Diane Medved is a social conservative, a religious Jew, a Ph.D in psychology, an author, a mother and Michael's wife.
Despite the old-time religion, if you listen to the Michael Medved Show (KTTH m-f, 12-3p), you know: she's no doormat. (Although she does wear the same size dress as she did in high school).
(photo: Diane and Michael Medved)
Last week on her blog, "Search For the Bright Light," she opined about Sarah Palin in a way which likely indicates not only the views of her household, (that would be her prominent, conservative husband) but those of many thoughtful "values" conservatives all over the country.
Dr. Diane hails the pre-publishing success of Palin's book, Going Rogue (release date: Nov. 17) saying conservatives should all be happy, our views will be spread far and wide, and the book business will have a better 3rd quarter. "So why," she asks "do I find myself so...uncomfortable?"
She answers her own question writing, "By violating my conservative values, [Palin's] getting what she wants. Which appears to be loot..."
Medved takes Palin to task for basic conservative values forsook. Like "honoring commitments, never quitting, and focusing on the long-term." Without her Alaskan governorship, McCain would have never chosen her as a running mate, she writes:.
"And after her loss, she looked around and saw that even if the tundra was cold, the iron was hot. She left office, disappointing those of us who felt that any future career required a brilliant performance as governor to bolster her tissue-thin resume of PTA mom, City Councilman (in a victory of 512 to 310 votes) and until 1992, Mayor of Wasilla (population 5,469 in the 2000 census).Diane then lets it out (and you can tell this has been fomenting for awhile) with a litany of Palin complaints that mirrors those of us liberals.
Just a couple days after her gracious acceptance to Sen. McCain's VP selection, she announced her 18-year-old unmarried daughter Bristol's pregnancy, flummoxing supporters. Throughout the campaign, Bristol and fiance Levi Johnston were shown publicly holding hands; they broke up before marrying and he now provides amusement to detractors by disparaging the Palins and posing for magazines like GQ and Playgirl.
Given all the stories about Palin hunting moose, approving a plan to cull wolves by aerial gunshot, switching colleges four times, winning third-runner-up in the Miss Alaska pageant, sportscasting on local TV...there's bound to be plenty in the book to criticize and with which to sympathize. Despite its stated goal, what Gov. Palin won't do in her memoirs is convince anyone that conservative values are the most direct path to a satisfying and productive life.
We love all this, of course, because it buttresses our argument that Palin is finished as a politician, and takes the GOP's only shot at charisma out of the running. We know it's risky to predict any politician's demise, but no matter how sought-after as a saucy filler of blue jeans, or gal next door with slop-trough tropes to match, we're betting she's lost some important parts of her base: conservative women, educated men, and evangelicals who believe in walking the talk.
Devastatingly, Medved compares Palin to Chauncey Gardiner of Jerzy Kozinsky's Being There. who was "... thrust into prominence with no basis, because the suit makes the man, much like Sarah Palin's glasses and upswept hair make the intellectual-looking woman."
We can't help but suspect deeply that Diane's Michael is no stranger to these views.
Sarah Palin is lazy... or something. How many times has it been said that all she has to do for the enhancement of her intellectual credibility is for her to "hit the books, immerse herself in history and policy, and she'll be fine?" She failed to do it devastatingly during the election, and after. Then she quit the governorship to make six-figure speeches and write a bestseller. What will she do next year to get in the papers? Get a divorce?Stay tuned.
Getting a divorce at this point would mess with her image.
The new Vanity Fair has an article about Palin
Posted by: sparky | September 03, 2010 at 03:34 PM
The Vanity Fair article is long and devastating. It paints a picture of Palin as someone who will almost certainly seek the presidency in 2012, and who, regardless of her professed ideology, is simply by temperament and ego a terrifying prospect for the single most powerful job in the world.
I'm not sure Bla'M's dismissal of Palin as a candidate is accurate. Though he had the policy chops to back it up, much of Obama's appeal in 2008 was celebrity-based; it certainly didn't flow from his resume. Palin's taking this sort of facile approval even further. I can't imagine Republican leaders wanting any part of her as a nominee, but her campaign (which has been in high gear for a year, in case you haven't noticed) still has the potential to be very, very dangerous for this country. It already is. She's the Huey Long of the Right.
Posted by: Pete | September 03, 2010 at 09:14 PM
Liberals can masturbate to the idea of a Palin '12 run but it ain't going to happen. However, she is a remarkable fund raiser and that is a critical element of the process.
Obama will lose in '12-we all know that. A challenger ala Meg Whitman or Rand Paul will emerge late in the process and essentially win based on no confidence in the worst presidency since Carter.
Posted by: Obama is a black man | September 04, 2010 at 12:44 PM
The new GOP approach seems to be "spew talking points from Facebook/Twitter and avoid the non-friendly press at all costs". Could someone explain how the GOP is going to win in '12 without having a debate or talking to reporters that don't work at FOX News?
Posted by: tigsnort | September 05, 2010 at 02:14 AM
Good Points, Tig.
I foresee a real backlash to conservatives coming in 2012.
To that end, I have been very active and doing my part.
I would invite you to my blog--see the referral link on this blog.
By working together, we can defeat the conservative movement.
Northwest Progressive Institute.
Posted by: Andrew | September 05, 2010 at 02:53 PM
You're THAT Andrew? Wow...I'm impressed and proud.
Posted by: sparky | September 05, 2010 at 05:09 PM