You see... I was so conflicted over the McCain pick of Palin. I remember exactly where I was when I found out, and I had in fact told my parents that she would be a good VP pick, before we even knew McCain was the person. [I made the pick/guess when I thought that there was a chance that Romney or even Thompson were going to get the Republican nod - so you see I am not some political genius.] So when McCain, someone whom I was not and am not a political fan of chose her, it was somewhat bitter-sweet for me.
I have always been a fan of Alaska, even prior to moving here. So the Sarah Palin ascent in this state was something that I followed at afar first. This state is very unique, and so her victory into the governorship was very interesting. It was a statement about what this state wanted, but more importantly what it needed.Likewise in the lower 48 there seems to be that same sentiment. So my first post was more about that. The re-emergence of Sarah Palin post Decision 2008. Most VP candidates who lose are doomed to a life of irrelevance. Even those who become VP for the most part are left to exists in political mediocrity. Few go on after being tapped to make any sort of waves. Here is a recent list:
- Walter Mondale
- Geraldine A. Ferraro
- Lloyd Bentsen
- Al Gore
- Joe Lieberman
- John Edwards
- Bob Dole
- George HW Bush
- Dan Quayle
- Jack Kemp
- Dick Cheney
So my point isn't so much that I am just realizing what Sarah Palin is... but trying to explain to other that she appears to be transforming before our eyes. Not into something new, but something bigger. There are a lot of people here in Alaska that are still confused and perplexed at why she stepped down. There are a lot of good explanations, but it is understandable that people don't accept those explanations or continue to question the ultimate decision.
Regardless of that issue though, Sarah Palin is here to stay. A losing VP candidate from the last election is now within the margin of error in some polls when posed against our current, first term President who is less than a year into his role. That is unfathomable. Not only that, but her BOOK tour has been a major news story... including every stop along the way. [All while such huge stories such as Tiger Woods, the Health Care votes, and the Afghan surge exist.]
The reason this woman, aside from her political implications, matters to this blog is two-fold. First, I am a fan, a big one, and I think she could do great things in a multitude of roles. But secondly, and most importantly she has brought very important questions to the table and have placed them in the arena of dialogue. She is forcing the Republican party to chose conservatism or relativism. She is making this country talk about the role of families, government, and the role both play in our national life. She talks about the people that don't live in the cities, that don't believe that the government is the first solution, and don't believe that they elect people to make major decisions for them.
Sarah Palin gets under the skin of the media, of the cultural elite, and of hollywood. They don't like her because she is a danger to them. She is the inverse of those groups. She is small town and private living. She makes her mistakes, takes her bumps, and keeps on ticking. She puts herself out there and makes the media report on her... which in turn annoys them because it keeps her relevant. She makes statements which the press tries to assassinate her with, only to have her poll numbers rise.
The commentator that inspired this post also said something, which I very much agree with. "You either love her or hate her." I think this is true... and I think that is the sign that this woman is something special and something important. As you know, I take the cultural and societal battle we are all in very seriously. I think there are two sides and the middle ground is fiction. Dante said: "The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality during times of moral crisis." I believe he is right. I believe that Sarah Palin drew a line in the sand during the 2008 election. That wasn't enough. So she regrouped, went and got some heavy equipment and is digging a canyon. When the 2012 elections come around I think Sarah Palin will have molded the social and political landscape in such a way that we will for the first time in a long while have a true Conservative candidate. I don't know if she will be on the ticket, but I think her message is resonating loud enough, and gaining such support that we as a nation will demand a real conservative candidate.
She isn't just a pretty face, but it helps. In fact, it helps so much that it infuriates the left. Sarah Palin has really good policies, but you don't hear about them. It isn't due to the lack of anything substantive, it is due to the lack of coverage. You see our current "news" media works on hate, fear, and failure. Sarah's policies more often than not - simply work. Sure there are some losses and mistakes along the way, all politicians have em. There are also lots of areas in which people can disagree, that's the nature of the game. Yet, you don't hear the media attacking her policies because the public wouldn't stand for it right now. Not with the abysmal job the current president is doing.
So you see, right now Sarah Palin is doing something that almost no losing VP candidate, or any VP for that matter, has done in decades. She is remaining relevant, and in fact gaining in relevance. Although I have tried to keep this blog mostly Catholic, and mostly about American CATHOLIC politics, I think that Sarah Palin is an important enough person who embodies the principles of American Catholic politics enough to justify covering her in some posts. I think she is here to stay, and will only grow in her influence and her relevance.
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