The Snark Shark
Thursday, September 04, 2008
The problem with trendy words is they come out of almost nowhere, get run into the ground and are rendered all but completely unserviceable when there is a legitimate call for them.
Such is the case with "snark." It's absolutely apt when discussing Sarah Palin and her speech last night at the Republican Convention. Despite how rapidly "snark" has grown threadbare, it's impossible to avoid using at this moment. Snark rhymes with "shark" and that was Palin's nickname coming into the speech. Now her sobriquet is twice as long. The Snark Shark energized the condescending portion of the base of the Republican Party last night but maybe not the parts of the base some thought she'd inspire. The speech's absolute lack of humility and generosity spoke directly to a lot of miserable old men who live in places where even the possibility of a black man becoming president is turned away at the guard shack. They live where community organizing is unnecessary unless the groundkeepers have let the fairway grow a bit too shaggy.
How much Palin's primetime sneer appealed to the evangelical community is another question. There was nothing blessed or meek in her remarks and her only real mentions of religion were used to kneecap her opponents. What has Governor Palin's faith done for her other than elevate her to a place where she can walk on the stage at a political convention and say, "Blessed are the power elite!" She didn't discuss the beauty and majesty of Alaska, she belittled the places where tens of millions of Americans live. She ran a town that was bolstered by almost $30 million in pork barrel graft from Sleazy Ted Stevens but she disparaged the people who reside in places where fundraisers have to be done to buy rudimentary items like textbooks. And she's going to ride into office by dissing the people who organize the underprivileged? Well maybe.
Palin was also supposed to win over a lot of women who supported Hillary Clinton. Many of these people are mothers. Mothers say things like, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." This would have limited Palin to discussing her own family and John McCain's shoulders (Jesus, do they have a sign in the wings at that convention that reminds every speaker to mention McCain's shoulders, or what?)
On a night when Republicans did everything but belittle people who can spell for being elitist, the R's also made some rather remarkable promises. Speaking of McCain, Mitt Romney proclaimed "radical violent Islam is evil, and he will defeat it!" Yeah, right after you reopen all those auto plants in Michigan, Mitt.
Palin's expertise is supposed to concern energy. Speaking about this crucial issue, she expressed a willingness to clear-cut the environment for quick fixes. Pitifully, this self-proclaimed conservative and energy expert never even mentioned conservation, which is the first and fastest way to confront this challenge.
Last night we saw Tonya Harding with a speechwriter. She offered almost nothing of substance. She's positive we should be paranoid. She mocked constitutional rights. Well screw you, Nananook of the Nazis. The stuff about putting the governor's jet on E-Bay was cute but other than that she did what reactionaries always accused hippies of doing -- she tore down but she didn't build up. She did something that no hippie was ever accused of doing, she fortified the luxury bunker where the rich and powerful hide. The creepy thing is that she did it in the guise of an American every woman. She sold herself as a great administrator, even though she couldn't manage to keep a carwash open in the the muddiest state in the union. .
She is boldly trying to do nationally what she did in Alaska -- come in as a reformer without mentioning that the reason there is a need for reform is because of people like her. We have just suffered through eight years of a self-proclaimed western reformer governor who as president has privatized our government, run the Constitution and Bill of Rights through a parchment shredder, started two disastrous wars, raped the environment, and bankrupted the economy. How are we supposed to reform this? By bringing in two people the last "reformer" has enthusiastically endorsed to replace him and his malicious vice-president. Jesus, America, they're calling us stupid. Maybe the suckers in Alaska buy the idea that the scumbags can replace themselves with themselves and call it reform but we'll see about it in the lower 49.
This is not to say they won't get away with it. My pal John Joslin points out that Palin only needs to pull off this act for the next 60 days. She also serves an important function with all her snarkiness: she distracts us from the doddering McCain who can stay backstage and get a few extra huffs out of the oxygen mask while she creates the diversion.
So she only has to hold out from Sept. 4 to Nov. 4 because her act is like a McMansion that was erected quickly and of shoddy material. It will soon fall apart and the sun it blotted out will return but for now, it sprung out of nowhere and has a hell of a facade. For now, if reporters dig up facts that contradict her assertions, she'll sell herself as a martyr in the great struggle against the Marxist media. If her qualifications are questioned, she'll tell middle America that they are the ones who should be insulted.
Her small town hokum is particularly egregious but it still could be her undoing. I grew up in a village of 3,000 and not a single one of the glad-handing jokers who served as its mayor would have a chance in hell as second-in-command of the USA. Why? Because they were only qualified to stay in power because they treated all things from the outside as dangerous, as threats. They used an "us against the world" mentality as their basis of rule. They're coming to ruin our way of life! Of course as the rest of the world came to our pretty little town and bought it, our fearless leaders quickly sold a beautiful lake down the river to developers. Sarah Palin is exactly like those clowns. Hell, she is one of those clowns. (Then again, maybe this makes her perfect for Washington.) Because of her, little asshole mayors all over the country are that much more full of themselves. Considering the puniness of these tiny, turfy twits, this could really backfire on Palin. Small-town Americans put up with lame local officials because they hate dealing with the petty nonsense that is the small-time pol's stock in trade. If Sarah Palin emboldens these Babbits to start swaggering in public rather than to just continue to lurk in the town hall basement, skimming nickels from the parking meter haul, it could remind us why we don't want the likes of the Snark Shark a rather faint heartbeat away from the presidency.
It's time for Barack Obama to continue exactly what he did to get where he is today. He needs to step up what was roundly mocked last night. He needs to community organize. Just as Palin wants to turn the entire nation into a paranoid and intolerant small town, Obama must continue his work to turn American voters into a very large, organized community. The R's tipped their strategy last night - they think community organizing is an easy thing to pooh-pooh. But in the back room the reason for the attack is different -- these people fear an effectively organized electorate. This attack was first unveiled by crooked cross-dresser Rudy Giuliani, who asked if anyone even knew what a community organizer does. Of course he knows exactly what a community organizer does - - a community organizer makes life miserable for racist, fascist mayors like Giuliani. A community organizer helps create collective power by motivating large numbers of downtrodden people to hope for a better day. There are more than enough downtrodden people in this country to organize and so they can tip the scales of power. If Barack Obama can continue to inspire these folks to get politically active, they'll create a roar so loud that it will be heard even behind the walls of the most fortified gated community.
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COMMENT ON THIS
Ed DarrellTuesday, September 16th 2008 10:08PM
Astounding photos. You made them?
gina romanticaSunday, September 14th 2008 9:52PM
Barry,
I keep hoping you'll jump in and be a voice of reason. How do you view exchanges such as these? Do you sit back and smile with amusement? Bemusement? Recoil in horror? Discussion is good but is this that? Help me.
CRayFriday, September 12th 2008 9:42PM
Sorry for the spelling errors, but after putting in a 12 hour day at "MY" buisness I tend to get a bit tired!
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CRayFriday, September 12th 2008 9:39PM
Gary,
I have no time to dael with a 12 year old.
you refuse to accept any reality but your own and what you call truth is nothing more than the same old crap that capitalist corporate america has shufed down Americans throats for the last 29 years.
Since you will not respond like an adult, I can only treat you like a child.
"Go To your room."
(Are you still using your employers time to read the internet.)
GaryFriday, September 12th 2008 4:27PM
One more note-- Dubya's "tax cuts to the rich" procuced the HIGHEST tax revenue the country has ever seen.
Pre-emptive strike--- go ahead try to say it is because of the economy. That will just show how stupid your arguments are.
GaryFriday, September 12th 2008 4:21PM
CRAY -- Thursday, September 11th 2008 11:34AM
"Gary,
In ref. to your factual numbers. Of course you realise that the percentages you list do not pertain to the actual amount that you and I pay don't you?"
I don't care if you make $10,000.00 a year or 1,000,000.00 a year, WE SHOULD ALL PAY THE SAME PERCENTAGE IN TAXES.
This is not a welfare state, the gov is not there to give you money. Get off your dead asses and get a job, so you can contribute to society.
This is not "change", it is the same crap the Dems have been spewing for years.
Remember Bill Clintons promise to cut middle class taxes??? You idiots elected him and HE RAISED MIDDLE CLASS TAXES.
P.S. CAN ANY OF YOU SAY VACATION???????????? No I guess you have to have a JOB to know what that is.
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LisaFriday, September 12th 2008 1:29PM
An extremely simple tool to calculate whether you will receive a tax cut with Obama's plan or not.
CRayThursday, September 11th 2008 1:56PM
Gary,
One additional item and I will let it rest.
You say you work... what, 8 to 5?
So you are reading and responding to the internet on your employers time?
CRAYThursday, September 11th 2008 11:34AM
Gary,
In ref. to your factual numbers. Of course you realise that the percentages you list do not pertain to the actual amount that you and I pay don't you?
And you do know that the founder of the National Taxpayeers Union is James Davidson, the man who is guilty of stock fraud, the same man that started the "Clinton killed Foster" myth, the same man that solicited social security receipiants to send his NTU money but to send it directly to him and not his foundations mailbox ,right?
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NickZWednesday, September 10th 2008 8:10PM
Gary,
Joanne dismantled your reasoning fairly well several posts ago.
gruaudTuesday, September 9th 2008 2:15PM
grand slam.
GaryTuesday, September 9th 2008 1:51PM
One last note
Do any of you know how corrupt the Gov is in Chicago????
For the record the GOP are not running things there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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GaryTuesday, September 9th 2008 1:49PM
ursa
"Uh, guess what. She didn't even sell the plane on EBay! It was sold through a broker (who of course got a commission), and the State lost money on the deal. See the Palin page on HuffPo."
QUOTE FROM SARAH'S SPEECH
"While I was at it, I got rid of a few things in the governor's office that I didn't believe our citizens should have to pay for.
That luxury jet was over the top. I PUT it on eBay."
It did not get the bids they were hoping for and yes it finally sold threw a broker.
GET YOUR QUOTES STRAIGHT!!!!!!!
To take a tactic directly from the libs on the site, STOP LISTENING TO THE LEFT WING MSM!!!!!!!!!!!
ursa quote "(who of course got a commission)"
Hello Ursa--- sales people get commission in the world---oh wait in the LIB world that should go to the goverment.
I even used your quoted site to read the text of Sarah's speech.
GaryTuesday, September 9th 2008 1:36PM
Please dispute the numbers in my previous post.
WITHOUT BASHING ME OR CHANGING THE SUBJECT.
jb roweTuesday, September 9th 2008 1:28PM
If she is unqualified, what does that say about Obama? You lefties would be hilarious if this situtaion were not so serious. Obama has absolutely no experience running anything.
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GaryTuesday, September 9th 2008 1:27PM
tom
"My grandson's ship is *not* getting the best gear, and my friends in the Corps are not getting the best equipment."
LIBS have no memory--- Clinton decimated the military budget, that is the only reason your quote may be true.
GaryTuesday, September 9th 2008 1:26PM
joanne
"Listen, pal. You need to calm down and turn off the hate radio. "
So LIBS can't read????? I was very clear-- I WORK FOR A LIVING, I DO NOT LISTEN TO RIGHT WING RADIO
Once again typical LIB
GaryTuesday, September 9th 2008 1:22PM
tom
and I made it a point not to call you any names - I said "You are acting like . . ."
QUOTE-- but you sound like another loser conspiracy theorist addicted to his own adrenaline and telling scary stories around the campfire.
I guess calling me a LOSER isn't name calling
Typical LIB!!!!!
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GaryTuesday, September 9th 2008 1:19PM
Who Pays Income Taxes? See Who Pays What
For Tax Year 2006
Top 1% 39.89%
Top 5% 60.14%
Top 10% 70.79%
Top 25% 86.27%
Top 50% 97.01%
Bottom 50% 2.99%
THESES NUMBERS ARE FACT!!!!
Like the well off need to pay more. These numbers are out of wack already, and Obama want to tax the upper brackets more.
JoanneMonday, September 8th 2008 5:48PM
1000 apologies for the duplicate post. This is my first time here - I generally just read Barry's books, not his blog. I'll get the hang of it sooner or later!
JoanneMonday, September 8th 2008 5:45PM
Gary, don't get too full of yourself. I am a 55-year old retired business owner. You work 8 - 5? I worked those hours when I was on VACATION for 16 years! Get a grip, man. I used to have employees sit in front of me and complain that taxes took "all" of their overtime. When I said, OK, let's take a look at your check stub and see what we can do, of course it ALWAYS was the case that taxes only took a small part of it. Now, I will grant you that the AMT - if that's your category - is a killer for the upper middle class. If that's your beef, why don't you get out there and organize your community to get it repealed? Oh, wait, did I just ask you to be a community organizer? That would be a really, really, really stupid thing to do, wouldn't it? That would make you an engaged rather than simply an outraged citizen. Can't have that!
Listen, pal. You need to calm down and turn off the hate radio. Obama isn't going to raise your taxes unless you are among the mega-rich, and you never would have posted your work schedule if that was the case. I have a good friend who makes over 450K a year in salary and under Obama's tax plan, according to several unbiased analyses, she'll be paying a little more. About what she spends getting her hair done each month.
So chill out, brother. Things are not nearly so bleak as you think. The stock market dropped over 300 points the day after Bush-in-a-skirt gave her wowser speech. That ought to tell you something.
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JoanneMonday, September 8th 2008 5:45PM
Gary, don't get too full of yourself. I am a 55-year old retired business owner. You work 8 - 5? I worked those hours when I was on VACATION for 16 years! Get a grip, man. I used to have employees sit in front of me and complain that taxes took "all" of their overtime. When I said, OK, let's take a look at your check stub and see what we can do, of course it ALWAYS was the case that taxes only took a small part of it. Now, I will grant you that the AMT - if that's your category - is a killer for the upper middle class. If that's your beef, why don't you get out there and organize your community to get it repealed? Oh, wait, did I just ask you to be a community organizer? That would be a really, really, really stupid thing to do, wouldn't it? That would make you an engaged rather than simply an outraged citizen. Can't have that!
Listen, pal. You need to calm down and turn off the hate radio. Obama isn't going to raise your taxes unless you are among the mega-rich, and you never would have posted your work schedule if that was the case. I have a good friend who makes over 450K a year in salary and under Obama's tax plan, according to several unbiased analyses, she'll be paying a little more. About what she spends getting her hair done each month.
So chill out, brother. Things are not nearly so bleak as you think. The stock market dropped over 300 points the day after Bush-in-a-skirt gave her wowser speech. That ought to tell you something.
TomMonday, September 8th 2008 5:35PM
I'm fourteen years OLDER than you, I've been at work since I was fifteen, my workweek is longer than yours, and I made it a point not to call you any names - I said "You are acting like . . ."
Do please try to read what's written, not what you imagine.
Speaking of reading . . . you do realized your heroic NeoCons have raped the treasury and the military,right? It's *their* hands in your pocketbook and bank account, either by direct action or by letting their wealthiest pals avoid taxes altogether. Your wealth has been redistributed, all right - to some very interesting and distant corporate accounts. My grandson's ship is *not* getting the best gear, and my friends in the Corps are not getting the best equipment.
Wonder where the money went?
So if you think Obama's tax plan is the same as what we have now, you should be very happy.
GaryMonday, September 8th 2008 5:25PM
Tom
What does anything you posted have to do with my post????
Look at Obama's tax plan---it's all right there.
Typical Lib -- respond with name calling, based on your BMX quote, are you old enough to vote???
I challenge ANYBODY to debate my post like MEN and WOMEN, not 12yr old boys.
I am a 41yr old man, with business experience. I do not listen to right wing radio, I WORK FOR A LIVING 8-5 EVERY DAY!!
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TomMonday, September 8th 2008 3:58PM
Gary, I don't want to call you ill-informed . . . and it would be rude to deride your intelligence . . . but you sound like another loser conspiracy theorist addicted to his own adrenaline and telling scary stories around the campfire.
Obama's a centrist with significant corporate ties. Your buddies and radio heroes can't specify a single fact or behavior that identify Obama as the dreaded mossy-toothed, virgin-eating, Christian-slaughtering Islamist they are desperate to convince us will be the end of all we hold dear.
You want your adrenaline shot? Go ride BMX. Or help rebuild New Orleans, if you're looking for something you can be proud to do while you get sweaty.
GaryMonday, September 8th 2008 2:46PM
All of you lib's don't get it. Obama wants to redistribute the wealth in this country. Regardless of political party, please try to understand the following:
I am excellent at what I do(insert ANY occupation here).
I am rewarded by raises and bonuses every year.
I am now considered too good by Obama, and now all of my bonuses go to taxes.
Why should I continue to excel if I can't reap the benefits??? If I make any more money, it goes straight to the government.
HOW IS THIS LIVING THE AMERICAN DREAM?????????????
P.S. Obama says he's not taxing you he's going to tax business. BUSINESS pays your salary, sells you everything you buy. HOW WILL BUSINESS PAY FOR THE TAX INCREASES??? Cut staff and raise prices!!!!!!
NO TAX ON YOU THERE!!!!!
gina foxSaturday, September 6th 2008 12:10AM
Love on ya Barry. I continue to be amazed. It almost sounds stupid but I'm so grateful to have your writing to read. It enriches my life immensely. My neighbors left for the weekend in Skaneateles, their first trip since we buried their beloved Bert. I'm feeding the chickens. Let me know if you want maple syrup or prize winning garlic.
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BinaFriday, September 5th 2008 11:07AM
I'm totally stealing that "Nanook of the Nazis" nickname; it fits her to a tee. Thanks for a great piece!
MaryFriday, September 5th 2008 6:03AM
This was great to read. Sarah did a slap in the face to 'community organizers' and I have to wonder what the greatest 'community organizer' ever is feeling right now......I am sure you have heard of the greatest ever, he goes by the name of - Jesus Christ
UrsaFriday, September 5th 2008 3:29AM
Uh, guess what. She didn't even sell the plane on EBay! It was sold through a broker (who of course got a commission), and the State lost money on the deal. See the Palin page on HuffPo.
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tinfoilhatFriday, September 5th 2008 3:06AM
good God man, the 'carwash' line is untouchable. classic.
valFriday, September 5th 2008 2:35AM
its nice and enjoy to read.....thx
imtheonethatiwantThursday, September 4th 2008 11:58PM
This is my first visit to the site and I found your commentary both more insightful and entertaining than that found in a day's worth of reading. You rock! Truly, thank you.
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ShannaThursday, September 4th 2008 10:56PM
Absolutely outstanding piece. You really put all of my misgivings and concerns about Palin (and the whole McCain camp) into a witty, significant perspective. Brilliant.
lamac66Thursday, September 4th 2008 10:17PM
OUTSTANDING!
LanaThursday, September 4th 2008 9:41PM
Barry, As always, you rock!!! And the pictures are great!
Spread this one around folks -- it is well worth sharing!
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CatherineThursday, September 4th 2008 7:28PM
I live in Alaska and cannot bear this broad. Good luck kicking her defects. They are many and must be told.
ColdtypeThursday, September 4th 2008 7:10PM
Well Lisa and Sam I guess time will tell. I must confess that I'm able to find little substance to Obama's reputation as a genuine change agent. For example, what follows are a smattering of issues for which Obama's position is indistinguishable from that of the GOP:
•impeachment of Team Bush
•recall of the Military Commissions Act of 2006
•recall of the Patriot Acts
•the efficacy of FISA
•"enduring" bases in illegally occupied Iraq, including Vatican-sized "embassy"
•belligerence towards Iran
•belligerence towards Venezuela, Cuba, Bolivia et al
•expansion of the War on a Tactic in Afghanistan/Pakistan
•continued support for Israeli apartheid/aggression
•no support for the re-institution of Glass-Stegall
•silence on financial rescue schemes that favors Wall Street over homeowners.
•no support for single-payer healthcare.
If I'm misreading Obama's positions on these and related issues, I'd be fascinated to hear how.
Eric HansenThursday, September 4th 2008 6:21PM
Very astute commentary. Obama does need to continue community organizing if he hopes to do anything outside the dictates of corporate capitalism. Any significant "progressive" reform won't be achieved without substantial popular support.
At the same time, Obama must resist becoming just another "personality cult", with a following that will dissipate the moment he is out of the picture. Jesse Jackson may have helped pave the way for Obama, but his handling of the Rainbow Coalition post 1988 is hardly an inspiration.
As for Sarah Palin, given her beauty queen background, I suspected she was possessed by Anita Bryant. . .until I found out on-line that Bryant is still alive, though has declared financial, if not moral, bankruptcy.
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Greg FrostThursday, September 4th 2008 5:34PM
The high point for me still remains their battle cry to take back "liberal Washington" and turn it into "conservative Washington." Has McCain been off-world for the past 8 years? Washington, K-Street, Abramaoff, Enron? 8 years of neoconservative rule in Washington has given us economic disasters, environmental disasters, military disasters, all viciously orchestrated by the Bush-Cheney team...and I don't know about you, but I think those poltroons aren't liberals. In fact, how about we give the liberals 8 years and see if they make it worse. I bet they don't.
Dennis PerrinThursday, September 4th 2008 5:19PM
"Different groups will spring up fighting for different things like better schools and universal healthcare which will save us all money. And if Obama tries to go off what the people want, they will hold him accountable."
Uh huh. And how do you plan to do this, should Obama actually behave as presidents have before him -- civil disobedience? a call for impeachment? not voting for him in '12? Or will you fashion tsk-tsk petitions, which as we all know cause imperial managers to quake in their expensive shoes and turn on their corporate/military sponsors?
This is why I want Obama/Biden to win. I'm anxious to see if the faithful turn on him. Ha.
observer in vancouverThursday, September 4th 2008 4:26PM
"Tonya Harding with a speechwriter". This has got to be the second best line of the whole campaign. (Sorry, but Joe Biden's Giuliani is noun, verb 911 the utter best.) Thanks for this article. She is a nasty piece of work; no warm fuzzies here.
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AmandaThursday, September 4th 2008 3:45PM
Your comment about community organizers and fascists like Guiliani? SPOT. ON.
Excellent analysis overall, as well. Glad I found your blog (from a link @ Al Giordano's place)
Sam DobermannThursday, September 4th 2008 3:30PM
"
My big concern Barry is that Obama has no intention of encouraging people to organize and become politically engaged beyond the election. Activism on the scale necessary to effect fundamental change [reversal of corporatism at home and militarism abroad] strikes me as anathema to Barack Obama and his coterie of elite supporters."
Boy, that comment is just silly. Obama has been training thousands of people to BE organizers. You don't put that genie back in the bottle. These people will be on the ground all over th US long after the election - and they have the know how to organize and fight for every thing they want. Different groups will spring up fighting for different things like better schools and universal healthcare which will save us all money. And if Obama tries to go off what the people want, they will hold him accountable.
Once you learn to organize people, you are forever more powerful.
LisaThursday, September 4th 2008 2:55PM
"My big concern Barry is that Obama has no intention of encouraging people to organize and become politically engaged beyond the election."
I wouldn't be worried about that (though your use of the phrase 'coterie of elite' makes me believe it may be mock concern), as Obama has repeatedly stressed that the ongoing involvement and will of the American people will be key to effecting real change.
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NickZThursday, September 4th 2008 2:48PM
I first heard the disparaging remarks about community organizing the day of the Palin nomination on a local Boston TV station from a guy who called himself, or at least was listed as, a "Republican activist." He talked about Palin's much-heralded executive experience by saying "she's actually run stuff," comparing that to Oabama's experience as a community organizer, saying, "whatever that is." Seems to me, if the group of people you don't want to piss off would be the people who are actually actively engaged in the process and probably heard what you said. I guess when everyone you know is already at the country club, there is no need to organize them.
Shortly after that started the wail from the floor interviews, "How we wish this could be about issues but all of you media and lefties keep talking about her poor family." I guess you can talk about the son she's sending to Iraq, the one she mentions every time she speaks, but her family is off limits for public discourse.
No wonder Perrin is frustrated. There is such a stew of anger and ignorance that it requires near inhuman strength and patience just to close your eyes, avoid swallowing the bait, and say something intelligent. Then you have to wonder who's listening.
Diana ComerThursday, September 4th 2008 2:47PM
Brilliant! You spelled out why I always feel so insulted every time the GOP starts lauding "small town America", as if any of them live there! Thanks for the great read. (I live in New York City and saw Rudy sell his soul for good right after 9/11. I'll bet he and Judith thank God every night for sending it his way.)
DavidThursday, September 4th 2008 2:22PM
Well done. Read your article from a link at DKos, and thoroughly enjoyed the insight and style.
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BaratundeThursday, September 4th 2008 1:57PM
incredible. Just linked you heavily from Jack & Jill Politics. thanks for being you
MirandaThursday, September 4th 2008 1:53PM
Really great article...thank you! I live in a "red" state and reading this over lunch was absolutely necessary to maintain my sanity after hearing all the morons this morning rant and rave about nasty Miss Congeniality.
KatharineThursday, September 4th 2008 12:56PM
This is brilliant- you've pulled a number of threads together very well-- the illusion of her record of reform, her big fish in small pond delusion that results in a mayor of 9,000 people demanding loyalty oaths from employees, her use of religion as cudgel, and the overall tone of mockery and derision applied far and wide-- even to the concept of human rights. All of this is captured so frighteningly and perfectly in that "prime-time sneer" of Palin's. Very well done.
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ColdtypeThursday, September 4th 2008 12:43PM
"If Barack Obama can continue to inspire these folks to get politically active, they'll create a roar so loud that it will be heard even behind the walls of the most fortified gated community"
•BC
My big concern Barry is that Obama has no intention of encouraging people to organize and become politically engaged beyond the election. Activism on the scale necessary to effect fundamental change [reversal of corporatism at home and militarism abroad] strikes me as anathema to Barack Obama and his coterie of elite supporters.
DonnaThursday, September 4th 2008 12:33PM
Wow...absolutely wow. First time I've read anything you have written.
Wow. You hit the nail on the head with every sentence. I look forward to reading more.
Jeanie HoldenThursday, September 4th 2008 12:10PM
I love Barry Crimmins. He cuts right to the center and uses the least of words to describe the undescribable. SNARK SHARK!
Perfect.
Thanks, Jeanie. This was a pretty dashed off effort. I'm painting the house and hurricanes are headed up the coast. Normally I'd have spent a little more time cleaning this piece up, but what's a rural American to do? Barry
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