caution: low expectations will make Palin an overnight sensation

[Auggie27]

Posted: 9/3/08 at 5:38pm

I was talking to friends over lunch, and they are as nervous as I that all the blog gloating about the Alaskan debacle is dangerously naive. Who knew that an inarticulate C student with no authenticity charisma, real ideas, leadership skills osity could be elected twice? (Remember the Wednesday a.m. in November 2004, when it happened again after many said it could not?) Be afraid, folks, for Sarah Palin makes a far, far more compelling impression -- especially when reading words, when talking about herself, and when creating a mythology around her, well, mythology.

We should all be very careful about waking up tomorrow to an infuriated or giggling electorate; on the contrary, expect a lot of the opposite. "She took the roof off!" "She PROVED she's qualified, and dynamic..." blah blah blah.

No one loves a story with a twist more than the media, and this story is dangerously in need of the next twist in the plot: accident waiting to happen fails to happen. Cue the Hallelujah chorus.

A team of handlers and speechwriters are preparing this address, and when backed by quaint Northern Exposure footage, a rush onstage of the full sinned-but-forgiven family with hugs and tears and probably some Eskimo words sprinkled in at the end, look for a new "narrative" -- the woman who made a "comeback" after 5 days of being berrated by the liberal media, the angry left. I predict: a jolt in the poll numbers, with idiots everywhere going "Oh, she's not so bad after all..." There will be a rush to embrace her just to look with it.

The only real hope -- and it's hope with teeth -- is a series of press conferences and interviews, when the reams of info about her ... the book banning, the firings, the church talk about Iraq's destruction being God's plan ...is finally placed on the table for her to refute or embrace.

We are desperate for unscripted remarks, quotes, and facts. Hang on thru the Sunday talk shows ... when surely she'll have to meet the press ... but do not expect this igloo to melt tonight, due to manmade or natural causes.

Updated On: 9/3/08 at 05:38 PM

[The Boy From Ohio]

Posted: 9/3/08 at 5:56pm

I thought of this also, they are already being overly kind in my opinion.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 9/3/08 at 6:06pm

November is just around the corner. tick...tick...tick...

[Jilani]

Posted: 9/3/08 at 6:16pm

Slate.com agrees with this assessment:
Sarah Palin Wows Convention!

[Auggie27]

Posted: 9/3/08 at 6:29pm

Thanks for that, Jilani. Wow, it is so on the nose. The sense of "speech of her life" will hang heavy in the air, and her scripted, heavily rehearsed and entirely telegenic performance will be hailed as a breath of fresh arctic air. Only a Q&A without handlers will reveal substance -- and we'll likely have to wait until Sunday for that, at the earliest. They DO NOT want her to be caught unprepared

But tonight she is not; tonight she will give a boilerplate appraisal of herself that is both humble and reeking of hubris, for her decision to accept McCain's offer is the ultimate narcissism. She thinks she deserves this -- and worse, that so do we. That she IS the best they can offer. But that will all be dressed up in "aw, shucks, do you think a simple girl with a dogsled,gun, and a dream can get this far? (voice quivering) I will if you will let me!"

I'm scared. But at least Salon is right -- we'll learn nothing except that she can perform well. The real evaluation will come once she's pried from handlers.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 9/3/08 at 7:00pm

This scares me as well.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/3/08 at 7:51pm

They will relentlessly categorize this speech as "Much better than Obama's!" no matter how many times she stumbles or refers to McCain as Grampy.

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 9/3/08 at 8:44pm

Well said, Auggie!

[roquat]

Posted: 9/3/08 at 8:53pm

I've been quite nervous about the dismissive attitude towards her on this board, and the overconfident assurances that she's seconds away from resigning. She's her own Lifetime movie; tough, gutsy, small-town mother of five taking on the big nasty government fat cats. And Biden isn't the best speaker--he's not always in control of his emotions. Their debate is a great big trap for him if he's not prepared.

[violet72]

Posted: 9/3/08 at 8:58pm

she is speaking to a crowd of people who will cheer even if she takes a poo up there they will cheer....I have come to grips she is gonna speak and the media will call it the second coming of Ronald Regan...she is giving a speech that she probably didn't write and all she has to do is read it

I am getting scared that the american people are gonna fall for the same dog and pony show of 2000 and 2004

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 9/3/08 at 9:19pm

I anxious for headlines about her preacher to come out. Just last week she sat through a sermon that suggested Israelis deserve to be bombed by terrorists, it's God's will after all.

I wonder if Jews for Jesus vote in Florida?

[javero]

Posted: 9/3/08 at 9:34pm

I think I'll pass on her rah-rah speech tonight. I'm telecommuting tomorrow from home and am certain that it'll be rebroadcast ad nauseum.

[Q]

Posted: 9/4/08 at 1:46am

"By TOM RAUM and LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writers
1 hour, 35 minutes ago
"ST. PAUL, Minn. - Sarah Palin delivered. An embattled vice presidential candidate, a novice on the national stage, the head of a family suffering its "ups and downs," the first-term Alaska governor rocked the GOP convention with a star-turning performance.

Wielding a stiletto and a smile, Palin belittled Democrat Barack Obama and praised her new boss, John McCain, jolting the crowd of GOP partisans.

"Don't you think we made the right choice for the next vice president of the United States!" McCain said, hinting the controversy surrounding his pick. "And what a beautiful family."



Auggie was right.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 9/4/08 at 1:51am

And they are part of the McCain Donut brigade.

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 9/4/08 at 3:14am

Well ... if anything good comes out of her selection is that:

a. Conservatives will have to stop promoting abstinence only; she is the poster-child of the failure of that policy
b. Republicans have to be a lot more careful when they question someone's patriotism
c. She did veto the bill that would have blocked gays and lesbians from health and other benefits provided to state workers's domestic partners, which is a little hopeful for gay rights

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/4/08 at 6:34am

What? Haven't you been listening? Her family PROVES abstinence-only education is the ONLY way to go. It's a win/win all around- at least to their view.

[supportivemom]

Posted: 9/4/08 at 6:39am

Personally, I thought she delivered her speech with a smug attitude. It wasn't all that inspiring. She was just bashing her opponenets without giving us new insights as to her policy. C'mon Obama- the game is ON!

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 9/4/08 at 9:22am

I'm not sure she's the megaton bomb we were all hoping for, but she sure as hell isn't the woman-rallying wonder gal the GOP was hoping for, either.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 9/4/08 at 9:39am

The next problem after the speech last night which I have feared would be looked on as a win, even though I thought it was smug and slung mud, is that Republicans dont care if their candidates sling mud or hammer home misinformation to those willing to listen to the point of believing it...that's always the tactic. Democratic candidates are not allowed to play the mean card.

If a Republican goes mean, they win over voters...if a Democrat does, they lose their base who expect better.

I think this is FAR from a slam dunk election. That hateful woman may just be president someday.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 9/4/08 at 9:44am

Agreed, Doodle. Her speech was sneering and sarcastic, which turns the base on but the undecideds....?

Do the undecideds in the last analysis even give a crap about the VP? Do voters in general? If Palin turns into too shiny a bauble for the ticket, McCain could be going down.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 9/4/08 at 9:48am

The response was both the predictable "star is born" and luckily, a measured, clear-eyed, "okay, so this is what we're dealing with...." I just saw the Times guy who talked about how surreal it was, her "otherness" was so palpable. But what I wasn't prepared for -- though her bio clearly supported it -- was that smugness doodle noted. It was scary, and you could see the vindictive streak. I think it goes hand in hand with the hubris.

That's what I cannot shake -- that she honesty believes she should be in this job. There's not a scintilla of questioning how the job fits into her life, or vice versa. Or even the complexity of the nation's problems and needs that the VP must address.

Accordingly, I am not being glib or cynical when I say she likely thinks God put her on this ticket. We've heard that before. If she believes that, that wisdom, education, experience are meaningless. She's Divinely commissioned.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 9/4/08 at 9:55am

The speech was well delivered, smug, sarcastic, insulting and should be taken on TODAY by the Democrats. If your son plays hockey, then you should be VP?

Biden was on The Today Show and he was TERRIBLE! Matt Lauer was throwing him softballs and he did not even take a swing. If that it what is to come, then we as Americans are in big trouble.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 9/4/08 at 10:09am

I have the same queasy feeling I had in 1988, 2000 and 2004.

I really like Biden, but I think Palin'll make lunchmeat out of him in their debates because he'll be afraid to go mean. She clearly has no problem with it.

[artscallion]

Posted: 9/4/08 at 10:13am

I find hope here...

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/

Not only in the map numbers, but in the commentary. I agree that she seemed harsh in her attacks last night, as did Giuliani. I think that is the lasting first impression people will come away with.

As far as the bottom line effect she'll have...
I don't think she'll woo many Hillary supporters. She's couldn't be less like Hillary. I also think she's too conservative to woo independents. Keep in mind that many independents are independents for the very reason that they don't consider themselves sheep to one party or the other. They are thinkers and will not be easily tricked by some ultraconservative.

She will excite the conservative base to an extent. But in all the Republican-on-the-street interviews I saw last night, most said something like, "I'm glad he chose a woman, just not this woman."

And I have to say something about Republicans. They just look you right in the eye and boldfaced lie. Not occasional random exaggerating or pandering like all politicians do, but full on, no-matter-what-you-say-I'll-stick-to-it lies. Do they have no scruples or conscience? It boggles my mind and makes me see them as some evil, other species. I mean, really. The current administration is liberal and we need the conservative Republicans to come in and bring change!?!?!?!

[Auggie27]

Posted: 9/4/08 at 10:16am

Yeah, Biden has been warned by everyone including the 7/11 cashier not to "go after her" because he'll look like he's "beating her up." Meanwhile, she'll come off like a young Leona Helmsley (my new image for her) and be dubbed "strong". The new feminism. The new America. We should be scared.