A few nights ago Kish and I were channel-surfing and ran across Sarah Palin being interviewed — again. In the portion of the interview we saw, she was responding to criticisms she and her family had received and her daughter’s intemperate response. It seemed like a story we had heard many times before.
Palin is a lightning rod, one of those political figures who provokes incredibly strong emotions by both detractors and supporters. Her detractors think she is a know-nothing idiot who, somewhat inconsistently, has devised a master plan that has vaulted her to national prominence and political power. They believe she trades on her femininity and her family, mouths meaningless “America First” platitudes, and appeals to backward, simplistic political viewpoints. Her supporters believe she is a fresh voice who speaks out powerfully about traditional American values and morals and understands that individual liberty is a crucial part of a dynamic, advancing American culture. They see her as someone who can mobilize people to roll back the tide of increasing government regulation and intrusion into every detail of the lives of American citizens.
Whether you admire Palin or despise her, you have to admit that she is a unique figure on the national political scene. In my lifetime, at least, no other vice presidential candidate has remained so visible on the national scene after the election was lost.
Nevertheless, I think Palin needs to be cautious about overexposure. She cannot be dismissed as a mere novelty act; novelty acts don’t last for more than two years. If she wants to pursue the presidency, however, she can’t always be seen on TV responding to attacks or explaining away her family’s behavior. I don’t know whether Palin plans to run, but if she does I think she would be well advised to dial back her constant TV appearances and focus on building a nuts-and-bolts political organization in places like Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina and beefing up her portfolio and facility with the issues. For Palin, a thoughtful, well-delivered speech on say, an issue of international affairs will count for a lot more than another appearance on Hannity.
In recent years Big Ten fans have paid careful attention to the conference’s bowl record. They feel like the Big Ten is disrespected on the national level, particularly in comparison to the SEC. (I regret to say that Ohio State is responsible for a lot of this perception. The Buckeyes are one of the Big Ten’s flagship programs, and they have never beaten an SEC team in a bowl game. That record unfortunately includes two national championship game losses.) Bowl games are supposed to be fun, but for the Big Ten they are serious business, and not just because they produce significant revenue for the member schools. Big Ten fans want everyone to recognize what they believe to be true — that the Big Ten is the best conference in the country, with the biggest stadiums, the richest traditions, the greatest rivalries, and the most dedicated fans. If you want to exercise such bragging rights, however, you have to earn them on the field.
This year the Big Ten has gotten off to a good start in bowl season. It is 2-0, with Illinois and Iowa both posting bowl wins. Today will tell the tale, however, particularly since three of the bowl games match up the Big Ten and the SEC. Each of the games, moreover, poses intriguing questions and matchups. How will Northwestern perform without their fine quarterback, Dan Persa, and will it be able to win its first bowl game since the Truman Administration? Can Michigan State put a signature win over the defending national champions as a capstone on a break-through season that has seen the Spartans win 11 games? How will Michigan’s Denard Robinson fare against the Bulldogs, and can the beleaguered Michigan defense keep the Wolverines in the game? And which Penn State and Florida teams will show up for the Outback Bowl?
