Skip Navigation
Ta-Nehisi Coates

Ta-Nehisi Coates - Ta-Nehisi Coates is a senior editor for The Atlantic, where he writes about culture, politics, and social issues for TheAtlantic.com and the magazine. He is the author of the memoir The Beautiful Struggle. More

Born in 1975, the product of two beautiful parents. Raised in West Baltimore—not quite The Wire, but sometimes ill all the same. Studied at the Mecca for some years in the mid-’90s. Emerged with a purpose, if not a degree. Slowly migrated up the East Coast with a baby and my beloved, until I reached the shores of Harlem. Wrote some stuff along the way.
« Previous Coates | Next Coates » Email Email Print Print

Why Palin Won't Make It Out Of A GOP Primary

By Ta-Nehisi Coates

Jul 10 2009, 2:00 PM ET Comment

Because her spokesperson is trading shots with a 19-year old kid. It makes liberals, like me, feel good that the GOP is a wreck, and the notion of Sarah Palin as the standard-bearer only increases the scale of that wreckage. It also validates a certain idea about certain voters, and their relative intelligence. I would just argue that we should not confuse a poll with the rigors of an actual election. A lot of you think I'm underestimating Palin. But I think people are underestimating the GOP. The desire to win has a way of taming folks.


Presented by

More at The Atlantic

Government Employs 1 in 6 U.S. Workers—Where Are They? Government Employs 1 in 6 U.S. Workers—Where Are They?
Why Israel Might Believe Attacking Iran Is Worthwhile Why Israeli Leaders Might Believe Attacking Iran Is Worth the Effort
What Matters in President Obama's 2013 Budget What Matters in President Obama's 2013 Budget
The Fearlessness of Jeremy Lin The Fearlessness of Jeremy Lin
In Memphis Classrooms, the Ghost of Segregation Lingers On In Memphis Classrooms, the Ghost of Segregation Lingers On

Join the Discussion

After you comment, click Post. If you’re not already logged in you will be asked to log in or register.
blog comments powered by Disqus
Special Report
Election 2012 Reuters Election 2012
The destination for full politics coverage, from the primaries to the White House. Read more ›

Correspondents

View All Correspondents

The Biggest Story in Photos

Athens in Flames

Feb 13, 2012

Subscribe Now

SAVE 59%! 10 issues JUST $2.45 PER COPY

Facebook

Newsletters

Sign up to receive our free newsletters

(sample)

(sample)

(sample)

(sample)

Ta-Nehisi Coates
from the Magazine

Why Do So Few Blacks Study the Civil War?

Ta-Nehisi Coates is an Atlantic senior editor.

Fade to White

A filmmaker maps Austin’s shifting ethnic landscape.

The Legacy of Malcolm X

Why his vision lives on in Barack Obama