Sometimes I think I am obligated to change the name of this blog to The Stupid President, since I heap criticism on President Obama as I have never done with any other President, including former President Carter.  Most of my blog posts are focused on hammering away at him.

However, happily I digress from direct Obama-bashing to bash none other than Sarah Palin.  Yes that conservative cutie angling for another shot at the White House in roughly three more years.

Gasp - you say?  How dare I criticize a conservative, as an avowed conservative myself and recent - first time mind you - contributor to the Republican Party?  Well I can because the First Amendment still exists, for the time being, and because I don't hesitate to kick some conservative butt when so deserved.  If conservatives are doing something stupid, then only too happy to criticize.

Of course Sarah Palin is not actively trying to run the Country into the ground (see other posts), but the recent silliness over the use of the word "retard" or "retarded" warrants some comments.

Now we know some people may take offense to the current title of this blog:  The Stupid Nation.  No one likes to be called stupid, at least most people I know don't really like it.  However, my take on it is that when The Stupid Nation stops behaving stupidly, I will gladly change to something else.  I am entitled to my opinion, however coarse or potentially offensive that may be to some people.  You will just have to find a way to get over it.

Onward to this retard business.

One of the thuggiest of the thugs Obama surrounded himself with was recently quoted as using the term 'F-ing retarded' to describe some idea or another at a closed door meeting with democrats (hec - aren't most Democrat meetings held in secret these days?  Unless the Republicans are invited too - another post some other time).

After dear Rahm's typically coarse remark, Sarah Palin, mother to a downs syndrome child objected strongly to the term, and called for the White House Chief of Staffs' head.  Apparently it was demeaning to retards to be compared to Democrats.  Point taken.

Shortly thereafter Rush Limbaugh used the term on his talk show (which for the record we do not listen to but rarely, though we do visit his web site about two times a week on average), and rather than Sarah demanding Rush be pulled off the air, she gave him just a scolding.  Now, we have to say, sometimes Rush gets satirical and sarcastic (sometimes?) on his show, so we don't know if Rush was playing games or not.  What we do know is that the liberal bloggers out there jumped all over the double standard Paling applied between the loathsome Chief of Staff, and champion of freedom, radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh.

So for the sake of argument, let's say the lib bloggers are spot on.  Palin is applying a double standard.  Ok - bad girl.  Bad girl.  Though in Rush's defense, he didn't say 'F-ing retarded' so there is a slight difference in the application of the term that maybe warranted only a wrist slap as opposed to an 'off with his retarded head' reaction.

But, let's take this one step further.  As much as we like Sarah Palins' conservative views generally,  the fact that she is the mother of a down syndrome child does not appoint her as the sole guardian and good taste free speech censor of all those who dare use the word "retard" in a derogatory way.  In fact, I generally detest the politically correct 'movement' in this country anyway.  If Rahm Emanuel wants to call his fellow libs a bunch of 'F-ing retards', we celebrate his right to free speech.  That we agree with this assessment, generally, however crudely it may be offered....I guess that's icing on the cake.

So, we rebuff Sarah Palins' objections to the use of the term.  While retarded people out there may be offended at being compared to lowly Democrats, there are much bigger things going on in this country to complain about.

I guess I should be relieved that I didn't call this blog The Retarded Nation.  Frankly, it didn't occur to me, and had it, I would have stuck with what I have anyway, it has a better ring to it.  At least it sounds better than The Not So Smart Nation....or some other more politically correct derivative.

While we are on the topic of Sarah Palin......I voted for McCain/Palin in Election '08.  I didn't like and still don't like McCain for a whole host of reasons, not the least of which is McCain-Feingold.  I did like Palin though.  I thought she would do fine as a VP, learning the ropes in that largely ceremonial job.  And now having had a little more than a year - all those nasty jokes about Palin being stupid, and Joe Biden being an experienced man-of-the-world rock star - look at the way that one turned out.  Could Sarah Palin have possibly done worse than Joe Biden?  The hype was hilariously wrong.  Joe Biden has distinguished himself as a boob VP even more than Dan Qualye.  My preferences remain to see Palin on a future ticket in the VP slot.  Her conservative values are good, she's managed an entire State Government, that's good (more than Obama's resume had on it), but she is missing international experience on her resume.  She's got three years to convince us all that she knows what she's doing in that regard (assuming there is another election).  So, we'll see.

Speaking of experience...I can't help but groan when I see people talking about Scott Brown for President.  Come on, haven't we already seen enough of what damage a raw neophyte can do?  NO to Scott Brown running for President in the next election.  Dare I say...that's retarded (with apologies to Sarah).  At least let the guy learn the Senate phone system first <wink>.

Since this post as been about retarded....I note the (political) passing of Ray Nagan, Mayor of New Orleans, and overseer of the worst disaster preparedness and disaster response in at least the modern history of the country.  Off the top of my head, I have to go back to the disastrous actions of the San Francisco government in the aftermath of The Great Quake to find something comparable.  Farewell Mr. Nagen.