Last night, I had the privilege of attending the Faulkner University Benefit Dinner where Sarah Palin was the guest speaker. From the outset, the mere prospect of the event naturally appealed to me. Faulkner is my college alma mater, so I was pleased to be supporting their great cause of Christian education. And of course, seeing a major icon of conservatism was certainly more than an added bonus.
Now, I've always been fond of Sarah Palin. I've never thought that she was the be-all and end-all of the GOP, but I have always considered her to be a positive light in the Republican base. I remember finding out that she was going to be running mate for John McCain. Having known who she was, I was delighted to see a person who brought real charisma and energy to a seemingly lifeless ticket.
But listening to her speak in person, I realized something else about her. Perhaps it is something I've always known deep down. She is a genuine human being who Americans can relate to.
As soon as she walked through the crowd, the palpable energy in the room was undeniable. Make no mistake, to conservatives, this woman is a rock star. Believe me, I've been to countless concerts including Fleetwood Mac, Stone Temple Pilots, No Doubt and U2 (just to name a few). Although the format was altogether different, the performer in this case was no less electrifying to her audience.
Her speech was not heavy on political rhetoric nor government policy. Frankly, it wasn't even the most polished speech I've ever heard. But repackaged policy arguments and political platitudes aren't where Palin shines. It's her authenticity. Underneath her stardom and all the publicity, she's just a regular person that thousands if not millions of Americans can relate to. That's why many regular, red-blooded conservatives love her. She's one of them. And, that's what makes the elitists on the left hate her. She's not one of them.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - dcarpenter
It is refreshing to say the least to hear authentic and positive feedback regarding Governor Palin. I have respected her political career, achievements she has EARNED as a public office holder, her intellectual capacity, (I've personally not done 1/4th of what the governor has accomplished), and her family values. From my perspective the list is endless. I applaud her as a presidential hopeful.
2 - El Bicho
"achievements she has EARNED as a public office holder"
those were what again?
3 - Glenn Contrarian
*gag!*
But you know what? I really do hope that Palin gets the Republican nod for the 2012 presidential election...and hopefully she'll have her soulmate Michelle Bachmann as her running mate! I've written many times about the coming marginalization of the GOP (The GOP could possibly lose major party status in Colorado next month)...and a Palin/Bachmann ticket would be a big step in the right direction...right down the path to marginalization so the adults - those of us who are even somewhat to the left of John Boehner - can start running the country once more.
4 - dcarpenter
Re: "Earned achievements" i.e. Alaska Gas Inducement Act
5 - dennisintn
lol, i see the usual obama/alinsky/chicago thuggery acolytes are present and accounted for.
palin will be a great present. she won't tell voters one thing and do the opposite. she won't needlessly endanger our troops by promising to leave in a year just to placate people she owes political favor to. she will not play favorites when administering law enforcement. people will be able to take her at her word without worrying about be screwed after their backs are turned. what a pleasant change all that will be.
dennisintn
6 - El Bicho
one item is singular not plural and how is that an achievement she earned?
7 - El Bicho
she raised taxes on oil profits. what a major icon of conservatism.
dennis, you are clueless. Reported by Andrew Sullivan: "She has lied about the Bridge To Nowhere. She ran for office favoring it, wore a sweatshirt defending it, and only gave it up when the federal congress, Senator McCain in particular, went ballistic. She kept the money anyway and favors funding Don Young's Way, at twice the cost of the original bridge."
here are 11 more lies
8 - Michigan1985
Love her. I pray Americans realize she's the one to put our country back on the right track in 2012.
Thanks Braden, I enjoyed reading your article.
9 - sodakhic
The first thing she did was beat Murkowski and knowles. No easy task. Then she took on the corrupt cbcs in her own party. The dems loved her. Then she got ethics reform passed, which later the dems used to harass her out of office. She then started on reforming the oil business getting a good start on the natural gas pipeline. Was continually trying to sell oil drilling on shore and off. Could have got a lot done if the Falafal lady and dem buzzards hadn't attacked every little thing she did.But it has worked out for the best now she can save America, RunSarah Run
10 - James
dennisintn;
Its par for the course. BC has become a breeding ground for hatefullefties who troll every article looking for some excuse to pour out their "Mommy didn't love me" hate out on something, and for whatever reason, that something is typically anything related to conservatism.
Let us be thankful that they hate Sarah Palin so much, otherwise, what would all these people with unresolved daddy-issues do with all their rage?
I secretly think all these hateful lefties are pals of the founders of BC, or BC alter egos themselves... It used to be fun to write for them...
11 - James
...and for what it is worth, I consider myself a conservative independent (Havent lept into calling myself a republican yet) and I not only think she should not run, I hope she doesn't. I think she is a great mom and American, but I don't think she is presidential material. Would I vote for her? Yes... wish for her to run at all? Not really. Sorry, just my independent view. But I do not have the knee-jerk venomous hatred for her so many on the left do
12 - handyguy
My impression is that she's not even honest about who/what she is. Her only interest is her own celebrity [and the accompanying wealth]. Her tendency to exaggerate/obfuscate/lie about her opponents completely undercuts the "real good ole gal" Grizzly Mom persona. Totally fake.
And the elevation/celebration of barely literate banality that her followers indulge in is just scary. Knowledge and learning and real reasoning are good things, not "elitism" to be despised and feared.
13 - El Bicho
James, that's truly an impressive amount of ignorance to word ratio on display in your first comment. May well be a record.
14 - Clavos
Her only interest is her own celebrity [and the accompanying wealth].
Add "power" to the above and what you have is a dead-on description of every politician in the land...
15 - ak
She got the gas pipeline approved in 2 years which was stuck for decades (Check the way the lies list is phrased. "She lied about the progress")
She renegotiated the share of oil revenue. She vetoed 85 % of earmarks.
She awarded the contract through competitive bids instead of favoring local oil industry even though her own husband worked with them.
She vetoed a bill passed by Legislature including Democrats stopping benefits to same sex spouses of employees, though it was against her own belief and politics.
As a Governor it was her job to maximize revenue investment for the state. Yes she supported the bridge when totally funded by Federal Government but dropped it when the projected cost went up and it became a burden on the state. After resigning she changed the debate on health care and was instrumental in getting public option dropped. She asked for a meeting between the President and BP CEO and outcome was a 20 billion fund.
16 - Glenn Contrarian
Hm. Several names above that are suddenly new to BC. Is it just me, or is there a distinct stench of sockpuppets in the air?
17 - Arch Conservative
(I've personally not done 1/4th of what the governor has accomplished),
Neither have any of the sanctimonious Obama cultists that look down their noses at her.
Hope and change is dead.
Chairman Obama is no longer able to peddle the People's Propaganda with the success he once had.
I have no particular admiration for Palin due to the fact that she's a borderline idiot, or the current crop of GOP in Washington due to the fact that their power hungry lying SOBs. However, given that the average American leftist has as much good to offer this world as your garden variety kiddie diddling pedophile, I will not be sad to see the kooky left wing moonbats in DC thrown out on their backsides in less than a month.
18 - Joanne Huspek
I agree with your assessment that she has that charisma that every successful politician seems to have, from Kennedy to Clinton to Obama. In that way, she is an asset to the Republican Party, because they are sorely lacking in leaders with such personal draw.
On the other hand, she strikes me as always being in the "political" mode. (I'm at the point in my life where I despise and mistrust ALL politicians. Face it, they have done nothing to earn trust.) At least that is how it appears in recorded interviews. Perhaps she is more personable live.
19 - Clavos
(I'm at the point in my life where I despise and mistrust ALL politicians. Face it, they have done nothing to earn trust.)
Ah, Joanne, in that regard we are soul mates.
20 - Barbara Sloan
You "nailed" it, Braden. Sarah IS the real,deal. She's an authentic, patriotic, conservative American. Sarah actually LOVES her country and its citizens! Imagine that. She is pro-life & believes Jesus Christ is her Lord & Savior!!! This is why millions of her fellow Americans will follow her & support her way to the White House.
21 - Dr Dreadful
Authenticity my arse. She takes fakeness to a higher degree than almost anyone I've ever come across - and for a politician that's saying something.
It's hard to put into words exactly what it is about her, but anyone who works in or has dealings with any moderately large organization eventually comes across a (usually) management figure who gives off that same vibe.
22 - Wesley
"Dr. Dreadful"
You have never met Governor Palin. Your words are a dead give-away to those of us who have.
Try Dr. Dreadful Liar next time.
23 - Ruvy
I'm not a Christian (thank G-d!!) And I'm not a conservative either. Her politics would not appeal to me if I lived in the States. But she is the real thing, the same way Barry Goldwater was the real thing. She has something rarely seen these days - integrity and honesty. She is the un-Obama. No wonder all the Obama lovers here condemn her, or like her only because they think she'll lead to the ruin of the Republican Party.
24 - zingzing
wesley: "You have never met Governor Palin. Your words are a dead give-away to those of us who have."
ah, the cult of personality.
ruvy: "she'll lead to the ruin of the Republican Party."
bingo.
my brother summed it up best when he called her "the greatest television character of the past decade."
25 - Arch Conservative
The ONLY authentic person in Washington DC on either side of the aisle is Ron Paul.
EVERYONE else is just in it for themselves.
Now that we've dispensed with the blatantly obvious.............
In 2007-2008 who could have foreseen that political pendulum would have swung where it did? An empty suit, former community organizer steeped in the political gangsterism that is the city of Chicago who hadn't even completed his first term as an Illinois state Senator basing his campaign not on any tangible accomplishments but rather superbly vacuous platitudes such as "yes we can," and "change we can believe in?"
I've been chastised many a time for making political predictions by the very same people who are now so sure that Sarah Palin will be the complete and utter ruination of the GOP and that her nomination as the GOP candidate in 2012 will assuredly result in the extension of chairman Obama's reign.
HOw's it go? Oh yeah.... Don't count your f-ing chickens.........."
Oh and zing if you're going to quote Ruvy can you please include the entire statement so as not to misrepresent what he said?