Just Say No to Palin

The resignation of Sarah Palin last weekend was a nice turn of events for those of us who were getting fed up with the Michael Jackson news coverage. Now, however, I am sick and tired of all the conservative responses to the Sarah Palin news. Most conservatives on radio and TV have been defending Palin's decision and have trumpeted her as the future of the conservative movement. This is so unfortunate. I must admit that I was excited at the news that John McCain had selected Sarah Palin as his running mate last fall. But after seeing Palin perform, or should I say under-perform, I came to the conclusion that Palin was not what I wanted as the voice of conservatism in America. Since the beat down that McCain-Palin took in November, my views have not changed about Sarah Palin. So what's my beef?
First off, Palin is all presentation and no substance. During the campaign she couldn't even come up with the names of any publications she read on a daily basis. Even if she didn't read any serious publications, she could have just lied (what good politician doesn't tell a fib once and a while?)
Second, Palin represents the kind of approach to public debate that I believe has been a disastrous for the conservative movement. Palin attempts to present the values and beliefs of conservatism from that wonderfully cliched grand stand: America's number one soccer mom. Bush, although not a soccer mom, had the same problem. What starts out as a well intentioned attempt to reach out to the common man ends up being annoying, repetitive, and damaging to the face of conservatism. Palin's resignation speech is filled with dumbed down policy statements, accompanied by the ever most recent conservative talk radio cliche.
Palin starts out the speech by literally saying, "Hi Alaska." Are you kidding me? The speech is already doomed. What President has ever began an important speech by saying, "Hi America." It's as if Palin is writing her own SNL spoof. She then goes on to pride herself for not engaging in "politics as usual." You're right governor, quitting a job you were elected to do sure isn't politics as usual. Way to go!! Palin then goes on to say she is qutting her stint as governor because she wasn't going to run for re-election and thus she would just be a lame duck governor who would be "milking" the system. In subsequent interviews, Palin has also touched on the fact that numerous ethics complaints have followed her throughout her governorship and have cost her family a lot---both financially and emotionally. Although I do have some sympathy for the governor, her logic does not earn my support. If Palin ever wants to be a national contender she is going to have to put up or shut up. If she can't handle ethical investigations in Alaska, how on earth would she ever handle investigations by a well funded, well supported federal Justice Department?
Sarah Palin quit---plain and simple. That is not what I want from a leader. I hope Sarah Palin and her hokey approach to conservatism never triumphs. I say bring back the snooty, pompous, approach of the 70's and 80's. Buckley wasn't the common man, and never claimed to be. Yet he did more for the conservative movement than any politician ever did. I want someone who will be able to meet the policies of President Obama and his allies in Congress, with a sound intellectual footing. Palin doesn't even come close.