Jan Whitt on 'Going Rogue: An American Life'

*
Jan Whitt, a professor of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Colorado, has written an essay which examines "the historical context, the literary impact, and the social implications" of Sarah Palin's 2009 memoir Going Rogue: An American Life and "addresses the place of autobiography, memoir, and personal essays in the political arena." It's a fairly substantial treatise, published in Sunday's edition of American Thinker. Here are some excerpts:

Although several of the candidates in the 2008 presidential race published memoirs-including Hillary Clinton, John McCain, and Barack Obama-one of the most provocative narratives was published after the election and seems to provide evidence that its author might again run for political office. Going Rogue reached the top of the nonfiction bestsellers list and sold more copies than even Palin's supporters could have predicted. After an initial print run of 1.5 million copies, HarperCollins announced a second printing of 1 million more. In November 2009, sales of Palin's memoir surpassed I, Alex Cross by James Patterson; Under the Dome by Stephen King; and The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. Although Nielsen BookScan said Going Rogue sold 469,000 during its first week (not the 700,000 that HarperCollins claims), company spokespeople explained that Nielsen BookScan did not include sales at mass market retailers such as Sam's Club and Walmart. "If the 700,000 figure is accurate," Jefferson Barbour writes, "that places Palin's memoir ahead of Living History, the 2003 memoir by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton" ("Sarah Palin's ‘Going Rogue' Hits Number One" n.p.)

Some immediately dismissed the book's success because Palin employed a ghost writer (how much of the memoir was really hers?); others because retailers such as Target and Amazon sold the book at bargain rates; and still others because conservative groups bought advance copies of the book. However, few acknowledge what her fan base understands: Going Rogue provided Christians, conservatives, heterosexual parents, political aficionados, middle-class women, rural Americans, and others an opportunity to see their own lives in print and to celebrate someone who represents them with courage and without apology.

Often ridiculed by others, individuals in some of these groups identify with Palin when she and members of her family are attacked for their religious beliefs, for their emphasis on family, and for their accents and regional phrases. This empathy is but one reason for their belief in her and the stories she tells in Going Rogue. Scott Payne of the Washington Examiner warns:

Each time liberals like Robert Gibbs take a moment to mock the know nothingness of Sarah Palin, they reinforce a stereotype about what it means to be liberal to precisely the voters they have the hardest time reaching: the ones in the middle of the country . . . With each barb they hurl her way, liberals participate in a self-fulfilling prophecy that only serves to reinforce feelings of alienation amongst more rural voters with whom Palin continues to have an overwhelming degree of support. And the more those stereotypes are reinforced in the current national climate-a climate that puts most Americans on the other side of the Obama administration on things like the Arizona immigration law, provides the President with his lowest approval rating amongst independents to date, and economic confidence continuing to sink-the more Palin and her camp come out on the winning side of the national debate. ("Democrats and Sarah Palin" n.p.)

When Going Rogue hit number one, Barbour wrote, "Sarah Palin has been the butt of many jokes since making her debut on the national stage late in 2008, but someone out there must like her" ("Sarah Palin's ‘Going Rogue' Hits Number One"). Evidence that Barbour's calculated understatement is correct may be partially indicated by the record number of Republican and conservative women (they are not always one and the same) now seeking public office. Palin's example and her support for candidates she considers worthy say a great deal about the pink elephant in the room.

(More)

Read Professor Whitt's full discourse on Gov. Palin's first book here.

- JP

Ted Belman: Sarah Palin Is on a Roll

*
Ted Belman, who is the editor of Israpundit, says in an American Thinker op-ed that Sarah Palin is on a roll:

Since resigning from her governorship last July, Sarah Palin hasn't made a false move. This is surprising for someone who is more passionate than cautious and one reputed to be...well, you know, a dummy.

[...]

Arizona just passed a controversial immigration law. Obama attacked the new law and called on blacks and Latinos to get out the vote. Sarah Palin, in a recent interview with Sean Hannity, came out in full support of the new law and attacked Obama for not fulfilling the federal responsibility of protecting U.S. borders. She also attacked him for racist comments he had made pitting Latinos and blacks against other Americans. In the interview, Palin effectively contrasted his remarks with her calls to all Americans to solve their problems together. Once again, polls show overwhelming support for the new law.

During the debate on financial reform, Palin came out against institutionalizing "crony capitalism." When Obama said America is a military superpower "whether we like it or not," Palin said she was taken aback by his comment. She said, "I would hope that our leaders in Washington, D.C. understand we like to be a dominant superpower. ... I don't understand a worldview where we have to question whether we like it or not that America is powerful." These positions were well-received.

[...]

Many of her detractors cite negative polling numbers to discredit her. They should be ignored. Public Policy Polling found in a poll reported on April 15 that

Sarah Palin now lags Obama only 45-47 after showing deficits of eight or seven points in each of the last three months. Both Obama and Palin have increased their base support, but Palin now trails Obama among independents 39-46 versus 35-49 in March.

As this poll demonstrates, Palin is quickly gaining support among independents. Give her another three months, and she will be leading Obama. And do not forget the growing enthusiasm gap as reported by Politics Daily:

While voters are about evenly split about whether they support the Democrat or Republican in this year's congressional elections, the Republicans have opened up a 20 point "enthusiasm gap" when it comes to how eager they are to go to the polls, according to Gallup's daily tracking polls conducted between April 1-25.

This growing gap is due to the Palin factor. She energizes her base as no other today can.

The left has done its best to demonize, ridicule, and reduce her, to no avail. The more that fair-minded Americans hear her, the more they are drawn to her. They no longer listen to Obama, but they do listen to her.

Ted Belman believes that after her second book is released, Gov. Palin will visit Europe and Israel and be well received in both places. As a result, she will get "an enormous boost" back home, he predicts. Read his full commentary here.

- JP

A Sarah Palin Trifecta at American Thinker

American Thinker has three good Sarah Palin reads for Wednesday...

On the front page, Bob Weir weighs in on why the left fears Sarah Palin:

"What this country needs is a strong conservative leader with the courage of her convictions. Sensing those qualities in Sarah Palin, the liberal left is becoming frantic because they can't seem to halt her popularity. The reason they're panicking is because they're afraid of her connection with regular folks who work for a living, pay their taxes, attend a religious worship service regularly, and believe that our country has lost the moral fiber that once united us."

On the American Thinker blog, James Lewis finds it amazing that even after all being hit with the full venom force of leftist hate, The Arctic Fox is still "smiling and beautiful":

"I'm almost beginning to enjoy watching these nasties breaking their heads against Fortress Sarah. If Palin just keeps her own counsel, like Ronald Reagan did thirty years ago, decent Americans of all stripes will open their hearts to her. As for her snarling enemies, they show their true nature just by trying to fling more mud. But none of it sticks."

Also on the A/T blog, Monte Kuligowski opines that despite all the attempts by her opponents to portray Sarah Palin as a right-wing extremist, she better reflects mainstream American thinking than does the radical left's Hope/Change agent in the White House:

"However far Palin is to the right of center -- the truth is that Obama is even farther to the left. Palin believes in a traditional, strong, energy independent America. Meanwhile, Obama is on a quest to fundamentally remake the country. Palin might be a polarizing figure, but Obama is more so. And that is understandable considering that only 20 percent of the country identifies with the liberal sect... which Obama represents."

Feed your inner political animal with these three courses, and enjoy the feast!

- JP

American Thinker: Sarah The Visionary vs. Newt The Hack

A study in contrasts, by American Thinker's Claude Sandroff - excerpted:

Two weeks after Sarah Palin's unique exit from public office, Newt Gingrich offered up some unsolicited counsel for the former governor in an interview with POLITICO. Apparently, Newt was certain that Palin's reputation needed serious burnishing, and he was all too ready to provide it by offering substantial details on the range and style of speeches that would be most appropriate for Palin to deliver to various audiences in order to sustain a public revival. Exactly why he felt she needed his help remains a bit of a mystery, except that Gingrich, like Karl Rove, seems absolutely certain that the world is always on edge awaiting his next tactical stroke of genius.

Now that an intense internecine battle is raging over how Republicans should react to Doug Hoffman's Conservative Party bid for New York's 23rd , one thing is certain: it is Newt whose reputation is in shambles, and it is he who should seek political advice from Palin as to how he might regain his lost stature. And this will remain true whether Mr. Hoffman wins or loses.

[...]

He has become a common hack

[...]

In constrast, Sarah Palin just compiles conservative esteem. When she railed against the compromised Republican machine in its support of Scozzafava, it felt like a stiff, clean, purifying breeze. In her October 24th Facebook Note announcing her support for Hoffman, Palin argued with deep philosophical references to conservative ideals. Her support and conviction were not products of a focus group. The note moved many a radio talk show host who read it aloud, from Mark Levin to Tammy Bruce. It was the reasoned stance of a visionary.

Palin evoked Ronald Reagan, mentioned the importance of establishing sharp contrasts with opponents, and stressed the primacy of principle over party. Palin continues to be the antithesis of the trivial politician. She has that unique ability to convey the highest sense of personal honor without ever projecting any of the usual political pomposity. Perhaps the highest compliment we can pay Palin is that she is always interesting and always surprising.

[...]

While pundit after pundit argues that we should throw Reagan over the side in pursuit of Obama-lite, Palin is bringing us back to the principled, universal roots that Reagan shared with the Founders. While many columnists anguish over immoderate candidates, Palin warns against "blurring the lines" and writes a Facebook birthday tribute to Margaret Thatcher.

As Newt commits politicide, Sarah Palin is at the crest of a rising conservative tide.

Read Sandroff's op-ed in it's entirety at American Thinker. It's a must-read for Palinistas.

- JP

Mercy! Defending A Pretty Woman (With Or Without Roy Orbison's Help)

At American Thinker, Patrick O'Hannigan writes in response to a friend who accused Sarah Palin of being glib, uninformed, anti-intellectual and intolerant:

Let's consider those objections in order. First, the "death panel" phrase was an effective piece of theater. Had it been a lie, or even a forgettable truth, it would not have had the power to inspire changes in the proposed legislation.

Second, Palin's "happy warrior" attitude discomfits detractors who should know better. Casablanca-style shock may be popular among the smart set, but with the possible exception of "Clueless Joe" Biden, modern American vice presidents are supposed to engage in political combat so that presidents can pretend to be above the fray. Sadly, Palin ruffled feathers in her own campaign because (per Ace), "she was so uncouth as to actually attempt to oppose Barack Obama in a way that might actually defeat him."

Other people say that Palin can only be called extreme if acting on principle or choosing not to abort a Down Syndrome baby are "extreme."

[...]

Palin has been honest about the co-authorship of her memoir, and even her occasionally empty statements are not burdened with the ruffles and flourishes that doom pronouncements like "we are the change we have been waiting for."

Beyond that, if you're going to suggest (as my friend did) that appeals to a "culture of life" come mostly from hypocritical Christians who can't be bothered to help anyone past the fetal stage of development, then you'd be hard-pressed to explain a multitude of nonprofit hospitals, soup kitchens, and private charities, let alone Mother Teresa or the occasional beauty pageant contestant-turned-politician with a well-documented love for handicapped people of all creeds and colors.

[...]

There is no question that high-profile conservatives like Sarah Palin have been libeled and slandered in precisely that way.

O'Hannigan's op-ed -- titled "Defending Palin with Orbison" -- weaves Roy Orbison and his classic hit song "Pretty Woman" through his argument, but that particular metaphor doesn't seem to be working well for us this morning. Perhaps it will after we've had our second cup of coffee. Fortunately the excerpts we quoted above do the job quite well without any musical assistance from the "Caruso of Sixties Rock." The Roy Orbison defense may make more sense to you than it does to us after you read the whole thing here.

Sarah Palin's Finest Hour

What was Sarah Palin's finest hour? Some will say it was her acceptance speech to the RNC convention a little over a year ago. Some will say it was her David to Joe Biden's Goliath at the vice presidential debate in October. To others, it was her April pro-life manifesto in Indiana. To the American Thinker's Claude Sandroff, it was July 3, when she announced her intention to give up her political position as governor of Alaska:

"Sarah Palin relinquished state power in the simplest of settings. It was obviously not comfortable, nor easy. However we define Palin, as frontier feminist, movement conservative or middle class populist this will always stand as her finest hour. It might not have been her finest performance, but it crystallized in a moment the very essence of virtue. It was Sir Thomas More resigning as Lord Chancellor and George Washington returning to Mount Vernon. It showed how rare virtue has become in our politics. It shows why we adore Sarah Palin and why we need her. And it explains why, even without office, she has become the most important political figure in America."

Sandroff addresses the "quitter" label and turns it back on Palin's critics:

"The question her political biography begs is why don't more politicians resign? Why didn't Ted Kennedy creep into a hole after Chappaquiddick? Why doesn't Robert Byrd resign, clearly too feeble to hold office effectively? Isn't fifty-four years in office enough for John Dingle? Hasn't Mark [Sanford] learned how to say adios? And how about Bill Clinton, and John Ensign and Charlie Rangel, and on and on."

Unlike those politicians who cling so desperately to their offices as the seats of their political power, Sarah Palin let it go. And her reward for so doing is that she has become even more powerful as a citizen than she was as a governor:

"Ultimately, virtue is the result of recognizing evil and ensuring that it does not prevail over good. It's a simple formulation, but who in politics is audacious enough to speak in such stark terms? Sarah Palin has, with world-shattering results."

"In her first explosive Facebook entry into the health care debate, she pointed out that 'death panels' were the logical consequence of the government rationing of health care. And that such rationing was 'downright evil.' There were health care policy wonks galore, and Medicare and Medicaid experts by the droves who offered endless technical details about the health care bill. But only Palin distilled the debate to its fundamental moral core."

Another excellent read from American Thinker, which has established itself as one of the best sources of good writing on the subject of Sarah Palin.

- JP

More Tasty Sarah Palin Treats From American Thinker

We mentioned Wednesday that American Thinker had been on a roll recently with some very good essays on Sarah Palin. The website's roll shows no signs of deceleration.

Stuart Schwartz has followed his excellent Peggy Noonan post with another bulls eye in the same vein -- "Maureen Dowd: Sarah Palin Scared":

You're Maureen Dowd and you're scared -- Sarah Palin scared. Others -- like columnists Peggy Noonan and Kathleen Parker -- are jealous. But you are scared.

[...]

Choices. Her husband is dumb, a "hunky Eskimo" with lead between his ears, perfect for someone "hopelessly over her head." He has a fishing boat and works for an oil company -- big deal! Aaron Sorkin has been in and out of your bed for much of the past decade, and he is a big deal. The talented creator of a hit television show could spend more on a weekend freebasing cocaine at the ritzy Four Seasons than Palin husband makes in a year. Now, Miss Alaska, who makes the best choices?

[...]

But you're Maureen Dowd and you're scared. New Yorker Film critic David Denby looks at you and sees a woman who is "essentially sour and without hope." And no matter what you do, what you say...the big 6-0 is around the corner. And your ritzy Georgetown place seems quieter.

And, what's worse, you suspect that Sarah Palin, when her time comes and she is faced with the Big 6-0, will just smile and say "You betchya" ...and celebrate.

J. Robert Smith, who wrote in June about how it's always open season on Sarah Palin, now examines "Palin and the Battle for the GOP's Soul":

Palin's new freelancing is sending a chill up the collective spine of the left. That same chill is making its way up the pliable spines of establishment Republicans and in-name-only conservatives. How do we know? By the vitriol they continue to spew at her, via the main stream media and their allies in the blogosphere. (Peggy Noonan, David Brooks and Kathleen Parker, raise your hands.)

[...]

Palin has what one would say about nature: an elemental force. It is seen but not terribly well understood. Supporters admire it; her foes dread it and fight it. In politics, that elemental force translates into powerfully connecting with average citizens. Status doesn't count when it comes to the "force." Aristocrat cousins Teddy and Franklin Roosevelt had it. But so did plebeians Dwight Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan.

[...]

The good ex-governor intends to remake the GOP, first by reaffirming basic conservative principles, then by drawing distinct lines from those principles to the everyday lives of voters. She'll take whacks at more than a few liberal shibboleths, whether they involve taxes, foreign affairs, national defense, welfare or public education.

[...]

Palin's aim is to cobble together a coalition of the willing, a majority coalition that may - just may -- give a rebirth to the Republican Party. But she can expect more than slings and arrows from the usual suspects on the left. There will be a cadre of establishment Republicans and quislings who will employ whatever subterfuges are necessary to derail the Palin Express.

Unlike the previous two authors, Stuart Williamson doesn't have a lengthy American Thinker bibliography. His first contribution to the website, however, is an auspicious debut, with "Sarah Palin: A Leader Without A Party":

The Democrats -- and the Republicans too -- may find the next stage of Sarah Palin's public career uncomfortable.

[...]

Remember, she made it clear in her resignation that she was going to remain "outside" the political fences. For she is going to turn her guns on the GOP -- big time. She wants nothing to do with the Republican National Committee, and not just because she has been reading Mark Levin's Liberty and Tyranny. She has fought the GOP top dogs since her first days in Wasilla. When she was appointed by the Governor to chair the Oil & Gas Conservation Commission and found out the Republicans were dealing under the counter with the private companies, she resigned and blew the whistle. When her party wouldn't support her for Governor she ran on her own -- against their open opposition -- and won. And promptly attacked waste and corruption within the Republican state government.

[...]

Sarah Palin has the intelligence, the political skills, the downhome eloquence, the vision and the dedication to influence the swing vote come fall of 2010. She will have attracted the support of power brokers unhappy with the floundering RNC and attracted those "comers" within the party who share her views. As the election nears, incumbents as well as new challengers for Congressional positions, will want to be identified with her.

Palin has the upper hand. She will call her own shots next year, whether the GOP likes it or not.

Feast on these three tasty mind entrees at American Thinker.

Bon apetit.

- JP

Geller: Palin's Sunday speech was no farewell address

Though we've been calling it a farewell address, Pamela Geller says what Sarah Palin delivered Sunday in Fairbanks was a commencement address, because it was only the beginning:

Her speech embodied what a great American sounds like, and what a President ought to sound like. Palin made no apologies. She said nothing like Obama's inane drone of "America's best days are behind us." No tearing down of our nation. Obama ranks on us; Palin raises us up and speaks of national pride.

Geller says Palin embodies the American spirit and represents what this nation's founders had in mind for the sort of Americans who would keep alive the republic they created:

The more evil succeeds and overwhelms our foreign and domestic policy, our culture, our discourse and the very social fabric of our lives, the clearer it becomes that Palin is the antidote, the answer to fighting this morally bankrupt sewer in which we find ourselves during the Obama Administration.

It's a good piece, and you can read it in its entirety at American Thinker, a website that has been on a roll lately with one outstanding essay after another.

Related: Listen to Geller's appearance on Anchorage talker Eddie Burke's show here at Atlas Shrugs.

- JP