Fred disappointed us then. Why should We not be surprised that he was couldn’t even bring himself to defend her as qualified, even though she is the only Constitutionalist of the four top ones.
Why are we so defensive about Sarah Palin on this board? I like what she says, but then again we should, we’ve heard it before. She’s regurgitating the same content she reads from the same pundits we listen to, and quite possibly this forum. I don’t think there’s anything to apologize for when we call someone out for just repeating what they hear, rather than being able to quickly perform some real time analysis and decision making by applying their education, experience, and skill to form a coherent conclusion.
I know the flamers, zotters and troll-spotters are getting ready to respond in force, and I really hate that I need to preface my ‘controversial’ statement saying I don’t think Sarah would make a good president by saying that I am as diehard conservative as any of you, as it automatically calls into question the veracity of the statement - as in the sales guy who says: “let me be honest with you”. (so, you weren’t being honest before?) But here goes: I am a veteran, business owner (my company was just named to the Inc. 500), Republican, conservative, Christian, married (to a woman, thank you), father, gun owner. I pay more in taxes than I made 5 years ago, and I am sick and tired of being characterized as not paying my fair share, being the bad guy, responsible for oppressing entire classes, even races now of fellow Americans because I am caucasian and successful...and I live in Arizona. /conservative qualifications soapbox mode: off
And though I generally like Sarah, I appreciate she speaks out when, for whatever reason, we can’t seem to get a lot of folks to the podium, I just don’t think she is presidential timber. I am not going to say I am sorry about that.
I listen to/read Mark Steyn a lot and I really like his perspectives on a lot of topics. I note that Sarah does too as she recycles some of his phrases - specifically “hopey changey”. I don’t know about you, but that comes across as a bit cheap to me when you rip off someone else’s Intellectual Property. She gets rounding applause when she invokes that phrase, but you all are well read enough that you’ve heard this and other of her talking points before, haven’t you? Its not like the current administration isn’t an easy enough target to take some shots you come up with on your own, and frankly that is what I expect from a leader. We (Republicans, conservatives, Tea Partiers) can’t have our sincere desire for someone who will represent our truly mainstream viewpoints met by someone who has to check a blog, or read an article to see what she thinks. And that’s exactly what I think Sarah has to do before she can make the case. I think the right side of most arguments can be made after 10-seconds of analysis. More taxes? bigger government? Enacting regulation that favors one class or race over another? These crazy arguments of the left are easy to break down to their simplest components and make them look foolish. Why would someone need to invoke the words of another to make that case? Its not enough for me.
I haven’t seen a thing that she has done, nor does it come across in an interview, debate or even a speech she does, that she is capable of coming up with her own case. I don’t mean that in a harsh way...I just haven’t seen it. And neither have you.
A recent poll indicated that any Republican would beat Obama at this point...as it should be! However, I don’t think “any ol Republican” would be able to govern well, and build up enough credibility as an effective leader to establish a conservative dynasty. To me, being a conservative is a common sense thing. We should be in power for the next 500 years. We need someone who can be articulate enough to argue down these snake oil salesmen from the left, including the journalists which will be nothing less than out to do her (or any Republican) harm. We need someone like Reagan who can point out the hypocrisy of the Left, and in real time, with panache and good humor. That is what will win the voting public over. Break down their double talk/newspeak to the ridiculousness it is. It must be done for the long term sanity of this country.
Sarah’s just not the right person to bring this message there. If she has time to rehearse, she can regurgitate. We need to get someone in there who can think on their feet, and beat back this tide of national mediocrity. We all know what is at stake.