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News & ArtsThursday, November 19, 2009
Politics Unreal Americans
Posted by Dan Savage on Thu, Nov 19, 2009 at 7:59 AM
The GOP base lines up to meet Sarah Palin in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
6
Like it or not, Sarah remains insanely popular. I'm still trying to figure out why (and I've even met her).
7
They're just starstruck with the caribou bimbo, that with a combination of hick midlife crisis on the part of some guys, but there is nothing else there no substance whatsoever.
8
Nice quote at the end: "They feel a connection with Sarah Palin. They can't be specific in some cases about the issues". I think she found the connection....
10
Poor Grand Rapids-- I swear, you guys, GR isn't as bad as this video makes it look. These are definitely folks from cracker barrels like Sparta or Coopersville.
13
The utter ignorance, and perhaps stupidity, of these two people make this hard to watch. I was embarrassed for them. The reporter did a good job - stayed on point without being condescending.
14
Stupid is as stupid does -- if you're dumb enough to believe anything that comes out of Sarah Palin's lying mouth, you're dumb enough to not feel like you have to make sense in justifying liking her.
The woman is a horror story.
The woman is a horror story.
15
No wonder these people elect idiots. They're idiots. The only reason they like her is because the left thinks she's incompetent and a quiter.
16
I am probably completely wrong but Isn't she making a visit to Washington State? Thats what I gathered when I overheard a local news station talk about her book tour or something.
18
Oh my God. I'm actually sitting at my desk squirming and blushing. I feel so embarrassed for them. Note to self: If you're ever standing in line to meet someone and there is a reporter nearby, do not make eye contact unless you have done extensive research about everything that person has ever said and done.
19
So, combining this peek into the minds of Palin supporters with the other story today about Wall Street raking in record profits this year, are we going to see a breakaway populist party headed by Palin, running against Wall Street? What a bizarre turn of political events.
20
As these things go, I think he did make a pretty good attempt at a comeback at the end there.
But the kid's response was prolly more representative: That can't be right. That seems to be the general Repug response to reality.
But the kid's response was prolly more representative: That can't be right. That seems to be the general Repug response to reality.
21
The constitution was written by the government. And the connection that her supporters feel with her is that they are all idiots. The chick is kinda hot though. Hot and dumb, my favorite.
22
WOODLAND!
And I totally dont agree that those folks are from Sparta or Coopersville, That is GR through and through. EastTown can only hold so many old hippies and faux hipsters. The fam and I just went back to visit for a week (after 6 years of staying away) and if anything its getting worse.
And I totally dont agree that those folks are from Sparta or Coopersville, That is GR through and through. EastTown can only hold so many old hippies and faux hipsters. The fam and I just went back to visit for a week (after 6 years of staying away) and if anything its getting worse.
23
"Did you know that Sarah Palin supported the bailout?"
"Uh...I don't...where did you hear that?"
Really? That's your response? As if it's just minor gossip going around the workplace; as if there was only ONE source from which to get that information. Get a grip on reality!
"Uh...I don't...where did you hear that?"
Really? That's your response? As if it's just minor gossip going around the workplace; as if there was only ONE source from which to get that information. Get a grip on reality!
27
that girl's response is the most terrifying thing. confronted with a fact, she still denies it. so much willful ignorance.
29
STOP bothering me with the FACTS! Sarah did not support the bail out.
Did that guy have ring on his pointer finger? You GO Girl!
Did that guy have ring on his pointer finger? You GO Girl!
30
If there ever were an argument for making people take a test before they are allowed to vote, this is it. It drives me crazy that people who clearly don't have a clue and just memorize buzzwords (and, like Palin, try to connect them with other words) have the same voting power as people who make a huge effort to be informed and to understand issues.
31
I don't know, all you Grand Rapids defenders...you have to admit that after watching this video, it feels like the safer thing would be to just nuke the whole town.
32
here is some local coverage w/ slideshow:
http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/i…
btw, in that guide for "how to go rogue" in the extended coverage there is a pic of a young Levi Johnston about to be eaten by John McCain.
http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/i…
btw, in that guide for "how to go rogue" in the extended coverage there is a pic of a young Levi Johnston about to be eaten by John McCain.
34
@30: Not a bad idea, but I have an even better one: How about making the politicians take an IQ test?
35
@33 I grew up in GR and fully support this idea. There is nothing worthwhile there. Even Mulligans has lost its flavor.
36
@22: They must have hid the crazies when I was there. It was like the time I went to Jackson and had coffee and vegan cookies with some old hippie lesbian couple who chatted me up while I was wandering around-- told my grandmother back in Detroit about it and she didn't believe me, "the only adjective appropriate for anyone in Jackson is 'old', and even then, that might be understating things".
I like visiting the weird ultra-Michigany towns, like Escanaba, Gaylord, Superior Township, Bad Axe and St. Clair Shores. I still need to visit Holland at some point, too.
I like visiting the weird ultra-Michigany towns, like Escanaba, Gaylord, Superior Township, Bad Axe and St. Clair Shores. I still need to visit Holland at some point, too.
37
My brother's ex-inlaws are all from Escanaba. Uppers all the way. (Of course, "ex" is the operative word here....)
38
@21,
It's not just that Palin is an idiot; it's that she's PROUD of being an idiot. That's why this idiots love her and why they loved Bush.
@28,
Kenneth isn't gay?
It's not just that Palin is an idiot; it's that she's PROUD of being an idiot. That's why this idiots love her and why they loved Bush.
@28,
Kenneth isn't gay?
40
@37: Oh yah, hey buddy, Yoopers are more special'n dat, you know? Shackin' up with some troll don't sit too well down at da tavern, you know?
43
Wow, I recognized exactly where that was filmed. I grew up just down the road from Woodland Mall.
Anyhow, I can't say that those two aren't somewhat representative of Grand Rapids. It's an incredibly conservative and religious (Calvinist, though, so no rolling on the floor and speaking in tongues) place. As an example, I learned from some friends in the Reformed church that dancing had finally been un-banned as recently as 1978. The region is changing as more out-of-towners move there for jobs, but it's a slow process.
Anyhow, I can't say that those two aren't somewhat representative of Grand Rapids. It's an incredibly conservative and religious (Calvinist, though, so no rolling on the floor and speaking in tongues) place. As an example, I learned from some friends in the Reformed church that dancing had finally been un-banned as recently as 1978. The region is changing as more out-of-towners move there for jobs, but it's a slow process.
44
Why does Dan Savage have such a fucking hard on for Sarah Palin, but he refuses to support, encourage, or participate in fighting for lgbt rights in his own fucking neighborhood? Methinks Dan Savage is little more than a gay pot smoking version of Rush Limbaugh: all talk, no action.
45
The post-Reagan United States public education system, ladies and gentlemen. Let's give them a big round of applause.
46
Well....at least MSNBC has learned from the Tea Parties this summer how to be less obvious in their smug elitist got ya questions. The girl was not on hardball, she didnt need to be directly confronted. The reporter is there to report, not make the news herself by engaging someone in a debate in a mall. Yes she is not a policy expert, but she isn't running for office. Please people, some people are busy making a living for them selves and dont have the time(like us) to sit and read some obscure blog and pretend they are all some sort of lower level talking head with policy knowledge.
The same response would have been given by a supporter of President Obama if they were to be asked, "where does the President stand on gays in the military, or DOMA, or was he for or against the Bush administration bailouts?"
I am a Political Science graduate student and I cant even answer some of the above questions. BECAUSE policy stances aren't that clear or well known.
Get over yourselves. Yes I am sure you are all smarter than her. And boy aren't you all so lucky. But does that make you a better person, or more qualified to vote? No. Had it been up to some on this forum, the Constitution would have only allowed college educated, liberal, northern living, young white people to vote.
The same response would have been given by a supporter of President Obama if they were to be asked, "where does the President stand on gays in the military, or DOMA, or was he for or against the Bush administration bailouts?"
I am a Political Science graduate student and I cant even answer some of the above questions. BECAUSE policy stances aren't that clear or well known.
Get over yourselves. Yes I am sure you are all smarter than her. And boy aren't you all so lucky. But does that make you a better person, or more qualified to vote? No. Had it been up to some on this forum, the Constitution would have only allowed college educated, liberal, northern living, young white people to vote.
48
@36, how is St. Clair Shores "ultra Michigany"? Just wondering, I grew up there and don't get the connection between SCS and the other cities you mentioned.
49
"Get over yourselves. Yes I am sure you are all smarter than her. And boy aren't you all so lucky. But does that make you a better person, or more qualified to vote? No. Had it been up to some on this forum, the Constitution would have only allowed college educated, liberal, northern living, young white people to vote."
I don't think "we" are smarter than her. I believe that "we" actually care enough about the issues we are voting for to study up on them and to be able to know where the parties stand on them. Its really not much to expect.
I don't think "we" are smarter than her. I believe that "we" actually care enough about the issues we are voting for to study up on them and to be able to know where the parties stand on them. Its really not much to expect.
50
Does anyone notice the woman standing in line at the beginning that points at the reporter? "LOOK GRACE-SUE, ONE OF THEM REAL LIVE CAMERA PEOPLE!!!!!"
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@46 it's not that they're stupid, it's that they're ignorant. huge difference. you can't help how intelligent you are, but you can help how ignorant you are.
52
@51 and 49. You guys assume that everyone has the time, resources, or abilities to look up policy issues. Some rural Americans have no internet, cannot read, or are holding down multiple jobs and taking care of children and/or elderly parents. These people can not "help" their ability to obtain information, nor do they care any less than those on the slog.
That being said, this girl in the video obviously had the time, money, and resources to get to the mall and buy a book to be signed. So....I admit I lose on this one. (But my point for others still stands.)
That being said, this girl in the video obviously had the time, money, and resources to get to the mall and buy a book to be signed. So....I admit I lose on this one. (But my point for others still stands.)
53
@46, 52 and a couple of others: pay attention. It was the political message shirt the girl was wearing, with its antigovernment, antibailout sentiment that invited, nay demanded, that the irony of wearing it at a Sarah Palin event be pointed out. That's not "gotcha," that's "wha?"
54
I completely agree with @53. Wow! I am impressed with that reporter. I was expecting a puff piece, not actual interaction with the crowd. Anyone who's holding up a sign, wearing a button, or wearing a shirt should be ready to answer a question about what it says.
55
IWow. A good reporter on TV. Those are few and far between. Thank god she's pretty too. If she weren't she wouldn't have the job, regardless of her skills, which is...uh, kind of why TV news sucks today in general.
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