Eugene Robinson: Palin’s Egocentric Umbrage

[babylonsister]

:rofl: The snark is out, even from Mr. Robinson!

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/palins_egocentric_umbrage_20110118/

Palin’s Egocentric Umbrage

Posted on Jan 18, 2011

By Eugene Robinson


In the spirit of civil discourse, I’d like to humbly suggest that Sarah Palin please consider being quiet for a while. Perhaps a great while.

At the risk of being bold, I might observe that her faux-presidential address about the Tucson massacre seemed to fall somewhat flat, drawing comparisons to the least attractive public moments of such figures as Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew. I could go so far as to observe that Palin almost seemed to portray herself as a collateral victim. Surely a former governor of Alaska—who served the better part of an entire term—would never seek to give the impression that she views any conceivable event, no matter how distant or tragic, as being All About Sarah.

Yet this is the unfortunate impression that Palin’s videotaped peroration seems to have left. I am at a loss to recommend any course of corrective action other than an extended period of abstinence from Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites.

snip//

The way Palin portrayed herself as not only a popular champion but also a martyr reminded me—not for the first time—of Eva Peron. If she chooses this unpromising route to higher political office, I suggest she find a suitable balcony from which to deliver her next address to the nation.

Or perhaps—solely in the interest of civil discourse—that there be no next address.

[hlthe2b]

1. LOLOL... love the comparison to Eva Peron....

Ahh, Mr. Robinson, I love you more and more! Nothing like snark, gently delivered with such a deft touch.

[Jester Messiah]

2. We should be so lucky.

Too bad she doesn't seem like the sort to take good advice.

[onehandle]

3. Umbridge.

[peekaloo]

5. an umbridge is what holds her sentences and "thoughts" together,

example: You know, um, America is a great, um, country and I can think of no, um, better leader to lead against it.

[tavalon]

14. LOL

That was good.

[Major Hogwash]

4. She has officially been refudiated!!!

She's not even as knowledgeable as Spiro Agnew was.

I used to listen to the rants of Spiro and then wonder if he had memorized all the words that started with "p" after he gave his most famous rant while in front of tv cameras.

[karynnj]

6. That really is a snarky work of beauty

Even the lines that you did not bold are not only pure unadulterated snark, but 100% on target. The mental image of Palin playing the role of Eva Peron - or more likely in Palin's case the role of Madonna playing Evita - is where the diva in Palin is heading.

She obviously has little sense of how she appears. Imagine a more skillful Sarah Palin, who could have graciously made a (at least seemingly) genuine statement of concern for Giffords, possibly connecting on the risk that all politicians face in the necessary reaching out to hear Americans - with no mention of the attacks on her for her rhetoric. Her advocates, including most of talk radio, were already out there defending her (and really their) innocence and the shooter was easily seen by mentally ill.

However, It still would not have been easy for her not to lose at this point. No matter what the cause of the shooting, its horror seemed to make the country stop and take a sober look at what we have become and - didn't like the hate and resolved to change. Unfortunately for Palin, she - more than any POLITICIAN on either side - is someone who when people considered where we were was noticeably defaming the other side. Whether the new found commitment to lower the anger really takes hold, Palin is forever captured in the minds of a larger group than before as unacceptable - and her video and now her Hannity appearance have only cemented it further.

It also leaves a tricky legacy for the Republicans. She still has a base, that even if they might now prefer another choice, are 100% willing to defend Palin and are angry when people speak against her. The largest estimate of this could be the 30% of all polled adults who approved of how she handled this. As they are all concentrated on the right, this is a huge block in the Republican primaries. Big enough that you have Gingrich, Christie etc all stepping back from any criticism of Palin. It will be interesting to see what Palin and her supporters do in the Republican primaries.

What is fascinating is that BOTH Palin and the tea party were the recipients of a huge amount of media hype - and they both likely bought their own PR. As a group, the tea party has some things in common with Palin. Two of the most significant is that their fame was - to some very real degree - "given" to them, not earned and they both have a martyr's complex that shows when they are criticized. Just as Palin could not avoid making this into people picking on her, can you imagine the tea party losing its anger and giving up the stage to a Republican uniter - if they can find one? After the heady press after the 2010 election, I doubt it.

[tanyev]

7. Sarita! Sarita!

[Kdillard]

8. Perfection.

[livetohike]

9. I love Eugene Robinson

He says it all with that great smile of his, too. Sarah Peron - Good one!

[Phx_Dem]

10. I say let her keep talking!! Talk away, Sarah.

:7

[tavalon]

15. Oh, don't worry

Nobody can shut her up. She'll keep talking long after people have finally stopped listening.

[madmax]

11. Love you Eugene. Sarah's mannerisms

when she gets going remind me of Evita - the extended arms and sometimes the hands balled into a fist.

I've seen it in old pics of Evita - not Madonna. Although Madaonna did a decent job.

[tavalon]

12. Palin's egocentric umbrage

Wow, so succinct!

[tavalon]

13. When one is compared to Eva Peron,

it is time to shut up. Not that Sarah has that much self insight, nor impulse control. No, Sarah, this really isn't all about you.