There is one thing that drove the anointed Left nuts about him though; he wasn't one of them and he didn't really care. Make no mistake, Class can make a big difference for both Left and Right. If you come from the right family and go to the right schools - you get cut a little slack as long as you maintain proper social connections and if you are on the right, don't try to get too much power. If you are a beautiful loser that serves as an easy foil - like Minority Leader Bob Michel, you're ok.
But if you come from fly-over country and did something besides be a lawyer or professional politician - then they will tear you apart.
Hey, I know I have been a Palin since earlier this year when almost no one knew who she was - but does she really deserve the attacks from CBS to The View that she is getting? Is she really as bad as all say - the Governor of Alaska? The most popular Governor in the USA? Just because her father was a teacher and she had to put herself through college? Just because she is still married to her High School sweetheart and has five kids? Even though she pulls in the crowds she does?
I read most of the negative stuff about her - but I also watch and read her. I want you to read this speech she gave on 02 AUG 08. Just read it and then come back.
Is this the person you read about in the MSM? At least I know that I am in good company. I am going to quote in full Bill Dyer of BeldarBlog fame - another Palin fan.
I am sorry, he is exactly right.
I'm watching Sarah Palin address a campaign rally in Scranton, Pennsylvania, live on Fox News, and I can't recall ever seeing a GOP rally like this. The crowd is genuinely pumped, which is rare enough. But what's particularly amazing is watching and listening to Gov. Palin. I can't recall ever seeing a politician who so clearly relishes campaigning. She's animated and enthused. I know she's speaking from a teleprompter, and she's probably delivered large chunks of this same speech before many times, but she's tuned in on every line.When the right has someone that doesn't fit the hate-speckled boogie-man that the Left has in their head to justify their own hate - they just become unhinged. That is what Palin does, just like Reagan, unhinges people - even some on the right.
She is simply infused with joy. And it flows off the stage, and it's picked up quite powerfully by the TV cameras.
On his best occasions, Reagan had this same quality, but it was more muted, more of a twinkle from behind his carefully maintained stage presence. With Gov. Palin, it's nearly continuous and much more obvious. And I think that's a big part of why she inspires the same harsh counter-reactions from political opponents that Reagan did — the same desperate need to ridicule and belittle, to delegitimize. (You'll see it in the comments to this post within minutes after it goes up, of course.) She has to be shouted down and scorned, because if people are allowed to listen to her, that damned joy might turn out to be ... contagious!
It's a quality that was almost entirely missing from the speeches of, for example, Hillary Clinton, who turned every speech into a siege and whose grim purpose was impressive but slightly scary. Bubba, however, could work himself into joy at the drop of a hat.
Sarah Palin is just haviing a grand old time. If she's afraid of looking foolish, or of her elitist critics, or of her ticket's chances on November 4th, then she's entirely suppressed those fears. I freely admit that with me as a listener, and probably most of the folks at this rally, she's preaching to the choir. But so, too, are lots of politicians, in most of their speeches. And they just don't come across with this same zest.
I am convinced that people like Hitchens, Brooks, and Buckley do not care for her because she isn't one of "them." Why do I say that? Because I am one of "them." I grew up with "them." Thank goodness I am a Southeastern and not a Northeastern one of "them." Perhaps that is why "Joe Sixpack" comments don't give me the vapors watching it on my flat screen at my beach house in The Hamptons.
Sure, it got old to me early - but everything isn't about me. I and my "them" usually have a few close cousins who fit the "Joe Sixpack" description - as I think the Southeastern version of "them" cross-breed through Class lines a bit more than the Yankee version. And my "them" actually have Republicans at something close to 50/50 min.
At least at my High School reunions I just get pitied for picking such a non-lucrative career field and not admonished for being a baby-killer - well maybe one baby-killer snarl from "her" ... but I think that has to do with the fact I wouldn't date her in '82 and picked her friend instead ..... women can hold a grudge. Debutantes wearing Patchouli oil....you know the type - "tax the rich, but stay away from my trust fund" type...but I digress.
Back to Gov. Palin though; maybe it is just me and my blindness - but I don't think so. Am I wrong? Is she better than Sen. Biden? I think there is no question.
I am with Laura here - but I have to deal with Heather. Here it is in a nutshell. Of note - Laura is one of "them" even more than I am - by a factor of 10 as she is of the Northeastern variety - and I am with Laura. Oh, BTW - like Laura I was never a McCain guy either - until the other option was Obama.
From NRO, this is the "they" I know:
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