House of Eratosthenes

When we’re talking about a democrat, it seems we’ve all or mostly settled into a belief that it’s a sales job…a cheerleader job…it demands a talent that has something to do with “instilling beliefs” in people…”calling on” people…making people step up to do what those people already know they should be doing anyway.

When we’re talking about a Republican, suddenly it seems we change our minds and in the blink of an eye, the job transforms into something that has to do with playing Trivial Pursuit, or something like it. I dunno. Maybe we’re being somewhat consistent on the “making people feel” stuff. Suddenly we’re feeling un-confident because the person cannot list the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu in the correct order.

I’m a little less concerned about what newspapers Sarah Palin reads, than about whether Barack Obama can locate Afghanistan on a map. Seriously. Thomas Jefferson famously said “The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers.” Makes you wonder if Punch Sulzberger has access to a time machine.

Rush Limbaugh giving his thoughts, responding to Chris Wallace…who falls into the tired old meme…wow, do you think Sarah Palin’s ready? Can she speak the seventy languages we demand out of people who want to be President — when they’re Republicans? Balance three basketballs on her head while juggling enraged wombats in heat and riding a unicycle? Use her mind tricks to convince an Imperial Stormtrooper these aren’t the droids he’s looking for?

I disagree with Rush on something near the end, though. Politicians do get dragged through things. And while what Sarah Palin endured is certainly…ah…unique — there are some other things that might be worse, that are not going to be happening to her. I think if you’re married and you cheat and get caught at it, then try to hang onto your career with bloody fingernails while the powers-that-be have decided it isn’t in the cards…that can get ugly. Or you can be a white male who is caught mistreating women. A Republican white male, that is. A Bob Packwood. Not saying Packwood didn’t deserve what he got, but I think that was worse than what Sarah Palin went through.

Be that as it may — smiling through it is not a rarity at all. We have it in abundance. That phony, painted-on parade-beauty-queen smile. It’s almost a form of pollution. And yeah, they can keep it up through thick & thin.

Palin’s smile, I think, is genuine and that is what makes it unique. Limbaugh should have elaborated on this for that is what he truly meant…

Anyway, the dichotomy is interesting. People are ready to swear on a stack of bibles their thoughts haven’t been manipulated. And yet they all march in lock-step on this: “Do you think Sarah Palin’s ready to be President?” Unvoiced subtext: With all the responsibilities and demands that the job entails? Like performing brain transplants everyday using just your thumbs?

Whether or not Obama’s ready, and suddenly we’re talking about a whole different job. Of COURSE He’s ready! Sure He’s got a few nutty ideas, like when you have more debt than you can ever repay you should take out more debt. But nevermind all that, He makes you feel so good!

OK first things first. Giving Wallace the benefit of the doubt here, interviewers ask questions to get a response, to let the person being questioned a chance to put forward their position. Not necessarily to get an answer they don’t already know or even disagree, or agree for that matter, with.

Secondly, Rush’s comment about Palin smiling even though she’s been viscously attacked is the complete opposite to what you’re comparing it to – politicians who brought attacks onto themselves through some egregious mistakes.

Other points, ditto and well said.
- tim | 11/04/2009 @ 11:08
Since my official divorce last year from the GOP, I’ve been examining the party and its candidates without my partisan rose colored glasses. Not an easy thing to do, since I don’t despise my ex or want to see him buried six feet under.

You’re right, Morgan. Conservatives and our pundits expect their candidates to offer substance in addition to charisma. Many of us hold them to high standards across all spectrums, social & fiscal, of ideological purity and levels of competence that, frankly, are unattainable in any politician running for higher office. We want perfection and we are not going to find it in an election system that relies on powerful lobbyists, large corporate donors and special interest groups.

Sarah Palin may not be extremely qualified to run our as chief executive, unfortunately her governorship wasn’t years deep, but I’d take a woman or man who managed a state competently, as she did, any day over a bench sitting, power mongering, legislating, tax and spend, statist bureaucrat in the house or senate.

And I like her smile. She makes me feel good when I hear her speak. Does that make me a squishy liberal?
- Daphne | 11/04/2009 @ 16:21
The SWPL crowd seems impressed by the fact that Obama has read the likes of Reinhold Niebuhr. Were that sufficient qualification, I could be the next Peanut Butter & Jelly Czar, or whatever.
- CGHill | 11/04/2009 @ 20:23
It is my impression that Wallace knows Limbaugh well socially, knew what the answers would be, agrees with them, and was making every effort to keep a straigt face in asking. The one answer that may have surprised him was in Limbaugh unequivically stating that Palin was ready. Nobody is ready, but he didn’t want to confuse the issue.
- xlibrl | 11/04/2009 @ 22:13
[…] works not just in the democrat party machinery, but across the landscape of the electorate as well. Republicans are qualified if and only if they can instantly recall, with accuracy, exotic names, his…. And a month onward, I made some observations about a quality some of our previous Presidents have […]
- House of Eratosthenes | 01/29/2010 @ 08:14

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Wednesday, November 4th, 2009