For Republicans, the Agony and the Ecstasy that is Sarah Palin

The Ecstasy - She's the Republican Party's most effective and dynamic public speaker whose inspirational words can motivate supporters to a point of great passion and fanatic loyalty.

The Agony - She's an effective and dynamic public speaker whose inflammatory accusations about her opponents incite crowds to acts of violence and hate, turning off potential supporters and generating misgiving of Republican leadership.

The Ecstasy - Her acceptance speech as McCain's VP running mate immediately bumped up McCain's standings in the polls and established her as the Republican Party's rising star.

The Agony - Her subsequent, limited interviews with the media revealed a person who is completely clueless about the American political process and world events, causing Republican leaders to wring their hands in anguish, and to fight back that sinking feeling that her selection had sealed their political doom.

The Ecstasy - She's the most exciting and successful fundraiser for the Republican Party, getting supporters to donate millions of dollars to the McCain presidential campaign to ensure that she gets elected into office.

The Agony - She's the most effective fundraiser for the Democratic Party, driving terrified voters to donate millions of dollars to the Obama presidential campaign to ensure that she doesn't get elected into office.

The Ecstasy - She fires up conservatives and religious advocates, who see a champion for their cause to establish a society based on sound religious principles and solid moral values.

The Agony - She frightens away the independent and liberal bases, which see a hypocritical and small-minded person, whose own life reflects a complete contradiction to all that she claims to stand for and believe in.

The Ecstasy - She looks good in librarian glasses, pricey designer suits, and high heels, possessing a telegenic presence that wins over audiences.

The Agony - She evokes Dana Carvey's Church Lady with her calculated, folksy demeanor that hides a fanatical intolerance of any lifestyle that does not meet her strict criteria.

The Ecstasy - She has convinced supporters that "Joe Six Pack" and hockey moms are fully qualified to run the country, solve the energy and economic crisis, engage in international diplomacy, and command the most powerful army in the world; that any ordinary Joe and PTA mom with minimal education and professional experience can sit in upon high-level discussions with economists, scientists, military leaders, and scholars to explore the nuances and ramifications of actions by the U.S. upon the international community, offer astute insights and make intelligent decisions that impact that lives of hundreds of millions of people.

The Agony - She produces nightmares in people of fair intelligence who can only imagine a drunk, beer-bellied redneck and his hillbilly wife in curlers with their fingers on the "new-cue-ler" button.

Comments

[MEC43]

Is the backlash that fuels Palin less than, equal to, or greater than, the backlash that she generates? Will we know on Nov. 5? 2012?

[MariosResponse]

The backlash is greater than. No need to wait for election day. You can see it happening now, in that even "supportive" crowds will easily boo her if she makes a mistake, no matter how innocently.

[EvasDaddy]

I sure hope all this anti Palin passion translates into pro Obama voting, or the joke will be on all of us.

If you don't want Sarah Palin moving to Washington next January, get out and do your part to elect Obama and Biden.

Volunteer to help your local Obama workers; they need it. Donate, even it it's $10. Give all you can afford, but send something.

Most importantly vote. Vote early if you can, so that you can help get other people to the polls on November 4th.

Please don't think Obama is a "sure thing". He's good, he's the one we need, and it's looking good at the moment, but we can't afford another close election. Close elections are much easier to steal, never forget. Wide margins are safer, and landslides are gold.

I'm going for gold this year.

[wandering girl]

all good, but I take issue with our donors being characterized as "terrified" because of her. angry? yes. disgusted? yes. wary? absolutely. but not terrified.

[MariosResponse]

Trust me, the motivation is pure, unadulterated terror.

[mommadona]

*sigh....

It IS the 21 Century in America, right?

http://images-cdn01.associatedcontent.com/image/A7987/79870/300_79870.jpg

[Kindheart]

Well done except for one thing...while in the beginning she appeared to be the GOP's rising star, when she returns to Alaska she will have her hands full. She could face impeachment proceedings because she violated ethics laws. I bet her citizens might start questioning who really built her home in Wasilla...the same builder who got the bid for the sports center?????

[ORSunshine]

Thanks for laying this out so plainly and clearly. (And thanks for the giggles)...

favorite part: "The Agony - She frightens away the independent and liberal bases, which see a hypocritical and small-minded person, whose own life reflects a complete contradiction to all that she claims to stand for and believe in."

That was my first thought about her when she was nominated, and I just don't see how all her "fans" can ignore this so easily!?

[MariosResponse]

There are many mysteries in life. This is one of them.

[MPeter]

Nicely done.

Hey, the McCain team panicked yesterday when CNN's Rich Sanchez did a piece on Palin and her pals in the Alaskan Independence Party.

[psychrn]

Very well stated. Am still astonished to hear that there are those who perceive her as bright and qualified to hold an office...any office.

[Amalek]

I have set aside some funds for anyone who challenges her in the next Alaska race. I will even fund her primary opponent.

[MariosResponse]

Amalek - be careful of that promise - you could find yourself shelling out a lot of money.

[0whole1]

Your article pretty much says it.

I suspect that her future lies in the fund raising/speaking circuit (esp with right wing religious groups) or possibly on a talk show. Not punditry, though, I don't think -- she's good with platitudes but not with analysis. Although...maybe right wing radio. And I suppose she could rabble rouse over at Fox as well as Hannity, as long as she's *asking* the questions and not having to answer them.

I don't think she's going to be impeached, but there's probably going to be a constant stream of small ethics issues and lawsuits for her over the next 2 years which may lead to her being unelectable on the state level.