I make no claim for myself that I am the first or only person to ask the question in this post's title (though I do notice a few bloggers who beat me to it who failed to spell Ms. Miers' name correctly in their respective headlines).
Regardless, I do hope you will take a look at the interesting Kathleen Parker essay over at National Review Online called, "Palin Problem." And yes, Parker is a real conservative.
I thank Contratimes' visitor SE for passing along Ms. Parker's commentary.
Food for thought...or not.
5 comments:
I think we can safely say that Pakistan’s president has never wanted to hug Cheney. Isn't that worth something?
No disrespect intended Bill, but Parker's essay was completely unhelpful. With friends like these...
As you know, I was skeptical about Palin, but now I ask, Where does that skepticism get me? She's McCain's pick.
As for VP picks, I think Parker's focus on Palin is worrisome, particularly when coming from a conservative voice. She only touches on Obama's questionable decision making skills in picking Biden. She seems to have formed her opinion of Palin based on two hit piece interviews. The wording Gibson and Couric used in their interview questions would strain the credulity of the most experienced media mavens.
I don't think what we are seeing in Palin is a lack of mental accuity, but a person who has been knocked a bit off balance by the deviousness of her enemies. I believe she will be a quick study.
Peace,
Chris
Dear Chris,
It's OK to disrespect me. Go ahead. You won't be the first.
Actually, I did not post the Kathleen Parker essay because I agreed with it. I might agree with some of it; but, as you say, Ms. Palin IS John McCain's pick. I have nothing to do with it. He likes her; he has to live with that choice.
As you know, I've already opined that I have not found a single gaffe (alleged) committed by Sarah Palin that compares to gaffes made by Senator Biden, that OTHER "just one heartbeat away" person in this race. Her alleged gaffes are mild at worst; Biden's have been ludicrous, absurd, egregious. Clearly and demonstrably Sen. Biden has been given a pass both by Democrats and the broader mainstream media. Only moments ago, I listened to "On The Media," an NPR/PRI production. Its opening minutes were devoted to avoiding any of the ridiculous statements and actions given or taken by the Obama-Biden ticket. No, OTM was all about the "very bad media week" for John McCain/Sarah Palin. Of course, I note the irony: it might have been a bad media week for McCain, but not a bad electoral week at all. Maybe.
Do you think OTM was slated to repeat and analyze Joe Biden's clear dissent of, and disassociation from, his own campaign? Never. Why? Probably simple blindness: they can't even see what they're doing, or not doing.
Sarah Palin has not blown anyone over; but she has lit a fire in the hearts of the electorate. I am afraid that Kathleen Parker's embarrassment is more about her: her own vanity and pride, the self-image she wants accepted, are at risk should Sarah Palin not represent the party and neo-femininist ideals perfectly. It's a bit like an American Catholic flinching when Nancy Pelosi waxes imbecilic about the Vatican's position on abortion; maybe it's how comedians feel when Bill Maher speaks on politics and religion. People have images and icons they like to promote, preserve and project: Sarah Palin's apparent mediocrity makes some of her party's faithful embarrassed -- for themselves.
Peace,
BG
Dear Lena,
Funny thought! Thank you.
Bliss.
BG
The elitist wing of the conservative movement has always been wary of us libertarians coming into the GOP. Sarah Palin is one of the top elected libertarian Republicans in the country, (along with Idaho's Gov. Butch Otter, and Cong. Jeff Flake of AZ).
Of course, she's going to make some conservatives nervous.
They are wary of her libertarian cultural views. This is the woman, after all, who famously fought back against social conservatives in Wasilla who wanted to run all of the bars and taverns out of town.
They even started a whisper campaign in Alaska during the 2006 primaries that Sarah wasn't really a Republican, but rather a "closet libertarian." She had attended a couple local Libertarian Party meetings seeking their support.
But what she loses from the social conservatives, she gains 10 times over in libertarian votes.
Figure, Libertarian Bob Barr was polling 6% nationwide in mid-summer. As high as 10% in New Hampshire. And post-Palin he's now down to 1%.
Ever since Goldwater the eastern establishment Republicans have distrusted Western cowboy individualists in the GOP.
With Sarah Palin, the libertarian wing of the GOP has finally arrived. Of course, that's going to make some other Republicans nervous.
Get over it Conservatives, THE LIBERTARIANS HAVE ARRIVED!!
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