Most recently, the former governor, has written a best selling book, joined Fox News as a news analyst, and served as the keynote speaker at the Tea Party Convention. Many speculate that these moves have been designed to keep her in the public eye as she positions herself as a GOP favorite to oppose President Obama in 2012.
Washington Post political reporter David Broder recently wrote that Palin is someone who needs to be taken seriously:
Blessed with an enthusiastic audience of conservative activists, Palin used the Tea Party gathering and coverage on the cable networks to display the full repertoire she possesses, touching on national security, economics, fiscal and social policy, and every other area where she could draw a contrast with Barack Obama and point up what Republicans see as vulnerabilities in Washington.
Time magazine's Joe Klein takes a somewhat different view:
The speech was inspired drivel, a series of distortions and oversimplifications, totally bereft of nourishing policy proposals — the sort of thing calculated, carefully calculated, to drive lamestream media types like me frothing to their keyboards. Palin is a big fat target, eminently available for derision. But I will not deride. Because brilliance must be respected, especially when it involves marketing in an era when image almost always passes for substance.
Recent polling data still suggests a bit of skepticism about what Sarah Palin has to offer:
VIEWS OF SARAH PALIN
Now 11/2009 7/2009
Favorable 26% 23% 23%
Not favorable 41 38 37
Undecided/
Haven't heard 32 37 39
Though among conservatives she is a very popular figure:
VIEWS OF SARAH PALIN
All Liberals Moderates Conservatives
Favorable 26% 16% 15% 46%
Not favorable 41 58 47 26
Undecided/
Haven't heard 32 25 37 27
How do you view Sarah Palin? Is she someone we should take seriously? Does she offer what is needed in Washington?
I *personally* believe that Sarah has far more substance than Joe Klein would allow - in fact, having heard of her BEFORE the VP selection in 2008, I was already impressed with what I'd heard and read about her. As a woman, as a mother who knows how to get things done, I can recognize, respect, and applaud her approach to most situations. Far from "oversimplifying", she cuts right to the heart of the matter at hand and peels away the layers of beaurocratic minutiae that have been piled on for years!
ReplyDeleteI believe that Sarah Palin is an airhead or a talking head, whichever term you prefer. I do also fear that she will make a serious contender in the next presidential election. I feel that she is in “it” (politics) only for what she can gain from it. She spouts what she is told by others. She has snowed people into believing that she has firm beliefs and wants to do good things for this country. She is vapid and only concerned for herself. She cares about her family only peripherally.
ReplyDeleteI do not have a negative or positive view of Sarah Palin however, I do not see her as someone who should be the leader of our country.
ReplyDeleteSarah Palin is a woman with ideas. You may not agree with them, but she's not afraid to share them anyway.
ReplyDeleteI believe the Tea Party has accepted her for her views and expressed desires for limited federal government, fiscal responsibility, and a strong national defense. Until proven otherwise, I think we should take her seriously.
Michelle, can you please show me what evidence you've seen that leads you to believe she is "vapid and only concerned for herself" and "an airhead"?
I personally like Sarah Palin, she has solid American values, she's a hardworker(to be where she's at thats a given), & her family comes first. She cuts straight to the chase and isn't afraid to speak her opinion in any senario. She gave Obama good advice in which she stated that he "lectures to much and listens to little". She also stated that she wouldn't count the 2012 presidential elections out but she would not do it unless she thought it was right for the American people or her family.
ReplyDeleteYes, Michelle, please elaborate...Thank you :)
I will elaborate on how I believe Mr. Oneterm is an "airhead" and I will elaborate on how he's "Concerned for himself&his wife" if you do as well.
My statements were my opinion of her as I have watched her give speeches and in reading her words. In my opinion she spouts what she thinks people want to hear. She abandoned her job as governor. To me she seems to trot out stories of her children and family only when she feels it will help her. I have to say that when I apply for a job I know what the job entails. I answered the question as to what my opinion of her is as a politician.
ReplyDeleteAs a woman viewing Sarah Palin, I believe she talks before she thinks. Or, at least writes her notes on her hand incorrectly. I am sure she could be a wonderful vice president to start, and to cultivate her for the presidency. However, because she acts without thinking, it limits her range of reaching the American people. Of this is my opinion.
ReplyDeleteNo disrespect, but this is the same one who spent a bunch of money on a road to nowhere right? hmmmm..
ReplyDeleteI think that Sarah Palin is a very talented woman. I think she should be respected for her ideas and taken seriously. She is very family oriented and has a personality that is well liked.
ReplyDeleteReece,The road to nowhere was supposed to connect to a bridge that would've been needed and a must have for the highway access. You are correct in the since that given that the project for the bridge was dead-ended by her because of federal pressure she might have ended the work for the road.- Jonathan Kelly
ReplyDelete