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 Palins 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. Its going to be blood, its going to be sweat and tears and its 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.
I can no longer listen to Sean on the radio (dispatched the satellite TV a while back). As long as he caters to pundits like Rove (who are on Fox payroll), his show is unwatchable to my family and me.
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I hear you.
I like him, but I think his friendships with these people really does cloud his judgement.
He’ll have McCain on time and time again, and never challenge McCain on things like amnesty, McCain-Feingold etc.
His acceptance of RINO’s makes his conservative positions a wash.
dear karl rove,
please keep your ignorant blabbering to yourself. we are tired of your obvious jealousy over the fact that more people pay attention to palin than pay attention to you. as that snooty british lady used to say on the game show.....
you are the weakest link. goodbye.
I just heard a local radio program about our congressional race today. Dan Benishek is the republican nominee running against a very liberal democrat for Bart (the lying traitor) Stupak's old seat. We have an "independent" siphoning off enough votes (5-8%) to possibly give this liberal democrat the seat. I heard the guy, he's just like the narrow, insane, ankle biting caucus here.
It's a disease. I think these people are simply nuts.
Newt engineered ‘94, balanced a budget and newtered(no pun intended) Clinton. McCain served 5 years in the Hanoi hilton, Romney made 100 mil capitalist $$$$$$, Huck is an evangelist minister. WTF are you talkin about RINOS!!!! We are moving waaaay right waaaaay fast. Let these guys catch up. WTF have you accomplished that compares with these guys. PLEASE!
and then he claims he is a Conservative.
Speaking of Dick Morris, I noticed last week...or the week before last, that Morris is now referred to as a Republican Strategist. I noticed this designation underneath his name when theyre giving credits of the guests.
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Morris is a convert. Believe it. He was in the belly of the beast and got sick. yes he is about the money but he is a true American and has seen the light
And Ronald Reagan was Governor of a massive state during a time of great political and social upheaval, being Governor from 1967-1975. I’m just not buying this Reagan-Palin comparison either.
Is he a registered Democrat? Or is he hiding behind being an Independent?
He’s just another hack, scared that the GOP Party machine that he and the Bushies built is crumbling to the Tea Party.
Are you contending that, just because McCain was a POW, he is immune from political criticism?
Can't one honor his service, yet disagree with his politics? As I -- and many others -- most assuredly do.
So who do you watch MR Big Stuff. Who is pure enough to get your conservative imprimatur. You a Mike Savage guy? Who the Fu*k do you think you are. Sean was 2 years ahead of all of us on Rev wright and Obies commie ties. To put that on air took brass my friend . WTF have you done that approaches that. Its easy to ride the wave its much harder to produce the wave that u r now riding . BS is cheap my friend
Add Dana Perrino and Nichole Wallace to that group. Perrino actually said (on his show) that the problem with Obamacare was the way it was enacted, not it’s substance. That went unchallenged by Hannity. Although he took mild exception to Rove’s rant against McConnell, he quickly made kissy-face with him.
Sean professes to be a Conservative, the evidence says otherwise.
No, but you’re all for pro-amnesty, pro-cap & trade, pro 9/11 mosque, anti 2nd Amendment Chris Christie?
Here goes an unpopular post:
I don’t like Rove, and my posts prove I was not happy about his boss as president. I don’t think either was a true conservative, and I hate that our beliefs suffered as a result of getting grouped with these big-gov’t moderates. I also was sickened by his reaction to the O’Donnell primary win, as I was happy the Tea Party got a warning shot across the RINOs bow and think that was payment enough if that lady doesn’t get a single vote.
But I think that Rove has a point, and moreover, believe Palin is a terrible presidential candidate. It appears that my hypocrisy can only go so far: if the Democrats put up a candidate with as little experience and depth, I would attack them for it. As a matter of fact, they did, and I did... But I expect more from us. And as much as I’d love to put my head in the sand about the family baggage and this self-promoting after abandoning her commitment as governor, the MSM will not ignore these issues.
Don’t we have a better option somewhere? I believe she is a good person, but I just think she isn’t a good candidate. And do not think I am advocating a compromising candidate, I WANT, better yet, DEMAND a person with serious conservative ideals, but I have to hope we have that somewhere in someone with appropriate experience, proven results, and less personal drama.
Okay, now attack...
What kind of experience do you think a qualified presidential candidate should have?
No, he elected Bush twice. If he didnt Gore would have nursed us through 9-11. Are you guys f-ing crazy. u r just like the lefties. your appreciation of history starts with today. Give rove credit where credit is due. give the past time to catch up with the future. Rove is not our enemy! Communism is
You’re right: They are very accomplished statists.
Previously a Governor, Senator, lawyer (gag), some specific university degrees, military experience, running a business, other?? Artist, ballet dancer, judge, community activist, high school principle, chef...??
Good point, but remember he gave Sarah the job and served five f-ing years in the Hanoi Hilton. He needs 2 move right but he will as the conservative tsunami sweeps over America. Mcain is not the problem Joy Behar is
he's a moron... maybe she can take a play out of the Karl Rove playbook and choose a VP like Cheney... haha! isn't that what Dubya did?
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