Foiled eBay Bidder Challenges Palin to $100,000 Dinner for Veterans’ Charities
[cross-posted at The Huffington Post]
Think of it as a second chance. Or a second course in the “Dinner with Sarah Palin” eBay auction that you thought was already history.
Here’s a quick recap for those of you who haven’t been playing along at home.
Sarah Palin decides to auction off dinner with herself with proceeds going to benefit the veterans’ charity Ride2Recovery. Nice.
Bidding ensues. The end of the auction nears, and one of the bidders is revealed as former Wall Street Executive Ken Morris (more on that later), and another is outed as author Joe McGinniss who is currently working on a book about Sarah Palin. As soon as his identity is revealed, he is no longer allowed to bid. He is cut off at $60,101.01, although he wanted to bid higher. No more bids allowed from him. Not so nice.
The winner of the auction is one Ms. Cathy Maples, an Alabaman, owner of a defense contracting company, self-described conservative, and big Sarah Palin fan.
Despite Ms. Maples claim on FOX & Friends that she was willing to raise her bid so that Palin “wouldn’t have to go through that” (meaning dinner with McGinniss), it’s likely that neither he, nor Morris would have passed the final test on the way to the dinner table, even if they had been the winning bidder.
The auction rules state in no uncertain terms that:
Governor Palin reserves the right to refuse dinner with a winning bidder if, in her sole discretion, the winning bidder is not a suitable bidder based on her subjective standards of suitability, professionalism, background and other factors. In the event the high bidder is rejected for this reason, the high bidder’s bid will be refunded, if paid, and the next highest bidder shall be notified, and thereafter, until a suitable match is determined.
Palin had no intention of sitting down and breaking bread with anyone who disagreed with her on anything. The whole idea of this rankled Morris who had hoped to engage in genuine substantive conversation with the ex-governor. There are those who would say he was already being optimistic in that regard. But be that as it may, Morris is prepared to make an offer; an offer he hopes the governor can’t refuse. Here’s his proposal.
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Dinner Part Two?
The “Dinner With Sarah Palin” eBay auction came and went with Ms. Cathy Maples, a grandmother who happens to be a military contractor, winning with a bid of $63,500. Good for her. That I participated is a good thing, even though I didn’t win. As there were only seven bidders, each of us played a role in advancing the final tally for the benefit of Ride2Recovery.
However, I remain concerned over issues I raised when earlier explaining my participation:
There exists an emotional divide in this country that I’ve not experienced since I attended the University of California near the end of the Vietnam War. While leaving scars that thickened the hearts of many from that era, the ending of the war allowed for a healing to begin. Painful, but now mostly a distant memory.
Today’s rancor, however, troubles me more profoundly. Why? Maybe it’s because I don’t see a catalyst—like the end to a tragic war—that will magically lead us to end this political divide. This period has more the odor of the Civil Rights debate that ripped apart the South during the administrations of Presidents Kennedy and Johnson; a rift that has never been bridged.
How, I’ll ask Ms. Palin, can we work together (“we” meaning not just her and me, but all people on both sides of the political fence) to begin to fix this? I’ll ask her a few questions that might seem harsh, but aren’t intended to offend—after all, we must be honest, no? Do you regret saying several hundred times that our president “palled around with terrorists?” Do you really believe that providing health insurance to all Americans is socialism or fascism or Naziism, or that there are truly ‘death panels’ in these proposals? I’ll likely feel compelled to suggest that she doesn’t, in her heart of hearts, actually believe any of these things (if she does, then this will give her a chance to educate and win me over). In any event, doesn’t she think we should all tone down the rhetoric? Angry mobs and gun-toting advocates can’t be in anyone’s best interests.
As the auction never was designed to provide intellectual meat as its main course, I’d have either been turned down under the rules of engagement or disappointed in the discourse. However, ‘what-if’ notions continue to nag me. What if it were possible to have meaningful dialogue with this woman who leads her party? What if intelligent minds that happen to disagree could meet over dinner and explore political ideology?
In the great American spirit of never say die, here’s my challenge: I will donate $100,000 to veterans’ charities for a second dinner with Sarah Palin and four guests, this one on-the-record and taped so as to minimize misrepresentations. In the name of fair play, my list of invitees will include a subset of Rachel Maddow, Keith Olbermann, Thom Hartmann, Oprah Winfrey, James Carville, Randi Rhodes, Arianna Huffington, Frank Rich, Mudflats’ Jeanne Devon, Jane Hamsher and Shannyn Moore. On her side, Sarah Palin may invite guests as well (how about Bill Kristol and Glenn Beck?). The only additional conditions are that the dinner/event last the entire four hours and questions asked are answered and discussed civilly. No filibustering, no third party prompts, just face-to-face honesty. Hostility by any invitee will be cause for removal. No discussion of children, Vogue, Katie Couric, The Enquirer, or Levi Johnston permitted.
This could become a win/win for everyone: Sarah Palin gains political chops and has a launching pad for her ideas while dispelling suggestions that she fixed the first auction to avoid debate; progressives and conservatives finally gain an in-depth understanding of her intellect; and veterans’ charities benefit from some much-needed support..
As for me, I get to be an observer to one of the greatest meetings of the minds the twenty-first century has yet to assemble. Tres cool.
~Ken Morris
Ken Morris, a former Wall Street Executive turned novelist (financial thrillers Man in the Middle and The Deadly Trade), founded Morgan Stanley’s International Equity Department in the mid-1980′s. As a senior capital markets executive, he traveled the world and managed operations in New York, Toronto, London, Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, and Sydney. His third novel, Evil Shall Break, is currently being shopped to New York publishers. Ken’s offer goes out to Ms. Palin sincerely and in the hopesdialogue might begin to replace rancor and name-calling.
Oh my, I will be very surprised if she accepts this offer. I hope she does as it will be very interesting to read about what happens!
Have you decided on your outfit yet? Poor Shannyn is all a fluster over what she will wear.
Ken Morris and Sarah Palin in a real, unscripted conversation is not a fair match. It would be like a third grader discussing literature with a PhD. Sure, the third grader would have some relevant insights to offer–but only to a fellow 8-year-old.
Well we’ll find out whether her real interest is earning money for the troops. Of course if she accepts, she’ll be implicitly acknowledging that libruls like troops too, and she won’t want to do that – only one of many reasons she’ll be likely to refuse. Hope one of her seconds, who are strangely convinced she’s got the chops to be president, will convince her they can clean the socialists’ clocks.
He shouldn’t have named the possible guests- I think she will not hesitate to have ANY excuse to miss it. Nothing could be as humiliating as a sit down with those people, and she knows it. I hope daddy murdoch makes her go…
I think Morris should have said four 5th graders. It would be fun watching them have fun with her, and she’d be flustered by the end of the first half hour.
What a wonderful gesture on his part!! A very generous donation offered and a chance for her to save face on FIXING the previous ‘auction’.
Of course we all know H*LL will freeze over before she accepts an invitation like that.
But oh what a wonderful image the guest list makes……..sigh
OMG, I love it, it’s one of the most well thought out plots in this whole princess winky debacle. I believe it’s mud pups God given mission to make this viral and not let it die or go away. I wish I knew some one really famous that would perpetuate it. Rachel, are you there? Are you reading this? Help us secure the future of our country by getting many involved in this “ultimate smackdown” of the hate mongering sarah beast!
Veterans’ charities
That was clever! Except for the bit about charities-who cares about that?
Better still, how about a donation to the Department of Defense to help keep our troops-eternally-in the Middle East? (Kristol would definitely show up).
Sadly, this is where poor Ken is wrong;
” What if intelligent minds that happen to disagree could meet over dinner and explore political ideology?”
Palin does not have very much intelligence.
Let’s see how much $arah loves veterans. There is no way she will do this. She surrounds herself with a layer of protection whether is it her high school buddies, her commissioners, her children as props and lord knows whoever is calling her shots now. She will not be allowed to be that vulnerable. It would reveal the Princess is wearing no clothes. Nope….will never happen.
Wow. Just……..wow.
Someone on HuffPo had a great suggestion (should the dinner party take place): PAY-PER-VIEW! You know, like boxing matches and WWF Championships.
Now THAT would make a pile of money!
Well what does it say about Palin if she refuses? It says that she feels inadequate in the presence of these guests…and yet she was prepared to accept the nomination for VP. It also says that she is prepared to put her own interests before those of the veterans.
And the thing about all this is, before the end of the day, I’ll bet that other people will come on board and offer money to see this event happen. I reckon it could run into hundreds of thousands of dollars. How can she be seen to refuse to help the vets by not attending a little old dinner with a few people?
Congratulations Ken Morris….you beat her on this one. She is in a no win situation. That’ll teach her to rig ebay.
I wish him luck, but if I were him, I wouldn’t be holding my breath. I think that’s too much unscriptedness for the crazy woman, also too.
She’ll do this dinner the day Sean Hannity gets waterboarded.
I love it. What a generous offer on Ken Morris’s side. And I love his guest list. However, I wouldn’t clear your calendar and pack your bags just yet.
Reminds me of what we used to tell the counselors and junior staff during training when we talked about diversity. Imagine having lunch with 5 people – who would you choose? The lunch would be boring if everyone thought just the same, but would be more interesting if those at the table were from different backgrounds and beliefs.
Palin, unfortunately, seems bound to opt for the comfort of only talking to those who are just like she is.
Sorry Ken, but Sarah has absolutely no interest in having a real bi-partisian discussion about the true ills and difficulties in our country. Not only is she totally incapable intellectually from having that conversation; but if she was to put herself in such a position it would directly contradict (and mightly piss off) those right wing religious conservatives who are the only ones supporting her. Not only do I truly believe that she truly believes the crap that flies out of her mouth, but that to in any way engage in a converations with those “others” who do not believe in the “end of times” and that Obama doesn’t deserve to be President, etc. etc., would be to sit down with the devil in their opinion.
“True Believers” such as Palin cannot, will not, allow anything to puncture their reality bubble. While she might be tempted by the publicity, she’d be more tempted if that cash was offerred into her own pocket, but it ain’t gonna happen. You’re just spitting in the wind to even try.
It never ceases to amaze me that people actually seem to think she would have anything to contribute to such a conversation.
She’s an empty suit. She always has been, she always will be.
If Keith Olbermann and Bill Maher catch wind of this I bet they would both kick in $100,000 a piece. OK, so with Morris’s $100,000, McGinnis’s $100,000 (I’m sure he’ll partner up for the cause), Obie’s $100,000, Maher’s $100,000,
maybe $50,000 each from Rachel & Tina Fey & my $25 we’re over half a million!!
With all that $ kicked in (I am sure they can get this way up there) how could she refuse without losing all credibility? The world will be watching, she can’t win either way. This is the perfect storm!!!
now i would invite Barney Franks cause he would just take this dinner up about ten notches with his no holds barred bullshit declarations………and you gotta have Jon Stewart to summarize any mounting idiocy that needs to be called out for what it is…..with a good ole new jersey snark.
sad that it will never happen… she knows she cannot even attempt to “act” intelligent for 4 hours!!!! But Boy oh Boy would it be fun to watch if it did!!!!!
Good luck with that, Ken.
Sarah Palin is a COWARD. Period.
She will never, ever, agree to something that involves unconditional openness and transparency.
I am sure her ‘calendar’ will be entirely too full to accept such a tempting invitation.
Or
Her family’s needs must come before any further socializing at this time.
Or
Why, she never heard of this ‘so called’ offer, it is just another blogger made up story.
Or
As much as she loves the Troops, she doesn’t feel setting herself for all those ‘gotcha’ questions would be in thier best interest
Anyone else care to weigh in on her reasons for refusing to accept?
I agree that she will never agree to it….that in itself speaks volumes. But oh how I hope that she is over in China right now, wondering to herself, how the hell am I gonna get out of this one.
@Misfit…yep, she will use all of those excuses.
Another excuse, and I know that I shouldn’t say this…she is announcing her sixth pregnancy and needs to rest.
Money? Check.
Intelligent discourse? Check.
Sarah Palin included? I would advise that none hold their breath. There is no way she would offer to accept the challenge. A million could be offered and she would refuse. Unless the entire setting, including questions, is dictated by her and her handlers, it ain’t gonna happen. She is beyond looking for anything “fair and balanced” : she is looking out for numero uno.
Misfit, I bet it will be along the lines of;
Why, she never heard of this ’so called’ offer, it is just another blogger made up story.
That is the way she has handled every other challenge. It will get her some more face time and then on to another topic.
Oh Irish, you are just ahead of me in your thoughts today- I hope she gets news of this just before her big speech! She will probably give another Quitter style speech if she does..and yes, I think her excuse will have to be about family-some emergency. That way, she is putting family first. Shouldn’t be giving her ideas, I guess.
#20 boodog, apt description, a perfect storm. Morris needs to send her a “certified” formal invitation, so she can’t say she never heard about it. Rachel is good about calling on someone relentlessly requesting their presence or response to a request. If Rachel is reading mudflats today, she’ll get Olbermann & Maher involved, she’s got both of their ears. BIG $ needs to be at stake so that it’s noticed. She’ll look like a real twit if she says no. Any leaks from her hong kong chit chat yet? I asume the second it goes for a break somebody will be contacting youtube or the highest bidder with the cell phone recorded cr*p she spewed.
political chops….is that like moose stew, she asked?
I agree. There should be a way for the public either to donate to or Pay Per View this event. Palin would HAVE to show up and stay the whole time though, be in the room with the other guests, not be on her cell phone or talking to her own entourage, and be fully present at the dinner.
Oh, and if anyone wants to have dinner with me (in my current town of residence) and donate $100,000 to veterans’ charities, please feel free!
@Misfit in Texas:
She’s not going to give credibility to people whose real interest is in playing “gotcha” with her rather than helping the troops (and she might have an eensy bit of a point there).
I love the pay per view idea. It could even run of Faux. Make them broadcast their own comeuppance.
dear ken, sorry sarah can’t accept your very kind offer of $100,000 for the troops as much as she would like to. my dear wife was gored in the butt and kicked in the head by two irate moose named brian and brenda o’brian. she has also been attacked by various wolves and bears and dead fish.
sincerely, tahd
Palin is a coward, a quitter, and an idiot. She’ll come up with some snarky rebuttal if left to her own devices. We’ll see how strong her fondler, oops handler is by the tone of her “no” response. Super Snarky – she’s going rogue! Medium Snarky – money is being dangled like a carrot from her handler. Softly Snarky or Quiet – she’s been bought off, lock stock and barrel!
I have great respect for Ken Morris! I absolutely love this! Mr. Morris – many of us sit here and whine about what we can do. YOU, however – are doing it! You are being creative and sincere. We know that means nothing to Whack Job Crazy Woman, but it means a lot to me. Keep up the pressure, hit her where it hurts the most (bad publicity).
If he is willing to pay that much. It should be a conversation between just the 2 of them; without Murdock or others present. No rehearsing the questions. I would like to see him take notes. I can’t imagine him trying to remember the conversation.
i echo martha uys. well said.
@lemonfair, I know what you are saying but…
Surely someone nominated for VP could handle “gotcha” questions such as “what newspaper do you read?”
This woman reiterated the death panels threat, and we have all seen in a recent thread where that has left people…facing bankruptcy.
I would like to hear her defend that.
37 bubbles Says:
September 22nd, 2009 at 10:27 AM
i echo martha uys. well said.
I agree, as well. But if SP want to be in the Big league; she needs to start doing things alone. She is always hiding behind others. She wants to be, President?
No amount of money would ever get her to show up and we all know no excuse is too useless for her to try to weasle her why out of a commitment.
I think she is hoping there will be a language barrier in China and they won’t be able to tell she is dumb as a rock. If she finds out too many of them speak english she’ll run!
I wonder how many times she uses the words “reform” and Progress” in da speech?
Claw Washout Palin, she doesn’t want to be president…she really just wants the presidential crown..
Were Palin to accept, I hope Mr. Morris would pick the charities. Palin might direct the money to a xtian veterans militia.
Here’s a suggestion for a 3rd invitation from Morris to Palin in the likely event she ignores this 2nd attempt to dine, inquire & tape: Morris agrees to pay $100K to the Alaska Fund Trust or to Palin directly and says it will be directed to charity.
lemonfair Says:
September 22nd, 2009 at 10:20 AM
@Misfit in Texas:
She’s not going to give credibility to people whose real interest is in playing “gotcha” with her rather than helping the troops (and she might have an eensy bit of a point there).
===============================================
As Mr Morris has already layed out his concerns and topics of discussion he would like to discuss with her, I do not see how they could be considered “gotcha’ questions. Seems to me, all he wants to discuss are points that SHE has ‘spewed’. He wants to give her the opportunity to explain her viewpoints in hopes he may understand. Or possibly both come to an understanding on how to bring our country together rather than rip it apart.
I do not see how any of that could be considered a ‘gotcha’ setup.
Bubbles at 34.
That was hilarious!
Do you think she’ll still show up once she finds out about China’s view on late term abortions (just cuz you’ve already got one kid), and other human rights violations?
Just why did she pick China anyway?
Since $arah in her twitty mind likes to think of herself as ‘ Presidential material ‘
it would only be fitting that she might also sit down with someone who has actually done some recent interviews with real Presidents lately.
David Letterman… I hope You are free for dinner…?
( throw in a few Coins for the tip as well will you)
Can you imagine Dave calling her out every night on Nat’l TV ( like McCain ) until she responds. Priceless!!
She’s a shrew, she wouldn’t accept, no money for her. She can only be whored out once a year.
Here is the bait Mr. Morris is using in hopes of setting his hook in XGINO’s mouth:
“This could become a win/win for everyone: Sarah Palin gains political chops and has a launching pad for her ideas while dispelling suggestions that she fixed the first auction to avoid debate; progressives and conservatives finally gain an in-depth understanding of her intellect; and veterans’ charities benefit from some much-needed support.”
The problem is, he forgot to throw something tangible into the mix just for her majesty Queen Esther to bite down on and keep for just herself.
Although the paragraph reads like a finely-tied dry fly, it is missing one thing — a nice shiny bauble with which to attract the predatory fish’s attention.
It’s not too late however. Throw in some diamond earrings, Ken, you might just catch that fish.
“Just why did she pick China anyway?”
It’s all about secrecy and keeping real people from hearing what she has to say. Either that, or she’s got a witch-outing ceremony planned.
#46
BBHounds Says:
September 22nd, 2009 at 10:51 AM
Do you think she’ll still show up once she finds out about China’s view on late term abortions (just cuz you’ve already got one kid), and other human rights violations?
Just why did she pick China anyway?
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She’s bypassing Socialism and going straight to Communism for 400 in hopes of hitting the Daily Double.
Too bad she thinks she’s playing Jeopardy and winning.
She’s really just another contestant on Wheel-of-Fortune.
Dead silence from the *other* side on this one.
she didn’t pick China, murdoch picked, and she listens. This way, she’ll get her international experience so when she runs for potus, she’ll be able to tell the world she’s been to Hong Kong.
hehe…international experience!
Really very simple about the Hong Kong visit and no media. She will use the same speech and the same material for each of her appearances for the big bucks.That is why media is verboten.
Still, you know there must be some techie out there that will smuggle in a microphone or micro camera.
She need only use one speech for her 1000 offers of speaking engagements, as she did for rabble raising in Florida and elsewhere.
Why waste an effort learning by rote more than one talk.
As far as the $100,000 offer. Even if accepted she could back out at any time. A million excuses out there for defaulting.
Perhaps she could come down with a convenient case of swine flu, then relapse into pneumonia, and respiratory problems, which means she won’t be able to speak at all.
Sorry, but….cough, cough I’m one of the 2nd wave of deadly swine flu victims.
Ken Morris, former high-flying Wall Street executive of Morgan Stanley.
Right. I trust him only slightly more than I trust Palin.
Mr. Morris, here’s my challenge to you: Take your $100,000 and give it quietly to the veteran’s charity. It probably belonged to them anyway (and the rest of us) considering how your fortune was probably made in the first place.
LEE323!!!! lol. ahahhahh, gurgle gurgle, sniff sniff. yep,yep.
dear ken, to hell with palin. give me $100,000 and i will prepare the dinner, entertain your guests and share the moolah with some deserving mudpups
She doesn’t have the nerve to do that dinner.
Odds on — Never happen (even if it is for charity )
Tread softly, because you tread on my dreams. WB Yeats
That is my favorite poem and line of poetry. When things get too mad with Palin. Maybe we should all pull back, and think of something beautiful instead.
Had I the heavens’ embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
Good for you, Ken! I doubt SP will ever consider it though, but…miracles sometimes DO happen!
Here’s something to consider if SP does agree, make sure she has NO WIRES in her ears. SP needs to be ‘herself’, if she even knows who she is anymore.
Ohh, I really hope someone manages to get the whole thing recorded.
Maybe we haven’t seen her because she’s been studying trying to get ready for the big show.
Off topic a bit;
Just read,SCMP [South China Morning Post].
Palin will address CLSA about US Foreign Policyand the mainland.
Also a teaser. Palins brand of humour tends to travel well.
Hope you enjoy that one LOL.
Couldn’t find out more because you had to subscribe to the paper.
Unlike that sour looking woman from AL I wouldn’t spend a dime on her .
[Snark]
Judging from Mr. Morris’s bio, (author, Morgan Stanley Executive, world travelor) Sarah Palin wouldn’t understand a word he said.
Palin knows as much about writing, economics, and the world as my cat does!
Irishgirl @ #62: Yes, Yeats! And along those lines (pun intended), here’s an image to take you from your mind’s eye to a mind-boggling eyeful. Talk about perspective and importance in the grander scheme of things….
http://www.thelightisgreen.com/Hubble-eagle-nebula-wide-field-04086y.jpg
To Ken Morris: You are good…and diabolically good! Checkmate! I usually don’t read thrillers, but if you’re that skilled at plotlines, perhaps I’ll take a look
Evil Shall Break indeed! Or so we hope….
AKM, Glenn Beck and Sarah will never face anyone for an intellectual civil debate.
I think she should be asked to bring with her, Rush Limbaugh, Mitchell Bauchman, Joe you lie Wilson, Hannity, Bill O, and all the ladies on fox news. Face to face.
May be she will take the offer. Otherwise, It is never going to happen.
Thanks Photonflower, I also think that Morris is diabolically good.
The fact that she will refuse says enough!
I posted a diary at Daily Kos re the Morris challenge. The diary had a poll asking readers to choose (Yes or No) if she would accept the challenge and give an additional $100,000 for the troops she often speaks of also. Right now the vote is running 10-1 to her declining.
This sounds like the game of “If you could invite 5 people for dinner, living or dead, who would they be and why”. LOL
I think I’d add Teddie, Ike and RFK for experience and intellect and Bela Logosie (sp?) for the fun factor.
I love his guest list. Would that I were a mouse on the couch.
Alas it will never come to pass.
Love the poetry Irishgirl
Night all.
You are right boodog@42. I guess Murdick is going to have to find a way to get her out of this jam. I hope Ken sticks it to them good. Need to quit trying to throw her in with the big boys. They bite and sometimes they don’t let go.
Will it be called The Ken and Barbie Dinner?
good one zyggy!!
OK – so what if Mudflatters added to the $100,000 offer for additional donations to sweeten the pot – but SP has to show. Is this idea already in the forum??
Unfortunately, Mr. Morris, this divide is here to stay. And things will probably get much worse. The conservative movement only exists to ensure that government serves the wealthy and the needs of corporations, with the needs of the vast majority of everyone else as a secondary concern. 30 years of Reagan Republicanism have got us to this point. That is 30 years of quacking about a misconstrued understanding of free markets, 30 years of rolling back regulation after regulation to the benefit of business, 30 years of labor policies that shipped jobs overseas on a moments notice without providing a meaningful opportunity for those thrown out of work except the public dole. 30 years of selling the environment and the future quality of our children’s lives to the highest bidder.
But, what is worse is that the modern state of “journalism” is feeding the conservative beast. The right has it’s talking points which are at best based on facts manufactured in it’s own echo chamber of Fox news and limited other conservative sources. What is scary is that no thinking person in the main stream media challenges them, backs them down, makes them support in detail what they say. You know, like Cronkite and Brinkley used to do. Journalism is failing the masses because it’s nature is being changed from trusted news and fact, to an angry diatribe that at best is a weak form of entertainment. It is truly frightening that the opinion makers for a large swath of the populace are men in the middle of their lives with no education other than high school, whose biggest accomplishment in life prior to finding fame were careers as disc jockeys. To make matters worse, media outlets can now own more than one station in a given geography, which provided Rupert Murdoch, one of the wealthiest men in the world, to spread his conservative gospel. And he found the right marketing mix in people like Glenn Beck to make that happen.
But, the foregoing is only two-thirds of the conservative strategy. The conservative movement needs boots on the ground, people who will without question vote for it’s goals. And they found willing participants in the evangelical movement. Millions of people who’ve willfully replaced individual rational thought with a simple road map for life based singularly on a literal translation of the bible. They don’t seem to question that the bible is an ancient text, that it has been translated across many different languages, and that any original meaning of the stories has changed due to the political leanings of the translator. Does not matter. And in their minds I am a heretic who will burn in hell for just now pointing that out. I don’t see these people changing their political stripes. Moreover, I see many more joining their ranks out of the desperation caused by the economic hardship of these times.
So, I fear our world of the future will consist of an Ayn Rand nightmare of have’s and have nots, ruled by domionist leaders hell bent on bringing on the rapture. The haves will enjoy life and get wealthier off the backs of the have nots, who will willingly become cannon fodder for whatever culture the domionist leaders deem un-biblical. After all, Jesus must not love the have nots, or he’d of made em wealthy, right? The conservative media will squelch dissent. Within a generation our children’s education will be so watered down and full of biblical content they will be incapable of giving protest a thought.
No, the divide that exists in this country will get worse unless thinking people take on the source of conservative power- the radical evangelicals and the conservative media baron Rupert Murdoch. It is good to see our Latino neighbors organizing to push CNN into doing something drastic about Lou Dobbs. We Americans who have been here for a few generations could learn something from these newer citizens. I say Muy Bien to them for what they are doing!
Reduce the influence of Murdoch, and you render Palin a comical footnote in U.S. political history. Fail to do that, and within 10 years this country will become an intolerant dominionist theocracy that will consume the weak in order to make the wealthy, wealthier.
@BigSlick: I’m guessing QP is carefully not hearing about female infanticide (aka fourth trimester abortion). But also, too, also, this meeting is almost entirely expat financial services “blokes”, eh?
78 strangelet Says:
September 22nd, 2009 at 7:59 PM
@BigSlick: I’m guessing QP is carefully not hearing about female infanticide (aka fourth trimester abortion). But also, too, also, this meeting is almost entirely expat financial services “blokes”, eh?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Remember, China doesn’t count as part of God’s Kingdom since they are all godless atheists so to Queen Esther its the same as visiting a petting zoo.
Or a turkey farm.
I can’t help but wonder why bother? Why ask Sarah as if she has any answers? I agree this country is divided and it makes me sad too. I wonder if we are headed for a war with Blue vs Red instead of Blue vs Gray like last time. Frankly, I don’t think anything SP has to say on the subject would be of any worth.
I wonder if Sarah has figured out that by black balling people like Morris and Olbermann, both of whom were willing to bid much higher, that the bid she finally got – that by cooking the results and announcing openly – she just cost the vets group almost 50K.
Yes, Sarah we are laughing at you once again. For among other reasons your lack of logic, and foresight/thoughtyness has made you look foolish. Again.
But also in your desperate quest for attention you actually put youself on the 50% off table.
If I had 100K I would be overjoyed to have dinner with Morris and his guests.
Wow. For get the four hours limit. Just Wow.
@BigSlick # 79
…so to Queen Esther its the same as visiting a petting zoo.
Or a turkey farm.
LMAO
Basically, you can put a monkey in a dress and charge 100g to dine with her, but, when all is said and done, she’s STILL a monkey!
Sending love to the mudflatters from So.Cal.