Central Scrutinizer

It was a joke.

Phone lines are open ... Seriously, a poll?

You know, while I can understand the legitimate travel expenses for the governor and her family, it raises the issue about travel cost, secret service protection, logistics of having a larger family like that as vice president. Then there's day care issues for the youngest. That's a lot of staff. Isn't a vote for Palin a vote for bigger government?

Were there some black people broken?

Geography?

How are you at international issues? I can explain the VP role, and you may be more qualified than the person either party has selected, apparently. Seriously, you should take care of things close to home, and through our federal/state separation of powers, you should. But you can't take care of everything, so we have to, based on our system of government, elect those to take care of those things we can't. Why do you feel Palin would better be able to do that than Biden?

What is that term that a certain group of listeners use when they take whatever the political analyst says as the gospel, whether it has any basis in fact or not? Oh, yeah ... "Ditto, ditto, ditto!"

You mean blood kin? Because HW Bush was sitting next to bin laden's brother and other members of the Carlyle Group on 9/11/01.

Where, then, does "qualifications" factor over personal bias? Because you often make a point of shooting down others' personal biases (no matter how crudely or respectfully stated)?

Alright, it's impossible for likability not enter into it. But, other than knowing your political views, I would think you'd still want to justify why you think Biden is a smug and arrogant prick because when some prick like me asks, "you mean your entire political view is based on what you 'think' of him. Surely you can justify that opinion?" Otherwise, just passing him off for your knee-jerk bias is being delirious, or worse, you're being a smug and arrogant prick.

... especially when you see these sweet little old ladies, who if someone did a lynching on their front lawn, they'd put down a dropcloth to make sure her lawn doesn't get soiled, then go get her whip.

If the Democrats want to deal with her competently, it would be to not get worked up and frothy about her. Dismiss her with the facts. Calm rhetoric over attacks. From what I've seen Obama realizes this election isn't being won today, it's what you do between now and election day. This vitriol is misplaced. Rather than bitching here about Palin, talk to women you know who are considering her. Listen to them. Talk calmly with then. Avoid bias and party prejudice. Wow, I apologize. And two noogies for that person if I ever find them by golly ...

Likability shouldn't enter into it. Who would you have more trust in running the country? Seriously?

That's because he was in the bunker, Schweinhunt!

Two blocks from where I sit, there was a Woolworth. About 24 years ago, some young black men sat at the lunch counter. They weren't there to buy lunch. But their confrontation had a dramatic impact here.

There's not a whole lot of what she's said to hang onto. What little has been pretty empty. I don't see anything to get excited over. What substance do you and the "American people and especially independents love" about Ms. Palin? Is it a Jerry Springer kind of love? A reality TV kind of love? A latest download MILF video kind of love? She's running for elected office. Please explain to me what there is that she brings of value to the office? Concrete? "Anyone who says anthing against Palin is either afraid of her or jealous" pretty much shows where you're coming from. I don't expect a comp

It is everywhere ("I hate Illinois Nazis"). Having lived in the south for 20 years (yikes) there is a different nature down here. It is accepted -- among those who see themselves as elite, it's an art -- of lies and insults. I miss the Midwest where, flaws and all, someone is taken at their word, or taken for who they are. If someone has a problem or issue it's out there and that's it. Deal with it. Racism, elitism and narrow mindedness is rampant among the South and comes from the most bizarre corners. It's Flannery O'Conner only you can't put the book down and go away.

I would say google has zero responsibility. It's amazing with all the lies and bashing and blogging that is done on the Internet, with little overall effect, some little boneheaded glitch can have this much impact.

He uses the "new journalism" approach ala Tom Wolfe in trying to get inside characters heads -- both effectively and ineffectively. He gets bogged down and hammers you over the head a good bit, to the point it's like "O.K. we get it, the body's in the trunk!" He does a great job with Holmes in a "less is more" approach to his cold, caluclating nature. I don't think so. All all the other side stories (men *and* women) display the themes of each character chasing a dream and their ability/inability to realize it, the obstacles that they face (a nut job, Chicago weather, bureaucracy), and wh

Since that sounded like a Monty Python link ...

*which* finger?

In the south (and some places in the north -- it was familiar enough in Illinois where I was raised), "uppity" was a term used against blacks who were trying to improve their "station" in life -- not "knowing their place," i.e. "uppity nigger."

That would be a good button to recognize fellow VCers at shows.

Seriously, that would be a good strategy for the Democrats to pursue. Hammering it hard would dispel it quickly. Did anyone hear about the Ga. Rep who called the Obamas "uppity"? When asked about it, he repeated it. Had no idea that it had racial undertones. And Sherman never visited Atlanta, neither.