Palin as President is like some kind of weird interactive oval office advent calendar from a parallel polyverse. Click on anything and get surprised by some palinism, in Sarahs voice, explaining. Sort of. Have fun.

This is just hilarious, and a brilliant idea at the same time: taking the Wasilla Town Meeting minutes (Sarah Palin presiding), and turning them into a one-man drama performance. Do yourself a favor and laugh as you learn about the extent of this woman’s experience, and worse yet, her leadership style.

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Oh yes.

Thomas Friedman, author and saint of the edublogosphere¹ for his book, The World is Flat, now flattens shameless dimwit and aspiring 2012 Cheerleader-in-Chief Sarah Palin with this steamroller of an op-ed piece in today’s New York Times.

A taste:

Criticizing Sarah Palin is truly shooting fish in a barrel. But given the huge attention she is getting, you can’t just ignore what she has to say. And there was one thing she said in the debate with Joe Biden that really sticks in my craw. It was when she turned to Biden and declared: “You said recently that higher taxes or asking for higher taxes or paying higher taxes is patriotic. In the middle class of America, which is where Todd and I have been all of our lives, that’s not patriotic.”

What an awful statement. Palin defended the government’s $700 billion rescue plan. She defended the surge in Iraq, where her own son is now serving. She defended sending more troops to Afghanistan. And yet, at the same time, she declared that Americans who pay their fair share of taxes to support all those government-led endeavors should not be considered patriotic. [read on]

You have to wonder how Palin will react to this. She distorted the NYTimes non-smear piece on Obama and Ayres’ superficial connection, after all, to smear Obama to the degree that McCain/Palin crowds are yelling “treason,” “kill him,” “off with his head,” and hurling the N-word in right-wing racist hate-fests.

But now that the Times is openly smearing her, she’ll surely dismiss it as that gosh-darned mainstream media filter playing “gotcha journalism.”

Don’t miss Friedman’s comparison of Palin’s “energy expertise” with that of the King of Saudi Arabia at the end of the column. Priceless honesty.

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1. though, because of Friedman’s “Hey Iraq: Suck. On. This.” stupidity - never mind that Iraq was not Al Qaeda - I’ll worship elsewhere, thanks

7 Comments

• At October 9, 2008, Jose wrote:

  It needed to be said. In the immortal words of Howard Zinn, "dissent is the greatest form of patriotism." You can't call yourself a maverick and still be a conformist. You can't call yourself an outsider if your earmarks are some of the biggest in Senate. You can't call yourself a positive example for all women when you don't care much (to put it nicely) for rights women have worked so hard for. At first, I honestly thought she'd be someone that Obama and Biden could sidestep (even if just to stand clear of charges of sexism), but unfortunately, enough sycophants have given her carte blanche with every word she spews and stammers over.

  Joses last blog post..The Holiest Redeemers

• At October 9, 2008, JC wrote:

  She probably won't notice. Remember, she can't name any newspapers or magazines that she reads.

• At October 10, 2008, Clay Burell wrote:

  Until they serve her purposes. That's what was funny about her Obama smear: she trumpeted her source, the NYTimes, as if it were the final authority on everything. And as everyone has noted, she either didn't read beyond the article's title (because the article dismissed any serious connection between the two), or she did, and chose to distort it anyway.

• At October 10, 2008, Clay Burell wrote:

  Well said, Jose. I'm fine with an intelligent, principled conservative party, but that's not what Palin appeals to. She appeals to the populist lynch mobs.

  It's good to see so many conservatives joining the condemnation of McCain's choice and Palin's mettle. They're going to have an embarrassing mess on their hands when she runs for president in '12.

• At October 10, 2008, diane wrote:

  This is the same woman who trumpeted her desire for a "victory" in Iraq comparable to our "victory" in Viet Nam. I hope our country will be spared such a fate.

  I continue to be mortally offended that John McCain imagined I would vote for his ticket because he included a woman as his running mate, without evaluating the suitability of the particular female he chose.

  dianes last blog post..The Brisbins of Saratoga County

• At October 10, 2008, Michael Doyle wrote:

  I'll try to refrain from attacking Friedman--he's not a quarter as bright as thinks he is, and only half-bright as his adoring public believes he is. If that.

  He can write, true. He's a decent wordsmith with a two-bit cortex--reminds me of Nuke LaLoosh in Bull Durham.

  Palin is a symptom; so was Hitler. Yes, I lumped the two together--different ideologies, but similar tactics. And in both cases, as much as we like to absolve hoi polloi, the people surrounding her (i.e., the mob)are culpable.

  We have the democracy we deserve. I have no idea if the pundits are right about economic doom, or if it's just hyperbole.

  If it's the former, please go back to Gilgamesh--if we're doomed, may as well read the wisdom of a prior doomed culture.

  If it's the latter, please go back to Gilgamesh--no sense wasting energy on false prophets.

  If nothing else, I am beginning to grasp how Nero could fiddle as Rome burned. What else can we do?

  [I'm going clamming again Saturday. Sunlight to plankton to clams to me. I'm not inviting Thomas Friedman, but if you ever want to come along Clay, I have an extra kayak and a place to stay.]

  Michael Doyles last blog post..The cost of tools

• At October 10, 2008, Bill Farren wrote:

  Good read. Thanks for pointing it out, Clay.

  And Jose, thanks for quoting Zinn. Too bad more haven't read Zinn. There'd be less people throwing themselves under the Straight Talk Express.

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In my teaching I have found that students can sometimes be surprisingly credulous about what is being communicated to them by images, whether it’s conveyed by a doctored photo or in the nonverbal message sent by a carefully selected image accompanying a story.   Even my friends who should know better do not always think as critically about images as they might about text.

Here’s an example.  As soon as Sarah Palin got selected as McCain’s running mate, I started getting emails circulating this photo of her:

My first thought was, “how can a middle-aged woman who’s borne several children look that good in a bikini?!”  The people who forwarded this were trustworthy enough, but I knew you can’t always believe what you see, when it comes to online images.  So, I did a little digging and came up with this original, on the blog ‘Urban Legends‘:

The blog author notes that “the resulting montage was obviously intended to satirize Sarah Palin’s image as a ‘gun-toting beauty queen.’” It was an early entry in the contest to come up with the funniest sendup of this suddenly buzz-worthy candidate, though it was soon trumped by the Tina Fey imitations, which used video to even greater effect.

I have used this type of Photoshopped image to help students recognize that they should be cautious about the source and substance of material they find online, including images, and just because they agree with the politics of the sender does not absolve them of the need to think critically.  The not-too-difficult search for the origin of the image also makes a useful, topical lesson for students in how we can use the vast amount of chat, data, news, and info online to check facts against many reliable sources until we come up with something close to ‘the truth.’

Now I have to sign off and go catch up on the news, from my favorite hard news source, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart!

It’s been suggested that Sarah Palin hasn’t had much media training. On the contrary, she had plenty enough as a sports reporter. Check this out:

In that video, from her days reporting for an Anchorage TV station, she’s clearly not Major Market. But you can see how her persona today is a combination of aw-shucks-doggone-it hockey mom, smart political operator and TV personality. And the latter cannot be discounted.

Nothing sadder than a sick joke that’s true. Adennack’s brilliant flowchart below is not an exaggeration of Palin’s approach when non-answering Gwen Ifill’s debate questions:¹

If you’re as disgusted as I am that the media is calling this insult to democracy and intelligence a “passed test” on Palin’s part (and Ifill miserably failed my test for quality debate questions), post it, spread it, make it viral.

No, wait. I changed my mind. I want a Vice President who blows kisses to world audiences at grave political moments like she did before the debate. I want sage political wisdom from the bleachers of the hockey rink.

I suspect living in Rome c. 425 must have felt like this. Uncanny.

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1. here’s hoping Katie Couric, the only interviewer with the guts to ask a follow-up, moderates in 2012

13 Comments

• At October 4, 2008, diane wrote:

  Oh, Clay. What have they done? It would be SO much worse than gypsies in the palace to see McCain and (shudder) Palin in the White House.

  The colleague with whom I carpool thought Palin showed people what a woman can accomplish in office.

  I'm oh so very much afraid that she is not the only voter who responded this way.

  Expanding the VP's powers is constitutional; the energy crisis is part of the climate cycle; we are close to and will achieve a victory in the war (comparable to our victory in Viet Nam)...I fear for my future and that of my children if Governor Palin and her heroic leader make it to the Presidency.

• At October 4, 2008, movie fan wrote:

  the VP debate was stunning. Palin did a decent job faking about 20% of the questions and didn't even bother answering the other 80%.

  i couldn't help thinking of the end of the movie Billy Madison, when the Principal says to Adam Sandler, "Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."

  movie fans last blog post..House: "Meaning" (Season 3, Episode 1)

• At October 4, 2008, JazzyBlueTeach wrote:

  Palin has definitely become the Artful Dodger, as the flowchart demonstrates wonderfully.

  You know how you take that bit of practica that teaches you how to spot a bullshit artist on an essay test? You know, kind of what you were getting at with the moderator giving her real meaty assessment questions, not rote? Well, I guarantee if I were to obtain some of Palin's college essays, I would smell something stinky.

  It frightens me that this has the potential to happen. I guess we could move to Canada, but they are probably expecting a mass exodus and are reinforcing their borders with three day old tim horton doughnuts.

• At October 4, 2008, Clay Burell wrote:

  And proudly declaring your intention to violate the laws of the debate (and the Troopergate investigation) is good, all-American spunk.

  Maverick McCain's campaign is being handled by the team that handled Bush for the last eight years. It shows in their tactics: lie, defy, insult, and smear - and watch America gobble up the offal.

• At October 4, 2008, Clay Burell wrote:

  Great comment, MF. Too bad you're not in the mainstream media.

• At October 4, 2008, Clay Burell wrote:

  You know Palin, the candidate who couldn't identify one newspaper or magazine she reads to stay informed, got her degree in journalism, right?

• At October 4, 2008, Kate Tabor wrote:

  It was so frustrating to watch Palin refuse to answer questions. I read somewhere that it was more like a press conference than a debate, and I agree with that assessment. I know the format had no follow up q's, but why Ifill didn't hold her to answers to the actual questions is beyond me, unless Ifill had already bought into the early criticism that because of her soon-to-be-published book she is "in the tank" for Obama and went out of her way to show that she was "impartial."

  There is a part of me that wishes Palin had given us more of the rambly, incoherent, buzz-wordy answers that are the hallmarks of the Couric interview. But I admit I was worried that a terrible performance would mean that powerful women committed to serve in the government would have to wait another generation to run for high office. I don't think like Diane's carpool friend who believes she "showed people what a woman can accomplish in office," but I am glad she didn't set us back 20 years.

  She has convinced my mother to vote for Obama.

  I just want her to stop winking and blowing kisses at me. (Maybe not - keep her silly and maybe more folks won't take her seriously.)

  Kate Tabors last blog post..Little Moments Matter

• At October 4, 2008, JazzyBlueTeach wrote:

  Yes, I am aware of that little tidbit of info. Another thing that has me completely baffled. How are you a journalism major and not up on public events? Boggles the mind.

  I really have no idea how I am going to buck up and deal with this if they manage to get in office. I have been a trooper for the past 8 years. I am about finished with that role.

• At October 5, 2008, Michael Doyle wrote:

  We.

  Are.

  Doomed.

  That we are even discussing Palin's performance is enough evidence to draw some scary conclusions.

  I am going clamming in two hours with my Uncle Bob, who is old enough to remember wars that were supposed to end wars.

  Leslie, my wife and best friend, my Uncle Bob, and my Auntie Beth (whom I've had a crush on since I was 6 years old, over 4 decades ago) will then sit down and share a God-given bounty (or whatever word you want to substitute for "God"--mystery, nature, energy, creation, entropy) and discuss the day.

  As a few folks did as Rome collapsed around them.

  It wouldn't be so sad if we had not peeked at our potential.

  Michael Doyles last blog post..Pooped

• At October 5, 2008, Clay Burell wrote:

  I took a 2-hour hike yesterday in the mountain near my apt. It was to escape thoughts of where all this is headed.

  I still don't know how to speak of all of this without feeling silly for believing it's true. But I do believe it. Democracy seems to have failed in the US.

  Clay Burells last blog post..Palin Debate Flowchart: Smiling Down the Decline

• At October 5, 2008, diane wrote:

  I had a dream last night, so vivid that I remembered it when I woke.

  People were gathering at our home, a strange assortment including our children, some strangers (business associates, I think) and a young, pregnant teacher from the district where I teach.

  We were awaiting some sort of catastrophe, hoping to survive together.

  I remember thinking that I'd better have plenty of print resources, great books to read, since I'd be unable to recharge my laptop or iPhone once we lost electricity for good.

  Your comment brought back my dream-state emotion: calm acceptance of the end of the world as I knew it.

  Overly dramatic? I fervently hope so.

  dianes last blog post..Bricolage

• At October 5, 2008, John Connell » Blog Archive » Palin Flowchart wrote:

  [...] The answer fromes from Aden Nak, via Clay Burrell: [...]

• At October 6, 2008, Your page is now on StumbleUpon! wrote:

  [...] Your page is on StumbleUpon [...]

Call me crazy. I care that science not be confused with superstition in schools.

That’s why I like this riposte to Sarah Palin’s “teach them both theories” nonsense about creationism/intelligent design in science classrooms:

[N]ext time you hear this innocent sounding, ever so reasonable, “teach both sides” proposition . . . from . . . Sarah (did she really think her father had his own theories of evolution?), ask yourself where you would draw the line. Where would they draw the line? Either kids learn the results of the scientific understanding of the world, or we turn all schools into “madrassas”, differing only in the brand of religion with which the students are being indoctrinated. And we head back to medieval times, the monks running the schools, needing a whole new scientific revolution to repeat history, and get us back to where we were before this religious insanity re-emerged in the late twentieth century. [emphasis added]

You can read the rest, including a very nice catalogue of other discredited religious teachings about science we may as well resurrect along with Genesisology, in the nicely titled “Geology. Palinology.”

–

Of related interest, see here for a good digest of Palin’s record and positions. All supported with links/references.

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2 Comments

• At October 2, 2008, JazzyBlueTeach wrote:

  Once again, with these series of election themed posts, you amaze me with your brilliance. I have sent all the links to the ill-informed among me, hoping to at least give them food for thought. I am just hoping it does not become food for their recycle bin.

  Have I told you lately that I love you? ;) You have to be my favorite and most forwarded blog.

  I am finished Gilgamesh, btw, and have moved on to Enuma Elish. I had probably the most interesting ideas about Gilgamesh in the course thanks to you. Of course, I had the more...hmm... interesting version to work with. :)

  I wish my kids could have had you as a teacher. I wish I could have had you as a teacher.

  Keep the politico manifesto coming. I cannot wait to see what you have to say about the debate.

  Karen

• At October 2, 2008, JC wrote:

  Ugh. I can't believe this controversy is still sprouting up in the 21st century. The basis of science is empirical testability. The keystone concept of intelligent design, namely that creation is designed and guided by some kind of intelligent cause rather than by an undirected process, is FUNDAMENTALLY untestable! I don't think that it should be taught at all, but if people insist upon it, it belongs in a philosophy class, not in a science class!

"As Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of America, where do they go? It's Alaska!" Palin CBS interview, Sep. 2008

Test-Making 101: A Teacher’s Take

Most teachers know that multiple choice tests focusing on facts only are easier for their students to ace than essay tests requiring students to use those facts to analyze a problem and reason their way to a solution. A concrete example would be a map test requiring students to merely identify countries and geographic features of central Europe during World War II, versus an essay test requiring students to argue which side of the warring alliances, the Allied or Axis powers, had the geographic advantage during that war.

Know-nothing students can easily cram to memorize the map of Europe at that time and score an A on the first test. But to score an A on the second test would require an intelligence orders of magnitude higher. Requiring students to demonstrate an understanding of such things as the significance of the easily traversed plains of Poland and the limited coastlines of Germany in the context of the war, the second test would expose which students really deserved an A, and which knew how to cover their shallowness by excelling at rote memorization.

This puts me in mind of Sarah Palin right now, whom I picture desperately cramming with her debate coaches in McCain’s estate in Sedona for the Big Test on Thursday: the Vice Presidential debates.

With even the conservative punditry now conceding Palin is an “embarrassment” who is “not ready” to assume the presidency in the not-unlikely event of the death or disability of the oldest - and either the most politically reckless or medically clueless - presidential candidate in the history of the United States, Thursday’s debate, offering us a glimpse at the most sequestered vice presidential candidate in living memory, looms larger as a serious moment for the fate of the nation because, quite simply, it’s one of the only chances we’ll have to see the candidate think and talk on her feet, live and unscripted.

Palin’s Report Card So Far

Student Palin’s grade point average started with a sterling 100% for her public speaking assessment at the Republican National Convention. She turned in a gifted performance there, reading someone else’s speech off a teleprompter. A+.

But since then, in her three subsequent assessments - a number about which classmate Joe Biden, who has had almost daily assessments in the media and on the campaign trail, should complain to the principal, since the teacher is clearly showing favoritism to Palin by excusing her from all these tests - Palin’s g.p.a. has crashed and burned. She scored a C in her softball interview with Charles Gibson, a C in her love-fest with FOX’s Sean Hannity, and an F (a “Z-” grade being unavailable) in her debacle with Katie Couric.

What We Learn from Student Councils

Watching the former beauty queen and high school track star eat crow on the national stage is an experience not unfamiliar to that of many high school teachers who watch that painful annual ritual in high schools around the world called the Student Council elections. They always involve the popular kid - the cheerleader or football star with ill-starred academic records - deciding, due to ill-advised assurances that popularity is all that matters to win an election, to enter the race. Then on speech day, the cafeteria kings and queens face off against the Math Club and Literary Magazine whizzes, and the former show their stuff while the latter show their lack of stuff.

It often ends in tears on stage, pity in the crowd, and teachers afterwards trying to help the unfit student draw some wisdom from the experience about the difference between confidence and ability, and between sound advice and bad.

The McCain campaign gave Palin bad advice here. No mayor of a town smaller than many big-city high schools (only 6,000 residents) not yet through her second year as governor of a state whose population is smaller than all but North Dakota and Vermont should be expected to ace a test designed to assess the next president of the nation with the world’s largest economy and military. And that the McCain campaign didn’t foresee this blinding reality when they urged her to join the ticket speaks volumes about either its staggeringly bad judgment or, to go Rorschach on you, its withering cynicism regarding the intelligence of the American electorate.

And as a result, the good cheerleader is undergoing a public humiliation that pulls at the heart-strings of any caring teacher. “Whoever put her up to this,” the teacher thinks, “should be ashamed.”

The Most Important Test in American History? A Plea to Gwen Ifill

But Palin rose to the bait, and the debate is set. She’s cramming in Sedona for a test any good teacher who knows this student knows she cannot ace - if the test is a form of assessment for thinking instead of memorizing.

And that’s what makes me think the most important person in this debate in not Palin, and not Biden. It’s the assessor - the person who creates the test questions.

So to PBS moderator Gwen Ifill, I can only offer this advice: give an assessment that will show the electorate not who can memorize the most facts. That kind of test leads to a class with all A’s. Instead, give a test that will show us how these candidates will use their knowledge-base to solve problems.

A very perceptive commenter on the Chicago Tribune’s blog says as much in the below:

The key to the debate will be for either the moderator or Biden to dig beneath the thin veneer of rote memorization that will be the basis of her performance. She has had plenty of time to memorize some statistics and talking points to certain questions she knows will be on the test, and even someone with her intellectual paucity can do that somewhat convincingly.

It’s when you dig slightly beneath the surface that she implodes. As anyone who has ever B.S.ed their way through anything knows, your goose is cooked when you’re asked to explain the basis of your statements. Being able to give simple, concise answers to complicated questions is way harder than it looks. You need to have a deep understanding of what you’re talking about - an understanding of international and domestic affairs that are the result of years and years of study and analysis, not just a few weeks of cramming.

If Ifill’s debate questions follow those guidelines, the nation benefits. If not, it may fall victim to the most fateful and disastrous consequences of grade inflation due to lack of assessment rigor in the history of the United States.

Palin is clearly likable, her policies and beliefs notwithstanding. But by putting herself in line for the Oval Office, we can’t let our sympathy for her soften our assessment of her. She’s not running for student council or small-town mayor. She’s running for 76-year-old-heartbeat-away-from-president. It shouldn’t be an easy test to pass.

–

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7 Comments

• At September 30, 2008, Kate Tabor wrote:

  On this, the Jewish New Year, where we wish our families and friends a good and sweet new year, we are looking at a nation whose capitol seems to be in chaos over the bailout of the financial markets and an election where there is the possibility of the beauty queen/weather girl as vice president. Oh, yeah - we are at war, too.

  So I wish us all peace and love in the new year. Clay, I appreciate your last three posts. They make me gasp, laugh, cry, and hope that together we are smarter than we seem.

  In life there will be at least one test. And yes, sometimes the test is cumulative.

  Kate Tabors last blog post..Little Moments Matter

• At September 30, 2008, Penelope M wrote:

  Heh, I wish your Student Council comparison were accurate. I've never been somewhere where it didn't come down to either no one else running or the popular kid winning.

  I look forward to this debate with great curiousity, that's for sure.

• At September 30, 2008, Clay Burell wrote:

  Ouch. Touche.

• At October 1, 2008, marian Hallin wrote:

  I am a great admirer of Gwen Ifill, a great admirer of great women and I can only hope that on Thursday the questions will be of an essay type. The American people deserve to just how qualified Sarah Palin is or how woefully ill qualified she is. Multiple choice questions from Ifill without followup depth questions will certainly be as revealing as Palin's qualifications appear to be at this moment......about as unqualified as can be!

• At October 1, 2008, Kate Tabor wrote:

  Hi Clay -

  Check out the most recent Couric/Palin-McCain interviews. Yes, that's right - they went back for more.

  Here's an excerpt on Talking Points Memo:

  http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/221008.php

  And you might like FiveThirtyEight.com and Nate Silver's thoughts on why McCain will keep Palin on the ticket: http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/09/mccain-is-stuck-with-palin.html

  Kate Tabors last blog post..Little Moments Matter

• At October 3, 2008, Jabiz Raisdana wrote:

  Great article to think about:

  http://www.joebageant.com/joe/2008/09/sarah-palin-thr.html

• At October 4, 2008, Palin Debate Flowchart: Smiling Down the Decline | Beyond School wrote:

  [...] and intelligence a “passed test” on Palin’s part (and Ifill miserably failed my test for quality debate questions), post it, spread it, make it [...]

A little ice-breaker after my fear-frozen last post: CollegeHumor.com also found noteworthy Matt Damon’s comments about Palin leading the US government and military. But they had fun with it, bless ‘em. Enjoy (and h/t to Crooks and Liars).

(And on an educational note, if any of you have student films that so creatively comment on history or current affairs, feel free to drop a link to them in the comment thread. I’d love to see students given the freedom to make this kind of commentary in the classroom.)

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[Update: To learn more about Palin's ties to a disturbingly extreme, theocratic wing of Christianity, see these articles from the Christian website, "Talk to Action: Reclaiming Citizenship, History, and Faith." They substantiate all claims with sources, and are very fair. This article is a good, comprehensive start.]

From CNN: A Feature on Palin’s Church:

From MSNBC: A Feature on Palin’s Witch-Hunting Guest Pastor:

From Palin’s Church in 2005, the Witch-Hunter’s Theocratic Sermon, Followed by His Blessing of Front-and-Center Sarah Palin:

Speaking in tongues is not gibberish; it is talking to God. Bush knew that was true, that God’s hand directed him to invade Iraq and otherwise lead the United States. Bin Laden is equally certain he knows God Allah. Faith healing works. Witches and demons exist in our world and we must engage in magical warfare against them. Creationism is truer than evolution, and should be taught in science classes. Dinosaurs roamed the world 6,000 years ago, at the same time Adam and Eve did. Books should be banned, and librarians that don’t want to ban books should be fired. God wants oil pipelines in Alaska. God supports American wars. Women impregnated by rape or incest should not be allowed to terminate the pregnancy. Alaska is a refuge for the Tribulation during the End Times prophecied in the book of Revelation. People voting for Kerry in ‘04 would go to hell. A witch-hunter’s prayer to a Roman Empire god will influence democratic elections in the 21st Century Space Age.

It’s good to see CNN give scrutiny to this, though it’s far less of a media issue than Obama’s pastor Wright. Why? Wright was criticizing America’s history of racism and imperialism, which are issues reasonable people can disagree on. Palin’s 2005 preacher¹ believes in - and hunts - witches, the existence of which reasonable people, by definition, should agree is not supported by any solid evidence.

Does anybody else find it weird that a Hollywood actor - Matt Damon - offers more relevant questions about all of this than the mainstream media does? (h/t to Undiplomatic)

And does anybody find it equally weird that Rolling Stone Magazine, as far as I’ve been able to see, has best expressed the outrage any sensible person should feel? Here’s a clip:

Until the Alaska governor actually ascended to the podium that night [that Palin addressed the Republican National Convention], I was convinced that John McCain had made one of the all-time campaign season blunders, that he had acted impulsively and out of utter desperation in choosing a cross-eyed political neophyte just two years removed from running a town smaller than the bleacher section at Fenway Park. It even crossed my mind that there was an element of weirdly self-destructive pique in McCain’s decision to cave in to his party’s right-wing base in this fashion, that perhaps he was responding to being ordered by party elders away from a tepid, ideologically promiscuous hack like Joe Lieberman — reportedly his real preference — by picking the most obviously unqualified, doomed-to-fail joke of a Bible-thumping buffoon. As in: You want me to rally the base? Fine, I’ll rally the base. Here, I’ll choose this rifle-toting, serially pregnant moose killer who thinks God lobbies for oil pipelines. Happy now?

But watching Palin’s speech, I had no doubt that I was witnessing a historic, iconic performance. The candidate sauntered to the lectern with the assurance of a sleepwalker - and immediately launched into a symphony of snorting and sneering remarks, taking time out in between the superior invective to present herself as just a humble gal with a beefcake husband and a brood of healthy, combat-ready spawn who just happened to be the innocent targets of a communist and probably also homosexual media conspiracy. It was a virtuoso performance. She appeared to be completely without shame and utterly full of shit, awing a room full of hardened reporters with her sickly sweet line about the high-school-flame-turned-hubby who, “five children later” is “still my guy.” It was like watching Gidget address the Reichstag.

– and here’s the rest - well worth the read for both its writing and its diagnosis of a super-power become hellishly frightening.

Don’t believe me? Look at what many parents are doing to their children before they ever enter school:

And America wonders why it has fallen behind the world in science.

What do you think: will this topic be addressed at the VP debate this Thursday? Should it be?

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If you like this post, please spread it: (But don't tag it "education." That will bury it.)

1. and yes, he was a regular guest preacher, but we don’t invite unwelcome guests to speak to us

30 Comments

• At September 28, 2008, Jane Nicholls wrote:

  Clay

  It truly is terrifying. At the age of 20 I became a pentecostal Christian. I needed to do something I was on a path of destruction. I had a strong faith, I loved God. But man! The church! What it believed! I finally broke away. The day they said God wanted us all to laugh and there were waves of joy washing over us, the so called "Toronto blessing" I thought, these people are nuts!

  I still have a strong faith. I still love 'God'. For me God means loving people, helping people, being all I can be for me and for others. If I'm not making a difference in other people's lives then I am full of crap. Who cares if you can speak in tongues or manifest strange signs of the 'spirit'. That's not demonstrating God's love to anyone, that is alienating God from everyone.

  I think God would be so sad seeing what is done in his/her name.

  A thought provoking post. It is also sad that American politics means so much to the rest of the world. We have an election here in NZ coming up, bet no one knows who our candidates are or what their beliefs are :)

  Jane Nichollss last blog post..A thought for the day

• At September 28, 2008, Jabiz Raisdana wrote:

  Hey Clay,

  Nice round up of the madness that is the current state of American politics. It truly is a sad state of affairs. I too read the Matt Taibbi article and loved, not only its content, but the style as well.

  I am not sure where we go from here, but as an expatriated American, I see very few reasons to ever go back “home.”

• At September 28, 2008, Miguel Guhlin wrote:

  Clay:

  As I've watched this develop, I have several fears:

  1) That the Republicans will win the election which will affirm the role the Moral Majority has played in blending Church and State, moving us to jihad, American style. And, we will be no different than the Taliban enforcing our religious worldview on a world that God has clearly given the freedom of will.

  2) That the "worldview" that is being preached from the pulpits of America, from the White House, is designed to bring about the End Times (I'm not joking, go listen to Pastor John Hagee and the Israel nut crowd about engaging in pre-emptive strikes against Israel's enemies, all backed up with Scripture quotes and panoramic graphical explanations of how the end of the world will happen). I was under the impression only God would determine this...why are they rushing the process along?

  3) This isn't about God's work but using God's word to impose a vision of what a narrow segment of people believe is His will, when in truth, it is about doing exactly the opposite of what God empowered humanity with--free will and the freedom to make mistakes. It may very well be Satan's work that Republicans are about, simply because they want to control the economy (ouch) and legislate morality...they've failed on all counts. This isn't God's work, but man's...aren't they getting the message, scandal after scandals.

  To forgive is divine...please, if you believe this narrow worldview preached from America's pulpits, turn and be saved.

  To recognize all things work for the good of those who love God means that even when evil triumphs, it loses. So, do your worst Moral Majority. . .but please, let us all try to remember the lesson of the Pharisee in the temple (Luke 18:10-14).

  Let us flee the proud speaking of the Pharisee and learn the humility of the Publican, and with groaning let us cry unto the Savior: Be merciful to us, for Thou alone art ready to forgive.(http://snipurl.com/3wpag)

  Note to Clay: I hope this doesn't freak you out...as I recall, you are an atheist. I just want you to know that not all believers in Christ adhere to the worldview espoused. And, I agree with the questions Mark Damon asks.

  Miguel Guhlins last blog post..AVID Conference Notes Day 3

• At September 28, 2008, Clay Burell wrote:

  Miguel, I appreciate your distaste for this particular slice of your religious pie. What you ascribe to Satan I just ascribe to more probable things: bad education, bad parenting, fear to speak out against such things and so allow them to spread.

  I hear you're an abuddhist, but I like you anyway. And I'll defend your azodiacism against the daily horoscope readers to the death ;-)

• At September 28, 2008, Clay Burell wrote:

  I hear you, Jabiz. Living in "godless"(but Buddhist/Taoist) China for five years cured me of any desire to move back to the States any time soon. China is so sane, in comparison.

  When was the last time you read about a Buddhist suicide-bomber, abortionist-assassin, or holy land-grabber?

• At September 28, 2008, Clay Burell wrote:

  I broke away long ago too. Not due to anything as whacked as the gibbering yahoos rolling on the floor like epilectics and calling it god in the final video above, but simply because I read my way out the other side of the faith. (I like Valentinus and the Thomas Gospel, but that was called heresy when the John camp won the emperor way back when.)

  I do like your take in the above. Nicely put.

• At September 28, 2008, A Must-Read Post about Sarah Palin and Friends « Small Town Mamas (and Papas) for Obama wrote:

  [...] A Must-Read Post about Sarah Palin and Friends Posted on September 28, 2008 by bgblogging Clay Burell gathers some terrifying material about Sarah Palin and her supporters. [...]

• At September 28, 2008, Steve wrote:

  Wow... and I thought this was a place where rational discussion happened. Mocking people's religion (and mostly stretching the truth and decontextualizing the facts). I love how you use YouTube and Hollywood celebrities as your airtight intellectual support for such heady issues.

  I, too, have concerns about Palin, as I do about McCain, Obama, and Biden. But, inasmuch as you would have issues with this type of analysis when it comes to the democratic ticket, I would think that you would approach such important issues while staying above the typical media hype, distortion, and mockery.

  Suggestions that Palin endorses witch hunting or sorcery simply because of a visiting pastor from an African country with substantial differences in culture/religion prayed for her is no more sane than implying that Obama is a terrorist for associating with the Weather Underground (and one might even argue that his relationship there with Ayers and Dorhn is much more concrete than of Palin's with a visiting African pastor).

  Some could even interpret your response to Jabiz's comment as anti-American with communist undertones. But that would be silly, right (and I do believe that)?

  So, please spare us the Hollywood/popular media "analysis-as-entertainment" and rise above the fray, keeping your commentary and analysis of the caliber I have come expect from you.

  Steves last blog post..21st Century Skills Election Mumbo Jumbo

• At September 28, 2008, diane wrote:

  I continue to feel offended that, apparently, Senator McCain thought I'd be so desperate to vote for a ticket with a woman on it that I would cross party lines to vote for Governor Palin.

  I hope that I can be trusted to evaluate issues and vote for the ticket that I feel would best represent my beliefs and vision for America.

  There were many intelligent, competent women McCain might have tapped to be his VP. I don't feel that Palin is one of them.

  dianes last blog post..What our eyes behold

• At September 29, 2008, Penelope M wrote:

  Diane, I'm right there with you. There was a time when I'd have been glad to see McCain as president, but this election has eroded what little faith I had left in him after his pandering to Bush these last few years. How do you pick someone you've barely met to be your vice president and potential successor? I just don't get it.

• At September 29, 2008, Steve wrote:

  Diane, I would tend to agree with you there. Although it would be exciting to be pleasantly surprised by her knowledge and intellect during the vice-presidential debate this week, I am not really expecting much. It certainly seems like his choice for VP was a calculated gimmick... one that is going to backfire, I think.

  Steves last blog post..21st Century Skills Election Mumbo Jumbo

• At September 29, 2008, Clay Burell wrote:

  Steve,

  I'll mock ideas I find outrageous to modern reason and human ethics no matter where they come from. Bad religion gets no free ride because it makes people feel good.

  Hollywood preachers like Rick Warren - he's as rich as most stars - are being taken seriously by America, when they're no more intellectual than you or me. I'm not going to disqualify an analysis from an actor (after all, Reagan was an actor) when its reasoning is sound, and its perspective not voiced by more respected journalistic sources.

  If Palin is a believer in apocalyptic End Times - and there's plenty of evidence she is - then, as Damon says, the possibility that she will have control of America's nuclear arsenal if 72-year-old McCain follows the fate of one third of males his age by dying within the next four years? That possibility is indeed terrifying.

  You know about the radical Christian plots to hurry the Second Coming by blowing up the Dome of the Rock in hopes of instigating the "Final Battle" and such, surely. Palin's church seems to be of that ilk. Palin went to that church from her late teens until three or four years ago, when she entered politics.

  You're welcome to respond with where I stretched the truth. Most of the details in my first paragraph come from interviews with Palin, videos of things said in her church (either by her or in her presence). Whether I find them on YouTube or PBS is beside the point: primary sources are primary sources.

  Palin strongly implied she believes Muthee's prayer for her was instrumental in her election win. It's on tape. She gushes about the witch-hunter as a man her god listened to.

  I'm not anti-American, I'm pro-world. America has influences both good and bad, but more and more bad these days.

  And the Wall Street bailout is evidence that America is pro-communist too, in a backwards way: the role of government is to distribute the people's resources to care for the needs of the wealthiest.

  Your final paragraph misses my point: CNN and MSNBC are my sources above, and they (along with the other big media networks) influence this election more than most by reaching American voters and framing the issues.

  So I won't be sparing anyone more of the same if I think it's worth sharing. I will ask you, though, to rise to the caliber you demand by identifying the specifics of my characterization of Palin and her church that you find unfounded.

• At September 29, 2008, Steve wrote:

  Okay, Okay... here's the deal. Most past presidents have been "religious" and most have been of the Christian faith, in all its glory. Many of the most recent ones have had Billy Graham as their religious guide/mentor. So, to single Palin out because perhaps she has made more of her beliefs known - or that her religious practices have been captured on video - does not make the case against her any stronger, does it? You can compare her (or whomever) to whoever you would like and you can suggest that she would want to blow up the world to advance the Second Coming, but all of that is pure conjecture (and perhaps a bit of biased paranoia). All I was saying was that you have to let the facts speak for themselves and avoid "witch hunts" instigated by decontextualized media snippets that do not tell the whole story or do not paint the whole picture.

  And CNN or MSNBC are no more objective than any other "news" source that treats news as entertainment and prefers to follow an agenda than be objective. Just compare how FOX presents the news as compared to CNN or MSNBC. In addition, anyone's opinion, Hollywood or otherwise, has merit. But opinions are still different from facts.

  As far as giving bad religion a free ride, no one is asking that of you. There is plenty of that to go around. But integrity is an issue that transcends religion. Some can profess religiosity for gain just as easily as some can suppress it for gain (or fear of criticism). I have seen seemingly unreligious political candidates suddenly show up in church to "share" during election time. And, I have seen seemingly religious candidates avoid being seen in situations that could be construed as "politically dangerous". In both cases, I would worry more about their lack of integrity and I would their religious views. You can't really judge what's in someone's heart unless you see a lack of integrity.

  I am in no way saying that we/you shouldn't ask the hard questions. I was just trying to make the point that we need to be careful when we present only half of the facts to tell the whole story... to extrapolate the facts we have to come to conclusions that are no longer founded on fact. As I said in my initial comment, I have concerns about Palin as well. I am not running to her defense simply because I am of the Christian faith. I am as appalled as you are at hypocrisy and deception, regardless of one's world view. But don't for a second think that someone is evil based on their faith alone as captured in media snippets. Being a Christian is no more grounds for instant disqualification than is being a muslim, an atheist, hindu, or a jew (but we both know that 4 of those 5 have little chance of getting elected in this country and would probably have to compromise integrity for the office).

  As for McCain's longevity, the stats are indeed against him... which makes all of this still important to throw around.

  Steves last blog post..21st Century Skills Election Mumbo Jumbo

• At September 29, 2008, Michael Doyle wrote:

  Scary stuff. She's scary enough, but seeing how people rally around her scares me even more.

  I once wondered how people in (pick your century) could be so ignorant about (pick any number of idiocies committed by humans).

  And here we are in the middle of it.

  I put my faith in quahogs and horseshoe crabs now. Some days I worry about civilization collapsing, and other days I think it cannot collapse fast enough.

• At September 29, 2008, Clay Burell wrote:

  Thanks for the gentler reply.

  You said,
  

  So, to single Palin out because perhaps she has made more of her beliefs known - or that her religious practices have been captured on video - does not make the case against her any stronger, does it? You can compare her (or whomever) to whoever you would like and you can suggest that she would want to blow up the world to advance the Second Coming, but all of that is pure conjecture (and perhaps a bit of biased paranoia). All I was saying was that you have to let the facts speak for themselves and avoid “witch hunts” instigated by decontextualized media snippets that do not tell the whole story or do not paint the whole picture.

  But this doesn't get my point. There are moderate religious types who balance their ancient book's claims with the findings of the modern world and the principles of the democracy and the Constitution - and there are RADICAL religious types who do not.

  There is ample evidence - and I added a link to the website (Christian, mind you) that does much more in depth documentation of all of my claims above - that Palin spent two decades, ending only 3 years ago, attending a church that participates in the same terrifying Dispensationalist Christianity movement that was featured in the infamous documentary, "Jesus Camp."

  So it's more than "pure conjecture," Steve. It's logical extension of her future leadership, based on her well-documented past, as president and commander-in-chief of the United States.

  John McCain should be ashamed of himself. He didn't spend more than a day vetting her. He probably knows nothing about this.

  But his campaign will keep the media from telling us about this by distracting it with the marriage of Palin's knocked-up teen daughter to her (self-proclaimed) pot-smoking, hockey-playing redneck shot-gun wedding victim-to-be.

  And the media will fall for it. And that will dominate another week before the election, just like McCain's non-suspension of his campaign dominated last week.

  The man's cynicism knows no ends. It's appalling.

  Clay Burells last blog post..Good, Evil, Nature, and the Hero - Backwards: Unsucky English, Lecture 5 (Gilgamesh, cont’d)

• At September 29, 2008, Clay Burell wrote:

  And to more fully respond: when all is said and done, your comment still avoids answering my original question:

  Since Palin's radical faith is documented, shouldn't we fear her?

  To speak of "media agendas" (arguable meme, by the way, when even CNN and PBS feature conservative experts more than liberal) is a red herring. Again, primary sources are primary sources. Attacking the messengers who reveal them is no argument.

  Clay Burells last blog post..Good, Evil, Nature, and the Hero - Backwards: Unsucky English, Lecture 5 (Gilgamesh, cont’d)

• At September 29, 2008, Clay Burell wrote:

  I'm trying to rid civilization of the barbarous ideas eating at it from within. I think civilization itself is a good idea that's worth a try, if we could ever get there.

• At September 29, 2008, Steve wrote:

  I guess we disagree somewhat here, Clay. I don't see her attendance at her church causing her to destroy the world to meet some controversial biblical agenda if she were president, I don't see her supporting the blowing up of abortion clinics due to her pro-life views, and I don't see her looking for witches in the senate because a visiting pastor from Africa had such an agenda any more than I might see Obama supporting Reverend Wright's outlandish claims and actions. Even he dismisses his "guilt by association" by stating that he "is like an old uncle who says things I don't always agree with". I have a feeling that he finally denounced his old pastor and friend simply because he was running for office and the fire got too hot, not out of personal conviction... and that tells me something about his integrity. But these are just my opinions, too. I certainly agree that McCain's pick for VP is very bizarre. In any event, let's stay tuned as to what happens this Thursday with the debates and lets continue to look for evidence that would deem all candidates unworthy of such high office.

  Steves last blog post..21st Century Skills Election Mumbo Jumbo

• At September 29, 2008, Steve wrote:

  I am not attacking the messenger. Media bias is no secret. Primary sources do not ensure that facts lead to logical or fair conclusions. And isn't any faith in God at all considered radical to an atheist (and vice versa)?

  Steves last blog post..21st Century Skills Election Mumbo Jumbo

• At September 29, 2008, Steve wrote:

  To that, I have no beef. Thanks for a great discussion, Clay.

  Steves last blog post..21st Century Skills Election Mumbo Jumbo

• At September 29, 2008, Clay Burell wrote:

  I subscribe to Bishop John Shelby Spong's newsletter, and I am not a Christian. I do, though, like his brand of Christianity. So no, all faiths are not considered equally radical to any non-theist (and not all non-theists are non-spiritual - Buddhism and Taoism, again, are non-theistic. Americans never seem to credit that religion does not presuppose theism, though this is not aimed at you).

  Last week, I bought an Oxford theologian's reference book about the background of the Bible. I also bought a book about "atheology" by a Parisian philosopher. I also bought a book of scholarship about the history and process of transmitting the biblical texts throughout history called "Misquoting Jesus."

  I'm interested in goodness above all, and truth. Not faith.

• At September 29, 2008, Clay Burell wrote:

  Thanks to you too, Steve :)

• At September 29, 2008, Clay Burell wrote:

  Media bias is a popular meme, but the list of studies referenced at the bottom of this article suggest the truth is more complicated.

• At September 29, 2008, Clay Burell wrote:

  I see the possibility that her beliefs in these fringe theories will influence her decisions in the White House. That alone is reason for McCain to either drop her from his ticket or else for voters to drop McCain.

• At September 29, 2008, Clay Burell wrote:

  And Miguel, to be less flip (that loaded "A-word" label always distracts me), let me say that I truly appreciate your comparison of the worst fringes of American fundamentalism and the fundamentalist Islamic madrassas. It takes a very honest and secure Christian to acknowledge that they differ very little on anything but which book they fetishize.

• At September 29, 2008, Clay Burell wrote:

  (And Michael, I think you'll heartily enjoy the RS article linked in the post. The guy's a hell of a writer and observer.)

• At September 29, 2008, Clay Burell wrote:

  Conservatives, including George Will, are also questioning McCain's judgment in this reckless VP choice.

  Maybe there's a god after all.

• At September 29, 2008, Sarah Palin in “Head of Skate” - Fun Little Spoof Trailer | Beyond School wrote:

  [...] little ice-breaker after my fear-frozen last post: CollegeHumor.com also found noteworthy Matt Damon’s comments about the absurdity of a [...]

• At September 30, 2008, linzel wrote:

  The last video of children writhing almost makes me weep. It is intellectual rape. My inability to prevent it makes me feel powerless. Call anything religion and you are given the freedom to perpetuate almost any cult belief. The video is a perfect example of group hypnosis.

  I'll have nightmares tonight and hold my own children in tight hugs to protect them.

  I'm still tingling with fear.

• At September 30, 2008, The VP Debate as the Most Important Test in American History | Beyond School wrote:

  [...] is clearly likable, her policies and beliefs notwithstanding. But by putting herself in line for the Oval Office, we can’t let our [...]