Palin, Walker and a Missed Opportunity

shibumi's brain | 6/6/2012 | shibumi

[shibumi]

I personally like Sarah Palin quite a bit. Obviously she's an attractive woman. That never hurts for a start. Added to that, there is depth of character, exemplified by her choosing life for her most recent child and her successful marriage. These are qualities that drive the rabble on the left wild. Someone out there actually walks the walk that they talk.

That said, I find myself frustrated over that cat and mouse game she has played with her non-candidacy on the heels of her abdication of the Alaskan Governorship.

I suppose this came to mind today in the light of Scott walker showing just how a Governor can do the right thing in an extremely hostile environment and survive the challenges that ensue. (Did I just say "survive?" Heck, Walker just curb stomped his opposition in masterful fashion.)

Sarah Palin has been attacked from the left for a supposed lack of historical acumen and intellectual depth. While giving a pass to amorphous figures running on a Liberal agenda the consensus seems to be that anyone aspiring to office from the Right must have a blend of Jeffersonian practicality along with Platonic sophistication and the historical perspective of Gibbon and Voltaire.

Palin, her handlers and her faithful have all danced around trying to rationalize and/or disprove her intellectual credentials, not realizing that the lack thereof is not a liability. It is, in fact what makes her likeable and trustworthy.

The presentation does not even have to be Reaganesque. It can be as simple as this:

"I'm not an economic expert, but I'll put people in the Cabinet who understand Capitalism, the negative impact of taxes and the dynamics of a free market.

I'm not a soldier. But I'll give the Generals a long leash and a simple mission. And playing politics won't be part of their job description.

I love my family. You're free to love who you will and have whatever happiness you can eke out in this life. But you'll not mock and trash the Christian traditions of this nation while doing it.

You are welcome to emigrate here. Go wait in line or sign up for the military. Serve in the nation's defense and earn your citizenship.

Drill, Baby, Drill!

I sure as heck don't know it all. But I'll find good people."

Simple statements like these could have been readily understood by the voters and grasped by her less-than-Phi-Beta-Kappa mind. She would not have to worry about flubbing in public because she could say these things in her own inimitably folksy sort of way.

But instead, we have the faithful trying to make out that her judgement, strategy and acumen are above reproach. They've ruined a perfectly good candidate with over adulation.

The current usurpatious resident of the White House should be ample proof that great sophistication is no prerequisite for a successful candidacy. And the Walker Win in Wisconsin shows that making the hard choices and sticking by them is a winning strategy.

[Dave W]

Those sentences are the most self aware and patronizing comments I have read in a long time. You just have to tell us your thoughtful thoughts.

I really thank you for understanding Sarah and I'm sure she is grateful, too.

[shibumi]

"You just have to tell us your thoughtful thoughts."

Well, some people like 'em and some people don't.

Them's the breaks.

[Springfield Reformer]

“We don’t worship our leaders”

Nobody I know who backed Palin worshipped her. This is just another attack vector. Take something good, like respect for accomplishments, skills, etc., and turn it into a vice, as false worship certainly is. This mode of attack was a particularly effective way to stir up negative emotions because the accused instinctively knows the difference between worship and respect, and then proceeds to waste valuable bandwidth denying a charge no thoughtful accuser would really believe themselves.

As for your assessment of Palin, shibumi, it is too condescending to be credible. People do want a presidential candidate with outstanding qualifications, and it trivializes both Sarah and the Presidency to suggest she would be a “great candidate” without being exceptionally qualified.

My dad used to refer to what he called “damning with faint praise.” Like bashing, it is a means of diminishing someone’s reputation. But because it is more subtle than outright bashing, it is often more effective, especially when it is lightly salted with half truths.

For example, it is true Sarah was not the product of an Ivy League sorority. That’s the true half of the half truth. The untrue part is the inference that Ivy League credentials have any bearing whatsoever on real intellect. Again referring to my dad, he was a professional educator and principal, well educated himself (University of Chicago) and he would often remind me that our usual metrics for intelligence are incomplete at best and often have a weak correlation to overall life performance.

Sarah’s extraordinary intelligence has been made evident by several means, including her gift with writing and language, an area my dad indicated was a good benchmark for high general intelligence. Surprisingly, a sharp wit is a corollary indicator of high intelligence. Her ability to extract the essential irony from a situation and craft it into an effective and entertaining nightstick is, dare I say it, legendary.

Then there is her capacity for strategic planning and leadership, along with all the subskills that go with that, and there are many. She showcased these abilities in abundance during her tenure as governor.

As for how to characterize her stepping down from office, you can be a glass half full or a glass half empty person as you see fit. It is a free country, after all. For myself, I see what she did as a powerful recommendation of her character and her flexibility in finding winning strategies under difficult conditions. The structure of Alaska law limited her choices in how to respond to the loophole her opponents were exploiting to attack her and her state.

So, for the greater good, she did the unthinkable; she set aside her political ego and executed a strategic retreat. George Washington did that too. A lot. It saved his men, and it saved the country. Nothing wrong with solving an apparently unwinnable scenario by an unexpected act of selflessness. In chess a well-played sacrifice is seen as the mark of an accomplished expert at the game. I for one have genuine difficulty seeing how this is a negative.

[shibumi]

"Nobody I know who backed Palin worshipped her"

We must have a different notion of what constitutes worship.

"As for your assessment of Palin, shibumi, it is too condescending to be credible."

Funny. Condescending is exactly the way I would describe your lecture on "damning with faint praise," measures of intelligence, the nature of half-truths and the questionable worth of Ivy League credentials, on which count, by the way, I would wholeheartedly agree with you.

I would however, like to thank you for a reasoned response.

[bicyclerepair]

What, JoeProBono is the only one who followed the RULES, people?????

[shibumi]

That’s why I put him on the initial ping.

Joe is nothing if not reliable.

[bd476]

This thread has been a puzzle reading the diverging interpretations of something which in my opinion, has built in clarity. It almost seems an attempt to obfuscate by some but then I understood what you wrote from the beginning. /shrug

[Springfield Reformer]

I think probably we do have different ideas about worship. For me, I only worship God. I have respect for accomplished people. The only human I see as perfect is Jesus, and he’s still God. So other than a crude ridicule tactic, I don’t get why people would take the respect we have for Palin and make it into “worship.” It isn’t true. I only worship God. Everybody else is on probation.

And I know most other Palinistas felt exactly the same way, so the “worship” meme has only ever been a false smear tactic as far as I’m concerned.

As for condescension, well, it’s a problem. I’m used to more formal writing styles, so that formality gets in there. On top of which we don’t know each other in person, so it makes it more challenging to know exactly what the best way to get an idea across is.

For example, I’m an older guy, and “damning with faint praise” is an older expression some young people maybe never heard before. I don’t know. But I decided to use it because it really is an exact expression of what I think you were doing (perhaps unintentionally) by asking us to lower our expectations of Sarah’s intellectual capacity. I see no need to go there. I think she’s very smart, and I tried to give you what a trained, experienced, professional educator like my dad would use as a rough and ready measure of her intelligence. I meant no condescension.

[Daffynition]

I want a fireplace with a remote control.

[shibumi]

That’s a more reasonable comment than some I’ve read tonight.

[Diogenesis]

You want to blame McCain for Team Romney's assault on
Gov. Palin?

WRONG.

McCain was as a bad a candidate as is Romney.
A CERTAIN LOSER. None the less:

---

Romney for Obama in 2008

Late in October, The American Spectator's The Prowler revealed:
"Former Mitt Romney presidential campaign staffers…
have been involved in spreading anti-Palin spin to reporters, seeking to diminish her standing after the election.
'Sarah Palin is a lightweight, she won't be the first, not even the third, person people will think of when it comes to 2012,'
says one former Romney aide…
'The only serious candidate ready to challenge to lead the Republican Party is Mitt Romney.
"Some former Romney aides were behind the recent leaks to media, including CNN, that Governor Sarah Palin was a 'diva' and was going off message intentionally."

---

The Palmetto Scoop reported: "One of the first stories to hit the national airwaves was
the claim of a major internal strife between close McCain aides and the folks handling his running mate Sarah Palin."
"I’m told by very good sources that this was indeed the case and that a rift had developed, but it was between Palin’s people and the staffers brought on from the failed presidential campaign of former Gov. Mitt Romney, not McCain aides."
"The sources said nearly 80 percent of Romney’s former staff was absorbed by McCain and these individuals were responsible for what amounts to a premeditated, last-minute sabotage of Palin."
… aides loyal to Romney inside the McCain campaign, said The Scoop, reportedly saw
that Palin would be a serious contender for the Republican nomination in 2012 or 2016, which made her a threat to another presidential quest by Romney.

---

"These staffers are now out trying to finish her off ….hoping it would ingratiate themselves with Mitt Romney."

---

"Who's the Palin Leaker from the McCain Campaign?
National Review Online The publication of a Vanity Fair profile of Sarah Palin
appears to have opened old wounds in the McCain campaign.
... the source of the “Diva” leak was Nicolle Wallace’s husband."

---

"Peeking Out From the McCain Wreckage: Mitt Romney"

"Someone's got to say it: IS MITT ROMNEY RESPONSIBLE FOR OBAMA'S VICTORY?"

"Vanity: Team Romney Sabotaged Palin and Continuing to Do So?"

"Romney Supporters Trashing Palin"

"Romney advisors sniping at Palin?"

---

[humblegunner]

you can’t compare this to Scott Walker case

You're right.

Walker fought back, stuck it out.. and won.

Palin? Not so much.

[Daffynition]

Ut oh. :)

Well it *might* seem more sensible than trying too rub two sticks together to invent a wheel.

[Josephat]

What should I call what she did by resigning?

How about giving up personal power for the good of the state? These people were not going to stop with their frivolous suits and state recourses were being wasted. The only way to stop that was to give up her power. How many politicians would have done the same?

[hrh40]

Read your article and all the comments.

No one, including yourself, has mentioned the BIGGEST - IMO - difference between Walker and Palin.

To wit, national and state GOP support.

Palin had - and has had - zero support from either group.

Since she exposed the AK GOP chair for corruption, forcing him to pay a fine and resign from the AOGCC - but NOT the GOP Chairmanship - the AK GOP has not supported her. In fact, they worked against her in her gubernatorial races and didn’t even list her on their website until after she was picked as McCain’s VP.

So when she went back to AK and underwent the now-changed Dem attitude and assault on her governorship, she had no state GOP support.

As far as the national GOP leadership, they are still rueing the day that McCain picked “that woman” for his VP.

For example, Michael Steel, who had been complimentary of her was ousted as quickly as possible as RNC Chair.

For example, the GOP was SILENT last year when Palin was accused of mass murder in the Giffords case. But see how they FLOCKED to defend Bain Capital and to defend Ann Romney over the “she hasn’t worked a day in her life” comment.

The national GOP has fought and undermined Palin at every turn even since she was still the VP nominee!!

Check out the series of articles at the Breitbart Big sites from March when the HBO hit piece “Game Change” came out.

Oh, and that is another example of how the national GOP was SILENT to defend their 2008 VP nom against the lies in that Steve Schmidt propaganda piece.

Walker himself, in obedience to the GOP leadership, has NEVER acknowledged, for example, Palin’s inspiring speech last April in Madison when the union thugs tried to shout her down.

So.

The BIG difference between Walker winning as governor and Palin resigning is that he has party support.

I believe that’s also a BIG reason why Palin did not run for the GOP nomination.

She knew the Rovian GOP with it handpicked lackey Rence Priebus (take out the consonants and get RNC PR BS) who just happens to also be a Wisconsonite, which explains his support for Walker, would actively work against her.

See what they did to Newt Gingrich?

Worse would have been done to Palin.

By her own side.

The friendly fire would have been far worse than the general.

IMO, Palin would have won the general election in a landslide.

It’s the GOP primary that would have been toughest.

Compare it to the 2004 Boston Red Sox and their EPIC comeback in the ALCS from 0-3 against the Yankees.

Then the World Series was a 4-0 sweep of the Cardinals.

I think Palin could have eaked out a primary win against the friendly fire. And then would have shellacked Obama in the general.

Palin thought differently.

She knows more than I do.

[GOP Poet]

the backstabber Romney who threw Election 2008 to Obama.

I didn't say anything about Palin in my post to you. I am responding to this comment of yours which is based in some lala land reality you seem to live in.

Romney wasn't our candidate in 2008 McCain was and McCain laid down and handed the election to Obama. That is a fact. Romney was the GOP nominee and was not up against Obama in 2008. You are living in a fantasy land if you think Romney and Obama were running against each other in 2008.

[GOP Poet]

Romney was NOT the GOP nominee up against Obama in 2008. McCain was and handed the presidential election to Obama.

Reality 1

and

Reality 2

Please consult the basic facts regarding the history of the 2008 election readily available on the web.

[Diogenesis]

Team Romney attacked Gov. Palin (VP Candidate)
before the election.

Mr. RomneyCARE has NEVER apologized.

Therefore, RomneyCARE is ineligible three ways.

[GOP Poet]

the backstabber Romney who threw Election 2008 to Obama.

There is a reason I keep posting your original claim that I commented about as being bizarre and completely a lie.

You keep trying in your posts to dodge that you said this and it is utterly and completely a lie. No dodging can evade that fact. That is what you said. You are lying and no manipulation or any or bizarre reality you create that doesn't even begin to make sense will change your original lie.

Honestly Diogenesis you have an obsession that is beyond healthy and is completely disconnected from reality. I think it is time for some serious medication and therapy. It is your last hope hear.

Or better yet maybe God will intervene and strike you right, but either way you are beyond logical help.

[RichInOC]

It’s hard to be patient and kind when the criticism of Palin and her supporters is the same old unfair, untrue, and after four years, boring crap, and the constructive advice to her is, in effect, “If you did what you’ve been doing all along, people might like you better as a candidate. I definitely would.” She did exactly what you suggested. And continues to do so. Rather well, actually. At least as well, and in most cases better than, anybody in this campaign or the last. And it didn’t work. At least not with the “smart” people. The “smart” people, including many on FR, still said “no, Palin’s stupid, she’s unserious, she’s unorganized, she’s inarticulate, she’s only out for herself, anybody is better than Palin”. And they continue to do so. Even as the the other candidates and (although he’s less thoroughly disappointing than I expected) the probable nominee proved otherwise. So let’s say she does what you say she should (or actually, continues to do what she’s been doing). What precisely is going to change for her detractors in 2016 or 2020 (or whenever)? Being proven wrong on the campaign trail didn’t change them. What will? I’m not sure anything will. I would bet good money that Palin could be as impressive as hell between now and the next couple of elections, and yet when somebody brings up her name as a possible candidate, no matter how masterfully she does what you say, we’ll hear the exact same snark, the exact same sneering, the exact same comments on her daring to go out and make money, and the same BS excuses as to why she can’t be the nominee, she can’t win, la la la la la. And BS excuses are exactly what they are. No, Sarah Palin didn’t miss an opportunity in 2012 so much as the GOP and the conservative movement did. And they seem fully intent on missing a few more.

And with all due respect to Scott Walker...he’s a fine human being, a kick-ass conservative politician, and he has definitely had a rough ride at times. But not as rough as Sarah Palin did. Not even close. To suggest he did is just absurd.