If John McCain is photographed holding up a "Dewey Defeats Truman" headline on Election Night in two weeks, pundits and media talking heads across the country will no doubt point to the invisible "Obama Factor" as the reason for why this a priori nominee didn't win. What they may be missing, though, will be the "Palin Effect," at least if last week's "Saturday Night Live" is any indication.
The ratings for last Saturday night's show--headlined by Palin--were the highest in the last 14 years. That's fourteen years! Those were the days of Chris Farley. Of Adam Sandler. Al Franken was still writing for the show. That's how long ago that was!
More important than ratings, though, "SNL" has become relevant in this campaign, and never more so than with the addition of Palin to the national stage and Tina Fey playing her on the "SNL" stage.
A show doesn't get ratings because it puts on a great episode--it gets ratings based on the anticipation of a great episode, and such was the anticipation when Palin's appearance was announced. America tuned in. What does tell us about our upcoming election?
Well, it could mean that even though a majority of Americans won't vote for her, they wanted to see her. Or, it could be that they wanted to see Fey and Palin on the same stage (the resemblance is amazing!) Or, it could be that there are countless Americans who won't tell a pollster they're voting for her, but deep down they would love to know that a working mom who stands up to government corruption and big business can really go play with the big boys in D.C. and remind us all that leadership is really not about how you do in the media but how you do at decision-making. And there are many working moms--and working men--who respect the chutzpah of a good decision-maker of strong character. Perhaps--when behind the voting curtain--there may be a boatload of Americans who wish they could be what our founders imagined--a citizen Congressman--and in lieu of such will vote for an everywoman who has a chance.
I hope the election is closer than any of us think it will be. I hope that the McCain-Palin team pulls off the upset. I'm rooting for this not because they ran a better campaign--they didn't--but because we're not electing a speech-giver or a teleprompter-reader-in-Chief but rather a leader. And it's possible that when voters get behind closed doors, the feared secret of anti-Obama racism is far, far outweighed by a nation of secret Palin fans who--if you believe the Nielson Rating Company--were outed last weekend.
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By all measures, Republicans are losing the national election. The last two GWB administrations have been disastrous in every way for this country. As the administration of the Presidency, the Republican Party has had most of my adult lifetime to overturn Roe v. Wade and they have done nothing. The comments about Palin as a working mom, free from corruption, are belied by her early support of the bridge no nowhere and the finding of the bipartisan commission that her conduct during the efforts to fire the trooper, although legal, left something to be desired ethically.
I hope that this time the country will not allow itself to be Swift Boated by an opportunist who stood to make millions on energy during a do-nothing administration, and now has the gall to try to make millions more espousing alternative energy as a result of the crisis he helped create. Is there a wind turbine to which T. Boone can be affixed? It would have to be on someone else's farm, of course, but his hot air might contribute something to the grid.
I agree with Ani, I have never seen so much hate and cruelty in an election. I live in Ohio and the things that I have seen and heard are just disgusting. It's been so embarassing to see some of the people at these rallies filled with such hate and hearing comments like "If he's president the blacks will take over", or seeing the Obama ghost hanging from a tree. A lot of people say black people are voting for him b/c he's black, which is such an insult to someone's intelligence. I am a black woman with a bachelor's degree in public administration and policy who has never been on welfare and works hard every day to support my family. I'm voting for Obama because I need affordable healthcare and I share his values for what this nation could be. I can tell you why 95% of african american's are voting for Barack and it's not b/c we think we're about to get a free hand out from the government, it's b/c not since Martin Luther King has there been a figure like him for us to look up to. For the first time little black boys acttually believe that they can go to college and actually become something other than a rapper or a ball player. He has given our people hope that they can do better and be better This man has inspired not just people in our country but all over the world. Some say he's a dreamer and naive, but I say he is all of us black, white, anyone who has been through a struggle, anyone who has faced any type of discrimination, anyone who didn't let there surroundings stop them from letting their light shine, anyone who is an expression of the American Dream. With that being said call me what you want and say whatever you want, if your candidate makes you feel that way, then that's who you should be voting for, be it McCain or Obama.
To have anyone write that Sara Palin is just no ordinary Hockey Mom, but someone who could bring unity to the Congress is ludicrous. Sara Palin is as divisive as McCain. She'll bring us four more years of George W. Bush...God forbid. This ambitious woman who was found guilty of violating Alaska's ethical standards, earns more than a quarter million dollars a year, and claims to be just a regular homemaker.
She continues to deny the media access to ask the tough questions, and whines that Obama is guilty of "palling" around with a terrorist forgets to mention her pal McCain was guilty of "palling around with Keating, a felon.
It's been pleasant to learn that her value to the Republican ticket continues to diminish, and reflects horrendously on McCain's poor judgement.
She does look good in $150,000 worth of clothing and accessories.
anyone elected to office after calling his trophy wife the nasty things he has called her, and THAT, "my friends" is admitted by his own party, has no business in office. Palin was selected just to siphon off Hilary's woman supporters. If elected, she ,her brood and her POLAR BEAR PIN will move into Blair House, and any thing she tries to do will be met first with "shut Up Sarah" you served your purpose , and then she will get the nasty four letter word attached to her name as well.
And, will we EVER see where her "Fox in sheeps clothing" goes after the election, the hundred thousands worth? Sure we will. They have been tailored to her frame so they CANT be donated. DONATED WHERE? Donated my Aunt Fanny. Convenient Excuse.
Who will pay for the family trip to the snowmobile races if they are elected? THE TAX PAYERS? WHo would have to pay for the Secret Service Detail to such a place? THE TAX Payers. Don't even get me started.
ALso, being a POW is not an automatic IN for the White House, or myUncle who survived the Bataan Death March would have been President LONG AGO.
Whatever happened to the days when you kept somethings private? I am the last of the Baby Boomers and in my day, we were taught about three things that you did not discuss. Those were your religion, your salary, and your politics. I signed up on this site for daily spiritual readings...not for political advice. I must now unsubscribe...God is a God of order...
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