From David Harsanyi, writing for RCP:
Palin, for example, vetoed 300 pork projects in Alaska in her first year in office. She made a habit of knocking out big-government Republicans in her brief political career. For this, the 44-year-old mother of five enjoys a sterling approval rating in a state with arguably the nation’s most libertarian-minded populace.
When it comes to healthcare, Palin says she wants to “allow free-market competition and reduce onerous government regulation.” These days, any mention of the “free market” that’s not framed as a crass pejorative is a sign of progress.
Culturally, there is little for the Heartland to dislike. By now, you’ve probably seen picture or two of Palin sporting a rifle. Apparently, she’s left carcasses strewn across the Alaskan wilderness. In some places — areas where the nation is growing — owning a gun is not yet a sin. And unlike Obama, Palin seems to believe that the Second Amendment means the exact same thing in rural Alaska as it does in the streets of Chicago.
Yes, Palin is without argument a staunch social conservative. She is fervently opposed to abortion – even in cases of rape and incest, which will raise eyebrows, but is certainly more philosophically consistent than the namby pambyism of your average politician. The choice issue, after all, is complicated, even for many libertarians. And, as I was recently reminded, Ron Paul, the Libertarian champion of the 21st century, also opposes abortion.
Even when advocating for “moral” issues, Palin’s approach is a soft sell. Palin does not support gay marriage (neither does Obama, it should be noted). Yet, in 2006, Palin’s first veto as Governor was a bill that sought to block state employee benefits and health insurance for same-sex couples.
We cannot bore into Palin’s soul to see her true feelings about gay couples, but, at the time, she noted that signing “this bill would be in direct violation of my oath of office” because it was unconstitutional. For most libertarians, the thought of politician following any constitution, rather than their own predilections, morality or the “common good,” is a nice change of pace.
On the counterproductive War on Drugs, Palin is no warrior. Her Republican opponent in 2006 primary, incumbent Republican governor Frank Murkowski, made recriminalizing the possession of small amounts of pot a priority. Palin, though she does not support legalization, believes enforcement should not be a high priority.
“I can’t claim a Bill Clinton and say that I never inhaled,” Palin once said. This sort of honesty is a welcome change from the standard hand-wringing about marijuana’s supposed disastrous consequences.
On education, Palin supports school-choice programs. There have already been smears that she backed “creationist” teaching in “public” schools, when in fact, Palin’s comment regarding intelligent design should hold some appeal to libertarians. Even if you find the idea inane, in essence, Palin pushed the idea that parents, rather than the state, should decide what children are learning.
When asked about this commotion, Palin said, “I won’t have religion as a litmus test, or anybody’s personal opinion on evolution or creationism.” If lockstep left-wing union-run school boards in urban districts would follow this sound advice on ideological litmus tests, our educational system would be a lot more productive.
Then there is a question of authenticity. And it matters. Those who will do anything for power, will say anything and support any position that is convenient. From John McCain to Joe Biden to Obama, one gets the sense that political office is their life’s work. All of them have made attempts to create the perception that, hey, they’re ordinary Americans just like you. Palin won’t have to work at genuineness. With Palin, you get the impression she can take politics or leave it. Her life certainly hasn’t been saturated with policy, favor trading and back scratching.
Of course, Washington has a mysterious power to turn perfectly reasonable, wholesome, well-meaning human beings into equivocating crooked gasbags. But, from the little we know about Palin, such a transformation doesn’t seem likely. And for libertarians – in the broadest sense of the small “l” word — she’s the best candidate they can expect.
As Glenn Reynolds notes — and as I noted several times in the last few days (in re:, eg., the practice of abortion, or her position on ID, or even, as EG notes here, sex education) — “one can, of course, be a social conservative in philosophy and still support a libertarian approach to government and regulation.”
— That is, unless “one” happens to be from the “reality-based” community of nuance, of course — part of the charm of which is that the nuance itself is so starkly black and white that it ironizes the very meaning of nuance.
Which, you have to admit, is quite the nuancy view of nuance. Really. All the truly important kinds of people are saying so…
Bullwinkle Republicans:
Hey, Rocky, Watch me pull an election out of my hat!
–
… and where I come from, the sexy librarian thing doesn’t hurt a bit. I can’t wait until she debates Biden. Unless, of course, she’s blinded and flashburned by Joe’s Chernobyl grin.
She seems pretty sharp and down to earth, and — though she holds socially conservative viewpoints — treats them as such. She doesn’t strike me as someone who’d be happy with having policy implemented by judicial fiat.
She really does seem to be a genuinely likable person. What a major plus that is. I’m sure that’s somewhat easier to achieve in a less populous state, but still it is a valuable commodity.
One of the major pluses for me was that McCain, for once, didn’t seize an opportunity to poke me in the eye and tell me to like it.
I’m socially pretty liberal but I like her anyway. So much for sisterhood though. Obviously, it’s a commie sisterhood. They’d send Palin off to re-education camp in Beijing minute. And that, as we’ve seen, is fast!
… a Beijing minute, that is.
I must denounce myself.
My first reaction to Palin was a large groan.
But the more I learn about her, the more I am thinking that I am actually going to vote this year. She has feet of clay, which in my book, is the highest distinction a politician can have. My mother was born in “Muskogee, Oklahoma, U.S.A.”, and this woman reminds me so much of her. A very strong woman who never had time for feministas because she was too busy living her life, taking names, and kicking ass.
And what a life it was! Nobody fucked with my mother, and if they did, they were crushed like a bug. Common sense is why my mother was so strong, and that is what this country should be about. But that idea has been lost in the maelstrom of egos that presents itself as “our rulers”. My mother was too busy taking on life to try and mewl becaquse she had a vagina (sorry, mom, but I’m pretty sure that you did. I am exhibit #1).
And my mom kicked ass!
Go Sarah! I love it!
Sarah Palin is quickly becoming my hero(ine).
I’ll have the Peking duck with nuance.
I think the proggs don’t like Sarah because she doesn’t whine.
… which is nice with the duck and nuance.
But has Sarah ever killed a duck? Moose don’t count.
She doesn’t strike me as someone who’d be happy with having policy implemented by judicial fiat.
Every quote I have seen by heard regarding ID and sex education in schools she is saying exactly that, which is why I have started asking for links to back up accusations to the contrary. No one has delivered yet. I don’t care if you believe in voodoo and plan your day by astrological charts, as long as you don’t try to mandate it on me.
She kills ducks with the mere notion of her deadly-eyed aim and knocks tiny varmints over with the wind of her passing by. Moose still need some shootin’ though.
Members of the “reality-based community” cannot conceive that someone could be socially conservative yet govern in a more libertarian manner because all they know is their own predilictions, which are that they would govern directly from their personal philosophy and never consider any other positions. They would do this because they are smarter and know more than everyone else.
I once ducked a moose.
More cough syrup, please…
“
realitycommunity-basedâ€ÂcommunityrealityFixed that for ya.
From John McCain to Joe Biden to Obama, one gets the sense that political office is their life’s work. …. With Palin, you get the impression she can take politics or leave it. Her life certainly hasn’t been saturated with policy, favor trading and back scratching.
And THAT, right there, is why I like her. I don’t give a rodent’s nalgas about her blue-collar background, her wilderness cred, her “authenticity,” her inconvenient babies, or any of the other window-dressing elements. (I mean, I actually don’t like her hair at all.)
It’s the fact that for her, politics is not her career, here life’s work, her calling. She got into this gig because she didn’t like what she saw as far as corruption and other shenanigans, so she figured that someone ought to straighten things out and that someone might as well be she.
She’s never met a corrupt politician she didn’t bust. May we be blessed with a thousand Sarah Palins.
7 –
errr..”feet of clay” = hidden vulnerability, flaw, etc. Which doesn’t jibe with the rest of your post.
Maybe you meant something else…? “Feet of brass” would complement the Biblical allusion (Dan.2:31-32)
We shall soon see whether the public can tell moosetracks from bullshit. My bet’s on the innate shrewdness of the American voter.
You reckon she has ever goosed a moose?
http://www.jakeo.com/fun/poetry/mason/moose.html
Pro-choice? Here’s a choice. Given your druthers, would you rather your daughter grew up to be a Sarah or a Hillary. Try not to think of Bill as your son-in-law.
Sarah Palin is what Willis was talking ’bout.
http://www.sarahpalinfacts.com
B Moe, Mason William (wrote & played guitar on Classical Gas)was the creator of “them” poems that were a momentary hit on college campuses in the mid-60’s. This one is a good message for Obama:
Them Lunch Toters
How about Them Lunch Toters,
Ain’t they a bunch?
Goin’ off to work,
A-totin’ they lunch.
Totin’ them vittles,
Totin’ that chow,
Eatin’ it later,
But a-totin’ it now.
Look at Them Lunch Toters,
Ain’t they funny?
Some use a paper sack,
Some use a gunny.
Them food-frugal Lunch Toters,
Ain’t they wise?
Totin’ they lunch,
Made by they wives.
How to be a Lunch Toter?
Iffa may emote it,
Gitchy wife to fix it,
Go to work and tote it!
Palin may not be the second coming of Ronaldus Maximus, but I’ve yet to see a policy decision or stance of hers that causes me great ire. Russ from Winterset over at Ace’s has a great post bemoaning the negativism from so many entrenched “conservatives” who are determined to see the glass half empty.
It remains to be seen if Palin will have any influence in a McCain administration. She well may be just window dressing on an OWG administration. But it was nice to see that McCain at least felt the need to give conservatives a nod.
How O! Lost by Spengler. YMMV, but its worth a read
Urthshu #17
Maybe you meant something else…? “Feet of brass†would complement the Biblical allusion (Dan.2:31-32)
I was thinking brass but it sure wasn’t feet. Try a bit higher.
And as for the vitriol being fire-hosed at her from the Left:
“Let he who is without stones cast the first sin.”
The debate between Sarah ‘dead-eye’ Palin and Joseph ‘hurricane Joe’ Biden ought to be good entertainment.
Re: Comment #26, I suspect it will be about like Sarah going moose hunting, except moose can be a challenge.
I Hate You Sarah Palin
Hilarious. Written by a pseudonymous Hollywood liberal.
Them Women Kickers (w/ apologies to Mason Williams & Them Dog Kickers)
How ’bout them women kickers, ain’t they crumbs?
Kickin’ them women in their buns.
Kickin’ them Palins. Treat ’em like sluts.
Kickin’ them females poor little butts.
Lookit them Palin kickers, ain’t they cute?
Some use a shower shoe. Some use a boot.
Them dadgum women kickers, ain’t they mean?
Runnin’ round kickin’ every woman that’s seen.
How to be a women kicker, don’t need a ticket.
Find an old gal. Haul off and kick it!
I think I’ve stumbled on the next Palin scandal.
Someone on her campaign must have ties with the History and Discovery channels. Becuase over the weekend I saw day-long marathons of:
Deadliest Catch
Tougher in Alaska
Ice Road Truckers (OK, that’s based in Canada, but it LOOKS like Alaska)
This has to be more than a coincidence.
OK Koskiddies, start digging!
28 –
Second reference to Tolkien I’ve seen in regards to Palin today.
Palin = Eowyn?
#24 URTHSHU –
I liked this line from the essay you linked:
McCain doesn’t have a tenth of Obama’s synaptic fire-power, but he is a nasty old sailor who knows when to come about for a broadside.
“Palin = Eowyn?”
Wouldn’t that make Obama The Lord of the Nazgul?
RACIST!!!
I hope somebody debunks the book banning after the supposed creationism and opposition to earmarks have been debunked.
Wouldn’t that make Obama The Lord of the Nazgul?
RACIST!!!
Only his speech was black….
Looks about,
“Where?”
dicentra @ #28, that is hysterical.
I hope somebody debunks the book banning after the supposed creationism and opposition to earmarks have been debunked.
Just look, grasshopper. It’s out there.
Me, I’m looking for them to debunk all that Satan Worshipping
(yea, I linked to myself. It’s my only moment of glory)
I hope she walks onto the stage with Biden, says that he looks nice, especially his hair. Then says deadpan “Those are fake aren’t they”.
Millions of Americans will get out their checkbooks.
Derek
Derek #40-
I’m buying a furniture cleaning franchise. RIGHT NOW.
Because if she does that, there will be peed-on couches all over America.
Look a here, y’all
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb-V3tQ2zGo&feature=related
That’s what I’m talkin’ about!
Darn those socks!
(For the record, AQ does NOT endorse either Reba McEntyre or Sarah Palin)
okay, I was trying to figure out the AQ connection. heh.
Mark Levin is saying Dem oppo researchers out of Alaska have released Gov. Palin’s SocSec#. He reminds us this was done to Michael Steele and used to access Steel’s credit rating reports. Nice.
wasn’t it done by a Biden staffer? or DNCC, close enough.
“wasn’t it done by a Biden staffer? or DNCC, close enough.”
I think the Steele release was by Schumer.
I tried to watch the news for a while today, but it was all only fucktarded anti-Palin female-concern-voice shit that’s already “debunked” — as was admitted, always, in a quicker and quieter voice, but.
Do you remember that voice?
“Debunking,” you know, does precisely nothing to exactly no one — if they heard the bunk before its de-ing. Or if the voice that offered both was modulated just right — if that voice was somehow their mother’s.
First come, first served. Obama and I don’t both talk like (different kinds of) commies for no reason. Our mom-voices do. So we do.
I think you’re right geoffb. Schumer.. DSCC. I can’t keep my long-term congresscritters straight.
Seen one seen them all, at least on the left side.
Well, we’ve got the SSN released, and the P-shops of supposedly scandalous pictures, what’s the next step in the Dems playbook of routine smears? I misplaced my copy…
My Leftwing gf, an early Obama supporter and YWCA staff worker, was saying today how a reporter was asking around about the YWCAs view on Bristol.
Of course, she said “we’ve got no comment”. Many YWCAs clients are like 14yo pregnant girls who’ve been tossed from the house, etc.
She’s like, “WTF did she expect me to say?! Alienate everybody who donates to us? Alienate our own clients? What a tool”
Heh.
Redstate has a story on it, but I can’t read it for a 500 error. I’m leaving this as “unconfirmed” for the moment.
Never mind… got through. Politico apparently has a PDF of the Democrat “opposition research” that was sent to media organizations. It’s unclear if the document includes the complete SSN. It does, however, have this damning detail:
OMG!!!!
Well, we’ve got the SSN released, and the P-shops of supposedly scandalous pictures, what’s the next step in the Dems playbook of routine smears? I misplaced my copy…
SATAN, DAMNIT, SATAN!!!
Work with me here people.
TomB, she IS Satan? Or just on of his minions? Or had his baby? Seriously, I lost my copy of the playbook.
Nah, they tried that one already with the names of her daughters.
Nah, they tried that one already with the names of her daughters.
I know. Lil’ Andi spent, what, 10 whole minutes researching this and everybody ignores it.
WE NEED AN INVESTIGATION!
AND PICTURES OF ALYSSA MILANO IN A BIKINI or not!!!one!1!
[…] From Jeff Goldstein, an interesting essay making the case for Sarah Palin as a good option for libertarian voters. David Harsanyi has looked over her record as Governor and finds a lot for libertarians to like. […]
TomB, she IS Satan? Or just on of his minions? Or had his baby? Seriously, I lost my copy of the playbook.
It’s pretty simply, really. Sarah and Todd named their two youngest daughters, Piper and Brunhilda, er, I mean, Willow. Now, as we all know (at least as of Saturday), those are characters in TV shows about witches. SO THERE.
ONLY!
Those two shows didn’t air until AFTER the girls were born, and presumably, named. Therefore proving, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the Palin’s are Satan worshippers who use their powers to see the future and watch TV.
Q.E.D.
And the only reason Palin sacrificed that caribou was because they couldn’t find a virgin in Wassilla to sacrifice…
Does anyone know if Sarah ever shot a bear?
Because that would debunk those insinuations she wouldn’t be able to deal with Putin I think.
AND PICTURES OF ALYSSA MILANO IN A BIKINI
That would work on Excitable Andy like garlic on one of Buffy’s vampires, I’ll warrant.
This shitstorm is a good sign of what, exacly?
Re #61
This is the photo of Sarah’s parents in their home. Note the lovely décor nailed to the pine planking. Several lovely gutted and tanned bits of décor, actually.
http://www.adn.com/sarah-palin/v-gallery/story/512321.html?/1521/gallery/512322.html
#63
Certainly not a sign of decorum or good taste on your side, but hey, you lot are experts at lowering the bar.
urthshu,
“Feet of clay” was really just a reference to how insane the left has gotten trying to dismember her. “Feet of brass” is probably more appropriate, but doesn’t quite put across my disdain for the lame idiots who are going insane trying to destroy her.
She is scaring them to death! I love it.
Big Dan @ 64 –
I can just see how the introduction and initial interviews went between Gov. Palin’s folks and the CNN crews:
Producer: That’s a big… bear skin.
Pop: Well, thanks. Not all that big, as Kodiaks go. We didn’t plan on having one there, it just happened.
Producer: Oh?
Pop: It wouldn’t get off the porch. Say, ya’ll didn’t leave any food in your cars, did you?
I am counting the minutes until Sarah Palin’s speech tonight. I can’t believe what the left is doing. What a bunch of slimebags. I think we are having a Wellstone moment here, and all this crap is going to blow right back in their faces.
I have a feeling her speech is going to be a doozy! This woman knows how to kick ass, and I think we are going to have the pleasure of watching her do just that.
TmjUtah, that last line is not necessarily a joke.
Many years ago, I had to go to Elmendorf on a DoD IT contract for a couple of weeks. While driving back to the hotel, there was a moose walking in the street. I mentioned this the next day, and the Col running the shop related how he actually opened up his front porch door one morning and wondered who hung the fur curtain in the doorway…. the snoring fur curtain…. oh, cr*p. “I quietly closed the door on the Kodiak and called animal control. They came out and tranqed it.”
SDN, absolutely.
Back in the stone age … ’85 or ’86… I was on a MEF tooling around the Bering Sea doing the Cold War deployment thing. We had been way, WAY north for a few weeks, touched at Adak in the Aleutians to drop mail and pick up perishables. On this particular day we had some infantry types operating by helo insertion on a nameless little tundra covered island somewhere over the horizon.
The ship’s 1MC (intercom) crackled to life. It was radio traffic between the platoon sized patrol and the ship. I paraphrase:
“Base, this is Eyeball.”
“Eyeball. Send your traffic.”
“Base, be advised we have identified a polar bear, a full grown polar bear, on this island. Bear is currently 500 meters south from our pos. (Position report followed). Over.”
“Eyeball, solid copy posrep, understand bear is … large, distance 500 meters? Do you request extraction at this time?”
“Base, correction, 400 meters. Now. Affirmative, extraction at primary LZ earliest opportunity, over.”
“Eyeball, base, your five (battalion executive officer) is on the way. Standby.Over.”
“Base copy standby. 3… 250 meters. (Background umble : Oh FUCK. Must be ten feet tall when he stands up. He just lookin’. Who has a camera? Damn!) ETA extraction, please, over?”
“Eyeball, Eyeball 5. Extraction ETA 10 minutes, primary. Be advised, Wildman is enroute your position in the slick, may arrive before your ride. Y’all okay so far over?”
“Eyeball 5, copy ten minutes for extract. We are at LZ. Copy Wildman enroute. Bear… moves when we do. Now two hundred meters. Watching us. Over.”
“Eyeball, Eyeball 5, you are authorized to break seals and open your safety can. Issue ammunition and act at your discretion.”
“Eyeball 5, we are SO far ahead of you there.”
Crew and radio dissolve into laughter. Wildman (Bn CO in his Huey) arrives and chases the bear off, two CH46’s arrive and take off the platoon.
We chuckled for literally weeks afterward. The Wing posted an 8X10 black and white photo of the guys waiting in the LZ. An M60 gunner with a belt hanging down, the LT on the radio behind him, and forty guys in a knot behind them. And a great fooking standing white bear maybe a hundred yards away, checking them out.
[…] group of folk who are supporting Governor Palin, from social conservatives and GOP faithful, to right leaning libertarians and disaffected Hillary […]
[…] in truth, as the Denver Post’s David Harsanyi, himself a libertarian, has pointed out, Palin’s governing style has drawn back into the GOP tent a lot of libertarians and classical […]
[…] that refuses to foist her personal beliefs on those she governs. In that respect, she governs from libertarian and federalist […]
As a big “L” Libertarian, I like this woman, I may have to jump the fence on this one, and vote for the dreaded ‘pubs. Not only on Sarah’s account, but also for the fact that Obama’s socialist bend is frightening.