"The Natural"Well, I think anyone who watched that speech last night had to be blown away. Last week we saw a little taste of how good Sarah Palin might be when she was first introduced to us as McCain's pick for VP. Well, we now know that great first impression was justified - and then some.
I was left nearly speechless from her speech. She's The Natural, The One, she's just "got it". In all my years of watching political speeches, I have never, ever seen anything like it. She was spectacular, and launched herself into the national spotlight as more than just a qualified VP pick, but a GOP superstar for many, many years to come.
The part of the speech where Palin declared that, as the mother of a Downs child, she will be a friend and advocate in Washington for families with special needs children, my wife, an independent who pre-MZ had leaned Democrat, welled up with tears. It was incredible to see that even as she brutally smashed Obama, the emotional connections that women often need to get on board were made in that speech.
Three critical elements were necessary if her speech was going to be successful:
1. She needed to show she was tough and poised under intense pressure
2. She needed to explain why she was more qualified than Obama to be President
3. She needed to emotionally inspire both the crowd in the hall and the viewers at home
On all three counts she was phenomenal. A truly gifted natural speaker who is off the charts likable. Even the liberal media pundits were left mesmerized with their jaws dropped in praise. I've never seen anything quite like it.
That said, there is still a long way to go before the work is done. I think she may end up being the key factor in who wins this election, even more than the candidates themselves. She has a star quality and speaking ability that even exceeds Messiah Obama himself, and is just too powerful a force to be left in the traditional VP background.
Lots of attacks against her to follow, but she is simply electric and so formidable that I can't see anyone or anything stopping her. The Dems have to be absolutely terrified right now.
Of course, the quiet winner after her brilliant performance: John McCain for having the brass balls to pick this dynamo despite the doubts of the so-called experts. They said it was a high risk high reward selection. Last night, Sarah made him look like a genius.
MZ
