Starbucks Does Not Equal Savvy

Why are people in Alaska and the Mid-West and the West considered better concerned with freedon? I think most people on both East and West coasts are extremely concerned with freedom and I find Mrs. Palin's great disdain for people like me on the "far right East coast" as she so nastily put to be very ignorant and dismissive.Michael Gerson is wrong in his assesment and is very tied to Bush 43 White House politics.

The type of people who support Palin are 'fools, peasants and theocrats'. That is and has been the problem in this country since inception. The so called genius of our system has given far too much power to such people. Because of the two senators from each state rule , these voters have been able to control the agenda as a permanent minority. Their self reliance is a myth funded by goverment jobs, government subsidies, and government programs. Alaska is 99% owned by the federal government , and completely finded by oil revenues given to the state. It depends on big government for survival as do most western states. Without the government spending they love to hate, their standard of living would disappear. I guess they consider cashing government checks a special form of self reliance and independence.

PS It's quite evident that we have no clue about Palin's thoughts on the most pressing issues facing our government because she herself has never given any serious thought to them herself. Such are the privileges of her government experience thus far.

vow, great article! soemthing that needs to be filed for future!

The relevant question is whether Palin has the slightest idea what she would do about a host of issues if McCain were to be disabled by a stroke or any other health condition during his tenure, especially early on. Imagine the chaos, especially in world financial markets if this were to happen, not to mention the testing of her resolve by foreign powers and terrorists at that particular time. Gerson's article is patently insane when it comes to contemplating having such a person as a world leader. Of the four in the running, this is one person about whom we have no clue (and are not going to be given any, if the RNC has its way), and the signs of her competence, apart from giving scripted stump speeches and sound bites, are not promising.

Dear Member of the Elite Michael Gerson, please help me. I don't know if I'm an "elitist" or not. I live on the east coast but in a small town; I grew up working class but I have an advanced degree; I don't drive a Volvo, but I do work at a university; I don't shoot animals but I do eat sushi; I don't own a flag but I cover my heart when singing the national anthem; I don't have a pregnant teenager but I want every right for my godsons. Do those of us within these parameters deserve a say in what goes on in America? Are we American, too? Can you even see me from your elite perch up on high? Will I have to use small words, lie about my (few) accomplishments, prey on the fears and vanities of increasingly insecure people? What? Will intellectual honesty ever matter?

Ohhh, I couldn't resist. From Newsweek itself:

http://www.newsweek.com/id/160091

Who's the elitist now? : )

Mr. Gerson should heed Senator McCain's motto of "Country First" and admit like his fellow conservatives who choose to be honest (Senator Hagel, David Brooks, and George Will) and acknowledge that a Palin presidency (as surely it will be if we elect a man who has had stage 4 melanoma--a death sentence) would be even more disastrous than the man he supported for the past eight years. Put country first Mr. Gerson and admit you supported the most disastrous presidency in the history of this country and you now advocate another disastrous presidency in the making all because you would rather be intellectually dishonest and support a party that drove this country off the cliff.

Mr. Gerson, for the last eight years we have been led by a president who like Palin had wide appeal among the common folk because they felt he was just like them. A president who eschewed intellectualism, critical analysis and followed his gut... How did that turn out?

Gerson worked for Bush - he wrote many of Bush's most out of touch and wrong statements (eg on Iraq). So no surprise that he gets it wrong on Bush/McCain/Palin.

Palin is not conversant is the national or int'l issues of the day. She shows few signs of having tried to engage on the most important questions of our nation. In that way, she is just like Pres. Bush and we are paying the price now in blood and treasure.

McCain has a lot of experience - at getting it wrong. On the big foreign policy question of the decade - what to do after 9/11 (including whether to invade Iraq) McCain got it totally wrong. He hurt America as a result.

This opinion piece is misleading. First of all, although I appreciate the nuanced distinction that Bryan was opposed to Social Darwinism (most people think of him as a simpleton who just opposed "evolution") the writer weasels the premise that Obama is elitist as a valid premise and that the Democratic Party approves not of populism.

1) This is about Obama and McCain, not Obama vs Palin.

2) Obama, for all the "elitist" credentials the right wing is desperately trying to tag on him, only began earning a decent salary a little over a decade ago. Obama was raised on food stamps, McCain is the son and grandson of Navy Admirals.

3) The questioning of Palin is not based on her appeal to the common folk, is that she appeals to them in spite of espousing economic views that has taken health care away from those same people and made them poorer while the rich get richer. Don't take my word for it, look at the Census Bureau data.

4) Well-educated equals NOT elitist. If I had a brain tumor I'd want the most elite surgeon available to operate not a populist. Obama is NOT an elitist, although Mr. Gerson desperately wishes he was.

Michael Gerson should be ashamed of himself. William Jennings Bryan actually wrote the words he so famously spoke. Palin just read something someone else wrote. Since in her past she was once a sports-caster (or weather girl or something) it's fair to say she's got teleprompter experience. Is that all Gerson expects from a candidate? As a former speech writer Gerson must see the unfairness of the comparison, but anything and anyone is fair game when what you're going for is spin.
If reading from a teleprompter well is the only criteria for VP (or president for that matter) why not Katie Couric? Oh wait. Katie Couric would probably be honest enough to admit she wasn't qualified for such an important job. What you really need to be VP, apparently, is to be a good reader who doesn't pause to blink AND have an ego so large that you can convince yourself you're all ready and full of readiness without actually having any pertinent qualifications.