Sarah Palin Denial Syndrome?

[Ohmer]

So, in your opinion, the whole image of Palin as "unqualified" is an MSM construct borne of deep-seated elitism and liberal bias? There's no factual connection between this perception and say (to take the most recent of many examples) needing crib notes to remember simple slogans?

I think she is completely unqualified based on this:

http://www.facebook.com/sarahpalin?ref=search&sid=31602850.1781758158..1

 

[BenBurch]

Barack Obama is an imbecile who became president.
Bill Clinton, while a bad president, was not an imbecile.

Lets see you put in a comparable academic record?

 

[Praktik]

Why can't we all just agree to vote for Harrison Ford?

I'll wait til the MSM tells me what to think about his qualifications before I can say I'll vote for him or not...

 

[Aoidoi]

Barack Obama is an imbecile.

You keep using that word. I don't think it means what you think it means.

 

[Praktik]

I think that part of it is where you bolded the university names and the inherent elitism, and part of it is that, in flyover country, being a mayor of a small town is a real job. You have to meet payroll, you have to get the trash picked up, you have to fight fires, deal with crime, etc.

From all accounts, she was a reasonably effective executive as mayor and governor. That, to me is more important than non-executive experience whether as a State Senator, community organizer, board member, professor, whatever. I have had enough experience with first-time executives, and the Presidency isn't the job for that.

The bolding wasn't mine it was the original author of that post. I still think when spelled out like that, it's pretty easy to see who has deeper experience between the two. That being said, there's probably an undervaluing of both individual's experience in the bipolar American polity - a product of the reds vs blues effect.

 

[Thunder]

what did AvalonXQ get on his LSATs?

 

[carlitos]

I can't tell if you guys are serious or not, but an academic record is not a clear indicator of success in an executive job. Just as an example, here are a lot of ex-sports-stars that do well running things for reasons not related to their academic pursuits.

 

[Sword_Of_Truth]

I think she is completely unqualified based on this:

http://www.facebook.com/sarahpalin?ref=search&sid=31602850.1781758158..1

I hate faceborg too.

 

[roger]

This is it in a nutshell, right here. It has little to do with her qualifications or lack thereof; it has little to do with her intelligence or lack thereof, even her policy positions are secondary. For those people who just can't stand Palin, it is because, as far as they are concerned, she comes from a different culture...she isn't one of them. The jokes about Palin, and many of the derogatory comments (aside from those that sexualize her or otherwise attack her for being a woman) are about cultural traits associated with "being country folk": her hunting, the way she talks, her family, the small town she lives in, the multiple (non-Ivy league) colleges she went to, being a past beauty queen, past sportscaster, etc. She did get a journalism degree, which would normally buy her a pass, but it wasn't from Columbia, it was from the University of Idaho. IDAHO! That's just icky. Idaho is full of hicks, just like Alaska!

I have to say I find all this dubious. Bush and Cheney fish and hunt. I don't recall it ever being a big deal even when Cheney shot someone (and there you go - that mild joke is as a low blow you will ever find on the issue). Clinton came from rural Arkansas - that was never a huge issue. What people don't like is her apparent lack of knowledge about America, politics, and the world stage. In a shallow way, a communications degree from UI speaks to that. In a less non-shallow way, her performances in early debates and interviews speak to that. As an example, I greatly dislike Cheney's politics, but I have complete confidence in his intelligence, ability to weigh a complex situation, understanding of politics (which you really do need to understand to get things done in Washington), and depth of knowledge of international and domestic issues.

I just haven't seen anything like that in Palin. The Republican party is full of very intelligent, astute, wordly, and informed politicians. Many of them are from small towns, and many of them hunt. I hope they field one of them for 2012. Naturally I would prefer my party to win 2012, but if they don't I want somebody capable of being a competent world leader. I don't see that quality in Palin.

Rather than assign dubious motives to those that don't like Palin, why not explain why Palin would be an excellent leader of America?

edit: I'd especially like to see her compared and contrasted to other potential contenders, such as Mitt Romney, Cheney, Gingrich, Jeb Bush, Haley Barbour, Giuliani, or whoever you think might throw their hat into the ring (or wish they would). For the record, I'd like any of these people over Palin. But, if you have a good argument, I can be convinced (honestly, not rhetorically).

 

[Thunder]

This is it in a nutshell, right here. It has little to do with her qualifications or lack thereof; it has little to do with her intelligence or lack thereof, even her policy positions are secondary. For those people who just can't stand Palin, it is because, as far as they are concerned, she comes from a different culture...she isn't one of them. .

wrong. when McCain first chose her, I thought it was a very smart move. she seemed like an accomplished woman. modern, intelligent, etc etc. i thought Obama had a real run for his money.

....until Palin opened her mouth.

I do not like Palin, because of everything I have heard her say, since she became the VP choice.

she is not politically sophisticated. she is not an intellectual. she does not know about or understand, or find interest in studying complicated foreign issues and domestic political dynamics.

and she can't remember Joe Biden's damn name. she kept calling him "O'Biden". what is she...retarded????

Sarah Palin, is simply not Presidential material. and because of this, she will NOT be the GOP nominee for President in 2012. her little media affair will last till 2011..but then more serious and sophisticated candidates will start making themselves know, and Sarah will drown in a sea of knowledge, IQs, and vocabulary.

 

[Tricky]

what did AvalonXQ get on his LSATs?

Drool.

Badda bing!

 

[Sporanox]

I have to say I find all this dubious. Bush and Cheney fish and hunt. I don't recall it ever being a big deal even when Cheney shot someone (and there you go - that mild joke is as a low blow you will ever find on the issue). Clinton came from rural Arkansas - that was never a huge issue. What people don't like is her apparent lack of knowledge about America, politics, and the world stage. In a shallow way, a communications degree from UI speaks to that. In a less non-shallow way, her performances in early debates and interviews speak to that. As an example, I greatly dislike Cheney's politics, but I have complete confidence in his intelligence, ability to weigh a complex situation, understanding of politics (which you really do need to understand to get things done in Washington), and depth of knowledge of international and domestic issues.

I just haven't seen anything like that in Palin. The Republican party is full of very intelligent, astute, wordly, and informed politicians. Many of them are from small towns, and many of them hunt. I hope they field one of them for 2012. Naturally I would prefer my party to win 2012, but if they don't I want somebody capable of being a competent world leader. I don't see that quality in Palin.

Rather than assign dubious motives to those that don't like Palin, why not explain why Palin would be an excellent leader of America?

Bush, Cheney, and Clinton do not recall the stereotypical view of a redneck so clearly as Palin does - what with her shooting elk (I think...and wolves, if you remember that famous controversy), attending the local snowmobile races, having a husband who raced in the Iditarod, being videotaped at a chicken slaughter...

Let's be honest, Bush and Cheney are associated with privilege. In Clinton's case, well, he may have hailed from a rural area, but he can hardly compete against Palin's symbolism. There's a reason one of the most popular nicks for her is Caribou Barbie.

EDIT: I'm not saying her conversational appearances weren't damaging - I've acknowledged that, previously - but the sheer depth of the hatred for her, which MikeMagnum also addressed, is explainable by the confirmation bias of people who just have stereotypical ideas about rednecks.

 

[Ziggurat]

Every time Palin opens her mouth or appears in public, it gives the Obama administration and the Democrats a week to relax.

That's wishful thinking, Parky. Just look at the whole "death panels" thing: sure, all the democrats like to paint it as an example of Palin being clueless, hysterical, etc., but the undeniable fact remains: she had a big impact on the debate, and the democrats couldn't afford to (and didn't) ignore her. You're a fool if you can't recognize the power your opponents have, whatever you think of their ideas.

 

[tyr_13]

Bush, Cheney, and Clinton do not recall the stereotypical view of a redneck so clearly as Palin does - what with her shooting elk (I think...and wolves, if you remember that famous controversy), attending the local snowmobile races, having a husband who raced in the Iditarod, being videotaped at a chicken slaughter...

I believe the hub-bub about her shooting wolves was that one, they were wolves which most people associate with being endangered and with the Bush administration letting people shoot them in areas where they are endangered so they can protect cattle on land specifically set aside for the wolves. And two, she did it from a helicopter. You'll find that most hunters find that type of **** asinine and associated with 'wealth and privilege' asses hurting hunting's conservation image. I personally know many a hunter from this area who, although conservative, completely did a 180 on their views of Palin over that incident.

Let's be honest, Bush and Cheney are associated with privilege. In Clinton's case, well, he may have hailed from a rural area, but he can hardly compete against Palin's symbolism. There's a reason one of the most popular nicks for her is Caribou Barbie.

I still don't understand why this is even brought up. Yeah, some people dislike her for the 'wrong' reasons. But this thread was supposed to be about why people deny her legitimate bad points.

The thing I hate most about Palin? That people defend even her worst choices. She wouldn't get to me otherwise.

 

[Ziggurat]

Bush, Cheney, and Clinton do not recall the stereotypical view of a redneck so clearly as Palin does - what with her shooting elk (I think...and wolves, if you remember that famous controversy)

I don't think Palin ever hunted wolves. Her connection to wolf hunting is that she authorized the culling of wolves using aircraft. While that riled a lot of folks opposed to hunting in general, the program was instituted in certain areas to protect falling moose and caribou populations. And it worked.

 

[Thunder]

You're a fool if you can't recognize the power your opponents have, whatever you think of their ideas.

indeed. that is why I recognize Palin's power to hand us another victory in 2012.

 

[Praktik]

Just look at the whole "death panels" thing: sure, all the democrats like to paint it as an example of Palin being clueless, hysterical, etc., but the undeniable fact remains: she had a big impact on the debate, and the democrats couldn't afford to (and didn't) ignore her.

I guess the question is, what was that impact?

How many independents did she turn off with her "death panels" scaremongering?

I'd be interested to see the polling on independents over that period - my hypothesis is that the impact also worked against the Republicans, if winning elections is the metric.

 

[roger]

Bush, Cheney, and Clinton do not recall the stereotypical view of a redneck so clearly as Palin does - what with her shooting elk (I think...and wolves, if you remember that famous controversy), attending the local snowmobile races, having a husband who raced in the Iditarod, being videotaped at a chicken slaughter...

Let's be honest, Bush and Cheney are associated with privilege. In Clinton's case, well, he may have hailed from a rural area, but he can hardly compete against Palin's symbolism. There's a reason one of the most popular nicks for her is Caribou Barbie.

EDIT: I'm not saying her conversational appearances weren't damaging - I've acknowledged that, previously - but the sheer depth of the hatred for her, which MikeMagnum also addressed, is explainable by the confirmation bias of people who just have stereotypical ideas about rednecks.

I'm certainly not disputing that mouth foamers on either side of the debate aren't influenced by the symbolism. However, I was responding more to "For those people who just can't stand Palin, it is because, as far as they are concerned, she comes from a different culture." that's an absolute statement that is easily refuted. I can't stand her mostly because she strikes me as woefully unprepared for the job, and the remainder is her smarmy comments about "real Americans". I grew up a hick in NH, my father hunts and fishes, I've hunted and fished, everyone I knew when I was growing up was a rednecked hick (of the NH variety - that subtlety may or may not make sense to you) that hunted, rode snowmobiles, often collected welfare, etc. We were damned poor, but we weren't bad people. (nor were we the salt of the earth, which is the message I sometimes gratingly get from her) I assure you it is not those factors in her past that influences my opinion.

 

[Sporanox]

I believe the hub-bub about her shooting wolves was that one, they were wolves which most people associate with being endangered and with the Bush administration letting people shoot them in areas where they are endangered so they can protect cattle on land specifically set aside for the wolves. And two, she did it from a helicopter. You'll find that most hunters find that type of **** asinine and associated with 'wealth and privilege' asses hurting hunting's conservation image. I personally know many a hunter from this area who, although conservative, completely did a 180 on their views of Palin over that incident.

You may know many a hunter, but so do I.

It just occurred to me that I could conceive of certain pundits applying this quote to Palin, but not Clinton, Cheney, or Bush:

...they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.

Did the NRA ever gift anyone but Palin an Armalite chambered in .50 Beowulf?

I still don't understand why this is even brought up. Yeah, some people dislike her for the 'wrong' reasons. But this thread was supposed to be about why people deny her legitimate bad points.

The thing I hate most about Palin? That people defend even her worst choices. She wouldn't get to me otherwise.

The second half of Mike's post may address that. For many people, Palin is considered their most famous dog in the fight of common Americans vs. elitists of all stripes (Beltway Republicans, academic liberals, our pundit class). Anything that brings her down is therefore, by extension, an attack on the aforementioned average citizen, so many invent rationalizations. For example, there were still a lot of Palin defenders on HotAir even in the wake of preferential treatment towards Rush "what's the problem with calling retards, retards?" Limbaugh.

Nobody said it was a rational belief, but it exists.

 

[Praktik]

Let's be honest, Bush and Cheney are associated with privilege. In Clinton's case, well, he may have hailed from a rural area, but he can hardly compete against Palin's symbolism. There's a reason one of the most popular nicks for her is Caribou Barbie..

I'd definitely agree that "silver spoon" Bush (and his dad) both are more associated with privilege - and maybe its my outsider status to the American scene but looking at Palin nowadays I can't help but associate her with privilege too.

Sure, its not the Ivy League kind, but her house in Alaska looked like a mansion to me - and she's pulling down all kinds of money now.