The Hollywood Liberal

Late Late Nite FDL: Old Geezer Edition

From Slate’s Geezers Need Excitement: What Happens When Old People Go Online:

How to spot a middle-aged Internet addict: They know who firedoglake is.

Please consider this to be an invitation to all the geezers to de-lurk and say “hi”.  We have ample walker parking, large type fonts on all monitors, and recharging stations for our hearing aid batteries are located at each power station, next to the brain bleach (we do get kinda bawdy here at Late Late Nite).

The Zimmers – Welcome To My Generation (h/t Eureka Springs for the video).

What’s on your mind tonight?

From Slate’s Geezers Need Excitement: What Happens When Old People Go Online:

How to spot a middle-aged Internet addict: They know who firedoglake is.

…Earlier this year, when John McCain confessed that, with respect to the Internet, he’s “an illiterate that has to rely on my wife for all of the assistance I can get,” he proved himself to be an anomaly for a college-educated 65-plus white man. Seventy-five percent of his peer group can drive a browser.

Please consider this to be an invitation to all the geezers reading to de-lurk and say “hi”.  We have ample walker parking, large type fonts on all monitors, and recharging stations for our hearing aid batteries are located at each power station, next to the brain bleach (we do get kinda bawdy here at Late Late Nite).

The Zimmers – Welcome To My Generation (h/t Eureka Springs for the video).

What’s on your mind tonight?

Norman Solomon: Are ‘Real’ Journalists Jealous of Jon Stewart?
It blows the conformist minds of big-name journalists to see “The Daily Show” regularly slam right-wing rulers.

Amid Health Crisis, More Americans Going Abroad for Care
With health care costs rising at twice the pace of inflation, Americans are heading off to foreign shores for their medical needs.

McCain Jokes About Obama’s Overseas Trip And Press Coverage
The McCain campaign couldn’t help but get in a joke about Barack Obama’s overseas trip, with the candidate delivering a joke that encompassed two separate narratives: That Obama is being ridiculous by traveling all over the world, and the press…

The Ted Stevens Story On Today’s TPMtv
One year after the feds searched his Alaska home, and one day after a grand jury handed up a seven-count indictment, Sen. Ted Stevens is the subject of today’s TMPtv. Muckraker reporter Kate Klonick recaps Ted’s troubles and tells us…

Palin fumbles and stumbles in her ABC interview

No matter what you think Gov. Sarah Palin, no matter if you are a Republican or a Democrat, you have to say that her overall performance in her exclusive ABC interview with Charlie Gibson, was adequate until she got to the Bush doctrine question. She had absolutely no idea what the Bush doctrine was. If there is a legacy the Bush presidency, it would probably be this doctrine. President Bush has said, that we have the right, to preemptively strike any country we deem as a “significant” threat.

I thought she was prepped for this interview. The majority of the interview was exactly as we would’ve expected. She was strong and forceful. She was aggressive. She was somewhat demeaning when she said the word “Charlie.”

Political Animal has a few thoughts:

There are more than a few angles to consider, so let’s just take this one at a time. As Hilzoy noted last night, and as the video to the right shows, Palin doesn’t have the foggiest idea what the Bush Doctrine is. Literally, not a clue about the guiding U.S. foreign policy principle of the last seven years. When she tried to fudge it, her ignorance on the issue was even more glaring.

Second, she really didn’t want to answer an important question about U.S. strikes in Pakistan. It’s not like this was a curveball — the issue was in yesterday’s New York Times. Eventually, after trying to wiggle out of the question, Palin eventually seemed to support unilateral strikes, which contradicts the stated McCain policy.

Third, Palin believes Russia was “unprovoked” in its military incursion against Georgia. That’s just wrong. He has more here.

Newshoggers has labeled Governor Palin possibly most dangerous woman in the world (sounds like a James Bond title):

She is a novelty act not a serious candidate. The only question is if the novelty will fade before November.

About a week ago we found out that Gov. Sarah Palin had the ability to read the teleprompter. Last night, we found out that her depth of ignorance on a variety of topics was mind-boggling. I look for the McCain camp to hit ABC News and Charlie Gibson, this morning for his “unfair” questions and disrespectful tone. This is in spite of the fact that Charlie Gibson is the most sympathetic of the major anchors to the Republican party, in my opinion. It appears in fact that he even tried to help Sarah Palin and several of the questions especially on the Bush doctrine.

Palin Explains Her National Security Credentials: ?Energy? And The Fact That ?You Can See Russia From Alaska?
In his interview with Sarah Palin that aired this morning on Good Morning America, ABC’s Charlie Gibson challenged the governor on whether she has any national security experience. Some highlights from the interview: On National Security Credentials: GIBSON: When I asked John McCain about your national security credentials, he cited the fact that you have […]

In his interview with Sarah Palin that aired this morning on Good Morning America, ABC’s Charlie Gibson challenged the governor on whether she has any national security experience. Some highlights from the interview:

On National Security Credentials:

GIBSON: When I asked John McCain about your national security credentials, he cited the fact that you have commanded the Alaskan National Guard and that Alaska is close to Russia. Are those sufficient credentials?
PALIN: Let me speak specifically about a credential that I do bring to this table, Charlie, and that’s with the energy independence…

On Alaska National Guard:

GIBSON: Have you ever given any kind of command decision to the Alaska National Guard?
PALIN: We have called up National Guardsmen to help in other states who have gone in emergency status. We have assisted there.

On Traveling Outside The Country:

GIBSON: Had you ever traveled outside the country prior to your trip to Kuwait and Germany last year?
PALIN: Canada, Mexico, and then yeah — that trip was the trip of a lifetime to visit our troops in Kuwait and stop and visit our injured soldiers in Germany.

On Visiting With Foreign Head Of State:

GIBSON: Have you ever met a foreign head of state?
PALIN: I have not and I think if you go back in history and you ask that question of many vice presidents, they may have the same answer.

On Russia:

PALIN: We’ve gotta keep an eye on Russia. … You can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska.
GIBSON: What insight does that give you into what they’re doing inside Georgia?
PALIN: Well, I’m giving you that perspective of how small our world is and how important it is that we work with our allies to keep good relations with all of these countries, especially Russia.

On Iraq:

PALIN: Of course I’ve been focused on the war. Of course I’ve been, as every American has been.
GIBSON: Why’d you say this though? “I’ve been so focused on state government, I haven’t really focused much on the war in Iraq.”
PALIN: It was an honest answer for the question that day by a reporter asking me about Alaska Business Monthly issues, was my focus being on energy independence and security — those things that Alaska could supply to help make this country better and safer.

Watch a compilation:

A number of the claims that Palin made were false. She has never issued an order to the Alaska National Guard and every vice president “over the last 30 years had met a foreign head of state before being elected.” In addition to saying that she hasn’t “really focused much on the war in Iraq” in March 2007, Palin also called for “an exit plan” from Iraq. Although she can see Russia from some parts of Alaska, Palin has never actually traveled there.

More on Palin’s actual record in The Sarah Palin Digest.

Digg It!

The Scream Machine
WASHINGTON — There was a time when Republicans campaigned on their ideas, programs and values. This year — lacking ideas, programs or values — John McCain and Sarah Palin are running for the White House on an elaborate fictional narrative of victimhood. Their supposed persecutors are Democrats and the news media, and the aim of this whole charade is to keep Americans from talking about ideas, programs and values. Every day, the McCain campaign brays anew with over-the-top indignation at “the outrageous attacks” on Palin’s family. The McCain people don’t cite specifics, because there are no specifics to cite. What newsworthy Democrat has ventured any personal criticism of Palin or any member of her family? What serious news outlet has done any such thing?