Saint Sarah Beats Expectations in Saint Paul

Dividing a presidential convention between two cities -- Minneapolis and Saint Paul -- that are a half hour cab ride apart is a very good way to deflate enthusiasm and raw political energy, but tonight. . .finally. . .this convention woke up with a spark provided by former NY Mayor Rudy Giuliani and then a powerful home run speech by Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.

Expectations of Palin had been set so low by all of those who doubted her abilities and experience that perhaps any semi-competent talk would have done the trick, but clearly she was comfortable speaking powerfully to tens of millions on television and a packed stadium in St. Paul.

Substantively, I strongly disagreed with her tongue-in-cheek dismissal of Obama for wanting to stand by those who deserve to have their rights read to them in a way consistent with democracy. She portrayed herself as being a believer in liberty -- distrustful of government, and then seemed to argue that some accused (possible terrorists) didn't deserve the benefit of doubt that liberty promises and argued that an empowered government could judge who was evil and who was innocent without regard for basic human rights.

Palin talked a lot about fiscal responsibility, of sacking her chef, and selling former Senator and Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski's state-provided luxury plane on EBay and wanting to bring those practices to Washington -- but she mentioned nothing of the irresponsibility of waging the second most expensive war in American history with no regard to raising revenue to pay for it.

Like Bush and McCain and Cheney, Sarah Palin embraces war and lowering taxes. Suggesting that that is a fiscally responsible posture is neo-Orwellian.

Palin tried to build on the silly meme that Obama is somehow positioning himself as a modern Messiah:

What does he actually seek to accomplish, after he's done turning back the waters and healing the planet? The answer is to make government bigger. . .

It is the government of George W. Bush that she and McCain are trying to succeed that has made the reach of government into people's private lives the most extensive and invasive in modern history -- and the size of government as measured by the gap between receipts and expenditures is also the largest in American experience.

Palin, like George W. Bush and Cheney, seems to think that by asserting falsehoods or juxtaposing contradictory goals like maintaining a large forward based troop presence in Iraq but keeping taxes from going up sells just fine to Americans.

She may be right. I think that in contrast to Obama -- whose selection of Joe Biden was smart and important in shoring up the Obama Team's gravitas -- Palin has been set up by McCain to be a new kind of 21st century "saint."

She has a large, seemingly wonderful family -- juggles her home cooking with running a large state as its chief executive. She has a snow mobile racing husband who is a North Shore oilman and she tackles corrupt "lobbying interests" and their cozy deals with politicos wherever she goes.

It's a great story on many levels. Her husband is even a member of the United Steel Workers. Faint applause on that line though.

But despite my substantive differences with Palin, this performance tonight beat expectations and moved her to a new level. Her competition at this incredibly flat, low energy confab in St. Paul is thin -- so one could easily argue that she had a lot of room to pull off a success. But that is too cynical.

She did a great job -- and stared her doubters and the challenge down.

There is much about Sarah Palin we don't know yet. Unlike Biden and Obama, we didn't get much time to have our own public vetting of her before McCain's decision -- so there will be more fits and starts and twists and turns as other parts of her life are dredged up, over-analyzed, and judged by the American public.

But this is going to be very close race, particularly if nothing new and surprising shows up on Palin.

What no one will say just yet -- but which I think the McCain folks tried to convey is that "Saint Sarah" just made her real debut in Saint Paul.

-- Steve Clemons publishes the popular political blog, The Washington Note

Comments

[dwilkerson]

Despite the praise from closet McCain supporters like Clemons, it is evident that Palin did nothing to speak to the fears and anxieties of the American people. In the same manner I expect of McCain's speech, this was a narcissistic rant, a pitiful attempt at self-justification and an insistence that nebulous cultural values still had more priority than basic pocketbook issues. If this is the Republican strategy for success, it will most certainly not be close, it will be a blowout... for Obama.

Sarah Palin just made Pat Buchanan proud.

[listen2every1]

Ms. Palin rocked the house last night and shook every dem. to their core!! She came out poised and ready for the challege. She met the match and far exceeded on what her critics set up as do or die. Well she did and now the dems. and the well balanced media are now left wondering "HOW DID JOHN MCCAIN PULL THIS ONE ON US??" So, they have to resort to the lowest form of reporting(nothing new) dig and dig hoping to find something shocking. Husband at 22 with dwi--SHOCKING!!! Obama using cocain---I guess thats find--just a few less brain cells though!! Try as you may the general public can see through all the lowballing you will put out there. Just once try to give credit to someone who has given so much for this country---John McCain. He is the MAN!!!!!!!!!!!! One other thought whats up with msnbc Chris Matthews??? Oh, thats right he had to go (as a fair and balanced journalist) to the rep. convention. I was waiting for some page to say"Mr. Matthews it just came in heres your medication". Please he looked like a homeless man who was brought in as another view for the "team" of highly intelligent news commentators. Please!!

[john pa]

"HOW DID JOHN MCCAIN PULL THIS ONE ON US??"

I think most of middle of America is asking that very question--in dismay.

[john pa]

I'm shaken to the core as an American, in a very scary way

[Woodfella]

She gave up the private governor jet.

I hope Al Gore follows suit to save the environment.

[degenerate1991]

Come on, if Al Gore actually believes in what he says and isn't simply exploiting peoples fears, (which he did much to create) he would have stopped flying long ago. But we must return to reality, where Gore and his ilk laughs at the American people as they quiver in fear of "global warming by human CO2 emissions".

[walkthewalk]

Let's remember something. The speech she delivered was a generic speech written for whoever turned out to be the Republican vice-presidential nominee. With the exception of the inserted section about her specific personal and professional life, this was a typical Rovian attack speech that played loose with the truth. Palin is a former broadcaster and has her presentation and teleprompter skills down pat. But what does that have to do with her competence to run the country?

How interesting. Barack gives amazing, thoughtful, inspiring speeches and he is attacked for having nothing to offer. Sarah excites the RNC hall and case closed. There should be no more questions asked about her competence. Hypocrisy at its best.

Something else struck me about her speech. There was a creepy quality to her delivery last night that reminded me of Cheney's "So?" response showing disdain for the opinions of Americans who disagree with him. Palin, as Cheney, is a person who would have no problem abusing her power in the name of righteousness.

[suppressed08news]

Exactly, really Bristol could have given the same speech to the same crowd and drew excitement from that crowd. To her credit Sarah was way more electrifying than the front runner of her party would ever be.

I also would make the comment that they chose someone who is smarter as well, just like Bush did with DickTheCha­inSawMassa­cre. Still doesn't change the fact that the repugs are still the party that has given us a horrific 8 years.

[AnotherunhappyDemocrat]

Some of these comments are really disturbing. Granted she probably gave a good speech (like may Americans, I see no reason to watch the Republican National Convention). But is it time now to become gloomy and declare that the election is over? That's insane. (as are the allegedly former Hilary supporters, who are willing to vote for a woman, who thinks that anyone, who is raped and impregnated should be forced to carry the baby - what a lovely human being there!) It's September. There have been no debates yet. The media continues to discover skeletons in Palin's closet. She has that lovely investigation going on up in Alaska. Her record doesn't match her rhetoric. (remember that she was for the bridge to nowhere before she was against it) The polls are still in the Democrats' favor. At least half the country is fed up with the lunatic fringe that has dominated our country these past many years. Need I continue?

Oh, yes...Barack Obama is NOT Michael Dukakis!!!!!!

So a fight we have indeed. Even if her speech had bombed, that is even if they had written a lame speech for her, we'd still have a tough fight. You know what? As long as we stay focused on the prize and work hard, we will win! Barack Obama will be the next president of the United States!

[JJK]

If Palin survives the initial firestorm that surrounded her last week, as it appears she now will, it's still unlikely that she, like nearly all vp candidates, will move significant numbers of voters across the country. The concern will become that she moves enough voters in a few states like Colorado and Nevada to make a difference.

[Dr. Sam]

After the big speech, what next? And does it (should it) matter? Palin felt able to compare her competency and background with that of Obama--a Harvard-educated lawyer chosen by his Party (not by one man) who served eight years in the Illinois Senate, is serving in the Senate as a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, has managed a very successful campaign and is received ethusiastically within the United States and around the world. I can't believe it. Because Palin delevered a good speech written for her by Bush-Rove divisive dark operators, that suddenly eliminates the concern we should all have about her qualification to be a potential Commander-in-Chief? If the media caves with with feelings of guilt, we are done as a democracy and the most powerful nation on earth. At its best, the media stands a sentinel of freedom.

[Rmtns]

Great job Sarah! You really put the fun into disfunctional family!

[Dingoangst]

"Beating expectations" is a ignorant standard to judge anyone. Heck, let's just get some old drunk, drug addicted, ignoramus to run and he will constantly beat expectations. Oh yeah, we just did that when Bush became president. How'd that work out for you?
Let us judge everyone by the same standard and by that measure McCain/Palin fail miserably.

[Krikkit]

What I don't understand is why the Republican base keeps falling for the same old lies over and over again, no matter how many times the liars are caught lying or how many times they screw over the taxpayers. And make no mistake, these are the same old tired worn out lies we've been hearing from the Greedy Old Perverts our entire lives -- just dressed up in a new small-town wrapping.

[cvillelisa]

There is something wrong with Americans who bought that and buy her. She stands up there spouting she is against insider Washington -- she is not one of "them" and yet, who wrote her speech? Who will be her trainers in Republican Divisive Tactics Bootcamp 101?

Certainly it will be those very same insiders she claims not to be like or part of.

20 Years ago while Barak Obama was helping people find jobs and become self-sufficient the Republican Candidate for VP was in a contestant in a Beauty Contest.

I'm no Alaskan Hockey Mom but I'm a bit more intelligent than the media and the Republican Party believe me to be. I don't make my decisions about who I vote for based on a scripted commercial starring a middle aged Pretty Lady.

I'm a registered Independent who always planned to vote for Barak Obama but this morning, I made my first donation (despite not really being able to afford to do so because of the mess the current Republican Administration has made of the economy) and plan becoming more active in the Obama/Biden campaign.

[MKJ]

Thank you. Your response was very inspiring to me. This one of many reasons why I support Barack Obama.

[FirstShirt]

Palin has the same credentials Bill Clinton had when he took office as President.

[situationcritical]

Palin's a Rhodes Scholar?

[Venee]

Took the words right out of my mouth!

[indalay]

No, but Bill wasn't ever Miss Wasilla, so they cancel each other out, right?

[elderly]

Bill Clinton knew the difference between the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. He knew that "marriage" was not a defined term in the Constitution. He had been interested in public affairs and domestic and international issues for over 30 years. He did not believe that we fight wars because God commands us to do so.

Eight years ago we "elected" the worst mistake in the history of this country because voters saw him as a cowboy they would like to have a beer with. Now the facists in the rethuglican party give us a soccer mom they would like to have a cup of coffee with.

If we fall for this again, we are as stupid as you are.

[Doofus]

Bill Clinton: Georgetown U, Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, Yale Law, governor of AR

Sarah Palin: North Idaho College, semester abroad at Hawaii Pacific U,
'Miss Wasilla' & 'Miss Alaska' ( "Miss Congeniality"), governor of AK

Yeah, pretty much the same. Clinton was never a tv sportscaster though.

[lorisc]

She is a first term govenor. Clinton served ten years as Arkansas govenor. Before that he was the Arkansas Attorney General.

This is more bs from the right as they try to beef her thin resume. Clinton went to law school, not journalism school. I happen to think it's a good thing that most politicians have a law degree. He was a Rhodes scholar and studied at Oxford. How does Palin's resume really stack up against Clinton (who by the way campaigned and won his party's nomination just as Obama has done).

If you really want to check out Bill Clinton's experience here it is:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Clinton

I really wish Republicans would learn to use google before posting lies. Google would have helped before Palin's speech since it was full of outright lies and half truths.

[SWL777]

Are you kidding me. She hasn't even served out her term. Was she attorney general of her state? Does she even have a legal degree or understands what laws really are and how they are arrived at? She is a compelling story that I am sure will unfold in an interesting way, but still too much of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington for my taste. Naming her as the VP candidate might be stupid enough to win the election for the Republicans to dumb down the election to feed our jingoistic urges. Certainly a sad day for America when a self described "hockey mom" who names a kid Track can be stroke/heart attack away from what used to be the most powerful job in the world. Then again, Obama really does not have enough experience to be President as well. Maybe Hillary should run as a third candidate because she is still looking like the most qualified candidate strangely enough(too bad she does not have broad appeal). One of the worst cast of characters for this election. Bummer.

[Jey]

I don't think it will be close. You don't understand the Obama's ground game. It's the most organized campaign in U.S. History. It may be closer than 20 points, as it should be but Obama will win by double digits. America is sick of the drunkeness in Washington. No substance to this gal's speech last night. And poor Rudy, he just doesn't get it. I'm appalled at all of them how they discounted the position of a community organizer. So if you don't believe in the UNITED States of America vote for McSame/Plain. Obama talks about all of us. McSame/Plain talks about us, meaning those who follow their cult. I cannot believe this is the America that I once knew. Please God bless us soon.

[Kassandra]

I was appalled at how they all laughed like nasty 12 year olds when Barack's community service was brought up. That was a bunch of lies wrapped in a grape leaf of truth!

[marlee]

Damn!
Where is George Carlin when you need him!????

[oldog]

The nomination of Saint Sarah is a brilliant move by John McCain. The Republicans know that a good portion of their electoral base is family values, born again Christians who elect officials by the only important criteria: the candidate’s position on theological questions like ‘when life begins, at conception or at birth.’ The economy, erosion of the constitution, effective foreign policy, personal accountability, and corruption in government are irrelevant factors when compared with the importance of forcing family values on everyone else.