House of Eratosthenes

I wouldn’t call it a spirited defense of Gov. Palin. But it’s certainly a resilient and robust one. Moreso than it could be, if there wasn’t some substance behind it.

Though regularly pronounced sick, dying, dead, cremated and scattered at sea, Mrs. Palin is still amazingly around. She has survived more media assassination attempts than Fidel Castro has survived real ones (Cuban official figure: 638). In her case, one particular method of assassination is especially popular — namely, the desperate assertion that, in addition to her other handicaps, she is “no Margaret Thatcher.”

Very few express this view in a calm or considered manner. Some employ profanity. Most claim to be conservative admirers of Mrs. Thatcher. Others admit they had always disliked the former British prime minister until someone compared her to “Sarracuda” — at which point they suddenly realized Mrs. Thatcher must have been absolutely brilliant (at least by comparison).

Inevitably, Lloyd Bentsen’s famous put-down of Dan Quayle in the 1988 vice-presidential debate is resurrected, such as by Paul Waugh (in the London Evening Standard) and Marie Cocco (in the Washington Post): “Newsflash! Governor, You’re No Maggie Thatcher,” sneered Mr. Waugh. Added Ms. Coco, “now we know Sarah Palin is no Margaret Thatcher — and no Dan Quayle either!”

Jolly, rib-tickling stuff. But, as it happens, I know Margaret Thatcher. Margaret Thatcher is a friend of mine. And as a matter of fact, Margaret Thatcher and Sarah Palin have a great deal in common. [emphasis mine]

Prediction: If she’s around, and I’m around, for the next four years, then every single day between this one and that one we’re just going to keep on keepin’-on. The Sarah Palin critics will insist it’s been proven, beyond any doubt, not even worth discussing any more, that Palin is a dimwit and an airhead.

And the more they insist, the more they’ll demonstrate by their continued insistence that there is a need to so insist — and therefore it is not proven…there must be some doubt…it is worth discussing or else nobody would be discussing it.

And Sarah Palin will continue to be more composed and dignified than any of them. She’s the Howard Roark of this story. She believes the stuff she says, which puts her on a whole different plane apart from the ankle-biters. And she stays there. Above them, operating in an entirely different sphere, one unaffected by what they think about things. And this is more than they can stand.

Reminds me of something I read last night, after Sarah Palin’s “second” grandchild (+++snicker+++) was born:

Lenny_da_Hog: When the GOP leadership admits to their party members that the choice of Sarah Palin was a huge mistake, based upon a complete disrespect for the voters’ ability to make informed choices about issues and policies, I’ll let it go.

You see, they’re still acting like she’s credible. They’re still telling their members that she was a true leader with experience enough to be the POTUS. They’re still trying to cash in on that fashion trend. They’ve invested in her, now.

When they can let it go and admit their stupidity, I’ll stop laughing at them and reminding them of it.

Clay pigeon loaded. Shotgun cocked. PULL!

Billy McGoodGuy: yes, because GOP leadership cares what you say on Fark.

Ka-blam.

It’s gonna keep happening that way, folks. Week in, week out, for the next four years. It’ll be a foregone conclusion that Sarah Palin was “not ready”…but the way we keep hearing it over and over again, with God only knows how much breathlessness, and vigor, and energy, and maybe even money behind it — is proof positive it isn’t a foregone conclusion.

There wouldn’t be any need to point it out.

Kinda like Barack Obama being a Higher Being and being capable of Solving All The World’s Problems^TM. Or that liberals are Really Good People^TM, Believe In Diversity^TM and are Capable of Nuanced Thinking^TM. If it really was true, why this continued and repeated allocation of scarce resources, toward no better end than to keep on saying it?

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Far Better Composed Than Her CriticsTuesday, December 30th, 2008

Far Better Composed Than Her Critics
Tuesday, December 30th, 2008