Comments on: 5 Reasons To Visit Alaska… 1 Reason Not To?

I see your point about condescension, but I honestly think that if all Americans voted in their interests this election, which is to say rationally, McCain would lose in a landslide. The republican foreign policy is nothing more than ignorance and fear. Anyway, moving on…gotta get my absentee ballot. Someday maybe Vermont will secede and all our troubles will be over. Or something like that. Maybe see how it works for Quebec first.

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By: Theodore Scott

Theodore Scott — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:48:51 +0000

Just now checking back since my first comment. Since there has been so much debate, I want to respond to a few of the questions and comments. @Eva "I'd also like to object to the Osama/Obama comparison" Not if fake photos are to be considered caricatures, and thus "fair game in politics" as you say. "a stars'n'stripes bikini is hardly on the same level as a mass murderer!" I wasn't equating the actions of the people in the photos or the message. To be more clear, I just wanted to point out that the act of creating those images and the act of spreading them are both immature. Can we agree that political debate would be better if these kind of dirty tricks were not carried out by any party? I don't believe that people will stop it – but why encourage it? "would you dispute that she is for abstinence-only education and drilling for oil in Alaska?" No. "if this was a cartoon, would you find it as offensive?" Similar to what Ian and Tim said above, I wouldn't have had the same reaction if it was a cartoon. Posting a fake photo of Palin holding a pellet gun with the words "crazy lady" in bold above it looks like a pointless personal attack, even when you state it is fake. After reading your comment above, outlining your interpretation of the image, I now understand your position MUCH better. Thanks for taking the time to explain it. Without that explanation, it does look "frivolous, demeaning, and personal" – to some of us anyway. What it really comes down to, is that when you attempt this kind of humor on controversial topics (politics, religion, etc), some people are going to find it distasteful and might hold it against the author or website. Of course, that doesn't mean that you should change anything! It is just something to consider. @Chris Weiss Yes, individual expression of opinion is great! And that covers the comments as well. We are all just sharing. I hope that Eva doesn't feel attacked.

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By: Irv Miller

Irv Miller — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:28:15 +0000

Well David, I'm a Georgia Boy also. I remember a few things about firearms. As for her finger placement , I couldn't see it. I guess I was distracted.

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By: Chris Weiss

Chris Weiss — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:18:54 +0000

Wow! This whole thing seemed to have gotten blown out of control. Unless Eva moonlights as the Chairman of the DNC I think she's alright here. Isn't individual expression of opinion what this country is all about? That really seems to be all she's doing here–articulating her dislike of Gov. Palin in her own form. I don't see anything particularly offensive or distasteful about it and I appreciate her point of view. Quite frankly, it's not much different than negative ads we see from both sides of the aisle in every election. As for claims that it's off topic: I thought it was an interesting way of tying a valid travel topic (AK being one of the most beautiful destinations in the hemisphere) with a very general political conversation. Eva, I like what you did there and any reaction that you've generated is all the more to your credit–that's what this type of discourse is all about.

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By: Eva

Eva — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 10:14:55 +0000

That's what I'm trying to say, Tim – I think I am attacking Palin on the issues, albeit in an informal, (attempted) humourous way. I am against almost everything she stands for, and that's what I was trying to express. I don't care whether her daughter is pregnant or how many hockey practices she's driven her son to over the years – what matters to me are the issues she represents. If expressing my disagreement drives "working mothers" away (and with a phrase like "moron libtard" in play, I sincerely hope that Proud Republican does NOT have kids) then so be it. "There's no way rational thinkers will choose McCain over Obama." This is a popular belief, and to me, it's as big a problem as the personal attacks – the Democratic refusal to believe that some Republicans are informed, educated, and firmly believe in their positions. That's how Dems prove themselves to be out of touch election after election – the condescension and inability to comprehend (some of) their opponents. My stepdad's a Republican (well, in his heart – being Canadian and all) and I'd bet he'd be far more offended by that comment than by anything I have to say about Palin.

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