My Sarah Mania
Sarah Palin has hit a nerve with me. I’m trying to understanding it by writing about it.
In just over two weeks, I’ve gone from being a non-registered, non-voter with a 90% laissez faire attitude about what government does to being all-in for a person I want to see become president.
Being disaffected by politics didn’t mean I was without strong political beliefs. It meant I was without hope that anyone strong enough to articulate and push a strong Libertarian message would ever be motivated enough to run for office. My political foundation has been shaped by the speeches of Ronald Reagan and the writing of Libertarians like William F. Buckly and Camille Paglia. I believe God created us as vessels of free-will. We can do good. We can do bad or we can do nothing. I believe in freedom of choice across the board because that’s the system illustrated in the Garden of Eden.
Coming out of school, the Republicans held sway with me because their rhetoric was closer to Libertarianism. The Contract with America gave me great hope that I could see wasteful government spending come to an end. When that didn’t happen. I gave up and dropped out. If the political system’s intention was to screw itself, I wasn’t going to hang around and watch.
I had a little (unfounded) hope that Democrats would learn from Clinton’s Republican-Congress-Assisted fiscal restraint. As my fellow Christians seemed to grow more and more enamored with political power, I hoped for a new kind of Democrat party … one that was socially liberal and fiscally conservative. That hope was very short lived. It’s clear that the roots of socialism are too well established in the Democrat party.
I didn’t plan to vote this year, like I haven’t voted for the past several years, and then along came Palin.
It starts with the fact that she’s a woman and I’m a feminist. I don’t have much respect for men in general so men have to prove themselves in my life, but I’m likely to give a woman the benefit of the doubt. Margaret Thatcher said, “In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man; if you want anything done, ask a woman.” Oh Man! I can’t tell you how much I believe that, but for me, it goes beyond politics. I’d rather follow a woman than a man in almost any circumstance.
Beyond being a woman, Sarah Palin is a strong communicator who warmly and smoothly articulates her message in a way that attracts even people who disagree with her. It isn’t a quality that can easily be faked. She comes across as a politician who is genuine and I trust her. That never happens with me so I’ve been reading every blog post and news story about her. Memeorandum has overtaken Techmeme as my favorite Web site.
What I’ve learned about her, is that her enemies fear her because she is so damn effective. Lies about her record in Alaska are jumping up like popcorn, but they don’t stick because all they are just popcorn. She’s slashed government spending on things that don’t work or don’t matter in Alaska. That’s something I’ve always longed to see a politician do. She stood against and exposed corruption in the good-ol-boy networks and I don’t even want to get started on what I think about good-ol-boys. She learned from mistakes. Yes she originally supported the Bridge to Nowhere, but realized it was wrong and killed it. The Alaskan Democrat Party Web site credited her with killing the Bridge to Nowhere (and then took down the page after her nomination).
Camille Paglia is a lesbian, feminist, pro-abortion writer who supports Obama. She writes more eloquently than I ever could about why my friends on the social left don’t have a legitimate reason to fear Sarah (based on her record) and why feminists in particular shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss her.
I want to see someone go to Washington and kill programs that don’t work or don’t matter. Sarah Palin is the first person I’ve seen who just might do it.
This year I’m going to vote for John McCain, but I’m really voting for a future Sarah Palin presidency. I want to have a daughter one day and I prefer a woman in the White House when my girl (or boy) is growing up.
6 Responses to “My Sarah Mania”
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“It starts with the fact that she’s a woman and I’m a feminist. I don’t have much respect for men in general so men have to prove themselves in my life, but I’m likely to give a woman the benefit of the doubt.”
This is not feminism Neal and if you believe it is you have a great deal to learn about feminism and the feminist movement. Feminism is about equality, that a woman can do the same job a man can do. What you are suggesting by this statement is you support reverse sexism, that men are inferior to women and this counters the feminist argument since feminism is about equality, that that neither sex is greater than the other. What this should easily translate into is that men and women equally get the benefit or have to prove their selves (meaning you are are either generally optimistic or skeptical). Neither is in a position of benefit over the other.
I believe in your right to support whom ever you decide in the upcoming election. However, I think it is a misguided vote to support a woman based on just the fact she is a woman. You have ignored a number of issues that the “left” have brought up against her that warrant further examination. Inexperience, interference with the employment of a State trooper (under investigation), the fact she does not support teen sexual education and yet has a pregnate teen daughter (Cause and effect?), tried to stop the listing of the polar bear on the endangered species list because it might interfere with oil and gas development (big oil before environment), and finally her involvement with an organization that is fighting for Alaskan independence (counter to leading a union of states!).
If you vote for her, do it with an open mind and not under some misguided philosophy that to be a feminist is to support a woman just because she’s a woman. Support a woman because like anyone else, she’s proven she is able to do the task requested of her.
Christopher, you don’t know me very well. I don’t need lessons from a man about what feminism is or isn’t. I’m all to happy to take instruction about feminism from Camile Paglia, but not a guy.
The number one point about my blog, is that everything I write here is for me. That eliminates any need to explain to myself what feminism is about. I wrote this piece because I needed to explain to myself why I suddenly care about someone running for office. It’s entirely a unique occurrence in my life.
My graduate degree is in psychology, so I write here for therapy. You’re welcome to read the blog, but I’m not writing here to convince you or anyone else to agree with me about anything. The only reason I can imagine my blog would be of any interest to someone other than me is if he or she is interested in psychology.
Writing this piece, I gained personal insight and so for me? Mission accomplished!
I have not ignored issues raised by Palin’s critics. I’ve read every blog post and news piece about Palin that has made it’s way through Memeorandum in the last two weeks. That includes posts by reasonable people on both sides and posts by nut jobs on both sides. It includes pieces published by the New York Times along with pieces published by the National Enquirer. I’ve read no fewer that 70 stories in the last 24 hours just about the stupid lipstick on a pig thing. I’ve watched videos of Sarah speaking in church. I’ve watched videos of her in debates and in TV appearances. I could not have paid more attention to every issue raised by the left and right about her without taking time off to do it.
I appreciate that you’ve taken the time to weigh in with your thoughts, but I’m not writing here to get praise from people who agree with me or to argue with people who disagree.
Neal, with all do respect when you blog publicly you open yourself to pubic comment. Whether you write for yourself or for others, it is in a public domain. No different that standing on a street corner talking for anyone who walks by to hear. It’s part of the risks we manage as bloggers, our opinions are open for criticism.
As for Feminism, I again respectfully disagree. A man can be just as educated about feminism as a woman. As a liberal feminist I believe that. To say a man can’t be a feminist or be educated or express an opinion on feminism (and be correct at that) is just as ignorant as people who think a woman is somehow unable to do the job of a man, or be as effect a leader of a man.
I am well educated and experienced in what feminism is and is not, in its many facets.
I enjoy the blog, don’t stop for a moment. Regardless of my or anyone else disagreeing with you.
But Christopher … one point that really matters here is that you don’t seem to know me. Maybe I’m wrong, but I get this vibe from what you’ve written that suggests that you think I’m a conservative. Libertarians (me) never feel like liberals or conservatives get us because we’re both and neither at the same time.
When I started the blog, I had comments turned off. I turned them on because people kept asking me too, but I’m still not sure about the decision and here’s why:
When I write a post, it’s an emotional release, I get catharsis and I’m ready to move on. With comments, I don’t move on until the conversation ends. It like diluting the medication.
Neal,
You have all rights to feel the way you do about her (just like I have real reasons why I can’t stand her) but when it’s all said and done, my fear for you is simple:
She’s not the President nor will she ever be. So voting for McCain because you like Palin and because you think she can do all this stuff you write about is kinda sad, to me. I feel like your hopes will be sorely taken away when you realize the race for President is and always has been McCain vs Obama.
Trust me.
Neal, also I will always respect your opinion and your right, this is your blog you can write however you wish! We’re here as your audience.
But to Chris point, there are absolute valid concerns about Palin’s record, including the Bridge to Nowhere (go to a reputable news source and you’ll see she was actually FOR it until she realized the federal government wouldn’t allow the earmarks so then she decided to go against it. And this is a source from NPR, which I know you trust and support!)
I think Chris and my point is this – you have EVERY right to like her and support her. Good for you for getting involved and actually liking politics again!
But, be careful when you make accusations that she’s blameless and semi-perfect because I assure you, first and foremost, she’s a politician…
Slamming Obama for being one of the best community servers our country has right now just goes to show you her character flaws.
Again, I am not arguing with you – I am HAPPY you like someone so much. It’s a great feeling, isn’t it?
Just be careful with your liking her clouding your judgement that she’s really “all that.”