Posted on 07/05/2009 9:20:18 AM PDT by jpsb
I am really enjoying the pundits bewilderment over the calculus of Sarah Palin's resignation as governor of Alaska. I just want to point out that Sarah said she is seeking a higher calling and not a higher office. Observe also that she does not believe one needs a title to be an effective agent for change. Both comments indicate to me that her resignation is not, by design, the beginning of a national campaign for President of the United States.
But just for grins, lets pretend Sarah is crazy like a fox as Bill Crystal suggests and that she is pursuing a strategy to win the presidency. There is very little reason to believe this is the case, but it is fun to play what if so .......
The one thing that truly terrifies our ruling elites is the outsider populist. The oligarchy is only really threatened when an outsider populist gains enough support to become a viable candidate. This shall not be allowed to stand!
We've seen a couple of populists campaigns in resent decades, Ross Peroit and Pat Bucainin. And while both campaigns failed they certainly showed that if done correctly with perfect timing the opportunity is there. Peroit's timing was excellent, however he lost all creditability when he dropped out of the race and then for the lamest of reasons re entered the race a few weeks later. Pat's timing was not nearly as good and the Government Media had already ruined his reputation as punishment for opposing Bush 1 in 1988 with a populist GOP primary campaign.
Enter Sarah Palin.
If Peroits timing was excellent in 2000, Sarah timing would be perfect in 2012. Conservatives are leaving the GOP in droves, Democrats have turned into out right Marxist, leaving many Reagan Democrat with no place to go. Independents are by definition fed up with both parties. Add to the mix the cratering economy, sky rocking unemployment, deficients though the roof and extreme anger at using tax payer monies to bail out thieves on wall street. If a populist can't win in 2012 a populist can never win.
Sarah said she is going to work for values candidates regardless of party label, sounds like a populist to me. And what are her values?
smaller government, free enterprise, strong national security, support for our troops, and energy independence
I'd buy that for a dollar and I am certain she can expand on this list. She also has a history of taking on the entrenched corrupt bureaucrats in government. She cleaned up government in Alaska. So she can legibly claim to be an effect reformer. She is already in a much better position then either Peroit or Bucainen for a populist 2012 effort and it is only 2009.
So if this is the plan or even if it is only a contingency plan, how does she best proceed .
First and foremost DO NOT TELL ANYONE THIS IS THE PLAN! Should the oligarchy even think for one second Sarah was considering going populist they would throw EVERYTHING they have at her. Think her press is bad now? You ain't seen nothing yet. Think her legal battles are bad now? You ain't seen nothing yet. The oligarchy has weapons we don't even know about. So it is a must that Sarah stay mainstream as long as possible.
Second she must gain as many connected allies as possible, by connected I mean other like minded elected politicians. This she can do by campaigning for them in the very difficult upcoming 2010 election. She needs to build a base of support that also has a voice in the media. Once the attacks start she will need defenders those voices can not be ignored by the media. The more supporters the better, support from corporate and main street America will also be needed. Number three should insure this.
Third she will need an agenda that address promoting her values in a meaningful way. Clever sound bites and nice speeches will not get the job done. She will need at the very least an outline of a plan to achieve smaller government, free enterprise, strong national security, support for our troops, and energy independence. Of the three this should be the easiest. There are a number of very bright patriotic American she can consult with and formulate a plan with. Steve Forbes for example would be excellent on monetary policy and the economy. In fact he's make a great VP for Sarah. Lol, shameless Steve Forbes plug.
Obstacles:
There is really only one obstacle to implementing the plan and that is Sarah herself, does she have the temperament to take the unbelievable heat that would surely come. If she did not really crack under fire in Alaska and really did resigned to take the battle to the enemy then maybe. If not forget it Sarah, don't even think about it.
Does she have the intellect to formula a plan for the nation and the ability to defend and explain her ideas. Anything she puts forward is going to be riped to pieces and she's got to both defend it and explain it to the American people . She's got to have the ability to get her message out through a howling hurricane of media noise. That will require and very smart, very savvy lady that always stays on message and is not distracted by detractors.
Fortunately if she campaigns for others in 2010 she will get plenty of practice in getting her message out and plenty of experience in handling the hack media. She'll also be exposed the many diverse points of view on what is best for the nation, that is always a plus if she keeps her mind open.
Well there is my what if for Sarah Palin and 2012. It is of course sheer fantasy, but it was fun to write and I hope you found it fun to read. For what it is worth I hope this blind squirrel stumbled upon a nut and something similar is going through Sarah head. Personally I am convinced that Sarah is not looking at the GOP for 2010, way to much bad blood there. IMHO her only real option with any chance of success is the above.
Speak the truth and the progressives head will explode.
All the answers eh? Well....please help this benighted soul. Do you have a specific statement that she made about abolishing the DOEs or auditing the Fed.
. Did you turn red and stamp your feet when you wrote that? Intersting style of debate, there.
Lol, now that would be fun to watch.
Well, I’M backing her!
Besides support from you and me, viable candidates have to have a strong entourage of backers, angels (money), politicians/businessmen with influence and plans.
She’s gotta have a longterm plan already in place. Betcha someone helped her come up with it and I suspect the plan has teeth in it.
I hope it’s good.
She might find an appointed position (Secretary of Energy?) in the next GOP administration, however.
You are confusing neo-cons with real conservatives. Common mistake. Statement should read: "I am routinely amazed at the neo-cons' willing ability to delude themselves."
She had me at “May I call you Joe?”
Sarah is now unelectable on a national stage. The quitter specter will hang around her neck like swimmer does to Ted Kennedy.
You are invited to post the names of 10 real people who were totoally pro-”Sarah 2012” voters who have now changed their minds about her because she is a “quitter.” LOL. Are they all gonna back Charlie Crist in ‘12 now! LOL
It could be different this time if Obama was really disliked by 2012 and the GOP put up a loser candidate (which is a real possibility).
Imagine that going into 2008 there was someone as well known and well liked as Sarah Palin but who had been driven to the outer edge of her own party by hack insiders who made McCain the nominee (as hack insiders actually did). And imagine that all else between McCain and Obamsky remained equal but that Palin entered the race as a third option, running an indie candidacy. She might have gotten close to 30 percent of the vote in many states because it is that many people who persistently ID themselves as conservatives, a distinction lost of Obamsky and McCain.
Now, imagine that an Obamsky in tatters after 4 years of communist rule is running against someone even more useless than McCain, a Grahmnesty or Crist, in 2012. Frankly, I can see Palin as an indie third candidate getting 35-40 percnet even in some of the big blue states—and that’s what she’ll need to win if the other two split up the liberal/moderate vote.
Governing of course would be a whole different ballgame but, as an indie she CAN win in Nov 2012. She could win as a Republican too but (1) there’s no way the insiders will let her get the nomination and (2) the American people by and large dislike/hate Republicans, and why shouldn’t they.
The American people generally like Sarah Palin and generally hate political parties. A solid one-third of the nation is committed conservative. The formula for winning is right there.
Don’t worry about looking for anyone. Just sit tight.
You’ll be fine.
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