Why Not Palin for President?

[Fat Bottom Gurl]

So Obama and the Democratic Congress are a bunch of knuckle dragging clods?
If Palin and her just plain folks routine represents one extreme, this represents the other.
The problem with rule by an elite is that inevitably the country will be ran for the benefit of the elite.

Exactly, and that is the appeal of Palin. The majority of the US voting are not elite, but just down-home folks.

And BTW Dudalb - good catch on the knuckle dragging.

 

[Cynic]

Of course, when down home folks talk about the elite, they don't mean the elite, they mean elitists, who, ironically enough, down home people think they're better than. I like to think that appealing to the truly elite will benefit everyone. Appealing to anyone that thinks they're better than someone else merely by virtue of their personal values only benefits those people. National politics isn't supposed to be referendum on how to best segregate the country, but on deciding who can lead everyone.

 

[Lothian]

SO since a fair few people (myself included) here agree that she is not the sharpest tool in the shed, WHY IS THERE ANY KIND OF SUPPORT for her as a possible candidate to run the country? Like what goes through the minds of people who would vote for her? I just don't get it.

TAM

That film she made was very popular.

 

[Cynic]

I'd also like to know the difference between "pure smarts" and cunning?

People with pure smarts can argue -- with cunning only, all one can do is debate.

 

[Darth Rotor]

Exactly! We've suffered (and are STILL suffering, thanks to his policies) through 8 years of a President who was sold as a folksy, "common-sense" man who people "wanted to have a beer with."

Sorry, but the best and the brightest should be the people making the big decisions. I'd rather have the "elitist intellectuals" running things than the collection of knuckle-dragging clods that are currently in charge.

Hell, if I could amend the U.S. Constitution, I would require a politician have a PhD from an accredited university before being allowed to run for federal office. Several if you want to be president.

If you want to vote... Bachelors degree at least!

Mark, that's a great way to keep poor people from voting. They used to just use a poll tax. Your option is a bit more expensive. It's also a way to keep Latino and Black voters disenfranchised due to money. (Check the demographics on per capita income, don't rely on my guess). Hopefully, you didn't realize the impact of what you suggested there, and don't really mean this.

By they, I mean the bigots you are emulating (hopefully, by accident).

DR

 

[Chaos]

All that is required for an American president:

Intelligent
35 or older
Puts America first
Can think long term (which means making good deals and good allies)
Understands fiscal responsiblity
Understands strategy
Speaks clearly
Can lead

That's it.

DR

And how many of these, besides "35 or older" do either Palin or Bush junior fulfill?

 

[T.A.M.]

All that is required for an American president:

Intelligent
35 or older
Puts America first
Can think long term (which means making good deals and good allies)
Understands fiscal responsiblity
Understands strategy
Speaks clearly
Can lead

That's it.

DR

Are these YOUR requirements? I was giving what I (me personally) would want in a leader of the free world. There is obviously a difference in what I (and most sane, rational, intelligent people) would WANT, and what is required...but if your people want to SETTLE for Palin, fine...like I said, I would contemplate moving to Europe if that happens.

TAM

 

[T.A.M.]

But when dealing with our enemies (as in actual enemies, not merely political opponents), isn't deception entirely appropriate?

perhaps, but being president/leader is so much more then just strategy against the enemy. I personally would leave it out as a desired quality.

TAM

 

[dc1971]

Thanks for that Parky. I was reading comments on a right-wing blog where a self-confessed Republican held the same views in that Palin was not "yet" ready for the position on President. It was interesting to read - as the other conservatives piled on this guy for what I thought was a well thought out argument. He also said that Obama was not ready for President either and that their resumes (Obama and Palin) were similar in their inexperience.

If you were to say anything bad about Sarah Palin on the Sean Hannity forum, you would be thrown off no questions asked!

 

[T.A.M.]

So Obama and the Democratic Congress are a bunch of knuckle dragging clods?
If Palin and her just plain folks routine represents one extreme, this represents the other.
The problem with rule by an elite is that inevitably the country will be ran for the benefit of the elite.

Well if one were an intellectual snob, one would say that the intellectual elite are able to see (through their intellect) that benefit for all is the better solution then benefit for the elite only. In opposition to this, the knuckle draggers likely cannot see beyond themselves, and look out only for...themselves.

TAM

 

[T.A.M.]

Exactly, and that is the appeal of Palin. The majority of the US voting are not elite, but just down-home folks.

And BTW Dudalb - good catch on the knuckle dragging.

oih...

well last i checked, the majority of VOTING in the USA, just voted an "Intellectual Elite" in office...

TAM

 

[dudalb]

Mark, that's a great way to keep poor people from voting. They used to just use a poll tax. Your option is a bit more expensive. It's also a way to keep Latino and Black voters disenfranchised due to money. (Check the demographics on per capita income, don't rely on my guess). Hopefully, you didn't realize the impact of what you suggested there, and don't really mean this.

By they, I mean the bigots you are emulating (hopefully, by accident).

DR

There is also the idea that a college degree, even a doctorate, is no guarantee that someone is truly intelligent in the deeper sense of the word. I know pleny of people with College Degrees..and a few Masters and Doctorates among them..who I would not vote for for Dog Catcher.
And people forget that Dubya had a BA from Yale and MBA from Harvard. So much how degrees from Highly ranked institutions of learning guarantee a good president.

 

[Fat Bottom Gurl]

oih...

well last i checked, the majority of VOTING in the USA, just voted an "Intellectual Elite" in office...

TAM

Touche TAM.

But what about the knuckle draggers

 

[dudalb]

I think every politician plays the "I am just a common person at heart and understand their problems" card sometime in his or her career, no matter what country he is in. Bill Clinton was an absolute master of it. The problem with Palin is that is the only thing she brings to the table.

 

[Alferd_Packer]

If you want to know what kind of President, Sarah would make, google palin Matanuska Maid

 

[Bikewer]

When I listen to the people that claim to like Palin, they say pretty much the same sorts of things..... "She's a Mom". (note capitals) "She's just like us."

Mommyhood aside, they also said pretty much the same things about Dubya. "A nice guy; the kind of guy you could invite to a barbeque.." That sort of thing..

I suppose to these sorts of people, these are the qualities they would like in a president.
Why, I cannot fathom....

 

[Fat Bottom Gurl]

When I listen to the people that claim to like Palin, they say pretty much the same sorts of things..... "She's a Mom". (note capitals) "She's just like us."

Mommyhood aside, they also said pretty much the same things about Dubya. "A nice guy; the kind of guy you could invite to a barbeque.." That sort of thing..

I suppose to these sorts of people, these are the qualities they would like in a president.
Why, I cannot fathom....

I think that is the comfort of the Palin...Bush thing. the Mom/Dad - kisses boo-boos.

 

[drkitten]

When I listen to the people that claim to like Palin, they say pretty much the same sorts of things..... "She's a Mom". (note capitals) "She's just like us."

Mommyhood aside, they also said pretty much the same things about Dubya. "A nice guy; the kind of guy you could invite to a barbeque.." That sort of thing..

I suppose to these sorts of people, these are the qualities they would like in a president.
Why, I cannot fathom....

Because presumably they understand MY problems and are willing to help put my needs over some abstract ideal.

Case in point -- outsourcing of jobs. Every rational economist considers outsourcing to be a good thing; it lowers prices overall, which means that everyone pays less for the widgets they need/want. If corporate decides that it can make Dremel tools in Malaysia for half the price it can make them in Racine, Wisconsin, then they should do so. Everyone will be better off with cheaper Dremel tools.

.... except for the factory workers in Racine, who now find themselves jobless.

Another case in point -- a strong dollar helps consumers (who find they can buy imports more cheaply), a weak dollar helps producers (who find they can export more cheaply. Since most of us are consumers, not producers, we'd like someone who keeps the dollar artificially high so that we can buy cheap stuff from abroad (like Dremel tools).

And, of course, we want someone who is enough like us that he/she will be polite and not point out the contradictions in the above.

 

[Whiplash]

I think that is the comfort of the Palin...Bush thing. the Mom/Dad - kisses boo-boos.

*yawn*...typical patronizing and assumed superiority that are such well known leftist mentalities... yep, they are all simpletons compared to you guys.

 

[T.A.M.]

I think every politician plays the "I am just a common person at heart and understand their problems" card sometime in his or her career, no matter what country he is in. Bill Clinton was an absolute master of it. The problem with Palin is that is the only thing she brings to the table.

And for that reason, to me as I see it, she is a characture of that very image. She is too much the home grown, hockey mom just lookin' out for the common man.

TAM