The Tragedy of Sarah Palin

[mrmouth]

So most of you, like myself, first heard of Palin when it was suggested she could be tapped for Republican Vice Pres in the 2008 election. We heard of a Governor that ran on a clean government platform in a state where Republican politics had reached absurdly corrupt levels. And clean she did. Everything we heard about her was true.

The recent release of her emails show a thoughtful politician (shocking) who kept her campaign promises. Not without faults (like trying to ban certain books), she was the rare politician who had no issue with calling the FBI on her fellow politicians, even those in her own party. And even more amazing (considering what she has become), is that she worked tirelessly with Democrats. She believed strongly in the very things she rails against now. Upon taking the nomination, there was an almost instant 180.

The article below attempts to outline what happened, and why. Long but good.

From the moment Sarah Palin’s acceptance speech electrified the Republican convention, she was seen as an unbending, hard-charging, red-meat ideologue—to which soon was added “thin-skinned” and “vindictive.” But a look at what Palin did while in office in Alaska—the only record she has—shows a very different politician: one who worked with Democrats to tame Big Oil and solve the great problem at the heart of the state’s politics. That Sarah Palin might have set the nation on a different course. What went wrong?

For me, though, this simply follows the GOP trend, and it only appears to be getting worse.

In the late 90's, Republicans and Democrats were lockstep in trying to address climate change. Even as late as the 2008 election, the McCain/Palin ticket acknowledged climate change, and agreed there needed to be caps. Then the tea party came along, and insisted that to not be driven into a political wasteland, you must adopt their unreasonable stance.

You can go back decades and look at Reagan and his shift in thinking (driven by energy interests) about clean energy once he entrenched himself within Washington. The solar panels were removed from the roof of the White House. The push for solar power essentially dies at that point until China adopts it decades later. And now they have some of those very solar panels that once provided power to the White House in a museum in China.

How does this country ever go forward with a brand of politics that so changes reasonable people, into the complete opposite?

[HunterKYA]

The words of the day aren't 'cooperation' or 'compromise,' meaning people brush them aside. It's all about division and which party can jockey themselves into position for future elections, never what will be best for everyone. Sarah Palin is simply a product of the system; elevated to a position of prominence and notoriety when she doesn't have the political qualifications or intelligence to govern a state, let alone a country. Republicans will hold her up as a symbol of progress for the GOP, but the only reason why they'll hold her in any esteem is her status as a MILF to their die-hard party members.

[kentuckybandit]

I may be totally wrong here, but if memory serves me correctly this was the story of Al Gore as well (though obviously different directions).

[Exarch]

the only tragedy with sarah palin is that she didn't make that porno

[Darth_Revan]

the only tragedy with sarah palin is that she didn't make that porno

milf

[removeduser_052420]

lol

[Nietzsche]

I've long thought that Palin wasn't the idiot she's portrayed by the media and that if she had been a democrat the thumbscrews would have never left the cabinets. In either case, Washington is swimming in stolen money, backdoor dealings, and intimidation, so I'm not really surprised that it turns everyone into shills for special interests. It has nothing to do with the tea party. They are just a popular boogeyman evoked to beat the partisan drum.

[alhoon]

I've long thought that Palin wasn't the idiot she's portrayed by the media and that if she had been a democrat the thumbscrews would have never left the cabinets. In either case, Washington is swimming in stolen money, backdoor dealings, and intimidation, so I'm not really surprised that it turns everyone into shills for special interests. It has nothing to do with the tea party. They are just a popular boogeyman evoked to beat the partisan drum.

I don't think she's stupid either, but far from good.
When in office she acted moderate and reasonable because it was selling well. Then after she found out it was "exciting" and got her much attention to promote partisanship she jumped in that train.
Palin was never good or moderate. She was opportunist. That's why there were those faults and once she found out she could sell herself more with the tea party, her mind blew out and joined their ideology shedding the previous mild one.

I still think she has a problem with big oil though and wants to settle some bills there. It's not all opportunism and all bad.

All in all I don't think the Alaskans of 2006 have seen the real Palin nor we the large international audience have seen the real Palin. I'm not even sure a "real" Palin exists except of a few core beliefs (like opposing big oil) that are buried by the hat she wears at the time.

[Vizsla]

It’s the little things that make the biggest differences.
Fact is that ever since Kennedy wore makeup and Nixon didn’t on that television debate it has always been all about the presentation, not the substance.
When you hear Palin talking her voice is very high-pitched and screechy. Americans do tend to be less sensitive to very nasal voices, because the accent is more nasal than most, but without a voice transplant Palin was always doomed – whatever she said or did.
I also find it hard to believe that she is secretly not a moronic lunatic. I don’t believe anyone could put on that much crazy without a skull packed with swiss cheese. But then, I am not American. I don’t understand the culture.

[mrmouth]

The four page article outlines a situation where a fairly reasonable person in the span of a few days and one speech, became the exact opposite. You don't change that quickly unless you are told how to behave.

This is about a system that counts on give and take utterly breaking down due to the destructive politics todays neoconservatives have adopted. If reasonable politicians cannot stem the tide upon entering Washington, then what becomes of the US? It really is what a country like China is counting on.

Nothing new, but the article attempts to show just how and why it happens, and questions how and why it could happen so quickly and so decisively.

[Armenum]

It always amazed me some of the people that display themselves as "politicans" in America, while they know next to nothing when it comes to politics, international relations, philosophy, etc. In my view, it's been this growing obsession that a politician has to be an average citizen, and the fear of politicians being too "elitist". However, evidently, all this has gone to far, with a person like Palin actually being taken serious in the political field.

[assburgers]

a hard-nosed honest person failing to succeed in politics? Whatever next

[Admiral Piett]

Am I the only one that's slightly disturbed that people started going through her e-mails? I don't like her either, but this is kind of extreme.

[grandpa]

I for one do not in any way condone any breach of privacy.

With that said, I must ask, Am I the Only American that finds her completely incapable of being in a position to run this country. Did anyone see her explanation when asked what was paul revere doing?

Did she not try to ruin the career of a Alaskan State Police Office because he broke his realationship with her sister?
I was actually going to vote for McCain, but he showed his lack of political savvy when he allowed the republican trigger pullers to convince him to put her on his ticket.

He had so many other bonafide good options, and named her as a runningmate.....He was doomed, never stood a chance, unless he duct taped her with invisible duct tape.
Both political parties in America have no idea of what to do, and if they do, they won't do it if the other side brings the idea up first.

Personally, I see no light at the end of the tunnel...as it is long, and resembles more of a black hole every day.
Its really frustrating to get out of bed everyday, work like a dog, pay my taxes, just so they can continue to screw everything up. The Tea PArty had a real chance to mean something special, instead it got infiltrated by right wing political nut jobs, and cronies, mixed with left wing dolts and a few well intentioned folks in the middle. Simply one example..when I am paying as much as I am for energy, and the energy makers are making record profits, something is wrong. Greed will be the end of us all in the end. I am over 50, and have seen many presidents come and go, and out of all of them, only two made a difference...Reagan, and Clinton. The rest were complete bafoons. Sarah Palin as vice president, or president would make this country a laughingstock on a daily basis. At least now we have to put effort into it....for the moment.

Cheers to all My Brothers and Sisters here at The Forum!

[♔Goodguy1066♔]

With that said, I must ask, Am I the Only American that finds her completely incapable of being in a position to run this country.

If you were the only American that finds her incapable of running the country, she'd be President wouldn't she? Democracy and all that...

[Sir Pignans]

If you were the only American that finds her incapable of running the country, she'd be President wouldn't she? Democracy and all that...

Well, she hasn't actually ran for presdient yet, so probably not.

[jankren]

Honestly I like Sarah Palin as a person. She seems like a genuine nice woman. But I dont think she cuts it to be a President.

[Dr. Oza]

Am I the only one that's slightly disturbed that people started going through her e-mails? I don't like her either, but this is kind of extreme.

Freedom of Information Act

[Admiral Piett]

Freedom of Information Act

And what does this have to do with Alaskan officials turning over such a mass drove of private e-mails?

[PoleCat]

And what does this have to do with Alaskan officials turning over such a mass drove of private e-mails?

A few news orgs (MSNBC, ProPublica and one or two others I can't remember) filed FOIA requests for those documents. There really is nothing shady there. Although it did take some two years or so before the emails were released. Also remember that officials in her administration were actively bypassing the official email system by using Yahoo accounts to avoid leaving any identifiable paper trail.

As for BarnabyJones - the national GOP is quickly becoming a cluster**** with their internal war between social conservatives, hard-line neo-con foreign policy hawks and fiscal conservatives. There is a real struggle in the party to define the heart and soul of the party going forward. The co-opting of the Tea Party movement is just one example. While they may still vote in lockstep together on many issues these days it is becoming clearer every day that there is a growing schism in the party about what the main focus of the party should be. In some ways they seem to be becoming as dysfunctional as the Dems have been in the past.

In short - Palin became what she has become in order to run on the big stage. It was either bend her will or become irrelevant. Reaganism is well and truly dead - the partisans have won. It remains to be seen which partisans will come out on top however.