When Sarah Palin first entered the national scene last fall, people like me (often referred to as the "Republican base," though I dislike that term) were very excited. Here we had a nice surprise for a change - a genuine conservative, a true reformer who was willing to take on her own party. And more importantly, the closest thing we had in the world of politics to a regular person. Her story was inspiring, her authenticity refreshing, her family and appearance fresh and attractive. In short, someone who could energize a base very disappointed in the selection of McCain, and feeling as if we had no one running for us in the race.
As time went on and the media attacks intensified, it only hardened our resolve and strengthened our love for Sarah. That's right, "Sarah" - she became someone we felt comfortable referring to by just her first name, and not in a mocking way. But did we ever look beyond the superficial? Did we actually look into her views on, say, Iran or North Korea? We knew she was pro-life in the most literal and true way possible, having kept her son even with a birth defect. We knew she had a deep love for the military, as shown by her intense pride for her son choosing to serve. And we knew she could give a good speech, raise a good crowd, and piss off all the right people. But did we actually know what her positions would be on health care, taxes, or most importantly, the economy? I don't think so.
In the end, as the election ended and the dust cleared, we were left with an unrestrained, unfettered Sarah Palin, no longer tied to the "progressive light" McCain ticket. This was exciting in a way - now she could speak her mind and serve as a popular and effective governor. The future seemed promising for her, if she could brush up on her policy knowledge, learn to express her views clearly, and continue to reform Alaska. The media would continue to demolish her, and her fans would continue to love her. All she had to do was do her job well, prove herself as a serious leader, and earn her way to mainstream respect.
Now she's thrown much of that away, and we're left to figure out why she did it, and what it means for her future. The simple fact is, that at this point, Sarah Palin is not a serious figure. She has shown no ability to lead, to serve, or to present herself as a legitimate political player. While some of these things may endear her to fans, they mark her as unfit for higher duty. If she resigned because of attacks, she can't take the fire. If she did it for some perceived personal benefit, she is just as self-centered and ambitious as any politician. If she did it for her family, that is all well and good, but if that is the case, can she please just settle down and stop exposing them to attack?
In my opinion, then, I think that any chance Palin had of being a legitimate leader is, at best, on hold. She has the talent and the fan base to continue as an influential figure. But in truth I think her views make her little more than a socially conservative populist. Her demeanor is erratic and unpredictable. As governor she has proven to now be unreliable. As a political fighter she is fierce on the attack, but unable to defend her positions with any great clarity. She is now basically a joke in most people's eyes, and this is largely her fault. One cannot imagine her taking on a politician of Obama's caliber. But who knows in politics, right?
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