Maybe, But Why’s Everyone Talking About Her?

Media can’t get enough of how unpopular Sarah Palin is, with her runaway bestsellerCBS, less than 1-in-4 have a favorable opinion: 

She may be among the biggest names in politics at the moment, but former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is not exactly America’s sweetheart.

Just 23 percent of those surveyed in a new CBS News poll have a favorable view of the former Alaska governor. That matches her favorable rating in July, when Palin announced she was resigning from her job as governor.

Thirty-eight percent, meanwhile, have an unfavorable view of Palin — also roughly matching her July rating.

At last check, they are still spelling her name right. Anyway, what’s interesting is the part CBS buried. Here’s the chart:

It’s not so much that only 23 percent like her, or that 38 percent don’t like her, but that after going through the wringer as the designated target in a presidential campaign and being kicked around ever since, she still has 37 percent who haven’t heard enough or are undecided. That’s a pretty big soft area to work on over the next couple of years, while Obama keeps doing what he’s doing to his own numbers. As I heard some commentator remark the other day, a lot of people thought Ronald Reagan was a fringe joke around this time in Jimmy Carter’s presidency, too. Ball’s in her court.

Great take on the Palin reax from Matthew Continetti at the Washington Post. He notes that a lot of successful, elected powrbrokers would kill for the kind of attention … and sales … she’s getting.

John Ziegler’s unabashed gushing makes some good points. Fundamentally, underestimating a woman this tenacious is a bad idea.

Even in mockery, WPost’s Eugene Robinson can’t deny that this woman is an unstoppable force that is going somewhere and commands attention.

Tour de force from Andrew Sullivan, in full froth as he liveblogs the Oprah interview. Extra weirdness points for comparing Palin’s love of drama to Oprah’s love of food to his love of beards.

The Other McCain is all over the Sarah-mania, and also delivers some important Sullivan scholarship as the obsession doubles back on itself. On a practical note, RSM suggests she look up Dick Armey.

If Oprah wanted the Jerry Springer interview, Gateway reports Walters gives Palin her political opening. “Obama is incorrect and disingenuous.” 

Surber snipes at a sniper. “Rogue” reviewer Ana Marie Cox left cover with the claim that she can’t be faulted for not completely reading a book the author didn’t completely write. On a not-unrelated tangent, he’s also looking at hillbillies rising.

How much are they talking about her? Go to Memeorandum and find out for yourself. They won’t shut up.

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Topics: books, pols

  Posted by Jules Crittenden at 9:09 am Comments (5) on Tuesday, November 17, 2009

5 Responses to “Maybe, But Why’s Everyone Talking About Her?”

  1. Texas Turkey Says:

    Iron Lady perhaps?
    The Alaskan version of Baroness Thatcher?

  2. saveliberty Says:

    No one ever questioned Margaret Thatcher’s education.

    People are individuals. Sarah Palin has a gift that enables her to speak effectively under pressure. She also has a lot of common sense, which is in short supply in Washington, DC.

    What she needs to work on is her depth. Or not.

  3. Palin critics protest too much - Techlog Says:

    [...] National Review did a cover story saying in effect “Please nominate this guy.”Jules Crittenden also notices the “problem,” and asks “Why is everbody talking about [...]

  4. Oh, Levi, Levi, Levi « Blog Entry « Dr. Melissa Clouthier Says:

    [...] Jules Crittendon notes how irrelevant Sarah Palin still is and has this comment on the polls: It’s not so much [...]

  5. rvail136 Says:

    Mrs. Palin has everyone on the left frothing at the mouth because she is the epitomy of everything the femisitic left has desired for all women. A supportive loving husband, a pretty good family, good family business…and then a successful political career, and is literally a beauty woman to boot. Unfortunately, as a conservative she is literally rejecting their basic premise…that successful, liberated women are Democrats…that in a nut shell is why they believe in.

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