Unfit
COURIC: Why isn't it better, Governor Palin, to spend $700 billion helping middle-class families who are struggling with health care, housing, gas and groceries; allow them to spend more and put more money into the economy instead of helping these big financial institutions that played a role in creating this mess?
PALIN: That's why I say I, like every American I'm speaking with, were ill about this position that we have been put in where it is the taxpayers looking to bail out. But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health-care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy, helping the--it's got to be all about job creation, too, shoring up our economy and putting it back on the right track. So health-care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions and tax relief for Americans. And trade, we've got to see trade as opportunity, not as a competitive, scary thing. But one in five jobs being created in the trade sector today, we've got to look at that as more opportunity. All those things under the umbrella of job creation. This bailout is a part of that.
PALIN: That's why I say I, like every American I'm speaking with, were ill about this position that we have been put in where it is the taxpayers looking to bail out. But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health-care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy, helping the--it's got to be all about job creation, too, shoring up our economy and putting it back on the right track. So health-care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions and tax relief for Americans. And trade, we've got to see trade as opportunity, not as a competitive, scary thing. But one in five jobs being created in the trade sector today, we've got to look at that as more opportunity. All those things under the umbrella of job creation. This bailout is a part of that.
posted by Richard Stanislaw at
4:15 PM
10 Comments:
Let's take a look at this bailout fiasco in factual terms. All of this structure was put into place by Carter and Clinton when they decided that citizens without sufficient incomes should be assisted by other taxpayers in purchasing homes. Be as scared of Sarah Palin "a heartbeat away" as you like and dislike Bush for multiple failed policies - but reasonable people with a sense of factual history have got to stop blaming the Bush administration for this particular crisis. Let's get real.
the blame for this situation cannot placed on, or taken off of anyone. It was not one person or organization that caused this to happen. It was a product of the fallowing: The optimistic (yet some what foolish) spending habbits of the American people AND the ignorance of the government to realize this false optimism and set some checks in place. If the people don't take out more than they can pay back.. no problem....if the government creates regulations so people CANT take out more than they can pay back.. NO PROBLEM. This problem stems farther back than the Bush admin. but i don't think blame can lie on the shoulders of a single president, company, or group of individuals. We as a people became far to careless and optimistic with our money and it placed us were we are today.
Excellent points. For seeming like such an "ivory tower liberal" you sound a little like Glenn Beck's humorous look back from the future today. It is worth a look. Enjoy!
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/
10/01/beck.future/index.html
Note specifically that: "Let me give you some advice: Stop worrying so much about who runs the country and start worrying about who runs your towns, your states, and your Congress. I know you're all distracted by the presidential election, but for all the money and time poured into it, the truth is that you're choosing between two roads that will lead you to the same destination. Sure, one may be the Autobahn and the other a two-lane highway, but you'll end up at the same place either way.
Decades of Republicans and Democrats alike have all chipped in to lead you to where you are today. Believing that one person, from either party, can change that by themselves is a big mistake.
Presidents are like captains of a large ship: They can map out a course and shout out orders, but without the trust and hard work of the people who actually move the rudders, their commands mean nothing.
mlytu88, I would never post anonymously. But if you had been paying attention in class (have you been skipping?), you'd know that I consistently place blame with President Clinton's fascination with deregulation and his rightward leanings/compromises for the current Wall Street mess. There is plenty of blame to go around. McCain of course has been a consistent and influential proponent of deregulating Wall Street as well. It is, however, absurd to let the Bush Administration off the hook because Clinton is also to blame. Philosophically and temporally, Bush has far greater culpability. The fact is the Presidents since Reagan all have drank the kool-aid of unregulated markets. Congress, until very recently has been obscenely lax in its oversight responsibility. But to let Bush and Republican Congresses off the hook is just silly.
The point of this post, however, was the patent unfitness of Sarah Palin for high office. Maybe she will give us something more in the debate tonight and maybe she will allow the public some access to her in weeks to come, but as it is now the McCain-Palin campaign has shown a horrible contempt for our democracy by keeping her from public scrutiny. Likely because when even tested lightly by Katie Couric, Governor Palin reveals that whatever her personal or political gifts, she has not ever thought seriously about economics, international relations, or the constitution. Given these difficult times, with what we know about her, there is absolutely no way Sarah Palin is remotely fit for the job.
I think Palin did well last night, she still seemed a bit like a all-star college basketball player next to a player in the NBA, but over all i was impressed with her.
Isn't it telling that the funniest part of Tina Fey's SNL sketch parodying the Couric interview was when Fey said, word for word, what Palin actually said?!
The SNL skit was sharpest in those moments when the parody was not a parody at all. I find myself almost lamenting that Palin will mercifully off the political stage in another month because we'll miss out on four years of Tina Fey non-parody parodies.
But even though it'd be entertaining to have Palin in national office, the "debate" with Biden gives little evidence she is in any way qualified for the job. She did perform better than her interviews, that is literally saying nothing. Her folksy charm, which frequently felt swarmy to me, did little to mask her contentlessness. Even after memorizing the names of three international leaders she could not mask the fact she has done no serious thinking about matters of political importance to the nation. Her attacks of late are a typically cynical and desperate attempt to avoid substantively engaging the public about her ideas. Her lying about things like Obama's health care plan would almost be tolerable if she first did some serious thinking about health care issues. (Or if she has any serious ideas reveal them to the public with a real debate or more interviews.) It seems likely she is merely going to continue deceptive attacks and do as much damage to truth and democratic discourse as possible over the next month. Sigh.
Come on Richard Jay! You say "she is merely going to continue deceptive attacks and do as much damage to truth and democratic discourse as possible over the next month. Sigh." What planet do you live on after the big move from Upland? Every debate (including both McCain and Obama's goofy efforts last night)is FILLED with deception and ignorance of the truth. Don't leave this at Palin's doorstep alone. Just check out CNN.com or somewhere else after a debate and see how much stuff stated as fact. E.g. Sen. Barack Obama argued McCain, is "out of touch." Obama asked, "How else could he come up with an economic plan that leaves out more than 100 million middle-class taxpayers from any relief whatsoever?" Verdict: False. The Obama campaign bases its assertion on just one part of McCain's economic plan, while ignoring the tax consequences of the rest of the McCain plan. When EXACTLY did you take on this left wing persona? You drink too much of that Phil Loy Kool-Aid??
I completely concur that pols play fast and loose with their opponents records/positions during the campaigns. Fact-checking is an essential component to democratic discourse as is an informed and vigilant electorate. This is precisely why Palin is substantively more problematic than Obama, McCain, or Biden.
To begin with, Palin both says less and distorts more than the other candidates. She intentionally misleads and obfuscates to compensate for her lack knowledge. Obama, McCain and Biden are all serious people who are playing political hardball. Palin on the other hand is dangerously ignorant. She apparently does not know any Supreme Court cases or anything about the Constitution including Article One. Obama may lack experience, but there is no doubt that he has spent a long time thinking seriously and deeply about the important issues that face America. It is perfectly fine for people to come to the judgment that they do like Obama or McCain's positions or analysis. The problem with Palin is that she has not thought about much of anything and the campaign is keeping her from public scrutiny. I will insist that there is a substantive difference between partisans fighting for the election like McCain & Obama, and the aggressive emptiness of Palin. She simply is not a serious person. She is unfit to be President of the United States.
And again I am willing to have my mind changed on this point, but she would have to engage in some real public discourse like the other three have done for many years. I find no reason to believe that I would ever support her policy positions, but that is not my point. I think McCain has done an enormous disservice to the democracy by his callow selection and protection of Palin. If we still live in a republic we must have the opportunity to evaluate the substance of the candidates for high office. From what little we have been allowed to see of Gov. Palin she is an empty suit.
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