I think the intelligence thing has a lot to do with it. I also don't think the McCain camp did Palin any favors in the way they presented her from the start of the campaign. She got off on the wrong foot and wasn't able to recover. I think that image will fade with time (after all, there are lots of people who forget the Dukakis campaign, i.e. the worst-run campaign ever).

And I think that most of us are too undisciplined to really be bothered when our communities benefit from federal money.

Am I really going to go protest my county taking more money for the local schools that might flow through the stimulus but isn't a legit federal function to me? Probably not.

Again this goes to that sense of entitlement I mentioned previously. Why should I apologize when it's not MY fault someone misread my post? On the flip side, why can't they say, "well DeepImpact, I'm not really sure I understand what you mean. Could you clarify the point you are trying to illustrate?" Why does it have to be, "what you are saying doesn't make sense. You're so stupid. What you said was so stupid. Oh these 1L's. blah blah blah."

And no I don't think people are pming each other. I think they just repeat what they see others saying instead of having independent thoughts. And some people deliberately misinterpret what I say. The fact that it was stated that I turned people off from my first thread indicates a certain prejudice towards anything I say.

With respect to your comment about me picking and choosing which posts I respond to, don't we all? None of respond to EVERY single post in a thread.

Was it how THEY presented her, or how she presented herself?

I think it's a mixture of both but the McCain campaign did hang her out to dry.

Ultimately, because they chose her as his running-mate, it was their responsibility to ensure that she was well prepared for every interview and that the toe the line as far as what to say and what not to say.

Obama's people even had trouble with Biden, but it didn't seem like they had as much trouble as McCain's people.

Since when is a call for self-reflection stupid? You can't sit here and say you are perfect and have never gone too far around here.

But thanks for proving exactly what we have been saying.

1.) How can someone ask for clarification when they don't know that they're misinterpreting a post?

2.) No one says, "What you are saying doesn't make sense." And no one has called you stupid, so don't even go there. Poeple simply react to what you say. You then get mad and drag things out, instead of simply saying, “I’m sorry, what I meant was...” Other people here do it, why can't you?

3.) You're now saying that we don't have independent thoughts, and everyone here just copies everyone else? I think you should have just admitted to believing that everyone is PMing each other.

4.) I just find it interesting that you choose to ignore the posts that you do.

I'm not trying to revive a discussion on Palin, honestly, especially now when it's not particularly topical. I will just be interested in seeing how issues that were used against her are de-emphasized with other candidates in 2012. I really don't expect her to be in it. I'll open that thread in summer of 2012.

I'm not trying to say that anyone who wants to talk about Palin can't, of course. I'm just not that interested in going down that path today.

Jindal came to mind with his consideration of turning down some of the stimulus money, and it's hard not to see that as a national stage move. He intrigues me. I won't have any problem that I know of voting for him if he ends up the GOP candidate and yes I kind of expect to vote for the GOP candidate. But his popularity with people who will claim to want to break with the evangelicals or loosen up on social issues is interesting. I don't know if you or Munchkin are in that camp or not.

Sometimes I get the feeling they prepped her but she ended up trying to do her own thing.

On what may be a random note, I actually felt sorry for Palin at times. Mind you I didn't care for her as a VP pick. What I didn't like about the way the McCain campaign handled her was that they never really meant for her to be a true partner. I think they wanted someone who was young and attractive and who would fade into the spotlight and not be in the way.

To get on my favorite horse, I'd chalk this up to the role the media played. Sure, Biden was old news or whatever KSigkid told me to explain it. But surely Cheney is too now, and I still read more about his nefarious schemes to get Libby a pardon than I do about Biden.

What's Joe been up to? Anyone know?

This is funny, considering the mob mentality comment earlier.

*goes back to spectating*

I don't think anyone really picks a VP as a true partner. They pick to complement strengths and weaknesses, but not for an equal run.

Didn't you say a previous post in the simulated conversation with me that someone will say that something I said doesn't make sense? Now you are saying that isn't the case? Which one is it? Make up your mind.


And again, no one on here responds to every post. It's not "ignoring." Sometimes people just don't feel like responding to certain posts.

Have you responded to EVERY single post in this thread? I hope you have based on your attitude about the matter.

Unfortunately it cost them votes. I was planning on voting for McCain before the hijinks that ensued after the GOP convention.

Not to say that went for all of his voters, however. Many voted for McCain because of Palin. Many voted for McCain in spite of Palin.

Regardless, there's another thread about this topic.

Ultimately, since the stimulus bill has passed, we'll have to wait and see what the effects are. I wouldn't call this the Great Depression, but who knows where we'll bottom out if we haven't already.

I do know it's ridiculously hard to find a job right now.

I mean someone who they expect to have an active role. Obama expects Biden to have an active role. I think the McCain campaign just wanted to use Palin to get to the White House and then I think they were going to try to keep her out of the way and shut her up, leaving her out of key decisions that would normally involve the VP.