(Reuters)
In what the Washington Post calls Sarah Palin's "first major political speech since accepting the Republican Party's nomination for vice president 18 months ago," the pitbull with lipstick was back.
The former governor of Alaska received a raucous welcome at the National Tea Party Convention Saturday night. Greeted with cries of "run, Sarah, run," Palin proceeded to call the movement "the future of politics in America" and said the country "is ready for another revolution."
In her 40-minute speech Palin had harsh words for Democrats in general and PRESIDENT OBAMA in particular, taking aim at, among other things, awarding constitutional rights to the Christmas Day bomber. "To win that war," she said, "we need a commander-in-chief, not a professor of law standing at the lectern."
The audience that had paid half a grand each to hear her speak went wild when she mocked Obama in her trademark folksy way: "How's that hopey, changey stuff working out for you?"
Palin insisted she's not trying to become the movement's leader, emphasizing that "the tea party movement is not a top-down operation."
But I'll gladly run for president and be that top-down leader!
Frankly, even the idea of Palin making a "major political speech" seems oxymoronic, as it's hard if not impossible to take seriously someone with views she obtained from right-wing radio and a fundamentalist reading of the Bible whose speechwriters --either for this shindig or whoever writes her blurbs on Facebook-- think the way to solve problems is with boiler-plate rhetoric, bumper sticker slogans and occasionally clever one-liners/insult. Vote for that and see how well that gets your problems solved.
But setting that aside for a moment, when conservatives argue that liberals are terrified of Sarah Palin, little do they realize that they're the ones who should be terrified. This speech is terrifying for its anti-intellectual bent: For instance, why should a president having a law degree be something t be mocked?
"In many ways," said Palin, "Scott Brown represents what this movement is about." Does that include Brown's support of the Commonwealth's single-payer health care system, or his refusal to challenge the state's decision to legalize gay marriage? Or his support of a woman's right to choose? Why not address those though questions, governor, instead of using Brown's victory as a cheap symbol. Perish the thought we ponder anything too difficult to work out. He's way more than a guy with a truck, but describing a longtime Massachusetts politico as a guy with a truck better fits the story line. Let's not tax anyone's gray matter; keep it simple and dumb it down, because that gets votes.
And as for that "hopey changey" line--what on Earth? Given that Obama inherited two 5-year-old wars, massive debt, a disastrous health care system, duplicitous banking practices, bankrupt automakers, a collapsed housing bubble, A crushing recession with surging unemployment, a chain of massive financial scandals and a shredded international reputation, I'd say Obama's doing pretty well. Maybe the conservatives who like to boast about the importance of accountability will actually practice what they preach and own the screw-ups of the previous standard bearers so fanatically supported by an emotionally-driven electorate.
But setting that aside for a moment, when conservatives argue that liberals are terrified of Sarah Palin, little do they realize that they're the ones who should be terrified. This speech is terrifying for its anti-intellectual bent: For instance, why should a president having a law degree be something t be mocked?
"In many ways," said Palin, "Scott Brown represents what this movement is about." Does that include Brown's support of the Commonwealth's single-payer health care system, or his refusal to challenge the state's decision to legalize gay marriage? Or his support of a woman's right to choose? Why not address those though questions, governor, instead of using Brown's victory as a cheap symbol. Perish the thought we ponder anything too difficult to work out. He's way more than a guy with a truck, but describing a longtime Massachusetts politico as a guy with a truck better fits the story line. Let's not tax anyone's gray matter; keep it simple and dumb it down, because that gets votes.
And as for that "hopey changey" line--what on Earth? Given that Obama inherited two 5-year-old wars, massive debt, a disastrous health care system, duplicitous banking practices, bankrupt automakers, a collapsed housing bubble, A crushing recession with surging unemployment, a chain of massive financial scandals and a shredded international reputation, I'd say Obama's doing pretty well. Maybe the conservatives who like to boast about the importance of accountability will actually practice what they preach and own the screw-ups of the previous standard bearers so fanatically supported by an emotionally-driven electorate.
I notice Palin called for new "big ideas" but didn't name a single one. Of course not. It's a lot easier to throw jabs than to lead, just like it would be easy to go through the entire 40-minute speech and pick it apart for its utterly vapid superficiality.
Speaking of which, How's that alphabety, newpapery reading thingy going, Sarah? Well, she may have read at least one magazine recently.
I suppose Obama could always quit the presidency, write a book, get a talk show gig on a cable TV news outlet and participate in activities that stroke one's ego, but someone's already got that job. A movement? I wonder if the Founding Fathers charged people to protest the British?
I suppose Obama could always quit the presidency, write a book, get a talk show gig on a cable TV news outlet and participate in activities that stroke one's ego, but someone's already got that job. A movement? I wonder if the Founding Fathers charged people to protest the British?
Frankly, governor, I like the idea of having a commander in chief who's heard of the Bill of Rights and can actually explain it. If strict constructionists like you think we ought to change that "piece of paper," or trash it altogether (save for the Second Amendment, of course!), you should at least have the decency to read it first and then be able to explain it before demonstrating that you're capable of defending it. We are a nation of laws, including laws that some of us don't like. Deal with it or quit and leave the country. (Hey, you're halfway there!)
It's tempting to quietly support this insanity, as it will no doubt fragment the Republican vote in 2012 if the Tea Party runs on a separate ticket (ensuring a Democratic win), but it's ultimately just bad for the country as it brings us way too many right-wing extremist senators, congressional representatives and local officials (just as it would be with too many left-wing extremists). It's a very dumb sort of polarization, and true fiscal conservatives should be vocally distancing themselves from it. Sadly, the seem unable to because they don't control the message, though theirs is the far better one.
So let the Tea Party win. Let them tear each other apart between self-entitled, self-righteous moralists who want the government to control a woman's womb, or tell people who can and can't marry or who can and can't have health care. (They'll have to explain how someone they're trying to hijack as one of their own, Scott Brown, supports a woman's right to choose, supports the Commonwealth's single-payer health care system, and refuses to challenge the state's decision to legalize gay marriage. Some tea partier he be!)
It's tempting to quietly support this insanity, as it will no doubt fragment the Republican vote in 2012 if the Tea Party runs on a separate ticket (ensuring a Democratic win), but it's ultimately just bad for the country as it brings us way too many right-wing extremist senators, congressional representatives and local officials (just as it would be with too many left-wing extremists). It's a very dumb sort of polarization, and true fiscal conservatives should be vocally distancing themselves from it. Sadly, the seem unable to because they don't control the message, though theirs is the far better one.
So let the Tea Party win. Let them tear each other apart between self-entitled, self-righteous moralists who want the government to control a woman's womb, or tell people who can and can't marry or who can and can't have health care. (They'll have to explain how someone they're trying to hijack as one of their own, Scott Brown, supports a woman's right to choose, supports the Commonwealth's single-payer health care system, and refuses to challenge the state's decision to legalize gay marriage. Some tea partier he be!)
And let Sarah run for president. Let the deluded think they're won the day. She won't have to quit office halfway through her term. Her own supporters will turn on her in disappointment when they realized she completely incapable and ineffective. Unlike the current president, they might even give her two years before admitting their mistake. I look forward to it. It'll be a schadenfreude far more entertaining than anything Obama supporters are dealing with today. Run, Forrest, run, and let your supporters learn the hard way how easy it is to be taken for a fool. I can't wait for 2014. Now that will be a party.
Comments
Yeah, Obama supporters have learned "the hard way how easy it is to be taken for a fool." And it only took one year instead of two.
absolutly the best article on sarah ever!
Run Sarah Run, is my new chant every time i will see her. and to the east of the mountain fox news listeners who beleive the propoganda, for gods sake trust in your ability to think. who got us into this mess, republican borrow and spend. go cold turkey on fox news for two weeks and you will be a changed person.
trust me it works.
James R. Williams says: Yeah, Obama supporters have learned "the hard way how easy it is to be taken for a fool." And it only took one year instead of two.
So you're stupid enough to get taken to the cleaners again by an even less qualified individual?
Palin had to write notes on the palm of her left hand. One of the notes reads 'tax cuts'. She had to write on the palm of her hand the number one Republican talking point of all time. Please oh please let her run for the presidency in 2012.
Torquemada aka Brucie aka over 50 year old white guy has a crush on Sarah Palin. Look how many articles he writes about her.
Creepy Infatuation says: "Torquemada aka Brucie aka over 50 year old white guy has a crush on Sarah Palin. Look how many articles he writes about her."
No, putz. She's news because she says dumb things and because dumb people think she's what we need because "she's just like us." And all that interest generates web hits, which generates revenue for me. And when people make comments in the comment section, I make money, even when the comments are stupid, like yours. So thanks for contributing to my paycheck.
Here's a nickel for your change jar Brucie ya probably need it considering you write blogs for a living. PALIN 2012! COLTS 2010! Later Loser.
Here's Your Sign says: Here's a nickel for your change jar Brucie ya probably need it considering you write blogs for a living. PALIN 2012! COLTS 2010! Later Loser.
Ooo, that's a good one! Sure, Colts in 2010, Palin in 2012, and you in 2014 saying, "Boy, was I stupid."
I can't wait for you to get everything you want so you can choke on your own sycophantic stupidity. I WANT her to win. It'll make the Nigerian e-mail scam look like a piker. And scribblers like you will be the ones who got taken for a ride while "losers" like me can say, "Not my fault; I wasn't stupid enough to vote for an empty chair." You want Obama to fail? LOL. Just wait.
"COLTS 2010!"
Hey, Sign Boy, do you put your ears up to Palin's mouth because the sound of the ocean enilghtens you?
Crib notes? So we've got this presidential contender who can't needs a cheat-sheet to remember her own core principles when simply asks her about her beliefs. That's just brilliant. I'm sure none of the dog and pony show men who love this woman noticed, probably hoping to get a cleavage shot.
There are pics, now. www.huffingtonpost.com/stefan-sirucek/did-palin-use-crib-notes_b_452458.html
Once again we here in TN are in the "news of the weird". Sigh.
At least only 600 people showed up, we can be proud of that.
Palin's "intellectual dishonesty" presupposes intellect doesn't it?
The notes on her hand were hilarious. AP has a good photo of them.
OT - Bruce do a piece on the ice storm disaster happening on reservations like Pine Ridge in SD will you please and how the media and government are ignoring it?
"uh-uh-uh hope and change, uh-uh-uh healthcare, uh-uh fired-up, fired-up fired-up, uh-uh-uh stimulus, uh-uh-uh healthcare in 57-states uh, uh-uh fired-up, uh stimulus uh fired-up, uh-uh-uh arugula, uh-uh healthcare, fired-up fired-up, uh-uh change and healthcare, uh-uh healthcare for America, uh fired-up uh fired-up......
Did you notice that Palin's hair was frizzled! She looked like she just woke up. She is stupid. She is ignorant. She writes on her hand.
Her makeup wasn't right. She's from a small town in Alaska so how can she possibly be as smart as the East Coast Intelligentsia Country Club Sect. She talks folksy down home talk. Her hair is so 1994. She has 5 kids doesn't she know that the femi-nazis frown on more than one kid for white women? I'm not jealous she's so attractive. Her being pretty has nothing to do with me not liking her, honest.
I'm a Palin supporter but like Obama and those before her she appears to be another neo-con AIPAC genuflecting lackey for Israel. If she is truly for America stop sending our brave young men and women to be maimed, tortured, or die for Israel. As George Washington said it's not in America's interest to establish permanent alliances with foreign nations. It's time for OUR presidents to stop allowing a foreign nation and lobby like AIPAC to determine our foreign policy. We were attacked on 9-11 not because people were jealous of our freedom but because of our support of Israel in the middle east.
Tracy B Ann says:Once again we here in TN are in the "news of the weird".
Did you marry your brother Tracy?
Well at least she was trying to give a speech sans the teleprompter. Hell I'm sure everyone out there who has had to speak in public or give a presentation has never used notes. Must be great to be so perfect.
Keep Hating
You are right that Palin's ignorance is alarming, seeing that she has so many committed supporters. The recent convention unmasks the Tea Party as a front for the Republican Party, which is cynically taking advantage of the racism, lies and hate of the astroturf movement, while allowing the GOP to avoid direct responsibility for these attitudes.
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