The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : I'm Warming to Sarah Palin

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Readers of this site know that I have been complimentary of Sarah Palin’s basic political values, but critical of her experience and some of her political moves. Well, I’m warming to her politics. If Joe Miller holds on to his apparent upset over Lisa Murkowski in the Senate race in Alaska, it will not only be one of the biggest upsets in memory but it also will clearly be attributable to Palin’s efforts and her power. And while everything I have ever heard suggests that Murkowski is a good and decent lady, she clearly is not at all as conservative a senator as Alaska would gladly support. There is nothing to dislike about her other than a number of her votes — but those votes make her worthy of being defeated. If Joe Miller wins, as it looks like he will (pending absentee ballots), it will prove to be a huge advance for the conservative cause. And it will be an advance due almost entirely to Sarah Palin. Bravo to Sarah Barracuda!

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Oldefarte| 8.25.10 @ 11:19AM

Agree 150%. She's got BIG [POLITICALLY SPEAKING] ONES, and that's what is needed from politicians these days!!!!

ggoblue| 8.25.10 @ 12:07PM

she needs a wheelbarrow to carry them around with her...

Eric Cartman| 8.25.10 @ 12:17PM

You mean like this?

http://southparkstudios-intl.m.....?width=480

Eric Cartman| 8.25.10 @ 1:00PM

Whoops! I mean, like this? http://i41.tinypic.com/2unyoo0.jpg

Alan Brooks| 8.25.10 @ 1:50PM

Well, she is a ten, physically.
As for her politics, it might be a bit early to say. She isn't the Gipper just yet.

A decade to go.

Gary Ogletree| 8.26.10 @ 8:41AM

I like her a lot better than Reagan. He talked a good game about downsizing government while he did the opposite. He was swayed by a lot of dubious people in his group. Of course he was excellent in kicking over the rotten snag of the Soviet empire with the help of Gorby. Yet he was not the great free enterpriser people claim he was. And his homicidal terrorist thugs, the contras, are still a shame on our country's legacy in Central America. I expect a lot more from Sarah Palin. Her ability to rout corrupt Republicans was the first thing about her that got my attention. I think we will see an end to crony capitalism and a move to a free market where everyone has to play by the rules.

Margie| 8.25.10 @ 11:24AM

Glad to hear it, Quin! :^)

Alan Brooks| 8.25.10 @ 6:23PM

"Well, she is a ten, physically."

I mean, Quin did write he is WARMING to Palin.

Blackwatch| 8.25.10 @ 1:56PM

Draft Sarah for Speaker of the House in 2011!! There is no Constitutional requirement for the S.O.H. to be a member of Congress.

"Tanning Master" John Boehner is not up to the task of cutting the fat out of the Federal Budget. Also we need to revamp Congress' compensation plan--eliminate their pensions (give them $20K annually for their personal 401K and make them invest it in the Russell 3000 Index. They need to have skin in the game!!) No medical plan for them either. They need to buy their own damn insurance. Let them sacrifice and live under the rules they make for the rest of us.

S.O.H. Palin would drive the Left insane and it would be an instant payback for the character assassination she and her family have endured.

Think of it--a commoner as Speaker of the House. No more Ruling Class weasels please.

Eric Cartman| 8.25.10 @ 2:08PM

WOW, BW! You're right. Never thought of that. Nowhere in the Constitution does it say a SCOTUS Justice need to be lawyer. Right after she's done with Speaker's post, send her to the SC. THAT would make all the Left's heads collectively explode. And after all, isn't that what this is all about?

Blackwatch| 8.25.10 @ 10:28PM

exploding heads on the Left is never a bad thing...

however I do believe that one should actually be a sitting jurist to actually become a Supreme Court Justice with a life time appointment.

Now as to electing Sarah Palin to the Speaker of the House position I believe that she is qualified for that role. Let's look at the current SOH: a party toadie who worked her way up the seniority ranks cutting deals all the way to reach the throne. A truly evil Ruling Class witch if ever there was one. She spends our unborn Great Grandchildren's tax money like its her personal stash.

What would we get with Palin as SOH? A common person, not a member of the Ruling Class. Not someone with ethical blinders.

We need a change in leadership. Frankly, Michell Bachman could do the job but Boehner's got a lock on it.

That's why I suggested an outsider. It takes an insider to run Congress--like the way Newt did? Or Hastert? See how long that lasted. Boehner or Bachman would be compromised as insiders too. They won't take on their entrenched colleagues either. They won't be able to use the power of the Speakership to counter our real enemy: Congress.

It will be two years and your out again if the potential Republican majority selects a house Republican like Boehner. The guy loves seeing himself on TV. He is about as charismatic as Mitch McConnell.

America needs a new conservative face in the SOH role.

hrh| 8.25.10 @ 4:21PM

Michele Bachmann as Speaker of the House.

Sarah Palin as President.

Colonel Alan West as VP

John Bolton as Secretary of State

Thomas Sowell as Secretary of the Treasury

Abolish Departments of:

Education
Health & Human Services
Energy

Hmmm, what am I missing?

Steve Brennan| 8.25.10 @ 7:37PM

I can't find anything objectionable about any of your ideas.

Stammon| 8.26.10 @ 8:03AM

You're making my mouth water.

Gary Ogletree| 8.26.10 @ 8:48AM

Liz Cheney at Defense. Ron Paul at Federal Reserve. Mitt at Commerce. Judge Napolitano at Justice. Keep em coming...

Margie| 8.26.10 @ 10:40AM

Nah. Steve Forbes at the Fed, John Bolton at Defense, Mark Levin at Justice...

Deborah D | 8.26.10 @ 9:06AM

I don't think we need an Agriculture Department either. Environmental Protection Agency. Interior Department. What other departments are truly giving the people the back of their hand? I'm sure we can add to this list!

Margie| 8.26.10 @ 10:33AM

How about that abomination called The National Endowment for the Arts? Let it be run privately. Along with good old PBS!

daboss| 8.26.10 @ 10:41AM

the department of housing and urban development

Deborah D | 8.26.10 @ 4:57PM

Great additions, Margie and daboss. I'm thinking flat tax or fair tax and that would eliminate the IRS as well. Of course, refusing to fund Obamacare would be a perfect start to stripping the piece of excrement as well.

Margie| 8.26.10 @ 5:02PM

Deb D.,

A flat or fair tax would be such a joy and such a huge relief to Americans, wouldn't it? But that is exactly why the Leftist Democrats won't allow it. Their goal (as you know) as Socialists, is to suck the lifeblood out of us, and then have us all dependent upon them. And too many Repubs are probably too weak to suggest it let alone go thru w/it. But Sarah Palin? We KNOW she would!

Margie| 8.25.10 @ 2:05PM

I tell you this country would be so revved up with Sarah as Speaker. She has it all~ a great spirit, the Truth on her side, love of country & fellow man, etc. etc., etc!

tonypal| 8.25.10 @ 2:17PM

There's zero chance of Sarah Palin being speaker, so let's put that to rest in order to move on to the more serious stuff. Sarah Palin is clearly positioning herself to run in '12. Next year ought to be an absolute brawl for the republican nomination because as things stand right now, Obama is toast. It's really hard to imagine how he wins re-election. He won using magic and deception, things he simply cannot regain. So he must run on his record, which is suicidal (at this point in time).

So there will be a cast of thousands who will view 2012 as the ultimate opportunity to win the presidency. In my humble opinion, Palin is right at the top of the list. She is clearly the most inspirational of all the presumed candidates, although others will emerge. We all know about the negatives, but that's largely due to the fact that her reach isn't what it will be when she declares. Once she has the opportunity to speak directly to larger numbers, the American people will scratch their collective heads and wonder why she seems a whole lot smarter and competent than the msm caricature. She will move to the head of the queue and win the nomination and then the presidency.

tj| 8.25.10 @ 2:56PM

Oh God Tony I hope you are right!!!

DRed| 8.25.10 @ 2:56PM

Who do you think her VP will be? That's vitally important, since they'll be running the country when she quits again.

Loren Ibsen | 8.26.10 @ 7:57AM

Sarah Palin is a quitter like James T. Kirk is a cheater.

Gary Ogletree| 8.26.10 @ 8:52AM

You mean the way Obama, Hillary and Biden quit their Senate jobs? Sarah got more done in less than a term than any other governor has done in two terms. Obama has already quit, he just has a room at White House for when he golfs around DC.

DRed| 8.26.10 @ 11:02AM

No, not at all. Sarah didn't abandon the governorship because she was moving to a higher position. She quit because she couldn't take the heat and she wanted to cash in on her fame.

Gary Ogletree| 8.26.10 @ 12:23PM

You might have quit too if you were half a million in debt fighting bogus ethics charges. Which were all dismissed. Read again her reasons for leaving. She wasn't lying. And she turned the job over to a guy who has proven to be a good governor. She didn't cash in. She wrote a book, not knowing if she would get out of debt. She earned every dime she made. You don't have an argument, you just repeat old smears. That's intellectually lazy.

DRed| 8.26.10 @ 2:32PM

Perhaps that was because her legal defense fund was found to violate state ethics laws. She was paid over a million dollars in advance for Going Rogue, so I figure she probably knew it was going to make some money.

It doesn't surprise me at all to hear the guy she stuck with the job is more competent than she is. Maybe he'll actually get that pipleine built.

And I'm not disputing that she was fighting ethics charges, many of which were unsubstantiated. But rather than fight like a pitbull and do her job, she quit to make millions and fly around on private jets.

Raymond| 8.26.10 @ 7:43PM

There you go again, a member of Palin PDS. Of Course, when elected POTUS 2012, Palin won't quit. Being at the top, who will question her or file cases against like what happened to her in Alaska? By the way, i hope when she becomes president, she will get rid of all palin haters and radical lefts because these people are a mess to american society. By the way, I would suggest that she only eliminates 90% of these craps, and still maintain 10%. Why? Just like our human body that needs some bacteria to help our immune digestive system. hahahahahaha!

Ran / Si Vis Pacem | 8.25.10 @ 2:59PM

...from your comment post to G-d's netbook. Amen.

David| 8.25.10 @ 4:41PM

There is no way Sarah wins the presidency. She is the flip side of Nancy Pelosi. The press hates her and the snobby side of the Republican party hates her.

Jeremiah| 8.26.10 @ 1:14AM

David, how, pray tell, do you consider the condescension of those two increasingly discredited wings of the ruling class to be a detriment to Sarah? Right now, for the first time in my life, the embrace of the ruling class only tells all us joe's in the country who NOT to support. Now if the snotty Republicans (like David Frum and Peggy Noonan) loved her, it would make me look at Sarah with a more critical eye. But that they hate her only tells me my gut instinct was right about her in the first place.

mica vim toot!| 8.26.10 @ 9:08AM

That is the truth.
The elites have squandered their credibility. There is a revolt happening among the newly-informed. We are rejecting elite opinionism for working pragmatism.
It's pretty simple to grasp: If the Ivy League clubbies support a policy, you are wise to assume that policy is bad for our country.
The elites began their revolt 40 years ago. Here comes the counter-revolution. Get the ropes and find a lamp post. Some assembly required.

Gary Ogletree| 8.26.10 @ 8:56AM

The ruling class media have lost their power. Sarah Palin has been running circles around them, poking them like a matador with a bull. Pelosi? David, you been working on that hash pipe, again?

Raymond| 8.26.10 @ 7:48PM

@david, are you the brother of Alexandria Gutierrez of Slate who predicted that Sarah Palin is fading away because her endorsements are losing?? Losing big time, hah? In your dreams.... hahahahaha 5 wins to zero loss last tuesday night!! by the way, where is your fav Mitt romney?? Alone in his room waiting for palin's endorsements to lose??? hahahahahah! GO HOME, BOY, HELP YOU WIFE WASH YOUR CLOTHES.. It is now the year of the women!!!

wodiej| 8.25.10 @ 9:54PM

Palin's character and values speak for themselves. She had a high approval rating as Gov. of Alaska. If she had any dirty laundry, it would have been hung out to dry by now. I don't see any other conservative energizing conservatives like Palin. She and the tea parties have a winning strategy. The liberals want to make this about one side against the other. Palin and the tea parties are blaming both sides and admitting mistakes. Their message is simply CONSERVATISM WORKS.

Raymond| 8.26.10 @ 7:52PM

@Wodiej, very few on this blog are actually using their head with great common sense, and you are the few ones...congrats!! Others are intellectuals but they are so fckg stupid on not knowing to use it. hahahahahaha!

Herb Tarlek| 8.25.10 @ 3:27PM

I think the VP should be Bauchmann from Minnesota.

hrh| 8.25.10 @ 4:22PM

Bachmann for Speaker of the House

Colonel Alan West for VP

daboss| 8.26.10 @ 10:47AM

i like pratreus ... or maybe even jc watts.

Oldefarte| 8.25.10 @ 3:43PM

I say don't bogg her down with political office, but instead, give her a conservative radio stupid [aka Limbaugh's EIV Network] and let her take baseball-like shots [and be much more politically effective] at the radical-extremist leftys from the airwaves!!!!!!!!!

hrh| 8.25.10 @ 4:23PM

We already have a Limbaugh. And he ain't retiring any time soon. Why duplicate the effort?

Sarah doesn't waste space.

She does the jobs others won't - or are afraid to - do.

Oldefarte| 8.26.10 @ 12:33PM

Oh, we can't have more than one conservative talk show host? Crap, don't tell Neal Bortz, Shawn Hannity,etc, okay? Try and remember that Ronald Reagan, even though he did not have a regular, continual radio program, did use the radio airwaves to proclamate his political positions/views on varius subjects prior to being elected president. A radio show would allow Palin to feesh out her views/opinions/positions on subjects to the general population, some of whom may be ignorant of same due to the current MSM's exclusion/supression of same at present. I did not suggest that she become a permanent radio talk show host, only one temporarily until 2012 in order to enhance her popularity!!!!!!!!!!

Oldefarte| 8.25.10 @ 3:44PM

Opps, meant STUDIO above!!!!

tonypal| 8.25.10 @ 11:25PM

You also meant EIB.

Palin is not a talk show host, just as Limbaugh is not a politician. It takes a natural talent to have the incredible effect Limbaugh has had in his particular medium. Limbaugh was born to do what he does.

I'm not yet ready to say the same about Palin and politics, but she exhibits many characteristics of a natural political leader. She inspires people to action and her words have enormous impact. Her efforts on Facebook alone have driven the left to even higher levels of craziness, if that's even possible. She understands how to speak to people because she's lived a fairly average life, discounting of course her personal accomplishments. When she gets involved on behalf of a candidate, that candidate's standing with the voters tends to go up.

The bottom line is Palin is a politician, not a talk show host. She's charming in the latter role, but hardly a natural. As a politician, she's fearless with an easy delivery. If she runs in 2012, she will have extensive experience dealing with a hostile media. She had plenty of flaws, but they were all in the area of policy know how. I think it's a safe bet that she will turn that into a major strength if she decides to run. She'll be superior in every way to candidate Palin circa 2008.

Margie| 8.26.10 @ 1:05AM

"She had plenty of flaws, but they were all in the area of policy know how."

Like what? In all your high faluttin' tootin' here I think you just disqualified yourself.

Oldefarte| 8.26.10 @ 12:36PM

Read my above explanation of my point on her using a radio talk show forum to educate the public concerning her views!!!!!!!!

Dan| 8.25.10 @ 4:14PM

Thanks for saying that Quin. Give her a chance and you will be pleasantly surprised, I promise:)

Ken (Old Texican)| 8.25.10 @ 5:07PM

Quin,
I read this morning that Sara has put eleven concressional candidates over the top with her endorsements. Wow! Talk about a kernal of a power-base!

The cool thing is...she could have just about anyone she wants as VP. From what I gather, she is delightful to work with, and would utilize her VP as a solid advisor and confidant.

I think we will see some solid policy inititives in her new book. What is your guess?

William R. Barker | 8.25.10 @ 5:29PM

"There is nothing to dislike about [Murkowski] other than a number of her votes..."

Hmm...

How about the fact that the Senator was first appointed to her august position by... er... her daddy?

Not to get too "Beckian" or "Tea Party" on you, but you may have heard... America was founded as a Republic.

There was this guy... dude by the name of Washington (grew pot and distilled booze in his spare time) who kinda set the stage by declining an invitation to become... er... King.

Sorry. Murkowski rubs me the wrong way just via the path she took to office in the first place.

BILL

William R. Barker | 8.25.10 @ 5:34PM

BTW...

While I'm basically a Palin "fan" and forgive her her faults, "rescuing" John McCain was inexcusable as policy.

Yes... Palin felt she "owed" McCain. I get it. Loyalty is a trait to be admired.

Thing is... McCain didn't deserve Palin's personal loyalty and more important... Sarah Palin's supporters didn't deserve the "disloyalty" she showed us by backing our "enemy" McCain.

And oh yes... don't fool yourselves... come what may, over the next few years John McCain is going to do some major damage to "our" conservatives policies and ideals from his perch in the United States Senate.

BILL

Gary Ogletree| 8.26.10 @ 9:02AM

There is some speculation that Johnny will revert to his RINO ways again. I'm not so sure. He may have learned a few things from the Arctic Fox. His BFFs in the media turned on him, he may be much less of a suck up for their approval. He says he's a conservative now. We will see. We could also do better than Hayworth.

deosil| 8.25.10 @ 7:23PM

$arah is the SAME idiot today as she was yesterday.

wukong| 8.25.10 @ 8:16PM

We can disagree on somethings, but with you it's by universal acclaim.

Gary Ogletree| 8.26.10 @ 9:05AM

Based on what evidence? She had an outstanding record of accomplishment in Alaska. Throwing insults may be just fine at Daily Kos, but it impresses no one here.

Raymond| 8.26.10 @ 8:12PM

@Gary ogletree...please dont waste your time with these idiots who knew nothing but to read tabloid liberal mags. Be thankful to God, at least you can prove that you have brain while they cannot still find where their brains are located. Hahahahahaha!

Raymond| 8.26.10 @ 8:14PM

And you are already idiot from the time that you were conceived. Booooh!!

bluecollarbytes| 8.25.10 @ 10:23PM

Sarah Palin will force a discussion of Obamagenda between now and 2012. She won't clam up on Obamacare, as other Republicans would just as soon do. The time is right for a forceful rejection of govt-as-savior.

Blackwatch| 8.26.10 @ 2:12PM

Less talk and more action is needed to kill Obamacare, Cap-n-tax, etc.

Palin as SOH would control the purse strings and she would also control Obama's agenda.

The ascendancy of the Conservative female politicians is a Godsend. The white male Republicans in Congress fear Obama. The Conservative Republican women don't.

Why is that?

Who would be more likely to run circles around the RINO's and the Democrats? John Boehner? Ha!

Cold Warrior | 8.25.10 @ 11:24PM

Tea Partiers and 9.12-ers and members of other grass roots conservative groups are figuring out how to play politics. Amy Kremer from Tea Party Express was up in Alaska helping Get Out The Vote for Joe Miller to help him retire RINO Lisa Murkowski.

Grass roots conservatives are figuring out the real power lies INSIDE the Republican Party as precinct committeemen. Then, they can elect the leadership of the Republican Party and vote, provided they get the necessary majority, to ENDORSE conservative candidates in the primary races.

Go here to learn more:

www.theprecinctproject.wordpress.com

2010 will be very bad for Dems. 2012 will be even worse. Obama and the progressives have awakened a sleeping giant.

Raymond| 8.26.10 @ 8:02PM

Uuhhhmmm!! I can see The Rogue slowly but surely crossing the rubicon... along with the palinista revolutionary guards... November 2012..final push for victory...january 2013, the One stepped down and the Rogue takes over!!! hahahaha! This will be the worst nightmare of the radical lefts and the rinos...they are free to leave the United States...for asylum to Kenya...hahahahaha!

Otis Criblecoblis | 8.26.10 @ 3:49AM

Glad to see you come around at last, Quin.

TennesseeVolunteer| 8.26.10 @ 8:02AM

I will get to see Sarah at Glenn Beck's little soiree at the Kennedy Center Friday night in Washington, DC and then again on Saturday at his Restoring Honor in front of the Lincoln Memorial.
I'll report in on Monday..we have a 14 hour drive starting this afternoon.

Stammon| 8.26.10 @ 8:08AM

Drive safe, take pics, wish I could go.
Indiana

Raymond| 8.26.10 @ 7:55PM

Liberals and Rinos... mark this simple statement..."November 2012 is when Sarah Palin can be able to see the WH from her porche in Alaska...Jan 2013 will be the time when Obama can be able to see clearly Nairobi from the WH." hahahahahaha!

Raymond| 8.26.10 @ 8:07PM

I would to congratulate Ms. Alexandria Gutierrez of SLATE on her wonderful prediction that Sarah Palin will soon fade away because her endorsements are losing and Miller was way behind Lisa M. I salute you for your idiocy and stupidity. Job well done!!!

MI- Student| 8.26.10 @ 8:08PM

Well Mrs. Hillyer, you've surprised me with this piece.

Bravo to Gov. Palin indeed. I hope to vote for her again in the near future.

Canary| 8.26.10 @ 9:10PM

Thank you for supporting Gov Palin. It's time people see her for who she is, not what the media portraits her.

christopher keil | 9.2.10 @ 11:18PM

Love your post. This needs to be said. You should read what I have to say at http://www.satireNow.com.

Sarah Palin will never have to know you've visited.

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