We assert with relief that Sarah Palin has no future as a political candidate, though she will likely run for the Republican prez nom in 2012, splitting the core Religious Right vote with the slightly less distasteful Mike Huckabee.
We assert with interest that Sarah Palin will remain a potent political symbol for both sides of the spectrum for years to come. She has the power to incite deep hatred on the left and profound affection on the right, even among many conservatives who think that she's incapable of staying afloat in the deep end of the pool.*
As a case in point, we note today's American Thinker contribution from "Robin of Berkeley," a self-styled recovering liberal and a psychotherapist. The anonymous Robin characterizes the left's treatment of Palin as a metaphorical but tangible "wilding," that is, a tactical rape designed to terrorize her and her tribe.
Along the way, the author describes her own revelation as to the true meaning of feminism for her liberal former friends who happened to be male. It was all about having women available to them for unlimited sex, she surmises.
The essay is not for the squeamish. Neither is it for the easily incited. Read it soberly, for the insights, and for the sheer novelty of seeing postmodern tropes being used against the left.
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*She also has the power, like Al Gore, to turn her political failure into personal wealth. That's another subject for another time.
8 comments:
no holds barred political psychoanalysis. i wonder actually why we don't often see more psychoanalytic readings of political jargon. maybe i'm just looking in all the wrong places.
Your first paragraph clearly shows the SWNID view - to say she has no future is a ruse - though I am assuming you are alluding to the supposed presidential run for which she probably IS too devisive. Political future may include a senatorial run.
Remember Obamao was a llooonnngg shot until end - you never know what might happen.
If I may be so bold - why the relief and the distaste for Huck? At least Huck actually answered the questions during the debates minus the political doublespeak.
PS - do you need to borrow my copy of Going Rogue?
Surya Yalamanchili for OH 2nd District.
Anon, it should go without saying, but to understand our distaste for Huckabee, use the useful "search blog" function and read our 2008 pronouncements, which stand yet today.
Whatever hope we had that Palin would demonstrate not just spunk but an ability to govern evaporated the day she announced her resignation as AK gov. If you can't take the heat in Juneau, what are your chances in the Potomac fever swamps?
We just hope that religious conservatives have the sense to understand that being "one of us" is not by itself a qualification for high office.
Uninterested in the details of who's to blame for 2008, we decline your kind offer of the loan of the book. We don't do celebrity bios.
Postscript for anon:
As you plight your political troth to Surya Yalamanchili, we ask you to name the significant, successful campaigns by third party candidates in the last 150 years. Lieberman doesn't count, that was a Democrat defection, not a from-nowhere insurgency outside party structure.
Serious politicians work their way through the system and don't bail out: lessons for Mr. Yalamanchili and Mrs. Palin.
"We just hope that religious conservatives have the sense to understand that being "one of us" is not by itself a qualification for high office."
Wise words from the sage of SWNID. The same holds true in a variety of categories - whether its religious conservatives, athesists, moderates, or the "being able to give a great speech" crowd. That is not a qualification for higher office. The president's tenure in office may improve, but he is off to a clumsy start.
If people realized that "one of us" means "like me" and then reflected on what dolts they know themselves to be, politics might move a little to the good.
Actually the book is pretty good - and I understand her explanation as to why she "bailed" as you call it - and there is not as much blame as the media contends.
Broaden your horizons....then you can speak from actually reading the text.
Surya is a comedy act - but anything can happen - had Perot not bailed early then re-engaged he had a potentatial shot.
I'll check out your Huck oped.
"Broaden your horizons?" We'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you offered that exhortation sarcastically, like the remark that Perot would have had a shot if only.
But if Perot really did ruin himself with his tentative backing out, did not your heroine do the same, only bigger? Here's the slogan: Vote for the Quitter!
Really, why do we argue such a self-evident point?
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