Sarah Palin: A Collapsed Souffle

Townhall.com ^ | July 8, 2009 | Cal Thomas

[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.

[rintense]

Is anyone really surprised that a FOX GOP pundit wrote this? I’m not.

[El Cid]

Hair advice? From Cal??...

Now that you mention it -- that's pretty funny.
Yup, all of these guys have an opinion and advice. Mrs. Palin just needs to keep on doing what she has been doing. Deal honestly. Be courageous. And trust the Word of the one who matters...

[El Cid]

I still like this article that Cal wrote years ago...

Cal Thomas Article on Eric Liddel

[Republic]

I love ya Cal, but I gotta say HOGWASH!

[crazyhorse691]

The comments on this thread read like an SNL parody of what FR would look like. Thomas is correct; and the silly responses to his rather obvious suggestions are downright embarrassing.

---

Thank you for proving your assertion by including your comments...

[norraad]

Cal Thomas has gone to the dark side.....,

so are the rest, it's just now w/Sarah's Light we can see the shadows.

[curth]

Everyone is now saying Palin is finished. We shall see.

---

Not everyone, only those who still think politics run the way they did pre 2008. Obama changed the way the game is played and very few understand that. These old school farts still have no idea what hit them and still try to hold conservatives to the old rules, while Obama and his gang of criminals play by their own rules. Sarah is playing by her own rules now, too.

[Diogenesis]

John Batchelor: "As a candidate, (Gov. Palin) begins the nomination hunt with a formula
that none of her rivals can match, not even (backstabber RINO) Mitt Romney,
not only because she gave up something in order to go for the
White House but also because she reached this decision by being drafted.

"What is going on right now in the Republican Party—
even as the professionals scramble to react with grins and
snorts to the news of Palin’s Alaska resignation—
are the early scenes of the 2012 campaign for the presidency
with Sarah Palin as the once and future hero. Like Joan of Arc,
Catherine the Great, Elizabeth Regina, and, skipping
four centuries of quarrelsome princes, Margaret Thatcher,
the Republican Party has already decided that the governor of Alaska
will rescue the GOP from its ruination.
What Sarah Palin begins with an announcement from
Wasilla is not only a campaign, it is an Iditarod of a crusade—
first woman, first mom, and second moose-hunter into the White House."

"In fact, the governor does not need much more than a ballot line from the aimless,
tongue-tied, villain-rich GOP. She certainly does not need the GOP to do well
in the congressional mid-terms in 2010; she does not need the party
to improve its flabby polling on health care or trust;
she does not even need the Republican Party to raise a voice
to explain her positions on the burning controversies on Capitol Hill.
Palin does not need to prove anything at all about wise government,
because she appeals directly to the anti-authoritarian crowd that has
been with us since Shay’s Rebellion in 1787."

00000000000000000000000000000000000 John Batchelor: "As a candidate, (Gov. Palin) begins the nomination hunt with a formula
that none of her rivals can match, not even (backstabber RINO) Mitt Romney,
not only because she gave up something in order to go for the
White House but also because she reached this decision by being drafted. ...

"In fact, the governor does not need much more than a ballot line from the aimless,
tongue-tied, villain-rich GOP. She certainly does not need the GOP to do well
in the congressional mid-terms in 2010; she does not need the party
to improve its flabby polling on health care or trust;
she does not even need the Republican Party to raise a voice
to explain her positions on the burning controversies on Capitol Hill.
Palin does not need to prove anything at all about wise government,
because she appeals directly to the anti-authoritarian crowd that has
been with us since Shay’s Rebellion in 1787."

"Top 20 Recipients of AIG Contributions in 2008"

[keats5]

Those who lived through Regan’s rise will recognize the same type of “helpful advice” doled out by helpful, but inferior, men.

Sarah’s not Regan, but she’s similar to him in her conservative values, moral values and boldness. She knows things instinctively that others can never learn. I do think Thomas has a point that she could benefit from further study of the political landscape, but I believe Sarah would be the first to admit that trust she has begun such a study already. Plus, she’s a remarkably quick study.

[MaggieCarta]

Unfortunately most here don’t think that Cal Thomas is entitled to his opinion.

Boy, do I know that feeling!!! ;)

It really is too bad that lately thoughtfully written articles such as this do not produce the same level of response here on FR. Or, at least refraining from calling this good writer silly names.

All any dissenter has to do is to marshal their facts and submit them to a world waiting breathlessly to hear them. (Yes, yes, I have shamelessly ripped off this very close and unatributed paraphrase from the Declaration of Independence)

[MaggieCarta]

unatributed = unattributed

The sedatives must still be in my system.Time to call it a day.

[RichInOC]

Umm...no, Cal. Just no.

Yes, she absolutely has to study up. Fair enough. But no, no, dear God, no, don’t mess with the voice, don’t mess with the looks. Are you nuts?

[Enoughofthissocialism]

Cal is a turd wanting a good polish job so somebody, anybody, might think he’s a gem.

Nope.

Just a stinking turd.

Buzz off, Cal!

[Kaslin]

You are confusing President Reagan with Donald Regan who was the United States Secretary of the Treasury under President Reagan (notice the spellings in the names)

[GSWarrior]

Palin’s biggest mistake was joining the doomed-from-the-start McCain campaign.

[Kaslin]

Who is John Batchelor? Isn’t he a talk show host? and what is his party affiliation?

[GVnana]

OK, so her souffle collapsed.

No comment on the moosemeat chili?

[Luke21]

Thomas worked for Jerry Falwell and the Moral Majority. He was a huge Reagan fan.

Just shows you how scrambled everybody’s brains are these days.

[keats5]

LOL. Thanks. You’re right!

[messierhunter]

Sure he’s entitled to it, but by the same token I don’t have to like it. I can’t think of any other time I’ve disagreed with him though, so this whole piece just seems out of character to me. Maybe it’s just me.