Critic: Sarah Palin Is A ‘Creature Made By TV’…And Destroyed By TV

by Mark Joyella | 9:08 am, March 24th, 2011

» 31 comments

It always sounds nicer when the Brits say it, right? Okay, not necessarily in this case. Roy Greenslade, writing in the Guardian describes Sarah Palin as a phenomenon–or, in the headline, a “creature”–created by television and ultimately, he argues, destroyed by television. “Do you remember that uniquely American political phenomenon Sarah Palin? Of course you do, but you have been hearing and seeing much less of her lately. And no wonder,” he writes.

Greenslade mentions recent polls suggesting Republicans may be less enamored of Palin, and quotes critics who insist any shot Palin might have had at the White House has passed. And then there’s John Doyle, the TV reviewer at Canada’s Globe and Mail, who concludes that Palin’s rise and fall tracks can be credited to television:

It was television that destroyed Sarah Palin, just as it made her… The arrival of Palin as a major political figure in 2008 was an emanation of the reality-TV culture, anchored in the belief that ordinary or ‘everyday’ people, inarticulate though they may be, and with all the baggage of messy personal lives, are truly compelling public figures.

Palin was the political equivalent. A figure who refracts national identity as it is shaped by the culture’s most powerful medium. Authentic, populist and dismissive of sophistication in thought and action.

Then, television duly destroyed the Palin authenticity.

Doyle, discussing the reality show Sarah Palin’s Alaska, says the show delivered “a river of platitudes and patently insincere assertions” and Palin “made dubious attempts to make political parables linking her family, the outdoors and wildlife. It was ego unbounded.” As a result, Doyle concludes “the political obituary can be written now.”

Globe and Mail, Sarah Palin, Sarah Palin's Alaska, The Guardian

THE REAL ROYAL KING

This is a perceptive piece. “But for” television, Palin would never have been more than a shrill and whiny local phenomenon. “But for” television, the Palin’s inherent, congenital, chronic lack of authenticity in her personal, professional and political life would have never be known.
The Lantern of Truth

RRKing , generously . These critics seem to harbour some animosity towaourd ouour formour Alaska gouvernouror . Not I , though !

RealRoyalKing ® , with a song in my heart ( if I had one) . I had a lovely day yesterday ! I left the salon for a while to take a walk in the sunshine , and begin my quest to lose a few dress sizes ( about 16 ) . As I started , I began to feel a mite peckish , so I swiped a Zwieback from a baby in a stroller while it’s mother was not looking . This made me thirsty , and I stopped by the church to shake a few coins out of the poorbox to buy myself a Mountain Dew . Yum ! Skipping merrily down the sidewalk , twirling my parasol , it was perfection . I spotted a bluebird singing in the trees , chirping away . I grabbed the slingshot from my handbag and plunked that noisy creature with one shot . Thank you Allah for this day ! Amen . ©
BFD

“make political parables linking her family, the outdoors and wildlife. It was ego unbounded.”

So true. I remember when she compared the fence Todd built (to keep out Joe McGuinness) to the Mexican border.

I was waiting for her to compare global warming to the defrost cycle on her freezer.

___________________________________________
FOX NEWS: “WE REPORT FROM OUR HOTEL ROOMS, YOU DECIDE”
THE REAL ROYAL KING

BFD said:
I was waiting for her to compare global warming to the defrost cycle on her freezer.

I like it, but I doubt she knows her freezer defrosts itself.

BFD said:
FOX NEWS: “WE REPORT FROM OUR HOTEL ROOMS, YOU DECIDE”

I like it, as well.
writer

I think Palin’s role in the next election will be to draw so much of the left’s hatred, they won’t even notice who the actual candidate is. Looks like it won’t be a problem.
Judge Mental

Sure, Palin was “made by TV.” That’s the case with every national figure since the advent of TV, including BHO. But “destroyed by TV?” I think that’s not giving enough credit to the journolisters. Aided and abetted by the MSM, of course.
THE REAL ROYAL KING

writer said:
I think Palin’s role in the next election will be to draw so much of the left’s hatred, they won’t even notice who the actual candidate is. Looks like it won’t be a problem.

I have to admit, WrLter, I never thought of that. Nor, do I intend to do so.
The Lantern of Truth

RealRoyalKing / Garth / Bovine , etc. , defiantly ! BFD , skyfet and I will smoke out the nasty lefties and stop their hateful diatribes .
Barack Must Go

If your definition covers going from struggling to pay the mortgage to becoming an overnight multi millionaire, as being destoyed by TV, Palin is guilty as charged. Otherwise, what’s your point?
writer

Yes, King. We’ve noticed that you never give Palin any notice.
THE REAL ROYAL KING

Barack Must Go said:
If your definition covers going from struggling to pay the mortgage to becoming an overnight multi millionaire, as being destoyed by TV, Palin is guilty as charged. Otherwise, what’s your point?

Doesn’t say much for Todd, does it? He and George W. Bush have to be the only two people who ever lost money in the oilfields.
skyfet

Fact, too much TV is not good for you, Sarah. We can all thank John McCain for giving her the spotlight.

Thanks very much John, ever grateful.
Barack Must Go

THE REAL ROYAL KING said:
Doesn’t say much for Todd, does it? He and George W. Bush have to be the only two people who ever lost money in the oilfields.

Huh?
writer

Don’t stop him. He’s rolling.
skyfet

Barack Must Go said:
Huh?

I think you are out of your depth.
The Lantern of Truth

skyfet said:
I think you are out of your depth.

Hey , skyfet . Time to take it down to double-play depth .
And stay there .
Rig for silent running .

Periscope down .
BlueBunny

BFD said:
I was waiting for her to compare global warming to the defrost cycle on her freezer.

HHAHAHAHAHA!
Steve_27

Meanwhile, back on earth.

If your not from Alaska, you never heard of Palin. She was “made” when McCain picked her to run with him. TV had nothing to do with it. And she has never been “destroyed.” Wow, some people. How would you define “destroyed” in this case anyway? Polls? Geez.

WHEN and IF she throws her hat in the ring and where she stands on the issues is ALL that matters! Get this through your head and there will be many less embarrassing moments for all.
felixw

Palin was no “made by TV,” but by the enthusiasm of the citizenry. From day one, the media has done everything possible to dislodge her support and smear her reputation. The left attacks all prominent conservatives, but especially African-American, Hispanic, and female conservatives. They think they “own” those groups, and don’t like it when they get uppity.
Steve_27

skyfet said:
Fact, too much TV is not good for you, Sarah. We can all thank John McCain for giving her the spotlight. Thanks very much John, ever grateful.

Your lesson for the day:

John is too much of a RINO himself. This is why conservatives never liked him so it was very unlikely he would have done any better with whoever he had picked. This makes your thanking John for Palin totaly irrelevant. Understand?
Yukon Jack

THE REAL ROYAL KING said:
I like it, but I doubt she knows her freezer defrosts itself.

I like it, as well.

Of course you do! Small things amuse small minds.
ganymede

More to the point is the fact that she was taken seriously by millions of naive and foolish people. What does this say about the judgement of all the people who defended this superficial person? To think that she could have become our President! She’ll take her swag and retire to her McMansion. Thank God it’s over.
Lou Sarah

Paging Matty Schneider… Paging Matty Schneider… We need a Palin column stat! Make us believe Sarah in Alaska will be President 2012! Please we need your unique writing skills more than ever Matty!!
Pablo

FOX NEWS: “WE REPORT FROM OUR HOTEL ROOMS, YOU DECIDE”

No, that’s CNN, dummy, when they’re not playing kissy face with tyrants and their propagandists. But if you ever see Harrigan reporting from his hotel room, you be sure to let us know.
Phocus2

*Answer*: Amazingly small minds attempting to be funny or cute. *Question: What’s the sum total of most of the people posting on Mediaite.

If you want them to perform, wave Sarah Palin in front of them. Kinda like chimps and a banana…or is that ‘chumps’ and a banana.
joe7

The amount of coverage this woman has gotten is absurd. If media just let her be after the election she would probably still be up in Alaska. Its like whenever she starts doing something else and becomes less talked about they bring her back in. Its nothing short of an obsession. Anyone who follows politics at all and has a television would see people speak about a topic, mince word, and either be corrected or correct themselves. Its extremely common. She does it and people actually take to the presses over it. I could have really cared less about her but seem to have recollection of every time she bought a pair of shoes sketched into my memory because of the non stop obsession the media has had with her
Garth

Always east to blame to the media for Palin. Palin loved the media as long as they weren’t asking tough questions like, what do you read or what’s your favorite color? The half-term nit wit did a very nice job of screwing herself.
azgrandma

If there is any destruction her she has only herself to blame. She has really proven what an idiot she is. Loves to turn out those snide remarks about anybody that does not kiss her butt but she always makes sure she is in a safe little setting. Makes negative remarks about the republican establishment and then has them pay some of her attorney fees – she is a user, a fake and just obama in a skirt.
potvin

Mentioning Palin is like waving a red cape in front of a bull to these nitwits. They’re mesmerized in their hatred for her. It’s astonishing! They hate her more than they ever hated Bush and she hasn’t even been president…yet! Run Sarah run!
RoughAcres

As the comic used to joke, “stick a fork in’er, she’s done.”
captaingrumpy

Sarah has more balls than anyone in the current administration.
I would vote for a quick thinking, bright,skillful and charasmatic women anyday,and she is one of the best.
She was a great Governor,so much in fact that the current Dem Governor implements her policies quite often.
I really hope she runs and has the backing of all women in America that are sick of the lies the current Pres admin puts out daily.
Sarah for President, please