Cheers!
Posted on 02/13/2010 8:31:36 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Sarah Palin has proved that she can draw a crowd. What she has yet to demonstrate is that she can translate the appeal of a phenomenon into a political force that can attract or mobilize sizable numbers of voters.
The former Alaska governor is the Republican Party's biggest celebrity. She has given voice to a grass-roots movement grounded in anger with Washington and President Obama's policies. But her political future remains in question. Is she presidential timber? A force only within the Republican Party? A protest candidate like George Wallace (minus the racial divisiveness) or Ross Perot?
--snip--
"Right now, she is a figure like [George] McGovern or [Barry] Goldwater, two candidates who led the most intense movements in our country's political history, but who couldn't win the middle."
If Palin harbors presidential ambitions, she has a huge mountain to climb. A new Washington Post-ABC News poll found that 71 percent of Americans do not think the politician who was Sen. John McCain's running mate in 2008 is qualified to be president.
Those numbers are so daunting that some Republicans who otherwise admire what she has accomplished doubt that she will run in 2012. Others say that unless she can transform attitudes dramatically, she cannot hope to win a general election. Still, GOP strategist Phil Musser said, "if she ran for president today, she would be the Republican nominee."
Musser's comments are notable because he is an adviser to Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R), who is eyeing a 2012 candidacy of his own. Palin's political future remains "very much an open question," Musser said, "but the intensity that she brought to the ticket in 2008 hasn't faded, and one could argue that perhaps it's been enhanced."(continued)
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
But sometimes I wonder why the Republicans (including some here on FreeRepublic) behave the same way as Democrats.
Considering all she's been through, and the gracious way she's handled all the attacks (especially the personal ones) I would have thought that people here and elsewhere on the right would be a little less short sighted and have a more positive outlook on her potential for the future.
I guess there's just no pleasing some folks.
Oh well. I think she's doing fine, and she certainly has learned a lot since she was thrown into the national spotlight, what with the liberal media in a feeding frenzy, thanks to John McCain's weak candidacy.
Cheers!
Wouldn’t we love it if honesty really could trump gender anywhere and especially in D.C.?
12 years ago it was. Even Deep In the Hurtgen Forest was civilly removed.
Hahaha! No, I’m going to fundraise for the governor. I was able to raise a little over $40,000 for Fred Thompson in the short time he was in the running, so I have no fear that I can put together a million or two for Palin.
Palin would win today, if the election were held today.
The media is trying push polling, party splitting, and lying forty ways from Sunday to reduce the existing support for Sarah Palin.
They are flooding Free Republic and every other internet forum with plants to seed their back-handed compliments, followed by "I just don't think she can win."
The truth is that she is already winning, and by a wide margin.
These media polls so far out are designed to drive public opinion, not reflect it.
yes
Ah...memories. Wonder whatever happened to that guy. He sure made chumps out of us for awhile.
Why don’t you give us lessons on how to go about getting those donations and bundling them?
For the most part I am!
Thank you for the positive reminder. I also remember Goldwater and that makes me less positive. However, I don’t recall that he was as charismatic as Sarah.
What is it the Indians say? Whatever doesn’t kill me makes me stronger...
But I have no patience for jerkicidity. I just made that up. I like it. Credit me if you use it.
i am not a media plant nor any other kind of plant, but i really do not think she can win... and i really am not convinced she'd make a good US President... however, i do like her... and i would vote for her if she were the Republican nominee... and i was excited to vote for McCain only when she joined his ticket... before she came along, i just couldn't believe my choices were McCain or Obama... the more i hear her, the less i think she will win... i guess i'm just a skeptic... but i am not against her...
I’ve been asked that before here and I’m working on a thread. Stay tuned.
No, I think what they said was, “What no kill, make strong.” (ducking) Seriously, I’ve been saying that all my life and I got it from my grandfather who was half indian.
she has ALREADY overcome it. do you think they do not have folders of information not used yet on Mitt, or TPAw or Newt?
Palin’s folders have been used all the damage done. her support has only gone up in the last 8 mothns. she has already tested her base and has a strong 36-40% base.
for example since wall Street is at about hitler level support on main street do you think the MSM will simply forget that Mitt was/is part of wall street?
How will a story a day on Mitt’s ties to wall street from the convention to the election play on main street? I’m sure the MSM would never publish leading stories that would suggest Mitt did not have “shady” connections to his wall street “pals” while at the same time Obama is out everyday bashing wall street and claiming to be a man of the people which the MSM will write up with glee.
there is so many lines of attack that MSM will use on ANY GOP candidate to save Obama.
Palin has already gone thru that and is still standing. after you throw the kitchen sink there is nothing left.
Palin makes teflon look weak when it comes to political attacks.
He sure did. So did the chick (who turned out to be a guy)who saw rainbows around the sun. ClassyGreenEyedGirl!
Seems like I’ve heard my former Marine husband say something like that from time to time.
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