The Sarah Palin explosion: Has the Web seen anything like it?

Why do I now know more about Sarah Palin’s life than I do about Abraham Lincoln’s?  It just doesn’t seem right.

In addition to the hours of Palin-oriented TV and radio coverage I consumed this week, and the dozens of Palin-focused online videos I watched, I must have read at least 50 stories about John McCain’s VP pick in the last few days (not to mention the ones I wrote and edited). It's worth pointing out, too, that except for one or two of those stories, everything I read was on a computer screen. With respect to my colleagues down at the printing press, this is a saga not designed for the morning paper. Who'd want to wait that long?

Palin, it seems, has a magical quality that makes you want more Palin.  It's sort of like Johnny 5, the robot from the “Short Circuit” movies who zoomed through an entire shelf of books in mere seconds, braying "More input!" as he went.  We may not be robots yet, but the Web, unlike any of the 20th century media, allows us to engage in a level of info-gorging that Johnny would be proud of.

Adding to the mass appetite was Palin's strange radio silence early in the week -- without a single interview, televised biography or press conference to tide us over. Give the Web a vacuum and it will instantly be filled with rumor, fact and wild speculation. Palin was a Russian doll of mysteries, the bigger ones hiding more and smaller ones, ad infinitum.  By my own incomplete count, there were 17 different scandals and sub-scandals swirling this week -- from the political (earmarking, book banning, funding for pregnant teen mothers), to the personal (pregnant teenager, trooper brother-in-law, broken-water drama), and back again.   

Palin has lighted up the Web in a way few stories ever have -- dominating the home pages and popularity lists of just about every news and culture website you could think of.  On the left, DailyKos users have made an opera of the Palin family drama. Slate.com has been churning out Palin stories, blogs, videos and Cliffs Notes nonstop -- at one point Wednesday, the site was featuring a cluster of seven different stories devoted to her. And on the right, the National Review's commentators were chiming in five at a time. The lists of most-emailed and most-viewed articles on the Los Angeles Times, New York Times and Wall Street Journal websites were dominated by Palin stories, as were community news sites such as Digg and Reddit.  Mommy blogs were buzzing, Twitter was squawking --and even gossip artist Perez Hilton caught the bug. The Web's thousand and one media islets were all pointing toward Palin like iron filings toward a magnet.

So it seemed odd when McCain and company used an old trick from the Republican playbook and tried to blame the “elite media” for the nation's Palin obsession and rumor-mongering.  With hundreds of bloggers and untold thousands of commenters trading opinions and searching out facts, Palinmania looks less top down than it does side to side to side. 

A more realistic concern--and one likely not high on either candidate's priority list--is how we're all supposed to make sense of the flood of undigested factoids and bloviations coming in from every direction.  As the noise level rises, it gets more difficult to divine a nugget of real truth from a fourth-hand bit of twisted speculation.  Worse yet, even if you can figure out what's correct and what isn't, there's no guarantee what you've got is worth knowing. If you catch my drift.

Comments

[Tracey]

Mark, I agree with Mike that you are spot on with you comments. I was also entertained about your comments regarding Nancy P. and Sarah P. Yes, that WOULD be fascinating to watch! I too, vote for the person and not the party.

Marie, I find it amazing that you believe Sarah Palin's nomination to the Republican VP ticket is such an awful thing for her family. They all seem very proud and frankly have no need to feel shame or embarrassment. Elenor Roosevelt once said, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." ... I don't think this family is giving their consent. Besides, does any of that really matter when it comes to who is most qualified to run the country? What did you think of Clinton and his lies and sex scandal while he was holding the office of president? (By the way, I voted for him and do think he did a great job) This was someone who looked directly into the camera and lied to the american public! Did this make you hate the democratic party? Did it make you believe he was any less qualified to do his job?

I further find it clearly disrespectful to speak of John McCain as you have. Whether you believe in his political views or not, the man is a true war hero. Period.

Sarah's speech was far from "petty." It obviously delivered the power punch that this race to the White House needed. Someone needed to knock the 'Thank goodness I came along on my white horse to save the day' Dems OFF that horse. It think Gov. Palin summed it up nicely when she said in her speech, "Some people use change to promote their careers while others use their careers to promote change."

Maybe we should be examining the real issues ....why didn't Obama vote countless times --- it's a simple "yes" or "no." He's a senator for crying out loud! He couldn't make a decision on a yes or a no? Whether you like the way he voted or not, at least John McCain voted! He made a decision! Several of them in fact. The last time I checked, stating you're present for a vote didn't count as an actual vote. When Obama says he's cutting taxes, why doesn't he talk about where taxes will be raised --- and who will end up paying for that! I am so tired of hearing about how the DEMS left a balanced budget. George H.W. Bush raised taxes --- albeit after he said he wouldn't --- which paved the way for helping achieve a balanced budget under Clinton.

There are things I agree with and don't agree with on both sides of the parties. In the end, one thing matters: Who is the MOST QUALIFIED candidate to do this job? Like Rudy, said, if you're the one doing the hiring for this job and you examine their resumes, who would you hire? Someone who has spent his life serving his country or someone who offers a fresh face, a silver tongue and has little experience. Someone who took his time deciding if he was going to wear a flag pin on his lapel or someone who nearly died defending our right to wave the flag? Someone who puts his country first or someone who puts his career first? Someone who will bring a first lady who herself is a public servant and is full of grace or one who admitted she was proud of her country for the first time --- she's 44 by the way.

[Memphis Dave]

I am a Republican. I was not as proud to say that before Sarah Palin. Now I am as proud as I ever was. Before Palin I was not going to contribute. After seeing the announcement of her pick and her speech on Friday, I got online and contributed to the campaign, then I purchased several bumper stickers, t-shirts and a yard sign.

I am pumped up about Sarah.

I am READY TO FIGHT for Sarah Palin!!!

[Chai]

Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton's speech inspired me in many ways. It touched the heart.
Palin seems like a nice and caring person, but she gives me the chills.

[Sarah Palin Fan]

I purchased the domain name Sarah-Palin.com and without any ads or anything I've already had hundreds of people just type in "sarah-palin.com". It really is incredible the kind of attention she's getting online. I can't go to google news without seeing 5 stories about her around the clock.

[deb]

I am a woman who fought for women's liberation. My womb is MY property and I will not have the government run by that drug addict Rush Limbaugh tell me what I can and can't do. Palin is a disgrace to women everywhere. I worked for several years as a regulator over the oil fields. talk about messy folks! Palin is pushing for drilling oil a national Wildlife refuge. This refuge is used as a grocery store of subsistence for nearby Native communities. Drilling will destroy their unique lifestyle, much as the buffalo hunters did to the western tribes. but that's ok, the right wingers can fill their tanks of their hummers. I also know for a fact that the pipeline she bragged on is NOT a done deal, in spite of her asking her church to pray for it as it was God's will. It may be 20 years away or more. it is not approved by FERC. Folks, she's reading words put in her mouth. in her speeches. She's learned all she knows about running the country and Obama since last Friday. If you believe in what our country was founded on, religious freedom and personal rights, you should run away from this ticket. She does not believe in freedom. No freedom for women, no freedom of religion and no freedom to read what you want to read at your public library.

the reason Palin's daughter has become such a huge issue is the arrogance of Palin's insistance on abstinence only stance and the refusal as a public official to support anythibg but her own narrow minded views. That pregnancy was NOT planned and could have been easily prevented if her mother would have taught her daughter how to protect herself and her future. now she is saddled with a baby and a husband who may not have even graduated high school. and obviously she started partying and having sex at 16. there are all kinds of photos with her and bottles of booze. so much for the insistance that families can teach their own children with no need for sex education from others. Teen pregnancies cost us billions (for crissakes my sister's high school has a day care center!) Bottom line, Bristol Palin is a minor child barely over the l
egal age of consent and her nother as a certified abstinence counselor could not protect her with her archaic, ineffective beliefs. she is ready, willing and able to push her beliefs on the American public. McCain by pandering to Rush Limbaugh and the righties shows he's no maverick at all.

[CaliforniaDreamin]

If Barack Obama did not belive that Hillary Clinton deserves to be his running mate, why is he using her to campaign for him and put the fire out of Sarah Palin's powerful presence in the political arena? Are we missing something or is he getting scared that Palin will overwhelmed his campaign?

[FJStratford]

Obama was the one who focused on personality when he put his "judgement and change" against Hillary's experience.

Now he is in trouble. Equally charming, Sara Palin has better judgement and has actually changed things. McCain has more experience and has actually reformed things.

That leaves him nowhere but out!

[Julia]

People, don't be so easily seduced by Sarah Palin! Just because she is presented as this strong reformer doesn't mean that it is so! A pit bull, I'll give her that (pit bulls can be mean and turn on you in an instant). It is easy to find out the truth about her--please take the time to check out the facts before giving your blind support to her. She supported the "Bridge to Nowhere" while she was campaigning for governor--then turned against it after it became unpopular. While mayor of Wasilla, she hired a lobbyist to get MILLIONS of federal dollars--EARMARKS THAT MCCAIN HAS OPPOSED--for her town. Those are just a couple of examples. Everything I have read about her, and I'm only looking for the facts either direct from her mouth or credible sources, tells me she does whatever is needed to get ahead. I don't support that in any candidate, and as a woman, I especially resent that in other women.

[AdrianS]

In our form of government we have a Judicial, Legislative, and Executive branch. Obama claims his "executive" experience was as a "community organizer."

To expand on the definition of executive experience, please note that:

Executive experience, in part, means holding a position subject to responsibilities as prescribed by law, managing human resources, managing budgets and making decisions, which have the potential of affecting several to many people, or the public in general.

The Honorable Governor of the Great State of Alaska, Sarah Palin, has been a council person, a mayor, and now a governor. All of these are positions of intense responsibility.

Obama has NO executive experience.

Please view the article listed below, "Obama's Community Roots," which reads, "In 1985, freshly graduated from Columbia University and working for a New York business consultant, Barack Obama decided to become a community organizer. Though he liked the idea, he didn't understand what the job involved, and his inquiries turned up few opportunities."

The article continues elsewhere, "He discovered the importance of personal storytelling in politics ..." And, "Despite some meaningful victories, the work of Obama--and hundreds of other organizers--did not transform the South Side or restore lost industries."

The same article says, "A recent Los Angeles Times report contended that Obama overstated his own importance ..."

Not really much to Obama's "experience"; no definition of responsibilities, no results.

ARTICLE: http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070416/moberg.

I just learned that Mr. Obama was head of the Harvard Law Review. However, the ONLY article he appears to have written was on abortion. Wouldn't you know it.

Barack Obama's Sole Article in Harvard Law Review Promotes Abortion
http://www.lifenews.com/nat4184.html

Add to Obama's lack of experience, a severe lack of judgment.

[plankbob]

Americans' critical thinking skills are in the tank along with the economy.
That a right-wing, inexperienced religious zealot like Palin could be a game changer because she's a fairly attractive (physically) woman is beyond pathetic. That Republican women with real national records of accomplishment were passed over for Palin shows the Grand Oil Party knows how to play with the voters' lack of caring or ignorance about real issues. And Republican hypocrisy is rank. They dissed the cult of celebrity (Obama, Paris, Britney) until they found their own rock star with a "life story." Everyone has a life story. Palin's accomplishments pale next to Michelle and Barack Obama's.

[David Blackburn]

The reason she's magical is that we don't know her. Hopefully, we'll get to know her and then decide about her qualities.

As for McCain, we do know him. He's made what many in the Republican party are calling a reckless choice. Do we really want this man in charge of our economy and nuclear weapons.

[mucker]

Here's a suggestion folks. To get a clear picture on these politicians log on over at the Comedy Central website and watch the John Stewart show. He will give you the sound bites of these candidates and in context. For example, view the clips of McCain saying the exact same things George Bush said when he was running. Yike.

Also search Sarah Palin on youtube. You can get her own words including channeling Bush's comments on God talking to him when she says that Iraq war and a new Alaskan pipeline are God's will. But my favorite is when she exhorts the "Master's Crusade" (or whatever Masters name it is) to go out and "hurt" people in Alaska. Listen carefully. If the tapes not doctored and it appears not she says it. Quite a Freudian slip.

[Kelley]

So we’re in the 11th hour of a presidential election on Overdrive, a national nobody shows up on the scene, playing up the hyper-stereotype of a devoutly religious, “hot” mama “hockey mom rolled into a lipstick wear’in Pitbull professional woman, swinging to be a someone who would be representing us to the World. Nice. Just who is she, and what is her character? What has she done already for the people she governed? Will Sarah Palin, as VP, follow the same behaviors and tendencies she exhibited in Alaska and onto a larger arena of the USA? Has Sarah Palin been a Divider or Uniter amongst her fellow Alaskans? Is that what we need as a country? Would Sarah Palin push for policies against the majority of the people of the USA? Does she listen to ideas she doesn’t agree with? How close-minded is she? Is Sarah Palin a Big Spender and not the Tax Savior she is trying to play on us? Are we ready to just give in to the Fantasy, cross our collective fingers, and hand the goods over to this Politician without having time to sort out the truth? Are we that desperate as a country? These are legitimate questions that a voter needs answered, now.

[Kelley]

So we’re in the 11th hour of a presidential election on Overdrive, a national nobody shows up on the scene, playing up the hyper-stereotype of a devoutly religious, “hot” mama “hockey mom rolled into a lipstick wear’in Pitbull professional woman, swinging to be a someone who would be representing us to the World. Nice. Just who is she, and what is her character? What has she done already for the people she governed? Will Sarah Palin, as VP, follow the same behaviors and tendencies she exhibited in Alaska and onto a larger arena of the USA? Has Sarah Palin been a Divider or Uniter amongst her fellow Alaskans? Is that what we need as a country? Would Sarah Palin push for policies against the majority of the people of the USA? Does she listen to ideas she doesn’t agree with? How close-minded is she? Is Sarah Palin a Big Spender and not the Tax Savior she is trying to play on us? Are we ready to just give in to the Fantasy, cross our collective fingers, and hand the goods over to this Politician without having time to sort out the truth? Are we that desperate as a country? These are legitimate questions that a voter needs answered, now.

[Kat]

Kelley's questions are good ones. They should be used as a decision making process on Obama as well, except there, we are choosing the President, not the VP. My question is will she just show up as "present" or actually vote on issues. Wrong or right, we need someone who can make decisions, even if sometimes situations change and they need to be amended. Oh how I would like to just be present in my job, but not have to make decisions one way or the other.

[Garner]

Republicans love Palin because she is everything a republican woman should be. Pretty, fit, thin, fertile, submissive(to her husband and her boss, i.e McCain)and the kicker? A lifetime member of the NRA! Thats it. The repubs qualifications to be the next Vice President of the United States. Just when you think americans couldnt possibly get any "dumber" along comes Saint Sarah to prove me WRONG!

[yahya]

this article is a must read article , probably would give you an idea why mccain chose this non sense, lack of experience, full of contrversy record of sarah palin.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1024927/The-wife-John-McCain-callously-left-behind.html

[Kat]

I watched a CNN documentary on Obama last week that included interviews with him and Michele. He described how he spent his early 20's finding himself and detailing his community service. He mentioned experimenting with drugs and they also interviewed all of his close friends through that time. I can only say that the more I know about his past, the more I move away. Not the drugs so much as the people that supposedly have changed and influenced his life. It was scary. My husband is an Obama fan and after the documentary, I asked him if it improved his opinion and he even said no.

[Richard]

Wow, let's see:

An actual conservative who inexplicably energizes a base who would otherwise be apathetic to this year's election cycle. Oh, and they are nearing Internet-celebrity status.

Ron Paul much?

Isn't it painfully obvious that traditional conservatives have been left behind in American politics, are tired of being pandered to by candidates who's letter-next-to-the-name could easily vacillate between 'R' and 'D' at any given moment? Is it any wonder they are clamouring for anything ANYTHING that doesn't smell of RINO?

Odd as it may seem, this country has people that actually enjoy being conservative. Running into someone that validates their core beliefs in PRACTICE makes them feel all gooey inside.

[Helen Studdard]

I can't wait until 2012, Sarah give them hell.