Paul Revere by Cyrus Dallin, North End, Boston

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Tuesday, December 22, 2009

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GOVERNOR WHO QUIT, SARAH PALIN

for winning the prize for the biggest, baddest lie of 2009!  The award was given to her by the Pulitzer Prize winning blog, Politifact, after 5,000 people weighed in on the contest.  She won overwhelmingly for her pants on fire lie about "death panels" in the health care reform bill.  In a year where she assiduously helped John McCain lose a presidential election and then quit her job as governor only half-way through her term to spend more time with her money, it's good to see her come up a winner in something!

Good on you, Sarah!  I give her props for coming up with a really, really blockbuster of a lie.  She's good.  She's really, really good!





"Of all the falsehoods and distortions in the political discourse this year, one stood out from the rest.

"Death panels."

The claim set political debate afire when it was made in August, raising issues from the role of government in health care to the bounds of acceptable political discussion. In a nod to the way technology has transformed politics, the statement wasn't made in an interview or a television ad. Sarah Palin posted it on her Facebook page.

Her assertion — that the government would set up boards to determine whether seniors and the disabled were worthy of care — spread through newscasts, talk shows, blogs and town hall meetings. Opponents of health care legislation said it revealed the real goals of the Democratic proposals. Advocates for health reform said it showed the depths to which their opponents would sink. Still others scratched their heads and said, 

"Death panels? Really?"

The editors of PolitiFact.com, the fact-checking Web site of the St. Petersburg Times, have chosen it as our inaugural "Lie of the Year."

PolitiFact readers overwhelmingly supported the decision. Nearly 5,000 voted in a national poll to name the biggest lie, and 61 percent chose "death panels" from a field of eight finalists." (See the complete results.)

26 comments:

Leslie Parsley said...

What's so sad and amazing is the number of people who believe anything she says.

TOM said...

I just love the idea, that she is the "hope" of the Republican party.

libhom said...

I still don't know if Palin lied or really was stupid enough to believe what she said. She is this era's Dan Quayle.

Joe "Truth 101" Kelly said...

Screw Palin and the stinking fish she's holding. I'm just excited that Shaw is back.

The Lone Ranger said...

Always expect the worst from a liberal and you will never be surprised.


The only way liberals can build themselves up is by tearing others down.

Liberals can dish it out, but they can't take it.

Liberals have an inflated sense of self-worth. They are like house flies that criticize the air-worthiness of a Stealth fighter. (Sarah, Palin, George W. Bush, ad infinitum are morons.)

Liberals get older, but they never get smarter.

You can always tell what liberals are up to by what they accuse you of doing.

Never try to reason with a liberal. They disregard any evidence that conflicts with their beliefs.

Shaw Kenawe said...

Sarah Palin and George W. Bush= Stealth fighters?

Surely you jest.

Palin is a quitter, who hasn't the courage to appear on any serious venue to answer, without being scripted, difficult and complicated policy questions. All she can do is twitter, tweet, and apparently lie--and she does it very well.

George W. Bush's presidency is considered among the top 5 worst in US history.

But don't let the facts get in the way of your fantasies.

PSI Bond said...

Shaw Kenawe said...

Sarah Palin and George W. Bush= Stealth fighters?

Surely you jest.
George W. Bush's presidency is considered among the top 5 worst in US history.

Oh the 5th!

Lets see, Obama is the Worst hands down. This guy has declared war on the citizens of his own country. Cap and trade, TARP, OMNIBUS, Healthcare, Immigration reform, Card check and Stimulus; These are ALL issues that a majority of Americans are/were against. Individual liberty is slipping away. When a so called leader goes directly in conflict of the majority, only drastic consequences will follow. This presidency will be one for the books if it is allowed to be printed.

And behind him is Carter and behind Carter is Bill " Bill "draft dodging rapist" Clinton
and behind Clinton would be LBJ
and I guess JFK would be behind LBJ.Who inherited the mess from JFK and made it worse


Is that about right?

Pamela Zydel said...

I don't consider her the "hope" for the Republican Party. Actually, I'm not sure who I consider our "hope". I guess I'd like for all our representatives to step up and show some guts and character. If not, well, then I'm voting the jerks OUT. I'd rather see my dogcather in office than who we have in office now.

As far a Palin goes, I don't think she has any intentions of running for any political office any time soon. I think she's going to finish her book tour then go on to do speeches and maybe endorse other political figures and earn $$ along the way.

It doesn't matter how many don't like her, because for as many who don't, she has just as many who do. I'm not a hardcore fan. I won't even spend the $30 for her book. I'd read it if someone were to lend it to me, but that's about it. I like her, but I'm certainly not ga-ga and I sure as heck won't stand in line for hours just to see her. There are very few people I'd do that for!

Jim said...

Wow, SK, back to Palin! Yeppir, you are back in the saddle!

Listen, here's a government run program that just may be an indicator of what will happen in the "new healthcare" world. It is run by an old established government organization.

"It is a nightmare and I feel sorry for the folks who are trying to process this," Baechtold said.

Since we are talking about Palin and the Healthcare Bill. ;-)

Spin Cipher said...

Sarah Palin should be taken seriously if she does decide to run for the presidency in 2012. It is too soon for me, or anyone else to have made a decision as to whom will get our votes. Having said that, there are things about Palin that are worthy of consideration, even at this early stage of the game. Sarah Palin electrified the Republican Party when John McCain chose her as a running mate in 2008, and she will bring that same spark should she make her intentions known for 2012.

What I like most about Sarah Palin is that she brings a moral, common sense, and honest approach to politics. She does not let those around her dictate or conform her to follow the political flow without an understanding or belief in the issues at hand. We need someone in Washington who is not affraid to make unpopular decisions that are simply right, and not agenda based, as most of what is happening now is. Palin has proved that she is willing to opposed both the right and the left when doing what is right is concerned. We have far too much of the "follow the leader mentality" in Washington right now, and we need to look toward finding someone to represent the people that is willing to stray from the politics as usual and to lead by doing what is in the best interest for the country and the people who call it home. As a country, we are facing a time where the decisions being made in Washington will effect our country for decades, and some of what is happening will be impossible to reverse. We need someone who is willing to stand up as an individual, and take these decisions seriously and simply do what is right, and not just cater to those who represent future votes. Honesty, common sense, and true morals are missing in Washington, and we need to restore these values or we will eventually see the total collapse of the economy and the buildup of a deficet that can never be removed. What I like most about Sarah Palin is that just as we are angered at what is happening to our country, she seems to share that same anger. She understands that not all problems can be solved by Washington, and some of the responsibility falls back on the people and their role as individuals to do for themselves what so many believe to be the responsibility of the government.

Sarah Palin is a breath of fresh air with her passion, her honest approach to politics, and her dedication to doing what is right rather that to just follow others. She understands that the Constitution is in place for a reason, and not there just in case we need it. The daily lives of those in Washington who represent us should insist that all they do be in complete agreement with what that document represents. We need to take this woman seriously if she does announce her intentions to run for president in 2012. I say to all who may read this, to do your own research and determine for yourselves what Sarah Palin brings to the table, don’t listen to what a bleeding heart liberal says. They are afriad of her.. and how it will effect out country. As with any local, state, or federal election, we need to know who we are voting for, and know what they represent not only as a politician, but as a person.

Sarah Palin represents the true core beliefs of the Republican Party...Consider the following...When you represent the core values of the party, as did Ronald Reagan, you win. When you stray from those core values of the party, and cater to those who do not share those values, as McCain did, you lose. You simply do not sacrifice values in order to get elected, or change those values after you are in office. I believe Sarah Palin will do neither.

Jim said...

BTW - earlier in May of this year the Medicare trustees reported that the "unfunded liability" of the program amounted to 38 TRILLION dollars. TRILLION my friends. Remember that Medicare is for the elder population. And now the government wants to start a new more expensive program for the middle class.

Humm, seems to me that cost cutting will occur somewhere. Have you ever dealt with a compassionate IRS agent? Wait till some guy or gal in an obscure cubicle in a back corner of a very large plain gray room of a government office building in downtown Washington DC gets a hold of your health care app.

May God help us.

rockync said...

Shaw! You have certainly come back to quite an array of characters.
LOL, Lone Ranger! I read this same little ditty a while back except instead of "liberal" it read "conservative"! Nice recycle job...
While I don't agree with Pam on much, it is always nice to have her rational input into any conversation.
I think Spin Cypher must be Sarah's new campaign manager.
And Jim,not sure what the new GI bill and ensuing VA sluggishness has to do with healthcare.
VA has always been a problem child; under EVERY administration. Having had various family members eligible for VA benefits over the years, including an Iraq era vet, the incompetent management of the VA is an long, old story.
While everyone complains about how bad they are, few stop to consider that chronic underfunding has been the biggest contributer to their problems. When you don't have the money to employ adequate staff and upgrade antiquated equipment there will be backlogs.
The long history of how poorly this country has treated its veterans is shameful,but hardly germaine to the healthcare debate.
BTW - I am disgusted with the current bill because it does not include a public option. In fact, I would be much happier with a single payer bill and hope I will see it in my lifetime.

I ToldJah So said...

rockync said...

Shaw! You have certainly come back to quite an array of characters.
LOL, Lone Ranger! I read this same little ditty a while back except instead of "liberal" it read "conservative"! Nice recycle job...
While I don't agree with Pam on much, it is always nice to have her rational input into any conversation.
I think Spin Cypher must be Sarah's new campaign manager.


AND HOW ABOUT YOU, WHO THE F DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOCTOR PHIL?

Shaw Kenawe said...

This post merely REPORTS that 5,000 of PolitiFact's readers chose Palin's lie as the Biggest Lie of the Year.

The Lone Ranger, PSI Bond, Spin Cipher, and I Toldjah So, none of you have written anything that is backed up with facts or evidence. It is your opinion that Palin would make a great president, and you can have your own opinions, but not your own facts.

Here are the facts: SHE QUIT HER JOB AS GOVERNOR. She has NEVER, NEVER, NEVER appeared on any serious venue to elucidate her domestic and foreign policies. NEVER.

She does drive-by tweeting and facebook postings, and signed a book that was put together in 4 months and that was ghost-written.

Facts.

If y'all believe that will make a great presidency, then every quitter and every twitterer in the US is qualified to be the president.

I challenge each of you who knee-jerk defend her to give me her analyses of America's foreign policies, vis-a-vis Iraq and Afghanistan and the Middle East. What are her plans to solve the Middle East conflicts? I'll eagerly await for you all to provide us with her seriously thought-out foreign policy positions.


I then challenge you all to report her detailed domestic policies for putting this country on a better financial path to recovery, how she would address the millions of Americans without health care, job creation, infrastructure, education, just to name a few. I expect you, who extol her brilliance to produce detailed and well thought-out position papers on all of those serious issues facing this country.


Telling people she's honest, caring, "one of us," does not solve America's problems.

My grandmother is honest, caring, and "one of us," but she couldn't possibly run this country.

If you can't come back with concrete examples of Palin's policiy positions on what I asked for, then I will rightly consider you all cheerleaders for quitter and a blow-hard who will say anything, even biggest fattest lies, to get attention.

I'll be waiting...

Shaw Kenawe said...

PS. Toldja So:

Grow up.

Anonymous said...

Palin's foreign and domestic policies?

Funny. Foreign Policy magazine answered this last month, and the answer was NO. She has none.

But she can wink very, very well.

Pamela Zydel said...

While I don't agree with Pam on much, it is always nice to have her rational input into any conversation.

Rocky: Thank you! As you said, we may not see eye to eye all the time, but I think we‘ve always been kind to one another, which to me, is MORE important than concurring! I’d much rather be around NICE people than those that are agreeable, nasty jerks.



Jim: It’s true that Palin walks to the beat of her own drum, and I admire that; because I’m not one to follow trends and such. However, she quit. And regardless of how rational her reasons, i.e. cost of bogus ethics charges and not being able to govern properly due to those lawsuits; I think it will hurt her in the long run. I see it as: If she can’t “handle” the pressure as a Governor how will she "handle" the pressure as the President of the United States, which would be 100% worse! Again, I don’t think she has intentions right now of running for any political office, but if she does run, her quitting, I believe, will come back to haunt her.


Again, it's not that I don't like her, because I do. I just don't think she's "the one".

rockync said...

I Toldja So - Hmmm.... no ,more like Dr Ruth!
And you look too young to be dropping the F bomb on me.
Your Mother needs to wash out your mouth with soap!
SHAW - love the new gravatar! Is that Boston Bay in the background.
Pam - no matter what, I will always see you as a classy lady. And I always look forward to spirited debates in which you participate. :)

Shaw Kenawe said...

Pam,

I second what rockync said. Class all the way.

rockync,

That photo of me was taken in Florida. That's Little Clearwater Bay in the background. I lived on Sand Key for 10 years. I'm back in Boston and freezing!

rockync said...

Florida? LOL,Shaw~ I thought you looked a little too tanned for Boston.
I'll bet you're freezing. This is the first time we've had this much snow and cold in probably 20 years and I'm ready to move further south. I was just saying the other day that the Keys sounded real good to me right now.

dmarks said...

I sure agree with what Pamela said. If frivolous claims against her and insults from opponents made her quit the governor's office, how can she expect not to see the same as President? Far worse, even?

Any Republican opponent in a debate can easily cut her to ribbons on this. "You quit your highest elected office because you could not take the heat. How are we to know that if elected, you won't quit the Presidency within a week the first time a Democrat in Congress says something bad about you?".

She could run for President, with McCain as her running mate. Despite fears last year that he might die in office if elected, McCain looks quite hale and hearty now. It's Palin who is the unstable one, and not likely (based on past performance) to complete her promised turn of office.

dmarks said...

Shaw asked: "I challenge each of you who knee-jerk defend her to give me her analyses of America's foreign policies, vis-a-vis Iraq and Afghanistan and the Middle East."

She might win such a debate if pitted against Joe Biden, who claimed that Afghanistan is currently a nuclear state.

Jim said...

As far as I know, and I'm sure someone here will verify, if one is charged on ethics in Washington DC as a Congressman or Senator, even President, one does not have to fork out your own money in defense. Is that right? Just asking.

I agree, Palin quitting her Governorship will be the deciding obstacle to her future political career. Unless she runs for mayor, then that may not be true.

Jim said...

The piece by Annie Lowery in Foreign Policy, referenced by anonymous, is interesting, to a point. She was using Palin's memoir for study. Click here for the article.

. . . former governor of Alaska, former running mate of Sen. John McCain, and foreign-policy interest of mine is how she started an article in the Washington Post. I wonder if Annie Lowery isn't a bit obsessed with Palin. A stalker maybe? Click here to read the Washington Post article.

Foreign Policy itself is a left leaning publication. See the first 10 global thinkers in the 100 best thinkers of 2009 for proof. You'll not find one conservative in the bunch though Gen. David Petraeus may fill the bill (he's #8).

IMHO it is silly to expect a policy issue treatise from a biographical memoir of so short a tome. Palin's book was not meant to be a statement of policy just how she made it onto the public stage.

That in itself is enough to indict her to some on this blog. ;-)

Jo-Joe Politico . said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Pamela Zydel said...

Pam - no matter what, I will always see you as a classy lady. And I always look forward to spirited debates in which you participate. :)

Pam,

I second what rockync said. Class all the way.


Rocky and Shaw: Right back at ya, LADIES!!