What Should We Make of Sarah Palin?
I pose this question because, frankly, I do not know the answer.
I can see the negatives. Palin’s experience is limited. Much of what she has done since resigning her post as Governor of Alaska has been undignified. And she has a propensity for responding angrily to criticism on the part of folks like Barbara Bush that she would be best advised to ignore. All of this is true.
On the other hand, Sarah Barracuda has an instinct for the jugular that one almost never sees in American politics. When she responded to Obamacare by talking about “death panels,” she captured perfectly what is morally offensive in the presumption that medical care should be rationed by the federal government – i.e., in the notion that a passel of faceless bureaucrats operating behind the scenes will be empowered rule on the question which sick people in which circumstances will get treatment and which will be left to die.
Consider also what is to be learned about Palin from the editorial that was posted today on the website of The New York Sun:
The big question as Chairman Bernanke gets set for his first quarterly press conference is how Sarah Palin was able to figure out sooner than everyone else that the Federal Reserve’s campaign of quantitative easing wouldn’t work. Disappointment in the Fed’s policies is being reported this morning at the top of page one of the New York Times. It reports that “most Americans are not feeling the difference” from the Fed’s “experimental effort to spur a recovery by purchasing vast quantities of federal debt.” It reports that “a broad range of economists say that the disappointing results show the limits of the central bank’s ability to lift the nation from its economic malaise.”
It’s a terrific story, and well-timed, given that on Wednesday Mr. Bernanke will break tradition and meet with the press. It is part of the Fed’s effort to get ahead of what is emerging as a public relations catastrophe, as gasoline is nearing six dollars a gallon at some pumps, the cost of groceries is skyrocketing, and the value of the dollars that Mr. Bernanke’s institution issues as Federal Reserve notes has collapsed to less than a 1,500th of an ounce of gold. Unemployment is still high. Shakespeare couldn’t come up with a better plot. 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.
It happens that Mrs. Palin’s demarche coincided with a piece in the Financial Times by the president of the World Bank, Robert Zoellick, suggesting that a new international monetary system centered on the major currencies “should also consider employing gold as an international reference point of market expectations about inflation, deflation and future currency values.” The FT is such a Keynesian bastion that the Journal likened Mr. Zoellick’s mentioning gold in its pages to mentioning Sarah Palin’s name at the Princeton Faculty Club. The FT issued an editorial attacking its own op-ed piece, while Mr. Zoellick’s scoop so startled the New York Times that it brought in no less a heavyweight than James Grant of the Interest Rate Observer to write a piece on the virtues of the gold standard.
Alone among general interest publications, the Drudge Report has been fronting the gold price almost daily. And now the Times itself is out with its story about how the Fed’s quantitative easing has been a disappointment. It may have, as the Times puts it, “pumped up the stock market, reduced the cost of American exports and allowed companies to borrow money at lower interest rates,” but “those benefits have been surprisingly small.” Will any of this bring some humility to the Fed and its chairman? It will be something to watch for in his first big press conference Wednesday. No doubt it will be one of the most crowded press conferences in recent memory, and there will be lots to ask about. But one of the questions will be how in tarnation Mrs. Palin figured it out so far ahead of everyone else.
I think I know the answer to the question that bedeviled the author of this editorial. A year and a half ago, I gave a talk at Stanford University at a conferenced aimed at donors sponsored by the Hoover Institution, and there, before my talk, I had the privilege of listening to John B. Taylor – who mentioned in passing that he had briefed Sarah Palin when she was the Republican vice-presidential nominee and that he had found her a quick study. My bet is that she has a kitchen cabinet of sorts and that John Taylor is a member.
If so, quietly in the background while no one was paying attention, Governor Palin has been filling in the considerable gaps in her education. I suspect that we have not heard the last of the lady.
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Comments:
Jun '10
Re: What Should We Make of Sarah Palin?
I agree with Professor Rahe that Palin has drawbacks (yes, she's too prickly about criticism--but the MSM and the Andrew Sullivans of the world have certainly opened wounds in her and then keep poking at them). On the other hand, I think she's good for conservatism and the Right.
I don't think she would be a great president, but she certainly has carved out roles--sometimes the thoughtful commentator, other times the attack dog--that make her a valuable player. I really like the fact that she doesn't give in to the gender feminist arguments about her "inauthenticity." They could take authenticity lessons from her. All in all, she's a woman of principle, not perfect, but with pizazz that's good for conservatism.
Aug '10
Re: What Should We Make of Sarah Palin?
I think she is a lightning rod and a beacon of plainly spoken good sense. Her life and family are an ideal of American life , and as close as one can successfully mirror the pastiche of acceptable ideas at present. Alaska is the perfect background. It is everything that those Princeton profs aren't. And her husband is a union member and a musher. Beats a spouse that networked into some healthcare admin gravy train because her old man was an up and comer. These liberal dems are the new country clubbers that they used to warn us about. Besides Sarah gets to go on hunting trips most of us pay a lot for, and was nice enough to take us along. That bear next to the boat was awesome ! Something about a picture of JayZ lounging in the Situation Room at the White House is unsettling. If she fills out that kitchen cabinet, she's learned the most important lesson. Reagan had great people.
May '10
Re: What Should We Make of Sarah Palin?
Totally separate from the merits of the question, I confess my immediate reaction is, "Oh, boy - here we go again." This must be the feeling you get sitting front and center at a Gallagher concert - sans tarp - just as he wheels out the watermelon and mallet.
Jan '11
Re: What Should We Make of Sarah Palin?
I have absolutely no objection to a citizen president, and I think she might make a good one. Certainly couldn't be worse than the career politicians now in office. I've developed an avoidance response to polished politicians. All recent candidates, including those elected, were pigs in pokes when they ran, and for the most part what we saw ain't what we got. I mention Bush 41 and 43, and Obama, for examples.
Edited on April 25, 2011 at 2:40amFeb '11
Re: What Should We Make of Sarah Palin?
My opinion of her changes from week to week. Right now I do not think she is electable. I love everything she stands for but I just don't think she will be able to overcome all the unwarranted negative attacks that the MSM has already ingrained in the minds of the public.
Apr '11
Re: What Should We Make of Sarah Palin?
I am absolutely a Sarah fan and I think the things that people feel are undignified in Sarah would be seen less so if she was a man. I think we still expect women to be more genteel and not counter punch like a man. That's not to say she couldn't get better at it, but if she was Sam Palin hard fisted conservative scrapper from out West the likes of Ma Bush wouldn't be taking swipes at her in the first place.
Oct '10
Re: What Should We Make of Sarah Palin?
Good point, seems to be the tone of the day... Squash used to be a civil sport.
Palin does have qualities, save short on accomplishments. Perhaps that means nothing in todays theatre of politics. It should. The field of folks qualified to such a position as POTUS in the classic sense no longer appear.. Soooo.. Now What ?
Jun '10
Re: What Should We Make of Sarah Palin?
The "Republicans are dumb" meme has been part of the media narrative since Ike. Leftists like to flatter themselves as high-minded and intellectual whether there is any empirical evidence to back up the claim or not. What they really mean by "dumb" is anyone who disagrees with them. Unless the media hate machine cranks up the volume whereby "dumb" mutates into "evil."
How smart is Sarah Palin? Demonstrably smart enough to understand the pith of any issue after being suitably briefed. We don't need a genius in the
White House (putative or otherwise), or even an expert on the myriad affairs of economy and statecraft. An above average IQ (I'll throw out 125 as a baseline) and some common sense should be sufficient.
I find Sarah Palin qualified to be president as per my criteria above. I could vote for her but for her decision to become a celebrity (same goes for Huck). We already have a celebrity president. I don't want another. Sarah will continue to do good work rallying the base. We should thank her for that and be content.
May '10
Re: What Should We Make of Sarah Palin?
Just after Obama was elected, I thought she would make the perfect VP to counter all the weaknesses of a candidate Mitt Romney (yes, I was hoping he would run back then). I've since decided she's too much a lightening rod, and would hurt Romney (or any GOP candidate; and no, she will not win the Presidency as long as NY and CA are part of the Union.
I think she should be named as Secretary of a combined Energy-Interior Department. This would allow he to get some executive experience; then maybe a run for President in 2016 or 2020.
Palin is sui generis, which is both good, and tragic (since there would seem no way for her to get from "here" to "there" (the White House).
Edited on April 25, 2011 at 3:10amOct '10
Re: What Should We Make of Sarah Palin?
Perhaps we fail because we buy into the conventional wisdom about responding to attacks. I certainly haven't been impressed about the way Obama ignores his critics and never attacks. Bill Clinton did not allow his critics to go unanswered. Surrogates are used whenever possible, but show me the GOP member who is willing to respond on Sarah Palin's behalf. Oh yea, I forgot, eunuchs can't be expected to take up her cause.
Standing alone against the MSM, only Sarah can be counted on to defend Sarah. Thanks guys. It grows wearisome to know that the MSM will again pick our candidates for us. Will we ever learn?
Oct '10
Re: What Should We Make of Sarah Palin?
I must admit that when I first saw this post, my reaction was identical to that of Matthew Gilley. In addition to her detractors on the left, Sarah Palin has some on the right who, like their leftist counterparts, engage solely in personal attacks against the governor and her family rather than addressing the issues. I hope that such commenters as exist in this forum will refrain from their pathological predilections this time around, but such optimism is likely unwarranted.
As for Dr, Rahe's main point, I am in full agreement. The presidency is a position which, above all else, requires first-rate administrative skills. And chief among those skills is the ability to identify competent and talented people that will enable a president to expand the leadership. I am pleased to see that Palin seems to possess that quality. In addition, I like her instinct of absolute fearlessness when it comes to issues like health-care and the ever-expanding budget deficit. It is a quality that was sorely lacking at the top of the Republican ticket three years ago, and one that the nation cannot afford to lack in a president past this next election.
Edited on April 25, 2011 at 11:07amMay '10
Re: What Should We Make of Sarah Palin?
Unfortunately, since I was graduating high school in 1981, and a reflexive Democrat, I have no feel for how poorly received Reagan was in places like CA and NY. But even if he was deemed as stupid as Palin is in such places now, it needs to be remembers that the country is "more blue" now, and that many Reagan Democrats have left this earth; that's what I suspect Sarah Palin cannot win a November general election without successfully running as someone's VP and/or getting a Cabinet appointment in which capacity she can she can show her stuff, and be de-demonized in the eyes of enough voters.
Sep '10
Re: What Should We Make of Sarah Palin?
How did Sarah Palin know?
Maybe she watches Glenn Beck. .
Nov '10
Re: What Should We Make of Sarah Palin?
It is great to have opinions about all the possible contenders, but at a base level, she would be far greater than what we have. That being said, how much influence do we as citizens really have in who gets the nomination? How much value should we place on who we like and who we don't? The fact of the matter is that we all are going to vote for her if she wins the nomination, right?
Jun '10
Re: What Should We Make of Sarah Palin?
I posted earlier, but the other perceptive comments have generated a couple more comments from me.
1. Palin represents symbolically and in reality the common sense that most Americans possess. Obama, on the other hand, seems not to have a clue what real productive Americans do all day, and I don't think he has an ounce of common sense. Sarah is University of Idaho, Obama is Columbia and Harvard. (I have friends who attended both Columbia and Harvard without losing touch with reality, but universties like them are bastions of the elitist thought represented by Obama).
2. She loves America as it is and the America that can be with limited government. Obama dislikes the America that was and is: the only America he likes is the one he's trying to create in his image: the one where polticial hacks are more important than producers.
Edited on April 25, 2011 at 3:36amJul '10
Re: What Should We Make of Sarah Palin?
tabula rasa: I posted earlier, but the other perceptive comments have generated a couple more comments from me.
1. Palin represents symbolically and in reality the common sense that most Americans possess. Obama, on the other hand, seems not to have a clue what real productive Americans do all day, and I don't think he has an ounce of common sense. Sarah is University of Idaho, Obama is Columbia and Harvard. (I have friends who attended both Columbia and Harvard without losing touch with reality, but they are bastions of the elitist thought represented by Obama).
2. She loves America as it is and the American that can be with limited government. Obama dislikes the America that was and is: the only America he likes is the one he's trying to create in his image: the one where polticial hacks are more important than producers. · Apr 24 at 6:32pm
Edited on Apr 24 at 06:34 pm
Ditto!
Mar '11
Re: What Should We Make of Sarah Palin?
Sarah Palin is the most naturally talented politician since Bill Clinton. But until she's proven that she can mix it up with the press unscripted, she's not ready for the big time.
Jun '10
Re: What Should We Make of Sarah Palin?
"...a passel of faceless bureaucrats operating behind the scenes will be empowered rule on the question which sick people in which circumstances will get treatment and which will be left to die."
It's funny, but I am a Palin fan but the one issue on which I cringe when she speaks is her stance on "death panels." I think we have to take a long, serious, uncomfortabel look at the end of lief healthcare choices we as a society make. Her use of the "death panels' term is too emotional -- it draws attention away from the fact that we are torturing our seniors with painful, aggressive, pointless, heroic efforts to prolong their lives for a few days. Terms like "left to die" are overwrought and dishonest, in my opinion. Let's examine the issue rationally.
Undignified? Well, I found Barbara Bush's nasty dig incredibly undignified! She's a blue blood and should know better.
Palin is plenty smart & it's obvious she is a quick study. Not my first choice, but she would cerainly be a suitable "citizen" president.
Mar '11
Re: What Should We Make of Sarah Palin?
ParisParamus: Just after Obama was elected, I thought she would make the perfect VP to counter all the weaknesses of a candidate Mitt Romney (yes, I was hoping he would run back then). I've since decided she's too much a lightening rod, and would hurt Romney (or any GOP candidate; and no, she will not win the Presidency as long as NY and CA are part of the Union.
I think she should be named as Secretary of a combined Energy-Interior Department. This would allow he to get some executive experience; then maybe a run for President in 2016 or 2020.
Palin is sui generis, which is both good, and tragic (since there would seem no way for her to get from "here" to "there" (the White House). · Apr 24 at 6:04pm
Edited on Apr 24 at 06:10 pm
Paris Paramus-
I notice you said Palin is Palin is sui generis. I do find commonalities between her and Bachmann. They both become prickly when criticized and they can certainly dish it out. The left seems to have disdain for both. More disdain for the one ruffling the libs feathers at the moment.
Dec '10
Re: What Should We Make of Sarah Palin?
This isn't a Palin = Smart moment. This is simply proof that we are led by stupid people.