The GOP Presidential Primary Isn’t Big Enough for Palin and a Bunch of Others

National Review Online ^ | 11/22/10 | Jim Geraghty

[FTJM]

The two Republicans whose names came up most often on the NR cruise? Sarah Palin and Chris Christie.

In my interactions with only a fraction of the 700+ NR cruisegoers — mostly older, mostly well-off, passionate about politics, and many heavily involved with the tea parties — I found about two-thirds wildly enthusiastic about Sarah Palin; you could hear the gasps when Scott Rasmussen predicted she would not be the 2012 Republican nominee. Most of the remaining one-third said that while they personally liked Palin, they didn’t want to see her run in 2012, or anytime soon. An isolated few didn’t seem to like Palin much at all.

I was struck by how many Palin fans agreed with me that resigning the governorship, while understandable, is a serious misstep for any aspiring president. If you want to govern, it is best to demonstrate that you can govern.

The Palin family has taken over your television, between “Sarah Palin’s Alaska” on TLC and Bristol Palin dancing up a storm on “Dancing With the Stars.” You’re also seeing Palin on the cover of People and other non-political magazines. It’s odd to see a Republican begin to master the domination of pop culture that Obama practiced in 2007 and 2008, and this is certainly a way to keep Palin enthusiasts at a fever pitch. But I’m not sure this approach gets her where she wants to go, or at least whether it wins over the folks who aren’t on board with her already.

[r9etb]

G*D is working...!

Sarah Palin ... God's anointed.

You've gone off the deep end.

[FTJM]

Do you have a link to that?

http://www.etonline.com/tv/102269_Sarah_Palin_I_will_Run_for_President_in_2012_If_There_s_Nobody_Else_To_Do_It/index.html

Exclusive: ET's Mary Hart visits Sarah Palin at home in Wasilla, Alaska, where the former Republican vice presidential candidate tells ET she'll run for president in 2012 "if there's nobody else to do it."

The former Alaska governor, mom of five, and star of TLC's upcoming series "Sarah Palin's Alaska" says that when it comes to deciding whether to run: "It's going to entail a discussion with my family [and] a real close look at the lay of the land, to consider whether there are those with that common sense, conservative, pro-Constitution passion, whether there are already candidates out there who can do the job … or whether there's nobody willing to do it, to make the tough choices and not care what the critics are going to say about you, just going forward according to what I think the priorities should be."

"If there's nobody else to do it, then of course I would believe that we should do this," Sarah tells Mary, leaving the door wide open for a 2012 run, while also noting that if it turns out there are candidates "who can do the job," they would have her full support.

In ET's exclusive interview, Sarah comments for the first time on the New York Magazine cover story that referred to her as "Sarah Barracuda," and also shares how she deals with critics.

And while Sarah is hugely supportive of daughter Bristol's fancy footwork on "Dancing with the Stars," she won't be in the audience next week. Why? She'll be covering the mid-term elections for FOX News. She jokes to Mary, "Bristol and I will be competing for ratings, she with ABC, me with FOX News. ... She'll kick my butt. She will," Sarah says, laughing.

For more of our Sarah Palin exclusive, tune in to ET tonight. "Sarah Palin's Alaska," which chronicles some of Sarah's favorite facets of her home state and is produced by Emmy-winner Mark Burnett, premieres on TLC on November 14.

[r9etb]

I'm not saying Sarah should do the same thing, but coaching helps!

Here's the dirty secret, though. Sarah Palin's annoying manner of speaking is done on purpose. It's an affectation, which is probably designed to make her seem folksy.

But don't forget that she was a TV news reporter, back in the day. Here's how she sounded then.

Yeah, she had a little accent going .... but she knew how to speak once. I seriously doubt she's forgotten how since then.

So you've got to ask .... if she got paid once to speak well, and most likely still knows how to do it -- why does she persist?

[rbmillerjr]

I watched the clip...but like I said Pence and DeMint don’t fit that bill as they only poll at 2%...fine conservatives just like Palin, but not the appeal of Palin.

She’s running. Just accept it.

[Wonder Warthog]

"She has to reach beyond the base, and Indies on the whole won't care how well she rock climbs, fishes or skis."

Well, as a life-long independent, I can agree with the above.

"Her voice is going to have to clearer and louder than the state-run media when addressing the issue."

She seems to be pretty much the ONLY Republican voice "addressing the issue". I think Palin will run, and I think she will win. As did Reagan, who suffered from ALL of the same "slings and arrows" from the media.

[r9etb]

Since when did all this experience become a requirement.

Since when did Obama become the standard for what qualifies a person for president?

Well, we all know the answer to that one: Obama became the standard the moment that Sarah Palin's lack of experience became an issue.

[ansel12]

That had absolutely nothing to do with my post, read it again, and your post 55 that it was directed to.

[ansel12]

Governor Palin has plenty of experience, it is definitely superior to Governor Mitt Romney’s, and her record both in politics and office, is vastly superior to his, although she only has about 18 years in politics compared to his longer involvement.

[Diogenesis]

jerry557: "We will see. But if Romney trips her up on economic issues, she’s toast."

Actually, as non-RomneyBOTs know,
Romney knows NOTHING about good economy.

MITT ROMNEY - THE PROVEN BAD GOVERNOR

"As U.S. real output grew 13 percent between 2002 and 2006, Massachusetts trailed at 9 percent.
* Manufacturing employment fell 7 percent nationwide those years, but sank 14 percent under Romney, placing Massachusetts 48th among the states.
* Between fall 2003 and autumn 2006, U.S. job growth averaged 5.4 percent, nearly three times Massachusetts' anemic 1.9 percent pace.
* While 8 million Americans over age 16 found work between 2002 and 2006, the number of employed Massachusetts residents actually declined by 8,500 during those years.
"Massachusetts was the only state to have failed to post any gain in its pool of employed residents," professors Sum and McLaughlin concluded.
In an April 2003 meeting with the Massachusetts congressional delegation in Washington, Romney failed to endorse President Bush's $726 billion tax-cut proposal."
[Cato Institute annual Fiscal Policy Report Card - America's Governors, 2004.]

“Romney praises Obama again
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney praised President Obama
at a GOP fundraising dinner Wednesday ..
"I also think it's important for us to nod to the president when he's right," Romney said....
Romney, who spoke at a dinner for the National Republican Senatorial Committee,
said he's pleased with the president's plans to "finish the job" in Iraq and Afghanistan
-- lines that drew applause from the partisan audience. He also applauded the president
for standing up to the auto industry.
"I hope he continues to be tough ....The former businessman even offered faint praise for
Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, saying that after a series of initial missteps,
"I think he's finally getting close to the right answer."

[r9etb]

I'm beginning to think she will be more useful to conservatism as a William F. Buckley, steering the debate rather than running for office.

To compare Palin to Buckley is to point out exactly where she falls short. Buckley's oeuvre was deep intellectual engagement with conservative philosophy and politics. He was an originator of ideas, and universally regarded as an intellectual heavyweight, even by those who disagreed with him.

Palin is none of those things. In style and depth she's more comparable to Limbaugh or Hannity. Where ideas are presented, she tends to quote others rather than developing her own themes. She has not established herself as an intellectual force to be reckoned with.

She's very good at stoking her celebrity, though.

[r9etb]

Governor Palin has plenty of experience

Half-term as governor of a small state. Mayor and city council member of a small town. PTA officer.

Don't be silly.

[vaudine]

I wish the "she shouldn't have dropped out of office" crowd would at least CONSIDER the facts. She and Alaska were being brought into approx. a frivolous lawsuit every other day, which HAD to be answered, frivolous or no. Her family (she as gov.) was already in debt to the tune of a million dollars and Alaska was in debt a couple million on these lawsuits. She and her staff were, by design of libs, so involved they could not get on with Alaska's business.

Yes! She quit! If she had held on 2 more years, she and her family would have been drowning in insurmountable debt and nothing further for the good of Alaska would have been accomplished. She would have finished up a lame duck session with no more than a pile of debts and no incumbent Repub to run for the govship

Instead of 'She quit!", look at "She accomplished"--raking out a corrupt good old boy network like the DC crowd (of her own party no less). imposing cuts to balance the budget, starting with the gov's jet, limousine and chef; compelled Exxon to start paying Alaska what it was supposed to pay and gave part of it to the people of Alaska per a check to every family; negotiated a pipeline with Canada the good old boys had been trying to get for 30 years.

Palin is not an establishment, status quo politician--she is an innovator and is about getting the job done. God knows we need one of those in Washington.

Those who keep saying they like her, but she doesn't use good speech, she doesn't have the experience, she is just not ready for the WH--need to get a grip. They are buying the media mantra!

The present occupant of the WH did not complete anything, EVER! He was a mostly absentee state Rep who usually voted present, a less than 2 year Senator during which time he mostly ran for President. He hasn't half the experience or knowledge of Palin, and he operates from a position of weakness. She would operate, very pleasantly, from a position of strength, and would soon have the world respecting if not liking America--never look to be liked.

Sarah can handle the job, by golly! She is not the thin skinned whimperer we presently endure, and her speeches are from the heart and mind, not from the TWO TELEPROMPTERS, WHICH HE ASSIDUOUSLY LOOKS UP AT--FIRST CHIN UP TO THE RIGHT, DOWN THEN CHIN UP TO THE LEFT The man is NOT a speaker!.

vaudine

[vaudine]

I agree. JFK had coaching from a Hollywood type, and both Clintons had help from their H'wood friends.One reason Reagan was so good at speaking was his ease before the camera and his years of knowing how to present his best self to the camera.

Reagan and Sarah have a lot in common--their ifaith, ntegrity, their humor, and understanding of the world where most of us live. She really needs to get a coach--not to make her into a stiff Gore type, but to learn pointers to connect better with the people who aren't listening now.

vaudine

[ansel12]

Governor Palin’s experience is definitely superior to Governor Mitt Romney’s, and her record both in politics and office, is vastly superior to his, although she only has about 18 years in politics compared to his longer involvement.

Contrary to your ridiculous claims, Mitt Romney is a less qualified, less viable candidate for President than Governor Palin.

[r9etb]

Good God in heaven above, you nitwit -- I don't give a rat's ass about Romney. Get off it, will you?

And by any reasonable standard, Palin does NOT have the necessary experience to presume to run for the presidency.

Mayor of Wasilla is the last elected job in which she actually served out her term.

[FTJM]

Yes sir! My mistake. Ever google?

Many Conservatives first learned about Palin from Bill Kristol's appearances on Fox News after he met her on the 2007 Alaskan cruise hosted by The Weekly Standard.

Bill Kristol's Palin piece which mentions their meeting in Alaska:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/06/opinion/06kristol.html?_r=1

Fred Barnes' article on Palin from Juneau during the cruise:

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/013/851orcjq.asp

The Weekly Standard's comments about a Daily Beast article which referenced the cruise:

http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2008/10/horton_of_the_beast.asp

A New Yorker piece on Palin's ascent (biased but it describes the cruise and meeting):

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/10/27/081027fa_fact_mayer?currentPage=all

[rbmillerjr]

Another PDSr flailing wildly to no avail.

Palin will run. Palin will win...because Palin is the best conservative with the best national appeal to win.

Same old BS attacks without offering up a better alternative.

[r9etb]

One reason Reagan was so good at speaking was his ease before the camera and his years of knowing how to present his best self to the camera.

You miss the meat of the story, though. Reagan spent years writing and giving public speeches tours for General Electric. As president of the SAG, he had also spent years in direct contention with the communists in Hollywood. It was during that time that he developed both his style and the basic philosophical grounding in what later became his signature issues.

Reagan and Sarah have a lot in common--their ifaith, ntegrity, their humor, and understanding of the world where most of us live. She really needs to get a coach--not to make her into a stiff Gore type, but to learn pointers to connect better with the people who aren't listening now.

She needs more than a coach. She needs to start developing the serious themes in her own words. It's rather difficult to imagine Sarah Palin giving -- much less writing -- a speech such as Reagan gave at Eureka College in 1957 (when he was Sarah Palin's age).

Or check out his speeches from the the 1964 campaign, which essentially started his political career. Reagan wrote his famous "Rendezvous with Destiny" speech himself.

That's not to say that Palin couldn't do it ... the thing is that she hasn't done it, and shows now signs of trying. The speeches she gives now are shallow. Her written essays are weak, and any deep thoughts they express are almost certain to be quotes from other people.

She has more serious things to deal with than an irritating manner of speaking -- though she needs to deal with that, too.

She needs to show she's more than just a pretty celebrity -- which, to most of the electorate, that's all she really is.

[r9etb]

Palin will run. Palin will win...because Palin is the best conservative with the best national appeal to win.

Palin will run. And Palin will lose, because she is vulnerable to attacks from the middle.

[FTJM]

I watched the clip...but like I said Pence and DeMint don’t fit that bill as they only poll at 2%...fine conservatives just like Palin, but not the appeal of Palin.

She’s running. Just accept it.

Just taking her at her word, all spin aside.

FYI, Pence won the Value Voters Summit straw poll. DeMint's popularity among Conservatives and the TEA Party speaks for itself.