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Sarah Palin rails against 'permanent bureaucratic class'Sarah Palin delivered the high school pep rally speech of the year to the Conservative Political Action Committee over the weekend. All that was missing was a "na na na na.'' "We are red, white and blue, and President Obama, we are through with you!" Or as everyone used to say in high school (or was it grade school?), "I don't shut up, I grow up; and when I look at you I throw up.'' What the hell has happened to the Republican party? This used to be the party of ideas. This is the party that traces its conservative roots back to John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, Theodore Roosevelt and William F. Buckley. What would John Adams think of Sarah Palin parading around her silliness and clichés as if they amounted to some sort of political philosophy? "Well America, it is time we drain the jacuzzi and throw the bums out with the bath water,'' she said. Yes, that sounds like a coherent policy. Let's attack everyone who owns a jacuzzi. That'll get us somewhere. Notice she didn't say "it's time we disable the tanning beds and throw out the bums with the permanent sun tans.'' Maybe it's because she's big on tanning beds. In her short stint as Alaska's governor, she had one installed in the Governor's Mansion in Juneau. Some contend she spent more time soaking up its rays than studying up on policy. The CPAC speech tends to buttress that accusation. It is a speech with no real there there. Some apparently loved it. That's part of this country's problem. There are too many with too little between their ears more interested in imagery -- preferably of the bad-guy others -- than substance, which stirs the dung heap of a public policy in which we all tend to share responsibility as a little part of the problem. As the New York Times reported Saturday, almost everyone in this country today is getting a government handout of some sort. Now, let's pause here for just a second because by now there are those grabbing for one of the various bumper stickers of dismissiveness that seem to float around the conservative camp waiting to be grabbed and deployed should anyone speak unkindly of the former, half-term governor of Alaska. You know the slogans: "Palin hater!" "Conservative in Name Only!'' Or, God forbid, "Liberal!'' The accusations in this case may or may not be true, and I don't care. They aren't the issue. The issue is solving the problems facing this country today, and that isn't about deciding in what boxes which Americans belong. America doesn't need packaging. It needs ideas. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal rolled out a fair number of ideas over the weekend. He delivered what should have been the keynote speech at CPAC instead of the Sarah babble. Go listen to what he had to say. Jindal didn't need to quote himself, as Palin did at one point her speech, because apparently there isn't anyone smarter out there worth quoting. "I said in a speech this summer," she said, "this isn't the capitalism of free men and free markets, of risk and sacrifice, of innovation and hard work. No, it's the capitalism of connections, and of government bailouts and handouts and waste, and corporate welfare and corruption. This is the capitalism of Barack Obama and the Permanent Political Class." Since this is the web site of one of America's biggest political class owners, we are not surprised at the terms the Medred throws ie dung heap of policy. For example Rubinstein whose wife owns this outlet, is one of the richest men in American because of his connections to government. So no surprise you would attack anyone like Palin who wants to break up those crony ties Craig. Wow. Did you learn that in grade school Craig? Palin wowed for a reason that escapes the political pundits. A real desire for a return to our Constitutional roots which has no mention of the welfare state that Murkowski and Stevens brought us. A real desire to upend the sweet heart deals Stevens and Murkowski created like the 8(a) native contracting program which steers 1/3d of all government contracts to Native Corps. A real outrage at the rationalization of crab which gave a couple of shore based processors rights to buy the catch and limited free markets that crab fishermen in the Bering Sea enjoyed prior to. Yeah you better defend this corruption Craig by attacking Palin and her popularity. What a sad excuse for a journalist. I haven't heard Palin speaking out on any of that. When did that occur? She's against 8(a)? Is she against limited entry? We all knew that limited entry was the first step, quotas was the second step, and returning the resource to the processors was the goal, ie restoring the status quo pre statehood. But I never heard a peep from Palin. Is she against free medical programs provided by the IHS? Is she in favor of the constitution re privacy? Is she against the Pebble Mine? When has she addressed any issues except her hatred of President Obama? Speaking of news media employers, wasn't I reading something just the last day or two about the folks who pay Palin? Aren't they having some legal problems with their British operations? I read things may be heating up on this side of the Atlantic too. I'd take Medred's company owner any day hands down. (Sorry; just realized I posted this here as an original comment but I'd meant to reply to a comment below-- this is now posted there, where it should have been, too) I probably should have included Hickel but I still remember one bitter primary election where we (Hammond campaign) thought Hickel had won. But after all the absentees were in, Hammond was up by a hundred votes or so. Obviously Hickel was a great Alaskan. Hammond, Hickel, Egan, and Gruening didn't need speech writers or coaches to come up with witty one liners. They were self sufficient. They did it all themselves. They were for real. Alaska, not they, came first. They never quit. "Alaska's most famous & articulate citizen, pretty populist princess Sarah Palin, is the most powerful, potent, persuasive, pertinent, & pulchritudinous public figure on the planet". Articulate??? LOL. Maybe in the world of Peter pan. Alaska's most famous & articulate citizen, pretty populist princess Sarah Palin, is the most powerful, potent, persuasive, pertinent, & pulchritudinous public figure on the planet. It is truly sad what I read below. Your co-worker Amanda Coyne has offered a much more responsible approach to Sarah Palin's Speech at CPAC. She even got quotes from Harvard graduate Bannon, and he was honest when he stated "She brought more energy and received more applause than all the other speakers combined times ten." Of course he was proud of her, he supports her and that is why he was there. He didn't lie, so all your scholars below who wish to find fault with those in the CPAC audience for cheering her on, have to explain why all the other speakers including Jindal and Newt, didn't quite measure up to Palin. It doesn't matter what they say, because millions believe in her the way you or your readers don't. They understand why she was chosen to close the event. They also know she expresses precisely how they feel about this Administration and the Federal Gov't as a whole. Craig what you won't admit to your readership is that politics is about POPULARITY, not erudition. Sarah does not claim to speak for the Pedantry, but she sure is popular with us regular folk. You wrote: "because millions believe in her the way you or your readers don't." Who are you and your millions? Unlike you, those of us who you refer to as "your readers" are largely Alaskans who read Alaska Dispatch. Alaska isn't populated by millions. We're just populated by a few hundred thousand Alaskans who are still licking our wounds after experiencing Palin as governor. You can review our surveys, but generally today most Alaskans think Palin was pretty crummy. You might want to tune into that harsh fact. I doubt she'd ever get elected in Alaska for anything ever again. I think she'd get pulverized if she ran for public office, local or statewide, up here. Perhaps that's why she's now interested in national politics. Alaska likes Palin about as much as mud pie. Been there, done that. If you had resided up here in "Palin Country" and experienced her consequences first hand, perhaps you would have had more sympathy for the less than millions of folks who reside near, and not far away like you, from Palin. Sarah does not claim to speak for the Pedantry, but she sure is popular with us regular folk. Sarah Palin is popular with rednecks, bigots, bikers, horny old white men and other cowards afraid of a some made up boogieman, they are hardly what I would call regular folks. The only common denominator is that they are not very bright education wise, they are FOX viewers which means they are intellecially lazy and believe anyhting they are told even when he is proven to be a lie so they are easily influenced and victomized! Thank God that there are not enough are not enough of them to elect her dog cater of Wasilla. For 3 years all she has done is regurgitate the same old " I hate Obama" speech without giving any solutions to the countries problems. We just got rid of a president like that GWB and the damage that he did will last for decades, and some idiots like Palin want us to go back because they are connected now and part of the class of people that exploit those less fortunate! With her big old Bin Laden style house in Arizona and a bank account filled with your money, I have only one question to you palin supporters, Is she still just like you? Are you still fooling yourself believing that she is just a regular old soccor mom? Craig Medred, It is really tiresome to read another article on what Sarah Palin is doing wrong, and that those that applaud her words are either stupid or uniformed. Sorry Craig, I personally enjoyed every word Sarah Palin stated at CPAC. She had the audience giving STO after STO. Why? because she was there to end the three day event by motivating the troops (I hope that word doesn't offend you)to get out and vote. Anyone given the opportunity to write an article can use quotes and spin them any way they choose, but please tell me you are smart enough to know why Sarah Palin was given the speech position she was. It was Jindal's job, and Newt's job to give the "VISION" speech, because none of them can motivate a crowd like Sarah Palin can. She has given speeches on policy and visions in the past, but you probably don't agree with her vision, so you probably wouldn't write glowing remarks about those either. In fact, I bet you probably were in among the 7% in Alaska that didn't approve of Sarah Palin when she was Governor. That would make you extreme. The words Sarah Palin expressed were necessary and well received. If you don't like that CPAC embarrassed you, well quite frankly nobody cares. Sarah Palin once again showed that she is a political force that many in this country find appealing. When and if she chooses to govern or legislate I am sure she will write a speech with enough policies in it to meet your qualifications, but I seriously doubt that you will approve of them or her. In the meantime I found her to be entertaining as any of the many speakers that were there. I would be quite satisfied if she were in the oval office rather than the President we have now. I'm quite confident her approval rating might reach the level she had when she governed your state. I'm sorry you feel she embarrass your state. I for one would be quite proud she came from mine. There is a place for the extreme in each debate, similar to the blowhard that will never shut up at a Fish and Game meeting. That guy lets out the collective steam of a certain faction but would never be included in the decision making process. Palin cheerfully assumes that same role of divider, polarizer, red meat thrower, extremist fringer, mean girl high schooler obsessed with the success of the black guy in office, never failing to attack him, this time for hesitantly singing a few words of a song he sings to his wife. In this role, she can say things that no candidate can say, because, er, they are actually running. This is really too bad, as she has assets, she could have stayed in her elected post, done her job, refocused on state issues and refrained from tailoring every official state uttering to the national crowd she knew was watching. Her sudden pivot to the extremism (He's paling around with terrorists!) she showed in those dreadful rallies was startling to her constituents who knew her a moderate. Palin's approval rating in AK surged after she taxed the job creators on a massive scale and then redistributed some of that income directly to Alaskans. Check out her popularity in AK now, something in the range of the 30th percentile and she even failed to get Joe Miller elected in her own state. Of course Palin was well received at CPAC, the same venue where Romney felt it necessary to claim he was a severely conservative governor. Kudos to Medred for his periodic, thoughtful, fair analyses. I don't know why I watched her speech. I fast forwarded through most parts though. I am a Republican and I believe she is not qualified to be president. She drags the party down. That does not make me a liberal. I don't like when politicians speak in glittering generalities. I am not a fan of those who absolutely lack any form of intellectual curiosity and most of all, I am not a fan of those who want to kick people like me out of the party. She really needs to stop with that "I fought the machine" stuff. It's annoying and redundant. Ho hum. Another Medred piece dumping on Palin. Yawn. What a bore... Maybe it was a bored to you because you're exactly one of those he mentioned in the 3rd full paragraph where it says the problem with our country today is, "... people with too little between the ears more interested in imaginy". That sure sounds like a good description of you from what little you wrote. I have yet to hear from her a single solution for even one of our problems, including a solution for our economy. Palin is the ultimate political strip-tease, thrusting and rubbing her self all over a White House column. The dollars reign down and she gives them another sneak peek at what’s under that dress. See just how nasty America’s Top MILF will get for the cash at http://dregstudiosart.blogspot.com/2011/06/ecstasy-of-sarah-palin_15.html I will gladly put a dollar in her garter but I sure wouldn't vote her into any office. As a Ronald Reagan Republican, I think she is a complete embarrassment. Instead we have the current clowns and their popularity is measured by an applause-o-meter that goes up every time they shout something negative and without class. With this bunch, its a race to the bottom. All except for Ron Paul, he was the only one to speak up when that nitwit Trump wanted to hold his own debate. -TomClark Sarah likes the mean girl cheerleader role. Because of this bumper sticker mantra, I do see Alaskans acknowledging the fact,that the half time former Governor knows nothing else and continually claims roots to Alaska, specifically Wasilla. Sad in a way, cause there is so many talented people actually from and for Wasilla. There is hope Craig. I over heard a teen in downtown Wasilla referring to Palin as the "bumper sticker queen". Craig, People with more or less brain matter are a fact of life in any society. Some think Obama has a lot of brain matter, he just proposed a budget that puts us 1.3 billion further in debt. Alaskan's have known who Sarah is for a long time and the American people are getting it figured out. You should be carefull, if you continue to take her seriously people will begin to wonder about whats between your ears. Medred says this (yes, he really said it): "Ann Coulter, even Bill O'Reilly and Rush Limbaugh ... are people who traffic in ideas." Refresher, Journalism 101: First engage brain; then write. Ken: You don't have to agree with what people say to recognize that they're thinking. O'Reilly's interview of Obama was the highlight of the last election cycle. It was a couple smart people with different views going toe-to-toe. If you haven't watched it, you should: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_753sLQQ8q8 The country needs more of this, not less. Compare it to any Sarah Palin interview with anyone, and you'll get the picture. Palin can be pretty good entertainment, but she shouldn't be taken seriously. I try hard not to, but the Palin phenomenon also cannot be ignored because there is an element in this country that takes her seriously. She plays to a vulnerable group that feels it is being ignored, neglected and left behind (or is scared of being left behind) as the whole planet speeds into the new age of global capitalism. To some of these people, she appears an apostle. Craig: I have no problem with your characterization of Palin-as-twit. (Maybe that's why she's so adept with twitter.) But I have to wonder ... has exposure to Palin so lowered your standards that you now view O'Reilly (culture warrior) Coulter (hate monger) and Limbaugh (entertainer) as serious intellects who "traffic in ideas?" Come on. Being smarter than Palin hardly qualifies one as a serious intellect. Palin wouldn't be qualified to serve as President of the United States. Spot on article Craig. I find it amusing that Sarah Palin can make so much money ranting against crony capitolism when she could be the potergirl for it. Sarah Palin has made millions because of her connections not because of her talent. She runs around getting paid to say the same old speech, why? Could i get paid to say the same speech, hell no! Take Bristol another example of cronny capitolism. Waht merited her opportunity to go on dancing with the satrs and make and make lots of money, connections. So whenever Sarah Palin rants about crony capitolism think about how many more educated and talented people are in this country unemployed yet uneducated, dingbats like Sarah and Bristol make plenty of money why? That's what is wrong with this country. It has been going on for far too long and now that the country needs educated, talented brihgt people to step up and lead us, all we have are the people who have risen to leadership in corporations and government that got their through connections not talent and now they can't deliver because just like Sarah Palin they aren't capable of it, they never were in the first place! Craig, Great article. I read it several times. I call myself a Hammond Republican which is why I haven't been a registered republican for some time. I think Egan and Gruening were great leaders too. You quoted Palin but perhaps most or all of those quotes were just her reciting words written by others. I'm sure she can afford good speech writers. It's a shame what has happened to the United States of America-- looks like the Supreme Court through Citizens United v. FEC has cleared the way for SuperPacs to try to saturate and overwhelm our democracy with their advocacy. I wonder if they and their money will succeed. The upcoming election season will be interesting. Hammond Republican. -TomClark I probably should have included Hickel but I still remember one bitter primary election where we (Hammond campaign) thought Hickel had won. But after all the absentees were in, Hammond was up by a hundred votes or so. Obviously Hickel was a great Alaskan. Hammond, Hickel, Egan, and Gruening didn't need speech writers or coaches to come up with witty one liners. They were self sufficient. They did it all themselves. They were for real. Alaska, not they, came first. They never quit. Hammond was by far Alaskas best |
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