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September 17, 2008

Quote of the Day

quotation-icon.jpgIn Wasilla, a comparable home would be more horizontally oriented, clad in aluminum, and perched on wheels and/or cinder blocks. But with the de rigeur meth lab, it would be a more profitable investment than this place.
— by SnarkSlope in House of the Day: 47 Sidney Place




Posted by Brownstoner at 3:35 PM | Comments (45)
Categories: QOTD

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Comments

This is funny as hell. Probably not far from the truth either. "Trailer Home to Nowhere."

Posted by: eyepenn at September 17, 2008 3:50 PM

petty loony lib

Posted by: goldie at September 17, 2008 3:58 PM

Ah, to be among the urban elite!

Posted by: BobfromBklyn at September 17, 2008 4:07 PM

Quite a classless and condescending comment. I can't believe this tripe is considered worthy of Brownstoner's front page for any reason other than sophomoric gratification.

Posted by: FenFen at September 17, 2008 4:08 PM

"FenFen" denigrating a comment about a meth lab?? Ironic?

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 17, 2008 4:15 PM

lighten up, francis

Posted by: plgdude at September 17, 2008 4:21 PM

Speaking of lightening up, this should do the trick:

Sarah Palin Baby Name Generator - Cult of Personality
http://personal-space.com/script/script.php

Posted by: Biff Champion at September 17, 2008 4:43 PM

Dave, FenFen was my nickname long before that failure of a diet drug existed. It has nothing to do with pharmaceuticals.

Posted by: FenFen at September 17, 2008 4:53 PM

i assumed it really had nothing to do with it

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 17, 2008 4:55 PM

This condescension is a huge part of the reason why Republicans keep winning Presidential elections. The truth in any high school, college, or nation is that the popular, cool, hip folks are a small percentage of the population, and there's a much larger group of normal people out there who resent the snobbery, pretension, and power of the hip/cool/popular/elitist/etc. Any politician who can tap into that resentment has something going for them. Liberals who talk like this about small-town America deserve to lose. Nobody who looks down on the people he/she governs will be an effective leader or will persuade anyone of anything. The only Democrats who have won after 1964 are the evangelical peanut farmer Carter and astroturf-in-pickup Clinton.

Note it has nothing to do with privilege, a matter of birth and wealth, but elitism, an attitude problem.

I recommend Rick Perlstein's book "Nixonland" for anyone who wants to understand this phenomenon.

Posted by: sixyearsandcounting at September 17, 2008 6:15 PM

Sixty, I think you mean "smart" instead of "popular, cool, hip". Most of us evil North-easterners (as Palin would say) have no problem with small-town America. I have a problem with short-sighted, selfish, uninformed America. The fact is, the majority of the American electorate are just that. Your comparison of the electorate to high-schoolers is accurate. The jocks didn't like the smart kids either. I just wish that people would vote for the President as if the job required a brain.

Posted by: Susan Elkins at September 17, 2008 6:40 PM

Susan, if what you say is true, the ultimate conclusion must be that citizen participation in the national government is untenable.

Such an assessment of the people is typically used by statists the world over to justify their tyrannical systems of government.

Perhaps the change we need is an electorate divided not along geographic terms, but along professional expertise. The issue is you - and the people you criticize - have limited experience and expertise and differing views. The very problems we have today are due to the inability of politicians to understand every conceivable issue we face in modern times. On some level, you understand this (the jocks versus the geeks or whatever). Instead, think of things in terms of doctors versus engineers versus construction workers and so forth. Your hope however, for an all knowing Fuhrer is simply not going to happen. No man has a large enough brain to competently lead the nation or enforce the millions of laws and administrative rules that currently encumber us.


Posted by: Polemicist at September 17, 2008 7:07 PM

The assumption that anyone who disagrees with us is either stupid or evil is extremely troubling. Rational, intelligent people can disagree about most things, including this election.

Most people vote at least in part on some fuzzy feeling that their candidate is somehow like them - intellectuals and the uninformed alike. The intellectuals believe we need an intellectual, and most others want someone who seems normal to them. Neither is a good reason to vote for anyone.

BTW, it might be worth noting that the most brainiac Presidents of the last 100 years were Wilson, Hoover, and Carter. All of them were failures (Wilson had a lasting influence but was a failure in the short term). By contrast, FDR was said to have a "first class temperament, second rate intellect". Smarts and expertise ain't all they're cracked up to be.

Posted by: sixyearsandcounting at September 17, 2008 9:01 PM

Thanks for the link, Biff. I shall henceforth be known as Guzzle Red Palin.

Posted by: SnarkSlope at September 17, 2008 9:38 PM

I'm no intellectual, but I do try to keep informed. My candidate (guess who?), as most Democratic candidates are, is far more egalitarian than his Republican counterparts.

I have had the (not serious) wish that only informed people should be able to vote but obviously this is problematic to say the least. A test prior to casting votes? My intolerance is not a matter of differing views - more a matter that, "I'll vote for Joe Shmo because he makes me feel like I can have a beer with him". Do I think I'm qualified for the job? No.

And by the way, Bill Clinton, a Rhodes scholar is the best President we've had in modern history.

Posted by: Susan Elkins at September 18, 2008 9:42 AM

I'm voting for Obama. I guess that means I'm popular, cool and hip. Thanks sixyearsandcounting for the reaffirmation!

Posted by: Biff Champion at September 18, 2008 9:44 AM

SnarkSlope, I'll need to now login as "Fork Decoy Palin".

Posted by: Biff Champion at September 18, 2008 9:45 AM

Sixyearsandcounting, are you really truly saying the Republicans NEVER call Liberals stupid, or insult our very core values as human beings, for the way WE vote?

What cave have you been living in? Don't you own a TV?

Gimme a break.

Typical of Republicans. Total inability or refusal (or whatever pathology) to see themselves with any clarity whatsoever. Inconsistent and hypocritical to a laughable degree. And yes, trust me, the world is laughing at them.

Posted by: traditionalmod at September 18, 2008 10:24 AM

I wouldn't assume the Sixty is Republican. And he/she raises some interesting issues regarding the the election process and peoples motivations. Sixty is right that it's troubling when people can't disagree rationally, but Republicans (and even small-town America to some degree) are certainly expert as demeaning people who are different from them. Again, according to Palin, we are "haters." There is a real selfishness and divisiveness to this approach, and is NOT for the greater good. Unfortunately, this is what the uniformed voter falls for.

Posted by: Susan Elkins at September 18, 2008 10:54 AM

Traditionalmod:

"Insult our very core values as human beings"? You give ME a break!

These are the kinds of statements that lead to civil war. If you hate these people so much, and you find them so offensive - how can you possibly consider them brothers? Especially when these are the people who put food on your table, I think you'll come to regret this kind of vitriol in the future. And for the record, having grown up in Park Slope the son of some crazed liberal parents, this kind of nonsense is what turned me away from their radical ideology.

Posted by: Polemicist at September 18, 2008 12:11 PM

You are lecturing a Liberal about being tolerant?? You proved everything I said about hypocritical.

Republicans have fought nasty and dirty a long long long time historically. As in like killing fellow Americans they disagreed with.

Republicans are simply in denial with all their nostalgia and marketing of Palin & small town life. I grew up in the rural Midwest, my mother is from the rural South where I spent a lot of time. I loved it then. But it's so different now. There have been a lot of changes since farming and manufacturing jobs have departed. Economic struggles, huge addiction problems, highest rates of divorce. The few smart kids leave for college and instead of returning like past generations would do, they go to the cities. Because that's where the jobs are.

The Republicans and their policies did this to rural America starting in the 80's with Reagan and now they want to paint a false, rosy picture of small town life and use it to market their candidates. It's surreal.

Posted by: traditionalmod at September 18, 2008 12:25 PM

Polemicist--a little of the old "Alex P. Keaton" in you, eh?

Posted by: wasder at September 18, 2008 12:30 PM

WOW, so much crap being spewed here today. I'm glad you've figured it all out traditionalmod. What a narrow-minded view. But I guess when you know you are correct then you know you are correct.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 18, 2008 12:31 PM

And one more thing. Your question "Don't you own a TV?" tells me how you formulate your "world view."

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 18, 2008 12:33 PM

Well okay, stay in denial. But know this, I'm speaking from first-hand knowledge.

My family owns banks in small, rural Midwestern towns and have for nearly 50 years. We saw the changes occur over the decades. Foreclosed on farms. We know everything about the economy in these places, the lifestyles, and even what each person has in their bank accounts. Lots of people on welfare. Huge use of alcohol and drugs. Very high divorce rate. FACTS.

Posted by: traditionalmod at September 18, 2008 12:39 PM

Yeah, I asked "do you own a TV".

Because that's where the Republican's campaign ads are airing. Since I WAS talking about political attacks. As in campaign ads.

How can you not figure out what I was talking about? Guess I had to spell it out. Slowly.

Posted by: traditionalmod at September 18, 2008 12:42 PM

FACTS...over the past 50 years, since 1958 there have been 6 republican administrations and 4 democrat ones.

I guess ALL of the problems were the result of the republicans then.

Pull head out of sand or wherever it is.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 18, 2008 12:48 PM

As for my comment about Republicans insulting Liberals' core values in the way they vote, that refers to the abortion issue. You know, how evangelicals like Palin's preacher just to name one, saying Liberals are going to burn in hell.

Again, having to slowly explain my comments to you guys.

Posted by: traditionalmod at September 18, 2008 12:50 PM

And there are no Democrat campaign ads that are airing??? And there are no attacks by Democrats? You're really out of your mind!!!

And I'm probably voting democrat so figure out a more intelligent rebuttal.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 18, 2008 12:51 PM

Evangelicals are religious group, not a subsect of the Republican party. They may largely be Republicans but thay are first and foremost a religious group. Just like most of those preachers and the Reverend Al are reverends, not political figures.

You're really messed up in your thinking.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 18, 2008 12:53 PM

Um, not any Dem ads out there that are totally utterly lying about McCain's tax plan. Like they have against Obama right now. Nope. Nothing like that. And didn't even Karl Rove say McCain went too far with his lying and negative attacks?

How am I out of my mind if I'm only agreeing with what half the country and all of Europe is saying. The whole world's gone crazy, huh?

Posted by: traditionalmod at September 18, 2008 12:57 PM

And, by the way, most of those evangelicals flourish in your small-town rural Midwestern and Southern communities. the ones you state have been hurt the most.

Don't really know many big city republican evangelicals!!!! You are digging your own grave.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 18, 2008 12:57 PM

Evangelicals are a core voting block of the Republican party and have a lot of power. You can't separate them from the party. I agree they are very different from traditional Republicans like my father who doesn't care about abortion or gay marriage. But the evangelicals were courted heavily and now the Republicans are fully in league with them. Thus, the nomination of Sarah Palin. She was selected to appeal to them.

Posted by: traditionalmod at September 18, 2008 1:01 PM

Half the country may be voting Republican but most of them are not as wound up as you are. Take a chill.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 18, 2008 1:05 PM

The evangelicals were "used" for their gullibility and their votes. You think most normal people Democrat or Republican really care about them???

You're way off on a tangent now.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 18, 2008 1:10 PM

Me, chill? I wasn't the one using 4 exclamation points and I didn't tell you you're "out of your mind" or that you're "messed up" or telling you to "pull your head out of the sand".

Everybody knows you're a provocateur around here, Dave. Please.

Posted by: traditionalmod at September 18, 2008 1:10 PM

Only responding to insanity thats all

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 18, 2008 1:12 PM

Yes exactly. The Republicans got in league with people who espouse hate and intolerance, who want to teach creationism in schools and make abortion illegal, just for votes so the very rich don't have to pay more taxes, even to pay off the largest deficit we've ever had, for a war only they wanted. You hit the nail on the head, there.

Posted by: traditionalmod at September 18, 2008 1:16 PM

No one should pay more taxes. Can we at least agree on that one???

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 18, 2008 1:20 PM

And, I'm not provoking. I'm responding to your original narrow minded view of Republicans and your belief that they have been the sole cause of problems across America for the past 50 years. The latter of which I debunked above at 12:48

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 18, 2008 1:24 PM

I'm with DIBS at 1.20.

Posted by: dittoburg at September 18, 2008 1:35 PM

not pay more taxes!? then how will i get my free healthcare and education and babybonds and welfare and icecream that obama is promising me?!

Posted by: goldie at September 18, 2008 2:50 PM

Because you're entitled to it goldie!!! Click your heels three times...

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 18, 2008 2:52 PM

Better question, goldie, would be, "Who is going to pay for the deficit, the war, and the recent bail-outs"?

Posted by: Susan Elkins at September 18, 2008 3:38 PM

tradionalmod

You are so far out there I don't even know where to begin. Abortion is a complex issue, and while I personally believe it should be legal, I do understand and appreciate why people think that it is wrong. An enlightened, political realist should acknowledge this fact and tread carefully. Millions of people consider abortion tantamount to genocide and consider your view as barbaric as those who supported slavery in the past. You're accusation of Republicans killing those with whom they disagree is nonsensical and ridiculous. Considering Republicans controlled congress for only about 18 years in the past CENTURY - what would be the point?

We are at a crisis point in this nation where there seems to be no way to reconcile ideals between the populace. The political polarization is reaching crisis proportions - much more so than in the early 1860s.

Which brings us to Wasder

I had to look up your reference, but no - I don't believe the comparison is valid. I'm a realist fairly devoted to empiricism in the realm of public policy. I consider the dominant Republican foreign policy positions as of late as preposterous as the many failed social programs espoused by Democrats. Both parties can't seem to acknowledge they are failures and move forward.

I completely reject any black and white thinking regarding political parties, as the level of corruption and deceit in both has now become comical. It is time to stop advocating parties and start discussing policy. We need to specifically address what has worked, and what hasn't. Americans have become so enamored with party politics and ideology they can't distance themselves from the political debate to honestly examine the positives and negatives of a particular position.

Republicans aren't evil and Democrats aren't evil. The people who are evil are those who react to any dissent by dehumanizing or otherwise demeaning their opponents as traditionalmod has today. They are evil because they attack the very foundation of our political system and destabilize one of the last places on earth where the people can still freely debate public policy as we do here.

Posted by: Polemicist at September 18, 2008 6:02 PM

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