Are you damning with faint praise or just damning? When did Rush’s finances become your business? God bless him for using his talents to do well for himself by educating us. His acquisition of wealth does not diminish your opportunity for the same. Remember, the pie keeps getting bigger…until Obama takes over. Then the pie will get stinky and overrun with bugs.

SKYFOX on October 14, 2008 at 6:07 AM

Your response would be great if the comment to which you replied was the only one I made. You are responding to a response, not my initial statement.

Right after posting I was the victim of a random act of violence by a liquor bottle. It had me pinned to deck.

Limerick on October 14, 2008 at 9:28 AM

“Violence” much needed these days. We need you sober, shortly.

BKennedy, try addressing the substance of my take rather than posting inane and childish taunts. It makes for more interesting dialogue.

dakine on October 14, 2008 at 11:03 AM

Your take had no substance, Mr. Astroturfer.

This is a question of whether conservatives are treating Palin as if she can do no wrong and anyone who criticizes her is an elitist and/or a liberal, and I think some are.

CherokeeJack on October 14, 2008 at 9:26 AM

I agree. Regarding the MacDonald piece, I would prefer to see Palin eliminate what I expect would seem like “teen-speak” to everyone here if it were coming from anyone else. This isn’t a matter of authenticity–Palin would connect with crowds if she polished her speaking a bit, because sound ideas, particularly that of getting government off our backs, will resonate with most Americans. It’s just not an either-or proposition–she can rid herself of language habits that do not show her to her best advantage (and really, does anyone here think that “like, this” serves her well?) and she can be genuine and charming and connect with an audience.

I enjoyed it.

CherokeeJack on October 14, 2008 at 7:02 AM

This argument keeps coming up. All states no matter their land mass or population face the same problems. She seems to be doing a good job of steward-ship for Alaska.

BKennedy, try addressing the substance of my take rather than posting inane and childish taunts. It makes for more interesting dialogue.

dakine on October 14, 2008 at 11:03 AM

Try posting more than ridiculous hyperbole. There is no reasoned response to “Religious fundamentalist! Authoritarian populist!”

She is neither. Although with an 80+% approval rating, I guess you could say she has a cult following in Alaska. If actually, you know, supporting life in all its stages and using all of America’s energy resources is populist, sign me up please.

The religious fundamentalist in this race is Barack Obama. His religion is Black Liberation Theology, and he’s funded millions of taxpayer dollars to that end, both at the Chicago Annenburg Challenge and as the Jr. Senator from Illinois.

The authoritarian in this race is Barack Obama, though he’s Marxist moreso than populist. Between his Truth Squads, Obama Youth, and community organizer associates, he’s the authoritarian you should worry about.

Equality may perhaps be a right, but no power on earth can ever turn it into a fact.

Tav on October 14, 2008 at 3:29 AM

You don’t understand what equality means. I don’t blame you, we’re a more materialistic society.

But equality is one of the mind. All men have the ability to think, to reason. That’s Jefferson’s equality. We all are born equal and we are endowed by the Creator to make what of it we will.

Palin’s a phony and a blithering idiot. She’s certainly no conservative. A religious fundamentalist and an authoritarian populist, but by no means a conservative. Buckley, Hitchens, Allison, Brooks, etc. are all spot on. As a true Goldwater/Reagan conservative, I’m embarrassed by Palin and the current state of the Republican party and the conservative movement.

dakine on October 14, 2008 at 10:35 AM

You can go back to your cave now, David Brooks.

Palin, on the other hand is 100% social conservative, and something less that 100% fiscal conservative. Am I wrong? (I usually am)

neuquenguy on October 14, 2008 at 8:57 AM

Just as in any other political ideology, there are different strokes of libertarian. I would actually put Sarah Palin more in the category of “Western or Rural Conservatism” which puts a great emphasis on individual liberty and responsibility as well as strong moral values. In her life, she is very much a social conservative, but at the same time, she governs within the laws and does not attempt to circumvent the legislative process.

Equality may perhaps be a right, but no power on earth can ever turn it into a fact.

Tav on October 14, 2008 at 3:29 AM

God Tav. you’re like the Debbie Downer version of fortune cookies.

I guess Governor Palin couldn’t get a job at a think tank.

sorry about the silence. Right after posting I was the victim of a random act of violence by a liquor bottle. It had me pinned to deck.

Blake on October 14, 2008 at 9:07 AM

This isn’t a question of whether anyone should vote for Obama. Everyone with a functional brain has already figured out that he’s bad for the country. This is a question of whether conservatives are treating Palin as if she can do no wrong and anyone who criticizes her is an elitist and/or a liberal, and I think some are.

So just because Obama got a free pass from his supporters, that means Palin should get one from us? I don’t quite grasp this logic.

CherokeeJack on October 14, 2008 at 6:41 AM

No, we are saying that if you want higher taxes, increased spending, our enemies to view as weak (every terrorist nation and murdering thug endorses him), a socialist, a person who does not respect the First Amendment and seeks to silence his critics anyway he can including by intimidation and illegally, then vote for obama.

Only the most helplessly, hopelessly soured could resist that ability.

And if Heather wants to criticize someone for their speech, she has to look no further than obama who can’t string two words together without an ah, eh, uh. He always stalls before speaking because he is a deer in the headlights. And since he has no original thoughts, he will state a position and have to back pedal from it the next day. Heather is just another partisan hack. And I am going to write all the producers and hosts of the radio stations I listen to and ask them not to have her as a guest.

Thank you! We libertarian Republicans have been telling you conservatives this for years: Sarah Palin is a libertarian

Someone set me straight. From what I understand about libertarians (mostly from listening to Boortz) they align with fiscal conservatism and social liberalism (govenmant out of our bedrooms, decriminalize drugs, and all that).
Palin, on the other hand is 100% social conservative, and something less that 100% fiscal conservative. Am I wrong? (I usually am)

Sarah Palin is the political love child of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher.

ManlyRash on October 14, 2008 at 8:35 AM

Yes! (Good work, Mr. Rash!)

Like Harry Truman, she is plain-spoken, and Americans instinctively recognize that with both, “The buck stops here.” The electorate value a politician whose rhetoric and actions do not collide and do not obfuscate a hidden or deceitful message. Palin does not incorporate movie scripts and “just words” and coded language and slick Marxist appeals to the perpetually aggrieved. She has not surrounded herself with surrogates pulling her strings and disguising or shaping her intent.

In spite of the best (and maliciously superficial) efforts of the media and opponents to smear or detract her, she has a remarkable record of achievements in executive positions and in business. The snake-oil salesman Obama, not at all; he has been given a pass because the gatekeepers prefer to be dazzled with bullsh*t. Fortunately, discerning voters have built-in bullsh*t detectors and prefer the genuine straight talk of Governor Palin.

Unless they have been pampered into passivity through government nannyism, Americans intuitively champion people like Palin, who have clear goals, a solid work ethic, a resume of walking the talk, a spirit of independence, and optimism.

Sarah Palin is not a machine politician, shaped by handlers and an overweeing ambition. She says that her task has been to serve the people. In that statement alone, she understands the role that our forefathers envisioned in the formation of our representative republic.

Sarah Palin is the modern living incarnation of Ayn Rand. – ericdondero on October 13, 2008 at 11:43 PM

Not even close, Eric. Rand was an atheist who, most likely, would have aborted Trig. Sarah Palin is the political love child of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher.