Sarah Palin and the Excitement Factor II

Let' put this evening in perspective. After all, this is still only one speech, but as far as speeches go this one was remarkable in ways that the country, and the world, will be talking about for a long, long time. Still, one speech does not a political career make. It can however kick off a remarkable NATIONAL political career.

For the last five days since she was announced as the Vice Presidential pick, the MSM has derided, condescended toward, and otherwise insulted her. The MSM, as well as the beltway establishment, has seen her as nothing more than a white trash small town hick.

There was something the elites couldn't figure out. It something that I may add with a small bit of pride that I figured out right away. This woman is an endlessly fascinating person, politician, and even symbol of just about everything anyone can think of. If the elites, the MSM, and the Democrats, didn't realize it before, they are on notice now. The political world has a new rockstar and that rockstar's name is Sarah Palin.

Dick Morris put it best today prior to the speech.

When you are smearing a politician, make sure you wait until after they have given their introductory speech to the nation. If you strike before, she will wipe you out with her speech and you will be embarrassed by your accusations. That’s the lesson the Democrats are likely learning this morning.

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But Palin had a speech coming. Because of the publicity surrounding her, it was probably one of the most widely watched orations of the political season. As this is written, we don’t know how she did, but I know her and I am confident that she hit it out of the park.

If Palin emerges from her speech in good shape, the Democrats will be falling all over themselves trying to explain to alienated women why they attacked her on such personal issues, blaming her for her sister’s messy divorce, her daughter’s pregnancy, and her husband’s DWI of twenty years ago. Women — and men — will be impressed that Palin is the kind of anti-Washington establishment candidate for whom they are yearning. She’ll explain what she did in Alaska and what she’ll do to the power elite in Washington. Her integrity, courage, and commitment are going to shine through.

Now, the MSM is on notice. This small town, white trash, hick is smarter than you, more politically astute than you, and she will eat you up like a Barracuda the way she has eaten up all her opponents as far back as her high school basketball state championship days. Smears and innuendo may bring down the typical politician, but it will only make Sarah Palin stronger. David Brody described Palin and the Democrats problem very well.

The Democratic Party, especially the Obama campaign has a problem on its hands. Sarah Palin can not be stereotyped as the crazy pro-lifer. They may try that but the problem is that she doesn’t fit neatly into any one box. She can play reformer, independent thinker, energy policy wonk, pro-lifer, attack dog or PTA mom. She’s multi-faceted. She isn’t one dimensional. That’s got to be a concern for the Obama campaign. If I’m Joe Biden, I’m already plotting strategy for that big debate on October 2nd. He’s going to need a lot of time to figure it out.

Now, that the star is born, let the fascinating commentary begin. To some, she'll be a symbol of the Culture Wars.

The culture wars are making a sudden and unexpected encore in American politics, turning more ferocious virtually by the hour as activists on both sides of the ideological divide react to the addition of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to the Republican ticket.

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Conservatives see her as a kindred spirit who lives her anti-abortion words in the most profound way: by giving birth to a child she knew would be born with Down syndrome. Gun owners see her as authentically one of them: a hunter with a passion for the outdoors and gun freedom.

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Social liberals agree — and are proving just as ready for combat on issues that many operatives and analysts believed would have less relevance in an Obama-McCain campaign. Both nominees have said they want to transcend the remorseless ideological and cultural conflicts which shaped so much of politics in both the Clinton and Bush presidencies.

“The choice of Palin is going to bring some of these issues, like abortion, same sex issues, the teaching of evolution in public schools, the whole role of what religion plays in public life, back to the campaign,” said Rob Boston, a senior analyst for Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. “Culture war issues reflect a real divide that is evident in society today.”

Embedded in the figurative culture war will be the symbolism of small town America that she will become a symbol for. She will become a symbol of the outsider of the system and become a lifelong foil to the establishment, media and otherwise. Of course, she'll be a symbol in the endless fight to root out corruption in government.

The most fascinating part of this woman is that all of this will come to someone that never had ambition to become a symbol of so much. She got into politics for all the right reasons. She moved up the political ladder by constantly challenging the establishment. As I watched her tonight, I couldn't help but notice, and be amazed, that she was both totally comfortable in the element and still the same grounded small town girl she grew up being. This woman is endlessly fascinating. She has been a sports champion, beauty queen, hunter, hockey mom, mayor, governor, and now on the brink of national office. All the while she is grounded and genuine. She is, in my partisan opinion, everything Barack Obama pretends to be. She doesn't just talk about bringing hope and change, but she delivers it.

As for the Democrats, and the Obama campaign specifically, she is their worst nightmare. This is no ordinary politician. Just as her basketball opponents found out when Sarah Barracuda won a state championship on a fractured ankle, trying to defeat her is no easy task. Barack Obama's worst nightmare is upon us. He may wind up being irrelevant. Sarah Palin is fascinating in ways that make Barack Obama seem bland. Barack Obama talks about being a new kind of politician. Sarah Palin is a new kind of politician. A new political star may have been born tonight and that star is Sarah Palin.