Sarah Palin and the Dysfunctional Political Class
In fact — and of course — negotiating with Exxon is better preparation for negotiating with Putin than is a foreign photo op. And running a town is a miles-better education than warming a Senate seat. But again, it is not in the interests of the political class to acknowledge this.
So her handlers tried to cram her into a D.C. frame of reference by stuffing her with facts on national and international issues that could withstand grilling from a gotcha! press, something that was neither possible nor the right game.
Palin should instead have conceded that of course she would not be ready to be president on day one, but that:
1. What she had turned her hand to, she had quickly learned to do successfully — and this ability, based on her solid grounding in the realities of American life, was and is the real test.
2. If she were called upon on day one, she would be the head of a government, not a lone individual, and she had the experience in handling people that would be necessary to tap into the collective intelligence of the nation.
Those are called real qualifications!
Since the election, Palin has learned her lesson about the political handlers and she has followed Mao’s advice, as channeled through Anita Dunn — “you fight your war and I’ll fight mine.”
Her resignation from the governorship, which was mostly condemned by the pundits, was dead-on shrewd. Why let herself be tied down defending perjured ethics charges from people with infinite money, whose only desire is to shut her up or bankrupt her? Her willingness to be herself and pursue her own ideas without regard to whether or not they could lead to future office is a source of great political strength. Her public pronouncements, such as the Hong Kong speech, are serious and adult, unlike most of the vapidity produced by politicians, especially Obama. And Palin is mastering the art of short, sharp statements.
None of this is winning over the political class. Indeed, Palin’s refusal to fulfill their desires that she be a clown or take a proper role in the kabuki theater of Washington is making them angrier than ever and more determined to marginalize her. But the disillusionment with government among the tea-partying middle class is so great that every attack on her builds her stature on Main Street.
Is Palin going to be nominated? Hard to tell, even assuming she wants it. The unrelenting hostility of the media does have an insidious effect. She also needs to achieve the discipline in speaking that she displays with her written pronouncements — more brevity and less nattering — but this is doable.
The cultural issues are more important. There is a middle ground of people who are against the increasing bipartisan kleptocracy but not conservative on cultural matters — personally, I am pro-choice (but with reasonable caveats about the exercise of that choice), utterly indifferent to gay marriage, pro-gun, pro-decriminalization of marijuana, in favor of a forward strategy towards the terrorist wing of Islam and with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and sympathetic to China’s extraordinary effort to remake itself economically and politically.
Ultimately, this may or may not make me into a Palin supporter. But either way, our most fundamental current crisis is the inability of the political class to produce plausible leaders, and its hostility to anyone, such as Palin, who threatens the system. The election of Obama was a symptom of our current dysfunctional politics, not a cause.
We need more Palins, not fewer.
Nice article, especially ringing approval from someone who is a conservative Democrat, as evinced by the various political views you expressed at the end.)
I enjoyed reading the link to Palin’s Hong Kong speech. I’d only seen small excerpts before. I bet they effin’ loved hearing her speak. It was a very good speech. I bet no one who was there thinks lightly of her. They probably think we have gone absolutely nuts to have rejected her as we did.
Of course, her audience knows exactly what is really going on in the U.S. They understand power. They don’t live in our fantasy world.
Before you trolls start posting, read that speech. Very adult and informed.
I think the only way one could say Ms. Palin is adequate for high governmental office is by the false logic of comparison to other bad examples.
I agree with your analysis of comparative qualifications, but there’s an important coda to be added.
The powers and responsibilities of the president of the United States are sharply limited by the Constitution. They boil down, in essence, to these:
1. Chief law enforcement officer for the federal government;
2. Chief negotiator for the United States vis-a-vis other nations;
3. The civilian check on the use of American military power.
All else is trivial beside those powers. What personal characteristics ought one to possess, to be regarded as trustworthy enough to be given them?
The Founders would have said: integrity. They demonstrated it in their selection of George Washington for our first president.
I supported George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004 not because he’d amassed a brilliant record as Texas governor, but because he exhibited the sort of character I want to see in the president. Sarah Heath Palin displays the same stainless, rocklike character. About how many other politicians of our day could that be said?
Wouldn’t it be nice not to have to fret over the character deficiencies of our president? To trust him to see that the laws be faithfully and evenhandedly executed? To be able to send him to a foreign land without worrying that he’d give away American interests to serve partisan interests, or his own?
Sarah Heath Palin in 2012!
“” … (former president, George Walker) Bush’s pre-presidential “career as an alcoholic,” (and as a) “baseball executive,” and “ornamental” (Texas) Governor. “”
Wow.
Glad that you mentioned you are a “conservative” or I might have mistaken you for a Bush Hatred Derangement-suffering Harvard and/or Harvard Law School alumnus. And God knows one would rather be accused (and especially so, as in the case of the former president, without there being a shred of evidence to support such an outrageous diagnosis) of being a “career alcoholic,” than to have ever pocked his cor in hovord yord.
Alcoholism, after all, while being an incurable and in more than 98% of cases, a terminal disease (with recognizable symptoms and a clinical diagnosis: An physical allergy to alcohol that manifests in the phenomenon of craving) may, by total abstinence from alcohol, be arrested.
While being a Harvard alumnus appears to be a psychosis — from whose effect it seems neither its sufferers nor those whose lives they impact, are ever able to find relief!
B A – L A – CA — and Far Away
# Poretta has it right on. The character of the candidate is important. Integrity is one characteristic that Obama lacks. He vagueness, The outright lies adn the con man style trying to get Americans to buy health care without and details.
Also the underlying principles that candidate believes in. Palin believes in American and self reliance and pro defense and capitalism . That the best government is one that governs least. She does not want to hamstring people with rules but rather let people make up their own solutions.
Liberals have their own principle and can be honest and have integrity but if their principle do not match the voters then there is no connect. Obama deluded people in his principles. That is why he is having so much trouble now.
I think she is infinitely better than most of the potential field of GOP wannabes but she has been so caricatured by the msm that I doubt she will run in 2012. Just my own two cents , I believe it’s Pawlenty,we could do alot worse ie. Huckabee, Romney or God forbid Gingrich.
A theory.
I think there is a social conservative problem but it’s not the one RINOs say it is.
The issues are fine. They gain more votes for the Reps than they lose and (possibly more importantly) they lose the Dems votes from socially conservative Dem voters.
I think the way the PC media have partially managed to turn this advantage into an occasional disadvantage is through distorting their viewers perception of proportionality.
For example, a hypothetical contest has an electorate with a majority that wants someone who they percieve as 50% social conservative and 50% fiscal conservative where that perception mostly comes from the proportion of time allocated by the candidate to social and fiscal issues.
However what the PC media does is to always magnify the social side. So if the candidate allocates their time 75/25 the PC media magnify the social side so the candidate appears to the voters as 100/0 i.e solely a social conservative and nothing else.
If the candidate allocates their time 50/50 the PC media magnify the social side so the candidate appears to the voters as 75/25 i.e a bit too fixated on the social issues and not a balanced candidate.
If the candidate is 25/75 the PC media try to over magnify the social side but they can only stretch it to 50/50 which is just right for the voters.
It’s not the issues that are the problem it’s the way the media can make candidates look one dimensional. I think the way to counter it is to juggle the amount of time spent talking about the different categories.
In Palin’s case the PC media hate her so much and her social credentials are so high she could campaign 0/100 and the media would turn it into the perfect 50/50.
Palin stands on her merits without need to compare her to the disasters we keep getting for presidential candidates. I remember a reporter stumping Bob Dole by asking why he wanted to be President. He never answered, he couldn’t tell the truth, that it was his turn. I’ve said many times, “300 million people and these idiots are all we could come up with?” Sarah Palin is the real deal and we can’t have that. I have only identified one flaw in the Thrilla from Wasilla, a habit of answering questions with run on paragraphs of stream of consciousness that worked fine for beat poets but is hard to follow for people who went to the right schools. She has quite a schedule of interviews lined up, even with hostile gotcha people like Bawa Wawa. I trust she has worked on that problem and is ready to take the fight to the enemy (aka the Democrat media complex).
Marc -
Actually, I am registered, and vote, Republican. To me, the Dems have become an alliance of special interests — dependents & their tenders, trial lawyers, unions, public employees, rent-seeking rich, race hustlers, religious enviros, and general nannies — that is putting the nation in serious danger. The economic issues, and the need for less intrusive and more market-oriented government, combined with defense issues, far outweigh my concerns about these social issues.
Besides, who can look at the illegitimacy rate or the English language issue with anything other than alarm?
The fact that people like me are so ripe for capture by Palin is fueling the desperation of her detractors.
JVD
Palin-Bachmann 2012
Sarah Palin has the stones and the moxie to utterly cut through the BS coming out of Washington DC right now. I like her, support her because she is a down to earth American woman that loves her family, and her country. I will continue to support and donate to her because, I believe, the future of this country wears high heels.
She has weathered a storm and come out stronger. There will be a new dawn in America, and I’d walk 50 miles through broken glass to see her get inaugurated and would climb to the top of the Washington Monument in order to render her a good morning salute.
Palin has survived what would put a normal contender down. She is a winner. Go Sarah!
“I think the only way one could say Ms. Palin is adequate for high governmental office is by the false logic of comparison to other bad examples.”
And two of those bad examples are our current president and vice-president.
If you have not read Sarah’s Hong Kong speech, read it.
What she believes on many issues is right there.
She came of age during Reagan.
She is an alpha and a strong leader.
She will make a great POTUS.
After you’ve studied her, you cannot conclude otherwise that she is the Anti-Obama is almost all ways.
I was at her speech in Milwaukee. She is radiant and passionate and strong.
You want to shoot the ratings of the new series “V” even higher, introduce a female rebel leader with 5 cubs and make her out to be the strong, shrewd, good instincts fighter she is.
I only hope I will be alive and well long enough to see a woman as President of the USA…and I DON”T mean Hillary Clinton. Like so many women friends of my generation…when it was announced that SARAH would be the Republican VP candidate…tears (of happiness) came to my eyes!!! Palin was obviously the most qualified candidate on the 2 tickets. I was depressed and a little surprised at the vitriolic hate expressed by so many in the MSM and other Obamalovers against her. This stream of hatred is still going on, especially on MSNBC. Because of Sarah Palin…for the first time in 20 + years…I voted REPUBLICAN. It has become obvious week after week…that the one selected as POTUS is completely unqualified…and we didn’t get the best POTUS that money could buy!
Why aren’t we using more REAL Americans in this fight against the raging pretenders. We simply must expose the poseurs and misrepresenters, the political opportunists and social charlatans who say one thing and do another! For example, I can’t for the life of me figure out why we’re not putting Carrie Prejean out in front of the nation. She really knows how to take care of business. She could beat back Hollywood with one hand and bring a whole new level of stimulation to the cause. We need more stories like Carrie’s.
Yes, Palin was better qualified for high office than McCain, Biden and Obama – but that isn’t saying much. The overwhelming issue with Sarah Palin is that her rhetoric excites about one third of electorate and turns about half of the electorate off – passionately. Her negatives are just too high. Obama’s rhetoric excited about half of the electorate while the rest of us just shook our heads in amusement. If Palin ever finds a role on the national political stage it will require her to learn to speak for most of the American people the way Ronald Reagan did and get the rest of us to like her even though we disagree.
Wish I’d said it so brilliantly. It’s a theme I’ve been flogging on my blog forever. Thank you.
6. Pedrosito:
I hope Sarah does not share your defeatism. Fear of the MSM? Feckless, craven, unworthy.
@2 Dr. Matt:
I think the only way one could say Ms. Palin is adequate for high governmental office is by the false logic of comparison to other bad examples.
A content free comment from a doctor. Doctor of what? If medicine, were you last in your class, doctor? You can’t point to even one defect in her qualifications. Your non-substantive diagnosis is rejected.
The MSM and the left hate Sarah Palin because they fear her. She is the real deal and they know it. When we put her in office, she will root out the evil, traitors in power and bring them swiftly to justice. They know it and work day and night to try to quiet her – this only builds up her base. We have criminals in power right now who only want to destroy this country and control the people. Palin is the solution to restoring America’s greatness in the world community. We the people MUST stay focused and not let up, we are winning! I agree with Gary Ogletree – she must control her upcoming interviews and expose the un-American position of the interviewer.
Palin – Bachman 2012!!!!
Palin STILL has more executive experience than Obama and Biden. Combined.
I agree with Gary Ogletree @8. It’s not the Washington political class that Palin must overcome but the Democratic Party media complex. She can do this by speaking directly to the American people. Clearly she wasn’t prepared for the Couric interview but overall I think she did very well after being thrown into the cauldron of a national election campaign with no preparation time.
Palin is the most unfairly maligned personality in the history of the United States. None of her critics could have withstood the barrage of vicious criticism that she has endured and come out as well as she has. She has lots of time between now and the beginning of the 2012 election campaign cycle to overcome the media stereotype. The more people see of her in relaxed settings the more they will understand the unfairness of the media stereotype and the less credence they will give to it.
Palin’s Facebook comments have been very impressive; so well-written that in fact my liberal acquaintances believe they are ghostwritten.
Palin’s supporters need to work hard to ensure that the GOP primaries are limited to GOP members.
“Dysfunctional” is the perfect word for the GOP. Whereas the libs have embarked wholeheartedly on a sinister death spiral for the U.S., the GOP/RNC squabble with their base for control of the next candidate like a spoiled child constantly trying to show the younger sibling who’s boss. They’ve got a flat-out winner in Gov. Palin and refuse to see it.
I think if she can bridge the conservative-libertarian gap, soft-pedaling the social issues, she’ll be 80% of the way there. Her record in Alaska certainly indicates she can. I don’t recall her lifting a finger to bring in any real social conservative legislation. Overall, I think she is the most libertarian candidate in many a year.
The rest of her margin of victory will come from convincing American women she is worthy of their votes. I think she’s very shrewd to do the Oprah and Barbara Walters circuit. She’s a smart cookie and a magnetic personality, and now that the pressure is off, I think it will come through in her interviews.
Lots of women who saw her as an unprepared token last year will respond more favorably if she earns the nomination in her own right. Gotta laugh at those people who think Hillary Clinton’s six indifferent years in the Senate, on the strength of her hubby’s connections and fame, is in any way comparable to the self-made achievements and nearly twenty years of holding public office by Gov. Palin.
She is my number 1 candidate, although I could also support Pawlenty or Jindal.
You mean speak in platitudes about hope and change, proffering policies that don’t mean any sense, like inflating your tires to solve the energy crisis, like sayings armies and navies have solved anything. Or doctors are willing to amputate feet and remove tonsils on a whim, no you’re not got going to get that kind of eloquence from her.
Palin no doubt has a mountain to climb if she wants to be the 45th POTUS.As you point out she has not only the left to confront,she has the biased media,the GOP elites,all the supporters of her rivals,all attacking her.This plays out an uphill battle that is amazing to watch unfold.I have never seen so much viciousness tossed at anyone ever from so many sides.They all fear and constantly underestimate her.Only the WH does not.Those in power in the WH know who they must constantly target,and raise cash to launch attack adds against.Its not the poll leader Huckabee,Newt,Pawlenty,or any other that bothers them its her.Just look who they drag out of the closet any time she speaks out,Levi.Then move on raises cash launches internet attack adds.A list of celebrities go bananas,and the WH says its us 2 Palin 0.They keep getting their media pals to use the words right wing extreamist every time shes talked about.Yes an uphill fight for her indeed,but you betcha she game for it.
Brilliant article!
One more reason Palin threatens the liberal media: she embodies a strong, positive feminist vision, one that encourages women to see and embrace opportunities rather than whine and complain.
Let’s see what she will do on the book tour. This will obviously be her re-introduction to the public since the election. With a superb sense of theater, she has sequestered herself, getting ready for the big show. When she hits Oprah and the others we will get a glimpse of what she intends. She could even set up a sort of shadow government to Obama’s. She has absolute freedom of choice now, and can do anything she wants. She is like no other politician in the country, or ever.
“Lots of women who saw her as an unprepared token last year will respond more favorably if she earns the nomination in her own right.”
I’d imagine these women are the same women who got down on their knees to worship the magnificent One who gives them a simple ‘good girl’ pat on the head.
23. Terry Gain:
“Palin is the most unfairly maligned personality in the history of the United States.”
Boy howdy, now there’s an informed and fair-minded comment. But it does illustrate the delusion at work where Palin is concerned. All you have to do is convince the majority of voters in 2012 that she is “the most unfairly maligned personality in the history of the United States” and you will have her as POTUS. Problem is, her poll negatives are higher than her positives. Goo dluck with that . . and her.
Pawlenty, Romney, Huckabee, Ensign (oops, never mind), Gingrich, Bachmann, Sanford (oops, never mind), Palin, McCain, Cheney . . . tell me again how strong your chances are in 2012.
Intresting article,well written points to facts.I think Palin has a chance to turn around public opinion.Everytime I read anything about her theres allways that slant of sarcasm,biased,hatred,shes stupid,right winger,& teabagger tossed in there.What that says to me is one thing,fear.She just keeps going an going like the energizer bunny beating a rehtorical drum.She keeps pounding her message enough bs,gov waste,fraud,politics as usual,special intrest groups,corruption,socialism,no offshore drilling,debt,spending,borrowing,money printing,beauracracy,apologizing,bailouts,big gov.At the same time offering solutions.Can she do it?Who knows but its sure fun to watch her spank the idiots in power.
I like the above comments. Especially JVD’s fallow up comment #9. You describe the coalition of parasites that is the modern democratic party very well.
To my mind the 2012 Republican nomination will be very valuable indeed. All the nominee will have to ask is “are you better of now than 4 years ago?”. Palin’s path to the nomination is centered on the right to life people. She needs to mobilize this sleeping force that will give her the early states. Palin is already working to activate this sleeping army.
For VP I want Haley Barber. His accent will balance hers.
@31 Now And Then
I’m not surprised that you’re threatened by the prospect of her candidacy. The contrast between her life story and Obama’s could not be more stark.
“32. Now and Then:
Pawlenty, Romney, Huckabee, Ensign (oops, never mind), Gingrich, Bachmann, Sanford (oops, never mind), Palin, McCain, Cheney . . . tell me again how strong your chances are in 2012.”
10% unemployment and multitrillion dollar deficits will have to be sold as the “new normal” in 2012. Obama is charming but not that charming.
Your positive assessment of Sarah Palin can’t possibly be correct. After all, she didn’t graduate from an elite private university–she has a degree from (shudder) the University of Idaho. And with such a degree she does not defer to her betters who went to Columbia, Harvard, and such places. She says things like, “You betcha,” and knowing that her fetus was going to be born handicapped she made the inexplicable and unliberated decision to have the baby anyway.
When my cousin found out I had broken a lifetime’s habit and voted Republican for president last year she said incredulously, “You voted for Sarah Palin?” My rejoinder: “You voted for Joe Biden?” Palin,whatever else she is, is not a fool and Biden inarguably is.
Palin also had the best line of the campaign. Someone pointed out that when Tina Fey imitated her she made her out to be a bubblehead. “That’s funny,” Palin responded. “When I imitate Tina Fey I make her out to be a bubblehead.”
There is no shortage of areas in which criticism of Sarah Palin is certainly reasonable. The nature of the opprobrium she has drawn is significant and proves, if such proof was necessary, that progressives love average Americans only so long as average Americans do what others determine they should do.
I am a former Democratic Pary activist, urban, Jewish…and I shall be watching Palin’s future with great attention.
Knowing what a threat she poses to their agenda the rats sent out the word “she must be destroyed”
I’m not going along with it.
I always thoroughly enjoy when I see leftist sheep deride Palin on her “qualifications” …
Yet they somehow believed Teleprompter Jesus was the one….
what a bunch of B.S. Zero has no quals… I challenge you leftist trolls to list his quals… go ahead.
We all need a good laugh.
Hahahahahaha!
Wow! Only the party that elected Dubya could be so deluded! Please watch her Katie Couric interview again. This woman has no clue about anything but shooting moose. She can memorize talking points and walk her pageant walk, and yeah, she’s pretty. You republicans just love anything shiny, don’t you!
Please, Sarah, RUN! We need another landslide!
by Dewey Whetsell
The last 45 of my 66 years I’ve spent in a commercial fishing town in Alaska. I understand Alaska politics but never understood national politics well until this last year. Here’s the breaking point: Neither side of the Palin controversy gets it…It’s not about persona, style, rhetoric, it’s about doing things. Even Palin supporters never mention the things that I’m about to mention here.
1- Democrats forget when Palin was the Darling of the Democrats, because as soon as Palin took the Governor’s office away from a fellow Republican and tough SOB, Frank Murkowski, she tore into the Republican’s “Corrupt Bastards Club” (CBC) and sent them packing. Many of them are now residing in State housing and wearing orange jump suits. The Democrats reacted by skipping around the yard, throwing confetti and singing “la la la la” (well, you know how they are). Name another governor in this country that has ever done anything similar. But while you’re thinking, I’ll continue.
2- Now with the CBC gone, there were fewer Alaskan politicians to protect the huge, giant oil companies here. So, she constructed and enacted a new system of splitting the oil profits called “ACES”. Exxon (the biggest corporation in the world) protested and Sarah told them “don’t let the door hit you in the stern on your way out.” They stayed, and Alaska residents went from being merely wealthy to being filthy rich. Of course the other huge international oil companies meekly fell in line. Again, give me the name of any other governor in the country that has done anything similar.
3- The other thing she did when she walked into the governor’s office is she got the list of State requests for federal funding for projects, known as “pork”. She went through the list, took 85% of them and placed them in the “when-hell-freezes-over” stack. She let locals know that if we need something built, we’ll pay for it ourselves. Maybe she figured she could use the money she got from selling the previous governor’s jet because it was extravagant. Maybe she could use the money she saved by dismissing the governor’s cook (remarking that she could cook for her own family), giving back the State vehicle issued to her, maintaining that she already had a car, and dismissing her State provided security force (never mentioning—I imagine—that she’s packing heat herself). I’m still waiting to hear the names of those other governors.
4- Now, even with her much-ridiculed “gosh and golly” mannerism, she also managed to put together a totally new approach to getting a natural gas pipeline built which will be the biggest private construction project in the history of North America. No one else could do it although they tried. If that doesn’t impress you, then you’re trying too hard to be unimpressed while watching her do things like this while baking up a batch of brownies with her other hand.
5- For 30 years, Exxon held a lease to do exploratory drilling at a place called Point Thompson. They made excuses the entire time why they couldn’t start drilling. In truth they were holding it like an investment. No governor for 30 years could make them get started. This summer, she told them she was revoking their lease and kicking them out. They protested and threatened court action. She shrugged and reminded them that she knew the way to the court house. Alaska won again.
6- President Obama wants the nation to be on 25% renewable resources for electricity by 2025. Sarah went to the legislature and submitted her plan for Alaska to be at 50% renewables by 2025. We are already at 25%. I can give you more specifics about things done, as opposed to style and persona . Everybody wants to be cool, sound cool, look cool. But that’s just a cover-up. I’m still waiting to hear from liberals the names of other governors who can match what mine has done in two and a half years. I won’t be holding my breath.
By the way, she was content to to return to AK after the national election and go to work, but the haters wouldn’t let her. Now these adolescent screechers are obviously not scuba divers. And no one ever told them what happens when you continually jab and pester a barracuda. Without warning, it will spin around and tear your face off. Shoulda known better.
40. Kevind:
Hahahahahaha!
Wow! Only the party that elected Dubya could be so deluded! Please watch her Katie Couric interview again….
Wow. Obama supporter awakens from ten month coma and immediately posts inane comment on internet. Clearly has missed more than just Obama’s shout out before he acknowledges the tragic man made disaster at Fort Hood.
The media has done a good job at simply villifying anyone who is a republican even when they vote with the democrats! And anyone who is a conservative is just evil, vile and unacceptable. Just look at how they treat folks on MSNBC who are conservative, they just laugh at them. The sad thing is that republicans/conservatives allow themselves to be made into nothing but a comic strip character by the MSM. The only way to advance conservative ideas is to do it one person at a time. Those of us who are conservative have an obligation to educate the 40% who are not hardcore liberals. Conservatives fight with the likes of California and New York and Massachussets. Those states are hopelessly liberal and cannot be saved. But how about the rest of the country? We who are conservative spend all our time complaining about the MSM and how unfair everything is to us. The only point I will grant is that it takes a higher degree of inteligence to be conservative. The concept of surrendering liberties to the government in exchange for some sort of security is difficult for more people to comprehend. Everyone who reads this blog has a duty to educate everyone else around them. Not everyone is a drueling socialist dolt who worships Obama. Those who do are not to worth trying to save. But those who do not have a good grip on the issues need to hear from someone they consider their peer to educate them. We are stuck with this Congress and President until the elecorate gets it. The media will not help. But the media do not outnumber the people. That is the key.
Here’s a question for you Palin supporters:
If she hadn’t supported Hoffman, a non-Republican candidate, in NY-23 and forced Dede Scozzafava to drop out of the race on account of her being a “RINO”, thus making the Republicans losing this safe Republican seat to a Democrat, do you think that the healthcare bill would’ve passed?
You need 218 votes to pass. The bill got 220 votes.
Without the two votes frin Owens and Garamendi, the Republican vote from Cao wouldn’t have happened.
Instead, due for Sarah Palin’s influence, a real Conservative candidate lost the safe Republican seat and the rest is healthcare history.
Kevind is the perfect example of a media drone and the reason that we’re in socialism right now. Amazing how Palin makes the kooks of society go kicking and screaming to the mirror!
The frenetic hostility to Sarah Palin, even by many on the Republican side, is unnerving…
I’m not sure who are more unnerving: Palin’s attackers or her supporters.
she negotiated a gas contract and gave a bad interview, that right there makes her unqualified? the interviews the big O and Big Joe give, how do you rate those? what have the democrackheads accomplished so far? i was better off under George Bush, at least he was working for me not against me.
@44 DEM HEALTHCARE BILL ALL PALIN’S FAULT
Nice spin, but please explain.
1. Why do you call Scozzafava a real Conservative. Heck she’s not even a real Republican.
2. Why do you claim Sarah forced out the DIABLO candidate. She dropped out because she had no support.
3. What makes you so sure Scozzafava wouldn’t have voted for Pelosicare?
4. Why is Palin responsible for the election of Garamendi?
5. Do you always lie this easily.
“48. Terry Gain:
Nice spin, but please explain.
1. Why do you call Scozzafava a real Conservative. Heck she’s not even a real Republican.”
I was referring to Hoffman. Sorry if that wasn’t clear.
“2. Why do you claim Sarah forced out the DIABLO candidate. She dropped out because she had no support.”
Can we agree that Sarah Palin supporting the other candidate was a large factor that contributed to DeDe’s resignation ?
“3. What makes you so sure Scozzafava wouldn’t have voted for Pelosicare?”
Because she stated ““What’s The Hurry to Change Health Care?” many times in her 2009 campaign and that she voted against the Health Care Reform Act – the New York state’s health-care financing law in 1999?
“4. Why is Palin responsible for the election of Garamendi?”
Didn’t say that.
I was merely referring to what happened yesterday, that’s all.
“5. Do you always lie this easily.”
Well, that was mature.
Aren’t you going to ask me if my pants are on fire as well?
#44 JDS – Fallacious premise. Scozzfava was not winning when Hoffman jumped in. Even if she did win, do you think she would have opposed this healthcare mostrosity? Or rather, would her vote have been the thin veneer of bi-partisanship? She’d've been forced to change parties.
#12 mudboss – Very astute obsrevation. The Dems/MSM gave her their very best knockout punch. They knocked her down but not out. Now, she’s fighting back. They should have left her alone when she went back to AK, but they couldn’t quit poking a stick at the dog behind the fence. Now the beast is loose.
#41 Jilly – Nice post. Is that an article by someone else or is it yours under your real name?
JVDeLong – You may be registered and vote Republican, but your politics are those of a Conservative Dem, not a Conservative Pub. No Conservative Pub is Pro-choice or is indifferent to Gay Marriage. Actually, now that I think of it more, you sound like a Libertarian: A socially-liberal, fiscal conservative who believes in the Constitution. It is a growing demographic.
I wish I had written this but I didn’t.
About the lady from Wasilla, here are the factors bringing her to the fore, and why she may become our leader in a time of crisis:
Exceptional circumstances always reveal the existence of exceptional individuals. We would never have heard of her so early if McCain had not found himself at the bottom of a deep hole. She almost rescued him in spite of the hypersensitive actors in the McCain campaign apparatus.
She would not be attacked so much if she was not such a threat to the poseurs. She has all the qualities required of a leader, integrity, consistency, charisma, and values resonating with the best part of the electorate. These are the qualities that will earn you the respect of those who disagree with you, which is not the same as the loud mouths broadcasting ad-hominem attacks.
We have planted the seeds of an economic disaster and we are only making it worse with “solutions” designed by a subversive enterprise.
The Glory of Couric, Gibson and consort is getting dimmer by the day. By 2012, they may have lost credibility with most of the nation, and a true leader may become recognized.
Here’s what I don’t understand about the current Republican “RINO hunting” strategy:
Different communities have different values.
A California (or New York) Republican will be less conservative than a Texas Democrat and the idea that everyone should believe exactly the same everywhere will only ensure that the Republican party will lose power nationally.
Isn’t that what we’re seeing now?
Well, that was mature.
Aren’t you going to ask me if my pants are on fire as well?
I don’t care. You can take a look when you pull your head out.
#49 JDS – Just so you understand, Scozzafava saying, “what’s the hurry?” is not the same as her opposing it. It is a non-answer made to seem as if she opposes it. Non-answers like this point to the truth, which is always the opposite of what it is intended to construe.
Furthermore, Owens said flat-out that he opposed it. Well, he lied blatantly. He wasted no time in betraying his constituents. He campaigned as a Blue Dog. He votes as a liberal. He simply followed Obama’s playbook.
Our Republic is lost, because people no longer have the ability to tell when someone is lying. I’m not even sure that most of them even know lying is wrong. “My word is my bond” seems such an outmoded concept these days. Honor? Shame? What boots that?
I think that Sarah Palins leaving the governorship was a stroke of genius and shows that she could more than easily handle the white house. Her enemies were trying to destroy her and her family so she refused to fight on their territory. She defanged their worst attack, trying to financially ruin her and lable her as corrupt, and positioned herself to take on national issues like health care. Remember, it was her calling death panels death panels that put the fly in the ointment of nancy pelosi and barak obama.
“55. Marc Malone:
#49 JDS – Just so you understand, Scozzafava saying, “what’s the hurry?” is not the same as her opposing it. It is a non-answer made to seem as if she opposes it. Non-answers like this point to the truth, which is always the opposite of what it is intended to construe.”
Can we agree that it would have been better if a Republican, even a RINO one, would have kept NY-23 than to have a Democrat gain a seat that was, more or less, guaranteed to be Republican?
At least a RINO can be persuaded, by threat of campaign financing removal, if nothing else, to vote correctly.
There’s no such leverage with a Democrat currently holding the seat.
And Scozzafava did have a history of voting against healthcare entitlement bills, such as the New York State Health Care Reform Act.
10. pelaut: “Palin-Bachmann 2012″
An obvious plant by the Democratic National Committee
41. Jilly: Very nice. Got a link?
I believe this line from “The Mighty Ducks” is quite appropriate here when discussing NY-23 et. al.: “We can play tomorrow night, and have a shot at the playoffs, or we can forfeit again, and the season’s over.”-the coach (Michael J. Fox’s character).
What’s the point? The point is that electing Scozzafava would be like forfeiting- electing a candidate who does not even resemble a conservative simply because she is a Republican. That deprives the conservatives of a vote regardless of the outcome. The alternative was to back the long shot and give ourselves a chance. We may have lost this time, but we’re weren’t, and we’re still not, ready to go down without a fight.
#50 Marc Malone- No conservative Pub is Pro-Choice.
Pragmatic is the label I choose to use. I was in college when abortion was illegal. I’ve seen abortions performed illegally by an M.D., and I’ve seen one performed by an auto mechanic in a motel room. The objective reality is that if there is demand, someone will supply. Same with illegal drugs.
James V. DeLong is a rare individual—he is a Harvard graduate with half a brain. Miracles do happen. Sarah Palin has much to offer the voters. She also knows that it is imperative to learn more about foreign policy and domestic issues. We can take it for granted Palin will be a serious intellectual butt kicker in the presidential debates of 2012.
DeLong seems to realize that he a “Forgotten Man.” He numbers among those the Progressives want to pay for all their nonsense. DeLong can no longer afford to indulge in prioritizing his cultural war preferences. Our Harvard University refugee must support red state candidates whether he likes it or not. Oh well, life sucks and then you die. He will have to make the best of it.
“So, she constructed and enacted a new system of splitting the oil profits called “ACES”. Exxon (the biggest corporation in the world) protested and Sarah told them “don’t let the door hit you in the stern on your way out.” They stayed, and Alaska residents went from being merely wealthy to being filthy rich. Of course the other huge international oil companies meekly fell in line. Again, give me the name of any other governor in the country that has done anything similar”
Hmm, fascinating- so this governor enacted huge taxes on private businesses in order to share the wealth with the population?
Good thing she didn’t get elected- She might have adopted that same strategy nationwide, and then what would we have?
Socialism, my friends- Sarah Palin is a true-blue Maxist Socialist, with a hidden agenda to tax and steal the wealth of American corporations!
Thanks, jilly, for the alert!
11, 02, 10, I would imagine the “Lady Sarah” might just have a steak and a beer that night. I’m thinking I might have one two. Thanks Nancy! and check your “6″ dear.
XiaoMei – here is the link
http://marionsword.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!1B80DAF0A76159D5!451.entry
JDS
That is debatable considering that Ms Dede Scozzfava was also receiving support from the Labor Unions and ACORN and let’s say she got elected. How sure are you she will vote against the healthcare bill when you know that her financial backers also included the above parties.
JDS, Owen is gone after next year’s election but the damage is done.
“61. Will:
JDS, Owen is gone after next year’s election but the damage is done.”
Yes, and the damage was done by Sarah Palin, Fred Thompson, and Glenn Beck supporting an ideologically correct, but unelectable candidate.
Pyrrhic victories aren’t really victories, and to try and spin a defeat into “well, we lost, but at least our candidate was a true conservative!” is just pathetic.
These days you watch the media keep constantly praising every other potential GOP candidate but Palin.Again they are doing their best to pick the next GOP candidate.Palin has huge headwinds against her and it really makes a person wonder.Shes definently improved in interviews since Couric,that was clear when the shark Lauer was smaked down by her,and Blitzer kept in check qiute well.So perhaps they are worried about how she delt with gov officials in her state.She went in and made them do their deals in public on camera with big oil.Are they scared she would demand congress ends their closed door style of dealing?Obama promised that and then did not deliver(on many other transparency things as well).I think DC fears an outsider who would propose legislation to change their corrupt ways.You really have to wonder.They know she passed AKs strictest ethics laws ever.I hope she does run,but her fight will be 10xs harder to win than anyone elses.Shes a woman,and they do not want changes she would put in place.
“60. myth buster:
What’s the point? The point is that electing Scozzafava would be like forfeiting- electing a candidate who does not even resemble a conservative simply because she is a Republican. That deprives the conservatives of a vote regardless of the outcome. The alternative was to back the long shot and give ourselves a chance. We may have lost this time, but we’re weren’t, and we’re still not, ready to go down without a fight.”
And if Scozzafava had been elected, the Republicans would’ve been in a better position to control her than to control Owens, a Democrat.
Owens doesn’t have to care one iota of what the Republican party has to say.
Scozzafava had to, even if reluctantly.
With Scozzafava, the Republicans had whips and carrots at their disposal to at least have some control over her voting record.
Now the Republican control over the NY-23 seat is 0%, because Owens is not a Republican.
But cutting off the nose to spite the face seems to be the favored Republican strategy now.
I have blogged this meme before but it warrants re-blogging. As some mentioned above INTEGRITY is the #1 trait for a President to possess. #2 is the ability to assess a situation and decide who and what should be thrown at the problem. She has had a lot of experience making choices about the people and the action to take. This is not something you pick up from Axelrod or Emanuel but learned from doing it. She went after her own party when they were wrong or corrupt. Think of one time BHO has done anything like that. #3 is to have a tough inner core that no MSM hack can penetrate. If she didn’t have that she would have already disappeared from the political scene. #4 is to have a vision and a belief of something greater than her self. This is so obvious that it doesn’t need to be mentioned about her.
If you look at the other pols mentioned above, you will find a few with some but not all of her traits. GWB a Joe L. are the only two that I can identify having any of the four traits. Palin in 2012!
Sarah will be the one,America will be sick of all the lifers in the house and senate by then and will want someone who we understand.
I agree with your final assertion.
Strong work.
“And if Scozzafava had been elected, the Republicans would’ve been in a better position to control her than to control Owens, a Democrat.”
Right. Like Cao. Only Scozzafava is even more insanely liberal than Cao is.
With Scozzafava, the Republicans had whips and carrots at their disposal to at least have some control over her voting record.
Like the million dollars she got from the NRCC, which she then promptly used to support and endorse the Obama Party member.
But cutting off the nose to spite the face seems to be the favored Republican strategy now.
Actually, no; what you and your fellow Palin-haters are doing falls into that category.
Getting rid of Scozzafava was more along the lines of zapping a pimple.
Reason60 #63:
No.
Alaskan natural resources are owned by the residents of the state. Palin negotiated a better deal for the residents.
Thank you for tapping into the middle class frustration with our “supposed betters” in Washington and the media.
I, for one, am fed up with pundits telling me because I care and want to stop the Washington agenda I am a radical.
I have become motivated thanks to our media and Washington. Something I am sure Washington hates.
Buddy that is a great piece you wrote here. Bravo! Sublime.
The prospect of the honor and dignity Ms Palin would bring the the office of President. Oooh boy that would be sweet. What would it take to get this principled woman to run for office. What would really sweeten the deal is if there is a Sarah Palin/Michelle Bachman ticket.
The prosperity and liberty these two people would create. Not to mention the dynamic nature of a get er’ done work ethic. Good ole Ronald Reagan would be right proud.
I’m for one glad to be around in this fine Lady’s time.
Bravo. This was wonderfully dead-on and scathing and — gratifyingly — what I’ve been saying for a year both about Palin’s experience and the horror she arouses in the elites. The idea of this Alaskan woman coming to Washington is an unspeakable fear for these people.
JDS, to think Pelosi couldn’t have pulled another one or two Dem votes out of her hat last night is naive. If you add togther the NY-23 G.O.P. and Conservative vote, we won, it was just a Peroit (sorry I don’t remember how to spell his name) effect.
I, as a 54 year old Conservative, would rather have the enemy in front of me, then in back of me in the fox hole. I hope the lesson was learned by the R.N.C. No more Grahams, McCains, etc. They brought us this B.O. in D.C. We will be up against the same team in 2012 as in 2008. Who wants to use the old play book?
What exactly was the problem, the subterfuge of pretending that Owens was a blue dog, and that Scozzofava was not a an accomplice of the Acorn political wing is over. Obama thinks this country needs to be taken down a peg, and the public option, and cap n trade, will acccomplish that, even more than Osama could have ever imagined. They come from different ideological currents, but their contempt for all the good things about this country, is clear.
That is why those of us on this site, support someone like Palin, because we don’t think that America’s best days are behind it. I guess she is naive enough to believe that the common man and woman really can make a difference. McCain couldn’t really understand the stakes that’s why they basically left him alone, last fall. She did, hence the most comprehensive
and vicious slander campaign since Goldwater, the year of her birth. Ironically, everything she predicted last fall, has come to pass
Reaon60
Well then you ought to love Sarah if you’re calling her a socialist, etc. Except she didn’t take over the company and fire the management and bypass the secured creditors after threatening to send the hounds of hell (the WH press corps) after the secured creditors when they rightly cried “foul” then, and give the unions first position. She told the company if they didn’t like it they could leave, their choice.
So your hero zero still has the prize for unmitigated flaunting/destruction of a couple hundred years of contract law.
Palin/Petreus 2012!!!
“Alaskan natural resources are owned by the residents of the state.”
Again, Hmmm…
You say the factors of production belong not to private landowners, but the People?
As Glen Beck would say, where have we heard that?
Oh yeah…
SOCIALISM!
But maybe we should do the same in Texas- claim the oil under Texas to belong to the citizens, not the oil companies.
Seems only fair.
Who are they asking about Palin’s qualifications? They must be polling the crew at the MSM watering hole. I only hope I get the chance to vote for Palin for POTUS.
“73. North Dallas Thirty:
“Like the million dollars she got from the NRCC, which she then promptly used to support and endorse the Obama Party member.”
So if there’s no way to control Republicans in congress and there’s no party discipline, then why have a Republican party at all?
“Actually, no; what you and your fellow Palin-haters are doing falls into that category.
Getting rid of Scozzafava was more along the lines of zapping a pimple.”
“Zapping a pimple” by losing a congressional seat to a Democrat?
I do not hate Palin, I just think that having a member of congress who might vote with you 50% of the time is a better deal than a member of congress who’ll vote with you 0% of the time.
I don’t think that a minority party has the luxury of kicking out people because of some misguided notion of ideological purity.
But we’ll see what happens.
Very, very insightful article.
I recently had the opportunity to speak to a tremendeously gifted and productive conservative young woman at the forefront of the battle against the unsustainable myth called liberalism. I got to ask her opinion of Ms. Palin. Her first point was about the mysogyny and sexism within the white male ranks of the GOP so that she understood their dislike for Sarah Palin. But like me she also could not find a quick or pat answer for the mystery called Sarah Palin.
Thank you Mr. DeLong for a clearer picture. So clear in fact that I am saving the article to use in another political environment (other country) for someone much like M. Palin.
@84 JDS.
“I do not hate Palin, I just think that having a member of congress who might vote with you 50% of the time is a better deal than a member of congress who’ll vote with you 0% of the time.”
Sorry, Scozzafava can get into the congress when she wants -if she can, but not with my money, I don’t pay to Gop to have a candidate 50% of time working for me and 50% of time against me.
I RATHER prefer to donate somebody who will work 100% for me, and if he doesn’t win at least I know that the 100%-against-me candidate didn’t win with my (suicide) support. That is called INTEGRITY, a lesson you should also learn.
Somebody told once “give me freedom or give me death”, but you rather prefer the compromised “better red than dead”. Sad.
Palin-Bachman 2012
Pro-choice Republican, eh? Well, I suppose there were some pro-slavery Republicans in Lincoln’s time, so…
Great points, almost to a fault.
I always thought Sarah Palin was perceived as immensely threatening to business as usual.
Thus, even candidate Obama went after her with raw, red tooth and claw, running scared, when she was first named as his opponent’s running mate.
If the author is going to rate Sarah Palin so highly, he needs to give John McCain credit for picking her out of relative obscurity. But the author doesn’t because he wishes to dismiss McCain as “exotic.” That’s baloney.
John McCain — the son and grandson of U.S. Navy Admirals, a Navy combat aviator and war hero himself and a U.S. Senator for decades with expertise in foreign policy, military matters and national security — was heads above everyone else in either party since Eisenhower to be Commander in Chief. People forget because of how the election turned out, but McCain won the Saddleback Forum and the other debates with Obama because of McCain’s substantive knowledge and life experience.
While the McCain campaign overall was not a good one, it was facing a number of “headwinds” that simply made 2008 a bad year for Republicans — a financial meltdown that created economic anxieties that have historically favored the Democrats and did that year; a financial bailout that muddied the waters of what was a Reaganesque economic message delivered by McCain and Palin on the campaign trail; the unpopularity of Bush, which is unfair but which is the result of unceasing attack by the Left and Bush not using the bully pulpit to defend his Administration; money and more money, some of it illegal, that Obama had; and media bias that was absurdly in the tank for Obama and that operated effectively day-in, day-out as a propaganda machine for Democrats (e.g., Obama, the tax cutter). Also, Obama ran a good campaign. But as good a campaign as Obama ran, he is a terrible, terrible President. And I submit, as bad a campaign as McCain ran, he would have been a good President.
Perhaps the author should consider that John McCain’s record this year is conservative and as good as any. McCain voted AGAINST every Obama bailout bill. McCain voted AGAINST every Obama deficit spending bill, denouncing the multi-trillion dollar deficit spending as “generational theft,” a phrase thereafter used by Sean Hannity and more recently by Rush Limbaugh. McCain voted AGAINST the confirmations of tax cheat Geithner, radical pro-abortion advocate Sebellius, leftist Kagan and transnational legal theorist Koh to their respective positions in the Obama Administration. McCain voted AGAINST the confirmation of Sotomayer to the U.S. Supreme Court. McCain’s OPPOSITION to ObamaCare has been so vociferous that the New York Times has accused McCain of “throwing bombs” on the subject. McCain has attacked the Obama Administration for its failure to support the Iranian dissidents and has called for the Obama Administration to send the number of troops requested by General McChrystal. McCain has also announced that he is opposed to this year’s Democrat cap and trade bill. McCain now has put a hold on SEIU’s Becker and has introduced legislation to stop the Government takeover of the internet in name of net neutrality. McCain deserves some credit.
And so I remind the author again that McCain was the one who brought Sarah Palin to the limelight.
I don’t know why it has taken so long for someone in the media to recognize that Palin was the only candidate with all the experience needed for the Presidency. But she was not running for President, she was the vice Presidential nominee. So this article is off base when it says she should have been prepared for that.
I hope she is able to turn around the negativity about her before 2012. She is just what we need an outsider (as in “not a DC scumbag”). She’s be a great President, and I’d support her.
Heres my RINO law:Conservative Republicans should not go after all the RINOs.Some do deserve that tea stuff like that Scuzzy bitc@.However if a RINO is not backed by acorn,the huffington post and daily kos let the RINO politicaly live.Some districts are not conservative,therefore in say Pelosis district you need a RINO.So yes if they can run as a RINO, win as a RINO, but dont vote like a RINO all the time,LET THE RINO BE.Thats why a primary vote is essential.If that district picks a RINO let the RINO politicaly live,stay out of it.However let them know if their vote is needed to help defeat a fiasco like Pelosis HC plan,they better tow the party line.
@ JDS
“I do not hate Palin, I just think that having a member of Congress who might vote with you 50% of the time is a better deal than a member of congress who’ll vote with you 0% of the time.”
It depends on which 50%. Dollar Bill Jefferson had $90,000 stuffed in a Boca Burgers box in his freezer, and Cao was the best the GOP could get? Before offering bipartisan cover for the Democrats healthcare bill, Cao has backed the S-CHIP expansion, the $108 billion IMF bailout, and the omni-waste spending bill. He also voted to rebuke Joe Wilson for calling out President Obama on his health care lies.
I could see Scozzafava playing a similar role, IF she had even won. Until she dropped out, she was a spoiler for Bill Owens. John McHugh had been a “bomb-throwing, fire-breathing” conservative in a district the Democrats had been relentlessly gerrymandering for decades. There was no evidence to support that a moderate was necessary for a GOP win.
Rather than promote the White House lie that Sarah Palin gave Bill Owens a Congressional seat, let’s hold the NRC and the NRCC accountable for throwing nearly a million down the rat hole on a candidate who went on to endorse and campaign for the Democrat after taking a conference call with Rahm Emanuel and others. NO WAY could you confidently say Dede Scozzafava would have voted against the healthcare bill last night. She has showed herself to be an opportunist and a turncoat. As for Palin’s part in this, she endorsed the best and most conservative who would have had a better chance if the DNC and RNC weren’t running attack ads against him.
Anyway, the healthcare bill still has to pass the Senate, maybe the House again and reconciliation. Too bad it’s even an issue, but there’s hope. Owens will lose next year, if he runs. Hoffman has a good chance at 2010, or another conservative candidate might also win in NY23. The message has been sent to the Republican leadership.
@ JDS
I will point out that the Obama administration appointed a Congressman from a conservative district where the Democrats sought to make inroads. In the end, Owens was only good for this vote. This is the real scorched earth.
If Governor Palin decides that she is willing to run in 2012, the only question is what party she will be representing. I suspect that the entrenched Republican elitist snobs will have nothing to do with her, and will attack her like so many Soros-backed liberal lap-dogs. If so, I predict that the GOP will receive a shock at their becoming the spoiler vote (i.e., finishing third in the race).
I, and a lot of other “Republicans” I know, will never again vote for the RINO’s that they drag up. Try to remember the names of R’s like Scozzofava, Graham, McCain, and Specter here.
And, we will never forget efforts by the RNC, Gingrich, Romney and other Republican tools to destroy Sarah Palin and/or other conservative candidates.
Any way, the focus needs to be on getting conservatives elected to Congress in 2010, and for finding or forming an effective conservative party for 2012.
you are delusional
Any way, the focus needs to be on getting conservatives elected to Congress in 2010, and for finding or forming an effective conservative party for 2012.
If you’re not already on Obama’s payroll you should be.
Hoffman has a good chance at 2010, or another conservative candidate might also win in NY23. The message has been sent to the Republican leadership.
I hope that the message Republicans get is that they had better not run a liberal candidate, posing as a Republican, or the conservatives might run an uber nerdy, inarticulate, deer-in-the-headlights candidate and a Democrat will win.
JDS
Operative word is “might”. In other words, she can be bought if the price is right by either parties. What a comforting thought. We have a term for people like that when I used to vote in the Philippines. We call them balimbing. Look it up
What’s the point of having an opposition party whose members vote with the opposing party half of the time?? You know what’s truly pathetic, it’s when a political party gives up it’s founding principles and throw away everything it stands for for the sake of gaining votes. If there is no difference between two parties , what’s the point of having elections when all the American people have to do is hope for the best that their political masters chose the lesser of two evils.
We wouldn’t be in this deep H*ll hole we are in now if she was president.
The mistake in your logic is that you think experience and competence should be the litmus test of political ability. Foolish mortal, today we chose our leaders on much more important qualifications.
The electorate chooses the person who;
Gives the best speech
Uses the best sound bite
Looks the best in a 3 piece suit
Gets the most expensive haircut
Has the coolest friends (stars, elites, and professional hangers on)
Tells the people what they want to hear, no matter how many time in the past they’ve said the exact opposite
Goes to the finest Ivy league college (it doesn’t really matter what they studied, just that they went)
Lacks self control (most people want to feel superior to their leader after all “I’m not as bad as so and so”.
Never lets the facts interfere with a good story.
Thinks integrity is the name of a new car by GM (who now is owned by the gov., oh boy)
Couldn’t find their sacred honor with both hands, a flashlight, a sherpa, OnStar, radar, sonar or a Saint Bernard.
We get the leaders we deserve. We don’t deserve the Sara’s, we deserve what we got. Sigh.
@ Terry Gain
Hoffman appealed to so many voters, because he seemed genuine, unpolished and therefore had a populist appeal. The votes that propelled Owens to a slight victory came from the immediate area where Scozzafava lived. Had she stayed in the race instead of endorsing and campaigning for Owens, Hoffman would have won. It was a very tight and unusual race, and it was forfeited by the Republican leadership, who should have backed Hoffman all along.
“You say the factors of production belong not to private landowners, but the People? As Glen Beck would say, where have we heard that?”
Not the factors of production, but mineral rights, which belong to Alaskan citizens as individual shareholders.
“86. Not with my money:
I RATHER prefer to donate somebody who will work 100% for me, and i f he doesn’t win at least I know that the 100%-against-me candidate didn’t win with my (suicide) support. That is called INTEGRITY, a lesson you should also learn.”
Of course, it’s your choice and your money.
However, there’s something called the Bell curve, which is something you should look into.
Very few candidates will vote exactly the way you would’ve voted and very few candidates will vote exactly opposite to the way you would’ve voted.
Most of the candidates will be near the middle.
If you want to win an election, you need to attract the good, the bad, and the ugly.
The bad and the ugly are also voters and their votes count as much as the good.
“Somebody told once “give me freedom or give me death”, but you rather prefer the compromised “better red than dead”. Sad.”
Our second largest trading partner is The People’s Republic of China, so that particular talking point has been deprecated by both Republicans and Democrats. Sorry about that.
“99. Will:
Operative word is “might”. In other words, she can be bought if the price is right by either parties. What a comforting thought. We have a term for people like that when I used to vote in the Philippines. We call them balimbing. Look it up”
Principles won’t fill your stomach when you’re hungry.
“What’s the point of having an opposition party whose members vote with the opposing party half of the time??”
I didn’t say that. I said that having someone who’s 50% on your side is better than having someone who’s 0% on your side.
Again, look at the Bell curve.
50% of all people are below average in all aspects, whether it be intellectual or moral.
Now, did you really expect anything else from the representative sample of the general population that is Congress?
“You know what’s truly pathetic, it’s when a political party gives up it’s founding principles and throw away everything it stands for for the sake of gaining votes. If there is no difference between two parties , what’s the point of having elections when all the American people have to do is hope for the best that their political masters chose the lesser of two evils.”
I think you’ve confused humans with angels, if you find this to be shocking.
Mr.DeLong
Perhaps from where you were sitting, George W.Bush did not seem that impressive as a Governor but he accomplished several important things while Governor despite the limits that the state constitution puts on the office. For one thing, there is the accountability in education that results in Texas now having a better school system than states like California which previously outclassed Texas.
Closer to your field of experience is tort reform. Texas used to be one of those venues where plaintiffs would find tenuous reasons to get their cases heard. The changes have been good for Texas but trial lawyers still hate George Bush because he broke their rice bowl. I suppose that the Barbary Pirates were unhappy with Stephen Decatur for the same reason.
To anonymous #82: In the State of Texas, the people who own the land also own the mineral rights, unless those rights have been sold or
retained by a previous owner. The oil companies do not own the oil.
This system is enabled by the fact that Texas was never a territory or possession of the Federal government. It was an independent republic with diplomatic recognition.
The upshot is that royalties are paid directly to the owners of the mineral, not to government.
Alaska was a territory/possession for almost a century. Therefore mineral rights were held to be
property of the state and royalties were to be paid to government. Sarah Palin changed that so that the citizens of Alaska were granted de facto property rights and are paid directly.
That is not socialism by any stretch of the imagination.
“102. Possum Dearie:
Hoffman appealed to so many voters, because he seemed genuine, unpolished and therefore had a populist appeal. ”
He did not appeal to enough voters for him to win.
That’s all that matters in US politics.
James said: “The biases of the political class…”
As I see it that political class is the elite of the DC beltway and the Ivy League. James you are a product of that system and it takes some good sized ones to speak up against their machinations. You have thus far done a good job.
The Alaskan government owns the mineral rights to much of the oil there for the simple reason that most of it is underwater, in Prudhoe Bay. Negotiating leases with Exxon for oil extraction is about as “socialist” as the federal auctions of offshore drilling rights. Or do those of you crying “Socialism!” advocate privatizing the oceans? More to the point, do you really think anyone is impressed by your pathetic high-school debate skills?
***
Great article! Sarah Palin is the only real conservative with a chance to win in 2012. She is a “quick learner” and has an excellent resume as governor of Alaska–real, measurable achievements. A record of good energy policy, personal and political integrity, clear thinking. Compare her record to the lack of the same qualities in the other contenders. She looks like the rest of us in “flyover space”–not like our “political masters” in the Beltway.
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SARAH’CUDA for POTUS, JOHN BOLTON for VP in 2012–the AMERICA FIRST TICKET. Close the republican primaries to keep democrats and “independents” from picking the republican candidates. Vote out all democRATS, corrupticans, and RINOS in 2008 and 2012. Take back our country from the evil “democRAT” / liberal / socialist / statist / marxist / communist clown Comrade Obama (PBUH) and his minions.
***
rocketman
***
I think the only way one could say Ms. Palin is adequate for high governmental office is by the false logic of comparison to other bad examples.
Apparently, the only way to say she’s not is to say that she’s not.
To #59. XiaoMei:
What A Fisherman Says About Sarah Palin
by Dewie Whetsell, Alaskan Fisherman (#41)
This was a comment posted on Greta Van Susteren’s article referencing the MoveOn.org ad about Sarah Palin. Someone sent it to me in an email with this stated as the source.
Saracuda – 2012
For those of you who are economically illiterate, the oil companies lease their lands. Essentially, they buy the resource, or rather, the option to extract the resource. Many lands go unexploited because the yield does not justify the costs. Sometimes, it’s because they are just sitting on the oil, as they were in places in AK.
The point is, they buy the resource. It does not belong to them. The price they pay for it is determined by negotiation with the owning government. Palin simply demanded a higher price… and they paid up. Some of the excess money goes back to the people of AK each year. The rest funds the government, or is invested and/or held against future need.
It is not Marxism. It is capitalism. The federal government keeps all the money they get. AK treats it as owned by the people, because the people are the government. As in “We the People”. You got a problem with that?
@102
I agree that Hoffman would have won if backed by the GOP. He is still an incredibly weak candidate.
“106. Marc Malone:
For those of you who are economically illiterate, the oil companies lease their lands. Essentially, they buy the resource, or rather, the option to extract the resource. Many lands go unexploited because the yield does not justify the costs. Sometimes, it’s because they are just sitting on the oil, as they were in places in AK.
The point is, they buy the resource. It does not belong to them. The price they pay for it is determined by negotiation with the owning government. Palin simply demanded a higher price… and they paid up. Some of the excess money goes back to the people of AK each year. The rest funds the government, or is invested and/or held against future need.”
And, since the government owns the land, us paying taxes is a lot like paying rent to live in the US.
My first qualification is the candidate must be (yes it’s a litmus test for me) a moral person – one who loves the America established by our founders, and will fight to protect (not give away) our sovereignity and recognizes as essential the oft stated principle of subsidiarity – that the government needs to be the last and least intruder into the daily lives and decisions of its citizens, Life, and the dignity of all men,(regardless of human traits – race, gender, religion, etc.) is the philosphy by which politicans must use to determine what is right or wrong in a given situation.
With 300 million people around, I’m certain that many experienced decision makers are available who also fit this description – but we won’t find them in that cesspool of destructive thinking -Washington D.C.
@53. JDS
You are correct. I think the mistake the GOP made was making the RINO litmus test about social issues (abortion in particular). I believe we do need a litmus test and it should be fiscal issues. If you’re for low taxes and limited government, you’re in. If you think that the solution to every problem is more government, you’re out. A secondary litmus test should be national security. If you’re for appeasement and open borders, you’re out. Social issues should be local issues. Everywhere gay marriage has been put to a popular vote, it has failed and I think the same would be true of abortion. That’s why I urge the GOP to push federalism as the answer to these great social questions. If blue states want to allow gay abortion doctors to get married and toast the occasion with marijuana, so be it. I’d rather live in a socially liberal, fiscally conservative country than the other way around.
Not long after entering the Vice Presidential race, Gov. Palin made a comment about facing down Putin. To paraphrase her she said, “I wouldn’t blink.” After watching her on the trail, talking to reporters that would later trash and ridicule her and her family, suffering through character assassination that would have crumbled our man-child POTUS, I believed her. There is a Facebook group called, “Sarah Palin is More of a Man than Barrack Obama Will Ever Be.” Sadly, it’s true.
I may not have voted in the last election were it not for her candidacy. I would gladly vote for her for any office in the future.
One of the more sensible things about Palin I’ve seen in a while. But there is another big reason why they hate her: she is the only person in public life, and that includes Cheney, who could pack ten thousand people into an arena on two days notice. They’re scared to death of her. Condescension is a sincere form of flattery.
@ JDS
“I didn’t say that. I said that having someone who’s 50% on your side is better than having someone who’s 0% on your side.”
Owens claimed to be 50% on our side; he ran as a Blue Dog. But what the public is finding out since 2006 in these red districts where Democrats claim to be on their side on fiscal but not social issues is that winning is all that matters to these politicians, but voters expect representation.
Neither Owens nor Scozzafava were 1. honest with voters 2. even 50% conservative, especially on fiscal issues 3. strong enough to win on their own. Politics is dirty, and the people of NY23 paid the price. That’s not to say Hoffman is weak or could not have won if Republicans were not running attack ads against him through most of the election.
I am especially optimistic about the Florida primary coming up in four months, and I think Marco Rubio can pull an upset. This man has a bright future, if the establishment GOP can promote newcomers to the party.
JDS
With what type of legislation would that 50% represent on each side?? Considering Dede’s history, she would have likely voted yes to Pelosi/Obama Care and she would have voted yea for the pro labor Card Check considering that her husband is a union official. So tell me JDS, what makes her different from being a Democrat ??
As for your comment,”Principles won’t fill your stomach when you’re hungry.” True, but it is better than the alternative of dooming this country and it’s citizens to a life where the government runs everything including your life while your principles be damned politician is feasting on the rewards.
“I think you’ve confused humans with angels, if you find this to be shocking.” Nope, never have and never will. Too cynical for that and too jaded to be shocked. You don’t get to survive the Philippines during the Marcos era if you are a middle class idiot.
Tell you what, give back to each State the power to pay for their own Senators and congressmen/women and have the people of each state have a say on how their elected representatives get paid, reimbursed and they will get to decide what benefits would their Senators and Congressmen would get for their service every four years. All elected representatives will pay for their political staff with their own money with the help of their state party and have their main offices be located in their respective state capitals and districts and they are strictly prohibited in maintaining any office or residence at Capitol Hill in Washington DC. After their political session in Washington DC have concluded, they will each be immediately escorted back home by their state’s police straight to their State’s capital to report to the Governor and their respective constituents any bills and laws that will directly or indirectly affect them now and in the future. Believe me JDS, the fear of tar and feathers as well as the ever present gallows near their offices as well as not getting paid would persuade many politicians to become statesmen and women or at the very least do their jobs and keep most of their promises.
Hey, in the spirit of strong American women, just thought I’d remind you all that Carrie Prejean’s new book is coming. Of course, she and Hannity committed earlier to Carrie releasing her new book on his show. Think that will still happen?
Anyway, here’s a word-for-word excerpt from her tentatively retitled memoir, “Strummin’ on the Old Banjo.”
“Unfortunately, pornography has become mainstreamed — it rushes at us through big screens, portable screens; soft-core porn is on mainstream TV cable stations, hard-core porn is just a mouse click away on the internet, and the envelope of what seems acceptable seems to get pushed farther and farther as more and more people are exposed to this material.
“The result is that girls grow up in a culture where it is hard to have an innocent, healthy, normal view of themselves, how they should behave, how they should act, and how they should dress.
“Our bodies are temples of the Lord. We should earn respect and admiration for our hearts, not for showing skin to look sexy … I have since learned that your outer beauty can only get you so far in life.”
Hail Rush! Go Sarah!
Prediction:
The future of the GOP is in the hands of the young college Republican leaders.
Mark my words.
“Hmm, fascinating- so this governor enacted huge taxes on private businesses in order to share the wealth with the population? Good thing she didn’t get elected- She might have adopted that same strategy nationwide, and then what would we have? Socialism, my friends”
No that’s what marxists pretend socialism is about. What it’s actually about is creating government structures that give marxists ever increasing power over other people’s lives.
“125. vivo:
Prediction:
The future of the GOP is in the hands of the young college Republican leaders.
Mark my words.”
Damning with faint praise, are you now?
http://www.alternet.org/story/143815/young_conservatives_ashamed_of_gop?page=entire
So here is what I am not getting-
If the oil under Alaska is not owned by the landowners; it is the property of the People;
Then would that same logic apply to the oil under Texas, Oklahoma, and California?
And if we allow the oil companies to extract it, would these states distribute a check to their citizens?
Or why is oil in alaska different than timber in Alaska? If I buy property in Alaska that has timber, is the timber mine to own, or is it owned by the People?
Or more precisely- why is public ownership of natural resources a good thing in Alaska, but not across the United States?
The US is one republic, under God, which consists of 50 states and a few territories. Every state have their own laws, most based on common law, except Lousiana. Property rights laws vary between the states. Let us keep it that way. Since Murder is a matter for the states so should abortion laws be. When the Alaskan Wild Life refuge (or wahatever was the excuse) was set aside to prohibit drilling for more oil, this was a violation of the constitution.
ON WISCONSIN! . . . ON WISCONSIN!
“Palin recalled a recent conversation with a friend about how the phrase “In God We Trust” had been moved to the edge of the new coins.
“Who calls a shot like that?” she demanded. “Who makes a decision like that?”
She added: “It’s a disturbing trend.”
(politico)
Please nominate this woman.
#128 reason60 – That actually IS the situation. When you buy property, you own the land, but not the mineral rights. If I discover gold on your property, I can file a claim, then start working to extract the minerals. There is nothing you can do about it. My mineral rights actually supercede your ownership. I can tear your house down to get at the minerals.
If one wishes to drill offshore in CA, I have to get permission to do so from CA. Then, I have to pay for the privilege. The money goes to the State. The State keeps the money. Technically, they could give it to the residents, but it is a drop in the bucket of the total budget of the State, so there is none left over for the People. In AK, they have just under a million residents, so there is plenty left over. They give that excess back to the people.
Oh, and the timber business is strictly controlled, as well, at least in my State of WA.
Now and Then – Who?
Sens. Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Robert Byrd (D-WV) sponsored legislation to move the motto back to the front face of the coins.
“It is important that our national motto, ‘In God We Trust,’ is prominently displayed on all of our currency,” Brownback said. “We should not relegate our heritage to the side.”
#130 Now and Then – I agree with her. Yeah, know they did it for some practical reason or another, but “In God We Trust” has been the motto on our money forever. It is part of our legacy. She understands the significance of removing it from prominence on the face to hard-to-read on the side. She is not fooled by the sneakiness.
I agree. Nominate this woman. She has good instincts as to what is really important. Symbols are important. Our Judeo-Christian roots are important. God bless America.
“131. Marc Malone:
That actually IS the situation. When you buy property, you own the land, but not the mineral rights. ”
Do you technically own the land?
I was under the impression that the government still has jurisdiction over any land you might “own.”
@ JDS #127
Oh, yeah. The Nation is where I go to get all my conservative news.
The real issue here is that up till now, the Democrats have successfully made the case that social issues trump all else. Now they’re they’ve passed a $2 trillion healthcare bill in the House that supposedly remedies a problem affecting 13% of the US population while nationalizing a sixth of our economy. Try convincing American taxpayers to pay for abortions during double digit unemployment.
Marc – Actually this was already addressed, and the next coin in the series will have “In God We Trust” on the back.
What Palin has done is effectively whip people into a frenzy over a piece of information which simply is not true. Moreover, you’ve all assumed that this is a byproduct of Obama’s administration when in fact the change came under Bush.
Wow,Sarah Palin as a legitimate candidate for President? Have we all just slipped into a period of absolute madness? If she cannot identify Africa as a continent then how the hell is she going to know where she is sending your young men and women to die? May God help and forgive you if this woman ever fools the American public into thinking she would actually be good as the president.
133. Marc Malone:
” Symbols are important”
Symbols are all you’ve got . . . the right has been about nothing other than flag pins and flag burning amendments and botched pledges of allegiance and tea parties . . . driven by chickenhawks seeking dispensation for their guilt with a perfunctory “thank you for your service . . . it’s all so Levin-esque. Yeah, that’s what we need, more symbols, more dreams of being “greeted as liberators” and “the fundamentals of the economy are strong” and “only dead fish go with the flow” and “thanks but no than.” . . not a single specific, definable, provable commitment.
No philosophy, no plans, no insights, no alternatives, no courage – just symbols, lip service and symbols.
This is a tremendous piece; I offer my kudos to the author and agree 100% — and I love it when column like this appear. I love the sound of trolls getting all wee-wee’ed up in the morning. Sounds like..
..victory!
#136 Lefty – You’re right. Yes, I did know this happened under Bush. We have our issues with him, too.
#134 JDS – Yes, we own the land we’ve purchased. It’s in the Bill of Rights. You cannot be relieved of your property without due process of law. We pay taxes on our land, because we must have some government. We have to pay for it somehow. Most property tax rates are voted in, at least everywhere I’ve ever lived. We the People decided this. It is how the government gets the due process of law. It didn’t just happen by some governmental fiat.
Btw, I’m smoking crack out of a broken light bulb right now.
#137 Theodore J – So, she mis-spoke on that. She said country instead of continent. Politicians say a lot of things under pressure and mis-speak. So, do your TV people, even when reading their scripts, sometimes they get things horribly wrong. That was the only blunder I’ve heard from her.
Contrast her one mistake with Obama’s seemingly unending stream of ignorance. Do I really need to list those for you?
You’re just looking for reasons to dislike her. the truth is otherwise. The hostile media has blown her missteps all out of proportion in an effort to make her seem stupid, when she clearly is not. Quit drinking the Kool-Aid.
The quality of leadership is not measured by any academic or resume standards. It is not a test of IQ or academic degrees. The quality of leadership is the ability to get others to support you and follow your lead.
By this standard, both Obama and Palin inspired followers and supporters.
Once that is said, you have to examine what direction the leader is heading. Obama is headed in a direction toward government control of everything, and his supporters support him in doing so.
On the other hand, Sarah Palin has clearly articulated the opposite of Obama, individual freedom, free choice, etc. She has done this both in the way she has lived her life, and the ability to stand up for what she felt was right, not convenient.
As this article points out, the other Republicans are lacking in the most valued quality of “leadership,” the ability to inspire others to follow you and support you.
pfs
Actually she never said that, and considering her church’s efforts in divestment in Sudan, the fact that she was in college in the 80s, when South Africa was big in the news. That her
husband’s former employer, BP Amoco has installations in at least two oil rich African countries, Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria, the last was referenced in her nomination speech; it doesn’t ring remarkedly true. In edition, to the fact that one of supposed sources. Martin Eisenstadt, turned out to be an internet hoaxster named Gorlin.
I think Sarah Pailin would be a pretty good president.
One thing is for sure, it’s hard to imagine how she could do any worse than the clown we’re currently saddled with.
#!43 Paul Streitz – You’re partially right. Leadership is more than exciting a group. It also requires some competence. Performance and results matter after the words are gone. Character matters most of all. Values provide substance.
Demagogues can excite a group (Obama), but the light they offer is not a true one. It is a mere will-o-wisp which leads you to your doom.
127. JDS:
“Prediction:
The future of the GOP is in the hands of the young college Republican leaders.
Mark my words.”
Good link. It’s your Party. It’s your future. You decide.
@ Vivo and JDS
At some point the social issues matter. Look at the Stupak amendment recently. Will supposedly pro-life Democrats vote for a bill that contains funding for abortions? Absolutely. Because the far left is leading their party and UHC is their Holy Grail.
The GOP has offered alternatives; one was recently scored by the CBO, and it costs a mere $61 billion, cuts $68 billion from the deficit and reduces premiums up to 10%. Think we’ll ever see it come up for a vote? No, because the goal is not to provide affordable healthcare, improve quality, save money or help the needy. Obama and the Democrats want more control over Americans’ lives.
Is Rudy Giuliani still around? Palin-Guiliani would be a strong ticket.
As I posted on another article earlier–conservatives will always be held to a much higher standard than liberals, I am not making that as a moral judgement, just as a statement of fact. This is also not a fact that is going to change about our culture. ITs always going to be an uphill battle, specifically in regards to dealing with the media.
While I have actually come around to liking Sarah Palin, I have as of yet to be convinced that this particular uphill battle will not destroy her, and leave the rest of us in the lurch if she were to become the Presidential nominee of the party.
She has a lot of convincing to do, and I wish her well, I’m just not going to bet any money on her at this point.
Thanks for this illuminating analysis.
I’m looking forward to Palin’s book “Going Rogue,” and hoping it will be more than just another celebrity “as told to” autobiography.
146. Marc Malone:
In regards to Now and Then/Vivo etc. Its fairly easy to shut them up by reminding them that their messiah got his start in politics turning tricks for a slumlord. Sometimes they shriek a bit, but then they go away.
A foxConservatives, upon failing tofind a way to reach grapes hanging high up on a vinewin NY-23, retreated and said:“The grapes are sour anyway!”“At least our candidate wasn’t a RINO!”This civil war and purging of the RINOs is killing the Republican party and NY-23 is the beginning of the avalanche.
Next up:
Olympia Snowe defecting to the Democrats and the passing of the Healthcare Senate Bill.
Please lets stop the continual load of manipulative, disingenuous arguments about Palin’s competency as a presidential contender. The simple truth is qualifications have nothing to do with the reality or discussion about Plain as a candidate. The reality is that fifty-three percent of the electorate JUST elected a complete incompetent, inexperinced poser which was never vetted properly by the media. Palin is hated for being Palin. Liberals and neo-communist democrats despise her because of her beliefs..plain and simple.. and her APPEAL to a wide range of Americans that share in her values. WE pick OUR candidates. The opposition should not be telling us that are candidate is not qualified while their candidate goes unvetted and is clearly unqualified. No, we do not have to accept this double standard. All thats been said of Palin was said of Ronald Reagan..its the same liberal manipulative bullsh*t recycled time again and again.
154. Simon Templar:
“Palin is hated for being Palin.”
Truer words were never spoken.
Let’s cut the crap. Sarah Palin IS qualified to be the President of the United States, she IS a natural leader with common sense and political savvy, and IS as courageous as prior leaders like… Washington, Adams, Lincoln, and Reagan. They knew duty and honor, lived their lives close to their personal beliefs, and loved their country. Palin should run, I don’t know if she will, but she should at least give it a shot. It seems to me the only citizens really willing to put their “balls” on the line for our country are two women that physiologically might not possess them, yet figuartivley demonstrate they have bigger ones than all the others; Michele Bachmann and Sarah Palin. A lot of the lefties are screaching that they are openly “rooting” for such a ticket. Their respective gonads would immediately shrivel to nothing if that were actually the case and they know it. These patriotic women would be such a stark contrast to the anti-American, anti-Constitutional, cowardly professional “victim” President we have now that we would find out once and for all where our country stands at this moment in history. I’ll steal a slogan from a recent movie, “time to nut up, or shut up.”
Interesting thing about Hoffman in NY-23 – the votes are still being counted, and he’s gaining. He conceded too early. Pelosi swore in Owens without the election being certified in NY, and she knew it. I saw Hoffman on Neil Cavuto today. He may contest the election if the numbers for him keep gaining, and he’s going to need financial support if he does. It may be a bumpy ride for Owens in a few days.
Please, nominate Sarah Palin for President in 2012. I say that as communist, evolution-believing, whale-loving, atheist, non-hunter from the Gay Marriage state of Massachusetts. I have a block of sawn walnut in my garage that is smarter than her. And more empathetic.
Please keep believing in the absurd. You owe it to me.
Thanks.
delong…one of the more insightful articles and analysis of the political class that i’ve read to date,my sentiments exactly. cognitive disonance…that’s a good word, but needs more explaining. it might be a set of political values held by a group of people who become confused and disoriented when an alien set of values intrudes and are considered so alien and unworkable they must be rejected. i heard a perfect example of this while listinging to scott allen miller subbing for tom sullivan. i was at my typewriter banging away on a piece and only turning up the volume during talk. miller made a remark in passing that went completely unchallenged, saying that if palin runs in 2012, we’ll have another bob dole-type candidate. i paused in utter amazement, since i see absolutly no similarity between dole’s campaign and palin’s reform campaign. so i want to addto your list of the disfunctional political class. one can deeply respect bob dole’s service to his country which left him with a wound so terrible he lost function of his right arm. as a senate leader he was good but not exceptional. his tenure as senate leader consisted of rubber-stamping rep. legislation and curbing democrat exess. but his campaign was lack-luster. he couldn’t compete with the flamboyant bill clinton and even old guard eastern establishment repubs. wondered if he could win. all doubts were erased when he went down to an ignominious defeat at the hands of the clintons. there’s no similarity between the style palin is a national and world-wide phenomenon
(CON FROM 12/12/09) THE PROBLEM WITH MUCH IFNOT MOST OF THE POLITICAL LEFT IS THAT IT IS MADE UP OF FEARFUL PEOPLE, AND PALIN IS NOT A FEARFUL PERSON,BY AND LARGE.IT COMES PARTLY FROM HER BACKGROUND. SHE COMES FROM A FAMILY OF SPORTSMEN, AND IN THE ALASKAN SPORTS WORLD ONE MUST ALWAYS CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY OF CONFRONTING AN ENRAGED GRIZZLY ON THE BACK ROADS OF THE WILDERNESS. NOT THAT PALIN WOULD DEHOLSTER HER DESERT EAGLE AND PUT ONE ROUND RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES, BUT SHE DOES REPRESENT THE KIND OF PERSON WHO WOULD LIVE IN ALASKA ANYWAY. BUT THE FEARFUL LEFT ALWAYS KEEPS IN THE FOREFRONT OF ITS BRAIN A MUSHROOM CLOUD. FOR THEM, PALIN AS PRESIDENT WOULD SLEEPWALK INTO A SECURITY AREA AND ACCIDENTALLY PUSH THE NUCLEAR BUTTON;EXCEPT THAT THE LEFT DOESN’T CONSIDER THAT PALIN WOULD RECOGNIZE A NUCLEAR BUTTON EVEN AFTER BEING THOROUGHLY BRIEFED BY HER SECURITY PERSONNEL, RATHER, IN A SPASM OF NIGHT TREMORS MIGHT PUSH ALL THE BUTTONS ON THE NUCLEAR PANEL JUST TO MAKE SURE. BUT NOW EVEN OLD JOHN KERRY IS COMING AROUND TO THE PLACE WHERE HE STATES THAT SHE IS A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH IN THE FUTURE. (TO BE CON)
(con from dec 17)…so, john kerry is warning the dems that if the palinites take over congres in ’10, obama’s agenda will be aborted. after hearing pat caudel on dennis miller lament what’s going on with the gang that can’t shoot straight, i’m almost convinced we can do it. and i agree with templar, the controversey is not about palin’s qualifications but her person. i listen to the conservative talk shows over the week and agree with almost everthing. i take exceptions with some of the mikael medved studio. he markets himself as a conservative but is firmly in the republican mainstream on centrist repub politics and believes palin would be bad for america, though he does like her and thinks she’d be a good adjunct to the party if only she would give up some of what he thinks are her conspiratorial ideas. but i did agree with him–that the primary qualifications for president are a right value system and some executive experience along with thw wisdom to make right aoppointments. afterall the president doesn’t govern in a vacuum. i’m certain she wouldn’t appoint bill ayres as secretary of urban development. i’m more concerned with the tea-party perspective and her supporters, generally. i only hope that her support doesn’t sweep uncritically through the movement like the proverbial leaven of the scribes and pharisees so that there is a resultant loss of perspective on her humanity, for as president, she would undoubtedly make decisions and statemants that not all of her supporters would agree with all the time. such archtypal thinking can, if it gets out of hand closely mimic the same kind of perspective as the obama-left who went into the tank without its diving gear for the phantom president. i call them “existential narcissists.” they see no value in history, and when one finds novalue in history, one loses his inner identity and can only find spiritual composure, basking in the reflected glow of celebrity.
Enjoyed your thoughts. I would like to see her get about 20 years more experience before running for president. I agree with those who say she needs to be compared with other qualified potentials, but they usually don’t get to run either.
If someone knows or can reference, all the background of what happened from way back to just prior to McCain presenting her as VP, some of us would find it interesting.
Remarkable things here. I’m very satisfied to look your article. Thanks a lot and I am taking a look ahead to touch you. Will you please drop me a e-mail?