Here is another link to Billo, that would not embed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtxDs3Rk_vE
Sorry, you will have to cut and paste for now.
Tag Archive for 'sarah palin'
Once again James Williams (GriftDrift) and I, engage in vain musings about the ups and downs of politics, national and state. If our predictions turn out to be correct, America will be as surprised as we are! But there is hope, hope this will all be over in 12 days.
Summarizing an interview with James is like walking through a chicken coop, there is just too much stuff out there to see it all. Thus, I suggest you listen to this one, if you really want to get the flavor of James’ keen insight into all things political. Me? I am just there for the ride, mostly.
We do cover the implosion of the McCain/Palin campaign, if it can still be called a campaign. It’s just too bad that somewhere between this year and last year, McCain lost his mind. The interview with Brian Williams ought to be interesting.
And then there is the Georgia political scene with hints of a massive voter turnout. Everyone reports that early voting lines are heavy and seem to favor the Democrats. Obama has a chance to carry Georgia, but McCain still leads in the polls. The question is how accurate are the polls this year? It may all depend on voter turnout and the under 30 voters. At least Georgia is not a “red” state. On most maps we are now pink, which doesn’t exactly please any of us.
James thinks Jim Martin has a slightly better chance to beat Saxby Chambliss than Obama has to carry the state. James commented on Martin’s aggressive campaigning this time around, something that he has not been know for. According to Pollster.com, it is dead even. It is just too close to call.
And then there are 3 Congressional races: Jim Marshall (D), the incumbent, went out on a limb when he voted for the baleout. His opponent, Rick Goddard (R), made it a big issue in their debate. James attributes Marshall’s vote on the baleout as a vote of consceince, something he thought was best for the country even though he might suffer for it in the election. I regret that I was not able to get interviews with either Marshall or Goddard.
In the 10th we have Republican incumbent Paul Broun, whom James believes will win against his Democratic challenger, Bobby Saxon. I interviewed both Broun and Saxon. Broun is a sound bite Republican, who does not, in my opinion, understand the function of government.
James did not have much to say about the 12th Congressional District. He believes that John Barrow, the Democratic incumbent (who voted against the baleout), will prevail over challenger John Stone in a “not as close as last time” race.
There is plenty more in the interview, but in an effort to get this posted timely, I will just have to let you listen for yourself.
One thing is for sure, Sarah Palin has everyone talking. I realize she is a politician, which means she will probably say just about anything to get elected, but I am just not accustomed to a woman with a “smart” mouth. I don’t think it is becoming.
Anyway, I wondered whether she was like that before getting the big head as a Vice Presidential candidate, so I decided to see if I could get someone in Alaska to talk to me about the Sarah they know, the Sarah who is Governor of the state nearest Russia. In this interview with Beth Kertulla I find out that Sarah has undergone a change since being selected as McClain’s running mate. Beth is a Democrat and is the Minority Leader in the Alaska House of Representatives. Her father served in the Alaska legislature and Beth has now served for 10 years or so.
According to Beth, Sarah did reach across the aisle and work with Democrats to work out a new deal on royalties paid by oil companies. Alaska gets money for every barrel of oil pumped out of the ground. They get so much money from oil production that the state has no sales tax, no state property tax or income tax. A few fees and registrations maybe, but that is it. Man, what a state! However, this also means that when Sarah Palin claims credit for cutting taxes in Alaska, she is not talking about much because there ain’t any! Maybe in a city like Wasilla.
However, as Beth points out, the Democrats had led this fight for years. The Republicans in the Alaska legislature were buddied up with the oil companies and so in order to get anything changed, Sarah had to court Democratic support.
The most interesting comment by Beth was her observation that the voice of Sarah Palin to which Tina Fey has become accustomed, is not the voice that Alaskans are familiar with. It seems Sarah has developed an accent she never had before! Now, that is just plain spooky.
Beth also says that a lot of people are horrified at the image Sarah is creating. They even have rallies solely for the purpose of protesting against Sarah. I don’t think I have ever seen such a thing since the Vietnam War.
It also seems that Sarah is taking a lot of credit for things where someone else was the motivating force, like in divesting Alaskan investment in Darfur! Now, who would have thought that a nice Republican like Sarah Palin would claim credit where credit was not due?
Beth also made it clear that when Russia’s Putin does fly over Alaskan air space, no one calls the Governor for permission. Also, Palin did support the Bridge to No Where, but opposed it when she got elected. Not that that should matter since she kep the money the government sent Alaska for the bridge they didn’t build.
According to Beth, if Sarah and McCain don’t win, Sarah may have some things to answer for when she resumes her duties as Governor. Apparently, the people of Alaska think Sarah has changed.
This is really one of the most interesting interviews I have ever had. Thanks Beth and more power to you and the Democrats in the Alaska legislature.
Watching Sarah Palin last night brought to my memory a Proverb. I am not sure why I remembered it, but I seem to recall a discussion in a Bible study group years ago. Anyway, here goes.
If you think Sarah Palin is just a good ole girl, down home, and straight forward, well, you should consider Proverbs 16:30 - Those who wink with their eyes are plotting perversity; those who purse their lips are bent on evil. (NIV)
The King James Version says: He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass…
The Message: A shifty eye betrays an evil intention; a clenched jaw signals trouble ahead.
And, if you are interested, I got this off the internet from Crosswalk.com.
As you can see, I have just been too, too busy lately and have not posted a lot of recent interviews. Don’t worry, they are coming, but a guy has to make a living. Nonetheless, when James Williams (GriftDrift) is the guest, I just have to make that extra effort.
After almost two weeks of political conventions, there is enough to talk about, but after Palin’s unveiling, there is only one thing to chew on: the pitbull with lipstick. James does a much better job of putting all of this into the proper perspective than those pin-heads on the networks.
You will have to listen to this one if you want to appreciate real political analysis, but here are a few highlights:
First, is there a time warp at the RNC? They seem to be blaming everything from energy/oil, the economy, deficit spending and bigger government on the people in power–as if it ain’t been them for 7 years! Reality check, please!
And everytime these people said they respected Hillary and thought Obama was a great guy, I wanted to gag. I never cease to be amazed at the depth of their insincerity.
Does Obama have the experience to be President? Yep! Does Palin? The jury is still out.
Is McCain brillant is choosing Palin? Only time will tell, but it is a risky move by the Maverick. I don’t think women are fooled by the choice into thinking that any woman in any position in the White House, even a right-wing Republican, is better than none.
What is off limits? Pregnant daughter? Working woman? Neglecting family responsibilities? A child with disabilities? (But, can you hear the right-wing outrage if a Democratic mother chose work over family? I thought that was the breakdown of the family all those people thought had ruined America. FLIP-FLOP!)
And fair game: experience to step into the shoes of the oldest guy to be elected president.
Yes, Palin hit it out of the park. I would vote for her in a minute for “National Reader.” She could read everyone’s speech, including McCain’s when he has to go to bed early. She could read bills in the Senate. Maybe even have a regular podcast and read the newspaper to the nation. Yes, she can certainly read a prepared speech which she did not write.
But, as James points out, Palin has yet to be vetted. There are only 2 months for Americans to get to know her. Two months for her to explain that she did support the Bridge to Nowhere, even though she denied it in her speech. It is going to be two intense months for Sarah Palin.
I don’t oppose Sarah Palin because of who or what she is as an individual. I oppose her because of the misguided policies of a party that talks about smaller government and has spent us into more debt and larger government that any prior administration. I oppose her because she has no intention of building bi-partisanship–she’s a pit bull and pit bulls don’t do that! I oppose her because she is part of a party that lies and decieves us without shame or apology when the lie is exposed.
There was a time when i thought John McCain was a different kind of politician. His conduct during this campaign has proven to me that he will do anything, pander to any group, say anything and choose an inexperienced person for VP if it pleases “the base,” whatever it takes to be elected. If elected, the only thing McCain is going to change is absolutely nothing!
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