Sarah Palin- A Republican in Name Only
Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 12:18PM The Grand Old Party finds itself in the political wilderness, and accordingly a product of the actual wilderness is presently garnering the most attention.
Palin's supporters are not deterred by her failings, her quitting, her empty resume, her bizzare speechs and interviews, her fabrications and her lack of original substantive policy ideas. They are motivated in great part by the enemy my of my enemy is my friend, and Palin's thoughtless slogans have made her a target, fairly and at times unfairly by the left.
A great leader? Please. She quit the one elected office she managed to get elected to. An innovator? Please. I don't think even her most rabid supporters can point to anything that resembles a fresh idea on any topic of the day. An outsider? Hardly, her record of cosy relations with Alaska's political establishment is mixed at best. And she's outside of the Beltway not for a lack of trying but for an inability to connect with all voters. An intellect? Please, she travelled through more towns to gain a college degree that a circus troop. A great debater? Please, she can't get past Katie Couric, and her venue of choice is the teenageland of Facebook. Shrill waters run shallow.
A good Republican? Please. Her support comes from the its our way or the highway eternally angry and dismayed fringe of the party. She is the Jesse Jackson of the Republicans, a person who could never win but who appeals to a vocal minority within her own party. In fact her greatest appeal to the fringe is that they can project upon her the idea that they would rather destroy the Republican Party than permit a Reagan-like appeal to the majority. And if she can shake some rubbles out of the rabble by her book sales, Sarah is all for it. Because Palin isn't interested in the Republican Party, she's interested in Sarah Palin.
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Reader Comments (61)
She's interested in her country and that is where he advantage lies.
The GOP should follow her example.
"They are motivated in great part by the enemy my of my enemy is my friend"
Correct. That and in some cases, their penises.
"Because Palin isn't interested in the Republican Party, she's interested in Sarah Palin."
Likewise Obama.
And that's the issue with modern politics, it's all about political ego, showmanship and precious little else.
Great post Mahons.
But I think she resigned as Governor of Alaska in order to clear the way for an early run for the GOP nomination, and so far it has worked a treat.
Is this site turning into a tangled web of Sarah Palin commentary?
"And that's the issue with modern politics, it's all about political ego, showmanship and precious little else."
Yes, this is the problem. And Americans perhaps more than most are a people that are sold by 60 second soundbites and a beautiful face. But there is so much to know, sometimes it seems to me that to decide intelligently necessitates degrees in politics and economics. I find it interesting that most of the stuff written in the above post could be substituted with the name Barack Obama.
Everybody is fascinated by her. Her problem is that the GOP might be reluctant to nominate her because there is a perception that she couldn't win a national vote. But she has time to overturn that perception. I wish her the best but if I was voting for a candidate to take on Obama tomorrow it would probably be Romney.
But in 2012 the election will be about Obama one way or the other. Either he'll beat anybody or anybody will beat him.
Mahons lives there and understands the political system. Sincerely, If I had a hat I'd take it off to you sir for your well presented diatribe.
"Because Palin isn't interested in the Republican Party, she's interested in Sarah Palin."
The only thing I feel qualified enough to add is,
don't most politicians -let alone commentators, think they're the ones with the answers?
But in 2012 the election will be about Obama one way or the other. Either he'll beat anybody or anybody will beat him.
Shrewd comment, Henry.
Olive
Thank you for commenting.
Mahons lives here and represents but one segment of America. Americans do not vote in lock-step, and Mahons pretense that he speaks for everyone except an angry fringe is bogus, and prehaps wishful thinking.
Mahons voted for Obama, and supports him still. It is no wonder that he has no appreciation for Palin or for the Conservative Movement.
Thank You Mahons.
Well folks there you have it every Democrat argument against Palin rolled into one post, and notice how in the entire post he didn't really go after a single position that she has taken.
No Mahons immediately goes to the teachings of personal destruction....LOL
From a group of People that have picked Harry Reid, Nasty Pelosi, and President Obama as their leaders, he feels qualified to choose ours.
Hahaha, Troll! Don't forget the Democrats also picked philanderer John Edwards ad of course snake oil sales guy, Al Gore!
Mahons is very attached to conventional wisdom. Sarah's book is titled "Going Rogue." It is entirely predictable that Mahons, and the many others like him - David Frum, for a real example of a RINO- react as they do.
Conventional wisdom meet the Rogue. Rogue say hello, and then goodbye to Conventional WIsdom.
Alison and others, as for self-reverence you are correct in that it is an attribute shared by most politicians, and not a trait that Palin is unique in displaying. However, I find it is all she has to offer whereas some other politicians offer self-reverence plus accomplishment and ideals.
David - If the GOP followed her example then they would all quit.
Peter - Thank you. I am not sure if she intends to run, but she does intend to stay in the limelight. Quitting helped her avoid having a serious record of performance in office.
Olive - And yet despite my handsome countenance my fellow Americans have yet to elect me President.
Phantom - We are going to rename the site A Tangled Palin for today.
Danny Boy - Good point about commentators. I'll tell it to my disciples.
Henry - I have the feeling that Obama does or does not get a second term based upon events that have yet to happen, in other words, it is early.
How long can this Cult of the Alaskan continue? They worship her like a God!
Troll - As Thomas Jefferson once said "everyone on television has an opinion, not all of them are as valid as mine." The group of people who have picked Obama as a leader happen to be those damned voters.
Another thought, LOL seems to be the only thing you can spell correctly with consistency. Perhaps you should limit your comments to that phrase.
Patty - I would wager you never said hello to wisdom of any kind.
However, I find it is all she has to offer whereas some other politicians offer self-reverence plus accomplishment and ideals.
Well, Mr I Am The One We Have Been Waiting For certainly doesn't lack for self-reverence.
I wonder, what were his accomplishments prior to November 2008?
Phantom: "They worship her like a God!" This is the first smart thing I've heard from an anti-Palinist to date.
Mahons: " I would wager you never said hello to wisdom of any kind" huh...Mahons, this ad hominem stuff is very childish.
Obama got subequently convicted Tony Rezko to help buy his house in Chicago. That's a fine accomplishment.
I wrote just a couple of days back about why the supporters of the Democrats are so very interested in getting the right person as the GOP's front-runner and why they will do all they can to 'help' the GOP to get the right candidate. Mahons comes up with this little ditty to show me as being correct.
Mahons, you wrote that if Palin became the GOP's presidential candidate that it would ensure a 2nd Obama term. Given that that is what you want, why are so concerned about Sarah Palin?
Pete - He had a rather slim resume which is why McCain's selection of the even slimmer resume of Palin undermined that issue. However, despite the slim resume Obama was clearly conversant in the national and international issues of the day (even if one disagrees with his positions). Palin has been out of her league from Day One.
Patty - I shift my tone of address depending on the person I am addressing.
Grizzly/Troll (Monica?)
I'm guessing by the spelling.
Somebody mentioned Ross Perot earlier, and there is a problem with outsiders getting elected.
Seems to me that no one who doesn't have the backing of their party's "elder statesmen" stands much of a chance.
Much as some of us may want to see Sarah do well, it will depend on whether she's not only got what it takes, (like Maggie Thatcher here in the UK), but she can also get the party to back her wholeheartedly.
Like here, there's a lot of vested interests involved...
Mahons
Yes, but would that be a BAD thing if they all quit? Maybe others could fill the vacated spaces.
Palin's problem is that she was not schooled in the smarmy, evasive, pol-speak. You could see her thinking about the quesion instead of going to th "well let me say this" phrase that slippery pols use. And she can gut moose. That should count for something!
hey Mahons what has Obama accomplished, either before or since winning office?
She can gut useless RINOS too, even better.
Charles - She wasn't even schooled in normal speak.
Troll - Avoided a National Depression and caused your personal depression to name two things.
David - But she is the RINO.
Mahons: regarding your childish ad hominems. you take the low road, I'll take the high road....
David: "She can gut useless RINOS too, even better."
hahaha! classic.
I think culling out the RINOs is an excellent idea. Scozzafafa (RINO) endorsed the Democrat when she pulled out of her race proving that RINOs are good only for the Dems.
Mahons, I have a feeling that people in Alaska would find New Yark speak odd as well!
The problem is how one defines RINO.
You get too pure, and it will be just you and Troll shouting on the street corner, waving your " Going Rogue " books!
If Palin does decide to run she is well positioned:
1.)Palin has 100% name recognition.
2.) Palin has been thoroughly vetted. No surprises to uncover. Example: 11 AP reporters "fact checked" her new book. I haven't heard any fact checking on AL Gore's claims now that I think of it. Or fact checking on Obama's 2 fictional novellas.
Charles - It isn't her accent, as you know.
Patty - I had no idea you were Scottish.
Mahons: 'i, laddy.
Do you think that she can attract any independents and thinking Democrats - and if she can't then how in the name of God are you gonna carry any states other than Texas, the South, and the unpopulated western states?
Palinites are delusional. Ain't happenin
"hey Mahons what has Obama accomplished, either before or since winning office?"
More than Palin?
The fact that he isn't unemployed probably is a better start than Palin's.
Huh?
She's making a lot of money on Amazon.com right now.
But she isn't doing anything. She is making money because she is famous. Thats about it. Obama has an actual job.
Obama has a job that involves being responsible for things for the first time in his life.
Yeah but he actually has that job. Palin doesn't have anything. She is a non entity.
Bullshit
She quit on her own terms.
That's as silly a comment as any by the " Palin Is God " from the ATW Palin Cargo Cult
LOL.
Yes. Palin means nothing.
Just keep telling yourselves that.
But while she is running around signing book deals and giving soundbites that neo liberals seem to want to touch themselves over, Obama is running the country. To say that he hasn't achieved more than Palin is just stupidity.
I'm more inclined to agree than disagree with Mahons here. I was willing to give Palin some time to impress me, but she hasn't done that. All she's done is convince me that she's a good celebrity, but not someone who can take on high office.
Seamus -
Before or since November 2008 - name one solid, unarguable, Obama achievement.
He has increased Health Insurance coverage for an additional 4 million children. I would consider that a huge policy success.
How has he ensured health cover for four million others?
Is he that wealthy and generous?
To Pete
Yes, I can name one accomplishement Obama has made: He has single-handedly set us down the merry path of being renamed the United Socialist States of America.
Scuse me sir
(vigorously tuggging my forelock at this point)
I said,
"....don't most politicians -let alone commentators, think they're the ones with the answers?
and you said,
"Danny Boy - Good point about commentators. I'll tell it to my disciples."
Well... I was kind of thinking of all us commentators
not just THE commentator!!
I know.
Is Danny Azir?
Re: Sarah Palin: She is nonsense personified.
She is claiming to be a maverick, commonsense type; but she wrote a book that stabbed Mc Cain in the back ( thank you John for propelling me onto the National Stage). She put the nail in her own political coffin by stabbing "A Washington insider" in the back for failing to make her most cherished wish come true' becoming a Washington Insider.
Her only redeeming feature for me, last year, was her hair. Wow, what happened to her locks- they are pure US trailer trash standard now. Oh wait.......