She’s full of contradictions
Editor, The Times:
In response to David S. Broder’s “The appeal of Palin’s populist pitch” [Opinion, Feb. 11], I have nothing against populism. Populism — or representing the point of view of the common people — is the essence of democracy. This is a country that is run by representatives who are elected by the common people and are entrusted with protecting their interests.
But populism doesn’t mean being intellectually vapid in a manner that evokes a South Carolinian pageant contestant holding forth about maps. Governing is a mental challenge, requiring a strong understanding of how one decision has multiple ramifications and we elect those who can understand and balance these ramifications. You don’t hire a 90-pound weakling to play in the NFL because he has a pretty face and some good ideas about where the ball should go.
Populism doesn’t mean abusing the power given to you by your constituents to exact personal revenge and then denying that you have been found in ethical violation for it, as was the case in “Troopergate.” Populism isn’t about flying in a private jet and then hopping onto a tour bus for your arrival at speaking engagements. Populism doesn’t mean preaching to a “grass roots” choir full of “common” people who have managed to pay almost a thousand dollars apiece to see you speak.
If Palin is speaking from the heart, why would she need to write it on her hand? The answer is simple: She needs to hit the poll-tested talking points that her handlers have laid out for her.
But the problems with Palin come down to a lot more than writing on her hand. This woman may come from humble beginnings, but she is being packaged and sold by the economic elite in this country and that is about as far from populist as you can get.
— Eric Shinkle, Seabeck
Palin speaks non-elitist language
Let me try once again to explain to the self-styled American elite why the president’s star is waning while the popularity of Sarah Palin is waxing. And I’ll try to be as simple as it’s humanly possible because soi-disant elites claim an uncanny ability to read the hoi polloi mind and I can’t.
Palin speaks a language that the majority of Americans speak. She is on the same material and moral plane with average Joe and Jane, while the average elitist goes to McDonald’s once in decade and only with his/her press agent and TV team.
— Michael Velikin, Kenmore
Appealing to the fringe
I read David S. Broder’s article lauding Sarah Palin and with all due respect to him, she is a certified airhead and unqualified from any perspective to be president of the United States.
The most recent polls showing a 71 percent disapproval rating aside — which is an insurmountable negative to overcome probably at any time, but more so by 2012. She is appealing to the lunatic fringe in this country once reflected by the John Birch Society and now by the Tea Party.
The best thing that could happen to Obama and the Democrats would be for her to be the Republican nominee. My Republican friends are terrified that she could be the nominee. I happen to vote Republican now and then, but I would never vote for her.
— J. Byron Holcomb, Bainbridge Island