But I cannot share your view of Palin. At the risk of appearing simplistic, can we not overlook what we might see as one flaw (no matter how glaring it may appear), because a myriad of positive achievements and character traits dwarf that shortcoming? I strongly suspect that the errors you perceive in her governance are not the result of any allegiance to a sinister ideology, but rather something much less wicked [I'll let others fill in the blank here, because I don't want to provide fodder for those whose wish to detract from her record or her potential].
You ask me, how will you handle your share of the guilt for empowering them?
I supported every genuine (and some not-so-genuine, but significantly moreso than McCain) Republican primary candidate we had (financially -- to varying degrees, in my writing, and in talking to as many people as I humanly could in my daily walk), until they all bit the dust, leaving only McCain standing once the dust settled.
I also spoke to everyone who would listen about Alan Keyes, and, in all but a handful of cases, there was absolutely no interest in his candidacy. I always received the same responses: (1) he has no name recognition, (2) a conservative black hasn't got a snowball's chance in hell, (3) he's too Christianity-focused, or (4) simply polite, but distrated, attention. I'm not saying their reaction was right or justified (far from it!), simply that that was the reception the mention of his candidacy engendered. That reaction, in small part, serves as a good example of the subject of the essay at the head of this thread.
No, I will not feel guilty about empowering Sarah Palin, and I cannot seek purism at this pivotal juncture in our history.
I wrote the above to hosepipe, and I'll repeat it here:
[Despite the chinks in her armor ... ] This no longer boils down to the quadrennial ‘voting for the lesser of two evils’ conundrum, which I have vowed never to be a party to again. For the first time in twenty-four years, we have a genuine conservative on the ballot. No, she is not in the top spot. But she is there. The Republican ticket contains a fighter who is willing ... in fact determined ... to reclaim America’s status as a ‘shining city on a hill’. And, no matter the odds against her succeeding, I’ll be damned if I won’t do everything within my power to provide her a chance to do so!
If she fails ... if she is prevented from making a difference ... it won’t be because I wasn’t willing to afford her the opportunity ... what I see as the last opportunity for a genuine conservative to reverse the course of our suicidal journey into oblivion.
You have a patriot's heart. I don't say that to many people, and I hold you in the highest regard, but, since two weeks ago, we do see this election from a different perspective.
~ joanie
The finest wine, used in the service of making it desirable for you to drink poison, should be avoided.
One last question: Who is using Sarah Palin, and to what purpose?