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"Starbursts": Lowry says Palin can overcome lack of "substance" because "it's not rocket science"

February 08, 2010 3:43 pm ET

From the February 8 edition of Fox News' America Live:

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Lowry previously wrote of Palin:

A very wise TV executive once told me that the key to TV is projecting through the screen. It's one of the keys to the success of, say, a Bill O'Reilly, who comes through the screen and grabs you by the throat. Palin too projects through the screen like crazy. I'm sure I'm not the only male in America who, when Palin dropped her first wink, sat up a little straighter on the couch and said, "Hey, I think she just winked at me." And her smile. By the end, when she clearly knew she was doing well, it was so sparkling it was almost mesmerizing. It sent little starbursts through the screen and ricocheting around the living rooms of America. This is a quality that can't be learned; it's either something you have or you don't, and man, she's got it.

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    • Author by raddave43 (February 08, 2010 3:53 pm ET)
      11  
      Yeah, it really only takes a couple of days to get caught up on substance.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by bilbo_dies (February 08, 2010 4:19 pm ET)
        7  
        Since her depth of knowledge and understanding is obviously pretty shallow, what she really needs is a pollster to tell her what she needs to be saying.

        Then, like Lowry says:
        "when Palin dropped her first wink, sat up a little straighter on the couch and said, "Hey, I think she just winked at me.""

        Americans tend to be so shallow.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by National_Insecurity (February 09, 2010 1:53 am ET)
             
          Schwing!

          Rich must have spent a lot of time in his parent's basement. Notice that at no time does he mention a WORD she said.
          Report Abuse
      • Author by gg (February 08, 2010 4:34 pm ET)
        10  
        Yeah, we know how well things worked out with dumb and now you want to go with dumber.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by snewkirk (February 08, 2010 8:31 pm ET)
        2  
        It's not rocket science. That's what's so wild about considering Palin as a serious candidate. She flubs up on matters that are very hardly complicated.

        She ought to study up on policy issues like she WAS studying rocket science. She needs to show some respect for the potential constituents she so eagerly & apparently wants to govern. She's so elementary. It's sad & potentially scary.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by National_Insecurity (February 09, 2010 2:03 am ET)
          1  
          Imagine Dr. Palin preparing to operate on you.

          It's great that she inspires you with that wink, but once you're anesthetized and she whips out the scalpel what are the chances you'll wake up again? She's just the type of person who believes she doesn't need a medical degree, years of residency, years of specialty training, and board certification because she's so confident in her natural abilities.

          Your heirs won't need to bother calling John Edwards to file a malpractice case.
          Report Abuse
    • Author by shaggles (February 08, 2010 3:56 pm ET)
      18  
      If you think the woman on tv is actually winking at you then you may want to seek psychiatric help.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by DAWUSS (February 08, 2010 4:22 pm ET)
        4  
        "Back. Away. From. The. TV." ;)
        Report Abuse
      • Author by jjamele2880 (February 08, 2010 8:23 pm ET)
        2  
        Wait a minute, what are you saying? Are you suggesting that when I watch "Caprica," Alessandra Torressani is NOT flirting with me?

        Take it back!
        Report Abuse
    • Author by historygeek001 (February 08, 2010 3:58 pm ET)
      17  
      Nah. It's not rocket science. Everybody knows that politics is completely simple -- just ask the experts: Beck (failed out of college), Limbaugh (failed out of college) and Hannity (failed out of college).
      Report Abuse
    • Author by For.America.2600 (February 08, 2010 4:04 pm ET)
      7  
      Just building up her personality cult.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Bad News (February 08, 2010 4:06 pm ET)
      15  
      A 46 year old woman without substance?

      Hey, Let's make her President of the United States.

      President Obama, "My mother would wake me at 5am to Word Play"
      Harvard Law Review, Well Read & A Critical Thinker.

      How do i decide who to support?


      Mr. News
      Report Abuse
      • Author by Bad News (February 08, 2010 4:24 pm ET)
        14  
        I guess Kelly didn't think it would be a good question to ask why John McCain would pick a Vice Presidential running mate with no substance.


        Mr. News
        Report Abuse
    • Author by fishgirl26 (February 08, 2010 4:06 pm ET)
      12  
      Didn't Bush think "hey, I'm the decider and this stuff isn't rocket science". Yeah, and he drove the country off a cliff. Our leaders need brains and clearly Barbie isn't ready.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by Major Tom (February 08, 2010 4:22 pm ET)
        7  
        Yeah, do we really want to see that movie again?
        Report Abuse
        • Author by John Paradox (February 08, 2010 5:10 pm ET)
          5  
          Yeah, they're remaking Thelma and Louise with Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck in the lead roles....
          Report Abuse
    • Author by liberalXtian (February 08, 2010 4:07 pm ET)
      12  
      Scary! Lowry thinks Palin can be President because of some freakish fantasy he has about her after one of her winks. It is not Palin's lack of substance I am concerned with, but those voters who actually think she is qualified to hold office.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by bilbo_dies (February 08, 2010 4:40 pm ET)
        7  
        Yes, it is scary. When McCain nominated Palin for V.P. the consensus around the office was that she was "good looking". I'm pretty sure I never heard the words "knowledgeable, experience, intelligent, etc".

        I will grant that we (as americans) tend to cut attractive people more slack than those that aren't. That isn't a quality we should be proud of though. (my opinion)
        Report Abuse
    • Author by snoopy (February 08, 2010 4:10 pm ET)
      13  
      So basically all Palin needs to know about substance fits in the palm of her hand?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by jediknight65 (February 08, 2010 4:12 pm ET)
      10  
      yeah george bush proved you can be an idiot and not have substance. should be easy sailing for palin
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Porkeater (February 08, 2010 4:13 pm ET)
      10  
      I thought we would have learned how wrong it is to hire a president who is "like us" or seems "nice to have a beer with". So much worse because somebody allegedly sprinkles alleged stardust.

      (Fake) Hockey Mom for president? No dice. Deep-thinking, well-read, sensible and reasoned law professor for president? Better. Empathy is no qualification for leadership. Effective leaders are exceptional. Effective leaders do more and do better than Joe Six-Pack. And by "more" i don't mean they are better media wh0res. By "better" i don't mean they play on our basest feelings.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by rms (February 08, 2010 5:20 pm ET)
        6  
        "I thought we would have learned how wrong it is to hire a president who is "like us" or seems "nice to have a beer with."

        Exactly.

        I want a president who is about 50 times - if not more - smarter than I am...
        Report Abuse
    • Author by nerzog (February 08, 2010 4:15 pm ET)
      12  
      Palin too projects through the screen like crazy.


      As does this guy...

      [http://cassiekleinsmith.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/kermit1.jpg]
      Report Abuse
    • Author by temphandle tearfully55timetable (February 08, 2010 4:19 pm ET)
      9  
      So, basically being leader of the free world is not rocket science. How insulting to World Leaders. Reading a text book and boning up on current events/issues does not make you a leader of a complex world! Hello!!!!!! This is the level of intelligence this person is expecting from an elected official? A TV personality who gives him a woody!? Wow, talk about having high expectations!
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Dradeeus (February 08, 2010 4:19 pm ET)
      6  
      I guess this continues a trend of reporting. She doesn't need to be educated in politics, she just has to look like she does.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Samurai Cowboy (February 08, 2010 4:24 pm ET)
      7  
      "when Palin dropped her first wink, sat up a little straighter on the couch and said, "Hey, I think she just winked at me."

      Yep. That's Eli Mae Palin'sNasty Mommys wink. Wink wink. Nudge nudge
      Report Abuse
    • Author by skycatcher (February 08, 2010 4:31 pm ET)
      12  
      Now I'm confused; weren't we told it was a MAJOR issue that Obama "lacked substance?"
      Report Abuse
    • Author by lede39571545 (February 08, 2010 4:32 pm ET)
      6  
      Is this a 'round-about-way of acknowledging Sarah Palin is "stoopid"????
      Report Abuse
    • Author by mjh (February 08, 2010 4:35 pm ET)
      5  
      "Starbursts": Lowry says Palin can overcome lack of "substance" because "it's not rocket science"


      Um, no, Rich; Palin can overcome her lack of substance -- BY ACQUIRING SOME.

      And BTW, Rich: those weren't "starbursts" that were ricocheting around the room and on your TV screen when you thought Palin winked at you . . .

      Report Abuse
    • Author by nerzog (February 08, 2010 4:38 pm ET)
      7  
      It sent little starbursts through the screen and ricocheting around the living rooms of America.


      The amazing thing... the disturbing thing... the frightening thing is that these fools get paid a lot of money to peddle crap like this.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by smarshall1432997 (February 08, 2010 5:10 pm ET)
        5  
        Palin is like 'middle and low' income Americans which is a multi-millionaire in just ONE year after running for VP of the USA. What a great gig to have achieved when one looses in a Vice Presidential Campaign, huh? Hmmm. Only in America - LOL.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by mjh (February 08, 2010 7:19 pm ET)
          2  
          "Palin is like 'middle and low' income Americans which is a multi-millionaire in just ONE year after running for VP of the USA."


          Reminds me of how Roseanne described her and her then-husband after her TV show hit big:

          "We're America's worst nightmare: white trash with money!"

          "What a great gig to have achieved when one looses in a Vice Presidential Campaign, huh? Hmmm. Only in America - LOL."


          Yep -- only in America does a failed VP candidate get DAILY briefings on the economy, foreign policy, and other goings-on in Washington, courtesy of her PAC.

          Or so she said this past Sunday in her interview with FOX's Chris Wallace . . . when I heard that, I thought to myself, hm, can I get daily briefings from DC? I figure if an unemployed hockey mom can, I should be able to . . .

          Report Abuse
    • Author by AB-001 (February 08, 2010 4:43 pm ET)
      8  
      So we should lower our expectations on the qualifications held by leader of the free world? Just a wink, a few quips, and a note filled hand?
      Report Abuse
      • Author by mjh (February 08, 2010 4:59 pm ET)
        4  
        "So we should lower our expectations on the qualifications held by leader of the free world?"


        After George W. Bush, I don't think that's possible . . .

        Report Abuse
        • Author by nerzog (February 08, 2010 5:04 pm ET)
          5  
          He set the bar so high, don't ya know...

          [http://www.independent.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00044/Volleyball15_44036s.jpg]
          Report Abuse
          • Author by mjh (February 08, 2010 7:08 pm ET)
            2  
            Whoa -- weren't these the same people who whined when Obama supposedly ogled a fully dressed woman?

            [http://www.andersontalkzone.com/composition/attachment/5e5a95be6310803ce9b611c0f70096b3/371100/obama%20ogles%20girl.jpg]

            Wait, I forgot -- IOKIYAR.



            Report Abuse
        • Author by IRONY 101 (February 08, 2010 5:30 pm ET)
          4  
          Sarah Palin makes George W. Bush look like a Rhodes Scholar.
          Report Abuse
    • Author by bilbo_dies (February 08, 2010 4:49 pm ET)
      6  
      Lowry says Palin can overcome lack of "substance" because "it's not rocket science"


      Yup, and if Palin was president I am sure she could keep someone like this firmly in his place, with just a wink.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by lede39571545 (February 08, 2010 5:20 pm ET)
      6  
      My parents instilled in me the value of a good, quality education. My father's job was to be the breadwinner; my mother's job was to make a home. My job was to go to school and learn. Somehow I am sensing the Palins, Becks, Hannity's and others, are attempting to de-intellectualize America and particularly the current administration. Given the multitude of concerns facing America at present, it seems to me America needs an intelligent leader with common sense in office. Palin accuses the President of using a teleprompter -at least he can read a speech of substance. She writes notes in the palm of her hand (haven't done that since 5th grade) and still cannot give a coherent non-attack speech. Boggles the mind. What do they really want????Are they jealous???
      Report Abuse
    • Author by BreezyBelle (February 08, 2010 6:04 pm ET)
      1  
      If, by some freaking turn of misfortune, Palin actually gets elected President of this country - who is actually going to be pulling her strings and making her talk... Rush, Beck, Hannity... or FOX?? Seriously - if we wanted a puppet master in the White House, we'd elect Jeff Dunham.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by NewBee (February 08, 2010 6:21 pm ET)
      3  
      Perhaps Palin is simply afraid of succumbing to "substance abuse". I guess she thinks its better to abstain altogether.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by overmars jr. (February 08, 2010 6:36 pm ET)
      1  
      Palin too projects through the screen like crazy.


      Not unlike her entire movement.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Sks1 (February 08, 2010 10:36 pm ET)
      1  
      the only ones arguing that palin had more experience the Obama are the propaganda machine at fox news and the teabaggers of who are loyal viewers of fixed news. palin may have had experience in public office, however her lack of any thing of substance politically was and still is very telling...so let the wingnuts keep pushing this absurb notion that palin is qualified to be president,,im certain the democrats would love that match up palin vs obama
      Report Abuse
    • Author by donwelty (February 08, 2010 10:37 pm ET)
      1  
      It may not be rocket science, but the questions "What periodicals do you read?" and "Who is your favorite founding father?" are not rocket science questions. Sarah is 0 for 2.

      Report Abuse
    • Author by discode (February 09, 2010 2:27 am ET)
         
      I was more offended by them saying a half term governor has more experience than Obama.
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