Sarah Palin Don't Need No Teleprompter

[South Norwega]

Not in the sense that all of us who consider ourselves Scottish have the same skin colour, and that's what I was replying to above.

So you define ethnicity by skin colour?

Not wholly, but most often when we discuss ethnicity - and when we were doing so above - we're talking about a shared heritage that is much more than just cultural, that has something to do with one's ancestors. This often chimes with skin colour.

Now, we can define ethnicity in a much more broad fashion - South Norwega has done just that - and I've no problem with describing the Scots as an ethnic group in the sense that we have a shared cultural heritage. But what I'm objecting to is the notion that Scots have a shared set of ancestors - i.e., if you're a Scot you've got to be white and descendent from a Celt/Pict/Viking - who all originate from the place we now call Scotland.

I have to say I agree with you there. Defining ethnicity by skin colour could exclude third, fourth generation people from places where different skin colours are the norm. Broad definitions are the best in this case.

[Chumblywumbly]

Defining ethnicity by skin colour could exclude third, fourth generation people from places where different skin colours are the norm.

As in urban Scotland.

[Barringtonia]

Defining ethnicity by skin colour could exclude third, fourth generation people from places where different skin colours are the norm.

As in urban Scotland.

Urban Scotland, ha, sounds so genteel,

[Phenia]

That said, WTF? Don't they all use teleprompters, pretty much? What's wrong with that (or, I should say, what are they saying is wrong with that)?

They do, of course. But it's the myth that certain politicians are just casual, down-to-earth, Joe-the-Plumber "real Americans" who don't need fancy speeches and speechwriters and planning and smooth-talking silver-tongued public speaking ivory tower academic precision, but who can just speak from the gut. This is a myth the Tea Party is attempting to create to appeal to a demographic yearning for 'good old days,' days, apparently, before teleprompters. The resulting imperfection is supposed to be an allure, much the way certain people spun Bushisms as some sign of how down-to-earth Real American he was.

[Niur]

In before "...welll...uh...SHE'S HOT!!!".

Seriously, that girl has the brains of a 5yrold

Too bad she's not a five year old.

[Chumblywumbly]

The resulting imperfection is supposed to be an allure, much the way certain people spun Bushisms as some sign of how down-to-earth Real American he was.

I was under the impression that worked rather well for Bush.

[Fartsniffage]

Defining ethnicity by skin colour could exclude third, fourth generation people from places where different skin colours are the norm.

As in urban Scotland.

Urban Scotland, ha, sounds so genteel,

Reminds me of Alex Ferguson's reaction to the "Welcome to hell" banner the first time United played in Turkey.

"Ha, they've never been to a Glasgow wedding."

[Barringtonia]

The resulting imperfection is supposed to be an allure, much the way certain people spun Bushisms as some sign of how down-to-earth Real American he was.

I was under the impression that worked rather well for Bush.

Recently we've seen 'I've got a truck' win a senate seat as well, it's called 'reaching the Homer Simpson' demographic,

[Phenia]

The resulting imperfection is supposed to be an allure, much the way certain people spun Bushisms as some sign of how down-to-earth Real American he was.

I was under the impression that worked rather well for Bush.

Yes. But Bush only had to compete against Kerry and Gore with that routine. I don't see it working too good against Obama. He has both the charisma and competence to nail her to the wall and reveal her to be a pretentious, dangerous moron, rather than a down-to-earth everywoman.

[Hamilay]

I probably wouldn't care about a politician writing notes on their hand, but being unable to remember 'tax cuts' at the tea party convention is... really bad. That's a bit like the Pope needing to write 'jesus' on his hand.

[Barringtonia]

I probably wouldn't care about a politician writing notes on their hand, but being unable to remember 'tax cuts' at the tea party convention is... really bad. That's a bit like the Pope needing to write 'jesus' on his hand.

That's pretty much my take on it, you know a question is coming up, you have to reply with 3 basic points, which are:

Energy - and lucky you're from a big energy state and 'drill baby drill' was a mantra in your VP run, so, well better write that one down
Tax cuts - yeah, might forget that one
Lift America's spirits - cos 'hope & change' is so wishy-washy but 'lift America's spirits', yeah baby, better write that one down!

[New Sociopia]

I'm not a eugenics advocate, but I look at Sarah Palin and...

The whole 'aura of confidence' thing that politicians are supposed to project is ridiculous really. I reckon probably about 40% of what makes a successful politician is their public speaking skill. I get performance anxiety and shake like a cold puppy having a seizure, so I'd probably not do very well. I think it would be refreshing to see a politician who is a crap public speaker but who is clearly being very honest. More uhming and ahhing and expletives please, casual speach the way that normal people talk.

'Ladies and Gentlemen, the Prime Minister'
'Hiya, um, ladies and gentlemen. I'm having a bit of a shit day today, I'm coming down with something I think, so sorry in advance for that. Um. I've been advised against saying this but it's starting to look a bit like we're running out of petrol, so you might want to rein that in a bit. I wouldn't call it a 'crisis' as such, but, yeah. Bear it in mind. The trail's gone cold on that bloody terrorist guy, but if you can keep an eye out that would really help a lot. It's being looked into, anyway. And, oh yeah, I almost forgot. We've decided to make some new stuff available on the NHS, you'll get a leaflet through the post eventually about it I think. Umm, yeah. I think that's about it. Seeya later.'

It'd be nice. I think people would feel at ease. He'd have to be periodically slurping loudly from a chipped coffee mug though.

This is basically just what it would be like if I was PM.

[Barringtonia]

By the way, did anyone note down her response to these questions, this was her explanation on how to 'lift America's spirits'...

I think, kind of tougher to put our arms around, but allowing America's spirit to rise again by not being afraid to kind of go back to some of our roots as a God fearing nation where we're not afraid to say especially in times of potential trouble in the future here, where we're not afraid to say, you know, we don't have all the answers as fallible men and women so it would be wise of us to start seeking some divine intervention again in this country, so that we can be safe and secure and prosperous again. To have people involved in government who aren't afraid to go that route, not so afraid of the political correctness that you know – they have to be afraid of what the media said about them if they were to proclaim their alliance to our creator.

If you can get through the grammar on that one, essentially she's saying that Divine Intervention is needed again to lift America's spirits, perhaps some divine rainbow show, that would make people happy.

So, one of the top 3 priorities is to ask God for some Divine Intervention, hoo boy!

[New Sociopia]

By the way, did anyone note down her response to these questions, this was her explanation on how to 'lift America's spirits'...

I think, kind of tougher to put our arms around, but allowing America's spirit to rise again by not being afraid to kind of go back to some of our roots as a God fearing nation where we're not afraid to say especially in times of potential trouble in the future here, where we're not afraid to say, you know, we don't have all the answers as fallible men and women so it would be wise of us to start seeking some divine intervention again in this country, so that we can be safe and secure and prosperous again. To have people involved in government who aren't afraid to go that route, not so afraid of the political correctness that you know – they have to be afraid of what the media said about them if they were to proclaim their alliance to our creator.

If you can get through the grammar on that one, essentially she's saying that Divine Intervention is needed again to lift America's spirits, perhaps some divine rainbow show, that would make people happy.

So, one of the top 3 priorities is to ask God for some Divine Intervention, hoo boy!

Separation of church and state drifting even further from reality than when they put 'In God We trust' on the money then.

[Ryadn]

making some stupid comment about obama's use of speechifying technology during her notecard-based speech

also, this is somewhat important. the lunatic babble about 'teleprompters!!!1!' means that sarah plain and dim here can't be caught using one. so she had to resort to the old fashioned method of reading her speech from the podium. and so if you watch the actual speech part there is an awful lot of staring at her notecards, looking down while talking. it's like something out of a high school comm class. hilarious and pathetic all at the same time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7gVp3diPbI

A real leader should not use Either, While in JROTC/ROTC/Scouts I had to give speachs to my Company and Battalion, (depending on which and what time anywhere from 60 to 500 people) I was not allowed use of notes at all, Same standards for other NCO's and Officers, I had to remember it all, and some of those could last 45 mins or so, sometimes longer. All the while standing at attention with graphs and charts.

I'm willing to bet the speeches given by the President are of slightly more importance than the 'speachs' you had to give in the Boy Scouts. I'm sure that diagram of how to catch a chipmunk with a branch and a length of dental floss was quite fascinating, but it was hardly vital to anyone's well-being.

[Barringtonia]

Separation of church and state drifting even further from reality than when they put 'In God We trust' on the money then.

God will be installed as the Lift America's Spirits Czar in her new administration.

[Blitzkrenia]

She could've at least not shown her hand for the world to see...

[Fartsniffage]

I'm willing to bet the speeches given by the President are of slightly more importance than the 'speachs' you had to give in the Boy Scouts. I'm sure that diagram of how to catch a chipmunk with a branch and a length of dental floss was quite fascinating, but it was hardly vital to anyone's well-being.

Have you ever been in a survival situation where all you have was dental floss and a stick?

Didn't think so. You'd be singing a different tune if you had sonny-jim.

[Phenia]

A real leader should not use Either, While in JROTC/ROTC/Scouts I had to give speachs to my Company and Battalion, (depending on which and what time anywhere from 60 to 500 people) I was not allowed use of notes at all, Same standards for other NCO's and Officers, I had to remember it all, and some of those could last 45 mins or so, sometimes longer. All the while standing at attention with graphs and charts.

So what? When in JROTC/ROTC you had to clean the bathroom floor with a toothbrush too. Do you think "real janitors shouldn't use mops and buckets!"?

Memorizing something you don't need to memorize is just a waste of time and energy. It's using your brain for something that a bunch of pieces of paper or a machine could do.

[Ashmoria]

By the way, did anyone note down her response to these questions, this was her explanation on how to 'lift America's spirits'...

I think, kind of tougher to put our arms around, but allowing America's spirit to rise again by not being afraid to kind of go back to some of our roots as a God fearing nation where we're not afraid to say especially in times of potential trouble in the future here, where we're not afraid to say, you know, we don't have all the answers as fallible men and women so it would be wise of us to start seeking some divine intervention again in this country, so that we can be safe and secure and prosperous again. To have people involved in government who aren't afraid to go that route, not so afraid of the political correctness that you know – they have to be afraid of what the media said about them if they were to proclaim their alliance to our creator.

If you can get through the grammar on that one, essentially she's saying that Divine Intervention is needed again to lift America's spirits, perhaps some divine rainbow show, that would make people happy.

So, one of the top 3 priorities is to ask God for some Divine Intervention, hoo boy!

yeah the applause she got for suggesting that we put it into god's hands--whatever the fuck that would involve--made me a little queasy.

[Gauthier]

Yes. But Bush only had to compete against Kerry and Gore with that routine. I don't see it working too good against Obama. He has both the charisma and competence to nail her to the wall and reveal her to be a pretentious, dangerous moron, rather than a down-to-earth everywoman.

All the more reason to push for her to be the 2012 Presidential candidate.

[New Sociopia]

Separation of church and state drifting even further from reality than when they put 'In God We trust' on the money then.

God will be installed as the Lift America's Spirits Czar in her new administration.

Haha! Oh gawd. It's all fucking tsars nowadays. I'm sick of hearing it. 'Alan Sugar, business tsar..' It makes me furious.

[Gauthier]

Separation of church and state drifting even further from reality than when they put 'In God We trust' on the money then.

God will be installed as the Lift America's Spirits Czar in her new administration.

And then her good friend Thomas Muthee can be installed as Witchfinder General Secretary of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

[Barringtonia]

Separation of church and state drifting even further from reality than when they put 'In God We trust' on the money then.

God will be installed as the Lift America's Spirits Czar in her new administration.

Haha! Oh gawd. It's all fucking tsars nowadays. I'm sick of hearing it. 'Alan Sugar, business tsar..' It makes me furious.

I do love that clip Have I Got News For You keep putting up of him when asked about how to get out of the recession,

I have to say, the message put out by installing a whole load of advisors is that Congress/Parliament is just shit.

[New Sociopia]

Separation of church and state drifting even further from reality than when they put 'In God We trust' on the money then.

God will be installed as the Lift America's Spirits Czar in her new administration.

Haha! Oh gawd. It's all fucking tsars nowadays. I'm sick of hearing it. 'Alan Sugar, business tsar..' It makes me furious.

I do love that clip Have I Got News For You keep putting up of him when asked about how to get out of the recession,

I have to say, the message put out by installing a whole load of advisors is that Congress/Parliament is just shit.

Yeah. Like 'The Minister for health doesn't know about health, because he has absolutely zero experience with it, so instead of giving someone who knows something about it the job, we'll appoint an utterly unelected TSAR!'