Saturday, July 4, 2009

How will the people of Alaska overcome this devastating loss?


She didn’t come right out and say it, but it appears pretty clear that Sarah Palin, who announced Friday that she’s abandoning her post as Alaska governor in a couple of weeks, grew tired of the actual job she was elected to do and yearned for something brighter and glitzier than the Northern Lights. At a hastily called news conference, and in her typically rambling and disjointed fashion, the “folksy” Palin said it wasn’t fair to the people of Alaska for her to serve as a lame-duck governor. Never mind that every governor, unless he or she dies in office or ascends to another post – or quits on a whim, of course - becomes a lame duck at some point. And would Palin, if elected president someday, serve only until she started feeling lame, or duckish? But, hey, Palin says she needs to shuck off those gubernatorial chains in order to best “fight for all our children’s future.” So, only a little more than halfway into her term, Palin is ditching the people of Alaska and leaving the office to her lieutenant governor. There’s no firm word on what she might do next. If Palin is planning to run against fellow Republican Lisa Murkowski for Murkowski’s U.S. Senate seat next year, then use that position as a springboard toward a 2012 run for the presidency, she’s not saying. But, really, it wouldn’t look good to bail out on the people of your state while admitting that something like that is your master plan. Perhaps she’s just eyeing the 2012 presidential race with no intervening elected position, but if that’s the case, couldn’t she have finished out the rest of her term, still leaving herself with two years to run for the White House? Oh, I forgot, it’s really inconvenient and difficult to keep oneself in the public eye from Wasilla. There’s also the possibility that she’ll turn up with a television talk show, but again, ditching your public-service job to become a talking head on TV doesn’t look very good. Maybe she just wants to travel the country, racking up huge fees for speaking engagements. Again, kind of mercenary. In making her decision to resign, Palin said she asked her kids if they thought she should move on, and she received “four yeses and one ‘Hell, yeah!’” I don’t know if it was baby Trig, or maybe Pyrex, Crater, Storm Window or Catch Basin who chimed in with the “Hell, yeah!” but Palin was wise to seek the kids’ counsel, since they’re probably deeper thinkers than their mother. But heck, maybe that’s the reason. She’s going to spend the next few years soaking up knowledge so that she can be a well-qualified presidential candidate in 2012. Just one problem. It’s like trying to stuff 10 pounds of excrement into a five-pound bag. The capacity is just not there. Palin might have fooled the people of Wasilla and even charmed the people of Alaska with her “aw shucks” manner and “I’m one of you” persona, but when it came time for her to hit a bigger stage, the majority of the people of America, to their credit, didn’t think it was wise to back up an elderly cancer survivor with a woman who displayed the intellectual depth of Ellie May Clampett. For the good of all of us, let’s hope Palin’s resignation is her first step on the path to oblivion.

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91 Comments:

Blogger Ellipses said...

Please be pregnant. Please be pregnant. Please be pregnant. Please be pregnant. Please be pregnant. Please be pregnant. Please be pregnant. Please be pregnant.

Seriously, though... I will never get tired of making jokes about her kids' names... By the way, if we have another boy, I am already lobbying the wife to let me name him "Petrarch."... so it's not like I live in a glass house.

Oooh, better yet...

Please be a sex tape. Please be a sex tape. Please be a sex tape. Please be a sex tape. Please be a sex tape. Please be a sex tape.

I wonder if a half-ass governor's job + whatever she does for the next 3 years = More "experience" than what her team was so apeshit on Obama for during the last cycle.

July 4, 2009 at 5:54 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

From what I saw, that "news conference" looked like it consisted of her family and some people they rounded up from the neighborhood. And the delivery kinda sounded like she was reading something to Trig or the grandchild.

I doubt we've heard the last of her, but she has a greater chance of hosting a show on Faux News than reaching the Oval Office, especially after this.

--Brad Hundt

July 4, 2009 at 6:40 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

perhaps she should could be the night editor, or digital services editor, or photography supervisor, or whatever title the blogist has this week...

July 4, 2009 at 9:23 PM  
Blogger Brant said...

Or perhaps she could be a cowardly, anonymous idiot who posts comments on blogs. Could happen.

July 4, 2009 at 9:34 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

grow a set and make people register to comment. it's your blog, idiot. what title is it this week, blogist?

July 4, 2009 at 9:42 PM  
Blogger Ellipses said...

I don't think she could do any of those things...

For the record :-)

July 4, 2009 at 10:11 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great column, Brant! One of your best - and entertaining, too.

I'm just waiting for her to completely self-destruct like Newt Gingrich so we'll be rid of her for good. She's just like Bush, just as dumb but the Republicans love her.

BTW the vanity fair article is available on-line, free, at vanityfair.com. More interesting reading.

July 4, 2009 at 10:43 PM  
Blogger Brant said...

To the person who seems to have a personal problem with me: Titles are immaterial. I was proud of the work I did as night editor of the Observer-Reporter for about 17 years, and when you suggest that there are negative connotations to being a night editor, you denigrate the efforts of some of my friends who are still working in those positions. Over the past few months, I’ve been asked to fill other roles at the newspaper as the O-R, like other newspapers across the country, works to ride out some difficult times. I’ll continue to do whatever is asked of me and give my best in the areas in which I’m involved. If you have something to say that’s pertinent to the blog, feel free to contribute. But if you just want to take shots at me, please direct them to bnewman@observer-reporter.com. Otherwise, I’ll just delete your crap or ignore you, depending on how I’m feeling on that particular day.

July 4, 2009 at 11:30 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I hear Palin, First Dude and some drunken loggers are sawing through the part of Alaska that attaches it to the mainland. When it breaks free, she will sail it Somalia and hold it for ransom. My advice to Obama: don't pay.

July 4, 2009 at 11:31 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dear Night Editor:

Please edit the night and make it longer so I don't have to go to work so soon.


Thanks, bro!

July 4, 2009 at 11:34 PM  
Blogger Brant said...

I'm with the guy on the ransom. The oil is only worth so much. As for editing the night, I'm all for it. Wouldn't it be nice if we could "fall back" every night?

July 4, 2009 at 11:36 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I was kinda hoping that this announcement would make everyone stop writing about Palin. Just like Michael Jackson's being dead stopped everyone from writing about him.

July 4, 2009 at 11:36 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ahha! looks like she may have been less than ethical about some things as mayor and might be facing some mighty serious embezzlement charges...hence her sudden departure from the gov's office. I am just lovin' this!

July 5, 2009 at 10:18 AM  
Anonymous nomen nescio said...

She reminds me of a boss I once had who managed to land executive positions while knowing and accomplishing very little. He was half of a "power couple" so I suppose what he brought to the table in terms of connectedness outweighed the risk of his incompetence in other areas. It was amazing, actually. Every meeting was an exercise in spin, and while those of us who were familiar with the details knew that the majority of what he said was bulls**t, his confidence and effusive personality made everything sound true. In the end, when things got tough, he managed to move on to another position while placing the blame for his incompetence on his colleagues and superiors. I imagine that everything will eventually catch up with him, just as everything is starting to catch up with Palin. Of course, he was highly intelligent and had two master's degrees while it took her five cracks at five different colleges just to get a bachelor's degree, and is barely smart enough to run a tomato stand. I hope that the powers that be in the Republican Party see her history of not being able to finish things as liability and we won't be subject to her blaming her own inadequacies on everyone but herself for the next three to seven years.

July 5, 2009 at 10:22 AM  
Blogger Ellipses said...

It's the liberal media's fault

July 5, 2009 at 10:25 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

she's hiding a penis. She's way too dumb to be a chick.

remember when they used to do lobotomies? 'member? I would lurve to suck her brain out and flush it somewhere above canada...a big fat brain abortion.

was that offensive?

-richard dirt / durrty rich

July 5, 2009 at 4:05 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

didn't suggest in any way that there were negative connotations to being the night editor. said specifically that there are negative connotations to being THIS particular night editor..an opinion on everything, accurate or not, willing to share with any and all. good thing they don't let you "opine" in print. helps save a few trees anyway. now, with this electronic opinion page, it's just a few more shovels of your much-hated coal burning in the hatfield ferry power station.

interesting banner showed up over your desk/office the day you "were asked to fill other roles" at the observer-reporter:

"How will the people of the night shift overcome this devastating loss?"

July 6, 2009 at 7:48 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Golly -- I wish with all the problems in the world I could get really pissed off and obsess over someone working in a small town newspaper. That's balance for you.

July 6, 2009 at 9:57 AM  
Blogger MJ said...

I'm praying that she will finally disappear from the national spotlight. Sadly, I don't think we're that fortunate. Loved your Palin children names, by the way, Brant.

www.thebreadlineblog.blogspot.com

July 6, 2009 at 11:13 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I would love to see Brant's opinions in print and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

July 6, 2009 at 12:13 PM  
Blogger Ellipses said...

I'd love to see a lot of opinions in print... Including brant's

July 6, 2009 at 12:23 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What's kind of amusing in all this is the tone of victimization that's crept into Sarah Palin's comments, both in her resignation announcement and afterwards.

If she can't handle being on the receiving end of harsh criticism, she should have thought of that when she accused Obama of "pallin' around with terrorists," and implied that community organizers are nothing more than thumb-sucking rabble-rousers. She can dish it out, but she can't take it.

And I think Joan Walsh put it well on Salon -- despite all the "Sarah Barracuda" hype, she's a quitter. She went through five schools, after all, to get her undergraduate degree. Doesn't seem like she has much fortitude at all.

--Brad Hundt

July 6, 2009 at 2:02 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'd love to see a lot of opinions in print... Including brant's

I love to see facts in print, lots of facts. But, alas, so much news being printed these days is just opinion, letting the facts not get in the way of an opinion to promote an agenda. Opinions are useless without facts, something that most are loath to collect and report.

July 6, 2009 at 4:07 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Do you think it is ethical to run for a higher office while still collecting a paycheck for an office you already hold but do not functionally perform?

July 6, 2009 at 4:13 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Global Warming. There is a concept that isn't based on any facts. No one cares about facts when it comes to Cap and Trade. Socialism is here brought to you by Obama and cloaked in environmentalism.

July 6, 2009 at 4:15 PM  
Blogger phonyfeminazi said...

What is it about Palin that frightens the hell out of the LIBCHITS???

July 6, 2009 at 10:25 PM  
Blogger miss bess said...

I'm totally naming my next pet Crater.

July 7, 2009 at 1:55 AM  
Blogger phonyfeminazi said...

Gee, Miss Bess, that's cute. I named by pet piggy "Brant"..

July 7, 2009 at 3:40 AM  
Blogger Ellipses said...

I hear the Palin's have two dogs and a cat...

Spot, Fido, and Fluffy... go fig

July 7, 2009 at 7:49 AM  
Blogger Brant said...

Phony, that's very nice of you. You're not the first person to suggest that I'm a big ham.

July 7, 2009 at 9:42 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous post that attacked you, attacked you. Not your son or daughter. You got a little mad about that. Now, if you are Palin, and a creepy 65 year old late night talk show host attacked your daughter in a sick way, then another person used photoshop on your sons picture and you had to spend 600,000 in legal fees every six mths you would have stepped down too. I think the dems are confused. They see a woman that has strong values (hope that don't bite me in the a$$ one day)and sticks to them. Is she the smartest Gov? Maybe not. Is she the dumbest? I don't think so. People with shady past run wild on Capitol hill. Robert KKK Byrd. Touch any Kennedy but only if you want their skeletons to fall out! ect.. I think the dems hate her so much cause she is a good looking woman and you have to bare the likes of Mrs.Clinton,Janet Napolitano (did she pay her taxes?) to be taken serious.

HUGE BLOG YOU MISSED: CAP AND TRADE

July 7, 2009 at 9:51 AM  
Blogger Ellipses said...

Nobody forced her to accept the offer to run for VP... I vaguely remember the media being pretty vicious to Dole/Kemp... and Gore/Lieberman...

I think people on the "left" have been pretty specific as to why they don't like Palin... No need to rehash it every single time her name comes up...

Hint- It has nothing to do with her vagina or her appearance. In fact, it is a purely "above the neck" issue.

July 7, 2009 at 10:04 AM  
Blogger Ellipses said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

July 7, 2009 at 10:04 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You will never see a blog post about cap and trade, our failed stimulis package, broken campaign promises or our 10 percent unemployment. You will need to go elsewhere. This is Brandt's blog. He never claimed to be fair and balanced.

July 7, 2009 at 10:09 AM  
Blogger Ellipses said...

I'll do a blog about cap and trade tomorrow if you want... what exactly do you want me to say about it?

July 7, 2009 at 10:13 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Truthfully, Sarah saw what many can not see. She worked behind the media screen, and knew what the truth was. The media continues to shape and form what we hear and see. Sooner or later the ugly truth, (that Sarah Palin tried to warn us about), will rear it's ugly head. Unemployment will skyrocket, real jobs will be nonexistent, and our world, as we know it, will be gone.

I will miss Sarah Palin and her enthusiastic American support of the American way of life. She stood up for the working man and his dreams. Not Socialistic ways of life and the melting down of capitalism and it's rewards. Keep in mind, we will all shop at the same stores and bow down to our "new" government way of life. Obama will water us down to one big tea pot, blended together to one common cause. Our incomes will all be the same.

I can't wait to get my American "dress code" uniform.
As time continues, the media will stamp out all the Sarah Palin's of the world. The controlled media will stamp out the freedom of speech. Obama will control what we say and what we hear. I can't wait to hear the required chants at the work camps. All hail Obama, all hail Obama, (in unison of course.)

Sarah Palin is a beautiful person whom I respect. She didn’t become Governor of Alaska for being stupid. As some of you ignorant posters suggest. She is a true American with good old fashioned values. She lit the fire in my gut that makes me be proud to be an American. (And not for the first time, as Obama’s wife suggested.)

Again, I will miss Sarah Palin. I wish her and her American family well.

July 7, 2009 at 10:22 AM  
Blogger Ellipses said...

Doomsday book is getting awful heavy...

And I now have just a hint of vomit in the back of my mouth... thanks for that :-)

July 7, 2009 at 10:27 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

10 % unemployment under Obama.
4 % under Bush..
Hmmm.

July 7, 2009 at 11:07 AM  
Blogger Ellipses said...

I was hoping there was something substantive after the "hmmmm"...

July 7, 2009 at 11:10 AM  
Blogger Ellipses said...

6 dead in the '93 WTC bombing under clinton.

3000 dead in the '01 WTC attack under Bush.

Hmmmmm.

Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, and Ed McMahon alive under Bush.

Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, and Ed McMahon dead under Obama.

Hmmmmm.

July 7, 2009 at 11:12 AM  
Anonymous nomen nescio said...

Apparently the Republican Party is now a party of victims. Get a grip.

July 7, 2009 at 11:26 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow.
Ellipses...Head...Sand.
Wow.

July 7, 2009 at 11:28 AM  
Blogger Ellipses said...

Wow. Anonymous. Nothing. Useful. To. Say. Ever.

Wow.

July 7, 2009 at 11:43 AM  
Anonymous the anonymous one said...

B.O. has spent more money in 6 months than every president from Washington to W combined! Epic FAIL! I think he has more broken campaign promises then all of them combined also. Remember, he will not raise your taxes if you make under 250k a year, but he will push cap and trade! Will tax everyone, everything you do.

July 7, 2009 at 12:05 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

LAstest anponymous to CAP AND TRADE anoymous:

I thought the idea of a fair tax is to tax everyone. That sure as shite doesn't happen in this country with its multiple loopholes. Bush gave the economy and the unemployment rate a huge push into the tank by Bush's ididotic policies long before Obama took office. At least Obama is trying to do something rather than just sit back on his oil money and see what happens. As for CAP AND TRADE, how's about I cap your arse and trade you for some dogmeat?

July 7, 2009 at 12:35 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

As is always the case, Ellispes devolves all discussion into silly snarky comments.
One of the problems of public office for BOTH parties is the use of ethics laws to drive anyone that might make a difference for either side from office. The misuse of these laws is one of the reasons that few good people consider running for public life. The result is that we are left with those that are egotists, power hungry or incompetant good looking individuals that are front men for a variety of interests.
Combined with campaign finance laws that limit the ability of individuals to raise money easily, instead having to have a consensus of the wealthy, the result is a Republic that is on life support at times.
The constant ethics attacks have lead politicians on both sides to become more of party loyalists, because both parties can get their own out of the frying pan.
Part of the problem for Palin was that her own party was unwilling to support her due to her efforts at reform in Alaska.
A more fair assessment of Palin will look at both her real reform efforts in Alaska, that lead to her initial high popularity, combined with a woman that was obviously not prepared for a national spotlight in particular the depth of understanding that was necessary for national issues.
That does not make her stupid, nor does it make her the "village idiot".
These comments serve nothing but to inflame rather than inform.
Consider that this discussion started with comments about "please be pregnant" for example. It spoke volumes more about those that were attacking than anything that could be said in defense of Palin.
The question I have as I am about to be flamed again, is whether this blog's purpose is
business
desire to be heard
an open forum for discussion without constant attacks, but a desire for discussion of the news.

July 7, 2009 at 12:44 PM  
Anonymous the ANONYMOUS one said...

I wonder when the B.O. sheep are going to take responsibility for something this LAME DUCK President has done? I even read in here that Palin had something to do with that pedophlies,drug addict M.Jacksons death. Sheesh! I bet George Bush is the cause of the next Hurricane!

July 7, 2009 at 1:00 PM  
Blogger MJ said...

Unemployment was 4 percent under Bush? You fool, it was 7.5 percent when that jagoff left office in January. The increasing unemployment figures are just more of the after shocks from a disastrous eight years. Take a long look in the mirror, repugs, because you have no one to blame but yourselves.

July 7, 2009 at 1:01 PM  
Anonymous the Anonymous one said...

Laughing at Mike Jones... SHEEP! It's George Bush's fault because B.O. (stinking lame duck president) ____________________. (Insert any problem that B.O. can't even pretend to fix). Can't the B.O. sheep just say "wow, he isn't fit to be the president"

July 7, 2009 at 1:09 PM  
Blogger phonyfeminazi said...

Gee, after reading the posts from the compassionate, sensitive, loving Libchits, I'm converting...I want to be a libchit.

Oh, Brant, don't let that compliment go to your head....my piggy isn't the cutie that I've led you to believe...

July 7, 2009 at 1:14 PM  
Blogger MJ said...

I just love how the party of personal responsibility can't take responsibility for the monumental failure of W. It's really getting pathetic, guys.

Now, cue the personal attacks on me...

July 7, 2009 at 1:17 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The whole eight years were not a disaster. But the following are part of the problem that happened during that time period:

1. Overspending
2. Irrational behavior by the public regarding housing and its pricing
3. Overpricing of automobiles
4. A failure of realpolitik in foreign policy

All but 2 have continued unabated under Obama with the exception of his recent moves in Russia which reflect a common sense approach regarding diplomacy with Russia that has been lacking due to the large number of "cold war warriors" that have been unable to see the advantages of US-Russia relations.

As there were with many of Bush's stupid ideas including the bailout, which Obama endorsed overwhelming.
Again, honest discussion of the Obama adminstration will lead to a discussion of his failure to "change" the problems in Washington. He has instead embraced overspending and a lack of fiscal discipline. Another problem has been the gradual politicization of the economy. For years Corporate America came and demanded legislation that hurt competition against them. They received payouts from both Republicans and Democrats and controlled Congress. Now Obama has turned that into governmental control, if they are going to receive payouts, then they accept control from those paying the bills. It was a natural result of Corporate America's desire for public money.
The problem is and remains that BOTH decisions were wrong for the economy and the economic growth of this nation.
How about stopping the national increase in minimum wage in the midst of this crisis?
How about eliminating wage taxes as a short term boost that helps everyone during a crisis rather than pumping priming state governments?
How about ending the income tax on unemployment compensation that Clinton and a Republican Congress created that serves no purpose but to hurt with increased taxation those that are out of work?
People say they want solutions, but even when they are offered, they are generally drowned out by the constant name calling of both sides.

Locally, how about the effect that cap n trade will have on everyone living here? The jobs that will be lost and the destruction of future income that has been pouring into this county due to the Marcellus Shale.
As always I am most concerned with those that live in my county. We are finally on the verge of financial success, but it is being taken from us by the President and his party, good or bad.
I know that many will look to the environment based on theory (which is what global warming is at this moment regardless of the arguments)
I prefer and will always look at the family that needs a job, the father that dreams of making a real life for his family thru good employment, before worrying about theories that are more likely to be false (new ice age 70s) as they are to be true.
Tell your neighbor that he will pay more for energy and he will have less employment. That his son and daughter will be let go from that employment at the mines or gas wells. Tell the small business owner that it is worth it as he loses his shop that he and his wife and slaved over day after day.
Our county has been attacked by this adminstration. It is for this reason that I find great fault with this adminstration. The national issues come and go, but right here, right now, we are under assault and we are about to lose if Obama and the Democratic Party have their way. That is the reality that we face and if Cap N Trade passes, we will face it in a way that we have not seen since the 1970's.

July 7, 2009 at 1:21 PM  
Anonymous the AnOnYmOuS one said...

I just love how the party of NO personal responsibility can't take responsibility for the EPIC failure of B.O. Can you please state a date that B.O. will start taking responsibility for something he has done, or signed? Please a date? I mean he is only going to be a one timer, so it's going to have to be within the first year right? I hear there is talks of another stimulas package! That is Bush's fault also right? Cause America elected a lame duck that didn't understand the economy! Socialism isn't the fix for a bubble economy. The housing market that busted, was set up by Bill Clinton and Barney Frank! Since Barney Frank came up here.. why don't we ever talk about his male escort service he ran out of his D.C. home with his male partner? His ties to Acorn? There are many talking points why hard working people in SW PA shouldn't be a democrap or republican! Time for a strong third party! Please don't buy into the left right game.

July 7, 2009 at 1:36 PM  
Blogger Brant said...

What sort of core values would you favor this strong third party having in areas such as military spending and policies, social issues (gay marriage, abortion) and fiscal policy? I'm certainly not disagreeing with you. I'd just like to get your ideas. And I would just like to note that I have never heard this kind of caterwauling about a president who has been in office just six months. I haven't agreed with everything the new administration has done. But I'm willing to give them a chance to try to unravel the mess that greeted them in January. And in my travels and discussions with people, I'm amazed about the level of criticism of things that Obama is "going" to do. He's going to take our guns. He's going to allow gays to get married. He's going to allow abortions with no restrictions. It's asinine. As for the environment, it's an incontrovertible fact that our actions have an effect on the environment. The level might be debatable, and the proper response is open for discussion. But it should include research into finding affordable, efficient alternatives to fossil fuels, not overnight, but someday soon.

July 7, 2009 at 2:07 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mike Jones,
Do some research please. You have a lot of time on your hands these days. We were at 5 % at election time and the stimulis was supposed to head off the unemployment rate and keep it under 8 per cent. Right? Does your selective memory allow? Do we need more stimulis money to steal from me? Obama is a socialist. I told you so.

July 7, 2009 at 2:32 PM  
Anonymous the anonymous one said...

This third party should hold true core values. We would have to take a look into the past, why did our forefathers set up America the way that they did? Smaller Govt? Freedom of Church and State? Liberty? All of these are factors. These 3 core values have been under attack for the past 90 yrs. Right or left, if you stink, i'll let you know that you stink.If you are a progressive politician, that just means you have sold out on your party values, left or right.
When the American people want to audit the fed, and the senate shuts the movement down, I would hope that the American people vote for people that are willing to audit the fed! We have few American patriots in Washington these days. With the country on bending knee, these clowns in Washington have spent x10 more on travel. Cocktail party nights at the White House is common. Date night with the wife, you bet!
You know it wasn't very many years ago most politicians didn't even earn a paycheck. True statesmen! They did the job cause they loved their people. The dems have came from Andrew Jackson who was against a National Bank to a President that was bought and paid for by a National Bank!

July 7, 2009 at 2:53 PM  
Blogger Brant said...

I'd like a few more specifics about your third party, especially when it comes to social issues such as gay marriage and abortion. Does "liberty" extend to those issues? Or does the religious right hold sway over the party? That's a big factor in whether it's a true third party or just the GOP by another name.

July 7, 2009 at 3:53 PM  
Blogger phonyfeminazi said...

Oh, yeah, Brant, queers and abortion, two of the most important issues facing us today, as the country falls apart....Let's worry about the queers, and the queens who get knocked up on a Saturday night tryst, and then want to kill their unborn child....

And perish the thought that we have religious people....who wants people with morals running around the country, spreading the word of God.....yeah, can't have that...

July 7, 2009 at 4:13 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Brant won't discuss the issues at hand here. Lets divert to something a little easier like changing the definition of a word. Civil unions suffice. Marrage opens the door to gay adoption which is child abuse. I am sure you agree. How do you feel about bigomy? Pedofelia? ..Lets ignore Obama's failed economic policies.

July 7, 2009 at 4:15 PM  
Blogger Brant said...

To the anonymous poster a couple of comments back: Your unemployment figure for last November was wrong. The national rate in November 2008 was 6.7 percent. It rose to 7.2 percent in Demember, when Bush was still in the White House. The recession started in December 2007. None of these can be blamed on Obama. Have Obama's efforts to boost the economy been a success? It's way to early to say. Let's see how things look at the end of this year. And your shot at Mike Jones' employment status was very cheap. How would you feel if you or one of yours was suddenly out of a job and facing difficult prospects in finding a new one? You've just revealed the content of your character.

July 7, 2009 at 4:17 PM  
Blogger Brant said...

Seems I just discussed the economy. So now let's look at your opposition to gay marriage. Civil unions do not have the same weight as marriage. People in civil unions do not enjoy the same tax status as married people in this country, unless the federal government changes course and grants people in those unions the exact same benefits as those given to married people. And I certainly do NOT agree that allowing gay people to marry amounts to child abuse. Many, many gay people in our country are doing a fine job raising children, taking care of elderly parents, succeeding in their careers - the same things heterosexual people are doing. And what do bigamy and pedophilia have to do with gay marriage? Gay people aren't asking for the right to marry more than one person or to have the right to abuse children.

July 7, 2009 at 4:26 PM  
Anonymous the anonymous one said...

thought i made it clear, smaller govt. why should someone that is in a elected office be able to tell someone else how they can live? justice and liberty for all! Not just religous right, or the wackey left! FOR ALL. Now with that said, cause I know where this is going... smaller govt also means we can't make insurance compaines reconize anything they don't want to. a pvt company should be able to do what it wants. just like adam and steve! abortion is between the woman,man and God. Shouldn't be woman,man,govt and God. Hate crime? No such thing. Thought crimes? Not in America! I have a freedom of speech, please don't take it away who cares if I hurt someones feelings. If wasn't true it wouldn't hold merit and it would roll down your back anyway. Wanna roll a fattie, smoke them if you got them! Why should the govt stand in my backyard and tell me what I can grow!? Less Govt, more liberty all around.

July 7, 2009 at 4:31 PM  
Blogger phonyfeminazi said...

Seems I just discussed the economy. So now let's look at your opposition to gay marriage. Civil unions do not have the same weight as marriage. People in civil unions do not enjoy the same tax status as married people in this country, unless the federal government changes course and grants people in those unions the exact same benefits as those given to married people. And I certainly do NOT agree that allowing gay people to marry amounts to child abuse. Many, many gay people in our country are doing a fine job raising children, taking care of elderly parents, succeeding in their careers - the same things heterosexual people are doing. And what do bigamy and pedophilia have to do with gay marriage? Gay people aren't asking for the right to marry more than one person or to have the right to abuse children.
..................................

Come on with that "touchy feely" bullchit about queers taking good care of kids and their parents...By being good to kids and parents gives then an extra 10 points in their quest for SPECIAL RIGHTS????

Queers deny theirselves the right to marry because of their desire to have deviant sex......period.....case closed.....

July 7, 2009 at 4:48 PM  
Blogger phonyfeminazi said...

........

Jackson family call a "time out"....for LUNCH!!!!!

lol....what pieces of chit, these people are......the body of the pedophile has to wait for it's final resting place while his family gets lunch..

It's freaking hilarious.....this is the type of people who make up a good portion of the DUMBO CRAP PARTY.....lol.....it's good enough for a comedy skit on TV.....think it'll happen??? I don't!!! Not politically correct.

July 7, 2009 at 4:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The writing was on the wall. No one pulled any rugs from under anyone at the OR. You are in a dying media. I doubt you have the same compassion for Mr. Burgunder.

July 7, 2009 at 5:11 PM  
Blogger Ellipses said...

Holy jeez! Look what happens when I go to Pizza Hut and then take a sunburn-induced nap!

So much to address tomorrow... AND I have to be an expert on Cap and Trade... better get to work!

July 7, 2009 at 5:43 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Brant do you and Ellipses call each other wife? I'm confused!?

July 7, 2009 at 9:06 PM  
Blogger Brant said...

To the anonymous one: I think I'd be willing to get on board with your new political party.
To the other anonymous poster: Why would you think I wouldn't have compassion for Mr. Burgunder? I feel terrible about anyone suffering the loss of a business or the loss of a job. That appears to be the difference between you and I. It's called compassion.
For the last poster: Ellipses and I prefer to call each other husband. It's the manly thing to do. ;-)

July 7, 2009 at 9:54 PM  
Blogger Ellipses said...

I call him "Brant"--
He calls me "Bob"--

Sometimes he doesn't call for days... and that makes me a sad, sad panda.

July 7, 2009 at 10:36 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Do you consider your mockery of Sarah and her children compassionate? Catch Basin and Crater. It is funny, but the post isn't at all compassionate. Sorry.

July 7, 2009 at 11:04 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Do you think Sarah's trying to associate Obama with terrorists compassionate? McCain dug his own grave and she's lucky she's not in there with him. But it'searly ...

July 7, 2009 at 11:27 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It's funny watching the fat ass with a McGuffey education getting worked on his own blog.

Kudos.

July 8, 2009 at 12:28 AM  
Blogger Brant said...

Sarah Palin is a public figure, and I'm doubting her kids read the blog. If they take after their mom, they probably would have to have someone read it to them. As for McGuffey, I think I got a very good education there. Plenty of good, dedicated teachers, at least back in the olden days. And thanks for that heads-up that I'm fat. I thought that was a funhouse mirror in my bedroom. But honestly, my ass is not really the fat part. It's mostly the belly.

July 8, 2009 at 5:57 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Brant, the blog you did about the car warrenty, you said it was offered on your wifes car. So you do call Ellipses your wife? Really confused now!

July 8, 2009 at 8:08 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Titles are immaterial."

and before you go deleting this because it is off the topic, it's not. my post has everything to do with this topic and every other one upon which you choose to opine. the readers are entitled to know whether the blogist is either a liar or just stupid. one of the two. unless, of course, titles really do matter to you, whether they are accurate, or current, or not. otherwise, when originally questioned about your oft-changing titles, you would have corrected your own blog, or asked that those who now had the ability and control to make the changes to do so. you are not the night editor, nor are you the digital services director. you are something along the lines of photography services director.

so which is it--liar, or stupid? or do the titles really matter to you?

July 8, 2009 at 8:11 AM  
Anonymous the anonymous one said...

It's funny watching the fat ass with a McGuffey education getting worked on his own blog.

Kudos.

Respect Brant or not, he puts himself out there. Name,face and most of the time formulates his own opionion. Remember the only hippocrits are in church, but atleast they stand for something.

July 8, 2009 at 8:19 AM  
Blogger Brant said...

You seem to have quite the obsession with what I do. If you are so bothered by the title that's in the blog header, perhaps I should have it changed to just say I'm an "editor" at the O-R. I do many different things. I'm involved with the photo department. I edit copy. I paginate. I write some. I pitch in with the Web site. But all that gets a bit cumbersome in a blog intro. So perhaps I'll just stick with editor so you don't have a stroke. And here's the deal. You clearly have a personal problem with me, and that's fine. If it makes you feel like a big person to attack someone anonymously, you go ahead. But you can confine it to this blog post, rather than pollute the whole blog. It'll be in the archived posts, so anytime you feel that hatred bubbling up, just go and get your rocks off.

July 8, 2009 at 8:23 AM  
Blogger Ellipses said...

Ok... where to start?

First, in response to the person decrying my comments as snarky and silly. Yes.

I apologize, but when someone posts something like "Keep in mind, we will all shop at the same stores and bow down to our "new" government way of life. Obama will water us down to one big tea pot, blended together to one common cause. Our incomes will all be the same. I can't wait to get my American "dress code" uniform.
As time continues, the media will stamp out all the Sarah Palin's of the world. The controlled media will stamp out the freedom of speech. Obama will control what we say and what we hear. I can't wait to hear the required chants at the work camps. All hail Obama, all hail Obama, (in unison of course.)"--- what enlightened, educated response would you like?

"Nuh-uh!" ???

As far as Palin is concerned... The village idiot's level of idiocy is relative to the overall intelligence level of the village, no?

The idiot in Mensa Village is probably the mayor of Spederickville. When Palin said "Sure, I think I'd be a good vice president" she moved into a whole new village... where she was absolutely the lowest common denominator.

Remember how she was McCains attack dog? How she could say things that he couldn't because she had a twangy voice, boobs, and a vajay? Guess what? That was cute for about 11 seconds... If you are going to keep thrusting yourself into the media spotlight... popping up every few weeks for some random reason, then you are going to get clubbed in the head like the bible-banging, xenophobic, 5 college undergrad, I read everything ever written, what's the bush doctrine, I keep an eye on Russia version of whack-a-mole that you have made yourself out to be.

You undermined an American hero's candidacy for president... you elevated the rhetoric of a campaign to a level of violent schism... Keep throwing out balloons full of hot air and bullshit and we'll keep throwing darts at them.

Now that THAT'S out of the way... the person who described their party of small government and bags full of liberty for people... do you have any actionable measures that you would like to enact?

Because when I hear the drumming of the constitutionalists drum, I am left thinking... "what does it matter?"

Seriously... if someone takes a political stance that is based on an unattainable political objective, then it seems to me to be a platform in which one can complain into perpetuity.

"What are you going to cut?"
"Everything"

Well, then you probably aren't going to ever be in a position to do so... nor will anyone else with that same platform... So what does it matter?

There was a letter to the editor today... in response to Sonny Spossey's request of "solutions" rather than simply complaints... the letter writer offered the solution of replacing everyone in Washington DC...

This is basically what's wrong with the GOP recently... Their position in American Politics really has become to oppose everything. Give specific examples of what you would do differently...

Replacing everyone in Congress does absolutely nothing to keep credit markets flowing, to keep domestic auto companies solvent, to address North Korea's aggression, or to change the direction of the unemployment rate... What would you DO?

But that is dangerous... because there is always a chance that your political opposition will do what you suggested... then it would be hard to go against them, wouldn't it? And it's dangerous because when you put out specific actions, people can check on the math on those actions and call you on the fallacies... you know, like the "republican budget."

Anyway, here's a cap and trade blog post:

http://criticalview-ellipses.blogspot.com/

July 8, 2009 at 8:27 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"hippocrits" ????

Another great McGuffey education at work.....

July 8, 2009 at 9:24 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think it's pretty funny hearing about the fear of "mind control" from a bunch of Republicans, who by and large want everyone to think like them and get pissy when they don't.

July 8, 2009 at 11:07 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous must be a laid off auto worker

July 8, 2009 at 11:18 AM  
Anonymous the anonymous one said...

E, I would stop the biggest whorehouse on the potomac river to start with. Instead of having your view of we can't, I would say why not? Why not be fiscal responsible? Lets start cutting programs that don't work or enslave our people into poverty for a life time! Want to free up billions of dollars with the snap of your fingers? Why not let the pot offenders free from the prison cells, and remove pot from the war on drugs? Can you imagine the ramifications over night? States and County's would have a surplus money. War on drugs? Epic fail. Stop! We shouldn't give money or supplies to any other nation to fight the war on drugs. It's a social issue, we should stop it here at our border. Tax pot, seems to work in Cali! Our forefathers told everyone to grow it! They used it for everything. Clothes to ropes. Paper to oil. You know they smoked it! They had this radical idea to build the greatest nation on earth and to hand over the power to the people. Our nation was built on it.
All the things that have a tax on it here in the U.S. and when it gets to the whorehouse in Washington they use it for a slush funds. STOP! Gas tax? It's for our roads! It's not for pet projects. Social Security, another slush fund they have been stealing from for years! STOP! Use it for what it was for. Sure Social Security is in trouble, but the baby boomers also have the worst health record ever! It might be a problem for ten years, but the numbers will fix it. As the baby boomers die off, at a faster pace then their parents, it will fix itself.

Welfare and SSI Disability. Make strict guidlines on Welfare, make it a hand up not a hand out. I'm tired of seeing my neighbors here in Greene County getting SSI cause they are strung out on herion. Really? Just stop the BS.

We have the greatest transfer of wealth in history going on right now. We will spend $450 billion on foreign oil this year! We need short term and a long term fix. What we can do right now, this second is convert our 18 wheelers over to liquid natural gas. It will create a half a million jobs! Another 1.6 million indirectly! It's cheap, and it burns clean. Lets build nuclear power plants! As well as windpower and solar. Lets build 15 more refineries! All of these would produce jobs. If you can get Obama on tv and say, we will drill here and now, oil falls 5 dollars that day. Just don't say it.. follow thru. Lets stop handing our money to countries that hate us. Gas prices would be around $1.00 again.

Just to have the same values that this nation was built on, independece. Not just as a country, but as the people of the nation also. Independece is what made us great, we fell asleep along the way and forgot it. That is my bagful of liberty I want to spread.

I will never be the President, I can live with that. I'm a son of a son of a son of a coal miner. I'm cool with that. I have worked hard all my life, and I will for the rest of my life. I can only share my message, it's all we can do. Maybe it will resinate with someone that I meet, and he or she will grow up to lead us one day. Maybe my son or one of my daughters.

As far as N.K. goes, I'm happy with what the youngsters of S.K. wanted not to long ago. They wanted the U.S. out. Lets give it to them. S.K. and Japan can take care of that. Why do we have to be in that fight? I don't think China likes the idea of Nuclear N.K. It will work itself out.

Remember, "it's not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country".

July 8, 2009 at 11:19 AM  
Blogger Ellipses said...

I am on board with most of what you said there...

I apologize if I had you confused with those who would eliminate all federal expenditures except military and roads.

The problem with simply replacing everyone... is that you don't get to pick who they are replaced with. Chances are, you are going to end up with similar view points, similar politics, and similar votes on all the existing issues... because the representatives we have are more or less representative of the country's overall views. Different faces, different names, same votes, same results.

Hence, it is not a solution.

July 8, 2009 at 11:28 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ellipses, the point about snarky was that you were the first post and take a look at it. It derails all discussion and leads to the name calling. What is cute in our twenties is not so cute in our forties and for those that want to discuss the issue. It only leads to anger.
Good to see Bob and Brant are in favor of Cap N Trade. Love it when the OR guys are coming out in favor of sticking it to the local economy and its citizens. Even the local Democrats (other than Murtha) are smart enough to avoid this one. Keep it up boys...

July 8, 2009 at 11:31 AM  
Blogger Ellipses said...

I am not an OR guy... would you like to provide your research that disputes the CBO estimate of Cap and Trade costing the average family 175 dollars per year... in 2020?

Yes... I started this off with snarky, sarcastic jabs at Palin. I do not like her and I will put that out there every chance I get as long as she is relevant. What issue did that derail? The topic is Sarah Palin sucking at life... not cap and trade... yet, we managed to get to cap and trade, didn't we... so there you go... you have your cap and trade discussion topic open now... are you going to contribute some data to it or are you going to parrot the right wing sound bites? I can have a conversation in cliches too... if that is what you want... but I do try to take an original approach to things... you know, to keep it interesting.

July 8, 2009 at 11:36 AM  
Anonymous the anonymous one said...

Chances are, you are going to end up with similar view points, similar politics, and similar votes on all the existing issues... because the representatives we have are more or less representative of the country's overall views. Different faces, different names, same votes, same results.

Well Ellipses, I have a fix for that too. We make all the Congressmen and women wear uniforms like NASCAR drivers so we can identify their corporate sponsors! Or how about we regulate the hell out of the lobbiest and tax them the hell out of Washington? We have hunting license, why not make a lobbiest license so freaking high, and very transparent so the American people will know what is going on. Non profit pet project lobbiest can have a break on the license.

July 8, 2009 at 12:01 PM  
Blogger Ellipses said...

... which brings us to the OTHER problem...

Only like 3% of people pay attention to that stuff :-)

You might think that I'm an idiot... I may think that you're an idiot... but compared to the regular people out in the world... you know, the millions that live and die by American Idol and Jon and Kate plus 8... We are freaking scientists!

Oooh, shoot! That reminds me... I have a really good, racist Jon and Kate blog post in my head... Tomorrow, I guess, I have some work to do today :-)

July 8, 2009 at 12:03 PM  
Anonymous the anonymous one said...

i don't think you're an idiot, i think we have different points of views and we have the freedom to express them. that what makes America so freaking great.

July 8, 2009 at 12:38 PM  
Blogger Ellipses said...

It is fun to lock horns...

Thanks for playing with me :-)

July 8, 2009 at 12:52 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have an idea to boost O-R circulation -- put a picture of Palin above the fold on page 1 every day. Her picture in a blog always has good results for readership.

July 8, 2009 at 1:29 PM  
Blogger MJ said...

So my unemployment figure was correct!?!?!?!?! Go figure, I already fact-checked before commenting. Stay classy, Anon.

July 8, 2009 at 6:16 PM  

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