latin words after it, but she is way out of my league.
Likewise, President Obama’s intelligence has also been questioned. Academic credentials mean little to the rabble rousers on the right. “They ain’t got no common sense,” is their explanation. There are plenty of intellectuals on the right, Peggy Noonan, George Will, William Safire to name a few, but they don’t argue with a mob mentality. The Rush, Hannity and Savage crowd use ridicule, fear and taunting rather than facts to spew their hate, which is obviously counterproductive. Sarah Palin will be a perfect fit for this crew. But why not? They are only interested in tearing things down, rather than any productive discourse…
Comment from Tim Stocken
Time July 16, 2009 at 4:44 am
Sorry about the =, Dann. This format is tough on my old eyes.
Comment from Mike
Time July 16, 2009 at 5:41 am
The only thing worse than a cartoonist depicting a politician, is an elitist, posing as a cartoonist and commenting on a person while wearing a beret.
\"Not that I\’m trying to pass judgment here…..\" and then he passes judgment. What a crock.
Stick to cartoons. Political commentary is above your paygrade.
Comment from Moonbeam
Time July 16, 2009 at 5:55 am
What in the world did Sarah Palin do to you to create such viciousness with your pen? I\’m an artist specializing in caricature but never do I feel the venom your work shows. I hope she is around a long time to drive you to the end of your paper and then fall off!
Comment from BlackTantalus
Time July 16, 2009 at 6:28 am
Actually, the media has never attacked the witch Sarah Palin; it has merely let her speak in her own words. The notorious Alaskan secessionist is not the first Republican unable to walk and chew gum at the same time. Can we make fun of Jeff Sessions now?
Comment from steakandsafety
Time July 16, 2009 at 6:39 am
The most divisive personality in American politics since George Wallace. Unquestionably drifting (like a dead fish) toward a third-party run in 2012. Thank you, Ala(bam)aska.
Comment from EASTEXASREDNECK
Time July 16, 2009 at 6:41 am
IT IS AMAZING HOW ALL THE SOCIALIST-COMMUNISTS ARE SO AFRAID OF SARA PALIN. THEY JUST CAN’T LEAVE HER ALONE. FEAR IS A POWERFUL FORCE..
Comment from Glennis
Time July 16, 2009 at 7:03 am
Actually, Black Tantalus; the media did - and does attack her, both blatantly and obliquely. Let me say that I don’t think that she was ready for a role as vice president and I certainly don’t see her as presidential material. That said however, I love an underdog. I don’t think she’s basically unintelligent. Who’s to say with education and coaching she can’t become ready? To use a cliched term, the elitest establishment has become more holier than thou than the fiercest religious fanatic. Their inability to tolerate opposing opinions, philosophies and lifestyles will eventually come back to bite them in the behind. The more the media, and I include the entertainment media, ridicule and insult her the more sympathy I have for her.
Comment from Tim Stocken
Time July 16, 2009 at 8:00 am
Glennis - Not only has Sarah Palin brought this attention on herself, she welcomes it. It’s what she is good at. She attracted crowds and financing for the McCain campaign, although in the long run, Senator Collins from Maine or Senator Hutcheson may have made for a closer outcome.
I’m not underestimating Palin’s ability. She is savvy and manipulative, assets a politician of any political persuasion would welcome. However, the top spot requires diplomacy, which is a big shortcoming for her and her take on international issues is totally lacking. Can you imagine her negotiating a nuclear proliferation treaty with Putin, for example?
I believe she will be a big hit on the talk show circle and make the big bucks. Hey, if Joey Chestnut can parley eating 68 hotdogs in six minutes into a million bucks and a not so hot hooker can bring down (no pun intended) Governor Switzer and make millions from it, Sarah Palin is looking at nine figures easily. She may turn out to be so sweet, she may even charm EastTexasredneck to undo his caps lock…
Comment from Glennis
Time July 16, 2009 at 9:13 am
Tim,
Anyone who offers him or herself up for public office “brings” attention to themselves. It’s the quality and kinds of attention that I question in this case. And to answer your question; no, I can’t see her negotiating treaties with Putin or anybody else. Not my point. People have surprised me before; they will again. Maybe even Sarah Palin. But then, maybe the talk show/lecture circuit is more in line with her abilities. Regardless, she will most likely end up much wealthier than she currently is.
Comment from Stug
Time July 16, 2009 at 10:13 am
\"FEAR IS A POWERFUL FORCE.\"
Amen!
Just look at the devastating effect it was used towards by the last administration. Thankfully the American people broke out from under that in 2006. And it isn\’t just those with a Socialist bent that are afraid of what Palin might do to the country, but everyone that doesn\’t want to live under the thumb of a fanatically led Theocracy. The social conservatives would be better served to form their own party, separate from the GOP and stop being duped into being a voting block for the party of the wealthy.
Comment from Neil
Time July 16, 2009 at 10:58 am
Colleen McShea: Obama will not lose popularity “when people realize he has a radical agenda.” He was elected BECAUSE he has a radical agenda. People wanted something different, and he was offering what appeared to be the most different.
He loses (and will continue to lose) popularity as people realize his methods don’t work.
Comment from William Buck
Time July 16, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Palin is a perfect example of a political profile common in right-wing politics. She is neither stupid nor incompetent–simply woefully ignorant! Sufficient education and experience would have permitted her to perform adequately as as a vice-presidential candidate. She had great appeal to the ignorant (not necessarily stupid) wing of her party; but those Republicans with a modicum of political savvy understood that she would never sell to the total electorate; particularly the center majority of \"independents\" who tend to be the best informed and educated of all the folks that actually vote. These independent swing voters decide practically all presidental elections after the Left base and the Right base have made their choices based on party affiliation by usually voting a straight Republican or Democratic ticket.
The real problem the Republicans have today is the shrinking size of the fundamentalist Religious Right bloc, and the ever-lessening influence that these extremists have on the Party\’s centrists. The traditional GOP centrist is largely a fiscal conservative with little concern or interest in social issues, particularly religious ones. These folks are still there as stalwart pillars of the party\’s values, but primitives like Palin frighten them, because such political unsophistication can\’t win the big tent!
If good old boys and girls like Sarah and Joe the Plumber are going to be the standard bearers of Republican politics, the party\’s leadership is not going to get the support it needs from educated, informed, AND intelligent Republicans. And needless to say, most Independents are not going to be persuaded by the simplistic views of politically and intellectually naive leaders.
I can hear the cries of \"elitist\" already, but the simple fact is that 2008 proved that a significant majority of American voters have rejected the Cheney-Bush politics of the \"Christian\" right, total support and lack of oversight for big business, and a jingoistic foreign policy of nation-building. It\’s a complicated world today that demands highly intelligent, highly educated and informed leaders who are striving for the greatest good for the greatest number. Obama may meet these criteria. If his policies succeed, he will go down in history as one of our great presidents. If they fail, history will regard him as as profound a failure as George Bush was, albeit on the other end of the philosophical spectrum of what constitutes good governance.
Comment from DANN
Time July 16, 2009 at 6:24 pm
@William Buck
Well said, Sir, well said !
Comment from William Buck
Time July 16, 2009 at 11:53 pm
Dann…..
Thank you for your comment. Ibelieve that most thinking people agree on most of the obvious political facts. At this juncture in history it is much more comfortable to have a liberal bias than a conservative one. I fully expect at some point in the future to be back on the other side of the political fence, but one would have to be retarded to ignore the horrible wrongdoing of the past eight years of Republican dominance! The pendulum has to swing back quite a way before we achieve equilibrium.
Comment from DANN
Time July 17, 2009 at 1:42 am
You are quite welcome, Mr. Buck.
I happen to be one of those ‘ independents’ that you mentioned. I prefer to not have any Party affiliation whatsoever. Considering the state of the two party system for the past 50 years, I tend to vote for whomever I feel is the lessor of two evils.
I respect the Office of the Presidency no matter who may occupy the White House at any given time. And I reserve my judgements of policies until enough time has passed to properly analyze their effectiveness one way or the other.
I feel that most of problems facing our great nation today are deeply rooted in the irregularities of the previous administration and I’m waiting to see whether our current President will be able to rectify them or whether he ends up making them worse. Time will tell.
Comment from JaneGael
Time July 17, 2009 at 7:20 am
I would LOVE to know what conservatives find so wonderful about this woman.
I wore an “I like Ike” button and this woman is no Eisenhower. I remember when the Republican Party was not represented by a wolf puppy killing, moose murdering beauty queen who can give a chatty interview while turkeys are being killed behind her. Her parents home is decorated with dead animal skins and heads. Her disregard for life and suffering is scary. Unlike President Eisenhower, formerly General Eisenhower, she has no credentials to lead anyone or anything. Unlike President Regan who served as the governor of California from 1967-1975, she can’t even manage to complete one term in office. What she can do is look pretty and wink. Has the Republican Party fallen so far that this is all that they think it takes to lead the country?
Comment from D. Wayne
Time July 17, 2009 at 9:39 am
How is it that you irresponsible liberals can bash a lady and especially her familywhile at the same time support an islamic idiot president. If you are so “fair” and want a “fairness doctrine” then let us have a little equal time “fairness”. Let us talk about Michelle’s bowed legs and her nappy headed little ho’s. Now does that raise your ire a little? Wow! It isn’t nearly as funny now is it?
As far as your blog…try a little fairness and kindness or shut up.
Why don’t you talk about the lack of ethics on Democrat and liberal side?
Comment from Tim Stocken
Time July 17, 2009 at 10:51 am
D. Wayne - what a classy statement. You must be very proud.
Comment from William Buck
Time July 17, 2009 at 10:58 am
D. Wayne…..
If you have evidence that Obama is of Muslim faith, I would be pleased to see it. Personally, I don\’t care what his personal superstition system is, only that he doesn\’t let it interfere with his rational thinking. I seriously doubt that he truly is of any religious denomination or is actually a theist; but I don\’t know this to be a fact. He presents himself as a Christian, which is is a necessary prerequisite for political office in America. Whether this is true or not, I neither know nor care. However, I\’m pretty certain that you would find that he has carefully and completely built a completely impregnable base for his assertion to be a Christian. If you were able to present undeniable evidence that he is a muslim, it would be a remarkable accomplishment, and you would certainly make history!
As to your sllly, contrived racist insults such as \"nappy headed\" and \"ho\", they only serve to define your adolescent mentality. You could at least be more original than to quote directly from Don Imus. There are plenty of perjorative terms like \"jungle bunny\" and \"spade\" that carry more corrosive racist hate than \"ho\". Why not just call him a \"fucking nigger\" and unleash all your pent-up racist bile? It would be cathartic for you and might serve to accelerate your retarded psychological development forward from the pre-puberty name-calling stage in which you are currently stalled.
However, from what I have seen of your childish babblings, I doubt that you will ever grow out of your 12 year old mentality and four letter word vocabulary.
When an adolescent like yourself carries on about \"kindness\" and \"fairness\", he would do well to stop for a minute and read his own ramblings.
Comment from Lenin
Time July 18, 2009 at 7:12 pm
Look to see who benefits… in order to find the culprits.
Ok kids! Break time is over! Get back to work!
I am happy to announce that whether you like it or not everyone is going to have to start earning their keep again. Frankly this spanking is long overdue if you ask those of us who have actually worked for a living all this time. You all need to take a vow of poverty. …The same flavor that the greedy money addicts have been foisting upon those of us who really have supported this country all along.
The middle class have always been the strength of America. The power elite are killing that like the crack addicts they are! I know what real class is. I know what real patriotism is. And there are no French horns playing sentimentally in the cathedrals where real virtue exists. Suffice it to say the balance between posers and patriots tipped way into the abyss of apathy a long time ago. It’s just that now… it seems like there\’s no turning back. I say good! I\’m used to constant pain. It will be refreshing to see the perfect storm blow us ALL back into the world of men!
As far as political parties go… It has been a one party system with two flavors for a long time. Don\’t you realize that it’s all about marketing? Here\’s where the money is… There are a lot more BillyBob\’s and Bubbas than Blue Staters in this country. George W and Sarah Palin are not leaders as much as market leaders. Get it? Then, mix in the alternative flavor to cover the other majority and the entire media-opiated masses feel like they really have a choice. Guess what? They don\’t!
They say that a crisis President comes along when there is a real crisis. I think we are just about there… Thing is… The topic needs to be decided whether the right of the individual capitalist supersedes what is right for the people in general. See… the masses of the people are happy to stay asleep until things really start to hurt. Then the Enrons, Andersons et al are in for a surprise. There ain\’t no amount of black choppers gonna stop that wave.
So I suggest everyone put on their thinking caps. Each person needs to look into their own backyard and see what they can live without. \’Cause baby… its gonna get there. Think about that vow of poverty. Take some time to talk to the neighbors instead of your gameboy. Turn the lights off.
As a shameless plug… Take the time to really listen to or read Noam Chomsky. You owe it to the past, present, and future protectors of Freedom lying face down in the mud to know the truth about what your government does in your name for the power elite. If YOU are not part of the solution… YOU are part of the problem. Thomas Jefferson’s revolution seems pretty close now.
Giving up your wasteful creature comforts may actually make your life happier.
Stop being so isolationist! Cut out the crying and dig in! Be Honest and not hypocritical!
Me… I try to support major corporations as little as possible. Those kids never learned manners and they always cut in line at the drinking fountain.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O\’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
Comment from Slurpeeman
Time July 8, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Taylor,
Field dressing moose IS EXACTLY what keeps her hands soft. Do you have any idea how much oil and lanolin oozes out of a 1,500-pound moose carcass?
Good piece.