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Sarah Palin, Revisited

Ok, how is this for ironic. I’ve said that I’m not going to post articles about Sarah Palin, but here I am. And this article is mainly positive about her! A must-read article in The Atlantic talks about Palin’s political record before she became the VP nominee. Palin was someone who took on the powerful and corrupt oil interests of her state, and won. Someone who worked with Democrats, and wasn’t all about social issues. But then she showed up at the Republican convention and gave a speech that was chock full of conservative republican red meat. And never looked back.

The only problem with the article was that it doesn’t have a clue as to why Palin did such a violent switch. Did she sell out for money and fame? Did her bad habit of vindictiveness get the better of her? It is an interesting portrait nonetheless. I might even have some measure of respect for the old Palin (similar to how I used to have some respect for McCain in the old days, but have lost all of that now). Is our political system really that all-corrupting?

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8 Comments

  1. Dan wrote:

    Yup, it is, just add cash. This actually supports a conversation I was having with a young man in the Army stationed in Alaska.

    Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at 7:59 pm | Permalink
  2. oregonbird wrote:

    You wouldn’t wonder, or be surprised (in print, if not in person) if you had read – or acknowledged? No,I think you have far higher integrity than that! the background of Palin as it has been covered by the bloggers in Alaska. She knifed her way into positions of power, and gave up each and every one when they required actual knowledge and work. Her appointments were corrupted by self-interest and cronyism… although honestly, Alaskan politics are so generationally inbred you would have to go to Massachusetts to avoid having a three-eyed political child. At least it makes informing yourself easier – the same names occur over and over, from seats on boards to corporate contacts to attorneys used. She wears on people, so she needs new fields in which to flourish and preen – look back along her path, and you find the abandoned or pissed-on carcasses of everyone who ever succored or supported her. If any person has reached middle age without retaining a single friend or acquaintance, it’s a red flag. In a public personality who presents herself as warm and charming to have no depth of acquaintance or support is far more than a red flag. And it is all documented by Alaska’s bloggers! For a list and connections to those – Progressive Alaska is good.

    Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at 9:00 pm | Permalink
  3. RK wrote:

    IK, You sound surprised?

    Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at 10:49 pm | Permalink
  4. Max wrote:

    Palin is a street smart opportunist. And she’s done very well for herself.

    Thursday, May 12, 2011 at 1:32 am | Permalink
  5. starluna wrote:

    My niece has been living in Fairbanks/North Pole for the past few years (her husband is stationed up there). She has told me that the long-time locals say pretty much the same thing that OregonBird reports.

    Thursday, May 12, 2011 at 8:04 am | Permalink
  6. ebdoug wrote:

    she is pretty and can be funny/the end

    Thursday, May 12, 2011 at 8:21 am | Permalink
  7. Jason Ray wrote:

    On the plus side, thanks to Palin we have Tina Fey’s version of Palin as well – and both are hilarious!

    Thursday, May 12, 2011 at 11:11 am | Permalink
  8. jonah wrote:

    I think this article shows what the fundamental problem with the voting population is. We seem to want to want someone who can inspire and work with others. Intelligence doesn’t seem to count at all. The bottom line is that the leader of the free world can’t be a dimwit. Sarah Palin is one and we all know based on W’s reign what a dimwit could do to the entire world. Someone with her level of intelligence and lack of desire to learn should never be allowed to run for the white house. HEr ability to work with others is moot.

    Sunday, May 15, 2011 at 7:10 am | Permalink