Palin's a Brainiac

The Daily Beast ^ | October 27, 2008 | Elaine Lafferty

[ari-freedom]

The former editor in chief of Ms. magazine (and a Democrat) on what she learned on a campaign plane with the would-be VP.

It's difficult not to froth when one reads, as I did again and again this week, doubts about Sarah Palin's “intelligence,” coming especially from women such as PBS's Bonnie Erbe, who, as near as I recall, has not herself heretofore been burdened with the Susan Sontag of Journalism moniker. As Fred Barnes—God help me, I'm agreeing with Fred Barnes—suggests in the Weekly Standard, these high toned and authoritative dismissals come from people who have never met or spoken with Sarah Palin. Those who know her, love her or hate her, offer no such criticism. They know what I know, and I learned it from spending just a little time traveling on the cramped campaign plane this week: Sarah Palin is very smart.

I'm a Democrat, but I've worked as a consultant with the McCain campaign since shortly after Palin's nomination. Last week, there was the thought that as a former editor-in-chief of Ms. magazine as well as a feminist activist in my pre-journalism days, I might be helpful in contributing to a speech that Palin had long wanted to give on women's rights.

What is often called her “confidence” is actually a rarity in national politics: I saw a woman who knows exactly who she is.

[ari-freedom]

"Now by “smart,” I don't refer to a person who is wily or calculating or nimble in the way of certain talented athletes who we admire but suspect don't really have serious brains in their skulls. I mean, instead, a mind that is thoughtful, curious, with a discernable pattern of associative thinking and insight. Palin asks questions, and probes linkages and logic that bring to mind a quirky law professor I once had. Palin is more than a “quick study”; I'd heard rumors around the campaign of her photographic memory and, frankly, I watched it in action. She sees. She processes. She questions, and only then, she acts. What is often called her “confidence” is actually a rarity in national politics: I saw a woman who knows exactly who she is."

[des]

wow...read the comments.

[des]

wow...read the comments.

[FlyVet]

Last month a prominent feminist blogger, echoing that sensibility, declared that the media was wrongly buying into the false idea that Palin was a feminist. Why? Well, just because she said she was a feminist, because she supported women's rights and opportunities, equal pay, Title IV—that was just “empty rhetoric,” they said. At least the blogger didn't go as far as NOW's Kim Gandy and declare that Palin was not a woman. Bottom line: you are not a feminist until we say you are.

You're not a feminist until you agree that scraping fetuses is a good thing.

[Cedar]

Most of the comments are by rabid feminists who most likely do not like men and, therefore, will put down Palin because she is married.

By writing a reasonable article, the author has shown at least a few liberal feminists can still think clearly (except on the abortion issue).

[GOP Poet]

bookmark

[bellas_sister]

Palin ping...

[DoughtyOne]

I can’t express my ecstatic pleasure enough realizing a leftist has met and approves of Governor Sarah Palin. Okay folks, it alright to support Sarah now.

There are going to be leftists shocked by this article. I suppose I should realize that it may have benefit. I still can’t help but contemplate how narcissistic it is, to think that Palin needed to be vetted by someone in the media, “And hey I’m here to do it so everyone will know.”

For crying out loud. I have never needed a person from the press to explain to me that a person was worthy of my support, or not. And in this day and age of us thinking that women are pretty damned self-sufficient, isn’t it just a little strange to have a female candidate, that a female member of the press would think she had to explain to females, before they could feel comfortable about coming to their own conclusion.

My, if it doesn’t seem as if females on the left don’t think females on the left are very bright. I may be a whackado, but I’m thinking women can probably work their way through this without someone telling them what to do, just like men have been doing for hundreds of years.

Pardon me ladies. This was just the opinion of a filthy Conservative, so you may want to dismiss my comments, or better yet, get one of your sisters to translate them for you.

[Rummyfan]

What is often called her “confidence” is actually a rarity in national politics: I saw a woman who knows exactly who she is.

And therein lies Governor Sarah Palin's appeal.

[DB]

Frankly you can't be much of a brainiac to call Palin stupid. Particularly when doing it in the face of obvious evidence to the contrary...

[Ann Archy]

It’s called Common Sense and DISCERNMENT.....knowing right from wrong.....knowing a bullcrapper from an honest person.....it USED to be almost EVERY AMERICAN had this quality.

[Madame Dufarge]

I can’t express my ecstatic pleasure enough realizing a leftist has met and approves of Governor Sarah Palin.

I agree, but something's going on deep in the bowels of the Democrat party.

Since their acolytes dismiss out of hand anything that conservative Republicans have to say, only one of their own can plant seeds that might germinate.

I thought this article (found at the link) pretty interesting.

The writer defends Sarah Palin and Joe the Plumber.

So Long Democrats A Speechwriter for Obama, Edwards, and Clinton on Why She’s Voting McCain by Wendy Button

[TXnMA]

"Will Palin's time come next week? I don't know. But her time will come."

No matter what happens a week from now,

Palin/Jindal 2012

or...

Jindal/Palin 2012

[longtermmemmory]

nonsense, focus on the current race. all else is a distration.

OBAMA WAS ESPOUSING MARXISM AT HIS RALLY IN PENNSYLVANIA!!!!!

Employees can't be fired!
Peacecorps treated the same as military on GI BILL!
Wall Street TAXED INTO SUBMISSION!!




ww WE NEED VOLUNTEERS.

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[allmendream]

And while completely ignoring the musing of Senator “brain damage” Biden, the stupidest man in the Senate (which is saying something). Actually stupid is a judgment call, but one I am prepared to make, but brain damaged (from two aneurysms) is a matter of public record.

[TXnMA]

"nonsense, focus on the current race. all else is a distration [SIC]."

You must be a lousy chess player: unable to keep moving while planning several steps ahead...

BTW, thanks for the nice display of tools, but you're "preaching to the choir":

A number of my graphics works are being used in the campaign; I'm sure you have seen this one, at least...

[ParadigmLost]

wow... read the comments is right!

The venom and pure hate shown there is amazing. The author has just been mugged by her own and will now either, write a hit piece to get back in their good graces, or think about what she is seeing and begin to question if her other belief’s are also wrong.

A republican may have been formed there. Or not.

[longtermmemmory]

chess is predictable. fixed moves. fixed potential.

poker is the game here.
you have to be able to see the con job or there will be no move to make.

master fizbin, that’s a man’s game.
(of course only if you want a Piece of the Action)

[DoughtyOne]

That’s why early on in my comments, I did touch on the possible beneficial affects of her comments. I suppose it’s not much different than our folks preaching to the choir. Although she is going against the grain, she is also preaching to the choir she is a member of, all but for this election.

I am very careful about building a person like this up, because these are the very people who will be trying to destroy the policies of the people they now seem to support for some curious reason. It’s as if they are hedging their bets, so they can claim objective views if McCain/Palin win. Another words, “My future criticisms won’t be totally dismissed out of hand, if they win.”

I am very leery of this type of endorsement, although it may actually be heartfelt at this time. When a Conservative policy needs to be implemented, expect this one to be against it.

[Madame Dufarge]

When a Conservative policy needs to be implemented, expect this one to be against it.

Oh, I agree wholeheartedly.

I'm looking at it like teaming up with the Russians to defeat the Nazis.