Politics Daily
Inside Politics Daily
Suraya Pakzad and the Long, Tough Fight for Afghan Women
Maple Leaf Cool? Get Used to It, Please
Move to Kill Filibuster Gaining Steam Among Democrats
Abuse Scandals Draw Uncomfortably Close to the Pope
Obama's So-Called Narrative Problem: There's More to That Story
A Same-Old GOP Budget: Rich Pay Less, Everyone Else Pays More
Karl Rove Has a Good Book in Him, but This One Isn't It
The Washington Pressure Cooker: If You Can't Take It, It's Time to Go- Latino Leaders Impatient With Obama After Promises on Immigration
Politics Daily Book Club: Is That Bob Woodward in 'The Room and the Chair'?
Will the War in Iraq Ever Go Away?
Whos' the Leading Man? It Ain't Rahm or Ax.
Sarah Palin's Value-Added Spin on Climate Change: 'Boycott Copenhagen'
Not since Emile Zola electrified France in 1898 by publishing his open letter on the Dreyfus Affair that began, "J'accuse" has there been an op-ed to equal Sarah Palin's Washington Post screed against the U.N. climate change conference in Copenhagen.Okay, this is a slight exaggeration. But nothing that Lloyd Bentsen, Jack Kemp or (yikes!) John Edwards ever wrote in the years after their failed vice presidential campaigns sparked this kind of controversy. The Washington Post was attacked for publishing the piece, sneered at for not fact-checking Palin's assertions, and ridiculed for failing to identify Palin's presumed ghostwriter. At the Atlantic's Web site Marc Ambinder wrote a scathingly critical annotation that is almost as long as Palin's original text.
This furor underscores that everyone from a Prius-driving Whole Foodie to a tea bag waving Rush-listening gun collector has passionate feelings on two political topics – Sarah Palin and global warming. Combine those two hot-button topics in a single op-ed and you get instant pandemonium and Palin-demonium.
PD toolbar!
The former Alaska governor's thesis can be boiled down to three highly debatable assertions: Purloined e-mails from a computer in England have led conservatives to claim a conspiracy among some leading scientists to exaggerate climate change. These kind of liberal scientists have infected the Copenhagen conference. Barack Obama should boycott the talks.
If you want to read Palin yourself, be prepared for edge-of-your-seat passages such as, "That's not to say I deny the reality of some changes in climate -- far from it. I saw the impact of changing weather patterns firsthand while serving as governor of our only Arctic state." Presumably, changing weather patterns are not visible to those of us condemned to live in the Lower 48.
Despite the fierce scholarship that goes into the academic discipline that should be called Sarah Studies, Palin's critics miss what is distinctive about this op-ed. Many of the arguments easily could have been typed by any conservative speechwriter or columnist: "We can't say with assurance that man's activities cause weather changes. We can say, however, that any potential benefits of proposed emissions reduction policies are far outweighed by their economic costs. And those costs are real."
But there undoubtedly came a moment in the preparation of this op-ed when Palin and her advisers realized with dismay that merely attacking the science behind global warming and recoiling at Obama's climate change legislative agenda is GOP boilerplate. Where is the added value that only Sarah Palin -- as opposed to, say, Mitt Romney -- can provide? There is nothing rogue about a prominent Republican railing against cap and trade.
The Palin brand requires something distinctive, something more edgy than standard conservative rhetoric. That is where Palin's gift for repurposing the screwball logic of 1930s comedies comes in. In a dazzling display, the former Alaska governor leaps in a single sentence from the "Climategate" e-mails at the University of East Anglia to the U.N. global warming conference. As Palin writes, "This scandal obviously calls into question the proposals being pushed in Copenhagen." That wonderful word "obviously" almost masks the lack of any connective tissue between these controversial academic e-mails and the meeting of sovereign governments in Denmark.
But even this is not enough to sustain the oversized expectations that now surround Palin. Let other 2012 Republican White House dreamers patiently wait for the proper moment to denounce the climate change deal that Obama will presumably endorse when he arrives in Copenhagen at the end of the conference. But practicing that kind of political patience is not how they do things up in Wasilla. So Palin cleverly staked out the perfect made-for-the-immediate-headlines position to the right of every possible 2012 contender: "The president should boycott Copenhagen."
Okay, that is akin to asking Obama (or any president) to boycott the opening session of the U.N. General Assembly because of a scandal with UNICEF collections in Omaha. But such literalness misses the cleverness of Palin's gambit: "Boycott Copenhagen" sounds bold and Reaganesque. So what if this is empty rhetoric. It certainly beats something mushy like, "Resist signing treaties that cost U.S. jobs."
Yet Palin is also running risks with her far-right-from-the-start positioning to satisfy a movement that demands doctrinal purity. Her biggest book tour political misstep came during an interview not with the dastardly liberal media but with conservative radio host Rusty Humphries. Asked if she would make (ludicrous and discredited) right wing claims that Obama is not really an American citizen an issue in the 2012 campaign, Palin replied, "I think the public rightfully is still making it an issue. I don't have a problem with that." In a Facebook posting, Palin later backed off that comment and similar nods to the conspiracy-minded anti-Obama "birthers."
That episode encapsulates the challenge facing Palin as she potentially readies herself for a run for the GOP nomination. How do you satisfy a political constituency without becoming its captive? Boycott Copenhagen is the clever answer. Embrace the birthers is the dangerous one.
and download the new Politics Daily toolbar!
-
PRINT
-
IM
-
E-mail
127 comments
+ add your own
Walter Shapiro
Walter Shapiro, a PoliticsDaily.com columnist, has covered the last eight presidential campaigns as a columnist and political reporter... moreRelated Articles
Related Articles
- Sarah Palin Overexposed: Even Among Conservatives, Her Numbers Drop
Thursday was not a good day for veteran Washington Post pundit David Broder to write a column praising Sarah Palin. Noting that Alaska governor who quit must be taken "seriously," Broder gushed: Her...
- Voters Divided on Re-Electing Obama in 2012; Palin's Negatives Rise
Voters are almost evenly divided about whether they'd re-elect President Obama over a Republican if the 2012 election were held today, according to a Gallup poll conducted Feb. 1-3. Forty-four...
- Michelle Obama on Sarah Palin
Want to know what First Lady Michelle Obama makes of Sarah Palin? Mrs. Obama seems happy to take the question, as she did Tuesday night from CNN's Larry King. And when she was asked about the...
Comments (127)
FSHNT21
5:46AM Dec 10th 2009
You mean "BOYCOTT CLIMATEGATE"....
It appears the State run media has abandoned the principle of "responsible" or "objective" reporting in favor of being Barry's propoganda machine...
Allowing this clown to sign up to have the U.S. to come under a treaty based on dubious science is absurd...
It appears the State run media has abandoned the principle of "responsible" or "objective" reporting in favor of being Barry's propoganda machine...
Allowing this clown to sign up to have the U.S. to come under a treaty based on dubious science is absurd...
RATE THIS COMMENT:
(36)
(36) 
Richard
7:42AM Dec 10th 2009
Did you say CLOWN ??? Sarah Palin makes BOZO the clown look like Albert Einstein !!!
Palin brings nothing to the table. She should just go away. I have an idea, you could go with her !!!
Palin brings nothing to the table. She should just go away. I have an idea, you could go with her !!!
RATE THIS COMMENT:
(-25)
(-25) doug
9:16AM Dec 10th 2009
Oh please, GOP, the party of teabagging dittoheads, don't nominate Sarah in 2012 because we are "uh-sceered of her and jealous because she is so purtty!" That seems to be the only requirement for the GOP nod: a moderately attractive woman who is hoplessly uniformed about current events, and who "scares" her opponents. Go with that, GOP, it sounds like a winning strategery.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-14)
(-14) fridleygirl
7:19AM Dec 10th 2009
Oh, look .. it's her first policy position.
This little piggy went to Copenhagen.
This little piggy will boycott the show.
This little piggy has moose meat,
This little piggy had none.
And this little piggy cried
"Wee! Wee! Wee!" all the way home.
Next up, she will solve both the housing crisis & world hunger ...
"There was an old woman who lived in a shoe.
She had so many children, she didn't know what to do;
She gave them some broth without any bread;
Then whipped them all soundly and put them to bed."
This little piggy went to Copenhagen.
This little piggy will boycott the show.
This little piggy has moose meat,
This little piggy had none.
And this little piggy cried
"Wee! Wee! Wee!" all the way home.
Next up, she will solve both the housing crisis & world hunger ...
"There was an old woman who lived in a shoe.
She had so many children, she didn't know what to do;
She gave them some broth without any bread;
Then whipped them all soundly and put them to bed."
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-27)
(-27) frav
7:25AM Dec 10th 2009
hmmmm ...
sounds as if she wasn't invited to attend.
sounds as if she wasn't invited to attend.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-12)
(-12) rraffiel
7:29AM Dec 10th 2009
Hey Walter,
We hate your blithering slather as much as you hate Sarah Palin. The vitriolic nature of your response infers that you might have less intellectual capacity than you claim she does.
Many American's dislike the GOP because they handed our country to big business.
Many more hate the Dem's because they are getting it back everyone except the American people.
By the way Walter, we are American's and we don't hate America like you seem too. We're simply tired of a--h---- like you and the egotistical bastards that now run the country.
We hate your blithering slather as much as you hate Sarah Palin. The vitriolic nature of your response infers that you might have less intellectual capacity than you claim she does.
Many American's dislike the GOP because they handed our country to big business.
Many more hate the Dem's because they are getting it back everyone except the American people.
By the way Walter, we are American's and we don't hate America like you seem too. We're simply tired of a--h---- like you and the egotistical bastards that now run the country.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (35)
(35) magisci
2:23PM Dec 10th 2009
Sarah Palin is a dolt and quitter of the highest order. It's really fortunate for America (and the world) that she failed so brilliantly during her run for Vice President and continues to do so today.
The more people hear from Palin, the more she reveals herself to be absolutely unqualified for anything other than a hillbilly fantasy.
The more people hear from Palin, the more she reveals herself to be absolutely unqualified for anything other than a hillbilly fantasy.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-6)
(-6) preacher
8:31AM Dec 10th 2009
Dear Walter,
It is two degrees here in upper Michigan. I would love to have blind faith in global warming and I wish I could usher in a new global warming by following a bunch of scientists that won't get there next government hand out unless they can come up with something else that we dumb laymen can't disprove;however I'll have to be content praying to the real God-
The Lord Jesus Christ for global warming. Maybe you could talk your prophet Al Gore into coming up and helping us split some renewable resouces so I can stay warm this winter. Thank you and have a merry Christmas.
It is two degrees here in upper Michigan. I would love to have blind faith in global warming and I wish I could usher in a new global warming by following a bunch of scientists that won't get there next government hand out unless they can come up with something else that we dumb laymen can't disprove;however I'll have to be content praying to the real God-
The Lord Jesus Christ for global warming. Maybe you could talk your prophet Al Gore into coming up and helping us split some renewable resouces so I can stay warm this winter. Thank you and have a merry Christmas.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (27)
(27) Matt
8:52AM Dec 10th 2009
Its 9 degress this Morning in Amarillo TX 9 yesterday and 6 the day before
RATE THIS COMMENT: (40)
(40) Jerry
9:39AM Dec 10th 2009
preacher, WELL PUT! It's -5 here in Minnesota, & I'm praying hard.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (29)
(29) The Martins
1:00PM Dec 10th 2009
You keep talking to dead air, I mean your invisible friend Jesus. In the mean time scientists will do their best to figure this thing out by using their intellects, the thing you seem to have parkeded under the bed. BTW, weather and climate change aren't the same thing. So, being 8 degrees at my house in no way changes long term weather patterns i.e. global warming.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-16)
(-16) Willow
7:40PM Dec 10th 2009
Dear preacher,
Global warming is a fact. This means the average temperatures in the world are increasing -- not that any given local area will see rising temperatures. A better term might be climate change -- more intense droughts, more intense storms, hotter in some places and colder in others. The main problem as I see it, is that with the glaciers and ice caps melting, ocean levels will rise. The human suffering that this will cause is immense and should be of grave concern to those of us who are Christians... do unto to others and all. If not driving a gas guzzler and investing in more expensive but ultimately free energy (solar) helps our fellow man, shouldn't that be something we try to do??
Global warming is a fact. This means the average temperatures in the world are increasing -- not that any given local area will see rising temperatures. A better term might be climate change -- more intense droughts, more intense storms, hotter in some places and colder in others. The main problem as I see it, is that with the glaciers and ice caps melting, ocean levels will rise. The human suffering that this will cause is immense and should be of grave concern to those of us who are Christians... do unto to others and all. If not driving a gas guzzler and investing in more expensive but ultimately free energy (solar) helps our fellow man, shouldn't that be something we try to do??
RATE THIS COMMENT: (4)
(4) ellingt5
3:29PM Dec 15th 2009
It's -17 in Oregon. Would love a little global warming here!
RATE THIS COMMENT:
(3)
(3) tbr3guys
8:17AM Dec 10th 2009
how is there no 'connecting tissue' between apparent CRU cover-ups and manipulations regarding the science of 'climate change' and this 'climate summit' in copenhagen? the global effort at redistribution of wealth has been hung on the 'science' of climate change, and evidence has now come that the science of it may have been manipulated and manufactured! i would say there is a lot of 'connecting tissue' there ~ unless, of course, the copenhagen gathering really is a whole lot more about redistribution than climate.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (27)
(27) Lee
10:00PM Dec 10th 2009
You got a lot to lose? Think about this for a while .... Taking from the bottom and funneling to top is as much "re-distribution of wealth" as the other way around. Reaganomics has proved that over the past thirty years. How about taking your tax dollars and giving it to Wall Street, is that not redistribution of wealth? Or, does redistribution only bad when it's taking from the top and giving to the bottom? Hmmmm?
RATE THIS COMMENT: (5)
(5) kathy
3:49AM Dec 11th 2009
All I know is 10 degrees for the low yesterday morning here in OK, so wheres my Global Warming? Oh, I forgot, its not really coming!
RATE THIS COMMENT: (9)
(9) Tawny Jones
8:34AM Dec 10th 2009
Sarah Palin isn't buying junk science, snake-oil statistics, or dubious data; nor is she bowing to the prevailing winds of political correctness, Copenhagen-style. She is the people's champion, the populist princess. She speaks clearly & cogently about the global warming scam.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (13)
(13) Zoe
8:47AM Dec 10th 2009
PALIN PLEASE PLEASE SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!
ALL YOU SEEM TO WANT IS TO BE DEVISIVE.....YOU HAVE ADDED NOTHING OF SUBSTANCE IN THE LAST YEAR......JUST STIRRED UP HATE AND DISCORD.
ALL YOU SEEM TO WANT IS TO BE DEVISIVE.....YOU HAVE ADDED NOTHING OF SUBSTANCE IN THE LAST YEAR......JUST STIRRED UP HATE AND DISCORD.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-11)
(-11) dogger
10:49AM Dec 10th 2009
Your right and Obama has brought so much to the table that it flows off.
Give us a break the left can't stand the fact that their world is falling apart and the "CHOSEN ONE" has made it worse. I'm not sure how it can be the hottest decade in years when in the 70's the big scare was we were headed for a new ice age thats a big swing don't you think?
Give us a break the left can't stand the fact that their world is falling apart and the "CHOSEN ONE" has made it worse. I'm not sure how it can be the hottest decade in years when in the 70's the big scare was we were headed for a new ice age thats a big swing don't you think?
RATE THIS COMMENT: (4)
(4) ssdwyer115
8:06AM Dec 11th 2009
Zoe, do you read? It's you, liberals, that have stirred up much of the hate. You hate people who succeed in life, dislike those, who you think are less than you, the list can go on. Obama, talks all the time about the faults of other Americans. I will bet that you can not make it through (1) day without having a negative thought about "those" you deem less than you.
I, can not argue with someone who is dumber than me, and that you are, my friend.
I, can not argue with someone who is dumber than me, and that you are, my friend.
RATE THIS COMMENT:
(2)
(2) 
Politics Daily on Facebook
Now Commenting
- igreen2115 on:
Christian Leader Calls for Glenn Beck Boycott Over 'Social Justice' Comments - cashman5453 on:
Harry Reid's Wife and Daughter in Serious Car Accident - dustindustrial20 on:
Christian Leader Calls for Glenn Beck Boycott Over 'Social Justice' Comments - Dave on:
Obama Donates $1.4 Million Nobel Prize To Charities - moderate on:
Harry Reid's Wife and Daughter in Serious Car Accident - igreen2115 on:
Christian Leader Calls for Glenn Beck Boycott Over 'Social Justice' Comments
Submit Your Favorite Links
No.
Props
Props
- 35
- 26
- 24
- 23
- 12
- 19
Follow Politics Daily
Other News
- Pakistan interrogation center bombed, killing 12
- Massa accuses Emanuel, others of setting him up
- Iraq awaits election results, parties claim gains
- Earthquake flattens Turkish villages, kills 51
- Liz Cheney wants to save torture's good name (and her dad's)
- GOP: Obama Must Sign Health Measure Before Reconciliation
- Uproar Over Whale Sushi Just Ridiculous
- NYC Will Pay Sick Ground Zero Workers $657M
- Stars on Ice: Skater Weir 'Not Family Friendly'
- Harry Reid's Wife, Daughter Injured in Crash
- The Twisted Mind of Marcel Dzama
- The World's Funniest Art
- The Best of Brit Lit
- Cool, Dead, and Stuffed
- The Vatican Sex Conspiracy
- FBI Probes N.J. Man Linked to Al Qaeda, Yemen Attack
- ACORN Fraud Ignored?
- Doubts Raised on Obama Tax Pledge
- ROTC Enrollment on the Rise
- Mexico's Slim Becomes 'World's Richest' Person
Politics Daily More Links