Why I've Called Sarah Palin a Moron

[deelaundry]

Someone said recently, after seeing the US VP debate, that it isn't right to call Sarah Palin a moron. I happen to have called Palin just that, so I thought I'd explain why.

In the debate and in her public appearances, I haven't seen one hint that she is able to think critically on issues, to analyze why she holds the view she does, or to see the bigger picture of how issues connect to each other. She appears to believe that enthusiasm is enough of a qualification, that strategic thinking and analytical capability are not necessary to be Vice President of the United States.

That is why I've called her a moron. It's an exaggeration, to be sure, but a reflection of a genuine critique of her qualifications.

(The other names I called her in the privacy of my own home were indicative of my frustration that she has been rewarded by society for focusing on personality over substance.)

You're welcome to leave comments to this post, but I may not respond to all of them.

Comments

[spoggly.livejournal.com]

IAWTP

[niicoly.livejournal.com]

Iawtp. I keep hearing that calling her names related to her lack of professionalism is ~dirty politics~, but the woman has not really shown herself worthy of anything else.

[inlaterdays.livejournal.com]

You get no argument from me.

[magie-05.livejournal.com]

I normally don't care about politics, I'm very disgruntled (I live in a very Republican state that doesn't split up the electoral votes, so my liberal vote honestly doesn't count) but Palin scares the fuck out of me. Ugh. Plus, I'm sorry, but McCain looks like he's going to keel over any day now and then we get her as President.

[genagirl.livejournal.com]

My problem is that McCain threw her at the American public expecting women to just vote for her because Hillary lost out. Then the media focuses on her looks and fashion sense(!) like it's some important aspect of her platform!! What? I don't base my vote on what the person is wearing and I very much resent being portrayed (and my whole sex) as a person would would. Not to mention I don't agree with her stand on many issues.

[shutterbug-12.livejournal.com]

Sadly, I've heard other women actually say that they'll vote McCain/Palin solely because there's a woman on the ticket. Saddens and scares me very much. Heh.

[elynittria.livejournal.com]

ITA! Her performances in the debate and in the few interviews her handlers have allowed were appalling. Her responses lacked basic coherence, let alone substance. Most of them consisted of buzzwords, prescripted lines and random factoids, and faux folksy phraseology all jumbled together. She makes W look intelligent.

[chippers87.livejournal.com]

For me, all she did in the debate was recite. And recite. And recite. Now, granted, Biden did, too, but in a way that showed he had a real grasp of the issues and the facts. I have yet to see that from Palin.

Her husband refers to himself as "First Dude," and she uses phrases like "Darn right" and "Doggone it" in one of the most prestigious forums in this country. If she would start acting like a competent adult, then I could respect her, but as it stands? She couldn't garner my vote if she paid me a million dollars.

You're right, Dee, she's a moron. A moron with a capital IDIOT.

[rivers-bend.livejournal.com]

She is INCREDIBLY ignorant, but I'm scared that she isn't stupid. I sense a clever evil wiliness about her that I DO NOT WANT.

[spoggly.livejournal.com]

ALSO ALSO ALSO BECAUSE I NEED TO SPEW SOME FUCKING RAGE BEFORE MY HEAD FUCKING EXPLODES

SHE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW THE NAME OF THE U.S. COMMANDER IN AFGHANISTAN

CIVIL WAR =/= MIDDLE EAST, PALIN

SO APART FROM THE FUNDAMENTALIST POLICY, APART FROM THE COMPLETE AND TOTAL LACK OF ANYTHING EVEN APPROACHING REAL EXPERIENCE, APART FROM THE BLANK AND GLASSY-EYED STARE, APART FROM THE TOTAL INABILITY TO ACTUALLY ANSWER ANY SORT OF QUESTION (EVEN FROM KATIE COURIC! NOT EXACTLY A SHINING EXAMPLE OF HARD-HITTING AMERICAN JOURNALISM!) -

SHE CANNOT EVEN REMEMBER A GENERAL'S NAME

AND THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO WOULD HAND-WAVE SHIT LIKE THIS ARE THE SAME FUCKERS WHO VOTED TWICE FOR BUSH AND THEN STOOD AROUND AND GASPED AS THE WHOLE FUCKING COUNTRY WENT TO SHIT

ok i'm done, sorry, <3

[bammel.livejournal.com]

SHE CANNOT EVEN REMEMBER A GENERAL'S NAME

SHE CANNOT REMEMBER A SINGLE NEWSPAPER'S NAME lollllLLLLL LL L L LLL LLLL

[brewsternorth.livejournal.com]

Someone upblog in my friendsfriends list has spotted a rather offhand remark that Palin made about Biden's wife, who is a teacher: "her reward is in heaven".

Oh no you dooooon't. Along the lines of "those who can't, teach." You do not put down those who are trying to shape the destinies of future generations, either verbally or budgetarily.

If she behaves like that in the general course of her governorship of Alaska, well, heaven help young Alaskans.

/Edit: that's not to say she's a moron, any more than W. is: they're both endowed with the same low cunning that has enabled them to get by. However, I would say that they probably lack a kind of "common sense" - that common humanity that can look outside one's own culture and be a little self-critical. And that is, if anything, more dangerous than mere ignorance.

[(Anonymous)]

Also, given the death of Biden's first wife and daughter, the statement managed to be tacky on multiple levels.

[blackmare.livejournal.com]

I am a registered Republican; have been for as long as I've been able to vote.

Sarah Palin is INEXCUSABLE as a choice for VP. Can't stand; don't want; will vote for Obama largely because the threat of McCain dying and HER being President is a terror too horrible to contemplate.

Also, the fact that McCain picked her in the first place tells me he does not know what the hell he is doing and has no business being President either.

I disagree passionately with Obama on many, many things, and I don't want to vote for him, but I will. Because he's intelligent and I believe he's competent, whereas McCain/Palin is just a nightmare.

[gokuma.livejournal.com]

Via Matt Ruff's LJ:

http://home.att.net/~storytellers/palinflow.gif

[pinglederry.livejournal.com]

XDD

[xaipw.livejournal.com]

I wholeheartedly agree with you, Dee. She infuriates me. Really. I hear her speak and flames start shooting out of the top of my head.

Her folksy "charm" insults my intelligence. Her knowledge of politics is rudimentary at best. So many people say that they like her because she is "just like me."

Who wants that?
I want someone who knows a hell of a lot more than I do about politics, diplomacy, and the fucking Constitution for my President.

[bammel.livejournal.com]

She's flag-waving scum.

[poeia.livejournal.com]

So far I have found 2 nice things to say about Sarah Palin.

1. She has incredibly beautiful, flawless skin.
2. I agree that she does not seem to be intellectually curious. Her folksy shtick is condescending, don't "ya" agree? However, compared to the incumbent in the White House, she is a fucking Mensa candidate.

On a positive note, Obama will be sworn in as the next president 109 days from now.
http://www.electoral-vote.com/

[ignazwisdom.livejournal.com]

SHH! DON'T JINX IT!

[californiaquail.livejournal.com]

Stephen Colbert shot an audience member, just to take the heat off of her. LOL

[triedunture.livejournal.com]

There is nothing that you have said that couldn't be proved on multiple scientific levels.

If only we were allowed the funding...

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

I think we could get funding if we could somehow tie it to oil...

Larry King asked Chris Rock if he was proud that a black man was candidate for President. Rock said, "I'm proud Barack Obama is running for president. If it was Flava Flav, would I be proud? No."

To make an analogy, as a woman, Sarah Palin is like Flava Flav to me.

At 1:32:

[shutterbug-12.livejournal.com]

That's such a fitting analogy.

[shutterbug-12.livejournal.com]

She appears to believe that enthusiasm is enough of a qualification. And so do several members of the media, sadly. I was watching some post-debate commentary and several reporters felt that Palin had such appealing charm and spoke the language of the American people, in terms of "folksy colloquialisms". I nearly threw something at the television. All Palin's "don'tcha"s and "betcha"s and "Joe Six-pack"s and "doggone it"s made me almost sick to hear coming from someone in her position. I'd hope that she wouldn't wink at foreign diplomats in order to try to sway opinions. Why condescend me and try to do the same thing? She didn't speak intelligently and in no way do I feel like she's "just like me".

I expect my leaders to be intelligent, knowledgeable, with poise and a certain dignified air about them (among other things of course), and Palin is and has none of those things, from what I can see. It really saddens me, as a woman, that this is the one who makes it onto a ticket. Saddens me even more that I know there are people out there who will be voting McCain/Palin simply because she is a woman on that ticket. Enthusiasm without brains and know-how really doesn't cut it. I mean, I know plenty of men who would love to play with blowtorches and pistols, but that doesn't mean they're qualified to do it. And that's something else. It almost seems to me like she's playing around, like this is some kind of "fun" for her, and not a very, very serious undertaking. It's just...the impression I get. And ugh. Ugh.

Time to stop. Walking away.

[pinglederry.livejournal.com]

It almost seems to me like she's playing around, like this is some kind of "fun" for her, and not a very, very serious undertaking.

OMG THAT'S EXACTLY IT. THAT'S WHAT'S BEEN BUGGING ME ABOUT HER, THAT I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT/ARTICULATE. THANK YOU. :D

[hibernia1.livejournal.com]

Why, though, did you feel the need to explain? You've got every right to call whomever you wish a moron, without having to explain. I hope no-one gave you a hard time or anything *glares around fiercly*

And apart from all that: HEAR HEAR! She's a total moron. And apparently, a moron without friends. I mean, if I would be her friend, I'd try to coax her away from the public view.