Posted on 04/17/2009 12:59:19 PM PDT by Monterrosa-24
Back in 1976 and early 1980 everybody knew about Ronald Reagan's political operatives. He had John Sears and Charlie Black. After they were fired we all learned about the late great Lee Atwater.
During Senator Jesse Helms early hard-fought campaigns his top political brains Carter Wreen and Tom Ellis developed a nationwide reputation for great campaign strategy.
But who does Governor Sarah Palin have who really thinks through her political fund spending decisions?. Perhaps there are many good thinkers with her. Does anyone know who has influence with her and her campaign tactics in Alaska?
“I want to be her National Security Adviser.”
Don’t we all?
No, seriously.
I believe John Bolton has been giving her advice on National security issues.
“...John Bolton has been giving her advice on National security issues...”
There were lots of great speeches at CPAC this year but Bolton’s was my favorite.
I hope you are right.....any evidence ??
I’ve been thinking about this. I know that Sarah has been loyal to some of her advisors there in Alaska, which is totally understandable. However, she is in the big leagues now. I think she should consider hiring some crack communications people who have experience managing high profile politicians/celebrities, etc. She should probably have at least one or two Washington insiders advising her as well. I’m not saying Sarah should change her ways - not at all - however, she would benefit from bring in some seasoned vets who are experienced and adept at handling figures of her stature.
I asked this same question when she became the VP nominee.
Yes, If she makes the big run she’ll need her reliables from AK plus new specialists and perhaps an executive like Rove or Wrenn.
He was very respectful and gave excellent advice. But dodged a question at the end when Kelly gave him an opportunity to say he was advising her.
But that was during the campaign....I hope today she picks up the phone and gets his ideas. He is a good man and a patriot. And no Rino or Vichy Republican.
I have no idea if this is true or not either but people have said they think Dick Morris is also advising after he visited AK and sat and spoke with Sarah Palin during an Alaskan cruise. People said he was taken by her and they spoke just the two of them for a good while.
Whether that’s completely true or not I have no idea but I’ve heard that several times.
Not likely. Sarah could have the second comings of Mother Teresa and Gandhi as her operatives and the press would find a way to demonize them.
Precisely. Rove was as much a lightning rod as he was a Grand Strategist. Without diminishing his role in Texas or in 2000 and 2004, there was a lot in play in Texas before GWB defeated the sorry Ann Richards. Phil Graham did as much or more to set the stage for Texas becoming a true two-party state beginning in 1982. Rove is given credit solely for this by the Press because they still can't get over GWB winning the Electoral battle in 2000 or his re-election in 2004. No, to them it must be some Black Magic, pulled off by some Wizard.
I think President Bush very likely intentionally played on this by giving Rove such a public profile. The Crazy Left gives Karl power to destroy New Orleans with Katrina, and leave it to Bush to "screw up" the rescue effort. Both are Grimm's Fairy Tales.
My guess is Governor Palin, if she has any true Wizard Wannabees in particular, is keeping them under a far lower profile, for their own protection.
Without overestimating either Helms, Bush, or Palin, it's important not to underestimate their savvy, also.
Tom Ellis, on the other hand, is not celebrated enough. But if you take him on as an adviser, you best not make it symbolic. Those he helps owe him a phone call, during a campaign, at least once or twice a week.
Back when I was a young awkward guy I went to a College Republican Fieldman School and learned some of the basics of political organizing from young Rove himself...he was then the College Republican Nat. Chairman. “If you can find six (GOP activists) who are real killers (energetic doers) you can take over a college campus” is what Rove taught us. We came pretty close at Univ. of Alabama with just four killers so I think Rove is right. Yet I've been surprised at the things that he is not conservative on.
Morris too seems to have a great understanding of political mechanics but is not oriented toward the philosophical side of conservatism. At least that is my impression.
“...Tom Ellis, on the other hand, is not celebrated enough. But if you take him on as an adviser, you best not make it symbolic...”
I agree and not only did Ellis put Helms and East in the Senate but as you know he and his apparatus gave Reagan his first primary win. Ellis as a mature part-timer could referee diferences between the candidate and his top young full-timer (Wrenn) and keep “all the slop moving in the same direction” as Ellis was fond of saying.
John Bolton was Gov. Palin’s foreign policy advisor during the campaign, they are on the same page with foreign affairs.
Basically, Gov. Palin is her own person, and why the Left wing, Libertarians, and the usual good old boys smear and bash her.
And if that were the case, I was concerned that McCain would assign her "people" who would not act in her best interest.
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