GOP Superstar?
Here’s to your inevitable political downfall!
I read this article about the respective public spectacles over Michael Jackson and Sarah Palin and it got me thinking about the spectacle that became Sarah Palin last autumn during the American presidential elections and her present attention-grabbing efforts. Her untimely resignation from the Alaska gubernatorial seat should be another nail in her political coffin, but apparently she is up in the polls with republicans. This does nothing to inspire confidence in her ability to lead—particularly considering that she has just stepped out of such a position in a fit of overly-self-confident irresponsibility. The GOP has backed some horrifying failures of late and continues in its ability to conflate “conservatism” with bigotry and fiscal liberality.
Perhaps this is the strangled choking death rattle of the GOP at last.
Somehow I doubt it, but it would be nice to think so.
This maneuver on Palin’s part is little more than her present attempt to get herself back in the spotlight of national political fame—and scrutiny. It turns out that the old marketing folk-wisdom approach—that both praise and criticism have equal value, as long as they turn heads—works as a strategy for political advancement in the United States now. Last autumn, Palin was roasted over and over again by critics, political rivals and comedians. Rather than taking any criticism seriously—and, though dismissive, it was serious—she soldiered on bravely, in the eyes of her supporters. The rest of thought that she did so foolishly. I often felt pity for her. She was placed in the public eye by the GOP essentially unprepared and then made a spectacle of. At the time, it seemed as though this was something that was being inflicted upon her. Now, however, her spectacular displays of incompetence and lack of judgment have proven to be self-motivated.
It is unfortunate for conservatives, particularly for women, to have to even give any thought to this rambling, silly woman as a viable candidate for anything, let alone the Presidency. It is also remarkable that the conservatives who support her, just as they supported President Bush, seem to do so uncritically, praising when she says something they agree with, ignoring the malapropisms and blaming her critics for their “meanness.” I say that it is remarkable because it demonstrates precisely the way that the American political machine has come to operate. Substance and form no longer matter, having been replaced by sentimentality and dogged devotion—probably driven by a desire not to be seen as backing a failure, fool, or asshole.
Perhaps this does represent the death rattle of the GOP after all. The Republicans would do well to leave some of their failures and garbage along the side of the road. If they don’t, they are likely looking at a series of very disappointing years before they figure out a way to turn the apathy and indecision of the Democrats against them again. So, here is to you Sarah, may you be taken out with the rest of the political celebrity trash. God help you until then. You’re going to need it.
Update:
10. July 2009 14:48
In case you needed another argument why we should let her go quietly into the night: here it is.
2007–2010 John D. Martin III
1
I'm not as cynical as all that, although maybe cynical isn't the right word: a GOP death rattle is rather romantic right now. For all that it has narrowed-in-focus and tossed its weight rightward, the GOP is still a party of startling diversity. Don't get me wrong (please, I'm a socialist), they still aren't bringing anything to the table on the magnitude of Democratic initiatives, which themselves don't live up to what the circumstances permit. But the contingent of that party that looks on Palin longingly, as a beacon of morality and idolatry, blessedly akin to a Ron Paul or a Relph Nader), there are others, not necessarily in the party leadership, who are trying hard to get back into the game.
I would agree with your assessment, however, that Palin is shooting herself in the political head. It's a development that makes me happy, not so much because I ever thought that she was a viable threat to competent democrats, but because she seems to bring out the absolute worst in Americans.
2
"…she seems to bring out the absolute worst in Americans." Amen, brother.
You are right about the death rattle. I'm just being optimistic. It just seems to me that the dumbing of American politics is progressing ever more rapidly as it is fed by near-instantaneous misinformation and punditry.