I will be the first to admit that I don’t know the first thing, nor do I give a flying rat’s flatulent expression, about politics. If you asked me what, or even if, I think of Sarah Palin, ex-governor of Alaska, then the answer to both questions would be, “Meh.”
That is, until Monday, when she posted on facebook, “Fisker Automotive… a losing tax-subsidized venture joins other losing tax-subsidized venture joins other past losers like the Obama-subsidized Volt that gets 40 miles per battery charge, or like the Obama-subsidized Tesla that turns into a “brick” when the battery completely discharges and then costs $40,000 to repair.”
So, because some government-backed ventures fail, that makes them all losers? Would any of our more politically-minded followers care to mention other government-backed ventures that failed utterly? The US continuing presence in Afghanistan, perhaps?
Anyways, Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk responded on Twitter, “Palin calls Tesla a loser. Am deeply wounded. Btw, Model S warranty does cover ‘bricking’.” Yes, some companies fail, and some succeed. Tesla Motors is a rousing success, just posted its first full quarter of profitability, and is paying its loans back on time. “Loser,” indeed.
What one word can I come up with that expresses the level of disdain I have for Mrs. Palin’s addlebrained, boneheaded, and featherbrained comment? I love this entry on thesaurus.com under ignoramus, which is very enlightening.
UPDATE: In case it isn’t obvious, everything outside of the second paragraph doesn’t count as Sarah Palin’s Words, which is why I was careful to keep her quote separate from everything else and provide a link to the source, so you can read it for yourself. If you have a problem with my opinion, then that is your opinion, not a grammatical error.
Time will tell, don’t gloat.
Hey, every village has an idiot and so does Alaska.
Sarah Palin is right
So much for the truth from The Green Optimistic and any credibility that the author is trying to garner. Palin never said “ALL” government backed ventures were losers or failed. Introducing such fabrications into an article of this nature only hurts the green movement and in this case makes The Green Optimistic look bad. Push the issue with truth and fact and leave the fiction out of it.
@David G. Brown Nobody said ALL govt-backed ventures were losers, Ben only referred to Tesla and GM’s Volt in the first paragraph. If you want to interpret things your way, suit yourself, but the man specified: “some.” What’s your logic? really… Palin shouldn’t have taken on Tesla or GM, they’re actually producing revolutionary products and are just starting. Tesla’s been fairly successful in the middle of all the other EV startups that failed. (note: not ALL of them who failed, only SOME).
OvidiuSandru I went back and re-read the article by Ben and low and behold he
said “So, because some government-backed https://www.greenoptimistic.com/2012/10/17/premium-ev-battery-maker-a123-systems-files-for-bankruptcy/, that makes them all losers?”
There’s nothing ambiguous there. “all” means just
that, ALL. Them’s Ben’s words, not mine. As for your
assertion that Ben specified “some”, … well the words
speak for themselves. Yes, he did say “some but in the same sentence
he immediately equated that “some” to “all” (see
quoted text above and in original comment).
As for having something my way, I was just pointing out a misstatement which Ben
could easily correct without changing the point of his comment.
I wasn’t commenting on the substance of Ben’s article other than to point out what I see as a glaring misstatement.of fact.
OvidiuSandru The logic is simple. Some means Some, All means All, Some and All are not interchangable.
@David G. Brown Sorry, Dave. I’m afraid I can’t allow you do do that. I never said Mrs. Palin said ‘all’ and I’m sorry that you interpreted it that way. The ‘truth’ is right here. Not all government-backed programs succeed. A123 Systems was partially backed by federal funds, and is now owned by a Chinese company [I think it’s called B456 now] and Fisker is having its own problems.
What’s confusing to me is how Tesla Motors and Chevy Volt are being perceived as failures and ‘losers’
bnjroo I’m not trying to get away with anything. I pointed out a glaring error in ONE sentence … “So, because some government-backed https://www.greenoptimistic.com/2012/10/17/premium-ev-battery-maker-a123-systems-files-for-bankruptcy/, that makes them all losers?” These are your words. If you didn’t intend for it to read this way, then why not simply post a correction instead of chasing after me to answer your question regarding something that I never said nor implied? Why are you asking me …”how Tesla Motors and Chevy Volt are being perceived as failures and ‘losers’.? I have no way of answering a question regarding a claim that I never made. You have to ask the author of the claim.
Dave in Green Bay bnjroo yes, those are my words and my opinion. did i say they were her words?
bnjroo Dave in Green Bay the implication is clear. It may not have been your intention, but it is clearly how the sentence reads. If you meant something else, why not just post a clarification rather than continuing to chase me, a guy who is actually on your side with regards to the need for a succesfull electric car.
A correction is in order … Palin never said that “all” gov’t backed ventures were “losers”. You are clearly intent on putting words in her mouth. Please stick with the truth and don’t make things up just to suit your purposes. You might gain a little credence that way.
Dave in Green Bay If you interpreted it to mean that, then that wasn’t my intention. How do Tesla Motors and Chevy Volt qualify as ‘losers’?
bnjroo Dave in Green Bay As I said in the last sentence in my previous reply to your previous reply to my … well, I simply cannot answer this since I never made such an assertion. You’ll have to ask Ms. Palin, since she’s the one who made the assertion in the first place. I never did any such thing.
Dave in Green Bay bnjroo i didn’t ask you to answer for her
bnjroo Dave in Green Bay No, but you did ask me to answer for an assertion that she, not I, made.
Dave in Green Bay bnjroo again i apologize for being unclear, i was merely asking for your opinion since you felt strongly enough to bring this all up in the first place.
bnjroo Dave in Green Bay I feel very strongly that words, word meanings, and their placement in sentences and paragraphs matter greatly. I’m not always the best at it, but when I see it, I know it. <grin>
bnjroo Dave in Green Bay If you wanted to ask me whether or not I agreed that Tesla Motors and Chevy Volt qualify as ‘losers’, well then that’s a whole other matter. So, and to give you the benefit of the doubt, I’ll anticipate the question and provide you with my opinion on the matter: I don’t know. But to go out an a limb here, I’d say that the jury’s still out on the ‘loser’ or ‘winner’ categorization.
Dave in Green Bay bnjroo i can agree with you on that