Sarah Palin and intellectual honesty on the right
John McCain’s pick of Sarah Palin has generated such enthusiasm that some on the right are so giddy with excitement, they are spinning so fast and furious they forget what they have stood for or said previously.
I’m excited by the Palin pick as well, but I’ve tried to remain honest about her strengths (which are considerable) and her weaknesses (ditto). I’m not saying that I am perfect in this regard. It’s just that the Palin frenzy has really exposed those who are trying to be consistent and those who are not.
I used a baseball analogy last weekend on the radio to describe Palin. She reminds me of a highly talented young pitcher, like Craig Hanson or Clay Buchholz, who is brought up to the big leagues too soon, has a terrible experience and regresses, perhaps never again being able to live up to the initial promise. Palin has potential to be a long term asset for Republicans. However, if she was brought up too soon, and is hammered or exposed as not ready, her brand will be damaged and her long term effectiveness muted. That would be a shame.
Here is a solid hour of mostly pro-Palin calls, with me playing the role of the skunk at the garden party,
Some on the right want to believe in her so much, they are willing to say anything to give her a boost, even if it contradicts what they have said previously. Jon Stewart takes a devastating look at what happens to pundits who are partisan first, intellectually honest second (or third),
Others, like Charles Krauthammer, have been more consistent, and more honest,
The gamble is enormous. In a stroke, McCain gratuitously forfeited his most powerful argument against Obama. And this was even before Palin’s inevitable liabilities began to pile up — inevitable because any previously unvetted neophyte has “issues.” The kid. The state trooper investigation. And worst, the paucity of any Palin record or expressed conviction on the major issues of our time.
McCain has one hope. It is suggested by the strength of Palin’s performance Wednesday night. In a year of compounding ironies, the McCain candidacy could be saved, and the Palin choice vindicated, by one thing: Palin pulls an Obama.
Obama showed that star power can trump the gravest of biographical liabilities. The sheer elegance, intelligence and power of his public presence have muted the uneasy feeling about his unreadiness. Palin does not reach Obama’s mesmeric level. Her appeal is far more earthy, workmanlike and direct. Yet she managed to banish a week’s worth of unfriendly media scrutiny and self-inflicted personal liabilities with a single triumphant speech.
Now, Obama had 19 months to make his magic obscure his thinness. Palin has nine weeks.
September 6th, 2008 at 10:54 am
I’m an independent and I am now voting McCain. The Dem’s are gonna lose. Period. Palin is the next Reagan. Obama was insecure and chose Biden. That’s weakness. McCain chose Palin because he felt she could lead. That’s courage and strength. America doesn’t like weakness.
It’s a shame really. The Dem’s had it. It should have been their year. But they made 2 critical mistakes. 1) NOT putting Hillary at the top of the ticket. 2) NOT putting Hillary on the bottom of the ticket. They will be kicking themselves for 16 years after two McCain / Palin terms and after two Palin / Jindall terms.
Poor Hillary. Palin will be the first female to break the glass ceiling and become the first woman president in the US.
September 6th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Sarah is just like my Wife…Smart, fearless, and straightshooting…She has more REAL LIFE Experience than Biden and Obama combined…
She has experience in International Business, Banking, Sales, Oil Industry, Medical Field and especially in teaching our children ..SOMETHING OUR SCHOOLS and our kids went to Public School..she has made their clothes, sewn their rips, healed their wounds and served in public office unpaid, she has defeated Democrat Incumbents in Legacy Seats..and still finds time to volunteer…Every promotion she got at work was Earmed … My own Wife could be a more Solid President then Obama..she actually has travelled the world ..from Dubai, Kuwait, Brazil, S Korea, India and Old Europe..and she speaks more languages than Biden and Obama combined.
All this and she still raised 3 wonderful kids, taking them to her office and going to the Parent Teachers Meetings..missing none. When our oldest son had a spelling problem despite great writing skills she heard the teachers tell him to use spell check and don’t worry..My Wife instead worked for months teaching him how to spell. When our daughter needed costumes for her school play..it was my Wife who volunteered and made them…for all the girls..
MY WIFE HAS MORE EXPERIENCE IN GOVERNMENT AS WELL..SHE ACTUALLY TYPED BUDGETS FOR DUKAKIS WHEN HE WAS GOVERNOR for GOOD STATE WAGES..MORE THAN SHE MADE ON HER REGULAR JOB…SHE LEARNED A LOT AND USED IT WELL WHEN THE NURSERY SCHOOL TRIED TO RAISE TUITIONS … SHE PROVED IT WAS NOT A REAGAN BUDGET CUT WHEN OUR LITTLE TOWN SAID THEY NEEDED TO RAISE TAXES BECAUSE OF THE CUTS IN AID BY WASHINGTON…SHE STOOD UP ON TOWN HALL FLOOR AND TOOK FROM HER POCKET THE $119.00 DOLLARS CUT NOT BY REAGAN, BUT BY DUKAKIS DURING HIS OWN PRESIDENTIAL RUN SO HE COULD GIVE MORE MONEY TO CERTAIN AREAS WHERE HE NEEDED TO WIN VOTES FOR HIMSELF AND HIS CRONIES. SHE SAID IF YOU WANT THIS REPLACEMENT MONEY I WILL GLADLY GIVE IT OR IF YOU WANT WE COULD PASS THE HAT TO THE FIRST FEW ROWS TO DONATE FOR THE SAKE OF FOLKS WHO CANNOT AFFORD THAT TAX INCREASE! SHE GOT A STANDING OVATION AND THE RECORD AND WORDS OF HATE WERE APOLOGIZED FOR!
WHEN REPAIRS AROUND THE HOUSE ARE NEEDED SHE CAN EITHER DO THEM HER SELF OR PROVIDE ABLE ASSISTANCE TO ME.
I have no fear that this women doesn’t know what the American people are expecting..that she doesn’t love her country…SARAH PALIN IS A CAN DO GAL JUST LIKE MY OWN SARAH.. AND LEST YOU FORGET 9/11…MY WIFE GOT THE CALLS FROM OUR KIDS, WORRIED ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING..AND BEGGING MOM TO ABANDON HER HI RISE OFFICE WITH WINDOWS..Never stopping for one moMnent My wife was able to Calm them down ..reassure them ..tell them to go home after school and do their work, help prep dinner and that she was sure that they all would be safe. When she got home they all saT by the TV and she told them that she too had lost two fellow workers that day..one was but 21 and the other was a father of 5..We all said a prayer for all those lost, for all the heroic people who tried, sometimes in vain, to save lives…and above all..know that his is the doing of Very Sick People and our COUNTRY WILL DO all it TAKES TO KEEP US SAFE! She explained that these people had hearts full of hate, we naive and led by a Cruel man who Taught them a MESSAGE of HATE and Called it Religion…This man was a Muslim Messiah and because his people were so battered by Tyrants and Jealous of the West they were easily led.. She took this opportunity to tell them to just think about all those movies and CD’s they were denied by her..were actually BANNED in these coountries..She said the advertisment of such things as we would not see in our own home towns are actually believed by our enemies…SHE HAD MET PEOPLE FROM THIS REGION AND THEY WERE SURPRISED THAT SHE DIDN’T LOOK LIKE MARILYN MONROE THAT SHE WAS WORKING FOR A COMPANY AND WASN’T SLEEPING AROUND AND DOING DRUGS EVERY NITE Two years ago our oldest son joined the Army..to defend the REAL AMERICA and we are worried but Proud!
September 6th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Larry,
Thank you for sharing that. You are a very lucky man. I’m lucky enough to share my life with someone who embodies those ideals as well. It’s a shame that the left vilifies strong women who do not fit a narrow set of left-wing feminist positions. Hilary is a poster child for them, but continues to put with and get s**t on by her narcissistic husband. You would think that any true feminist would have had his balls in a jar a long time ago.
September 7th, 2008 at 6:03 am
It is truly a shame McCain picked Palin to be his running mate. I am a swing voter. I vote on the issues. Palin may be a fighter, and has accomplished alot in life -but that is not enough for a vice-presidential candidate.
As a mother of 4 sons, One of which is in college and the other applying to them,and an attorney and working mom, I find it hard to imagine a worse role model for the Republican party.
I have sacrificed so that I am home for my kids, help them with their homework and make sure of whom they associate with. Palin’s daugher who is just 17 is pregnant -and therefore has been sneaking around with her boyfriend for at least a while, to say the least. It appears that Palin is an absentee mom or if she is relying on her husband she obviously made a very bad decision. She now also has a special needs baby she simply hands off to her glorified baby sitter her daughter. This 17 year old child will now marry her very immature 17 year old boyfriend. What kind of mother would force that decision on her daughter. So much for her family values.
As for her political career, well whoopee, a degree from University of Idaho in Journalism, Pta mom and Mayor of a town of 6,000 people. I know dozens of “women” who are better qualified.
McCain made a very bad decision-women do not vote for other women simply because we are the same sex. We look for education, experience and character. I believe this woman falls short in every instance!
September 26th, 2008 at 7:57 am
[...] biggest fear, which I mentioned in a different post, still rings true, I used a baseball analogy last weekend on the radio to describe Palin. She [...]