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Sarah Palin

Thursday May 11, 2023

May 9, 2023 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday May 11, 2023

Words can sink campaigns, while Trump’s actions fuel his support

April 26, 2023

The verdict in the E. Jean Carroll case against Donald Trump was a momentous win for survivors of sexual assault, as well as women who have suffered due to lack of belief in their claims. The jury found that Trump sexually abused Carroll and awarded her $5 million for battery and defamation. Although the jury didn’t find that Carroll proved rape, it still marked a significant victory. As a former president, Trump enjoys considerable goodwill with GOP voters, despite scandals that would have doomed most politicians. However, as his legal woes increase and primary debates begin in August, his support will be tested.

This ruling marks a new chapter in the #MeToo movement, which has empowered survivors to come forward with their stories. The verdict demonstrates that no one is above the law, not even a former president of the United States. In his response to the verdict, Trump stated that he plans to appeal the decision, calling it a “disgrace” and a “political witch hunt”. However, this should not detract from the fact that this ruling sends a powerful message to survivors of sexual assault and shows that justice can be served.

News: Jury Finds Trump Liable for Sexual Abuse and Defamation  

September 24, 2022

Trump’s legal troubles continue to mount, with probes in New York, Washington, DC, and Georgia still underway. His willingness to deny allegations and call the case against him a political witch hunt undermines the bravery and courage of those who speak out about their experiences of sexual assault. As a presidential candidate in 2016, Trump faced backlash for comments made on the “Access Hollywood” tape, in which he bragged about sexually assaulting women. Despite this, he managed to survive the scandal and go on to win the presidency. However, as the Carroll case has demonstrated, times have changed, and Trump’s actions are finally catching up with him.

The ruling against Trump is a momentous win for survivors of sexual assault and women who have suffered due to a lack of belief in their claims. It sends a powerful message that no one is above the law, and that justice can be served. Trump’s continued denial of the allegations against him undermines the bravery and courage of those who speak out about their experiences of sexual assault. It remains to be seen how this case will affect Trump’s popularity, but it’s clear that his support will be tested as his legal woes continue to mount. (AI) 

A short history of gaffe disqualifiers 

July 26, 2016

In the 2016 US presidential campaign, Hillary Clinton referred to some of Donald Trump’s supporters as “a basket of deplorables,” causing controversy and backlash. Clinton later apologized for the comment, but it was used by her opponents to paint her as elitist and out of touch with working-class voters.

During a 2012 presidential debate, Mitt Romney claimed to have received “binders full of women” as part of his effort to hire more women for his cabinet. The phrase was criticized as insensitive and objectifying, and became a memorable moment of the election.

(It was Tina Fey playing Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live who paraphrased Palin’s foreign policy on Russia)

In a 2008 interview, Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential candidate, claimed that Alaska’s proximity to Russia gave her foreign policy experience. She stated, “You can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska.” The remark was widely mocked as evidence of her lack of foreign policy expertise.

In a 1999 interview, Al Gore stated that he “took the initiative in creating the Internet”. While he played a key role in supporting legislation that helped fund and develop the internet, his comments were widely criticized as an exaggeration of his contributions, leading to the popular misquote “I invented the internet”.

(The infamous Howard Dean Scream)

In 2004, Howard Dean was a presidential candidate and during his campaign, he gave an impassioned speech after a disappointing result in the Iowa caucuses. At the end of the speech, he let out a loud, guttural scream that was dubbed the “Dean Scream”. The moment was widely parodied and criticized, and is considered a major factor in his campaign’s ultimate failure.

(Rick Perry’s Oops Moment)

In a 2011 Republican presidential debate, Rick Perry forgot one of the three government agencies he wanted to eliminate, famously stating “Oops” when he couldn’t recall the third. The moment became a defining moment of his campaign and is often cited as one of the most memorable debate gaffes in recent political history.

Posted in: USA Tagged: 2023-09, Al Gore, campaign, Donald Trump, E. Jean Carroll, gaffes, Hillary Clinton, Howard Dean, Mitt Romney, predator, Rick Perry, Sarah Palin, sexual assault, USA

November 3, 2008

November 3, 2008 by Graeme MacKay

Well, the day has finally arrived. The millions of Americans who haven’t already voted in advance polls are today casting their ballots after a long two years of debates, party coronations, political conventions, primaries, and the comings and goings of umpteen wannabe Presidents of the United States.

The significance of this election is great. The hugely unpopular administration of George W. Bush draws to a close after having to preside over a late second term crisis which saw the unravelling of the sub prime mortgage crisis, the subsequent Wall Street meltdown, and the $750 billion banking bailout. All this capped off an already badly tattered image of a nation embroiled in a never ending war in Iraq.

I think it’s safe to say Americans have a hunger for better times, and that not many tears will be shed when George W. makes his final wave from the lawn of the White House before a helicopter points him towards exile in Crawford, Texas.

A horribly unpopular Republican presidency doesn’t do anything to help an intelligent, experienced, and respectable hopeful like John McCain assume controls of the ship of state. It also doesn’t help when the heir to the GOP is running against a young, charismatic, and gifted speaker promising change from the misery of the past four years.

For those simple reasons my bet is on Barack Obama winning this election. If it’s not going to be a landslide it’ll be a clear victory. The Congress will go in the Democrats favour making it all that more difficult for Obama to balance the challenges handed to him from the previous administration, and the expectations of implementing all that he promised in his whole Change mantra. It will be a difficult term to follow, for sure.

No matter how one feels about where Obama situates himself on the political spectrum, the historic significance of witnessing an African American become U.S. President is extraordinary. One gets the sense that these moments are actually major turning points in U.S. political history which only happen once in a generation.

Many worry that bigotry is the uncertain factor in this election and will scare millions into voting against Obama. I have no doubt rednecked folk, and some old people will go by that, but I think that that sentiment is in decline and won’t impact much on the results. Barack Obama transcends the politics of the old civil rights movement and he doesn’t espouse the hostility of old style African American Democrats like Jesse Jackson. He’s beyond that, and I think that makes Obama more palatable as a leader among non -African Americans.

I thought I’d compile a list of the most memorable words, names, and phrases of the 2008 Presidential campaign and some of my impressions.

Hillary and Bill Clinton became an insignificant force after Obama won the Democratic leadership. It’s expected Hillary’s silence was purchased with the promise of a plum job once Obama becomes President.

Hockey Mom was how Sarah Palin described herself when introduced to national audiences at the GOP convention.

Trig, Sarah Palin’s youngest child born with Down’s Syndrome. Rumors spread that it was actually Palin’s pregnant 17 year old’s daughter.

Drill, Baby, Drill was the conservative mantra at the GOP convention at a time when fuel costs were at record highs, and demand was being made for cheap domestic oil.

Joe the Plumber, or Sam Wurzelbacher, was recorded questioning Democratic candidate Barack Obama about his small business tax policy during a campaign stop in Ohio. Republicans exploited him as a cause celebre against the Democrats.

Spread the Wealth was how Obama planned to help the economy in the aftermath of the credit crunch. Republicans used this statement against Obama suggesting he’s a Socialist, even though redistribution of wealth is an obvious outcome after a government collects taxes.

Saturday Night Live became a hit during the campaign. Tina Fey‘s impression of Sarah Palin was a dead ringer. Ratings for the show soared, making SNL relevant.

$150,000 was how much it was revealed the Republican Party paid for Sarah Palin’s Vice Presidential wardrobe.

Rev. Jeremiah Wright and “not God bless America, but goddamn America”, as the reel looped endlessly to convey his inflammatory views. Obama was forced to distance himself from Wright, who was once his pastor.

The grandmother, who played a big part in raising Obama died on the day before the election. Obama took a couple days to visit her in Hawaii a week before her death.

Colin Powell, the former Secretary of State to George W. Bush, endorsed Obama, instead of McCain.

The Fundamentals of the Economy are strong so declared McCain in the midst of the Wall Street meltdown.

Europe was toured by Obama soon after he acquired enough party delegate votes. It was a huge international success.

George Bush was a big no show during the whole election campaign. He didn’t even bother to personally show up at the Republican convention, and one time supporters did what they could from tainting the campaign with his presence.

Yes we can was the slogan of the Obama campaign.

Maverick was used to describe John McCain for his independent political stances. More characteristic of the John McCain from the 2000 campaign.

Biden’s test remark was when he admitted an Obama presidency would face heightened international tensions as foreign rogue states test his limits.

Community Organizer was what Barack Obama was before becoming a civil rights attorney. Republicans mocked him for stating this as political experience.

Prisoner of War was what John McCain was for 5 years after his bomber was shot down during the Vietnam war.

ACORN, short for Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. Obama’s campaign hired an ACORN affiliate for $800,000 to conduct a get-out-the-vote effort during the 2008 primary. McCain’s campaign released a web-based ad suggesting ACORN was partly responsible for the 2008 economic crisis.

Bill Ayers co-founded in 1969, the radical left organization the Weather Underground, which conducted a campaign of bombing public buildings during the 1960s and 1970s. In 1995, Ayers hosted “a coffee” for “Mr. Obama’s first run for office.” Republicans used this to convince voters that Obama has ties to terrorism.

Bush Doctrine was mentioned in a interview of Sarah Palin by ABC’s Charlie Daniels. He wanted Palin to give her impressions of this doctrine, as if anyone but academics are really familliar with it.

The market meltdown a luck may have it, happened dead in the middle of the Presidential race, just in time for the debates.

Posted in: USA Tagged: Barack Obama, commentary, election, George W. Bush, John McCain, Sarah Palin, USA

Tuesday October 21, 2008

October 21, 2008 by Graeme MacKay

 

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday October 21, 2008

Colin Powell endorses Barack Obama

Colin Powell, a Republican and retired general who was President Bush’s first secretary of state, broke with the party Sunday and endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for president, calling him a “transformational figure” while criticizing the tone of John McCain’s campaign.

The former Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman said either senator is qualified to be commander in chief. But after studying both, he concluded that Obama is better suited than McCain, the standard-bearer of Powell’s own party, to handle the nation’s economic problems and help improve its world standing.

“It isn’t easy for me to disappoint Sen. McCain in the way that I have this morning, and I regret that,” Powell said on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” where he announced the endorsement and delivered a serious blow to the aspirations of his longtime friend, Arizona Sen. McCain.

But, Powell added: “I think we need a transformational figure. I think we need a president who is a generational change and that’s why I’m supporting Barack Obama, not out of any lack of respect or admiration for Sen. John McCain.”

The endorsement by Powell amounted to a stunning rejection of McCain, a 26-year veteran of Congress and a former Vietnam prisoner of war who has campaigned as the experienced, tested candidate who knows how to keep the country safe.

Powell’s endorsement has been much anticipated because of his impressive foreign policy credentials, a subject on which Obama, a first-term senator from Illinois, is weak. Powell is a Republican centrist popular among moderate voters. (Source: Daily Herald Tribune) 

 

Posted in: USA Tagged: Barack Obama, Colin Powell, Democrat, election, galleon, George W. Bush, John McCain, Republican, Sarah Palin, ship, sinking, USA

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