Because moms can give a speech in their sleep... > Marybeth Hicks

"Bringing up Geeks is the most reassuring and valuable thing I have read concerning my most important job...being a parent. I want to raise my kids to embrace the right values, and not to simply seek out the ‘cool’ route. I want them to have the confidence and conviction to follow their hearts and recognize what is truly important to them. Bringing up Geeks brings real clarity to a complicated process."

Jay Bilas
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and ESPN basketball analyst

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Because moms can give a speech in their sleep...

Published Thursday, September 04, 2008 in

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I'm not going to pretend I don't love Gov. Sarah Palin. My only question is, "Who couldn't?" Even if you don't agree with her politics, you have to look at this woman -- just as we all look at Sen. Obama -- and realize the torch of leadership of our country is being passed to a new generation of dynamic, articulate and exciting people.

So with that full disclosure aside, here's a tidbit about her groundbreaking speach at the RNC last night: She did about half of it from memory. See this link:

Sarah Palin "winged" her speech because of "broken" teleprompter

Every mom in America knows when you get on a roll, you don't need a script -- you can be incredibly compelling, especially when you're defending your family and your beliefs. For most of us, the problem is that we can't remember what we said later -- and dang! -- it's often very good!

Makes her performance that much more impressive.

Comments

By Kate @ Thursday, September 04, 2008 7:47 PM

This is yet another reason why she is the coolest person alive.

By Sarah L from MN @ Saturday, September 06, 2008 10:22 PM

Dear Ms. Hicks,

In response to your query “who couldn’t” like Sarah Palin, here is a list:

People who believe banning books is wrong.
People who believe that trying to fire a librarian who fought your attempt to ban books is wrong.
People who believe it is hypocritical to laud a young woman for choosing to carry her unplanned pregnancy to term when you want to permanently remove the ability to make that choice from her and all other women in the country.
People who believe it is hypocritical to champion family values and claim that an unplanned pregnancy is a private matter while simultaneously exposing a young woman and her boyfriend to the media for political gain.
People who believe it is hypocritical to claim that you said “thanks but no thanks” to the bridge to nowhere when you kept the money the federal government gave you to build it.
People who recognize that just because someone is a woman doesn’t mean she supports women’s rights and women’s issues.

Sarah L
Minneapolis, MN

By suburbancorrespondent @ Sunday, September 07, 2008 4:32 PM

I am pro-life, and I don't think Governor Palin is someone I would like to vote for. That's a shame, as I very much respect John McCain. What frightens me is the ferociousness with which her supporters back her - how dare I not like her! She's so amazing! And good-looking! And has a beautiful family!

Yes, to all of the above. Yet, despite her personal likeability, it behooves every voter to examine her political record and separate the Republican political myth from the reality. It bothers me that women seem to have put aside their ability to think critically simply because she is a pro-life woman running for office.

By Nicole @ Monday, September 08, 2008 2:13 AM

This posting makes me almost look forward to the day when the people voting for her actually need a constitutional right and it's no longer there.

By Jody @ Monday, September 08, 2008 5:08 PM

Oh, Marybeth, you suggested I read your blog and I did, and I have to agree with the naysayers. I guess love at first sight is thrilling, but when it comes to running the country we need far more information about this woman before any of us should, I believe, form solid judgments. Fact-checking, critical thinking, vetting by those who would hire her and yes, journalistic investigation--all are very much essential. Many people voted in George Bush because he seemed to the uninformed a "regular guy" you could "have a beer with" (contrary to his actual silver-spoon upbringing). We can't select our leaders because they seem like us; I want a leader who knows MORE than me about the constitution, for example, and about peacemaking, and about the lessons of history, and about economics. Being a tough, faith-driven, pro-choice new governor can be admirable--but that doesn't qualify you to run the country. And when this same woman in her convention speech puts herself in the same experiential league as Hillary Clinton, denigrates community service, and claims someone who doesn't call for the impossible and simplistic "Victory" in Iraq is unpatriotic, the ugly spectre of more lie-based war and immoral death and destruction raises its head for me.) I feel I must learn much more about her before making my final judgment. So far, all my research is coming up with more minuses than pluses, but even that is premature. (btw, I agree on the geekness of the Obama parenting style--saw an article in People that made me think the same thing!)

By Sarah L from Minneapolis, MN @ Monday, September 08, 2008 11:43 PM

In the interest of fairness to Ms. Palin, I need to amend my response dated 09/06/08 at 10:22PM.

According to an e-mail sent out today by Factcheck.org, Sarah Palin "did not demand that books be banned from the Wasilla library. Some of the books on a widely circulated list were not even in print at the time. The librarian has said Palin asked a "What if?" question, but the librarian continued in her job through most of Palin's first term."

It seems that the claim that Sarah Palin attempted to have books banned from the library is not correct. So, I would like to withdraw the first two items on my list of people who couldn't like Sarah Palin. I disagree with her on many, if not most, issues, but I will not spread lies about her.

I stand by the remainder of the items on my list. I also encourage everyone reading this post to investigate for themselves what Sarah Palin has done and what she stands for, as I am doing. Whether you agree with her or not, whether you support her or not, please do so from a place of informed understanding.

Respectfully submitted,

Sarah L

By Doug @ Monday, September 22, 2008 2:50 AM

"Sarah Palin "winged" her speech because of "broken" teleprompter"

This was proven to be inaccurate. She has lied about this several times. I'm not sure why she feels she has to use this angle. Why does she feel using a teleprompter is a bad thing? Most speakers use one. Perhaps it's her inexperience making her insecure.

By Martha @ Friday, October 10, 2008 12:43 PM

As a proud American living abroad, I must admit that watching Sarah Palin speak in public about my country is about as painful as it gets for me (other than giving birth). I have absolutely loved and been deeply inspired by your two books, Marybeth, encouraging us as parents, but I was shocked and so disappointed to hear you endorse Sarah Palin in any way. Yes, she is a woman. Yes, she is a mother. Yes, she says she is a Christian. Yes, she has managed to ascend to public office. However, while she might be fit to serve in the aforelisted positions, she is clearly unfit to serve in the second-highest position of office in the United States. I believe that this was a dangerous choice for McCain to make, and her being 'a heartbeat away from the presidency' could have extremely dire consequences for us all should the Republican ticket win in November.

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