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Time Goes Gaga for Palin
In a classic example of newsmagazine overthink, Time profiles Sarah Palin with a cover story that practically celebrates her thin résumé and essentially makes the case that know-nothingism could be good for America. Seriously:
Palin's unconventional step speaks to an ingrained frontier skepticism of authority — even one's own. Given the plunging credibility of institutions and élites, that's a mood that fits the Palin brand. Résumés ain't what they used to be; they count only with people who trust credentials — a dwindling breed. The mathematics Ph.D.s who dreamed up economy-killing derivatives have pretty impressive résumés. The leaders of congressional committees and executive agencies have decades of experience — at wallowing in red ink, mismanaging economic bubbles and botching covert intelligence.
If ever there has been a time to gamble on a flimsy résumé, ever a time for the ultimate outsider, this might be it. "We have so little trust in the character of the people we elected that most of us wouldn't invite them into our homes for dinner, let alone leave our children alone in their care," writes talk-show host Glenn Beck in his book Glenn Beck's Common Sense, a pox-on-all-their-houses fusillade at Washington. Dashed off in a fever of disillusionment with those in power, Beck's book is selling like vampire lit, with more than 1 million copies in print.
Citing Glenn Beck as proof that many Americans are eager to turn to a pol with little expertise in national policy? But didn't the country just have an election? And didn't a significant majority vote for the guy with two Ivy League degrees who talked about bringing professionalism, science, and expertise back to policymaking in Washington? (Anyone remember Palin's climate change denialism? Not the Time people.)
The Time crew obviously was punching up the subject matter so it could punch up the copy—and sell magazines. One dramatic theme in the piece is that Palin is pure Alaska and that to know her—really know her—you have to know Alaska and the rugged individualism and practical fatalism this far-away land breeds in its denizens:
Palin's breakneck trajectory from rising star to former officeholder — with more twists sure to come — has everything to do with her Alaskan context.
Only to a degree. The sole reason most Americans know anything about Palin is that a fellow from Arizona picked her to be his running mate. Without that, she would still be the answer to a political trivia question. So, obviously, it was the unique and rough-hewn libertarian frontier spirit of the American Southwest, where lone riders settled on arid plains to escape the confining conventions of back-East civilization, that was responsible for Palin's comet-like ascent to public prominence. Or maybe not. Perhaps it was just John McCain's bad judgment.
Without breathlessness and a contrary-for contrary's-sake thesis, Time would not have much to add to all the words spilled and spewed about the Palin pull-out. But give the newsmagazine credit. Through the efforts of five of its talented journalists, Time has managed to craft a more coherent depiction of Palin and her decision to resign than she has herself. So what's her beef with the media?
You can follow David Corn's postings and media appearances via Twitter.
Palin Time Coverage
Last time I read anything like these Time puff pieces was about 30 years ago when David Cassidy was being interviewed in Tiger Beat by the president of his fan club.
Is there no true journalism
Is there no true journalism left in this country?
Are the news agencies so in bed with politicians, and so unwilling to drill down on their statements that the role of the press as protectors of the people is no longer?
Short answer no. It's
Short answer no. It's pretty obvious there isn't any save a few like Todd Purdam
No journalism, just opinion and crap
As a visual journalist who started out as a newspaper writer in the 60s, I have seen the downward spiral of journalism, mostly since the repeal of the Fairness Doctrine and other deregulation which enabled media moguls to buy up more and more shares of the communication market and virtually kill the independent American newspapers, TV channels and Radio Stations.
Don't let Rush and Hannity fool you: The Fairness Doctrine was NEVER about the deluge of opposing opinions you'll be forced to listen to... It's THEIR BOSSES' bottom line upon which their huge salaries ride. If it's reinstated, their companies will be forced to sell off pieces which would be the best thing to happen to journalism.
We now get more than 90 percent of our mainstream news from five huge conglomerates more concerned with advertiser dollars than truth, justice and the American Way. American news revolves around a few topics guaranteed to bring in viewers and fill up the 24 hours that make up a TV news channel's empty day: The missing blonde of the month, the dead or missing child of the month, the BE VERY AFRAID concocted threats to health and/or freedom and the sex trysts of our lawmakers.
We hear little about what is really important and important news is suppressed in favor of the funerals, divorces, and scandals of the rich and famous.
I read Mother Jones, several British newspapers and rely on the internet for further inquiry. And yes, every once in awhile the glitterati fascinate me, but never to the extent that it numbs my brain to the news that should concern me.
Life is Networking
No journalism, just opinion and crap
tagged as:- solution
As a visual journalist who started out as a newspaper writer in the 60s, I have seen the downward spiral of journalism, mostly since the repeal of the Fairness Doctrine and other deregulation which enabled media moguls to buy up more and more shares of the communication market and virtually kill the independent American newspapers, TV channels and Radio Stations.
Don't let Rush and Hannity fool you: The Fairness Doctrine was NEVER about the deluge of opposing opinions you'll be forced to listen to... It's THEIR BOSSES' bottom line upon which their huge salaries ride. If it's reinstated, their companies will be forced to sell off pieces which would be the best thing to happen to journalism.
We now get more than 90 percent of our mainstream news from five huge conglomerates more concerned with advertiser dollars than truth, justice and the American Way. American news revolves around a few topics guaranteed to bring in viewers and fill up the 24 hours that make up a TV news channel's empty day: The missing blonde of the month, the dead or missing child of the month, the BE VERY AFRAID concocted threats to health and/or freedom and the sex trysts of our lawmakers.
We hear little about what is really important and important news is suppressed in favor of the funerals, divorces, and scandals of the rich and famous.
I read Mother Jones, several British newspapers and rely on the internet for further inquiry. And yes, every once in awhile the glitterati fascinate me, but never to the extent that it numbs my brain to the news that should concern me.
Life is Networking
Thanks
Thanks for this. I have been asking the same question for days. Palin spits on the "MSM" for months and they just lap it up like it's ice cream...and come back for more.
The staged interviews that took place the other day while Palin was fishing was really embarassing for the media.
I thought Andrea Mitchell was Kristol in drag the way she was panting after Palin. For months we have had Greta, Hannity, Matt Lauer with there softball interviews with Palin, but I kind of expected more from some other cable outlets. At least pretend to be a journalist.
Why is it that they pander to her and never ask her tough questions? Why do the never call her on some of her lies? Thanks for taking on this Time piece. It's shameful
One interesting thing to watch...
will be the change of heart that Glen Beck has on Palin if she and Mitt run for office in 2012.
Beck, being a Mormon who makes a fair amount of money at speaking engagements in Utah and has a large fan base here (I know, because I live in Utah) will, of course, back Mitt. Won't that be an interesting turn?
Palin has been accustomed to being on the "friend" side of Fox, but that will change.
Unserious
The fundamental unseriousness of most mass media journalists fits hand-in-glove with Sarah Palin. As the quality of character, education and accomplishment of MSM journos has been in steep decline, they have become much more attracted to mental midgets like Palin.
They liked Obama for his charisma, but never really got his fundamental wonkiness. They ate up his "arugula gaffe" (gaffe included in quotes because journalists less threatened by things they didn't understand would not have spent any time on that grossly unsubstantive moment).
If not for the quality of select bloggers, I would despair entirely for the future of journalism. But of course the smart, ambitious and nimble have already made the move to full-time on-line and the laggards and dullards are at Time, ABC, NYT, etc.
The MONEY
Someone needs to dispute the big money lie/meme that Palin is spouting off about. She says the reason she quit is all the Money Alaska is spending on these ' frivilous ethics violations '. The pie chart on Mudflats show that SHE... Sarah Palin is responsible for the bulk of the money being spent. It was HER lawsuits against herself.
Now they put out a one and a half page document that SUPPOSEDLY shows where these Millions were spent. The spreadsheet is a bigger joke than the lie saying it is costing Millions. Items/dollars are listed multiple times to inflate the figure and there is no breakdown whatsoever. A kid in High School could produce a better spreadsheet. Please report on the MONEY LIES that the Palin Camp is fabricating.
sarah palin
i can't figure out why time magazine would be pandering to the palin fans. it's not like the typical palin voter reads it, or for that matter, even knows what it is. his tastes would likely run to 'the american rifleman', the baptist sunday school quarterly, or when no one's looking, 'hustler' or 'penthouse.'
Time is and always has been
Time is and always has been a conservative mag with a conservative bent.
Re: Time is and always has been
Um, no it hasn't. From left to right the big three American newsmagazines have always been Newsweek (alarmist leftism), Time (shallow, trendy liberalism), and U.S. News (vanilla conservatism).
Gimme a break
My god, why do we take these people seriously? I'm not talking about Palin, either: I really do believe that what you see -- viz., an unfocused, self-aggrandizing, quasi-narcissistic frontier poseur -- is what you get with S.P. I mean, instead, the ostensibly grounded and reasonable (to say nothing of putatively cynical) journos at Time? What are they thinking? Do they really propose to treat of Palin seriously? To sanction her frontier posturing? To link her with an authenticity [sic] that (for my money) is the very stuff of simulacra? Who believes that sh!t? What are they thinking? If (per Time) public opinion really *has* turned against elites -- and if (as the clever folks at Time want to have it) conditions really are propitious for the emergence of nononsensecommonsensicalsaltoftheearth types* -- can we please, please, *please* start with the beltway journo establishment? Talk about elites! I'm willing to endorse Time's predictably contrarian take inasmuch as it augurs (and to a degree advocates for) the disappearance of the very blokes who authored it! You know, folks who aren't in love with their own cleverness (to say nothing of their O-so-rarefied social networks!) and who can see a (not very compelling and, to my mind, downright louche) impostor for what she is?
Somehow, I don't think the folks at Time are willing to take things quite so far. But for the good of the country, they might want to consider doing as much.
Time Goes Gaga for Palin
Time and Alaska are really wiggy places full of mysterious and strange events.
Intoxicating to some?
Supporting folks like Palin
Supporting folks like Palin is not a rejection of 'intellectuals' or 'knowledge'. It's the rejection of elitism that such parties often bring with them. Lots of people have fine pedigrees, resumes, experience, and degrees.
Only some of them decide that they know best for all others. It it that elite that is rejected.
best for others
This argument makes no sense because Palin and her supporters are all about deciding "that they know best for all others." They claim to inherently know best about marriage, women's choice, torture, health care, and of course, taxes.
If you need another laugh...a really gaga palin article
Did you read Matthew Continetti's dripping and drooling article about Palin? All he needs now is a towel and and empty room (no playboy necessary apparently) so he can get over it. Sheesh - I thought it was satire, but he's apparently serious!
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/07/09/continetti.palin.career/index.htm...
The Experience election
It's staggering to think about how much breath was wasted trying to convince everyone a mere eight months ago that experience was EVERYTHING.
The newsweeklies are worthless
Time, Newsweek, USNews--they're all worthless with their who's up/who's down mentality. The last time I read Time (or was it Newsweek?) was in the 1970s when it ran a cover story on The Hippies. We still have McClatchy and a smattering of real journalists. Hooray for the ADN too. But overall, our media totally sucks. Christ some of these "reporters" are absolutely sickening and full of themselves. Happily the last election showed people do have some brains and know what's what. That's why no one beyond Palin's pitiful base gives a crap about her except for entertainment value.
If any of you had any idea
If any of you had any idea of how corrupt the Obama administration is - owned by Goldman's - you'd be passing off the hunt against Palin and focusing your attention on your boy Obama.
I work in the financial services industry and have for many years. What is happening now is nothing less than a coup by Wall Street. And yet all the talk is about Jacko and Sarah. Bloody America. Even when we're burning to the ground we can't take our heads out of our arses.
To the point, this is a distraction. Everything is a distraction. Our economy and prosperity are gone. Permanently gone. I'm gone too. Off to Hong Kong. Enjoy the rot.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/financialcrisis/5379285...
"[There is a] "very big hole" in unfunded pension and health-care liabilities built up by a careless political class over the years.
"We at the Dallas Fed believe the total is over $99 trillion," he said in February."
Have fun funding that. Oh, but gays in the military. I forgot. Back to the distractions.
Bye bye.
yawnnnnnnnnnn
yawnnnnnnnnnn
the Very Big Hole
XXVVX,
The financial service industry was not corrupted by the Obama Administration. It actually started under St. Ronnie, 30 yrs ago, with DE-regulation. Has your head been up your arse? Then poppy Bush and baby Bush just pushed it further into a black hole. It was baby Bush who put the Wall St. fat cats in charge of the treasury, the world bank, the IMF, etc.
You should at least be grateful we have someone who is educated and cares enough to try to dig our way out. It took 30 years for all the GOP's greed to get where it is now. Do you really think it can be reversed in a matter of months? Or even years? It will take a long time to fix the damage that the GOP and all the greedy bastards from Wall St did to this country (and the world).
Time Goes Gaga for Palin
It is not surprising that people are not able to be honest and talk about the $4 billion a month for nearly 7 years that the Bush Crime Family/Administration spent and wouldn't put on the budget. Of course that shell game has worked beautifully with conservatives because they are crying that it is Obama who has driven us into catastrophic debt. There is not hunt for Palin...she is right out in the open at all times. She quit so she could write a book and get millions of dollars. She want's to be a celebrity not a pollitician. She wants to get gifts, speaking engagements and adoration and not have to report it or explain it to anyone. The issue of how smart she is or isn't doesn't really matter after having an anti science, anti knowledge C- Legacy product in the oval office for 8 years. Bush made being ignorant and powerful a new goal that the conservatives continue to aspire to.
Sounds like Time is trying
Sounds like Time is trying to be a kingmaker and they need her to run to sell more magazines.. I'm sure cable news and other will also start a push to spin her in good light. They need her for ratings.
RE: Citing Glenn Beck as
RE: Citing Glenn Beck as proof that many Americans are eager to turn to a pol with little expertise in national policy? But didn't the country just have an election? And didn't a significant majority vote for the guy with two Ivy League degrees who talked about bringing professionalism, science, and expertise back to policymaking in Washington?
Not only that, but didn't we learn our lesson after eight years of being governed by a monumentally arrogant, dimwitted imbecile? How did that work out for us? Are WE so stupid that we're ready to repeat the same mistake less than four years hence?
Thanks for the heads-up. I don't need to waste my time buying or reading this week's TIME.
scary isn't it
We have such a short term memory in this country. SP supporters are the same people that blame the economic meltdown on the acting administration.
Alaskans tough?
They pay no State tax and live on federal money and whine 24/7. Sarah Palin is a classic example.
A very plausible theory from Publisher's Marketplace
tagged as:- solution
The Publisher's Marketplace newsletter, Publishers Lunch Deluxe, reported a very plausible reason for Sarah Palin's abrupt resignation The gist is that La Palin resigned to avoid disclosure of the terms of her book deal as would be required of the governor under Alaska law. Just think of her trying to play just-a-hockey-mom if everyone knows she got eleventy gazillion dollars for her life story as cleaned up by a ghost writer! The newsletter is not available online to non-members, but I quote it in my own blog at http://ivcaffeine.com with cartoon and commentary.
GregoriusU
See my social and political cartoons and commentary at
Intravenous Caffeine http://ivcaffeine.com
It may not have sunk into
It may not have sunk into the collective heads of the Republican party, but the rugged Joe six-pack (and obligatory white) that Palin likes so much DON'T exist as a voting bloc; much less a majority. To quote the Economist over a quarter of the United States have university degrees*, and I don't think that the number will be decreasing in the near future**. If this country becomes more and more diverse as projections suggest, then it isn't hard to believe that Democrats will typically dominate Congress in the future.
*Full story here: http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12...
**Near future defined as next fifty years
so implausible?
I'm no Palin fan by any stretch of the imagination and reading about her in the press is driving me crazy.
I haven't read the Time piece in its entirety, but the two paragraphs posted here don't bother me. In fact, I kind of find I'm agreeing with them.
I'm from the west. Maybe that's the difference.
I live in the east.
And the "Ivy League" stuff is ridiculous here. The insider groups, from Congress to the DC press corps, are also ridiculously insulated and self-reinforcing. If you aren't part of the club, whatever club that is here, you're not worth listening to.
So I get the western frontier/outsider mentality. And I don't think it's something to be dismissed.
I'd choose not to have Palin as the standard-bearer, and she's proven crazy and the sooner she goes away the better, but worth bearing in mind -- outside the beltway/Ivy League, the thinking really isn't all with you guys.
How many times. . .
. . . has Barack Obama been on the cover of Time?
Sarah's just the pol du jour.
be careful.
sounds eerily like the first time G Bush jnr came to my attention, in another Time mag puff piece on the "compassionate conservative movement," while he was texas gov.
disgusting journalism from time mag. citing glenn beck?? as if he's a sane voice in the debate!
America you got problems.
b.s.
the comments on this page are just so much b.s.... liberal whiners afraid to admit that Sarah Palin speaks for the majority of Americans, and her outlook and enthusiasm scare the hell out out them , so they attack her personally, because they can't attack her policy, or beliefs.
And by policy, you mean her
And by policy, you mean her foreign policy qualifications being the fact that she can see Russia from her home? No one is attacking her personally. If you could for 5 minutes get your head out of her bosom, you would realize that she is being rightfully so, attacked on her nonsensical, unintelligible responses on the issues that are tremendously important to the entire world. She lacks the intellect, rationale, temperament, and qualifications to become President Of The United States of America. Any person seeking the White House regardless of creed, color, gender and sexual orientation had better have a full understanding of the issues, be able to articulate policy positions clearly with vigor and complete conviction.
She failed miserably in the 2008 Presidential Election under the criteria that is referenced above. I also might add, that she continues to display her stunning ignorance all for the entire world to see. She does not speak for the majority of Americans. As I recall, the majority of Americans rejected what she stood for or as many others would say, they rejected her for what little she knew. There will always be a sect of the population that will flatter her with mindless adulation and support her regardless of the fact that she lacks the credentials to be a serious leader, let alone President Of The United States. Simpletons are everywhere and they will follow other simpletons, however, after 8 years of one, we most certainly do not need another one ever again occupying the highest position in the land.
Sarahplegia
i wondered for a while, why about 30% of the voting public in this country was still buying into the right-wingnuts' nonsense, right through the stupidest Republican Presidential ticket ever offered for sale to the masses. So, I realized if half the population is below average, it stands to reason that half the lower half are complete fools and morons. Up that 25% by 5 to include those that are very close to being infirm, and we've got our 30%. I'll call them "Sarahplegics." So Bub, if you think Palen speaks for the majority of anything, it's only that unfortunate 30% and proof you're obviously just another Sarahplegia sufferer.
Could you imagine
Could you even imagine Silly Sarah trying to speak to an intelligent crowd full of Democrats and Independents? She'd have to face them somewhere down the line if she thinks she is going to be POTUS. And she does think it.
THAT will be a fun one to watch. After all, she can't hide from all her detractors while running for pres. It makes you think about how riled up she got while campaigning with McCain and somebody shouted out about Todd's affiliation with the Alaska Independence Party.
Issues and Policy???
What Policy has Palin made other than trying to regulate women's health and giving away oil revenues to Alaskan citizens (but Obama is a socialist)?
And her issues......she has way too many issues to deal with. You know, like her knocked up teen or arguing with said teens boyfriend publicly or trying like hell to shut people up that report the facts about her or...............
Biography
With the publication of Sarah's biography, written mostly by a some well paid ghost writer, she will look more like a female Abe Lincoln in a moose coat than a bumbling idiot. You can count on it. Then the race will be on. If they could turn W into a presidential candidate, they can certainly turn a sow's ear into silk.
Maybe
Maybe not. There are a lot of other books coming out about Palin based on facts. One book out already, not based solely on Palin, is Bloggers on the Bus. I'm waiting on my copy now. You can read some excerpts at ProgressiveAlaska.com
Palin speaks for majority of 'Murkans!
...liberal whiners afraid to admit that Sarah Palin speaks for the majority of Americans...
There's a rather obvious rebuttal to this instance of wingnut self-delusion. Can you guess what it is? Hint: who lost the election in 2008?
A generation ago, even the
A generation ago, even the right wing couldn't bring themselves to take Dan Quayle seriously. Now they drool over Palin; it just shows how far off the deep end they have gone. Apparently Bush I to Bush II wasn't a fast/steep enough descent into madness.
Pandering to Palin
Remember all the flack that the MSM received for asking her those infamous "gotcha" questions? Apparently TIME was afraid of being painted as a shill for the rest of the MSM if they tried to press her for her opinion on any serious issue facing the U.S. Personally, I feel that regardless of how you feel about a political candidate or popular political pundit, those in the press need to ask the tough questions. If who you are interviewing presents their answer in a logical and articulate manner then you've proven them to be a worthy candidate. If not, wouldn't you like to know if the person you support will be a benefit to society?
Outrageous trashing of Kim Elton and Pete Rouse
I don't know what's more outrageous -- the Palin crowd trashing Kim Elton and Pete Rouse, or Time Magazine parrotting the Palin line.
I know both of these gentlemen. They are longtime public servants with extremely distinguished records and stellar reputations among members of both political parties.
Palin
Now TIME mag will be able to write another article about her. Seems Levi came out and said Sarah was resigning for more money, ie: book, campaigning, cable shows, etc.
Palin came back and started, through her mouthpiece Meg, another argument with little Levi.
The Mudflats.com also has another great piece up about Palin, blaming Obama, of all people, of all the ethics investigations against her. It's a good read. But what scares me the most is that knowing Palin's hateful, vindictive nature, she'll rile up the crazies even more than during the presidential campaign. She really has it in for Obama. It's not Palin I'm afraid of, it's her loony following.
David, I wish you would do an article on her and her vengeance. All you really have to do is talk to a few Alaskan bloggers. Most of them have been targets.
Did they really write it?
Are you sure this piece was really written by Time reporters? I bet they had it ghost written by the Onion.
Think of the Time article as
Think of the Time article as a dialectical contribution. Even Madoff had a defence attorney. The article makes the best case possible but it doesn’t carry much conviction, Do you think it will swing the jury?
Time
Don't forget, Time did this all the time for the Shah. They loved him.
Time is irrelevant
No one actually reads Time anymore. I'm a mail carrier & used to deliver Time to about 25% of my route. Now only 6 addresses receive it (2 of whom are Accountancy businesses that have right wing talk radio on when I deliver and 3 of whom are doctor's offices who get it for free)....that's out of a possible 500 addresses. More people receive The Economist, The New Yorker, National Geographic, Sunset, The Smithsonian, People, Sports Illustrated, Forbes, Surfing (I live on the coast), Vogue & The Week than Time. 5 people receive newsweek & if US News & World Report still exists, I wouldn't know, because no one on my route subscribes to it.
What about Obama's "thin
What about Obama's "thin resume" -- what a bunch of phonies!!!!
She certainly is as qualified as is the narcissist in chief.
thin resume huh!
only in alaska could someone like sarah palin get elected to anything, talk about thin resume's. that fools biggest acomplishment prior to being elected to ANYTHING was her job as an alaskan sportscaster, after watching her debate with joe biden and seeing how she conducted herself in the campaign i'm overjoyed that the american public managed to see through the smoke and mirrors that the right wing media aka fox news was spewing about her and her homespun common sense. she's is nothing more than a media whore that is now addicted to the spotlight and will do or say anything no matter how nonsensical to stay in front of the camera. the fact that mccain and palin lost the election somewhat renews my faith in the american public to if not see through her bullshit at least recognise that we'd already had 8 years stupidity and another 4 with mccain and palin would completely destroy us.