^ Exactly.

I can agree with that. The guy wants the spotlight, the guy can be exposed. Fine. Why then should Michelle Obama be off limits?

But again, the real story which all the negative attention on Joe the Plumber is trying to deflect is Obama's answer to the question.

The normally lucid scaeagles is making my brain hurt with the non-sequiturs.

- You still haven't acknowledged that the Palin quote about the First Amendment has jack-all to do with Joe the Plumber. Your dodge has been extremely successful, as the conversation has gone plumber-crazy since then. (Am I wrong? Really, go back and look! Have I missed something?)

- What about Michelle needs to come out? This isn't about the suppressed "whitey" tape, is it?

- Obama's answer to JoePlumb has been given huge amounts of exposure, criticism and commentary. I myself called it a bacon-wrapped gift to McCain just a few posts back. What more do you need?

I have absolutely no problem with Joe's big question. He had every right to ask, and I totally see that the answer he got plays right into the reasons conservatives don't trust Obama's economic goals. Hunky dory.

Now give me satisfaction about the Palin quote, willya? I mean, it really does sound like she thinks she should be above criticism and the press should shut up, right? Am I crazy? :D

There are two real stories: 1) Obama's answer to the question and 2) McCain's judgment in making a working class icon of Joe the Plumber and thinking that he can ride that horse to victory.

Turns out, of course, that, like most of disparaged Hollywood, Joe would trade his plunger in a heartbeat for 15 minutes of fame and the accompanying quick shot of cash. If his country deal doesn't pan out, I'd like to see him fight Kimbo Slice.

If it were up to me, we wouldn't be investigating the backgrounds of Michelle Obama or Joe the plumber. Nobody asked me, though.

Flippy, Sarah Palin thinks she should be above criticism and the press should shut up.

I have no idea if you're crazy.

I'm not - I just want someone to admit that he totally changed/ dodged the subject. (Even if it turned out to be a popular subject.) Petty, I know.

With all the criticism Palin has gotten from the press, I believe this may be the first time she's said anything about it....and that's only if I accept that's what she was referring to. You'll note I haven't been on here defending Palin at all....I just happen to think this was a reference to the dirt dug up on Joe the Plumber. I'm most certainly not trying to dodge the subject. Because I think that's what she referring to, I don't know how that's changing the subject. Yes, you certainly admitted it was a stupid thing for Obama to say, and I have admitted that Joe the Plumber is choosing now to be in the spotlight....I just happen to think that's what she was referring to, so I just tried to explain why I think it's a problem. If Palin was suggesting that media criticsm of what she says is suppression of free speech, then that's stupid.

Does that do it for you Flippy?

As far as Michelle Obama needing to be investigated.....I don't think she does per se, I was simply making reference to when Obama told the media to "leave my wife alone" and they did. She's certainly campaigning at least as much as Joe the Plumber.

I'm curious, and I honestly don't know, so this isn't meant to be rhetorical....has Palin been telling the media to stop criticizing her? I know she went on SNL, which has been ripping her in their skits, so that doesn't really seem like telling them to stop...it seems like engaging them.

Here's the quote.



What in the hell does that have to do with Joe the Plumber?

I'm not sure if we're both looking at the same quote. It seems really blatant to me, and I don't know how you were able to read it the way you did. But, it doesn't sounds like we disagree in principle about the various topics raised in this particular sidebar.