Sarah Palin's Memoir

Does she deserve one?

Laura Wood, at The Thinking Housewife, posted my comments on Sarah Palin's book, and here is our email interaction.

Kidist:

Do you think I was too harsh? I found that Sarah's puffed up hair - lighter and high-lightened - and her contrasting dark eye make-up didn't suit her face. Her previous darker, swooped up hairstyle gave her face more balance. Also her make-up was less glaring with her darker hair, maybe because her overall look was darker. They are trying to over-glamorize her now, I think. Oprah looked simpler and prettier.

But, what irritated me was that she came to the interview with nothing to offer. It was clearly a big publicity stunt, and a gossipy one at that. Even country music stars have their music to offer. Oprah's questions came off as much more leveled and realistic, as you mentioned, which Sarah should heed. Also, why be so coy about her political aspirations? Why not just say that she hopes to develop herself as a viable candidate for office in some capacity? People would appreciate that. The whole point of her presence is still unclear to me, but then, her book is strange. Still, she certainly has caused an uproar!

Laura:

No, I don’t think you were too harsh at all. I think it was spot-on and hilarious.

I thought her hair was very inappropriate for an aspiring national leader. Too sexual. She should have left it up as she had it before, which looked more serious.

The lipstick was way too glossy. It looked ridiculous (I'm thinking of her Barbara Walters interview - its was much more glossy than with Oprah. You almost needed sunglasses to look at her.).

I think your points about her book being unserious were the bottom line in this whole thing. I was busy reacting to her personal revelations, which are also important, and am so glad you addressed this issue.

Did you see the Barbara Walters interview? I missed this morning's portion but saw the first day. There was a scene where Barbara interviews Piper and Willow in front of Sarah. Barbara asks little Piper, "So how do you feel when people criticize your Mommy?"To ask such a thing of an eight-year-old is sickening. Then she asked, "Do you want your Mommy to become president?"

Well, what can you say? Does this country have the slightest understanding of child psychology?

Appearances tell a lot. Other small interpersonal interactions are also important, like how a mother relates to her children. Although Palin appears to be a comforting mother, there is something amiss with the way she actually treats her children.

Kidist:

Yes, also why is Sarah traveling with her kids? Shouldn't they be in school? And isn't it a difficult and tiring journey for them, especially little Piper? I saw that excerpt with Barbara Walters on YouTube. I found it disconcerting. I felt sorry for the kids. It looked like the RNC all over again.

Peter Brimelow at Vdare finds some parts of her book to his liking. He says he's read the whole book, but he doesn't comment on its totality. He just quotes an analysis that Palin made that he likes. I think she's just giving out teasers, anyone can make analyses. But as a memoir, which essentially looks back and is descriptive of a life, I don't see any real political meat in it, where she could concretely tell us who she is politically and what she plans. That is surely more important right now for the public. I might pick it up in the bookstores...

Memoirs used to be for people with substance, age and wisdom. People used to earn their memoirs. I don't see how Sarah has earned hers.

Laura replies:

"Memoirs used to be for people with substance, age and wisdom. People used to earn their memoirs. I don't see how Sarah has earned hers."

Absolutely. Why are people buying this thing? It's such a publicity stunt. But then Sarah is more than just a politician. She is the embodiment of Republican hopes that somehow conservatism and liberalism can be painlessly reconciled.

Brimelow, who’s impressed with the book (is it the (aging) rock star-like author that has impressed him?) fails to notice one thing. Palin doesn't mention that the mortgage meltdown was almost wholly caused by minorities, so her conclusions, as far as that quote is concerned, do not see this as a "diversity recession" as Brimelow writes.

I think this is significant, because it relates to Palin's positions on important national policies on immigration, which she has either been silent about, or she follows her presidential team McCain's positions. I expect more of this in Palin's book: unresolved ideas, with good beginnings. True conservatives would go all the way.