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January 12, 2011

Palin’s Tucson Rebuttal With the Sound Off: How Dare You!

By Michael Shaw

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Regardless how hard she tries to come off as reasoned — and she made a pretty fair attempt at it today, reading off the teleprompter you see reflected in her glasses — Sarah Palin can’t help but function in that very narrow emotional register alternating between greater or lesser shades of exasperation, offendedness, self-righteousness or anger.  The give-away — if you watch her in general, or if you watched her Tucson rebuttal video today with the sound off, as I did, several times — is the strain in her neck and that tight pursing of the lips (or the look of “just sayin’) she defaults to in pausing before the next volley. (I like that self-righteous frame the best where she’s pulled herself so high, there’s no oxygen left to inhale.)

If you have the chance to go through the video yourself, by the way, I’d be interested in any frame you can find that captures the kind of emotion the shooting of Rep. Giffords would naturally elicit right now, including sadness, compassion, and — given even the shared responsibility for an over-heated political atmosphere — regret.

Palin “Blood Libel” video.

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  • http://kyrafrost.blogspot.com Kyra

    I am trained to listen to what is not said (I’m a counselor). That is one angry lady, disgusted that she has to put herself out to do this and no, what you were looking for is not to be found. Interestingly, anti-Obama people have a hard time finding pics of him with sour expressions. With Palin, it’s a matter of finding pics that aren’t.

    • Jon

      Huh?

    • Spaniard

      Huh what, Jon?. Kyra was very clear, and I have to agree completely with her.

    • http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Arel Harry R. Sohl

      We’ve seen (and heard) this from her over and over and over.

      Bagnewsnotes (and others), Let’s make this the last Palin post ever!

      Starve the beast.

  • black dog barking

    Sound off, the only way I’d watch the former half-term Governor of Alaska. Anger is the only trick this pony knows.

    There’s a reddishness laying over these images to fortify the mood, just in case you forgot about being angry. Maybe we’re supposed to free associate the red shift to “Blood Libel”, one of the most ridiculous utterances ever from this prolific fount of ridiculousness.

    • Bugboy

      It’s red meat to the dominion crowd though…

  • jmac

    If “acts of monstrous criminality stand on their own and begin and end with the criminals who commit them,” why then complain that “journalist and pundits should not manufacture a blood libel that serves only to incite the very hatred and violence they purport to condemn.”

    She wants it both way – in one short speech. Criminality begins and ends with the criminal – unless it’s “journalist and pundits” inciting the violence?

    From the blogs: “If crimes begin and end with the criminals who commit them, “I think Sarah Palin just endorsed a mosque near Ground Zero.”

    • bill

      She seems to say a person’s words are totally unrelated to the actions of others. Can virtuous speech NOT influence virtuous actions? Does she believe in complete Determinism? If hurtful actions can’t be caused by mean words, does that mean “good people” will also do their good deeds no matter what? If so, why would anyone want her as a leader, or even listen to her? There’s apparently nothing to lead, nothing to change, no one to convert, and no wrongs to right. Just evildoers to punish. No wonder these people seem to like war so much.

    • http://www.nocaptionneeded.com Robert Hariman

      Exactly right, Jmac, and bill extends the point. In all the dancing around the issue at the New York Times, I haven’t seen anything this good.

  • Karen H.

    I didn’t notice until just now that there were more shots! Clicking through them quickly is like a flip book.

    • http://motherrr.blogspot.com cmac

      Yeah. I’ve been flipping all evening. It’s kind of fascinating in that train-wreck way.

  • psychohistorian

    Sarah Palin is what I call a faith breather so I like your reference to her pulling herself so high that there is no oxygen left. I believe that this fits with my view of where ones head goes when it makes that leap of faith and turns off reason and personal responsibility. You just have to have faith and follow the “leaders”. When cognitive dissonance occurs for these folks they just find ways to assign blame elsewhere or pray for it to go away and become last week news cycle.

    Pathetic.

    • psychohistorian

      I forgot to say thanks for the images and forum for their discussion. I am sorry I can’t support you financially at this time but respect your focus.

      Thanks for your efforts on behalf of society!

    • http://bagnews.com/staff/#mshaw Michael Shaw

      Just happy to have you with us.

  • jmac

    The flag seems odd to me. Is it waving behind the fireplace? Photoshopped?

    • http://bagnews.com/staff/#mshaw Michael Shaw

      I was wondering about this also. It seems frozen in place as if waving. If you click through the frames (about 19, I think), you see it doesn’t move.

    • g

      Interesting. I was wondering what the fireplace was. Is it in her house? I know she has a TV studio on her property, from what they showed on her reality show.

      The stones between her shoulder and the flag look…odd. Is it a green-screen image?

    • Progressive Mom

      The flag is attached in some manner to the side portion of the fireplace stone; I would guess this is to display it more largely than if it was merely hanging straight down from its pole.

      I think it’s called “draped in the flag” in some circles….Remember the half-governor on the cover of some running magazine, also draped in a flag.

      It’s a very amateur setting, especially with the fireplace bricks making a line through her head, making the visual as jarring and off-putting as the words.

  • http://reciprocity-failure.blogspot.com Stan B.

    Snapshot extraordinaire of how Republicans “create our own reality.” Complete self absorption and narcissism- a sociopath.

  • http://reciprocity-failure.blogspot.com Stan B.

    … And she (also) is not a witch!

  • Aurora

    When watching the video, it most distracting to notice that each time she was making an affirmative statement, she was shaking her head.

    (Wish Dr. Liteman could give her a read!)

  • Greg

    For the record, I am not a Palin fan, nor am I a Republican Party or Democratic Party fan, I am strictly non-partisan. However, I am compelled to make the following comment regarding this tag line:

    “Palin’s Tucson Rebuttal With the Sound Off: How Dare You!”

    How dare she make the comments she made? It is called freedom of speech, something that is defined as a constitutional right. For a website that claims to be “a progressive site dedicated to visual politics and the analysis of news images”, this website sure seems, to me, to be a political bashing tool aimed squarely at the the Republican Party. I say, “How dare you, Mr. Editor?”. This website is not analysing anything, it is bashing anything that you don’t agree with! Again, please note, I am not a Republican, I am not a Democrat, I am a registered non-partisan, I owe no allegiance to any political party.

    I suggest that that the mission statement of this website be changed to read “BagNewsNotes is a website dedicated to the editor’s opinion of visual politics and the analysis of news images that bash the Republican Party and anything that sounds like the Republican Party”, because that is what you are doing…….

    Just my two cents worth….BTW, there are more important topics to deal with, such as the American consumption of drugs that is causing the brutal deaths of thousands of Mexican citizens so Americans can enjoy their nightly high……Let’s hear about that on this website, shall we?

    • http://bagnews.com/staff/#mshaw Michael Shaw

      Greg, you missed the context of my title by 180º. The “How Dare You” refers to the tone as well as the content of Palin’s video, that anyone would dare call her out for her enmity.

    • Jon

      Greg – you’re a Republican.

    • http://ralfast.wordpress.com Rafael

      Yes, Greg, she has the right to free speech, but what some don’t get about that right, as apparently you don’t, is that it cuts both ways. You have the right to say whatever you want, and I got the right to call you on it however I want.

      That is what the Supreme Court of the United States calls:

      The Marketplace of Ideas.

    • catbirdman

      Some people routinely miss the point and then go on to (a) deliver a lecture on how stupid people are who disagree with them, or (b) change the subject to whatever they think is important and overlooked. Greg, the “registered non-partisan,” manages to do both. Well, Greg, most people still are partisan — we read, we analyze, and we take sides. We realize that our side has many, many faults, and we try to encourage our side to do better. But it’s not perfect and it’s not pretty.

      You “no labels” types hold yourselves up as beacons of rationality, and yet so often your types come across as naive, preening, and unable to see the forest for the trees. There is always a battle going on in politics — why play it coy and pretend you’re too rational to take a side? Why not just admit you’re basically a Republican at heart and take it from there? Yes, that puts you on Team Sarah, Team Rush, Team Beck, Team W, and Team Rove — yes, they are all abhorrent people, but they are generally very effective at fighting their battles (as they narrowly define them — which generally comes down on the side of authoritarianism and keeping the rich rich). But don’t worry — there are plenty of faults to find with Team Obama, Team Pelosi, etc. — you will fit in just fine. But please realize there’s no Team In The Middle Who Is Above It All.

    • catbirdman
    • Greg

      My comments regarding the comments to my comment regarding the Palin video:

      01/12/2011 09:31pm

      Michael Shaw said:
      Greg, you missed the context of my title by 180º. The “How Dare You” refers to the tone as well as the content of Palin’s video, that anyone would dare call her out for her enmity.

      Michael, as a trained psychologist, you are making a statement that is your opinion and based upon your feelings, I feel that you should so state in your written opinion. I feel that you should have written something along the line of “in my opinion, her enmity”. You are assuming that she is feeling hatred or hostility. Perhaps she is passionate about the topic and is not feeling hostile what-so-ever. BTW, I’m not sticking up for Palin, I don’t care for her politics, her TV show or her family, and I hope her political ambition soon whithers and she disappears from the political scene in our country. I can’t believe that people actually support her. But, regardless of that I feel that you shouldn’t make a statement that you project as a feeling that everyone has regarding Palin, and which you summarize by using the word ‘enmity’.

      01/12/2011 10:51pm
      Jon said:
      Greg – you’re a Republican.

      Jon, sorry, I am not a Republican, I am strictly a non-partisan voter, I vote for the candidate, not the political party. So you know, I voted for Clinton, did not vote for Bob Dole, and voted for Ralph Nader in the last election.

      01/13/2011 07:20am
      Rafael said:
      Yes, Greg, she has the right to free speech, but what some don’t get about that right, as apparently you don’t, is that it cuts both ways. You have the right to say whatever you want, and I got the right to call you on it however I want.

      That is what the Supreme Court of the United States calls:

      The Marketplace of Ideas.

      Rafael, you wrote this about me: “but what some don’t get about that right [freedom of speech], as apparently you don’t,”. What leads you to make that assumption the I ‘apparently don’t get?’ Why are you making such an absurd assumption? I do indeed know that freedom of speech can move in multiple directions at one time, that is one of the things that makes our country great.

      01/14/2011 08:23am
      catbirdman said:
      Some people routinely miss the point and then go on to (a) deliver a lecture on how stupid people are who disagree with them, or (b) change the subject to whatever they think is important and overlooked. Greg, the “registered non-partisan,” manages to do both. Well, Greg, most people still are partisan — we read, we analyze, and we take sides. We realize that our side has many, many faults, and we try to encourage our side to do better. But it’s not perfect and it’s not pretty.

      You “no labels” types hold yourselves up as beacons of rationality, and yet so often your types come across as naive, preening, and unable to see the forest for the trees. There is always a battle going on in politics — why play it coy and pretend you’re too rational to take a side? Why not just admit you’re basically a Republican at heart and take it from there? Yes, that puts you on Team Sarah, Team Rush, Team Beck, Team W, and Team Rove — yes, they are all abhorrent people, but they are generally very effective at fighting their battles (as they narrowly define them — which generally comes down on the side of authoritarianism and keeping the rich rich). But don’t worry — there are plenty of faults to find with Team Obama, Team Pelosi, etc. — you will fit in just fine. But please realize there’s no Team In The Middle Who Is Above It All.

      Catbirdman – Please do not put words in my mouth. I am not Republican nor am I Democrat. I purposefully remain a non-partisan and I align with whatever side I so desire. I will not take a side simply due to political party directive. I see too many people who do so and as a result take rediculous positions simply to support their political party.

      And, I never portrayed myself to be “above it all”, that is your assumption and opinion. When you write or say something don’t forget to say “in my opinion” then make your statement…..

  • Vvoter

    Poor Mrs. Palin gets so over-analyzed.

    I might also add, with regard to Palin’s appearance (and in the spirit of over analysis), that I am picking up a totally big 80’s vibe from Palin’s fashion. Exhibit A is her hair: big bangs and flares on the sides. Exhibit B is the pleated shoulder pads, totally 80’s. Even the necklace looks 80’s. I bet her crew even put the 80’s soft filter on their camera lenses. This can only mean one thing — Reagan conservatism. These small visual cues connect her with the spirit of the 80’s and Reaganism in the minds of those who admire Reagan and the corresponding years of Republican influence.

    Question: if Palin does indeed run for President, to what extent will she incorporate the visual lexicon of 80’s conservatism?

    • Karen H.

      Interesting point. I don’t feel that she is so sophisticated that she discerns the flash back to the Republican heyday, but I’ll have to think on that now. I’ve always believed that, like women of a certain age, she found a look from her “era” that she’s happy with and stuck with it. My counter to your point would be if she or her staff were that savvy, they would have had her give a different speech.

    • Bugboy

      She IS a child of the ’80’s isn’t she? One that for all appearances is clinging to her youth with everything she has. I would agree with you that her handlers are capitalizing on this.

  • http://phoenixwoman.wordpress.com/ MEC

    Her little head shake is interesting. Her mouth is saying “I mean this most sincerely” and her head is saying “No, I don’t”.

    As for using “blood libel”: Palin may well be ignorant of the origin of the phrase, but I wonder whether her speechwriter is. I suspect it’s a dog whistle for “Jews control the media”.

  • CandyceG

    I was also distracted by the framed picture on the mantle, which was surely part of the staging along with the flag. I had to go to the iPad to really zoom in, and sure enough, it’s a photo of an infant. Not the whole family, but just one baby, and I’d bet it’s Trig. Another bit of How Dare You.

    • http://bagnews.com/staff/#mshaw Michael Shaw

      Thanks for that bit of investigation. I was wondering if it was her older son but couldn’t make it out. If you remember, she had a banner relating to his current service in Iraq when she did that first interview after the VP nomination.

  • BamaGuy1024

    Thanks for the sound off, I cannot take her moronic utterances, but the whiny bitch voice is just painful to listen to. She is trying to look so Presidential, but her continual efforts to make herself the center of every major political news event is wearying. Sarah Palin you are not the center of the universe, and most Americans do not care what you think about anything. I am hoping her 15 minutes of fame are over soon. It is so absurd to think than anyone would consider her for any political office after she found it so easy to walk away from her responsibilities as Governor of Alaska for Fox News. Quitter.

  • http://ralfast.wordpress.com Rafael

    I flipped through the images, each one makes her look more insincere than the last. The clenched teeth, the rigid pose, it looks to me like a child caught fighting and forced to apologize, they do it because they are forced, not because they believe they done anything wrong.

    Then again, this is her attempt to deflect her responsibility for her own words.

  • Bugboy

    Seems like she has her jaw jammed forward in every frame, like a bulldog. Very strange framing, the fireplace/flag background looks fake as a 3 dollar bill. It’s greenscreen.

  • Auntie Claire’s Hand

    The setting feels chilly and strange despite the fireplace. Most people don’t have a giant flag by their own fireplace. When I’ve heard about FDR’s fireside chats, I’ve always pictured a real fire burning while people sat and listened to hear something hopeful. But Palin just has a cold fireplace and a gaping black space behind her where there should be a warm fire, especially on a cold winter day.

    Also, she chose an innocent and girlish necklace and camisole, but the heavy black jacket contradicts both of those. She wants to be the president and acts like she’s the “mother figure” of “heartland America.” But most mothers are strong without acting like a mean, self-righteous bully.

    Any person that can try to make herself out a victim in this situation, when you take a look at the true victims, must be a cold person indeed, in my opinion.

  • Stanley Wiggs

    She telegraphs the emotions she wants to elicit — like a bad child actor. For those who like to think for themselves it’s like nails on a chalkboard, others (I presume) find it soothing.

  • Marsupialas

    For me the most striking part of the image are those neck cords. They never ever relax. The strain creating them is immense.

    And Greg, speech has consequences — even though the Governor is trying to make the opposite point.

  • http://storm-nemesis.blogspot.com Douglas

    Hi, All, I saw this today (via Digby) on the Youtubes. It’s video imagery of just Palin’s breathing in the speech. Weird.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9kfcEga0lk&feature=player_embedded

    • http://bagnews.com/staff/#mshaw Michael Shaw

      Douglas, that’s really interesting. It seems like the respiratory complement to the stress and strain we’re seeing in the neck caused by the exertion/fight to try and keep the anger/haughtiness in check.

  • http://reconstitution.us/rcnew Jolly Roger

    I did the same thing. And I have to tell you, I was far more unnerved after watching it sans sound. Her facial expressions are those of someone almost to the breaking point.

  • Julia Grey

    I’m struck by how often she doesn’t just close her mouth, she quickly clamps her lips firmly shut, almost as if she’s trying to prevent herself from saying (revealing) “too much.”

  • paulo

    She looks like a 7-year-old who is trying to get a cupcake after not eating her vegetables at dinner.

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