PEGGY NOONAN: Palin's Failin'

[platinumblondelife]

Here is a fact of life that is also a fact of politics: You have to hold open the possibility of magic. People can come from nowhere, with modest backgrounds and short résumés, and yet be individuals of real gifts, gifts that had previously been unseen, that had been gleaming quietly under a bushel, and are suddenly revealed. Mrs. Palin came, essentially, from nowhere. But there was a man who came from nowhere, the seeming tool of a political machine, a tidy, narrow, unsophisticated senator appointed to high office and then thrust into power by a careless Franklin D. Roosevelt, whose vanity told him he would live forever. And yet that limited little man was Harry S. Truman. Of the Marshall Plan, of containment. Little Harry was big. He had magic. You have to give people time to show what they have. Because maybe they have magic too.

But we have seen Mrs. Palin on the national stage for seven weeks now, and there is little sign that she has the tools, the equipment, the knowledge or the philosophical grounding one hopes for, and expects, in a holder of high office. She is a person of great ambition, but the question remains: What is the purpose of the ambition? She wants to rise, but what for? For seven weeks I've listened to her, trying to understand if she is Bushian or Reaganite—a spender, to speak briefly, whose political decisions seem untethered to a political philosophy, and whose foreign policy is shaped by a certain emotionalism, or a conservative whose principles are rooted in philosophy, and whose foreign policy leans more toward what might be called romantic realism, and that is speak truth, know America, be America, move diplomatically, respect public opinion, and move within an awareness and appreciation of reality.

But it's unclear whether she is Bushian or Reaganite. She doesn't think aloud. She just . . . says things.

Her supporters accuse her critics of snobbery: Maybe she's not a big "egghead" but she has brilliant instincts and inner toughness. But what instincts? "I'm Joe Six-Pack"? She does not speak seriously but attempts to excite sensation—"palling around with terrorists." If the Ayers case is a serious issue, treat it seriously. She is not as thoughtful or persuasive as Joe the Plumber, who in an extended cable interview Thursday made a better case for the Republican ticket than the Republican ticket has made. In the past two weeks she has spent her time throwing out tinny lines to crowds she doesn't, really, understand. This is not a leader, this is a follower, and she follows what she imagines is the base, which is in fact a vast and broken-hearted thing whose pain she cannot, actually, imagine. She could reinspire and reinspirit; she chooses merely to excite. She doesn't seem to understand the implications of her own thoughts.

No news conferences? Interviews now only with friendly journalists? You can't be president or vice president and govern in that style, as a sequestered figure. This has been Mr. Bush's style the past few years, and see where it got us. You must address America in its entirety, not as a sliver or a series of slivers but as a full and whole entity, a great nation trying to hold together. When you don't, when you play only to your little piece, you contribute to its fracturing.

In the end the Palin candidacy is a symptom and expression of a new vulgarization in American politics. It's no good, not for conservatism and not for the country. And yes, it is a mark against John McCain, against his judgment and idealism.

I gather this week from conservative publications that those whose thoughts lead them to criticism in this area are to be shunned, and accused of the lowest motives. In one now-famous case, Christopher Buckley was shooed from the great magazine his father invented. In all this, the conservative intelligentsia are doing what they have done for five years. They bitterly attacked those who came to stand against the Bush administration. This was destructive. If they had stood for conservative principle and the full expression of views, instead of attempting to silence those who opposed mere party, their movement, and the party, would be in a better, and healthier, position.

At any rate, come and get me, copper.

http://online.wsj.com/article/declarations.html

[Schmoopie]

That was great! Thanks for sharing! On a related note; today I went to the store and bought an Obama shirt and I was a little unnerved to see that the Palin shirts actually looked better. The Obama shirts were white with black and grey print. Mine has his picture in black and grey and next to it in big black letters it says "Yes We Can". I was kind of hoping for a red, white and blue shirt, but this one is pretty cool as well.

Andrea

[platinumblondelife]

I heard her being interviewed today...

this article is so true.

[dawsongirl]

If this was a ringing endorsement of Sarah, then you'd care.

[platinumblondelife]

Originally Posted by LuLu Rogers

I just don't think Peggy's opinion means more than anyone elses.

Who said it did? I just said it was right.

--
The poll also found that the popularity of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has fallen. Voters are less likely to see the Republican vice presidential nominee in a positive light, and much more likely to report negative feelings, the Wall Street Journal said.

Forty-seven percent view Palin negatively, compared with 38 percent who see her in a positive light.

Fifty-five percent of voters say Palin is not qualified to be president, up from 50 percent two weeks ago.
http://www.reuters.com/article/sarah...49K9L320081021

[Tweety]

Originally Posted by platinumblondelife

...No news conferences? Interviews now only with friendly journalists? ...

Noonan is an elitist and a Washington insider...kind of like Colin Powell.

But this critique describes Obama to a "T". Obama's afraid to talk to Sean Hannity. Perhaps Sean could take over some foreign county and announce that Israel needs to be wiped off the map... maybe Obama would meet with him then... without preconditions.

What's Obama afraid of?

Obama did very well on "The View" and "Ellen" though. Friendly they were. Journalists they're not.

Noonan forgets that there aren't any more journalists in the MSM. Whos' Palin supposed to sit down with? Keith Olbermann?

[Brieannas21]

Originally Posted by Tweety

Noonan is an elitist and a Washington insider...kind of like Colin Powell.

But this critique describes Obama to a "T". Obama's afraid to talk to Sean Hannity. Perhaps Sean could take over some foreign county and announce that Israel needs to be wiped off the map... maybe Obama would meet with him then... without preconditions.

What's Obama afraid of?

Obama did very well on "The View" and "Ellen" though. Friendly they were. Journalists they're not.

Noonan forgets that there aren't any more journalists in the MSM. Whos' Palin supposed to sit down with? Keith Olbermann?

Obama did an interview with O'Reilly of all people, so what makes you think that he's afraid of Hannity? Palin will not sit down with anyone.

Answer these three question...Why hasn't Palin sat down with anyone from Foxnew? Why hasn't she gone on Meet The Press? What is McCain's camp afraid of?

[Tweety]

Originally Posted by Brieannas21

Obama did an interview with O'Reilly of all people, so what makes you think that he's afraid of Hannity? Palin will not sit down with anyone.

Answer these three question...Why hasn't Palin sat down with anyone from Foxnew? Why hasn't she gone on Meet The Press? What is McCain's camp afraid of?

Obama and Hillary both sat down for interviews with O'Reilly.

O'Reilly let Obama answer his questions however Obama wanted to, but did not really challenge any of Obama's answers. Hannity would press the issues more than O'Reilly did, which is why Obama avoids any contact with him.

But again, Hannity is a major player in prime time network news... there's no reason for Obama not to sit down with him OTHER than fear.

Obama said O'Reilly was totally fair with him (Hillary said the same thing after her interview).

Palin has already done an interview with Hannity (which aired over two nights), in addition to her network stuff with Katie and Charlie.

So if Palin goes on "Meet the Depressed", will that change your vote?

[InspectorExstead]

"You have to hold open the possibility of magic. People can come from nowhere, with modest backgrounds and short résumés, and yet be individuals of real gifts, gifts that had previously been unseen, that had been gleaming quietly under a bushel, and are suddenly revealed."

I think that description is fitting of Obama. His gift of giving great speeches has brought together millions of people who don't seem to question his policies and only want "change" and "hope for a better tomorrow." Lots of people can give great speeches- ie, Hitler and Castro. I'm not comparing Obama to them and saying he's a communist or is going to kill millions of people. Just saying that giving speeches and getting people to rally behind him doesn't show what he's going to do as President.

And of Obama, Biden, McCain, and Palin, Palin is the only one with real executive experience as governor of Alaska. Obama's only been in the Senate for a couple of years, and Biden's voting on legislation is definitely something that should be questioned. I'm not saying the McCain-Palin ticket is 100% perfect, there are flaws in their campaign as well. But the press has given Obama a free ticket through the whole Jeremiah Wright ordeal (first he said Wright was influential in his life and then he completely denied making those statements) and now the bill ayers ordeal. So maybe the media should focus more on that rather than attacking Palin left and right. I'd like to see some criticism of Obama for once from them.

[Brieannas21]

Originally Posted by Tweety

Obama and Hillary both sat down for interviews with O'Reilly.

O'Reilly let Obama answer his questions however Obama wanted to, but did not really challenge any of Obama's answers. Hannity would press the issues more than O'Reilly did, which is why Obama avoids any contact with him.

But again, Hannity is a major player in prime time network news... there's no reason for Obama not to sit down with him OTHER than fear.

Obama said O'Reilly was totally fair with him (Hillary said the same thing after her interview).

Palin has already done an interview with Hannity (which aired over two nights), in addition to her network stuff with Katie and Charlie.

So if Palin goes on "Meet the Depressed", will that change your vote?

The fact is Obama did an interview with O'Riley, rather you like it or not, that doesn't matter. Biden has done WAY WAY more interviews with the press than Palin. Palin is new to this race. America really doesn't know where she stands on some issues. My vote doesn't matter when it comes to Palin, I've already made up my mind and voted. The votes that McCain should try to get are the undecided and independents. Palin hasn't sat down since the Katie interview. WHY? Palin has done what, like 2 or 3 interviews? What are they afraid of? No one can answer that question. Why won't they let her speak? You can't blame the media for the things that has come from her mouth.

Let’s face it, if Palin was Democrat, and if Obama would have picked her to be his VP. A LOT of Republicans would be saying the same things that some Democrats are saying right now, also what some Republicans are saying. And you would be tearing Palin apart.

[platinumblondelife]

Originally Posted by InspectorExstead

And of Obama, Biden, McCain, and Palin, Palin is the only one with real executive experience as governor of Alaska.

Obama has been in elected office for over a decade.

Bush had "executive experience" as a governor also. Having executive experience doesn't mean you'll be a good President.

[Tweety]

Originally Posted by platinumblondelife

Obama has been in elected office for over a decade.

Bush had "executive experience" as a governor also. Having executive experience doesn't mean you'll be a good President.

Working as a community organizer is likewise not proof that you'll be a good President.

Obama has never had to make a decision on anything and have the buck stop with him. He also has never had the guts or the character to take on his own party.

[Tweety]

Originally Posted by Brieannas21

.. America really doesn't know where she (Palin) stands on some issues..

Issues such as...?

[InspectorExstead]

Originally Posted by Brieannas21

America really doesn't know where she stands on some issues.

america knows where palin stands on issues because she gives a straight out answer instead of one that will please both sides. she's openly come out and said she is against gay marriages and abortions. whether or not you share the same views, i think that's very brave on her part to openly say that.

[InspectorExstead]

Originally Posted by platinumblondelife

Obama has been in elected office for over a decade.

Bush had "executive experience" as a governor also. Having executive experience doesn't mean you'll be a good President.

obama has been in the senate for three years. three years is hardly enough time for someone who wants to run for the president of the united states. and like tweety said, being a community organizer doesn't mean you'll be a good president. mccain and obama are running for the presidency..not palin and obama. and the whole argument about mccain dying in office and palin having to take over is a little extreme.