Subscribe Today!
Legal Guides
Sep
15
In Praise of Working Moms and All Women
Filed Under Sarah Palin | 5 Comments
After reading all of the comments and letters to the editor in the paper recently dealing with the “controversy” of the possibility of a working mother being elected as Vice President of the United States, I just wanted to let all of the working women who are moms, grandmothers and friends of parents know that I appreciate their hard work on behalf of their families and the sacrifices that they make daily for their kids.
People who question whether a woman can handle her professional and family life (especially with a husband who most likely will be a stay-at-home dad) are making hardworking moms everywhere cringe — regardless of their political philosophy.
I know that naysayers always abound, so you’ve learned to ignore their negativity years ago, so it’s probably not even necessary to say don’t let those who view women as best kept at home get you down.
Your business skills — in the office, or shop, or factory, or at your own business, or even at home — show that you know how to handle yourself, your career and your family without worrying about people who have little concept about women in the workplace.
Ignore the noise and remain confident and proud!
Mobile and Paper. Photo by Carlo Nicora.
Photo by Carlo Nicora.
Sep
14
What the Flurge?
Filed Under Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin | 12 Comments
I tuned into SNL for a few minutes last night to what might happen since Barack Obama cancelled his guest host slot on the show in the wake of Hurricane Ike slamming into Texas yesterday. Any comedic appearance on television could have opened Barack Obama up to criticism, so he bailed in favor of some campaigning elsewhere.
All wasn’t lost. I learned a new word from “Hillary Clinton” last night — Flurge.
Video: Tina Fey as Sarah Palin and “Hillary” says Flurge
Amy Poehler’s Hillary Clinton implored people to stop calling her a Flurge:
“And don’t refer to me as a flurge. I Googled what it stands for and I do not like it.”
What is a Flurge?
I’m calling it as a made up word in the context of the show since Urban Dictionary’s Flurge definition is from 2002. Flurge is “a cross between flush and purge,” according to the site.
It’s too bad that the rest of the show wasn’t as entertaining as the opening skit. I couldn’t make it past the swim meet skit before flipping the television off and calling it an evening.
Sep
9
It’s all about biography and swing states
Filed Under Barack Obama, John McCain, Sarah Palin | 2 Comments
The presidential election isn’t that far away and for now, the candidates seem to be all about telling their stories and reaching out to swing states as the race between McCain and Obama tightens.
My personal opinions on the presidential race as it stands.
The GOP wasn’t that excited when it was just McCain, but the addition of Sarah Palin has energized the party since she exhibits conservate values. The more the left writes letters to the editor and talks about her five kids and how women with kids can’t work, the more excited the right will become because they see such criticism to be hypocritical and something that can sway undecided voters to their side. Having a solid conservative also makes the right feel more confident that McCain won’t do something wishy-washy.
Barack Obama is going for the swing states and electoral college votes. He’s visited Michigan in an effort to win the hearts and minds of voters in that state where the economy has gone south. Obama has also made efforts in Indiana — a traditionally solid red state that looks like it will reelect its Republican governor Mitch Daniels by a solid margin. Obama has also set his efforts on Wisconsin and New Hampshire — they went with the Democrats in the 2004 presidential election. Obama offices have opened up in Montana and North Dakota, as well as in Indiana. The plan to win the states that went blue in 2004 and win some red states to gain the electorial college advantage.
It’s an interesting political season now that the polls have tightened up and the candidates are taking risks — McCain with his pick of Sarah Palin and Obama’s red state strategy.
Sep
4
Sarah Palin Impresses
Filed Under Sarah Palin | 1 Comment
Sarah Palin showed the Republican National Convention and television viewers that she can give a great speech when she took the podium to accept the GOP’s nomination as their candidate for vice president. Sarah Palin also struck back at critics who said she had little experience by reminding them that she has more executive experience than Barack Obama or Joe Biden who have never served in executive branch positions.
My intial reactions to Sarah Palin and all of the swirl of “controversy” over her selection as the GOP’s vice presidential candidate:
1. Silly rumors and conspiracy theories regarding her pregnancy — some lefty bloggers ran with the idea that Sarah Palin’s new baby — Trig — was actually her daughter Bristol’s. These rumors were shown to be just another in the left’s bag of paraniod conspiracy theories when it was announced that Bristol is pregnant with her own child.
2. That “questions” regarding Sarah Palin’s ability to be vice president because she’s a woman and because she has children do not advance Barack Obama’s cause. My wife has kids and she works just like most of our friends, neighbors, and coworkers. It’s insulting to women and men to suggest that having kids is a disqualifier to be vice president or any other job. Also, making a fuss about having children before marriage is also a turnoff as there are many in America who have also experienced such moments in their own personal history.
Photo: Sarah Palin
3. That Sarah Palin didn’t suffer a Dan Quayle “deer in the headlight” moment. Some comentators love to underestimate the GOP’s ability to communicate. I admit that the last eight years have seen some strained communication attempts, but just because one person in the group isn’t as eloquent as Ronald Reagan doesn’t mean that everyone in the group is the same. Stereotyping can be an advantage, however, as political opponents “misunderestimate” and therefore are able to be “rope-a-doped” because of their overconfidence. It also leads to more conspiracy theories when elites judge on superficial characteristics and fail to recognize someone who is different from their style can be appealing — we saw this effect in 2000 and 2004 with all of the crazy theories regarding the election. Watch for Sarah Palin to win some points with voters because she is eloquent and will be underestimated by some of her opponents (crazy bloggers).
4. That Sarah Palin has quality executive experience. However, the GOP shouldn’t underestimate Barack Obama’s skill set. Obama worked his way up through the rough and tumble Chicago politicial system and is able to pick off his opponents with skill and ease. (Jack Ryan fell after a sex scandal in 2004 when Barack Obama was running for his first term in Washington). Anyone able to run with the crowd that surrounds the Chicago political machine — and receive their annointment to rise from the community organizer street level of the organization to become their trusted political leader in Washington has some political savvy. It does work to Sarah Palin’s advantage as the political maverick who is willing to fight against her party. And, when Democratic operatives raise questions about her political allies — Sarah Palin worked with the Democratics in Alaska — it opens the door to raise questions about all of those interesting folks in Chicago who haven’t really been throughly examined in the mainstream media yet. Folks in Chicago know the cast of characters — I say around October, you’ll see Papa Tony Rezko, Obama’s political rabbi — Emil Jones — who wants to appoint his son to his Illinois legislative seat, and some other Chicago connections start to get the Washington press corps examination. Look for Rev. Wright to pop up again to exact revenge because he was cut out of Obama’s power structure. Having a daughter with a kid out of wedlock and a fish license violation will cannot compare with what the opposition research must have been able to find in Chicago — the city with the most federal agents assigned to weed out political corruption in Chicago.
It will be interesting to see what happens this fall. Sarah Palin is a fighter and her opposition will have to be careful in how they approach her — just as the GOP must tread lightly in its counter punches against Barack Obama.
Video: Sarah Palin impresses GOP with convention speech
Top Commentators
* 30 Day Top 15 *daltonsbriefs (7)
Aaron (2)
Allyn (2)
Lisa (2)
Adam M. (1)
Arthur Smith (1)
Dave Woodson (1)
GaryInIN (1)
gioperation (1)
Gregory Santos (1)
Jeff Eriks (1)
Jimenez (1)
Lynn Jackson (1)
phil (1)
RG (1)
