Open thread — Son of “Snowzilla”
After we’ve shared much anger, sadness and grief this past weekend here on the “Flats, I thought I’d show you something much “lighter” that I’ve been meaning to post.
According to the Anchorage Daily News last week, the giant snowman known as “Snowzilla” may be reaching completion, if he’s not already finished. Anchorage is still pretty icy, though, and I think creator Billy Ray Powers may need it to snow once more to put on the finishing touches. I’ll grab my camera and check tomorrow to see if it’s done.
This reminded me of the visit an 11-year-old Morrigan and I paid to “Mr. Zilla” in 2008 the last time he was built:
I was impressed! Here’s a shot looking up (I’m 5’3″, to give you perspective):
The picture at the ADN link above looks like they are trying for about the same size but if we don’t get more snow, I’m not sure they’ll acheive it. No matter, it will be great to see him again!
Alaskans go to any and all lengths to survive the winter! Are there any similar stories from your neck of the woods?
Mag: Please carry my name and blessings with you too, to Tucson!! Stay safe!!!
Happy birthday to Sheriff Clarence Dupnik. May you have many happy returns of the day.
Let’s hold this wonderful Sheriff in our hearts. He’s got his hands full. He seemed tried on KO last night after doing media all day. Planning for all the services is also a HUGE endeavor for this man.
I tried to find an email address for the Sheriff to give him some words of support and comfort after Limbaugh’s commentary. He should be pulled from the airwaves for treason against the United States!
Mille — Further up in this thread (@32.3) TNbluedot gives a contact site: “I came up with this contact page on the Pima County Sheriff’s website: http://pimasheriff.org/contacts ” beth.
Sarah Palin’s Alaska: “Caribou in the Crosshairs.” Perhaps the reason she missed was she was using a surveyors’ transit. Also, the editing of the caribou shown in the gunsight looked bigger than the one that they were supposedly shooting for the freezer. There was no confusion to a viewer than they were looking through a gunscope. A symbollic one but we got the picture. Than to not feel that the crosshairs on the map were targets to hit but only common map marking symbols. I don’t think that crosshairs are used to mark congressional districts or anything else on a map that an average citizen would use, Rand McNally.
I am not putting blame on Palin….but it is the spin and the bait and switch that she does that has more than worn thin.
(thunking forehead with the heel of my hand) Of COURSE! That explains it.
I don’t know if this is the open thread for the day —
Another great read @ DU called “The Wrath of Fools”
Don’t you just love ppl who can write a rant ??
snip] You who worship Jesus at the top of your lungs (in defiance of Christ’s own teachings on the matter of worship, by the way) helped put several churchgoers into their graves and into the hospital. You who shriek about the sanctity of marriage helped cut down a man who was about to be married. You who crow with ceaseless abandon about military service and the nobility of our fighting forces helped to critically wound the wife of a Naval aviator who fought for you in a war. You who hold September 11 as your sword and shield helped put a little girl born on that day into the ground. [end snip
read more @ http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439×165235
I posted that one a bit earlier, if you look at it in conjunction with the other link I posted (see my comment at 48) it really resonates. False equivalencies and hypocrisy all rolled up in one!
Sorry – didn’t realize it was same post –
same article by same guy on different sites
Yes – points out a lot of their hypocrisy
The examples cited in the “wrath” letter are different from the others, I found it particularly disturbing to see that the sort of vile rhetoric cited there has come back into fashion since RNC 2008… False Christians.
wow! i love good rant! thanks Enjay thar was good.
Yep…the world weighs in on Palin and the Arizona tragedy:
http://politico-junkie.blogspot.com/2011/01/sarah-palin-silent-amid-blame-game.html
I’m going into Tucson tomorrow (a 2-hour drive) to stand in line another 4 hours. The result will be that I get to see OUR President Obama at a community memorial service. Another result will be that I get to be amongst a huge group of like-minded people for several hours.
I have no fear at all of the Westboro douchebags. They are not welcome here, and something tells me they will be kept far away from the church, not seen and not heard. Although Sheriff Dupnik doesn’t have police jurisdiction in the city itself, he has many friends.
Give us an update for this sad memorial. I can’t imagine the numb grief of the victims families. I’m with you in spirit.
I will do so! Last I heard, two groups of “Angels” will show up at the Catholic church to block out the Westboro slime. One group are the “Tucson Angels”, wearing wings that are six feel high and spread out to something like four feet across. And the other group of Angels would be the Hell’s. Between the two, I don’t think the Westboroites have a chance.
I’m driving in w. two friends. We hope to get in line at the McKale Center (the U of A basketball stadium where Obama will speak) by 1:00. Doors open at 4:00 for the 6:00 ceremony. I would like to write down the names of everyone interested and carry them inside with me so people can be with me in spirit. Send me your names (or Mudflats identities) on this site!
((((((Mags))))))
You and your friends are angels of mercy. Please carry my love and support with you on this mournful journey. Namaste
Please carry my name with you. As I think all the Mudpuppies would like you to do as our Representative of all this site stands for. Hope you have Brian along. If you don’t have a real Brain perhaps you can bring a paper cut out to hold for us.
I’ll be right there in your heart, Mag.
toda raba, quayana, many thanks
thatcrowwoman
{{{{{ Mag }}}}}
what a lovely thing to do Mags. thank you. i ‘ll be there with you in spirit.
Tucson Arizona angels: the Westboro Baptists are going to attend the funeral services of the little girl Christina Taylor Green who will be buried on Thursday. forty two people have signed up to make angel wings for those who will provide protection from the action of this church and its ‘pastor’ who makes money for his church by scamming monies from municipalities for harm they say are done to their property while they do their dirt to helpless,grieving families. what terrible people.
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/US/01/11/arizona.funeral.westboro/?hpt=C2
If it will make Alaskans feel better about Palin, Kansas has a bigger embarrassment, the Fred Phelps family AKA the Westboro Baptists. I can remember when they were just a local problem and have no idea how that finance their nationwide campaigns. I remember when a young man threw a bucket of water on ol’ Fred when the family was protesting at a local parade. Fred sued.
I wish, sincerely, all would just leave this Westboro group alone. As much as we may abhor it, Phelps and his sick-o bunch (a bunch chockfull of lawyers, I might add) does have a Constitutional right to be an @55 hole and picket the funerals.
The more ‘citizen’s’ groups get pulled together to protect the AZ mourners, the more attention the Phelps Crazees get. I would SO hope everyone just lets The Freedom Riders do what they’ve been doing for the past 5-8-years, or so: Providing a buffer between Phelps and the funerals his ‘church’ targets for display of their hate.
Please, Arizona — leave him and his ‘church’ to the Freedom Riders. The Freedom Riders are an incredible nation-wide volunteer group of motorcyclists who have been performing an invaluable and dignified service to our nation for years now — with no fanfare, seeking of personal aggrandizement, or call for notice, they quietly show up and attend funerals all over the country to thwart the Phelps cra zy. They have it in hand and will protect well and faithfully the families and friends attending. beth.
Yes, stay away from the Westboro Baptists and their ugly, hateful protest.
fpr — I concur wholeheartedly. My comment was meant specifically for the ones our Bubbles mentioned @ 52 {“…forty two people have signed up to make angel wings for those who will provide protection from the action of this church and its ‘pastor’…”}
I know our first and most noble instinct is to protect the families, but by ‘forming’ to do so, all we are doing is giving Phelps and his group the attention they crave; we just stoke their fires of intollerance and h8 as they smirk at us while hiding behing the 1st Amendment.
Bless their hearts, The Freedom Riders *will* be there (as many as are needed and then some) — as they are at EVERY funeral the Westboro jackadzes announce they’ll be picketing (and as they are even at funerals that haven’t been specifically targeted by Fred and his minions but that might have a Phelpsite or two show up — the FRs are there in full force.) As I said, they are nation-wide, are super well-organized, and have vast experience thwarting the Phelps garbage with unobtrusive care, compassion, and love. beth.
Another excellent column posted on Politico:
“Because what really matters is that the goal posts have moved. Sarah Palin’s disgraceful language and symbols and website graphics are being waved off as irrelevant to the political discourse. When, in fact, they are the political discourse.”
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0111/47410.html#ixzz1Ak2qMMLN
This is a super column by Roger Simon:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0111/47399.html
Take a look at the letter that media matters founder sent to Fox. It’s very telling that his earlier request that Beck and Palin tone down the violent rhetoric was met by on-air laughter from the pair.
http://mediamatters.org/press/releases/201101100014
This sums things up nicely: http://www.pacificfreepress.com/news/1/7761-wrath-of-fools-an-open-letter-to-the-far-right.html
Particularly when paired with this timeline:
http://www.csgv.org/issues-and-campaigns/guns-democracy-and-freedom/insurrection-timeline
I found it very therapeutic to read the William Rivers Pitt screed out loud….
punctuated with paper flicks at a bobble-head Palin doll my niece gave me as a joke.
The worst thing that could happen to Palin has happened….she has to sit down and STFU. There is nothing she can say now, no show she can go on until this blows over and even then….she has to stop using the only thing she knows, mean, snarky language with violent images. CAN she speak without vitriol? NO.
All you people hating on the guy who makes this need to lighten up. It’s a mans right to keep whatever he wants on his land. Instead of just down talking the man who tries to bring a little joy to the community every year, maybe you should get to know him.
About Mr. Zilla–a few years ago I could have carved him out of the snow around my house–we had ten feet. If not for the balcony railing, I could have walked from the balcony up onto the snow around my condo. Kept the place pretty cozy.
Now, a night with light frost makes the front pages of the local paper. I miss the snow, but love the oranges!
EnJay—-just read the article on the web site you posted.. WOW——Hope , but doubt, Sarah will read it.
For those looking for an well written piece to read – take a web trip to DU to read
“Good Morning, Sarah Palin: Welcome to the first day of the rest of your life”
I believe this Amerigo Vespucci has posted here on “The Mudflats”
snip] Instead, you did something none of us expected. You approached the glowing, orange embers that lay smoldering at the rubble heap that once was a proud and prosperous America and you slowly fanned the flames. The anger, the uncertainty, the shattered lives…with the precision of a laser surgeon, you focused on that anger and encouraged people to become more angy, to become “Tea Party Patriots,” to “reload, not retreat,” to take up arms in revolt of an unseen enemy that they didn’t understand, and neither did you. [end snip
read more @
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439×162045
Just read the letter. Thank you for sharing it was very well written.
Great article and well written as you mentioned. I wish more people would read it. I am stuck at home because of the snow and have spent quite some time on the Internet yesterday and have the feeling that people are reacting negatively to Palin and are readily making the connection between her rethorics and the massacre (at least at the sites I visited). But this does not seem to translate at all on TV.
Just checking in but if anyone else is of a mind to complain to HuffPo – they have had the dreadful smiling face of the accused shooter on their site it seems for most of the day – a huge image that is the first thing you see when you open their front page. I for one, think that it is crap to give so much attention to someone like this. It is often found later that people who commit these deranged acts do so for attention. I don’t see why they would want to help ‘feed the beast’. It just seems unnecessary and it panders to the sensationalism of the event. yuck.
I’ll have to agree with you there.I have thought the same about palins picture in the ADN.Seeno reason for it to be there still.
Wow – I don’t know what I said that may have set off some mechanism at HuffPo, but three comments that I wrote asking that they take down the picture have all disappeared and not been posted. The last one I just agreed with someone else who said the same thing, but I did mention that two other comments had disappeared. What is up with that?? Makes me feel creepy that someone seems to have decided I can’t post comments.
I have posted a few comments that they needed to quit writing sensationalized headlines that are inaccurate – I guess I ruffled a feather or something – bummer.
Ok – the last one finally showed up but the first two evaporated into thin air – good grief.
No zillas in the DC area just total freak outs if it snows more than 6 inches.
Very off topic, sorry, but can’t help posting my thoughts. I stood in the secret annex in Amsterdam, I had a private 8 hour tour of auschwitz , we shot a documentary film of the camps that was sent to many school districts in PA, there is very little difference between a bullet in the head and the gas drifting down as the women and children scream. It is time to stand and reject hatred in all forms.
This old irishman is ready to march again!!!! Peace to all
I posted this above in response to post #32, but wonder if many of you might miss it in that position since #32 was posted several hours ago. So, I’m dual posting this about Sheriff Clarence Dupnik, Pima County AZ…
I loved him the minute I heard him publicly (as in nationally!) denounce the hateful rhetoric in our politics! After listening to him on several outlets since Saturday and hearing/reading the nasty things the right is saying about him, I searched for a way to contact him. I came up with this contact page on the Pima County Sheriff’s website: http://pimasheriff.org/contacts. If any of you are so inclined, I think it’d be great to let him know he’s supported around the country. AND, tomorrow is his birthday!!
P.S.
Snow in Middle TN today, too – yuk!
I sent him a support note and a birthday wish.Sure hope that page was ok to do it on???
Please take the time to go read this at Huffpo – it is yet another view, from a sportswriter, about her attempts to justify her language by making lame attempts to tie it to sports. Well written, thoughtful, and really on topic
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dave-zirin/its-not-a-game-sarah-pali_b_806943.html?ir=Politics
From the article:
“If this weekend taught us nothing else, it’s not enough to just “change the channel.” It’s not enough to say that articles like this one “just give Palin the attention she wants” and “all she cares about being is a reality TV star.” No. This isn’t about reality television. It’s about reality. It’s about understanding that the radical right needs to be politically challenged, and Sarah Palin — it needs to be said loudly — should have long disqualified herself from national politics. Any political leader that continues to defend her should be seen as endorsing the very discourse she promotes. This isn’t about stifling speech. It’s about laying down a marker after this weekend and saying that this is not a game.”
Agree, but…… It’s more than just Scarah. Bachmann wants her supporters “armed and dangerous”. Fox, Newsmax, etc has been also beating the drums too.
The GOP has been taken over by these people. What we need to do is make sure we are reaching out to still sane members of the GOP. I know folks who are not very political and they don’t yet realize fully what has happened. Maybe they will start to “wake up” and smell the vitriol.
russelsq—-What a brave young girl–Anne Frank. I am so sorry I didn’t visit the Anne Frank museum while I was in Holland. I did visit the Jewish museum while in Chicago. I was very young during WW11,and all the things I heard during this time was brought back in vivid form.
Eva Schloss, whose mother married Anne Frank’s father after the war, came to my elementary school last year to speak. Most of my students have no understanding or even awareness of the Holocaust and, as she talked about her experiences in Auschwitz during the war, I could see they were shocked. She did a wonderful job of making them feel what it was like without causing them too much fear.
For me, it was an extremely moving experience to hear first-hand stories of what the camps were like, especially from someone with a direct conenction to Anne Frank. I was born long after the war was over, but read the Diary of Anne Frank several times as a young girl. As I’m sure many people do when reading her story, I remember wondering if I would have been as brave as she was.
Currently directing “Diary of Anne Frank” at my high school, the cast today made some amazing connections to the Ariz. shootings: they were good and caring people who were killed by a madman, incited to hatred by leaders wishing to push their doctrine of fear.
These kids gave me some hope today. Peace to all
{{{{{ russellsq and students }}}}}
I remember when the senior class in my high school did “Diary of Anne Frank”. It really was the first time I put real people with the faces I had seen of those who were in concentration camps. It’s a powerful story, and as I found out when I read the book after seeing the play, there were many heroes who helped Anne’s family and others like them.
Peace to all, and may we also have long memories.
I really needed something to feel good about today. I found this blog.
http://chrisjohnstonphoto.blogspot.com/
Those are great photos, GA Peach! Thanks, I needed that too.
Thanks for that link. I laughed and cried – nipple cream 🙂
The fight to save anything is so precious and to be able to make it work, all the more.
Again, thanks!!!
Just learned that another wonderful woman has left us. Debbie Friedman’s music has been and will be a blessing for many in my tribe, and for many outside the Jewish faith as well.
Here’s Psalm 30, Mourning into Dancing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLsTk0YpE4A
Today would have been my dear mother-in-law’s birthday. Can she really be gone ten years now? Her memory is for a blessing.
So many lovely voices gone over Jordan. Quite a heavenly choir…
*Wrapping my wings around all who mourn and wishing for us all some sweet shalom*
thatcrowwoman
Here’s a tribute to Debbie, of blessed memory, from the Union of Reform Judaism:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yLDgDkCeQE
and Miriam’s Song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZdSEsZ8bMo
I got an email about Debbie from Rabbi Waskow.
{{{{{{{{{{{ thatcrowwoman }}}}}}}}}}}}
We have had enough bad news the last few days, so how about some good news? It has just been reported that Tom Delay has been sentenced to 3 years in prison. Here is a little dittie to commemorate the event.
JAILHOUSE BOP
(sung to the Elvis Presley song “Jailhouse Rock”)
He has to stay locked-up they will not grant him bail
The inmates love to watch Tom Delay shake his tail
His hips were pumpin’, he was shakin’ everything
You should have heard those knocked out jailbirds sing
Let’s rock, come on Tommy let’s rock
All his boyfriends in the whole cell block
Watch Tommy do the Jailhouse Bop
Tommy called his lawyer on the telephone
Asked if Judge Pat Priest could just throw him a bone
Told him he was man-meat for the whole biker gang
Lawyer said, “Thank him that you weren’t sent to hang”
Let’s rock, come on Tommy let’s rock
All his boyfriends in the whole cell block
Watch Tommy do the Jailhouse Bop
Should be servin’ seven but he’s servin’ three
He’s the cutest jailbird they ever did see
Bubba is delighted with Tom’s company
“Come on and do the Jaihouse Bop with me!”
Let’s rock, come on Tommy let’s rock
All his boyfriends in the whole cell block
Watch Tommy do the Jailhouse Bop
(money laundering break)
Tom Delay was a sittin’ there upon the throne
Way over in the corner weepin’ all alone
Then Bubba said, “Hey Tommy you got pretty hair”
“Now let me hear you Winnie like a chestnut mare!”
Let’s rock, come on Tommy let’s rock
All his boyfriends in the whole cell block
Watch Tommy do the Jailhouse Bop
Shifty Henry said to Bugs, “For heaven’s sake”
“Is that really his hammer or is it fake?”
Bugsy said to Shifty, “Buddy don’t get sick”
“But hope Tom sticks around awhile performing tricks
Let’s rock, come on Tommy let’s rock
All his boyfriends in the whole cell block
Watch Tommy do the Jailhouse Bop
that’s great – did they put him right away??? i hope so. that bastard. now the gw bush administration. if only.
That’s some consolation, lynnrockets, but I hear he’ll be released on bail pending appeal(s) which could drag on for years. Still, I would love to see a perp-walk photo. (hanging head in chagrin at my petty ‘tude)
Ya but he is out on bond money talks and BS walks.We will see if he actually gets any time Texas is a very corrupt state as far as the judicial is concerned.they can be bought and paid for
That’s wonderful! HaHa..! Ole Tom will be a con….wow…just like Scooter….what grown man is called Scooter??? Did you know Scooter Libby did a book called the ‘Apprentice’? It’s a weird tale of bondage, bestiality,incest (from google info!) What an odd, little, strange man..! Oh, it takes place in a remote lodge in Japan..! I wonder how the idea popped into his head to do it??? The depths of Scooters’ mind…a tortured place.
Yuk – I just read about the book on Wikipedia. I’ve read a lot, but I’ve never read anything quite that demented.
OMG! Snowzilla is a giant Gurgi!!
LOL…you are so right.
Clarenc Dupnik, Pima Co Sheriff, condemned (not naming anyone – Sen. Kyl)
“the rhetoric about hatred, about mistrust of government, about paranoia of how government operates and to try to inflame the public on a daily basis, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, has impact on people especially who are unbalanced personalities to begin with.”
When you’re 76 years old, you say it as you see it.
Not one to be intimidated by the tea party apologists, today he was “very angry at the time I said those things, and I’m still angry.”
And this is from the Guardian:
“Dupnik is also on record as having attended, with no fuss and no calls for special treatment, a driver’s education course when he was caught speeding in 2008.”
I’m liking this man more and more
Me too, biglake! My hero!
Sheriff Dupnik is a good old boy. He was born here in Bisbee, at a time when working people from all over the world lived, played, studied, and labored together and depended on each other for survival in the mines and smelter. The real, old working-class ethics held that you judged your fellow man on the strength of his back and on how hard he worked, not on the color of his skin or the origin of his name. That was the ethos than won the West. He is a living reminder of what a decent place Arizona once was. I love the man, and I completely support him on speaking out as he did. Thank you, Clarence.
I sent him an email to the Pima County Sheriffs Dept. thanking him for his remarks…I thought he was fabulous and I totally respect him….AND his opinion.
I wrote the Sheriff to thank him for being the voice of sanity.
I loved him the minute I heard him publicly (as in nationally!) denounce the hateful rhetoric in our politics! After listening to him on several outlets since Saturday and hearing/reading the nasty things the right is saying about him, I searched for a way to contact him. I came up with this contact page on the Pima County Sheriff’s website: http://pimasheriff.org/contacts. If any of you are so inclined, I think it’d be great to let him know he’s supported around the country. AND, tomorrow is his birthday!!
P.S.
Snow in Middle TN today, too – yuk!
Thanks for posting this info. I thanked him for his remarks and wished him happy birthday.
Thank you for the link, will send him a thank you note right away. I agree with everyone else, his candor is refreshing. It was painful yesterday to hear some of the comments on CNN about the whole issue of heated rethoric (Paul Begala among others was really disappointing).
Sullivan just posted this from one of his readers:
“I just listened to the Bruce-Mansour interview in its entirety, and it strikes me that the pathology on display here runs deeper even than the “surveyor’s symbol” excuse. Rebecca Mansour (who, as you know, is one of Palin’s closest advisers) insists that it wasn’t the idea of Palin and her advisers to take down the target graphic – instead it was Palin’s web host that broached the idea. But otherwise Palin NEVER would have made any connection between that map and a target, it just never would have occurred to her! And besides, Team Palin thought the graphic had already been taken down, because the election was over. So by all means, yes, take it down, they told the web company – but not because there’s anything tasteless about it. Just because it’s outdated anyway and they didn’t want to “pay” any longer to have it up. And besides all that, Mansour goes on, the graphic wasn’t even designed in-house. It came from out outside firm. So, there you have it.”
“Really, the stream of credulity-straining excuses is like listening to a teenager try to explain why his homework assignment isn’t done.”
“This is not the way mature, rational adults behave. It’s also majorly bizarre that Tammy Bruce insists multiple times at the beginning of the interview that Mansour isn’t appearing as a representative of Palin or SarahPAC (“she joins me personally and not on behalf of the PAC” says the lead-in text on the website). She’s just on, apparently, as a private citizen shooting the shit. I can only assume that this disclaimer is offered up preemptively to give Palin breathing room to deny anything controversial Mansour might have let slip during the segment.”
“Is there any length to which Palin will not go to evade responsibility for any action? She could have come out and made some statement to the effect that the target graphic was in retrospect a poor choice, but that “targeting” is a common political metaphor and no harm was intended, etc. Instead she lies, evade, and misrepresents.”
I especially like the part about her – once again – trying to somehow make herself the victim, and the last paragraph – which I will not put here as folks should read for themselves. Don’t want to steal the posters thunder.
It’s the total hypocrisy that she is never responsible for her actions yet plays the victim of the msm or whoever exposes the truth about her. In that vein, I found this a particularly appropriate response to the blame/victimization issue:
http://preview.tinyurl.com/4g3zpyt
I know we are beginning to talk in circles about the Arizona tragedy but I couldn’t help but read another Huffpo post. You may find yourself nodding while reading as, I’m sure, we’ve all read similar pieces…but it is very good if you have a couple of minutes.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jane-hamsher/sarah-palins-political-ca_b_806931.html
OMG, I liked that post.
“So, it’s somewhat surprising, even to me, that I find myself here — saying that Sarah Palin’s actions have been so utterly self-involved and reckless that they should forever disqualify her from occupying a position of political leadership in this country again.”
I would also like to add, “again” – she was never qualified to occupy a position of leadership in the first place.
I agree with your statement, she was never qualified for any of the political positions that she held.
OMG, if you are ever thinking of coming to Ireland, let me know. I have a feeling that we would get on famously. 🙂
My daughter attends university in the UK so you never know…I’ll definitely let you know if I wing my way over.
“I won’t speculate on the role Palin played in motivating the actions of Jared Loughner — nobody can know that for sure, probably not even him. But the irresponsible nature of Palin’s actions speak for themselves, and don’t need the affirmation of outside events to qualify as alarming and foolhardy. You want to act recklessly? Fine, drive a race car. Put out oil fires. Climb the Himalayas. You do not have the maturity or the judgment to be President of the United States.
Further, Palin’s retreat into self-pity and victimization in the wake of the shooting demonstrates that she is utterly devoid of self-reflection, completely unable to acknowledge her failure to gauge the dangers inherent in the situation at the time, or learn from her mistakes. She acts like a sneaky teenager. She lies. She pushes others out there to take the hits for her, incapable of even acknowledging her role as a political leader who consciously tries to exert influence over how her followers should interpret and respond to events.”
Yep. That just about sums up old whatzername.
ptui ptui ptui *as a little Jewish grandmother might do, to ward off the evil eye*
Arayn kinnehorra! Ptui, ptui, ptui!
I agree with most of what she had to say. But as liberal as I am, I’m not as ready to discount the accomplishments of President Obama as Jane is at Fire Dog Lake. I finally took myself off their email list because I found her points too radical for me. And I’m afraid that she might be wrong that Palin’s career is toast. SP is the best at playing the victim and I have a feeling she’ll find some way to turn even this to her advantage.
I agree with ya their I also just delete Fire Dog Lake e-mails because they are also to radical for me
I’ve spent a lot of time the past few days reading stories and comments about the Tucson shooting. In reflecting on the hate, fear and divisiveness that was stirred up and encouraged during the 2008 campaign (and continued since), one thing really struck me about how the two camps (Democrat and Republican) have chosen to frame their overall message.
The crowds at the Palin rallies were all about crushing the enemy. The screamed about that Kenyan-born, unAmerican, secret Muzzzlim who was trying to take over the country so he could destroy it. Shouts from the crowd were often about killing him and annihilating the opposing party, encouraged by the candidates who emphasized that the opposition was something to be feared. Never did Palin make any attempt to ask her supporters to refrain from the cries for Obama’s death. The more angry the crowds became, the more she reveled in her power to provoke them. The message was all about fear and negativity.
That mindset was continued at the protests against health care, spurred on by the Republicans and the Tea Party. The signs, the speakers, the comments were all lies about how the health care reforms were designed to hurt, or even kill, people, and should be fought in any and all ways possible, even through vandalism, intimidation and threats of violence. Weapons and threatening signs were proudly displayed at meetings and parades in the effort to frighten and intimidate the opposition. The implication was clear…’if you win, we will hurt you’.
It was alll about what ‘they’ want to do to hurt you. It was allll about the negative.
– – – – – – –
At the Obama rallies in 2008, the focus was on possibilities. The cries were that of “Yes we can!”, not ‘kill the enemy’. It was all about making the nation a better one for ALL of us (including those of a different political affiliation) and for future generations. It was all about fixing the problems created during the last administration so that EVERY American could have a better, happier and more secure life. The focus was on hope and a better future.
The legislation proposed and passed since then has often been about helping and protecting citizens who have previously been powerless to help themselves: equal pay for women, equal rights for gays in the military, health care for all, health care for 9/11 responders, financial reforms that protect people from the greed of Wall Street bankers, nuclear weapons reduction…
It was alll about WE can do together to help you. It’s been allll about the positive.
I know which message I prefer.
You are so right.
I agree. Thank You for sharing.
leenie, Palin’s message put the fear of God in all of us. I think we all could see her for what she was – and it was bloody frightening.
I’ll take Obama’s message anyday.
I just have to share this…ok, I am very watchful of the Palin clan. My family think I am crazy and have thought that for a while because I have really gotten very caught up in US politics. .My 83 year old mother rang me today. Sarah Palin was all over the Irish news regarding the massacre in Arizona – Mum wanted to know all about it and get my advice.
I felt a little vindicated, at long last.
Don’t forget the churches where they’ve prayed for the death of the president and various other leaders. Seems to me their rhetoric goes beyond rhetoric. Why didn’t anyone on the right ever call them on it? Or did they?
Sarah? Did you?
Those same churches would be praying for the death of the president if McCain had been elected. Remember the scenario? MaCain wins, Palin is vice president, then God takes McCain out of the way throwing open the door for His chosen one.
Kind of sickening, isn’t it?
You have summed up why I am a Democrat rather than a republican.
Excellent point and I can simplify that to 2 words – Uplifting vs. Disheartening… At least from my standpoint.
No matter how Sarah tries to spin it, she will forever be linked to the Tucson tragedy. This sign, the most prominent one on the hospital lawn, says it all:
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20110110/capt.f4f73376f60544659683d438a160e9bd-f4f73376f60544659683d438a160e9bd-0.jpg?x=242&y=345&q=85&sig=wfWHS7URYL_BOG8HvED1kA–
Wow…you are right–it says it all.
Hmmm, my college roomie sent me a scarf for Christmas that is covered with peace signs. It made me giggle, but I think I’ll start wearing it as much as I can. It somehow seems even more appropriate now than back in the 60s when we wore them.
I work in sustainable fashion. Peace signs are ALWAYS in style.
🙂 I’m wearing it now. I only wish she had sent me one in a color that I actually wear. But maybe the peachy color with brown peach signs will go with more things than I think. I’ll have to take a picture later.
Take a quick look at the email Giffords sent the night before she was shot. This is a woman who truly wants to work for the people of her district and the people of the country. This is the woman who Palin targeted because she was a democrat with moderate views.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/10/giffords-email-need-to-tone-our-rhetoric-and-partisanship-down/#more-142539
I do not hold Palin responsible for the tragedy in Arizona but I do hold her and her ilk accountable for the violent rhetoric that has permeated the country. I hold her accountable just as I hold Limbaugh, Beck and others accountable for the hatred that they have fostered and the natural violence that has followed.
The only thing she didn’t do was pull the trigger.
Here! Here!
Thanks for the great photos, Linda! Morrigan looks 3 inches tall next to Mr. Zilla 🙂
I measured. On my screen, she IS 3 inches tall.
I knew it!
The shooter is crazy, obviously. But what has happened is that everyone is fed up with the violence in our speech and this brought it to a head. It is now OK to say, hey, let’s back up here! And when we look around, it is HER crap we see.
She is now the face of the violence and that map with the gun sites should have brought her down last spring. The fact that it is NOW bringing her down is what should have happened before.
Well said.
You got that right!
Good Grief. Palin and Beck have found a way to make themselves the victims of the Arizona shooting.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/10/glenn-beck-emails-sarah-p_n_806802.html
Yep, she’s 100 percent predictable. This will be her downfall and she’s too stupid to see it. So glad we could count on her to be her usual victim who wallows in revenge self.
I own my dyslexia! I really do! s/b “…count on her to be her usual victim self who wallows in revenge.”
But, I kinda like what I typed…
Ha! My dyslexia read it just fine until you pointed out something was amiss.
“I hate violence,” Palin replied, according to Beck. “I hate war. Our children will not have peace if politicos just capitalize on this”
laughed out loud when i read this
“But please look into protection for your family. An attempt on you could bring the republic down,”
little high on themselves
Raised eyebrows here….this woman loves war. She never shuts up about the military.
She doesn’t like violence directed at her own family….karma is a bitch…and as we would say in Ireland…tough titty!!!
“little high on themselves” ya think?!?
To some degree, we are all victims of something aren’t we? Or are we just misunderstood? (I am being snarky.)
It would appear from the voter records that the Arizona shooter was a registered Republican. I am not sure what that means but the TP’ers have been rejecting him as not one of their own….a Leftist.
And, TMZ has a photo of Bristol, Tripp, and an older woman leaving Walmart in Arizona. A Black & Decker coffee maker and other homemaking items in their cart.
Tea-Buggers are making him out to be a Leftist?
Wouldn’t ya know it? I read that somewhere else, today, also, too.
Salon does a great story on this as well:
http://www.salon.com/news/glenn_beck/index.html?story=/politics/war_room/2011/01/10/glenn_beck_letter
It’s good to know that we need to protect and console Palin after all that she’s been through—GIVE ME A BREAK!
Web-skinned snarling pitbull Buttercup. You betcha 😉
She’s such a bent tool.
Here we have a woman who, only a few weeks ago, was shown on television gleefully clubbing a halibut to death and, back in September, bragging in a speech about how she still had blood under her nails from butchering a caribou. Now she claims that she ‘hates violence’.
The sympathy for her terrible plight is provided by a man who was filmed pouring ‘gasoline’ on someone and suggesting that the President light it up, and offering Nancy Pelosi a poisoned glass of wine in order to kill her.
Not a lot of credibility between the two of them.
In the comments of the one article someone brought up the time that Beck talked about whether or not he could personally kill Michael Moore – and he came to the conclusion that he could do it. I’ve asked this before, but why is that sort of thing allowed on television or radio? That goes beyond one’s right to free speech.
One comment fron that article BECK: ”Hang on, let me just tell you what I’m thinking. I’m thinking about k !II1ng Michael Moore, and I’m wondering if I could k !11 him myself, or if I would need to hire somebody to do it. No, I think I could. I think he could be looking me in the eye, you know, and I could just be choking the life out”
-Glenn Beck
From the May 17 broadcast of The Glenn Beck Program:
and he thinks the US would go down if she was taken out .I don’t think so ,IMO we would be safer no world war 3 at least not from her
Here is the Copper Basin 300 Race Stats page, Colleen is starting number 41:
http://www.cb300.com/RaceStats.html
Woo hoo!! Go, Cole & dogs. Blessings on your journey.
Colleen finishes in 13th with 10 dogs. Great considering the competition!
Rogues Gallery Kennel is back on the race trail again, with barely a breath taken after Colleen took first place in the Gin Gin 200. They are on the trail of my favorite race of all time – the Copper Basin 300!
They’ve had some bad luck, and Colleen is down two dogs, but she races on in the top 10 right now, in spite of it all including drawing number 41 out of 51 mushers. Having such a late race start is a challenge – to make up time you have many teams to encounter and pass safely along with all the other challenges on the trail. In many ways it is much easier to be up front, and to stay up front! There are some big name mushers on this race and Cole is more than holding her own even with 10 dogs.
Following RGK kept me sane yesterday with all the hatred flying around the Internet. I could not bring myself to post but was glued to every spec of news, commentary and public reaction to the horror of the shooting in Tucson. Here’s the deal – Sarah Palin is nothing but a sleazy, lying, heartless and stupid woman. She tries to co-opt every symbol of Alaska and America she can get her slimy hands on. Put her sorry butt on a trail for a day with a dog team and she would be reduced to quivering jelly within hours if not minutes.
Forget the witch who would melt in the snow for lack of fortitude and skill – I sure have! Think instead of all those amazing Alaskan women on the race trail, and the incredible woman in AZ who is recovering from an unspeakable act of evil, to send positive, hopeful and encouraging thoughts and prayers their way instead. Turn your face upward, and your hearts outward, to salute and honor all the good in these people who live their lives with passion and love, not sneers, vengeance and bigotry. Sarah Palin is dead to me – she withered in a puff of putrid smoke and all of her mirrors broke as well.
Go Colleen! Go Rogues misfit dogs!
http://rogueskennel.com/blog
Joseph has four posts up about the Copper Basin 300 with outstanding pictures and commentary.
Love it! I watched the Gin Gin 200 , then googled everything about the dogs, “mushers”, what they eat, how they sleep etc. Sledding is such an extreme sport, fascinating.
Thanks for the links. Go Colleen and dogs!! Woof (gee and haw are left and right, no?)
You got it! Gee is right, haw is left. My dog who trained with a musher’s team down the road cracked me up. He always responded to “Gee!” immediately and turned right. When I hollered “Haw!”, he wasn’t sure which way to go. He did that for 12 years.
Many Alaskans have that problem . . . easy to go right, not sure about going left.
Good one!
woof! woof! arf!! Miss Mocha and Mr. Burrito are rooting for their buddies… 😉
I love Snowzilla! I do remember some of the controversy of his builder’s eccentricities from last year – but that was the Alaskan badge of recognition until the few cities got citified. I’ve never forgotten Joe McGinniss’ statement in “Going to Extremes” which was published shortly after I moved here. He wrote something like “When you are traveling around down south and come across a yard full of junk, blue tarps, and more junk – they are Alaskans who just haven’t moved yet.”
If I could transport his neighbors to visit a dear friend on the Kenai Peninsula who has a large piece of property on a lake – even if they’ve seen the usual Alaskan hoarders homes from the roadside, trails or from the air – his place would be enough to send them back to their neighbor bringing hugs and cookies. He is the quintessential old eccentric, but generous-to-a fault, Alaskan. You could pretty much figure out the history of his long life, dreams and activities from the remnants left behind. And those of his friends, and family, and…
Love that pic of Morrigan – what a cutie with her big smile!
Hey all, I just had a thought – under the US Constitution, Sarah Palin is NOT qualified to be President. The minimum of the age of 35 is surely as valid for mental age as well as physical age. Her actions have time and again demonstrated her mental age is somewhere around 17.
We don’t allow blood sucking mosquitoes to become Presidents, so she loses eligibility before she even tries.
More like 14 or 15. There are many 17 year olds who exhibit a good deal of maturity.
Vanity Fair is disappointed that Palin’s Alaska will not have a second season. But just in case, they have offered (very funny) program details in advance of more shows:
http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2011/01/re-capping-the-lost-second-season-of-sarah-palins-alaska.html
Now that caused a loud Laugh, thank you! I needed that. Our next snow begins tonight and I’m considering a snow man in our yard this time!
Thanks for showing Snowzilla. I visited him every winter when I lived in Anchorage, and when he was “up”. I needed to smile roday, and you gave me a reason to!
Great snowman, perhaps the greatest ever. But the guy who builds it causes a big disturbance in that neighborhood with the snowzilla traffic, and his yard is full of junk that has brought down the property values of his own home, and his neighbors. The city has asked him many times to clean it up, and he refuses. Building Snowzilla does not abdicate him of his responsibility to his neighbors.
*yikes*
My neighbors snow-blow and/or shovel my sidewalk when it snows more than 2″. Chicago does have it’s moments… I lucked out in the great neighbor dept..
Have you seen the website “Neighbors From Hell”? It is a sobering read. After reading, I bless myself and thank my lucky-stars! (agnostic BTW!) (crossing myself)
Google map this address and see the junk compared to the clean houses surrounding his for yourself.
1556 Columbine Street, Anchorage, AK
This guy is 48 cards short of a full deck. I’m glad he’s not my neighbor…
Hey – he ran for mayor!! 🙂
“But the guy who builds it causes a big disturbance in that neighborhood with the snowzilla traffic”
I know that part is annoying, but there are people throughout the land who indulge in BIG elaborate Christmas light displays that bring many many many more people than actually live in the neighbourhood driving around to see them. It’s a seasonal nuisance–I think there has been some interventions via local constabulary citing noise/light ordinances.
As for the junk, etc., that’s a different kinda neighbourhood nuisance. Can they force him to clean it up if they can demonstrate he’s attracting rats/nuisance wildlife? It’s a health hazard?
Darn–too bad he’s not a reasonable neighbour, year-round. Snowzilla is still pretty darn neat, despite hizzer creator.
Yes, in the past five years or so there has been a lot of enforcement action. Fortunately or unfortunately it is a slow process.
I am involved in the clean up of a similar property on one of the main towns as you enter Alaska from Canada – someone has been hording for more than ten years, lots of haz mat stockpiled (batteries, fuel, petroleum drums and tanks, chemicals, etc.). It has taken more than five years (on just my part) to get to the court stage – many agencies and several investigations, a mountain of paperwork.
I’m glad it is slow so that the government can’t just walk in and steal your property. Not a happy situation for the neighbors, who have put up with the eyesores and have sued (and won) for years.
We have a major Christmas light area in our nearest big city(should say it’s suburbs) maybe 15 or 20 blocks or more of elaborate decorations.They have sometimes taken up collections to help with the cost.It had been going on for years but I just got to see it a few years ago .We went two years in a row because ya just can’t see them all in one ride thru. just wonderful even without small children to ooh and aah over them
🙂 Awwww. Can’t even remember last time I made a snowman. But I DID receive a glass “Frosty-the-snowman” Christmas ornament this year! (he’s so cute, he’s still hanging on my lampshade, not ready to give up the Holidays… yes, I’m a goober)
Whew. Thank you AKM. I needed that!
(((( AZ, victims and families,hugs forever)))))
Stuck at home because of heavy snow here in North Georgia with plenty of time to surf the Internet this morning -and plenty to read! I am amazed at the number of conservatives and Palin’s supporters trying to defend SP by explaining that the now infamous “crosshairs” map has nothing to do with the attempted murder of Gabrielle Giffords. Mansour’s attempt at describing the target sights as surveyor symbols is simply pathetic -and Sarah’s silence telling.
It might have been mentioned in other threads, but there is a petition circulating asking the DOJ to indict SP for incitement to violence, here is the link:
http://www.petitiononline.com/IndictSP/petition.html
I’m in Huntsville too – we got quite a bit (8 inches) of snow last night and everything is closed/shut down. It’s my first winter here and a lot different than Anchorage for sure. We didn’t bring the snow shovel 🙂
Wow! Even in northern Ohio we couldn’t get snowmen over six feet. He’s wonderful.
Looks like great fun!
Anyone else think that maybe someone, somewhere, should create the “Calvin and Hobbes” snow goons? Not to mention the snow man after getting shot by a cannon!
I’m a twisted human being…
Our Botanical Garden (Huntsville, AL) has a Festival of Lights every year. One of the displays is very much C&H snowmen.
Huntsville is totally shutdown from snow fall… I’m out here on business, and ALL the roads and the airport were shutdown due to 8″-11″ of snow… looks like things will be shutdown tomorrow as well… The South is not equipped for snow ! 🙂
Stay warm and snug… here in Denver we had 10″ and teens- the only schools closed today were private ones. Public schools are hearty, aargh… 🙂
Someone actually did that at “Ice Alaska” in Fairbanks several years ago (2003, or 2004)–It was Calvin, the cannon, and his snow goons in bigger-than-life ice sculptures. Very cool (no pun intended).
Found the link: http://www.icealaska.com/04/04sb/04sbdaily/04sb24.html
Calvin and Hobbes…. Wow, I lurved Calvin and Hobbes! (Snow Goons? I must of missed that fun.)
One of the books of his comic strips has the set (series?) I’ve had it in the past. Or I saved them out of the papers. Well, I remember as if I did.
There IS the complete Calvin & Hobbes. It’s three volumes, in sequential order. Be forewarned, they did NOT sew in the pages (they’re glued), so they can get removed rather too easily.
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Calvin-Hobbes-v/dp/0740748475
~$80
We bought it for one of my colleagues at work after he suffered a stroke and was rehabilitating. I pointed out that despite English being his second (or third, or fourth!) language, the pictures are pretty universal and laughter for one and all had to be a good thing. He loved it. Yes, he made a full recovery too. I will pretend that I had something to do with his recovery. 😉
We’re supposed to get some more snow here in South Jersey starting tomorrow afternoon. Perhaps we can ship some or all of it up North to Alaska. You are more than welcome to it!
The world reacts to America’s latest tragedy:
http://politico-junkie.blogspot.com/2011/01/world-reacts-to-tragedy-in-arizona.html
I bet I am not alone in thinking that you should NOT finish her book.
She is over and deserves no more attention from the Mudflats.
Agreed.
I for one, won’t complain.
I agree, I can’t laugh at her anymore. Her antics, that used to bring a me a giggle, are no longer funny. But I do think she still needs to be called out on any illegal or unethical behavior. She cannot think that she can do anything she wants without repercussion.
Agreed…
She apparently (or one of her staff) already released something last night that said it was horrible that people were trying to politicize what happened in Arizona by putting some of the blame on things like her map. Politicize? Really? Palin has been the queen of turning everything into a political argument. She never misses an opportunity to point the finger at anyone who disagrees with her and make it all about politics. So I find it rich that she is refusing to acknowledge that her over-the-top vitriol may have pushed this one person to act violently.
I agree, also. too. 😉
Shunning sounds like an appropriate response,
except like boodog suggests, to “be called out on any illegal or unethical behavior. She cannot think that she can do anything she wants without repercussion.”
Gosh, it is so nice to hear you post, Linda. I really hope you will have pictures of your family and of your beautiful flowers and garden this year.
Celtic is one of those wonderful moments of joy.
Her insight to the loves and trials of rural Alaska Native woman living in urban Alaska is a treasure for all.
I feel a bit of honor, to know that Celtic has let us into her life when it comes to Morgan. It is like I get to see Morgan grow up. And yeah, the garden stuff is pretty nice.
Back when ADN was starting their online edition and allowing comments, Celtic Diva was there, making important comments to stories. Celtic made some pretty good smack down comments.
Between my sisters and I, we consider her our own Alaskan treasure.
Ha! I can probably build one that big here in GA this morning! We had 7″ a couple of hours ago,and it’s coming down still, so figure at least another inch! Supposed to get ice tonight – ugh! Hope we keep the power going. GA Power linemen were told over the weekend to “pack for a week”.
Strange weather patterns. Stay warm tigerwine.
“Strange weather patterns.” No kidding. Here in Chi-town we’ve got NO snow..
But, climate change is a hoax perpetrated by the leftist regime . . . . .(meant to be said as if dripping with sarcasm)
Now that’s a snowman! No such critters here in the sunshine state, go figure, but Mardi Gras madness helps some folks survive the winter.
I don’t know “thatcrowwoman” I think AK could use some Mardi Gras and you guys down there could use a Snowzilla in the parades!
Thanks, AKM
Mebbe thatcrowwoman will get at Yeti for Valentine’s Day. TeeHee.
Please pass the snow!
and the Yeti, also, too.
Somewhere I have a picture of me with an 8 foot tall SnowBear I made in the North Carolina mountains once upon a time in the last millennium. Those were the days….
Now that’s a snowman!
On a different subject (violent rhetoric in politics), Paul Krugman nails it in his NY Time column today:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/10/opinion/10krugman.html?_r=1&hp
yes, and or but
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/10/opinion/10douthat.html?src=un&feedurl=http%3A%2F%2Fjson8.nytimes.com%2Fpages%2Fopinion%2Findex.jsonp
I tend to agree more with Krugman’s assessment. The one in the New York Times misses the point, I think, by pointing to other’s who assassinated leaders or tried. Yes, those who commited such horrible acts have been shown to be unbalanced in some way. But to blame their acts on their mental health or personal views without looking at the context of what’s being done or said nationally is being short-sighted.
Most people can hear Bachmann or Angle or Palin or Beck or O’Reilly and take it as the hateful rhetoric that it is, and they know that to actually act in any of those ways is wrong and will not solve any of our problems. But for some, hearing that sort of thing over and over or seeing images of maps with crosshairs is enough to push them to act; it’s like a tacit permission that what they want to do is the right thing and they are justified.
I think Krugman is so right when he says that if this latest act of violence is dismissed as the actions of one lunatic then we will return to the same rhetoric and we’ll continue to see the same sort of violence.
That is so neat! We don’t do much around here about winter, except to just deal with it.
Looks like someone stole Boehner’s gavel!
I needed that laugh this morning! ha, good one.
That’s a big snowman-I’m guessing at least 20 feet or so, and with the cold in Alaska, all of you will be enjoying the sight until April or so.
Nothing like it is possible around here. We don’t get enough snow for that.
he looks pretty friendly