Posted on 01/02/2015 5:51:31 PM PST by SeekAndFind
Is this an actual fake outrage, where partisans pretend to be offended at something to play up the supposed inhumanity of their opponents, or is it a fake fake outrage, where only a few even bother to pretend but the media seizes on it anyway because it’s a “controversy,” sort of, and they’re bored? For the moment, it looks like it’s being pushed not so much by American liberals but by foreign press — the Independent, an Irish newspaper, and the always buzz-hungry Daily Mail. Turns out Facebook commenters grumbling at a former VP nominee now qualifies as international news. Who knew?
Good news for Slate, though, as this takes care of January 2nd in next year’s “Year of Outrage” round-up.
Happy New Year!
May 2015 see every stumbling block turned into a stepping stone on the path forward. Trig just reminded me. He, determined to help wash dishes with an oblivious mama not acknowledging his signs for “up!”, found me and a lazy dog blocking his way. He made his stepping stone.
- Sarah Palin
Click for pics. American news outlets like the New York Daily News and The Blaze picked it up this morning, with a full-blown Twitterstorm now shaping up as lefties and righties wearily assume their designated roles. I’m going to guess that if little Trig’s weight caused the dog any pain, the dog would have made that clear to him in ways that dogs are wont to do but I’ll defer to experts in the comments. In the meantime, let’s pray that the number of hideously overwrought Smart Takes this incident produces remains small:
Eagerly awaiting Andrew Sullivan's smart take on what Trig Palin putting his foot on a dog means for the future of our republic.
— Popehat (@Popehat) January 2, 2015
To answer my question, I think this still qualifies as a “fake fake outrage” for the moment but has potential to become an “actual fake outrage” simply because there’s a dog involved. Remember how the story of Mitt Romney putting his dog in a kennel on the family car’s roof during a trip years ago became a thing, at least on the left, during the 2012 campaign? Stories of possible animal abuse by Republicans grab them, I think, because they support the liberal narrative that conservatives are heartless. They’re a Window onto the Conservative Soul in a way that, oh, say, abortion without restriction is most certainly not a window onto the left-wing soul. And of course they disdain Palin singularly for a mess of reasons, so any chance to score a point on her is a chance that must be taken. It’s really a perfect post-New-Year Friday story — nothing else is going on in the news, everyone wants to get back to holiday revelry before the deep-breath plunge into normal order in January, and one of their favorite whipping boys has given them something to chatter about. I figure they’ll reach “actual fake outrage” intensity by mid-afternoon today, with the storm dissipating this evening as everyone eases into the weekend and stops thinking about this even a little.
He is part of the “pack” and would have left if he was in trouble. As a service dog he loves his job and was thrilled to be doing it. Why can they not understand it?
Must be all cat owners and never had a dogs company!
The campaign for 2016 is starting.
Just saying.
I like to say that there’s a sliding scale of stupid among online news/commentary outlets. Salon, Slate and the Huffington Post are the relatively less stupid ones, then Buzzfeed, then Vox, and finally, Upworthy is all of the above’s special little brother.
What an A-hole comment. You don't think Sarah knows that? Do you really think your comment here was teaching her something?
Did you ever actually own a dog?
The Horror! The Animal abuse! Sarah Palin must be shot for this crime against all Dogs and children. What can you expect out of a woman so dumb she thinks she can see Russia from her back porch? The horror of this picture has liberals fainting—its worse that anything done in Nazi Germany! the poor dog should be taken from this woman and given a decent home without kids. (sic)
“Lighten up Francis”
A classic line from Stripes. Thanks!
Yep. Food, and acceptance by/with the Pack are the big things in life to most dogs.
Okay, I will check my schedule for 2016,,,, oh, you mean for Sarah.
Something that the media will not mention, is that all of these people are Indians, all of them, except for the white girl, Sarah.
Fortunately, and to your credit, my failure to include you seems not to have sparked the dreaded Outrage™ d:^)
For PETA........Im appalled! now pass me that steak
We adopted a 3 yr old boxer while our daughter and granddaughter lived with us. Sweetest dog anyone ever saw. One day not long after we got her she and the 3 yr old disappeared into the bedroom. A while later they came out. The boxer he on a pink tutu and was prancing and all smiles. Lol. She wore that tutu most of the day.
What a crock...that dog is loving every minute of it!!!
Loved it. I don’t have a problem with Trig or mom snapping a pic. It was just a thoughtless idea for her to share it with the world.
Agreed. Romney put a dog in a horrific situation. All Sarah did was take a cute pic.
Romney didn’t share a photo of the terrified dog with the world, and no one thinks romney is an idiot. Most of the country thinks Sarah said she could see Russia from her house, and Sarah should,have shelved the pic of her son standing on a dog.
I read back thru this entire thread. Where does onyx say what you accuse her of saying on it? Are you just goofin’ on us?
So you are willing to whip a kid with DS that wouldn”t even understand? Okaaaaay.
Yep she went right out and hitchhiked with a stranger./sarc. I hope you really understand that it is something called a promo, which involves actors and props. And how do you know that she doesn’t teach Trig better. Obviously, this was something unusual for him to do, or no one would have grabbed a camera.
To all: Someone said that Alaska’s SPCA has said that they are going to contact law enforcemant to look into Sarah’s treatment of the dog. Really? Like she was the one standing on him. What are they gonna do, arrest Trig? Anyhow, the libs are getting out of hand with this, so I sent a blistering email to AK’s SPCA. I am suggesting that anyone on twitter might start pushing back against this stupidity. Also on email.
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