# Palin says she has "Fire In the Belly." Is it just gas? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 20, 2011, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614 "2011-05-20T20:07:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2011, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/301 "2011-07-06T14:51:52Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > Very slight nitpick - that’s close to the estimated percentage of children who are diagnosed with ADD/ADHD (I’ve seen ranges from 5% to 9%, depending on the survey and year). Other research shows that only about 50% of children with the diagnosis are on medication. > > Of course, your statement that 7% is less than “all” remains absolutely valid. As does your question about differences between public and private schools. Sorry I didn’t provide a cite. My stat was lifted from a DEA report and admittedly took the low number (7-10 was given), but which was only given for boys, so I split the difference (the report said that fewer girls took it). This is all off topic anyway. Our new friend Recovering Republican has turned every thread into rants about public schools and appeals to mob justice. It’s hard to keep them straight anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2011, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/302 "2011-07-06T15:07:25Z")
> [@tnetennba](#): > > Is there any difference between children in public schools and children in private schools when it comes to prescriptions? Or put differently, why would you assume there is? Cuz them po’ folks who can’t afford no drugs on they own ain’t gwine skip gittin free pills for they chilluns on the gummint dime? -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2011, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/303 "2011-07-06T15:28:44Z")
Quoth **Typo Knig** : > [@](#): > > and this has nothing to do with the thread topic (Bachman-Turner Overdrive’s latest album I think it was - it’s been a while). No, you’re thinking of that other thread in this forum that got hijacked. This one is about that guy from Monty Python. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2011, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/304 "2011-07-06T15:39:49Z")
> [@tnetennba](#): > > Sorry I didn’t provide a cite. My stat was lifted from a DEA report and admittedly took the low number (7-10 was given), but which was only given for boys, so I split the difference (the report said that fewer girls took it). > > This is all off topic anyway. Our new friend Recovering Republican has turned every thread into rants about public schools and appeals to mob justice. It’s hard to keep them straight anymore. Oh, I know. I actually just wanted to provide some support for your attempts to combat the “all our children are being medicated!” inaccuracy that continues to be spouted by people with an agenda. ---
**Author:** ![Recovering\_Republican](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@Recovering\_Republican](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Recovering_Republican)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/305 "2011-07-07T00:36:40Z")
> [@tnetennba](#): > > Also, 7% of children are “on ritalin” or similar medications. 7% is approximately 93% less than “all.” > > Is there any difference between children in public schools and children in private schools when it comes to prescriptions? Or put differently, why would you assume there is? NOBODY should be on effin’ Ritalin. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Knig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/306 "2011-07-07T01:05:48Z")
> [@Recovering\_Republican](#): > > NOBODY should be on effin’ Ritalin. Is this based on any medical training, or just truthiness? ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/307 "2011-07-07T01:06:02Z")
> [@Recovering\_Republican](#): > > NOBODY should be on effin’ Ritalin. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/308 "2011-07-07T03:55:15Z")
It would seem that in addition to an expert on pedagogy, **RR** is a world-class pharmacologist. Looks like he’s givin’ Orly Taitz a run for her money when it comes to versatility. ---
**Author:** ![Recovering\_Republican](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@Recovering\_Republican](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Recovering_Republican)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/309 "2011-07-07T11:00:36Z")
Gee, and now they are advocating giving drugs to kids as a form of education… Hmmm… Hey, what happens to these kids when they become adults? ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/310 "2011-07-07T11:05:23Z")
Different things. I know one who works at a history museum and another who is a successful YA novelist. ---
**Author:** ![Recovering\_Republican](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@Recovering\_Republican](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Recovering_Republican)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/311 "2011-07-07T11:14:41Z")
Oh, you’ve totally convinced me. Let’s drug all them kids up. I mean, teaching and parenting are hard work, and we certainly wouldn’t want to interupt the flow of Teach Union donations by having those things called “Standards”, would we? ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/312 "2011-07-07T11:18:49Z")
Definitely GAS! That’s why no self-respecting “Elephant” stands behind her leadership! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/313 "2011-07-07T11:23:07Z")
> [@Recovering\_Republican](#): > > Oh, you’ve totally convinced me. Let’s drug all them kids up. #3 [Recovering Republican, Please Step Into the Hallway for a Moment - The BBQ Pit - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=615311) > [@](#): > > I mean, teaching and parenting are hard work, and we certainly wouldn’t want to interupt the flow of Teach Union donations by having those things called “Standards”, would we? #1 [Recovering Republican, Please Step Into the Hallway for a Moment - The BBQ Pit - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=615311) ---
**Author:** ![Recovering\_Republican](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@Recovering\_Republican](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Recovering_Republican)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/314 "2011-07-07T11:37:38Z")
> [@tnetennba](#): > > #3 [Recovering Republican, Please Step Into the Hallway for a Moment - The BBQ Pit - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=615311) > > #1 [Recovering Republican, Please Step Into the Hallway for a Moment - The BBQ Pit - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=615311) So you’re admitting you have nothing additional to add to the conversation other than complaining about me? ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/315 "2011-07-07T11:45:28Z")
> [@Recovering\_Republican](#): > > So you’re admitting you have nothing additional to add to the conversation other than complaining about me? Just trying to help you find your way, grasshopper. ---
**Author:** ![Recovering\_Republican](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@Recovering\_Republican](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Recovering_Republican)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/316 "2011-07-07T12:02:07Z")
> [@tnetennba](#): > > Just trying to help you find your way, grasshopper. Personal attacks are now a form of argument. Guy, I’ve never said anything about you personally here. I don’t know you. You’re probably an okay guy. You see, I try to understand all points of view. But what I consider myself today is a pragmatist. I go with what works. I don’t defend things that don’t work beause they are on my political side of the fence. My break with the GOP is that I’m not thrilled with it’s slavish devotion to corporate greed and how it manipulates religious fanaticism to get votes over issues they’ve already lost (abortion) or are inevitably going to lose (gay marriage). But the left seems to want to be wedded to its own fanaticism. If Public Education doesn’t work, throw more money at it. And if you’ve doubled the amount of money spent since 1994 and you are still getting the same awful results, don’t dare question what we are doing. But if your position is “Joe hurt my feelings, I’m going to start a thread and say nasty things about him”, well, that’s really not very mature, is it? ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/317 "2011-07-07T12:06:09Z")
> [@Recovering\_Republican](#): > > But if your position is “Joe hurt my feelings, I’m going to start a thread and say nasty things about him”, well, that’s really not very mature, is it? Please continue the discussion there. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/318 "2011-07-07T13:44:33Z")
> [@Recovering\_Republican](#): > > I don’t defend things that don’t work beause they are on my political side of the fence. So have you abandoned tax cuts? **B** ecause they have never created jobs without growing the deficit. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/319 "2011-07-07T14:22:27Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > So have you abandoned tax cuts? **B** ecause they have never created jobs without growing the deficit. Nor even with growing the deficit, at least in the past 10 years. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614/320 "2011-07-07T14:57:14Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Nor even with growing the deficit, at least in the past 10 years. I was being generous, and going back to St. Ronnie. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-says-she-has-fire-in-the-belly-is-it-just-gas/582614.md?page=17)