THE BOTTOM TEN: 2009 YEAR IN REVIEW

For the next few days, you will undoubtedly be assaulted with endless compilations of year end lists, reviews, and highlight reels to commemorate the year 2009 and to send it off with a bang. I for one would like to burn the memories of this horrific 365 day saga from my memory for all of perpetuity, but before I begin that endeavor, I thought I would come up with a year end list of my own. For those of you that like that sort of thing, here is another one with a Republican Redefined twist. Instead of featuring the “many” proud achievements of Republicans in this calendar year, we will celebrate those who continue to dare to walk the center line or flirt with the evil Left....1. Olympia Snowe, 1A. Susan Collins, 2. Lindsey Graham...

You didn't lay a glove on Sarah. The thrust of your criticism of all the rest is about how they've lost their way philosophically. Your problem with Palin seems to be how cool you think you'll look trashing her about nothing in particular, while ignoring her large and growing influence in all things political in this country.

Here's the deal, Bud. Palin is not stupid. She demonstrates that every day lately. She also appears to have all the qualities you find so lacking in your other honorees. If you believe she is stupid, then I must reach the inescapable conclusion that you are simply a moronic tool of others; others that tell you what to think in order to get their approval.

After they pat you on the head for your little snark, feel free to go lay by your dish.

Wow. For starters, it was a bottom ten list, so I see very little to like in ANY of them. If I wanted to sing the praises of my favorite Republicans I would have called it a top ten list.

As to your more offensive and ridiculous point. I was unaware that it was “COOL” in “conservative” circles to be critical of Sarah Palin. Last time I checked, she was the darling of the “conservative populist movement.” I fail to see how my disdain for her could in any way endear me to my fellow Right Wingers. In fact, I do believe that the more likely scenario is one that would generate the sort of feedback that has just been demonstrated by you.

As to “laying a glove” on Sarah. It wasn’t my intent to lay out an exhaustive dissertation of her shortcomings in the list. In fact, the list was intended to be lighthearted. For those who frequent my site, they know that there have been many opportunities to make that argument. The post was riddled with links to other articles related to Sarah Palin. I would encourage you to check them out. That being said, it was a list of Republicans that have lost their way. I would still take all of them - Palin included over any on the other side.

But listen “Bud.” Anyone that feels the need to proclaim that “Palin is not stupid” should genuinely reevaluate the foundation of their adoration for the Former Governor. I don’t recall calling her “stupid” in the post. I did mention in jest that she had spent 2009 working on her “image.” Yes, part of that image was that she was a simpleton and a talking head “conservative” but to be honest, I am far more troubled by the latter of those two shortcomings - real or perceived.

As to her “large and growing influence in all things political in this country” I do believe that I clearly acknowledged that point and have many-many-many times in the past. To be honest, that is part of why I believe she is so undeniably damaging to the perception of conservatism in the first place.

As to implying that I am in some way the little “pet” of “they” - whoever “they” are. That was a nice little touch and a clever way to end your rant, but I have to tell you that I feel pretty confident that I am the lap dog to no one and genuinely feel sorry for lemmings like you that allow themselves to be led off the cliff of the politically informed by a token conservative legitimized only by her popularity and celebrity. Stay out of the holiday Kool-Aid my friend.

Happy New Year “Bud” May 2010 bring you clarity in your thoughts and conviction in your principles.

The conclusion that Palin is a simpleton is cultural. Anyone taking her obvious intellectual shortcomings as a given is a pet on a cultural leash. One quickly runs out of fingers and toes counting prominent politicians of both parties and sex that couldn't claim to have an edge on Palin in the brains and wit category. One is the Vice President. The conclusion that she just repeats things over and over, and this somehow sets her apart as a ditz, could only be reached by someone that has never followed a politician around.

I'm not sure I'd want her as president. She sure couldn't be worse than the current occupant. But people of either party that write things like "The woman that is famous for memorizing token conservative talking points" are just peddling shallow, gossip column level analysis, dependent on the pop culture meme about how dumb she is. "Look at me. I get it. Aint no way I'm taking that seriously. Scratch my tummmy."

Must be a bit disheartening to post a link to a full blown column and get one response; a negative one. Post a vanity about your toothache and you'll do a lot better than that.

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