Palin's New Clothes

Most of the media commentary on Sarah Palin's farewell address to Alaska, focused on what it meant for her political future. Pundits went back and forth: Could she win the Repulbican nomination for President? Could she win the Presidency?

However, to his credit,while filling in for Keith Olbermann, Lawrence O'Donnell points out the absurdity of Palin's railing against "government largess" when Alaska needs government funds to survive; of her railing against the media when she apparently craves its spotlight but not its scrutiny; of her claiming to leave her Alaska governorship early for the sake of Alaskans.

Rachel Maddow brilliantly pointed out the ridiculousness of Palin scolding the media for focusing too much on her kids, when it was Palin that exploited them.

But amidst the coverage of hardcore political realities, I was left wondering why the media didn't see what I saw: a woman divorced from reality.

Palin's most biting criticism for the media was this:

"...our troops are willing to die for you. So, how 'bout in honor of the American soldier, ya quit makin' things up?"

Of course, Palin never identifies things she feels the press made up. But she seems to think she's stumbled on a brilliant rhetorical device: all you have to do is praise the troops, and no one can disagree with what follow, for fear of going against the troops. Aside from those that were applauding her speech, I can't believe she thinks the vast majority of Americans will fall for that. Besides the transparent appeal to patriotism, the sheer audacity of thinking that that she has the special right to invoke the troops' sacrifices for her own benefit, is remarkable.

But besides the simple-minded manipulations, Palin just doesn't seem to make much sense, when she's using her own words. For instance after waxing poetic on the beauty of Alaska, Palin said:

"... we are facing tough challenges in America with some seeming to just be Hell bent maybe on tearing down our nation, perpetuating some pessimism, and suggesting American apologetics, suggesting perhaps that our best days were yesterdays."

Does this really make any sense? What is she talking about? Apologetics? Is she trying to misue the term "apologist?" Palin adds to the sense of surreality with her cutesy hand motions, not to mention to total lack of specifics.

Another incoherent passage came from her response to a heckler:

"And it should be so obvious to you. (indicating heckler) It is because I love Alaska this much, sir (at heckler) that I feel it is my duty to avoid the unproductive, typical, politics as usual, lame duck session in one's last year in office. How does that benefit you?"

She wants to avoid a lame-duck last year? Does that mean that all governors that truly love their states should quit before the last year? Wouldn't that then mean that the year before that would actually be their lame duck year?

Palin's new clothes, courtesy of the RNC during the election, caused a media storm. But these days, I wonder who will notice that the Emperess has no clothes.