(Sept. 5, 2008): "Palin fascinates European media" (Financial Times)

[G4Hillary]

Sarah ‘Barracuda’ Palin, the fanatic of the heartlands of America,” screamed Le Point magazine’s website. The weekly described her speech to the Republican Convention “as a declaration of war [on the] Democrats as well as on the media and elites who dare to raise doubts about her ability to serve as vice-president of the United States”.

It also quoted a US army veteran, Bill Coll, as raising parallels with a French female hero. “The great leaders sometimes come from the countryside, from the most remote spots. Remember Joan of Arc! Sarah could be our modern Joan of Arc”.

In Britain, more attention was paid to Ms Palin’s success in combining career and family. “Almost overnight, Sarah Palin replaced Hillary Clinton as the screen on which we project our doubts and hopes about women and success,” wrote Nancy Gibbs, in the Times. ”In noisy public forums, everyone seemed suddenly certain of beliefs they used to reject: of course a woman can manage five kids and the vice leadership of the free world, said conservative defenders previously known for asserting a woman’s need to submit to her husband.”

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d9c729e0-7a87-11dd-adbe-000077b07658.html

[Tim4Hillary]

omg - what a bunch of bs.

[Steffi]

That's a German one from Spiegel online:

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,576248,00.html

Resuscitating the Republicans with Sarah Palin
By Gabor Steingart in St. Paul

Sarah Palin's presence on the stage at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul was hardly impressive. But her party hasn't seemed so human in a long time. Palin's weaknesses may turn out to be her greatest strength.

Was Sarah Palin convincing on Wednesday night in St. Paul? There is a long and a short answer to that question.

The short answer is no.

The 44-year-old governor of Alaska recited in her thin voice a laundry list of accusations levelled at the Democratic candidate for president Barack Obama. One could describe her speech -- generously -- as brash. But it could just as easily be called hubristic.

The longer answer, though, is yes. Palin did a great service for the Republicans.

Her weakness, as it turns out, is her greatest strength. The party of George W. Bush, responsible for one unnecessary war (Iraq) and one necessary but unsuccessful war (Afghanistan), hasn't looked so human for a long time. Plainness, as it turns out, can be inviting -- and flaws can be beneficial.

Palin's manifest vulnerability goes a long way toward protecting the Republicans from the accusation that the party wants to seamlessly continue the tenure of President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. She came out of nowhere, breezy, bold and inexperienced. She is not belligerent or devious enough to be seen as a hawk. Her conservatism may seem antiquated, but it is certainly not aggressive and arrogant.

Interactive: The Candidates in Profile Morally, Sarah Palin tends toward rigidity. She is a devout supporter of abstinence-only programs instead of sex education in schools, a position that her own 17-year-old daughter shows as being impracticable. Indeed, at first blush, it seemed a profound embarrassment to both Palin and her party that, in the same week as the Republican National Convention, McCain's newly-crowned vice-presidential candidate had to admit to her own daughter's unplanned teen pregnancy. The Republicans wanted to talk about the myriad threats facing the world -- and suddenly they ended up in the bedroom of Palin's daughter.

But. This particular embarrassment is one that could turn out to be profoundly useful. Indeed, mixed in with the schadenfreude coming from the American left is a certain amount of respect for a family that has treated a potential disaster as little more than real life.

On Wednesday evening in St. Paul, Palin's pregnant daughter Bristol -- along with her boyfriend Levi Johnston -- appeared on the convention stage with Sarah, her husband Todd and the rest of their five children. Palin was visibly proud and sanguine. Her family is no different from any other in America, Palin told the gathered delegates. "Our family has the same ups and downs as any other … the same challenges and the same joys." And sometimes, she said, "even the greatest joys bring challenge."

It was at that point when her family's private life became a political strength. The message was clear: In Sarah Palin, American mothers would have a friend and a representative in the White House.

The fact that the American media went after her immediately after McCain announced her nomination -- the accusations ranged from naiveté to dishonesty -- also didn't hurt. She's not going to Washington D.C., she said, to seek the "good opinion" of the media. She's not part of the "Washington elite," she said, and she's going there to "serve the people of this country."

With one passage in her speech, Palin managed to transform herself from a member of a party which has governed America for eight long years into an opposition politician.

For Barack Obama, whose anti-Washington campaign she apparently seeks to emulate, she had little more than disdain. "This is a man who has authored two memoirs, but not a single major law or reform." Obama may be proud of the fact that he was a community organizer, Palin said, but she was mayor of her hometown in Alaska -- "a small-town mayor is sort of like a community organizer except that you have actual responsibilities."

It is impossible to gauge the effect of her Wednesday night appearance right away and it's not likely that her speech will immediately make itself felt in the opinion polls. But it will have an effect. She was unsophisticated enough not to frighten voters. The unsteadiness of her voice and posture seemed endearing rather than coldly calculated. She didn't say much -- but she set a tone.

Republican Party strategists must be satisfied. If one wants to extend the term of a party which has fallen as far as Bush's Republicans have, one has to pull a rabbit out of the hat.

A rabbit which seems fresh and unsullied. Like Sarah Palin.

[Hillforceone]

That's a German one from Spiegel online:[cropping their babble]

There are three hacks with Der Spiegel at www.spiegel.de, namely Gabor Steingart, Marc Pitzke and Gregor Peter Schmitz who apparently have ordered a big sea container of KOOL-AID and been drinking it ever since the New Messiah has entered the (global) stage.

They have written utterly disgusting misogynist crap about Hillary.

They are pathetic worshippers of the Cult of Obama.

To put this in perspective, Der Spiegel is the most important political weekly magazine and in its past has been a reliable source of information.

The hateful and distorting writings of those three hacks have made me quit reading the political pages on spiegel.de altogether. An effect that can be compared to those of you no longer watching certain TV news channels.


moni k.

[HumbleDave]

As if the Euros have ever had their act together.

[Hillforceone]

As if the Euros have ever had their act together.

The Euros?

Please tell me how people from France, Sweden, Germany, Italy, Spain or Greece are kind of the same in which way?

BTW, I take it as a compliment that you must think that I am NOT one of them - otherwise I would have to think that you are talking down to me for which I believe I give you no reason.

Oh, and: Just because the (German) MEDIA is in the tank for Obama, it doesn't mean that the citizens (of Germany) are. Otherwise you would not have to bother about electing a president because CNN, MSNBC and the papers would have coronated Obama already.



moni k.

[Steffi]

The Euros?

Please tell me how people from France, Sweden, Germany, Italy, Spain or Greece are kind of the same in which way?

BTW, I take it as a compliment that you must think that I am NOT one of them - otherwise I would have to think that you are talking down to me for which I believe I give you no reason.

Oh, and: Just because the (German) MEDIA is in the tank for Obama, it doesn't mean that the citizens (of Germany) are. Otherwise you would not have to bother about electing a president because CNN, MSNBC and the papers would have coronated Obama already.



moni k.


I also know many of us who are not or are at least critical.
Just because it's in the media you don't have to believe it. :rolleyes:

[OhNoes]

There are three hacks with Der Spiegel at www.spiegel.de, namely Gabor Steingart, Marc Pitzke and Gregor Peter Schmitz who apparently have ordered a big sea container of KOOL-AID and been drinking it ever since the New Messiah has entered the (global) stage.

They have written utterly disgusting misogynist crap about Hillary.

They are pathetic worshippers of the Cult of Obama.

To put this in perspective, Der Spiegel is the most important political weekly magazine and in its past has been a reliable source of information

Exactly. You may call this move extreme or not, but I canceled my subscription sometime during the primaries. I've still been checking on information on their site every now and then for some time, but their political coverage about the US election managed to make me turn away completely. Yes, it's that bad for me.

[HumbleDave]

Hillforceone. By Euros I'm talking the European Union. It's not like they are even close to being a cohesive unit, especially with Germany leaning left, France trending ever so slightly to the right, and Britain not sure which way to go. It wasn't just by accident that Obama gave his big "look at me" speech in Germany. It was the only place he had a chance of being accepted.

I lived in Morbach, GE for a number of years during the 80's and remember well how extreme some of the political parties were, at least back then.

And yes, the fact that you are not one of them IS a compliment. No offence was intended.

[Angelica91]

Sarah didn't replace anyone!
HILLARY ALL THE WAY!!!!!!!!!!
Hillary is my hero and nobody can replace her!!!!

HILLARY
HILLARY
HILLARY

[Hillforceone]

Hillforceone. By Euros I'm talking the European Union.

Thank you for clarifying this for me. Where I live, "Euro" is the currency.

It's not like they are even close to being a cohesive unit, especially with Germany leaning left, France trending ever so slightly to the right, and Britain not sure which way to go. It wasn't just by accident that Obama gave his big "look at me" speech in Germany. It was the only place he had a chance of being accepted.

Germany has - in my opinion - a much too centrist government and what you consider "leaning left" is probably too right for me.

And yes, the fact that you are not one of them IS a compliment. No offence was intended.

I am a German citizen, born in Germany, living in Germany.
I am "one of them".
I take it as a compliment that my command of the English language and my contributions to this forum, not to mention my blog, do not make this apparent. :D

moni k.

[Steffi]

Exactly. You may call this move extreme or not, but I canceled my subscription sometime during the primaries. I've still been checking on information on their site every now and then for some time, but their political coverage about the US election managed to make me turn away completely. Yes, it's that bad for me.

No, it isn't extreme. I never had a subscription of the "Spiegel" but since that election I don't even think about buying it.

[Adayamo]

I also know many of us who are not or are at least critical.

It another forum which only has a small part about politics, I had a massive argument with almost a dozen guys.
It was so disappointing to see how NOT A SINGLE argument I came up with even seemed to scratch on their opinion about the chosen one. :(

[EH]

It's not much better in Italy, either. The Communists-now-reinvented-as-liberals control most of the daily newspapers and are questioning her "ability to be a new Hillary" and that "women won't buy it," blah, blah, blah!

[Steffi]

It another forum which only has a small part about politics, I had a massive argument with almost a dozen guys.
It was so disappointing to see how NOT A SINGLE argument I came up with even seemed to scratch on their opinion about the chosen one. :(

In the forum of my soccer club for example they are very critical. But also very sexist sometimes. Yesterday for example I didn't answer on anything about Palin because I didn't want to hear sexist-remarks. I'm one of maybe 10women who are writing there. :rolleyes:

[EH]

It another forum which only has a small part about politics, I had a massive argument with almost a dozen guys.
It was so disappointing to see how NOT A SINGLE argument I came up with even seemed to scratch on their opinion about the chosen one. :(

It's the same in Italy - he's seen as a rock star and not a politician. They all think that "it's about time the US had a black president and get the war-mongering Republicans out of office". While I agree with the first part of that statement, if they did their research on BO, they'd think differently. However, like in the US, for many the presidential elections this year is like watching X-Factor.:(

[Adayamo]

In the forum of my soccer club for example they are very critical. But also very sexist sometimes. Yesterday for example I didn't answer on anything about Palin because I didn't want to hear sexist-remarks. I'm one of maybe 10women who are writing there. :rolleyes:

Lucky you.
They were all over Palin.
It was SO disgusting.

Normally those guys are very critical on what happens outside of Germany ...
but concernint the GE they seem to have lost their minds. :(

[Steffi]

It's the same in Italy - he's seen as a rock star and not a politician. They all think that "it's about time the US had a black president and get the war-mongering Republicans out of office". While I agree with the first part of that statement, if they did their research on BO, they'd think differently. However, like in the US, for many the presidential elections this year is like watching X-Factor.:(

Exactly! You have to search very long for critical words about BO here. Last week I woke up every morning with praising BO from my radio station and I had to overread one full page in my local paper every morning. This week with the republican convention it's totally different: Only half of the words from my radio station and the articles are smaller and hidden somewhere in my paper. Totally unbalanced! First with Hillary (she was the bad person who tried to "steal" it from BO) and now it's McCain.

[Steffi]

Lucky you.
They were all over Palin.
It was SO disgusting.

Normally those guys are very critical on what happens outside of Germany ...
but concernint the GE they seem to have lost their minds. :(

I said it before: people in the north are stubborn. ;)

[Adayamo]

I said it before: people in the north are stubborn. ;)

I guess we folks in the south are even more stubborn.
And this makes the situation even worse. :(

[Steffi]

I guess we folks in the south are even more stubborn.
And this makes the situation even worse. :(

Too stubborn to learn it better? :)
The dumbest article of the day today clearly was the "Bild" (our biggest boulevard-paper which I never can take serious) with two pictures of Mrs Merkel and BO with glasses. Message: They both weared them for protection at events yesterday. Really?! Cool! As if there were no real problems....

[Mercurial]

Oddly enough, the first article I've come across to make me question Palin is from Fox:

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/09/06/palins-church-promoting-conference-aimed-at-converting-gays/