Going Rogue: An American Life

The politics of resentment (2010-07-28) : 2/5
Disclaimer: I am a liberal Democrat and supported Barack Obama in the 2008 election.

My take: I gave the book 2 stars because there is some good stuff in the book. She does talk about a couple of the unfair attacks leveled against her (the fake "books that Palin tried to ban list") and here and there admits to mistakes (e. g., when she underestimated the effect of the sexism that Hillary Clinton encountered).

She also does a good job talking about the unique geography of Alaska and how that affects state politics. She also accuses BP of cutting corners when it comes to safety! (remember this is a 2009 book).

She points out that she favored title IX (unlike many conservatives) and she discussed the procedure for judge selection in Alaska.

I also enjoyed her insights into the Native Alaskan culture. And, as fellow runner, I enjoyed her snippets about running and finishing a sub 4 hour marathon (not easy to do for most of us).

Her bit about seeing Joe Biden just prior to the VP debate was funny too.

But, unfortunately, most of the political "thought" in this book is simple Fox News talking points, presented with no facts to back them up. There are scores of whines about being condescended to, insults directed at "elites" and "experts", and the usual barbs directed at "granola, hybrid driving Berkeley grads."

Don't expect to find a "heavyweight" book (say, like John McCain's Faith of My Fathers). Of course, this means that you can read and easily understand this book when you are tired; the book makes few (if any) demands on the reader.

She does talk about the 2008 campaign and mostly blames the McCain staff and the "biased media" for her troubles; she also thinks that she did well during her VP debate with then Senator Biden.

If you are the type who thinks that Fox News is "fair and balanced", who thinks that your understanding of the Constitution rivals that of a law professor and that your understanding of the economy is on a par (or superior!) to that of a Nobel Prize winning economist, and that your "common sense" makes you a better judge of scientific facts that professional scientists, then you'll love this book.

I've posted a lengthier review on my personal website and at Daily Kos.
Going Rogue Going to China (2010-07-22) : 4/5
This is a review I wrote for Chinese media at the release of this book's Chinese translation:

The expansion of Chinese colleges a few years ago seems to have produced more graduates for the market to absorb. As students are desperate to find their first jobs, why wouldn't some of these them start by working in factories that are in bad need for workers? Most parents wouldn't want their children to start their lives that way. Instead, they would expect their kids, often single children in the family, to be brought up the V.I.P. style, for bigger accomplishments, pursuing bigger dreams.

Fair enough.

However, the road to V.I.P. often begins from Very Insignificant Places, say, a dirty parking lot. I know a woman just like that. She is from an ordinary family who started her first job by sweeping parking lots and apartment buildings, bringing home thirty dollars a week. She loved sports, funding her trips to out-of-state events by raking leaves, babysitting, or whatever odd jobs that came her way. She dreamed of becoming a sports reporter some day. With some twists and turns in fortunes, she landed a job as the governor of Alaska, then candidate for the Vice President of the United States, and now a possible candidate for Presidency in 2012.

Yes, that is Sarah Palin.

Palin's recently released biography had been rather popular in the United States. "Going rogue," means doing something mischievous or not playing by rules. In 2008, when John McCain, then Presidential candidate for the Republican Party, nominated Palin as his campaign partner, one of McCain's aides complained to CNN that this is "going rogue." The phrase stuck. It went on to become the title of this book, suggesting that Palin is still unique and green, untainted by the clichés and corruption of Washington politics. Not a bad label to be stuck with when the whole nation is chanting the songs of change.

Before emerging into public awareness, Palin had been governor of Alaska, the largest state in the United States. She was doing pretty well for herself as the governor in this state. In the midst of the current Mexican oil spill crisis, some of Palin's political feats may still ring a bell for Americans. She once was faced with a similar oil spill in Alaska. Adopting a populist position, she managed to bring big oil to its knees through a marathon lawsuit spanning two decades. In this autobiography, she talked passionately about energy independence, moral reformation, and other topics favored by conservatives. The book offered a glimpse of how it all happened, how an Alaskan girl in the middle of nowhere could move to the center stage of Alaskan and then American politics, especially in the somewhat melodramatic developments in 2008, culminating in her Vice President candidacy.

The book also presented a fascinating view of her family and her personal life back in Alaska. Palin is a mother of five, with the oldest son serving in Iraq and the youngest having severe physical difficulties. She could be anybody or nobody. Her eventual rise is a story of success for someone from a small town in America. Some places read like youth lit to me, with girly details that might fascinate female readers, for instance her coming-of-age story, her love, her first kiss, her childbirth. Her love story is especially interesting - her friend is a 50% Eskimo and 100% fisherman, as his fathers and father's fathers have been. The two eloped and went on to register their marriage. Court clerks required them to have a witness for such registration, so they went to the Senior residence across the street, pushed a wheel-chaired senior to be their witness and sworn themselves into marriage. The registration clerk, being first time at the job, cried while reading their wedding vows. After their marriage, they left a note at the doorway of Palin's mom. The mom cried too, this time out of anger.

In any case, the biography is actually a rather typical American story with the familiar moral lesson: a hero is a hero no matter where he or she is from. The story went from the past to present and is bound to move on, gathering some momentum with her candidacy and this book. Years ago, when she was competing for the Miss Alaska title, one of the judges asked her if she'd believe women can become a Vice President. She snapped: yes. The judge went on to ask if she would vote for such a female candidate. She said she would rather cast her vote based on political views, not gender preferences. That must have impressed the judges then and there. A quarter of a century later, things said in those days seemed to have become footnotes of what actually happened. But she writes that she does not believe in coincidences. She believes all things happen for a reason and lead towards a grander purpose: Palin is a Christian.

Palin's story describes stories of many Americans -- plus the politics of course. Like many middle class Americans, her growth involves sports, Bible classes, 4H camps, girl scouts and all such good old American activities. It should not have surprised so many that McCain chose her to be the campaign partner. People want a girl-next-door kind of figure to represent them in Washington. Besides, she seems young, fresh, full of energy, in many ways - I wouldn't name which - contrasting McCain. There is a good balance in the tightrope walk towards the center of power. Americans who support her would find it easy to consider her as "one of us."

Like many conservatives in the United States, Palin has high respect for President Reagan, a big advocate for small government and less tax. Reagan believes that the United States is a force for good. After Watergate and the Iran hostage crisis and all such drama, Americans started to have doubts about themselves. Reagan cheered them up and injected a new hope in the collective psyche of America, making Americans believe once again that they can be the light on the hill. Reagan helped America to win the cold war without actually fighting a battle. Palin said that the Iran crisis had lasted 444 with the Carter government clueless on what to do, resulting in huge humiliation for America. When Reagan came to power, the problem came to a quick solution. Based on what we read in Chinese books, it is a scandal of Reagan swapping weapons for hostages. However, Palin offered a different interpretation of what happened that year. She said the main reason is that Reagan has a "steel spine" without which weapons would not be of any use, even if you offer nuclear weapons. From the Republican perspective, Democrats (at least some of them) have a little chiropractic problem, a weakness that Democrats do not really want to be associated with in such gross generalizations. However, generalizations are sometimes useful for foreign readers to understand the confusing political forces at play in a different country. You can discern the finer differences later on when there are some basic understanding what these two-party system is all about.

Palin seems to suggest that the Republicans do not have a spine problem. When President George W. Bush was in power, he became a laughing stock for late-night talk shows. However, in spite of all the doubts about his intellectual sophistication, few people made fun of his moral clarity. If he believes something to be right, he really persists, with sincerity and often zeal. The democratic President Barak Obama, however, does not impress the Chinese as having such moral clarity. In his first visit to China, he seemed rather ambivalent on many issues, so much so that a Chinese blogger Hecaitou coined a term calling him "xinima"(meaning a horse staying at the same place muddying things over). For instance, he did not use phrase such as "I am against censorship" which Chinese audiences would love to hear as this is something the masses struggle with. Instead, President Obama uses a much weaker phrase saying he is a big supporter of non-censorship. China did not return his ambivalence with favor. On his first trip to China, Mr. Obama did not actually accomplish much, not even the change of his Chinese name. Chinese calls him while the US Embassy in China wants that changed to "". Chinese media, from Xinhua News Agency to Xinjiang Daily, just went ahead ignoring that wish. In terms of moral clarity, Palin seems to indicate that she inherited the best from the Republican patriarchs. This probably is a tactic to address doubts about her intellectual powers, something that media, her party and her opponents sometimes fault her with.

With much hype building towards the launch, the book became an instant bestseller in 2009. In order to write the book, Palin spent weeks in San Diego with her ghostwriter, the famous Lynn Vincent. The book was first released in 1.5 million copies, as many as the autobiography of Ted Kennedy. It soared to the top of best-selling lists. Palin then resigned from her governor's post, possibly to help in the promotion of this book. Around the time of the book's release, there was much news about or from her, including allegedly inappropriate dress on the Newsweek cover, and doubts about Obama's birth certificate. No matter what you think of her and how the media treats her, one thing is sure: it is now hard to ignore her importance after the September 3, 2008 nomination at the Republicans' national convention. In America, books seem to add to political weights. Writing a bestseller is one good way to speak to the public about where you are from and what you are all about. Think of Obama and the Audacity of Hope.

I hope this book can provide a unique perspective for Chinese readers to understand US politics, the Republican Party, conservative values, or perhaps, what US school sports, hunting and first kisses are all about.

And alas, if only we had a guy or girl going rogue about our politics in this unsettling and costly pursuit of a harmonious society!
Palin President ! (2010-07-21) : 5/5


Just started it.

A mix between politics, life/family and outdoor/nature/wild !
A Great Read! (2010-07-21) : 5/5
This is a fresh look at politics that even a non-politico like me can appreciate. It is well written, with a light tone, but doesn't make light of serious events. I recommend this to anyone with interest in Sarah Palin or who is disgusted with the current political scene.
Wikitution (2010-07-20) : 1/5
George W(orst president ever) bu$h having completedly shredded the first Constitution ("Stop waving the Constitution in my face. It's just a @%$#&%@ piece of paper!"), the vast, right-wing conspiracy now has a new one available online. It's the Wikitution and, like wikipedia, people can logon and write what they always wished were in the original Constitution. Some recent...uhmendments:

1. States can, and should, secede.
2. The nation was founded on christian principles, including witch-burning, slavery, and women leaving home only for church, where they must remain silent, as the Bible says.
3. Blacks and women were never supposed to vote, much less hold office...Sarah.
4. Only wealthy male landowners may vote.
5. The Fedrul Gubmnt is unwikitutional.
6. There should be no taxes. Period.
7. The Pentagon should be a for-profit corporation, not a bunch of welfare queens depending on tax money, which shouldn't exist.
8. Where it never was before, it is now possible for someone to be a muslim, a communist and a nazi, all at the same time.
9. Where it never was before, it is now possible for someone to be born in more than one country, say Kenya and Indonesia, at the same time.
10. Where it never was before, 1962 (the year President Obama, for example, was born) now came BEFORE 1960 (the year, for instance, Hawaii became a state). So while President Obama, for instance, was, in fact, born in Hawaii (as well as those other two exotic foreign countries), he did it before Hawaii became a state, and is therefore ineligible to be president.
11. The Founding Fathers refudiated England.