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Sarah Palin is not an enemy of the Republican Party
The Stockton Record ^ | November 19, 2010 | Ruben Navarrette

Posted on 11/19/2010 12:37:20 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

I promised myself that I'd stop defending Sarah Palin. But it's a hard habit to break.

While I found the former Alaska governor refreshing during the 2008 presidential campaign, she has been a disappointment since then. Instead of hitting the books and learning the issues, Palin ditched class, resigned her post and concentrated on making money. As a result, she doesn't seem any more informed now than she was when she exploded on the national scene two years ago. So she tries to get by with a wink and a smile - and the occasional slab of red meat for the GOP base.

Still, many of the attacks upon Palin are unfair and unwarranted - not to mention, eerily bipartisan. It's not enough that she has to put up with a steady stream of snarky criticism from liberal Democrats who obviously feel threatened by the rock-star greeting she gets from the throngs of people who turn out just to catch a glimpse of her at a speech, fundraiser, or book signing.

Those fans can see and hear from her this month with the release of her latest book, "America by Heart: Reflections on Family, Faith, and Flag" and the launch of her new television series, "Sarah Palin's Alaska," on The Learning Channel.

These days, Palin is also getting an icy reaction from conservatives who likewise feel threatened - this time, by what seems to be her bid for greater influence with Republicans in Washington. Recently, Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., a nine-term congressman, told members of a Chamber of Commerce in his district: "Sarah Palin cost us control of the Senate." With no evidence to back up the claim, Bachus insisted that the tea party candidates endorsed by Palin - specifically Christine O'Donnell in Delaware - were so weak that they torpedoed the GOP's chances to reclaim the Senate along with the House.

Really? Bachus may believe that Republicans had a realistic shot at capturing Vice President Joe Biden's old seat if they would have gone with Rep. Mike Castle. But since Castle was defeated by O'Donnell in the primary, we'll never know.

This sounds like just another excuse to bash Palin and the tea party movement, one that continues a thread started just days after the election when Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott caused a stir in GOP circles by telling Politico.com that Republicans had not nominated their best candidates in races that could have been more competitive.

How petty. Before this election, Republicans had become so accustomed to losing that even in victory, they still sound defeated. Instead of being pleased with a strong performance, some GOP lawmakers prefer to see the glass as half empty and portray themselves of victims of an insurgency by the tea party. They never consider the possibility that it was the tea party votes that allowed them to compete in the first place. Nor do they consider the possibility that the GOP establishment might be as much to blame as anyone for not winning control of the Senate.

In any case, what difference does it make why the Senate stayed in Democratic hands? All that matters is that it did. Republicans have to find a way to deal with this reality, and still have a hand in shaping public policy until they can reclaim the White House and/or the Senate in a future election. They should be looking forward and not backward.

Of course, Palin brings much of this criticism upon herself by tweaking her critics. Just recently, she posted on her Facebook page some friendly advice for the incoming Congress.

"Stick to the principles that propelled your campaigns," Palin said. She urged lawmakers to defund "Obamacare." Then, she said, they should cut spending, extend tax breaks, and increase border security. She also told them to "extend a hand to President Obama and Democrats in Congress."

The smart thing for establishment Republicans to do right now is to stop complaining and extend a hand to Sarah Palin.

She's not their enemy. And she can actually do them a lot of good by energizing the masses - the same people they like to think they represent but, in truth, barely recognize.


TOPICS: Issues; Parties; State and Local; U.S. Senate
KEYWORDS: 2010; 2012; palin; sarahpalin; teaparty
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Instead of hitting the books and learning the issues, Palin ditched class, resigned her post and concentrated on making money.

Nonsense.

41 posted on 11/19/2010 6:38:21 AM PST by Virginia Ridgerunner (Sarah Palin has crossed the Rubicon!)
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To: NoControllingLegalAuthority

I agree with you.


42 posted on 11/19/2010 6:51:19 AM PST by kabumpo (Kabumpo)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet; pissant
That's the funniest thing I've read since the last Iowahawk post. Have you been in a coma, a cave or overseas for the last 24 months?

Wow. You really brought out the nut-balls this morning 2DV. The only thing missing is Pissant (did you forget to ping him?).

43 posted on 11/19/2010 7:35:11 AM PST by NurdlyPeon (Sarah Palin: America's last, best hope for survival.)
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To: taxtruth

“Palin is a Ron Paul wannabe.”

Who is Ron Paul?


44 posted on 11/19/2010 7:38:53 AM PST by rbmillerjr (We knew the Romney RINO hordes were coming....It's on.)
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To: rbmillerjr

Heh. :)


45 posted on 11/19/2010 7:43:16 AM PST by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: All

2ndDivVet is a Palin supporter.

Read before you post.


46 posted on 11/19/2010 7:47:00 AM PST by rbmillerjr (We knew the Romney RINO hordes were coming....It's on.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
“That's the funniest thing I've read since the last Iowahawk post. Have you been in a coma, a cave or overseas for the last 24 months?! “

Why do I feel like I am on and dealing with a LIBERAL?

Insults, name calling and NO FACTS because there is NO SUBSTANCE to this Palin cult wont’ sway people who see her for what she is. Have her replace someone on the View or replace Steels and she'll shine. Beyond that, she will not win in a Presidential run.

She is as polarizing as Hitlery and there is no substance there. Palin is a good hearted but SHALLOW person. She's got a big mouth and I enjoy the put downs of the Demoncrats but she is too petty. We really should not want a tabloid like President that wastes her time on petty people such as always having a childish barb for Levi Johnson ....

If YOU want her, then YOU vote for and campaign for her.

I don't want her. I know we can do better. Her coy pretense that she is not doing this to run for President is idiotic. She wants to be President. That's fine but stop playing games and just state it.

47 posted on 11/19/2010 8:26:20 AM PST by nmh (Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God).)
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To: NoControllingLegalAuthority

Amen! I second that. Most people who do this either support someone else or do not know Palin and what she has done. You naysayers should quit following the herd and educate yourself about her.


48 posted on 11/19/2010 10:06:37 AM PST by chris_bdba
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Did you *really* have to copy me on that, 2nd? Here I am, quietly drinking my third cup of coffee, and I see “New Posts to You.” I click to pings, read that whopper - the one you were responding to - and HORK! Coffee all over my keyboard. Ya owe me a new one!

LOL.


49 posted on 11/19/2010 10:11:11 AM PST by piytar (There is evil. There is no such thing as moderate evil. Never forget.)
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To: Company Man
What is a "concern troll"? At least it's original...

< me snickering behind your back >

8^D

50 posted on 11/19/2010 2:35:22 PM PST by Gargantua (I prefer a Shitake reduction with butter, sauterne, a pinch of basil and balsamic)
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To: nmh
If she's a shallow person with "no substance," how in God's name did she accomplish all those amazing reforms in half a term as Governor, while running for VP and having baby?

Perhaps your prejudice is covering up what might otherwise be your fair, logical, intelligent appraisal of her.

Or, you might just actually be an imbecile. Hard to say. One thing is for sure: Sarah Palin will be our next president, with or without the support of imbalanced imbeciles.

8^D

51 posted on 11/19/2010 2:41:31 PM PST by Gargantua (I prefer a Shitake reduction with butter, sauterne, a pinch of basil and balsamic)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

You are being accused of being a Sarah Palin concern troll! Haha!

I have now seen everything...!


52 posted on 11/19/2010 2:42:57 PM PST by kroll
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To: Gene Eric; 2ndDivisionVet
We're all concerned about him being concerned........and if you're not concerned, you should be concerned about not being concerned.

Glad I clarified my concerns.......

53 posted on 11/19/2010 2:46:14 PM PST by Lakeshark (Thank a member of the US armed forces for their sacrifice)
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To: nmh
Read the improbable but factual litany of her accomplishments in post #28, which she did in half a term as Governor, wherein she also ran for VP and had a baby, and tell us this again with a straight face:

"She is as polarizing as Hitlery and there is no substance there. Palin is a good hearted but SHALLOW person."

Are you brain dead? Can you even tie your own shoes? Remarkable. Add to this list the reforms and policies she instituted during her full term as Energy Commissioner and then later during her full term as Mayor of Wassilla, and you see the over a decade-long pattern of a dynamic, unstoppable political powerhouse like this country has never seen before.

Ever.

This is why the truth about Palin makes all her anti-Palin-mantra mumbling detractors look like such ass-wad morons. The facts just paint you as either a complete dimwit, or worse, someone who lets emotions control your perceptions... a truly dangerous vote; the kind that got O'Bunghole elected.

;-\

54 posted on 11/19/2010 2:53:22 PM PST by Gargantua (I prefer a Shitake reduction with butter, sauterne, a pinch of basil and balsamic)
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To: Lakeshark
I'm concerned that, concerning this concern thing, people just arent more concerned.

;^D

55 posted on 11/19/2010 2:55:41 PM PST by Gargantua (I prefer a Shitake reduction with butter, sauterne, a pinch of basil and balsamic)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
All right, I give. Enough of your friends have informed me that you really do support Gov. Palin.

So tell me, as a Palin supporter, why did you choose to post an article from a left leaning source that pretends to defend her before bashing her plenty in the first paragraph, with no explanatory comment of your own?

56 posted on 11/19/2010 7:03:53 PM PST by Company Man
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To: Company Man

If I only posted threads that were 100% pro-Palin you wouldn’t know who I was. I try and show the fear and loathing she generates in the Left & RINOs/Country Clubbers, and in the case of this article, how she is taking so much abuse that even Rueben is telling them to scale it down. You may not know it, but I have already pledged to raise $2 million dollars if she runs. That is no mere pipe dream: I was able to raise over $40,000 for Fred Thompson in the short time he was in the running and fundraised for the GOP in the 1980’s. I was an Iowa advance man for Al Haig in 1987-88 and worked with Steve Forbes later on.


57 posted on 11/19/2010 7:10:34 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (Every decent man is ashamed of the government he lives under. ~Mencken)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I think I would raise a million bucks if she nominated Fred for veep :)


58 posted on 11/19/2010 11:45:57 PM PST by Company Man
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To: Company Man

He could be her “Cheney” so to speak. I see Bolton as Secretary of State, maybe Patreus at Defense or the VA...


59 posted on 11/19/2010 11:49:55 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (Every decent man is ashamed of the government he lives under. ~Mencken)
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To: Company Man; 2ndDivisionVet

The poster is a staunch supporter of Governor Palin.


60 posted on 11/20/2010 1:11:32 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist (The Republic of the United States of America)
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