Glenden BrownSarah Palin: A Well delivered terrible speech
Palin’s speech - before a booing, hissing, cheering audience - is, without a doubt, the best delivered speech thus far the Republican convention. Oh, and apparently John McCain was a POW. It is a speech designed to feed the raving ID of American politics - the boos, the hisses, the puerile appeals to tribal loyalty received with screams by a Republican audience. Oh, and apparently John McCain was a POW. Palin is a confident and capable speaker; it’s a skill that has served her well. And in front of audience that has suffered through last night’s speeches, this is the best they’ve seen this week. Full of red meat for a Republican audience starved for raging anger and venom. Oh, and apparently John McCain was a POW.
This is a speech for the faithful and they’re eating it up. It’s ugly, it’s divisive, it’s bitter, it’s angry and it’s being delivered with a smile. Oh, and apparently John McCain was a POW.
Palin’s applause lines were standard right wing fare, the booing/hissing lines, mostly cheap swipes at Obama, were standard right wing fare. Oh, and apparently John McCain was a POW.
She’s a former beauty queen and she’s got all the skills of a beauty queen - smooth delivery, confidence, poise, self-possession. And she’s dripping venom. And the Republican Convention is eating it up, soaking it up.
She’s Dick Cheney without the grimace.
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:32 pm
She was a very good advocate for idiocy. The weak and stupid would willingly join her downline. She appealled to those who are angry, sarcastic and fearful. She appealled to the worst and inspired few. It basically was a divisive speech which sought to demonize the opposition, rather than inspire unity in a common cause. She makes a great Republican. What a pity for her.
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Well put, Glendon. The only thing I might add is, Sarah did not write her speech.
Whatever, her speech was more interesting than listening to Laura Bush yesterday, but less interesting than listening to Grandma “Barbara” Bush during years past.
Good luck, Paul M., may I recommend Advil?
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:57 pm
You thought it was a well-delivered speech? To me it sounded wooden, phony, and robot-like.
I thought Giuliani’s speech was their best - a hearty polemic delivered in true New York fashion.
Palin’s venomous speech was the same stale red meat for a crowd that doesn’t have a lot to cheer about right now. I think John King made a compelling argument - before the backs-to-the-wall Republicans can work on the undecideds they need to get a sleepy moral majority fired up. Palin clearly does that. Throw her to them so McCain can be freed up to do his “maverick” thing and try to swing persuasion targets in the battleground states.
Palin took a historic moment and wasted it on petty sniping and jaded guffaws. What a shame for the Republicans.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:19 am
Well put, Craig, well put.
September 4th, 2008 at 6:25 am
The Democrats avoided venom in their convention speeches, but how hard would it be to say Bush is the Worst President Ever and that being shot down over North Vietnam does not qualify anyone for the White House– especially when they later vote in favor of torture as an instrument of U.S. policy?
Unlike the GOP, the Dems can go negative without having to make stuff up. Palin’s speech was chock full of lies.
The McCain campaign may already regret throwing the media under the bus. This morning, CNN was already talking about the National Enquirer cover story on Palin’s extramarital affair.
You can grade Palin’s speech on CNN (I gave her an “F”)
September 4th, 2008 at 6:30 am
I completely agree that Palin’s speech was for the faithful not the rest of us. I also think that it’s not going to play well outside of the hard right circles - it was vicious, petty, nasty, venomous. And what does that say about the republican base that it obviously thrilled the delegates? Palin is a competent speaker - I expected that given her background. She didn’t have the weirdly spaced pauses of Grandpa Fred or the awkward wrestling with the technology you see when McCain speaks. In a weird connection, in past years I’ve judged Rodeo Queen contests and the Miss Salt Lake County contest and Palin speaks like a contestant in one of those - she’s very collected and uses her nervous energy to give energy to her delivery. I don’t think it was phony - I think she meant every word she spoke.
I agree though - given such a unique historic moment, Palin missed her chance to actually do something with it.
I can’t comment on Giuliani’s speech - I have a life and all I was near a TV to see last night was Palin.
However, I think the McCain campaign has become “Noun, Verb, POW.”
September 4th, 2008 at 6:36 am
To the extent that McCain-Palin have a positive message at all, it’s the empty characterization of themselves as “reformers.” Josh Marshall treats that claim with the contempt it deserves:
September 4th, 2008 at 7:49 am
Wow… Did any one here catch the piece in the Politico titled, “Clinton aides: Palin treatment sexist.” It’s pretty interesting… I noticed that the sexist remarks around here have let up a bit… Is it possible that Democrat bloggers are finally realizing their mistake in feeding such attacks along with the media? Have hearts changed or are they now just silenced?
I will be bringing this up tonight on KVNU’s For the People. Does anyone care to give a quote on the subject I can use in the show?
September 4th, 2008 at 8:00 am
Richard– Here are some good quotes about Palin you can use, from the MSNBC talking heads yesterday:
Peggy Noonan (former Reagan speechwriter): “It’s over… The most qualified? No! I think they went for this — excuse me– political bullshit about narratives –…Every time the Republicans do that, because that’s not where they live and it’s not what they’re good at, they blow it.”
Mike Murphy (consultant to McCain and Romney): “You know what’s really the worst thing about it? The greatness of McCain is no cynicism, and this is cynical.”
Did you notice that last night President George Bush was mentioned only once in four speeches by leading Republicans?
September 4th, 2008 at 8:19 am
Yes Richard W., your observation that Bush was not part of the program last night may have something to do with McCain wanting to distance himself from the President. Considering that Obama is trying to make a connection between the two, McCain is probably playing a smart game by not giving Democrats any more fuel for that fire…
Now… back to my question… I am looking specifically for statement from Democrat bloggers about recent sexist remarks made against Palin. I am trying to feel out whether the tide has turned on the issue of her being a female candidate and see if Democrat bloggers are beginning to follow the requests of Obama on the issue.
Here is your chance to make a strong public statement on the subject.
September 4th, 2008 at 8:38 am
Okelberry,
Which sexist remarks are you referring to? Has this really been a big problem or are the nutters just crying so loud you can’t hear anything else?
September 4th, 2008 at 8:53 am
Okelberry,
Here’s some good material for your show:
You should read Simon’s entire article on your show. It’s really the perfect response to the sarcastic, snide, sneering, petty and hypocritical cadre of speeches from last night.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:14 am
Richard, I agree with Don at 8:38. I hear a lot of protest, but I can’t find much actual criticism. Doth the lady protest WAY too much?
Feel free to quote my blog post on the subject (you already know I’m of a liberal mind): What Sarah Palin does for all women.
As I said to a commenter, “after the election is over, conservatives can’t go back to bashing working mothers. They can’t have it both ways.”
September 4th, 2008 at 9:19 am
I would recommend getting outside your information bubble. If you don’t understand that this kind of a speech is dangerous for Obama, you need to get out and start meeting some new people.
Palin’s populism resonates very well with huge chunks of the electorate. Learn the lessons from her speech… these are the attack lines for the next two months. Don’t dismiss them, learn how to respond to them or your party will be dead in the water.
And Albert O: No one writes their own speeches. Obama doesn’t write his, Clinton didn’t write his, Reagan didn’t write his. If your best comeback is “she didn’t write her own speech”, you’ve got nothing.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:27 am
What you’re pointing to is the distinction between progressive and conservative populism. Progressive populism tends toward criticisms of economic systems that are unfair. Conservative populism focuses on “culture” issues and a distrust of cities and the urban core. Palin hit all the conservative populist notes - including a distrust of the “big city” which is the natural home of progressive politics - at least historically - in the US. Her attacks on Obama’s experience as a community organizer is both subtly racist (big cities are where black people live) and an attempt to appeal to a mythical small town voter who regards the big city as the home of an equally mythical decadent cultural elite.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Palin’s attack on Obama’s experience as a “community organizer” resonates among the folks who have no idea what the job entails. We’re just waiting to be enlightened.
It has nothing to do with race.
However, suggestions that Palin neglects her family because she’s involved in politics are pretty sexist.
“When liberals start acting like they’re opposed to pre-marital sex and mothers having careers, you know McCain’s vice presidential choice has knocked them back on their heels.”
Richard, your ‘revelation’ about Peggy Noonan’s “hot mike” has been debunked.
Albert, apparently you’re focusing on Democrat talking points. Try to stop channelling Randi Rhodes and use your own brain.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Before Palin, I put McCain’s chances of winning the election at about 45%. After watching Palin’s speech last night I personally feel that his chances rose to at least 50%, maybe higher. I know there has been a lot of confidence that Obama will easily win the election handedly here on OneUtah. While I know that there is quite a bit of campaigning left but, I am curious about whether the speech did anything to make this a more competitive race.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:52 am
“Her attacks on Obama’s experience as a community organizer is … subtly racist (big cities are where black people live)” - Attacking community organizers is subtly racist? (snicker…) Whatever you say.
My dad was a ‘community organizer’ in Minnesota when Ronald Reagan was running for president. But that wasn’t his paying job. He did this in his free time while he worked as a systems analyst for a tech company. It’s not a racist smear… it’s a joke about how Obama considers a “community organizer” a paying gig. Normal people don’t have titles called “community organizer”… that’s just a description of something they do as part of their normal lives.
I agree with Richard above… but I’d like to add that a large part of what makes Obamas chances so good is the level of excitement there is out there for him. Excitement is contagious. Sarah Palin is exciting the Republican base… something McCain desperately needs.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Matthias - you’ve got the republican talking points down really well. If I’m wrong, make the case. Instead, you’re just mocking the vital roll that community organizers play in our cities. The folks at Crossroads Urban Center here in Salt Lake can be called community organizers - they do it full time and it takes all their time. And it benefits the entire community - rich and poor. That’s not something to be mocked.
JD - Here in Salt Lake, Crossroads Urban Center is staffed by people whose sole job is to help bring people together, identify community needs, and then, and this is the most important part, coordinate their efforts with government agencies, private organizations and then get the word back out to the community. Linda Hilton, the head of the Coalition of Religious Communities, is a perfect example. She begins by contacting individuals in churches, getting them information, bringing them together to learn about the issues (i.e. payday lending) and then ask, “What solutions exist?” Linda spends a lot of her time shepherding CORC members to speak to elected officials - it takes time to mentor people so they become confident public speakers and are willing to talk to public officials, in public hearings and so on. Once laws are passed or regulations enacted, Linda then communicates back to CORC members (both individuals and churches) the new realities and invites them to take action - sometimes it’s as simple as making certain the working poor know their is a program to help them get medical care or discounted food or whatnot. Her job as an organizer is multi-faceted and often thankless.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Richard– This morning on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Mike Murphy characterized the decision to nominate Palin for VP as “a base pick,” meaning it was to please the 20 percenters. He said it wasn’t the best way to go.
As Peggy Noonan pointed out yesterday during the open mike discussion, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and many other highly qualified Republican politicians were overlooked in favor of… who?
If you check the polls, since last Friday Obama’s national poll numbers have climbed. This could be a result of his speech a week ago, or McCain’s disastrous VP selection, or both. It’s independents going to Obama.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
So, where’s this pervasive sexism among Democrats and the media? I figured I’d get a bunch of examples, but so far nothing?
Richard, your pie-eyed optimism is endearing. Palin will rally the base but that’s about it. I don’t think her sneering and snide attacks will go over well with “mainstream” America. If I were handicapping the race, I’d say Obama has about a 70-75% chance of winning and Palin will end up increasing those odds in the long run.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Glendon - you parrot the Demo talking points, too.
From Mark Lotwis (21st Century Democrats):
It still doesn’t explain how “community organizing” makes one more qualified to be President than being Mayor/Governor.
Don - feel free to put your money where your mouth is.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
GOP convention stats:
Number of times President Bush was mentioned last night: 1
Number of actual political issues discussed: 1 (Drill, baby, drill!)
Number of black delegates, out of 2,380: 36
Approximate cost of Cindy McCain’s outfit in dollars: 300,000
Most of the people I know live in houses that cost less than $300,000. This party’s party is of the rich, by the rich and for the rich.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
jd:
Are you saying Palin wrote the speech? Not sure what you refer re the Randi Rhodes comment.
PS For those who think the scrutiny on Palin’s family is over the top, you must have been appalled that all she spoke about during the first have of her speech was her family. Just more hypocrisy. Ho hum. Bring on the debates and let’s get Palin back to Alaska where she can relax with a nice fat moose-burger while she takes care of her little ethics problem.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
jd:
One other thing. You overlook the success that Obama achieved - as an executive - in becoming the first African American to be nominated for the presidency. This is no minor executive feat, by the way, as he whipped the very formidable Clinton machine along the way. Your claim that Obama has no executive experience is idle banter.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Albert - you parrot the Demo talking points. You’re channelling Air America and Democracy Now (and KPFA, etc.)
Richard, most of the people I know live in houses that cost more than $300K. I guess it depends on where you live. Median price for a house in SLC was $232K in 2007.
So - what’s your point? That a wealthy woman can’t dress the way she wants to? And to think that she owns expensive jewelry….Oh Noes….
Btw - that’s a nice Demo talking point, too, Richard. Way to stick with the party line.
You, Albert, Larry, Cliffy - little parrots repeating what you political masters tell you. It’s all so …. predictable.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
jd,
Rasmussen and Intrade markets both have Obama about a 3 to 2 favorite right now. If I had any money to gamble with I think I’d take those odds right now.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
jd:
Which talking points do you refer? The observation that Palin spoke ad nauseam about her family last night was fairly obvious to me, as is the observation re Obama beating the Clinton machine.
Are you feeling a little down about Palin as the VP nominee? I recommend whiskey and Advil.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Don, You made a good quote about your belief that Obama will basically landslide the election.
Jason and I will have a great show tonight. Tyler Riggs is out of town and whenever Jason and I get to host together it’s a lot of fun. Jason Williams is one of the smartest progressives I know. We will certainly challenge each other. I only hope we can get everything in that we want to talk about… Hope everyone here will tune in and put in your two cents in the real time chat… Just click on the video screen at the top left at KVNUftp.com to log in… CYA there…
September 4th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
More hate speech as expected from the GOP…Started off by Rudy Guiliani and complimented by Sarah Palin’s…Her speech was awful, and apparently John Mccain was a POW
September 4th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
I live in anuntold number of houses. That’s because I’m special enough to be President. My pick for VP is a ‘Hottie’ Were I to gain my heavenly reward before the election, I’ve councelled Sarah to grab on to that other ‘Hottie’…Mitt. We’ll have red meat all over the whole dern planet.
In the mean time, what’s behind the curtain is of no interest to you.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Albert? What talking points?
Well, there’s the one about the speechwriter, for instance. Then there’s the Peggy Noonan “hot mike”. Cindy McCain’s outfit. “hate speech”, Noun Verb POW, McSame, chimp, “community organizer is a real job”, experience waging a campaign(? - by that definition, Lyndon LaRouche is the most qualified candidate), etc.
Nice to know that an accomplished barrister can think for himself.
You complain that she talked about her family. Wasn’t she supposed to define herself? Wasn’t she supposed to define McCain?
Don? What gambling? You’re SURE that it’s gonna be an Obama landslide. This is a sure thing. Bet the house. Bet the kids. Bet the dog. You’re a sure winner! (uh - but I’m pretty sure that you’ll have to pay some sort of exhorbant capital gains tax on your ‘winnings’).
September 4th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
jd:
Ok. Now, tell us just which of the talking points you disagree.
Are you saying McCain really wasn’t a POW?
September 4th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
John,
Can you define what is “hate speech”?
And what exactly in the speeches last night was “hate speech”?
September 4th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Albert, thanks for conceding my point.
Are you saying that you agree with all the talking points?
Are you really Al Franken?
September 4th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Contrary to jdberger’s belief, Peggy Noonan did not disavow what she said yesterday. This is what she said (emphasis added):
Noonan did claim that her remark, “It’s over,” referred not to the McCain campaign but to the old assumption that what appeals to the GOP base will also resonate with a majority of Americans.
As far as I know, McCain adviser Mike Murphy hasn’t gone back on what he said yesterday, either. Here’s what he said:
September 4th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
jd:
Palin clearly did not write her speech. Cindy’s outfit (the banana outfit) and accompanying jewelry was over the top. The speech was loaded with the usual divisive/hate rhetoric. Yes, we already know McCain was a POW, but thanks for reminding us, again. And so on and so forth.
I still fail to see your point.
PS. That will soon be Sen. Al Franken. So some respect, dude.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Uh, Okelberry and jdberger, I never said it would be a landslide or that it’s a sure thing. You’ve apparently misconstrued my comments. I said I’m giving him a 70-75% chance of winning. Not that he’ll win with 70-75% of the vote. The odds right now in the markets are 60/40 in Obama’s favor. So if I had the money to gamble (yes, it is gambling, just like the stock market) then I would buy shares of Obama because I’d think I was getting a good deal.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Yes. it’s true! You can fill up an entire auditorium with people who have a “my daddy’s rich” smug smile on their face. God blessed Americans.
I prefer to watch the real life soldiers marching in perfect formation, laden with medals, refusing to be humiliatingly penned away from the grand farce. They stand against the lies of the republicans inside that put them and their comrades in harms way “over there.”
Watch Democracy Now and turn this crap off. The veterans are kicking butt and taking names with a whole week of SPECTACULAR, but peaceful demonstrations interrupted by illegal and shameful arrests and harassment of true journalists TRYING to document the real story in Minnesota. The constitutional rights afforded the press in the constitution is being trashed by the Republican introduction of a 21st century police state. It’s here!
I wish I could say the Democratic leader’s hands were clean, but sadly, I can’t.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
No, Richard. Peggy Noonan disavowed the spin that angry lefties like yourself are putting on the conversation.
Of course, feel free to question the source. It’s HuffPo, after all. With all their purient posts regarding tatoos, bikini photos and the proper place for a woman…
September 4th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Larry– Quite a contrast between the veterans outside the GOP convention and those being exploited inside for political purposes.
jd– Did Peggy Noonan say that Palin was not the most qualified pick? Yes. Did she later deny saying that? No. Did Mike Murphy say it was cynical? Yes. Did he later contradict himself? No.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
jd:
And you actually believe that. My heck, man, these folks weren’t just caught standing next to the cookie jar, the cookies were still in their hands when they were caught!!
September 4th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
You can listen to Peggy and Mike for yourself on YouTube and make your own judgment what they meant. Of course, there’s going to be CYA after the fact, but I think these guys are just saying what everyone is saying in unguarded moments, except for the very deluded.
September 4th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Richard W:
Two unwary Seals being exploited as props at the RNC by a guy named Swindle. Absolutely unbelievable
It has been so inspiring to see the bravery and creativity of the veterans in the streets. I especially liked the camo clad Iraq veteran’s street theater where they played out highly coordinated missions as if they were on the streets of Iraq, but only pretending like they had weapons. It was great seeing the looks on the faces of Americans who didn’t know what was going on. Powerful!
September 4th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
37,244,000 watched Sarah Palin’s Speech. Almost as many as watched Obama’s and you can bet her speech will be remembered long after Barack Obama is only a forethought.
And should I mention that John Kerry “served” in Viet Nam?
September 4th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
That’s about right Ken, I figured there are about 3 million more democrats with absolutely no life compared to republicans.
Hell, it still high summer in most places, and plenty of golfing to be done in the northern latitudes during speech time.
September 4th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Ken:
If you watched the speech, then you certainly noticed the many empty seats in the rather small Xcel convention hall. What’s up with that? Must have been the flu or something.
September 4th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Albert, it goes along with the absolutely no life thing.
September 4th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
I wonder how much Levi is being paid to go along with the charade of marrying Bristol who, by the look of things, is not going to turn out to be quite as hot as Hotty Mommy.
September 4th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Obama the Paul -
You just go and focus on that, there, Captain.
It’s what’s important, you know.
September 4th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Don, Sorry, you are correct about your 70% prediction. I didn’t get a chance to get to your statement tonight… I’m glad you corrected me. Do you think it will be a close contest?
September 4th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Do I think it will be close electorally? That depends on what you think “close” is. I think Obama will win roughly between 290 and 310 EVs. You?
September 5th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
I know how much you guys love Ann Coulter, so I thought I would share a commentary of hers with you.
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=28370
She’s correct…the Daily Kooks, Huffington dungheap, and MSNBC have reason to be insane over Palin: the best man for the job is, indeed, a woman.
Cheers!
September 5th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
I was wondering what ever happened to Ann Coulter. Nobody invites her on TV anymore. Thought maybe she was in jail in Florida, for committing voter fraud.
September 5th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Maybe everybody found out nobody was buying Ann’s or Hannity’s books anyway except for rich, unamerican cheats who bought in bulk. Bulk sales are noted in the New York Times bestseller lists. The latest book by the Swift Boaters was bought in bulk too or nobody would have ever known about it.
September 5th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Noun - verb - Swift Boat…
September 5th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Here’s another comment…this from the US Editor of the Times (London)…that made me think of you guys (with fondness, of course):
“It never ceases to amaze me how the Left falls again and again into the old trap of underestimating politicians whom they don’t understand. From Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher to George Bush and Mrs Palin, they do it every time. Because these characters talk a bit funny and have ridiculously antiquated views about faith, family and nation, because they haven’t spent time bending the knee to the intellectual metropolitan elites, they can’t be taken seriously.”
September 5th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
H.L. Mencken said it more concisely:
Progressives overestimate the intelligence of Americans, and our braindead media too.
September 5th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Back when Democrats had more power there was a class in school called “social studies” which taught children how to be involved in civic responsibilities. The teacher I had was so passionate about his job that he would literally leap around the chalkboard. It was impossible not to be excited about the subject.
The only person talking about this loss that I know of is Richard Dreyfuss. You can bet your bottom dollar, these types of classes are being offered in schools that wealthier people get to attend, but the last thing they want is for it to be taught in public schools.
That’s why we’re where we are. Politics and everything else on free, broadcast television is controlled by the rich, and it will never encourage people to get involved other then telling them to vote, which is also controlled by them. They told us Utah is so stupid, it voted for Bush, and I can’t prove we didn’t, but they WILL NOT let us prove we didn’t! Why is that?
Keep farting in the wind OneUtah, but more importantly, VOTE, just in case the employee’s of Diebold decide not to play along and some whistle blowers appear.
September 5th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
I actually didn’t know they axed Social Studies. I always hated the name, wish they called it History or Civics or something. What do they teach now, Political Cluelessness?
September 6th, 2008 at 12:40 am
The social studies class I’m remembering was in the seventh grade. I hate to admit it, but I’m not sure they have axed these types of classes. I do remember reading or hearing somewhere that these types of studies were cut during the Reagan years under the guise of saving money.
Here is Richard Dreyfuss on Bill Maher’s show talking about civics. He is very concerned that our children are not being taught basic tenets of democracy. Even though most Americans spend very little time learning about the issues and politics, I am positive the general populace would put better people in office then we have. It isn’t possible to have done worse.
Hopefully, Michael Moore’s new movie, which is being distributed for free before the election, will illuminate the fact that lots of new democrats were registered in 2004 and it’s just crazy to think Bush actually won a second term. The movie “Uncounted” proves it too. This has to stop.
September 7th, 2008 at 12:18 am
“social studies” weren’t axed.
Their focus changed.
It became less relevant to know how to amend the constitution.
It became more important to know who Angela Davis was.
“Schoolhouse Rock” was a brilliant part of weekend cartoons for kids. Nothing current can come close. We’ve dumbed down school - and blaming Reagan is simply a partisan cop-out.
September 7th, 2008 at 5:19 am
JD,
Of course kids don’t learn how to amend the Constitution, they are too busy learning that people–generally rich, angry, white men, are responsible for Global Warming in Social Studies class.
The kids also learn that our American policies are responsible for every disappearing endangered species, global deforestation, and every other social ill on the planet.
Things like what the Constitution actually says, what the Bill of Rights means when it mentions “the people” are things that must be sacrificed for the important items.
Hmm, wonder if it just coincidence that those are mostly liberal / left leaning viewpoints ?
September 7th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Bob S and jdberger:
You guys grew up in the wrong millennia. You need thousands of slaves to build a temple and a resting place in your honor. Make sure you have all of the slaves who built your resting place killed and the slaves who killed the slaves who built your resting place killed so that nobody will know where your worthless carcass rots.
You are special.
September 8th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Thousands?
That’s your problem, Larry. You think too small.