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

Skip to comments.

The Problem With Palin
American Spectator ^ | April 19, 2010 | Quin Hillyer

Posted on 04/19/2010 5:52:15 AM PDT by 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.

(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Politics/Elections; US: Alaska
KEYWORDS: acornpaidforthis; clownpost; derangedpalinistas; dncpost; envy; gopestablisment; jealousy; justmakeitup; knownothings; leftistclownposse; liars; mittboughtjournalism; moron; obama; obamabotsinaction; obotpost; palin; palin2012; palinbots; palinbotsassemble; palinbotsattack; palinbotshere; palinenvy; palinhaters; palinhatersposse; palinistasattack; paulbots; paulistamoronpost; posseofclownposters; rinoinaction; romneybots; sarahpalin; sorostoodge; whyromneywilllose
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 401-420421-440441-460 ... 521-531 next last
To: wtc911

If Palin resigned last July and went home to nurse her wounds and bake cookies, what has she been doing since last October/November?

She has been working as hard as anyone to defeat Obozo and the Libturd congress. Taking MSM/libturd flak for “death panels” ,(no WTC , it’s in quotes but you didnt say it lol), crap and tax, drill baby drill while Mitt went AWOL. No credit for that WTC?

A Quitter!! lol wish Mitt had done half for the country she has


421 posted on 04/19/2010 6:26:07 PM PDT by Piers-the-Ploughman (Just say no to circular firing squads.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 399 | View Replies]

To: reaganaut1

Without entering into an analysis of Ms. Palin, I just find it funny that so many of the same talking heads, or their intellectual forebears, didn’t think that some two-bit b-movie actor was qualified to be President, either. Turns out he was qualified to be one of the best Presidents this country has ever had.


422 posted on 04/19/2010 6:26:30 PM PDT by Oceander (The Price of Freedom is Eternal Vigilance -- Thos. Jefferson)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Piers-the-Ploughman
wtc's arguments are not based on actual events. They are based on subjective analysis that have been fabricated, by desperation, from Palin's enemies who realized they were caught flat-footed by her resignation and needed a Plan B asap. This Plan B is the meme that she's a "quitter," which has been repeated throughout the liberal media, both the conservative and liberal blogosphere, and both political party establishments.

Even some of Sarah's most ardent critics have conceded that her resignation was a smart move. Instead of being over $500,000 in debt and having any chance at national political ambitions destroyed (her enemies would have then said her term was too scandalized and "controversial" for her to be president or selected VP in 2012), she has made millions of dollars, she is drawing huge crowds and has the conservative base virtually locked up, and she controls her message. All pre-requisites for running for President.

423 posted on 04/19/2010 6:38:24 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist (Obamunism: You have two cows. The regime redistributes them and shoots you dead)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 418 | View Replies]

To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
Instead of being over $500,000 in debt and having any chance at national political ambitions destroyed (her enemies would have then said her term was too scandalized and "controversial" for her to be president or selected VP in 2012), she has made millions of dollars, she is drawing huge crowds and has the conservative base virtually locked up, and she controls her message. All pre-requisites for running for President.

But, but, but she quit. She has stopped criticizing Obama, she has run back to Alaska and she's hiding under a snowbank.

/s

424 posted on 04/19/2010 6:56:44 PM PDT by FreeReign
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 423 | View Replies]

To: wtc911

LOL! :)


425 posted on 04/19/2010 7:15:17 PM PDT by EveningStar (Karl Marx is not one of our Founding Fathers.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 395 | View Replies]

To: editor-surveyor
RE :”America has already chosen her as our next president, and that is what has the Status Quo harpies shedding feathers. The only ‘problem’ with Palin is that she is not yet in the oval office. (but she will be in 2013)

When will she announce her candidacy for President? and it better not be Sept 2011 or later...ala Fred Thompson 2007.

426 posted on 04/19/2010 7:22:46 PM PDT by sickoflibs ( "It's not the taxes, the redistribution is the federal spending=taxes delayed")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 152 | View Replies]

To: reaganaut1

Kudos to you. I missed it. Apologies.


427 posted on 04/19/2010 7:28:42 PM PDT by Steelfish (ui)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: reaganaut1; informavoracious; larose; RJR_fan; Prospero; Conservative Vermont Vet; ...
reaganaut1 wrote:
I agree with Hillyer and the majority of the American people that Palin is not qualified to be president.
So? I disagree with you. And Hillyer. Whoever the heck you may both be. She is more qualified than any of the others running, executive experience and common sense trump wealth, privilege and snottiness, at least in my humble corner of America.
428 posted on 04/19/2010 7:31:51 PM PDT by narses (Only half the patients who go into an abortion clinic come out alive.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Steelfish
I missed it.

Consider yourself fortunate. :)

429 posted on 04/19/2010 7:32:06 PM PDT by EveningStar (Karl Marx is not one of our Founding Fathers.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 427 | View Replies]

To: reaganaut1
From a duplicate thread, in the interests of keeping things orderly:

It's my experience with some Palin fans that keeps her at arm's-length. I think they feel intense emotions about her, and so many people trust their emotions that they can't like what someone stands for AND admit to their flaws (or any flaws). I think many Palin fans are so frustrated at the ridiculous attacks from the media that any hint ofthe criticism ALL politicians deserve gives them an excuse to fire away, with the one unbeliever standing in for those remote reporters and talking heads.

It's bizarre to me how someone would feel such personal warmth for someone they only know through the media. These people are all politicians, for pete's sake. But when people hear a woman who talks as they do, they feel she is a stand-in for them, so when she's assaulted, they feel like THEY've been assaulted.

It's actually the same mindset that brought us Barack Obama--make people think you're One of Them, talk like them, and they feel close to you. Once they feel that way, they're in your corner, no matter who or what you really are.

Some have no problem with this. To me, though, it's why we're so screwed up politically, and why we probably always will be. (And I say this as someone who would vote for Palin over anyone else on the scene.) It's especially disturbing since we're supposed to be the party of adults--when people attack you for bringing up facts or even poll numbers, we've got a lot of nerve saying we're nothing like the other side.

430 posted on 04/19/2010 7:40:08 PM PDT by Darkwolf377 (Conservative Bostonian, atheist pro-lifer, outnumbered by the clueless)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Puppage

i’d take Sarah Palin any day to Zero!


431 posted on 04/19/2010 7:41:59 PM PDT by tallyhoe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: FreeReign

“She could have let the lieutenant governor temporarily muddle through for two months while she was running for VP...”


If I am not mistaken this was talked about at the time but do to some constitutional restriction Sarah could not turn over power to Parnell. On the flip side I could be wrong.


432 posted on 04/19/2010 7:43:18 PM PDT by Clyde5445 (Gov. Sarah Palin: :"You have to sacrifice to win. That's my philosophy in 6 words.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 419 | View Replies]

To: Darkwolf377

Thanks for the psychoanalysis. NOT!!!!!

And No I did not prove your false premise.


433 posted on 04/19/2010 7:47:27 PM PDT by Clyde5445 (Gov. Sarah Palin: :"You have to sacrifice to win. That's my philosophy in 6 words.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 430 | View Replies]

To: sickoflibs

“When will she announce her candidacy for President? and it better not be Sept 2011 or later...ala Fred Thompson 2007.”

.

Truly!

But to those that pay attention to what she says and her facial expressions when she says it, she has fully committed herself to run; she simply cannot make anything that can be legally interpreted to be an announcement of candidacy, or it would hopelessly frustrate her economic and professional activities.

For that reason we have to be patient. The statistical data on her broadcast appearances (TV & radio) indicate that she has an audience of close to two million, and that’s going to require a ton of patience!

Her Facebook queue is already over a million slathering drooling fans that don’t know how to be patient. If you comment on one of her essays, the comment is lost in minutes, never to be found again. Facebook has to love her for that reason alone.
.


434 posted on 04/19/2010 7:53:32 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Obamacare is America's kristallnacht !!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 426 | View Replies]

To: Clyde5445
Thanks for the psychoanalysis. NOT!!!!! And No I did not prove your false premise.

I couldn't have made up a better example if I tried.

435 posted on 04/19/2010 7:53:45 PM PDT by Darkwolf377 (Conservative Bostonian, atheist pro-lifer, outnumbered by the clueless)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 433 | View Replies]

To: reaganaut1

What is your “evidence” she is unqualified?....and please do NOT parrot the MSM...but some clear evidence of policy failure, indecision, character flaw, or experience defect relative to other national candidates.


436 posted on 04/19/2010 7:56:47 PM PDT by mo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: hampdenkid
"Well written hit piece. Interesting that he should start out with a Jefferson quote to launch his attack on Sarah’s “inexperience.” Now let’s see ... exactly how much experience did Old Tom have in running a government."

If you think that's Jefferson's line, or that Jefferson wasn't qualified for the office when he was elected (or that Palin is somehow commensurately qualified as Jefferson), I can see why you're sated by her credentials, just saying.

437 posted on 04/19/2010 7:57:30 PM PDT by OldDeckHand
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Darkwolf377

That right just keep on doing the left work. You do it so well.


438 posted on 04/19/2010 8:02:07 PM PDT by Clyde5445 (Gov. Sarah Palin: :"You have to sacrifice to win. That's my philosophy in 6 words.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 435 | View Replies]

To: RichInOC

ROTFLOL.


439 posted on 04/19/2010 8:02:34 PM PDT by onyx (Sarah/Michele 2012)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 404 | View Replies]

To: Darkwolf377
"To me, though, it's why we're so screwed up politically, and why we probably always will be"

I agree with EVERYTHING you've said. You nailed, entirely.

440 posted on 04/19/2010 8:07:28 PM PDT by OldDeckHand
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 430 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 401-420421-440441-460 ... 521-531 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