The idea that she is unintelligent is merely a superficial analysis of her character, much like the dismissal of George W. Bush's intellect. Sarah Palin is immensely cunning. She is manipulative and sly, and she is dangerous. To handwave her presence as a non-factor would be foolish.
When she originally was announced as John McCain's running mate, I believed she would fade into the background once they suffered their inevitable defeat. Instead, she has risen through the ranks with unparalleled rapidity, becoming a celebrity politician. But she has not turned out the way that the Republican party had, I suspect, initially hoped. Instead of being a Republican standard-bearer, Palin was rejected after the election by a fair portion of Republicans due to her inexperience and potential for liability. This is partially her own fault, of course, given her ignorance and tendency toward cut-and-paste political talking points, but she has not let that stop her. Assimilating herself into the Tea Party, she has gradually usurped its small government origins into a Republican sect. An offshoot of traditional right-wing politics though it may be, it is only a matter of time before the Tea Party is wholly brought into the fold of Republican party, quelled and assured that the establishment Republicans will look out for their interests.
And when the Tea Party is fully a part of the Republican party, Sarah Palin will be right there with them. A political figurine grudgingly accepted, but a part of something larger. She has already proven herself adept at generating revenue, tapping into the fears and worries of the American people, and using Christianity to draw voters to her cause. She has slowly crafted the image she wishes to present of herself, eagerly accepting interviews and appearing at media events to put herself in the spotlight.
Like I said, Sarah Palin is cunning. She has gone from unknown Alaskan governor to media centerpiece over the course of two years. The idea that she is in any way "stupid" is preposterous. Is she a conniver only interested in promoting herself and increasing her fame? Absolutely. But is she dumb? Not at all.
She's a moron. A moron who is ridiculously adept at public relations, sure, but a moron none the less.
__________________
"The Daemon lied with every breath. It could not help itself but to deceive and dismay, to riddle and ruin. The more we conversed, the closer I drew to one singularly ineluctable fact: I would gain no wisdom here."
Gender: Unspecified Location: With Cinderella and the 9 Dwarves
I disagree, she is stupid in the way that people mean the term, she's somewhat good at self-promotion, how much of that is her ability rather than that of her advisors and the unquestioned backup from Fox News I couldn't judge but I lean towards the latter. She definitely isn't knowledgeable and she definitely is unqualified for any office anyone can run for. I guess we could say she's some sort of idiot savant at making herself likable to certain, also stupid, groups in society.
I do agree with you though that she is dangerous and shouldn't be dismissed.
I've doubted her knowledge, if not her intelligence, ever since she claimed that Canada sent troops to Vietnam.
__________________ Recently Produced and Distributed Young but High-Ranking Political Figure of Royal Ancestry within the Modern American Town Affectionately Referred To as Bel-Air.
Or her comment on supporting our allies, the North Koreans?
__________________
"The Daemon lied with every breath. It could not help itself but to deceive and dismay, to riddle and ruin. The more we conversed, the closer I drew to one singularly ineluctable fact: I would gain no wisdom here."
I'm willing to contribute that to fluffed-up verbiage. Same with "refudiate". But she out-and-out claimed we were in Vietnam. The interviewer even corrected her, and she disagreed with him. That level of ignorance on something so important in American history from the mouth of a wannabe VP/President?
F*ck. That.
__________________ Recently Produced and Distributed Young but High-Ranking Political Figure of Royal Ancestry within the Modern American Town Affectionately Referred To as Bel-Air.
Canada was an established country during the Vietnam War??
__________________
"The Daemon lied with every breath. It could not help itself but to deceive and dismay, to riddle and ruin. The more we conversed, the closer I drew to one singularly ineluctable fact: I would gain no wisdom here."
__________________ Recently Produced and Distributed Young but High-Ranking Political Figure of Royal Ancestry within the Modern American Town Affectionately Referred To as Bel-Air.
__________________ Recently Produced and Distributed Young but High-Ranking Political Figure of Royal Ancestry within the Modern American Town Affectionately Referred To as Bel-Air.
so looking back at past elections , what you're saying is if Americans stay true to form in they way they elect the leader of the world... she's a lock.
Palin is a complete fool, even the Republican party regret ever involving her in their campaigning. She just flourishes on some backwards neo-conservative outdated rhetoric thats just a complete and total joke in the realm of politics.
__________________ "Every daring attempt to make a great change in existing conditions, every lofty vision of new possibilities for the human race, has been labeled Utopian."
Sarah Palin is good at self promotion. I don't think she has a firm grasp on many of the major issues, but then again, neither does Obama. Obama is a great motivational speaker but his actions are showing his ineptness. Both are colorful charismatic figures but neither deserves to be President.
To say Palin has no shot of being elected in 2012 ignores the fact that Obama was elected in 2008. Never underestimate the stupitidy of the American voter. Likewise I believe the American people would be foolish to elect Newt Gingrich or Mike Huckabee. I also believe Hillary Clinton will challenge Obama for the Democratic Nomination. Too bad she isn't as moderate as her husband was. She would be a bad choice also.
The only name I hear thrown around for 2012 that I like so far is Mitt Romney. Obama certainly needs to go.
__________________ There are more humans in the world than rats.
Gender: Unspecified Location: With Cinderella and the 9 Dwarves
Obama has a grasp on the issues, he's just completely inept at politics.
I agree with you, Obama's bad, but the "maverick" (yeah right, more like "republican/corporate line yes-sayer") McCain would have been worse.
I don't think Sarah Palin has a chance to get elected, though, but she's pushing the Republicans further to the right and further to extremism, which is likely not good, though it may lead to the collapse in the long run.
KMC Community Forums
Dec 2nd, 2010 09:03 AM
This country seems to abound in those types of 'savants'. Perhaps reality shows are the petri dishes for these sorts of organisms.
