Rewriting the Rules, Sarah Palin-Style: How To run For The White House

UK Guardian ^ | Friday 26 November 2010 19.33 GMT

[dselig]

US political pundits baffled as former Alaska governor gambles on nationwide book tour and reality TV show

"Sarah Palin has done everything wrong according to the traditional way of campaigning," said Scott Rasmussen, a leading pollster and co-author of a book on the Tea Party. "She gave up her position of power as governor of Alaska, she wrote a book for a lot of money, she has her daughter on Dancing with the Stars, she is on her own reality TV show, she's been incredibly partisan in her politics – this is everything that a presidential candidate is supposed not to do."

And yet in its own baffling way her anarchic strategy appears to be working.

Even her daughter's performance in a talent competition (she came third in the finals on Tuesday night) has a political significance in Palinland. The same could be said of Sarah Palin's Alaska. Its audience fell over the first two episodes from a record-breaking 5 million to 3 million viewers, but that's still a lot of eyes watching a thinly disguised extended political advertisement in which Palin is presented as a straight-talking "real" American. Not to mention the $250,000 reported fee per episode that can go straight into her political fighting fund.

For Mark McKinnon, who has worked directly with Palin having prepped her for her vice-presidential debate in 2008 against Joe Biden, it adds up to a political marvel. "Sarah Palin is completely rewriting the political rulebook," he said. "She's proving anything is possible, including running for president and winning the GOP [Republican] nomination in 2012."

McKinnon doubts that she could go on and win against Obama in the presidential election proper because she is such a polarising figure, but even then "she's got a habit of turning conventional wisdom upside down".

[SunkenCiv]

"Sarah Palin has done everything wrong according to the traditional way of campaigning," said Scott Rasmussen, a leading pollster and co-author of a book on the Tea Party. "She gave up her position of power as governor of Alaska, she wrote a book for a lot of money, she has her daughter on Dancing with the Stars, she is on her own reality TV show, she's been incredibly partisan in her politics -- this is everything that a presidential candidate is supposed not to do."

By "incredibly partisan" he means she's not a Democrat and isn't allowed to be partisan. Thanks dselig.

[Mr. Thorne]

Yes it is. Because THEY CAN’T PREDICT HER. Not Rove, not Rasmussen, not anybody.

They’re like doctors in the mid 19th century: they know how things are supposed to work, and they are the experts, so what’s this Austrian doing talking about ‘bacteria’ and ‘hand washing’.

Look at them on TV. They’re shocked that they might be PART of the problem, because they’ve invested so much in not REPORTING the news, but being PART of the news, or MAKING the news.

I hope to God she runs and blows their little hardwired brains straight out their ears.

She’s probably been the most upfront and honest of all the ‘potentials’ about her plans. Meanwhile, every other ‘potential’ is courted with pretty words and leading questions on news and commentary shows. Will he run or won’t he? Oh, an evasive answer? Ha ha, wink wink, we know better, don’t we?

Bah. Enough already.

[red irish]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO0k9SHljCc&feature=player_embedded
another reason why people hate Sarah Palin! She would stand up for the rights of people in this country to defend their family and their country. This other crap means nothing but this, this is what scares them.

[teg_76]

Brices, I was one of the most vocal supporters of C. O’donnell in Delaware...perhaps you don’t remember me, but I remember you were also...so your electability argument that you’re trying to apply to me doesn’t make sense.

I will vote for the most conservative electable candidate...not the most electable Republican, the most electable conservative....if Demint runs, Palin is no longer the most electable conservative...I would have never voted for GHWB in 1980, just as I would have never voted for Castle in 2010.

You and the others you felt the need to cc in your message to me are only proving my point. I like Palin...a lot...but I’m not a cultist, and will not sacrifice conservative legislation to send some kind of statement in a losing cause. But if she is the most electable conservative (not republican, CONSERVATIVE), then of course she’ll get my vote.

[Brices Crossroads]

Demint is perhaps the only one of the current crop I could vote for in a general election,but I would still choose Palin over Demint because she is a transformational candidate and her political skills are far superior to his.

I like Demint and think he would have the makings of a fine President. But I am not sure he would have the fortitude to do what is necessary and to survive politically. To make the tough choices and to survive requires a degree of charisma that I think he lacks. I still think he is a serious man who would be a formidable candidate.

I don’t agree that he is more electable than Palin. Demint would be savaged by Obama, branded a racist because he is from South Carolina, and I have no idea whether he could withstand the assault. Palin has withstood it and is thus battle hardened.

It is a moot point though because Demint is not running. And Demint is the only one, other than Plain, who is worthy of support.