A week ago, I would have argued that Sarah Palin has no intention of giving up the sudden wealth she has gained from her run as McCain's VP -- and her (or Todd's) entrepreneurial smarts with reality tv extravaganzas, high speaking fees, FoxNews gig, books, etc.
Add to that her recent comments about having to consider the effect on her family -- all those kids trying to grow up in the spotlight, having to be perky and on display all the time. So I thought she wouldn't do it.
But now there are two signs that she's just been lying low, letting expectations simmer, while time helped erase her disastrous response to Tucson.
1. A full length movie of her life is about to be released. Advanced previews are hyping it as if it were "the second coming." It reportedly builds to a peak of emotional excitement that could only be the fanfare to an announcement that she's running for president.
2. She's spending this Memorial Day Weekend on a bus tour of the historic landmarks on the East Coast -- obviously some PR person's idea of countering her gaffe in confusing Concord, NH with Concord, MA as the place that "the shot heard around the world" happened to start our revolution.
In addition, she's buying a house in Arizona (the toney section of Scottsdale, no less). So is she giving up her Alaska mama grizzly persona for leader of the Arizona Tea Party craziness?
Or is it all just another stunt to increase sagging interest, so she can keep her lucrative cash cow working?
As to the kids: they probably aren't complaining. Bristol certainly is making out like a bandit cashing in on her (in)fame(y). She'd never make it on her own either as actress or dancer or tv persona or book author; but there she is, doing all of the above. And raking in the money. Contrary to what sounded like a public service as representative for that teen-pregnancy prevention foundation, it turns out she was paid over $100,000 -- I forget the exact amount -- to make a few speaking appearances and lend her name.
So, I retract my prediction that Palin's time on stage is over. I was wrong. I underestimated this woman -- not her intellect or her knowledge of the world, but her persistence in cashing in.
And, why should we care? Can you imagine the one-sidedness of a debate between Sarah Palin and Barack Obama (especially with his 3 years experience in the Oval Office).
Ralph
Saturday, May 28, 2011
GOP hypocrisy knows no limits
We see it over and over again. Republicans have no shame in audacious hypocrisy. Trying to smear the Dems for doing exactly -- exactly -- what they themselves did just a short time ago.
The latest: As highlighted in today's AJC Neil Boortz column, the Repubs are dealing with the upset loss of a House seat in a heavily Republican district in New York by saying the Dems engaged in "demagoguery" and "Mediscare" tactics.
What they're talking about is that the main factor in the upset seems to have been voters rejecting the Ryan budget section that will phase out Medicare in favor of vouchers for private policies. They say the Dems were "scaring grandma" into thinking what wasn't true.
Now just one f--king minute: What, please, do you call the "death panels" that Sarah Palin persisted in insisting the Obama plan mandated? And kept doing it long after it had been proved she was distorting?
The difference is clear: the Dems told the truth about the Ryan plan -- backed up by nonpartisan figures from Congressional Budget Office that showed the plan would eventually result in seniors paying about $6,000 more a year for health care than they would in the Obama plan.
The Dems talking point was that the House GOP passed budget would "end Medicare as we know it." Which is absolutely true, even if it is worded for maximum effect of the truth. In contrast, the "death panel" thing was an out and out distortion of what is a good thing and a benefit, not a deprivation. And they know it.
They tried to hide behind the sop that the Ryan plan wouldn't affect anyone 55 or older. So -- don't they care about our children and grandchildren?
Of course they do. But this is about winning the next election. Let someone else worry about the next generation, after they win the election. That's all that counts.
News flash: it's a loser, whatever you call it. The voters have spoken loud and clear:
Ralph
The latest: As highlighted in today's AJC Neil Boortz column, the Repubs are dealing with the upset loss of a House seat in a heavily Republican district in New York by saying the Dems engaged in "demagoguery" and "Mediscare" tactics.
What they're talking about is that the main factor in the upset seems to have been voters rejecting the Ryan budget section that will phase out Medicare in favor of vouchers for private policies. They say the Dems were "scaring grandma" into thinking what wasn't true.
Now just one f--king minute: What, please, do you call the "death panels" that Sarah Palin persisted in insisting the Obama plan mandated? And kept doing it long after it had been proved she was distorting?
The difference is clear: the Dems told the truth about the Ryan plan -- backed up by nonpartisan figures from Congressional Budget Office that showed the plan would eventually result in seniors paying about $6,000 more a year for health care than they would in the Obama plan.
The Dems talking point was that the House GOP passed budget would "end Medicare as we know it." Which is absolutely true, even if it is worded for maximum effect of the truth. In contrast, the "death panel" thing was an out and out distortion of what is a good thing and a benefit, not a deprivation. And they know it.
They tried to hide behind the sop that the Ryan plan wouldn't affect anyone 55 or older. So -- don't they care about our children and grandchildren?
Of course they do. But this is about winning the next election. Let someone else worry about the next generation, after they win the election. That's all that counts.
News flash: it's a loser, whatever you call it. The voters have spoken loud and clear:
DON'T MESS WITH MY MEDICARE ! ! !
Ralph
Back online
Three days ago, shortly after posting my last blog, I suddenly could not gain access to my blog writer. I could read it, but could not write a new blog or make a comment.
I spent hours and hours, literally, going through the online support provided by Google, with which the blog service is connected. Nothing worked -- went through all the automated stuff, several times, then finally got an individualized email response. They changed the associated email address to my other email address; then I got my new password verified, just as directed.
And the same thing happened: no access. I was going around in circles and finally met a dead end. All I could do online was to start the whole process over again at the beginning with no live person to contact.
So this morning I took the next step of calling a 24/7 computer service company I had used before. While waiting for the technician to call back to arrange a time to come, I tried one more time.
Voila !!!! It worked.
Just like the symptoms go away as soon as you make an appointment with the doctor.
Now -- to do some catching up. I'll be adding some comments to subjects previously addressed in the last couple of days before I got bumped, as well as adding new posts.
Ralph
I spent hours and hours, literally, going through the online support provided by Google, with which the blog service is connected. Nothing worked -- went through all the automated stuff, several times, then finally got an individualized email response. They changed the associated email address to my other email address; then I got my new password verified, just as directed.
And the same thing happened: no access. I was going around in circles and finally met a dead end. All I could do online was to start the whole process over again at the beginning with no live person to contact.
So this morning I took the next step of calling a 24/7 computer service company I had used before. While waiting for the technician to call back to arrange a time to come, I tried one more time.
Voila !!!! It worked.
Just like the symptoms go away as soon as you make an appointment with the doctor.
Now -- to do some catching up. I'll be adding some comments to subjects previously addressed in the last couple of days before I got bumped, as well as adding new posts.
Ralph
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Repubs and Medicare
The same day as Kathy Hochul's stunning upset win in a "reliably conservative" district in NY, largely because of the Ryan budget's position on Medicare, a congressman in Georgia was having trouble in a town hall meeting about the same thing.
Rep. Rob Woodall had been pushing the Ryan plan to covert Medicare to a voucher program for seniors to buy private insurance. A constituent then confronted him with the fact many employees of private companies lose their health care coverage when they retire. "The private corporation that I retired from does not give medical benefits to retirees."
Woodall's reply: "Hear yourself, ma'am. Hear yourself. . . You want the government to take care of you, because your employer decided not to take care of you. My question is, 'When do I decide I'm going to take care of me?'"
The Tea Party anti-government types in the crowd cheered.
But the majority of seniors are not amused. And they vote.
Score another one for the Dems.
Ralph
Rep. Rob Woodall had been pushing the Ryan plan to covert Medicare to a voucher program for seniors to buy private insurance. A constituent then confronted him with the fact many employees of private companies lose their health care coverage when they retire. "The private corporation that I retired from does not give medical benefits to retirees."
Woodall's reply: "Hear yourself, ma'am. Hear yourself. . . You want the government to take care of you, because your employer decided not to take care of you. My question is, 'When do I decide I'm going to take care of me?'"
The Tea Party anti-government types in the crowd cheered.
But the majority of seniors are not amused. And they vote.
Score another one for the Dems.
Ralph
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Upset in New York
This is Big News !!!
In one of the most conservative congressional districts in New York state, Kathy Hochul has upset the Republican front-runner to win a special election to fill a vacated seat. The Republican was considered a shoo-in for the post -- and then she endorsed the Ryan budget passed by the House, including the Republican plan to convert Medicare into a voucher program.
The voters have spoken. They do not like this.
The Democrats have their election issue now, loud and clear. Republicans are Messing with Medicare -- on top of continued slashing of domestic programs that benefit the poor, the elderly, the environment, students. You name it -- everybody but the wealthy and the corporations, who get even more tax breaks in their plan.
The choice is clear. Let's take back the House in 2012. This puts us one seat closer.
Ralph
In one of the most conservative congressional districts in New York state, Kathy Hochul has upset the Republican front-runner to win a special election to fill a vacated seat. The Republican was considered a shoo-in for the post -- and then she endorsed the Ryan budget passed by the House, including the Republican plan to convert Medicare into a voucher program.
The voters have spoken. They do not like this.
The Democrats have their election issue now, loud and clear. Republicans are Messing with Medicare -- on top of continued slashing of domestic programs that benefit the poor, the elderly, the environment, students. You name it -- everybody but the wealthy and the corporations, who get even more tax breaks in their plan.
The choice is clear. Let's take back the House in 2012. This puts us one seat closer.
Ralph
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Nut = #11 - ridicule replaced by ignoring
This is my Nut blog for the week of May 23rd.
The conservative pundits are waving bye-bye to Nut.
The comedians will have one more round with the "bling" thing. You know, the half-a-million dollar charge account balance at Tiffany's. Either Callista must luuuve her some diamonds -- or else Nut is apologizing big time for something.
But the GOP establishment seems already to have cut Nut adrift. With Huckabee and Daniels out of the race, an article in the New York Times (5/23) assesses the field and concludes that "The contest in now increasingly focused on three former governors": Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, and to a lesser extent, Jon Huntsman.
And it quotes Fred Malek, a long time Republican fund-raiser and adviser: "I believe the field is now complete and is now strong, with three former governors who have records of cutting costs and balancing budgets."
The article also mentions that some are still hoping for new, better prospects to emerge, the most often cited being Gov. Christie of NJ, Paul Ryan, and Jeb Bush. All have repeatedly said they aren't going to run.
Malek countered, saying that focusing on Mitt, T-Paw, and Jon H will allow their stature to grow. It's been such a circus with the fringes bringing down the perceived quality of the lot, so that no one looks like a serious mature candidate -- except the ones who hadn't yet declared, like Daniels.
Of course there are still the Tea Party darlings, Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann, who could jump in and liven up the debates and rev up the crowds; but they aren't treated as serious contenders by these party stalwarts, who are determined not to let the Tea Party pick the GOP nominee.
The conservative pundits are waving bye-bye to Nut.
The comedians will have one more round with the "bling" thing. You know, the half-a-million dollar charge account balance at Tiffany's. Either Callista must luuuve her some diamonds -- or else Nut is apologizing big time for something.
But the GOP establishment seems already to have cut Nut adrift. With Huckabee and Daniels out of the race, an article in the New York Times (5/23) assesses the field and concludes that "The contest in now increasingly focused on three former governors": Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, and to a lesser extent, Jon Huntsman.
And it quotes Fred Malek, a long time Republican fund-raiser and adviser: "I believe the field is now complete and is now strong, with three former governors who have records of cutting costs and balancing budgets."
The article also mentions that some are still hoping for new, better prospects to emerge, the most often cited being Gov. Christie of NJ, Paul Ryan, and Jeb Bush. All have repeatedly said they aren't going to run.
Malek countered, saying that focusing on Mitt, T-Paw, and Jon H will allow their stature to grow. It's been such a circus with the fringes bringing down the perceived quality of the lot, so that no one looks like a serious mature candidate -- except the ones who hadn't yet declared, like Daniels.
Of course there are still the Tea Party darlings, Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann, who could jump in and liven up the debates and rev up the crowds; but they aren't treated as serious contenders by these party stalwarts, who are determined not to let the Tea Party pick the GOP nominee.
Here's the kicker.
That is the unkindest cut of all for a narcissist like Newt. With ridicule, you can say they're trying to diminish you because you are such a threat to the Washington way of doing things -- or that it's the price of offering yourself for public service, and you're willing to endure it; besides, it only proves how important you are.
But there's just no way to make BEING IGNORED seem anything but devastating. And it looks like Nut is entering that phase -- at least as far as the GOP movers and shakers are concerned. They seem determined not to let Tea Party extremists take over; and the Tea Party is certainly not going to embrace Nut as their choice.
Sorry, Nut. It looks like you're not the one any GOP faction wants. Most everyone agrees you're very smart, and you are a vesuvius of big ideas. But you are too immature and lacking in integrity and discipline -- in short: you are not the adult that is needed for such awesome responsibilities.
Ralph
Nowhere in this entire article is the name
Newt Gingrich
even mentioned.
Newt Gingrich
even mentioned.
That is the unkindest cut of all for a narcissist like Newt. With ridicule, you can say they're trying to diminish you because you are such a threat to the Washington way of doing things -- or that it's the price of offering yourself for public service, and you're willing to endure it; besides, it only proves how important you are.
But there's just no way to make BEING IGNORED seem anything but devastating. And it looks like Nut is entering that phase -- at least as far as the GOP movers and shakers are concerned. They seem determined not to let Tea Party extremists take over; and the Tea Party is certainly not going to embrace Nut as their choice.
Sorry, Nut. It looks like you're not the one any GOP faction wants. Most everyone agrees you're very smart, and you are a vesuvius of big ideas. But you are too immature and lacking in integrity and discipline -- in short: you are not the adult that is needed for such awesome responsibilities.
Ralph
The Doomsday that wasn't
What do you do when you have disposed of all your belongings, traveled across country to be with loved ones, and waited for the predicted Rapture and end of the world on May 2st?
That was yesterday, and we're all still here on May 22nd.
Retired civil engineer and 89 year old Harold Camping had a following for his Doomsday prophesy that the world would end on May 21, 2011; and the true believers would be "raptured" up into heaven. His Bible-based prediction did not come to pass, just as the hundreds of previous predictions of the Rapture through the centuries have failed to materialize.
It's a familiar story by now. A small group of believers await the latest calculated Doomsday, truly believing that they are among the few who heed the call of the Lord.
But what happens to them, I wonder, when it doesn't come to be -- as May 21st did not and as every one in the past has also failed to be?
Think about it: thousands of predictions of Doomsday through the centuries -- and not one of them has been correct.
What then?
Ralph
That was yesterday, and we're all still here on May 22nd.
Retired civil engineer and 89 year old Harold Camping had a following for his Doomsday prophesy that the world would end on May 21, 2011; and the true believers would be "raptured" up into heaven. His Bible-based prediction did not come to pass, just as the hundreds of previous predictions of the Rapture through the centuries have failed to materialize.
It's a familiar story by now. A small group of believers await the latest calculated Doomsday, truly believing that they are among the few who heed the call of the Lord.
But what happens to them, I wonder, when it doesn't come to be -- as May 21st did not and as every one in the past has also failed to be?
Think about it: thousands of predictions of Doomsday through the centuries -- and not one of them has been correct.
What then?
Ralph
Obama and the Jews
In his address a few days ago on the Middle East, Obama said quite clearly what has been our government's behind-the-scenes policy for some time: the 1967 borders between Israel and the Palestinians should be the place to begin negotiations for mutually agreed on land swaps.
Those who prefer to see this as a significant change in policy, those who interpret anything less than 100% harmony with Israeli policy as a betrayal of an ally, and those who willfully distort the truth for political purposes are all expressing alarm at Obama's "mistake" or even his "betrayal" of our support for Isreal.
It is nothing of the kind. Obama addressed AIPAC today and told this influential pro-Israel lobby that he had said in public only what has been being said by both sides behind the scenes -- and that his remarks have been distorted in order to scare people into opposition.
He reminded them that he did NOT say that Israel had to accept the 1967 lines as the final borders; he said that was the place to start negotiating what the border in a two-state solution would be, based on mutually-agreed-upon land swaps that take account of current demographic realities.
In other words, it takes some account of the Jewish settlements in Gaza and the West Bank (which many people feel are illegal; but that is a point of sharp disagreement), but it does not simply cede that land to Israel without compensating the Palestinians by swapping some other land that would be agreeable to them.
He also said -- please take note -- that there is no way the peace can be negotiated while Hamas, as part of the elected representatives of the people, continues to call for the destruction of Israel.
In speaking to AIPAC, Obama also called upon Israel to take steps toward peace in order to offset the push at the U.N. to isolate Israel, saying:
Now -- this is the man that Republicans claim is a weak leader and has an ill-defined foreign policy, the man who one conservative pundit wanted to replace with Nut so there would be an "adult" in the White House.
HA !! See how long that delusion lasted. Nut has already proved himself incapable of even handling a soft-ball tv interview without tripping all over his "grand ideas."
Ralph
Those who prefer to see this as a significant change in policy, those who interpret anything less than 100% harmony with Israeli policy as a betrayal of an ally, and those who willfully distort the truth for political purposes are all expressing alarm at Obama's "mistake" or even his "betrayal" of our support for Isreal.
It is nothing of the kind. Obama addressed AIPAC today and told this influential pro-Israel lobby that he had said in public only what has been being said by both sides behind the scenes -- and that his remarks have been distorted in order to scare people into opposition.
He reminded them that he did NOT say that Israel had to accept the 1967 lines as the final borders; he said that was the place to start negotiating what the border in a two-state solution would be, based on mutually-agreed-upon land swaps that take account of current demographic realities.
**There is nothing new here, except transparency and honesty. **
In other words, it takes some account of the Jewish settlements in Gaza and the West Bank (which many people feel are illegal; but that is a point of sharp disagreement), but it does not simply cede that land to Israel without compensating the Palestinians by swapping some other land that would be agreeable to them.
He also said -- please take note -- that there is no way the peace can be negotiated while Hamas, as part of the elected representatives of the people, continues to call for the destruction of Israel.
In speaking to AIPAC, Obama also called upon Israel to take steps toward peace in order to offset the push at the U.N. to isolate Israel, saying:
"This is not idealism or naivete. It's a hard-headed recognition that a genuine peace is the only path that will ultimately provide for a peaceful Palestine as the homeland of the Palestinian people and a Jewish state of Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people.To my ears, both speeches (last week and today at AIPAC) were fair and balanced. They were also courageous because Obama said what others have been afraid to proclaim openly, and he discussed it directly with those (AIPAC) who would be most opposed."The march to isolate Israel internationally -- and the impulse of the Palestinians to abandon negotiations -- will continue to gain momentum in the absence of a credible peace process and alternative . . . [and] the basis for negotiations has to hold out the prospect of success."
Now -- this is the man that Republicans claim is a weak leader and has an ill-defined foreign policy, the man who one conservative pundit wanted to replace with Nut so there would be an "adult" in the White House.
HA !! See how long that delusion lasted. Nut has already proved himself incapable of even handling a soft-ball tv interview without tripping all over his "grand ideas."
Ralph
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