Tuesday 11 January 2011

Palingates Weekly Roundup - January 3 to January 9, 2011


By Blueberry Tart



A nobody named Tammy Bruce tweeted something about “homos” that Sarah Palin retweeted, possibly in error. Tammy, who is a lesbian, apparently thinks gives her license to use homophobic slurs. Her message, though, is that the more someone complains about gays, the more likely it is that they are hiding their own closet sexual preferences. Sarah’s retweet suggests that she supports this, but her position on gays is a bit more obscure than on some other social issues. We know that she didn’t support the repeal of DADT, so chances are that she didn’t even understand what she was retweeting. I mean, honestly, Sarah, do you really think you should be pointing out how people hide their secrets behind a barrage of bravado? This mini-tweet-gate reminded us of Sarah’s earlier, blazing tweets admonishing Democrats whenever they say anything she can criticize (eg Rahm Emmanuel vs. Rush Limbaugh and “retarded”). We’re happy to report that Sarah has won a new award, The Most Annoying Person of 2010 – well deserved!



Kathleen’s excellent post features Nick Jans, a true Alaskan outdoorsman who can tell a “poseur” when he sees one. He scathingly takes down Palin, who, he says, “represents the antithesis of the Alaska I love.” He wrote something back in 2008 that we all can see is true today, thanks to Palin herself: “Set her down in the bush on her own and I bet we'd discover she's about as adept at butchering a moose and building a fire at 40 below zero as she is at discussing Supreme Court decisions. And that mountain-woman act is only the tip of a hollow iceberg.” He recognizes that the new media dynamic that allows people like Palin to create their own narrative of who they are, without any accountability, means that “Americans are essentially casting votes for fictional characters.” Kathleen points out that she is an opportunist who exploits the confusion of those subjected to mass media manipulation. With her TV show, she “further muddied the waters between what is real and what is fabrication or mere embroidery.”



I will start by saying that I am very, very upset and emotional even as I am writing this. This was a terrible day for America, with the murderous rampage that took place in Tucson, killing six people and critically wounding at least six others, including Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. We do not know the motivation of the apparently deranged young man who shot 20 people, killing a 9 year old girl, a federal judge, a congressional staffer, a pastor and several others. But we do know that Sarah Palin helped to sow the seeds of this violence, and has their blood on her hands. It’s especially ironic that Palin chose Facebook to offer her “condolences,” when it was her Facebook post that literally put Congresswoman Giffords in the crosshairs in the first place.

And here’s a special message from me to RAM: that means you, too, Rebecca Mansour; you proved tonight that you, like Sarah, are a despicable coward and a failure as a human being. You and Sarah are complicit in inciting this violence and morally responsible for these deaths and injuries. Are you sure your job is worth selling your soul, RAM? Have you brainwashed yourself so anything goes, even the deaths of a child and other innocent people, in the service of your master and the almighty dollar? As sunnyjane reminded us, there is a special place in hell for those responsible for the death of a child.

Let me also say to those in the media whose job it is to provide honest information to the public about would-be public officials – you are partly to blame for the fact that Sarah Palin has a platform. You have helped make her what she is. You know the truth about her. That goes for you, ADN, and you, NYT, and you, WaPo, and many others. Can you look yourself in the mirror today? Keith Olbermann’s special comment is one of his most important.

Thanks to Regina and Patrick for responding so quickly, providing the forum for all of us that we very much need, and for posting the MSNBC interview with Giffords, in which she specifically mentioned being targeted by Palin, and how politicians (and others) at all points in the political spectrum have to speak out against violence. Congresswoman Giffords: “Sarah Palin has the crosshairs of a gun sight over our district and when people do that, they’ve gotta realize there are consequences to that action.”



Comments of the Week

Buffalogal: …she sees a tweet that not only uses a word that makes many reasonable people bristle but a tweet that also accuses detractors of the DADT repeal as being closeted gays - and she decides that THIS is the statement she wants to make to the world? Dear bots - Your queen is insane. I know, it's sad. I'm afraid it's time to find someplace safe and warm for her now, where she can live out her days.

Tan had an interesting long comment stemming from the recent disclosure that the caribou killed on SPAK was not gutted; here is a small part: Posing with the dead creature, gloatingly. Keeping gloating trophies of kills of wild animals with huge advantages for the human. Her attitude to the whole debacle. The blatant waste. Everything. Everything just screams a total lack of respect for living creatures.

Psalm023: Great recap - I think for those who visit the first time on Palingates, reading these well-researched accounts of all things Palin is turning the tide for SP. The integrity of the articles and the way they are presented speaks for those who are fed up and want honest reporting. I believe that the disillussioned readers of all brands are coming here for relief, hearing common sense mature presentation of the facts.

Maelewis: Sarah will only make a trip to a foreign country when the photo op has been arranged. What's the point of going somewhere if there isn't any publicity for Sarah. Also: Despite some Republicans commenting about Sarah's lack of qualifications to run for president, the Republicans still need her. She is good at raising money, energizing a crowd, and she will serve as an attack dog, saying the things that responsible, mature candidates can't say.

Jack Slater predicted her energy price tweet and then said: Same old mantra: KEEP FEAR ALIVE

Ginger50: I have never seen anyone make so much money speaking at charity events like the Palins. Most speakers donate their time and pay for their own expenses to advocate for the charity they are speaking for.

Cheeriogirl passed this along from HuffPo (part of longer post with more details):

Reagan increased our debt an average of 23% yearly...h e TRIPLED it from 934B to 2.6T (186%)
Bush increased our debt an average of 11% yearly...h e DOUBLED it from 5.7 to 10.6T (86%)
Obama increased our debt 10% in his first year from 10.6 to 12.3 trillion (to stop a great depression )

HighPeaks: If only the "radioactive" Ms. Palin had a half-life approaching that of Radium 216 (182 nanoseconds). As it is, I doubt if even sending her to Yucca Mountain would be enough to protect the rest of us from her toxic emissions. Later: When I look back at our founding fathers, it seems clear their original intent was to have a spirited, lively, intelligent, thoughtful discussion of issues, followed by compromise, and coming together in unity of purpose. I see nothing remotely resembling this original intent from 90 percent of the modern Republican party.

Sunnyjane reminded us of this gem from Sarah, the “energy expert”: Oil (of coal), of course, is a fungible commodity and they don’t flag, ya know, the molecules where, where it’s going to where it’s not but and in the, in the sense of the Congress today they know our very, very hungry domestic markets that need that oil first. So I believe that what Congress is going to do also is not to allow the export bans to such a degree that it’s Americans who get stuck holding the bag without the energy source that is produced here, pumped here, it’s gotta flow into our domestic markets first.

Aview999: Oh and SARAH? You WILL BE exposed. Maybe not today, tomorrow, this month or this year...but it WILL happen either ON or BEFORE you declare your candidacy. It will be A DAY OF CELEBRATION FOR PALINGATERS...as we've been WATCHING YOU SINCE THE BIG LIE. You will be EXPOSED for perpetrating THE BIG HOAX on the American public...and believe me, you'll be facing some PISSED OFF BOTS AND AMERICAN VOTERS.
You're going down girl...come hell or high water. :) :) :)

Myrtille2: Concerning Bruce's tweet I think she retweeted it by mistake but it would be worse for her to acknowledge that. It shows once more that she has to be kept away from buttons, especially the red one...

Jack Slater: Hi, my name is Bristol Palin. Thank you for having me here this evening to speak with you about abstinence. Now, don't do like I did and get knocked up. Stay pure cuz I said so. If people make fun of you, then tell all those bitch fag homos to STFU and give 'em the middle finger. Praise the Lord and God bless you. Thank you, for the $15,000 check.

The comments were ablaze with reports that Todd was linked to a massage parlor-prostitution sting. Another rumor is about an “embezzlement - misuse of money indictment.” Both unverified. But this is known: the massage therapist, Shailey Tripp (interesting name) pled no contest and was convicted in June on a charge of “Maintaining Place of Prostitution.”

Grasshopper: The thing I just can't get over is the fact that as embarrassing as her show is, why in gods name would she ever allow so many of these scenes to remain in the final edit. (the out takes must be hilarious)… So much of this show puts her in an obviously poor light. Why would she let these screw ups be seen by millions. Does she really believe they make her look good? If so, she's crazier than I thought.

Sunnyjane imagined what Mark Burnett might have said about a second season of SPAK: "If you sign Palin up for a second season, get yourself another man to work with her. She is stupid, her children are brats, and Todd has the personality of a melted Popsicle. I'm not doing it."

HighPeaks had a long, excellent comment; here is part: Nick Jans and Kathleen have together articulated one of the most thoughtful indictments of both Sarah Palin and the shallow state of the American political process I have ever read. Palin’s image is nothing more than that--an image cobbled together from an assortment of mindless, poorly-reasoned, shoot-from-the-hip talking points filtered, distilled, and honed through conservative focus-group testing… In SPAK, the magnificent Alaskan wilderness is just a prop… She openly mocks ideals of conservation or environmental protection while seeming to look upon the entire state as nothing more than her personal playground... Unfortunately, Ms. Palin is simply a reflection of some of the larger system’s workings in microcosm…

CaliGirl22 reposted the Manic Pixie Dream Girl message that Sarah retweeted; that is REALLY strange.

Leota2: …when someone who has a media following, was a governor of a state and really saw that this country is on the verge of right wing insanity puts democrats names under targets, EVERYONE should be asking themselves if that person should be a part of the national discourse— ever again.

Louiecypher: Scrub, Scrub, Scrub Sarah, fb, twitter, Op-Ed, still not gonna come off your hands, Oh how oh how to get that blood off of your hands?

AnonPoster: I've been a voter for four decades, and I've never seen the kind of immature, irresponsible rhetoric coming from a prominent politician during such unstable times in our country as what has been spewing from Palin's mouth. Remember the NYC Muslim Center controversy which Palin whipped up with her tweets and FB post? It took prominent generals in the military speaking against that type of rhetoric to get her to shut up because of the death threats to our soldiers on foreign soil!
WHEN ARE THE MEDIA GOING TO START DOING THEIR JOBS ON THIS VILE, IGNORANT WOMAN?!?!

Molly_WI: Jan Brewer, you could never have imagined this happening? Really? And it makes Arizona look bad? Ya THINK???

Lilly-lily: Well, the Rubicon has been crossed. We all knew something like this was inevitable given the hateful rhetoric that the vileness that Palin has been spouting for two years.

Inmylife: On the bottom of the screen it said sheriff said something like "Arizona has become a mecca for hatred and bigotry" (not sure about exact words) - no wonder the Palins want to move there!

Kevin Shinn quoted Teddy Roosevelt: "…it is a very natural thing that weak and vicious minds should be inflamed to acts of violence by the kind of awful mendacity and abuse that have been heaped upon me… they cannot, month in month out and year in and year out, make the kind of untruthful, of bitter assault that they have made and not expect that ...brutal and violent characters, especially when the brutality is accompanied by a not very strong mind; they cannot expect that such natures will be unaffected by it [...]"

As if Palin’s actions aren’t despicable enough, she had RAM lie about the crosshair symbol being a surveyor’s symbol. Lidia17, Patrick and others reminded us of Sarah’s earlier tweet, which proves that she absolutely meant it as a symbol of guns: “SarahPalinUSA: Remember months ago "bullseye" icon used 2 target the 20 Obamacare-lovin' incumbent seats? We won 18 out of 20 (90% success rate;T'aint bad)” BBT: honestly, sarah, i didn’t think you could sink any lower; you are a pitiful coward! RAM, you are a soulless mercenary; you can’t even own up to your own handiwork. You BOTH have blood on your hands.

Myrtilla: We will make no progress unless we face ugly truths about what has lead up to these murders. In order to have peace and healing, we must be honest about the actions, the climate, the rhetoric that surrounds us. We may never know exactly what motivated the shooter, but we do know that the words and actions which glorify violence must end.

Laprofesora: …Scarah Paylin quit her elected position because "frivolous" ethics complaints made her job too hard. And here we have Congresswoman Gifford receiving death threats, having her office vandalized and having the courage to face threats and continue to do her job to represent her constituents. THIS is what a "servant's heart" looks like, Scarah, you weasly piece of shit. If you had a shred of decency you would crawl under your bed and stay there until you are old and gray.

Leota2 (from a long comment): So to Mrs. Palin tapping out hate and bile on social networking sites, radio and FOX interviews in her homemade chattering studio; to radio personalities who vent bigotry and hate for money and listeners, to the overpaid talking television heads who flog lies and dress them as the truth hinting at conspiracies and danger because a black man is President, to the MSM who ignored what has been happening because that would have meant they had to stretch a brain cell or maybe get kicked in the ass by their corporate bosses, to all who did not vote because they don't feel it would have made any difference ----it is indeed, all of your faults.

Crystalwolfakacaligrl: …I am very certain the MSM or LSM can't give paylin a pass on this! But it took people to die for them to see how dangerous she is.

JCos: What's that on the palm of your hands, Palin? Those aren't words. That's blood.
There were MANY MORE brilliant and passionate comments…


Links of the Week

Austintxx linked to crooksandliars about Judith Miller’s comment on Julian Assange not verifying what he reported. I think I fell down the rabbit hole…

Sickntiredofpalin found this: “Palin, joined by Sen. Joe Lieberman, expressed her "heartfelt support for Israel" and spoke of the threats it faces from Iran and others, the campaign official said. She had planned a visit to the country in November of 2007, but had to cancel because of her pregnancy.” Amy1 and others called BS that she would cancel the trip at such an early stage of her faux pregnancy, but then go on the Wild Ride.

Sickntired also found another article (one of many) on the growing chorus of Republicans saying Palin is not electable.

Lillibird/cheeriogirl pointed out this story about the sleazy side of Alaskan dentistry and the connections to Thomas Van Flein.

ThanksABunchJohn: “Leadership is about staking out positions when it's difficult, not just when it's easy. Once again, it seems, Palin has taken the easy route."

Cheeriogirl: http://tinyurl.com/265bzvm Article 31 of the Iraqi Constitution, drafted by your right-wing Bushies in 2005 and ratified by the Iraqi people, includes state-guaranteed (single payer) healthcare for life for every Iraqi citizen.

Also this from WaPo on Tea Party and Constitution.

Cheeriogirl also passed this along from HuffPo (part of longer post with more details):

Reagan increased our debt an average of 23% yearly... h e TRIPLED it from 934B to 2.6T (186%) Bush increased our debt an average of 11% yearly... h e DOUBLED it from 5.7 to 10.6T (86%) Obama increased our debt 10% in his first year from 10.6 to 12.3 trillion (to stop a great depression )

Aview999 linked to Malia Litman on Palin: Feminist or Prostitute? and gave us a good chuckle. http://tinyurl.com/33w37zt She also linked to Andrew Sullivan on how Sarah vindicated Levi, proving herself to be a fraud as huntress/outdoorswoman.

Laprofesora, honestyingov and Patrick linked to ADN and USA Today on a similar theme.

Elizabeth44 pointed out an interesting article on rudeness on HuffPo.

BellPeppery: GOP to kill 32,000 Americans per year with their health-care repeal and it'll cost those Americans left alive $100 billion+?

Annes_123 reposted a good one from a few months back.

Linda1961 linked to HuffPo on Reading the Constitution.

KarenJ found this SP quiz on the Christian Science Monitor site (huh?).

Austintxx linked to AK Dispatch on Van Flein’s name being dropped from law firm.

Maelewis pointed out Cenk Uygur’s post on Sarah’s silence when Ann Coulter called him “retarded.”

Juicy76 found Malia Litman channeling Michele Bachmann.

Zane1: Matt Taibbi on the Crying Shame of John Boehner.

Juicyfruityy lined to politicususa on Sarah projecting her own desire to destroy America onto President Obama.

Cheeriogirl found a great link regarding implementation of HCR. Later, she found this on Fox News’ use of violent imagery.

TruGal former editor of ADN on the mystery of why the Tea Party likes Palin.

Honestyingov: 9 year old killed, Christina Green, was born on Sept. 11 2001.

Dusty17 linked to Malia Litman: Gabrielle Gifford Warned of the Terrorism Caused by Palin.

Regina found a link to an e-mail exchange between Beck and Palin in the wake of the Arizona shootings.


Tweets of the Week

Sunnyjane: @sarahpalinusa: Palin adopts and embraces Nazi propaganda tactics of the BIG LIE. See Palingates 1/2/11 post athttp://tinyurl.com/26ybyqw

Mmboucher: @SarahPalinUSA You do know if you plan to bring your prop, "Trig" overseas u have to have a birth certificate for a passport, even you?

And: @KagroX Republican lobbyists actually sell their clients filibusters now?

HonestyinGov: WHY does Todd RELY on MYSTIC OIL 4 Sponsor then? RT @SarahPalinUSA, Dependence on foreign oil: "@amsol >#Obama has done 2 raise gas prices

Guess what tweet @SarahPalinUSA just deleted? Here's your answer: http://bit.ly/hPV95O

demand @SarahPalinUSA take responsibility for her role in Rep #Giffords shooting http://act.ly/2y6 RT 2 sign #SarahViolence #Palin

dusty17: @DailyDish Re: "She has been made radioactive" http://tinyurl.com/39u4ya6 Should read "She made HERSELF radioactive" #Accountability please

Ah Very Nice News: No 2nd season of @SPAlaska 4 our favorite QUITTER @SarahPalinUSA.http://tinyurl.com/2fsacaz Stabs at the heart-LOL

WOW @SarahPalinUSA & @SPAlaska is FINE!---> F(ucked up) I(nsecure) N(eurotic) & E(motional)<-----(Gotta Luv Beardog321 @palingates )

@TLC We all tried to tell you @SarahPalinUSA was bad news. But no, all you saw were $$$$$ signs. Was it worth it @SPAlaska?

Aview999 found this: #Trig Palin Jan 4th, 2011 | 3:45 pm Why is my mom so stupid?

Aview also awaited a response to Ann Coulter’s tweet: @AnnCoulter Ann Coulter
Great video: head of GOProud interviewed by retarded person on MSNBC - http://bit.ly/h1mvwq

Palin’s response: [crickets]
Tyroanee: From the Belly of the Plane @SarahPalinUSA tweets from her Straight Jacket...Piper it must need re-tightening, could you lend mommy a hand?

palingates Joy Behar's panel unanimously decides: Sarah Palin was the "most annoying person in 2010" http://is.gd/kbGlf@sarahpalinusa

palingates "The importance of being homo" - Tammy Bruce and Sarah Palin http://is.gd/kbGlf @sarahpalinusa

ProChoiceGrandma: Exclusive: Discovery, Catholic Church team for exorcism series http://t.co/jhzIKkO via @EW @SarahPalinUSA first demon to be exorcised #p2

BellPeppery: @SarahPalinUSA Your amnesia on economic events mirrors your amnesia about where you "delivered" Trig. http://tiny.cc/oq54a

KatieAnnieOakley/Juicy76: When the Motor City Madman that has a huge crush on U refudiates U, it's time 2 say "thanks, but no thanks" on your presidential run. #TLOC

ProChoiceGrandma (picking up on Kathleen’s post): @SarahPalinUSA is subtle as proverbial sledgehammer w/aim 2 B controversial 2 guarantee she is discussed.http://tinyurl.com/2up8aso #P2

Cheeriogirl wants action: Advertisers beware, we will NOT support Fox inciting HATE filled rhetoric & LIES. Can we stop them? YES WE CAN! Contact @STOPBECK 4 details.

HIG quoting Roger Ebert: Sarah Palin rummages online frantically erasing her rabble-rousing Tweets like a Stalinist trimming non-persons out of photos.

HIG also posted this: @daveweigel here's the video http://gocl.me/gs4FDq FOX News abruptly cuts away from 'Giffords vigil' when Palin's name is mentioned.

And this: Toby Ziegler .@Jrog83 Only one politician needed to scrub her facebook & twitter accounts today. But I'm sure that was simply a coincidence.

Sjkfromthebellyoftheplane: @glennbeck @sarahpalinusa dont turn on the burner and pretend to be surprised when the pot boils over

Sunnyjane: @sarahpalinusa: It’s no “coincidence” that your hate-filled rantings are responsible for the injuries & deaths on Jan. 8, 2011. U R GUILTY!

Bluerinse: @SarahPalinUSA So how's that QUITing your job "to advocate for National Security" thingy working out for ya? #dontretreatRESIGN #p2b #palin

@MicheleBachmann wants 'those responsible prosecuted…full extent of law'. Same #rwnj who said "I want my people armed & dangerous"


The Last Word


Nycgirl found this:

"Right now somewhere in... the world
A Jew is saying his prayers,
A Hindu is chanting a mantra and a
...Buddhist is kneeling at her sacred shrine.
Right now at this very moment someone is
Lighting a Candle in a Cathedral
Someone is making their haj toward Mecca
For it is the will of Allah,
And someone else is lighting a fire in a jungle
Repeating an ancient mystical drama.
Many, Many pathways up the mountaintop
And the View is always the same from the summit!

In the Dawning of the Spiritual Sun
For a moment all faiths became as One.
The Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, Jew
Became as One and somehow knew
That Mystic Voice that calls to me
O yonder, yonder person I Am Thee!"

~Sharron Stroud
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