The Other Palin (2)

This was on Michael Palin’s website, Palin’s Travels, from the man himself.

I’m conscious, as ever, that a lot of water has flown under the bridge since my last message. Since then I’ve been working hard at an edit of my Diaries 1980 -1988 in time for publication next year, whilst watching Archie grow up and trying to come to terms with my identity theft by a hockey mum in Alaska. And no, Sarah Palin is not my sister, daughter or alias. And I’m Sahara Palin not Sarah.

Take it anyway you want LOL!

The Presidential Candidates Dealing with Putin.

     I’ll start with the Democrats.  Putin will just write Biden off as a bore and send him packing.  Senator Obama will open with, “Let’s talk.”  Putin will agree with the smile like the wolf in bed instead of Granny greeting Little Red Riding Hood.  The Russia will be rude, crude and run roughshod.

     Senator McCain and Governor Palin will go in there as bad cop and worse cop.  Senator McCain will pound his fist on the table after matching Putin vodka shot for vodka shot.  “Listen, you Russki son of a bitch.  I fought and was a victim of your surrogates in Vietnam.  You wil do as you are told.”

    “Boss, you want me to shoot him”, Governor Palin smiles, brandishing the 30.06.     Putin uses his martial arts, disarms her, has McCain as his prisoner.

     Now what?  Anyone who wants can play with this.  I am silly, still having my coffee.  I am also grumpy etc.

Magic Bus Post, Kingman Arizona

I posted this on Jon Kelly’s blog on BBC.  He met some motorcycle riders in Kingman, Arizona.

Jon, that is true.  One of the great joys of living in Arizona IS the open space, whether hiking, on a motorcycle or just driving with the windows down.  I have been in England and yes much of it is crowded.
Obamasmama’s you are right about living in New York.  Brooklyn is where I grew up.  I now have a completely different world view from my mother and two sisters.  New Yorkers are internationalist and provincial in the same breath (ask me how that is possible).  On the other hand, my mother’s cousin in San Antonio is married to someone who is a friend of Senator McCain.  I am closer to my cousins in some ways.  You know who they are supporting.
To understand WHY Senator McCain chose Governor Palin (no, not Michael LOL, and you should see the comments on Palin’s Travels), read Deerhunting with Jesus by Joe Bageant.  Easy fun quick read.  You will get a real understanding.  For those of you who saw Governor Palin’s interview with Charlie Gibson, no question he did not like her and was looking down on her.  If the mainstream media is smart strategically, they will NOT interview her.  Why?  Because much of Middle America will just see it as the “Elite Media” coming down on one of their own.  You notice, ever since Senator McCain chose Governor Palin, she is the one being paid attention to.  The Obama camp attacks the Senator, but not her.
I was reading a New Europe article about the choice of Governor Palin.  Like them, at first, I thought Senator McCain had lost his mind.  (Friends of mine who are lifelong Arizonans say he is slipping).  Now, it is proving to be a clever if flippant move in some ways.
OldSouth, I like the way those guys protected the funeral home.  I work with bikers.  I like the bikers I work with.
Abiquiu, my Canadian Toastmasters friends are telling me about the mess you guys are having.
Ninjalinz, I remember Hells Angels HQ and CBGB well.
Buckeyeman, it is true, buying the motorcycle is not cheap, but you certainly save on gas.  And yes, I like Governor Janet.
Some Republicans in Arizona may cross over to Senator Obama or vote for the Libertarian Party.  Why?  A South Carolina and an Arizona Republican have issues they do not agree on.  Arizona Republicans fall into two types (as a very general rule).
1.  Economic Conservatives in Maricopa County.
2.  People who are really Libertarians.  They will not want Governor Palin telling them how to live.
I was supporting Senator McCain until he chose Governor Palin.  Now I am not so sure.
If you live in Arizona, Washington is VERY removed.  Geographically, we are closer to Mexico City, just to give you an idea.
Having said that, much of the land here is owned by some level of government.
I know what I want for me.  Bluntly, I am not happy with either candidate and I am a little afraid for the future.
Newsweek had an article about  Senator Obama making a stop at a diner in the Ozarks.  Some of these people will vote for the Democrats if they feel they are not being “talked down to.”  You have to read Deerhunting for Jesus for more detail.;-)
Much of what people in Europe do not understand about why our elections are going a certain way need to read some more detailed American History.  Guys like Andrew Jackson.  The people whose ancestors originated in Jon’s region, Southern Scotland and the Borders.  Read the Border Reviers by the late George MacDonald Fraser and you will get some idea.
Aw shucks, Rainlawrence, you didn’t think I would leave YOU out, did you?
To paraphrase Monty Python, are you a Chartered Accountant, planning to become a Lion Tamer?;-)  Do some more reading about us.  Much of our history is great, much is not.  I am not going to defend everything about us.  Don’t you want to know about your friends the Americans?  I like learning things about MY friends, the Brits.
This election is the most important in eighty years (because for that long, it is the first time with no incumbent).  Also we have a lot to overcome.   There are others I wanted to be President, but my opinion was not asked for.:-)  BBC actually has a story about what it takes to be President.  You tell me who is up to the way the job has evolved.
The Libertarian streak in me is growing, but we are going to need some government interference in the near future.

Jon, I have been putting comments about the bus trip on my blog and also lampooning the campaign.
http://www.tucsonmike.wordpress.com
Thank you for letting me share.

I am Afraid for My Country.

I originally posted this on Palin’s Travels.  We have a thread called Palin for President.  For a (welcome) change, I am not being silly and tongue in cheek.

It is especially poingnant I am writing this on September 11th. 

 

 Look, in past years, I might vote for the lesser of two evils. This year, I am voting for who will HARM me the least.

In the past, we may not have been happy with who won, but the country moved on.

This time, no matter who wins, we are going into uncharted waters. I’ll start with the Republicans, since I have been having the most fun with Sarah Palin on my blog.

Like my mother and sisters, I was leaning toward McCain (I was more grudging than the three mentioned ladies). I’ve said this before, John McCain is my Senator and I have always supported him. As President though, he really does not understand the economy, and on Foreign Policy, on the one hand, I would feel safer, because the schoolyard bullies of the world would be less likely to mess with him. (Like with Reagan, they may think McCain too crazy to cross LOL)! On the other hand, his Foreign Policy experience is Cold War, and that is what got us into Iraq. Sarah Palin is the only executive of the four, but I don’t want religion forced down my throat and I have read disturbing things about her bigotry.

Now the Democrats. My hope is Joe Biden can keep Obama grounded. Again, I am voting Democratic out of nowhere else to go, like my sisters. I think my mother is going to stay home. My favorite cousin is still voting for McCain as is a close friend.
Obama is good with groups and listening on a grassroots level. I do not think he has a real grasp of our problems. I think the Intl schoolyard bullies will see Obama as an easy mark.

I am genuinely afraid of the future for the first time. This election is splitting families and friends and raising all sorts of rancor. I really do fear for my country.

Library Planning Meeting

This past Saturday, we went to a planning meeting at our local library branch.  It was a way to see what could be done to make the library a more active player in the Tucson-Pima County community and what was needed.

It was citizen participation at its best, but there needed to be more citizens there.

Jacob Weisberg Slate.com on Barack Obama

      I read this in the current Newsweek, but this was originally published on Slate.com.   The basic theme of the article seemed to be if Barack Obama is not elected President of the United States on November 4th, it will be 100% due to white American racism.

      I want to take the opportunity here to point out where he is wrong but also where he is correct.

     Yes, you might think after what has happened in this decade, Senator Obama would be way ahead leading a Democratic charge.  This is not happening though.  There are several factors out there.

     Only someone who is very naive would say there is not some racism involved.  It is incumbent on Senator McCain to publically repudiate anyone who is voting for him solely on the basis of race.   If you are bleeding to death, do you care if the doctor who treats you is black or white?   A McCain repudiation would be good strategy as well as the right thing to do.

     Mr Weisberg asked if we would be able to see our history (he called it legacy) of slavery, segregation, and racism in the rearview mirror if Obama is elected.  Not necessarily.  A quick study would be South Africa, with the election of Nelson Mandela in 1994.  The more racist Afrikaners just hunkered down on farms out in the Veld.  What would stop parts of Appalachia from becoming like that?  (Not picking on Appalachia, just an example).   There are more extreme African Americans who do not see Obama as one of them, because his ancestors did not live through American slavery.  Look at Jesse Jackson’s off color comment on what he wanted to do to Senator Obama.  Jesse Jackson and his congressman son had split over this, (they have since reconciled).

     (Ironically, ancestors on Senator Obama’s Mother’s side are linked to Jefferson Davis.  You may have heard of him, the President of the Confederate States of America).

     Mr. Weisberg also mentioned the Jerome Corsi book.  Allegedly the footnotes are accurate and the Obama camp has not denied the book.  I have the book on my “to read” list.  Many people become angry if the issue of convicted financier Tony Reszko buying Obama’s house is brought up.  Newsweek in a separate article stated those people consider those questions, irrelevant at best, malicious and inappropriate at worst.  Don’t we have the right to ask questions of anyone?  It is still the United States after all.;-)

     Mr. Weisberg states an Obama defeat signifies equal opportunity is a myth.  We don’t know that.  We don’t know what might have happened if Colin Powell and or Condi Rice ran and won.  Neither was interested, so it will have to remain a hypothetical.  Shucks, does Mr. Weisberg have the right to “de African-Americanize” those two highly intelligent dedicated public servants?  (This is whether you agree with them or not, you cannot take what they have done in their own way for this country away from them).   (I hate those terms, African-American anyway.  We are all Americans.  We as a nation cannot move on until we eliminate those labels.

     The world judgement?  Are we supposed to elect Senator Obama because the rest of the world thinks we ought to and will see us in permanent decline if we don’t.  When the U.K. France Germany and Slovakia elect black, Turkish and Roma heads of state, come back and speak with me.  Journalist Anne Applebaum mentioned this in another article on Slate.com

     Don’t vote on the “pigmentation” of the person, but on whether you think the Democratic or Republican tickets are the best to solve your problems.

Sarah Palin’s Speech

     I got  home from Toastmasters to see Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle first.  Then Rudy Giuliani.  I grew up in New York.  I never saw Rudy that passionate.  He certainly won the delegates over. 

     One friend on Michael Palin’s website complained about the “wealthy, self satisfied Republican delegates.”  I would not have said wealthy.  You are not seeing the “country club habitues” at this convention.  This is small town America.  It would not shock me if the Massachusetts delegation were like the people my wife grew up with in Southie.  (The Boston neighborhood of South Boston).  These are flag waving, God fearing, small town folks.  You may look down on them etc. but there you have it.

     I have this week’s Newsweek and there is an article by Jacob Weisberg of Slate.com called What Will the Neighbors Think?  I will cover that separately, but his theme is if we do not elect Barack Obama, we (white America) are ALL racists.  Some but not all are.  Sadly, there are some who will not vote for Obama because of skin tone, but don’t use the broad brush.

     Then came Sarah Palin’s speech.  (I know, about time, since that is the title of this post).  She was funny.  “What’s the difference between a hockey Mom and a pit bull?  Lipstick!”  She went too far alluding she will be the next Harry Truman.  The ticket has to be elected first, sadly, Senator McCain would have to die in office, and as they say in Missouri, she would have to “Show Me.”

     Still it was entertaining.  Jim Lehrer of PBS said he never saw the Republicans that animated.  More and more Governor Palin’s choice makes sense.  Without her, I hate to say it, but Senator McCain’s campaign would be stranded in our Arizona deserts.

John McCain and Miranda Lambert (2)

     Don’t u go accusing me of starting something LOL!  This is just Python style silly, although, maybe Miranda Lambert and Governor Palin could end up a heck of a pair.

This blog has info about her and Blake Shelton and concerts.

http://dailytrends.net/id-miranda%20lambert%20blake%20shelton.html

Gustav an Unwelcome Visitor to the Big Easy

Just at the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans is in the soup, yet again.  This time, it may be a direct hit though.

Mayor Nagin did the right thing to evacuate the city.  National Geographic has already had computer models showing New Orleans will be underwater in the year 2100, with Baton Rouge, seventy five miles upstream being the coast.

New Orleans is well on its way to becoming the North American Atlantis.  Evangelicals will probably have a field day with that.

If Senator McCain wins, the hand of God may be there.  President Bush and Vice President Cheney are skipping the convention and going down to the Gulf Coast.  The Convention has to be opened, but they should open the convention, nominate Senator McCain and Governor Palin, close the convention and concentrate on the Gulf Coast, nothing else.

Senators Obama and Biden would also do well to head for the Gulf.  My that has a ring to it.  Instead of head to the hills, head to the Gulf of Mexico.  Y’all want to show some real leadership before November 4th?  Consider this week your examination.  Consider the American people your examiners.  Good old Governor Arnold has set a great example with the fires in California.  Maybe he should draw up the exam.

Let’s see how y’all do.  By the way, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal should take the exam as well.

America this is our chance to grade them before we vote for them.  It will be better than the debates.  There, they can just be talking heads.  Here, they need to show their stuff.

John McCain and Miranda Lambert, Gunpowder and Lead.

For those who do not know who she is, Miranda Lambert is one of my favorite country singers.  Gunpowder and Lead is a great song.  Could you imagine though, if she did not have Blake Shelton and Senator McCain did not have Cindy McCain and the Senator and Miranda Lambert had kids together and one of them grew up to be President?

That would be the most ornery President in history.  A friend said it best.  You thought the Russians were afraid of Ronald Reagan?  Y’all ain’t seen nothin” yet! LOL!   (So much for my writing proper English, but you also have to know for literary purposes when to use certain things).  My, I got out of that well.

There is a story in there somewhere.  A female President of the United States,  Gunpowder and Lead.  Oh, I am so sorry, Governor Palin!

For those who do not know Miranda Lambert’s song, please allow me to throw in the lyrics.

“Gunpowder & Lead”

County road 233, under my feet
Nothin’ on this white rock but little ole me
I’ve got two miles till, he makes bail
And if I’m right we’re headed straight for hell

[Chorus:]

I’m goin’ home, gonna load my shotgun
Wait by the door and light a cigarette
If he wants a fight well now he’s got one
And he ain’t seen me crazy yet
He slap my face and he shook me like a rag doll
Don’t that sound like a real man
I’m going to show him what a little girls made of
Gunpowder and lead

It’s half past ten, another six pack in
And I can feel the rumble like a cold black wind
He pulls in the drive, the gravel flies
He dont know what’s waiting here this time

I’m goin’ home, gonna load my shotgun
Wait by the door and light a cigarette
If he wants a fight well now he’s got one
And he ain’t seen me crazy yet
He slap my face and he shook me like a rag doll
Don’t that sound like a real man
I’m going to show him what a little girls made of
Gunpowder and lead

His fist is big but my gun’s bigger
He’ll find out when I pull the trigger

I’m goin’ home, gonna load my shotgun
Wait by the door and light a cigarette
If he wants a fight well now he’s got one
And he ain’t seen me crazy yet
He slap my face and he shook me like a rag doll
Don’t that sound like a real man
I’m going to show him what a little girls made of
Gunpowder and lead