NEWSWEEK has also learned that Palin’s shopping spree at high-end department stores was more extensive than previously reported. While publicly supporting Palin, McCain’s top advisers privately fumed at what they regarded as her outrageous profligacy.
Many professional media creators, videographers, photographers, musicians and others were hoping the MacBook would be positioned to replace the PowerBook G4 12-inch models they coveted for extreme portability. The lack of a FireWire port has diminished their enthusiasm for the new MacBooks, just when the processor, video card and rugged design made a MacBook a small-sized, portable alternative to carrying a larger MacBook Pro.
My gut was telling me that this was a teachable moment and that if I tried to do the usual political damage control instead of talking to the American people like an adult — like they were adults and could understand the complexities of race — that I would be not only doing damage to the campaign but missing an important opportunity for leadership.
But something has happened in recent weeks among the Clinton faithful. Fear of the right-wing Palin, coupled with the economic collapse, has caused them to quietly swallow their Obama misgivings.
connection to the heartland of America. Being a mom, one very concerned about a son in the war, about a special needs child, about kids heading off to college, how are we going to pay those tuition bills?” None of Palin’s children, it should be noted, is heading off to college. Her son is on the way to Iraq, and her pregnant 17-year-old daughter is engaged to be married to a high-school dropout and self-described “fuckin’ redneck”. Palin is a woman who can’t even tell the truth about the most quotidian and public details of her own life, never mind about matters of major public import. In her only vice-presidential debate, she was shallow, mendacious and phoney. What kind of maverick, after all, keeps harping on what a maverick she is? That her performance was considered anything but a farce doesn’t show how high Palin has risen, but how low we all have sunk.
Additionally, Palin’s claim that she and McCain will “protect the entitlement programs” contrasts sharply with her claim last month that she would look for “efficiencies” to cut in the entitlement programs. Also, as Marc Ambinder notes, if McCain and Palin are going to follow through on their pledge to balance the budget, entitlement cuts “would have to be deep.” Palin reiterated the balanced budget promise earlier today.
