The Governor Has New Clothes

Before I talk about Governor Sarah Palin for, hopefully the LAST time in my life, I need to tell another story. Don’t worry – they relate.

I have frequently heard the phrase “Let them eat cake”, but rarely have I heard it used correctly. So, since I am going to use this phrase correctly in this entry, please allow me to take a moment to explain it.

The quote is attributed to Marie Antionette, the queen of France who was executed during the French revolution. When representatives of the peasantry came to her and explained that the peasants had no bread to eat, her response was (supposedly) “Let them eat cake.” In modern times, this has been taken as a phrase of arrogance, kind of a “so what?” But that isn’t the case. Instead, it shows her ignorance of the state of the people that she ruled. It didn’t occur to her that if they had no bread then they wouldn’t have any cake either. So, ignorance, not arrogance. Okay?

Okay.

Now… for hopefully the very last time… Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska.

I read her first post-election interview today (taken in her Wasilla kitchen… appropriate, considering that’s where she seems to want to stick all women but herself). In this interview, she stated for the five thousandth time since the election that she never asked for the hundred and fifty thousand dollar wardrobe that she received during the election.

In other words, “Let them eat cake.”

I sent an e-mail to governor Palin when I read this, hoping that maybe I could resolve that ignorance for her.

The problem for most Americans, I think, is not that she asked for the clothes – she didn’t. The problem, although she’ll probably never believe this, was not the clothes AT ALL. It was about the fact that she and Senator McCain painted themselves as a different type of republican from Mr. Bush and his crowd. I don’t know how many times one or the other of them used the word “Maverick” during the last election, but I think that it would be easier to count the atoms in the stars. The problem is that spending a hundred fifty thousand on clothes to dress up “Vice Presidential Candidate Barbie” while America’s economy falls down around our ears shows a real lack of understanding of the people that she wished to rule.

As to your personal responsibility, Ms. Palin… you ACCEPTED the clothes. Whether you asked for them or not. Kind of like Senator Stephens trying to get around his prosecution by saying that he didn’t ASK for any of the gifts that he received. Whether you ask for something or not kind of becomes academic when you accept it.

Please allow me a small tangent here… WHEN THE HELL DID THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BECOME THE PARTY OF “IF YOU DON’T GET CAUGHT THEN YOU DIDN’T DO ANYTHING WRONG?! Add those two to Tom Delay who said that he couldn’t be prosecuted for conspiracy in Texas… not because he didn’t commit conspiracy, mind you, but because TEXAS DOESN’T HAVE A CONSPIRACY LAW ON THE BOOKS! Man, you turn your back on the republicans for a decade or so and they go from being the party of business and the law and order party to being a bunch of crooks who smile while they pick our pockets and fuck our kids. What the hell?

Anyway. (Deep breath, exhale…)

Ms. Palin, there has been talk of you running for president in 2012. I would STRONGLY recommend that you learn that Americans do like seeing our elected officials behave like royalty while we starve in the streets.

You have all of the cake, Ms. Palin… while the rest of us scrimp for bread.

Peace.

Randal