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National Politics Wed Jul 08 2009
Politics and Bad Basketball Analogies
I imagine most Gapers Block readers don't care much about Sarah Palin's machinations (at least not as much as Andrew "Fatal Attraction" Sullivan). But I'm offended by her and her spokespeople's terrible basketball analogies. (see Anderson cooper's hilarious confusion here and Deadspin's take here.
Sarah Palin was apparently as bad a basketball player as she is policy wonk. A good point guard, faced with a full court press, does not pass the ball and walk off the court as she is doing. I've watched some excellent point guards like Rod Strickland, Mark Jackson, Stephon Marbury, Derrick Rose, play basketball. A good point guard breaks down the defense with some great ball handling skills, skillful passing and fluid court movements. It seems that Sarah Palin went to the Kurt "dribble dribble dribble shot clock running out do something" Hinrich point guard school. Really good politicians are probably like good point guards. Some attack the basket and break down defenses (a la Rahm Emmanuel). Some probe the defense and force them into missteps and over commitments and break 'em down (Obama?). And then of course there's Richard Daley, who's probably less of a point guard and more of an Anthony Mason-Charles Oakely-Shaq intimidator.
