Sam Harris on Sarah Palin

[_antishock8]

You mean like when Senator Biden said he was shot at in Iraq or his helicopter was forced down in Afghanistan by militants?

What? Didn't hear about that?

C'mon. There IS a clear bias, and it's not deserved other than the fact that she's Republican and she gave a boost to Senator McCain's campaign. You can't even admit that, can you? Are you that partisan? Really?

[_LifeOnaPlate]

You mean like when Senator Biden said he was shot at in Iraq or his helicopter was forced down in Afghanistan by militants?

What? Didn't hear about that?

Actually I did hear about it. Several times on CNN and Fox News, and on the radio in an NPR report, and on some evening KSL talk program. It was a weather-related emergency landing. Can you find a quote where Biden says the helicopter was "shot down?" I'm aware of his saying that his helicopter was "forced down" in an area where he believes Al Quaeda operates.

C'mon. There IS a clear bias, and it's not deserved other than the fact that she's Republican and she gave a boost to Senator McCain's campaign. You can't even admit that, can you? Are you that partisan? Really?

A clear bias from who? And what is the bias? What is it based on? How does it compare to the bias against other candidates? Who is being partisan?

[_moksha]

I find it interesting that the Leftists on this board are so focused on the VP, frankly.

The VP is a choice of the presidential candidate. It was a poor decision on an important matter and McCain messed up.

It is like antishock is being an apologist. He is diverting our attention. Next he will be trying to put those soft glow filters on McCain and Palin so as to portray them literally in a better light.

[_antishock8]

It is like antishock is being an apologist. He is diverting our attention. Next he will be trying to put those soft glow filters on McCain and Palin so as to portray them literally in a better light.

How am I being an apologist? We have differing opinions over a real subject.

My position:

1) It was a savvy move by McCain.

2) She's intelligent, and a good orator.

3) She can govern well.

4) She's a woman, and thus shows half the population that access to power is a reality for them, too.

5) VP is a nominal position.

6) Senator Biden isn't a better VP pick, at all, since he's prone to lying, gaffes, and temper tantrums.

-------------

Things that concern me:

1) She's pro-life. However, Chief Justice Roberts has pretty much put that baby to bed.

2) Inexperience. She has limited political experience on a relatively small stage.

3) She's a Christian, which will mean she's friendly to personal freedom restrictions, and most likely won't seek equality for all Americans under the law.

-------------------

How do reconcile these contrarian positions? I don't. But I think they're preferable to Socialism. Real Socialism. The kind of Socialism that will mandate our freedom away much faster with harsher penalties than the hurt feelings of some Gays who can't get married in Arkansas, or some hippies not getting their 4:20 on. If THAT position makes me an apologist rather than whatever it is that I am politically... Well, then feel free to label me.

No to $700,000,000,000.00 bailouts. Not to universal healthcare. No to mandated public housing that we have to subsidize. No to perpetual welfare. No to government censorship. No to dissolving our right to bear arms. etc..

[_LifeOnaPlate]

Looks like we have a TBR on our hands.

[_antishock8]

Looks like we have a TBR on our hands.

A True Blue Republican? Ah. No.

I'm pro-abortion, sterilization, euthnasia, gay marriage, drugs, equal rights for all, and renewable energy through government inducement (tax deductions).

I could probably bother to list off a host of other things... But it doesn't matter. I'm sure we'll be at odds over it, and everything else.

[_LifeOnaPlate]

Looks like we have a TBR on our hands.

A True Blue Republican? Ah. No.

I'm pro-abortion, sterilization, euthnasia, gay marriage, drugs, equal rights for all, and renewable energy through government inducement (tax deductions).

I could probably bother to list off a host of other things... But it doesn't matter. I'm sure we'll be at odds over it, and everything else.

Sarah Palin is unfit for the position of Vice President, and John McCain's selection demonstrates how his "Maverick" reputation has become a "gimmick" reputation.

[_Some Schmo]

C'mon. There IS a clear bias, and it's not deserved other than the fact that she's Republican and she gave a boost to Senator McCain's campaign. You can't even admit that, can you? Are you that partisan? Really?

Assuming you were talking to me...

When did I say that Palin didn't give McCain's campaign a boost? I'm pretty sure that I originally said something about it being a cheap political move that will work on some people, as depressing as that is.

So there you go. I admit it. It's a sad fact.

And you are mistaking me for some crazy line toting democrat. I am no such thing. For a point of reference, let's take a look at some of the things from your position and see how it coincides with my own:

- No to $700,000,000,000.00 bailouts (I agree, and was happy about the vote. To bail out or not to bail out is scary either way, but something tells me that letting the economy right itself, no matter how painful, is the right thing to do. However, I'm certainly not an Economics major, and I'm sure my understanding of these issues is elementary at best).
- No to universal healthcare. (Don't even get me started. This is the number one thing that scares me about Obama. I don't think people understand how this will affect the quality of the actual care people receive on a day to day basis, but if my experence living in Canada is any indicator, this makes me very afraid).
- No to mandated public housing that we have to subsidize. (Agree again. What can I say? I'm a capitalist).
- No to perpetual welfare. (Yes... again)
- No to government censorship. (Agree, as long as what people are saying doesn't cause a real and immediate threat to people's physical safety)
- No to dissolving our right to bear arms. etc. (The jury's still out on this one for me. There are far less shootings per capita in Canada where people have limited access to guns, so it seems less guns is not such a bad idea. However, what's good for Canada may not be good for the US given their separate histories, and the large supply of guns already in the US).

We're not that far apart philosophically, man. I've said before that ideologically, I'm Republican, but I don't think Bush nor McCain represent that ideal. Where's the "less government"? Where's the fiscal conservatism? I'm an independent in practice that judges the merits of both candidates as they come.

The simple fact is that I am far less nervous about the Democratic ticket than I am about the Republican one this year based on the observations I've made so far. It's that simple.

I hate the war, thought it was wrong to invade in the first place, and is a big part of the economic problems we face today. If we weren't wasting so much money on the damn war, we wouldn't have the national debt we have, and our dollar would not have become so devalued on the world market. Not to mention the fact that our defense has been largely depleted and we aren't in a position to defend ourselves if a real threat was imminent. And all this over a BS premise of WMD and controlling terrorism. If Obama is looking to end it, that's a big plus for me, and I'm willing to put up with his other shortcomings.

And I have to say that rabid partisan Republicans are doing their party a great disservice by arguing the nonsense they have been, as though people are too stupid to see through their flimsy BS. I'm also not fond of politicians talking to the public as if we're all complete morons who need things explained in overly simplistic terms the way the current administration and McCain's camp likes to do.

[_Brackite]

Looks like we have a TBR on our hands.

And it Looks like that LifeOnaPlate is a TBLD (True Blue Liberal Democrat), who wants higher Taxes and a lot More Federal Government Spending.

[_antishock8]

*fistpump to Schmo*

We're probably not that far apart on our politics... Elections make for funny times I guess...

by the way, my daughter wants to vote Obama (she's 13), and I encourage her to do so... In spirit, at least. I'm good with people having different reasons to vote for their candidates.