governor palin: common sense in hong kong
**Post originally appeared on Palin Twibe Blog on September 23, 2009**
As most of us are aware, Governor Sarah Palin gave what was considered, by all accounts, a thoughtful, wide-ranging, and effective speech in Hong Kong a few hours ago. Though the event (an investors forum sponsored by CLSA) was closed to the media, a few snippets managed to escape into the online world thanks to a few tech-savvy attendees (see the New York Times’ round up here). Personally, I followed the play-by-play on Twitter (via @cellomonkey and @casinclair) and from what I saw, Governor Palin - again - set herself apart as the People’s Politician.
The Governor’s common sense approach to life and the issues we face - collectively and individually - is one that effectively speaks to us regular folk across the globe. Not only did Governor Palin applaud the wonders of American ingenuity (regarding Facebook: “…it shows we still got it!”), she also looked hopefully toward a “China that is stable and peaceful and prosperous.” At the same time, Governor Palin noted the realities of global conditions, be it the human rights oppressions in China or the continued threats of terror rooted in Afghanistan, and spoke to the need for the world’s vigilance and attention.
In short, Governor Palin addressed the complexities of the world in a way that most of us speak of the complexities of daily life: We want to appreciate and nurture the best aspects as we take steps to correct those that need correcting. This is one of the reasons that the Governor is such a powerful force in the political discourse of our time.
Governor Palin understands that we live in an exceptional country. One that is blessed with a diversity of talent (and the freedom to explore it) that leads to innovative and creative advances in every imaginable field. It is also true, however, that we have serious challenges to address, and Governor Palin knows that successful solutions will have their genesis locally - in our families and with our hometown elected officials. She doesn’t have all the answers. And the fact that she embraces this fact is further evidence of her Main Street credentials.
The Hong Kong speech was a good beginning for Governor Palin. It was an appearance on the world stage that occurred on her own terms, and in her own words, and I look forward to hearing more from her over the next few months. As more people have the opportunity to connect with the Sarah Palin many of us came to admire in the fall of 2008, I have little doubt that those who are truly open to finding out who she is and what she believes will come to respect the woman they may have previously dismissed.
- tdc
