Curmudgeon's Corner

Apologies To Shakespeare...

Posted by Al Campbell on Oct. 19, 2008

Political, Quality of Life, U.S.

Et Tu Brute?

Or should I have said Et Tu Peggy?  The Latin sentence above means "Even you, Brutus?" according to my teacher of Latin, Mrs. Chase.  She had to bear up under the strain of me in two years of her classes.  I'm sure you would send her your condolences just having read this Blog and without knowing how I struggled in her classes.

Peggy Noonan writes in her current Wall Street Journal Opinion Piece, Palin's Failin', about Sarah Palin and my first thought was just that:  "Even you, Peggy?"  Noonan has been among my 'must read' columnists for a long time.  I occasionally find myself disagreeing with her, and this was among those times in which I disagreed, strongly enough to have to express that to anyone foolish enough to be reading this.

Noonan seems to have succumbed to the Eastern Elitist buzz on Sarah Palin.  She mocks the dropping of g's at the end of words.  She seems offended that some of us ne'er-do-wells in fly over country would be dumb enough to think she is one of us.  She feels that McCain made a bad selection while I think it was a stroke of brilliance...even if an accidental stroke of brilliance.

Noonan doesn't yet know what Palin stands for.  I think she pretty well stands for the things that many of us hold dear.  Noonan sees her as a follower, and I can't square that with her history to this point.  How many governors have you seen who were followers.  How many people have you seen who took on members of their own party whom she thought to be wrong-headed?  That doesn't strike me as being a follower.

Noonan takes Palin to task for not speaking as eloquently as Noonan must think she (Noonan) writes.  I would submit that Sarah Palin speaks as the large majority of United States citizens speak...without the affectation that elitism seems to bring forth from some.

I can say that I believe Palin would be far more effective for conservatives and for John McCain if she were permitted by the campaign 'handlers' to be herself.  I am convinced that Sarah would've had the perfect rebuttals for Katie had she been following her own instincts.  Palin hasn't been a wilting house plant in her life to this point.

I know we'll argue as to the 'qualifications' to be Vice President and whether she or Mr. Biden are better qualified to assume the presidency.  That, for me, is for another day.  For today, I am a bit disgruntled with Ms. Noonan.  Would that she could spend a few weeks with real people again.  Maybe it would take a few years, though.  Seems she has succumbed to the charm of the upper crust.