Highlights of the Night

Just a brief, and incomplete, run-down of my favorite parts of tonight's speech by Sarah "20-Months-As-Governor-Of-The-State-Closest-to-Russia" Palin. And by favorite, I mean most obnoxious and/or annoying:

• "I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a 'community organizer,' except that you have actual responsibilities. I might add that in small towns, we don't quite know what to make of a candidate who lavishes praise on working people when they are listening, and then talks about how bitterly they cling to their religion and guns when those people aren't listening." - Well, I wouldn't be surprised has never had to deal with a community organizer as she has lived in towns of 7,500 (Wasilla) and 30,000 (Juneau). So maybe someone should explain just how important community organizers are to poor neighborhoods on the South Side of Chicago, in West Philadelphia and Harlem. So this is what community organizers do - they help people know about their legal rights; they help them find a way to put food on the table and keep the lights on; they help families build stronger schools and safer streets; they help working class families realize the American dream. In short, they get families the services that government can't or won't provide. The horror! What they don't do - they don't try to ban books from the library and then try to fire the librarian; they don't increase taxes on poor and working families while cutting it for corporations; they don't leave their communities further in debt; and they certainly don't hire other people to do they job they were paid $75,000 (partially because they get no where near $75,000 in salary).
  
• Frequent cut shots to Bristol Palin and her babydaddy. And I really hate the term "babydaddy," but honestly, if her daughter and failure as a parent are supposed to remain a private, family affair, then don't drag your daughter's boyfriend to the convention. She's quickly losing the high-ground on this point.
• "What's the difference between a hockey mom and a pitbull? Lipstick." - Perhaps funny, and maybe even true, but in no way flattering.
• "While I was at it, I got rid of a few things in the governor's office that I didn't believe our citizens should have to pay for." - Like your former brother-in-law, or the Public Safety Commissioner who refused to fire him at your request?
• "Our state budget is under control. We have a surplus." - Perhaps because Alaska is number one in per capita federal spending or number three in amount of federal funds received per dollar paid in federal taxes? It's a lot easier to balance the budget when New Jersey is footing the bill.
  
• "I told the Congress 'thanks, but no thanks,' for that Bridge to Nowhere." - Funny, that not how the people in Alaska remember it.
  
• "To the families of special-needs children all across this country, I have a message: For years, you sought to make America a more welcoming place for your sons and daughters. I pledge to you that if we are elected, you will have a friend and advocate in the White House." - Methinks she only became a friend and advocate this year, after learning that she'd be giving to a boy with Downs Syndrome. After all, it's not like the Republican party has a strong record of providing the disabled community with the services they need.

Oh, and in case no one told Sarah Palin this - the name of the Democratic nominee for President of the United States is Senator Barack Obama.