The Problem With Palin

American Spectator ^ | April 19, 2010 | Quin Hillyer

[reaganaut1]

Sarah Palin, 55 percent unfavorable poll ratings notwithstanding, is a political phenomenon the likes of which American public life rarely has seen. There's something distinctive, something deeply personal, about the way her legions of strong supporters rush not just to defend her but to counter-attack any and all of her critics. Palin has a way of establishing a sense of connectedness with her backers -- such a strong, attitudinal sense that she is not just like them but one of them -- that she has created what amounts to a one-woman, conservative "identity politics" writ very, very large.

Yet if conservatives are to continue a political love affair with this admirable and galvanizing woman, we need to insist on more than mere identity. And more than mere attitude.

We know that Sarah Palin shares our conservative values. But is she the leader conservatives need?

IN HER RECENTLY RELEASED memoir, Going Rogue, Palin tells a story about how she approached the first state budget she handled as governor. It sounds like something right out of the 1993 Kevin Kline movie, Dave, except that Palin's tale is fact instead of fiction.

We worked late into the night with the warm midnight sun still pouring through my office windows....Pens in hand, we combed through the budget, line by line, page by page -- my inner nerd coming out again, just like Wasilla City Council days....I had to know what was in there, or I wasn't doing my job. We spent days trying to decipher who put in what and why. Late one night, I looked up from the table and asked our veteran staffers, "What did past governors do? How did they get through these budgets with so little detail?" "They didn't," was the response.

[Sudetenland]

So provide us unenlightened souls with the actual numbers, or a link to the actual numbers . . . that is not a link to a pro Palin propaganda page.

Still doesn't answer the fact that she is a serial quitter, that she is inexperienced-almost to the same degree as the current Neophyte in Chief, that she was dishonest in her claim re. "bridge to nowhere."

Sarah Palin is not even close to being ready for prime time.

[onyx]

Are you denying it? It’s very clear to me when someone states that the article is nothing but opinions and doesn’t provide facts when the article is filled with facts about Sarah. Either the person didn’t read the article, or they chose to intentionally ignore the facts. That’s the choice, either they are stupid, or dishonest.

You came in at post #108 to make your nasty claim about fellow FReepers and I defy you to point out their stupidity or dishonesty, since the majority either asked questions or took issue with the article or the "opinions" of others.

You falsely claimed that they didn't read the article, when in fact, you had no basis for your claim. There is no rule or requirement that we must dissect an "opinion column" line by line, to voice our "opinions" of said columns.

BTW, some of Hillyer's so-called facts, were wrong, but you would have to read through the comments to learn that Hillyer got his facts from the Huffington-Puffington Post, which is laughable on its face.

[onyx]

I’ve replied to Sudetenland, who apparently likes to insult fellow FReepers.

[Sudetenland]

Seriously? Are you implying that her popularity qualifies her? Obama also qualifies according to the Constitution and his popularity. He was wildly popular, possibly more popular than Sarah. Don't know about you, but I've had enough of a President who needs on the job training.

As to the 55% number, according to the latest polling, that's pretty much the number.

[Tanniker Smith]

At this moment, Palin does not have enough backing to be president. But she does have a big enough following to be a factor, even a Kingmaker in the next election.

[Sudetenland]

"You falsely claimed that they didn't read the article, when in fact, you had no basis for your claim."

AT least attempt to be accurate in you knee-jerk, emotional responses. I was very clear in saying that "probably" haven't read it. That is not an assertion of fact, it is an assumption based on my reading of some of the comments based on what they said about the article.

"There is no rule or requirement that we must dissect an "opinion column" line by line, to voice our "opinions" of said columns."

Nice strawman. No one made such a claim.

"BTW, some of Hillyer's so-called facts, were wrong . . ."

Which of course means that some of the facts are accurate . . . and you have failed to provide any evidence that your claim about the budget numbers is the truth.

[onyx]

I think your post # 361 reveals the reason you determined Hillyer's column was factual and fair...lol.

Have a nice evening, Sudetenland.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

I agree with Hillyer and the majority of the American people that Palin is not qualified to be president.

If she was chosen to be Vice-President, then she's qualified to be President. Period, end of discussion.

[editor-surveyor]

Nothing need be predicted.

America has been dismantled by the election of a terrorist, and the enactment of marxist socialism by the congress.

You might as well bail out now, since you really don’t have the heart to deal with our reality.
.

[Sudetenland]

I see, like many of the Palinbots here, you are making the claim that anyone who is critical of Sarah is an Obama supporter. That's okay, I understand how hard it is to justify your support for a half-term governor as a Presidential candidate. You are forced to make the same kind of extremist claims that the Obama libtards make . . . "Look he's a racist because he opposes Obama."

Your claim, "Look he's an Obama supporter because he questions Sarah's qualifications.

Here's a clue, she's no Maggie Thatcher, she's no Ronald Reagan, she's no Dick Cheney, she's not even a Jean Kirkpatrick. Give her another 15 years of maturing and possibly she will be prepared for the presidency. Right now she's just a right-wing version of Obama . . . lots of personal appeal, no real substance.

Although, I do think she's got loads of potential and in a heads up match with Obama, I'd take her any day of the week. Problem is, that is damning her with faint praise.

[editor-surveyor]

You are a Freeper in training, and not doing well at that. (D-)

Palin is the only visible candidate that has the experience running business and government, the intelligence and desire to repair the damage, and the total perseverance toward the real goals.

She of course won’t do anything for you, that’s obama’s job, and he is doing it well.

[Sudetenland]

Geeez, drink kool-aid much?

[Sudetenland]

Have you read any of the posts by your fellow Palinbots? Talk about personal attack and insults. Anything I have said pales in comparison to what you Palinbots say.

[Sudetenland]

Ah, the old "newbie" argument. Yeah that's a substantial argument in favor of your views./roll eyes

Palin's experience level is about on a parr with Obama's. She does have limited executive experience, but she is nowhere near being prepared for the responsibilities of being POTUS and anyone who claims the opposite is, in my opinion, simply conning themselves.

Your last comment is as contemptible as your first . . . and as substantial. Nice strawman ad hominem. I haven't seen anyone here asking for her to do anything for them.

Looks to me like being a long term resident of FR hasn't done much for your reasoning ability or ability to argue your case. Here's a hint, ad hominem attacks rarely count as legitimate arguments in defense of your claims.

[editor-surveyor]

.
“Geeez, drink kool-aid much?”

.
Coming from a pitcher full of kool-aid like you I take that as marketing.
.

[P-Marlowe]

I agree with you. Once she quit as Governor it was over for me. I dont want a quitter as a President.

Including Tommy Thompson, Patrick Lucy, Raul Castro (who all gave up their governorships to become ambassadors to postage stamp states) there have been 205 governors who resigned before completing their elected terms.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Yeah, she should have stayed and finished her term.
And been $500,000 in debt with no accomplishments in the last third of her term.
That would have really elevated her as a presidential front-runner.
You're "quitting" meme is stale and is ignored by the thousands of enthusiastic supporters of Sarah.
You're a grain of sand on a beach, a dust particle in a historic mansion, in short, insignificant.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Palin's experience level is about on a parr with Obama's.

Obama served on a city council, was a Mayor, a state regulator, and a Governor?

[ColdWater]

Jimmy Carter was a Nuclear Engineer

Jimmy Carter was a 2nd Lt. in the Navy program and took some nuclear engineering courses. He left the Navy before they ever launched a nuclear powered ship. I don't consider him a Nuclear Engineer.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

She said she quit because the opposition was being mean and playing dirty politics.

The opposition literally tied her up in frivolous lawsuits and prevented her from doing her job. How can she do her job as Governor when she had to deal with ethics violations?

Why would I want someone like this for President?

You don't want someone who honorably stepped aside for the good of her state? Would it have been better if she raided tax-dollars to pay her legal bills and selfishly stayed in power until the bitter end?