Robert Schlesinger

William Shatner, Stephen Colbert Take on Sarah Palin's Farewell

July 28, 2009 RSS Feed Print

By Robert Schlesinger, Thomas Jefferson Street blog

My initial take on Sarah Palin's farewell address was that it was a nothing-burger and therefore a waste: She had the attention of the 24-hour news networks and could memorably lay out her vision for the country, or at least try to appeal to people who aren't already media-hating members of the cult of Palin. Instead, I thought, her farewell speech was mostly forgettable and much like her resignation speech: a strange hodge-podge of self-congratulation, stir-up-the-base sound-bites and awkward ad libs.

Oh was I wrong. Unfortunately for Palin, her speech is proving memorable, specifically a nonsensical sequence early on where she waxes poetic about Alaska. Poetic is the operative word, according to Conan O'Brien and the great William Shatner (h/t Andrew Sullivan):

And yes, that really is verbatim from her speech.

But O'Brien wasn't the only late night comedian to pick up on that phrase. Here's Stephen Colbert, using it to suggest that Palin's speech-writing style is something akin to political mad libs or magnetic poetry:

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So yes, the speech will prove memorable—for all the wrong reasons.

Tags:
Stephen Colbert,
Sarah Palin

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People like Sarah Palin exist because the simple means of communicatiion is in the hands of the right twing establishment. Debate as seen and heard continually on the BBC radio and TV is non-existent. The reactionary forces rule the roost.Instead you have the likes of Bill O'relly and crazy Glen beck. Neo-fascists. The word freedom is bandied about until it loses its true meaning. Democracy only works with a well informed populace. Which unforunately America does not possess.Ill informed people aimlessly doing their own thing is not Freedom. How many people for example will read your sensible article? indeed! how many people have the ability to digest it.! Witness what happens in France (the most politically au fait country in europe) they try but have great difficulty pulling the wool over their eyes. But what a country. The best health service in europe, a good education system, they march not only with their feet but with their Voices they man the barricades! (Aux armes citoyens)

Underfunded schools will ensure that ignorance will continue. Is it deliberate policy?

You have a long way to go to get out of the Stagnation that pervades America. The forces of reaction are slowly stifling Obama's hopes of change. Tell him in one of your articles that the best form of defense is ATTACK. Thomas Jefferson said 'DISSENT IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF PATRIOISM' i'll drink to that.

louis overs of CA 6:14AM August 05, 2009

What troubles me is this notion that we have to take sides in this country. You're either with us or against us, republican or democrat, red state or blue state. No one looks at an issue and struggles over the right decision to take anymore and yet our ability to reason is what makes us human. Lately we seem so willing to forfeit that gift of reason in exchange for the good feeling of beloning to a group. We all just take the position of our team.

When will the time come when we, as individuals look at a situation,assess it, find our own truth and then make our own decisions based on our own logic and reason?

All of these back and forth insults and banter just fuel anger and hatred. The issue at hand deals with Sarah Palin. You can love her or hate her, have an opinion, say what you think, just back it up with reason, because to base your opinion soley on party lines is in actuality to have no personal reason what so ever.

GF of NY 5:16PM August 01, 2009

Palin will never be President because she would never make it out of a Republican primary. Once her own kind have reason to turn against her, it's lights out lightweight. But she has had the very useful effect of revealing the complete lunacy and ignorance of large numbers of Republicans. You do realize that she has NEVER attempted to present and defend her views in an open press conference or open political talk show? To paraphrase Seinfeld, you folks are voting for laundry. Well, dry-cleaning. Now we understand why you supported the guys who crashed the economy and went to war in the wrong country. You had no idea what they were actually talking about.

nms of MI 6:03AM August 01, 2009

Robert Schlesinger

Robert Schlesinger

Robert Schlesinger is managing editor for opinion at U.S. News and World Report, overseeing all opinion editorial content. He is the author of White House Ghosts: Presidents and Their Speechwriters. E-mail him at rschlesinger@usnews.com. Follow him on Twitter: @rschles.

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