For Sarah Palin, a Love/Hate Relationship With Media Attention
If the Alaska governor can't stand the heat, she should go back to her regular duties
Here is a simple, two-word message for Gov. Sarah Palin and the national media's obsession with her:
Enough already.
Palin's brief and highly contentious run for vice president has been over for nearly three months. She has gone home to Alaska to assume her duties as governor there, yet the press seems enchanted with every tidbit about her and her extended family.
Like the other 49 governors in these tough economic times, Palin has a difficult job. Let's see if she can perform her duties, and let's forget about her husband, the so-called first dude, and their children.
Palin assuredly has enjoyed most of the post-election attention despite her complaints about intrusion into personal matters. Who can really blame her?
However, the governor can end nearly all of this. If she wants the national media to leave her alone, she should conduct no more interviews with reporters outside Alaska. And tell her stateside reporters to expect little response to national issues for an extended period.
Shut it down. No more long interviews with Matt Lauer on NBC's Today and other media still tracking her moves in Juneau.
My argument with Palin's run last fall was that she was unqualified and unprepared to be a heartbeat away from the presidency. Moreover, the top of the ticket was a 72-year-old man with some health issues.
Defense of Sen. John McCain's surprise choice was uniformly that she "excited our base." That meant conservatives, lukewarm at best about McCain. There was no mention of her being qualified to lead the nation with such a limited background.
Palin was right to complain about some of the errant material circulated about her and her family, largely by bloggers. The mainstream media should have learned a lesson about verifying what passes as news from the growing blogosphere.
Some conservatives are already booming Palin for the GOP presidential nomination in 2012. One silly poll reported she was the front-runner, although Barack Obama hasn't even been inaugurated yet. It was assuredly based on name ID only.
It is difficult to believe that Republicans like Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, possibly Jeb Bush, and even other GOPers are going to let her take center stage without a fight.
Palin's introduction to national politics was thanks to one individual, John McCain. Without his eleventh-hour nod to her as his running mate, we wouldn't be making any fuss over her.
Enough already!
- Read more by John W. Mashek.
- Read more about Sarah Palin.
Reader Comments
Death Panels
I have a question for Sarah Palin, has she read the healthcare/insurance reform bill? Where exactly in the bill did she find wording such as death panels? Can she back up this statement and has she ever heard of end of life care or dealt with a loved one in hospice who has consciously made their own well informed decision about any and all care that they would like to recieve from their doctor, their family and loved ones. I challenge Sarah P. to honestly and intelligently answer these questions and elaborate on them. I think she is uninformed and should not be in politics at all, I also believe she can't even hold a candle to Barack Obama or Joe Biden as far as politics are concerned and would have collapsed trying to deal with the enormous pressures that they and the rest of our government are facing at this time.
Sarah Palin is a Threat
This message is for those who are Sarah haters. There has been an agenda for quite some time, to destroy Governor Sarah Palin. The protesters really enjoy crucifying her over and over.
Governor Sarah Palin terrifies many people. She brings something out in them that surfaces to the light. It's "something" they don't want to see,think or feel.
Their brain gets all mixed up and fear grips their heart. And, they have felt so "empowered" by casting stones at her publicly. Ha! It is she who has the power over them!
The Alaskan Governor is inside their head; and they can't get her out. Those people must have Governor Sarah Palin for breakfast,lunch and dinner-and in between snacks. It's Sarah this and Sarah that. She's in their dreams and they can't even sleep. I have never seen anything like it before.
In the protesters' "wise" council, they try to explain it away with their so-called "reliable sources" from the blog o'world; why Governor Sarah Palin should never be President. Never? Why not? It's a shame some people rely on, "He said...she said..it must be true!" syndrome.
It doesn't matter if the Governor performs hundreds of good deeds for others and is very successful; they hate her just the same. Why? Listen folks, you don't have to agree with her on every issue; but, you should respect her as a human being and the office she holds.
Even if Governor Sarah Palin remains quiet in her beautiful state as one commentator suggested...the vultures will continue to seek her out. She knows this. Okay, be honest with yourself: You call her a liar. Are you a liar?
You call her a gossiper. Are you a gossiper? You call her a thief. Are you a thief? You call her uneducated? Have you "arrived" in all the education you can ever receive? Maybe, you've maxed out.
You say she is inexperienced and unqualified. Well, as long as people are alive, they will continue to experience new things; and hopefully learn from them. They become qualified.
Many Presidents never had the experience or qualifications to be President when they were elected; but, Governor Sarah Palin is different,huh? Why?
Oh, by the way; can you name all the cities and every country in the world and their locations off the top of your head--in snappy two minute questions?
Personally, I don't care who is the next President; as long as, they can help this country get back on track--maybe, it will be you!
If so, I strongly suggest that you brush up on your geography, World histories and customs; geology,socialogy, political sciences, and Humanities, etc. Be prepared to answer the questions off the top of your head at a moment's notice.
The "grilling questions" will shoot at you like darts when it's your turn. You'll be next in line to become a "piece of meat" to the masses who are ready to judge YOU.
Hatred of George Bush & Sarah Palin
I have never in my life seen so much hatred than what the main stream press has had for the last 8 years directed to George Bush. This was not criticism but pure hatred. We wonder why the rest of the world hate the U.S?
We have seen the same shameful hatred put towards Sarah Palin and her family. I thought families were supposed to be off limits to everyone except republicans ???
There is nothing fair and balanced, one set of rules for democrats and another for republicans.
George Bush should be congratulated for the way he treated the Obama's in their transition to the white house. Does anyone remember how the Bush family were treated? The nastiness and spite that Clinton's and their staff directed toward George & Laura Bush?
Democrats should hang their heads in shame.
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