Sarah Palin: When Reality is Irrelevant

There have been so many comments about this post on Facebook, that I decided to copy and paste them in here.  Look below the fold.

By now you've all heard about, and possibly read, this month's Vanity Fair piece about Sarah Palin by Todd S. Purdum, It Came from Wasilla.  (If you haven't, go read it!)  It's an expose about the train wreck that was the McCain-Palin campaign in the final few months.  But this time, we hear a bit more than leaks about Sarah Palin being a "whack job," a "diva," or "going rogue."  My favorite revelation?  Apparently Palin's handlers started calling her the "Little Shop of Horrors" within a week.

There's a nice follow up article in Politico today about the Republican infighting generated by the Vanity Fair piece.  Bill Kristol, an adviser to the McCain campaign and someone rumored to have been responsible for McCain's selection of Palin as a running mate, started off the bitch fest with a post on The Weekly Standard's blog criticizing the Vanity Fair article.  Since then, he and Steve Schmidt, McCain's campaign manager, have basically traded school yard insults, dragging in Randy Scheunemann, a McCain foreign policy adviser.  Keep it up, boys.  We really don't care who leaked all the stuff about Palin during the campaign or whether one of you suggested she might have post-partum depression.  It's all good for the Democrats!

Here's a sampling of the pissing match:

“Bill Kristol, going back to the time of the campaign, has taken a lot of cheap shots at the campaign without ever offering a plausible path to victory,” Schmidt said. “He’s in the business of ad hominem insults and criticism.”

Responding to Schmidt’s counterattack, Kristol directly fingered Schmidt: “It’s simply a fact that when the going got tough, Steve Schmidt trashed Sarah Palin, both within the campaign and (on background) to journalists. This was after Steve took credit for the Palin pick when, at first, he thought it made him look good. John McCain deserved better.”

At this, Schmidt unloaded in a lengthy telephone interview, suggesting that Kristol was carrying out a personal vendetta based out of anger over the attempt to fire Scheunemann in the final days of the campaign.

Man, it doesn't get much better than this.

The rehashing of the McCain-Palin nightmare is disturbing enough. But if you read the Vanity Fair article in full and sort of skip over all the junior high back stabbing tactics and campaign leaks, you come away with the disconcerting realization that Sarah Palin really doesn't see what a nightmare her campaign was; that she really doesn't understand just how woefully unprepared she was, and by all accounts still is, for the office of Vice President.

In the Vanity Fair piece, Andrew Halco shared a conversation he had with Palin about their many debates:

...She said, "Andrew, I watch you at these debates with no notes, no papers, and yet when asked questions, you spout off facts, figures, and policies, and I’m amazed. But then I look out into the audience and I ask myself, Does any of this really matter?"

Oy.  Apparently, Sarah Palin is perfectly OK with her ignorance about world and national affairs.  She's even OK with her ignorance about Alaska affairs, and that's scary.  It's more than scary.  In the Vanity Fair piece, Purdum shares this disturbing insight:

More than once in my travels in Alaska, people brought up, without prompting, the question of Palin’s extravagant self-regard. Several told me, independently of one another, that they had consulted the definition of “narcissistic personality disorder” in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders—“a pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy”—and thought it fit her perfectly. When Trig was born, Palin wrote an e-mail letter to friends and relatives, describing the belated news of her pregnancy and detailing Trig’s condition; she wrote the e-mail not in her own name but in God’s, and signed it “Trig’s Creator, Your Heavenly Father.”

I was initially a bit skeptical.  After all, pretty much anyone who runs for political office must be "blessed" with a touch of narcissism.  Let's face it.  You have to have a healthy does of ego to get through a grueling campaign and hold a job where at any one time, 40% or more of your electorate with be criticizing you.  Then, I heard another little nugget on CNN that made it all fall into place....

In the August 2009 Runner's World published today, Sarah Palin talks about herself as a long distance runner.  Here's a snippet:

What about in a race? Could you beat the president?
I betcha I'd have more endurance. My one claim to fame in my own little internal running circle is a sub-four marathon. It wasn't necessarily a good running time, but it proves I have the endurance within me to at least gut it out and that is something. If you ever talk to my old coaches, they'd tell you, too. What I lacked in physical strength or skill I made up for in determination and endurance. So if it were a long race that required a lot of endurance, I'd win.

I think this interview with Runner's World, more than any Sarah Palin has given, reveals more about who she is as a person.  Up until now I'd assumed that Sarah Palin was intellectually lazy, one of those people who skate through life giving the minimum amount of effort at everything, relying on charm and physical beauty.  Her interview with Runner's World and the piece in Vanity Fair widened the picture for me. 

Sarah Palin isn't lazy.  She's disciplined.  She's very disciplined.  Anyone who can train for and complete a sub-four marathon knows a little something about setting goals and sticking to them.  No, Sarah Palin hasn't informed herself because she doesn't believe that it's necessary to achieve her goal - President of the United States.  She remains deliberately ignorant of national and world affairs believing that it simply isn't important.

Does that scare you?  It scares me.  As Purdum points out in Vanity Fair, Palin believes that none of this intellectual stuff really matters.  She's wrong.  All of it really does matter.  Our country cannot afford a President who operates purely as a political animal manipulating an audience.  We can't afford to have someone who appears to be even more uninformed than George W. Bush.  At least Bush, by all accounts, attempted to surround himself with educated people.  Sarah Palin is just narcissistic enough to think that she doesn't need to do that.

We all know that Sarah Palin wasn't just talking about a foot race in that quote I excerpted from Runner's World.  Oh no.  She was talking about the 2012 race for the White House.  She thinks she can win.  And God help us all if we're stupid enough to elect her.

A big h/t to Cyn for the Politico article and my husband and Cyn for sending me the Vanity Fair article at the crack of dawn!

When she isn't planning her move to Canada if Palin becomes President in 2012, Stephanie writes about more frivolous matters on her personal blog, Lawyer Mama.

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Comments from Facebook:

You, Donna Schwartz Mills, Julie Pippert, Meagan Andrew and 4 others like this.

Donna Schwartz Mills, Julie Pippert, Meagan Andrew and 4 others like this.

Ozma Oz at 4:52am July 2

What's funny is that 'it came from Wasilla' is like a horror movie and Sarah Palin is like a horror movie monster for anyone who doesn't share her particular ideology. But like a horror movie monster, she is not as scary as she looks. The more reaction to her, the more reassured her crackpot followers that she is the antidote to all that they fear (us, basically). I think it might be better just to show *her* irrelevance.

Kimberly Bucher Maher at 8:12am July 2

Huh. "Crackpot followers?" Hmmm. I think one of the major problems with politics in this country is that people refuse to credit those who disagree with them with ALSO having intelligence and common sense. It always helps me to try to see why someone holds the positions that they do. And then we can actually have a constructive discussion. And maybe agree to disagree.

Trey Nelson at 9:26am July 2

Narcissistic + Informed + Will to Listen = good politician
Narcissistic + Informed = most politicians
Narcissistic + Willfully Ignorant = freaking disaster

On a personality level she has more in common with Richard Nixon or.....Mahmoud Ahmadinejad than say Reagan whom her loyalists constantly try and compare her too. Charisma maybe. Smart Politician definitely not.

Johnna Tonn Terwelp at 9:56am July 2

She scares me to the core.

Janice Alban Washburn at 10:33am July 2

I voted for Sarah Palin and would again in a heartbeat. I expect name calling now from those on the other side.

 Stephanie Himel-Nelson at 10:38am July 2

Janice - Do you mean you voted for John McCain?.....
Thanks for the repost, Meagan!

Janice Alban Washburn at 10:42am July 2

Absolutely! Sarah gave me more reason for that decision. She is pro-life and she proved it with her own personal decision. The other guy is anti-life - no possible way would I EVER vote for someone with that character.

Julie Pippert at 10:56am July 2

Oh and Trey gets all brilliant, again, too!

 Stephanie Himel-Nelson at 11:02am July 2

Janice - I'm always amazed though by Sarah Palin's decision process about Trig's pregnancy. She talks about it very openly. Yet, she'd take the "choice" she made away from every other woman. Even in cases of rape or incest.

Carla Hitz at 11:19am July 2

Janice...if only the miriad of problems we had in the world were so simple as to decide between womens reproductive choices. I never saw anything beyond the culture debate from her. No meat on the bones so to speak. No substance or depth. The "other guy" is not "anti life". That is a total mischaracterization and misunderstanding of his stand.

Nancy Adams-Wolk at 11:33am July 2

This was a good article. I worry about any presidential candidate who feels that it is not important to know international policies. The abortion issue is non existent in my feelings on this. I expect a president who is willing to work within the world, not to consider the United States to be the be all end all of the world.

Janice- the "other guy... Read More" has a name. It is President Obama. The argument of President Bush being "anti-life" (American Soliders (thanks for your service) and Iraqi citizens) is often ignored and only his stance on abortion is used. Very interesting.

Carla Hitz at 12:15pm July 2

Never fails to amuse and amaze me that the party that is all about get the federal government out of my face, out of my pocket and out of my business is so hypocritical where it comes to private personal choices....right to life (Terri Shiavo anyone?)right to marry who we love, right for a woman to consult with her doctor, partner and or clergy to ... Read Moredetermine her own reproductive choices. Sarah Palin represents the red meat constituency....but the substance is sorely lacking. Major deficit in policy knowledge, world history, even American history, no diplomatic skills whatsoever....but by golly, the first dude is a snow machine champ and she is a gun toting wild life hunter and drill baby drill promoter. Those are presidential credentials for sure!! LOL!!

Jim Baumberger at 12:27pm July 2

Wow! As a fair-minded person I could hardly call the Vanity Fair article fair and balanced. Resembled more of a political hit piece. And his sexist statements peppered throughout the story makes me wonder why more fair-minded women are not calling for Todd's head?

Karen Francis at 12:39pm July 2

get the feds out of big bidness, big oil, banking.. but I'm supposed to let the feds make decisions about my uterus? Not. So. Much. I want a president who actually knows SOMETHING about the rest of the world, something more than garsh, golly gee whiz. NO, I don't want someone "just like me" in the White House. I want someone smarter, more informed, and with a better view of the big picture.

Janice Alban Washburn at 12:39pm July 2

Thanks, Jim!!

Carla Hitz at 12:52pm July 2

Right on Karen!!! As to the article....yes, indeed it was a hit piece. Ms. Palin made herself in to a target by and through her severe missteps and inadaquacies through the campaign and beyond. Had she availed her self to serious interviews, the Sunday circuit for example and showed some real chops for the issues beyond inciting near riots with "... Read Morepalling around with terrorists" comments, perhaps she would be taken seriously. She is the purest example of the Peter Principle I have ever seen. Sadly, I don't believe she is even aware at this late date that the joke is on her. She was a cynical, desperate pick by McCain that he regrets, she is taking her self seriously because her base loves her moral claims to superiority, however, she would NEVER be mistaken for a policy wonk by any stretch of the imagination. We need much more than a hockey mom to dig us out of our troubles. She doesn't have a clue. If she did, we would have seen it by now.

Julie Pippert at 12:58pm July 2

Jim, stay tuned. I wrote a very critical article for WomenCount about the VF article---it will be up as soon as it passes through editorial. I am deeply distraught by the tone of that article, and the overall sexist tone so many MSM journalist adopt so thoughtlessly and glibly.

Karen, rock on!

Angela Overbay- Curtis at 1:19pm July 2

I have to say..I agree with Karen....And it bothers me to no end that people can not diagree or have a differing take on things with out being called everything in the book...I am sooo disturbed by the HATE and NAME calling ..i.e..tea baggin redneck,stupid ..i could go on and on....i think it should be okay to hold differing views without being attacked...just because I may hold differing views.. that does NOT make me an idiot.

 Stephanie Himel-Nelson at 1:52pm July 2

Angela - I think everyone completely agrees. The problem is that Sarah Palin isn't stupid, she's uninformed and she *chooses* to remain that way. She seems to be pretty upfront about the fact that she doesn't think it's important to voters. That scares the hell out of me. I want my President or VP to know *more* about foreign policy and domestic affairs than I do. That's the VP or Pres's JOB.

 Stephanie Himel-Nelson at 1:53pm July 2

Jim - I don't think anyone here is saying the Vanity Fair piece was balanced. The article I wrote wasn't simply about the VF piece. That was just amusing. Love to watch political infighting on the other side.

Angela Overbay- Curtis at 1:53pm July 2

i understand that part of all of it....i was just talking about the level of hate that is out there right now:)

Angela Overbay- Curtis at 1:56pm July 2

i am not talking about you or my other friends that may have differing views...i am talking about the things i read and see on the news

 Stephanie Himel-Nelson at 1:58pm July 2

Ah, well, yeah, the media could start another rant on here! LOL!

Angela Overbay- Curtis at 1:59pm July 2

LOL..they sure could:)

Jim Baumberger at 2:16pm July 2

Interesting comments by one and all. And yet this remains: if she is such a baffoon and the butt of the joke, why does the main stream press spend so much time and energy on her? I was always taught that if someone is making a fool out of themselves, back up and give them plenty of room. Might it be that she is able to articulate a message that ... Read Moreresonates with far more people than the press is willing to state? There is something about her that the left fears and their only response is to the destroy the person.

 Stephanie Himel-Nelson at 2:28pm July 2

The media fascination is easily explained. It's like a train wreck. You can't help but watch.
And I'm not sure what her "message" is, Jim. Can you articulate it? I certainly can't, beyond some catch phrases. There has to be some substance beyond the pomp and circumstance and it just 'aint there. AND she's up front about saying that she doesn't think the "substance" is important. Whaaaaaa?????

Carla Hitz at 2:36pm July 2

Jim, it is pure fascination. Simple. Nothing more nothing less. No one has ever accused her of being a serious candidate as far as her political resume or chops, the intrique is akin to watching a car wreck. Kind of like Joe the Plummer. It baffles people and we crane our necks to watch. Why oh why would the "left" fear her? The election was held ... Read Morein November, and the resounding result was her repudiation. She throws red meat sound bytes. I have yet to hear an articulate message from her on anything of substance. If she has an understanding beyond the Alaskan pipeline and Putin rearing his head it has yet to be shown. Even those from the right while acknowledging her attractiveness to the religious segment of their constituency advise her to go away, read some books, do some learning, govern Alaska effectively and then try out the big time again later. She was ill prepared. We love to pick the bones of our public figures, and some walk themselves directly in to the meat grinder.

Karen Bayne at 3:00pm July 2

Stephanie, that's just what I like about your piece - the piece of the puzzle that falls into place that she does not seek out knowledge. No matter any one's feelings about her, there is nothing in her career or any interviews with her to suggest that is incorrect. In fact, all the evidence to suggests that you are correct.

I know I am the ugly ... Read Moreodd duck, being a liberal Christian who thinks differently about "pro-life" thing than most. I'd never call Obama "anti-life." All that on both sides is rhetoric, a way to frame the debate.
I know I make some of my fellow Christians' heads spin & there may be many who would disown me, but I can't help myself. Christian, I may be, but I can never replace my conscience for someone else'. Nor will I vilify those who don't want to replace their conscience with mine.

Stephanie Callaway Troup at 3:58pm July 2

To think she was thisclose to becoming VP. Truly terrifying.

 Stephanie Himel-Nelson at 3:58pm July 2

Thanks, Karen. Actually the comment section on MOMocrats has been pretty quiet. Everyone is doing the commenting here!

Comments

[cynematic]

It may have come from Wasilla, but I'll do my damnedest to make sure it goes back there. For good.

[Reagan]

Where is all of your compassionate feminism? This is a woman who was almost the FIRST FEMALE vice president of the United States.

Or does it not count if she's a Republican?

[Lawyer Mama]

Reagan - Feminism has nothing to do with it. I'm confused? Aren't Republicans all about promoting someone based on ability rather than sex or race?

The problem with Sarah Palin is not that she is a woman. It's that she is completely unqualified for national public office and has apparently deliberately chosen to remain ignorant. I have no compassion for someone who places her own blind ambition ahead of the good of her country.

[Tere]

Great post. Her deliberate ignorance does indeed scare me, but I have no problem moving to Canada if she ever makes it to the White House.

[PunditMom/Joanne Bamberger]

Sort of like the George W. Bush strategy. And, yes, I am very scared. Lots of people discount Palin because of her lack of experience and her even bigger lack of intellectual curiousity about the world. But she's like a dog with a bone -- she's not letting this one go so easily. I hope we Dems don't forget that.

[cynematic]

Not every high-achieving woman is a feminist. I didn't think Margaret Thatcher was a feminist.

What's your definition of feminism, Reagan?

[Lisse]

Well, the wolves of ethics violations have apparently circled too closely up there in Alaska, for Sarah Palin is stepping down.

If only Palin had been the kind of woman we could hold in esteem. Instead she was a walkin' talkin' winkin' flirtin' major setback with a huntin' license. Ignorant, abusive of her position, and dangerous - just what we don't need as an example of a female leader, let alone an American Vice President.

[feefifoto]

Good lord, I hate getting involved in political discussions because those who agree with you don't need convincing and those that don't agree with you want to kill you.

My opinion, veiled as it might be: Are you qualified to play QB for the Steelers just because you say so? Should you be allowed to perform open heart surgery without an adequate medical education? Running a country (or a state, or a city, or a preschool, for that matter) requires a lot more than pure conviction -- it requires intelligence, education and direction.