Palin a example of everything wrong with today’s conservatism

November 21, 2009
By Billy Dennis

Here’s more liberal hatred of Sarah Palin. Waitaminute. It’s actually libertarian Steve Champan in Reason, who compares her to Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan:

Goldwater, the 1964 Republican presidential nominee, made his reputation four years earlier with an eloquent and intellectually coherent volume, The Conscience of a Conservative, which laid out a blueprint for the policies he favored.

Reagan likewise made the thinking person’s case for conservatism. Between 1975 and 1979, after he had finished two terms as governor of California, he did some 1,000 radio commentaries, most of which he wrote himself. They were later collected in Reagan, In His Own Hand, which provides the texts of his handwritten manuscripts and proves that, far from being the “amiable dunce” of liberal mythology, he thought hard and clearly about the issues of his time.

Palin? Her new memoir, Going Rogue, fills up 413 pages, but it has less policy heft than a student council speech. Where Reagan dove into the murk of arms control and Goldwater fathomed federal farm programs, Palin skims over the surface of a puddle.

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15 Responses to “ Palin a example of everything wrong with today’s conservatism ”

  1. Michael Legel on November 21, 2009 at 8:46 am

    Many people throughout history have thought “hard and clear”. Raygun’s hard and clear thoughts turned out to be detrimental policy for America. The near total loss of our jobs base for one.

    • David P. Jordan on November 21, 2009 at 8:32 pm

      Don’t overwhelm us with so many specifics, Michael :)

      (but if you gave us specifics, we’d shoot them down)

  2. RomanII on November 21, 2009 at 9:43 am

    If you are saying he broke unionism in this country, you are correct-if you are saying he didn’t save this country’s ass from Russia, you better wake up!

  3. TaxThePoor on November 21, 2009 at 1:45 pm

    Sarah Palin and Roland Burris should team up. Both worderful examples of their political parties. Roland Burris is more than just empty, though, he’s also a typical corrupt Democrat.

  4. C. J. Summers on November 21, 2009 at 3:48 pm

    …who compares her to Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan.

    You meant “contrasts her with Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan.”

  5. Mary on November 21, 2009 at 7:38 pm

    Billy, have you read the book? Just wondering.

    • Billy Dennis on November 21, 2009 at 9:02 pm

      No. But I have not personally critiqued the book. Just posted others’ comments on it.

  6. David P. Jordan on November 21, 2009 at 8:30 pm

    Four Palin posts in one week…Billy is obsessed with Sarah Palin! :)

  7. David P. Jordan on November 21, 2009 at 8:54 pm

    Palin? Her new memoir, Going Rogue, fills up 413 pages, but it has less policy heft than a student council speech. Where Reagan dove into the murk of arms control and Goldwater fathomed federal farm programs, Palin skims over the surface of a puddle.

    Well that settles it then! Debate is over :)

    Question: is Palin’s book supposed to be a policy manifesto? Or a story about her life and experience as mayor of Wasilla, governor of Alaska, Vice Presidential candidate, etc. (Hint: the latter)

  8. Mary on November 21, 2009 at 8:58 pm

    The book is a good one. Very interesting read.

    • Billy Dennis on November 21, 2009 at 9:01 pm

      Do you know who else wrote a book? Hitler.

      ;-)

      • David P. Jordan on November 21, 2009 at 9:39 pm

        Billy,

        Is Markos Moulitsas Zúniga blackmailing you? Your PDS doesn’t seem like you :)

      • Billy Dennis on November 21, 2009 at 10:04 pm

        DPJ: You caught me. Kos has pictures of me in a compromising position with Ann Coulter.

  9. tj on November 22, 2009 at 12:38 am

    Some people go into mental contortions an spasms at the mere mention of Palin, and others like Champan try to get noticed by using her. It makes those who don’t trust the self righteous snobs of the world smile. That is why she is wildly popular.