"Not One of Us" (Thomas Sowell on Sarah Palin)

Real ClearPolitics ^ | 2-23-09 | Thomas Sowell

[VinL]

If Barack Obama has been the most remarkable phenomenon of the recent political scene, Sarah Palin must be second. The emotional responses to each-- especially by the media and the intelligentsia -- go beyond anything that can be explained by the usual political differences of opinion on issues of the day.

That liberals would be thrilled by another liberal is not surprising. But there are conservative Republicans who voted for Barack Obama, and other conservatives who may not have voted for him, but who are quick to see in various pragmatic moves of his since taking office an indication that he is not an extremist.

Anyone familiar with history knows that Hitler and Stalin were pragmatic. After years of denouncing each other, they signed the Nazi-Soviet pact under which they became allies for a couple of years before going to war against one another.

Pragmatism tells you nothing about extremism.

[VinL]

"Whether Governor Palin runs for national office again is something that only time will tell. But the Republicans need some candidate who is neither one of the country club Republicans nor-- worse yet-- the sort of person who appeals to the intelligentsia. "

*****************

There you go. _:)

Vin fka

wegotsarah.com

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

No conservative that I know voted for this fraud.Mr Sowell, I hope you are well.

[Aussiebabe]

Just so it is clear, Sowell is talking about Palin not being part of the intelligentsia.

[Mr_Moonlight]

there are conservative Republicans who voted for Barack Obama

Huh ??? Not I, m'friend Dr Sowell ....

[Sarah Barracuda]

I don’t know a single Republican who voted for this Marxist loser..and I sure as hell don’t know any Conservative who voted for him. Sarah is NOT one of the Washington Elite, she wants nothing to do with them. She doesn’t go to their meetings, she doesn’t go to their events, she knows why they want her to attend and its not because they give a damn about her, its because they are after publicity. Sarah knows that, she has been used enough by the likes of McCain, she won’t allow that to happen again. Sarah is doing what she does best, governing her state. If we last to 2012 with this Socialist in power we will need someone like her, someone like Jindal as well to help us all recover from 4 years of HELL

[muawiyah]

You don't have to be "part" of the self-nominated "intelligentsia" in this country to rise through the ranks to prominance ~ both intellectually and politically.

I think Thomas left out the "self nominated" part this time, but frankly, if the folks surrounding Obama are part of the "intelligentsia" I am sure we don't want a candidate who appeals to them ~ my gosh, imagine finding someone YOU LIKE and who Bill Ayers likes!!!

[DTogo]

Governor Palin's candidacy for the vice presidency was what galvanized grass roots Republicans in a way that John McCain never did. But there was something about her that turned even some conservative intellectuals against her and provoked visceral anger and hatred from liberal intellectuals.

Two words: she's hot.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

What does he think “conservative” means? Has conservative become just another ambiguous term like republican? Oh well, it must all depend on what the meaning of is is!

[muawiyah]

Pretty much. You just knew Charles Krauthammer was most disturbed by being tied down to a wheelchair........

He turned into an absolute "blue nose"!

[rockinqsranch]

I hope Dr. Sowell hasn't drunk the Kool aid that causes some to believe "Republican" is the same as "Conservative". I'm sayin' it ain't so Dr. Sowell.

So I'd say "No TRUE Conservative that I know voted for this fraud."

I have heard of "Republicans" that crossed over and voted for Obama, but not any Conservatives.

[ari-freedom]

I don’t want someone who appeals to country clubbers but I also don’t want someone who merely repeats GOP talking points.

I want to see more Thomas Sowells and fewer Glen Becks or Hannitys.

[Huntress]

Ping!

[Sarah Barracuda]

Simple, she pumps her OWN gas, buys her OWN diapers for her kid, takes her kid to the Dairy Queen, fishes, hunts, and loves basketball..Yeah she is NOT one of the Washington Elite, and that’s why she is AWESOME

[EyeGuy]

“....imagine finding someone YOU LIKE and who Bill Ayers likes...”

#####

In my case, CLEARLY mutually exclusive subsets.

Ayers should be in jail, instead of in that softest, most undemanding and unproductive of positions: college professor.

[Stentor]

To translate: She’s not a simpering blatherer with no core integrity.

[SuziQ]

Excellent commentary. One of the biggest complaints the elitists had of Sarah Palin was that she didn’t go to a big name college. What a bunch of SNOBS!!

[deannadurbin]

“But there are conservative Republicans who voted for Barack Obama, and other conservatives who may not have voted for him, but who are quick to see in various pragmatic moves of his since taking office an indication that he is not an extremist.”

This writer is living in LaLa Land.

[Liberty Valance]

Sarah Smile! ;o)

[FFranco]

Gov. Palin is Not an Over-Educated Elitist Intellectual. She is one of the people, a common American, and that’s the kind of person Americans what as their Leader. That is why she will be elected President and Commander in Chief of America and all Loyal Americans.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Indeed