I agree with O Dar on this one. The Dem Party does this again and again.

Underestimating your enemy is a grave mistake.

I know that it is alot of fun to say, “God! She is so stupid!”. I’ve done it myself. But, to people who find her eappealing (which is not necessaily to say they woudl vote for her), it is an “insult” to the “commom person”. “You think taht you are better than them”.

I just do not think that it is an effective strategy.

I think this kind if joking is dangerous, because it re-enforces what I believe is a false impression, namely that Palin is some kind of idiot who should be dismissed.

I think this is a tactic that the GOP uses whenever they are weak ont he issues and need to avoid them. Have your candidate pretend to be slow, this way they don’t have to address the issue, their supporters feel close to them on an emotional (not intelectual) level (“he’s one of us”), the Democrats dismiss and under-estimate you, and everyone has low expectations of you when you debate.

I believe this is what the GOP did in 1980 with Reagan (who was not as clueless as he pretended to be), and in 2000 with Bush (who is not as stupid as he pretends to be), and now with Palin (who is not as simple as she pretends top be).

movie fan, I think you do not appreciate Palin’s demagogic strategy.  She was saying, “I’m not addressing you, Gwen Ifill, or you, Joe Biden.  I’m talking to YOU DIRECTLY, THE AMERICAN PUBLIC.”  This is a trick that can be traced all the way back to Julius Caesar (from which you can assume that it has a pretty good track record).  It may frustrate the rest of us that Palin plays by her own rules, but that is not the issue.  The issue is whether or not this is what it will take get attract the right electoral numbers.

Totally dude.

I vote for Ralph every year. But only to “send a message”. Not because he has a chance in hell of winning. And totally loved and highly recommend the movie “An unreasonable man”. I stand up for Ralph without hesitation or reservation and defend him with fervor.

A few do know the true history about Ralph Nader. But most know only a hateful set of absurd smears leveled against Ralph and sung in unison by that trusty disinformation machine we call the free press.

One must still give points to Ms. Palin. Her brain seems to be uniquely suited to mouthing the most contradictory, disjointed sets of absurdities imaginable without even a speck of guilt showing through.

Nutty and scary as hell, but she fits in with the continuing Bush BS blitz amazingly well, unlike Mr. Nader.

If Sarah Palin is truly the demagogue-in-the-making that I suggested she was in my last comment (October 5 at 7:50 am), then this goes deeper than Catherine’s airheads-vote-for-airheads hypothesis.  Demagogues rise to power (either through their own willful actions or through the boosting of others, as was the case with Hitler) in times of great misfortune;  and, as GW=MCHammered (October 5 at 9:12 am) observed, the whole global financial structure is giving a whopping vote of no-confidence to the bailout strategy.  (Those following this story know that since GW=MCHammered cited that Guardian article, things have gotten much worse.)  Note that this no-confidence vote applies not only to the Executive Branch, with its uncritical embrace of a highly biased analysis from the Treasury, but also the Legislative Branch for caving in after mouthing those platitudes about doing it right rather than doing it quickly.  Could there be a better time for a demagogue to rise to power?

The irony is that the messianic aura that his many supporters bestowed on Barack Obama could have run just as much of a risk of demagoguery.  This may be one of the reasons why he delivered his acceptance speech wearing his community organizer hat, talking not only about what needed to be done but also about how we all had to work TOGETHER to GET IT DONE.  Palin and those pulling her strings haven’t a clue about what needs to be done;  and they only thing they want the electorate to “work together” on is getting her ticket into the White House.  These guys may yet come away with the prize, simply because she will be more appealing to a disenchanted electorate.

This brings us to Ron Ranft’s endorsement of Ralph Nader.  There is no questioning Nader’s accomplishments;  but he tends to come off as a champion supported by enthusiastic followers, yet another formula for demagoguery.  This is significantly different in “social spirit” from successful community organization projects.  So I, for one, suspect that I shall have to put up with Obama “being the politician” in order to get elected (which included his being one of the Senator’s who caved on the bailout) in the hope that, should he win the Election, he will be able to devote at least SOME of his time to “being the community organizer” again.

All you need to know about Sarah Palin in 30 seconds!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3Bma3vBG5g

Thank-you, thank-you, SNL.  This election would be hard to take without you.

Unfortunately, George W. Bush made gullible and non-thinking Americans believe he was “just like them” by being an airhead, and they loved him for it.  The airheads believed that if he was an idiot and could be president, then why should he be challenged?  After all, being against W was being against them. 

Palin is doing the same thing, just in a different package. Her behavior at the VP debates clearly illustrated that ideal.  While Tina Fey is an excellent mimic, I find it very disturbing because the real Sarah Palin isn’t funny at all. She’s Bush in a tight skirt. It’s a little bit like laughing at a funeral.

Well, I thought it was hilarious. Tina Fey really nailed it. What an airhead!

you guys give her way too much power.

With no 3rd party option anywhere in sight, we are, as usual, forced to fuss over two turds.

I vote for Ms. Palin. She is a more exuberant and unrestrained liar then Joe. And Joe has been practicing professional prevarication for decades.

Ms. Palin shows her love of freedom by freely spewing the most ridiculous falsehoods imaginable like a high school cheerleader high on beer.

I decided that the only way I could keep my sanity while watching the debate was to view it as Palin’s midterm in Demagoguery 101:

http://therehearsalstudio.blogspot.com/2008/10/demagoguery-101-midterm.html

Personally, I am now more worried that she is starting to channel Joe McCarthy:

http://therehearsalstudio.blogspot.com/2008/10/palin-channels-joseph-mccarthy.html

youre absolutely right. there comes a point where the endorphins are not enough. its pretty serious. but look at it this way, theyre really pushing the idea of how ridiculous this chick is. thats a good thing.

Sorry, I’m no longer amused by this excellent imitation of an all to real threat.  It’s become boring if not pathetic.

It would be hysterical if it were not so True!
The choice of Palin should hand McCain that long awaited Charged of Treason!Reckless endangerment with Forethought and malice!
Mac’s Puppet Master could NOT find another Female in the entire Republican party Other than this dangerously unqualified candidate- she makes Quayle look like he was from Mensa.Hell Sarah would Have corrected Potatos to ‘Taters’ instead of the imfamous “e”. Are Tomatos ‘Mators’too?
As for the’End of Days’ reference, that too would have been funny- except she is One of these Self anointed Instigators.No different than the Taliban and the Islamic ‘Jihadists’
Once again a ‘Dead On’ performance by Tina and a nearly perfect Gwen by the Queen.‘Joe’ needs a little more work - but the next 4 yrs will provide the time for Improvement.

And Michigan Would Like to Send a ‘Shout Out’ to Mac’s Campaign…MF’ers!!!...‘Cut & Run’ becomes an Acceptable Stratedgy Only when it’s YOUR money, Reputation and Political LIFE on the Line Ah?