Posted on 06/01/2012 7:06:12 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Regardless of the political affiliation or level of engagement of a person’s community, most people would be hard pressed to find someone unfamiliar with the name Sarah Palin.
A dynamic and polarizing figure who was often the subject of scrutiny and target of political satire, Palin is the former Alaska governor and vice presidential contender that Americans either love or hate.
The ambivalence she’s inspired in the nation after numerous gaffes and missteps along the way in 2008 has not lessened much over the past four years since her time in the spotlight.
She has also become a figurehead on the prow of the USS Tea Party, a conservative movement responsible for causing its own political divides throughout the nation and keeping her name in a place of prominence.
The fallout from what some have called a disastrous performance during the 2008 election continues to this very day.
Perhaps the most notable and timely example is the repeated appearance of her name in speculations regarding the choice of running mate for official GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney – usually mentioned as a moral, the personification of a lesson to be learned.
The continued factoring of Palin into such conversations leads many to wonder – how do her words and actions affect politics in 2012, four years after her candidacy?
Her influence is not to be negated outright – after all, as Politico pointed out earlier this week, Palin has made several successful endorsements recently, such as Senate hopeful Deb Fischer of Nebraska and Indiana Treasurer Richard Mourdock. Her support has been perceived to be something of a game-changer for candidates on the receiving end of it, and in a positive way.
She also lent support to Rick Santorum, before ultimately dropping out of the race.
Joanne Bamberger, manager of Pundit Mom and an author of the book “Mothers of Intention,” feels that her influence does exist, but will likely stay isolated to a small sect of the American populace.
“I think her positive is her negative – she is still going to appeal to the really committed Tea Party supporters,” she said to CBSDC. “But if you’re talking about the presidential race, Senate races, local races, whatever they are, the Tea Party is an uber-conservative, small minority of people voting.”
She additionally noted that a Palin endorsement smacks somewhat of Karl Rove-ian politics, in the strategy of appealing to niche voters and galvanizing a passionate but ultimately small sect of Americans toward a candidate, rather than appealing to a larger, broader base of constituents.
Barbara Kellerman, a James MacGregor Burns Lecturer in Leadership of the Kennedy School at Harvard University, agreed when she spoke with CBSDC.
“She remains attractive, sure – in every sense of the world – appealing to many people ideologically and personally,” she said. “But those people are increasingly very much in the minority, very much among the right wing of the Republican Party.”
Added Kellerman, “Are there people in the United States who pay attention to her? Sure. Is her political clout even within a remote distance to what it was a couple of years ago? The answer is no.”
As for Palin’s influence on the selections of a running mate for Romney, both Kellerman and Bamberger see Romney steering clear of a wild card such as Palin.
“I think the level of consciousness regarding the mistake the McCain campaign made … (will cause) the Romney campaign to make extreme efforts to distance itself from it,” Kellerman said. “They will seek someone politically skilled, serious, somber, adult, mature … someone no one will question as a solid pick for the vice presidential slot, who in the event of a calamity would be fit to be president.”
She added, “There has really been an evolution from 2008, a gradual recognition and nationwide acknowledgement of the reckless pick by the McCain campaign. Few defend it anymore – some may have in 2008 and 2009, even 2010, but not in the last year or two.”
Bamberger envisions a male running mate for Romney, but for different reasons.
“Lots of people are saying that Romney has to pick a woman as a running mate because of the perceived war on women, but if I were a betting woman, I would say that he would steer clear of any women and pick someone he is most comfortable with,” she said. “[Not] because of Palin – he’ll choose the extreme opposite of Palin because that’s who Romney is. He’ll pick someone very much like him, in the mold of George H.W. Bush picking Dan Quayle. Another white guy … with a similar background who is not going to overshadow Romney.”
Yep and Paling isn't running or accepting until she gets a full cycle between the McCain give-the-presidency-away debacle. I thouhg tMcCain was a terrible choice, but we'd be suffering a lot less damage if he had won - of course a 4-year association with him would have runined Palin for the future...
Well, doncha just wish, now, sweetie?
Not a bit of left wing bias in this story. Right down the old middle. Totally objective.
Are you sure Allen West is conservative enough? According to Heritage, his voting record is more liberal than John McCain.
the only choice that would make m vote for him now is Newt Gingrich
Joe Biden?
She is STILL in their heads....
If Romney wants to win, he'll pick Palin.
McCain picked Palin and he didn't win the women vote.
McCain picked Palin and he didn't win.
NO!!
I would be shocked if he didn't pick Rubio. I really can't imagine a more practical choice for Romney. Rubio brings a lot to the ticket.
It isn't even that high yet to drop to it.
While suffering from PDS, you better get off your fat a** to get your pro baby killing/pro same sex marriage POS CULT leader get elected.
Wrong! GOD FIRST!
“He’d be a fool if he didn’t pick Rubio. “
I think the decision has already been made, and it WILL be Rubio. I watched O’Reilly interview him last week and although no words from him gave any indication, his demeanor did. I know he’s hated by the ABR folks here, but I think we could do a lot worse.
Roseanne Barr?
Wrong! GOD FIRST!
You are correct. .
“numerous gaffes and missteps”
Hey you scumbag piece of shzz. Tell me what all the numerous gaffes and missteps were, you piece of shzz?
“numerous gaffes and missteps”
Hey you scumbag piece of shzz. Tell me what all the numerous gaffes and missteps were, you piece of shzz?
Hey presently, you don’t know me, but let me tell you I have been a mittens hater since before he was the governor o MA. I thought he was a D Bag, empty suit back then, and nothing has changed since.
While Sarah is not as bad as Mitt in terms of being a limelight stealing politician, she does ok on her own. It’s not PDS, it is pragmatic. A large number of independent voters have a visceral hate of Sarah. Her dance last winter and her coy, cutesy crap might play on the farm...but it doesnt play in any of the states we need to win.
I care only about winning the Senate and keeping the house. I would like to see the TP house seats doubled, the weaklings running both houses tossed to the side of the road, and the emergence of some person with the balls to move this country forward.
That is neither Mitt or Sarah.
Yuu calling it coy cutesy crap and you have NO IDEA what went on. You were PDS before she decided not to run. Who you freaken' trying to kid, you got dementia or something?
Don't compare that POS CULT leader pro baby killer same sex marriage with SARAH PALIN! I'll remind you, again, if I see that COY CUTESY dance of yours, again.
YOU are type that will end up with what you deserve - s**t!
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