What an Ice Queen

Palin's "Mad as Hell" Speech
Outgoing Alaska Governor Lashes Out at Media in Resignation Address, But Will It Work in the Long Term?

CBS) In a fiery speech that felt more like a partisan campaign rally than a formal transfer of power, outgoing Alaska Governor Sarah Palin reflected upon her administration's most significant achievements and shared her vision for the country's future. But the address was most notable for Palin's remarkably blunt swipes at her favorite nemesis: the media.

In her nearly 20-minute speech, which directly preceded incoming governor Sean Parnell's swearing in, Palin had only a few words to say about her successor, but she had plenty of advice for journalists.

"You represent what could and should be a respected, honest profession that could and should be a cornerstone of our democracy," she said. "Democracy depends on you, and that is why-that's why our troops are willing to die for you. So how about in honor of the American soldier, you quit makin' things up."

Palin did not elaborate on her accusation, which in borrowing from her former running mate, John McCain, she described as "some straight talk," but the crowd on hand rewarded the line with its heartiest round of applause.

Her now several weeks old public feud with David Letterman over the late-night comedian's failed joke about one of her daughters was apparently still smarting, as she leaned forward into the microphone and added angrily, "One other thing for the media, our new governor has a very nice family, too, so leave his kids alone."

The heated tenor that Palin employed to lash out at the press and others who she said were "hell-bent on tearing down our nation," was the exclamation point on a dramatic turnaround in her relationship with the media, which had once been something close to symbiotic.

I'm not going to get too political because I don't have anything to be bitter about here but I do have an anecdote about Sarah Palin. When I was at my SID Conference in San Antone we had a session with a PR flack who had reperesented President Bush, Alex Rodriguez and the McCain/Palin ticket, amongst other Death Star villain types. This guy has an unenviable job but since he's good at it, he makes more money than Bubba Gump. And honestly his strategy was refreshing. He urges his clients to come clean and then they can frame the discussion. Good advice.

But out of all of his shady clients, Sarah Palin was the only one who would not take his advice. In some ways I feel for her. I don't think she had any idea what she was getting into and the people around McCain who brought her onto the ticket ought to be flogged with a water hose. That said, she doesn't seem to have any reservation about staying in the limelight. And if that's a place she wants to stay then nothing is taboo, not even her family. Much the same way I expect Tim Tebow to be a transparent virtuous virgin, if she wants to be a spokesperson for morality and family values then I reserve the right to criticize her pregnant daughter. I'll chunk my rock right at that glass house.