Your Quote of the Day
Today’s quote comes from Richard Cohen’s usual op-ed in the Washington Post. It’s an interesting tale – and one I was unaware of – which provides the details of two cruise ships full of conservative columnists and editors who set sail in 2007 to Alaska. Their purpose was a meet and greet with Governor Sarah Palin, and they came away with a cult following of love and devotion for the future GOP vice presidential candidate. Your quote in question, though, is not related to Palin. It deals with columnist William Kristol and his Eagle Eyed ability to spot honest to goodness, down home Real Americans when they come in sight.
Especially in the Weekly Standard, Palin was acclaimed as a tribune of the people. As for her critics, they were dismissed as “liberal media” types who were not, like conservative editors and TV commentators, one with the people. Kristol hit this theme hard, having somehow absorbed Wal-Mart sensitivities while living most of his life in either New York or Washington where, as I can personally attest, real Americans are encountered only when summoned to carry out home repairs. You can learn a lot this way.
There’s a bonus for you at the very end of the column.
The Boys on the Boats were similarly blinded. They mistook personal magnetism for presidential qualities while Palin, clear-eyed in a manner depicted in countless movies, undoubtedly saw in them just what she wanted: a way out of Alaska.
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3 Responses to “Your Quote of the Day”
OK, people, here's your relevent sociology lesson and a political lesson, too, for today.
Take note of what Jazz is referring to, to start this thread:
“two cruise ships full of conservative columnists and editors who set sail in 2007 to Alaska”
Now, please ignore the irony of any sense of pride or ambition in such an event in 2007, after the 2006 no-confidence vote in the GOP (and in current US conservatism, by association). The main thing to note here is that this kind of cruise is a routine event, where the conservative talkers and writers get together and ordinary members of the public (the kind you would find in home improvement stores, say) can buy tickets as well. (There is likely a kickback scheme for the celebs on the vessels, a share of the ticket-sale proceeds, as they are meant to be the attraction, obviously.)
The thing to be aware of, and anticipate, is if there will start to be an increase in such events for lefty celeb talkers and writers. This would be the kind of progress you lefties would want to see that shows a true rise of the Left in today's times.
Note and file.
The second lesson has to do not with the righty celebs' quick love of Palin, which in no way approaches the personality cult following of Obama by the incredibly naive and idealistic and leftist activist types, but does give reason to consider the popular distinction that we can make about our society.
GOP-leaning voters are like people in beer commercials. (Yes, including “Smooth, Even When You Aren't” clutzes.)
Obama's hard-core voters are the kids in Doctor Pepper commercials. Other Dem voters are in other soft drink commercials.
Bud Light (McCain) vs. Doctor Pepper (Obama). We know you by your style(s).
I thought it was a very good editorial.
You can read more about the Cruises and VP pick in this excellent New Yorker article by Jane Mayer:
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/10/27/0…