Sarah, Sarah, Sarah...

I predict CBS and ABC will have one contrasting story of some minor democratic official saying something that is not even 1/10th as bad.
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Then they can say they upset both sides by their "reporting" so they got the story right.
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Call me Nostradamus.

In my second incarnation as Nostradamus, I will predict that Frank Luntz was the person who came up with the term "Death Panel".
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Call it another hunch.

Karen: You missed another key point that I learned from Maddow: the measure was introduced by a Georgia REPUBLICAN--it's a good measure to enable better Living Wills to be written with a doctor's input. It's not required. Please include that in any discussions. It's absolutely insane that Palin is practicallyi accusing Obama of infanticide based on reasonable legislation proposed by a Republican!

Palin is purposefully enraging the extremist fringe of the pro-life movement, and one of them -- like George Tiller's assassin -- is going to act on that rage.

If the rest of the media doesn't persist in loudly denouncing these lies -- now, repeatedly -- they're going to be complicit in whatever acts of violence erupt.

Surely you jest Paul?

"I''ve handed my reporting of that story"
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Okay, I asked a couple days ago if TIME was going to wait for violence and that moment past, I guess escalation might move TIME.
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Enjoy your time off.

neglected this issue important during.

And I'm not sure why I neglected to learn how to write English sentences, but there you go. Obviously we didn't have NCLB in my day.

Remember the perscription drug benefit expansion that he and The Hammer rammed through (in order to buy elderly votes, of course) ?

Exactly!

That's a pretty normal response, when considering how crazy the accusation is.

I hope the village takes a hard look at their previous mancrush on John McCain.
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He wanted this woman one heartbeat away from the Presidency, and the village thought he walked on water. Forget for a moment what this recklessness says about McCain, what does it say about the village?

The man crush that ended as soon as he started running for president?

apollyon07, it's a shame you weren't around for the election last year. Scherer's coverage of McCain was something else.
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As we've learned more about what was actually happening in McCain's camp it becomes laughable.

Whereas I cannot stop laughing at this loon, who has a good chance of doing more to destroy the R party than anything the Ds could ever do. Sure, she's annoying, but the longer she stays in the spotlight, the more people will remember her as a dangerous political gamble.

Sarah Palin 2012-2014 1/2

Rose, you should worry, have you looked at those crowds? The last time this many white folks got together and got this worked up a lot of people with darker skin paid the price. Please don't suggest Obama call Palin lest some yahoo from Podunk following spob on twitter think his fantasy girl might be in trouble and confuse Obama with Emmett.
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It's funny how in such a race conscious media no one has said a word about how little these crowds look like the real America as opposed to the faux real America Palin describes.

The last time this many white folks got together and got this worked up a lot of people with darker skin paid the price.

Thanks for this precious gem of racial disdain. I guess I wasn't delusional when I recently suggested that you inject race into every topic you discuss.

You know exiled--
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You act as if ignoring the obvious will somehow make it go away. I can't help but wonder if you are also one of those people who think sex-education gives permission for children to have sex.
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You seem to be under the illusion that race is an issue because people like me keep bringing it up and if we would just keep quiet there would be no race problem. Apparently, big crowds of angry white people lynching people in effigy, applauding the idea of someone running from being lynched and when their inappropriate response is brought to their attention, they break out in collective laughter is not the least problematic, it only became a problem because I as a black person wouldn't shut up about the racial connotation.
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Fortunately, I come from the school of thought that believes if you keep life in the closet you will open it one day and find it full of skeletons. So I am calling it as I see it in the hopes that maybe some adult somewhere will recognize that the present road we are on does not end well.
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Perhaps, you think that lynching is no big deal. Perhaps you think portraying Obama as Hitler, his supporters as Nazis and these helpless, hardworking white Republicans as Jews in eminent peril because they are facing Obamacare -- the final solution is no reason to be concerned. And the fact that it is happening in the same week as Brad Pitt is promoting a movie all about a group of Americans, who against all odds band together to go out to kill Hitler is a meaningless coincidence. Call me a cynic, but I think it's a dog whistle begging some nut case to go into lone wolf mode. When somebody of color ends up on the wrong end of this anger you tell me then about whose delusional and why.

You act as if ignoring the obvious will somehow make it go away...You seem to be under the illusion that race is an issue because people like me keep bringing it up and if we would just keep quiet there would be no race problem. Apparently, big crowds of angry white people lynching people in effigy, applauding the idea of someone running from being lynched and when their inappropriate response is brought to their attention, they break out in collective laughter is not the least problematic, it only became a problem because I as a black person wouldn't shut up about the racial connotation.
To you, Dee, the obvious is always race. Now, just because a group of angry white people happen to be congregating in a menacing manner does not mean that you have a rational reason to fear a racially motivated violent encounter. To incessantly bring up such issues is tiresome and illustrates your views about the white community: you fear it, you are leery of it, you keep it at arms length lest you actually learn something about it.
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I can't help but wonder if you are also one of those people who think sex-education gives permission for children to have sex.
Actually I support sex-education, although not at unreasonably young ages. I also support readily available contraceptives. What I do not support is non essential abortions.
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Perhaps you think portraying Obama as Hitler, his supporters as Nazis and these helpless, hardworking white Republicans as Jews in eminent peril because they are facing Obamacare -- the final solution is no reason to be concerned.
Perhaps, similarly, you have no problems with the constant caricature of conservatives as racist, sexist, ignorant homophobes. I happen to support neither of these frivolously degrading depictions.
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And the fact that it is happening in the same week as Brad Pitt is promoting a movie all about a group of Americans, who against all odds band together to go out to kill Hitler is a meaningless coincidence.
Actually the movie is about a band of blood-thirsty Americans brutally murdering German soldiers, most of whom have surrendered, in a manner that is in contrast to any semblance of decency, humanity, or respect for the rules governing the conduct of war. But I highly doubt the two are related in any manner. If I recall, Bush was often characterized as Hitler as well. I don't remember any visible publications of influence at the time. Hitler is often used as a demonizing caricature of one's opponent; it's an entirely unfounded precedent, however, and is in no way relevant to Obama, in my opinion.

@ exiled: "Perhaps, similarly, you have no problems with the constant caricature of conservatives as racist, sexist, ignorant homophobes. I happen to support neither of these frivolously degrading depictions."

I have a problem with the use of the word "caricature" in this context. conservatives are racist, sexist and ignorant homophobes. If that's name calling, so be it: that's the platform of the republicans and the conservatives. Let's debate but let's be honest about who we are debating.

Mental note: strike a line through the name homerhk on the list of reasonable persons worth conversing with.

Exiled--
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It is your right to ignore the racial component of this debate, just as it's the GOP to continue behaving as if their trouble attracting any minorities is some how indicative of something being wrong with the minority groups that reject them. It's okay, I can chalk it all up to monumental ignorance--after all there is no shortage of stupidity in this country, why shouldn't you have some too?
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But how dare you tell me I'm in denial as if lynching white people is an everyday occurrence.
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Maybe one day you'll find yourself on the way to Disney with the kids and you'll stop in a diner because you have to feed the little rug rats and you'll find yourself surrounded by skin heads spitting in your food, asking you to explain how you've dared to breath their air with out permission, telling you that it was the kind of infraction that deserved a lash or two. Now I don't know if it was just plain luck that a couple of state troopers decided to get hungry or some kind citizen calling for help, frankly, I like to think it was the latter.
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But until you live through that, don't you dare tell me what being white is like. The one thing black people learn about in this country, from the moment they can perceive the world around them, is what white people are like. Are most like those idiots that scarred my kids for life, absolutely not. And I have done my job well and convinced my kids that it was an isolated incident and the act of cowards and fools. I've told them every race has bad apples, but its not as if I could point to a history of white people being attacked for being white. Nevertheless, despite what I taught them, how long do you think it took them to recognize that rabid anger in the faces of many of those angry mobs?
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So until you fear for your life because a fellow citizen decides your skin color gives them the right to ruin your day, STFU you ignorant a$$hole.

To be fair, she is skankalicious.

Mob assault? You mean the town halls? You must be joking.

Doggett said his staff “was a little concerned” for his safety as he was encircled by protesters “with their signs and their devil pictures and everything very close around me.” He noted the “very juvenile manner” of protesters who followed him to his car after the event and tried to block his aide's car as she backed out.

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http://www.rollcall.com/issues/55_19/news/37557-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS

According to local media reports, the larger-than-expected crowd gathered outside the Hillsborough County Children's Board building, where several hundred people, most of whom opposed a government health care plan, began to loudly chant and scuffle with organizers posted at doorways after the auditorium filled to capacity.

A freelance videographer was roughed up in an altercation, which damaged his camera equipment and glasses, and at least one man was treated for minor injuries after a scuffle left his shirt partially torn from his body.

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http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/07/health-care-town-hall-turns-violent-tampa/

Rather than actually consider the intelligent and formidable opposition, it's always much easier to take the most ridiculous, inane portion of the opposition to represent the group as a whole. Republicans used to do it, now the Democrats are.

"Meet the new boss, same as the old boss"
-The Who

Inside, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor of Tampa and State Rep. Betty Reed barely made it through opening remarks before angry protestors began shouting and interrupting their remarks.

Moments later, violence broke out just outside the main auditorium doors, prompting police to close off the meeting room. A freelance photojournalist was among those roughed up suffering damage to both his glasses and camera equipment.

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http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=111086&catid=8

So until you fear for your life because a fellow citizen decides your skin color gives them the right to ruin your day, STFU you ignorant a$$hole.

Showing real character here Dee!

I see whites intimidated every day, should they reiterate your STFU, LLB**&^h.

The Democrats asked me to attend this town hall and being an hour and a half away it was going to be a stretch, but being under assault I was thinking about helping them out and then my granddaughter said please don't go grandma those people look crazy. I couldn't actually argue with her assessment. She might be nine but stupid is not in her gene pool.

You see, I get the feeling that no matter what I say you or someone else on here will just post another story about violent activity.

Well that depends on what you want to say.
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But after we got hit with "Obama is BFF with Bill Ayres" for six months last year, I expect you to at least understand why this looks bad for the right.

If they show me a picture of the opposing side of the debate having actual discourse and discussion rather than shouting nonsensical slogans to drown others out (talk about democracy!) then I'd be more willing to believe the whole "few bad apples" argument.

Okay. I think that Sarah Palin's statement about health care reform today was a dishonest, farce that she should apologize for, Rush Limbaugh's ridiculous use of disingenuine hyperbole is reprehensible, the threats and violence/effigy burnings are all wrong as well.

Am I in the clear now? I assumed that based on my sane comments on here before that you guys would figure that I'm not a wingnut. Or is it that anyone right of center is a wingnut?

apollyon07 you miss the point.
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You said "Rather than actually consider the intelligent and formidable opposition, it's always much easier to take the most ridiculous, inane portion of the opposition to represent the group as a whole."
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My point is that they aren't fringe they are the 2009 republican party.
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If you mattered then you would be begging Rush for forgiveness just as every prominent republican has.
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And Lou Dobbs is calling for physical confrontation.
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Until there is evidence to the contrary the 2009 republicans have gone from Whig to Confederacy.

I thought it was meant in reply to me. I apologize for the misinterpretation.

No, Obama is not right of center. I don't see how that's feasible even to someone on the far left (which I don't consider Obama to me...I'd consider him neither moderate left or far left, instead I'd say he's in between).

And I'm curious, what is it that I've said on here or any other post that would cause you to think I'm far right politically? (Note- that is a serious question) I'm actually solidly conservative when it comes to economic matters, and moderate when it comes to social matters. Many people that I talk to in RL about politics say I have strong libertarian leanings, and I agree.

I don't understand the point you're making in that last part w/ Betsy and Bill. I flat out said that Republicans did the same thing, which was further reinforced by my quoting the song Won't Get Fooled Again.

Oh and I wasn't referring to you or anyone else on here when I said "someone on the far left".

"To me" should have been "to be". Damn these ten hour days...

The point about Betsy and Bill relates to the subject of this post. KT is making fun of Palin for the euthanasia rumor.

This isn't taking the most ridiculous, inane portion of the opposition to represent the group as a whole.

The euthanasia rumor started with the same GOP operatives who killed the Clinton health care reform back in 1993-1994.
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Dee, thanks for your extraordinarily insightful comment. I agree with every point you made. And I worry, too, what it is going to take to bring the MSM down from their 30,000-foot vantage point.

Dee, that makes sense to me, thanks for the clarification.

Dee, your comment -- essay really (which I can say since I teach writing in university!) -- is absolutely a breath of fresh air. There are other reasonable, well-presented comments in this thread, of course, but yours really stands out.

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I live overseas, and by happenstance, my circle is largely made of of people who hold, ahem, "strong views" -- some on the left, others on the right, both generally at least fairly extreme (and sometimes downright wild-eyed).

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Over the past year or two, I've really grown weary of having to call both sides down on outright misinformation. (No, Bush didn't fly a light plane around few hours then plopped into a fighter jet and handed a set of wings. He went through the whole enchilada of training. No, Obama wasn't born in Kenya, on Mars, in Hell, or wherever. That sort of stuff. Heck, just before the election, one of my more extreme acquaintances on the left loudly announced to a restaurant-full of us that even if McCain was ever really a POW, he was undoubtedly treated with kid gloves since his Father and Grandfather were admirals! Unbelievable . . .)

*****

I hope you comment all over the Internet!

mekhongkurt
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Perhaps you missed her many slanders of those she disagrees with as racists, homophobes, sexists, traitors, etc. Dee illustrates a profound contempt for all conservatives, so much so that she is willing to engage in slanderous libel to de-legitimize their views. She is symptomatic of that which is abhorrent in politics, the wanton demonization of one's opponents while purporting to take the high road of righteous probity. She manipulates any and all with which she disagrees into the most perverse caricatures. For example, my opposition to non-essential abortions, she twisted into an advocacy for suppression of impoverished minorities by curbing their ability rise to out of destitution. My opposition to some of Obama's initiatives, according to her, stems simply from my ignorance and fear of his race. Her commentary is wholly lacking in any acceptance or understanding of her counterparts and is certainly undeserving of applaud.