No Second Chance at a First Impression

For the purpose of full disclosure, I am an Independent, but during this election I am considering myself a morally conservative Democrat who supports Barack Obama.

That said, I have spent the day trying to encapsulate my opinions on last night's speech by Sarah Palin, McCain's VP nominee. I guess the ultimate question is, "Was her speech effective?" The answer - yes and no. And no.

The Republicans needed to do three things this week, but, barring a major change-up from McCain tonight, they'll only have accomplished one - rally the base. Get conservatives and doubters and those disheartened by the nation's opinion of the sitting president to jump up and get excited about being a Republican. McCain needed yesterday's speakers, and particularly Palin, to start dishing out hefty portions of the proverbial "red meat" (which apparently has less to do with Republicans being the red states and more to do with the color of raw meat - go figure). And last night, Palin was everyone's favorite butcher. Wearing a crocodile smile, she jabbed at "her opponent" (little late for feigned civility, isn't it?) like a seasoned middleweight, bobbing and weaving around her own hypocrisies like a pro. And the crowd ate it up. Anyone with bad knees would have suffered from the repeated stand, cheer, sit, stand, cheer, sit, stand, boo, cheer, sit that she incited in them. So, the McCain camp can check off exciting the party.

The second thing they needed to do was refute the policies proposed last week by the Democrats and replace them with their own. Right...um...well, at least the party's excited? The most important issue on voter's minds right now is the economy. Palin talked about bulldogs and Styrofoam columns and a lot of other stuff that's funny and gets a great reaction in the hall, but leaves the listener just as uninformed as they started. Well done.

Finally, Palin was supposed to be the bridge that Independents, swing voters, and those last couple of disaffected Hillary supporters (PUMA, I'm looking at you) cross to get from political purgatory to McCain's side. Their plan to get it done: let Palin be as sarcastic and cynical and smug and condescending as she could be about Obama and the Democratic Party. Yeah, that oughta work... I'm willing to overlook her false accusations about Obama's plan for the economy - if you don't have a plan to suggest, all you can do is try to make the other guy's plan look bad. I'm willing to overlook her fallacious claims concerning her own accomplishments regarding a bridge, some earmarks, and a couple of lobbyists. But Governor Sarah Palin crossed the line when, echoing Giuliani's nasty remarks, she delivered this memorable line: "I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a 'community organizer,' except that you have actual responsibilities."

Wait...are you...are you serious? It is completely beyond me how she felt the appropriate response to those questioning her foreign policy and national security experience as compared to Obama's was to demean people who volunteer to do for themselves and their communities what no one else cares to. It boggles the mind why she would insult the very people who work tirelessly with churches and schools and residents of neighborhoods to improve their communities. *sigh* Luckily, the general public, including those all-important independents and swing-voters, think community-organizers are total idiots, am I right? Anybody? Who's with me?

So I guess the question is, how did the general public receive Gov. Palin's first major speech on a national stage? Here's one insight:

Michigan Independents Cold to Alaska Governor

September 04, 2008 9:42 AM

The Detroit Free Press invited a panel of Michigan voters to weigh in on Gov. Sarah Palin's speech last night. Their reactions run the gamut, but the independents didn't seem to care for her very much.

Ilene Beninson, 52, Berkley independent: "Her speech contained few statements about policy or the party platform. … I am not convinced that Palin's experience as a mayor or governor in Alaska meet the qualifications to be vice president much less one stroke or heart attack away from being commander in chief.”

Mike Kosh, 38, West Bloomfield independent: “The way it looks to me, she's the Republican vice presidential nominee for one reason: Because Hillary wasn't selected.”

George Lentz, 66, Southfield independent: “I was completely underwhelmed. She was a Republican novelty act with a sophomoric script. It was not even a speech I would expect for someone running for the local PTA, much less for vice president.”

Diane Murphy, 42, Sterling Heights independent: “It appears that once she makes up her mind, that is the end of it. We live in a gray world, not every answer is black and white.”

Jan Wheelock, 58, Royal Oak independent: “Nothing worked for me. I found her barrage of snide remarks and distortions to be a major turnoff. She is not a class act. The most important point she made is that she will be an effective attack dog.”

Talk about a bridge to nowhere. Good thing Michigan's not that important. And independents schmindependents.