“Instead of focusing on hard-hitting policy issues (the type of stuff that endears her to us), she just spoke in political generalities. It actually made me sour on her a little.”
This was the identical run up to the 2000 Election, with George W Bush running around in 98 and 99 giving the same bland speech where he gave no real hard hitting policy, just generalities.
The observations I would make are that:
1. She is running.
2. Today’s focal point issues will likely not be the same focal point issues come 2012. i.e. the economy will likely have begun to substantially recovered by ‘12, and making policy pronouncements today is to pigeon-hole yourself as being as “follower on this issue.”
There is no one who can tell you what the world looks like in two years. There are a lot of major corporations raising huge money in the bond market right now. Rates are dirt cheap, and that money is eventually going to be invested in either buying other companies, building out their own companies, or some combination of both. That is going to result in jobs and economic improvement. And with divided government coming, businesses are going to take their feet off of the brakes.
Looking ahead, I would GUESS that the main issues in the next election will be the 4 I’s, Interest Rates out of control, Inflation out of control, Iran and Israel. People will be working again and making money, just not enough to buy the new higher priced groceries. So coming out today for huge tax cuts at that point may be cast as fiscal recklessness.
Of course that’s just a guess....
While I agree with your post in substance, I also believe that there are universal issues that will be the same today as in 2 years. Low taxes, shrinking government, pro-choice healthcare (i.e. no government healthcare), personal responsibility, America-first world security, etc. are all issues that Palin should be talking about.
As was, all she talked about was “being good Americans” without defining what a good American is. Liberals think they’re good Americans while know-towing to murderous Muslims and sucking innocent babies out of wombs with flowbees. It seemed to come off as unprincipled in the interest of safety.
I’m looking for a candidate who takes no-apologies stances on issues, even if those stances create negative press. We don’t need a movie star, we need a leader.