Brutal: Palin can't name a single Supreme Court case she disagrees with other than Roe v. Wade
By SilentPatriot Wednesday Oct 01, 2008 11:00am
Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, it does.
Couric: What other Supreme Court decisions do you disagree with?
Palin: Well, let's see. There's, of course in the great history of America there have been rulings, that's never going to be absolute consensus by every American. And there are those issues, again, like Roe v. Wade, where I believe are best held on a state level and addressed there. So you know, going through the history of America, there would be others but …
Couric: Can you think of any?
Palin: Well, I could think of … any again, that could be best dealt with on a more local level. Maybe I would take issue with. But, you know, as mayor, and then as governor and even as a vice president, if I'm so privileged to serve, wouldn't be in a position of changing those things but in supporting the law of the land as it reads today. <!-- sphereit end -->
To be fair, it's probably easier to come up with a case that you agree with, but that's what skilled and smart politicians do: they re-frame the question the way they want to answer it. I'm just afraid that if the question were phrased the other way around, she still would have been stumped. This is what people mean when they say she is unqualified to be (Vice-) President. Just contrast her answer with Biden's and that becomes crystal clear.
(h/t Heather)
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Yeah, but Palin Did Reveal to Katie Her Favorite Supreme Court Judge
http://satiricalpolitical.com/?p=3671
Katie and Sarah should get their own show together and start a movie franchise like Laurel and Hardy.
Maybe she'll read another one and get back to ya!
I hope the debate tonight isn't so structured that palin's memorized responses are enough to get her through.
Even if you don't know the specific case name, what about the case involving eminent domain (someone v. CT, I believe)?
I'm curious. If Couric had asked her what magazines she DOESN'T read, would she still have been silent? Computer says yes.
But didn't she send out a statement complaining about the Exxon v. Baker decision, which effects Alaska? Or didn't she read it before her staff sent it out?
I wont be able to watch the debate. It'll be way to uncomfortable. This woman is out her league, I'm actually starting to feel bad for her.
Well.. jeez, what do you expect - a professor of constitutional law?
Oh wait..
As Olberman mentioned last night, there was a recent supreme court decision involving a certain oil company that had a certain spill 20 years ago in a certain state that she may know about...
John Thomas has lots of reasons to support John McCain for president.
Dred Scott anyone????
She is just pathetic. An embarrassment to all womanhood. For God's sake, your running for the second most powerful elected office in the land -- get a clue or else do the right thing and take yourself out of the running.
Palin makes my teeth hurt.
RDV @ 7:
I had heard that she issued a statement condemning the decision. Rather surprising, considering it favored Exxon.
SNL this weekend should be classic.
The fairly recent eminent-domain case and some of the ERISA rulings spring to mind as cases that didn't go well. Gore v. Bush, too, though Palin probably agrees with that one.
rick street @ 4:
Perhaps she won't have any trouble---
http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2004/10/08/bulge/index.html
The Caribou was smarter
My five year old daughter watched this clip of Palin being interviewed by Couric and, without prompting, said "Mommy, she looks stupid." I then explained that Palin was an example of a woman that she should never aspire to and that Palin was an example of what happened to girls if they didn't pay attention in school. My daughter grabbed a book and headed for the couch.
Any more doubts about Biden? I didn't think so.
The question should not be, "Can you think of any?", but rather, "Can you think?"
I would rather someone admit they "don't know" or "nothing comes to mind" rather than try to bullshit me.
But what do you expect from someone who wants to go to DC to finally represent Joe Sixpack?
Without committing herself to any side, she could have said. "Well, Katie, I thought Bush v. Gore was a compelling case, in that it was the such first case in U.S. history. All eyes were glued to those proceedings. They were that important to Americans."
BS, but still an answer.
With any luck Biden will be himself and run the bible thumpi' snake handling moose gutting demagogue into the ground.
To hell with the CW that says he has to be cool. She is meat on the table, ge the carving knife.
He should grind her up. When she throws out a "glittering generality" or starts "band wagoning" he needs to call her on it!
Ifell is a tool and can't be expected to do any better than Gibson or Snuffalupicus or Brokaw!
Cravin @ 8:
I don't. And I wouldn't.
She's a fraud. I can't sympathize with that. She's shown zero humility - quite the opposite, she's arrogant. She bullshits. She pretends to know things she doesn't. And she appears to consider her ignorance is a merit!
She could use a good public humiliation.
Catherine @ 19:
That was a very smart---at least Palin's remedial example was useful----
Good work mommy! :)----
She's only interested in issues that affect her base. The far right wing nutjob single issue voters...AKA...LOW INFORMATION voters...
Roe V Wade is the only thing they care about.
And did ya notice her little quip about "overturning" these supreme court decisions she doesn't agree with with?
No sir...I don't like her one bit.
Cravin @ 8:
Never feel bad for somebody that means you harm. If you don't think Sarah Palin is a physical danger to you, your family and the whole world, then you're missing the point of all this.
Of course, what SCOTUS decision could Palin babble about that would actually make sense and not torpedo the conservative stance (as she did with Roe), or reveal herself to be racist as well as horribly uninformed?
I don't necessarily expect a candidate to be a walking law library (though the two J.D.'s on the Democratic ticket would doubtless do fine with such a question).
Leadership @ 24:
I am sure Sarah will Palin comparison to Joe. :)
Katie is more qualified to be VP. This is like Gidget Goes to Washington.
I think these freeze-ups (along with her not naming a source of news) is that she's overwhelmed by the possibilities of what a wrong answer would be. Name the NYT and anger her base, name conservative publications (John Birch Society) and alienate independents and democrats, name People or Reader's Digest and be dismissed by fluff. As participant in the Republican farm team program, GOPAC, she's been well-trained to handle the media, but the national media is a different league.
22 pissed off patricia Says: I would rather someone admit they “don’t know” or “nothing comes to mind” rather than try to bullshit me.
But what do you expect from someone who wants to go to DC to finally represent Joe Sixpack?
-------------------
Good point. In sticking with her talking points, her answer could have been "Well Katie, as a Governor and Mayor, I've been focused on the state and local level and have not delved into federal policies and court decisions as much as I would have liked to, so no case really springs to my mind. However, as a Federalist, and if I am so blessed to be the Vice-President, I realize that I will have to study these great historical decisions. With that being said, I do not believe in legislation from the bench, rather I believe in implementing the law as it stands."
Still BS, with the usual rambling talking points thrown in for good measure.
Just ask her for another, any decision made by the Supreme Court, and see if she can get that one.
If you drop all the PC bullshit and all the rhetoric and LOOK at the woman any one with a double digit IQ can see she's painfully UNqualified for pretty much anything. I can't believe she managed to scam her way into a governor's mansion before they finally started investigating her.
Considering Palin is doing such a good job screwing McCain and herself over, I hope Biden completely ignores her tonight in the debate (easy considering the format) and just focuses entirely on attacking McCain.
I just don't get the constant posting of Sarah Palin "issues" on C&L. This is just about the most unimportant, waste of time and space I could think of.
Yeah. Ok..I get it. She's an idiotic unqualified baffoon.
Enough already.
Gosh! Who doesn't have The Big Book Of Supreme Court Decisions on their coffee table? Who doesn't read it from cover to cover picking out which one they agree or disagree with? I think the point is that she gave a long winded BS answer instead of just saying "no".
This may be the most watched event on TV this year.
I can't wait! :)
Johnny2Bad @ 38:
No, i don't think you do get it, but thanks for pretending.
Filthy Harry @ 37:
Yep, that's his best bet. Then if she starts throwing personal jabs at him, it will make her look petty. Keep her defending McCain and too busy to get cute.
Still there is a part of me that hopes Palin just goes completely berserk and pulls out that flute during the debate for old time sake....
Now that would be a debate worth my time....
The only way McCain could have chosen her is if his campaign staff showed him pictures of all the potential candidates and told him to pick the one he thought was the prettiest.
Palin also said she believes that there is an inherent right to privacy in the Constitution. Which, as Couric points out, is the basis of Roe v. Wade. While it's not surprising that Palin is ignorant of constitutional law, it IS surprising that she is ignorant of the wingnut mantra that "there is no right to privacy in the Constitution."
Look for Ifill to ask her about this. I hope.
24 Leadership Says: With any luck Biden will be himself and run the bible thumpi’ snake handling moose gutting demagogue into the ground.
To hell with the CW that says he has to be cool. She is meat on the table, ge the carving knife.
He should grind her up. When she throws out a “glittering generality” or starts “band wagoning” he needs to call her on it!
Ifell is a tool and can’t be expected to do any better than Gibson or Snuffalupicus or Brokaw!
-----------
He should smile and slightly chuckle to her responses, (like the rest of us will be doing).
Guess Mrs. 6 pack never heard of Ledbetter v. Goodyear where Lilly Ledbetter was paid substantially less than her male counterparts for doing the same work. And conveniently forgot her Retardlican friends helped sink the bill that Congress attempted to pass to level the playing field since SCOTUS had their head up their ass. As they said in the movie History of the World, F--K the poor!
Sorry Sarah, but ignorance is NOT bliss. Need an example? Just look at your mentor GWB.
I can name a few off the top of my head:
Marbury v. Madison
Brown v. The Board of Education
Gibbons v. Odgen
Roth v. U.S.
Roe v. Wade
Plessy v. Ferguson
Dred Scott v. Sanford
Loving v. Virginia
Miranda v. Arizona
University of California v. Bakke
She couldn't even remember that the state of Alaska was even involved in SCOTUS case with the U.S. Government. That case was during her tenure as governor!!!!
This woman is definitely a piece of work. Every new interview shows new depths of her lack of intelligence.
Anyone notice that the new neo-con tag line for the debate is that Palin needs to be herself? To be herself like she was at the RNC and in Ohio...why is the media failing to point out that at those two events she had teleprompters? Her on script is being herself they are saying....
Palin strikes me as a true narcissist. She has shown the narcissist's inability to show true empathy in her treatment of her children, especially her pregnant 17 yr old daughter and her new infant. She has also shown this lack of empathy in her treatment of others who she perceived herself having power over. Her firing of anyone who disagrees with her, such as the Wasilla librarian. Her vendettas against any who oppose her. Troopergate.
She also has a narcissist's finely honed social skills. Narcissists replace empathy, which they are incapable of, with a precisely controlled persona of what they perceive to be the most socially acceptable facade in order to control their environment and relationships.
Most of the energy that other people invest in relating to other people and engaging the world, narcissists invest in projecting their facade and controlling everything to get their way.
Because they have no true empathy, they see no need for anyone else to get what they want or need, nobody else's needs are as real to them as their own needs are.
This is also why her issue knowledge is so superficial. The only knowledge she perceives as being necessary is what will get her what she wants: status and control. Real depth of knowledge wouldn't even occur to her as being desirable, only the veneer matters
So when Couric asked her what papers she read, Palin answered in the way she perceived would show her credibility according to her worldview, i.e. it is a good reflection to be seen as being well read, so she said she's read everything. When cornered for specifics, she used her well honed skills to turn the question into a rebuttal of a non-existent attack on Alaska, intended to put Couric on the defensive and change the subject from what she reads to why Couric would imply that Alaskans don't get the same news as the rest of the country.
This answer probably would have worked, probably has worked, in the local realm she is used to, On the national level, it does not work. Couric didn't respond to the attack, she let Palin twist in the wind. Palin probably didn't get that this answer simply made it look like she doesn't use any deliberation in seeking out knowledge.
She did the same with her answer to the Supreme Court question. The answer not only showed her lack of knowledge about truly significant Court decisions, it showed her skill at looking completely non-confrontational even as she turned it into the often contentious question of state's rights, a conservative hot button.
This is why she's good at debates; deflecting and protecting her persona are of vital importamce in her daily life. They are essentiasl behaviors to the narcissist.
She may have to practice showing knowledge about issues, but she needs no practice projecting an image, or turning any question back as an attack on anyone she perceives as an enemy - that's where the majority of her energy is always spent in her daily life, because everyone is a potential threat to a narcissist and NOTHING is as imoportant as getting their own way. They consider not getting their way the ultimate deal breaker in every situation.
It never ocurred to her to turn down running for VP, she is certain that she is entitled and capable. She will never examine or doubt her choices. Anyone who questions her will be an enemy forever.
And if they win, McCain better get a food taster.
pissed off patricia @ 42:
The best part is if she tries to defend McCain it can't possibly make her or McCain look good, cause A. He's undefendable, and B. She's bound to say something incredibly stupid if she tries! And if she doesn't defend McCain, it makes em both look bad too! hee hee!
pissed off patricia @ 22:
The ability to admit lack of knowledge of a particular subject indicates wisdom and humility, not ignorance.
Oh my God...when are the libruls gonna stop beating up on her???? Leave her alone, poor thing...sniff...sniff.
Please note the sarcasm...thank you.
I can appreciate that from the standpoint of intelligence not being there solely for the purpose of humiliating a less capable or lesser-educated person, but Palin had a choice to accept the VP offer or not.
The fact that she and McCain are ready and willing to blame her performance on 'gotcha questions,' and being 'censored' shows not only a lack of intelligence, but abysmally low marks on honesty - classic Bush Administration 'blame others'.
She's not ready for prime time, let alone the vice presidency. And, therefore, McCain isn't ready for the top slot.
Rimshot!
Really, that is a groaner of a pun. wow.
25 Alexdem Says: Cravin @ 8:
I wont be able to watch the debate. It’ll be way to uncomfortable. This woman is out her league, I’m actually starting to feel bad for her.
I don’t. And I wouldn’t.
She’s a fraud. I can’t sympathize with that. She’s shown zero humility - quite the opposite, she’s arrogant. She bullshits. She pretends to know things she doesn’t. And she appears to consider her ignorance is a merit!
She could use a good public humiliation.
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One of Biden's responses should include: "You know, I've been doing this a long time, in fact, as Mrs. Palin points out repeatedly, since she was in second grade. (Chuckle) Mrs. Palin has been a Governor for 20 months, she has no experience at the national level and this series of answers she's provided illustrates she has no real knowledge at the national level, nor even any knowledge as an informed citizen of the United States."
Cravin @ 8:
Just pretend you're watching "The Soup" and all will be good----
(Love that show-must watch teevee)----
"Never underestimate the wisdom of the people." Well, Thomas Jefferson didn't say that (maybe it was George Jefferson). Can't this woman get anything right?
roooth @ 50:
You took the words out of my mouth. Sarah is a very ruthless woman who has to be in control every second of her day. It shows in everything that she does.
Combined with McCain, they both present a pair that if elected, our country is in grave danger.
That's why I keep on saying that I hope people use common sense in this election.
functionally illiterate
citizen_pain @ 10:
yeah... you'd think she'd know about that one... I guess she doesn't disagree with it though... :)
Wait a minute that was just gattcah journalism and that anwers would have won have won her the miss america crown.
Alexdem @ 25:
This is what I've been saying for days. I want Biden to mop up the floor with her. I want the debate to be SO bad for palin that the reslugs will be as embarrassed to mention her name as they are dumbya's.
I would love to see this debate expose her as the pathetic walking joke she is. I want all her answers to be as ridiculous and pointless and rambling as all her couric interviews have been. I want to hear actual BOO's coming from the audience when she speaks and just LET the reslugs whine about it the next day. LET them. They are the ones that accepted this ridiculous dimwitted douche bag as a candidate. May the debate finally bring those chickens home to roost at their door.
If they've got a problem with an experienced, intelligent politician turning their cross eyed, moose in the headlights, idiot into chum then maybe they should have thought of that before they allowed mcsame and his handlers to force this joke on their party. If they've got a problem with her performance then they need to look at HER and not immediately start whining at the world for being "mean".
And if they want to start THAT crap we need to start playing all the clips of all the incredibly misogynist, cruel, heartless shit they have been shoveling at Hillary Clinton for decades.
Fuck the reslugs and fuck caribou barbie. I hope she gets eaten alive on stage.
I wonder if anyone is taking bets on whether or not she'll start crying on stage? I'm kidding. She'd have to have a soul for that to happen.
Filthy Harry @ 37:
Yes. This should be the approach. With this format, I don't think we're going to see a complete trainwreck. All she needs to do is understand the topic in the question and recite the garbage talking points Lieberman taught her. Biden should followup by hammering on them.
Wonkette is having another debate drinking game which is apparently starting early (like now).
Nada @ 36:
Yeah, that's exactly what I think too... she scammed her way to where she is and she's woefully underqualified, hell she's downright unqualified for the job. Pitiful! Shows what lying, cheating, and fraud will get you, huh?
This interview is cringe worthy. My husband was dumbstruck. He could not believe she couldn't think of one case. Then he laughed because he could name at least three, and he doesn't follow politics at all. He truly believes Palin is a total ignoramous.
Palin is over her head...in the wrong league. I don't care
if Palin gets bye in this debate tonight or not.
* doesn't know BUSH doctrine
* nonsensical answer about Putin/Russia
* didn't or won't give a specific answer what she reads
routinely
* answered a question about military strategies within
Pakistan
*NOT doing media interviews
*nonsensical answer regarding energy
* Palin said she would become a counselor regarding
a minor age girl being raped by father regarding the
pregnancy vs. answering right to abortion
sorry this is NOT a person to provide governance on a
national level
38 Johnny2Bad Says: I just don’t get the constant posting of Sarah Palin “issues” on C&L. This is just about the most unimportant, waste of time and space I could think of.
Yeah. Ok..I get it. She’s an idiotic unqualified baffoon.
Enough already.
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I think there is a fear, rather a terror, on the left as well as the right that this woman could be president one day. She could be the leader of the free world. We dread the theocratic society she would form, the perpetual holy wars . . .
Legally Blonde (11) hit it on the head: Dread Scott. ANYONE who paid attention in 8th grade civics should KNOW that decision was a disaster and one of the greatest blunders in the history of the supreme court.
Interesting that she couldn't even think of the Exxon vs. Baker case that was all about Alaska and it's suit against Exxon.
I'm with POP on this one, I'd much rather that when asked a question a person does not know the answer to that they just say they don't know.
Bullshit is Bullshit and should never be used instead of Truth, which seems to be hard to come by in the GOP.
jeff Says: I think these freeze-ups (along with her not naming a source of news) is that she’s overwhelmed by the possibilities of what a wrong answer would be. Name the NYT and anger her base, name conservative publications (John Birch Society) and alienate independents and democrats, name People or Reader’s Digest and be dismissed by fluff. As participant in the Republican farm team program, GOPAC, she’s been well-trained to handle the media, but the national media is a different league.
This is exactly what I was thinking Jeff. She's walking a fine line right now and it looks like she's going to trip and fall. Personally, with all the ridicule she's getting from both sides it is beyond me that she can continue to offer herself up for such continued and relentless public humiliation. I'd have stepped down long ago. How embarassing for her and her family.
We can laugh and snicker all we want about Palin, but I consider her presence on the ticket a danger sign, a huge red flag.
No, she's not just appealing to evangelicals. She's turning off other republicans with her cluelessness. Her extreme ignorance will cause thinking republicans (and there are a few) to vote against their own ticket. You need to ask, how could the Palin ticket even win?
Because sites like C&L are the new mainstream media, you folks need to dig deeper as to the real reasons Palin is on the ticket.
The 3-ring circus we're seeing during these interviews mask something else, and only investigation is going to lead to discovery.
She IS qualified. She is at least 35 years old, and a natural born US citizen. That's what the US Constitution has as qualifications.
May God help us all if she actually gets the job.
OMG!
Guardian UK: Pakistani president earns fatwa by flirting with Sarah Palin
i really like how biden was asked teh same questions so we can compare.
also, people are really putting the pressure on SNL! everytime something new about palin comes out, theres always a few people saying "oh boy I can't to see what SNL does with THIS"
It just gets better and better.
Who does she think she's kidding anyway?
This ain't the sticks, Palin. We KNOW you are full of shit!
I see that her numbers are dropping faster than daughter Bristol's jeans on a date.
MSM is going on how confident she is. Who friggin cares! Bush was confident too, and look what happened when he got in office. If you ask me, anyone posting here has much more sense than Palin. Whether they are confident or not.
Oh come on!!!! I'm not even an American and I can name some cases.
Is the abortion issue the only thing she can keep in her head?
they should play the video about her russia and putin
answer to couric's question about russia. after playing
the video replay they should ask biden what she meant
then ask palin what she meant....that will be the end
of this....bs
Its probably been mentioned but KO talked last night about a Supreme Court decision that Palin should've easily named and that was Baker v. Exxon on the fine Exxon had to pay for the Exxon Valdez calamity. She actually did disagree with the Court's findings and is on the record for that.
I don't think the debate will be too exciting. It is too formatted and structured. Palin will give her talking points, Biden will give his, and it'll be over. The only thing that will probably be discussed tomorrow is that Biden gave specifics, and Palin did not.
And of recent history, wouldn't she remember Bush v. Gore?
No one forgets that case, ever. It was the decision that put the country in this horrendous mess in the first place.
roooth @ 50
Wow did you hit the nail on the head! I'm one of four children who have a parent who is a narcissist. It takes a while as adults to realize that we and the spouse were just pieces on a chessboard to them. To a narcissist all other human beings are just toys to be manipulated. A narcissist is a closed system that another human being cannot not enter.
she's like a shiftless high school student bluffing her way through answering a question. you yankees are in trouble just by having the twit on a major ticket. so is the rest of planet. thanks for that, mr. mccain.
The McCain camp and surrogates already are suing the "liberal" media defense claiming Gwen Ifill is in the tank for Obama. So it doesn't matter if Palin doesn't utter a word at the debate tonight, the whole Palin strategy is to actually gain votes by presenting a woman under attack by those vicious "liberals". The strategy actually uses Palin incompetence as an advantage, hence every time she looks like she doesn't know what the hell she is talking about (every day) the surrogates go on the attack and call it "gotcha journalism" and "sexism".
We'll see if it works. If there is any party in any country in the world who could use someone's incompetence as an advantage, we'll just look at the White House. We are a country of citizens who would rather be told what to think (existential alienation gone wild combined with an educational system which focuses on memorization rather than critical ananlysis), and we have a corporate media whose financial interests are tied to keeping their ever-expanding corporate empires in control, so you do the math.
Let's hope there are still enough people out there with at least a shred of critical thinking remaining.
No thinks.
http://open.salon.com/user_blog.php?uid=4792
wow......one foot in the trailer park and the other in
capitol hill
replay that putin/russia response video....she would
be done when people see that