Palin: Peoples Choice And Establishment Threat

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin may be the closest thing to a genuine citizen legislator, if not the real deal, as we've seen running for high office in a long, long time. It goes without saying that were she also a liberal woman and a Democrat we wouldn't be seeing the knives come out so fast and so sharp. I suspect liberals and the establishment media are in for a big surprise.

To begin with, most women (and men) in America are not political ideologues. They don't harbor an automatic negative reaction to politicians because they are Republicans or Democrats, liberals or conservatives. What they are most likely to perceive in Palin's case is simply liberal pols and media piling on. I doubt they'll appreciate seeing that at all.

That will likely be especially true for women looking on.

The importance of Palin as citizen legislator, or politician, should not be under-rated. It's precisely what many Americans have been wanting to see more of, not less. The Inside the Beltway types, including the media, have been acting as though they have a monopoly on government and its running for so long, they seem to have forgotten that out among the population there's no great love for them at all. And it is that population who will elect our next President and VP, no matter how loud the establishment screams.

Wait a month and I'd wager you'll be seeing bemused political pundits sputtering, "What is it about Palin? People just seem to like her, I can't figure it out."

The average American has no great regard for the professional politician. That goes for Obama, Biden and even McCain to a point. This professional class of pol makes its living on the public dime and despite only reasonable salaries, we've been watching nearly every one of them and or their families becoming millionaires. If the political establishment thinks that's lost on the average person, they are simply underestimating them, again.

Living in Washington - or the Illinois state house for some number of years does not guarantee good judgment, or that someone has "stayed in touch with the people." Only living a real life provides the former and accomplishes the latter. From all early appearances, Sarah Palin is one who has done just that - lead a real life to which average Americans can relate.

If the establishment wants to malign Palin - suggest she may have no judgment, or not be up to the job - let them go for it. All they are really doing is dissing the average American in the end. And Americans will know it, believe it or not.

Meanwhile, unless I miss my guess, to the extent that VP selections are important in a presidential race, Sarah Palin will likely be busy winning over American hearts. There isn't a politician living who wouldn't sell their soul to be able to do that. But then, if you asked the average American, they'd perhaps a bit unfairly tell you a politician's soul usually comes pretty cheap.

For now, at least, I doubt they end up feeling that way about Sarah Palin.

Update: As I was saying:

Palin earns positive reviews from 78% of Republicans, 26% of Democrats and 63% of unaffiliated voters. Obviously, these numbers will be subject to change as voters learn more about her in the coming weeks. Among all voters, 29% have a Very Favorable opinion of Palin while 9% hold a Very Unfavorable view.

By way of comparison, on the day he was selected as Barack Obama’s running mate, Delaware Senator Joseph Biden was viewed favorably by 43% of voters.

Comments

[Fightin' Democrat]

I would advise you to pay close attention to the "Troopergate" affair in Alaska.

http://tinyurl.com/troopergate

http://tinyurl.com/troopergate2

Because you run a far right-wing site, and I comment as "Fightin' Democrat," you will undoubtedly dismiss my words as those of a partisan hack, but the investigation in Alaska is bipartisan and independent. Already, Palin has been shown to have lied at the outset, which is why the Alaska Legislature voted to spend $100,000 to expand its inquiry.

I don't think this will go away as easily as you might think. Sarah Palin has been governor for a little more than a year, following a term as a small-town mayor. I think you're going to find that there is much less than meets the eye to her greatness, and much more than meets the eye to her flaws.

[WAHOO WILLIE]

"Because you run a far right-wing site....."

Gee even PookieDaLama admits that DR is fairly liberal with posters but I guess Fightin'DemRats has his own opinion. I too agree that we should find the governor guilty without bothering to look into the matter. But I think we should wait until we find out which of the Clintons had Foster bumped off.

[Totally Heterosexual Conservative]

I wonder what the word on the street is in Alaska re this pick. Let's check the video tape:

"Anchorage DJ Bob Lester unleashed a vicious, mean-spirited, poisonous attack on Senate President Lyda Green last week while our governor was live on the air with him.

When we played the tape on my show the day after it happened, we received 130 calls. Even some Palinbots were disgusted.

The Daily News posted the recording on its Web site and it fired up bloggers.

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner editorial writers demanded the governor apologize. The Juneau and Ketchikan papers also ran the editorial.

The Daily News opinion page addressed the governor's gaffe. They wrote "She came off looking immature herself, almost high-schoolish. It was conduct unbecoming a governor."

http://www.adn.com/opinion/comment/story/295464.html

"Alaska State Senate President Lyda Green (R): “She’s not prepared to be governor. How can she be prepared to be vice president or president? Look at what she’s done to this state. What would she do to the nation?” (Green is from Palin’s home town of Wasilla.)

Alaska House Speaker John Harris (R): “She’s old enough. She’s a U.S. citizen.”

Randy Ruedrich, Alaska Republican Party Chair: Not giving interviews.

Indicted Alaska Sr. Senator Ted Stevens (R): “it’s a great day for the nation and Alaskans.”

Alaska State Representative Mike Doogan (D): “Either Sarah Palin has talents and skills we were not aware of”, or “John McCain fell down and hit his head”. He also called the prospect of Palin potentially needing to take over as President”pretty scary.”

http://mudflats.wordpress.com/2008/08/29/local-reaction-to-the-palin-bombshell/

The most hilarious thing about this is that McCain knee-jerked and actually listened the moron wing of the GOP in making this pick.

[WAHOO WILLIE]

Hmm sounds like an Err America radio show. Was Alex Jones there?

[Terry Gain]

The poor Democrats. They play identity politics, picking as their leader an unqualified black man. They've now wrapped up 80% of 10% of the electorate.

McCain counters by picking a hyper qualified member of the other "minority" which is 52% of the electorate.

Guess which one's playing chess?

[Children of the Arugula]

Hooo boy, the libs are really bringin' their A-game, aren't they? Trooper Gate? You mean the firing of a brother in law who tasered his own stepson and threatened the life of his own father in law? The same investigative committee has also said, on the record no less, that Palin has been so forthcoming with documentation that there is no need to issue subpoenas.

And oooohhh, a radio station tirade that Palin didn't immediately denounce? Wow, that's pretty big stuff next to Obama's association with Ayers.

What's next, saying that Palin's daughter was the one who actually gave birth to Palin's latest child? Oh wait, that's already happened.

You have to love the spinning by the left, they are scared to death of Palin. As DeNiro once said, "You got NOTHIN'!"

[Steven Den Beste]

Regarding "Troopergate", there isn't anything to it. If the Dems beat this drum, it'll backfire on them.

http://www.floppingaces.net/2008/08/29/palins-troopergate-beating-msm-distortions-to-the-truth/

Rasmussen is palming an ace. They're comparing Palin's "Very Favorable" rating of 29% to Biden's "Favorable" of 43%. But Biden's result is the sum of the top two answer brackets, while they're only looking at the very top bracket for Palin. It's apples and oranges.

[Worst President Ever]

Hyper-qualified - now that's funny.

Who knows, perhaps she could turn into a great VP. But if you're looking for the most-qualified Republican - even the most qualified Republican woman - she's not it.

McSame only met Palin for a couple hours. Picking her to fill the most important slot in his administration strikes me more like a guy throwing darts than the actions of an experienced legislator. It's certainly not putting his country first. Anyway, we keep hearing he's Mr. Experience. Actions seem to indication otherwise.

[Fred Beloit]

Yes, CotA, but they heard things. They heard things.

[WAHOO WILLIE]

"What's next, saying that Palin's daughter was the one who actually gave birth to Palin's latest child? "

I guess it isn't 'impossible' for a healthy teenager to give birth to a downs child......very, very highly unlikely though. I thought the lefties were all science majors....among their many other majors?

[WAHOO WILLIE]

"McSame only met Palin for a couple hours. Picking her to fill the most important slot in his administration strikes me more like a guy throwing darts than the actions of an experienced legislator."

Worst, I guess we had the same "WTF???" moment huh?

[Fred Beloit]

Mark Styne sums things up pretty well:
"What other country in the developed world produces beauty queens who hunt caribou and serve up a terrific moose stew? As an immigrant, I'm not saying I came to the United States purely to meet chicks like that, but it was certainly high on my list of priorities. And for the gun-totin' Miss Wasilla then to go on to become Governor while having five kids makes it an even more uniquely American story. Next to her resume, a guy who's done nothing but serve in the phony-baloney job of "community organizer" and write multiple autobiographies looks like just another creepily self-absorbed lifelong member of the full-time political class that infests every advanced democracy."

[Richard Peter Wiener III]

---Sarah Palin has been governor for a little more than a year, following a term as a small-town mayor. I think you're going to find that there is much less than meets the eye to her greatness, and much more than meets the eye to her flaws.---

Odd, I was thinking exactly the same thing about Obama, except of course that he has never been a governor or even a "small-town mayor", in fact he has ZERO legislative experience which means Palin trumps him in that regard already. She is the VP, he is the top of the ticket.

Are you SURE you want to highlight the idea of experience?

[Richard Peter Wiener III]

Yipes, I mean to say "ZERO executive experience"; mind was two steps ahead of fingers.

[Richard Peter Wiener III]

---Anyway, we keep hearing he's Mr. Experience. Actions seem to indication otherwise.---

Unlike Obama where reality indicates otherwise. So why did Obama choose the man who just a scant year ago told the nation that Obama wasn't ready to be President? Just throwing darts or desperation?

[Worst President Ever]

Yeah, I don't get it at all. He'd invested a lot of time, energy and money into building his "I'm experienced, Obama isn't, so you can't trust him" theme, then threw it away by picking Palin. If he wanted a conservative, pro-life woman, there are plenty with a stronger resume that would have let him build on his experience argument. It also opens him up to criticism on his decision-making - Presidents that make gut-shot decisions make me nervous.

[Befair]

It is a puzzle to me indeed why the Palin pick. The thought creeps in that maybe McCain is NOT making all the decisions and/or/then too, his judgment could be in question due to health issues? Palin certainly comes across as an intelligent, perky, kinda know-it-all kind of person. I do not think she will appeal to a whole lot of Hillary's voters, nor do I think she will appeal at all to older women in general who know how much life experience one needs to cope with certain issues with common sense. She has a slippery slope ahead of her to appeal to women voters across the board and to men once they get over the cuteness factor.

[Terry Gain]

"McSame only met Palin for a couple hours. Picking her to fill the most important slot in his administration strikes me more like a guy throwing darts than the actions of an experienced legislator. It's certainly not putting his country first. Anyway, we keep hearing he's Mr. Experience. Actions seem to indication otherwise". Posted by: Worst President Ever
---
Sorry Jimmuh, wrong again. Let's turn the latest Democrat talking point on its head. If the wise old man picked the hyper qualified Sarah after only one meeting it's because, unlike his opponent, he's a quick study.

Unlike his opponent, when Russia invades Georgia, the wise old man knows which side we are on. Unlike his opponent, the wise old man understands the importance of finishing the job in Iraq. Etc , etc , etc.

[Terry Gain]

"Palin certainly comes across as an intelligent, perky, kinda know-it-all kind of person.... She has a slippery slope ahead of her to appeal to women voters across the board and to men once they get over the cuteness factor."

---

Sorry buddy, your guy comes across as a dummy who wants to throw a war that's entering its final victorious stages. The election will come 6 months too late for Obama.

[Terry Gain]

"She has a slippery slope ahead of her to appeal to women voters across the board and to men once they get over the cuteness factor". Posted by: Befair | Saturday, August 30, 2008 at 03:12 PM

----

Looks like Mr. Hope and Change doesn't agree with you. Please visit lgf and report back.

http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/

[Worst President Ever]

Hyper-qualified - even funnier the second time!

Care to list her hyper-qualifications?

[Terry Gain]

---Anyway, we keep hearing he's Mr. Experience. Actions seem to indication otherwise.---

Unlike Obama where reality indicates otherwise. So why did Obama choose the man who just a scant year ago told the nation that Obama wasn't ready to be President? Just throwing darts or desperation?

Posted by: Richard Peter Wiener III | Saturday, August 30, 2008 at 02:24 PM
---

The Third

I get your point but in fairness to Obama (and the world) I would suggest his stint as Chairman of The Annenberg Challenge constitutes executive erperience. Perhaps when the Obama inspired media blackout is lifted we can find out how that turned out.

[Beth from Oregon]

"""She has a slippery slope ahead of her to appeal to women voters across the board and to men once they get over the cuteness factor"""

Which means she has to do what, prove to everyone that yes indeed a pretty woman can have a functioning brain too? Welcome to Chauvinist World, where your tour-guide Barack Obama will show you how to piss off not only democrat women but Republican women too.

These stooopid meme's that McCain is cracking up mentally are really getting on my nerves. He games Obama the day after his convention speech and that of course means he is going insane. Ok then.

[Terry Gain]

Hyper-qualified - even funnier the second time!

Care to list her hyper-qualifications?

Posted by: Worst President Ever | Saturday, August 30, 2008 at 03:33 PM

Her qualifications are all over the net, so do your own research Jimmuh. Or maybe you can use some of that Saudi money to have someone do it for you. But for one: She didn't advocate throwing a war that was clearly being won.

[Worst President Ever]

Mayor of < 10,000 population city
Governor for 18 months of state with < 1,000,000 in population

You're calling that hyper-qualified?

[joeb]

What are the duties of the VP? To inquire after the health of the President. Attend state funerals and keep a very low profile. That is about it. Don't outshine the President. Well Biden sure won't outshine anybody that is for sure. But he can't keep his mouth shut.
I like Sarah Palin already for many reasons. One of which is that she is the non Hillary female. And Sarah would have no problem baking cookies and stuffing them down Joe Biden's mouth.

[Terry Gain]

"Mayor of < 10,000 population city
Governor for 18 months of state with < 1,000,000 in population

You're calling that hyper-qualified?"

No Mr Straw Man. Palin is not merely a governor but one with a fabulous record of rooting out corruption and an 80% approval rating. As well as a successful private life and a down to earth genuineness. Ans she's as tough as she needs to be.

Yes she's hyper qualified, especially compared to a gaffe-prone rookie Senator with a history of unsavoury associations and no legislative accomplishments and his slow witted hack running mate, whose solution to Iraq would have been to turn it from low level sectarian violence into a full scale civil war. He's too stupid and arrogant to know this is what would have happened had anyone been foolish enough to implement his hair-brained scheme to partition Iraq against the wishes of Iraqis. And Biden is the "foreign policy expert" of this dangerous duo.

[Worst President Ever]

No straw man there - just facts. Those are the two most important jobs she's held: mayor of a small town and governor of a small state.

But your arguments against Obama are full of straw men.

Palin also has zero, zip, nada, zilch foreign relations experience. Even her home-state newspapers write that he's inexperienced for the job.

[Terry Gain]

Straw men? Ayers, Rezco, Wright ...

Right. Keep hitting Palin's lack of experience. It underlines Obama's, in comparison with McCain.

[Fightin' Democrat]

I hadn't paid any attention to the circumstances of the Trig Palin's birth until today, but that story is going to be even bigger than Troopergate.

Sarah Palin, age 44, announced in March that she was seven months pregnant with her fifth child, whom she knew to have Downs Syndrome. The following month, at eight months, she flew commercial to Austin, Texas to attend an energy conference.

While she was there, her water broke. She then gave a half-hour speech. She left the conference and flew via Alaska Airlines back to Anchorage, with a plane change in Seattle. She wasn't visibly pregnant, and told no one at the conference or on the plane that her water had broken. Three days after giving birth, this 44-year-old mother was back on the job.

Meanwhile, her teenaged daughter had vanished from public view, with the explanation being that she had mono. Her 17-year-old brother enlisted in the National Guard, and is on his way to Iraq.

National Enquirer, this story has your name written all over it. You alone gave us the truth about John Edwards, so tell us the truth about the Palin family! Thanks in advance!

[Fightin' Democrat]

By the way, it's not just those wacky Democrats who are talking about this.

http://baptistsforbrown2008.wordpress.com/

[Children of the Arugula]

---Posted by: Fightin' Democrat | Saturday, August 30, 2008 at 05:12 PM
Posted by: Fightin' Democrat | Saturday, August 30, 2008 at 05:08 PM---

BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! OMG, you idiots will fall for the craziest shit on earth, no wonder your party embraces UFO chasing Kucinich.

Whew, a photo where Bristol Palin "looks" like she could be pregnant? Holy smokes...a photo...showing a girl with a paunch. Jaysus, there are girls all over my neighborhood who look like that, urban slang would term the bulge a "muffin top".

And then you say it's not just democrats who are thinking this and provide a link to some weird effin blog that, if it isn't a joke blog, then it's proprietors need some serious psychological help? Laughable!

Here is a reputable link to see Sarah Palin as....GASP!...a pregnant woman? Not exactly the svelte woman you see today, is she?
http://community.adn.com/node/118874

Gawd almighty, you libs are dumb.

[Fightin' Democrat]

If it was just a photo, then I'd agree with you. But it's a lot more than that. The clicher is Sarah Palin's cover story. Look, she announced she was pregnant at (supposedly) seven months. This is a 44-year-old woman with a Down Syndrome kid. By any measure, that's a high-risk pregnancy.

She's asking everyone to believe a rather improbable series of events. Flying to the energy conference in her eighth month. Having her water break there, and then giving a half-hour speech, and then flying home for nine hours and a plane change. Giving birth to a 6 pounds, 2 ounce preemie, and returning to work three days later. Oh, and this was supposedly her fifth child.

This is Republican land. You know, family values. Have none of you either been pregnant or have had pregnant wives? Ask around, then. Sarah Palin's story is transparently false. I hadn't paid attention to any of those details, but as soon as I read them I didn't need any pictures to know it was a whopper.

But hey, go right ahead. Nominate her. Please, make my day! This is going to be fun.

[Fightin' Democrat]

Between Troopergate, Hide-the-Baby, and Hurricane Karma, I'd say your side had a few issues to deal with.

[befair]

Hey folks, really, who cares if anyone of those running has qualifications? W proved all ya need is a Carl Rove on board. Now, let's hear who will be Obama's CR and who will be McCain's CR?

[Children of the Arugula]

Again with the incredibly compelling evidence: Palin didn't say anything about it? That's it, burn her at the stake! And the rest of your ironclad proof? Well...she took a flight, see....and her water broke here but she had the baby there...and uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...."

A bunch of crap I'm supposed to believe because there is no woman who could possibly leave the maternity ward after three days? Comedy gold. My first child was six pounds on the dot and wifey left the hospital the next day after having a C-sect.

That photo of Palin from Washington D.C. taken in February, the one with her distended belly, those were just pillows stuffed under her maternity clothing; why she even managed to plump her calves up to maintain the facade.

Like I said, libs are dumb.

[Children of the Arugula]

Who is Carl Rove?

[Richard Peter Wiener III]

"Between Troopergate, Hide-the-Baby, and Hurricane Karma, I'd say your side had a few issues to deal with."

That's pretty rich coming from someone whose "side" is currently enjoying Rezko, Ayers and the biggest convention flop since Carter. I would have mentioned "infanticide" too but since dems don't believe a baby has rights until about age ten, I didn't want to get into a debate over it.

[befair]

These stooopid meme's that McCain is cracking up mentally are really getting on my nerves. He games Obama the day after his convention speech and that of course means he is going insane. Ok then.

Posted by: Beth from Oregon | Saturday, August 30, 2008 at 03:36 PM

There is one huge difference between insanity and senile dementia, and I am not making a joke of this. I was a caretaker for my father and am very attuned to the possibilities of people developing brain diseases. Not saying that McCain has, but you don't know, and neither do I, if he has or if he will.

[Fightin' Democrat]

Here's from one of my friends who's had a bunch of kids:

"So since she boarded a commercial jet, the answer is No way would she be allowed to fly, not just by the doctors but by airline policy. No one flies after 6 1/2 months was their policy when I attempted to fly to Phila. (pregnant) for a funeral years ago. Doubt they changed their minds since. Governor or no Governor. Plus mothers tend to give birth very quickly with each additional pregnancy. Baby #5, water broke, surprised the kid didn't wash out with the flow."

[befair]

Who is Carl Rove?

Posted by: Children of the Arugula | Saturday, August 30, 2008 at 06:21 PM
---------------
Truly at this point a nobody. Disregard.

[Riff]

The only people trying to maintain the "not her baby" meme are the fools stupid enough to believe it.

Smell that desperation? It's every lefty from Cali to New York watching the election slip away, no wonder they concoct this sort of tripe, it's all they have left.

[Children of the Arugula]

---Truly at this point a nobody. Disregard.---

Oohhhhhhhh, were you talking about "K"arl Rove?

[befair]

Well aren't you just too cute. Thanks

[Children of the Arugula]

---Posted by: Fightin' Democrat | Saturday, August 30, 2008 at 06:27 PM---

Well damn, why didn't you tell me you had a "friend" who just happens to know the exact circumstances of every baby ever born, I could have surrendered to your superior logic and be done with this.

Did I tell you I have a "cousin" whose tenth child caused labor which lasted over 24 hours? No really, and you have to believe me because my "cousin" is an expert on everything that has to do with babies.

Your "friend" evidence is as laughable and transparent as the rest of it.

[befair]

Do I see a full MOON?

[WAHOO WILLIE]

Down's Syndrome is more likely from mothers in thier forties than in thier teens. The risk increases when the male is also over forty. Of course it is not impossible for a teen or any woman under 35 to has a DS child. SO let's play the game and pretend that we know that a mom lied to protect her daughter. OMG!!! That WITCH! let's burn her at the stake!

[befair]

Wahoo Willie - I agree with you. I also think the baby can be left out of the discussion no matter what. It is really none of anyone's business.

[Children of the Arugula]

Here is a little chunk for your "friend" who said "Doubt they changed their minds since" about flying while pregnant:

Palin flew Alaska Airlines which has no rule about pregnant women flying, they leave the decision to the mother.

Guess your "friend" isn't all that bright either.

[Riff]

Uh oh, the goofy baby-gate debate charges on. Is this another world class conspiracy akin to the 911 Truthers? Are the Palin's silencing the dozens of people who would have known if the daughter had the baby?

Ugh, what a joke.