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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
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To: Loud Mime
The key to a good president is the advisors they select and the administrators they empower.

What makes you think SP will do a poor job in those areas?

I never said she'd do poorly. I just don't understand why people automatically throw her hat in the ring for president.

For God's sake, Scott Brown wins in MA. and there's a lot of people talking about HIM for president.

All I am saying is, why not look at ALL the options available? Just because we all agree with her politics & morals, that doesn't necessarily transcend into the presidency. Although, I agree, it's a very good start IMHO.

61 posted on 04/19/2010 6:37:36 AM PDT by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
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To: driftless2

Part of her appeal is that she has no experience on “the national level”, ie, she’s not corrupt.

A love of country and an understanding of the Truth and how this country was founded on that Truth

are more than enough to be a huge improvement over any chief executive since Reagan.


62 posted on 04/19/2010 6:38:02 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a humanist and a Satanist is that the latter knows who he's working for.)
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To: reaganaut1
"We know that Sarah Palin shares our conservative values. But is she the leader conservatives need? "

I'll start off by saying, Sarah Palin is just as qualified - and maybe moreso - than any other candidate that has been offered up so far.

Mitt Romney was a Governor, Sarah Palin was a Governor. Ron Paul was a doctor and I don't think "Running a nation 101" probably offered in medical school. Newt Gingrich...too much baggage, will never get elected. Huckleberry is too RINO.

Just a few of the candidates that have been mentioned of late, and the only thing they have is common is, they are all men. None of them - or all of them collectively - can garner and attract the followers that Sarah Palin does.

There are not many jobs that can prepare one to be "President of the United States". There are no schools that can do that either...look at clinton and obama...didn't they both attend Harvard? Not a good PR theme for that school to include in their brochure.

The Presidency is about "leadership"...and since the last three presidents have bombed out, it will be more and more about "trust", "honor", and "honesty".

I think Palin is a natural leader. I think people will follow and trust her.

Although many are trying to relegate her to a subordinate position, i.e. cabinet posts, etc., they still suffer from the "she's a woman, therefore a secretary" syndrome.

But while they continue to bounce conservative wannabe's before us trying to stop the tide of the right favoring a woman to take over a historically "men's domain", I think the deep, dark, little secret is, hillary is being groomed for the democrat presidential ticket...again.

Now, given THOSE two choices...who would you want as president? I think Palin is the only choice we have that could defeat her. IMHO
63 posted on 04/19/2010 6:38:07 AM PDT by FrankR (Those of us who love AMERICA far outnumber those who love obama - your choice.)
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To: rintense; reaganaut1; xzins; wagglebee
Conservatives are their own worst enemy.

You are assuming that reaganaut1 is a conservative.

I am not willing to concede that point.

I'm betting that reaganaut1 is shilling for Mitt Romney.

64 posted on 04/19/2010 6:38:16 AM PDT by P-Marlowe (LPFOKETT GAHCOEEP-w/o*)
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To: reaganaut1

I don’t support Palin for reasons that have absolutely nothing to do with her politics or leadership ability.

I don’t support her because of what is either naivete, or just lack of judgment.

As a mother, it bothers me, reallly bother me, that she accepted the nomination knowing that her daughter was pregnant and that eventually the whole thing would come to light and the girl would be raked through the coals of the MSM.

One of three reasons: She didn’t believe it would be a big deal...in that case she’s naive. She did it thinking they could handle the pressure, but she didn’t get out in front of it, and instead it was “leaked” and the whole thing blew up in their face...in that case she showed poor judgement. Or the third possibility, and this one bothers me the most, she didn’t care that her family would be put under the microscope and exploited by the MSM but went for the position because she’s a politician, and that’s how most politicians behave, my career before my family.

Flame away, that’s just how I feel!


65 posted on 04/19/2010 6:38:18 AM PDT by dawn53
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To: reaganaut1
Palin’s experience compared to most other Presidents falls remarkably short, except for Obama. In many respects, Palin is the conservative version of Obama, in that she has the cult following of a celebrity, plenty of charisma and star power, but woefully inexperienced.

Just like Obama, many people see in her what they want to see and avoid the glaring weaknesses. While Palin would make a much better President than Obama, that also could be said about all Conservatives.

66 posted on 04/19/2010 6:39:32 AM PDT by MBB1984
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To: RazzPutin

OK, that voice grates my nerves as well, but hopefully she’ll work on it.
Nevertheless, I’d gladly vote for her. She’s not only qualified, she’s squarely in the conservative camp. That’s all anyone needs to know.
True, she doesn’t have that advanced degree in Presidential Science that 0bama has, and all those wise rats before him...towering intellects like Algore and Jimmy Carter, Walter Mondale and George McGovern. True she went to the wrong schools; you do that and you could win the Cold War and get no credit.
But yeah, too bad she doesn’t have a deep voice like Mitt Romney or a sheepskin like John McCain’s. Boo hoo.


67 posted on 04/19/2010 6:39:55 AM PDT by 668 - Neighbor of the Beast (STOP the Tyrananny State.)
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To: dawn53
As a mother, it bothers me, reallly bother me, that she accepted the nomination knowing that her daughter was pregnant and that eventually the whole thing would come to light and the girl would be raked through the coals of the MSM.

I suppose that if Sarah Palin had made the same decisions as a MAN that you would be supporting HIM.

68 posted on 04/19/2010 6:40:40 AM PDT by P-Marlowe (LPFOKETT GAHCOEEP-w/o*)
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To: reaganaut1
I agree with Hillyer and the majority of the American people that Palin is not qualified to be president.

She had more executive experince than McCain, Obama, and Biden combined in 2008. Is she qualified? Oh yeah! I would have to say that George H W Bush was the most qualified of the last thirty years. Was he the best President of that era? I'd rank him third.

69 posted on 04/19/2010 6:41:07 AM PDT by Rummyfan (Iraq: it's not about Iraq anymore, it's about the USA!)
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To: Maverick68
I know there are many on FreeRepublic who don’t think she’s “qualified”, but are there ANY of you who doubt that she would be a better President than obama?

_________________________________________________

A. Freepers will not elect the next potus, 70 million American voters will.

B. Since it is widely accepted that obama is far and away the worst potus ever, then even Jimmy Carter would be better...is that your standard?

70 posted on 04/19/2010 6:41:26 AM PDT by wtc911 ("How you gonna get down that hill?")
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To: P-Marlowe

I wouldn’t support a man, or woman, who chose to put their family in the position that Palin put hers in. There were other times to run, she’s young, a little patience, waiting for a later time to run for a national office would have saved her family all that grief.


71 posted on 04/19/2010 6:42:55 AM PDT by dawn53
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To: SoConPubbie; Virginia Ridgerunner; onyx; Al B.; SoCalPol; Josh Painter; rintense; Lakeshark; ...

(((PDS alert)))

We have a real live one here.

Palin isn’t qualified talking point. PDS alert.


72 posted on 04/19/2010 6:44:02 AM PDT by Clyde5445 (Gov. Sarah Palin: :"You have to sacrifice to win. That's my philosophy in 6 words.")
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

“She’s more qualified than Barry Soetro was.”

So is my border collie.


73 posted on 04/19/2010 6:44:06 AM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (Support our troops....and vote out the RINOS!)
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To: cotton

No doubt. And she was more qualified than Obama.


74 posted on 04/19/2010 6:44:08 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! Those who support our troops pray for their victory!)
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To: reaganaut1
The main problem with Sarah Palin is that she is not sitting in the Oval Office right now!

I think the real reason she is criticized is because she doesn't have a drop of RINO blood in her.

75 posted on 04/19/2010 6:44:28 AM PDT by The Sons of Liberty (The 0bama regime represents an "Clear and Present Danger" to the US - Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin)
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To: Lazamataz

To complete your comparison...Reagan served his full two terms. Palin served until things got too tough.


76 posted on 04/19/2010 6:45:01 AM PDT by wtc911 ("How you gonna get down that hill?")
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To: Puppage

Sarah was on my radar long before McCain chose her.

Her approach on budgeting will make her the enemy of every federal bureaucracy. To me, that’s a VERY good start.


77 posted on 04/19/2010 6:45:07 AM PDT by Loud Mime (initialpoints.net - - The Constitution as the center of politics -- Download the graph)
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To: Rummyfan
Don't be fulled. The word 'qualified' is code for saying:

She didn't go to an Ivy League school

She didn't earn an advanced degree

She's from a hick state where being governor doesn't really matter

She's got a folksy way of speaking

She doesn't play the DC game in the way elitists want her to

78 posted on 04/19/2010 6:45:10 AM PDT by rintense
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To: wtc911

I like people who no speak with forked tongue.
I like people who espouse common-sense.
I tend to like people who are vigorously demonized by the Left and the elitists.
I like people I can trust.
I would have no fear whatsoever of a Palin Presidency.


79 posted on 04/19/2010 6:45:11 AM PDT by Maverick68 (w)
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To: reaganaut1

Who gives a sh_t what you and uber mittwipe beta quin hillyer thinks? Nobody.


80 posted on 04/19/2010 6:45:15 AM PDT by JApost
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