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Karl Rove: Sarah Palin’s reality TV show doesn’t exactly lend her presidential gravitas
Hotair ^ | 10/27/2010 | Allahpundit

Posted on 10/27/2010 7:35:57 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

First came the criticism of O’Donnell on the night she won the primary, then came the knock on tea partiers for being unsophisticated, which earned him Rush’s ire. Now this.

Is he … trying to alienate grassroots conservatives? And if so, why?

“With all due candour, appearing on your own reality show on the Discovery Channel, I am not certain how that fits in the American calculus of ‘that helps me see you in the Oval Office’,” Mr Rove told The Daily Telegraph in an interview.

He added that the promotional clip for Sarah Palin’s Alaska could be especially detrimental to any political campaign. It features the mother of five in the great outdoors saying: “I would rather be doing this than in some stuffy old political office.”…

Mr Rove was asked if the 46-year-old Mrs Palin, who is among the front-runners for the next Republican nomination, would be a wise choice if the party wanted to seize the White House from President Barack Obama. He replied: “You can make a plausible case for any of them on paper, but it is not going to be paper in 2011. It’s going to be blood, it’s going to be sweat and tears and it’s going to be hard effort.”…

“There are high standards that the American people have for it [the presidency] and they require a certain level of gravitas, and they want to look at the candidate and say ‘that candidate is doing things that gives me confidence that they are up to the most demanding job in the world’.”

His excuse for this will be that he’s just being honest, as he’s duty bound to be when he has his commentator hat on, but no one on either side gives Karl Rove that little credit strategically. If he thought there was advantage to be had here in ducking the question, I’m sure he would have done so. Three theories, then: (1) This is pure payback for Palin needling him on the night of O’Donnell’s victory, calling him a “good old boy” who’s part of the GOP establishment “machine.” (2) This is him trying to run down a formidable presidential contender so that his own candidate of choice in the primary will benefit. Who that candidate might be, I don’t know, and maybe Rove doesn’t know yet either. But Daniels is, of course, a Bush alum, and Rove had some very nice things to say about him just a few weeks ago. (3) This is a ploy to try to reorient Republicans who are leery about Palin back towards the “establishment” and away from the tea-party grassroots. It’s one thing for the average conservative joe to harbor doubts about her, but if a guy who helped get George Bush elected twice is hint-hinting that she’s disqualifying herself by doing this, it may goose the perception among undecideds that she’s unelectable.

Exit question: Isn’t the response to this simply that Palin plays by her own rules and is playing … pretty darned well right now? The reality show is unorthodox, but being authentic and unpretentious and outdoorsy have always been key to her appeal, and the show feeds all of that. No doubt Rove would have said three months ago that appearing on Maher’s show in the 90s meant that O’Donnell could never beat Mike Castle, and yet here we are. Voters turned viciously on the GOP in 2006 and 2008 and now they’re about to turn viciously on Democrats; they’re utterly exasperated with what they’re getting from Washington, in which case if there’s ever a moment to try something out-of-the-box, now would be it. High risk, but high reward too.

Update: The AP’s seen the first eight episodes of the show and has nice things to say.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: gravitas; karlrove; realitytv; rove; sarahpalin; sarahpalinsalaska; tlc; tokyorove
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To: madconservative

Oops Macon-Dixon is of course Mason-Dixon.


141 posted on 10/30/2010 1:07:59 AM PDT by Lucius Cornelius Sulla ('“Our own government has become our enemy' - Sheriff Paul Babeu)
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To: photodawg

I checked your profile page. It reads “doing my part to keep Utah conservative.” Pardon me for laughing, but how does that compare with being speaker of the house in ‘94, being a fighter pilot and prisoner of war and an American Hero, being a capitalist businessman who made 100’s of millions of dollars turning corporate basket cases into profitable companies, and being governor of Arkansas?

Can I be that dumb? I’m smart enough to know that you are pure bullshit
_________________________________________________________

I’ll ask you again dumba$$, do these credentials mean you support them if they’re RINOs and work with the Dems to help destroy this country?

Funny you didn’t address the grievances I had with these folks. OK, one more time...this time ADDRESS the issues:

1)Newt sits on a couch with Nancy Pelosi and pushes the myth that is AGW, which will bring us Cap & Trade, which will bankrupt this country through higher fuel costs and electricity costs. How did his being Speaker negate this?

2)John McCain “reached across the aisle” with Democrat Russ Feingold to bring us “McCain-Feingold, which took away the rights of business (US citizens) to support candidates of their choice, and other free speech robbing measures. Oh, and it looks like McCain is being looked at now for improper campaign donations! How did him being a prisoner and pilot negate this?

3) Mitt Romney brought Mass. “Romney Care” (which is a microcosm of ObamaCare)and it’s not only going broke, but Mass. citizens have to wait to get much needed medical care. How does him making lots of $$$ negate this?

4)Mike Huckabee (sp) supports comprehensive immigration reform: AMNESTY! Ever hear of it? Glad to hear he’s a Christian, but how does that negate this reprehensible position?

Sorry you’re star-struck with these folks, but that doesn’t give you much standing on your argument. Why don’t you focus like a laser, and address their positions I’ve spelled out.

Interesting...you didn’t create an “about page?” You sound like a troll.


142 posted on 10/30/2010 7:50:41 AM PDT by Artcore
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To: photodawg

I agree that Newt did some very good things, chiefly stopping the Clinton agenda. Then he changed, moderating to make himself more “broadly acceptable” after the Air Force One whining incident. He later signed on to the Global Warming scam and pal’d around with Hillary. Didn’t he also go after some of the Tea Party-endorsed candidates - at least initially?

I don’t trust him.


143 posted on 10/30/2010 9:04:09 AM PDT by rashley (Rashley)
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To: photodawg
i>Because [McCain] served his country, sacrificed for his country, and loves his country.

I don't doubt that. Never have.

[McCain] will radicalize as America does. We all grow, develop and change.

Senator McCain has already been thru that phase. Purportedly, he came to Congress as a principled "Reagan conservative". Then, as you say, "he grew, he developed and he changed"...into an opportunist.

Perhaps, as an opportunist, he'll see which way the tide is flowing and "grow, develop and change" once again -- into a conservative. But sorry...I know better than to trust the man ever again.

144 posted on 10/30/2010 10:10:06 AM PDT by okie01 (THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA: Ignorance on Parade)
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To: okie01

Perhaps, as an opportunist, he’ll see which way the tide is flowing and “grow, develop and change” once again — into a conservative. But sorry...I know better than to trust the man ever again.
////////////////////////////////////

I will make this prediction. John McCain’s next 6 years will make you wonder why you ever doubted his deeply held belief in American conservative values.


145 posted on 10/30/2010 8:21:31 PM PDT by photodawg (It's not about how hard you can hit. It's about how hard you can get hit ......Rocky Balboa)
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To: photodawg
John McCain’s next 6 years will make you wonder why you ever doubted his deeply held belief in American conservative values.

That would be great. But what happened to them over the last, oh, 15 years?

Did he leave them in the garage somewhere?

146 posted on 10/30/2010 8:27:12 PM PDT by okie01 (THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA: Ignorance on Parade)
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To: Artcore
I’ll ask you again dumba$$, do these credentials mean you support them if they’re RINOs and work with the Dems to help destroy this country?

Sorry you’re star-struck with these folks,
‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’

I wont address your premise because I dont agree with it. Its your paranoid viewpoint that prevents you from being objective.Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, John McCain, and Mike Huckabee ARE NOT WORKING WITH THE DOMOCRATS TO DESTROY AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!! If you cant differentiate between George Soros, Barack OBama, Hugo Chavez, Fidel Castro, Valerie Putin, Mahmud Amahdenijad, and Newt, Mitt, Mike and John, then you are very stooopid or very delusional. Discriminate my friend.
As for a profile, I was a sixties radical leftist college 2S deferred draft dodging, pot smoking, revolutionary. At that stage of my life I was just as rigid, dogmatic, and paranoid as you are right now.

147 posted on 10/30/2010 8:42:26 PM PDT by photodawg (It's not about how hard you can hit. It's about how hard you can get hit ......Rocky Balboa)
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To: Kennard
So, back to specifics, can you forgive Mitt Romney for RomneyCare and John McCain for a litany that includes McCain/Feingold?

‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’

Romney Care is an Obamanation. McCain-Fiengold is an abortion. Yes I can forgive them both, because they have redeeming qualities, and i have been on the wrong side of an issue myself, even though at the time I was sure I was correct.

148 posted on 10/30/2010 8:48:13 PM PDT by photodawg
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To: okie01
what happened to them over the last, oh, 15 years?

Did he leave them in the garage somewhere?
‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’

Its no accident that the last POTUS senator elected in his own right before O was JFK. The reason is that the senate is about COMPROMISE! These guys are legislators, not governors. They have no power unless they can get 50 of their colleagues to vote with them. That means they will always owe somebody a vote. The answer to this is not term Limits ,but a balanced budget amendment and a flat tax. We need to cut these guys dicks off, or if you prefer, dont cut the Hydra's head, cut out its heart. If they have no money they have no power. You dig!

149 posted on 10/30/2010 8:59:54 PM PDT by photodawg
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To: photodawg
The answer to this is not term Limits ,but a balanced budget amendment and a flat tax.

Agree with your thinking. Though I would add session limits -- e.g., 180 days max/yr. Our representatives spend far too much time in Washington...and are corrupted by it.

State legislatures manage to get all their business done in 90 days -- every two years. And, if the U.S. Congress can't get all their work done in six months, we're probably the better for it.

By the way, how many Democrat Senators are known for "reaching across the aisle" and compromising -- like John McCain is?

150 posted on 10/30/2010 10:43:32 PM PDT by okie01 (THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA: Ignorance on Parade)
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To: okie01
You are describing the results of unlimited federal spending. If those crooks had to balance the budget and only got 15% of our money they would go home in a week. in fact they wouldn't even run for office. We could do this without their permission, consent or vote if we ratified state by state. This will be the next great mission for the tea party. To cut the dicks off the Washington power elite and the wall street crony capitalists like GE's Jeff Immelt, and Buffett and Gates. You know that wall street would rather work with the O than the T-party cause they got the pipeline to unlimited riches through him. That is until he confiscates their wealth for “the greater good.” They are the petty bourgeoisie. Marx said communism will hang the capitalists and they would sell them the rope.
151 posted on 11/01/2010 8:45:32 PM PDT by photodawg
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To: okie01
Senator McCain has already been thru that phase. Purportedly, he came to Congress as a principled “Reagan conservative”. Then, as you say, “he grew, he developed and he changed”...into an opportunist.
‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’

No he made the best of the bad situation. We all grow until we die. McCain is 70+ years old and I respect his vitality and zest for life. (check out his wife). He has changed on the boarder and its an honest reassessment of where the country is on the issue. He will radicalize even further when he sees the DOJ under Holder. HE is no fool. We all are radicalizing as our way of life is threatened. 2 things. 911 and Obama..... our eyes are now opened

152 posted on 11/01/2010 8:53:42 PM PDT by photodawg
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To: rashley
I don’t trust him.
‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’

Trust but verify. hahaha
Newt is an Historian and an academician. He got his BA in BS. He serves a very useful purpose however. He sees the big picture, he can articulate our position, he has a successful conservative track record (remember this mutha fucka actually shut down the federal gov’t). Newt is not our problem, and he is no RINO

153 posted on 11/01/2010 8:59:25 PM PDT by photodawg
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To: rashley
I don’t trust him.
‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’

Trust but verify. hahaha
Newt is an Historian and an academician. He got his BA in BS. He serves a very useful purpose however. He sees the big picture, he can articulate our position, he has a successful conservative track record (remember this mutha fucka actually shut down the federal gov’t). Newt is not our problem, and he is no RINO

154 posted on 11/01/2010 8:59:36 PM PDT by photodawg
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To: photodawg
Newt won the short term, Clinton wiped him on the floor in the end.

Clinton got him to raise spending, not stop it. The only reason we closed the deficit is because there was no more war in sight (Reagan bankrupted the Soviets and they disintegrated), the tech boom roared, and we outgrew the deficit.

Clinton road a wave that was not his doing, and he surfed on top of Newt's head as he was doing it.

Newt had his day, and it's gone.

155 posted on 11/01/2010 9:04:57 PM PDT by Lakeshark (Thank a member of the US armed forces for their sacrifice)
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To: Lakeshark

Newt had his day, and it’s gone.
////////////////////////////////

Newt shut down the FEDERAL GOVERNMENt! I respect what he did and support what he continues to do. Newt is not the enemy. Why eat our own?


156 posted on 11/01/2010 10:47:24 PM PDT by photodawg
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