Thatcher Snubs Palin
It would take a hard heart not to laugh at this: Margaret Thatcher refusing to meet Sarah Palin. From a no doubt completely unbiased report in The Guardian:
It would appear that the reasons go deeper than Thatcher's frail health. Her allies believe that Palin is a frivolous figure who is unworthy of an audience with the Iron Lady. This is what one ally tells me:While I would agree with the ally's analysis, I rather suspect that the old, frail Thatcher actually has very little time and energy for politics these days and therefore would rather not spend it meeting feckless wannabes for the Republican nomination.
"Lady Thatcher will not be seeing Sarah Palin. That would be belittling for Margaret. Sarah Palin is nuts."
But it is worth stressing just how different Thatcher and Palin are once you get beyond the fact that they are both female and are typically described as right-wing. Thatcher attended a top university before entering Parliament. She then spent well over a decade in various political positions, including party spokesperson and Education Secretary before taking a risk and challenging a former Prime Minister for the Conservative Party leadership. She then acted as Leader of the Opposition for several years before becoming Prime Minister about two decades after she first actively entered politics. Compare this with Palin, who was plucked from relative obscurity by an old man in a hurry and thrust into the political limelight. All she had to do for this celebrity is read from an autocue and wink occasionally. She didn't even complete her term as Governor, preferring instead to take the Sarah Palin show on tour across America. Whatever you think of her policies, Thatcher always appeared to be in politics to get things done. Palin appears to be in politics to build up the cult of personality and publicity that exists around her.
As I say, I suspect Thatcher is just too old and frail to be meeting up with potential Republican nominees. But if she was going to do so, I really doubt that Palin would be at the top of the list.
Labels: Election 2012 (US), Palin, Republicans, Thatcher
posted by The Nameless Libertarian @ 9:54 am
6 Comments
6 Comments:
So, you're willing to accept an un-named source of a left-wing journalist as gospel?
Jesus.
*shakes head*
I think if you read the post again you'll find that I heavily imply that I don't find the source credible. In fact, I think you'll find that I reject what the source says, and suggest a couple of other reasons why Mrs T won't be meeting with Palin.
Go on, give it a go. See if you can figure out what the post is about on a second reading.
I'd give Sarah Palin an audience.
"Go on, give it a go. See if you can figure out what the post is about on a second reading."
Ouch, not in the prisoner-take mood, then. Apart from the second sentence it wasn't clear to me; my continental brain isn't so good at detecting British understatement.
Apologies.
Thatcher was a trained scientist who worked in postgraduate research, and was renowned for her hard work and attention to detail, whereas Palin couldn't even name any publications she read when asked a simple question.
Thatcher's critics didn't say she was stupid, lazy or inattentive, they just said she was ideologically wrong. Palin, on the other hand, is inexcusable even for those who share her values in broad-brush terms, which I certainly don't.
http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/06/22/palin_quits/
Michael Fowke: Rather you than me. I'd happily entertain Tina Fey, though.
I don't understand how right-wing Americans can't see what a joke Sarah Palin is seen as worldwide. Indeed, the Republican party is in danger of becoming a running joke in itself.
Sarah Palin is a nut job. She would be laughed out of politics here in the UK, whereas she seems to be taken at least semi-seriously in the US. The same goes for pretty much all of the current Republican presidential candidates. It's an embarrassment to your nation, I'm afraid.
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