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Wimbledon Wisdom
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I recently ran across a graduation speech by the tennis great Roger
Federer. I especially appreciated this passage:
In the 1,526 singles matches I played...
1 day ago
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8 comments:
I think if you were to put the volume of Palin's and Obama's experience on a scale they would essentially balance out. In this sense, I agree with the doubters.
The difference is in the substance of their experience. Obama's most unattractive quality is that he is a politician's politicians. He is a career academic and politician. Despite his many attractive features, his professional background and rhetoric embodies everything that repulses me about politics. This is the deal-breaker.
Palin is the most un-politician politician. She ran a small business. She raised a family (including having to make some very tough decisions). She obviously isn't afraid to get some dirt on her boots. She is unabashedly religious (I don't necessarily share her beliefs) in a way that appears sincere and down-to-earth (rather than the opportunistic faith that is so common in politics). In sum, I am not aware of a more authentic public figure. True, she may not have the most political experience. But I put infinitely more value in the non-political experience she has than the experience of someone like Joe Biden, or even John McCain, and *especially* Barack Obama.
I would also split some pretty thick hairs on substantive differences in political experience between her and Obama. Obama has no executive experience. Palin does...she's the only one on either ticket who does. Obama's biggest Senate accomplishment is co-sponsoring an uncontroversial ethics bill. Palin took on a state known for it's corruption. Obama's considered an expert in constitutional law, in all it's esoteric glory. Palin is considered an expert on energy, arguably the most important current domestic policy debate.
Will I agree with everything she says and does? No. Do I have a serious crush on her? Yes.
I agree with klr for the most part. She's got about as much experience as Obama and has more tact than that loud-mouthed SOB Biden. She's my new Condi.
I like Kevin's thoughts, though I suspect these won't be the arguments discussed by the news media. Rather, I think they'll focus on how McCain put her on the ticket to steal Hilary's votes, and how women should respond to this. Lame!
these are just some fyi's that i have found-
regarding her religiosity in the public sphere (i'll take levine's word for it that it's in the video):
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/09/02/1327574.aspx
regarding her stance on the bridge to nowhere:
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN3125537020080901?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews
regarding energy plan (seems to like obama's):
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/08/29/1304936.aspx
regarding family:
good call on her having raised a family but so have mccain, obama, and biden. and you're right about the tough choices, esp. if you mean her youngest with down's. that will be truly be a challenge. but it was also probably tough for biden when his first wife and a child died in the early 70s, for mccain when his wife had a stroke, etc.
just some points for further information. feel free to retort against those articles.
on the comments she made when invoking God's name about Iraq and a natural gas pipeline:
to all, what are your thoughts?
if they were sincere comments, do you have a problem with a potential VP believing that wholeheartedly that most of the outcome is "God's will"?
also, if you do not believe that they were sincere, what do you make of her then?
if mccain/palin is the new team beginning in 09, then i hope those comments are held in check. this nation is obviously of the highest-profile, it doesn't need to be feeding someone else's religious agenda b/c a natural gas pipeline, a war, or even a manhunt is "God's will be done."
video link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QG1vPYbRB7k
What is being lost in the whole discussion about Palin, from the national media to the blogs, is that in the end, she is/was a brilliant pawn, placed by the Republican strategists. McCain announced his choice the morning after Obama fed the Dems his newest batch of kool-aid. (Not to mention, the kool-aid tasted damn good, even to people who were not previously drinking it.) When I heard that McCain was announcing his VP choice at 11:00et on the morning after Obama's speech, I all but gave up on the Republican party. Then news started to dribble out that McCain chose a...44 year old woman from Alaska?
My faith was restored.
Palin has since dominated the headlines...dominated. All the Obama campaign can get in, even on CNN, is a quote about Joe Lieberman "lying" to voters.
As a vice president, Palin is a terrible choice. As a pawn of Republican strategists, she's an amazing choice. The battle is not won by either side yet. Obama still holds overwhelming leads in the polls. However, with the selection of Palin, the GOP has at least ensured that the Hope Express will not be able to run an express route to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
This post has no economics, but maybe some logic?
When did American politics become a reality show? It's not even a good reality show. It's the kind of shit they would air on Fox.
If Mancur Olson were still alive he'd be doing his 'I told you so' dance.
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