Guns and Hot Women -- perhaps McCain's surprising selection of Sarah Palin as VP was motivated by the desire to appeal to a, uh, younger male demo? I thought originally it was to win over angry Hillary supporters, but after reading about Palin's curious fascination with the brutal and controversial sport of "Arial Safari" I'm beginning to wonder.
Here's how it goes. You get in a plane and fly into protected wilderness. Then you shoot large animals (like wolves and bears as they attempt to run from the plane) with extremely high-powered long distance rifles, blowing your prey into pieces all over the freshly fallen snow.
Sound fun? Well Sarah Palin thinks so. Palin won a "victory" a few days ago for the small constituency that is in favor of this bloody and un-sportsmanlike sport, by funneling $400,000 of taxpayers money to a large-scale marketing campaign.
I'm not opposed to hunting, but it seems that there is usually a purpose -- i.e. saving the animal to eat, or at least a trophy?? In this case the animal is left to die and that's the whole game.
This seems in keeping with her strong affiliation with NRA and her thoroughly anti-environmental politics. Going against even the extremely conservative Bush position, she feels that science is wrong when it comes to the facts of melting sea ice, polar bear habitats and global warming.
Palin has also allegedly broken the law in order to defeat a Clean Water ballot measure this summer. It is against the law for a governor to officially advocate for or against a ballot measure. But Palin took what she calls "personal privilege" to discuss one of this year's most contentious initiatives.
Palin also used state Department of Natural Resources resources to lobby for defeat of the Clean Water Initiative under the pretense of creating a state run website to "educate" citizens. The citizen group Alaskans for Clean Water is filing suit.
But one thing you can say. Sarah Palin knows how to handle a gun. Watch the recently circulated video which is gaining hits like mad, showing Palin at a gun practice in Kuwait.
Gun-Crazy Governors
Sarah Palin's Arial Safari and Gun Practice
Trend Themes
1. Controversial Hunting Sports - The fascination with 'Arial Safari' and controversial hunting sports opens the door for promotions of eco-friendly or ethical hunting alternatives.
2. Politicians and Gun Culture - As politicians continue to display their relationship with gun culture, start-ups can develop safety technology devices for guns, or offer safety training programs to lessen accidents
3. Environmental Protection - In the wake of anti-environmental politics, innovative start-ups with focus on sustainability, formulating energy, reducing carbon footprint, resources, and clean water would gain importance.
Industry Implications
1. Sports & Events - The controversial hunting sports showcase new opportunities as sports & events businesses could promote eco-friendly alternatives and discourage ruthless, non-sportsman-like cruelty towards animals.
2. Tech & Gadgets - Safety technology start-ups can address potential gun-related accidents as politicians continue to glorify gun culture.
3. Environmental Conservation - Companies, innovators, and start-ups focused on climate change, resources, eco-friendly tech, reducing carbon footprints and implementing safe, sustainable sources of the same would be highly valued during this time of anti-environmentalism.