United Liberty
From Exuberance to Skepticism
Mon, 09/29/2008 - 3:09pm | posted by Austin Wilkes
A quiet scattering of Republicans have begun to express concern about the ability of the party “messiah”, Sarah Palin, to counter the one major sticking criticism - her lack of knowledge of policy issues or at least the ability to articulate them effectively when the spotlight is on. Conservative columnist Kathleen Parker has publicly said Palin should step aside. National Review editor Kathryn Jean Lopez last friday, while not going as far as Kathleen, did express sympathy to the idea and said in response to Palin, “something’s gotta change.”
Palin rose to fame almost instantly with followers knowing little to nothing about her but still treating her as the next Ronald Reagan. She was - and still to some extent is - seen as a woman who could reforge the old alliances and bring in new allies at the same time, something no politician has accomplished in recent years no matter how hard they tried or how much money they spent (cough - Romney). Everyone from libertarian anarchists to king neoconservatives to feminists liberals has on some level spoken highly of her nomination. When the surprise selection became known to the mass media they immediately went on the offensive, not necessarily because they disliked who she is and what she stands for (though many pundits adamently do), but mainly because they were not given a chance to give a traditional “vetting” to her as a potential candidate, thus reducing their power and influence in the race immensely. The attacks backfired. Americans, except those that were inclined to judge based on ideological alignment, did not believe what was being said about Palin.
Fast forward 3 weeks and the dynamics are fairly similar to where they were around the time of the convention, only the ethusisasm (and hatred) have subsided to an extent. The media is still upset because they do not get a substantial level of access to the candidate that provides their networks with above average ratings. The reason they do not get access is obvious; she is not ready to be let off the leash and give non-teleprompted interviews. The campaign has been “forced” to allow her to give a handful of interviews, the latest with Katie Couric, of which have been seen as decent at best, failures at worse. It is almost as if they campaign is specifically using her few significant appearances to dumb down pre-debate expectations, as opposed to having Palin knock the interview out of the park.
It is this sub-par performance that is making conservatives feel, even if only slightly, less enthusiastic about their Vice Presidential Candidate and her ability to lead the Republican Party and the conservative “real America” movement over the next 4 to 10 years. Conservatives will by no means abandon Sarah in November, but with McCain being closer to 80 than 70 by the next election, many questions and skepticisms remain. For now the principle of wing walking is probably the best way to assess the conservative relationship with Palin - you stick with what you got until you have something better to hold on to.
I once won a sexy gay guy contest… I am qualified to be VP too, Although I cant see Russia from my backyard. I do have access to Google Earth, and can see all of the terrorists countries from my laptop. I am just ill, we are all just ill about this, may be we can shore up our economy, by, uhm… doing something different with healthcare, and providing jobs… Its just makes me ill… Hmmm
Children is learning.
I was watching the Communist Broadcast System (CBS) with Katie Couric and enjoyed watching Pappa McCain babysit Palin. Wouldn’t want our VP nominee to stick her foot in her mouth. Too late. Oh well.
Sorry Pakistan. We know you want to maintain your territorial integrity, but we’re still “draining the swamp”.
I immediately warmed to her after hearing about her down syndrome son and reading what she had to say about it, but I agree with the bulk of this analysis. She’s a lightweight.
To be blunt, most Republicans are lightweights. The actual conservatives that are intelligent and articulate today are mostly blue dog Democrats and libertarians.
If all the foreign policy experience Palin has is flipping off her Russian and Canadian neighbors to the west and east it’s more than that of Carter, Reagan, Clinton and Bush Jr. put together, to name just a few that were elected PRESIDENT with NO foreign policy experience and they ALL were governors prior to the elections. Now, which would you rather have, a President with on-the-job training or a VP, your choice. But you’ll have to come up with something else to blast Palin as this foreign policy crap is a moot point.
If Palin is to survive the debate she has to give short, to the point, answers that have substance and on center with examples to back her up, not just rehetoric and avoidance of the subject. Biden, on the other hand, just has to open his mouth a little wider and he’s done for .. and he will for sure.
John McCain said Wednesday that he has turned to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for advice on foreign policy issues “many times in the past.”
“She has the world view that I have and is very highly qualified and very knowledgeable,” McCain said during an interview on NPR.
“I’ve turned to her for advice many times in the past, I can’t imagine turning to Senator [Barack] Obama or Senator [Joe] Biden because they’ve been wrong,” the Arizona senator said of his running mate. “I certainly wouldn’t turn to them, and I’ve already turned to Governor Palin particularly on energy issues and I’ve appreciated her background and knowledge on that and many other issues.”
McCain said his running mate’s energy experience “extends to a wide variety of issues” including “her world view of the threats we face from radical Islamic extremism.”
The GOP nominee defended Palin from the flak she has taken over her frequently cited claim that Alaska’s proximity to Russia gives her foreign policy credentials.
“Well I think the fact is that they have had certain relationships, but that’s not a major reason she has stated,” McCain said. “I’m very proud of her and proud of the knowledge and background she has.”
Do I need to say how frightening this NPR interview is?? http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95240063
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