October 6, 2008

What John McCain said to Sarah Palin minutes before the VP debate.

"Have fun. Be yourself, and have fun."

Ha ha. This reminds me of something I say to students about taking my exam (upon which their entire semester grade rests). I say that they should enjoy it, that it should be an intrinsically rewarding experience. And I don't mean to be perverse or sadistic. I really think that in a well-structured, challenging exercise, you will do well to experience it as fun. Now, you ask, how do you do that?

Anyway, Palin's advice to McCain is: "Take the gloves off." Ha ha. I love the gender role reversal. The man wants fun and self-actualization, and the woman wants a good hard fight.

169 comments:

vbspurs said...

The man wants fun and self-actualization, and the woman wants a good hard fight.

Good one. But also entirely consistent with their backgrounds.

McCain, the honourable fighter pilot who loved nothing more than a good time off-duty -versus- the Alaskan frontierswoman who braved -40 Fahrenheit weather to train for marathons.

Anonymous said...

I'm glad to be the first commenter on this topic today (unless someone with more nimble fingers has already posted while I write this.

This topic, because it contains the words "McCain" and "Palin" in its header is certain to draw a crowd of pro-Obama trolls whose irrationality will clutter up the wide-ranging and thoughtful comments for which the Althouse blog is known.

I suggest we avoid being drawn into the troll vortex by simply ignoring the trolls. Carry on without responding to their nonsense, misinformation and personal attacks.

Have a lovely day!

Michael_H

vbspurs said...

Hah! Michael_H. You have to be pretty nimble indeed to type faster than my 120wmp self.

Not that I'm braggin' on myself, you understand.

Ernesto Ariel Suárez said...

"With your shield, or on it"

It is hyperbole, I know, but it sort of reminded me of it.

Paddy O said...

Having fun is a sign of intellectual enjoyment and delighting in challenge.

I was one of those people who did enjoy taking tests and still enjoy writing papers, articles, etc. It's a puzzle. It's a game. It's cathartic. All that study and finally it has a place to land.

There's an aesthetic to it as well. The mind has all these strands and pieces and facts, mixed up and chaotic. The test, or talk, gives a chance for that to find a new order, to be given expression.

Of course, this is only possible if a person is prepared, and the more prepared the more fun it is.

George M. Spencer said...

In hockey, the gloves do come off. Check out this melee.

Flyers v. Senators. March 2004.

419 penalty minutes!

The rulebooks of the NHL and other professional leagues contain specific rules for fighting. These rules state that at the initiation of a fight, both players must drop their sticks so as not to use them as a weapon. Players must also "drop" or shake off their protective gloves in order to fight bare-knuckled (essentially, "throwing down the gauntlet"), as the hard leather and plastic of hockey gloves would increase the effect of landed blows.

Kirk Parker said...

Gender role reversal? "and the woman wants a good hard fight..." but she's asking the man to do the actual punching? I don't see the role reversal in that!

Host with the Most said...

The Dow just dropped below 10,000 for the first time in 4 years, and we have a country about to put it's future in the hands of a man who is qualified because he's not a Republican and because people want to feel good about electing a black man, and a vp nominee who can't get the facts straight about Hezbolah in Lebanon or when FDR was President or when TV exists or clean coal or a hundred other things.

To every Obama voter, for ruining my families future - Fuck you. Go to hell.

The Drill SGT said...

McCain, the honourable fighter pilot who loved nothing more than a good time off-duty

Of course the motto of pilots is:

"Never fight a fair fight" :)

Ann Althouse said...

Kirk, she's telling him to take the gloves off, implying both that she already has and he's been too much of a stickler for niceness.

Ann Althouse said...

She's been fighting for him!

Anonymous said...

Morning Vics! Your 120 wpm more than doubles my paltry pecking. Man-size fingers and itty bitty laptop keyboards are not a good combination.

Ann Althouse said...

Host, none of them are qualified to deal with the present situation! We are screwed.

George M. Spencer said...

Here's a man who is prepared to deal with the situation:

Interview with a Dr. Thomas Long, NHL dentist.

Ow. Ow. Ow.

Henry said...

"Have fun. Be yourself, and have fun."

I think that's what Breznev said to Spassky right before he left for Reykjavík to play Bobby Fischer.

It's good advice, especially as it ties into Palin's best political instincts.

Her advice to him is good for the same reason.

Host with the Most said...

Ann, it's not just the economy. It's the sure coming Fairness Doctrine, and the forcing of churches to stop saying anything that is perceived as anti-pc.

Forcing Religious hospitals to perform abortions.

Forcing religious pastors to shut up about their views regarding gay people.

The Republiucans won't fuck that up. The Democrats - it's guaranteed. You should get that more than most people.

vbspurs said...

Quoting from Kristol's NYT article:

But she did say she was more than willing to accept an invitation to debate with Biden again, and even expressed a preference for a town hall meeting-type format.

This is what I adore about Palin. Speaking of filters, the mot du jour after her debate, she has none herself. What you see, is what you get.

Do you remember the moment the debate was over?

Biden came over to her, and she was grinning from ear-to-ear. He thanked her, and she said loudly into the open mike, "That was fun!".

She meant it. You could tell that wasn't post-debate bravado. She looked like she could've gone on another 30 minutes, easy. Biden looked like death warmed up.

(He was extremely handsy with her before and after the debate, which I personally took to be affectionate)

Have you guys watched her Carson, California rally? Click here for for a 3 Parts video of the entire speech.

The woman is growing in stature and confidence by the minute. She has always been good off-the-cuff, but when some protesters got chippy, and disrupted her speech, she fired back:

"My son is over in Iraq now fighting for the freedoms that person is exercising."

I'm just so sorry she has only 1 more month of intense Presidential campaigning. She's a superstar.

Cheers,
Victoria

bearbee said...

Maybe 'sic 'em' or 'release your inner barracuda.'

vbspurs said...

Morning Vics! Your 120 wpm more than doubles my paltry pecking. Man-size fingers and itty bitty laptop keyboards are not a good combination.

Morning, darling! Actually, this is typing inflation. I was timed at 100wmp (without errors) in a typing class. I added 20 wmp because everyone knows that comp kbs are easier to type on...except with man fingers and biddy laptop keys. ;(

garage mahal said...

McCain a stickler for niceness? Lawdy.

Hoosier Daddy said...

Biden looked like death warmed up.

I always thought he looked like Jacob Marley anyway.

cookasia said...

I pray he takes her advice, or we are sunk...

Unknown said...

A good hard fight is fun and self-actualizing.

vbspurs said...

Maybe 'sic 'em' or 'release your inner barracuda.'

Bearbee, check this out.

Sarahcuda #1
Sarahcuda #2

She has that intense look that I associate with my old gym teacher, who was also my basketball coach. Probably the only woman I was ever scared of.

There's something about those female basketball coaches with their withering stares which Sarah Palin definitely has.

MadisonMan said...

I tell my students to stretch, take a deep breath, and to relax. A mind can't function if the body is tight.

To every Obama voter, for ruining my families future - Fuck you. Go to hell.

Yes, because it's Obama's fault that the economy sucks right now. I suggest you stretch in your seat. Take a nice cleansing breath. Visualize the tension leaving your body. Don't you feel better now?

Anonymous said...

Host - I feel your pain. I've partly convinced myself that four years of Obama could be a re-do of the Jimmy Carter administration, which sucked so badly that the voters wisely sent Jimmuh home to Georgia an replaced him with Ronald Reagan.

Anonymous said...

I think that's what Breznev said to Spassky right before he left for Reykjavík to play Bobby Fischer.

It never carried quite the same conviction coming from Brezhnev. He didn't wink enough.

Ernesto Ariel Suárez said...

Paul Zrimsek said...
[...]

It never carried quite the same conviction coming from Brezhnev. He didn't wink enough.

10:19 AM


No, he risked blinding himself with his eyebrows

bearbee said...

Bearbee, check this out.

Sarahcuda #1
Sarahcuda #2


Definite barracuda-mode.

Rich B said...

If John McCain doesn't pull this election out, he deserves to have Sarah Palin kick his ass.

Ray said...

Host, none of them are qualified to deal with the present situation!

The solution to the present situation is to let it burn, and while that is the correct solution, it's political suicide.

peoplce can go back and forth over why it happened, but most of the current messes are a result of unrealistic levels of risk, created by over-management. The banking system knew that they could sustain stupid levels of risk, because while screwing up small would cost them there jobs and some cash, screwing up big enough gets you a bailout, i.e. taxpayer cash. See also the Chrysler bailout, the S&L bailout. Hell, I'll submit to you that the Iraq war is a function of the US creating an unrealistic risk environment by the weak foreign policy of the Clinton years; convinced that the US wouldn't initiate a comprehensive regime change or enter into a sustained fight, AQ and Saddam felt more comfortable than they should've attacking on US soil/defying UN sanctions. Letting businesses fail and occasionally punching a country in the mouth doesn't sound very nice (and pretty much gaurantees I'll never be elected to anything) but it's the most efficient way of communicating and quantifying risk. By letting people know exactly where things stand, they can act appropriately. Let more people lose their savings in the S&L crisis, I betcha banking industry oversight would've been a lot more comprehensive. Depose Saddam in 1991, don't run from Somalia, we wouldn't be in Iraq now. Again and again, life gives us the choice between pain now versus more pain later. And we keep electing people that promise that they can magically spare us from the consequences, despite the fact that at least once every generation that check we (or our parents) wrote for "more pain later" comes due.

john said...

This reminds me of something I say to students about taking my exam (upon which their entire semester grade rests). I say that they should enjoy it, that it should be an intrinsically rewarding experience. And I don't mean to be perverse or sadistic.

Why do teachers still say that?

It was a lie 40 years ago in grade school.

It was a lie 30 years ago in high school.

It was a lie 25 years ago in college.

The only time it wasn't a lie was in kindergarten, when the test was - cookies, milk, nap.

And you, a law professor.

Chennaul said...

Electric Citizen

You Da Bomb Baby!!!!

Wow how in the hell,did I miss that!?

Thanks for making my day.

Man...that was good I need a du Maurier.

Sprezzatura said...

School is an entirely 100% selfish exercise. (Unlike the work world, especially management, where you're dealing with a mountain of other people's desires, needs, and problems.)

I don't understand why folks complain about school.

And, there's great joy after that last final of each quarter (or semester) when you know you've done well, and all your hard work is complete (for the time.) Nothing like it in the "real world."

john said...

And no, I didn't have to repeat kindergarten.

Anonymous said...

vbspurs said...McCain, the honourable fighter pilot..

No, he was a ground attack pilot. His job was to dive in on stationary ground targets.

McCain was too stupid to qualify to be a fighter pilot. Totally different game.

Ann Althouse said...Host, none of them are qualified to deal with the present situation! We are screwed.

Right but at least McCain admitted it.

Can you imagine Mitt Romney up there in a debate right now. He'd blow every body away. He had/has it all. Too bad about the Mormon issue.

integrity said...

Host with the Most said...
The Dow just dropped below 10,000 for the first time in 4 years, and we have a country about to put it's future in the hands of a man who is qualified because he's not a Republican and because people want to feel good about electing a black man, and a vp nominee who can't get the facts straight about Hezbolah in Lebanon or when FDR was President or when TV exists or clean coal or a hundred other things.

To every Obama voter, for ruining my families future - Fuck you. Go to hell.




No, fuck you for what you and your ilk have done to my country for the last 28 years. Especially the last 8 you piece of garbage.

Fuck you.

Host with the Most said...

The world fears the "ready to go to war in an instant" McCain; Obaqma - not so much.

Prediction: The United States, Canada, or a European Western Democracy will be severely attacked shortly into the Obama Admin. The response will be inadequate, and at least 3 more major hits will take place before Obama has had even 2 years in office.

Iran will acquire Nuclear weapons during Obama's admin - count on it.

Focused only on the Financial Crisis, the American people have rope-a-doped themselves.

Host with the Most said...

Go to hell and your family with you integrity.

You have every freedom you have ever had during the last 8 years, you un-American dipshit.

My brother, a pastor, was visited by the IRS just for making a comment percived to be against gays. Yes, you piece of shit - the fucking IRS.

Religious people that disagree with the liberal shit will definitely lose their rights under the upcoming Obama admin.

So shut your lying, fucking mouth asshole, since you don't know SHIT.

garage mahal said...

Host
Did you ever consider buying a firearm or take judo self-defense classes instead of airing your hysterical fears on a blog? You seem like a really insecure and scared person.

MadisonMan said...

for the last 28 years.

I have to ask -- are you 28 years old? I'm just wondering why you set a benchmark back in 1980. It's an odd year to choose, at least from an economic perspective.

Hoosier Daddy said...

No, he was a ground attack pilot. His job was to dive in on stationary ground targets.

McCain was too stupid to qualify to be a fighter pilot. Totally different game.


Grafton: "Are you a fighter pilot?"
Pilot: "You don't ask someone if he's a fighter pilot. If he is, he'll let you know."
Grafton: Fighter pukes make movies. Bomber pilots make... HISTORY!"

Fligt Of The Intruder (1991)

MadisonMan said...

This blog is now rated M for mature audiences only. (Strong language and graphic nudity).

I'm lying about the nudity.

Anonymous said...

To all my friends in the Althouse neighborhood:

Don't take the bait.

No, fuck you for what you and your ilk have done to my country for the last 28 years. Especially the last 8 you piece of garbage.

Never mind that the doof who posted the comment above forgot about the Clinton administration, just don't waste your time arguing with someone whose mind cannot be changed by facts.

Go on about your business; keep out of the troll vortex.

integrity said...

MadisonMan said...
for the last 28 years.

I have to ask -- are you 28 years old? I'm just wondering why you set a benchmark back in 1980. It's an odd year to choose, at least from an economic perspective.



No, Reagan's deregulation schemes began being sold to the American public in 1980.

Hoosier Daddy said...

No, fuck you for what you and your ilk have done to my country for the last 28 years.

Care to elaborate what as so horrid during those 28 years? My recollection was a pretty good period of economic and technological advances.

Anonymous said...

Rated M for Moby, more like.

Darcy said...

Good morning, Michael_H. Good advice. ;-)

And LOL Rich B. I must say, my thoughts have been along those lines.

john said...

Electric citizen - that could have been a video of last night's comments. The players look about the same: scars, missing teeth, coming out swinging, no brains.

(I played hockey, so I know about these things.)

Hoosier Daddy said...

No, Reagan's deregulation schemes began being sold to the American public in 1980.

I should have known.

Anonymous said...

When's the graphic nudity gonna start?

knox said...

Gender role reversal? "and the woman wants a good hard fight..." but she's asking the man to do the actual punching? I don't see the role reversal in that!

To borrow a popular '80s movie quote: "Hey, maybe you haven't been keeping up on current events" ... but Palin's been doing all the heavy lifting! McCain and his stupid campaign managers might as well have been asleep at the wheel. They wouldn't go after Obama on Fannie May, Ayers, Rezko, or Wright.

In light of how every aspect of Palin's personal life was investigated--and lied about--the McCain campaign should consider everything fair game.

Henry said...

No, Reagan's deregulation schemes began being sold to the American public in 1980.

Yes, the curse of cheap airfare and cell phones.

Host with the Most said...

garage -

Let's see, the last 8 years.

Name one right that people DON"T have now that they had in 1999.

Today, gays can legally marry in 2 states.

No woman in this country is legally denied an abortion.

Wow, that Bush admin really turned back the clock.

But under Obama?

The Fairness Doctrine is coming.

Democrat Fascists will turn this country's First Amendment into Canadian style thou shalt not speak hatefully against . . .

So, people like integrity are hopeless assholes. I don't need a gun. I can sleep at night knowig integrity and his children will burn in an everlasting hell.

Hoosier Daddy said...

I'd like to know what specific deregulation contributed to the current situation.

Lorelei Leigh said...

Woah. Such language, and completely unrelated to the subject of the thread. That sounds about right.

As for her advice to McCain, I'd say the gloves have already been off. From now on, punches will be thrown holding a roll of quarters in each hand. On both sides. The last month of this campaign will be as brutal as we have seen, I think. To think that in the summer everyone was talking about how this election was going to be one of the most positive, issue driven ones we've seen in a while.

Henry said...

Is there some way to shunt Integrity and Host into their own alternate universe where they can fight out their eschatologies without the distraction of us other commentators?

Anonymous said...

Nudity is a good tonic for many things. Presidential debates, for example, would be better if the contestants and moderators were all nude.

My wife thinks that (most) Olympic events would be far more interesting if they were performed without benefit of clothing. This would work for the summer Olympics, but not so much for the winter games.

Nude blogging....well, we'd need photos to in order to verify.

vbspurs said...

The United States, Canada, or a European Western Democracy will be severely attacked shortly into the Obama Admin.

France. I posted about it a few months ago. :(

An American President is almost always tested early in his presidency. Makes sense. His administration is still shaking the cobwebs of the previous one, and enemies want to test them to see what they're made of.

I pray and hope not, though...

Trooper York said...

madison man said:
"This blog is now rated M for mature audiences only. (Strong language and graphic nudity).
I'm lying about the nudity."

Speak for yourself, I am always naked when I post on the internet.

Anonymous said...

"When the average man loses his money he is simply like a wounded snake and strikes right and left at anything, innocent or the reverse, that presents itself as conspicuous in his mind. " -- Theodore Roosevelt

Anonymous said...

The gloves have come off...

Alright! That's a start. How about the skirt next?

Trooper York said...

On the other hand, while I might be nude I am wearing a glove.

Well at least one glove.

Anonymous said...

Guess it's now officially a bare market.

Lorelei Leigh said...

"Have fun. Be yourself, and have fun."

This sounds like Althouse's advice to her commenters in her vlog.

Is there some way to shunt Integrity and Host into their own alternate universe where they can fight out their eschatologies without the distraction of us other commentators?

I think that's an excellent idea.

Oh, and for the record, I have blogged in the nude before. There is no photographic evidence, so you'll just have to take my word for that. Though I like to think the nudity makes a difference. Everything you type is somehow...lighter.

Anonymous said...

I read an article in which the author lamented about the stunning lack of nude female lawprof blogging.

Change and hope!

john said...

michael_h said -
....Olympic events would be far more interesting if they were performed without benefit of clothing. This would work for the summer Olympics, but not so much for the winter games.


Not necessarily.

integrity said...

Clinton signed on to deregulation and behaved like a republican.

I said my piece. Host is nuts and can't accept responsibility for his votes.

I'm gonna shut up for now, Obama is in good shape today.

Host with the Most said...

Henry,

I'm sorry, I didn't realize this blog was only for the unpassionate.

Why don't you ignore the profanity and give us your opinion about why you are happy with the First Amendment Freedoms that the Obama Administration will surely take away (Biden already agrees with the Fairness Doctrine, for instance)?

Or are you just an editorial observer?

nrn312 said...

Name one right that people DON"T [sic] have now that they had in 1999.

"Since September 30, 2007, American citizens flying to Canada have needed a passport."

Thank you, drive through please!

Anonymous said...

Nude Olympics - it could work.

For example...

Host with the Most said...

"integrity" has none: He can't answer the simple question put before him:

Which of your rights did you lose in the last years?

I'm about to lose some of mine.

Integrity is an ass.

Trooper York said...

Hey when I went on a crusie out of New York I had to have my birth certificate to get back in the country and we only sailed out into the ocean overnight and came right back. What's up with that?

Anonymous said...

What's up with that?

Are you of the swarthy persuasion?

integrity said...

Host with the Most said...
"integrity" has none: He can't answer the simple question put before him:

Which of your rights did you lose in the last years?

I'm about to lose some of mine.

Integrity is an ass.



Stop draggin' me in. Obama is not going to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine. He will not do it.

Calm down, you have turned Obama into a bogeyman that he isn't.

Obama will be Reaganesque.

Trooper York said...

It was a pain in the ass to go to city hall to get a birth certificate but it was worth it to buy all that dirt cheap booze and cigarettes. Do you know a regular pack of cigs cost $10 in NYC anf $2in the duty free shop?

Taxes dude, taxes.

Host with the Most said...

nrn312

And your point is? (I know you being humorous).

That's like saying that people who now have to show ID lost a right. No they didn't. They still have the right to vote.

You still have the right to fly into Canada.

Seriously, I have yet to find ebven one person who decries Bush taking away our rights who can name even one. And I'm sick of it.

Trooper York said...

Are you of the swarthy persuasion?

Swarthy? Dude, I am Irish and about as swarthy as Mrs. O'Leary's twat.

Host with the Most said...

Obama will be Reaganesque.

Okay. Calm down. What do you mean?

integrity said...

you or I can be pulled off a street anywhere in the world if George Bush decides to. What are you talking about.

I've lost all my rights, and so have you.

vbspurs said...

Ugh. Another potentially great thread ruined.

See you all later.

Joan said...

Remember, everyone is naked under his clothes.

(This routinely cracks up elementary school children through grade 3.)

Hoosier Daddy said...

Name one right that people DON"T [sic] have now that they had in 1999.

"Since September 30, 2007, American citizens flying to Canada have needed a passport."


Since when has it been a 'right' to travel to a foreign country without a passport?

Host with the Most said...

And as to "draggin' you in", you are the one who complined about the last 8 years. Just askin' you to defend that by answerin the question, which rights do you not now have that had in 1999?

MadisonMan said...

You still have the right to fly into Canada.

You just have to pay more to the US govt -- in the form of Passport fees -- to do it. And sure, you can still vote -- just have the right government form with you!

I thought Republicans were all against government intervention, and yet that's all the past 8 years has seen. Government getting bigger and bigger and more intrusive.

Host with the Most said...

you or I can be pulled off a street anywhere in the world if George Bush decides to. What are you talking about.

I've lost all my rights, and so have you.


What in the world are you talking about?

integrity said...

Host with the Most said...
Obama will be Reaganesque.

Okay. Calm down. What do you mean?



Have you seen any issue that Obama is not pragmatic about? FISA, guns etc. He is not confrontational and wants to be loved. This ain't an ideologue.

Trooper York said...

Mrs. O’Leary’s twat was burning that night and she was putting ointment on it and didn’t check on her cow that kicked over the lantern that lead to the great Chicago fire.

Just goes to show you have dangerous a burning twat can be.

MadisonMan said...

Another potentially great thread ruined.

Oh, the topic will return to your hero Sarah sooner or later.

Hoosier Daddy said...

He is not confrontational and wants to be loved.

If there was ever a reason NOT to vote for Obama, that's it right there.

DaLawGiver said...

Truthfully, she's the one I want for President. More experienced than Obama, more of an outsider than McCain, doesn't seem to owe anyone anything.

McCain was too stupid to qualify to be a fighter pilot. Totally different game.

It's not an intelligence issue. Between WWII and Korea all Marine pilots had to be qualified in all their aircraft. My Dad flew fighters, transports, bombers, and helicopters.

Host with the Most said...

He is not confrontational and wants to be loved

And that makes you feel secure voting for the man as Commander-in-Chief?

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Hoosier Daddy said...

Just goes to show you have dangerous a burning twat can be.

I think a big thanks and a fist bump goes to Trooper for getting this thread back on track.

Well done sir.

Beta Conservative said...

Didn't Mrs. O'Leary's twat start a major Chicago fire? Was Obama involved? Should we exoect more of the same from an Obama/Biden regime?

knox said...

Ugh. Another potentially great thread ruined.

Really. When you have to scroll through the last 50 comments, it's over.

Ernesto Ariel Suárez said...

So, yeah, strong women. I have always had a fascination with Eleanore of Aquitaine. Not only did she have a lot more money and land that Henry II, she had more balls too.

Chennaul said...

Somehow you can go to Puerto Rico and get cheap booze, also worst hockey injury I ever saw, though was my uncle he was so privileged to get his ear skated off.

Also though he was doubly honored to get it sewn back on by the Canadian health care system-now he can *wiggle* it-couldn't do that before so there you go.

john said...

vbspurs said...
Ugh. Another potentially great thread ruined.

She's right. The topic was Ann's lying to her students. Let's move back now.

Host with the Most said...

Who made Victoria, et al the sheriff over what gets talked about.

Do I have to go find the dozens of times Victoria has led a thread completely down a side road?

Or is it just when you're uncomfortable that thread is hijacked?

Hypocrites

Anonymous said...

Swarthy? Dude, I am Irish and about as swarthy as Mrs. O'Leary's twat.

Troop, I'm thinkin' that Mrs. O'Leary lived in the pre-waxing era, so swarthy is a possibility.

On another matter, did you know that the great Johnny Cash ballad Ring of Fire was actually about a burning twat?

Okay, I'm outta here.

Triangle Man said...

Host with the most said...

Seriously, I have yet to find ebven one person who decries Bush taking away our rights who can name even one. And I'm sick of it.


Is it a matter of semantics surrounding the definition of what a "right" is, or do you think that there has been no change in the operation of government that has any relevance to liberty?

rhhardin said...

Palin wants McCain to fight; McCain wants Palin to have fun.

The traditional roles are still there.

integrity said...

Host with the Most said...
Who made Victoria, et al the sheriff over what gets talked about.

Do I have to go find the dozens of times Victoria has led a thread completely down a side road?

Or is it just when you're uncomfortable that thread is hijacked?

Hypocrites



She is permitted to be angry and vile, but the rest of us have to shut our mouths. And she rarely stays on topic.

Reading her Sarah goo is worse than waterboarding, yet we are the bad guys.

She thinks she owns the place.

I'm now done for now.

MadisonMan said...

Truthfully, she's the one I want for President. More experienced than Obama, more of an outsider than McCain, doesn't seem to owe anyone anything.

I really think that for some -- not necessarily you -- this love of Sarah is just the yearning for something New (and Improved!) that pervades American society. Obama had it for Democrats at the start of his race -- a Black Man -- New! And Improved! candidate -- no longer those boring white guys! New and Improved!! A great way to jump start a campaign or, in the case of Palin, to add to the flagging fortunes of one. With Palin, the question is: is there any there there? The Republican strategy seems to be Elect her first and then we'll see the there. With Obama, the there is there to see already, I think, for good or bad.

What lousy choices. And there you have it. This is what happens when Senators win nominations.

Trooper York said...

Dion O'Leary What’s the matta ma?
Molly O'Leary Ah, I am feeling poorly to be sure darling?
Jack O'Leary Leave Ma alone you are always bothering her.
Molly O’Leary Now boys don’t be a fightin all the time. The last thing we need is another donneybrooke. Dion can you run down to the store and get me some of that ointment for my female troubles?
Dion O’Leary Arh Ma that’s so embrassing. I hate to do that. Can’t Jack do it.
Jack O’Leary Me why is it always me. Besides I have to go to me new job carving pumpkins for the rich Protestants don’t ya know.
Molly O’Leary Don’t worry about boys. I just need to rest a while. Can you take of the cow before you go?
Dion O’Leary Sure Ma don’t worry about. Feel better. (the brothers leave their poor ma)
Jack O’Leary Well let’s take of that damned cow.
Dion O’Leary She’ll keep. Let’s go have a dram first.
Jack O’Leary; Sounds good to me.
(In Old Chicago, 1937)

Host with the Most said...

Is it a matter of semantics surrounding the definition of what a "right" is, or do you think that there has been no change in the operation of government that has any relevance to liberty?

Which question do youu want answered?

Anonymous said...

I've lost all my rights, and so have you.

Except for that free speech thingie, since you just posted it for all the world to read.

Trooper York said...

Hey Hoosier I just felt that there were several irritated twats in this thread already so why not bring up poor Mrs. O'Leary.

Hoosier Daddy said...

What lousy choices. And there you have it. This is what happens when Senators win nominations.

I don't think its just senators. When you look at the whole slate of contenders from both parties, the electorate wasn't given much of a choice.

PunditJoe said...

"MadisonMan said...
I'm lying about the nudity.
"

Dang, you have dashed my hopes! lol

I think the second most popular post on my blog had to be the one about how a PETA chick wrapped herself up in cellophane while wearing a bikini as part of a protest. (sorry, no pics) Bikini and cellophane were the keywords that attracted all the traffic. lol All this nudity talk may do the same here!

As for Ann's comments - I think she is right. Our attitude, our way of approaching challenges in life makes a great difference in how we perform and in our general happiness. Worrying won't help any, so it is better to try and enjoy challenges. It ain't easy, but it is worth the effort in my opinion.

nrn312 said...

And sure, you can still vote -- just have the right government form with you!

I appreciate your concern, but I simply have to sign my name when I vote in my state.

Trooper York said...

Anyway, what's the big deal with Sarah telling him to "Take the glove off."

How the hell do think she ended up with five kids for crying out loud? Jeeez.

Parker Smith said...

Actually, the original Olympics WERE done in the nude.

I miss the good old days...

Ernesto Ariel Suárez said...

Parker Smith said...
Actually, the original Olympics WERE done in the nude.

I miss the good old days...

11:58 AM


Parker Moses??

Just kidding!

Christy said...

The Patriot Act had many aspects I didn't like. But I sucked it up because I trusted Bush to only use his power for good. Well, all that expanded authority will now be Obama's. And I don't trust him. He says the right things, but has yet to back up his fine words with any action at all. And the people he wants to like him, his most fervent cheerleaders, are those most filled with hate.

Floridan said...

Host: "My brother, a pastor, was visited by the IRS just for making a comment percived to be against gays. Yes, you piece of shit - the fucking IRS."

B.S. (and what would the good pastor think of your language?)

Lorelei Leigh said...

What lousy choices. And there you have it. This is what happens when Senators win nominations.

How true. One good thing about the Palin choice: we didn't end up with four U.S. senators on the major party tickets.

Isn't it conventional wisdom that these guys don't make very good Presidents?

AlphaLiberal said...

...pay your back taxes.

Fred4Pres said...

Have fun on an exam? Yes Professor Althouse, you are sadistic.

Lorelei Leigh said...

I honestly can't say any of my law school exams were fun. Perhaps this is why I don't currently practice law.

AlphaLiberal said...

Palin is the Gaffe-o-matic:

“They are also building schools for the Afghan children so that there is hope and opportunity in our neighboring country of Afghanistan,” she told several hundred supporters at a fundraising event in San Francisco.

Clearly the educational system in Alaska is crying out for help.

Host with the Most said...

Floridian,

It did happen.

A regular member of the church had a relative staying with them, and this relative came along to services. My brother was teaching on the Sodom and Gomorrah story and gave his views about homosexuality during that message. The visiting relative felt that my brother was violating some church/state political involvement and took it upon herself to contact the local IRS office - in person - to complain about my brother. Turns out they took the information from this woman and gave it to an agent in the office, who knew my brother.
This agent and another IRS person stopped by my brother's office the next day as a friendly visit to tell him that a complaint was made, and that they were stopping by to prevent it from going further, because if the woman had continued to contact the IRS, the odds are that the IRS would have to do some sort of investigation. So, by coming over now, the IRS "looked into it". my brother told them what he said - there were tapes of his sermon available. The IRS guys didn't "warn" him or comment on anything. Nothing happened, but my brother was scared by the incident considerably. He wonders if he is now self-editing out of fear.

Why does this happen in America?

And why would you think for a minute that this wouldn't happen a hundred times as much in an Obama administration?

Democrats are very comfortable with fascism. Which is why you can't believe it, Floridian.

Host with the Most said...

alphalib,

Looking forward to your Biden gaffe series.

May I suggest you start hear?

Hezzbolah out of Lebanon?

Extremely scary to think of Biden even near the reigns of foreign policy.

Ray said...

you or I can be pulled off a street anywhere in the world if George Bush decides to.

American presidents have been pulling people off the street for quite a while now. "Of course it's a violation of international law, that's why it's a covert action. The guy is a terrorist. Go grab his ass." - said the Goracle in 1993.

The Patriot Act had many aspects I didn't like. But I sucked it up because I trusted Bush to only use his power for good. Well, all that expanded authority will now be Obama's. And I don't trust him.

Which is why giving any president power is a bad idea, because no matter how much you trust you guy, sooner or later their guy will be in office. The Patriot Act is little more than an expansion of the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, and keep in mind that both enjoyed large bipartisan support at passage.

Clearly the educational system in Alaska is crying out for help.

Delaware has a fine educational system. So maybe you tell me why Biden seems to believe that the United States and France kicked Hezbollah out of Lebanon? Wait, somebody got that one... How about, despite being a constitutional law professor, doesn't know what branch of government is defined in Article 1.

Floridan said...

Host, that explanation sounds quite different than what you wrote originally.

At first you seemed to imply that the IRS were targeting ministers who spoke out against homosexuality. However, that doesn't seem to be the case at all -- just the IRS following up on a false allegation.

In other words, totally irrelevant to the point you were trying to make about losing rights.

Host with the Most said...

What part of a Christian being intimidated by the government about saying what they believe do you not get?

Are yo aware that in Canada ther are christins under government persecution for saying that they believe that homosexuality is a sin?

And that many Democrats currently in office support that kind of restriction of so called hate speech?

Of course you aren't. Fascists never believe that are restricting anyone's rights.

Host with the Most said...

My keyboard needs new batteries. or I need new fingers.

AlphaLiberal said...

John McCain to Sarah Palin:

"For the love of God, go easy on the Wall St corruption angle. We don't want to remind them of my work for that convicted fraud Charles Keating."

DaLawGiver said...

Reading her Sarah goo is worse than waterboarding, yet we are the bad guys.


And still you return. I guess waterboarding really isn't all that bad.

Peter V. Bella said...

Swarthy? Dude, I am Irish and about as swarthy as Mrs. O'Leary's twat.


And, we all know that Mrs. O'Leary's twat caused the great Chicago Fire in 1871.

Unknown said...

Oh, the Keating Five scandal. AlphaLiberal's latest wet dream.

For one thing, Obama has enlisted Keating co-conspirator John Glenn to help his campaign.

For another, John McCain will be able to use Obama's own statements that the scandal isn't a modern issue.

And for another, John McCain must have done the internal polling that said that an ethics scandal from decades ago isn't going to measure up against Fannie and Freddie: because he's giving Obama da bizness about it now.

JAL said...

Sorry MadisonMan and integrity et al., Alec Baldwin was right (on Bill Maher. (sp?))

But here's another write up --

http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerkimball/2008/10/06/throwthebumsoutorg/#comments

-snip- As late as 2003, Congressman Barney Frank, Chairman of the Financial Services Committee, was telling the American people that

“These two entities — Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — are not facing any kind of financial crisis. The more people exaggerate these problems, the more pressure there is on these companies, the less we will see in terms of affordable housing.”

Barney Frank. The Community Reinvestment Act. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. “Affordable Housing.” What does it all mean? Let me repeat a few facts assembled by Thomas Sowell–I quoted them yesterday, but they bear repeating:

Fact Number One: It was liberal Democrats, led by Senator Christopher Dodd and Congressman Barney Frank, who for years– including the present year– denied that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were taking big risks that could lead to a financial crisis.

It was Senator Dodd, Congressman Frank and other liberal Democrats who for years refused requests from the Bush administration to set up an agency to regulate Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

It was liberal Democrats, again led by Dodd and Frank, who for years pushed for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to go even further in promoting subprime mortgage loans, which are at the heart of today’s financial crisis.

Alan Greenspan warned them four years ago. So did the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers to the President. So did Bush’s Secretary of the Treasury, five years ago. [Don't believe it? Read this.] [check link on site]

Yet, today, what are we hearing? That it was the Bush administration “right-wing ideology” of “de-regulation” that set the stage for the financial crisis.

The bottom line?

The mortgage market as an instrument of socialist economic redress, i.e., the redistribution of wealth come hell or high water.
Irresponsible lending as the law of the land, the people and their wishes be damned.

-snip-
==========
And then of course, there is Maxine Waters intoning that there was no probem at all with Fannie and Freddie, and Frank Raines did a great job. (He and Jim Johnson, (Barack's bud) and Jamie Gorelick and the others need to return the money they received as a result of the slight of hand accounting.)

hdhouse said...

I gather that Mr. McCain and Ms. Palin ever thought of that famous pretest phrase "put your thinking caps on".

Ray said...

"For the love of God, go easy on the Wall St corruption angle. We don't want to remind them of my work for that convicted fraud Charles Keating."

Let's talk about the Senate investigated and cleared of wrongdoing association between McCain and Keating. Please. And then can we get the same level of investigation into Obama's association with Bill Ayers, or Tony Renzo. And can we investigate and find out what was up with Hunter Biden working as a "consultant" for MBNA while his dad was sponsoring the bankruptcy law they wanted. Realistically I think that game hurts you more than it hurts us... at least it would it the press didn't systematically ignore the "inconvenient" stories.

TJ said...

"Let's talk about the Senate investigated and cleared of wrongdoing association between McCain and Keating."

Um, McCain admitted error and was admonished by the Senate for his actions.

He called it the worst mistake of his life.

Unknown said...

If this is criticism, then I'm sure McCain can take it: the Ethics Committee said that McCain's "actions were not improper nor attended with gross negligence and did not reach the level of requiring institutional action against him....Senator McCain has violated no law of the United States or specific Rule of the United States Senate."

McCain, on the other hand, said "The appearance of it was wrong. It's a wrong appearance when a group of senators appear in a meeting with a group of regulators, because it conveys the impression of undue and improper influence. And it was the wrong thing to do."

Synova said...

Democrats aren't responsible!

Because that was just *talking* you know, and if someone thought it was really a problem they should have pursued the matter, so it's their fault... doubly so... because...

Okay, this is hard... it's doubly their fault because they saw the problem, see... and let themselves be talked out of it...

And the Democrats don't have any responsibility because they didn't do anything.

WE ALL KNOW that not doing anything makes people innocent of... everything. There are no sins of omission in the Democratic party.

Cedarford said...

Host with the Most - To every Obama voter, for ruining my families future - Fuck you. Go to hell.

You mistake the rape done by Bush II, brainless Republican Reaganite deregulators and bootlickers of the rich and powerful, and redistributionist/Green energy Democrats - with the people stuck cleaning up the colossal mess America has gotten itself into domestically and internationally next Jan 20th.

If you wanted to start on who should be called to criminal hearings, I'd start with Arthur Laffer and Ace Deregulator and now Principal McCain economic advisor Phil Gramm.
Then old slime like Jimmy Carter, Franklin Raines, Frank Lautenberg, and Charlie Rangel for setting up Fannie and Freddie's "to hell with creditworthiness" rules.

At this point, I would also be seizing the passports of many of the Wall Street fatcats, as the Feds did with the US and Israeli passports of Fast Andy Fastow & Family when they were implicated in the Enron meltdown.

MadisonMan said...

JAL, I'm not sure how your comment addresses things I've said.

Synova said...

"The Patriot Act had many aspects I didn't like. But I sucked it up because I trusted Bush to only use his power for good. Well, all that expanded authority will now be Obama's. And I don't trust him."


The Patriot Act was a horror aimed at calming people who were afraid... and maybe it did work a little bit to keep us safe, but overall it is an example of the worst sort of Doing Something for the Sake of Doing Something. (Though the present financial "rescue" plans may topple the Patriot Act from its pedestal in that respect.)

And yet...

It was the obvious domestic remedy, wasn't it?

Those who think that starting wars overseas to remake the world into something we can live with at home is immoral ought to think about this and explain, or at least sum up, what the domestic solution to terrorism would be if not greater domestic security and the necessary loss of liberty that is an unavoidable requirement of it?

I'm willing to be insecure in favor of liberty, both physically and economically insecure in favor of liberty, because there are things about being *safe* that I'm not willing to trade.

And if it's calls for greater regulation of the market or limits on speech in the case of hate-speech or "fairness" or if it's a matter of making domestic travel, or travel to the nations that border ours, a major pain when it used to be little more trouble driving to Canada that it was just to drive from Minnesota to Wisconsin (and less than driving to California, where you actually get stopped and interrogated)... well there are people who really would chose safety before liberty.

What blows my mind is the liberals pretending that's not them.

Arturius said...

The Patriot Act was a horror aimed at calming people who were afraid... and maybe it did work a little bit to keep us safe, but overall it is an example of the worst sort of Doing Something for the Sake of Doing Something.

Those in the financial and business world said the same thing about Sarbannes-Oxley.

Yet another example of a knee jerk reaction from Congress.

Independent George said...

I'm not sure that "taking the gloves off" is good advice for McCain. There is an art to attacking an opponent without losing your dignity or your cool. When done right, the effect is devastating. Palin seems to be a natural; Bill Clinton & Ronald Reagan were absolute masters. McCain has a really bad tendency to drift into self-righteous moralizing, which often hurts him far more than it hurts his opponent.

blake said...

Yes, because it's Obama's fault that the economy sucks right now.

Wish that weren't plausible.

Shanna said...

I thought Republicans were all against government intervention, and yet that's all the past 8 years has seen. Government getting bigger and bigger and more intrusive.

Why do you think congress was voted out in 2006? I think the only reason Bush wasn't is because Kerry was a terrible alternative. I WANTED to vote dem in 2004, because I was irritated at Bush's spending and mishandling of the war, but what option did I have on the dem side? Kerry? Couldn't do it.

There is also the fact that everytime a republican wants to spend more, there are democrats yelling at them that they don't want to spend enough! I mean, what's a girl to do?

Darcy said...

Interesting take, Independent George. Yeah, I think McCain has a hard time going on attack without coming off too "angry", maybe?

I guess he just gave a pretty hard hitting campaign speech just now - gloves off. We'll see.

Floridan said...

Host: "Are yo aware that in Canada ther are christins under government persecution for saying that they believe that homosexuality is a sin?

And that many Democrats currently in office support that kind of restriction of so called hate speech?"

Many? How about naming two Democrats in office who publicly support "government persecution" of Christians who believe homosexuality is a sin?

Unknown said...

We will see if McCain can pull off "negative". Apparently, a video of his new attack is forthcoming.

KCFleming said...

What John McCain said to Sarah Palin minutes before the VP debate.

"One word. Plastics."

blake said...

Of course, a test is enjoyable if you're playing the game willingly. And also if it's something you do well.

I used to finish very, very quickly. My smarter grade school teachers put me in the back of the class, so that I could pace afterward without disrupting everyone else.

Taking tests is fun for enough people that there are about a gajizillion of them on the 'net....

MadisonMan said...

Why do you think congress was voted out in 2006?

As I recall, looking the other way at scandals (Foley). Entanglements with lobbyists, specifically Jack Abramoff. Anger over ineptitude with war. I don't think bloating the government and spending us into oblivion was high on the list, but that's my interpretation.

blake said...

MadMan is correct in mocking the idea that Reps stand for smaller government.

But the Dems aggressively seek to grow government.

As Shanna says, what's a girl to do?

Anonymous said...

I believe terrorism should be treated as a law enforcement matter. So long as no additional law enforcement results.

AlphaLiberal said...

Someone said:

And for another, John McCain must have done the internal polling that said that an ethics scandal from decades ago isn't going to measure up

John McCain was the ringleader of the Keating Five, the closest to Charles Keating. John McCain was reprimanded by the full Senate for his role.

Since then, John McCain hasn't learend his lesson and has been a fan of deregulation of the financial industry. He says he wants to deregulate the health industry like we deregulated the finance industry.

What could go wrong?

This is directly relevant to today as we have a similar, yet worse, financial scandal unfolding that is pulling our economy down. Yes, the story is decades old and no, John McCain hasn't learned his lesson over those decades.

The fact that McCain has been wrong for decades in way that is exacting such financial pain today is very relevant.

AlphaLiberal said...

BTW, the McCain campaign is furiously lying about McCain's connections to the convicted fraud Charles Keating.

They forgot there's things like video and audio recordings, apparently.

hdhouse said...

ahhhh alpha liberal...you have to remember that audio and vido weren't around when John Boy was growin' up.

audio was the last word in ole mcdonald and video was a captain.

ya'betcha!

Roberto said...

Ann: "...and the woman wants a good hard fight."

And of course, she has literally nothing to lose.

She'll be working for Fox News within 3 months...or less.

Roberto said...

I wonder what G.W. Bush will say as he leaves the White House?

Right now he's hanging onto the same approval rating as Nixon as he was resigning.

I think it'll be even lower by the day he leaves.

And history will not be kind...McCain can already attest to that.

veni vidi vici said...

"“They are also building schools for the Afghan children so that there is hope and opportunity in our neighboring country of Afghanistan,” she told several hundred supporters at a fundraising event in San Francisco."

When they said the world "keeps getting smaller", I didn't realize that they were serious!!!

Roger J. said...

I believe it was the great populist Jimmy Carter who started the deregulation thing going during his helmsmanship: phone companies and airlines come to mind. You can look that up if you want to.

JAL said...

Floridian, it's called hate speech.

And there are a lot of people who think that legislating against what people think and believe -- and say -- is perfectly alright if it doesn't fit the PC of the day, is "offensive" to some one (except Jews or Christians), calls attention to something the person doesn't like to hear about ....

To hell with the First Amendment.

You followed Mark Steyn and that other guy up north who have had a brush with the Canadian so-called "Human Rights" Commission. Chills your very bones.

JAL said...

[HAVE] you followed Mark Steyn and that other guy up north who have had a brush with the Canadian so-called "Human Rights" Commission[?] Chills your very bones.

JAL said...

Will AlphaLiberal take a cold shower, please?

Then google Robert (Bob) Bennett McCain Keating Five

Bob Bennett is a Democrat, high profile lawyer. He defended Bill Clinton. Remember?

He also was Special Counsel in the Keating deal. He said then, and he has reiterated it now (I believe in 2008) and in his recent book ("Inside the Ring") that John McCain should not have been included.

Bennett's take was that McCain was included so it wouldn't be an all Democrat scandal. As someone else noted, McCain and John Glenn were held least culpable. McCain attended the meeting, but there is no evidence he tried to influence anyone.

I think it interesting that someone is using McCain's take on it against him, when it reveals how seriously he felt he had erred.

Don't hear that much these days. Usually it's "I never heard that." "I didn't know." "He's just another guy in the neighborhood..."

Again -- instead of Obama talking points go to the source. Robert Bennett and even the finding are a place to start.

Parrots don't actually think about what they say. They just recite.

AlphaLiberal said...

"Kill him!"

That's how one Palin-McCain supporter responded to her attacks on Obama.

That's OK, right? But criticizing Palin and bring out the Republican Whine Brigades.

AlphaLiberal said...

jal, I don't let Bob Bennett do my thinking for me. I could care less if he represented Bill Clinton.

McCain, himself, admitted he did wrong and regrets it. McCain intervened with regulators on behalf of Charles Keating. He attended meetings with regulators twice on Keating's behalf.

Bennett said that “In 1984 and ‘85, then Congressman McCain wrote several letters to Chairman [Edwin] Gray [of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board] and White House officials urging them to postpone promulgation of the direct investment rule… There is evidence that Senator McCain did so at the urging of Mr. Keating or other representatives of Lincoln.”

The ultimate Lincoln Savings and Loan bailout cost over $3 B, the most. They bilked many senior citizens.

When you guys deny wrongdoing here, it reinforces that you haven't learned a damn thing from all these fiascoes and would repeat them if we gave you the chance. We must not.

AlphaLiberal said...

And the fact that Bob Bennett represented Bill Clinton proves nothing. I remember now when Clinton hired it was weird that Clinton hired a Republican lawyer.

He's big brother to Bill Bennett, the holier-than-thou moralist and gambler.

He also represented Judith Miller, Caspar Weinberger, and Paul Wolfowitz.

In 2008, Bennett was hired by John McCain to defend allegations by the The New York Times of an improper relationship with a Washington lobbyist.

So his opinions don't mean squat in a partisan election. Actually, we should probably assume the opposite of what he claims is true.

blake said...

Speak for yourself, I am always naked when I post on the internet.

You know, Troop, nobody raised this issue: But don't you do half your posting (at least) from Lee Lee's Valise, a stylish women's dress shop in Brooklyn?

Is it naked Trooper York that keeps 'em coming back for more?

JAL said...

William Bennett was a Democrat who became a Repunblican.

Robert Bennett is a Democrat who remains a Democrat.

I have a flaming California liberal son and a son who is a Major in the US Army.

They do not vote the same.

So what's your point.

JAL said...

As for the reported comment "Kill him!" (where I have to assume you mean the "him" is Barack Obama), of course the huge majority those of us who are not voting for him do not hold that position or wish that person well.

What's your point?

Fred Phelps claims to speak for God as a Christian and pickets funerals for gays and servicemen. Evangelical and mainline Christians did't sit on their hands before denouncing him.

One voice yelling is different than years of association and collaberation on radical social organizing education programs with a man who despises AmeriKKKa.

Sounds like someone might be trying to make some sort of moral equivalence.