[Politics] I hate Sarah Palin.

[eurydicebound]

I do. I don't like to admit to hating anyone, but there it is. I miscalculated and watched her speech the other night, and... I'm horrified. She knows nothing. She's cute and charming and calculating and has just about as much ethics as you could pour into a thimble, if that. She's 110% a populist candidate, with the idea that anyone can do anything if they put their mind to it... never mind all the schooling and other unimportant stuff. Doing is the thing! Actually learning anything is a complete waste of time. All you need is a bit of pluck and beauty queen good looks and you, too, can Have the American Dream. Even my mother really likes her.

She is, quite frankly, my nemesis.

I can't decide how I feel about the debates, whether I want to seem them or not. On the one hand, I have every faith that Biden and Obama can run rings around her. On the other hand, I can't shake this fear that the people who like her -- and would vote for McCain because of her -- will just not care. The thought that we, as a nation, could seek out an uneducated small-town politician who has evidently never discovered the problems with nepotism or abuse of power and decide to elevate that to a hairsbreadth away from the presidency, over 20+ years of experience and vision and bipartisan efforts, just to "keep the country safe?"

Once I thought that even if McCain got elected, things would basically still be okay -- not as happy, but okay. Now? Heaven help us all.

Comments

[gammahamster.livejournal.com]

Well, you obviously must be some sexist leftist meanie!

Honestly, I can't figure out this choice at all. Even at my most cynical, I can't imagine that anybody is buying her as a serious candidate, no matter how much spin the GOP puts on things and the alternative is that she's apparently (by the campaign ads I've seen) being run directly against Obama, rather than as an aide to the real Republican nominee. I guess they are hoping to get the ex-Hilary swing vote and the 'Gods, Guns and PTA' moms. If those even really exist.

Perplexing. But then again, I'm not a highly-paid campaign consultant, so it's entirely possible that there is a layer of strategy here that I just can't see.

[oldmangrumpus.livejournal.com]

Well, the story is this (and given how twisted one of the principles is I can believe it):

McCain wanted either Liberman or possibly Ridge, men he was familiar with.

His consultant, Karl Rove (yes, Karl Rove, the man who slimed John McCain in North Carolina with that "black baby" smear 8 years, is now working on the McCain campaign) said, no, it's Mitt Romney.

So the "compromise" was the completely unknown Sarah Palin, on the theory that she would "energize the base" - i.e., the far right conservatives, since she's an even bigger abortion opponent than he is.

Unfortunately for them, her closet is bigger than expected, and the campaign now won't even talk to the press about the vetting process.

(this information comes from the New York Times, FWIW)

[anaka.livejournal.com]

I think basically she's out for the moms and ladies of the NeoCon base... knowing that they wouldn't likely come along for any other reason, suddenly they've got one of their own to vote for. Lord knows it's working for my mother.

[knowmad.livejournal.com]

Right there with ya, though I'm too beaten down to articulate why as well as you have. I did post a link in my LJ with some fact checking on the speeches from last night (including Palin's).

Can we have Michael Palin instead?

[whisper-jeff.livejournal.com]

I thought, from what I saw of it, that her speech was more cutthroat than any of the other speeches, but that's not a good thing. It means her speechwriter's deserve some kudos for their effectiveness but it shows just how much they are willing to play dirty pool. I mean, disparaging _ALL_ community managers' efforts while taking a swipe at Obama? Yeah, that's classy. On so many levels that insult was offensive but those who want to be swayed by her will surely think that was a masterstroke of an insult...

I agree with you - she is a prime example that a bit of effort and a pretty face can lead to success and that disgusts me.

She is so obviously a VP choice to help McCain get elected rather than to have the best person possible in the second most important seat of office in the US.

She reminds me of Dan Quail, just better able to speak...

[anaka.livejournal.com]

At least Quayle had a resume, even if he was a putz.

But yeah. Her speech just killed me, and the fact that McCain chose her knowing so little... gah.

[daydreamweaver.livejournal.com]

You've got sons. Therefore I assume you've seen the Pixar film 'Cars' a few dozen times, like me, right?

There's a line, somewhere nearish the beginning, that sticks in my head every time I see her photo or hear her speak.

Lightning has just finished the first part of the new road, and all the townsfolk are admiring it. Lizzie says to Luigi that the new road makes his shop look like a dump, and Luigi replies under his breath:

"Crazy old devil woman..."

Now, I know Palin is not old and that she is probably not the devil. But that line just appears...

[trollbabe.livejournal.com]

Bwah!!! That's AWESOME!

My twin sons adore "Cars", and so I've reluctantly committed much of it to memory.

This, however, makes it all worthwhile. Thank you!

[daki.livejournal.com]

I do hope there is a Biden/Palin debate. I can't wait to see that.

[knowmad.livejournal.com]

I pretty much agree (and there is almost always one debate between VP candidates), but I do worry that, handled wrong, he'll come off as "the mean old man/elitist beating up on sweet hockey mom."

Let's hope not, but I'm betting right now that that's how the GOP handlers are going to spin it.

[anaka.livejournal.com]

Of course that's how they're going to spin it. But theirs won't be the only spin, and the way the GOP is planning to put off the press where Palin is concerned, I have hopes that the media might get sick enough of that treatment to react accordingly and focus on the Dem's message.

[knowmad.livejournal.com]

I hope you're right, but ... I have lowered hopes for the press, and I used to be part of it! Surely a large number of Americans will only get the Fox News version, and will believe the GOP spin.

[greyjoy.livejournal.com]

You've identified the key problem, methinks, and it's not Palin. The problem is that a sizeable percentage of the voting population wants easy answers to questions of unimaginable complexity, and is willing to put their trust in what our culture teaches them are the essential qualities of leadership: big smile, attractive appearance, glib answers. To be fair, it's a testimony to how well our government functions even with idiots at the helm that our collective lives won't plunge straight into the crapper if McCain wins. But life will be worse for some, definitely; if Obama wins, life might be a little worse economically for the well-heeled, but I don't think anyone's going to suffer otherwise.

[anaka.livejournal.com]

If McCain stays president, then things won't be terrible. He has slightly more ethics than Bush had, at least in theory. This isn't looking at the long-term effects of a continued corrupt Republican reign, only at short-term.

If McCain dies in office, though? Dear God. Palin as president? I can think of people who would be a greater threat to the Union, but dear God, not many.

But yes, the average American didn't go to college (or didn't go there to learn if they did), is a part of the mythical middle class (because we all think we're middle class), has been taught that they are the standard to which all Americans should aspire, and that intelligence and education are to be viewed with suspicion, if not outright disdain. That's why she can make the argument that her "experience" qualifies her for the position with a straight face... because for the average American, they don't actually know any better.

I miss educated Republicans who weren't afraid to reveal that they actually were educated and had sound reasons behind what they do. I think Reagan delivered a death blow to that face of the GOP, though, and the NeoCons delivered the coup de grace.

[metallian.livejournal.com]

You've identified the key problem, methinks, and it's not Palin. The problem is that a sizeable percentage of the voting population wants easy answers to questions of unimaginable complexity

I think this is one of the biggest factors. Both sides are guilty of pandering to this tendency to some extent, but IMO it is the bread and butter of the Republican platform. In addition to being easy, answers should also be viscerally satisfying in some way.

and is willing to put their trust in what our culture teaches them are the essential qualities of leadership: big smile, attractive appearance, glib answers

That, too, but coming across as "tough" in the sense that you would love nothing better than to shoot a Bad Guy in the face can also work in your favor. Prevention is not exciting because nobody notices when it works, but dramatically resolving issues is exciting and therefore popular.

[oldmangrumpus.livejournal.com]

Go ahead. Hate her. She's vile.

[anaka.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :)

[topherscott.livejournal.com]

Flanna found some site where people were, get this, praying that McCain would get elected and then drop dead for the good of the country.

She got distracted and lost the link and is now desperately trying to find it again for me. I would love to pass that one on to the hyenas.

[anaka.livejournal.com]

I'm not surprised. I watched them interviewing delegates who'd listened to her speech at the RNC. That seemed to be pretty much spot on to their responses.

[wilthoughts.livejournal.com]

Any chance you'd explain what you mean by "uneducated" and "never mind the schooling?" She does have a college degree. That's one line of attack I haven't heard before.

[anaka.livejournal.com]

If you go listen to her RNC speech, it'll show up. Basically, despite the fact that she has a degree, her ignorance of the wider political system, of foreign affairs, and really of anything beyond her experience is shocking in a vice-presidential candidate for a major party. The fact that she admitted in a press conference after being picked that she didn't know what the vice president did, for example. Or that she believes that being across the Bering Strait from Russia is sufficient foreign policy experience. Or that she tried to get books she didn't approve of removed from the library while she was mayor. It's just.... gah.

She got a degree, but she never educated her mind or thought processes. I mean, I've seen people come out with the piece of paper who never leaned a thing beyond what they'd need for a job... I'd say she's one of those people from the given evidence.

In particular, her job at the RNC was to stand up as the counter to Obama's studies and time as a teacher (and experience as a Senator) and appeal to an anti-intellectual populist fear by being perky and fearless and all Little Orphan Annie to the crowd -- a living female Horatio Alger story.

It's a longstanding myth in America that the perfect leader for our country is someone who is just like us, only better. Of course, that "Us" varies depending on who you talk to. What it plays out as is that we don't want anyone who demonstrably isn't us... it's okay if you're rich (because according to another myth, we could all be that with just a different roll of the dice), but you can't have inherited it -- or at least you have to have made your fortune over again as an adult. Being overly educated (or at least obvious about it), though, is right out for a majority of the nation, because they know that's not them. That makes them suspicious and blows the illusion for your insular, middle income, middle class voter. The only time it's okay to be obviously different is if either A) it cost you dearly to get there or B) you prove that you haven't lost the common touch, usually by glossing over and downplaying whatever it is that makes you special. McCain's POW experience he keeps harping on is for column A, while Obama's working column B but in his own way, which surprisingly doesn't involve covering up his actual abilities. Palin's job is to own Column B and take away Obama's traction there.

It's the same tactic Bush executed that got him elected twice. It's why he moved to Texas and picked up that terrible, terrible accent. Hell, Clinton did the same thing. Carter, Reagan... Americans want someone that represents the salt of the earth, rather than someone who might actually be the best man for the job. We'll pick someone stupid and cute over someone ugly and smart (and obviously not us).

It is, frankly, a stupid way to run a country. But Palin plays right into that, consciously or no.... she's clever, don't get me wrong, but I can't tell how much is crafted image from this campaign and how much is just who she is... but I suspect, given how quickly it all has come up, that this is who she is 100%... and that person is someone I don't want within 20 miles of a seat of power unless she's there on a tour. Populism is dangerous -- it always has been. Knowing that this is the Republican plan to take the White House scares me, because it's a fall-back position that means they don't have anything better. I want them to have something better. But they don't. So we get POW McCain and Perky Governor Palin shouting to the masses that all America needs is average people (them) in extraordinary circumstances (what they've been through) to lead this country and keep it safe from eebul invaders! Which, is, frankly, a load of BS when you're talking about the presidency.

So... yeah. That's my take on it. In this election, her degree is irrelevant because a) she doesn't use it to think and b) she made it so, beause to do otherwise is to admit that Obama's law degree from Harvard isn't a waste of time.