Trends in Office Design: The Natural Look by Sarah Palin

Never understood the appeal of decorating a house with carcases.

Yeah,

She seems so environmentally responsible and she really digs sustainability.

Don't you just love the way she recycled that dead bear.

No to abortions ... we really need a lot more people.

Dig up all that lovely oil in the nature reserve.

Who needs huskys when your husband has a turbo charged Skidoo.

She shot straight to the top of my most tree-huggable politicians list

Someone please wake me up from this Whiskey Tango nightmare.

Absolutely disgusting. I don't understand why people feel the need to decorate their offices with dead animals. Also glad I'm not voting for McCain.

Listen to what a pro-lifer has to say...surrounded by death.

Hey, she's a "dominionist"...feels like her brand o' Christian is entitled to rule everyone and everything. It's not surprising she establishes dominion over animals and crustaceans too. Hunting for food is one thing, for interior decor is another.

Attention Hypocrites:

If you eat meat, fowl or seafood and complain about the carcasses in this office -- you are F#@$ING hypocrite.

If you buy and/or wear leather, fur, feathers, or skins that are not 100% artificial and complain about the carcasses in this office-- you are a F#@$ING hypocrite.

************
Do I have you attention?

Good that was the intent.

I'm not a McCain/Pallin supporter but this website has shown a definite and unseemly political bias for a website that should remain committed towards environmental advocacy, education and culture.

These sorts of posts have the potential of long term, off-target, backlash towards environmental efforts.

On the other hand the Industry group-Palin legal action against the threatened status of polar bears post is a reasoned, justified and reasonable response against the Industry group's and Palin's environmental viewpoint that, while political, is neither offensive nor unseemly.

*****

So please stop these unseemly politically biased posts; then I can return to being an environmental curmudgeon who enjoys Treehugger and offers civil, sometimes constructive and occasionally humorous comments.

@Lloyd & Mike,

You have my email -- feel free to contact me.

I think I would be scared to sit on the couch.

Matthew08

sweet! That's my kind of woman! Nothing like a babe, with brains and loves the outdoors. I've been extremely disappointed in the Presidential candidates this year. But I'm pleased by the thought of Palin as V.P.

Yes! Let's all go out and get a bear for our sofa, what a great message.

TrollPatrol, you're a [deleted by editor]
Complaining about decorating an office with a carcass and eating a burger are two COMPLETELY different concepts you mental midget.
If I decorate my office with a dead cow and complain, I'm a hypocrite. Otherwise, I'm disgusted that she decorates with dead animals.
Go away little boy, you bother me.

Although I am not eligible to vote for the next U.S. president (I am Canadian) I support Obama. But, McCain is gonna win. A large number of idioits elected Bush as president, not once, but twice. Also, being from qnother country, it appears as though U.S. elections are a circus and farcical at best. The cheap shots that both sides take are very similar to grade school bullying. That is all­.

Mixed opinions. In response to TrollPatrol, I don't eat Bear or King Crab. Bears and King Crabs are not bread for the purposes of being eaten. I can criticize this.

On the flip-side, I agree that this isn't really an article and it definitely shows the extreme political one-sidedness this website has been portraying the past few weeks (if not longer).

Treehugger, this is the style of "news" I might expect on Fox, don't stoop to their level.

Well, Trollpatrol: I'm vegan, so does that mean that I have the right to say that the election of Palin would be one of the worst things that could possibly happen to America environmentally? It would be. It's not unseemly political bias to point out that a candidate has shown absolutely no respect or concern for the environmental issues that this site supports.

How can this be political bias when this person has no respect for the environment. If I am wrong please provide sources to prove it.

Josh,

This isn't political at all, this post could be here if it was Tina Fey or Elmer Fudd sitting on that couch (it's actually both).

It's screams "#$%& Nature" and therefore qualifies for Treehugger...

@ TP
Don't conflate sport hunting and taxonomy with the meat and leather industries. While both are bad for the environment, they are separate issues. It is not hypocritical to eat domesticated animals and be against the killing and display of wild ones.

@ TP & Josh V
There's nothing partisan or one-sided in this post. If Michele Obama appeared in a fur coat, I'm sure that it would end up here on Treehugger with comment. There's nothing wrong for calling politicians out on their poor environmental policy and wasteful personal habits. The two candidates have divergent records on environmental issues. Sarah Palin is one of the worst, so far as we can tell. That the McCain campaign would choose her shows their lack of priority for environmental issues. That's something that the readers of this site need to know, since many readers here will be participating in the upcoming election.

@ Munan
While I admire your passion, your style leaves little to praise. Addressing TP's arguments on the merits has a more powerful and lasting effect than name-calling.

As a vegan and environmentalist, I am a bit surprised by some of your reactions to this photo. To those of you that have asserted that there is a big difference between displaying wild animals and eating domesticated ones, you're right there is a big difference. The animals-for-food industry has led to cutting down of rain forests, desecration of land, and endless pollution. It's appalling that you think that ear-marking certain populations for consumption somehow fulfills your moral responsibility. Can we blissfully earmark certain human populations for exploitation (oh, wait, that sounds a lot like slavery)? Furthermore, the animals-for-food industry is far more wasteful than hunting of wild animals. While yes, cows used (a.k.a. kept constantly pregnant so that their lifespan is cut in half) for milk, are also used for leather, beef cows aren't used for much more than, well, beef. Since this photo provides zero information, it's not clear whether or not this bear was also used for food. Additionally, I guarantee that retrieving/ preparing the bear on which Palin is sitting was far less toxic to the environment than the harmful (cancer-causing for that matter) toxins released in tanneries.

I just keep thinking that if this were a Native American sitting on the skin of a bear, then this would be a non-issue. The point here is that if you want to hate on Gov. Palin, do so based on the policies for which she stands, rather than the couch on which she apparently sits.

Check your facts, folks. You can hug all the trees you want, but if your standing in conventional leather shoes and eating a steak for dinner then, by comparison, wild-Alaskan caribou consuming and bear pelt adorning Palin is Mother-F'ing-Earth.

My issue actually lies with a few things:

1) Her legs...are they oiled?

2) The size of the crab is too large for that table. If you're sitting across from her, where does your drink go?

3) The fact that the open mouth of a taxidermied bear is on the back of the couch. The scale is off here, but it's also intimidating to anyone coming to visit who isn't accustomed to seeing bear teeth.

This isn't my style (Aside from the abundant natural lighting...pity for her that only lasts half of the year) and since I've heard that her father killed the bear and I eat crab, I'll refrain from making moral judgements.

I will say this: she is on record being FOR drilling in anwr and for suing the gov't to remove the polar bear from the Threatened List. This photo - if used for political purposes - can be used to show her disregard for the world in which we live and the animals with which we share it.

Certainly there is a better way to show respect to a mighty bear than to throw it over *that* couch.

All things aside, it's just poor taste. Even if the animals were fake, it's ugly. Sure looks like those long Alaska summer days are really workin' P(h)alin's tan! Dang!

My original italicized comments were primarily meant to 1) get your attention and 2) have you read the second part. Next time I will make it entirely obvious, you can disregard the "attention getting comments"

************

@ Josh V

On the flip-side, I agree that this isn't really an article and it definitely shows the extreme political one-sidedness this website has been portraying the past few weeks (if not longer).

@Mark Kiernan

Unseemly political bias is not proven by noting nor pointing out that an individual "has no respect for the environment." It is evident when
1) posts are not primarily addressing the environmental-political actions, words and viewpoint of the political figure involved
2) in not displaying political even handedness where viable and reasonable.

As I said above - but will rephrase here - it is entirely proper to mount a reasoned, reasonable and justified attack against the environmental words, actions and viewpoints of a political figure.

@Megan

Whether you are a vegan or not -- it is not unseemly to point out that

a candidate has shown absolutely no respect or concern for the environmental issues that this site supports

As I mentioned in my original comment -- there are situations where a political individual or group deserves to be held accountable for their words, actions, and viewpoints on environmental issues, but to present a post of a political figure for their office decorations is neither a reasonable nor an even handed environmental response to their opposition of our (Treehuggers ) commonly held environmental message.

@ Anoynomous

While you are correct that it

screams "#$%& Nature" and therefore qualifies for Treehugger...

While I will almost invariably support environmental messages I will in turn almost invariably speak out against unseemly political posts and comments which have significant potential for anti-environmental backlash. Driving environmentally leaning Republicans or others away from Treehugger's central environmental message is a detriment to our (Treehuggers) commonly held goals.

@JSDreyer

Equating the wife of the Democratic presidential candidate to the Republican VP candidate is not quite on par -- how about comparing the Democratic VP candidate against the Republican VP candidate. In particular -- since this post seems to be about the taste of Sarah Palin as it relates to her office and her off duty pastimes - and not her other environmental actions nor words- including a mention that Joe Biden is also a hunter and long-fire-arm owner would be an attempt at even handedness.

Furthermore while you advocated addressing my arguments on their merits you seem to be overlooking that I originally and explicitly mentioned -- and as you rephrased --

calling politicians out on their poor environmental policy

@Lacey

I like your comment. Though I will likely have my response devalued for saying so.

@ Emily

I will say this: she is on record being FOR drilling in anwr and for suing the gov't to remove the polar bear from the Threatened List. This photo - if used for political purposes - can be used to show her disregard for the world in which we live and the animals with which we share it.

While I entirely support opposing both of Sarah Palin's environmental positions that you have mentioned, I am against unseemly environmental-political posts because it can create an unnecessary anti-environmental backlash. Unfortunately the photo was not used for your suggested purpose.

*************

The main gist of my comments ( both the original above and these responses )

On an environmental website which shows a known political bias ( please note I did not mention nor would not consider it to be a partisan bias in relation to environmental concerns ) writers should strive towards political even handedness where reasonable.

This will allow most Treehuggers to introduce the website to friends and family of various political stripes without worrying about negative environmental backlash brought about by differences in non-environmental politics.

There are going to be plenty of occasions for reasoned, justified and reasonable opposition against the environmental viewpoints and actions of political figures.

Come on folks . ..

I live in the backwoods as well. I shoot deer to eat them, just like Sarah Palin did as a kid with moose hunting. I would bet that the bear rug was from a bear she or her family member shot, and they consumed the meat. I know the down-to-earth hunting culture - they don't shoot only for sport, and in fact, it is against the law to not use the meat in most areas.

As for the crab. Well I don't know.

Look at Al Gore. He has a utility bill of $30000? See http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/GlobalWarming/Story?id=2906888&page=1 Is that sustainability?

And look at any major political figure and do their "carbon footprint". It will be a big one.

I am not voting McCain/Palin by the way.

wow.

first reaction: what the hell
second reaction: good thing i'm not voting republican this november.

third reaction: why are her legs shiny?

"Hey, she's a "dominionist"...feels like her brand o' Christian is entitled to rule everyone and everything. It's not surprising she establishes dominion over animals and crustaceans too. Hunting for food is one thing, for interior decor is another. "

hahahah yea and im sure all your shoes are made out of bamboo and recycled products instead of leather, right SuznAZ.
And what does leather come from? trees right? how bout we all just come to terms that we all cheat and like to complain. we want to present the best possible outlook for ourselves and our lives and our beliefs, but as soon as something doesnt mesh well or integrate into our beliefs we are quite to judge.

i eat meat love it. i recycle. i dont consume. i conserve electricity. i live very very green. Does that mean that i wouldnt want a Bear or lamb rug in my living room? No. as long as it matched my bamboo carpet and perfect soul. tisk tisk.

I hope there's more seating than just the couch. That bear's head would jab you in the back if you sat at that end. Personally, I wouldn't put it on the couch. It's just too big; the scale is completely off. The crab though adds a nice splash of color to the room. It really makes the room come to life.

Troll patrol:

Paradoxically the political bias is yours: the picture is a pure display of environmental autism -it does not display any stance, ideology or policy explicity.

What exactly are the political ideas in that picture that you claim are being attacked by Treehugger?
The short comment by the post author mentions none...

The environment is not political property of anyone- it is pure common sense and if the majority of great public offenders happen to be of one particular party do you argue that Treehugger should abstain from announcing them in order to not hurt anyone's fellings?

As I told you before if it was friggin Oprah up there I would be equally upset. Anyone who is of any influence to others (or not) would make me upset.

Honestly, I feel sorry for all the people that find it hard to conciliate your political group of choice with the environmental responsibilities you feel towards the planet- there should be a universal consensus on the environment not rhetoric!
This November you will face a hard choice...

It's clear her office decorations are representations of some of Alaska's main economical resources, such as hunting and fishing, it makes sense that they would be glorified in the governor's office, get over it.

I think the photo tells a big story to Treehuggers.

Sarah Palin wanted to remove Polar bears from endangered species protection and open ANWR (Arctic National Wildlife Reserve). Clearly, an OIL girl, not a treehugger.
The Pix of her office decorated with dead animals is a visual snapshot of her environmental policy.

This is not 'nature', a true nature enthusiast does not enjoy killing animals as a 'sport' and decorate one's office with it.

The image just shows what kind of 'treehugger' Palin is, one that rejects the idea that global warming is man made, sees the energy issue as purely economical, and sees polar bears as 'in the way' for her oil fueled agenda.

@ Lacey:
How does shooting animals from helicopters rank on your environmental scale?

@ Troll Patrol:
Nothing negative was written in the original post, so I am still unsure of what makes it particularly unseemly political bias. By the way, putting the word unseemly in bold doesn't make it any more true. The comments made about the post were most likely just connections that the readers made for themselves between the photo and Palin's horrific environmental record.

I know she is from Alaska and its apart of the NATIVE INUIT traditto use animal fur to help keep them warm and what not but for her to do it is so wrong I think and you bet you could never ask that woman to sign your environmental or animal rights campaign petition thats for sure....... eeewwww just because she is a woman doesnt mean people will vote for her and this should show another reason not too.....

I like her ideals less and less the more I learn about her!

A statement to those arguing that TreeHugger is taking a politically biased stance. Certainly, from a vague examination of the website it appears as if conservatives are under attack.

Indeed all people of all parties are guilty of unfriendly activity toward our mother earth, and it's unacceptable. Unfortunately, the reality is that conservatives are exponentially more inclined to do things that environmentalists would frown upon. Especially Republican politicians that demonstrate little regard for effective environmental policy. Democrats are nowhere near perfect, but certainly a step above in a slight progression toward better policy.

Just saying... I think the record, for the most part (I'm not quick to judge), speaks for itself.

@Mike

It's an Alaskan King crab -- something of a regional specialty seafood that is exported around the world.

The bear was according to reports, shot by her father.

@Anonymous

Not close -- and no cigar.

Take into account other posts and you might note this a continuation. You might even note that I have told the readers of TreeHugger That here should be neither red nor blue, but an honest green

An honest green will allow more people to come into the audience of environmental advocacy, enlightenment and culture that is TreeHugger's central message.

If in order to bring a broader category of readers to this website I speak out against an unseemly political bias, then I will.

In equal measure I will support posts that in a reasoned, justified and reasonable manner oppose a political individual's or group's environmental-political words, actions and viewpoints.

Just to get this across very clearly --- from my point of view - McCain/Palin are not supportive of our (Treehuggers ) common environmental goals and ideals. I will not be supporting most ( if any* ) of their environmental words, actions and viewpoints.

* one minor note => McCain had to retract his negative "inflate your tire's" spiel because of the automobile lobby not the environmental lobby -- but I do support his inadvertent step into environmental territory.

If you would re-read my responses -- you would note that I have and do support hurting feelings -- in fact your

if the majority of great public offenders happen to be of one particular party do you argue that Treehugger should abstain from announcing them in order to not hurt anyone's fellings

I have advocated hurting feelings in a reasoned, justified and reasonable manner, it is an easier, though longer tern method to convince people of the validity of your arguments.

You will note that my comments in posts are intended for the benefit of the environment, then the benefit of the readers and writers of Treehugger, though occasionally I do include "cheesy" humor for what might be solely a benefit for myself.

Oh and please don't worry about my voting. I would rather you worry more about my environmental advocacy being limited because I can not universally introduce Treehugger to those with environmental leanings.

@megan

It is not this post alone - it is the continuation of posts that I address and because of that continuation make this post unseemly. If this was the first post of it's nature I would likely have passed it by without comment.

As for "putting the word unseemly in bold doesn't make it any more true" it was never my intent to signal "truth" through bold text but rather to emphasize to the readers of my comments that I specifically oppose the inclusion of an unseemly nature in some of the posts because of the unnecessary potential for environmental backlash.

For not properly clarifying my intended emphasis earlier I apologize.

******

Another clarification::

I strenuously oppose the environmental record of the current administration as well as the environmental words, actions and viewpoints of the McCain/Palin ticket and do see justification from an reasoned environmentalist viewpoint to a political advantage in the Obama/Biden ticket -- ie I have a political bias for the Obama/Biden ticket based on my environmental background.

******

Once again for emphasis: Main gist repeated

On an environmental website which shows a known political bias ( please note I did not mention nor would not consider it to be a partisan bias in relation to environmental concerns ) writers should strive towards political even handedness where reasonable.

This will allow most Treehuggers to introduce the website to friends and family of various political stripes without worrying about negative environmental backlash brought about by differences in non-environmental politics.

The only problem i have with her furnishings is that the woodgrain on her table doesn't match the sofa...

even though this isnt really about politics in a way. obama is a communist, do you guys realize that if he is elected he is going to raise taxes. if that happens we possibly loose our house. if he is elected medicare for everyone one or whatever. do you realize that people that have that exact system come TO america for the sole purpose of we have good hospitals. it will all go to shit. now dont get me wrong, environmental issues are big on my list of things to look for in a candidate, however, we also have to think of our well-being. and its not up to the president of the united states to decide how to change the country and make a bette impact environmentally , its up to us. we need to stop sitting on our asses and do something and not wait for others to decide.

I am greatly disturbed that treehugger would allow postings of images such as this ( to represent treehugger), showing support, that this is indeed something which should be giving notice to all treehugger readers as a new design trend. I am a designer and there is nothing remotely "COOL" or enviromental about this decor. Glorifying bad conduct only encourges it to live on.

"I am greatly disturbed that treehugger would allow postings of images such as this ( to represent treehugger), showing support, that this is indeed something which should be giving notice to all treehugger readers as a new design trend. I am a designer and there is nothing remotely "COOL" or enviromental about this decor. Glorifying bad conduct only encourges it to live on."

No one reading treehugger is going out to buy a bear skin to put on their couch. It's about being sarcastic...geez.

You people are so out of touch with yourselves. Most hunters are environmentally concious and do care and love the outdoors and the creatures that it holds. Even Native Americans believed in using the whole animal that they killed for food, shelter, and tools, and even in some cases, toys for children. They not only did it for their survival but did it for the respect for the animal.
Besides that, I thought tree huggers were for the environment instead of drilling for oil. How can you think of that when your probably wearing clothes with fabric made from oil which probably affected the environment to make vs. using a bear skin as a furniture cover. Personally I think it would look good as a fur coat. That would be sexy. Quick question, how big is the footprint on a fur coat vs a polyester shirt.

Gretchen .. someone has been filling your mind with FEAR by lying to you.
1 ) The Obama tax structure will be easier on anyone making less than $250,000.oo per year
2 ) One of the first and most 'keepable' promises Obama makes is to help people keep their homes.
3 ) Universal health care results in BETTER hospitals and much cheaper health care costs in every country that implemented this plan.

Now lets get back to Sarah Palin and her Bear Pelt. This one picture shows her attitude to wild animals, and her attempts to remove Polar Bears from endangered species protection to facilitate opening ANWR to oil shows her priorities are not on being 'green'