Umm Dan Quale. Ronald Reagan. The utterly unqualified rising to positions of great power is not exactly unknown.
I think Palin sinks to an all new low. IIRC, Quale had been in the Senate for quite a while. Reagan had a term or two as governor of a grown-up sized state where the Governor (I think) has actual
exective experience.
I thought both were wrong-headed and pretty dense, but at least they had been unqualified for long enough to pick up
something.
Less than half a term as governor preceded by mayor of a town with no fire department or school system where she hired an administrator to do her job doesn't even compare.
Outside of "Drill, baby, Drill", I can't think of anything Palin has said that indicates any thoughts about policy. This is what makes it hard for me to take her seriously.
Happy Birthday ChiKat!
This morning I found out that the contruction crews next door have built scaffolding that extends over part of the facade of my building for some unknown reason, including one of the windows into my apartment. I'd have preferred to have made that discovery after having the chance to get dressed first.
This is kinda' funny:
Vladimir Putin 'wanted to hang Georgian President Saakashvili by the balls'
With Russian tanks only 30 miles from Tbilisi on August 12, Mr Sarkozy told Mr Putin that the world would not accept the overthrow of Georgia’s Government. According to Mr Levitte, the Russian seemed unconcerned by international reaction. “I am going to hang Saakashvili by the balls,” Mr Putin declared.
Mr Sarkozy thought he had misheard. “Hang him?” — he asked. “Why not?” Mr Putin replied. “The Americans hanged Saddam Hussein.”
Mr Sarkozy, using the familiar tu, tried to reason with him: “Yes but do you want to end up like [President] Bush?” Mr Putin was briefly lost for words, then said: “Ah — you have scored a point there.”
Reagan was already suffering Alzheimer symptoms when he was elected President. The press helped cover it up by not reporting gaffes. I'm not saying that Palin is not awful and unqualified. I think we tend to overlook how awful and unqualified some of the people we have had in the past were.
Reagan was already suffering Alzheimer symptoms when he was elected President.
I've heard that. I've also read quotes of Reagan from that time where he seems in possession of his faculties. So I'm curious - how bad were his symptoms then?
I do remember the "Trees cause most pollution" quote. And back then I was appalled that he thought ICBMs could be recalled after launch....
So I'm curious - how bad were his symptoms then?
Mainly really appalling gaffes - some of them got reported on back pages, but most of them got skipped on grounds that "that's just Reagan being Reagan, and people don't care about that stuff anyway". Part of it was the pushback from the rightwing, where anytime a gaffe was quoted the press got angry phone calls, and letters. In all fairness Reagan could keep it together for long periods. He did well in the debate with Carter, though having Carter's briefing book certainly helped with that one.
If you watch Reagan-era SNL, all the jokes are about how he can't remember anything and/or has no idea what's going on around him. It's kind of creepy in retrospect.
I just got an email from David Plouffe/Obama telling me that:
For the first time, transition efforts won't be financed with donations from Washington lobbyists and PACs -- which means we'll need to keep asking for your help.
a) huh
b) I was just thinking this morning how nice it was not to be inundated with emails asking for more money.
