You Betcha I Was Wrong About Sarah Palin

Daily Beast ^ | 01/28/2015 | Matt Lewis

[SeekAndFind]

It’s time to admit that, whatever their motivation was at the time, the Alaska governor’s critics always had a point. Has conservative genuflection at the altar of Sarah Palin finally come to a halt?

In case you missed it, her speech in Iowa this week was not well received on the right. The Washington Examiner’s Byron York called it a “long, rambling, and at times barely coherent speech” and National Review’s Charles C.W. Cooke said she slipped into self-parody. And there’s more. The Examiner’s Eddie Scarry, for example, contacted several conservative bloggers who were once Palin fans, but have since moved on.

But here’s my question… what changed?

Yes, in 2008, Sarah Palin delivered one of the finest convention speeches I’ve ever heard (trust me, I was there), but she hasn’t exactly been channeling Winston Churchill ever since. Remember her big speech at CPAC a couple of years ago? You know, the one where she took a swig out of a Big Gulp and said of her husband Todd: “He’s got the rifle, I got the rack.” Not exactly a great moment in political rhetoric.

So why is anyone surprised when, this weekend, she said: “‘The Man,’ can only ride ya when your back is bent?”

Demosthenes, she is not, but there’s nothing new about Palin’s penchant for populism or lowbrow rhetoric. What does feel new is that she has finally gotten around to roundly losing conservative opinion leaders. (OK, this has been a long time coming. In 2011, Conor Friedersdorf noted that the hard right was skewering Palin, and that Kathleen Parker had been vindicated. And as recently as this past April, I wondered whether it was finally safe for conservatives to criticize her publicly.

[jonrick46]

"These are the same people that love Biden’s “folksy” verbiage."

I would think that Ronald Reagan had a folksy nature that was priceless. Here is a video of him as he hosted General Electric Theator. You will also see Don Herbert, who was of course, our good Mr. Wizard. The video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzstng2L2cE

[jonrick46]

You need to watch the speech. I will do you a favor:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYc92hi5shE

[Envisioning]

Thanks KC! I will peruse this thread later to identify some more of the “pop up” trolls who are all of a sudden interested in Sarah Palin threads......

[jonrick46]

I listened to her speech and she said that this time she will. I quote from her speech in Iowa: "We should take the sign off the door to the Oval Office that says "No Girls Allowed."" And, Sarah said this: "We remember what Margaret Thacher would always remind her constituents, anyway, that if you want something said, you ask a man; if you want something done, you ask a woman." These words are not ambiguous: We are here in the name of freedom and you, Iowa, you get to help decide who will fight for it. You will caucus to help choose our next President. It's just about a year from now--I can't come soon enough!"

Yes, Sarah--Mamma Grizzly--will be ready for the Hildebeast!

[jonrick46]

I have been watching the TV shows about Alaska and have no doubt these East Coast city slickers like Charles C. W. Cooke would be polar bear feed. When I read his words, that said that Sarah gave a “long, rambling, and at times barely coherent speech,” I realized that this screed falls into the mold of what you get from the snot-nosed class. Tone deaf is the description we call someone like Charles C. W. I listened to Sarah’s speech, and I understood everything. And so did everyone in the auditorium. Why? Because Sarah Palin connects to the real America that, through the decades, have built this great country. There was no ambiguity for those who heard her. It was on a folksy level that spins these intellectual B.S.ers like possessed demons looking upon a crucifix. And, while they are in their alternate reality, we read their words and hear their comments.

They might as well be spewing pea soup.

[jonrick46]

Wake me when Palin actually runs for something instead of coyly teasing it."

Did you see her interview with Hannity last night? Just in case you did not, I will post it for you below. As for her not telling if she is running, why should she? No one else is starting their engines. It is way too early. Everyone must be patient!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg46Mb8rrMg

[Publius]

Your link doesn’t work.

[jonrick46]

You need to do more writing. What wit!

[jonrick46]

I believe if the Hildebeast runs, Sarah will definitely run. Like she said to Hannity last night, “Bingo! Check! Check! Check!” after she was given a list of agenda items she would run on. I watched her facial expression during Hannity’s questions about her plans. She was beaming like an athlete before the game. She has her game strategy in place and she knows what to do.

When Hannity said, “Odd your’re running,” Sarah had to almost bite her lip to give away her feelings.

[jonrick46]

I will try again that link to Sarah’s interview with Hannity last night:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg46Mb8rrMg

[ColdSteelTalon]

I like Sarah Palin. I really do. But I have to admit her speech was terrible, real terrible. I had trouble understanding the slurred words.

Seriously.

And I am not happy about saying it.

[Art in Idaho]

Just saw Hannity's interview with Sarah Palin last night. She was dynamite, especially at the end. I expect she is going to be coming out like gang busters after all the criticism about the Iowa speech. Hannity interview Here. She's ready to fight Hillary.

I hope she gets the call from the good Lord above, announces in May and has an all summer One Nation Bus Tour. It would be in the news every day with massive turnouts, a bigger turnout at each stop. Just keep repeating what you said last night Sarah. You are in our thoughts and prayers.

[EternalVigilance]

The idea that Byron York and Charlie Cook are “conservative opinion leaders” was good for a hearty guffaw.

[ReganDude]

I’d rather see Ted Cruz in 2016.

He seems better put together and doesn’t seem to come with the baggage Sarah Palin has.

[SarahPalinForPresident2012]

All eyes on Cruz. It’s clear that Gov Palin is waiting for him to withdraw before she announces her candidature.

[tillacum]

I don’t think the poor fellow was not in the audience when Sarah spoke. I watched and it looked like she was well received by everyone. Now he’s shooting off his fingers writing things that are not exactly as they were.

[Finny]

You are still sidestepping giving a simple answer to my simple, direct question, Boogie.

WE AGREE that it makes no sense that she rented a big bus and toured the primary states, and then didn't run. It surprised me that she didn't, in 2012.

SIMPLE QUESTION: Do you think that she did it just to get attention, makes sense?

Take the chip off your shoulder, please and if you have the courage, ANSWER the QUESTION.

[Finny]

Yeah, except you said “you” multiple times and the comment was quite clearly directed at me, so I’m not buying this non-apology.

Did I hurt your poor widdle feewings, you poor baby?

Good grief. It's not about you, it's about IDEAS. Stop making it about you and indulge me by sharing your opinion ABOUT WHY PALIN DIDN'T RUN IN 2012.

[Finny]

So once again, it's not really about our opinions on Palin's reason for not running in 2012 despite renting a big bus and touring the primary states.

It's about YOU. Your feelings got hurt, you took personal offense at a the word I used to describe the kind of person (a psychopath) who would rent a bus and get a nation's hopes up just to fool them, and since YOU are offended by the word "psychopath," it's really about YOU.

Right?

[Boogieman]

I really don’t care anymore why she did it. I’ve moved on.

Feel free to speculate all you want, but leave me out of it please.