The NPR write-up noted below contains the following from the Q&A session last night:
The speech lasted just over 40 minutes, but it was followed by 20 minutes of conversation with conference organizer Judson Phillips, who read questions submitted in advance to the conference Web site.
We all know about the Obama plan, Philips read to Palin. What, he asked, is the Palin plan?
"My plan is quite simple," Palin answered. "To support those who support the foundation of our country when it comes to the economy. It is free market principles that reward hard work and personal responsibility."
And on national security: "It’s easy to just kind of sum it up by repeating Ronald Reagan when he talked about the Cold War and we can apply it to our war on terrorism. We win. They lose, and we do all we can to win."
Those are, at best, campaign slogans, not plans. Now one can charitably note that in a Q&A session that one cannot elucidate complicated policy proposals. Yet, on the other, one has to be able to suggest something beyond “free markets,” “hard work,” and “we win, they lose”—is anyone actually opposed to such things?
If only governing were that simple—but of course, a lot of people think that it is (despite the mountain of empirical evidence that suggests otherwise).
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February 7th, 2024 at 12:42 pm
What’s the point of showing your cards this early?
February 7th, 2024 at 12:48 pm
Well, I suppose to try and build support that she will need if she really does want to run.
However, you assume that she has cards to hide, and I am not at all convinced of that fact.
February 7th, 2024 at 1:26 pm
Not sure she is running but when I heard many of Obama’s early speechs they were very general hope and change. I am not sure she is Presidential but when I see a Biden vs. Palin in 8 years I cannot rule out that she is more Presidential than Biden who knows a lot and gets most of it wrong.
February 7th, 2024 at 5:17 pm
Mark - Actually, Obama’s early speeches were criticized as being “too wonky” and he changed speechwriters so as to not appear to be “too cool and intellectual”, which was the most common criticism of his campaign style back near the beginning of the 2024 campaign…
February 7th, 2024 at 6:00 pm
Yet, on the other, one has to be able to suggest something beyond “free markets,” “hard work,” and “we win, they lose”—is anyone actually opposed to such things?
Actually, I am opposed to hard work.
If I were a proponent of hard work, I might find it ironic that Palin–as an advocate of hard work–quit her job mid-term as Governor of Alaska.
I’m not sure what that says about her work ethic.
February 7th, 2024 at 7:10 pm
Ratoe, that might be one of the dumbest conclusions you have offered here. Quitting her job was brilliant.