The American Spectator

M. Tobias| 10.26.08 @ 12:06PM

In my opinion, all these a lot of people in Republican circles are maneuvering themselves to be able to say, they knew that John McCain was going to lose to Barack Obama in November. Everyone involved is running around trying to duck any blame for an Obama win.

Now I agree that McCain was never the best candidate, but he should have been able to win against Obama, handily. I do not believe that is going to be the case. This election is going to be close. Between the overall ineptness of the director's of McCain's campaign, the gross partisanship of the media and rampant Democrat voter fraud; Obama's campaign is poised for a possible win. But don't throw in the towel just yet. This year's election is not a normal election. The MSM is solidly behind Barack Obama and , unless it has skipped everyone;s attention, most of your supposedly "independent" polls now have the name of a major media outlet in their names. They can not be trusted. This is the first Presidential election involving a minority candidate. One who, despite his dissembling, is being shown to be a radical socialist in his philosophy. He is well outside the comfort zone of most people in this country. And the McCain campaign has Sarah Palin. Even if the campaign leadership has tried to marginnalize her, she has still energized the Conservative base and will also bring blue collar , dirt under the fingernails Democrats to the polls for McCain. So don't be too quick to run out and buy an "I Like Barry" button. This election is far from over.

As to the future of the Republican Party, this is only the beginning. Especially if John McCain wins, the Party hierarchy is going to be revamped. The Ivy League, country club Republicans are going to be relegated to the back of the room. Some will even be sent out into the hall. The current "leadership" of the party has been actively trying to limit the importance of the Conservatives in the Party, if not oust them altogether. They felt that John McCain's candidacy would vindicate them. He would win without Conservative support, by siphoning off moderate Democrats and independents. They were wrong. The had to find someone who could assure a significant turnout of Conservative voters so that their candidate even had a chance in the election. So they chose a little known female, rookie governor of a far off state to give Conservatives a reason to go to the polls. That she embodied everything the brie, caviar and champaign swilling Republican elite hates and fears shows just how desperate they were. No matter who wins the election, the leadership of the Party is probably on the way out. This is good for the rest of us. For conservative candidates always win in an honest election against liberals.

ruth| 10.26.08 @ 3:03PM

The operative word in your last sentence is 'honest' and this election has been incredibly dishonest, I believe it's been a setup from the start. Politics is dirty but I've never seen anyone personally attacked as viciously as Governor Palin. A lot of people must fear her--that's one of the reasons why i so admire her.

Ran Hay| 10.26.08 @ 3:09PM

M. Tobias sums it up perfectly.

There is a solid chance - perhaps a high likelihood - that Sarah Palin and Joe the Plumber will drag the Republican nominee across the finish line to a narrow win. Though win or lose, those of us who have not been active in the Republican Party will be dusting off the pitchforks n' torches. Brooks, Frum, Gershon, Noonan and a host of "moderates" and "centrists" will be searching for a warm place to park the laptop. T'would be well advised to recylce Rove and the entire Bush clan too: "Compassionate" Conservatism has proven to be nothing more than Liberalism Lite. [Surely Starbucks will have them?] It is now time to pull-up the bloated left side of the "big" tent and straighten-out the mess...

...If we're going to offer the consumer a choice, the choice must be clear. Differentiation is the soul of branding just as clarity is the soul of intelligence. It is beyond time the Republican Party began to respect the Conservative core of the Right and the need for clear choice amongst those outside the Party.

adagioforstrings| 10.26.08 @ 6:15PM

Noonan demoted Gov Palin even further from the "former Mayor of Wasilla" to simply "Mrs. Palin" on ABC's Sunday morning "This Week".

ruth| 10.26.08 @ 6:42PM

That stooge Noonan will never come close to the grace and style of Governor Palin. Peggy is going senile.

Captain America| 10.26.08 @ 7:11PM

There are plenty of heat seeking missives about strive in the McCain-Palin campaign. Yet they all contain a common thread: no names, all sources unnamed. I call b.s.

Captain America| 10.26.08 @ 7:14PM

M Tobias:

I am certain that David Axelrod reads all these postmortem writings with 9 days remaining with a sense of glee.
Let's do everyone a favor in our democracy, let the people cast their votes before conducting postmortems.
Further, in 2000 and 2004 the democrats did a much better job than you in holding their water. But there were plenty of recriminations and "value voters" pursuits that followed the election.

Captain America| 10.26.08 @ 7:20PM

As for the likes of one-time speechwriters turn pundits, Noonan, Frum, et al they have already lost their currency in the Republican party.
Noonan got what she sought, invites to Chris Matthews' Hardball and an appearance on the ABC Sunday talk show.
Frankly, it comes as a surprise that anyone pays them any heed. Have they ever ran for public office? No. Have they ever ran a campaign for someone seeking public office? No.
Due to boredom, I tuned in to a recent Rachel Maddow program to spy David Frum. David showed up mid-show and gave the Rodney King "Can't we all get along" pitch. Talk about naive.

M. Tobias| 10.26.08 @ 9:12PM

Capt. A,

I have absolutely no idea what the heck you are talking about. I said that the election was not over and that the McCain/Palin ticket had a good chance of winning. So exactly what postmortem are you referring to? Re-read my musings and explain, please.

Bobbi| 10.26.08 @ 10:08PM

I live in FL. I went on Monday (first day of early voting) and cast my vote for Palin and McCain. I was encouraged by the others in line with me. They were for McCain/Palin as well. Granted I live in a conservative part of the state, but they were excited about voting against Obama. I truly think that many others feel the same. This is NOT over. There are so many of us out here who do NOT want our country turned over to Obama/Pelosi/Reid. We love it too much to stand by and let it go down without a fight. And to Noonan, Frum, Brooks, and the others-don't let the door hit your a** on the way out. The present and future of the conservative movement is Gov. Palin as well as Gov. Jindal. Deal with it. I, personally, am loving it. About damn time!

Phronsie| 10.27.08 @ 8:58AM

I've not been back to NRO since the first of Kathleen Parker's Palin-bashings. (I can go directly to Mark Steyn's website to read his contributions.) I have not and will never again click on Peggy Noonan's name in Drudge's list. Frum/Noonan/Brooks/Parker/C.Buckley, et.al., are sure-enough "dead" to me and ~35 friends and family members. (6 of whom have cancelled their longtime NR (print) subscriptions.

I don't think a day has passed, in the last few weeks, that a chance political chat with a grocery store cashier, a fellow shopper in an antique store, the owner of my dry-cleaning shop, a fellow dog-walker, hasn't revealed a passionate Palin-lover infuriated with the way she's been treated and smart enough to understand that this is an assault on the whole concept of citizen-government. This, BTW, in reliably-blue state Maine.

Barry| 10.28.08 @ 12:01PM

Let me get this straight - Bush has earned Nixon-level approval ratings, but this if the fault of somebody other than the hard-core dead-enders? And the hard-core dead-enders are threatening to expel everbody else?

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.