Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Weekend Warriors

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  • Mark Harris,

    FTA

    Palin Left Behind Almost $19 Million In Long-Term Debt, Compared to None Before She Was Mayor.

    And she got $27m in earmarks for Wasilla? Which means a spend of at least $36m over 6 years

    In a town of (at the time) 5000 people.

    Unbelievable

    Waikanae • Since Jul 2008 • 1343 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Wait, we're picking on Obama now for his kids being too young to serve in anything other than a school play? Kay...

    Yeah, and if O'Sullivan really wants to go there doesn't Palin's son (and every other serviceman and woman) deserve people sitting in on national security briefings who can bring a little more to the table than invoking "God's will"? Earlier this year, Palin gave an interview where she admitted that she didn't really know anything about the surge other than what she picked up off the TV news but (of course) she was absolutely and unconditionally supportive. I'm still looking for any evidence that Palin has shown any interest in foreign affairs, let alone delivered a substantive policy speech. Like Biden or not (and I suspect Fran doesn't), you can't say the guy is a lightweight or clueless after thirty four years on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

    Come on, Fran...

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Oh cool. I heard the Alaska Dems' vetting documents on Palin were good, but I hadn't had time to go through them.

    And what really spooks me is either the Alaska Democrats vetted Palin more thoroughly when she ran for Governor two years ago than the McCain team did, before putting her up for Vice President of the United States.

    Or they did, and coldly and cynically don't care. Vagina trumps competence. Vagina trumps credibility. And everything is hinging on the idea that enough people believe that being ready for Oprah is the same thing as being competent to (potentially) occupy the Oval Office.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    Post RNC bounce or whatever, Gallup has McPalin 3 points ahead today

    Will it last...maybe not but it's a big jump from 5 points down a week ago.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    I'm going to stay out of the rape-as-metaphor discussion as others have already pointed out how inappropriate it is.

    This passage:

    I wish I'd never written that article. Not because I agree with all the criticism, but because I unwittingly pressed a button which unleashed the toxic nature of this country.

    is also infruriating also.

    Not only does she eschew any responsibility for her errors, not only was she unfairly criticised, but the whole country is full of bubbling bile. What complete bollocks.

    I don't like Coddington's work; I think it's crappy and populist and usually under-researched (her advocacy for vouchers in education doesn't extend to having insight into how they'd improve learning outcomes for instance). I have no difficulty with her being roundly criticised for that - her editors too.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Post RNC bounce or whatever, Gallup has McPalin 3 points ahead today

    Will it last...maybe not but it's a big jump from 5 points down a week ago.

    Well, I'd argue if you don't get a bounce like that after a week of dominating the news cycle -- including network coverage that's effectively unpaid advertising -- you've reached quantum levels of incompetence. :)

    It will be interesting to see, however, whether it will be sustained or whether the novelty value of Palin wears off.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Will it last...maybe not but it's a big jump from 5 points down a week ago.

    It will not, but by the time the bounce dissipates they might be roughly where they were before the conventions, and that's an absolutely fantastic result for McCain.

    This ain't enough to shake my confidence in the final result, and that offer of a friendly wager is still open :-)

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Bob Munro,

    Post RNC bounce or whatever, Gallup has McPalin 3 points ahead today

    Will it last...maybe not but it's a big jump from 5 points down a week ago.

    Fivethirtyeight analyses the RNC bounce.

    Christchurch • Since Aug 2007 • 418 posts Report Reply

  • LegBreak,

    One thing that baffles / annoys me is the way that right-of-centre commentators (including Paul Holmes) keep going on about how hot Palin is.

    Even ignoring the sexism of that, I just can’t see what they see…

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    One thing that baffles / annoys me is the way that right-of-centre commentators (including Paul Holmes) keep going on about how hot Palin is.

    I don't see it either -- personally, I'd rather fuck John McCain (thought the lights would have to be off for that three minutes of bliss), but different strokes and so on. :)

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    that offer of a friendly wager is still open :-)

    up here in the land of rule-of-law gambling is very illegal (aside of course from the roosters one sees everywhere, which a policeman said are 'just for display' now...oh and the top floor in a hotel that everyone except that police knows is a casino, despite the fact they are seen 'checking' it regularly) so I need to be careful :)

    But I am also very open to suggestions.....

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    One thing that baffles / annoys me is the way that right-of-centre commentators (including Paul Holmes) keep going on about how hot Palin is.

    Salon got it right (but icky) when they said "The GOP is playing the Oedipal card"...

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • Angus Robertson,

    The ultimate Palin rumour aggregation site is up and running. 69 and counting.

    (Craig Ranapia: please do not visit above link as rumours are couched in dismissive terms that might cause tenseness, plus you seem to have at least as good a source elsewhere.)

    Auckland • Since May 2007 • 984 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    But I am also very open to suggestions.....

    I wasn't thinking of something as crass as money, but, you know, being an expat perhaps there's something I could send you (although I'm sure you visit often), and equally in Bali there might be something of modest monetary value but able to symbolically rekindle the joy I felt the day when the United States elected their first black president...

    Or we could have a PA wide American election pool, and the winner gets to spend a weekend in Paris with Russell.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    (Craig Ranapia: please do not visit above link as rumours are couched in dismissive terms that might cause tenseness, plus you seem to have at least as good a source elsewhere.)

    Um, Angus, what "rumour" was involved in my pointing out Palin attends a church whose pastor is prone to (in my view) apocalyptically over-wrought preaching every bit as obnoxious as Jeremiah Wright's. Where the text and audio links to the sermon I cited forged? Or is this just another case where the GOP can't handle the truth?

    In the end, I don't really give a shit where Sarah Palin and Barack Obama spend their Sunday mornings. I do, however, think people who are quite happy to use religion as an offensive political weapon should reap what they sow. Or at the very least, be held to exactly the same standards they preach to others. Jesus did have a wee bit to say about hypocrites, after all.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    I wasn't thinking of something as crass as money, but, you know, being an expat perhaps there's something I could send you (although I'm sure you visit often)

    And the nagging thought I have is that McCain is still way behind in electoral votes..the bounce, from the various analysis I've seen looks like it's coming from white working class males in states that that were red already..the sort that thinks she's 'hot' y'know.

    We can agree on a wager and work out the detail later...trust is a wonderful thing. I do however trust that if I put my faith in McCain wining, it gives Obama a leg up, as I'm forever the pessimist and often happily proved wrong.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    But, Angus, thanks for keeping us up on the play.

    It's "slurs and rumours" to point to a sermon by Palin's pastor -- one posted and publicly available on the church's website -- and wonder why that kind of rhetoric is getting a pass from the very people who went nuclear over similar rhetoric from Obana's ex-pastor.

    It's a "vicious assault" to ask any questions about Sarah Palin's record in public office - including serious and credible allegations that she abused executive power.

    It's "sexist" (at least according to Geraldine Ferraro) to ask whether the Republican base would be quite so forgiving and supportive of unmarried pregnant teens whose mothers aren't the GOP veep nom.

    In fact, it seems you become an honourary member of the "liberal media" if you show any degree of scepricism, or critical analysis of the great white hope of the GOP at all.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Grant McDougall,

    One thing that baffles / annoys me is the way that right-of-centre commentators (including Paul Holmes) keep going on about how hot Palin is.

    Apparently the Republicans have been screaming "sexism" whenever Palin gets asked a hard question, yet they were happy enough to have button badges saying "Hottest VP, Coolest state" at their convention.

    Also, there's a fair bit of typical GOP hypocrisy going on: it's "sexist" to attack palin, but not "racist" for them to attack Obama, it would appear.

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    We can agree on a wager and work out the detail later...trust is a wonderful thing.

    Done. I like trust.

    I do however trust that if I put my faith in McCain wining, it gives Obama a leg up, as I'm forever the pessimist and often happily proved wrong.

    My other bet thus far is a lunch at Maria Pia's, and my counterpart there has already said she'd be more than happy to pay that kind of price to secure that kind of outcome. If I lose, on other hand, it's a double whammy. (Which is why I chose that particular restaurant - food that good will never taste bitter).

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • 81stcolumn,

    I know this is not in the spirit of the thread but can we avoid using quantum as a term of reference. Being of a vaguely scientific presuasion I get quite confused by its use. My understanding suggests it means something very small.......

    Nawthshaw • Since Nov 2006 • 790 posts Report Reply

  • andrew llewellyn,

    and the winner gets to spend a weekend in Paris with Russell.

    Not a weekend in Russell with Paris?

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I know this is not in the spirit of the thread but can we avoid using quantum as a term of reference.

    Fair enough -- my use of the q-word in that context was pretentious and imprecise. I should have said something like "fundamental incompetence."

    Now, if I was Coddington I'd have gone on a rip about being gang banged by pedantic Science Nazis. :)

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • 81stcolumn,

    FWIW. Greed is as greed does and looks to my eye, there is nothing attractive about it...or indeed her.

    Nawthshaw • Since Nov 2006 • 790 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    But, Angus, thanks for keeping us up on the play.

    And it's Bad McCain if he extends the half truth, intended to mislead, about the ebay aircraft to turn a hefty loss into a profit.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • 81stcolumn,

    Now, if I was Coddington I'd have gone on a rip about being gang banged by pedantic Science Nazis. :)

    Heh - Which wouldn't be unlike the student work I am marking at the moment.

    Nawthshaw • Since Nov 2006 • 790 posts Report Reply

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