July 5, 2009
Palin’s Resignation: Proud To Be Trash
This photo was circulated by Getty after Palin was tabbed for Veep by McCain and appeared, at least, in a cheeseball LAT election slideshow on Palin’s fashion sense. If you haven’t seen it before, however, it’s because the image, like Palin herself, is radioactive.
Although taken back in ‘04 (see caption below), the statement is significant today for revealing an attitude (along with the adorable love ‘ya/just shot ‘ya) that, upon her resignation from elected office, now morphs into a full-blown strategy. Palin has created a scenario, at least in her mind, in which she’s defeated the press and can freely Facebook and speak obliquely with and to her equally angry and alienated true constituency.
Simply, she’s positioned herself to reconnect, with the same invective, to the haters and fanatics she was inciting during the campaign.
(image: Robert A. Baker/Getty Images. Sarah Palin models purchased ‘Proud to be Valley Trash’ t-shirt as the result of State Senator Ben Stevens (son of Ted Stevens) comments that people living in the Mat-Su Borough are ‘just Valley trash’ July 21, 2004 in Wasilla, Alaska. Presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain announced Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate at a campaign rally August 29, 2008 in Dayton, Ohio.)
12 Comments Leave a comment
g said:
The caption for this photo is interesting. It refers to an internal political cat-fight, and here’s Sarah, thin-skinned and reacting publicly to a perceived verbal slight. How prophetic.
Mum said:
Out of curiosity I linked to the website featured on her shirt. “Valley Trash” is a recycling organization that serves the greater Wasilla community, kind of like a community swap meet or flea market. A commendable enterprise, certainly. There are many thrift and resale shops in larger cities like Chicago and New York that have a rather large clientele and sell shirts emblazoned with their names and logos, and sometimes a slogan, many of them as “ironic” as Palin’s shirt from Valley Trash.
Wayne Dickson said:
Good follow up, Mum. I admit to having been distrustful, thinking Photoshop. Still, assuming legitimacy, she definitely couldn’t have been thinking big time when that photo was taken.
Of course, considering the unzoned, big-box disfigurement she encouraged in Wasilla, the irony of that tee does cut multiple ways.
But the other point: What might she hope to gain by connecting with the rabid fringe? Obviously they’re too small a constituency to elect her to the White House. But maybe enough to make her a power broker?
Julia Grey said:
What might she hope to gain by connecting with the rabid fringe?
Money. Lots and lots of money.
It’s as simple as that.
billyjoe said:
Try debating anyone from of Palin’s base of supporters that she resigned for a reason other than persecution and distortions by the librul’ media.
Impossible.
She’s their St. Joan of Arc of the Trailer Park.
Tena said:
I said it all through the campaign and this picture proves it: Sarah Palin + Tonya Harding.
We could have had Tonya in the White House, god help us all!
Tena said:
Darn – should have been: Sarah Palin = Tonya Harding.
Hit the shift key accidentally – dang laptop keyboard.
MonsieurGonzo said:
Eskow: “Is Sarah Palin the first Post-Modern Politician?” imho, No; (actually, “post-modern”, that distinction being about ~1973, died on 9/11, and is “so yesterday”, fwiw). Ronald Reagan was the first post-modern politician: “Let’s just drop all pretense, whatsoever: a politician is a performer in a leading role — no longer a real leader acting like a performer.” (Wiki: ‘A Face In The Crowd‘, 1957). The “new post-9/11 realpolitik” is quite well described by Todd S. Purdum’s Vanity Fair article, “It Came From Wasilla“, and his conclusion about Sarah Palin: “It is, at the moment, a [political dynamic] in which the loudest and most singular voices, not burdened by responsibility [moral hazard], wield disproportionate power. She may decide that she does not need office in order to have great influence — any more than Rush Limbaugh does.” The NEW DYNAMIC that Eskow should be seeking to describe is that POLITICAL POWER post-9/11 is no longer wielded by POLITICIANS, but by POLITICAL PUNDITS = performers acting like real journalists and/or un-elected “officials” of the public narrative. Wallechinsky: “Let’s face it, being a government official is a hassle. Say [or passive-aggressively, rhetorically ask] something stupid and half the country makes fun of you. Say something stupid on television [or on the internet], and your ratings go up.”
Ernest said:
Ironic? Did you read the quote on who is welcome and who is not welcome to post on that site:
“Valley Trash – Recycling the MatSu Valley one piece at a time.
If your email is something like shakti234@gmail.com or ragheadads@indiaonline.com don’t bother to register, your ads will never be posted here.”
See for yourself – http://www.valleytrash.com/index.php
A racist recycler?
Molly said:
They stroke her ego.
Molly said:
Well, yeah, that too!
jtfromBC said:
Good to know your still around MonsieurGonzo, I enjoy your insightful comments.