Cheers, Respect, Fear

[metta 0]

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Palin Draws Cheers, Respect, Fear

Hockey Mom Sarah Palin unquestionably fired up the Republican National Convention last night. As Dan Balz wrote in his analysis of her acceptance speech, the GOP's vice presidential nominee "proved to be an instant jolt of energy for a political party that has been worried and demoralized for much of 2008."

She also fired up our Readers Who Comment -- both for and against. Usually comment strings on political stories wind up largely in the hands of one side or or the other. But those on this article, at the hour of this writing, seem fairly evenly divided between Democratic and Republican sentiments.

The tone of the comments from both sides suggest that this candidate will not be written off as a lightweight, despite her small-town, small-state political resume. You can read respect or fear (you choose) in the remarks from those who appear to be Democrats. Palin clearly came across as a formidable battler who understands and enjoys political combat.

We'll start with AlexZ83, who wrote, "...Judging by the stunned media reports and the low-key comments of the liberal pitbulls tonight, Palin polished up the Democratic Party completely! I'd like to see the "independent" media go after her one more time.... if they dare!"

But davestickler said, "Maybe it's just me, but I felt her speech was boilerplate meanness. I didn't notice a vision for what America should be, nor did I hear anything in her speech that should relieve her of the questions about her lack of policy knowledge..."

debera109 wrote, "Oh man, she is awesome! I cannot wait to see more of her in action. She was inspiring tonight. Finally, finally, I get to vote for a women on a presidential ticket whom I admire immensely!..."

But DianeW18 said, "She's perfect for the Republican party, nasty, mean, divisive, vindictive, full of venom...and delivered with a perky smile. Welcome to your new and improved GOP..we still suck at governing but we can wage war during elections..and usually find a way to win..."

Wordyguy wrote, "...I voted for Hillary here in Wisconsin and sent her what I could afford. Governor Palin has convinced me that it's Ok to vote for John McCain and Sarah Palin...and send them what I could afford..."

Cognomen08 said, "I'm kind of glad the Republicans are feeling confident. I don't miss the terror alerts."

jmcauli1 said, "Well, chalk the VP selection up to the Republicants... The Dummercrats had better disarm her quickly... make no mistake, the Republicant ticket is now a dangerous animal."

regleoboy said, "...she is someone who will stand toe-to-toe with [Democratic vice presidential nominee Joseph] Biden in a debate. It would be a terrible mistake for Biden to approach this woman from a position of empathy... Palin has officially fired-up the Democratic base and as we thank her, we shall proceed to "squash" her..."

choskasoft, whose computer apparently doesn't have question marks, wrote, "In case anyone was wondering what the opposite of hope is, we learned tonight that it is hate... It's game on for the future and soul of America. Do we want hate. Do we want permanent war. Or do we want to come together to actually make America truly great..."

GeneGuffey said, "I think the Governor Palin speach is going to be well recieved in all the small towns across America as she stated quite openly - I am going to be serving the People of the United States - not the media. A real breath of free air is going to Washington DC in the name of the people."

And mollycoddle1 observed that "The Republican base seems to love her. I don't get it. It looks like they are doing the same thing that they did in 2000 with GWB. They just liked him... McCain picked a showhorse to win the contest. Pure and simple."

LTADM said, "...As someone who volunteers with many community groups, I was insulted with the reference to as if someone who organizes with community groups work is not valued. It was the typical GOP platform, fear and attack... just because one does not agree with the GOP position, does not make one unpatriotic..."

rscott251 wrote, "I just love the posts's deriding her experience, when she has more than Obama. And she is only the VP nominee, not the Presidential nominee. That tells me, Obama supporters are running scared..."

We'll close, not with a comment from a reader but with the last paragraph from Post television critic Tom Shales's review of Palin's speech. He wrote, "She proved herself in the great arena; that's what counts politically. Nobody could watch that speech and still consider her a joke, no matter how flimsy her credentials and qualifications may seem on paper. The joke, it seems, is on those who'd been laughing at her. Last night the laughing ended -- and the cheering began."

All comments on the Balz analysis are here.

[Peikko 1,575]

We'll close, not with a comment from a reader but with the last paragraph from Post television critic Tom Shales's review of Palin's speech. He wrote, "She proved herself in the great arena; that's what counts politically. Nobody could watch that speech and still consider her a joke, no matter how flimsy her credentials and qualifications may seem on paper. The joke, it seems, is on those who'd been laughing at her. Last night the laughing ended -- and the cheering began."

As usual this piece is based on a false premise. I don't think anyone perceived this VP pick as a joke, a gamble certainly, but not a joke.

[no name 1]

We'll close, not with a comment from a reader but with the last paragraph from Post television critic Tom Shales's review of Palin's speech. He wrote, "She proved herself in the great arena; that's what counts politically. Nobody could watch that speech and still consider her a joke, no matter how flimsy her credentials and qualifications may seem on paper. The joke, it seems, is on those who'd been laughing at her. Last night the laughing ended -- and the cheering began."

As usual this piece is based on a false premise. I don't think anyone perceived this VP pick as a joke, a gamble certainly, but not a joke.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Let's put this in perspective.

[no name 1]

Let's put this in perspective.

Spamming the board now Steven?

Edited September 4, 2008 by illumine

[GaryC 7]

Let's put this in perspective.

How many time do you think it will take to post that before you realize that it isn't the gotcha moment you think it is?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Let's put this in perspective.

How many time do you think it will take to post that before you realize that it isn't the gotcha moment you think it is?

It sure as hell is. On the issues that have been brought up as unfair criticism of Palin - this is the silver bullet. Jon Stewart has single-handedly pwnd the Republican Party for all its whining.

[GaryC 7]

Let's put this in perspective.

How many time do you think it will take to post that before you realize that it isn't the gotcha moment you think it is?

It sure as hell is. On the issues that have been brought up as unfair criticism of Palin - this is the silver bullet. Jon Stewart has single-handedly pwnd the Republican Party for all its whining.

Ok Steven. Whatever you say!

[no name 1]

Let's put this in perspective.

How many time do you think it will take to post that before you realize that it isn't the gotcha moment you think it is?

It sure as hell is. On the issues that have been brought up as unfair criticism of Palin - this is the silver bullet. Jon Stewart has single-handedly pwnd the Republican Party for all its whining.

Must be comfy in that (lefty talk show as fact) bubble.

Edited September 4, 2008 by illumine

[Marilyn. 340]

this is really baffling to me...

didn't people get on the Obama followers case for blindly following Obama and not seeing anything wrong with him?? and calling them Obamabots

and now they are doing the same thing and not seeing any fault with McCain and Palin...

does this mean we can call you McCainbots??

[Ban Hammer 13,651]

this is really baffling to me...

didn't people get on the Obama followers case for blindly following Obama and not seeing anything wrong with him?? and calling them Obamabots

and now they are doing the same thing and not seeing any fault with McCain and Palin...

does this mean we can call you McCainbots??

palindromes.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

this is really baffling to me...

didn't people get on the Obama followers case for blindly following Obama and not seeing anything wrong with him?? and calling them Obamabots

and now they are doing the same thing and not seeing any fault with McCain and Palin...

does this mean we can call you McCainbots??

Exactly. I read the other day where one of McCain's key strategist months ago wanted this election to be a battle of ideas, but has since changed his mind and believes it should be a battle of personalities...which is ironic for all the criticism of Obama as a cult of personality. My guess is that McCain's camp believed their only chance at winning this election was to steer away from the issues and focus on personalities. If that's the case, Palin was a good choice, however, I think enough Americans are sober about how important this election is going to be.

[HAL 9000 96]

this is really baffling to me...

didn't people get on the Obama followers case for blindly following Obama and not seeing anything wrong with him?? and calling them Obamabots

and now they are doing the same thing and not seeing any fault with McCain and Palin...

does this mean we can call you McCainbots??

well it was relative to what selective sight was allowing some of our friends here. I can name a few examples of so-called Obamabots stating quite clearly their problems with Obama... but very little acknowledgment coming from those more entrenched in their delusions with Bush's homey.

[HAL 9000 96]

this is really baffling to me...

didn't people get on the Obama followers case for blindly following Obama and not seeing anything wrong with him?? and calling them Obamabots

and now they are doing the same thing and not seeing any fault with McCain and Palin...

does this mean we can call you McCainbots??

Exactly. I read the other day where one of McCain's key strategist months ago wanted this election to be a battle of ideas, but has since changed his mind and believes it should be a battle of personalities...which is ironic for all the criticism of Obama as a cult of personality. My guess is that McCain's camp believed their only chance at winning this election was to steer away from the issues and focus on personalities. If that's the case, Palin was a good choice, however, I think enough Americans are sober about how important this election is going to be.

Furthermore it points to some interesting possibilities within the VP vetting process and how the fallout from the naming would dwell in these last couple of days. For one, what could have been a smart choice may end up being strategically brilliant if we account for the continued ignorance of real issues while people get turned off by so much negative publicity. Though I suspect it will die off soon like all the other ridiculous 'scandals' that had as much weight as an electron. Either way, the intended beneficiary is not exactly Obama's campaign.

[metta 0]

this is really baffling to me...

didn't people get on the Obama followers case for blindly following Obama and not seeing anything wrong with him?? and calling them Obamabots

and now they are doing the same thing and not seeing any fault with McCain and Palin...

does this mean we can call you McCainbots??

Exactly. I read the other day where one of McCain's key strategist months ago wanted this election to be a battle of ideas, but has since changed his mind and believes it should be a battle of personalities...which is ironic for all the criticism of Obama as a cult of personality. My guess is that McCain's camp believed their only chance at winning this election was to steer away from the issues and focus on personalities. If that's the case, Palin was a good choice, however, I think enough Americans are sober about how important this election is going to be.

Listening to Palin last night, a word popped in my mind.- ENTELECHY. I don't mean it in an Aristotelian sense but in a more contemporary context of complexity and emergence.

"Something complex that emerges when you put a large number of simple objects together."

If you take iron and coke and other alloys, the iron ore becomes steel which assumes a totally different quality from its original components.

Likewise, picking Palin changed the whole complexion of McCain's campaign.

Admittedly, I am a slightly left of central liberal. So, in general, the Democratic party's platform is what appeals to me.

Policywise, what we have in essence is a competition between the usual platforms of the two party.

Whether you subscribe to one or the other, both parties if elected have to operate within the constraints and parameters set by this 200 and some years of democracy. The system itself is encumbered with built in mechanisms that give way to waste, corruption etc. More often than not, many bright eyed and bushy-tailed newcomer to Washington end up being disillushioned or get coopted by the system. As they get acquainted to the system the old hands use the system to do what they can within the constraints. Seen from outside, it looks very messy and corrupt and detestable. Imperfect but that's how it has worked.

So what do we have here? Two parties operating in the same old system(200 yr old)system, with same old same old platforms. Pretty much status quo.

Along came Obama out of no where ( like Walter Scott's Young Lochinvar)claiming he could sweep away the corruption, change the old ways of doing things etc. etc. The change he would effect would be all the more attractive because he would be making history as the first would be Black president. Not only that, he is fresh faced, very eloquent and equipped with the right ivy league degrees. The only problem is that his resume does not show any substantive work experience. But his appeal is overwhelming. There are many who think that electing Obama will also rectify the racist history of this nation and will be a big inspiration to the Black community, especially the youth who will benefit from the role model of a Black President. I also feel the emotional lift of many African American friends and colleagues who often say that they never thought they would live long enought to see the day an African American is lected POTUS.

But as i've posted before, when I factor in the politically very precarious times we live in, I see Obama as a risky bet.

McCain on the otherhand represents , what is for me, a the less agreeable campaign platform especially on social politcies such as healthcare and Social Security. But what I count on is his love of country, track record of working across the aisle on policies that run against the grain of GOP. His position on iraq during this election attest to the fact that he is willing to sacrifice his career advancement for something he believes-rightly or wrongly-that is in the interest of this nation.

Based on that, i feel less misgiving about his stance on issues like for instance healtcare. GOP or Dem, everyone who lives and works in this country knows that we have a healthcare crisis in our hands, It's effecting not only the general wellbeing of the people but the economy, global competitiveness etc.. You name it. Also, the only plausible solution is "blowing in the wind..."

If elected, I feel confident that McCain as president will have to address the healthcare issue and his solution will approximate that of the Dems'.

But it doesn't take much to figure out that mccain is no match against Obama's star power and the appeal to young and youngish folks fired up with politcal idealism especially of the liberal bent.

So, what is old McCain to do? He picked Palin who now possesses the star power now almost equal to that of Obama.

Palin represents reform but beyond rhetoric she has a record actual reform in sweeping Alsaka's State house. She is attractive, but carries gravitas(very different from Dan Quayle). Sweet but mortally sarcastic.

She has definitely transformed Mccain's campaign qualitatively and, yes, aesthetically

That I say is entelechy..

Xena, the Warrior Queen joins battle against Messiah? or er black JFK? Or .......