I agree it's a horrible analogy, and that was my point: Obamas use of a teleprompter has been raised several times as an excuse (which is a bit like saying it would be OK for the Allies to do medical experiments on captured Nazis because they did it, too) but it's apples and grapefruit. No Republican worth their salt should, IMHO, need a reminder they want to cut taxes.
Obama's use of a teleprompter doesn't relate to he rnotes, I agree, and for the record, teleprompter-in-chief jokes always give me a good laugh, especially him having one for the sixth grade class. But no, I don't view it as a sign of being unfit for office and never have, same as Bush's vomiting habits, Ford's ability to trip everywhere, or W's tedency to invent new words... good for a laugh, so was Palin's hand. Look Joel, you know she didn't have that on there as some sort of reminder what her position on taxes is, it was reminder to discuss her position. You know that, I know you know that, you're too smart not to, why do you keep insisting this is some sign of mass stupidity on her part? Like I said, I know Kepler's Laws, but I could easily forget to raise them when planned, say 25 minutes into a lecture, because I got side-tracked talking about Tycho's fraky false noses, that's a good example, it always went down well with the students and I like to raise matters of interest to spark interest and enthusiasm, but sometimes I'd go on a little long, needed a reminder to get back to the physics and not the amusing history stories around it. Why can't this be similiar?
I think you'll be hard pressed to find many hardcore Palin supporters who don't also self-identify as "evangelical Christians" (a term I detest because it is, or should be, redundant; does that mean they're the only Christians who accept the Great Commission?) They're out there, but not the majority, and she knows it, too, hence the Pro Life, anti-sex ed appeals that became so embarrassing when her daughter got pregnant in HS and the father tried to become a centerfold. Of course, if one decides Palin, Obama or anyone can do no wrong it really doesn't matter what they do; we can lionize her for opposing corrupt government spending and ignore her pleas for federal pork as mayor of Wasilla, siccing the states executive branch on her ex-brother-in-law and billing the taxpayers for her daughters travel with her to a national governors meeting (and don't tell me she just couldn't find a sitter; Todd and the other kids stayed in Alaska. )
Raising the daughter issue?
I question her commitment to a core issue she has trouble remembering.
Trouble remembering to bring up, not trouble remembering. I'm pretty committed to being pro-lige and pro 2nd amendment, if I were chatting on stage while running for office, I might still want a little note to remind me to bring it up.
I dunno, you seemed to divine "Texas" easily enough. 

Well, I know you're from Texas and Hutchinson's from Texas, and I know Plain's from Alaska, it wasn't exactly hard to narrow it down

Tolls on roads built by bonds are an issue mainly because people opposed to high taxation NORMALLY view it as a "double tax" (as Sen. Hutchison calls the toll roads, just one reason she'll mop the floor with Perry. ) Heck, the guy tried to put a toll on I-35 until Kay informed him that the feds weren't really cool with that (so Perry tried to buy back Texas' interest in the road just to toll it; I have mental images of Ft. Hood tanks going through toll booths.... )
The highways are there in no small part for military vehicles to go down, but we don't take tracked vehicles on the road (we put them on a semi trailer) except in emergencies because they seriously rip up the pavement. I've driven or been driven in military vehicles (wheeled) on highways, through tollbooths, etc dozens, maybe hundreds of times.
I hear you on the double tax aspect, but we have a few toll roads in Ohio, and I regularly use the I-90 NY stretch from PA to buffalo. It's arguable if it's really a double tax because what you're really paying for is a long stretch of very well maintained road with little local traffic in the way, where normally you can speed like a bat out of hell without fear of getting a ticket. ANyway, toll roads aren't really a rep or dem issue, IMO, strictly state level, I don't really get involved with those much outside of my own stomping grounds.
The biggest problem I, personally, have with the HPV vaccine is that 1) vaccine manufacturers can't seem to find a preservative that isn't a known carcinogen (or worse) but won't just manufacture preservative free vaccines with shorter shelf lives,
Preservatives in vaccines aren't just there to keep the stuff around longer, they also keep bacteria and microorganisms from growing in it, this is rather important. Besides, Thermosil is like 30-100 ppm of a vaccine, which is usually only around half a gram anyway, how much damage so you think a fifteen micrograms of a mercury is gonna do. The worst case, most conservative figure for mercury poisoning says you can take about that much a month entirely safely for your whole life, and realistically, for a healthy person, it's way higher.
2) the thing had only been on the market about six months and
On the market for 1 day is safe enough, since it's not allowe don the market until the FDA has checked it throughly. If you don't think it's safe for mass distribution, your beef's with the FDA, not the people advocating it's use. And frankly, they are overly cautious these days, long trials save lives... and kill them because they can't get access to it yet.
3) as with the toll roads owned by a private Spanish firm, one of Perrys senior aides just happened to take a position with the company benefiting about that time. However, the hue and cry from the religious right was exactly what you'd expect: Teenagers won't have sex if no one tells them about it, but if you give them the vaccine they'll sell themselves on street corners.
Really? That surprises me, I wouldn't have thought they'd care (By the way Joel, I am religious and right wing) I understand condoms or birth control being viewed that way, but I don't tihnk you need to have sex to get cervical cancer. Of course, tramping around certainly increases the risk. Anyway, handing someone a bike helmet may or may not be an encouragement to make them use their bicycle, or encouragement to do dumb stuff on it. I stay out of this stuff, because I really do agree with both sides. I know if I had kids I would tell them about all the options, and I would let them know they can by condoms at the store, and I would want my daughter to get a HPV shot. And I would not want some stranger doing it, because I'd expect to know my kids and know how to phrase things to get the safety point across not accidentally give them open license to do stuff they really want to do. Gotta trust the parents, if both of them are too nervous or indifferent to bring it up or arrange to have it brought up, then the kid probably has more issues than just safe sex originating from their home life.
That conflict was to be expected; what was more noteworthy was that a supposedly far right Governor, heir to Bush and routinely stating his "family values" creds, totally betrayed his base on the issue. Again, Kay will mop the floor with Perry in the primary, and if you want an example of everything Palin claims to be, look there.
I'll be happy with either one, to be honest. Any GOP elected out of Texas is as likely to be a RINO as I am to sprout horns and wings. Even a texas democrat's like a moderate republican anywhere else.
Huckabee didn't have any more liabilities as a member of the religious right than Palin does,
Yeah, but Palin didn't run for VP nomination, McCain selected her, and people don't worry about the VP like they do POTUS
and mitigated them somewhat because when he talks about "compassionate conservatism" his record shows it's more than talk. The same people on the left who would've screamed about Huckabee would scream about Palin in 2012, with the difference being Huckabee has repeatedly shown himself far more capable. But, hey, I'm on your side, man: I WANT the Republicans to nominate her in 2012.
Hey, you ain't on my side, I defend her from attack, but I want her gone. She'd be ruinous as a cadnidate, and yeah, she's no worse off than Hillary was coming into things, but reforming someone's image takes time and money, I like to start with genuine boyscouts who also have charisma, prefarbly with solid moderate-yet-conservative images.
Bringing up Romney is just another good reason why; Romneycare is a disaster that Obama's inexplicably trying to take national, and he managed to do a complete 180 on abortion (proudly stating during his gubernatorial run that his wife donated to NARAL) and gun control between running for Governor of liberal MA and the time he sought the GOP Presidential nomination.
I like him. I think he could win too. But if I had to run anyone right now, it would be one of the current governors from the midwest. Our GOP governors tend to be fairly popular, slightly right of center, and very non-threatening. Perfect POTUS material.
The man stands for nothing save himself and Wall Street. If we're lucky; people worried about Huckabee as a Baptist minister should be at least as worried about Romneys MUCH closer relationship with the LDS upper echelons.
Well, the people who fear the 'religious right' tend to have a bizarre blind spot on LDS and islam, don't seem to realize they are at least as social conservative as the default protestant. So I doubt it would be a big rallying cry for the left.
Senator is an excellent move to POTUS; without exception every US President has come from either a Governors mansion or the US Senate.
No, direct senate-to-POTUS conversion is pretty rare, usually they go senate-VP-POTUS or Senate-cabinet-POTUS. I'm also pretty sure Eisenhower never was a senator or governor, Not too mention Washington or Adams, Hoover was Cabinet, he never served in the sante or as a governor, Taft never governed a state, never a senator, he did serve as providsional governor of cuba for two weeks, not sure that counts. Actually I think Harrison was the last person to go from senate directly to POTUS besides Kennedy and Obama, and that doesn't really count because he had been out of the senate for two years. General Arthur was never a governor or senator, he went from being QM-general during the cvil war to VP. Garfield was a house rep, not a senator. Grant never served in the senate or as governor. Lincoln was house. Pierce, #14, was senate, he left 11 years before becoming president though, so what, Obama, Kennedy, Harrison, Pierce, four out of the last 30 direct senate to POTUS? Fillmore was house, Taylor was a general, never governed or was a senator. Polk was house, not senate. Then there's John Quincy Adams, straight from senate to POTUS.
So, without exception? Three out of 44 presidents went from senate directly to POTUS, virtuallly everyone else was either VP, governor, cabinet, house, or a general prior to being POTUS. Only 16 of the presidents have ever served in the senate at all. 12 have beens generals, only 12 haven't served in the military. Currently sitting Senators run a lot, but most don't get the nomination and few (3 out of the whole lot) get elected and none got re-elected - so I stand by my statement, senate is not a good route to POTUS
There are pros and cons to both; Governors usually have more executive experience, but Senators have more national and international experience because they routinely deal with issues Governors never have to face (e.g. when Putin rears his head to say, "If you want to build a missile defense you have to back out of the ABM treaty first" or, y'know, DECLARING WAR!) Saying all the GOP candidates were more experienced than the Democratic ones works, provided you think Romney and Huckabee had more experience than Hillary Clinton and Mike Gravel (who spent 12 years in the Senate alone. ) Also, Biden had been in the Senate for nearly a decade before Dodd was elected to it. So, yes, except for Biden, Dodd, Clinton, Gravel and Richardson all the Republicans had more experience. Of course, the only Democratic primary contenders left then are Obama, Edwards and Kucinich.
Considering Gravel ended up running libertarian, not sure he counts, and no, I don't consider FLOTUS a qualifier, I don't discard experiences and duties from then, but it doens't really count. I also said 'parallel', i.e. 7 years doesn't trump 6 years in book, they are 'parallel'. And again, the context is that senate does not typically get translated as 'executive experience' by either the pundits or the voters. That leaves Gov. Richardson. 1, 1 dude. A single guy who has any experience running more than his personal staff or a campaign, you maybe get Vilsack too but I ususually feel someone ought to stay in till after the first primary to count. We had Huckabee, Romney, Guilianni, Gilmore, Tommy Thompson, and McCain, because I consider being a senior military officer pretty good executive experience when tacked on to thirty years in the senate. That's six, six people whose executive experience meets or exceeds any single one of the Dem nominees.
The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.
- Albert Einstein
King of Cairhien 20-7-2
Chancellor of the Landsraad, Archduke of Is'Mod
- Albert Einstein
King of Cairhien 20-7-2
Chancellor of the Landsraad, Archduke of Is'Mod
Palin reads Cheat Notes.
08/02/2010 12:43:02 AM
- 1423 Views
Is it really worse than reading answers on a teleprompter? sorry, I see no big deal here. *NM*
08/02/2010 01:02:49 AM
- 251 Views
yes yes it is. a teleprompter is subtle
08/02/2010 01:22:17 AM
- 591 Views
a teleprompter is not subtle
08/02/2010 02:25:46 PM
- 520 Views
staring openly and blatantly at your hand is? *NM*
08/02/2010 03:09:25 PM
- 321 Views
I think if anyone else had done the dame thing we wouldn't even had heard about
08/02/2010 06:13:44 PM
- 522 Views
Yes for what the notes were
08/02/2010 12:44:35 PM
- 555 Views
he is calling her content free while attacking her in such a content free manner?
08/02/2010 02:50:04 PM
- 550 Views
It's good the media still hounds her. I don't want her to be a candidate. *NM*
08/02/2010 01:20:21 AM
- 281 Views
This only obscures the rational reasons for duly decrying her political popularity. Moooooooo. *NM*
08/02/2010 03:19:45 AM
- 324 Views
I disagree, I think it underscores it.
08/02/2010 03:39:57 AM
- 523 Views
Or they might believe that a far left liberal
08/02/2010 04:16:51 AM
- 540 Views
Calling someone who needs a cheat sheet for their talking points stupid isn't an ad hominem, IMHO.
08/02/2010 12:13:36 PM
- 535 Views
soory but your wrong, again
08/02/2010 02:23:31 PM
- 495 Views
You shouldn't need reminders of your major themes after two years pushing them.
08/02/2010 02:55:22 PM
- 526 Views
I used to work in a call center and had a note to remind me to talk slower
08/02/2010 05:54:25 PM
- 650 Views
I don't hate her, and I think most liberals love her.
09/02/2010 10:45:25 AM
- 647 Views
way to play the pregant daughter card
09/02/2010 03:06:37 PM
- 555 Views
*shrugs* If you're going to suggest sex ed is harmful, unnecessary and promotes promiscuity...
10/02/2010 08:34:16 AM
- 622 Views
so if you don't support the liberal agenda your family is fair game for attack? nice to you admit it
10/02/2010 06:26:30 PM
- 554 Views
Um, no, if you're going to demand everyone follow your advice it better not be disastrous for you.
11/02/2010 05:29:01 AM
- 541 Views
Do you have anb example of when she demanded everyone follow her advice?
11/02/2010 05:33:17 AM
- 591 Views
Honestly, her sex ed position seems so muddled to me it's hard to say
11/02/2010 06:50:39 AM
- 745 Views
That's a bit silly
08/02/2010 08:40:25 PM
- 689 Views
I'm perfectly happy to discuss her positions; I just think Huckabee does a better job of it.
09/02/2010 10:26:54 AM
- 708 Views
Well, let's discuss some of these points
09/02/2010 07:13:33 PM
- 714 Views
Re: Well, let's discuss some of these points
10/02/2010 09:15:04 AM
- 746 Views
Re: Well, let's discuss some of these points
10/02/2010 06:49:51 PM
- 813 Views
Ironically, Palin seems to agree this is different than using a teleprompter for a speech.
11/02/2010 09:05:19 AM
- 707 Views
Again, two seperate things
11/02/2010 09:51:15 PM
- 523 Views
Agreed, but Palin and other Republicans, not I, drew the comparison.
15/02/2010 01:02:25 PM
- 672 Views
Just to get the obligatory Feinstein comment out of the way...
15/02/2010 11:43:42 PM
- 734 Views
Hadn't heard, actually.
19/02/2010 06:58:50 AM
- 649 Views
Re: Hadn't heard, actually.
19/02/2010 08:32:11 AM
- 647 Views
Ah.
23/02/2010 09:55:45 PM
- 723 Views
Re: Ah.
24/02/2010 01:32:34 AM
- 671 Views
Yeah, I think we've reached an understanding if not agreement.
01/03/2010 03:51:49 AM
- 665 Views
Re: Yeah, I think we've reached an understanding if not agreement.
01/03/2010 11:46:24 PM
- 879 Views
Re: Yeah, I think we've reached an understanding if not agreement.
05/03/2010 12:11:48 AM
- 754 Views
Random Title
05/03/2010 02:49:59 AM
- 681 Views
Re: Random Title
15/03/2010 05:37:22 AM
- 597 Views
Re: Random Title
15/03/2010 09:17:53 PM
- 912 Views
I disagree. For all we know she has a learning disability. "Disability" does not equal "stupid".
09/02/2010 03:23:24 PM
- 608 Views
A possibility I hadn't considered, true, and sorry if I gave offense.
10/02/2010 08:25:52 AM
- 736 Views
oh yes, and the right never uses ad hominem
08/02/2010 03:56:42 PM
- 490 Views
I do see as the primary focus like I see from the left these days *NM*
08/02/2010 06:15:22 PM
- 336 Views
could you rephrase? you seem to be missing a noun or something in there. *NM*
08/02/2010 07:57:19 PM
- 282 Views
misisng a couple actually
08/02/2010 08:04:35 PM
- 519 Views
Touch typing is easier, at least to learn, if you don't try to read it at the same time, FYI.
10/02/2010 09:24:33 AM
- 574 Views

Really how many times can you rememeber a Bush press sec openly ridicule people in a press confrence
10/02/2010 06:28:57 PM
- 464 Views
Good point; all they used to do was have the VP say opponents helped terrorists.
11/02/2010 05:33:08 AM
- 514 Views
one is about actions ands the other is about personal attacks
05/03/2010 02:19:38 PM
- 479 Views
True, one is about what Palin DID and the other is just characterizing opposition as treason.
15/03/2010 04:39:45 AM
- 495 Views
This is petty and also rather ignorant
08/02/2010 03:59:40 AM
- 686 Views
so you're saying you're as dumb as sarah palin?
08/02/2010 10:55:00 AM
- 501 Views

In other news liberals can't get over someone being popular they don't agree with
08/02/2010 04:12:19 AM
- 662 Views
It's completely unprofessional
08/02/2010 08:27:47 AM
- 520 Views
yeah, she should have had them inscribed into her nail polish instead...
08/02/2010 10:55:43 AM
- 495 Views
why?
08/02/2010 02:29:44 PM
- 544 Views
You know that's a good question
08/02/2010 05:19:10 PM
- 506 Views
maybe you are just projecting
08/02/2010 06:15:57 PM
- 510 Views
well what is the association we have with notes on hands?
08/02/2010 07:58:41 PM
- 536 Views
or people on the far left are being grossly disingenuous
08/02/2010 08:18:06 PM
- 648 Views
dude, only posted it because it was funny
08/02/2010 08:43:55 PM
- 504 Views
so you like to point at people and laugh and can't understand why others would object
08/02/2010 11:24:37 PM
- 589 Views
Who cares? She's hot. *NM*
08/02/2010 03:06:58 PM
- 245 Views
Much ado about nothing. She was just making sure she didn't forget anything.
09/02/2010 02:00:56 AM
- 487 Views
I don't like the woman at all, but this is just silly. Who cares? *NM*
11/02/2010 10:11:17 PM
- 247 Views