I better say what I have to say about Sarah Palin now, because the narrative could easily change at the debate tonight. (Watching it at the Parkway with pizza, I hope.)
First, I can't stay focused on how "dangerous she is for this country" now that Obama's back up in the polls. That's partly because it's hard to take her seriously--the Dubya Paradox--and partly because she's such a great character. For maximum clarity, I'm not saying she has character, but that she is one. Taken together, the moose-hunting, the beauty pageants, the First Dude on his champion "snow machine," the preggers daughter, the son off to war, the Down Syndrome baby half-birthed on a plane, the updo and glasses "pr0n secretary" look (which I'm sporting for debate day), the readily-imitable voice, the religious nuttery--it's just so rich.
Second, I think the McCain campaign was mistaken in thinking a woman in politics could get away with being transparently dumb. Women have to pass a higher threshhold to be taken seriously. (As a black person, Barack Obama does too, but he's such a superbrain that it's a nonissue and we forget all about it.) George Bush, in the early years, used masculine swagger to make up the deficit in confidence created by his obvious dumbness. Palin isn't getting off so easy.
Incidentally, I saw clips from a 2000 Bush speech and was astonished at the difference between then and now. The man is a dehydrated water balloon. It's hard to remember how virile and scary he once seemed. As with Palin, as soon as they become cowering and meek instead of pathetic but powerful, you almost want to pity them. But then you just tell that to some baby boomer and they'll be more than happy to scold you on how dangerous ruining this country right wing nuts believe dinosaurs caused global warming and so forth.
And to all those who made contribs to Planned Parenthood in Palin's name, I'd like to thank you for my delightful pap last week.
First, I can't stay focused on how "dangerous she is for this country" now that Obama's back up in the polls. That's partly because it's hard to take her seriously--the Dubya Paradox--and partly because she's such a great character. For maximum clarity, I'm not saying she has character, but that she is one. Taken together, the moose-hunting, the beauty pageants, the First Dude on his champion "snow machine," the preggers daughter, the son off to war, the Down Syndrome baby half-birthed on a plane, the updo and glasses "pr0n secretary" look (which I'm sporting for debate day), the readily-imitable voice, the religious nuttery--it's just so rich.
Second, I think the McCain campaign was mistaken in thinking a woman in politics could get away with being transparently dumb. Women have to pass a higher threshhold to be taken seriously. (As a black person, Barack Obama does too, but he's such a superbrain that it's a nonissue and we forget all about it.) George Bush, in the early years, used masculine swagger to make up the deficit in confidence created by his obvious dumbness. Palin isn't getting off so easy.
Incidentally, I saw clips from a 2000 Bush speech and was astonished at the difference between then and now. The man is a dehydrated water balloon. It's hard to remember how virile and scary he once seemed. As with Palin, as soon as they become cowering and meek instead of pathetic but powerful, you almost want to pity them. But then you just tell that to some baby boomer and they'll be more than happy to scold you on how dangerous ruining this country right wing nuts believe dinosaurs caused global warming and so forth.
And to all those who made contribs to Planned Parenthood in Palin's name, I'd like to thank you for my delightful pap last week.
