Posted on 12/06/2011 12:31:37 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Nick Broomfield’s new documentary Sarah Palin: You Betcha! shocks and entertains, writes Siân Ruddick
For the millions who hate Sarah Palin and her reactionary politics, the rise and fall of the former governor of Alaska makes a gripping spectacle.
Nick Broomfield uses his documentary to find out the truth about the Tea Party Republican in a funny and engaging way.
There is little in Sarah Palin: You Betcha! that people with an eye on US politics would have missed in terms of the big events.
It charts her sacking of state employees who oppose her and the high profile scandals that have engulfed her family.
The film gives an intimate view of the way that Palin has treated people throughout her political career. It highlights the methods she has used to silence her critics.
Broomfield also steers well away from the sexism of the liberal media, which wrote endless articles about her clothes, lipstick and hairstyles.
Conservative
Instead he goes for a much more interesting angle—and presents a deeply defensive, conservative, opportunistic reactionary who trusts no one outside her innermost circle.
The film opens by interviewing people in Alaska who have known Palin for years.
One says, “When she talks to you, she makes you feel like you’re the only person in the world.”
But later in the film Broomfield shows other parts of these interviews where those Palin has campaigned alongside describe the vicious nature of her campaigns.
The sister of Levi Johnston—the ex‑boyfriend of Palin’s daughter—describes being used by the Palin 2008 campaign.
When her bid for the vice presidency failed, “they didn’t need us any more so weren’t going to pretend to like us”. She talks of how Levi was used to make them look like a model family, telling him, “Don’t say anything, just smile.”
Conservative Christianity seems to have played a role in dividing the community.
Members of Palin’s evangelical church, the Assembly of God, would pray for her victory.
Blessed
Broomfield shows footage of Palin being blessed by a pastor, who calls on Jesus to bring her money and political success.
If you weren’t up for being part of this, you became an outsider. None of Palin’s fellow churchgoers, other than her parents, would speak to Broomfield.
One personal feud that hit the headlines was Palin’s hounding of her sister’s ex-husband Mike Wooten.
Palin wanted to sack Wooten, an Alaska policeman, whom she accused of illegally shooting a moose.
She sacked one police chief who said the allegations were unfounded.
Palin employed another police chief, an ally, who refused to sack Wooten. She sacked him too.
Palin is a vicious right winger and a ruthless politician. But it is almost certain that there are countless more that operate in the same way that she does.
Broomfield’s film is light—but its funny and engaging tone sees it through.
Sarah Palin: You Betcha! is at cinemas now. It will also be broadcast on More4 on Tuesday 27 December at 10pm
What "fall"? Sarah seems to be doing pretty well to me.
The title of the publication that printed this article is an oxymoron...
...and the author appears to be just the second part of that word...
Damn, they have to be so sad she’s not running.
Sarah-The one Republican in the country with more testosterone than the entire current presidential field put together...one who understands that Democrats play for keeps...and that for them politics is a bar-room brawl...rather than a debate about the country club rules.
The last Republican who understood all that was Tom Delay.
And the MSM and the Dems KNOW that such Republicans, in enough numbers. can and will shut down socialism and restore Constitutional Government...because they can and will win in the court of public opinion.
The USA is a center-right country as a whole-something most Pubbies forget as soon as they get to DC and drink the kool-aid...
The Viper’s Den tells us about who’s vicious.. Please!
Well, this certainly looks like a fair and balanced movie, I can't wait to see it. SSSS////OFFOFFOFFOFF
I suppose we will be seeing these thing for a long while as long as Sarah Palins name will sell a book or fill a theater.
They just cannot leave the woman alone.
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