Posted on 12/03/2010 6:21:37 AM PST by Uncledave
When I see the fervor of Sarah Palin’s fans — and by no means just those who swell the adoring crowds who go to her public appearances — I am convinced that the question is not, “How can she win the GOP nomination?” but “How can she not win it?” When you have anywhere between five and fifteen GOP candidates, all expressing basically the same conservative views, how can anyone other than the only one with the passionate fan base possibly win? And yet: Reading between the lines of what conservative-movement people are saying and writing, there is a great deal of worry about the prospect of a Palin nomination. I would summarize the GOP political writers’ consensus as follows: She must never be criticized, and she must never be nominated.
The most basic underpinning for this view is the notion that she can’t beat Obama, and I think this is a profoundly mistaken assumption. It is based on a too-abstract understanding of the qualifications for the presidency: It holds Palin up against an ideal presidential résumé, and finds her inadequate — which is true enough, but neither fair nor quite relevant. It’s important to remember that in a 2012 general election, she would be confronting not an ideal presidential profile, but an all-too-human flesh-and-blood opponent. The choice between Palin and Obama, phrased in the least flattering (to Palin) possible way, is a choice between a woman who may turn out to be seriously inadequate to the job and, therefore, become a failed president; and a man who has already convincingly demonstrated that he is seriously inadequate to the job and, therefore, already is a failed president. This rather changes the “electability” issue, doesn’t it?
I talked to a savvy GOP politico early this evening, who told me that he believed the Palinmania of her backers — which, as I said above, I consider the gamebreaker for the primaries — will peter out once she goes to Iowa or New Hampshire for the umpteenth time. At that point, he said, she will be seen as just another candidate, and therefore judged on a more even playing field. This commentator knows politics much better than I do, but I remain unconvinced. So far, every gaffe Palin has made and every attack she has endured have only soldered her supporters more securely to her cause. At this point, I think the only way this bond could be broken is through something politically nuclear — the equivalent of Lonesome Rhodes’s famous meltdown at the end of the great 1957 movie, A Face in the Crowd. And anybody who is seriously hoping that, right before the New Hampshire primary, a tape will be released on which Palin is heard referring to Granite State voters as “idiots, morons, and guinea pigs” — well, let me just say that such a person would be letting his hatred of Palin eclipse his common sense.
No, I think the only way Palin will not be the GOP nominee is if she finds a safe, face-saving way to exit the race before the primaries. Some of her supporters may well be working on it: Here is an op-ed, non-ironically titled “Is Sarah Palin Too Good to Be President?” The author says:
Simply, the confines of the presidency may prove too narrow for a name that scales new heights (or, to some, plumbs new depths) in ubiquity and provocation. . . . The iconic images of Sarah the moose-hunter and fisher-woman (many courtesy of her hit TLC show Sarah Palin’s Alaska) and Sarah the tireless, principled and so gosh-darned unpolished campaigner and pundit do not mesh with the duties of the policy wonk in chief, navigating the political terrain, working within the constraints of a one-industry town and facing retirement and decline after a four or eight year apex of public service. Likewise, Teddy Roosevelt, a Republican president with progressive leanings, is as beloved today for his bluster, manliness and war record as he is for his presidential term from 1901-1909.
So she may decide to settle for being a beloved, world-historical figure like TR, and leave the presidency to lesser men (or women!). But there was another politician who faced a similar choice, four years ago: I could be content with the adoring crowds, the bestselling books, the ideological media applauding my every move — or I could go for the presidency. We all know the choice Barack Obama made; and I somehow don’t think — all “quitter” gibes to the contrary — that Sarah Palin has any less fight in her than her fellow basketball player in the Oval Office.
There’s going to be some more split lips before this one’s over.
again, skepitcal....fine, please tell me why independents, that broke big time for conservatives/conservative viewpoints, in the november elections, would break bigtime against palin, who encompasses those views.
My point wasn’t actually intended for you. It was intended for all the “poll” and “electability” concern trolls here at FR. I can’t believe that after so many years of nominating big government Republicans there are still people that don’t get it. What have you won by winning an election, but selling your soul?
a choice between a woman who may turn out to be seriously inadequate to the job >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
What a pant load. I used to have some respect for NR.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
A HUGE PANT LOAD. I mean do these idjits even read her record????? I doubt it.
********************
Governor Sarah Palin’s Record:
1) 2010 Record:
http://us4palin.com/accomplishments/master-list-of-governor-palins-2010-accomplishments/
2)2009 Record:
http://us4palin.com/accomplishments/master-list-of-governor-palins-2009-accomplishments/
3)Gubernatorial Accomplishments 2006 – 2008:
http://us4palin.com/accomplishments/gubernatorial-accomplishments-2006-2008/
4)Oil and Gas Conservation Commission 2003 – 2004:
http://us4palin.com/accomplishments/oil-and-gas-conservation-commission-accomplishments-2003-2004/
5)City of Wasilla, Mayor 1996 – 2002
http://us4palin.com/accomplishments/wasilla-mayor-1996-2002-2/
6) Wasilla City Council 1992 – 1996:
http://us4palin.com/accomplishments/wasilla-city-council-1992-1996-2/
7)KTUU Sportscasting 1987 – 1992
http://us4palin.com/accomplishments/ktuu-sportscasting/
8)Commercial Fishing Accomplishments:
http://us4palin.com/accomplishments/commercial-fishing-accomplishments/
9)Athletic Accomplishments:
http://us4palin.com/accomplishments/athletic-accomplishments
10) Hunting and Subsistence Fishing
http://us4palin.com/accomplishments/hunting-and-subsistence-fishing-accomplishments/
11) Marriage and Family
http://us4palin.com/accomplishments/marriage-family-parental-accomplishments/
Promotions******Sarah Palin Gear:
http://www.cafepress.com/northstarpromo
Backstabbing cowardly leper Mitt Romney:
"Do your duty for me. Attack her.
You will embrace these attacks on Gov. Palin and her defenseless children
as when you threw elections 2008 and 2010
to the DNC ….. for ME. FOR ME.
Create, then support, the vicious anti-GOP attacks from our northern lands,
our bought media, and our plants within the Obama team.
I will gain GOP favor by condemning the very same attacks and
ordering them opposed from our lands in the south.
Whichever way the tide runs, we will arise and only I, Obama, and Soros will be left standing.”
Gotcha and I agree.
Yep, McCain was just f'n PERFECT as the GOP candidate.
First, I’d say...her supporters are going to start getting tired once she starts campaigning? Really? How’s that work? I mean, if she does the Lonesome Rhodes thing (which I think very unlikely) or otherwise melts down, or starts taking positions that a lot of them really don’t support, that’s one thing. But if none of those things happens...are you kidding me? If she gets in and runs well, or (o noes!) is leading the field...you think they’re going to get tired of that? Savvy Politico...are you high?
Most of the grumbling, I think, is among, well, some of the candidates and their supporters. To whom I’d say...guys, step up or step out. Run a better campaign than her and beat her, or let it go.
More here also:
Governor Sarah Palin’s Accomplishments that garnered her a whopping 92% approval rating:
Energy Independence, Development, and Environmental Stewardship
*Governor Palin’s cornerstone accomplishment is AGIA (Alaska Gasline Inducement Act). During the Palin administration, TransCanada and Exxon formed an alliance to build a natural gas pipeline from Alaska to the Lower 48. Under Governor Palin’s governance, the project was expanded and revised from what previous governors had proposed with an open policy process for the Alaskan people. More progress was made on this effort than in the previous 30 years. This is the largest private sector infrastructure project in North American history and helps put us on the path to energy independence.
*Governor Palin’s administration opened up drilling for oil and natural gas at Pt. Thompson for the first time in decades.
*Governor Palin created the Alaska’s Petroleum Integrity Office to oversee all aspects of energy development and to make sure oilfield equipment was safe to operate and a Climate Change Subcabinet to comprehensively and honestly evaluate climate change.
Fiscal Conservatism
*Governor Palin reduced earmark requests for the state of Alaska by 80% during her administration, requesting only earmarks that would benefit the country as a whole.
* Governor Palin reduced spending in her budget for Fiscal Year 2010 by more than one billion dollars from the previous governor’s Fiscal Year 2007 budget, a 9.5% real reduction in spending. Her FY2010 budget was $10.57 billion compared to Governor Murkowski’s FY2007 budget of nearly $11.7 billion. At the same time, she fulfilled her campaign promise to forward fund education, allowing districts greater flexibility and predictability in their planning.
*Governor Palin opposed much of the “stimulus”, wanting only to accept 55% of the money allocated to Alaska, specifically only dollars dedicated to infrastructure [projects. Although the Alaskan legislature ultimately overturned her veto, she stood firm on her commitment to help Alaska to become more self-sufficient while not adding to not add to the skyrocketing national debt.
* Governor Palin invested $5 billion in state savings.
Walking the Walk on Fiscal Responsibility
*Governor Palin sold the private jet purchased by the previous governor. She state it was an unnecessary financial burden on the state and was unable to land on many of the state’s landing strips.
* To cut costs that would be incurred by continuing to use a personal driver like previous governors, the governor drove herself from Wasilla to her office in Anchorage. She also dismissed the governor’s personal chef stationed in Juneau, Alaska’s capital.
* Governor Palin accepted less state per diem for herself and her family than her predecessors even though she had a larger family.
10th Amendment Advocacy/Promotion of State Constitution
*Showing that she is a strong supporter of the 10th amendment, Governor Palin advocated for the sovereignty of the state of Alaska.
*Governor Palin’s administration sued the federal government for placing the polar bear on the endangered species list, as this restriction affected energy development which would increase energy costs.
*A Constitutionalist, Governor Palin signed Alaska’s Clear and Equitable Share (ACES) bill into law. The Alaska constitution states that the Alaskan people own the oil and other resources. This law ensures that the “owners”, the people of Alaska, receive a clear and equitable share of oil profits.
National Defense/Veterans
*Governor Palin supported ground-based missile defense Ft Greely and other Alaskan Bases around to protect America from America’s enemies. She criticized the Obama administration for cuts that they made to this national defense system.
*Governor Palin, with Senators Murkowski and Begich, fought for retirement benefits from the federal government that were due to the Alaska Territorial Guard members who fought during World War II. These benefits were eventually rewarded to these veterans by the federal government.
* Governor Palin visited Alaskan soldiers in Kosovo and Kuwait.
Transparency/Anti-Corruption
*Governor Palin signed bipartisan ethics reform legislation into law that helped to hold both the legislative and executive branches accountable.
*Governor Palin put the state checkbook online, allowing all constituents to see how state money was being spent.
Health Care
*Governor Palin introduced health care transparency legislation which aimed at putting information in the hands of consumers about cost and quality of health care as a way to make health care consumer driven and accessible.
Sanctity and Dignity of All Life
* Governor Palin strongly supported both parental consent and parental notification legislation.
*Governor Palin increased educational funding for special needs’ children.
*Governor Palin implemented the Senior Benefits Program to support low income seniors.
Positions Held while Governor
* Chairman of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission.
*Vice Chair of the National Governors Association Natural Resource Committee.
* She served as chair of the Alaska Conservation Commission, which regulates Alaska’s most valuable non-renewable resources: oil and gas. She was elected by her peers to serve as president of the Alaska Conference of Mayors. In this role, she worked with local, state and federal officials to promote solutions to the needs of Alaska’s communities.
She exposed legal violations and conflicts of interest of Alaska Republican leaders, including the former state Attorney General and the State GOP Chairman (who was also an Oil & Gas Commissioner), who was doing work for the party on public time and supplying a lobbyist with a sensitive e-mail. Several went to jail.
Governor Palin signed several pieces of legislation and resolutions during July 2009. They were:
•SB-125: Encourage aerospace development in AK
•SB-177: Extend sunset for sport fishing guides and address harvest data collection
•Pro-energy development and missile defense resolutionsHJR-27: Alaska a Sovereign State
HJR-25: Hydro-Electric a Renewable Resource
HJR-28: Oppose Federal Restriction on Oil and Gas Development
HJR-12: Support Missile Defense System
•SB-88: Power cost equalization
•Defending Second Amendment rights.SB-201: Extends Concealed Carry Permit Expiration to 5 Years from Birthday
HJR-17: Urges Congress not to pass HR-45.The federal legislation would put burdensome licensing and registration controls on individual gun owners.
SJR-10: Urges Congress to pass S-371. The legislation was to ensure that citizens of each state who are licensed or authorized by their home state to carry a concealed weapon, could do so in another state as long as they comply with the laws of that state.
SJR-3: The resolution expresses support to Congress for repealing the ban on carrying a firearm on National Park Service lands.
•SB-3 Requiring information sharing between two agencies.
•HRJ-19 Supports requirement of escort for loaded tankers traversing Prince William Sound.
•The Governor appointed 29 people to boards, commissions and councils and made three judicial appointments between July 6, 2009 and July 26, 2009.Governor Palin’s total appointments for 2009 was123, including 116 to boards, commissions and councils, five judicial appointments, one legislative and one attorney general. Governor Palin averaged one appointment every 1.67 days during 2009.
•The Governor vetoed $28.6 million in stimulus money that would have involved federal interference with the state of Alaska.
Governor Palin signed bills removing experience caps on teacher’s salaries and extending boat safety programs.Governor Palin signed legislation that gave struggling charter schools a one-year grace period to increase enrollments or integrate with other charter schools. She also signed legislation that authorizes Alaska “to enroll in the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.”
Governor Palin signed legislation granting birth certificates for stillborn babies
Governor Palin signed legislation authorizing the state to fund retirement benefits for Alaska Territorial Guard veterans. The federal government ceased funding benefits on April 1, 2009
Governor Palin signed legislation safeguarding student loans
Sarah Palin was Commander of the Alaska National Guard. Alaska is the first line of defense in our missile interceptor defense system. The 49th Missile Defense Battalion of the Alaska National Guard is the first line of defense unit that protects the entire nation from ballistic missile attacks. It’s on permanent active duty, unlike other Guard units in the United States. As governor of Alaska, Palin was briefed on highly classified military issues, homeland security, and counterterrorism daily.
Governor Palin was the commander in chief of the Alaska State Defense Force (ASDF), a federally recognized militia incorporated into Homeland Security’s counterterrorism plans.
You poor thing.
What ever would you have done in 1980, when the media narrative was Reagan was “too dumb’ and “not a serious candidate.”
EVERY poll had him losing to Carter in a landslide before he won the nomination (the establishment did NOT want him)
If we ever want to break the cycle of RINO’s (Nixon, Ford, Bush, Dole, Bush, McCain, Romney?) we need to get behind a real conservative and do so early.
The vast majority of Americans agree with Palin on the issues, she just has to overcome the false narrative that has been advanced to destroy her. Luckily, she has the truth on her side and that won’t be hard to do.
If she wants it, she will sin the nomination in a cakewalk and the White House in a landslide.
I cant speak for their reasons, which no doubt vary. I am just concerned about the numbers, which IIRC are now 35 favorable, 50 unfavorable with independents. She would have to turn this around considerably to be a viable candidate.
Reagan was governor of the most populous state in the country for eight years. Sarah was governor of one of the least populous states for two. Her short tenure as governor gives people pause whether we like it or not.
The vast majority of Americans agree with Palin on the issues, she just has to overcome the false narrative that has been advanced to destroy her. Luckily, she has the truth on her side and that won’t be hard to do.
Given that her numbers with independents are getting worse rather than better, I am concerned that it will be hard to do. If the numbers start moving in a positive direction, I'll be in.
If you are correct that would make me really happy.
CARTER NOW FAR AHEAD OF BOTH REAGAN AND BUSH
"President Carter so dominates the American political scene now that his margin over Ronald Reagan in a post-Iowa trial heat has risen to an overwhelming 65-31 percent."
Also, Time magazine ran a big story in March of that year basically saying Reagan was unelectable. Gallup had a poll in that time frame with Reagan down 25 points.
ABC News - Harris poll: FORD LEADS BOTH CARTER AND REAGAN, ALTHOUGH STILL UNDECLARED CANDIDATE
"Former President Gerald Ford is the first choice of Republican and independent voters to head the GOP ticket, even though he has not yet declared himself a candidate for the Republican nomination.
Ford also leads President Carter among the general electorate."
Historic Whispers: Ronald Reagan Had Little Chance of Winning the Primary
White House political strategists have concluded—regretfully—that Ronald Reagan is fading and will have little chance of winning the Republican presidential nomination in 1980. Why the regrets? Because Carter's aides are convinced that the conservative, 68-year-old former California governor is an easy target. (April 2, 1979)
I believe it’s true!
Unlike others, I was not comparing Sarah to Ronnie.
I was comparing their polling numbers, (and the treatment they are/were getting from the establishment) which is what you said you were basing your support on.
I think you may be somewhat disingenuous.
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