Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

"Not One of Us" (Thomas Sowell on Sarah Palin)
Real ClearPolitics ^ | 2-23-09 | Thomas Sowell

Posted on 02/23/2009 9:19:15 PM PST by 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.

(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections; US: Alaska
KEYWORDS: palin; sowell; thomassowell
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 221-224 next last
To: Sarah Barracuda

I know you are new here so you might want to learn about using the < p > tag to break apart your paragraphs (just remove the spacing.


61 posted on 02/23/2009 10:23:08 PM PST by mbraynard (You are the Republican Party. See you at the precinct meeting.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]

To: smoothsailing

LOL!

That is a great pic, have already ripped it off.

The only way it would have been better is if they’d given her a lady Viking costume to wear. :-)


62 posted on 02/23/2009 10:23:47 PM PST by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies]

To: VinL
He's saying basically the same thing I said. Regrettably we still have the same pass go cards for our Presidents that we have had since our founding and Sarah doesn't have one, as unfair and ridiculous as it might be with liberals now in charge of our Universities.

She might be qualified and smart as a whip but she still has to get her toilet paper from an Ivy League school to be “in”. That's the way it's always been. She can be a VP but never a POTUS.

63 posted on 02/23/2009 10:25:27 PM PST by Earthdweller (Socialism makes you feel better about oppressing people.....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mbraynard

My Bad..I’m sorry..will know better for next time


64 posted on 02/23/2009 10:25:31 PM PST by Sarah Barracuda
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 61 | View Replies]

To: mbraynard
I like Jindal, Sanford, Cantor and a few others.

It's not that I don't like Palin. She just needs much more work on her extemporaneous speaking and media skills. She also needs a better command of national domestic and foreign policy issues, IMHO.

It's not about what you know in politics. It's about what you can convince people to believe you know.

65 posted on 02/23/2009 10:25:46 PM PST by Big_Monkey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

To: widdle_wabbit
I read many pieces by Sowell prior to the election, and none of them supported Obama. He continually denounced him. Where is your evidence he voted for Obama?
66 posted on 02/23/2009 10:28:16 PM PST by broncobilly
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Big_Monkey

Yeah, I’m cool with Sanford and Jindal. Cantor doesn’t stand a chance in hell since he’s tied to the current failed leadership of the GOP and, face it, he’s no Newt. He might make a great Senator.


67 posted on 02/23/2009 10:29:46 PM PST by mbraynard (You are the Republican Party. See you at the precinct meeting.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

To: Earthdweller

Can you demonstrate how she is ‘smart as a whip?’


68 posted on 02/23/2009 10:30:32 PM PST by mbraynard (You are the Republican Party. See you at the precinct meeting.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies]

To: Big_Monkey
One of the reasons Sarah went to so many schools was because of the problem of PAYING for college. Of course, those who attended Yale, Harvard, and Princeton don't seem to understand that regular people don't have unlimited funds to attend college, and sometimes have to move to less expensive schools, or take time off to earn money to pay for college.

As for her not answering the question about what she reads, Sarah said she was appalled by the question, because it was so silly. I don't blame her. Someone running for office is thinking in terms of policy questions, or other SERIOUS subjects, not about what magazine she reads.

69 posted on 02/23/2009 10:30:34 PM PST by SuziQ
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: ari-freedom
I want to see fewer people who spread dissension in the party. We could use all the becks and Hannitys we can find.
70 posted on 02/23/2009 10:30:36 PM PST by broncobilly
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Big_Monkey; ElkGroveDan; calcowgirl
"But, if you can't answer "tough" questions like, "What do you read on a regular basis?, then some of the damage has been self-inflicted."

Anyone, even in small-time political campaign battles, that answers such a LOADED question is on a self-destructive binge of comedic proportions!!!

Just think for a few minutes about what the leftist mediots can "read into" each book, article or blog and just mop the floor with her, or any other conservative.

She was wise to do exactly what she did. She probably learned not to do that while running for mayor and certainly by the time she ran for Governor!!!

71 posted on 02/23/2009 10:31:03 PM PST by SierraWasp (Remember THIS!!! Government doesn't have ANY money!!! (of it's own) I'm in contempt of CONgress!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: CardCarryingMember.VastRightWC

ROTFL!!


72 posted on 02/23/2009 10:31:03 PM PST by SuziQ
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: SuziQ
AANNNHHH! I dunno. I think a TRUEConservative would throw themselves in front of a speeding train rather than vote for a Democrat much less Obama, whereas a "Republican"......yer guess is as good as mine.

With regards to punishing the party, that's a given. Many stayed home and didn't vote with that in mind.

73 posted on 02/23/2009 10:31:45 PM PST by rockinqsranch (Dems, Libs, Socialists, Call 'em what you will, they ALL have Fairies livin' in their Trees.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: widdle_wabbit
I believe Mr Sowell voted for Obama.

And I believe you're either A) clueless, or B) trolling.

Which is it?

74 posted on 02/23/2009 10:32:32 PM PST by TChris (So many useful idiots...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: mbraynard
"Her inability to speak more than grammatically correct complete sentences in a row"[sic]

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

Huh? You offering her lessons??? (LOL- Just joking- you must have left something out)

I understand your reluctance. She has limitations- they all do. We'll see.

75 posted on 02/23/2009 10:33:10 PM PST by VinL (VinL---former username (wegotsarah.com))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: widdle_wabbit

“I recall seeing him interviewed twice before the election and watching in stuned (sp) amazement that Mr Sowell was leaning toward Obama.”

I don’t know who you saw interviewed, but it sure as hell wasn’t Dr. Sowell.


76 posted on 02/23/2009 10:34:38 PM PST by EDINVA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: widdle_wabbit
I recall seeing him interviewed twice before the election and watching in stuned (sp) amazement that Mr Sowell was leaning toward Obama.

Maybe you're confusing Dr. Sowell with Colin Powell?

Gen. Powell did vote for Obama, AFAIK.

77 posted on 02/23/2009 10:36:35 PM PST by TChris (So many useful idiots...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo
She'd look great in a lady Viking outfit!!!!!!!!
78 posted on 02/23/2009 10:38:20 PM PST by smoothsailing
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies]

To: Earthdweller

She might be qualified and smart as a whip but she still has to get her toilet paper from an Ivy League school to be “in”. That’s the way it’s always been. She can be a VP but never a POTUS

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

You could be right. But, Ronald Reagan and Nixon come to mind as exceptions, but that was a different era. We’ll see.


79 posted on 02/23/2009 10:39:54 PM PST by VinL (VinL---former username (wegotsarah.com))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies]

To: mbraynard
She also fared poorly in the one-on-one with Couric in a way that a Thatcher or a W or a Reagan never would.

Have we seen any video of Reagan or Thatcher in interviews when entering politics? Of course, Reagan was an actor, and he had skills, but I'm not so sure about Maggie Thatcher. Our memories of them are colored by their superior skills later in their careers.

As for your comments about her inability to speak without a teleprompter, are you aware that during her acceptance speech the teleprompter got off track, but no one knew it, because she continued her speech without any trouble?

As far as her knowledge of international politics, she's a smart lady, and she'll pick it up as she needs to do so, and would have done quite well, had McCain been elected, and she had become Veep.

She was more qualified than EITHER That One, or Smilin Joe with his 64 perfectly white teeth.

80 posted on 02/23/2009 10:41:45 PM PST by SuziQ
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 221-224 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson