The main reason it's so unsatisfying trying to intellectually engage the Right is that, for the most part, they are simply unable to think more than one step ahead. Consider commenter "Ricky Martin" back here:
Bwha! ha ha! Now we know 'Canadian Cynic' is bonkers. This theory [of Sarah Palin claiming, as a son, her grandson] has absolutely no foundation. The post at Daily Kos reads like a typical conspiracy theory.
This is about Left-wingers being so desperate to find examples of Republican hypocrisy.
But there is not even an ounce of proof to the theory.
Well, actually, Ricky, there are two possible responses to that. First, there definitely is supporting evidence of that theory. It may not constitute unassailable proof, but it's there. However, that's not the fun part of this beatdown.
If we generously give Ricky his argument, where exactly does that leave us? If we admit that, sure, OK, it really is Sarah Palin's son, then what precisely are we allowed to conclude?
Uh oh:
... It is poor judgment to get on a plane when you are pregnant and leaking amniotic fluid. If she knew her child had this disorder and got on a plane with leaking amniotic fluid, then she shows incredibly poor judgment.
Read the whole thing. Take your time. Soak it all in. Which leaves us ... where?
Well, Ricky, it leaves us to choose between exactly two possibilities, doesn't it? On the one hand, we can believe that Sarah Palin faked her pregnancy and claimed her grandson as her son, in order to (understandably?) spare her daughter the humiliation of being a single, unwed mom.
On the other hand, we have the scenario of an older woman, pregnant with what she claims she already knew was a Down Syndrome fetus, showing appalling judgment to the point of being borderline criminally irresponsible, risking the health, if not life, of both herself and her unborn child by making the stupidest decisions imaginable. Those are your two choices, Ricky. Which one would you like to defend? Because you have to pick one -- there's no door number three.
And that's what happens when really boneheaded wankers can't think more than one move ahead.
8 comments:
it is now being reported that Bristol Palin in 5 months pregnant..so glad to see that those advocating abstinence only..are setting good examples
Yes, that's what they're saying, and if they want to take that position, that's fine with me. Therefore, we can conclude, not that Sarah Palin lied about her pregnancy, but that's she's a horrifically irresponsible and unfit mother who jeopardized the health and well-being of her unborn child.
Sure, that works for me.
Sarah Palin...the gift that keeps on giving
Sarah Palin...the gift that keeps on giving
Indeed.
And the friggin polls are still tied. I just don't get it.
I'm all for a woman's right to choose. It does go both ways though. She deserves credit for bringing to full term, a child that will prove to be diffcult for life. That is courage and determination, not an "...appalling lack of judgement...".
As background, a cousin that is rather close to me has Down's Syndrome. He is an adult now, living a full life, and by all account, much happier then most of us.
It's a good thing Ken Epp's bill defending fetuses wasn't passed when she flew over Canadian air space whilst endangering her unborn child.
Tourjoursdan: And the friggin polls are still tied. I just don't get it.
That's a puzzler, all right -- if we assume the polls are honest. And given everything we've seen down there in the last eight years, I ask you, why would we assume that?
Imagine that the "polls" (wink-wink) show a tight race right up to the end. That makes it much more plausible for the Rovian dirty tricks brigade to pull out another dramatic squeaker and install McCain. (The narrative line that Palin is pleasing the Fundie base and has brought them back into the contest -- which it was feared they might sit out -- has already started. Thus setting up the future narrative that Values Voters rejected Obama and embraced their natural hero, McCain.)
Conversely, if the dirty tricks don't work and Obama wins by a landslide, the Republicans and all their little enablers start screaming "Democratic Election Fraud!!!!" And Obama spends his first 100 days, at least, fighting this off when he needs to be Roosevelting up a blizzard of progressive legislation.
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