Jul

Quick summation of the Sarah Palin speech

Posted by MGK Published in Politics

Bitch is crazy.

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NCallahan said on July 4th, 2009 at 1:48 pm

Yes, but is she crazy in a way we can use? Like, to sniff out chupacabra’s or something?

Keogh said on July 4th, 2009 at 2:12 pm

Calling her crazy is like calling Crater Lake a pond. It isn’t sufficient for how nutty she is.

Somberbrero said on July 4th, 2009 at 2:49 pm

It was a lot like a Powerthirst commercial. ENERGY ALASKA ENERGY GOD RAAAAAAAAAAARGH!

Zenrage said on July 4th, 2009 at 2:49 pm

I’m kinda disappointed to see her go. Having her run in the last election was the best thing the Democrats could have hoped for.

I was kinda hoping she would run again in 2012 and maybe pick Paris Hilton as her running mate. Then we could watch Fox News attempt to cheerlead a Dumb and Dumber ticket.

piranhtachew said on July 4th, 2009 at 2:55 pm

Anyone figure Pawlenty actually has a real chance at it? I just don’t see it.

Laura said on July 4th, 2009 at 4:02 pm

Not to put a damper on the festivities – I’m as entertained by this turn of events as the next person – but for the level of staggering insight here, is the misogynist language really called for?

I realize it’s not quite as edgy to say “Sarah Palin is a totally indefensible human being,” or “Sarah Palin is a douche” or “Sarah Palin should be eaten by a polar bear” – but focusing on her gender with sexist phrases like “bitch is crazy”, no matter how offhandedly, just sets any resulting dialogue back several decades, no matter how well it rolls off the tongue.

MGK said on July 4th, 2009 at 4:19 pm

My response to that is that if there was ever going to be a dictionary definition of “bitch,” then Sarah Palin is it: she’s selfish, vain, lazy, corrupt, mean-spirited, ingenerous of character, spiteful and stupid, and demonstrably so.

Also: she is crazy.

solid snake said on July 4th, 2009 at 4:58 pm

So far almost no one has asked the most important question of all: what kind of crazy is she? Is she batshit insane crazy, RR crazy (I refuse to divulge what those initals stand for), Buffalo Bill crazy, Battlefield Earth is a good movie crazy, or just my brain was put in the dryer on to high of a setting after the brainwashing crazy?

Polychrome said on July 4th, 2009 at 5:20 pm

Zenrage: I don’t think we’ve seen the last of her.
Even if she doesn’t run in 2012 I’ll bet she has a future as a talking head at FOX.

bryan said on July 4th, 2009 at 5:50 pm

I heard she was resigning because Veronica was marrying archie andrews and she was totally gonna kill that skeezy ho this time.

Laura said on July 4th, 2009 at 6:19 pm

@MGK: remarkably, there IS a dictionary definition of the word ‘bitch’, which, if you’d looked it up, would tell you:

Bitch\, n. [OE. biche, bicche, AS. bicce; cf. Icel. bikkja, G. betze, peize.]

1. The female of the canine kind, as of the dog, wolf, and fox.

2. An opprobrious name for a woman, especially a lewd woman.

But I agree that she is selfish, vain, lazy, etc.

ams said on July 4th, 2009 at 6:47 pm

She truly believes she is going to be president. That is so sad.

Jake said on July 4th, 2009 at 7:00 pm

While I think bitch is not necessarily the right choice of word, as it doesn’t actually convey that someone is all of the things MGK believes she is, I don’t mind the use of the word because you need a one-syllable description of Sarah Palin to call her crazy. Otherwise you don’t picture her taking over the role of Hooch on Scrubs.

It’s her own fault for having multi-syllable names.

marvinmartian said on July 4th, 2009 at 7:15 pm

It was her emphasis on every OTHER word in the speech that really hurt my brain.

John Pontoon said on July 4th, 2009 at 8:13 pm

The best part of the speech was when she said she polled her five children, asking them, “Do you want me to resign to effect change from outside the government?” or something just as skewed and nuts, and she says she got four yeses and one “Hell yes!”

The whole sentence there is crazy in like ten different ways, but the craziest is her evident claim that she received – and counted – a vote from Trig, who is 14 months old and has Downs syndrome.

Randy B. said on July 4th, 2009 at 8:37 pm

What I find crazy is that there are still a lot of Republicans out there that think she’d make a good candidate for President, even after her batshit insane speech.

Kate the Short said on July 4th, 2009 at 9:04 pm

the craziest is her evident claim that she received – and counted – a vote from Trig, who is 14 months old and has Downs syndrome.

For all we know, she’s reading his finger paintings or diaper contents as if they were tea leaves…

My daughter *could* say “yeah” when she was 14 months. Of course, she’d say “yeah” to just about any question:

“Ellie, are you an eggplant?”

“Yeah!”

*facepalm*

Aardy R. DeVarque said on July 4th, 2009 at 9:10 pm

What I find crazy is that there are still a lot of Republicans out there that think she’d make a good candidate for President, even after her batshit insane speech.

But, but, but, she got 49% of the vote! And at least 2% of the vote were mindless “independents” who just vote for who the news tells them is going to win! And the independents only didn’t vote for Palin because McCain was still on the ticket! Therefore she’s not only ELECTABLE, but would win if she was the top name on the ticket! And if 49% of the country think she’d make a good leader, then she should be given the chance to prove them right!

(Those opinions were actually voiced to me, in almost exactly those words, by a conservative friend of mine yesterday. It was followed by the opinion that anyone who’s still undecided in the final weeks/days of the election is a mindless idiot and the media’s emphasis on covering the opinions of undecided people skews pre-election coverage away from the candidate who really should win.)

Drmedula said on July 4th, 2009 at 9:34 pm

Seriously, why do we insult dogs by using the word “bitch” as an insult? “Cuz dogs are good people.Loyal and brave and friendly and such. They deserve better than being compared to a Republican.

AndreAteAlliteration said on July 5th, 2009 at 1:14 am

Sarah Palin should be eaten by a polar bear, or perhaps a polar worm.

Randy B. said on July 5th, 2009 at 1:21 am

Aaaand Drmedula wins the thread!

Zenrage said on July 5th, 2009 at 1:25 am

Laura,

By decrying the metaphor “bitch” as an offense to ALL women because it is used against one woman, you are objectifying women as being something that deserves more respect than it earns. In fact, the only one being misogynist is you by lumping yourself in this specific case by using this “call one of us a bitch, call all of us a bitch” nonsense and thus qualifying yourself as a “bitch” by proxy. Not by our actions but by your own.

Its as ridiculous as fat women who call themselves BBWs (Big, Beautiful Women) and then complain about why the media and the populace at large still don’t find them attractive. Its because they refuse to realize that it doesn’t matter what they label themselves because they will never be able to force people to change their aesthetics.

Sarah Palin earned her title of “bitch”, and several others (my favorite being ‘bimbo’) by being who she is, not what she is and definitely not because other women were acting like bitches or whores around her. Perhaps instead of complaining about men who use such language, maybe you should be pointing a finger at the women who earn these metaphors on their own merit.

Isn’t that the point of gender equality? For women to be able to earn merit by their own actions? If so, then you need to allow women to earn their own descriptions on their own merit, including the bad ones. If you believe that individual women are not entitled to be labeled as sluts, whores, bimbos and bitches, because its permissive to other men to do the same, then you are not looking for equality. You are seeking supremacy.

Just because an insult is gender based, it doesn’t make it any less accurate or appropriate to the given circumstance.

Sarah Palin is a bimbo. Her daughter is a slut. I see no reason to curb language because it makes other women insecure.

MGK said on July 5th, 2009 at 1:30 am

Zenrage, you’re practically making Laura’s argument for her by lumping “bitch” (an insult which, while I definitely consider gendered, I don’t think is especially misogynistic – I think of it as a term denoting a woman of low character rather than a term denoting low character due to femininity – and much in the same way, I think “asshole” is essentially a masculine-gendered insult, incidentally) in with terms like “slut” and “bimbo,” which are definitely misogynistic. (“Slut” can at least be used in a sex-positive sense; “bimbo” definitely can’t.)

Red said on July 5th, 2009 at 2:37 am

Laura,

Stop being such a bitch. It’s just a gender-specific insult. We get called bitches, guys get called bastards. Get over it.

Zenrage said on July 5th, 2009 at 5:57 am

MGK,

First of all, the word Bimbo also refers to men. Dictionary.com has the following definitions for bimbo:

1. a foolish, stupid, or inept person.
2. a man or fellow, often a disreputable or contemptible one.
3. Disparaging and Offensive. an attractive but stupid young woman, esp. one with loose morals.

Second, the word slut, just like bitch, refers to the specific actions of women and not to a woman because she is a woman. Just like the metaphoric term dickhead, which is not given to men because they have dicks, but by how certain men act.

There is nothing inherently misogynistic about using these terms to describe specific women in specific circumstances just as the words bastard or dickhead are not inherent forms of misandry when used to describe specific men in specific circumstances.

Out of curiosity, Laura wouldn’t by any chance be the one who made you go see a movie about giant, fighting robots, would she?

zippy8 said on July 5th, 2009 at 6:25 am

I think you’ll find it’s “bitch BE crazy”.

HTH

Eric S. Smith said on July 5th, 2009 at 8:58 am

Dictionary.com? Well, then, that’s settled: anyone who disagrees with Zenrage is a sissy who likes girls.

BringTheNoise said on July 5th, 2009 at 9:08 am

“Second, the word slut, just like bitch, refers to the specific actions of women and not to a woman because she is a woman”

Apart from the slight problem of it being used against women in situations where a man would either receive no comment, or even lauded for his behaviour. Not to mention the historical context.

It’d be like me calling someone a nigger then claiming it was OK because I was referring to Chris Rock’s definition. Doesn’t work.

OTOH, I’m with MGK regarding “bitch”.

q said on July 5th, 2009 at 11:53 am

“It’d be like me calling someone a nigger then claiming it was OK because I was referring to Chris Rock’s definition. Doesn’t work.”

That they both don’t work is the only similarity you’re claiming, yes?

As in, “It’s like my car. Doesn’t work.”

Lia said on July 5th, 2009 at 12:25 pm

Zenrage, you’re kidding, right? Please tell me you’re kidding…

Zenrage said on July 5th, 2009 at 12:30 pm

BringTheNoise,

Wrong. The term Nigger is a direct term to what a person is, specifically a person’s race. The context of bitch, bimbo and slut only refer to the actions of women (regardless of how men are thought of for performing the same behaviors).

“Nigger” and other racial terms preclude the individual’s potential. Terms that describe an individual’s behavior do not.

If you can not see the difference then I would say you have a dangerous limitation in your ability to process social information. You may want to get that looked at.

Eric,

And anyone who puts a bit of research into his arguments before making them is a dirty communist, I suppose?

I don’t have to subscribe to overly feminist bullshit to say “I like women” any more than I have to subscribe to PeTA’s idea of referring to fish as “Sea Kittens” before I say “I like animals”.

CB said on July 5th, 2009 at 1:23 pm

Guys, I think the REAL problem here is that he used a dirty word in the first place! No matter what it means.

Seriously, MGK. Keep it G, god dammit.

Lash.Lightning said on July 5th, 2009 at 2:07 pm

Ok, so we all agree that we don’t like Sarah Palin, yet we can’t settle on a word to insult her with?

Or is MGK gonna have to edit his post to say “That particular being, who is in no way a representative of the majority of her gender, is crazy”?

HammerHeart said on July 5th, 2009 at 5:35 pm

“That specific individual is crazy” just doesn’t that have the same ring to it.

R-Tam said on July 5th, 2009 at 6:12 pm

“By decrying the metaphor “nigger” as an offense to ALL black people because it is used against one black, you are objectifying blacks as being something that deserves more respect than it earns. In fact, the only one being racist is you by lumping yourself in this specific case by using this “call one of us a nigger, call all of us a nigger” nonsense and thus qualifying yourself as a “nigger” by proxy. Not by our actions but by your own.”

There Zenrage, I fixed that for you. And doesn’t it just makes perfect sense?

Incidentally, I don’t mind the usage of “bitch” myself, since I perceive it as rather mild and have the same definition of it that MGK uses. Doesn’t mean I’m not allergic to idiotic arguments which completely ignore historical context and cries of “Oh noez, the feminazis are picking on my vocabulary! Call the WAAAAAHmbulance”

“Second, the word slut, just like bitch, refers to the specific actions of women and not to a woman because she is a woman. Just like the metaphoric term dickhead, which is not given to men because they have dicks, but by how certain men act.”

Yes, slut is descriptive of what someone DOES instead of what s/he IS, but that doesn’t make it right – it insults women for what would be applauded in a man, so to use it as an insult is to rely on inequality and double standards. She’s a slut, he’s a stud.
The only way that word can be redeemed is if it’s either made to be value-neutral (slut as descriptive of someone who sleeps around, but with no negative connotation) or to apply it (negatively) to men as well.

So pull your head out of your ass.

Now back to lurking…

motteditor said on July 5th, 2009 at 6:24 pm

Kate, are you sure Ellie’s NOT an eggplant?

Hooch is crazy.

malakim2099 said on July 5th, 2009 at 9:27 pm

The former governor of Alaska is crazy. Neener neener.

Though MGK? I think I have an idea for your next Friday West Wing… 🙂

CB said on July 5th, 2009 at 10:43 pm

R-Tam –

The difference between the word “bitch” and the word “nigger” is that “bitch” is a title that someone earns through their actions, whereas “nigger” is a derogatory reference to race. It’s not a title earned through action. It’s a direct reference to race that is historically and indefinitely racist and derogatory. Nobody just gets called a “bitch” for being a woman, it’s (usually) for a reason. “Bitch” doesn’t necessarily denote gender anyway, as males are sometimes referred to as a “bitch,” though it is for different reasons. As such, it’s not really interchangeable in Zenrages argument.

Pamela said on July 5th, 2009 at 10:58 pm

Words are just conveyances of thought, meaning and intent. I once worked with a really horrid old Southern woman who used to refer to African-Americans as ‘colored.’ Only the way she said it made it clear she was using that term as a substitute for the N-word but she was ‘too proper’ to use it. But in her heart, yeah, she was using a hateful slur, and I never forgot that.

MGK could call Palin a stupid penguin and it wouldn’t change the intent. Besides, I think ‘bitch’ is a term for attitude, not for gender, not now.

Randy B. said on July 6th, 2009 at 12:55 am

I think this topic has degenerated into a perfect example of why over the top Political Correctness will be the fall of civilization as we know it.

Kyle W. said on July 6th, 2009 at 7:54 am

I’ve been using ‘slut’ as a value-neutral, gender-neutral term for years. You’re welcome, internet!

mll1411 said on July 6th, 2009 at 9:07 am

And yet, there was no need to call Laura names. That’s just rude. She made a valid comment, and there are more intelligent ways to disagree with someone.
Will I have to state the obvious, here?
The word “Bitch” has more than one meaning, of course. Ms. Palin is a total Beeotch, no contest. Wether or not she’s sexually loose, it’s her private choice, please stop putting those images in my head!

Lindsey said on July 6th, 2009 at 11:50 am

Claiming that “bitch” refers only to a woman’s attitude seems to miss the broader cultural usage of “bitches” to refer to women in general, to “bitch” as a submissive title, usually sexual–making someone a “bitch,” for instance.

I don’t think it’s genuinely equivalent to “asshole” in the way that simply calling a woman an asshole or a douchebag would be. “Asshole be crazy” for instance, isn’t a phrase people immediately recognize–because it’s them wimmins that’re crazy, oh, you know how they get with their periods. I don’t know that it’s particularly misogynist but I wouldn’t give it a free pass.

Also, anyone who complains about “Political Correctness,” especially with pointless capitals, can go fuck themselves. If even giving some thought to treating others with respect (even in insults) is too much to ask, they can stay completely out of my civilization.

Graham said on July 6th, 2009 at 12:10 pm

And yet, bitch has been frequently used as an insulting term for men, ref. Dr. Dre’s “Bitches Ain’t Shit”…

Course, I’d still be every bit as upset with her policy, actions, and opinions is she were a dude, so “bitch is crazy” works for me as gender neutral, at least.

CandidGamera said on July 6th, 2009 at 12:17 pm

I think ‘bitch’ has a long history as the female-gendered equivalent of bastard, in generic insult terms. That said, more recent pop cultural thing (hip-hop, I’m looking at you) have strengthened the word’s use as a gender derogation, which is unfortunate, since there are so few insult-words that are gender-neutral or female-gendered.

So, yeah, bitch is crazy.

Randy B. said on July 6th, 2009 at 2:52 pm

“Also, anyone who complains about “Political Correctness,” especially with pointless capitals, can go fuck themselves. If even giving some thought to treating others with respect (even in insults) is too much to ask, they can stay completely out of my civilization.”

I can tell respect is right at the top of your priority list, considering you just told me to go fuck myself for expressing my opinion- an opinion, I might add, that didn’t involve singling anyone out, harsh insults, or being a hypocrite. If that’s what you consider a respectful reply, then I’ll gladly stay out of your civilization.

Discussion about respect is one thing; taking a comment out of context (MGK obviously wasn’t intending for his comment to be sexist) and then having a “discussion” about how some words are worse than others when they’re all meant to be insulting and degrading is another. Especially when it goes on for easily thirty posts, has nothing to do directly with the topic, or been very productive. Since when did freedom of speech become “freedom to speak only if it’s in a manner that I deem acceptable?” Respectful insults? Really? The whole point of an insult is to do harm. I agree there are degrees, but who gives a shit what degree MGK decides to use on his own website? Especially in a case like this where it’s obvious that the severity of the insult in question has been blown way out of proportion, as has the reactions to it.

Randy B. said on July 6th, 2009 at 5:05 pm

BTW, the pointless capitals were an accident. I’m retarded and sometimes I do that and don’t realize it. I usually catch it when I proof the post, but to be honest at the time I was in a hurry and just didn’t care enough to bother.

q said on July 6th, 2009 at 6:17 pm

Dear audio memoirs: Today I was racist again by word substitution. This – This is the hardest racism not to be.

Bender said on July 6th, 2009 at 7:49 pm

Wow. Lucky I didn’t write anything because I was about to drop the c-bomb to describe Palin

candlejack said on July 7th, 2009 at 1:03 am

I’m surprised Zenrage has gotten a pass on calling Palin’s daughter a slut. Because…

1) We don’t know that she puts out on the first date or even has had sex with more than one guy, so it’s a little iffy for a guy who claims his insults are earned by behavior. Is she being called a slut because she’s really slept around, or just because she’s a teenager who got pregnant? Or just because she’s Palin’s kid and the poster-child for anti-choice?

2) Doesn’t she suffer enough without people on the internets randomly insulting her? I mean, she’s crazy-bitch Sarah Palin’s daughter, for starters, then there’s the fact she’s named “Bristol” (which can only be shortened to “Bris”), then there’s the bit where her baby brother–her retarded baby brother, not to put too fine a point on it–has as much say as she does when it comes to family matters.

*grin*

Jamie said on July 7th, 2009 at 5:13 am

Candlejack? Holy shi

Kyle W. said on July 7th, 2009 at 10:46 pm

And now I realize that a teen mother’s nickname would be a term for circumcision. The discussion had some benefit, candlejack. [is kidnapped as subtitles and voice say SCREAM]

candlejack said on July 10th, 2009 at 12:50 pm

I’m gonna need more rope.

Quick summation of the Sarah Palin speech

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