One down, many to go
Governor Palin had an audience of 37.2 million last night, second only to Senator Obama’s acceptance speech, and she didn’t blow it. In fact, as John Fund noted: “Keith Olbermann, MSNBC’s official attack dog, could muster only this as commentary on Mrs. Palin’s performance: ‘People who like this sort of thing will find this…the sort of thing they like’.” That’s as near to praise for Sarah Palin as MSNBC is likely to get. We found this line from Governor Palin’s address particularly amusing, though it didn’t seem to be among the clips played by the media today:
I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a “community organizer,” except that you have actual responsibilities.
Touché. One speech does not a campaign make, but this was a good start. As the Washington Post noted, “few believed she would emerge triumphant, which she did.” There are many more tests in the next two months and we’ll just have to see what happens.
There continues to be something surreal about this year’s presidential campaign. Senator Obama was marketed as a Messiah from the one side, and on the other, Governor Palin was instantly and inappropriately viewed as some sort of Savior or Demon, wildly the best choice by McCain, or the worst VP selection in American history. What’s going on that people experience such intensity of feeling about mere politicians?
September 5th, 2008 at 12:25 am
One speech does not a campaign make, but this was a good start.
Her attacks on the Democratic ticket might have seemed excessive if she herself wasn’t being attacked so viciously.
The Palin nomination was a game-changer, but IMO Larry Kudlow correctly worries that to date the convention’s emphasis on the economy is inadequate. I’ve been commenting for a while that the S&P 500 is below its value at Bush’s first inauguration: that is, below its value in a dollar which has become debased. Note to the Obama brain trust: anyone for ‘It’s the economy, stupid’?
There continues to be something surreal about this year’s presidential campaign…What’s going on that people experience such intensity of feeling about mere politicians?
Part of it might be emotional reaction against the perversion of political discourse begun by Read-My-Lips Bush, continued by the Clinton-era GOP Congress, and consummated by the Bush administration (and by today’s Democrats of course). The public knows the country is on the wrong track, but the wise guys have set the system up so adult speech is political suicide.
September 5th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
I think a lot of the speed and intensity of reactions are do to what we are doing right here, the internet. Everyone is involved personally and has some voice and an anonymous one at that. It reminds me of the way a group of dogs will start attacking each other for no infraction when a group melee starts. Its the feeding frenzy of the modern human. Each of us is part of a mob now online. The old media can’t behave responsibly in that environment because they would be ignored or maybe the just can’t because they are in the mob too. I wish more would rise above it as I think dinocrat and the commenters here do. I have yet to see one poster attack another on this site or even post thoughtless attacks on anyone. Thanks all.
ps If it has happened, but I just missed it, don’t tell me. I’m happy today,
September 5th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
A Millennial Election?…
Ever since Y2K proved to be a disappointing brush with end times I have wondered if and when we would see an upsurge in millennialism. Historically, as Europe approached the year 1000, Messiahs and millennial movements were springing up with…
September 5th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
While reading a post my Bill Whittle today, I thought of why I so much prefer the Republican ticket beyond just the policy positions. I feel some security with it while the Dems ticket seems weak and dangerous and I ask myself why. My conclusion: I know many people personally who could have accomplished what both Obama and Biden have accomplished in their lives if given the same opportunities. Conversely, I don’t know anyone who would have taken on the same risks and challenges as McCain in his life and succeeded. It’s truly heroic, gutsy, and principled. With Palin, 5 kids is beyond me, but take on a city and a corrupt state government with no connections or real backing and beat them into submission (with 5 kids) at age 44; I sure don’t know anyone who could do that. Power, like a handgun, belongs in the hands of grown ups and exceptional power demands exceptional grown ups. I sure hope that’s what we get.