Sarah Palin Puts Some Words Together About Egypt
Sarah Palin said something about the crisis in Egypt, but it's not at all clear what she meant.
Sarah Palin became the latest political pundit to chime in on the situation in Egypt, but I can’t for the life of me figure out what she’s saying:
Sarah Palin has offered her first comments on the political crisis in Egypt, blasting the Obama administration and voicing concerns about the key Middle Eastern country being taken over by radical Islamic groups.
“This is that 3 a.m. White House phone call and … it seems that that call went right to the answering machine,” Palin told the Christian Broadcasting Network’s David Brody.
In the interview, taped late Friday and released Saturday evening, the former Alaska governor and 2008 vice presidential candidate said the White House was not doing enough to inform the American people about what is happening in Egypt.
Palin said the administration must get more information and find out who “fills now the void in the government.” She said the U.S. “should not stand” for an Egypt led by the Muslim Brotherhood.
She did not offer specifics for how she would handle the crisis, saying only: “We need strength and sound mind there in the White House. We need to know what it is that America stands for so we know who it is that America will stand with.”
Here’s the full transcript of Palin’s remarks as released by CBN:
“Remember, President Reagan lived that mantra trust but verify. We want to be able to trust those who are screaming for democracy there in Egypt, that it is a true sincere desire for freedoms and the challenge that we have though, is how do we verify what it is that we are being told, what it is that the American public are being fed via media, via the protestors, via the government there in Egypt in order for us to really have some sound information to make wise decisions on what our position is. Trust but verify, and try to understand is what I would hope our leaders are engaged in right now. Who’s going to fill the void? Mubarak, he’s gone, one way or the other you know, he is not going to be the leader of Egypt, that that’s a given, so now the information needs to be gathered and understood as to who it will be that fills now the void in the government. Is it going to be the Muslim Brotherhood? We should not stand for that, or with that or by that. Any radical Islamists, no that is not who we should be supporting and standing by, so we need to find out who was behind all of the turmoil and the revolt and the protests so that good decisions can be made in terms of who we will stand by and support.”
(…)
“It’s a difficult situation, this is that 3am White House phone call and it seems for many of us trying to get that information from our leader in the White House it it seems that that call went right to um the answering machine. And nobody yet has, no body yet has explained to the American public what they know, and surely they know more than the rest of us know who it is who will be taking the place of Mubarak and I’m not real enthused about what it is that that’s being done on a national level and from DC in regards to understanding all the situation there in Egypt. And in these areas that are so volatile right now because obviously it’s not just Egypt but the other countries too where we are seeing uprisings, we know that now more than ever, we need strength and sound mind there in the White House. We need to know what it is that America stands for so we know who it is that America will stand with. And we do not have all that information yet.”
I’ve read through this incomprehensible word salad three times and I still can’t figure out for the life of me what Palin is trying to say here. As with most of her comments on substantive issues, it seems like she’s just throwing talking points together in some kind of stream-of-consciousness chant, hoping that it will make sense when it all comes together.
But it doesn’t.
Her main complaint seems to be that the Obama Administration isn’t being public enough about its actions in Egypt but, of course, diplomacy usually only works well when its done behind the scenes and out of the view of cameras. You might be able to turn a political career into a TLC reality show, but you can’t do that with the imminent collapse of a thirty year-0ld authoritarian regime.
Perhaps Palin’s remarks will make more sense when the video is released later today, but I doubt it. Judging from the transcript, though, it’s fairly clear she still has years of homework to do before she speaks out on foreign policy matters again.
Update: Here’s the video of Palin’s Egypt comments that are transcribed above. Quite honestly, listening to her say it doesn’t really make her point any clearer to me than reading the transcript did. As someone once said about Oakland, there’s no there there
![Military Coup Underway In Egypt [Update: Morsi Deposed]](https://otb.cachefly.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/egypt-flag3-512x256.gif)
I believe the formal term for all that palinguage is “stream of unconscious”.
Q: What words are you using?
A: … All of them!
You need a ballpeen hammer to understand Palin.
Take the hammer, hit yourself in the head, really hard, maybe six or eight times. Then read the transcript again. It’ll all be clear to you.
H/T: Jay Tea, for the methodology.
Dana Millbank is really mad at you.
She ‘s dumber than a ten pound bag of stupid.
Nuff said!
The best analysis of this has been at The Angry Black Lady blog: click
“It’s a difficult situation,” Ms. Palin told the Christian Broadcasting Network. “This is that 3 a.m. White House phone call, and it seems for many of us trying to get that information from our leader in the White House, it seems that that call went right to the answering machine.”
“And nobody yet has, nobody yet has explained to the American public what they know [what who knows?], and surely they [they who?] know more than the rest of us know [us who?] who it is who will be taking the place of Mubarak [what the—how are they to know who is taking the place of Mubarak when Mubarak himself can’t seem to make up his damn mind] and no, not, not real enthused [yes, but are you jazzed?] about what it is that that’s being done on a national level and from D.C. [Do you have any idea what you just said?] in regards to understanding all the situation there in Egypt. [The Situation is in Egypt?! Pics or GTFO.] And, in these areas [what areas? Alaska? Russia?] in that are so volatile right now, because obviously it’s not just Egypt but the other countries too [Which other countries, too? Can you name one? Didn’t think so.] where we are seeing uprisings, we know that now more than ever, we need strength and sound mind there in the White House [::blank stare::]. We need to know what it is that America stands for [truth, justice, and the American way! Duh.] so we know who it is that America will stand with. [Anyone standing with you is standing with Stupid. That, we know.] And, we do not have all that information yet.” [All what information? What America stands for? Whether America has legs? I just—I can’t even.]“
Her reference to the “3AM” ad is pretty ironic, because that was something Hillary Clinton put out to scare voters about Candidate Obama’s lack of foreign policy experience, something Palin doesn’t have either. (But then, neither did Hillary, really, if you think about it.)
I strongly concur with the following observation:
“As with most of her comments on substantive issues, it seems like she’s just throwing talking points together in some kind of stream-of-consciousness chant, hoping that it will make sense when it all comes together.”
I had a lot of fun last year dissecting her take on a much simpler issue–her qualifications to be president–and even I was amazed at her inability to structure her statements coherently:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/1/4/821704/-Palin-has-outsmarted-me
Also too, queue the “I’m not fan of Sarah Palin, but clearly you can’t criticize here or ever not never because…” response. Anyone? Jay Tea?
Neil you are being unfair. Jay Tea is sort of like a U.N. Observer. He just wants fairness for all.
Makes perfect sense to me…….:)
This is starting to remind me of the John Madden imittations that always end in, “Bret Favre, Bret Favre, Bret Favre.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIUWGQMOVJ4
Stunning insight: Transcribed Conversation Sounds Conversational. ZOMG.
I could re-type that transcript, inserting punctuation and paragraph breaks without changing a word, and it would read far more coherently. Traddutore, traditore.
J.
>I could re-type that transcript, inserting punctuation and paragraph breaks without changing a word, and it would read far more coherently.
You’re on.
Perfectly understandable. Guess some here cannot read english.
“Sarah Palin became the latest political pundit to chime in on the situation in Egypt, but I can’t for the life of me figure out what she’s saying:”
Of course, you don’t know what she is saying: Liberals usually wear blinders and ear muffs WRT to former Alaska Gov, so it is not surprising you would have that POV. OTOH, can you or any of the left wing hatemongers that always use your blog posts to bash Palin tell us Obama and is sprouting regarding Egypt.
First, Joke Biden suggests Mubarak is Da Man and should hang around. Then Obama gets in front of the camera and hives up some unintelligible babble that comes out of both sides of his mouth that nobody undertstands. Then his spokesman hints that Mubark should have quit yesterday. Then his Egypt special envoy strongly suggests that Mubark should stay. No wonder his approval rating is sinking again; People get the feeling the boy is in over his head.
I rarely listen to politicians speak, though it is impossible to not hear some bits of speeches. I read what they say, listening is too slow. This makes for a consistent problem with Palin. Many of her speeches come across as word salad to me. I think I know what she is saying because I think I know what she would mean to say. I have been judging speech and debate events for years. She reminds me of the kids who speak well and with absolute conviction, but the content is lacking.
On the larger topic, she seems to be criticizing Obama for not doing something, but not offering any of her own ideas. To be fair to her, this is a common political tactic.
Steve
At least when Cheney was singing Mubarek’s praises recently he was forming coherent thoughts and communicating them in a meaningful way. It is pretty amazing how bad Palin’s prepared remarks are. These are unforced errors.
The Ameican public, you know, those who will be voting in the next election understand what she has to say. Kind of like President Reagan. You lefties always claimed he was too this or too that, but what he did was connect with the electorate. Palin has the same capablity. I would be willing to guess few here understand the parallel between the Malcovich video on youtube and this blog.
> Then Obama gets in front of the camera and hives up some unintelligible babble
Why don’t you show us a transcript, and we can compare it to Palin’s remarks?
>You lefties always claimed he was too this or too that, but what he did was connect with the electorate.
Something Palin has so far completely failed to do.
> You lefties always claimed he was too this or too that
Even Reagan’s harshest critics will concede that he was a gifted speaker who had a real way with conveying his ideas. A core issue with Palin is that when she speaks, it is very clear she does not really have any ideas. She simply attempts to tie a lot of right wing talking points together, but invariably fails and serves up a meaningless stew of words.
Put on your reality cap, go to a rally where Palin is speaking then say the words “she does not connect with the audience”. You are living in an alternate universe if you think this woman fails to get her ideas across. Maybe it would be a good idea to reference her debate with Joe Biden. I refer you to the event where McCain introduced her as his running mate. You can imagine what ever you like, but Palin was the only thing that kept McCain on the map,
Another Palin story? Yawn. Isn’t there real news out there?
I understand Zelsdorf now! In his world, the people at the Sarah Palin rally are the only people who exist in the world. This is why he’s so angry here. These mysterious commentors who don’t like Palin are confusing because they shouldn’t exist in his mind.
You repeatedly harp on the theme that Palin is unimportant, insignificant, inconseqential, irrelevant, etc. and yet by your own admission you read a transcript of her statement three times in an effort to understand it.
You are becoming an oxymoron.
>You are living in an alternate universe
Yes, the alternate universe called AMERICAN PUBLIC OPINION.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/13/fav-palin_n_725513.html
54.3% unfavorable ratings, and climbing. Neither Reagan nor anyone else who eventually reached the presidency has had to contend with such high negatives in polls. Palin supporters apparently believe she will somehow magically change those numbers to positive territory in the next two years.
I would have thought anything from the huffington post would have shown a 100% negative rating. Only time will tell, not you wise intellects here. I use the terms wise and itelllects very loosely when applied to this site.
https://www.outsidethebeltway.com/an-open-letter-to-my-colleague-doug-mataconis/
Malcovich/Knapp in 2012 ????
“I don’t get what he’s doing, and I’m smart. Not book smart or street smart or brain smart, but… somethin’. …” -Lenny/Palin
Anyone else notice the irony of Palin worrying about the vacuum formed by a politician leaving their office before the end of their term?
>I would have thought anything from the huffington post would have shown a 100% negative rating.
That’s because HuffPost, liberal as it is, wants to know what’s going in on reality. The graphs are simply averages of all the polls, including Republican ones like Rasmussen and Fox. It gives you the ability to filter out polls you don’t like. I’ve tinkered with it, and I haven’t found any variation that looks promising for Palin. You are free to show me otherwise.
Is Obama going to the Barney Frank Superbowl party today???
– John M.
“Of course, you don’t know what she is saying: Liberals usually wear blinders and ear muffs WRT to former Alaska Gov, so it is not surprising you would have that POV. OTOH, can you or any of the left wing hatemongers that always use your blog posts to bash Palin…”
Smoove-Hurt-FiFi-Alert Smoove-Hurt-FiFi Alert Smoove-Hurt-FiFi-Alert
****Is Obama going to the Barney Frank Superbowl party today???***
He is hanging out with J-lo and an idiot mayor from milwaukee……….
G.A.Phillips says:
Sunday, February 6, 2011 at 11:11
Makes perfect sense to me…
Zelsdorf Ragshaft III says:
Sunday, February 6, 2011 at 11:30
Perfectly understandable.
Your honor, the prosecution really, really rests.
Kylopod, a sample. The only changes I will make will make to the text is the occasional sentence break (removing conjunctions that tie together run-on sentences) and repeated words.
“Remember, President Reagan lived that mantra: trust but verify. We want to be able to trust those who are screaming for democracy there in Egypt, that it is a true, sincere desire for freedoms. (break) The challenge that we have, though, is how do we verify what it is that we are being told, what it is that the American public are being fed via media, via the protestors, via the government there in Egypt in order for us to really have some sound information to make wise decisions on what our position is.”
“‘Trust but verify,’ and try to understand is what I would hope our leaders are engaged in right now. Who’s going to fill the void? Mubarak, he’s gone, one way or the other you know. (break) He is not going to be the leader of Egypt, that’s a given, so now the information needs to be gathered and understood as to who it will be that fills now the void in the government. Is it going to be the Muslim Brotherhood? We should not stand for that, or with that or by that. Any radical Islamists, no — that is not who we should be supporting and standing by. So we need to find out who was behind all of the turmoil and the revolt and the protests so that good decisions can be made in terms of who we will stand by and support.”
You want more? Make me an offer.
J.
Jay Tea,
https://www.outsidethebeltway.com/an-open-letter-to-my-colleague-doug-mataconis/
that pretty much sums up the nutroots.
So not worshiping at the feet of St. Sarah of Wasilla makes one a member of the “Nutroots”
Dude, I haven’t even voted for a Democrat once
When It Comes To Egypt Sarah Palin Needs to Shut Up
http://www.politicususa.com/en/sarah-palin-egypt-shut-up
Gosh Jay, for a guy who just does not find Palin all that interesting, you certainly are putting in the hours.
Interesting to look at these remarks once they have been translated from babble into English:
“Is it going to be the Muslim Brotherhood? We should not stand for that,”: Yet she makes no actual proposals as to a course of action. What do we do if the Muslim Brotherhood should come to power? Declare war on Egypt?
Any radical Islamists, no — that is not who we should be supporting and standing by – who is standing by radical Islamists?: What exactly is she saying here? Nothing really, unless she is trying to make a dog whistle inferrence that Obama (well known radical Muslim that he is) somehow supports the Muslim Brotherhood.
The challenge that we have, though, is how do we verify what it is that we are being told: Good question Sarah, how do we verify? Getting the facts on the ground in a crisis is always difficult. What does she propose? Send in magic ponies?
When it comes to Egypt Obama needs to shut up:
http://www.moonbattery.com/archives/2011/02/300-am-and-the.html
“So not worshiping at the feet of St. Sarah of Wasilla makes one a member of the “Nutroots”
I can think of 10,000 more relevant topics than Palin dude.
Here’s one:
http://www.gallup.com
check out the unemployment tabs
Your obsession is frightful
This would be a lot more interesting if she’d said what she would do in his place. Right now all she (and everyone else) do is say they’re unhappy with what is being done. Of course, all politicians do this – Obama did it as well. But its hardly newsworthy.
What next? Some (or perhaps all) politicians say that they’re unhappy about the 1st Law of Thermodynamics making perpetual motion machines impossible (imagine the energy savings), and so the news reports it, without asking them how they plan on changing it?
Dude. Simple solution. Don’t read the posts.
And I’ve spent the last two weeks writing about Egypt, the economy, health care reform, the Constitution, and haven’t mentioned whats-her-name from Alaska once. She puts herself in the news? I just might be tempted to comment. Sue me.
Jay,
Waiting for you to show were someone on OTB (other than you) referred toPalin a bitch or a whiny c*nt. Or are you just fleeing from one thread to the next?
Jay T, Sarah Palin’s prose-taster.
> Dude. Simple solution. Don’t read the posts.
The strategy of the Palin camp is pretty simple. If anyone makes an comments about Palin other than a Hannity-esque “Please allow me to put my lips to your ass”, it’s time to unleash the attack gerbils.
If a nobody like Ragshaft or Jay Tea can knock a Steven Taylor off topic, it’s not a bad play. Pawns tie up a bishop (or at least a rook). It all goes back to when Palin first emerged as a national figure in 2008. The media was told they would not have access to Palin unless they agreed in advance to treat her with “proper deference”. How remarkable. How un-American.
Doug, The problem for us is we don’t know if there is real news until we read the post. Only after reading do we find we have wasted our time. This is just another non story.
So here’s a simpler solution, don’t post unless it’s newsworthy. Just a suggestion so please don’t sue me.
@ Plunk
So here’s a simpler solution, start your own blog, and post whatever your little heart desires. Just a suggestion so please don’t sue me.
Steve,
In all honesty nothing involving Sarah Palin has been “real news” since the day she quit her job. And yet she keeps inserting herself in the news cycle.
Jay-Do the last paragraph. I cannot quite figure that one out.
Steve
Logic and reason are overrated.
@Plunk
“This is just another non story.”
Uh, even if that was true — and it’s not — is there some Law of Blogs that says the proprietors of blogs have to always write about things that are “newsworthy”?
Here’s a thought, Steve. Sarah Palin has made herself a national news figure. Publicity is her life’s blood. (If you doubt that, please explain how her move to get ‘Sarah Palin’ trademarked is not proof of her dependence on notoriety.) She cannot shut up. To do so would render her a political nullity. Live by the press, die by the press. It’s not the press’ fault, or a blog’s fault, or a blog commenter’s fault if she says some stupid and it’s noted and discussed. If this distresses you, then I guess you can always head over to the conservatives4palin circle-jerk where the skies are not cloudy all day.
It’s worth noting that Palin was speaking at a Reagan centennial event in Santa Barbara. What’s next, a Reagan bust on the podium whenever she speaks?
“At least when Cheney was singing Mubarek’s praises recently he was forming coherent thoughts and communicating them in a meaningful way.”
Oh, Isn’t that just grand: A far left whackjob like anjin-san is praising Darth Vader Cheney. And has nice words for President Reagan in another post. What is this world coming to. Man, this blog is moving so far left, so fast, you guys will soon be competing for hits with other radical sites such as Firedoglake, Tbogg & Dem Underground.
“Man, this blog is moving so far left, so fast, you guys will soon be competing for hits with other radical sites such as Firedoglake, Tbogg & Dem Underground.”
But Smooth, here’s where you get your jones serviced. Be grateful.
anjin, OTB is not the whole universe. I was just extending the antipathy here to that seen elsewhere — such as when a bunch of liberals showed up at a Palin event (Philadelphia, I think) proudly wearing “SARAH PALIN IS A C*NT” T-shirts (uncensored, of course). I didn’t say that it was said here, just that it was certainly in the spirit.
steve, I did one for free. What’s in it for me to do the second? Convince you? Wrote that off a while ago. Prove I can? Already done that with the first.
J.
“And I’ve spent the last two weeks writing about Egypt, the economy, health care reform, the Constitution, and haven’t mentioned whats-her-name from Alaska once. She puts herself in the news? I just might be tempted to comment”
Dude, Give us a break. Far left Palin Haters like you go to sleep at night thinking about your next Palin hit piece. The left wing zealots who comment on your blog posts may not see it, but any fair minded person reading your messages know you have a serious case of Palin Derangement Syndrome. You can’t help yourself.
Btw, I thought her 3am line was pretty funny (LMAO), given how Obama is flailing around regarding Egypt. Obama obviously has no clue with different members of his Admin saying different things, and he looks like a weak interloper through it all mumbling incoherent ballable in front of cameras. Now THAT would be a wonderful topic for a blog post instead of this repetitive Palin bashing stuff.
> A far left whackjob like anjin-san
Hmm. Can you share anything I have ever said that was not rational? BTW, I voted for Reagan. Twice.
> through it all mumbling incoherent ballable in front of cameras.
Once again, please provide a transcript so we can all analyze this “incoherent ballable”. By all means, if the President is incoherent, let’s have a look. Or are you simply… making crap up 🙂 BTW, what exactly is “ballble”?
> just that it was certainly in the spirit
The sprit of a few idiots, who certainly do not speak for “liberals” or Democrats. A lot of folks here, and I am one, don’t care for Palin. They find her to be lazy, stupid, narccistic, mean-spirited (the polar opposite of the genial Reagan) and uninformed in the extreme. Most polling data suggests that outside of her true believers, most Americans feel this way about her to some extent.
That being said, no one at OTB is calling Palin a C**t. Saved that cheese for your own blog.
I dislike Palin, but if I was standing next to her and someone called her one of the names you are referring to, they would have a problem with me.
“I’m not fan of Sarah Palin, but clearly you can’t criticize here or ever not never because…” the criticism will never match the idiocy of what she said.
If you were to take out random words from Palin statements, and then play mad-lib, would the result be more or less intelligible than the original?
>Oh, Isn’t that just grand: A far left whackjob like anjin-san is praising Darth Vader Cheney. And has nice words for President Reagan in another post. What is this world coming to. Man, this blog is moving so far left, so fast, you guys will soon be competing for hits with other radical sites such as Firedoglake, Tbogg & Dem Underground.
I’m guessing that must be irony, seeing as praising Cheney and Reagan isn’t typically seen as left wing … unless you’re saying that Cheney and Reagan are liberals?
I’m a ‘centrist’, which means to me, I want to take the best ideas from both ‘sides’ and meld them together, to craft solutions to huge and complex problems. That is why it pains me to see someone like Palin so heavily attached to the Republican ticket (though the leadership pretty much disavows her) because I actually want that party to be strong, but in a non-far right way.
There are two things here that underscore her stupidity – the fact that she would issue publicly, such a stupid and meaningless statement and, the fact that she could reduce such a complex situation as Egypt/the Middle East to a simple-minded and confusing soundbite. I know she is really just an entertainer but I wish she would quit posing as a politician because it makes me feel like we are in the Twilight Zone.
Smooth,
Why don’t you define for us what constitutes the “far left”. I can’t remember the last time you made a post without hurling that phrase at someone. Give us five criteria.
anjin, here’s a great collection of just how bright and articulate you-know-who is… complete with annotations.
http://www.facebook.com/notes/sarah-palin/a-thanksgiving-message-to-all-57-states/463364218434
That do ya?
J.
***Why don’t you define for us what constitutes the “far left”. I can’t remember the last time you made a post without hurling that phrase at someone. Give us five criteria.***lol, yeah, I better not……
> That do ya?
Not really. Everyone who speaks publicly or for the record on a regular basis makes gaffes or misstatements. Everyone. Considering the shear volume of Obama’s recorded remarks, what you have shown is trivial indeed, and certainly nothing al all like repeatedly babbling when speaking or being interviewed. I could turn up as many gaffes from Reagan or Clinton with a few moments on Google.
Palin’s statements and interviews however are not lucid remarks punctuated by the occasional gaffe. They are one huge gaffe. If S.I. Hayakawa were still alive and he heard Palin speak, his head would probably explode.
This is a human being babbling:
COURIC: Have you ever been involved with any negotiations, for example, with the Russians?
PALIN: We have trade missions back and forth. We– we do– it’s very important when you consider even national security issues with Russia as Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where– where do they go? It’s Alaska. It’s just right over the border. It is– from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there. They are right next to– to our state.
Sorry dude, it’s just nonsense. And it is very typical of her remarks.
“Ben do you know what a troll is?”
Someone who talks tough on blogs, who insults and labels without any provocation, who anonymously threatens violence against those with different political opinions. Troll also applies to people who consistently refuse to answer a direct question, but enough about you.
FWIW, those of you finding meaning in the original text are coming across as pretty insane.
You are breaking yourselves upon the rocks that are Sarah Palin. Such is the post shark-jump world of Tea Party politics.
anjin, let me throw a few references at you. Educate yourself a little.
BMEWS
Russian ultranationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky’s map of “Greater Russia”
Elmendorf Air Force Base
Fort Greely
Clear Air Force Station
There are some starting points, anjin. Let me know if you need some more help.
J.
j
Actually, I know quite a few folks who have served in Alaska. Can you document any Russian military incursions in Alaska that were repulsed during Palin’s tenure, with the aid of BMEWS or otherwise? I am not going to wet myself because a Russian politician has delusions of grandeur, but don’t let me stop you from doing so. Have a nice day.
Oh, it’s worth noting that with all the bizarre rambling, Palin never even addressed Couric’s original question, which was pretty frigging simple. Well, Couric is probably in league with Satan anyway.
Hmm. Pretty sure my oldest friend was born at Elmendorf AFB. Will have to ask him about that. Anyway, that was a remarkable revelation by J. The U.S. Armed forces have a presence in Alaska. These tea party types are certainly well informed.
She’s not commenting on Egypt. She’s trying to lay the smackdown on Obama. Seen from that perspective her ramblings make a lot more sense.
anjin, you really put a lot of energy into missing the point. It’s not that the US military has a presence in Alaska, but that there are some very, very important bases there. And they’re in Alaska for a reason.
I understand that you’re easily swayed by a glib tongue that’s all style and no substance. A lot of weak-willed, weak-minded people are. But you really gotta outgrow that, dude.
J.
> very, very important bases there. And they’re in Alaska for a reason.
Which really has nothing at all to do with Palin’s babble fest. I can see why you want to change the subject, but no sale. So, continue with weak insults. It’s all ya got…
“I understand that you’re easily swayed by a glib tongue that’s all style and no substance. A lot of weak-willed, weak-minded people are. But you really gotta outgrow that, dude”
And yet Jay Tea is completely swept away by a leaden tongue that has zero style and even less substance. What does that say about him?
anjin, you’re simply not as stupid as you’re trying to pretend to be. And I’m bored putting the dots closer and closer together, waiting for you to connect them.
J.
I am no Palin supporter – if she were to be the GOP candidatein 2012 – I would be very upset and would likely switch to Ind. But I haven’t seen/read/heard anyone (Obama, Hillary, Baker, etc.) give a clear and concise picture of where we stand with this issue — they spoke well, sure — but they didn’t say anything.
That is a great politician’s (not-so) secret weapon. It serves to placate the elites with the thought that one “doesn’t know what the hell to do and well they aren’t bold enough to say so, but they sure did make clueless sound smart”… the fact that Palin doesn’t know how to eloquently say nothing makes her an un-serious presidential or Vice Presidential Candidate – how tragic for everyone.
But, she DOES connect with a segment of American voters – they are older, less educated and down-scale but their vote in November counts just as much as yours or mine and that’s why Palin matters and why you read the transcript three times. She’s not stupid, she’s just not talking to you.
And yes, she makes a point which is “what now?” – that’s an important Q for our President and one he has failed to answer on this very important national security/global security issue.
You want to talk about Alaska and it’s relevance to national security? Fine 🙂
Now I know that you know that Alaska is like, really important and stuff, but let’s put aside the crayons and the geopolitical coloring book that Palin and the tea party work with and examine the issue.
Palin said “As Putin rears his head and comes into the airspace of the United States of America, where do they go? It’s Alaska. It’s just right over the border.
She is speaking about an actual event(s). This is remarkable. When exactly did the Russian military under Putin violate our airspace? I mean, that sort of thing can be construed as an act of war. Can you provide some links? After all, she did not say “if”…
Now, a second issue. Why on earth would Putin wish to enter our airspace? The risk/reward equation is horribly tilted towards risk. Pretty hard to see any possible benefit. In an age of spy satellites and MIRVed, submarine launched ballistic missiles, where is the possible upside for Russia? This is not the era of spy planes, and what the Soviets had back then was no great shakes anyway. Certainly they never had anything remotely as effective as the SR-71, or even the U2.
Then there is the fact that our air force is vastly superior to Russia’s, and if they did per chance enter our airspace, they would VERY quickly be shot down or forced down in a manner of our choosing. Putin may be many things, but I see no evidence that he is a fool.
The BMEWS radar you seem so enamored of was built in the 50s to detect incoming land based ballistic missiles. In a post cold war era where ballistic missile subs can launch an attack from not to far off our coast, exactly how important do you think they really are to national security? Provide some detail please.
Then there is the fact that state govonor, Palins meglomania aside, do not really have a heck of a lot to do with national security, even in border states. We have a President, a SecDef, and the Joint Chiefs for that. A govonor may be asked to assist from time to time.
Sorry pal, epic fail. Or as they say at Jays house “another day at the office.
This Guy,
I do not dismiss Palin’s importance. Clearly, she is a force to be reckoned with.
Jay,
Feel free to take you time and Google the stuff I mentioned, so you can attempt an informed response. Gretchen Carlson does it all the time.
Carlson is kind of an interesting case. An very bright woman indeed. And she plays a dumbshit on Fox News. The right does seem to love hot, stupid women.
We do have to ask if Palin is as stupid as she sounds, and if not, why she plays dumb. Why to reach Jay Tea, of course!
anjin found time to Google things! Yay, anjin!
My turn — just a quick search on “Russian Alaskan airspace” — from the top 10 hits:
Russia steps up bomber runs near Alaska
http://www.adn.com/2008/03/28/358368/russia-steps-up-bomber-runs-near.html
Exclusive: Palin Was Briefed On Russian Jet Incursions
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-502443_162-4479278-502443.html
NATO Escorts Russian Bombers Away From Alaska
http://www.newser.com/story/22584/nato-escorts-russian-bombers-away-from-alaska.html
That’s the last butt-hurting I’m laying on you. As This Guy says, she simply isn’t talking to you — and that seems like a good notion.
J.
Hmm first link says:
Russia’s resurgent military is again making sporadic, unannounced bomber runs toward Alaska’s airspace
You do know what “toward” means, don’t you?
Read more: http://www.adn.com/2008/03/28/358368/russia-steps-up-bomber-runs-near.html#ixzz1DErBCK7x
Second link:
(PHILADELPHIA) In her role as Commander-in-Chief of the Alaska National Guard, Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin has received briefings on Russian military plane incursions near Alaskan airspace
“near Alaskan airspace”
Not sure what your point is skippy. Are you saying Palin lied about them entering our airspace, or that she was simply confused about what was presented to her during the briefing?
Third link:
> (NEWSER) – Two bombers from the Russian air force flew uncomfortably close to American territory
Hmmm. “close”. Thank God we are not playing horseshoes.
Good job Jay. You have proved nothing and supported my argument. The Russians never entered our airspace. Palin was either lying, confused, or just babbling. I will give her the benefit of the doubt and stick with what’s behind door number three.
Why don’t you pat yourself on the back, declare victory, and run along?
Oh, and just to save the trouble of you brining it up, what the Russians are doing is tickling our air defenses. This has been going on pretty much forever between super/major powers. When you do it you are VERY, VERY careful not to actually make an incursion into the airspace of a foreign power. Like I said, that sort of thing can be construed as an act of war. It can also get your ass shot down. See Powers, Gary, for an example (though he was on a totally different sort of mission).
I notice you don’t want to talk about the relative importance of BMEWS in a post-war, 21st century national security environment. Don’t blame you 🙂
> As This Guy says, she simply isn’t talking to you
What did he say again?
> they are older, less educated and down-scale
Right you are. She is talking to you.
“Close enough for jazz,” anjin.
It’s an old Cold War game, one both sides play. Get close to the other’s airspace to test responses, get them to activate their sensors and defenses, make a plausible threat. We did it to the Soviets, the Soviets did it to us. Hell, we consistently violated their airspace with reconnaissance flights, and I’m sure they did, too. It was how the game was played between enemies who aren’t at war.
It’s not something you do with friends.
And Russia’s doing it.
J.
Whoops, I missed part of anjin’s last alleged point — that he can Google real well and learn about “tickling” and overflights. Congrats, anjin! Some of us knew that already (long-time technothriller fan here), but it’s always nice when you try to improve yourself.
So, in the spur of the moment, Palin might have said a wrong word — the gist of her comment was accurate. Maybe you can find some convenient “corpseman” to translate it into Australian for you so you can understand it better.
J.
> that he can Google real well and learn about “tickling” and overflights.
Jay. I grew up by an air force base. There was a shooting war going on at the time. If you could not call any aircraft that was spotted in ten seconds you could not hang with the boys. My next door neighbors dad was the chief of police. At the air shows, we always got VIP treatment and got up close with the aircraft. It was pretty cool. We had a pilot one door down too.
Any time you want to talk about the history of military aviation, I am up for it. Used to hang with a P-38 Lightning pilot, we can talk about its performance in combat. Or about how much more quickly a crew could swap out engines on a Me-262 as opposed to a P-51. German engineering always has been bitching. P-51 was one hell of an aircraft though, Go up on one sometime if you get the chance. Let me know when you want to chat more.
Anyway, you are simply recycling my Google line. Do try to be a little creative.
> And Russia’s doing it.
Been going on for what, 60 years? Gosh, we yet live. Take a valium if your nerves can’t handle it.
> So, in the spur of the moment, Palin might have said a wrong word
The concept of ‘approaching airspace” as opposed to “entering airspace” can be the difference between war and peace. This is hardly a confidence builder coming from a potential commander in chief.
Speaking of the P-38 Lightning, in addition to being a remarkable aircraft (and one that could get you home if an engine was shot out), it is historically noteworthy for being the plane used in mission which killed Admiral Yamamoto, a huge blow to the Japanese war effort. Yamamoto, a brilliant man, was also a decent poet, though he gave himself little credit for his efforts. This is one of them.
Today, as chief
Of the sea guardians
Of the land of the dawn,
Awed I gaze up
At the rising sun.
Yeah, but the Mustang was a real dog at first, with the Allison engine. It wasn’t until they dropped in the Rolls Royce Merlin that it became the legend it is today.
And as far as Yamamoto goes… I’ve read some serious speculation that killing Yamamoto was actually a bad tactical move. His tactical genius was a bit overrated (he’d come up with the overly-complicated plans that tended to fall apart when the US didn’t follow his script, like at Midway) and leaving him alive and in charge might have made the war go a bit faster.
Regardless of the tactical significance, it was still had a huge effect on morale on both sides. So that was probably worth it in and of itself.
Back to the topic at hand… I get irritated when people misuse military terminology, too — I’ve actually yelled at my TV when people identify current warships as “battleships,” and almost thrown things at it when APCs are called “tanks,” for example — but I cut most people some slack on some of hte minor points. The Russians are violating our ADIZ, not our airspace, but that’s a fine distinction for those who don’t obsess over things like I do.
I save my outrage and sneering superiority for the big stuff, like Joe Biden talking about how the US and France had driven Hezbollah out of Lebanon.
J.
“Update: Here’s the video of Palin’s Egypt comments that are transcribed above. Quite honestly, listening to her say it doesn’t really make her point any clearer to me than reading the transcript did. As someone once said about Oakland, there’s no there there”
After looking over the video, I really believe your co-blogger Alex Knapp is on to something: Your Palin Derangement Syndrome is so acute, there is no way possible you can write ANYTHING object WRT to the former Alaska Gov. Perhaps you should ease up on your Gov Palin Hate rants and look at yourself in the mirror a bit:
https://www.outsidethebeltway.com/an-open-letter-to-my-colleague-doug-mataconis/
As I said before, ANYTHING she would have said would be problematic to you and your radical commenters like anjan-sin and the like. You come across as a joke when you pretend you’ve not made up your mind on anything she said BEFORE she said. I actually thought she was well spoken in that interview, which believes “stupid” meme you were trying to convey. The certainly sounds more lucid that some of the far left zealots who follow you are on this site to attack her.
What a riot.
I just went to the link Smooth Jazz posted. It is a short piece by Alex Knapp. One of the tags at the end of the piece is “humor,” but it’s not like I couldn’t have figured that out on my own. To SJ, however, there are profound implications in this piece. It proves that “ANYTHING she would have said would be problematic” to Doug, and therefore his claim that he tried to figure out what Palin was saying about the Egypt situation is disingenuous.
I’m always struck by the obdurate humorlessness of Palin’s fans. And why not? Most of them are made in their creator’s image.
Even though I’m not a fan of pile – a – tricks I absolutely adore the stupidity, absurdity, and outright surrealism of Sarah Palin. My God the woman has got to be one of the best comedians this country has produced in some time. From the moment McCain selected her as his running mate vaudeville slowly but surely rose from the grave.
I don’t think she’s attempting any real policy suggestion or understanding of the situation in Egypt. You are misunderstanding the reason for her “speaking out” about this. The point I think she is trying to make to her loyal followers and the “dog whistle” to the Obama-haters is that we can’t trust the President not to be making secret deals with or secretly supporting the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. The Muslim Brotherhood is the scary group of the moment used by those on the right like Palin to drum up fear. Obama is secretly Muslim and he can’t be trusted they continually suggest. This is all part of his Manchurian Candidate master plan to destroy America I guess. She is just using the unrest in the Middle East the exact same way Glenn Beck is doing right now except she’s dialed the crazy down a little bit. So, trying to understand her stated points about Egypt (incoherent that they are) is not really the important message she is trying to get out there. Her main point is Obama isn’t to be trusted. We shouldn’t believe this is about democracy. We need to verify that Obama’s secret brotherhood of Muslims isn’t destabilizing the government so they can take over! Everyone be afraid and suspicious because we can’t trust this President to do what is best for America! That’s what I see when I watch her speak here.
So Jay, what have you showed us here? That two guys on a blog appear to know far more about military history and national security issues than a would be commander in chief?
“It is– from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there. They are right next to– to our state.”
The Russians are indeed thinking twice about messing with us now. Notice has been served!
When Schwarzenegger would answer questions in interviews or press conferences, I was alway struck by how incisive, informed and clever his answers were. And English is his second language. I did not care the his politics for the most part, but it was always apparent that there was a sharp brain at work whenever he was speaking. I have never, not even once had that feeling when Palin speaks. The fact that you have to work so hard explaining and defending her comments is very telling, as is the false equivalence you have tried to create between a few Obama gaffes and her endless rambling.
Jazz. the word you are looking for is “belies” not “believes”…
There certainly is little to no coherence to Palin’s rambling and disjointed statements. I think it a mistake, however, to write them off as mere gibberish — a non-communicative act. Palin doe not as a rule state coherent thoughts or ideas, but she does communicate messages and themes that have some emotional impact among her base.
I can ferret out about three themes from this mid-air collision of syntax:
1. “We” can’t really trust the Egyptian protesters, the media reporting on the protesters, or the Egyptian government.
2. Muslim Brotherhood = Bad.
(With a “Yay Reagan!” thrown in here and there, that’s basically the first “paragraph”).
3. We really can’t trust the guy in the White House to be doing the right thing because we don’t know what he’s doing, but we’re pretty sure he’s doing a bad job.
These are the major themes here: Mistrust, mistrust, and mistrust. We don’t know what’s really going on in Egypt and we don’t know what Obama is doing, but it’s probably bad and dangerous and something to do with Muslims. that’s some powerful stuff piped into the lizard brains of her followers.
There is, in addition, some amusing accidental communication here as well. Underneath all of the “we can’t trust anyone and don’t really know what’s going on” stuff is a near admission that Palin does not know what position she should take because the Obama administration has not clearly stated where it stands. In other words, as soon as Obama clearly announces where he stands, I don’t know what to stand against. that’s amusing, but its pure subconscious leakage. The main themes are standard right-wing paranoia, with some racial/religious dogwhistle implications.
My kingdom for an “edit” function. 3d graf. capitalize “that’s”; fourth graf second sentence should read “In other words, until Obama clearly announces where he stands, I don’t know what to stand against”; third sentence, capitalize “that’s” again. Apologies.
They were wrong about Oakland.
No coherent message? Are you serious? There’s a message: Obama bad. That’s the only message necessary, because when people look back a year from now, anything any president would have or could have done during this fluid period will be seen as bad, because Egypt, in a year, is going to be a mess. Palin will thump her chest and say, “see, I was right!” and no one will remember the emptiness of her criticism. They’ll just remember the criticism.
Reading her comments, it seems her point is, “I don’t think Obama is doing a good job because he can’t tell me who will control Egypt after this. I would also like to hear him say what sort of leadership he would like Egypt to have and throw US support behind such people.”
Being clear and concise is not her strong suit. You have to wade through all the Reagan references, dog-whistle terms, and bad three year old campaign metaphors to understand anything. In the end, little is said. She doesn’t give answers for her own questions, offer any policy suggestions, give any advice, or do anything constructive at all. Its simply, “You suck. I’m sure things could be done better, but I won’t say how because either I don’t know how, or I refuse to say how.”
I think this is why she will never run for office again. Its much easier (and financially lucrative) to criticize from the outside than it is to actually do something yourself (which then opens you up to criticism from others.)
In the end, it strikes me as a lot of sound and fury signifying nothing. For her base, that is fine. They like the sound and the fury.
Typical politician- she says things in a roundabout way that don’t signify anything. She has much in common with Mataconis and Obama that way.
***Typical politician- she says things in a roundabout way that don’t signify anything. She has much in common with Mataconis and Obama that way.***lol, but a lot better to look and easier to not understand……
hey…
Why do you suggest that doing homework would make a difference for Palin?
anjin, I don’t expect the Commander In Chief to know the kinds of stuff you and I do. It’s minutae, and that’s what staff and aides are for. Bush probably knew a lot of that stuff, but he was a pilot. Clinton probably didn’t know jack squat about that stuff.
OK, bad example. His ignorance was probably a factor in the Mogadishu fiasco — he and Aspin took the military’s request to bring in tanks and said “the other guys don’t have ’em, so we don’t need ’em” and that led to things going right down the crapper. Bush I was also a pilot, but Reagan… god love him, his grasp of the nuances of military hardware and terminology was also likely pretty weak, too. And do NOT get me started on Obama.
What I expect from a CINC is a willingness to admit they do not know everything, that they can learn, and they appoint smart people to sweat the fine points. (The first point is aimed at Obama.) it’s not critical for the CINC to know the difference between airspace and ADIZ; it is critical that their staff do know, and educate the CINC should that distinction become critical. The circumstances under which Palin was briefed on Russian incursions to the Alaskan ADIZ were after the fact, and if they didn’t stress the distinction, so what? How to respond wasn’t her job. But to know that it was going on over and around her state — that was important.
And any president or would-be president who could discuss the weaknesses of Allison-engined Mustangs vs. Rolls Royce-engined Mustangs has NO business in office. We can’t have geeks of THAT level of power — if they know that, then they know a hell of a lot more useless trivia instead of the important stuff.
Fair warning, anjin: you really, really, REALLY wanna get me worked up, challenge me on the proper classification of the Alaska-class ships from World War II (CB-1). I could write paragraphs on that. Hell, I have.
J.
Jay Tea — Should the CINC be able to speak English?
“I’ve read through this incomprehensible word salad three times and I still can’t figure out for the life of me what Palin is trying to say here. As with most of her comments on substantive issues, it seems like she’s just throwing talking points together in some kind of stream-of-consciousness chant, hoping that it will make sense when it all comes together.
But it doesn’t.”
If you can’t understand it, the failure and lack of intelligence is yours not hers. It’s very clear what Palin is saying:
1. The Obama administrations response to Egypt seems muddled
2. If Obama is involving the Muslim Brotherhood in any discussions about Egypts future, that is something the American public need to know because the Brotherhoods interests are antithetical to both America and its best ally in the region, Israel
3. Obama’s job is to secure the best interests of the United States. She wants it made clear that that is the starting point for Obama’s negotiations.
Simple really
Wait a sec Cabbie … “If Obama is involving the Muslim Brotherhood in any discussions about Egypts future”
What, you think Obama owns Egypt and can invite who he likes?
Your (and Palin’s) text only works on an assumption of invasion and nation-building. Is that really what you are thinking?
wr, one of the Bushes was once described as someone to whom English is their second language — but they lacked a first. And they did just fine as CINCs. (Fault them however you want, but their conduct as CINC was impeccable.) Obama, on the other hand, talks about Navy “corpsemen” medics and addresses “our fallen heroes — many of whom are here today.”
And then there’s Joe Biden…
J.
Plus, wr, there are quite a few military outfits whose motto is “deeds not words” or some variant thereof. They don’t get swayed by glib tongues very easily… unlike, for example, your average Obama voter.
J.
Yes, W’s conduct as CINC was impeccable… if you ignore the war crimes. Or the invasion of a nation under false pretenses. The incompetence of the occupation due to too few troops. The cover up of the friendly-fire death of Pat Tillman. The waste of billions of dollars sent over on pallets with no accounting. The appalling increase in the use of mercenaries to hide the true cost of the war. Fighting two wars without paying for them.
Oh, yeah, he’s a regular FDR.
Yes, Obama mispronounced a word.
Bush ordered the torture of prisoners in direct contravention of US and international law.
I can see why you think Bush is preferable.
Plus, Jay Tea, that motto is “deeds, not words.” Palin doesn’t have the words, but her only “deed” is quitting her elected position to rake in as much cash as she could while the suckers were paying.
Deeds, not words. Right.
Whoops, I appear to have made a wrong turn somewhere and ended up at Kos/DU. My apologies, folks, I didn’t realize this was Moonbat Central. Sorry to interrupt your regularly scheduled frothing…
wr, apparently you have very little understanding about what “CINC” means. It’s only a part of the president’s duties. For example, the Tillman story reflects NOTHING on him — it all happened at much lower levels. And IF I agreed that the “invasion under false pretenses,” it also wouldn’t apply — the authorization came from Congress, and Bush’s conduct as CINC during it was impeccable. Your problem is with his conduct as Chief Executive, not Commander In Chief. Likewise most of the rest of your gibberish.
The rest of your blithering doltery… I’ve debunked it all way, way too many times. I’m not the least bit interested into getting into it again because you’ve had another Pavlovian seizure and soiled yourself in your frenzy.
J.
> the authorization came from Congress, and Bush’s conduct as CINC during it was impeccable.
Having an authorization does not force a President to use it. That was Bush’s choice, and his claim that every avenue was exhausted before deciding to use force is patently false. The buck stops on the President’s desk and it can’t be passed back to Congress just because Bush led us into a train wreck.
> And do NOT get me started on Obama.
No, let’s start on Obama. He managed to take down Iran’s centrifuges without the bloodbath that the right was screeching for at great volume. Sun Tzu would have approved – “The supreme excellence is not victory in battle; it consists in defeating your enemies without even fighting them.”
Bush, on the other hand, cavorted on a carrier flight deck under a “Mission Accomplished” banner when the mission was not even close to being accomplished, and brave men were taking incoming fire even as the CINC mugged for his photo op.
anjin, you’re missing the point again. The decision to invade was political; the execution of the invasion was military. And the execution was quite well done.
J.
The execution of the invasion was fine — the execution of everything that came five minutes after the invasion was a disaster. But that wasn’t the CINC’s job?
No wonder you love Palin. There’s simply nothing that one of your gods can do that is wrong in any way.
Sorry I missed your great debunking of torture, of waste, of incompetence, Having read your defenses of Palin, I suspect it went something like this:
“Bush was great. You’re stupid because you’re a liberal so you don’ t undertand. Daily Kos! George Soros! Obama is stupid! My team ruuuuuuuuuuules!”
That basically cover it?
@John Personna
“What, you think Obama owns Egypt and can invite who he likes?
Your (and Palin’s) text only works on an assumption of invasion and nation-building. Is that really what you are thinking?”
That’s neither what I or Palin are saying. There are stories that Obama is involved in behind the scenes negotiations to ensure a transition of government in Egypt. Part of that process involves the Muslim Brotherhood allegedly. Palin is right to be concerned about that. They are an anti-American/ anti-Israeli organisation and an American President should be very careful enabling an organisation like that.
> What I expect from a CINC is a willingness to admit they do not know everything, that they can learn, and they appoint smart people to sweat the fine points
Yet you find Bush’s conduct to be without fault. A man who is legendary for his bone headed insistence that his instincts are infallible. A belief so strong that he deferred to political hacks like Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz over Army Chief of Staff Gen. Shinseki.
A President, who, when warned “Bin Lander determined to strike inside U.S.”. His response? To snap at the briefing office, “Ok, you’ve covered your ass”. Set aside Bush’s failure to take any action whatsoever on this warning. Think about what his treatment of the guy doing the briefing tells us about Bush – the man, the CINC. You have a mid-level guy just trying to do his job, give the President a good briefing. And for no reason, Bush rips his head off, and goes off to do something important like clearing brush in an attempt to show how Reagaesque he is. Think of how you feel if your boss snaps at you. Now imagine it is the President. The guy gives a warning that turns out to be prescient, and he gets dropped into the shredder as thanks. Bush showed himself to be a small man indeed. Eisenhower on the worst day of his life would have never pulled a stunt like that.
And now we have Palin. Kinda like Bush, except that she appears to be dumber, lazier, and more narcissistic. Oh yea, she has a fantasy about being Reagan’s torch carrier too.
> Part of that process involves the Muslim Brotherhood allegedly.
Alleged by who exactly? And even if this is true, do you actually think it is possible to function in the real world without dealing with some mighty bad folks from time to time? We were allied with Stalin. The brutal dictators who run China are our business partners. Welcome to the real world.
Palin blathers on and on. but offers nothing, nothing at all in terms of ideas on how we might deal effectively with this crisis. Zero. Because she has nothing to offer.
> an American President should be very careful enabling an organisation like that.
This dog whistle bullshit does not pass the smell test, from Palin, or from you. If the Muslim Brotherhood is “enabled”, it is by millions of people in Egypt who support them whether we like it or not. So take your moronic “Obama is a crypto Muslim crap and put it where the monkey puts the nut.
If you find Sarah clueless with a separatist bunker mentality and nothing but talking points you should meet her fans.
Come to the south’s “bible areas” and meet them.
anjin-san
“So take your moronic “Obama is a crypto Muslim crap and put it where the monkey puts the nut.”
Ironic in a post about whether Sarah Palin is stupid or not, you come out with such incomprehensible nonsense. I have never believed Obama is anything but what he says he is, I am not a birther, nor do I have a problem with Islam unlike many of my fellows on the right. So firstly, I’d ask you to wind it back in. Next, if you want to deal with the substance of the issue rather than name-calling (which would be a first for the left), here goes.
“Alleged by who exactly?”
Well the NYT and the Guardian for two.
“This dog whistle bullshit does not pass the smell test, from Palin, or from you. If the Muslim Brotherhood is “enabled”, it is by millions of people in Egypt who support them whether we like it or not.”
That’s true, but Obama’s job is to represent the people who elected him, ie the American voter, and it is his responsibility to protect their interests first and foremost. Yes we did side with Stalin, but that was against Hitler, a somewhat different kettle of fish to Mubarak. Now I actually support the idea of a democratic effort in Egypt, I also recognise that it is an extremely difficult position for Obama. But it is hardly a dog whistle to be concerned about a transnational fundamentalist religious organisation who want to at the very least end the peace treaty with Israel, if not go to war with them (from their own words).
“do you actually think it is possible to function in the real world without dealing with some mighty bad folks from time to time?”
Hang on. First you admit the Muslim Brotherhood are mighty bad folks, but then accuse of dog whistling when I say the same thing. It is not always advisable to deal with mighty bad folks, sometimes it is the right thing to stand up to them, or not give them the decency of ackowledging them. Ask Neville Chamberlain about that.
Oh lord, the Neville chamberlain thing. How very original.
anjin-san
About as original as “dog whistle”. I note you were unable to deal with the substance however. Bit too taxing for your brain perhaps?
I don’t think Sarah Palin is qualified to comment on any foreign policy when she can see the country from her house!!!
> I note you were unable to deal with the substance however.
Actually, I was tied up with conference calls all day. Buy don’t let me stop you from patting yourself on the back.
> Hang on. First you admit the Muslim Brotherhood are mighty bad folks, but then accuse of dog whistling when I say the same thing
Work on your reading comprehension. That is not what I said. This is your dog whistle:
Obama’s job is to secure the best interests of the United States. She wants it made clear that that is the starting point for Obama’s negotiations.
So if we break out our tea party secret decoder rings, the message is “Obama is enabling the Musilim Brotherhood. Obama is placing Muslim interests before American interests. He is probably “one of them” anyway”.
The people of Alaska placed a sacred trust in Palin. She swore on a Bible to uphold it. Then she quit so she could make millions as a reality TV star. I want to make it clear that she can stick her “advice” for the President. Since she is unable to do her duty, tell her to run along and go hang out with her peers, Snooki and Khloe.
“Perfectly understandable. Guess some here cannot read english.”
You seem to be making the assumption that the entire nation has been dumbed down to the lowest common denominator. This would make Palin’s Verbal Diarrhea Dialect™ an acceptable form of the English language.
Not so.
***Whoops, I appear to have made a wrong turn somewhere and ended up at Kos/DU. My apologies, folks, I didn’t realize this was Moonbat Central. Sorry to interrupt your regularly scheduled frothing…***hehe……..
anjin
“She swore on a Bible to uphold it. Then she quit ”
Similar to the way Obama abandoned the good people of Illinois. Bear in mind that he explicitly swore in an interview that he would not run for President and serve a full term as Senator.
“Obama is enabling the Musilim Brotherhood. Obama is placing Muslim interests before American interests. He is probably “one of them” anyway”.
Where have I or Palin said that? It isn’t a question as to whether Obama is a secret muslim or not, it’s a question as to whether his liberalism and cultural relativity is serving the best interests of the people that elected him. In fact, Palin hasn’t said even that, all she is saying, is that when this issue affects the American people, which it would if the Muslim Brotherhood took the levers of power in Egypt, then the American people deserve to be kept better informed. Not unreasonable if you ask me.
You’re “dog whistle” crap really belittles any argument you are making. I am not anti-muslim and I have not said anything to suggest that I am. I have concerns about the Brotherhood. The difference between you and me, is that I am able to seperate the Brotherhood from Islam at large. You on the other hand seem to conflate the two.
“Work on your reading comprehension. That is not what I said.”
Err. Yes you did. I made the point that we should not be dealing with the Muslim Brotherhood because they were bad actors. Your response to that was:
“And even if this is true, do you actually think it is possible to function in the real world without dealing with some mighty bad folks ”
If you weren’t referring to the Muslim Brotherhood, then who may I ask were you referring to because no-one else was being debated.
And Sarah is not going to be the president of the United States…PERIOD!
Hi all,
Im an Egyptian, and I will settle this once and for all.
A) Sarah Palin is an idiot. That is how she is known around the world. Anyone with an ounce of logic would understand that. That “stream of consciousness” was crap. My 10 year old cousin that learned English 2 years ago can articulate himself better than her.
B) The Brotherhood of Islam (aka Muslim Brotherhood) arent running. They want to be represented but they arent running. Even if they do run, they wouldnt win. Even by the severe off chance that they win. They really arent bad. They arent extremists, they arent terrorists. They actually have defended Christains and human rights in the past and will continue to do so. We arent going to vote for them simply because they dont have a well developed political agenda and a theocracy can be easily abused. As the Egyptian people, we want to make a system that can not be abused, no matter who is in power.
C) Who the hell do you think you are to say who will run or wonder who will fill the void? Support human rights, support that we are maintaining the peace treaties, and support that we are finally choosing our leader. Seriously, anyone who thinks that this is a matter that the USA should get involved in is a pompous idiot.
D) what the USA has to fear is that if they do not start sucking up to the egyptians MAJORLY, you will lose a LOT!. You supported our dictator (our enemy) you have give anti-riot arms to oppress our freedom of speech. I remember seeing made in the USA on the tear gas cans.
Conclusion: Sarah Palin is an idiot. You have a lot to lose and everything to gain; so suck up to us and stop thinking you have any right over us…. and things will work out for the best for you. With the momentum that we the youth are going at right now, nothing can stop us. A new powerful Egypt and beautiful is about to emerge.
Also, to all of the cool people on her that said rightous things. Thanks for showing the world that you are awesome. To all of the Palin supporters/ people who think they have a say in what happens in egypt… know that you are idiots.
Another also, I’ve always wondered what conservatives are “conserving” and why do they hate liberals? the joke here is that they are conserving stupidity and they hate liberals cause liberals are smart. 😀