3 p.m. Alaska time (7 p.m. EST, hmm…), Palin gave her farewell Alaska speech. Here is an actual quote:
Denali, the great one, soaring under the midnight sun. And then the extremes. In the winter time it's the frozen road that is competing with the view of ice-fogged frigid beauty, the cold though, doesn't it split the Cheechakos from the Sourdoughs? And then in the summertime such extreme summertime about a hundred and fifty degrees hotter than just some months ago, than just some months from now, with fireweed blooming along the frost heaves and merciless rivers that are rushing and carving and reminding us that here, Mother Nature wins.
Huh? Let me refrain from really getting into how Palin's prose is simultaniously purple and, oddly, reminiscent of the simple colloquial stylings that are pretty characteristic of American frontier literature. Surely, that elite influence can't have played a part. Describing beauty as "ice-fogged frigid" is all Palin (is ths what we're to expect from her impending book).
This part of the speech especially illustrated to me how much about Palin and how little about Alaska this speech and resignation are, despite Palin's claims. Her over-the-top eulogy to Alaska came right at the beginning of her speech, not at the end. It was a sign for listeners to see her as complex, esoteric. "Look how deep I can be," she might as well have said.
And in practically the same breath, Palin managed to pull off one of the arts she has perfected. Palin can take any criticism thrown her way, contsructive, substantive, or not, and never address its content. Her most effective way of doing this is do call criticisms attacks and accuse "the liberal media" of executing those attacks based on lies. She artfully crafted a tribute to "Our Troops," telling how, when she was recently, "on the, um, on Fort Rich the base there," she heard "the sounding of Taps for three very brave, very young Alaskan soldiers who just gave their all for all of us." One sentence later, this:
And first, some straight talk for some, just some in the media because another right protected for all of us is freedom of the press, and you all have such important jobs reporting facts and informing the electorate, and exerting power to influence. You represent what could and should be a respected honest profession that could and should be the cornerstone of our democracy. Democracy depends on you, and that is why, that's why our troops are willing to die for you. So, how 'bout in honor of the American soldier, ya quit makin' things up. And don't underestimate the wisdom of the people, and one other thing for the media, our new governor has a very nice family too, so leave his kids alone.
It's like arguing with a child, or with Pee Wee Herman. It's the "I know you are, but what am I" defense. The "liberal media," apparently "use these delicate, tiny, very talented celebrity starlets," as pawns in their grand scheme to take our guns and put condoms in our schools. How fortunate that an attractive women place herself in the opposition to combat these Jezebels. Plus, her book is cominng out.
As the most visible (sadly true, even more than Hilary) female polititian this country has seen in the past ten years, Sarah Palin has been the butt of jokes and the recipient of bilous contempt. David Frum said that "she's a divisive force in the Republican party." But she's also adored. CBS News' Harry Smith called her a "rock star," and said "I don't think it matters that she quit with a little less than a year to go in her term." Doesn't matter for what? There's a tacit implication that Palin will go out for President in 2012 (made by Palin herself and pundits). Let's hope her track record does matter. I don't think I could listen to four years of speeches like this one.
