Troy Senik, Ed. · April 4, 2012 at 6:05pm

There's a good rule of thumb in live television: when the crew is laughing, it's genuinely funny. Say what you will about Sarah Palin the politician, but Sarah Palin the broadcaster -- who co-hosted the Today Show yesterday -- isn't doing too bad for herself:

 

Comments:


David Williamson
Joined
Mar '11
David Williamson
Troy Senik, Ed.:  Say what you will about Sarah Palin the politician, but Sarah Palin the broadcaster -- 

Kinda condescending, Troy? The qualities that make a good broadcaster are pretty much the same as those that make a good politician (e.g. Ronald Reagan).

Gus Marvinson
Joined
Mar '11
Gus Marvinson

I'm still waiting for someone to show me where Palin is lacking, issue by issue, talent by talent, experience by experience, against other nationally known politicians. The condescension toward her by even conservative pundits is bewildering.

billy
Joined
Apr '11
billy
Gus Marvinson: I'm still waiting for someone to show me where Palin is lacking, issue by issue, talent by talent, experience by experience, against other nationally known politicians. The condescension toward her by even conservative pundits is bewildering. · 3 minutes ago

Amen.

Troy Senik, Ed.

There's nothing condescending about noting that Palin's on-air skills are good enough to merit attention even from her detractors. I understand that Palin fans (rightly) feel besieged by the constant torrent of abuse sent her way, but the resulting tendency to imagine slights where there aren't any gets old quick. If my goal was to take a shot at Sarah Palin, I wouldn't do so by posting a video of her being funny, charismatic, and relaxed on national television.

David Williamson

Troy Senik, Ed.:  Say what you will about Sarah Palin the politician, but Sarah Palin the broadcaster -- 

Kinda condescending, Troy? The qualities that make a good broadcaster are pretty much the same as those that make a good politician (e.g. Ronald Reagan). · 22 minutes ago

Edited on April 4, 2012 at 6:57pm
DrewInWisconsin
Joined
Aug '11
DrewInWisconsin

billy

Gus Marvinson: I'm still waiting for someone to show me where Palin is lacking, issue by issue, talent by talent, experience by experience, against other nationally known politicians. The condescension toward her by even conservative pundits is bewildering. · 3 minutes ago

Amen. · 17 minutes ago

Seconded. (Or, I guess, thirded.) She also shows far more self-awareness than most politicians, possessing that charming (and necessary) ability to laugh at herself. That opening shot is priceless.

Is she a politician or an entertainer? Yes.

And from everything I've read, in person, even hardcore leftists come away liking her. Bill Clinton reportedly had that same quality -- the ability to charm even his opponents.

This woman could be President if she wanted to be.

Diane Ellis

She comes off naturally and likeable here. I'd certainly rather watch her than Katie Couric.

Fricosis Guy
Joined
Jun '11
Fricosis Guy

She's has sound instincts on the issues and has plenty of talent.  However, let's not overlook the gaps in the Palin package:

  • Experience: She didn't make it through one term as governor.  If Romney was a quitter for not running for reelection, what will Palin get called for quitting mid-term?
  • Knowledge: She has sound, even outstanding, instincts on our issues.  However, there are topics on which it is clear that she skimmed the briefing book.  IMO she has the smarts, but will she apply herself enough to avoid bureaucratic bamboozling?
  • Desire: Does she want to be a politicial leader or a political celebrity?  Her career choices and direction after leaving office -- including this Today appearance -- are drawing her down the celebrity path.

Part of this condescension comes from fear: she's a threat to the shallowly-conservative establishment.  But some of the criticism comes from worry about a talent that's going to waste.

Gus Marvinson: I'm still waiting for someone to show me where Palin is lacking, issue by issue, talent by talent, experience by experience, against other nationally known politicians. The condescension toward her by even conservative pundits is bewildering. · 60 minutes ago
Kervinlee
Joined
May '10
Kervinlee

I wish she was president right now.

Franco
Joined
Sep '10
Franco

Utterly charming!

Aaron Miller
Joined
May '10
Aaron Miller

Politician or not, Palin is a net benefit to the conservative movement and I hope she remains in the public eye for many years to come.

But that's assuming she doesn't relocate to a city like DC or New York. Even conservatives with strong intellectual and moral foundations can be affected by living in a liberal bubble.

Edited on April 4, 2012 at 8:36pm
Franco
Joined
Sep '10
Franco

I wish she didn't keep using the term "lame stream media" especially when she's on NBC flagship morning show. There is still a lot lacking in her as a conservative spokesperson. 

Gus Marvinson
Joined
Mar '11
Gus Marvinson

Fricosis,

Experience: She didn't make it through one term as governor.  If Romney was a quitter for not running for reelection, what will Palin get called for quitting mid-term?

Just a tiny bit of effort reveals that she resigned because:

A) Frivolous ethics charges tied up staff time and prevented her from doing what she was elected to do.

B) She had already accomplished in 2 1/2 years what previous governors never came close to accomplishing. Primarily, rooting out corruption, forcing oil companies to follow the Alaska Constitution, balancing the state's budget and creating a rainy day fund.

C) Those ethics charges put her $500,000 in debt.

D) By resigning, she put the good of the State above her political career. "Politically, if I die, I die." That's reason to support her, right there.

However, there are topics on which it is clear that she skimmed the briefing book.  IMO she has the smarts, but will she apply herself enough to avoid bureaucratic bamboozling?

This is a vacuous statement. Again, where is the evidence that she doesn't apply herself to gaining knowledge?

To your third point, PR is part of the political life.

Edited on April 4, 2012 at 9:40pm
DocJay
Joined
Jul '11
DocJay
Diane Ellis, Ed.: She comes off naturally and likeable here. I'd certainly rather watch her than Katie Couric. · 2 hours ago

I'd rather see Katie's colonoscopy than her.

Joseph Eagar
Joined
Oct '10
Joseph Eagar

I'm a little uncomfortable over this.  Sarah Palin is one of the few (if not only) anti-corporatist conservative populists out there.  Anti-corporatism is still very immature and undeveloped, and Sarah Palin is its standard-bearer.  I wish she would run for office again, and rack up the practical experience needed to advance this cause.

Fricosis Guy
Joined
Jun '11
Fricosis Guy

Gus,  I knew who Sarah Palin was well before McCain picked her.   There's a lot to like, but I worry that she'll end up as a burnt-up meteor, not a star:

  • Experience:  The fact remains that she served less than one term as Governor.  I know very well why she resigned, but.quitting for good cause doesn't = experience.
  • Knowledge:  Of course my comment was vacuous, I had 200 words and don't have time to dig out examples.   Do you really think she's has command of a wide range of issues?
  • Desire: I grant your point re: PR.  I have misgivings about some of her choices, but the Today move was inspired.

Gus Marvinson: Fricosis,

Experience: Just a tiny bit of effort reveals....

Knowledge:This is a vacuous statement. Again, where is the evidence that she doesn't apply herself to gaining knowledge?

Desire: To your third point, PR is part of the political life. · 59 minutes ago

Edited 38 minutes ago

FeliciaB
Joined
May '10
FeliciaB

The Devine Sarah just gets lovlier and lovelier as the years go by.  I could stare at her all day long.

cdor
Joined
Jun '10
cdor

Troy, nothing condescending at all in your post. From this Palin fan, I can only hope she gets even more comfortable hobnobbing with these folks and exposing herself to the general public. It will only make the vicious partisan attacks against her even more demeaning to those that produce them. You go girl. If we still have a country by 2016, we will all need her to lead us out of the wilderness. Of course I will be voting for Romney this year and praying that he wins, BUT... 

PALIN/RUBIO 2016

Gus Marvinson
Joined
Mar '11
Gus Marvinson

Fricosis Guy: Gus,  I knew who Sarah Palin was well before McCain picked her.   There's a lot to like, but I worry that she'll end up as a burnt-up meteor, not a star:

  • Experience:  The fact remains that she served less than one term as Governor.  I know very well why she resigned, but.quitting for good cause doesn't = experience.
  • Knowledge:  Of course my comment was vacuous, I had 200 words and don't have time to dig out examples.   Do you really think she's has command of a wide range of issues?
  • Desire: I grant your point re: PR.  I have misgivings about some of her choices, but the Today move was inspired.

Gus Marvinson: Fricosis,

Experience: Just a tiny bit of effort reveals....

Knowledge:This is a vacuous statement. Again, where is the evidence that she doesn't apply herself to gaining knowledge?

Desire: To your third point, PR is part of the political life. · 59 minutes ago

Edited 38 minutes ago

2 hours ago

She is an originalist who understands and believes in our 4,440 word Constitution. And yes, I believe she understands a broad swath of subjects.

Gus Marvinson
Joined
Mar '11
Gus Marvinson

Constitutional originalism: check.

Economics: check.

Foreign policy: check. (On several occasions, Dr. Victor Davis Hanson has stated publicly, on a recent Ricochet podcast as a matter of fact, that he "really likes Sarah Palin." VDH knows or cares nothing of foreign policy, right?)

Energy policy: check.

Show me a national politician who is demonstrably stronger than Palin across the wide range of specific issues a president must deal with. For instance, our "presumptive nominee," Romney, doesn't even have a conservative record in public office. If you did an honest point by point comparison between Romney and Palin, Romney would get clobbered.

jetstream
Joined
Dec '10
jetstream

Gus Marvinson: Constitutional originalism: check.

...

Show me a national politician who is demonstrably stronger than Palin across the wide range of specificissues a president must deal with. For instance, our "presumptive nominee," Romney, doesn't even have a conservative record in public office. If you did an honest point by point comparison between Romney and Palin, Romney would get clobbered. · 27 minutes ago

The always insightful social commentators, The Kingston Trio, give us a rally call ... Run Sarah Run

Edited on April 5, 2012 at 2:06am

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