Free Republic

Why Palin’s Speech Worked A former vice-presidential speechwriter breaks it down. 4 September 2008 Last night, Sarah Palin, the previously obscure governor of Alaska, demonstrated before a national audience that she has an extraordinary ability to communicate with Americans. As someone who used to make her living writing political speeches, I can say that Palin certainly knows how to deliver one. She is talented at properly inflecting words to maximize dramatic punch, and she doesn’t stumble over timing. These skills, and not the writing, are what make it possible for an audience to really hear a speech. Consider that the...

What is it with neocon women? They'll find any opportunity to bash the upper west side. In last Friday's Wall Street Journal, former Dan Quayle speech-writer and charter member of the rightwing, antifeminist Independent Women's Forum Lisa Schiffren shared her sex fantasies: "I had the most astonishing thought last Thursday. After a long day of hauling the kids to playdates and ballet, I turned on the news. And there was the president, landing on the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln, stepping out of a fighter jet in that amazing uniform, looking--how to put it?--really hot. Also, presidential, of...

Bush Scoring Soccer Moms, Dems Making Fools of Themselves May 13, 2003 One of the reasons Democrats are angry about this aircraft carrier landing is that the soccer moms have fled the Democrats and they're all a-tizzy over the way Bush looks in a flight suit. Lisa Schiffren, a conservative columnist, wrote a whole piece in the Wall Street Journal the other day, where she basically comes right out and says she wanted to rip that flight suit right off Dubya. Yet, here are the Democrats making a big to-do over the carrier landing. Meanwhile, Patrick Leahy proudly displays himself...

<p>I had the most astonishing thought last Thursday. After a long day of hauling the kids to playdates and ballet, I turned on the news. And there was the president, landing on the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln, stepping out of a fighter jet in that amazing uniform, looking--how to put it?--really hot. Also presidential, of course. Not to mention credible as commander in chief. But mostly "hot," as in virile, sexy and powerful.</p>