Palin Fans Need to Chill
The Daily Caller stepped in it today. In a fairly innocuous piece about Sarah Palin's TLC reality show, "Sarah Palin's Alaska," they reported on a story already in the news, here and here, about the state tax subsidies the show's producers received for filming in Alaska. From today's DC:
...in a political age where it’s controversial in many circles to defend public funding of National Public Radio, critics panned Palin for supporting a measure that forced taxpayers to foot the bill for a private media project after many statements from the former governor in support of a government that only plays a limited role in the economy.
“I’d bet, like many politicians, Palin’s views on the proper role of government becomes more flexible as it comes closer to her own interests,” wrote the Washington Examiner’s Tim Carney on Tuesday.
Jim Geraghty of National Review said that the reality show’s subsidy was “ridiculous” and that the policy was “problematic for a crusader for small government to end up collecting a seven-figure paycheck from an endeavor that received a seven-figure subsidy,” while Peter Suderman of the libertarian Reason Magazine cracked: “In 2008, Sarah Palin, then the Governor of Alaska, signed a special tax credit for filmmakers into law. … Who’s benefiting from that tax subsidy now? … none other than Sarah Palin.”
Palin, as she often does, responded ably to those criticisms on Facebook. From the last big paragraph:
“It’s...a false accusation to suggest that signing this bipartisan bill somehow goes against my position on the proper role of government,” she said. “I’ve said many times that government can play an appropriate role in incentivizing business, creating infrastructure, and leveling the playing field to foster competition so the market picks winners and losers, instead of bureaucrats burdening businesses and picking winners and losers.”
This actually seems like pretty small potatoes -- it's the kind of gotcha piece that every politician eventually faces.
What's striking, though, are the comments below the Daily Caller piece. Many of them display the kind of tripwire defensiveness I've noticed a lot in die-hard Palin fans. And Palin's Facebook response is also a little over-the-top. There's a lot in it about "burying" her response -- in reality, it's there, unburied -- and a weird shot at Tucker Carlson --
"As I noted in my statement (which was curiously buried by The Daily Caller – whose editor-in-chief was recently called on the carpet for publicly using a degrading term to describe women. C’mon Daily Caller, we can’t afford you slipping up like this. America is counting on more professionalism than that."
Okay, full disclosure: I like Sarah Palin. I like her especially because of the way she totally unhinges the Left. I don't think she'd make a good president, though. And I'm unwilling to accept, as some Palin fans demand, that this is some kind of slur. There are literally hundreds of people and politicians whose temperaments and judgement and values I like -- Roger Ailes, my dad, Peter Robinson, Ursula Hennessy, George Will, just to name a few. I'd even throw in most of the Ricochet membership.
That doesn't mean I think any of them should be president.
The notion that because she's been on the receiving end of a lot of nasty press -- and she has -- that that somehow exonerates her from any criticism, even the small-bore penny-ante stuff about state tax subsidies for film production, is just way, way, way too hypersensitive. It doesn't do her any good, either. It makes her look small and prickly. It makes her look Nixonian. Not Reaganesque.
Sarah Palin needs to take a deep breath. The DC piece was a fair piece of gotcha, and her response -- when she finally got to it, after lots of drama and stemwinding and self-pitying justification -- is a perfectly fair, perfectly persuasive answer. She should have left it at that. She'd seem a lot taller and more -- dare I say it -- presidential if she had. I mean, seriously: as president, would she be spending all of that time and energy pushing back against every single small-potatoes piece? This is what makes some of us think: Senator Palin, great; President Palin, not so much.
And the knee-jerk paranoid defensiveness of her fans doesn't do them any credit, either. They don't seem like supporters. They seem like disciples. They need to chill.
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Comments:
Jan '11
Re: Palin Fans Need to Chill
If "we" don't acknowledge our own foibles and mistakes then we're no better than NBC when they don't cover the GE tax story.
Sep '10
Re: Palin Fans Need to Chill
I believe she has been undone by rapid international fame with the adoration and by the nasty attacks. Anyone who experiences this becomes a basket-case pretty quickly. I'm surprised it isn't recognized as a common psychological phenomenon.
May '10
Re: Palin Fans Need to Chill
I take great exception Rob. Your Dad would make an excellent President. He'd easily qualify as the president with the best sense of humor since Ronald Reagan. And your mother the best taste since Jacqueline Kennedy.
Edited on March 30, 2011 at 11:43pmOct '10
Re: Palin Fans Need to Chill
Kenneth: "...leveling the playing field to foster competition..."
Huh? This is a conservative stance? Competition is inherently unequal - that's why the best ideas, the best products and the best companies rise to the top.
The woman's ignorance of even basic economics is breath-taking. · Mar 30 at 1:29pm
Competition is inherently unequal, sure. But not the playing fields. Last time I looked both hockey teams' goals were the same size, both basketball teams' hoops were the same height and diameter, both football teams' goalposts were the same width.
In fact, wasn't it an unequal playing field that led to the Fannie and Freddie debacle?
Seems to me Sarah was spot-on with her economics metaphor.
Aug '10
Re: Palin Fans Need to Chill
David Williamson: Um, and Obama would make a good President for 4 more years?
As the Instapundit once commented, a syphilitic goat would be preferable to our current part-time resident of the White House.
I think Sarah Palin would make a fine President - does that make me a Fan?
Excuse me while I go and chill-out... · Mar 30 at 2:15pm
I already made that call last time.
John McCain was, is, and always will be a Big Damn Hero. His service in Viet Nam is awe inspiring.
When, at 72 years of age, he tapped Palin for the VP, I had to decide if I could pull the lever for an aging hero with Palin riding shotgun.
I could not. Quite simply: a bridge to far.
Palin for President? Asked and answered.
Since she is a TV star, let's use that jargon: the Palin for President show is not a pilot. If anything it's a spinoff, and from where I'm sitting it's a rerun.
Edited on March 30, 2011 at 11:49pmOct '10
Re: Palin Fans Need to Chill
Kenneth: By the way, just to stir the pot; did anyone catch Palin on Fox the other night?
She referred to our Libyan adventure as a "squirmish". · Mar 30 at 1:21pm
She also gave us "refudiate"...which the New Oxford American Dictionary chose as the "word of the year." So I wouldn't be too quick to criticize her for her word creations. ("Squirmish" - a squeamish skirmish? Seems to me to fit Obama's Libya adventure to a T.)
Aug '10
Re: Palin Fans Need to Chill
Seems like this whole tax break thing is more mole hill than mountain. As someone already pointed out it strains credulity to think that Palin signed the law because she was planning on cashing out on a reality show in the near future. Besides, it is very common for states to pass laws giving tax breaks to movies filmed in their state.
However, Rob, If we are to see a Senator Palin I don't believe it will be from Alaska. She ain't too popular up there right now - just ask Joe Miller!
Jul '10
Re: Palin Fans Need to Chill
Ursula Hennessey
Kenneth
Ursula Hennessey
Kenneth:
Yeah, Ursula, but you aren't being paid the big bucks to be on Fox; nor are you publicly positioning yourself as some great communicator.
In any event, I'd trust you in the White House. Heck, I'd even trust Rob's dad, based upon the axiom that the apple never falls far from the tree.
You are too kind, Kenneth. Especially since your other observation could (and probably has been) be said about me:
And, you could probably also replace "economics" with "history" "geography" "physics" etc.
Listen, I think Palin's a heck of a lot smarter than I am. I also don't think smarts = perfect politician. She's got some breathtaking strengths and some breathtaking drawbacks. I think that's the way I'd size her up. · Mar 30 at 2:23pm
Charming humility, Ursula. Difference being that you're smart enough to know what you don't know.
Oct '10
Re: Palin Fans Need to Chill
Wait just one minute - it was portrayed as a "gotcha" piece, not hard-nosed journalism. To quote Rob: "This actually seems like pretty small potatoes -- it's the kind of gotcha piece that every politician eventually faces." and "The DC piece was a fair piece of gotcha..." and "...every single small-potatoes piece."
I'm all for legitimate scrutiny of the Right, but I thought "we" were above gotcha journalism. We don't need to engage in gotcha when we have facts and evidence on our side of virtually any argument with the Left, and we shouldn't be doing it amongst ourselves, either.
Aug '10
Re: Palin Fans Need to Chill
dittoheadadt
Kenneth: By the way, just to stir the pot; did anyone catch Palin on Fox the other night?
She referred to our Libyan adventure as a "squirmish". · Mar 30 at 1:21pm
She also gave us "refudiate"...which the New Oxford American Dictionary chose as the "word of the year." So I wouldn't be too quick to criticize her for her word creations. ("Squirmish" - a squeamish skirmish? Seems to me to fit Obama's Libya adventure to a T.) · Mar 30 at 2:47pm
Oh, well. Can't win for losing. Guess I'll have to embiggen my dictionary. Again.
She is so brilliant that though she meant to say Obama was too sqeamish to skirmish, she blurted out squirmish. Yeah, that's it.
Even when she she lays an egg its a fully formed Faberge Egg of word that our dictionaries must grow to embrace.
Did we lose a war or something? Who made her Queen of the English language?
Rob is right.
Take a breath and avast with the mental gymnastics.
Edited on March 31, 2011 at 2:25amJun '10
Re: Palin Fans Need to Chill
dittoheadadt
Kenneth: By the way, just to stir the pot; did anyone catch Palin on Fox the other night?
She referred to our Libyan adventure as a "squirmish". · Mar 30 at 1:21pm
She also gave us "refudiate"...which the New Oxford American Dictionary chose as the "word of the year." So I wouldn't be too quick to criticize her for her word creations. ("Squirmish" - a squeamish skirmish? Seems to me to fit Obama's Libya adventure to a T.) · Mar 30 at 2:47pm
You beat me to it Ditto. "Squirmish" - Any kinetic military action forced by events on a leftist
Dec '10
Re: Palin Fans Need to Chill
dittoheadadt
Wait just one minute - it was portrayed as a "gotcha" piece, not hard-nosed journalism. To quote Rob: "This actually seems like pretty small potatoes -- it's the kind of gotcha piece that every politician eventually faces." and "The DC piece was a fair piece of gotcha..." and "...every single small-potatoes piece."
I'm all for legitimate scrutiny of the Right, but I thought "we" were above gotcha journalism. We don't need to engage in gotcha when we have facts and evidence on our side of virtually any argument with the Left, and we shouldn't be doing it amongst ourselves, either. · Mar 30 at 2:59pm
We have to acknowledge our own foibles and mistakes, even if they're at most small potatoes and we have to blow them all out of proportion to do it.
Dec '10
Re: Palin Fans Need to Chill
Squishy Blue RINO
Oh, well. Can't win for losing. Guess I'll have to embiggen my dictionary. Again.
She is so brilliant that though she meant to say Obama was too sqeamish to skirmish, she blurted out squirmish. Yeah, that it.
Even when she she lays an egg its a fully formed Faberge Egg of word that our dictionaries must grow to embrace.
Did we lose a war or something? Who made her Queen of the English language?
Rob is right.
Take a breath and avast with the mental gymnastics. · Mar 30 at 3:08pm
Of course, you're right. I doubt she has a license to speak English, much less to adapt it to her own purposes.
Charge her with committing a public malapropism and lock her up.
Thank goodness we have you here to tell us how very angry we need to be about this.
Oct '10
Re: Palin Fans Need to Chill
Squishy Blue RINO
dittoheadadt
She also gave us "refudiate"...which the New Oxford American Dictionary chose as the "word of the year." So I wouldn't be too quick to criticize her for her word creations. ("Squirmish" - a squeamish skirmish? Seems to me to fit Obama's Libya adventure to a T.) · Mar 30 at 2:47pm
Oh, well. Can't win for losing. Guess I'll have to embiggen my dictionary. Again.
She is so brilliant that though she meant to say Obama was too sqeamish to skirmish, she blurted out squirmish. Yeah, that it.
Even when she she lays an egg its a fully formed Faberge Egg of word that our dictionaries must grow to embrace.
Did we lose a war or something? Who made her Queen of the English language?
Rob is right.
Take a breath and avast with the mental gymnastics. · Mar 30 at 3:08pm
Um, "mental gymnastics?" None needed - the New Oxford American Dictionary validated - shall we say "Queened?" - her wordsmithing. Wasn't me. Whether "squirmish" was preconceived or was just serendipitous, it is the perfect word for describing Obama. Perhaps you need to take a breath and just accept it.
Aug '10
Re: Palin Fans Need to Chill
Jerry Broaddus
Squishy Blue RINO
Oh, well. Can't win for losing. Guess I'll have to embiggen my dictionary. Again.
She is so brilliant that though she meant to say Obama was too sqeamish to skirmish, she blurted out squirmish. Yeah, that it.
Even when she she lays an egg its a fully formed Faberge Egg of word that our dictionaries must grow to embrace.
Did we lose a war or something? Who made her Queen of the English language?
Rob is right.
Take a breath and avast with the mental gymnastics. · Mar 30 at 3:08pm
Of course, you're right. I doubt she has a license to speak English, much less to adapt it to her own purposes.
Charge her with committing a public malapropism and lock her up.
Thank goodness we have you here to tell us how very angry we need to be about this. · Mar 30 at 3:27pm
Well I guess I''ll take a breath too. Thank you for admitting it was a malapropism, and not unintended act of of linguist genius.
Aug '10
Re: Palin Fans Need to Chill
"knee-jerk paranoid defensiveness of her fans....(who) seem like disciples". Seems a bit OTT to me.I think the lady is a treasure but I also share doubts about her suitability for the presidency, partly because the mudslinging has had an irreversible effect on her reputation;which is unfair and might lead to some sensitivity on the part of her admirers. This is entirely rational and therefore not paranoid.
Jun '10
Re: Palin Fans Need to Chill
Years ago a Canadian hockey announcer, during a game call, used the word "cannonading" to describe a player's slap shot. His colour commentator repined that there was no such word. Danny Gallivan, the announcer in question, responded with, "There is now." A few days ago I overheard an instruction on how to link a cellphone to an iPad that just three years ago would have been incomprehensible. Great thing about English, we are all proved fools and princes by our use of it for much depends on who is listening or reading or trying to link a cellphone and and iPad. Good thing we're not using Latin, or we'd really be in trouble.
Aug '10
Re: Palin Fans Need to Chill
I fear I've roused the minions.
I give up.
The Empress's new clothes do suit her well, such fit, such colors!
Edited on March 31, 2011 at 1:14amOct '10
Re: Palin Fans Need to Chill
Squishy Blue RINO
Jerry Broaddus
Squishy Blue RINO
Take a breath and avast with the mental gymnastics. · Mar 30 at 3:08pm
Of course, you're right. I doubt she has a license to speak English, much less to adapt it to her own purposes.
Charge her with committing a public malapropism and lock her up.
. · Mar 30 at 3:27pm
Well I guess I''ll take a breath too. Thank you for admitting it was a malapropism, and not unintended act of of linguist genius. · Mar 30 at 3:55pm
Why do you assume "unintended?" She spends plenty of time using words - is it so inconceivable that in her private ruminations she recognized the alliteration of squeamish and skirmish and combined them beautifully? (the answer is: no) Until and unless she acknowledges that it was unintended, assuming that it was or wasn't is pointless and irrelevant. The fact is, the word is perfect.
Would your opinion of SP change if it was an intended act of linguist genius?
Jun '10
Re: Palin Fans Need to Chill
"Thank you for admitting it was a malapropism, and not unintended act of of linguist genius."
Just what pray tell is linguistic genius. Can you spot it when you see it. Is "mud-luscious" linguistic genius? How about 'household word" is this linguistic genius? Who was it that first used both these combinations of words?