Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Sarah Palin Channel

(30 second Wall Street Journal version is here)

The Sarah Palin Channel looks intriguing.  You can watch it on your computer, tablet or smart phone. Cost is $9.95/mo or $99.95/year. (Those who sign up by August 1 get an extra two free months.)

Palin is on the cutting edge of major political figures using technology to reach the popular audience. She's not afraid to think outside the box--which is what we need in light of the crumbling credibility of all branches of the federal government and the news media.

It reminds of Ronald Reagan's over 1,000 radio addresses given between 1975 and 1979 before he became president. In these he reached out to the popular audience via the easy access technology of his day. He also honed his stand and presentation of the pressing issues facing the nation. Palin has looked at Reagan's actions as well as his political philosophy and learned from them.

H/T MaxRedline

11 comments:

MAX Redline said...

Appreciate the nod, TD...but it looks a trifle spendy to me. Still, I was kind of intrigued by the move.

T. D. said...

You're right it's not going to appeal to the common man--though we spend about $55/mo on satellite and only regularly watch 3 or 4 channels. So, in effect, we're paying $15+/mo for each of them.

I think this move builds on the Fox News commentator skills which are good for honing the short answer/commentary that is necessary in media bite politics.

The channel is better for taking on lots of issues, like Reagan did in his radio addresses. Both thinking about them and then presenting a concise public summary. I think that, more than his acting skills, helped make him one of the greatest presidential "communicators".

Finally, there is little infrastructure cost because of the digital format and her ability to make the Fox commentary segments at her home with Todd running the camera. She is savvy, as the Oregonian is not, in using her base to expand her impact at very little cost. In effect, this is a high class video podcast. If it takes off, all the better. If not, like Reagan, she will construct and practice political argument/presentation on a wide variety of political issues.

And it may be a way of publicly disseminating parts of some of her speeches where her real communication skills shine.

She is very smart!

T. D. said...

One other thing, Max. The cost makes it hard for a lot of snarky comments. You have to be really committed to pony up $10/mo or $100/yr to snark. Even if you do, you will be one of only a few. So, the comments section will be peopled by those who like her. They feel they get a real say she will pay attention to and don't have to deal with the hatred the left usually doles out.

MAX Redline said...

The snark factor is why I mentioned that Lefty heads will explode over this development, TD - imagine them having to pay her in order to ridicule what she says!

I'd forgotten that she has a kind of in-home studio thing going; that's a good point: in essence, she's piggybacking off the infrastructure already in place. That's a pretty good plan.

T. D. said...

Max, I signed up, and saw only one snarky comment on a segment showing Sarah reading to and feeding Trig. It immediately got a rebuttal. There were about 40 regular comments that were positive (as one would expect with a mother playing with her special needs child).

Yes, it seems to cost almost nothing and yet provides significant opportunity to hone communication skills and ramp up her base (and she doesn't have to travel all over the country on Air Force One to do it). In this she is showing a lot more smarts than anyone else in current politics.

MAX Redline said...

Cool, TD! I didn't sign up, as I've been busy supporting the economy in other ways: got a $30 pair of Coleman Riverwalk sandals for half off today - seems I lost the old sandals somehow. And I got a fairly good deal on a Civic Si 6-speed with racing suspension, steering, and stabilization.

I was just looking for more room than the little Fit Sport I'd been driving for years. It's 8 years old, but I still got over $6k in trade-in. The Civic has way more room, and when the Vtek kicks in, it's kind of like being in a rocket.

Looking forward to your insights into the Palin Channel!

T. D. said...

Sounds like you got some good deals and will have some fun with both in getting from here to there in style.

You need to paint racing stripes on your new Civic. Heh. What a fun ride!

I know I won't look at the site every day, but if anything of significant interest comes along, I'll post on it.

My big splurge this month is buying new 3000 joule surge protectors. My brother had two of his start to melt and almost cause a fire. So, I'm replacing all of ours at about $25 a pop. Cheap considering what they may save in fire damage.


MAX Redline said...

My big splurge this month is buying new 3000 joule surge protectors. My brother had two of his start to melt and almost cause a fire. So, I'm replacing all of ours at about $25 a pop. Cheap considering what they may save in fire damage.

Yow! Good idea!

T. D. said...

I thought the same thing, Max. A friend of his is an electrician and said he shouldn't buy anything less than 3000 joule protection. Within the last year I "upgraded" two of my old power strips to a 1440 ($20) and 790 ($10) joule protectors, and now they have to go to the Salvation Army along with all my others. Live and learn.

MAX Redline said...

Good to know, about the joule ratings. Not sure how high mine rate, but they do carry $25,000 equipment protection guarantees - supposedly.

T. D. said...

That sounds like it will do it, Max. The crazy thing is that the units don't say anything about joules on them. It's only on the box. I only know about the ones I bought a year and a half ago because I happened to write it down on my mail order check off list.