Letting go of Palin, not the party

By Timor Brik

I still remember the excitement I felt when an unknown governor from a barely accessible state was announced as the vice presidential candidate on the uninspiring McCain ticket. Finally, here was a candidate who embodied conservatism and provided balance to the almost-Republican Senator McCain. Then, after some time, she just became annoying. I don't know when it happened for me, but recently I've come to share liberals' irritation with Sarah Palin.

If I had to pick a moment in which she disappointed me most, however, it would probably be her resignation as Governor of Alaska. There may have been personal reasons and, yes, she may be saving her state money by not being the target of investigations, but nonetheless it all seemed to be a result of her own selfish motives.

And just when I thought no one could get more media coverage than the Obamas opening their Christmas gifts, Palin appears to be all over the media lately. She has a book I refuse to read, interviews on every channel that are dragged out over three day segments to increase ratings and magazine covers which give false hope to older women that they too can be "cougars." In fact, as I write this piece, I'm reading that the former governor will now have her own TV show, making her media penetration as total as Ryan Seacrest's.

Palin and her family have been disproportionately targeted by negative and often vicious coverage because of the nature of Palin's candidacy. These attacks are unwarranted, especially when they involve children, as they should be for the families of all public figures. But her actions only seem to reinvigorate this attention and increase these tabloid stories.

Palin's resignation was unfortunate because she was a potential candidate whose principles brought back memories of President Reagan and because she spoke to Americans as an American rather than as a Webster's Dictionary, as most politicians attempt to do. And by being folksy she successfully gave people the impression that you could have a beer with her.

But then the principles started to read like a memorized speech and although she is consistent in her beliefs, she lacks in articulating them convincingly. Being plain-spoken didn't work for Bush once he became President and it's not working for Palin either. Rather, it creates -- whether legitimate or not -- an image of an inadequately informed individual.

Fellow conservatives may be upset by my turn on -- as Palin may have implied -- "God's chosen candidate" but I believe it's time to be forgetting Sarah Palin quicker than we forgot Sarah Marshall. I cringed when people responded that they supported President Obama because he was charismatic and articulate, and it seemed superficial to make these decisions on this basis, but I'm realizing that one's personality is an integral part of their policies.

By the way, liberals, this doesn't mean I'll be joining you in candlelight vigils for the polar ice-caps or buying organic tofu anytime soon. It's simply recognition that despite principles I largely agree with, I cannot support any future candidacy by Palin because of her personality. The thing I'm most disappointed by is that I may never get to see her shoot wolves from Marine One, the president's helicopter.

Timor Brik is a senior political science major.