Though the title of this post is facetious, I cannot deny what I just witnessed. I had never heard Sarah Palin give a speech until tonight. I now know why John McCain chose her for his running mate. In fact, I have to say that, at least tonight, she was perfectly vetted.
As far as political theater goes, if we can reduce tonight to so small and cynical a concept, this was the best show I've ever seen. Gov. Palin is country-girl feisty with a smile; she carries the faintest hint of redneck incredulity about her that is squarely aimed at the temerity and presumptuousness of Ivy League and Beltway elitism. She looked quite stunning as she easily and deftly delivered lines that will be iconic by morning. And she created a metaphor that sticks: She's a pitbull with lipstick.
And her family! Oh, my gosh, were they not perfect? Her husband beaming with pride and love; her girls, one pregnant, all smiling and waving and looking lovely, with a future son-in-law in tow; the little baby Trig getting a quick swab of sisterly saliva as his big sister preened him; and the humble gratitude of her mother and father -- Egads! Could it have been written any better? Just seeing her youngest daughter waving, so innocently and with such earnestness, was enough to touch countless heartstrings. Seriously, I am not saying that the McCain-Palin ticket is the better ticket, I am only saying that I have never seen anything like this before. The whole thing was simply amazing. How could anyone disagree?
But the theater of it all, even if it was much more than theater, is short-lived. I recognize that Gov. Palin's speech was filled with criticisms of Sen. Obama (many of which were quite clever, I must say). And while she delivered her blows with a sort wink-wink playfulness, I know that she infuriated countless pro-Obama supporters; she flirted with being incendiary. I saw it, heard it, felt it; and I swear I could hear countless folks around the country screaming at their TVs. But what she did tonight is at least part of the political game, and it is quite clear that senators Obama and Biden have their work cut out for them. Gov. Palin, even without John McCain, is a formidable opponent. So I brace myself for what comes next for all involved, Republican and Democrat. I pray we won't witness anything so unfairly brutal or brutally unfair that we regret being Americans.
Here's hoping for a fair and even fight in the days ahead.
Prediction: After tonight, Democrats everywhere will be arguing that the next Democratic Convention in 2012 should follow rather than precede the Republican Convention. Surely they see how easy it was for Gov. Palin to playfully but effectively mock the "styrofoam Greek pillars" of the Democratic National Convention, no?
Peace.
©Contratimes/2008. All Rights Reserved.
1 comment:
Quite right Bill, quite right. Very well said.
While they would not admit to this, I'm sure that in their heart of hearts, the Democrats had to be secretly gleeful that Gustav was diverting the nation's attention away from the Convention coverage. That coupled with the barrage of attacks leveled at Mrs Palin on her family issues, Obama's speech atop Mt Olympus, and I'm sure they felt the Republicans would never recover.
Good theater indeed. Unfortunately what get's lost in this is a proper focus on John McCain and his policy positions. The media seems uninterested in that story, preferring instead to cast this election between Obama and Palin.
This would be a tactical mistake, if one can assume the media engages in such "tactics". One thing is for certain, I believe; Mrs Palin's relative inexperience makes Obama's seem positively anemic and when it comes to experience, her level of experience is just fine for VP, but his level of experience doesn't (and shouldn't) cut the mustard for the job he's pursuing.
Peace,
Chris
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