The sole legitimizing force behind Sarah Palin is the persecution that her supporters perceive that she is subjected to. It’s a movement – if we could call it that – animated by its sense of victimhood. The quantity and ferocity of criticism directed at Palin, right or wrong, is the ultimate arbiter of her worth as a political figure; what she has done, what she promised to do, what she could do, don’t seem to matter.
And so it is with Matthew Continetti’s “The Palin Persuasion”, an essay of more than 4,700 words trying to make the case for Sarah Palin in American politics. It’s extraordinary that in this long essay we don’t have any arguments for Sarah Palin emanating from things that Sarah Palin has done. After more than a year in the national political stage, the dynamism of the Palin phenomenon is entirely dependent on the convulsions it generates in the two extremes of the political spectrum.
It is very telling that her record as governor of Alaska gets only scant mention in Continetti’s essay and it’s the usual limited list of accomplishments, the ones we heard about when she was introduced to the nation. Since the defeat of the McCain ticket in 2008, Palin as governor failed to make any serious progress despite the fact that she had gained tremendous prominence and influence on the right and that she was at the helm of a conservative state. At the end she decided to resign, 18 months before the end of her term, admitting that she was no longer able to effectively govern the state. It should have been a “mugged by reality” moment for the Palinistas. But for them her resignation was proof of the everlasting prosecution. Palin would leave governing, as the Washington Post reported, because it was “in the best interest of the state and will allow her to more effectively advocate for issues of importance to her, including energy independence and national security.” Those who can’t govern perpetually campaign.
Continetti argues that Palin is similar to three other political figures: Andrew Jackson, William Jennings Bryan and Ronald Reagan. Making the association with the first two figures is politically questionable, and in the case of Ronald Reagan, Continetti can only establish one similarity only. It is true that Reagan was despised by the nation’s intellectual and political elites but the similarities between Reagan and Palin start and end there. From then on we have to deal with an increasing array of differences. Unlike Palin, the more the American public knew about Reagan the more they liked him. And if someone wanted to know how much Reagan was engaged with national issues and how well he mastered them, he could take a look at the Reagan and Robert F. Kennedy debate back in 1967, fourteen years before Reagan became president.
It would be interesting for Continetti to explain why Palin is more like Reagan and not more like Nixon. Again in the case of Nixon the similarities between him and Palin are limited. Nixon a very intelligent man (not wise though) with a deep knowledge and command of the national issues, was nevertheless loathed by Washington and he could appeal to his base only in proportion to the perceived animus of his detractors.
Sarah Palin reminds us of a certain someone who we are forever called to judge not for his accomplishments but for his promising potential. In conservative circles it does feel like we are all in a classroom similar to that created by Muriel Spark in The Prime of Mrs. Jean Brodie. We are asked to risk the future of the Republican party so that Mrs. Palin, now in her political prime, has the chance to realize her ill-defined political and perhaps personal goals. “For those who like that sort of thing, that is the sort of thing they like” but for the rest of us who take the future of the conservative movement in America seriously, this is a very scary scenario.
78 responses so far
1 anniemargret // Nov 8, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Elsewhere on this blog, I expressed the reasons why the majority of Americans will never take her seriously as a candidate or de facto ‘leader’ of the GOP, although right now she is.
I am a centrist Democrat, but I admit I voted for Ronald Reagan when I was an Independent. He exuded charm, charisma, and a common sense intelligence which, even if you disagreed with his political philosophy, once elected, made most Americans stand up and listen.
Palin has none of this. In fact, the simple argument should be is that her untimely exit from governship *proves* she cannot and will not be able to effectively lead, other than those who worship at her feet. She is the epitome of ‘revenge’ for these fans – it has really nothing to do with her abilities to lead nor intelligence, nor wisdom, nor any ability to articulate with any reasonable effectiveness, views on national or international policies. It is rooted in emotionalism.
And it is why David Frum, I would suspect, is fearful. Someone on the other blog mentioned he was ‘jealous.’ This is the same argument I hear from Republicans that support her that accuse Democrats of…..that we are against her because we are ‘jealous’ or ‘fearful.’ Certainly many people like myself – centrist Dems, have nothing to be jealous of… but fearful? yep….we are fearful that a sizeable majority of the GOP actually believes she is fit to run for the highest office in the land.
Put her out there in front of a camera, with some hardball questions lobbied at her, the way they were lobbied against Hillary, and let’s see her stuff. They won’t do it, because they know she can’t.
Is this the best the Republican party got? I never hear anyone on this blog mention Romney, Pawlenty, Guiliani, etc… who will they run in 2012? Huckabee? Or is the the de facto leader of the GOP….Sarah “pitbull with lipstick” Palin?
2 sinz54 // Nov 8, 2009 at 5:21 pm
anniemargaret:
First of all, WELCOME BACK!
I was so sorry to see you go. I hope you will continue to participate.
Now: Despite the hype, a recent Gallup poll shows that Mike Huckabee is favored by the GOP base to be the GOP’s nominee more than either Sarah Palin or Mitt Romney, who were favored roughly equally.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/124097/Huckabee-Romney-Palin-See-Most-Republican-Support-12.aspx
That’s not as bad a situation as you described. Huckabee is every inch a social conservative, but he’s practically a bleeding-heart when it comes to the economic plight of working-class and middle-class Americans. And Mitt Romney’s command of economic issues is strong.
Next most popular among the Republicans is Newt Gingrich. Newt’s ego is so inflated it could float a battleship, but he’s very bright and a technocrat more than an ideologue.
3 LessThanExpert // Nov 8, 2009 at 5:37 pm
Sinz54,
That’s pretty interesting. The polls on the Republican leadership – indeed on almost everything nowadays – seem to demonstrate how confused and unhappy people are with more or less everything. Having read polls for awhile (and read polls from before I was born), I’ve not seen such vicissitudes in polling in my life.
While polling may indicate Huckabee’s and Gingrich’s continuing popularity, a quick tour of the blogosphere indicates otherwise. It’s far from scientific, but the blogs are alive with the sound of ‘Palin 2012,’ and bloggers often represent the footsoldiers and donors…It will be very interesting.
A Romney-Huckabee ticket (or Huckabee-Romney) would at least be interesting, although probably very beatable. But a Palin-Anyone ticket would be a disaster for the GOP…and probably for the country.
4 RedCarolina // Nov 8, 2009 at 6:32 pm
I think even her supporters agree she is no Ronald Reagan. But her charisma and patriotism and presence remind people of Ronald Reagan. And then her small town normal-ness appeals to that huge part of the population that elites would rather dismiss altogether until election time. Can she be any worse than Obama? He is a puppet of the established Left, nothing more, nothing less. If he can win on charisma and charm, then so can Sarah. Huck is nice, Romney seems very strong and trustworthy, but then why didn’t they beat out Elmer Fudd in the primaries? She’s green, she’s “normal” and no doubt in over her head on the national scene, but I think she would have done better than our current president and certainly better than our baffoon v.p. Biden! She’s beautiful and normal and that makes most men nervous, even crazy, and it makes elite men in the party furious, nearly violent. Having admitted she’s green, I say there is more sexism here than either party wants to admit. I like her. I like her a lot. I trust her far more than The Ditherer in Chief. But I’m glad she will have her time to redefine herself and I’m glad America gets to acknowledge the dangers of voting based on political correctness and white guilt by witnessing the O, the Naked Emporer, making a fool of himself, while the leftist web of corruption and anti-Americanism and anti-capitalism gets exposed and exterminated by Glenn Beck. We need someone far stronger than Huck in 2012. I don’t see the next Reagan — and we can’t afford another weak candidate. I like Huckabee a great deal, but he will be demonized for his traditional values and Romney for his faith (in the light of prop8) and for his Mass. state-run healthcare mess.
We need someone who can deflect the onslaught of leftist and liberal attacks and who can be the anti-Obama candidate, the way O was the anti-Bush candidate. Gingrich is too white and too controversial and not “tall” enough (although I’d love to see him run O over in a debate!). and for God’s sake, no more Bushes! I don’t see a Ronald Reagan. We may have to settle for a Huck and perhaps even a Palin. If O can get elected, anyone can get elected with the campaign O’s team ran. That was the biggest snow-job in history. He is the worst president ever. And second in line? Joe. Third? She who must not be named! It can’t get any worse than that, yet I fear O could get reelected. We’ll need a dream team, and Sarah may need to be a part of it. Let’s see how she conducts herself these next couple of years. She may have no intention of running again, so stop kicking and check to see if the horse is dead! Victim status does go a long way with Americans in general and I think we’ve seen enough attacks on this woman. And if the established moderate Repubs ostrosize the Palin supporters, a third party is almost guaranteed. They have been used and lied to almost as much as the blacks and hispanics on the left. I think a third party would start small, but would grow. The Repubs have EVERYTHING to lose. They are weak in the middle, and have no real base. The grassroots movement will not remain loyal to them forever. If John McCain is the best they have to offer, then I think Palin supporters don’t want to see another moderate Repub. Even if O botches his next 3 years as badly as he has his first, he will still be the incumbent, and a p.c. incumbent at that. His reelection may be the true historic election, because his first election will go down in history as the biggest fraud in American history. Like Bill is remembered for Lewinsky, O will be remembered for a great campaign. nothing more, because the truth of his embarrassing failed presidency will be glossed over for the sake of p.c. But if he gets a second term, we will have to watch him flapping his jaws on TV everyday for 4 more years. I will not be able to stand it! On second thought, let him win, which will insure a Repub congress and that he’ll be lame duck and he can just continue to entertain us with his arrogance and bumbling and fumbling and lame jokes (that’s a socialist mop!). Meanwhile, we restore the CIA and the free market and win Afghanistan and tell him he looks great in his birthday suit!
5 anniemargret // Nov 8, 2009 at 8:42 pm
sinz…Thank You Kindly. It’s nice to be back. I still feel this is one of the best blogs on the net.
RedCarolina: You say people will vote for Palin because of “victim status?” Yep, indeedy, we should all vote for a President that way. Right. Poor Sarah – just raking it in and laughing while jogging to the bank. She’s such a ‘victim’. So much so, that she couldn’t even finish out her term & duty to her fellow Alaskans.
And her almost sole appeal to small town America? Politically that’s a problem for any candidate, not an asset! This is a big country. It is made up of ‘elites’ (read=anyonefrombigcities). Palin has already damaged herself with her insults against more half of this country with her inane ‘real America’ nonsense. Those of us born and raised in big cities aren’t going to forget that one.
There is NO ‘real America’.
Palin’s obvious lack of respect for anyone outside her sphere of comfort is unappealing and a real turn-off. America turned its back on race/culture baiting in the last election. And they will do it again.
Sinz: I happen to like Huckabee, I don’t always agree with all his political beliefs, but I have respect for his concern for middle class and poor Americans. …nothing wrong in that, he’s genuine. Newt is very bright, I agree. But he has already turned off GOP moderates by supporting Scozza in NY. And he’s not a fool about global warming…. His quote: “I want to start by saying that I believe we need an entrepreneurial, science and technology oriented approach to the environment…” I could live with that. Of course, the mainstay of the GOP still thinks it’s all a ‘hoax.’
6 JeninCT // Nov 8, 2009 at 8:54 pm
Very well said, Red Carolina. I also like Palin and don’t think the polls mean much at this point. Huckabee has a TV show and has great name recognition, but he’s no longer a politician, he’s a talk show host (okay, so it’s really a variety show!). Romney has already been vetted by the American public and something about him isn’t attractive enough. He’s not trusted.
I disagree with the basic premise of this article. It’s amazing to me how so many people misunderstand the reason she left office. She was getting hammered by bogus ethics charges, and felt she was hurting the state by basically governing with a giant target on her back. By stepping aside and allowing her Lt. Gov. to step in, she bolstered his chances of winning the following election. This allowed her to do the right thing by her state and be FREE to say and do what she wanted as a private citizen. Not surprisingly, she’s been very effective at promoting conservative ideas using WSJ opinion page and her facebook page.
I’m not really sure why so many on the right are buying the liberal media’s view of her but it really troubles me. I think she’s fantastic and NOT because of the way she’s been trashed by the media. I think you underestimate her. She’s not Saint Sarah, She’s American Sarah. She loves her country the way I love my country.
7 Addie // Nov 8, 2009 at 9:08 pm
JeninCT “I think you underestimate her. She’s not Saint Sarah, She’s American Sarah. She loves her country the way I love my country.”
I agree 100%!
8 anniemargret // Nov 8, 2009 at 9:15 pm
JeninCT: “She’s not Saint Sarah, She’s American Sarah. She loves her country the way I love my country.”
And we ‘elites’ from NYC, Boston, LA, SF, Atlanta, Chicago, love our country the way you and she do. But she doesn’t believe that, nor do her fans. We got the message and ‘it ain’t pretty.’
Palin is not any more ‘American’ than the millions who live, work, live and die in our big and great cities. They suffered and died in American wars, my family included. I can tell you there are a lot of offended people out there, but than again…. I doubt she cares about that, otherwise she would have apologized to the rest of us ‘non-real Americans.’
She quit her sworn duty as governor. She’s a quitter. She knew she could make more money on the talk circuits. That’s why.
9 JeninCT // Nov 8, 2009 at 9:56 pm
” I can tell you there are a lot of offended people out there, but than again…. I doubt she cares about that, otherwise she would have apologized to the rest of us ‘non-real Americans.’
Offended by one comment she made about people who live outside of the cities? You’re kidding, right? I’m from NYC and even I knew that she meant that people outside the cities are ALSO real Americans.
You’re splitting hairs.
10 anniemargret // Nov 8, 2009 at 10:27 pm
I’m from NYC as well. I find her ‘real America’ remark(s) offensive. You betcha.
11 JeninCT // Nov 8, 2009 at 10:38 pm
If you’re looking to be offended, you will be offended.
I personally think alot of anti-Palin sentiment is just anti-hunter sentiment. It’s a pretty contentious issue.
12 Arch // Nov 8, 2009 at 10:56 pm
I personally think alot of anti-Palin sentiment is just anti-hunter sentiment.
To me that’s crazy talk. I don’t think two thirds of Americans are anti-hunting. The problem with Sarah Palin is that while she’s intelligent, she doesn’t think seriously about things. She’s not curious. She can’t honestly argue either side of an issue. There’s a distrust of intellect there and a lack of knowledge.
It doesn’t matter anyway. No way does she win the presidency. Tina Fey has seen to that. Her most devastaing performance was using word for word what Palin said in an interview.
13 Reason60 // Nov 8, 2009 at 11:07 pm
I too welcome you back, Anniemargaret; a calm sensible voice is always a pleasure to hear, whterh I agree or not.
The posts here, and elsewhere on Sarah palin illuminate why she appeals to some, and frightens others;
Namely, that she is pure identity politics; notice RedCarolina’s post- a lot of talk about her grace, her beauty, her values; A lot of discussion about what she is not- not a left wing radical, not a ditherer, not a sock puppet, etc.
Not one word about what she really wants to do. Not a word about what her governing philospohy is. It is always like this, up and down the GOP hierarchy. A lot of victimology, wailing about their victim status, the beseiged victims of liberal elites who are out of touch with the common man, who somehow are the embodiment of Real America.
But no real proposals, just vague platitudes-
Small government, small town values, strong defense, apple pie and Chevrolet.
As I have pointed out on other threads here, many of the platitudes of the GOP and Sarah are contradictory to each other-
Massive defense spending contradicts fiscal conservatism;
Small government contradicts the Security State apparatus;
And the values they trumpet are inevitably defined in a way to exclude the vast majority of …well, real Americans who are either gay, minority, immigrants, divorced, unchurched, or otherwise not part of the Focus on the Family demographic.
The love of Sarah has nothing to do with her policy, or philosophical outlook. It is entirely because of her identity of where she came from, not where she wants to lead. It is backwards looking, a manifestation of the aching for a lost America when people like Sarah were in charge.
Reagan, by the way, also had charm and poise and triggered a nostalgic longing for that America. However, underneath the facade was a man who read voraciously, and had over the years developed a clear and well defined governing philosophy, and knew how to implement it. Beneath the folksy bromides and aw-shucks mannerism was the sharp vision of how the relationship between government and people should work.
He knew how to exploit the nostalgic longing, but also broaden it to include those who had never been a part of it. There is a very good reason he both courted, and yet kept at arms length, the Christian Right. There is a reason why there were such animals as Reagan Democrats.
If Palin has a governing philosophy, she has kept it a remarkable secret. If she has a vision of our role in the world larger than “Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb-bomb Iran”, then it is known only to her Creator.
Her appeal drops off a cliff once it moves outside a small circle of those who are white, rural, or neo-con. In short, unless she undergoes a remarkable St. Paul on the road to Damascus conversion, she will never assemble a working coalition capable of winning at the national level, and there will never be any Palin Democrats.
14 anniemargret // Nov 9, 2009 at 12:15 am
reason: Thank You Kindly, too.
Her beauty should have nothing whatever to do with her ability to lead this nation. We are too obsessed with beauty in this country, and it is hurting women. I really don’t care whether or not a candidate, man or woman, is beautiful, or handsome. I do what care he or she thinks.
Reason, you said it adequately and succinctly. I couldn’t do better. Reagan was the Great Communicator, and even as a Democrat now, I can still remember his voice, his manner and his demeanor. He was hard to dislike. He knew his stuff, but more importantly, he articulated a vision for our country, and made everyone feel as if they were part of it. Even if one disagreed with his overall political philosophy he had appeal to most Americans. And that is what we need in a President.
What is really troubling is this aspect, as you so well put it, that somehow her fans feel she embodies values, that they feel caring for the poor, the environment, the middle class, are ‘liberal’ values and not theirs. I too want small government but I also don’t think the answer to every problem are tax cuts, which mainly benefit those who make enough to get them. I believe in a strong military but I also don’t believe America needs to be fighting multiple wars, endless wars which ultimately does more hard than good. I believe in family values because I live it everyday. I believe in God.
I think the Palin supporters like to think we don’t because it’s easier to keep the rest of America in some loathsome ‘enemy’ place.
Palin gave up her governorship to make money. Writing op eds and books, speaking in front of adoring crowds and staying away from any reasonable but gutsy interviews just reinforces most Americans’ views that she is out of her league. Her inability to articulate what the “Bush Doctrine’ was the pits for her. If she couldn’t define that, she was off the charts.
15 steelyblades // Nov 9, 2009 at 2:46 am
Reason60, thank you for an excellent post. I agree with you completely about Palin’s appeal: it is 100% identity politics, and zero substance.
16 RedCarolina // Nov 9, 2009 at 5:33 am
wow– completely missing my point. I said her attractiveness and “normal-ness” made men nervous, even crazy and party establishment men may even resent her for that. I don’t support her because she’s beautiful. I support her because she reminds me of my neighbor or my sister and and I admire what she accomplished in Alaska – you may not understand because you think with that thing hanging between your legs. But for middle America women, she’s “every woman”. She’s a mother of a soldier, she’s a mom juggling work and kids and even her daughter’s public pregnancy. She may be the bravest woman I’ve ever seen. She outlines what she believes all the time. We know where this woman stands unlike the very man occupying the White House currently. She IS the anti-Obama candidate. I’d like to see her teamed up with someone exciting like Rudy. Amazing how thin skinned you city folk can be — her digs about real Americans were digs at THE HARD CORE BLUE CITIES —for Christ’s sake, how often does middle America get insulted and dismissed and mocked by media and entertainment? We are the f-ing brunt of every joke! And we are sick of it! After rallying around NYC after 9/11, the city basically turned blood thirsty on Bush — You have to consider that Palin’s popularity coorelates to the success of conservative talk radio and Fox News and Tea Party movements.
Another point I made that was missed is that her supporters admit she is green and has much to learn about the Evil Left Media (yes, I do believe in a vast left wing conspiracy when it comes to media and hollywood — can you write a worthwhile article on THAT rather than picking away at Sarah Palin?).
But Obama had almost NO EXPERIENCE WHAT-SO-EVER in politics at state or national level. And I still hear academic elites claiming he walks on water. WHO IS DELUSIONAL HERE???????
Team her up with a ball buster like Rudy and you have a dream team — I’M TELLING YOU!
(don’t shoot the messenger!). And regarding her “victim status” — I didn’t need Dave Letterman’s disgusting attacks on EVEN HER KIDS to support her. I never saw her as a victim of Couric, but absolutely she was a victim of Dave. He is one sick creep. And I blogged at that time that his despicable attacks on her were a good thing, because they made her into a bigger victim than even our affirmative action president.
She’s a good person. She’s a WINNER. She’s got the conservative base IN THE PALM OF HER HANDS! I say if Repubs want to win in 2012, either team her or Huck with a socially moderate, fiscally conservative BALL BUSTER like Rudy. But Sarah IS NOT going away and neither are her supporters. If she proves to be anything other than genuine, then even her supporters will call her on it. And I will be the first. But I think it’s only UP HILL for this lady. Count her out at your own peril, but DO NOT mock her anymore and DO NOT mock her supporters any more. There is a bitterness fueling a third party movement in this country and the Repubs have EVERYTHING to lose. Even Rush is discouraging the third party approach, but I know the mood of the conservative base and you don’t want to try them. Enough Palin bashing. Enough!
17 RedCarolina // Nov 9, 2009 at 5:38 am
who wants to be anniemargret can’t define the bush doctrine? but she believes palin said she could see Russia from her house! pot calling the kettle black, annie.
18 RedCarolina // Nov 9, 2009 at 5:54 am
let me be clear that I like Huckabee a lot, but we middle Americans can now predict the hateful attacks on traditional views — WE GET IT, ALREADY! YOU HATE MIDDLE AMERICA. And Huck, as good a man as he is, cannot beat Obama. Don’t bring back our losers — Palin was a great asset to Elmer Fudd’s ticket. She is very young. She has nothing but time. You city chumps keep laughing while your leftist governors and mayors tax your cities into poverty. We in middle America are just getting started. We have NOTHING LEFT to lose. We are willing to put everything we have left into a conservative uprising. You should hope Sarah doesn’t dump the Republicans, not the other way around. Perhaps that had more to do with her leaving the governorship — and I think if you are honest you will see her legitimate explanation that she was going to have to spend time, YES, making money to pay for legal defense of UNFOUNDED ethics charges. She was never a big celebrity in the party with unlimited financial backing and large staff — there was no Palin “machine” for her to fall back on. You Palin-hater people amaze me. Get out of your big city mentality and get educated on reality.
19 sinz54 // Nov 9, 2009 at 9:39 am
RedCarolina:
The problem with Sarah Palin’s small-town ambiance, is that the vast majority of Americans don’t live in small towns anymore. She’s a spokesperson for a old-style culture that is shrinking. Yuppie women who moved from the cities to the suburbs don’t relate to a woman from a small town.
And I totally disagree with you that Americans will vote for a candidate because of his or her victim status. Study what happened to the Hubert Humphrey campaign in 1968. Humphrey was victimized mercilessly by left-wing hecklers; but America does NOT elect a victim as President.
20 sinz54 // Nov 9, 2009 at 9:40 am
RedCarolina:
But you cannot win by yourselves.
There aren’t enough voters in small towns to elect Sarah Palin on their own.
21 sinz54 // Nov 9, 2009 at 9:44 am
RedCarolina:
And by doing so, she also was taking digs at all the Americans who left those cities to live in the suburbs–and that’s a plurality of voters these days. By claiming that only those in small towns are “real Americans,” she was writing off 2/3 of the voters. And they responded in kind–by writing her off.
You small-town activists cannot win without the rest of us. So you need to field candidates who can win us over, not keep attacking us as “not real Americans.”
22 Independent // Nov 9, 2009 at 9:52 am
I’m an independent and I am not afraid to admit I like former Gov Palin, but then, I liked former Senator Hillary Clinton, too. Sarah isn’t a saint anymore than her political legs are based on some persecution complex perceived by her supporters –to argue that is as dull-witted as it comes. Remember the PUMAs? Wasn’t that more than a little bit of persecution complex mixed with ruthless, throat-slitting pettiness on the part of now Secy of State Clinton’s supporters? Oh, but we don’t talk about that… noooooo. We can’t bash Bush, so let’s bash Palin now. It’s an industry spawned in pettiness.
Mrs Palin’s support is based on what she’s done as a candidate for Veep, as a governor, as a mayor and as a loving Mom –and, mostly I think, as a symbol of what’s been missing in the public sense or symbol of womanhood and a tonic against the whining, scratching, cat-like snarling of liberal women libbers which dominated the stage for women for far, far, far too long. I can remember liberal women screaming when Obama’s people used Clinton’s lackluster polling and strong dislike factor to blunt her candidacy… and now we have someone in the WH who’s biggest problem is NOT that doesn’t know what to do when the phone rings at 3AM… he can’t decide what to do even after weeks of consulting with advisors.
That a few “regular” leftie commenters here can’t seem to fathom that isn’t just because they’re incredibly petty themselves; it’s because, if anything, Mrs Palin is a threat to the confining liberal image of a successful woman that the Left and Democrats want to project –and have spent a generation manufacturing.
I think it’s great that women can take lots of paths or avenues to power. I think it’s great that some women think they need to act more masculine, feel they have to out-locker-room the boys to be taken into the circles of power, need to divorce their family obligations or farm it out to nannies, drivers and stand-in mothers… but Mrs Palin’s appeal is that she breaks that limiting, confining liberal female careerist mold.
She is such a threat –and this opinion piece and some of the comments here show it– because she’s not afraid to stand up to the conventional Left and manufacturers of the liberal female image and say “Screw you”. Except she won’t, because she has more class than those manufacturers of the liberal female image… Mrs Palin, when asked if she was the “new correct” image for women, would often say something like why do we have to have just one image? Can’t all of them be ok?
I recall a momentus speech that brought out similar daggers of hate from the Left and Democrats and liberal female image makers… it was Barbara Bush at a major women’s college reminding the graduates that no woman on her death bed thinks about the memo that didn’t get written or the report that could have used a few more charts… and the family usually doesn’t care if she made CFO or COO or CEO at 40… they cared about the summer vacations that were missed because Mom was too busy at the office, the preoccupation with business in lieu of having a real life with the family, the missed soccer games and swim meets, the lack of a meaningful, lasting relationship with their Mom.
It seems to me that Mrs Palin’s kids won’t have those regrets. And that’s what pisses off so many pundits who HAVE GIVEN UP all those wonderful, life-affirming moments in exchange for work and their own personal glory in the office.
And, before we even go there, all the side talk about how inexperienced Mrs Palin was/is to be a Veep candidate, I can only say –please see Barack Obama. Talk about the poster boy for inexperience and unseasoned judgment –yeow. He’s it; not Mrs Palin. Telephone ringing at 3AM or not.
23 Churl // Nov 9, 2009 at 11:06 am
Anniemargaret: “I never hear anyone on this blog mention Romney, Pawlenty, Guiliani, etc… who will they run in 2012? Huckabee? Or is the the de facto leader of the GOP….Sarah “pitbull with lipstick” Palin?”
You don’t hear much about them in the media, either, because these snoozers are unlikely to spark any populist uprising against the country club Republican establishment and (perhaps more importantly) they aren’t perceived as causing any trouble for the Democrats.
Frum and Chums are only afflicted with the “Not our kind of people, Binky” syndrome, but the lefties are nervous about the trouble she could cause them and therefore constantly howl at her.
24 rrpjr // Nov 9, 2009 at 11:25 am
“The sole legitimizing force behind Sarah Palin…” SOLE legitimizing force? Really?
Man, you guys really hate Sarah Palin. If I didn’t know better, I’d suspect you were afraid of something.
Oh, look, someone agrees with me! And he even went to Harvard, like most proper elitists. Goodness, what went wrong?
http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/author/jamesvdelong/
25 RedCarolina // Nov 9, 2009 at 12:25 pm
sinz you are are wrong about, well everything, but namely my point. I can’t help you.
26 garyp // Nov 9, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Are you kidding me with this Frumian nonsense?
You people are idiots, pure idiots!
It’s Sarah Palin GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS that make her the OVERWHELMING choice of real Conservatives.
Hell, there are entire websites devoted to cataloging what she has done.
My God, just her part in taking down the entire corrupt Republican party in Alaska is legendary enough.
Just like she “quit” as Governor, risking it all in order to take on Obama and the communist party, along with the Vichy GOP, Sarah “quit” her job as Chairman of The Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, one of the most powerful jobs in the state, to take down the corruption there.
When Sarah found massive corruption in her agency, she obviously wanted to do something. When her boss, Governor Murkoski stopped her from firing members of his “Corrupt Bastards Club” as the top ranking GOP leaders were known as, she went into action.
In the end, Republican Party chair, Randy Ruedrich was forced to resign from the AOGCC, and was fined $12,000, the largest such fine in Alaskan history. The former attorney general Gregg Renkes got smoked, and so did dozens more. In fact, there are still losers wearing orange jumpsuits over this.
She then took down the sitting Republican Governor in a landslide, and beat back the popular former democrat/communist Governor, Tony Knowles.
That deal alone sits her head over heals above 99.9 % of the corrupt losers in politics right now.
She sits in direct opposition to that Chicago street thug communist in the White House now, who embraced Chicago politics and all of it’s corruption, rather than fight it.
And she risked her entire political career to do it. Just like she has to take that communist Obama on now, along with all of the losers in the GOP. So far she is doing ALL of the work.
Where is RomneyCare? That coward ran from NY-23, and his fiasco in Mass, something he still defends, is the canary in the coal mine for Obama/PelosiCare, and how it will destroy America. And yet, Mittens still defends it!
How about Elmer Gantry Huckabee? That tent revival reject is trying to have it both ways. Real loser he is. He’s a Big Government nanny state “progressive” and just as dangerous to freedom and liberty as Obama and his thugocracy.
Even better, Sarah finally outed Newt Gingrich as what many of us already felt. Newt is another “progressive” loser. We all knew it when he started holding hands with Pelosi and that fraud Algore over this “global warming” scam, but Newt’s actions concerning NY-23 just ended his career as anything but a writer on books and a lecturer. Thank you Sarah!
For any one to sit here and say Sarah Palin doesn’t have a considerable record of achievement in her life and career is a bald face lie.
Sarah took on Big Oil and had them cowering. In fact, Sarah was so successful, so powerful in her work, Kay Cashman wrote a book about her exploits “Sarah Takes on Big Oil.”
Sarah’s reputation as a corruption buster goes all of the way back to her first elected office on the Wasilla city council. One of her fellow council members, the guy who had talked her into running, in fact, had cooked up a scheme where his business would end up having a monopoly in the city and surrounding area. Friendship or not, she stopped him dead in his tracks.
Back to accomplishments though, Sarah Palin, just two and a half years into her term as Governor had fulfilled every single campaign promise she made to Alaskans. And it wasn’t a small list. She brought sweeping ethics reform, balanced the budget, cut wasteful spending, and much more.
Of course, her signature accomplishment is AGIA and the natural gas pipeline. Now yes, I know, it’s now a work in progress, not built (not scheduled to start until next year) but it is on track to be finished by 2019. (as she is finishing up her second term as POTUS)
This is the largest construction project in North American history and something every elected Governor had tried to achieve for 30 plus years. It took her two!
There are plenty of websites dedicated to Sarah’s great accomplishments. Josh Painter has ‘The Book Of Sarah.” Ron Devito has “Governor Sarah Palin’s Accomplishments” a HUGE catalog that details pretty much every thing she has done since becoming Governor of Alaska as well as since.
He wrote this for the Sarah Palin Information Blog. It’s just what she has done from January of 2009 to July. It’s lengthy:
http://sarahpalininformation.wordpress.com/2009/11/01/master-list-of-governor-palins-2009-accomplishments/
Funny, while all of you Frumians live in what ever fantasy world of “moderates” and unicorns, people in the real world understand Sarah Palin is indeed the daughter Ronald Reagan wish he had and the very spirit of our greatest President.
Of course, it helps that Reagan is her favorite, and that she has studied Reagan intensely for decades. She has what Reagan had. She has something that can’t be taught. It’s a combination of common sense, deep convictions, a love for this nation, and the ability to connect to everyone she meets.
As James DeLong writes, Sarah Palin is the most qualified candidate to be on a presidential ticket in a decade. While I agree, I’ll take it a bit further, I’ll say she is the most qualified candidate since the Great Renaldus Magnus himself.
http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/sarah-palin-and-the-dysfunctional-political-class/
I KNOW Sarah is more qualified to be POTUS than RomneyCare and E.G. Huckabee. She wins that on her leadership abilities alone.
Anyhow, you Frumians sit over here and marinate in your mediocrity, and continue to watch and America fail. Continue to support those who would help facilitate it’s failure. I’m behind Sarah Palin, someone who understands what freedom and liberty means, and isn’t afraid to risk it all to keep it.
“They want me to sit down, they want me to shut up. Politically, If I die, I die, but I won’t sit down and I won’t shut up! Screw political correctness! Be bold!” ___Sarah Palin
THAT’S what leadership looks like boys.
27 RedCarolina // Nov 9, 2009 at 12:32 pm
how about…. Forbes on finance and Petraeus on military and nat’l defense? I’d vote for that ticket! I’d throw Sarah under the bus for that ticket (no, I wouldn’t! I love her! All us redneck hicks do, gosh, shucks, you betcha , yee haw — gotta go milk ma cow! yuck yuck yuck!! Baah Yaaawwwwwwllllll!) that’s for you thin-skinned non-small town a**holes – you know who you are.
28 RedCarolina // Nov 9, 2009 at 12:46 pm
garyp — I don’t have time to read your entire entry but i will later — did you elaborate on why she quit? I took it she quit because of the distraction of dealing with legal defense of the ethics charges brought by lefties, all of which were thrown out. I pieced that together myself (not bad for a small town hick redneck Republican throw-away, huh?) — seriously — that’s what she said at the press conf announcing her resignation — I’ve pointed out (i think here) that she had to raise money because she had no huge machine to support her. for now, she can’t do anything right in the eyes of her critics and okay, in the poll ratings, but don’t her booksale pre-orders indicate anything? does she get credit for helping Hoffman or get blamed for his loss? it seems to be in the eye of the beholder — give me some feedback… gotta go, ma cow’s a-mooing and the hawgs done got out in the corn patch! (I just wanted to give a little shout out to thin-skin sinz )
29 montee // Nov 9, 2009 at 12:53 pm
As a middle of the road republican and conservative who believes everyone should be allowed to speak in our party.This is the problem with Palin critics and to a certain extent this forum. You pretend that this woman has no political achievements or accomplishments and then when people point them out you dismiss them or fall back on polls or statistics to explain why she is Hitler reborn. This makes me think of something David Horowitz said in his rather intersesting debate with David Frum a while back.
“The difference between you and me is that I want to see her get her fair shot and you don’t.”
I don’t think Palin is perfect and if you ask me I don’t think she is ready but I would have to be stupid to not acknowledge all she has accomplished so far and that she clearly has political talents that are hard to find and can be developed. Talents other more reasonable critics like Charles Krauthammer and Colin Powell at least acknowledge. This paragraph from the exchange though summarized my feeling to all those who obsess about analysing to death Palin’s political future, effect on the future of the party and any potential presidential run in 2012 or beyond.
“And why is all this so important to you now anyway? We’re three years out from the next election. Let the candidates show their stuff. If you think Palin is such a menace that you have to snuff her at the starting gate you obviously have no confidence in the good sense of the Republican electorate, and that my friend is a serious problem indeed.”
Why are some people so dedicated to trying to marginalize this woman. Do they not trust in the ability of the fellow republicans to make up their own minds that they are determined to make it up for them. Why the aggresive analysis of every blessed thing this woman those while leaving everybody else alone. Palin is not the only poltitcian with ardent fans, trust me I know many Romney, Huckabee, Paul, Pence and De Mint fans who can be just as blind but I don’t see anyone constantly analyzing their or anyone else’s political prospect. I totally trust my fellow republican to choose as they feel lead to at the appropriate time but this need to tell people that Palin must not even be considered sounds very ridiculous. Like John McCain and Harley Barbour have said let’s let a thousand flowers bloom. I will add piece of advice to all of Palin & non-Palin fans from the debate.
“Her mettle is about to be tested. I want her to have that test. I guess you and Republicans like you are part of the test since you are determined to smite her in advance. Unlike yourself, I am a big tent Republican and think the coalition is strengthened by competition.”
Let them all compete and stop trying to pre-determine the outcome. It might just blow-up in your face. The entire article is here
http://frontpagemag.com/2009/10/02/are-sarah-palin-and-ann-coulter-good-for-conservatives-horowitz-vs-frum-round-three-by-jamie-glazov/
30 Palin Doctrine // Nov 9, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Well, I have to give David Frum credit. He knows the surefire way to drive traffic to his sorry little site is to post hateful articles about Sarah Palin. I personally wouldn’t visit this site if you paid me (I feel the need to shower after registering here) but I will do anything to defend Sarah — the Anti-Victim.
Sarah Palin didn’t break through the Alaska good ole boys’ network by complaining or playing the victim. She is not supported because she is persecuted; she is persecuted because she is supported. If she were as bland (and lacking in support) as Frum, Romney and all the other Republican establishment figures, nobody would give a damn about her. Or didn’t you go to business school, Mr. Frum? I did. I learned that a strong brand repeals as much as it attracts. Sarah Palin is a strong brand. Did you think leaders became leaders without repealing some people? You would prefer, perhaps, a leader who stood for nothing, and led no one.
And here we can summarize the Frum Strategy for Restoring Conservative Glory:
1) Start a website that no one visits (Conservatives4Palin gets 10 times your traffic)
2) Insist that when possible conservatives be as boring as possible. Bland is the new black.
3) Never, and I mean, NEVER, say something that would offend the liberal masters.
4) Suck up to the media whenever possible.
5) Stand for as little as possible so as to alienate as few as possible.
6) Fade away politely into obscurity when you realize nobody likes you.
You know the difference between our star, Palin, and the left’s star, Obama?
His party doesn’t care what our side thinks about him.
31 rrpjr // Nov 9, 2009 at 1:06 pm
garyp — good stuff, but lost on people like Frum. Their response to Palin is something of an elitist psychosis.
32 Greenfields // Nov 9, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Sarah Palin has no accomplishments. She left Wasilla $20 million in debt after her mayoral term. This was a town of around 6,000 inhabitants! The very thing she accused Randy Ruedrich of, she did herself when campaigning for Governor. In the middle of the primary, a conservative columnist in the state, Paul Jenkins, unearthed e-mail messages showing that Ms. Palin had conducted campaign business from the mayor’s office.
She fought and made enemies with the oil companies and then proceeded to give $500 billion to a Canadian company to build the pipeline, with no guarantees that the companies would even use the pipeline. Alaska is littered with people that she used and abused in her quest for power. She appointed school friends to high positions and fired professionals.
She came to power in Alaska promising openess and transparency, and yet over a year later, emails that have been requested through the FOIA, and usually take 10 days to appear have still not surfaced.
She couldn’t answer what newspapers she read, and blames Couric for asking gotcha questions. I mean really!
Hardly anyone in the MSM has addressed these issues and yet she has a persecution complex. She hides behind her Facebook writings (which in most cases it is obvious that she didn’t write them herself), refuses to have serious interviews, milks the public for cash with her anything but open “fund” and PAC.
I could go on.
33 JeninCT // Nov 9, 2009 at 2:06 pm
“Arch // Nov 8, 2009 at 10:56 pm
To me that’s crazy talk. I don’t think two thirds of Americans are anti-hunting.”
I said that alot of it is anti-hunter, not all of it.
34 Greenfields // Nov 9, 2009 at 2:21 pm
*Just like she “quit” as Governor, risking it all in order to take on Obama and the communist party, along with the Vichy GOP, Sarah “quit” her job as Chairman of The Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, one of the most powerful jobs in the state, to take down the corruption there. *
————————————————————
She quit that because it was too hard, the hours were too long and she wasn’t qualified for the job. As I said above – The very thing she accused Randy Ruedrich of, she did herself when campaigning for Governor. In the middle of the primary, a conservative columnist in the state, Paul Jenkins, unearthed e-mail messages showing that Ms. Palin had conducted campaign business from the mayor’s office.
She was looking for an excuse to quit because she wasn’t able to do the job and Ruedrich provided the perfect opportunity for her to get out.
35 RedCarolina // Nov 9, 2009 at 2:27 pm
greenie, that will come out when she runs. what if she read a conservative paper? or a simplistic Alaska state or local paper? or townhall? or world net? Rush limbaugh’s newsletter? Couric knew, and you know, the ONLY correct answers would be the NYT, Time, Newsweek, Washington Post — anything leftist. How do you know they didn’t edit the interview to put her in the worst light? If you try to say they wouldn’t do that, you are only fooling yourself that it’s true or you are fooling yourself into thinking people are that stupid. Stupid are the fools who fell for the Obama sham. If she’s guilty of all you listed, then it will come out in a campaign — but Couric didn’t discuss facts, did she? Couric got a journalistic award for that lame interview. What did she ask Obama? His favorite color? Talk about littering with people! Michelle Malkin filled 300pgs with answers to questions NEVER ASKED of the lame Ditherer-in-Chief, the Naked Emperor – I guess you are pleased with what he’s doing? to the entire nation? Palin couldn’t possibly be worse than Biden, IF SHE TRIED! I say she has bigger balls than most men, certainly bigger than the corrupt Dem men and most definitely bigger than most of the sad parade of impotent Repub men I saw Saturday night. You are free to spin her record all you want — all ethics charges were thrown out, by the way – she’s probably would appear saintly compared to most of the men and women in congress, and ALL of the O admin, including the perverted, twisted, creepy czars. And I think she has an important role and will always have an important role in the conservative movement. Her supporters don’t care if she is ever president, she has already inspired people. Look at the bumbling fumbling Ego we have in the office now? Cheney’s too tough, Bush is too soft, Bush can’t talk, Cheney talks too much, McCain is too old, Palin is too… what? What about her can possibly be worse than OBAMA? have you been paying attention at all? worse than JOE BIDEN?? Even SNL has turned on him? The level of violent, angry, destructive attacks on Palin says far more about The Evil Left than it does Palin. The depth and thoroughness of her attacks is astounding — I can fill volumes about Obama and I can get as deeply and thoroughly destructive and vile regarding him, because he deserves it — but he was not even vetted — and COURIC DESERVED A JOURNALISTIC AWARD? FOR ASKING PALIN WHAT NEWSPAPER SHE READS????? REALLY?? and Tina Fey gets an Emmy???? for mocking Palin? and Letterman’s ratings go UP????? for portraying her daughter as a slut????? REALLY??????? Question her record, fine — but don’t defend Couric and don’t try to deny her her due “victimhood” when Obama was EDUCATED BY and BUILT HIS CAREER ON and was ELECTED BECAUSE OF….. the color of his skin — oh, sure, he can read the teleprompter really well — perhaps he could have been a CNN anchor, but try to convince Americans that Obama is worthy, while Palin is sub-standard, even dispicable — but nice try, greenie!
36 Palin Doctrine // Nov 9, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Greenfields … you do know the difference between $500 million and $500 billion, right? Umm, because you totally got your facts wrong on the pipeline deal, which really throws your credibility in the crapper. Sarah’s pipelne deal remains one of her biggest accomplishments. She didn’t roll over for Big Oil.
I suspect you’re just throwing out liberal talking points because it makes you feel better about your Palin Derangement Syndrome. Palin was re-elected easily as Wasilla mayor (apparently they didn’t see her as a reckless spender; she could have been elected again were it not for term limits) and she left Alaska with a $250 million surplus. Nobody questions her fiscal conservatism. Except liberals, fiscal purists that they are. LOL
Oh, and you think Sarah did the same thing as Randy Ruedrich? LOL. The guy handed over confidential state documents to oil lobbyists. Sarah blew the whistle on that, which led to the largest ethics fine in state history.
Sarah’s supporters have a REASON to support her.
And Sinz, you’re just missing the point about small-town America. Sarah won 46 million votes across America. Were Milquetoast McCain not at the top of the ticket, she could have easily beaten Obama.
It’s like I said: Only Republicans believe their enemy’s propaganda. Liberals don’t care what we think about Obama, now, do they!
37 teabag // Nov 9, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Run Sarah Run! I will support you running for President in 2012 100%. Apart from sending you money that is. You are the future of the GOP. Dumb corrupt and mentally unbalanced.
38 Greenfields // Nov 9, 2009 at 2:42 pm
greenie, that will come out when she runs. what if she read a conservative paper?
—————————————————————————————————–
So what! She is a conservative. One would expect her to read a conservative newpaper (among others). That is how you stay informed.
39 MR FACE // Nov 9, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Palin Doctrine says:
Sarah won 46 million votes across America. Were Milquetoast McCain not at the top of the ticket, she could have easily beaten Obama.
Please tell me you’re joking. What universe are you living in?
I can’t believe the blind insane support of Palin on this site. Boggles my mind. You all are going to be very disappointed in 2012.
40 Greenfields // Nov 9, 2009 at 2:45 pm
lol Teabag!!
41 Greenfields // Nov 9, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Ok, correction as regards the billion versus million. It is million not billion. Thanks for pointing that out.
42 RedCarolina // Nov 9, 2009 at 2:53 pm
hey, greens, I’ll be sure to pass on your sentiments about palin to my 4 n’bors who are out of work, okay? I’m sure they’ll be comforted by your expertise. And I’m sure the families of 13 shot dead by Hasan would find Obama’s shout out to his fellow victim, Chief Whats His Name, reassuring (not to mention the families of the troops deployed while the Victim-in-Chief tells us not to jump to conclusions — what, are we acting stupidly by assuming Hasan was an Islamic Extremist terrorist? Green, I think McCain and Palin would be handling things quite differently right now. If we can overlook Obama’s shady background and anti-american friends and advisors because of HIS victim status, then I think we can ignore your pathetic list of Palin complaints, AND even her pregnant daughter, because of Palin’s now sexually harrassed female victim status. Oh, MY BAD!! IT DOESN’T WORK BOTH WAYS DOES IT???????? I just hope Palin-hating and Palin-bashing and vile insults about her are worth losing American freedoms, American sovereignty, American free enterprise, and MANDATED HEALTHCARE!! We have the entire Leftist machine, the bleeding heart “too cool to vote for Palin” Liberals and bitter Repub elite snobs to thank for all of this. I think the PALIN-BASHING CARD HAS EXPIRED — there is no “saint Sarah” — we are just SICK AND TIRED of the hatred and the “tea bag” references and the vile attacks on someone who might be our neighbor or daughter or our sister or our mother or our friend. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! Besides her merits (and no matter the spin she has a long list of them!), she is a decent person. Not perfect, but compared to Obama????? YES, A SAINT!
43 LFC // Nov 9, 2009 at 2:55 pm
rrpjr said… Man, you guys really hate Sarah Palin. If I didn’t know better, I’d suspect you were afraid of something.
I guess that’s true. We saw the impact of putting a person in the Oval Office who had no intellectual curiousity, who was a “decider” who reacted on their gut and was disinterested in actually doing the hard work of governing, who couldn’t back up their own positions with any discernible intellect (”FUZZY MATH!”), and who was pretty much elected on personality (the guy you’d most like to have a beer with). It was a disaster on every level, and we’ll be paying for those two terms for years to come.
So do I fear Sarah Palin in a position of power that could impact my life? You betcha’. As a quote I once read said, “I can handle ignorance and I can handle arrogance, but I can’t handle the two of them combined.”
But do I fear Sarah Palin as a candidate in 2012? No. She’s a joke and most of the country is in no mood for another George W.
44 RedCarolina // Nov 9, 2009 at 2:56 pm
So what! She is a conservative. One would expect her to read a conservative newpaper (among others). That is how you stay informed.
GREENIE!! I THINK I COVERED THAT — THE ONLY CORRECT ANSWER WOULD BE A LEFTIST PAPER — WE BOTH KNOW THAT!
45 RedCarolina // Nov 9, 2009 at 3:01 pm
tea bag — you’re a has-been.
46 RedCarolina // Nov 9, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Compared to the affirmative action thug-in-chief, yes, Palin is, indeed a saint. If it’s about finding an anti-Obama candidate — any one would be better than Obama. If it’s about finding a bigger victim than Obama? perhaps……….his Kenyan brother. Or his poor Auntie how lived in that slum he ran with Rezko — and Michelle has a long list of poor people she screwed in her patient dumping scheme in Chicago. Any one of those would do a better job than Obama. Hell, Kanye West would do a better job — my pet poodle would do a better job. Oh wait, we’re supposed to be talking about how horrible Palin is — I got off track there.
47 Greenfields // Nov 9, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Looky here now. The woman couldn’t even name one newspaper she read….because she doesn’t read anything. The SNL skit recited her verbatim. It was word salad, plain and simple. She didn’t have a clue.
Now she is single handedly destroying the Republican party.
And you think she is capable of being the President of the USA?
As Barney Franks said……talking to you is like talking to the dining room table.
48 RedCarolina // Nov 9, 2009 at 3:27 pm
no, I think she’s more capable than Obumble. But since we’re looking for someone more qualified than Obama, a bigger victim by leftist standards than Obama, I first thought of all the poor schmucks under O’s bus. But I think my first choice would be one of the fine, upstanding ladies of Acorn. At least they’d be too stupid to ruin our economy and insult 1/2 the population and pick a fight with the most successful cable news channel and no one would expect her to decide on Afghanistan OR to comfort us appropriately after a jihad at fort hood. I’d rather just bring out troops home than have them serve under Obamlet: http://americandigest.org/mt-archives/inverse/obamlet.php
what an idiot — did you see his pitch? No doubt, Sarah has a better pitch – and mom jeans actually work well on her! Pathetic Obama. I almost feel sorry for him.
49 sinz54 // Nov 9, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Palin Doctrine:
She wasn’t the Presidential candidate.
I voted for McCain (unenthusiastically), not Sarah Palin.
In elections, the only voters who vote for the vice president are those who are ideologically or emotionally (favorite son) committed to that candidate. That’s the only role a running mate has.
50 RedCarolina // Nov 9, 2009 at 3:32 pm
this is for greenie, named for the color of the puke he and Obama inspire in people:
http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2009/07/is_barack_obama_back_to_his_mo.html
51 sinz54 // Nov 9, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Here’s a Gallup poll, taken last month:
The GOP base has now shrunk down to only 20% of American voters, mostly concentrated in the South and in the rural areas of the West. They see Sarah Palin as culturally one of their own. How they think Palin can win over another 31% of American voters, they don’t say. I don’t think they care. They want a candidate who represents their views, regardless of whether that candidate can win.
52 RedCarolina // Nov 9, 2009 at 3:36 pm
oh, I never get tired of this one! Dork-in-Chief!
http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2009/07/is_barack_obama_back_to_his_mo.html
53 RedCarolina // Nov 9, 2009 at 3:38 pm
sinz, polls are a snap-shot, not a forecast. give it a rest already. sinz hates palin or it bitter because his inflatable girlfriend wont give him any.. got it — you hate women, you hate conservatives, teabags, polls, yada yada yada
54 RedCarolina // Nov 9, 2009 at 3:42 pm
here’s a poll for ya
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll
you can hope for change, but it’s not looking good for O’Bama –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HplZ_taHXLM
55 Greenfields // Nov 9, 2009 at 3:50 pm
I can’t believe you posted a link about President Obama’s jeans. This is supposed to be a serious discussion. Are you a member of C4P (ocean of urine)? That would explain it.
56 LFC // Nov 9, 2009 at 3:58 pm
RedCarolina said… this is for greenie, named for the color of the puke he and Obama inspire in people:
As said by Red, named for the color of debt which Republicans came close to doubling under Bush. Or the color of debt that skyrocketed under Reagan due to both tax cuts and increased spending. Fiscal conservatives, my ass. The party of borrow and spend is NOT fiscally conservative.
57 Greenfields // Nov 9, 2009 at 4:07 pm
My son just said, you can’t argue with a fool. He is 17.
58 Arch // Nov 9, 2009 at 4:14 pm
RedCarolina: this is for greenie, named for the color of the puke he and Obama inspire in people:
and
sinz hates palin or it bitter because his inflatable girlfriend wont give him any.. got it — you hate women, you hate conservatives, teabags, polls, yada yada yada
We’re actually trying for a higher quality of discussion around here than this. Please keep it civil.
59 Arch // Nov 9, 2009 at 4:15 pm
D’oh! Didn’t close out that last italic. This part, is from me: We’re actually trying for a higher quality of discussion around here than this. Please keep it civil.
60 MI-GOPer // Nov 9, 2009 at 5:40 pm
“Greenfields” is named that way because, after all the manure he lays down in a given day, the fields turn green. Perfectly named.
61 rrpjr // Nov 9, 2009 at 5:43 pm
LFC: Intellectual curiosity? Like a man who reads Niebhur but can’t utter a word for a week while bloody riots break out in Iranian streets and freedom-loving youngsters are clubbed, axed and shot as they plead for moral support from the world’s supposed exemplar of freedom? Or a man who’s so curious about the civic goings-on in his country he can’t even bring himself to mention one million people gathering outside his house in the largest and most peaceful public protest in a generation? Not even curious? Says he didn’t even know about it? Wow. According to this standard, what would incuriosity look like? Lack of pulse? I guess curiosity just isn’t cool these days.
But I tired of this “intellectual curiosity” conceit in college, when I realized it was a leftist trope for the illusory “philosopher king” or an apellation for those who pretentiously dropped the names of fashionable post-modern artists (always from the same short list) in conversation, but altogether left out those who demonstrated moral conviction or decision-making resolve under pressure (such as “air traffic controllers can’t strike and should the fired.”). Like, actual leadership, which is why we elect politicians to lead.
Besides, what does the term mean in the void of one’s incomplete understanding of a human being? Are you saying you know and have met Sarah Palin can judge the caliber of her curiosity? Like Elaine Lafferty, the former editor of Ms. Magazine, who after the first fusillade of slander against Sarah Palin was curious enough to find out something about her, and rang Palin up asking for an interview? You betcha, Palin said. Lafferty’s findings:
“[she's] thoughtful, curious, with a discernable pattern of associative thinking and insight. Palin asks questions, and probes linkages and logic that bring to mind a quirky law professor I once had. Palin is more than a “quick study”; I’d heard rumors around the campaign of her photographic memory and, frankly, I watched it in action. She sees. She processes. She questions, and only then, she acts.’
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2008-10-27/sarah-palins-a-brainiac/1/
Curious to know more? But it seems you’ve already decided things. How liberal of you. And what did you discover? Surprise! — Sarah Palin is the female simulacrum of George Bush. Imagine that?
In fact, Sarah Palin was the most capable and experienced candidate among those on the two tickets last year. Read James Devore’s piece, if you dare. Only Palin had real-world executive experience, problem-solving, on the line experience, and actual reform in the most difficult political circumstance imaginable — of confronting her own corrupt party. Barack Obama? Reformed nothing, managed nothing, governed nothing, stood up for nothing and took no risks on behalf of principle once in his life. Palin continues to take risks and demonstrate leadership which Barack Obama can ony dream about, that is, if he had even the subconscious curiosity to dream about things or people he might not agree with.
62 Greenfields // Nov 9, 2009 at 6:11 pm
I am a she….and all I can say is God help America.
63 Arch // Nov 9, 2009 at 6:12 pm
“Greenfields” is named that way because, after all the manure he lays down in a given day, the fields turn green. Perfectly named.
You had to disprove my assertion immediately huh, Mi_GOPer?
64 Greenfields // Nov 9, 2009 at 6:15 pm
I thought there might be some intelligent discussion here. Boy did I get that wrong.
65 Greenfields // Nov 9, 2009 at 6:23 pm
MI -GOPer…..Is that your contribution to the conversation?
66 athensboy // Nov 9, 2009 at 8:32 pm
Palin could garner support of the teabagger base, about 20% of the country. Unfortunately for her 51% is required to win a majority at the polls. She has alienated pretty much the rest of the country. We may be a center-right country, were far from being a far right one. If the gop nominates her, it will be political suicide, and the big money players in the gop know it, and won’t allow it to happen. I’m also sick of the “poor little Sarah” crowd. Give it a rest, Rush, Hannity and Beck attacked Obama 3 hours a day each for 6 months. If she can’t take the heat she should get out of the kitchen!
67 sinz54 // Nov 9, 2009 at 8:32 pm
rrpjr:
In one-on-one debates with Joe Biden,
and in interviews with Charles Gibson and Katie Couric,
Sarah Palin was unable to come up with any answers to any questions, beyond just reciting canned talking points that often didn’t even fit the question. She didn’t offer a single novel insight into any issue.
Put aside your obvious adoration of Sarah Palin as “one of your own,” and ask yourself: If you had a choice of more than one small-town conservative, why you would still go with Sarah Palin?
And do you think it reflects well on small-town America to have a spokesperson who has invited so much ridicule?
68 Palin Doctrine // Nov 9, 2009 at 9:03 pm
rrpjr – Absolutely well stated. Everyone who meets Palin comes away impressed with her intellect.
Sinz … if you are easily impressed with glibness and deceit then you believe Joe Biden won that VP debate last year. If you bother to dig deeper: Biden lied his ass off, and make up whopper after whopper. Katie’s Restaurant does not exist, hasn’t for 15 years, but Joe used it as an example of how in touch he is with today’s economic victims. The U.S. never kicked Hezbollah out of Lebanon. And the list goes on. It’s sad to see so many people on our side prefer to be lied to. I guess you like your tyranny on a silver tongue. But isn’t that the way tyranny is always served up?
Oh, and one more thing: If someone asked me what papers I read, I’d say all of them, too. Especially if the someone asking was a snotty East Coast liberal who obviously doesn’t get the Drudge generation. We don’t care about the dying newspapers. We don’t read newspapers cover to cover. We read them piecemeal, scattered all over the web. All of them.
Btw, Bush read 40-50 books per year. Obama reportedly is too busy playing golf and basketball to finish a book he started last April. But he’s the Genuis-In-Chief who reads teleprompters.
69 lowandslow // Nov 10, 2009 at 12:17 am
“she left Alaska with a $250 million surplus.”
She did no such thing, Alaska doesn’t have a surplus. The fact of the matter is she managed to expand the size and cost of the state government in two and a half years more then any other time in it’s history.
“Of course, her signature accomplishment is AGIA and the natural gas pipeline. Now yes, I know, it’s now a work in progress, not built (not scheduled to start until next year) but it is on track to be finished by 2019.”
That’s not an accomplishment because there will never be a pipeline under AGIA. It was such a crappy piece of populist legislation it was doomed for failure the minute it was conceived. The mental gymnastic you Palin supporters go through to promote this fantasy she was a good Governor is astounding. The bottom line is she didn’t govern well at all . Call me crazy but isn’t that probably the single most important thing to consider when when choosing a potential Presidential candidate? I know we haven’t done that in the last twenty years but maybe we ought thinking about that.
70 MI-GOPer // Nov 10, 2009 at 7:47 am
Greenfields, you might want to do a reality check on yourself before uttering another perfect example of hyprocrisy in condemning others who dare question the authority of your opinion… if I recall correctly, only the Obama gets to do that with all his Fishy Thugs. Weren’t you the babe who wrote: “This is supposed to be a serious discussion. Are you a member of C4P (ocean of urine)? That would explain it”.
Yeah, some thoughtful constructive contribution to the discussion, eh?
Honest, we’ve just gotta love the far Left trolls here; all of them working hard to be the new Frum Forum Village Idiot… you’re deep in the competition, greenfields.
71 MI-GOPer // Nov 10, 2009 at 7:49 am
In a literal fear sweat you can smell throught the internet, athensboi offers: “If the gop nominates her, it will be political suicide, and the big money players in the gop know it, and won’t allow it to happen. I’m also sick of the “poor little Sarah” crowd.”
What is it about these far Left Democrat trolls who aren’t happy sticking to the DailyKos, Code Pink and MoveOn/MichaelMoore chat rooms trolling for mental midgets to add to their cause?
72 ottovbvs // Nov 10, 2009 at 8:36 am
MI-GOPer // Nov 10, 2009 at 7:49 am
” In a literal fear sweat you can smell throught the internet, ”
…….you couldn’t smell onions if they were cooking them in your kitchen…….Palin literally knows nothing, hence her appeal to know nothings like yourself…….she hasn’t the faintest chance of being the Republican candidate for president although personally I’d be delighted if she was…….Her approval rating is around 29% according to Pollster which is around where Dan Quayle was and of course corresponds roughly to the Republican base……she’ll continue to make a fat living from shearing these Republican sheep for a few years and then she’ll fade from view and live Florida on the proceeds
http://www.pollster.com/blogs/sarah_palin_polls_like_dan_qua.php
73 MI-GOPer // Nov 10, 2009 at 8:51 pm
I wrote: “What is it about these far Left Democrat trolls who aren’t happy sticking to the DailyKos, Code Pink and MoveOn/MichaelMoore chat rooms trolling for mental midgets to add to their cause?”
And then, on cue, enters AutomaticBS with his usual bashing and trashing talk fresh from his morning readings at the MichaelMooreFatSweatShoppe. The fear in his posts is as clear as the failed hair plugs in ol’ LyinJoeBiden’s hairline. Both testaments to failing manhood and a perpetual adolescence that preserves the self-esteem like a blankie in their crib.
Fear. You got it, atuomaticBS. So do your pals in the far Left Democrat Party.
74 aDude // Nov 10, 2009 at 9:22 pm
The fear that many Republicans have is that Palin will split the party in a way that will cause 2012 to be a major disaster.
First, Palin is not going to be the Republican nominee for President in 2012. However, if she runs, then she will have an effect similar to Jesse Jackson in 1984 and 1988 – great inspirational speeches, lots of enthusiastic rallies, and ultimately disappointment for her followers. That in turn may lead the Palinistas to become discouraged and stay home on election day, giving the Democrats a lot more margin for error.
Here is the problem – 2012 is the year when many freshman Democrats will be up for reelection. This is the time when a Senator is is most vulnerable. (After they have been in for a few terms it seems like only the Grim Reaper can remove them from office). Recall that in 1986 Republicans lost the Senate because of so many weak freshmen Senators elected in 1980. With so many possibly vulnerable Democrats on the ballot, it is a critical time for Republicans to try and get those seats back.
The problem is that I cannot imagine Palin pulling a Hillary – mourning the loss of a campaign for a few days and then coming out swinging for the person who beat her in the primaries. Instead, she will do the take-my-ball-and-go-home routine, damaging the entire Republican ticket from top to bottom. She would do to the Republicans exactly what Jesse Jackson did to the Democrats.
As an author, a columnist, a commentator, I think she would do a fine job of communicating conservative values. But as a national candidate, no.
75 Writing on the blank page that is Sarah Palin | Jay Bookman // Nov 11, 2009 at 10:01 am
[...] draws from others. Napolean Linardatos, a conservative writer at Frumforum.com and no Palin fan, describes that phenomenon well: “The sole legitimizing force behind Sarah Palin is the persecution that her supporters [...]
76 Independent // Nov 11, 2009 at 10:34 am
when the media were detailing certain aspects of the texan police officer kim munley -who bravely plunged into the massacre at ft hood and pumped possibly 4 bullets into the jihadist nidal hasan– she sounded like a carbon copy of sarah palin.
service to others, above self. check
strong, tenacious, determined. check, check, check.
dedicated mom and hard-working wife. check, check.
patriot and one of the many military families. check, thank god.
hunter, gun enthusiast, outdoorswoman and conservationist. checks all around.
a good friend described her as “She’s the happiest, sweetest, most fun-loving girl you’d ever want to be friends with – and never want to cross”. check
she sounds like a carbon copy of sarah palin. I’m surprised the democrats haven’t sent a crack team of lawyers to her neighborhood to ferret around in her trash and get some dirt to discredit sgt kim munley. patriot, hero and kindred soul to sarah palin. thank god that real women are returning to america’s spotlight… it all started with sarah’s bold leadership and willingness to serve others before self.
77 Liz Lemon In ‘12! « Around The Sphere // Nov 11, 2009 at 11:15 am
[...] Napoleon Linardatos at Frum Forum: It is very telling that her record as governor of Alaska gets only scant mention in Continetti’s essay and it’s the usual limited list of accomplishments, the ones we heard about when she was introduced to the nation. Since the defeat of the McCain ticket in 2008, Palin as governor failed to make any serious progress despite the fact that she had gained tremendous prominence and influence on the right and that she was at the helm of a conservative state. At the end she decided to resign, 18 months before the end of her term, admitting that she was no longer able to effectively govern the state. It should have been a “mugged by reality” moment for the Palinistas. But for them her resignation was proof of the everlasting prosecution. Palin would leave governing, as the Washington Post reported, because it was “in the best interest of the state and will allow her to more effectively advocate for issues of importance to her, including energy independence and national security.” Those who can’t govern perpetually campaign. [...]
78 MI-GOPer // Nov 11, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Independent writes: “when the media were detailing certain aspects of the texan police officer kim munley -who bravely plunged into the massacre at ft hood and pumped possibly 4 bullets into the jihadist nidal hasan– she sounded like a carbon copy of sarah palin.”
You aren’t the first or only one to think that, Independent. Around our water cooler at work, moderate people with a fair, balanced non-partisan perspective said very similar things. No doubt, Sgt Kim Munley is every bit the hero that her husband is… Thank God for people like her and Sarah Palin. They are such a refreshing antidote to the Babs Boxer, Babs Mikulski, Patty Murray and Debbie StupidCow… the Left’s contribution to society’s image of the fairer sex.
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