posted on September 15, 2008 10:45:09 PM new
Roger Ebert on Sarah Palin: The American Idol Candidate
September 11, 2008
BY ROGER EBERT Sun-Times Movie Critic
I think I might be able to explain some of Sarah Palin's appeal. She's
the "American Idol" candidate. Consider. What defines an "American Idol"
finalist? They're good-looking, work well on television, have a sunny
personality, are fierce competitors, and so talented, why, they're
darned near the real thing. There's a reason "American Idol" gets such
high ratings. People identify with the contestants. They think, Hey,
that could be me up there on that show!
My problem is, I don't want to be up there. I don't want a vice
president who is darned near good enough. I want a vice president who is
better, wiser, well-traveled, has met world leaders, who three months
ago had an opinion on Iraq. Someone who doesn't repeat bald- faced lies
about earmarks and the Bridge to Nowhere. Someone who doesn't appoint
Alaskan politicians to "study" global warming, because, hello! It has
been studied. The returns are convincing enough that John McCain and
Barack Obama are darned near in agreement.
I would also want someone who didn't make a teeny little sneer when
referring to "people who go to the Ivy League." When I was a teen I
dreamed of going to Harvard, but my dad, an electrician, told me, "Boy,
we don't have the money. Thank your lucky stars you were born in Urbana
and can go to the University of Illinois right here in town." So I did,
very happily. Although Palin gets laughs when she mentions the "elite"
Ivy League, she sure did attend the heck out of college.
Five different schools in six years. What was that about?
And how can a politician her age have never have gone to Europe? My dad
had died, my mom was working as a book-keeper and I had a job at the
local newspaper when, at 19, I scraped together $240 for a charter
flight to Europe. I had Arthur Frommer's $5 a Day under my arm, started
in London, even rented a Vespa and drove in the traffic of Rome. A few
years later, I was able to send my mom, along with the $15 a Day book.
You don't need to be a pointy-headed elitist to travel abroad. You need
curiosity and a hunger to see the world. What kind of a person (who has
the money) arrives at the age of 44 and has only been out of the country
once, on an official tour to Iraq? Sarah Palin's travel record is that
of a provincial, not someone who is equipped to deal with global issues.
But some people like that. She's never traveled to Europe, Asia, Africa,
South America or Down Under? That makes her like them. She didn't go to
Harvard? Good for her! There a lot of hockey moms who haven't seen
London, but most of them would probably love to, if they had the dough.
And they'd be proud if one of their kids won a scholarship to Harvard.
I trust the American people will see through Palin, and save the
Republic in November. The most damning indictment against her is that
she considered herself a good choice to be a heartbeat away. That shows
bad judgment.
posted on September 16, 2008 01:14:24 AM new
Yes! Exactly! I do hope he is right that the American people will see through Palin. IF she had any sense, she would withdraw from the ticket and let McCain choose a real VP.
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posted on September 16, 2008 06:14:49 AM new
I hope so too, but so far it doesn't look like it. She has got a lot of people snookered. How do you decide that a candidate who has repeated her RNC speech, practically verbatim, in all her appearances, is qualified to be VP. If I hear " and I told Washington, thanks, but no thanks" again I think I will scream. We know she is pro-life, except when it comes to the death penalty and animals, we know she is an evangelical, we know she has 5 kids, we know she was governor of Alaska, a state with 1/10 the population of New York City. We know she is a Republican conservative. She says she is going to fix Wall Street and the energy crisis, but how? Waving her magic wand? Wall Street is in this mess because the Republican party, headed by Bush, deregulated it. We all know humans are greedy, some more than others. If they can suck up people's money without repercussion, they will do so. The party of McPalin is responsible for our economic situation and why we are trillions in debt.
Despite this,and despite the fact that 80% of Americans are dissatisfied with the state our country is in, the race is a virtual dead-heat when it should be Obama's. That does not give me confidence that the democrats will win the White House.
posted on September 16, 2008 07:24:36 AM new
I think people will make up their minds once the debates start to happen. I don't think Palin can keep repeating the same tired rhetoric during the debates.
Obama and Biden need to step up and really sock it to McCain and the pit bull.
Speaking of pit bull. It still amazes me why Palin decide to relate herself to a pit bull. Most people don't want a pit bull as a pet so why would we want one at a VP?
posted on September 16, 2008 08:28:06 AM new
In an effort to deny the reality of kissing George Bush's butt for so long, McCain is left with nothing but the possibility that "image" will save him from this weak and wussy association. All that this poor old ineffectual man has left to deliver himself from reality is image, the image of a partner cast as a pit bull or a barracuda.
How sad when a poor old man stands beside a loon or rather a goon as if he has found his savior.
"As someone who has owned pitbulls for the past twenty years, my jaw dropped," said Carol Foyler, the group's executive director. "Most of us are thinking the same thing: enough is enough."
Yes, it's an insult to the character of a pit bull to compare such an animal to someone like Palin who is being led by her husband on a very short leash.
Who is really the Vice Presidential candidate who stands beside poor old McCain?
posted on September 19, 2008 03:08:59 AM new
Months in a baby's life are important in keeping track of developmental stages and growth so I can't imagine forgetting the baby's age. Maybe she has delegated that responsibility to someone else.
Or the baby may be the child of another child. Who knows?
posted on September 19, 2008 05:27:36 AM new
She went back to work within 3 days of having Trig. Someone else is raising him, basically. She has her priorities, you know.
posted on September 19, 2008 05:40:34 AM new
I have no doubt Trig is Sara Palin's son. The great majority of mothers of Down's Syndrome babies are in her age group, not younger.
posted on September 19, 2008 01:09:49 PM new
It was hard to believe that Sara Palin could call women ugly nasty dogs who wear lipstick and they( Republican women) sit and APPLAUD! What dopes!
And on to the guy running for President...Todd Palin....the guy who has no official standing in the Alaska government but sits in on any meeting he chooses, even speaking for his wife!
It proves Sara is no tough, independent with-it woman but a weak, spineless little wimp who needs her "daddy" to get her through a meeting!
Is that what Americans want...one heartbeat away from the presidency? Scary thought!
