Replies

http://live.washingtonpost.com/Outlook:-FIve-myths-about-Sarah-Palin-10-18-10.html

Q.
Levi Johnston and Bristol Palin

Will the on-again/off-again shenanigans of Bristol Palin and& Levi Johnston’s relationship (mostly Levi Johnston’s antics) hurt Sarah politically in any way?

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October 18, 2010 6:39 AM
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A.
Matthew Continetti writes:

Most Americans already have fixed opinions about Palin. If independent voters change their minds about her, it will be because (a) she demonstrates her capacity to lead and/or (b) the economic and political situation becomes so intolerable that the electorate is willing to turn to anyone who isn’t Barack Obama. I don’t see how Levi and Bristol affect either variable in that equation.
– October 18, 2010 1:07 PM
Q.
Bipartisanship
It’s great that Sarah Palin has the vote from conservative Republicans, but how about conservative Democrats like Jimmy Carter fans? Don’t you think in order to win, she will need their vote as well as moderate Republicans/Democrats?

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October 18, 2010 3:02 AM
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A.
Matthew Continetti writes:

Interesting question. Palin probably already has the support of Democrats who say they are ideological conservatives. You see, I’m not sure whether Jimmy Carter’s remaining fans are “conservative” Democrats, actually. They tend to be liberals, many of whom worked in his administration.

In the 30 years since the 1980 election, we’ve seen the two parties sort by ideology. What few “conservative” Democrats remain tend to be Blue Dogs from the Midwest and South who say they’ll be different from the urban, coastal liberals who dominate the Democratic party. But in the end the Blue Dogs often go along with the party leadership, and thus there won’t be many of them left on November 3.

As for moderate Republicans and Democrats, here the question becomes more complicated. Partisans tend to back their presidential nominees in high numbers. What Palin needs are independent voters, who went for the Democrats in 2006 and 2008 but are swinging right in 2010. Right now, independents don’t like Palin. She needs that to change if she wants to be president.
– October 18, 2010 1:14 PM
Q.
Rocci Fisch writes:

Five myths about Sarah Palin

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October 18, 2010 1:17 PM
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Q.
Palin’s Resignation as Governor
Matthew, With due respect to your piece, Palin resigned as Governor because she wanted the financial opportunities that came with being a private citizen as opposed to a public servant. She gets paid incredibly well to “rally” the tea party on the national stage and expound about various things on Fox News. Don’t get me wrong, she has the right to do all this, but let’s not pretend she quit the governorship all for anything other than to benefit herself, which is certainly her right, but it’s a lot less lofty-sounding than the reasons you described.

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October 18, 2010 9:50 AM
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A.
Matthew Continetti writes:

I don’t think it’s that simple. Certainly, Palin, like anyone, wanted to make money. But one of the reasons she wanted to make money was the increasing financial burden she felt from ethics complaints lodged by her political opponents. Most of those complaints had no basis in fact; they were an attempt to drain Palin’s emotional and financial resources.

Palin’s answer to this conundrum was to break free from the governor’s office. It’s paid off financially, as you note. So far, it’s paid off politically as well.
– October 18, 2010 1:22 PM

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