SARAH PALIN'S PING LIST!
Posted on 05/11/2011 8:17:16 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and businessman Donald Trump have formed a political bond, one united by their populist ideology and contempt for the mainstream media.
Their kinship grew during the height of the birther controversy. As Trump called on President Obama to release his birth certificate, Palin rose to Trump’s defense, excoriating the press.
She blamed the media, not Trump, for the business mogul’s fixation on birtherism, telling Fox News: “Donald Trump is the one being really treated unfairly, I’d say … in the press when they’re hammering him about the one issue … he’s merely answering reporters’ questions about his view on the birth certificate.”
To Palin, Trump’s crusade was merely a curiosity stoked by the media.
“The media is loving the fact that some curious Americans are actually asking the questions, and they’re trying to make those curious Americans sound kind of crazy,” she said about the birther movement one day before Obama released his long-form certificate.
When Obama released it, Palin promptly credited Trump for the action, tweeting, “Media, admit it, Trump forced the issue.”
For his part, Trump reveled in the attention Palin helped bring, telling The Wall Street Journal that she was “so gracious to me on the birther issue. I mean, she really thought that I was doing a great service.”
For better or worse, Palin has attached her seal of approval more clearly to the Trump phenomenon than any other potential presidential candidate.
This is surprising — not just because it’s a controversial link, but also because the two share an ideological base, and in a normal political universe, that means they’d be natural foes when competing in a zero-sum game.
Yet Republican consultant Matt Mackowiak says that hasn’t exactly happened.
“They appeal to the same segment of the base, but rather than compete, they are holding hands.”
For Trump, an association with Palin has obvious benefits. She has a rabid fan base, more political experience, a more serious mien, and a legion of followers who, ideologically, line up with Trump. Palin’s seal of approval is a powerful one, and if she vouches for someone, others often follow.
But it’s a risky prospect for Palin. Most think that her association with Trump can only hurt her, but others see value for her — not because they think Trump is formidable, but precisely because they think he isn’t.
So is her link with him harmful or helpful?
Harmful:
Those subscribing to this theory think Palin sullies her reputation by praising Trump.
Fox political analyst and Daily Beast columnist Kirsten Powers draws the link.
“She has a real following; he is a circus act. She doesn’t need him; he is the one who benefits from the alliance. She diminishes herself when she associates herself with this kind of hateful crap,” Powers said.
Further, Powers says her fellow Alaskan “needs to take her responsibility more serious and not get down in the mud with people like Donald Trump.”
The essence of the argument is the proverbial saying that bad company corrupts good values. Or in this case, good political fortunes.
Helpful:
There are those who think Palin would actually benefit from a Trump presidential bid. At first glance, that appears ridiculous.
According to polls, Palin’s and Trump’s support overlaps. That means there’s a limited number of votes from which both draw, and theoretically, each would fare worse with the other in the race.
But that ignores a counterintuitive dynamic that might emerge and lift Palin outside her base and more firmly into the mainstream.
By all accounts, Trump is a celebrity first, politician second. If he entered the field, he’d be The Political Celebrity — the ultimate sideshow. Suddenly, Palin’s experience as governor of Alaska might look more impressive.
One GOP consultant, who asked not to be identified, described the heart of the argument: Trump’s entry, he said, “positions Sarah Palin closer to the establishment intelligentsia than otherwise possible.”
When presented against the backdrop of Trump and his orange mane, Palin might look more electable and serious.
“To the average voter who finds Palin an exceptionally polarizing and equally unprepared presidential suitor, the former Alaska governor doesn’t seem quite so bad when opposite the sheer vulgarity of Trump,” the consultant pointed out.
Indeed, if it’s clear that the conservative base isn’t going to let an establishment candidate win, then they could be drawn into the arms of Palin when confronted by the specter of Trump. It’s an admittedly unlikely scenario, but the logic of contrasts makes sense.
Palin’s controversial statements look positively pedestrian when compared to Trump’s call for seizing Iraqi oil, cutting off all aid to Pakistan and imposing 25 percent tariffs on China.
Suddenly, mistaking “refudiate” for “repudiate” — as Palin did last year — seems far less noteworthy, and Palin herself more electable.
The question is whether she can avoid descending into Trump’s sensationalism and separate herself from him, thereby mainstreaming herself.
Dont tie Palin to Trump!
Yep. That's why she thinks Palins' attack on the media attack against Trumps' demand for BC proof is "complicated" - because Palin is talking about the truth.
To a Rat, the truth is ALWAYS "complicated."
Trump got his 15 minutes of fame in the 2012 election. He’s done. It is time to move on to a more serious candidate... hopefully one that is an actual conservative.
Pain's just being smart here. It costs nothing to be gracious. Trump may be a blowhard, but he's a blowhard of means.
Trump's not just a stalking horse, he's actively running through the Obama minefield, swinging a stick. His motives are really irrelevant. He's doing a lot of the GOP's dirty work for them, weakening Obama's armor far in advance of the race.
Palin's just making sure that she's standing behind Trump, not to the front or sides, while he's still on his warpath. No need to get too close to Trump, but no need to get drawn into a fight with him, either.
What a load.
Donald Trump brags about how he's so much richer and better than everyone else and how he crushes the little guy... is that what we're calling 'populist' today?
Donald Trump has a prime time TV show and gave an interview in Rolling Stone recently, and yet he's supposed to have contempt for "mainstream media"...
Yeah, I don't think so.
She should unattach that seal yesterday. Trump is yesterday's news, today's crackpot if you even believed him. Palin was at a WI rally supporting Walker while Trump was pimping himself with idiotic claims and promises. In fact I have seen no media coverage of Trump since the BC came out.
But what about his people in Hawaii who “ couldn’t believe what they [were] finding!”Looks like Stephy was right to ask about that, no?
Was it a rational act or irrational act for Obama to withhold releasing a simple document like his long form BC once the question was raised four years ago?....
I would say to all that no matter what you think of "birthers"....Obama's actions would seem to be irrational if all was in order...his actions made no sense if no problem...
Obama behavior in the matter over the last four should of raise questions in any reasonable person of either Obama honesty or his rationality
I had alot of fun with that one. I kept pulling past Trump statements off the net and posting them. The BC and OBL stories completely killed his sucker act. Yet I still get freepers pinging me with bogus trump trade claims/theories which they could disprove themselves in 5 minutes.
Trump is like the guy on the info commercial selling the dork that ‘extenze’ pill with the actresses (porn stars) explaining why they date guys that use it. Or selling software that creates you a home business that runs itself and makes you money so you can quit your job and go on vacation.
I started posting"He is lying to you!" so it would get through because so many people seem to believe what they want to be true when they could easily disprove it.
Sorry Onyx...was intending on sending you a really nice video about Sarah and this popped up instead....
Palin has no answers. Unless you know of any she has come out with.
Yeah. Mitch Daniels! Uh huh.
Yep. Might as well spread the wealth around. At least the GOP is being exposed.
LOL they are so obsessed. Palin will speak for herself. Funny that the media which demands every single crumb on Palin was not curious and adament about Obama and his records. There are still a lot of questions regarding Obama and Palin is the one to point out their hypocrisy.
Just watched it: Courage & Strength! Thank you very much, (((imfrmdixie)))
Hers will go down in history as the greatest administration since George Washington. Period. Number two (in historical perspective) will be Geoprge W. Bush, once he is given proper credit for the current rioting in the Middle East, which will lead to representative Democracies and Constitutional Republics throughout a land once known for tribally despotic, cave-man-style tyranny.
You just have to see the Big Picture, looking back from 50-70 years in the future. Most are not thus gifted. You're welcome.
;-\
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