Defeated Palin makes triumphant return home; GOP infighting grows

SFGate (home of the San Francisco Chronicle) ^ | Thursday, November 6, 2008; 18:57 PST | Carla Marinucci, Chronicle Political Writer

[Gondring]

Gov. Sarah Palin returned home in defeat to Wasilla, Alaska, today - leaving behind eyebrow-raising tales about towel-clad appearances and internal campaign feuds. [...]

Among the stories reported by Fox News and Newsweek magazine:

-- She showed up in front of John McCain campaign aides "wearing nothing but a towel";

-- She sent campaign staff on a shopping spree for her family that insiders described as the "Wasilla hillbillies looting Nieman Marcus from coast-to-coast";

-- She was so shockingly ignorant of basic civics that aides prepping her for her single debate realized she didn't know that Africa is a continent and not a country, nor could she identify the countries that comprise North America. [...]

On election night, the New York Times reported, Palin showed up at McCain's election-night gathering in Phoenix ready to read a concession speech. It goes against campaign protocol for a vice presidential candidate to speak on election night, and the move was vetoed by McCain strategist Steve Schmidt. [...]

"She didn't know the nations involved in the North American Free Trade Agreement," NAFTA - a key agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada," he said GOP insiders told him. She also "didn't understand that Africa was a continent and not a country" and asked for explanation about the difference between South Africa and Africa, he reported. [...]

And the lingering matter of her wardrobe spending continues - a Republican party attorney has been assigned to look into Palin's designer clothing purchases and, reportedly, to retrieve the expensive items. [...]

"An angry aide ... said the truth will eventually come out when the Republican Party audits its books," according to the magazine.

Still, conservative leaders downplayed those reports, insisting that base voters were deeply impressed by Palin and her contributions to the ticket.

[Gondring]

I don’t find them all implausible.

[21twelve]

Speaking of the Biblical stuff their was the guy that said he had a vision of Sarah Palin as a modern-day Esther and was told my God to see her at a rally and tell her. Some freepers even said they called the guy and he sounded very normal and humble. Who knows.

But - I read the story of Esther at the time, and was going to say something then, but felt best to wait.

In the book of Esther the Jews are in exile. The King that takes Esther for his wife has been in power for 3 years before he makes her his wife, keeps all the Jews from being killed, and puts Esther’s relative (Mordecai) on his court.

Anyway - Esther is in Captivity for quite some time before being in a position of power to save her nation.

[antceecee]

Hit pieces rarely contain truth. Skillful lies take truth and twist it to mean something completely false.

Your contempt for Palin is pretty evident, which is why I attack you. She does not deserve that.

You champion conservative values, but seek to diminish the one person - woman who stood for them in this election.

You deserve to be called out.

[GoodDay]

“The Africa story is hogwash. It is recycled from Bushes early days when he referred to Africa as a country.”

I didn’t know that. So it’s a sort of “one size fits all” meme.

Could easily be retrofitted to the left.

“What do you think of Pelosi?”

“That moron? She actually thought that North Vietnam was a continent rather than a country; and THEN she claimed that the Catholic Church had never developed a clear statement regarding abortion and when life begins!”

The important thing is to create a textual “guilt by association.” You take a gaffe — intentional or unintentional — and you put it in proximity to something that is pure invention (or merely rumored). The listener knows that the second one about abortion is true, and then makes the easy mental assumption that THEREFORE the first one you spoke about must also be true. Since you mentioned it first, it’s already half-forgotten by the time you get around to mentioning the second; only the conclusion “What a moron!” remains in his mind.

It’s like planting decoy landmines alongside real ones.

[Gondring]

And that means abandoning Palin, who honestly never belonged on the national stage to begin with.

I admit I was pushing her for a LONG time, before we even had a presidential nominee. One example post of mine from February (ignore the subjective case error).

And I admit I was likely wrong, rare as that is. :-)

But that doesn't mean she couldn't be ready for the national stage next time around.

Because if you stick with Palin, and God forbid she in the nominee in 2012, we will lose.

Yes, very likely. But one thing that seems to be common here...the idea that it's far better to have repeated epic failures than to face reality and adjust preconceived notions and strategies.

I'm not for abandoning Gov. Palin or her political stance...in fact, I am in favor of moving the GOP more in her direction, away from the abominable neoconservatism that has sunk us as a nation and as a party. But I also believe that we have a LOT of work to do in educating the public about small government, as well as pushing out the Nanny Staters and other Big Government types in the GOP.

[Gondring]

You’re a loon.

[Just mythoughts]

A co-worker of mine believed quite strongly that Sen. McCain was intentionally throwing the race to get back at the RNC because they forced Gov. Palin on him. While I don't agree with his entire argument, I do believe that Sen. McCain held back to protect his Senate and other relationships, while never really knowing what Palin's role would be. And even if nobody forced Gov. Palin on him, I'm sure he felt that circumstances forced her upon him when he'd rather have had someone like Joe Lieberman, Lindsay Graham, et al.

I do not particularly like or trust McCain's cohort in the media Bill Kristol.... however, he was smiling like the cat that got the prized canary right after McCain announced her selection. And proceeded to say that he had recommended/suggested her months earlier.

On the opposite end was Krauthammer aghast at such a nominal selection and not the least bit impressed.

I do not see how the RNC could have forced anything upon McCain as he became the RNC once he landed the nomination. I think he wanted to demonstrate his long heralded 'maverick' stature, knowing full well he was not going to have the conservatives interested in his candidacy.

I also think as is being demonstrated by this note taking, that if elected he could force her out of the way were she to get in the way with things like 'drill - baby - drill. Among other things.

I also think that trashing her as common white trash is his way of feeding his small tiny media base. I think he thought he was owed the power and position of Presidency and this new comer nobody was not a real threat to him winning.

I also think this 'financial' meltdown was hurried into action by some specific democrats because of polling data after the Palin pick. I do not think McCain ever considered the possibility his good buddies in Congress would aid and abet such a massive undertaking. Chuckie Schumer threw out the first curve ball and it went down hill from there.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

“If Palin was such a firebrand, then how do you explain the fall in GOP turnout this time around? “

-

Simple:

“MY FRIENDS”...

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Your contempt for Palin, and your agenda are clear.

And you *do* deserve to be called out.

Get out of the way.

[IreneE]

Yes, I heard that story, too. As a charismatic and a Freeper, though, I am wary of a lot of the lunatic fringe stuff that charismatics do to the detriment of all Christians everywhere. Even a bit nervous of some of Palin’s religious associations... One thing that the lunatic fringe always seem to do is assign Old Testament icons (like Esther) to Post New Testament modern situations. I've heard the "you are a modern “Esther” thing a lot. But I don't know if that guy was just making things up because they sounded good or if that really was a word from God. If it encouraged Palin, I am pleased, Lord knows she needs it!

Nonetheless I do believe Mitt is working behind the scenes to take Palin out while the iron is “hot” so to speak. The “towel” story is so smarmy, I somehow only think a religious person would even use it... a “religious” non Christian like Romney or his goons. What a low blow against Palin.

Rino Mormon anyone?

[Cringing Negativism Network]

I think youre onto something.

Liberals wouldn’t find a woman wearing a towel scandalous.

They would prefer a guy, but really wouldn’t think twice, considering your average Thursday afternoon in the Castro district.

More and more, this looks like Mitt’s people are directly responsible for President Obama.

That’s beyond scandalous.

That borders on treason.

[Gondring]

Jim--you're pinged out of courtesy simply because I mentioned your name, not to get your attention. :-)

Your contempt for Palin is pretty evident,

You're just plain loony if you think I have contempt for her. Here's a post I made well before most people had a clue who she was...does it look like contempt?

SARAH PALIN FOR VP!!!

Lifetime member of the NRA and an actual sportsman! :-) [That's a picture of her hunting with her son, below, and fishing.] She's a good conservative in the mold of Old Alaska, IMHO. The GOP could do a lot worse than [her]!

Here are some other things I wrote:

She's definitely a very beautiful woman, and has always seemed authentic to me. Maybe I'm just a sucker for her pretty face, and maybe it's beauty queen poise training that allows her to handle fish like a pro, but I actually believe she was a commercial and sport fisherman, and while I'm not so sure I'd agree with all of her positions, I believe she would bring energy to a ticket, and social conservatism that's respectful of individual rights. But again, maybe it's just wishful thinking, after all the disappointments in the prez track.

In summary, I think she'd be a smart pic for a VP slot. I just wouldn't want her choosing names for anything (her children are Bristol, Piper, Track, and Willow). :-)

Your contempt for Palin is pretty evident, which is why I attack you.

And so, you demonstrate contempt for Jim and his forum by going against the first request and flat-out admitting it is willful...

Please enjoy our forum, but also please remember to use common courtesy when posting and refrain from posting personal attacks, profanity, vulgarity, threats, racial or religious bigotry, or any other materials offensive or otherwise inappropriate for a conservative family audience.

Frankly, I don't really care that you violated that--I like energetic debate--but it just highlights your hypocrisy.

You champion conservative values, but seek to diminish the one person - woman who stood for them in this election.

Funny way to diminish her, by commenting that accusations against her could just be differences of opinion. Do you disagree with my A.E. comments?

And I'm sorry you can't handle that I don't believe in joining personality cults. I'll call a spade a spade and look at weaknesses as things to improve, not ignore.

[21twelve]

“.....seem to do is assign Old Testament icons (like Esther) to Post New Testament modern situations.”

I don’t look at is as some prophetic moment to see parallels in today’s world with what has gone on in the past. They are just examples of how God has acted in the past, and how we can have faith in Him in the future.

When I read Esther a couple of weeks ago it was to give me some hope that this unknown woman could help her nation.

When I read Esther just now it gives me hope that, in spite of the Jews being captive, God was watching over them, even while teaching them a lesson (their captivity).

I’m not sure if Obama is God’s punishment on us as a Nation, or if it is just “bad things happen”. Either way - God will work it for good for those that love Him. We may not have a country after Obama gets done with it in spite of our fighting for it, but we WILL still have God.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

You’re “reporting” me?

How mature.

[Gondring]

Your contempt for Palin, and your agenda are clear.

Quick. Describe to me the incident with her sister and Track and the cell phone, and two of the stories she gave about it.

Or are you just throwing out accusations without facts?

[Gondring]

LOL...I hadn't even replied to you, never hit any abuse button, and if you learn to read, you could see that I made it quite clear that my ping was only a courtesy ping...and that I didn't care that there was any "violation" of the courtesy request.

In fact, I generallt don't like moderator removal of posts for personal attacks, as they usually reflect more poorly on the poster.

[SoConPubbie]

So if this is all true, then I admit poor judgment, as I had been pushing for Gov. Palin for VP for a long time. And I think that perhaps she'd do well spending the next few years in prepping for the big time.

As governor, though...she's an Executive, not a Legislator, IMO.

If you are gullible enough to swallow this tripe from Campaign Carl Cameron and his "unnamed" sources then you and I need to talk about a bridge I have to sell.

The only people looking bad in this whole scenario, and I mean REALLY BAD, is Carl Cameron and his "unnamed" sources, if they exist.

Don't play into their hands, the RINOs in our party, and I suspect certain candidates surrogates will do everything in their power to try and discredit the closest thing we have seen to Reagan since Reagan.

They are low lifes and deserve nothing but our scorn and if I could, I'd punch them in the face, they are cowards and scum.

[Gondring]

I sit here and can’t really think of a word of your post that I would need to change in order to express my view.

[Gondring]

How recently have you read the transcripts from the investigations of her brother in law?

[SoConPubbie]

I admit I thought the same. But I am fascinated by the sociology of this.

The same folks who would be scandalized by such behavior if it were a Dem, or a neighbor, are enthralled that "she's just normal folk" and behaves so casually--and decorum is irrelevant.

Listen buddy, until the "unnamed" sources have the manhood or womanhood to actually step up to the plate and confirm these stories this is nothing but crap being spewed by people who are afraid of her popularity and hate the brand of conservatism (fiscal and social) she so aptly communicated.

People who assume unsourced gossip like this is true lack credibility in my book.