Palin – Brooks: She’s a Joke; Ifill: Don’t Underestimate Her Appeal

Ms Ifill, as a woman, I could not disagree with you more. Down here in the trenches, it is the women who are especially turned off by Palin. As an Ivy League educated, Masters level professional woman, I am insulted and saddened that this woman is what the GOP considers acceptable in a female candidate. As details about Palin’s book emerge, I am certain that Mr. Brooks is correct. She is simply not a serious contender, let alone a person to be taken seriously. She appears to have the emotional maturity of a teenager and an utter disregard for facts and the world around her.

Wow, a talk show host and a joke. What an insult to all of those who gravitate towards her basic message of let us remember the individual freedoms that have led us to become the greatest nation. Her opinions are obviously dismissed by the great minds of DC and NY (David Brooks)but they resignate with this joke and may others. To call her a talk show host and a joke when you look at what she has accomplished in her life by her mid forties illustrates the arrogance of Brooks (who writes about what others like Sarah Palin actually do vs. actually doing something productive himself).

Brooks, exposing an irony that he is ill equipped to recognize, says Palin is a joke. Woodward, a man who used to be a reporter, continues the Palin bashing with “Americans don’t elect presidents based on a compelling story”.
Clearly Woodward believes that we elected Obama based on his vast experience while Brooks is watching Palin laugh all the way to the bank.
Seriously, these are the best people you can get for your roundtable?

“When Mr. Stepanopoulus and company become a part of the United States America, then I will take them seriously.” —- Interesting… by your standards or is there a handbook we all need to read? You do what the Constitutions says?

Is Palin a nitwit? Yes. …But.
Given the fact that we have underfunded and overcrowded our school’s classrooms over the last 40 years or so due to fears and complaints about taxes, what do you expect?
People made a big deal about kids being taught things other than the “3 Rs” and yet you fail to see that teaching to pass exams isn’t going to be an improvement? The best equivalent that I can think of for the effect that NCLB will have on schools is the Cheshire Cat as it slowly disappears into its smile and then is completely and totally gone.
So how in the world do you expect people to be smart enough to see Palin for what she is at this point?

A woman is in her 3rd month of pregnancy and the baby she is carrying dies. (These things do happen.) However, if Sarah Palin, had her way, this woman would not be able to terminate her pregnancy because that would be considered an abortin.
A 14 year old girl is brutally raped and beaten by her mother’s live-in boyfriend and becomes pregnant as a result. She too cannot terminate that pregnancy, if Sarah Palin had her way.
When Sarah Palin was mayor of Wasilla, she permitted bars to stay open until 5 AM. When the chief of police objected because of the increase in DUI’s she fired him. Of course, permitting saloons to stay open until 5 AM, gives a lot of husbands more time to drink away their pay checks. It increases the likelihood of domestic violence. It increases the number of sexual assaults. But as mayor of Wasilla, Sarah Palin, made rape victims pay for their own rape kits, so that sexual assaults really became a form of municipal revenue.
Is this what the women of America want??? If so, maybe I should invest money in a company that produces padded coat-hangers. If Sarah Palin gets elected, that will become a thriving business.

Ivy League educated, Masters level professional women are apparently not perceptive enough to recognize, much less understand the enormous appeal Palin has to blue-collar and home-oriented women, to mention two significant demographics. Then, there are the men, the Republican strategists who do, and plan to employ it. Like it or not, you underestimate Palin’s political potential at your peril. Even if she does not run for office ever again, she is a formidable campaigner who will draw like Oprah when the conservatives trot out their contenders. And those constituents could care less what Ivy League educated Masters level trench dwellers think.

“… I defy you to find another woman who … is as sexy,and likeable.”
Posted by: David | Nov 15, 2009 11:35:26 AM
Let’s cut to the chase, David. SHE’S HOT and EVERYONE knows it but HARDLY anyone wants to ADMIT it publicly. Even you want to throw in something about “issues.”
HOTNESS is Palin’s APPEAL.
She’s not saying ANYTHING that INTELLECTUALLY inspires or arouses anyone. It’s all about her HOTNESS.
Once we admit that, we can agree to disagree.
Personally, I don’t think she’s presidential material and I think at the end of the day, David (BROOKS, that is) will be right and the Republicans will turn to someone else (not Mitt “Mormon” Romney) to lead the party. Sarah’s Minnesotan voice will not win the day. But she’ll cash out nicely.

I really have to wonder about the passionate, and vocal, condemnation the left heaps on Sarah Palin. Personally, I don’t have a strong opinion of her politically, but I can say that based on what I’ve seen, she would be a great neighbor, and in any concievable election she would come out as the candidate most voters would ‘want to have a beer with’.
Voters prefer people they understand, not stiff academics, folks married to billionaires, or career politicians.
In the last election, Gov. Palin was on the ticket as VP, not President, and the Republican candidate picked her, not the rank & file members of the party. The only group talking about Palin for POTUS are the Democrats, and why would the Republican party look to them for advice?

Has Palin talked about the economy,jobs,national security,or foreign policy?I would prefer these topics be discussed instead of the topics of the past.Also,I want to know how her mothering for her baby has been since she was put in the spotlight.Her stance on family values are to be questioned with her trotting around the country.I am sure the democratic leaders of this country smile every time Palin opens her mouth.If she wants to be a part of the national political scene she should throw her support to a Republican that can give Obama a run for the money in 2012.I hope Senator Mcain realizes he has created this monster for the republican party.Palin is a joke at the expense of all Americans concerned for the welfare of the United States.

Considering we’re only 9.5 months into THIS administration, I think it’s hilarious that there’s already so much speculation. My guess is that her book will make her less, not more, viable as a Prez candidate. I’m sure the book will be a great and entertaining read for those who both love and hate her and there will be plenty for both the left and the right to have some fun with. Whether she’s trying to position herself as a 2012 candidate, I don’t know and honestly don’t care.

I disagree with Gwen Ifill and actually think the few who are drawn to palin aren’t because of gender but rather because of her religious beliefs (even if obviously hypocritical on those) and ability to lie about issues and personally attack those she disagrees with while at the same time playing the victim.

I love it! The beauty of this idea about Sarah Palin being ‘a joke’ as some say! Well, Gentlemen, I think you will be very surprised to see the Women of this nation, as Gwen has intimated… ban together under Sarah’s capable and proven leadership! Gentlemen, you just don’t realize what you are doing by egging us ladies on! Watch what is coming!!! Then we will see just who ‘the joke’ was played on!

“the McCain campaign went for a poster girl rather than a woman with real chops like Kay Bailey Hutchison.”
I live in San Antonio and Kay is my senator. I can absolutely tell you that Kay Bailey Hutchinson is not what any party needs. She is a pseudo conservative who represents a very conservative state. As for me, I would rather have Palin as my senator. I would also rather have Palin as my president rather than the “bow to every foreign leader” clown we have in office today. Until the Democrats pick a sensible candidate, Sarah Palin may indeed become president.

After four years of Obama, America will beg to have a president like Sarah Palin. Whether that is Sarah herself or another candidate that shares her appreciation for common sense conservatism it does not matter. The real desire for “hope and change” will be to reverse the destruction caused by our current president. Obama has been an utter failure. Obama has prven himself to be inept, self absorbed, and just plain in over his head.

Palin has got mojo. That’s why she can sell millions of books. That’s why she gets everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, fired up, one way or another. She had an 85% favorable rating as governor by Alaskans. She can take names while she’s kicking butts. Go Saraccuda!

Romney is an excellent candidate for president. If I were a left-wing lunatic, I’d rail against Romney far more than Palin.

Never have understood all the controversy and hatred directed at Sarah Palin. She had the misfortune of being asked to run with McCain, she is out of office, never had an effect on the lives of anyone on this board or nearly everywhere else, and yet she garners more national invective than anyone I have ever witnessed. What on earth is up? Leave her alone and she will just be like any other talking head out there. What is the matter with you vicious morons?

“she garners more national invective than anyone I have ever witnessed. What on earth is up? ”
The reason they attack Palin is the same reason they attacked Reagan. They realize that is she does become president she, like Reagan, will fundamentally alter the political winds.
The attacks on Reagan were never as bad as what we see against Palin but they were pretty pervasive.
Michael Reagan “I believe I saw my father reborn” – Spoken about Sarah Palin after her speech at the Republican convention.

Sarah Palin a Ronald Reagan? Oh sure.Let’s see now, Foreign policy experience:looking out her window to see Russia. Telling McCain aides that Africa was a country. Trying to BS Charles Gibson that the Bush Doctrine was some sort of domestic law. Explaining to Katy Couric that Russian air traffic has constant flghts over Alaska(Putin looks down form his plane)
Don’t think Reagan ever suggested that Jimmy Carter was a terrorist and a traitor or whipped up right wing hatred against Carter at his political rallies. And by the way Ron Reagan has bit of a different view than his right wing brother Mike. He thinks, as many Americans do, that Palin is an absolute joke. So does Nancy.

Harry, your whole post consists of left-wing talking points. If you really want to stop Sarah Palin from becoming presidnet you will need to do better. Those attacks have failed.
As for me, I am proud to say I support Sarah Palin:
1) Sarah knows you cannot spend your way out of a deficit
2) Sarah knows that you cannot attack businesses with higher taxes and still expect them to hire new employees
3) Sarah knows that Ronald Reagan was correct when he said “Any government that is big enough to give you everything is also big enough to take it away”
4) Sarah knows that the US has 1.3 trillion barrels of proven domestic oil reserves that if tapped could radically improve our economy and reduce middle east radicalism — if the government would simply get out of the way.
5) Sarah knows that putting the government between the people and their doctors will benefit no one.
Sarah knows — Obama does not

You gotta love the irony that is George Brooks. Here’s a guy that can’t get arrested, a GUEST on talk show, ridiculing someone who could have a talk show.
I wonder if he would be as smug if Mike Huckabee were sitting at that table.

The BEST part of Sarah, she is not a snob! The democrats like them though, take Pelosi and Hillary, who think their ####, don’t stink.

I don’t know who David Brooks is and I am not certainly interested of hearing his opinion from sports to politics. As for who is qualified and who is not of being a president or a senator, it would be nice to have some standard testing. Ironically, we test folks to get the driving license but not to hold the public office. I am simply concerned that the people who end up in the White House or the Capitol Hill are not at par even with mid range management of a very average private business. If we ask the politicians to disclose Tax Returns, they should also make their college transcript fully available and undergo basic standard testing before taking public office.

More beltway drivel from the peanut gallery. The ONLY joke is Brooks who couldn’t get job outside of professional knee pad cleaner for the Democrats. The guy must stop using the word Republican as his affiliation.

I’ve been a Small Business Owner (software) since 1982 and regularly check potential applicants to see if they contribute to Democrats and SHRED THOSE RESUMES. Democrats are like the Mafia, continuously trying to force me to take on an unwanted partner (GOVT) in all my decisions. I am SICK OF IT. Sarah Palin gets MY CHECK OF SUPPORT AND VOTE IF SHE RUNS.

That’s it, folks. Keep underestimating her. That’s the ticket.

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I want a job as a commentator where I can put others down, because I have a list…

LOL at the liberals, they will not have a clue as to what has hit them.
I see the usual suspects are out bad mouthing Governor Palin, not to worry though, they ain’t seen nothing yet. Palin the williwaw is about to be unleashed out of the northland like a force of nature upon the political world and, few in the lower 48 know anything about the overwhelming power of a williwaw. On a calm sunny day, out of nowhere, a williwaw can wreak havoc and destruction upon the unwary, demasting their ships in thought to be safe harbors and heeling them over to sink into a watery grave.

The more the media and these self-appointed “intellectual elite” like David Brooks trash Palin, the more I support her. People like David Brooks have great contempt for anyone west of the Hudson, unless, of course, they attended an Ivy League school. These are the same types of people who trashed Ronald Reagan, a graduate of Eureka College, until Reagan became successful, at which point all of the East Coast “elites” jumped on his bandwagon. I support Palin wholeheartedly. The real joke is the Ivy League socialite mentality.

**Jim Fitzgerald says “let us remember the individual freedoms that have led us to become the greatest nation. Her opinions are obviously dismissed by the great minds of DC and NY (David Brooks)but they resignate with this joke and may others. ”
What I think he means is that her opinions resonate. It seems like a minor point but it illustrates a larger issue. We have become a nation of followers who use words that we can neither define, nor spell but we use them anyway. Palin is just such a leader, speaking in a circumlocution that is confusing even to her immediate supporters. An anti intellectual who balks at the mainstream media and used a co-author on her book, she advocates for media “fairness” and eschews Katie Couric for “gotcha journalism” when in fact what really seems to irk her is that SHE is the one being “gotten” in the gotcha.

Anyone who would vote for Sarah Palin to be president needs to be committed to an insane asylum. Palin couldn’t stand the stress of governor for a full term and quit! She’s just plain intellectually unfit for that job. And, she’s nothing but a limelight seeking narcissist.

David Brooks represents only a small portion of conservative intellectuals. Most conservatives, especially, the Limbaugh/Hannity listeners certainly do not share the same view, and they are the voting majority on the Republican side.

The fragmented pane that republicans now have as a constituency is uninteresting to them. Males have proven way too ideologically inflexible at times, fickle at others. The true threat of Palin lies in the notion of the republican party being able to repaint itself as some sort of champion for the issues of CONSERVATIVE women. For this she need not demonstrate that she’s electable but publicizable. If republicans can convert this idea into just 10 or 15% of the womens bloc then she is well worth the guffaws that come with her. But the downside is that to improve on that gain to any degree means a fundamental shift in their platform. Otherwise they paint themselves into the same old idealogical corners and wait for the next charismatic nationalist to dig them out. Too bad. With a little work and just a hair of vision (a little futher than the end of her driveway per se) she could have truly been a contender.

To be a great talk show host, you do not have to be a left winger who worships Obama. Good for you Sarah as most women and conservative men love you. Sarah for 2012 and not phonies like the Rinos always want to put up.

David Brooks has fallen for the media’s destruction of Sarah Palin. All of those who call her names the way David Brooks did…are afraid of her. Let’s face the real REALITY. Beauty is an asset in America, except in politics. It’s difficult for some people to take a woman as beautiful as Sarah Palin seriously unless they are liberal beauties, like Angelina Jolie. Barack Obama was the chosen one so his failings were largely ignored.

Palin has written extensivley about all the important issue of the day in a manner that is more compelling and supported with facts than any other Republican or pundit. Read her facebook postings and editorials before making the uninformed statement that she is not focused on the issues.

As another Ivy League educated, Master- degreed professional woman, I’m totally offended by the snobby, ellitist who uses her credentials to put down a great woman like Gov. Palin. Get off your stinking high horse. Women like you are so freakin insecure that you just can’t refrain from putting Gov. Palin down to touting your own supposed intelligence.

As a woman I say palin is a blonde joke in brunette.

Clinton isn’t being honest here. In September 2008 Clinton and Palin were scheduled to speak to a protest outside the UN on Iran. Clinton cancelled when she found out Palin would be there. She was reported to have said I am not going if that woman is going.
I can’t stand Palin but this also shows the lack of honesty from Clinton.
Just like running for President again. When asked Biden says I am not ruling anything out while Clinton can’t give a straight answer.
Everyone also knows that she wants nothing to do with having coffee with Palin. Just give a straight answer for once.

To amy the gop doesn’t consider Palin as the female candidate.
90 percent of the GOP doesn’t want her as their pick for president.
She was never voted in by the GOP.
She was picked by McCain’s staff of four who are not out of politics. This lie that the GOP wants Palin is a lie. She wasn’t voted in. She was picked by a few advisors who made a mistake. . Get over it already.
John Edwards is a narcissist and was picked as Kerry’s VP because edwards had a youthful look. But dems get no heat for that mistake.
People make mistakes enough already. If mccain had won Palin would have quit right away as VP and you would have had a moderate in mccain as president instead of a far left liberal in obama.
The republican candidates in virgnia and new jersey that just won wanted nothing to do with Palin coming to the state.
The media loves to make up reality to hurt the gop.
All you ever hear about in the media is palin, palin, palin, palin.
The media loves it because the media is obsessed with hurting the gop.
The media will never let palin go.

At least Palin has not proven herself unqualified.
Posted by: Dan
***********************************************
Where did you hear THAT from? LOL

Palin is a ____!!

“I love it! The beauty of this idea about Sarah Palin being ‘a joke’ as some say! Well, Gentlemen, I think you will be very surprised to see the Women of this nation, as Gwen has intimated… ban together under Sarah’s capable and proven leadership!”
I am a woman and a conservative and I am quite certain that Sarah Palin is NOT suitable for any public office. And no, she has not proven herself capable of effective leadership however she is a first class rabble rouser. To intimate that my gender should inspire me to support her is ridiculous. Should the Republican Party find itself desperate enough to attempt to run her in 2012, I’ll be pulling the lever for the Democratic candidate–once again.

These elites have their noses so up in the air, I am surprised they haven’t drowned by now!
They have no idea how much citizens have come to hate elitists!
They try social engineering societies all over the world, and end up making it worse.
Mr. Brooks, we are tired of your kind!

When you refer to individual freedoms, remember it was Pallin who lobbied by robo calls for people not to vote for someone she did not like who she says does not have her values. What exactly are her values…certainly not taking care of her family. Or, fullfilling her obligations to her state…what are her values….making money? She charged Alaska for every little thing and then had to pay it back. She showed no loyalty to the Mc Cain team who in effect made her…she could not even pick an original name for her book and used the “rouge” Mc Cain often called himself…so what are her values? Certainly, not a sense of responsibility. She is a lady with good looks and a little bit of knowledge and that is a dangerous thing. Hillary wants to meet her out of couriosity. This proves the point people get by on their looks not their qualifications…it is a fact..look it up.

To what story is Ifill referring? Palin’s life story? Her “hard road” to public office? And why she would assume that thinking women identify with Palin in any way other than gender?
Ifill’s comment is similiar in philosophy to McCain’s reason for selecting an unqualified individual as a running mate – any female will do. We need – and should support – qualified women candidates for public office. McCain could have chosen Olympia Snow or Kay Bailey Hutchinson as a running mate, and I would have been proud of his choice. I wouldn’t have voted for him, but I still would have been proud. Instead he chose someone who is vacuous, rigid, frighteningly ingorant (and proud of the fact) and childish. In short, he chose a female George W. Bush. For McCain to assume then or Ifill to assume now that “sisterhood” somehow trumps qualifications is insulting to all American women who want to succeed because of their abilities and accomplishments, not their propensity for winking.

This tells it all about Palin’s appeal.
“As an Ivy League educated, Masters level professional woman, I am insulted and saddened that this woman is what the GOP considers acceptable in a female candidate.”
I realize this puts you, Amy, in Michelle Obama’s league, but I tried to read Michelle’s Princeton Thesis, and if that’s an example of Ivy League women’s intelligence – you just ain’t that smart .

If all of you would have invested as much time on Pres. Obama to find out where he stands and what his credential are, which are NONE, we might have been better off. But then you can’t stand a woman,thats why you hated Clinton. The left and the Obama admin is so afraid of Palin, that they still have people in Alaska looking for anything.

Brooks came across as a condescending twit. What has Mr Brooks ever accomplished in his life except to blow a lot of hot air. has Mr Brooks ever stepped up and led anything.
You can like or dislike Gov. Palin but opinions should be based on facts and not sexism or personal bias.

As a university graduate, small business owner and son of a dentist, and master of public health I’ve been around and among the educated class and I for one am no longer impressed. The idea that what Washington needs is more IVY league (or any other) graduates is laughable. Every stupid idea that’s come out of D.C. has the fingerprints of our educated elite all over it. For president, senator, congressman or anyone else in government give me someone who’s actually accomplished something. Enough of these academic snobs and activists. A fool with a degree is still a fool. Palin may not be ready for the big leagues but neither are most of those we’ve sent to Washington.

I can’t see into the future to know if Sarah Palin would be a successful president. However, I’ve witnessed all too clearly where a Columbia University and Harvard Law School education have gotten us with our current disastrous, empty suit president. I’ll take Sarah with her resilience, convictions, and experience.

I laughed out loud at David Brooks and George Will dissing Palin. What a couple of pompous old fools. Out of touch with conservatives. Out of touch with America.

I guess the comments from the blue-collar, home-body women responding to this article prove the point of why Sarah Palin does not need to be president:
they can’t spell or write a coherent sentence.
Palin has no chops; what she says is trite and boring.
I would hope the Republican Party can conjure up someone with a little more acumen than Palin.
Is an uneducated housewife now the model of what we want as President of the United States of America?
If you are so intellectually ‘lazy’ that you can’t even spell or write or speak, it speaks volumes about how serious you will be on solving complex issues.
I don’t agree with everything Obama is doing, but, at least I know he is giving his choices deliberate analysis, unlike Bubba Bush, who made a mockery of the presidency.