Bloggers Ann Althouse and Michelle Goldberg argue cogently (well, Ann does) for almost an hour on Bloggingheads and come to three conclusions:
1) We’re all talking about Sarah Palin and her book only because she’s so darn pretty (if she was plain or even ugly, McCain never would have elevated her to national consciousness), 2) cBS talking head Katie Couric should post the unedited transcripts of her interviews with Sarah, and 3) Sarah is a screen onto which some conservatives can project hope just as Barry was a screen onto which some liberals could project hope.
I have to admit they pretty well work for me, as well. And I’d leave a comment to that effect at Althouse’s blog if the stupid Google comment system didn’t demand that I verify a word that doesn’t even exist! Morons.
Although it should be considered that the "pretty" conclusion doesn’t explain why so many of Sarah’s fans are women. Including moms with strollers. Does it?
THE TEXAS SCRIBBLER 
Wait, you mean that women have to be good looking to be electable… just like men in the television age?
Quelle surprise.
It has been my experience that when discussing someone like Sarah Palin and the conclusion of the discussion is that it’s because “She is pretty” means the parties involved have such a shallow argument they have nothing of substance to offer!
“Better for a fool to not speak then to do so and remove all doubt of being a fool”
Well, how many plain (or even ugly) women can you think of who have been elected? Besides Olympia Snow.
I do think McCain was/is shallow enough to have picked Sarah largely for that reason. It would help explain why his staffers treated her with what she contends was less than respect.
I’m still waiting for the book. Althouse says it is not whiny or spiteful as many of the reviews so far contend. But that it’s no better than a conservative version of “Dreams From My Father.” In fact, she says they are comparable, which is interesting.
How many ugly men are elected? Besides old-ugly dudes who’ve been in office for 30 years.
Why did John Effin Kerry (himself an imposing looking dufus) choose John “Silky Pony” Edwards?
It’s what the deal is in this 24-hour, Oprah, General Hospital, high-definition age.
At least she has experience, principles, values and common sense.
I hope.
I agree on her experience, principles, values and common sense. But I also think, as Althouse says, that we’re both projecting our hope onto her screen.
I agree on all three of their points. Far as the first, it’s been shown many times that people in general tend to think good-looking people are smarter/better. True or not, it’s something in our heads.
Like meeting a group of people for the first time and assuming the biggest one is the leader. Happens all the time.
Me, now, I’m a really big guy, and terribly good-looking, so I knew all this from experience before I ever read it.
jd
I’d like to see Couric release the transcript. Sarah devotes a good part of her book (I’ve read) to disputing the truth of that interview, saying it was edited to make her look bad. Which wouldn’t surprise me, but I’d like to see the proof. I wonder if we ever will.
We’ll never see it if Palin’s version is true.
Hmm… I wonder what would have happened if two men were arguing around the “prettiness” issue.
Drawn and quartered be my guess.
Former Bush speechwriter David Frum tried it. That’s exactly what happened to him.