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What exactly is wrong with Sarah Palin as a candidate?
The Gainesville Sun ^ | January 26, 2011 | LTC William Dixon, M.D.

Posted on 01/26/2011 9:43:02 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

Rush Limbaugh is fond of saying the left will always tell you whom they fear by making that person the focus of their most virulent attacks. The left despises Sarah Palin. They say she is stupid and incapable of ever assuming the role of president. They mock her education, (B.S. University of Idaho), her small town background and her political accomplishments ( 2006 - 2009 Governor of Alaska ). When she resigned the governorship, they said she was a quitter. Just recently, the left indicted her as being responsible for the shooting of Congresswoman Gibbs in Arizona.

But what of pundits on the right, the Peggy Noonan-Karl Rove types? They hold Palin in equally low esteem. And what of conservative women? Many just viscerally dislike her. Ask them about Palin. You’ll get a response which begins with a shaking of the head and some comment about being inexperienced. Press them for facts. You will find most of these women ignorant of Palin’s background and remarkable accomplishments. Why is that?

Is it because Sarah Palin does not look at all like the admired but camera-challenged women in government, such as Hillary Clinton and Justice Sotomeyer? She has not the stern, formal look of a Maggie Thatcher, the British Prime Minister who turned around England’s economy nor of Golda Meir, the tough former leader of Israel. Palin is softer, attractive, plain spoken albeit with a sometimes irritating voice. Does her appearance put people, especially women, off?

All but three of our presidents in the last hundred years graduated from elite universities, often with law degrees. Truman did not attend college. Ike graduated from West Point, and Reagan graduated from Eureka College in Illinois. Those three are considered among the best of presidents by most. Reagan and Truman were thought stupid by some. Is it that Palin did not graduate from an elite university that causes some conservative pundits to reject her as unintelligent?

George W. Bush was considered stupid and incompetent by the governing elite because he actually believed in God and prayed daily. This despite two Ivy League degrees.

Sarah Palin is openly Christian and prays regularly. She was president of a Christian group in high school. She is “pro life” and rejected terminating her last pregnancy when she found she was carrying a baby with Down’s Syndrome. Perhaps that is the problem for some of her critics.

It seems unlikely that her performance as mayor of Wasilla, cutting taxes while expanding the town’s facilities so that it could grow, would be anything but a plus. Just so her role as a member of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. She outed two corrupt officials, one of whom was chairman of the state Republican Party.

Was she wrong in running for governor to oust a corrupt and wasteful officer of her own political party? Was it lack of wisdom which led her to sell the state plane, cut expenses of her office by 75 percent and pass a bipartisan ethics bill? Was she impolite in chasing away the oil company lobbyists so that she could start work on a stalled pipeline for natural gas? Not likely.

President Obama was elected because he appeared to be extraordinary. His academic pedigree and soaring rhetoric shielded from voters his appalling lack of real-world experience and complete lack of substantial accomplishments. His presidency is struggling.

By contrast, Sarah Palin, despite her talents and obvious achievements, seems very ordinary. Americans, believing the smears and punditry, will likely reject Palin without really getting to know her. Once again the nod will go to a member of the cultural elite, a group which has routinely failed to govern well.

*****

William Dixon is a graduate of Columbia University, New York Medical College and the USF College of Business Administration. He was an assistant professor of surgery at the University of Georgia before entering private practice. He served in the Army as a surgeon and as a Special Forces Officer, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Dr. Dixon can be reached at Wdixon16@yahoo.com.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2012; abortion; elites; obama; palin; presidentpalin; prolife; sarahpalin
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To: Retired Greyhound

C’mon, man up.

She’ll only be a bad candidate if people like you give up on her.


101 posted on 01/26/2011 10:57:51 AM PST by altura
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To: RedStateRocker; sickoflibs; hiredhand
her fans are as annoying, very annoying. Most of them are more about being in love with her, or seeking the second coming of Ronald Reagan.

I believe she has some potential, but honestly, for all the positives that people sing about, i believe it does simply look like puppy-love to ignore the rest, sometimes in a militant manner...

She promulgates some things i like, some I disagree with, but the idiots who take any criticism of her personally are as annoying as Obamabots

if only a birdie would get in her ear and get her to clarify some of the 'less than' positions, maybe the huddled masses would drop the Mother Mary type idolotry...

102 posted on 01/26/2011 11:00:14 AM PST by Gilbo_3 (Gov is not reason; not eloquent; its force.Like fire,a dangerous servant & master. George Washington)
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To: Gen. Burkhalter

Going to pounce?????

They’ve pounced ever since she stepped onto the big picture.

And, by the way, have you noticed that any thread about Sarah Palin immediately gets many, many responses.

She just excites and ignites. She COULD win.


103 posted on 01/26/2011 11:00:55 AM PST by altura
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
So if I pick you to be a major party nominee for vice president of the United States, arguably the second most important position in the whole wide world, you’d backstab me two years later by not endorsing me because some of your followers won’t like it? Remind me to never pick you for any team I’m on....

I find it amazing that so many on FR cannot make the connection between ideology and party politics. They think it is just about ideology.

104 posted on 01/26/2011 11:02:24 AM PST by Erik Latranyi (Too many conservatives urge retreat when the war of politics doesn't go their way.)
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To: altura

I agree that people shouldn’t give up on her. “Electability” is never a good reason to support a candidate. Ideology and character are much more important.

On the other hand, believing that she can win the general election is putting a lot of faith into a shallow electorate that just two years ago voted a vapant, cheesy, and sophomoric figure to the office of POTUS.

Palin’s not the problem. The American voters are.


105 posted on 01/26/2011 11:08:06 AM PST by Retired Greyhound
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
You don't get "flak" until your over the target..
Most republican get ZERO "flak"..

Bachmann is getting much "flak" as well..

"NO FLAK"... no bombs to bomb with..

106 posted on 01/26/2011 11:08:29 AM PST by hosepipe (This propaganda has been edited to include some fully orbed hyperbole....)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I agree with you in your analysis that someone who is considered to be more savvy and have a degree that tickles the ears will win the nomination. Unless the rest of us do our part and turn off the nonsense, and get behind the best candidates. By best, I do not mean the ones most likely to win, but the best candidates for America, regardless of their so-called pedigree.


107 posted on 01/26/2011 11:09:13 AM PST by Shery (in APO Land)
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To: altura

Yes of course they have ALREADY pounced. But SP as a private citizen can simply ignore them if she pleases. As a presidential candidate, you have to respond to EVERYTHING unfortunately.

BTW—I truly detest the way presidential campaigns are conducted in this country—often starting two years before they are supposed to start. Wish we could go back to the days of McKinley who campaigned from his front porch.


108 posted on 01/26/2011 11:10:14 AM PST by Gen. Burkhalter
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

The left knows they prey on women and get them to vote liberal. Toss in a strong conservative women as President and they know women will folllow her and empty the liberal ranks. It would put the Democrats/Liberals in the back seat for 50 years.


109 posted on 01/26/2011 11:15:20 AM PST by CodeToad (Islam needs to be banned in the US and treated as a criminal enterprise.)
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To: Shery

I will raise $2 million dollars for Gov. Sarah Palin if she decides to run and I will wear out shoe leather and talk myself hoarse on her behalf. I wouldn’t get off the couch for Gomer McRomneylenty.


110 posted on 01/26/2011 11:16:51 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (Please donate to FreeRepublic, sanity in a world gone mad!)
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To: Porterville
Well, I was going to advise on your CC comment, but it appears that the hill has been taken.

(Oh, is that too militaristic? Tango Serra, PC ***wipes)

Sarah is anything BUT a "goofball"

But if you prefer a RINO there is Mitwitt or a PRIC there is Huckleberry. A glance at the overall trends in polls indicate few others with any potential whatsoever of having enough name recognition to have a snowballs chance. But a push to nominate a Mitt Huckagrinch (RINO/PRIC) will make George Stephanopoulos’s job quite easy.

Sarah is right on almost all the issues.

Sarah is most everyone’s second choice.

They may have a few grumbles but most everyone that is not an Øbot, a commie, or a watermelon will vote for her over little bammy.

Sarah or bammy? What do you think folks will do?

.

111 posted on 01/26/2011 11:20:51 AM PST by TLI ( ITINERIS IMPENDEO VALHALLA)
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To: Retired Greyhound

You are suggesting that Palin is unqualified because the Democrats and the left hate her.

I am saying that picking a candidate liked by the Democrats and media has not been a winning strategy. If there are only subtle difference between the candidates, why vote?


112 posted on 01/26/2011 11:22:23 AM PST by listenhillary (20 years in Reverend Wright's church is all I need to determine the "content of his character")
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To: listenhillary

Sorry - this post was the one that generated my original disdain for picking the candidate that the media liked. Sorry

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2663600/posts?page=3#3


113 posted on 01/26/2011 11:24:07 AM PST by listenhillary (20 years in Reverend Wright's church is all I need to determine the "content of his character")
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To: listenhillary

I’ve never said she is unqualified at all. Quite the contrary.

Just don’t think she’ll win. She may actually be the preferred MSM candidate.

I just don’t want 4 more years of Obama, nor do I want a RINO.


114 posted on 01/26/2011 11:25:37 AM PST by Retired Greyhound
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To: TLI
I said Chris Christie not the others - I hope he pulls off some more bona fide, because to me he is very authentic.
115 posted on 01/26/2011 11:28:53 AM PST by Porterville (Methink'st thou art a general offence and every man should beat thee.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

True. I’ve seen Palin personally, when she was in Wasilla working for that city. She was extraordinary - smart, talented, focused. Sadly, I think the writer is correct in his predictions, too.


116 posted on 01/26/2011 11:37:16 AM PST by redpoll
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
I hope he's wrong.


If you can't appreciate the pure beauty of the violin after hearing this, something's wrong with your ears.

117 posted on 01/26/2011 11:39:40 AM PST by rdb3 (The mouth is the exhaust pipe of the heart.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Maybe it's the thorn in her side:

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

118 posted on 01/26/2011 11:54:49 AM PST by randog (Tap into America!)
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To: Porterville
I want a serious candidate like Chris Christie.... the boy plays hardball without drama.

Chris Christie is not who you think he is.

Check last Thursdays Levin Show, guest host takes Christie to task for a lot of good reasons. Get past the Intro stuff about Kennedy.

119 posted on 01/26/2011 11:56:31 AM PST by itsahoot (Almost everything I post is Sarcastic, since I have no sense of humor about politics.)
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To: proudpapa

“Thank you... Thank you very much”

EP


120 posted on 01/26/2011 11:58:25 AM PST by LibLieSlayer (WOLVERINES!!!)
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