By Any Measure, Sarah Palin is a Radical Political and Religious Extremist

THE BUZZFLASH EDITOR'S BLOG

By Mark Karlin, Editor and Publisher of BuzzFlash.com

October 5, 2008

It’s hard to believe that the corporate media is headlining Sarah Palin’s warmed-over-from-the-primaries Sean Hannity smears against Obama. But then again, according to the site Think Progress, the Mainstream Media Stand To Receive $1.44 Billion From McCain’s Tax Cuts.

While Palin, as the aerial presidential campaign wolf hunter, retreads disproven slander that Obama was somehow in league with an act committed by Bill Ayers when Palin was in the second grade -- so to speak -- and Obama was also in elementary school, the mainstream press ignores Palin’s extremely radical ties to extremist political and religious movements.

The corporate media shot down the notion that Palin was affiliated and supportive of the Alaskan Independence (Secessionist) Party by accepting the McCain campaign excuse that she has always been a registered Republican. But then explain this video from this year – 2008 – in which Governor Palin welcomes and praises the secessionist party during their convention in Fairbanks. Watch it. You can’t wish reality away, although Palin is superb at trying to blink it away.

Also, you can support and be supportive or a member of the Alaskan Independence Party, as you would the John Birch Society (and there is a photo from the '90s of Palin with John Birch Society literature), without having to have them as your registered political party. That appears to be the route that Sarah and Todd Palin have taken (although Todd is actually documented as officially declaring the AIP as his political party for awhile a few years back.) . But you know that’s just too "subtle" a distinction for the mainstream corporate press to grasp, so they rather recycle disproven slander against Obama than expose Palin’s radical present, not just her fanatical past.

As we noted in a BuzzFlash headline this weekend: "Palin Who Pals Around with the Alaska Independence (Secessionist) Party, Gets Blessed by a Nutcase Minister Who Protects Her from Witch Doctors, Listens to Speakers Who Believe Jews are Damned, Calls the Iraq War Divinely Inspired (and More of Unacceptable Anti-American and Extremist Beliefs and Behavior) is Now Following the McCain Effort to Reawaken Old Discredited Smears on Obama. Palin is Just a Rabid Pit Bull. Forget the Lipstick." And that’s not even the half of her UnAmerican beliefs, not even a fifth of them.

But given the desperation of the McCain campaign because somehow – miraculously – reality has peaked through the crowds and many Americans are seeing the Grand Hypocrisy Party as the larcenous cabal that it is, Palin is being employed to resurrect the Obama slander that is only newsworthy because of the fact that the McCain campaign has run out of other lies to peddle.

Meanwhile, Palin – who is a believer in a renegade theology called "The Third Wave" that believes God has chosen certain people (her) to lead America into preparation for Armageddon, indeed that her ascension to the presidency is a prerequisite for End Times – is getting the kids gloves treatment from the national press (except for, unexpectedly, Katie Couric). Think of the billions of dollars that is spent on corporate news reporting and try to fathom that they covered the VP as a good "performance" on Palin’s part, without dealing with her complete deficiency in offering any plan or vision for America’s future. (Meanwhile, the "snap polls" that BuzzFlash received – admittedly unscientific – ALL showed that Biden won by at least 20% with the crucial Independent vote on every major issue.)

Remember that Palin was placed on the ticket, allegedly, because a rather secretive organization of far right evangelicals told the McCain campaign to appoint her V.P. or risk the formidable institutional backing and get out the vote support of the Armageddon crowd. McCain, seeing that he evoked all the enthusiasm of road kill, relented.  This was the same group of radical evangelical "leaders" who anointed George W. Bush in a secret meeting (no media or taping equipment is allowed) in 2000.  Remember, they didn't choose McCain; they chose to back Palin with the hope that she will soon succeed McCain.

Since then, Sarah Palin – in her own language of "Crack Barrel" expressions, scripted campaign slogans, and dropped sentences – has been running not for VP but for president.

As Frank Rich implies in another scintillating column on October 5, when the Governor accidentally said recently that she was running on the Palin-McCain ticket, she wasn’t kidding. Palin has said several things that contradict the McCain campaign message – and they don’t seem intentional to try and draw in a different group of voters.

In Colorado on Saturday, where she resurrected some slime against Obama -- from Sean Hannity and the gang -- she argued that the McCain campaign shouldn’t have given up on Michigan. Say what?

McCain is acting so petulantly and irascible of late, it is hard to take him seriously as a candidate. As Frank Rich notes, McCain is now relying on Palin, a radical extremist in the guise of a "down home" persona, to carry him across the finish line.

McCain appears to just want to cross the finish line, to show that he could be elected before he dies. How long he serves is of less importance to him than to feel validated by winning the presidential election. He is not putting the country first; he is putting himself first, a man with a fierce grievance that he wasn’t nominated by his party earlier in his youth, when he had the fire to do something. Now, he just wants his trophy presidency and then he’s ready to turn it over to Sarah Palin.

Those of you who doubt it should remember the below the radar comment that Palin made in the VP debate, one of the few substantive remarks she uttered. In essence, she said that she would model her role as VP after Cheney. BuzzFlash wrote a commentary on this horrifying power grab ("Like Putting Lipstick on a Cheney: Palin's Vow to Continue Unitary Executive and Lack of Accountability for VP Position") that doesn’t exist in the Constitution and to which Biden appropriately replied:

"Vice President Cheney has been the most dangerous vice president we've had probably in American history... The Constitution is explicit. The only authority the vice president has from the legislative standpoint is the vote, only when there is a tie vote. He has no authority relative to the Congress. The idea he's part of the Legislative Branch is a bizarre notion invented by Cheney to aggrandize the power of a unitary executive and look where it has gotten us. It has been very dangerous."

But Sarah Palin, to quote "The Blues Brothers," is on a mission from God.

And as Frank Rich notes, the ultimate game changer may be that if somehow the McCain-Palin tickets squeaks through (and it would have to be with voter suppression and stolen votes), expect Palin to assume the presidency right quick.

That’s the plan of the Anti-American extremist evangelical right wing. With Palin as president, it becomes their country, not ours. They are the ultimate terrorists against democracy and the Constitution, but you won’t read a word about it in the corporate press.

THE BUZZFLASH EDITOR'S BLOG

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Rolling Stone

Read Dickinson's recent article on John McCain in Rolling Stone..it authentically documents the 'real' John McCain, McNasty flyboy, self-promoter and no hero. If 10% of it is true-we're in real trouble. Also note that every smear launched by the GOP accuses Obama of something that McCain has actually done! It's psychological projection at its finest. The man must really be drowning in guilt and to put such mental instability in charge of nukes is insanity on our part. "In this world of sin and sorrow, there is always something to be thankful for; as for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican." H.L. Mencken

Palin fright show

It is incredible that there are states in this nation in which 70% of he public supports this lunacy. It is shocking how many people still don't get that they are being played for fools from the far right criminal conspiracy that has controlled this country since Bush/Cheney moved in and hijacked our democracy. Palin gets on the "debate" to spout memorized campaign slogans and sling lies about Obama They should have cut off her mike and handed the time to Biden, if she was unwilling to answer questions. Keep rolling out the truth, Buzzflash! The religious underpinnings of the Palin brand of fascism cannot be overstated. WHAT TO DO?? Find one person you know in a swing state still on the fence or McCain leaning. Spend time changing that person's mind. And maybe go into newspaper and TV website forums in those states and try to convey the truth the mainstream media keeps ignoring.

The Buzz word should be Barracuda!

Good article, Mark. As we've watched the obvious trained seal "get back to ya" on Fox news, and the "good performance" rating on the VP debates, I'm once again reminded of the duty in journalism to bring us the facts. Katie Couric didn't do "gotcha questions," she let Palin talk. That IS Palin without the teleprompter or weeks of preparation. What can we do as journalist and writers? We do here and there see the trained seal mask slip, and the toothy glimpse of sharks teeth, The Barracuda is behind the self professed bull dog with lipstick. Who Palin is was shown to 70 million viewers with her remarks about Cheney and the VP role. I'm glad to see you note that here. The Buzz word should be Barracuda. She doesn't need spoon fed on that. The Troopergate investigation demonstrates her wiliness to abuse power, use private emails to control the governor's office, and then refuse to honor subpoenas of herself and assistants. What is also apparent is an agenda. This isn't an election. It is a mockery, lead by a smiling shark whose goal is the Presidency. Only good journalism will expose the agenda we are NOT seeing in our news coverage. I respectfully suggest, instead of gathering on forums like this where we all seem to agree, that we take the next step. Let's buzz the truth where it might make a difference...to the right.

WOW It's Scary!!!

Excellent article! It just made me even MORE determined to get Sen Obama elected!! WE THE PEOPLE, with brains, have to do EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER to get people to the voting booths on November 4. Can I ask a favor? November 4 is my birthday, I would LOVE to be able to say on November 5, President Obama! PLEASE HELP MAKE THAT HAPPEN!! IT'S UP TO YOU AND ME! War is costly, peace is priceless!!

uhh, Mark, you're leaving something out.. the neo-cons....

uhh, Mark, your discussion on the dangers of the Sarah Palin candidacy - the radical right-wing agenda with a pretty, winking, folksy face - is spot on... except for what it doesn't say.

That these religious "wrath of god" (end-times) fundamentalists have been seriously EMPOWERED by the Neo-Cons. The Wolfowitz/Perle/Feith/Lieberman/Kristol/Kurtz/Kruathammer (et al) neo-cons.

Michael Carmichael at Counterpunch bluntly calls Bush's Sec. of State Condi Rice "the black Christian Zionist" (although Carmichael's analysis of a Rice vs Hillary campaign was incorrect).
http://www.counterpunch.org/carmichael04042006.html http://www.counterpunch.org/carmichael04042006.html

This article at Asia Times details that Paul Wolfowitz, not content with wreaking havoc, death, and destruction on Iraq, is looking for new worlds to turn in to charnel houses...
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/JJ03Ad01.html

And of course you could not explain the rise of the Bush administration - from stolen election 2000 to the "White House Trashing!" media-smear against VP Gore's departing staffers (which ran the VP with the clear popular vote majority clean out of Washington, on a rail, tarred and feathered by the successful Bush-Rove-Cheney-Ari Fleischer smear job against Clinton-Gore staffers) - without discussing the New York Time's 8 year vendetta against the Clinton administration, and their relentless, awful lies supporting all the Bush admin. atrocities.

For anyone who persists in believing that the Times was ever, much less is, a "liberal" new organization, simply point out to them that,
#1. the Times' flagship, most widely syndicated columnist all through the 1990s was... Timesman WILLIAM SAFIRE. THE William Safire who was President RICHARD NIXON's speechwriter, and (like Dick Cheney) an UNREPENTENT Nixon crimes/imperial presidency apologist.
#2. that Times writer JUDITH MILLER was given "the honor" of being VP Dick Cheney's megaphone to the American news media, ANYTHING that Cheney wanted broadcast from non-government sources, he would have his minions (karl Rove, Scooter Libby, etc) leak to Miller - who wrote up the "IRAQ WMD PROGRAM!" reports that her boss Arthur Sulzberger had the Times publish on page one, to push support for the pending invasion of Iraq over the resistance then being put up by millions of Americans who knew a crock-of-**** lies-to-war lies when they saw it broadcast on the front pages of the NY Lying Times.

To FAIL to note the Neo-Con / fundamentalist ALLIANCE - Neo-Cons who know better giving a wink and a nod to Sarah Palin's oh-so-folksy & clever race-baiting - is to FURTHER the POWERS of EITHER or BOTH groups to drop bombs, anywhere in the world they want to - including Dick Cheney buying himself a war in Georgia with Israel/Mossad assistance.

==========================================

PS Speaking of, VP Cheney's former Chief of Staff, Lewis Libby, gives us an excellent example of the Times' blatant, hypocritical double-standard, always helping to white-wash Bush administration crimes.

Martha Stewart was indicted, tried, and convicted by the BUSH Department of "Justice" - for selling a lousy $55,000 of ImClone stock she had NO FIDUCIARY CONNECTION with, that she had every right to sell. Mrs. Stewart was NOT convicted of "dumping" stocks - SHE WAS CONVICTED OF "LYING" to FBI investigators about how she arrived at HER OWN PERSONAL DECISION to sell those shares.

VP Cheney's Chief of Staff Lewis "Scooter" Libby was convicted, by a sympathetic Washington jury members who knew he was acting as the "fall guy" for his White House superiors, of not only lying - PERJURY - but also of OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE. And not about a financial incident that involved only one or two people... Libby OBSTRUCTED a multi-million dollar FBI & DOJ investigation into the ILLEGAL disclosure of an ENTIRE CIA UNDERCOVER ORGANIZATION, the so called "outing" of CIA "NOC" (non-official cover) officer Valerie Plame Wilson.

CONVICTED of PERJURY and OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE, Lewis Libby never saw a day of jail time.

Martha Stewart - an "uppity" Democratic woman - was tried, convicted, sentenced, served time, and then served probation, for selling shares of stock she had every right to sell.

THIS is the type of lynch-mob, double-standard "justice" that the New York Times (and other neo-con organizations) support day in and day out, year after year. (Martha Stewart's conviction all the more _outragous_ given the HUGE FINANCIAL FRAUDS perpetrated by Bush & Paulson's cronies on Wall St. & in the fed these past few years.)

You can't discuss the DANGER that Sarah Palin and her radical "I DECIDE WHO GETS BOMBED NEXT!" world view (and economic policies that make American working class peons pay the price), without discussing the Neo-Cons and their institutions who enable that dangerous world view....

Palin's the Winged Commander

Palin's the Winged Commander of the Space Cadets! Her choice says a lot about McBrainless. Ann Coulter would have been a saner choice. Oooh scary thought.

YOU WOULD THINK------

there are TWO schools within the GOP.... you have the $conservative$ and the $religous$.... they really are different.... YOU WOULD THINK... that OBAMA, with his steady hand and direction of job creation would ACTUALLY be the choice of the conservatives... they are OLD SCHOOL... and pretty dried up... but the STOCK MARKET reacts to stability and expectations...... SARAH does not add this at all..... She is only attractive to the church-nutz AND EVEN THEN, most of them are not looking for THE END OF DAYS.

Excellent Blog Mark! What we

Excellent Blog Mark! What we have in America is domestic terrorism wrapped in the flag and wacko,insane churchianity. Sarah Palin is the perfect paradigm for these people as she is the master of persiflage and an oxymoron.To explain: She is so politically,ignorant, sophomoric, and closed minded that she is a honest, liar as she actually believes what she is saying!

Sinclair Lewis-the Prophet

"When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross." Sinclair Lewis