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Sarah Palin’s Missing Skin

Posted by POLIMOM in Politics.
Nov 14th, 2009 | Comments

I’m looking forward to reading Sarah Palin’s book. Like Barack Obama’s Dreams from My Father, Palin’s Going Rogue will likely give insights into how she thinks, and who she is at a much deeper level than hyper-partisan electoral politics could ever give.

I expect to come away from reading it with an even stronger liking for her personally — just as I did Obama’s book.

She is, on so many levels, utterly ordinary. One cannot be a parent (much less a Mom), and not have a deep empathy for her problems with Bristol. She has a beautiful family, she’s active, she enjoys the outdoors, she works hard…

The narrative is, profoundly, Ordinary American Family.

Unsurprisingly, though, the book’s early excerpts demonstrate unequivocally how utterly unsuited she is for the highest national office. NOT because of her politics (though I disagree with many of her positions). NOT because of her uninformed opinions (much of which can be resolved through education and exposure).

Sarah Palin’s bottom-line problem is much deeper than any of these. She’s unsuitable, ultimately, because of a personality quirk that many people share: extreme thin-skinnedness. It’s a problematic character flaw wherein every barb is a personal affront that must be rejoined, and every insult is deeply internalized.

Friends, one cannot hold high political office in this country and take offense at the ruminations of the blogosphere. One cannot aspire to be the leader of the free world and simultaneously complain publicly about the boyfriend of one’s daughter… or about the mean interviewer who asked questions one couldn’t answer.

It doesn’t matter, when all is said and done, whether she can master the finer nuances of international foreign policy. How does that matter if, after meeting with a foreign leader, she’s likely to feel slighted and start lashing out personally?

It’s completely natural, imo, to feel defensive about one’s family. Certainly I do. And her desire to give as good as she gets — to get right down in the muck and wrestle directly — is absolutely understandable. Ordinary people do it all the time — even as other ordinary people find the inner strength to rise above it; to “grow a skin”.

Being the quintessential Ordinary Person — an aspect of Palin highly praised by her many admirers — isn’t nearly enough for her aspirations. For all her many strengths, she has a crucial, fatal character flaw that cannot be ignored.

The top office demands, at the very least, decorum and dignity — and Sarah Palin is lacking badly there. Personal muck-wrestling and petty score-settling does not belong on Pennsylvania Avenue.

During the campaign, Sarah Palin struck me as eminently human, with many personal traits I admire. I’d love to have her as a neighbor. I’d enjoy discussing issues of the day with her over dinner — disagreements and all.

But I could never, ever, envision her at the top of the Executive Branch of our government.

I really hope she doesn’t run. For our sake, and for hers.

Cross-posted to Polimom Says…

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D. E.Rodriguez

Polimom:

Others may---no, will---disagree, but IMHO those are some of the most objective, sincere, reasoned and true comments I have seen recently on a very controversial person.

Thank you

Dorian

Polimom

Dorian, thank you so much. I deliberated long and hard about writing this -- or writing again on politics at all, for that matter. Been many many months since my name headed a post.

And yes, others will absolutely disagree. S'okay. The moderate voice had to be spoken.

DLS

"She’s unsuitable, ultimately, because of a personality quirk that many people share: extreme thin-skinnedness."

Is this something that's true, or is it something that you simply wish or believe, Polimom?

Not only is this questionable, on its face. But then why are so many others, who also exhibit what you believe about Palin, not disqualified, and in fact, have their fans (more so than Palin), and have been in office, or have not been seen as disqualifiable due to emotional behavior or worse? (As I've written about more than once on this site, Hillary Clinton for years was legendary for being volcanic as well as imperious and demanding power, and having a lamp- and other object- throwing arm that rivaled that of John Elway's "cannon," as I've noted aloud.)

The conventional demerits against Palin are that she's an intellectual and administrative lightweight (as Ben Stein repeated last night on CNN), and that her following is largely confined to social conservatives, who are an obvious (albeit hyped and disparaged) minority among the center-right majority of the US public. Much "support" for her includes defense of her by non-admirers who simply resent mistreatment and worse of her by the Left (which gives life to her and her political carrer), that's all. I believe the general view that she's a lightweight and mainly appeals to a social-conservative subgroup, often in superficial ways (as a representative of them and being attacked as they are, as an attractive person who states many simple "sound bite" political words and phrases) is also the view that limits her future.

Not that she won't express displeasure or insist on getting her way. The Vanity Fair story on her ("the Barracuda") was a classic.

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/200...

Rudi

DLS Her detractors aren't just the looney Left. Larison (here)spoke out against her from day one. Even Ann Althouse is ripping her:
http://althouse.blogspot.com/2009/11/sarah-pali...
...
If Sarah Palin did not see the limited value of Nicolle Wallace's comment about Katie Couric, then she is too pollyannaish and unsophisticated to be trusted with presidential power. Couric is a pussycat compared to the world leaders who will smile and exude pleasantries and then stab you in the back.
...
It seems that Sarah Palin wasn't able or didn't want to bother to analyze whether she was ready to debut on the big media stage, and she wasn't large-minded enough to think beyond herself to what it would mean for the whole campaign. That is, she was dumb. She was too dumb to handle campaign responsibilities properly, so she was clearly too dumb to step into the role of President of the United States.

Could she build up her political intelligence? Might she have it now or by 2012? If these 2 pages of "Going Rogue" are any evidence, she is displaying her weaknesses all over again, and she is still too dumb to be President. And, most scarily, she doesn't know how dumb she still is.

So please stop the meme that only the Left thinks shes a "dumb twit".

tidbits

Polymom,

"Been many many months since my name headed a post." Let me say that I, for one, am delighted to read again your well reasoned and well written views.

Palin is surely a lightning rod for both sides. I wonder whether there is room for growth in her ability to handle criticism, or at least keep her reactions less public. Perhaps her persona is already so emblazened in the public consciousness that she will be unable to overcome the existing perception of her. It will be interesting to watch over the next several years.

D. E.Rodriguez

Polimom:

"Been many many months since my name headed a post."

Hopefully you'll change your mind and start writing again, If I remember correctly, and as tidibits says, your political posts are among some of the most well-reasoned and truly "moderarte" (the latter, my opinion) here...

Dorian

D. E.Rodriguez

Thank you, DLS.

While I do not agree with all the views you express here, these were comments I actually read in toto, and which certainly were thought-provoking.

archangel

agree Polimom; the thin-skinnedness can be a ploy to gain victim status (the victim always wins ... see Prejean, Cindy, etc... at least if they dont squander it in acting foolish as Cindy did smiling and being carried around on shoulders literally, or like Prejean with incessant whining about the big mean people who just follow her around ....as she books another tv cable show)

But it may be real. I've written here at TMV several posts that hold the human side of Gov. P to decency and light. I dont have the gall for her that some carry. And, saying all that, I wonder... about thin skinnedness being a real quality... then polimom, I believe it gets thicker as one goes on... hopefully not becoming inured to it all, but rather differentiating about the clear motives of the speaker and, in best debate style, going after that.

Personally having been on morning tv shows at national level, and on news shows, some of the 'commentators' and 'broadcasters' are looking at ratings not at the person before them. The network gives orders about what will be put on the cutting room floor. The edits are made to make people chosen as sacrificial lambs to look very bad indeed. It is unjust and forget cruel, it is dishonest. Hugely dishonest to the viewers, to the guest.

Katie, in her role, agreed to be hatchetwoman for a group of people far higher up in the network, and their politic, their viewpoint. It may or may not have been Katie's personal view as well.

Also, because there is a ghost writer for Gov P's book, we are not likely to be able to stand on most of what was written in it as Sarah's words, but rather Sarah's story rinsed through the bluing of the publisher's desire re viewpoint thence handed down as 'instruction' to ghost writer. Look to the editors of the book, to see whose political viewpoint supports the book. We can count on the publisher insisting that the book take the victim/heroic stance whether there is/are one(s) in one's life or not.

Especially for first time authors, the authors have NO idea how they themselves are being manipulated to say all kinds of things in order to SELL the book. All the while the publishers greasing Sarah with dinners, wine, show-arounds, promises of a future in book publishing.

As we've seen with al gore, and barack, and mcCain, and huckabee and gingrich and all the rest... having a book is not necesssarily a book. It is a tool, a springboard.

I too Polimom, as y ou and I have spoken about before, like always, seeing your bright face here at TMV

kindest regards,
dr.e

Polimom

"I wonder... about thin skinnedness being a real quality... then polimom, I believe it gets thicker as one goes on."

I think in most cases, it can get thicker. However, it requires a LOT of focused attention on one's reactions and evaluating them in context. Further, I think that this takes a lot of time after one recognizes the problem and begins to address it.

And to be perfectly honest, I don't know that it's ever overcome well enough in some people.

Editing to add: And that graphic you found is fabulous. Laughed right out loud, I did! Thanks!

JSpencer

One more comment and I have to shut this thing off and do some manual labor around here. Add me to the list of people who are glad to see you writing here again Polimom. I've always found your assessements to be thoughtful and fair, and your post here is no exception. I have no personal animosity toward Sarah Palin, and agree she would likely make a fine neighbor and friend. High positions of leadership are another matter entirely though, and come with a different set of requirements.

Polimom

And thank you, folks, for the kind words at my return.

ShannonL

Even if Palin were a Harvard Grad with a high IQ and loads of common sense, she is still too far to the right on social issues to ever win the Presidency. I think she'd make a great Senator. Millions of Americans identify with her and hold her same views. Of course, after quiting her last job, would Alaskans vote for her again?

Polimom

Well, she could always run for New York. They're not too picky about whether you actually LIVE in the state or district you represent.

Don Quijote

Well, she could always run for New York. They're not too picky about whether you actually LIVE in the state or district you represent.

Yeah, but we have standards, we don't elect redneck morons...

We 'll elect rednecks, we' ll elect morons, but not the combination...

Don Quijote

I think she'd make a great Senator.

She made for a great governor, very far from my home state and with minimal to no influence on the Federal Government. Unfortunately she was unable to hold onto that job...

kathykattenburg

Count me among those who are glad to see your byline again. I enjoyed this post a great deal. It's original, and hits a chord, too. I've never thought of the question of Sarah Palin running for national office from that standpoint before, and there's a lot of truth to it.

Question: Do you think that Palin's extreme sensitivity to criticism is because she actually is thin-skinned, or do you think it's a ploy to get attention (which in politics often translates -- or at least the politicians who do it think -- into votes)? I'm not saying that this is my opinion or position, I'm just wondering; I've wondered this all along. I mean, in the end it may be six of one and half a dozen of the other -- the impact on her presidential aspirations is the same whether she's truly offended or just pretending that she is -- but I just wonder.

DLS

Rudi,

"Her detractors aren't just the looney Left [...] please stop the meme that only the Left thinks shes a 'dumb twit'"

???

That's why I mentioned Ben Stein, who was on CNN, joining a lefty writer for Huffington and a far lefty radio commentator, Stephanie Miller, in criticizing her selection by McCain as Vice President (as well as how badly she did in the campaign, which is where the "lightweight" criticism by Stein applied as well as for Palin in general as a top-level federal official). Regarding Palin's campaign and the disastrous interview with Katie Couric, a failure denied or deliberately under-admitted by the GOP team, Miller (who was far more intelligent and mature than she is on her radio show) said it was comparable to having your small child at a swim meet, seeing the children do very badly and almost drown, yet cheer the child, anyway, and say he or she performed wonderfully. (No, it was a bad performance by Palin, who made the term "unprepared" common currency the following few days, as well as resurrecting "gravitas" in its apparent absence.)

I guess you aren't familiar with Ben Stein or other non-lefty critics I have also named before, as critics of righties, that you don't know who these people are or why they are saying this or that. (There is no mystery what Stein said or why he was saying it.)

* * *

"I think she'd make a great Senator"

That's what was speculated among Palin's critics (as well as the one defender, whose defense was in the light of the nature of so many of the attacks on her). Stein (who likes her personally) believes she'd make a great talk show host or do some other public relations-style work for the GOP, say; at least one other person said she might become one of Alaska's future Senators. Certainly if she was headed for a presidential run (worth looking at, at least theoretically; there was jockeying by GOP people for this role already starting last year, and there already are visits to Iowa expected, this year or sometime next year, don't forget!), it would be logical for her to get a federal role as Senator, the normal springboard federal seat for this (which is why Hillary Clinton got that position years earlier, as many of us knew).

Look at the bright side, I would advise even the biggest critics: It's still someone else other than the likely appearance we can expect in 2012 or 2016 of Jeb Bush.

DLS

"I have to shut this thing off and do some manual labor around here"

Nine hours to midnight, and Bambi has got to start getting nervous.

(Opening of firearms season for deer in Michigan is tomorrow. Fabulous weather here in Detroit metro, but little traffic. Guess where else so many people are? Currently, at the outfitters', last moment stops before the big day)

Polimom

Do you think that Palin's extreme sensitivity to criticism is because she actually is thin-skinned, or do you think it's a ploy to get attention

Hi Kathy -- I really think it's how she is. When used as a ploy for getting attention (or votes), one might expect to see selective outrage, or occasional overreactions. But this looks pretty pervasive to me, going all the way back to reports of how she ran her campaign / office in Wasilla (thinking back).

DLS

"While I do not agree with all the views you express here, these were comments I actually read in toto, and which certainly were thought-provoking."

Thanks, Dorian. I've pushed back hard lately against a bad tide, and you're one of those who have not simply responded in a mindless or low-class manner to it, if you object to this or that (examples of which you've not failed to list here and there, I've noticed). More people should read, ugly facts and all.

I actually don't believe there will be any gross federal govt. misconduct here, but it could prove embarrassing, which compounds what already is a problem (the decision to do the trial, and likely reasons why).

jkremmers

Several months ago I posted a column claiming never again would I write about Sarah Palin until she offered something substantive to the national political discussion. She still hasn't. However, my interest was piqued by Rush Limbaugh who claims he read her book and insists she outlined the best political thinking he has read in years. For me that's a sales pitch I cannot refuse. Somehow, I will find a way to read those portions of the book and determine for myself. I have a suspicion it is stuff we already have heard and follows in lockstep Rush's own views of the world politic. Stay tuned.

essurfer

I am pretty new to this forum. After grazing around some of my local ones where they are planning the next revolution and hating anyone who is no or ever has been in power I find it refreshing. It seems the average IQ is well above the 80 I am used to on those blogs. That said, I can not imagine why you would not be posting your opinions more often. It was a good, honest opinion on a very polarizing figure.Too often we take the knee jerk right or left skew out there. I have found in my now many years, it is just not that simple. aloha--surfer

tidbits

Welcome, essurfer. Come back and share your views. We're not all geniuses, [I have admitted to having the brain of an earthworm and been criticized for insulting earthworms] but we're generally pleasant to one another and respect differing views...except for a few who think their opinion is the work of God, but that's cyberspace.

There are interesting and good people here representing many views, and good writers for the articles. We do not over post, as you have noticed, but we speak up when we have something to say. You'll be surprised at the number of substantive discussions and how those who disagree can joke with each other and wish each other well at the end of a spirited debate.

VeratheGun

I agree with 90% of what Polimom wrote, but I suppose I would put it thusly: Sarah Palin does not have the temperament to hold high office. She is neither well read, nor particularly well educated, nor a person with the intellectual curiosity that is a requirement for inspired leadership.

I'll bet she's a hoot to hang around with, and a very nice lady, but those qualitites aren't the same ones that make great national leaders. It's unfortunate because she was and continues to be treated very unfairly by many in the media. A lot of it is the other side of the coin from what HRC caught. As a female politician, you can't be ugly, but you better not be too pretty. You should be really smart, but don't dare be too smart, or you'll come across as emasculating. You can take pride in your appearance, but don't ever be caught actually trying, or buying clothes that regular people can't afford, or you'll look elitist. It's an absolute minefield for almost any woman running for office and probably a reason why more women don't want to even try.

Polimom

Good comment Vera, thanks.

She is neither well read, nor particularly well educated, nor a person with the intellectual curiosity that is a requirement for inspired leadership.

I suggest, though, that only intellectual curiosity would qualify as a matter of temperament. Being well-read and/or well-educated are a function of furthering one's education.

Jim_Satterfield

Great post, Polimom. I think that for many people ignorance is quite curable. For Sarah Palin, I don't think it is. And my reason for saying so is not regarding her as stupid. Before ignorance can be cured for an individual, they must unblinkingly acknowledge their ignorance on a subject in order to be willing to work to overcome it. Someone who is as thin-skinned as Palin won't put forth the effort because they consider it a personal insult to be considered ignorant on any subject and they therefore won't admit that the work is needed.

D. E.Rodriguez

I am glad I happened to come back to this thread, as I got the chance to read VeratheGun's [where does that name come from?] comments, which I found equally insightful and interesting as the original post.

Thanks

Dorian

VeratheGun

My TMV nomiker comes from my favorite television show of all time: FIREFLY.

Vera is the name of the gun owned by the show's resident badass, Jayne. I miss Firefly with a passion so intense that it's scary. So, there you have it.

DLL83

No kidding! Great show. You just scored a bunch of points in my book.

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