Sarah Palin Makes it a Race

Unless something else unexpected happens (and it could), Sarah Palin has made it a race. Tonight she was a more compelling and powerful presence than was John McCain. Does she belong in the big time? Judging from this performance, yes. She delivered under enormous pressure, and with great poise. It was an an effective attack on Obama and his supporters, from the right. Yes, she was reading from a script, and yes, she has yet to deal with press conferences, a debate with Biden, subpoenas from the Alaska State Legislature, and other challenges. But I don't think the Democrats will underestimate her political abilities after tonight.

Her reputation in Alaska, after nearly two years as Governor, is that she is acutely aware of her public popularity, and if not arrogant, is pretty confident. Over time, her appeal has worn a bit thin in some quarters in Alaska, particularly among the State legislature and the Alaska press corps. She has not run a particularly tight ship as Governor, reportedly holds few cabinet meetings, has run up the state operating budget, and is engaged in a transparent cover-up of questionable actions involving the state police. As of a week ago, her popularity was somewhat in decline. But this election will be over in about two months. It will be interesting.

Comments

[harschwarz]

This just like an adrenilin rush. It makes you feel alive,but sooner or later it wears off. We have 60 days to the election. As soon as ner noteriety wears off, she will be put to the test, and her philosophies will become apparent to most Americans Her media luster will fade. Then it will be back to McCain vs Obama.

[flatus]

You left out that, like so many others in this high school auditorium sized venue, she is also one heckuva snappy dresser.

[jhamm1]

"It was an an effective attack on Obama and his supporters"

At the very least, let's distinguish between an effective argument and sophistry, in which case, Palin's speech amounted to an ineffective attack delivered effectively, but the end of the day dictates little or no substance, let alone justification, for any of her rhetoric.

[trytha1]

http://www.click2houston.com/politics/17393113/detail.html

Jack's getting time.... 4 more years for him!!! what is Sarah's connection to Abramoff again? Not too close but there are ties there...

[Agent420]

Sorry, she does not turn this into a race. She turns this into a farce.

[cooltheplanet]

One must admit it was great political theater, laced with the freshest of red meats republicans can slaughter. But as anyone following the media's vetting knows, she is not what she appears and her values, policies and general m.o. is way outside the mainstream of the kind of change the average voter wants to see in this next election.

Just another extreme candidate from the party that shoved GW down our throats, this time in a yummy package. If the country falls for this, we deserve our lickin. By the way, did anyone notice the expressiolns on the spectator faces' during her speech? It harkened back to a roman gladiator event, watching the atavistic barbaric delight at the spectacle of a slaughter.

[skateboy30]

Palin is GOP politics as usual: Blame the media, blame the 'liberals', blame the poor all while shrouding herself in the so-called family values, personal responsibility BS. Meanwhile no workable sensible McCain/Palin/GOP plan for the economy, energy, the middle class, the working poor (they are just lazy), the war (100 years?), health care, etc.

BTW Palin as mayor ran the town into the ground financially, is into earmarks as governor, liked the bridge to nowhere before she didn't like it and has that fun filled GOP tradition of cronyism alive and well in her administrations (can you say heckuva job Brownie) also she cut taxes for businesses and NOT individuals.

[Dustee]

Did Sarah Palin really make it a race?!!!

GOOD!

WHAT DID SHE SAY ABOUT MCBUSHES ECONOMIC PLAN...I must have missed it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDaInNmYeJQ

[legalclubs]

An excellent red meat speech which will energize the right wing base. OK, I've got to admit she clearly isn't a reincarnation of Dan Quayle. Expect the polls to be dead even after the post-convention polls start coming out. This race is probably going to come down to the debates and will be as close as 2000 and 2004.

[BigMike75]

You guys selling your bull%$! narratives make me laugh. She read a speech that was written for her, one that she had days to practice. Sarah Palin hasn't done s$#! so far to prove her worthiness of the lofty position heaped upon her. Why hasn't she done one single major network interview for an American public that doesn't know who the hell she is? It was easy to stand up in front of a rabid base, and basically mock and debunk Obama personally. It's a race? We'll see how "Pitbull with lipstick" Sarah holds up under the intense scrutinty of the national spotlight, we'll see how her skeletons from Alaska emerge, we'll see how she holds up, we'll see how she does in the debate and in tough interviews, after that I'll be impressed. Until then, Sarah hasn't done s$#! except read a speech written for her in front of an adoring audience

[foxfan]

There is a lot of concern over whether or not the candidates are qualified to be president. I look at these four and I see:

One not qualified.
One not capable.
One not qualified or capable.
One very qualified and capable who is on the opposite side from me on almost every issue.

So I ask, how does America, the greatest nation with the greatest minds, give us these four as choices. Couldn't we do better? Shouldn't we do better?

We are the Human Resources department doing the job interviews for the position of President. While experience is a wonderful ting, I don't think you have experience to be president unless you have been president. I look for someone of strong character, someone who can lead, someone who speaks from the heart.

This is why I will vote for Sen. Obama. I'm willing to give him the chance. If he fails, there will be another election in four years.

[jpcline004]

"Does she belong in the big time? Judging from this performance, yes."

I thought the argument was speeches and words don't matter? Thats all I have heard from the people mocking and belittling O's life

[fem56]

I am sure a lot of actors and actresses, newcasters etc. could give an amazing speech especially if they didn't have to write it too. My husband informed me that I could not. How does he know but it is most likely true but I sure bet Meryl Streep amoung others could. It is interesting that Palin has been holed up in her hotel suite the last few days being prepped. Things are much different than they look on the surface and I am not talking about her personal family issues.

[chavo]

Are we not seeing the same thing. This wasn't an effective speech at all. Sure it was effective in rallying up the Conservatives...fine. But someone tell me what that speech did to get undecided independents to suddenly become decided independent and vote for McCain/Palin? There was absolutely nothing in this speech that pulled in independents.

And why in the hell is the media eating her speech up and loving it, when all she did was bash the living crap out of the media? I think I woke up in Oz this morning.

[Paliniton]

Compare the difference in Sarah and Obama,,,,, when his teleprompter broke,,, he,,,uh,,,,,,I uh,,,,,uh,,,,I uh,,,, well I uh,,,,,, I,,,,uh,,,,I,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, but last night America did not know that hers was useless halfway through,,,, cause THAT speech is who she is,,,,, she is comfortable in her skin,, and the lefty's don't get it,,, but they will,,,,,,,,,,, soon,,,,, she is a mother, who is faced with JUST the same trials many Americans are faced with each and every day,,,,, not SOME ELITE politician who has been in Washington for 30 years, and could not get enough votes when running for the nomination in his own party to have won a mayor's race,,,, Dems are going to prove they are loosers,,,, Barak has already brought about the change he may have spoke about,,,,, had Barak chosen Hillary, I think McCain would have probably have chosen Lieberman,,,,, or somebody else,,,, so Thanks Barak for "Change",,,, Rush just said the new face of conservatism just may be wearing a skirt and makeup..... sweet

[luckyrico1]

Palin's attempts to undermine and belittle community organizers with sarcasm is outrageous. Community organizing is incredibly hard work. It takes a depth of commitment that few can or will understand. Maybe there will be a few who swallow her GOP speech as credentials to step in as VP (at the expense of putting down people who work hard at community organizing), but I for one can smell a well rehearsed speech written by somebody else for what it is: THE SAME NASTINESS AND PARTISAN POLITICS THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY INVENTED AND MANICURED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE PIG-FACED-SHOULD BE IN PRISON-KARL ROVE. The GOP is now trying to sell their good old boy and AK-47 weilding Barbie Doll as "non-partisan, reach across and work out the country's problems" ticket is entirely laughable. More of the same GOP crap.