Randy Cassingham's Blog

Fine, let's go over Palin

- does not believe in Evolution and wants to teach Creationism in schools

- she thinks abortion should be outlawed in all cases even rape and incest and certain death to the mother

- lifetime member of the NRA, believes anyone should be able to buy an assault rifle with no wait on the streets of NYC

- doesn't have a passport, never left the country

- asked the Wasilla library how to institute a system to ban books, had never heard of the 1st amendment when questioned about it

- made city employees resign as a "test of loyalty" didn't rehire anyone who opposed her in the election

- routine power abuse, troopergate is the worst example

- lied about her support for the "Bridge to Nowhere"

- while on a radio show cackled and laughed when her opponent, a cancer survivor was called a "cancer" and a "bitch"

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Well, the topic of the post isn't Palin, but rather Bill and his need to be offended. That said, while I agree Bill opened it up to wider discussion, and therefore have approved this comment, I hope I'll also get comments on the actual topic. -rc

Astounding Randy, truly astounding. I've been watching this whole thing very closely. Of course the amazing thing is the very same screaming right who say it's all sexist are the same ones who screamed about Senator Hillary.

(Shaking head)

Maybe we should just go back to the days in the Old Testament where we read "And in those days everyone did what they thought was right in their own mind."

It really doesn't matter if the average American has any clue what the vice president does. It does, however, matter if someone who actually aspires to that office knows! I can't imagine going on a job interview and saying, "I have no idea what this position entails, but I really want it!" Most normal employers would laugh me out of the building if I said that, and with good reason. So yes, I think Palin's comment is highly relevant to whether she's qualified to be VP.

John,

What'd you do, lift this list directly from Mad Magazine?

Allow me to bring you back to this reality:

- does not believe in Evolution (UNKNOWN) and wants to teach Creationism in schools (FALSE)

She's open to the idea, but has not pushed for it nor does she support it being a mandatory part of the curriculum.

- she thinks abortion should be outlawed in all cases even rape and incest and certain death to the mother

She opposes abortion except when the life of the mother would otherwise be imperiled (Wikipedia)

- lifetime member of the NRA, believes anyone should be able to buy an assault rifle with no wait on the streets of NYC

Only the NRA part is true. She has not made her views known on assault rifles or NYC laws.

- doesn't have a passport, never left the country

She has a passport and has traveled abroad to Kuwait, Germany and Canada.

- asked the Wasilla library how to institute a system to ban books, had never heard of the 1st amendment when questioned about it

The first is questionable since sources vary, the later is simply invective. Grow up.

- made city employees resign as a "test of loyalty" didn't rehire anyone who opposed her in the election

More invective.

- routine power abuse, troopergate is the worst example

Routine? Please. In addition, she is welcoming the investigation into Troopergate. she fired a department head who had demonstrated an unwillingness to work with her on budgetary issues, but also offered him a position as the head of another department, which he declined.

- lied about her support for the "Bridge to Nowhere"

She did initially support the idea during her campaign before becoming governor, but hinted that she would consider alternatives late in the campaign, and then eventually canceled the project altogether shortly after taking office. She has never stated that she NEVER supported the bridge however, which would have been untrue.

- while on a radio show cackled and laughed when her opponent, a cancer survivor was called a "cancer" and a "bitch"

Oh wow, she laughed, guess that means she's Satan. More invective, and really, a bit hypocritical considering the attacks on McCain who is a cancer survivor himself. In spite of the fact that she never used these labels herself she did however call Green and apologized.

Really, if this is how misinformed you are about Palin (and likely about the whole race) you really should stay home on election day.

BTW, completely forgot to comment on the original post: Bill obviously overreacted, though considering all the vicious smears and falsehoods on Palin (even in the comment above me!) I can see why people would jump the gun like this at any perceived slight on the governor. Cooler heads though will prevail. Like me. ;-)

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I indeed gave Bill the opportunity to cool down, when I challenged him to state what specific part of the story bothered him. He failed that challenge. I appreciate your cooler reaction, and for remembering to comment on the post! -rc

John, I don't know where you're getting this information, but I'd recommend you do some more research before posting lists like this. I don't particularily like or support Palin, but many of the "facts" on this list are plain wrong. Let me clear it up for you. :)

Fine, let's go over Palin

- does not believe in Evolution and wants to teach Creationism in schools

Misleading. She wants to teach both and encourage debate. There's nothing wrong with teaching kids that other people have different views.

- she thinks abortion should be outlawed in all cases even rape and incest and certain death to the mother

Absolutely wrong. She states that she opposes abortion in all cases EXCEPT when necessary to save the life of the mother.

- lifetime member of the NRA, believes anyone should be able to buy an assault rifle with no wait on the streets of NYC

This is an extrapolation. While she does oppose gun control, supports the right to bear arms and opposes the federal ban on handguns, she has never made statements like this. Illegal weapons are still illegal, and she is not (necessarily) bloodthirsty.

- doesn't have a passport, never left the country

Total lie. A 5 second Google search brings up a series of pictures of Palin with soldiers in Kuwait - not a part of the United States.

- asked the Wasilla library how to institute a system to ban books, had never heard of the 1st amendment when questioned about it

She did HAVE A CONVERSATION about the potential of banning books with the librarian. I can't say for sure, but Palin says the conversation was "rhetorical" - and it easily could have been. You can take anything out of context. I could have a conversation with a friend about how to hide a body - doesn't mean I'm going to.

There is nothing I can find anywhere regarding Palin not being aware of the First Amendment.

- made city employees resign as a "test of loyalty" didn't rehire anyone who opposed her in the election

This I have no argument with.

- routine power abuse, troopergate is the worst example

That is one example. I don't see any overwhelming evidence that it was "routine". I'm not arguing, but I need proof to back up a statement - this is also par for the political course.

- lied about her support for the "Bridge to Nowhere"

True. As all politicians in the running have lied about something, and probably all politicians in general.

- while on a radio show cackled and laughed when her opponent, a cancer survivor was called a "cancer" and a "bitch"

True in a sense. She chuckles a little bit at a "shock jock" DJ on the radio show brutally insulting her political opponent - more out of shock than anything else. It sounds much more likely that she was caught off guard and the chuckle just slipped out. It certainly wasn't a "cackle" or "laugh".

So, what can I tell you? I still don't like and still don't support Sarah Palin - but a little bit of opening your mind, doing some research, and getting your facts straight instead of just listening to what you're told goes a very long way.

I am saddened by Bill's odd need to be offended by an innocuous story. It seems almost pathological. Perhaps he will seek therapy some day to find the root cause of whatever his problem is...

That's an interesting idea, though. Some people want to go through life without being offended. Can I claim the opposite?

As a citizen of a free country, it is my right and duty to be offended.

Daily.

Randy (and others), as a Palin "supporter" I laughed at the article. I agree that there's hypocrisy on both sides, which is part of the reason that I refuse to vote on strictly party lines -- guess I was just raised to vote for the right person for the job, which sometimes included people whose views I disagreed with.

I appreciate your newsletter and all of your efforts Randy, especially when you say something I disagree with. Unexamined beliefs are symptomatic of a diseased and diminishing mind. Thank you for helping me examine, and in some case reinforce, beliefs that are important to me.

While I am considered "conservative" politically, I believe that the true meaning of "liberal" is more meaningful -- I am willing to accept that other people have views that disagree with mine no matter how dearly held and willing to entertain the possibility that some of the truths that I hold dear may prove in the face of experience to be only partially true or even completely false.

The value of a set of beliefs lies not in how you hold them in the face of vehement agreement, but in the light of facts that seem to challenge them and in that case volume is no substitute to humility. (Crow tastes so much better when you can nibble in private than when you're forced to swallow it whole in public and nothing seems to be so fickle as "truth". Wish I'd known that in my arrogant youth, but the only way to avoid mistakes is through experience, and the only way to get experience is to make mistakes...)

Take care of yourself and thank you for serving a smorgasbord of things to think and talk about. The things I agree about are the desserts and the things I disagree with are the meat. One without the other would be either boring or dangerous.

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Gilbert: it seems to me you're living the adage, "I cannot think myself into acting....I must act myself into thinking!" Thanks for showing Bill how it's done, but I'm guessing he'll miss the lesson. -rc

"Billville is not recommended to those who are...under the influence of anything sobering." My bet, Randy: he's a drunk and he's irrational. But I repeat myself.