Sarah Palin: Orthogonian

themoderatevoice ^ | 07/03/09 | ELROD

[winoneforthegipper]

Rick Perlstein’s excellent book Nixonland exploits a college fraternity motif to explain the entirety of Richard Nixon’s political appeal.. At Whittier College, Nixon’s alma mater, there was the social “in” crowd that formed an elite social club called the Franklins. Only the wealthiest students could deign to join the Franklins. Young Nixon, ever the outcast in this circle joined with his fellow shunned lumpenproletariat and formed a rival group called the Orthogonians. The word implied that the group rejected the elitist assumptions of the Franklins and refused to cede social authority to the well-to-do.

The word also implied that having a chip on one’s shoulder - feeling beleaguered by high society - could actually be turned into a social asset. And that, Perlstein argues persuasively, is what made Richard Nixon such a powerful political force.

[winoneforthegipper]

Interesting piece....I think Pat Buchanan likened her to Nixon today as well. I personally do not think they are of the same cloth. Nice to read intelligent differing views though.

[bitterohiogunclinger]

“Palin, on the other hand, really is both anti-intellectual AND non-intellectual. She really is uninformed and incurious. Her “hockey mom” gig is no act. For some Americans that only makes her more appealing. But for most Americans, it’s terrifying to think of what this woman would have done had she become President.”
Almost every statement in this passage is pure B.S. and based on the media hatchet job image that Palins political rivals worked so diligently to portray. I'm no Ivy league “Rhodes scholar”, nor am I anti intellectual. I am however one of countless Americans with a highly developed bullshit detector.
Many Americans sneer at the “so called” intellectuals not out of narcissistic self-pity, but because the intellectual elite are amoral effete snobs masquerading as humanists.
As to Americans being horrified as to the thoughts of what she would have done as President, I postulate that she would have supported none of the Marxist nonsense we are currently being assaulted with.

[cotton1706]

They’re alike in the sense that they are both viscerally hated by the elites and oligarchs. They’re different in the fact that Nixon wanted so much to be one of the elites. Sarah couldn’t care less about them, a la Reagan.

[winoneforthegipper]

Without a doubt the writer is off base, but interesting now they are starting to make political comparisons before they trash her.

To me that is a sign of accomplishment on her part.

[Eagles6]

You find this blather intelligent?

[ItsForTheChildren]

I think we can be pretty sure what she wouldn't do were she to become president.

[winoneforthegipper]

I do...it took quite a few paragraphs before the author unmasked his true intention.

I find that a plus for Sarah and he did make an interesting comparison before his demise...lol

[cliff630]

Here's what to say to anyone who cuts Sarah down.

"You know, sir/madam your setiments about Palin are
EXACTLY how I and so many of my friends feel about
Obama, the most unqualified person to ever serve as
our President."

[Blue_Ridge_Mtn_Geek]

“You know, sir/madam your setiments about Palin are
EXACTLY how I and so many of my friends feel about
Obama, the most unqualified person to ever serve as
our President.”

I continue to say what I said during the campaign: “Obama is almost as qualified as Palin to be VICE President, although he proved by his choice that he is utterly incompetent to choose a vice president.”

[winoneforthegipper]

I can see me using that, thanks!

[dr_lew]

Only the wealthiest students could deign to join the Franklins.

This is a misuse of "deign," which means "to condescend reluctantly". The proper word here would be "aspire," which has the opposite sense.

[Josh Painter]

There’s nothing “Moderate” about that website at all. Just as hateful and ignorant as the lefty blogs.

- JP