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Submitted by Ian on September 3, 2008 - 9:25pm
I really can't temper my surprise at Palin's speech tonight. She delivered and delivered large for John McCain. Her image of a tough-talking hockey mom is hard to beat when it comes to an iconic figure to solidify the modern republican base and reach out to hometown American moms. It is no exaggeration to say that Palin made history tonight and seriously changed the race.
In a lot of ways, Palin took a page right out of Lee Atwater's book and drove her minivan right down Mainstreet, Mid/south USA and also threw down the gauntlet. You could say she transformed the race. Even as much as Obama's had transformed it before. We are, indeed, in a time of great change.
One of the things that struck me was how simple everything was. The themes were simple - Family, God, USA, special needs babies, veterans, and "Energy Indpendence." The colors everyone wore were simple. It was decidedly low-tech, even to the "open" microphone where someone was very subtly saying "She's doing good" on the live web feed. It all happened inside a tightly-controlled, hermetically sealed space. Just like they like it.
I grew up in an extremely conservative family (which remains fundamentally conservative to this day) and conservative Christian communities, so I have a significant appreciation for the heavy dose of imagery and snappy rhetoric that will undoubtedly congeal many a McCain doubting republican, and force some Hillary voters to make what for some will be an easy choice. I'll just say that lately Alaska seems a lot like Alabama's long lost (and very rich) cousin.
If there's anything that Palin's speech did tonight, it was to co-opt Obama's change theme and offer voters WHAT ON THE SURFACE seems like substantive change, which people are really ready for (notice no Bushco in the house, but KNOW they were behind the scenes). So voters nervous that Obama might be TOO MUCH change, can still comfortably vote for a kind of change they recognize.
And at the same time, Republicans went out of their way to promote party diversity, though the overall tenor of the convention was somewhere along the axes of rich and white. I didn't feel rich enough or particularly white enough to be part of that scene, even though I identified with many of the (simple) themes of the speech. And I have two soul-melting words for you - Cowboy Troy.
It would be hard to imagine that there are still large swaths of republicans who can't get behind McCain/Palin. Her youthful spirit and liveliness she brings to the ticket cast a warm glow on McCain.
Here's my hope and prayer - that people will realize that the issues of our day are bigger than patriotism and national pride. And that we really do come together quickly to address them.
Looks like a sleepless fall for me. And for anyone involved in activism of any kind this year.
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There is a 2008 Mock Election Weekly Poll at http://www.votenic.com . See what America thinks.
-Brandon
While i concur that the images coming out of the convention yesterday were enough to put a little scare in this progressive Democrat supporter, I think that Palin's speech writers vastly underestimated the impact that their flip sarcasm and downright nastiness will have on many who were as of yet undecided in this race.
The fanciful lies, exaggerations and misrepresentations of Mitt and Rudy and Sarah will quickly be uncovered, along with those of the conservative strategists and pundits.
The insults to community organizers around the country are already being countered. Insulting and belittling community organizers doesn't exemplify the good judgment one would hope to find out leaders, especially those who are actively running for office since community organizers have networks and the ability to move them.
Palin will surely try to deflect criticism with cries of sexism and media bias, but the facts are clear: her record of reform is a straw horse. She has a trail of scandal and ethics abuses in her past.
Some conservative pundits seem to be calling the Palin choice what it is, pandering and political gimmickry.
Since it hadn't been mentioned on this blog yet, here's the (now old) news: Palin's speech was written by Bush's speech writer Matthew Scully.
On another note, my family and I just returned from an Obama volunteer gathering in preparation for the office opening this coming Tuesday. While my town, Mt Lebanon, is fairly solidly for Obama, we'll be working hard on education, registration and GOTV in our neighboring Republican-leaning townships in this battleground state of Pennsylvania.
I too have been awash in a range of negative emotions about this election.
Fortunately, a Connecticut Yankee arrived in our Appalachian town (by way of the University of Wisconsin) and provided a focus for small constructive actions that mitigate anxiety.
If I manage the requisite amount of personal awareness, I can ask myself "What can (should) I do?" In those moments of relative sanity, I scrounge resources for the local office - wireless Internet, a spare computer, a banquet table, a few office chairs, a screen and a projector. I knock on a few doors, make a few introductions.
But the question remains, what practices enhance our ability to deal effectively with this cr*p?
In the 2004 presidential election, the market favorite won the electoral vote in every state. - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TradeSports
While I watched the Palin speech, my temperature literally dropped and I had to put on a sweater. It was crazy, but I felt like this blanket of cool, icy evil descend on the land. Very Narnian moment. Very Alaskan, too, come to think of it (the ice, not the evil).
She was so dismissive, arrogant/boastful and snide, and I don't like that in anyone. (Show some respect, Sarah, please. We all swim in the community pool - don't get pissy) Her family seemed fake. I've seen a lot of Moms holding babies before, and none of those women seemed really comfortable. Or natural.
But I totally saw how the image she projected was very much picture perfect to congeal the base like a red white and blue jello flag. (We'll see if what Netty Vetters digg up to bust the Republican "photoshopping" of Palin as a straight talking pit bull wearing lipstick...)
And, we are learning the Republican party seems to have a real image problem. They just are never what they seem. Nixon, Bush, Bush lite... This batch just seems to have no compunction about winning at all costs to freedom, truth and justice. As someone who believes in those things, it's outrageous to see such blatant manipulation and deception.
Here's how I come around. First, breathe through it. Understand that your actions alone are not going to save the world or stop the Republicans from stealing the next election and spending more of our grandkid's money. Know that you can only do what you can do. Then go do it as much and the best that you can. You'll feel much better.
The insults to community organizers around the country are already being countered. Insulting and belittling community organizers doesn't exemplify the good sohbet judgment one would hope to find out leaders
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While I watched the Palin speech, my temperature literally dropped and I had to put on a sweater. It was crazy, but I felt like this blanket of cool, icy evil descend on the land. Very Narnian moment. Very Alaskan, too, come to think of it (the ice, not the evil). mirc mirc çet çet mirc mirc