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Why Palin had to be destroyed
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Alaska Governor Sarah Palin surprised the political world again when she announced she will be stepping down as governor later this month.
Palin hit the national political scene when she was chosen as John McCain's running mate. The announcement sparked a wave of enthusiasm from the Republican grass roots and some of the most hateful vitriol ever from Democrats. They slammed her as well as her children and continue to do so, well after the election. Even the Republican elites have thrown her under the proverbial bus.
What is it about Sarah Palin that evokes such emotion? Some say she's not smart enough or experienced enough to hold high office. I think back to a Dennis Miller segment when he was asked if he thought Carolyn Kennedy was qualified to be a U.S. Senator. "Compared to who?" was his response. It's not as though we have a bunch of geniuses running the country right now. I could throw a dart in a WalMart and hit somebody smarter than most of our elected representatives in Washington 9 times out of 10.
I think the thing that inspires some while repulsing others is that Sarah Palin seems to be an ordinary American. Imagine the gall of some every day citizen striving to reach the higher echelons of Washington politics. Those seats are reserved for those who have been groomed, who have come up through the ranks, who have paid their dues or at least reached celebrity status on TV or in the movies. You can't just have an average Joe (or Josephine) in such a well heeled club.
We are to write letters or send emails when we don't like what our government is doing. We are not to actually challenge them personally. Leave that to the seasoned professionals; career politicians and lobbyists.
It's not just a Washington phenomenon. Do you really think Hugo Chavez is the smartest man in Venezuela? The power broker game is a game most of us don't play, so we're not very good at it. We have other things that occupy our time. The fact that guys like Harry Ried are, doesn't make them superior beings. They are members of an exclusive club and they will protect their turf.
Sarah Palin may not become the champion of the people in the end. Her opponents have done a pretty thorough hatchet job on her. But, as our government gets ever larger and their incompetence becomes ever clearer, the luster is going to fade from our elite ruling class and maybe one day we'll elect genuine human beings to run the country.
