There's a fantastic episode of Sports Night in which William H. Macy's character urges Felicity Huffman's character to "separate the 'stuff' from the 'stuff'". What he meant was we need to be better at realizing what is important, because too often we either miss the point, or throw the baby out with the bathwater. And once again, I believe that we as a nation and as a news media are missing the point.
The subject this time? Sarah Palin. Yeah, she's hot (so she can say mean things about Obama without sounding bitchy, something Hillary couldn't pull off). Yeah, she gave a good speech. Oh! Did you hear? Her daughter is pregnant! And she has foreign relations experience because she lives next to Russia. And as Governor of Alaska and Mayor of Wassila, AK (pop. 6,900) she has executive experience, which neither Obama nor Biden can claim (or McCain for that matter). And, according to Cindy McCain, she is very experienced in everything she's done (no shit).
All of these things, I suppose, are pretty important information. I mean, most people had never even heard of Sarah Palin before she was announced as the VP candidate. But we're missing something. Even Jon Stewart got caught up in the wrong "stuff" when he called Palin a hypocrite for requesting the media leave her daughter alone about her desicion while being pro-life. While that may be true, it's small potatoes (after all, it's not like she decided to abort the baby).
Here are the real issues.
Sarah Palin is under investigation by the Alaska Legislative Council for firing former Public Safety commissioner Walt Monegan. Why? Monegan claims it was because he wouldn't fire a police officer, at Palin's request, who happened to be getting a divorce from Palin's sister. If true, that is a gross misuse of power. Not to mention the person she appointed to take his place, Chuck Kopp (a cop named Kopp), had to step down due to a previous sexual harrasment complaint.
She went back on her word (but all politicians do that) about the "Bridge to Nowhere". During her campaign, she said she was for the project, but when she won the governorship, she shut the project down for good, while still getting $223 million, originally earmarked for the project, from the federal governement for Alaska to spend as it saw fit.
She's bad for the environment. She opposed listing polar bears and beluga whales on the endangered species list because of fears that that would negatively affect oil drilling projects. She also voted against a proposition that would limit dangerous mining run-off, and she wants to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling. I'm always surprised when someone so outdoorsy (her husband is a 4 time winner of the Tesoro Iron Dog race -- a snowmobile race that stretches close to 2,000 miles. Last year, he finished fourth after breaking his arm with 400 miles left to go) can show such disrespect for the natural environment, especially someone in Alaska.
All I'm saying is that everyone is asking the wrong questions. There are scandals and concerns here, but they have nothing to do with her pregnant daughter.
The subject this time? Sarah Palin. Yeah, she's hot (so she can say mean things about Obama without sounding bitchy, something Hillary couldn't pull off). Yeah, she gave a good speech. Oh! Did you hear? Her daughter is pregnant! And she has foreign relations experience because she lives next to Russia. And as Governor of Alaska and Mayor of Wassila, AK (pop. 6,900) she has executive experience, which neither Obama nor Biden can claim (or McCain for that matter). And, according to Cindy McCain, she is very experienced in everything she's done (no shit).
All of these things, I suppose, are pretty important information. I mean, most people had never even heard of Sarah Palin before she was announced as the VP candidate. But we're missing something. Even Jon Stewart got caught up in the wrong "stuff" when he called Palin a hypocrite for requesting the media leave her daughter alone about her desicion while being pro-life. While that may be true, it's small potatoes (after all, it's not like she decided to abort the baby).
Here are the real issues.
Sarah Palin is under investigation by the Alaska Legislative Council for firing former Public Safety commissioner Walt Monegan. Why? Monegan claims it was because he wouldn't fire a police officer, at Palin's request, who happened to be getting a divorce from Palin's sister. If true, that is a gross misuse of power. Not to mention the person she appointed to take his place, Chuck Kopp (a cop named Kopp), had to step down due to a previous sexual harrasment complaint.
She went back on her word (but all politicians do that) about the "Bridge to Nowhere". During her campaign, she said she was for the project, but when she won the governorship, she shut the project down for good, while still getting $223 million, originally earmarked for the project, from the federal governement for Alaska to spend as it saw fit.
She's bad for the environment. She opposed listing polar bears and beluga whales on the endangered species list because of fears that that would negatively affect oil drilling projects. She also voted against a proposition that would limit dangerous mining run-off, and she wants to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling. I'm always surprised when someone so outdoorsy (her husband is a 4 time winner of the Tesoro Iron Dog race -- a snowmobile race that stretches close to 2,000 miles. Last year, he finished fourth after breaking his arm with 400 miles left to go) can show such disrespect for the natural environment, especially someone in Alaska.
All I'm saying is that everyone is asking the wrong questions. There are scandals and concerns here, but they have nothing to do with her pregnant daughter.
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god i hope it doesn't come down to that...