The Problems With Palin (She hasn't been thru the wringer like Myth, T-Paw and Newt)

The Wall Street Journal ^ | June 3, 2011 | Kimberley A. Strassel

[2ndDivisionVet]

Sarah Palin's bus tour dominated this week's news, raising to a fever pitch the question of whether she will, or will not, run for president. The better question: Does she have what it takes to become president?

Doing that sort of straight analysis is almost impossible today, given the violent emotion Mrs. Palin inspires from critics and supporters. The former Alaska governor is no longer a mere politician; she is a symbol.

Her fans have come to view her as the living antithesis of everything they find offensive—the mainstream media, cultural elites, out-of-touch Washington. She so embodies this role that it is no longer clear whether her backers support her in her own right or support her because they so dislike what she dislikes.

Mrs. Palin's initial mistreatment, by a press (on the right and the left) that was both jeering and patronizing, has in fact resulted in an unfortunate phenomenon. It has allowed Mrs. Palin to dismiss any criticism of her—no matter how straightforward—as yet more hostility from opponents, or as hoity-toity blather from inside-the-Beltway mopes.

This isn't healthy. Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Tim Pawlenty—all have already been through the wringer, and at the hands of conservatives focused on obtaining a competent nominee. If Mrs. Palin wants the most powerful job on the planet, she shouldn't be averse to the same critical questioning.

Mrs. Palin's strengths remain the very ones she displayed when John McCain first chose her as a running mate. She has practical executive experience as the governor of Alaska. She has a reformer's instincts and a healthy skepticism of business-as-usual politics. She has a background that many Americans can identify with and is aided by her innate, and considerable, political skills....

[floozy22]

Mrs. Palin's initial mistreatment, by a press (on the right and the left) that was both jeering and patronizing, has in fact resulted in an unfortunate phenomenon. It has allowed Mrs. Palin to dismiss any criticism of her—no matter how straightforward—as yet more hostility from opponents, or as hoity-toity blather from inside-the-Beltway mopes.

This is a profoundly wrong statement.

She has never dismissed criticisms aimed at her, rather she has dealt with them straight on. She has been more than willing to take on legitimate issues of disagreement that exist between her and: the Republican establishment, the Obama administration, the MSM. Those of us who support her have dismissed the criticisms, out of a sense of fairness and perhaps overprotection. But Sarah Palin does not need to be protected. She'll likely never get a fair shake from the media, but she can and does, stand on her own and deal with the shots they take at her.

[RichInOC]

So I didn’t see and hear what I saw and heard the last three years, Kimberly, is that what you’re saying? Is that the best argument you’ve got? If so...you’re screwed.

[sickoflibs]

RE :”This isn't healthy. Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Tim Pawlenty—all have already been through the wringer, and at the hands of conservatives focused on obtaining a competent nominee. If Mrs. Palin wants the most powerful job on the planet, she shouldn't be averse to the same critical questioning”

I dont know that much about Pawlenty yet but Romney and Newt are pretty well known bad examples, yes Newt has been though the wringer, but he lost (and screwed up) at it having to resign. Yes, Romney made it as governor in the Ted Kennedy liberal state by acting like a liberal, maybe not what we need now.

Newt, been though...??? Still in shock.

[Psalm 144]

The author’s assertion so startled me that I spontaneously erupted with flatulence from both ends. Much like the author in the creation of this . . . analysis.

[heye2monn]

you betcha!