Posted on 09/05/2008 10:37:14 PM PDT by goldstategop
She’s gonna make it after all.
Considering the location of the Republican convention, the theme song had already been written for Sarah Palin’s vice presidential campaign. It comes from The Mary Tyler Moore Show, based in the Twin Cities.
“Who can turn the world on with her smile?
Who can take a nothing day, and suddenly make it all seem worthwhile?
Well, it’s you, girl, and you should know it;
with each glance and every little movement, you show it.
Love is all around, no need to waste it.
You can have a town, why don’t you take it?
You’re gonna make it after all.”
With the announcement of Sarah Palin as John McCain’s running mate, the Republican Party transformed overnight from a lackluster, demoralized group of people largely willing to vote for McCain out of a lack of alternatives, to an eager and energized movement, ready to donate their time, money, and expertise. In the course of a few days, people who felt like they didn’t have a stake in the election became enthusiastically engaged. At one pro-life event here, a woman announced, “I’m really voting for Palin, not McCain.” There’s something about Palin that connects with and comforts members of the Right, while threatening those on the Left.
In the days after McCain’s pick became public, we saw left-wing blogs write salacious and unsubstantiated claims about Palin and her family. These digital scandalmongers even won a victory of sorts, when the Palins announced, through the McCain campaign, the pregnancy of their unwed teenage daughter. The Left evinced no small satisfaction from their time wallowing in the mud. As lurid, tabloid-ready stories issued forth, conservatives both rushed to defend Palin and got a little nervous. Had she been vetted properly? Could there be other, more dire skeletons lurking?
Creeping dread began to dampen the initial enthusiasm for the Alaskan governor. There were too many growing distractions, perhaps the biggest being the question of experience. McCain had previously said a vice president should be ready to assume the presidency from the get-go. Doubt and uncertainty grew.
But then on Wednesday night, Palin spoke.
Not only did she show the depth of her moral character, she demonstrated an aptitude for policy, both foreign and domestic. Most importantly, she exhibited a love of country, and a respect and support for military service. She came across as an everywoman. A mom who wanted to do her part at home and in the world — an instinct that led her into politics, and ultimately onto the podium of the Xcel Center as John McCain’s Number Two.
By the time she wrapped up her acceptance speech, the skepticism had vanished, and the dominant reaction now seems to be happiness and relief at McCain’s sagacious choice.
And for once, skeptics can’t cry tokenism. Commentators who compare Palin to George Bush’s gender-based, experience-blind pick for the Supreme Court, Harriet Miers, couldn’t be more off-base. One of Palin’s positives for McCain may have been her lack of a Y chromosome, but she’s also got everything else — including the fighting spirit to cross swords with a self-proclaimed scrapper, Joe Biden. Palin has the humor and winsome charm to hold an audience, the real-world wisdom to persuade, and the compassion to inspire — not to mention the executive experience that no one on either ticket can claim. Putting a play on an Obama phrase, conservatives have been saying, “She is the one we have been waiting for.” Comparisons to Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher are flying — all a tad premature, but it’s a good thing just the same.
What excites conservatives about Palin angers the Left. She’s an attractive (“The hottest governor from the coolest state,” one pin making the convention-hall rounds announced), conservative, pro-life, happy warrior who won’t play victim even when she and her family are attacked by a supposedly objective media. She threatens a dying feminist movement that thrives on victimization. With a gun in hand, ready to make moose burgers or caribou stew, Palin is not their kinda girl. And that’s exactly as it should be.
bttt
My car got keyed with a simple “W” sticker... no telling what would happen to a car with that sticker... unless it came with a 24 hr “body” guard to protect said auto ;-)
It wouldn’t be a bumper sticker. That would be a t shirt, and I would be wearing it. Love to see someone come at me for wearing it.
One could get seriously “Don Bolle-d” with a car sticker like that!!
Harrison lost. His convention was in St. Paul.
Maybe the opposite will happen; and the universe is balancing things out.
Clean-living, honest, virtuous, strong, God-fearing, beautiful. I leave anything out?
I think the MSM has figured out that as time goes on, they're helping our cause not hurting it. By attacking her early on as they did, the media has innoculated her, so to speak, from suffering political damage from more attacks in the next 60 days. The only people that will pay any attention to more negative press about Sarah Palin are liberals. Conservatives and swing voters won't be paying mind to the MSM as much on this issue in the future. The media will keep trying of course.
Even if they take time out and let her alone for a while, they’ll be back with more smears. But even then, people will say, “Not this crap again.”
McCain is unqualified because he has no Community Organizer experience;
And Palin is unqualified based on, because, since, certainly, but, you know what I'm saying?
The new face of conservatism wears lipstick.
Mac was not a fighter pilot. He dropped bombs.
This is Palin's greatest asset-- she is very easy to identify with. Liberal "feminist" women if they have any integrity at all will be suffering from severe cognitive dissonance about now. I can't imagine any woman who would not like to share many of Sarah's attributes, regardless of her ideology. She's just human nature at its best.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.