John O’Sullivan who, among other things, was an adviser to Margaret Thatcher, writes in the WSJ: Conservative Snobs Wrong on Palin. His thesis is that Palin is more like Thatcher than her critics have allowed.

He concludes the piece with:

Mrs. Palin had four big occasions in the late, doomed Republican campaign: her introduction by John McCain in Ohio, her speech at the GOP convention, her vice-presidential debate with Sen. Joe Biden, and her appearance on Saturday Night Live. With minimal preparation, she rose to all four of them. That’s the mark of star.

If conservative intellectuals, Republican operatives and McCain “handlers” can’t see it, then so much the worse for them.

First, I am not sure how one can list her “big occasions” and ignore her interviews with Gibson and especially Couric. Second, of the four listed, only the convention speech was a truly remarkable event. There is little doubt that she can give a impressive red-meat political speech to a crowd of co-partisans. That is an important political skill, but hardly qualifies as evidence that one is ready to govern. To deal with the others: her introduction was fine (better than, say, Quayle’s–but that’s not a high bar), but was ultimately forgettable (indeed, it was ultimately fairly standard). Her debate with Biden was fine, but hardly transcendent. Indeed, I thought that the debate underscored that she was good at memorized/prepared answers but struggled when she had to think on her feet. Her SNL appearance was fine, and was adequately self-effacing, but are we going to start judging whether one is ready for the White House because one can manage a few skits on a late night comedy show?

There is little doubt that Palin has charisma and some political skills. However, none of what O’Sullivan notes is enough to convince one that Palin is the savior of the GOP, ready for the presidency, or the next Margaret Thatcher. The argument that he makes that early on that Thatcher wasn’t Thatcher, either, is all well and good, but doesn’t really provide a positive reason to think that that kind of success in in Palin’s future.

As was my point yesterday, the continued fascination with Palin underscores the serious problems that the GOP faces going forward. She gave a speech to the faithful, she has some charisma and she supports some key GOP policy positions (e.g., on abortion and taxes). Why all of that translates into as much admiration in some quarters as it has is interesting, if not confounding.

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10 Responses to “Even More Palin”

1. B. Minich Says:
   December 23rd, 2008 at 11:10 am

   Dude, I want whatever drink he’s having.

2. Ratoe Says:
   December 23rd, 2008 at 11:34 am

   Her SNL appearance was fine, and was adequately self-effacing, but are we going to start judging whether one is ready for the White House because one can manage a few skits on a late night comedy show?

   Hey, it might be the case with Senator-elect Franken!

3. Dr. Steven Taylor Says:
   December 23rd, 2008 at 11:45 am

   

   I almost noted Franken in that context when I wrote the post.

4. Cernig Says:
   December 23rd, 2008 at 12:25 pm

   It never ceases to amaze that in America people think “like Maggie T” might ever be a compliment. Not in the UK, I assure you.

   Regards, C

5. tripleLLL Says:
   December 24th, 2008 at 11:56 am

   Interesting blog. I’ll be back after Christmas to read more.

6. Captain D Says:
   December 24th, 2008 at 11:44 pm

   Why the heck are we still talking about Palin?

   Sounds like someone has a crush, fetish, or other unwholesome reason for latching onto the target and not letting go.

   McCain/Palin lost. Didn’t everyone get the memo?

7. DB Says:
   December 25th, 2008 at 12:24 am

   Actually, it seems that conservatives are talking about Palin more than liberals are. Read the post (and the article) over again and you will see.

   But then I think, who cares if people talk about her? She is being positioned to be a nominee in 2012 which is reason enough to continue being critical of her views.

8. Captain D Says:
   December 25th, 2008 at 12:32 am

   So why aren’t we talking about other people who might be postured for a 2012 run?

   So far all I’ve seen is Palin, Palin, Palin.

   If she’s so stupid, why is she the only person who has anyone talking about her for 2012?

9. DB Says:
   December 25th, 2008 at 12:52 am

   Seriously? Because she is being positioned by the conservative base as the front runner! As you know, and we witnessed with Hillary, the publicly perceived front runner takes the most heat. She is it, until someone steps up.

10. Dr. Steven Taylor Says:
    December 25th, 2008 at 4:25 pm

    If she’s so stupid, why is she the only person who has anyone talking about her for 2012?

    But, of course, this is my point in my recent posts on Palin: if she really is the GOP’s great hope, then the party is in serious trouble.