Let Palin Be Palin

Weekly Standard ^ | 8 September 2008 | Bill Kristol

[oblomov]

A spectre is haunting the liberal elites of New York and Washington--the spectre of a young, attractive, unapologetic conservatism, rising out of the American countryside, free of the taint (fair or unfair) of the Bush administration and the recent Republican Congress, able to invigorate a McCain administration and to govern beyond it.

That spectre has a name--Sarah Palin, the 44-year-old governor of Alaska chosen by John McCain on Friday to be his running mate. There she is: a working woman who's a proud wife and mother; a traditionalist in important matters who's broken through all kinds of barriers; a reformer who's a Republican; a challenger of a corrupt good-old-boy establishment who's a conservative; a successful woman whose life is unapologetically grounded in religious belief; a lady who's a leader.

So what we will see in the next days and weeks--what we have already seen in the hours after her nomination--is an effort by all the powers of the old liberalism, both in the Democratic party and the mainstream media, to exorcise this spectre. They will ridicule her and patronize her. They will distort her words and caricature her biography. They will appeal, sometimes explicitly, to anti-small town and anti-religious prejudice. All of this will be in the cause of trying to prevent the American people from arriving at their own judgment of Sarah Palin.

That's why Palin's spectacular performance in her introduction in Dayton was so important. Her remarks were cogent and compelling. Her presentation of herself was shrewd and savvy. I heard from many who watched Palin--many of them not predisposed to support her--about how moved they were by her remarks, her composure, and her story. She will have a chance to shine again Wednesday night at the Republican convention.

[WOSG]

if his SCOTUS selections are as absolutely brilliant as his choice for veep, we're in great shape.

Here, here.

[Dahoser]

I suppose as a tech writer I should be used to people not reading what I write, but could you guys make some effort to actually read through my posts before you falsely accuse me of things?

[WOSG]

“Eight points among registered voters and four points among likely voters — you call that a bounce?”

That’s not a bounce, that’s a blip.

[Billthedrill]

"To steal an old adage of former Secretary of State James Baker .  .  . putting Sarah Palin into a debate with Joe Biden is going to be like throwing Howdy Doody into a knife fight!"

I agree, but not in the way the speaker intended. Palin will eat Biden alive and stack the bones in the shower. IMHO.

[WOSG]

“I suppose as a tech writer I should be used to people not reading what I write ... “

Good retort. Sorry for misreading your comment and welcome on board McCain/Palin bandwagon.

McCain/Palin 08

[pray4liberty]

Pelosi already let out a particularly nasty response that McCain made a serious mistake in judgment.

Sour grapes make crummy whine.

[Dahoser]

Thanks. Looking forward to getting that McCain/Palin bumper sticker.