Sarah Palin’s speech: First impressions

She cuts a strong figure — a very powerful speaker, far better than her running mate, and she does a good job of telling her story and framing the issues to her advantage.

That said, the general contours of the fall campaign were set — at least as far as the vice-presidency is concerned:

• A mom just like any other
• An accidental candidate who came to politics through the PTA
• A budget hawk
• A reformer
• Executive experience (the use of this trope is an interesting one because it relies on the false notion that all gubernatorial and mayoral experience is the same — as if the mayor of Jamesburg should be running for president; it also places her experience higher on the hierarchy of candidates — she is the only one with any kind of executive experience).
• The liberal, left-wing media — watch for the press to be a major theme

In the end, the Democrats better take this woman seriously but also remember that the election must be a choice between John McCain and Barack Obama, between the Bush legacy and a necessary new direction that restores the ability of government to help Americans.
The Democrats need to take this woman seri

Author: hankkalet

Hank Kalet is a poet and freelance journalist. He is the economic needs reporter for NJ Spotlight, teaches journalism at Rutgers University and writing at Middlesex County College and Brookdale Community College. He writes a semi-monthly column for the Progressive Populist. He is a lifelong fan of the New York Mets and New York Knicks, drinks too much coffee and attends as many Bruce Springsteen concerts as his meager finances will allow. He lives in South Brunswick with his wife Annie. View all posts by hankkalet