Yes, it was a great speech, possibly the highlight of the Republican convention. And yes, it was the climax of a big day for the GOP. First Romney and then Huckabee made their effective case against Obama and Biden. Then Giuliani came in as the Mafia Man to rough up Obama, a bruising he delivered with obvious relish. I would not have thought Palin could top these three seasoned veterans, but she did. It doesn't really matter how McCain does; the Republicans are off and running.
Commentators have noted that Palin spoke with aplomb. The liberals had sought to portray her as a bungler and a problem pick, akin to George H.W. Bush's selection of Dan Quayle. But the attacks created for Palin a great opportunity. All she had to show was that she was not the small-town nitwit of Democratic propaganda. Palin also demonstrated that she could mount a devastating attack on Obama--basically a "community organizer" who knows how to talk a slick game--without coming across as mean-spirited. This is a real art, to know how to punch with a smile. As commentator Fred Barnes said later, this is not an easy skill to learn. Palin didn't really learn it; she is a natural.
What struck me most about Palin, however, was not her pungent one-liners or her savoir faire. Rather, it was her girlish innocence, her unexpected candor and small-town charm. Palin came across as a really wholesome all-American, a real contrast with all the men in the race. Both by her words and her style, she contrasted herself with both Biden and Obama. Biden is basically a mediocre fellow (he graduated in the bottom 10 percent of his law school class, where he was found guilty of plagiarism) whose only original ideas have been terrible ideas, like carving Iraq into small pieces. He is also a product of the back-slapping Washington D.C. establishment. Republicans haven't bothered to attack Biden because he isn't worth attacking. By contrast, Democrats are going crazy over Palin because she scares them.
Even Palin's so-called problems highlight her normalcy. So her husband had a DUI conviction twenty years ago. First of all it wasn't her, it was her husband. Second, how does this compare with Obama, who was snorting cocaine twenty years ago? The media, with its familiar one-sidedness, has been commending Obama's "honesty" over his drug use while blasting Palin for her husband's irresponsible driving. Then Palin's daughter got pregnant at 17: apparently the "family values" didn't entirely get through. Even so, Bristol and the boyfriend are keeping the baby and getting married. So responsibility wins out after all.
By contrast, Obama said he wanted to preserve abortion rights because if his daughters got pregnant one day he wouldn't want them to be "punished" with a child. (Let's be glad that Obama's mom didn't think this way because if she had at the age of 18, Obama wouldn't be around today.) Even Palin's alleged action to fire the state trooper who split with her sister and then harassed her is precisely the kind of action that most Americans would take in a similar situation. While Obama is a cunning Chicago pol who has played his rhetoric and his machine connections to rise through the ranks, Palin remains authenticially all-American with ordinary and recognizable problems.
The problem for the Republicans is that many Americans have become jaded about them. McCain's maverick reputation helps, but it doesn't alter this reality. Palin, on the other hand, is a completely fresh face. I predict she will appeal not only to Christian conservatives but also to working-class independents, male and female, who see in her the promise of real reform. Palin offers change, but this does not take the form of warmed-over socialism. Instead, it is change in congruence with traditional American values. I don't know if an unspoiled person like Palin can actually clean out the Augean stables in the nation's capital, but she does seem determined to try. She is the new star of this political race and already she has altered the whole equation.
Reader Comments ( Page 3 of 44)
31. ATHEIST
I'm always impressed when a Roman Catholic gives me an Intelligent defense of Jesus' conversation with the unclean pneuma in the synagogue in Capernaum.
Heck, I'm impressed if they know what it is.
but so far... you'll have to wake me up, if and when an intelligent Catholic replies.
William Hays at 9:08PM on Sep 4th 2008
32. PtiB, that was beautiful.
BOB JOHNSON at 9:25PM on Sep 4th 2008
33. Wow, Dinesh. I just heard you on the radio and decided to check out your blog. I agree with your analysis of recent events as I have studied these issues and come to the same conclusion. After clicking over to comment, I had to (painfully) skim over the many troll's comments you have on your website. Please ignore them and continue your fine work.
Liberal Atheistic Trolls (LATs): I'm under 35, conservative, and Catholic. Its a shame that you use these comment sections to induce flame wars. Why not stick to intelligent discussion and asking thought-provoking questions instead? I plan on voting for McCain now more than ever b/c of Palin. All of my friends (Catholic and non-Catholics alike) also feel the same and are excited about actually shaking up Washington to bring about some good positive change.
I've noticed most of you LATs throw around the Republican title around here alot. Well, I've got news for you...I am not a party follower and neither is the 'average American'. I could care less what party a candidate belongs too or what race or gender he/she is. What truly matters is issues and a dedication to actually serving the people of this fine country instead of trying to 'rule' them. However, LATs, I can tell you are truly dedicated to the Democrat party line...hence the unruly attacks on Dinesh for actually thinking differently than you. And here I thought you were supposed to be the party of 'inclusivity' and 'tolerance'. I guess you only actually believe those two words have merit if you aren't challenged in your thinking.
TMac at 9:26PM on Sep 4th 2008
34. DD is as far out of touch with Americans as John McCain is. Sarah Palin is representative of all that is wrong with the Republican Party. Narrow-minded, egotistical, eurocentric, racist and elitist. Reference is made to "community service".
What would Palin know about the plight of the inner city? What would she know about ghettos, gangs, rampant drug abuse, high crime, low wages, under educated citizens, unqualified teachers, corrupt police, the divide between the haves and the have-nots? Absolutely nothing. What she knows about is the mindset of the right wing, ultra conservative christian so called "moral majority".
This country was founded on, among other things, religious freedom. The right to worship as anyone so chose. But let's remember, worship anyway you want as long as it is the evangelical way. And since when is any war that we participate in "God's Work"? since when does America participate in its own brand of Jihad? What about her comment on peoples rights? Prisoners rights are what separates us from most of the rest of the world. And what does she consider an American? The typical WASP or the melting pot that is truly America? Remember, the country was founded by foreigners. Yes we have an immigration problem. But let us consider why that is so. As bad as things may be here in America, it is better than wherever the illegal immigrants are coming from. We do need to get this under control, however, deciding what is an American is not up to the right wing. It is decided by the Constituion and the oath that all people take when naturalized and the birthright of everyone who is born hear. We need Obama, Biden, and all the other Democrats to steer this country back on course. To get the government back to the reality of what really is America, an American, and the plight of the real middle Americans.
sickoftherepublicans at 9:48PM on Sep 4th 2008
35. Dinesh,
Judging from the posters you have on your blog, you are casting pearls before the swine, at least 50% of the time. For every well reasoned, well written post there seems to be several mean spirited, poorly written, vindictive, and sadly, moronic posts from liberals and atheists. They seem to share one quality in addition to their uncanny mastery of non sequitur thought: they think with a tortured combination of ego and emotion. Most are simply too stupid and/or undisciplined to read your blog and respond in a cogent and relevant manner. Even with the text in front of them, they can't understand your lucid positions and respond intelligently. It is a sad testimonial to the schools in this country. The inability to read and comprehend explains, in part, the lack of respect these dolts show to obviously superior minds.It is the curse of the limited intellect that the dumb cannot appreciate those who are more intelligent, hence the lack of respect most of your posters show on this blog. If they at least had some humility they would humiliate themselves less, and stop posting entirely.
Truth at 9:53PM on Sep 4th 2008
36. WOW!!!! McCain is pretty lucky with two babes like Cindy McCain and Sarah Palin as VP... WOW!!!
Man_in_Wilderness at 10:24PM on Sep 4th 2008
37. Pliny Obama does not have an appeal to anyone with any common sense... He is the most in-experienced candidate in the history of America. That is why the dimwits are trying to compare him to Sarah... but she has twice the experience than he does.
Man_in_Wilderness at 10:39PM on Sep 4th 2008
38. TMac post 33 - I like the LAT's name... but really I think that my brothers and sisters are just mis-guided liberals. Without any values and can't stand those that do have core values and ethics.
Man_in_Wilderness at 11:17PM on Sep 4th 2008
39. William Hays at 5:14PM on Sep 4th 2008
-----------------------------------------
And you are not bright enough to understand what is right about Christianity.
Observant
xxx
Actually, that would be nothing. Now, go sit in a corner and practice humility until you can at least pretend you know what that is, godboy.
Tim at 11:19PM on Sep 4th 2008
40. Let's see, Tmac refers to people who see differently as him trolls while complaining about the name calling. Then 'Truth' busts out the theasaurus to call everybody else dumb while complaining about a lack of respect. Meanwhile despite lenghty posts neither offered any point of view other than liberals are dumb.
tmo at 11:41PM on Sep 4th 2008
41. I think a little thought experiment will demonstrate clearly just what is motivating far too many people to support Obama.
Let's imagine a man with all of Obama's qualities: his charisma, his background, his rhetorical gifts, his good looks, his youth and energy, etc. However, there is one difference: this man is white.
Would he have nearly the support Obama has today?
Shelby Steele, an African-American scholar has the perfect explanation for Obama's appeal (as opposed to our hypothetical white Obama, who would surely be successful, though not anywhere near the presidency): White Guilt.
Eric at 11:54PM on Sep 4th 2008
42. palin's speech was great -----more people decided to vote for obama or ron paul, ...thanks.
mccain gave the speech as a man broken by his life.
the week long theme of the RNC is "WE PROMISE TO QUIT OUR CHEAP WHORISH LYIN THIEVIN' WAYS.....AGAIN"
-----------and yes we know the surge is working because the iraqis decided to sell our/their oil to red china............
remind us:
why did we need a surge in the first place.................
Louis IX Kingoffrance at 11:55PM on Sep 4th 2008
43. "TMac post 33 - I like the LAT's name... but really I think that my brothers and sisters are just mis-guided liberals. Without any values and can't stand those that do have core values and ethics."
MIW,
I think it's a sad day in our world when I read comments like yours that states that any party or ideology different than yours lack morals and values.
This is why everyone has been jumping on the Republicans the last 4 days calling them hypocrites.
You claim to be the "moral party", but the actions of the majority of Republicans goes against that.
You've been taught this. You've been raised with this mentality. I'm sure of it.
This isn't good MIW, and this is why you and I always go back and forth on Scripture. You continue to live away from the message versus the message living within you and guiding you.
Botts at 11:55PM on Sep 4th 2008
44. "Would he have nearly the support Obama has today?"
John F. Kennedy.
Next time you want to do a thought experiment Eric, try to think about it first.
Otherwise, you just sound like an intimidated white dude who can't stand the fact that a black dude is smarter than you ...by far, and could actually run this country.
Now, you might not be this way at all, but this is what your "thought experiment" is making you sound like.
Botts at 11:58PM on Sep 4th 2008
45. 15. --EVERYONE 35 AND YOUNGER WILL BE REGISTERING TO VOTE THIS YEAR. WE WILL EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US CAST OUR VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA.--
Hi Steven!
Guess what? I'm under 35 and have every intention of NOT voting for Obama. Sorry to smash your childhood dream of becoming a political prophet. You should probably keep your day job. If you don't have one, you might qualify for welfare, in which case my tax dollars will help you get by. In either case, if I were you, I'd give up on vote predictions.
Once again, Dinesh, another excellent analysis of the current political situation. Well done!!!
Troy
Hi Troy- you could not sound more Gay if you tried! You should vote for Barock Obama girl! Anyway, it is obvious you are a fake and a liar just like DD. Your true aga is more like 50 and you live in a trailer park someplace in Texas. How is that for the all seeing eye! What a LOSER!
Dinesh D\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'Souza sucks goat at 12:07AM on Sep 5th 2008