In Praise Of Sarah Palin
In the midst of political divisions deeper and wider than ever before, we just got an unexpected bit of bipartisanship from an extremely unexpected source -- former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin. In the same spirit, I would like to offer up my words of praise for her taking a far different tack from pretty much the entire Republican Party on the nomination of Kamala Harris as Joe Biden's running mate.
Rather than descend into name-calling (as the president immediately did, calling Harris "nasty," among other things) or into outright conspiracy theory (get ready for the return of the birther movement, even though Harris was born in Oakland, California), Palin instead took the high road, sincerely welcoming Harris into the very exclusive club of women vice-presidential candidates.
Her whole Instagram post was pretty short, so I'm just going to reprint the entire thing:
Congrats to the democrat [sic] VP pick. Climb upon Geraldine Ferraro's and my shoulders, and from the most amazing view in your life consider lessons we learned:
1) out of the chute trust no one new;
2) fight mightily to keep your own team with you -- they know you, know your voice, and most importantly are trustworthy;
3) don't get muzzled -- connect with media and voters in your own unique way. Some yahoos running campaigns will suffocate you with their own self-centered agenda so remember YOU were chosen for who YOU are. So stay connected with America as you smile and ignore deceptive "handlers" trying to change you;
4) some fun terms you may learn:
"OTR" -- an orchestrated campaign stop that's meant to look un-orchestrated where you "normalize" in front of voters. (I'd remembered not packing my running shoes, they turned it into a whole campaign stop with media detailing my every move trying on shoes.) OTR's [sic] get bizarre (try eating in front of vultures looking for the "gotcha" shot!) but my team made OTR's [sic] the second most fun thing!
"Ropeline": thee [sic] MOST fun thing! Every single handshake and holler and hug and smile melted my heart, energized my soul, and gave me the utmost hope in the greatest country on earth! The ropeline is often the only way to literally touch those whom you wish to serve, so be sincere in looking in their eyes, understanding why they're there, never forgetting they represent the innumerable Americans putting their trust in you to serve for the right reasons. It's who and what they represent that is all that matters!
5) don't forget the women who came before you;
6) have fun! This IS the greatest country in the world and hopefully you'll be blessed beyond belief, like I was, with meeting new people from all walks of life and see just how great it is!
more to come... including one of the funniest things in my life, right before my debate with Sen. Joe Biden... stay tuned!
-- Sarah Palin
Now, some of this sprung from old grudges Palin is still nurturing against John McCain's campaign team, obviously (points 1, 2, and 3). But it was Palin's personal experience, and she is offering up her own heartfelt advice as to how to deal with such a situation. It is not inconceivable that Harris may find herself in a somewhat similar situation, since in the past she has relied heavily upon her own sister for her political campaigns. Team Biden has already pre-selected most of her V.P. team, so this could indeed become a source of friction for Harris. So Palin's advice might become more relevant than you might think.
I believe "OTR" stands for "on the run" -- an impromptu campaign stop for (as Palin points out) something as mundane as eating lunch or buying a pair of shoes, but which is turned by the campaign staff into a media circus, because it just might generate some good press. Photos of a candidate doing mundane things does indeed (as Palin also points out) tend to humanize the candidate for the voters.
The only part where Palin gets even slightly snarky -- and this is even open to interpretation -- is that parting shot about "one of the funniest things in my life, right before my debate with Sen. Joe Biden." But seeing as how the rest of her message is so straightforward and downright apolitical, Palin certainly deserves the benefit of the doubt here. Perhaps she is talking about something truly hilarious, and not some sort of dig at Biden, in other words. Palin has always had a pretty good sense of humor, even self-depreciating humor (as her visit to Saturday Night Live proved to the world), so let's just assume she's going to tell a funny story and leave it at that.
I certainly never thought I would be praising Sarah Palin in the year 2020, but her post deserves nothing but praise. She is genuinely friendly, offering up her own experiences and advice to a fellow female veep candidate, even one across the political divide. That is incredibly rare these days, which is why it deserves applause.
It's almost hard to remember it these days, but even after her defeat with McCain, Sarah Palin was once a Republican bigwig in her own right. The media hung on her every word, and took seriously her endorsements and election predictions to an almost unbelievable degree. Then she began to fade away, long before her personality-driven popularity was seriously overshadowed by the personality cult surrounding Donald Trump. Palin was, at times, viciously partisan and had all sorts of snarky things to say about Democrats and the Democratic agenda (remember her predictions of "death panels"?). At the same time, she was down-home folksy and definitely not a creature of Washington, which is probably why so many in the media swooned over her every pronouncement. She was the ultimate "hockey mom," so her advice was deemed worthy of lots of attention.
When Joe Biden announced, months ago, that he would be picking a woman for his running mate, Sarah Palin must have realized that she could use this to springboard herself back into political relevance. She could have chosen any number of ways to attempt this goal. She has never been adverse to publicity or self-promotion, which is why I have to admit I would have been far less surprised to hear that she had come "out of the chute" (as she put it) with a blistering denunciation of Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, and all things Democratic (although she would have dropped the "-ic" from that last word). That would have been fully in character for Palin, in other words.
Instead, she chose not to do so (well, except for dropping the "-ic"). She chose the moral high road. She opened her arms in welcome to Kamala Harris and offered up what she felt was the best advice for someone about to go through what she had experienced. There was not one snarky word in it, and Palin didn't make a single political point throughout -- even though the temptation to do so must have been enormous.
That is, in a word, praiseworthy. So I would like to use today's column to say thank you to Sarah Palin for being so magnanimous towards Kamala Harris. Even if Palin eventually does rip into Biden and Harris politically, it will not detract from her initial outreach message, which was nothing short of a model of political civility and courtesy.
-- Chris Weigant
Follow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisWeigant
Ugh.
Hmmm.
Sarahcuda the magnanimous grifter, huh? I'm having a difficult time with that concept. You're probably right that this is an attempt at relevance, but was it her idea? That I doubt. Good ideas never seemed to be her strong suit.
I have to hope that Harris is too busy to listen to anything that Palin has to say about anything with the possible exception of corndogs.
I have to hope that Harris is too busy ...
Biden will guarantee that! :)
and all things Democratic (although she would have dropped the "-ic" from that last word). That would have been fully in character for Palin, in other words.
Instead, she chose not to do so (well, except for dropping the "-ic").
First off, good job, CW! Sarah deserves a shout out for her sincere message to Kamala, and you didn't shy away from giving credit where credit it's due.
Ever since Newt Gingrich infected the Repug Party with his "scorched earth" brand of "zero-sum" politicing it's increasingly hard to find one side say, Our Side (Truth, Justice and The American Way) finding anything to like on, say, Their Side (Satan and All His Works and dropping the "ic" in Democratic.)
Namáste
This afternoon in Iowa, Pence didn't say "That Hindu is gonna ban hamburgers", but he came pretty close.
What a nice post.
I agree with others that Palin is a bit of a snake and not to be trusted, but I agree with you that, on the face of it, her post to Harris can only be read as friendly advice, and the face of it is how this piece will be read by most non-politics-junkie Americans.
Thanks, Chris.
I wonder what her favourite Rolling Stones tunes are ...
Did somebody say Rolling Stones and favorite in the same sentence?
This one is a bit more fun ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRot9IjNSso
Sarah has been rebranding herself over the last few years. Her stint on The Masked Singer was pretty darn hilarious. You’ll never hear Baby Got Back without thinking of Palin after viewing that performance!
I nominate House Dems as MDDOTW. They should not be on vacation.
The novel birther virus, HRRS-20, has re-emerged. There was a short-lived outbreak in 2019, but then it went away the way things go away. Unfortunately, that dormancy seems to have ended as several “people” have tested positive in the last couple of days. A major spike in cases is forecasted as the most vulnerable among us (the simple minded, death cult zombies, evangelicals) are exposed. The primary transmission vectors for the birther virus are racist media, preachers, and reality TV orangutans.
Critical thinking works well against the virus, but supplies are very limited. Public health experts sound pessimistic as the predicted epidemic inevitably merges with semi-annual October racist flu season. The outlook is grim and cancellation is the only other effective treatment currently available.
Of course, the October racist flu season is biennial, not semi-annual. It was late and I'd had some bourbon.
It certainly looks genuine and written in one pass. It can be interpreted as advice or a gripe. Compared to Trump's daily spittle almost anything can look like the high road.
...and, if things had gone a bit differently in 2008 she might be writing advice as President Palin.....uuuuhhhh.
@cw (fpc)
Interesting points, all. My biggest bugaboo in geographical terms is continually pointing out that Europe isn't a continent. It just isn't. There are six continents, and Eurasia is the biggest. Hmmph!
if that's the case, then there's still seven. last year it was decided that Zealandia (of which New Zealand is a small part) qualifies as its own continent.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/23/australia/zealandia-maps-intl-hnk-scli-scn/index.html
How low can you go?
* $201
* Insulting a blogger on his own blog for not advertising your half-baked ideas
* Promoting a grift with broken links
I can admit when I am wrong
But really, who cares if one troll that spams incessantly actually stops spamming for one brief moment and pretends to say something nice?
2) fight mightily to keep your own team with you -- they know you, know your voice, and most importantly are trustworthy;
Oh, silly Sarah "Plain" and dumb. The only thing you ever managed to have any real insight into was cosmetics. You were right about that "lipstick," but you never quite caught on that you were the hog.
This is an insult toward Nicole Wallace. After all these years some people never learn... nor could they ever because pig ignorant. :)
1) out of the chute trust no one new;
Aw shoot, Sarah... I might be wrong about that "pig" thing because you definitely did describe from whence you came as the "chute."
Most normal human beings would consider it an insult when a troll tells them that "I didn't think you could get any lower", but since you're an obsessive-compulsive troll, I suppose that normal doesn't apply. Are you familiar with human beings?
In addition, you seem unable to understand the meaning of the word repetitive because your spam is just that and not much else other than boring and maybe a little desperate.
BTW - I don't eat pie. Your excessive wrongness is repetitive too.
@jfc,
you don't eat pie? how awful for you!
JL
3) don't get muzzled -- connect with media and voters in your own unique way.
Did I say "hog" when I meant "dog"? Well, you see, it's a shapeshifter with a limited repertoire you can count on one hand, and you can count on it being shifty.
Some yahoos running campaigns will suffocate you with their own self-centered agenda so remember YOU were chosen for who YOU are.
Remember!? Campaign etiquette: Never ask someone to do something you won't or can't do yourself... remember!?
So stay connected with America as you smile and ignore deceptive "handlers" trying to change you;
Said the shapeshifter! Ha. Ha.
@russ,
definitely cute but here's my favorite version:
https://youtu.be/Ieb41uYpb08
4) some fun terms you may learn:
Oh, Sarah Plain and dumb. Kamala isn't from Podunk, population ~10,000; she's from California, population ~40 million, and she's campaigned a time or two or three or four, and the fact that you think you have anything to teach her is hysterical and so silly, Sarah. Kamala even ran for President of the United States... remember!?
I'm all about cake.
5) don't forget the women who came before you;
At last we come to the object of the exercise. Don't forget Sarah, America. Sarah needs some attention.
6) have fun!
Shove it, Sarah.
This IS the greatest country in the world and hopefully you'll be blessed beyond belief, like I was, with meeting new people from all walks of life and see just how great it is!
She's a United States Senator, Sarah, serving ~40 million constituents; she ran for President of the United States and knows about campaigning and America and doesn't need your help.
Now please crawl back into the hole you slithered out of.
nypoet22
THAT is a great version of the song...I could picture Dean Martin singing that on one of his Xmas specials!
-R
nypoet22, your [19]:
How interesting about Zealandia - I hadn't heard that. But on reading the story, I see that the archaic 'continent' of Zealandia has long since disappeared beneath the Pacific waves, leaving just a largish set of discrete islands.
So, back to six if we agree that the Europe/Asia divergence is far more artificial than than the narrow land bridges between Eurasia and Africa, and North and South America.
Speaking of the Americas, in the context of this discussion of who to call "Asian" and on what basis or with which geographical qualifiers (South Asia, East Asia, etc.). Have the media figured out yet that people from the rest of the Western Hemisphere are also "Americans", just not United Statesians? Why are Mexicans not called "North Americans" the way the Quebecois are, when both peoples live on the same continent, and speak Latin languages rather than English?
I am not automatically against what is called, derisively by the Right, identity politics - targeting political audiences via presumptions about their self-proclaimed identities as members of minority or oppressed or excluded groups and classes. But it can get pretty weird, not to say silly at times, given the realities of peoples' backgrounds and individual histories - as we see in this debate about how to put Sen. Harris in her proper identity box.
There was not one snarky word in it, and Palin didn't make a single political point throughout -- even though the temptation to do so must have been enormous.
1. yahoos
2. self-centered
3. deceptive
4. vultures
Yep... not one. ;)
John From Censornati
1
Ugh.
Do I denote a snarky word in your comment, JFC? ;)
Elizabeth Miller
2
Hmmm.
I can "name that tune" in one note, EM. ;)
Don Harris
18
"I'd like to teach the world to sing
in perfect harmony....."
I'd like to teach Don Harris to shut it.
Well, CW, I can admit when I am wrong.
You are wrong to keep biting the hand allowing you to feed from it. Admit that.
I didn't think you could get any lower than your usual nonsense- but you did it!
You needn't keep reiterating to this group how you "didn't think."
It's time you started talking about the real ic that should be dropped from Democratic- the one spelled ICK. The ICK that includes Biden, K.Harris, Pelosi, Schumer, etc.
It's time you stopped whining for some free PR unless you're determined to be the board "PR" "ICK."
You would clearly be the MDDOTW if it weren't for the obvious choice- Joe Biden for picking such a low life scumbag as his running mate.
So her life is low!?
Have you read your bio?
John From Censornati
20
This!
Mau'na Ke'a in Hawai'i is the tallest mountain in the world as measured from the ocean floor.
And, why wouldn't it be measured from the ocean floor?
nypoet22
27
definitely cute but here's my favorite version:
https://youtu.be/Ieb41uYpb08
Oh, I like this. Heh. :)
Don Harris
41
All you do is trolling and repeating what I already addressed from JFC.
I answer posts in the order I read them. If JFC's posts and mine sound similar before I even read to his comment, then what you have there is a consensus regarding your tedium ad nauseam regurgitatum.
My bio is head, shoulders and FEET above the lying scumbags that exist in their cesspool of corruption.
You sure about that? Have you read that thing?
*
According to Don Harris, there's a whole lot of "no this" and "no that"... just a whole lot of nothing. Wasn't there a school pure enough for you? Wasn't there a business you could have been successful at?
Perhaps you're just an all-around failure? Not even a good mooch. :)
Anybody need a good laugh? Well, look no further than today's New York Post cover:
https://nypost.com/cover/august-14-2020/
new york voting for trump? he might get seventeen votes in the entire state. if i had lost my bet with michale and biden had not been the democratic nominee, i would have been the eighteenth.
nypoet22
44
Heh. But according to Trump:
*
Who's going to explain to the Moron in Chief that he's been the president for almost four years? The president that actually already raised federal taxes for so many New Yorkers and the president that could have already done something/anything to "make sure that New York City is a safe place"?
I mean, a substantial number of the Trump crime syndicate moving out of New York and/or being imprisoned doesn't count as making New York City safer... it just doesn't. :)