The Bridge to Somewhere
| Tue Sep. 9, 2008 9:18 AM PDT
THE BRIDGE TO SOMEWHERE....ThinkProgress reports that the McCain campaign has now repeated the lie about Sarah Palin opposing the Bridge to Nowhere 23 times since Friday last. That's as of an hour ago, though, so the total might be higher by now.
And not to get too sanctimonious about this, but this really is a test of some kind for the press. This lie is unusually egregious given the plain facts of the situation (Palin was eagerly supportive of the bridge until after Congress pulled the earmark, at which point she reluctantly decided to take the money but use it for other projects), and if the media allows the McCain campaign to get away with this — if they relegate it to occasional closing paragraphs and page A9 fact checks — well, that means McCain knows he can pretty much get away with anything. The press will be writing its own declaration of irrelevance. Interesting times indeed.
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Comments
Minor correction: she was holding the T-shirt. Picture here:
http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/stumper/archive/2008/09/08/politics-of-th...
Submitted by neil wilson (not verified) on Tue Sep. 9, 2008 9:26 AM PDT.
We need to make these points against McCain.
We don't need to be stupid and complain about Palin's per diem. Look at the front page of washingtonpost.com
Submitted by Matthew (not verified) on Tue Sep. 9, 2008 9:27 AM PDT.
What's it say about Sarah Palin that she can't even lie off the cuff? She needs a scripted lie to say over and over. C'mon, this is the bigs Sarah, learn to lie like the pros.
Submitted by Michael Chavers (not verified) on Tue Sep. 9, 2008 9:29 AM PDT.
She has selective memory. How convenient.
Months ago on this or , perhaps, another site I characterized the Obama supporters as "politically immature". All this running around yelling "liar, liar pants on fire" about Palin remarks makes me think I'm not too far off the mark. Obama will have my vote but it will be the last in support of the Democratic Party if he doesn't win. Both my wife agree that we probably will never vote again. If the Demos can't figure out a message that wins in Nov then they are more incompetent than the Bush Admin.
Already done, Susan.
Submitted by Dave Munger (not verified) on Tue Sep. 9, 2008 9:42 AM PDT.
I like Obama's response ad to this. Nicely done.
fillphil - I share your frustration, but I don't think Obama's to blame for the difficulty he's having. There is a large portion of our population that is being lied to repeatedly. A large portion refuses to trust "liberal" sources. A large portion simply don't know anything about the election beyond that Sarah Palin 'shares their values'. Yes, the Democrats could take advantage of the pathetic media by lying and gaming the system, but I admire them for not stooping as far as the Republicans have. The tied poll numbers reflect poorly on America, not on Obama or the Democrats.
The press has been worse than irrelevant - they've been complicit in everything that's happened in the last eight years. They failed in their coverage of the 2000 election, never blinking when an out-of-control Supreme Court placed a megalomaniac doofus in power; and then again in 2004 when the landslide that should have swept him out of office mysteriously evaporated amid Diebold voting machines and Ken Blackwell vote-suppression schemes. They presided over the normalization of 'preemption' (read invasion of sovereign nations), 'enhanced interrogation techniques' (read torture), and a whole host of repressive police-state crapola sold under the brand name of 'homeland security.' This isn't a test of their relevance - it's rare opportunity for them to redeem themselves.
Kevin,
Why do you look down on small town values and provide aid and comfort to the global war on Republicans for Change? Stop attacking Sarah Palin's family because it's hard work being a governor and a mother of five kids who are about to ship out to Iraq.
The mainstream media hates victory and so do you, with your soft bigotry of low expectations and your elite liberal community organizing for Al-Qaeda in Iraq in San Francisco.
You're like the MSM press. They hate freedom and waste taxpayer money. The media wants to make cigarette taxes higher and take away vouchers for guns and that's why they attack Sarah Palin for supporting the national guard's attempt to blow up the Brooklyn Bridge to Terabithia.
Don't you know that there was a time when lots of us didn't have Fox or macaroni and cheese for over five and a half years?
Jesse: You stated the facts as they are. My point is that these facts are present in all past elections. Have the Demos not learned? Are you going to feel good knowing that the Repubs will continue to have a stranglehold on this country while the Obama supporters shrink into the sunset complementing themselves as not "being or acting like them? Come on! Politics is dirty, has been dirty and always will be dirty. When you don't realize that then you really are politically immature. Not directed at you - just at the present circumstances. Spoken out of frustration.
If someone wants to form a line for "Democrats suck", I'll join.
However, they'll still get my vote, and with gusto.
What Republicans represent is just far too appalling.
If you value free-thinking and civility, that's more than enough reason to vote against the theocrats.
Kevin,
I think you're missing the point. This is the one lie, McCain can never stop telling. If he admits that Palin is not a PORK BUSTING Soul Mate from some heroic reforming super leage, then why the fuck did he choose her?
Her foriegn policy... erm... Her executive... Ummm... Her special insite into Moose Burger Deployment...
No, it was a cynical election (shit) stirring ploy. If they admit she is not a MAVERIC like MR MAVERIC then they are fucking sunk....
Thats the whole story. Why are you guys so surprised by this?
To use one of Joe Biden's favorite transitional wods, "Look" if this is truly a lie like the lie that Sadam was involved in the 9/11 attacks, then the media have a responsibility to nail it down and go after her and McCain at every opportunity. BUT the onus is also on Biden to address it to his counterpart in terms that cannot be avoided -- "Gov. Palin when are you going to stop lying to the American public about your true position on the bridge to nowhere and state that the brdife completely aside YOU KEPT THE $23 MILLION??" If this is just a gotcha and not a lie of importance like the Saddam/9-11 lie, then drop in and move on!
I can't type in my haste to get my two cents in. Sorry, but the suggested question should read, ""Gov. Palin when are you going to stop lying to the American public about your true position on the Bridge to Nowhere and state that, the bridge completely aside, YOU KEPT THE $223 MILLION??"
Congress removed the earmarks from the "bridge to nowhere" before Palin was even elected.
Two 'Bridges to Nowhere' Tumble Down in Congress NYTimes, Nov. 17, 2005
Straining to show new dedication to lower spending, House and Senate negotiators took the rare step of eliminating a requirement that $442 million be spent to build the two bridges, spans that became cemented in the national consciousness as "bridges to nowhere" because of the remote territory and small populations involved.
The change will not save the federal government any money. Instead, the $442 million will be turned over to the state with no strings attached, allowing lawmakers and the governor there to parcel it out for transportation projects as they see fit, including the bridges should they so choose.
Palin touts stance on 'Bridge to Nowhere,' doesn't note flip-flop, Anchorage Daily News, Aug. 31, 2008
Congress eventually removed the earmark language but the money still went to Alaska, leaving it up to the administration of then-Gov. Frank Murkowski to decide whether to go ahead with the bridges or spend the money on something else.
In September, 2006, Palin showed up in Ketchikan on her gubernatorial campaign and said the bridge was essential for the town's prosperity.
One year later, Ketchikan's Republican leaders said they were blindsided by Palin's decision to pull the plug.
Palin spokeswoman Sharon Leighow said Saturday that as projected costs for the Ketchikan bridge rose to nearly $400 million, administration officials were telling Ketchikan that the project looked less likely. Local leaders shouldn't have been surprised when Palin announced she was turning to less-costly alternatives, Leighow said. Indeed, Leighow produced a report quoting Palin, late in the governor's race, indicating she would also consider alternatives to a bridge.
It wasn't the absurdity of building a "bridge to nowhere" that made Palin cancel the project. As projected costs went up, the money from the federal government wouldn't have been enough to cover it. She would have had to use state money to make up the difference.
Palin's 2007 press release announcing her change of course came just a month after McCain himself slammed the Ketchikan bridge for taking money that could have been used to shore up dangerous bridges like one that collapsed in Minnesota.
Enhanced ferry access to Gravina Island is one option under consideration, the state said.
Meanwhile, work is under way on a three-mile road on Gravina Island, originally meant to connect the airport and the new bridge. State officials said last year they were going ahead with the $25 million road because the money would otherwise have to be returned to the federal government.
Way to say NO to pork, Sarah!
I cannot believe I'm actually defending the press, but here goes.
I'm encourage to see the Palin talking point knocked down the unlikely of press destinations: WSJ, NRO. But, just this morning on CNN, Jeffrey Toobin and an irate Paul Begala called the 'Bridge' lie out, and Alex Castellano had a feeble response in Palin's defense.
I thought 60 days till the election was not enough time to call them on their lies - I was wrong.
Submitted by Bob (not verified) on Tue Sep. 9, 2008 11:06 AM PDT.
Also, on Sunday from an unlikely source...
The tied poll numbers reflect poorly on America, not on Obama or the Democrats.
You'd think even the superficial coverage TV has given to Palin's religious affiliations and the campaign trail pinocchio fest would be enough to discredit Palin, since being an underqualified and cynical choice for VP failed to do so.
But this is America. Babies, guns, and Jesus--hot damn.
Howard: It's defensive politics. The papers are full of her and her lies but the Demos just keep reacting-not acting offensively. The Repubs are renown for throwing s***! against the wall and a great deal of it sticks. At the present time the "Front Page" is where it's at and the Repubs are all above the fold. Gotta change that.
Kevin wrote: "The press will be writing its own declaration of irrelevance."
The "press" is hardly "irrelevant".
Without "the press" to disseminate their brazen, sickening, preposterous lies, wage campaigns of character assassination against Democratic candidates, and cover up the blatant theft of elections through voter disenfranchisement and fraud, the Republicans would never gain national office.
That's exactly what happened in 2000. That's exactly what happened in 2004. And that's exactly what is happening again, this year.
And Democrats are surprised?
"The press" in America consists of a handful of huge corporations who own and control nearly all of the mass media from which most Americans get most of their information. "The press" in America exists to promote the interests and agenda of its ultra-rich owners through propaganda, not to perform a public service by impartially and accurately informing the American people about the facts, the candidates, their records and their policy proposals.
"The press" is not "irrelevant". If anything, it is the most relevant component of the Rove-Palin campaign.
Susan,
Your wish made reality: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBtbG5xjFBY
hey! palin did not "reluctantly" take the money.
you just fell into the democrat trap.
just like steve benen did last night on rachel maddow's first show when he said (repeatedly) "there's no real difference between bush and mccain." what he should have said was "there's no difference between bush and mccain."
come on, you guys, you really have to learn to look for and edit out the "waffle" words.
as democrats and/or reasonable people, we understand compromise is a reality in terms of getting things done, but when you compromise the truth by inserting ambiguity, you do us all a disservice.
Let's go to the videotape, Palin "Oct. 29, 2006" says she supports the Bridge to Nowhere:
The 30 second No More Maverick ad (by the campaign?) linked up above is pretty good. But there's also a 90 second ad by that name (that says it's by the DNC), and it's horrible! It's Biden talking pompously, followed by Kerry talking pompously, followed by...oh god, I was losing my will to live. I swear, (I hope?) it was really done by the Repubs so if someone hears about the No Maverick ad and searches on YouTube, that they'll find the horrible one first.
I disagree. Exposing Sarah Palin as an unregenerate liar and a fraud is the right thing to do. The GOP's hobby of shameless lying has caused much misery and destruction in the world and must be challenged at every opportunity.
I was happy to hear Obama protest that "you can't make stuff up" and Paul Begala defend the importance of facts. More of this, please!
It's the job of the so-called press and pundits to expose Palin. She's lied about this 25 times because the GOP knows it's driving Obama nuts. He shouldn't be helping her by turning this bullsh!t into a debate. Jesus, our side is so stupid. No wonder we keep getting beat.
Howard: If you have a position on the issues and are passionate about that position-Talk about it. Get the headlines with "straight" talk and not about your opponents lying. To do so is namby pamby. What went wrong and is wrong about the last eight years is what will make sense. Not crying liar-liar.
I'm impressed with the way Obama and his campaign are handling this, and really get the sense of a chess match going on, only this time the Democratic side seems to be both smarter and tougher than it has been in the immediate past, as well as more direct.
Hiding Palin from the press certainly doesn't help the situation for McCain, what better way to piss off the 4th Estate and nudge them into more honest and direct coverage?
Of course, maybe she really isn't ready to face the press (so to speak) so there's no win-lose here for McCain, just the short bounce from the convention with the novelty and energy surrounding his surprise pick for the base as well as to pick up some increased female support, but in the end unraveling his primary weapon in this election (experience as he would have it).
There is something almost jaw-dropping amazing (and duplicitous) about the earnest appeals by the McCain campaign to paint Palin's experience as a small-town mayor as something to be taken seriously, along with her first two years as governor of the Alaskan social welfare state, and one almost has to believe it's a gambit for Obama to bite on about experience, yet one that would probably just unravel all on its own if Obama doesn't take the bait and continues to focus on his strengths (while also continuing to point out the absurdities/contradictions of the McCain campaign's message).
Obama is losing his likability and saying stupid things. Today, he said, "you can put lipstick on a pig, it is still a pig." What an idiot. Of course, he will deny he was referring to Palin, and there is a chance that he was not (although the crowd obviously thought he was) and he just was too stupid to realize the it would sound that way, but it is a terrible mistake.
He and his campaign should have stopped talking about Palin a week ago. They are just making it worse.
The bridge to nowhere debate is more insanity. She stopped it. She is going to win the debate. Obama and Biden voted for it. I think they have walked into a trap and we might say a Palin ad where she talks to the camera and rips them for voting for it. Then what at the dems going to say?
Obama and his supporters have to wise up and stop attacking Palin. Heartwarming story below about McCain and her greeting parents and a five year old daughter with Down Syndrome:
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_090908/content/01125113.gues...
Come on, Lucy, the "Original Mavericks" ad said she "stopped it" (I believe, I have not gone back and checked). When announced, she said said "I said no . . "
Obama is crazy to pick this fight. She has thrown off his campaign. This analysis from national review has it right:
"If I'm a Bridge to Nowhere opponent, the Obama team says I should vote against the guy who railed against it from day one (McCain) and a running mate who initially supported it but ultimately pulled the plug on the project (Palin) and instead support two men who never voted against it, and who voted against a Coburn amendment to divert the money to Hurricane Katrina victims (Obama and Biden).
The tickets are Good-Mixed vs. Bad-Bad in the eyes of pork haters. Why Obama thinks this is a winning argument is not clear."
