Comments Posted By Shelby
Displaying 1 To 10 Of 45 Comments
'IQ OF A CELERY STALK?' WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THAT ONE?
Hi Rick, well it's been a long time since I've read your site. I think I even saw your name pop up on my Facebook suggestions (I don't know any other Rick Morans!). I've been so busy with school that I haven't been posting, but I do drop by from time to time.
Anyway, this is not the first Palin hit piece I have read and I'm sure it won't be the last. Granted, he seems to make an effort to support his criticisms by explaining what he feels are deep and dark psychological motives on Palin's part. I get it, I have heard all this before. She is narcissistic. Too ambitious. Riles up crowds. He says she stakes out the "entire landscape of incoherent white American resentment". Screaming just for the sake of screaming. But how can he accuse someone of all those dark psychological motives and ambitions when he claims she lacks intelligence? All these criticisms kind of sound familiar and it sounds like the same kind of foaming at the mouth criticisms that we all hurled at Hillary Clinton when she was trying to get the nomination. Back then we called her overly ambitious as well, narcississtic, catty, plotting, calculating, artificial, too old, you name it. Except Hillary wasn't warm. We always criticized her for being a little bit too practiced and rehearsed. We almost found it creepy. Now here we are and Palin can draw a crowd and deliver a decent speech (even though it may be riddled with folksy expressions that the intellectual among us are usually too embarrassed to use in public). And because she can draw a crowd we accuse her of riling up crowds TOO much. Because she can draw a crowd we accuse her of exploiting the crowd's inner fears to drive herself to power. What is a woman politican supposed to do? I am a woman and honestly I'm tired of reading all of these commentators imagining these off the chart unrealistic fantastical dark plots emerging whenever there is a woman who actually wants to have a political career on the national arena. Why does it have to be like that? It seems like the only acceptable route for a female politician is to just hold a lower office, like perhaps be a senator or congresswoman. You know, something more "safe", something that isn't on a national scale. Something where a woman candidate can spend her time talking about some mindless drivel like bringing more jobs to the area, instead of actually criticizing a standing President's decisions. As soon as a woman goes on a national scale, oh no, she must be up to something. She must be representing the bad wing of her party that is corrupting the system!!! she must be exploiting dumb Americans who can't think for themselves!! Think about that for a second. We can't even handle having a First Lady without criticizing everything she does, what she wears, how many assistants she has, etc, etc. It just gets so boring after awhile. It's like America is having an identity crisis. We're married to a particular set of views and expectations on what a woman should be, and then women like Palin and Hillary emerge out of nowhere like the "Other" woman, testing our boundaries and fears and making us all generally either extremely squeamish, angry, repulsed, or maybe even at times inspired and jealous. It is an awkward moment for everyone.
So anyway that is my 2 cents, you can take it or leave it. I know some here pride themselves on looking at both sides of an issue, so here is my side and how it feels to read this stuff.
Comment Posted By Shelby On 23.11.2009 @ 01:31
BLAGOJEVICH: BEYOND 'BUSINESS AS USUAL' IN ILLINOIS
It sounds like you were ahead of the power curve on this story, rick. I am seeing it all over the news now and you wrote this yesterday!
As an outsider to IL, it's hard to keep up with all of the different players in this scandal and how they are all interconnected, but I'll come to your site to find out what's happening from a true Chicago politics expert! Thank you
Comment Posted By Shelby On 11.12.2008 @ 18:00
DO YOU WANT BARACK OBAMA TO SUCCEED?
Good points Rick. as a conservative, I have to say I definitely don't want Obama to fail. I usually find it entertaining when liberals stumble of course (ie, "57 states!"), but given the seriousness of the situation, it's not really a game or an entertaining diversion for me anymore--it's something I feel worried about and hope is handled in a constructive way. I'm all ready to board the "O" bus and put on my Hope t-shirt if it gets us out of this mess.
Comment Posted By Shelby On 9.12.2008 @ 19:35
WHAT WE NEED IS A GOLDILOCKS GOVERNMENT
Interesting points... when I think about conservatism as I grew up believing in, I have always thought that "small" government was the best approach. What a shock it was to discover that America has not been functioning on a "small" government for quite some time. And of course, the bailouts are the most recent example of this. It just makes me recoil in horror to think that not only are there liberals up there in Washington who are embracing these hude government bailouts, but no one is asking what the possible long term effects of huge government spending may be! One of my favorite posters on www.despair.com reads "GOVERNMENT: If you think the problems we create are bad, just wait until you see our solutions".
I think you hit on something here: as Republicans we do need to find relevant alternatives to expanding the size of government, because fighting for small government is an irrelevant battle if small government no longer exists.
Comment Posted By Shelby On 8.12.2008 @ 22:05
I'm glad Obama is changing his mind on a lot of these pie-in-the-sky campaign promises. It looks like at the very least, the start of his Presidency won't be as far left as some (including me!) had been inclined to believe 2 months ago. And the best part is that now that Obama won, Republicans are no longer being painted as being racist jerks who are blocking American progress. That's a blessing in disguise. Of course, I'm sure we'll be racists again in 2012!
Comment Posted By Shelby On 3.12.2008 @ 21:30
OOGEDY-BOOGEDY AND BIBBIDI, BOBBIDI, BOO
I am not a huge fan of the religious right. I don't always understand their worries and fears. I've been turned off from it from awhile. Maybe it was when a couple Christians I know told me the world was ending in 2011. Or maybe it was when a couple told me Obama is a Muslim. It seems like I have the bad luck of meeting all the nutcases (both right and left).
But whenever I feel like criticizing them, I just remember we should all be grateful to be able to exercise religious freedom without being thrown into a prison cell or worse for being open about our beliefs. I don't think the left understands or appreciates just how important that right is. They are too busy worshipping at the altar of Global Warming.
I don't think the GOP should cut off the religious right but I also hope that our future campaigns won't be entirely centered on social issues. Our biggest task is not social issues but proving once again that free markets and solid conservatism will help keep our nation strong.
Comment Posted By Shelby On 20.11.2008 @ 21:12
I am hoping that Obama names a Secretary of State like Hillary because, quite frankly, she seemed to have more sense in foreign relations and national defense than he did during the primaries. But let's take a step back and remember that nothing gets leaked to the press without an underlying motive. I would ask if Obama's motive is to make a public show of vetting Hillary for this position (so he won't be the evil sexist guy), or if Obama's motive is to really have her serve as Secretary of State. but overall I am cautiously optimistic from this action. I hope this indicates a trend that he will NOT govern the country from the far left like we were thinking he would.
Comment Posted By Shelby On 18.11.2008 @ 14:34
This is terrible! Hope you get back up and running soon.
Comment Posted By Shelby On 17.11.2008 @ 12:43
SAVE THE AMERICAN FUR COMPANY!
PS: And, of course, the death of the SUV.
Comment Posted By Shelby On 15.11.2008 @ 15:29
Thanks Rick I needed a laugh, this puts it into perspective! Shame on us for not buying beaver hats. lol
I wish Washington would examine why our auto industry is failing in comparison to other country's instead of throwing money at the problem to ease the pain of reality. I have a hunch it's due to unions and higher taxation.
Comment Posted By Shelby On 15.11.2008 @ 15:26
