An Internet hub with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, indies, centrists, moderates, and right
Evaluating Sarah Palin
Much comment about Sarah Palin’s performance at the Tea Party convention (including from yours truly on a CNN panel) noted that her speech did contain some substance and that she is a political force who GOPers hoping to run for President (and Democrats) may have to contend with. But did she also show that she has limited talents and a seeming unwillingness to grow?
7 Responses to “Evaluating Sarah Palin”
I have to disagree with the author on the unrefined god talk. That remark was straight redmeat for the people Palin wishes to lead. Not only does Palin believe that statement, but millions of Americans believe it too. Attacking this belief as unrefined is a great way to turn off Christian voters. Better to say you disagree with her position on Christianity's role in American, than to insult Christians as a whole.
Well, she answered that question in spades shortly after John McCain picked her for VP. I remember the collective swoon of he admirers then, and their rush to embrace her. No amount of emperors new clothing, displays of ignorance, nor willingness to lie or bend the truth was enough to shock her flock out of their infatuation. Of course those things were never enough make them look at GWB with fresh eyes either. I know that's a bleak assessment, but after you see that same dynamic repeat for a few decades it becomes pretty clear. It really comes down to an electorate that isn't very savvy or willing to be honest imo. Maybe if they spent as much energy caring about their country as they do their personal entertainment and other glorified navel contemplation we could break out of these idiotic cycles.
Most Americans have even more compassion for themselves than Europeans. That is no mean feat.
If by compassion you mean self-love, self-promotion, and self-absorbtion, we seem to be awash in it. The condition weighs down the national IQ and sidelines important responsibilities, the ones that require awareness, critical thinking, and sacrifice. Greedy and phony leaders have always been around throughout history, and will keep popping up, ready to exploit populations who are easy fodder. Buyer beware has always been the caution for any electorate, but it's a caution the electorate seems to have difficulty grasping anymore. But it IS the electorate who ultimately is responsible for the direction of the country and for holding it's leaders feet to the fire. You can't do that if you don't know what's going on in the first place.
If you make the buyer pour a little of himself into the purchase, s/he will become more unwilling to admit any fault in the purchase. It's more than just the cognitive dissonance or unwillingness to admit to a waste of one's money – it becomes a matter of pride to stick with it, a part of the image of the individual.
This is, invariably, the result when increasing democratization and increasing permeation of the market mix in a society. Marketing and consumerist modes of thinking enter the electorate and the entire democratic process. As a person identifies himself with his nation the way he identifies himself with his home or his TV (all boundaries and definitions are melting, after all), he stops feeling responsibility for it as a nation, and instead treats it foolishly. The only reason this is so stark in America is because it started globalization – I'm seeing the same thing in Europe, and dearly hope we manage to either reform the democratic or economic structure of our societies before we either fall into an anarchic mosaic or coagulate into a fascist brick.
Democracy is as important to life as water. But we only need a set amount of water. In America, you are waterlogged and your kidneys are bloated.
One of the comments on the Washington Post article thread observed that former Gov. Palin “glories in her own ignorance.” That hit it on the head for me. I could never vote for someone who ridicules learning.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by TMV, Learn Intelligence. Learn Intelligence said: #SKP Evaluating Sarah Palin http://bit.ly/dfTNZK [...]