I'm sure I'm not the only male in America who, when Palin dropped her first wink, sat up a little straighter on the couch and said, "Hey, I think she just winked at me." And her smile. By the end, when she clearly knew she was doing well, it was so sparkling it was almost mesmerizing. It sent little starbursts through the screen and ricocheting around the living rooms of America. This is a quality that can't be learned; it's either something you have or you don't, and man, she's got it.
Rich Lowry at TNR.
Had I written this, I would not sign my name to it. In fact, I'd probably write it in my diary with the lock on it. In reference to it, Keith Olbermann used the m-word right there on the evening news.
Whatever it is that she has, I don't want it. And now this is my last post on the debate - I think.
UPDATE: There it is. The wink that "sent little starbursts through the screen and ricocheting around the living rooms of America".
UPDATE 2: Oyster's naughty question for Rich Lowry:
[Ummm... "sent little starbursts through the screen"? Did you "return fire", there, Richie?]
Thankee for the linkee, big guy.
"Hey, I think he just w-nked at her."
ReplyDeleteAlf, you're a beast.
ReplyDeleteBless you, Alf Hartigan, whoever you are.
ReplyDeleteOTOH, maybe she's got a tic.
I saw someone discussing the winking on t.v., after showing a tape compiling all the winks in the debate. I can't recall whether it was CNN or MSNBC, but they went on to mention those stupid dial-meters given the undecided focus group, when the positive ratings for the men in the group shot up with the winks -- but not the women.
ReplyDeleteI really think Palin's American-Idol performances appeal more to men (at least the so-called straight ones) than women.
For a humorous, politically incorrect essay on how most women really respond to Palin, see Time.
Klady, of course you could be right. Good link there at Time. We are all still in high school. I don't hate her, but I don't think she's all that pretty, either. (Sniff)
ReplyDeleteWhat gives me hope is that there are more of us than them (the guys). That worked against Kerry, but it could work for Obama. I say put her out there. But they won't, except in carefully scripted and arranged appearances.
I just thought she had something in her eye.
ReplyDeleteWell, yes, we know who the real beauty is when it comes to librarians!
ReplyDeleteAnd you're a better human being than me. I guess "hate" is a strong word, but I'm feeling none too friendly to her right now that I've read she's said:
" "This is not a man who sees America as you and I do: as the greatest force for good in the world," Palin said at a fundraising event in Colorado, according to a statement released by the McCain-Palin campaign. "This is someone who sees American as imperfect enough to pal around with terrorists who targeted their own country." "
From CNN.
I sure have to bite my tongue to keep the female-dog word from coming out before "lying."
I'm afraid it's all going to get much worse before it gets better. Let's hope enough people are fed up with those who will sink as low as Palin is with the long-discredited Ayers smear.
Rmj, I take it that you're not Joe Six-pack writing under an assumed name.
ReplyDeleteKlady, I have to hope that at some point this sort of despicable attack will backfire. If the economy were not in the tank, perhaps not, but trying to deflect attention from the financial pressures that face so many voters today with this crap is not going to work. Or so I hope.
LOL.
ReplyDeleteYeah, even I "noticed" it. (Along with: "Can I call you "Joe"? "Yes."). errrm.
What's that psalm that has to do with enemies winking at each other? I just can't come up with it right now.
Does she really think that America is the "greatest force for good in the world"? Yikes. I don't think the rest of the world thinks so. In this country pit bulls must be muzzled and fenced by law. I think they should be neutered. That one wears too much lipstick. The Ayers smear was ridiculous and I can't believe anyone over there could fall for it. She makes me cringe, she's a winking silly tart and I can't stand her. And the winking "debate" in which she didn't participate, was just another demonstration of her silliness.
ReplyDeleteI don't see much traction with the Ayers business. After all, at age 51, I only have the vaguest recollection of the Weathermen, and I suspect most of the country would have the check Wikipedia to make any sense of it. Slurs which you have to check on Google don't work. The real facts too easily come out. Plus, it's too much work.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry that so many folks will suffer through hard times, but were it not for the dreadful state of the economy, I could not have hope at all. I doubt the two wars alone would be enough to turn the country away from voting for McCain/Palin. We will see ugliness in the next few weeks, but let's hope the media will do their jobs and let go of their lame attempts to be "fair and balanced" about lying.
ReplyDeleteScott, is Sarah turning you straight? If so, she'll have her work cut out for her if she loses.
ReplyDeleteI dated a few "Joe Sixpacks" a long time ago; a machinist, a carpenter, an electrician...
ReplyDeleteCouunterlight, she's insulting Joe Six-Pack. Ann and Paul (A.) both sent me this article, and I think it makes quite good sense.
ReplyDeleteOh my, I must be Joe Sixpack too. I didn't exactly come from royalty.
ReplyDeleteThe article is spot on. I also think terms like "Middle America" and "Mainstreet" and "The Heartland" are more than a little patronizing.
In my years (long ago) of dating up and down the American class ladder, I've discovered that there's no such thing as a "simple" man, and that these demographic generalizations are all rot.
Paul (A.) sent me a link to this post by DavidKC at Kos on what some folks in rural Missouri think of Palin.
ReplyDeleteI agree with DavidKC. I think her whole schtick is very patronizing and transparently cynical. I'm glad the "target demographic" recognized that they were being played.
ReplyDeleteLike I say, she may be parochial-minded and incurious, but she's as ambitious for power as the Empress Livia in a certain series of Robert Graves novels. She ran Wasilla like an old time city boss. I agree with the blogger Digby who calls her Bush's clone, except I think she's smarter and tougher than he is.
I agree with those saying that she seemed to have something in her eye. It might have been a mote, but I think it more likely it was a beam.
ReplyDeleteBruce that is laugh-out-loud funny. That's the acid test, you know, and you passed with flying colors.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to my blog.
Now I don't think there's anything wrong with how Pain looks. Rather pretty in a middle-aged, soccer/hockey mom way (and being the age I am, that's whom I'm attracted too ;)
ReplyDeleteThe problem is that Palin's gestalt is that of the secondary school "popular, pretty girl" who never got over herself. Arrogant, more than a bit tawdry, manipulative, intellectually shallow, and sure that all good things will come to her because, you know...she deserves them for being who she is.
So Sarah Palin with a completely different, and more decent, personality would be an attractive person. But as it stands, I was over that by the end of middle school... :P
All I could think of was the first act of Tales of Hoffmann and the man who fell in love with "un automat." Not the kind that used to dispense slices of pie for a nickel (those were the days!), but the robotic enunciation of catch-phrases and the glazed look. Personally, I found terror lurking behind those eyes, when I saw a human emotion at all. Dieu nous benisse!
ReplyDeleteDavid! Get with the program. Alas! Some of the men in my family think the same as you. Not Grandpère, or, if he does, he'd better not ever tell me. He'd never have a moment's peace.
ReplyDeleteTobias, her performance was unforgettable. I've never seen anything quite like it. She makes Tina Fey appear nearly normal. How do you parody someone who is a parody of herself?
A very pro-Palin woman at work gave me a sour look and said, "Man! You really hate her, dontcha?!"
ReplyDeleteI responded, "'Hate' is a really strong word! And, yes."
Mark, "hate" is a strong word. I don't hate her, but I do hate that she fools a lot of folks. I find that downright scary.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry, beloved Grandmère, she ain't foolin' me for one second ;)
ReplyDeleteI think the problem might be understanding what I mean by "pretty." In this case, it's just a sort of "nice looking, if she didn't open her mouth or otherwise reveal anything about her personality." That sort of "pretty" is OK in a shallow, fleeting sort of way - but not something I value highly.
Now if I consider that someone is gorgeous, they need to have depth, character, and such. Be as "beautiful inside as they are on the outside."
You know, like you, PJ, Eileen, Doxy... ;)
David, (blushing) all is forgiven, love. Your flattery is irresistible. See. I have my moments, too
ReplyDeleteI have to be honest, Mimi, I do hate her - it's a result of the extreme fear I have of her and the angry mob that she and McCain are inciting to violence.
ReplyDeleteI believe - honestly believe - that he is mad as a hatter and she is evil, not just does evil, but has fallen into evil so far it's her home. I realize this opens me to well-deserved criticism. Perhaps, I'm just hoping someone can convince me otherwise.
I honestly fear for this country, and for all of us. How can we get out if they're elected? Where can we go?
Mark, I'm NOT criticizing you, love. McCain and Palin ARE scary people. What they do is wicked, wicked, wicked. I fear for my country, too. Their words could have serious and violent consequences. Don't think that I diminish the evil that they do, because I say that I don't hate them.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, Mimi, I didn't mean to imply that you were criticizing, merely that I feel anyone who did so would not be out of line.
ReplyDeleteI've always considered hate an ugly, childish position, one taken out of fear and helplessness - frustration born of despair. I don't like the hate, but I acknowledge that ugliness and - frankly - faithlessness within me. To leave it unacknowledged is dangerous.
To leave it unacknowledged is dangerous.
ReplyDeleteMark, I quite agree.