Posted on 09/04/2008 3:21:03 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
St. Paul - That was easy. Sarah Palin delivered what may have been the most important speech ever by a vice presidential candidate and made it look like she'd been performing on the national political stage for years. And she made John McCain look good for having picked her as his running mate.
Yet, as governor of Alaska, Palin had never addressed as large a crowd as she did last night at the Republican convention. She'd never before given a nationally televised speech in prime time. And she'd never had to deal with a situation filled with such political peril for her, McCain, and the Republican party.
So how in the world could this 44-year-old woman with no national political experience handle the whole thing with poise and composure and seeming effortlessness? Simple. She's a natural, gifted with the ability to connect with people in a way that few politicians can and to perform under extreme pressure. She has star quality.
Political figures like this don't come along very often. And heaven knows Republicans haven't seen anyone like Palin emerge from their ranks since Ronald Reagan first attracted national attention in 1964. That's a long time to wait. They've been starved for a leader with charisma and a knack for leadership. Now they have one.
Palin shouldn't be shackled by her conservatism. True, she's a committed social conservative strongly opposed to abortion. But the portrait of her as a right-wing zealot painted by the mainstream media isn't accurate. In her short career, Palin has raised taxes, bailed out a failing state-run milk enterprise, and worked to keep federal money flowing to Alaska. She's conservative, but not that conservative.
As anyone could see last night, she can rise to the occasion. Had she flopped by looking nervous or flighty or unserious by flubbing her lines or failing to project a confident presence, the McCain-Palin ticket would be in deep trouble. Now the opposite is true: It's energized and ready for the two-month campaign for the White House.
It also helps that Palin is ambitious and driven and very tough. And to invoke the latest cliché in political parlance, she has a great "narrative." It's this: Small town girl makes good and challenges the corrupt special interests and defeats the big boys. And she does it while tending to a lovely family with five kids and a devoted husband and still finding time to hunt. Hard to beat that story.
Given the unmitigated hostility of the mainstream media since McCain announced his selection of her as his running mate five days ago, Palin had a big task to achieve in her speech. She had to introduce herself to a curious nation in a way that would erase the unfavorable image of her the press was creating. She had to sell her narrative, and she did.
That was her first big test as McCain's partner on the Republican ticket. Two more loom. The second is the media itself. She'll have to meet with reporters and TV questioners, answer legitimate questions and a lot of dopey ones, and never get flummoxed or visibly irritated. The press can be tough. I suspect Palin is tougher.
The third test is Joe Biden, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's running mate. Palin and Biden will meet in the lone vice presidential debate on October 2. Biden is formidable. He's been a senator for decades, a Washington stalwart who gets along with the press and nearly everyone else.
Palin, however, made her name in politics by her performance in gubernatorial debates in Alaska in 2006. She was a newcomer with little following in the Republican party and no strategists or handlers to give her guidance. Nonetheless, she knocked off a sitting governor. So Biden may have his hands full.
No doubt the most relieved person of all after Palin's dazzling speech was McCain. He took a huge risk in choosing someone not only from outside Washington but from outside the orbit of the national political conversation. He's been vindicated.
She is a very big gift. Loving all these articles coming in. Fantastic.
Looking out on the morning rain
I used to feel uninspired
And when I knew I had to face another day
Lord, it made me feel so tired
Before the day I met you, life was so unkind
But your love was the key to peace my mind
Cause you make me feel, you make me feel, you make me feel like
A natural woman
Woman
When my soul was in the lost-and-found
You came along to claim it
I didn’t know just what was wrong with me
Till your kiss helped me name it
Now I’m no longer doubtful of what I’m living for
Cause if I make you happy I don’t need no more
Cause you make me feel, you make me feel, you make me feel like
A natural woman
Woman
Oh, baby, what you’ve done to me
You make me feel so good inside
And I just want to be close to you
You make me fell so alive
Cause you make me feel, you make me feel, you make me feel like
A natural woman
Woman
I think I am In Love.
In her short career, Palin has raised taxes, bailed out a failing state-run milk enterprise, and worked to keep federal money flowing to Alaska. She’s conservative, but not that conservative.
she’s ummm hmmm Huckabeeish
She is become McCain’s Joan of Arc.
I believe that God’s hand is upon her and I ask all FReepers to pray for the McCain/Palin team.
Of all the elections this country has ever had, I feel this to possibly the most important one, ever.
We desperately need God’s help to overcome the evil that has possessed the Democratic party.
I loved it when she licked her hand and smoothed the baby’s hair down...soooo cute!
One of these days the Palin’s youngest daughter is going to be President of the United States.
I am still smiling! L0L
Am on dial up and can’t click on that link but I watched that moment, and posted about it earlier this morning.
Dial up! Good Lord! where do you live? The Alaskan outback?!!
L0L
So was Reagan. Palin did what was BEST FOR THE PEOPLE of Alaska, not the party.
Isn't that what we want from our elected officials, instead of Greek columns?
To me, her speech last night was magnificent, as comprable to Ronald Maximus's in 1980. It was a defining moment for the cconservative movement and a notice to the kids in the Dihm party. There's a storm coming.
My, so cosmopolitan of you ;-)
The press can be tough. I suspect Palin is tougher
The press isn’t tough - They are ignorant, elitist, narrow minded amoral and let’s not forget socialists but let’s save tough for those people Like Sarah.
She drilled a hole into their Obama Dam and the best they could come up with last night and still “appear” balanced as adjectives to describe Sarah’s speech were followed by a but -
The best political speech since Ronald Reagan ran for President.
This speech left the Marxist Media Elite’s appoplectic.
They thought that the good old days of Whine and cheese happy hours at the White house were back. They can almost see sleeping in Licoln’s bedroom and along came Sarah.
oh no, I’m not so bothered by it because McCain is more to the right on those specific issues. :)
either way she will be a very good mother
My guess is that is who McCain really wanted.
McCain is the one that is really surprised at the great outcome.
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