Word: palin
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Surprisingly, the most compelling performance at the Republican National Convention two weeks ago came not from the presidential nominee, but rather from his running mate, the bright new star of the Republican party: Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. As most of the international media has either enthusiastically or begrudgingly remarked, Palin did remarkably well that Wednesday night. Demonstrating her dexterity both on stage and on the attack, Madame Barracuda’s speech catapulted her onto the national conservative stage with great gusto, ensuring her place on it for years to come...
...However, this is not to say that either McCain or Palin has had such experience. The key point is that there are few experiences that can genuinely prepare one for—much less replicate—the complex strategic tradeoffs faced by the commander-in-chief of a nation at war. A good counterexample might be commanding a wartime squadron during combat. However, as former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Wesley Clark recently pointed out, none of the current candidates can claim that experience. While valiant, Clark insisted on CBS’s Face the Nation, John McCain?...
...Given this relatively even playing field, the primary problem with Palin is not her gross lack of qualifications to inherit our two-front war. Rather, it has to do with what was showcased so brilliantly in St. Paul: her pitbull brand of politics. In particular, the content of the RNC speech—along with her pitch-perfect delivery—was dominated by a combination of massive oversimplification and a dash of jingoism on the side, peppered with arguments that appeal to visceral reactions at the expense of a nuanced stance on the most important issues facing Americans. This...
...unite and lead our country—not to mention the broader international community—towards a common goal with a shared purpose. Instead, Bush chose to pander to his base with divisive rhetoric and action. Judging from her convention speech, one can only conclude that a Palin administration would follow a disconcertingly similar path...
...Governor Palin is indeed the pitbull that she has so proudly proclaimed herself, she is a feisty and a likable one, who I am sure will prove a valuable asset for the Republicans. However, apart from her uncanny ability to galvanize the conservative base, it was her speech’s heavy reliance on pitbull politics that was most troubling...