Thursday, September 4, 2008
Post That Thought It Was a Comment
This blog is becoming too political for my taste (and probably yours), but by golly, if I don't post something about Palin's speech last night, my head's gonna explode. So I'm going do the next best thing: I'll keep the post nice and short, so you can stop reading here if you want to. On the other hand, if you can still stomach any more of my mixed thoughts on Ms. Palin, go ahead and read what promises to be my lengthy comment on this post.
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9 comments:
Did I miss something?
I'm a married, female independent still deciding who to vote for, so I guess I'm the demographic Sarah Palin's selection was aimed at. I don't know how the other MFISDWTVFs felt about her speech last night, but I found it really disappointing.
While Palin gets points for family values and strong, polished presentation, I was very put off by all her thinly-veiled, partisan cheap shots at Obama. Maybe with all this talk about change and character, I forgot I was still dealing with politicians.
Be that as it may, I find it sadly ironic that McCain/Palin make "character" their big selling point and yet sink to such petty, often misleading, attacks. They promise to reform Washington, yet the biggest change we need is more unity, respect, and focus on common goals. Palin's speech offered the exact opposite of that.
Also, since there is a very real possibility McCain could die in office, I'm really concerned about his potential VP's inexperience. Her avoidance of most substantial issues in last night's speech did nothing to allay those concerns, and her negative stance offered a jarring contrast to her opponent's message of hope.
I realize the VP's main job is to rally the faithful and attack the other guy so the main candidate doesn't have to get his hands so dirty, but under the circumstances Palin needs to convince me she can be president as well as vice president, and I want more than just a "pit bull with lipstick." She's proved that she can be likable, tenacious, and committed to her principles, but so was George W. Bush and that wasn't enough to make him an effective leader under many circumstances.
I also realize politicians rarely write their own speeches, but there is no rule that says they can't edit them (many do), and they are ultimately accountable for the words they choose to say. Palin's biggest selling point is that she refuses to be pushed around by her own party, so I doubt she would meekly read anything a speechwriter gave her unless she agreed with it.
Long story short, I'm still undecided with my vote and there are some things about Palin I do like, but overall her big introduction and statement to the world about what she stands for pushed me further away from the Republican ticket rather than drawing me closer.
OK, I'm done ranting now. Thanks for humoring me. I'll try to write something warm and fuzzy (or at least non-political) soon.
Sorry, STM. It takes a long time to write a long comment.
Hi there--
I've been wanting to comment for some time, actually, on your various posts but I tend to be a bit long-winded, and didn't want to overdo it.
You are not alone. Several news agencies ran focus groups in NV, OH, MI, and other swing states, and by and large the independents--particularly women--said they were turned off by this kind of thing.
During the DNC, I got all riled up by Dennis Kucinich's speech--he was clearly speaking my language. But, in the eyes of independents and conservatives, I'm sure it just sounded like pinko lefty claptrap. Good thing he wasn't running on the Obama ticket!
Sarah Palin didn't realize she's running to be Vice President of all Americans. She wanted to work the room in front of her--not 80K like Obama had, but still a sizeable number. And yet, we're a nation of 300 million people. And on many many issues she is not in step with the rest of the country.
Furthermore, her selection throws the issue of "country first" into doubt. During China's Cultural Revolution, the slogan was "better Red than Expert." This meant those with good class backgrounds were promoted over those who were competent. You could have a skilled surgeon running a hospital, but because his parents or grandparents were once aristocrats, and because he (gasp) was trained in Germany or England, he would get tossed out and replaced by the hospital's janitor, a guy who maybe knew CPR and some first aid, but who was on the Long March or otherwise had some better revolutionary credentials. In Zhang Yimou's movie "To Live," a simple man loses a child in just such a hospital, where two teenage nurses try to deliver a child after having denounced the (qualified) doctor. The child dies.
There is a strong parallel with the Bush administration--heckuva job Brownie (his appointment to FEMA was in no way based on merit), the attorney scandal at the DOJ, and the gouging of science from the EPA are all examples of an ideology that also believes Red (as opposed to Blue) is better than Expert. The Sarah Palin pick is a continuation of this process. You have Karl Rove deriding Tim Kaine as a VP pick (mayor of the small town of Richmond, only 200K people, and governor for only two years), saying if Obama went with him it would be pure political calculation; now he's singing a different tune.
McCain didn't want her. He wanted Lieberman or Pawlenty or Ridge. But he was told no. And rather than be the Maverick he once was, he has sold out to his party's established order and did their bidding. She was not his first choice. And so this says a lot about his judgement.
She typifies the divisive nature of a particular brand of Republican campaigning. (Not conservative, but Republican--nowadays the two are not synonymous). Obama said in his acceptance speech that we should take patriotism off the table, we should admit that both parties love America and want to do the right thing. She slung mud left and right, said several things that were flat out untrue, and derided the work of a community organizer the day after we were told the Republicans feel the pain of those in Gustav's path and want to help out any way they can.
You are not alone in being turned off. This year there are no issues the Republicans can run on. Their speeches never mention Afghanistan and what to do to prevent it becoming a narcostate, they never talk about the housing crisis, they don't mention the weak dollar or our national debt being owned by China. Nothing on ending addiction to oil (the nation that develops green energy is the nation controlling change in the 21st century.)
No, they "wave the bloody shirt" and say the Democrats are losers. They mock Obama's popularity and appeal, but offer nothing substantive in its place. McCain sold out a long time ago, and Sarah Palin--the earmark queen--is not going to transform our economy, modernize our infrastructure, restore our standing in the world, or turn the page on endless culture-war bickering and stalemate. She wants to pretend the only real Americans are those cheering for her in the Excel Center, and the rest of us don't count.
For once I have nothing to say. Who says this is not an age of miracles?
Nate, thanks for sharing. In my college days, I never imagined I'd be shouting "Here here!" to a Democrat. :)
The "country first" question arose in my mind, too. Most of what I've heard from the RNC so far sounds more like "party first."
STM, do you have nothing to say because you agree and can't think of anything to add, or for some other reason?
Bravo, Kimberly! Your sentiments echo many of mine. The more I hear about Sarah Palin, the more upset I get. I'm a fairly conservative voter, and I was on the fence about who to vote for (even though I'm married to a democrat). It just really insults me that McCain thinks he can jerk me (and others like me) around by choosing a woman for his VP. As far as I can tell, she has very few qualifications for the job, and I certainly wouldn't want her to take over if he were to suddenly get melanoma or lung cancer. I guess I should be grateful to McCain and co. for helping me make up my mind NOT to vote for them.
hmmmm ...
Yeah, the obvious lack of her addressing any issues at hand in this election was very disappointing to say the least.
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