Althouse: "Revealingly, Sarah Palin’s potential rivals for the 2012 nomination have not joined the party establishment in publicly criticizing her."

November 21, 2010

"Revealingly, Sarah Palin’s potential rivals for the 2012 nomination have not joined the party establishment in publicly criticizing her."

"They are afraid of crossing Palin and the 80 percent of the party that admires her. So how do they stop her? Not by feeding their contempt in blind quotes to the press — as a Romney aide did by telling Time’s Mark Halperin she isn’t 'a serious human being.' Not by hoping against hope that Murdoch might turn off the media oxygen that feeds both Palin’s viability and News Corporation’s bottom line. Sooner or later Palin’s opponents will instead have to man up — as Palin might say — and actually summon the courage to take her on mano-a-maverick in broad daylight."

That's Frank Rich, and look out: It's a trap. But do they know how not to fall into it?

110 comments:

jungatheart said...: Like many, I admire and like Palin. But the best course is for her opponents, Dem and Republican, to give her enough rope with which to hang herself.

General question: this far out, is Obama a one- or two-termer?; 11/21/10, 12:24 PM
Fen said...: Palin IS RedState. She represents the heartland conservatives Obama smeared as "bitter clingers".

Message to GOP: These are the voters that will make you a Third Party if you blow this.

This is not your second chance. Its the last one.; 11/21/10, 12:30 PM
Fen said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 11/21/10, 12:37 PM
YoungHegelian said...: While I kinda like Palin, I'm amazed (amazed, not upset) by the woman's draw power.

It's telling that liberals who are upset by Palin's draw don't criticize the elephant in the room liberal equivalent --- Oprah Winfrey.

Oprah is now a billionaress for peddling her sentimental and nassicistic (see my face on the cover of every issue!) drivel to the American heartland. Do you see liberals complaining about the "stupidization" of American culture by one of their own? Nope.

The love of maternal authority is built in all of us from birth, right, left, or center. It just attaches to different objects.; 11/21/10, 12:39 PM
Trooper York said...: It just goes to show you what straight talking and taking it to the enemy can do.

Do not mistake one fact. The main stream media, Obama and the liberals are the enemy. They tell us that they feel that's who we normal Americans are all the time. That's where the bitter clingers and the electorate is stupid comes from don't ya know. So when somebody pays them back in their own coin, well everyone can get on board that high speed train.; 11/21/10, 12:42 PM
Fen said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 11/21/10, 12:42 PM
Fen said...: give her enough rope with which to hang herself.

I would normally agree, but in this case the Dems and MSM have tried so hard to Alinksy Palin that we've all become immunized.

They could *prove* she was the Anti-Christ and I would just roll my eyes.

And the GOP doesn't want her to hang herself. They need to respect the demographics that Palin represents, bring them back IN to the party. Make their Contract With America aimed at them.

Meanwhile, Palin is a Tarbaby for the Dems and MSM. Giving pols like Christie more maneuver space.

So the GOP needs to let her serve as a figurehead for Redstate folk. And adopt the major planks of the Tea Party into the party platform.

Or get out of the way.; 11/21/10, 12:43 PM
Anonymous said...: I predict Palin will join in 2012. The GOP will be like a circus clown match-up. Obama and Biden will win in all states. You see, this is one prediction (victory across the country) that is simply impossible to go wrong.

Palin cannot not join. The GOP cannot do anything right. 2012 is their worse nightmare: they lose the WH, Senate, and House.; 11/21/10, 12:43 PM
Trooper York said...: In a strange way Palin is paving the way for someone like Chris Christie who is not afraid to mix it up with the teachers unions and public employees. He just has to go father and not be the standard garden variety RHINO weasel like Romney or someone like that.; 11/21/10, 12:44 PM
Fen said...: gah i need an Editor, sorry; 11/21/10, 12:44 PM
Fen said...: America's Politico: The GOP cannot do anything right. 2012 is their worse nightmare: they lose the WH, Senate, and House.

Ha. Welcome back. Did you know I actually missed your humor.; 11/21/10, 12:46 PM
YoungHegelian said...: AP,

You need a new stylus, buddy.

Your record's stuck in a groove.

You may not ber old enough to know what I'm talking about. Or, you may not be real at all.; 11/21/10, 12:47 PM
Ipso Fatso said...: I like Palin and think she would make a great US Senator but I do not want her as president. It will be interesting to see what happens. As for BO's chances the MSM will do all in its power to get him reelected in 2012. I think right now his chances are 50-50. If there is any uptick in the economy between now and 11/2012 Obama will take and get all the credit for it. While I don't want the economy to tank any further, BO's reelection goes up with each new good jobs report, etc. It may also depend on who the R's put up for Pres. If we get another MCCain type it will be another four years of BO. God help us.; 11/21/10, 12:49 PM
Opus One Media said...: I'm reminded of Dr. Frankenstein - you made it. you fix it.; 11/21/10, 12:54 PM
pm317 said...: another man up.. if you don't Hillary will eat you.

From MODO

"Nuking the White House — You know you're in trouble when you need Henry Kissinger to vouch for you. — But there was the one formerly known as “The One” sitting at a table with a bunch of old, white, Republican dudes, choosing the most abstruse issue on the agenda for his moment to Man Up."; 11/21/10, 1:00 PM
Peter Hoh said...: AP: I predict Palin will join in 2012.

Join what?; 11/21/10, 1:01 PM
Anonymous said...: I'm reminded of Dr. Frankenstein - you made it. you fix it.

Are you talking about your support for the Jihadis?

What made you a sympathizer with Sharia law and Jihad? What made you a water carrier for Al-Qaeda?; 11/21/10, 1:03 PM
Jason (the commenter) said...: To defeat Palin, you need to debate her on the issues, and show how unprepared she is to deal with them one by one. But attacking her character or making fun of her just makes the person attacking her look like a piece of crap, because what Palin is especially genius at, is being a victim.; 11/21/10, 1:04 PM
Unknown said...: I think she's a lot smarter than her critics. They'd love for her to run because she would go down in the first round of primaries because she needs more time in grade.

She won't do that, but she will play kingmaker. As Dr Rove noted, all of her gubernatorial candidates won, as did 66% of the Senatorial candidates and 60% the of House candidates she supported. The woman has clout and she isn't afraid to use it.

Trooper York said...

In a strange way Palin is paving the way for someone like Chris Christie who is not afraid to mix it up with the teachers unions and public employees. He just has to go father and not be the standard garden variety RHINO weasel like Romney or someone like that.

You read my nasty little mind.

HDHouse said...

I'm reminded of Dr. Frankenstein - you made it. you fix it

OK, who's gonna have HD fixed?; 11/21/10, 1:04 PM
Wince said...: At this point, for anyone who would seek the Republican nomination, what's there to criticize about Palin?

The "seriousness," "gravitas" and "electability" issues only apply once she is an opposing candidate.; 11/21/10, 1:07 PM
Anonymous said...: Message to GOP: These are the voters that will make you a Third Party if you blow this.

Correct.

I doubt Republicans such as Mitch Daniels want to be Ross Perot (although he'd need to be at least 6 inches taller to equal Ross Perot).

If Republicans don't rally around someone like Sarah Palin they're going to go the way of the Whigs.

As for Mitt Romney ... what the fuck is he still doing with an invitation?

Romney can forget his Presidential ambitions. He revealed his inner Obama when he created RomneyCare in Massachusetts, which is now bankrupting our state.

Romney is a slightly whiter Obama without the Hussein aftertaste.; 11/21/10, 1:14 PM
Anonymous said...: Palin is the only candidate provoking intellectual debate.

Let's see where we stand in two years.

Don't write her off yet.

No politician since Ronald Reagan has been so hated by the left.

That's practically an endorsement.; 11/21/10, 1:16 PM
Anonymous said...: All Frank Rich is doing is revealing by this column his belief that Democrats have been and will be unable to destroy Sarah Palin.

So now he's trying to recruit a Republican to do the dirty work.

Astute readers of the NY Times know how to read between the lines. It's never what they're saying. It's what they're not saying.; 11/21/10, 1:17 PM
Bob Ellison said...: Frank Rich is the most astute analyst of conservative politicians around. Any conservative pretender to the throne had better kneel before Rich.; 11/21/10, 1:23 PM
Unknown said...: Jason (the commenter) said...

To defeat Palin, you need to debate her on the issues, and show how unprepared she is to deal with them one by one.

Hmmm, I notice no one's getting in her face over QE2 and the death panels thing seemed to tell the tale.

Go back to Kos. Wishful thinking is no substitute for a real candidate.

EDH said...

At this point, for anyone who would seek the Republican nomination, what's there to criticize about Palin?

The "seriousness," "gravitas" and "electability" issues only apply once she is an opposing candidate.

Every time I hear the word, electable, I remember Jerry Ford. And no one can mention gravitas without reminding me of The Zero's Veep choice.; 11/21/10, 1:34 PM
Anonymous said...: Look, not even Obama has figured out how to stop Palin, and heaven knows he tried. He thought he'd succeeded when his minions forced her resignation in AK. They all thought, damn, we're good; we stuck it to that happy broad for dissing the Naked Emperor in her Convention speech. Bzzzzzzzzzzzttttttt!!! The happy warrior reloaded, shook herself off, reloaded, and came out guns blazing. She stopped health care cold, caused several reverses in Obama's policy statements, brought the GOP into power in the House, knocked the LSM for a loop so hard they don't know what hit 'em—every time they try to play gotcha with her, they end of wiping egg and poo off of their faces. So, in spite of the LSM, the GOP elites, the Obama nuts in AK who gave up bipartisanship with their sitting governor for petty and baseless ethics charges that would bankrupt her and the state, none of these jokers know how to handle or stifle Palin. She's going to mop the floor with Obama in the debates, and walk away with his head to hang on her mantel.; 11/21/10, 1:37 PM
Anonymous said...: YoungHegelian, you don't know squat about Palin, do you? If you did, you'd never compare her to Winfrey. Take a look at Palin's record of achievement in 2.5 years as a governor and 20 years in municipal government. There's nobody out there like her. Get used to it.; 11/21/10, 1:39 PM
Anonymous said...: Trooper York, unfortunately, Christie is a RINO. He's no Conservative at all, in spite of his run ins with the unions. IF Christie's the candidate, I'm sitting on my hands.; 11/21/10, 1:41 PM
Blair said...: The best way for someone else to beat Palin is for them to be Palin, but without her baggage.

Pawlenty, Jindal, Christie are such candidates. All they have to do is show up and say the same stuff.; 11/21/10, 1:41 PM
Hagar said...: Who will be the leading candidates in 2012 will depend on what happens between now and then. A financial meltdown with 1930's misery? Economic recovery? One or more countries in the Middle or Far East start slinging nuclear devices at each other? Someone - not necessarily a candidate - says or does something really stupid? An asteroid hit?; 11/21/10, 1:44 PM
Bender said...: "Revealingly, Sarah Palin’s potential rivals for the 2012 nomination have not joined the party establishment in publicly criticizing her."

Wrong.

Those potential rivals have absolutely joined in the public criticism of Palin and, in many cases, have led it. True, they have done so anonymously and through their staffs, but they are responsible for it.

Starting with the McCain POS staff, followed by the Romney POS staff, and Truce Daniels and Pawlenty and Huckabee and others, they are each elites, elitists, or elite/elitist wannabes. They are each the problem, not the solution.; 11/21/10, 1:48 PM
Cedarford said...: Fen, sounding like a Dem who bought into one of their Cults of Personality:

Fen said...
Palin IS RedState. She represents the heartland conservatives Obama smeared as "bitter clingers".
Message to GOP: These are the voters that will make you a Third Party if you blow this.

This is not your second chance. Its the last one.

We've heard it before. "Howard Dean is good, Howard is pure. Vote with us Deaniacs or we will Leave the Party."

"John Edwards is our Democrat Party's Last Chance. He says it with the son of a mill worker's wisdom you don't get in no fancy school. John is telegenic, John is electable. John wins the hearts of lonely females wanting to vote Democratic".

"Vote for Jesse. Or else the Rainbow Coalition leaves. We swear this is your last chance".

"Our Ned Lamont is a good man. A pure man. He doesn't have the blood on his hands Lieberman does from murdering innocent Iraqis and innocent US soldiers. Vote for Our Ned, or we leave the Party because Joe Lieberman is a DINO."

Same old Cult Worship now for Palin, same tired threats of the consequences if others spurn the object of their love.; 11/21/10, 1:53 PM
Jason (the commenter) said...: Revealingly, Sarah Palin’s potential rivals for the 2012 nomination have not joined the party establishment in publicly criticizing her.

What's revealing is that she has so few supporters. Where are her friends and why doesn't she have any?; 11/21/10, 1:53 PM
Anonymous said...: "All they have to do is show up and say the same stuff."

Nope, that's not good enough.
What they have to do is show up and BELIEVE the same stuff.

Palin has demonstrated time and again to anyone who is interested the following lesson: How we win!

Palin wins because she believes what she is saying ... not that she's just aping it. The American people can tell the difference. Despite what Democrats would have you believe ... the American people are by-and-large not stupid.

They see themselves in Sarah because she's honest and not trying to fool them. She has proven herself thusfar to be uncorruptable.

Is she the perfect woman? No, she's not even the perfect candidate. But she is the candidate who most closely reflects what a majority of Americans would like to see in their country.

And that's why she enjoys the popularity that she does.; 11/21/10, 1:55 PM
jungatheart said...: Agreed, Fen. My major point was that any Dem wishing to face her in the primaries can't 'go after her.' As Jason said, she needs to be defeated on the issues. But looking back at the Biden/Palin debate, we know she's a quick study.; 11/21/10, 1:57 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: deborah,

This far out, is Obama a one- or two-termer?

Do you really have to ask? He couldn't get re-elected if his life depended on it.

And, in the case of his party, it just might.; 11/21/10, 2:07 PM
Trooper York said...: "What's revealing is that she has so few supporters. Where are her friends and why doesn't she have any?"

If you want friends in Washington...you need to buy a dog.

With friends like McCain, Lindsey Graham and Romney who needs freaking enemies.; 11/21/10, 2:08 PM
Anonymous said...: "My major point was that any Dem wishing to face her in the primaries can't 'go after her."

Exactly which Dem would go after her in the primaries?

Because, frankly, I think the country would elect an inert rock if Democrats offer up Barack Hussein Obama to the same Thanksgiving-travelling American public they'll be molesting all next weekend.

Are the Democrats not going to dethrone Obama in favor of a candidate who can actually - you know - win?; 11/21/10, 2:09 PM
Trooper York said...: "Juba Doobai! said...
Trooper York, unfortunately, Christie is a RINO. He's no Conservative at all, in spite of his run ins with the unions. IF Christie's the candidate, I'm sitting on my hands."

Well he is a Republican in the Northeast. But I can say anything about Christie is that he has the capacity to grow. So to speak.

No fat jokes garage.; 11/21/10, 2:10 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: YoungHegelian,

The love of maternal authority is built in all of us from birth, right, left, or center. It just attaches to different objects.

Please. As the founder of The macho Response, an atheist and a critic generally of women, I'm hardly drawn to Palin because of some "love of maternal authority". What gets me is exactly what Trooper York said:

It just goes to show you what straight talking and taking it to the enemy can do.

That's what I've been campaigning for and, man or woman, I'll go with anyone I see delivering on that front and Palin delivers.; 11/21/10, 2:14 PM
Paul said...: "Are the Democrats not going to dethrone Obama in favor of a candidate who can actually - you know - win?"

Such a candidate doesn't exist. If the Dems dump Obama for Hillary, or anyone else, pretty much the entire black population will stay home and the Dems will lose. Period.

I get the impression that the people who don't like Palin, or like her but with qualifiers can be summed up as either elitists or those who aspire to the category. Their enmity is in direct proportion to their imagined sense of superiority. Salt of the earth types understand her just fine and see she has the character and convictions that put her in in a different class than her detractors on both sides of the isle.; 11/21/10, 2:17 PM
Cedarford said...: Trooper York said...
"What's revealing is that she has so few supporters. Where are her friends and why doesn't she have any?"

If you want friends in Washington...you need to buy a dog.

With friends like McCain, Lindsey Graham and Romney who needs freaking enemies.

=================
Don't like Romney much, do you Trooper? Romney is the sort of the frumpy but competent Hillary to compared to Palins Obamalike Cult lure to you - isn't he?

Those who don't like Romney wish to associate him with the incoherent and treacherous McCain or Lindsay his weasel catspaw...Though Romney doesn't like either and warned about what sort of dismal Candidate McCain would be in the regular election once the NYTimes editorial Board and the rest of the media made clear they were "over John", and were all finished kissing his "bipartisan" ass in favor of The One .

Palin's numbers continue to fall with Independents. The McGovern of the Right. Or Jesse, or Barry Goldwater..Loved by a ferverent flock of followers, guaranteed to be a debacle if nominated.; 11/21/10, 2:20 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: Juba Doobai!,

Trooper York, unfortunately, Christie is a RINO. He's no Conservative at all, in spite of his run ins with the unions. IF Christie's the candidate, I'm sitting on my hands.

Christies no RINO, though it wouldn't be unfair to call him a moderate.

If he ran, I'd have to think long and hard about who I'd vote for between him and Palin. My guess, right now, would be Christie - nobody's pushing around the big man - but my desire is that he and Palin could work it out where they'd run together somehow, or each would support the other, in their individual runs, if the other doesn't go for it or succeed.; 11/21/10, 2:26 PM
Unknown said...: Cedarford said...

Trooper York said...

"What's revealing is that she has so few supporters. Where are her friends and why doesn't she have any?"

If you want friends in Washington...you need to buy a dog.

With friends like McCain, Lindsey Graham and Romney who needs freaking enemies.

=================
Don't like Romney much, do you Trooper? Romney is the sort of the frumpy but competent Hillary to compared to Palins Obamalike Cult lure to you - isn't he?

Hillary is competent? In what? She's never done a damned thing in her life except ride her weasel husband's coattails.

Romney's like all the other "competent" Republican nominees - Ford, Dole, Junior, etc. Funny how they're the ones that lose.; 11/21/10, 2:26 PM
Anonymous said...: Sarah Palin scares the hell out of pols on both sides of the aisle.

She's an authentic human being with political smarts, as opposed to her purely political foes.

She'll win in 2012. She connects with the American people. That's what scares the left, the RINO's, and the intellectual effete.; 11/21/10, 2:31 PM
Cedarford said...: Juba Doobai! said...
Trooper York, unfortunately, Christie is a RINO. He's no Conservative at all, in spite of his run ins with the unions. IF Christie's the candidate, I'm sitting on my hands."

Because we all know that Republicans can only be Pure if they are confined to a southern-fried politics - plus Alaska where the Goddess Herself was nurtured.

It is best Republicans never hold national office again and work hard to get rid of likely "so-called Republican" traitors north of the Mason-Dixon line and the RINO states of the Midwest and beyond the Rockies.

Purity over power! Juba Doobai's message!

(Wonder how many people posting that anyone not on Palin's right (which is well right of Reagan) - are traitor RINOs - are actually Democrat stealth agents wanting Republicans to morph into a rural, Southern culture, religious right, cultural warrior Purity Test-based Party that 3/4ths the country can't abide??
As in, if I was a Dem Party activist and asked what I did to help the Cause - what better answer than to say "I didn't contribute to Harry Reids PAC - I maxed out giving 2500 in the Republican Primary to help Sharron Angle get the nomination. Making it a contest between hated Harry and unelectable right-wing zealot Angle...And then sold my old McGovern mementos to give 900 dollars to the Christine O'Donnell Primary challenge to ensure our guy Koons would get the SEnate seat in a lock!"
If I was a Dem activist, I would expect other Dems to commend my brilliance, and I'd expect them to also consider using their money and media strings to keep Goddess Palin in the spotlight in hopes she was the nominee and once reelected and thus a lame duck - Obama could end the pretense and go even further Left to further my progressive agenda. The way for The One to repeat is to give him Palin to run against!; 11/21/10, 2:47 PM
Trooper York said...: I don't trust anybody who wants to have more than one wife at a time.

That's somebody without a firm grip on reality. Just sayn'; 11/21/10, 2:50 PM
ricpic said...: Sarah Palin's not a serious person. Translation: she's a person who isn't afraid to call a spade a spade, thereby antagonizing all the serious people who speak non-threatening committeespeak and whose continuing leadership shall certainly lead our country off a cliff.; 11/21/10, 2:56 PM
Jason (the commenter) said...: ricpic: Translation: she's a person who isn't afraid to call a spade a spade...

Translation: she attacks a person or group's character rather than their ideas or evidence.; 11/21/10, 3:06 PM
Jason (the commenter) said...: Palin isn't the Republican version of Obama, she's the Republican version of health care reform. And her supporters are like Nancy Pelosi, saying: "We'll learn what she's like when we elect her to the Presidency."

We did that with Obama. No thanks!; 11/21/10, 3:13 PM
Anonymous said...: "Hillary is competent? In what?"

Let's remember that Hillary Clinton's State Department issued a valid travel visa to Abdullahmuttab ... the "Underwear Bomber" ... even though he'd already been identified as a Muslim terrorist and even though Great Britian had already denied him a visa because of his terrorist links.

Hillary Clinton is competent only in disappearing every time there's a catastrophe in her area of responsibility.; 11/21/10, 3:18 PM
ricpic said...: Jason - Palin pointed out that Obamacare would lead inexorably to death panels. How is that attacking someone? P.S. The horrible Axelrod and the horrible Krugman have since then separately confirmed that yes, there will be death panels.; 11/21/10, 3:25 PM
Big Mike said...: Revealingly, at least some Republicans remember Reagan's 11th commandment.; 11/21/10, 3:33 PM
Jason (the commenter) said...: ricpic: How is that attacking someone?

How is saying "lamestream media" not?; 11/21/10, 3:35 PM
ricpic said...: Jason, you're just being argumentative. It's that new Jason in a lineup avatar. Bring back the old cutey pie Jason avatar!; 11/21/10, 3:49 PM
MadisonMan said...: Why would anyone now, two years out, publicly criticize a potential candidate?

Two years is many many political lifetimes. Who would want to be known as the person who criticized her if she won the nomination? Or if she didn't win, but somehow became beloved? There's not much upside in criticizing her today. I think a prudent approach for any politician, on either side of the aisle, would be to study and gather information.; 11/21/10, 3:53 PM
bgates said...: she attacks a person or group's character rather than their ideas or evidence. And her supporters are like Nancy Pelosi

You couldn't project any more if you said you didn't like her because she's a bald guy.

"We'll learn what she's like when we elect her to the Presidency."

She'll be mostly the same person she was in 2007. Except she won't trust the Democratic establishment as much (hopefully not at all), and she'll know better than to sign legislation that presumes anyone bringing an ethics complaint will act ethically.; 11/21/10, 3:59 PM
Jason (the commenter) said...: bgates: You couldn't project any more if you said you didn't like her because she's a bald guy.

Again, attacking the person, not the idea. That's great when you are trying to convince yourself you are right, but it doesn't convince those who disagree with you.

And I have to wonder how strong your ideas are, if you have to convince yourself of them.; 11/21/10, 4:07 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: If Palin is so stupid and unprepared, then her opponents won't really have to attack her right? So pop some popcorn and bring some soda and watch the freak show at the debate because surely she'll just self destruct on her own!; 11/21/10, 4:12 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: Chris Christie is not fat. Those are the corpses of rended New Jersey bureaucracies which he stores beneath his skin before emptying them into the Delaware River each evening.; 11/21/10, 4:13 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: Freeman:

Not the river. The Pine Barrens is where all good New Jerseyans go to dump bodies.; 11/21/10, 4:17 PM
Penny said...: All of a sudden the Democrats believe she can win?

Frank Rich is saying so, and two Democrats on my favorite Sunday news show also changed their Palin tune today.

More likely, they all realize they have much more to gain by letting the Republicans scratch each others eyes out.

Divide and conquer is still a damn good strategy.; 11/21/10, 4:19 PM
Anonymous said...: Cedarford, I'm fed up to my back teeth of Moderates—McCain is a "moderate", so was Mike Castle and Lincoln Chafee. Christie is a one-issue man. He's taking on the unions, cool. Other than that, he lacks a governing philosophy. Plus, Christie's got someone on the payroll whose job it is to put up vids on uTube showing him as some fine GOP stud. How many of the people Christie endorsed were successful? What has he done to build the GOP? Christie's no different from a lot of the moderates who've gone before him. We've been down that road and it led to the edge of a cliff. So, no principles, no power. Purity over power? Where has power over principle got the GOP? Purity over power? Ask the Democrats where Marxist purity got them. Moderates always demand Conservatives sacrifice their principles so Moderates can gain power and screw over Conservatives. This election, we said enough.; 11/21/10, 4:21 PM
Anonymous said...: "Palin is the only candidate provoking intellectual debate."—says shoutingthomas, and you're dead right. Where are the others? Where's Christie, Romney, Daniels, Pawlenty, etc? Who else but Palin has been putting her neck on the line time after time raising substantial policy issues, arguing the case for her point of view, and then being told by the LSM and the Establishment Elites (EE) that she lacks "gravitas" and she's a "dummy" and she doesn't know what she's talking about? She's right practically every time she opens her mouth! Yet, Althouse wants Palin to sell one of the boys, and after working like a dog to bring the GOP the House (they even asked her to fundraise for them, the limp-wristed punks!), she gets told "here, hon, hold the tray so the boys can put their empties on it." IMO, Palin has EARNED the GOP nomination. The TP could've splintered the GOP and relegated to third party status, but Palin prevented that. The boys have power now, and they want to tell Cinderella that the shoes are too big for her to fill. Screw that!; 11/21/10, 4:27 PM
ricpic said...: The Biden gang has dibs on the Delaware River.; 11/21/10, 4:29 PM
Cedarford said...: New Ham - "Let's remember that Hillary Clinton's State Department issued a valid travel visa to Abdullahmuttab"

If Hillary is supposed to be all knowing about all internal Fed Gov't workings and individual visas granted - how do you feel about Bush and Colim Powell granting visas to the 19 9/11 hijacker?
===================

On Palin - on some ways, the primary process weeds out the idiots. Richardson, Gravel, Brownback were quickly shown idiots and Chris Dodd too.

But in other ways, the Primary process rewards telegenic idiots of great appeal to the uninformed like John Edwards and Christine O'Donnell. Or the unfit for the Presidency on past experience sorts - that deliver pithy sound bites the media feasts on - like Jesse, Al Sharpton, and Sarah Palin.

So a Primary might either weed her out or maybe luck out doing an Al Sharpton like soundbite to rivals that have actually done something..Lecturing Dem candidates that whites had the reins and now it is time to put a strong black man in charge and thus getting 90% of the vote of blacks in the SC Primary "Yuh! You tell The Man, Al. You done be speaking troof to dah powah!"

You can see it coming..."You talk a lot about your fancy pants CEO lingo about capital investment Mitt - but sometimes yah just need a women with hockey Mom wisdom to tell you the deficit is worth field dressing like a shot caribou!"

And idiot followers then saying "Palin won the debate with her pithy rural utterances! Zinger after zinger!; 11/21/10, 4:33 PM
Alex said...: Just ask Sarah Palin what is the Bush Doctrine and watch her trip all over herself. Repeat ad nauseum. If she runs imagine Katie Couric disasters x500.; 11/21/10, 4:34 PM
Anonymous said...: Blair, neither of the guys you mention are happy warriors with that boundless optimism that makes people believe in the American Dream. Jindal is great, bright, and is the best of the bunch you listed, but he struck out when he got put in the headlights. He'd be a great VP for Palin cuz he believes what she does, and they'd complement each other. The point still remains that Palin has been fighting the fight intellectually, electorally. She's been in the trenches battling Dems and the LSM and the GOP Elites. She's been kicking ass and taking names and punching back twice as hard. The boys don't want to go up against her? Why? She punches back and she goes for the jugular. That's why. They're still playing the game the old way, still looking to appease and please the media, still genuflecting. Palin? She's reinvented the game and playing by her own rules. She's slammed the media into a hole. After the McCain campaign people screwed her over; after Couric and Gibson left hours and hours of tape on the floor just to prove to themselves that Palin's an idiot; after Obama sent his thugs after her back in AK, Palin tossed the old rule book and wrote a new one.; 11/21/10, 4:35 PM
Alex said...: Palin is the only candidate provoking intellectual debate.

Excuse me while I clean my keyboard. You didn't really put Palin and intellectual in the same sentence did you?

LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO; 11/21/10, 4:36 PM
Alex said...: She's an authentic human being with political smarts, as opposed to her purely political foes.

* a quitter( could never stay at one college, couldn't take the heat as Governor)

* a terrible parent

* a racist - had to leave Hawaii in her 20s because it wasn't white enough

yeah PLEASE nominate caribou Barbie!; 11/21/10, 4:39 PM
Anonymous said...: "Just ask Sarah Palin what is the Bush Doctrine ..."

The Obama Doctrine is to turn America into the USSR and lease the result to China. That is enough for him to go.

All Palin (or frankly anybody) has to do is be on the ballot. She shouldn't do interviews with the Washington (or NY) press corp because the press isn't out to inform or educate. They're out to destroy Republicans - especially female Republicans.

So Palin should go directly to the people via YouTube and her own website and by purchasing long-form advertising on Fox News and The Learning Channel.

Katie Couric? Fuck Katie Couric. Who elected Katie Couric to anything?

Look, nobody who matters gives two shits about what Katie Couric thinks. She's a fucking dolt.; 11/21/10, 4:41 PM
Alex said...: She's been kicking ass and taking names and punching back twice as hard. The boys don't want to go up against her? Why? She punches back and she goes for the jugular.

It's easy for her right now, because she doesn't have to face the heat of being a POTUS candidate. So she can just lob her verbal bombs like all the other right-wing psychotalkers.; 11/21/10, 4:41 PM
Alex said...: More Palin-follies:

Britons urged to take Palin more seriously

When Palin is required to extemporise on any subject but her family, herself or Alaska, she often struggles for fluency. Even on Fox News, where she is lucratively employed as an analyst, her ignorance was exposed when she struggled to name a favourite Founding Father.

YES, please nominate the dummy.; 11/21/10, 4:50 PM
Alex said...: "...her blithe mastery of motherhood..." Excuse me. Her oldest vandalized school buses, her second oldest has had at least one out of wedlock pregnancy, and her third oldest was involved with trashing someone's house. Her second and third oldest recently bully talked on Facebook someone who disagreed with one of their reality shows. Palin is a master of nonparenthood.; 11/21/10, 4:53 PM
Anonymous said...: Alex, you really are deranged, dude.

Do you realize that you're talking to yourself?; 11/21/10, 4:59 PM
Anonymous said...: "... she often struggles for fluency."

She's in good company, then, as the lead to the Telegraph's story indicated.

"David Cameron was pressed for a response to the phenomenon that is Sarah Palin. He was almost tongue-tied."

One could just as easily snark that Cameron lacked the fluency to explain the Palin phenomemon.

It doesn't really matter, though. Barack Obama is such a terrible communicator (sans teleprompter) that even Sarah Palin will beat him in 2012 (assuming Obama is still around then, which he probably won't be).; 11/21/10, 5:02 PM
Anonymous said...: Washington Square News
"If Only Obama Could Communicate:

http://nyunews.com/opinion/2010/11/17/18woodruff/

Obama himself admitted on the Daily Show that he is unable to communicate to the American people in any coherent way and that this was why Democrats did so poorly at the polls in the mid-term elections - costing them the House of Representatives.

Obama himself admits that he lacks the fluency to communicate his ideas in a way that leads to victory for Democrats.

So, I imagine if they're smart they'll dump him.

Who needs a horrible communicator as head of the party costing them elections because even he admits he's incoherent?; 11/21/10, 5:14 PM
Joe said...: (The Crypto Jew)
*Long Post to a Troll Warning*

YES, please nominate the dummy.

Oh yes, SHE’s the “dummy,” unlike Mr. “Corpseman” unlike the current TOTUS who without the Teleprompter, “ummm’s” and “Ahhhhhs” and speaks about “bitter clingers”. “Police acting stupidly”, yeah and SHE’S the dummy? Right Alex, and though you’re a troll/Moby here’s some more thought for you in re: Republican Candidates 2012:
Has Beens or Possibles:
1. Romney
a. Well didn’t win in 2008, against McCain
b. RomneyCare, which Obama et. al. speak well of….Which Romney, then spoke well of, pointing out how he consulted with T. Kennedy concerning its provisions, and which he STILL speaks highly of, even though it’s bankrupting Massachusetts.
c. Well to the left of the Median Republican and Moderate voter, on Social Issues, and spoke about them when Governor, making him in 2012:
i. A Flip-Flopper;
ii. A Liar, either as Governor or Candidate;
iii. A hypocrite
2. Huckabee:
a. Didn’t win, even more so than Romney in 2008 against McCain
b. Could carry Evangelicals, BUT wait, so could PALIN, as she too is one
c. Supported in-state tuition for ILLEGALS
d. Has his own “Willy Horton” Issue, in his decision(s) to pardon or grant clemency, on the basis of “religious conversion” by inmates.
3. Christie:
a. Has the Media eye, and has the love of the Right
b. Fiscal Conservative
c. Social Liberal
d. Mostly fights NJEA
e. Says “Not interested in POTUS”
4. Mitch Daniels
a. Strong executive experience, and is currently darling of Fiscal Liberals
b. Comes with Bush baggage, OMB for Mr. “Big Government Conservative”
c. First plan to rescue Indiana involved raising taxes, GOP scuppered that idea
d. Proposed and then ran away from a “truce” on social issues:
i. Is he flip-flopper; OR
ii. Hypocrite?
5. Tim Pawlenty
a. Real Possibility
b. He is a good speaker
c. Executive experience
d. Fiscal Conservative
e. Sadly, T-Paw is not real VISIBLE, tell me when a “tweet” did from T-Paw upset ObamaCare supporters and encapsulate the opposition to ObamaCare in two words, “Death Panels?”
f. How many T-Paw candidates were elected in 2010?
6. Pence
a. I don’t know enough…
b. Fiscal Conservative
c. Social Conservative (I understand)
d. Member of the House of Representatives, tell me when the last House member was elected POTUS? I’ll wait……
7. Paul Ryan
a. Conservative Sweet Heart
b. Bright, articulate, made Obama look like a petulant @rse at the Healthcare “Summit.”
c. Love his Road Map, as I understand it.
d. See ‘d” above
e. Note less than one-dozen of his fellow House members have signed on to the Road Map, not exactly a sign of “leadership”
Bottom-Line: Palin stacks up nicely (Oh Trooper I’ve been to your site, I’ve seen how Palin “stacks up”) against her GOP competitors and against Obama. Now you and yours keep telling yourselves she’s “stoopit” and I think the response will be, “Gee how does it feel to lose to a ‘Stoopit’ person?”
Will she run, I’m betting “Yes.” Will she win, “She could” Who will the GP run, “I don’t know, but it SURE could be Sarah’cuda.” Will the GOP candidate win in 2012 “IF, Obama doesn’t change course, yeah, it’ll be either 1980 or 1976 again.” Arguing that in 1976 one damaged candidate (Ford) was replaced by a less-damaged good (Carter) or in 1980 Carter (Obama) being replaced by Reagan (Palin). Now IF Obama can change course, and IF the economy gets MUCH better, then I think he CAN win re-election, but that’s a LOT of “If Money” right now.; 11/21/10, 5:31 PM
Cedarford said...: Jaboo - " Palin? She's reinvented the game and playing by her own rules. She's slammed the media into a hole."

Palin is just taking a 25-year old scam from another fairly unknowledable charismatic with a gift for media-savored sound bites, Jesse Jackson, and playing it from the Right.
Even appears on TV about as much as Jesse and is paid for it. Has as many paid TV appearances as Jesse did in his heyday. Her Cult of Personality almost matches Jesse's number of devoted acolytes.

Jesse halped wreck the Dems chances in 1984 and 1988.; 11/21/10, 5:37 PM
Joe said...: (The Crypto Jew)
Jesse halped wreck the Dems chances in 1984 and 1988.

Really, I’d say Walter “MonDull” and then Michael “Look at me in a Tank” Dukkakis did that…but what do I know?

But your “concern” is noted….; 11/21/10, 5:41 PM
Roger J. said...: I think it is was Madison Man who suggested two years is an eternity in politics--I second his observation--this discussion is way to premature to amount to anything.

and I am totally confused--how many alex's are on this board? Seems to me there is an Alex (c) and and Alex (l) did I miss something?; 11/21/10, 5:50 PM
MadisonMan said...: Alex is one person, many personalities.; 11/21/10, 5:58 PM
Joe said...: (The Crypto Jew)
Jesse Alex is one person, many personalities.

“We are Legion” to quote the Apostate Jesus?; 11/21/10, 6:00 PM
ricpic said...: What a claim jumper Alex would've made! Some guys are born a hundred years too late.; 11/21/10, 6:20 PM
4rc said...: here's a clue for other potential gop candidate on how to beat Palin. GO AFTER OBAMA, LEFT WING groups or media. Show us that you're better at it than Palin

Going after Palin, only show that you're more afraid of Palin than Obama; 11/21/10, 6:23 PM
Craig Howard said...: " IF Christie's the candidate, I'm sitting on my hands."

Oh no, not that shit again.

Really, if you follow through on that statement, you are the definition of stupid. You're probably part of the reason Obama was elected in the first place.; 11/21/10, 6:26 PM
Cedarford said...: Crypto Jew - Helpfully adding to his knowledge:

Has Beens or Possibles:
1. (Reagan) Romney
a. Well didn’t win in (1976) 2008, against (Ford)McCain
b. (Reagan abortion Law) RomneyCare, which Obama et. al. speak well of….Which (Reagan) Romney, then spoke well of, pointing out how he consulted with T. Kennedy concerning its provisions, and which he STILL speaks highly of, even though it’s (the abortion compromise he had to make with California voters)/bankrupting Massachusetts.
c. Well to the left of the Median Republican and Moderate voter, on Social Issues, and spoke about them when Governor, making him in (1976)2012:
i. A Flip-Flopper; Reagan was a traitorous Democrat and union member - even WORSE than Romney from a purity perspective compared to what traitor RINO Mitt changed his mind on.
ii. A Liar, either as Governor or Candidate; (Ronnie told enough little fibs his 1st wife shitcanned him for adultery). Romney fibbed about his lifelong love of weapons and hunting.
iii. A hypocrite. (Ronnie and all his gay friends regularly visiting he and Nancy - who adored her homosexual pals from Hollywood, who all said later his stance against special consideration for AIDS over other diseases was political and not personal as directed agaist Merv, etc.) Romney - well, again, acts like the spiritual heart of America is not a catfish fry in which a highlight is not believers in rented white robes being dunked in a river.

Crypto Jews (translated) conclusion:

"Anyone from California or Massachusetts cannot BE a true Republican. Best abandon the remaining 3/4ths of the country to focus on being the Pure Party of Alabama Evangelicals, Corporatists, and rural white people not "infected" by living west of the Rockies or North of the Mason-Dixon line."; 11/21/10, 6:44 PM
Fen said...: C4: Purity over power!

Flail that strawman, baby!

No one said anything about purity. No one but you.; 11/21/10, 6:48 PM
rcocean said...: Sorry, you guys don't know Republicans. Sarah doesn't have a chance. We Republicans want more taxes and less Charisma.

We meed quiet competence, experience with failure and executive hair. Oh for the days of Bush I or Jerry Ford.

I'm voting Mitch in 2012; but I hope McCain runs again. Or maybe Romney.; 11/21/10, 6:56 PM
Joe said...: (The Crypto Jew)
Anyone from California or Massachusetts cannot BE a true Republican. Best abandon the remaining 3/4ths of the country to focus on being the Pure Party of Alabama Evangelicals, Corporatists, and rural white people not "infected" by living west of the Rockies or North of the Mason-Dixon line."

WOW, C4 so MA and Ca are ¾ of America? Or are you saying if you can carry CA and MA you can carry Al. Considering the exodus from Ca and the latest election results from CA, I’d say “Who cares about CA?” as a GOp’er…and MA is a lost cause, or at least anyone who CAN carry MA in the General Election will lose, for the GOP, in 2012, or 2016, 0r 2020…

Funny it seems to be the DEMOCRATS who are the regionally restricted party, MA, CA, NY, and the urban core of the US…but hey you keep on plucking your chicken.; 11/21/10, 6:56 PM
Kirk Parker said...: "broad daylight"

Nice pun, Frank!; 11/21/10, 6:59 PM
rcocean said...: As a typical Republican I'm not sure about Christie, he seems to be a bit of a showboat. Does he belong to country club? Would Barbara Bush have him for over for dinner?

We just can't nominate anyone. I wouldn't want the wrong sort to be President.; 11/21/10, 7:02 PM
Joe said...: (The Crypto Jew)
We just can't nominate anyone. I wouldn't want the wrong sort to be President.

EXACTLY, Rocean! I mean has either Christie or Palin been to an Ivy League School, is there anyone named “Prescott” in their lineage? I mean Christie is SICILIAN for Yhwh’s sake!?!?! And Palin oh so déclassé, I recommend you read T. Coddington Vorhees’ take-down of her…; 11/21/10, 7:08 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Sarah Palin like Bill Clinton does better when attacked.; 11/21/10, 7:16 PM
bgates said...: it doesn't convince those who disagree with you

says the guy who just compared tens of millions of people who disagree with him to Nancy Pelosi.

That's great when you are trying to convince yourself you are right

I'm not trying to convince myself of anything. I'm mocking you for your inability to see that you exemplify the problem that you're warning others about.

If you want me to mock an idea of yours, come up with one. No, come up with two - I'd hate to mock your very first.; 11/21/10, 7:26 PM
marklewin said...: That's Frank Rich, and look out: It's a trap. But do they know how not to fall into it?

Actually, with regard to Palin the trap that Ann refers to is probably less of a challenge to her Rupublican challengers (and her Democratic one's should she prevail through the gauntlet of Republican primaries) than the traps set by Palin, herself, with her continual and highly evocative projective identification.; 11/21/10, 7:30 PM
John henry said...: Hilary for Prez!

In 2011

John Henry; 11/21/10, 7:31 PM
rcocean said...: We need to nominate someone with lots of DC experience.

I can remember the 2008 VP Debate disaster where Old Pro Joe Biden, (Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee and Judiciary committee) destroyed our poor uninformed Sarah.

You just can't defeat someone with quiet confidence and DC experience. I hope the Democrats don't dump Obama and nominate Kerry again.; 11/21/10, 7:33 PM
John henry said...: So Alex, just what is the bush doctrine?

There have been at least 7 policies called "The Bush Doctrine" Which one do you mean?

Which one do you think Couric meant?

John Henry; 11/21/10, 7:37 PM
traditionalguy said...: The only way to beat Caribou Barbie is to totally ignore her. That may not work either at this point in time. She is claiming the mantle of Ronald Reagan...and how are they going to beat that? She is immensely popular. She is always beating everyone else to saying exactly what needs to be said. She is determined not to be scared off or bought off. She can pretty well start measuring the White House for curtains now.; 11/21/10, 7:45 PM
Alex said...: John - the "Bush Doctrine" is the one where you invade a country and institute Democracy(TM) for those shitty ragheads, in the vain hope they'll bow down and be grateful to the BushGod.; 11/21/10, 8:04 PM
Alex said...: tradguy - Reagan was also a total failure as a parent. But he was also a brilliant orator. Something Palin is def lacking.; 11/21/10, 8:05 PM
Cedarford said...: Tradguy - "how are they going to beat that? She is immensely popular. She is always beating everyone else to saying exactly what needs to be said. She is determined not to be scared off or bought off. She can pretty well start measuring the White House for curtains now."

That was Jesse Jackson back when he was lionized by the media as the 2nd coming of Saint Martin Luther King.
Jesse could always say the exact perfect soundbite in his unparalled alliterative style. On any subject. Everyone knew he was wasn't that serious a thinker and didn't have a clue on 80% of what came out of his mouth to address - but a Cult of worshippers just loved his act - it was style and charisma over substance.
And the more people criticized Jesse, the more his followers rallied - because "pissing off the other side" was the ultimate in validation. The other side and his rivals in the Dem Party were simply JEALOUS that Jesse could lead!!! And he "spoke truth to power".

Soon every Boardroom door opened to Jesse. he had his own TV show and radioshow. He was touted as the "kingmaker" of the Dem Party with every obsequious little toady pol licking his boots for favor so "His People" would not disfavor them.

That was then, this is now.
Certain things repeat in US politics.; 11/21/10, 8:52 PM
jeff said...: "John - the "Bush Doctrine" is the one where you invade a country and institute Democracy(TM) for those shitty ragheads, in the vain hope they'll bow down and be grateful to the BushGod."

As suspected. You're going with Alex the idiot persona today. When the question was originally asked, there were at least 3 possible answers, all correct. The one Couric was looking for was probably the US no longer seeing a distinction between terrorist states or states that harbor terrorist. I'm sure you have a reason to oppose that.; 11/21/10, 8:56 PM
Alex said...: jeff - the USA is the terrorist state. Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. Flowers, not guns.; 11/21/10, 9:00 PM
Joe said...: (The Crypto Jew)
jeff - the USA is the terrorist state. Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. Flowers, not guns.

Alex you usually do better, I mean really this is the OBVIOUS Moby/Troll position…Step upi your game , man!; 11/21/10, 9:07 PM
Alex said...: Butter, not guns. No blood for oil. Stop the Rethuglicans. Repukes. RethuliKKKans. caribou barbie. Shrub. CONservatives. Racists. Homophobes. Bigots. Idiots. Plebs. Communism has never been properly tried. Capitalism is evil. Criticizing Obama should be a capital offense. Israel is a Zionazi state. Keith Olberman is a hero.; 11/21/10, 9:13 PM
traditionalguy said...: Trooper is MIA. He maybe suffering through watching his Giants being beaten by a Dog Murderer with quick feet.; 11/21/10, 9:28 PM
narciso said...: No we had the Jesse Jackson deal with more polish, that is Obama, the same nuclear freeze, Sandinista supporting, racebaiting appeal to the guilt of white liberals. Your capsule history on Reagan v. Romney
is ludicrous, thanks for playing though; 11/21/10, 10:10 PM
jr565 said...: Palin will not be good as a presidential candidate. SHe is good, no great, as a clarion to conservatives and as someone to tweak and incense liberals with. She wont be the king, but she makes a great kingmaker and bellweather.; 11/22/10, 8:28 AM