Sarah Palin Needs to Ditch Beltway Style for Republican Substance

Whether or not the article is original, is not essential. The question remains, is she educated enough about world and domestic affairs to run the country? Does she know how the Fed works as opposed to the Treasury? Has she geo-political knowledge which will allow her to make informed choices when difficult situations present themselves? Has she any knowledge about all the difficult problems dealing with the large cities on the coasts? Does she have an understanding of the powers and limitations of using military strength in problematic situations?

All these and an infinite number of problems arise which require, if they are to be dealt with wisely, a large view of both American and world history, economic dislocations, environmental concerns, political alliances and tensions. No one has argued that she could discuss any of these subjects without a tele-prompter feeding her popular tag lines.

When you get into a meeting with experts in any field, it is not enough to give a stump speech appropriate for an audience who have no knowledge about a subject.

charles gorodess of IL 4:13PM February 08, 2009

I think the point was well made, though I not sure people agree with me bases on the comments. I think they are missing the point. Style, and having the right opinion isn't the same thing as actually doing the work. I was interested enough to check on what the Alaska papers had to say and it seems she is clearly not worker in the sense that Nixon was. What is worse, she doesn't seem to appoint competent people to cover for her in areas she might be weak.

Your point that she not an idiot seems to inflame some people, but it's just colloquial. Regardless of her native ability, it is just plain stupid (not actually mentally stupid, just conceited) not to do the detail work that others are doing. The fact that she seems to have a habit of coasting on her ideology rather than preparation and her appointees have the same attitude isn't encouraging; it's like the blind leading the blind.

As far as whether Palin will ever smarten up, and put her nose to the grindstone, I sort of doubt it. She very successful as is without doing a lot of work. She's dumb like a fox. "Nice work if you can get it, and you can get it if you try."

The problem is not Palin; the problem is voters who prefer style over substance and either can't tell the difference or what is worse, can and don't care.

Mike of IL 1:23PM February 06, 2009

How sad that this fellow has to find a way to write about Gov. Palin to get people to read his drivel, and yet, knows it's beneath his elite station to write anything kind about her. She's been around 6 months and every person in America knows who she is. You look like you've been around forever and I've never heard of you.

danielle of MI 11:32PM February 04, 2009

Christians shall not bear false witness against their neighbor.

To that end, I'm sure that everything you believe you know about Obama, his book, Palin, the state of Alaska's economy or the proposed economic plan you got directly from talk radio. Independent research and thinking is not overrated. Try it.

When I read blogs like this I just get weary. Really that's all you got? Truth-devoid smear tactics. Disparaging someone's dead parents with falsehoods? Try to exemplify some of the characteristics that you see in Governor Palin. Mouthing-off falsehoods without reason and accountability is childish and ... cowardly.

America already and overwhelmingly said no, not this time. Your anti-intellectual, fear-baiting rhetoric and tactics are dead. Americans rejected those that put party before patriotism. Having witnessed numerous scandals, more scurrilous because of the hypocrisy they represented, they did not accept your party's claim in general and your candidates' claims in particular, of superior ethics and character. They turned a deaf ear to the ranting of "paling around with terrorists" from a candidate who praised the efforts of her husband's separatists party.

Read the plan before you criticize it. Citizenship is hard work. Try making a constructive suggestion. I find it interesting that the red states, including MO top the list of states that receive more from the Federal government then they send. I thought you all abhorred "redistribution of wealth" . As a NJ resident, of one of the largest, if not the largest, donor state (MO receives 32% more than it gives, NJ receives 39% less than it gives) I'll try not to call you a socialist .... maybe I'll just say you are a tad ungrateful.

By the way, Obama comes from a donor state, not suprisingly both McCain and Palin come from subsidized states. There are only two states that take more than Alaska. In fact, Alaskans don't pay taxes, state or sales. Revenues come from business, primarily oil, and federal subsidies. Alaskan citizens receive an annual $2k check from oil windfall profit taxes levied by the state. Sounds a little socialist.

Lastly, I hope all American presidents succeed because I love my country.

Stacey of NJ 7:58PM February 04, 2009