I'll compare my “poor side of the railroad tracks” chops with anyone here. Save your class warfare for someone else.
I'm speaking as a retired military officer who spent decades refining his own military bearing and helping younger officers develop theirs. One of the special challenges female leaders must overcome is the tendency to raise the pitch of their voice as well as its volume when they get animated. It is off-putting and can create, in extreme cases, the impression of hysterics. Sarah does get close to that at times when shouting over a crowd. If I wasn't video challenged I would post an example or two. It gives the left additional opportunities to mis-characterize her as a flaky cheerleader rather than the deeply intellectual person she is. In those cases, she should lower her voice and let the PA system do the heavy lifting, or just smile patiently until the crowd settles enough for her to continue. A lot of ladies don't understand the attention grabbing power of the female voice when you take it down an octave. Thatcher was a master.
There is a composure that is critical for strategic leaders to develop so that they can outwardly appear to be rock of calm and security when all heck is breaking loose around them. People are drawn to this. Yes, snooty European (particularly British) aristocracy has made an art of this technique, but for good reason.
I find Sarah very difficult to listen to. I LOVE to read her speeches but hate to hear them. You are correct that I probably shouldn't have picked two elitist Brits as my examples of good female orators - there are many around the world and in this country I could have used. I know it sounds demeaning to focus so much on style, but at the strategic leader level, style is as important as substance.
I thought both your posts were excellent and very thought-provoking, especially your post 159 about Sarah’s voice. I’ve been a total supporter of hers for four years, and more than one person in agreement with me has mentioned her voice being shrill - even a dear friend in Texas (and if a Texas woman’s voice can’t shatter glass, nothing can - I mean that as humor, not unkindness) Sarah’s voice never bothered me at all, but you made very good points.
Welcome to FR, by the way - I see you’re rather new, and I think you’re a good addition.