Posted on 03/11/2010 12:56:52 PM PST by Joy Angela
Last week I made a rare appearance on MSNBC (a network on which I have had numerous “YouTube moments” since the 2008 election, when they became the “Obama Network”) and shared some statements which apparently shocked some of my fellow conservatives.
Since even before the release of my documentary about the media coverage of Obama’s election, I have been described by many commentators (both as a compliment and as a condemnation) as Sarah Palin’s most ardent defender against the never-ending stream of unfair media attacks against her. What seemed to surprise people on both ends of the political spectrum was my assertion on “Morning Joe” that, based on her current path, and barring a literal act of God, there is absolutely no chance that Palin can beat Obama in 2012.
Since the television appearance was barely five minutes long and my view of this important subject is far more nuanced than can possibly be articulated in the microwave world of cable TV “news” (or even a later radio interview I did with host Joe Scarborough about this subject), I wish to fully explain my thinking so that any confusion about where I stand may be as limited as possible.
First, the reason I went on MSNBC is that Joe Scarborough and I have had a running (and sometimes rather pointed) e-mail exchange about his coverage of Sarah Palin which was escalated when his show did a seemingly endless segment on how intellectually deficient she supposedly is. Joe has offered me an open invitation to “debate” that and other issues related to Palin when I am next in New York where his show is broadcast. Since Palin was on the “Tonight Show” last week and because I live in Burbank, we decided the occasion might make for a good opportunity to do a quick “preview” of coming attractions. I also made it clear to him that there was something about Palin that I have wanted to get off my chest for several weeks. This was the issue of what her intent and potential is for the 2012 presidential race.
When I first met Palin at her home in early 2009, after our interview for my documentary we had a rather lengthy conversation, which of course eventually turned to her political future. Unsolicited, I offered my very strong opinion that, thanks to the media’s worship of Obama and their unfair destruction of her, that I thought it would be foolhardy for her to even consider running against him in 2012. My advice at the time was for her to run for Senate in 2014 and run in 2016 for President when presumably there will be no incumbent running and when the narrative about her (thanks to the media’s love of a good “comeback”) would likely be vastly more positive than in 2012. Palin was clearly listening intently but said almost nothing in response. Those who witnessed the conversation said she did not seem to like what she was hearing.
However, after the remarkable success of her book and the incredible decline in Obama’s political popularity, I started to think that, with any luck, Palin could win the Republican nomination and that she would at least have a shot against The One, assuming the economy didn’t significantly improve. But now I am thoroughly convinced that while Obama is somewhat vulnerable (if the economy improves, he wins big, if it stays the same, he wins very small, if it gets worse, he loses big), Sarah Palin has less of a chance to beat him than just about anyone else who is currently considered in contention.
The reasons I have come to this painful conclusion are numerous.
Totally agree with you. He lost me with that weird CPAC witch hunt interview, you may remember. I was watching that thinking “this guy’s (Ziegler) a jerk”. And his departure from the radio show he failed at was strange as well.
First: I detest the word "gravitas". I detest even more the word's pronunciation.
Now, that said, Ziegler's points are valid. This does not translate as 'irrefutable'. When he posits on Obama's reelection I hearkened back to the early 80s when the economy came out of a bad recession and Reagan beat Mondale in a landslide. Of course there were other factors that contributed to RR's reelection, but a revitalized economy was the major one.
Whether the economy is improved or not by Nov 2012 the election may not be determined by that alone.
Will black turn out again be high? Will white turn out be significantly higher than in '08? Then, after the election next Nov, GOP congressional successes, or failures, may well help or hinder the '12 nominee.
All in all, Ziegler is just throwing out some caveats that he believes Mrs Palin should heed. Doesn't mean he's right, doesn't mean he's wrong. But summarily writing him off is imprudent.
Aside: I personally believe Palin to possess more than ample intelligence to be an effective President. Yet, as Ziegler touches upon, she'll need more than conservatives pulling the lever for her in '12, and she'll need to elaborate more on policy rather than uttering a Reagan quote here and there.
NOTE: (to excitable Palin supporters) This is not saying she cannot speak out convincingly on various issues. She can, *we* all know that. But it's not *our* confidence she needs to gain.
Aside: Anyone see the clip of today's (I believe) clip of the press conference with Monotone Gibbs? Sitting to Major Garrett's immediate left was a Hispanic looking lady who is drop dead gorgeous. Anybody know who she is? (Yes, I know, 'jla, she's probably a reporter')
That would be a great title for the piece!
Are you trying to say that FR doesn't accurately reflect the electorate at large? Why, I'm gonna tell President Thompson you said that.
What did Rush say about it?
Yep, you are 100% correct.
Ziegler may very well be some kind of faux conservative plant. He states Palin needs to become a Senator before running for president. The path from Senator to successful President is rare in modern times. The path from Governor is much more likely. It's hard to imagine a figure more entwined in Washington politics than the Senator. Sarah Palin does not need the stench of the Washington insider fowling up her commoon sense, decent, honest and hard working outsider image.
“Ziegler is a Ziegler sycophant, and sombody got him cheap!”
You are going to see this repeated. Apparently ardent supporters of Palin will suddenly have an epiphany and decide she can’t win. Some of them will have been plants all along. Some are just wannabes trying to curry favor with whoever will have them. Whether Ziegler is a plant or just a nut, I do not know, but he is a little unstable,according to the research I did on him, including the use of the “n” word on the radio and some really misogynistic comments. He is a kind of strange dude and I am glad he is distancing himself from Palin.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ziegler_(talk_show_host)
Ziegler has said this from day one that Gov. Palin should wait until 2016. That tells me that Ziegler thinks Obama is going to be a two term POTUS. Ziegler has given up on our country, so sad. The man wrote a weird article about a month ago saying how Gov. Palin is doing so very well but he has fallen on hard times. I don’t know if this is true or not but it sounds like Ziegler may throw Gov. Palin under the bus and hope that in return he can get some gigs from the nutjobs on the left like MSNBC.
I guess you got to do what you got to do.
You will never admit to this and just love touting the "she quit" mantra. It's shallow thinking and just a ruse to cover for the whatever candidate you aren't brave enough to say you back.
What it came down to basically, he believes that she was in a damned if you do; damned if you don't situation, and that just as many people would have turned on her for refusing as have for helping.
I agree, and I suspect that this is the Lord's work clearing the way.
From what I understand it not the first time Z-Man has been booted off the air either.
I think he 0-2 when it comes to radio shows. Lets not forget he got arrested at a awards show in which Couric was there. He also interjected himself in to the Bitterman issue.
” Zeigler has been one of Palin’s defenders.”
Sometime last fall, either before or after Rogue was published,
Laura Ingraham had on the pro Palin Zeigler and the she’s not ready David Frum to discuss her political future.
Zeigler was not just pro Palin, he was rabidly pro Palin-yelling and screaming at Frum .
Zeigler is not a Palin hater by any means , I’ve never heard a more devoted and passionate Palin advocate.
Can’t get the article to load, so I don’t know what his points are.
“I suspect that this is the Lord’s work clearing the way.”
I am with you on that. I want her to win, and I think she will. But I know she wants what God wants, and so do I. I see God’s hand in all of this.
BTW, Ziegler himself is an atheist, who is hostile to organized religion, according to wiki. That, coupled with some of the comments he made about women, makes me wonder if he didn’t just glom onto Palin to try to get publicity knowing he would ditch her when the time was right for him.
Eegads, that is 3yrs from now, right now “we” are hip deep in a battle royale to prevent Socialism in the US, this joker needs to get a life.
Yes. I think you nailed it.
Just shows “the right” can feel tingles too.
.
Exactly my thoughts!
.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.