I like to think that there are good people and bad and that political affiliation is not a determining factor in character. I like to believe, for instance, that if I were a liberal it would not change my opinion of the unfortunate figure in Levi Johnston . If you're not familiar Mr Johnston he is the 19 year old ex boyfriend of Sarah Palins' daughter Bristol, to whom he had a child. Political affiliation in the media has given him instant fame because, as Mr Johnston has deftly realize, there is a fertile market for anything malicious concerning Sarah Palin and even if it's just made up Mr Johnston knows he can get away with it and he has.
Now we have to wonder if there is something more to the movement of liberalism other than a mere difference of opinion on policy matters. Certainly there are many liberals out there that see the Levi Johnstons of the world for what they are and wish he would go away. But what is it about the market of liberal thought that accepts him with open arms providing him with a forum in the first place?
Market is the key word here and it could spell a disaster for those on the left who are in the legitimate game of policy formation and debate. You can garner an audience of liberal viewers and readers that take tremendous satisfaction in anything tabloid concerning Sarah Palin but in the meantime expose an element that shows the worse side of the movement. In the meantime independent minded people won't get the humor and will be put off. Exhibit A is this exchange on MSNBC's “Morning Meeting” where the host Dylan Ratigan reads off a top ten list:
Ratigan: I'm going to burn through a couple more of these. Hang on, for a second. "Drill, baby, drill." I don't know what you have to say about that. "Ultimate capitalist. She’ll sell anything for anybody for any reason." She does looks like Tina Fey which makes her more attractive." This one, I like, though, Jay. "No one else can wink and smile and rip an opponent all in one breath." Pretty good skill.
Jay Newton-Small (Time Magazine): Absolutely. She can- she has what they call the velvet stiletto. She can rip your heart out with a big smile and looking great about it.
Ratigan: She also, of course, sticks to her guns.
Contessa Brewer (NBC): She tends to be pretty dynamic when she is on a particular topic.
Ratigan: Number two, she is not Bush.
Brewer: Well, there is that. That helps anybody at this point!
Ratigan: Number one, Jay, she has family drama that makes you feel better about your own.
This may play well for the choir but it doesn't help anyone when it comes to finding a job or putting food on the table. Worse than this is the overt sexism if not outright misogyny with the “sell anything for anybody for any reason”. Her gender is the main target of ridicule. More thoughtful liberals have to be cringing at the site of such a spectacle and are as perplexed as anyone that such a (to borrow a phrase) politically correct tone deaf “report” could get aired without any backlash.
A larger question may be that there is something to Sarah Palin and her liberal detractors are not lost to whatever it is. By honing in on the personal (ie: the politics of personal destruction as they used to remind us) they are attempting to distract and marginalize her presence on the political scene. It doesn't occur to them that their attacks are giving people a second look to see what all the fuss is about.
Writing in the Huffington Post, Mike Elk a former organizer for president Obama's campaign recalls the importance of Sarah Palin and makes a distinction between those on the left who had their work cut out for them and others who smugly considered themselves above everyone else including Sarah Palin:
As an organizer for the Obama campaign on the ground in Western Pennsylvania during the election, I remember how white, working-class, swing voters couldn't stop talking about Sarah Palin for weeks on end. For the three weeks between Palin's selection as VP candidate and the financial crash, we were scared shitless the Republicans were going to win as Palin led to McCain surging in the polls.
Many white, working-class people loved her because here was a politician who finally was working class and ready for a fight. They loved her even more as Ivy League liberals denounced her as basically "white trash." It felt to white, working-class people like liberal elites were calling them "white trash" too.
Liberals still treat Palin and the right-wing populist Tea Party Movement that she leads as "white trash." They spend more time attacking them as "stupid racists" than actually trying to win them over and address their concerns. Its as if liberals are saying we know better than you stupid working-class people.
Fortunately for Obama there were cooler heads prevailing behind the scenes that made an important and cogent distinction between a working class Democratic party and an elitist brand of liberals that can only serve to repel the latter to the other side. As the economy becomes rougher and the mainstream press continues its negative full court press on Palin the smart move would be to somehow tone down the rhetoric. That Hillary Clinton would make a gesture for a sit-down over a cup of coffee with Palin shows that the administration wisely doesn't believe its own press.
Comments
The left has created an image of Sarah Palin that they have to maintain. If they stop attacking her, they are afraid that she will be able to change the perception that the left has created of her.
They have invested so much in creating a false image of Sarah Palin that they can't stop them self. If Sarah Palin becomes President of the United State, all her detractors will be exposed for what they are.
It's funny to hear Libs talk about Palin and her "lack of experience", then try to explain how oblabla will "change" the U.S. for the better. Sarah is probably more like the average person in her approach to politics and people are not used to that. I like it.
She is a Patriot. One of the worst examples of a Patriotic American is my nemesis and we all know what he stands for.... Absolutely nothing.
I think the Left is perplexed with the woman and doesn't know what to do about her. So, they bash. They LOVE to Bush-Bash and Palin hits the scene and JOY JOY let's 'get' her. JipT saw an unknown woman arive on the political scene and could not wait to see, hear, and read the Fringe Media start digging-up anything on her. The front page of the New York Liberal times was running out of room for print.
I think it's great that she gets hit and hit hard by all the Libs as that will prove to help her in the future. She needs to learn all about the Left and their political bashing skills.
Please. The "libs", "Oblabla", "New York Liberal Times".... Truly, you people are the paragon of reasoned political analysis. The fact of the matter is, and of course, you already know this, Sarah Palin in the White House would be a DISASTER. The woman is as dense as ash wood. And save your breath: You're not dealing with a liberal here, I'm totally centrist, independent, mod, however you want to slice it. There's plenty to criticize Obama for, but please, something substantial....
The media isn't left. It's a circus, and it is deplorable, but simply because it is by and large not as extreme an outlier as Fox doesn't mean it is left. Face it. Palin is a spectacle of her own (publicists) design.
The column is right of at least one thing. Many believe she would be a disaster in any federal job. Having said that, the rest of the column is pure Fox talking points. I don't believe most people give a crap about Levi Johnston, just as most people (I think) don't pay too much attention to tabloid sensationalism. But what get's me about the column is the connection of left wing to tabloid. The critic obviously lives in an alternate universe. Mr. Murdoch's Fox and his other media outlets are the signature pieces of the tabloids. The critic doesn't know that?? How willfully blind.
Getting back to Palin, I'd say her intelligence probably matches the critic's with a little of Steve thrown in. I also agree that the critic should try writing something substantial to tell us why he'd vote for her. That may prove to be the scariest column of all.
POO-POO Says that Sarah Palin in the Whitehouse would be a disaster, She is as dense as Ashwood. Maybe i'm missing something but when i watched her debate Joe Biden the intellect from Delaware she wiped the floors with him. I think Biden in the White House has been a disaster. Come to think of it Hussen is the biggest disaster with him and his czars. GOD BLESS SARAH PALIN!!!
Poopothead is clearly a Lib and hates the label. Probably lives in a blue state and doesn't know it. She's thinking.... what's a blue state? Most of the Libs that I have ever known say the exact same thing. JumT didn't bash her so poopoo must appeal to the Left. Here's the question. If you see most things from the Left, why call yourself a Conservative or a "centrist". Detroit does the exact same thing. He is a wishy-washy Lib. So, let's just go with what we know. Poopoo and Detroit are blue state Libs.
Palin would do this country much good by:
Reduce taxes
Deport illegals or as Libs say "undocumented workers"
Close borders
Reduce unemployment
"Change" for the good (for a change)
Fix Health Care
Stop spending
Re-open Gitmo
Tell the truth (unlike oblabla)
Let the fish die by sending the much needed water to Ca. farmers
Label Hasan a terrorist
Outlaw Lib beer-summits
Of course we would need the Left's help to create new songs like: Umm, Ummm, Um ... Sarah Palin Rocks! ..?
Steve, Too funny. I think I agree with everything you said except the wishy-washy part. All the names make me laugh too.
I really didn't understand the writers article but it is funny how the tabloid and media circus is rallying around Levi AND he is just eating it all up. He thinks they are interested in him and his "package". NOT. One day he will realize what's going on maybe.
Curic baffled Palin by asking her what she reads. Palin says it was a "gotcha" question. All the bobble heads nod in agreement. Imagine Palin at center stage with the leaders (friend or foe) of the world. You guys really want that baffled woman in charge? I'm impressed at what impresses you guys. Obviously you are nurtured by know-nothingness.
LOL at JofT's "Obviously you are nurtured by know-nothingness" comment. Others have said the exact same thing to me. I am still learning this stuff.
I think Palin needs more time in the political arena to sharpen her skills/answers. The question by Curic was not asked in a friendly way. She asked it as if people in Alaska are not very bright. Kinda like "You live where? Huh?" or "You hunt? and eat moose? What?" (with that perplexed, puzzled look of doubting disgust). People approach me that way too for living here so, I know what it feels like.
I must say this, although I usually agree with JofT, he or she does seem a bit bitter/hateful at times.
There Steve, I said something of substance. Are you happy now?
No more wishy-washy stuff.
I'm nutured by know nothingless, I watch Atorney General Eric Holder get grilled by Sen. Lindsey Graham, He was asked a question about "When was the last time a war criminal was tried in a civilian court"? Eric Holders respose was a classic, he looked like the coyote on the road runner cartoon, he said "I don't know i would have to research that". Graham responded"No need to this will be the first" This happened on 11-18-09, In the Senate sub-Committee hearings....GOTCHA!
Gee, someone thinks they captured a gotcha moment therefore it proves Palin is smart as a whip. What wonderful logic.
By the way, what country are we at war with? It's a completely different subject.
McVeigh's terrorism was tried in criminal courts. Just a point.
Keep yourselves nurtured.
It just dawned on me. The first attempt at the Towers destruction was tried in New York City criminal courts. They were found guilty.
I think that confirms your know-nothingness not to mention Sen. Graham.
Keep nurturing!!!
I get a kick (and an education) from the back-n-forth between Tex and JofT. I really am curious to know what the difference is between having a trial in NY versus elsewhere? Why has that become an argument?
JofT, Please WAKE UP! This is an attempt by your President Hussein, To bring the trial and publicity to New York City. It needs to be brought forth in a military tribunal. with no publicity. Just straight justice and swift punishment. We are at war with Terrorists from all nations who shout Allah Akhbar! Please your attempts to be condesending are getting old. Also your attempts at being intellectual have failed on a political level. GOD BLESS SARAH PALIN!
Here's some more condensation.
You want a speedy trial??? Do you know the year 9/11 occurred??
You want a secret trial?? That's in keeping with the know-nothingness. If it's secret you get to not know what happened. Do you know what country you're living in? Keep nurturing!
Why don't you guys find out what Holder said and make intelligent arguments to oppose his reasoning. Instead you watch Fox and bobble your heads in agreement without investing the slightest thought.
How's that for condensation???
Go get 'em JerT.
... You do however grasp that Sarah Palin is a moron who was selected to appeal to female demographics in the last presidential election and for little else?
As someone who is accused of leaning to the left in a lot (but not nost issues) John McCain was a Repulican I could vote for.
As a woman Sarah Palin is a Repulican I could never vote for.
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