Why Sarah Palin Is Stronger Than You Think

[OntarioVanMan]

Don't underestimate Sarah Palin. Yes, she is hyper-polarizing: she sends her fans into rapture and drives her detractors stark raving mad. But she can dominate the news cycle with a single tweet and generate three days of coverage with a single speech (as she did this past Friday in Iowa). Her name recognition is universal.

You are right to complain that she is not offering specific policy proposals and that her inaccessibility to media outlets other than the one that pays her - Fox News - puts her beyond the kind of scrutiny and accountability we have come to expect for our leaders. (See a TIME video of Sarah Palin and her supporters in Iowa.)

But the mistake you are making is to assume that Palin needs or wants to play by the standard rules of American politics. Or that it even occurs to her to do so. Trash her all you want (even you Republicans who are doing it all the time behind her back) for being uninformed, demagogic and incoherent, and brandish the poll numbers that show fewer and fewer Americans think she is qualified to be President. Strain to apply political and practical norms to Alaska's former governor. You are missing the point.

Surely you've come to accept the reality that as a businessperson, Palin is a genius. The gusher of revenue from her speeches, books and television deals sweeps away any doubt that she can brilliantly harness her energy, charisma and popularity into a moneymaking bonanza.(See pictures of Sarah Palin and the Tea Party.)

But what you need to appreciate is that the same dynamics of supply and demand that Palin has cleverly exploited for financial gain also make her inimitably formidable as a political force.

More:Why Sarah Palin Is Stronger Than You Think - Yahoo! News

 

[letzrockexpress]

Don't underestimate Sarah Palin. Yes, she is hyper-polarizing: she sends her fans into rapture and drives her detractors stark raving mad. But she can dominate the news cycle with a single tweet and generate three days of coverage with a single speech (as she did this past Friday in Iowa). Her name recognition is universal.

You are right to complain that she is not offering specific policy proposals and that her inaccessibility to media outlets other than the one that pays her - Fox News - puts her beyond the kind of scrutiny and accountability we have come to expect for our leaders. (See a TIME video of Sarah Palin and her supporters in Iowa.)

But the mistake you are making is to assume that Palin needs or wants to play by the standard rules of American politics. Or that it even occurs to her to do so. Trash her all you want (even you Republicans who are doing it all the time behind her back) for being uninformed, demagogic and incoherent, and brandish the poll numbers that show fewer and fewer Americans think she is qualified to be President. Strain to apply political and practical norms to Alaska's former governor. You are missing the point.

Surely you've come to accept the reality that as a businessperson, Palin is a genius. The gusher of revenue from her speeches, books and television deals sweeps away any doubt that she can brilliantly harness her energy, charisma and popularity into a moneymaking bonanza.(See pictures of Sarah Palin and the Tea Party.)

But what you need to appreciate is that the same dynamics of supply and demand that Palin has cleverly exploited for financial gain also make her inimitably formidable as a political force.

More:Why Sarah Palin Is Stronger Than You Think - Yahoo! News

Sarah Palin and her warm circle's popularity is more like that of Paris Hilton or Lindsay Lohan than it is someone of real substance like, let's say, Christine O'Donnell or Rand Paul...

 

[layoutshooter]

Sarah Palin and her warm circle's popularity is more like that of Paris Hilton or Lindsay Lohan than it is someone of real substance like, let's say, Christine O'Donnell or Rand Paul...

Yeah, many of today's politicians are playing the celeb or "rock star" game. Like Obama does. No real difference between them other than which side of their mouth they spout out of.

 

[greg334]

Letzrock, I do agree to a point but palin isn't anywhere near effective as she could be. Maybe the goal is not to be out front like this per se but to actually get that Grant's old party to get back into the game and not be the "good ol' boy" party of fools and idiots.

Her place is where steele is today, he has done less to unify the party and this would normally be great for the DNC but alas the DNC has still to deal with their latest mess - Obama.

She has lost my support as a candidate, some of the things she has said differ with earlier positions and her super star status is wearing thin.

 

[letzrockexpress]

Letzrock, I do agree to a point but palin isn't anywhere near effective as she could be. Maybe the goal is not to be out front like this per se but to actually get that Grant's old party to get back into the game and not be the "good ol' boy" party of fools and idiots.

Her place is where steele is today, he has done less to unify the party and this would normally be great for the DNC but alas the DNC has still to deal with their latest mess - Obama.

She has lost my support as a candidate, some of the things she has said differ with earlier positions and her super star status is wearing thin.

Your point is well taken. RNC chairman might be what suits her, assuming she truly has any real wherewithall in big time politics. I personally do not believe the the GOP would put her in any leadership position on her own merits as a leader. They will however attempt to cash in on her popularity with her naive' fans every chance they get...

 

[Pilgrim]

Letzrock, I do agree to a point but palin isn't anywhere near effective as she could be. Maybe the goal is not to be out front like this per se but to actually get that Grant's old party to get back into the game and not be the "good ol' boy" party of fools and idiots.

Her place is where steele is today, he has done less to unify the party and this would normally be great for the DNC but alas the DNC has still to deal with their latest mess - Obama.

I was thinking the same thing. Palin would be far more effective in Steele's place, and could be surrounded by some experienced handlers to more effectively direct her considerable talents. I still think the needs to do the Hillary thing, and find a state in the Lower 48 where she can serve a term or two in the Senate to build up her bona fides.

 

[greg334]

I think if she can control the RNC, those changes that are festering up will come to the surface and it will help them a lot more than they will ever do on their own. I beleive we will see another split in the party if 2010 is a disaster for them, which the only way that will happen is if the RNC continues to attack what the people decide who is going to run in these states.

I personally do not believe the the GOP would put her in any leadership position on her own merits as a leader. They will however attempt to cash in on her popularity with her naive' fans every chance they get...

I believe it would be a fight, the old and elite against her and the chatty kathys like her (can't think of another term for them). BUT it isn't her leadership that is really needed, it is the other stuff she brings to the party, which is so lacking right now - Grant's old party should tell you everything - her leadership skills isn't all that great, but her attitude can be if she lets it.

AND they are cashing in on her fan base, it is really odd but a few are riding that wave for election funding and so on by speaking about the same issues which they were on the opposite side of the fence only a few months ago.

 

[AMonger]

Sarah Palin is indeed powerful. She's co-opted the Tea Parties, from their libertarian/Paulian origins to backers of big government, as long as it's GOP-led government. That's power.