Palin lives and dies on being the resolute leader Bush claimed to be. That is a risky strategy. Her words are now indelibly linked to Arizona and "blood.' She is a symbol for today's politics. Ironically, in a way her situation recalls that of America's other viable female candidacy: Clinton "08 . Many voters saw Hillary Clinton as a continuation of the era of Baby-Boom presidential leadership "and they went on to choose a post-Sixties candidate (one who was voted in in November over a pre- Boomer one).
Frankly, it is remarkable that an office-less citizen has been capable of dominating the news narrative, even at the most poignant of times. When a gunned-down nine year-old girl in Arizona can temporarily appear to be just another bump on our high-octane political highway, you know that the anger has become extremely intense. How it will play out remains to be seen. But Palin will certainly not go quietly into some "electable Republican' good night; the whispers about electability will no doubt be challenged once the candidates start debating in earnest. One can only imagine the boys sharing a stage with Palin. It certainly will be entertaining --and that is bound to drive up attention to the primary process. And Palin is always the center of attention.
Necessary Reflection This Time?
Yet, box-score politics aside, we as responsible citizens must keep in mind how Palin's activity, notably her Arizona words, serves to generate round after round of increased accusations and additional anger. This spirit continues to trump necessary reflection. We hear no serious discussion of gun-safety, though we know that the semi-automatic weapon was purchased legally by an unstable man (who had attracted police attention previously). Sandbox politics still sells better than reflection on complex issues.
But finding enough civic "space' to consider and reconsider
issues is what matters. With another presidential bonanza moving into gear, there
is actually less chance that serious issues will be pondered by people. One
thing worth recalling, sadly, is that Giffords herself was once spoken of as a
potential female presidential candidate --due to her ability to work with
people of all stripes, for the sake of solving difficult problems.
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