The Battle for America 2010: Sarah Palin’s Gentle Shade of Purple in a Cobalt Blue State
Observers from astute political junkies to sideline neophytes may recall Sarah Palin’s enthusiastic May 2010 endorsement of California’s Grand Old Party Senate nominee Carly Fiorina. The event was just one of many aspects of the race and politics in a state thought to be the most dysfunctional in the nation.
The face-off between three term incumbent Democrat Barbara Boxer and the former Hewlett Packard chief executive officer hits a government-funded California theater near you on November 2.
Long before Palin’s endorsement, Fiorina was seen as the far less purist-conservative candidate in the tea party age. The endorsement went directly against the grassroots current for Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, the failed primary candidate. Many DeVore fans and tea party activists expressed their dissatisfaction with Palin’s Fiorina-boost.
But something beyond boiled-over tea party activist discontent was brewing.
Palin’s endorsement motive was dubbed “feminist over tea partier.” This introduced a new dynamic into the race — an extension of Palin’s pink-elephant effort to mobilize the election success of conservative women across America. Riding the tea party wave, Palin sought challengers to the traditional liberal female office seeker.
The “mama grizzly” movement is based on the female nurturing/caring instinct and matronly fear for the future of America. From local Republican office victories to the notable primary wins of Sharron Angle in Nevada and Nikki Haley in South Carolina, mama grizzly roared east and west of the Rockies.
Many may find the mama grizzly phenomenon to be a new ideological facet of gender politics in California, but the state is not new to the feminist electoral role. California Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein ran for Congress’s higher chamber for the first time in 1992. That year was dubbed the “year of the woman,” and Boxer and Feinstein became California’s first two female senators elected, also joining three female senatorial winners nationwide.
In 1896, Californians overwhelmingly voted against women’s suffrage. Ironically, according to Taming the Elephant: Politics, Government and Law in Pioneer California by John F. Burns and Richard J. Orsi, the key deciding voting districts were none other than today’s progressive strongholds — San Francisco and Oakland.
Men of that day voted nay on the basis that allowing women into the voting booth would also have ushered in alcohol prohibition in the state. It’s interesting to think that Palin-era mama grizzlies are unified in motherly instincts, whereas the turn-of-the-century female figures desired voting rights to keep men away from booze.
For a bird’s-eye-view of the California Senate race action, I set out on foot in my hometown of Carlsbad, California.
Coastal Carlsbad is a picturesque, dreamy resort town home to a mosaic of people from many walks of life. Urban, affluent, and beachy, the area (as part of San Diego County) went a solid 53% to Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama in the 2008.
Knowing the latter as I set out, I considered a central theme in the Boxer/Fiorina race. What are the odds that Fiorina, a Republican, could win in such a deeply entrenched Democrat state? And what is the extent of the Palin gentle shade of purple, the mama grizzly factor, in the race?
‘she lived nearby and “knew about Barbara Boxer” but didn’t know who she was running against…
She was no fan of Palin either. “She sounds like an idiot and is frightening,” she said.’
Wonder who is the real idiot, so easily frightened. Lighten up airhead, the Mama Grizzlie is not a real grizzly.
As of Sunday morning, 9/19, the average of all polls on the California race as published in “Real Clear Politics” gives Boxer a 1.4 percent lead over Fiorina. That is within the margin of error.
Can Carly win?
Oh, yeah.
As for Palin’s endorsement, people keep forgetting Campbell. Carly is not a RINO. Campbell was the RINO and he was leading the three-person primary field. DeVore stayed in the teens. Didn’t have a prayer. So Palin endorsed Carly to bench Campbell. And I predict Carly will win.
This one will be the one everybody will be watching. It will tell whether there will be a watershed or not.
Its hard to say here in Cali. This state is one of biggest hangouts of the liberal and socialist and it has been for decades. Its got nothing to do with dem or repub but lib / conserv. Cali and new york is where the “elite intelligencia” go to ponder how they are so much smarter and better than thoes fools in the middle of the country. This place has nothing to do with reality or even common sense. there fore Palin is going to have a hard time convincing peter pan that its time to leave neverland
Politics today has become so polarizing that liberal Democrats will only vote for other liberal Democrats. This “reaching across the isle” stuff is a lot of bunk. Liberals are liberals and you’re never going to change them.
Independents probably have enough sense to see that if a politician is not producing good results for them, then it’s time to vote for another politician, regardless of party affiliation. That’s why the Democrats are going to do so poorly this year. What do the Democrats have to hang their hats on? Obamacare? The giant “Stimulus” that stimulated nothing? Or maybe all of the bailouts for GM and Chrysler, unemployment, or the sad state of our economy? This is hardly a platform to run on, which is why voters may give the other party that is NOT in power a chance.
The question becomes what will the Republicans do with their success in November? If they can help turn things around economically, then Obama will lose badly in 2012. If not, then 2012 may be better for Democrats than expected. Also, we’re still fighting two wars overseas and Americans hate to change presidents while fighting a war, any war. So if the Republicans do well this year (which I think they will), then they’ll have to give people a reason for voting for them again in 2012. It’s as simple as that.
Americans are looking for results, not political slogans, and as long as you produce good results you will win. If not, you’d better have a good day job lined up when you’re voted out of office.
You have to love California. Even with the smelt focused laws destroying all the orchards in the Central Valley, they still have no shortage of nuts.
Sarah Palin’s endorsement in a general election will have little impact if the endorsee is a Republican, because everyone knows she is a Republican. Of course, if she is whole-heartedly endorsing her, fund-raising, campaign speeches, etc., then the effect will naturally be greater.
I DO NOT KNOW WHICH ONE I DETEST MORE. CARLY FIORINA, FORMERLY OF HP WAS THE WORST POS WHEN SHE WAS THERE.
SHE PRACTICALLY RUINED THAT COMPANY SINGLE HANDEDLY AND WHEN SHE BELIEVED SHE WAS INEXPENDABLE SHE WAS TOLD TO TAKE A LONG WALK OFF A SHORT PIER.
BARBARA BOXER IS AND CONTINUES TO BE WHAT CARLY WAS.
I am a Californian, Born and raised here. Even if I were a democrat I wouldn’t vote for Boxer. She’s a crook. If I’d done the check kiting she’s done, I’d still be in jail. That’s where she should be, not in the senate.
ic – I kid you not, that girl outnumbers (for her age, demographic, etc) her conservative counterpart by 10 to 1.
jmz – Couldn’t have said it better myself. San Diego and Orange County are a LOT different than the rest of the state though.
Libertyship – You are correct. If you noticed, I pointed out in my piece that GOP + Indie registered voters = the number of Democratic registered voters. However, conservative voters are far more motivated this year to vote for Fiorina. That is why it is so tight at this point.
nickel – I smell a ‘smelt’ article coming up
.
Title: Whoever Smelt It, Delta’d It
Marc – Indeed, the title alone has me sold
Don’t get me started on that fish. We should eat the Delta Smelt into extinction, bet they’re tasty fried up and served on a roll with tartar sauce.
The way I see the media campaigns stacking up, I don’t see Palin as a big factor (other than, at some point, Boxer may try to garner points with her base by slamming Palin). Boxer is playing the class envy card and portraying herself as the kindly, compassionate grandma who just wants to save us from the evil, wascally Wepublicans.
It is extremely hard to understand how any honest and at the same time rational, person would not simply cast a vote against Barbara Boxer, no matter who the opponent was. The Senators from Kulefornia are both jokes of the highest magnitude, just as is Ahnuld the Governator of that once great state.
Tim,
I think that there are probably a lot more folks like the lady from Riverside than the others you interviewed in Carlsbad. I was in Bakersfield last year for an exercise the USAF puts on for its auxiliary and was shocked — shocked, I tell you! — to hear the absolute, unbridled contempt for the Democrats who have ruined this state and this country. I was thoroughly chastised by one guy who told me that, were it not for L.A. and S.F., California would be a vibrant, conservative red.
..now it’s just close on to a socialist/commie red.
Mr Martel, above, makes a good point about Palin’s suport. Carly could use some funds right now and it would be good to see her out here. In a situation where the DNC is talking of “firewalling” some races, I am sure the Fiorina/Boxer race that they feel they have to commit funds to. Well, Palin would only make them commit more.
An article based on interviews with four people without last names? You’ll have to do better than this, PJM.
Barbara Boxer is a nasty career politician with a vastly inflated ego.
She is routinely rated one of the dumbest Senators (I think they should retire the “trophy” in her name).
She has done NOTHING for California.
Senator “Ma’am” Boxer needs to be voted out of office…and THIS is the year to do it!! Vote for Carly!!!!!!!!!!!
I’ve only lived in California since 2001, but I’ve noticed a real change over the last year or so in how most Democrats I know view Barbara Boxer. Some of them will still vote for her, I think, simply because she’s the Democrat, but I know very few who actually still like or respect her. “Call me Senator” soured a lot of Democrats I know on her, and having signings for her novel instead of town-hall meetings about the health reform bill didn’t do her any favors, either.
Being seen as the “acceptable evil” that your own party can hold their nose and vote for might get you re-elected most years, but I doubt that will work for Boxer this time around.
The race between Fiorina and Boxer is a toss-up. It is going to be a tight race. I am conservative and I think Palin has made a mistake to endorsed Fiorina. The conservatives and the tea party probably stay at home and not vote for Fiorina.
Like you, I live in a very blue part of California: the bay area. I’m out here in the ‘burbs, but trust me, I feel surrounded by blue. Interesting cross section of the California voters you found here. Sadly, it doesn’t give me hope that Carly will win. I still think there are still too many dumb Californians either not paying attention (and likely to vote for the incumbent) or too many who actually think Boxer is better for us. But you never know, we can hope for a miracle.
Lisa – I am all too aware of that which you speak. On the other hand, you should do everything in your power to make a Fiorina win possible, if that is what you want – phone banks, volunteering for the campaign, etc.
I think Palin won’t necessarily sink or float Carly. I’m in Los Angeles. The economic problems are so severe people aren’t focused much on Palin’s opinions for this race.
I live in east San Diego county. I don’t have a strong feeling one way or the other about what might happen in November. I know some people who will vote Republican no matter what, and some people who will vote Democrat no matter what. There are more than a few who will vote anti-Republican or anti-Democrat no matter what. I guess I fall into the latter category, myself, being a registered independent favoring smaller government, leaning Libertarian. I figure that no matter how uninspired I am by current non-liberal candidates, we would be much better off with Boxer, et al. out of office.
One thing I have definitely noticed in my area is the removal of Obama/Biden bumper stickers by many who were devout anti-Bush voters. It will definitely be interesting to see how things shape up between now and November. I’m not sure Palin figures that strongly in my area. I don’t know anyone that is a fan or takes her that seriously.
There are a lot of Glendas (“I am a liberal Democrat”) everywhere in California who live a life of relative ease – even luxury. They are so frustratingly sure that they are entitled to their good life but in most cases have no concept of how capitalism, free markets and a system of limited government have made all of this possible. Voting for the ideological poseur and aggressively incompetent Barbara Boxer is just another indulgence for most of them. They believe that this proves they are caring and benevolent champions of the planet and the less fortunate among us. What a deal – since they can pull this off using other people’s money and without any interference with their daily routines.
Nice work Tim. Welcome to PJM. Keep it up. Followed your link over to West Coast Rebel. They seem enamored of you over there.
God Bless the New Media. Keep the truth coming.
-CT
Lest you think me a sycophant, next time, get a bigger P sample will ya?
- CT
One poll question I would like to see is,
“Do you support increasing the power and authority of the Democratic Party in California?”
It would be interesting to see if there is any anxiety about this issue in the Golden State.
Carly has made more strides since the primary, I cna stomach pulling a lever for her now. What is far more interesting is how the Democrat elite are pushing for Boxer so heavily. She hasn’t been in her office here in San Diego in 4 years. She doesn’t care about this state but about power ,which she proves over and over Ma’am.
I’d rather test drive a new a face then keep the old one!! With MoveOn. org shucking for Boxer now it makes it very clear that she is part of hte ruling elite that CA can’t afford anymore.
I live in the ultra-blue San Francisco Bay area, and even among my far-left co-workers I have not heard much concern about the Palin endorsement. What I do hear, over and over, is California’s budget impasse ($20 billion in the hole again, even after last year’s “fix”) and the shockingly unsustainable public sector pension burden. Granted, those are state issues, not Congressional issues, but we’ve got an active and expensive Governor’s race at the same time, so state and federal issues are becoming intermingled. Even Governor Moonbeam is tacking slightly to the center, when he is roused to comment at all; for Boxer to cling so resolutely to the Left is either political genius or will be her undoing. This was absolutely the year for Whitman and Fiorina to give it a shot.
Bravo!
Fiorina is a bit of an unknown. But Boxer has been a big part of the losing team that has driven California to the brink the past several years. She is a proven failure and her disconnect from reality is frightening. A vote for Boxer is essentially a vote to continue the trend to turn California into Greece.
Chris Christie and the Baby Killers
There is no joy in Abortionville today. The mighty PPFOA has struck out, at least in New Jersey.
The nation’s most industrious abortionists, those folks at the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the folks who like to pretend they plan parenthhood for people but who actually excel at terminating possible parenthood, have been cut off by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
Christie terminated $7.5 million in public funding for PPFOA by his cash-strapped state, a move which irritated Planned Parenthood and Jersey senatorial Democrats so much that they spitefully reinstated payment of the taxpayer monies in a 30-10 vote, with help from a few Republicans. The governor promptly vetoed the measure and the Senate tried to override but the few Republicans refused to contradict their party’s governor and the effort failed.
The result: The Planned Parenthood of Southern New Jersey’s Cherry Hill abortion center was forced to shutter its doors, an action that was no doubt disappointing to the eager abortion purveyors of Cherry Hill. They at least could draw solace from the fact women would still be “serviced” by PP-SNJ facilities in Camden, Bellmawr, and Edgewater Park.
Christie’s veto followed an earlier veto in July of a bill intended to restore funding for family planning centers.
A number of questions arise from those two vetoes but first, a personal observation, a glum oservation.
Over the last half-century, aborting the pre-born has become a popular indoor sport in our sorry world with some 42 million abortions committed annually or approximately 115,000 per day, according to the Guttmacher Institute, the ”non-profit” research arm of Planned Parenthood.
Perhaps some, certainly not all, of our sorry world’s ills can be attributed to the planet’s growing disregard for human life . . .
(Read more at http://www.genelalor.com/blog1/?p=1952)