Am I wrong about Sarah Palin?
Have I been unfair in my analysis of Sarah “Barracuda” Palin’s candidacy? Do I have her all wrong? Is this just a case of a botched roll out – a debutante ball gone wrong? Personally, I don’t think so. Politico’s Ben Smith floats the possibility and touches on some internal tensions it’s causing in the Campaign Camp.
Do we have a “rogue maverick” in the house? From Smith:
Reporters really began to notice the change last Sunday, when Palin strolled over to a local television crew in Colorado Springs.
“Get Tracey,” a staffer called out, according to the New York Times, summoning spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt, who reportedly “tried several times to cut it off with a terse ‘Thank you!’ in between questions, to no avail.” The moment may have caused ulcers in some precincts of the McCain campaign, but it was an account Palin’s admirers in Washington D.C. cheered.
It’s easy to believe that she wants to take her collar off and run around a little – anybody would. In addition, the election will soon be over and she needs to trump up future business (book deals, TV appearances, consulting gigs, etc.) I just don’t think we’ll ever see any deep understanding of anything from her – that’s not what she’s about. Does it really matter then how you’re introduced to the public when ultimately you aren’t qualified to be there anyway? Am I wrong on this? Have I been too hard on the “Barracuda?”
About the Author: Randall H. Miller is an American college educator/blogger. He is also a former U.S. Army officer (82nd Airborne) with a M.A. in Diplomacy (focusing on International Terrorism) and a B.A. in Criminal Justice. Use the form on the right to sign up and receive notifications of new content. The words and ideas expressed here are 100% his own and not those of his employers or affiliated organizations.
Political Disgust | Oct 26, 2008 | Reply
Good article. Let’s look at it this way. Let’s assume that the Republicans know they are going to lose. They wont admit it publicly, but they know. And not only the race for President, but many many of the house and senate seats also. Knowing this big change is coming, they also have recognized that the party is “old”. Sure there is some young blood in the party, but no one nationally knows it. So this entire election is a “changing of the old guard.” Once it is over you will see an entire new YOUNGER generation of Republican politicians jammed down our throats to create the new power base of the party. Palin is just one of the first. We all know that with her wacky views she will not go far, but that was never the point in my opinion. This is just the crack in the dam of an entire new generation of Republicans that will take center stage for the party. Palin is a good first one because with her radical and controversial views, everyone after her will look…..well sane.
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Political Disgust
dickmill | Oct 26, 2008 | Reply
It’ll be interesting to see how Alaska treats Palin after this election. Will they call her on her lies? Will they still value her for being a “maverick?” Will the state be better off in 4 years with her as governor?
Since she’s “just like us”, will ANY of her kids graduate from high school?
Media Weasel | Oct 26, 2008 | Reply
My feeling is that her need to slip the collar and run around is more about her believing in her own hype. She unfortunately has nothing of substance to add to the conversation and simply regurgitates the fodder she’s been fed by the Republican party and the extreme right wing media. This is a lady who has delusions of grandeur, completely unable to see that she doesn’t have the support of the party behind her and that the general option across America is that she was a fatal choice of VP.
Palin is out of her league and out of her depth. She’ll do well with a TV show perhaps but memories are long and she will not have much of a future in mainstream politics. She’s upset too many people and has earned the reputation of being a self-centred diva even among her own people.
Expect a campaign to recall her when she returns to Wasilla.
RHM | Oct 26, 2008 | Reply
McCain seems to have accepted campaign donations exceeding federal election law limits from over 6,000 donors.
Isn’t this the guy who brought us campaign finance reform? Wow! What a maverick!
http://www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed2/idUSTRE49O1U920081025?rpc=64
RHM
Frank the Tank | Oct 28, 2008 | Reply
Hey Randy, a lot of time has been spent talking about Palin and what a “joke” she is a VP candidate. Where are these same people when it comes to the Senate candidacy of one Al Franken. Good grief. Last time I saw he was actually ahead in the polls. His opponent Norm Coleman is hardly a right wing loon. The words Senator Al Franken quite frankly alarm me. I don’t know whether to cry or laugh at that prospect.
JoeTheRunner | Oct 31, 2008 | Reply
Palin has more executive leadership experience that any other other three on the tickets. That means she was paid to make decisions…final decisions….not just vote with hundreds of other people and avoid responsibility.
She may not be the quickest on her feet and may have some gaps in her knowledge like when it comes to global politics but she has a gut instinct that has served her well.