Sarah Palin v. The Dixie Chicks

I'm having an "Arguing With Idiots" moment as I sit through Countdown with Keith Olbermann tonight.

I know - you want to know why I'm watching that crazy kook? Well, it's not because I'm looking to be fit for a straightjacket anytime soon, if that's what you're thinking. As I've stated here before, it's actually because I believe it makes me a more well informed person to know what the 'other side' is saying, plus there are no good sports on tonight.

Mr. Olbermann is going to attempt to equate Sarah Palin's speech in China to The Dixie Chicks' anti-American diatribe in London back in 2003. If I know BathTubBoy as well as I believe I do, he is going to say that the Republicans came out in a rage against the little country music angels who were just being concerned citizens, while Mrs. Palin, given her previous political experience and place in the eye of the public should have known better than to slander Barack Obama and The United States while on the soil of Communist China!!

So let's be truthful here. The Dixie Chicks were in London, doing what they were paid to do: perform music. The date was March 10, 2003. In the process of performing, Natalie Maines, a Texas native, said:

"Just so you know, we’re on the good side with y’all. We do not want this war, this violence, and we’re ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas."

The only conflict the U.S. was involved in at the time was in Afghanistan, as we did not invade Iraq until March 20, 2003. Afghanistan, as we all know - because Barack Obama tells us so, is "the good war, the war worth fighting."

However, Ms. Maines chose to speak abusively of the President of The United States, while on foreign soil, in a moment which had absolutely nothing to do with politics whatsoever.

Her rationale? "I said it there 'cause that's where I was." Very classy. After an amazing outcry, Maines attempted to clarify matters on March 12 by saying, "I feel the President is ignoring the opinions of many in the U.S. and alienating the rest of the world."

Really...? We went into Afghanistan with the support of pretty much the world. Even the impending invasion of Iraq was going to be done by a multinational force led by The United States and... you guessed it - The United Kingdom.

Conservatives, Republicans... Hell - all good Americans spoke out about this repulsive and unpatriotic act. They spoke on the airwaves, and they spoke with their wallets. Listeners called for boycotts of the Dixie Chicks' music on radio stations nationwide (except perhaps Berkeley and Soho) and massive CD crunching parties were organized, plowing over piles of Dixie Chicks music with bulldozers. At one point, 76% of former fans polled responded with, "If I could, I'd take my CDs back."

Of course, there were those in Hollywood and the music biz who sided with the Chicks. Over time, and after an apology and the creation of an alliance with moveon.org, and a bunch of creative expression of non-guilt (a liberal not feeling guilty? I don't get it) the Dixie Chicks have returned to a reasonable level of success.

On to Sarah Palin (Guys, get your minds out of the gutter). As reported by The Wall Street Journal, Mrs. Palin was paid to give a 90 minute speech in Hong Kong, at a conference sponsored by investment firm CLSA Asia Pacific Markets. The speech was aimed at educating investors about the American market and how it might play a role in their future dealings. There were persons of various nationalities in attendance, including Americans.

Speaking on China policy, the former governor criticized the Obama administration for cutting back on some defense spending, suggesting that it sends a worrisome signal to allies depending on U.S. strength to counterbalance China's growing influence.

"Our strong defense posture in Asia has helped keep the region safe and allowed ... this area to prosper," Ms. Palin said. "Our Asian allies get nervous if they think we're weakening with security commitments."

According to The New York Times, Melvin Goodé, a regional marketing consultant, thought Mrs. Palin chose Hong Kong because it was “a place where things happen and where freedom can be expanded upon.”

“It’s not Beijing or Shanghai,” said Mr. Goodé . “She also mentioned Tibet, Burma and North Korea in the same breath as places where China should be more sensitive and careful about how people are treated. She said it on a human-rights level.”

Mr. Goodé, an African-American who said he did some campaign polling for President Obama, said Mrs. Palin mentioned President Obama three times on Wednesday.

“And there was nothing derogatory in it, no sleight of hand, and believe me, I was listening for that,” he said, adding that Mrs. Palin referred to Mr. Obama as “our president,” with the emphasis on “our.”

According to AFP as reported on Breitbart.com, Two US delegates left early, with one saying "it was awful, we couldn't stand it any longer". He declined to be identified (imagine that - probably a liberal).

However, some of those who attended praised Palin's forthright views on government social and economic intervention.

"She was brilliant," said a European delegate, on condition of anonymity.

"She said America was spending a lot of money and it was a temporary solution. Normal people are having to pay more and more but things don't get better. The rich will leave the country and the poor will get poorer."

So what Mrs. Palin did was completely within the scope of what was expected of her, with the understanding, of course, that it can be risky for a potential candidate to speak out against current American policy. However, as Palin has no stated plans for candidacy, she was simply a representative of the U. S. with a greater understanding given her history as a governor, and as reprted she completed her expected task with little to no controversy... outside that which Mr. Olbermann wishes to create.

"Truth for those who wish to look," Glenn's little song says...