Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>On the other hand, she took far more grief than she deserved.<< This is what happens when a politician is a "surprise" and a relative unknown. The public had about two months to get to know who she was, what she stood for, what her background was, what her vision for the future might be. Everything was compressed, and the GOP did that as a tactic. She got grief because she was presented as one thing, but was not really up to snuff as advertised. She had some extremist tendancies, and was ill-prepared to be president of the United States. Her unreadiness was revealed in the handful of interviews her handlers allowed her to take part in. Of course everyone says dumb things. But when one's access is bottled up the way Palin's was, those dumb mistakes will be amplified even more.
Originally Posted By queenbee She is ridiculed because she is unqualified for the job which she demonstrated in several interviews. She gave SNL and Tina Fey the material. She deserved every bit of "grief" she received.
Originally Posted By mele There are contexts in which I could like Sarah Palin but it's doubtful it will be politically. I don't think she's a demon. She does come off as part "high school bitchy" (Thank you, Tina Fey) and really was ignorant about a lot of things. But everyone has their faults...what most irritated me was that she didn't admit to her faults and was willing to blindly jump in (she didn't blink!) where she had no business going. And I don't care if this makes me sound sexist, I found it a bit repulsive that she would seek such a high profile, important job when it's clear her family should be her highest priority. I think a smarter woman would have "blinked" and realized that sometimes you can't take a good opportunity to grab power when there are more important issues going on. I would say the same thing of a man who had an infant with disabilities and a teenaged, un-wed mother in the home. The fact that she didn't see that as a reason to slow down is just repulsive to me. Massive misjudgment, imo. Why would I want to give that person MORE power? And then when you add in her ego and refusal to admit problems, weaknesses, refusal to prep for interviews, learn the issues, inability to make a clear statement about those issues...why would I respect that? No can do.
Originally Posted By queenbee <<she didn't admit to her faults and was willing to blindly jump in (she didn't blink!) where she had no business going>> To me, this demonstrates a lack of self awareness. I think a smarter woman would have realized she was being used by the McCain campaign as a parlor trick.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<To me, this demonstrates a lack of self awareness. I think a smarter woman would have realized she was being used by the McCain campaign as a parlor trick. >> Oh, I think she knew exactly what she was doing. According to a November poll 64% of Republicans want Palin to run for president in 2012. Most never even had heard of her until McCain picked her to be VP. I think if anyone used anyone Palin used McCain. It was clear towards the end of the campaign that she had written off 2008 and was trying to secure her position for 2012.
Originally Posted By mele <<According to a November poll 64% of Republicans want Palin to run for president in 2012.>> Considering her performance during the campaign, this is a sad, sad commentary on 64% of Republicans. The same beliefs are what allowed Bush to do what he did. Just keep dividing the country, America be damned.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Considering her performance during the campaign, this is a sad, sad commentary on 64% of Republicans. The same beliefs are what allowed Bush to do what he did. Just keep dividing the country, America be damned.>> Which is why the Republican Party will self-destruct in 2012. They are convinced McCain lost because he was too moderate. They want to go hard right for 2012. That will be the end of the GOP.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>They are convinced McCain lost because he was too moderate.<< Yep. Going to be interesting watching the GOP over the next 4 years to see if cooler heads prevail or not.
Originally Posted By DouglasDubh <They want to go hard right for 2012.> I'm not so sure. I think they'd like someone who is consistantly moderate right. Sen McCain tends to veer back and forth, and too often cut the legs from people who would have supported him. A candidate who speaks positively about traditional values, a strong defense, and a limited federal government can unite the GOP behind him (or her).
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I think the GOP needs to get back to the party it was before being hijacked by the social/cultural conservatives.
Originally Posted By DouglasDubh Apparently we have. Back before President Reagan united the social and fiscal conservatives, the Democrats controlled the White House and both Houses of Congress.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Sarah Palin's daughter having a baby out of wedlock is about as interesting as Jamie Lynn Spears having a baby out of wedlock. In other words -- it isn't.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Did Jamie Lynn Spears come up with goofy baby names? That would make it more interesting. Top 10 Palin Family Baby Names That Haven't Been Assigned Yet: 10. Cork 9. Shamwow 8. Stencil 7. Glock 6. Fjord 5. Rivet 4. Charles Glass (for you Brady Bunch fans) 3. Gristle 2. Clench 1. Sinew
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Hey -- Gwyneth Paltrow named her kid Apple, so what are you going to do?
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains So it's reported that Jennifer Gardner is in the hospital for baby number 2... maybe you should forward your list on over - maybe she needs some ideas. Afterall the first one, Violet, seems too normal.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan If she doesn't name the child Constance Gardner or Crossing Gardner, I'll never speak to her again.
