Althouse: Now, what's the right way to fix a baby's hair?

September 3, 2008

Now, what's the right way to fix a baby's hair?

98 comments:

Peter Hoh said...: Just the way Piper did it.; 9/3/08, 11:57 PM
vbspurs said...: May I channel Sally Quinn and her ilk?

"How gauche. Her mother probably taught her that disgusting habit."

My grandmother, a lady at home in royal garden parties, used to lick her finger and wipe a smudge off my face. If they intend on slamming her daughter for this gesture, there are a lot of people who will remember their grandmas, and get angry.; 9/3/08, 11:59 PM
Squid Vicious said...: Of course, Andrew Sullivan had to make a blog post just to bitch about this. (I read his blog so that you don't have to).; 9/4/08, 12:00 AM
kimsch said...: Victoria,

MomSpit (or in this case, SisterSpit). The world's most gentle and industrial strength cleaner! Also makes a great hair product!; 9/4/08, 12:03 AM
vbspurs said...: Mom/SisterSpit rules, Kimsh.

Yet another reason why (e-v-erybody now!) the Angry Left do not get it.; 9/4/08, 12:07 AM
vbspurs said...: I checked Andrewy Scummivan just now, after reading what Squid wrote.

This, from the live-blogging section:

Every time the camera pans to McCain's mother, she seems mortified. I don't really blame her. Can you imagine what she was thinking as a tiny special needs baby is passed from person to person for the cable news.

My God. One could be tempted to slam him for this absolutely vile remark because he's not a father or around families, but I wonder if he's even a human being?

Cheers,
Victoria; 9/4/08, 12:10 AM
Sloanasaurus said...: A strength with Palin is she doesn't have to talk about being a family person or having strong family values. She embodies it. This is a great political asset because it allows her to talk about policy matters rather than trying to convince the crowd that she is one of them.; 9/4/08, 12:11 AM
Unknown said...: The missus and I saw it live. Easily the best moment of the speech. Sorry Ms. Palin, you had moments #2-#100, but Piper stole #1.; 9/4/08, 12:12 AM
kimsch said...: My mother and my sister worked at the same place for a while. One day Mom and Jen were talking to a group of people, some of whom did not know of the relationship. Jen had something on her face; Mom licked her thumb and rubbed whatever it was off Jen's face.

The people who didn't know the relationship gasped.

The people who know laughed.; 9/4/08, 12:12 AM
Prosecutorial Indiscretion said...: Actually, Piper might have had moment #2 as well, when she looked around and grinned and then stood up when her mom introduced her.; 9/4/08, 12:13 AM
Ann Althouse said...: What do you really do different with a Down Syndrome baby at that age? I have no idea!; 9/4/08, 12:14 AM
Unknown said...: You got me.; 9/4/08, 12:16 AM
Joan said...: Piper is a little older than my younger son, a little younger than my daughter. In her I see so much of them. She is a little girl with poise and presence and joy, and I love watching her with her family, so natural even though she is completely surrounded by an insane amount of attention.

There are some great photos of her on the McCain blogette site, too.

(In our house, we call the mom-spit routine a "cat bath", because of course that's how cats bathe.); 9/4/08, 12:17 AM
Unknown said...: How does an infant sleep through most of such a scene?

Massive sedation, probably.; 9/4/08, 12:17 AM
Unknown said...: He wasn't asleep for a good chunk of it, actually.; 9/4/08, 12:18 AM
vbspurs said...: Massive sedation, probably.

Thanks for linking to my blog that time, Mr. Sullivan.

BTW, you are a poncey twat.

Cheers,
Victoria; 9/4/08, 12:23 AM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: What do you really do different with a Down Syndrome baby at that age? I have no idea!

Unless there are some other physical issues...nothing. 5 month old babies who are well fed generally sleep almost as much as a cat. When hugged and cuddled they are warm, soft and peaceful babies. The security of being held by loving arms is all they ask.

I have a friend whose Down's Syndrome boy is now 13 and he is the sweetest, kindest and most loving child. Granted his grasp of social niceties is a bit lacking, but if everyone would have the innocence and open trusting nature that his boy has, the world would be a better place. Ok, maybe not so industrialized and technically advanced but spiritually. Better.; 9/4/08, 12:27 AM
kimsch said...: If you don't make everything "perfectly quiet" for an infant - the old "hush, the baby's sleeping" bit, babies will, in fact, sleep through just about anything.; 9/4/08, 12:28 AM
Skyler said...: That little girl is just beyond cute. And her older sister was so graceful when watching the little one stand up and wave when they were introduced. What a nice family.

I can't believe anyone would complain about this sweet little girl showing such affection for her sister and displaying a very natural and quite cute desire to care for her.

At 10pm, it would take a heck of a lot to wake up my baby, she'd sleep through just about anything.

Did that idiot Sullivan really complain about her? He's so pathetic. Why does anyone pay attention to him?; 9/4/08, 12:29 AM
Joan said...: Massive sedation, probably.

No, not at all -- falling asleep is how some infants respond to sensory overload. My older son was just like Trig in that regard -- when around a lot of people or activity, he would be completely fascinated with everything, and wear himself out very quickly trying to keep up with everything. Then he would conk out for a while, sleep like a rock, and wake up ready to do it all over again.

That kind of baby is very easy to travel with. There are babies who scream when overstimulated. I was very happy none of my kids were like that.; 9/4/08, 12:30 AM
Mr. Forward said...: Thank You for posting that special moment, some things rise above politics.

Most things, probably.; 9/4/08, 12:36 AM
Neo andertal said...: Ann,

You need to get on this story as quickly as possible. WaPo has put a story out coinciding with the Palin VP acceptance speech, implicating Palin with sending Monegan emails about threats received from Wooten.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/03/AR2008090303210.html?hpid%3Dartslot&sub=AR

If I am I getting this right.

Palin sent emails to Monegan’s office on Febuary 7, 2007 and July 17, 2007 complaining about threats from Wooten.

Palin fired Monegan on July 11, 2008.

Someone needs to point out to the Washington Post that the firing comes almost a full year after the complaints about Wooten. Put this together with the fact Monegan claims his job wasn’t directly threatened by the Palin family, but he indirectly felt pressure.

That’s pretty thin stuff to base the claim that Monegan felt his job was in jeopardy. (For a whole year) There better be much more to this for the Post to do this sort of story.

Frankly his screams “Hatchet Job” by the Washington Post.; 9/4/08, 12:39 AM
El Presidente said...: Anne asks "What do you really do different with a Down Syndrome baby at that age?"

Mostly watch out after you feed them cause they can puke about a mile.

Well some of them can. Hopefully Trig doesn't have cardiac problems; 9/4/08, 12:45 AM
Ruth Anne Adams said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 9/4/08, 12:58 AM
XWL said...: I was "impressed" enough with Andrew Sullivan's liveblog of Gov. Palin's speech that I decided it deserved a point by point annotation/rebuttal.

He's really transformed himself, lately.

It's quite remarkable when you step back and think about it.

(and to tie it into this post, I mention the slicking moment); 9/4/08, 12:59 AM
Rose said...: Lovable and cute.; 9/4/08, 1:01 AM
Mark G said...: What a beautiful family. I think you either get it or you don't.

Sadly, Sully doesn't seem to.; 9/4/08, 1:07 AM
XWL said...: Has this election already set the record for mentions of 'bodily fluids'?

(Unless you go back to 1844, I hear Polk was notoriously sweaty, and Clay was not only a fine orator, but a world class expectorator, as well); 9/4/08, 1:07 AM
Donna B. said...: Being a somewhat sentimental grandma, I want to adopt Piper and Trig.

From my point of view that was the best video of the entire presidential election season.

Now, I don't mean this to dismiss the cuteness of Obama's daughters. They too can come home with me. If given the opportunity to groom a younger brother, I think they would have performed in a similarly appropriate manner.

Yep, it's the age and the innocence. I admire both families for fostering that.; 9/4/08, 1:11 AM
Anonymous said...: Sadly, Sully doesn't seem to.

Oh, I think he does, Mark. He does indeed. And it frightens him.; 9/4/08, 1:12 AM
Beldar said...: Q: "Now, what's the right way to fix a baby's hair?"

With love.

Trig and his new nephew, Bristol's child, are going to grow up surrounded by it. And Piper is going to be a fierce protectress.; 9/4/08, 1:15 AM
Squid Vicious said...: When my wife and I saw that moment, our first response was to look at each other and ask "wait, what just happened?"

But, really, that's exactly the kind of funny thing that kids just do, and you wouldn't necessarily get that unless you have some of your own or at least spend a lot of time with them. Hence, Andrew Sullivan.; 9/4/08, 1:26 AM
Ben Morris said...: Sullivan's snide comment about the baby really was disgusting. And this whole argument that "parading around" Gov. Palin's family makes them fair game for media sliming is either retarded or disingenuous. Every candidate brings their children up on stage, mentions and thanks them in speeches, and demonstrate pride in their accomplishments. That should NOT make open them up to media attacks as if they were public figures themselves.; 9/4/08, 1:29 AM
Athena DePaul said...: I'm trying really hard to be an informed voter, and not a 'fan' - but this family and these kids are so adorable that I'm having trouble with it. I laughed out loud at the lick - and then cringed in pain as my ovaries throbbed.

My baby needs a little brother!; 9/4/08, 1:33 AM
chickelit said...: Anybody who doesn't "get" the child just doesn't "get" children. And I mean this in the old European sense of the phrase.; 9/4/08, 1:36 AM
LoafingOaf said...: Why attack Andrew Sullivan?

InstaPundit linked tonight to the blogger Ace Of Spades who spent the weekend in an extensive rant attacking Sullivan for being HIV positive and speculating that he had a mental disorder associated with HIV. Talk about despicable.

Andrew Sullivan takes his country seriously enough that he gives a shit who this Palin character is before she's put a heartbeat away from Commander in Chief. Althouse is not so serious. She's busy planning Palin's daughter's wedding, going on about how "hot" the daughter's babydaddy is, and going on about mooseburgers.

No serious posts from Althouse about this Palin character, her qualifications to be VP, and how McCain came to choose her.

But she's "cruelly neutral."

She warned people that they'd better watch what they write about PAlin because it will 'go down in the annals of feminism" blah blah blah. Maybe a blog attack on a female for having breasts will go down in afootnote or two in the annals of feminism, but asking Palin basic questions, questioning her qualifications, vetting her because McCain did not, examining how McCain came to choose a person as his running mate when he knew almost nothing about her, and wondering how someone who hasn't uttered more than three sentences about foreign policy in her entire political career should be the potential Commander in Chief, are not anti-feminist attacks.

But what can Althouse do? She is dependent upon InstaPundit links to keep her traffic up. A majority of her commenters are of the Religious Right persuasion.

Impliedly, from her posts, Althouse thinks everything negative being said about Palin is not valid and a smear. Or is that wrong? She won't say. InstaPundit might stop linking her. Her ultra-right-wing commenters might get made at her.; 9/4/08, 1:41 AM
LoafingOaf said...: made=mad; 9/4/08, 1:44 AM
Hey said...: This election has really made me disgusted. In my self.

I've been a blogosphere regular since the inception. Virginia Postrel and her "mezines" got me hooked on this thing and I found people like Glenn Reynolds and Andrew Sullivan. Virginia and Glenn were the first people I thought of on 9/11 when no other sites on the web worked. So long ago it wasn't even really web 1.0, despite what we thought, it was web 0.6

Andrew was very smart and thoughtful. Well, a bit gushy (now, now trooper, don't go gutter) about GW, but solid conservative. Spoke to an inner reliability about TNR (which is still there thanks to what I know of the owners then and now. Not as much editorial control as I'd like, but solid people who don't think salafism is great) .

Then his blog got big, and Bush didn't go for gay marriage (I'm really not sure what I feel about it - my enemies love it, the supporters are using the wrong means: a tiny subset of the gay population will use it, and it looks like a wedge for vile misogynists who use polygamy as a weapon - call me reflexively unsupportive thanks to the environment, though if I didn't have to worry about slippery slopes or precedent I'd have no problem). Bush the infallible became Bush the incapable.

Now while I never questioned the "job" Andy was giving 43 when our preferences coincided, it got to be a bit ridiculous. Zeus became Pluto, without all the accomplishments.

Let's be serious, pretty much all of Gay culture is releasing the male sex drive. Vanishingly few gay men get married in jurisdictions where it has been legal for years. Lesbians still move in on the second date. Protestations to the contrary are ridiculous on their face, and the differential in homosexual behaviors between the sexes is the uncomfortable pink elephant!; 9/4/08, 1:47 AM
LoafingOaf said...: If some of the stuff coming out on Palin had come out on Obama (for example, Palin actually was in attendance at her church when pro-terrorist and anti-Jew sermons were being made), Althouse would make blog posts about it and her commenters would be up in arms about it.

In the thank for Palin. This whole web site.; 9/4/08, 1:50 AM
LoafingOaf said...: In the tank for Palin. This whole web site.; 9/4/08, 1:51 AM
XWL said...: Umm, Oaf, 'cruelly neutral' isn't the same as 'cruel neutrality'.

And clearly, "made=mad" pretty much defines your (and Andrew Sullivan's) behavior since Palin was announced.

You've gone around the bend, you've gone cuckoo for cocoa puffs, you've done untethered yourself from any connection to reality.

And it's not even the fun sort of craziness, it's the angry sort of craziness.

Too bad, that, hope you get better soon.; 9/4/08, 1:52 AM
Methadras said...: Little Miss Sullivan is just jealous and it's because deep down he knows that he'll never be able to give birth to a Down's Syndrome baby. Besides, he continually mistakes where sperm is supposed to go. He'd prefer it go into is vagina, but instead has to resort to having it go down his gullet. Ms. Sullivan, I have to tell you, that isn't the way you are going to get pregnant.; 9/4/08, 1:53 AM
LoafingOaf said...: Andrew Sullivan has blog post after blog post making valid critcisms and unearthing disturning info about Palin, how Palin was chosen by McCain, and whether Palin is qualified to be Commander in Chief.

The Althouse commenters attack him for this. For caring about his country!

No one is allowed to question Saint Sarah, her qualifications, or how she was chosen to be McCain's running mate. She's Saint Sarah, and we all must bow down.; 9/4/08, 1:54 AM
chickelit said...: 'fingloaf said: Why attack Andrew Sullivan?

Well for one, Barack Obama carries hope in his soul; Andrew Sullivan just has soap in his hole.

He does it because it makes him feel cleaner. He even uses soap-on-rope so the little string can hang out to justify his moody days.; 9/4/08, 1:55 AM
LoafingOaf said...: Typos make one cuckoo? But making someone a heartbeat from Commander in Chief because she didn't abort a Downs Syndrom baby, looks hot with a gun, is pro-life, and hunts moose is entirely sane.

LOL

Palinsanity is right.; 9/4/08, 1:56 AM
LoafingOaf said...: BTW, the reason people were talking about Palin having a speechwriter in the previous thread was because Simon claimed she wrote it herself. Althouse omitted that part.; 9/4/08, 1:57 AM
Methadras said...: Benjamin said...

Sullivan's snide comment about the baby really was disgusting. And this whole argument that "parading around" Gov. Palin's family makes them fair game for media sliming is either retarded or disingenuous. Every candidate brings their children up on stage, mentions and thanks them in speeches, and demonstrate pride in their accomplishments. That should NOT make open them up to media attacks as if they were public figures themselves.

Sullivan is a piece of garbage who spends most of his time stealthily railing against those he thinks use Christianity as a political tool, hence the term Christianist. However, his descent into what I call knee-pad politics is frankly disgusting. His transformation as a leftist is now complete and any semblance or attribution to him as a 'Conservative' would be a lie. Even if it is Sullivan himself who would make that claim, lest he admits to delusions of adequacy.; 9/4/08, 1:59 AM
LoafingOaf said...: If one single Palin lover amongst the Althouse commenters has one single comment to make about Palin being attendence at her church when sermons were given attacking Jews and supporting Palestinian terrorists, you'd be the first.

These people who looked hard to see if Obama was in attendance when Rev. Wright said whitey spread AIDS.

PHONEYS!!!; 9/4/08, 2:01 AM
LoafingOaf said...: Sullivan had your number when he coined "Christianist." We see how right he was now.; 9/4/08, 2:02 AM
LoafingOaf said...: Althouse said Sullivan was in the thank for Obama. Obviously right. But she's in the tank for Palin. Obviously.; 9/4/08, 2:04 AM
Mark G said...: "Andrew Sullivan has blog post after blog post making valid critcisms and unearthing disturning info about Palin, how Palin was chosen by McCain, and whether Palin is qualified to be Commander in Chief.

The Althouse commenters attack him for this. For caring about his country!" - LoafingOaf

I'm a seminary student and I wouldn't usually say this, but I'm calling BULLSHIT on you.

They laid into him because he condoned people who were poring over pictures of Palin's daughter, making lurid comments about her physique and completely ignoring the overwhelming tide of evidence against their case (like, you know, that a 44 year old woman is over 30 times more likely to have a DS baby than a teenage girl is).

Even some of the comments on Kos were suggesting they stop peddling in such slime.; 9/4/08, 2:05 AM
Methadras said...: LoafingOaf said...

Sullivan had your number when he coined "Christianist." We see how right he was now.

Little man, Sullivan couldn't shine my fucking shoes. I am a Christian, you little tart and I don't use my belief(s) as a wedge to attack a hysterical wailing banshee like Little Miss Sullivan. I come straight at him and I don't need Jesus to get in my way to do it, lumpy.; 9/4/08, 2:08 AM
LoafingOaf said...: They laid into him because he condoned people who were poring over pictures of Palin's daughter

McCain said he knew the daughter was pregnant last week. McCain should've simply said, "And her lovely daughter is carrying the baby of her fiance" when introducing the family. Would've prevented all the rumors and speculations when people saw photographs where Palin's daughter was pregnant and wearing an engagement ring.

Look at just this thread alone. You ssee how homophobic Althouse's commenters are towards Sullivan. Shameful.; 9/4/08, 2:09 AM
Methadras said...: I hereby rechristen Little Miss Sullivan's site 'The Daily Douche' because frankly she needs one.; 9/4/08, 2:11 AM
LoafingOaf said...: Oh please. We understand Palin is a Christian. She never shuts up about it. Obama is a Christian too.

Obama didn't go to the local library and demand they remove books and then try and fire the librarian when the librarian didn't wanna, like Palin did.

Which kind of Christianity do you prefer? Book-burners like Palin?; 9/4/08, 2:11 AM
vbspurs said...: I took a little tour of Daily Kos just now, just like after November 3, 2004 when I went to the Michael Moore site.

Obviously, even in their dejected hatred of this woman, aka Govenor Kooky!!! one poster had to take a little dig on "small town folks" by listing the names Bristol could call her kid:

Brandine, Gummy Sue, Tiffany, Andie, Gordon, Lizzie, Jackson, Heather, Cody, Dylan, Dermot, Jordan, Taylor, Brittany, Wesley, Rumer, Scout, Cassidy, Zoe, Chloe, Max, Hunter, Rubella Scabies, Kendall, Caitlin, Noah, Sasha, Morgan, Kyra, Ian, Lauren, Q-bert, Condoleezza Marie, Phil, Birthday, Crystal Meth, Dubya, Incest, International Harvester, Jitney, Witney, Mary, Stabbed in Jail

I like International Harvester and maybe Q-bert.

Cheers,
Victoria; 9/4/08, 2:16 AM
Methadras said...: LoafingOaf said...

Look at just this thread alone. You ssee how homophobic Althouse's commenters are towards Sullivan. Shameful.

Bub, you wouldn't know a homophobe from a germaphobe. Do you just string words together to pretend at attempting at being meaningful? Or does your witless nature just kind of ooze out onto your keyboard like a bad case of the runs?

First of all, poking fun at Skullivan isn't homophobia. Naming him as a homosexual isn't homophobia. Realizing that he is a homosexual and then being insanely afraid of him afterwards is homophobia. You are confusion homophobia with someone being either homo(in)discriminant or homo(in)tolerant. Neither of which are homophobic in any way, shape, or form. But then again, why would I expect an ignoramus like you to even fathom such a concept?; 9/4/08, 2:17 AM
chickelit said...: keep pushing the loaf, oaf. Perhaps one day too you'll give birth to something "novel" too. (but I won't read it); 9/4/08, 2:19 AM
Ron said...: Vic, how's Moebama or Bidet?; 9/4/08, 2:20 AM
vbspurs said...: You know, Ron, one could really make a little monograph about the 2008 Election nicknames. Might earn someone a pretty penny on Amazon, too.

Let's see:

Hildabeast
Shrillary
Huck
Huckster
McSame
McShame
McMansion
Noebama
Bidet
Obambi (Dowd hasn't trademarked, has she?)
Obamessiah

I'm sure there are hundreds more. ;); 9/4/08, 2:25 AM
Steven said...: LoafingOaf,

Applying Andrew Sullivan's own "Why not kill this rumor with [whomever's] medical records?" standard on the Plain-baby claims to Ace of Spade's equally-baseless AIDS-related dementia claims, it is perfectly legitimate to "raise the question" of whether Andrew Sullivan has AIDS-related dementia over and over until Andrew Sullivan releases his medical records to the public to prove he does not.

So, do you wish to retract your defense of Andrew Sullivan, your attack on Ace of Spades, or wallow in your hypocrisy, sir?; 9/4/08, 2:44 AM
chickelit said...: f'ingOaf said: Sullivan had your number when he coined "Christianist." We see how right he was now.

"Christianist" is a term invented by a man seeking to disestablish himself from an organized religion. As Americans who live by the first amendment, we should respect that.

Still, I don't think or believe that lipstick republicans will choose or use the term anytime soon.; 9/4/08, 3:20 AM
Kensington said...: Steven,

That's exactly right; the circumstantial evidence that Andrew Sullivan has lost his capacity for reason and logic is more convincing and compelling than the "evidence" suggesting that Sarah Palin is not Baby Trig's mother.

Consequently, using Sullivan's own standards, we need his medical records. It should be very easy for him to do, and then we can move on.

You know, sometimes I feel sorry for Sullivan, because he's pathetic in a very sad and obvious way.

But then I acknowledge that he's spent the last week (almost) savaging a young teenage girl and her special needs infant brother, and then my pity turns to anger. Fresh, hot anger.

Medical records soon, please, Andrew.; 9/4/08, 3:25 AM
Anonymous said...: vbspurs said...I checked Andrewy Scummivan just now, after reading what Squid wrote.

This, from the live-blogging section: Every time the camera pans to McCain's mother, she seems mortified. I don't really blame her. Can you imagine what she was thinking as a tiny special needs baby is passed from person to person for the cable news.

So it's bad enough Sarah Palin didn't abort and kill off this........creature.

I guess it's even worse that a close, loving family wants to have this.......thing with them as much as possible.

My God, can't they just leave....it home in a box.

Disgusting hillbillies!; 9/4/08, 3:31 AM
Hey said...: The next thing, people will accuse Andrew Sullivan of being a Catholic.

Shit, you mean his whole purpose is being a Catholic? But he's a gay man who doesn't believe in any of the catechism! OK I'm agnothesit but come the fuck on! There's a reason I respect Orthodox Rabbis more than I respect Conservative or Reform ones, no matter how much I dislike their beliefs.; 9/4/08, 3:39 AM
Methadras said...: jdeeripper said...

vbspurs said...I checked Andrewy Scummivan just now, after reading what Squid wrote.

This, from the live-blogging section: Every time the camera pans to McCain's mother, she seems mortified. I don't really blame her. Can you imagine what she was thinking as a tiny special needs baby is passed from person to person for the cable news.

So it's bad enough Sarah Palin didn't abort and kill off this........creature.

I guess it's even worse that a close, loving family wants to have this.......thing with them as much as possible.

My God, can't they just leave....it home in a box.

Disgusting hillbillies!

Andrew, is that you?; 9/4/08, 3:40 AM
blake said...: Isn't it tragic that some people can't pause for a moment just to enjoy some sibling affection?

Poor Loaf. A dozen threads and thousands of messages and he can't leave just one alone, with maybe just an "Awwww..."

Piper was all kinds of cute--and wonderfully un-shy. Did you see her encouraging her other sister to stand and wave when they were being talked about?

You don't have to vote for her to admit she has a beautiful family.; 9/4/08, 3:58 AM
vbspurs said...: Did you see her encouraging her other sister to stand and wave when they were being talked about?

YES! I can't believe anyone else saw this, Blake. Betcha there were millions though.

(You know even my cadence in real life and spelling online are becomin' "Alaskan")

As for the gesture, you know, little Piper is one self-composed girl.

I wonder who she gets it from?

Piper Palin/Bobby Jindal Jr. '40

Cheers,
Victoria; 9/4/08, 4:18 AM
yashu said...: Love Palin. Heh, at one point last night (probably when she said "Minnesota") she reminded me so much of Marge Gunderson.; 9/4/08, 5:45 AM
Issob Morocco said...: Squire Sullivan just has spit curl envy!; 9/4/08, 6:21 AM
Peter V. Bella said...: Ann Althouse said...
What do you really do different with a Down Syndrome baby at that age? I have no idea!

The same thing you do with any other baby at that age. Let anyone who wants to hold it and tack its hair down with a little spit.; 9/4/08, 6:46 AM
Peter V. Bella said...: I can't believe anyone would complain about this sweet little girl showing such affection for her sister and displaying a very natural and quite cute desire to care for her.

Then you do not know the Democrats.; 9/4/08, 6:50 AM
Peter V. Bella said...: Frankly his screams “Hatchet Job” by the Washington Post.

And this surprises you? Why?; 9/4/08, 6:52 AM
MarkW said...: If one single Palin lover amongst the Althouse commenters has one single comment to make about Palin being attendence at her church when sermons were given attacking Jews and supporting Palestinian terrorists, you'd be the first.

I'd be interested to know more. What was the actual text of the sermon? Are there a whole series of objectionable sermons by her pastor? Was her pastor also her 'spiritual mentor' for years? Had she invited (and then disinvited) him to introduce her at her gubernatorial campaign launch? Did her pastor give awards to anti-Semites as Wright did to Farrakhan? Obama has written a book with a title taken from one his pastor's sermons, and one of the passages that sermon which impressed Obama especially was:

"It is this world, a world where cruise ships throw away more food in a day than most residents of Port-au-Prince see in a year, where white folks’ greed runs a world in need, apartheid in one hemisphere, apathy in another hemisphere … That’s the world! On which hope sits."

Point us to something comparable -- a racist utterance like "white folks greed runs a world in need" from her pastor that she thought so highly of she made a special effort to quote it.

Comparing her relationship with her pastor to Obama and Wright -- do Obama supporters really want to get back into that? I suspect the McCain/Palin campaign would very much like a reason to compare the candidates respective churches and review the 'old news' about Obama and Wright and the intimacy of their relationship.; 9/4/08, 6:59 AM
Peter V. Bella said...: LoafingOaf said...
Why attack Andrew Sullivan?

InstaPundit linked tonight to the blogger Ace Of Spades who spent the weekend in an extensive rant attacking Sullivan for being HIV positive and speculating that he had a mental disorder associated with HIV. Talk about despicable.

What’s your point? If he can’t take the heat he should run into the closet.

If you look up despicable in the dictionary, the first definition is Andrew Sullivan. You know Oaf, it is your ilk who stoop to such lows that make me question whether liberals are even human. Sullivan is part of the Obama Democratic attack machine and he is doing his part for his boy. He cares not about the country.

Two stron women made the case for Palin last night. The governor of Hawaii and Palin herself. Case closed.; 9/4/08, 7:00 AM
goesh said...: Awww, that was 2 ways to precious, sister slicking baby's hair; 9/4/08, 7:05 AM
Peter V. Bella said...: LoafingOaf said...
No one is allowed to question Saint Sarah, her qualifications, or how she was chosen to be McCain's running mate. She's Saint Sarah, and we all must bow down.

No one was allowed to question Hillary Clinton’s qualifications, or lack thereof. No one is allowed to question Barak Obama’s qualifications, or lack thereof. Hypocrite know thyself.; 9/4/08, 7:05 AM
KCFleming said...: Cute kid. These few small moments did much to demonstrate that there is magnolia to match the steel of Sarah Palin's speech.

Piper looked just like my own daughter comfortably holding her little brother and making sure he looked real nice. Makes your heart catch a little.

It's sad for those who don't know such scenes from personal experience. It's like describing a red hue to someone colorblind.; 9/4/08, 7:07 AM
Mr. Forward said...: Andrew Sullivan deserves to be dissed and I disagree with almost everything loafingoaf wrote, but in my humble redneck opinion loafinoaf is correct when he says some of the comments are homophobic.

Sullivan would be just as silly straight, what do you say we try to hit above the belt?; 9/4/08, 7:10 AM
Bob R said...: So did I miss the part where Sarah Palin wrote an autobiography characterizing her kooky preacher as an important spiritual mentor and make five figure contributions to his church and use the church as a political stepping stone?; 9/4/08, 7:10 AM
mrs whatsit said...: Obama's two beautiful, very young daughters were on stage with him and their mother after he spoke. It's a grand tradition for newly-nominated candidates, and a charming one, too. Did Andrew Sullivan, or anybody, accuse him of parading them around for the cable news?

Oh wait, I forgot, that criticism is only for Republicans. And women.; 9/4/08, 7:11 AM
Bob R said...: It is rather tricky to attack Sullivan's vicious social class bigotry without mentioning his sexual preference. He has wrapped himself tightly in the P-town cocoon and has a palpable fear of "the other." His is a class prejudice, but his social class is a particular affluent segment of the gay community, so his sexuality naturally comes up when calling out the hateful nature of his comments.; 9/4/08, 7:23 AM
AllenS said...: I've always thought that Andrew Sullivan was Titusthisorthat. Just a hunch.; 9/4/08, 7:27 AM
KCFleming said...: "what do you say we try to hit above the belt?"
Democrats invented 'the personal is political', so they ought to demand such treatment, not just expect it.

In the heat of a political battle, do you take the high road and sling no mud while the other side machine-guns them at you? I dunno.

When Sullivan criticizes Palin's family (or 'use' of her family as 'props') he invites -and deserves- a tu quoque response.

Do we fight by Marquess of Queensberry boxing rules while our opponent engages in Total Fighting?; 9/4/08, 7:31 AM
mbet said...: Andrew's complaints about the baby being passed around from person to person indicated to me that he has no first-hand experience with small babies and small children. Which is fine, but commenting on all that given his lack was dumb, and makes anyone who's not completely crazy and who does have experience with small children think less of Andrew's intelligence.; 9/4/08, 7:37 AM
Peter V. Bella said...: Pogo said...
Democrats invented 'the personal is political', so they ought to demand such treatment, not just expect it.

Tell that to some of the poltroons here who are relegating the vicious personal attacks to a fringe element.; 9/4/08, 7:38 AM
Robert said...: I've been reading this blog for about year now. I like Anne's take on most things. At it's best, not bs, at its worst, just making things up to stir the pot. In either case, entertaining and forcing a gut check.What I valued about AA's blog is it's equal opportunity pretension busting.

But you guys have absolutely lost your minds. You buy this whole Sarah Palin thing hook line and sinker-- not a single question about any of it.

And McCain-- come one. No one mentions that he manifests the same personality and judgment problems that have been part of him since the beginning. And that includes his second marriage, his straight talk express, and his recent morphing into whatever kind of thing he is now. He's always been the guy who thinks he should be allowed to get away with things-- who makes egregious errors but can't take criticism.

And clearly, he only has principles when it thinks it makes him look good.

Now that might make him like most politicians-- but come one-- You carry on like he's the Messiah and Sarah Palin is St. Peter.; 9/4/08, 7:48 AM
MadisonMan said...: Speaking as the youngest sibling, I'll say that's one control-freak older sister. Leave my hair alone!!; 9/4/08, 7:49 AM
KCFleming said...: "And McCain-- come on[e]."

I do not like Sen. McCain.
I intensely dislike Obama.
I wish they would both lose.
I'd prefer we were voting between Fred Thompson and Hillary.

But you gotta dance with them what brung you. So I'll hold my nose and vote McCain.

Palin just made that task far easier. I don't want a messiah; the Democrats already have on of those.; 9/4/08, 7:54 AM
Mr. Forward said...: I'm going to go back and look at that kid again and mellow out.; 9/4/08, 8:02 AM
Bob R said...: You go Pogo!; 9/4/08, 8:04 AM
Original Mike said...: MomSpit (or in this case, SisterSpit).

Maybe Piper is the real Mom. Let me go check Kos.; 9/4/08, 8:18 AM
vbspurs said...: Maybe Piper is the real Mom. Let me go check Kos.

OMG, Original Mike. I wouldn't say that out loud anywhere near a blog. Until Sunday, I thought there were some rumours too fantabulist for words, and no way would anyone believe them.

No longer.; 9/4/08, 8:22 AM
Joe said...: Obama didn't go to the local library and demand they remove books and then try and fire the librarian when the librarian didn't wanna, like Palin did.

Please do your research. The librarian in question was in a position that is served at the mayor's pleasure. The librarian publicly supported Palin's opponent during the election. When elected, she dismissed the librarian and the chief of police for the same reason (another position that serves at the mayor's pleasure.) The librarian and Palin had a private discussion which satisfied Palin and retained her [the librarian] job.; 9/4/08, 9:43 AM
Revenant said...: My mom called me last night specifically to tell me about Palin's daughter doing that. She thought it was the cutest thing she'd ever seen.

I thought it was funny. Little kids are amusing. :); 9/4/08, 2:06 PM
jeff said...: "Now that might make him like most politicians-- but come one-- You carry on like he's the Messiah and Sarah Palin is St. Peter."

You really need to work on your reading comprehension.; 9/4/08, 5:07 PM
1775OGG said...: An almost equally great moment came when Poppa Palin waved Trig's little arm back to the audience when Trig was introduced. Todd Palin had the smile of a proud Poppa and Trig the demeanor of a little baby sleeping in Poppa's arms.

If nothing else, Gov. Palin has done well with her family, and I suspect will do even better this fall along with Senator McCain.

Piper and the other daughters and Track will give the MSM something to do rather than just spin on their thumbs. The other question is whether the MSM will have any followers left.; 9/4/08, 5:52 PM
Athena DePaul said...: What's with all the Sullivan talk? This is supposed to be a thread about babies and love and soft warm fuzzy things.

You people are gross.; 9/5/08, 4:55 AM