Posted on 11/23/2010 11:46:17 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
A journalist yesterday asked me a thought-provoking question:
Why does Sarah Palin command so much media attention? By most measures, she currently stands about equal in the Republican field alongside Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, and only a little ahead of Newt Gingrich. Yet the cable shows do not erupt when Mitt Romney makes a speech. Newt Gingrich is on Twitter almost every day, but his messages dont make news. So why Palin? Five guesses.
1) She polarizes.
Modern media culture favors contrast and conflict. Sarah Palin serves both up by the bucketful. Most presidential candidates present themselves as gracious and good-natured. Even fierce Hillary Clinton worked hard always to be seen smiling and nodding. Palin is a ferocious hater, and she doesnt care who knows it. Its like the meanest girl on the cheerleading squad running for student council president. Who wouldnt be mesmerized by that?
2) She surprises.
Media people have certain beliefs and expectations about how politics works. Palin regularly confounds those expectations. From the Katie Couric interview through her resignation as governor of Alaska to the reality show: actions that the pundit class expected would ruin her career in fact seem to have somehow enhanced it. They call it news for a reason, and Palin is new.
3) She reveals herself.
We live in a confessional culture these days. Most politicians shy away from confession. They want to talk about economics or foreign policy or abortion or some other impersonal concern. Not Palin! Her topic is herself: her grievances, her complaints, her family. People find compulsive self-revelation riveting in Hollywood stars why wouldnt they find it equally fascinating in a politician?
4) She talks unlike a politician...
(Excerpt) Read more at fullcomment.nationalpost.com ...
Hint: It's not Mars......
:-)
Okay, I read the article. Who in the world is he writing about? The Sarah he’s writing about is not one I recognize in the real world. Must be the Bizarro Sarah. Or (pardon the Shatner reference) the Evil Twin Sarah.
Pretty much, but if Sarah decides to run and puts together a team, you can bet Frum's resume' will be there, seeking hire as a speechwriter.
What planet? Gotta be Uranus.
For that line alone, Frum should have to surrender his man card for life.
Someone created a legal defense fund, then the “ethics” panel ruled it was “illegal”:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/24/sarah-palin-defense-fund_n_624833.html
My impression is that the gov enjoys a good laugh.
It would be interesting to play a version of the drinking game with this word. Sign onto FR, visit every thread that mentions Palin's name, and take a sip when you come across "polarizes" or "polarizing." You'd be under the table in two minutes. This is worse than "gravitas" circa 2000.
Yes, he’s a canuck. Why he’s taken seriously south of their border, I’ve no clue.
Well, it is fair to say he failed to live up to conservative expectations by a long shot. The distinction I was drawing was more in what type of a person he is vs. the RINO’s.
We have to take these dirt bags seriously.
The GOP has completely misinterpreted the November 2 election, and are trying to stomp out the revolt, rather than taking direction from it.
The leadership has to go! - We have to make it happen, by contacting our congress critters constantly.
Frum is an emasculated metrosexual, and he doesn’t care who knows it. It’s like the queer on a cheerleading squad running for homecoming queen.
LOL!
Frum is such a sissy boy. Too bad he didn’t have the intellectual honesty to admit he’s a leftist pretending to be a token Republican. Just what part of him is supposed to lean to the right?
Cindie
What a despicable human being Frum is.
LOL!
wrong, David Frum is the “meanest girl on the cheerleading squad”
I’m no engineer but I can’t think of anything that teeters and totters when suspended from above. Only items supported from below teeter and totter.
Yes, but you can have him if you’d like.
I am not a GOP backstabber.
I pay others to do it.
(no, not *you*, 2nd*)
Cheers!
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