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Palin: Rogue or Rouge?
The Nation ^ | 10/24/2009 | Betsy Reed

Posted on 10/24/2009 2:20:04 PM PDT by presidio9

Failed GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, whose new memoir, set to be released on Nov. 17, emphasizes her supposedly "maverick" tendencies with its title Going Rogue, has just dipped her toe into New York State politics. By endorsing a right-wing third party candidate, Doug Hoffman of the Conservative Party, in the Nov. 3 special election for the state's 23rd Congressional district seat, she has indeed bucked the party establishment--in order to advance a hard-line social conservative agenda. In the nonsensical Palin universe, that's what "rogue" means: walking in lockstep with the Christian right.

The Republican Party's candidate in the race, Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava, is pro-choice, pro-gay marriage and has pledged to support the pro-union Employee Free Choice Act. While Scozzafava has been depicted as a radical leftist in the right-wing blogosphere, in fact she is a centrist with conservative leanings. The net effect of Palin's "rogue" intervention may be to split the conservative vote and help elect the Democrat in the race, Bill Owens, who maintains an edge over the other two candidates in the polls. Still, Hoffman has been gaining momentum, and--in a testament to Palin's enduring appeal to her devoted base--he's been raking in the campaign cash in the wake of her endorsement.

In her Facebook posting announcing her support for Hoffman this past Thursday evening, Palin wrote, "Our nation is at a crossroads, and this is once again a ‘time for choosing.'"

I might not have put it exactly like that, but I agree.

When Palin's book Going Rogue comes out on Nov. 17, we're launching Going Rouge: Sarah Palin--An American Nightmare, a collection of pieces on Palin that I co-edited with Nation senior editor Richard Kim. Despite internet chatter suggesting that we might be trying to dupe unsuspecting hockey moms into buying our anti-Palin book, I think it's pretty clear from the thunderclouds and the subtitle that the cover's a satire. But the book is not a parody: it's a serious look at Palin's record, her policy positions, the meaning of her candidacy for feminism and her future in American politics.

It's also fair to ask who has been practicing the politics of deception here. Palin's entry onto the national stage was a Hollywood-style production, replete with a ready-made storyline, a speech carefully crafted by others and a brand new wardrobe. Many remarked at the time that she seemed more like an actress playing a candidate running for Vice President in a romantic comedy (albeit one who sometimes had trouble remembering her lines) than an actual candidate. And the image, more often than not, contradicted the reality. Given the misleading use of "rogue" in the title of her new book, it seems likely that it will merely offer more of the same.

Our book, by contrast, is reality-based. No ghostwriters or pricey political consultants were employed in its production, just hardworking journalists. Our purpose is to not to deceive but to clarify--to show Palin beneath the gloss. And to give people a choice on Nov. 17.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: meow
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To: Mamzelle

“in fact she is a centrist with conservative leanings.”

You can’t reason with someone that much out of it.


41 posted on 10/24/2009 3:54:15 PM PDT by darkangel82 (I don't have a superiority complex, I'm just better than you.)
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To: presidio9

these folks are out of their collective minds, and should not be allowed to drive cars or use heavy machinery


42 posted on 10/24/2009 4:07:09 PM PDT by The Wizard
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To: presidio9

Sounds as if “their book” is a collection of old articles written by other people. All they did was gather them together. Tough work! No wonder they didn’t need real writers to help them. The writing was already done.


43 posted on 10/24/2009 4:45:25 PM PDT by Right Wing Assault (The Obama magic is fading.)
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To: presidio9

Thank you, Betsy...the more you Libs wear your fears of Palin on your sleeve, it makes it easy for us to gather strength.

Freight train’s comin’...can you hear it?


44 posted on 10/24/2009 5:25:22 PM PDT by CincyRichieRich (Keep your head up and keep moving forward!)
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To: presidio9
Where is the ultra Maximum Hurl warning???

Partisan politics I understand, but the Palin haters have taking things much lower than anyone should. These people need to be bitch slapped and McVeigh missed his calling.

45 posted on 10/24/2009 5:48:51 PM PDT by GBA
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To: presidio9
Despite internet chatter suggesting that we might be trying to dupe unsuspecting hockey moms into buying our anti-Palin book, I think it's pretty clear from the thunderclouds and the subtitle that the cover's a satire.
Basically it's John Kerry humor - all mean spirit, and no point.

The book does not clearly list an author - only a couple of "editors." But Sarah Palin's name is prominent on the cover, and her smiling face brightens the cover - it looks entirely possible to pick it up thinking you're getting a book by Palin.

But the book is not a parody
You just had to be there, I guess. I sure don't get it. Other than as an attempt to undercut the original.

46 posted on 10/24/2009 6:20:02 PM PDT by conservatism_IS_compassion (Anyone who claims to be objective marks himself as hopelessly subjective.)
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To: presidio9
Wow, the left is going full court press Alinsky mode on Sarah already.

Alinsky back at em'! We have just begun to fight!

Sarah 2012!

47 posted on 10/24/2009 7:02:19 PM PDT by Art in Idaho
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To: Red_Devil 232
Above from Wikipedia.

I treat anything sourced from Wikipedia like a Barak Obama campaign promise.

48 posted on 10/24/2009 10:20:06 PM PDT by presidio9 ("All right then. I'll go to hell." =Huckleberry Finn)
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To: presidio9
I treat anything sourced from Wikipedia like a Barak Obama campaign promise.

Can't refute it?

49 posted on 10/24/2009 10:22:13 PM PDT by ColdWater ("The theory of evolution really has no bearing on what I'm trying to accomplish with FR anyway. ")
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To: Virginia Ridgerunner

Why would you post to me about the book the author has a book coming out when that appears to be the sole purpose of the (short) article? When you read the fing thread before posting you avoid wasting your own time. But, more importantly, you avoid wasting mine. Thanks.


50 posted on 10/24/2009 10:25:38 PM PDT by presidio9 ("All right then. I'll go to hell." =Huckleberry Finn)
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To: presidio9
Palin's entry onto the national stage was a Hollywood-style production

"I'm ready for my close-up Mr DeMille"

51 posted on 10/24/2009 10:36:05 PM PDT by Oztrich Boy (Halfway honest people reject Darwinism)
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To: presidio9
I like the cover with the thunderbolt.

Imagine a liberal Wiccan magic circle chanting spells against Sarah, right where the bolt comes down.

52 posted on 10/25/2009 3:51:33 AM PDT by lentulusgracchus
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To: presidio9
I treat anything sourced from Wikipedia like a Barak Obama campaign promise.

Sounds reasonable. Probably written by the same 'Ratroots.

53 posted on 10/25/2009 4:00:54 AM PDT by lentulusgracchus
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To: presidio9
What I find remarkable, if not astonishing, is the failure of leftist scribblers to ever honestly confront the differences between conservatism and leftism/liberalism. Reed is simply the latest in a long line of lefties who either outright don't know diddley squat about conservatism ie. classical liberalism and the role of government or dishonestly try to picture conservatism for what it is not.

The Pubbie candidate in 2012 has to make that clear to Americans. It's not necessarily about individual issues like low taxes or the right to bear arms, although those two issues are certainly part of the conservative agenda. Someone has to know the constitution and make American citizens aware of what they must expect from government and also what is not government's business.

54 posted on 10/25/2009 4:17:48 AM PDT by driftless2 (for long term happiness, learn how to play the accordion)
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To: presidio9

“Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava, is pro-choice, pro-gay marriage and has pledged to support the pro-union Employee Free Choice Act.”

Let’s see - that’s murdering babies, sodomy and union tyranny. And she claims there’s something wrong with conservatives identifying her as a leftist?


55 posted on 10/25/2009 5:42:13 AM PDT by RoadTest ( But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do)
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To: presidio9

Piss off, presidio.

Thanks.


56 posted on 10/25/2009 5:51:15 AM PDT by Virginia Ridgerunner (Sarah Palin has crossed the Rubicon!)
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To: Red_Devil 232

In a prior life as a product manager we did a little parody ad of our competitors and one filed suit against us for both copyright and trade dress infringement since there was a slight resemblance to their product in our ads.

I was ready to testify and had full confidence we would prevail. The bigwigs decided instead to save the $$$ and settle. We pulled the ads and apologized.

I think in the “Going Rogue” case it is at least worth a careful look. The question I would ask is if these two books were on the shelf together could it confuse customers. I would say to the average person, absolutely. There are far too many similarities - title, font style, image etc. Obviously these similarities are done on purpose precisely to cause confusion which makes this an even more compelling case.

Although we can’t be sure that these in fact will be the covers used. Lots of things can happen before printing and release.


57 posted on 10/25/2009 1:41:52 PM PDT by Kandy Atz ("Were we directed from Washington when to sow and when to reap, we should soon want for bread.")
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To: Virginia Ridgerunner
Piss off, presidio.

If I never received another superfluous post from you for the rest of my life, somehow I'd find a way to get by. But every time you send a post to me that simply repeats something the main article already said, expect me to call you on it. If your reason for posting to FR is to let everyone else know that you know something they don't, do everyone a favor and post it to yourself. Given your lack of enthusiasm for reading threads, that would seem like the appropriate course of action anyway.

58 posted on 10/25/2009 3:02:19 PM PDT by presidio9 ("All right then. I'll go to hell." -Huckleberry Finn)
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To: presidio9

With every response you make along these lines, presidio, you just reinforce the general opinion here that you are a pompous jackass. Keep up the good work!

Thank you.


59 posted on 10/25/2009 3:06:33 PM PDT by Virginia Ridgerunner (Sarah Palin has crossed the Rubicon!)
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To: Virginia Ridgerunner
Sounds to me like your priorities are a bit out of whack. This is an anonymous web forum. I'm not looking to impress anyone, or “reinforce (any) general opinions. In the future, you might want to make an effort to avoid posting idiocy directly to me (if that's possible for you). Then I can guarantee you that you and I will never have a problem. Your behavior on this thread only reinforces the general opinion that popular culture seems to have of Palin supporters.

Again, I wouldn't care if every last member of FR hated my guts. The only things that matter to me here are the truth and intelligent representations thereof. But since you asked, I have been on FR for over 10 years, started 7,000 threads, and written 30,000 posts. Since I started keeping track four or five years ago, my FR homepage has had 10,000 visitors. In that time, I would say that the feedback I have been received has run about 3 to 1 positive. 90% of the negative feedback I have received has come from libertarians and people how hate Catholics. The other 10% has its origins in stupidity. You have not represented yourself as either a libertarian or a person who hates Catholics, so I'm going to go ahead and draw my own conclusion.

60 posted on 10/26/2009 10:52:37 AM PDT by presidio9 ("All right then. I'll go to hell." -Huckleberry Finn)
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