tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16167437515591295742024-02-19T05:32:32.210-08:00Palin's Q&A + funsnowbillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05051178069918189714noreply@blogger.comBlogger395125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1616743751559129574.post-24293265230812029762011-11-01T00:01:00.000-07:002011-11-02T12:05:41.841-07:00Zombie blogging a zombie candidate<p></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Ul-ailxPTFXQb112Y05qhuatQ-60LIxqjSIS5zbMVA_QrW4SpOr23Ehsx9qoTE-qRcJHFbDkB1S2SrNIGq-O6OvMZ1fLOdC7UXwmcdLU1FycKZjaDAXNKuvzwK2jJCfTuLGTvQ3glPc6/s1600/L.A.+Times+-+Jul+12%252C+2011+-+Sarah+Palin%252C+Idiot+Queen.png"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Ul-ailxPTFXQb112Y05qhuatQ-60LIxqjSIS5zbMVA_QrW4SpOr23Ehsx9qoTE-qRcJHFbDkB1S2SrNIGq-O6OvMZ1fLOdC7UXwmcdLU1FycKZjaDAXNKuvzwK2jJCfTuLGTvQ3glPc6/s320/L.A.+Times+-+Jul+12%252C+2011+-+Sarah+Palin%252C+Idiot+Queen.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670122286704785154" border="0" /></a>Sarah Palin could be a zombie candidate. If she decides to run, she'll have to endure months of ridicule about her impulsiveness, indecisiveness and flip-flopping. Would that stop her?<br /><br />Zombies never die, so the blog is going to go dormant unless and until Sarah comes back to life, politically. But right now there isn't anything more to say about her. She's being ignored by the media, because they have actual candidates to cover. Sure, she may continue to rant and rave via Facebook and Twitter, but I've never thought any of that warranted a response.<br /><br />It's better to be for something than against something, so I recommend that everyone remember to vote. For 2012 there are 61 congressional seats held by Republicans in districts that voted for President Obama in 2008. Many of the tea partiers elected in 2010 could be voted out next year, if people get out and vote.<br /><br />Hasta la vista.<p></p>Joie Vouethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10728012555935899755noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1616743751559129574.post-87061256794888254512011-10-31T13:11:00.000-07:002011-11-01T14:36:18.654-07:00Happy Halloween! Find a scary movie<p></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEyRi4JuK-aosQas3de6stYWhNkM8ViSth8GjPcJ0o0MM4ivjJsklYY8oZZUIwk-AIQS1-3dzFTlXlgtRJ9I5oztF5-G18v2M7638pvFuTQAlBeP1Y3HcUhRFRU3YkdgSTR66PyW9PpsQ/s1600/Bryanston+Distributing+-+%2527The+Texas+Chain+Saw+Massacre+%25281974%2529.png"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 292px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEyRi4JuK-aosQas3de6stYWhNkM8ViSth8GjPcJ0o0MM4ivjJsklYY8oZZUIwk-AIQS1-3dzFTlXlgtRJ9I5oztF5-G18v2M7638pvFuTQAlBeP1Y3HcUhRFRU3YkdgSTR66PyW9PpsQ/s400/Bryanston+Distributing+-+%2527The+Texas+Chain+Saw+Massacre+%25281974%2529.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669296625373918722" border="0" /></a>Today is Halloween, and it's not too late to grab a scary movie. The <span style="font-style: italic;">Washington Post</span> has a slideshow of stills from nineteen "scary" movies. This photo is a still from <span style="font-style: italic;">The Texas Chainsaw Massacre</span> of 1974. I've seen the 2003 remake, which was very good, and I have the original on my wishlist. The original is relatively expensive, so it may be excellent.<br /><br />The other stills at the slideshow are from: <span style="font-style: italic;">Nosferatu</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Phantom of the Opera</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Psycho</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Birds</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Rosemary's Baby</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Night of the Living Dead</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Exorcist</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Jaws</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Omen</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Carrie</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Halloween</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Alien</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Amityville Horror</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Friday the 13th</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Shining</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Scanners</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">An American Werewolf in London</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Poltergeist</span>, and <span style="font-style: italic;">The Thing</span>.<br /><br />The <span style="font-style: italic;">Washington Post</span>'s article is "<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/the-scariest-movies-of-all-time/2010/10/19/gIQAklWg1L_gallery.html?hpid=z7#photo=1">From ‘Paranormal Activity’ to ‘Nosferatu,’ a look at the scariest movies of all time</a>." Interestingly, a still from <span style="font-style: italic;">Paranormal Activity</span> isn't included in the slideshow, but there is a link to "<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/celebritology/post/paranormal-activity-3-is-the-found-footage-horror-movie-played-out/2011/10/20/gIQANsl90L_blog.html#pagebreak">‘Paranormal Activity 3’: Is the found footage horror movie played out?</a>"<br /><br /><br />The <span style="font-style: italic;">Los Angeles Times</span> has "<a href="http://www.latimesmagazine.com/2011/10/50-creature-features.html">50 Creature Features</a>," "Celluloid mutants, werewolves and blobs -- the stuff of nightmares. Play the videos, and vote for the greatest monster movie ever."<br /><br />I like the <span style="font-style: italic;">Childs Play</span> movies, which didn't make either list. "Chuckie" is scary!<br /><br />I'll watch 1994's <span style="font-style: italic;">Ed Wood</span>, which received an Academy Award for Martin Landau's makeup. Landau played Bela Lugosi.<p></p>Joie Vouethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10728012555935899755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1616743751559129574.post-41284753164548651852011-10-31T10:23:00.000-07:002011-10-31T11:04:41.810-07:00Uh-oh! NBC confirms Herman Cain's accuser in sexual harassment case received a settlement.<p></p>"NBC News has confirmed that one woman received a settlement from the National Restaurant Association after complaining about inappropriate sexual conduct by <strong>Herman Cain</strong>."<br /><br />"NBC News is not disclosing the name of the woman nor characterizing who she is." ...<br /><br />See "<a href="http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/10/31/8563824-nbc-confirms-one-cain-accuser-received-cash-settlement">NBC confirms one Cain accuser received cash settlement</a>."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Update:</span> Politico has a story, "<a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/67194.html">Herman Cain accused by two women of inappropriate behavior</a>."<p></p>Joie Vouethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10728012555935899755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1616743751559129574.post-55863427014646497952011-10-31T07:07:00.000-07:002011-10-31T11:22:31.943-07:00Young Turks (VIDEO) and L.A. Times on Rick Perry's Donors + Bonus full "drunk" video -- Twofer VIDEO!<p></p>The Young Turks did a show about how well Rick Perry's donors do in Texas:<br /><br /><object style="height: 270px; width: 480px;"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9wRRoyaOn50?version=3&feature=player_detailpage"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9wRRoyaOn50?version=3&feature=player_detailpage" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="270" width="480"></embed></object><br /><br />The L.A. Times' original reporting referred to at the beginning of the video is "<a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-0816-perry-donors-20110816,0,6024689,full.story">Gov. Rick Perry's big donors fare well in Texas</a>."<br /><br /><br />Here is a complete video of Perry at a fundraiser for New Hampshire's Cornerstone Action, "<a href="http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2011/06/rick-perry-presidential-race-new-hampshire-/1">an advocacy group that has been pushing for repeal of the state's same-sex marriage law</a>." He doesn't appear to be "drunk."<br /><br /><object style="height: 270px; width: 480px;"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7TtsjT70eME?version=3&feature=player_detailpage"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7TtsjT70eME?version=3&feature=player_detailpage" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="270" width="480"></embed></object><br /><br />TIME Magazine has "<a href="http://swampland.time.com/2011/10/31/tongue-tied-texan-the-new-rick-perry-sounds-a-lot-like-the-old-rick-perry/">Tongue-Tied Texan: The New Rick Perry Sounds a Lot Like the Old Rick Perry</a>."<p></p>Joie Vouethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10728012555935899755noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1616743751559129574.post-56090770480026667382011-10-28T09:21:00.000-07:002011-10-29T10:53:22.363-07:00Palin Family Circus News -- Friday, October 28, 2011<p></p>E!Online's Marc Malkin writes, in "<a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/marc_malkin/does_julianne_moore_nail_sarah_palin/272097">Does Julianne Moore Nail Sarah Palin? You Betcha!</a>"<br /><blockquote>We cannot wait to see <a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/how_does_sarah_palin_feel_about/230234"><span style="font-style: italic;">Game Change</span></a>, HBO's adaptation of the book of the same name about the 2008 presidential election.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.eonline.com/celebs/Julianne_Moore/112621">Julianne Moore</a> plays <a href="http://www.eonline.com/celebs/Sarah_Palin/153542">Sarah Palin</a>. If what we've seen and heard is any indication of things to come, her portrayal is downright freaky.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sarah Paulson</span>, who plays Republican strategist <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nicole Wallace</span> in the film, says Moore could easily pass for the failed vice presidential candidate.<br /><br />"I will say there were several times where I'd be standing there on set and she would walk by and I would see her peripherally," Paulson told me while promoting her new awards season favorite, <span style="font-style: italic;">Martha Marcy May Marlene</span> (in theaters now). "I'd take a quick glance and I'd be like, 'Why the hell is Sarah Palin on our set?' It's so weird.["]</blockquote>There are a couple of interesting video's at the E!Online story: Ted Casablanca's "Pissed List: Bristol Palin," and "Levi Johnston Spills Palin Secrets." I would have embedded one of them, but it autoplayed when it was embedded.<br /><br /><br />According to Pop2it's "<a href="http://blog.zap2it.com/pop2it/2011/04/julianne-moore-as-sarah-palin-in-game-change-first-look-photo.html">Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin in 'Game Change' first-look photo</a>," <span style="font-style: italic;">Game Change</span> will also include "Woody Harrlson as Steven Schmidt, McCain's senior advisor, "CSI's" Larry Sullivan as Palin's deputy chief of staff Chris Edwards and "Temple Grandin's" Melissa Farman as Bristol."<br /><br /><br />There are two hotel room scenes from <span style="font-style: italic;">Game Change</span> that should be in the movie: 1) the morning of the Katie Couric interview, on page 398 and 2) debate prep, on pages 401-2. On page 401, Sarah Palin tells Nicolle Wallace, "If I'd known everything I know now, I would not have done this." Those were clues that she'd never run again. Don't miss the movie!<br /><br /><br />They're spying on you! A new website reveals that "Sarah Palin’s 683,681 Twitter followers are likely to be religious married parents who like reading books." That may be true, but "Charlie Sheen’s Twitter 5.1 million-strong audience are iPhone users, tweet a lot and 'like to party'." Take that! Sarah Palin. -- From "<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/8854052/New-site-lets-celebrity-Twitter-users-know-their-followers.html">New site lets celebrity Twitter users ‘know their followers’</a>"<br /><br /><br />SarahPAC finally got it's act together and obtained an SSL certificate for sarahpacdonate.com. An earlier certificate expired on 10/21; the new one was issued on 10/25 and expires on 10/24/2012. This time, they might set a reminder in their calendar/appointment software. Set it, forget it, then a reminder will go off before it expires ... Organization 101.<br /><br /><br />The circus news seems to be going the way of the hard news. With the Palins in hiding, there isn't much going on, so enjoy a palin-free weekend! Week? Month? Year?<p></p>Joie Vouethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10728012555935899755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1616743751559129574.post-48644385700705257922011-10-27T12:12:00.000-07:002011-10-27T14:01:07.806-07:00Does the Internet make us dumb?<p></p>Jonathan Kay, writing in Canada's National Post, considers how video could be oversimplifying political issues: "The political act of explaining why one likes, or doesn't like, a particular politician or policy once required thought and argument - effort, in other words. Now, it's so much easier: You just paste a single YouTube link to your Facebook page, and you're done. On to the next issue."<br /><br />Kay cites two examples: a video made by "left-wing filmmakers" at a Sarah Palin book signing, and a video made by "Lazy conservatives who instinctively are repelled by the Occupy Wall Street movement, but can't be bothered to intellectually engage with the issue, ... ."<br /><br />Kay goes on to write:<br /><blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;">...</span> I'm old enough to remember the early 1990s, a time when starry-eyed futurists believed the Internet would make all of us smarter. We would learn new languages, surf newspapers from around the world, cultivate international pen pals, become more enlightened people by exposing ourselves to different opinions. Twenty years later, it turns out that all this was starry-eyed nonsense: All we want from the web is to have our own ideological biases read back to us in the most hysterical and entertaining form possible - preferably with neat little YouTube links that we can pass around to our friends.<br /><br />Experts call it the "confirmation bias" - our natural psychological attraction toward data or anecdotes that serve to support our pre-existing attitudes and bigotries. It's something that always has been part of human nature. But the combination of social media with cheap online video technology has turbocharged the confirmation bias to the point where rational political dialogue is in danger of extinction. <span style="font-weight: bold;">...</span></blockquote>Is "confirmation bias" a problem? Somewhere, I've read that the internet is appealing because people can get their "news" on the internet without ever encountering a disagreeable opinion.<br /><br />I never expected to learn new languages with the internet. I am able to read several newspapers. Years ago, the internet wasn't widely used; now it's available and used by a lot more people. The audience has expanded.<br /><br />If it's any consolation, the "left-wing" video has been viewed almost 2,000,000 times; the "lazy conservative" video has only 200,000 hits, so far.<br /><br />Jonathan Kay's complete post is <a href="http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2011/10/26/jonathan-kay-on-the-hunt-for-anti-semitism-at-occupy-protests-a-case-study-in-how-the-web-makes-us-stupid/">here</a>. By the way, the woman speaking in the "lazy conservative" video was a substitute teacher in L.A. She has been <a href="http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-occupy-la-anti-semitic-comments,0,1949335.story">fired</a>.<p></p>Joie Vouethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10728012555935899755noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1616743751559129574.post-32338543694946825822011-10-26T13:37:00.000-07:002011-10-26T14:32:49.846-07:00Is the Declaration of Independence legal?<p></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQN_tbpXT7C1U76GjyJ-u_eOGZdsU2igT1j_h23j8uhCuLFVSR9dtpyP5m7-n1dlBaSqUcpXXEGKA9G_dsAeasS17_1ALF1XtYT-ogUT8RtTXPL5IawY4LKNaCmimxP3JTbrU7oLhRb5M/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-10-26+at+1.34.38+PM.png"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 304px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQN_tbpXT7C1U76GjyJ-u_eOGZdsU2igT1j_h23j8uhCuLFVSR9dtpyP5m7-n1dlBaSqUcpXXEGKA9G_dsAeasS17_1ALF1XtYT-ogUT8RtTXPL5IawY4LKNaCmimxP3JTbrU7oLhRb5M/s400/Screen+shot+2011-10-26+at+1.34.38+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667902177029223762" border="0" /></a>The BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) has an interesting article titled, "<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15345511">Is the US Declaration of Independence illegal?</a>" It describes a recent debate between British and American lawyers over the Declaration's legality.<br /><br />British and American lawyers might be inclined to disagree over the legality of the Declaration. But why? The Declaration had fifty-six signers, many of whom were wealthy, and the last sentence of the Declaraion reads, "<a href="http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html">... for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.</a>"<br /><br />It's apparent that the signers were aware -- assuming they read the document -- that they weren't signing a simple petition; they were aware that they might lose their lives, fortunes and honor. So, it's fair to say that they were aware that what they were doing might be treasonous. Of course, because the revolution was successful, trying the signers for treason wasn't an option. In fact, by signing the Treaty of Paris in 1783, the British recognized that the United States of America was an independent nation.<br /><br />Does anyone know why we're continually subjected to these faux "debates?"<p></p>Joie Vouethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10728012555935899755noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1616743751559129574.post-72931317379926107202011-10-26T09:54:00.000-07:002011-10-26T09:56:12.991-07:00Elitist Professor disses conspiracy theories<p></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRj9IbmmuXWM46kC0fBn_jl-IPh-FqydGwMt7avg-mZLIuiJ2Ck4SH9L15g_EQrIyfu07Fjv39dhixElre_IrdmnjGWfR68G5YQGGV9JfYPVQ_Vg53mWAycvoGpl253dFcdZGO56dFGsy/s1600/Tom+Gauld%253ANew+York+Times+-+Wouldn%2527t+It+Be+Cool+if+Shakespeare+Wasn%2527t+Shakespeare%253F.png"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 74px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRj9IbmmuXWM46kC0fBn_jl-IPh-FqydGwMt7avg-mZLIuiJ2Ck4SH9L15g_EQrIyfu07Fjv39dhixElre_IrdmnjGWfR68G5YQGGV9JfYPVQ_Vg53mWAycvoGpl253dFcdZGO56dFGsy/s400/Tom+Gauld%253ANew+York+Times+-+Wouldn%2527t+It+Be+Cool+if+Shakespeare+Wasn%2527t+Shakespeare%253F.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667843783349361282" border="0" /></a>"<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/23/magazine/wouldnt-it-be-cool-if-shakespeare-wasnt-shakespeare.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1">Wouldn’t It Be Cool if Shakespeare Wasn’t Shakespeare?</a>" is Stephen Marche's reaction to the movie "Anonymous," which posits the notion that Shakespeare's plays weren't written by Shakespeare. Of conspiracy theories in general, Marche writes:<br /><blockquote>... You don’t have to be a truther or a birther to enjoy a conspiracy theory. We all, at one point or another, indulge fantasies that make the world seem more dangerous, more glamorous and, simultaneously, much more simple than it actually is. But then most of us grow up. Or put down the bong. Or read a book by somebody who is familiar with both proper historical methodology and the facts. The errors in “Anonymous,” I should point out, do not require great expertise to identify. Any undergraduate who has taken a course in Early Modern Drama, and paid attention, should be able to spot at least 10. (That might make a good exam, come to think of it.) <span style="font-weight: bold;">...</span><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">...</span> The Shakespeare controversy, which emerged in the 19th century (at that time, theorists proposed that Francis Bacon was Shakespeare), was one of the origins of the willful ignorance and insidious false balance that is now rotting away our capacity to have meaningful discussions. The wider public, which has no reason to be familiar with questions of either Renaissance chronology or climate science, assumes that if there are arguments, there must be reasons for those arguments. Along with a right-wing antielitism, an unthinking left-wing open-mindedness and relativism have also given lunatic ideas soil to grow in. Our politeness has actually led us to believe that everybody deserves a say. </p><p> The problem is that not everybody does deserve a say. Just because an opinion exists does not mean that the opinion is worthy of respect. Some people deserve to be marginalized and excluded. There are many questions in this world over which rational people can have sensible confrontations: whether lower taxes stimulate or stagnate growth; whether abortion is immoral; whether the ’60s were an achievement or a disaster; whether the universe is motivated by a force for benevolence; whether the Fonz jumping on water skis over a shark was cool or lame. Whether Shakespeare wrote Shakespeare is not one of these questions. <span style="font-weight: bold;">...</span></p></blockquote>Fun, huh? There is much more to Marche's article at The New York Times. The post's "comic strip" was obtained from the New York Times' article.<p></p>Joie Vouethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10728012555935899755noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1616743751559129574.post-80925021681470765502011-10-24T10:53:00.000-07:002011-10-24T17:44:07.481-07:00Counting Babies: Is the cat out of the bag?<p></p>Last week, Brad Sharlott, Associate Professor of Journalism at Northern Kentucky University, posted '<a href="http://politicalgates.blogspot.com/2011/10/virtual-proof-ruffles-is-trig-time-to_21.html">Virtual Proof "Ruffles" is Trig: Time to Put the Ruffles Theory to Bed</a>' at Political Gates. At first he posted a 3-picture composite of as many as three babies. Later, he updated the post with a 4-picture composite of as many as four babies. By the way, I am aware that the text of his post argued that there was only one baby.<br /><br />This morning, there was this exchange in the comments of his post '<a href="http://scharlottsbeacon.blogspot.com/2011/10/more-on-ears-and-note-about-null.html#comments">Ears, camera angles, and the "null hypothesis"</a>:'<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGC-dogwjZnKlvaB7oesNF96GxoZ5S0GmDgywtniKoUUGtGBskdD3gMKtbI4d1_Sn-ToP66grKG3IaPHX95zG1QXHrLfORu1-nQoUB1PSfN3zRa3W7Tuf0pVmS-NLXXSXdADvs4POMBRYw/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-10-24+at+9.40.58+AM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGC-dogwjZnKlvaB7oesNF96GxoZ5S0GmDgywtniKoUUGtGBskdD3gMKtbI4d1_Sn-ToP66grKG3IaPHX95zG1QXHrLfORu1-nQoUB1PSfN3zRa3W7Tuf0pVmS-NLXXSXdADvs4POMBRYw/s400/Screen+shot+2011-10-24+at+9.40.58+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667101693174900642" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Click the image to enlarge it.</span><br /></span></div><br />Brad posted 'Ears, camera angles, and the "null hypothesis"' at his own blog, after posting at Political Gates.<br /><br />From Ghostbuster's comment, the hypothesis is "the images we have access to <span style="font-weight: bold;">can prove</span> this point one way or another," and its null hypothesis is "the images we have access to <span style="font-weight: bold;">cannot prove</span> this point one way or another."<br /><br />An alternative hypothesis is "the images we have access to <span style="font-weight: bold;">cannot prove</span> this point one way or another," and its null hypothesis is "the images we have access to <span style="font-weight: bold;">can prove</span> this point one way or another."<br /><br />Sharlott wrote of the first hypothesis, "Exactly. That being true, you would be ill-advised to push the argument that there are different children involved. That is precisely the point I want everyone to take from this series I have done."<br /><br />It appears as though Sharlott concurs with Ghostbuster's assertion that he (Sharlott) presented a "false dilemna."<br /><br />Would Sharlott say of the alternate hypothesis, "you would be ill-advised to push the argument that there are not different children involved?"<br /><br />Couldn't Sharlott conclude that it would be ill-advised to decide anything about the baby count with just one of those hypotheses? Either of them? Both of them?<br /><br />The hypotheses are easier to understand written this way:<br /><blockquote>1) <span style="font-style: italic;">The images we have access to </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">can prove</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> this point</span>, and its null hypothesis is <span style="font-style: italic;">the images we have access to </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">cannot prove</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> this point</span>.<br /><br />or<br /><br />2) <span style="font-style: italic;">The images we have access to </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">cannot prove</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> this point</span>, and its null hypothesis is <span style="font-style: italic;">the images we have access to </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">can prove</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> this point</span>.</blockquote>Here is an even easier way to grasp the concept of hypothesis (and null hypothesis). Hypothesis: Otomorphenanan is an effective ear analgesic; Null hypothesis: it is not an effective ear analgesic. It is a concept used in drug trials, but the first time I've seen it used to identify a person was at Brad Sharlott's post.<br /><br /><br />Whatever your opinion of the foregoing may be, there is one very important hypothesis that should have been tested first, before the post at Political Gates appeared: Does ear shape individually identify a person? Like fingerprints? DNA? Even facial <span style="font-style: italic;">feature</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">s</span>? Isn't the post at Political Gates dependent -- assuming for the sake of argument that the pictures appear to be pictures of the same baby -- dependent on an <span style="font-style: italic;">assumption</span> that ear shape individually identifies a person? Even if that hypothesis could be established with 95% certainty, would the pictures presented at Political Gates be adequate for an analysis under that hypothesis? Are they sufficiently sharp? Are they controlled for camera, lens, sensor, camera and lens settings, lighting, camera distance from the subject, camera shift and camera rotation relative to the subject to draw any conclusions using a hypothesis (if it could be established) that ears individually identify a person?<br /><br />With these hypotheses, it can be said that we cannot be absolutely sure, using the published pictures, whether there was one baby or more than one baby. And, of course, before using any pictures, we would have to be certain that ears individually identify a person. And then, of course, we would need to be sure that our pictures were adequate for analysis based on that hypothesis.<br /><br />The cat that should be out of the bag is that Brad Sharlott doesn't <span style="font-style: italic;">know</span> how many babies there were, even though he appeared to be arguing at Political Gates that there was only one baby.<br /><br />Note: In his post at Political Gates, Professor Sharlott attacked the blogger whose post began the more-than-one-baby discussion. This morning, that blogger expressed his ideas about Sharlott's post, <a href="http://theimmoralminority.blogspot.com/2011/10/addressing-charges-of-sloppy-reasearch.html">here</a>.<br /><br />That's my $0.02. I suppose we're going to see more slow Palin-news days.<p></p>Joie Vouethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10728012555935899755noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1616743751559129574.post-27252641999220193332011-10-22T08:39:00.000-07:002011-10-27T12:29:21.109-07:00SarahPAC's SSL certificate has expired!<p></p>With online transactions, an SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certificate gives users some confidence that they've connected to the site that they think they've connected to. SSL also encrypts the transaction.<br /><br />Yesterday morning, I learned that the SSL certificate for sarahpacdonate.com would expire that afternoon:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Ky1pOyRPbe7TTOdnIl_kEY_ISBBErkXk29vYuJbj-HbkgQCUrch1BOJoNzZTHLInjh5jp9qHwzCsOXmNlBgH6EKLyYAW9pz6OCH9V9_4LaotfZRnm9XiFM9VrA-b-y7IuUR52ZAigchq/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-10-21+at+10.18.13+AM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 352px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Ky1pOyRPbe7TTOdnIl_kEY_ISBBErkXk29vYuJbj-HbkgQCUrch1BOJoNzZTHLInjh5jp9qHwzCsOXmNlBgH6EKLyYAW9pz6OCH9V9_4LaotfZRnm9XiFM9VrA-b-y7IuUR52ZAigchq/s400/Screen+shot+2011-10-21+at+10.18.13+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666337038705356530" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This morning, the certificate has indeed expired:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4tSE5zR0DWiRyCyMof4oWyu3zYvaE4mieM8UlVHUHv0_TrUqC03xKqr9xina3w5TU-6yZVKbcFdN4_5ozt9Rmm8_lX1eQpyB89ruNjS9suICJQLLrT6-5fcNNn0aQrfwJOkwySblyZYHg/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-10-22+at+8.10.19+AM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 376px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4tSE5zR0DWiRyCyMof4oWyu3zYvaE4mieM8UlVHUHv0_TrUqC03xKqr9xina3w5TU-6yZVKbcFdN4_5ozt9Rmm8_lX1eQpyB89ruNjS9suICJQLLrT6-5fcNNn0aQrfwJOkwySblyZYHg/s400/Screen+shot+2011-10-22+at+8.10.19+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666335515530848034" border="0" /></a><br /><br />What does SarahPAC's certificate provider say about this?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxNXd1SigpFFhk_9mpm_1zpJpSL9NAhBBabrr-VDZzwdjXRZg6EmC-Yyc8-y1bi2oFcH1O5hEszD0YrNx9_fAwGNu3QS-hCjCFBFZi17fHasiEhU4mH8Ix6zKhXwZW0VQITT3TwgB3Ndkh/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-10-22+at+8.28.40+AM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxNXd1SigpFFhk_9mpm_1zpJpSL9NAhBBabrr-VDZzwdjXRZg6EmC-Yyc8-y1bi2oFcH1O5hEszD0YrNx9_fAwGNu3QS-hCjCFBFZi17fHasiEhU4mH8Ix6zKhXwZW0VQITT3TwgB3Ndkh/s400/Screen+shot+2011-10-22+at+8.28.40+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666399288712161778" border="0" /></a><br /><br />That last image was obtained by clicking on the Trustwave "Click to Validate" button at sarahpacdonate.com. To do that, you will have to override your browser's warning that sarahpacdonate.com hasn't a valid certificate. Not recommended! If your browser doesn't warn you, something may be wrong with your browser.<br /><br /><br />What's the takeaway? Without a certificate issued by a Certificate Authority (CA), there are these problems: 1) No CA verifies that SarahPAC operates sarahpacdonate.com; 2) No CA has records indicating that SarahPAC is a valid entity; 3) Users of sarahpacdonate.com cannot be sure that their credit card and identity information are secure.<br /><br />There may not be a lot of readers of this blog who are SarahPAC donors. If you're not a donor, there is no need to worry -- it may even be good for a laugh. It certainly indicates that SarahPAC is disorganized.<br /><br />Don't trust sarahpacdonate.com without a valid certificate. Wait! What am I saying? Don't trust it even if it renews its certificate, unless you want to pay for Palin family vacations! Hahaha.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Note:</span> All of the images can be enlarged by clicking on them.<br /><br />For comparison, here is what clicking on the Trustwave "Click to Validate" button yielded yesterday when the certificate was valid:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj00b51ytT1Y__8ur2iKynp8Q8CdE8-CDsPJjiBnSmMJbErEiFbFUAR-4QkyYUBSrAILCXn3xYzFlrXLPV7Qc2Op8bK8PxWbmEiXrg-B6LE_BIgfwv9TVj2A-JuZ-PGFoGPT7sKqLUqmxl/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-10-21+at+10.29.04+AM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 393px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj00b51ytT1Y__8ur2iKynp8Q8CdE8-CDsPJjiBnSmMJbErEiFbFUAR-4QkyYUBSrAILCXn3xYzFlrXLPV7Qc2Op8bK8PxWbmEiXrg-B6LE_BIgfwv9TVj2A-JuZ-PGFoGPT7sKqLUqmxl/s400/Screen+shot+2011-10-21+at+10.29.04+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666347896633754562" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Update:</span> 27 October, 2011 ... sarahpacdonate.com appears to have renewed its certificate! What took them so long?<p></p>Joie Vouethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10728012555935899755noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1616743751559129574.post-20619813708936383772011-10-21T11:06:00.000-07:002011-10-21T12:20:12.833-07:00President Obama: All U.S. troops to leave Iraq by the end of the year<p></p>From The New York Times' "<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/22/world/middleeast/president-obama-announces-end-of-war-in-iraq.html?hp">U.S. Troops to Leave Iraq by Year’s End, Obama Says</a>:"<br /><blockquote>WASHINGTON — President Obama said Friday that the last American soldier would leave Iraq by the end of the year, bringing to an end a nearly nine-year military engagement that cost the lives of 4,400 troops and more than $1 trillion, divided the American public, and came to define America’s role in the world.<br /><br />Mr. Obama said that as of Jan. 1, 2012, the United States and Iraq would begin “a normal relationship between two sovereign nations, and equal partnership based on mutual interest and mutual respect.”<br /><br />In a videoconference on Friday morning with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Mr. Obama told him of the administration’s decision, which grows out of an inability of the United States and Iraq to come to an agreement on leaving a few thousand military trainers in the country.<br /><br />The United States had earlier agreed to exit Iraq by the end of the year and leave 3,000 to 5,000 troops in Iraq as trainers with some members of Congress advocating for a remaining force well. But after Iraq’s Parliament refused an American demand to give soldiers immunity from legal prosecution, the Pentagon changed in plans in recent weeks, scaling back even that meager number. <span style="font-weight: bold;">...</span><br /></blockquote>There are about 40,000 U.S. non-combat U.S. troops in Iraq now. The 3,000 to 5,000 troops that might have remained as trainers could be replaced by contractors willing to operate under Iraqi law. We shall see.<br /><br />The war in Iraq was financed off-budget: "<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3603923.stm">The Bush administration has chosen to finance the war by off-budget emergency supplemental appropriations, rather than include Iraq spending in the budget sent to Congress.</a>" In 2009, early in his administration, President Obama announced that the financial ruse set-up by the Republican administration of George Bush would no longer continue; see "<a href="http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/02/weighing-the-ir/">Obama: No More War Spending Tricks</a>."<br /><br />Here is a CBS News video of the announcement, found <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20123800-503544/obama-announces-end-of-iraq-war-troops-to-return-home-by-year-end/">here</a>, where the 40,000 non-combat troop count was obtained. I believe that there are no U.S. combat troops in Iraq at this time.<br /><br /><embed src="http://cnettv.cnet.com/av/video/cbsnews/atlantis2/cbsnews_player_embed.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" background="#333333" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" flashvars="si=254&contentValue=50113594&shareUrl=http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7385523n" height="279" width="425"></embed><br /><br />Next year, Afghanistan! Germany! Japan! Korea! Where there are about 90,000, 50,000, 35,000 and 28,000 troops, respectively. <p></p>Joie Vouethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10728012555935899755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1616743751559129574.post-36477595398989257802011-10-21T07:07:00.000-07:002011-10-21T07:07:00.146-07:00Sarah Palin paved the way for more crazy<p></p>Jim Hightower, author of "Swim Against the Current: Even a Dead Fish Can Go With the Flow," wrote:<br /><blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;">...</span> God showed Sarah the door.<br /><br />In breaking the news of her departure from the political stage, the Fox-made millionaire trotted out her family again, declaring that she decided not to run out of respect for them.<br /><br />Uh-huh... and out of respect for polls showing that only 21-percent of Americans have a favorable opinion of her. Also — get this — three-fourths of Republican primary voters said they did not want her in the GOP presidential race!<br /><br />But let's give her credit. Yes, she's shown herself to be an incoherent, frighteningly unqualified, and far-out political figure, but without her, the door would not have opened for Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry, and other incoherent, frighteningly unqualified, and far-out Republican contenders. <span style="font-weight: bold;">...</span></blockquote>Click the post's title to read Hightower's article at The Colorado Springs Independent.<br /><br />For some new, same-old, same-old news about Sarah Palin, see Mudflats' "<a href="http://www.themudflats.net/2011/10/21/after-three-years-the-state-requests-another-extension-for-the-palin-email-release/">After Three Years, the State Requests Another Extension for the Palin Email Release</a>." <p></p>Joie Vouethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10728012555935899755noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1616743751559129574.post-59854063823446537902011-10-20T07:27:00.000-07:002011-10-20T10:17:25.132-07:00"Mama Grizzly turned out to be a Mama Ostrich"<p></p>Joe McGinniss has posted "<a href="http://www.joemcginniss.net/does-anyone-care-who-sarah-palin-endorses-for-gop-nomination/Joe%20McGinniss">Does anyone care who Sarah Palin endorses for GOP nomination?</a>"<br /><br />Joe found a reason why some may care, in "<a href="http://www.thewrap.com/media/column-post/sarah-palins-next-media-stunt-presidential-endorsement-video-31983">Sarah Palin's Next Media Stunt: Who Will She Endorse?</a>" He doesn't seem to think anyone should care, and neither do I. Here are my reasons why Sarah Palin is dead, politically:<br /><blockquote>She quit.<br /><br />She won't have any delegates at the convention, so she won't have a single bargaining chip.<br /><br />Her fans remember a "draft Eisenhower" campaign that succeeded, but they fail to realize that Sarah Palin is no Dwight Eisenhower.<br /><br />Her fans are so stuck on her that they're likely to sit out the election, even if she endorses someone.<br /><br />She is so polarizing that the eventual Republican nominee may well cringe at the thought of being endorsed by her.</blockquote>That's my $0.02.<br /><br />This post's title is a quote from Joe McGinniss' post.<p></p>Joie Vouethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10728012555935899755noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1616743751559129574.post-50392003861519673662011-10-19T04:35:00.000-07:002011-10-19T06:01:37.962-07:00Viewers Get Latest Episode of ‘Real Republicans of the Trail’<p></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8lQgRe3n4iCeAN-7wPQ8ZiAlqEtOJX4oJVfnPLxmCrZ0K4t4mwbSFCvNgUtSizgWUwR_VCysTO6EgRpPke1gaE8KXwRrW6yPLe5E-3TUrN0zp8bl05UqoovYYMma7D6z6zhuT1VW9KZpe/s1600/Monica+Almeida%253AThe+New+York+TImes+-+Debate+in+Las+Vegas.png"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 219px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8lQgRe3n4iCeAN-7wPQ8ZiAlqEtOJX4oJVfnPLxmCrZ0K4t4mwbSFCvNgUtSizgWUwR_VCysTO6EgRpPke1gaE8KXwRrW6yPLe5E-3TUrN0zp8bl05UqoovYYMma7D6z6zhuT1VW9KZpe/s320/Monica+Almeida%253AThe+New+York+TImes+-+Debate+in+Las+Vegas.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665187498984765074" border="0" /></a>The New York Times' Allessandra Stanley writes:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Mitt Romney said he liked Herman Cain’s “chutzpah.” He laughed, mirthlessly, when Rick Perry accused him of lying about hiring undocumented workers in his home. And he really didn’t enjoy being interrupted. Mr. Romney put a hand on Mr. Perry’s arm, space invasion of the first kind, and said, “I’m speaking, I’m speaking, I’m speaking, I’m speaking.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">False praise, forced laughter, high dudgeon: All that was missing in Tuesday’s Republican showdown was someone tossing a glass of chardonnay across the set. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">People keep saying the primary debates are like a reality show, as if disputes over tax plans and immigration were akin to elimination rounds on “Dancing With the Stars” or “The Amazing Race.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">But those are not the right kind of reality shows. The ones that Tuesday’s event mirrored revolve around casting, not competition. Debates showcase personality far more than policy positions.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">...</span><br /><br />It's an amusing, well written article and includes an eleven-picture slide show as well as a wrap-up video. Click the post's title to read the entire article at The New York Times.<br /><br />The post's photo was taken in Las Vegas, where the debate occurred. It is cropped from one of the article's slideshow photos.<p></p>Joie Vouethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10728012555935899755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1616743751559129574.post-30539116218546305422011-10-18T05:25:00.000-07:002011-10-18T14:00:02.129-07:00Sarah Palin is "Tupelo Bound"<p></p>"When it was announced that Governor Palin will be at the Lynchburg, VA, National EWomen conference in October, the event SOLD OUT in just 21 days--six months in advance!" So: "In addition to their national conference in Lynchburg, VA, on October 7-8, 2011, Extraordinary Women announces that special guest, Governor Sarah Palin, will join them for three additional events: Tupelo, MS; October 21-22, 2011- Greenville, SC; March 16-17, 2012-Birmingham, AL; April 27-28, 2012."<br /><br />Oh my: She's Tupelo bound! I know a song about that.<br /><br />I first encountered Nick Cave as a writer of Ute Lemper's "Little Water Song," so I got <span style="font-style: italic;">The Best of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds</span>, which has a "Tupelo" track. Its sonic landscape seemed like a train relentlessly bearing down on Tupelo; perhaps because the band's vocalization of "Tupelo-o-o" sounded like a train's whistle in this and other parts:<br /><blockquote>Distant thunder rumble. Distant thunder rumble<br />Rumble hungry like the Beast<br />The Beast it cometh, cometh down<br />The Beast it cometh, cometh down<br />Wo wo wo-o-o<br />Tupelo bound. Tupelo-o-o. Yeah Tupelo<br />The Beast it cometh, Tupelo bound</blockquote>The song may actually be about a big storm headed for Tupelo. Gonna be a flood ... a flood of lies.<br /><br />In the CD's liner notes, it's said of the lyrics of "Tupelo" that Nick Cave is speaking through the character of a visionary southern preacher articulating a warped Old Testament logic. The notes go on to say: 'These metaphorical figures, and others like those in "Saint Huck" and "The Carny" (the latter included here), are both blessed and blighted: beautiful losers, holy fools, cast out of the light. Like the similar cast of characters who would appear on 1996's <span style="font-style: italic;">Murder Ballads</span>, they tend to be consumed by extreme, often literally murderous, emotions; adrift or else drowning, at odds with themselves and the world.'<br /><br />Sarah "will be sharing her personal testimony of faith on Saturday afternoon at each of the conferences." She may be that visionary southern preacher, or that beast. "The Beast it cometh, Tupelo bound." Be careful, Tupelo!<br /><blockquote>Looka yonder! Looka yonder!<br />Looka yonder! A big black cloud come!<br />A big black cloud come!<br />O comes to Tupelo. Comes to Tupelo<br /></blockquote>Here are Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds singing "Tupelo:"<br /><br /><object style="height: 292px; width: 480px;"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oSl4KX7zBTQ?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oSl4KX7zBTQ?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="292" width="480""></embed></object><br /><br />The quoted information about Sarah's appearance in Tupelo was found at "<a href="http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/7969317156.html">Extraordinary Women Conference Adds Governor Sarah Palin to Three Additional Events</a>."<br /><br />The lyrics for "Tupelo" were found <a href="http://www.lyricsfreak.com/n/nick+cave+and+the+bad+seeds/tupelo_20100096.html">here</a>. They may not be 100% accurate.<br /><br />The YouTube video of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds singing "Tupelo" is the same length as the track that appears on <span style="font-style: italic;">The Best of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds</span> CD, but I haven't compared the lyrics. Compressed and heard through tinny PC speakers, it isn't quite the portent of doom that it is on the CD.<p></p>Joie Vouethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10728012555935899755noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1616743751559129574.post-63669743738821414432011-10-17T07:07:00.000-07:002011-10-17T07:12:10.883-07:00Palin: Already Almost Forgotten<p></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieewGLsJnd18eg7qypCJ0hwQ3DvyNene3ad0wV1e3CVeq_aklnHFaCyyKmQxU1c_C-DoIb34JxBXkYi9KKfLENbpnL2RWllhZF3-Vbv0R-ESvXRc1N6VjVKSFGDYhhMw_l0YkJh7nJ9Z_d/s400/Sarah+%2527Hamlet%2527+Palin+-+New+York+Magazine.png"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 191px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieewGLsJnd18eg7qypCJ0hwQ3DvyNene3ad0wV1e3CVeq_aklnHFaCyyKmQxU1c_C-DoIb34JxBXkYi9KKfLENbpnL2RWllhZF3-Vbv0R-ESvXRc1N6VjVKSFGDYhhMw_l0YkJh7nJ9Z_d/s400/Sarah+%2527Hamlet%2527+Palin+-+New+York+Magazine.png" alt="" border="0" /></a>If brevity is the soul of wit, this may be an example:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">...</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Over the past three years, it became apparent to all but a handful of cultists that her only interests were money and celebrity. She had no concept of public service, and no capacity to serve even if she had wished to do so. Soon even those last cultists will quietly abandon the argument. We talk often these days about makers and takers. Sarah Palin was the ultimate taker. She abandoned her post as governor of Alaska to cash in on lectures and TV. She squeezed her supporters for political donations and spent the money on herself. To adapt an old phrase, she seen her opportunities and she took ‘em.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">In the end, she exploited, abused, or embarrassed almost everyone who had believed in her. Most embarrassing of all: she was never even a very good con artist. Everything that was false and petty and unqualified in her was visible within the first minutes of encountering her. The people she fooled were people who passionately wished to be fooled.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">...</span><br /><br />Click the post's title to read David Frum's post of the same title. Frum is a conservative.<p></p>Joie Vouethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10728012555935899755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1616743751559129574.post-57826680408453837532011-10-16T04:52:00.000-07:002011-10-16T19:22:58.565-07:00President Obama to co-opt Occupy Wall Street movement?<p></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcPrHwvwSytJRuVGKZd9gHqc96JH5XsNqSBUeZOMj8qbiTTOuqgqVR20E7alv9RPdK1PQLABI3w6wh6a9IkKBnTXokubVp6umRoNXq-q-tEaNSynO30Ouu6bDJZsaVqfUkcVwsQY15Mc/s400/AFP+-+Car+set+afire+in+Rome.png"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 228px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcPrHwvwSytJRuVGKZd9gHqc96JH5XsNqSBUeZOMj8qbiTTOuqgqVR20E7alv9RPdK1PQLABI3w6wh6a9IkKBnTXokubVp6umRoNXq-q-tEaNSynO30Ouu6bDJZsaVqfUkcVwsQY15Mc/s400/AFP+-+Car+set+afire+in+Rome.png" alt="" border="0" /></a>Despite missing an historic opportunity to institute real financial reform in 2009, The <span style="font-style: italic;">Washington Post </span>is reporting that "<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/obama-plans-to-turn-anti-wall-street-anger-on-mitt-romney-republicans/2011/10/14/gIQAZfiwkL_story.html">Obama plans to turn anti-Wall Street anger on Mitt Romney, Republicans</a>."<br /><br />From the Post's article:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">President Obama and his team have decided to turn public anger at Wall Street into a central tenet of their reelection strategy.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The move comes as the Occupy Wall Street protests gain momentum across the country and as polls show deep public distrust of the nation’s major financial institutions. </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">...</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> Obama aides point to recent surveys that show anger at Wall Street spanning ideologies, including a new Washington Post-ABC News poll in which 68 percent of independents and 60 percent of Republicans say they have unfavorable impressions of the big financial institutions.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">But the strategy of channeling anti-Wall Street anger carries risks. Many of Obama’s senior advisers have ties to the financial industry — a point that makes Occupy protesters wary of the president and his party. </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">...</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> And many on the left have attacked Obama and his administration for its ties to Wall Street, arguing that the financial regulatory overhaul fell far short of an industry makeover that many critics believed necessary.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Much of his top economic team has roots in the financial services industry, and in recent months </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">[Chief of Staff William]</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> Daley and top campaign aides have devoted much of their time </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">[to]</span> improving the relationship with big-dollar donors on Wall Street. <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">...</span><br /><br />To be fair, it should be noted that Republican candidates also have relationships with "big-dollar donors on Wall Street."<br /><br />The Post's article notes that President Obama has been critical of Bank of America for its plan to collect $5/month for the use of a debit card; however, with or without its plan, that bank will remain a sick bank. The Democratic national convention will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina, headquarters of Bank of America.<br /><br /><br />BBC has a story about the Occupy Wall Street movement becoming a global movement: "<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15319924">'Occupy' protests at financial crisis go worldwide</a>." The article notes, 'Witnesses blamed attacks on cars and businesses on a small number of masked militants, dubbed the "black blocs" because of the colour of their clothes.' This post's photo (taken in Rome) was obtained from that story.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update:</span> This morning, there is an AP story, "<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/from-florida-to-alaska-thousands-join-nyc-protest-against-corporate-greed/2011/10/16/gIQASKa9nL_story.html">From Florida to Alaska, thousands join NYC protest against corporate greed</a>," (via Washington Post (with slideshow)) about OWS developments.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update:</span> AlterNet has a story: "<a href="http://www.alternet.org/story/152745/andrew_breitbart%27s_pathetic_attempt_to_smear_occupy_wall_st._">Andrew Breitbart's Pathetic Attempt to Smear Occupy Wall St.</a>"<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update:</span> The Daily Beast has "<a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/10/15/rome-protests-black-bloc-militants-turn-occupy-protests-violent.html">Anarchists Hijack Rome Protests</a>," which has some more information about the "black bloc."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update:</span> OccupyWallStreet has a <a href="http://occupywallst.org/forum/black-bloc/">definition</a> of a "black bloc." OccupyWallStreet's website is <a href="http://occupywallst.org/">here</a>.<p></p>Joie Vouethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10728012555935899755noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1616743751559129574.post-43052625520182231612011-10-14T04:30:00.000-07:002011-10-14T04:59:36.477-07:00Joe McGinniss talks with KIRO (Seattle) and WGN (Chicago) about "The Rogue"<p></p>Joe McGinniss, author of "The Rogue: Searching for the Real Sarah Palin," has been talking about his book (and Sarah Palin) on radio.<br /><br />He spoke with Seattle's KIRO:<br /><br /><embed src="http://www.mynorthwest.com/mp3/mediaplayer.swf" bgcolor="#f5f5f5" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="file=http://icestream.bonnint.net/seattle/kiro/2011/10/10112011173705_1.mp3&image=http://media.bonnint.net/seattle/2/289/28939.jpg&stretching=fill&autostart=false&link=http://www.mynorthwest.com/" height="270" width="400"></embed><div style="text-align: right; padding: 5px; width: 400px; font-size: 8pt; font-family: arial,helvetica,verdana;">More audio at <a href="http://www.mynorthwest.com/">MyNorthwest.com</a></div><br />The interview can be downloaded at '<a href="http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=577&a=34589&p=&n=">"Rogue" author Joe McGinniss chats with Ron and Don.</a>'<br /><br />Joe also spoke with Chicago's WGN. That interview can be heard at "<a href="http://www.wgnradio.com/shows/johnwilliams/wgnam-john-williams-101211-full-c,0,2196263.mp3file">John Williams 10/12/11: 2:00p-3:00p WIll The Real Sarah Palin Please Stand Up?</a>"<br /><br />He posted about the conference he mentioned during the KIRO interview at "<a href="http://www.joemcginniss.net/chicago-ideas-week/Joe%20McGinniss">Chicago Ideas Week</a>."<p></p>Joie Vouethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10728012555935899755noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1616743751559129574.post-59261769690877049642011-10-12T04:44:00.000-07:002011-10-12T08:30:15.857-07:00Sarah Palin vacillated between "glorious highs" and "troubling lows" -- VIDEO<p></p>Nicolle Wallace, author of the recently published novel "It's Classified," talked with ABC's Topline about "Tara," the Vice President in her novel. "Tara" was inspired by Sarah Palin. The first one-half of the video is about Palin, then on to Rick Perry, then back to Palin at the end, where Wallace explains why it was apparent to her that '08 was Palin's last rodeo.<br /><br /><br /><img style="visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="http://c.gigcount.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.11NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEzMTg*MTc5NTg3ODUmcHQ9MTMxODQxNzk2MTc3NyZwPSZkPSZnPTImbz1iOWUyNWMxY2ZiZTk*MDYzODEzZmNlYzY3/ODhmYWY5MiZvZj*w.gif" border="0" height="0" width="0" /><object name="kaltura_player_1318417955" id="kaltura_player_1318417955" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allownetworking="all" allowfullscreen="true" data="http://cdnapi.kaltura.com/index.php/kwidget/wid/0_4qsjed0g/uiconf_id/5590821" height="221" width="392"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="allowNetworking" value="all"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"><param name="movie" value="http://cdnapi.kaltura.com/index.php/kwidget/wid/0_4qsjed0g/uiconf_id/5590821"><param name="flashVars" value="autoPlay=false&screensLayer.startScreenOverId=startScreen&screensLayer.startScreenId=startScreen"><a href="http://corp.kaltura.com/">video platform</a><a href="http://corp.kaltura.com/video_platform/video_management">video management</a><a href="http://corp.kaltura.com/solutions/video_solution">video solutions</a><a href="http://corp.kaltura.com/video_platform/video_publishing">video player</a></object><br /><br /><br />"<a href="http://palinquestions.blogspot.com/2011/10/q-with-sarah-palins-chaperone.html">Q&A with Sarah Palin's Chaperone</a>" is an earlier post about Nicolle Wallace's book and contains a link to an earlier post with links to excerpts of the book and video of Wallace's statement about the inspiration for "Tara" on Rachel Maddow's show.<br /><br />The post's video was found at "<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/10/nicolle-wallace-palin-incredibly-withdrawn-as-vp-candidate-sparked-talk-of-removal-from-ticket/">Nicolle Wallace: Palin ‘Incredibly Withdrawn’ as VP Candidate; Sparked Talk of Removal from Ticket</a>."<p></p>Joie Vouethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10728012555935899755noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1616743751559129574.post-45091856510107958452011-10-10T14:08:00.000-07:002011-10-10T14:10:52.926-07:00Sarah wouldn't talk to "Larry the Cable Guy" without her makeup<p></p>Larry the Cable Guy crashed Sarah's house and talked to Todd. Sarah came out, hiding her face, to tell him she'd leave a note on his van. Larry says he saw the house where "that guy" moved in to spy on the Palins. Larry then went to see Sarah's parents where he was shown maps that prove that Russia can be seen from Alaska. Oh my!<br /><br /><iframe width="480" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DXNz44E-xc4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><p></p>Joie Vouethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10728012555935899755noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1616743751559129574.post-71330101186287923292011-10-09T03:46:00.000-07:002011-10-09T08:38:09.834-07:00A Classy Lady's Busy Schedule<p></p><br />On Thursday, First Lady Michelle Obama hosted fifty students for the Let's Move soccer clinic, which was held on the South Lawn of the White House:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJOrs0neM9PcB9hvSe-zufzX-hiyhxGr0sR-GXcZyIrpHkvsq0QxYoRBK-zf3TK_mw-6OJJciizGcqM4_759jCgu0Vl0eef0tAlw-p-W8keu1rkM7Fhjkm8EK5DnIZeQomkuEheJKJqAQk/s1600/Evan+Vucci%253AAP+Images+-+Oct+6%252C+2011+-+Let%2527s+Move.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 313px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJOrs0neM9PcB9hvSe-zufzX-hiyhxGr0sR-GXcZyIrpHkvsq0QxYoRBK-zf3TK_mw-6OJJciizGcqM4_759jCgu0Vl0eef0tAlw-p-W8keu1rkM7Fhjkm8EK5DnIZeQomkuEheJKJqAQk/s400/Evan+Vucci%253AAP+Images+-+Oct+6%252C+2011+-+Let%2527s+Move.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661437339738115810" border="0" /></a><br /><br />On Wednesday, she worked in the White House kitchen garden, with students from Bancroft and Tubman elementary schools:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnp68odz-RYQc8hrbLp5DvDQgTcmZ3mMufG_D0DTJvTRoMuyAr6tNr95AeWmh3XBN4PpMcv0V1i70_1fUdkYdU9jE9oFEFr88CCdPbyafOkDxj8E-DWjE4FaoMiNcrzO4MS4-9FeETkUWn/s1600/Pablo+Martinez%253AAP+-+Oct+5%252C+2011+-+White+House+kitchen+garden.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnp68odz-RYQc8hrbLp5DvDQgTcmZ3mMufG_D0DTJvTRoMuyAr6tNr95AeWmh3XBN4PpMcv0V1i70_1fUdkYdU9jE9oFEFr88CCdPbyafOkDxj8E-DWjE4FaoMiNcrzO4MS4-9FeETkUWn/s400/Pablo+Martinez%253AAP+-+Oct+5%252C+2011+-+White+House+kitchen+garden.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661437172493221922" border="0" /></a><br /><br />You can follow some of the First Lady's activites at <a href="http://mrs-o.com/">Mrs. O</a>, which has been "following the fashion and style of First Lady Michelle Obama since 2008." <span style="font-style: italic;">Mrs. O</span> is a style/fashion blog and its photos are taken at public activities the First Lady attends; it can be found on the blog's sidebar, filed under "Interesting Stuff."<br /><br />Photo credits appear in the photos's links and at <span style="font-style: italic;">Mrs. O</span>.<p></p>Joie Vouethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10728012555935899755noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1616743751559129574.post-10931386782955768882011-10-07T11:11:00.000-07:002011-10-07T17:59:50.134-07:00Can Sarah Palin's "Word Salad" be Parsed?<p></p>Mark Axelrod, a Professor of Comparative Literature, posted "<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-axelrod/sarah-palin-quit_b_999393.html">Parsing Palin; or, the Quintessential Act of Quitting</a>" at The Huffington Post. He considers these snippets from Sarah Palin's quit-the-tease statement of Wednesday:<ul><li>After much prayer and serious consideration, I have decided that I will not be seeking the 2012 GOP nomination for President of the United States.<br /><br /></li><li>As always, my family comes first and obviously Todd and I put great consideration into family life before making this decision. When we serve, we devote ourselves to God, family and country.<br /><br /></li><li>My decision maintains this order. My decision is based upon a review of what common sense Conservatives and Independents have accomplished, especially over the last year. I believe that at this time I can be more effective in a decisive role to help elect other true public servants to office -- from the nation's governors to Congressional seats and the Presidency.<br /><br /></li><li>We need to continue to actively and aggressively help those who will stop the 'fundamental transformation' of our nation and instead seek the restoration of our greatness, our goodness and our constitutional republic based on the rule of law.</li></ul>Read Axelrod's post to find out what he has to say about them.<br /><br />If you'd like to undermine Axelrod's credibility, consider his last two sentences, "I knew she wouldn't run when I discovered that she had quit a bevy of colleges before she ever earned her degree. That's a fundamental character flaw and those things can never be transformed." Some might say that she transferred rather than "quit." In "The Rogue: Searching for the Real Sarah Palin," Joe McGinniss states as fact that she completed a degree at University of Idaho.<br /><br />On the other hand, if you're inclined to agree with Axelrod's assessment of those snippets, you're probably aware of what a blunder it might be to claim that Sarah Palin didn't write the statement, as in "It was ghostwritten."<br /><br />By the way, I think "word salad" can be parsed. I read a Wall Street Journal story and knew before anyone else that Sarah Palin had finished "seriously deliberating" whether to throw her wig into the ring. She gave it away with her verb tense in "This is a serious decision, and I’ve engaged in serious deliberations." That article is "<a href="http://palingates.blogspot.com/2011/09/sarah-palins-dilemma.html">Sarah Palin's dilemma</a>." She had already made her decision when she made that statement.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update:</span> Sarah Palin's quit-the-tease statement can be found on Facebook, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150321133893435">here</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update:</span> The Washington Post has "<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/georgetown-on-faith/post/for-sarah-palin-god-family-then-country/2011/10/07/gIQAXDVRSL_blog.html">For Sarah Palin: God, family, then country?</a>"<p></p>Joie Vouethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10728012555935899755noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1616743751559129574.post-91688135555729151232011-10-05T17:31:00.000-07:002011-10-06T14:06:15.343-07:00Sarah Palin is Out! Break out the champagne! What's next?<p></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitC9gsf4fP5Q1ROz0kj1rK9AZO4v3Z-rp9_4MWhSIIrD2vSC7eGvf5czSviEFytj1cg11fgklJwACity4J-4sAy8_V0LaxikoCSRR4Bxo-TKlbL__dBUoT3524YDHEWeSWdow5Fo3bx8bY/s1600/Getty+Images%252C+Fireworks.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitC9gsf4fP5Q1ROz0kj1rK9AZO4v3Z-rp9_4MWhSIIrD2vSC7eGvf5czSviEFytj1cg11fgklJwACity4J-4sAy8_V0LaxikoCSRR4Bxo-TKlbL__dBUoT3524YDHEWeSWdow5Fo3bx8bY/s400/Getty+Images%252C+Fireworks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660158984349940274" border="0" /></a>Radio host Mark Levin has read a statement from Sarah Palin. In her statement, Palin stopped stringing everyone along and finally said what many of us have known for a long time: She won't run.<br /><br />If you've got champagne, now might be a good time to open it. I got a can of Asahi "Dry" from my neighbor, an arch-conservative; he doesn't know what an evil "socialist" I am. If only he knew. The can contains 33.8 fluid ounces, about three times as much as an ordinary beer! I'm sipping it slowly, because I don't weigh a lot and should finish this post before the room starts spinning. Woohoo!<br /><br />Sarah could have called major media outlets. There might have been a global, news-making press conference. But she didn't want to answer their questions. Instead, she had a conservative radio host read her statement, then she answered questions that he carefully framed for her, so that she could take one last parting shot at her critics. She phoned it in.<br /><br />I'd like to think my post of this morning, "<a href="http://palinquestions.blogspot.com/2011/10/uh-oh-sarah-doesnt-have-campaign.html">Uh-oh. Sarah doesn't have a campaign committee</a>," finally smoked her out, but last Saturday's "<a href="http://palinquestions.blogspot.com/2011/10/requiem-for-wannabe-queen.html">Requiem for a Wannabe Queen</a>" may have played a part.<br /><br />Talking with Mark Levin, Sarah Palin rambled on-and-on about President Obama, and she thinks she'll have a role to play doing this: Sniping (for any reason, real or imagined).<br /><br />If she does that, there will continue to be things to post about Sarah Palin. But there are more interesting things to write about, especially about politics and especially about politics and its intersection with economics. Many have been taken for a ride and have consistently voted against their best interests. I may start another blog for that or write about that here; those stories aren't difficult to associate with Sarah Palin, but there's something declasse about writing -- even reading -- about Sarah Palin. We'll see. Tonight, I feel like I got my life back.<br /><br />The bare, unadorned text of Sarah Palin's announcement can be read at Mudflats' "<a href="http://www.themudflats.net/2011/10/05/sarah-palin-will-not-seek-the-presidency-in-2012-country-comes-third/">Sarah Palin Will Not Seek the Presidency in 2012 – Country Comes Third</a>."<br /><br />Several media outlets have stories: Anchorage's Daily News has "<a href="http://www.adn.com/2011/10/05/2105828/sarah-palin-announces-she-wont.html">Palin announces she won't seek GOP presidential nomination</a>." ABC News has "<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/10/105741/">Sarah Palin Will Not Run for President</a>." The New York Times has "<a href="http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/05/palin-says-shes-not-running/?hp">Palin Says She’s Not Running</a>." USA Today has "<a href="http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2011/10/palin-wont-run-for-president/1">Sarah Palin won't run for president</a>." Last but not least, <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/10/05/palin-opts-against-2012-presidential-run/">Fox News has a story</a> pimping -- what else? -- Sarah Palin's appearance, tonight, on Greta Van Susteren's show.<br /><br />You can hear Mark Levin reading Sarah Palin's statement at "<a href="http://www.marklevinshow.com/Article.asp?id=2303165&spid=32364">BREAKING NEWS: SARAH PALIN'S 2012 ANNOUNCEMENT</a>."<br /><p></p><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">¡</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">SALUD</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">!</span><br /><br />Hasta la vista, Sarah.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update:</span> Sarah finally got around to posting her statement on Facebook, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150321133893435">here</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update:</span> AP has a story, "<a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j0tEZ9sGaAhHgZjEMKBZLtTrHoPA?docId=2dec681a924f498ca36e512c0ef0d5ac">Palin statement on decision not to run</a>," which simply quotes Sarah Palin's statement.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update:</span> It's the morning after. I drank about one-half the Asahi and put the rest in the fridge for later. Joe McGinniss wrote "<a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/10/06/joe-mcginniss-on-palin-not-running-for-president-arrivederci-sarah.html">Arrivederci, Sarah!</a>" for The Daily Beast.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update:</span> ABC News has "<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/10/sarah-palins-most-passionate-supporters-stunned-disappointed-but-will-there-be-backlash/">Sarah Palin’s Die Hard Supporters ‘Stunned,’ ‘Disappointed</a>."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update:</span> Fox News has "<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/10/05/palin-opts-against-2012-presidential-run/">Palin Opts Against 2012 Presidential Run</a>," which has video of Sarah Palin's appearance on Greta Van Susteren's show, last night.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update:</span> Entertainment Weekly's PopWatch has "<a href="http://popwatch.ew.com/2011/10/06/sarah-palin-not-running/">Sarah Palin will not run. How will comedy survive?</a>"<p></p>Joie Vouethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10728012555935899755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1616743751559129574.post-34422000389922290792011-10-05T15:02:00.000-07:002011-10-06T12:05:53.277-07:00Q&A with Sarah Palin's Chaperone<p></p>Nicolle Wallace, former communications director in the Bush White House and Sarah Palin's chaperone during the 2008 campaign, has written a new book, "It's Classified." One of the book's characters is "Tara," the Vice President of the U.S.A. Nicolle Wallace has said that "Tara" is "cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs," and she has said that the character was inspired by none other than Sarah Palin.<br /><br />TIME Magazine has published an interview with Nicolle Wallace. The magazine asked questions (and made one statement) in order to get Wallace to talk about her book:<ul><li><b>This novel reads like a lighthearted novel for people interested in politics, but it's also a pretty big indictment of how the political process works. Where were you going for with this book?</b></li><br /><li><b>In the book, the vice presidential character, Tara Meyers, is completely unfit for her job.</b><br /></li><br /><li><b>When you were working on the McCain campaign, what about Sarah Palin alarmed you so much?</b><br /></li><br /><li><b>You have a line in the book where the vice president is talking about why the American people love her. And she says, "The person they admire isn't me, it's the idea that I'm them." Why do we need to have our politicians to be just like us? Do we really need to drink a beer with the President?</b><br /></li><br /><li><b>There are so many women in these high-powered positions in this book, but they're talking about men and clothes and food. The female President was eating a bowl of fat-free yogurt. Why were they eating all the time?</b><br /></li></ul>Nicolle Wallace's responses can be read at "<a href="http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,2096190,00.html">Q&A with Palin Advisor-Turned-Novelist Nicolle Wallace</a>."<br /><br />Nicolle Wallace also appeared on Rachel Maddow's show recently, where she said that Sarah Palin inspired the "Tara" character and where she made the "cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs" remark. You can see a video with Wallace's remarks on Maddow's show at "<a href="http://palinquestions.blogspot.com/2011/09/sarah-palin-inspired-nicolle-wallace-to.html">Sarah Palin inspired Nicolle Wallace's character "Tara," a "Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs" Vice President</a>." That post includes links to places where excerpts of "It's Classified" can be read.<p></p>Joie Vouethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10728012555935899755noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1616743751559129574.post-21659325328097730122011-10-05T07:27:00.000-07:002011-10-05T10:09:41.576-07:00Uh-oh. Sarah doesn't have a campaign committee.<p></p>Politico's <a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/65115.html">Maggie Haberman and Ken Vogel write</a>:<br /><blockquote>... [C]alls were made on behalf of a mystery candidate to various early states to determine presidential filing deadlines.<br /><br />The calls were made by representatives of the law firm Baker Hostetler - a firm that employs lawyer Mark Braden, who represents Sarah PAC, her political action committee.<br /><br />As Ken notes, while he nor representatives of Palin’s campaign would comment on the calls, Palin is the only GOP politician eying the presidential race who is represented by the firm. ...</blockquote>The drop dead date -- Sarah's self-imposed drop dead date for deciding was September 30 -- for a New Hampshire filing is October 28. But here's the fly in the ointment -- the deal breaker -- a candidate has to pay a filing fee and that fee must come "from a federally registered presidential campaign committee."<br /><br />Sarah doesn't have such a committee. She's never even bothered to form an exploratory committee. "Unconventional" candidates do need to do conventional things.<br /><br />It may be possible for Sarah to get her ducks in a row by the 28th, but it might be best for her to file before then. Remember, Sarah's trademark application was initially rejected because it hadn't been signed. A presidential primary filing is trickier than a trademark application.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bonus:</span> Politico's Alexander Burns writes, "Sarah Palin hasn’t closed the door yet on a presidential bid. But few Republicans appear to be waiting for her answer. ..." in "<a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/65178.html">GOP looks past Sarah Palin for 2012</a>."<p></p>Joie Vouethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10728012555935899755noreply@blogger.com4