Sarah from Alaska
As Tommy Report already reviewed Sarah from Alaska, I'll post an excerpt of my thoughts, and if you want to read the whole thing, feel free to go here. Like me, it's long-winded, so beware!
I have looked forward to Sarah From Alaska (SFA) since I heard of its announced publication. Before reading, I had three questions I wanted to get better answers to:
1. Could two reporters embedded with Palin throughout the campaign objectively report the good and the bad of Sarah Palin without resorting to the potshots that creep into seemingly every report about Gov. Palin from The Medea?
2. Did Gov. Palin botch the campaign, or did the campaign – specifically her handlers – “botch” Gov. Palin?
3. After reading SFA, will I still support Gov. Palin as passionately as I did before reading SFA?
Briefly, yes, the handlers botched Palin, and yes, now more than ever.
Let’s call SFA “A Tale of Two Books.” Supporters of Gov. Palin will relish the first 192 pages of the book, as it confirms (by Liberal writers no less) what those of us who followed the campaign suspected: Palin was mishandled from the outset, and instead of playing to her strengths, the campaign attempted to box her in and put the circular peg into a square hole.
The final hundred pages of SFA, well, not so much. I’m not an Alaskan, not from Alaska, never been to Alaska. I work 60 hours a week and have writing life outside of C4P and my own site – frankly, I don’t have time to follow the ins-and-outs of Alaskan politics. This isn’t an excuse, it’s a fact.
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10 comments:
I had my worries like your question #3 too. I was thinking, if I read it, will I look at her less passionately? But even liberals claim that that book humanized her in their eyes, so at least that is a positive. At least they can admit that the McCain camp mishandled her greatly.
I ordered the book on Friday, so I'm hoping to receive it by next week.
I watched the two reporters on C-Span last night. It is on today also and I may watch it again.
It seems the man is more favorable to Sarah then the gal. It was a question and answer type program from people at the book store. The one thing I was wondering about is when the man author stated the Troopergate story was not factual and that the Trooper was an outstanding person.
Also the authors didn't seem to realiaze how terrible Sarah was being treated by all the ethic
complaints and the blogers in Ak.
Great review Creede. I bought the book on Friday and am up to page 110 now. I'll be wary after page 192.
Sarah From Alaska is now #168 and #164 at B&N and Amazon respectively. Yesterday it even broke into the top 100 for awhile at B&N. Reviews on both sites tend towards the positive, even from the liberal readers. This is again, proof of the huge amount of interest in Gov. Palin. Of the approx 35 books about her, many of them are far outselling books by or about Hillary, and those about Michele Obama. About two thirds of them are outselling Mitt Romney's book, which has been in pre-release sales status for about six weeks
I watched the two reporters on C-Span as well. My impression that they are liberals who at least tried to be fair to Gov. Palin. However, they really don't understand what Gov. Palin is all about.
They seem to assume that she is just like any other politician, and is motivated by ambition and the prospect of personal gain. What they don't realize is that if she was just out to make money, she could have done that a long time ago just making "inside deals" like so many in Washington (and in Alaska). Up to now, she has not been rich at all. They don't seem to understand that she really believes in things, and in causes greater than herself. Maybe they can't grasp it because they rarely run into anyone like this in politics.
Also, when they talked about her "obsession" with liberal bloggers, they left out the fact that they had filed frivilous ethics charges that had to be responded to, and were completely bogging down state business.
Sometimes liberals really try to be fair, but they honestly don't get it. I think these two fall into that category.
bingo! very well said and very true.
Yes, I totally agree with you. It is like the pundits and authors just can't understand or "get it"
that she is her own person, she is going to do it her way, she if a different poltician, she is Sarah.
Thanks Doug - you'll know it when it hits. The theory that I didn't manage to fully explain, btw, was the last four chapters reflect the attitudes of Liberals that fear Palin. As the Veep candidate of '08, that Palin no longer offers a threat, but the double-standards and crass, self-serving unnamed quotes will forever be a staple in reporting on Gov. Palin so long as as she's a threat. --CBK
Forgot this comment: One thing I really, really liked about the authors' comment was the fact that Sarah was really a quick learner "like a sponge". This may help to to correct the frequent comments that she is an air-head.
Thank you for this detailed review, Creede.
I enjoy your writing, very much.:)
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