I don't know enough about her yet to hail her as my hero and I am jaded enough about politicians to not trust any of them--but I want to trust Sarah Palin.
I felt like I could relate to her as a mother, who first got involved in the PTA and then the City Council because she wanted to make her children's education better. She brought tears to my eyes when she promised the parents of special needs kids that they would have an advocate in the White House. You could tell as she talked about her family that she loves them, is proud of them, and is not trying to paint them as perfect.
I was impressed with the things she said about cutting unnecessary costs in the government, including the governor's swanky jet, her own chauffeur, and her personal chef. It told me that she considers that those perks come from tax payers, that she isn't seeking office to "live a life of luxury," and that she still tries to be a normal mom to her kids, even if she is the governor.
I like that she has stood up to people in both parties who are corrupt, who use their power and money to get their way, who expect most politicians to look the other way while they seek their own interests.
Now, I'm sure that I was meant to feel all of those things by her speech writer. I'm sure that there are plenty of people out there who didn't believe a word that she said. But to me, it didn't feel like sophistry (unlike some other candidates out there, who shall remain unnamed here.) It felt real. I felt a connection to Sarah Palin. She's someone I can get excited about. And if that's why they picked her as McCain's running mate, well then they did a great job!
(I found this website on where she stands on the issues. I still like her. I especially appreciate the way that she stands up for families, small businesses, pro-life issues, traditional marriage, and reducing the size and cost of the government.)
What did you think?
20 comments:
I think she's great! I hope she gets a chance to prove what a difference a mother could make in The White House. I'm probably a little biased though, because I related to her and liked her the second found out she has a 4 month old baby with special needs!
i didn't hear the speech, but i've heard a lot about what she said and stands for and if it truly is what she stands for and beleives than, yes, i like her. we've always been aghast at unnecessary government spending on "personal perks" for the politicians. i don't think the americans citizens should be paying for the jets and personal chefs, etc.
I loved her speech too. I was thrilled when she was chosen to as McCain's running mate. What a great strategic move on his part.
Her family is beautiful. The daughter licking her palm and smoothing the baby's hair was just too cute. I have been impressed with what I have read about her and seen from her thus far. I can't remember ever watching a Convention and this time I sat through quite a few of the different speakers.
I was really impressed by Cindy McCain tonight. She wasn't as eloquent but she has lead a great life.
I usually find these kinds of speeches boring and redundant and "yawn"...you get where I'm going. On the other hand, Sarah Palin's speech was very different, interesting, relatable, funny, exciting and heartening. I like her very much.
I can't say the same about McCain's speech tonight. There are just some speakers who are great at it and others who just aren't so good.
Awww yeah...brilliant. It's going to be an exciting election year, no doubt about it.
It was so nice to see this side of you, Michal. :)
I like what I've seen so far. I'm a registered Republican but wasn't too excited about McCain, so I'm feeling a little better now.
I think this will be an exciting two months until election. I'm glad the republicans are more unified and fired up.
I watched her speech last night on you-tube and was impressed. She is a spunky, get the job done kind of lady.
I also loved when her little daughter licked her fingers and smoothed her brothers hair. Too adorable!
Like you, I loved her speech. I think she is amazing and that she really does love her family and her country. I am excited about her and hope that she gets a chance to show us what she can do as the VP.
The speech was wonderfully delivered and as an interesting note, she lost the teleprompter after the first round of applause. She delivered the rest of her speech from quick glances down at the notes and from memory. Sarah Palin has the Obama campaign and the left very fearful. Whether or not McCain wins in November I believe the "Barracuda" from Alaska will be a key player in the RNC for quite a while.
She has made me think that I could run for office!
I think she's a brillilant, positively brilliant choice. Like Ally, I love the little girl smoothing her brother's hair. What a mommy in the making.
I loved her speech. She seemed just so. . . normal. She didn't try to make her or her family seem like something that they weren't and I also loved that she started by joining the PTA because she wanted to make things better for her kids. I hope that she gets the chance to show us what she is made of. I also loved what Rudi Guillani said about the critics asking if she would have enough time to spend with her children and yet they would NEVER ask that if it were a MAN! Go GIRL Power!
I work with a girl who grew up in the same town as Sarah Palin's family; she went to school with her son and went to her house to make gingerbread houses at Christmas. We have all grilled this poor girl about the "real" Sarah. She loves her and her family; she couldn't say enough good things about them. Even the daughter that is pregnant is a big surprise, per this girl, she said they are very conservative and having a pregnant daughter would be a very big deal and not glossed over. So, after talking to someone that knows her family personally I am convinced McCain picked the right person.
Dare I say something negative after all these positive comments? I'm afraid I tuned in to the speech somewhere in the middle, right when she was bashing Harry Reid and the "do-nothing congress," and I just couldn't handle the negativity. I know the bashing is just part of the conventions and politicking of both parties. I just don't want to hear it, and it gave me a negative first impression of her. But, since I value Michal's opinion, it looks like I may have to go back and watch the whole speech--or at least read a little more about her.
--Christine M
christine m,
i can see your point of view. she did do some democrat bashing. i'm not really in favor of bashing, but i'll admit that when it's done with a sense of humor it doesn't bother me as much. go back and watch the whole thing and see what you think.
I've never really felt like I could connect to a candidate, but when I heard her speak when she was first introduced as McCain's running mate, I was impressed. She was very real and engaging, someone who I felt could relate to my struggles as a mother of six. Like you, I don't know enough about her. And I was disappointed when she did some bashing as I just wish politicians would just tell me about what they believe and what they will do rather than not bring down the other guy. I feel that I am intelligent enough to see what the other side is, or is not! All that aside, I think she was a very smart pick for McCain. I'm very interested in seeing the debate between her and Biden.
Hey Michal,
Been on blog vacation for a while. This one woke me from my slumber.....But you don't really want to know what I think.
tyler! i was wondering if you'd pipe in!:)
I thought she was marvelous!
Post a Comment