Wednesday.....Culture.....Iron Lady or Iron Maiden

I was at work when I first heard of John McCain's announcement that he chose Alaska's Governor Sarah Palin for his running mate. Putting it mildly, I wasn't very happy. It was important to me that John McCain choose someone that could step into the Oval Office in an emergency. AP National Political Writer Liz Sidoti wrote a column today titled Analysis: Celebrity, yes, but can Palin be more? Sidoti's description of Sarah Palin is... potent: an enormous dose of celebrity, striking good looks, an ability to captivate America with witty one-line zingers. And above all, a constantly developing story line tailor-made for a drama-hungry culture of 24/7 media and instantaneous Twitter updates. Sidoti questions Could she become a serious contender for the White House? Sarah Palin, at this time, is a phenomenon and it has not been proven to me yet that she has what it takes to be the President of the United States. The article did have its moments of absurdity as the author correctly commented on a culture that is trending towards electing celebrity but could only describe Ronald Reagan as a B-movie actor, failing to mention his previous experience as an administrator or that he became one of the most dominant, successful, honest and capable government leaders of the last century. Sidoti does mention Barack Obama's celebrity but in a way that makes you wonder what she had been smoking as she writes of a possible campaign against a popular incumbent Democrat. Here is my own analysis: Sarah Palin, should she be the nominee, would not be facing Barack Obama. She would be running against a moderate Democrat, for the radicals have had their day. The populist advantage would be less effective here. She doesn't have to have Newt Gingrich's or Karl Rove's endorsement but she does have to earn Dick Cheney's. I say this not because of the former Vice President's influence or even that he would endorse the best person, but rather that she has to pass muster with someone like him who knows what the job entails and has had the personal responsibility. If he hem-haws around as he reportedly did on a weekend television interview, she will not have progressed where she needs to be. I've heard Sarah Palin interviewed a number of times. She has the discernment on the problems plaguing us today. That's vital, and she knows a scam when she sees one. She is quick in answering questions...too quick. Slow down Sarah. They are coming to you for the interviews, answer slowly and with confidence. The American people want to see a determined look but also a patient, examining mind. The media is always going to try to set you up, to torture you as you well know. If you answer quickly and defensively, you will legitimate their intent and they will control the tempo. To paraphrase Margaret Thatcher If they see you walking across the Potomac, they'll say that you can't swim. The conservative radio talk show hosts will try to help you too much. They know what their audience wants to hear but, depending on the particular radio personality, not necessarily what other Americans need to feel. You have to show yourself as a listener, not only from the complaints of the conservative, but the concerns of the Democrat and independent who needs to see the real person and not the portrait. This isn't my advice on being a successful politician but an effective statesman. George Will made this comment in his latest column, She (Sarah Palin) is not going to be president and will not be the Republican nominee... It's unusual for a syndicated columnist to make such a bold prediction. He's right in that Sarah Palin, as she has presented herself up to now, will not be the nominee. She knows she is in for a challenge but thinks that this challenge is political. The essence of the challenge is personal. Becoming a talking head on Fox News is not the answer, nor is being mobbed at Daytona. The challenge is understanding that she has been given a popularity, in effect, a chance to help this country, and now she must learn, not how to win an election, but how govern if she was to win that election. This could only come through studying history, and not prepping for her commentary spot. It has to be done in an armchair with a good reading light and not a podium in front of thousands of adoring fans. It must needs go through interaction with people like Dick Cheney and George Will, and most of all it has to be done through introspection and a realization that although God is not bound by George Will's prophesy, neither is He seeking her willingness, but is bringing about His own will, of which we desire and pray that it might also be one of mercy.