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I was trying to explain that very same concept to someone last night. It seems that for some Palin may as well be a demon, though for the life of me they cant explain why and if you dare to ask why you will be called names. Meanwhile nearly every day someone comes out with a new raunchy comment about her or her kids and its just sickening to see how low the hatred of her brings some people.

Comment by pkatt on 3/05/10 at 9:25 am

A strong Jewish woman and a strong Christian woman.

I like both.

“Women (should) rule the world.”

Comment by Bill in Baltimore on 3/05/10 at 9:29 am

Ilana first I am sorry for your disrespectful hate mail. Please do not let others change the “good hearted” persoon you are”. If you do they win and you lose. We do not have to agree on everything but we do owe everyone courtesy and respect. I am folling you on Twitter now please do the same on me. Gov Palin and Family Deserve RESPECT!!!

Have a Blesed Day,

Comment by Andrew Luck on 3/05/10 at 9:53 am

Ilana Angel,
Now you have gotten a little tiny taste of the hate that the left-winged radicals project towards Sarah and her precious family.  I hope you will join me in praying for her and her family.
God bless you, Irma
P.S. Have a blessed date tonight.

Comment by Irma on 3/05/10 at 9:56 am

I am proud to know you, and am proud that you stood up for your blog.

And, I agree with all of it. Most of the conservatives I know can’t handle talking to me, b/c I am of such a radical liberal theology and thought. So, it works both ways.

Comment by Noelle on 3/05/10 at 10:11 am

Ilana,

Thank you for standing up for decency, common courtesy, respect and understanding.

Have a beautiful Sabbath and I trust that your date goes well.

Comment by John.Frank on 3/05/10 at 10:29 am

I enjoyed your blog entries about Sarah Palin.  It shows us that we all have common ground as people.  With your political positions, I wouldn’t vote for you as POTUS either but I sure would enjoy sitting down to a cup of coffee or dinner with you!  We can disagree on politics and religion without letting it cause us to hate one another.  Thanks for your kindness, open heartedness and honesty! 
PS I hope your date goes well!

Comment by Susie on 3/05/10 at 10:53 am

Happy Friday Ilana!  I just don’t get all the hating.  I simply don’t get it!  Life is short people…how do you want to spend it?  ME? I look for the silver lining. But, then again, my Mom died in a car accident after surving pancreatic cancer.  I chose silver linings…

Comment by Michelle Q on 3/05/10 at 10:54 am

It is rare to find anyone on the left that can get past the hate. For many in that group, political beliefs have replaced religion in their lives and so anyone who comes to symbolize the opposition has to be demonized as a threat. Maybe you and Governor Palin can begin to reverse that trend. I have met Governor Palin and also found her to be a warm, gracious, happy person. I’m sure that even though I am conservative and you are liberal that if we were to meet I could use those same words to describe you. And as you stated, if people cannot accept that, then - they can kiss my rear too!

Comment by Nikky J on 3/05/10 at 11:02 am

Ilana,

Thanks so much for standing up for for yourself and Sarah Palin!  I’m glad you both met each other.  You both demonstrate that can still disagree with each other, but not be disagreeable.  Hope the the date goes well tonight!

Comment by Patrick on 3/05/10 at 11:07 am

Ilana,
Thank you for defending Sarah, though you do not agree with her politically. Sarah loves Israel.  There are social beliefs and there are economic beliefs. Sarah does not hide either one. Sarah believes in smaller, smarter government, great national security, LESS taxes, MORE freedom for everyone. How can you disagree with that?

Comment by Carol on 3/05/10 at 11:26 am

Ilana,
Another thing, I am jealous and millions more like me are too as well. You met Sarah!!!! We would have loved to be in your shoes (even flip-flops) the other day, on that side walk!!!!

Comment by Carol on 3/05/10 at 11:29 am

Ilana, I enjoyed reading your blog on meeting Sarah Palin, I would like to echo Bill in Baltimore comments: “Women (should) rule the world.” Ilana I hope you meet your prince charming this weekend.

Comment by blackbird on 3/05/10 at 11:42 am

Congrats Ilana!!! You have arrived…..you’re now topic of discussion on a FReeRepublic thread: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2464892/posts

Comment by Ocarterma on 3/05/10 at 12:02 pm

Well said. Your entire interaction with Ms. Palin shows your son what it is to be a mensch.

Comment by Andrea on 3/05/10 at 12:07 pm

God bless you, Ilana. 

I don’t care if you dislike Sarah’s politics..or that you would never consider supporting her as a political candidate…I just wanted to thank you for writing something that wasn’t hateful about her.

Comment by Leigh on 3/05/10 at 12:12 pm

After reading your article, I am not fired up with hate - and I am sorry you received “hate” emails as you called them.  For me it is more a puzzlement - I can’t understand why you would think she was nice.  Everyone who has ever known her or been around her says she is “competitive”, “narcissistic”, and “ruthless”.  She has been caught in several lies but continues to ignore that and not respond to all the questions people have.  She lies right to peoples faces. She says things about our President that are just as hate filled as the letters you received, and she says it with a sarcastic, nasally tone that makes me want to scoop my own eyeballs out.  She has lied about so many things - I don’t even have enough time - but the BIGGEST lie that would EVER prevent me from having her come to my house and discuss the PRADA shoes she probably had the RNC pay for, is that she faked her own pregnancy to cover up her daughters.  I didn’t want to believe it at first - but after all the research and looking into - I now know what kind of person she is.  She threw her daughter under the bus so excuse me if I don’t take your word that she is a nice lady.  Her oldest son - so addicted to drugs he vandalized over 60 school buses and was sent to live in MI for his senior year.  Where is mom?  Where is the support?  Why are Track and Bristol such big partiers?  They had no one to teach them right or wrong appararntly and had a mother who was more concerned with her political career than her own children. 

Sarah Palin a nice lady…...  nice try

Comment by Megan on 3/05/10 at 12:46 pm

Thank you for you courage and decency. We live in very difficult times for people who can live with and admire people who think differently. I had never read your blog before but will be checking back often. You have more new friends than you can imagine, all because you’ve shown yourself independent and loyal. Shalom.

Comment by Steve Altman on 3/05/10 at 12:56 pm

Ilana, Thank you for your kindness twords my friend Sarah. I have a sister who is a Dem and I am a conservative and even though we can get into some passionate political moments we both love each other very much. We as are you and as is Sarah..we are America.
It is beautiful in Alaska this time of year!

Comment by Rhonda on 3/05/10 at 1:00 pm

The hatred the left spews on Sarah Palin is nothing less than evil.
As you said, It is a sad day when just being civil and friendly to
another human being is considered either brave or an act of treason.
Happily, you are like MOST decent people out there, who will not let
this hatred taint them and keep them from being good. Thank you
for being a strong, good-hearted person.

Comment by Dannielle on 3/05/10 at 1:03 pm

Ilana,

Welcome to a tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny, ……piece of Sarah’s world. 

This woman had a 93% approval rating in a state made-up of mostly independent voters on/before 8/26/08.

Comment by Truth on 3/05/10 at 1:05 pm

That pic you took with Sarah does no do you justice.  What a beautiful woman you are.  Hope you find yourself a nice conservative Jewish man to fall in love with. Hehe, anyway, you seem like a cool person.  Cheers!

Comment by Ernst on 3/05/10 at 1:07 pm

And Sarah is still standing strong… just imagine that she is subjected to this kind of hate hitting her from all sides. Thats the more reason I respect and love her.

Comment by Nicky on 3/05/10 at 1:07 pm

Thanks for SHARING your view of your encounter with Sarah. I am a supporter of Palin. Have been from the moment she stepped on the National Stage. Infact, I never followed Politics until she was announced as McCain’s running mate. Now I am an avid follower of all things Politics. I have to say I support her because she shares my values - pro-life, gun rights, Strong National Defense, Smaller Government and fiscal responsibility, but I respect your ability to see beyond her political hat and she her as a human being. Thanks for stopping the hate directed at her if only for a day or blog post! :^)

Comment by Kathy from Alabama on 3/05/10 at 1:08 pm

Ilana, thank you for your article and your brave response to the attackers. You have a good soul. I, myself, am a fan of Sarah Palin and I feel it is important that all women support each other, regardless of our political leanings.  The best thing you can do to those who attack you is to ignore them and stay the course.  I think you should check out the HillBuzz boys in Chicago, they go through this all of the time. God Bless You!

Comment by Windsor on 3/05/10 at 1:09 pm

It is possible for someone to disagree with someone politically and not be a hater. Most of the people who attack Sarah Palin do it out of an inner hatred or some type of negativity deep down inside themsevles.

You have passed the test, Ilana. It’s not about your ideology, it’s about your attitude.

I don’t expect everyone to vote for Sarah Palin, but it would be nice if we all showed each other more respect regardless of where we stand politically.

It’s not about liberalism vs. conservatism. It’s about positivity vs. negativity. Keep steering as clear as you can from negativity like you are.

Comment by ReaganTMan on 3/05/10 at 1:11 pm

Megan - you are what is wrong with the political discourse in this country!!

Your post shows your ignorance and vile nature. So, how
exactly did Palin fake her own pregnancy to cover up her daughters?  Her son his Trigg and Bristols is Tripp. Clearly not the same child as one is 6mo-1yr older. I think you need to expand your reading material from the Nation Enquirer - that is maybe it is you who are the one that doesn’t read!

Thanks again to Ilana for putting aside partisan garbage just to say I met her and she was actually a very lovely woman.

Comment by Kathy from Alabama on 3/05/10 at 1:18 pm

First George W Bush was deemed Hitler yet now that he is gone, it is Sarah Palin who is Hitler.  The bizarre aspect to declaring both Bush and Palin ‘HITLER’ is that both are quite vocal in their support of Israel; more so than most all other politicians from either political parties.

It has become a sickness; will the vitriol and hatred ever end?

Comment by susan on 3/05/10 at 1:22 pm

I guess you’re new to seeing the left for who they really are.

LEFT=HATE=LEFT=HATE=LEFT

Comment by Eric on 3/05/10 at 1:36 pm

As a conservative/libertarian politically, and a Palin supporter, you have joined a group of what I call “noble opponents.”  The most notable and literate of these is Camille Paglia, though there are several others.  I don’t hate President Obama; I think he is very, very wrong.  And I have a feeling he would impress me as much as Governor Palin impressed you if I ever met him.  Thank you for honesty and forthrightness.

Comment by Doug on 3/05/10 at 1:44 pm

Wow, what a good article. I have great respect for you. Btw, you’re famous now.
http://twitter.com/palintwibe/status/10038970334
http://www.conservatives4palin.com/2010/03/open-thread_05.html
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2464892/posts

Comment by Laurel on 3/05/10 at 2:04 pm

Ilana

I have read through these responses and I think there is only one that still condemns you for your decency and honesty .... that is encouraging.

You surely are a strong person with leadership qualities, and I admire your ability to stick to your principles.

May HaShem guide you to your loving life-partner as you put your life in His Hands.

“The LORD bless thee and keep thee,
The LORD make his face shine upon thee
and be gracious unto thee,
The LORD lift up His countenance upon thee
and give thee peace.”

Comment by Shoshana on 3/05/10 at 2:18 pm

Your article is like a breath of fresh air. I recently had a very old friend express her ‘sadness’ that I thought their ‘was anything to like at all’ about Sarah Palin. I couldn’t believe it. There must be a lot of people who only surround themselves with people who completely agree with their views on everything. I am a fairly conservative Christian man but I am so glad I have good friends from diverse backgrounds, with a variety of political and religious beliefs. You have seen the real Sarah Palin - thank you for having the courage to write ethically about your experience.

Comment by cliffNZ on 3/05/10 at 2:28 pm

Whenever I read a Palin story posted on CNN, it is always followed by hundreds of really vile, nasty comments.  It always makes me wonder just what kind of people do that.  I didn’t vote for 0bama, and I would never vote for him, but I would never say, much less write the vile stuff that the left writes about Palin.  Yet, when you ask someone why they don’t like Palin, they almost never can explain why, or they start foaming at the mouth, and rambling on about how she doesn’t support abortion, or that she hunts, or some other lame excuse.  Lots of people hunt, lots of people oppose abortion, and don’t get anywhere near the nastiness directed at them.

Comment by gahanson on 3/05/10 at 3:06 pm

I have an African-American friend who has a Pro-Palin blog site.  She receives hate mail on an almost daily basis from readers who scream “TRAITOR!” at her…so you are in good company.

Keep your chin up…I am sure that the vast majority of people who read your blog are good, decent people, who would never condemn someone for writing a positive blog about another woman…no matter what political party they identify with.  There are good and bad people on both sides of the fence….we just have to make sure, whether we are on the Left or Right..that we never allow ourselves to Hate the people with whom we disagree.

By the way, Aaron Goldstein wrote this about Sarah, in his blog SARAH PALIN IS THE ISRAEL OF POLITICS…it’s a fantastic observation in hate and intolerence.
 
“If Sarah Palin were a member state of the UN she would be condemned daily by the General Assembly for transgressions both real and imagined. 

Those who hate Israel are prepared to believe any unkind word said about it.  If Israel-haters are told that Israelis use the blood of Palestinian children to make Purim pastries they accept it as the gospel truth. Those who hate Sarah Palin are prepared to believe any unkind word said about her. When unnamed sources from the McCain campaign were alleged to have said that Palin didn’t know Africa was a continent, the Palin haters accepted it as an article of faith. Never mind that Palin led an effort to have Alaska divest its holdings in the Darfur region of Sudan. Those who hate Palin are not interested in the truth. They are interested only in seeing grievous harm come to her.

Some of the disdain directed towards Palin has all the quality of high school gossip. How else does one explain the story that Palin allegedly answered the door to her hotel room wearing only a bathrobe?  When that wasn’t sensational enough it was then said that Palin answered the door wearing only a towel. I would not be surprised if it is alleged that Palin was in the hotel room partying with the Rolling Stones a la Margaret Trudeau.  It would be funny if it weren’t so frightening.

People who hate are irrational.  When people are irrational they will believe any and every negative thing tossed down the chute regardless of its merit and feasibility. They believe such things because they want to believe them. If you throw enough mud against the wall some of it will stick. This mud represents the debris of hate.  Unfortunately, it is this debris that fertilizes the seeds of doubt the haters have planted. When it fertilizes, otherwise decent people begin to believe as fact things that are indisputably false. This is the essence of hatred.  If something is said loud enough and often enough people will come to believe it without question. If it is fertilized with enough intensity people will act on these false beliefs with tragic consequences. My people paid the highest price imaginable for the fertilization of hatred.

Fortunately, Sarah Palin and her family have not been met with any violence (so far).  But make no mistake. There are people who hate Sarah Palin enough that they would be overjoyed if she or her family members were physically, if not fatally attacked.

It is perhaps fitting that a small Israeli flag is mounted on the window of Governor Palin’s office. If nothing else it is surely a testament to her moral fiber. The Israeli flag symbolizes a nation that rose out of the fertilized ashes of hatred that stoked the Holocaust. The Israeli flag symbolizes a people who were knocked down and counted out but got back up bigger and stronger than before.  Israel succeeds despite the wishes of those who want it to die…what doesn’t kill Sarah Palin will make her stronger.”

Comment by Leigh on 3/05/10 at 3:26 pm

From a non-Jewish, non-Christian, non-Republican, non-Democrat but rather Libertarian/Constitutionalist Goddess-worshiping Pagan I say THANK YOU for your honest appraisal and defense of the formor Governor of my great State of Alaska. Here is to hoping you find your True Heart’s desire and surviving the slings and arrows of deranged Palin-haters this celebrity you did not expect has attracted with your humour and serenity intact.

Blessed Be

Comment by eclecticak on 3/05/10 at 3:27 pm

I firmly believe that racists,  hate far left liberals and ultra rights are the most evil groups in the United States today, whether they are blacks or whites. These lunatic people inspire/provoke hate and war and if I were to rule the United States, I will be an authoritarian ruler who will govern as a centrist and I will order the military to get rid of these hateful people just like what Lee Kuan Yew did to Singapore in the past. “if they do not want to work as teams and brothers in a society, they are considered wastes and must be eradicate immediately”. Only this way that a society can be able to live freely and peacefully.

Comment by Elaine on 3/05/10 at 3:40 pm

Maybe, the reason you haven’t found love is because you’re looking in all the wrong places, namely the world of liberals; they view humans as “animals,” and animals don’t carry that gene.

Comment by Greg K on 3/05/10 at 4:12 pm

Come to silicon valley, plenty of guys, although, they all have VERY visible nose hairs. Also, great post regarding Palin. You are whtas RIGHT with America, someone with class and convictions. You can like sarah as aperson but not like her politics and still be civil. Hopefully you can lead the way as to how we all behave. By the way, isnt it cool how Sarah brings everyones ratings and viewership up!!! even bloggers!! hope she passes by and dines with you when she runs fro president!

Comment by Ronnie on 3/05/10 at 4:13 pm

Iliana, I am a Conservative Christian guy who hopes that Sarah eventually winds up in the White House.  I hopped over here yesterday and read your blog - really good stuff - and I really appreciate your honesty and (perhaps unintentional) bravery.  It seems as though you’ve been inducted into the club of Democrats that have met Sarah face to face and found out that she is actually human.

I am sorry that you have received such hateful backlash.  It is not necessary or productive - you certainly do not deserve it.

Similarly, I disagree with everything that Obama is doing right now, but I would welcome him into my home for dinner (and spirited discussion) any time.  He and his wife from all appearances have a lovely family that they are rightly proud of.  If you manage to arrange for Sarah to come over to your place for matzo ball soup & moose burgers, can I come?

Comment by turfmann on 3/05/10 at 4:14 pm

I am a huge supporter of Sarah Palin and really enjoyed reading about your encounter with her. You confirmed what I have always felt about her. That she is a really cool chick. That was my initial impression of her the day she walked out on that stage in Ohio and began speaking to the crowd. I was like, who is this woman, she is awesome! And my admiration for her has only grown since that day. I’m really sorry you had to deal with the blowback from the haters just because you had some kind things to say about another human being who happens to be a conservative. Sarah Palin doesn’t deserve the wretched treatment she has received and neither do you. Enjoy your date tonight! Remember, no garlic or onions.

Comment by bellagrazi on 3/05/10 at 5:43 pm

I just found your blog today. This post is a real gem. I loved it. It is good to see that you have your head on straight. Look forward to reading more. Shabbat Shalom.

Comment by southerngrits on 3/05/10 at 5:54 pm

Ilana:

I read your wonderful blog entry yesterday. It was respectful and well, real.

I do have to ask you though: Is this the first time you have come to realize that most in the democrat party are hate filled loons?

It’s all they know.

They hate blacks, women, any minority. They REALLY hate Jews. Hang around any lefty website and you’ll learn very quickly that all of the world’s problems are equally the fault of George Bush and the Jews! (especially Israelis.)

These people are evil.

Anyhow, sorry you had to deal with all of that hate. You are obviously good people and deserve better.

Come on over to our side, you’ll always be welcome with open arms!

Take care,
Gary

Comment by Gary on 3/05/10 at 6:19 pm

once again, you are a class act, and I think you wrote once again in classy form what most of us feel:  be human, respect freedom of speech and liberty, no matter how much we disagree on!  Shalom and God bless.  From a conservative sis and a Palin fan!!  Hope u meet a great looking kind and giving man!

Comment by janska on 3/05/10 at 6:33 pm

Rock ON! Just DO YOU! Way to keep it real

Comment by Lorna on 3/05/10 at 6:53 pm

Let’s get a few things straight.  I am a Democrat.  I believe in gay marriage.  I do not support hunting, or gun ownership.  I will fight for a woman’s right to have an abortion.  I am a Jew.  I love Israel.  I also happen to think that Sarah Palin is a cool lady.

====================
Lets look at the above.

1.  Why should the government even be in the marriage business.  Marriage is an emotional and on the ground commitment between two people regardless of their sex.  The state has no right getting involved

2.  You don’t support hunting or gun ownership.  Fair enough, but do you support the right of others to hunt and gun ownership.  The American army did not support he right of the Native American to hunt and own guns and herded them into generations where they have lived for generations in poverty.

3. You fight for a right for women to have an abortion.  Clearly you support the right of a person to be fatally aggressive against a defenseless human being.  I don’t

4.  You say you are a Democrat and Jew and love Israel.  What Israel do you love.  A multicultural country just like Holland or Great Britain or a Jewish country as a home for Jews?

Comment by John Galt on 3/05/10 at 7:20 pm

Ilana, you are a obviously a terrific lady.  I second the idea that you start dating conservatives; apparently the liberal men in your neighborhood are clueless as to your merits.

As for shooting wolves from helicopters… it is not for sport, it is to protect the caribou herds that many Alaskans, including the inuit, depend on for food. 

Comment by Jack Okie on 3/05/10 at 7:45 pm

Ilana,  Thank you for the kind words about Governor Palin.  The media has done a great job of spreading misinformation about Palin.  I don’t expect you to change your mind about voting for her for President, but I want to point out a few things.  Sarah Palin is very Pro-Israel.  She had an Israeli flag in her Governor’s office….prior to being selected as McCain’s running mate.  In addition, she often wears an Israeli flag pin on her lapel. 
In addition, she routinely supports Israel in her Facebook notes. 

Also, the preditor (wolves) control program was implemented long before Palin took office by Gov. Murkowski.  There are valid arguments on both sides of this issue, but once again, the media and the left would like you to believe this is the brain-child of Sarah Palin. 

Wow, you’re going to have to look long and hard to find a Presidential candidate that is against all hunting and gun ownership. 

Thanks again for the breath of fresh air.  I leave you with a quote from Democrat power broker John Coale (Greta Van Susteren’s husband), who frequently advises Palin:  “she is definitely not what the right thinks or the left thinks.”

Comment by Brian on 3/05/10 at 7:57 pm

My husband directed me to your blog after seeing it mentioned on Conservatives4Palin.  Thanx for being a decent human being.  I don’t understand the vitriol concerning Sarah Palin, but I’ve come to expect it.  It’s refreshing to see someone brave enough (naive enough?) to step into the lion’s den as you have.

I’m a conservative pagan who can appreciate a strong, honorable woman whatever her politics or religion.  I think you and Sarah have much in common.

Comment by Ellen on 3/06/10 at 12:49 am

Thanks to everyone who took the time to comment.
I’ve given up responding to everyone, as there are just too many.
Know that I have read them all, and appreciate your kind works.

Best,

Ilana

Comment by Ilana Angel on 3/06/10 at 1:04 am

I want to applaud you for having the guts to say that you like someone even though you disagree politically with them. Americans have stopped listening to each other about twenty years ago. Your leaders like it that way. The division in your country keeps you hating each other instead of agreeing to disagree. You need to start taking the wax out of your ears and the hate out of your heart to make things better.
My husband wrote “even the scarecrow managed to find his way to Oz and ask the wizard for a brain. He was awarded a piece of paper that made him talk very well - but it did not mean he was smart.” The elites in all of our countries have made a ruddy mess of them. Maybe it is time for us to return to the roots and look at ourselves as the future? Perhaps it is time to look at those of us who have no ‘gin in the game’ to bring about real and honest change in government? How could we possibly do any worse?

Comment by Canuck Gal on 3/06/10 at 1:45 am

“Regret looks back. Worry looks around. Vision looks up.” Jentezen Franklin

Comment by Jackytc on 3/06/10 at 1:30 pm

I really need a jew to explain this to me: how can Palin and Marco Rubio be so loathed by jews when they are the only two people on the left or the right publicly state that America must act to preserve Israel’s sovereignty.

I just don’t get it.

It’s like a politician coming out and saying, “We must tend to the needs of Native Americans and solve the many problems that confront them as people” and then have the Sioux nation say, “That person is our enemy!”

It’s a complete idealogical and political worm hole for me—a gentile.

Comment by John Carpenter on 3/06/10 at 2:32 pm

God bless you for being a decent person in an ever more cruel World.  We will trieumph in the long run.

Comment by SurferDoc on 3/06/10 at 7:12 pm

Without question we are miles apart politically, but I want to try and make one salient point that I think we can both agree on. Sarah Palin without question loves Israel and loves the Jewish People. She belongs to the same, actually mainstream, branch of Christianity that I belong to that recognizes that Jesus was, is, and will always be, a Jew. She, I am sure, considers the Jewish people to be special in God’s eyes, ergo they necessarily must be honored, defended, and respected. I don’t know Sarah personally but I know many people who think like her, live like her, and believe like her. One thing you can trust most assuredly: She could not betray the Jewish People without betraying her own faith. That is not something that seems very likely to me. You are courageous indeed. Peace be with you.

Comment by jim funkhouser on 3/06/10 at 7:36 pm

you welcome our feedback but only print the pro-Palin comments… nice..  You can’t write an article like that, put it on the internet for the entire world to read, and then be surprised when there are negative comments.  Are we filled with hatred… absolutely not - we just don’t happen to agree with your praise of Sarah Palin.  Not that big of a deal.  If you want to keep on blogging on the internet - I suggest you grow some thicker skin and open your mind a bit to other people’s opinions.  Once again, (at least I) have no problem with you and how you feel - your opinions count just like mine do but don’t dismiss me or others because our opinion is different than yours.  Thank You!  I really hope you approve of this post - we will see how “fair” you are…

Comment by Megan on 3/07/10 at 5:55 am

To Kathy from Alabama:

How did she fake her pregnancy..
1. She did not tell anyone she was pregnant until she was 7 months.. her own staffers were FLOORED - that was the first “red flag”
2. Her daughter just happens to miss 5-6 months of school the exact same 5-6 months of Sarah’s “pregnancy”
3.  In Feb. the rumors were flying around Wasilla that Bristol was pregnant so Sarah spoke with a reporter (Bill McCallister) and told him it wasn’t true.
4.  Instead of making one “appearance” with her daughter to dispell the rumors - that would have been easy if Bristol were not pregnant, but instead she sent Bristol away to live with an aunt and hid her from everyone… (ANOTHER RED FLAG)
5.  She appeared very NOT PREGNANT is several photos that were of course immediately removed from her official website - and as a mother of three - I can tell you she was not pregnant in a photo where she was supposed to be 6 months pregnant.
6. So she flies to TX to give a speech at 8mo - WITH A HIGH RISK BABY.  Water breaks - but yes - still gives an hour long speech and THEN instead of going to neo - natal hospital in TX - gets on plance (where staff did not even know she was pregnant) - yes - they made an official statement)and flew over 10 hours - mind you - 5th child, water broke over 11 hours ago and it is a high risk baby… but STILL ..after landing in Anchorage - where there are 2 hospitals to accomodate high risk babies, she drives ANOTHER HOUR to a small hospital in Wasilla where there is no neo-natal unit and the DR she has is a close friend and has yet to talk to reporters or admit that yes, she did deliver Sarah’s baby.  There is no record of Trig being born that date, April 18, 2008.  Sarah will not produce a birth certificate and that Dr has since been appointed to AL medical board by - of course Sarah Palin.  THere is even a myspace page that shows Levi Johnsons sister holding baby Trig and writing “My baby bro - triggy bear” and one with Sarah in the pic, calling her mommy in-law..  It’s real simple - Bristol got pregnant - Sarah does not want to have to tell all the people (after she openly backs and praises abstinence)that her daughter is now pregnant.  She decides to claim the pregnancy as hers when all the rumors start flying in February of 2008.  She makes the official statement is March - One month before the baby is due.  you just can’t look at all that info with a clear mind and not wonder what the heck she was thinking.. All I am asking is that you read it - that’s it - you don’thave to believe it - but at LEAST read it.  There is absolutely no proof that Trigg is Sarah’s and she has avoided every way there would have been to prove it.  And if you think people don’t do those kinds of things - think again.  Jack Nicholson and Bobby Darrin both grew up thinking that there sister was their sister when in reality it turned out to be their mother because of the stigma on teenage pregnancy at that time.  It was created by a medical professional with no real political ties - just a woman who could not believe the birth story and decided to dig a little deeper.

Comment by Megan on 3/07/10 at 6:24 am

Megan,
I post all comments to my blog.  Good or bad.  I have posted each one that was written in response to my blogs about Sarah Palin.  If someone writes to my email, or on Facebook, then I do not post as it looks like a posting from me personally.  If I were to cut and paste those emails, it would not be authentic so i simply don’t.  You are a pistol.  Clearly angry and frustrated, so bring it on.  You are welcome to post whatever you like here and I will share it with the masses.

Thanks.

Comment by Ilana Angel on 3/07/10 at 11:05 am

Pistol? More like delusional?

Megan, do you perhaps spend all your waking hours in the same Palin Derangement mode as chief serial ethics complainer Shannyn Moore (in AK)? Oh goody you quoted the palindeception web site, such a moral authority and reliable source. Please that is probably run by the same nut case Andre McLeod (or someone like her) that filed all the ethics complaints against Palin. Incase you aren’t up to speed Palin was found by independent council to not have violated any ethics law. I am sure you have a conspiracy theory for that as well.

What is it about Sarah that makes you so insanely jealous that you drone on about whether Trigg is Palin’s child. You need a LIFE!!! As if anything dead beat, PORN NON-star Levi Johnson and his family would say or do would matter. Let’s see Levi’s mommy is (or was) in Jail. Hmmm. Bet they are trustworthy?? Sadly with maturity Levi will regret the irresponsibility of his youth and how he has handled himself with respect to HIS son Tripp. So in your master conspiracy theory did Bristol have Trig and Tripp just 6 months apart?

Just so I can make your head really spin off its shoulders…

Tell you what, Palin will produce her son’s birth certificate when Obama shows his!! HA HA - not that I believe any of that stupidity, but it is the same kind of stupidity that you have spewed on here.

Get a life! Palin sure has ...

Comment by Kathy from Alabama on 3/07/10 at 8:13 pm

Good for you. You can seperate politics, which amounts to little more than sports fandom, and a personal encounter with a person. Unfortunately, most of us with an opinion either way about Palin or any other public figure, base our feelings on hearsay. I don’t know Palin. I hear that she’s a nut so I believe. How sad and inconsequential is that? It’s silly. Keep doing what you do and keep growing. Resist ideology.

Comment by JS on 3/08/10 at 11:33 am

LOL. I didn’t catch your blog but this rebuttle is HILARIOUS. I love it and I like your style (also a democrat)...

Kathy from Alabama has issues. Whether that is true or not true, at this point, is irrelevant (and also PERSONAL). I wouldn’t vote for Palin (for anything) to save my life (probably wouldn’t have tea with her either) but that is her personal family business, who cares.

Ilana, you’re a better woman than me because I wouldn’t have patience to stomach the ignorance that generally flows from her lips but if you like her, you like her. It’s not a big deal, whatever. People need to grow up. You just keep “doing YOU”—nevermind the haters!

Comment by Sanaa on 3/08/10 at 11:37 am

good luck on your date

Comment by Charlene on 3/08/10 at 12:14 pm

I’m sorry to be the grammar police when there is so much else to say. However, it is grammatically incorrect to say “Never before has there been such an outpouring of both love and hate, for both Sarah and I.” As object of the preposition “for” it should read “for both Sarah and me.” You wouldn’t say an outpouring of love and hate for I.”

Thanks All

Comment by ddc on 3/08/10 at 1:17 pm

To Megan - you are a real piece of work! You just keep on reading the Enquirer for all the latest gossip. Yeah, that’s what will keep you smart.

Ilana - thanks for a nice article defending Palin. I do not care for politicians in general, but I happen to think that Palin is very down to earth, honest and the least corrupt of the bunch.

Comment by KaShawnte on 3/08/10 at 2:09 pm

It’s amusing how liberals (male & female) get their panties (male & female) in a bunch over favorable remarks about Palin.  And the personal attacks they launch against others shows how ignorant so many of them are when it comes to issues.  So what if you don’t like Palin. So what if you don’t like her values and family. Is that a reason to attack people because they don’t agree with you. Ms Angel made favorable comments about Mrs. Palin.  Why does Palin get so many liberals upset?  Is it because she has a family, a career, a husband, a grandchild, a best-selling book, a pro-life worldview, a child with disabilities.  I think many political liberals dislike her b/c she has blown the whole NOW crowd out of the water.  She has shown it’s possible to do things differently than the conventional liberal-minded woman.  And guess what else? Like a whole lot of other conservative women who have done the same, she’s attractive. For those who disagree- why not try learning from somebody who has a track record of success instead of following man-haters.

Comment by Chris on 3/10/10 at 6:14 pm

Sanaa, I assure you I do not have issues. I was responding to the absurdity of Megan’s (not Ilana’s) comments regarding Palin faking her pregnancy. Frankly, it is beyond absurd for Megan to say Palin faked her pregnancy. I find it irrational that the left continues their attacks against Palin and the majority of the time they never attack her on merit. Was she a bad Governor - no infact she had an 85% approval rating before McCain selected her for his VP and the liberal media went into over drive to discredit her. No, they don’t talk about her accomplishments as Council Woman, Mayor, Oil and Gas regulator, or Governor. They minimize them or ridicule them and instead they drone on about her pregnancy, what dead beat Levi says, what jacket she is wearing (cleared of that ridiculous ethics complaint as well) rather than anything of merit. If you don’t like her fine. If you don’t like her politics fine. But treat her as a person first and a politician second. She did not deserve the political and family attacks the liberal media directed at her no matter her politics. Ilana put it best somewhere in my reading her blog “be decent first and political second”.

Comment by Kathy from Alabama on 3/10/10 at 9:02 pm

Please try to be honest with yourself regarding Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians. They were forced from their homes and land and have been treated extremely badly ever since.

Comment by Elisabeth Bollman on 3/28/10 at 4:28 pm

I am truly puzzled why Jews consistently vote for democrats.  Obama has proven he truly has contempt for Israel and treating Netanyahu worse than any President since Israel became a nation.  Palin loves Israel.

Comment by James B on 3/28/10 at 4:35 pm

For all the supporters of this women, you have to be crazy! She would save animals before she would save human babies. Come on people use your brains.

Comment by Brandon Schultek on 3/28/10 at 4:42 pm

Sarah Palin is a self-promoting, untruthful purveyor of lies, distortions and hate all to promote her public visibility and opportunities to make more money.  The “shanda” you committed was to give this evil woman yet another opportunity to promote herself.  It’s bad enough that networks like Fox exist to give the right-wing loonies a voice and now so-called responsible people like you do the same thing.  Sarah Palin is a disgrace to everything this country stands for or should stand for.

Comment by Stuart on 3/28/10 at 4:53 pm

wow unfriended at facebook eh ? gee that is so harsh and so unfortunate and err what is facebook any way ?  haha .  -  DERRUFO

Comment by DERR UFO on 3/28/10 at 4:54 pm

Ms Angel—great attitude!  Unfortunately, many people are unable to separate politics from life.  I hope you and Ms Palin are able to meet again in the future, if that is your goal.  I’ve met politicians and leaders on both sides of the spectrum and enjoyed meeting them—I have photographs of members of Congress from both parties hanging in my home office because I respect them, although I may not agree with all of their beliefs.  Keep up the good work!

Comment by Jsmith on 3/28/10 at 4:55 pm

Not sure what link I clicked, but it’s interesting seeing all the Palin supporters praising the liberal blog author for being nice to Palin.

That’s all well in good. I would imagine that most people on the left, and the right, in the public sphere, are nice, sincere, or appear to be so.

But there are billions of “nice” people on this earth.

The problem with politicians or failed ones, like Palin, is the policies they push, and how they push them.

Palin is disrespected by many people not because she is attractive, is a mom, likes guns, or is conservative.

She is disrespected because she lacks an ability to engage tough policy questions with any level of detail and truth. And frankly, the problems this country faces are not solved by broad odes to small government or lower taxes.

For example, here in Arizona the Republican governor and the Republican legislature solved the unbalanced budget by slashing education and throwing kids off of a healthcare plan. Problem solved. But is that the best way? You slash education leading to layoffs, thus stopping both tax payments and spending and increasing the mortgage problem because for ideological reason you don’t want to raise taxes by the smallest amount on people. What hurts more? Me paying two cents more in some tax, or even $100 more? Or, 100 people being laid off in a given city who might leave, or fail to stimulate the economy?

These issues are complex and involve detail, and compromise. Palin has demonstrated an inability to handle either. Indeed she could not even be given her own show in the mode of a Hannity or O’Reilly because they didn’t feel her capable of the parry and thrust necessary to have on any opposition. So she appears in short bursts, repeating the same broad themes, lacking detail.

I am conservative, black, and with 20 years of voting Republican (partly due to abortion) and agree with Palin on many social issues. But I thought it rather calculatedly ridiculous for McCain to give her such a platform unproven, and his inability (and hers) to even campaign with any policy detail was atrocious. Telling me we need small government, or low taxes, does not tell me how you are gonna keep the banking system that provides business loans, or provides the securitization process that allows more people to go to college or own homes, from failing. If you cannot tell me in detail why an AIG should or should not be saved, and don’t know your CDO from your CDS, then you can’t help us. And when you can’t adequately answer simple questions from critics, or no your Keynesian from your Austrian school of economics, you cannot begin to fix the country.

Nor do I think Palin reflects her Christianity well in the bearing false witness department. She reaps what she sows there, when everyone needs to be more honest, drop the lies and hyperbole, and come up with real solutions.

We don’t function well without Republicans. We don’t function well without Democrats. We want both to be smart and prepared.

Comment by Finn on 3/28/10 at 4:58 pm

Thank you for trying to raise the level of discourse above the current level found today in the media and between people.

Comment by Daniel on 3/28/10 at 5:00 pm

You write “People became ugly, unkind…” and YOUR sentence before that is “Kiss my ass” as a response to one of your commentators. Do you see the irony in that at all? Are you a total hypocrite or just a moron? Ugly and unkind indeed, but just speaking YOUR language, baby.

Comment by Truth on 3/28/10 at 5:02 pm

Ilana Angel;

I have never read any of your articles before today and I just want to say that I admire your “Cojones” to tell it like it is. Actually I’m proud of you that you stand by what you believe in!

Now just to clarify, I am a Republican, a Christin, I too love Isreal, I hate abortion, hunting, of course, gun control yes, same sex marriage, not until it’s in your Buble and Mine.

But,I have mucho respect for you, for your conviction and for standing strong and tall in what you believ in.

As for negative feed back, who gives a shit! As for those friends who DE-friended you, B F Deal, who needs whimpy pussies with no backbone anyway. A true friends might hate what you do, but surely would never hate YOU. You probably used the word friends a bit loosly there.

Thanks for a great article and any lady that can shoot a wolf for a moving plane. Well she had me with her first shot and oh man that smile!!!  Sarah Palin can put her shoes under my bed anytime:):)

I really do like her, her charissma her charm and like you she is no pussy wimp!

Louie

Comment by Louie on 3/28/10 at 9:28 pm

Ilana, You are an ANGEL!

Comment by Carlos on 3/28/10 at 9:54 pm

Amazing that you could be a Jew and support abortion. Not only is it against your religion, but it is also the closest thing to what NAZI Germany did to your people. Abortion rhetoric is almost identical to NAZI Germany’s anti Semetic rhetoric. Amazing.

Comment by Justin on 3/28/10 at 10:12 pm

Because you got to meet Sarah Palin, you want to kiss her ass.

Sarah Palin is really an f’ed up person who’s message is completely absurd.  Not only that, she is inspiring more hatred and confusing f’ed up people like her, to continue make things worse for so many others.  If she he had absolute rule, she would probably become no better than Hitler.  Don’t be fooled by her charisma.  You are falling right into her little trap.

Comment by Huh? on 3/28/10 at 10:23 pm

I keep thinking that maybe you have not researched Sarah Palin enough and I seriously doubt you would invite into your home, around your children, someone who would giggle and guffaw over cancer jokes directed towards a cancer survivor, one who happened to be a state senator Palin doesn’t like, on the air while the shock jock keeps rolling out the jokes.

Sarah has always been into extremes, from denying free dna rape kits to victims of rape in Wasilla (It took a new state law to bring them into compliance with the rest of the state) to her use of violent rhetoric designed to stir up those already excited and those already overly excited.. and this violent rhetoric just a day or so after the violence started. 

All of these actions go straight to the heart of who she is as a person.  As Ilana said, be decent first.

Comment by MsSwin on 3/28/10 at 10:28 pm

I read the article and disagree with it. I don’t like Ms Palin, at all. I do not think she’s a nice person, I do not think she’s an ethical person. I think the record shows that. What she is is “folksy”, kind of like Bush Jr was “folksy”. Not the same thing as nice.

Having said that, it is ridiculous that people would get all worked up over what one obscure blog writer has to say. People don’t tell others what to feel. For one thing it will only succeed in generating the opposite reaction than that which you were hoping for. For another it’s Ms Angel’s right to have any opinion she wants. It’s a free country. Sure rightwingers here are tranparently trying to capitalize on this. But so what. It’s just not a big deal.

Comment by Byron on 3/28/10 at 10:33 pm

I don’t disagree with you—though I hope you realize that any politician reasonably competent knows how to make her/himself likable to chance acquaintances. As for the commenters here who use your blog post as occasion to claim that it is Leftists, rather than rightwingers, who mostly get nasty and tasteless, one can only suggest they get a clue.

Comment by Paula on 3/28/10 at 10:36 pm

Gosh, I hope someday you find something interesting to do with your time. My time is too valuable to waste on Palin - reading, meeting or voting for; I am a just too busy trying trying to be a valuable citizen, good mother, moderate and tolerant adult who uses good grammar.

Comment by susan on 3/28/10 at 10:37 pm

Dear Ilana,

  I’ve never read your blog, don’t usually read blogs, and don’t plan on doing so in the future. But I came across your blog as a google news article, and since I live in Alaska the subject caught my eye.

Anyway I just wanted to thank you for looking at human being with compassion and having the courage to do so. You have inspired me to try a little harder to do more of the same in my life. How sad to get caught up in hating anybody.

I’m sorry that you’ve had to put up with so much negativity! But please know that completely by some very random chance your blog has really inspired someone.

Hugs, Alex

Comment by Alex on 3/28/10 at 10:39 pm

You may try to get the ACLU all after me for the comments I’m about to say, but I really don’t give two shits. You can’t squeeze blood from a turnip. And also, I wanted to publicly denounce BABY KILLER supporters like you, and people like you who denounce CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AFFORDED TO US BY OUR FOREFATHERS. If you take away the gun rights of this people it will create a huge backlash.
We do not want to pay for eugenics, abortion, assisted suicide, we do not agree with this unconstitutional legislation.

We are a peaceful movement. We will not be forced into legislation that violates state sovereignty.

I will not pay for something that causes health rationing. I will not pay taxes to have a mere 5,000 dollar coverate a year just because I’m poor.

I will not pay for something that will dictate what people are allowed to eat or not. I will not support the NWO, the Bilderberg Group, the CFR, the Counsel on Foreign Relations, the WTO, the AFTA, the NAFTA. WE WILL NOT SUPPORT THESE CLANDESTINE GROUPS.

We will not support Nancy Pelosi and her hypocrisy. We will not sit idle and watch neoconservative shills take over our voice and our movement because John McCain himself supported Codex Alimentarius NWO agenda! We will not stand for the NWO!

We want withdrawal from the UN.

We want peace!

We want minimal federal involvement in our lives for asinine, arbitrary things.

We believe the government should police only for violations upon other humans rights. We believe people should only be policed for violence, rape, killing/murder, rape, stealing/illegal forms of greed which are akin to it, and extensions upon those.
Anything else beyond that is unconstitutional. We don’t want an over inflated, over convoluted government.

Here you are, you leftists are supporting the same system that was in place when BUSH was in office. Do you not realize that the PATRIOT ACT IS STILL IN PLACE?

Do you not realize that we’re living under an OLIGARCHY?

Do you not realize that elections are rigged?

Do you not realize how much they lie to us over and over?

I guess its alright though because you love babykillers and people who want to take away gun rights

And before you lump me into some stereotype, wake up. I’m a vegetarian and I don’t even own a firearm. But I’m not going to stand idle by the wayside while people support the notion of taking the constitution and wiping their ass with it!

Comment by Darrel Clemmons on 3/28/10 at 10:44 pm

” You are known by the company you keep. “

My 12 year old knows it.

You don’t.

Comment by Brad on 3/28/10 at 11:09 pm

I think it is a good sign that someone could find it in their heart to like Sarah Palin in spite of the politics.

I think it is bad sign that so many people are getting worked up and hateful about it. Mrs. Palin, just like all humans, deserves a degree of respect.

Comment by matthew on 3/28/10 at 11:29 pm

The word cool and Sara Palin are not allowed in the same paragraph! Sorry, this is short and sincere… FYI Sara Palin is CLUELESS!!!...Being clueless is EXTREMELY UNCOOL!

Things not cool: DICK CHENEY, GLEN BECK, SARA PALIN, BUSH,
Morons who write stupid fear propaganda, religious fanatics, FOXNEWS, billionaires crying after taxes, climate change deniers…etc…

Your friends don’t hate u, I dont hate u… But we all are worried about you!.. Palin will never do that, she is selfish!

*** My theory is : I believe the PRADA BOOTS and being STARstruck shock have a powerful brainwash mechanism…

Comment by FreeBrain on 3/28/10 at 11:39 pm

Liberals don’t hate Sarah Palin, but we are appalled that she got so close to the presidency.  She isn’t up to the job. 

She is a “personality.”  She’s a celebrity, and you got to meet her.  You think she’s nice.  You won’t think about her politics.  She smiled at you.  She likes you!

Comment by pdxmike on 3/29/10 at 1:33 am

Very cool blog - you can be my friend on Facebook anyday!!!

Comment by Tim Weldon on 3/29/10 at 3:18 am

The lies and misconstrued facts that Mrs. Palin used during the election was inexcusable. I have no use for her and you are
no better by showing her in a good light.

Comment by Sara Day on 3/29/10 at 3:25 am

I too support Israel and its violent oppression of Palestinians.

Comment by Mike on 3/29/10 at 3:27 am

Uhhhh…...did she have any original ideas to help the Nation?  Popularity contests are not important. Neither Sarah, nor, anyone in the GOP/TP seem to have any ideas about anything, except returning to the policies that got us to this sad place in our history.

Hope you two have a nice day.

Comment by Buzz on 3/29/10 at 3:30 am

What bothers me about $arah is that her divisive rhetoric, much of it misleading, overblown, or just plain false, is setting Americans against each other across imaginary fault lines created by $arah and other right-wing demagogues.

Your fondness for $arah as a person is touching but dangerously naive. The worst people in history (name your favorites) may well have been affable and sweet in person. The reason they succeed in their evil machinations is by fooling enough people like you into saying “Oh, they’re not so bad.”

If you must comment on what a wonderful person this cheap con artist is, you need to pair it with much stronger condemnation of her explicitly anti-American attitude.

Comment by OhioMan on 3/29/10 at 3:31 am

Ilana,  Thanks for sharing your experience. I also find Mrs. Palin an interesting person even though I disagree with most of her positions.

My comment relates to your statement about guns and loving Israel.

In your 3rd paragraph you stated: “I do not support hunting, or gun ownership.  I will fight for a woman’s right to have an abortion.  I am a Jew.  I love Israel.”

Can you clarify something for me?

Do you support the right of Israeli citizens to have firearms?
Do you think Israeli citizens should be disarmed?

Why?

Do you support the right of U.S. citizens to have firearms?

Do you think U.S. citizens should be disarmed?

Why?

Does the Israeli constitution specifically give the individual citizen the right to possess firearms?

Do Israel citizens have a need for personal defense?

By what method should the Israeli citizen provide for their personal defense?

By what method should the U.S. citizen provide for their personal defense?

Thanks in advance for your response.

Comment by Rich G on 3/29/10 at 3:38 am

There are loose cannons on both sides of the aisle. Don’t forget that.  I think what bothers me is that in your comments about hate mail from liberal Democrats you seem to forget that. If you’re seriously surprised, you need a few more years and a lot more political experience under your belt.

And my position on your piece would depend on what sort of column you’re writing.  Are you placing this in the Fashion and Society section?  Or are you trying to add to our perspective on current events?  If it’s the latter, you’ve missed the mark entirely.

I am sure that as a neighbor Ms. Palin would be pleasant and “nice” to talk to.  I don’t think that’s the issue here, is it?  I don’t personally CARE what kind of person she is to talk to, because I won’t likely have the chance.  And her chat and demeanor mean nothing.  I once met a man who a day later killed his wife and her mother and he seemed normal and charming as all get-out.  Again, that’s not the issue, and that’s probably what fired up the ill-advised comments from some Dems who threw their hissy fits.

Ms. Palin is not suited to lead this country. Period. We are all free to express our opinions, and this is mine.  There are also things known as FACTS.  If you make a list of objective requirements for being a suitable and effective President, let’s say, she would not fit most of them. 

When you sit down to write a piece “humanizing” someone such as Ms. Palin to a population already mired in reality TV and believing that our president is part of the Mafia in Chicago, that is somewhat uneducated and very much unable, unfit, or uninterested in engaging in logical thought or discourse, you’re only feeding the fire of ignorance and not lending anything valuable to the discussion.

If I’m missing the mark as to your intentions, my apologies.  And my apologies for those nasties, whatever party they hail from.  (By the way, taking a page from the conservative blogger’s tactical book:  don’t assume every commenter that claims to be a Dem is really a Dem.) LOL

Have a good day.

Comment by See McSee on 3/29/10 at 3:42 am

“Let’s get a few things straight.  I am a Democrat.  I believe in gay marriage.  I do not support hunting, or gun ownership.  I will fight for a woman’s right to have an abortion.  I am a Jew.  I love Israel.  I also happen to think that Sarah Palin is a cool lady…

All of the rights which you and all of us enjoy are granted to us in the Bill of Rights, our Constitution.
The reason they exist at all and continue to do so, is because others are willing to protect mine and our rights with their personal sacrifice, separation for their family, or with their life; what I gather from your quote, is a sensibility that you do not appreciate that sacrifice, and yet, you are unwilling to do yourself.
Israel exist because men are willing and have died to establish a Jewish homeland, they continue to do so. America exist for the same reason, citizens willing serve and die to protect our rights, all of our rights.
So when you want to employ your First Amendment point of view with your personal blog, never forget that that right of expression was paid for in blood, and that freedom will always be purchased and maintained in the same brutal fashion.
What I find most distasteful is the complete lack of awareness in understanding that both freedom and oppression are both preserve at the end of a gun.

Comment by Dennis Foy on 3/29/10 at 3:47 am

How did I end up here? My homepage is Google news and there was the link to this article here about Sarah Palin and a Glass of Kool-Aid. Of course I clicked on it! After hearing about the other silly things that the media has beaten her up on, like crypt notes written on her hand for example, I figured that she must have asked for Kool-aid at some formal black-tie event. Now, that would have been awesome. I love people who aren’t afraid to just be themselves and I’m glad I had a chance to read your blog.

Comment by Stephen Kelley on 3/29/10 at 3:50 am

Stalin was a notoriously good storyteller. Josef Goebbels was a man of taste and seduced many women. Radovan Karadzic, a professor of philosophy, is an epicurean man of culture. When the little people get to meet the big bad people, they are often shocked by how “nice”/charming/humble they are. It’s part of the game,  my dear, and part of the reason the little people will always be the little people: they simply cannot conceive of the notion that the person they’ve met/seen on TV has other sides (racist? neo-Fascist?) than the one they’ve just been shown.

Comment by Ralph Martin on 3/29/10 at 4:06 am

Just browsed by this blog from Google News… was struck by your line:

“Judging her as a politician, rather than a human is (a sin).”

No.

She is (was) an elected official, and she will soon be vying for the Presidential nomination.  To suggest that I sin by judging her performance and leadership in office is ludicrous.  Are you sure you’re not Catholic?  Cuz you’re laying the guilt on a little thick there.

Comment by Tom on 3/29/10 at 4:09 am

People sure do get fired up about Sarah Palin. I am sure she is a charming woman in person - she is a politician after all.

The incredible divide between Democrat and Republican in this country truely saddens me. I cannot stand the hatred that spews from us towards the opposite party - it comes from both sides.

George Bush made me a democrat. And as much as I like Obama (and believe that the turning away of many Democrats from him is unwarranted) I will probably re-register Independant because of the constant barrage of partisan nonsense I still see coming from the left.

C’mon guys - at the risk of sounding trite - can’t everyone just try to get along?

Comment by Daniel on 3/29/10 at 4:10 am

Are you REALLY a Jew?  Do you REALLY love Israel?  If you say yes, please consider Phineas who stopped the plague that God allowed on Israel that killed 22,000 Israelites in a few days.

Palin is a curse to America and so are congress and the senate members.  Americans are worshiping idols and committing atrocities against each other.  Mothers desert their infants, parents give their children to the government expecting the government to raise them.

America is very much akin to the whining rebellious Israelites in the desert.  We are earning our fate should He decide to abandon us to our fate for mocking Him as we do.

America can not be blessed for we have abandoned Him.

Comment by Jo on 3/29/10 at 4:17 am

Yes, it’s possible for someone with Sarah Palin’s politics to be a good person.

But when you use your disabled son as a political cudgel, when you tell your supporters “don’t retreat, reload,” and give them a map marked with crosshairs to indicate the districts of your political opponents, and when you claim that those political opponents are trying to set up government run death panels?

That means that you can no longer claim to be a good person.

You can separate someone’s political beliefs from their morality, but you can’t separate their morality from their actions.

Sarah Palin is not a good person.

Comment by EsotericWombat on 3/29/10 at 4:21 am

“You may try to get the ACLU all after me for the comments I’m about to say, but I really don’t give two shits. You can’t squeeze blood from a turnip. And also, I wanted to publicly denounce BABY KILLER supporters like you”

Another lovable Palin supporter.

Comment by FGFM on 3/29/10 at 4:30 am

It -is- nice to read someone who can understand that people can have different political beliefs, or even religious beliefs (imagine that), and not hate each other.  It’s actually even possible to agree on some things! (Isn’t that what this country was founded on?)

I don’t understand why some people can’t accept that we’re all “Americans” (even our political opponents) and most of us just want the best for our country and each other. Disagreements are great… but false, vitriolic passionate slander and misrepresentation is indeed un-American.

Apparently, we are lacking in areas of our education…  both objective analysis and anger management, and, unfortunately, we’re wallowing in media sensationalism/sales rather than objective factual journalism. This blogger simply shows common sense trying to evaluate the person and not just the sound bites.

Besides the humanity, what we need are objective sites that can fairly summarize the details of a candidate’s life, their positions and the tedious details of their entire voting record… even if it’s necessary to include ‘objective’/‘opposing’ analysis ...in every state, and for every election issue ...perhaps, similar to the summaries in the voting ballots themselves.

I say ‘objective’/‘opposing’ because from reading public commentary/blogging on the Internet, one has to wonder if anyone understands the first concept (‘objective’).  I’m hoping that it’s just a case of the loudest, most strident multitude of voices being those most polarized and apparently, the most hateful… and hoping the majority of our population isn’t posting at all but can see through the media sensation and din of irrational hate.  However, the media continues to slant toward the profits of sensation and fanning the flames. News reporting should be separate from analysis separate from opinion separate from ‘infotainment’. 

Thanks for daring to look at the person, and not just projections, forward and back.  We need to lose the ‘Hollywood’ and the ‘Corporate’ profit/cashflows and talk facts/figures/details.  Not possible anymore? Then so falls the empire.

Comment by RR on 3/29/10 at 4:33 am

Dear Ilana,
You are right, that people should look at people’s humanity, or as you put it, “judging…her as a human being…”  And people should not be attacking you as a person for simply writing an article.  That being said, I have to take issue with some of your other statements.  You ask, “Why is it so hard for people to separate out someones religion or political party, from their simply being a person?”  If she were advocating placing a new road in a town, or whether to use tax fund to keep open a local golf course, you’d be right.  However, she stands for killing endangered species like polar bears and wolves for sport, ruining the Alaskan wildlife refuge in exchange for cheaper oil, and happily mis-characterizing the health care bill in order to keep health care from those who need it and continue to make huge corporate profits.  And with these types of issues, the politics and the person become one.  It is immoral to lie about the health care bill.  It is immoral to let people die and not offer health care to those who need it so that companies can make more money.  It is immoral to wipe a species off of the planet for sport.  I do look at her as a person, and I see someone that is dangerous as a leader, and overall not a good person.  One good moment with you does not a good person make.

Comment by Joshua on 3/29/10 at 4:40 am

I think if you love Israel so much you should move there and as for Palin, she is mentally bankrupt!

Comment by JB on 3/29/10 at 4:43 am

It’s frightening that you can compartmentalize and seemingly ignore one part while focusing on the other. Frightening because the part that is pure nazi, that would have women seeking back alley abortions, that would sacrifice the environment for the sake of money says far more about the human being (or in palin’s case - subhuman being) than her insignificant choices of shoes or purses.

Comment by Monk on 3/29/10 at 5:05 am

Hey I think you are within your limits here, I am always amazed at the hatred displayed by christians who claim to love everyone but then want to say that if you do not believe thier way then you go to hell. If it werent for them the Idea of hell would not even exist. I was born and raised in the south as a christian, after finding out about my “good christian” mothers adultery and that my real father was a jew I began to explore the jewish faith. Since that time I have abandoned religion and try to promote understanding and reason. I still look at christ as a diety, mostly doe to the irrational fear that the christians inflicted on me as a child, but I do not attend any kind of services. I look at myself as a Jew due to my bloodline and I have come to adopt many of the core ideals of the Jewish faith. Dont worry about what these people think of you, your faith does not even teach of an eternal afterlife, especially one that is used for punishment, these christians just show thier ignorance in telling a jew to go to hell. It amazes me how they on one hand say that jews are “Gods chosen people” and then on the other hand say that the will go to hell for not accepting christ. That is typical christian two faced ideaology. I personally do not care for Palin due to the way that she bilked money from the Alaskan state government and then quit before it all came out, I thought it showed a lack of character and that it went contrary to the ideals she claimed to have. I am glad that you liked her as a person I do not think I could be so big about it, after my lifes experience with evangelicals I am not so patient.

Comment by smick714 on 3/29/10 at 5:08 am

Please, this was for shock value, an attention grab.  Look at all the attention that you are getting. I guarantee this is the most attention that you have ever received.  Nice job of promoting yourself. I’m not mad at you.  I work int he media.  I understand how it works.

Comment by Kevin on 3/29/10 at 5:12 am

While I support your views and for sticky up on what you believe, I am also becoming very sour on these so called woman groups who support what I believe are some very good causes and yet when Sarah Palin is attacked by both parties and more viciously by your party, they are no where to be found.
“Love Sarah or Hate Sarah” the comments and attacks by the democrats and liberals is one of the reasons I left the party years ago and became an independent. I am sick of both parties but the violence mostly by liberals makes me sick. Oh yes, I married a beautiful Jewish woman (I’m Catholic) 34 years ago, raised my children in the Jewish faith. She was a democrat and now is also an independent. My children also now independents, won’t support any party and like myself vote for the best candidate.
The hatred that has come about has now intensified under Obama more then any other time in History.
He is an Omen who is slowly dividing this country.

Comment by Dennis on 3/29/10 at 6:01 am

Nice people do not tell lies the way Ms. Palin does, nor do they say the awful things that she says.  Sorry, but she is not a nice person.  She does give hope to quitters everywhere though.

Comment by Bert Pace on 3/29/10 at 12:52 pm

you’re either a flippin’ idiot, or you’re gay and you think Palin’s hot.

Comment by jim on 3/29/10 at 1:18 pm

Ok well I do not get how I am going for attention, I am simply stating what I see. I Have had too much opposition since my alleged denial of Jesus’ divinity and really want people to know what I think is all. come to my blog at smick714.wordpress.com and read what I really feel about this polarization of our country due to religion. I have only posted my real feelings here and would not insult these readers with anything else just as this good jewish woman who wrote this article, I applaud her for being honest and gladly do so I think she is great to be so open minded. If you think I am up for attention then you are just some right wing nut that did not like my appraisal of modern evangelical christianity. Sorry but that is all. I cannot help but be liberal and democrat I am a Union member that likes to see people have equal rights. If you look historically the Republicans have ALWAYS opposed these things.

Comment by smick714 on 3/29/10 at 1:21 pm

The world is a better place because of you. I’m guessing you have similar core values, values which you probably share with Sarah Palin, and thus felt comfortable visiting with her.

If only more people were as broad minded as you.

James

Comment by James E. Drake on 3/29/10 at 1:23 pm

Dear Ilana,
After reading your blog my reaction was much different than I had expected. Nevertheless I am concerned.

I say this in great seriousness: there were indeed people who should have known better (English aristocracy, etc.) who found Hitler charming. I do not say this lightly. My immediate visceral reaction to Palin upon her arrival on the national stage was that she poses an equal danger. Today, the tea parties contain thousands of people actively mobilizing for armed overthrow of the goverment. We have not faced such an internal danger for decades.

I suggest this as a matter for reflection. Charm is not everything.

Comment by Christopher J. Smith on 3/29/10 at 1:26 pm

It has been my experiance that most the HATE comes from the radical right.  Yes, there is some on the left also but I find that when I hear a rational voice (like yours) it always seems to come from the left.

Comment by Pred on 3/29/10 at 1:26 pm

Thanks for the article.  You gave me something to think about since I am not a fan of her politics either.

Comment by Charles on 3/29/10 at 1:27 pm

While my dislike for Sarah Palin will never change, neither will my love for you and your free thinking.
Never change, and have a great date tonight.

Comment by Jerome E Christ on 3/29/10 at 1:28 pm

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