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Friday, July 3. 2009SarahHer speech showed how good she is, how real she is. No notes, no teleprompter either. From the heart. I almost cried when she said "The world needs more Trigs" to keep us oriented to the important things. The "elites" don't get it - nor do they know how to operate a fishing boat. She sounds sane, refreshingly unpolished, as Levin says. She has a life, unlike most pols. Too sane for politics? Or what does she want? Whatever it is, she sure does get attention, doesn't she? A cool story. A few links at Insty. Trackbacks
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After listening to the talking heads on the cable news channels for an hour or so, I'm somewhere between annoyed and amused.
Everyone, with the exception of Mike Huckabee and a Congressman from Texas, seems obsessed with the idea that there is some dark hidden agenda behind Sarah Palin's announcement today that she is resigning her post of governor of Alaska, effective July 26. They seem to have forgotten who they were listening to. I think the simple truth is that the harassment from the haters on the left, with their attacks in the media and chickenshit "ethics" complaints and Letterman-style sniping have made it impossible for her to give the citizens of Alaska their money's worth as the state's chief executive. She did the only honorable thing - she removed the lightning rod from the governor's office and assured the state would have a governor who was free to focus on the affairs of Alaska by handing the reins over to the lieutenant governor. And she doubtless recognizes the move frees her to play a more prominent and effective role in fighting the good fight, supporting the people who work for a living against the people who vote for a living. The left is quite obviously terrified of the way she connects with Joe and Sally Sixpack, the people they thought they owned. The Resistance has been looking for someone around whom to coalesce. I think she could be that person. I agree with Charles Krauthammer, Sarah Palin isn't presidential material, at least not now and maybe not in 2012.
I believe there's a possibility, she could be bank-rolled going into the future by a 'Daddy Warbucks'. Someone who thinks she has all the basic bones in place but needs some meaningful meat on them. He/they, are willing to invest in her education to become the First Female president, and therefore, he/they want to get her into school ASAP. Which means flying around the country on the private jet, giving speech after speech, honing her skills and remembering the names of those who has some stroke. She's probably had a large addictive taste of what ever it is that drives a competitor with convictions. We shall see. ;) I found the video unwatchable. Never assume the audience cares how you feel, anyway if there are guys in the audience.
Nice woman, but Couric showed something about her that she just reenforces every time she speaks. She is the personification of the thing politicians in Washington fear most: An honest person who has been successful in politics. She is doing the right thing for her state by removing the lightning rod (as mentioned earlier), and now she can speak freely about things she knows well; energy policy, family values, and shrinking government. Scary stuff to Dems who are working hard to destroy the family, shut down any energy production, and grow government to unsustainable levels.
She may or may not have presidential aspirations, but she will be a voice that many, many people will hear. She has done something potentially very interesting. She can now stand apart from the Democrats (naturally) but now from the establishment Republicans who also condescend to her and despise her. She may or may not be able to hold office again. But this could be - if we are very lucky - the tentative beginnings of a new anti-Washington party, a new federalism.
And that might not be a bad idea. Something needs to break the rule of our two parties. You can call it a turd or you can call it shit... either way it doesn't smell good.
The reality is that Sarah Palin, on the national stage, is a neophyte and out of her element. That "folksy" dialogue is mostly sizzle ...little steak....though it appears to have worked in Alaska. That being said...there is a refreshing quality re her personality...but...she's simply not 'Oval Office' material.
As Ron (#2 post) indicated that a "Daddy Warbucks" might try to turn her into a political marionette but I don't believe that would work either. She would get tangled up in the strings or try to tug them herself. Maybe so, Garry. But we need someone 'like' her. Perhaps we even need a neophyte. I mean... what the hell is Obama other than a neophyte? 'Folksy' versus 'community organizer'. Perhaps it's time to consider that no one is 'Oval Office' material and we just have to hope for the best every time we pull that lever. Perfect is the evil of good enough.
The challenges of the office changes most everyone anyway. Kinda like a guy going into combat for the first time... you can never predict who will make it and who will not. You just play the odds. I like your answer in #7.1, Luther. Looking back on all the many Presidents I have seen in my lifetime, I can remember some who were severely underestimated, and yet came through like gangbusters when the time came. Harry Truman, for instance. And Reagan leaps to mind. So many pundits and observers of the political scene denigrated him as "just an actor," a lightweight, a showboat. And he was so much more than that. Let's just wait a little while and see what happens.
Marianne "indicated that a "Daddy Warbucks" might try to turn her into a political marionette"
not at all, but rather allow HER to be HER, a new and improved more refined, axe wielding, Sarah Palin, someone that has had all the milk baths and nail polishing that has been bestowed upon the Obama one. Luther...I don't disagree with any of your points. Now the $64 question: "To whom is the torch to be passed"?
(Marianne liked your comments also, as you can see). Ron,
The problem, as I see it, would be "allowing HER to be HER". Neither milk baths nor nail polishing can lead to the 'savvey' so necessary to withstand that environment. As you know it's no "walk-in-the-park". The changes that are seen as necessary have to come from within...not from without and Sarah is a "Political Lightweight" in a Heavyweight arena. Marianne,
Any success that Reagan had was due to the fact that he understood his 'role' and played it well. It has a guaranteed 4 year run. After the 1st 100 days the reality check kicks in. And a 2nd term is always more difficult, for the incumbent, when the next election rolls around. They have been under the microscope for a long time. The fact that Sarah drives those Democrat kooks and MSM absolutely insane makes my day. They become so defensive at the mere mention of her name, practically foaming at the mouth, that it tells me all I need to know: They fear Sarah as the main threat- or stalking horse- to their entrenched power.
I think a Romney-Palin ticket in 2012 is beginning to look good in my crystal ball- that is a winning ticket against Obama whose aura will be greatly tarnished by then. And no history making in 2012, lots of reasons not to vote for Obama the second time around. The pot may be further stirred when Hillary resigns as Secretary of State following the 2010 mid-terms. My intel says that the Clintons and their loyal followers have not at all given up on Hillary For President and will go for a re-match with Obama in 2012. They felt they were royally screwed in '08- don't get mad, get even. Our Circus Maximus entertainment for at least two years! Luther, I have to agree with the neophyte comment, particularly when directed to Obama.
He had no experience at all running anything other than a campaign or his mouth. He was also good at wasting other people's money (Annenburg Foundation). But he had no executive experience at all. At least Sarah's successfully run a business, a town, and a state, which gives her a lot more experience than Obama's ever had. I think I can safely say he's not been all that successful running the country anywhere except deeper into debt and our economy into the ground. ... and Sarah is a "Political Lightweight"in a Heavyweight arena."
Tell that to all the heavyweights she forced to bite the dust in Alaska! Val,
I'm not knocking Sarah down...merely commenting on what I've observed. She's refreshing but not ready for Prime Time. Garry as stated in post #2 :
"Which means flying around the country on the private jet, giving speech after speech, honing her skills and remembering the names of those who has some stroke." I remember being in a (out of the way) southern town of about 90k in the mid 60's. The local evening news had a short blurb concerning the actor Ronald Reagan being in town giving a speak at the 'Moose Club'. (What in the world is HE doing here I wondered.) After these many years, I now know..he was running for president, that wasn't the stated purpose, but never the less he was...under the radar. It can be argued, the differences between then and now, him and her and so on. I believe it's 90% 'image'. Obama's 'image' was being manufactured probably on the first day he enrolled at Harvard, if not before, being instructed on what positions to take on every subject, how to respond to all topics. He, of course is not a thinker, (talk about a 'lightweight') he's not much more than a pre-programmed, teleprompter reader with a grin. For Team Obama timing was also a factor...the time was right for a black man to be president, even one that needed every dirty trick in the book plus the MSM to win. Image + timing + affirmative action= victory . So it is with Palin, the time is upon the U.S. for the first female president. Will it be her ...who knows, but somewhere there's a woman crafting her 'image' to fill the roll. In my opinion it could be her... it's way too early to count her out. Especially as I said, if there's a behind the scenes money man, or organization ..as there was with Reagan. ;) Ron,
I completely understand how the process works...there's always a "behind-the-scenes" bagman and organization that has to be there to fulfill these political aspirations. My opinion is that Sarah isn't the one who would be successful. "It can be argued, the differences between then and now, him and her and so on. I believe it's 90% 'image'." Bang on! The 'image' IS the sizzle...it isn't the steak. But, as with everything, time will tell. I personally don't believe Sarah will be in the running but will add her personality to the chosen candidate. Don't know, as of yet, who that might be. Cheers. |