Posted on 09/06/2008 3:13:43 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
She spoke directly to the hearts and minds of everyday Americans, sick of self-perpetuating, self-aggrandizing elitists. The fly-over folk have lost patience, not only with a paralyzed and inept Congress, but also those who cannot see beyond the margins of conventional wisdom.
Pundits on the left and right are having a conniption-fit. This severe cranial cramping is the result of over-thinking, over-analyzing, and trying to cram the Palin phenomenon into the square holes of inside-the-beltway thinking.
I have news for former speech writers, congressional insiders, lawyers-turned-journalists, and think-tankers who find themselves adrift in a new alien landscape. Excitement for the McCain-Palin ticket is a weather-rounded peg that cannot fit into the old square holes. The peg has been weathered and worn, because folks have been subjected to a derelict government for years; term after term, election after election, no matter which Party holds or gains control.
Permanent fixtures in the House and Senate have adopted a two-task job description. Run for re-election, and hold meaningless, never-ending hearings designed primarily for political payback. It is quite nauseating, and unfortunately, old-guard pundits play right in and simply become enablers.
John McCain got under my skin on some issues over the years, but I believe he did so in a well-intentioned effort to jam a wrench into the status quo. He came across as too eager to bend over on some issues. On reflection, I can see his motivation and empathize with his desire to kick through some carcasses on the road in the hope of moving forward.
Sarah Palin brings back to John McCain a sense of conservative boundaries that I believe he will respect and use. As President, there will be no need to bend over as far as seemed necessary in the Senate for McCain, but we must also stop this absurd pundit notion that divided government is a good thing. Conservatives must reclaim a working majority in Congress, a task that is up to us to accomplish.
But back to these mental gymnastics the talking heads have been trying to accomplish regarding Sarah Palin. It is absurd to say that the McCain campaign cannot honestly use experience as an argument against Obama. As has been pointed out, Palin has real executive experience. Obama has none.
On Election Day one of two realities will be upon us. We will have elected a Vice President with a measurable quantity of Executive, Commander-in-Chief Experience or we will have elected a President who has absolutely none.
John McCain is unlikely to pass on to his rewards the day after taking the oath of office, but if he happened to do so, we will be in a far better position with Sarah Palin after the fact, than with Obama on day one.
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Phil Harris is a software engineer, author of Cry for the Shadows and blogs at Citizen Phil.
Who are the pundits on the “right” who are having a conniption fit?
Chuck Krauthammer is one, I’m sure there are others.
Because they are allowed to think.
Good piece.
I really hope they pound on the fact that Obama and Biden are part of the do-nothing congressional majority that we are so fed up with.
Excellent piece.
Read his bio. It’s worth repeating here:
Phil Harris works as a software engineer in Lincoln, Nebraska. He has been working in the computer industry for more than twenty-three years; designing software for medical offices and electronic document and report management systems.
A wide range of other work experience provides insight into many corners. He has been a radio disk jockey, uniformed security officer, loss prevention specialist, bank teller, car salesman, carpenter, and a retail computer storeowner. He also built and operated a recording studio for several years, producing vinyl record albums for local artists.
Phil and Mary, his wife of twenty-six years, have shared the joy of raising three boys and the grief of losing an infant daughter. These life and work experiences have given Phil a common sense view of the world. He shares this wisdom through his website called Citizen Phil, where he offers commentary about politics and politicians, liberals and liberalism, as well as society and social values. Occasionally, he will write about his Christian faith or just some off-the-wall story from his past.
Sounds like another “interesting life narrative” doesn’t it? In other words, a real person with real-life experience.
Great piece! My one biggest political pet peeve is pundits sitting in some TV studio in some big city telling the host what the American people want. Sarah is different because she really knows what we want.
You’re either crazy or stupid if you think that you’re going to get change in DC by voting for two Lawyers over a war Hero and Mother of 5.
“Who are the pundits on the “right” who are having a conniption fit?”
Charles Krauthammer would be the poster boy in that group but there are other Rocky-fellers that also have their panties in a bunch because they didn’t get Mutt Romney.
“
Who are the pundits on the “right” who are having a conniption fit?
“
I don’t know multiple examples...but here’s one.
Peggy Noonan’s defense/apology for slamming choice of Sarah Palin
http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/09/peggy-noonans-defenseapology-f.html
It’s something like this: When I look at Obama, I see weakness, lack of substance, lack of experience, and poor judgment. I see somebody who has never achieved anything of consequence in his life, never had a real job, never led anything, and can’t think of anything he likes about this country.
When I look at Sarah Palin, I see leadership, strength, unwavering confidence, wisdom, intelligence, and grace. I see somebody who has accomplished more in her two years as Governor than Obama has in his entire life.
I think she’s different because even though she’s in politics, she’s not a politician, as we know them.
God, please let this be true. Amen.
LS—may I have your permission to completely steal your entire post #12?
Very well stated—and it should the content of one thousand letters to the editors in newspapers and blogs around the country.
yes, go right ahead!
She’s saying what most white males won’t say.
She’s getting away with it because of her ......... .
I second that Amen.
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