One thing I’ve learned in my almost 42 years of observing and listening to people (as well as doing my fair share of talking) is that human beings are by nature very fair. They are good about giving someone the benefit of the doubt – but they can also smell someone who’s disingenuous a mile away. Once they’ve made this determination, they write them off. Humans have little patience for self-serving folk, and I think it’s clear to those who don’t drink the kool-aid that that’s the kind of president we have in office.
Conversely, if someone is principled, honest, and has his or her heart in the right place — even if he or she isn’t impressive on paper — it is natural for humans to embrace such a person. I believe this is why people have warmed up to Sarah Palin and turned against Barack Obama. (There was a “shocker poll” in December that the Obama-Palin gap melted to one point.)
Obama may be better educated than Palin – Lord knows he sounds a helluva lot better when he opens his mouth – but eloquence only matters if the other stuff (authenticity, good ideas) are there. Palin is an interesting bird. Hard-core conservatives love her because, well, because she’s conservative — and that’s enough for any far right person. But Palin has a long way to go in terms of her overall knowledge of politics. If she surrounds herself with the right people, she’ll do well eventually. (Reagan was no intellectual either.)
Palin represents something new — an outspoken, female conservative who isn’t afraid to stand up to the powers that be — and that alone is refreshing. She’s also a populist, and thus her timing is great. Still, I’d like to see her take some lessons in conversational banter and start talking some specifics. If she improves in this area, I’d be glad to have her represent me.
January 25th, 2010 at 9:54 am
I’m guessing that you have never listened to 0bama without his teleprompter, he can’t say anything with out an aaahhh, uuuummm or eeerrr between every word, and he talks so slow you forget what he’s even talking about. If his teleprompter goes down, he just stops in mid-sentence and waits, which signifies that he didn’t write his speech, and probably had little input in it, didn’t bother to practise before hand, and doesn’t know much about whatever the subject of the speech is to even put together any thoughts without a prompter.
I’ve listened to Palin’s speeches, I’ve listened to her interviews on the radio and on TV, and I’ve read them in the paper, she knows more than 0bama does. I’ve read her book, and her Facebook postings, and her op/eds both in the Alaska press, and here in the lower 48 press. Again, she knows a lot more than 0bama does. I’d vote for her in a flash in 2012, not only vote for her, I’d volunteer to work getting out the vote, and donate money as well.
January 25th, 2010 at 10:03 am
Suzanne,
I’ve seen the fruit of having “polished” serve as many of our elected officials. Having said that, I must say: Give me simple any day.
I might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but even I know it makes no sense whatsoever to adopt the mindset that to get out of debt you need to spend more money.
If more “politicians” would stop being politicians and start being normal, common-sense Americans who serve instead of subject, America would be back on the right track.
Definite food for thought regarding Palin. She has the Conservatism, but does she have the needed knowledge? Inquiring minds want to know.
January 25th, 2010 at 10:13 am
I couldn’t agree more with both of you. I like Sarah Palin precisely b/c she isn’t part of the establishment; that was sort of my point. And you make a great point, Greg, about Obama. He only sounds polished when he’s reading, that’s true.
Which is why I was saying people now see through that and that’s why they like Palin. My only concern about Palin is that she needs to be more specific in her answers, for she talks in generalities most of the time. I happen to agree with her philosophy, but it would be nice if she had more breadth in her responses.
FYI: I spent a week analyzing Palin (after reading Going Rogue) on my blog. If you’d like to read it, google “No Bull Mom” and search in the archives. It’s December 7-11.
January 25th, 2010 at 11:12 am
Greg GREAT post! I would go one step further and state even WITH a teleprompter Obama is not a good speaker – I don’t know where this “great orator” stuff came from! He has multiple teleprompters and moves his head from side to side like he’s watching a tennis match. No other president EVER relied on a teleprompter as much. This makes me think Obama writes nothing – knows nothing and can’t rely on his own memory for any thing. Why on earth does anyone think he’s smart? None of his colleges writings or grades are public. Palin can think on her feet and is a doer not an empty suit.
January 25th, 2010 at 11:14 am
I disagree that Obama sounds more intelligent than Palin. She has much more intelligent remarks than Obama. Her accent doesn’t bother me.
January 25th, 2010 at 11:22 am
The fact that you folks don’t see an inherent contradiction between the terms “conservative” and “populist” is exactly why the right is in the shape it is today. There is nothing remotely “conservative” — if we use the word’s proper definition — about the rampant class warfare and identity politics that the GOP seems so enamored with these days, with Palin as the figurehead. The word “conservative” implies concepts such as respect of privacy and non-interventionism as readily as small government and low taxes.
Oh, and “common sense” is perhaps the most overrated commodity in our modern culture. As Einstein said, common sense is nothing more than the sum of one’s accumulated prejudices.
January 25th, 2010 at 11:40 am
I like Sarah Palin precisely b/c she isn’t part of the establishment_________________________________________
Palin is supporting McCain, so she IS part of the establishment. She will ultimately go where she is TOLD or where the money is.
January 25th, 2010 at 12:08 pm
Deo,
I do not know where you get she will go where she is told. Numerous members of her party “told her” to not give up the Alaska position. She gave it up any ways. I do not agree with the decision, but it definitely showed me she did what she thought was right. And Rhayader, as far as common sense is concerned, by the definition in Webster “”the ability to make sound judgments” I think it is one of the most missed commodities in politics today.
January 25th, 2010 at 12:37 pm
@Rhayader,
How silly of me. Of course common-sense is overrated. And of course Einstein nailed its definition perfectly.
Excuse me while I now return to my job as speechwriter for Dear Leader Obama. I’m working on a doozie for the next State of His Union address.
January 25th, 2010 at 12:55 pm
How silly of me. Of course common-sense is overrated. And of course Einstein nailed its definition perfectly.
You’re probably being sarcastic there, although those words can and should be taken literally.
January 25th, 2010 at 1:24 pm
@Rhayader,
Yes, Virginia, Santa is being sarcastic.
But I was deadly serious about the speech writing thing. Or was I?
Thanks for the back and forth. It breaks up an otherwise monotonous day of counting the cracks in my driveway.
January 25th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
Warmed up to her? Are you kidding? Her poll numbers are lower than they’ve ever been, especially after pulling that stupid little stunt on Fox News. For Palin, that’s saying something.
January 25th, 2010 at 5:23 pm
“But Palin has a long way to go in terms of her overall knowledge of politics. If she surrounds herself with the right people, she’ll do well eventually. (Reagan was no intellectual either.)”
Heh, since when was ones knowledge of politics a pre-requisite to getting elected ?
Shes honest, that if anything is the key element anyone in office needs ro attain, the rest can all come later