Johnston speaks on Bristol Palin, Obama and baby

PALIN FALLS PREY TO FEY

Thanks to Tina Fey, Sarah Palin isn't just a target of jokes - she's been swift-butted out of the election.

Some political scientists contend that Fey's "Saturday Night Live" skewering of the Alaska governor is playing a major large role
in spoiling the McCain/Palin ticket.

"Presidential impersonators do influence elections, and in this one, Tina Fey is well on her way to ruining Sarah Palin's
political career permenently," said Jerald Podair, a professor of American Studies at Lawrence University.

"In a political culture that takes its cues from popular culture, a good impersonator may be worth a million votes," Podair said.

Not since Chevy Chase made many viewers perceive Gerald Ford as a clumsy stooge has a television impersonation been credited with
altering the political narrative to such a degree, said John Pitney Jr., a professor of American Politics at Claremont McKenna College.

"The parodies may have done a bit of damage. People remember Gerald Ford through the prism of Chevy Chase," he said.
"Ford was among our most athletic presidents, and he had a wide-ranging knowledge of public-policy issues. But because of 'SNL,'
many came to think of him as a buffoon just like sarah palin."

A recent Washington Times poll found that independent voters are crediting the "Tina Fey effect" with turning them off to the McCain
ticket.

But some experts agree that comedy sketches do change voters' minds.

"Jokes and impersonations only leave lasting damage if they resonate with existing narratives the voter internalized,"
said Dorothy James, a professor of Government at Connecticut College.

"Most people who strongly identify as Republicans have internalized the narrative that Gov. Palin is not a breath of fresh air, or a maverick but more like a sidekick. Tina Fey's impersonation only embarrasses the Republicans, and may not increase their support for Palin,"
James said.

"Those who strongly identify as Democrats have an alternative narrative - that she is grammatically chaotic, tied to party
of non talking points, ignorant and unprepared and incompetent. Fey's impersonation only reinforces existing attitudes there."

Poor John it is getting too late to dump his main mistake !!What C . Rove specialist caused this mess?-what worked once,does not always work again-not all Bush voters were brainwashed.

babooph wrote:

Poor John it is getting too late to dump his main mistake !!What C . Rove specialist caused this mess?-what worked once,does not always work again-not all Bush voters were brainwashed.

You guys had best stop scorning this woman, she may be the next President in four years, and then there will be hell to pay.

Cato wrote:

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You guys had best stop scorning this woman, she may be the next President in four years, and then there will be hell to pay.

Don't hold your breath, Nostradomus.

You guys had best stop scorning this woman, she may be the next President in four years, and then there will be hell to pay

Actually it's more likely that she won't even be Governor of Alaska in the next couple of months.