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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: chris_bdba

“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.”

AS for me, I let Sarah Palin “educate” me about herself.

In fact I have her sudio book, Going Rogue, unabridged. I had to alugh out loud when she complained about the “ole boy network” in Alaska and how the ole boys would “scratch the back of the other ole boys”. Well, I see Sarah Palin doing the same darn thing. She WANTS to be [part of the “ole boy network” and proved it by “scratching the back” of McPain by advocating and campaigning for him.

Sarah ahs major issues. She claims to be a Title 9 female. She is against abortion but has the other chip on the shoulder women have. It’s ALL about her, being a FEMALE. It’s ALL abouther “shaking things up” but when the going gets tough, she pulls out - like a HALF term governor of a state of ONLY 600,000. Come on!


61 posted on 11/21/2010 7:54:28 AM PST by nmh (Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God).)
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To: nmh

What a sexist thing to say. I don’t think there is much chance os ever eduacting something like yourself.


62 posted on 11/21/2010 10:47:29 AM PST by chris_bdba
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To: nmh

What a sexist thing to say. I don’t think there is much chance of ever educating something like yourself.


63 posted on 11/21/2010 10:47:51 AM PST by chris_bdba
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To: chris_bdba
“What a sexist thing to say. I don’t think there is much chance of ever educating something like yourself.”

No it's not a “sexist thing to say”.

It's the truth. Sarah Palin is very preoccupied with being a feminist. To her it's all about being FEMALE and REJECTING traditional family values. We also didn't name out kids after OBJECTS either.

For example in her book, Going Rogue, she takes great pride in detailing how she and Todd eloped. They need two witnesses so Todd suggested they get two people from the old folks home across the street who were not in “wheel chairs.” Well she rounded up to people - one with a cane and one in a wheel chair. Next she chuckles that she tells her kids NOT TO ELOPE! It was upsetting to both parents when all they received was a bouquet and a note they married. While the families got along together, each wanted them to have a proper wedding.

Next look at Bristol. I'll leave the unwed mother stuff alone ... what does Bristol do? A similar thing - announced a doomed engagement through a magazine. So in the Palin household it's more like DO as I (Sarah) SAY; NOT as I (Sarah) DO. Her kids were raised with untraditional family values and will follow through on them.

Palin wasn't to be super mom and serve to masters. It doesn't work and in her situation it is her kids that get neglected. Bristol is an example of the neglect and rebellion. Any woman with a career KNOWS this is true. They just don't want to admit it and want to believe that showering kids with MATERIAL things makes up for their absence. It doesn't work.

It doesn't take numerous chats with Levi to see what he is about ... . Hands on parents would have gotten rid of loser, Levi long ago. Again, no one was around. Todd is a UNION man working for BP on the north slope and Sarah was busy running around in various forms of public office. It was all about HER.

OTOH, take someone like Condi Rice. She doesn't need to flaunt her GENDER or her SKIN COLOR. Condi has a BRAIN and a presence about her. Condi is an articulate intelligent woman that doesn't need the chip on the shoulder props to stir EMOTION - gneder or skin color as Sarah Palin needs to do. It's NOT about Condi as it is with Sarah Palin.

Contrast Condi Rice with Palin. yes, it's ALL about Sarah Palin, the “female” that does what she claims to despise - like be part of the “ole boys”. What does SARAH PALIN do? Why “scratch the back of McPain by endorsing, campaigning and advocating him as Senator. THIS is precisely what she CLAIMS to be AGAINST.

McPain is a disgrace. I truly can't decide who is worse - Lindsey Graham, Orin Hatch or McPain. Off the hip, I'd say McPain since he loves FACE TIME in the media more than the others. How could anyone who “claims” to be a “conservative” endorse a lefty like McPain? They DON'T. Sarah Palin is NOT a conservative. At best she is a Populist with LIBERAL social values. We really don't need more of that.

OTOH, take someone like Condi again, she could tout, hey I'm a BLACK FEMALE and CONSERVATIVE and LOOK at my “accomplishments”. Condi doesn't do that but when she speaks, people listen to the SUBSTANCE she offers. Condalezza Rice, with ease does circles around Sarah Palin. Palin LACKS substance. Palin will give you all the rah rah stuff and go to great lengths to prove how nontraditional she is.

I know we can do better than Palin. I'll wait and see who the OTHER contenders are. Sarah Palin's preoccupation with feminism isn't MY issue -it’s Sarah Palin’s issue to work out. I'm simply pointing out Sarah Palin has “issues” that most of us have moved on from.

I don't care if you believe me or not, but I don't care if a President is a woman or not. What I require is someone who has SUBSTANCE and isn't a kook with similar problems that Obama has - it's all about HER. Let Palin do her snipping and attacking but let's not make her another laughing stock President who isn't ready for prime time yet.

We don't need another form of Obama with A DIFFERENT twist on the other side of the fence. It's time to get a traditional person, that loves their country and LIVES what they believe and their life shows it.

I find too many exaggerated claims by Palin, in her book, Going Rogue, and hypocrisy in what she likes NOW versus how she actually LIVES her life. If you are impressed with her fine. We can coexist and I don't need to NAME CALL YOU. I stick to the topic of Palin and show where I find her unimpressive.

I find that most Palin supporters can't restrain themselves from acting like emotionally disturbed liberals who can not tolerate anyone sho disagrees with them. So go ahead, endorse Palin. It's okay with me!

It's a shame that Sarah Palin has become an EMOTIONAL issue rather than a civil debating of the issues.

64 posted on 11/21/2010 12:03:05 PM PST by nmh (Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God).)
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To: dsc
Sarah Palin is the *only* acceptable candidate for the presidency.

Sure sign of a "Dear Leader" cult. I don't think Sarah would want to belong to such a cult. There are many qualified leaders in the GOP that would be great alternatives to reelecting Hussein. I will vote for any one of them that gets the nomination. I would hate to see Sarah get it only to lose in the general election. If she does get it I will support her. She is not my first choice.

65 posted on 11/25/2010 3:09:04 PM PST by af_vet_1981 (The bus came by and I got on, That's when it all began,)
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To: af_vet_1981

“Sure sign of a “Dear Leader” cult.”

Bilgewater. It is a sign that the RINO elite works to keep decent people from becoming candidates.

“There are many qualified leaders in the GOP that would be great alternatives to reelecting Hussein.”

Only in the sense that a steaming pile of bloody rat dung would be a great alternative to reelecting the Kenyan Commie.

Absolutely no GOP leaders are visible at present, other than Governor Palin.

“I would hate to see Sarah get it only to lose in the general election.”

Same rot that people were saying about Ronald Reagan. If she does get the nomination, she will win in a landslide the like of which hasn’t been seen since Ronaldus Magnus.

“She is not my first choice.”

None of the alternatives are people of sterling character, and a spoonful of character is worth an ocean of experience.


66 posted on 11/26/2010 1:45:57 AM PST by dsc (Any attempt to move a government to the left is a crime against humanity.)
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To: dsc
Absolutely no GOP leaders are visible at present, other than Governor Palin.

The GOP has a deep bench of experience and viability. Many of them are certainly more qualified to be POTUS than Hussein, and arguably than Palin who resigned after about 2 years in office.

Same rot that people were saying about Ronald Reagan. If she does get the nomination, she will win in a landslide the like of which hasn’t been seen since Ronaldus Magnus.

Ronald Reagan was governor of California, the 11th largest economy in the world, for 8 long years. I think he had a bit more experience than Sarah, and he brought electoral votes. Last I checked the people of Alaska had soundly rejected Sarah's protege for Senate. As much as I like Palin, I don't see her as the GOP's best choice and find her fans to be increasingly cult-like. I wouldn't mind of course, were she to win. I would mind exceedingly if this foolishness provided Hussein with four more years. That must not happen.

67 posted on 11/26/2010 2:08:55 PM PST by af_vet_1981 (The bus came by and I got on, That's when it all began,)
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To: Company Man; 2ndDivisionVet
I think we just took some friendly fire hits.

2ndDivisionVet is pro-Palin (unless today's massive barrage of PDS articles finally convinced him otherwise).

68 posted on 11/26/2010 2:27:17 PM PST by meadsjn (Sarah 2012, or sooner)
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To: nmh
She is as polarizing as Hitlery and there is no substance there.

Yes, Palin is polarizing, and that is exactly what this country needs, and that is exactly what the majority of voters nationwide just demonstrated that they want.

You are dead wrong on the lack of substance. You keep repeating the same MSM propaganda, and you have not read or listened to anything Palin has written or said.

69 posted on 11/26/2010 2:37:48 PM PST by meadsjn (Sarah 2012, or sooner)
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To: af_vet_1981

“The GOP has a deep bench of experience and viability.”

‘Samatta, afraid of the “C” word?

Character. It’s all about character, in principio, et nunc, et in saecula saeculorum. All the “experience and viability” in the world aren’t a drop in the ocean without character.

Character can succeed—and has often succeeded—without your “experience and viability,” but without character, you only get the likes of Jumpin’ Jim Jeffords, Pimpin’ Newt Gingrich the serial abandoner of sick wives, Juan McLame, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

Governor Palin is the only suitable candidate.

“Many of them are certainly more qualified to be POTUS than Hussein”

A sack of leper butts is more qualified to be president than the Kenyan commie.

“and arguably than Palin who resigned after about 2 years in office.”

General quarters, general quarters, set material condition Zebra throughout the site. CIC has incoming Demonrat talking points. Stand by for nasty rolls.

Whether a person supports Governor Palin or—stupidly—does not, I cannot believe that a conservative would actually use that particularly vile clump of snot from Satan’s nose in an argument.

I’m not even going to explain to you why that argument is completely without merit—nay, dumber than a box of hammers and more dishonest than an Acorn meeting—because I don’t believe you don’t already know.

“Ronald Reagan was governor of California, the 11th largest economy in the world, for 8 long years.”

I don’t hear anybody running down governors of Rhode Island or Delaware because their states are so small. I think Alaska is...oh, yeah, bigger than California, with significant resources to manage.

“I think he had a bit more experience than Sarah”

See if you can force yourself to utter the word, “character.” If it feels like you’re actually going to injure yourself, though, give it up. Reagan had character in spades, and so does Governor Palin.

Governor Moonbeam has been elected governor of Califoria for the third time. Looks like he’s more qualified to be president than Reagan, by your standards.

“and he brought electoral votes.”

If a person doesn’t bring character, they can’t come. That’s the rule, and it’s one we’ve been ignoring for too long. No character, no vote. The only GOP politician who demonstrates even the tiniest scintilla of character is Governor Palin.

“Last I checked the people of Alaska had soundly rejected Sarah’s protege for Senate.”

My God, you are a democrat, aren’t you?

I would invite you to look into the subject of election fraud, which seems to have escaped your notice.

“I don’t see her as the GOP’s best choice”

How fortunate for our country that you are mistaken.

“and find her fans to be increasingly cult-like.”

I don’t get the daily democrat talking-points email. I guess this is one way to keep up with what’s in it.

“That must not happen.”

Better that than that the Opposition-in-Name-Only, the RINO operated GOP, should foist another “communist tyranny in 20 years, not 10” president on us.

Victory is the only option. If not now, when? When are we going to stop voting for the “candidate” that the party elite tells us is most “electible,” and start voting for the best person for the job?


70 posted on 11/27/2010 12:41:11 AM PST by dsc (Any attempt to move a government to the left is a crime against humanity.)
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To: meadsjn

“Yes, Palin is polarizing, and that is exactly what this country needs, and that is exactly what the majority of voters nationwide just demonstrated that they want.”

True. The very word “polarizing” is a lie, in that context.

What does a lying demonrat (as though there were any other kind) mean by “polarizing?”

It means only that a person of principle inspires opposition to the leftist agenda. That’s all. It is a bad thing only from their perspective, and no one should have the slightest concern for their perspective.

When a RINO uses the term, it just means that he is in a snit because that opposition is interfering with his attempts to give the leftists their way.


71 posted on 11/27/2010 12:47:46 AM PST by dsc (Any attempt to move a government to the left is a crime against humanity.)
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