September 12, 2008

The First Interview….Revisited

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THE FIRST INTERVIEW….REVISITED….Ross Douthat on Sarah Palin:

I know that the people who’ve decided she’s Monica Goodling with a shotgun aren’t going to be persuaded by me on this point, but I think Palin really does have the potential to embody the kind of change the GOP desperately needs….But a vice-presidential run isn’t the ideal place to develop that potential in the best of times, and a vice-presidential run under the tutelage of the McCain campaign is likely to produce a lot more of what we saw from Palin in her interview last night: Rigorously memorized, carefully regurgitated talking points, a determination to avoid making enormous gaffes, and not much else.

You may be shocked to hear that I sort of agree. I’m not a conservative, but if I were I’d probably find Palin an attractive template for the future of the party. Give her another few years to develop some serious views on non-Alaska issues (and maybe a Senate term to do it in), and she might become a very powerful presence in the party.

But right now? Underprepared hardly begins to describe her. It was late last night and I didn’t explain in any detail why I found her Charlie Gibson interview so embarrassing, but the answer is simple: she wasn’t even able to regurgitate the usual high school-level talking points that politicians thrive on. It was more like kindergarten level talking points. President Bush is ridding the world of Islamic extremism. Terrorists are hellbent on destroying our nation. We must do whatever it takes. We must not blink, Charlie. Terrorists are hellbent on destroying America. All options must be on the table. And that’s why winning in Afghanistan is so important. Oh, and Iraq too. We have to win in Iraq and Afghanistan. The surge is great! We need a surge in Afghanistan.

This is like a parody of warblogs circa 2002. Somebody apparently told her that no matter what the question was, she only needed to parrot mindless bellicosities (but be sure to mention that war should be a last option!) and then move on. This is just not serious stuff. More here from James Fallows.

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WE'LL BE BLUNT

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