Flying pigs: a non-conservative journalist is fair to Palin. How about being fair to Obama?
Here’s an excellent summary of what has happened to Sarah Palin at the hands of the press both during the campaign and after.
I recommend it for two reasons. The first is that it is written by a journalist who doesn’t appear to be a conservative and yet is able to see how unfairly she was treated. The second is that the article contains one of the best analyses I’ve ever seen of Joe Biden’s extraordinary errors in the Vice Presidential debate against Palin, misstatements which for the most part were ignored by the MSM or even defended.
Revisiting that event on reading the article, I realized I’d forgotten how outraged I was after the Palin/Biden debate. I had noticed how dreadful Biden’s lies and errors were, and how little they were remarked upon. It’s a cautionary tale—as though we need more caution at this point—of how far the press was willing to go to carry the Obama-Biden water and to destroy the opposition, especially Palin.
The question now is: is this attitude on the part of the MSM changing, or about to change? Not towards Palin (on whose slender shoulders the entire opposition to Obama cannot rest, and who may or may not have a political future), but towards Obama?
So far, I have seen only slight glimmerings of criticism of Obama from the mainstream non-conservative press—even now, when his missteps have been so numerous and so damaging on so many fronts. That is not encouraging.
If the American public is ever to understand what Obama has been doing, and act to pressure Congress to turn away from that course in time to avoid some of its worst effects (we certainly can’t rely on Obama to change his mind in response to public opinion and abandon the radical agenda to which it’s now clear he’s devoted), the press will have to do its duty and report fully and fairly.
In other words, pigs will have to begin to fly.
I’m not sure how likely that is. I have no doubt that some in the MSM who praise and defend Obama are in sympathy with the more radical aspects of his agenda. But I also have no doubt that some are not, and that they are simply useful idiots who have failed to perceive his game; they could turn against him if they ever did catch on. But for those particular pigs to take wing, will it take something so cataclysmic, so unequivocal, and so much a done deal, that by the time the awakening happens it will be too late?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_Floyd_pigs
The original Pink Floyd pig was designed by Roger Waters and built in December 1976 by the artist Jeffrey Shaw with the help of Designers team Hipgnosis[1], in preparation for shooting the cover of the Animals album. Plans were made to fly the forty-foot, helium-filled balloon over Battersea Power Station on the first day’s photo-shoot, with a marksman prepared to shoot the pig down if it broke free. However, the pig was not launched.
On the second day, the marksman wasn’t present because no one had told him to return, and the pig broke free due to a strong gust of wind on the third day, gaining a lot of press coverage. It disappeared from sight within five minutes, and was spotted by airline pilots at forty thousand feet in the air. Flights at Heathrow Airport were cancelled as the huge inflatable pig flew through the path of aircraft, eastwards from Britain and out over the English Channel, finally landing on a rural farm in Kent that night.
The pig was recovered and repaired for the resumption of photography for the album cover, but unfortunately the sky was cloudless and blue, thus “boring”. However, the pictures of the sky from the first day were suitable; eventually, the album cover was created using a composite of photos from the first and third days.[2]
The pig that was originally floated above Battersea Power Station was called “Algie”.[3]
at the time they thought to give some of the pilots breathelizer tests as they were reporting a huge flying pig upon approach.
[in my prior life i must have been a bar room piano man or a reference librarian like in the moie Desk Set, though i guess i would be a male and not in that particular script 🙂 ]
I just went off to look for some articles on sociopathy and how to spot it. yes trite and not clinical, but interesting never the less.
Red flags: flattery, inflated credentials
Fast talking for fast decisions
Sooner or later, you will have a run-in with a sociopath. There are just too many of them–possibly between 3 million and 12 million sociopaths in America. And they aren’t necessarily locked up in jail. Sociopaths roam through all parts of society, all areas of the country, all walks of life.
the headings are enough to get the gist.
Lavish flattery
Credentials–exaggerated and fabricated
Builds your trust
The story doesn’t quite add up
“I need an answer now.”
A crisis needs to be averted, an opportunity will disappear–whatever the reason, a con artist will want an answer right away. If you have time to think, research or ask advice, you may realize that con artist’s plan is a ploy. The con will want your money before you figure it out.
Intense eye contact
Isolation
and if you think about the people under such rule they live together but their fear makes them completely isolated from each other as trusting anyone becomes foolish. and minding your own business becomes an extreme as you never see anything any more.
and some of the stuff that is here
http://www.sociopathicstyle.com/continuum.htm
dove tails with some of the stuff that came up when the point was obamas relationships as a child.
though i cant speak for the veracity or the accuracy (not my baliwick), so if someone knows better do share.
this seems also to be an interesting site
http://www.hare.org/index.html
though these points are more from those concerned with those in interpersonal relationships with them.
When Nikita Krushchev talked of burying us who’a thunkit that our own press would be the shovel?
Neo,
This is an important revelation from one who is in the business. If, in fact, even liberal journalists begin to admit a bias, this can only bode well for the future of this country. Another article about the elitist hatred of Sarah Palin follows, by the ever insightful Victor Davis Hanson:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/printpage/?url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/07/10/why_the_elitist_hatred_toward_palin_97386.html
These underscore why blogs like this, Dr. Sanity and others are so important at this time in our country’s history.
As someone in the financial industry, I must ask if Barack Obama could be this consistently wrong on so many of his decisions purely by accidentt? Remember he, himself, admitted that it was his goal to traqnsform the United States. Then I read comments like those above from presumably sane people and I must admit that I’m very concerned.
Another in your series of rarae aves?
T says:
“I must ask if Barack Obama could be this consistently wrong on so many of his decisions purely by accidentt?”
The unsettling thing about Barack decisions is: his are indistinguishable from a Manchurian Candidate who is a deliberate enemy of the U.S. What drives Barack’s decisions might be ignorance, yet his decisions are indistinguishable from decisions made out of malice.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As I read the linked article’s summary of how media ignored the truth of Biden’s debate gaffes, I was exactly reminded of the way media is ignoring the truth of the Honduran Government’s desperate attempt to save constitutional democracy. Rather than report the data/evidence as it exists (the solid majority of evidence indicates Zelaya was attempting treasonous insurrection against a constitutional democracy), the media are actively advertising and marketing and promoting a narrative that former President Zelaya was illegally ousted from office. Basically, the desperate Honduran Government is being slandered a la Palin, and Zelaya is being protected a la Biden. Does the American media have the same motivation in both instances, i.e. protect Barack; promote Barack; stir media understanding and narrative with willful media ignorance, as needed?
Liberalism is designed to forward the economic and social interests of one tribe of people. Journalists are in that tribe. They socialise, make their daily bread, and choose mates from that group.
The rest is commentary.
The handwriting was on the wall the day Obama called Palin a pig in lipstick. That is exactly what he did, but everybody in mainstream media pretended he didn’t do so. We learned that day — and, perhaps more significantly, Obama learned that day — that his comrades in mainstream media would let him get away with anything. Not only let him get away with anything, but help him get away with it.
The blinders and blinkers may fall from a few liberals’ eyes, as they are already, but I don’t think the herd will ever be driven off course. Following on AVI’s remarks, however, one thing that might spook the herd would be actions by the Obamists that visibly and seriously hurt liberals where they live, provided that they can connect the Obama cause with the deleterious effect.
Neo, off subject, but I haven’t seen you mention the September 12th march on Capitol Hill. I haven’t been listening to talk radio much lately, but no one seems to have heard them mention it either. My husband and I are going, it will be my first time in Washington DC. Seems to me, this needs lots of coverage to be a success. Not that I suppose it will CHANGE anything, but it will feel satisfying to participate. You have a good following….give it a plug, would ya?
I voted in the “Has the press been unfair to Sarah Palin” poll.
73%yes
25%no
2%unsure
Internet polls are lame. Totally unscientific. But still fun.
By the way, who could possibly be “unsure” at this point?
T says — “I must ask if Barack Obama could be this consistently wrong on so many of his decisions purely by accidentt?”
It seems a lot of us are asking this question. It is fascinating. I was too young to remember anything about the Carter years. Was he this bad?
It seems to me at this point that none of this is an accident. Obama and the lib dems are intent on “changing” this country into something else. But I don’t get what that something else is. Why change something that was already so successful? Seems like nihilism to me.
But I am confident that they will fail. If Carter (whom I unserstand was very smart) couldn’t destroy this country, how could a nobody like Obama do it?
Looks like crap-and-tax has stalled. Not surprised. Wanna bet it won’t get anywhere in the senate? Even with the clown-Franken as the 60th vote? And even if it does, I can only imagine the Republican campaign adds when grandma and grandpa die in a heat wave because they couldn’t afford to turn on the AC.
I doubt health care “reform” will get anywhere either. Will Americans actually allow rationing of health care? Seems unlikely to me.
Of course, I could be wrong. Yikes.
gcotharn Says: “the solid majority of evidence indicates Zelaya was attempting treasonous insurrection against a constitutional democracy”
That is my understanding too. And not just from reading this blog, but from many others as well.
But is seems that governments all over this hemisphere are defending Zelaya. It is not just Chavez and Castro and Obama. How very bizarre. Is there somthing I am missing here?
Neo,
I read the whole article and enjoyed it, thanks for pointing it out.
But, I’m not sure if Mr. Cannon is “non-conservative”. I checked out his bio. I’m not sure this is the pigs flying moment, but rather a rare conservative in the media. Did you find something about him different?
I don’t know anything about “Politics Daily” so I don’t know where they fall on the political spectrum.
MikeLL:
No, he was not as bad as Obama. I voted for him in 1976, but not in 1980. I will not enumerate the bad things about Carter- we know them all too well- but list some of his accomplishments. 1) While his human rights approach had disastrous effects in Nicaragua, and Iran, it was fairly successful in Argentina. Moral: crying “human rights” is a successful approach only if your “ally” is secure. Nicaragua and Iran were not secure. A cynic might say, cry human rights only after the opponent has been decimated, as were the Argentine guerrillas. 2) His deregulation of the airlines was a success. Deregulation of the economy is something that Obama would NEVER attempt. 3) He was instrumental in the negotiations between Israel and Egypt resulting in the Camp David accords. That being the case, if Sadat were not willing to make peace, the accords would never have been signed. 4) While Carter’s ineffectual foreign policy was a definite factor in the USSR’s invasion of Afghanistan, at least Carter authorized supplying arms to those fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan. 5) Carter’s establishing diplomatic relations with the PRC was in line with what Nixon had started with his trip to Beijing six years previously.
I will say nothing about Carter’s record as a former President, to spare tender ears.
Carter was terrible as a leader.
During his presidency, I felt that the government had become paralyzed and weak. The country was facing energy shortages and all the nuclear engineer-in-chief could advocate was wearing sweaters and turning the thermostat to use less energy. He spoke about diminished expectations for our future generations – that the United States had already passed its zenith. High unemployment, a sluggish economy led to stagflation.
For the sake of human rights, he told the Shah of Iran that we would not support him. The Shah’s generals were persuaded to betray their leader, The Shah fled, the revolution was over and the generals were executed by the new government.
When the hostages were taken at the U. S. Embassy in Tehran, what did Carter do? He declared that he would not leave the White House until the hostage were released. He was telling the world that he was going to hide until things got better. His self-imposed exile didn’t last long.
The military drew up plans for a rescue that depended on the mission being launched when seasonal sand storms would not be a factor. Guess when the rescue raid was launched? During sand storm season. It failed.
Carter was the President but he knew little of leadership and less of how to deal with the bloody tyrants of the world.
Gringo and Poole,
Wow. Now I am not so sure about my statement:
“But I am confident that they will fail. If Carter (whom I unserstand was very smart) couldn’t destroy this country, how could a nobody like Obama do it?”
A bit on Palin’s incuriousities: Palin filled out when she was running for governor of Alaska in 2006, which asked the candidates if they were “offended by the phrase ‘under God’ in the Pledge of Allegiance.” Palin answered: “Not on your life. If it was good enough for the founding fathers, it’s good enough for me, and I’ll fight in defense of our Pledge of Allegiance.” Source anncoulter.com … I as you’d imagine I disagree with Ann on this one point, though overall I think Ann is something of a national treasure. In Palin’s defense it’s a mistake that many might make concerning the origin of the Pledge of Allegiance, but it’s this sort of thing that gave me pause from my initial support of her.
Also, was this statement from Palin, she said that her gubernatorial work would be hampered “if the people of Alaska’s heart isn’t right with god.” Sarah will lead the way or the people of Alaska will suffer from her electoral demise? How contemptible is this!?
It’s not consistent with the documentation of the founding fathers as she claims it is.
McCain was on his way up, with whom he was challenged with, but when he chose Palin, and I got to know her position and thought processes more and more, it was like putting my foot down where I thought there was another step, it was a twofer — what is he thinking choosing Palin? And more importantly what is McCain thinking. This is where the scenery around them began to crumble and fall, this coupled with the speech by Obama at Ft. Hood praising the Surge and also saying that he would go after Al Qaeda in Pakistan when McCain criticized this as being to militant? Obama was at least demonstrating that he was teachable, evolving towards a neoconservative foreign policy position.
Again it was a hairsplitter of a decision for me, but I have a right to make up my own mind, I don’t care if it’s inconsistent with the majority.
A bit on Nyom’s incuriousness:
Can’t make an accurate statement regarding Palin to save his life. He won’t do the due diligence necessary to find out he’s wrong. He continues to make erroneous accusations…. with NO perspective.
I’m not offended by the phrase either of ‘under God’. And the fact that you are colors anything you will ever write again.
I know that some people have a problem with people who believe in God.
Nyom, you take it to a higher level. You did nothing to convince me about Palin. You did everything to show your block in the head sexist, anti-religious ferver.
And this is from a guy, me, who does NOT attend church weekly though I do consider myself a Christian.
uh-oh. Now I’m a freak in your mind!!!
OK I’ll play the game you play for a moment, but it may crush you little world, explain and convince me why I can’t make an accurate statement regarding Palin, I gave you direct quotes that she made — can you not comprehend simple English?
On the last note, I find that those who defend faith the most are those who don’t go to church, many people that go to church have something called faith these are at least sincere Christians. It’s the insincere sniveling apologist that scream the loudest because they feel guilty about their lack of commitment and think they can redeem themselves by being defenders of the faith without being faithful. I’m sincere about my lack of faith, so either you are evolving towards my position or the other — change is a painful experience, but bullying people behind your anonymous curtain because of your insincerity is pretty low of the food chain and pathetic, and you can continue to masturbate in that way as long as neo allow you to, find either way — just don’t cum on my leg damn it.
Also, what does going to church have to do with anything? I go to church from time to time (to be with and fellowship with some of the older folks in my family) and doing so is fine and none of anyone’s business. I just don’t want faith-based thinking interfering with those who make policy that will affect my life. I want fantasy separated from reality. Fantasy over here … and reality over there, separate, see? Separate like, I dunno, church and state should be separate, like the founders wished.
nyom asked, “can you not comprehend simple English?”
If people’s belief in God has you in a twitter. You need to find a cure for your problem from a psychiatrist.
I understood English. Her quotes were fine and showed MORE about YOU than her.
And to be clear. This is about you suspending your brain power about a woman and making inaccurate accusations such as incurious and a quitter as well as many other UNJUSTIFIABLE insults.
Idiot.
Baklava and nyomythus, you need to stop it.
Baklava, if nyomythus is who he says he is (and I believe he is), he is not going to back down. nyomythus grew up in a part of the country where he would have had exposure to a lot of stupid conservative talk and the social influence of the Religious Right. Not associating with that in any way is extremely important to him. Calling him names will have no impact on him–he will merely catalog you as the kind of ignoramus he wants to get away from–and it is extremely irritating for the rest of us to read.
nyomythus, you come from the most stigmatized group of people in America. I can understand the symbolic value of voting for Obama for a person like you; I know a lot of people like you who did the same thing. You can surely spare a little compassion for Palin and her supporters, one of whom I am proud to be. She has her strengths and weaknesses, but surely it is clear that the passions she arouses have nothing to do with her: she is merely a catalyst for displaying a lot of social fear on one side and cultural frustration on the other.
We need to get beyond this. You are both friends of freedom, and we need to you both going forward.
That was remarkable accurate, and much needed, thanks Oblio. Ended.
Oblio wrote, “Not associating with that in any way is extremely important to him”
It is such a block in the head it will have him thinking Obama had more experience than the vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.
Idiot.
It’s his issue. He needs serious help. Obama wrote no legislation and had his name as co-sponsor on some inconsequential bills.
Nyom is not a friend of freedom. He is a name caller of the worst kind. Thus I do it to him until he gets it.
He can’t accurately judge somebody to save his own life.
He is the problem. He is what got Obama voted in. He should REPENT.
He he – I used that word on purpose. It’s his button.
Oblio wrote, “You can surely spare a little compassion for Palin and her supporters,”
He won’t. That’s the issue. He’s stuck on stupid.
Baklava, nyomythus can and will show a little compassion, as he is already doing. You should stop calling him an idiot, because he is not one. By my lights, you owe him an apology.
There is no need for repentance or breast-beating apologies. What was done in November 2008 is done, and we need nyomythus going forward.
The meta-theme for this site is how minds change. You must understand why something thinks what they think before you can know how to change his mind. What you are doing is getting in the way because you don’t understand nyomythus and his story. At least, I think you don’t.
Of course, I understand and feel your frustration, too. I wanted to smack Thomas Frank for his article about Palin in the Journal today. Arrogance and complacency masquerading as Olympian detachment. Grrr.
Baklava and nyomythus: I’m getting tired of the squabbling and personal attacks between the two of you. I value you both as commenters here, but I request that if you want to continue this tangential personal stuff please exchange emails and take it elsewhere, or just cease and desist.
By my lights he owes us all an apology for continuing with the Palin is a quitter and incurious and fill in the blank set of accusations.
He has not stopped with those accusations.
As long as he continues with the inaccurate accusations – he will receive them.
I will NEVER understand why Nyom thinks as he thinks. He produced God statements by Palin that has him believing she is a quitter, incurious, has less experience than the current CIC.
He has ZERO perspective. Nothing to offer except disdain for somebody who doesn’t deserve it. It’s like trying to understand the leader of Iran. You can’t. He is so far removed from reality.
Nobody is saying that Palin is perfect or had more experience than governors who completed their terms. What I’m saying is factually accurate. She has more experience (and executive experience) than the current CIC that he voted for and yet he uses that as a reason for putting her down.
Maybe I’ll change idiot to negligent… but that isn’t accurate either.
oops. didn’t see your post Neo.
I’m sorry he made me sick.
I control my own actions. I’ll do better. I will not respond to him anymore.
Baklava: Thank you.