I saw a new expression recently that I thought very good, “polarization merchant” (first noted here on Teri’s Tirades). This is one of those expressions that is so apt no one can object and so succinct that comprehension is immediate.
Governor Sarah Palin resigned on Friday, and as the Washington Examiner notes, she is still getting dissed by the news media (here). Many people have an extreme dislike for Palin, and this dislike blossoms forth in the news and entertainment media. What is a mystery is why? What has Sarah Palin done to earn such antipathy. Consider that her opponents condemned her as inexperienced. If that was the case, then what could Palin have done to earn such anger?
To some extent I think the problem is the way the news media does business these days. The people in the news and entertainment business merchandize polarization. To appear unbiased — and to emphasize and promote conflict — the corporate news media gives equal time and plausibility to both sides of every story, even when one side is complete and utter nonsense. Hence, if that is what it takes, we humanize rabid terrorists, we make same-sex sex amusingly gay, and we work overtime to make a popular sitting governor appear the babbling fool. Anything for ratings and profits.
Why did Palin resign?
The instant experts will go on and on giving us their opinion, but few will of them will listen carefully to the lady’s words. Fewer still will put themselves in her shoes and try to understand what it is like to walk in them.
Of late I have listened again to the story of Moses and the Israelites. Time and time again, unhappy, stiff-necked Israelites raged against God and Moses. God could bear up under the complaints of the ungrateful and punish the offenders. Moses, when he wearied could pray to God, but what can Sarah Palin do? She too can pray and as wisdom dictates, resign. Palin is not Moses leading the Israelites through the wilderness. Palin is only a governor, and perhaps God wants her to resign and take up another task.
What can we do?
We can try to listen to Sarah Palin unfiltered (see here and here), and we can put ourselves in her shoes. It is no secret that the news and entertainment media have subjected her and her family to constant harassment. It is no secret that Palin’s political opponents have plagued her with legal troubles, forcing a costly defense which has put her family in debt (here). Given these troubles, what would any of us do? Would we allow our family to be forced into bankruptcy or resign?
Thus far Palin and her family have been isolated. These people have borne the brunt of a nationwide offensive from the news and entertainment media. As governor, Palin has been plagued by phony legal troubles. Yet she and her family have received little help from the citizenry.
With that in mind, there two ways to view Palin’s exit. Some have said Palin’s exit showed she could not take the heat. Others, however, can just as rightly observe that we have no right to expect a governor or any public official to endure endless harassment, particularly costly legal harassment paid for by the state itself.
If we want Sarah Palin to run in 2012, then we have to give her reason to run. We each have to look for ways to help. Then perhaps Palin’s resignation may become what it already appears to some, a strategic retreat that allows her to strengthen her overall position.
All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. — origin uncertain (here)
Other Views
Fisherville Mike has a parody in honor of Sarah Palin (here).
Mosquito Blog digs up an old video (here) and accuses Palin of whining. Watch the video of Palin resigning (here). Is she whining? I don’t think so. I think she is trying to explain a difficult choice.
Below the Beltway counts Palin out for 2012 (here). Strikes me as premature, but I do not have a crystal ball.
The Mason Conservative sees Palin’s move as risky, but smart (here).
Virtual Virtucon set Liberals straight about their fantasies (here).
Rule .303 excuses Sanford and condemns Palin as spineless (here). Judgmental?
The Cartoons
Do you remember the kindness of the news media and their careful and deliberate focus on the issues?
I didn’t like Palin as a potential VP, and the Russia thing still makes me laugh, but I do feel bad for her. No one deserves an entire world’s overt antipathy except for people like Stalin and Hitler and their ilk.
Even Ted Kennedy doesn’t deserve the entire world mocking him at once.
kgotthardt – I seriously suggest you look at the video of Palin’s resignation. The lady is definitely not the idiot the corporate news media has made her out to be. Moreover, unlike the people we elected, Palin does not propose policies that she could never hope to execute well.
Whatever you want to call it (I think socialism adequate.), trying to run a command economy out of Washington D.C. simply is not practical. No one save God has the requisite management skills.
It is a simple, unalterable, inevitable fact of life. The more we ask government to do, the less well it will do the things we need it to do. The more responsibilities we give at a man, the more he must divide his time. The more power we give a man, the we tempt and divert him from the love of his fellow man.
KG, didn’t you once refer to Mrs. Palin as an “embarrassment to any professional with a vagina?” Hardly sounds like you feel bad for her.
Concerned, yes. I didn’t like Palin’s image as a woman running for the VP seat. I think she played the girlie thing way too much and it was embarrassing. As much as I dislike Hillary, she at least didn’t do the “aren’t I cute?” dance.
I don’t think women in politics should be forced to act or dress like men, but I also think gender DOES get in the way with some people and both genders need to tone down the gender differences to get things done. Mr. Clinton wasn’t very good at that, obviously, and we don’t need to re-live that embarrassing past, either.
I think it’s terrible that people are persecuting this lady now because that’s what it is at this point. There is a difference between fighting or mocking a political opponent and trying to run someone into the ground. She isn’t running for office any more. She has paid back what she owes to Alaska. Unless the courts find she is guilty of some crime, leave her alone, for goodness sakes!
How did she do the “aren’t I cute” dance? What are you even talking about? She played the “girlie thing” because she acted as a mother? Doesn’t sound very feminist of you – in fact, it sounds rather sexist. Say what you want about the woman, she stood up in the face of criticism and supported her family.
And don’t hold your breath about “not running for office” – many suspect that she is leaving the governor position to run for office in 2012