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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009

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NEXT STOP, REALITY TV (MAYBE)

Va. Socialites Crashed
Obama's State Dinner

And, yes, Tareq and Michaele Salahi want reality-TV turn

Nov 25, 09 9:29 PM CST
PROFILE

Biden the
Second Most
Powerful
Vice Prez

He's scaling back from Cheney, but a major player in his own right

Nov 26, 09 12:47 PM CST
Racist Image of Michelle Obama Taken Down

Blog site removes it, not Google, then issues apology

Nov 25, 09 2:07 PM CST
FACEBOOK DOESN'T LIE, RIGHT?

Party-Crashers Got Close
to Obamas Before

Photos show them in inaugural box; Secret Service admits mistake

Nov 26, 09 7:28 PM CST
Worst Modern VP Picks

Don't be so quick to judge Palin

Nov 26, 09 11:52 AM CST
Blair Knew Iraq Had No WMD
10 Days Before War Began

Intelligence ignored, British panel told

Nov 25, 09 8:16 PM CST
OPINION

How Obama Screwed Up

Lack of bipartisanship undercuts campaign promises

4 hours, 31 minutes ago
White House Backs Senate On 'Cadillac' Health Tax

Advisers outline cost control measures for health plan

Nov 26, 09 8:48 AM CST
Clintons Strive to Avoid Conflict of Interest Claims

Pair lead separate lives focusing on same issues

Nov 26, 09 9:20 AM CST
Beck Jokes He Won't
Run With 'Yapping' Palin

Alaskan belongs 'in the kitchen,' Beck tells listeners

34 minutes ago
Google Issues Disclaimer
Over Racist Michelle Image

But company won't
pull doctored photo

Nov 24, 09 12:28 PM CST
Lobbyists See Advisory Roles Clipped by New Obama Rule

Feds aim to cut special-interest access; K Streeters demur

Nov 26, 09 11:06 PM CST
analysis

Kid Lit Goes Political

Children's books get hyper-partisan

Nov 26, 09 4:33 AM CST

|NEXT STORY »

Lecture Circuit to Palin: Thanks, But No Thanks

Venues afraid ex-gov is a 'blithering idiot,' industry insider says

By Kevin Spak| Posted Sep 30, 09 7:32 AM CDT|

(Newser) – The lecture circuit isn’t sold on Sarah Palin. Though the ex-governor signed on with the prestigious Washington Speakers Bureau, which is hawking her services to the tune of $100,000 a speech, lecture buyers “are paralyzed with fear about booking her,” an industry insider tells the New York Post, “basically because they think she’s a blithering idiot.”

Palin is too controversial for subscription lecture series, whose organizers fear that subscribers will cancel if they see her on the schedule. Corporations, too, like to avoid controversy, and universities tend to lean left. “Palin is so uninteresting to so many groups—unless they are interested in moose hunting,” says the insider. “What does she have to say? She can’t even describe what she reads.”

Sarah Palin attends the 16th annual CLSA Investors' Forum in Hong Kong Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009. (AP Photo/CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets, Jeff Topping)

Sarah Palin arrives at the check-in counter at Hong Kong airport Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

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97 comments

VIEWING:

Nwambe
Sep 30, 09 7:43 AM CDT

Well, yeah - it's a contradiction in terms for her to describe herself as a hockey mom/pitbull with lipstick, and then expect the intelligentsia to fall all over her. How can she expect to appeal to her populist base when she's busy giving lectures on foreign policy, etc, to the people who actually understand it? Reply

+30

IN RESPONSE:

my-name-here
Sep 30, 09 8:00 AM CDT

Exactly. These seats are paid for by people seeking insight into a given subject that they believe they cannot get elsewhere. If she had anything real to offer, astute, influential people of all political persuasions would be lining up to see her with their wallets open.

+21

IN RESPONSE:

schmidtkoff
Sep 30, 09 9:05 AM CDT

yes, nwambe and myname. and oh what a snub! ! she can't come close to the roster of names listed in the article. but she did that to herself. the sad part of it is that she thinks she's in that league.

+10

IN RESPONSE:

BeatBlaster
Sep 30, 09 12:44 PM CDT

Would a teleprompter help make her sound more intelligent? Oh - wait a minute....

IN RESPONSE:

Spudsy
Sep 30, 09 5:28 PM CDT

Yes yes. We need this woman to destroy "holy roller" Huck and "jesus walked in New York" Mitt in the primaries.

| 0 minutes ago

Reader64481089
Sep 30, 09 7:46 AM CDT

“basically because they think she’s a blithering idiot.” ,,,,And it took them this long to admit it? The woman is delusional and some in the Republican party refuse to take a look because they view themselves as infallible and are left unable to admit a mistake of this magnitude or it might well shatter their self created myth that the Republican Party is the one to "lead" America Reply

+19

IN RESPONSE:

radnip
Sep 30, 09 9:25 PM CDT

Hopefully "some" in the Republican Party will pay her. That'd be a really good idea, Repubs. *hint*hint*

| 0 minutes ago

my-name-here
Sep 30, 09 7:48 AM CDT

“basically because they think she’s a blithering idiot.” Ha Ha Ha, Brilliant! “Palin is so uninteresting to so many groups"--This is where the rubber meets the road. If this were untrue, they'd be booking her left and right because of a windfall of money. She might make headlines, but if she can't fill seats that must be paid for by people who value credibility, she's little more than entertainment. Reply

+16

| 0 minutes ago

Caps
Sep 30, 09 8:06 AM CDT

She is a blithering idiot. Yes, she is so uninteresting. I have never heard anything that came out of her lying mouth except stupid remarks. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

schmidtkoff
Sep 30, 09 8:33 AM CDT

probably the reason why she had to go to china to be heard but even those who listened to her "...i've given you the view from main st. usa..." speech shook their heads in disbelief. her view from main st.? is that main st. wasilla? wow. she's a real gem.

| 0 minutes ago

ilguy
Sep 30, 09 8:16 AM CDT

I'm no Sarah Palin fan, but I do get tired of Democrats portraying every Republican politician as stupid. Just because they don't agree with you doesn't always make them dumb. Reply

-8

IN RESPONSE:

Jayster999
Sep 30, 09 8:26 AM CDT

The democrats portray the republicans as mean-spirited, insensitive and hateful and the plain truth is that the democrats are far more hateful and less forgiving than the good people on the right. A lot of this stems from the fact that the left have abandoned traditional virtues and values. You can expect people who abandon God to be carry His love with them.

-19

IN RESPONSE:

schmidtkoff
Sep 30, 09 8:39 AM CDT

but she IS stupid, unlearned and probably uninterested in real politcal discourse. all she can do is spew out untruths. how could one possible agree with the stuff that she says especially when it has been proven over and over. like ther insistence upon sticking to her death panel rant.

+12

IN RESPONSE:

ilguy
Sep 30, 09 8:44 AM CDT

Schmidtkoff... please tell me that you do understand that your first two sentences are just opinion and name calling, not facts and unquestioned truth. Your comment illustrates exactly the point I was trying to make. You won't dispute her positions on the merits, but rather just call her stupid, mostly because you disagree with her.

-9

IN RESPONSE:

rockermocking
Sep 30, 09 8:56 AM CDT

the problem is there are plenty of Republican politicians out there that are intelligent, but they don't make headlines. A lot in the Republican party are so desperate to make headlines that they push anyone who does, unfortunately at the risk of damaging the party's image. The party needs to stop obsessing over "any publicity is good publicity" and actually start speaking against people who damage the party's image.

IN RESPONSE:

dax
Sep 30, 09 9:02 AM CDT

@Jayster (wrote) - "A lot of this stems from the fact that the left have abandoned traditional virtues and values. You can (sic) expect people who abandon God to be (sic) carry His love with them."---- Nonsense. Liberals aren't the one's showing up at Town Halls with weapons and sporting racist and bigoted slogans. The Right has conflated rapacious self-interest with Christianity in a twisted act of justifying their exclusionary, judgmental, prejudicial, and xenophobic behaviors. It is the political activist, religious Right that has abandoned the core teachings of Jesus Christ.---- Bill O'Reilly has long been emblematic of this twisted hypocrisy with his schtick of calling his opponents "haters" all the while slinging caustic jabs. ---- Nutty.

+11

IN RESPONSE:

my-name-here
Sep 30, 09 9:06 AM CDT

The decision has little to do with politics. This lecture circuit is a business. In order to be on it, you have to be more than just popular with the masses. You must appeal to your audience. These aren't mass media audiences. If she had insights that were not paper thin, supposed foreign policy expertise because of Alaska's proximity to Russia, for example, they would be beating a path to her door. She wasn't told no because of character assassination, or because she is controversial and polarizing. Otherwise, Clinton would not have been on the circuit. They enjoy the company of Intelligent members of ALL party affiliations. And she isn't stupid, one cannot become governor of any state being stupid. But apparently, she has no unique perspectives to contribute. On these circuits they don't normally sign up "me, too's"

IN RESPONSE:

ilguy
Sep 30, 09 9:10 AM CDT

Rocker... thank you for the thoughtful discussion. I don't know if I completely agree, but I think you make a valid point, and one worth of debate. It just seems to me like no matter what Republican is placed on the national stage, he or she will almost always be portrayed as unintelligent or out of touch (Quayle, Reagan, both Bushes, Ford, etc.) and that Palin is just the latest. You think better choices by the Republicans would lead to better acceptance. I really hope that is true, but I'm having a hard time thinking of an example of a Republican that has been well-received by Democrats.

-6

IN RESPONSE:

dax
Sep 30, 09 9:13 AM CDT

@rockermocking - So true. The Conservatives of substance need to step forward, assert their ideas and start modulating a Republican party that "went off the reservation", pulled by a clique of NeoCons. --- Reasonable people will listen to arguments presented reasonably, and there are plenty of so called "Liberals" who also embrace fiscal conservatism.

IN RESPONSE:

Doctor_Zaius
Sep 30, 09 9:19 AM CDT

But it doesn't automatically make them smart either. I think there is enough evidence to make a case against Palin on the smarts issue.

IN RESPONSE:

schmidtkoff
Sep 30, 09 9:23 AM CDT

@ilguy- did you happen to catch the couric interview with palin? her credentials in foreign policy was such that "...our next-door neighbors are foreign countries, there in the state that I am the executive of." and even more telling is when couric asked her have you ever been involved in any negotiations, for example, with the Russians? and ms. former governor and vice presidential candidate replied, “ we have trade missions back and forth, we do. It’s very important when you consider even national security issues with Russia. As Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where do they go? It’s Alaska. It’s just right over the border. It is from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there, they are right next to our state.” if you don't think that's stupid then what do you think is?

IN RESPONSE:

dax
Sep 30, 09 9:26 AM CDT

@ilguy (wrote):"It just seems to me like no matter what Republican is placed on the national stage, he or she will almost always be portrayed as unintelligent or out of touch (Quayle, Reagan, both Bushes, Ford, etc.) " ---- That's because the power BEHIND the Right loves figureheads that can be molded. They strategically choose style over substance and as a bonus, pander to the masses.

IN RESPONSE:

LiberalJesus
Sep 30, 09 9:45 AM CDT

@ilguy.....Really...everyone huh...really! Maybe saying stupid racist things leads one to think they are stupid and racist..Would that be ok with you if we judge a republican by what dribbles out of their mouths? List any republican you want who you feel we "mistreated" and I will post quoters from them that led us to declare their stupidity or racist views. You said we painted EVERY republican...lets see who's right here. That is my challenge to you since you painted with such a broad stroke lets see if you got the stones to back up your phlegm. I got a C-note that says if you can provide any evidence that we liberals unfairly called a republican "stupid" or "racist" I can back it up with quotes that came straight out of the horse's mouth that led to such comments. Lets see if the rubber meets the road. I'm tired of you "folks" generalizing without any evidence to back your whitewashing ( how apropos a term considering we are talking about the all white male party of the gop) The Jerkster calling others haters while his profile is full of hatefilled bile pretty much leaves him out of the discussion. So have we got a bet? One C-note due in 30 days from post. I am willing to back up what I say with cash money, are you? Come one, name one republican we labeled as either stupid, racist or just "dumb" that was not fair...just one....and provide evidence that we did indeed vilify and I will provide quotes from such or will apologize if we made that mistake. But you must apologize for all the hatefilled venom directed at President Obama. You talk the talk...now lets see you walk the walk. I can and I do.

IN RESPONSE:

ilguy
Sep 30, 09 9:50 AM CDT

Schmidtkoff... Regarding the Couric interview... I believe she did not have much of any foreign policy experience and was unprepared to look polished in a national TV interview. She was nervous and gave the best answer she could. That might make her a poor politician, but it doesn't necessarily make here stupid and a blithering idiot. It is the tone of the discussion that I would like to see changed.

-5

IN RESPONSE:

ilguy
Sep 30, 09 9:55 AM CDT

LiberalJ.... Based on the tone of your reply, I just don't see the opportunity to have a thoughtful discussion with you that would have any hope of helping you to see and understand a point of view that you don't agree with. So, regarding you challenge, I believe I'll pass. But I do hope that someday you'll see that terms like "stupid", "racist" and "dumb" are not the best way to have a rational, reasonable political discussion.

-5

IN RESPONSE:

Snarfeh
Sep 30, 09 10:02 AM CDT

@ilguy - I'll bite that one & hope Schmidt doesn't mind. 1) Here's a sample of her stupid: "Denali, the great one, soaring under the midnight sun." Denali is a national park in Alaska. It does not soar. 2) Something to back up "unlearned": Palin attended 5 colleges to obtain a bachelor's degree in, of all things, journalism/communication. Item 1 above provides insight on how poorly she applies this degree. 3) Her own public comments have indicated she is not interested in real political discourse but instead in creating buzzwords that ignite passions and distort truth, i.e., death panels (this covers Schmidt's 2nd sentence, too). Her performance in the VP debate also highlighted her lack of political savvy *and* also adds more support to the "unlearned" adjective. Glad I could help.....

IN RESPONSE:

Fondue
Sep 30, 09 11:26 AM CDT

@ilguy, on "well received Republicans" they're called Blue Dogs. I have one representing my district. His name is Bart Gordon. They've also been termed "ConservaDems" and "Red State Democrats".

IN RESPONSE:

schmidtkoff
Sep 30, 09 11:40 AM CDT

@ilguy - if she was unprepared then she had no right to be on the public stage running for the important position of vp of the united states.. it makes her stupid because she was so unprepared. despite the futile grooming of her handlers.

IN RESPONSE:

schmidtkoff
Sep 30, 09 11:48 AM CDT

@snarfeh - don't mind at all. right on.

IN RESPONSE:

my-name-here
Sep 30, 09 12:10 PM CDT

@Snarfeh, One point, Denali is a park to the rest of America, but in Alaska, no one calls the mountain McKinley. It is referred to by it's Athabaskan name, the same as the park itself.

IN RESPONSE:

Snarfeh
Sep 30, 09 11:03 PM CDT

@my-name - Ok, but does it soar? ;o) Seriously, though...point taken =o)

IN RESPONSE:

Snarfeh
Sep 30, 09 11:07 PM CDT

@schmidtkoff - Thanks. I just couldn't resist, frankly. That speech of hers...whoa. And I noticed ilguy hasn't said shit about it and we both know that's because he can't refute that she is an ignorant waste of breath.

| 0 minutes ago

odowd80
Sep 30, 09 8:16 AM CDT

Free-market capitalism pwns Sarah Palin...ouch. This is when the anti-intellectual culture in the GOP comes back to bite them in the ass. Perhaps she should shop her "lecture series" to the monster truck rally circuit. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

schmidtkoff
Sep 30, 09 8:51 AM CDT

i just heard on the news that louisiana just held the national outhouse race/competition. she could have been a commentator for the event. they would have loved her in louisiana. heck, she probably could have been in the competition herself.

IN RESPONSE:

dax
Sep 30, 09 9:28 AM CDT

Anti-intellectual "intellectualism" is a Republican brand.

IN RESPONSE:

LiberalJesus
Sep 30, 09 10:07 AM CDT

@ilguy..."Based on my tone" is code for " I aint gotta a leg to stand on..Nice try having a conversation with you. I called you out and you couldn't back it up. So you try to use the Jedi mind trick...that only works on people like you, not on anyone with anything more than a GED diploma. If you couldn't back up your paint strokes with facts then shouldn't throw down the gauntlet. I called you out and you couldn't deal. Once again I ask you to show me how we painted EVERY republican...you did say EVERY republican. I commented on your post, dont try to turn it around. Admit you were wrong and all is cool. But your Jedi mind trick is powerless against me.

IN RESPONSE:

ilguy
Sep 30, 09 10:22 AM CDT

LibJ.... if you'd feel better if I said "almost every" I'm fine with making that correction. Since you accused me of having only a GED (more name calling), I will let you know that I do have a doctorate degree. Doesn't make me any smarter or dumber than anyone else, but I'm starting to think it might make me more capable of having an intelligent political discussion without resorting to nastiness. I'm not trying to "turn" anything around on you. You just didn't seem that open to hearing a differing opinion. You ask me to "name one republican we labeled as either stupid, racist or just dumb that was not fair...just one". There is simply no way to respond to that when the point of my original post was that I don't think Sarah Palin is any of those, even though I don't really much like her anymore myself. I seriously would be happy to debate you on the merits of any issue here, but unless the name calling stops, I just won't be dragged into it.

-4

IN RESPONSE:

logothete
Sep 30, 09 11:22 AM CDT

@liguy Come let us reason together? About what? The subject here, before you attempted to obscure it, is ACTUALLY Sarah Palin's stupidity, not how unfair Libs are, or how intelligent the rest of the GOP is. You believe she's intelligent, and has been unfairly portrayed as stupid. Fine. Can you provide evidence for your point of view, other than second-hand ad hominems addressed to the left? Other than one lame excuse ("she was nervous"), and your unsupported assertions, I've seen nothing so far. On the other hand, both schmidtkoff and snarfeh have supplied verifiable examples of her shortcomings. You may well have a PhD, but it certainly wasn't in logic. You lose.

| 0 minutes ago

Blackbird
Sep 30, 09 8:17 AM CDT

She certainly could speak to the Pitbull Society!! Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Jayster999
Sep 30, 09 8:21 AM CDT

It's interesting how effectively the left has managed to mold public opinion around Patin. She initially had credibility, then the media portrayed her as a buffoon with such virulence and consistency that the general public turned against her. Having done such a complete job of character assassination, even many in her own party have abandoned her. I'm sure if Palin were to take an IQ test it would be reasonably high--higher probably than anyone in the hierarchy of ACORN for example. Since Palin is not actually an idiot, we should be wondering why this character assassination took place at all. Why does the left hate her with such fervor? After all, she was just another governor trying to jockey for a higher office, what is it about her that brings out such hatred in the left? Reply

-9

IN RESPONSE:

Nwambe
Sep 30, 09 8:47 AM CDT

Jay, your points are very well made re: character assassination, but I would like to point out that Karl Rove essentially disintegrated what was left of Clinton's reputation in office with the Whitewater scandal. That being said, while I do believe that Ms. Palin has some competence with respect to local politics, I do not believe that she has the political savvy to compete on a federal stage. In essence, I think Palin's actions didn't exactly hinder those who wish to impugn her character.

-3

IN RESPONSE:

myvoice
Sep 30, 09 8:49 AM CDT

calling someone stupid or an idiot, when its plainly the fact is not hatred! And you wanna talk about hatred and call the left hypocrites. You jayster are like Palin and MRsKKK, a blithering idiot but i dont hate you. I leave that up to the conservative assholes who hate Muslims, Gays, abortion DR's, liberals, etc etc!

IN RESPONSE:

ilguy
Sep 30, 09 8:54 AM CDT

myvoice... your name calling is opinion, not fact. I sincerely hope you can tell the difference, but no one would ever know if from your comment here. Discussing issues on the merits, instead of the nastiness you have chosen, would go a long way towards improving the political dialog between liberals and conservatives.

-5

IN RESPONSE:

dax
Sep 30, 09 9:08 AM CDT

Jayster (wrote) :"She initially had credibility" ---- But her incompetency was illuminated by detailed scrutiny as she emerged from the relative obscurity of Alaskan politics; and then her performance withered under media's glare. Not the right stuff.

IN RESPONSE:

myvoice
Sep 30, 09 9:25 AM CDT

ilguy... Palin and merits, what to discuss here? Anyone who makes up lies and tells half truths is what? I am not the one who is nasty on newser! if you were around more you would see that the likes of jayster and Mrskkk or the nasty ones. now if you would like to debate Sarah Palin's merits vs Obama's we can. You first...

IN RESPONSE:

LiberalJesus
Sep 30, 09 9:26 AM CDT

On Sen. Franken Debuts in Sotomayor Hearings "Al Franken is a big, fat liberal idiot"...That is a quote directly lifted from your profile....Hello pot, my name is kettle.

IN RESPONSE:

ilguy
Sep 30, 09 10:02 AM CDT

myname... I have been around Newser for a long time, and just finally got motivated to post. I think Obama is a much better politician than Sarah Palin. I don't agree with him much of the time, but I give him credit for his strengths. Honestly, I don't believe his qualifications coming into the Office were much better on paper than Palins, but he clearly did a much better job of presenting himself and his ideas than she did. But when you just say she "makes up lies and half truths" and others say she is "stupid" and a "blithering idiot", I don't think that is fair. I probably wouldn't vote for her, but I am willing to give her credit for her strengths and listen to her positions without name calling. Whether anyone here wants to admit it or not, Obama has made mistakes too, but I don't here Republicans calling him stupid. That is really my only point on this story.... quit with the name calling and discuss the issues that politicians present on the merits.

-4

IN RESPONSE:

schmidtkoff
Sep 30, 09 12:11 PM CDT

@ilguy -" I have been around Newser for a long time, and just finally got motivated to post." joined newser 3 hrs. and 38 min. ago and you just now decided to post. why lurk? just jump in the water is fine. sometimes muddled, sometimes contentious sometimes downright nasty. c'est la vie.

IN RESPONSE:

Carpediem4U
Oct 1, 09 4:32 PM CDT

Stupid is as stupid does,,,,,talk about the stupid leading the ignorant!

| 0 minutes ago

BlahBlahBlah
Sep 30, 09 8:22 AM CDT

There she is ladies and gentlemen, the GOP 2012 great hope for winning the white house. LOL, yeah....and I just talked to an alien who told me that the world is really going to end in 2012 too. Ha ha ha, she is so stupid. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Jayster999
Sep 30, 09 8:31 AM CDT

You guys remind me of the grade school kids who call names and pick on others to try and make themselves feel superior. Hope you enjoy your pathetic little ego boost. The democrats are the party of compassion? Not even close. This kind of trash shows you people for what you truly are, a bunch of self-righteous, hateful hypocrites.

-11

IN RESPONSE:

dax
Sep 30, 09 9:16 AM CDT

@Jayster: Reference my 1st post which again applies here.

IN RESPONSE:

dax
Sep 30, 09 9:20 AM CDT

Jayster, now you're whining.

IN RESPONSE:

BlahBlahBlah
Sep 30, 09 11:40 AM CDT

Jayster, of all people you are calling someone childish and immature????? Hmmmm, yeah that does not really work for you Jayster, you have come on here in the past and said some pretty dumb things. You have also been called out by almost everyone who posts on this site about the dumb things you have said in the past. The problem with you all of the sudden wanting to take the highroad is that you are a huge hypocrite. So I tell you what, if I never see another crass, hateful, mindless, or otherwise adverse remark from you I will cease and desist being the way I am. Go ahead, I will wait.

IN RESPONSE:

schmidtkoff
Sep 30, 09 12:17 PM CDT

@jayster and Blah - sounds like a a flay's throw down. bring it on.

| 0 minutes ago

LiberalJesus
Sep 30, 09 8:40 AM CDT

Wow..there's a big suprise. Who didn't already know this except for the sheeple that grovel and worship at her cute painted toes. In life you can only fool the people for so long before they see the light. Stupid always dies on the vine eventually. Bye Bye Sarah..It was real and it was good but it wasn't really good. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Reader71485694
Sep 30, 09 8:48 AM CDT

If she's a hero to the fox news horde, that should fill the halls. She only needs to parrot back all that crap and they'll be delighted. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

MarkMcJackoff
Sep 30, 09 8:53 AM CDT

Great story! "Blithering Idiot", straight out of Bertie Wooster's mouth. "Lecture Circuit", what a joke, this woman has nothing at all to offer, a complete lightweight. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

ezrider
Sep 30, 09 8:57 AM CDT

jayster999 the truth is Palin put herself in this position.the GOP put her a pedestal after mccain picked her and then she open her MOUTH and very little truth comes out of it Reply

IN RESPONSE:

schmidtkoff
Sep 30, 09 12:58 PM CDT

@ez - yep and don't that sure hurt!

| 0 minutes ago

dax
Sep 30, 09 9:19 AM CDT

I wouldn't go so far as to call Palin a "blithering idiot". "Blithering" is quite enough.---- And in truth, Palin is quite calculating. She's just not very good at covering up her self-centered motives. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

dax
Sep 30, 09 9:36 AM CDT

All the 'filler words' Palin reflexively employs should make her "400 page memoir" easier to complete. For example ----http://www.slate.com/id/2201158/ Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Cprizzle
Sep 30, 09 9:47 AM CDT

I would actually pay to see her here in College Station. I want to see first-hand how someone who is so ignorant becomes such a popular public figure. Plus her speeches are cute. Almost funny. Actually, scary would be a better word. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

LiberalJesus
Sep 30, 09 9:57 AM CDT

I'll say this nicer for all the Palinistas who worship this gal...I'm not callling her stupid but my 8 year old niece must be a genuis because she makes more sense to me than Mrs. Palin. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Mia
Sep 30, 09 10:26 AM CDT

The republicans themselves are giving her the words to use. They want her to be the crazy right wing nutso everyone is talking about. She has a stage and the right wing want these "death panel" BS statements out there. And while filling her empty head with this crap they are publicly distancing themselves from her. Sounds so Karl Rove like. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

PosterNutbag
Sep 30, 09 10:27 AM CDT

I'm tired of hearing that "universities tend to lean left." Universities to to lean towards empiricism, research, the annals of history, debate, peer review, etc. Further more, people who attend universities are usually interested in considering what the world will look like at least 40-60 years into the future. If all that makes one a liberal then so be it, but to say that colleges lean left, while hockey moms tend to lean right is insulting. Facts have a "liberal bias." People on the left are smarter and more educated (in general, of course there are exceptions). Reply

IN RESPONSE:

ilguy
Sep 30, 09 10:44 AM CDT

Sorry but it doesn't seem all that smart and educated to me to make a statement like "facts have a liberal bias".

-3

IN RESPONSE:

PosterNutbag
Sep 30, 09 10:49 AM CDT

See quotation marks.

IN RESPONSE:

logothete
Sep 30, 09 11:32 AM CDT

@liguy - "...it doesn't seem all that smart and educated to me to make a statement like 'facts have a liberal bias'. " I take it you mean "smart and educated" as in "agreeing with me." You've got a tough row to hoe here.

IN RESPONSE:

LiberalJesus
Sep 30, 09 11:51 AM CDT

There you go again trying to use common sense on...lol....Thumbs up from here! Dont you just hate it when facts have a liberal bias! I'm with you 100% PosterNutbag.....Kudos! If you were even remotely incorrect, then how will they explain their disdain for "intellectualism" which to me means they hate or avoid education on a college level. It's not that they are not capable of learning so much as it is a matter of fact that learning forces them to open their minds and then they come face to face with a realitiy they cannot deal with. They still cant believe a black man with an Arab sounding name trounced a white so-called "war hero" and super hot and not smart(sorry ilguy, thats as polite a way as I can find to say stupid while not calling her stupid) hockey mom. It scared them so much that they went out and started buying guns and bullets.....I still dont understand that move....like that would be of any use to them should they get REALLY not so smart and try to go to war against the might of the US military. Good luck to them going up against tanks, drones, bunkerbusters and just being outmanned, not to mention outfoxed...hee hee..I made a funny reference to fox news...I'm so cute...hee hee....( I am mocking Fox news consumers there)

IN RESPONSE:

schmidtkoff
Sep 30, 09 1:10 PM CDT

@poster - what? people who attend univ. are interested in what the world would look like in 40 -60 years? you're talking students? 18 -22 year olds? uh, i'm not dissing the the students nor the age group but they most certainly are not looking 40 to 60 years down the road. that is so alien to them. they are more likely thinking about can i find a job now. did you , if you went to college in your wildest dreams EVER think that far in advance? c'mon now. who does?

IN RESPONSE:

PosterNutbag
Oct 1, 09 12:50 PM CDT

Right, the students. When you look at the most visible manifestations of left wing politics, the marches, rallies, direct action and the like, why is it that historically, students are out there in big numbers? I think it is because young people have grave concerns about the type of world they are going to inherit from their parent's generation. Certainly, they will have to deal with the consequences long after the crotchety old senators and Montgomery Burns type power players who call the shots are dead and gone. When the topic du jour is nuclear weapons, or global climate change, the stakes are very high, and there is a sense of urgency, major changes need to be made, or else what kind of horror show will we be handing to the grandkids? Or looking at the perpetual wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, we're going after Bin Laden, so they say, how many terrorist of tomorrow are we creating in the process? When innocent people die from a stray bomb they call in collateral damage, its more that, its more PTSD'd orphans to become easy recruits for al qaeda. I was a freshman when Bush became president, so not that long ago, but to answer your question Shmidkoff, yes there was a lot of protesting going on at my college. We protested the deregulation of media ownership at the end of Clinton's term, we protested Bush's stolen election, we protested the Afghan war from the outset, we protested the Iraq war from the outset, and on and on...However I am aware of how many college kids don't vote, don't care, feel hopeless, just want to get a job, or get drunk or get whatever.

| 0 minutes ago

sache
Sep 30, 09 10:47 AM CDT

The venues have it right. She is a blithering idiot. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

LiberalJesus
Sep 30, 09 10:47 AM CDT

My apologies to ilguy if I offended you. But to be fair, I didnt say "you' only had a GED...I said "anyone"..Once again the Jedi mind trick was a flop. And I go back to your very first post. You said EVERY REPUBLICAN. I am sorry that there are not any nicer words to say but stupid when talking about stupid or racist people. The original topic was about her intelligence level and it is indeed in qwuestion, is it not? Are you going to go to bat for the teabaggers and claim they were all nice and sweet and never said an angry word about the President? Were all those posters they were carrying depicting Obama as Hitler civil or fair? Are you telling me all the talk about Democrats being un-American was civil but calling an idiot an idiot was out of bounds? I dont understand you ilguy. You now demand civility but only from us, not from the kooks like the Becks, Hannitys and other "not very nice people" Would or are you encouraging your children to be like Sarah Palin, Tom Colburn, Newt Gingrich, Rush Limbaugh? Would you be proud of your daughter if she were a big Ann Coulter supporter and wanted to be just like her? Help me out here Sir because I am not quite sure what side of the fence you are shooting from. I've always been for civil discourse (check all of my pasts posts..just click on my icon) Then click on the icons of the Jerkster, the Timinator, Mrs K and others and you will see who has high negatives and who doesnt and compare posts. Then come back and knee cap me if you think I deserve it. But please stop with the "you guys are horrible and we are civil" because that is not even a starter. I commented on your one comment that we liberals pillorize ALL REPUBLICANS and that is just nonsense. You did say that Sir. And did I ever call you one name at all..no..not one. Not even the GED comment was directed at you. If you'll re-read that comment it says "...that only works on people like you, not on anyone with anything more than a GED diploma". It doesnt say "you only have a GED". I'm sorry if you are not able to differentiate between the two. That is not my fault but if you feel I insulted you, then like a good liberal I will apologize first. But please stop with the flip flopping of issues. I've extended many an olive branch to my not so civil opposition only to have them (mrs K, Jerkster, etc..) come back with vile comments so dont even go there! Reply

IN RESPONSE:

logothete
Sep 30, 09 11:34 AM CDT

50 thumbs up!

| 0 minutes ago

ilguy
Sep 30, 09 1:15 PM CDT

To all who have read and commented on my posts to this story.... I was just hoping to raise the level of discussion whenever a story like this comes up. Newser seems like a place where decent people could have an honest discussion about an issue or a politician without resorting to name calling (as the headline of this story and most of the posts prior to mine did). I'm new to posting here and maybe that is too much to hope for, but it seems like it is worth the effort. I have appreciated most of the replies other than some of the nastiness. As I said at the outset, I am not a Palin fan, but it is shallow and rude to just refer to her as stupid, blithering, racist, dumb, etc., and it is silly to point to one or two statements or events as conclusive evidence of this. Every politician says and does some dumb things, but she deserves credit for her accomplishments in becoming Governor of Alaska and giving voice to a conservative cause during the presidential campaign whether you like her or not. And everyone who likes her is not an idiot, whether you choose to say so or not. I am not suggesting that it is only Democrats who criticize Republicans unfairly in this way. This story was just one example of when that happened. It happens the other way too. The sooner everyone gets past the name calling, the easier it will be to hear the very good points we all may have for the positions we take. Off my soapbox now. Thank you. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Jayster999
Sep 30, 09 2:02 PM CDT

ilguy: I think that you've done a good job of tying to elevate the debate. The problem is there SO much bias and hate flying around here that all objectivity is lost. Palin is hardly and idiot. I'm not saying she's Mensa material but she doesn't sit around in a tard farm drooling on herself--she doesn't even vote democrat for Pete's sake. This whole "blithering idiot" argument shows just how biased and self-aggrandizing you libs are.

-5

IN RESPONSE:

LiberalJesus
Sep 30, 09 2:20 PM CDT

Ok you have the floor Sir, so please state for the record and clear the air of this "incivility." Please direct me to all the good, decent, honorable things the republican party has offered the country since President Obama was democratically elected by the people of the United States. Please point out all the good decent honorable things said about Democrats and the President from the likes of 99% of faux news, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, Michelle Malkin, Ann Coulter, Hugh Hewitt and even your own Sarah Palin and John McCain, Boehner, Kyle, Cantor, Steele...well I could go on but it would be faster to name those on the right who havent lobbed invective incendiary insults at us......I can't think of any off hand at this moment but I am open to anyone you suggest isn't part of the "We hate Obama and all things liberal" crew. And last but certainly most least, posters like Jerkster, Timinator, dontlikeyou, Mrs K, Citrix guy ( get a look at his avatar if you want to see a racist in the mist) and then preach to us unwashed and uncivil liberals about the need to have a meaningful discussion without all the rancor. I wished it was the way you wanted it, or pretend to want, but you would be considered a "RINO" at this point because what you are asking for is not what the republican party, it's leaders or the mouthpiece of the party faux news agrees with. Not one member from your side of the aisle has condemned the death threats, the bogus claims of being a Nazi, comparing a man who wants health care for ALL equivalent to murdering 7-9 million Jews and call to arms against this democratically elected President..not even you Sir. And how smart is it to quit your job as govenor before your term is out and then blame it on the "liberal media". And you think that was a smart move that makes her smarter? Really Sir. I hope that post didnt offend you. Preach to the hatred on your side first Sir as my Grandma would say, you need to clean your own house before you worry about mine. I am willing to not only call out all liberals who traffic in insults and uncivil conduct ( as my past posts will show) and dress them down if you are willing to admit to the vast majority of hate coming from your side directed at President Obama and liberals in general is without merit or of any use. Again show me a civil Republican politican and talking head and I will personally sing their praises regardless of part affiliation. I am totally open to a civil discussion anytime, anywhere. But I no longer will turn a cheek just to have your side slap the other cheek. Those days are over and I learned my lesson. Sometimes force must be met with a greater force. And once again, my apologies if I offended you.

IN RESPONSE:

ilguy
Sep 30, 09 4:38 PM CDT

LibJ.... You haven't offended me, but I am frustrated that you ask for me to give examples, but the nature of your posts doesn't suggest that you are that open to realizing that Democrats do the same things you accuse Republicans of. Howard Dean, for example, has said some very insulting things about Republicans, as have Pelosi, Reid, Frank, and others. You probably don't see them as insulting because you agree with them, but they are. The only one of the entire bunch that you listed that I agree with (at least in his approach) most of the time is O'Reilly, because I think he is fairer than the rest. Granted, he can be rude sometimes, but I do think he hears both sides, and I think that if most liberals would watch him they would see this. Most of the nastiness towards Obama is backlash from the abuse the Bush took (again because he was thought to be stupid, of course). I disagree with most of Obama's policies, but I am willing to debate them on the merits. Should I really be forced to give more of my money in taxes when I already paid over $200,000 last year, for example? It seems reasonable that I can question whether there might be other ways to accomplish his goals without hitting me up for more. But I don't call him names. And I don't disagree with him because he is half black. That is irrelevant to me, but others accuse me of it if I question his policies. Republicans do things I don't like too (insisting on almost no additional gun restrictions for example when I think there are still some things that could be done to help control crime) but I see no reason to sling insults at those I disagree with. I just don't know why Democrats so often just say Republicans are dumb rather than argue policy positions.

-3

| 0 minutes ago

Jayster999
Sep 30, 09 2:08 PM CDT

The media did a hatchet job on Palin. She was "Borked"--that's the plain truth of it. The media gives left-wingers a LOT of leeway, Sarah just doesn't fit the bill for their better graces. Reply

-6

IN RESPONSE:

logothete
Sep 30, 09 2:29 PM CDT

I know this is a lost cause, but woddahell ... Please provide examples of the hatchet job - SHOW us all, how we were unfair.

IN RESPONSE:

Shannonals
Sep 30, 09 7:54 PM CDT

The media didn't perform any hatchet job on Palin, her own party did that to her. She was in no way fashion or form ready for the public, and the GOP basically threw her to the wolves.

IN RESPONSE:

lindamae
Oct 1, 09 2:55 AM CDT

Go to John Zeigler's site How Obama was elected and Palin was smeared to see firsthand the media hatchet job. I'm not sure about the actual name of the site but you should be able to google it. You Tube doesn't lie. Only go there if you want to learn.

-2

| 0 minutes ago

Fondue
Sep 30, 09 2:57 PM CDT

Can't believe I forgot to ask. Did she demand an apology? Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Adapt-Overcome
Sep 30, 09 5:08 PM CDT

The not so intellegent one is struggling to find listeners? Say it isn't so. But I hear the right wing nut jobs are buying up her book even before it's been put out on the market. I guess they're really into fiction or smut. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Caps
Sep 30, 09 5:55 PM CDT

Adapt-Overcome, they just ran out of toilet tissue.

IN RESPONSE:

Shannonals
Sep 30, 09 7:51 PM CDT

Your very comments reflect you as a ignorant individual Wequeen. You praise the woman like she is the second coming of Christ, and than make racist comments. If your a reflection of her following, no wonder no one is willing to court her for lectures.

IN RESPONSE:

odowd80
Sep 30, 09 8:01 PM CDT

Buh is back. Report as abuse.

IN RESPONSE:

jaguarj
Sep 30, 09 8:23 PM CDT

Webqueen..holy christ have another joint!!

| 0 minutes ago

kansas1946
Sep 30, 09 6:57 PM CDT

LOL. Well, one thing for sure, we know that corporations may give money to Republican candidates, but they know an idiot when the see one. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

ezrider
Sep 30, 09 7:16 PM CDT

webqueen are you serious? Reply

| 0 minutes ago

lindamae
Oct 1, 09 2:52 AM CDT

The smear campaign is working yet again. She just scares liberals completely. It is so "cute" to diss Palin that brains just disengage while the comments roll out. Too bad. Reply

-5

| 0 minutes ago

stuck-in-paris
Oct 1, 09 5:58 AM CDT

why is anyone paying her anything? Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Carpediem4U
Oct 1, 09 2:52 PM CDT

hi! my name is Sarah Nobody but I fooled enough of the ignoramuses to get rich. I stand for nothing and have no ideas but boy can i use the phrase 'youbetcha' likes its the second comin! Only in the great usa can a moron like me get rich because im so puuurrrtttyyy....and it helps to belong to a party full of halfwits and nitwits with only 1 source of news. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

LiberalJesus
Oct 1, 09 2:55 PM CDT

HAHAHAHAHAHA....I would have said that but the nutbars here would have attacked me for being cruel to Lil Miss Painted Toes! You nailed her perfectly....Bravo! Reply

| 0 minutes ago

rural-gentleman
Oct 6, 09 9:58 PM CDT

I am a male member of Team Sarah. I can understand why universities don't want Palin to speak on their campuses, with their Left leanings. Conservative Christians have known about that for a long time. If a Christian student supports Creationism and says so in a class run by an Evolution professor that student will be punished by the professor because that challenges the professor. About the part of Palin not being able to describe what she reads, I say again - and again - and again: go back and listen carefully to the interview. This is close to her quote: "I read everything that comes in front of me." How much plainer can you get besides "everything"? This idea that keeps circulating sounds to me like Palin critics putting words in her mouth in spite of the facts, while the interview is there for people to watch for themselves. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

WhiteTrash
Nov 12, 09 12:25 PM CST

The truly scary thing is that there are so many ppl who believe that she is even relevent. I do not have a degree or anything, but one does not have to be a rocket scientist to see that this is just someone who is reveling in her ill-gotten fame. She is the most polorizing ex-gov, ex-vp candidate, ex-... I happen to know a few republicans, and most are SURE that Sarah is a blithering idiot. Why do so many ppl find her credible? Reply

| 0 minutes ago

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Beck Jokes He Won't Run With 'Yapping' Palin

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Don't be so quick to judge Palin

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