Posted on 07/08/2009 1:25:18 PM PDT by Kaslin
The soon to be former governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin, is like one of those souffles my mother sometimes made. The recipe warned against premature removal from the oven because the dish would collapse.
That is the saga of Gov. Palin. Prematurely plucked from relative obscurity by John McCain and touted as a rising star by many Republican conservatives, Palin collapsed. Though she was treated unfairly and in ways that no liberal woman would have been -- not even Hillary Clinton -- she clearly was not prepared to discuss the issues, the command of which -- or least familiarity of which -- are essential to anyone seeking national office.
Palin energized the shrinking Republican base, but could never get beyond them to connect with independents and conservative Democrats who might have taken her seriously had she displayed more seriousness. It is not enough to talk about what has been lost in America. One must speak of a vision for the future and ways to reach it.
Many commentators are speculating whether quitting as governor is good or bad political strategy. Few want to take Palin's word at face value, that she is tired of the ethics probes (all but two of the 15 ethics complaints filed against her have been dismissed with no findings of wrongdoing) and the big media's refusal to examine her accomplishments as governor and the substance of her views. Fair enough. But anyone running for national office must traverse a media gauntlet -- with the notable exception of Barack Obama and his worshipful media disciples. While conservatives can expect worse treatment than liberals, they can prevail with the right strategy.
It was unfair to Palin to have been selected as McCain's running mate so soon after the birth of her youngest child, especially one with Down syndrome, and the pregnancy of her teenage daughter. Either event would have required more motherly attention than usual, but both demand a level of emotional energy that no human being can muster while running for vice president.
If Palin is to have a future in national politics (assuming she wants one) there are several steps she must take. First, she needs a complete makeover. The big media will never admit they were wrong in their judgments, but they might write stories about the "new Sarah Palin." She should hit the books and learn as much as she can about the modern world, history and court cases. She should read newspapers so that when future interviewers hit her with questions, she can dazzle them like a "Jeopardy" champion.
What she should not do is become a cable TV pundit. That's too predictable. Instead, she might follow Ronald Reagan's example and deliver a daily radio commentary. Radio takes the focus away from outward appearance and places it on the substance of what is said. She should write these commentaries herself, as Reagan did, and the outlets ought to include mainstream stations, as well as conservative and Christian ones.
Palin should hire a speech coach and follow that person's advice. She has a pleasant enough speaking voice, but the tone needs to be adjusted, as do her word choices. "You betcha" should be banned from her vocabulary. Such slang may resonate well with some people, but national candidates should have rhetoric that soars and gets attention.
Lastly, she needs a hair, makeup and wardrobe makeover. She is a beautiful woman, but appearance should not be the first thing one reacts to when people look at her.
There aren't many second acts in politics because the media tend to gobble people up and constantly search for the "new" and exciting. Sarah Palin can be "born again" in a political sense and excite beyond her base if she allows herself to be "baked" at the proper temperature and for the right amount of time. If she does that, she may emerge again and this time she'll rise, not fall.
I was being sarcastic, he just gave his opinion.
“In other words, according to him, Sarah needs to just NOT be herself.”
You got that message too, eh? These guys just don’t get it - when she was giving her speech at the convention, I turned to my wife and said, “She’s US!” She got my vote - McCain just happened to be in the line of voting fire...
Colonel, USAFR
I think Hillary Clinton would rather be Sarah Palin right now.
Only 18 months ago, everyone on Planet Earth was convinced Ms. Clinton would become the 44th President of the United States. Now she is political pond scum.
Everyone is now saying Palin is finished. We shall see.
Prematurely plucked?
When is a politician deemed ‘ripe’?
Is there a chart we can follow?
Oh get off your RDS. If Romney had gotten the nomination and had been elected, you can bet our country would be in much shape then it is with that arrogant lying pos we have in the People’s House. And just to piss you off. he will get my vote if he runs in 2012 and so will Sarah if she runs
However what Cal Thomas said rubs the wrong way, I think he makes this valid point: Sarah Palin needs to grow as a statesman. And she knows this. And she plans on doing just that. She was a sitting duck in the governor’s office. Now she’s a moving target. And she moves fabulously! She will now be nimbly able to simultaneously get current on all pertinent issues, become the power center in terms of influence, fundraising and campaigning that would make the RNC drool with envy and expose the legacy media for the fools that they are.
It took a bit of time to grow the Ronald Reagan that we came to know. Sarah will benefit from the process. As will we!
Gems are created by exposing elements to intense heat and pressure.
Sarah is a gem that no pundit has a tool with which to shape her as they would, and as a result, she gets even more pressure and heat than most gems.
Bang away media.. at your own peril.
I need to send Ole Cal there a bill for the time I wasted reading this leftist Crapola of his.
You must have missed this part, this is exactly what he suggested.
Instead, she might follow Ronald Reagan's example and deliver a daily radio commentary.
The assumption being, the recipe was for a souffle. But maybe it was just for a good solid omelette prepared ranch-style. And there is nothing wrong with that.
Sarah is what Sarah is, and needs make no compromise with life. For that would be the worst of mischief, that she should conform to the image that the arbitrators of taste dictate for “women of a certain age”. Sarah will NEVER be a “woman of a certain age”, even though she may be a grandmother.
May she go on big game hunts for years to come, and cheerfully gut fish freshly pulled from the sea. Skills learned on the basketball court have served her well since then, and she is still much quicker of mind and spirit than almost all of her detractors.
Think leering Dave Letterman. He STILL burns.
Yes, I also—as in like him—think she’d be better off doing radio than tv. I agree with him on that point!
My opinon is that she needs to stay away from the 0bama networks
I don't give a flying frig how you vote, Romneyite.
Thank you for posting this, Kaslin.
Ol’ Cal. Senile, over-the-hill, useless. It must suck to be him.
You might not agree with him but he’s been quite good
Cal. You're sounding like a beltway insider. I'm disappointed in you.
Typical Washington snobs. This was the exact same attitude towards Reagan in the 1970s. Exactly!
Truth Bump!
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