But we have seen Mrs. Palin on the national stage for seven weeks now, and there is little sign that she has the tools, the equipment, the knowledge or the philosophical grounding one hopes for, and expects, in a holder of high office. She is a person of great ambition, but the question remains: What is the purpose of the ambition? She wants to rise, but what for?
...it's unclear whether she is Bushian or Reaganite. She doesn't think aloud. She just... says things.
...No news conferences? Interviews now only with friendly journalists? You can't be president or vice president and govern in that style, as a sequestered figure. This has been Mr. Bush's style the past few years, and see where it got us. You must address America in its entirety, not as a sliver or a series of slivers but as a full and whole entity, a great nation trying to hold together. When you don't, when you play only to your little piece, you contribute to its fracturing.
In the end the Palin candidacy is a symptom and expression of a new vulgarization in American politics. It's no good, not for conservatism and not for the country. And yes, it is a mark against John McCain, against his judgment and idealism [emphasis mine; Peggy Noonan, "Palin's Failin'," Wall Street Journal, 2008.10.17].
"...must address America in its entirety..." Hmm. Sounds a lot like something a great statesman said yesterday. A President must speak to America—all of America. Not just Joe Sixpack and Gooney McBuckshot.
When I can rely entirely on the statements of Republicans to justify my vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden, the McCain campaign doesn't stand a chance.
It's funny how well liberals listen to Republicans, when Republicans criticize other Republicans!
ReplyDeleteMy morning wouldn't be complete without your almost daily Palin bash!
ReplyDeletecallis: not as funny as how well conservatives ignore Republicans criticizing Republicans!
ReplyDeleteanon: even funnier: you can turn to the Wall Street Journal and other conservative media and get that same anti-Palin fix! :-D
What am I ignoring?
ReplyDeleteThat Palin just to hard to say it aint so but is a friggen Idiot and way over her head! Doesn't she a Moose to gut somewhere or something?
ReplyDeleteThose who would criticize Sarah Palin so quickly and dismiss her power as a candidate must not forget one thing. Sarah Palin served as Mayor for several years, was elected Governor over an incumbent male Governor in the very manly macho state of Alaska and is wildly popular in her state. Don't underestimate her drawing power with women and men. She is a natural leader, proven since she was in high school. She knows the value of teamwork and bringing people together. I really wish it were Obama and Palin running together, but obviously that won't happen. She's so much more controlled than Joe the "screamer" Biden as a VP choice. Sarah Palin might just be the smoking gun that pulls McCain through on November 4th!
ReplyDeleteYou know why I know she has power and leadership and everything else needed in politics? Because the libs hate her so. If she weren't threatening them, she would be ignored.
ReplyDeleteAnon: riiiight. So that's why Obama's ads focus more on what he plans to do than on McCain or Palin, while McCain's people focus almost entirely on ads attacking Obama?
ReplyDeleteBy the way, Anon, if Palin is so great, how do you explain the conservatives bailing on her? I didn't say a thing about liberal criticism of Palin. Noonan's criticism of Palin comes precisely because Palin lacks the leadership, intellect, and other skills that would justify giving her power. Do you have a way to twist reality to console yourself on that one, Anon?
I'm tired of the GOP talking point that she was mayor of Wasilla Alaska. Thats like claiming someone is qualified to be president because they were mayor of Madison SD.
ReplyDeleteCory, how much does the Mayor of Madison get paid? I read that Wasilla mayor was a $60,000 job.
Last I checked, Nick, Mayor Hexom gets $15K a year, commissioners $7.2K.
ReplyDeleteHey, wait a minute: Anon 11:00 mentioned my "almost daily Palin bash." Huh? I checked: I bagged on Palin just twice last week out of 30 posts! (O.K., I also mentioned her once in a third post.) Shut off the Palin RSS feed, Anon, and read the rest of the good stuff!
ReplyDelete