A New Soapbox for Fox

I can't say that I'm very surprised by the announcement earlier in the week that former Governor and former Vice-Presidential Running Mate and original Rogue, Sarah Palin, had signed a deal to become a commentator on Fox News. I'm just surprised that it took this long for her to land the gig. In all honesty, I'm surprised this deal didn't get inked in the days following her resignation from the post of Governor of Alaska. I assumed that as soon as she was free from the mundane duties of running the state in charge of watching Russia and waving when Putin flies overhead, Palin would have been signed to be a commentator so that she could continue to spread her message and world view. It took a few months and even required the publication of her book (aptly titled "Going Rogue") but it seems that Palin will finally be back on television to report her views on the news rather than making it.

Now news reporting isn't something new for Palin as she was a broadcaster in Alaska before she turned her attention to politics. I have no doubt that Palin will deliver the news off of the teleprompter with as much vim and vigour as she ever showed on the campaign trail leading up to the last Presidential elections. After leaving that profession for the political arena however things were a little different. I won't say that I fully believe all the stories coming out about Palin and her trials and tribulations during her campaign with McCain but who knows, behind every story there must be some small grain of truth. But be that as it may, I think Palin made it clear that she was bothered by the fact that the media... make that the elite media (who is everyone except Fox) asked her "gotcha" questions that were meant to make her look dumb. Nevermind that she couldn't answer questions on the fly. As her interview on Fox News with Shawn Hannity showed, she could still answer questions with poise when they were posed to her in a very nice manner.

But since the end of the campaign and her defeat, Palin has attempted to maintain a public persona. She continues to visit cities around the nation in support of her book sales and signings. When asked by the media (elite or otherwise) about her opinion on this, that and the other thing, Palin always has some answer up her sleeve with a wink and a "you betcha" for good measure. Perhaps I'm being just a bit condescending (just a bit) but I really don't see what qualifies Palin to be a commentator other than the fact that she is sure to draw in an audience who will just be gaga over the fact that Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin will be the conservative television equivalents of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.

For Palin the move appears to make the best sense. Why wait to make news or be deemed newsworthy. As a commentator there will be plenty of opportunity for her to be asked for her opinion on what is happening in the world. Like it or not she is going to become an even more prominent fixture on television and for better or for worse, people are going to fall for the facade that will undoubtedly be put up. I'm sure the folks at Fox, who have a soft corner for Palin and her views (despite their half-hearted attempts to say otherwise) polish up the rough edges in order to paint a picture of a woman who is well-versed in the happenings of the world and is ready to take on the challenge of being President. Frankly I shudder to think about what that could potentially mean for our country.

Now of course this means that if Palin does want to run for President in 2012 then she'll need to resign from this position prior to starting her run. According to the rules as I understand them, a Presidential candidate can't have free access to television (or be paid to be on television) unless all candidates have equal access to such facilities. Still, in the meantime she'll get her stories out there and will attempt to spread her message to rally the sympathetic and supportive masses to her cause. Two years is a long time for someone to prepare for an election and that's what I believe she's doing. What she'll have a harder time convincing people (especially those who will be on the fence) is what she's done to actually take action. I'm not talking about being Governor (which is a job she would have left nearly four years earlier by the time of the next election) but in general. Being a commentator on television will likely mean less time in Alaska and more time with the rest of the Beltway Bandits or the 'Fat Cats of Washington'. Hmmm... seems like her polish is already starting to show signs of tarnish already.