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DEL.ICIO.USOn Sarah Palin: David Brooks, Carly Fiornia — and about that tanning bed
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Below are the last two paragraphs in today’s column by David Brooks of the New York Times, widely judged as a well-spoken conservative:
Sarah Palin has many virtues. If you wanted someone to destroy a corrupt establishment, she’d be your woman. But the constructive act of governance is another matter. She has not been engaged in national issues, does not have a repertoire of historic patterns and, like President Bush, she seems to compensate for her lack of experience with brashness and excessive decisiveness.
The idea that “the people” will take on and destroy “the establishment” is a utopian fantasy that corrupted the left before it corrupted the right. Surely the response to the current crisis of authority is not to throw away standards of experience and prudence, but to select leaders who have those qualities but not the smug condescension that has so marked the reaction to the Palin nomination in the first place.
If you’ve lost Brooks, you’ve lost someone important.
National blogs are also passing around an audio clip of an interview with former Hewlitt Packard CEO Carly Fiornia. Marc Ambinder at the Atlantic says the source is KTRS radio in St. Louis, Mo.
The sound is below. Here’s the transcript:
KTRS: “I want to ask you a question about experience — [as] somebody who has worked her way up from a secretary to run Hewlett Packard. Sarah Palin — John McCain obviously thinks she has the experience to become president of the United States. Do you think she has the experience to run a major company like Hewlett Packard?”
FIORINA: “No, I don’t. But you know what? That’s not what she’s running for.”
Now, on the same topic: some of you who prefer your politics at lower altitudes have mentioned news that, in one of her first acts as governor of Alaska, Palin installed a tanning bed in the state mansion. Paid for the bed herself.
An account of this first appeared yesterday on something called the Narco News Bulletin. The same info has since shown up on web sites operated by the L.A. Times and Politico.com.
Comparisons to John Edwards’ famous $400 haircut were immediate.
Comments
By Concerned Georgian
September 16, 2008 2:39 PM | Link to this
Brooks nailed this. I’ve lost sleep over the Palin nomination for exactly the reasons he lists. She is an attractive candidate and would possibly do well as a Senate or House candidate. She’s just not prepared to be Vice-Pres and therefore really not ready to be President. It also makes me worry that McCain would rush to judgement on other things as he did with the Palin nomination.
By Gwinnett Educator
September 16, 2008 3:04 PM | Link to this
Concerned, you typed my thoughts exactly to the T. (only I havent lost sleep). I am also concerned but what worries me the most, it seems that if you dont agree with Palin..then you: 1) are an Obama lover (yes, I am a black woman) 2) dont understand the issues 3)are called a DIMocrat to say the least.
Everyone does not vote based on skin color/looks/personality/all that razzle dazzle crap.
Im not impressed with Palin in NO SHAPE FORM OR FASHION! She is NOT the best thing since sliced bread.
I am concerned with our nation and where we are headed and my child’s future. Is it wishful thinking for US to actually nominate qualified people for the job? Truth be typed…Im not jumping for joy over ANY of the candidates…sigh
By ProudSoccerMom
September 16, 2008 3:16 PM | Link to this
Palin has more executive experience than Obama bin Biden or McCain. You lefties are scared to death of a conservative woman. I am a soccer mom and will be voting for McCain- Palin. For the record, I was considering voting for Obama before he picked Biden. The way he disrespected Hillary, and McCain’s openness to female representation sealed the deal for me.
By gttim
September 16, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this
I think history has shown that Carly Fiornia didn’t have enough experience to run HP either. After laying off tens of thousands of employees, reducing shareholder value and outsourcing jobs, she was booted from the company by the board- of course taking a 21 million dollar severance pay for her lousy management.
That she is now advising McCain is hilarious.
By StupidSoccerMom
September 16, 2008 4:06 PM | Link to this
gw has/had more executive experience then all candidates combined please help this stupid soccer mom understand the rational behind pointing out executive experience
By Georgian
September 16, 2008 6:28 PM | Link to this
Fine, we’ll leave the executive experience out therefore, making Palin and Barack about even with regards to political experience with Barack having a slight advantage. Nonetheless, Palin wants to clean up Washington and corruption on all levels of government. That’s why McCain picked her. That’s been what she has run on in the past and that’s what he has always run on. McCain wanted someone with a reform agenda like his. So there you go. I’m a Conservative and I liked Palin a few months before he picked her. I never even imagined her selection would ignite the party and I seriously doubt anyone anticipated that happening. So I don’t think it’s fair for people to say that he picked her just because of that. Also, I don’t think it’s fair to say he picked her to gain Hillary votes. Women voting for Hillary in the first place are pretty Liberal and I seriously doubt very many are going to vote for McCain just because of Palin. At the end of the day she’s the VP choice. Let’s get back on subject. It’s McCain vs. Obama people.
By jack
September 16, 2008 6:57 PM | Link to this
Governor Palin looks good - tanned or not. She the smart, hot babe and she’s got my vote.
By The Thin Guy
September 16, 2008 7:06 PM | Link to this
Brooks is not a conservative; he works for the New York Slimes. Pray tell what are the qualifications for POTUS embodied by the Dim candidate Birdbrain Hussein ZeroBambi? He is a Marxist, racist, demagogue with a resume thinner than a Subway tomato. Governor Palin may not have a thick resume but Hussein makes her look like Queen Victoria.. Gawd protect us from that metrosexual fool. Is there anyone who works for the ajc with enough sense to come in out of the rain?
By EnjoyflyingAA
September 16, 2008 7:07 PM | Link to this
Special message to anyone who supported Hillary and leaning/or voting McCain: If you really know what you stand for even if you supported Hillary, I don’t see how you would choose McCain who’s COMPLETELY different From Hillary. Just remember Hillary speech at DNC. Also do you vote a person you like or you go for their policies. I simply think either you’re too emotional and don’t know where you stand for OR simply you’re trying to find an excuse not to vote Obama. It’s like saying “I stop going to church because of the person sitting next to me”. Regardless, I go to church because I have faith in Jesus Christ. If you really believe in Democratic values, you will vote Obama Unless you don’t know what you want.
By EnjoyflyingAA
September 16, 2008 7:11 PM | Link to this
Special message to anyone who supported Hillary and leaning/or voting McCain: If you really know what you stand for even if you supported Hillary, I don’t see how you would choose McCain who’s COMPLETELY different From Hillary. Just remember Hillary speech at DNC. Also do you vote a person you like or you go for their policies. I simply think either you’re too emotional and don’t know where you stand for OR simply you’re trying to find an excuse not to vote Obama. It’s like saying “I stop going to church because of the person sitting next to me”. Regardless, I go to church because I have faith in Jesus Christ. If you really believe in Democratic values, you will vote Obama Unless you don’t know what you want.
By EnjoyflyingAA
September 16, 2008 7:29 PM | Link to this
Special message to anyone who supported Hillary and leaning/or voting McCain: If you really know what you stand for even if you supported Hillary, I don’t see how you would choose McCain who’s COMPLETELY different From Hillary. Just remember Hillary speech at DNC. Also do you only vote a person you like or you go for their policies? I simply think either you’re too emotional and don’t know where you stand for OR simply you’re trying to find an excuse not to vote Obama. It’s like saying “I stop going to church because of the person sitting next to me”. Regardless, I go to church because I have faith in Jesus Christ. If you really believe in Democratic values, you will vote Obama Unless you don’t know what you want.
By EnjoyflyingAA
September 16, 2008 7:29 PM | Link to this
Special message to anyone who supported Hillary and leaning/or voting McCain: If you really know what you stand for even if you supported Hillary, I don’t see how you would choose McCain who’s COMPLETELY different From Hillary. Just remember Hillary speech at DNC. Also do you only vote a person you like or you go for their policies? I simply think either you’re too emotional and don’t know where you stand for OR simply you’re trying to find an excuse not to vote Obama. It’s like saying “I stop going to church because of the person sitting next to me”. Regardless, I go to church because I have faith in Jesus Christ. If you really believe in Democratic values, you will vote Obama Unless you don’t know what you want.
By EnjoyflyingAA
September 16, 2008 7:29 PM | Link to this
Special message to anyone who supported Hillary and leaning/or voting McCain: If you really know what you stand for even if you supported Hillary, I don’t see how you would choose McCain who’s COMPLETELY different From Hillary. Just remember Hillary speech at DNC. Also do you only vote a person you like or you go for their policies? I simply think either you’re too emotional and don’t know where you stand for OR simply you’re trying to find an excuse not to vote Obama. It’s like saying “I stop going to church because of the person sitting next to me”. Regardless, I go to church because I have faith in Jesus Christ. If you really believe in Democratic values, you will vote Obama Unless you don’t know what you want.
By Georgian
September 16, 2008 7:33 PM | Link to this
I go to the tanning bed. So do a lot of Americans. Just like a lot of Americans work out and buy nice looking clothes. She lives in Alaska. Do you know how hard it is to get a tan in Alaska? She paid for the bed that was installed. Why is this even being discussed?