Beware the Barracuda (Newsweek)

[kurth_]

Beware the Barracuda
Sarah Palin could be an elusive target for Democrats.
By Howard Fineman

The plan for Sarah Palin—rock-star Republican—was to do a series of swing-state events with John McCain, record the campaign's regular weekend radio address and then go home. "We kind of shanghaied her out of Alaska," Steve Schmidt, the McCain-Palin campaign manager, told me. "She needs to go back for a few days." There are personal reasons. Her son is shipping off for Iraq. With a newborn of her own, a pregnant daughter and a state to run, "Sarah Barracuda" has to get her affairs in order.

But there are political reasons, too. She needs time to study McCain's views and bone up on foreign policy before debating Joe Biden. At home she can more easily avoid interrogation by GOP enemy No. 1, the media. And by hunkering down in Alaska, she's also less visible to Barack Obama's campaign and its allies. The moose hunter of the North, Palin is now the hunted one.

She's an elusive target. Her home state is a tougher political racetrack than Lower 48 pundits appreciate, and she has a respectable approval rating there. GOP delegates in St. Paul fell in love with her, and they form a bulwark to protect her if she trips up. Her stage skills are obvious, her charisma electric, her freshness an advantage. She delivered her barb-filled acceptance speech with what David Axelrod, Obama's campaign manager, told me was "snide efficiency." And as a woman and the mother of five, Palin is an opponent whom male rivals need to be careful about attacking.

Still, Democrats dare not issue Palin a pass—she's too dangerous a foe. Normally vice presidential candidates fade into the background. Nobody is expecting that with Palin; indeed, her newfound celebrity has made even Obama look dull. The usual rule is that voters don't trust attacks from people they don't know, but Palin is turning the adage on its head. Democrats are determined to attack her credibility, even if it gives her more visibility. "We've got to go after her, and fast," a top Democratic strategist, who asked for anonymity when discussing strategy, told me...

http://www.newsweek.com/id/157697

[DianeG5385]

1. Oh! I'm a Sceered!

NOT!
Alaska VP candidate is not qualified.

Sorry, this is so. They can tout her PTA credentials til the Moose come home but it is true, Palin is
UNQUALIFIED to be VP

[BrklynLiberal]

2. Fineman forgot to mention that she is not qualified for the job..

[PlanetBev]

3. Howie's a parrot

Repeat that same tired old blather that her opponents have to be careful about attacking her. Horseshit.

Don't forget that Fineman twice won the coveted "Whore of the Year" award from the late, great MediaWhoresOnline. There's a website I really miss.

[WinkyDink]

4. HTH did the "rock-star" crap take off??

[AndyTiedye]

7. McAin't Complained that the MSM Wasn't Being Nice Enough, & Phone Calls Were Made

The MSM got their new marching orders, so she's a "rock star" now.

[truthisfreedom]

5. Sarah who?

[JeffR]

6. Obama=Springsteen. Palin=The Cowsills. 'Nuff said.

[FrenchieCat]

8. Here's his email address.....

[e-mail]

Dear Mr. Fineman,

It's like Barack Obama stated today, you guys think we are that stupid. Ms. Baraccuda is so effective, she can't even get permission to use "her" song. She is no rock star; she's a McCain's gimmick in his pathetic "Country Last" attempt to win an election. Considering that she isn't qualified, let alone anyone should "fear" her are your words and those of other reporters.

In his book Social Theory and Social Structure, Merton gives as a feature of the self-fulfilling prophecy:

“ The self-fulfilling prophecy is, in the beginning, a false definition of the situation evoking a new behaviour which makes the original false conception come 'true'. This specious validity of the self-fulfilling prophecy perpetuates a reign of error. For the prophet will cite the actual course of events as proof that he was right from the very beginning.”

In other words, a prophecy declared as truth when it is actually false may sufficiently influence people, either through fear or logical confusion, so that their reactions ultimately fulfill the once-false prophecy.

My observation is that the clownlike corporate media is playing the same game it always plays, and forcing their manufactured reality upon us, the people that they are supposed to "inform". The corporate press fawns about a speech full of lies and degredation. The truth is that reporters knew of the lies when they praised the speech. It is as though lying to the American people is a generally accepted principle, when it shouldn't be. Gov. Palin's speech should have been judged not simply on its delivery, but on its substance, but of course it wasn't. To coronate Ms. Baraccuda, and insinuate that she is the Republican Obama, is the media's doing. We are not fools, and in fact, I for one am insulted. I realize that you have to eat, but please, you're literally killing the citizens of this nation in the process.

Respectfully,
XXXXXXXXXX


http://www.newsweek.com/id/157697

[symbolman]

9. Jesus

the semen is running from his nose..

What a LOAD. I don't think he even bothered to write that one, why bother, just pull it from the fax machine, add your letterhead to it and ship it off to the bosses at Newsweak, I'm sure he won't be arrested for plaigerizing a Rove Fax..

Assholes are COMPLICT IN THE DEATH of our Country and Democracy.

they are INTERFERING WITH AN ELECTION, and Should be sent to fucking JAIL.

To comparet this animal to Obama is the worse sin of ALL, HOW FUCKING DARE THEY?

Dumber than the ROCK(star) they now worship..

[A-Schwarzenegger]

10. Here's his hairdresser's e-mail ...

[e-mail]

The dye is soaking into Howard's brain.

"Same as always, Dan--blood-shit brown."

[moondust]

11. Fear the Moosebreath?

Yeah right. She's a puppet. She can't talk without being propped up by a ventriloquist.