Miss Kolka

So Miss Palin has now come out and commented on the expenses made by the republican party for her clothes and make up... against the advise of her aides and of the GOP campaign. They must have been plucking their hairs, this apparently being something Sarah Palin does quite often, going "off script" when it suits her. A complete no-no for a successful political strategy. 

This is what she said at a rally a few days ago although she had been advised not to mention the clothes-issue:

 "This whole thing with the wardrobe, you know I have tried to just ignore it because it is so ridiculous, but I am glad now that Elisabeth brought it up, cause it gives me an opportunity without the filter of the media to get to tell you the whole clothes thing."

What??? What is she trying to say? does anybody even understand  that last sentence? (Elisabeth being the co-host of the View - and a republican supporter who introduced Palin by saying the attacks on her and her clothes were sexist.. aha ok but of course!)
Palin's defense was that she did not own the clothes any more than the lighting or the props on stage (isn't she just one of them?) It goes a little bit to my former point of this whole story being blown out of proportion. What worries me though is that the governor can't seem to be able to speak clearly, or finish sentences properly:

"You'd think - not that I would even have to address the issue because, as Elisabeth is suggesting, the double standard here it's - gosh, we don't even want to waste our time."

The double standard is what? "Gosh" is not going to get you out of discussion at the UN with other world leaders when you are taking about important issues. This "folksy" approach can perhaps work at home, but for a possible world leader - not so sure.  Jee... what can we expect next tuesday? Well you know, also, jobcreation?  man I dont dare to even think it!

that's how you can sum up in semantics the quality of Sarah Palin's thinking:

"Back to our top story"

Man, that reminds me of work. I must say I am surprised by the media coverage of the US Presidential race. I shouldn't be though. When there's isn't anything more interesting to say about the issues then its back to the mini-scandals. The latest ones, but in a list of many, are 1. how much money Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin spent on clothes for the campaign and 2. The "hidden socialist agenda" of Barack Obama who wants to redistribute wealth amongst Americans. "ouou scary"  Plllllease.  
But of course we have to keep the story going, there are still 12 days until election day and issues are what make politics boring anyway. People want sex, money and personal tragedies. Give us more lack of chemistry between presdential and VP candidate, terrorist connections and spending sprees. As long as we forget what real life is all about. So lets get to it:

1.The republican party is supposed to have spent 150 thousand dollars on clothes and make-up for M'am Palin and family. How can that be surprising (apart perhaps the amount)? It should be no surprise to us that we live in a media age where image is everything. And unfortunately, both women and men demand more of women in that area. I think its normal that the party spends money to dress Palin up to the task and that they try to make her LOOK more presidential to voters. That's how spin works and it is in practice everywhere in the modern world. Its what Segolene Royal has also been criticised for - but men are at it as well. People get whiter teeth, take moles of their faces and even have full plastic surgeries to look more appealing in politics. And it works - Its either that or you get ugly comments like Angela Merkel has had to face in her career, being, for some, not womanly enough. Somehow it seems though that these issues are only raised when a woman is playing the game. There is so much choice for women that it can easily cost more for women to look good but it should be worth it since it has shown itself that handsome people do better. 

So I have to say that this is such a non-story that it doesnt deserve the attention its getting. There are two reasons for that though. Since the republicans are trying to get to the average American, its perhaps not a very sly move. How can people connect with someone who has the opportunity of spending so much money on something so un-important as clothes (while looks in reality are just basic worktools for the politician) as the rest struggles to pay off debts and morgages? Republicans have been trying to play on the "average joe" story and their connection to smalltown america but this leak might seem a bit too much for people not even earning that in a years of hard work. And second, there is also concern that Palin as governor might have been using taxpayers' money to pay for her family to travel with or without her. Her daughter even stayed in a 4 star luxurious hotel in NY - all payed by the state of Alaska - and that doesnt sound good for someone who says again and again that they will work against government overspending and corruption.  The story here might be that this is more hypocriticial then anything else - and voters have the right to know. They might talk the talk, but are they walking the walk?

2. Regarding Obama, the "evil socialist" (since terrorist didn't stick no matter how much the Republicans tried), Lets talk a little about socialism. Its ridiculous that republicans, who have been calling Obama "a socialist" can trigger so much fear amongst voters that actually want what Obama is planning - without even knowing what its called. Or what do you call a plan for more intervention and regulation on the financial markets by the government? It sounds like socialism to me:

"Some socialists advocate complete nationalization of the means of production, distribution, and exchange; while others advocate state control of capital within the framework of a market economy. Social Democrats propose selective nationalization of key national industries in mixed economies combined with tax-funded welfare programs;"

We have seen that the rules of capitalism didn't work - while there was profit, the money went to individuals but when there was trouble, who had to pay the price? People that have lost their houses, don't they want the state to have a safety net for them called social security?  And why did they get in that mess in the first place? Because they didn't have healthcare - something Obama wants to change. So stop repeating slogans you don't even understand and think about your economic future people. Socialism isn't the end of the world - and read up on the difference between Socialism and Communism while you're at it...

You just have to love the internet.... check out the almost hidden name at the top of the picture to see where that comes from...

I would like one of those!

see more on this British website

Iceland, Islande, Ísland... I didn't think I would hear people talk about it so much ever, but it seems that the little Island up north has become a symbol for the international crisis all around the world. Often dubbed "The first national casualty" of the crisis or "when the happiest people in the world became sad" (well I haven't really seen that title in a newspaper article yet) - but the media just loves to recall that this once poorest country in Europe, turned "rich" or with the highest living standard in Europe has now become victim of its own success, or believed success at least. We had it coming though, I think that is pretty obvious, and I remember talking about that to friends not so long time ago - after I discovered that actually you can live on the money you earn, and not always on some absurd credit - that Icelanders might be heading for trouble - living a life they cant afford. You have to go away to realise actually how bad it is. But Im not saying "I told you so", its just easy to point fingers at Iceland, seeing the small size of the country. The lifestyle there is not so different from what you see in the US or UK, its just that it has a more direct effect on such a small economy. How such a small number of people could take so high risks and plunge a whole country into a deep economic crisis is just ludicrous. But as every Icelander says, with their everso optimistic cool: "its going to be ok"- Þetta reddast!

x

The financial CRISIS - its all you hear about, its all the media care about and no matter how many reports I have listened to I still don't know why it happened and how its actually going to affect average citizens, the ones who never had enough money to invest to begin with and still struggle to make ends meet. So who is losing it all here?

It seems to me that the system we live in is controlled and made by and for the rich. Sure a healthy economy needs strong financial institutions, but lately these were making billions of profit - unhealthy amounts really - and spending it like crazy on who-knows-what. With bank directors getting up to 300 times higher salary than their avarage workers (and working in a bank normally pays well) . An institution can not run effectively with only one person working there - you need them all, like in any successful company. Good management is important yes but I really don't see how these salaries can be justified, even in a competetive work environment. How were these profits made? Through you and me, do know how much you pay in interests every month? Neither do I.

And being a lawful citizen, now I know that the money I paid in taxes will also go to the same people, helping them out so they dont have to suffer, continuing to live their expensive lifestyles,  one, by the way,  that I will never afford. Because it doesnt matter how much money I make, there always seems like there are some student loans to pay or a tax I didnt plan for. Lets spend the tax money in saving the banks. Of course. But then lets not be surprised there isn't any money left for education, health care, social justice or making improvements in our environment. Because the money should go into emergency plans like these and oh, I almost forgot expensive defense programs, arms manufacturing and paying alot of money to those in charge. That's only fair. Remember, this is what you vote for people. EVERY year! When will people realise that the right, republicans or whatever you want to call them is taking care of their own, the wealthy ones, the banks and their friends. And no, you are not one of them.

Well some dont take it too seriously, with all the funny videos out there on the internet (Save-a-firm, adopt a financial insititution etc.) Maybe its just better to laugh than cry.

• Blogs | 17-11-2008
• A wise move | 15-11-2008
• Lets all pick on Iceland | 13-11-2008
• Making sure nothing is forgotten | 10-11-2008
• The next best thing to Hillary | 03-11-2008
• This time next week, will the world have changed? | 31-10-2008
• Visits at the midwife, feelings and such. | 29-10-2008
• Palin on clothes | 28-10-2008
• On the Campaign trail....watching from home | 23-10-2008
• The Magic Bunny | 22-10-2008
• No need for explanation | 21-10-2008
• Supermom...and superdad! | 21-10-2008
• cut it off! | 20-10-2008
• How can that be right? | 14-10-2008
• Icecream for everybody! | 12-10-2008