Sarah’s substance or Noonan’s nuance? Take your pick

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Sarah’s substance or Noonan’s nuance? Take your pick
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“There’s a special place in hell for women who don’t support other women.” – Madeleine Albright

IN a column written by Peggy Noonan in the Wall Street Journal last week, this conservative woman who was a speechwriter for Ronald Reagan unloaded what is now becoming a pattern of women in media who cannot stomach the mounting success of other women, in this case, of Sarah Palin. Although, Noonan did say on television that in the first and only vice presidential debate between Palin and Biden, “she killed” from the first moment Palin, extended her hand to Biden and said, “Hi, nice to meet you. May I call you Joe?” From then on, Noonan, as though following a meme from the dishonest, disreputable alphabet mainstream media who are acting like rats following the Pied Piper, has joined others in discrediting this increasingly popular woman from Alaska who has energized a major sector of the population, this woman who many women identify with despite the horrific level of personal attacks mounted against her.

By the way, I can’t help but be reminded of the ultimate fate of the rats with some glee but with sadness over the fate of the innocents of Hamelin. But I digress.

From Noonan’s article, Palin Failin’, here’s an excerpt.

“….But we have seen Mrs. Palin on the national stage for seven weeks now, and there is little sign that she has the tools, the equipment, the knowledge or the philosophical grounding one hopes for, and expects, in a holder of high office. She is a person of great ambition, but the question remains: What is the purpose of the ambition? She wants to rise, but what for? For seven weeks I’ve listened to her, trying to understand if she is Bushian or Reaganite – a spender, to speak briefly, whose political decisions seem untethered to a political philosophy, and whose foreign policy is shaped by a certain emotionalism, or a conservative whose principles are rooted in philosophy, and whose foreign policy leans more toward what might be called romantic realism, and that is speak truth, know America, be America, move diplomatically, respect public opinion, and move within an awareness and appreciation of reality.

But it’s unclear whether she is Bushian or Reaganite. She doesn’t think aloud. She just …says things…..”

Greta van Susteren of Fox News, called Noonan out “… to give it a rest” and rightly so. In a blog, Greta took the cudgels for what I suspect would be the silent majority who would like to put these unhinged, self-satisfied, “sour-graping” women pundits in their rightful place – a) seated in a corner wearing dunce caps or b) in “a special place in hell.” Take your pick.

One obvious thing going for Sarah Palin, after having 5 kids, is that she is still eye candy – with a supportive, confident hunk of a man by her side, to boot. Many career women, especially in Hollywood, simply cannot abide that. It’s been said in many women’s magazines that looking good is still the best revenge. GREEN GIANT-SIZED ENVY is THE reason these rabid women are foaming at the mouth. Still, given the extremely hostile environment, Sarah is morphing to a Lady Di persona, despite the media, in just a few weeks. People notice her hair, her glasses, the color of her clothes and photographers obsess about her shoes. Yes, even her red peep-toe shoes on a great pair of gams can launch a thousand AP images on the web. Take that, you green-eyed monsters! Forget Hollywood and its celebs. The toxin in the botox may have seeped to their noggins making them unable to process facts and think outside the botox … ooops, I meant the box.

The so-called media elite, the likes of Noonan, et.al., can dwell on nuance all they like. I will take Sarah’s substance any time.

Clear-thinking, ordinary people with no vested interest, know Palin’s accomplishments are solid, verifiable, quantifiable and repeatable, as opposed to the Dem front runner whose past associations, actions and endorsements and financial support from America’s enemies should give everyone serious cause for concern. Almost without exception, past performance and allegiance indicate future behavior.

And Greta is right to point out that it is infinitely much more of a challenge to run an entire state with natural resources that play a huge part in America’s drive towards energy independence as opposed to merely pounding a keyboard as a lowly wordsmith masquerading as pundit and making a living criticizing others. Like moi, for instance.

What the vile punditocracy and this complicit media elite do not understand is that the American middle class has been looking for a champion who know, even without trying very hard or using focus groups, exactly where they are coming from. An Ivy League diploma is no guarantee of performance. Witness the current leadership. Many politicians and talking heads with law degrees from Harvard and Princeton cannot claim to have a fifth of this woman’s accomplishments in so short a time. Millions of middle class and Walmart-shopping women identify with her persona – a woman with the smarts, the heart, the drive, the energy, the courage, determination and conviction to express her belief and commitment in the culture of life and the greatness of America particularly during these troubled times. She is from outside the beltway of politics and to many of us who has seen and smelled the stench of corruption of slimy career politicians, she is such a breath of fresh Alaska air. If her opponents are smart, they would think twice before trying to diss, much less disrespect this huge voting block. They do so at their own peril.

The more the media attack her, the more men and women voters from the center, will stand by her. Keep the attacks coming. Anger and resentment will find expression at the polls on November 04 with a vengeance. Those who like Sarah and identify with her will be THE critical swing voters who form part of the silent majority.

The effect of the Palin Factor in this election is yet unknown but there are sharp, palpable indicators only the deluded can deny. People watch and read about her on the internet, bypassing print and broadcast, becoming wise to the proclivity of media to lie, spin, prevaricate, and pander to the liberal left. I have personally heard a few say they want to throw out their TV sets and boycott all advertisers that use these media. The size of Palin’s crowds and the trouble they go through, many driving for hundreds of miles and waiting as much as 5 hours under oppressive heat just to see her deliver a 25 minute stump speech sans the dishonest fluff of celebrity enhancements such as free concerts and the draw of free beer and give-aways, ought to give the One, the Dems, the punditocracy and these disingenuous pollsters just 2 more nightmare-riddled nights and horror-filled weeks.

In one state, Sarah drew over 20,000 wildly enthusiastic people gathered just to listen to her stump speech. Meanwhile, in a book-signing event for Noonan’s book, en eyewitness in the blogosphere claimed, perhaps two dozen people, give or take a few, would generously approximate it.

SARAH SUCCEEDIN’? Why YES, most definitely. She makes all her detractors afraid, very afraid. How else does one explain the rabid rants?

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Nota Bene: My views are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of AJPI. I encourage you to read my book, “The Complete Success Guide for the Immigrant Life: How to Survive, How to Thrive, How to be Fully Alive.” If you have very little time to read, browse through “The Immigrant’s Little Quote Book for Success.” Your local public library might have these books available or you can request your librarian to purchase copies. These are also available at amazon.com or immigrantsuccess.com Past articles are on the internet at www.asianjournal.com To ask questions, send feedback and requests, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

(Published October 22, 2008 p.B2 LAMDWK)

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