Is Palin Simply A Reverse Döppelganger of Obama?
I came across the following quote this morning via The Corner. It's from a "social-conservative Catholic blogger" named Mark Shea and is written about Sarah Palin:
I think she (and most of her fanbase) are postmodern narcissist [sic] who don’t know how to cope with things when they discover that reality does not conform to their desires. So instead of saying, “Yeah, that was a goof” and moving on, she digs in. . . . I do ... think there’s a problem with narcissism and I think [she] has that in spades too. It makes her unable to deal with substantive (as distinct from merely b****y) criticism, it causes her to hole up in her own fictional reality, and it makes her try to bend facts to suit whatever narrative her stream of consciousness is bubbling up today.
Substitute "he" for "she," "him" for "her," and the "facts" about the economy for the "facts" about Paul Revere, and whom does that quote describe?
Wouldn't it be ironic if the most compelling argument against a Palin cadidacy were that she is simply a righty-populist version of Barack Obama?
- Comment (53)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (0)
Comments :
Jul '10
Re: Is Palin Simply A Reverse Döppelganger of Obama?
I'm glad Mark Shea isn't a psychiatrist.
Mar '11
Re: Is Palin Simply A Reverse Döppelganger of Obama?
Wouldn't it be ironic if the most compelling argument against a Palin cadidacy were that she is simply a righty-populist version of Barack Obama?
Except she isn't. Is Mark Shea Kenneth's alter ego?
Edited on Jun 7, 2011 at 9:13amRe: Is Palin Simply A Reverse Döppelganger of Obama?
I am struck by the degree to which Sarah Palin is a lightning rod for vituperation -- even on the part of social conservatives. She is certainly prickly -- and perhaps to a fault -- but does that make her a "postmodern narcissist"? And on what basis does Mr. Shea throw that epithet at Palin's fans? The epithet might apply to Barack Obama. Egocentricity is amazingly evident in his speeches -- which generally reveal more about the man delivering them than about the subject he is addressing. But I would not even think of applying it to his admirers. They may be deluded, but narcissism is not the cause.
Edited on Jun 7, 2011 at 9:38amJun '10
Re: Is Palin Simply A Reverse Döppelganger of Obama?
I don't see a lot of evidence that Palin enjoys doing policy homework, and that pains me. Same thing for Obama. Both Palin and Obama necessarily have to speak in general ideological terms, because to go any deeper requires a lot of study--study they don't do. I like Palin, and will vote for her if she's the nominee, but she's not my first choice. Seat of the pants flying may work in some professions, even in a profession like political campaigning, but President of the United States isn't one of those professions. You can't just wing it. You can't just read headline stories.
Sep '10
Re: Is Palin Simply A Reverse Döppelganger of Obama?
Mark Shea has an interesting history with conservatism. I'll leave it to others to weigh in on it.
Jun '10
Re: Is Palin Simply A Reverse Döppelganger of Obama?
Yeah! And The Mitt believes in man-made global warming. Talk about a dunce bending facts to fit the egocentric—or should that be home-centric—postmodern fantasies.
Re: Is Palin Simply A Reverse Döppelganger of Obama?
He does seem to be given to name-calling. Is his visceral dislike of Palin's "fanbase" a function of anti-evangelical bigotry?
Sep '10
Re: Is Palin Simply A Reverse Döppelganger of Obama?
Paul A. Rahe
He does seem to be given to name-calling. Is his visceral dislike of Palin's "fanbase" a function of anti-evangelical bigotry? · Jun 7 at 9:36am
If my memory serves me correctly, he's a Catholic convert and lay apologist-- can't recall from what exactly -- perhaps Evangelical -- and while conventionally orthodox initially, after the Iraq War he seemed to go Yosemite Sam on anyone associated with the Iraq War and had many blog punchups with various individuals including Ed Feser et al.
That website has some "interesting" quotes about "Republican Torture Enthusiasts" "The Rubber Hose Right" etc etc but then I'm probably drawing unwanted attention by even mentioning it.
Let's just say he's not on my RSS reader.
Sep '10
Re: Is Palin Simply A Reverse Döppelganger of Obama?
Obama is a narcissist. Many people in the public eye are narcissists (duh). I think Palin has a fair share of the disease herself. It is almost inevitable for anyone who has so much attention and adoration to become a narcissist.
If you were to give someone enough heroin over the right period of time, they will become an addict no matter how strong their family, morals or character. I see attention/fans as the same thing. Moreover, when you are a controversial person the effect increases, because the celebrity seeks refuge in their fans and those who agree with them and they must reject psychologically the legitimacy of their critics.
Jun '10
Re: Is Palin Simply A Reverse Döppelganger of Obama?
Why isn't she traveling in a plain dark-brown tour bus? If her motives for the current trip are what she says, why not tone down the advertising? I think she has gotten too full of herself. I still agree with her on most things, but she's not the same Sarah that was just selflessly fighting for clean government once upon a time. I don't blame her for it. I couldn't stand up to all the character assaults she's weathered over the last three years. Hat's off to her for that. But, it has changed her.
Re: Is Palin Simply A Reverse Döppelganger of Obama?
Maybe Sarah Palin's Paul Revere talk wouldn't have gotten so much attention had she said it in "Austrian."
Edited on Jun 7, 2011 at 10:10amJul '10
Re: Is Palin Simply A Reverse Döppelganger of Obama?
You obviously didn't watch Chris Wallace's interview.
Dec '10
Re: Is Palin Simply A Reverse Döppelganger of Obama?
I think you haven't looked very hard. Here's an example:
Sarah Palin for the Fed?
But how in the world did Mrs. Palin, who is supposed to be so thick, manage to figure all this out so far ahead of the New York Times and all the economists it talked to?
She did this back in November in a speech at Phoenix, which the Wall Street Journal, in a laudatory editorial at the time, characterized as zeroing in on the connection between a weak dollar and rising prices for oil and food. “We don’t want temporary, artificial economic growth brought at the expense of permanently higher inflation which will erode the value of our incomes and our savings,” the Journal quoted Mrs. Palin as saying. “We want a stable dollar combined with real economic reform. It's the only way we can get our economy back on the right track.” Now here is the New York Times quoting a raft of economists who have reached the conclusion that Mrs. Palin’s warning was right down the line.
Feb '11
Re: Is Palin Simply A Reverse Döppelganger of Obama?
Stuart Creque
I think you haven't looked very hard. Here's an example:
Sarah Palin for the Fed?
Palin is a highly effective communicator in the right setting, one of the reasons we are still talking about her is because of her 2008 speech. The fact that she has had or still has John B. Taylor as an economic adviser is highly commendable- if she gets in the race I think it would go a long way if she promised to put Taylor in a top spot in her administration.
Having a friend like Taylor helps quite a bit, having a friend like Trump doesn't. The speech you mentions helps, the Revere episode doesn't. We know she can communicate well in a controlled and safe setting, but there is legitimate doubt about her ability to communicate well in unscripted and unfriendly settings. If she can do well in a debate with Romney, Pawlenty, etc, I think it would alleviate many conservatives concerns.
Nov '10
Re: Is Palin Simply A Reverse Döppelganger of Obama?
I don't like it when we hero-worship anybody. Paul Revere, "hero" of the American Revolution is only remembered for his lantern-lit ride. Almost never mentioned was that he was court-martialled for his part in the failed Penobscot expedition. The charges boiled down to: he does not play well with others. Revere was ordered to turn over his personal baggage boat by a superior officer who wanted to use it to move some cannon to cover the retreat. Revere refused claiming that it was pointless. The expedition was a disaster and lead to the only complete defeat of the American navy until Pearl Harbor. After six or so attempts to get the court-martial reversed he was finally successful. Since the vindication was so hard to achieve, politics were likely involved. Nevertheless, he had a lot of his fellow soldiers very angry with him so where there is smoke... as the saying goes.
May '10
Re: Is Palin Simply A Reverse Döppelganger of Obama?
John Hinderaker, of the Ricochet Hinderaker-Ward Xperience, described the problem fairly well at Powerline. Some people simply do not do well extemporaneously, and our modern American political paradigm almost always goes for those who are glib off-the-cuff. Hence the fascination with Huckabee 4 years ago, and Cain today on our side, and Obama on the other side.
These days it is better to sound smart than to be smart.
May '10
Re: Is Palin Simply A Reverse Döppelganger of Obama?
Interesting, but has nothing whatever to do with the present issue, of course....
Aug '10
Re: Is Palin Simply A Reverse Döppelganger of Obama?
Paul A. Rahe: I am struck by the degree to which Sarah Palin is a lightning rod for vituperation -- ... But I would not even think of applying it to his admirers. They may be deluded, but narcissism is not the cause. · Jun 7 at 9:16am
Edited on Jun 07 at 09:38 am
I agree sir. I have respect for Palin's defenders, especially those here among us.
There is, however, an element of delusion that colors the tenacity with which they defend her often indefensible mistakes. This makes debating them exasperating. I have tried reasoning, I have tried parody, nothing gets through to them.
That's the price of community, whether in life or on Ricochet. My concern for them is that I have learned (by my own painful experience) that this behavior often leads to cognitive dissonance.
There is nothing postmodern about narcisissim, it is old, it is pride on steroids.
Cognitive dissonance is no small thing.
Sticking your head in the sand will only make you look silly, and the situation remains unchanged once you do pull your head out. But sticking your head in quick-sand has a lasting result.
Edited on Jun 7, 2011 at 2:24pmOct '10
Re: Is Palin Simply A Reverse Döppelganger of Obama?
I love Palin, but I am getting tired of politicians that can never admit having made a mistake. I mean, what would be so wrong with saying..."I was really not on my game for that Couric interview", or " I could see why someone might think that I didn't know my Paul revere history wrong given the way I answered that question."
Edited on Jun 7, 2011 at 12:26pmNov '10
Re: Is Palin Simply A Reverse Döppelganger of Obama?
Duane Oyen
Interesting, but has nothing whatever to do with the present issue, of course.... · Jun 7 at 11:28am
Call it a Paul Revere hot button for a history buff.