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Political Hay
Palin’s Pioneering Path to the Presidency
But not only liberals find her Alaska show “cheesy” and “tacky.”
It should come as little surprise that liberals don’t think much of Sarah Palin’s Alaska. Unfortunately, it should also come as little surprise that some conservatives don’t think much of it either. Palin has always had her conservative critics and this latest enterprise is no exception.
In an article which appeared last Friday in National Review Online, Mona Charen dismisses Sarah Palin’s Alaska as “another cheesy entrant in the reality-show genre.” While Matt Labash of the Weekly Standard doesn’t call the show cheesy he does call it “tacky.” Labash also argues Sarah Palin’s Alaska is nothing more than an act of “self -love.”
Alas both Charen and Labash miss the point. Having watched the first two episodes of Sarah Palin’s Alaska I’d say it is neither cheesy nor tacky much less an exercise in vanity. Rather it should be seen as a series of extended home movies. Now not everyone likes home movies, especially those who are unwilling participants. But for the open-minded among us we now have an opportunity to view Sarah Palin and her family on their own terms. It also gives us an extended look at a part of our country that is seldom given a second thought.
Let’s face it. Most Americans have never been to Alaska and this show is probably the closest a lot of us will get. Of course, one could make the case that if one wanted to see the wonders of Alaska on television one could tune into a PBS program like Nature. But it is one thing to see bears fighting in a river; it’s another to see it as it is being observed by the Palin family.
Labash points out that critics of the show on Twitter take 9-year-old Piper Palin to task for making “racist anti-bear calls.” (Frankly, I didn’t know growling at bears constituted an act of racism. Do they think Piper would have spared polar bears her heckling?) But what Labash doesn’t point out is that the Mama Grizzly herself took young Piper to task for scaring the bears. For generations children have found ways to scare animals, leaving it to their parents to tell them it is not a nice thing to do.
If one wants to have a complete picture of Sarah Palin it would be impossible to do so without her husband and her children. One could argue that Palin is exploiting her children by including them in <em>Sarah Palin’s Alaska, but it’s an argument that collapses on its own weight. Sarah Palin is one of the most recognizable people on the face of the earth. Unfortunately, many people despise her for what she believes or what they think she believes. Consequentially, her children become part of the public domain and are hit with the debris of defamation. As long as Palin’s children are public figures they might as well be presented on their own turf and in their own element — warts and all. Yet in some way it is reassuring that Piper picks on her older sister Willow and vice versa and Mama Grizzly has to tell them to settle down.
Alas Charen and Labash find the proceedings more than a tad undignified. They certainly don’t find it presidential. Why else would they both complain about Palin’s Twitter use? Let them sneer at reality television and social networking to their heart’s content. The fact of the matter is these things mean a great deal to people. Whether we like it or not, who wins Dancing with the Stars means more to people than our monetary policy. Whether we like it or not, people define themselves by their Facebook status. All Palin has done is to tap into this new reality. She is merely using the social networking medium the way Ronald Reagan used television when he hosted General Electric Theater. While Palin espouses traditional values she is not taking a traditional path to the presidency. The question is whether she can carve out her own path to electoral success.
Assuming Palin decides to take a run at the White House, she will undoubtedly do so with the knowledge that she will encounter enormous barriers along that path led by a liberal media (with a little help from some condescending conservatives) determined to keep President Obama in office. In fact, she should expect them to be a thousand times more arduous and vicious than those she faced in 2008. The difference now is that no one will stop her from clearing the brush. With her pioneering spirit, this time she gets to do things her way.
About the Author
Aaron Goldstein writes from Boston, Massachusetts.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (316) | Leave a comment
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Stephanie| 11.24.10 @ 6:46AM
It's pretty dispicible they way the left and many on the right talk about her, lie about her. She may not be everyone's cup of tea, but then, neither was or is the current occupant of our White House. I will take Ms. Palin and her family over the marxist who is president now. At least she loves America, loves freedom, idividuality and family. She's also an example of a TRUE feminist and doesn't look down on a woman who chooses to stay home and raise decent human beings. THAT job is harder than any job out there.
Edward White| 11.24.10 @ 8:56AM
Count me in as one of the old-blood conservatives who is adamantly opposed to Palin's political ambitions.
She is an embarrassment to the Republican Party, and we--the traditional Republicans--will oppose her every step of the way.
Call it classism if you like, but we think Palin's family is cheesy and vulgar. And, yes, appearing in a reality show is about as tacky as you can get. I could not stomach watching it for a moment.
Tell me, Mr. Goldstein, does Sarah constantly have little trig resting on her hip as a little sympathy prop? We've all seen that picture too many times.
Palin obviously exploits her children, Mr. Goldstein, and you know it.
The Republican Party has been hijacked by Fundamentalist Christians and other uneducated bumpkins who are driven, not by reason, but by emotion. Emotional retards are now at the helm, and they will be our ruin.
Truth to Power| 11.24.10 @ 9:12AM
Nice try Ed. Good effort but you don't smell exactly right. A shower might help.
David V| 11.24.10 @ 1:21PM
Ditto
loulou| 11.24.10 @ 4:17PM
ditto
ejp| 11.24.10 @ 8:31PM
The stench of a phony is so deep that I recommend "Edward White" bathe in tomato juice.
EdwardThePhony| 11.30.10 @ 1:26AM
Not EVEN a "nice try"... Edward's president is that inexperienced Chicago PUNK in the whitehouse... He calls us "uneducated bumpkins" -- Edward... YOU got PART of your "education" on November 2. The rest of your "learnins" are coming in 2012 when YOUR MORON leaves the whitehouse for RETIREMENT in 2012
Vern Crisler| 11.25.10 @ 1:33AM
I say ditto, too.
Expel "The Ruling Class"!| 11.24.10 @ 9:19AM
No Edward White, what will be the ruin of this nation is people who are constantly & irrationally in an angry rage & putting down people who are different from them. And as for exploitation, you exploited yourself with your post to let everyone else here know you are emotionally unstable & angry at things you have no control over. Get to know GOD for your own sake please. Going through life angry every day 24/7 is no way to live & unhealthy. Take care & GOD bless!
Sam| 11.24.10 @ 3:12PM
Actually, we DO have control about whether she gets the nomination. I could care less about her reality show. In fact, I'd prefer she continue to do it than run for office. Besides, who has time to watch reality TV anyway? I stick to football, baseball, and basketball.
She can have her show and her glory. But when it comes time to choose a nominee, I will count myself among the many Republican voters supporting anyone but Palin and in the disasterous event that she becomes our nominee, I will have no choice but to vote for Obama.
Tim the Enchanter| 11.24.10 @ 3:46PM
Sam- one always has a choice. Besides, elections are not an all-or-nothing proposition. No one say s when you go in to vote that you HAVE to choose anyone on the Presidential line AT ALL. Silly bugger.
Blacque Jacques Shellacque| 11.24.10 @ 4:50PM
...and in the disasterous event that she becomes our nominee, I will have no choice but to vote for Obama.
Do what you have to do. Just don't whine when you get called on the carpet for it.
Carol| 11.24.10 @ 9:52PM
You are already one of the obamites. When there is nothing left of America you may wake up. Are you one of the people Soros is paying to do his dirty work. Soros should be investigated. He is trying to destroy America with Obama's help. Obama has paid Soros back and some. Maybe you are for a rhino. Sarah will sort of the real republicans and the ones from the other side. None of them can stand up to her record. She went up against the dishonest in her party and also went against the big oil companies and won.People from Alaska get higher checks from big oil because of Palin.
What did Obama do about BP he put on a tough face and had BP pay out money to shut people up but at the same time he took away their livelihood. There is still oil out there that has not been cleaned up.When the accident first happened she told Obama not to believe the oil company. The oil companies gave more to Obama for election than anyone. She has more back bone than any of the men.So don't pretend. We can see right through you.
Paul Freedman| 11.26.10 @ 6:08PM
Another fan of Glenn Beck. No, George Soros is not trying to destroy American and neither is Obama. They may be wrong, but they are not mustache-twirling Snidely Whiplashes either. Sarah got oil companies to give Alaska money, and? this helped the lower 48 exactly how? And socking BP for a twenty billion dollar set-aside did them favors? He screwed the oil company and the workers in the oil industry. Not because he is an oil company pawn and not because he wants to destroy America, but, because, like Sarah Palin, he exaggerates his talents, and like Sarah he thinks being President is like being the star of a reality show that will always turn out right if the script is fixed in advanced.
So his is left-wing; hers is right. Class resentment of blue bloods and elites and Soros is not a program to run the country.
Scott| 11.27.10 @ 7:54AM
I think I missed something here. Why should the governor of Alaska *care* about how oil company money coming into her state helps the lower 48? Her first priority is to the citizens of her state.
Jay Dee| 11.27.10 @ 7:24PM
Psssst - the citizens of Alaska had to pay local, state and federal taxes on their money from the oil companies but let's keep it our little secret.
Ole Sarge| 11.27.10 @ 8:26PM
Last time I checked, Alaska had no sales tax or income tax, all compliments of the permanent dividend
Mara| 11.28.10 @ 1:22AM
You need to check further. Many cities, such as Wasilla, levy a sales tax. Some cities, such as Wasilla, levy a property tax too, which is combined with the borough property tax.
Question: Does the Nevada Millennial Scholarship Fund that guarantees college tuition for the children of Nevada residents give you as much heartburn as the Alaska PFD? I'm pretty sure it adds up to far more money. By the way, thanks to their gaming industry, Nevada doesn't have a state income tax either.
And finally, most of our state government expenses are paid for with oil revenues like most oil rich states.
Scott| 11.30.10 @ 7:26PM
Okay, now I'm even more confused...What you're suggesting is that a governor's ultimate responsibility is to the nation not their state because somewhere along the way federal taxes get extracted from the money coming in as income? That's one of the stupidest things I've ever read anyone post...
NCMamaGrizz| 11.28.10 @ 8:25PM
"Sam" wrote: "I will have no choice but to vote for Obama."
Ok, Barbara Bush, take your pills and go to bed now.
J.H.| 11.24.10 @ 5:31PM
I say bring back the blue bloods.
NCMamaGrizz| 11.28.10 @ 8:26PM
The "Blue Bloods" gave you Obama.
Old Bob| 11.24.10 @ 9:44AM
To tell the truth Mr. White, I'm not sure that your screed is not tounge in cheek satire. I'm 69 years old and I've been waiting my entire adult life for the Republican Party to get over its "too decorous to win" attitude. Traditional Republicans have been content to let this country go to hell in a handbasket while tut tutting from the sidelines. The only times they accomplished anything in the last fifty years is when they deigned to tolerate just a bit of populism under Goldwater, Reagan, Gingrich and, yes, Palin. As a political activist for Reagan, I got to meet many of the oh so proper Traditional Republicans, and frankly they bored me to tears. Get a clue please. Bob Dole was a great guy, but a presidential candidate? Get real. Traditional Republicans had better realize that there is a world outside the country club, and it is from that world that the energy and ideas that will save America will come. Polite society abhored Andrew Jackson, and even Lincoln early on, just as it now abhors Palin, but it is from such rude and crude frontier folk that much of the best of the American spirit has come. Get over your stuffy embarassment, join the party and do something for America.
Old Bob| 11.24.10 @ 10:05AM
I hereby solemnly swear that I will never get so worked up as to post a comment without doing a spell check.
daddio| 11.24.10 @ 1:40PM
+1 brother!!!
MacBeagle| 11.26.10 @ 1:56PM
DITTO
cats1cowboy| 11.24.10 @ 10:20AM
Huh? I'm 60-years-old. I've seen thousands of Moms with babies on their hips. It's what Moms do. Maybe, if your Mom had held you, more often, you wouldn't be so hateful. Or maybe, your Mom did hold you and you are just an ungrateful whelp.
WayneFarmer| 11.24.10 @ 10:46AM
Just this month, Mr. White, I saw Gov. Palin severely criticized for NEVER holding Trigg, always handing him off to someone else. The accusation was that she "didn't want to be photographed with him."
Tootsie| 11.24.10 @ 11:39AM
Don't believe it. Give source.
Sam| 11.24.10 @ 3:16PM
Now I'm not a liberal, but I strongly believe that criticizing Sarah for not holding her baby long enough is the height of sexism. No male politician faces those questions. Despite my dislike for Sarah politically, I find the mean-spirited and hateful criticism of her actions in her personally life appalling. Unless she is doing something criminal or immoral, it is not for us to judge her on how she wishes to conduct her personal business. Anyone who says otherwise needs to GET A LIFE.
Bob Grant| 11.24.10 @ 3:21PM
Well my suggestion to Sarah would be to cease throwing her family in our collective faces 24/7.
T D| 11.25.10 @ 2:03PM
Uh, she doesn't. The media does. Eight hours (really 40 minutes x 8 without commercials) of a series is hardly 24/7. Not to mention, it's on cable. Lots of people don't have cable. And those who have it don't have to watch.
It always amazes me that the same people in the media who moan about how much attention Palin gets, are the ones who can't stop talking about her. Her actual average weekly media output is a lot less than, say, Bill O'Reilly's, but it gets amplified because even her enemies are so darn interested in her.
NCMamaGrizz| 11.28.10 @ 8:31PM
You nailed it. The media targeted her the moment her high heels hit the stage and she gave that amazing acceptance speech for the VP slot. She scared the bejeebies out of them. Look for whom they attack to see whom they fear!
I actually know some conservative GOPers who dislike the Tina Fey/SNL caricature of her - thinking that caricature IS Palin. If that doesn't tell us how hard the socialist media has hammered Palin, nothing will. Expect it to worsen.
chaifa| 11.24.10 @ 10:56AM
you are NOT a republican...you're just another liberal troll...your post says it all...the elitists couldn't pull it off on november 2nd, 2010...have you forgotten? it was CONSERVATISM that pulled it off...it's CONSERVATISM that will save this country! 2012 is coming, and more, establishment repubiks up for re election will go the same route as castle, bennett, etc...we will not be deterred in our mission...we will remain FOCUSED and RESOLUTE!!!...Sarah is the KINGMAKER...Sarah is the Real Deal!!! and the majority of America will support her no matter if she runs for President or not!!!
Gretchen| 11.25.10 @ 3:15PM
Sarah is THE FUTURE! McCain, et. al. are THE PAST. Sarah is a much-needed breath of FRESH AIR!
It's time for the old T-Rexes in the Republican Party to pass the baton to the next generation.
NCMamaGrizz| 11.28.10 @ 8:33PM
Amen and well said!
Dustoff| 11.24.10 @ 11:02AM
LOL, what's the matter ED. A real person show's up and YOU just can't handle it.
Your right about one thing. Palin's no JFK (thank you) or O-bummer who has proven to the entire world he's a clown who knows zip., other than his smug look.
David W| 11.24.10 @ 11:43AM
Ah, I was waiting for it and finally there it was. The attack on "Fundamentalist Christians and other uneducated bumpkins", taken from the playbook of the liberal and the left elites (you sure you are on the right web site - maybe you meant to go to MSNBC or CNN's site). I don't support her for president (though I would love to watch the elites have a fit if she were elected). Not because she isn't qualified - she's more qualified that Obama. It is because people like you and the media will drown out anything she tries to say even if it is for the best of the country.
And good grief, after seeing Clinton on SNL and Obama on Comedy Central it is nice to see a potential candidate avoiding that claptrap and doing something real people can enjoy (though I don't have cable so I can't see the show).
T D| 11.25.10 @ 2:08PM
Excellent point. Not to mention multiple trips to "The View", Oprah, late night comedy shows. But "popular" venues apparently don't suck up the gravitas of some people like they do for others.
Gretchen| 11.25.10 @ 3:17PM
Bravo!
A Person With Good Sense| 11.24.10 @ 11:47AM
Edward White is an embarrassment to the Republican Party, and we--the intelligent Republicans--will oppose him every step of the way.
Call it discernment if you like, but we think White's family is cheesy and vulgar based on his puerile and disgusting post.
Cpm| 11.24.10 @ 2:58PM
Seminar troll- you dishonor the name of a real hero. You also obviously envy the attention Ms. Palin gives her children. Either you were raised by wolves, or abandoned as a baby, or spent your childhood with a wetnurse and nanny. Take your abandonment issues back to your bosses at the DNC.
jothepro| 11.24.10 @ 3:58PM
Hey Edward White, is that all you got. The tea party movement got started because of traditional Republicans like you. And by the way, if you didn't watch the show how in the hell do you snobbishly know it to be cheesy and vulgar.You might be a Republican, but so is Trent Lott. This party would be better off with people like you turning your anger inside and getting to know yourself a little better.
Mike Murphy| 11.24.10 @ 4:10PM
Not even a half-baked attempt, "Edward White". (If that's even your real name). Now run along back to HuffPo and tell all your Socialist buddies about your childish exploit here. You're busted.
Mike W| 11.24.10 @ 5:46PM
You are over the top with your use of the word "retard". You debase the whole conversation with that type of ugliness.
Palin will not be president. Don't worry.
GBinPA| 11.24.10 @ 10:29PM
Come on Ed...you're not really a Republican, are you.
Henry Stringfellow| 11.24.10 @ 11:18PM
You have my name and I assume my email address. You are afraid of Mrs. Palin and you can only respond by slurs. It is amaxing how the liberals, Progressives fear her.
Osamas Pajamas| 11.25.10 @ 12:16AM
Edward White is a tacky, cheesy Democrat pretending to be a Republican. Before the election he attended Tea Party gatherings and made racist noises in order to smear the good reputation of Tea Partiers. And by the way, the Tea Party movement is full of Christians, Jews, agnostics, athiests [like myself], some Hindus and Buddhists, conservatives, independents, libertarians, and Objectivists. We are the world, and Edward White is a schmuck.
Pataricia Touchton| 11.25.10 @ 2:49AM
Mr. White: I am neither a fundamentalist Christian, nor am I an uneducated bumpkin.
Instead of being embarassed by Sarah Palin, I'm ashamed and embarressed by the Republican Party. That's why I resigned and became an independent.
Don Kosloff| 11.25.10 @ 10:14AM
The use of the phrase "Emotional retards" is disgusting and would invalidate anything written by the user of the phrase. Of course everthing written above the phrase is already self-invalidating.
Robert | 11.25.10 @ 3:22PM
The idea that the GOP has been "hijacked by Fundamentalist Christians " is surely out of date.
Go back to back to the Cow Palace Mr. White and walk out with Lord Nelson. There is nothing traditional about being hidebound. Further, the JFK and family were rather blatantly in the public face. I guess you have to vacation at Martha's Vineyard or Kennebunkport to get your approval.
Radioman777| 11.25.10 @ 5:05PM
Why, what an obviously superior specimen you are! Well, more like just a plain specimen; the type you find in a laboratory cup.
Wayne | 11.25.10 @ 5:55PM
And what conservative Republican do you think you could bet elected without those of us that admire and support Palin?
Now certainly an intelligent conservative Republican would understand this, which makes me doubt your credentials very much.
Don't like her show, don't watch. Don't like her, then don't vote for her. But please don't insult us.
I am not Christian and I think your correlation with Palin, Christians, uneducated bumpkin and emotional retards is quite bigoted and can only be made by a leftist fraud.
Kris Lepine| 11.25.10 @ 6:19PM
What a load of pap. Sarah Palin has more class and honor and dare I say ethical behavior, in her little finger than you could ever even imagine, with your elitist comments. It's obvious you've never been around a Down's Syndrome child with the disgusting comments you've made here. That little guy will be developmentally delayed in all aspects of his life and will need the loving arms of his mother and father a lot longer than most children. He's a disgusting prop to you and we followers of a loving God find that reprehensible. God put him in the right family; where would you have put him sir?
carnot| 11.25.10 @ 8:14PM
but...of course...the Bush daughters were dignified, suave, etc., when W ran.
fraud.
Dawg| 11.26.10 @ 2:50AM
Little Ed,
I bet you think the Jump Shooter is doing a good job with our country....You are your on ruin, not
Sarah Palin and those who like and support her.. I I bet her 70 % supported candidates who she helped get elected on Nov.2nd may just have your panties in a wad.....
Ignorance is bliss to some people and especially
those that adore boy blunder....
John J | 11.26.10 @ 11:31AM
Mr. White, if you are indeed a conservative, you certainly gave no indication of it beyond your naked assertion. So, how are you a conservative?
Concerning Gov. Palin's travelog (which is what it is, not a "reality show"), since you haven't seen it, what informs your opinion of it? A number of years ago it would have been seen on a series like "Bold Journey."
I'm sorry Mr. White, but you give the impression of being just another clueless blue-blood with a major case of PDS (Palin Derangement Syndrome). Your type of "conservative" is going to the way of the Rockefeller Republicans, a trail blazed by the dodo and dinosaur.
Jim| 11.26.10 @ 12:53PM
Baloney. The Repubs would be sitting in a NY country club discussing their impotence without the Christians (not all, or even most of whom are fundamentalists, whatever that means in your world) and the so-called "retards." BTW, I think it was largely the "retards" who won the show on 11/2/10. Frankly, you sound like a retard, emotionally and intellectually, with what you put forth here.
Rod Spahn| 11.28.10 @ 12:08PM
If it looks like a liberal, talks like a liberal and smells like a liberal... it must be a liberal.
stmichrick| 11.28.10 @ 8:36PM
Ed;
The attempts at cultural humiliation make her more powerful; why don't you take issue with one of her positions? Snotty comments about her personal style show you to be more like elite media leftist Democrats than anyone else. Prepare to lose.
TJohnson| 11.28.10 @ 11:45PM
Well Mr. "traditional Republican", just what is a traditional republican? That is besides just being "old". I guess you and the rest of the traditional republicans consider us unwashed, commoner republicans tacky and vulgar. You're the type of republican that got us a maxist, America hating, muslim in our White House. Well, you better get a grip because I think there are more of us Tea Party, America loving, tacky, vulgar, unwashed patriots than there are of jerks like you. You can take your "classism" and shove it where the sun don't shine. You'll probably be able to see the light then, since that's where your head is anyways. As for my vote, if she will run I'd rather her be my president than some dumbass life long politician insider, or friend of yours. Now wakeup and growup and watch America and it's real people take America back from them and you.
Mike| 11.29.10 @ 1:23PM
Ah Hell, the US is one big cheesy, tacky.. crazy place and I love it. But I must admit, enough of this born again christian nonsense.
REB| 11.29.10 @ 9:46PM
The reason America has a communist occupying the White House is because of you stinking blue blooded traditional repubs!
Blame everybody but yourselves you self-rightous and pompous imbred idiot,for your information Lincoln was a fundamentalist christian,anf he started your party...DUH!and although Im no fan of ole Abe Iknow he was way smarter and much more intellegent than you and your kind!
Blame the christians,blame the common man,mock Sarah and her every move...make fun of and impune peoples education and backgroud...go ahead but realize the days of your running the show and helping install losers like obama and bush1&2 are about over! Loser!
Bob Grant| 11.24.10 @ 9:33AM
Stephanie, All that may very well be true but these traits should be put in their proper perspective if used to determine the qualifications of a president.
Loadmaster| 11.24.10 @ 10:24AM
Bob - qualifications, please explain? Other than what is written down in the Const. what others are you looking for? Ivey League grad - you seen what that's gave us. Run a business - Jimmy Carter did (peanut farm) you seen what that gave us. Gov's - Slick Willy and Ronnie...I wasn't please with Willy but Ronnie YES.
So, explain what qualifications you're looking for. How about the one's that tell you they are a true conservative, believe in states rights, 1st and 2nd amend and all the others. NO to big gov...no to taxes and YES to energy independ (more drilling), strong national defense. I could go on and on and on.
The lady from Wasilla has got all the qualification this old boy wants...you betcha. We will work our butts off for this lady - if she and Todd decide to run. Another you betcha!!!1
Dustoff| 11.24.10 @ 11:08AM
Loadmaster.
I'm with you on this one.
I ask everyone. Please tell us WHAT qualifications did O-bummer have to be the Prez?
He's has such a hollow past, what would make him stand out. Other than his teleprompter usage. (-:
Ole Sarge| 11.27.10 @ 8:34PM
black, unfortunately, not to bright.
Joe Oliva| 11.24.10 @ 11:10AM
Excellent analysis Loadmaster! It appears that our esteemed Mr. White is a part of the elite establishment Republicans: the Ford, Papa Bush, Dole, Bush Jr. , McCain, Romney types. Exactly what this country does not need.
What we need is Sarah Palin because she is a common everyday person who understands what it takes to raise a family, pay the bills, be part of a family business, etc. She comes from a background of intelligent people who were the kind of teachers that made America great. I am 64 and I remember those teachers.
The elites even in the GOP don't like her because she will ride into town as the truest of all mavericks, and she will take a sledge hammer to the bureacracy and the big government types who inhabit that world. She will work with our now majority GOP Governors to return power back to the states as the 10th Amendment intends.
She is the truest conservative out there with enough public exposure to actually win, and I believe she will run and win. I intend to work for her and I expect after she wins that I will not be disappointed.
The nonsense about "qualifications" is just code used by the establishment when they see someone they have decided doesn't belong. McCain's people did that to her and their actions may have cost the GOP the Presidency although that is hard to say. McCain didn't acquit himself very well and that is why it is time for us to reject the elites and get Sarah Palin elected!
Bob Grant| 11.24.10 @ 11:47AM
Can anyone honestly say Sarah possesses these qualities which are part of what constitutes being a qualified president:
Judgment - Her continual creepy (and extremely un-presidential comments about her daughters, e.g: the guy who lived next-door, Sarah visioned him "...looking into Willow's bedroom window.." AND THE LATEST, when discussing her preference of pat downs or screening. She mentioned her preference would be pat downs for her but NOT for her teenage daughters. Why bring this up? It's completely unnecessary and extremely creepy for her to do so.
Temperament - we already have a thin-skinned president, we don't need another one
Self discipline - She can't help herself but to make continual snide comments when tweeting. We have a president who is also guilty of this. It's wrong no matter where it's coming from.
Judgment - Quitting her governorship. Epic fail.
There's a certain lack of grace about her, which in my view, is an important trait of a good president.
Tom| 11.24.10 @ 1:43PM
I am with you on most of these but I think you are mistaken about her quitting the governorship. In reality she had little real choice. She was forced out through a neverending serious of ethics charges that would have bankrupyed her if she had stayed in office. Leaving was frankly a sign of good judgement, it protected her family's financial health.
I still do not want her as President, although if it is Palin v Obama I'd gladly vote Palin.
GBinPA| 11.24.10 @ 10:38PM
A lack of grace; you have to be kidding! Is that the best you have? She is infinitely more qualified than the clown show that now occupies the White House. Her philosophy is right, and that's what I value more than anything else. I suppose you would prefer a refined, civil, get-along, aristocratic type of Republican: the type that would quietly and gracefully continue to sell us down the river. The time for decisive action in America is now. A true conservative such as Palin is exactly what we need. If Republicans don't come around to that fact, they will become a distant memory in American History.
Bob Grant| 11.25.10 @ 1:20PM
Well, no. Her obvious lack of grace was just a throw away observation I included at the end. Above that would be my more substantive concerns about her.
Dawg| 11.26.10 @ 3:01AM
Yes, yes GBinPA....exactly, we got that party in waiting,' it's called the Tea Party."
Don Kosloff| 11.25.10 @ 10:20AM
I have absolutely no doubts about Sarah's sterling qualifications. A lot of grace and ten bucks will buy you a cup of coffee at Starbucks.
T D| 11.25.10 @ 2:24PM
Creepy? Apparently you're not a parent of minor children. Most of the parents I know do think seriously about whether they would want their children patted down in places they have warned their children never to let strangers touch. Creepy is thinking that a required full body scan or having your children touched by government employees in intimate places is not a "polite" issue and therefore should not be talked about.
Jim| 11.26.10 @ 12:56PM
Sorry, Bob, but the folks who have been running lately have zero integrity, and big egos, both of which doom a presidency more than ill-considered tweets. The "smart" guys got us to our economic 9/11, so why do you trust them to lead us now?
Bob Grant| 11.26.10 @ 4:54PM
Because taking correcting stances on issues is only part of being an effective president. You also have to be EFFECTIVE, i.e., having competent handlers, showing you can drive changes when dealing with diverse people with diverse agendas.
Sarah simply hasn't demonstrated the necessary tact, self -discipline, judgment, or leadership skills to prove she is capable to do so.
Ole Sarge| 11.27.10 @ 8:42PM
Hmm, and slick willy did? obummer has not taken a rational stance on anything to date.
As for the rest of your whine, sounds like sour grapes to me.
Freddy Astairey| 11.24.10 @ 10:54AM
Dancin' Wi' Duh Stars Farce
I thought you AmSpec Palin fanatics would be too broken hearted to get out of bed this morning, much less post comments.
Bristol Palin, the lead-footed hoofer who incredibly made it to the "Dancing with the Stars" finals, tripped-up in the last leg to the Mirror Ball trophy last night, winding up in third place and losing to 50-year-old, injury-plagued "Dirty Dancing" star Jennifer Grey.
David W| 11.24.10 @ 11:46AM
Never watched DWTS. Could care less about who won (whether Palin, Grey, or Oprah). However, what thing your post did illustrate - you are a pathetic small-minded person.
Oldefarte| 11.24.10 @ 11:49AM
Hey, MORON, she beat Brandy and should have come in second ahead of Kyle; but POLITICAL CORRECTNESS finally prevailed no doubt!!!!
RCV| 11.24.10 @ 12:10PM
Do you really care who won "Dancing With the Stars"? Geeeeez
Cpm| 11.24.10 @ 4:52PM
Hey Freddy, what happened to that vast conspiracy and voter fraud that was supposed to cinch that title for Bristol Palin? It must have been a fevered manifestation of your collective Palin Derangement Syndrome. You are all insane idiots.
Dawg| 11.26.10 @ 3:10AM
I sure wish the only thing i had to worry about in
this screwed up world was a 20 year old girl, who
you just called a lead footed hoofer....
God, we are surrounded by idiots......
Rich D| 11.26.10 @ 9:56AM
Hmmm - the other two so-called "amateur" contestants danced professionally - so much for the rules.
NCMamaGrizz| 11.28.10 @ 8:40PM
Never watched DWTS, never will.
I see you need some new hobbies however, as do you other liberal bros whose rabid, deranged, daily banshee wailings re Bristol Palin, were the reason I even knew she was on the show in the first place.
Get another hobby Freddy, cause stalking young girls is twisted dude.
Edward White| 11.25.10 @ 10:29AM
Gaffe prone Sarah Palin has risked political ridicule yet again after suggesting rogue communist state North Korea is an ally of America.
The addled Sarah made the error when she was asked about the conflict between the North and Southern enemies, which has escalated this week.
She stunned listeners during a radio interview, saying: "Obviously we've got to stand with our North Korean allies."
Glenn Beck then pointed out that it was in fact South Korea, not the North run by crackpot leader Kim Jong-Il, which was a friend of the US.
Bob Grant| 11.25.10 @ 1:43PM
If she runs. Sarah's damage control team will earn every dollar they make.
Wayne Peterson| 11.25.10 @ 6:00PM
I believe she corrected herself. Obama never did when he said he was a Muslim. Nor did he correct his statement about Austrians speaking Austrian and cinco de quatro or with that ridiculous "restart" button. Gaffes don't seem to bother the Left unless they can use one to justify their own bigotry.
Stephanie| 11.26.10 @ 2:21PM
AND that there are 57 states!
carnot| 11.25.10 @ 8:20PM
she just needs a teleprompter to be on a par with the current WH doofus.
Ole Sarge| 11.27.10 @ 8:47PM
Boy, you sure are dragging the bottom of the barrel for something to complain about. I bet you forgive obummer for his constant collections of gaffs. He is the most fun when is brain (sometimes called a teleprompter) fails and he sort of fumbles and mumbles along. A real looser and a lot of not to bright sorts put him in office.
NCMamaGrizz| 11.28.10 @ 8:42PM
Did she make the "gaffe" to all "57 States?" Let's ask Obama, eh?
Alan Brooks| 11.26.10 @ 5:34PM
Anyway, if she does become president, and she is popular enough to, she would completely triangulate her politics to suit the times.
Triangulation is the In Thing.
So she would wind up amounting to nothing more than the avatar of rightwing feminism.
Alan Brooks| 11.26.10 @ 6:53PM
"She's also an example of a TRUE feminist "
I thought feminism is a subset of liberalism.
john| 11.27.10 @ 8:16PM
as ususal you are wrong. you think if feminisim is good then it must be a subset of liberalism?
Rod Spahn| 11.28.10 @ 12:25PM
That was the femenists first mistake, to tie there wagon to the liberal movement. True freedom and liberty is the foundation of the conservative movement. Democrats-Liberals use ignorant individuals to increase their power and subjugate American liberty and the Constitution. For fifty years minorities and the down-trodden have sided with the wrong party at their own peril. Sarah Palin has the honesty and power (of spirit) to change that landscape. That's what scares the Libs the most. She has the power to cast a bright light of truth and expose the evil marxist shadows of the liberal left. She can destroy the anti-american party forever and push this country back to the fundamental foundation established to give the power back to the states and to the people. Commie Libs - You can run but you can't hide. You will be destroyed.
Rod Spahn| 11.28.10 @ 12:29PM
Not "femenists" but "feminist's"
Not "there wagon" but "their wagon"... must check for spelling errors or YOU look ignorant!
Appleby| 11.24.10 @ 6:52AM
If this was a show called *Nancy Pelosis San Francisco* in which she takes her grandchildren places children should not even know about, much less go, and it was sprinkled with liberal doses of curse words, people would be trying to make it out to be the next Gone With The Wind.
manonthestreet| 11.24.10 @ 7:02AM
I believe Mr Labash is a converted Liberal that still has one foot in Liberalism.I don't believe he has any idea what it's like to live on beans and potato's and cut wood for the wood stove.
I believe Mrs Palin,like Reagan was at his time is the one to lead us out of this mess.
I find it unbelieveable that these so called Journalist find time to write about Mrs Palin's Family Show which is good family entertainment while Rome Burns.
T D| 11.25.10 @ 2:36PM
Labash is just from the touchy, feely generation that wants to be loved. He's not a halfway liberal. Interestingly, he includes his two sons in his writing by name, age and with snippets of their conversation/interaction. And takes 2,000 words to come to the conclusion that we shouldn't be following Sarah Palin around. Let's hope he doesn't anymore.
Stuart Koehl| 11.24.10 @ 7:13AM
Lots of people talk about Palin's lack of "gravitas", but which American president since FDR has truly had gravitas, other than LBJ?
-Harry Truman threatened to punch out music critic Paul Hume for a bad review of daughter Margaret's piano recital; Harry was also known to be something of a potty mouth.
-Ike played golf in public. Golf is utterly lacking in gravitas (especially if you play in plus fours).
-Kennedy, well, the less said about JFK the better.
--LBJ showed his gall bladder scar to assembled reporters, and picked up a beagle by the ears, and was known for telling people he had his opponents' peckers in his pocket. That's gravitas, all right.
-Nixon went on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-in. 'Nuff said.
Ford--was he really President?
Carter-attacked by a rabbit, bussed the Queen Mother on the lips.
Reagan--there was a man who oozed gravitas without being a pompous ass.
GHW Bush--the prepisms, not to mention vomiting at a state dinner, undermine claims to gravitas.
Clinton--anti-gravitas exists.
GW Bush--Had gravitas when it counted, but frittered it away; inability to speak coherently created impression of frivolity.
Obama-pomposity is not gravitas; neither is appearing on The View or Oprah.
So, I think Sarah Palin is neither the best nor worst in the gravitas department. Ask me, Americans haven't been all that fond of gravitas since Andy Jackson, so lack of it may not hurt all that much.
Truthy| 11.24.10 @ 10:30AM
Carter did not "buss the Queen Mother on the lips." Instead, he laid a light kiss on her CHEEK.
Let's not deliberately lie, please. Tell the truth, Stuart.
Tom| 11.24.10 @ 1:57PM
Are you sure about that Truthy? Maybe my sarcasm detector is on the blink but it is pretty common knowledge where Jimmy placed his lips. And it was on the Queen Mum's lips.
Loadmaster| 11.24.10 @ 10:32AM
I might add Honest Abe to that list. Rail splitter from Illinois, I might recall. Common man from a common background. The timing is right for "from the people" candidate.
Oldefarte| 11.24.10 @ 11:53AM
Clinton did so have gravitas.......Monika say it up close and personal one day in the oval office!!!!
Dai Alanye | 11.24.10 @ 1:43PM
"Gravitas," as we use the term nowadays in political matters, is simply the *appearance* of gravity.
Obama is loaded with "gravitas" but is much less serious about governing than Palin. In both her elected and appointed positions Palin educated herself and took charge not merely of policy but programs as well. Barry O, on the other hand, passes everything off to aides or to Congress, hardly even bothering to familiarize himself with the details of proposals being presented in his name.
"Gravitas" is simply another example of the superficial judgments with which most folks---even really really really deep thinkers like David Frum---approach politics. It's right up there with being clean-looking and knowing how to use a teleprompter.
Lisa| 11.24.10 @ 5:59PM
GWB also threw Bernanke under the bus when TARP blew up in his face! Not classy!
Ole Sarge| 11.27.10 @ 8:51PM
he didn't throw near hard enough because that fool is still out there screwing everything up as fast as he can.
Gretchen| 11.25.10 @ 3:25PM
I believe it was Margaret Truman's VOICE recital Paul Hume panned.
A. M.| 11.24.10 @ 7:21AM
I'd just like to add that while Palin was lambasted for not being qualified to be our VP, the one who actually BECAME our VP routinely spouts inanity worse than anything Katie Couric looked down her nose at Mrs. Palin for. Mainstream media of course ignores most of it, but it doesn't keep Biden from nicely completing his Boss's job of making the U.S. look like a joke.
coal carrier| 11.24.10 @ 7:23AM
I know how Mrs. Palin will vote on Cap & Trade, Obamacare, global government, taxes, reducing government, illegal nationals, Islamic terrorism and all of the other issues that confront our country. And I also know how Obama, Biden, Clinton, Reed, Pilosy and the rest of the progressives did vote on these same issues. I’ll gladly take Mrs. Palin, reality show or not. She is one of us.
For all you phony lefties, how do you think that halibut gets to your dinner plate?
Stephanie| 11.24.10 @ 7:44AM
Was just watching Don Imus and his sanctimonius wife, telling us how cruel it was for Sarah to club the flounder during the fishing part of her show. If ya wanna be a vegetarian, fine, go be one. I try to eat meat that was raised locally, chickens that are not locked in cages 24/7 and beef and lamb who live in fields, not small slots in a huge commercial building. While I cringe at animal factories, it gag at these lofty, I-know-better-than-you beautiful folks who tell me I'm cruel for eating the halibut or lamb chop.
Go live your life Diedre and leave me to live mine.
Loadmaster| 11.24.10 @ 10:26AM
Step - didn't you just love the part when Sarah said "Bristol hit it, hit it"?
Michael L. Hauschild| 11.24.10 @ 11:44AM
I am waiting for November 2012 when President Palin walks out on the veranda with a hatchet wearing a rubber apron at the Thanksgiving Turkey Event.
RCV| 11.24.10 @ 12:12PM
As a liberal Democrat, I'd almost be tempted to support her just to see that and end the stupid "pardoning of the turkey" ceremony once and for all!
Tim the Enchanter| 11.24.10 @ 3:58PM
RCV: Amen to that! These turkeys are raised specifically for one reason: meat. The "pardoned" turkeys rarely live more than a year beyond their pardon date. They're not genetically disposed to do so (live a long life). Besides, all the left-wing cartoonists must be bored to death with no one to pick on.
RCV| 11.24.10 @ 5:18PM
Correct. Like chickens, cows and pigs, these creatures would not exist -- and certainly not in the numbers they do -- if we didn't go on raising them for meat and eating them.
Don Kosloff| 11.25.10 @ 10:24AM
Right on!
Bob Grant| 11.24.10 @ 8:21PM
Hopefully it will work out better for her than that other turkey incident a few years ago.
Don Kosloff| 11.25.10 @ 10:25AM
That would all depend on the bias of the cameramen. But some people can handle reality, the more the better.
Ned the Red| 11.24.10 @ 7:51AM
The main reason they don't like Governor Palin is that their sneers have run off of her back, rather than force her into inanity.
Rather than disappear she displays herself on the most public vehicles she can find.
This reduces their usual insults and condescending swipes to the level of a pathetic little mosquito with a kinked stinger.
Tenn Slim| 11.24.10 @ 8:29AM
There are millions of ordinary USA Americans that relate directly to the Palins. The Very Elite Snobs, of which there are few, mostly on the East and Left Coasts, that do not.
Palin, in my opine, will slip, slide, and invade the Hearts and Minds of the US Electorate, to the OVal office. Those Elites will wonder, "How could we have let this happen". and know, once again, they do not run the country.
Semper Fi
Ken (Old Texican)| 11.24.10 @ 8:38AM
Aaron,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Well spoken.
Michael L. Hauschild| 11.24.10 @ 7:34PM
You know what, having read through the bile several times and diagnosed what those here actually “dislike” about Palin let me offer some analysis.
Let’s address the “pundits” first. They fall into three classes; first you have the Roves and the Gingriches, the big guns no longer in power. They are on the wane, Gingrich is nearly completely irrelevant and Rove is hanging on through the grace of the Powerbrokers at Fox. He is like the incest born “offspring” on display at the carnivals of my youth. Parade him out; wring what juice left in his continence as his notoriety evolves from architect to anachronism. Next in the pecking order are the “blog” bylines, spewing left-handed compliments as justification for conservatism. Dime a dozen, and not worth the value electricity it takes to generate and display their “do over” mentality. Last of course, and the group I belong to, the actual class of people so minor to be only found stacked in chronological order pathetically seeking recognition or redemption for votes of elections past.
All have something to say about Palin, most do not have a clue as to what she represents simply because they are not worthy of an opinion, much less capable of personal critical analysis.
Those critical voices emanate from those who simply do not understand what lies in the hearts and minds of people such as her, posters such as Ken, or for that matter I. What we understand, and you do not, is simply we do not care who is President; instead we care who is Presidential. Palin represents what a President should be in these very troubled times; she has made choices in the last several years which many interpret in the framework of their own shortcomings. Bias, chauvinism, elitism, partisan politics, all appears above; perceived intellectual perspective is the rampant theme.
This is very simple. Listen very carefully to what I have to say.
Sarah Palin has done more in the last ten minutes for the sanctity of life, for the preservation of American values, and injecting the traits of integrity and honesty into the political discourse than all the people expounding or commenting here have since her name reached national recognition.
Sarah Palin would become president; it is up to her by the way, certainly not the RNC or the likes of commentators, if she felt it would be best for the country. She would step aside and support someone with her credentials and principles in a second if it was best for the country. She has, is, and will continue to do what is best for the USA with no emphasis on personal gain other than to support her cause the advancement of America and its citizens.
I believe she wants what I want, life as our forefather intended conducted under the auspices of a Constitutional Republic, with all the checks and balances in place. I feel that if she can deliver that personally she will seek the office, if she can contribute or support a candidate as she did McCain she will do that too, if she would serve best on the periphery that will be the role she will serve. Her race as she sees fit will not be the Huckabbe, Romney, McCain self destruction that may have led to America’s demise. She will seek to save the country with her actions, not risk its destruction due to a lust for power.
When you feel as strongly as I, about YOUR candidate speak to us ABOUT him or her. Till then all you are accomplishing is to damage one of the brightest lights to shine on what we all want and need for our country and our way of life.
Bob Grant| 11.24.10 @ 8:17PM
"Those critical voices emanate from those who simply do not understand what lies in the hearts and minds of people such as her, posters such as Ken, or for that matter I."....
....well Mike because people critical of Sarah are in the majority, even within her own party, it's incumbent on you, Ken, and Sarah to to a better job of communicating because it's clearly not working.
T D| 11.25.10 @ 2:46PM
According to the November 12th Gallup poll, 80% of Republicans have a favorable view of Palin. What party were you thinking of?
Michael L. Hauschild| 11.26.10 @ 10:28AM
Au conrair, I am comfortable with my communication skills, as I am sure are Sarah Palin and the Old Texican. While I cannot speak for them I am certain that we share a common thread, a burning desire to accomplish what is best for the country. To paraphrase Capp, “What is good for the Republican Generals is not always good for the USA.” I do wish to thank you, however, for your significant contribution. If it was not for rabid progressives such as Obama, or contrarian dupes such as you the Tea Party would not have the momentum and clout it does today. Keep up the good work, fight the good fight.
Ponder your two choices; you can have footprints up your back because you are moving in the right direction but going too slow with the baggage you carry, or be plucking Halibut fish scales and smashed tea bags from your vest because you are facing the wrong way and snarling at the wrong people.
Bob Grant| 11.26.10 @ 3:52PM
I never mentioned I was a progressive, you made the assumption because I have concerns about Sarah.
Thank you, sir, for making one of my main points.
Michael L. Hauschild| 11.27.10 @ 8:52AM
Not only are you a dunce, you can't read.
Bob Grant| 11.27.10 @ 10:57AM
Your obvious implication is I'm in the tank for the progressives by default because of my "contrarian" views who's "easily duped" by the other side.
You are correct: I am perhaps a contrarian when I visit American Spectator's comment site, HOWEVER, within the larger context among conservatives and republicans in general, you sir are in the MINORITY.
My question to you is this: when it becomes obvious to all conservatives, independents, and libertarians,the thick-skulled notwithstanding, that Sarah does not have enough support to make a run, will you, Mr. Contrarian, do what's right and fully support Barack Obama's OPPONENT?
carnot| 11.25.10 @ 8:44PM
ok...so....as a lifelong Conservative.....I will ask:
1) Just who would she bring to the WH with her.....I had the same core reservation about Obama. He had no real team...no real long-time network of competent associates across the functional spectrum
2) What of substance has she really accomplished....seems to me someone like Gov Christie has a better resume in that regard
3) Are you sure Prez is the true role for Sarah...perhaps she is perfectly suited for the role she is playing now: organizer of the movement, lightning-rod for support/attack thus creating maneuvering room for others
4) Get down to brass tacks...which states do you really think she can carry and will that be enough
5) the facts are....many candidates she has supported have not won. you cannot win em all......but her record looks fairly spotty to me: including her home state.
there are or will be other candidates waving the Conservative flag...this will not be a final discriminator. I see Obama for the fraud that he is. If faced with a Palin v Obama election I would probably vote Palin...but I would not contribute any $$$ or time.
She is gonna have to show more between now and then to earn the enthusiasm of rank and file.
Bydand76| 11.24.10 @ 8:49AM
What in the name of the Great Perversity is a freaking "Racist-Anti-Bear Call"???
Seriously!
Pro Libertate!
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
Artinkennebunk| 11.24.10 @ 8:52AM
When Barbara Bush suggested Sarah remain in Alaska, on Larry King's show, I asked a psychotherapist friend why our side attacks Palin, especially a nice white-haired grandmother type like Bar. The answer might be found, I was told, in Phyllis Chester's book Women's Inhumanity to Women." It could be as simple as jealousy. Bar admitted Sarah is beautiful (and young, and popular, and on her way UP). Mona Charen, listed as a conservative writer on Google, may actually be a charter member in the Kathleen Parker club, or, (oh, No!) in the Maureen Dowd circle. In any event, a jealous woman might say anything about a possible competitor in the "looks" department. Mona will always be second rate and over-the-hill.
Anthony| 11.24.10 @ 9:09AM
Appleby has it absolutely right. Yes indeed, let's all see Nancy Pelosi's San Fransisco, home of the real tea baggers. Family entertainment at its best. Perhaps V.P. Biteme can narrate and explain to us rubes the nuinaces we are witnessing.
Kudos to you as well Coal carrier, I love the way Sister Sarah blows the left away, her latest comments on the lame Katie Couric were the ultimate of putdowns. This woman has cut them all down to size!!
All I need to know about Sarah Palin are her opinions on the subjects mentioned by Coal carrier. Elite, clueless Ivy Leaguers need not apply.
A most blessed Thanksgiving to all my brothers and sisters at TAS.
carnot| 11.25.10 @ 8:47PM
opinions are like....well....you know the rest
Bob Grant| 11.24.10 @ 9:09AM
Prediction: In the next few months, you will witness an avalanche of conservatives and republicans stating on record that they will not support Sarah running for president.
I will become clear, hopefully sooner rather than later, that she will not have the necessary support from fellow conservatives.
Question to Sarah Supporters/Followers:
What will your next move be? to come together with otherwise like-minded people and support a candidate to take out Obama?
Expel "The Ruling Class"!| 11.24.10 @ 9:30AM
What will my next move be? To put my trust in GOD instead of politicians & try to do as He would have me do. Life is more than politics Bob. Sarah Palin not running for President is not the end of the world and anyone who believes any of the "ruling class" candidates are really going to change much are deluding themselves. GOD is the last hope this nation has. When will the nation realize this? Hopefully before it is too late. I'm sure this isn't the answer you would like to hear, but trusting politicians today is like letting the fox guard the hen house. Foolish.
Bob Grant| 11.24.10 @ 9:36AM
"I'm sure this isn't the answer you would like to hear, but trusting politicians today is like letting the fox guard the hen house. Foolish."
Indeed. And you would include Sarah in that list of politicians - No?
vitadMD| 11.24.10 @ 10:28AM
We can all play this game, oh great prognosticator:
You will soon witness in every state huge crowds of people coming to see and hear Gov. Palin rally, campaign, and fund-raise, in numbers never seen before while interest in other candidates will consist of a yawn.
It will become clear, sooner rather than later, that Republicans will have no choice other than Gov. Palin, that she will have the necessary support, not only from fellow conservatives, but from Reagan Democrats and Independents.
What will your next move be?... come together to take out Obama, or vote in the Marxist to continue the disaster for four more years?
Bob Grant| 11.24.10 @ 11:05AM
The avalanche begins:
UPDATE: In answering a question a question by a late night talk show host if Sarah "...can do it..." (can she run), Gov. Christie rolled his eyes and stated "...it's an amazing world..."
Come on folks, we're smart people here. We know what that meant.
Expect the avalanche to gain steam.
Dai Alanye | 11.24.10 @ 2:30PM
Conservatives are all excited about Christie at present, just as we were all excited about Scott Brown a few months back. But as time goes by we'll realize that Christie, too, is only a part-time conservative who shares many of the views of East Coast Republicans.
These people are in the tradition of those who opposed the first Bob Taft (aka Mister Republican), and preferred Thomas Dewey. They opposed Barry Goldwater, preferring Nelson Rockefeller. They opposed Ron Reagan, managing to get Gerry Ford nominated in 1976.
Later, of course, Reagan turned out to be a big-time winner, and now is loved by all. Some of his ideas are too much for them, but the East Coasters are fully diligent in paying him lip service.
Should we accept Brown and Christie? Sure, because half a loaf is better than none, and they have many strong qualities we can honor. But should we follow their lead in every respect---take their advice with regard to other candidates?
Don't be ridiculous.
Bo| 11.24.10 @ 10:34AM
Perhaps Sarah should do as the elite Republicans recommendedin AK and pull a "murcowski" and run as an Independent (vice write-in).
Tim the Enchanter| 11.24.10 @ 4:09PM
Bo- I think it's spelled "Morecokeski"
Anthony| 11.24.10 @ 12:00PM
Question to you Bob Grant and Ed White: What will you weak kneed Rs do if Sarah kicks butt and takes America by storm?
Will you join the ranks of the sniviling elites on the left and the "bluebloods" on the right, like Mrs. Bush and Kathleen Parker?
Yes, we have other conservative candidates that we will support, but where will YOU be if Palin takes the brass ring?
We know the answer,best you leave us now, we don't need you.
P.S. What IS It with you people who can't stomach some genuine decency and common sense?
Bob Grant| 11.24.10 @ 12:17PM
Simple. I would vote for my golden retriever before voting for Obama.
Of course I would vote for Sarah in the general.
I've held my nose and voted many times.
She hasn't earned my vote in the primary. Her actions after quitting the governorship show an incredible lack of judgment (her family's bank account notwithstanding) for an aspiring presidential nominee.
Here's why:
After each countless gaffes that are sure to come on the campaign trail that display her lack of knowledge on various topics, the indictment (and rightfully so) will be that she didn't do her homework when she had the chance; she was too busy acquiring wealth for herself and her family.
Tom| 11.24.10 @ 2:02PM
Bob,
Turn around on your question: What if Palin becomes the nominee, will you and those conservatives not enamored with Palin support her in her attempt to take out Palin.
I like Sarah, she gets it. But I do think the country and the Republican party can find a better nominee.
Tom| 11.24.10 @ 2:02PM
I meant Palin take out Obama.
Bob Grant| 11.24.10 @ 2:51PM
Sarah over Obama.
Don Kosloff| 11.25.10 @ 10:54AM
How big is an avalanche? But, wait, an avalanche is a mindless progression that begins with no iniating thought.
Bob Grant| 11.26.10 @ 3:55PM
The enormity of the avalanche will not be known until it comes to a stop. We are in the beginning stages, e.g. Christie, Bushes', etc.
Petronius| 11.24.10 @ 9:12AM
For too long, the big money and grayest of empty suits decided who gets nominated to run for President on the Republican side. Phil Gramm could have handed Bill Clinton his head but the blue bloods shoved Dole down our throats. His mediocre campaign did little more than remind people of the neighborhood grouch who wouldn't return any ball that crossed his fence. The GOP has always been a club where the Palins are unwelcome and the closest her supporters could get to being inside was parking the toff's Caddys.
Things are different now. And if the blue blood snobs continue to believe that their wealth is sufficient to keep the Obamanoids from ruining the lives of their families, they are way passed mistaken. If we do not reverse course, jettison the harmful liberal social engineering which does nothing but subsidize the deficiencies of our ignorant, indolent, incompetent populace, sclerotic policies and procedures will choke off what productivity remains in our markets and we will all sit around staring and starving for what we once had.
Sarah Palin may make a good cabinet officer; say, Secretary of the Interior. She's exactly the person to clout the ecoweenies with a rolled newspaper.
This country is finished unless and until liberalism is crushed. If the next Republican nominee for the office of President has no stomach for fighting and defeating these traitors and parasites our prosperity will never return, leaving us doomed to serfdom. Both the establishment Republicans and Democrats are joined at the hip in their desire for that. It's why they despise Sarah Palin. If Real Conservatives have no place to go on election day 2012, the United States will become Greece and ruin will follow.
Stephen Browne | 11.24.10 @ 9:34AM
I'm a Sarah Palin fan and find the campaign to slime her despicable, whether by looney left or snobby right.
(And BTW, isn't boosting you own state supposed to be what governors, even former governors, do?)
However - it seems to me that Palin's talents would at present better serve as chairman of the RNC. She did a pretty good job of cleaning out the corrupt old boy Republican network in Alaska, and as a bonus would give the "traditional Republicans" apoplexy. (See blog post for the extended argument.)
For President in these dangerous times, John Bolton.
Sue| 11.26.10 @ 11:04AM
I , too, think "John Bolton." The elites would not have it though.
Ted R.| 11.24.10 @ 9:48AM
You're going to be in for bitter disappointment, in the coming years. Palin of course does not have a chance at the nomination - there are just not enough know-nothing rubes in the GOP to put her over the top. But she will spark a inter-party fight that will weaken whatever middling candidate you eventually select.
Reagan conservatism has failed the country. A turn to higher taxes and greater income distribution is the only way out of the current mess. Real liberalism hasn't guided our public policy choices for more than 40 years, now. You Cons have had your time in the saddle, and you've failed. Now it's our turn, despite what you think relevance was of the mid-terms.
cats1cowboy| 11.24.10 @ 10:32AM
The Rebublicans will NOT take control of the House.
Scott Brown will NOT win.
If you are, truly, clairvoyant send me winning lottery numbers for tomorrow's drawing.
JeffW| 11.24.10 @ 10:38AM
Regan conservatism has failed? Higher taxes and greater income distribution is the only way out?
Is it time for your meds again already? You keep telling yourself these things while lookin in the mirror if it helps you sleep at night. I think Liberals need to start a support group. Group therapy might be in order.
Tim the Enchanter| 11.24.10 @ 4:19PM
Ted: there's so much to say to you, but in the spirit of the holiday I absolutely refuse to pick on an unarmed man. I can only feel pity for someone as clueless and ignorant as yourself.
Alaskan| 11.27.10 @ 8:19PM
Don't waste your time responding to Ted. He is a commie zombie,doesn't work, and repeats the Keith Oberman points.
John Navratil| 11.28.10 @ 7:46PM
You again? Once again, not a fact on display!
LarryK| 11.24.10 @ 10:02AM
Sarah Palin was my preference for VP in 2008 long before she was announced. She was obviously accomplished, tough, charismatic, and had more integrity than 99% of the politicians out there (has anyone else built their political reputation by fighting corruption in their own party?). I also thought she was a net positive for the ticket in 2008, even though she had a few obvious missteps.
I also understood her reasons for quitting her job as Governor. Her stated rationale actually made sense - she had accomplished a fair bit in a short time, but the State's political environment had poisoned by the Presidential campaign. She knew her time and efforts could be spent better elsewhere - a very shrewd, out-of-the-box judgment that baffled the establishment, but showed real creativity and an understanding of how best to respond to changing circumstances (always important in a political leader).
I also agree that she understands how to use the new media better than anyone - including reality TV. She is finding ways to deepen the connection with her supporters and build her 'brand' that continue to confound the old guard, who have a hard time getting used to these rapidly changing times.
In spite of all that, my opinion of her as a potential President has fallen considerably in the last year and a half. Somewhat paradoxically, her real strength - knowing how to capitalize immediately on the circumstances of the moment, using direct social media - is not really suited for being President. Presidents have to take the long view, and then know how to chart a course through the obstacles they will face on the road to turning that vision into a reality. The 'long view' now is how best to pare down and reform our government so that it is both leaner and meaner i.e. can actually deliver the services that Americans expect from our govt. Sarah Palin hasn't demonstrated any real leadership on this critical issue, certainly not compared to people like Paul Ryan, Pence or Daniels from IN, Christie from NJ or Jindal in LA. There are too many other truly formidable politicians out there who have thought more deeply about transforming our govt., and therefore have a stronger foundation when it comes time to choosing the right tactics to realize this long-term strategy.
Palin still has an important role to play, on the purely political (as opposed to policy) stage. She would be a tremendous asset in increasing turnout for whoever the GOP candidate is in 2012 - but I hope it's not her.
Bob Grant| 11.24.10 @ 10:09AM
Larry,
A very thoughtful explanation of why you don't believe Sarah is suited for president.
I completely agree with you assessment of her.
Unfortunately, your thoughtful statements won't prevent you from being attached on this site. Expect to be called RINO, elite, crypto-liberal republican or another sleazy tag of some sort.
LarryK| 11.24.10 @ 10:27AM
Well pile on then...I've heard worse. Thanks for the positive feedback BTW.
JeffW| 11.24.10 @ 10:46AM
I think Sara may be more effective for the conservative movement as a "King Maker", sort of the Conservative Karl Rove. However, I also think she would make a good President. She has most of the qualities we need, is working on the others and as for the social media, isn't that one of the methods the Obama Team used to beat the Republicans? The Republican party is behind the times when it comes to the alternative media. Like it or not it is a very effective media in these times. Part of Obama's success in running was their ability to give him "Star" status to the young voters. Could Sarah be attempting to nullify that advantage by becoming more visible and buildin up her status? Whatever she decided to do, be it "King Maker", Political mover or even Presidential canidate she has been a moving force for Conservatism and I will support her. Tactics are only a part of winning a war. You also have to have drive and heart. She has a abundance of both.
Finbarr Moran| 11.24.10 @ 1:52PM
You left out "anal pore" (or one it's variations) as the perfect description of you and yours.
Now quit playing what RET calls masked politics and go back to the HuffPo where you belong
vitadMD| 11.24.10 @ 10:43AM
Mr. Kudlow, you don't sound like yourself after the third paragraph.
Joe Oliva| 11.24.10 @ 11:30AM
LarryK,
I think you are one of those folks who just doesn't get it. Your fellow supporter below, Bob Grant doesn't either, but that is of no import.
Sarah Palin rose up the ranks in Alaska and took on the "old boy" network, beat them up, and sent them home crying. There isn't another politician in the country who did this.
As for Christie, he is off to a good start, so let's give him two years and see what he does. That would go for Jindal as well. These new governors need to prove themselves. Palin already has done so. Having Christie, Jindal, and Perry as governors gives us the clout we need as power devolves back to the states as the 10th intends and as Mrs. Palin will do.
As for Ryan or Pence, we need some brains in the House and these guys are the ones to lead there. The power of the purse is there, and since Sarah Palin will begin to reduce the over reaching power of the Imperial Presidency, it will be of great value to have principled folks like them as reps.
LarryK| 11.24.10 @ 12:16PM
Joe O - I definitely get it and understand how Palin rose to power - see my point about how she made her reputation fighting corruption in her own party, and how I'm not aware any other politician anywhere who's done that.
That's impressive, but not enough to be President. Presidential leadership means outlining very clearly what you want to do if/when you are elected, and have the political deftness to translate your agenda into legislation. I think Palin falls short on both counts - she knows how to fire up the public better than anyone, which is important, but only a small part of the job. I think everyone I mentioned (as well as others) will ultimately be more effective in promoting the values and reforms that both of us would like to see than Palin.
Dai Alanye | 11.24.10 @ 2:47PM
"Presidential leadership means outlining very clearly what you want to do if/when you are elected... Palin falls short on both counts"
Gee, I must have missed something. Of all the potential Repub candidates presently mentioned I don't recall hearing "The Department of Education must be closed" or "I will recognize an Iranian government in exile as the first step in overthrowing the mullahs" or "Membership in neither the UN nor NATO is presently serving the interests of the United States."
I would suggest to you that Sarah is being every bit as specific as Newt Romney or Tim Huckabee at this point.
Joe Oliva| 11.24.10 @ 2:58PM
Well Larry,
I don't see how the fact that she ousted the good old boys and clobbered the Oil & Gas bigwigs isn't getting an agenda accomplished.
As to outlining every detail of her plans, could you show me which politician ever did any such thing while in campaign mode? We know what her philosophy is: conservative, small government, low taxes, smart defense. I am willing to trust her to do that.
Now I don't say "trust her" lightly because I don't have much faith in any politician. She however , comes closest to what I hope for and I certainly will support her over the next-in-line establishment guy that the elites want to push on us, i.e. Romney.
How long have we been saying that if you want Dem-Lite, forget the GOP and vote Democrat. The reformation of the Republican party has begun, and it either changes for real this time or the Tea Party does something else.
The games are over!
Minuteman| 11.25.10 @ 8:30PM
You said: "her real strength - knowing how to capitalize immediately on the circumstances of the moment, using direct social media - is not really suited for being President. Presidents have to take the long view, and then know how to chart a course through the obstacles they will face on the road to turning that vision into a reality."
Two points:
1. She is not President, so she is using her strengths for the situation she is in now.
2. In this she has shown excellent judgement about the objectives she must take on, and her largest role has been to stand against the excesses of the progressive agenda (example, pointing out the death panels in Obabmacare on Facebook).
She has been and is being dogged by the ruling class in all of its manifestations and she is fighting them off with whatever weapons she has in reach. Thus far she has not been relegated a non-entity as Dan Quayle was when he spoke up for traditional values. My affection for her does not negate my affinity for the others you mention (I am particularly impressed with Jindal, Ryan is a serious man who understands where we are and the way out, and Christie allways serves up juicy fiscal red meat) but if and once Sarah is no longer a threat to the ruling class you will see the crosshairs shift one by one to the others on your list so they can also be personalized, polarized and destroyed in true Alinsky fashion.
As they say on the street, "Don't hate the Player, hate the Game."
Alan R| 11.24.10 @ 10:16AM
The true test of intelligence is not whether snotty Harvard faculty loungers pat you on the head for fitting in with their failed ruling class attitudes, or whether insecure, failed, empty-suit blue-blood RINOs faint when you use the wrong fork. True intelligence is grasping the principles that rule the world and human nature, and fashioning successful real-world policy results around it. That's what the Founders did. That’s what Ronald Reagan did. That’s what Sarah Palin did: a woman with no backing from the Old Boys Club or Blue Bloods or Big Money or the Leftist Ruling Class, used nothing but her own smarts to take on the establishment and craft policies to make the best of our private market and public government institutions.
Idiot RINOs join the image-rape of Sarah Palin and her family out of pure selfishness, not realizing that the socialists so fear Palin precisely because she has demonstrated the powerful intelligence necessary to thwart them, and precisely because she is a real leader of the people (unlike their Obama fakes).
If the snotty blue-blood RINOs were at all the gentlemen they claim to be (like an Adams or a Washington) they would, regardless of disagreement with Palin policies, be outraged over the personal attacks and verbal rape of the Palin family and demand the facist bullies stop. But they are not conservatives, nor true Republicans, and certainly not gentlemen; they are cowards who are so whipped that they cower the minute their wives or lefty cocktail friends sneer at super-successful intelligence expressed with a twang.
carnot| 11.25.10 @ 9:06PM
there is no polite way to put this...sooooo.....you are full of xxxx. what is becoming more telling is the hyper sensitivity and crass stupidity of her most ardent supporters. the best course to follow is to ignore the calumnies, explain her strengths and note that all will become clear in time as she explains who she is, what her vision is..and how she intends to execute that vision.
there are not enough Conservatives to win on that card alone. if replacing Obama really matters to you..than back your candidate and resist the temptation to disparage those YOU WILL NEED....IN THE END.....TO MAN THE LINE WITH YOU.
Paul from SA| 11.24.10 @ 10:21AM
Mona Charen lost all her credibility writing one revealing article -- the revelation that she is detached from real Americans. It's sad so many prominent Republicans attack her without cause and are making up stuff about her to make her look bad.
vitadMD| 11.24.10 @ 10:40AM
Mona Charen lost her credibility in one fell swoop with that article but not for detachment or even group think. It was because of intellectual dishonesty.
Joe Oliva| 11.24.10 @ 11:33AM
Mona Charen has been a RINO phony for a long time before this. Someone above just said she is of the Kathleen Parker type. Exactly!
Stephanie| 11.24.10 @ 3:51PM
What the heck is she doing on NRO then?
Tim the Enchanter| 11.24.10 @ 4:23PM
Inertia, perhaps? Just guessing.
Bob Grant| 11.24.10 @ 4:53PM
And her crime?
She just gave her opinion - albeit snarky - and is now labled RINO.
Is that how this works moving forward?
carnot| 11.25.10 @ 9:08PM
bingo!!!! there is every evidence of a certain Obama-like intolerance here. fascinating.
Caped Crusader| 11.24.10 @ 10:23AM
Jealousy has no bounds and exists in cosmic qualities in those so called leaders who despise the fact that she is the only candidate that can draw a 50,000 person crowd on short notice and for no other reason than to see her speak. The most magnetic political figure in our lifetime and who says Reagan was not polarizing. Nothing wrong with that if your pole is top heavy with support. I am sick to death of Ivy League no nothing snobs who have created this mess because they "know better" the the common people with common sense and experience in the real world. As a graduate of both an elite and a state school, I found the state schools grads smarter in real world knowledge than the elites who have never had to struggle for anything in the real world. It is time for the snobs to vote for whomever they choose. I'll take the far greater votes of those from more humble schools any day, for there are millions more and have been disenfranchised. It is time to awaken and put an end to this.
owyheewine| 11.24.10 @ 10:42AM
Sarah Palin is the embodiment of the Country Class. That makes her unacceptable to the Ruling Class and all of their fellow travelers.
Those of us who really believe that individuals are better at running their lives than bureaucratic and legislative clowns believe that we need a major break from the old orthadoxy of the ruling political class.
Who better than Sarah Palin to lead the way?
carnot| 11.25.10 @ 9:10PM
Joe the Plumber
Ken (Old Texican)| 11.24.10 @ 11:00AM
Larry,
I understand your discomfort with Sarah.
She is just too much fun to watch and listen to.
She simply says...out loud...what many of us think and believe in.
(Bob Grant is the perrenial whiner. Most of us have gotten used to it.)
A few weeks ago on National Review, a columnist took my idea and ran with it. Sarah should announce NOT for the presidency, but rather announce her TEAM...for the Whitehouse.
As CEO of two fortune sized companies, I can assure you...my staff made it happen. My team...made hugundus success happen...over a twenty plus year period.
I just sorta invented the book "In Search of Excellence". I was interviewed endlessly as the youngest, (non nepotism), fortune CEO in history.
This truly brilliant young woman interviewed me first. Her first question to me was..."Do you practice MBO?"
I told her ...maybe...but what was MBO?
(Management by Objective).
I asked her to define that . (It was the buzz word of the day.)
She did.
I told her simply..."no".
Then I grabbed my desk pen and scribbled some notes...then made some acronyms from the notes.
Finally...
I told her I mainly managed by: MBBN
...and MBWA.
MBBN = "Management By Benevolent Neglect"
ie: find and recruit the best in their field...and leave them the hell alone, whether an engineer or a receptionist.
MBWA ="Management By Wandering Around", (among the troops world wide...armpits of the world...... wide).
I did "wander" (well over 50 thousand miles per year), to thank the troops for jobs splendidly done, and to ask them how I could support them better.
Heh...they embarrassed me often. They would not have it that I would not try to doodle dirt on a D-9 Caterpillar. (a disgrace, heh), or handle a hydrolic crane, (a disaster), or weld a seam on the Siberian pipeline, (too embarrassing to even talk about), or whatever.
One thing:
When the teams came home, our whole company dropped everything to have a party and congratulate them...and probably drink too much good Scot's whiskey.
Other than the Scot's whiskey, I believe Sarah is that American CEO.
Happy Thanksgiving, folks.
There is a current TV show that gives me endless chuckles: "Under cover Boss".
I showed up on EVERY world girdling project...not under cover
WisGirl2010| 11.24.10 @ 11:16AM
Ken (Old Texian) - Well said! I think Sarah is already working on that team..........and in the near future we will start hearing their names.
wodiej| 11.24.10 @ 11:36AM
Now that is a really good idea for her to name her team. Wow....excellent. You need to pass that on.
Joe| 11.24.10 @ 2:25PM
The word is hydraulic. I am assuming you meant humungous since hugundus ia not a word in any human language.
Frankly, I doubt you were ever the CEO of anything let alone the CEO of a 'fortune sized' company. Pray tell, give us your name. I happen to own the book "In Search of Excellence" and would love to know what pearls of wisdom you contributed.
Bob Grant| 11.24.10 @ 3:04PM
Quit whining. Heh, Heh.
Ken (Old Texican)| 11.24.10 @ 7:48PM
Joe,
hi. I am so well known that I carry my six-gun on my hip 24-7. My newest novel will probably get me killed. ( www.texassaidno.com )
There are several posters here who could vouch for my background. I have come to trust their discretion over the years and given them my name.
Also, the editors and authors here have demonstrated the same discretion. (Thanks guys).
hugundous...is similar to gazillion...both mean "a lot".
When you write even one #1 bestseller...get back to me.
Bob Grant| 11.24.10 @ 7:59PM
A couple of more hints Ken? Or is that asking too much from a whiner?
Ken| 11.24.10 @ 9:14PM
Ken,
I've written 5 times as many #1 bestsellers than you have.
jp| 11.29.10 @ 5:49PM
As a very accomplished but undercover and top-secret mathematician whose teams were responsible for some of the most exciting and jaw-dropping insights into number theory over the last 97 years, let me assure you 5 * 0 = 0
Joe| 11.24.10 @ 9:18PM
A link to a self published pdf file? Sold through pay pal? Color me 'hugundously' impressed.
Ken (Old Texican)| 11.25.10 @ 8:45AM
Joe,
yeah, PDF to get it published before the election.
That was very important to me. I believe it energized some friends to pass the word and get some extra good votes.
Hopefully, soon it will be in Kindle format as well, but I shan't kill any trees until I complete the sequel.
Bob Grant| 11.24.10 @ 3:01PM
wodiej| 11.24.10 @ 11:34AM
Sarah said if she decides to run, she will not be doing it in a conventional way. I believe she already consults some prominent, successful people for advice. She is going to need all the help she can get along with solid prayer.
People can disagree with her views all day long. But when they spew hate, vulgarities, dishonest information and cruelty, it is a reflection on them. It's ugly and they've lost the argument.
It's a fact that Palin has a record of accomplishments as an executive. She's smart, she's sassy, she's resilient, she's energetic, she's humble and respectful. President...you betcha.
Bob Grant| 11.24.10 @ 3:10PM
Sassy yet humble. My heads spinning.
Eric| 11.24.10 @ 11:39AM
"Unfortunately, many people despise her for what she believes or what they think she believes"
That line says so much...
OLDRAY| 11.24.10 @ 11:48AM
Snobs like Edward White don't like "common people" (ie regular Americans). At 86 years old I've served with "regular" guys from all over . I've worked with "common" men and women of many types. I've employed American born and foreign born citizens of all catagories. Believe me, there is nothing "common" about them unless it is good common sense, uncommon loyalty and patriotism, reliable friendship. I'll take the likes of Sarah Palin and her family over any crew we've had in the White House in the last 65 years. Palin and Rubio can win and return this great country to it's true path.
Hobbes| 11.24.10 @ 11:58AM
Yeah, yeah, everyone's a RHINO unless they love Sarah Bimbo Palin. These commentators/pundits you mock aren't supposed to be Republicans anyway. They are supposed to conservatives. So you probably mean Conservatives in name only.
JP| 11.24.10 @ 12:10PM
Palin is no Reagan. Some people mistakenly believe Reagan's GE documentary show is akin to Palin's use of Facebook and Twitter. Not exactly. Reagan never allowed the "public" into his family life. His GE show was used to give himself name recognition, allow the public to see him as a serious man with serious thoughts. The late President guarded his real personality like it was Ft Knox. Even close confidants like Ed Meese and Michael Deaver said that he never "opened his real self up". He always had his "official face". Even his children complained that they never really got to know thier father. Palin is the opposite. Granted, Reagan was never put through the grinder that Palin went through. But, I think Palin made a serious mistake in how she presents herself to the public. On the one hand, she attempts to come off as a folksy, conservative, self sufficient mother. On the other hand, the constant soap family soap opera (Bristol and Levi) makes her look ridiculous to many people. Sometime during the last 18 months, Palin stopped being a politician and started being a celebrity. Perhaps in this day and age there isn't a difference. But to many voters this is a problem.
Look, I'm on Palin's side. I've been waiting for her to evolve and break away from the Folksy Mama Bear persona. This week's Quinapac Poll shows that 18% of GOP voters give her the nod. Mitt gets 19%. This is a problem.
I think Palin now understands reality. Her interview on the Hannity rado show indicates that she is looking for a way out. She knows that even if she gets the nomination, at least 35-40% of the GOP would not get behind her. That is, unless this nation is 1932 type of economic breakdown there is no way she can beat Obama.
Unfortunatley, the GOP field remains as weak as I ever remember it.
cuban pete| 11.24.10 @ 12:42PM
JP,
I think your analysis is correct.
Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving
Lawrence of Lutz| 11.24.10 @ 12:26PM
All this talk about Sarah.....bla.bla.bla...
If the Republican party does NOT produce a Conservative canadate this go round , a new party will emerge and the "country club" boys and girls will be left in the cold. The new party may not win and Obama may get a second term. If a RINO is chosen by the Republicans....Obama WILL win.
RacerJim| 11.24.10 @ 12:39PM
The reality is that Sarah Palin's approval number has constantly been going up while Barack Obama's has constantly been coming down, and right now the difference between them (for POTUS in 2012) is within polling margin of error.
The rest of the current GOP field (for POTUS in 2012) remains as boring and centrist as ever.
Al Adab| 11.24.10 @ 1:54PM
Having watched the show my only question is why anyone would trade that (now well financed) lifestyle for a thankless job in Washington? I'd be more than happy to go fishing and hunting in her stead.
08hayabusa | 11.24.10 @ 2:13PM
I find it amazing that there is only one potential presidential candidate for 2012 that is a true conservative and we have such a debate going on.
And lets not forget that this candidate has already been vetted more in the last two years than any candidate that came before them. If there was some dis-qualifier to find people, it would have been found by now.
So now the only real question is this. Can she handle the job? So in order to answer that question, we have to study what she has done in the past.
Here are some links to help you.
http://08hayabusa.blogspot.com.....eader.html
http://08hayabusa.blogspot.com.....nt-of.html
The choice is yours to make. Are you for the founding principals as laid out in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Or are you for the new Socialist America the Progressives and the R.I.N.O.s envision for us.
And by the way, there are many more links on the subject of Sarah Palin an my website. Just use the site search engine. And my site isn't the only one out there. There are thousands of articles at many other sites.
DRed| 11.24.10 @ 2:42PM
She couldn't handle being governor of Alaska.
08hayabusa | 11.24.10 @ 3:44PM
Read the link that I put out for you before you run mouth, otherwise you are a Troll.
DRed| 11.24.10 @ 3:55PM
I read your links. Bit light on your girl's accomplishments as governor, aren't they? Did you emulate Sarah and quit halfway through the job?
08hayabusa | 11.24.10 @ 4:26PM
Then you have answered the question. You are Troll. And your goal is to stop the exit of Barach Obama.
Palin magnanimously stepped down from the governorship to stop the distraction of her presence as Governor. And in so doing she stopped the frivolous lawsuits and freed up the paralyzed Executive branch of Alaska's government. Not to mention stopped the continuing mounting legal bills for Alaska, which at the time or her resignation had reached $2,000,000. Palin herself had legal bills in excess $500,000 because Alaskan law did not allow the legal bills of the Governor to be compensated.
And by the way, all the lawsuits have been dismissed.
So Troll. What say you?
DRed| 11.24.10 @ 4:52PM
It's Barack-kinda like Track.
08hayabusa | 11.24.10 @ 5:01PM
Well excuse me, but how does that add to the conversation of the issues at large. Typical Liberal, distract, obfuscate, and smear.
DRed| 11.24.10 @ 5:46PM
So what were her most significant accomplishments as governor before she quit to fly around on private jets, answer softball questions and star on a reality show?
Bob Grant| 11.25.10 @ 9:59AM
My two cents:
First, those lawsuits would have been dismissed had she remained as governor. Sure, maybe a few crackpots would have attempted to make governor Palin's life miserable but she could have continued governing the state unabated.
This is pure speculation on my part but the time period from the election of '08 to when she quit her governorship, she was advised on how to proceed with her career.
Two options:
* Serve the full term as governor, acquire the necessary gravitas,experience, and credibility. Delay any national political ambition until the necessary groundwork is developed.
Or, take the fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants approach:
*Strike while the iron is hot. Quit the governorship, take advantage of her popularity and dive headfirst into the lucrative world of mass market media. At the same time, become a movement leader (Tea Party), and, assuming the support is there, announce a run for president as an outsider, thereby justifying an unorthodox campaign approach.
Come on guys, I know you want to think everything she does is pure with only the best of intentions, but seriously, let's be adults about this. She IS a politician whose motives are not quite as simple as many of you want to believe.
She shouldn't be exempt from skepticism of the average voter.
08hayabusa | 11.27.10 @ 12:02AM
First, those lawsuits would have been dismissed had she remained as governor. Sure, maybe a few crackpots would have attempted to make governor Palin's life miserable but she could have continued governing the state unabated.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
There's only one problem with this line of thought. These were not just crackpots. It was a coordinated effort to destroy the Palin's.
The lawsuits were being filed weekly. 25 at the time of her resignation and two after she resigned.
It was estimated that had she stayed in office it could have cost the states as much as $10,000,000 and her personally between $1.5 to $2.0 million. And lets not forget her administration was completely paralyzed and unable to do the states work.
And the cost to the perpetrators $0.
Their goal in their own words on talk radio was to destroy the Palin family.
Had she stayed, that's exactly what would have happened.
08hayabusa | 11.24.10 @ 4:42PM
This site will only let you post two links on one post, so that is why only two links. As I said earlier search my site for many other pertinent articles. But here are two more.
http://08hayabusa.blogspot.com.....ircle.html
http://08hayabusa.blogspot.com.....lican.html
DRed| 11.24.10 @ 4:58PM
You could just link to the NY Times artice directly. Or do you not admit you read the lamestream media?
08hayabusa | 11.24.10 @ 5:10PM
Every article I post is linked directly to the source at the bottom of the article.
But when I search for an article it is in the post editor with the link to my blog, and this is the reason for the blog so I have a copy of an article I've read and want to reference.
Bob Grant| 11.24.10 @ 2:43PM
Wow. Ssssooo if I don't support Sarah, I don't support founding principles but support the "new Socialist America"
Yikes.
Sounds eerily similar to "...if you don't support Obama, you are a racist..."
08hayabusa | 11.24.10 @ 3:49PM
All of the other candidates are for the most R.I.N.O.'s. or at the very least unelectable. So you tell me are you Troll or conservative?
Bob Grant| 11.24.10 @ 4:55PM
Conservative against Palin winning the primary.
08hayabusa | 11.24.10 @ 5:27PM
Good luck with that if she decides to run.
But you could cause her to lose the general election, which would be bad for the country.
So I suggest we all get on board and support her, because she is definitely a conservative and she loves America.
carnot| 11.25.10 @ 9:22PM
gee whizz...not until we have actually had primaries and a suite of candidates to judge 08.....let her EARN it just like any other candidate
Turnditch| 11.24.10 @ 2:41PM
Sarah Palin will be just fine whichever path she and her family decides to take.
Sometimes I think it really doesn't matter who the Republican party gets behind in 2012. The GOP could probably choose some unknown rural county commissioner (ala Hank Kimball) and landslide Obama. And if that candidate happens to be Sarah Palin, she'll get my vote. I, like many Americans, have had all of Hope & Change that I can stomach...
Vic| 11.25.10 @ 9:44PM
I second that motion. I don't care if they nominate Micky Mouse!
Jim Wilson | 11.24.10 @ 2:50PM
I admit that I too found the whole reality show thing just awful, but my youngest sister set me straight. I detest 'reality tv' because it's actually the most fake form of television that exists. But by avoiding anything with that title I've apparently missed some things that were actually real, or near-real at any rate, and this might be one of them. I would've called Palin's nomination a given before this show came about, and it didn't particularly please me, but after I first heard about it I reckoned she was done. Now I'm rethinking the whole thing, because she really is taking a novel approach. Mrs. Clinton was the first woman with a decent shot at becoming president, but her approach was more 'it's my turn' than anything else. She had that much in common with McCain. Palin may not get the nomination, but I have to give her credit for giving it a shot in a way I would never have considered. I suppose it's galling to find I don't recognize 'outside the box' thinking as quickly as I should; but at least I'm still open-minded enough to listen to a sister who is 15 years younger than I am and admit that I was schooled.
Bob Grant| 11.24.10 @ 2:57PM
There is a difference between Outside the Box and Off the Rails.
08hayabusa | 11.24.10 @ 3:54PM
Ronald Reagan was outside the box and he prevailed. As far as off the rails, you're the only one here off the rails.
carol| 11.24.10 @ 2:52PM
read the ruling class and sarah Palin is a breath
I hope she continues to educate the ignorant about the values our country used to value (one's sexual preferences aren't values) and that has become a bit boring actually.
I am looking forward to having those 5 million see what the FUTURE OIL FIELDS LOOK LIKE
Roger "Billy Carter" Clinton| 11.24.10 @ 3:10PM
I too, like Ed, do not like cheesy and vulgar families. *
*I speak also for Barack Obama, Sr. and his bevy of wives and children.
Bob Grant| 11.24.10 @ 3:13PM
Bob Grant| 11.24.10 @ 3:14PM
fundamentalist| 11.24.10 @ 3:47PM
The Republican elite are doing a great job of portraying themselves as rich snobs with their attacks on the Tea Party and Sarah Palin. Though I don't agree with many of Palin's policies, I find the snobs at the top of the Republican country club disgusting. I'll certainly not vote for any of them. The Republican elite will guarantee Obama's victory in two years by alienating Tea Partiers and Palin Partiers.
Ray| 11.24.10 @ 3:59PM
"Cheesy entertainment, " got to love that description! To (badly) paraphrase a well known saying: One Man's Cheese is another Man's Bacon.
In other words, "tastes" are subjective.
Hobbes| 11.24.10 @ 4:15PM
What did she say this morning on Beck? We gotta stick with our NORTH Korean allies. You betcha.
What a friggin moron.
08hayabusa | 11.24.10 @ 4:55PM
You're the friggin moron. You lefty's sure like to take a corrected slip of the tongue and twist it into something completely out of context.
Where's your friggin moral outrage over the Presidents pronunciation of "corpseman." Which wasn't even corrected, not once but twice.
How in the heck does the Commander in Chief not even know what a corpsman is?
JeffW| 11.24.10 @ 5:07PM
Or 57 states for that matter.
Bob Grant| 11.24.10 @ 4:58PM
Eh. Cut Sarah some slack. Obviously her master plan is to learn as she goes. This is how she/will roll(s).
DRed| 11.24.10 @ 5:59PM
The thing is, she flubs stuff in every interview she gives. The North Korea thing is probably just a harmless slip of the tongue, but her larger answer is typically incoherent:
Palin: Well, North Korea, this is stemming from a greater problem, when we're all sitting around asking, 'Oh no, what are we going to do,' and we're not having a lot of faith that the White House is going to come out with a strong enough policy to sanction what it is that North Korea is going to do. So this speaks to a bigger picture that certainly scares me in terms of our national security policy. But obviously, we've got to stand with our North Korean allies – we're bound to by treaty....
CO-HOST: South Korean.
PALIN: Eh, Yeah. And we’re also bound by prudence to stand with our South Korean allies, yes.
What does it mean to be bound by prudence? Sanction what it is that North Korea is going to do? She sounds like a 12 year old who didn't read her homework assignment whenver she tries to answer a serious question. And this is on the Glennbeck show. What's she going to do when she sits down with someone who isn't a fawning admirer? There's a reason she hides from the non-Fox media.
Bob Grant| 11.24.10 @ 6:20PM
Eh. North/South, small detail :-/
Good thing Beck didn't ask about the 38th parallel. Sarah might have thought he was asking questions about driving school.
And, no, that wasn't a crack about her intelligence, just one about her unnecessarily popping off on issues she knows little about.
08hayabusa | 11.24.10 @ 6:28PM
One thing I've noticed about election cycles over the years, is that everyone expects a candidate to have perfect Presidential answers, when in reality no one can. Candidates are not privy to the information that a President is privy to.
Everyone has to grow into the President's job.
Candidates are privy to no more information than we the public are.
So what is your perfect answer?
What die she mean bound by Prudence?
1. having good sense: having good sense in dealing with practical matters
2. carefully considering consequences: using good judgment to consider likely consequences and act accordingly
Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
DRed| 11.24.10 @ 6:43PM
To me, the bound by prudence sentence is where you can see Sarah struggling to remember what her script said she was supposed to say. She knows we're bound by something, but she's flustered that she's got her Koreas all akimbo and she can't quite get it right.
And then when you get to it, her answer seems to be that we should stand with our South Korean ally. Which is what we're doing. So she's criticizing the Obama administration for doing what she says she would do. I know she's really busy shilling her book, her reality show, and getting her teen mom daughter on dancing with the stars, but if she wants to be taken seriously as a presidential candidate, she needs to at least sound like she knows what she's talking about.
08hayabusa | 11.25.10 @ 12:45PM
First off, Sarah doesn't speak to a script, and that is obvious to anyone that has ever listened to her. No teleprompter. She speaks extemporaneously.
Second, here's what she said: SARAH PALIN: Well, North Korea, this is stemming from I think a greater problem when we're all sitting around asking, "Oh, no, what are we going to do" and we're not having a lot of faith that the White House is going to come out with a strong enough policy to sanction what it is that North Korea's going to do. So this speaks to a bigger picture here that certainly scares me in terms of our national security policies. But obviously got to stand with our North Korean allies. We're bound to by treaty. We're also bound to by ‑‑
STU: South Korea.
SARAH PALIN: Yeah. And we're also bound by prudence to stand with our South Korean allies, yes. And, you know, to remind North Korea, well, we're not going to reward bad behavior and we're not going to walk away and we do need to press China to do more to increase pressure on that arena.
It sounds to me that she is encouraging Obama to do the right thing out of a fear from the last two years that he hasn't always treated our allies with the due respect and the support they deserve.
srucpa| 11.24.10 @ 4:55PM
Will all you Palin haters please tell me precisely what you do not like about her? Mostly I hear her voice is too high, or she is too family oriented, or she is "dumb". If you care to really truthfully answer, do any of her political beliefs conflict with yours, if so, what are they? I strongly support her political and value beliefs, regardless of the petty BS I keep reading about her. Too many people are falling for the tripe of the MSM.
Bob Grant| 11.24.10 @ 5:06PM
I'm right with her on what she stands for. There a many other more suited than her to run. Specifically, I have issues with HER and necessarily what she stands for. She's lacking in:
*Judgment
*Temperament
*Questionable motives
*Stubbornness
*Questionable desire to put in the grunt work to become and effective presidential candidate , for instance, immersion in policy detail.
08hayabusa | 11.24.10 @ 5:20PM
*Questionable desire to put in the grunt work to become an effective presidential candidate , for instance, immersion in policy detail?
Apparently you weren't watching the run up to the last election. Sarah was everywhere putting in the grunt work to get candidates elected.
And as far as policy detail, you haven't read her facebook postings have you?
http://www.facebook.com/sarahpalin?ref=ts#!/note.php?note_id=433315368434
http://www.facebook.com/sarahpalin?ref=ts#!/note.php?note_id=424674843434
JP| 11.24.10 @ 5:24PM
Yes, Palin has proven to be an outstanding operator. But if there were any losers in the mid-terms it was her 2012 presidential ambitions. Nevada was a disappointment, and Alaska was a disaster. Again, she cannot break and attract other groups. Big problem. Even she is now recognizing her problems. She will not run. But she could be a kingmaker, or at least a player.
08hayabusa | 11.24.10 @ 5:51PM
By your standards I guess she should have endorsed Lisa Murkowski in Alaska? Or Harry Reid in Nevada, seeing as she only endorsed Sharron Angle after she had won the primary.
Here's her endorsement success rate:
http://08hayabusa.blogspot.com.....te-71.html
JP| 11.24.10 @ 5:21PM
1)Her record as govenor is mixed at best. Her "reform" agenda" was more hype than anything else. She didn't make any significan mistakes. But, then again niether did Dukakis or Carter make any while govenor. It wasn't her fault that there weren't any crisis that she had to deal with. Yet, all one can say is that she was average to slightly above average govenor.
2)She talks a could game. But so do Mitt and the Huckster (I'm no fans of either, btw). Palin essientially has staked out the Religious Right/TeaParty wing of the GOP. Her problem is she cannot expand her base. And remember, back in 1976 Reagan had the exact same problem (he represented the Goldwater Wing of the GOP. But, in 3 years time he expanded it to include Midwestern farmers, and rural conservatives, Main St, and Wall St. No mean feat). Reagan used his personality to expand his base, and by 1979 he got Wall St, as well as the RINOs to gravitated to him (these were 2 groups that Bush41 had in his back pocket). Palin's personality even turns off rock solid conservatives. Palin cannot poll better than 25% with the GOP itself. And I seriously doubt that 75% of the GOP are RINOs.
3)Another problem are the Palin fans. They are obnoxious to a fault. These people have a serious crush on Palin and accuse her critics of apostasy. Her supporters are so in need of a "Fuhrer" that they've invest 100% of the affections and hopes in her (Something we conservatives did for Bush43 and later regretted).
Yes, the GOP field is weak, and if nothing changes Obama will surely win in 2012. But I don't think it would be wise to get behind the Palin bandwagon. There is more to governing than giving speeches, interview, and writing books.
Bob Grant| 11.24.10 @ 5:27PM
"Another problem are the Palin fans. They are obnoxious to a fault. These people have a serious crush on Palin and accuse her critics of apostasy."
Well said and I completely agree and, uh, you better duck and cover. Heh Heh
08hayabusa | 11.24.10 @ 6:40PM
And by the way, are you going to foolishly pull the Obama lever over the Palin lever in the general election just to prove a point?
08hayabusa | 11.24.10 @ 5:43PM
Here's an article by Rebecca Mansour, one of Palin's inner circle and speech writer.
http://08hayabusa.blogspot.com.....palin.html
And as far as just no mistakes as Governor, get real. Read the following.
http://08hayabusa.blogspot.com.....-real.html
Lisa| 11.24.10 @ 6:21PM
Obama and Palin actually have a few things in common: each is charismatic, articulate, and gave their children really weird names.
All kidding aside, when it comes to who I want taking that 3:00AM phone call, I'd go with the one who lead the high school basketball team to the state title while playing on a broken foot (Palin) than the one who couldn't break in as a reserve on the high school basketball team (Obama).
Bob Grant| 11.24.10 @ 6:28PM
A fellow wise ass :-)
kwinterkorn| 11.24.10 @ 6:32PM
The American people seem ready for another backwoods-type like Abraham Lincoln or Andrew Jackson, and most definitely not for another East coast establishment-type like a John Adams. This is a recurring theme in American History. We are witnessing it again.
Some of the comments of the Establishment about Andrew Jackson go far beyond anything yet thrown at Sarah Palin (but give them time). Palin clearly understands the backwoods thing and is working to resonate with it. The more the Frums and Parkers attack her, the stronger she gets.
I would rather Palin had another 8 to 12 years of seasoning, just as the Dems must now wish Obama had waited a few cycles. But who else can compete for the non-Easterner, backwoods theme of this cycle. Not Newt (though I like him), not Romney, not Huckabee (though he is part way there, but too much baggage), not Jindal (he is not charismatic). So who but Sarah Palin this time around?
08hayabusa | 11.24.10 @ 6:47PM
My sentiments exactly. But this I have discovered about her. She is a fast study and her career is marked with success and excellence.
carnot| 11.25.10 @ 9:35PM
so..let me get this straight: vote for Sarah if you really want Obama gone....but the core Palin voters will not do the same if their gal does not make the final cut
what kinda of double Janus crappola is that
Bob Grant| 11.26.10 @ 4:13PM
You got it!
Shawn McDonald| 11.24.10 @ 6:55PM
Today's Republican party has the "Bush" faction and the "Tea Party" or "Palin" faction. Both factions are more conservative than the "Rockefeller" and "Goldwater" factions of the past century. Both current factions love and admire Ronald Reagan’s legacy, vision and leadership.
I wish that the “Bush” faction would revere the “Never criticize fellow Republicans” that Ronald Reagan taught us. I believe that Christine O’Donnell and Sharon Angle would have won if the “Bush” faction in those states had supported the Republican nominee and voted.
The “Bush” faction need to remember that the conservatives voted for G.W., his father, Bob Dole and John McCain with pinched noses. Perhaps their compassion in “compassionate conservatism” is only reserved for everyone other than fellow republicans to the right of their own ideology?
I believe the a Gingrich/Palin ticket would unite and excite the party. I also believe that ticket is the only running mates that are true conservatives with the charisma and leadership that can beat any 2012 Democrat ticket.
JP| 11.24.10 @ 7:40PM
IMHO, Palin would be an outstanding RNC Chairmwoman. She has proven to be one of the best GOP cheerleaders since 1980. She can raise tons of money, and her political instincts (as far as recruiting new GOP pols) are far better than Steele and his predecessors. In this sense she could become the most powerful Republican in the country (there is nothing like having hundreds if not thousands of Republicans who owe thier careers to oneself). In this way she can harness her strengths and limit her weaknesses. Of course, there would be a bloodbath as old school RINOs realize that thier days are long gone.
Ken (Old Texican)| 11.24.10 @ 7:59PM
I would love for Sarah to be C in C.
...and President....with the veto pen.
carnot| 11.26.10 @ 8:43AM
spent a lot of time in the military have ya
Bob Grant| 11.26.10 @ 4:12PM
Buy his book to find out. Paypal accepted.
John DuBose| 11.24.10 @ 8:23PM
There is more to being president than being right.
You must also have the tempermanent to sit in the office yara after eyar and duke it out with bad actors, congress and your own whiney party.
Ron Paul is not that type
Ross Perot was not that type
Jesse Jackson was not that type.
I could go on and on
Neither is Sarah Palin.
TNCAPTUSNR| 11.24.10 @ 8:43PM
Can you envision Obama clubbing fish, climbing a rock wall, snow shoeing, hunting moose, shooting clay pigeons, riding snow mobiles etc. I'll take a gritty momma grizzly over a whining, metrosexual liberal any day whether it be in the field, on the bridge of a warship or in the oval office.
UpChuck.Liberals| 11.24.10 @ 9:00PM
I can't envision Barry O. doing anything close to real work. I do find the show a bit on the cheesy side but I'm guessing we're seeing a real person here, not some made up 'person'. I'll take real over fake anyday of the week.
Barry Goldwater, in your heart you know he's right!
CarolCumbie| 11.24.10 @ 9:00PM
Palin is getting the same crap that Reagan received they made fun of him but he had the last laugh,and did win. If it had not been for Palin there would be three parties now.She stood behind a lot of candidates that won. Even some like Scott who could not even say thank you. A lot of Palin fans gave to him but he forgot once he got in.
Romney played it safe and only spoke when he had a sure thing.
Why would Palin take the RNC chairman. They don't want her to run but want her to make money for them. No way. She has earned a chance. The left knew she had more of a record and Obama had none. The things they were bashing Bush for all of sudden.Obama so they attacked her personally but they went too far. We are sick of politicians lie and cheat and steal to get ahead. Look at Obama videos he has lied more than he told the truth. We want honest people.I have no doubt if Obama and Palin were in a debate Palin would win hands down. Obama can no debate. When he ran in Illinois he had others on the ballot taken off because he can't handle competition. One of the reason he hates America he can't handle if he don't win.
leveut| 11.24.10 @ 10:07PM
Does Palin actually know anything substantive about anything substantive?
Shouldn't we refrain from jumping to embrace people who don't know anything substantive about anything substantive?
Shouldn't we pick a President based on something other than a nice smile and charisma?
GBinPA| 11.24.10 @ 10:44PM
Does Obama know anything substantive about anything substantive? Oh how I long for the days when we had a real man (yes I mean W) in the White House!
hook| 11.24.10 @ 11:47PM
you mean someone like obama?
leveut| 11.25.10 @ 9:44PM
No, Obama doesn't know anything substantive about anything substantive.
Having had that experience, why would anyone want to repeat it, showing that he failed to learn from it?
I suppose Geo W was a real man, but his qualifications with respect to knowing anything substantive about anything substantive were also minimal. To the extent he "looked good", it was only in comparison to Algore, who seems to know something substantive about something substantive but what he knows is all wrong, or, Jungle John.
hook| 11.24.10 @ 11:46PM
Palin was written off after the election and after she quit the governorship because of all the frivolous lawsuit. I have never seen a politician more villified who wasn't president. It is snobbiness on the part of Charen and Brooks and that ilk, but on the part of the liberals...the idiot rude partisan Chris Matthews devotes large portions of shows to demeaning her. Actually Matthews is more understandable than Charen's ilk as Matthews fears she will win more than any other Republican. Palin wasn't youngest and most popular governor in the country because she looks cute in blue jeans I can assure you.
For a politician she is awfully principled. The left wants someone like Romney who is a rino and really kind of an Obama -lite. The very fact that they fear Palin should be a reason for Charen, Brooks and that crowd to like her. For Godsake we need a winner!!!!
Obama was way less qualified than she is (she has actually run things successfully) and the media swoons over this incompetent to this day.
Hook
Osamas Pajamas| 11.25.10 @ 12:21AM
The Democrats and more than a few establishment Republicans have made an industry of smearing Palin ---- and most of them supported and support that airhead schmuck in the White House!
Osamas Pajamas| 11.25.10 @ 12:22AM
The Democrats have this "enemies list" --- denominated in epithets aimed at the people whose wallets they wish to hijack and take up residence inside. You can be a “Racist!” and you can be a “Homophobe!” and you can be a “Teabagger!” --- a homosexual man taking his partner’s scrotum into his mouth. You can be “Selfish!” and you can be a “Wacko!” and you can be a “Hick!” and you can be a “Rube!” You can be a “Right-wing-nut!” and you can be “Mentally Ill” and you can be a “Warmonger!” and you can be "Unenlightened!" and you can be a “FatCat!” and you can be a “Fascist!” --- although no one more closely approaches the precise description of “Fascist!” than the usual Demo propagandist --- either official, or self-appointed.
So all you have to do to occupy multiple epithets on the Demos’ enemies list is to insist that they take their hands off yourself, off your wallet, off your property, off your kids, off your diet, off your healthcare, off your household appliances, off your car, off your bank account, off your weapons of self-defense, off your liberty, and off your freedom of speech. Insist on all these good things - and that qualifies you to be spat upon by nasty, mean-spirited scum --- by The Friends of All Mankind --- by a gang of lying, thieving, dope-smoking, pill-popping, coke-snorting, sticky-fingered, bloodsxcking, tax-eating, gun-stealing, predatory humanitarian thugs --- by the Democrat party, in other words. No political party in the history of America more profoundly deserves absolute and outright destruction.
Osamas Pajamas| 11.25.10 @ 12:22AM
OhBummer is a b00b and a fool for attacking the American Tea Partiers. He is annoyed that they’re not grateful to him for hijacking the American healthcare system --- the greatest act of vandalism perpetrated upon the American people since a gang of jihadi frootloops and loonytoons hijacked some planes and crashed them into the World Trade Center towers, and the Pentagon, and made a failed attempt to crash into the White House and instead drilled a hole in a Pennsylvania farm thanks to some very courageous American passengers.
And --- now widely seen for what he is --- the president presents a problem for the Democrat-captured media. They pump out his propaganda for him --- and, like the opinion monitors in Ayn Rand’s novel, “Atlas Shrugged” --- they are dodging brickbats and rotten vegetables.
He’s pompous, pampered, and pretentious --- a pseudo-intellectual fop. He’s a glorified, smooth-lyin’ dandy, and slicker than Sick Willie Clinton. He’s a dictator-on-the-make, a bloodsxcking, predatory humanitarian thug, and a low-down skunk.
He’s a fraud and a swindler. He lies when he inhales and he lies when he exhales; his oxygen is the falsification of reality. He lies, placidly and laconically, as if deception were a soporific drug.
He’s a friend of the poor and the downtrodden --- indeed, you can hear the milk of human kindness sloshing around inside of him when he walks.
He declares himself the post-racial leader --- “Let me be clear!” he intones --- and he hides behind his race, daring his critics to put their reputation for fairness at risk.
He pauses to ponder the portent of his propaganda --- and it is fakery; he smiles and his mendacity comes shining through. Shake hands with Barak Hushpuppy OhBummer --- “The Mistake of ‘08” --- the illegal alien squatter in the White House --- and America’s first and last Arab president. Now count your fingers.
08hayabusa | 11.25.10 @ 1:01PM
You have a way with words that makes me lol.
Osamas Pajamas| 11.25.10 @ 12:23AM
SAM ADAMS IS MORE THAN JUST A GREAT YANKEE BEER!
TAX HATER SAMUEL ADAMS, ON A ROLL AND ARMED TO THE TEETH, AUGUST, 1776……
"You darkeners of counsel, who would make the property, lives and religion of millions depend on the evasive interpretations of musty parchments; who would send us to antiquated charters of uncertain and contradictory meaning, to prove that the present generation are not bound to be victims to cruel and unforgiving despotism, tell us whether our pious and generous ancestors bequeathed to us the miserable privilege of having the rewards of our honesty, industry, the fruits of those fields which they purchased and bled for, wrested from us at the will of men over whom we have no check.
"Contemplate the mangled bodies of your countrymen, and then say, What should be the reward of such sacrifices? Bid us and our posterity bow the knee, and supplicate the friendship, and plough, and sow, and reap, to glut the avarice of the men who have let loose on us the dogs of war to riot in our blood and hunt us from the face of the earth? If you love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom – go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.
“Courage, then, my countrymen, our contest is not only whether we ourselves shall be free, but whether there shall be left to mankind an asylum on earth for civil and religious liberty. Dismissing, therefore, the justice of our cause, as incontestable, the only question is, What is best for us to pursue in our present circumstances?”
“It does not take a majority to prevail….but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men.”
“Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: first a right to life, secondly to liberty, and thirdly to property; together with the right to defend them in the best manner they can.”
“The Constitution shall never be construed… to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.”
Osamas Pajamas| 11.25.10 @ 12:24AM
What this country needs is a truly LIBERAL president and congress and judiciary! And I forgive the reader for suspecting that this must be some kind of bad joke!
But the Democrats believe in "statism" --- not "liberalism."
They benefit from the imprecise American political terminology ---- we say "the government" here in the USA ---- rather than "the state." And that's a dangerous problem. Famous brands of statism in recent centuries have been Nazism, socialism, fascism, communism, and welfare statism ---- this last is sort of a mix of fascism and socialism.
Liberalism, on the other hand, is a political philosophy of small, cheap government ---- it is a constabulary ---- and the job of a liberal government is to enforce human rights within its own jurisdiction. I speak of the unalienable and perfectly-natural and universally-valid human rights of life, liberty, private property, and the pursuit of personal happiness.
The first article of private property is "the self" and all other rights are derivatives of and flow from these cardinal rights. These rights ---- The Rights of Man ---- are the gift of nature or of nature's god ---- and they belong to all human beings, everywhere.
Show me a Democrat who subscribes to all of the above, without qualifications or weasel words. The words "liberal" and "liberalism" were hijacked by the Democrats and socialists and fascists long ago ---- and it was the mistake of conservatives and libertarians to let them get away with it.
It is long past time that liberalism be reclaimed, defined, and explained by its rightful owners ---- by the champions of freedom, i.e.: not by Democrats.
Well, how about "progressivism?" Whuzzat?! “Cancer” is “progressive,” too. Isn't “progressivism” just another statist cancer? It chews you up, piece by piece, in the name of Da Peepul? Eat Da Rich? Moral cannibalism, anyone?
Friends of freedom! Friends of peace-through-strength! And friends of prosperity! Declare yourselves to be "liberals," then ---- and kick over the bloody coffee tables --- and overthrow and trounce the Democrats in 2010 and 2012!
Osamas Pajamas| 11.25.10 @ 12:25AM
The Democrats know nothing about economics. They're America's "know-nothing" political party.
Their recipe for fried chicken begins, "First, you steal a chicken." They're not into production --- they're into "redistribution."
It's very simple. You do the work and they'll take your money --- and oftentimes, your other property.
It's time for the privately-employed taxpayers of America to make things very complicated for the publicly-employed tax-eating ruling class.
Overthrow them!
First try the ballot box --- and see if they steal the elections, as they have done so often and for decades --- and if they do, then escalate to the Second American Revolution.
Gary| 11.25.10 @ 8:18AM
If more Republicans had character, Sarah Palin wouldn't be necessary.
Her character and personal strength is what real Americans admire and what the ruling class hates. Everything else about her is an unimportant detail. Don't get distracted by dissertations on unimportant details.
Bob Grant| 11.25.10 @ 9:03AM
Winston Wolf: Just because you are a character doesn't mean you have character.
The Big Kahuna| 11.25.10 @ 8:35AM
Cant we all just get along??
Gary| 11.25.10 @ 10:04AM
Apparently not... See what I mean by distractions?
LoneStarM| 11.25.10 @ 10:10AM
"Sarah Palin's Alaska" has so far managed to present two hours showing humans interacting with and enjoying nature without the mandatory requirement that the last 5 minutes of each episode be devoted to warning the clear threat of such behavior because of it's contribution to global warming.
I am looking forward to the episode showing just how much the north slope caribou are being doomed to extinction by the effects of nearly 12 square miles of energy development "footprint" on several million square miles of "pristine caribou habitat."
08hayabusa | 11.25.10 @ 2:35PM
Typical Liberal. Attack, deceive, obfuscate, or smear without referencing anything other than anonymous sources.
Well here's a source that disagrees with you.
http://www.anwr.org/features/pdfs/caribou-facts.pdf
Hank| 11.25.10 @ 5:00PM
Typical conservative. Point, accuse, label, post some random and obscure website, indulge in conspiracy fantasies and then respond by calling me a marxist fascist.
Wayne | 11.25.10 @ 6:03PM
We have learned your ways. After all we are part of the vast RIGHT wing conspiracy.
08hayabusa | 11.25.10 @ 7:24PM
www.anwr.org is hardly an obsc.....of Alaska.
ROWDY BOOTS| 11.26.10 @ 12:15AM
Dear Republicans that attack Sara Palin,
If you think you own the political landscape, think again. I remember recently that the Republican Party got their rear ends handed to them by an AMATUER WHO DOES NOT EVEN KNOW AMERICA'S PLACE IN THE WORLD.
Then, the American Citizen had to rise up in the form of the Tea Party and teach the Republicans how to run an election, fight for Principles and even teach them how to handle the Obama Disaster.
Now, they are telling the Tea Party that Sara Palin is not Blue Blood enough, not Harvard, not Intellectual Deviants?
NEWSFLASH TO REPUBLICANS: AMERICAN CITIZENS DO NOT NEED YOUR PARTY ANYMORE--YOU NEED US.
PUT THAT IN YOUR PIPE AND SMOKE IT OR I WILL NOT SEND YOU ANY MORE MONEY.
ROWDY BOOTS
Steve Young| 11.26.10 @ 2:14AM
Do any of you people even have a clue? When I hear all of the "sides" talking about Sarah, I'm blown away. Mostly with disgust. Why don't you people grow a pair and when she's in your area, go and talk to her. You can you know, or maybe you don't know. Well I know, anybody can talk to her, she is as down to earth as they come. I haven't seen her in a few years since she started roaming around down there in America, but she used to be quite accessable to anyone. I have never heard of or seen any polititian anywhere ever who acts as cordial and kind to anyone wishing to speak with her. Until some of you out there actually have a face to face conversation with her, please just shut your mouths, you have problems and they're not because of Mrs. Palin. And for the majotity of you peple out there, just so you know, this is a fantastic state, please stay away!
Bob Grant| 11.26.10 @ 4:27PM
I'm cordial, kind, and will speak to anybody. Does it make me presidential material? ...No!
paevo| 11.26.10 @ 9:17AM
THIS IS FLIPPIN' FUN!!!!!
Amanda| 11.26.10 @ 12:24PM
What people haven't figured out yet is that if
Palin decides to run we "Palinistas" are ready to
go "to the mat" for her. WE HAVE RESEARCHED HER RECORD, unlike many of her
detractors, and have determined that she is the one best capable to save the country. She did the heavy lifting for conservatives in the 2012 elections; I believe
close to 70% of the candidates she endorsed won.
SHE did not run in Alaska, nor Nevada or Conn.
She endorsed and tried to help their campaigns
with speeches, etc. That said, the candidate still
had to run a campaign. It did not help that the
Republican Party itself did very little to help any of the Repub candidates. They may have contributed some funds (limited), however, did
nothing in the way of contributing on the ground
people to help with campaign organization. They
allowed Murkowski to keep her chairmanships after she lost the primary and decided to write in as an independent; remember these names:
Hatch, Kay Bailey Hutchinson, John Thune, John
Coryn and Mitch McConnell.
I still marvel at these obscure reporters/journalists who in order to get their name known write an article about Palin. Most of them I have never heard of.
leveut| 11.26.10 @ 12:30PM
But she does she know anything substantive about anything substantive?
Obama doesn't know anything substantive about anything substantive. It's a disaster.
Have you failed to learn from that?
Kenneth E. MacAlister Jr.| 11.26.10 @ 12:55PM
Hi Amanda. GOD bless & Happy Thanksgiving. I enjoyed reading your comments, especially those regarding the "ruling class" idiots who helped Lisa Murkowski & other Republicans who are part of the problem to retain their seats in Congress. However, there is one who is more qualified than Sarah Palin to straighten out this nation's problems. The one I am speaking of is GOD Himself. I realize he can't be elected & sent to The Oval Office so to say, but I am finding He is all too often left out of the equation when the subject of "saving the country" comes up. I also believe Sarah Palin herself would agree with this. If you haven't already, put your faith in Him before Sarah Palin or any other politician. If GOD believes Sarah Palin can help bring about the necessary changes in this country which are needed He will ensure she is elected. Trust GOD's plan before the plans of ANY politician & I think you will find He knows what He is doing & regardless what human beings do here on this Earth, GOD is still in control. Please take my comments as they are intended. I am not criticizing you or preaching to you. I just believe too many are depending too much on politicians instead of GOD & they will be let down every time they do this. Please don't fall into this trap. As for all the "reporters"/"journalists" trying to make a name for themselves off of Sarah Palin's name, be it for or against her, some mean well, while others believe they know better than you. Ignore those who fall into the latter group. Take care & GOD bless you & yours always!
Bob Grant| 11.26.10 @ 4:09PM
Amanda,
Give it up. Her endorsements were spotty. This pattern will continue in the 2010 elections, she'll do fairly well in the DEEP red states, all others will be a problem for her.
Let's give Sarah a debt of gratitude for what she's done, give her the RNC chair spot, come together and give Obama the boot in '12.
After all, this is what its all about - beating Obama in '12...It IS about beating Obama and not Sarah's political career?...Isn't it?
08hayabusa | 11.27.10 @ 5:53PM
We are going to pay Sarah a debt of gratitude by electing her President of the United States.
Her endorsements weren't spotty so I'll post them again for you.
http://08hayabusa.blogspot.com.....te-71.html
And here's another article for you fence warmers.
http://08hayabusa.blogspot.com.....omise.html
jstwndring| 11.26.10 @ 8:18PM
Who cares what these morons think? They would never vote for her anyway (if she runs), so, why should Sarah, or, anyone who would vote for Sarah care whether these "experts" think of her show? These pundits really do exist in their own little bubble, don't they? Unfortunately for them, Sarah doesn't need their permission to run for office, or, have her own reality t.v. show.
carnot| 11.26.10 @ 10:11PM
you know...I had to visit DC T-Giving Day to celebrate with my family. hopped on over to Pentagon City Mall Friday - it was like visiting a foreign country. anywho, on the top deck there was a trinket stand hawking every manner of calendar. smack in the middle..right between the SI 2010 SwimSuit Cal and a Prince Cal...was a Sarah P calendar titled: Sarah Palin WTF!!!! Each month, obviously, captured a gaffe/malapropism.
Unfair? you bet.
Make one angry? well...yea.
Inspire some sympathy? sure.
Can she overcome this sort of unrelenting, unfair character assassination? not sure....unfair as it may be...she has to stop providing the ammunition.
Brian B| 11.27.10 @ 10:46AM
--The Republican Party has been hijacked by Fundamentalist Christians and other uneducated bumpkins who are driven, not by reason, but by emotion.
Edward White| 11.24.10 @ 8:56AM--
Silly fundamentalists. Everyone knows Republicans are supposed to be driven by Jeeves.
james| 11.27.10 @ 8:50PM
People who call people like Palin "cheesy" are almost always the same people who were forced to read something in college that they've long forgotten but still, decades later, consider themselves "educated."
Palin's attraction is that she understands, in full, the only two things that are important in someone who seeks power over me: she knows human nature and she knows the nature of American freeedom and whence it comes.
The people I've known who have read Homer in Greek are always the people who want to imprison or disenfranchise those who haven't
No thanks.
Bob Grant| 11.27.10 @ 9:16PM
"...she knows human nature and she knows the nature of American freedom and whence it comes..."
Man. I've got my work ahead of me and time is short. Geeesh.
Vaemar| 11.28.10 @ 1:05AM
"There's a certain lack of grace about her, which in my view, is an important trait of a good president."
Yes, a lack of grace. Not at all like Clinton getting a graceful blow-job from a cetacious 19-year-old intern, or Jimmy Carter gracefully fighting off a sea-going rabbit.
bluecollarbytes| 11.28.10 @ 8:00AM
This country needs a president willing to shake things up for the good. Undoing the damage by Obama and his Democratics alone will take a huge effort. It will be done by leading us there or we will end up with McCain2 in 2012, ready to split hairs on Obamacare, taxes, the sanctity of citizen rights, govt's inevitable growth, etc.
There are now conservatives about using the identical anti-Palin smear tactics as what we've seen from the Left since 2008. It's somewhat sickening to watch since some of it comes from those I'd previously respected. Now that I'm Fully aware we are supposed to pick sides in a vile manner, screw those guys and gals who presume to pick for me. I'm not impressed by "gravitas' or 'presidential'. We need a rebel at this point, the country having lapsed into an opiate-like trance- which even now could succumb to the hollow promise of Obamacare.
Donna| 11.28.10 @ 8:40AM
What happened to Spectator? We’ve been invaded by unintelligent life forms and we’re responding to them. For heaven sakes, let’s get back to real conversation (intelligent) and let the left comment but let’s not respond. Perhaps if we ignore them they will leave.
Ted R.| 11.28.10 @ 8:16PM
"Let the left comment" - ? Geez, that says it all about how serious you Cons are about democracy. The hilarious thing is, that the "unintelligent life forms" that you have to deal with on this site are not your token liberals, but the Palinistas. Seems like only Mr. Grant and a few others here are really interested in wresting the White House from Obama. From where I sit, you people should actually run somebody who's not a "regular folks" hack - somebody like Gingrich. After the 90's I figured his political career was over, but he may be up for a "everything old is new again" makeover. He is no doubt the best informed, and most politically skilled, potential Republican candidate. Still, I doubt the Republicans would be creative enough to run him. Luckily for the Democrats.
Simon Templar| 11.29.10 @ 10:32AM
Sure..we are going to take advice from a little twerp communist sitting in his basement from his work at home job for George Soros. We do not give a rats ass about your drivel on this site. Well, these regular folks hacks here still believe in a constitutional Republic and self government by those regular folks. Your deranged and fear oriented obsession for Palin says more about you than Palin. What you are really afraid of is the growing movement that is rejecting elitism and returning and rediscovering their true American hsitory. Each day is passing and more and more Americans are buying copies of the constitution, reducating themselves in the fundamental values and visions of our founding fathers. Moreover, the are learning more and more about your deceitful socialist progressivism. You should be shaking in your socialist jackboots!
08hayabusa | 11.28.10 @ 9:31AM
Everyone has heard about the frivolous lawsuits that drove Sarah from her Governor's job, but a lot of folks may not realize the extent of the mean spirited coordinated effort of the left to destroy the Palin family. Meet some of these people through their own words bragging on radio what their goals were.
http://08hayabusa.blogspot.com.....laska.html
08hayabusa | 11.28.10 @ 10:48AM
Here's another interesting article posted by Dr. Gina Loudon about the convention organized by the group Conservatives for Palin she recently attended.
I think you will find it insightful.
http://biggovernment.com/gloud.....-and-2012/
Clint| 11.28.10 @ 11:35AM
"David Brody: “There are folks in the Tea Party movement that seriously want you to run for President. Would you consider something like that?”
Senator Jim DeMint: “You know, I’ve always thought of myself as an average guy and when I think of the President of the United States I’m hoping that there is some knight on a white horse that’s going to ride that I can look at and say you know this is Ronald Reagan character or the level that we could have. Frankly, the people that I’ve seen here in politics I realize that I can hold my ground with any of them. There are a lot of changes I’d like to make in this country and I think Americans are going to be ready for someone to tell them the truth next election. Not someone who will give them a good speech but someone who reminds them that the federal government has to do less not more. I’m hoping we can find that candidate out who has shown himself to be a great Governor or somewhere. It’s not something I desire. Anyone who really desires it does not know how much trouble we’re in as a country because we’ve got some tough times ahead of us and we need a President, who says we can get through it, we can come out better on the other side but we’re going to have to sacrifice.”
David Brody: “All right, so not ruling it out necessarily?”
Senator Jim DeMint: “Well I guess I’ve learned not to rule out anything in life but right now it’s the last thing I want to do.”
MacDaddy| 11.29.10 @ 11:22AM
Memo to the Secret Service: Start scouting Bristol Bay for helipad access, secure satellite data uplink, hardpoints and bunkers for security. You guys need to start preparing for the Alaskan White House come 2013.....
REB| 11.29.10 @ 10:33PM
Whether its Sarah or someone else,it had better be a real homegrown dyed in the wool American patriot who loves this country as it was founded and is willing to kill if nessesary to defend and promote her!
No mamby pansey libtards and no pussified ..starched underwear.. blueblood repubs who only care about looking good on tv and in 5 second soundbites...we need a blood and guts type American in that office,someone who knows how to tell dictators,tyrants and obama types to go to hell and they understand the first time,someone who has the guts to look big ag and big pharma and the oil companies and envirofreaks and all manner of socialist bedwetting crybabies in the eye,tell them where it is and how its gonna be! Someone who realizes that city people dont really have a say about how the country folks run their lives and property,that there are differences in people all acrossed this great union of states,differences that must be respected ,not regulated into vanilla!
Someone who understands that the states and the people are NOT servants to the federal govt or its corporate sponsors,that what is good for business isnt always best for liberty...we need that person to run this federal govt and leave the rest to the people and the states,does this person exist? I hope to God they are out there and willing to run the gauntlet of retards who will do anything to stop them...for love of country!!
Randy| 11.29.10 @ 11:49PM
America's callin Sarah Palin; Sarah won't you please come home.