Nice to see Thuggee Fresh and his "crew" are "keepin it reals" in Suitland. So now they're shooting infants? That's pretty hard to top, short of shooting them while they're still in the womb. I'm thinking falcon punching will be the new way of proving what a badassed, big-di**ed muthaf***a you really is. The Bloods and Crips can't move into this territory fast enough. At least they have something resembling marksmanship skills.

I used to think DC was a crime-ridden third-world s***hole, but damn. PG County seems to combine the worst elements of that as well as being a boring-ass suburb. Bra. Vo. Thanks for making South Central LA look classy. Any day now, PG gangs will start sporting monocles and spats and doing drivebys in Stutz Bearcats with Tommy Guns.

I'm betcha' every man in America was clutching his goodies last night after listening to Governor Palin. And Hillary too.

Dead babies, huh? Way to pee in my Wheaties, DCist.

I’m not all that well-versed in the rules of the thug life, so please, someone explain this to me: does it really enhance one’s street cred to shoot a baby? I really, really think you should lose points for that. Like, I believe that’s what World of Warcraft nerds call a “dishonorable kill.”

Officers James Haskel and Anthony Clay spent nearly a year on paid leave while authorities investigated their off-duty shooting of DeOnte Rawlings in an alley in Southeast.

Moral of the story: if you shoot someone who you think is stealing your minibike, you get a year's salary without having to show up for work and the City gets stuck with the $100 million lawsuit.

God bless America and Merry F***ing Christmas.

so Monkey... you think the officers should've been suspended without pay? fired? allowed to just go on doing their jobs? is putting officers involved in a fatal shooting on paid leave a practice that is unique to America?

Here's my issue: the Pubs have no taste. I don't mean bad taste in over-processed makeup, all-American haircuts, or in stiff, crisp, starchy suits. I mean taste in women. Sarah Palin....hot? I think not. Now, I'll grant that Sarah Palin at 44 has a certain MILF-ness to her. But mostly I find her looks weird. And then she opens her mouth and that nasal fladder then a seyouth dakodder fladland-voice comes eeyoud.

Bleah.

Except for the book banning, she's extremely boring to me.

Which leads me to my other thought that Maybe Palin is really a palindrome for PLAIN.

Welcome to the Palindrome. Nearest city: Bartertown.

Yeah, but it's still murder in self defense.

I can see it now, snowmobile races around the perimeter of the National Observatory, with the usual Alaska collection of vehicles on the lawn (ATV, Bush Plane (how appropo!), trailers, jacked-up pick-up trucks, etc)

Yuck.

When talking about Palin's hotness one must keep in mind standards.
We're not talking Hollywood.
We're talking DC (Hollywood for ugly people).
She may not be Jolie.
But shes blows away hags like Pelosi.

Ian - I think the problem is that there is no monolithic "middle," conservative or liberal. You've got conservatives who are evangelical, but aren't pro-gun or pro-ANWR drilling. You've got some that are environmentalist, but have no interest in religion. People are going to see in Palin what they want to: wingnut, antichrist, or Laura Palmer. But beware: the more you stare into the darkness, the more the darkness stares into you. Maybe!

at CleavelandRocks :

first, a palindrome is a word that's the same forwards and backwards, so that's not clever at all.

second, i don't think Palin's intention is to thrill, amuse, and appeal to your sexual tastes. what type of haircut would you prefer her to wear? and do you like your women in baggy sweatpants and jersey accents?

not trying to be a biotch, just wondering why anyone's opinions on her attractiveness or unattractiveness really matter whatsoever.

"Which leads me to my other thought that Maybe Palin is really a palindrome for PLAIN. "

You're getting anagrams and palindromes mixed up. Palin and plain are anagrams. "At Sarah, a rasta" is a palindrome, and utterly logical.

Well, at least you didn't say spoonerism.

I don't think America is ready for a veep with a name like Parah Salin. Sounds too much like "Paris Ailin" which she is, from a case of Herpes Simplex XII that could kill the Rhodesian army from the other side of the globe.

First, I already acknowledged my mistake. Sorry to offend you with my error of comedy. I will stick to number-based puns from now on.

Second, I think you are entirely wrong. She is here to thrill, amuse and appeal to me in whatever way gets me to vote for her. Being attractive and smart and charming are all part of the game. And as such, I a feel very happy to comment on her performance.

Besides, holy horse rider, this is the DCist blog. If I want to spout of irreverently about Sarah Palin being the embodiment of crass, ugly, "God Blessed all of us, but me more than you" self-absorbed America, then here's where I come.

And in closing, I wouldn't worry about not trying, I'd say you're a natural. God Bless America.

It is happening again...It is happening again...

I do have to say I enjoy hearing Palin, simply because it is reminding me of my teens when we all discovered how weird people who live north of California and west of Missoula, Montana(!!!) are. Between Twin Peaks, Northern Exposure, and On Deadly Ground, the early nineties were all about America's other armpit.

Every period of time we all need a backassward corner of the world to laugh at. Back then it was the Pacific northwest. Before that it was Australia which even attracted the attention of exclusive prep school girls.

i guess i just don't type fast enough in addition to being a natural bitch.

Cleveland you don't defend yourself at all saying you've commented on her "performance" - you haven't commented on that at all. you simply pointed out your preference on her looks and her annoying voice.

you can call her the embodiment of crass, ugly America on here all you want, i agree it's a great forum for it. i'm just exercising my right to say I don't care about your taste in women.

and i don't ride horses, holy or otherwise, thank you.

Didn't see the speech, but saw replays of it this morning. I was distracted by her nasally speaking voice. And she has a sorta weird speaking pattern.

But even with those quibbles, I'd let her pet my caribou! Maybe!

Well, how are we supposed to comment on her "performance" until we've "ridden her around the ring" a few times? I'd like to see her workout a little first, see if she's a front runner or come-from-behind, find out what her whole card is, what makes her run. I'd say she doesn't like to be rated. She likes to get out in front, open up a little lead, take a little breather in the backstretch, and then come home free. She's got a touch of class, but I don't know how far she can go. A lot depends on who's in the saddle.

Anyway, she's still a lot better looking than Sarah Jessica Parker and probably eats less hay. Maybe!

wonderwazz:

Try Mavis Beacon. It'll help one of your problems.

I don't feel the need to address your point (let alone "defend" myself") in the slightest other than to say that I think what I think and that's all there is to it. You are free to disagree with it, with me, whatever you want. But I think you should have a little shame about trying to goad someone into a fight.

Anyhow, I am surprised that you don't see how looks and voice aren't part of the performance. I mean, isn't that what these convention speeches are all about? It's the circus maximus of America. If you don't find that important, then I don't know if I can help you.

I suggest the following exercise: go on a date not dressing up nicely, not wearing good make up and speaking in a voice that grates on your date's ears. See how it goes and report back.

Like so many in her party, I think she's a mudder.

Her finest point of racing is in wet, dirty, sloppy, obfuscated, and generally sh*tty conditions.

Run Seabiscuit! Run!

"Do you solemnly swear that you will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of your ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States?"

"Ja! You betcha!"

Wait, you mean hordes of people are showing up for Obama because his stances on the issues and not their impressions of him? Please.

I really hope that's not the case since his stance on most issues seems to be that more government is the answer to every problem. Except for Iraq of course where he is for less government intervention.

As for impressions, are you talking about your impressions of how she mocked Obama's experience? You seemed to think she was mocking community organizers, but I saw the speech and I'm pretty sure she was mocking Obama. I know that's hard to swallow for most of the devoted.

The only impression I got was of her doing her best Secretariat.

Let's face it. Neither Obama nor Palin have decades of Washington experience.

So when you don't have experience, you have to look at judgement.

Obama opposed the Iraq war. Palin supported it, lock stock and barrel.

Palin also chose to engage in divisive, mocking politics her very first national turn at bat.

That to me says a whole lot, both about Palin and about McCain's cynicism in using her this way.

And Palin is on record as opposing health care coverage (or any other benefits) for the same sex partners of government workers.

Say what you want about The Gays, but denying ANYONE health care is just downright mean.

I'm with HCE, in that I'm neither Rep or Dem. But Palin's nasty tone really grated.

And I grew up with these Christianists, of which Palin is their new hero. I know exactly what they are capable of. Believe me, if given the chance they really will end abortion, end contraception, launch wars and determine foreign policy based on spreading Christianity or punishing 'infidels', demonize gays, etc.

Yes, Obama can be a bit 'pie in the sky'. But I'll take that over mean-spirited anyday.

haha Mavis Beacon. i totally forgot about that!! yay second grade.

anyways, I wasn't "trying to goad someone into a fight," hence saying I wasn't trying to sound like a bitch, as postings so often come off as. but you took it and went the other way with that one...

I'll leave it at this: looks and voice are definitely *part* of the performance. But there's a difference though between applauding Obama's eloquence and then taking cheap shots at someone's haircut and makeup. And you would never describe your reaction to Biden's speech as "well he's a cruddy looking old man with grey hair and i would never sleep with him" I'm not a feminist in the least bit, but come on, all we hear about Palin is what she looks like... and agreed that her voice is a bit weird, but can you really help that?

me going out on a date is hardly comparable to giving a VP speech anyways. i like to involve a lot more beer.

I love that in a post including stories about a bomb scare and murdering police officers on the job again, the entire DCist community is only concerned with Palin puns and her looks. Well done morons.

Despite her claims as a reformer who will end wasteful spending and reform earmarks, as mayor, Palin hired a lobbyist and flew to DC annually to ask for federal dollars, totaling 27 million. During her race for governor in 2006 she sided with Senator Ted Stevens (a rival of McCain, interestingly) and his "bridge to nowhere" but has since backed off when it became unpopular. Alaska has a long history of being addicted to federal handouts, which contrasts sharply with the overall Republican attitude as such, especially McCain, who has fought on the Senate floor with Stevens over these allowances.

"me going out on a date is hardly comparable to giving a VP speech anyways. i like to involve a lot more beer."

And I'm sure it happens more than once every 4 years. But seriously, you're a good sport. No offence intended.

"James Carville was right, they should've picked Olympia Snowe."

Now there's some Snowe nobody's lining up to plow.

To be fair, I'd also be 'biden' my time on banging Biden.

Now there's some Snowe nobody's lining up to plow.

To be fair, I'd also be 'biden' my time on banging Biden.

Politics is show business for ugly people. Remember, you dont have to f*ck them, you just have to vote for them. I'm sure they feel the same way about some of the fugly trolls they have to shake hands and eat pancakes with on the Trail.

obama and palin are both rorschach tests... look at 'em and you'll see what you want to see...

and boy do they bring out the partisan cheerleaders and haters on each side... sadly, there's no sense in trying to persuade these folks (dcist staff included) that there are reasons to like the opposing candidate or dislike their own candidate... they're too personally invested in their partisanship...

... maybe!

Now there's some Snowe nobody's lining up to plow.

I would 'plow' it 'Greek Style' if she was a little younger.

"You seemed to think she was mocking community organizers, but I saw the speech and I'm pretty sure she was mocking Obama. I know that's hard to swallow for most of the devoted."

First off, you wear partisan blinders just as much as the rest of us here, so you can drop the bullshit. Second, the line was:

"I guess a small-town mayor if sort of like a community organizer, except that you have actual responsibilities."

Please explain to the class how that line refers only to Obama, and not to every other community organizer.

oh jesus, can we all just drop this. i just can't wait to see the VP debate. that's going to be interesting. it's being moderated by a woman, so let's see how people blame gwen ifill of being sexist when she asks palin questions about being a mother, a woman, etc...

IMGoph: Hopefully, she would be wise enough to avoid that crap altogether, since there is nothing the two could "debate" with those questions. However, based on the previous "debates" this year, I'm not holding out any hope.

OK, ideological blinders, then. Same concept.

I'm not making the argument that organizers have more responsibilities than mayors. In fact, no one is. You keep responding to these arguments that no one is making.

You did not at all explain how the line only refers to Obama's work as an organizer, and how it somehow does not belittle the work of all other organizers.

Including the lines you paste just makes the line look even more worse. After that intro line, she never explained what the job involved. By her account, small town Alaska mayors spend all their time mocking community organizers.

i've known community organizers, and you sir, are no community organizer.

my favorite part of the speech was when Palin's little girl licked her hand and smeared her spit on the down syndrome baby's hair. if i'm ever having bad day, all i'll have to do is think of that special, shining moment.

with all of her makeup, her designer glasses (that attempt to make her look intelligent), her Peggy Bundy hairdo, and her form fitting attire, yeah, she's an attractive politician. but peel all of that away and it'd be like peeling the skin off of a sausage. ew! i want to see her on the cover of The Enquirer's "Celebrities Without Makeup" edition. i bet she's got enough cheese on her thighs to feed an entire eskimo tribe for the winter.

Politburo,

Hey, believe what you want to believe; you'll do so anyway. That's exactly what her speech was: an attack on community organizers. LOL. I'm sure that's exactly what independents took away from it.

I tend to believe what I first posit as a possibility and then investiagte from many perspectives. That's a good way to go. try it out.

CNN's Roland Martin seemed to think Palin's remarks about community organizers were pretty shallow.

"My two parents are sitting home in Houston, Texas and they are both community organizers and the GOP and Sarah Palin might have well have said "being community organizers doesn't matter" to my parents face. I'm disgusted. Community organizers keep people in their homes, keep their lights on, keep food in the fridge."

I work in the community here in DC. Are you telling me that people like me who volunteer don't matter?
That our city would be no better or worse for our efforts? Is that what you believe? I'd say a person who does that work has a far better sense of what "boots on the ground" means when it comes to public service. But hey, if you want to put another faker, a priest of half-truth, a lier and denier, a fool without conscience in the whitehouse, a blow up barbie from the ass-end of America.....why the hell not?

HCE says Palin has more relevant experience than the top of the Democrat[ic] ticket.

Palin, B.S. Journalism, U of Idaho, Miss Alaska beauty pageant runner-up, TV sportscaster, town councillor, mayor (Wassilla, AK, pop. ~6000 when she was elected) and two years as governor of a state that is the US version of Saudi Arabia, awash in oil revenue and sparsely populated.

Obama, B.A. Poli Sci, Columbia, J. D. Harvard Law, President Harvard Law Review, community organizer, state senator from Illinois (a large, diverse, industrial/agricultural state with a mix of urban and rural areas and the attendant array of problems) from a district about 35 times larger than Wassilla, and four years as U. S. Senator.

I guess more relevant because being mayor of a tiny town is an executive job? All those tough executive decisions about potholes and garbage collection and which books to ban from the local library.

Thank you, Whitman! And don't forget, he also taught constitutional law at one of the nation's top law schools.

I actually think the experience debate isn't the point (aside from questioning McCain's judgement in his first presidential decision). The much scarier thing about Palin is her extreme conservatism and abuse of power in both her positions as mayor and governor. Seriously, trying to fire the town librarian because she won't remove some books you think are offensive? Firing the top law enforcement officer because he won't fire your ex-brother-in-law? REALLY?

Whitman22 and Esmeralda - and practiced law at a civil rights law firm! i've been dying to get that in there after reading some crazy article that he had "only" been a community organizer all his life. whatevs. maybe!

"Community organizer" has become this year's new pejorative for the RNC. Rudy belched it out before Palin did and he drew large laughs with it as well. Underscored, for me, that very special GOP brand of smug populism.

Speaking of which: Does anybody remember how barrel oil and gas pump prices dropped at this same point in the two previous elections? And, what was that first strategy suggested in Mein Kampf? Was it the Big Lie or something like that?

And, what was that first strategy suggested in Mein Kampf?

So, does Godwin's Law cover just Hitler, or Hitler's writing as well? Because some of his poetry is actually pretty decent. Much better than Sylvia Plath's.

And didn't Rabid Moonbatty used to play drums for The Who?

You are correct, I missed that part. But I dunno where you get "worked up" from. I only pointed out that your argument was a strawman (several times, in fact).

If you don't see independents thinking the speech was nasty, then you're just not paying attention. There were several major media stories that had reactions from independent voters expressing that opinion (as well as expressing the opposite opinion).

What is interesting to me is that almost every charge you make is equally valid to you.. do you really not see that?