Dissing Palin: Shades of Reagan

Front Page Magazine ^ | Tuesday, December 16, 2008 | By Dr. Paul Kengor

[Chet 99]

By the time Reagan was elected President in 1980, he had spent the past decades speaking out on public issues, writing op-eds, articles, doing radio shows, served two full terms as governor, took on an incumbent president in a primary and barely lost, etc., etc.

[Blue Jays]

Senator McCain needs to support Governor Palin fully and without reservation with regard to her future endeavors if he expects to be taken seriously.

[TribalPrincess2U]

The more they scream about Sarah, the more we like her.

[Tublecane]

“By the time Reagan was elected President in 1980, he had spent the past decades speaking out on public issues, writing op-eds, articles, doing radio shows, served two full terms as governor, took on an incumbent president in a primary and barely lost, etc., etc.”

I might remind you that Palin wasn’t running for president.

[Long Island Pete]

I might remind you that Palin wasn’t running for president.

Neither was Biden but his running mate still supports him.

[TexGuy]

Senator McCain needs to support Governor Palin fully and without reservation with regard to her future endeavors if he expects to be taken seriously.

John McCain's political career is basically OVER. You don't loose a gimme election to a radical leftist and retain power or influence. Nobody wants to be associated with a blatent loser, espeially politicians. McCain doesn't matter anymore.

[r9etb]

I'm sorry, but comparing Palin to Reagan is like comparing Obama to Lincoln.

In fact, at this point in her career Sarah Palin is much more similar to Obama than to anybody else. She has star power and celebrity, and potential ... and not much more than that.

Let Ms. Palin gain experience and accomplishments as Governor of Alaska, and let her establish herself as a heavyweight in intellect, policy, and politics ... then we can compare her to Reagan. But not before.

To be honest, I think there are a lot of guys out there who mistake their hormonal response to Ms. Palin for something more serious.

[r9etb]

Neither was Biden but his running mate still supports him.

That's a non-sequitur. If Obama had lost, I seriously doubt he'd be supporting a Biden '12 candidacy.

McCain is right -- it's waaaay to early to start endorsing candidates. And it is at least 6 years too early to start thinking seriously about a Palin candidacy.

[SolidWood]

In fact, at this point in her career Sarah Palin is much more similar to Obama than to anybody else. She has star power and celebrity, and potential ... and not much more than that.

Sarah Palin has already 16 years of executive experience. Obama has zero... and his legislative record is a joke.

[MBB1984]

Good analysis and post.

[joejm65]

‘Senator McCain needs to support Governor Palin fully and without reservation with regard to her future endeavors if he expects to be taken seriously.’

Palin should have nothing to do with McCain. After his tepid response to the attacks on Palin after the election, he’s damaged goods as far as I’m concerned. He had his chance to be taken seriously, and he failed.

[IMissPresidentReagan]

I believe Governor Palin (odd how often that word is overlooked) has Reagan qualities. She applies common sense solutions to government problems. As President Reagan did, she began as a citizen who became involved and worked her way up from MAYOR to GOVERNOR and I would like to see her go further. I don't think she "carries Reagan mantle". Or at least, I don't think she alone is the carrier of President Reagan's legacy, however, I do see shades of President Reagan in her.

There will never be another President Reagan, simply because each person is unique and bring different qualities to the table, along with different passions, and emphasises. Governor Palin can manage to be "Reaganesque" and still be her own individual self, of which I believe she does an excellent job.

As a woman, I would like to say, that I admire Governor Palin. She stands strong for many conservative values, and manages to be a strong woman, demonstrating that women can be "strong" "independent" and still be conservative! I hope she finishes her term as Governor as strong as she began it, maintains her 80% approval rating (still higher than the big 0's) and if she chooses, wins reelection.

[LiberConservative]

"To be honest, I think there are a lot of guys out there who mistake their hormonal response to Ms. Palin for something more serious."

Oh, please. I said a lot of great things about Reagan. The best thing I ever said about him is that he was "real". My 20-something daughter loves Palin for the same reason. In a world where "moderates" and RINO's have dragged this once great country into a financial and moral abyss Governor Palin stands above all of it. I don't think she's the next Reagan. I think she's perfectly capable of being 10x better. We are going to need it.

/"hormones" off

[carcraft]

MY heaven, Palin is so far beyond Obama it isn't even worthy of comparison. Palin took on the corruption and won, Obama is a part of it. Palin has put her self on the line while Obama has failed to take a stand except for abortion. Palin has accomplishments and seeks more. She has cut the spending in government, restarted the pipeline project, and fought corruption. Name one thing Obama has done.

[JamesP81]

After recently reading a remarkably unfair Newsweek hit on Sarah Palin, I thought of a piece in Time magazine in December 1986, titled “How Reagan Stays Out of Touch,” by reporter Richard Stengel—a product of a leak by one of the “pragmatists” in the Reagan White House.

Pragmatist: Newspeak for underhanded, backstabbing, unprincipled bastard.

[joesbucks]

Senator McCain needs to support Governor Palin fully and without reservation with regard to her future endeavors if he expects to be taken seriously.

You honestly believe that would work for people on this forum? May I have some of what you're smoking. It must be good.

[geologist]

Attach, ugly innuendos, fabricated accusations,... etc. is the way to tear down, disrespect, caricature's her, all the time framing her in demeaning ways is the procedure of the day in politics. It is a miracle when a qualified person is willing to to expose their life and family to this national vendetta of the liberal medias.

Sarah is smart, beautiful, an excellent orator, a reformer, wants to take on the good ole boys network, and is willing to do this publicly, knowing how the backlash from them will be. Brave, courageous deed that. Pray that she is protected in her goings and comings daily. 4 years from now ... we need her. One of her greatest strengths is she is a Christian. She is not a long time public servant in Washington that has learned all the techniques of corruption that is at base in every politician of many years. MO

[steve-b]

The comparison falls apart on one very basic level — Reagan knew how to communicate with the public. Even his opponents acknowledged that.

[r9etb]

Oh, please.

I stand by my comment. You can start looking for the signs yourself: they're readily apparent.