The American Spectator

Reader Mail

Palin on a Pedestal

9.11.08 @ 12:01AM

TEN THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU
Re: Philip Klein's Don't Obamaize Palin:

For God's sake Klein, can't we enjoy ourselves for a little while?!
-- Jim Karr
Blue Springs, Missouri

Mr. Klein is a fine reporter, and his caution against treating Sarah Palin as an "instant celebrity" is well advised. Both Sarah and Obama fire up their audiences, it is true, so the instant celebrity comparison is valid so far as it goes. The difference is that Obama's appeal is based on his teleprompter-reading skills, and (if we believe the pundits) his "charisma." Obama's resume is thin, and that's being charitable. He has no record of accomplishment, simply because he has never accomplished anything. He is a hologram.

Sarah is Chief Executive of a large state, and she has really shaken things up, up there in wide-open Alaska, where the buffalo may not roam, but the moose and the caribou play -- until they end up in Sarah's gun-sights and dinner menu.

Which, by the way, was also the fate of Alaska's old-school self-serving politicians, regardless of political stripe. I like that. So do Alaskans. The lady's approval ratings are so high they're off the charts. Only a true leader could pull that off. She may have star quality, but she also has substance.
-- Doug Roll
Jacksonville, Texas

Mr. Klein's warning to avoid placing Governor Palin on a pedestal is well intended and appreciated. However, to compare Sarah Palin to Barry Obama is disgusting. Ms. Palin actually believes something of substance, can articulate same without a teleprompter, and has raised a family and governed in the toughest environment in America. Obama has all the sincerity and power of a high school class president and comes across as an empty suit with no specific ideas that will work in the real world. His suggestion to properly inflate our tires was almost as good as Bush 41 telling us to telecommute 20% of the work week. An Obama Administration would be a replay of the Carter Administration, without the competence. Also, my political intuition, which has served me well for decades, tells me that I trust this woman but not that community organizer.
-- David Shoup
Dublin, Georgia

With the selection of Sarah Palin as VP candidate there is suddenly wild enthusiasm for the McCain/Palin ticket. Let me suggest 10 good reasons why conservatives and libertarians should refrain from voting for John McCain:

(1) John McCain was the moving force behind repeal of the First Amendment in McCain Feingold. As President, what additional violations of the Constitution will he champion? He has no fixed Constitutional principles.

(2) JM will consider his election as an endorsement of his immigration policy and amnesty. While I do agree we need comprehensive reform, and that sending back millions of people will probably never happen, I do not believe that most of us support his poorly considered "solution." He will have the enthusiastic support of the Democrat Party, probably the acquiescence of his own Republican Party, and it is unlikely that talk radio will be able to stop it after the election.

(3) JM will try to use the only administrative paradigm he has available to him in controlling the bureaucracy -- his military experience. The bureaucracy will end up controlling him.

(4) JM will be desperate to do deals with the Dems to establish his "maverick" bona fides. Unlike President Bush, he will not give up and he will be rolled by the evil party.

(5) JM has a total lack of understanding of economic reality, and will be totally at sea in trying to deal with forthcoming economic challenges. In a worst case scenario, he could end up being our modern Herbert Hoover.

(6) JM's tendency to scapegoat producers in the oil industry, the pharmaceuticals industry, and whatever industry is slandered by the MSM tomorrow will further undermine his ability to deal with economic problems on a realistic basis.

(7) As with other "moderate" Republican Presidents, JM will be able to do his damage with no opposition from the stupid party. As we all know, Republican politicians are hardly profiles in courage.

(8) JM's lack of charisma will further diminish the Republican brand and leave him with little base of support. You can expect many stories about how he deals with problems with anger rather than with solutions (he can never give in enough to the Dems to avoid this). I think we can all agree that JM's temperament is hardly Presidential.

Letter to the Editor

topics:
Taxes, Health Care, John McCain, Barack Obama, Sarah Palin, Bill Clinton, Television, Abortion, Environment, Hollywood, Constitution, Law, Military, Iraq, Russia, NATO, Immigration, Energy, Alaska, Oil