Palin in spotlight as Republicans turn on each other [FR mention]

guardian.co.uk ^ | Nov 8, 2008 | Oliver Burkeman in Washington

[Jim Robinson]

As the implosion of the defeated Republican campaign continued yesterday, the landscape of American conservatism was dotted with signs that these were very strange times indeed.

Rush Limbaugh, behemoth of rightwing radio, took to the airwaves to declare war on two enemies: Barack Obama and the Republican party. Bloggers at FreeRepublic.com, an internet hub for conservatives, announced a boycott of Fox News and John McCain's aides fell over one another to leak embarrassing details about the campaign to the press.

Liberals, indulging in what the writer Andrew Sullivan termed "Palinfreude", were presented with a smorgasbord, ranging from the tale of how McCain's pro-Palin foreign policy adviser had his Blackberry confiscated in the closing days of the race, to how the party had paid for Todd Palin's silk boxer shorts.

The fighting consuming the McCain and Palin camps threatened to derail broader efforts to overhaul the Republican party after Tuesday's decisive defeat, for which some insiders blamed Sarah Palin. Veterans of the right gathered in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, on Thursday for a summit on the movement's future, but even as they did so, the blame went on.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it is worse than I thought," Limbaugh told listeners. "What the Republican party, led by disgruntled and failed McCain staffers, is trying to do to Sarah Palin, is unconscionable ... There are country-club, blue-blood ... Republicans who want nothing to do with a firebrand conservative [who] can fire up people." He added: "We're going to be taking on two things here [over] the next four years: Obama, and our own party establishment."

John Fund, a Wall Street Journal columnist, said he had received multiple calls from campaign aides wanting "to use me as a conduit for their complaints".

[Jotmo]

the level of racist and unprofessional conduct among McCain staffers and rank and file supporters was very visible.

Bull Sh!t.

Let see the proof.

[Jotmo]

By the way, I see that you despise "social conservatives', and rant about them every chance you get. Without them, there is no Republican party.

If we kick the "social conservatives" to the curb as you want to, then we'll just be the Libertarian party, who, I note you voted for this election. Since your not even a Republican, or don't vote for them anyway, where do you get off telling us who to boot from the party.

So you're basically a Libertarian bashing Republicans because we're not the Libertarian party. You have a home in their party, so why are you bothering us?

And how's that lack of "social conservatives" working out for them? Advancing their agenda are they? Winning elections in landslides lately?

Give it a rest.

If that was the formula for success, the Libertarians would be kicking ass and taking names. It obviously isn't happening, so there must be something wrong with your formula.

[Matchett-PI]

"Have you met her, or have you been up close to see her speak?"

I have! Got to shake her hand and that of her husband, and also got her autograph. Whoo Hoo!! :)

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

>>Oh, it’s the customer’s fault if they don’t like the product! That’s what the GOP needs, enablers.<<

I wonder if "robert david" thinks we, "Right Wing Wackos," should be "purged." If the fact that I think that McCain wants to destroy this nation via amnesty makes me a "Right Wing Wacko," then I am proud to be one. See this post by "robert david":

The people who need to be purged are the far right wackos. They have destroyed the Party’s image in the minds’ of the American voters and given us an Obamanation.

Yes, I am aware that BO also wants amnesty. Before Palin, the choice was between the Scylla and the Charybdis. Palin gave some hope.

[duckln]

The media can ridicule anyone ad nausea, be it Reagan,Gingrich, Palin or Bush. So far she has beaten them at their own game. Why, because Palin did exceptionally well as evidenced by the her over whelming base support. Be it the rigged Couric/Gibson interviews, on the stump, or in challenging questions from interviewers, and responding to 'Africa' anonymous accusers.

She's encountered this before and that's why she's on top of the game. Probably the reason how she got elected Major and then Governor.

[o2bfree]

>I know how you really feel about John McCain....

Which one of our guys could have done better? Romney, Huckebee? not sure who would’ve been better than McCain.

[Chairman of the Bard]

That's fantastic. Every time I saw her speak (alas, on TV only), and every picture of her, I sensed service-minded, genuine, sincerity, humanity. What I found so sad was that rather than discovering who this woman is, what she stands for, what principles guide her, and what her accomplishments have been, the knee-jerk lefty press set out to destroy and characturize her. That's what they do to "threats" to Premier Obama. I am truly looking forward to Greta's upcoming interview on Fox. I do respect Greta a substantive questioner, and she will be far more inquisitive and fair. She will try to open Sarah up and discover what's inside. I hope that Sarah is not discouraged and jaded by this experience, and that she will be an outspoken leader for conservatism, one of the new faces along with Jindal, Pence, Eric Cantor and yes, Newt, to help revive this movement.

[I got the rope]

Duncan Hunter and Ron Paul.

[brityank]

Thanks for the info, Jim.

There is no way I will ever consider Resident Buttock Obummer as President. Much as I respect the Office, there is no way I can respect the man, as he has proven himself to be as worthy as Kerry the Traitor.

I hope Governor Palin remains involved in our national political system, as I know she is a strong Reagan-style executive I will support in any position she wishes to take.

[Gil4]

That was an awesome interview.

It was quite a contrast with the ...uh... Obama ...uh... press conference ...uh... ...um... where he talked about ...uh... seances ...um... and ...uh... Nancy Reagan. The dems always mocked Bush and said the wanted a president who could string a couple of words together. They are going to be disappointed about that anytime he doesn’t have a teleprompter.

Palin was the only one of the four candidates who was articulate without a teleprompter and could speak without making major gaffes.

[WinOne4TheGipper]

bttt