Quick thought for the day

Words Make You Tired – The Headlights

Sarah Palin’s rare attempts to speak outside of prepared speeches sound like what would happen if you ran some Republican talking points through Babelfish from English-to-Japanese-back-to-English a few times.

Individually, the words all make sense. But when you try to string them together you end up just scratching your head in bemusement.

On Russia:
“It’s very important when you consider even national-security issues with Russia as Putin rears his head and comes into the airspace of the United States of America. Where—where do they go? It’s Alaska. It’s just right over the border. It is from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there. They are right next to—to our state.”

On the bailout:
COURIC: Why isn’t it better, Governor Palin, to spend $700 billion helping middle-class families who are struggling with health care, housing, gas and groceries; allow them to spend more and put more money into the economy instead of helping these big financial institutions that played a role in creating this mess?
PALIN: That’s why I say I, like every American I’m speaking with, were ill about this position that we have been put in where it is the taxpayers looking to bail out. But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health-care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy, helping the—it’s got to be all about job creation, too, shoring up our economy and putting it back on the right track. So health-care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions and tax relief for Americans. And trade, we’ve got to see trade as opportunity, not as a competitive, scary thing. But one in five jobs being created in the trade sector today, we’ve got to look at that as more opportunity. All those things under the umbrella of job creation. This bailout is a part of that.

On Blue Star moms:
Palin responded to a question about the economic recovery plan, which was hashed out overnight. She answered, but she made it clear that she was then going to concentrate on the Blue Star Moms, “Bailout? Ok? Then I’m going to talk to these gals whose sons are also in the service. But, thankful that John McCain is able to have some of those provisions implemented in that Paulson proposal to have more sound oversight,” Palin said. “Taxpayers aren’t going to be assumed to be called upon to bail out so I’m glad that John McCain’s voice is heard and his leadership too.”

SNL on this is pretty funny, too. The amazing thing is that a decent number of lines are literally just quotes from the actual interview. I mean, wow.

By the way, count me as one of those who thinks that this reflects far more badly on McCain than it does on Palin. The initial decision to pick her was bad enough – without having any knowledge about her ability to perform in a campaign (much less as VP). But the way they’ve kept her holed up has been nothing short of disastrous. They have clearly communicated to her that under no circumstances is she allowed to extemporize. And by their behavior, they are making it clear that they are absolutely petrified of her saying something stupid.

I think that atmosphere has absolutely demolished her confidence – which was the thing that was initially so appealing about her for so many people. And that’s also an absolutely crucial ingredient for a successful politican. Everybody makes mistakes, but the good ones have the looseness necessary to shake it off and move on. Palin, at this point, is walking on eggshells every second of every day. And you simply cannot speak comfortably if that’s the case. I think that’s a big reason why this Couric interview was so much more disastrous than the Gibson one was.

And it’s weird, because I really do think she is enormously talented and could have made a big splash in another context – either a few years down the road, or even in this cycle if she could’ve had some opportunities to make the rookie mistakes outside of the bright lights.

Or maybe it’s all an elaborate evil-genius ploy and she’s going to roll out in the VP debate and be totally awesome. And all of this was an attempt to drive down expectations. I can’t imagine that’s true, but…

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