Since Sarah Palin rocketed on to the scene she has been the “pitbull with lipstick” attack machine of the Right. Ask anyone about negative campaigning and they will tell you that being an attack dog doesn’t help with a positive image. Of course, when you bungle your introduction, then get bad press from inside a campaign, coupled by quitting a job to serve the people, it just doubles down on the damage.
With Palin’s TLC “Alaska,” she’s taking a page from Hollywood Ronnie, coming in to people’s living rooms as something other than, how do I say it… Sarah the shrill. It doesn’t have to be political to be a presidential campaign ad. The fact is it’s meant so people get to know another side of Sarah. As marketing goes it’s genius.
It was also ratings bonanza for TLC.
Sarah Palin’s documentary / travelogue / reality / biopic shattered TLC ratings records Sunday night. The debut of Sarah Palin’s Alaska delivered a whopping 5 million viewers. The first episode of the eight-part series was the most-watched program launch in TLC’s history. – ‘Sarah Palin’s Alaska’ Breaks TLC Ratings Record
As a serendipitous bonus, New Oxford American Dictionary has made “refudiate” the Word of the Year for 2010. From The Note:
“From a strictly lexical interpretation of the different contexts in which Palin has used ‘refudiate,’ we have concluded that neither ‘refute’ nor ‘repudiate’ seems consistently precise, and that ‘refudiate’ more or less stands on its own, suggesting a general sense of ‘reject.’ “the New Oxford American Dictionary said in a press release.
Palin’s negatives have risen lately, so she can only gain by going this route, both financially and politically. So, no matter what she decides and when she makes that decision it’s a win-win. She’s launching a book tour that will take her to Iowa and South Carolina, states that also happen to be her principle and likely only route to the nomination. The nomination alone would make history.
If you’ve been watching her over the last two years or longer you will have noticed that she just keeps making tactical moves one at a time. So far, so good.
But one question continues to be asked, “Is Sarah qualified to be president?” Jeb Bush answered “you betcha!,” likely because looking at his brother he remembers where he started. The only difference between Sarah Palin and George W. Bush is political pedigree, the class issue.
There is a much better question to ask. Considering the great year Palin’s had in 2010, why shouldn’t she run or at the very least put a campaign together so she has the option?
I know this is silly of me but irrespective of how brilliant she is at marketing herself, I still don’t think she’s qualified to be POTUS and I say that irrespective of her ideology which I don’t happen to share.
Of course, these days qualifications don’t really matter so who knows, maybe it will eventually be President Palin. While there is no denying Palin Power, I think in some ways it’s a sad statement on the state of our politics- hype and style over substance and actual knowledge. Of course she’s not the only one guilty of that. One of the reasons I always liked Hillary was irrespective of whether one agrees with her views, when she got elected to the Senate and beyond she was a work horse, not a show horse. To me, Palin is the latter.
Your comparison to Bush is appropriate. Just like George Bush she would be running for the Presidency almost out of a sense of “hey, well, golly why not?” when the sad fact is neither of them prior to holding their state offices showed the slightest interest in politics on a federal level, let alone any sort of interest in international politics. But again, none of that really matters anymore.
Always appreciate a thoughtful reflection on the phenom that has become Sarah Palin.
Amazing isn’t it scb. We are living in times I never imagined.
I watched her show and all I can say is the republican guys might be in trouble. This country elected George Bush two terms so anything is possible. Should could run for congress or senate also. Sarah Palin has star power theres no doubt about that. The show has Sarah Palin doing things that they other guys running would wet their pants from fishing, to climbing mountians. It also hss her interacting with her family. She seems so middle-class unlike the others in the field running or the president himself. I don’t know if she is running for president or anyother office but if you have seen this show, you would know she has staying power theres no doubt about it. Alaska is so beautiful and I bet Alaska tourism is happy about it too. Karl Rove and the other elite men in her party are proberly throwing a fit, they can’t stand that for once a woman is stealing their spotlight and all I can say is Sarah, keep it up !! LOL !!
I love the little life lessons and political nuggets of wisdom that were so carefully scripted into the show- how convenient that mama grizzlies appeared so Sarah could tell us how similar they are to us! How lovely that she scaled a sheer cliff while repeating “I know I can’t quit, I just have to keep going b/c it’s not like anyone is going to rescue me…” Yeah, right Sarah, the 85 people who are hidden from view and standing around watching you climb are just going to let you dangle there. But hey, now we know she’s not a quitter- at least when she’s on mountains. Elected office? Well, that’s a different story.
I’m sorry, I know there were probably hundreds of thousands if not millions of people who watched it and ate it up (I have just seen it after the fact online) but to me it was so unbelievably fake. This idea that she’s the “every woman” as she rakes in millions on the show specifically so she can pretend she’s still an every woman, is sort of cynical. As with every “reality” show, there is probably not much reality involved. While we all watched her family float down the stream while fishing, waiting for the next hidden adventure to magically unfold, unseen were the legion of aides, security, hand-holders and ego-strokers not to mention camera crews etc. It’s just so silly. But for $1 million an episode I’d probably climb up a cliff groaning “I will not quit!” too
lol
I watched out of curiosity. I don’t know that this won’t backfire because I noticed how very self-conscious she was throughout. I didn’t see any moment when I thought she was being herself (whoever the hell that may be) instead of playing to the camera with a unbearably torturing self-consciousness that had her reiterating her campaign slogans while trying to be a mom or wife or just “real American” Sarah.
For example, when they went fishing and came upon the mama brown bear with two of her cubs and mama got into a roaring, clawing fight with an interloper brown bear, this gave Sarah the opening to say her mama grizzly comment which was clearly politically aimed (oh, too bad that mama brown bear wasn’t a grizzly but it didn’t matter. As usual with Sarah, the truth does’t matter just as long as she can get a political point across). Or, when the mama bear was supposed to be teaching her cubs how to catch a salmon (which she wasn’t because they were off playing with each other or running away from the interloper) but she caught the fish herself to feed her brood. But, that didn’t stop Sarah from making another political comment about how that mama bear was teaching her cubs to fend for themselves without needing outside help. Clearly a dig about the social safety net that so many people are in desperate need of now more than ever or at least since the Great Depression. She was doing this throughout the program. It was a boorish mess. Although the Alaskan backdrop (and unfortunately that is what it was: Sarah was the centerpiece not her beloved Alaska of which we see very little) what we were shown of it was spectacular.
I also think the great ratings the first part in this reality series garnered is not unusual for this sort of celebrity show. After watching the first hour, it didn’t grab my undivided attention enough that I will make it must see TV for me. Also, we’ll have to wait for the ratings for a few shows before we can gauge how much of a hit it is. And, it cannot be denied that many people are probably watching out of a morbid curiosity about this “all American, real American” family.
In terms of the marketing aspect to all of this. Of course, that is what this is about: the selling of Sarah Palin to help improve her approval ratings with those who will vote in the GOP primary and with the rest of us who would never vote for her. Will the series put a dent in those bad approval numbers for some voters? I suppose it will. But, speaking for myself, nothing this woman does or says from now until we will vote for 2012 POTUS will change my mind about voting for her (if she runs and she will) as my mind was never changed by Obama and I never voted for him either.
I was watching the Mark Twain award show on PBS where this prize was awarded to Tina Fey. During the ceremony, they played that very hard hitting scene from SNL where Sarah (Fey) appears with Hillary (Amy Poehler) and at the end of the skit Palin/Tina says “To think that just two years ago, I was a small town Mayor from Alaska’s crystal meth capital, and now I’m just one heart beat away from being POTUS. It just goes to show that anyone can be President” and HRC/Amy says: “ANYONE, ANYONE, ANYONE.” That skit was a multiple edged sword to watch especially for those of us who supported HRC in the primary and didn’t vote for Obama in the general. I didn’t like the contrast they went for with Palin dressed in fire engine red with Hillary dressed in drab grey (a color I don’t recall her ever wearing). I’ve always found HRC to be very attractive so I never understood the frump meme about her at all. Anyway, I do believe that Bush made such a mokery of the POTUS office that even before I knew who was going to run in 2008, I knew the field would be open to anyone who qualified but who wasn’t a white male which was a good thing. It never occurred to me then that we would have among those 2008 candidates in both parties people who were unqualified to be POTUS but that is just what we got and one of those was elected POTUS.
Now, imho, what HRC/Amy said in that skit about ANYONE becoming POTUS is now more a reality than ever before with the election of Obama, who was clearly not ready for prime time and we who are not powerful or wealthy are all suffering because of who is sitting in that once revered office. And, Sarah has as good a chance of getting there wa
If it was Hillary in this Gray, she looks gorgeous and very stateswoman-like in it.
Ah, I am reading this thread from the bottom up and realized you’re talking about SNL right after I hit sent! At any rate, Hillary in that gray I linked to is beautiful.
Before I begin, I want to commend you on your post the other day about HRC. It was one of the best commentaries I’ve read about her in a while. I’ve been sick for the past couple of weeks and so have been away from the boards. Only playing catch up now. So, thanks for that enjoyable read, Wonk. Keep up the great work.
Although I didn’t mean for my original post to talk about HRC and her fashion since you brought up that point, I’ll expand on my comment in this regard.
Nope, not that suit. The real HRC looks much better in that pic you linked to than the HRC/Amy Hillary on that SNL skit.
Here is the SNL skit and the suit. Scroll down a bit.
http://tinyurl.com/5wax2g
I had very mixed feelings about that skit because while it in some way sympathized with both women, it also ridiculed both in my view.
I think HRC looks good in how she presents herself to the world as SOS. I’m a businesswoman and I’m one of those women of the traveling pants suit brigade as well and was really psyched when she mentioned her connection with us in Denver in 2008. So, I feel connected to her in more than just politics.
In terms of the pic of HRC you linked to, while she looks good and as you said stateswoman-like, I think that cut would look great on her if it fitted her better. Also, the material looks like wool which has a tendency to wrinkle quickly. Nevertheless, it’s tons better than the clothes SNL wardrobe chose for Amy to wear as HRC. And, I love the collar and the overall cut of that suit jacket. She has a number of suits with that type of collar which I love on her and for myself as well. And, yes she has influenced my style to a degree.
But, SNL wardrobe chose those suits for HRC and Palin for that skit purposefully to do what they wanted to do and that was to compare and contrast both women based on the stereotyped meme of both. But, America does that to all women they deem to be in competition with each other and HRC and Palin have never been competitors. While the left and some in the GOP were just dumb in their personal attacks on her mostly attacking her gender, I thought HRC struck just the right cords when asked about Palin during the general election. Here is what she said:
Before you watch the HRC clip, here is one of Palin criticizing HRC for saying there was sexism in the primary campaign and that HRC should stop whining. I guess Palin’s chickens came home to roost as soon as she was subject to what HRC was subject to for almost twenty years as a political woman,hey?
http://tinyurl.com/2e23ly2
But, as this next clip shows, she did correct herself in her book so she gets points for that.
http://tinyurl.com/yft9wou
This is another comment by HRC and fully displays her talent as a Diplomat. LOL
http://tinyurl.com/243jfao
(BTW, I was as offended by the sexism on rank display towards Palin as much as it offended me when HRC was on the receiving end and for almost two damned decades. I criticize Palin about her politics and what I see as a not authentic person, not the real deal as so many of her fans purport to describe and feel towards her. I feel the same way about Alan Greyson even though I agree politically with his views. I think he’s also a phoney. I’m going to be 50 in January, living as long as I have, my first impressions have been usually correct.)
I’ll close with this. Here is one of my fav HRC looks. She looks not only stateswoman-like and powerful but elegant and beautiful as well. This is the speech she gave during gay pride month. And, being a gay woman, I truly appreciate what she’s done at State for LGBT employees (and their partners), and her speech was one of the best I’ve seen regarding gay rights in this country. And, it was off the cuff as well. No soldier-like eyes roaming back and forth reading teleprompters.
lol For those who have never seen this speech, it’s a real treat.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x66HWNjMPmQ
why am I in moderation?
btw, Taylor, I’m the newdealdem that posted here a little while back. I attached the 1 after the name because I wanted to change my avatar and wasn’t able to get it going via WordPress. Using gravatar enabled me to pick my own avatar but I had to change the ID in the process.
P.S. I wrote a response to Wonk, but that response is in moderation. Could someone please release that post? Thanks.
Hey newdealdem1, any post with multiple links automatically goes in to moderation. It should be posted now.
Hey NDD,
Thanks for the kind words on the HRC roundup.
Re: Fey/Poehler. I was never a big fan of their Hillary/Palin skits. Obviously they were caricatures and so exaggeration is par for the course, but still I always found it weird and dismaying that two vibrant comediennes parodying two vibrant female pols ended up looking…bland and canned. From the very first skit, Fey’s take on Palin’s accent reminded me more of Fargo than Palin. Poehler never much reminded me of Hillary except for when she wore an exact replica of Hillary in the brown jacket right next to Hillary wearing the same live. But, hey obviously the skits struck a chord for others and they ate it up. Not my thing, though.
I do like Poehler on Parks and Recreations. Fey on the other hand now bores me–I used to like her before.
Re: Hillary in the gray. I think it’s the sketchbook artist in me–I love the slight glitch around the fit in the button area and all the fabric folds from the wool. Makes me want to get out my charcoals. Such a well lived and lived-in look to it. That photo to me says that’s a woman who is “Living History!” Especially against the evergreen background. (The SS codename for Hillary is “Evergreen” and such a fitting descriptor for Hillary)
I do love the look Hill was sporting at the LGBT pride month youtube you linked to, as well. Hillary is all class. And, that comes from the inside out. Her elegant wardrobe choices there are just the icing on the cake.
I am going to be 50 in December. So I am older (and wiser).
My first impressions have also been dead on for most of my life. My first impressions of Hillary were right. My first impressions of Obama UNFORTUNATELY were the keenest my gut and first impressions have ever been. AND, my gut and first impressions tell me I am three for three…Sarah Palin is authentic and real and a good and honest woman. With a steel of spine and principles that cannot be compromised.
I have met her and she IS THE REAL DEAL.
as anyone in public life today. As good a chance as Obama.
Sarah Palin has been running for President since leaving Alaska Governorship behind…The only thing missing left is for her to officially announce. Give or take a couple more months and she will go public about her run.
I said it for a long time she has nothing to lose by running for President. If people like Alan Keyes, Newt Gingrich or Mitt Romney plan to run why not Sarah? I think she is aiming to make history in 2012…even if she loses in the general to Obama…Sarah run and winning of the Republican nomination will be historical for all women.
One more thing…I read a lot of teenage boards posting by Ohio kids saying they would love to vote for Sarah Palin…most of them are from young females. She seem to be inspiring a new generation of conservative women it looks like…
Am I losing my mind? Where did that fabulous post on Elliot Sptitzer go? Loved it Taylor,just loved it and I agree with every word.
It was supposed to go up for tomorrow a.m. It will be reposted then. Timer snafu, LLady.
Wow girl, you are writing your head off! All great stuff.
Loved the part about McCaskill scolding,she has pissed me off so bad doing that. I know some real dirt on her,she ain’t no angel. Or rather when she was younger,I don’t imagine she is up to such stuff today.
Palin did extremely well by that show. As Taylor wrote, iirc, it was TLC’s ratings bonanza of the year.
And the thing is, the people who think that it’s fake are the people who aren’t going to vote for her anyway!
She’s trying to reach working and middle class America. You know, the folks the Ruling Class used to care about, but doesn’t anymore? Because they are off at Davos or Jackson Hole trying to figure out ways to steal a little bit more of people’s liberty? And sell out what little they have left to the Chinese Mandarinate?
I wouldn’t worry about Palin being able to connect with voters through this show. She’s doing fine. Much better, imho, than Obama ever did. Much more like Hillary with a competent campaign team (say, with professionals like Begala and Carville, not the clowns who drove her into the ground).
yup~
I missed the show last night, though I wanted to check it out. A few days ago, she was giving a speech at some school and CNN aired it live. I thought it was because she was going to make a big announcement–a la 2012 presidential run–so I watched the beginning of the speech. I have to say that she has definitely improved as a speaker. She was very pleasant and charming. I’m starting to think that Democrats should be careful what we wish for.
My partner who said he would NEVER vote for Sarah Palin has been watching Dancing with the Stars with me rooting for Bristol Palin. We watched Sarah Palin’s Alaska last Sunday. If HE can warm up to Sarah Palin, many Democrats can.
He even remarked to me today after I sent him an article about Palin, “Maybe it is time for someone who is honest who will buck thre system”. Wonders never cease.
Sarah Palin is only a phenom if you want to be a *tool* of the corporate mainstream’s Village Idiots and their bosses: the funders of the Tea Partiers. I do not. I totally reject their CW. They believe only they can determine what’s popular in America. Ignore them, PLEASE!
I have zero curiosity of anything Palin. If so called liberals would also stop watching Fox News and listening to Rush Limbaugh, they’d all go OUT of business. Damn it!
What I most strongly care about is finding a REAL LIBERAL to replace Obama in 2012. Not just another corporatist. Anything else is navel gazing, to which, I always assumed was just a male perversion *sigh*
Ron, I know you’re not even on friendly terms with us Clinton stalwarts right now, but I do sympathize with your desires for a replacement of O with a real liberal. It’s not going to be Hillary or Bill anyway, so where we disagree on the Clintons is a moot point in all this. Sadly, I just don’t see the opening for a real liberal to beat Obama. It’s going to be an uphill battle for anyone who primaries O, that person will likely squander his or her power base in the process, and then Obama would go on to take the nomination and either win the general because the whole drama of the first black president getting primaried would bring back some kind of an Obamaphile sweep of energy across the nation OR even just as likely the GOP would win because the fractures within the Dem party would so strained from an Obama v. Dem primary that it could not possibly compete.
Besides which, I’m still not convinced anybody on the Dem side is willing or has the guts to primary him.
Ronc, did it ever occur to you that you might just be plain wrong? Undig your heels and be curious about the world happening around you. Intelligence is not taking a side and doing all you can to convince others you are right. REAL intelligence is always open to understanding and hearing what other voices and opinions and sides are. You sound a tad bit closed up.
I just can’t seem to care enough to sit through what sounds to me like an extended play version of that bear roaring at the end of her political ad.
I will say this, which the Obamaphiles seem to forget as they go after Sarah for being an infotainment joke… the big push to the Obama engine that could was the endorsement of a talk show host with an audience that goes and buys whatever she tells them to. And, who did Obama ask to give his invocation? Rick Warren. Shudder. It’s all about the captive audience.
Obama = Elmer.
Palin = Elma.
As in Gantry.
Give me Hillary and Bill getting all wonkish on policy any day over this America’s Next Telegenic President crap.
Thank you, Wonk.
To be clear, I am not an Obamaphile. I despise the RINGER!
I just read this at NYTimes about SOS Clinton, in case you hadn’t. She is now the new envoy of the Middle East. So perhaps Obama, in foreign policy only, is waking up. Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/16/opinion/16iht-edcohen.html?_r=1&hp. I apologize if it had already been discussed on this thread.