August 29, 2008
— Ace That's why they're pushing this absurd notion that Sarah Palin's two years of governorship doesn't adequately qualify her, but Tim Kaine's (Democrat!) two years did qualify him.
Being liberals, and having pissed off the PUMAs, they can't come out and ask if she's tough enough, flinty enough, if she's got the stones, if she can order men into battle to die. So they're going to insinuate it by asking about her "experience."
It's actually a valid question, not just on the substance but as to the perception.
Perception first, Sarah Palin isn't just a woman. She's an adorable, bubbly, sweet woman. None of that actually means she's not tough or serious -- but people have their preconceptions, and most people that painfully cute are not thought as tough or cagey or, when necessary, ruthless.
(I actually think those perceptions are wrong, largely -- I think people who are cute aren't perceived as cagey and ruthless, even though they actually might be quite mercenary, because their looks are disarming and tend to engender trust, not suspicion. No one ever thinks a puppy deliberately crapped all over your new couch, but of course the little bastard knew exactly what he was doing. But those soulful eyes let him get away with blue murder.)
As to the actual facts-- I don't know if she's "tough enough" or not. I know I've liked everything I've heard from her since I started hearing about her six months ago. I know she had the stones to take on the Alaskan political establishment -- including her own party -- an expose corrupt officials she came across.
That's not "nice." It's noble, but not "nice." Nice is trying to tear down walls and build bridges -- all that pussy-shit Obama talks about -- not rip someone's guts out for lacking integrity and breaking the law.
I don't know how far that unsentimental righteousness goes, but certainly she's not the creampuff her looks suggest.
Nevertheless, partly because of sexist bias against women (let alone cute women), and partly just because we require all our presidents to have a minimum threshold of steely ruthlessness (except if they're Democrats, of course; look at the soft sob-sisters running this year), Governor Palin does have to convince America she's got the grit for the job.
And it's not just men who harbor doubts about female presidents -- it's women, too, and perhaps even more than men.
She surprised me today. She was confident and unfazed, direct and sharp. I'm looking forward to being surprised further. But I guess I do need to be surprised further, as do many voters.
Adorableness has its advantages, but it has its drawbacks too. She's got to show some real iron. And maybe cutting apart that soft-handed starched-shirt Joe Biden woud be a good start.
On a related note... Here's some sexist bias-- some say women might be all in favor of women achieving great things in principle, but when it comes to specific women making concrete achievements, suddenly they're a bit lukewarm on the whole idea of sisterhood.
Jealousy and envy, I'm talking about.
Is that real? Will this actually backfire and drive women away?
Attack Dog: Actually, a good start in dispelling the "too nice, too sweet" impression would be to play the role of the attack dog well. If she's thought of as being 25% a ball-breaker... well, win-win.
Burn on Barracuda: I wanted to google some of Palin's attacks against the Dems to remind myself of how well she did.
Allah has one, wrapping "fearmongering" on energy production around Joe Biden's pencil neck.
She has a sweetness to her as she "attacks." (Attacks in quotes, because of course what she's saying is both true and vitally relevant; but anytime a Republican notes a Democrat's votes or quotes it's an "attack," most often of the "intolerable and unacceptable" sort.)
I have to deduct style points, though, because that bubbly, sweet, gosh-darn sort of manner just doesn't seem serious or dour enough to me.
I know we've got that in spades from Mr. Warmth McCain, but still... I think she'll have to ease up on the sweetness and get a bit more grim.
On the plus side: Everything she says is right and informed. The only knock is the style one.
Posted by: Ace at
01:04 PM
| Comments (81)
Post contains 753 words, total size 5 kb.
Posted by: mbruce at August 29, 2008 01:08 PM (h/5U0)
Posted by: The Obvious at August 29, 2008 01:08 PM (1g+FW)
Seriously.
Posted by: Bart at August 29, 2008 01:09 PM (/EpPq)
and I think you do.
Posted by: Bart at August 29, 2008 01:11 PM (/EpPq)
Sarah Palin is such an individual; such a self made woman. I think she epitomizes the woman that the Women's Suffrage movement envisioned.
Posted by: The Chewbacca Defense at August 29, 2008 01:11 PM (nuuDA)
Posted by: The Obvious at August 29, 2008 01:13 PM (1g+FW)
Posted by: mbruce at August 29, 2008 01:13 PM (h/5U0)
Posted by: JackStraw at August 29, 2008 01:16 PM (VBon8)
Posted by: ralph at August 29, 2008 01:17 PM (zTGO1)
Posted by: The Railsplitter at August 29, 2008 01:18 PM (o4MaC)
Here's some sexist bias-- some say women might be all in favor of women achieving great things in principle, but when it comes to specific women making concrete achievements, suddenly they're a bit lukewarm on the whole idea of sisterhood.
That's been my experience in trying cases. Women jurors almost always are the harshest judges of women plaintiffs or defendants. I have never figured out exactly why, but that's what I've seen. Whether I represent the plaintiff or the defendant, if my client is a woman, I always try to strike the women panelists.
Posted by: angler at August 29, 2008 01:19 PM (kSuu1)
Posted by: GM Cassel AMH1(AW) USN RET at August 29, 2008 01:23 PM (+rpJq)
Yeah, no wonder.
Here we go with the moonbats connecting the paranoid corporate conspiracy dots.
He's Big Oil!! Oh noes!
Posted by: Bart at August 29, 2008 01:24 PM (/EpPq)
Tony Rezko helped Obama buy his $1.65m Chicago home in 2005 for $300k less than the asking price? No wonder Obama steered over $14m to a Rezko-controlled senior citizen development project!
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at August 29, 2008 01:26 PM (ItxWA)
The opposition would need balls for her to break.
Posted by: Stinky Esposito at August 29, 2008 01:26 PM (MMC8r)
Oh, no! We've lost. She really is a rube. A rube who's a heartbeat away. So the MSM will roast her alive. We've lost.
8===(
Posted by: NRO at August 29, 2008 01:27 PM (qKkaY)
Posted by: alycan at August 29, 2008 01:28 PM (Il2Ep)
Posted by: JackStraw at August 29, 2008 01:29 PM (VBon8)
Her Husband is in a Union. Ha Ha.
Of course I'm sure that Borak Bama and Biden also have union members in the family. Of course.
Best primary evah!!1!!
Posted by: Mephitis at August 29, 2008 01:29 PM (8vJF0)
Posted by: Bugler at August 29, 2008 01:29 PM (YCVBL)
Posted by: Jack at August 29, 2008 01:33 PM (7KxqN)
Tough enough? Complete Bullshit.
Puts her husband on a sled to be world champion in the ididerod (sp). That takes strenght. Guys die doing stuff like that. Takes guts to stand by your man and let him do something that hard.
And sending her son to Iraq? Not tough at all. Nope. What a gutsy lady. Let him go and be a MAN. That takes real strength.
I'll show you how tough she is. Ended the speech with God Bless you all and God Bless America. Fighting words with most MSM pundits and liberals, but I repeat.
Posted by: Mephitis at August 29, 2008 01:33 PM (8vJF0)
For another, it creates an AWESOME situation where their number one guy is arguing with our number two guy.
Posted by: ace at August 29, 2008 01:34 PM (1WR4H)
STUFF WE KNOW
No Dems will cross over and vote for McCain because his VEEP wears a skirt. Party loyalty trumps breaking the glass whatever.
The same people who bitch about the 'disrespect' Hillary got from Jug Ears will now trash Palin with extra relish and not notice the contradiction.
The personal attacks on Palin and her family will go from lame to downright obscene in about a day.
Posted by: Jones at August 29, 2008 01:35 PM (KOkrW)
Posted by: JavaJoe at August 29, 2008 01:36 PM (Am6n/)
Posted by: Jack at August 29, 2008 06:33 PM (7KxqN)
Hey, Jack: Is the life of an unmitigated douche as tiresome to live as it is to watch?
Posted by: Bugler at August 29, 2008 01:37 PM (YCVBL)
Jealousy and envy, I'm talking about.
Is that real? Will this actually backfire and drive women away?>>
Maybe a few will be jealous and backstab, but I think most of it is on the issues. I've NEVER liked Hillary. OTOH, while Condi was NS advisor I liked her even though she made me look like a slackard. (I've cooled since she's been at state.)
I really LIKE what I hear about Sarah Palin. I'd love to see her as VP. She'll never get the votes of feminist "my body - my choice" voters, but then they'd never vote for a pro-choice republican anyway. I think true moderates and independants will like her.
I think she does have some toughness. I (unfortunately) get all teary both happily and sadily that doesn't play well in state leaders and I didn't see any misty eyes in Sarah today.
I like firearms more than most women, but you won't catch me hunting. I have no desire to take an animals life. If others choose to that's fine, but there aren't a lot of women who are that tough.
Posted by: anne at August 29, 2008 01:40 PM (uJBct)
Interesting , that, doncha think?
In fact, lots of people with names like Jack, and Steve and Rob are just coming out of the woodwork today. Great day for the lurkers to suddenly appear, I guess.
Go back and cry with your friends at Sadly, No, 'k, Jack? Adults are talking here.
Posted by: wiserbud at August 29, 2008 01:40 PM (EW49d)
Posted by: Bart at August 29, 2008 01:41 PM (/EpPq)
Posted by: Purple Avenger at August 29, 2008 01:41 PM (6L459)
Too much Reagan, not enough Nixon for you?
Posted by: bgates at August 29, 2008 01:41 PM (CFjXn)
Posted by: Purple Avenger at August 29, 2008 01:42 PM (6L459)
Oh, I forgot, Obama has executive experience from his days as a "community organizer," whatever the fuck that is.
Best.Election.Evah!
Posted by: Andy at August 29, 2008 01:42 PM (8dVfR)
In addition, Palin (and her husband & children) are all involved in competitive sports. That makes anyone "tough."
A whole lot of voting females athletes will take a dim view to such attacks; young and older.
Posted by: This&That at August 29, 2008 01:42 PM (2PwTK)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bt_-R5LInU&feature=related
Guilty pleasure. I allways did like Heart.
Posted by: Entropy at August 29, 2008 01:42 PM (HgAV0)
Posted by: JackStraw at August 29, 2008 01:45 PM (VBon8)
Which presidential ticket is more likely to get your vote in November?
Barack Obama & Joe Biden 43% John McCain & Sarah Palin 54% I haven't decided 4%
heh
Posted by: sirsurfalot at August 29, 2008 01:45 PM (Czvjx)
Posted by: Mephitis at August 29, 2008 01:49 PM (8vJF0)
Posted by: The Obvious at August 29, 2008 01:53 PM (1g+FW)
A democrat friend of mine was saying just about the same thing and I answered him with three words.
Margaret fucking Thatcher.
...I wish I had a photo of the expression on his face.
Posted by: monkeyfan at August 29, 2008 01:53 PM (cEE8N)
Actually, Todd Palin is a champion snowmobiler. The Iditarod is a dogsled race.
Doesn't change the fact that he's a stud who's smeared in awesome sauce.
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at August 29, 2008 01:54 PM (ItxWA)
She has looked through the sights of a rifle at another living thing, and then pulled the trigger. And she's done it more than once.
Betcha neither Obambi or Biden have ever done that, and they'd probably wet themselves if they were put in that position.
Posted by: Hussein al-Moby at August 29, 2008 01:55 PM (pY77a)
Posted by: bleh at August 29, 2008 01:58 PM (GNCy6)
Priceless.
Posted by: monkeyfan at August 29, 2008 01:58 PM (cEE8N)
Posted by: alycan at August 29, 2008 01:58 PM (Il2Ep)
Posted by: This&That at August 29, 2008 01:59 PM (2PwTK)
Posted by: Publicserf at August 29, 2008 02:04 PM (vMxMf)
filed under preferred possible match-ups:
McCain - Romney 44%
McCain - Rice 44%
McCain - Crist 40%
McCain - Pawlenty 40%
McCain - Lieberman 34%
McCain - Ridge 36%
Not a mention of Sarah Palin. This will go done in history as the biggest/best head fake ever! By the way, Happy B-day Maverick!
p.s. Just shows how much the Big Pollsters know.... hahaha
Posted by: sirsurfalot at August 29, 2008 02:05 PM (Czvjx)
Posted by: TiredWench at August 29, 2008 02:06 PM (Kx1hM)
Jack, doesn't know Jack Shit, his dad. Who was a great american.
Sarah, Barracuda, won the state HS Basketball championship playing on a broken ankle.
Hey, hair plug guy, match that!
They are FUCKED!
Posted by: kempermanx at August 29, 2008 02:08 PM (2+9Yx)
Al-Qaeda isn't laughing, if they're paying attention at all they'll be pooping their panties about now.
Humiliating enough having their asses handed to them by decadent kaffirs, but when those infidels are led by a woman...they just don't even want to play anymore.
Posted by: gebrauchshund at August 29, 2008 02:15 PM (pY77a)
filed under preferred possible match-ups:
McCain - Romney 44%
McCain - Rice 44%
McCain - Crist 40%
McCain - Pawlenty 40%
McCain - Lieberman 34%
McCain - Ridge 36%
That's quite a poll, there. I'm no math wiz, but those per-cents add up to way more than 100.
Zogby is a cocksucker.
Posted by: bartwing plover at August 29, 2008 02:16 PM (/EpPq)
Posted by: This&That at August 29, 2008 02:17 PM (2PwTK)
As far her driving women voters away, I addressed this yesterday in threads and there is a possibility that she will tweak the envy bone in women. BUT, she presents herself as sincere and smart and that will go a long way to overcoming that. Seriously guys, it's the fucking bimbos we women don't like. She also has a manly man, personable and good looking husband. That also, goes a long way.
That being said, I would not mind at all being the meat in a Palin sandwich.
Posted by: mpur at August 29, 2008 02:23 PM (H+Q9o)
One of the personal advantages of being on the right side is that I win cash based on facts that my MSM beholden lefty friends haven't ever come across.
Some of my friends are still amazed at my prognostication skills for predicting the great car burning of France.
Posted by: monkeyfan at August 29, 2008 02:33 PM (cEE8N)
I didn't catch which U.S. Big Three network it was, it was just on for a few minutes while channel hopping at 6:57 or so and I wasn't running the TV clicker, and the female anchor was just finishing an interview with a Republican strategist--I missed his name. The GOP guy just finished answering a final "is she experienced enough" question by saying she'd need alot of work to prepare for the debates but would probably be a quick a learn. And the bitch thanks him and says something along the lines of, "Thanks, [his name], now go home and spend some time with your kids."
Posted by: andycanuck at August 29, 2008 02:34 PM (qKkaY)
Posted by: sirsurfalot at August 29, 2008 02:42 PM (Czvjx)
And I bet she field dressed the thing, too. Hillary! my ass ... this is the role model for my daughter, who just couldn't resist watching me prep a couple of wild turkeys for the fryer this spring. I expected "ewww, gross" but got "awww, cool."
Posted by: Andy at August 29, 2008 02:46 PM (8dVfR)
Totally unscientific and make of it what you will:
I watch Letterman. Occasionally he asks the audience who's voting for Obama (waits for applause) and then who's voting for McCain (waits for applause).
It was always more applause for Obama. Except that, in recent weeks, McCain is getting the greater applause.
FWIW
Posted by: Jones at August 29, 2008 03:05 PM (KOkrW)
No one ever asked if H!llary was tough enough to be Prez- it was assumed by the suckup media that she was. I think they were mistaking screeching hellbeast bitchiness for presidential timber.
Margaret Thatcher proved that a woman pol can have balls. I'm sure Sarah has the intestinal fortitude to handle the job.
PS- I hope the McCain people warned Sarah just exactly what she's in for...
Posted by: Jones at August 29, 2008 03:14 PM (KOkrW)
Sarah Palin took down the chairman of the Republican Party and then ran against the sitting Republican governor and beat him in a primary. I think she knows what she is in for.
Posted by: blaster at August 29, 2008 04:02 PM (KpEAZ)
Posted by: Kevin at August 29, 2008 04:37 PM (OEF4E)
As a woman, okay, great, I'm happy in theory that we're making progress, but I'll be happier still when a woman is running and NOBODY NOTICES. Where a woman candidate is as common as a man-- where she's just another candidate, not remarkable because of her gender. Nobody comments "wow, progress for women!" Progress is truly progress when it's not a big deal anymore, when it becomes normal and expected.
I guess I would call myself a feminist... maybe that's why the "is she tough enough" talk kinda pisses me off. Would people say that about Romney or Pawlenty? I don't think so. I don't think people would be saying that they had to prove they were steely and tough enough to send troops into battle or anything like that. And yet we do for her?
While the mother card is being played, she's having to send her SON to Iraq... so yeah, I think she can handle it.
Posted by: Amy at August 29, 2008 05:25 PM (U0dI+)
Posted by: monkeyfan at August 29, 2008 05:33 PM (cEE8N)
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at August 29, 2008 05:55 PM (0+Ggj)
THere are definitely unambitious, loser women out there who are bitter and resentful towards the financial and professional success of ambitious, intelligent beautiful women.
They're called Democrats
Posted by: Mr. Happy at August 29, 2008 06:36 PM (/YM8H)
THis is not a play towards fembots. Even the dumbest GOP strategist knows there is nothing short of resurrecting susan faludis dried out pussy and running it as a VP that would get their votes to our side.
This is a play for fence sitting white women who "feel" like they want to vote for a Dem b/c "Bush is an idiot" and the "economy is awful" but have major doubts about Obonehead
Posted by: Mr. Happy at August 29, 2008 06:41 PM (/YM8H)
More executive experience than obama, biden, mccain, and hillary, put together.
Bravo, McCain. Best. Choice. Ever.
Scuse me while I whip this out.
Posted by: mcgurk at August 29, 2008 07:04 PM (ajbe7)
OK, maybe it's not jealousy as much as flat-out malice. Hrm.
Posted by: Radish at August 29, 2008 07:36 PM (rNoKB)
Ace,
She gives off a Sarah Connor vibe. So if Bill Ayers tried to bomb the Capitol again and she were sitting in the VP's Senate office, she could handle herself.
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