Posted on 11/09/2010 5:51:12 PM PST by TitansAFC
WASHINGTON -- Republican triumphs in the recent U.S. congressional elections have left the party with an ironic dilemma: The woman who played such a key role in igniting their conservative base is also the woman they fear the most.
Sarah Palin -- either adored or abhorred in the United States, depending on one's political perspective -- is considered one of the biggest winners following last week's mid-term elections.
The former Alaska governor backed some 60 Tea Party candidates, about half of whom won, while targeting 20 Democrats for certain defeat. Eighteen lost.
Yet in the corridors of power on Capitol Hill, there is a determined and focused effort underway among the Republican elite to find a candidate who can handily beat Palin for the nomination. In recent days, the "Blame Palin" strategy has stepped out from the shadows.
Spencer Bachus, a Republican congressman from Alabama, has pointed to Palin and the Tea Party movement for his party's failure to capture the U.S. Senate in addition to the House.
"The Senate would be Republican today except for states (in which Palin endorsed candidates) like Christine O'Donnell in Delaware," Bachus told an Alabama newspaper. "Sarah Palin cost us control of the Senate."
Although Tea Party candidates did well in House races, Bachus added, "they didn't do very well at all" in their attempts to win Senate seats.
Conservative icon Rush Limbaugh, the radio-show host who wields tremendous influence over the party, has been railing against such anti-Palin forces in recent days.
"What's going on here, folks, is very simple," said Limbaugh, who's a big Palin booster.
"They want to establish a lie very firmly in the minds of the public that the Tea Party hurt the Republican party in these elections. They want to use this to stop Sarah Palin. Republican insiders are trying to figure out now how to stop Sarah Palin."
Why the Palin fears? Republicans fret that if she's their presidential candidate in 2012, U.S. President Barack Obama will easily dispose of her. Even George W. Bush, the much-maligned former Republican president, has reportedly told associates that Palin is "unqualified" to be commander-in-chief, and his one-time chief strategist, Karl Rove, says she lacks the "gravitas" for the job.
Palin doesn't appear to be paying any mind. The period after the mid-term elections tend to be when presidential campaigns unofficially begin, and Palin's Twitter stream moved in a new direction Monday. The self-styled hockey mom relies on social media like Facebook and Twitter to communicate with the masses.
"Today: trade speech; tmrw school event 2 start discussing QuantitativeEasing w kids around US so they prepare 4 Feds experiment w their future," Palin tweeted. She usually uses Twitter to make personal comments about political candidates, current events and the media, not to alert followers about her own upcoming policy announcements.
Palin also delivered a hard-hitting speech in Phoenix that assailed Ben Bernanke, the Federal Reserve Board chairman, by focusing on a primary conservative concern this election cycle: government overspending.
"I'm deeply concerned about the Federal Reserve's plans to buy up anywhere from $600 billion to as much as $1 trillion of government securities," Palin said in prepared remarks. "What's the end game here?... All this pump-priming will come at a serious price."
A recent ABC News-Washington Post poll found only 27 per cent of registered voters believe Palin is qualified to be president. Even those who identify themselves as lifelong Republicans are uneasy about her, including the segment that voted for the party in droves last week -- older white men.
"I think she's a very good lady, but I just don't think we're ready for her," Daniel Phillips, 48, a North Carolina Republican businessman, said in a recent interview.
Phillips said he lost respect for Palin when she resigned as Alaska governor last year before serving her full term.
"When she did that, I think she hurt herself. I think she's a good cheerleader for the conservative party and the Tea Party movement, but as far as being a serious presidential candidate, no. I just don't see it."
Nonetheless, 55 per cent of conservative Republicans like Phillips do believe she's qualified, the same poll suggested. And a whopping 73 per cent of Tea Party supporters believe she's got what it takes to be president.
Those making the case that Palin can emerge victorious on a national level often point to 1966, when Richard Nixon, another figure facing some public antipathy, took to the hustings after losing in a presidential election. Nixon won the presidency in 1968.
Palin has been palling it up with Rick Perry lately, so I am starting to wonder if Perry will get the “Palin Seal of Approval” out of the GOP candidates?
Wow, I was thinking the same thing.
I would ask: who cares about the discussion over whether a candidate has the ability to win? Why would a sincere political discussion make this the prominent issue? How about discussing whether the candidate has the ability to lead?
Statements about whether a potential candidate “can win” are usually disguised messages intending to convince supporters that the candidate isn’t worth voting for.
The “I don’t think she can win” line carries with it the hidden message “I don’t think she is worth supporting.” It’s a deliberate attempt to detract from a candidate’s support base while seeming to be an innocent, unbiased statement of opinion.
This is the underhanded, cowardly tactic used by well-known ruling class pundits and trolls on this website. They did it with Christine O’Donnell. My advice to them: pick an ideology that doesn’t require deceit and fraud in order to be advanced.
How about constitutional conservatism. Works a lot better than the progressivism of Democrats or the self promotion-ism of Rove and Krauthammer.
You have it nailed. Perfectly.
It’s Wednesday afternoon. I am wondering who has today’s assignment?
Maybe the “commission’s report” will steal some of the thunder?
Sarah Palin is genuine and honest. She speaks her mind and knows precisely the patriotic, pro-life and Constitutional policies she stands for and what she wants to say.
She is fearless. Her enemies from the democrat side have fired at her since the day she was named to run as the VP, but now their guns are empty. They firing blanks that the public has heard before. No more shock, no more ‘yikes.’ Of course she will never change veryone’s minds, but she need only persuade a majority that she is better for the country than the Marxist.
I knew the GOP establishment was going to try to stop her when “it” didn’t step-up to defend her during the ‘08 campaign. Those folks had hopes that she would return to the governor’s office in Alaska, never to be heard from again.
Well, the democrat-Marxist machine wasn’t done with her. They had to make certain that she would never become the first woman president, so they continued their frivolous lawsuits allowed under Alaska law, until they had successfully racked-up over $500K worth of personal debt again her, and with that, they unleashed Sarah Cuda America... (God willing) #45.
I think you read more into my comment than I stated. I said that she would need to take a pay cut - you cannot deny this is true. I did not say or imply that she would not take a pay cut. She is a true Patriot.
I also said she is in a perfect role. She is building the base, attacking the RINOs, and pretty much flying under the radar screen of the Main Stream media critics, who will savage her and her family if she runs. She currently has all the upside, and none of the downside.
That said, she has my vote, support and money if she decides to run.
I believe I said she is anointed as a leader. She clearly demonstrates that leadership and courage now, so I don’t consider it a prediction, but recognition of a role that is extant. Whether that translates to the Presidency, we shall see. I don’t see anyone else at this point prepared to take the mantle from her.
I’m not a prophet. I’m an evangelical. She is too, by the way.
I COR 1:27 27 But God hath chosen the foolish (ludicrous) things of the world to confound the wise...
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.