...it will be because what Michael Brendan Dougherty brings up here -- that you fall hard for the trophy wife, but in the end, you have to go home with the cussed old buzzard -- finally sinks in. Michael writes:
Like Bobby Jindal or Mark Sanford, I considered Sarah Palin a promisingly conservative, likable, and reform-minded governor. I wished desperately to spare her (and them) from association with the bellicose and ideological foreign policy of Bush-McCain. These three governors excite various parts of the conservative base but need time to prove themselves. Politics are not for wishful thinking, but there are moments when I allowed myself to imagine one of these governors running on a "humble foreign policy" against Barack Obama. Too bad.
Still, I am going to enjoy this moment, and I am going to enjoy the convention. I expected to have to endure a week of Republicans desperately trying to get excited over McCain-Romney, and now I don't. Whatever happens in November, we now have an idea of what the conservative future is going to look like, and it's pretty hopeful. I spoke to a colleague on the way out of the office today, a veteran of past convention coverage. I don't think she's a McCain fan at all, but she said something true (and I paraphrase): "This Palin thing is either going to be fireworks like we've never seen, or the biggest bomb ever. But it's damn sure going to be worth watching."
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What Jennifer said. Those of us who have been longing to see the conservative movement take an interest in the old-fashioned kind of Republicanism that believed in conservation of culture, the planet, in low debt, cultural stability, and a modest foreign policy, have to be discouraged by the McCain-Palin ticket.
Palin is said to be an expert in energy, but she is all for our addiction to oil. That's just great for her state of Alaska, which has a lot of oil (maybe as much as 10 or even 20 billion barrels more in reserves)...but that's not going to do us in the Lower 48 much good, considering we go through 142 billion barrels of oil per year, according to the Energy Information Administration.
And her position on numerous issues looks incoherent or non-existent. Iraq? She supports McCain, but "hopes we have an exit plan." Windfall profits tax on oil companies? She supports it, her candidate does not. Immigration? Who knows? Taxes? How popular would she be in Alaska if she were proposed tax cuts for those at the top, instead of a windfall profits kickback to taxpayers, as in Alaska?
The conservative movement these days seems to be anything but, I'm sorry to say.
Human beings inevitable disappoint us.
We should love them as Jesus does.
Even Jesus disappoints us
Because His Kingdom does not fit the standards/values of this world
Nevertheless...
Only Jesus is the *****Way*****, the Truth, and the Life!
Treasured people, treasure people,
Duh-sciple
"The conservative movement these days seems to be anything but, I'm sorry to say."
Dittos. Palin apparently doesn't believe global warming is an issue, contrary to many of the new wave of moderate evangelicals who believe that, along with abortion and homosexuality, stewardship of Creation, concern for the poor, etc, are also important faith issues. Who thinks that -- outside of Huckabee, perhaps, the Republicans are going to get "crunchy" anytime soon.
Politics are not for wishful thinking
Oh, yeah? What is the Obama campaign all about? Clearly not about anything we know about history, economics, market forces, or even human nature.
There are so many lies in the comments above, or if that is too strong a word, way too much spin.
Doesn't like gays She says she has gay friends, believes they should be treated with respect, but believes in civil unions, not gay marriage. That is a pretty mainstream point of view.
"But, honestly, a lot of Republicans are behaving like 35-year-old first-time-voters at an Obama rally." Rob
Investigating my reaction I became concerned my initial feeling was indeed like that. I think I was just happy because I'd heard of before most anyone and liked several things of her.
Now that it's settled in I think my feeling is a bit calmer. Still even at my most excited I didn't really think "Ooh he could die and then we'd have Pro-Lifer 'saucy librarian' Palin." There are things about her worth being cautious about.
That said I don't think the negative reaction is particularly cautious or even-keeled either. Hear them tell it she's a bimbo beauty pageant contestant who never did anything except club baby polar bears and cut ribbons in a hick town. I think there's probably a happy medium about her somewhere.
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