While I was cringing at Governor Palin’s butterfingered response to Katie Couric’s question about the $700 billion proposal to rescue endangered banking execs, I called CatGirl in and replayed it for her. CatGirl, despite being about as interested in politics as she is in manually spellchecking the white pages, immediately realized that Couric’s question and Palin’s response belonged in different conversations.
I got to thinking, I wonder if CatGirl could do a better job? After bribing her with Chicken Katsu Musubi, she bravely acquiesced. Sitting in the local Hawaiian BBQ shop over some fried chicken and spam and rice, I started with the sub-prime lending crisis and brought her up to date to the current circus surrounding Hank “I sold my soul to Goldman Sachs” Paulson’s attempt to socialize the American financial sector.
Keep in mind that CatGirl does not do this for a living, and that no candidate alive (or dead) would want me as a “handler” for anything but dirty diapers (Senator McCain, I’m not volunteering). I thought that her response was perhaps more accurate, but definitely more thoughtful and well-reasoned than Palin’s. But I’ll let you be the judge:
12 responses so far ↓
1 ebrown // Sep 27, 2008 at 5:06 pm
CatGirl’s responses were clear, concise, and measured. She didn’t claim more expertise than she has; nevertheless she was able to hone in on the problem, including the real victims, unwary borrowers. In addition, her analysis of the McCain’s judgment in selecting Palin was amazing.
CatGirl for President in 2028!
2 Craig // Sep 27, 2008 at 6:44 pm
I think here’s the real issue. Many Republicans officials (Palin/McCain included) seem to feel that “normal” Americans are incapable of understanding the “complex issues” of government - whether it be war-making, the economy, civil-rights, health care, etc., they seem to think that because WE voted them into office to serve OUR interests, they somehow have these magical powers to comprehend and solve problems we couldn’t possibly fathom. This is clearly how the Cheney/Bush administration acts.
They seem not to be aware , that when someone comes along who can’t even bullshit, let alone say anything remotely intelligent, we won’t realise it because we’re not smart enough to see that Palin has no clue about anything. She’s been given talking points, but doesn’t understand how the issues interrelate or why she’s saying what she’s saying. She’s McCain’s rather ineffectual (female) puppet.
McCain/Palin treat us with contempt by not having any real answers, and then making outrageous claims, and being stupid enough to not recant when it is obviously false.
I’m surprised Katie Couric put up with this. We’re being told we can’t talk to Palin unless we “respect” her (cause we’re so mean and we hurt her feelings) - as if it is our fault that Palin is this inept at her obvious avoidance of any question and inability to provide a relevant answer.
And I find your CatGirl’s observation about what this means about McCain’s thoughts about what the requirements are to be president are very insightful. This terrible pick for VP isn’t only scary because of who Palin is, but because it says a lot about McCain’s judgement.
3 wren // Sep 27, 2008 at 7:35 pm
I just busted out laughing at the end. 1- the cat cameo. (Maybe that’s CatGirl’s animal guide) 2- her astute observation about Palin being what McCain considers to be presidential material.
Bravo, CatGirl! What do they say? Out of the mouths of babes…
Clearly she is aware of the emperor’s attire (or lack thereof).
4 John // Sep 27, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Thanks, all! I’m amazed that Couric maintained her professional demeanor–I love her *blink* *blink* expression and it’s fun to imagine what exactly was going through her head.
wren, I think that was a brief appearance by one of her political coaches.
But yeah, I was amazed too at some of her analysis, not all of which was captured on video.
5 Elise // Sep 27, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Thanks for sharing.
That was great!
6 G // Sep 27, 2008 at 9:41 pm
brilliant!
how come adults can’t just admit “I don’t know too much about that” and go from there.
catgirl, you are my hero.
7 xJane // Sep 28, 2008 at 10:12 am
ahahahahaha! Love. It.
First of all, I hadn’t seen that part of Palin’s interview, and was absolutely stunned that her response was accepted as a response. It’s clear that the media is handling her with kid gloves; had that been Clinton, (either) Obama, Biden, or McCain, that response would not have flown.
I’d like to shout out dittos to Craig
8 Craig // Sep 28, 2008 at 11:25 am
I have no idea why I said “your CatGirl”, that’s just weird.
xJane,
This is REALLY pissing me off. I don’t understand why the media isn’t jumping all over her for not being able to form a relevant answer to any question being asked her - in this election, more than any other, I see not a liberal media bias, but a conservative one. I think the media is so afraid of being perceived as biased towards liberal ideas, that it is truly being way, way, WAY too accommodating to the Republican candidates’ blatant misstatements, lies, and ineptitude. You are right that Obama or the Clintons would never be allowed to answer like this, but I would argue that they do allow McCain more leeway, though not to the same degree as Palin (or Bush).
I really feel that the news media are not living up to their journalistic ethics even more than usual. Is it because the McCain camp keeps threatening not to allow interviews unless the media is sufficiently “respectful”? Is it because they don’t want to be seen as biased? Is it because she’s a woman and they don’t want to seem sexist?
Whatever the reason, it is purely insane that they have such a double standard. I was not only disappointed in Charlie Gibson’s interview, but also in Katie Couric’s. Yes, Palin managed to reveal her ineptitude all by herself, but Couric and Gibson should have been much more probing and direct (as they would have been if it were Obama) , and not allowed such blatant side-stepping of important questions and issues.
It all makes me sick.
9 catBonny // Sep 28, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Is Palin somehow distantly related to Bush? Just a thought. Her answer was so idiotic.
I have to second G on wondering why we cannot admit we don’t know much about things as adults. Getting ready to start grad school and being in semi-academic situations sometimes I sometimes just pretend I know what other people are referring to, but I usually don’t through in some bullshit to try to respond to things I don’t know about.
Catgirl is awesome, and so is the cat cameo.
I feel like McCain (and Palin) should be embarassed, I mean her foreign policy experience is that Alaska is really close to Russia right? So she has something for her I guess (not.)
10 xJane // Sep 29, 2008 at 9:45 am
Check out halfway through, when Tina Fey simply quotes Palin’s actual response for comedic effect:
11 C. L. Hanson // Sep 29, 2008 at 9:23 pm
I agree with the other commenters — Palin strung together some talking points without really grasping what she’s talking about. Bullshitting, and not even doing it well. Cat Girl, by contrast, gave a thoughtful and reasoned response.
Go Cat Girl!
12 Kaimi // Oct 1, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Go, CatGirl!
And yes, xJane, the actual quote is the best part of the SNL skit. When she says it, you think, “did Palin really say all that? Is Tina embellishing?”
Nope. No embellishment.
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