Posted on 02/13/2010 7:56:47 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Since Sarah Palin won't rule out running for the presidency in 2012, her performance recently at the Tea Party convention in Nashville deserves more scrutiny. Voters may have to soon evaluate her as a future leader of our nation and defender of the free world. Which makes her strikingly vapid answers to the softball questions thrown her way all the more frightening.
When Palin barnstormed the country as Sen. John McCain's running mate, she had a glaring lack of comprehension of national issues. But then, she had a lot to learn in a short time.
By now she should be prepared, particularly since she quit her day job. But she's not. While her written remarks at the Tea Party were intelligible, her performance during the question period demonstrated that Palin has no command of issues and has little to offer beyond platitudinous and confused rhetoric.
Sitting in a comfy armchair, she answered questions put to her by the adoring Judson Phillips, founder of Tea Party Nation.
Palin was asked: "We hear about the Obama plan. What's the Palin plan?" Her answer on her national defense plan -- the entirety of it -- was this: "And when it comes to national security, as I ratchet down the message on national security, it's easy to just kind of sum it up by repeating Ronald Reagan when he talked about the Cold War. And we can apply this now to our war on terrorism, you know. Bottom line, we win, they lose. We do all that we can to win."
Compare that bit of nearly indecipherable triumphalism with the answer President Barack Obama gave at a news conference Tuesday when asked about Iran's decision to further enrich uranium -- which is too long to reprint verbatim.
First he spoke about efforts to negotiate with Iran and the country's rejection of the offer to convert "low-enriched uranium" into the "isotopes that they need" for medical research and hospitals. Then Obama said bluntly, "That indicates to us that, despite their posturing that their nuclear power is only for civilian use, that they in fact continue to pursue a course that would lead to weaponization."
He went on to discuss the "regime of sanctions" being developed to isolate Iran, and the role China and Russia might play.
Whether you agree with Obama's approach or not, it was an articulate briefing that gave context to, and specific action for, a vexing national-security issue.
Back to Palin, who was asked at the Tea Party for her three top things to get done if conservatives win majorities in Congress.
It was here that Palin peeked at her hand for some palm-prompter help, meaning she was probably given advance notice of the question. Even so, her answer was a garble of attack-Obama talking points and pandering to the Christian right.
Palin: "We've got to rein in spending, obviously, and not raise it extremely high budgets and then say, OK, we are going to freeze a couple programs here. That doesn't do us any good really. We've got to start reining in the spending."
Palin's excruciating syntax aside, she's a jejune thinker. Without notes, she could barely conjure the words to cryptically criticize Obama's budget.
Her second priority, she said, is domestic drilling and mining for fossil fuels -- "oil and gas and our coal." She offered a fuller energy policy in her prepared remarks, but extemporaneously, the equivalent of "drill, baby, drill" was all she could muster.
Palin's last must-do for Congress is to allow "America's spirit to rise again." To do this, she said, we should seek "some divine intervention again in this country so that we can be safe and secure and prosperous again. To have people involved in government who aren't afraid to go that route."
Gee, is there really a dearth of religious politicians? I can't seem to find any who aren't. But I don't doubt some miracle for our nation would be needed, desperately, if Palin-like conservatives took Congress.
During the Q&A, Palin called on people to run for office who have no elective office experience and don't have "some kind of fat elite resume in their back pocket." I guess that is one way to make herself sound cogent by comparison -- dissuade candidates with training, education and knowledge.
All I can say is in 2012, I "hopey" we don't "changey" to this embarrassing woman.
Reagan was stiff and haltingly inarticulate in press conferences and in interviews. He would have been mocked and ridiculed in today’s 24 hour media.
Long answers are most often meant to obfuscate an issue.
The gender is wrong, but this does describe our President.
It’s really sad. We have come to the place in our country’s history where the most important factor in considering a presidential candidate is simply whether his/her heart’s in the right place, as it were. Palin loves this country. She is teachable, and she has enough sense to find advisors who love the country more than they love their own career. In a different era, I might wish for someone who seems more conversant with the issues, but not right now, not at this time when so many Dems want to “transform the system.” Like Beck, I just won’t a President who won’t lie to me.
Palin’s experience as governor suggets that she “won’t blink” when things get stressful, like Obama does when his teleprompter malfunctions. Of all the people I have heard, she is the one who I think is least likely to drink from the Potomac, and would remain an “outsider” at heart.
Typical left wing broom flyer who lives in the ad hominem pig sty.
“Most of our problems today need a conservative solution that isn’t heavy on detail.”
Well, then Sarah is your man.
All I can say is in 2012, I “hopey” we don’t “changey” to this embarrassing woman.
“Opinion: The author just lost her 15 moments of fame with that unprofessional, petulant and catty bottom line.”
Yes, anyone who would make a statement like that is definitely unprofessional, petulant and catty.
Sorry! Posted to wrong thread!!
And No, Sarah did not admit to not being up on the issues in her interview with Crissy Wallace, as some have stated she said.
Her answer was, hell yes, I know more than I did 2 years ago. She went on to say that she was focused more on issue of Alaska when she was at first approached to being the VP nominee, but at no time did she say that she was not up on the issues. She said she knows more than she did 2 years ago, well, I hope we all do!
I think Sarah should hold press conferences, instead of going on Today and or Meet the Press. She could hold weekly press conferences when/if she runs for President. Take any and all questions on her terms etc, and I think she would be great.
Freedom, Wealth, and Peace,
Francis W. Porretto
Eternity Road
I will wait and see what candidates come forth, especially which candidate the T.E.A. Party Movement endorses.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.