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Thursday, September 4, 2008

Hockey Moms for Hitler?

posted by on September 4 at 9:09 AM

t1wide.palin.thur.cnn.jpg

Thank you, Slog tipper Naylor, who says he found the image on CNN. (And lest anyone cry photoshop, here’s the moment from another angle.)

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1

HEIL CARIBOU BARBIE!!!! Glory to the Fatherland!! (which is Alaska)

Posted by Cato the Younger Younger | September 4, 2008 9:15 AM
2

Okay, so last night when I was just listening and not watching the Palin speech on NPR, I heard the chanting masses and thought I heard "Sieg Heil (sp?)." I'm pretty sure they were saying something else, but this photo along with my imagination makes me more than a little nervous.

Posted by ahava | September 4, 2008 9:21 AM
3

Whether the photo is real or not, it does seem unadvisable to throw up a post like this casually. Mostly, it's just unfair, but also it plays into the whole idea that Palin just can't get a break.

Posted by minderbender | September 4, 2008 9:22 AM
4

Caption: "All Hail Me" he he he

Posted by The Peanut Gallery | September 4, 2008 9:30 AM
5

Wow, copy-and-paste that edging along the platform and you could get a nice looking SS pattern as well.

Not that anyone would DO that, of course...

Posted by COMTE | September 4, 2008 9:34 AM
6

I've seen just about every candidate strike this pose, R or D. I always wonder what on earth they're thinking.

I listened on NPR a bit as well while driving. I guess it must have been better with the video because although I felt antifeminist thinking it (the article in the latest Bitch mag didn't help) I found her voice annoying to listen to for that long. I feel like I have a gender bias thinking that, but I don't feel the same way about HR Clinton or many other women politicians. As with Pelosi, though, I don't think Palin's voice does her any favors.

Posted by gember | September 4, 2008 9:43 AM
7

I don't know where to put this, so I'm going to put it here. Sorry it is PC or dbk length, but I have a piece to say and I want to say it all together.

Let me preface my comments by saying I am not a Republican, I do not agree with Republicans on social issues, and I am not planning on voting for the Republican ticket in this election.

As much as everyone here is tearing down and belittling Sarah Palin I would like to for a moment, have my say from a different point of view. And, lest there be any confusion still on Slog, I am a woman.

When Sarah Palin walked on stage last night as the GOP candidate for Vice President I was moved. I was moved first of all because it was the GOP, and no matter all the cynical reasons they chose her, it is still a watershed moment for that party.

Secondly, I was moved because here is this woman walking on stage who actually looks like a woman. Now I know I'm going to get screeched at for this, but it seems to me that a lot of times women who want to run for office (or, frankly get ahead in any career) tend to adopt the dress and mannerisms of men. Case in point, Hillary Clinton. It was nice to see a woman who wasn't downplaying the fact she was a woman in order to get ahead.

I was moved by the acknowledgment of her family and I was especially moved when she talked of her parents teaching her that this is America and every woman can walk through every door of opportunity. (And lest you think that was some fancy speech writing, I know that Sarah feels that way from the bottom of her heart.)

Speaking of hearts, her line about going to Washington with a servant heart isn't just bullshit. She believes in that absolutely and all of her actions stem from her belief that she is doing what is best, regardless of the enemies she makes along the way.

And don't kid yourselves, a woman who tries to reform government, both local and at a statewide level, makes many enemies who are now delighting in their chance to finally bring the wicked witch down. Sour grapes make the best whine.

Is Sarah Palin wrong about a lot of what she believes? Absolutely. But, some of what she believes is on target and will resonate with that great swath of voters that we seem least able to understand here on Slog.

All of you are underestimating her intelligence, her ability to connect with people, and the depth of her commitment to serve the people of the United States. It is a mistake Obama and Biden are not making and for that the Democrats should be grateful.

Thank you for allowing me to have my say.

Posted by PopTart | September 4, 2008 10:01 AM
8

@7 Well said.

I have a female friend who attends Willamette University law school who is pretty staunchly Republican. She made similar remarks about how moving it was to hear George Bush say, "and for the first time, I am honored to welcome Madame Speaker Pelosi," or something to that effect. She certainly doesn't agree with her policies, but sees it as a very important step.

Posted by belltownhippy | September 4, 2008 10:09 AM
9

@7- Well said, PopTart. It doesn't matter if a post is PC-length as long as it's rational and interesting. That's what makes yours good and hers not so much.

Posted by Georgia Guy | September 4, 2008 10:10 AM
10

@7 Your idea of reforming government apparently includes going after earmarks like there's no tomorrow, and trying to retaliate against one's political enemies.by having them lose their jobs.

Posted by twee | September 4, 2008 10:10 AM
11

RE: Photoshopping

Whoops... Lick on my Name for a better version.

Posted by Jeremy from Seattle | September 4, 2008 10:16 AM
12

make that click...

Posted by Jeremy from Seattle | September 4, 2008 10:17 AM
13

Since there is only one other female R governor, Linda Lingle of HI, and a shallower pool of women electeds in the R party, I imagine last night was moving for some.

Sarah Palin's presence last night didn't move me at all. Didn't make me proud to be an American or a woman. The Ds have beaten the Rs to at least paying more lip service to the notion of equality, if not actually always practicing it.

I'm just not impressed by the show.

Posted by ahava | September 4, 2008 10:19 AM
14

@7- While I understand your sentiment, as a woman myself I feel like we also have to not go easy on this woman just because of her gender. This woman has tried ban books, fire state employees for a multitude of petty personal reasons, has been caught lying about her policies, and left the small town she was briefly the executive in debt. She, like most politicians, may have some vague good intentions in the back of her head, but her behavior is unethical independent of the political views she espouses. If she was a man, I would still despise her, most of the writers on slog would despise her, and catty attacks would still be made such as the snide remarks on McCain's age,health, womanizing habits, etc. Don't mistake snark for sexism.

Posted by Beguine | September 4, 2008 10:26 AM
15

The sooner we throw them all on an island the better

Posted by Stanky | September 4, 2008 10:27 AM
16

PopTart @ 7, I was excited about the idea of Palin before I did any research into the actual person. And I watched her speech to give her a chance, but didn't believe a word she said. I'd be terrified to wake up with her in charge.

It's depressing to have had the only two woman vice presidential candidates ever turn out (in the same year) to be a bitter old racist, and a vacuous, shrill spokesmodel.

Posted by Just Sayin' | September 4, 2008 10:28 AM
17

@11,12: Well, at least I found out my monitor needs a little Windex. My tongue still feels a little fuzzy though...

Posted by rob | September 4, 2008 10:32 AM
18

@7 I appreciate the sentiment, and I agree that a lot (a LOT) of the coverage of Palin has been condescending at best. However, it still appears that she was picked for the VP spot because the image she projects (female, appealing to social conservatives) rather than any insight or experience she might bring to the position.

It reminds me of how all the international students on my college's campus would complain that school photographers followed them around hoping to get that one golden shot of students of color to put in the brochure; manipulative, deceptive and even insulting to the work that Palin HAS done in Alaska.

Posted by rococo | September 4, 2008 10:45 AM
19

David, really, I can't overstate how much I love your writing and your work ... but really, there are so many legitimate grounds to attack Palin on, why resort to the cliche of comparing her to a Nazi?

Posted by Jessica | September 4, 2008 11:01 AM
20

David, I can't overstate how much I love your work and your writing ... but why resort to the cliche of comparing her to a Nazi when there are so many legitimate grounds to attack her on? It belittles our side.

Posted by Jessica | September 4, 2008 11:07 AM
21

@7: I totally get ya poptart, which is part of the reason I am scared. And when everyone is talking about "when people are in the booth, voting with that curtain closed" about Obama...the same goes for Palin.

I honestly wonder how many women who would otherwise vote Obama may look at her picture and decide otherwise. Karl Rove is a genius, as it has been said. But this election he has been at his best.

Posted by Original Monique | September 4, 2008 11:20 AM
22

I'm sorry, PopTart. I hear what you're saying, but I think you couldn't be more wrong.

Sarah Palin isn't a reformer; she's claiming to be a reformer in a time when virtually the entire Republican establishment of Alaska has been caught out for crooks.

Before that, she was ONE OF THEM. She hired an Abramovich stooge in Wasilla, and she was head of a 527 for Stevens. She supported the Bridge to Nowhere before she opposed it, and is, in actual fact, exactly the kind of earmarking queen that she and McCain have been decrying lately. She's a fraud and a hypocrite on the subject of ethical government.

As for "not ashamed to be a woman", how do you then explain her absolute opposition to women's reproductive rights? No abortion even in cases of rape and/or incest, no sex education. Throughout her career she has run on a platform of opposition to women's rights. Maybe that's not shame, but it's sure not pride. She's an appalling role model for women.

What you are responding to is a speech written by a man for a woman to deliver to women. She knows the message she needs to deliver. Whether it accords with ANYTHING she has ever said or done before is of no interest to her. Her purpose is to fool people into thinking she's talking to them, but she's not. I think you've fallen into a trap here.

Posted by Fnarf | September 4, 2008 11:26 AM
23

Sarah Palin, the new Clarence Thomas.

Posted by snarky | September 4, 2008 11:29 AM
24

PopTart, I hope I'm not screeching, but I need to say this: please don't confuse "looks like a woman" with "looks young and fuckable".

Not that there's anything wrong with it -- Barack Obama anyone? -- but a woman poised to rule the world had better bring a LOT more to the table than that. And other than a kind of superficial chick-flick feistiness, Palin doesn't bring much.

Posted by Irena | September 4, 2008 11:32 AM
25

@22: Yes, this.

Posted by Darcy | September 4, 2008 11:38 AM
26

Juneau, Juneau uber alles...!

Posted by caribeau | September 4, 2008 11:55 AM
27

i think palin was a surprisingly good choice by the republicans for the reasons poptart mentioned. i'm really glad that obama & palin aren't part of the usual rich-white-men-who-have-been-in-congress-for-ninety-years suspects. i hope this is a trend. there's no reason we need to keep electing good old boys from the 70's as prez/vp.

that said, i hope mccain & palin are both colossal failures.

Posted by poppy | September 4, 2008 12:09 PM
28

@16: Uh, Mondale and Ferraro?

Posted by Garth | September 4, 2008 12:34 PM
29

@22 - actually, originally it was a speech written by a man for a man to give - he then reworked it into a speech for a woman to give.

Whiny Palin voice aside.

Posted by Will in Seattle | September 4, 2008 12:41 PM
30

@20 - You're missing the point. Like 6 said, you can find everyone in this pose. It's just beautiful that it was the banner photo on the front page of CNN.

But I'll admit it's a little bit for funsies...it's just easier to believe she's batshit crazy.

Posted by Naylor | September 4, 2008 5:45 PM

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