Big Night for the Republican's New Alpha Girl. But What Now?

As they sweep up the confetti and stack the chairs in St. Paul, all the Republican players can depart having done did their jobs; professionally, if not memorably. Except for Gov. Sarah Palin, who rocked their house and won their hearts.

Like the third cup of coffee after a hangover, however, things are beginning to come into focus.

The best I can tell: a man named Matthew Scully wrote an excellent speech. And an attractive woman we (and Scully) barely knew did a very good job of reading it. As a side note, unless the Obamas have the most loyal and self-effacing speechwriters in the history of the craft, their words were their own.

Palin did what the McCain camp hired her to do. Nobody can fault that. But if you give the attractive young news anchor on your hometown station a world-class speechwriter and a team of handlers, my bet is that she could have pulled it off, too.

Also: the Republicans rope-a-doped the Democrats into driving down expectations so far that an adequate performance would look strong -- and a strong performance would shake the balloons loose from the rafters.

Now comes the hard part.

Critical questions about this unknown quantity are being beaten back for now with counter charges of sexism, ruralism, familyism and anything else the McCain camp can throw into the blame-the-media strategy.

But that act is already wearing thin. Unlike, the Clintons' remonstrations of sexism, the media is skipping the obligatory self-examination. The attitude this time: if you can skin a caribou, you can deal with us.

As she strides on to the national stage as the Republicans' first female vice presidential nominee, there is some toilet paper on her pumps.

Her positions will hardly rally the hordes of Hillary-istas who put those 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling: pro gun; anti abortion (even in incest and rape), pro teaching of intelligent design -- creationism we used to call it -- in schools; pro ban on gay marriage; pro death penalty. These aren't Hillary's people; they're Pat Robertson's people.

She also brings with her a documented history of firing people she doesn't like. And coming off its told-you-so moment with John Edwards, the National Enquirer has a team (pit bull: meet the dobermans) scouring the North County for dirt.

Now comes the sharp elbows of the actual campaign, including debating geopolitical strategy with bad Joe Biden, a man who does foreign policy for a living.

She should be justly pleased with her opening night reviews. She earned them. But now we find out if this show has legs.

Comments

[PurplePhase]

While I agree with the concerns Peggy Drexler raised, I am not as pessimistic for two reasons. One, people underestimate the power of the blogosphere. Two, people overestimate the power of the MSM now that the blogosphere is here.

Before 2008, Republicans turned Democratic candidates into political road kill. Reagan vs. Carter, Reagan vs. Mondale, Bush vs. Dukakis, Bush vs. Gore, and Bush vs. Kerry. They had help from Democratic MIShandlers, lopsided funding from corporations, and the one way communication between media and public. Despite protests from voters to focus on issues, Republicans kept their smear machines rolling to the White House. Before this election, there was no blogosphere or it was too sparsely populated to be effective.

The blogosphere is more attuned to issues than the MSM and has proven to be a good funding source for populist candidates such as Obama and others who prioritize people over corporations. Its two way communication allows feedback like never envisioned before, further democratizing the political process and catching candidates off guard with their true colors.

Now the blogosphere is too big for the MSM to ignore and by discussing blogosphere dialog, the MSM in effect spreads the importance of issues. Of course there are many in the blogosphere who focus on the tabloid side of politics. I am guilty of it myself but I return to the issues. So do many more and they are far more likely to vote Democratic.

[tablesedge]

We will watch to see if "Anchorage Annie" has legs, intellectually speaking.

Judgment will prove to be the key issue for voters to consider. McCain's first decision as the presumptive nominee certainly was not well considered, no matter how well Palin may turn out votes.
It's how well she's prepared to be the POTUS. Let's hope we get to see her answer the question that yes she is and why.

[LilyMaskew]

I saw Sarah Palin and at first I thought she was pretty. But when she spoke at the Republican convention, her stomach-churning rhetoric spoiled her good looks. We really need someone "normal" to represent us as women. She doesn't have to wear an apron and bake cookies, but she doesn't have to whip the boys either. Surely there is an American woman somewhere in between.

[530Rose]

"Pretty is as pretty does" or as Forrest Gump said "Stupid is as Stupid does." Palin "Ain't that Pretty At All!"

[530Rose]

"Pretty is as pretty does" or as Forrest Gump said "Stupid is as Stupid does." Mrs. Palin "Ain't that Pretty At All!"

[TivoliEclipse]

Here we go again! The same stupid assed people that put Bush in the White House twice, are now swooning over the fringe lunatic -- the veiled Palin. It's a Shakespearean tragedy! The Death of the American Dream. Tagline: They voted for the status quo -- and pretended the last eight years never happened!

[530Rose]

Somebody give this alpha dog a rabies shot! The discordance between Palin and McCain's speeches at the GOP convention was unbelievable. He talks about moving across the aisles, then picks a VP that is completely polarizing and absolutely unacceptable to anyone left of Mitt Romney! You cannot have it both ways, Senator McCain. As somebody once said, the wheels have come off of your "straight talk express." If Obama is elected, he has already shown the ability to compromise and work with both parties to actually effect a change, in many cases to the chagrin of his base. If McCain is elected, this country will be in four more years of gridlock!

[MA4HRC]

"unless the Obamas have the most loyal and self-effacing speechwriters in the history of the craft, their words were their own."

They do, Governor Patrick had to be dragged out of the shadows to fess up to the "Words, just words" speech that he gave during his inauguration in MA.

[scriptorblog]

Democrats can win only if one of two things happen: 1) They steal the election, or 2) A third party candidate runs and takes away enough votes from McCain/Palin. The Democrats have forgotten how to steal elections, and it doesn't look like Ron Paul is going to run.

[scriptorblog]

Does the show have legs? Yep, and it will walk all the way to the White House. Not to say they deserve to win; Democrats are the most deserving losers in U.S. political history. Remember Pelosi and Reid? Are there two more forgettable and spineless politicians in recent history? U.S., say hello to McCain/Palin, say goodbye to Roe v. Wade, goodbye to unions, goodbye to election reform, etc., etc.

[BristolJim]

The Palin news on Friday was that she has attended five or six (depending on how you count) colleges in six years. I have taught at colleges and universities for over three decades, and the pattern looks familiar. There may be other reasons to move from a university to a community college and back again, but the question that comes to mind is "How many times did Sarah Palin flunk out of college?"

[LeeCalif]

Where are our comment areas so we can post on articles???
Few and far between today. Just found out. Palin will not be testifying. No subpoena.
Got out of that one.

[Areyoume2]

What am I missing here with this gal?????? I see Palin - I see Karen on Wil and Grace. The empress has got no clothes; her claim to fame being that she's not McCain. In fact - I see the evangelicals saying a little prayer that she might get 'elevated' to the Prez position (and real quick) if he's elected.

What is wrong with America? She gave a nasty party line speech. She delivered it like she was the lead in High School Musical. And her true themes were unAmerican. I saw how uncomfortable some Republicans were. They were waiting for some real meat... not raw meat being thrown to the pit bull. The whole thing is a disgrace.

And McCain's choosing her only identifies how out of touch he is with women. Most mothers would have the good sense to pull out of the workplace (or secure a situation closer to home) if she's needing to tend to a newborn special needs baby. The primary nurturing comes during the first 10 years of a child's life. It's not the same form of parenting for a man as for a woman (unless he happens to be the primary caregiver).To try to over-simplify this very complicated issue having to do with these very serious elements of parenting does a disservice to all parents. McCain has NO clue. And she has a clue, but doesn't care anyway.

[libmatters]

She's perky, feisty, cute and has an appealing (to some) personal narrative that is irrelevant to the office she seeks, but appeals to people who don't think too much, who go with their gut, who voted for Bush because they wanted to have a beer with him.

[rwe]

would that be similar to A clean articulate community organiser being nominated for President .. Oh that would be racist , if Biden had not said it

[S1m0n]

Barack Obama's speechwriters are Jon Favreau, Adam Frankel and Ben Rhodes.

[bkbigfish]

Peggy, I have some shocking news for you. POLITICIANS HAVE SPEECH WRITERS. I know, amazing, isn't it? You don't honestly think the Obama wrote their speeches themselves, do you? If you think that, you are incredibly foolish.