Letters, 10/8: Palin repetitious in debate
digg it!
Facebook
del.icio.us
Seed Newsvine
Fark It
Reddit
Sarah Palin often sounded like a broken record in the Oct. 2 debate. How many times did she repeat the line, “stop the greed and corruption on Wall Street”? She didn’t bother to answer at least half the questions that Gwen Ifill asked and Joe Biden answered.
When it was her turn and she couldn’t fit the question into what she had memorized, she simply ignored it and said something like, “Well, I want to talk about…” and went into the monologue on a subject where she felt safe. And neither Ifill nor Biden stopped her! Why they let her get away with ignoring specific questions, I just don’t know.
Now Republican remarks, such as “She mopped up the floor with Biden,” are being made, and the truth is, all of her “answers” were mouthed replies she had learned under John McCain’s tutelage. And they sounded like it. The real Sarah Palin was shown in all her ignorance in the Katie Couric interview, when Palin tried to answer questions by her own, uninformed, unready for high office, self.
Let’s do some analyzing and discount the folksy, down-home “You betcha” and “darn” vocabulary she used. Look at what she actually said, and more importantly, didn’t say. Other than to praise McCain — and herself, quite often — we didn’t learn much. The things she accused Barack Obama of were quickly and thoroughly disproved by Joe Biden.
OK, she’s cute and has a way with audiences, but that’s not going to play if, God forbid, one day she has to take the oath as president of the United States of America.
Betty Jochmans-O’Connell, Lincoln
Stem cells not the answer
After the NU Board of Regents debate Sept. 22, candidate Earl Scudder said Alzheimer’s disease could be treated with embryonic stem cells. Dr. William Theis, vice president of the research and scientific division of the National Alzheimer’s Association, disagrees with this statement.
The Alzheimer’s Association is the largest nonprofit funding source for Alzheimer’s research in the world outside of the federal government and has funded more than $250 million in grants for scientific studies. Researchers disagree and don’t believe stem cells of any kind will cure Alzheimer’s, because it is a “whole brain” disease, rather than a cellular disorder such as Parkinson’s disease.
While we understand that there is well-intentioned passion on both sides of the stem cell debate, I urge advocates to be careful about the claims made regarding this issue. We want to be especially careful to not give false hope to those presently living and dealing with this disease.
Karen Noel, president/CEO, Alzheimer’s Association Great Plains Chapter
Road closure good for habitat
Regarding the Oct. 1 article on Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center’s request to close part of a nearby road: When established in 1998, Spring Creek contained 640 acres. In 2006, 168 acres were added with the purchase of an adjacent parcel of land. The segment of road in question divides the two pieces of prairie, and its closure would positively affect Spring Creek’s restoration of native habitat.
Some are opposed to the closure, citing grass fires and possible difficulty reaching them. I wonder how many fires have been reported in this area in the past few years?
Lauren Davis, Lincoln
What is ‘living well’ to you?
As reported in the Journal Star on Oct. 3 (“Mayor proposes change to firefighter pensions”), the average pension benefit for a retired Lincoln firefighter is $1,400 per month. City Councilman Ken Svoboda said some people can “live well” on that amount, while others can’t. I guess I don’t know what Ken means by “live well.”
The IRS standard for acceptable living expenses in bankruptcy for a single person over age 65 with a car living in Lancaster County is $2,087 per month. For a retired couple with two cars, the monthly living expenses allowed in bankruptcy court without question is $3,347 per month.
Maybe we should ask Ken where he gets his opinion of what constitutes living well for our retired public servants.
Victor E. Covalt III, Lincoln
Post Your Comment
Standards and RulesYour posted comment will appear after it has been approved.
Frequently asked questions about story commenting.
They didn't need to. Everyone listened to her.
The bar was set so low for Palin that all she had to do was speak something similar to English to exceed all expectations. You know, it's like when your little kid brings home a picture they drew in school that's really nothing more than a mishmosh of scribbles and drool.
You don't expect your kid to be Picasso, but you praise them and hang it on your fridge anyway. "
nobama wrote on October 8, 2008 6:28 am:
Smarty wrote on October 8, 2008 7:24 am:
Earl Scudder said stem cells COULD be used to TREAT Alzheimer's. And it possibly COULD. Nobody said it's the end all be all cure.
I'd love to pin down Dr. William Theis, and ask him if it's possible that stem cell research could lead to helpful treatments. I would venture to guess that he couldn't honestly tell me that they won't.
And I want to add that it's scary that a CEO of an Alzheimer's Association Chapter is anti research. Don't you want to find a cure?! I bet the National Alzheimer's Association would be interested to hear your opinion. "
Matt wrote on October 8, 2008 7:35 am:
you betcha wrote on October 8, 2008 7:40 am:
Mike the Realist wrote on October 8, 2008 7:49 am:
Sean1 wrote on October 8, 2008 7:51 am:
Perhaps wrote on October 8, 2008 8:08 am:
Hitcher wrote on October 8, 2008 8:10 am:
RJ wrote on October 8, 2008 8:31 am:
don't think I'm going to vote for the Palin/McCain good old boy team. Palin reminds me of a cousin who spent 2 years in the south & came back
with her southern Deb drawl. Which was so phoney, she finally was told by
her brother to stop embarrassing herself & others. What a bad example Palin is sitting before her children, other young people in this country.
Makes me wonder if she bull dozed over her daughter & boyfriend the way
she is Alaska & the rest of the country. "
Sue F. wrote on October 8, 2008 8:35 am:
MarkyMark wrote on October 8, 2008 9:06 am:
For supposedly being a good debater, she certainly was a miserable failure in this debate. "
Ignignokt wrote on October 8, 2008 9:19 am:
BTW, what's wrong with using phrases like 'you betcha', 'gosh darn', etc. As a kid growing up, my parents used them all the time, and I still use them at times today. Perhaps some may view it as a character flaw, but really, as a character flaw, is it THAT bad? And what's wrong with a few minor flaws? Oh that's right, Obama doesn't have any flaws...not any that his supporters would admit to, that is. "
Chip wrote on October 8, 2008 9:26 am:
Obama knows that if he has the the youth fired up to vote for him, he improves his chances significantly. Obama is saying some of the things president Clinton said and many of the the things "W" said. The youth think these are new ideas and are excited. All they have to do is survive until they are 40 years old to become more cynical like the rest of us.
BTW, I have always wondered why people write letters to the editor about political candidates. Most of the time they state the obvious. I don't think a letter to the editor changes anyone's opinion. If it does, I would have to question the wisdom of a voter who is swayed by a letter to the editor.
Letters to the editor only demonstrate one thing . . . everyone has a an opinion . . . and most are uninformed.
Why am I even wasting my time writing a comment. Geesh. "
hal wrote on October 8, 2008 9:36 am:
Dave wrote on October 8, 2008 9:54 am:
McCain should hide Palin in a small corner of Alaska until the election is over. The more she opens her mouth the more she is exposed as a fraud. "
re ignig wrote on October 8, 2008 10:02 am:
Palin on the economic crisis: Golly it sure is darn bad that people are having a hard time paying their bills. It sure will get better i betcha! I'd also like to send a shout out to the third graders at pershing elementary school!
Hmmmm, i wonder why folksy down home phrases might not work in a position like the vp. After all they haven't worked for the current administration. "
Tom wrote on October 8, 2008 10:14 am:
JB wrote on October 8, 2008 10:16 am:
michelle wrote on October 8, 2008 10:23 am:
Talkin Change wrote on October 8, 2008 10:50 am:
I See wrote on October 8, 2008 11:09 am:
Of course, both sides rehearse, but some know how to answer the question and some, like Palin, just respond with something whether it is to the question or not. Maybe that's ok in a high school debate, but it isn't acceptable at a higher level. "
JT wrote on October 8, 2008 11:35 am:
To Ignignokt wrote on October 8, 2008 11:43 am:
Keating 5 wrote on October 8, 2008 12:04 pm:
Ripper wrote on October 8, 2008 12:18 pm:
Listener wrote on October 8, 2008 12:33 pm:
Not So Smarty wrote on October 8, 2008 1:01 pm:
Pete Allen wrote on October 8, 2008 2:42 pm:
Now, look at the debate again, and count the many times Biden was allowed to go over his time - and how many times Palen was cut off short of 30 seconds. Then look carefully at the transcript. I count 32 errors of fact in Biden's performance, yet Palen had just two instances where she was cut off before she could develop her thought, and no factual errors.
Now, just who won the debate? The crowd said Palen did.
Pete Allen "
Look Listen and vote wisely wrote on October 8, 2008 3:19 pm:
However I think people need to look seriously at the Vice Presidents in this election. There is a clear difference here.
McCain chose a woman who is very cutesy, a yes-woman, someone who would do exactly what he said regardless if he was wrong dead wrong on the issue. She does not appear to understand the consequences of her actions either if she face Putin, she can't not answer his questions.
Obama, Chose a man who has absolutely no qualms about telling him when he's wrong. He is no Yes-Man. In his own right he is an intelligent individual. I can see him going head to head with Putin with no trouble and answering questions in a intelligent fashion.
You as a voter have to make up your own mind. I hope you will look, listen and choose wisely. Your grandchildren future could very well depend upon how you vote this next month. "
to the palin bashers wrote on October 8, 2008 3:58 pm:
RE Chip wrote on October 8, 2008 4:07 pm:
Early on in the election season I was excited to see two strong candidates competing on the Democratic side, and what I thought would be a strong Republican nominee. While both candidates have their shortcomings, the John McCain running in 2008 is not the McCain I was interested in during the 2000 election season. (An election I was too young to vote in, but nonetheless paid attention to.) He has failed to impress me, either in the ideas he presents, his style as a politician, or the judgments he has made during this campaign. His choice of Sarah Palin as his running mate has been especially insulting.
I may be young and an Obama supporter, but I do have a functioning brain, and I've seen a debate before. Some of my peers may be "sheep", but I know a lot of one-issue baby-boomers who I think are fundamentally irresponsible voters as well.
I'm not excited because Obama's ideas are new; there's rarely such a thing these days. I'm excited because his ideas, on the whole, would lead this country in a direction that I think would be beneficial.
I've spent my formative years with Bush at the helm, and he has profoundly degraded the country I grew up loving. Forgive my enthusiasm at the prospect of putting someone in the White House who would set a different course. "
Sue wrote on October 8, 2008 5:44 pm:
Palin's church believes that Alaska will be the only safe place when the world comes to an end. They also the end is just around the corner. Will the National Capital be moved to Alaska?? "
Chip wrote on October 8, 2008 6:20 pm:
I have lived through the promises of candidates since the 60's. I've heard the promises, plans, views, concerns, beliefs, etc . . . from these people AND I've had to come to terms with the fact that there is not a lot of truth spoken in a campaign.
I don't know if aspiring politicians are all power hungry when they begin their careers, but they are almost all corrupted by the power and inability to act within the out of control bureaucracy that exists in our government.
You should be optimistic about the future . . . that is one of the pleasures of youth. You're right. I'm cynical, but not pessimistic. I just have come to believe that regardless of what a candidate says, it seldom makes a difference. They SAY the right things, but it doesn't always materialize.
My belief is that we have to avoid McCain/Palin and Obama/Biden. If we want REAL change, we have to begin supporting candidates who are true mavericks. IMHO, I believe our hope is in having a viable 3rd party candidate who can put the pressure on the D's and R's to keep the country first.
I am a registered republican who will ask Santa for the following candidate in 2012:
1. Pro-Life
2. Abolish the Death Penalty
3. Elimination of Green House Gases
4. Alternative Energy
5. Traditional Marriage
6. Fiscally Conservative
7. Minimal Government involvement in private lives
8. Gun control
9. Strong Diplomat
10. Strong supporter of the military
11. Understanding that we are a global community and we cannot act unilaterally always
12. Supports education without creating stupid federal mandates.
13. Empowers and inspires citizens to make their communities better places.
Anybody out there who can Santa can deliver to us? "
Oh Pete Allen wrote on October 8, 2008 6:28 pm:
FarmGirl wrote on October 8, 2008 7:12 pm:
Wonder why? "
Sam wrote on October 8, 2008 7:31 pm:
1: careful or diligent search
2: studious inquiry or examination ; especially : investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of facts, revision of accepted theories or laws in the light of new facts, or practical application of such new or revised theories or laws
3: the collecting of information about a particular subject "
f.a.t.p. wrote on October 8, 2008 7:39 pm:
McCains Judgement wrote on October 8, 2008 7:43 pm:
This goes to show that he didn't care about anything more than getting elected and hadn't planned anything beyond that.
Kind of reminds me of the Bush invasion of Iraq under false pretenses. "
John Lennon wrote on October 8, 2008 7:53 pm:
Nina wrote on October 8, 2008 9:01 pm:
Joe Twelve-Pack wrote on October 8, 2008 9:12 pm:
Nina wrote on October 8, 2008 9:37 pm:
MarkyMark wrote on October 8, 2008 9:54 pm:
This Conservative dandy that Joe seems to put up on a pedestal as being "Conservative" (pardon me, I'm still rolling on the floor laughing) was the start of the big spending "Conservative Presidents". This man spent us into oblivion (Phase 1).
He made it ok to cut taxes for popularity, while totally ignoring his responsibility for his own spending, dumping the first batch of trillions of debt to OUR grandkids. This man was the first Neo-Con, New World Order, figure to matter, to actually contribute to the decimation of our financial world.
After funneling tens of millions to Osama bin Laden for the Afghan war against the Soviets, and to Saddam Hussein, President Reagan actually had the audacity under oath to "Not recall" anything to do with Iran-Contra when the RNC made a deal with Iran, not to release our hostages before the election in 1980, so they would get the weapons they needed and Reagan would have a "great chance of winning". This is treason, my fellow Americans. When you saw Ollie North up there lying for Reagan, you should have known, that it is ok to appease terrorists only if you are Republican. Again, I say Republican, because "Conservative" has been proven through history to be only a myth. Thank you Joe 12 pack for bringing this to our attention. "
Ah yes wrote on October 8, 2008 9:55 pm:
Ken wrote on October 8, 2008 10:06 pm:
Let's just trust the ugly ones. They're smart.
Eeek! "
RussianMike RE Chip wrote on October 8, 2008 11:10 pm:
We have different priorities, you and I. Some of those differences may be related to age and "experience." (I would move a balanced budget to the top of the list...I'll be paying that deficit off.)
Some of them may simply be related to changing cultural attitudes. (Pro-life, gay/traditional marriage...)
Some of them are assuredly based on the fact that we're different people, regardless of age and time. (I'm a through and through pacifist.)
For what it's worth, I entirely agree that the two party system is a failure. This is the primary reason I have not registered with either party. I would love to see a viable third party candidate. And I don't think I'm the only person under 30 who thinks so. May I suggest not asking Santa (who I'm sure has bigger fish to fry), but perhaps try some of us young hopefuls...? :) "
Bronson Pinchot wrote on October 8, 2008 11:24 pm:
Eddie wrote on October 8, 2008 11:33 pm:
And anyone who even took beginning debate could tell you SP failed miserably. "
Zoomie wrote on October 9, 2008 6:55 am:
And now we have McCain and Palin firing up right-wing crowds, smiling, winking and nodding, when the crowd start calling Obama "traitor" (because he voted against a bill "to fund the troops"...two months AFTER John McCain voted against a bill to fund the troops!!! Why is a Democrat a traitor for doing what a Republican has already done?), "terrorist" (when Palin is married to someone who was a member of an anti-American organization), and now even yelling "kill'em, kill'em" (which has now resulted in a Secret Service investigation of Republicans attending Palin's rallies). Is that what modern Republicanism has become? Are you so centered on winning you think nothing of encouraging violence and hatred (FYI, same crowd at Palin's rally that yelled "kill'em" also screamed curses at the press, with some also yelling at a Black soundman from a local TV station to "Sit down, boy!"...racial epithets even!). Perhaps people have quickly forgotten, the gunman who killed people at Sunday services in a Kentucky church a few months ago openly says he did so because all his heroes (Malkin, Limbaugh, Coulter, Hannity, Savage, etc.) had told him all liberals are hateful traitors who deserve to die, so he decided to kill liberals. And since he didn't know where any famous liberals were, he decided to start with the only liberals he knew, members of a church which openly welcomed gay members! That is today's modern conservatism, modern Republicanism - hate, violence, anger! All the things that are the worst in America. No wonder Obama's poll numbers are only going up, since his message is positive, inclusive, optimistic, and he's clearly calm, serious and level-headed! By comparison, McCain is angry, spiteful, mean, and in anger-driven meltdown! "
Nebraska Republican wrote on October 9, 2008 11:24 am:
Republicans, we need to brace ourselves for a loss. As a Husker fan I had this inevitable feeling before the Missouri game. I knew who was going to win that game, I really wanted the Huskers to win but I knew their chances were not good. I have the exact same inevitable feeling about this election. I would like to see McCain win, I just don't think it's going to happen and I partially blame that on McCain for not running a smart campaign. Republicans often win on the ticket of values, especially when it comes to the abortion issue. This was a huge election as far as the abortion issue goes and I don't think McCain played that card well at all. Pro-Lifers in the future will realize that this is the election that could have overturned Roe V. Wade seeing how a Judge will likely be replaced. In 20 years Pro-life supporters will realize that this is the election we let slip away and by that time we will be facing numbers like 70 million abortions.
I don't understand why everyone is attacking Palin for repeating herself. I've watched all three of the debates and MCcain, Obama, Palin, and Biden all say the same things over and over. Especially MCcain and Obama. I was so bored with the last debate because they were the same topics as the first debate yielding the exact same answers. If you charge one party for repeating themselves and don't charge the other party.....you are a hypocrite. Although I do agree that Palin and McCain have to stop attacking and move on.....their attacks come off as desperation.
As for this election I will vote McCain. I hate to be a one issue guy but any candidate that cannot see that abortion is wrong, especially partial birth abortion, well, then I have to question his/her moral decision making. I don't get caught up in that fancy choice argument. Here's the fact, there are choices we as Americans should have and there are choices we shouldn't have. Terminating and innocent child's life is a choice that no one should have. If Obama can't see that then I can't vote for him. I made this argument against President Clinton and we all know where his moral decision making landed him. I would love to have Obama's education plan but what plan is the lesser of two evils, pro choice or no child left behind? I am a man of faith and my faith tells me that abortion is wrong, so therefore I have to vote by my faith. Unlike Mr. Biden my faith is something I live, for him its just something he is, which explains why he can check it at the door.
Lets give innocent baby's a chance at life. Even ones who were conceived by a mistake. This does not make the baby a mistake as Obama stated. 40 million babies have died.....when is enough enough. If Obama can't see that we have a holocaust of our own going on, and is actually in support of letting it continue then I can't vote for him.
I'll give him this, he runs a heck of a campaign. "
Honestly Zoomie wrote on October 9, 2008 12:36 pm:
I would like to compliment you on the job you did of stereotyping every conservative into a racist, murdering, bigot. It was a heck of a job taking a few examples (calling a t.v. employee "boy", a murderer who liked conservative talking heads, people at rallies yelling kill em') and applying that stereotype to every conservative. I loved your words "That is today's modern conservatism-modern republicanism-hate, violence, anger!" It about brought a tear to my eye it was so good. About. So I'm now going to play your game. I worked with a liberal who once said, and I quote, "I wish someone would fly a plane into the White House and kill Bush." So using your logic, Zoomie, that would mean that modern liberalism has become supporters of flying planes into buildings in attempt to kill the president. Then there is the professor from the University of Wisconsin, and numerous others who believe the government is responsible for 9/11. They are liberal. So once again, using your logic, that means that liberal democrats believe that 9/11 was the Bush Administrations doing. Which is kind of ironic since I often hear liberal democrats say that Bush is one of the dumbest presidents to ever hold office, and yet this dumb president and his administration pulled off the greatest security breach in the history of America? Hmmmm....something has to give.
Hopefully you get the point but in case you don't let me spell it out for you. There are such things as radicals in this country, radical conservatives and radical liberals. Just because my co-worker would like to see someone fly a plane into the White House does not mean that is a value of modern liberal democrats. Just because some radicals think 9/11 was an inside job doesn't mean that most modern liberal democrats believe that as well. As a matter of fact, OBAMA himself, denounced that as crazy. So, just because some people blurted out racial slurs, and were shouting crazy things, and some crazy lunatic killed in the name of conservative talking heads doesn't mean that is what "modern republicanism" has come to. I have yet to meet a conservative republican who hates other racial groups, wants to kill gay marriage supporters, and wants democrats killed. You making claims like that is putting you in the radical category. You're right, Palin and McCain need to stop the attacks but how are you any better than them by stereotyping conservative Republicans?
Hey zoomie, a wise man once said, "The right to free speech is a great freedom. Now, if only some people would think before they exercise that right." "
Hey Zoomie wrote on October 9, 2008 2:12 pm:
Garrett wrote on October 9, 2008 3:16 pm:
Chip 2 wrote on October 9, 2008 3:50 pm:
I think he might want to rethink his political registration:
1. Pro-Life (GOP)
2. Abolish the Death Penalty (Much more likely under a Democrat.)
3. Elimination of Green House Gases (Much more likely under a Democrat.)
4. Alternative Energy (Much more likely under a Democrat.)
5. Traditional Marriage (GOP)
6. Fiscally Conservative (Just think back to the last 8 years under GOP George.)
7. Minimal Government involvement in private lives (Just think back to the last 8 years under Dubya.)
8. Gun control (Much more likely under a Democrat.)
9. Strong Diplomat (Just think back to the last 8 years under GW Bush.)
10. Strong supporter of the military (Could go either way.)
11. Understanding that we are a global community and we cannot act unilaterally always (Just think back to the last 8 years under Curious George.)
12. Supports education without creating stupid federal mandates. (Last 8 years...)
13. Empowers and inspires citizens to make their communities better places. (The GOP actually LAUGHED about folks who do this at the RNC.) "